Talking to Myself 2008.

25th.March/1025: One of the first things I do in the mornings, after settling in here at the keyboard, is go to the Guardian for the news - and the cartoon, sad ain't I - yet before the pc, I barely ever looked at a newspaper, maybe once or twice a year. Not worth the money, frankly. Now I get the news free - but why the Guardian ?
Sadly, I guess it is because the cartoons can be very good - when they are kept up to date. I like to browse through CiF (Comment is Free) - though usually avoid the comments like the plague, ok if you like puerile, but... I do comment occasionally when maddened by the climate idiocy. It is the latter that irritates me most about the G - they are pathetically in thrall to the alarmists.
I do look at the Telegraph - their cartoons are often good if poorly executed - but I find little to draw my attention in the news.
Barely look at the Times - it is Murdoch after all.
The Huffington Post I do attend to, usually in the afternoon.
Once, I used to watch the TV news - not anymore. The talking heads have sickened me with their self-important faces. Bring back Robert Dougal. They all think they are Robin Day.

19^th.March/1447: I am still fuming about the bile spewed at me by the wretched Repug cadre. Sadly it has tainted my attitude to the nation as a whole, which is not really fair. I fear this response is due to my Asperger problem, it is like having several layers of skin missing.

Added to this psychic bruise is a general desire to be left alone, not to have any dealings with people and I find myself wishing we were still on the island.

1647: I have just read Tom Hayden in HuffPost and had my faith in the decency of the American people restored.

17th.March/1112: Recently I posted pictures a friend took of my home environs whilst I was in Cyprus - inevitably it has led to me thinking of those times so I have put a couple more on Scrapblog.The site was chosen for 'I love Photoblogs'.I was somewhat taken aback, if flattered, because it is literally a scrap book sort of thing and the pictures are not all mine - but, although I lost touch with Wilf after '57., it is good to be able to show off his shots.

1519: I went to have a look at the blog ‘Warning Signs’ earlier - I had left a comment, it is below, in answer to Alan Caruba’s piece about military presidents. I was unaware that I had strayed into a den of red-neck neo-cons, silly me. No wonder the individual called Longstreet erupted - though he obviously did not read what I had written.

However, you can read that response. I must say I had not been aware of the world begging the US to be ‘policemen’ - in fact I am damn sure the opposite is true. This seems to be another example of that curious blinkered attitude of many Americans of a certain stripe; they seem totally unaware of the effect of this attitude on other nations.

Actually, as regards having a ‘safe’ day – I believe we are whole lot less safe as a result of the Iraq invasion and occupation. The economic well-being of the planet has been thrown to the winds by a corrupt Administration in favour of a very few whilst the people of their own country are placed in peril. It is shameful and so disheartening to see a nation of fundamentally decent people so duped.

Here is the offending comment :

The sad truth is that the 'war' in Iraq is actually an occupation and, as much as it saddens me to say it, has to be seen from the perspective of the occupied as no different to the Nazi occupation in Europe.
Now, I am not trying to be nasty for the sake of it; I said it saddens me and I mean it.
But your 43rd president has led the world into incipient chaos and if the weakness of the dollar leads the oil countries to start selling in Euros, the distress this will cause you and your will be extreme, all the more so for being a new experience.
I am NOT gloating. I do hope it does not happen.
Personally, I sincerely hope you get a non-military president and that the young people in Iraq get home.
Incidentally, I served in Cyprus in 1956/7 and the Greeks saw us as an occupying force. It is not pleasant.
A.

And here is the reply:

I agree the US is an occupying force in Iraq. And we should be! US forces will be in Iraq for a half-century, at least, it we ever leave.

The world designated the US as “the policeman of the world”. We didn’t want it, but you thrust it upon us. And, as with policemen everywhere, those who are policed don’t like it. Tough! If the remainder of the world is content to sit back on the arses and allow the US to spill it’s blood and spend it’s treasure to keep THEM safe, then, by God, you should have the courtesy to remain silent rather than condemning the only force on the planet able, and willing, to defend you!

Have a nice, safe, day, sir! (Courtesy of the USA!)

Longstreet

Oh, dear - the 'only force'...

