fuffblog

Farking FarkBook

2011-06-09T17:04:00.007+01:00

Where was I? September/October last year. The lagomorph's (in above picture, posing with its recently departed rat buckfriend's Valentines card) Facebook account appears to have taken over my life and I spend more time thinking about writing short stories for 'Bunny Camp News' than contemplating a blog post.
It's still here though, so it can't be dead yet.
In fact, due to the Facebook furry world, we appear to have acquired more friends than if we actually wandered about in the world (that sometimes happens...one needs to eat).
Real people, that come to see us (the bunny), that we also visit (their bunnies),with whom we actually interact with outside of the ether that is..
I did meet Orb through my blog however, plus a foot.

Haro

2010-10-02T00:03:00.006+01:00

This poor blog is truly neglected nowadays.
That's partly honeymoon and mostly laziness and the ease of posting a Facebook update for you..
We've been so busy, mostly with planning our next escape to Athens, whilst juggling work and other obligations to get us there.
The above picture is of Notre Dame in Reims. We thought a trip there recently would be rather a good idea, wot with it being the centre of the Champagne region of France and all that.
Great fizz aside, we ate well, that is until the final soirée.
I love my meat rare, but the lump of very young saignant cow that landed on my plate on this fateful night was too much for my constitution to bear. If it were not for the wobbly foie gras and grey mashed potato that neither of us could figure out, I may have coped.
Alas, I opted to drown my culinary sorrows in copious amounts of Jacquessons and shut up, fearing a further trip to the kitchen for my plate may have just sent me over the edge.
The good news however, is that we managed to stock up on 9 euro per bottle fizz.
Not bad.

A glimpse of a happy dinner table, ante gross main course and below, the fire. First lit last Saturday and not likely to cool for at least another 6 months...

Home for the honeymoon

2010-07-20T19:36:00.011+01:00

After nearly 3 weeks of driving across Europe, getting lost up a farking Swiss mountain in the fog and rain, a few flea pits, a dose of alcohol poisoning (fake spirits, not self-inflicted for once), tummy bugs and managing to last for the entire time without losing my rag with anyone in Greece until the very last day we were there....*breathes*...we are home.
We're also married, finally!!!

Santorini

2010-06-27T20:50:00.005+01:00

Paradise found........................................................................

Sunset cruise

Can't catch me...

Oia

Soon Zoltan

2010-06-09T21:14:00.007+01:00

One week from now - we are going to be driving through France, onto Switzerland and Italy to catch the above ferry. Then we get to Patra and drive to Athens; spend night there shopping for clothes and drinking coffee and set off for Paros on the ferry pictured below the following day.
Do I seem as though I'm looking forward to it?
If I could only forget about work and focus on my plans this week - I would be bouncing off the walls.
Speaking of bouncing of walls, that's what the pheasants round 'ere are going to be doing if they don't bugger off. They have brought us a fine collection of ticks. I found one on the bunny on Friday, then two on Fur so far since then. Horrid prehistoric, shudder provoking little farkers.
Another reason to hate them (and shudder even further) is that some of them carry Lyme Disease. Nice.

Anyway. Once I've got the last 4 days of going into the office out of the way; I'll have found my nose guard, packed and sent the bun on her holidays. Then I'll be thinking about spending the next 3 weeks travelling, relaxing, laughing and enjoying quite a lot of the below...

Ugggghhhhhh

2010-06-02T15:43:00.001+01:00

9 more days of waking up, dodging the ponies and hoofing it into the ‘Big City’ HA!
So why is it dragging as if it’s 9 years?

Hiiiiiiiic

2010-05-29T00:36:00.002+01:00

May I re-introduce Sin. Poor Sin, bundermined by Bibi Bunneh.

Meep

2010-05-27T19:57:00.005+01:00

Under the house for some time, have been a few hen pheasants with their mate.
At first, the noise he makes (an often non-stop screeching squawk, particularly at 4am), followed by mental wing flapping had me thinking about running him over at times; but we all get on now and the girls often run up the drive when I get home, to see if I have any extra food, other than what the birds throw out of the feeder.
Then at 6am this morning, whilst watching one of the girls make her way out of the undergrowth, out followed 5 tiny little chicks.

Spring

2010-05-26T18:42:00.005+01:00

Remember we left town living and went to the other end of the scale; on our own in the woods, down a hole with an owl etc.
Well, the upsides far outweigh the downers. Actually, aside from the thieving bastard squirrels that wreck the bird feeder and generally annoy me, nothing is even remotely bothersome. Not even the spiders.....
Until Saturday night, when the arrival of the above Cockchafer (!!!!) ,aka Maybug, caused quite a stir.
In fairness, this was probably due to the fact that there was not just one or two of them, but about a gazillion. Flapping around like demented 4 cylindered mammals. Windows and doors were closed though, so none inside.
Settled on the sofa some time later in the evening, I felt something on my leg, looked down and saw one of these mahoosive farkers running around like it owned the place.
It made me spill my drink, which earned it the fortune of being scooped up and flushed off for a swim in the Beaulieu.
There are hornets that sound like cross-channel planes around too.
Thankfully, the internet has reassured me that hornets are lovely creatures that would rather not have anything to do with people (wise) and that they'd far rather come round for tea, than sting anyone.
I will think of that the next time I hear an engine drone, followed by waspie on nitrous, before running for my life.

Been a while

2010-05-16T01:45:00.004+01:00

Since my recent aquaintance with the breed known as Actuaries, I have lost all perception of time. In fact, I've been in survival mode for the past few months.
The up side is that I seem to have surfaced and now am coping with the situation, with the help of a hefty amount of contempt.
That and that I am off to Greece in 4 weeks, on a road trip and sailing from Italy to Patras, then on by road and ferry to various places.
That bastard volcano has a lot to answer for, but I'm not complaining.

2009-12-12T22:10:00.001Z

GO ARMY!

