Journal Entries
early morning nightie
Posted Jul 17, 2008
I had to run around the garden in my nightie at 6.30am this morning, in the rain, trying to catch baggins
who had caught a small bird. 
The bird seemed unharmed so I put it in a bushy plant in a plant pot high on the wall so no other cats would bother it, until it got it's breath back
.It hopped into the pot so I think it was just scared.
I don't feel so good now
Blooming animal...I told him he'll get sent to the cats home
Our garden backs onto a local bridle path that is well used so I may have startled some early morning riders or people going for their newspapers.
Nessie said I have to have a thinking day today and decide where I want to move to and what to do.I would struggle here on my own, if she leaves to go study elsewhere(which is quite likely) as it's quite a trek by bus
to town and the service is notoriously unreliable.
trouble is I have no idea what I want to do or where I want to be
I want to be back at work but may have to just do part time for a while and maybe study part time
. Life throws these things at you and you never know which way to hit the ball for the best!
have a good day everyone. Hope it's not raining where you are
Discuss this Journal entry [24]
Latest reply: Jul 17, 2008
Tabs hull meet journal
Posted Jul 13, 2008
I made it for a few hours to the hull meet
Nessie drove me to the train station at 10am. We had to set off earlier than expected because it was the Miners Gala and roads were closed all over the city.
So round one ,battle through Durham and got to the station on time. The station was full of people dressed for a wedding,all going in the same direction I was towards York
OH NO! it's race day in York, they were all going to the races.It was standing room only on the train, but a young man gave me his seat.
thank you kind young man.
Gets to York, have a few minutes before train. First stands in line to use bank machine, then joins line for the ladies which was snacking across the platform. Lots of ladies in fancy frocks and big hats all dancing or with legs crossed. Looking across the station it was like the station was full of bright butterflies with all the hats and colourful dresses.
As we were standing a young woman came out ,pencil thin with a strange hat at a jaunty angle, she stopped at the woman in front of me and said2You should lose two stone to wear that dress" and walked off. I asked the rather shaken young woman if she knew the hatted lady. she said no she is a complete stranger. Although her friends and myself tried to sooth her feelings ,that young woman's day would have been ruined. she wasn't thin but she wasn't fat either and looked very nice. 
I said if you see her at the races,accidentally knock her hat off or kick her on the ankles,which made her laugh. What an awful thing to happen on a day out .
Anyway I made it to the train to Hull with seconds to spare. the train was filthy
but it was only another hour or so's journey.
What a surprise at hull station. It had been all done up It used to be a real dump 6 years ago when I was last there.They even had a proper waiting room and toilets.
I went to look for MMF's train but no sign.I had arranged to meet scorpi witch and him at the station. So I texted scorp to say i am here but no sign of MMF yet.My phone rang. It was scorp."Are you wearing a green top. if so I am standing right in front of you"
MMF arrived shortly afterwards but I was disappointed to not see any cuff links
Well we got to the hotel by a joint navigation effort and bumped into Jim Cracker whilst finding a table .I presented Jim with a large packet of tea bags...good strong northern tea! He will remember to be careful what he says next time on hootoo....we have a tendency here to make something fun out of things.
TB falsename appeared shortly afterwards,in a nice kilt.
He had stayed the night before and hadn't let on he was coming. He had also struggled to get there through breakdowns.
GB arrived shortly after ,having got lost in Market weighton on the way. No one seemed to have a smooth journey.Lil and family and prof then arrived followed by ST.
When ST had signed in, they said your dad has already arrived ,meaning prof I said I would have to put this on hootoo in the interests of fellow hootooers
Someone had told people it was my birthday the end of this month and I got pressies. I was very touched
BUT 
I left my card behind so if anyone found it Lil and GB have my address
I had my photo taken,even though I hate photos, but it was a special occasion. Unfortunately Prof's pink thing failed to live up to expectations and started to deflate...I told prof I was very disappointed, so he called for viagra ...though a puncture repair kit would have been handy
Hoggy and his lovely family arrived What lovely children.
Hoggy appeared to wearing packets of coffee
Apologies if I missed anyone out...I knew I should have taken notes
All too soon it was time to head back to the station.It was lovely to meet everyone , even if only for a short while
Back at hull station there was a wrapped loaf of bread on the platform..they must have large pigeons here these days I thought
The train was full of teenagers shrieking and running around, it was a relief when they got off. I must be getting old.
However it was a cleaner and better train.
At York the race goers were heading home.... most of the men worse for wear.The train to Durham was late and once again standing room but I did manage to find a seat. Partly because there was a big gap between the platform and the train set and I had to hold onto a lady in high heels so she could get on and she had a booked seat so I was able to get into the next one.
