Skip to content

Personal

The Meaning of Whatever

Hmmm… well, I’m not even sure I have a need to do this blog anymore. But I guess I’ll keep it, at least until a better idea turns up. Maybe I’ll think of a good use for it sometime.

‘What about all your moaning about how crappy life is?’ Yeah, exactly. I’ve noticed that a lot of people use their blogs for that purpose and it makes me think, maybe perversely, that it must be a bit of a naff thing to do! In any case, I’d like to think that my desire to moan is diminishing… I could pretty easily whine about our dog’s illness, or the fact that my social life is, to say the least, minimalistic, but… it’s old. Been there, done it.
Read More »The Meaning of Whatever

Dodged Bullet

Oh, I was almost on BBC News yesterday. They were doing a thing about the (yawn) rail cock-ups at New Street station, and in spite of my best efforts to avoid it, I almost certainly walked into shot on two occasions. I saw the report, though, and the bits with me on it weren’t used. *phew*
Read More »Dodged Bullet

Guestbook Fun

Wow. Last night a so-called old friend of mine induced one of their creepy pals to come here and leave a truly obscene message on my guestbook (which, you’ll be disappointed to hear, has been deleted). [NOTE: Guestbook no longer online.]

Having been slightly debilitated with a touch of flu for a couple of days, and feeling miserable, this was a truly pleasant thing for me to see. Let’s just say that part of the message’s content implied I have sex with dogs… and some of it was even more offensive. *sigh*
Read More »Guestbook Fun

On Friendship and Betrayal

Ho-hum. Not too much to say right now, but trust me, I’ll have a damn good try. The dog wasn’t too well again today, but it doesn’t appear to be anything real bad (relatively speaking; and yep, I know, this blog has become Animal Hospital lately).

Paul Gravett was in town last Thursday, so we met up for a coffee and a look around Birmingham. Me, socialising. But not very much. 🙂
Read More »On Friendship and Betrayal

A Less Than Fond Farewell

I’ve just said what is probably my final goodbye to a mailing list I’ve been a member of on and off since way back in the mists of time (well, 1996). I may rejoin at some point, but I doubt it.

It was mostly a Certain Person’s comments. I have had to put up with two years of sarcasm and thinly-veiled nastiness from this individual, and since we actually used to be (supposedly) friends, this was the last straw for me. I was also rather despairing at someone else’s sulking, re. a debate we’d had. Did someone call this place a lively discussion list? I’m afraid that’s been largely untrue for quite some time. And it seems that, now, if you do try to put some life and opinion into a thread on there, you’re accused of making personal attacks.
Read More »A Less Than Fond Farewell

Pet Problems

Monday was a bit of a drama with our poor, ailing pooch, Fred. He seemed in quite a lot of discomfort and losing more blood than usual (usual being in the context of his illness). So off we went to the vet, completely expecting Fred to not be coming home with us. It was really quite traumatic.

However, the vet would not recommend putting him to sleep. The decision was in our hands. He suggested doubling the dose of Fred’s medication, and advised us to monitor his ‘quality of life’—that if he seemed in constant discomfort, that would be an indication that perhaps the time had come.

Well, as it has turned out, this was just a bad day, and the vet was right to be cautious. He’s seemed reasonably okay since then. We all know he won’t be around for too much longer, but it’s no joke to go through the experience of thinking it’s the end… and when it isn’t, knowing you’re going to go through it all again sometime.
Read More »Pet Problems

Angst Chronicles

Right, to update the last entry: mom came out of hospital the Wednesday after, and she’s more or less okay now. Our dog, Fred, who some of you will know is ill and sadly not going to make it, has been up and down, but holding on. So right now, I guess things are as ‘normal’ as they can be round here.
Read More »Angst Chronicles

New Year Blues

First entry of the year, eh? What took so long? Well, let’s see… I had this short but gruelling tour of book-signings to promote my latest best-seller, followed by a short break in Italy and a couple of extravagant shopping sprees. I’ve been a bit busy!

Hm. So I tried the interesting version. I don’t think anyone bought it, though. Oh well.
Read More »New Year Blues

Happy New Year

The end of the year. Thought I’d make a final entry, since I’m not particularly celebrating it… just coasting through it with mixed feelings and, I guess, a fairly relaxed mood.

New Year’s Eves past: I think of Dec 31st 1998, where it seemed I was in a pretty bad rut and unhappy with almost everything. As midnight struck, I leaned out of the open window of my bedroom and listened to all the parties going on, fireworks, etc., and said to myself, ‘This time next year, things will be quite different.’
Read More »Happy New Year

After the Hiatus

What can I say? I’ve been stranded without a computer for a whole month, which is the longest I’ve gone offline/disconnected… for a few centuries. My computer died, poor old thing. And not gracefully. It belched and seethed and just kinda gave up the ghost. Poof! Bye-bye! Etc.

Actually, it was probably the CPU, which had apparently been running without a fan for a few months—so that was what those funny noises were! And odd how they stopped a while back. Erm, yes. Well, I can’t have looks and brains. Ahem. So, seeing as the thing was generally in a crummy old state anyway, I quickly lost interest in getting it patched up… and £250 I can by no means afford later, I now have a decidedly average but adequate refurbished thingy. It’ll do for a while, anyhoo.
Read More »After the Hiatus