ian_fish_tank

New Addition!! (another)

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 12:08:01 GMT

After about 2 years of Ian going on and on about wanting a chameleon I finially gave in.

But I have decided that he is mine. Sandy is now in his new home and is so cute. He sits on my finger at night, (cats locked out from the kitchen)and during the day he crawls about looking for crickets to eat.

I love him :)

Stealth water-skier?

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:09:58 GMT

We had a great weekend. Lynn and Simon and kids stayed over after our BBQ on Saturday, loads of people came, and the weather was great. Sandy and Kira got on great looking for beasties to put in a watching box, (much to the horror of Lynn!)

Went to bed late and got up early (very early for Ian as Sandy got up and woke up Ian to watch a DVD with him - very clever as his parents would have told him to go back to bed as he is not allow up before 7am) Then we went to another Ian's house, other side of Glasgow. This Ian is lovely, although much to the dispair of his wife has a stupid amount of bids (with feathers)and a dear(!) and has a speedboat.

He took us out waterski-ing. Ian had been practicing in the living room, he could jump, wave, drink beer etc while water ski-ing - in his head! He went first and was pretty rubbish, it was more being pulled under water, screaming, and making a lot of splashing than water ski-ing. Lynn and Simon were not too bad and got up. Then I had a go, I am not just saying this, buut I was very good, at first I could not turn in the water with the skies on and was stuck on my tummy, but when I worked that out I got up for ages and managed to wave!!

Ian is saying that he is still better than me, as he was doing a different type of ski-ing - Stealth Ski-ing (i.e. under water)and that the Navy Seals have phoned him up, but I think he might just be lying - What do you think?

Simon said that he felt really ill even before we went in the water, then on Monday night I started to feel really really ill. Which was not too bad as I was off work, but I was off work on holiday to go to see Motley Crue, so I did not enjoy them as much as I would have if I was feeling fine. Still went down the front druged up to my eyeballs, then went straight to bed while Ian, Juile and Colin went out for drinks.

Had an early night and feeling not too bad at work now.

Oh my Dad was on the telly last night did anyone else see him?

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 10:19:13 GMT

I am really looking forward to Vicky's wedding, it is on the 23rd of this month. It is funny to watch someone else plan for the big day, and do it so much better than me!! She just seems to know what she wants and then gets it done - so the opposite of me with a million things rushed at the last possible moment.

I was down for her hen night last week and had a lovely time it was so good to catch up without the boys around:) I was really tired as I was at another party the night before and didn't go to bed til 6am and up again at 9:30am drove down to Vicky's and stayed out til about 1am again. I got a bloody parking ticket too!! I am now officially old as I just cannot do 2 nights in a row!! I am still tired from last weekend and am really looking forward to a lay in tomorrow.

Lynn and Simon have got the 2nd part of their visa through, so I will not be able to intercept it to delay their departure:( They think that they will be away within 6 - 8 weeks. I am really happy for them but equally gutted for me as I will miss them so much. But I suppose I should just be grateful for the time that I have spent with them and for the time that they are going to live with us before they go. They move in on 16th (ish) June :)

Contract

Thu, 31 May 2007 10:34:09 GMT

I was just an agency worker at my new job, but I had an interview and I have been offered a 1 year contract. I am so pleased as I left a full time job (but you know it is time to leave when you start crying at work because you hate it so much) to do agency work, which was only contracted for 2 months, so I was getting a wee bit worried about needing to find another job, but now I am on better money and doing something that I love.

Lynn and Simon have the first part of their visa for Oz, so they should be gone about end July :( I am going to miss them so much.

We have started to take the ferrets out for walks on leads. We gets some very strange looks, with 4 cats and a ferret out walking with us. But we don't care, it is really good to get them out to stretch their legs and wear down their claws a bit (especially when they are not getting out for hunting).