1603: Actually, I find this kind of thing utterly upsetting - perhaps I had better stick to making less inflammatory comments on sites that look for the pleasanter thing that life has to offer.
I got into bother merely mentioning depleted uranium a while back - but I did rather ask for this one by mentioning the occupation of Europe. My father was preparing to aquire poison when there was danger of Hitler invading Britain - because it was believed Hitler intended eliminating the Welsh. I have enough imagination to know what the Iraqis must feel so I think my remark was apt. At least in our day there would have been no sectarian killing between different Non-Conformist sects. I have always believed, myself, that it would have been better to die fighting the Nazis but I was too young to have much say at the time.
I suppose the French now have to look upon their Resistance - Maquis or Communist - as 'Insurgents'.
And another thing - we went through a period, even in Swansea, in recent times of expecting indiscriminate IRA bombing. I think that it was mostly rumour and hoax but it was real enough
at the time and there were enough actual bombings to lend credence to the expectation.
Why is it now 'the war on terror' because the baton has passed (in a manner of speaking) to the Muslims ? The more things change... etc.
I have generally refrained from commenting on American affairs and I can say now that that is the best policy - I just wish that these believers in the New World Order would realise that the 'world' might have other ideas.
Don't expect me to shut up about 'global warming' though.

I was deeply disturbed by the above yesterday and I think it is because it comes as a confirmation that there is a segment of the American public that is fascist by nature and when backed by an Administration such as that now in control, would obey any order to tramp roughshod over the rest of the world.

This minority, though powerful, core is the despicable face of America. Were Cheney and Bush to effect an overthrow of the weakened democracy they have worked to achieve in the last eight years or to subvert the November election in some way, these animals would gladly go along with it.

It has to be remembered that the majority of Germans were ordinary, decent people but as a nation smarting from a bitter defeat in 1918., were willing to go along with a man they perceived as a strong leader. The segment that I speak of in America, smart from their ignominious defeat in Viet Nam and willingly grasped the opportunity of breaking out into a jingoistic enterprise when the terrible crime of 9/11 provided motive.

That crime should have caused a vast securing of America’s borders, making it impossible for subversive groups to import WMD instead of going looking for them elsewhere. There would have been more reason to spend money on intelligence – that is, intelligent intelligence – and inculcating a sense of watchfulness.

The onerous controls at airports are in place anyway, though they have been a pretty piecemeal affair. With more funds spent wisely, they could have been improved and streamlined.

11th.March/1055: Stephen much improved and has gone out with Meri for Badger/Tris walking.

9th.March/1636: Stephen is much better today. His throat has been spared the ravages possible with tonsillitis and infection has resolved into a typical cold.
I have wrestled with a piece about Lovelock over at Loose Ends (LE) and I believe I have avoided gibberish. I hope so.

6th. March/0951: I have posted, over at Loose Ends, the following Declaration.
At last they are speaking out, the scientists who know exactly how crass the pronouncements of the Goreites are. How self-seeking the criminal proclaimations of the alarmists and how nihilist the stance of the Green radicals. And, of course, the gullible journos and the even more gullible politicoes who are sucked in by the manic agenda of the IPCC.

My own Green credentials are sufficient enough to allow me free rein to criticise the extremes of the movement that has grown in the wake of Al Gore's ranting. Many of these people are of the 'Rent-an-Extremist' ilk - the Anti-Globalisation crowd, whose desires puzzle me. If they were the 'Anti-New World Order' movement, I could empathise.

With respect to those monsters of capitalism/materialism, the oil magnates, I can now announce that we ceased using heating oil entirely three weeks ago. To burn oil in such a fashion is a terrible misuse of a commodity which is if immeasurable value - as the average punter is about to discover if the message of the $100 plus barrel has not yet sunk in.

Ceri has sorted the shed with Stephen's assistance:

29^th.Feb/1446: C came by this morning to measure shed for new, wider door(s) and we went to the Builders’ Cope for the wood. My first ride in the new car – there is a lot of it.

I’ve been reading a pdf series on climate change by William F. McClenney at ICECAP that really gives the lie to AGW and makes the point that it isn’t the sun but the Earth’s ‘rickety orbit’. The point is a good one but he seems to overstate it, losing clarity as if he is in a hurry to finish. The man comes over as eccentric as he suggests the Earth’s orbit to be.

28th.Feb/0851: Yesterday we at last heard from the bike dealer that the registration has gone through and the machine should be here this morning.
The news instigated a flurry of activity to rehouse both Badger and the cats to make room in the big shed. Actually they are going back to the accommodations they had when we lived in Pole Road after moving from the island. I originally built the kennel for Raq and Badger but they were somewhat cramped so they eventually ended up the shed we bought after it had housed Santa at a local store.
The 'cattery' requires tarting-up but they were able to take up residence last night, seeming to remember the routine. Badger seemed glad to be back even if she now has the dryer for company

1447: The Hyosung arrived at 1145 - and since dinner, Stephen has ridden her to Port and back.
It was tiring but mainly due to concentration required using clutch and gears after Twist&Go. He was pleased that everything was crisp and positive.

