Here’s one for anyone of you who likes mathematical conundrums. I certainly can’t work it out (and me being an ex-shopkeeper). Right, here we go. I will try and explain it in basic English.
Yesterday we (wife and me) out for me to have an eye test. Went to this well known establishment that advertises a lot on the telly. Very good test by a very sexy looking blonde who gave me a real going over (for glasses you dirty minded people out there) and she recommended that I get a pair of glasses for reading and a pair for distance. My thoughts were, my gawd, how much is this going to cost? Now, here’s where the oddness comes in. I pick a pair for distance. As I won’t be using them very much I went for a cheapish style (£45.00) For my reading pair I went up market to the designer range and picked myself a really cool looking pair (in my opinion and that’s the only one that counts). I reckon I have to look good when I am reading my speech at my daughter's wedding. (£125.00) Then there was the cost of all the other little extras (£60.00) so, at the moment we have a total of £230.00. I am entitled to some discounts due to my health problems but this takes the biscuit. When I paid for the whole shebang the total bill came to, wait for it, £65.50!!! KERSPLASH BADOING KERPLUNK!!!! I was speechless. I looked at the receipt again and again. The girl said my glasses would be ready next week. We made a quick exit from the shop without saying anything. (Well, we said thank-you) So, what percentage discount did I get? I love a good bargain but this is a GREAT bargain. Even better don’t you think?
Another good experience whilst we’re on the good bargain front. I had to get our daughter’s engagement ring added on to the insurance policy. I phoned the insurers up and eventually got through to a human voice that had feelings and a brain. You know, the sort of voice that you can interact with not like those feckin’ machines that only tell you to press button # whatever, NOW. Well, another pleasant surprise. I was expecting some hideous figure, but, To get insurance between today and policy renewal in July-----------a massive, unrealistic, fantastic £7.50. That’s the cost of two pints or 30 ciggies. Seeing as I don’t drink or smoke anymore I think I can afford this massive sum, don’t you?
And yet another bargain on the shopping front. I, as in we, have just booked our holidays for the year. (yes, you guessed it, another cruise)(same ship but a different route this time)We needed travel insurance so rather than go through all the hassle of being so heavily loaded by all these insurance companies or worse still being told no I went for the company that I used last time. I looked out the previous policy and eventually got through to a human voice (see above paragraph). Upon telling them the dates and any changes in my health etc etc they came back with a figure that I had to ask them to repeat three times, digit by digit. It was nearly a full £40.00 cheaper than two years ago, and this was for the two of us for a full year to boot.
As I am sitting here telling you about all this good fortune I sincerely hope that you are all having just as much good fortune. It has all been great for me. The downer on all this is, I had occasion to visit my GP the other day due to a lot of discomfort on my side. He took a look and had a bit of a poke and prod. He noticed that I had bruising all around my middle as well as my side. After the usual questions he informed me that I have a broken rib!!!. This happened a few weeks ago when I had occasion to lean into our recently emptied wheelie bin to retrieve some magazines belonging to my wife. It was all my fault as I was the guilty party when it was me who put them there in the first place. In doing this deed I ended up leaning on the edge of the said bin. I felt something go pop on my left inside. It was painful at the time but I thought no more about it. Then, the next day I found I could hardly move. The day after that all this bruising started to appear. Seeing as the pain eased with the aid of some mild painkillers I didn’t do any more about it. Then, a few days ago the pain became more unbearable so I went to the doctor. Result, broken rib. He prescribed stronger painkillers which made me violently ill (the retching was worse than the broken rib) so I am sitting here with my broken rib trying not to bend over, laugh too hard, cough, sneeze etc. As Gloria Gaynor once sang ‘I Will Survive’ I find myself in that position.
Don’t forget now, any comments at all, even weather reports, are all welcome. Just click on the title above and leave your gack as per usual. Looking forward to hearing from you all, anyone, someone
Cheers for now
Posted :: Wednesday 5/12/2010 3:52:00 AM
Myself
And the discount just keeps coming. Saved a whopping amount of dosh on the venue booking for the wedding of the year / decade / century / millenia / infinity and beyond. And all because I know the manager of the place. Let's see what the next bargain will be.
