I'm Back !!

After months of being away from blogging, I've returned with a new theme to my posts. We have just adopted a retired greyhound, from Perry Barr Retired Greyhound Trust. Which we have named Marley after Bob Marley. We were lucky to get away with just the one as there are many more there that we just had to turn away from (for the time being at least!)

Anyway, I'll bore you with some of his his recent tales:

Since being with us he has been spoilt for choice with food, toys & sleeping arrangements!

We bought him two nice new beds, but he prefers cuddling up on this nice duvet that we left out by mistake. We keep trying to move it around the house but when we do he just stands on it and it won't budge! Other than that he enjoys nothing better than cuddling up in front of the T.V. or fireplace

I take him out to the park everyday and we've met some new friends who are greys as well but he never knew there were other types of dogs too, some of them are a bit big and fierce but others are like the little fluffy thing he used to chase around the track and he's almost had a nice tasty treat but I stopped him before he got in trouble. I'm a bit of a meanie because I stop him getting at the squirrels that keep tormenting him by running out right in front of him.

His first two nights he was here he was scared stiff and cried all night but we've all settled down now and he's getting a good night's sleep until he gets me up in the morning. He's learnt to get upstairs already but gets trapped because he doesn't know how to get down yet so if we are out he has to lie down upstairs until we come home. That's not a bad thing though because our hot water pipe runs under the floor so the floor is nice and warm!

He's gone off chews now as his dinner is so nice, he get sardines, chicken, meat & vegetables.

He's got a big enough garden so he can race up and down to his heart's content, which being an old man now after three laps he's knackered and flakes out in front of the t.v.and if no-one's watching he even sneaks onto the sofa and thinks we don't know what he is up to!!

We have been talking about getting another grey so that he doesn't get bored, but he's not sure because he gets all the loves and hugs and treats that he could wish for, as well as having the whole of the back seat of the car to himself when we go out.

Contrary to popular beliefs, greys are very good pets and are extremely easy to look after as they don't demand loads of attention like other breeds and are not big on going for long walks (just 2 20 minute walks) everyday. Our one is good with children as well (you can't always guarantee that or that they will get on with other pets)

I'll write again soon with more of his adventures, of which there will be many judging from the reports I have read from other greyhound owners.

For more info on adopting a greyhound go to http://www.rgtperrybarr.co.uk/

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Snow, Snow Snow.....

I have always wondered why we Brits don't sort ourselves out when it comes to the winter. I mean, why does one snow storm shut us down, slow us down and get some of us panic buying groceries?

I've asked the opinion of other Brits and the arguments go from " we're not used to it, to, we don't have bad enough winters to warrant spending money on appropriate equipment or clothing. I started to be swayed by these arguments but then I spoke to German and Equadorian people that I work with and they were shocked to learn we don't have winter tyres or have a Transport Dept that is set up to go into action to clear the streets as soon as possible.

They also don't get how we don't clothe ourselves appropriately to avoid chills or footwear to help avoid accidents. I couldn't argue with these statement s too much, however I did try to reason out about the winter tyres. But their opinion was that winter tyres were useful in all winter conditions not just snow and ice.

Billy Connolly once said "there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing" which again is a statement that I can't argue about.

But, perhaps it is our lot in life to continue to struggle on and keep moaning about how bad things are rather than do something about what we can change for the better.

Got to say....

I'm sorry I just don't get it. Celebrity Big Brother I mean, who are these people. Ok you have Jermaine Jackson who is kind of a big name but the others for goodness sake. I really do think that these programmes ought to be banned, what use are they to anybody apart from part time psychologists putting their half baked opinions across to anybody that is dull enough to listen. The media these days takes us all for a ride with dumbed down television, hoping that if they fill our heads full of useless trivia we will not really see the state we are letting our country and our world get into with climate change, economic meltdown and America trying their best to "democratise" the world. If this "new democracy" we are seeing in Iraq is anything to go by, I don't want it!

Anyway in the words of that good old childrens television programme "Why Don't You" go and turn the tv off and go and do something less boring instead! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xzx5cgBL0g. For anyone that remembers the series it had a lorry load of ideas that kids could take up, which is what is missing in society now.

