I have no real idea what day it is. lol. all days and nights have merged into some long dream these past 7 days... I have heard very wise things, i have heard very stupid things.
One thing i've heard that resonates around my head is the following:
Strength isn't just about being able to get through things.
It is also about knowing you cannot get through things and you still don't quit.
nothing more to say really. I wonder what will be happening in a further 7 days time? who knows eh?...
Tuesday 23 October 2007
to be honest...
Posted by starinajar at 11:06 pm 0 comments
poem...
All things pass
A sunrise does not last all morning
All things pass
A cloudburst does not last all day
All things pass
Nor a sunset all night
All things pass
What always changes?
Earth...sky...thunder...mountain...wind...fire...lake...
These change
And if these do not last
Do man's visions last?
Do man's illusions?
Take things as they come
All things pass
Lao Tzu
Posted by starinajar at 11:02 pm 0 comments
Sunday 21 October 2007
well...
Hello everybody, you probably think i have fallen off the earth at the moment but i am still holding on (albeit by the thinnest of threads).
This is mainly a blog entry 'just because'. I tried to find some song or poem or at least something to pad this blog entry out a bit. I guess sometimes you just can't.
Take care guys.
Posted by starinajar at 4:58 pm 0 comments
Tuesday 2 October 2007
the phaedrus...
But when they came to letters, This, said Theuth, will make the Egyptians wiser and give them better memories; it is a specific both for the memory and for the wit.
Thamus replied: O most ingenious Theuth, the parent or inventor of an art is not always the best judge of the utility or inutility of his own inventions to the users of them. And in this instance, you who are the father of letters, from a paternal love of your own children have been led to attribute to them a quality which they cannot have; for this discovery of yours will create forgetfulness in the learners' souls, because they will not use their memories; they will trust to the external written characters and not remember of themselves. The specific which you have discovered is an aid not to memory, but to reminiscence, and you give your disciples not truth, but only the semblance of truth; they will be hearers of many things and will have learned nothing; they will appear to be omniscient and will generally know nothing; they will be tiresome company, having the show of wisdom without the reality.
Posted by starinajar at 6:00 pm 1 comments
puzzle...
A hiker walks from one town to another.
On the first day she covers one eighth of the total distance, the next day she covers one third of what is left.
The following day she covers one quarter of the remainder and on the fourth day half of the remaining distance.
She now has 10 miles remaining.
How far has she travelled?
Posted by starinajar at 5:59 pm 7 comments
Wednesday 26 September 2007
chapter 6...
Well, here is the last chapter of my autobiography. It is only one page (I was 11 years old, I didn't have too many ambitions back then). I was so cute!
Posted by starinajar at 8:26 am 1 comments
Monday 24 September 2007
a huge smile...
This blog entry is a big thankyou to my brother-in-law Jobey (and Zoe his wife) for the fab gift he gave me yesterday. A giant pair of pants! (but they were packed full of sweets and other unhealthy items):
Vanilla Jammy Dodgers
Orange Jammy Dodgers (?)
Post-it notes (?)
A car tidy (?)
A large tube of Skittles
A large tube of M&M's
A large tube of Smarties.
A box of mint Matchmakers
Banana Angel Delight
Strawberry Jelly
Thank you very much my honorary brother! you cheered me up no end! you are great!
Posted by starinajar at 8:42 am 7 comments
far side...
Another funny monday morning bit of inspiration. from The Far Side
Posted by starinajar at 8:39 am 0 comments
chapter 5...
Wow... just looking at what I wrote I feel very old now. A computer with a CD-ROM! wow, what an ambition.
Posted by starinajar at 8:35 am 0 comments
Friday 21 September 2007
puzzle...
Replace the blanks in this sentence with two words.
The same eight letters must be used for both words.
Although only _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ damage appeared to have
been done to the car, the cost of repair was quite _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
What are the two words?
Posted by starinajar at 8:23 pm 0 comments
Thursday 20 September 2007
chapter 4...
