tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-235346772024-03-05T17:11:37.921+00:00A's Silly TalkIt's not a matter of life or death, you know.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.comBlogger613125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-40326564443653211842012-09-10T09:25:00.000+01:002012-09-10T09:25:12.408+01:00Black cat in my garden<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Recently I have been keeping a small bowl of fresh water for
a black stray cat who sometimes sleeps in my garden. After seeing the cat
desperately trying to drink water from a little puddle, I decided to provide
fresh water for it all the time because there is nowhere in my neighbourhood
where any wild animals can access to water. No pond, no water features in
anyone’s garden, you see.</div>
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I have no intention of making the cat mine. Why? The reasons
are: 1) I cannot afford medical fees for pets, 2) I have no one who would look
after a cat if I have to be away for a while, 3) I feel I have no right to
control any animals’ lives (Why make them domesticated or restrict their worlds
against their wills just because I like their company?) I don’t mind any
animals using my garden as their sleeping dens or their playing field as long
as we can respect each other and live together happily and peacefully.</div>
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The cat has been doing fine. Now it does not run away when I
go out putting my laundry up on line. I noticed that its left eye is badly damaged.
Probably it’s a result of a fight or something. I don’t feed it because of the
reasons mentioned the above, but it does not look starving. I usually find it
sleeping most of the day, so it must be a proper stray who does not have to go
along with humans’ lifestyles.</div>
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Yesterday, my next-door neighbour was asking me what I was
doing when I was refilling the water container for the cat. I explained the
above, and she wasn’t happy at all. She complained that a cat (not sure which
cat, though) peed near her back door. (No cat does such a thing on my back door!)
She complained that her little dog often had to bark too much at night because
he smells and senses the presence of other animals in their back garden. Then,
she said that that the cat shouldn’t be around here because it looks scruffy.
(She shows no compassion for the cat’s damaged eye. She talks as if such a cat
shouldn’t exist or shouldn’t show itself up in front of her!!!)</div>
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Well, I wasn’t amused with her comments and attitude, so I
told her that I don’t take the cat in only because I can’t afford a pet, not
because it looks scruffy/dirty/ugly. I don’t really understand this woman. After
her first dog died, she started giving milk to a cat in her back garden, and
then started shooing the cat madly as soon as she got a new dog. She is
supposed to be a Christian who goes to her church every Sunday and read the
Bible every night. I once read in the Bible said that the god ordered the
humans to be in charge of the other animals. So, she might believe that she
could do whatever she wants to animals. But does the god also told the humans
to look down on creatures who are in less unfortunate circumstances? So much for the country of animal lovers!!!!!!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Anyway, my girls and I named the cat “Kuro-chan”, and we
will keep being friends with it whatever the neighbour says.</div>
Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-73763181370979683602012-09-04T19:49:00.001+01:002012-09-04T19:49:09.635+01:00What I did this summer<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I think I should write what’s been going on around me this
summer. (I know, the British summer ended at the end of August, but it’s still
like summer here, so…)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Well, I made kitchen curtains. All hand stitched!! (No
sewing machine in this house, it just means.) Found a lovely piece of printed
cotton curtain fabric online and cut & stitched by hand. It’s a kind of café
curtains with metal ring clips. It was a tedious job, but I actually enjoyed
this little challenge. Now my kitchen looks 1000 times prettier! (Still
cluttered, though…)</div>
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My girls and I went to Belfast to watch a Bollywood film “Cocktail”.
This was our very first big-screen Bollywood experience. It was during
weekdays, so there were only eight people in the cinema, including us. Actually
it was one of the best cinema experiences I have ever had! Everyone should
watch a Bollywood film at cinema at least once before they die! It’s
entertainment, entertainment, entertainment!</div>
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We also went to Ulster Museum for special dinosaur exhibition
and Leonard Da Vinci exhibition. It was nice to see and feel real (and fake)
fossils, and there were quite many little boys who were scared to see the
moving growling dinosaur models! Da Vinci’s drawing was very very very
interesting. I am glad that I had a chance to see them with my own eyes! Everyone
knows this, but the man is a real genius, indeed.</div>
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My biggest change for this summer was my eating habit. I
started intermittent fasting after watching BBC2’s Horizon programme (the title
was… “Eat, Fast and Live Longer”, probably). All the explanations in the
programme were quite reasonable, so I decided to try it myself just to see how
healthy I could become. So, I have been doing 2 day fasting (= acutally 500cal
per day) and 5 day normal eating each week. Mondays and Thursdays are my
fasting day because it suits my life style and the Qu’ran mentions it, too. (No,
I don’t do any religions. It’s just a lovely coincidence.) Eating only 500cal a
day is not actually difficult. Of course I don’t do anything strenuous on my
fasting days, but I feel mentally sharper and disciplined. I don’t know what’s
going on with inside my body, but I have lost about 2kg without struggling or
feeling deprived. Now I don’t crave sweet stuff too much, which I am happy
about. I found a new routine that I really liked. So, I will continue this as
long as I am healthy.</div>
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During this summer, I suddenly came up with an idea for a fiction.
No, I won’t tell you anything about it, but I’d like to develop the idea when I
am not too busy this autumn and winter. It’ll be nice if I can write some kind
of decent fiction before I die. Can’t imagine myself earning anything from
this, though.</div>
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Now it’s September, but the weather has become like proper
summer at last! It means I have to tidy the gardens while it is dry and sunny.
