Great Listening

I thought I'd mention what I listen to every weekday...Irish Radio. It's very entertaining and interesting. The show I listen to in the morning (or later from the list of "listen back") is Gerry Ryan's. He's funny and often has very good interviews and topics. If you want to listen too...it's gerryryan@rte.ie. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Choices

My experience at the police yesterday made me think over the many bad decisions I've made in my life. Since being in Belgium, I've frequented the lowest forms of mankind niavely, and realise I haven't really looked closely at who my friends are/were. Thankfully, since becoming sick, I've taken myself out of circulation and therefore have had time to reflect. In many ways this is a good thing, but it means that I've been on my own for over 4 years. As they say here "better alone than in bad company"! I've been in some strange situations with some strange people, and the only reason is because I didn't really "see" what I was doing or who they were. I was even married to one of these people. Only after "getting out" do I realise how psychologically unwell this person is. My mother could see it, from the first time she met him, but as they say "love is blind" and I was certainly very blind. No more. I'll probably end up on my own, because of these mistakes in the past, and that's OK. I'd rather be alone and comfortable than with someone who abuses me or makes me feel less then I am. It's such a treat to meet young women who "know" what they want, but more importantly, know what they "don't" want! I didn't get much guidance as a young person in any ways of the world so I probably ended up here because of that. But I'm a big girl now and it's not an excuse anymore. Your life is in your hands, and you've only got one, so don't screw it up by making big bad mistakes...again and again.

Homocide

I spent a very strange and difficult morning yesterday at the police department of homocide. Unfortunately, several years ago, I dated a guy who wasn't a saint!! Who is. Mind you, he was a bit of a lad and seemed to have several people from his past who were "looking" for him. I didn't know about this and about 2 months after we finished our relationship, he was shot dead outside his house. As the cops haven't yet found the perpetrator, they've got to wind things up and are digging for as much information as a last effort. Of course, I couldn't help them because I didn't know anything. But it wasn't easy going over the 9 months we were together. We had had a great time together, very normal and very sweet but he started going "off the rails" and I didn't know what was happening so I ended it! But these decisions in life (bad ones) often come back to haunt you. Anyway, it doesn't look like they're going to find their man, so it'll probably go into the "unsolved" drawer. Moral of the story...don't play with fire...you'll get burned.

Sicky

Well, that didn't go well! St Patrick's day was a disaster for me..as was the whole weekend!!! I got a tummy bug and spent the whole time (til Monday evening) vomiting. Loverly!! I had to contact my friends to say I couldn't join them in the afternoon for the concert in the Irish pub and then my baby had to go to the scout party by himself...on the train. He joined his friends and didn't get to bed until after 4am!!! So at least HE had a good night!!! So roll on next year. At least I have my computer to allow me to keep in touch when I'm out of circulation, except for the toilet bowl!! Yuck! It's one way to lose weight but not the best!

St Patrick's Day 2007

Isn't it great...another St. Patrick's celebration in Belgium, and boy, do they know how to do it. It's amazing how much it's taken off here! I'm stunned. Mind you, there are plenty of Irish pubs and lots of Irish people here so I guess we demand that this day is special!! Riverdance and everything Michael Flatly has done for the Irish culture has certainly helped to make it public!
This year, however, I'm not doing the mad thing I normally do - going out with my Anglophile friends to take some of the black stuff! I'll be going to a Scouts/Guides evening at a village hall in the country and will probably be drinking some awful vinegar wine and eating vol-au-vonts!! But in the afternoon....I'll be watching the Irish rugby team beating the **** out of the Italians with some Belgians, Irish, English and - yes - Italians!! And win the Six Nations! Of course, I'll be able to have a little black one! But I've got to keep it cool cos I'm with my baby at the match and then in the evening. So now, I've got to sort through my wardrobe for something green to wear tomorrow! I can't let the side down.

The boy

Finally I've found a lovely photo of my baby. He's grown up a bit since this was taken, and if you don't think he's gorgeous, it's cos you're not his mum!! He's been wonderful since he was born, apart from the occasional misadventure which goes with being a kid! I'm going to have to get the cable needed to transfer photos from the camera to the PC. Getting them printed onto disc is expensive and time consuming. Then I could have lots of recent photos of him looking even better...my little man!!

