Home sharing

The morning arrived once again whilst it was still dark, so I took the cover and pulled it up over my head to keep the heat it until daylight appeared.

Reach out and touch, reached out and called,  the trouble is having had trouble with a fraudster today, I immediately put the phone down, the phone rang once more and somewhere in my dim and overloaded brain the word Relocation and Israel hit a nerve, 'Oh Im sorry', yeah right I couldn't admit to this rather nice American with a very odd accent that I had deliberately hung up thinking she was after my money............ In my sweetest English accent, you know the one, when you try and smile as wide as you can to appear sincere, when really you are saying ****, ****, **** I advised my new friend she would be better phoning the land line.  Phew got out of that sticky situation rather well I thought!!!!!

Call answered and I'm now top of the email chain for a rather nice American with an odd accent who wants to relocate me, 'Will you be transporting an Automobile' yeah right I can just see them shoving my Merc into a rather small container, as we have very little to take with us, just open the car doors and shove it in.  Will you be taking any alcohol? 'Is this a trick question?' and how about food? 'yep we like it, how about you?' probably not a good idea to take food in, they sell it there, Yeah but I bet you cant get mealie puddings????? and don't get me started on Stovies or Haggis.

Deep breath in, Buba...............Ah he was sleeping when I arrived but I managed to wake him, discreetly obviously or Buba Mumma would give me her scary fish face, fortunately the little pinch I gave him didn't make him cry or leave a mark......So gorgeous, smiles till bottle time, then its down to serious business, bib wrapped around the neck, and off we go, guzzle, guzzle, I was getting rather hungry myself by this stage so sharp exit.

My Beloved called as I was driving to the Deen, bemoaning about tools, his tool, their tools, everybody's tools. Blah, Blah, Blah, oh shit thats not what a supportive wife is supposed to say. Oh baby, tell me all about it...............yawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn.

Arriving at Richmond Place, I was greeted with a laptop, itunes and a bunch of music that needed converting,  So I decided I needed food, and walked back out again.  Prezzo oh how I love it, we ordered.  The food was delivered, unfortunately not ours, well not the Old Bags, the waitress was called over and happened to be carrying what appeared to be the Old Bags requirements, 'Did you touch it' she was asked, 'yep I licked the whole bloody thing doh', she still took it away and replaced it with the correct meal, pity the poor devil who got the licked pizza cos my teeth weren't brushed today, or yesterday.

We arrived home sometime later and began the arduous task of home sharing, the Old bag now has an up to date eclectic mix of music in her itunes, and I cant believe that I have had to educate her into the ways of defrag and clean up, 'no when you shut the lid it doesn't complete the tasks you have scheduled'.

My Favourite Landlubber

That's the weekend finished, and so begins the working week. I have to say getting a big old grizzly hug from big John, my favourite Landlubber made my weekend, and once again, its things like a simple hug that remind me of all the people I'm going to miss when we finally leave for Israel.

So today I am going to learn speed talking, that way when I visit my Solicitous friend it won't cost an arm and a leg.  Every word counts so no hello, no goodbye, or I look crap, you look great, a simple nod will cover everything necessary to be pleasant. Phew and I'm still on my first minute. Oh yeah and a big toothy grin, that way my nod won't be misconstrued as 'I need a divorce'...

The local supermarket was stuffed to the ceilings with all manner of Christmas boxes, boxes of chocolates, boxes of biscuits, boxes of sweets, nuts, dried fruits, you get the idea, I can only think that we have to eat all things box like until Christmas when they put normal food back on the shelves. But what if all the boxes are not sold? Do we have to wait until they sell out before normal sales will resume?  The trouble is do we even know what normal is? If you think about it we have had this box problem most of the year, it generally starts around Valentines with boxes of Chocolates, then Easter with boxes of eggs, followed by boxes sun cream and antihistamines and then boxes of sweets. The sweets are duly purchased but not for our own consumption, oh no, they are purchased in the hope that if we get trick or treaters they will leave our houses satisfied with our generosity, the trouble is the more generous you are the more visitors you will get next year....So you see as a nation we are obsessed with boxes.

My Beloved is heading towards six weeks away, once again it will have to be red rose at the airport for recognition purposes, especially with my sight issues.  Garry has decided I have SOD, not SAD like most people. Unfortunately when he was telling me what SOD stood for the phone line dropped so I'm still waiting to find out what I'm actually suffering from, should I see a Doctor? Is it catching? and is it curable? eeeeeeeeee I'm feel unwell, I will have to lie down until I discover what it is Im suffering from.  Personally I think its SICK OF DADDY, but I will have to wait for my next phone call, that is if he can drag himself away from the restaurant, or even find his way home...

That being said, like me he has a homing beacon sewn into the lining of each pair of jeans, where as I have mine in the heel of each shoe. It might take a while for him to get home, but he will always make it eventually, which is ok as long as your not relying on him to get you home.  Not sure my youngest Brother-in-Law has gotten over the last time Garry took him home the short cut.  Then preceded to trip the house alarm, because although he knew the code his fingers didn't work.  The youngest Sister-in-law and I were holed up in the summer house, we KNEW the short cut, but were freezing as we had no key.

Windy weather

The hatches were battened down, and the heating was up full.  My ears are still ringing from the disco last night, but I'm sure they wouldn't be so sore had I had a peaceful nights sleep. I'm sure it couldn't have been any noisier even if I had chosen to sleep in the car.  That's two nights running I have had to put up with howling winds, yesterday I woke at 7 am and I was freezing, so when I eventually decided to leave the house, I was dressed appropriately, or not as it turned out, I placed one foot outside the front door, and thought someone was having a joke and pointing a hot air blower towards my house.  How can it be that windy and that warm.  I unlocked the car, whilst trying to remove all the extra layers I had wrapped around myself. By the time I got to the local coffee establishment I had removed all but the out layers necessary to stop me getting arrested.

The crazies were great to watch last night, and being nominated driver meant I could watch in the safe knowledge that what ever I did it would not go into a name and shame book, and if it did I would deserve the shame because I wouldn't be able to blame alcohol, unlike previous nights out.  This time last year I was making snow angels and making Buba Mumma climb 12 feet up a snow mound for a photo, then making her climb it again because the first shot didn't come out.  The photo taken eventually looked like a moon on top of the snow, wearing all black on a dark night doesn't give you a lot to reflect off.