If anyone wants to join me for gardening, you are welcome as long as you do
what I tell you without any moaning! </div>
Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-38203093884668487012012-06-26T20:39:00.000+01:002012-06-26T20:39:13.303+01:00Forget the Olympic games and all the other 2012 hassles! I've got so many things to do!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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It's been such a long time since the last time I wrote anything here.
Amazing.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I thought I would have more free time after finishing the short Open
University course, but I was totally wrong! My luck came, and I bagged a couple
of juicy long-term translation projects. (It won't make me rich, but it is the
most enjoyable projects I have ever done. The blokes from the translation
company are super nice, too! Lucky me!) So, I had been working full-time, and I
am now dying for some creative writing/painting/sculpting. <br />
<br />
Also, I passed the OU course! I really wanted to know how much I could do
academically outside Japan, so I am pleased with the result. There are so many
things I learned from the course: critical thinking, academic writing, etc. I
am now more confident when I discuss (or argue about) anything in English.
Probably I am more persuasive (and pig-headed).<br />
<br />
There has been a bit of drama going on in my family. My father suffered pneumonia,
and his doctors found out he had heart conditions. He is in a good hand and
will have a surgery this summer. So, all of us are supporting him, and each
other, of course. I have an experience of living with a heart patient, so I
know what my mother is going through now. In a way, my experience was worth it
because I can give my parents mental and emotional support without causing them
any unnecessary upset and struggles. Fingers crossed. Touch wood, too.<br />
<br />
My kids' summer holiday is starting tomorrow, and of course I am moaning
about it already! Well, we are planning to go to Ulster Museum for dinosaurs
and Leonard Da Vinci exhibitions. Of course I want a little bit of retail
therapy in Belfast and probably want a slice of lovely cake and coffee at
Avoca. Also, I'm thinking about buying nice fabric to make curtains for my
kitchen, which could be a bit difficult for me who do not have a sewing machine
but I am up for another challenge!<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-18557170342553656902012-03-23T20:53:00.002+00:002012-03-23T20:53:40.127+00:00Yes, the British are fair and tolerant, aren't they?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had one of the most incredible heated discussions with a
woman who lives in this town today.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All she told me was some black people overcrowding a few
houses in the neighbourhood, and she said that they all came from the south
(Republic of Ireland) illegally. Then, she says that it’s not fair that black
people were allocated to the newly refurbished Housing Association houses in
the neighbourhood. Then, she went on to tell me that some of the foreigners who
live next doors to her daughter’s house use a caravan in the garden for sleeping.
Then, she started talking extremely suspiciously about a white van which my
next-door neighbour had brought a couple of weeks ago, just because she doesn’t
know he got the van. Yes, this neighbour is a foreigner.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She did nothing but badmouthing foreigners, so I felt sick
in the stomach. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I asked her where she heard all the stories, she didn’t
tell me any answer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I asked who said such stories, she said “councillor”. (Well,
those right wing fascists, I’m sure.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I asked her if she had spoken to those foreign people,
she didn’t give any answer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I asked her why she thought foreigners should live in
shacks, she started saying that she didn’t discriminate anyone for the colours
of their skins.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I asked where those foreign people originally come
from, she did not have a clue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I asked what kinds of visa status those foreign people
have, she did not have a clue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I asked why she talked ill of black people all the
time, she denied it. (But every time she mentions black people, it’s all about
negative stuff. I heard that she once looked horrified to see my big girl
walking with her black friend.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, I kept telling her that not all foreigners were bad
and it was very unfair of her to judge people on the colours of their skins. Also,
I told her more than a dozen times that she was very unfair and accusing people
without any proof.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, I told her all those to her face.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No wonder quite many local kids are xenophobic.</div>Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-79066223000352365612012-03-06T18:11:00.000+00:002012-03-06T18:11:05.557+00:00Our mouths are made for eating, not for speaking.I don't know why, but some of our family members have too many accidental spoonerism kind of embarrassing moments. It's been quite bad for these few days, and here are some:<br />
<br />
We noticed a new bigger clock inside a barber's shop. Then, my wee one said, "You know, that Turkish barber's big cock..."<br />
Yes, she forgot to pronounce "l". Since then, I haven't been able to put my face towards the shop's glass wall just in case I make an eye contact with the barber and burst into laughing... <br />
<br />
We were talking about a TV show "Take Me Out", and my wee one said, "Paddis McGuinny". She meant "Paddy McGuinness", of course...<br />
<br />
We were watching a TV programme on exercise, and it was talking about walking. Then, I said, "Peado-meter" when I meant "Pedometer"... My big girl told about this to her friends at school, and now they think that I am cute!!!<br />
<br />
You see, we don't need to drink alcohol or hire a clown to have a laugh. We always manage to surprise and entertain ourselves just by opening these big gobs.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-19267237683985441632012-03-05T21:09:00.002+00:002012-03-05T21:11:19.696+00:00Yeast in the air? That's what you call gobsh*te!I made new sourdough starter a couple of weeks ago, and the first batch of bread was a big success! My correspondence course is coming near to the end, and I can't wait to do something creative in my spare time for a change. I can't wait, so I didn't wait, and that's why I re-started sourdough baking. I still have one more essay to write, though!<br />
<br />
Anyway, here is one BIG myth about sourdough that I have been wanting to tell the world: <b>FLOUR AND WATER MIXTURE DOES NOT BECOME SOURDOUGH STARTER BY CATCHING YEAST IN THE AIR, BUT IT SIMPLY FERMENTS BY ITSELF!!!</b><br />
<br />
