If you are about to tuck into your lunch/dinner, read this.
Perhaps the best quote:
“Consumers should know how much exercise it would take to burn off a meal or sweet before eating it, David Hinchliffe said.
A McDonald’s cheeseburger with fries and a shake equated to a nine mile walk, he claimed.”
Two words - Gastric Flu
The Other Half was in the local paper this week, advertising, by posing topless the great wax off for Children in Need he is participating in this evening. The newspaper chose to title the article “Stripped of Dignity”, which I think means that a bloke probably edited, but I could be being stroppy! I’d put a title to the copy which had a play on the words “bear” and “bare”, which may have just been a little much for the local rag!
Anyway, sponsorship is nearly at £1,000 already and we have buckets to shake at what is looking like a large audience down the local this evening. Am actually beginning to look forward to it!
Whilst the Other Half basks in being stopped by a Morrisons employee “aren’t you the lad getting waxed on Friday? Me and all the girls are coming…” (Dear Lord!), the Manc Scum has gone one better.
Following the Welsh loss on Wednesday evening (we are talking football, for the uninitiated), BBC Wales have released an advert break piece, showing howling Welsh fans and a distraught looking John Hartson. Right at the end, the Manc Scum can be seen getting up from his seat and ambling towards the exit in his beige coat. It looks like he’s the only person left in the Stadium (which he might have been, as he was waiting for his Other Half to finish work). Seeing him just before Superstars last night didn’t half make me laugh!
So, it’s all about the media at the moment, darlings!
Thanks to Gert for pointing me in this direction.
Made me chuckle!
The more I hear about George Dubya’s visit this week, the more uncomfortable I get. Not only is it costing the UK a fortune to police his visit, I’ve heard today our head office, which is situated on Whitehall, will be closing for the day on Thursday. And if our place is shutting, odds are that most of the other offices locally will be as well.
There hasn’t been a state visit of an American president since 1918, so why now? Why not leave it until George is replaced - hopefully by someone with a brain!!
I know I’ve been quiet. Things have been busy in the Gene Puddle. Not only has the Other Half reached another milestone in life - which meant two meals out and lots of people to the door - we’ve also been preparing for Children in Need next Friday, when the Other Half and his mate are being waxed. We’ve raised over £500 so far - thanks to some very enthusiastic collectors - and have made arrangements to collect more on the night.
As I feel I may need to relax afterwards, I informed the Other Half last night that I thought it would be a good idea to finish the Christmas shopping next weekend. He winced.
In other news, I’ve made my first visit to the new Ikea in Cardiff. It’s HUGE! It’s also causing traffic chaos - especially at weekends, which is the centre of much conversation in the Gene Puddle.
The Other Half and I have also been investigating the possibility of taking a holiday to Chicago sometime in March 2004. It all seems fine, with the flights from Cardiff not to expensive. I’ve heard some good reports on the city and quite fancy it. Planning continues, however.
Next couple of weeks I have a lot of work on and several visits to London and one to Edinburgh, which I’m very excited about. I’ve never been north of the border so this should be great fun. It’s all for work, but this does mean I’m getting paid and all my expenses covered. I’ve also got a lot of work on in the office - trying to get some training courses off the ground for 2004. Cross your fingers for me!
Finally, have booked a spa day with some of my girlfriends on the 12th December. Can’t wait!!
Having not switched a computer on over the weekend, I didn’t find out until this morning that Gert had been injured by a thrown firework. The dressing looks huge, which can only mean that the injury is nasty. Best wishes from Wales for a speedy recovery.
It got me thinking about fireworks. We went to a party at the Manc Scums’s house on Saturday night, which was excellent in a “everybody’s dressed in school uniform but still able to drink and smoke” surreal way. Anyway, there were a lot of fireworks brought to the event, by the Other Half amongst others, and the first 90 minutes of the party was taken up by explosions, bright lights, bangs, whistles and cracks. Now, I’m not a huge firework fan. Never have been. Don’t like the loud noises, or the surprise element that you really never do know what your getting. I also don’t like the Other Half lighting them. As soon as I see the faintest glow at the end of the taper I’m shouting for him to retreat. It’s about the only time I am a bit of a girlie girl.
