New User UI - Testing

So, testing the new Blogger UI.
It wasn't so good  last time

but they advised they've had lots of feedback and ironed out the bugs.

So if this posts successfully, I might make the switch permanently.

Birthday Milestones

So, today I am 40 years old. That's 40, or forty years old. I was born in 1971, an entirely different century. I don't feel any different to yesterday, apart from the fact that I've got the day off and am at home looking after two of the three offspring.

What I'd really like to do is come up with some sort of plan to better myself. A plan that involves washing the car and polishing shoes and ironing shirts, rather than drinking wine. I'd like time to read books, and comics, and current newspapers, and relax over long weekend breakfasts.

Time is such a scant resource, and that's really what I crave. I don't want to have to multi-task. Time to concentrate on individual tasks or activities would be a real gift.

With three young children, that's not really possible. Or, the lifestyle we lead doesn't allow for such luxuries. TW has so many commitments she is constantly running from one appointment to another, with barely time for her feet to touch the floor. There are some weeks where TW is out four nights in a row. I do get to keep up with some great TV shows, like The Walking Dead and True Blood, but I think there's always room for something more.

I suppose that one day the girls will be older and more self-sufficient, or even (I dare to hope) away at University. Then maybe we will have time to relax over long breakfasts with newspapers and freshly-brewed coffee and warm croissants, and ponder whether we should stroll along the seafront, or go into town and maybe have another coffee there?

It sounds like a modest ambition to me...
TTFN.

Early Morning Thoughts

So, here I am again, early morning again, all girls asleep again.

It probably won't be too long until the eldest wanders down and wants to watch Tiny Pop.

I do enjoy these moments of silence, where I can indulge myself. Shame the keys on the laptop click, and the fan makes an audible whirr. Still, this is about four years old now, will probably have to replace it soon.

I'm girding my loins for the day. TW goes off to Spain tomorrow, so I will be large and in charge of three daughters from Thursday to Monday night. Luckily, M & P have offered to host us on Sunday afternoon, for a bbq, and with a bit of Amazon on Saturday afternoon maybe, we might just make it through.

My main worry is cooking for the girls. I hope they like what I serve up. I also hope I don't drink lots of wine in order to get to sleep and then wake up grumpy and hungover for them the next day.

Still, they'll have gymnastics and swimming and grandparents and school, so it's not like I'm the sole entertainer. It'll be fine.

The Longest Day

So,that's it then. The longest day has been and gone. From here it's just a short slide to Christmas and 2012. There's only short days and cold nights to look forward to. Time to break out the winter coats and woolly hats. Where has this year gone?

Reporting Splogs

So, I'm quite pleased today. Back in the day, when I was more circumspect about blogging, I used to have a 'Treb1971' blog account. I moved to this one, and then found out the previous one had been taken over by a splogger promoting alopecia remedies.
I reported the splog on Thursday and find out today it's been taken down. Unfortunately it's not available for new blogs, but I shall be keeping an eye on it.
TTFN.

Happy Blogday!!!

So, it was my Blogday on Tuesday. I think I've been doing this, on & off, for three years.

I've decided that this year I am going to reduce my alcohol intake, and started on Monday with one bottle of Corona and a 35ml serving of Famous Grouse. Certainly beats a bottle of rioja!
On Tuesday I had a Corona and 2x35ml serving of Famous Grouse.
Last night, unfortunately, I had five small glasses of red wine, slightly denting my good intentions. However, TW is starting a Rosemary Conley diet tonight, so I will be a (unwilling?) participant in that, which will reduce my alcohol intake further...
I have a litre of Bowmore which I bought in Portugal, which I was looking forward to getting into, so that's a bit of a shame... Might have to wait until March or so before starting it.
TTFN

The Endless Possibilities

Ahhh, the endless possibilities of starting a new blog. All this empty server space, calling out to be filled... But with what? That is the question. Should I record my life as a high-class callgirl in the throbbing metropolis that we call 'London'? Or perhaps I should log my experiences as an Iraqi living through the wordt of times in the Middle East? I would like to record my own events, but how to make them stand out against the low-level background noise of all the other blogs, calling out for your attention? I could attempt to carefully craft each post, to nuance every word, and wring out all possible meaning from my jottings. Of course, this would mean one post every quarter. I could try to write stream-of-conciousness burble, which might be entertaining for a moment or two. I think the way forward, though, is to have a continuous thread running through out my posts. Whether this means I blog about one subject (e.g., Doctor Who, or toothpaste), or I blog about linked events, I have yet to decide. However, I think I need to make a decision.
TTFN.