On The Day After Christmas My
On the day after Christmas I got stuck in with my wife. No, not that. We got stuck in to clearing the bomb site that was our kitchen. Between the two of us we coped alright. There were no injuries or fatalities. Mind you, the dogs got shouted at a few times for trying to clean the dishwasher before we had a chance to switch it on. (they can smell food anywhere those dogs) As for the previous day. I can honestly say with hand on heart we all had a great time. The prezzies were good and well thought out (I will come back to that subject matter later) The food was excellent and everybody cleared their plates, almost (they left the pattern on) The after dinner craic was really good fun.
Now for a closer breakdown of all that went on. Our daughter and son in law arrived at 8.30AM and shouted up the stairs ‘Merry Christmas’ as if she were just arriving home from the works do. (this is the longest lie in we have had since before the children were born and it was great) Anyway, we were told to get up and come downstairs to open presents with them. With dressing gowns on and a loud shout to our son (who was staying the night with us so he wouldn’t miss the fun) we all gathered in the lounge. Wrapping paper was flying all over the place. The dogs were loving it as it gave them something else to eat that they weren’t supposed to be eating. Now for me, everything that I was presented with turned out to be things that I needed. A lot of thought and kindness there. Likewise with our son. Likewise with my wife. Likewise with my son in law. Now, this is where it gets awkward / thoughtless / stupid / and other such adjectives to cover such a thing. Our daughter, who is a vegetarian by the way, was delighted with her presents until she was given one by a relative through marriage not on our side of the family if you know what I mean, wink wink. Now, as our daughter, who is a vegetarian by the way, was at her own home opening her prezzies with her husband who comes from another family by the way. Maybe it’s the same family as mentioned above, who knows? Anyway, the person/s that bought this present for our daughter, who, as you know is a vegetarian and her and her husband put a great deal of thought and care into what they were giving to them and their children was presented with, wait for it,........................Nando’s Perri Perri Chicken Sauce.......................for a feckin’ vegetarian. Now that does take the biscuit for a total lack of thought and kindness. What are they trying to do, convert her from a herbivore to a carnivore? No, I personally just think they were being downright rude and hurtful.
Back to the rest of the day. After all the excitement of prezzie opening it was go get dressed and all out for church (my one and only visit in the year apart from weddings and funerals) for the Christmas service. The Rector (who I count as a friend rather than a cleric) kept the service short and funny (it lasted 30 minutes) After that a short visit to my Mother In Laws to let her know the arrangements for the Christmas dinner and what time we would pick her and our French nephew from Paris and his half brother from somewhere else in France (they are French by birth and not Norn Iron people who work in France) A few drinks were had, except me, and we were on our way home to get the dinner ready. My dinner was easy as I had made it the day before and it only needed to be heated up. As for the rest of it. I prepped the veg whilst my wife worked with the meat stuff. Later on the mess in the kitchen was left behind and we were sitting in the dining room getting stuck in to a great Christmas dinner. By the time it was time for dessert our daughter and son in law arrived (they wanted to spend their first Christmas in their own house)(he ordered a 12lb turkey and seeing as our daughter is a vegetarian methinks he will be eating it for a time yet) After dessert we all played Uno with much hilarity and laughter and winners and losers.
All in all. One of the best Christmas’ i have had in a long long time
I now have to finish off the kitchen clear up and start to watch the programmes I recorded from Christmas day’s telly. Where to start. Where to start indeed.
Ta Rah for now
Posted :: Monday 12/26/2011 7:14:00 AM
He Knew Who I Was
To prove the point of the frequently asked question, ‘Do you know who I am?’ Well, just to justify it. My wife and I were in a well respected, well known department store in a town not too far from here just looking around at the furniture on show that she wants me to buy for her even though I protest too much. (We have furniture dear, why do we need new stuff? We don’t need it. I don’t like it etc. etc) Anyway, this man (salesman) comes along with a big smile, ‘May I help you at all? Yes that is a very nice piece of furniture. We sell a lot of (Iwas always taught at school never to use that phrase ‘a lot of’, why I can’t remember) those. Blah, blah.