As a special treat (and because it is such a damp, glum welsh morning) I have also posted chapter 4 - My Pets. Enjoy...
Posted by starinajar at 8:42 am 0 comments
Labels: biography
chapter 3...
Yes! we are back to the insightful biography that is 'Pugh's Views!'. Today we look at chapter 3 - Primary Days. Enjoy...
Posted by starinajar at 8:32 am 0 comments
Labels: biography
Saturday 15 September 2007
cookies...
From time to time (usually when I am invited around to someones house) I like to spend a bit of time in the kitchen beforehand baking so as to bring a tasty little morsel as a 'thanks for inviting me' gift. I rummage through bits of paper looking for the ingredients i need and decided recently that it would be much easier for me to blog the recipe for quick and easy access.
Here goes:
Choc Chip Cookies (Makes about 20)
Ingredients
300g Self raising flour
1tsp salt
150g butter
200g Brown/Dark sugar
120g Regular white sugar
1tbsp Vanilla extract
1 large egg
300g of a filling (In this case I use choc chips)
melt the butter and add vanilla extract, allow it to cool.
mix all the dry ingredients together.
mix the egg with the now cooled butter mixture.
add butter mixture to dry mix and stir together well.
add your choc chips or other flavouring at this point.
make small balls of the mixture (ping pong ball size) and place them on the baking tray. squash them a bit so they look like hockey pucks. (They will melt slightly in the oven and become cookie shaped). Place them in a preheated oven Gas 5 for about 15-20 mins. keep an eye on them and when they start to golden up on the edges remove from oven and place on cooling rack to cool. Finally clean the bowls you have dirtied. Make coffee and eat them all while warm.
Feel ill afterwards and swear you will never make something that unhealthy again!
Why not try using ginger instead of choc chips?
Posted by starinajar at 3:26 pm 0 comments
Labels: recipie
Wednesday 12 September 2007
puzzle...
On each row place two letters which can be attached to the beginning of the word to the right to form a longer word.
FILL
QUIT
RED
SET
When completed the eight letters used will give a word reading downwards.
What is it?
Posted by starinajar at 1:14 pm 1 comments
Labels: puzzle
puzzle...
Rearrange the letters of
BEAM AROUND A MAD INQUIRY
to give the names of three precious stones.
What are they?
Posted by starinajar at 1:12 pm 2 comments
Labels: puzzle
puzzle...
Place the same two letters in the exact centre of each of the words below to form longer words.
TROD WE STRING
Which two letters must be used?
Posted by starinajar at 1:02 pm 3 comments
Labels: puzzle
Friday 7 September 2007
songs of the day...
Coconut (Put the Lime in the Coconut)
Very catchy song of the day today.
Also as a bonus today:
Danny Boy
I listened to this and almost wet myself.
Posted by starinajar at 3:19 pm 0 comments
far side...
I have a Far side desk calender, and I don't know if it is my bizarre sense of humour or just because of the relief of it being Friday (maybe both) but I am still laughing at this.
Posted by starinajar at 10:36 am 0 comments
Wednesday 5 September 2007
affirmation photography...
Today I finished the first online gallery for Caths website. I am quite impressed with myself as it also is an online shop! where guests can buy copies of the photographs! Take a look at:
www.affirmationphotography.co.uk/jonathanandzoe
Posted by starinajar at 11:32 pm 0 comments
Monday 3 September 2007
chickin pickin...
Introducing my new friends: Trinny and Susannah. They arrived today but are presently staying at my mother in laws house until I get the finishing touches done on my chicken sanctuary.
Posted by starinajar at 7:20 pm 0 comments
Labels: chickens
Sunday 2 September 2007
song of the day...
Mango Tree
Angus and Julia Stone
I wish I had a mango tree
In my backyard
With you standin next to me
Take the picture
From her lips I heard her say
Can I have you
Caught up on what to say
I said you do
I said you do
I said you do
Through my eyes I can see
A shooting star
Weavn its way across the sea
Somewhere from mars
Down the street we would run
To scratch our names in the path
Young and free in the sun
Wheels upon the tar
I said you do
I said you do
I said you do
I said you do
Posted by starinajar at 9:20 pm 0 comments
Saturday 1 September 2007
poem of the day...