I did have a rather blonde moment last night, which really isn't like me, but what makes it worse, is Buba Mumma picked up on it like a flash.  This is the same woman that thinks Werewolves imprinting means they slash your face, get with the programme lady, read the books, how can you watch Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse and still not know about imprinting, he-he.  Back to the story, I had a mail from a friend using Linkedin, well having never heard of it before I asked Buba Mumma what is Link-e-din, she looked at me and said whilst rolling her eyes 'it's Linked-in Davina' doh......................

View from living room

I just remembered the smell in the social venue last night, dead animals comes to mind, but thats what happens when half the visitors have previously visited the Local Curry house, pheeeeeeeeeew they were humming, Young Reevie Stob asked if I like his aftershave, then proceeded to wave his head around, wafting the dead animal aroma further a field.  We decided that it would be safer for our stomachs to vacate the Front bar for the Back bar where the air was much sweeter. The obligatory kebab stop was made on the way home, and that was when it all happened, the crying girl - there she was sitting in the corner, drunk as a skunk and an emotional wreck, making no sense what so ever, whilst waiting for her pizza, and you just knew she was gonna be seeing that pizza more than once.  But the evening ended on a high for her, as she had handed over her phone number, well her lovely friends did, and pretty soon she is gonna be receiving a call from Stavros, whether she wants it or not.

Just received a frantic call from Yabba, 'can you get in touch with Dad, we can't use phone and think he has left his connected'.  So I phoned the Beloved and nope he had disconnected from Skype at the end of the call yesterday, so I phoned Yabba, 'Nope he disconnected', should I phone BT I asked.  No was the reply and off she popped.  Two minutes later I received another call from Yabba, 'its Ok Bro left the office phone of the hook', think that little man will be put to bed with no supper, they have had no phone line since yesterday lol.

I just broke Dawn.............................

A breakfast meeting at 9.30 means 7.30 out of bed, and again this is only because the face needs decreasing and the body needs enough caffeine to allow it to function on a level akin to my  breakfast dates.  That said I arrived early and couldn't wait so breakfast was eaten on my own before my date arrived. I did contemplate a second breakfast, but soon remembered I have a few nights out coming up and would really have nothing to wear if I out grow the one dress suits all outfit I will be wearing to each of these evenings.  So I was forced to sit and watch whilst my dates ate their breakfasts far too slowly for my liking, and I had to content myself with inhaling deeply the aroma's of toasted teacakes, date No.2 did offer half a teacake, but the speed at which the plate was retracted lead me to believe my assumption, that this was purely a gesture and not one I should accept.

Casa Kirkhill was next on the agenda, the house viewing. Directions were given and arrival was marked with coffee, rock cakes and a guided tour, I was disappointed that I didn't get one of those machines, you know the ones they give to people who visit museums and suchlike, which details each room as you enter, and gives the history of every artifact in those rooms.  I remember the last time I had one of those, Barcelona, Gaudi oh I love Gaudi and the Segrada Familia, Casa Batllo, me and my headset wandered around oohing and awing in all the right places, taking in the wonders that Gaudi had to offer. The Serpent head balconies and the supporting pillars that look like bones.  Was I really in Barcelona, or had I been transported to Hogwarts, how would I know, do I really care. Davina your in Blackburn get a grip.

Buba was my next stop, oh I haven't seen him for ages, today was the day he discovered his left arm, obviously gonna be a lefty like his Mum, but I really couldn't decide if he kept extending his arm in the vain hope of becoming Superman and flying out of Grandma's or away from me, the fact that he appeared to be tugging at his sleeve with his right hand lead me to believe he was trying to do a Clark Kent, but starting with his sleeve and not the neck tie as is usual. Of course he could just have been trying the To Infinity and Beyond line, but considering speech is currently not his strong point, it came out more of a squeal.

We bid farewell to the little man and took ourselves off for some R & R, again thats not quite how it worked out, having a driver in front of you going well under the speed limit tends to irritate your nominated driver, and lead to murderous thoughts especially should this make us late, we arrived at the Cinema in one piece, and mercifully for the other driver, without causing GBH or road rage, or other kind of damage, well other than the teeth gnashing kind.  Even being 20 minutes late we still arrived during the trailers, we found our seats, almost as some other people were in ours.  We sat, we muted the phones, and the film began.

Team Jacob it is then, I cant help it if he was the first to get his kit off, and might I add Im positive it was less than fives minutes into the film. The stage was set, the grin was ear to ear, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.  My only disappointment is I have to wait a bloody year for the second half.

If your tired and you know it go to bed

Another Sleepless night, and this time not spent with Perry, but numerous Christmas movies, you have to love Christmas if only for sentimental movies they programme on the TV for you.  Gonna have to check out when The Grinch is on because it wouldn't be Christmas without a bit of Whoville.

Narrator;     And the more the Grinch thought of what Christmas would bring, the more the Grinch thought... 
The Grinch; I must stop this whole thing! 
The Grinch; Why, for year after year I've put up with it now. I must stop this Christmas from coming... but how? 


Still got my nervous tic, no American hands have reached out for me yet, I wonder if Thanksgiving has shortened their arms. Or maybe having eaten too much Turkey they are unable to roll out of their beds and into the office. Fingers crossed for Monday and a phone call.


My Beloved still has no date for coming home, although he has booked his flight for 1st December, mainly because losing a limb is not something he is keen to suffer, especially after already trying to loose a leg and a hand in America.  We are hoping that he will be home before the 1st, but as it is already the weekend in Israel he definitely won't be home before Sunday. 

We are going to have to get used to Thursday being the New Friday and Saturday being the New Sunday.  What is crazy about our new weekends will be the fact that it really turns everything on its head, especially when you think, that the rest of the world Celebrates Sunday on Sunday, that means we will have a three day weekend. I think I'm gonna like living in Israel.  Sun, sea, my Beloved on tap and a three day weekend oh the joys.  And lets not forget the Israeli Wine, oh yes its lush.