A very tight squeeze getting her into the shed - we are going to have to make double doors.

26^th.Feb/1113: I have been busy for the last few hours doing one of my rationalisations. Anyone of the many silent visitors to my sites will know that I have had many such rationalisations – usually as a result of my domain probs, whether self inflicted or inflicted upon me. Now that I have had time to assess the situation using nothing but Blogger as though each one were a page – and monitor visitor stats – I have decided to gather all ‘non-specific’ items into The Scrap Blog. Specific means stuff to be found here or on Loose Ends.

25^th.Feb/2204: All to Lk – after front o.s wheel changed and perforce back one to front and spare to back... ! We have to get a proper Corolla wheel. The weather was vile and gave force to the contention that S shouldn’t attempt the self delivery. We paid over €60 and hope to have the bike Wednesday.

Meri and I finally got to see Rhodri’s house and very nice too.

This afternoon I took S to collect TV which, allegedly, had nothing wrong with it. He left the Sony radio with them ‘cos that is on the blink now !!

Up to date even if a bit jerky - I have split it up more for editing purposes for it will make putting the pics in easier... I hope. As long as I don't ruin it again. If I do wreck it I might finally give up on laying my daily life, warts an all, before the world. Now wouldn't that be a shame.

25.1.08/2202: This evening Sitebuilder disconnected from dotcom, setting it adrift just like the last time. I’m not seething exactly, just very tired of it all. I put hours of work into the site and now this... I’ll call technical when possible and see if it can be sorted.

26.1.08/1157: Just back from Glenties after collecting a ‘freecycle’ VCR/DVD player. I hope it is worth a very unpleasant drive behind an artic all the way in foul weather – and when we got there, the guy wasn’t – he had gone surfing! Stephen rode because he wanted to and had a bad time with the scoot playing up.

S has been on to Terry and they are going to collect the machine free. They have a new mech starting Monday so there is some hope.

Before we left I slipped in the shed and banged my toe again !!

I am not a happy bunny.

27.1.08/ 1208: We are awaiting Rhodri and Elaine – if Ceri and Sinead turn up we’ll have a full house.

Rh and E were here for dinner and C and S arrived five minutes after they left.

28.1.08/1804: I am still locked out of Sitebuilder and I have emailed Fasthosts – and there too, I have had nonsense regarding my identity codes. It is maddening. But I have managed to raise a Blogware blog once more – perhaps I’ll give up the rest and stick with that alone. I don’t know... but I am not going to throw it away like last time.

29.1.08/1151: I have just spent half an hour deleting 74 pics from Sitebuilder gallery – first step to deleting Cennad’s Place. I can’t do more until I have the control back. I am doing this because yet again I am getting the run-around from Fasthosts. I want to keep the Blogware blog so I shall remain hosted by them for now... but it is all bloody depressing.

1524: Still no help – I’ve e-mailed again.

I am trying to be constructive with regard to the novel and my particular hang-up – how do I tackle the Rebisite question...and do I tackle it at all?

30.1.08/0707: I have been up and hour – woke at 0508 then started worrying at the matter of S and the scoot. Yesterday he decided, with Ceri’s ‘help’ to complain so much about the machine that he will get an upgrade... and muggings will pay.

The thing is, he has a point with his complaint about ‘twist&go’ – there is insufficient control compared to normal gearing; I couldn’t cope with it.

Also yesterday, I raised a second Blogware site attached to reinstated cennad.co.uk and have the intention of using it for Rebisite matters.

As of now there is no response from Fh. I have had conversations with Siani re CNAMEs – but she is in as big a quandary as I. It’s this business of ‘pointing’ domains that makes no sense to me.

1019: Stephen has been on to Terry and realised he/we cannot afford for him to change horses now. Relief !

I am, yet again, contemplating scrapping Fasthosts – if it wasn’t for this damnable domain mania of mine, there would be no problem.

1134: Well, there we are – I’ve closed the accounts.

1227: I am feeling burnt-out and rather sick after the Fh business and dropping S’ scoot ramp on my toe ! Stephen went off for a ride and has ended up at Ceri’s place – and I hope C is not winding him up to more problems.

I want to sort my work out but feel too shattered.

