Thief!

Just  had my handbag stolen from my car.  

Keep thinking of all the small but essential things 

I will need to replace - 

like my phone.  

Bummer.

Blade Runner - A Cautionary Tale

Oscar Pistorius has been charged with murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, by shooting her in the head.  He had previously boasted about his shooting ability.  He has been feted since his heroics at the Olympics and Paralympics last summer and was enjoying the good life to the full.

Remember when he was beaten by another runner, he lost his temper, and complained long and hard about the length of the other runner's prosthetic legs?  Here was a powder keg waiting to explode.  He had fought long and hard to be accepted at the highest level, to the point where some people were sick of hearing his endless complaints  and demands to be included in sports that only able-bodied athletes were permitted to participate in.

Now, possibly, the down side of all his achievements is the release of his temper in a more sinister way.  Could he have felt that now he was above rules, above the law, that he was the Blade Runner - untouchable?

The law will take its course and we will, possibly, find out at his trial what happened last night.  Hero or villain, love him or hate him, no-one should get away with murder.

Happy New Year

Welcome to 2013 - 

hope to blog to the world this year - 

look out Perez Hilton!

Book Review Wars

I began reviewing books about two years ago, joining a site called Review The Book.  I requested books to review and the authors sent a copy for me to keep, in exchange for the review, plus posting copies of my review on other designated websites.  I read each book and wrote an open and honest review, and if I did not enjoy the book, I said so and I said why.  Most books I received were extremely enjoyable, with interesting storylines or content, and I gave ratings accordingly.  No-one asked me to write a favourable review or complained when I wrote a less than glowing one.

There has been much furore amongst authors and reviewers recently, in part due to the recent actions of Amazon in removing reviews written by fellow authors.  I was unaware of this undercurrent when I began reviewing and I am wondering whether to bother reviewing any more books in this quagmire (giggity giggity)!

Seriously though, I enjoy writing reviews and hope this situation will calm down enough for me to once again use my keyboard to impart my thoughts about the books I read.

 

Bye Bye JT

Thanks to Custom Tombstone Builder

Enjoying The Football?

The quality of football at Euro 2012 has been very high, and the games have been entertaining.  I am an expat so have at least two countries to support, but I enjoy the spectacle without being bothered about who wins.  The prima donnas are often brought down to earth in these major competitions, but the odd one is still shining through.

Looking forward to the conclusion - whoever wins!

Thanks, Harry!

Many thanks to Harry Redknapp for all his hard work in dragging Spurs out of the pit they were in when he arrived.

Sadly, he took his eye off the ball, so to speak, when the England job was up for grabs, and the end of the season went to pot.

Good luck wherever you go next.

The Summer Fair

The weather forecast was unfavourable for the day of the fair, so when the sun was shining brightly in the morning, a huge sigh of relief could be heard around Girona.

The gates were opened to stall holders at midday, with the public arriving from 2pm.  Around ten stalls were positioned around the beautiful garden in Millas which was not a good sign as there were over 20 stalls at the Christmas Fair, but today we had to compete with the FA Cup Final!

At two minutes to two, I made my first sales - €18 - hoorah!  Then the first visitor arrived through the entrance and we were off and running.

Tea and cucumber sandwiches were next on the agenda, yummy.  Another sale - €4.  Then a lady said my cards were too dear for her!

The first rumble of thunder at 3pm.  Another sale - €1.  Breezy and cloudy now.  Another sale - 75c.  Coffee and cake, yummy again.

Then the storm arrived.  Two kind ladies helped me pack my cards, bags, etc. and we all rushed to any cover we could find. 

There endeth the Summer Fair.

After sheltering for a while I gradually took my belongings back to the car, getting completely soaked in the process.  I drove off just after 4pm and headed for home.  For the rest of the evening I dried and salvaged what I could from my soaked bits and pieces.  Some cards were beyond repair and some were able to be partly recycled.  Most of the following day was spent being a greetings cards nurse.

Looking forward to the next craft fair - they are never dull.

Motor Caravanners

I have just been bitten by the idea of acquiring a motor caravan, renting out our home, and setting off on the open road.

Last night, I set foot in a wonderful example of this type of vehicle, sat in the co-pilot seat, and I could see myself travelling the highways and byways of Europe.

Many of my teenage holidays were spent camping, plus the odd static caravan break, but never a motor caravan.

So, are there any motor caravanners out there who would like to clue me in to what life on the road would be like?  Will I miss having more than one room in my abode?  Will there be arguments because we are together 24/7?  What are the pros and cons from your point of view?

Look forward to learning more about this way of life.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all my friends and followers.

Good luck and good health in 2012.

Bloggy Sue

This Indian Summer

The heat just goes on and on, today it is 32 degrees and even the wind is hot.

There seem to be many explanations for the origin of the saying, but all seem to have begun with the North American Indians, as this was their time of harvest, and the phrase was coined in the late 1700s.

The basis seems to be an unnaturally warm period of weather around October to November, usually following a frost, but I seem to have missed that part of it.

No need for winter clothes just yet, thank goodness.

UK Riots

Living in Spain, I have been watching this week's riots from afar.  They were happening in places I have visited or lived near over the years, and was shocked by the level of anger and violence being shown.  Looting is a terrible thing, and probably came as an aftermath of the violence, not as a planned part of it.  The damage to property and the burning of people's homes and livelihoods is disgraceful.

What causes people to riot?  Is it poor living conditions?  Is it lack of jobs?  Is it anger at their parents, teachers, etc. at how they are being treated in society?  Is it gang culture gone wild?  They say if they get respect then they will respect others.  How can you respect them? - the way they talk, the way they look, their lack of manners, their addiction to social media, when they should be learning social skills including respect for others.

Whatever the reasons - the so-called spark was the shooting of a taxi driver by the police - in a civilized world we wait for the courts to decide who was at fault, not a mob on the streets causing mayhem.  These criminals presumably have nothing to lose by being arrested and jailed.  If their lives are so sad and meaningless, maybe a bit of TLC in the prison system will turn their lives around.

Or they could be stoned, beaten, or executed as would happen to them in less 'civilized' countries than Britain.  Some of their parents and grandparents moved to Britain from their homelands in the hope of a better life for their children.  

Their offspring are throwing that sacrifice back in their faces.  

Shame on them.

Wimbledon

We have the semi-final line-up now.  No Federer - no Williams sisters - looks like we may see some new finalists.  This year's championships have been interesting, not the usual top seeds ploughing their way through the minnows.  Let's hope the next few days continue the run of good tennis with the odd upset to keep the non-addicts watching.  

Next stop - the Open Golf Championship.