Oh me me, the local crazies are going to be out in force this weekend, its the start of the Christmas festivities, I must remember my camera, so that I can snap those wonderful moments when you really wished nobody had a camera.  I wonder who I will catch with their tongue down the wrong persons neck, or the lassie crying in her drink again, because no-one understands her, or the guy who really can't take no for an answer, and believes his charms will bowl you over, when really all you want to do is knock him over.  I love the crazies, high five to the crazies, my world wouldn't be the same without them, it's where I belong, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Of course that could just be the flushes.


More of my belongings left the premisses today, and if the weather is not to bad tomorrow I might attack the garage again,  My Beloved wont recognise it, even if I don't get around to it tomorrow........ Dang I just remembered I have a breakfast meeting with Blondie tomorrow, and a lunch viewing of Casa Kirkhill, looks like the garage may have to wait, shame..


There is currently a man in the house, admittedly I have had to employ him to get him here, and he will probably want paying too, but there is something welcoming about tools being dropped and screws being screwed, generally so tight you have to re-employ someone to undo them.  I recently had to get a young woodworker to turn on my tap in the utility room, because My Beloved turns everything off, but does he have to give everything that extra screw. Just one more seems to be his motto.


MHM please would it not be quicker to say yes, WTF now that I like and so much politer that actually saying WTF, LMFAO I'm sexy and I know it, wiggle wiggle, that one will never be the same again, just cant get the afro haired speedo wearing singer out of my brain, but thankfully a young beautiful redhead I know has recently changed my perspective on the dance routine and I thank her mother for posting the clip on FB. 4COL really could you not just say *****cks, and this little cracker 53X why the hell would you replace one three letter word with another if you wanna say 53X just say it.

If Its Down to England, and Up to Scotland, Israel must be over the rainbow

Today I shared my lunch table, NOT my lunch because those of you that know me know I don't share food. Anyway I shared my table with a gentleman from South of Aberdeen who was only eating whilst the lovely folk of John Lewis gift wrapped his wife's christmas present.  He said he has tried wrapping things himself but the end results are not always appreciated. We spent our time chatting about all things Christmasy and New Year in Stonehaven I'm sure fireballs were mentioned but he could just have been swearing at me, it was busy in there today and I am a little deaf, mainly due to years of teaching in front of a boogie box with the bass up full so I could occasionally follow the beat.  Eeeee I miss those beats.

I almost ate in the new Bon Accord centre today, but its not all finished and open, and appears to have far less seating than it did originally, so its gonna be manic in there when all the venues open, and I may just give it a wide berth until after the festivities....oh yeah I wont be here hahahaha.

I was returning bits and pieces today, and decided to try just one more pair of boots, now last week I was looking for shoes, but you can never have enough of either, and these were ankle crackers and rather lush, so it was shoes off, boots on, boots off, shoes on, shoes off and so on, I became quite dizzy on the last pair of ankle crackers, so instead of taking the beggars off I walked all the way up the escalators to the very top floor,  once there I had so much spare time waiting in line at the refund/exchange department that I was able to take my, or should I say their, as they weren't mine yet, boots off without falling over.  

On the way back down the escalators in my own shoes, the ones I arrived in, I had a near miss with an old dear who was lagging her walking stick behind her, I kicked the thing clean off the floor, luckily she may have been lagging, but she wasn't leaning or she would have been right on her backside with me sitting in her lap. Lesson learnt do not lag your stick deary.

Ok so we have been given our moving date, although it could slip here or there, 7th January is the day we are aiming for, I'm now waiting for the movers and packers to call, from here forward they will be called the mapa's. Its gonna be a little tricky seeing as they are in Houston and I'm here, and between us there is an eight hour time difference.  Does this mean their workmen will be collecting my households on Greenwich mean time or Houston oil time, eugh problems problems.  If I've to get up in the middle of the night to get my belongings packed its not gonna be pretty..... but if their workmen have to pick up on my time do they have to be paid double time.  Now I have to say at this point all my belongings will be packed up and ready to go prior to me moving out, so this should be and could be around 3rd January, this said I'm hoping one of my beautiful, wonderful, generous friends is gonna loan me there hoover so that when the dust settles I can hoover it.

I've yet to decide if Israel is ready for the Mather family, especially the Geordie half, who I have to say is on another leaving party/supper night tonight, I explained that just because someone is going home for a few weeks does not mean he should have a leaving party.  My Beloved disagreed, 'what if they don't come back', was his reply.  If he carries on at this rate there will be a leaving party/supper every night of the week, to which he replied 'your problem is'. On that point I give up.

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee

Wooow, way too much coffee today, trouble is after spiking about half an hour ago, I'm now feeling the downside of the caffeine grrr grrr grrrrrrrrrr.  I'm just waiting for the shakes to kick in.


I seem to have a thing for upsetting posties, today I almost reversed into one, not my friend I mentioned last week, this was another one, unfortunately he happens to be married to a friend of mine, she didn't pay me to do it honest, and technically I was in reverse so in my defence it was his fault that I nearly ran him down whilst he was walking behind my car....... and its not my fault that he is so slim he slipped past the parking sensors before they could scream 'get oot the *king way postie':)

Popped in to see Buba today, just as he decided he was hungry and then needed to relieve himself, all up and down his legs, just how does it travel that far, and how can one little person produce so much. But he was all smiles, and I forgave him his stinky demeanor.

How is it you can write 90 Christmas cards and still not have enough, I finished writing the cards weeks ago, but finally finished the envelopes today, and dang I now have to go back and buy some more, or maybe I should start to double up, the neighbours could get one card between the odds and one between the evens and pass it round on a daily basis, the family too could do the same, this would also cut down on stamps.  And as for christmas presents, if I buy one utterly useless present it could be passed on, once it is opened and found to be useless they can rewrap and forward to the next family member, this is my simple plan for this year!