A few minutes into the journey the man next to me started chatting, next thing you know he's handed me his PHD thesis and asked for comments. It was quite good and had practical uses and I told him so. Good Luck 
with it my friend.(Why do these things happen to me?)
Got to Durham and daughter texted to say ...will be late to pick you up,cat has been sick.... I got home in the end ,just after 9pm. Today I am absolutely shattered and a bit wheezy but I am glad I went. It was lovely to see everyone
and an honour to call them friends.
Have a good Sunday everyone
P.S. excuse any spellings errors..i am really tired
Discuss this Journal entry [20]
Latest reply: Jul 13, 2008
I am.....
Posted Jul 11, 2008
going to the Hull meet tomorrow even though it may be a struggle I am determined to get there.I may have to take waterwings as it has not stopped raining for days. I have however got a new Tee- shirt thanks to GB My old white one has long since departed this world.
I still have my mug and mousemat..though the mat is in decline.
The cats are sulking because even though I have left the door open for them it is too wet to go out. I haven't even fed the birds yet because of the weather. The bottom of the garden is flooded, but as we are up hill it won't reach the house and it's a long garden.
I have a load of kiddies sweets I bought on Wednesday to take to the meet. There are some interesting ones I have to say...they didn't have flick and lick lollies in my day....pity socket(roy) won't be there one of them would have amused him for a while.
Postie will be wet today. Ours is off today so who ever is stand in will be soaked if they are doing this as an extra round
Well nothing exciting going on here apart from having to clean the kitchen as the landlord is bringing someone around tonight to do an estimate for a new kitchen. The dust alone from the building work will kill me off, so I hope if they decide to go ahead they will find us alternative accommodation. Plus there is poor old oedipus, he will be upset and moving will probably kill him off too.
Will see what happens.
have a good day everyone depite the weather.
Discuss this Journal entry [20]
Latest reply: Jul 11, 2008
not cut out to not work
Posted Jul 3, 2008
Well today I went into the bathroom to get a shower and realised the sink needed a clean and then so did the bath and might as well do the loo whilst I am here..half an hour later I get in the shower. I get out and go to get dressed...only no clothes
I left them on the dining chair in the kitchen, before I started the cleaning.This is an old miners cottage, modernised and the bathroom is downstairs.Unfortunately anyone going past can see right through the house to where I will be standing dripping to collect my clothes. I picked the largest bath towel and just went for it...So if anyone got a shock of seeing a large wet almost naked lady streak past the window they were being nosey through this morning....Yes it was me.
So far I have cleaned the bathroom, hoovered, emptied the bins, sorted the re-cycling,done two loads of washing and used some left over apples to make an apple crumble.....by then it was almost 10am.
This is not going to fill my days is it? sigh. I hope I hear some news about my research proposal soon.
I am not cut out to be a housewife. The good news though was I was able to clean the bathroom without having an asthma attack.Which goes to prove it was the college library making me ill
On that note a question..Is it libel or slander if someone says you are faking your illness despite two consultants and a professor confirming it as not only genuine but life threatening? AND...would the consultants be libelled/slandered or yourself??Yes you can guess this came to me via a colleague that the senior tutor and principal are spreading this. Should I be very naughty and tell the consultants ,especially as one of them is quite abrasive and would be most angry.
Answers on a post card etc.
I have started writing again though and have made a promise to myself to write for an hour every day ,even if it is rubbish,to keep my hand in. At this rate I might get some of my book written.
to all .have a lovely day.
Discuss this Journal entry [16]
Latest reply: Jul 3, 2008
thats that then
Posted Jun 25, 2008
From 30th June I no longer work at the college.I will however get paid a lump sum that would be my pay until the end of my contract next year.
I decided I had to do what was best for my health and this ,after consulting a solicitor and the union, was my best choice.
I signed yesterday and it should all be sorted by end of July.I still have the choice of suing for compensation if the specialist proves it was working in the library caused my ill health. He has no doubt it did but proving it(those who followed this know that the old books were destroyed and the library cleaned before Health and Safety did their tests)may be difficult.
I have emailed my colleagues and told them(I am meeting one of them for lunch tomorrow for a natter)....it feels quite strange and I am not sure how I feel about things...relieved and scared and depressed at the same time.
I am looking at going to do a post grad qualification for a year as I can afford to survive for a year just about,so it seems like the ideal opportunity and will give me time to get better. Going straight back to work isn't really an option yet...plus I have the added problem of the sick time I have had to have off.Being a student for a year would negate that.
So there you are...not sure what to do with myself now. Feel lost and will miss my colleagues..we had some laughs. have a good day all
for Lil. get well soon.
Discuss this Journal entry [9]
Latest reply: Jun 25, 2008
Tabitca
Researcher U170714
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