Dash's feet are great and have totally recovered from bumblefoot. Skye and Dash are both molting, and their feathers are looking good. Ian is going to release 50 partridge this year for Skye, and is really excited by this, he has great hopes for Skye this year as he has had such bad luck other years. But I am a bit more skeptical and will wait to see if he learns to wait on before I get excited about flying him and not just stressed out watching him get smaller and smaller then disappear out of sight!

Dancing is coming along really well, enjoying it much more as it has turned into a social event with lots of wine :)I am not too bad and can easily go upside down and let go with my hands!

Wee bits of news

Tue, 15 May 2007 14:38:14 GMT

*My new job is great,stressful but still great, don't know why I did not leave my last one sooner!
*Monk is still with us, and I am not that pissed off with him.
*Got a new girl in the flat and things seem to be going good for her and Sam.
*Garden is looking lovely and finished as much as possible (not puting the pond in unitl Lynn and Simon leave)
*My brother has bought his first house.
*Went 'boating' and had a great laugh.
*All in all life is amazing just now :)

Monk moved in!

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:07:16 GMT

Told work that I am leaving, feeling a bit sad as the people are all lovely it is just the actual job that I hate.

As well as renting out the room in the flat I also advertised the double room in my house. Last night an ex Buddist monk moved in. Just for the short term so he can find a more permanent place to live and until Lynn and Simon move in. All very weird, but exciting.

BBQ at my house on Saturday if anyone is interested (weather permitting) and viewing of the monk lol!!

New Job

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 13:59:08 GMT

Almost forgot, I have a new job :)
It is a support worker position for a girl who has drug/alcohol/mental health/relationship/sexual health and hygiene issues. She has a 25 hour per week package, so that shows just how messed up she is and the rest of my time will be made up with other clients who are not quite so chaotic. Not told work yet but will make it official very soon. I am very excited about it as it is going back to the work which I used to do and loved.

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 13:52:58 GMT

Had a great weekend, but they never seem to be long enough!
The garden is almost finished, got about half of the grass down, it looks amazing. We have decided not to finish it properly, with the pond just now, as Lynn, Simon and their kids are coming to live with us and a pond with young children is just asking for accidents. The hole is due out, and it will just stay a hole until they go to Oz!

Lynn and Simon have sold their house, effectively making them homeless. They will move in with us in about 6 weeks from now. They have not got their visa yet, and in a very selfish way we hope that it will be delayed as then we can spend more time with them.

Ian has just implemented his first change since becoming manager, working a bit longer at the weekends, but getting every 2nd off instead of 1 in 3, but with holidays he could go about 5 weeks with no days off!!

Went to the zoo on Sunday which was great fun, with Lynn, Simon and kids and Ali and Tam and their niece. Ian and I were almost going to borrow a child but decided against it as Ian counts as a big kid :)

Still looking for someone for the flat - let me know if you know of someone needing a room:

Fully furnished single room to let from 1st May
To share with M (32) and F (22)
Power shower, bath, microwave, oven and gas hob, fridge & freezer, double glazing, gas central heating, loads of storage space, lovely shared back garden (great for BBQ's)
Prefer longer term tenants and not students (due to council tax)
No smoking flat, but can smoke in the stairwell
Contact Caroline on 07787542483 or email caroline_a_scott@hotmail.com for viewing appointment more information.

Mr. Fish brought in a baby rabbit to play with last week squealing as it came through the cat flap!! He never hurt it at all just wanted a friend :) I rescued it but couldn't put it back in the woods, as the cats follow me. I had to get a neighbour to take it down (at 8:30 am) so I got a kid to take it, but as we were passing it over it jumped out and ran away with the cats in hot persut!! It got away thankfully but not sure if it will be ok.

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 09:01:38 GMT

Had a lovely easter weekend:) Met up with an old friend which was lovely, then Ian had a half day so we got lots done in the garden. Eva and Robin came up to stay, went out to the Auld Hoose for a few drinks with Maggie. Was going to go to the mission but everyone was too tired, just went home. Took Eva for a walk to 'Pride Rock' with the cats! (yes I do take my cats for walks, not on leads tho, they just follow me when I call). Went to Deerpark country park for a wee walk, the weather was nice but windy.