 Hand washing, usually I won't buy clothes that need hand washing, but over the years there have been a few items that have slipped into my wardrobe, either because I forgot to check, most unlike me, or I really, really needed the item of clothing or I would die.  So today, I decided it was time to get my hands wet, I don't even wash dishes I have a machine for that, so therefore I shouldn't have to wash clothes when I have a machine for that too.  My beautiful silk top was washed and hung out to dry, which it didn't because the weather was not suitable, but I was pleased as punch to find my silk top as I thought I must have taken it to the charity shop with all the other clothes I wouldn't be needing.  This included all my chunky warm clothing as I really expected to be away from Scotland before winter set it. Luckily for me it has been particularly warm for this time of year, because I know I'm gonna suffer if it decides to get really wintery.  If you see me anytime soon and its gone frosty, and Im looking a little large, it will be the multiple layers of lightweight clothing Im having to wear to keep warm, I wonder how many lightweight shirts I would have to wear in place of one warm cosy jumper!

A conundrum, how is it that when my Beloved phones using skype the signal is so poor he sounds like a Dalek? Yet, if he uses Facetime we have perfect signal. I have decided it must be because Apple is the most amazing Company I have ever had the good fortune to be involved in, now Im not talking shares, I talking gadgets, I love them, can't get enough of them, they are so clever, and on a daily basis astound me with their unparalleled cleverness.  How is it my phone knows when someone else's phone has iOS5, and therefore sends my text message for free, I didn't tell it, this beautiful little tool works it all out behind the scenes for me, pfft keep your Black-currants Im an Apple kind of girl.  They even keep the Doctor away.

Beautiful Apples

If it's sunny and you know it clap your hands

Well it's a lovely day today, although having not had any sleep does it mean its still yesterday.  When I woke yesterday morning I felt like I had been rabbit punched in the ribs by Perry.  Then having gone to bed last night, I saw every hour on the hour until around 6 am.  I now know all about the life and times of Tina Turner, and Burt Lancaster, how to upset Trevor Eve in Waking the Dead and numerous other interestingly boring dates, times events and occurrences, lets hope tonight is a better night.

I spent a pleasant hour or so in the company of three lovely gentlemen today, who kept me entertained and amused.  Lunch consisted of a fruit scone, which once again did not live up to my expectations.  I wonder if I just have high expectations.  Next time I think I will just still to the diet coke, or coffee.

Yesterday I managed to sell a fridge freezer, fit in a lunch date in Aberdeen after a spot of shopping, and a late afternoon fly cup at the Old Bags, and I even managed to get two coffees out of her, before being sent on my way with a box of her newly grown green chillies.  I can't decide whether I should shred them into my Milky coffees, or spread them on my peanuts.  Maybe I will just keep them till Garry gets home and force him to eat them whole for the abuse I got this morning.

If any of you have ever seen Garry eat anything spicy you will know how funny it is.  He claims to be able to eat hot food, but does nothing but complain when he does.  We were in an Indian in Glasgow once and he told the waitress whilst holding his head in his hands,  'I have been to Indian where this comes from, and it's not this hot'.  Even the guys on the table opposite were laughing.  In all fairness he is able to get higher than a Korma these days, but I still pile in the heat just for the fun of it.  I'm not Indian, I don't know how to cook madras heat, or vindaloo heat, I just cook hot. I like it.....

Israel is still wet today, I'm not liking that idea very much, maybe those wellies weren't such a bad idea after all. I must remember and pack my golf umbrella...

Went and saw our lovely neighbour today, who now has it in her head that it's her fault all the people that move into this house move out again, I told her it was her wild pensioner raves that did it.  Oh and the fact that she never shovels her own snow lol, I'm still preying we don't get snow before we leave.  At least if we do Garry will be able to help with the shoveling, especially as the last two years he has missed it all.  Last year was ridiculous I have never seen so much horrible, white, miserable, cold, deep snow.  Are you getting the idea 'I HATE SNOW' I don't care if I never see another snow flake, ever again.  I was even having to knock off the icicles from my conservatory roof for fear of the spouts coming down, or a stray icicle impaling me as I walked past.  I did the neighbours whilst her child was away, because the drips were pooling under her roof onto the path, which made it treacherous to walk on. Mind you it put paid the the pensioners raves for a while, we had a peaceful December.....it was especially peaceful as I had given up drinking since succumbing to the hangover from hell on the 4th December, that hangover lasted two days and I've never been right with drink since.  I feel like such a failure, I don't know if I could face my Mother now........

Just one more 

Kazakhstan, and how is that helpful

Firstly I would like to thank Mr. Wine Black for his none to helpful response to my 'is anyone going to Aberdeen' Facebook comment today, being nosy and being in Kazakhstan was not useful, but revenge will be swift and sweet......

Enough of that, when I eventually dragged myself out of bed after my date with Perry, it was slowly and with a yawn. These 4am appointments are gruelling to say the least. Surely I should have seen all that Perry can offer by now. But no, he still manages to surprise, and entertain.

I happened to notice the weather report yesterday for Haifa, it was an hourly report and as such depressing, every hour on the hour there was 100% chance of rain, does this mean that 100% of the time you have to carry a brolly, does this mean inside too, or am I being too literal. I didn't sign up for rain, I'm a fair weather kind of girl, who unfortunately got tricked into the Scottish countryside, now don't get me wrong, I love Scotland, I just wish it was closer to the equator!

As I have said to numerous friends over the years, 'I am and always will be an Orchid', now Im not saying Im particularly beautiful, just that I need heat, also my tendency to pop in and out leads me to believe in another life I was in fact a butterfly,  whereas now I'm just a social butterfly, and have to rely on other wings to get me front A to B.

This leads me to my reoccurring dream that I have had since a child, not the one where the Witch comes out of a grave and grabs my leg, and even now if I have a bad dream I still think twice before putting my feet to the floor.  No Im talking about the dream where Im able to fly, and somehow I managed to do this using the breeze, which allowed me to sore up, up and away.  Bit of a bugger in Scotland when you have a headwind that keeps you almost horizontal.  So maybe my dream is not a dream but just a remembrance of my previous life as a Butterfly.

Getting back to the Witch, I also had terrible thoughts when waking from such dreams that there was a Fox under my bed, and again this Fox would grab my legs should I try and put foot to floor.  Its easy not to worry when you don't suffer from nightmares, but unfortunately I still suffer the horrors of the sleep.  What is odd, is that as a younger me, I would read all sorts of horror stories, no more.  Can't even watch a horror on the TV, I find Life is nightmare enough for me on more occasions than I care to divulge.