Halfway Down the stairs
A.A. Milne
Halfway down the stairs
Is a stair where I sit:
There isn't any other stair quite like it.
I'm not at the bottom,
I'm not at the top:
So this is the stair where I always stop.
Halfway up the stairs
Isn't up, and isn't down.
It isn't in the nursery, it isn't in the town:
And all sorts of funny thoughts
Run round my head:
"It isn't really anywhere! It's somewhere else instead!"
This version is sung by Robin the frog (Nephew of Kermit). oh bless, the stress has finally gotten to me. lol
Posted by starinajar at 7:42 pm 0 comments
wedding...
You know when you go to bed and you think that you will wake up and it will be the morning of the wedding and everything in that day has just been a dream? well that is how yesterday went;
8am. pick up bridesmaids and take for their hair appointments.
8.30am make sure groom is awake. (he was watching cartoons on TV!)
9am go back to my house and have breakfast. don't have time for breakfast becuse i spent the time running around making sure i had everything.
9.20am go down church with mother in law to ensure church is all set up and looking nice, also to leave car down there so i have some way of getting to the reception after the service. On the way to the church i call Jobey and there is no sign of the ring. (The ring should have arrived two days earlier, harsh words were said to the ring makers the day before and they had promised it would be at the house guaranteed before 9am on the day. It hadn't!).
9.30am Walk in to H.Samuels with a look of pannic and ask them if i can borrow a ring, explaining the entire saga. i had to pay £80 for a wedding ring! because it had to be in a size 'N' so it would fit nicely. thank the nice lady there very much.
9.35am run through town to the brides hairdressers and explain that the ring hadn't arrived and i needed to check that the substitute ring fitted. It was perfect.
9.40am back to church. venue looks great. drop off order of services.
9.45am head back to jobeys house with relief we have a ring.
9.50am Post man arrives at house with wedding ring shaped box. IT IS THE RING! (but you can guarantee that if i hadn't bought a spare the real one wouldn't have arrived)
10am eat bacon roll
10.30am. shower, shave etc.
11.am car arrives at house (a lovely classic car to take us to the church).
11.15am at church.
last minute pannic. i keep checking my pockets ever 2 minutes to ensure i have the rings. I do have them. phew!
12noon the service starts. the bride looks beautiful , the music lovely. (i won't describe the service. watch the dvd)
1.30pm we are all on the way to the reception venue (about 35mins drive away, going for photos on the way)
2pm have call, the car the bridesmaid are in has broken down. nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
2.10pm the bridesmaids all cram into a car coming behind them and head straight to the reception venue. (i think it was the car the parents of the bride were in but am unsure, by now it was all a blur.) so i leave the photo venue and go to the reception.
2.30pm photos are beingtaken and the reception looks lovely. but i am still running around like a maniac sorting out gifts from people etc.
3.pm sit people down for food
3.15pm eating.
3.16pm groom tells me all the gifts for the speaches are outside. so i leave my soup go cold and go bring them in.
3.25pm i confescate the gabble off the top table and hide it under my chair so the groom and grooms dad stop hitting the table with it.
3.26pm jonathan taps his bowl loudly. people stop eating. i have to explain that it is the groom messing around and tell people to please continue eating. i shout at grrom.
3.30pm realise the groom has no notes for his speach.
3.31pm write notes for grooms speach. while eating a bit of beef (not that i had time to be hungry or eat)
4.30pm (i think) the speaches beging. my speach gets much laughter as i discuss jobeys immaginary friends, how he met zoe, jonathans dancing skills etc. etc. the guests were happy and that made my job much easier. (all speaches are on the dvd)
6.30pm, clear people out of the room to allow the venue to set up for evening do. while this is going on i transfer all of the bride and grooms going away stuff into their car for them. put gifts into my car
7.pm evening event started. lovely, live band etc, hot buffet.
