I am a fan of pencils ... and sharpeners (the joy of being able to use the fixed one on the teachers desk) .... and erasers.  As a child I had an eraser collection, all various shapes, sizes, colours and smells. Yes, they bought out the different smelling variety kind. 

My favourite kind though, for pure rubbing out quality along with no breaky-off bits (very annoying when an eraser crumbles or breaks whilst using it) was this type:



I had a huge love of stationery shops as a child as well, still do. Every Saturday I would wander down to WHSmith just to look at the stationery section, the jigsaws and the books. But always went through the stationery section twice    Even these days, when I have time to kill I will often grab a Costa (in paper cup obv) and wander around Staples or other such shop. Merrily kill half an hour in complete contentment doing that 

Click to see full-size image.

Snowdonia took me by surprise. Some of the views were so spectacular that I literally gasped when I first saw them.

Photographs can't do it anything like justice.

Click to see full-size image.

 

WOW!  I LOVE this pic Tom, and whenever I am drifitng in my mind to my own 'place' for solitude this is so similar to what I envisage.

Thanks for sharing .... can I steal this for my phone screensaver please?

 

BOOM!

Incoming PM from Holdy.

Happy days.

Life is good.

How do you know that she hasn't PM'ed me already?

If you had shared your muffin I would have 

 

Lovely to see you the other day ... side to side footsie was a bonus ;-)

and oohhhh what a big chocolate muffin you had ... even the dealer was drooling 

xx

Congratulations Dan and Claire

A long time coming ... so glad it's finally happened


xx

Oz was great - pretty brutal in places.

Schillinger is one of the all-time great nasty pieces of work in drama.

+1



Great series.  I've got the box set .... def due a re-watch

Excellent news :-).    Xx

No idea if this happens throughout the hotel, but the gaming area has 'coconut' scented air conditioning.  A nice touch if you like the smell but for me I can't even walk through the place 

[Pastizzi's]

Best 5 Things about Malta pls?

In no particular order.

Driving

Restaurants

The people

Pastizzi's

You're not here.

x

Had to google this .. sounded nice, pictures looked good ... then I read the fillings   (insert spewing smiley here)

[working for Betfair in their call centres.]

Would also maybe like a job in poker/gaming, not playing, but behind the scenes or online. It's something that interests me a lot, but getting into it doesn't seem too straight forward, other than maybe working for Betfair in their call centres.

I would advise against.

Not long now till we're sunning ourselves side by side on the sea-shore... maybe holding hands?

What day do you arrive? I have Thurs-Sun off work.

I TOLD Gavlar you was fickle Vinny ... he said nooooooo, Vinny will be by my side forever after our early morning meeting of minds, body, soul and fags.

I just hope Gav doesn't see this, it'll knock him sideways.



(Deano he could cope with but Gregorgeous will be too much for him to handle)

Ahhhhh, NOW I understand what you're saying.  Was really confused to be honest. 

Have no doubt about it...if Sarah wants me to be there, I WILL be there.  We've talked about it and she isn't worried about the operation, but wanted to test the theory of my hopping on a plane when requested.  I've shown I can and will at last minute's notice, and that's the test passed as far as she's concerned. 

This was the first time Tim was even present for anything like this, so it caught everyone for a hop that he was even involved.  But doesn't mean I dodge the role from now on.  Just means I have to be respectful of his new role. 

At the end of the day, not Tim, the neighbours or anyone is going to keep me away from my kids if they need me. 

It's a shame that Sarah even felt the need to test the theory

Just sayin.


Keep justifying it to yourself Lax.



Nowt more from me.   

["Not at all. But to be honest, I probably won't be coming back over for the re-scheduled date. Not much point when only one parent can be with you, yeah?"]

I sat in the waiting room for well over an hour.  This seemed a bit odd because we'd been told once she was settled in, we'd be sent on our way and not to come back for a few hours.  I was dreading a few hours alone with Tim trying to make small talk, but already an hour had dwindled away and no clue what was happening.  

Eventually Tim landed out to tell me, "They're not operating today.  She's still too stuffed with the cold to go through with it."  

"Oh fer feck sake.  I KNEW it!  Told the pair of you last week she wouldn't be seen if that wasn't sorted."

"I know and that's all that's bothering her at the minute.  She's worried you're going to want to kill us now for making the wasted trip over."

"Sigh.  I'm not going to kill ye but I am going in to see her now.  And for the record - you ARE an eejit for not getting that cold cleared."

Off I went to see Sarah.  The poor girl was nearly in tears.  As it was, they'd kept me hanging about booking the trip with their talks of postponing the op and heading to Brooklyn, NY instead.  Got to the point where I was pretty stuffed on the airfare for this one and they knew it.  

Gave her a hug, "I'm not going to kill ya, ya eejit."

"Are you sure?  I'm sorry.  Dr. Leader said I'd be grand but they don't think I am."

"I know goose.  I knew ya weren't grand and would have been surprised if they'd gone ahead with it to be honest."

"So you're not cross?"