2222: I finally got my act together and created extra Blogger blogs to make use of Talking... and Islander. And Stephen got it together re scoot despite earlier nagging by Ceri. He realises he is better off sticking with it.

31.1.08/1632: I have added Pictures of Wales and Part 1 of Cennad’s Path as Blogger blogs. Now that I have discovered a full page width template there is no stopping me.

Stephen saw another new shrink this morning but he seemed very good even if his English was poor. We shopped afterwards and got home in time for a couple of short outages. The wind is mad at present.

1^st. February 2008/1117: Not a very happy individual today – after a very good day yesterday.

I think I went down after reading about the Pagan Federation. It brought back all manner of memories of those bloody people – not the Federation as such, just the pagan ‘movement’.

2202: I guess the day picked up a bit – I managed some stuff on c4 but no real advance where it matters. In fact I wonder what the point is just now.

2^nd.Feb.2008/1824: We had baked potato for dinner and for the third time I broke a tooth. Fortunately it is one due to go on Thursday. Daft thing is I thought before starting that it could happen.

S now angsting about his DS9 DVDs though first it was the player that he blamed.

2213: the player is in the bin now and he as the one from down here – Meri and I have to get a new one.

3^rd.Feb/ 1448: The DVDs played ok – thank puff.

Scanned many old mono pictures this morning with very gratifying results. This from a 35mm contact sheet.

The Recreation Field on Swansea Road where all the fairs go and numerous other events. Has featured regularly in my life.

1709: Stephen went for a very wet ride this afternoon and came back more angstridden again with the scoot apparently over-heating. Don’t know what to think – there will be more calls to Motoworld tomorrow.

4^th. Feb/1706: Stephen took the scoot for a run and had no trouble – so that’s ok. The headphones and DVD/VCR where retrieved from the bin last night – the former ok but latter back in the bin... I have bought a Philips DVD Recorder to replace it for Meri and I.

Ceri and Sinead here midday – Ceri sorting his Quinn insurance.

We shopped at 1600, bought the DVD unit in Molloys and I paid the ESB bill of €116 . The Philips cost €149 on the card.

5^th.Feb/1035: Got up feeling reasonable but around 0945 had a squitty dump that has left me feeling rough. It was probably the oatcake I ate for tea yesterday and I daresay the bad head I now have is due to stressing again. Perhaps I am more worked-up over Thursday than I know consciously.

I have rejigged Inside the Rainbow, taking out Part One leaving only a link. It had not pasted in cleanly and seemed full of typos.

I am kind of preparing for Cennad to have his say. 2201: It has not worked that way, I have pasted up the Commentary ready for further work but, as usual I am bothered by the reverse page effect – do I add to the existing text or start a new post which will came first... etc.

I have not enjoyed today, full of wind and now more painful with what I take to be tension pain in my back.

Happy days.

6^th.Feb/1830: A better day today – though I am constipated ! Not normal for me.

Ivan Kilmacrennan rang Stephen about a nice Suzuki GN125 and S is all agog as I have said it is possible. We shall see because I don’t think there is enough control with auto gears.

7^th.Feb/0844: A dream I deem ‘significant’ : I was in a corridor leading to a particular room and I was having a raging row with Mike P. We entered the room where there was danger of some sort. An unruly figure burst out of a box/coffin or maybe a maturation chamber and initiated massive disruption. So great was the energy radiating from him, a bar light above him melted and curved down. I ran – through mist or steam to the door. Extraordinarily the door knob was apparently the one on the door to the Swansea General X-ray Dept... though in retrospect it might have been the ‘room’ door at Wren. There was a hiatus as I roused but I moved back into the dream relieved and yet fearful. I was drawn to return to the strange room but feared the powers there. I looked out of a window and saw people who had remained in the room looking young and expectantly at me – one was holding something that might have been a megaphone though I feared it as if it was a weapon. Cut off from them I could feel my vitality draining away.

I can only interpret this dream as a warning that I must broadcast my belief or suffer the erosion of my vitality. There was only one time when Mike really pissed me off in reality and that was when he told me I was afraid to fail. I have to confess that he may have been correct. He has often appeared as a significant figure in dreams, usually delivering some message of change.

I have not had a dream of such power in a long time and the fact that I can read it as an indication, demand even, that I speak.

The dynamic figure was Cennad-like.

1114: To the dentist at 0920 – home by 1003 minus three teeth, plus two fillings and a denture. The worst part was the cleaning of my lower teeth. Possibly the worst is to come but I hope not.