8.pm jonathan looses car keys for his car. argh!
9pm first dance. lovely, so sweet. pause the key madness and dance with them (again watch the dvd)
9.05pm band start playing and i resume the search in the dark for the lost keys.
9.30pm i find the keys in a gift bag! am given 'legend' status by all guests. i find a dark bench outside and sit down breathing a sigh of relief.
9.40pm i stroll back inside and eat from a 2 hour cold buffet.
10.45pm zoe and jobey change into going away outfit, (which i have to run around trying to find!)
11pm escorth them to car just to make sure their car starts (i was certain it wouldn't after the day so far, but it started and they headed off to the hotel they were staying in for the night)
12 midnight am last to leave venue, boot full of gifts, venue cleared. no stragglers looking lost. (by the time my feet are in agony). 40 min drive home in dream like state.
1am. bed.
well that was the day. well actually it wasn't lots of other stuff happened, including jobey saying the wrong lines when he souldn't have, i had a paper cut!, polaroid camera fun! but you need to see the dvd for all that stuff. lol.
Posted by starinajar at 8:08 am 0 comments
i could have said no...
- what happens when the brides ring isn't delivered on the morning of the wedding?
- when the bridesmaids car breaks down on the way to the reception?
- when the groom looses his car keys when he needs to leave for his honeymoon two hours later?
i will tell you soon enough. because it is now coming close to 1am and i am going to bed. i am completely exhausted. but i must admit my speech was great and i have been the most awesome best man ever ever ever. here are a couple of pics from today...
i will post more up and may even post ones of me! (doing my amazing best man job) when i am awake as soon as i can.
Posted by starinajar at 12:41 am 0 comments
Monday 27 August 2007
song of the day...
Racoon
Love You More
Clouds above go sailing by
I found my meaning in this life
clear white is flying in my eyes,
underneath a blue, blue sky
The waves come rolling in with the tide.
I've been away too long
and everyday I missed you more.
You look like you did before
only prettier.
Everyday I love you more.
All the people rushing by, by, by
looking for meaning in this life
so used up, and blinded by lies,
They're underneath the blue, blue sky
the way they seldom seem to smile
I don't know why.
'Cause I've been away too long
and everyday I missed you more.
You look like you did before,
only prettier.
Everyday I love you more.
I love you more,
everday I love you more,
and more.
Cause I've been away too long
and everyday I missed you more.
You look like you did before,
only prettier.
And everyday I missed you more,
and more and more and more and more.
I've been away too long
and everyday I missed you more
oh you look like you did before
only prettier
everyday I love you more.
I love you more.
Everyday I love you more.
Posted by starinajar at 9:34 pm 0 comments
Sunday 26 August 2007
b'loons...
Posted by starinajar at 11:39 pm 0 comments
Thursday 23 August 2007
snip snip...
well, i knew the day would arrive eventually. a hair cut is on the cards today. But before everyone gasps and panics let me explain that it is only for a little trim to tidy up some straggly ends before the wedding next week.
I dislike haircuts in almost the same way as I dislike dentists. the greater danger with a hairdresser however is that they can make you look completely terrible until your hair grows back. when I was a child my parents took me for a haircut and the hairdresser shaved my hair quite short. people cried when they saw me (honest truth!).
Posted by starinajar at 8:54 am 0 comments
Wednesday 22 August 2007
cloud watching...
Posted by starinajar at 10:40 pm 2 comments
urgh...
Posted by starinajar at 10:16 pm 1 comments
Monday 20 August 2007
open wide...
phew... i have healthy teeth and a happy smile! my gums are excellent *grins* and teeth strong. I am so glad i don't have to go back there for another six months! I was very brave :D
today i just need to get my car sorted and i'll be a happy bunny.
Posted by starinajar at 10:03 am 0 comments
Saturday 18 August 2007
oops...