Filled in a few application forms, hopefully I have not missed the closing date for them. Got an interview to work with pregnant teenage girls in Pilton, but I can't decide whether or not to go to the interview as I think it will be too far to travel every day.

Room To Let in shared flat

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:48:07 GMT

Please copy and paste this to your journal so that it gets sent out to as many people as possible ta.

Single room to let in city centre. £225 pcm + bills. For further information contact Caroline on 07787 542 483 or click the link below.
http://edinburgh.gumtree.com/cgi-bin/show_posting.pl?posting_id=8907225

Room to let anyone?

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:51:35 GMT

I cannot view live journal any more as I still do not have the internet at home and lots of words on lj are deemed ‘questionable’ by my work, so as not to get in trouble with I.T. I don’t look at anyone’s post. But can post myself (obviously)

But I have a spare 1/2 hour or so just now as one of my appointments did not turn up, so it is time for a wee update.

The single room in my flat needs someone to live in it. Julie is moving in with her boyfriend to Glasgow, and Walter is moving into her old room, so it is Walter’s room that is up for let. Anyone need a room? – Excellent landlord :) (ask Jordi or Ben)

Not much has changed really, settled down into married life and loving it although we do not go out to Edinburgh very often. We have a few friends out this way so tend to visit them more, think that it a mixture of getting old and lazy. But we have a spare double room if anyone wants to stay over, just give us a shout.
Ian has now brought the ferrets home, so we have 2 new additions to our ever expanding family – Lifty and Shifty. They stay in the shed as they are really smelly and not sure how the cats would get on with them.

Dash’s feet are getting much better, he has the bandages off now. There is only one toe that is still got scabs on it. We put ‘new skin’ on his feet which is a wee bit like nail varnish. He is also flying free in his new aviary that Ian built. It just needs painted to finish it.

Hunting season is over for another year, so I get to see Ian again – yay. We sold the jeep, and will be looking for another x4 drive for the start of next season to let us chase the birds over the hills when they do not come back!

Ian is changing our garden. We are going to level out the steps and get rid of all the stupid stones so that it is just grass. Keep the patio but have a step up to where the grass is levelled out, with a retaining wall going right across the garden. A pond on the left side and loads of little flowers that come up everywhere through the grass. No flower beds as such, to stop the cats pooing in our garden.

All cats are doing really well. Fats is really friendly to strangers in the house but still runs away if they go too near her outside. Maddy is as grumpy as ever, but I wouldn’t have her any other way. Axl never mastered the cat flap, so I gave up and instead we have a hole. She got locked in a garage 2 weeks ago and spent the night there, but we rescued her the next day. Mr. Fish simply love living here his plays in the woods every day :)

One of the cats on the farm is pregnant – baby kitties soon.

My work is alright but I am applying for anything that looks a bit more interesting. There has not been very much as yet, but hopefully that will change as the new funding kicks in for the year. Ian fluctuates between really enjoying his work to hating it. His boss can be a tit.

Lynn and Simon are moving to Oz ASAP. We are really sad about this as they are really good friends of ours, but it will be the best move for them and their kids. They are going to put their house on the market next month, then move in with us for a wee while.

Ali’s house is still no where near being finished, but they are down to only one piranha. Stupid fish to keep.

Well that is about all, I am finishing work now. Remember that I am not ignoring people you just need to keep in touch in more old fashioned ways!

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 16:50:15 GMT

Had a great weekend. Ian was off!! Went to West Calder zoo. It was much better than Ian thought, and we might get a wee job there doing bird of prey displays at the weekends.

Ian has had a biopsy on his lip. He has had a blue stripe for ages and we never thought much of it in the past, but as he has been attending the special dentist they were worried about it and are doing tests. Ian is going to the anxiety clinic on Thursday to get loads done including a wisdom tooth out. I need to take the day off to take him there as he will be on vallium and goodness knows what other drugs, to calm him down.

