Twittering, Grand Prix weekend, Diabetes 2 cure?

PLEASE NOTE that this is not a diary but an attempt to leave writings intended for future social historians in 2525 and beyond. The 2525 is taken from the song by Zager and Evans,,,,

In the year 2525

If man is still alive

If woman can survive

They may find….. 

I am becoming quite a good social twitt – er. I have been collecting followers lately who seem mostly to be reacting to the fact I have put ‘writer’ in my profile. Now in the shape of things five followers is so minimal as to be almost the same as none. When I go on these ‘followers’ sites they have thousands of followers and follow thousands more. I think they will be most disappointed in me. Still it a bit of fun in my quiet life. I am maybug76 on Twitter.

It’s a Grand Prix weekend so cars squeal across my room today and tomorrow. I can stand it for about half an hour then I disappear upstairs to my bedroom, the only other room I can go to in our small house. Even dog knows not to bother my husband on GP days. Oh yes, it means I have to get the food ready without any help at all, surprised he can find his mouth to eat it! I get so bored with it – yak,yak, yak from the presenters. Still, I suppose it is a male thing - cars.

Had a problem with Google Chrome browser in the Cloud Printing. Tried to start it but it would not work and I got left with an error message that still won’t go away after many tries to reset. Think It won’t work from anything but tablets and phones yet and I shouldn’t have tried it. Have to take it to my IT fellow to mend it.

My weight saga. Not having much to do this week of holiday due to the bad weather I have stuffed myself with goodies. The scales this morning groaned and I screamed. Oh dear, right back were I was a months ago. Weeks ahead on ‘The Plan’ which is supposed not to leave you hungry – BUT DOES.

Interesting news yesterday re Diabetes 2 cure. Due to so many obese people having gastric operations which cut down drastically what they eat, they have found if they had diabetes 2 it went away. So they now think if you starve at about 600 calories a day for about 6 to 8 weeks (Boy, you’d really be hungry) it kick starts the pancreas producing insulin again. The fat around the pancreas had stopped it  and eventually causes the illness. It would be great if something as simple as cutting down calories was a cure. For years they have said don’t eat this or that but this is just the amount you eat. I haven’t had this problem myself but might have had I stayed at the 4 stone heavier that I was. I am now only need to lose half to one stone but have been in this no man’s land for some time now. Must try harder so I am at my best for my Ruby Wedding anniversary in September.

Anniversaries mean  a lot to us in 2011 and I would not be surprised if they still do in 2525. It seems to be a very human thing.

The drama of the new tablet computer

PLEASE NOTE that this is not a diary but an attempt to leave writings intended for future social historians in 2525 and beyond. The 2525 is taken from the song by Zager and Evans,,,,

In the year 2525

If man is still alive

If woman can survive

They may find….. 

I am supposed to be telling you what it is – sorry it was – like in 2011. It is my premise for this blog. I liked the idea because I have no one that will be interested enough to read my doings and happenings so I can make up for it by addressing people in the far future of 2525 and beyond. The good thing is they can’t answer back or criticise. So Here is what we are interested in 2011. Gadgets. Particularly computer type gadgets. Though I like others like my new halogen oven and my electric cheese grater.

I mentioned before that we have exchanged our holiday going out places from home, eating nice meals out and visiting places for – a new tablet computer for my husband. Well….. it’s been raining all week and it is not supposed to get better until next Sunday so …

From the moment that the button was pushed and the tablet computer – an Acer Iconia tab A500  with Android Honeycomb OS – was ordered it’s been - looking up the delivery times, yes it’s been sent, yes its coming tomorrow, I had a voice mail. ‘Jule, it could be here anytime from 8’. ‘I’m taking the dog out don’t have your bath yet.’ ( As it was raining again I had decided to have a long morning soaking in a bubble bath and reading this month Digital Photo mag.).