My first question to him was ‘When does your sale start?’ He very politely told me the rough date of the start of the sale. I continued, ‘Is there any extra off for cash? Or for people who used to work here? Yes folks, this department store is the very same one that I worked in 40 years ago (and I know the mark ups in most of the departments as well) I worked in this store for 8 years during the 1970’s and then left and opened up my own store in another town.
The bit that took me by surprise was that this nice salesman looked at me and asked me ‘Is your name Mr McD?’ Yes , I replied, rather taken aback. (I have never seen this man in my life before) It was quite obvious that this man knew who I was, after 40 years. I felt a bit of pride beaming on my face. Then again. Maybe he knows me because they still talk about me after all this time, but in a bad way, as an example of how not to sell stuff. No, it couldn’t be that, I was a good salesman and I still have the momentoes from the wholesalers to prove it. (5 star dealer award / gold plated presentation knife / dealer of the year award etc etc)(I have them somewhere anyway)
It’s still nice to know that I am remembered after all that time anyway.
Moving on to other things. We were only in that store to look at wallpaper as my wife was thinking of getting our bedroom decorated as we have purchased a new painting. Because of this new painting the whole room needs changed around. Not only are we getting (got) new wallpaper but we are also getting new (ordered) blinds and a new carpet (yet to be looked for). The decorator is up there as I tap away here. (I wonder is he going through my wifes’ knicker drawer) I go to all the effort of saving the money and my wife goes to extreme efforts to spend it. Is that fair? Your comments appreciated.
There is a very good reason that we have a decorator in. I am not allowed to do any of this sort of work anymore. When we moved into this house 9 years ago I did everything in it (except the electrics / plumbing) (I’m scared of electrics and I worry about plumbing)(but i did everything else) I am not allowed to do anything except light housework duties. Suits me in a way. I can write this gack. I can watch my programmes on TV. I can read more. I can sit more. I can....I can....I can get bored quicker.
I think I’ll go upstairs and watch the decorator. Make sure he is doing everything my way...the expert way
Comments gratefully received by clicking on the title bar above
Ta-Rah
Posted :: Wednesday 11/30/2011 8:48:00 AM
No Bones About It
Last night I had the great pleasure (for them) of attending the AGM for Friends of Bangor Abbey. Now, I am not a member of this group but this meeting was of great interest to me. Reason, I hear you all ask. Over the past few months there has been building and renovation work going on at the Bangor Abbey Parish Halls. The exciting thing about these works, apart from us getting a new refurbished extended hall out of it, is that there were bodies found. Not just any old body (well they were old actually) but they were skellingtons. All 28 of them. Bones and bones and more bones. Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones etc. There were also shards of pottery and some very interesting pieces of stoneware. Dry your eyes Time Team, you had your chance when you were invited to dig at Bangor Abbey, instead you chose Down Cathredral and found nothing. Rsssp. Anyway, back to the meeting I was attending. The Prof who was in attendance and telling us all about this bone and that stone knew her stuff. She did hint (on more than 1 occasion) that this was a very important site and she would have loved to have had the chance to dig it all up. But the builders had a deadline to meet otherwise they would be penalised for late delivery of our nice new hall.
During the actual AGM of the Friends of Bangor Abbey a plea for help went out to the assemble peeps. There is a small group of people who maintain the Abbey Graveyard. Apparently it is looking AB FAB and well worth a visit. Anyway, the plea went out. They needed a petrol lawnmower that was no longer being used. Nobody came forward, as is usual at these sort of meetings, BUT, BUT. The knight in shining armour sticks his hand in the air and shouts (mumbles is more accurate) that he has a lawnmower lying in his garden shed that they are welcome to. At this news I have to fight out the number of people (2) who came up and thanked me. Is this the Brownie Points needed to get up there when my time comes? We’ll have to wait and see.
I was out last night. I am out tonight. Is this the re-start of my long lost social life. Who knows? This night I am out for bowls. Normally we have our bowls at the Abbey Halls but due to the building work we have been mixing in with another club up the road. When we do move back to our own hall on a Monday I may join this other club as well. That means two nights out playing bowls. Life is so exciting.
The loss of that plonker Frankie Coconut from X Factor is what I call gud news. The great news is that Janet is still in there.