Going to my class again tonight, hopefully I will be better. Not got much confidence when it comes to that.

Ali's fish tank toilet is in place complete with fish. It looks amazing. But they only have 2 pharana (not sure of spelling)left (started with 6)called Sid and Nancy.

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:01:20 GMT

Went over to Northen Ireland with Ian, my Dad, Colin and Emma. Dad drove down and we got the ferry over, met my cousins Matthew and Sarah at the ferry terminal. Arrived at about 4pm at my Granny's house. Everyone was sitting around and pretending to be fine, I felt really awkward and hated the fact that my Mum kept trying to make me go into the room with the coffin, (thankfully closed), but I just did not want to do it. Stayed really late at my Gran's house, and was very tired from travelling and being emotional. We stayed the night with my Mum and Dad and guy called Billy, who was lovely if a bit insane,(stupidly Christian) he would not let my brother and his girlfriend stay too as they were not married. My brother booked into a hotel.

My Mum was stressing loads as my brother has no social skills at the best of times, but was worse there. He also did not bring a suit! So we were going to buy him one early in the morning, but as it turned out another cousin of mine has a spare one. I was in bed, but Mum, Dad, Ian and Billy stayed up a wee bit longer. Mum and Billy decided to get on their knees and pray for the suit to fit, much to the disgust of my Dad and amusement of Ian.

In the morning we got the suit and brought it to my brother, and it was the right size. My mum then said 'There must of been something in that prayer.' So either god made the suit change size, made my brother change size and no-one to notice then change him back!! Mum has been brain washed by her sister and brother in law (who are missionaries). I feel so sorry for my Dad just now, as he does not believe at all.

Funeral went as well as an could go. It is done very differently in Ireland, they carry the coffin for ages and loads of people take a turn, (it is a mark of respect to carry it). The service was lovely. My Gran was in the very fortunate position of knowing that she was going to die soon but not in any pain, so planned it all herself and said what she wanted to everyone. There were loads of people there, standing room only in the Church, and people waiting outside, think between 550 - 600 were there. The weather was so bad going that some flights were cancelled so there would have been even more attending.

All the family had to stand in a line after my Gran was buried and shake everyone's hand. It took ages and I didn't know half of them, but loads seemed to know me! We then went to the church hall to have tea, it was really croweded, and the minister had to ask some with the car reg .... to move as the car park was gridlocked.

All the family went out for a meal later on then went back the my Gran's house for more tea. We then went back to Billy's house and went to bed as we had a really early start the next day to go home. The weather was really bad but thankfully our ferry was not cancelled. It was only delayed by 1 hour, and the crossing took an extra hour too, but I slept the whole way. Got back by 4pm on New Years Eve.

Didn't feel like partying very much so had a quite one with Ali and Tam coming round. But by the time the bells came we were all itching for some excitement. We had all been drinking so were stuck in Broxburn. We saw that a neighbour that we had never met was having a party, so we gatecrashed it. Oh dear, it was awful, apparently it is not the done thing any more. We were left standing in the kitchen with no-one talking to us! Ian got drunk and didn't realise that they were kicking us out at 3:30am and insisted on finishing his drink.

On the first Ian was working early,(sure he was over the limit) then came back with Julie, her boyfriend Colin and Walter. They had lunch then I took them home for 3pm. Had a lovely night with Ian different outfits and the digital camera;)

Been back at work for ages, still hating it.

Now I have a sore tongue as I burnt it last night on water from the pasta, as I was tasting it to see if it was ready. The underneath is all blistered. I really want a cup of tea to help keep me awake but it will hurt too much :(

Pants

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 15:34:38 GMT

Ian had to borrow my car as my present would not fit in his car. I took it that it meant that my pressie would be huge, and could not think what it could possibly be. But it was a CD player for my car, that is why it would not fit in his!! I got Ian a digital box, so we now have channel 4 again:)and lots of other rubbish ones too.