Boarding School Success

After all that work and stress...my baby is finally in boarding school and seems to be really happy. It must be so different for him but it's what he wanted and I think it'll be so good for him. It'll cost more, but hey! anything valuable in life isn't free. He'll have to learn to respect other people's space and try to find his own and how to be with others most of the time. I know it means that when he comes home he'll want to be on his own as much as possible...but that's OK. Hopefully he'll learn to look after his own stuff...otherwise it'll get nicked or broken. But he'll learn that pretty quickly, I'm sure. I'm just so relieved he's safe and where he wants to be.

Elliott's blogging

This blogging is a wonderful idea...not because anyone reads this but because I can read my nephew's blog over in New Zealand. I can see what he's doing at school and we can keep in touch through the blog, whereas he wouldn't normally write to me. Mind you, he did send me a mail, but that was because he saw I'd made comments on his blog! It's called http://moturoa.blogspot.com and it's really interesting how much they do. More than our primary schools do here in Europe!

Friends

It's only when you spend time with your friends that you realise that life is worth living...until the next time you can see them. What energy you put into your friendship comes straight back in bucket loads. When you can be yourself and they love you for it...that makes all the difference. Letting them be themselves allows you to love them more. Pericles said "What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. This is my lovely friend, Aissa. She's from Mali but is French. She's adorable, clever, tender and has a beautiful spirit...but...I don't see half enough of her, even though we live in the same town. I'm going to have to make changes there. Starting tomorrow!

Hassles!

Why is it that I can't have one full week without any hassles? Last week was super hyper stress-filled! My ex took me to court to try to get custody of my baby but went mad in front of the judge and didn't get anything he'd asked for. And my baby stood up to him for the first time and got everything he'd wanted. Then my ex went off to lick his wounds and didn't resurface until his mummy told him he should call my baby, to make the peace. Why can't she just see that her son is a waste of space - my baby can! Of course he loves his dad, but so did I once!! He soon changed that! Now my baby feels he should go to visit his dad this weekend even though he's aware that it could be dangerous. I'm impotent because legally they're meant to spend every other weekend together! Hells Bells!!

Fairy Tale

The Second Shortest Fairy Story is pretty much the same from the girl's perspective...basically she could do what she wanted without having to rinse stubble out of the sink, put DOWN the toilet seat or iron his never ending laundry, particularly his shirts. Sheer bliss!

International Alphabet Lesson

It's going to be Friday tomorrow and I've no idea where this week went!! I've done what I normally do during the week but because I didn't go out a lot to spend time with my friends, or go to the cinema, it's like I've done nothing with the time but it's just disappeared...and I've still got so much to do before the weekend arrives...I'll just have to get up earlier tomorrow. I did something useful today though...I'm kinda happy to have been able to pass on something I learnt during my rather interesting life...the international phonetic alphabet. A little kid I help with English just loves anything to do with aircraft so I enhanced his vocabulary...Alpha...Bravo...Charlie...Delta, etc. It's probably the most interesting lesson he's had since he started learning English! And fun for me. Thanks to the UK Defence Procurement Office at the British Embassy in Washington...who employed me for a few years when I was a young thing...way back then!

Black and White

I used to think this photo made me look good, but I realise that I look knackered. I was taking a lot of medication back then and that night at Aissa's party, I was feeling sick. I'm going to have to start looking for pictures of my baby - he's much easier on the eye. I'd probably have something to write about if I had him in front of me. Looking forward to St Patrick's day on Saturday 17th!! Should be a good day...my baby will be with me, all in green (if I have my way!) Top o' the mornin'!

Getting Started

I still haven't gotten into this blogging...takes a lot of time, doesn't it? And although I've got lots of time in the mornings, I'm not inspired until the afternoon to write about what's happening. And then I don't have time to sit here and write. I've also gotta sort out my photo archives and how I go about getting more pictures relevant to what's going on. Keep cool, calm and collected. No need to stress about something that should be fun! Hey ho!

Introduction

It's always hard to start on a blank page, but I have to write something. I never imagined I'd get into blogging but it's a great idea...if you've got something interesting to share. I'm sure I must have, if I think hard enough. Mind you, who on earth would want to read it...I guess I can always use it as a diary, if nothing else.

This is a picture of me taken at the jazz festival near Nelson in New Zealand in January 2007. It was so hot, but we were soothed by the delicious local wine and wonderful music. Happy memories.