Contact lenses.

I had a try-out of some soft contact lenses yesterday. I've been thinking for ages about whether to get them or not so I decided to go for a free trial. I had gas permeable ones many years ago but could not get away with them. Now there are soft ones which are said to correct astigmatism which they apparently couldn't do before.
I tried a variety of options and although they were all very comfortable none of them gave me the level of eyesight that I achieve with glasses. They all had an element of either blurred vision or a feeling that I was cross-eyed which made me feel uncomfortable, especially with the thought of driving with them in.
The upshot is that I've decided against contacts and have gone for a pair of rimless glasses which are very light and comfortable and should maintain the level of sight correction I'm comfortable with alongside the added advantage of not having to mess about taking them out every night. It is much easier to fall into bed and stick my glasses on the night-stand than it is to poke around in my eyes for however long it takes to get the darned lenses out.
So that's it, I remain a wearer of glasses and am happy with that.
TTFN

I'm back....

...from Edinburgh after a productive and enjoyable couple of days capped off by meeting a lovely young lady on the (much delayed) train home. She was on her way to Leicester from Aberdeen to take an exam tomorrow and we got talking about how she would not get to the place she was staying until really late and how she was concerned about the test.
She was young enough to be my daughter and although I am aiming to be a snake-hipped lothario by this time next year I only felt fatherly, or maybe avuncular feelings towards her. At least I managed to make her laugh and maybe took her mind off her concerns for a little while. I hope she reached her destination safely and does well in her exam as she was a lovely young lady and it would be a shame if she didn't achieve what she has set out to do, especially after such a long trip.
The kitties were fine whilst I was away, but I wouldn't like to leave them for anything longer than one night without someone coming in to see they are ok which The Brother has kindly volunteered to do.
Tomorrow I'm going to get my contact lense trial started to see if I can cope with soft ones. I hope it all works out.
Off for another rum and coke and a watch of the tv before bed.
TTFN.

Edinburgh

I'm on my way to Edinburgh for a two day work meeting and to catch up with an old pal for a curry and a beer or two (well, probably more that two if I'm honest).
This is the beginning of a series of trips over the next couple of months which will mean that I'm away as much as I'm at home but I quite like travelling so it isn't a chore by any means.
The Brother is looking after the kitties whilst I'm away so they'll be fine, all I have to do is avoid too much unhealthy food and not drink too much. My new weight loss and fitness programme started on Tuesday so I hope that in a few months I will no longer be a lard-arse and will be the racing snake hipped lothario I always saw myself as in my dreams. In my dreams indeed. We shall see.
I do think that I need to find a theme for this blog, my random burblings are all very well but what I'm writing is hardly the most entertaining of stuff so I will have to have a think and see if I can come up with more entertaining subject matter in the future.
Until then, ttfn.

Another Sunday...

....hoves into view and once again I find myself cogitating upon life, the universe and everything. I seem to live life on the edge, not in the sense of taking on death defying stunts but rather on the periphery of the lives of those around me. I haver over whether this is a good or a bad thing, on some occasions I think it's not so bad in that I can keep my own counsel and stay out of the political, religious or sporting arguments that inevitably arise in the places I frequent. On the other hand I sometimes feel a sense of crushing loneliness which lies like a huge, heavy blanket over me. On yet other occasions I feel a great sense of lightness, a feeling that I can do anything I want and don't have to think about pleasing anyone else.  This often segues into a feeling of emptiness that comes with the realisation that I have no-one special to share my life with. Complicated? I certainly think so.
So, to recap. I am happy and sad, content with being alone and lonely. Make of that what you will.
On a lighter note, yesterday The Brother and I planted some vegetable plants and made the first cut of the grass in the garden out back. We will be putting in some vegetable seeds in a week or so once the weather has warmed up a bit more so I hope we can look forward to some fresh home-grown produce in the not too distant future. There is nothing finer than a meal which includes vegetables you have planted and nurtured yourself.
Anyway, now that I have gotten all that off my chest I'm off to read the Sunday paper before emptying another couple of boxes. I'm not rushing the box emptying since slow but steady is always a good approach with such things as this. I'll get there eventually.
TTFN.