The dinner (what I made earlier today) is ready to go out now that my wife is home from her hard day’s work (my hard day’s work was just as hard as hers, I bet)
So, for those of you who wish to add something to this gack just click on the title above and have your say.
Bye for now
Posted :: Wednesday 11/9/2011 12:13:00 PM
Well Hello There Doctor
Indeed, hello there Doctor. Well done on all the hard work you put in to becoming a Doctor indeed. I am referring to a chance meeting at a church function at the end of last week and this young ‘Woman’ came up to me and said hello to me. How are you? Are you keeping better? etc etc. Could I think of her name? No. Could I remember where I knew her from? No. Then it hit me like a wet fish across the bake. I know this girl / woman. What’s her name? What’s her name? (all the time she’s talking to me and I’m talking to her) This is a wee young thing that used to come around my house for sleep overs with my daughter. They were best friends. What’s her feckin’ name? Of course, me being the gormless idiot that I can be under these circumstances I just referred to her as ‘Doctor’ Could I think of her name? Not a chance. All I could think of was, if I am rushed into the A&E department there’s a very likely chance that you could be treating me. You’re nout but a wee slip of a lass. Then I remember I have known her from when she was a baby and she is the same age as my daughter who I married off just a few months ago. I get the feeling I’m getting older.
Still, it was nice of her to come and say hello to me.
I have just had a spam phonecall from Calvin looking for my credit card details. Apparently I am up for a compensation payout of £2,500.00 as my card company increased my credit limit without my authorisation. This is a new one to me but as soon as he asked me for my card number and expiy date I became suspicious. Very suspicious. When i told Calvin I didn’t want to give my card details out over the phone his tone changed. So did mine and mine was more awful than his (or mine was better than his depending on what way you read this) Calvin, if you’re reading this, go get fecked.
Now, orgetting about the spam call, lets see what else has been going on since i last wrote some gack. I am now up and about again after being in my sick bed for a couple of weeks and find I am able to manage to do things, albeit light duties, around the house. Not only this house but my daughters as well. Only today I was invited over for lunch,if, I would do a couple of jobs for her. Hanging a picture and trimming a box plant were the jobs that needed doing. That done we sat down to some delicious home made soup and bread. This is where it gets interesting. The home made soup was from our house and so was the bread. The only thing of substance i had from my daughters house was a cup of coffee. That’s a cheap lunch for my daughter to supply. No wonder these young ones of today have spare cash to go out and socialise!
Just on the topic of food. Sunday dinner has become a great family occasion over the past couple of years. Me, wife, mother in law, son, daughter, son in law. The usual Sunday roast is done with all the trimmings. Thing is, our daughter is veggie so she doesn’t eat the meat just the rest. As for me, all site and smell of cooked food makes me feel nausious, and I can’t eat red meat any more all because of my kidney problems. Soooo.....I make my own dish, or try to anyway. Yesterday I made filo pastry and brie/ cranburry sauce wraps. Now, it’s just as well I made more than I was going to eat myself because my daughter and my son in law decided they would like them as well. I was looking forward to having them again this week some night but now they are all gone I’ll have to think of something else for my dinner.
Porrige maybe!
While I’m thinking along those lines you can add your gack below by hitting above
Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Posted :: Monday 10/31/2011 12:58:00 PM
You Like, You Buy?
You like, you buy? That was the leading question every time we went ashore. Fortunately for us we managed not to like or buy too much. It was harder in some countries than others but we managed to come home with cash to spare. (all we need to come in now are the credit card bills) We did buy some things for ourselves and some things for our family. It was amazing the difference in prices on board / ashore / country to country. Example---- 400 cigarettes for our son. On board ship, tax free---$105.00. 400 cigarettes for the same son in Turkey duty free---- 12 Euro (about just under £10.00. Guess where we bought them? Although we visited 4 countries (6 ports of call) we found that prices were much of a muchness until we got to Athens. Varoom---all prices hit the roof. Even a cup of coffee cost over the odds. I haven't been in Greece for over 28 years. In that time i can only say that it has got even dirtier and grimier in that time. (if that is possible) I don't think I will be back. they mustn't of realized I was coming otherwise I am sure they would have cleaned up the city for my arrival. It's obvious they don't know who I am.
