Chatting Blogs (1,324)

Today, we had our monthly cousin-get-together, and the conversation fell on my 40th birthday. Her husband and her are pretty much obsessed with the US, so they have an Uncle Sam poster hanging, as well as other USA stuff. I looked at it and went "Hang on, I want to make it a themed party", so guess what: The theme is going to be USA, so I need to find out what to make for food.

Forget the huge shopping list - I need to make three or four things. Sliders is definitely gonna be there, and so will hot wings. I am also thinking of adding hotdogs to the list as well. The sides are potato salad, regular salad, mini baguettes and cornbread - if I can make it.

Let me know what else I could possibly make. Bear in mind, I have to make food for 30 people..

I also need to find a lot of decoration, and I mean a LOT! We're talking tablecloth, balloons, buntings, confetti, large flags, small flags, hats, solo cups.. It's gonna rule!

Helium for the balloons is also on the list, which I can get at local party stores. Or - I might just do it the old fashioned way - with my own breath!

Last but not least - I need a costume for the party. I have my eye on a few that I would like to get.

The next big party coming up is Halloween, and I already have my costume for that

I am a baby boomer. After WW2, things were looking up. Men came home and made babies. Even before, farmers made babies. LOTS of babies. There was work to be done and lots of children helped keep farms running as well as family businesses.
Then Japan and China got the idea they would run out of room. Lots of kids became frowned on. Even other countries thought people should not have so many kids. China clamped down..one baby per family only. And since boys were to provide for parents, baby girls managed to die before or at birth. Now whole villages in the hinterland are filled with young men and no women to marry.
In developed countries the average age is going higher every year. Young people are saying to heck with marriage and kids. Women figured out they dont have to be brood sows. Plus the young look at todays world and no way they wish to bring a child into it. What future will they have.
Southern countries seem to still be in the past and breed like mad. Part of the reason is so many babies and young kids die. So the thinking is one needs many so some might survive to provide for parents. And with lack of education, NGO's can't get it in their head if they have a couple, they can feed them. And get medical care. And they WILL live.
Now the world is shuffling. Those over populated countries are heading north. And some governments are welcoming them because laborers are needed to care for and provide for the elders who are over whelming the system. I read a democracy needs a slave labor force to exist.
Will the refuges and illegals meld into the north countries? Or will they see them as a free ride to use? Will they assimilate, or bring the crime, misogyny, gangs and lack of education and bring down the northern countries. Or in some, end up AS slaves.

I am currently in the process of listening to every episode of a show called The Casual Criminalist. It's a true crime show, where the crimes can be horrific. Each episode is about a new person, and they detail the crimes they did. It's not for the faint of heart, and some of the crimes are just down gruesome.

One episode was about the Dunblane massacre, where a lowlife ended the lives of 16 children, aged between 5 and 6, and their teacher, while injuring 15 other people.

That episode left me shocked to my core. Who on earth decides to end the lives of 16 children aged 5 to 6? The lowlife did us all a favor and ended his miserable existence right there, but still. Something MUST have snapped in order for someone to slaughter 16 innocent children..

Today, my day started out pretty normal. I had breakfast, brushed my teeth and left for work, like I usually do. However, at about 9.30 am, I was suddenly hit with a specific sense.

You know that feeling when nothing you love to do makes you happy? The sense of sadness, emptiness and hopelessness? It was like that. I had a google at what that could mean, and it's some of the symptoms of depression. I'm not saying I suffer from depression - yet - but I will suffer from it if I continue to listen to true crime podcasts 9 hours in a row, because that's what I did on Sunday, while I was playing truck simulator games.

So I have made a decision: No more true crime podcasts for at least 6 months. I will find something else to listen to. Luckily there are millions of songs to consume while I am playing truck sim games.

Well I never




You go Luis, stand your ground

Can't believe this has become so blown out of proportion as it has, more so from a woman who doesn't even know her own mind.

Red card to Jennifer, I say

Wonder if a female coach, president or whatever kissed a male player in the same circumstances would she also be accused of an act of violence
or asked to resign.

Where some women make me feel proud to be a woman, there are others who make me feel downright ashamed.

Every day, I get up and then? Is it old age? Is it the world that things don't matter anymore? Lack of demands on my time? The ability to do what I want, when I want..so do nothing?
My no routine is a routine. That irks me if anyone changes. Wake up at same time give or take a hour or two. Get up, dressed, TV news. Argh..it is Saturday..no news. sigh. Go outside and feed cat herd. Make coffee. And then..what. Could do this. Or that. That needs doing. Should be outside if nice. Why.
Lack of ambition? Lack of interest. Knowledge that when no one else cares? Or that when I am gone, what will change? Or all will change and no matter what I did, won't matter?
I feel like I am just treading water until the end. My I dont give a flock attitude.

Yes yes frightfully English to talk about the weather but how's yours in these unusual times?