Well Christmas was going quite good, got some lovely pressies. Mum was up north with Gran so I never saw her. Just had dinner with Dad, Ian and my brother Colin and his girlfriend Emma. We then went to Ali and Tam's. Unfortunately Gran died at 10pm that day. So now it is a mad rush to get things organised to get over to Northen Ireland for the funeral.

At work again today and Thursday but leaving to get the ferry on Friday, funeral on Saturday, then coming back on Sunday evening. Think that it is going to be a shit new year too.

Other news is that I am looking into buying another house, with lots of land to possibly farm. Don't even know the price as yet, so might not even come to anything, but fingers crossed.

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:43:31 GMT

Finally found out what is causing Dash's feet to be so bad, it is rope burns!! The aviary has half of the roof cargo net to let in lots of light and air, but Ian saw Dash hanging upside down on it, then later that night his feet had new cuts on them, and some older ones were bleeding. It least we know the cause so can stop it but keeping him tethered until Ian builds another aviary with a sold roof. He went out on sat and sun this week and never caught anything but did some amazing soaring, which is better just now as then his feet get more a break, and he is not using them to catch rabbits, which might break open the wounds.

Finished all my xmas shopping :) but I wish I has continued when I first started, as I thought that I was doing so well I slacked off then had to do the last minute mad rush, like I do every year. I have wrapped most of it too. But unfortunately I have not written any cards yet, think that I will do that tonight when I am babysitting, if the kids are sleeping early.

Vicky, Alex and Nathan came up this weekend which was great, it was so nice to see Vicky again, I miss her loads as she now lives 4 hours away:( But she is doing amazing and loving being a mum, Nathan is such a happy baby and Vicky is great with him - way better than I would cope! I got a xmas card that he helped to make (his green hand print turned into a tree) and another card with a photo of him in a christmas pudding costume - so so cute. I never gave Vicky her presents as I had not wrapped them, which I feel really bad about, as she gave me some, but my mind as been all over the place recently. But gives me an excuse to visit in the new year.

I am so tired just now as I woke up at 2am with one of the cats being sick, than again at 4am as I thought that one of the cats was having difficulty breathing, but it was only Ian snoring funny, but I had to get up and check on all the cats and woke Ian up with the hall light. Then up at 5:50am to do Dash's feet as Ian started work early at 6:30am, then lastly up again at 7:30 to get ready for my work. Need a holiday to sleep, but have none left to take as I had to use all of mine up in one go for the wedding and honeymoon, never mind, new holiday period starts in Jan.

Ali's kitchen is finished, it looks really good. Bathroom is nearly finished too. The utility room is getting plastered today so when it is dry I will paint it.

Gran is not doing too well at all, she is out of hospital but only because there is nothing more that can be done for her. It is just a waiting game now. Mum and all her brothers and sisters are up there looking after her. She is so weak that she mostly just sleeps, she sometimes talks but only a minute or so at a time, as she needs to rest with the effort. I have phoned her to say I love her, that is all I can really do. Wish that I could do something more to help.

Poor Jimmy

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 12:19:51 GMT

Jimmy - the fish that we are looking after is very lucky to be alive!! Last night I was on the phone when I heard a scratchy noise coming from the kitchen. I did not think much of it at first as I thought that Maddison was playing with a plastic bag, (she licks them on the inside and then climbs through the handle and wears them like a cape - yes I know she is weird!) but then I thought that there was no bags laying about so I when in to investigate. Poor Jimmy, Maddison had both front paws in the tank and was trying to catch him, there was water everywhere.

It is going to be a long 2 months until Lynn and Simon come back. If I put Jimmy in the spare room he will be safe from the cats, but I am likely to forget to feed him, I have a very small tank with a lid so I think that I will have to look that out, currently it is used to store medicine in.

Got some more xmas shopping done thanks to Vicky and her wonderful suggestions. If anyone knows my brother or dad please help with suggestions for them as I have no clue I always struggle with them. Also for Vicky ~(Vix if you are reading this suggest some things for yourself, got your xmas sorted out but it is very selfish to have your birthday then too!)