Commented :: 5/13/2010 11:08:00 AM
And the discount just keeps coming. Saved a whopping amount of dosh on the venue booking for the wedding of the year / decade / century / millenia / infinity and beyond. And all because I know the manager of the place. Let's see what the next bargain will be.
Commented :: 5/13/2010 11:08:00 AM
Mickmak
I suppose you will be popping the pink tie back on for the big day. Finished sowing wheat yesterday, for now, still about 120 acres to go on next rain, hopefully soon. We are off to Adelaide on Wednesday for a few days, visiting friends, I am looking forward to the break, it has been all go for a while now.
Commented :: 5/14/2010 10:45:00 PM
I suppose you will be popping the pink tie back on for the big day. Finished sowing wheat yesterday, for now, still about 120 acres to go on next rain, hopefully soon. We are off to Adelaide on Wednesday for a few days, visiting friends, I am looking forward to the break, it has been all go for a while now.
Commented :: 5/14/2010 10:45:00 PM
Myself
If I came and worked on your farm would I get as many breaks as you do???? no pink tie on the day I'm afraid. All the menfolk have already been told what they are / have to wear. first day out for the girls hunting for the perfect wedding dress. that gives them another 15 months to look!!!!
Commented :: 5/15/2010 2:30:00 AM
If I came and worked on your farm would I get as many breaks as you do???? no pink tie on the day I'm afraid. All the menfolk have already been told what they are / have to wear. first day out for the girls hunting for the perfect wedding dress. that gives them another 15 months to look!!!!
Commented :: 5/15/2010 2:30:00 AM
Mickmak
The farm is all yours from tomorrow McD,I will be in touch from Adelaide. You can have a break when I get home!!
Commented :: 5/17/2010 4:42:00 AM
The farm is all yours from tomorrow McD,I will be in touch from Adelaide. You can have a break when I get home!!
Commented :: 5/17/2010 4:42:00 AM
Myself
No can do Mick, i'm afraid that I had to visit my other home for a wee while (see pic on facebook) Maybe next time.
Commented :: 5/18/2010 12:25:00 AM
No can do Mick, i'm afraid that I had to visit my other home for a wee while (see pic on facebook) Maybe next time.
Commented :: 5/18/2010 12:25:00 AM
Avid Reader
Welcome back Bangorlocal! Got a wee tad fed up looking at that flower. Was the site hacked into????
Commented :: 5/27/2010 1:47:00 PM
Welcome back Bangorlocal! Got a wee tad fed up looking at that flower. Was the site hacked into????
Commented :: 5/27/2010 1:47:00 PM
Irish Irene
It was a beautiful flower, but I was sure missing your blog. Is there an explanation? McDuff hope you are well, was concerned when I saw you were visiting your other home, or maybe that is your "resort vacation home". God Bless
Commented :: 5/27/2010 11:19:00 PM
It was a beautiful flower, but I was sure missing your blog. Is there an explanation? McDuff hope you are well, was concerned when I saw you were visiting your other home, or maybe that is your "resort vacation home". God Bless
Commented :: 5/27/2010 11:19:00 PM
Myself
Back again. New blog to explain things to follow shortly. Watch out!
Commented :: 5/28/2010 2:49:00 AM
Back again. New blog to explain things to follow shortly. Watch out!
Commented :: 5/28/2010 2:49:00 AM
Mickmak
Looking forward to that!!
Commented :: 5/28/2010 6:04:00 PM
Looking forward to that!!
Commented :: 5/28/2010 6:04:00 PM
Fan from Upstate NY
with such good luck... you should go out and buy a lottery ticket. Hi again!! Just catching up on your FUN blog.
Commented :: 5/29/2010 10:56:00 PM
with such good luck... you should go out and buy a lottery ticket. Hi again!! Just catching up on your FUN blog.