The morning went by and no delivery van. ‘He’s got lost’. Then my husband went up stairs to the loo. That did it. ‘Jule quick, quick, answer the door, there’s a big green and yellow van outside’. Thank goodness for that. The parcel was soon opened and the tablet put on charge. The rest of the day has been ‘Look at this Jule – come and see this – you must see this, its really great’  only to be presented with a picture of a woman that gradually lost her muscles, blood system and on down to her bones – Oh yes, she revolved as well. ‘Lovely dear’. (OMG)

As I write this at half eleven he is still trying to work it all out as there were absolutely no real instructions at all. I belive you can down load a manual online but that would indubitably be too easy!

Me, I had a short walk with the dog, read my new downloaded book (very sexy) and have been very lazy. I have continued to eat nice holiday things and drink white wine. The latter two thing are usually not allowed as I put on weight very easily. Tomorrow is another day.

Rainy day on our so called holiday at home

PLEASE NOTE that this is not a diary but an attempt to leave writings intended for future social historians in 2525 and beyond. The 2525 is taken from the song by Zager and Evans,,,,

In the year 2525

If man is still alive

If woman can survive

They may find….. 

It has rained and rained all day. We did get as far as PC World/Currys big store in the outskirts of Torquay when the heavens opened. We looked at fridges and then tablet computers. This led to a disaster in the evening of buying a tablet computer for my husband online, one he had seen in the store but cheaper by £50.00. Well I can see this week is going to be wet, wet, wet so the money might just as well go on something tangible and what he wants (We would have to buy it sometime anyway and the money is available now). So I hope the fridge will work OK for a while longer.

Then we went and looked at a big pet store and bought the dog a new water dish that holds a litre of water in an upside down bottle and lets it out gradually and a food mat. Next door is a household store and we bought a glass oven dish to go in our new Halogen Oven. That’s like a big glass bowl with the heater in the roof. We are hoping that it will save on power. So far it seems quite good. I had wanted to go into Torquay proper but by now the rain was, to quote an old saying, stair rodding down so we went back via Newton Abbot stopping at Asda’s to pick up some nice food to cheer us up, pizza and nice bread. I bought a Bra and Phil bought some socks and then – we went home where it rained and rained and as far as I know is still raining.

Dog was not very sure about the new water bowl as she thought the feet on it were toys that she couldn’t get at. She spent the rest of the day barking at it but later did drink from it.

In the evening there was nothing on TV so we watched a silly film on a DVD we bought some years ago and never watched. What was good about it as far as I was concerned was it had George Clooney in it.

Apologies for not writing this blog

PLEASE NOTE that this is not a diary but an attempt to leave writings intended for future social historians in 2525 and beyond. The 2525 is taken from the song by Zager and Evans,,,,

In the year 2525

If man is still alive

If woman can survive

They may find….. 

I have not done too well with this blog for posterity, half a year gone and mostly I have not posted anything even as short as a Tweet! Do you still have Twitter? It is writing a short blog on a web site called – Twitter. You can follow other Tweeters and lately I have followed the presenters of a TV Programme called Spring Watch, about wild life in Britain. Most people have actual friends who follow each other and keep in touch with what’s happening to them. I haven’t got anybody that as daft as me to tweet, well not in my age group of friends. Most of them can hardly use a mobile phone yet. Then my few followers are hoping for some kind of pecuniary happening i.e. to sell me something. I have no idea how they find me but I expect there is a program that if a particular thing is mentioned they latch onto it. But it has gone on to greater things and is part of the worlds happening, particularly in the Middle East revolts along with Facebook, more bloggy. Oh, I am maybug76 on Twitter

So this is not a Tweet, it’s a blog and I people don’t get to hear of a little old lady writing in a small town in southern Britain and I have not kept up with my idea to tell the future about life in 2011. I have brought down my notebook computer from my bedroom as I realised that my downstairs computer is often monopolised by my husband. Today we are technically on holiday but have not gone away. We are supposed to be going out for days but the weather is very rainy and cold for June and so far we have stayed in. Hence not being able to get to the downstairs computer. I am determined to go out for a little bit of retail therapy today, whatever, so have sent husband and dog out for a longer than usual walk and then we can leave her to go to Torquay Shopping or at least window shopping. Torquay is a famous holiday resort and is only just over a couple of hills from home. So I can pretend I have gone away. Actually going to look at refrigerators as we have just discovered ours has a bad cracked casing.