Want a proof? Mix water and flour to make a small ball of firm dough and place it in an airtight container. Then, leave it in a warm place for a few days. You WILL see something going on in the dough. That's how I created my own starter, you know.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-68063317477613989832012-01-24T11:16:00.000+00:002012-01-24T11:16:49.891+00:00Social science, winter holiday and the Green BookIt's already 2012, and my last post was... about 2-3 months ago. So, here's a bit of my update:<br />
<br />
Still working as a freelance translator and still not earning as much as I'd like to, but started an introductory social science course at the Open University from November. Why? Well, I wanted some kind of a new challenge, and wanted to learn social science-related matters "properly". So, decided to jump into the world of academic study. I was really really really scared that my ever-deteriorating brain might not be good enough for academic purpose, but, to my surprise, I've been doing fine. Telephone tutoring is great. My tutor is very nice, and I love asking him questions, learning from him, discussing the topics, etc. Written assignment was my biggest worry, because I wasn't sure if I could write academic essays in English. But I'm doing fine. Probably work experience and several popular science books helped. I'd like to continue studying to get a certificate, but I'm not sure if I can. It all depends how much money I can spare for myself. Fingers crossed.<br />
<br />
Survived another Christmas/New Year season! I don't mind spending such "special" days, but the preparation was still the biggest headache. But with this country in deep recession, many people seemed to scale down their celebrations. Didn't hear much boasting and bragging about big presents and luxury treats this year, which made my life easier. But still I don't like this materialistic season...<br />
Had a very unusual New Year's Eve. I was at the next-door with two elderly ladies. They were alone, so I was invited. I wanted to welcome the New Year with my girls, but I was drinking Bailey's and and hugging two grannies instead... What a way to welcome a New Year!<br />
<br />
Currently I am reading the Green Book. You know, the book by the deceased Gaddafi bloke. I have such strange book lying around in my house, and I thought that I should read it at least once just to see what was in his mind and what went wrong in him. Guess what? I don't agree with several things that he wrote, but now I see him as human. The more I read, the less I can distinguish the difference between him and other politicians of the past and the present, including those current world leaders who detest him. Well, I will keep an open mind about this big man of Africa.<br />
<br />
Well, not sure what's in store for 2012, but wish that life will be more hopeful and brighter this year for everyone!Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-85421457238048353842011-11-10T19:41:00.001+00:002011-11-10T20:00:01.724+00:00Summer 2011Hope you've been doing fine!<br />
<br />
It's been a long time since I posted anything meaningful here, and my excuses for this long absence are... "Wasn't in a mood", "Too busy trying to earn a few pennies", "Taken up a course", "Too angry to write", etc.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I tried my first acrylic painting, and here is the completed one:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhN54YnkHY1ZABmX4NzmduPs6_0KNDKoYGEo0KHjof-xgduaOist9K1Dle-hy93EEAkt9mcAWj13KrBKqnwVv_1UZPcjCK73OgBNipiE-bMuKpUioCUq-pcidB4nPxCgXflvch/s1600/SSA53243-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhN54YnkHY1ZABmX4NzmduPs6_0KNDKoYGEo0KHjof-xgduaOist9K1Dle-hy93EEAkt9mcAWj13KrBKqnwVv_1UZPcjCK73OgBNipiE-bMuKpUioCUq-pcidB4nPxCgXflvch/s320/SSA53243-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I guess you are staring at the screen and saying "What the f... ?", soI should explain a bit. All the things in the picture are what I saw this summer in London:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Flowers at the top</b> (including the red one with white outline)<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the tiles of Islamic world at Victoria
& Albert museum. Since I was little, I have always been attracted to the
Middle Eastern and Central Asian stuff and I spent quite a long time in the
Islamic section in the museum.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Purple dots and grey sky</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ceiling in our favourite café
where me and my big girl eat Arab food and my wee one has fish and chips.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Flowers at the bottom</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gold flowers on a headdress from an
excavated tomb in Afghanistan. I paid £10 to see a special exhibition at the
British Museum, which was worth more than £100!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Profile with red outline</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of many wet specimens at
Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons. It is a right section of a child’s face, which
was dyed to show the tumour inside the nose, but the dye ended up colouring the
whole skin and the face looked as if he died only 5 minutes ago. (He lived in 19<sup>th</sup>
century, I think…) We joined a free guided tour at the museum, which was very
very very good. (Yes, I’m a nerd:)) )<br />
I painted the profile without much detail to remember that we visited Tate
Modern to see contemporary art. The red line kind of suggests that his face was sliced in half.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Blue lady on the centre-right and rainbow on the left</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
London Pride (gay parade) and the air kiss I got from the bloke in sparkling
blue dress and blue make-up, of course;) The rainbow is not like a natural
rainbow because it is meant to be a huge long cloth that filled the whole
street during the parade.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Hand and clown at the bottom-right, and potted plant at the top-left corner</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We went
to Barbican Gallery to see a special exhibition on animation, and The Hand by a
Czech animator Jiri Trinka was the most memorable and impressive for all three
of us. I should have taken you to the exhibition! It was fantastic!!! After
coming home, I managed to get hold of the DVD which contains "The Hand" and other
short animation works! Thanks to the DVD, now I’m reading <i>The Good Soldier Svejk</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Girl on slope</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We spotted her while eating sandwiches on a bench
in Kensington Gardens. She must have been only 3-4 years old, and she was with
her mother and another set of mother + little daughter. The girl suddenly
started making a yoga pose in front of us, while strolling behind her mother,
which was very comical. (Her mother looked a posh upper-middle class who eats organic food and practises yoga.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the painting, I just let her grab the rainbow.