Commented :: 5/29/2010 10:56:00 PM
Myself
Oooops. i appear to have lost the thread to the blog due to the hosting problems that we had a few days ago. I am looking for it but to no avail. Reason? I have smashed my laptop up (not on purpose you understand) by accident. I am having to use this dinosaur of a PC for now. Not the same after using a laptop for the past so many years, is it? Anyway, to bring you all up to date in a quick way. I think i left you off with the stitches in my head after falling in the back garden attempting to assemble garden furniture. Well, since then things only went downhill. Next day had a massive, massive near death hypo ( all you diabetics will know what I'm talking about) BM's went down to 1.2 and i was found unconsious on the lounge floor by my daughter who thought i was dead and went into hysterics (naturally) then calmed down enough to call for an ambulance. Ambulance arrived and revived me somehow. Wanted to take me into hospital, I refused and went to bed. Lying there in bed listening to the radio, pains in chest, big pains in chest, EVEN BIGGER PAINS IN CHEST (I think you know what's coming next) BIG heart attack. Another ambulance called and taken into hospital. Very bad pain so i just let them do what they had to and then sent up to the Cardiac Unit. Got home the following week and have been taking things real easy (again). Nearly blew a gasget with my insurance company after finding out that my broken laptop wasn't insured as it was classed as a portable item.!!! (my argument was that everything in the house is portable, no dice with them, feckers) I told them, after more phone calls, tha i was not at all happy with the service i was being given after being a customer of theirs for many years. I am now on the hunt for another insurance company. (I might as well have told all this to my dogs for all the good it did) Other things have happened but i hope that i will be able to tell all on my brand newly re-fixed laptop once i get it back from the menders (in about two weeks) Oh, we were not hacked into. It was a problem with the hosting company (feckers as well)Soon to be put right when we move everything to another company. Cheers for now. Keep writing in.
Commented :: 5/30/2010 5:13:00 AM
Oooops. i appear to have lost the thread to the blog due to the hosting problems that we had a few days ago. I am looking for it but to no avail. Reason? I have smashed my laptop up (not on purpose you understand) by accident. I am having to use this dinosaur of a PC for now. Not the same after using a laptop for the past so many years, is it? Anyway, to bring you all up to date in a quick way. I think i left you off with the stitches in my head after falling in the back garden attempting to assemble garden furniture. Well, since then things only went downhill. Next day had a massive, massive near death hypo ( all you diabetics will know what I'm talking about) BM's went down to 1.2 and i was found unconsious on the lounge floor by my daughter who thought i was dead and went into hysterics (naturally) then calmed down enough to call for an ambulance. Ambulance arrived and revived me somehow. Wanted to take me into hospital, I refused and went to bed. Lying there in bed listening to the radio, pains in chest, big pains in chest, EVEN BIGGER PAINS IN CHEST (I think you know what's coming next) BIG heart attack. Another ambulance called and taken into hospital. Very bad pain so i just let them do what they had to and then sent up to the Cardiac Unit. Got home the following week and have been taking things real easy (again). Nearly blew a gasget with my insurance company after finding out that my broken laptop wasn't insured as it was classed as a portable item.!!! (my argument was that everything in the house is portable, no dice with them, feckers) I told them, after more phone calls, tha i was not at all happy with the service i was being given after being a customer of theirs for many years. I am now on the hunt for another insurance company. (I might as well have told all this to my dogs for all the good it did) Other things have happened but i hope that i will be able to tell all on my brand newly re-fixed laptop once i get it back from the menders (in about two weeks) Oh, we were not hacked into. It was a problem with the hosting company (feckers as well)Soon to be put right when we move everything to another company. Cheers for now. Keep writing in.
Commented :: 5/30/2010 5:13:00 AM
Irish Irene
Thank God that He loves you so very much.
Commented :: 5/30/2010 8:53:00 PM
Thank God that He loves you so very much.
Commented :: 5/30/2010 8:53:00 PM
Mickmak
Wow, what an explanation. You are definately a worry. Cheers.
Commented :: 5/31/2010 12:54:00 AM
Wow, what an explanation. You are definately a worry. Cheers.
Commented :: 5/31/2010 12:54:00 AM
Avid Reader
Missed out on the stiches in the head episode but thats really small fry compared to what you went through next! Glad to see that you,re still in good spirits after all your problems. Insurance companies are only as good as your eyesight, finding the small print is ALWAYS frustrating. Good to hear the latest biz, best of luck for the future.