Have a nice day now

Its funny how one person can cause quite a blip in an otherwise perfect day, is there any need to be rude, discurteous and downright nasty, but I bet his evening has been marred more than mine, cos he was raging.

Hmmmmmmm right lets get these thoughts in order, which would be an achievement in itself.  There has never been order in my life, chaos and confusion reign supreme in my world. For instance, having tried all the size 3 shoes that Aberdeen has to offer, I had one more shop to try:-John Lewis.  First pair I picked up that resembled something flat and passable turned out to be more than the deposit on our house...so I put them down without trying them.  Moving on swiftly I tried every pair of 3's in the shop, all useless.  Bearing in mind that a lot of brands don't even start at 3, so I have to resort to trying on 4's in the hope that they are a nippy 4. No joy, so I put my boots back on and preceded to walk back through all the shoes just in case I had missed something.  Unfortunately I hadn't, but I did feel a bit odd, and couldn't for the life of me figure it out.  It turned out I had left my orthotic right insole in one of the shoes I had tried, unfortunately I couldn't remember which shoe, and had to fiddle with every shoe I tried until I found my insole, Arrggggg.

I have decided these would be better....

Driving with one eye shut! Do you think this would increase your insurance, it does if you only have one eye, and although I have two, I only managed to get one lense out at the traffic lights, so had to drive with said eye tight shut.  Why is it when you don't want the lights to change, they change far to quickly.

I was only taking the lenses out because at night its safer for oncoming traffic for me to wear glasses, and not the sunny variety.

Still no word on the moving date yet, but I'm remaining calm as Im sure its all in hand, the copy and paste lady from Aberdeen just needs to get her finger out. 

I must have had a premonition last Christmas, its the first year ever that I have not had a real tree, I am now the proud owner of a jaw dropping real fake tree.  I must have know that we would be moving to a country who's predominant religion is Jewish. So me and my fake real tree are moving to Israel, my poor tree will be down almost as soon as its up this year, its gonna feel like a tree in the box..... and I'm going to be very sad to think that its our last UK Christmas for quite a while, well unless we come back and visit for Turkey.

I almost forgot to mention, I drove around the car park three times today, I needed a large space, not for myself you understand.  But for all those doughballs who cannot slip lithely into their cars without bashing their door into yours.  A kindly gentleman assisted me with my reversing, but not before he scared the crap out of me by walking in front of my front facing parking sensors...... I love my Mercedes but sometimes you can have too many gadgets.

Gonna miss this baby

Stick to what you know

Im reeeeeeady, I have refreshed my memory and am now ready for the onslaught, of blood curdling, sucking, biting and pale faced beings that are Vampires, oh and lets not forget the jaw droppingly body buff Werewolves. Yep, Breaking Dawn Part 1 is out on Friday, I have watched the first 3 films again just to remind myself of what I already know, as I have read the books.  Now thats not strictly true, as I had the books on audio and had them read to me, I recommend this form of reading, Why? I hear you say, well obviously because to read a book you have to sit down, whereas having a book read to you means you can go about your daily business, Win, Win!!  Am I team Edward or team Jacob, well I've decided to wait and see who gets his kit off first and that will be the decider for me..

http://www.tour-haifa.co.il/eng/The_Crowne_Plaza_Haifa.html

The link above will be my new home come January, well at least until we find ourselves somewhere more permanent. Although, the hospitality will probably make us stay, just for one more..

OMG Bones Series 7 back on tonight, now most you you know, I can hardly follow a straight line, let alone a series on the TV.  So I have to get a full series on the DVD and watch it back to back, now this doesn't mean I sit and watch from Episode 1 through till end, what it means is, I watch nothing else until I finish the series.  So it can take a few weeks for me to get through them, by which time I have missed nothing because I follow nothing..... Anyway Bones is back tonight and I WILL NOT be responding, to phones, mails, FB's or any Tw*ts until after 9pm.

My OCD had a little deviation today, wish I'd stuck to the peanuts YUK, I wouldn't mind but I wasn't even hungry and decided to have something hot, I like cold peanuts, I do.. I did not like my hot lunch time treat.  Stick with what you know, and I will.

Note so self need more milk.

Still no confirmation on the dates for uplifting and moving out, obviously Im talking about uplifting what little furniture we are taking with us, and not my under carriage, although it could do with a little lift here and there. I use the term furniture very loosely, as two TV,s a couple of chests, and a surround sound do not make a furnished house, oh nearly forgot kitchen utensils, cuddly toy and toaster, Brucie would be proud of me remembering those.  The wedding gifts apart from the Cutlery have been left unopened or very cleverly used and rewrapped so as to make it easier for transporting.  I cant wait to get to Israel and throw my new glasses around the house, we got some lush ones, maybe I should just leave them in their packaging and display them, they might last longer.

Scale and Polish

Another full nights sleep, and sooo tired, there really has to be a reason for being so tired when you get your 8+hours sleep.

I am now crinkle free, thanks mainly to Who Nu, Im pink around the gills but ready to hit the party circuit, but not today eh!! no make-up allowed, Jezzzo large scrarf wrapped around face me thinks. My toes are sparkly and no longer the length of talons, I will now be able to walk upright and heel to toe, instead of bent forward with scrunched toes, I swear I could have picked up a pin from the floor        
                                    with them scrunched up babies.

The Beloved has now passed his obligatory driving test, not his Israeli one, his work one, before he is allowed to drive the works car, I say drive, what I mean is drive it anywhere he pleases, rather than around the port as he has been doing. Safety, Safety, Safety..... that said we have to remember he did hit a bus that time they let him take the car out of the port, and although the dent was small, the paperwork was plenty full.  Really, how do you explain that a bus leapt out from the wrong side of the road, whilst you were sitting on the wrong side of the car.....

Monday once again, but not the one I was expecting

Today is in fact the 14th November and not 21st as I believed, and have believed for the past few days, Im not quite sure how I had managed to gallop through a whole week faster than the rest of the world, but there I was in my bed completely bewildered as to my missing week. Was it really missing, as it appeared I was behind and not in front of the date I believed myself to be waking up to.....