Will try hard to keep in touch from now on even if it only as short as a Tweet

Saint & Sinner

PLEASE NOTE that this is not a diary but an attempt to leave writings intended for future social historians in 2525 and beyond. The 2525 is taken from the song by Zager and Evans,,,,

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find…..

Wow! Two days in a row. Well something pretty momentous happened in the early hours of this morning – well early in Britain.

First I must explain, probably again, that I have my radio on with earphones under my pillow all night long. When I can’t sleep a droning voice sends me back into dreamland. I usually awake several times in the night as I am now nearly 76 and need the bathroom during the night. I awoke this morning about 4.15 a.m. to hear men talking about Osama Bin Laden. Couldn’t make out for a while why it was as not much has been heard of him for some years. Then it was said that the President of the USA was to speak. He made a stunning speech announcing that Osama Bin Laden had been killed. I woke up and took notice.

I turned on my new bedroom TV and sure enough citizens of Washington were already outside the White House shrieking their delight at the news. ( I have to remark that people everywhere look the same when they are demonstrating something, Yells, chants, shaking arms in the air, waving flags and jumping up and down in rhythm.) Anyway they all seemed very happy. To them it was justice for the tragedy of the Twin Towers on 7/11, just under ten years ago. It has taken that long to smoke out the perpetrator.

Today the news broadcasts are full of it but I have been doing other things. (Buying paint.) Do I think it will make any difference to the terrorism in the world? No, not really. As mentioned nothing has been heard of this bogy man for sometime and he was almost forgotten. Obviously not by President Obama which I think was a good thing. Now they say he has been buried at sea so as not to make a martyrs grave to be visited. This latter has not been confirmed at this time of writing. I think it would be a good place for him, the deepest trench they can find! But I expect an upsurge of attacks.

One interesting fact is that he was found in Pakistan not Afghanistan. Something not quite right there.

Other news. Pope John Paul the II was ‘Beatified’ in Rome yesterday. On the road to sainthood – very fast tracked! Not going to give an opinion as I am not a Catholic. However I do understand what the principle is as I attended a convent school in my youth.

I don't want a picture of either saint or sinner so I will give you my latest photo painting called

Meconnopsis

Royal Wedding - Middle East wars - Garden makeover

PLEASE NOTE that this is not a diary but an attempt to leave writings intended for future social historians in 2525 and beyond. The 2525 is taken from the song by Zager and Evans,,,,

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find…..

It will not come as a surprise to anybody that this is my first blog in something like two and a half months, it won’t be a surprise as nobody reads my blog and therefore can’t be missing it! Why have I not been blogging? Partly me and my health which has been a bit on the down side but mostly because everything has been so sad, bad and horrid that I didn’t feel like commenting on it.

I finished on the Arab uprisings which have steadily turned into full blown wars. They don’t call them wars but that is what they are. Deaths and misery in so many places. Libya is the worst and no more than I expected. Syria is not far behind. Some of the other countries do seem to be putting governments together and may come out of it OK but, as I anticipated, the whole of northern Africa on the Mediterranean coast is a powder keg. Last night the ‘no fly zone’ in Libya became a ‘get Gaddafi zone’ They missed him but killed his youngest son and three of his grandchildren. Bad! But how many children and grandchildren have his men killed? Hundreds. They say he was there but they missed him, as we used to say in the war ‘his number was not on it’. As I said it is all to evil and terrible to want to write about it.

USA is suffering from terrible tornadoes that have torn up Alabama and six other states. The President has visited and promised help.

So this weekend we in Britain shared with the whole world something lovely, charming and beautiful. The wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton. It was really gorgeously done. Everything went so well which seem to make most of the country and even the world a happier place – just for one day. They are now to be known as Prince and Princess William of Wales, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Plus a couple of other titles. The only thing that seems to have gone wrong is getting off on their honeymoon. Never mind I am sure they will get plenty of lovely holidays in their life time. I wish them happiness and all the support they will undoubtedly need.