Spain is hot. Very hot. Extremely hot. Hotter than usual hot. Breaking all previous records hot. No rain. But apart from agreeing with locals it is mucho calor it hasn't been an overworked topic.

This blog was inspired by last night's gusting wind, I was trying to make a voice recording and when I listened back there was talk talk talk whooooooosh bang (door slamming) talk talk whooosh crash (medley of shutters) talk talk whoooosh crash crash crash crash (pot plants relocating) and occasional mutters of oh bugger when I thought I'd paused the recording but hadn't. I haven't even tried again this morning because the hot gusts are ongoing. This morning there was a bright blue washing up bowl on my terrace. I have VERY high walls around my house. Never seen it before, certainly not mine.

BTW my Spanish continues to be a work in progress. I was walking the dog this morning and stopped to talk briefly to a friendly Spanish neighbour who looked puzzled when I remarked on the wind. What I should have said was 'muy ventoso hoy' (she'd probably noticed, but small talk is small talk and my Spanish small talk is miniscule.) What I said was muy ventana hoy. Not so much "very windy today" as "very window today" ...

Tomayto tomahto.

Tell me about rain, tell me about cool breezes, throw in some snow if you've got it, let me live vicariously.

Restrictions in settings is clear, we really need those restrictions, but sometimes they can drive you crazy, just in case you are, till this point, not crazy already.
Why would I even want to write a mail to someone that does not even want to read what I write, because I am too old, too young, sitting on the wrong chair in the wrong place in the wrong continent.
You don't even know me, never heard of me and I had written something so nice, interesting, funny, because I thought you would like to read what I wrote.
Then, a disaster - comes"you are blocked" or rather I am!

The fairly extortionate bus prices in my area increased recently, which was no great surprise.

I used to pay £6.50 for a 20-25 minute return journey from my village to my daughter's. It's now gone up to £7.10, but a Rhondda Rider ticket (as many rides in Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough as you want in a day) has bizarrely remained at the lower cost of £7.

In March of this year, for some unspecified reason, the buses were free for the whole month. It may have been something to do with introducing the new, efficient, electronic payment system. Instead of requesting a specific ticket and paying the driver with cash, or card, we now have a tap on/tap off system for card users - you scan your debit card/phone when embarking and alighting and within three days the cost of your journey(s) are calculated and debited from your account. The trouble is, if you forget to tap off, an amount that could cancel a developing country's deficit is whipped from your coffers without so much as humanitarian award, or a polite round of applause.

Having been forgetful struggling off the bus with groceries, or small children, I have gone back to asking for a specific ticket and paying with cash, two things the public transport company was clearly trying to move beyond.

However, the free buses during the month-long hiatus were well used, despite the inconvenience of long bumpy journeys and buses simply not turning up. Traversing our Valleys terrain by bus is like a cross between a roller coaster and Brands Hatch and if they're running late they take a short cut missing out stops. Also, if the vacancies advertised are anything to go by, they're sometimes too short staffed since Brexit to run the full timetable.

As a consequence of the freebie enthusiasm, the bus company has trialled a £1 per bus ride cost over the school summer break. Very often when I'm paying £7, I have the bus to myself for at least a part of my journey and there are always way more seats that people. Over the summer, the buses have been so packed, passengers fill the aisle as well as the seats. So, one person paying £7 versus 40+ people paying £1.

I don't understand why public transport has priced itself to the point of making a loss. We are under threat of losing our unprofitable buses which could be profitable if they were only affordable for the demographics most likely to use them off peak, or were a cheaper option than driving in the rush hours.

On a less whiny note, I embarked on a bus yesterday morning with a £10 note in my hot, sticky palm, having used up all the pound coins I had on previous journeys. The driver commented that I was going to wipe out all the change he had left, at which point a passenger jumped up, paid for my journey and said, "Pass it on!" with a big smile. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to do just that, in whatever shape, or form that it presents itself. We are endemically community minded here in Wales, but it's nice to have the luxury of being able to act on that will without having to hesitate due to foolishly excessive costs.

Remember the song? To ad-lib it. Cash is no more. All exchanges are done via apps, chips, etc. Bank are far and few between, mostly on line and only to lend money.
Your income is added to your on-line account. All debts come out of it. You must have a smart phone. The governments have the right to access your account at will. They watch where you shop, what you buy and all you do. Even at the rummage sale.
Some people sneak around and use barter. But, the sheep say they like the convenience. Until they dispute something societal or governmental. Then their account is frozen. Need food..too bad. No money for you sucker.
Sometimes the "banks" run into a glitch. You check your account and it shows zero! You go on line and question. Chase the menu. Finally, oh..we will check and get back to you in 5 business days.
Do not get a speeding ticket. It will be paid on scene or your account is frozen. Try a protest..same thing.
Well, you say, I can control where and what my kids buy. Yep..and so can big brother control you.
1984 was not a novel..it was a warning.