Wanted her to bring down the world in a way that no adults could ever do. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Pink glasses</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Worn by a heroine of the film we watched in
London. The film was made by a Chinese-New Zealander woman and the title is “My
Wedding and Other Secrets”, which was a special screening at a New Zealand Film
Festival. One of the actresses made a speech before the film!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My girls instantly figured out what each thing in the painting was, so I'm quite happy about the result. I didn't know painting can be so time-consuming, but it was great fun!</div>Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-24866665440080943582011-10-08T20:45:00.003+01:002011-10-08T20:45:39.129+01:00Just let you know...... I still exist:)<br />
<br />
Haven't posted anything for the last several weeks. Well, I have been busy with work (Long hours but not much earning, actually. That's life.) and painting (I'll upload a pic when it is finished). Because of those 2 things plus my family life, I haven't got my energy left for anything else.<br />
<br />
See you soon! <br />
<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-89662946579950715882011-06-22T21:13:00.000+01:002011-06-22T21:13:05.704+01:00Mm...My girls are growing, and now my wee one (12) is taller than my big girl (14)!<br />
<br />
Should I invent new nicknames for this blog?Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-28264251212023047582011-06-18T23:12:00.000+01:002011-06-18T23:12:38.830+01:00Happy B****y Father's Day!It's Father's Day tomorrow, and this afternoon I paid for Father's Day's card + present for a man who has a lovely stepdaughter-to-be. I didn't even know that I had paid for those stuff until this evening, and I haven't even met him in my life.<br />
<br />
The thing was, my wee one was with her best friend all day today, and she asked me for £2 to buy something from a shop which was to close in 5 minutes. I had no time for interrogation, and handed over the money to her ungrudgingly, which wasn't really what I usually do.<br />
<br />
After my wee one 's friend went home, I asked my wee one what she got from the shop. She answered,<br />
"A (= her friend) wanted to get something for her mum's fiance for tomorrow's Father's Day, so she bought a card and a little present."<br />
<br />
I'm not angry with anyone, but please someone tell me why I always end up helping out people of better financial positions on my rainy days??Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-84171273243433079042011-06-14T21:31:00.000+01:002011-06-14T21:31:05.240+01:00I've been quiet recently, but...... it's been bit tougher than usual recently.<br />
<br />
First, my contract with an Indian company ended in mid May. They said that this was due to the stabilization of their business with Japan and they were currently focusing on getting more clients from other Asian countries. So, they had now very few job for me and they had no reason to keep me. They also said that the end of the contract did not mean good-bye, and they would get in touch with me when any suitable projects came up in future. It would be nice if I can work for them now and again, but I don't wait for them, though. I've been doing some little jobs on the net (nothing illegal or filthy, don't worry!) while trying to find new clients.<br />
<br />
So, it means I have less income. Pity. But what can I do? I'll just keep looking and keep trying. But one good thing: the house and the gardens are bit tidier (miracle!) and I have a time for baking and writing. Seems that the creative part of my brain has been switched on again, which is nice. I have been baking sourdough loaves one a week, and cook more variety of dishes. I even have a time to sit with my girls in the evening. Lovely.<br />
<br />
So, I've had a few moments of proper quality time with my girls. After a barbecue with my girl and my wee one's friend, A, on one Friday, 3 of us decided the next day to go for a long walk to the cemetery where their granny and granda were buried. I had promised that we would walk to the cemetery (about 40 min on foot?) last summer because the last visit was when my girls were toddlers. But with the bad weather and my workload, I couldn't keep the promise. But it was a gorgeous day on that Saturday and we enjoyed the walk. We had such a nice time that we decided to repeat it on another fine Saturday so that we can tidy and the family grave.<br />
<br />
On the way home from the cemetery, we bravely went inside of a halal shop and found quite many nice Asian food stuff including baklava. Glad that we have one more favourite shop in the town.<br />
<br />
Must go and make a dough for tomorrow's bread baking.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-8417302405327705252011-06-06T10:03:00.000+01:002011-06-06T10:03:15.711+01:00Mooncup: A beginner’s review<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:RelyOnVML/> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;">If you would not like to read women’s stuff, please go to another page NOW.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mooncup is very little known in this country, even though being sold by a UK company. This menstrual cup is, in short, a reusable silicon cup that catches discharge inside vagina. An alternative for sanitary towels and tampons. All you need is one Mooncup. So, no need to keep spending your money for buying hundreds of packets of pads and tampons, and also no need to contribute polluting the environment by such disposable sanitary goods.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sounds good? I guess many of you have apprehension. Would Mooncup be as good as testimonials in its official website? Would it hurt? Would it leak? Isn’t it expensive? Is it hygienic? Would it messy to handle? Well, such questions popped up in my head, but I plucked up courage and bought one. So, here is my personal review of Mooncup.