"Not at all.  But to be honest, I probably won't be coming back over for the re-scheduled date.  Not much point when only one parent can be with you, yeah?"

"I know.  Just glad you're not cross with us."

Is this serious?  Laxie were you serious when you said this???

Sorry Laxie ... I read this bit and and thought OMFG what parent can say this to their child?


I cant read anymore.

Sorry. That hurt to read.

Yep, got that feeling too....in fact I actuallty thought that Laxie's kids were step kids that she just had a good bond with.

For a start, it's not a family policy by us, but a hospital policy we were unaware of.  Her father obviously wants to be the one to accompany her and I'm trying not to cause hassle in the camp.  In that case, best if I just stay put here.  Don't understand the problem?

I've never beat around the bush with my kids.  We say it like it is and at the very least, we never have to doubt the honesty of our words because we know we don't mess about.  Very definitely don't feel a single ounce of guilt for the conversation we had regarding the re-scheduled op.  

Only thing I feel a wee bit guilty about is doubting my role as their mom.  Just because I'm not there doesn't mean they don't care and I feel guilty for doubting that.  And they know I absolutely adore them.

Yes it was obvious that it was a hospital policy not a family one ... however, the hospital policy didn't say that you wasn't allowed to be there for when she got out?

In situations like these it is normal/usual for the main child carer to be the one present if only one parent allowed. Tim is now the main child carer, a choice that was made by you.  A lot of fathers are put in this very same position when they have to wait outside, yet they still are there.


I read some of your pre move posts and one that stuck in my head was you stressing to your kids that you would always be there for them, that you was only a wee flight away ... yet it seems at the first opportunity to prove this to them you had an attack of 'sour grapes' at not being the one to go in with Sarah, you SAY that you are not cross with them BUT immediately then go on to say  ''I probably won't be coming back over for the re-scheduled date.  Not much point when only one parent can be with you, yeah?''        Can you not see the hypocrasy of that statement?       Assure your kids your there for them then prove that actually you're not.

You gave up the main child carer role Laxie, and being asked to wait outside is an unfortunate part of how things will/can/have changed ... but FFS what matters to a child is that you're there, whether that be in the waiting room or hell even the car park outside!


Each to their own I suppose.

["Not at all. But to be honest, I probably won't be coming back over for the re-scheduled date. Not much point when only one parent can be with you, yeah?"]

I sat in the waiting room for well over an hour.  This seemed a bit odd because we'd been told once she was settled in, we'd be sent on our way and not to come back for a few hours.  I was dreading a few hours alone with Tim trying to make small talk, but already an hour had dwindled away and no clue what was happening.  

Eventually Tim landed out to tell me, "They're not operating today.  She's still too stuffed with the cold to go through with it."  

"Oh fer feck sake.  I KNEW it!  Told the pair of you last week she wouldn't be seen if that wasn't sorted."

"I know and that's all that's bothering her at the minute.  She's worried you're going to want to kill us now for making the wasted trip over."

"Sigh.  I'm not going to kill ye but I am going in to see her now.  And for the record - you ARE an eejit for not getting that cold cleared."

Off I went to see Sarah.  The poor girl was nearly in tears.  As it was, they'd kept me hanging about booking the trip with their talks of postponing the op and heading to Brooklyn, NY instead.  Got to the point where I was pretty stuffed on the airfare for this one and they knew it.  

Gave her a hug, "I'm not going to kill ya, ya eejit."

"Are you sure?  I'm sorry.  Dr. Leader said I'd be grand but they don't think I am."

"I know goose.  I knew ya weren't grand and would have been surprised if they'd gone ahead with it to be honest."

"So you're not cross?"

"Not at all.  But to be honest, I probably won't be coming back over for the re-scheduled date.  Not much point when only one parent can be with you, yeah?"

"I know.  Just glad you're not cross with us."

Is this serious?  Laxie were you serious when you said this???

Sorry Laxie ... I read this bit and and thought OMFG what parent can say this to their child?


I cant read anymore.

Sorry. That hurt to read.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery Tim. Love you to you and Hazel.

Mich and Gav/xx

The company I work for is now looking to recruit an Assistant Typesetter who is Mac based and proficient with Indesign and Photoshop.

The role will be mainly typesetting 'Advertisements' to Newspaper In-House style guidelines (and deadlines), although there could be overflow work amending Manuals, Catalogues and packaging artwork. There may also be some web banner/email newsletter work so knowledge of photoshop for web would be an advantage.

The position would ideally suit someone who has print (cmyk) knowledge (although not essential as you will be working alongside me and I can train you in this aspect), and who is looking to get back into the workplace with a part-time position. We would also consider a freelancer who is happy to be contracted in-house approx two days a week.


The role will be based in Marble Arch from 9am - 6pm for two days a week.
Location: Marble Arch
Start date: End Aug/Beginning Sept
Salary: tbc depending on experience

If you are interested or know of anyone who may be interested then please either PM me here or send an email to livewireartwork@gmail.com   (subject: Assistant Typesetter).


Many thanks
Michelle