Another place that didn't realize I was coming. Palermo, Sicily. I had a bone to pick with a certain Family from that region. Not a greeting. Not a sorry. Not a single word of regret. If they weren't going to make the effort to come and see me I certainly wasn't going to bother looking for them (although there was a coach tour of Corleone but I didn't bother)
Back to the ship / boat thing. Very nice. Very comfortable. (except for the storm we sailed through on the way back to Barcelona)(people puking and all that)(really funny)
Now for the bad part. Some so and so has very kindly passed on their germs to me. How I don't know but I am suffering now. we got back on Monday and this is now Thursday. I got up out of my sickbed this morning thinking I was better but had to go back. Got up again to have lunch and to do this for you lot. I am going back to bed again. I am sure things will come back to me as I get better. If there is anything really exciting i will again get out of my sickbed to keep you informed. I do know that you all really care about me. Don't you? DON'T YOU?
Ta Rah for now (coff coff)
Posted :: Thursday 10/13/2011 9:48:00 AM
A Very Pleasant Surprise Indee
You may or may not know but I was awarded the Nobello Award from the Diabetic Association for living with insulin for 50 years. If I’ve told you this before I’m telling you again as I am a very proud person indeed. Well, that’s not the story. The story is I took my medal into the jewellers that I would tend to favour (as they are an independant retailer just like I used to be. Not one of those chain shops that clutter the High Streets of todays town centres) Anyway, I left said medal in and told them what I wanted engraved on the back. First of all they didn’t give me a chit, because they know who I am, and they told me to come back in a couple of days. When I got home I received a phone call from the jewellers to let me know that they had more work on than expected, could I come in on another day. Certainly says I, no problem. Now, wait for for it.
I went in on the day with my wife to collect my medal. It was brought out from the back and shown to me. It was perfect in everyway. They had done a really nice job. How much do I owe you for that? Oh, there’s no charge to you. I was stunned. Are you sure? says I. Yes, no charge. Well thank you, thank you very much. That was not expected.
They really must know who I am. This is the sort of thing an independant retailer can do. All the multiples and chains can’t do that. Support your independant retailers before you lose them.
What else has been happening. Oh yes. My wife and I are going on a cruise very soon. I thought it might be a good idea (or practical depending on your viewpoint) to try on my summer hols clothing. Just as well. Out of 6 pairs of shorts only 2 pairs fitted. The ones that are too small can either go to my son or the charity shop. Same goes for t shirts / short sleeved shirts / trousers / jackets etc etc. It is amazing how these items of clothing tend to shrink over the period of time they are in the wardrobe. Or maybe I eat too much at my daughter’s wedding. Who knows. It’s a good excuse to treat myself to some nice new clothing when we’re away.
I tried the other day to buy the new SuperHeavy single that has been played quite a lot on the radio. Everywhere I went they couldn’t help me. I went home and went online with the usual people who I knew were advertising it for sale when the release date was announced. No way. Gone. Not there anymore. How is one supposed to get a copy of this CD? Kept searching and eventually found a promo disc on Ebay. Problem was, it was priced at £33.00 with 2 days still to go and 11 people had bid on it. I didn’t want to pay that much for it even though i like the song. Then I find out that the only way you can buy this song is on iTunes or as an Mp3 download. If that’s the case why bother bring out a promo CD? Anyway, I now have the song (both mixes) on my iPod. (I did have a problem with the download as I couldn’t for the life of me remember my password into my account. I eventually got it sorted though.
Better finish off now as I am expecting my daughter to pick me up to take me over to her new house to put things up and fix this and build that. It’s just as well she has me to do all these little jobs for her. I’ll get a nice cup of tea / coffee for all my trouble / effort. Nice.
Ta for now. Don’t forget to submit you comments. Just tap on the title bar above. The rest is easy.
Posted :: Monday 8/22/2011 7:44:00 AM
Over and Done With
Yep. Over and done with indeed. Next one will be for #1 son if he ever meets the right person. Not too soon though. I need my wallet to recover a wee tad first. My wife and I need a bit of down time to ourselves so we are looking to see where we can get a wee break for a bit of r&r somewhere in the world.