The day was confusing enough without a quiet squeak that occurred every time I walked passed the spare room. I call it spare only because its not used for sleeping, just collecting items to be transported to Israel in our container. As the day progressed the noise became such that it was deafening, and I was in fear of receiving a noise abatement order from the Local Authority, so I decided I could no longer stand the ironing screaming from its hidy hole, nor the threat of Solicitors letters from the locals, best I get on with it and clear the noisy backlog.  One hour later, having ironed every last item of clothing, and given myself a steam facial in the process, I thought it best I got dressed, having already upset the postie opening the door in my PJ's. Luckily for me, the postie is an old friend, and having met when she attended my Aerobics classes, she really has seen me in worse states.

OCD, now with this condition, cleanliness can be an issue, not me, housework blah, remove glasses, take out lenses, house clean easy! My OCD is Skimmed milk and peanuts, having not drank milk for the last 18 years I now find myself drinking at least a litre a day, obviously I have to add a couple of heaped spoons of coffee for taste, so it really is no wonder I don't sleep, I am now working on the placebo test, I don't tell myself when I add a spoon of decaf, so now I don't know that I get a spoon of coffee WITH a spoon of decaf, it wont take me long to catch on though, I'm quite sharp.

My Beloved told me an interesting story last night, he has been unable to get his air conditioning to work in his room, and as the temperature is around 22 he has been struggling just a touch, but only when he is sleeping, his air con is now blowing out hot air.  So my Beloved informs our Nats, he tells her the air con in his room is broken, Our Nats smiles at him and says ' Yes Garry that is because it is winter, the hotel is now on winter settings'........

This was the solution to the Winter settings.

Poor Garry decided that he would rather sweat than be deafened by the noise of his new air conditioning unit.

Oh yeah I forgot, Peanuts, I have no idea why I have become obsessed with the salty little buggers, but my diet regime consists of Skimmed milk, and salted peanuts, interspersed with slices of ham, and people wonder why I eat out alot, and can usually be found in the local coffee establishment reading some novel or other.

Remembrance Sunday

Did I forget to mention yesterday Granny Mumma has invited us for Christmas Dinner yaaaaaaaaaah, told my beloved this morning and he is equally as delighted, our last Christmas Dinner in the UK spent with some of our very favourite people. The little Prince's, I have decided to call them that as Princesses is awfully difficult to get your tongue around, just try it and see, anyway the little Prince's have decided they will have Christmas Eve with us and back to Mums for Christmas lunch, then back to us for Boxing day, I think I will just tie elastic to their ankles this year and use one of my golf clubs to deliver them to Mummy Mac, she can then pin them to a stable piece of furniture and release them when she is fed up, thus saving on fuel...Simples!!!

So this morning I woke around 7.30 having slept right through, and not one glimpse of Perry Mason, I was delighted, but found it difficult to get my head around the fact that I was in fact still sleepy!!!

For some reason I found the 2 minutes silence more emotional today, I had a Grandfather who was rather posh in the RAF, Wing Commander I believe but don't quote me, and a Grandfather who having suffered Polio as a child was unable to enlist. Neither of these things should cause me to be emotional, but I found myself thinking of them both today.  We live in a crazy world, but we should never forget our war veterans, without whom we wouldn't have our crazy old world.

A very hungover New table owner arrived with obligatory Ginger friend in tow, everyone needs one, and nobody wants one, but we love them all the same.  It was amusing watching a Mackum and his ginger chum trying to maneouver a rather large table through two doors, first one clear, second one NOT, back it up boys, and out the conservatory, the poor neighbours, some who don't know we are moving will be wondering 'what the hell is going on', things keep leaving nothing is being delivered.......We had a chuckle and said our goodbyes on a promise to meet up in the Crown over the festive period, I don't think our livers are gonna last till Israel, we have so many people to catch up with and even though the liver can be self repairing there is only so much repairs you can do before you are served with a demolition order...ask Gaza!!

Lunch was taken in the company of Jumping Jack, a lovely teenager, who's Mother had left him to finish his lunch whilst she shopped, enter Moi.... We chatted about his poor football knees, his football team, and his friends, what a lovely chat we had, who said all teenagers are akin to Kevin and Perry, this young man was a million miles away from those rat bags.

The house is becoming more and more like a box, it doesn't matter how much I adjust my conservatory furniture, the sitting room is still empty, noisy and far bigger than I remember. I can see a fight brewing when the little Prince's arrive and they realise they either sit next to each other, sit on the floor, OR sit on my knee....................................

Life is Sweet

Days don't get much better than today, having waited in all morning for The Blonde Bomber, she eventually turned up not in the morning as advised but in the lunch time, which obviously cannot be called morning, nor can it be called afternoon.  But all was forgiven due to her smiley face and pleasant demeanor, and due to the company I was keeping, Buba was delivered to my door at 11am for babysitting services. God he is rather gorgeous and the best of company, although being full of shit was an understatement, especially when he decided he no longer wanted to be full of shit. YUK I dont remember it being that green.

Lunch for Buba was 1PM and was duly served at wrist temperature, he had finished the bottle by the time the Bomber arrived to collect her instrument of torture, fortunately she had bought along her 13 year old nephew, as between the two of us, she and I would maybe make one almost fit female, but only just.  So young nephew sprung from the truck like a jack in the box on amphetamines and promptly pushed the torturous trainer onto the truck lift, slid it along the trailer and tied it down. Such a clever chap.

Buba and I took ourselves off for an afternoon walk in the sun, glasses on and thermals tucked in.  We had a lovely walk around the town, collected a few necessities and trundled up the road, quick change and back to meet Buba Muma and Buba Daddy at their home, supper smelt lush, and tasted even better, the company wasn't to bad either....

X-factor, its on, its off, its crap, but as usual Kelly was looking lush, the evening passed far too quickly which meant watching the show was a blur of lights and razzle and very little of anything else, probably the best way to watch it. Buba was bathed and massaged and dressed for bed before he was forced to kiss all present, and given his last feed of the day and sent to bed.