C here at midday and had dinner with us.

Rang Quinn for Stephen and found his insurance would stay the same for a Suzuki GN125. Made him very ‘appy.

2209: Things have gone well for me today – the only fly in the ointment is the fact that the dentist had a streaming cold.

8^th.Feb/1155: I found J’s blog and left a comment that might encourage her to say something instead of just lurking.

I have talked with electrician Mark Nicholas about a timer for the ‘worm’ heater. Will look in next week.

Feeling somewhat limp though I had a good night and didn’t dribble.

2216: J returned a comment internally – apparently in the habit of checking the family out everyday, sometimes twice. Weird.

10^th.Feb/1220: Yesterday, Stephen went from hating the scoot, to loving it and back again. This morning was undecided until he discovered he had been riding last night without a rear light ! So that might have sealed the issue – he has even removed the key from his key-ring.

I am still feeling pretty limp although my mouth is fine. I won’t say I’m really used to the denture yet but it’s pretty close. Nice to eat fairly normally with my whole mouth.

2153: We have been through more changes. Eventually found the bulb was dead – that after stripping the rear end. S did it very well and he was pleased after having got in a right state. But now he is back to preferring a bike. But he is at least cheerful enough at the mo. None of this was helped by Ceri who was negative about him as much as removing the bulb. If I had been able to see the broken filaments it would have been much better.

11^th.Feb/0940: Woke at 0520 with a lousy head and neck which isn’t much better now. Feel pretty awful altogether – today my pallet feels sore with the pressure of the denture.

1208: Stephen has gone to get a bulb after having told Ivan to forget it – which the man brought on himself after saying he would ‘make enquiries’ re a 125. Bloody wanker. Anyway, as of now, S has decided to stick with it... I do hope it lasts.

Stephen has now completed one thousand klicks.

2202: Rhodri and Elaine are engaged ! Old fashioned things. C was here earlier for his mail – we wonder how they are going to take the news... specially Sinead.

13^th.Feb/0936: Yesterday we all went to Letterkenny – Stephen rode ahead whilst Meri and I motored. A glorious day, the sort we have been waiting for – same today !

We arrived at Motoworld about five minutes after S and he and I went in for a nose and the net upshot was that I put a deposit on a Hyosung GV125 for him. A V-twin 125 – I still find it strange. Anyway he has his wish to get away from TaG and have the control gear selection offers, which – after his ride up to Lk – will be a very good thing. He will also have comfort.

We went on the meet up with Elaine and Rhodri and I was able to give her a hug and welcome her to the family – or the sitcom, as I later amended.

We shopped and S left well ahead of us because he was feeling done up.

I had all sorts of plans re blogs but when we got home but descended into a soak which got worse after I used that foul ‘FirstDefence’ which I’ve been taking since Friday last as a preventative against the dentist’s cold.

Was thankful to get to bed but was up at 0145ish with belching and a need to bog – the same sicky feeling I’ve had before. Also a lousy headache – oh, joy. I probably stayed awake till gone three and feel like it though the head went – I just feel wrung.

The wakefulness was probably due to small hours thoughts about money and plastic. I’m not especially concerned today so that’s ok because I want to get this bike sorted for Stephen as soon as. Apparently he will be paying less insurance which is great. The scoot is in the Dealer... with what we can raise on it we should have the card looking reasonable again.

1230: Went to Main St. Where S delivered his TV to Molloys for headphone jack repair and his money. We took wheel to McDevitts for sorting.

1843: I have massacred the blogs again but I intended to keep Mono but somehow it has gone too... ! Piss. Hey-ho, at least I’m not paying for it.

14^th.Feb/1246: I collected wheel – an inner tube has solved the problem.

I have rebuilt Mono; now I have to decide what else I am going to do.

15^th.Feb/1215: Stephen and I have been to Letterkenny where I paid the balance on the bike and photographed from all angles:

C was here for his mail and was a bit picky with S because of the bike . I think he needs to cool it - he is not without fault with his choices.

16^th.Feb/1650: Stephen has been contacted by Paul who is trying to sell the scoot for him ! Now that is special – I’m impressed.

2235: Shimmer has slept down in the corner of the cage all day but now seems fine... ? Tris has slept all day and I haven’t seen her eat... !

Photo Hunt has absorbed most of the day – 17 comments. I have also reinstated Talking to Myself at WordPress. Don’t know if it will last.

18^th.Feb/1337: Yesterday we had another upheaval:

Now we are all in the same room again.