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Price</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Mooncup is £21.99 at Boots, and around £17 – 18 on the net. Yes, it’s not a kind of stuff that you buy just because it caught your eyes in a shop by chance. It looks horribly expensive especially when it is sitting beside a price sign for other sanitary goods such as “Buy 2 for £2”. If you live on the dole, such a price puts you off to start using a Mooncup, of course. BUT, one Mooncup lasts for many years (unless you lose it), and it won’t take you long to spend £22 for sanitary goods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, it is not really expensive.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Size</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Mooncup is available in two sizes: A and B, but it is very easy to choose one that is right for you. No need to measure anything, no need to calculate anything. Just with your age and birth experience, you pick your size.</div><div class="MsoNormal">After opening the box, the first thing I thought was “Wow, bigger than I thought!” But the thing is, I actually don’t know the exact anatomy of my body inside. So, no wonder I was surprised. After all, I gave birth to two babies. So, a Mooncup is not big really.</div><div class="MsoNormal">How to use</div><div class="MsoNormal">One thing that I like about Mooncup is that it shouldn’t go deep inside your body. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I guess some of women/girls, who, for example, have never been examined for gynaecological/obstetrical reasons, might not like the idea of inserting an object inside. But for those who do not become too nervous or embarrassed to examine the parts by themselves, and who have given births, there shouldn’t be any big problems. All you have to do is practise to get used to this new device. It might take a few tries until you feel confident using your Mooncup. But it’s a kind of skill that you quickly learn by a bit of experience. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Leakage?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">I bet the biggest worry for everyone is leakage. In my case, there were 3 leakages during the first time. But it happened during the heaviest days, and each was just a very tiny stain (and fortunately I was wearing a small sanitary towel).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Compared to the days I used conventional towels, my clothes are much cleaner with Mooncup.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Comfortable?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Yes, definitely. I often forget it was in the middle of my period when I used my Mooncup, because I don’t feel a thing while wearing it and also because my skin is clean and dry. It is fine while exercising, sleeping, running, etc. I feel liberated, indeed, and I’m not exaggerating about this feeling of freedom. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Messy?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Yes, if you count emptying bloody discharge into toilet/drain as messy. But definitely NO to me. It is handy if you have a sink next to a toilet so that you can rinse your Mooncup while sitting on the toilet. But I was absolutely fine even in public toilets. You will soon get used to handling the cup, surely. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>My verdict</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m sure that my Mooncup will stay with me for another several years. I do understand various kinds of apprehensions and I don’t want to be pushy, but I recommend any women to have a try. The price and availability are a main issue, surely. Big supermarkets such as Tesco seem not keen to stock Mooncups. Also, the “disposable” culture and current economic climate, which hinder eco-friendlier life, does not encourage women to start using them. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anyway, thanks for reading this much. </div>Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-51469442119181905142011-05-10T22:51:00.000+01:002011-05-10T22:51:38.320+01:00Bonjour!Today, I wasted my whole evening by helping my wee one with French pronunciation. French oral exam will be on tomorrow, you see. Yesterday my big one corrected her little sister's French writing.<br />
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Guess what? I have never learned French at school. Never owned a textbook, either. My knowledge of French (words/phrases and pronunciation) comes from my favourite films and music plus a general phonetics course at university. <br />
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Probably I was a French-speaking person in my former life... ?<br />
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Oh my goodness, I haven't done the washing-up yet!!! Kids are in bed now, so I have to do it. It's my bed time, you know.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-86301105921951218292011-05-05T07:50:00.000+01:002011-05-05T07:50:02.094+01:00Hello from AI have changed the title of this blog page, as you've already noticed. Why? I was watching a programme on libel cases on BBC last night, and thought that I shouldn't put my real name on my blog if I didn't wanted to tone down my bitchiness.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-61749966477813650252011-05-02T21:49:00.000+01:002011-05-02T21:49:35.185+01:00On the death of a very famous Saudi manDoesn't history clearly show us that a violent revenge generates another bundle of hatred and violence? Surely the world is not a safer place yet. It just proved that some people are blood thirsty for revenge, that's all. As far as I know, revenge does not give birth to any kind of peace.<br />
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And what sort of responsibility will US take for the consequences?Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-29365286466126069802011-04-13T20:14:00.000+01:002011-04-13T20:14:25.567+01:00Cold, broadband and MooncupIt's been quite a while since I wrote about myself here. <br />
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This week is quite stressful, thanks to myself not trying hard enough to recover from a cold that I had 2 weeks ago. Yes, "2 weeks" ago. But I mowed the lawn during the weekend when I felt the worst, and I did not take a day off during the week. So, I ended up having a cold sore when I started feeling better. Oh well. On top of that, I did not go to bed early for many nights, including the nights US Masters (golf) was on. But last night, I went to bed at 22:30 like a good girl, and today I have more energy! I hope that I will feel healthy again in a day or two.<br />