Posted by starinajar at 5:01 pm 2 comments
Sunday 12 August 2007
but it pours...
rain, rain, go away.. etc etc...
be suprised if i see any shooting stars tonight. :(
Posted by starinajar at 9:35 pm 3 comments
it never rains...
good grief, has been lovely all day (cloudy but nice) and suddenly the heavens have just opened. well washing was out and so was the rabbit. cath got the washing, I grabbed the rabbit. well, to be honest I don't tend to 'handle' small animals, they tend to have claws and teeth, i grab them. well I have discovered today that wet rabbit smells like wet dog. not nice. when I carried the little soggy creature inside to dry it up the only thanks I have are scrams on my arm from it! flippin' huge back legs and claws that now make me look like I have been self harming! good grief! someone remind me why I want chickens?
Posted by starinajar at 7:13 pm 1 comments
Saturday 11 August 2007
perseid...
The annual display of the perseid meteor shower is upon us this saturday, sunday, monday and tuesday night (peaking before sunrise monday morning)... take a look if you have never seen shooting stars before (I am always amazed at how many people haven't).
A tiny speck the size of a grain of sand will hit our atmosphere travelling at 30 miles per second (1,800 mph!) and, due to the friction, air around it will superheat and ignite thus creating the tail of the commet. you have to admit. that is impressive!
Make a wish and maybe it will come true.!
Posted by starinajar at 5:20 pm 0 comments
Friday 10 August 2007
finally...
A Cordell book with a happy ending.
Land of Hearts Desire
I recommend it to all, although there are the usual deaths of friends etc. the final outcome is lovely and happy. Horrah to Cordell!
Posted by starinajar at 10:31 pm 0 comments
Wednesday 8 August 2007
song of the day...
This is from Smallville from Monday night. Great episode.
Ache
James Carrington
Isn't it strange, the way things can change
Life that you lead, turned on its head
suddenly someone, means more than you felt for
house in its yard, turns into home.
Sorry but I meant to say, many things along the way, this ones for you.
Have I told you I ache, have I told you I ache,
Have I told you I ache, for you...
Have I told you I ache, have I told you I ache,
have I told you I ache, for you...
The time that it took, writing words for my book, seems to have broken off
the gate that I shot,
last time I got hurt
seems to have opened itself
oh what its spinnin now,
its tryna catch me up
tell me to appriciate, here and now
I'm sorry but I meant to say
many things along the way
this ones for you.
Have I told you i ache, Have i told you i ache, have i told you i ache, for you...
Have I told you i ache, Have i told you i ache, have i told you i ache, for you...
Posted by starinajar at 6:44 pm 0 comments
back to work...
back to work today, didn't sleep well last night. so today i'm pretty exhausted. anyway, it's kind of nice to have the distraction of work at the moment. sorted through various pointless emails and read my post, thankfully, one piece of post cheered me up and made me smile. anyway... off i go, work to be done.
Posted by starinajar at 10:00 am 0 comments
Tuesday 7 August 2007
insomnia...
yup, i'm awake. tried going to bed an hour and a half ago but no luck. just lay there staring at the ceiling thinking about stuff. so, i thought, why not get up and do something and try again later on. so here i am. random blogging. no particular point I want to talk about. just mumbling to myself. i am so tired.
Posted by starinajar at 11:10 pm 0 comments
today...
:) Back on the cordell today. Carrying on from where i left off. have some spare time at the moment as i'm still off work, just taking it easy and not pushing myself too hard. anyway... back to reading it is...
oh and btw i slept better last night, horrah!, although i didn't sleep for much longer i think the quality was better. anyway. time will tell.
Posted by starinajar at 10:53 am 0 comments
Monday 6 August 2007
update...