Fogo de Chao

2009-12-11T03:37:00.003Z

Brazilian gaucho steakhouse. Protein overload.
Nirvana.
Well worth walking 5 blocks for in -gazillion degrees.

Interesting

2009-12-10T03:40:00.004Z

Just half an hour ago, whilst returning from dinner and seeing the local homeless picking cigarette butts out of a hotel ashtray; one guy approaches Fur and says 'be careful, you're in Sin City'
WTF?!!!?

Hmmmmm

2009-12-09T18:45:00.003Z

I am looking forward to going up to NYC for the weekend.
It's all a bit too ghetto in this hood.

My daily update......snort

2009-12-08T19:24:00.001Z

This is an extract from an email my mum sent me, earlier today.

"I got a good boxing yesterday for daring to touch her ice pod to see if it was cool. Didn’t break the skin but she definitely meant it. Gave me a bit of a surprise. Again today when I put her towel where she had been lying in the corner by the phone. Boxed me, picked the edges up and started throwing them then pushed it out of the way. That’s me told - she likes the cold floor over there".

Brass Monkey

2009-12-08T18:18:00.015Z

This is on the back of the hotel room door.
It's the first western hotel I have ever stayed at, that tells its guests not to open the door, unless certain of the visitor on the other side.
I don't take travel information found hither and tither on the internet, seriously. It would be naive to assume that all one reads is a true reflection of a destination. By all means, be wary, but descriptions of the city in general as a 'warzone' are stupid and narrow minded.
I know there are neighbourhoods we wouldn't even want to drive through (aren't there in most cities), but putting visitors off the 5th largest city in the US, by publishing damning comments on the web, is stupid.
A smile seems to go a long way, in a place where the atmosphere is generally insular. Also, true to form, the people who are accused of wrecking this city have so far, turned out to be the most warm and friendly towards us.
Last night, we couldn't get out until late and ended up in the Hard Rock café on the corner. I would usually avoid this kind of joint like the plague, but we were hungry and tired and the food was good, as was the atmosphere.
Full of what I would describe as thirty and forty something family types and professionals, it was a bit disconcerting to me, that only 50 metres away and through a set of closely guarded double doors, roam a lot of people I can only desribe as extremely poor.
Maybe it's just the way things are here, but it it didn't sit right with me at all.
Nor am I saying it put me orf my dinner, but it did make me wonder about quite a few things.
It's been a long time since I last saw someone picking through other people's stubbed out cigarette ends, to find one to re-light and smoke.

Across the Delaware river a few miles away, New Jersey on the far shore, specifically, Camden.
I'm not going to go into details about THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE IN THE US!!!
Nuff said.
Fuff out.

Stuffed

2009-12-08T03:12:00.004Z

Just to clarify, for a certain reader; we are not on holiday in Newark, NJ (!).
We're in Philadelphia, for work. Not that there is anything wrong with going on holiday to Philly, but it's not the first destination that springs to mind whilst browsing for a winter break..
However, I am quite impressed so far. Especially, as all I have read about the city centre (not the neighbourhoods one would do well to steer clear of) is that it's a nasty, filthy place and that the people are mean (I am excluding the first impression I had last night, of a dodgy bloke running down the road at full pelt, with someone's laptop in their grasp of course).
Since we arrived, we've had a warm, friendly and genuinely nice welcome.
Fur has also just polished off, what he described, as the best steak he has ever eaten.

GAHHHHHH!

2009-12-07T06:22:00.003Z

Fucking hell. I have never been so exhausted, getting into a country in my entire life.
Getting lost in Newark, NJ was not berry funneh either.
I mish my bunneh :((

Knot Boursin

2009-12-03T21:58:00.009Z

My mum is going to be bunnysitting for a week from Sunday. I'm currently preparing a list of things to do and more impawtantly, NOT to do. Bibi enjoys lunging at her grandbun, so I am being thorough, just in case she ends up in her pen for a week, after being served with a bunneh ABSO.
I've been looking for my stab vest, in preparation for our trip to Killadelphia.
Aside from running up the stairs to the Art Museum and making boxing punches at the top, to the tune of Rocky, sung by Fur at the bottom; there aren't any plans as yet.
Browsing through the internet and reading about what a mess a lot of the city is in, doesn't exactly prepare me for the kind of feeling a jaunt to Athens creates.
Using internet forums helps too (sorry, not Lonely Planet, Codster), but I have been dying to wind someone up with a question, enquiring about the necessity to drive through certain areas at high speed, in order to avoid the certain hailstorms of bullets.
I have refrained so far, however.
Intrigued about meeting a cheesesteak too. People say they are farking delish. The thought of 'cheese whiz' (wtf) makes them sound bloody awful to me.

2009-10-30T03:17:00.003Z

What with being in the forest and isolated; why do I have to listen to a facking boat alarm going off in the middle of the night?

Update: It's either stopped, or my tinitus has drowned it out

Uninspired

2009-10-26T20:57:00.002Z

Anyone who likes curry as much as I do, will know that once your find THE curry house, nothing can compare. Until perhaps the day one gets a dose of food poisoning, which touch wood hasn't happened yet.
Earlier, I was feeling brave, so we tried a local Indian restaurant. Not that there was anything wrong with it, it just wasn't 'Kutis' GAH!
We're now trying to decide what to watch.
Fur said 'I want to watch something fast moving and light hearted'.
'How about Pulp Fiction' says I.
I guess Finding Nemo is going to have to be my next suggestion.
In other news, whilst the birds were eating us out of house and home, earlier (a container of seed and at least half a container of peanuts, plus several suet balls daily), a blue tit did a kamikaze at the kitchen window. He sat looking fairly concussed for quite a while, then got up and carried on eating.
That's that spirit. Little sod.
This is what happens when naughty bunnies roam at night and one leaves one's clothes on the floor.......