Sunday 14 April 2013

Well, I'm once again ridiculously early for an appointment; this time for an eye test in Morpeth so I thought I would have a coffee in Central Bean and catch up with my blog which I have been disgracefully remiss in keeping up lately.
I have finally moved into the new home in Noth Broomhill just outside Amble in the wonderful county of Northumberland. The sitting room is now fully functional with the 'phone, broadband and tv services all set up. The kitties are comfortably ensconced on the settee and I squeeze in where I can.
The kitchen and bedroom are workable but there are still loads of boxes yet to be opened. I never realised how much stuff I had accumulated over the years, which when added to Madame's stuff equates to way more than any one person needs.
It is good to be back in a place of my own again, to feel comfortable with coming and going as I please and only beholden to the kitties. I am extremely grateful to The Brother for putting me up but I think we are all much happier now that I've moved out.
There is still some gear in storage, mainly belonging to Madame and the gardening stuff. Speaking of gardening stuff, I am awaiting my new shed which should arrive at the end of April when I will move into full gardening mode and start planting vegetables. I may kick off next week with some onions and maybe some leeks but we'll need to see how the weather goes, at least it seems to be warming up, let's hope it stays that way.
My annual visit to the fat clinic has prompted me to lose some weight, about 3 stones if I'm honest, and so I'm going to start going to the gym. There is one in Amble and one in Alnwick. The Amble one is closer but may be more expensive, I'll have too see next week when their websites come back up and start going sooner rather than later. No more procrastination, I must start to do things as I decide and after proper consideration but no more 'oh I'll do it tomorrow' because tomorrow never comes. That is why I had such a faff moving since I hadn't gotten rid of stuff when I should.
Anyway, now that I'm back in writing mode I'll be annoying you all more regularly and will get Bob out of his limbo in The Story.
OK, off now, ttfn.

So here I am.

I'm sitting in my new home. I have the furniture arriving on Wednesday but for the next few days I'll be going back and forth between here and The Brother's moving the stuff I have at his place.
I'm going to try and spend as much time as I can here over the Easter Holidays to get a feel for the place and generally start settling in. Obviously, once the kitties and the furniture has arrived I'll be really here but at least I have the keys, paid 6 months rent and am ready to roll.
Once I'm sleeping here I'll try the pub down the road and see about joining the social club across the street. In fact no time like the present, I'll go over there now and if it's open I'll see about joining.
TTFN.

Sunday 24 March 2013.

It's a cold Sunday with an onshore wind that could cut you in half coming out of the East bringing the threat of snow. It is what my Dad used to call a lazy wind because it goes through you not round you. Snow has not arrived as yet and I hope it doesn't but today is as cold, if not colder than most of the Winter. I really hope it warms up before the Easter Holidays next week.
It's hard to believe that the clocks go forward next week and we are officially in Spring already. This is the coldest I've seen it at this time of year for a long time.
Anyway, enough of the weather forecast, I just thought I would write a few lines whilst sitting in my room at The Brother's before I settle down to read the Sunday paper.
All things being equal I should be able to start over the Easter break sorting out the house I am going to rent. It is in North Broomhill which is a village a couple of miles out of Amble and in from the coast. It is big enough for all my stuff, the kitties and Madame (should she choose to come back) but I will need a shed for my gardening gear as there is no garage. The garden is long and narrow with a lawn and some vegetable plots leading up to a paved area for barbecues or just sitting and enjoying the quiet country view. It is not dissimilar to the old place except that there are no lorries, tractors and tanks rumbling past breaking the tranquillity.
I am 99% sure of getting it, depending upon a reference from my boss which should arrive with the agents tomorrow. Once that is done I can pay the rent and the damage deposit and get the keys so that I can arrange to move in. There is loads to do but at least all my stuff will be out of storage as will the poor kitties who have been in the cattery for way too long.
The house has two large rooms on the ground floor with a kitchen and rear lobby. Upstairs there are three bedrooms and the bathroom. One upstairs room I will use as an office (which will facilitate The Story) another I will sleep in and the third I will use as a lumber room to put all the boxes and spare furniture. I will be able to sort through it all in comfort then instead of being in the cold garage like before.
It is a lovely house with a particularly pleasant open fire and surround in the sitting room as well as having enough room to fit in all my furniture, book cases and dressers. I really hope it all comes off and that I can start moving in over the Easter Holiday.
It will be good to be able to have my own space again. I am grateful to The Brother for putting me up but I know I'm getting in the way and I'm sure both he and The Sister-in -Law will be glad to see the back of me.
So, here I am ready to read the paper. I would go to the pub but won't for two reasons; the first being it's too damned cold and the second, more important reason, is that I have put on too much weight whilst I've been at The Brother's and am starting on a diet so that I can get all of me into my clothes without large swathes of blubber flowing over the waistband of my trousers. To this end I am going to attempt the two day a week fasting approach whereby you reduce your caloric intake on two days a week and eat normally, but healthily, for the remainder. I have ordered a book called "The Fast Diet: The Secret To Intermittent Fasting" which I hope will facilitate my endeavours, watch this space.
Not much else to report really, I'm keeping a low profile at The Brother's, or what passes for a low profile in my world; I'm watching the sea a lot although the car park charging season has started at Alnmouth so I will be going to Boulmer more often where the parking is free to do my staring at the sea and thinking. I have some trips planned in April and May, a mixture of work and pleasure and in the mid-term a trip to Glasgow in June to see George Thorogood and The Destroyers 40th Anniversary tour gig at the Concert Hall on Buchanan Street. Apart from that, no plans. I am going to take life as it comes and hope things improve after the last two or three years of unremitting setbacks and unhappiness.
Wish me luck and TTFN.