I have checked my comments this morning and had an anonymous comment telling me I should update my blog. so dear anonymous, I have been feeling flippin awful for the last few days, I am taking a massive amount of antibiotics and other tablets to stop them burning a hole in my stomach. As a result I have a small war going on in my stomach, i can actually feel my stomach moving around inside me. It feels quite sci-fi. The most anoying part is i am full after eating a small piece of cake and half a cup of coffee. Therefore am not getting much energy in my body. Just so you know, I reckon in the last couple of weeks i have lost at least half a stone in weight. I am presently not sleeping well at all, stringing together a couple of hours sleep here and there. as a result I am completely exhausted. I hope this answers your query.
Regards,
Matt :)
Posted by starinajar at 12:06 pm 2 comments
Thursday 2 August 2007
helicobacter pylori...
I am ill! it has been proven. Had a call from the surgery today saying one of my blood tests came back positive for Helicobacter Pylori! You have no idea how good it feels to know my illness is not all in my head. lol. Take a look at the following picture. doesn't it look quite cute? but boy it makes you feel as rough as a bear.
I now have three lots of tablets to take over the next week to kill the little blighter! *evil laugh*
Posted by starinajar at 7:12 pm 3 comments
Saturday 28 July 2007
grand day out...
Today was an experience. A day out in Cardiff with Jonathon, Jobey, Jonty, Jay, Joycey, Iestyn, or whatever you know him as. Our mission to buy some stuff for his wedding in a months time, and his new house.
It is always an education getting in the car with him. Musically he is by far the most eclectic person that you are likely ever to meet I admire his ability to buy music, rarely does he choose something hideous, today we listened to Antony & The Johnsons. Here is a clip. it's quite haunting.
But also it is very relaxing, I tend to like this genre of haunting/easy listening laid back Summer evening music. I can't really describe it, If you have listened to the song then i'm sure you understand. As far as the singer goes he is bizarre looking. How on earth my brother in law found him I have no idea... anyway.. I like it.
Today I discovered how compact I can fold my body, as in his car we brought home from Ikea a double bed, a bed settee, a large pillow, and also various other 'usual' bits and pieces (You know -the usual lamp, coasters, candles etc that you always tend to purchase on any trip to ikea (whether you want them or not)) lol. I was in the front seat and couldn't keep my head up straight, my knees to my chest, the boot held shut using shoelaces. and an hour later I unfolded from his car nearly crippled. we laughed lots.
Also discovered today that if two guys lay down on a show bed in Ikea together that they get funny looks from people.
Was also amused when I was asked in the Apple Store in Cardiff if we 'were together', I assumed they meant 'being served' and just happily said a camp 'yes, we are'. Thinking back to the question I am now uncertain what they meant.
Anyway... our meal for two in the Hard Rock Cafe, no doubt looked as gay as, Jonathan besides me sipping a cocktail as we enjoyed the moments of musical history, laughing away together.
what a nice day...
Posted by starinajar at 9:04 pm 0 comments
Friday 27 July 2007
you see...
I easily believe music skill is hereditary. Unless you are very lucky and have some mutated gene the chances are that you look at people like this and drool enviously of their skills. As far as my musical heritage goes...
I am from a line of Silver bands (Trombones, cornets etc), and very few sounds in the world can actually stir me up like a superbly played band. If you are bored you can see part of my history here. My grandfather on my dads side was one of the founders (see pic below). If you look for the name Reg Pugh on the site it pops up here and there.
If you have ever watched the film The Englishman who went up a hill and came down a mountain. The chances are that you have seen and heard Porthywaen band as they were in it.
A film worth watching if you like this type of stuff is Brassed Off. The music is good, and the storyline is about the troubles faced by a colliery brass band, following the closure of their pit.
Here is a clip featuring a song I like:
In summary, I did once play the Tenor Horn. but that didn't last too long. I own a Bass guitar, but stopped playing that when I got married. :( Am pretty much rubbish at all other musical instruments. I don't have great rhythm so don't dance. I am too tall for a dance partner really, me and Cath dancing look awkward. anyway... it's getting late... now I will listen to Silver bands and fall asleep...
Posted by starinajar at 10:29 pm 0 comments
Steve Vai...
following on from that previous clip am now watching Steve Vai weave magical music...