Whit.....

2009-10-24T23:59:00.002+01:00

Being a 'grown up' means I can have cheese soufflé at midnight - 1 hour GMT by the morning + more wine.

Can you guess what it is yet?

2009-10-21T23:34:00.003+01:00

Another nommist

2009-10-19T15:38:00.000+01:00

In the woods

2009-10-18T23:32:00.013+01:00

Yesterday afternoon, we installed a bird feeder on the veranda.
Not expecting the birds to notice immediately, I was quite surprised to find eleventy billion of them this morning.
By 2pm, I was re-filling the seed container.

You cannot see the trees after dark. I did see a badger's bum last night, however and can hear them and the deer really close to the house.
It's a good thing I am already familiar with a barn owl's screaming too. It's still a horrid noise though.
The wicker basket is on the table, to prevent it becoming an ex-wicker basket, if Bibi has her way.
She is free range day and night now. This doesn't stop her getting up to no good; though any wires are out of reach. The phone books are her latest victim.
I am getting used to being woken up by a bunny landing on me, followed by a nose or bum in my face in the morning.
The ladder leads to a loft. It's the warmest place in the house to sleep.

Apparently, Shelob lives here nowadays; but in the 1800's this was a brick kiln and made most of the bricks for the Southampton docks in the 1840's

Not Hare

2009-10-14T22:27:00.007+01:00

Orb has been over to say hello and have a bite to eat with us.
The perfect gentleman as always, he brought flowers and wine.
As a token of my appreciation, I gave him one of my finest 3 foot long blonde hairs to chomp on, with his first mouthful of food.
I have not done this to any of my culinary victims for years.
He was honoured.

Lost

2009-10-13T00:10:00.010+01:00

I can't find my camera. Got to look harder for it tomorrow, or run the risk of over-bunnying the bloog.
It seems that moving out of the city, albeit out of any kind of 'neighbourhood', has slowed both of us right down, thankfully. Some of that will be related to getting away from the stress in the flat tho.
This afternoon, we were both outside getting wood for the fire and doing various bunny proofing jobs, when a pair of rather large badgers tore past in grunting fashion and great haste, through the brambles.
Now I know exactly what the scrabbling noises outside at night are; tho I had suspected it was badgers, due to the tracks around the house.
They were probably minding their own business, until we wandered out and decided to make a run for it back to their set.
I don't blame them. Nasty 'orrid 2 foots are the root of most, if not all evil.

Whoohoo!

2009-10-10T02:44:00.004+01:00

I've managed to go outside at night on my own, without losing the plot. Plus, there's a mahoosive black moff on the window.
I am brave.

Moved

2009-10-06T18:53:00.004+01:00

I just wish I didn't have a cold and the remnants of a champagne hangover.....
Woke up this morning to the sound of torrential rain in the trees. I am still flinching each time I hear a thud (bunny feet on hard floors), but that's starting to go away.
Time for a bowl of steak chilli, tacos and stuff, plus the rest of the champagne.

B-Day

2009-10-03T02:17:00.007+01:00

Hooray for IKEA and Lemsip.
Shelving, lighting and gubbins, plus a bit of relief from the streaming cold we both have.
Tomorrow, the fridge freezer arrives. Not seen it, not inspired by such things, but needs must.
Then Sunday, we are moving the big gear in, after having meticulously put EVERYTHING else away beforehand.
I don't handle clutter well at the best of times.
When we drove out this evening to go and flail around in a consumerist manner in aforementioned Swedish (*spit* the godzillas upstairs are Swedes) store; about 50 peasants were blocking the track. Only one refused to flap/scatter orf. Fur got out and ran after it, after much engine revving and chasing. Hearing him'RAAAAAWR' and run after it grinning and waving his arms about, was the highlight of my week.
I tell ya, you got to have your eyes peeled on that track. We managed to terrorise a frog on the way back. He was springing across the road like a jack in a box, when we approached.
That stupid bird must have told him about the huge rawring ape wot chased it furlier.

Pinching myself

2009-10-01T03:14:00.007+01:00

Standing outside after scrubbing down bathrooms and floors, all I could hear, was screeching and hooting owls; a suspect badger in the woods behind the house and a hissing log on the fire.
Just to continue the thread....I have put flour, water, butter, salt, yeast and sugar into an aluminum pot. Then I shut the lid and told the machine that I want my wholemeal loaf ready just after I get up.
Someone kick me, please.

Onwards

2009-09-30T02:02:00.004+01:00

Tomorrow is day three of cleaning/scrubbing/painting/binkying.
I think we'll be in by Saturday night.
I hadn't accounted for the place being so filthy however, apart from the kitchen and the eleventy billion cobwebs outside; but on close approach, I was wrong.
I'm not complaining. It could have been worse. I just don't like other people's dirt.
The paintbrushes have been out too and the fire lit. Last night was not funny, when the chimney wouldn't draw. Pity we hadn't noticed it was half closed....
Bibi is not a happy bunny (no pun intended) at the moment. Being left alone until late, with Radio 3, is poor compensation for a bit of growling and nudging.
Standing outside at dusk is so different to being here. Fortunately, I like bats, as they zoom past an inch from my nose. When it's dark, it's pitch absolute black. I though it would feel a bit eerie; but we are strangely comfortable with the woodland noises and smells.

I have run out of things to type.
Fuff out

Fish

2009-09-26T23:11:00.004+01:00

My new gadget arrived today and we've just about finished the first, almost perfectly fried halibut.
NOM!

For anybun not interested in my culinary adventure de jour; here is a picture of a tranced Bibi.

Erk

2009-09-24T23:05:00.003+01:00

The last time we moved, I treated myself to a Gaggia espresso machine.
This time, it's going to be something that might turn me into a fat barsteward, if I'm not careful.
Becoming interested in such devices, is definitely a sign that I'm getting older.....