Oh forgot to say that this morning while I was having breakfast Mad had another go at poor wee Jimmy!! Kitchen door is shut while I am at work.

so close

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 13:04:46 GMT

Chirstmas is so close it is creeping up on me and I am not organised at all :( I did have a special xmas dinner on Sunday night as Lynn and Simon are going down under on wednesday. We always go to their house on Sundays to have dinner and then watch Planet Earth then Lost, but had made other arrangements to get someone else to tape it for us, as they were going away. But they gave us a key so we can still go to their house, collect the mail, move the blinds etc.

I also have inherited a fish,only while Lynn and Simon are on holiday, just a normal goldfish, but it has to stay in a cold water tank as it would grow too big in with our other fish.

Dash caught a pheasant (woo hoo) so that will be nice to eat in a week or so. Although his feet are not getting any better, in fact slightly worse, so he is back on antibiotics and still getting up at 6am to clean them every day before Ian goes to work, and then again at night too.

Was so cold at the field meet on Saturday, I had 5 layers on top and 3 on bottom, and was still so cold, so borrowed a really good jacket for the afternoon so had 6 layers!! It was much better then, but I failed quite dramatically at getting over barbwire fences, as I could not bend my legs enough as I was wearing too many clothes. I felt so stupid as I was the only female in the group and needed help to be lifted over any fence!! Needless to say Ian was killing himself laughing, so he was no use, other guys had to help. I felt sorry for fat people for the first time in my time, it is really difficult to do things!!

Weekend just went so fast, need more than 2 days off.

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:21:39 GMT

Just poped over to my neighbours last night for about 10 mins but then 2 and 1/2 hours later I got home!! So tired now.

Going to get Ian life insurance tonight as my Uncle is in that business so is coming round for a wee chat. Any offers to bump him off with be considered 50/50 share.

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 09:54:50 GMT

After asking the dental hospital to move Ian up the list as he is in pain and getting the normal dentist to write a letter he now has a sooner appointment for 6th Dec to be put to sleep for a check up so they can see what needs to be done, then put him to sleep again to do it!

Went up to visit my gran this weekend. She is doing alright, but her face is quite swollen due to the steroids, and her ankles are very swollen as her lungs are not working properly. Her voice is weak but audible, and is not normally in pain. I think that I have convinced her that I am not satan's child. I am so tired as I was constantly on guard the whole weekend, as I was staying in the Manse again with my relatives, who at first seem very nice, but are really trying too hard and it was just horrid, especially as Ian was not with me. My mum kept asking me why I was so quite but I could not say that her family were creeping me out by their false friendliness.

Going to another field meet this weekend which should be good (weather dependant). Lynn and Simon are going to Oz for 3 months in 1 and 1/2 weeks time, so next Sunday we are going to have a xmas dinner with them:)

Skiving is so boring

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:13:50 GMT

Well the weekend went very well, was at a falconry meeting, and went out hunting pheasants, never caught any, but got one rabbit, which was great going for Dash as he is unfit as we have not being flying him as his feet have been bad. They have made amazing progress and I am very pleased with them:) I was very worried as the vet said that going after pheasant would be fine but not to do rabbits as he could injure his feet again and I thought that the day would only be pheasant so no waiting around for ferrets to chase the rabbits out, and they we would all be flying the birds in a cast (Harris Hawks are the only birds of prey that fly in a group - called a cast) But occasionally they dont get on with each other so they cant fly with certin birds, unfortunatly the head of the Scottish branch of the British Falconry Club's bird does not fly well in a cast and we all had to take it in turns and hold the birds until it was their turn. I hate to do this as the birds get frustrated and I get bored and a sore arm. But never mind, Dash did hit a phesent but it got away. He lost another deck (tail) feather with the transmitter on it, and we discovered that the transmitter was not working, but over all it was a good day out, even though a barbwire fence got the better of me, but I never felt it at the time as I was so cold, only started to hurt when I got inside and started to warm up!

Flirted with the top guys in the Falconry club, and am going to put my name forward to do the newsletter for them. Then had the meal which we all got free (bonus) then won a falconry bag worth about £80 and ferrit food in the raffle great end to a good day :D

Went out hunting again on the sunday, but didn't catch anything, but Dash and Amy had a great time soaring so it didn't matter, his feet we no worse from catching the rabbit the day before :)

Went to my first Catholic funeral, Ewgene's dad. I kept getting a fright as the priest had a microphone on and we were sitting really close to the speakers. Spent most of the day with Ewgene in the pub afterwards, then left just in time to catch the rush hour traffic, and it took me over 1 and 1/2 hours to get from Dalkeith to Broxburn!! Mental Iain stayed the night as he needed to go into work early today as they were both off for the funeral.

Today has been quite productive as I posted the broken transmitter back, (full refund guaranteed) and phoned the anxiety clinic for Ian to go to the dentist. He is in great pain just now and getting pain killers and also swirling salt water!! Got him moved up the list, but still won't get seen until Jan!!! Stupid NHS. Not done any real work today just skiving with sounds great but is so boring - that is why I have written such a long post (sorry everyone).

stupid letters

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 10:18:16 GMT

I felt so sorry for Ian as he got grabbed by Dash a few days ago. They have a gripping mechanism in their feet that they cant let go and just squeeze tighter and tighter. (Ospreys are sometimes found drowned when they catch a fish that is too big to carry away and get pulled under water as they cant let go) There was lots of Ian's blood everywhere. And last night I got grabbed too, but luckely it was through my glove, but it still hurt and took me ages to get the glove off!

Dash is away to the vet today, hopefully they say there is an improvement, I think that there has been now, the colour is definitely coming back to them, just hope it enough.

I was so pissed off last night, there was a note through my door saying that something was 23p over the weight for posting so they would charge me £1.23 to collect it, this annoyed me a wee bit, but was expecting a parcel so I was not too bothered. However I did not know how to get to the sorting office (in Bathgate) so had to phone a friend from work for directions, finally found the industrial site, then asked 4 different people where it was, each time it was just around the corner and first right. (It was raining very heavily and my windows kept steaming up) For the life of me I could not find it, after half and hour of driving in a circle I phoned my friend back, and he tried to direct me, but failed again. So I got out my car and walked in the pouring rain, got soaked it only took me 5 mins to get to it, stopping at 2 other buildings on the way, so a grand total of 6 (7 if you count the phone call) people that I asked for directions to get to the bloody sorting office. Well I was a little pissed off to say the least by this point, but then when I got what was supposed to be posted to me it was only a letter! AND THEY NEVER PUT A STAMP ON IT!!! It look official as it was typed, but no markings on it, so I took it and payed my £1.23 only to discover that it from any agency that I used to work for saying that I need to hand in 2 passport photos so they renew my registration with them. I was angry.

Then to top it all off I got lost on the way home. All that hassle for someone not putting a stamp on a stupid letter, when a phone call would have done.

bumblefoot and kitchens

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:18:33 GMT

Dash seems to be getting better, his feet don't look as bad as they did last week. He has a vet appointment tomorrow so will see what the 'experts' say.

Ali's kitchen granet worktops came yesterday, they good great, black with sparkles in them. I helped clean her new and wonderful kitchen last night, there is still wee bits to do but it looks amazing. Her massive American fridge-freezer is getting plumbed in today, so it will leave a big space in the hall:) We are getting their old one, and throwing out our fridge which is intergraged, so will have another cupboard to fill with crap. Ian is taking our old freezer for another chick/rabbit store in the shed.

Still no better

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 11:03:22 GMT

Well I never went up to visit my Gran, as Ian really needed my help with Dash. I am very glad that I stayed, as one of our friend's dad died on Saturday, so spent lots of time with him. So I will have a funeral to go to this week.

Ian thinks that Dash's feet are getting better, but I am not too sure, as I think that he just wants them to be better so much that he only sees what he wants. But we have started to take photos so we can see any changes. He is going back to the vet this week, so hopefully it will be good news.