2020: Kirsty rang on her own line phone – she is now on broadband at last.

19^th.Feb/2212: Started messing with ’Talking...’ and wrecked it and thereafter just muddled.

21^st.Feb/0609: Yesterday it was all change again as Stephen took his gear upstairs once more:

He said it was because he was inhibited where reading is concerned.

I took WordPress down two days ago and put it back yesterday on a new account – Calonyddaear and am using it for ‘Talking...’. I also foutered about with Blogger then decided on a Photo Scrapblog because I shall be doing more with images in preparation for my eyes worsening.

I am up early. Last night I had the thought that if I wake I might put the electric water heater on at 0600 and put the oil off and warn Meri when she wakes. I did wake at 0537 and naturally couldn’t sleep thereafter.

It is a pretty horrid morning with rain and wind but warmer.

0737: I have come within an ace of deleting ‘Talking...’ entirely because I couldn’t fathom logging-in – it kept coming up as cennadynyswr ! Eventually woke enough to work it out.

Stephen succeeded in getting MyBlogLog on Googlepages so I tried also and after much hassle actually got the widget on the first part of the novel.

2233: Worked on dotcom much of day – to some effect, I believe.

15.1.08. 0728: Up since 0530 – gut and back. Can’t seem to make sense of current account as Meri’s BritPen doesn’t seem to have gone in and I cannot recall why I have underestimated the balance. I am up too bloody early.

1325: The BofI statement came – and I am vindicated! The on-line info is wrong but the fact that it is wrong by an amount that might be Meri’s pension made it very confusing. My calculations are correct to a cent, viz correct.

2205: Later the bank got the figures right and my suspicion that the BritPen had gone in was correct – they had added that amount to the whole balance on every entry.

All this is great when I can hardly stand up.

16.1.08. 1135: Calculations show that using oil is definitely too expensive - €7 per day! So the radiators are coming down again and we are back to machinating how to use the money saved by not getting oil this week.

1718: The radiators are all in place – and I did much of the work. I even went out to get coat a hook board, though Meri has had to change it for a bigger one. Stephen has been out twice on the scoot which might have cheered him...

Meri and I are feeling pretty rough though apart from some ‘wirus’, as Dr. Jani used to say, we have no excuse. Though, of course C had some vile thing last Saturday. My throat is not happy.

2214: I am now unhappily certain I have whatever it is.

17.1.08. 0747: My throat is no worse... perhaps it is just catarrh. But we always say that.

1600: C arrived about 1300 and had soup.

The water stopped when he arrived and came on as he left – it’s still running brown. I had to ring the Council to find that work was in progress.

18.1.08. 1641: While Meri and I shopped, Stephen moved his pc back to his room and re-installed the TVs in their correct places. Yes, really.

I am so fed-up with it all. This afternoon, as he was getting ready to drill wall for coat hangers, I kicked my toe into the Hoover and near wept with pain. As I have also failed to do anything with moving the novel to a more accessible place, I am additionally pissed off.

19.1.08. 1224: Woke up feeling lousy.

1829: Feel better physically but mentally I am a wreck. If I could just sort out what the hell I am supposed to be doing – a very few months back I seemed to know but now I am lost.

20.1.08. 1507: Not having a bad day today. Hope it doesn’t herald something like the last time I felt good.

Better still – I have set up a WordPress blog, something I never thought possible. I am on dot com not dot org, so that makes it easier. It is about eighteen month since I last tried and I was so tongue-tied I remained silent. It was a bit like Metafilter is, or so I remember, telling you this and stopping that.

21.1.08. 0615: I was up at 0315 with bloat and back pain. And again at 0515 and was able to crap. At 0530 I had to belt down fearing liquid but it was a mighty fart... then I got up and here I am. I have just taken Fen plus for the back and a head that threatens now. The back component of my usual double is down to lifting S’ flat chest yesterday... I just had to rush again – wind and solid stuff.

Last night I had a response to something I had written in ‘Talking to Myself’ that concerned Depleted Uranium – it was coupled with a friendly comment re Rinli but gave me a shock because it was ... well, here it is:

Comment:
Why pray tell would you add depleted uranium to the mix of tricycle rides, kitty cats and old wedding pictures - you seem like a pretty normal person - what about the anti-depleted uranium crusade has gotten your attention? They all are phonies - they intentionally lie to spread the word that the "end is coming" and it will be in the form of DU dust circling the globe and even the cat will have deformed kittens - but in reality there is no dust cloud anywhere, let alone circling the globe and no one ever has had a deformed baby that can actually be attributed to DU; in fact, a 100 years of monitoring the health of uranium workers has found no such result. The anti-DU crusaders want to convince the world that the US in intentionally poisoning it - don't believe them. Here are some links to learn more - you can find even more public links at

As it has so agitated this guy that I dare to mention DU as a real threat in the course of a personal blog, and the hectoring tone, I think I had better think twice about that whole insert – it’s not very good anyway.