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It's quite annoying today, thanks to the broadband connection at home. While working away with a task, which required internet connection, my IE started loading at a snail's speed. Restarting the router did not fix it, and switching off everything (the laptop + the router) for a few minutes did not work, either. Strange that some pages get loaded quicker than the others. Anyway, my laptop says something about DNS (or something sounds like DNS), and the internet started working normally while I was trying to google the problem. So, it's nothing to do with my laptop or router, I guess. Afterwards, the same problem happened again, but it was solved when I restarted the router. Broadband is working OK now, I'm quite stressed.<br />
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But one good thing.<br />
<span style="color: red;">(Caution! The following is about gynaecological stuff. So, if you are squeamish or if you become easily embarrassed/offended with this kind of topic, go to another page RIGHT NOW. )</span><br />
I bought a thing called <a href="http://www.mooncup.co.uk/">Mooncup</a> from Boots a few days ago. It's a reusable silicon menstrual cup that women can use instead of sanitary towels and tampons. I remembered reading about it, and decided to give it a try, because it is eco-friendly and more hygienic than other sanitary products. I was skeptical about it first because almost all the testimonial and reviews sounded quite positive. But after reading an extremely bad (and stupid-sounding) review in amazon.co.uk, which must have been written by a person/company who felt Mooncup was a threat, I decided to give it a try. It's day 1 of using it now, and I feel great. Just insert a Mooncup inside you, and you don't feel anything! Taking it out and emptying the content can look gross to some people, but I have no problem with that. I feel clean all day and I'm happier than I expected. So far, so good. (I will write about this again in a week's time, to give a proper review.)Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-91825227718016359292011-04-01T15:04:00.002+01:002011-04-01T19:52:16.893+01:00Japan earthquake: Fundraising abroad (Translated version of the previous post)I had been frustrated with the fact that I couldn’t do anything but personal donations for the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. But things changed yesterday. <br />
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The Japan Society of Northern Ireland started fundraising events for the British Cross’s Japan Tsunami Appeal all around the country. They have so far done it in places such as Belfast and Ballymena, where it could cost quite a lot for 3 of us to travel. It’s really more practical for us to donate such travel money to the Red Cross. So, we did not go. But after hearing that the society would take part in a multi-cultural event for a fund-raising at a shopping centre in my town, I decided to help them out. (My boss at work had no problem about me not working yesterday afternoon/evening. He is quite caring. My contract is “No work, no pay”, but I’m still grateful that he did not grumble about me going.) <br />
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The Japan Society placed their table at the best location inside the shopping centre, and set up an origami workshop. Ladies in Yukata (light kimono), me and non-Japanese helpers were carrying buckets for collection and trays/baskets with origami paper cranes (to give one each to people who donated money), and waiting for shoppers. Of course those beautiful ladies in exotic costumes attracted the locals. Threatened with the prospect of myself being totally useless just in a T-shirt and a pair of jeans, I decided to get my girls who were just home from school and moved my location to the entrance/exit of Tesco just across the ladies. Standing with junior-high kids and being weird with my bright red hair and blue nails, quite a few shoppers dropped coins in my collection bucket. Probably as many as the beautiful ladies in Yukata! There were quite many kids, whose parents were shopping on the way home from school runs, and they fell in love with paper cranes, and there were quite many faces I know from the town. So, the bucket was heavier than expected by the end of 3 hour collection activity.<br />
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I think that I said a year’s worth of “Hello” and “Thank you” during the afternoon. Also, I smiled and chit-chatted with people who donated money for more than 1 hour in total. So, my mouth was tired much more than my feet! Provably I could earn a lot every night if I changed my career and worked at a drinking place. (No chance with this appearances and age, of course….)<br />
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Anyway, the ladies from the Japan Society are so enthusiastic and fantastic. I usually don’t give a **** about nationality and ethnicity. But I’m very grateful that they let me join their fundraising event.<br />
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<u>Postscript (at 19:50)</u><br />
While collecting for the Red Cross, I spotted one of the eejits whom I mentioned in <a href="http://silly-talk.blogspot.com/2006/08/had-bad-time-but-im-ok-now.html">the post in 2006</a>. This elderly eejit fancies only Asian girls/women (I mean, the South-East Asia and the Far East), and even stayed in the Philippines to live with young women (not much older than my big girl!), which was on TV. His brain is so hopelessly malfunctions that he clearly said on TV "It's OK to live with them (the Filipino girls who were underage)" and "Women of this part of the world knows how to look after men", which made me angry and sick. Why does the God let him live?<br />
Anyway, yesterday he never had guts to turn his face towards me in the shopping centre yesterday, certainly because I shouted and threatened him in person never to come near me and my girls about 4.5 years ago. Instead, he was chatting and laughing with the ladies in Yukata for 2-3 minutes before putting coins in a bucket. Oh, how much I wanted to shout "He is a paedo! Run away from him!" in Japanese!!Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-51471430858640333242011-04-01T14:36:00.001+01:002011-04-03T13:23:24.847+01:00東日本大震災:海外での募金活動東日本大震災の地震・津波以来、個人的な募金を通じてしかお手伝いできないことにイライラしていましたが、昨日ようやく他のこともできるように。<br />