At home we have given our little garden a make over. The decking needed a deep clean after the terrible winter and we have taken down some bushes and so on to make life easier. I have given our gold fish away and filled in the pond to make a raised flower bed. I had a new fence built for privacy and we went out and bought a lot of plants. It cost more than I care to mention but now looks very colourful and pretty.

Really not done much else. Easter has come and gone and so probably has our summer. April has been wonderful sunny weather but now the clouds are back. Actually we need rain. Last year we had a brilliant spring and a lousy summer. Hope its not repeated this year!

Protests in Arab Countries, Referendum, Shopping

PLEASE NOTE that this is not a diary but an attempt to leave writings intended for future social historians in 2525 and beyond. The 2525 is taken from the song by Zager and Evans,,,,

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find…..

‘My Window on the World’ of 4^th Feb 2011 seems to be spot on. The protests in the Middle East have spread to many more countries and I don’t think the growth has ended yet. Two countries have managed to get rid of the top man but others are not finding it so easy. Libya for one has a leader who does not care one jot for his people and is shooting and killing them to try to stop the protests. Last night I listened live to a doctor telling his story with a background of machine gun and other fire rattling away just around the corner. He was there to try to give first aid to the wounded and reported 20 dead that day and over 40 injured that he had seen. He himself risked being shot as the troops or police had no compunction as to who they would shoot.

What frightens me is that the protestants are mostly young because the average age in the Moslem and Arab world is young. These are the very people who will not have the experience to resist the fundamentalists who will seize the chance to convert the masses to their distorted way of Islamic thinking. So we will have country after country learning to hate the western way of life – although they will grab what they want to have of it like technology and weaponry – and we, we will have a real war on our hands, not just a war on terrorism.

Far fetched. No, we of the West are in for a rough ride for if it is not the Islamic fraction then look to China. They are out to conquer us by ‘Trade’. We did it to them once. What goes around comes around as they say. Only you in 2525 will know the answer as to who survives either creeping threat. This is my opinion and as I am just an observer with only the radio, computer and TV to get my information – I may be wrong but I am an old observer and have studied history a bit.

In this country we are heading for a Referendum on the method of voting i.e. first past the post or alternative voting, I don’t think it makes much difference, the people attracted to politics will still be the same sort of people.

The cuts are beginning to bite and this week the government has to climb down on one of them. They wanted to sell of all our publicly owned forests and there was such an outcry they did a U turn and we keep our forests, thanks be. We won’t win so easily on the other cuts because there is just not the money in the kitty to pay for them.

Personal. I am getting back to health in some ways. I have started to loose weight again and have also begun to exercise each day using my tread mill and exercise mat.

I had an interesting outing last week. A friend, who is some 30 years younger than me and has two young teen girls, took me shopping in the local Tescos supermarket. We had a coffee in the Coasta Lot coffee shop and then, wheeling the giant basket around, we set off around the store. Now when I shop I know what I need or don’t need. Often I look down aisles and say to myself ‘there’s nothing I need down there’. So my shop, when I don’t order on the internet and have it delivered, is done in about half to three quarters of an hour. But my friend went down every aisle and I followed fascinated to see the things she chose, so different to my shopping. I mean two aisles I never visit for instance are the fizzy drinks and crisp shelves. I didn’t know there were so many to choose from. Now I mean no criticism of my friend but I can understand why their shopping costs so much. Well, by the end of the shop, some hour to hour and a half, I realised I was an old lady and was exhausted. Thank goodness for the internet and delivery.

                     

Thanks to http://www.freephotos.com/

                      

There are definite signs of Spring being around the corner, daffodils and crocuses out and buds on the trees. Today they say the government want to start putting the clocks forward two hours in summertime rather than one. I remember that as a child in World War II.

We booked the dates for our summer holiday today, Roll on.