Commented :: 5/31/2010 5:07:00 AM
Missed out on the stiches in the head episode but thats really small fry compared to what you went through next! Glad to see that you,re still in good spirits after all your problems. Insurance companies are only as good as your eyesight, finding the small print is ALWAYS frustrating. Good to hear the latest biz, best of luck for the future.
Commented :: 5/31/2010 5:07:00 AM
Avid Reader
All sorted?
Commented :: 6/8/2010 2:59:00 AM
All sorted?
Commented :: 6/8/2010 2:59:00 AM
Avid Reader
OK,just checking as I posted yesterday but when I submitted my comment I got a message that the server was down. Hope you,re in good health McDuff.
Commented :: 6/8/2010 3:01:00 AM
OK,just checking as I posted yesterday but when I submitted my comment I got a message that the server was down. Hope you,re in good health McDuff.
Commented :: 6/8/2010 3:01:00 AM
Darrell
Due to a lot of problems with our old host I have moved the web site to a new host. Everything is looking good so far so hopefully the errors will be a thing of the past.
Commented :: 6/8/2010 5:30:00 AM
Due to a lot of problems with our old host I have moved the web site to a new host. Everything is looking good so far so hopefully the errors will be a thing of the past.
Commented :: 6/8/2010 5:30:00 AM
irish irene
How was the concert in Bangor last week? I heard they expected 40,000 people. Hope the restaurants stayed open later to increase their business.
Commented :: 6/10/2010 1:21:00 AM
How was the concert in Bangor last week? I heard they expected 40,000 people. Hope the restaurants stayed open later to increase their business.
Commented :: 6/10/2010 1:21:00 AM
Myself
It turned out to be the biggest outdoor concert ever held in Norn Iron. Even bigger than U2 a number of years back. How's that for a local band made good? As for numbers, something more like over 40,000 and maybe up to 45,000
Commented :: 6/10/2010 4:42:00 AM
It turned out to be the biggest outdoor concert ever held in Norn Iron. Even bigger than U2 a number of years back. How's that for a local band made good? As for numbers, something more like over 40,000 and maybe up to 45,000
Commented :: 6/10/2010 4:42:00 AM
Myself
My son and daughter were there with friends so that makes up 28 of the numbers!
Commented :: 6/10/2010 4:45:00 AM
My son and daughter were there with friends so that makes up 28 of the numbers!
Commented :: 6/10/2010 4:45:00 AM
irish irene
Glad to hear that the concert was great. Maybe they will be over here sometime. Happy to see that the blog is back up. Do hope you are keeping all right. God Bless
Commented :: 6/10/2010 7:11:00 PM
Glad to hear that the concert was great. Maybe they will be over here sometime. Happy to see that the blog is back up. Do hope you are keeping all right. God Bless
Commented :: 6/10/2010 7:11:00 PM
irish irene
Glad to hear that the concert was great. Maybe they will be over here sometime. Happy to see that the blog is back up. Do hope you are keeping all right. God Bless
Commented :: 6/10/2010 7:12:00 PM
Glad to hear that the concert was great. Maybe they will be over here sometime. Happy to see that the blog is back up. Do hope you are keeping all right. God Bless
Commented :: 6/10/2010 7:12:00 PM
the cyclist
Great blog as ussual ,according to my girlfriend our wedding must be the wedding of the year ,century , millenium ........:) Anyway congratulation to your darling daughter I am sure you and the whole family are very happy for her .
Commented :: 6/14/2010 2:52:00 AM
Great blog as ussual ,according to my girlfriend our wedding must be the wedding of the year ,century , millenium ........:) Anyway congratulation to your darling daughter I am sure you and the whole family are very happy for her .
Commented :: 6/14/2010 2:52:00 AM
Nice blog McD, with the exception of the broken rib. When on a roll like this get out there and buy a few lottery tickets, or have you given up gambling as well. Nice news about the engagement, hope you were,nt to tough on the poor lad when he asked for your girls hand. This year for hols after shearing we are going to do the Darling river run from Walgett to Wentworth, a drive that visits the river towns, we will borrow brothers Kevin,s camper trailer and do the grey nomad thing. G,day the rest of the gang, hope you are all well. Anorak, winning, I hope!!
Commented :: 5/12/2010 4:32:00 PM