Excellent Soozy...I want to lose a stone by next Tues when I'm off, don't rate my chances too highly! 

Are you off to Antalya/Side area again?

EDIT: Just read back, enjoy Crete

My sis' and her friend have driftwood artifacts as one of their 'winter in the sun' projects....i'll keep you posted!

Me too, I was all ready to defend and feel sympathy for her until I read the back story. As someone who, very sadly, couldn't have children, I still understand those who terminate, but her story pushes my boundaries of acceptability to its limits. I had a colleague who terminated several 'affair babies' on piece..sickened me, particularly given she was a fairly eminent child psychiatrist

I saw this in the Metro this morning, horrible  

It's vile, anyone using abortion as a means of birth control is disgusting.  I'm not against abortion, but I am when it is used like this.

I've just had a conversation with my Daddy in which he called my son Colon....you'd think he'd know his grandson's name after 10 and a half years  Maybe he's going do-lally.

Ells I'm 41 and my Mother sometimes calls me all of my sisters names.  She gave me the name, you'd think she could get it right 

On twitter I follow 'The Poke', each day they have a different theme.  Today it is 'nice animals made scary'.  They've just retweeted this picture and it made me laugh so much, so I thought I'd share.

 

My sons have suggested wearing name badges, to help their dad get their names right.

Yogi, it's not just that she calls me by my sisters names, she has also called me by the name of our dog that died over 20 years ago. 

ROFL Now that's not right.

I think 'Laddie' quite suits me 

Remembering the photo you posted of you as a child, I think your mum is trying to tell you something.

I know! 

 

My Dads mates used to call me Arthur Jr when I was a little boy girl. 

Aww Cinds, I'm surprised you aren't mentally scarred.

You haven't met me have you? 

 

 

My Mum does that too Cinds, she goes through all the names before getting them right but does it super fast 'Suziemaggiesallybetsymichael I mean Ells'  *they are not my families names by the way*

 

In other news I've booked next years holiday already.  I needed something to look forward to!  We had thought of a villa but with 4 children coming along it would be too boring.  So we're going to Cambrils near Salou so we'll be able to go to Port Aventura theme park.  Not going til June next year but it's something to keep me thinking about over the miserable winter!

not newsworthy

but

this afternoon ive  learnt how to play 'set fire to the rain' and 'somewhere over the rainbow' on my ukulele

 

i may do a concert for the greyhounds later

I had to change my Avi as i just realized (reading the your mood today in a smiley thread) that i had chosen the same one as moonie, only took me about a  month to notice hehehe

Pirate....I can't wait for the video you are going to post at some stage

 

Jen....You had something purple didn't you?  Or am I going mad?  

I'd just like to say I'm having a new phone delivered at work tomorrow. Useless point of info but you know.......

I need a new phone.  My touch screen has a mind of it's own.  It's gets called unspeakable names by both myself and the OH when it's playing up   What kind of phone you getting?

          *Goes away to get a pic* 

This one (in midnight blue)

 

http://www.sonymobile.com/gb/p...s/xperia-arc-s/#blue

 

 

Oooh that's lovely.  I like phones that aren't black or silver.  Or pink.

 

I used to have a maroon coloured phone....a razr I think.....I loved that.

 

Yours is touch screen.....I pray for you that it isn't possessed like mine.

Pink phones and stuff like that and me don't get on 

 

I like the sound of maroon 

 

And lol @ the touchscreen comment 

just contacted my ex's son via facebook

he's 20 next week

he was 4 when i met him, 11 when i left

i asked if i could take him and the other kids out for something to eat

and catch up..i dont think they will

 

i feel a bit sad

bollox

i wish i never said anything

 You never know Pirate....he might be happy you asked!  And at least you've shown you do still think about him and care.  

I agree with Ells, at least he knows you remembered his birthday and still care.

In agreement with this pirate, you have asked and if they don't want to that's their decision, but remember you did a nice thing.

 

In addition, it's international talk like a pirate day, but my brummy accent is rubbish 

I'm almost certain that some of these so-called pirates had Geordie accents, perhaps one could affect a sand-dansa twang, a bit like that lady on the south bound east coast trains. Imagine Sarah Millican on the intercom saying, "OOh! Ya hornswoggling smoggie grog blossoms, I'll be doon a little later on with me trolly, and then yer cn get loaded to the gunwall mind, though, but, like marra. man, woman, man.

 

I should imagine.

 

I'm well behind with reading the papers and was still catching up from the weekend.

The following had me spitting out m'porridge over the breakfast table. Unbelievable in this day and age.

 

 

 

 

The Malaysian government has begun holding seminars aiming to help teachers and parents spot signs of homosexuality in children, underscoring a rise in religious conservatism in the country.

So far, the Teachers Foundation of Malaysia has organised 10 seminars across the country. Attendance at the last event on Wednesday reached 1,500 people, a spokesman for the organisation said.

"It is a multi-religious and multicultural [event], after all, all religions are basically against that type of behaviour," said the official.

The federal government said in March that it is working to curb the "problem" of homosexuality, especially among Muslims who make up over 60% of Malaysia's population of 29 million people.

According to a handout issued at a recent seminar, signs of homosexuality in boys may include preferences for tight, light-coloured clothes and large handbags, local media reported.

For girls, the details were less clear. Girls with lesbian tendencies have no affection for men and like to hang out and sleep in the company of women, the reports said.

Malaysia frowns on oral and gay sex, describing them as against the order of nature. Under civil law, 'offenders', both male and female, can be jailed for up to 20 years, caned or fined.

Actual prosecutions are rare, although former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has twice been tried for sodomy, in cases he called political conspiracies. He spent six years in jail, but the courts have since cleared him on appeal or dropped charges for lack of evidence.

Official intolerance of gay people has been on the rise. Last year, despite widespread criticism, the east coast state of Terengganu set up a camp for "effeminate" boys to show them how to become men.

The latest seminar for the teachers and parents was run by deputy education minister Puad Zarkashi, his office confirmed.

Zarkashi wasn't immediately available for comment but national news agency Bernama quoted him as saying that being able to identify the signs will help contain the spread of the unhealthy lifestyle among the young, especially students.

"Youths are easily influenced by websites and blogs relating to LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] groups," he was quoted as saying.

"This can also spread among their friends. We are worried that this happens during schooling time."

You mean it's infectious? 

I've had an barrage of cold sales calls today, but the ones that bug me the most are the ones that start off with 'I'm not trying to sell you anything' then within 30 seconds try to sell me something.  

I changed it to a red'ish fairy in support of Julian, only realized yesterday it the same one as moonie (starter of the SIT)

I used to be one of those people, tell them you don't own your house. Or when they say they're not trying to sell you something say 'No you're trying to make an appointment for someone else to try and sell me something'

We get four or five recorded ones every day. "this is an urgent message for customers of lloyds etc. "

I got my virgin line last Dec and i rarely have my phone plugged in (fears of my 2yr old dialing up Australia and leaving the line open for hours! Plus i haven't given anyone the number) When ever i do plug it in i always get those recorded calls! Loads of them, i only have the line as it was cheaper to have it (with broadband) than not... if i actually needed a land line i wouldn't be happy with it at all!

These are at work, I don't bother answering my house phone these days, if its personal & urgent they'll have my mobile number. Before I stopped answering the phone if it was a sales call I would put the phone next to the tv at let them talk to it.