1256: I have solved the problem of the actual blog – I have deleted it. Out of 4722 words, this guy picked thirteen to take exception too – an obsession if ever I saw one. Here’s my reply:

Thanks Roger, for your comments - particularly regarding Rinli, a loveable if over-talkative cat.
Regarding a 'crusade' concerning DU - not my hang-up but you put a good deal into that comment so it deserves an answer:
Only time will tell if there is anything in the DU debate. I had not realised that there was a 'crusade' - I hate that word - though I should have done, I guess. I am actually more concerned with the Global Warming debate - I am what is called 'a sceptic'. My campaign, if I have one, is trying to knock sense into the heads of scientifically ignorant journos.
I thank you for drawing my attention to the debate - seems to have something in common with the one I care about where scientists put their standing and their funding
before accuracy. But really, I am not getting into that.
I also thank you for making me take a hard look at that insert I used to start my first WordPress blog - it is a bloody mess. You may have found it odd that DU, though a miniscule part, was cheek by jowl with my quotidian maunderings. It is my life and my interests in a microcosm. DU caught my eye because I used to be a radiographer and learned early on that there is no safe minimum dose. Colours my thinking.
Best wishes and thanks again.

I intend renaming the WordPress blogsite and using it for Rebisite matters. I think… I am having a hell of a time thinking today.

22.1.08. 0801: Had a good night’s sleep - feel a bit drained.

Today I have a dental appointment at 1200. I will learn what day the three extractions will occur.

1905: On Feb 7^th.

I have worked hard this PM moving all the Talking to Myself on to dotcom. I have had to replace all dashes and all apostrophes.

23.1.08/0857: Back to feeling wrecked – as Meri says ‘sleeping is bad for you’. I am also back to wondering what I am going to do today that will be constructive.

2216: Well, I raided Google Gadgets for a number of items that rather render my Google Homepage redundant. Also gives any visitor something to look at. I am not sure I have done what could be called constructive.

C was here for awhile this afternoon – has been painting for someone today.

24.1.08/1143: We took Badger to the Vet this morning to have her dew claw sorted. Somewhat apprehensive but it went very well and she was wonderful, quite unlike the dog of old. It was €30 well spent.

1.01.2008. 0733: White Rabbits and a Good New Year !

1422: Stephen could not keep off his wheels and pottered down to Port – he will be up to 500km anytime soon.

I have had few visitors to my sites but they spent time – five with an average of 43.35 mins on Loose Ends; one on Write Stuff for 47.33mins . In fact every blog had a respectable readership. They talk of traffic volume, I think I’ll settle for quality. Of course, no-one commented.

2.01.08. 1221: I have been out – dry but bitterly cold wind – and lodged €145 to cover bills.

I have also emailed Fasthosts about cennad.eu domain – a last effort to salvage something because I have a preference for using that system for my writing plans. I shall not do anything about The Write Stuff blog until I have a solution.

3.01.08. 1307: Yet again I have been stupid about a web hosting package. I have spent eighty euros on moving cennad.eu and a two year account with HostMonster. Seems they are the best but I can’t make any sense of it. I am a chump... and it’s a Thursday !

There have been three calls re S’ laptop already and we have been in touch with H about the IQon – and I have a bad feeling about that too. He is coming at 1400 tomorrow since all efforts to boot failed.

I continue to nurse a poor opinion of myself at 2235.

4.1.08. 1012: HostMonster got back saying nothing about a refund but directed me to take up a blog by phoning for a walkthrough. But now I discover I can’t sign in... here we go again. Perhaps they are giving me a refund. Bloody optimist!

I am minded to let the thing languish as a monument to my stupidity and a warning that enough is enough. It is this mania for a Domain – which is quite daft if it is not in my own name, what is wrong with a Blogger site so named? They come cheaper too.

Weather has given us the first snow - dry granular stuff we don't usually get.

1811: I’ve just switched the oil back on. H didn’t come because of the weather so the IQon is still dead. It’s tomorrow now. Snow melting at present.