Time for the growed ups to sit back and relax, glass in hand and surrounded by the best of company and the nibbles weren't bad either....Its gonna be hard leaving my beautiful friends when we leave, and don't get me started on the family

And to finish off a lovely evening Twilight on the box

Far too social

Having been woken from my early nights sleep around 10.15 I was then awake until around 4.30am. Thank god for the aerial man fixing my TV a couple of weeks ago, an insomniac with no TV would be like playing footie with no ball, a disaster.

Dragged myself from my bed to begin the beauty regime for the day, hoping that all of today's venues would have subdued lighting, first stop Alvah Mad House - I know you shouldn't laugh at the inmates but they make it so difficult not too.  If you ever need a tonic Alvah Mad House is the place to go, who needs Prozac when you have Mad friends.

Next coffee stop The Range for a Drive-in, lunch was needed this time as I had refused the offer of biscuits at the last coffee stop.  Carrot soup, and a diet coke were the order of the day, did I tell you I have cured my ulcer and am now able to drink my favourite tipple without the need for painkillers. Hooraaaay, Amy Winehouse and I laughed and toasted our past, present and future events and had a thoroughly good couple of hours, shame its been so long.

Next coffee stop was a change of plan as my partner in crime was needing a snooze, so I took myself off to the Local coffee establishment, at this stage I feel I should point out I was wearing lenses, and although my optician has assured me that I am most definitely legal for driving, she never mentioned the fact that I should carry a placard announcing myself and my affliction - SHORTSIGHTEDNESS, thus saving the lovely lady at the till from having to tell me if my friend was in the building......  What makes this worse was, this wasn't the friend I was supposed to meet, remember she was snoozing, this was the friend who's car I noticed (amazingly) in the car park.  But this friend didn't recognise me, and she isn't shortsighted, she just didn't recognise moi with NO hair.....

Vanity is only a contact away

I left the local coffee establishment feeling happy and waterlogged, having managed in one day to fit in, three fly cups, which turned out to be two coffees, three diet cokes and a bowl of Carrot soup, with five lovely friends, some of whom I have not seen since our Wedding.

To be fair I nearly made it home, but I decided it had been far too long since I had seen the Buba so another pitstop was in order, thank the lord no coffee was on offer, I don't think I could have managed one more drop.

Christmas is coming, me feet are getting fat

One really should try and get a good nights sleep prior to a day out shopping with special people, its not that they are 'special' people who should only be out with an escort or in a controlled environment, they are 'special' because they are my friends.  But having been awake since just after 1.30am I was feeling none to 'special' let me tell you.

Pick ups started around 8.20 prior to any caffeine intake, eww its gonna be a bad start.  Collections then continued until we arrived at Starbucks, and injections of caffeine were duly paid for. Then we hit the shops, list in hand I pounded the streets of Aberdeen like a racing snail on speed. Boots check, Hobbycraft check, Next check, back into Boots incase I forgot what I hadn't wanted in the first place check, M & S check, and so the list of shops went on.

I've never been so glad to see Prezzo, my feet were throbbing and my bank card needed to be submerged in a pint of Pelligrino for resuscitation purposes, whilst my tongue needed Sauvignon for purely medicinal reasons, followed swiftly by more caffeine. Afternoon tea finished, well I couldn't call it lunch could I, it was after all well passed my lunch hour, we hit the shops again.


4pm arrived and we trundled back to the taxi ready for home having put the world to rights and managing to get everything I was supposed to get and just a little bit more.

Time for a bit of Facetime with the beloved, a quick visit to see Buba and home in time for a quick trawl through Gossipbook, ops I mean Facebook.

Two steps forward three steps back

Well, having to set the alarm to get up at some god awful time is not on my list of things I like to do.... and lets face it having to get an EPC on the house is boooooring, so why would anyone want to set their alarm for such an occasion.  But it's the law, so its done, getting up early does not allow for ironing time, now I'm not talking clothes people, Im talking face, because lefts face it, not allowing enough time in the morning leads to creases, and Im not talking the bed kind.....

So 9am arrives as does Mr EPC notepad in hand and tidy little measuring device, could have done with that two weeks ago when I broke the steel tape measure trying to get a rough idea of the size of the living room let me tell you. Bing bang bosh he's been, he's gone, but done it.  Thank you Madam that will be £.............

Whilst attempting to set up a Twitter account I received a text message, Mrs Redhead  - Coffee? Celebrations? Praise the lord cos I was getting really irritated with that Twit.  So a very pleasant time was passed in my local, drinking coffee and nattering.

Next Stop Buba ahhhhhh all dressed in his red sleepsuit looking gorgeous, red sleepsuit a pressie from Granny Mumma, such good taste.  So my turn for a bosie and a natter first with Buba then with Buba cousin who happened to be visiting. Note to self:  if you stand in front of TV rocking Buba, no-one can see the it, this was quickly pointed out to me by Buba cousin.  I'm not gonna get paranoid or anything but Buba fell asleep in my arms, deep breaths, deep dreaths, he's a baby they need sleep, your not boring.

Granny Mumma came in past looking windswept and gorgeous collected Buba cousin and off they went for the afternoons visit to Nursery.  I said my goodbyes whilst my little Buba took his bottle and took myself off home for lunch.

I really should have stuck to the lunch idea, but no I decided to defrost the freezer ready for its new home, I thought it was going to be a problem, but no problem, pull plug, open door and plug in halogen heater, easy.  Although the smell of bleach did make me a little giddy. Oh yes I nearly forgot, no I didn't have a massive cook off with all the food in the freezer, I threw the lot, but don't tell Garry...

Hubby phoned whilst I was pounding the streets, moaning that I couldn't speak on facetime when he so desperately needed to FACE me, I have a feeling there is something a bit dodgy about Facetiming someone, but I will let it slip for now.  Anyway we could be having our belongings uplifted as soon as January 3rd, with a possible exodus on the 7th, although exodus refers to Israelites leaving Egypt I feel it fits us quite well just now, or just then!!! And although we are not large in numbers, we are big in commitment and looking forward to leaving Scotland for the sunny shores of Israel.

Please god he isn't there when we arrive!