Motivation

2009-09-23T21:51:00.003+01:00

Must iron the clothes...must iron...must iron.....must pack....not eat curry and drink stuff.
I need a mantra.

Keep moving....

2009-09-22T15:34:00.008+01:00

It's been just over 2 years, since we bought our flat. It was supposed to have been exactly what we wanted. Slap bang on the marina, our own mooring, brilliant views blad di blah.
The only thing we didn't account for, was the non-stop issues with noisy neighbours, for about 22 out of 26 months - 7 days a week.
In the end; it was a choice between staying put and becoming basket cases, or cutting our losses and getting our lives back.
So we have caved. We're off. To the woods. Detached. Not even next to a road. Next week.
I must confess, I am rather skeptical about potential spider encounters, but my bunny seems to enjoy them as a tasty snack and afterall, they're quiet (aside from the hob-nailed boot wearing monsters that run across floors, that is).

New beginnings

2009-09-16T21:35:00.005+01:00

Whooohoooo! Finally, we got to meet Rob today!
He made me drink too much wine, so I made him juggle bunnies.

PS I'm back

Today

2009-05-10T21:35:00.002+01:00

I have been sailing. Then I was barbecuing and now, I is drinkininin.

Bunnying about.....

2009-05-07T16:02:00.003+01:00

The weather is too crap to even contemplate sailing......

Refreshing

2009-05-04T21:06:00.004+01:00

We set off early yesterday morning. Up at 6, off at 7, to catch the full ebb tide down the Solent and also to get as much of the water to ourselves; before the loonies cast off.
45 miles of really good sailing, averaging about 7 knots and topping 10 on a broad reach in the Western Solent, we were on fire, if not just on the edge of comfort in about 20 knots of WSW breeze.
The weather isn't going to be as good as we would like for the next week, but having sorted the boat in time to enjoy the entire season and already with over 200 miles under the keel; one cannot complain.
In other news, Bibi has decided she likes grunting. I thought she had the Schwein Fever fur a second, before realising she was just being a happy bun.
Everything's a learning curve.....

Fump and Whoooooosh

2009-04-22T11:26:00.002+01:00

Bibi is now the official Facebook Easter Bunny. Fanks everybun who voted for her! It was a bit of a run off between her and another bun; who had a sneaky plan, but which in the end held them to no avail. Hehe.
In other paws, we have re-launched and are now back into the groove of daily sails. Pretty impressive speeds and performance so far in near perfect conditions.

Nearly there.....

2009-04-15T01:41:00.006+01:00

After stripping both the hull and keel back to bare GRP/iron; the antifouling has been done and I spent today coppercoating the keel (and swearing a lot).
We can never reach the keel when scrubbing, so paws crossed it is going to work, cos cor binking blimey, it was farking hard work to do. The keel has been lowered and everything checked. Plates are at the engineer's for re-drilling and it's all stations go, bunless I have to keel him ded for delaying us any further.
Hopefully, we'll be in the drink by Flyday.
Can't wait. We are going to be slippery as fishies.

PS If anybun didn't see the post below. VOTE BIBI! before I go mad and before Friday. She is doing quite well and fanks to peeps like Orb and Nutter, she mite even win.
Link ere http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=65167291260

Vote Bibi!!!

2009-04-11T12:28:00.002+01:00

I am off to do some antifouling, but in the meantime; our bun is in the Facebook Easter Bunny competition final.
So if you have a Facebook account.....follow this link to the page, RSVP and leave a vote for Bibi on the wall!!
The prize, if she wins, is going straight to Bunny Camp fur underpriveleged buns.
PS I'm back!

Wuff

2009-03-13T16:52:00.000Z

Friday the 30th

2009-02-03T01:37:00.002Z

Her name was Kerrie. She was 36 years old and was the closest I ever had to a sibling.

Some things however are lovely....

2009-01-26T02:50:00.001Z

Stuff

2009-01-25T18:14:00.003Z

Time to pick up the bloog and start posting/visiting my bloog friends again methinks.
Things are not easy at the moment. My cousin's health has deteriorated at an alarming pace and we have all been trying to get our heads around the situation.
She has not received the appropriate care from the doctors involved which has contributed significantly to her current state. She ought to have finished her first course of treatment by now, but instead, has had none and is not well enough at this stage to undergo any form of attempted therapy. Our frustrations peaked a week ago when she 'woke up' after being pronounced brain dead seven days previously.
Whilst whatever she is doing, she obviously is doing on her own; nothing short of a miracle is going to get her out of this situation, so we are praying something will happen to at least get her well enough to start fighting and get well.
Still trying to stay positive. It's the only way, I guess.

Fuff out

Matsamoutsa..nomnomnomnom...matsamoutsa..

2009-01-16T01:29:00.005Z

..is the noise I heard upon discovering a bun with a mouthful of curtain lining.

Sweet tolerence

2009-01-11T22:12:00.005Z

Watching Fur's face, whilst the soles of his feet are rigorously licked into a ticklish frenzy is really good fun. I have no need for any other entertainment whatsoever.
Socks have now been banned, as they attract savage nibbling.

Carpet bathing

You were saying?

2009-01-10T14:09:00.005Z

Being nibbled during an extensive foot grooming session last night was a suprise!
A bun's teeth don't half feel sharp without a coat of protective fur.
We are experiencing further bunny binkies. This is the term used when a bun goes 'mental' and charges around, flipping, twitching and racing at high speed. We are still laughing, whilst trying not to let on that her highly skilled manouvres are actually rather hilarious..

The Introduction

2009-01-09T00:16:00.004Z

Now officially settled and allowed to roam around, we though it most appropriate, as Bibi is so cool about being out of her condo; to meet Sin.
No sign of any nose rubbing going on, but I'm hoping they'll get on.
She's been exploring, coming back for a tickle and some reassurance, tearing around like a mental (we didn't let her see us laughing) and generally bunnying about; more or less in that order.
I think we have lost charge around here..