Michael Evans - Funerals in 2011

PLEASE NOTE that this is not a diary but an attempt to leave writings intended for future social historians in 2525 and beyond. The 2525 is taken from the song by Zager and Evans,,,,

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find…..

　
As I mentioned in the last blog, my good friend Michael Evans passed on and last week. I went to his funeral and wake. Michael Evans was a prominent person in Exeter, a teacher, and I belive a head master, and a Justice of the Peace. Interested in people and the environment Michael was a renowned Spiritualist and leader at his church. He corresponded with people all over the world about his ideas into his nineties. He treated everybody as if they were his true friend and I noticed that everyone had the feeling they were the one who received his special attention – including me. He never failed to listen to troubles or happenings with rapped attention and an exclamation of ‘No – really, how interesting – or sad’ as the case may be. Yet one never heard him complain about anything except to say he was ‘so busy’. I understand he just slipped away quietly sitting in a chair, which is as I would expect for Michael. His belief in a another world waiting beyond was unshakeable and he helped many who were grieving and bereft after a death. I wish him a wonderful time in his new life and look forward to seeing him there sometime to renew our friendship.

                                 
　
I thought I would take this opportunity to write about death and funerals in 2011. I am of an age when attending funerals are more likely than invitations to wedding. Friends particularly seem to be leaving with monotonous regularity. Three have gone within the year, two of whose funerals I have attended.

There is a peculiar sanitation of death and funerals today. When I was young it was all about ‘respects’ being paid and sombre faces and clothes. It was a panic, if you were poor, to find black clothes. People were hushed and only came back to life when plied with a sherry or beer at the wake, which in itself is a name that is now not used. You are invited back either to the home or a hotel, as was the case this week, for something to eat. I guess that goes back to the time when travelling to a funeral meant a long cold journey and it was polite to offer food before returning. We English have never had the lively wakes of the Celts in recent times.

Most funerals are at crematoria these days and even if the service is in a church the body is still taken to be cremated rather than buried. Indeed I have only ever been to one interment. So one congregates outside a chapel at one door while the people at the last funeral are shown out by another door on the other side. Most crematoria these day are so busy each funeral is given scant time for the service. The service itself can be of any religion or none that is wanted or asked for by the deceased. I have been at everything from Jerhove Witness to Michael’s which was Spiritualist. The mourners enter and sit down and then the coffin is brought in by the funeral directors black coated men either carrying the deceased or as with Michael, pushed on a foldable trolley.

As an aside, the funeral directors are the last people in the country one sees in Victorian style ‘frock coats’ and top hats. The bearers are possibly in modern suits but they are very severe and a bit old fashion in cut. In winter they wear black overcoats.

Followed by the relations, the coffin is taken down the aisle and placed on a platform of some kind. The service begins and usually consists of two hymns, prayers and eulogies by friends and relations or a resume of the deceased life by the spoken by the priest, parson, or leader of a church. This is where I often find out things about the person I never knew.

Finally some kind of farewell is spoken and the coffin is taken from view. In crematoria I have seen them disappear downwards, forward though opening doors, slide sideways or have curtains drawn round them. In a church they will be taken back down the aisle by the black coated men and everyone goes to the interment if there is one or the body is taken to the local crematoria. In the chapels everyone leaves by the other door to give way to the next funeral, gives a donation if that is what has been requested, Michael asked for it to go to ‘Wateraid’ which I was quite happy to do, or one looks at the floral tributes which are placed outside. After a word with the family its off to have a sandwich and a cup of tea of coffee. Michael did us proud at a lovely hotel and it was lovely to have a chat with everyone.

So ends each life these days and one has to return quickly to one’s ordinary life. Very little chance is given to feel grief or sadness and one is expected to ‘get on with it’. Often the near family is rather left to on their own as people are not sure how to deal with them. Other parts of the world seem to have ways of dealing with this time but here we are not good at it. We leave it to priests and parsons and societies that specialise in it and train counsellors. Families rarely live near any more and the bereaved are forgotten. Very sad. We don’t do it well at all.

