Monthly Archives: February 2014

02.12.14
by

I asked my Mum about the flooding in the UK

So my birth mum lives in Somerset right?

Given the media coverage I thought it was appropriate to see how her and the family were coping…

“No – we’re all OK.  Not daft enough to live on a flood plain!  The poor people that do have all my sympathy.  The local farmers are out of business probably for good – even if the water goes away soon, the land won’t be growing anything for a very long time.  Flooding is the norm on the moors (a lot of them are below sea level.  Bridgwater was a port in mediaeval times) but it is a whole lot worse than it need have been because any maintenance was stopped years ago and the powers that be just went on concreting over the countryside.  All water is sent to the drains (as in King Sedgemoor Drain) and rivers which happily get all silted up and they wonder why we now have problems!  It is much the same with the Thames Valley.  I used to work for the Institute of Hydrology in Wallingford and Thames breaking banks was pretty normal as well but since then again, there has been a whole lot more building on green field sites = water sent to river etc. etc. you get the picture.  Currently it is blowing a gale about every three days – we’ve just started the current storm with another lined up for Friday, ain’t British weather wonderful.  Nobody has mentioned it yet, but this is the first year for a very long time we haven’t had a blocking high pressure over Scandinavia in January/February which had the effect of sending everything far north and giving us snow etc.  Can’t wait for summer and drought – trust me, we’ll have a hose pipe ban again!  Do hope you are well, not too many earthquakes etc.  I must say, I am reminded a lot of Wellington with all this wind. ”

I got educated. Quite a lot of information really. Love having a Mensa member for a mother.

02.12.14
by

Mr Ryder and Mr Bracewell

I’ve been mulling the alleged late nights and drinking at inappropriate times of these high-level professional sportspeople over. Hence the delay in this post.

So there was media outrage over the behavior of these two. Perhaps a little judgey but then again, perhaps not.

My take on it is this.

I don’t get why they’d go out on a school night. I don’t get why they’d get trolleyed. I don’t get it because they’re supposedly professional athletes – tasked, focussed and on a mission. Supposedly.

I feel for the Black Caps. They’ve done something remarkable in achieving a test victory over India. And all the talk is about Ryder and Bracewell.

Both have been given multiple chances. Both are actually surplus to requirements now. We have depth.

Cut them loose NZ Cricket. As an organisation you’re moving forward and this Black Caps unit is gelling well, and performing.

The other players don’t need this distraction.

02.11.14
by

Flappy Bird huh?

So. I gave in and downloaded Flappy Bird. Which, as you all now know is no longer available for whatever reason.

Anyway, I was motivated to play this infernal game because my 11 year old son (with whom I am highly competitive when it comes to gaming) got 41 points. In about the same time I was on 14 points.

And would you believe it? By the time I got to 41, he was on 74. 74!!! And he sent me a gloating text message to mock me.

I was driven… Success!!

FlappyBird

I called him to get the glory.

He didn’t care. He’s moved on.

Bloody kids.

02.02.14
by

Open Homes Suck

Well. This was unexpected. I’ve had a pretty major emotional reaction that I am trying to get my head around. I’m grieving and reflecting.

Backstory: My apartment is up for sale. This means I have had to get to to photo-ready cleanliness for the advertising, and then presentation-level cleanliness for the Open Homes. I keep my home tidy for the most part, so it’s not really a huge stretch.

However it’s the first time I have had Open Homes forced upon me. Previous Open Homes in my life have been at my behest and I was a beneficiary of said Open Homes.

Today was the first one. Hopefully, not the first of an endless stream of highly irritating inconveniences, but that depends entirely on the saleability of this place.

One thing that has bothered me is that I have had strangers through my home. Uninvited strangers.

I’ve been here for over 4 1/2 years. In that time my parents have visited twice. My older sister, once. My younger sister, once. People generally don’t visit. This is my sanctuary.  It has become this for a number of reasons.

It is my first ‘me’ place. A place that I made my own. A place that reflects my style and needs (rather than having to say ‘yes dear, you can do that style of decorating in that room’).  This is a place that I have created to be safe and fun for my kids (when they come to stay). In this place I have healed, I have grown. In this place I have rediscovered ‘me’.

People tell me that change leads to a better place. This is of course quite possible. However I suspect that change that I am not managing or in control of leads to upheaval and disruption.

All this may be unnecessary and preemptive but one can’t control when grief hits. This place is way more than walls and a roof.

There is a good chance that it’s purchased by an investor who likes the idea of me being here, in which case life goes on.

Nonetheless, I have not been happy today.