Day 2.5

2009-01-06T23:54:00.003Z

Evenin'

End of second full day in her new home. Settling in very nicely and giving us some good bunny behaviour tips. I think she is going to be a bit of a terror. There's definitely a cheeky bun in there.

New addition

2009-01-05T15:12:00.003Z

Introducing Bibi, the French Lop baby bunnet; also known as Aeroplane Head.
We picked her up yesterday and after a long drive home and a bit of a stressed day, she is now settling in at home. Free range house bunny is the only way to be...

Intervention

2008-12-23T01:35:00.019Z

Athens was fantastic, as always (cor my throat doesn't half hurt nowadays from the pollution, until I get out of the city), aside from having to avoid some of my fave places due to extreme violence and tear gas. I have a rather good couple of tales to tell , but at the mo, I'm feeling very down in the dumps and a bit frantic.
Those who have been around for a while will remember I lost my 37 old cousin to ovarian cancer almost 3 years ago.
Now my 36 year old cousin ( a girl too), on the same side of the family, has been diagnosed with a brain stem glioma (an aggressive cancerous brain tumour).
Aside from being very upset and worried, I am also feeling quite frightened, that I and other members of my family might be at risk too. A selfish thought, but what the hell is going on, I don't know. Is it cruel, cruel coincidence or is there something more sinister afoot? I'm going to have a chat with my doctor tomorrow, in the hope that she'll give me a bit of sound advice.
So sorry for being elsewhere, but right now, I don't know whether I'm coming or going....

Update: Doc has put my mind at rest about family connections and lack thereof.

Shaddap

2008-11-20T09:51:00.004Z

I've just been chatting with a colleague about the good news, that despite his impending redundancy, he has managed to secure a job back in Scotland and sell his house here. So he will be off as soon as he has worked his notice period (first I've heard of people having to work through til the day they're booted out the door and certainly for IT). The 'management' obviously can't afford to let them go and would rather they stayed here under prolonged duress until they have earned every single last measly penny. Sigh. I'm so glad I'm a contractor.

Anyhoo. As we were discussing the sale of his house, a nearby earwig decided to add his two penneth, much to my suprise. All in a rather bossy and quite opinionated tone of voice I felt grating at the back of my head.
I tell ya, I nearly told him to feck off and mind his own business.

In other news. I'm about to go into my last 1:1 with my boss and am pondering asking what has caused the atmosphere in here to be as thick as the PMO for the past 6 weeks.
Update: I refrained. Just..

Cod Cape

2008-11-14T13:24:00.004Z

Still 'ere. Gawd I have never been so keen to get the fack out of a place before.
Whine whine whine whine.
My boss is a pessimistic, miserable git. I can't stand being around such people. It threatens to rub off on me, resulting in drastic preventative action such as going out and getting ratfaced. I don't plan to repeat last Friday's performance tonight, as I have sworn never to drink again.
Aside from the perpetual griping, I see the Eurozone has announced (admitted) recession. Would it be too much to ask that as a result, the powers that be could do something about the ever weakening pound against the Euro? Preferably by the end of November please. I want more souvlaki for my money thank you very much indeed.
Right. Moff for a sarny before I speak my mind......

2008-11-08T01:46:00.002Z

2008-11-08T01:33:00.004Z

2008-11-08T01:29:00.004Z

Pretty

2008-11-08T01:25:00.002Z

Urrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg

2008-11-07T12:40:00.003Z

I can't wait to get out of here.
The 15 days left are I imagine, going to be the longest 3 weeks of the millenium. I need a new project, a way out of this stagnation. Gah. I'm ready to go now. Can I be hypnotised until it's November 28th?
I'm going out tonight and will experiment various ways to achieve this.

Plashlack

2008-10-31T13:09:00.003Z

We had the shiny thing made over a year ago for our kitchen, so Fur decided to prop it up yesterday to see whether we like it.
Perhaps we should remove the lop-sided white cooker switch before it's put in permanently tho....?

Hungry

2008-10-31T12:49:00.005Z

Picture removed

Friday is sod the diet and drink wine day.
Nobody is here, the boss has a dental infection and is being really snappy with someone I'd like to run over.
I'm wearing pink cos it's pink day.
I might have a parma ham/mozzarella and tomato panini for lunch.
20 days to go..............................

Knot Meerkats

2008-10-26T19:55:00.002Z

Still here. A bloog post to salvage a 2 month absence in order, though I don't have a lot to report...
In 5 weeks time, I finish my current contract. Then we go to Athens, then further afield. I can't wait. The company I'm at is beginning to irritate me; as is the half-horse town I drive to every weekday.
In other news, I survived a visitation from the outlaws relatively unscathed last month. Probably a good time to bloog as any, if I hadn't been suffering from an acute dose of internetitis.
Hope you enjoy the pigs as much as we did. Not a thought of bacon or slow roasted belly pork crossed my mind, honest.

Sigh

2008-08-01T09:29:00.004+01:00

Fridays at work are now officially mufti (sic), which means that I get to wear my scruffy deckies ALL day, as opposed to only when I'm not here or driving.
I'm still far too much of a numpty to be able to use the foot controls in my car whilst suited and booted. The footwell must look really girly with my weekday shoes/boots stashed in there. Praps I ought to think about getting a matching cushion and Hello Kitty steering wheel cover ...
In other stuff; the atmosphere in here is the usual doom and gloom of a Friday. I get the feeling that some of my collegues really need to get a life and/or stop taking themselves too seriously. Mondays on the other hand make days like today look bright in comparison; with people often so miserable that I frequently spend the entire day listening to the radio and avoiding more or less everybody.

Speaking of radio, the cricket starts shortly and will hopefully be a good start to the weekend I plan to spend messing about with boats and cuddling the new puppy pictured above.
Not bad at all. Might even get to shout at a few stinkpots if I'm lucky ;)

Wot's technorati?