Highlights of 2006

Well the end of another year and it has brought it's fair share of ups & downs.

I have embarked upon a new career in a completely different field to what I have been used to, as a result of my volunteering efforts in the last two years. I went for one job and got another! Got a place at University of Birmingham and yet another job working at a college where I was a student over 20 years ago. Surprisingly there are a still a few members of staff there that remember me (which isn't necessarily a good thing!). I then got another job working with young people in need of confidence building and motivation. And yet another job working with young people with learning difficulties. And yes you guessed it, got another job fitting hand controls onto cars. So now I am starting to fulfill one of my dreams, where I have several jobs and I am also self employed.

Fortunately there have been few lows this years however the biggest low was losing my lifelong best friend at the age of 39. We shared loads of experiences throughout life and even if he can't experience the future physically, he will always be there with me.

2007 marks a landmark birthday for me, its the big 40 . Apparently this is when life begins, so looking forward to that mid life crisis, sports car, and embarassingly dressing too young for my advanced years. Needless to say I won't be courting the camera as I hope it's going to be a time that I'll want to forget.

Thought You'd Love This !!

Reaching 40!

Well not quite! but its looming too fast and for me it is a milestone that I thought I wouldn't reach, as many of my oppo's haven't. This is a bit scary for me as I've not made any long term plans or any structure for my future!

But here is a quick list of my wishes for the coming years, that I haven't quite achieved yet! Not necessarily in this order:

1. Visit the other continents I haven't already been to... At last count I think I only have 3 left!
2. Become a father
3. Graduate
4. Write a book
5. Spend New Year in Edinburgh
6. Go to Rio Carnival
7. Finish all my D.I.Y projects in the house/Garden!
8. Do a parachute jump
9. Own my own business/ be self employed
10. Have less impact on the environment
11. Own a trike
12. Balloon ride over the Serengeti
13. Go on Safari

I'm sure there are more things I would like to do and will add them as and when I think of them. There are also some more serious things but that would tell you more about my psychi than I care to divulge in this cyberworld ! Anyway if you can think of any others please let me know.... Just don't add the obvious things like Bungee Jumping (been there, done that!) and yes I have visited the Arctic Circle and skied there!( Don't ask, just accept that I have!)

Lib Dem Conference 2006

Our first ever political conference was a double edged experience that left us both wanting more and not wanting to experience it ever again!

What am I talking about...Well we got to the Registration Point fairly easily, but trying to extract useful basic information for newbies to conference from the yellow shirted stewards was probably just as easy as it is to try to communicate with those stewards that walk around a variety of events in flourescent yellow jackets!! As you may tell I am getting a phobia about the colour yellow (so why am I a Lib Dem!)
Following that, we were able to have a nice relaxing evening before the hullaballoo of Sunday.
Sunday was again a mixture of grapling around for answers and just following the crowd. Eventually we worked out where to go and what was going on, before being faced with the welcoming face of disabilty unaware stewards, who spent the whole time talking to my wife (who by the way is not my carer and never has been!!) Come the evening we spent it at another splendid night at one of the prestigous social gatherings of Mr C who it appears can arrange spectacular gatherings whether it be in Wolverhampton or anywhere else you care to mention. Then back on to further fringe meetings this time at the Bloggers Reception, where we had the chance to spend time sunbathing in the rays of that great blue blogger Iain Dale!!! (A photo would show our tongues firmly in cheek whilst meeting him!!)

One tip when trying to drive back late at night from Conference, don't start conversations with people you don't know, otherwise you might end up getting home after sunrise the following day.

All in all it was a good weekend and we didn't want to leave. Highlight of the weekend: Meeting all our friends socially and actually having a bit time to be able to talk to them, going out for a meal at Terre a Terre, opening a door and coming face to face with Ming! Low point: Yellow shirted stewards!

What price democracy?

I heard on Radio 4 this morning that door to door canvassers in Iraq had been kidnapped, arrested and one had even been beheaded! I think in light of this and other atrocities that get little media attention, we all have a responsibility to take our democracy a little more seriously. We all whine and moan about the sad lives we have but forget that there are millions of people worldwide risking their lives for just a small percentage of what we have.