Hello again, I think

Wow, five years since I last wrote something on this page! I can't believe time can go that quick. Well in 2007 I lost both my parents and it was the hardest situation I've ever been in. Awful, desperate, unimaginable pain does not really describe that time of my life. In 2010 my father in law died followed by my mother in law in January 2011. So in less than four years all our parents died.

We're still very happy in Musbury. This place ticks a lot of boxes for us. I think we'll settle here for the next 20 years!

My job has changed dramatically too. I cannot believe how much I've achieved in the intervening years without really meaning to.

Can't wait for spring. More gardening. Start of a new year. Loving life.

Hello again diary. Been a long time.

My blogs

I know I haven't been blogging as much as I should. It's because I discovered an alternative site www.norrieblackeby.multiply.com. I have been busy posting a lot of things there like photo, videos, blogs and other personal stuff. It's actually a wicked site but my original blogsite suffered. It's not that I quiet or lazy, I am just focussed on my multiply site. So why don't you check it out?
I can't believe the first week of January is almost over. I've been at work for three days now. What only 51 weeks before Christmas? That is sad! I am actually wishing my life away. However I am not going to have any New Year's resolution because I find it naff--everyone's doing it and by the third week they all go back to their old habits. I do not even bother to make the effort.
Well I know this year will be eventful because we have a lot of things and commitments lined up. There's the much awaited wedding of my niece in Manila--Peter and I will attend that, I also committed to send my lovely nephew to university. Gosh! Suddenly I feel responsible for someone else aside from my little dog Sam. I have to count the pennies now to set aside for him. I know it's going to be worth it because he's such a special young man and he would use this opportunity to make a good future for himself. Actually it al takes me back to my university days...hmm speaking of which I have to submit a paper for my masters in a month's time. Tight deadlines focus the mind--my mind anyway.
Tonight is curry night with the in laws. Yummolah. Tomorrow, Peter and I will be going to Exeter for some bargain shopping. I hope to have lunch in Wagamama (www.wagamama.co.uk), my favourite restaurant in Exeter. They really serve fresh food. Really top class.
I also bought a new fridge and it works like a charm. Judging by everything that I wrote my bank balance is a bit precarious at the moment! Anyway, most of it is for a good cause.
Check our my multiply site!

Stormy New Year

Okay, so the weather's definitely gone downhill since Christmas. I mean we've been buffetted by gale force winds and rain and all we can do is sit tight. Thank goodness there is the internet. Speaking of being online, I just bought myself a new fridge freezer. Yep, as things go the fridge in the utility room has gone kaput. Well, actually it has gone half kaput. The freezer's still working but the fridge's as dead as the proverbial dodo. All this happened during Christmas and it was very difficult managing with only one fridge with all the food I've cooked so far. Good thing it was cold outside. We devised a way to keep things cool--at least the drinks though because with this rain food will just either melt or rot!
I can see my neighbour's chimney belting out woodsmoke. They are having an open fire. Gosh the thought of lounging around an open fire at this time (wind and rain outside) sounds like a terribly good idea. I am supposed to plant a couple of cuttings my father in law gave me but the weather's been so foul lately. Maybe tomorrow.
I can't believe it that in a couple of days I'll be back at work. I guess all things do end. Hmm come to think of it, all things do end even the bad ones. I hope my nephew will be able to sort out his troubles and move forward. Ahh the angst of the young and the stubborness of the old. May the new year be a good one! I do mean that.

Moon gazing

The other day, in an attempt to ease a stressful situation I decided to answer questions to an online quiz. I know it’s a bit sad but bear with me on this. In one question I was asked to choose my favourite planet—there was Venus, Mars, Uranus (yeah I’d like to say that!), Saturn and the moon. Technically, the moon is not a planet but a satellite of Earth. Well I never did finish the quiz because I had to get back to my stressor—work! But that question remained in my mind. It just so happened that on my way home that night my vision was assaulted by this hauntingly, beautiful full yellow moon. I was mesmerised for a few seconds. It was rather difficult to stare at the moon and at the same time concentrate on driving! The following morning really got me thinking. As I closed my front door I looked out and saw my car bathed in this cold white light. I looked up and there was the moon again, bright and eerily seductive. It was a classic sight because I saw the moon peeping behind the bare branches of a tree and its light providing a silhouette among the clouds. As I drove that morning, I was debating which heavenly body I really fancied. I know most people would say the sun and I can see the point in that because the sun is a provider of life to all living things. Without it the only possibility is death.
Since we moved in the country I seem to notice the beauty of the moon than ever before. It glows up there in the evening sky, so romantic, so enigmatic, so melancholy. I love looking at the moon in my darkened room because unlike the sun I can stare at it without losing my eyesight. Does this say a lot about me? Maybe not. Maybe I am just like the rest captivated by the magic of a moonlit night.


It’s been quite a nightmare driving to and from work everyday. There’s always some nutter who thinks he owns the road. Yes I am being sexist now because most of my experiences with these louts are with the male species! They’re aggressive and bullies on the road. Just like yesterday, there was this lorry driver who manoeuvred his huge machine like it was a Mini then flashed his lights at me when I didn’t let him in my lane. Up yours too mate! Bloody idiot! What is it with these people???? Can’t wait for the winter’s solstice (21 December). After that the nights will gradually be shorter.

I was looking out to my garden this morning and noticed the bulbs that I planted recently have sprouted. Aren’t they early? Will they last the winter frost like tonight? Peter tells me the forecast is like minus 3 degrees Celsius. Ouch. The sky is clear. It is definitely freezing outside…but in spite of that I managed to give my car a quick wash. Yes, yes, yes…Peter says it is a new car syndrome. Well I just want a clean, nice smelling car. Just like my house!

Earth wind and rain

Mostly wind anyway!
I am not supposed to be sitting here writing this blog. No I am supposed to be reading my notes and books to prepare for my first assignment due in two weeks' time. At least I did some revising yesterday and wrote a problem for my paper. The second paper is due in February. I need to get that out of the way before the Spring term goes in full swing.
The course was intensive all right. I mean we were sat there from 9am-5pm listening to lectures. We had about one hour in total for breaks--coffee and lunch. On Friday afternoon I couldn't wait to get out of the building. Weather wise it's not good. We've been experiencing gales. In fact last night I had I hard time sleeping. The winds were so strong (between 70mph-100mph) that electricity was cut off a couple of times. My neighbour's car alarm also went off at 3:30am. The car was rocked so hard I guess--and it was a BMW! What's so scary were the awful sounds. Peter and I thought we would wake up to a scene of mass destruction but actually there was hardly anything at all. The old trees were still standing. The only thing that was blown off by the wind was the barbeque cover. Otherwise everything was in its proper place.
What's concerning me most are my spring bulbs. Compared to last year the weather is still mild. I mean last year we had a heavy dump of snow in late November. So far we only had rain and wind and some sunshine. My bulbs are already sprouting! Heck I do not want them for Christmas I want them in February when the chill knocks everything out from you. I guess I'll be seeing some daffodils soon by the looks of it. Even the bulbs are confused now.
I do miss gardening even though I always come out hurting afterwards. I love watching seeds come to life and flowers blooming. I love the way my garden responds to my nurturing. It is so satisfying. Even Sam loves the garden. We could go out now because the sun's shining but the wind will blow us out to the fields! I wonder if it's possible for that to happen especially if you're flying a heavy duty kite? This is where wind mills come to their own. I wish we had one so we could generate clean power but they cost a fortune to build!!! I don't know if I'll be able to sleep tonight. The wind creates such a noise not to mention that it scares the hell out of Sam! He keeps on following me around no matter how sleepy he is.