2008-07-29T13:16:00.001+01:00

See below for an apparent summary of this bloog.

Top Tags

What this blog is about

1. beam me up scotty
2. me dogs are barking
3. muppett
4. my best google referral yet...
5. pass the sheet; new car on order; spoilt brat
6. rock limpet oooooahhh; odd one out
7. security status - amber
8. thanks for the blue text blooger
9. where's my pink helicopter? wot's a defect?

Linky linky

2008-07-28T19:15:00.003+01:00

Lock Robster

Aquodgqowdg Baby!

2008-07-26T02:39:00.001+01:00

Bouncing off the satellites

2008-07-25T13:38:00.004+01:00

I wish we'd taken the camera....

...and had arranged to see them in Lisbon on Saturday night too.

I think my head has exploded.

Ecstatic Fuff out.

Current stuff...

2008-07-21T15:35:00.011+01:00

From the aloe fish?

3 days and we're orf up the smoke to see the B-52s.
Still not made my mind up about bouffon/beehive.
Today seems more than ok for a Monday. It's 1530 and I haven't had to listen to the cricket/ipod to escape the filthy moods most people seem to be in after the weekend.
Mum - Turned 60 last week. Has been kidnapped by mad primadonna who won't give her back.
Boat - Still there, got to sort her bottom out. Fed up with rubbish weather, but am getting out this week if it kills me.
Dreamt of spiders last night. Erk.
Has anyone apart from me read Florence of Arabia?
Fajitas for dinner - cor.
Traffic report time :)

Fuff out

Darwinian

2008-07-17T16:18:00.003+01:00

Sniffing a bottle of household ammonia, thinking it would be just like the window cleaner I used to buy, is probably the stupidest, most idiotic thing I have done for a very long time.

Spider!

2008-07-16T11:36:00.009+01:00

Today I am mostly thinking about this evening's birthday dinner and whether I ought to be good and eat fruit for lunch, instead of what I'd prefer (junk food from M&S). So far, willpower is the victor, but it's not yet 12.
Damn. Writing that just made my tummy rumble.
So, orf to a French bistro tonight for my yearly recommended allowance of cholesterol (doesn't appear to have any effect on the French) and I've been volunteered as the taxi driver (typical, but we'll see who has the last larf in the morning).
I do hope my mum likes her watch.
Ah yes. I gingerly asked the chap with the carpet burnt noggin what on earth he had been up to earlier. His explanation? 'Falling out of bed whilst intoxicated'.
I'm not sure I believe that, but the suggestions from various others, as to how it may have really happened are far too scary to contemplate and I'm not even going to entertain them.
Which means I already have.
I'll get on with my plan. That should erase any thoughts I have for the next day or so.

Fuff out

Eh?

2008-07-15T11:18:00.004+01:00

How does one manage a carpet burn on one's forehead?

Boil in the bag

2008-07-15T10:43:00.008+01:00

Everybody has disappeared for their highly non-enviable 'Personal Development Review'. One of the best things about being a contractor is that I get to listen to everyone bitching about their reviews; and don't have the pleasure of conducting or enduring them! Ha!
As it's quiet, I've foregone the thrill of my budget stuff and am here instead; fretting about my mum's birthday cake.
I like doing the really exciting stuff when I need something to help me shut off.
I've seen a fab one with a great big spider made of icing on it.
She loves spiders..

2008-07-14T12:27:00.007+01:00

Introducing Bastard the radiator

Up the hill and down the other side on Friday, I escaped with a 10 minute cloudburst experience. It was like driving in the bath. Not very nice.
Speaking of unpleasantries.; radiator painting falls into this category without a doubt. I'm not painting them again.
In fact, if I'd known they'd annoy me so much, I wouldn't have and they could have stayed the way they were until they're covered.
I remembered these things because someone has annoyed me already today.
Better go and top up the parking meter before I punch 'em.

The worst coffee I have ever tasted

2008-07-11T13:15:00.004+01:00

I need to find something else to keep my concentration levels up for the potential drive home in a downpour.

Gloss paint in my toes

2008-07-07T15:52:00.004+01:00

Our friends are soon to be proud owners (parents if yer of mawkish persuasion) of another spotty dog; having lost their last one after 14 years.
Some will remember the freaky photo I posted of a blanket clad old dalmation some time ago.
Anyhoo. The painting seems to coming along quite well, well enough to take a few pics methinks.
Anything to take my mind off the dreadful state of 'Summer'.

Fridays do something to me..

2008-07-04T18:17:00.003+01:00

We finally bought some paint and will be spending what looks like a rotten weekend, weatherwise, decorating (at last).
Just one room though....the biggest however.
The following is a re-cap of a conversation I had with a female colleague, around half an hour before I drove home. I'm no longer nervous of the 50 odd miles I'm doing cross-country everyday, so was still mooching around, instead of nervously perusing traffic updates on the web.

Me: Looking at 12 inch turned up jeans, wondering what the grime lines are half way up
"Nice turn ups Wanda"
Wanda: Glares at me and defensively says "Yeah thanks, I like wearing my jeans this way"
Me: "Oh, I errrr thought you might have had them like that because you had been wading"
Wanda: "Of course not"
(Other collegue is now cracking up and mouthing the word wading between fits of laughter)
Me: "I think I'll put the shovel down and step away from the hole now"

It's probably a good thing I'm not going to the annual company ball (i.e. raucous piss up) tomorrow afterall....

Hooray

2008-07-03T15:36:00.004+01:00

Faster

2008-06-25T11:47:00.008+01:00

I thought I would mention something that happened last week, that probably shouldn't have, on the day of my test. I had just had the eye test and was putting my seat belt on.
See below:

Examiner: "As part of your safety checks Miss Fuff, can you please test the car's horn"

Me: "Errr, no"

Examiner: "Why not"?

