Ageing Ungracefully

THAT'S ALL FOLKS!

2010-08-22T10:56:00.006+02:00

Time for AU to go into permanent hibernation.Was poised to relate the latest holiday 'airport boarding-pass machine fiasco' - but suddenly realised that this latest technological battle story, is hardly any different to those of previous years - and in all probability (unless scientists can re-grow a new brain for me, from a bit of the old one) the world of technology, in all its wonderfulness,

MOTHER NATURE - OW!

2010-07-18T10:14:00.010+02:00

Nestling in the woods above a winding stream the holiday bungalow was comfy and spacious and equipped with all mod cons. The weather was wonderful too - hot-hot-hot(!) with only two rather violent thunderstorms - and the Park amenities were excellent. Swimming, eating, walking, eating, climbing, eating, bowling and eating...!! Well, what the h*ck! Isn't that all part of enjoying a good holiday?

FROGNAPPING

2010-06-25T11:49:00.004+02:00

Have come to the conclusion that old Geri has Royal linage.Well just look at the facts.1. There was once a Princess who developed large bruises from a pea hidden under a pile of mattresses. Right? Well biscuit crumbs between the sheets irritate the sensitive Geri skin alarmingly - and crumbs are much smaller than peas!One point to me.2. There was once another Princess who pricked her finger

FOOT ''PRINT'' FOR POSTERITY!

2010-06-19T15:25:00.007+02:00

The Blog Dashboard informs me that a total of 82 (intermittent) posts have been published - since May 2008. (This will be 83.....).And while I know that this is small stuff, compared to you true blogging veterans out there with your 100's - and even 1000's - of postings and millions of words (!) *applause and respect*... it is still a surprise to me to realise the extent of the Geri chuntering

SCREWED!

2010-05-31T12:49:00.005+02:00

Oops! The tiny screw just fell out of the side-thingy >>.......so am having to balance them lopsidedly on my nose to read and type.And - have also just discovered that unless you have a spare pair of specs stashed away, you can't possibly fix your broken ones!!! Unless of course you are good at doing things by touch....? But let me tell you, those screws are itsy-bitsy tiny and can hardly be seen

SURVIVAL TIPS(??)

2010-05-24T08:26:00.007+02:00

Found some...er... (maybe) useful survival tips on the web this morning - but am left wondering how many people cast away on a desert island and needing to build a fire, would have a brillo pad, toilet roll and 9v battery handy?! (See link below...)And to ensure continued survival, after being rescued from the island and safely home again:-Quote: "(Useful) technique to -test the safety of your

HELP! OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE....

2010-05-23T09:36:00.011+02:00

If there is a name meaning the complete opposite of 'hoarder', then on reflection, I might have to lay claim to it.....That does not mean the Geri dwelling is cleaned from top to bottom every day - on the contrary - but it does mean that I can not save 'stuff'!!!In fact, clutter in any shape or form, makes me seriously anxious. And anxiety is bad. Starting with a nasty niggling feeling; slowly

GOLDEN TOUCH!

2010-05-14T09:07:00.005+02:00

There is supposed to be a photo' here of a big pile of treasure - but it wouldn't upload or download or whatever it's supposed to do..... (oh well, back to the drawing board).Anyway, as witnessed in the very first posting on AU, my horror and anxiety when faced with a vending machine is almost phobic(!). But I wouldn't mind having a go at this one!!http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/

POLITICS FULLY EXPLAINED !!!!!

2010-05-10T16:03:00.004+02:00

An email received from family in the UK. (Making sure I'm kept up-to-date with British news)!A little boy goes to his dad and asks, 'What is Politics?'Dad says, 'Well son, let me try to explain it this way: I am the head of the family, so call me The Prime Minister. Your mother is the administrator of the money, so we call her the Government. We are here to take care of your needs, so we will

TOUCHDOWN!

2010-05-08T09:39:00.008+02:00

Hooray - worry warting over!!Grandkids arrived safely back from France yesterday - and daughter's Cairo flight landed safely on Dutch soil this morning.Eat your firey heart out Eyjafjollajukull!Although I did read on online news this morning that besides still wafting over parts of Britain and Ireland, there is a new volcanic ash threat to Atlantic flights: i.e., UK-US. So good luck to all those

ARE YOU SEEING WHAT ISN'T THERE?

2010-05-04T16:19:00.004+02:00

There is a distinct difference between accepting that you are glimpsing the ghost of a little black cat darting about your house - and of thinking that you are 'imagining things', every time said cat cavorts playfully at the periphery of your vision!I have no doubt, that the ghost of a little black cat has been living with me for a number of years now; and that she occasionally disappears for

(L)EEK!!!

2010-05-03T11:09:00.006+02:00

This is all that is left of a rather large leek I have been chomping on - now and then - throughout the past week. (Finely chopped leek, sprinkled liberally onto a layer of old cheese and enclosed within wholewheat bread. Yummy!).The only trouble with raw leeks (and old cheese too, for that matter...) is that the memory of them lingers on in the mouth for days....and days....and days..Not

COLOUR ME CRAZY!

2010-05-01T08:30:00.006+02:00

I have an unusual craving to see colours today. In fact, I need to see them so much, my head and eyes are aching with the longing of it.Violet; indigo; shimmering blue; emerald green; bright lemon yellow; passionate orange; firey red! I want them all!The sky outside the window is a misty, whitey-grey; and every parked car within my line of vision is either dark grey, dark blue or dark

EYJAFJOLLAJUKULL...!