Mystery thrills

I am taking a break from reading my voluminous pre-course notes for next week. Yes it’s another exercise of self harm—reading, listening and then writing a 5000 word dissertation. I will be enclosed with total strangers for three whole intensive days trying to understand psychology in organisations. I am resisting the urge to start reading my current fav novels by Kathy Reichs—all about forensic science. A couple of weeks ago Peter came home with three books from Reichs. She was recommended by one of his clients. Peter knows my penchant for mystery thrillers and detective stories. My absolute favourite of this genre is Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. I have read all of Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta character. It was that conversation that led Peter’s client to suggest Reichs. At first I thought Reichs was just copying Cornwell—after all her plots were similar. But Reichs descriptions were more detailed. Yes call me macabre but I do like reading this stuff. I also like the logic and research that goes with every investigation. Anyway, I have read several of Reich’s books since then and I am about to read another one. All in all I only have two books of hers that I haven’t read…yet.
I go through these stages. There was one time I was obsessed with Amy Tan. I read her books from Joy Luck Club to Bonesetter’s Daughter. Come to think of it I think it’s about time to get her new one—I bet it’s on sale on Amazon! Ah, before I even start thinking of looking online I must get through next week’s course. Then I read books from these writers fully immersing myself into the lives of their main characters: PD James Commander Adam Dagleish, Agatha Christie’s Detective Hercule Poirot series and Miss Jane Marple and Ruth Rendell’s Inspector Wexford’s mysteries. Yes I feel I am on first name basis with all these characters!
Do books sum up a person’s character? Does this mean I am some sort of a closet detective or a demeneted perv? I know some people who love to read sci-fi. I must confess down to earth detective stories really capture my attention. Peter says that blood and guts is all I want to read about. Yeah why not? But how do I explain my interest in perusing store catalogues? Maybe it is just a manifestation of my Gemini traits—contrast is my middle name.
We’ve been having some funny weather recently. Yesterday and before dawn today we had hail. Hailstorms are quite dramatic. Sam hates them and he trembles long after the storm has passed. I still washed my car though. I just do not like road dirt left on the car for weeks on end. In short I do not like driving a dirty car.
It’s 2pm and I haven’t had my lunch. Maybe I should make my way downstairs and make myself something really tasty. Hmmm, now that sounds like a great idea!

Over the slump

I am feeling a lot better today than I did mid week last week. Maybe I was feeling a bit under the weather coupled with the stresses at work. I haven’t felt that low before but surely as the sun rises in the morning—at the moment it makes its appearance quite late—I got over the slump. It was really funny because the moment I felt slightly better I was as active as ever. In fact my staff said they preferred me being assertive and grouchy instead of quite and depressed. Haha!
Anyway over the weekend I did a bit of gardening—just clearing up the dead plants and surfing the net especially ebay! It’s like window shopping without the hassle of traffic. I just let my fingers do the clicking.
I should really be getting ready for my course next week. I have loads of reading to do. I swear going for my masters was a good idea at that time but it is sure hard work. It’ll be another scramble for my paper!
Work-wise it has been quite challenging. Actually it is not the work I get my knickers all in a twist but it’s trying to work with difficult people. I am glad I am no longer in that career frae of mind. My current job is a means to an end. It is not the end all and be all of my existence. It does not define me. Gosh I remembered in no so distant past that I defined myself according to my work. It was so transient though. I like things that are constant and reliable like the love of my husband and the loyalty of my dog. Speaking of the mongrel—the dog not the husband—I was looking around the storage space in the attic the other day when he managed to slink by me and ended up by the eaves. I couldn’t get near him because I didn’t want to disturb the insulation and didn’t want to risk going through the ceiling.
Anyway, after a lot of cajoling the mutt managed to extricate himself from the insulation and out in the room. I was really annoyed at him. He then spent the whole day lounging around. I wish I could sleep like him. I especially like it when he’s deep slumber and starts dreaming. First his ears and nose start twitching then his legs jerk like he’s running on air then makes this muffled bark “arf arf arf”. I often wonder what he’s dreaming of. Is he running after his nemesis the cat or is he running after sheep? Actually, Sam lets off a huge sigh before he settles down to sleep. I really envy him that way. I toss and turn before I even begin my 40 winks. Sleep is a major luxury as far as I am concerned.
I do not like my dreams though. They’re weird, disjointed and stressful. Who said dreams are relaxing???