Memorials

Posted on by gizzajob

This coming May, I plan to repair the grave of my gran’s parents – and her brother from Nottingham – to get it ship-shape and Bristol fashion again. The site has been left to wreck-and-ruin – after decades of negligence. It’s optimum time to organise the graves; now that cemeteries in Northern Ireland have reopened.

Also, tomorrow would have been the ninety-fifth birthday of gran. She would have wanted me to organise the graves. I’m hoping that my brother would provide a contribution to the cost.

Also, I ordered a new mattress for my brother’s bed here; he will return home at the end of June. I had to stop feeling sorry for myself, after hearing that a brother of a neighbour has spinal cancer. I’m grateful to be fit and healthy.

Oil is at knockdown prices. I plan to order more heating oil on Friday. God willing, four-hundred litres will get me close to full.

Tunes:

Friday the Thirteenth approaching!

Posted on by gizzajob

Tomorrow will be Friday the Thirteenth! It will also be the tenth birthday of my cousin’s daughter in Dubai. This Christmas has been pretty busy. However, it keeps my mind occupied. My job, at this moment, is to tie up all the remaining loose ends at home.

A friend of mine from Pomeroy starts a new job today. Good luck to her. Nothing beats experience.

I must remind myself, however, that there are so many dependent on Food Banks this Christmas. Britain has more Food Banks now than branches of McDonald’s. Chilling!

Tunes:

Manic Monday

Posted on by gizzajob

This morning I woke up when the alarm sounded at 5 am and went to a phone group based in America then got ready to head out to Antrim to get a train to Belfast to speak to Specialisterne NI about the 2gether project that they’re running for those with Autism. It would be good to reach out to others with the same condition. However, the ultimate solution is to find work.

Heading over to Antrim I thought I would avoid the bottleneck by driving to Whiteside’s Corner via the Rougery Road and then turn towards Randalstown. But a van was in front of me all the way from Ardboe with a light out and, whenever he turned to a shop heading to Moneyglas, I let him know his light was out. Then I bought a cappuccino and a builder’s breakfast and just missed what I thought was my expected train in Antrim. However, the fog this morning meant the trains were delayed and I got a train fifteen minutes later.

After the induction with Specialisterne, I felt exhausted. I got a taxi to the place where I get IT help from I was trying to install Debian from my ISO image and there was an issue connecting to the internet. The good news is that I can head over tomorrow and get help prior to an Open Source series of talks about Startups there. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

The drive home from Antrim was a forced exercise. My trousers were too tight and I felt uncomfortable. However, I got home safely and did laundry. Then later I drove to Moneymore to post my travel receipts and then drive to Cookstown to buy groceries at Lidl. Then this evening I moved the lawn before it got dark as it was still dry and the grass was long.

Feeling a sense of accomplishment today. 🙂

Tunes:

 

Experience of Dublin (plus paintings of mine)

Posted on by gizzajob

Last Tuesday I visited Dublin; driving to Maghera park-and-ride and then taking the X4 to Busaras and then returning during the witching hours of Wednesday morning and driving back. At first I wanted to attend a Meetup for Creatives, however it was cancelled and I decided to arrange a visit with my ex-Landlady in order to ensure I didn’t waste the ticket.

 

My experience of Dublin underlines the huge changes it has experienced, with the Luas and Cycle Lanes. Though I was told London is worse for cycle lanes. I tried to jay walk to get to Connolly Train Station, to get a DART to Howth Junction, but just about live to tell the tale. The red man never turned green, EVER. We’re just plebs in Dublin. 😦

 

My ex-Landlady made dinner for me, her husband, herself and her grandson she was looking after. Chicken, spuds and broccoli. Lovely Jubbly.

 

Then on the way back I noticed kids wearing memorial Gaelic Football Jerseys that I have in Adult form. Turned out the family were from Ballinderry and were getting off the same bus I was getting at Cookstown. But we had to wait outside for the bus after Busaras closed at 11 pm; our bus left Dublin at Midnight. But we were able to board about 20 minutes later.

 

But I had to take it easy today. I worked yesterday and was exhausted afterwards, didn’t fully recover from the trip.

 

But I’m so glad that I went.

 

Paintings:

 

Purple Brain: (dedicated to Prince)

IMG_20160806_205125

Toilet training a Puppy: (leaves little to the imagination)

IMG_20160806_205412

 

 

Making room for money

Posted on by gizzajob

I heard from someone saying that, when they get rid of clutter, money arrives at just the right time. She calls it ‘Making room for money.’ Now I hope that getting rid of my backlog of newspapers I bought recently will hopefully provide me with another windfall. There is a bank account that my gran has dormant in Monaghan, Irish Not-So-Free-State, that we’re trying to get released. Hopefully it will sort itself out in good time.

 

My right palm is no longer itchy, though. A Skype buddy of mine from Toronto says that if my right palm is itchy I’ll receive money but if my left palm is itchy I’ll have to spend money. Sorting out the issue with the car tax is my next port of call; posted a letter to them today after printing out my old tax agreement and the new one I had to do last Friday. Reinstalling the driver on my Kyocera Printer as part of it. Technology, eh! 😐

 

Now I’m having some time to myself. I realise that some people will ALWAYS have issues with certain things. Practicing tolerance is key.

 

Tune time: