tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2009-11-21:/Boring stuff.MokoFeed2009-11-21T06:23:31+01:00tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2009-07-21:/2009/07/21/unbelievable-6562552/blayka2009-07-21T20:41:07+02:002009-07-21T20:41:07+02:00 <p>Indeed.<br> Contrary to popular belief, I am still here. I have been lurking around for the past few months, not writing anything on this here bloggy. </p> <p>It's not that I'm lazy. Honest.</p> <p>I was operated on. Apparently had tons of gallbladder stones. All gone now. Feel tons lighter. The scales disagree, but who cares. They are a machine.</p> <p>Nevertheless, if you feel a bit more sympathetic than my scales, feel free to express concern for my health. I am well enough to reply to comments (insert feeble, sickly, self-indulging cough here).</p> <p>It is procrastination time at work. There is too much to do and I only have a few days before my annual leave. It only makes perfect sense not to do anything and give others the chance to prove themselves when I am gone.</p> <p>I feel ever so generous today. Good to be back!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2009/07/21/unbelievable-6562552/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2009-04-08:/2009/04/08/stomp-5909968/blayka2009-04-08T11:12:32+02:002009-04-08T11:12:32+02:00 <p>Ever since I heard about these guys I wanted to see them perform live. This weekend the wait finally ends! I'm going to see them in West End.... Can't wait.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2009/04/08/stomp-5909968/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2009-04-07:/2009/04/07/hot-not-in-the-obvious-kind-of-way-5904233/blayka2009-04-07T12:02:55+02:002009-04-07T12:03:27+02:00 <p>We have -- yes, we do -- 25 degrees (in the shade) over here. It starts with a chilly 8 in the morning an then it turns into summer. With 30 degrees in the sun and all.</p> <p>Needless to say, we are still all wearing winter clothes. It was winter only last week! Come afternoon and we are all sweaty and tired, we've had enough and we want air conditioning.</p> <p>I don't understand, what is going on. </p> <p>That is all. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2009/04/07/hot-not-in-the-obvious-kind-of-way-5904233/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2009-03-24:/2009/03/24/a-shopping-revelation-5819190/blayka2009-03-24T11:03:56+01:002009-03-24T11:03:56+01:00 <p>I went to Italy for a spot of shopping last Saturday. My hubby was actually doing all of the shopping, I was just being a helpful little wife, who would bring him shirts in right sizes and all that.</p> <p>Since I had a lot of time on my hands, I was naturally doing some observing. First thing I noticed: shop assistants. They were all gay. I love gay men (not in the biblical sense, of course). They have so much style and grace it is almost painful to watch. Especially for me, as I sometimes feel a little challenged in the style department.</p> <p>So there I was, torturing myself with these self-depreciating thoughts, when it occurred to me. The gay shop assistants were very attentive to all of the attractive men customers. They are probably attentive to all of their customers, but I only noticed how they behave to handsome men, since my hubby is just yummy. Ahem. I understand why they would lust after him. And he enjoyed it, of course. Again not in the biblical sense, but in the purely egotistical sense. He loved being adored.</p> <p>Just to test this theory, I strolled over to the women's department. There were a few quite grumpy looking Italian women pretending to be shop assistants there. They were all irritatingly skinny and good looking, I might add. I felt out of place. Again.</p> <p>So I have a little suggestion for all you shop owners out there. I understand you need to have female shop assistants in the women’s departments, as we don’t like to discuss our bum sizes and all of the other dirty body details with men. Hire some nice lesbians instead. We will be relaxed around them and they will be happy to see us, but not in the threatening male heterosexual way. I would love to be adored as I shop. I think this would work for all of us quite well.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2009/03/24/a-shopping-revelation-5819190/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2009-03-18:/2009/03/18/discontinuation-in-the-air-5779884/blayka2009-03-18T09:49:17+01:002009-03-18T09:49:17+01:00 <p>Of this here little blog, that is.</p> <p>I keep posting about once a month and I have a sneaking suspicion that I just might get even worse in the summer.</p> <p>Should I keep it going at all? Sometimes I think I should just kill it, then again I still like to post every now and then... And visit other blogs, post irrelevant comments...</p> <p>Maybe a decision will surface in the next few months. It's funny how attached I got to it, even though I'm not very active at all.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2009/03/18/discontinuation-in-the-air-5779884/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2009-02-23:/2009/02/23/a-slumdog-question-5634380/blayka2009-02-23T15:26:39+01:002009-02-23T15:27:13+01:00 <p>I had the opportunity to have a sneak-preview of the Slumdog Millionaire and I have to say I rather liked it. Apart from the fairy-tale story, the film is very well made, I think.</p> <p>But I seem to be in the minority. Most of the people around here think that it does not deserve the plurality of Oscars it received.</p> <p>And what do you think? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2009/02/23/a-slumdog-question-5634380/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2009-02-05:/2009/02/05/a-short-report-5511704/blayka2009-02-05T11:30:10+01:002009-02-23T15:10:27+01:00 <p>I hereby confess to having read the following books during the past months (almost as long as I haven't blogged <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> )</p> <p>- The Kite Runner (generously left behind by Deana24 last year. Only managed to read it now. LOVED it - cried through the whole thing and kept telling myself it's fiction. I hope it is.)<br> - one part of the Kairo trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz. Loved that one too. I'm half way through the second book now.<br> - several books of criminal nature that I am for the life of me unable to remember. But there were several. I'm a sucker for the light genre, what can you do.</p> <p>I also confess to going to the cinema three times lately, which was to see:<br> - Madagascar 2 (hillarious, cute)<br> - Rockenrolla (good, but Snatch is far better)<br> - Bolt (cute and action-packed)</p> <p>You may have noticed that cartoons are somehow over-represented in this sample, which is due to my inability to say "no" when my 10-year-old invites me to the movies. I fear the time when he starts to fancy the slashers. I hope that by then I will not be on his invite list any more. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2009/02/05/a-short-report-5511704/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2009-01-19:/2009/01/19/is-there-snow-in-heaven-there-should-be-5404506/blayka2009-01-19T10:55:19+01:002009-01-19T10:55:19+01:00 <p>Again, weekend presented a stark contrast to the gloom and drag of my workdays. Just to give you an example, below is the picture of what I saw on my early morning walk with the dog (yes, he too is on the picture, all for the price of one).</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/300/3156300_64841461ba_m.jpeg" alt="DSC00036" hspace="5" vspace="5"></p> <p>Today, the snow is melting on overdrive, work is even draggier than usual and all is meh. Something definitely needs to be done about this soon.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2009/01/19/is-there-snow-in-heaven-there-should-be-5404506/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2009-01-16:/2009/01/16/in-case-you-are-wondering-whether-my-life-is-still-5388751/blayka2009-01-16T14:33:50+01:002009-01-16T14:47:27+01:00 <p>Today I feel like an idiot. A big idiot. But nowhere near <a href="http://www.biggestidiotontheinternet.com/2008/12/world-records-are-meant-to-not-be.html">this guy</a>.</p> <p>What is more, I am way better than <a href="http://www.biggestidiotontheinternet.com/2009/01/this-watermelon-idiot-makes-coconut-guy.html">this guy</a> (who makes the coconut guy look like a genious).</p> <p>In other news, life is good, job is shite. It is so bad that I am (some may say finally) seriously considering options.</p> <p>Meh.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2009/01/16/in-case-you-are-wondering-whether-my-life-is-still-5388751/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2009-01-08:/2009/01/08/a-good-day-5343611/blayka2009-01-08T14:25:26+01:002009-01-08T14:25:26+01:00 <p>I am having the best birthday. There's nothing special going on to speak of, it's just so right.</p> <p>I woke up into a sunny morning with fresh snow. I'm at work now and even work is not as horrible as usual. Or maybe it's just this good mood which makes even the boring stuff less horrid.</p> <p>A few people I missed a lot for the past month have all called with good wishes. I'm meeting a few of them next week, so that is extra good - verging on excellent.</p> <p>Also, I am promised a chocolate cake this evening.</p> <p>As I said, it is a good, good day.</p> <p>I hope it is just as nice for all of you too.</p> <p>xx </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2009/01/08/a-good-day-5343611/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-12-20:/2008/12/20/a-gem-5251729/blayka2008-12-20T21:24:58+01:002008-12-20T21:24:58+01:00 <p>Just finished reading "A short history of tractors in Ukrainian".</p> <p>Loved it. Laughed a lot and cried a bit in the end. But in a good way.</p> <p>Now I'm all out of books and leaving for our annual skiing trip tomorrow. Will have to see if there is anything left to read in the house or face a week of holidays bookless. Horror of horrors!</p> <p>The skiing should be nice, though. We are going to <a href="http://www.dolomitisuperski.com/">the Dolomites </a>in Italy and there is snow all over. White Christmas ahead!</p> <p>x x x</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/12/20/a-gem-5251729/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-12-20:/2008/12/20/the-forgotten-house-5251695/blayka2008-12-20T21:14:12+01:002008-12-20T21:14:12+01:00 <p>I went to the town centre yesterday. Which is a miracle in itself.</p> <p>I usually <span>am too lazy </span>don't have the time to do it. I found an hour or two yesterday afternoon. I wanted to check the Christmas decorations and the old holiday spirit. All I can say is: it was there and plenty of it!</p> <p>Blaykatown has this tradition of putting up wooden stands next to the river, where you can get warm wine with cinnamon and other yummy alcoholic drinkies. Lots and lots of people stand around those stands and sample the merchandise long into the night. Yesterday was no exception.</p> <p>The decorations are up, like every year. They look lovely, but they're probably no different than what you can find in any town in this time of year. I did, nevertheless, find something that moved me.</p> <p>On the pictures below you can see an uninhabited house in the historic centre. During the rest of the year t is, literally, forgotten. But for the duration of this year's holidays, a local artist decorated it and lit the windows from the inside, put up some objects so that it looks like someone is home and added some nice music around it. The house just drives people to it. They stand around it and peek inside. The windows on the ground floor are purposely boarded-up. They have little holes through which you can see inside. I'm not telling you what you can see, because it's a secret. A lovely, lovely secret.</p> <p><a title="DSC00033" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dsc00033/3081980"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/980/3081980_4ced64fffa_s.jpg" alt="DSC00033" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a><br><a title="DSC00034" href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dsc00034/3081981"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/981/3081981_c6bf3d03b7_s.jpg" alt="DSC00034" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></p> <p>I do apologise for the quality of the pics - took them with my phone.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/12/20/the-forgotten-house-5251695/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-12-18:/2008/12/18/the-post-trauma-report-5240519/blayka2008-12-18T12:04:26+01:002008-12-18T12:04:26+01:00 <p>Yesterday was.... interesting.</p> <p>It went by in a haze of excruciating headache, stomach on spin-cycle, several toilet-hugging episodes and the dizzyness of a world-record character.</p> <p>I have managed to persuade my family that I have caught a virus. I was allowed to lounge about and suffer in peace and also reap lots and lots of sympathy.</p> <p>Genious!</p> <p>Today, the bells in my head are still loud and clear and everthing anyone says is repeated three times in a metallic sounding echo. And my ears hurt.</p> <p>I am forever off gin. </p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/12/18/the-post-trauma-report-5240519/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-12-17:/2008/12/17/very-very-dizzy-5235711/blayka2008-12-17T13:07:44+01:002008-12-17T13:07:44+01:00 <p>Had our office Christmass party yesterday. Did not go overboard with the gin and tonics. At all. Had exactly between two and seventeen. Precisely, I am certain, I did count very carefully.</p> <p>Today, the world spins. The close encounter with the toiled (head first) was had this morning. There might be more to come, it seems.</p> <p>Please, talk gently.</p> <p>Thank you. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/12/17/very-very-dizzy-5235711/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-12-12:/2008/12/12/three-down-lots-more-to-go-5208568/blayka2008-12-12T09:34:25+01:002008-12-12T09:34:25+01:00 <p>First presents out of the way!</p> <p>Dog - check<br> Son - almost check (had to order a Star Wars Imperial Destroyer from the great States of America - nowhere to be had around here! It is now safely packed in a UPS parcel, on its way across the ocean. Father Christmas is mighty powerful!!)<br> Husband - check</p> <p>Mother - no idea<br> Father - no idea<br> Sister - no idea<br> Nephew - no idea<br> The in-laws - of course, even less idea.</p> <p>I tell myself there is still time... There are still lots of lovely shops CRAMMED with people on the verge of a breakdown, a lot like myself. So, lots and lots of nice christmas spirit to be enjoyed during the next week.</p> <p>I just hate the present-hunting period of the year.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/12/12/three-down-lots-more-to-go-5208568/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-12-09:/2008/12/09/yes-5189565/blayka2008-12-09T13:25:18+01:002008-12-09T13:25:18+01:00 <p>Yes, I am just about ready to start my Christmas holiday now. Alas, two more weeks.</p> <p>Only two weeks??!? I have not bought ANY presents yet.</p> <p>Any spare gift ideas would be much appreciated! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/12/09/yes-5189565/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-12-04:/2008/12/04/wait-till-i-twitter-you-you-b-s-5161943/blayka2008-12-04T13:20:52+01:002008-12-04T13:23:12+01:00 <p>We have had enough of the snow and poop on this blog, thank you very much. Time for a little rant and a bit of a sulk.</p> <p>I was at a seminar last week and I also gave a lecture there. The "hip" feature that the organisers introduced was twittering about the seminar. Well, the nicely-behaved participants would not have anything to do with that. It was the IT punks that could not have enough of it.</p> <p>Why am I mega-sulking? They were twittering me during my lecture. Most of the comments were ok, but some were just plain nasty. I made a little grammatical mistake and - of effing course - two of them had to make fun of it immediately.</p> <p>Wait till I get my hands on those two... I will make them wish that all I did was twitter them. <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/05biggrin.gif" alt=""></p> <p>But I suspect I should get used to that sort of thing. It is the age of transparency after all. No more gossiping behind other people's backs. Everything is nice and public now. I'm not sure I like that.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/12/04/wait-till-i-twitter-you-you-b-s-5161943/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-12-03:/2008/12/03/snow-almost-gone-5155551/blayka2008-12-03T11:45:11+01:002008-12-03T11:45:11+01:00 <p>No more pretty whiteness all around.</p> <p>No more happy times, waiting for Father Christmas to come and spread joy.</p> <p>No more Snowmen on every other lawn.</p> <p>Rain, dust, greyness all around.</p> <p>And there's more. Our office has been having a bit of a smell problem as our sewers were not closed smell-tight. Now the workers are here to make it go away. But before they make it better, they will make it worse. They will open the sewer up completely. </p> <p>Prepare to be smell-launched out of the building!</p> <p>Such a pretty post gone so disgusting. I have got to reconsider my blogging practices... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/12/03/snow-almost-gone-5155551/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-11-30:/2008/11/30/snow-has-a-function-5137454/blayka2008-11-30T14:26:27+01:002008-11-30T14:26:27+01:00 <p>Apart from being a nice fresh blanket over everything yucky in the city.</p> <p>It is also a very beautiful and useful contrast against the little brown cakes my dog makes. I can easily find them and pick them up. How very refreshing after the long autumn months, when it was brown cake against brown leaves and everything brown. Fortunately a bit of a steam comes out of it, which is generally a good indication of where to look. Unless it's too warm. Then there's no steam.</p> <p>In such situations I have been known to look for it until I found it. With my shoe.</p> <p>*sings* Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! </p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/11/30/snow-has-a-function-5137454/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-11-28:/2008/11/28/second-chance-at-life-5126366/blayka2008-11-28T14:45:43+01:002008-11-28T14:45:43+01:00 <p>A few days ago I had my first go at Second Life.</p> <p>I know, I know. Even the grandmothers got there two years ago.</p> <p>The reason I tried it out this late is that I somehow pretended it didn't exist, and hoped it would go away. I don't like the concept and I did not enjoy my two - albeit short - visits. My little avatar did not move the way I wanted it to move, I could not fly to places I wanted to go and I could not figure out how things work. I suspect I should have asked a RL friend to show me how it's done. Perhaps I would enjoy it more then.</p> <p>I am currently pondering whether I should kill Ms. Diesel, i.e. my SL identity, or give it a few more tries and kill her then. Do I feel secondlife-cidal enough to do it right now? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/11/28/second-chance-at-life-5126366/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-11-26:/2008/11/26/very-cold-5110853/blayka2008-11-26T11:45:43+01:002008-11-26T11:45:43+01:00 <p>It is over here in Blaykaland.</p> <p>We have snow, we have ice, we have cold and we have sun.</p> <p>I think the winter is finally here. Time to get the summer stuff out of the wardrobe and get the winter stuff in.</p> <p>Don't want! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/11/26/very-cold-5110853/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-11-25:/2008/11/25/what-is-going-on-and-an-007-question-5103459/blayka2008-11-25T09:42:02+01:002008-11-25T09:42:02+01:00 <p>I guess the title of this post is more than a bit cryptic. The first part refers to me not posting for more than a week. <em>Again</em>.</p> <p>Why is that?  I have no clue. I surprise myself sometimes.</p> <p>It could be the work thing - I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment - or it could be pure laziness. I suspect the latter. It usually is the answer to all my problems.</p> <p>The second part of the title refers to a question I have for you. I went to see Quantum of Solace this weekend and I do not agree with all the bad press it has been receiving. I think that it just might be one of the most romantic 007 movies I have ever seen. Of course, it helps if one remembers the last Daniel Craig Bond movie, to which Quantum of Solace is a direct sequel.</p> <p>Or it could be just me. I liiiiikeeee Daniel Craig.</p> <p>What do you think? (About the movie! I already know my Daniel Craig fixation puts me into the "middle aged and pathetic" target group)</p> <p> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/11/25/what-is-going-on-and-an-007-question-5103459/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-11-07:/2008/11/07/favourite-quote-4999069/blayka2008-11-07T13:44:18+01:002008-11-10T10:28:22+01:00 <p>Of the day. I have received it by e-mail and it made me smile:</p> <p>Inside me lives a skinny woman crying to get out. But I can usually shut her up with cookies.</p> <p>Jo Brand</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/11/07/favourite-quote-4999069/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-11-04:/2008/11/04/public-service-announcement-4980817/blayka2008-11-04T09:22:28+01:002008-11-04T09:24:20+01:00 <p>For all of you Maltesers addicts out there, here is a warm recommendation from one of you (that is - me):</p> <p>If you ever travel to Benelux countries (or Germany for that matter) STAY AWAY from their version of Maltesers. It is vile. The fluffy part in the centre is so far away from fluffy that your mouth might suffer severe consequences, that might stay with you long after you return from your trip.</p> <p>I am disappointed, I am bitter. The only good thing I can say about this is that the Belgian chocolates, on the other hand, were heavenly. Made me forget all about the Maltesers disaster.</p> <p>The rest of the trip was great, of which I shall report in detail in following posts. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/11/04/public-service-announcement-4980817/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-10-20:/2008/10/20/and-the-weekend-goeth-4900772/blayka2008-10-20T13:23:34+02:002008-10-20T13:24:15+02:00 <p>Ehm. Nothing to say.</p> <p>Mondays are sad, sad days. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/10/20/and-the-weekend-goeth-4900772/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-10-17:/2008/10/17/the-weekend-cometh-4885768/blayka2008-10-17T12:40:36+02:002008-10-17T12:40:36+02:00<p>Am I the only one who feels that weekends should be at least three days long?</p> <p>Their primary function should be to regenerate the workforce. Well, I for one have to report that I can not regenerate in two days. It took me five days to get this exhausted, how am I suppose to get it all back to normal in just two days? The workforce demands three days off!</p> <p>If you are with me on this, sign below  <img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/image/smileys/smiley-laughing.gif" alt=""></p><p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/10/17/the-weekend-cometh-4885768/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-10-14:/2008/10/14/elisabeth-alert-4869465/blayka2008-10-14T13:01:58+02:002008-10-14T13:01:58+02:00 <p>She is coming.</p> <p>Her Majesty is.</p> <p>The preparations are in full bloom. I have not <em>yet</em> been invited to the official dinner in her honour, but I do expect to receive the invitation within days. I am a very important member of this country, after all even though there are some people, who STILL don't appreciate me to the fullest extent. I am a wife and a mother and I keep hearing how important these two roles are for the preservation of this country. I am certain this is going to be reason enough to get me on that invitation list. </p> <p>Do any of you - commoners - have anything important you want me to relay to your monarch?</p> <p>Not to worry. In the likely event of not getting the invitation, I can shout it at her at the airport or something. It's a small country, I'll think of something. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/10/14/elisabeth-alert-4869465/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-10-13:/2008/10/13/i-finally-get-it-4862812/blayka2008-10-13T09:33:39+02:002008-10-13T09:33:39+02:00 <p>What, my dear friends, is the true difference between life with and sans children?</p> <p>When you have no children, you decide to have a bath. You run the hot water, put some smelly salt in, turn on the music and the candles, take the glossy magazine you have been saving for this occasion and a glass of red wine. And then you have a quiet bath until your feet get all pruny, and then you emerge from the water as beautiful and as relaxed as a nymph.</p> <p>When you have children, on the other hand, the story goes like this. You take showers. You only take a bath every 6 months or so, when the constellation of the stars is just right so that the bathroom is free for more than two minutes. You also can spare more than a few minutes, which is a miracle in itself. The children are all taken care of, busy doing their thing with someone watching over them (when they are little) or they have just immersed themselves into a video game, which will keep them occupied for half an hour, if they are older. The probability of them bursting into the bathroom, exclaiming they are bored, is therefore close to nil.</p> <p>You run the hot water. There is no smelly salt - forgot to buy it. Turn on the music? Can't. The adolescent child has repossessed the stereo. Glossy magazine? You only have one, and that one is two years old and has been leafed through too many times. Candles? Don't make me laugh. A glass of wine? You can't be bothered: you are running out of time. You need to get to business, or the precious minutes will slip through your fingers. </p> <p>Then, just as you start to relax in the water (which is too hot, because you did not have the time to let it cool down), the door opens. There's your child, entering. He needs to take a dump. Really bad. Which he then does. In the bathroom, on the toilet seat, which is installed right next to the bath you were hoping to relax in. And takes his sweet time, including the accompanying smells.</p> <p>And no, this is not a hypothetical story. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/10/13/i-finally-get-it-4862812/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-10-10:/2008/10/10/fail-again-4850218/blayka2008-10-10T14:43:45+02:002008-10-10T14:43:45+02:00 <p>Just in case you were wondering, my trip to the mecanic did not produce a functionning headlight.</p> <p>It will take YET ANOTHER trip to the shop to make it work. Obviously a part needs changing and it is OF COURSE not on stock. </p> <p>And no, I did not get an aromatherapy session as I waited. Apart from the taxi driver's BO. Must not blame him, though. He did try to cover it up with ridiculous amounts of most irritating perfume of the cheapest persuasion.</p> <p>Some days are just FAIL through and through.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/10/10/fail-again-4850218/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:blayka.blog.co.uk,2008-10-10:/2008/10/10/happy-bunday-bun-4849892/blayka2008-10-10T13:59:48+02:002008-10-10T13:59:48+02:00 <p>Dear Bun!</p> <p>You know you are a special bunny and that is why your bunday should be even more special. I hope everyone is giving you lots of nice presents, taking you to the cinema and treating you with the extra special love and attention you deserve. Including the cuddles you were owed!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/korencek/2881722" title="korencek"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/722/2881722_1e4f44e512_s.jpg" alt="korencek" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></p> <p>Please accept this carrot cake as a token of my appreciation (I think it should be pretty obvious I baked it myself). Blog would not be the same without you. Lots of bunny kisses!</p> <p>Blayka </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blayka.blog.co.uk/2008/10/10/happy-bunday-bun-4849892/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>