Me: "I'm not supposed to when stationary, in a built up area and it's not yet 0730"

Examiner: "Test the horn"

Me: "I'm not doing it"

Repeat above 5 or 6 times

Examiner: "Ok. If you don't test the horn, we won't be able to proceed with the rest of your test. (examiner paws at middle of steering wheel, however ignition is off and there is no sound) Look, I'm doing it so it's got to be allowed; sound the horn"

By this point, I think he took pity on me, as I was looking at him as though he were about to poke my eyes out; so I duly switched the ignition on and nervously tapped the steering wheel.

Horn: "Beep"

Examiner: "Right, let's get on then shall we"?

Poor guy. As if my arguing wasn't enough, I grabbed his face and kissed him when he decided I'd passed.

I passed

2008-06-20T11:38:00.004+01:00

Schweinhund

2008-06-13T12:19:00.007+01:00

Soon Zoltan

Friday again and trying very hard not to biff the person who is antagonising me at work in the head, because it's Friday and also because I'm looking forward to the weekend.

Why I'm relishing the prospect of cleaning teak grab rails and scrubbing decks I have no idea, but the big boss from Fur's work has invited himself for a spot of sailing next week, so we are going to pretend to be organised.
I was thinking about leaving the hard work until we know what the weather will be doing.

The last time he came out with us, he insisted we cast off in a really 'orrid blow/pissing rain, which we agreed to, as we knew we'd deal with it, but didn't want to ruin our shampoos and sets or swallow any seawater that day.

Not being used to so much tipping and whizzing actually rather frightened him; which in turn made up for my annoyance in going out in the first place.
Anyhoo, he's not going to notice that the tiller's gone green if he's scared is he?

I also have a lesson with a different driving instructor on Saturday, who will hopefully be able to help me with the manouvre I so badly screwed up in my test. The other reason I have changed instructors, is that my previous instructor has a morbid fear of the 'other' test centre. I could only arrange a re-test at short notice at the 'other' test centre, something she immediately remarked upon in a less than positive manner.
I naturally dropped that hot potato, as the last thing I need after my first experience, is the feeling that I am not going to do it, whether I perform or not.

That's all I can be bothered to type for now, moff to buy a fruit salad cos I'm feeling pious.

Have a lovely weekend.

Fuff out

No1 Brat

2008-06-07T20:33:00.004+01:00

Operation "Respek the Pedestrian" begins on Monday

Fack

2008-06-02T23:58:00.008+01:00

Forget the floaty saily lark.
I failed my driving test today and am feeling as rubbish as a limpet on a wetsuit.

Jump Start

2008-05-30T12:46:00.006+01:00

Whooshy

Must go sailing/get boat sorted this weekend if nothing else. This spring and its showers are dragging on. It feels as though we should have been out every day for the past 6 months at the moment.

Perhaps it's something to do with last spring being so warm; following by the must utterly rubbish summer and house buying nightmare. I dunno.

Got to get out, even if it's just for a float.

Fuzzy

2008-05-25T12:35:00.003+01:00

The sight of two rather manky looking chefs sitting outside smoking, as we approached the restaurant on Friday evening did nothing for my appetite. I almost had a Gordon Ramsay moment after 2 glasses of wine on a virtually empty stomach when I noticed on the bill that they had charged for my food. Gits.
Everybody else appeared to enjoy their meal as I mauled a rack of lamb that smelt like mutton and tried to chew on calamari that had the texture of rubber bands.
I had a rather classy hangover to show for my pickiness the following day. The kind that gets worse and worse, until I forced myself to down a G&T to ease my suffering. It's been quite a long time since I last experienced a second heartbeat in my head.
Since adjusting to a rather hectic new schedule, I'd become quite sensible. It's quite nice to know that it hasn't lasted too long.

Word it

2008-05-24T00:29:00.001+01:00

Taggy tag

2008-05-19T15:50:00.006+01:00

An order from EC.

List 5 things in my bag:

Bunny
Chequebook I never use
Loads of receipts (more than 5)
Mirror
Banana

List5 favourite things in my room:

Bed
Bed
Bed
Bed
The window providing my view

List 5 things I've always wanted to do:

See the B52's (will consider this box ticked if they make it to July without falling out)

Paintball offensive boats (note I didn't say motorboats, but I think they account for 90% of the wash creating and pretend that they haven't seen you whilst a) aiming at you and b) getting far too close)

Climb K2 (I no longer want to do this for some reason)

Meet a gorilla

Catch sea bass for once, instead of mackeral all the time

5 things I am currently into:

Sailing (permanent fixture)
Barbecuing
Wii
Cereal bars
Shiny things

FFS and other things

2008-05-13T10:43:00.003+01:00

The weekend proved to be a sure step forward weatherwise; aside from the lack of wind that is.

It's actually warm; which is quite some news because the sun hasn't shone in this neck of the woods since around last April and even then, it didn't hang around for very long.

So weekend and evening BBQ's and boat scrubbing aside, I'm currently sitting at my desk; doing my bit in order to buy the boat polish, steaks and wine (Pimms too, sod no drinking during the week for now).

I'm also mad as stink for the second time in three days. All work related, of course and am blooging in an attempt to resist the urge to poke the person who has antagonised me far too many times for their own good recently in the eye.

Fun and larks.

Oh and me phone is being an arse, so I'm re-posting a piccy of Biccy.

Bemused

2008-05-01T12:49:00.005+01:00

Truth be known, I have been in a rather foul mood all week for no apparent reason.

One of those dark periods of time where feeling optimistic and remotely jolly is more than a chore and the only thing I want to is lock the door and turn my back to it.

I am slightly bamboozled about not being entirely sure why; so I went through a list of things that could have contributed before making my mind up to get on with it. Well not exacly, as it never happens that way. I just feel alright today.