I did get into HostMonster and have hovered about a WordPress account – must think, if it allows me pages similar to FastHosts. I will be able to do my thing. I would also get two years of hosting on the best service available – or so I am told.

5.1.08. 1154: Wrote a reasonably intelligent post last thing yesterday, using Word which was new thing for me. I have made a noise about oil but I didn’t want to delete those posts – so I have written of compromise to try and explain my stance. Why should I feel I must say anything ? A kind of honesty, I suppose: why bother with any of this bloggery otherwise, might as well adhere to some sort of ethos.

2150: C spent some time here this afternoon – after HH collected IQon to work on at home. C’s car is running again and the hope is that it will continue thus and that he sells it ok.

6.1.08. 0906: My back is playing-up after lifting radiators back into loft yesterday. I hope they can stay there until summer now and come down when we need to acclimatise ready for next winter... unless, of course, oil plummets.

1700: HH arrived half an hour ago with a completely goosed-up IQon plus a new modem which Stephen is now using. A relief because I feared this was becoming a total waste of money.

I have discovered I have my last post displayed on Google and a visitor from Halifax, Nova Scotia came in via it. He/she did not hang about though – zero time.

7.1.08. 1107: I have actually managed to transcribe a page of MS on to A5 for the Red Book. I feel better already! 579 words.

1257: Dashed, by car! To Cope for onions and herb salt. Just seen a meadow pipit in the garden.

8.1.08. 0856: The good feeling did not last long yesterday, the glooms set in after dinner as S sat about sighing and fretting about Thursday and the ride to Lk – also he has the DS9 set on his mind. I have the cost on my mind – the card is out of hand again.

I can’t seem to lift myself out of the doldrums – I know I should be working on Rebisite matters but stall because of a sense that I sound stupid and because of the ‘what does it matter’ syndrome... who cares... ?

2202: Activity took over after the above – S bothered about two pc’s, what to do with the laptop... so I devised a plan to bring his IQon down. The sitting room totally rejigged now and TVs swapped. Books moved to spare room... and so on.

C and S here in PM – he has driven the new car and is in love, I think.

9.1.08. 1139: I have done the unthinkable and reopened an account with Fasthosts... ! As I seem to have got Cennad.com back, I will be optimistic about it although I don’t seem to be able to get a hosting package. This has come about because they finally got back to me with a fulsome apology and as I actually like using Sitebuilder, I have relented. I do hope that I have done the right thing.

I have hopes of using the site for all matters pertaining to Cennad and his message – it is something I must do.

C here for his mail in PM – he has taken the laptop for Sinead and although I’ll only get three hundred for it, paid whenever, it is out of Stephen’s angst sphere and I don’t have to deal with strangers.

11.1.08. 0940: Yesterday was hectic – all to Lk, Stephen by scoot for service, Meri and I following by car as backup. Spent far too much getting ink and cables -€41 on Laser – and I owe Meri €50 for shopping. She also spent heavily on food to keep S stoked for cold riding. We had a long wait at Mountaintop for the scoot but the problem with the brake pads seems sorted. He did well with the riding in difficult conditions varying from blinding hail to blinding sunlight.

One thing we could have done without was a tyre prob with the car identified by S before he left. I still don’t know what he saw because the tyre seems fine though it was pumped by the gadget. Because I had not changed the socket on the brace since Twink, we had to buy one and we lashed out for a can of tyre repair gunge – just in case. The tyre seems fine this morning... though there is only 17lbs in it and 15 in the spare... !

1024: Just talked with Fasthosts accounts and found everything closed except cennad.eu and .com. Dot com is being setup for me because it is still attached to an old package. I will be informed by email when it is done.

1030: I am back with cennad.com – and I am hanging on this time.

12.1.08. 1507:

C and S here to show off the new Car

2212: I have felt very low today after waking at five with gut pain and a ‘nail’. After about three I took Fen again then at 1900 started feeling ‘meltdown’ – I have also been troubled since getting up by testicular strain after trying to use the wheel brace yesterday, pulled up my left testicle causing stabs on and off and aching up into my abdomen. Happy days...

13.1.08. 0916: The night passed without incident and I slept well enough. Feel bloody wrecked just the same. I now suspect that my euphoric sense of wellbeing on Friday was an aura. This has happened before but I can’t remember when. Great when you cannot enjoy feeling good lest it presages something horrid...

I am rather chuffed with Word 2007’s ability to take pictures so readily – means this journal can be a quite special.