2010-04-22T07:53:00.008+02:00

I suppose this isn't so much a new Post, as a bit of 'worry warting'.....1). Youngest daughter flying off (volcanic ash permitting) to warmer climes at the end of next week, for a well earned 7 day break of culture, rest and relaxation - without the kids... First time ever - and mixed feelings... (Hers, not mine. She deserves this).2). Grandkids motoring off to a holiday park in France with their

RAG 'N BONE!

2010-04-17T11:55:00.008+02:00

This post was inspired by 'Coffee Helps'. A fascinating blog written by an Irish lass, depicting her frustrating and often comical struggle for 'survival' (and understanding!) in the S. Korean teaching world.It was whilst reading Hail's latest South Korean adventure (i.e., predicament!) on Coffee Helps this morning, that I was jolted back in time, to the noisy street vendors of long ago British

A FISHY TALE!

2010-04-12T11:51:00.007+02:00

Harping back to the 'shark nightmares' of a few posts ago, I finally decided that the best way to vanquish these night terrors - and stop getting virtual (but feels like real!) chunks taken out of me now and then - was to confront this particular 'bogey man' head on - and bop him on his virtual nose!!So with a right old showdown in mind, I put my camera under my pillow, drank my cocoa, went to

GOING DUTCH IN IRELAND!

2010-03-28T16:09:00.006+02:00

Let's see... what are the Netherlands famous for:TulipsClogsWindmillsGouda cheeseDelft potteryDikesCoffee ShopsFrisian CowsRaw herrings with onionsGeneverCanalsStreet OrgansEuthanasiaand Cycling !Bicycles! Which (with or without child's seats front and back) seem to be doing wonderfully well in the export market. This time to the Emerald Isle!This should please the 'EU Greens'. And maybe earn us

MIND OVER MATTER!

2010-03-25T10:44:00.005+01:00

Is it possible do you think, that computer screens can send out invisible, sinister rays, that surreptitiously drain a users memory?Either that - because since becoming a computer user the old grey cells are definitely in rapid meltdown - or, I have finally become completely paranoid in imagining the computer is 'out to get me'!This morning was the clincher. After signing in and finding

NIT-PICKIN A CHICKEN!

2010-03-08T11:53:00.011+01:00

Just recently I had to face my eldest daughter’s indignation.Daughter: (confrontational). Mam! Do you remember when I was a little girl and you read me the story of Chicken Licken?Me: Er..yes..Daughter: Well, you lied to me!Me: (warily). I did…?Daughter: Yes! Remember how an acorn falls on Chicken Licken’s head and he thinks the sky is falling in and so he sets off to tell the King? And on the

NIGHTMARE BEASTIES!

2010-03-07T13:33:00.010+01:00

On holiday at last! Pure bliss - and there was little me - Geri in paradise! Knee deep in a sparkling blue sea and gazing joyfully up and down an empty ribbon of white sanded beach, that stretched for miles to both sides of me.Dabbling in the gentle waves with both hands, I turned lazily and gazed towards a darker patch of sea just in front of me. This dark area indicated a sudden drop into deep

FOUND!

2010-02-13T10:33:00.005+01:00

AHA!!!!!!!!!!!! FOUND THEM!!!!!!! *Happy dance*This is a follow up to the posting of yesterday and the mystery of the missing Bookmarks.They were skulking in Notebook - which I never EVER use..? So goodness knows how they got there(?)Had just re-googled the problem into the Search bar and one of the suggestions I happened across, was to click on Notebook. (Would never have thought of that by

FIDGITY WIDGIT!

2010-02-12T14:17:00.008+01:00

What an annoying nuisance (!*#@!!) Google can be - and that's putting it mildly.It's swiped my 'bookmarks'!The whole bookmark widget button was there in its entirety on Tuesday morning, which is the last time I logged on before today - and now it's not. Gone. Stolen. Foetsie! (Slang dutch for.....gone, disappeared, vanished without trace).So now what? Have been typing all bookmarked blog names

MY SUBWAY (K)NIGHT !

2010-02-05T11:01:00.008+01:00

Coming home on the 'Rotterdam-Hague' above ground subway late last night and almost at my station, I was accosted by a well dressed, elderly and seemingly confused gentleman."Aha!" Says he, addressing myself and a young woman sitting just behind me."Aha, two angels sent to comfort me!"As I glanced at the young woman - who looked alarmed - and stood up in preparation to leave the train, the

FLITTING THOUGHTS

2010-01-24T12:23:00.021+01:00

Gazing out of the window, at a sneaky new fall of night-time snow, I am reminded of buttercups and daisies. Which doesn't make much sense, I know - except of course that on parting the curtains, I was expecting to see the clear streets of yesterday, with their promise of Spring.Fickle weather. But never mind, I can still dream of buttercups and daisies - which reminds me of a hymn we used to sing

ADDLED!

2010-01-17T13:06:00.007+01:00

OH...!So now the 'ads' that miraculously appeared under the posting entitled 'OW!' (when I pressed that seemingly innocuous new dashboard button) and which prompted a new posting - have now disappeared from beneath 'OW!'(?) and nestled themselves snugly beneath 'BUTTON IT!'...? As I understood it (before pressing the button), new 'ads' would appear on the sidebar and beneath EACH new posting(?)