Possibles:

Train - maybe, but the train is more likely to see me spitting feathers than moping

Weather - More likely than the above. It's been raining almost non-stop since the beginnning of the week and my mood did lift when the sun came out this morning.

Colleague (s) - Hmmm. Not too likely, as any negativity is always replaced by glee once I am out of the door for the day.

Fur work stress - Is the attempted mutilation of one's laptop as the result of a discontent moment a reason to be miserable? Hissy fits shouldn't really count..

Being rubbish and most likely selfish - Top of the list.

A combination of the above.

Any suggestions most welcome.

Fuff out

Pina Colada

2008-04-28T14:52:00.002+01:00

Monday again and next Monday is a bank holiday, which means that this week will drag.
I passed my theory test (driving) on Friday and am taking the practical part in 4 weeks time. Hopefully I will pass and will be driving to work after this month (I already have a car that was bought to practice in) as the oik who picked his nose this morning and wiped his finger on the seat in front was very very nearly an ex-oik.

Sustenance

2008-04-21T15:22:00.004+01:00

Another thing about getting up before the starlings; hunger.
I could eat all day if I wasn't conscious of the fact that my collegues will probably assume I have a nasty bout of worms.
At home it doesn't seem to be an issue, but that could be due to the current running concern there being Super Mario Kart.
Forget cleaning, ironing, washing and cooking at the weekend.
Nothing ought to get in the way of a good old grudge match.

Rah rah rah

2008-04-18T15:28:00.002+01:00

My train nemesis sat in front of me this morning.
One would think that if ones nose runs perpetually, then a tissue might be nicer on the noz than the scarf around one’s neck.
Peasant.
This train lark is doing nothing for my tolerance levels.

Workspace

2008-04-15T11:01:00.003+01:00

Spot the bunnet

Commute

2008-04-14T12:40:00.003+01:00

A few reasons why I need to drive to work soon.....

1. Serial sniffers. As soon as Winter colds are out of the way, hayfever will arrive.

2. I need some personal space. My FuffPod blocks out a lot, but not enough.

3. The trains are expensive, filthy, unreliable and crowded. When in a traffic jam, one does not have to endure the endless paper bag rustling of the the car behind. Nor does the space within my own car make me feel physically sick.

4. If I drove to work, I could get up at 0630.

5. If I drove to work, I would be home an hour earlier; saving me a total of over 2 hours a day.

6. I could drive over nasty gum chewing people rather than run away from them (only kidding)
and it would also cost less for me to drive, by some margin.

7. Loads of other things

Fuff out

Yeah Baby!

2008-04-10T10:34:00.010+01:00

Dear Bloog (and Phos)

For the following lame excuse for my 2 month absence, I apologise in advance.
I have been tired. The new job lark, until this very week, obviously caused some form of reverse-insomniatic shock to my system.
I thought that getting out of my pit at 0530 every weekday in order to commute to work would become a breeze after a week or so. In reality it's taken a lot longer than that and only for the past few days or so, have I felt like doing things other than eating and sleeping once at home.
At one point last month, I became convinced that I would just have to get on with being so tired until I finish my contract, but the worm appears to have turned and the B-52's have released a new album.
So if they can bounce their twice my age bottoms around for another album and tour, I ought to be ashamed of myself for falling asleep on the train.
Speaking of which, I nearly spat my mini cheddars out when I read that they're doing a date in London in July and in lightning speed booked the tickets and rooted my big bouffon out.
I can barely wait. I'm going to be in a good mood for the rest of the decade.
Back soon. I've got a meeting about defects with the project saboteurs to go and yawn in.

Ever so slightly absent (minded)

2008-02-09T00:03:00.000Z

I've been away far longer than I really would have liked to. Oh the blooging I had planned....Teehee.
I had an interview, a job offer and start date within a matter of days recently and have been running around like a demented lemming (is that an oxymoron or just a moron?)
Now that my first week is over, I'm beginning to remember my name.
Hope all is well with you.

Fuff out

Queen Vic Bang Bang

2008-01-24T22:13:00.000Z

Here's a really boring and poor quality phone video we shot a few weeks ago from home, of the Queen Victoria cruise ship's firework display, minutes before she set sail on her maiden voyage.
It's not too long, as keeping the window open for the camera was turning our wotknots blue.

No cold turkey

2007-12-31T14:15:00.001Z

After spending Christmas feeling mostly knackered, due to the vast amount of cooking,cleaning and tidying involved; I refuse to vacate my piglet slippers until at least tomorrow afternoon.
The New Year dinner is roasting in the oven, the champagne (and I) are chilling and I'm looking forward to spending the evening using as much energy as it may take to raise a glass or three.
I have only one resolution (a similar one to a fellow blooger pal); to finally stop fretting about things I can do nothing about and be cool.
Happy New Year to everyone. I hope you all got what you wanted from Father Christmas and wish you a healthy and prosperous 2008.

Ho Ho Hoerk

2007-12-13T14:31:00.000Z

With less than 2 weeks to prepare for overstuffing of one sort or another, my master plan to avoid the hoards (sic?) is ready, I hope. Our Christmas holiday has been put on hold for a year, no thanks to work. Frustration aside, it does give us another 11 months to do absolutely bugger all and then panic for the last 4 weeks before we leave.
As a result, I am in charge of poisoning ourselves, my mum and her current squeeze on Christmas Day.
It's going to be hard to do without some sort of organisation (not to mention absolutely not being able to quaff at least one bottle of champers on Christmas Eve), but I'm determined to make the effort and get my act together early. Today in fact.
So with list in hand for cake and biscuit ingredients, I shall orf to the hopefully quiet supermarket this afternoon and begin what seems at the moment, to be a precision military quest.
Will my kourambiedes burn? Will Fur drop the cake on the floor? Will I defect to Turkmenistan?
Tune in soon to find out.