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北アイルランド日本協会がイギリス赤十字の"Japan Tsunami Appeal" のための募金活動を各地で始めました。これまでにBelfastやBallymenaなど、「週末だけど、時間がとれない」、「うちら3人分の交通費を募金に回したほうが被災者の方々のためになるのでは?」というお粗末な言い訳しかできませんでした。でも、近所のショッピングセンターで開催の国際文化イベントに参加という形で募金活動をすると聞きつけ、昨日の午後、仕事をキャンセルして参加させてもらいました。(取引先のインド人ボスは家族とか慈善活動とかを優先させてくれる人なので、半日休暇のOKをもらいました。フリーなので有給無しですが、感謝しています。)<br />
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日本協会はショッピングセンターの一番いい場所を陣取り、手際よくテーブルを整え、折り紙ワークショップを開催。浴衣姿のお姉さんたちと私や地元の北アイルランド人を含めたその他は、集金用バケツと募金のお返しの折鶴を載せたトレイや籠と持って買い物客を待ちうけ。やっぱり浴衣姿のきれいな女性に人気があり、このままではTシャツとジーンズ姿の私は用無しになりそうと危機感(?)を感じ、浴衣の人たちの反対側のスーパーの入り口へ学校から帰ってきた娘たちと移動。子供連れということと、赤い髪と青いマニキュアのケバイ姿がが功を奏して(?)、浴衣姿のきれいなお姉さんたちに負けないぐらいの数の買い物客が寄ってきました。学校帰りの家族連れは子どもが折鶴を欲しがるし、知り合いだの顔見知りだのが思ったより沢山買い物に来ていたので、3時間の募金活動が終わる頃は、バケツは予想以上に重くなっていました。<br />
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昨日の午後だけで、1年間分の"Hello" と"Thank you"を言ったような気分に。それプラス、募金をしてくれた人たちの会話もニコニコしながら合計1時間以上はしたし、足よりも口のほうが疲れてしまいました。これならバーのホステスに転向すれば毎晩大稼ぎできるかしらと思うくらいの話しぶりで(この容姿と年齢では雇ってもらえないよね…)。<br />
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とにかく、熱心な日本協会の皆さんには頭が上がりません。普段は国籍とか民族とか関係なく行動する私ですが、募金活動に参加させてもらい、感謝しています。Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-66600091468669386802011-03-16T09:20:00.001+00:002011-03-18T21:33:23.728+00:00東日本大震災:海外の報道にご注意を世界中で今回の地震や津波、原発事故のニュースが報道されていますが、海外の報道内容が扇動的になってきたので、ご注意ください。<br />
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地震発生当初は正確な情報の提供に努めていたようですが、最近になって、「…かもしれない」「…のようにみられる」、「おそらく…」というような推論が事実のなかにたくさん紛れ込んでいるコメントばかりしています。教養のない井戸端会議の会話並みです。原発関係のニュースは、現状の事実よりも、最悪の可能性ばかり述べていて、被災者に対する責任感は見られません。<br />
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日本では政府や国内のメディアに対する信頼が薄れたと耳にしましたが、入手できない情報を推論に置き換えて発表していないだけましです。<br />
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海外のメディアの口調は、日本のよりもはっきりしているよう聞こえますが、決してすべてが事実ではないのでご注意を。Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-42731081322590480352011-03-14T07:55:00.000+00:002011-03-14T07:55:00.089+00:00Quick updateI heard that my friend and her family in Sendai city were safe. Good news.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-19937691216378183542011-03-13T20:41:00.000+00:002011-03-13T20:41:12.064+00:00This is the time for implementing practical help/support, not for praying.Right. I should write about the earthquake, which turned me upside down even when I was 6000 miles away on Friday.<br />
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Not physically upside-down, of course. <br />
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Getting in touch with my family in Tokyo, Chiba and Hokkaido wasn't instantly done, but they sent me emails within a few hours. So, it was OK. But the current concern is my university friend and her family who live in Sendai city. She is a senior high-school teacher. So, I guess she was at school when the quake struck, and her daughter could be at a nursery school. She hasn't got in touch with me and the other friends yet. Probably they are at an evacuation centre or they might be still looking for each other. I am trying to think positively about her and her family, knowing that it could take several more days for them to be able to contact anyone other than their immediate families. Still, I must admit that I am worried about their well-being. <br />
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All I can do now is make a donation to Japan Tsunami Appeal of the British Red Cross, which I did yesterday. Gathering every little piece of information on TV news and the internet, I've now started thinking that what more I can do to help Japan and its people. I'm not a patriotic kind of person, and I don't give a toss about my nationality. But people in Japan are the one who fed me and brought me up to make me what I am, which I'm very grateful about. So, this is my time to make decent contributions to the country and its people by whatever ways possible. I don't know what I can do. I don't know how much, either. But there should be something. So, I will be thinking until I find something.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-32754363503385028902011-03-09T22:53:00.000+00:002011-03-09T22:53:43.036+00:00Still tired, but...... I'm surviving alright. <br />
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Still stressed and tired. But life goes on. Actually I don't remember many of the things that happened since the last time I wrote. But let me remember...<br />
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Misery.<br />
Yes, the file that stars Cathy Bates. We watched the DVD on Saturday night. I had forgotten quite many little details, so I could enjoy it as if watching a new film. My girls loved it, even though my wee one needed to sleep in my bed afterwards. <br />
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I'm a teacher now. <br />
No, no, not a proper one, of course. I have no diploma/licence to teach. But I was asked to help a young local man learn Japanese, and we had a lesson at a cafe in the town, which went quite well. When he asked, he offered to pay. So, I agreed. No, I didn't say "Yes" because of money. I mean, I was glad that he was serious about learning. Actually I always wanted to do this kind of job, and I liked teaching English to school kids as a part time job when I was a student. So, it's a good opportunity for me. He is a friendly kind of person (well, he wouldn't ask for lessons if he was too shy, surely), and easy to chat with. I hope that he doesn't mind me being not very patriotic.<br />
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Do you buy frozen food during lunch break?<br />
On a frozen food aisle in Tesco, spotted one of the butchers whom I sometimes chit-chatted with. Never expected him in the supermarket during that time of the day, so I thought that he wasn't working that day. Said "Hello" and a bit more to him when walking past him, and his answer was "No, it's my lunch break. But this is not my lunch". No, I did not ask him if the boxes of frozen products were for his lunch. Those must have been for his family. But he sounded defensive enough to make me wonder why he wouldn't buy them after finishing the day's work. I never mentioned anything about what was in his basket, you know. I would have given some sort of remark if I had spotted a packet of bacon in his hand, of course.<br />
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My hair is popular.<br />
Walking down a little lane in the town with my wee one this afternoon. We overtook a family with a cute little girl (probably 2-3 years old). Then, my wee one saw the girl staring at my hair and heard she said "I like her hair". This is the best compliment I've ever had! Yes, my hair is quite noticeable in the crowd, even though there are quite many red-haired women around recently. But a girl as young as her wouldn't say such a thing to flatter someone, you see. I know that many of my girls' friends like my hair, but this little girl put the biggest smile on my face.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-4635300893660407692011-02-25T09:51:00.001+00:002011-02-25T09:52:41.696+00:00So tiredIt's Friday, and it's the only day that I have a bit of freedom this week. So, I'm determined to enjoy it. (But had a very bad start, arguing with my girls and getting myself upset before they left school, Typical me.)<br />
<br />
Well, I was supposed to have an "ordinary" week, but my wee one hurt one of achilles' tendons on Sunday evening. She was limping badly and told me that she heard a loud snap when the accident happened. So, I called an taxi and took her to hospital on Monday morning. Fortunately the tendon wasn't torn. Just bruised. So, the nurse bandaged the foot, and we were out of the hospital in one hour. Very lucky.<br />
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But my wee one became ill with abdominal pain and fever later that day, and was crying with pain the next day. With the sore foot and the illness, she had been off school until yesterday and in my bed at night for nearly a week. I never had a decent sleep during that time, checking on her temperature, waking up when she was tossing and turning, and trying to hold on to the duvet.<br />
<br />
Anyway, the whole week had passed like a storm, and I am physically and mentally battered, indeed. I'm not completely beaten, though. There were a few things to smile about, of course. Let me remember... oh, yes, I was directly told by a man on Saturday that I didn't need to buy food for dieting. And I made a big potful of pork-meatball soup (my girls love it), which my wee one asked for when she was very ill. I managed to get pork mince from the butcher's. Lucky, indeed, that he took a time and minced the meat for me when the shop was full of customers. Why he needed to tell me twice that he had to mince it for me is a mystery, though. Should I have told him "I'm eternally grateful to you" like the wee aliens in Toy Story?? Well, he has earn a few brownie points for the mince and "no need for dieting" remark, actually. He can be nice to me like that all the time if he wants. (Joking, joking.)<br />
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Now I guess I'd better go back to work. Or, should I go downstairs and have a very late breakfast?Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23534677.post-1999261782379091552011-02-17T08:12:00.000+00:002011-02-17T08:12:51.440+00:00Nice to know that I survived the half-term holidayFrom Monday to Wednesday this week, it was a school's half-term holiday. I have been in this country for nearly 16 years, but I still don't understand why schools need such "half-term" holidays. They don't learn much just after exams, they don't learn almost anything during a few days before and after long holidays. So, when do they learn? <br />
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Right. I don't like this half-term thingy. It gets on my nerves because I have to work. It's a miracle that I am still alive today, after 3 days of my kids winding me up. Oh well, that's life. I must enjoy quietness this morning.<br />
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We went to Belfast on Saturday (again!). Actually, I had planned this trip for my wee one's friend who had never been to the city centre. But she became ill and her uncle visited from abroad. So, she couldn't come. We invited another girl, but she couldn't come, either, because her father in Dublin suddenly decided to spend the weekend with her. So, it was only 3 of us who went.<br />
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This time, we visited Ulster Musem in the university area. We LOVED the museum. It's family friendly, no entrance fee, and there were good variety of displays. I do recommend anyone who visits Northern Ireland to pop into the museum. But I must tell you that you wouldn't like it if you don't like children. I mean, there were a few occasions some toddlers and babies crying somewhere in the building, but nobody butted an eyelid. This country is very tolerant towards children, you see.<br />
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One more thing about the museum. Traybakes in the cafe are out of this world! It cost me just over a tenner when I bought 2 coffee, 1 hot chocolate and 3 buns (apple + cinnamon scone, brownies and cherry bakewell slice). But it was worth the money, indeed. I'm sure we will go to the cafe for a break again the next time. <br />
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After the museum, we went into one of the nerdiest bookshop in this country (just across the road from the Queens), and my big girl got a Japanese-learning book, and I got a book on linguistics. My wee one got 3 pens. She looked at the paper bag and said "I feel intelligent now!" <br />
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After walking to the city centre and shopping a bit, we ate at Nando's and headed home. I promised one of the girls who couldn't come with us that I would take her to the museum. <br />
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Note to myself: A friendly staff at Nando's and a Parcelforce delivery man who came here yesterday looked quite similar. Their "chattiness" was kind of identical, too. Are they the same person or related or something?Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03373118560501970891noreply@blogger.com0