My fingers are frozen to the keypad

Obviously I did not get up early enough yesterday, because today I was woken by the neighbour warming her car, and scraping her windscreen, brrrr its chilly out there.  I did a quick check on the google before I put feet to floor and yes its zero out there, so feet stayed in the bed ten more minutes whilst I plucked up some dutch courage.

Well the dutch courage didn't make me any warmer when I eventually snuck out of bed, but the cozy halogen heater did, that and my milky coffee, and a quick window wash fairly built the heat up..

Remind me again who I have to kick in the shins, yes shins I said, we should have been moved to our new Country by now, but no we are having to wait until after Christmas and New year, (secretly quite glad but shhh).

Please, please don't let it snow before we leave, I think I would cry if I have to suffer one more winter like the last couple, I'm not built for snow, I have small feet, therefore, I have a decreased centre of gravity and find myself horizontal regularly, I have extremities that obviously are too extreme as they are always frozen solid, even when covered in numerous layers. I had curls last year, have you ever tried to wear a hat with curls, let me tell you, sitting in the local eating establishment with your hat on when all around you are

View out the back 2010

de-robing makes you feel like a real ninny. It's not that you can not take your hat off, more like you dare not, my curls would resemble the shape of my hat for the rest of the day, not attractive.

Poor Weeping Willow 2010

This year I have gone for the short back and sides, yes I resemble a rather girlish looking man, but its necessity and easy to keep.  Should it decide to behave itself and go curly again, Im forked, well and truly, because being this short with the curl, man its gonna get ugly.  Especially if you add the heat of Israel into the equation.  With my new suntan I will resemble Michael Jackson before he was white...

Michael Mather

Sunshine on a Frosty Day

Well the day started rather crisply, but once that sun peeked out the heat got up, but obviously not enough.  So today I decided to seek permission for walking duties, so the text was duly sent and I was given charge of Buba Olly for the afternoon.  Now I don't know if its my scintillating company, but for the first five minutes poor Buba aired his lungs, full throttle, then fell asleep.  I'm not going to take this personally, especially as he is a baby and doesn't yet understand that I'm really not all that bad if you give me a chance.

So we walked around Town, we! obviously I walked and Buba was pushed, took me a while to get to grips with the handbag situation, I finally settled on laying it across the end of the pram.  I pushed up roads, and down lanes, round bends and up kerbs.  Buba woke halfway through our marathon walk, and happily punched himself in the dummy, I decided rather than have him damage himself or the dummy best tuck his arms in.  He was duly wrapped in his blanket and we continued on our walk.  Tucked in tight and rocked with the motion of the pram Buba fell back to sleep, 90 minutes later we arrived home, well Buba's home, mines in the other direction....

Left sleeping Buba in the pram, unwrapped him though as that would really have been cruel, the house was lovely and toasty, cleaned the wheels and sat with my well earned diet coke, Lush, and tried not to think too much about the dirty dogs who had made the wheels dirty.

Well the conservatory furniture has turned out to be more comfortable than I anticipated, although have you ever noticed the less furniture a house has the more noisy it is, I would hate to be minimalist, could you imagine the racket..

I wonder what sort of home/house/apartment we will find in Israel, we have seen some shockers, but we also found a fantastic apartment on three levels and the lower level could turn into a granny annex, shame we lost that one because of the timings of the move..... Once we arrive in January we will be full on house hunting, I cant wait.  My house here is not feeling like home any more, the more furniture that leaves the house, the less like home it feels.

Tears and Laughter

Well the text came through, my sofa's new owners would be arriving around 11.30, quick peek around the house, moved mess tidied clothes and made my house presentable, why do I worry it was Mr new sofa owner who arrived, men notice nothing but boobs and footie, and I cannot contend on either level...

So 11.30 arrived as did Mr new sofa owner, with young teenage son in tow, last time I saw Mr new sofa owners young son he was just a toot, now he is 15 and growing into a man, have you ever noticed its other people's children that make you feel old. Not intentionally, they just remind us time stops for no man, or woman for that matter. Anyway back to the tale, we decided Yes yes, the sofa would fit into the people carrier it's just a matter of fitting the jigsaw into the correct order, but no danger the bookcase would fit, so that would have to stay in the garage for the next run. Bing bang bosh, money exchange for furniture everyone happy.

Next thing on the to-do list, visit Buba Olly , woohoo he was sleeping but he was duly passed across whilst Buba Daddy made the coffee, Buba Mummy arrived back from the Pretty Nails shoppie owned by Buba Auntie, with her pretty nails looking sparkly and lush. Buba Olly fed and then it was time for the grown ups to feed their rumbling bellies. Off we toddled to Celebrations, one pannini, two roast Turkey dinners later and all bellies were full. Lovely stroll around Turriff, which really didn't take long when you consider how small the town is, Buba Olly was rudely awakened by a horn blasting numpty, who received the waving fist award from Buba Daddy, and then it was off home for all for an evening of wine, beer and song, well it is Saturday and it would be rude not to watch X Factor.

Ps manoeuvring the conservatory furniture took a little bit of work, I don't remember the door frames being so small, so at least now I have a comfy seat to help my bottom keep spreading as evenly as it seems to want to, I keep thinking the pain in my back is due to the weight of my backside, or could it be from the constant jiggle on walking, I swear sitting down has little effect on the jiggling for at least 5 full minutes.

iPhone

Well that's my iPhone set up to send blogs automatically, I love being technologically challenged :)

Selling up and getting ready

Well thats the suite sold, the bookcase and would you believe the Massage couch, all to one person, happy days.  Of course this means I now have to sit on the conservatory furniture until we leave, but better that than trying to find a house to fit the furniture.

Garry complained yesterday that it rained all day in Israel, surely it cant be as bad as a grey day in Aberdeenshire, in the words of Sinead 'Nothing compares to .........blue'.

Its really quite unnerving to realise that pretty soon we will be hundreds of miles away, friends and family wont be on the doorstep, and the doorstep wont actually be our doorstep for a while.  Living it up in Crowne Plaza, Haifa for a while might take a bit of getting used to, but I'm sure the Business Lounge will welcome us back with open arms...