Painted the first coat in Ali's kitchen, it is looking really good, they are getting granet worktops tomorrow, so need the second coat on tonight.

Been looking at holidays, we are going to go to Egypt this year, so will book that soon, for next year. We are only going for one week, so will not get to do all the things that we want to do, (missing out diving in the Red Sea), but seeing all the temples and pyrmids. Will go back another time to do diving. As we want to go to Canada in 2008 which will cost quite alot, so we are only going to have a small holiday to Egypt. It is good to have something to look forward to:)

bad and good

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 12:31:24 GMT

Well I think that I am going to go up to Inverness again to visit my Gran. She has been moved out of hospital, but it is not good as she has moved into a hospice, another hour further North than Inverness. She now has a brain tumor aswell as lung cancer, (she has never been a smoker). It will help with B+B costs as my Auntie and Uncle are Missionaries so have use of a Manse (not sure of spelling - the house attached to a church)so we can all stay there for free. But it also means that there is an hour added each way to the journey.

Dash is not doing too well either. He has bumblefoot. I know that it sounds funny, but it is the main reason why captive birds are put down, as it is an infection in their feet which means they cant put weight on them. It is caused by a cut that gets dirt in it. You might have seen pigeons hobbling around with half a foot with bumblefoot. Dash was at the vet yesterday and now on antibiotics, so hopefully it will clear up. Every morning we need to clean his feet, which means putting a towel over him (which he hates) holding him tight upside down, with his feet sticking out and clean them with iodine and then put cream on them. Fingers crossed for him to get better.

Ian has not been feeling great - think that he is working too hard and not getting enough sleep. He averages about 6 hours a night, with I would die on. He is not getting a lunch break most days and is working late. It has helped that the mini Mission is not on just now, to give him a wee rest. He is getting a pay rise once he does the maths (as he is going on profit share), but he does not have time to do it as he is working so much. So sorry that we have not been out much lately, will try to come over soon. But in the mean time if anyone would like to visit us (and stay over - spare double room) it would be great so Ian doesnt have to have too late a night. You are more than welcome.

But on a more positive note, I am really beginning to enjoy my job. I am doing more work with the people who are 'harder to reach' ie have drug and alcohol problems and supporting them back into work. Rather than doing CV's for people who are just too lazy to do it for themselves.

Ali and Tam's house is coming along great, it is going to be the coolest house in West Lothian. Their kitchen is nearly finished, and their bathroom should be usable by the weekend, (they are showering at ours still, but by far the best thing that they are going to have is their toilet. They are going to have the cistern hidden in the wall, with a fake cistern showing with all the working parts in it. But have this as a fish tank, with the water level going down when you flush the toilet, going into another hidden overflow tank, then back to the fish. So you dont flush the fish, but it looks like you are!! Total class. I will be selling tickets for their house when it is finished!

Bought a fire extinguisher and fire blanket for the flat and will put them in very soon. Want to get the flat up to scratch, and am possibly going to buy another one. I would only rent out to people that I know and trust, so if I did buy a flat in centre of Edinburgh is there anyone who would be intersted in renting from me?? Ask Jordi if I am a good landlord, rent would be quite cheep (very cheep for Edinburgh),but still in the looking for one to buy stage so dont hand in notices (yet).

No Slayer for me :(

Fri, 03 Nov 2006 12:19:18 GMT

I can't believe that I missed Slayer. I am so pissed off.

Never mind, went up to Inverness to convince my Gran that I am not that bad. I think that she is less worried about the only grandchild not to lie to her. It was good to see her, even though it was very upsetting to she her so weak and hear her talking about her own death. Going to go back up again weekend. Inverness was lovely, we saw seals, salmon leaping and red kites. Way too far North for me to move there, but is lovely to visit.

Things are going great for me just now, really good to catch up with my family in Inverness and have some relaxing time, but still would rather went to see Slayer last night.