Between the boys, they must have lit over 50 fireworks. Rockets, Catherine Wheels, Fountains - the usual assortment. However, a couple did go wrong. One fell over showering the patio where we were all stood with sparks. Another, a rocket, was pushed into the ground - instead of placed into the specially dug in tube. This just exploded with a very loud bang - and yet more sparks.
At the time, this all seemed quite funny. Looking back, and especially on reading Gert’s story, it wasn’t. Although no-one was hurt on Saturday night, there was the chance that someone could have been. I thought to myself, I’m all for banning fireworks except for public displays - and sparklers, which I do love with a childish excitement. However, on further reflection, I do wonder what would happen if we did ban them. Not only would they be produced and sold on the black market and not have any sort of health and safety type protection, they would also be another area of life where, as human beings, control was being removed from us.
Children should not be given/allowed to buy fireworks, no-one could disagree with that. Adults should have more sense than to mess around with them. It’s what being a grown up is all about.
I suppose what I am trying to say is if we take away all the perceived bad things in the world, no-one has to take responsibility themselves. No-one has to turn around and say no, or decide that to participate in something is risky. That is what living in a free society is all about - making personal decisions.
As I get older - although no wiser - I do wonder how people are allowed to have children and then not take responsibility for them. There is a member of the Other Half’s family who has multiple children - and they are never with her. She is out and about, and people from the family are always caring for the kids. I’m not saying she’s a bad mother - or her partner is a bad father. They simply aren’t parents at all. The children spend so little time with them, how could they be?
Ach, it’s Monday and I’m feeling it. Perhaps I shouldn’t post when I’m grumpy?
I think I’m becoming one of those people who watch films. I never have been, you see. It takes a lot for me to sit still for over an hour, staring at a screen. There has to be a bloody good storyline, if I’m not to be found dozing when the lights come up - or the DVD finishes.
However, in the last couple of weeks - since I wrote about seeing Kill Bill - I’ve also watched The Secretary, Finding Nemo, The Royal Tenebaums (not for the first time) and, last night, Igby Goes Down. Not only have I watched these films, I’ve actually enjoyed watching them (although, Finding Nemo was a bit of a disappointment. There are only so many times you could laugh at a fish/bird/crustacean doing something stupid!).
The Secretary starred an old favourite of mine, James Spader, as the dominating boss to a self-harming submissive. Whilst it does have an erotic underlying story, it’s basically about two people finding love, in an unusual way. Similarly, Igby Goes Down has some sexual content, but the film is far more about dysfunctional families and the way in which some people try and escape them. It sure ain’t The Royal Tenenbaums - which I’ve now seen at least half a dozen times, since treating myself to the DVD recently - but it’s worth the watch, if only to see the brother of the Home Alone brat can act.
Straight from work tonight I’m meeting the Other Half to see Matrix: Revolutions. I know the general buzz from the film is not good, but I do like to make my own mind up. However, I have to admit, I’m looking forward more to seeing the final part of Prime Suspect more!!
Last night may very well have been the European MTV Awards. It might have also been Eastenders and goodness only knows what else on the TV. You may have spent a fulfiling evening at the cinema, theatre, opera, etc. However, last night I spent an hour in the company of the next BIG thing to be imported from the US - Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.
This programme mixes “Changing Rooms”, “Ready, Steady, Cook”, “What Not to Wear”, “The Salon” and every other reality/lifestyle show you’ve ever seen. And it’s funny - SO funny. Five overtly camp gay men “juzzing” around the lone straight man - turning his life around. There were points I was on the point of tears - with laughter. Dear Lord!
Anyway, if you missed it, apparently it’s being repeated on Living TV on Saturday at 9pm. Catch it if you can!!