Memory for Michael Evans - Mitts for a friend

PLEASE NOTE that this is not a diary but an attempt to leave writings intended for future social historians in 2525 and beyond. The 2525 is taken from the song by Zager and Evans,,,,

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find…..

　
Tomorrow is going to be a sad day for me as I have to go to the funeral of a very dear, old friend of mine. He was the kindest, most generous man I ever met and although not rich, came to the rescue of myself and other friends not once but several times. He always offered his help before one asked, Over Ninety, he was much into computers in his latter years and often turned to me for help when he was learning. As I went up in computers specs so he bought my older, unwanted computer which helped to finance my new ones. I will miss his bright ‘Hello Julie’ when he answered the phone and his warm interest in my happenings. Yes, I will miss Michael very much.

Still a very quiet life for me. The weather has been windy, chilly, grey and damp. I have not felt like walking out so have been very lazy although I have knitted a pair of mitts for my friend who suffers the cold in her hands with arthritis. Not a good picture but gives an idea.

                               
I went to ‘fat club’ tonight and managed to lose half a pound, not much but at least it is something. I have been really good and kept a diary of everything I ate. I am better when I get my exercise and usually lose more, so must try harder next week.

The world is still going slowly to hell in a hand cart. Egypt is still protesting but getting nowhere. Our government thinks it has sorted out the banking industry and Nick Clegg got a pasting from a group of students about fees. Food prices are rising precipitously and fuel prices the same. More people are out of work than for a long time. Yet day to day life for me seems to be about the same. I guess it will all hit me personally soon.

Egypt Protests & Deaths - Home life

PLEASE NOTE that this is not a diary but an attempt to leave writings intended for future social historians in 2525 and beyond. The 2525 is taken from the song by Zager and Evans,,,,

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find…..

My last blog was talking about Tunisia but now Egypt is far more serious. The Egyptians have come out on the streets with a vengeance. They wanted to get rid of their President of 30 years who it appears is a despot of the worst kind, but kept in power by the money from USA and the backing of many world wide governments. I suppose the trouble is its proximity to Israel and Palestine. I called it a powder keg last time and that it surely is for it might fall into the hands of extremists and spreads in a crescent of countries round the Mediterranean coast of Africa, Just look at the map and then notice the line of countries that lie below them. Not a secure or happy area.

                   

The Egyptians have suffered many deaths and injuries during the protests and still they have not got what they wanted. If they do I am not sure the President, who has offered to stand down at the next election, is right when he says standing down right away will cause a vacuum that will be filled with the wrong sort. I can understand the popular idea that they want him out and things will be OK, too simplistic I fear.

Well David is watching the England Vs Wales Rugby match downstairs and I have come up to my bedroom to write this and watch something else, if there is anything worth watching. I stayed for the best bit – the Welsh singing. Life has gone on much the same except I have not felt too well, nothing I can put my finger on just not right. So have rested and, yes, knitted. I did go to my ‘Fat Club’ but had not lost an ounce. Think something has change since having my gallbladder out, can’t seem to lose even on the plan which usually works very well. Did a bit of research and found some others had the same problem. Must look into it a bit more. I did go out for a walk with the dog today but the wind was awful.

I experienced an allergic reaction to some mascara eye make-up which was most uncomfortable and my eyes are still red. Luckily it was bought from Avon at the door and they take back anything and refund, I have used Avon since the 1960s, sold it myself twice, and never had a bad reaction to anything of theirs. It was a water proof mascara so perhaps it had something different in it. I ask for it to be reported.

Made up a new recipe tonight. I used Turkey mince, which is cheap and low fat, three bits of bacon, egg yoke, herbs and pepper. I cooked and chopped the bacon up into small  bits, mixed it all together. I made thin burgers of the mix, rolled them in home made bread crumbs and fried in sprayed oil, Don’t forget I am trying to loose weight. Anyway they tasted very good and I shall make them again sometime.

A pop up has just said my son is on line but I shan’t bother him tonight.