Whilst out shopping today getting a few things needed for the house we were in a particular shop. What we were looking for was’nt out on display so, ask for assistance. After all, that’s what the shop assistants are there for. Being an ex shopkeeper myself I expect a certain level of service. This shop is a very large establishment and part of a very large chain throughout the UK. Have you got? Do you have? Could I get? The assistant just looked into space while he gave me monosyllabic answers and managed to point with his finger once or twice. We spent £13.98 there and made a quick escape in case his grumpiness was catching. The next shop we went into was a total change. Again, we couldn’t see what we were looking for so we asked for assistance. The shop assistant went and looked around the shop for us only to return to tell us that they had none on display. Hold on a mo, I will just go and check in the store at the back. A few minutes later she came out with something resembling what we were looking for. That will do for us. Would you like it wrapped. No thanks we can put it in our bag here. Big smile and a thankyou from the girl on the way out of the shop. Total spend, .99p. Either she knew who I was or she was just happy to serve us and take our money. It’s a pity that all shops were,nt like this. As for the other shop, I don’t think I will be back there.
Some gossip about the wedding. Amongst the wedding guests was this friend of my daughters who we were glad to see as we hadn’t seen him for some time. He had joined the police since we last saw him and was now living out of town. He was really having a good time. He was really having a better time when the bar opened after the meal and speeches (we didn’t want anyone coming to the table in an inebriated state) By the time the night went on he was probably the most legless person there. And then, Yep, he threw up. Fortunately this happened outside. He and his wife soon departed, or should I say, his wife made him leave. From what I hear it is all one word answers between them. No doubt, love will prevail and life will get back to normal . I can remember being in similar situations on many an occasion (including our honeymoon) and we are still together and talking to each other.
We have been invited over to America anytime we want to go to stay with some friends of our daughters. They had come over for the wedding especially for the wedding and it was great to meet them for the first time. Our daughter had stayed with them on her trips to the states on at least 3 occasions. We are maybe planning on going next year as my wife is going to be a certain age and this would be the ideal way of a birthday trip and present all in one go. I’m already looking forward to it.
Lunch is being served. Until the next time
Cheers
Posted :: Saturday 7/30/2011 8:12:00 AM
You Can Please Some Of The Peo
Indeed, you can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time. But boy, did I make a fool out of Nixon! Or words to that effect.
The wedding day is so upon us and there are rumblings and moanings from people who were invited but chose not to attend because their son and his girlfriend weren't invited (although they were invited to the evening do) From the very start getgo it was decided that there were to be no cousins invited. If all cousins had been invited and they decided to attend that would have added another.....lot of people to the list. (over 25 at the last count) and that is just on my side of the family! The venue that we are using couldn't take that extra number of people, unless they wanted to sit in the toilets. It has been decided by everyone that it is no loss to the proceedings that these members of the family who were invited don’t turn up. If they do, it’s too late anyway. All the food has been ordered and there is none to spare..........................so there. rrrssssppppppp
Still on the wedding theme. I did eventually manage to get my Father of the Bride speech finished, although I keep thinking of wee extra bits I could add in here or there but by the time I get to write them down I’ve forgotten what it is that I had thought of. Should I see a doctor? Next big thing for me to do is to go for the wedding rehearsal, just so that I know what I am supposed to do. Something like letting my daughter hold me up while we walk down the aisle of the church with me crying my eyes out. Or do they do it somewhat differently these days? We’ll see what happens.
Over the past few days the weather here in Norn Iron has been extraordinarily wonderful. This being the case I have been busy busy getting the garden organized for the above mentioned wedding day. If the photographer doesn't notice all the hard work I have put into this so that he can get some lovely shots of us leaving the house, I’ll, I’ll, I’ll........cry. Apart from all that over drama acting it also means that we have been able to eat our meals out on the deck. Oh, salad days are here again.....
The only problem now is, should I sit here and write more gack for you or go out into said garden just to make sure that everything is OK? I think it’s a bit of a no brainer there.
Comments as usual are always a pleasant surprise. Just click the title above and kaboom, yer on.
Speak to y’all soon (maybe sooner)
Posted :: Thursday 7/14/2011 6:54:00 AM