How is that for a guitar?!?! I am quite jealous...
Posted by starinajar at 10:26 pm 2 comments
karate kid...
Just finished watching Karate Kid 1 on DVD with the kids tonight. Forgot how many goosebumps you can get from a film ending. But anyway, just been on YouTube looking at Karate Kid clips and up pops the following:
Crossroads Guitar Duel - Steve Vai battles Karate Kid
I haven't seen this film for ages! Awesome ending. For those who haven't seen it rent the film Crossroads. Just watching the clip and dribbled at Steve Vai's God like way with a guitar... drool.
Posted by starinajar at 10:19 pm 0 comments
Thursday 26 July 2007
last night...
I am back in work today. Not certain I should be if i'm honest, but my workload keeps mounting up if i don't deal with it. I am very tired, and as a result feel quite down.
Went to Borders last night, the kids were with their Gran so Cath and I seized the opportunity to go out. I bought two things, Cath bought one. I purchased a new poetry book - Poem for the Day Two (And before you ask the same question Cath asked, I have read the first one in a few weeks therefore not needing to wait a year for the second one). I also bought the DVD of Karate Kid! a bargain at £3!. Cath's purchase was more interesting but that is a different blog entry I think. Anyway... here is a poem from my new book:
What it is
Erich Fried
It is nonsense
says reason
It is what it is
says love
It is misfortune
says calculation
It is nothing but pain
says fear
It is hopeless
says insight
It is what it is
says love
It is ridiculous
says pride
It is careless
says caution
It is impossible
says experience
It is what it is
says love
Posted by starinajar at 8:31 am 1 comments
Wednesday 25 July 2007
song of the day...
Tracy Chapman
The Promise
Don't ask me why there is a Harry Potter video acompanying it. I have no idea, It made me smile though.
Posted by starinajar at 1:21 pm 0 comments
If...
If
Rudyard Kipling
IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
Posted by starinajar at 12:37 pm 0 comments
Tuesday 24 July 2007
poooorly baaad...
Afternoon all... I'm baaad (in wales you have to extend the length of the aaaa in bad). Been to the doctor and have to go back on Friday for more blood tests. the first lot he gave me a couple of weeks back showed nothing abnormal, but i still feel rubbish, I have no appetite, feel sick, feel lethargic, basically I am not myself and haven' t been now for weeks.
Went for a nap this afternoon because i was exhausted. woke up and have only just turned on my computer to check emails etc and feel like my arms are going to drop off.
Hopefully I will feel a bit better tomorrow. But for now have to face my fate and go and watch clouds while lying on the hammock listening to music.
I am a rubbish patient. lol.
Posted by starinajar at 3:36 pm 0 comments
can't sleep...
Out of all of the songs i own, one that leaves me breathless is the following. I love the lyrics, her voice etc, everything about it in fact.
Amy Nuttall
No Greater Gift
I couldn't get the video to play here as I normally do but you can watch the video if you click here. enjoy.
One brief glance can be
a door to eternity
eyes that reveal your very soul
have made me loose all self control
feeling so long denied
a stirring deep inside
and when you find your not alone
could it be your hearts come home
here am I
no me more hills to climb
in your arms I rest
in your heart I'm blessed
when we have no greater gift
then this is our to give
time will tell they say
to those who feel this way
lonely the heart listening
can hear the song that love can sing
here am I
no me more hills to climb
in your arms I rest
in your heart I'm blessed
and we have no greater gift
then this is our to give
as the setting sun
surely we'll become
daylight for turning earth
in your arms i rest
in your heart i m blessed
when I'm with you i leave the world outside
there's no need to hide
in your arms I rest
in your heart I'm blessed
and we have no greater gift
then this is our to give
Posted by starinajar at 6:36 am 0 comments
Monday 23 July 2007
chapter 2...
Here it is... You may ask why I have started at chapter 2, the reason is chapter one contains information (and photos) about my family. For risk of being beaten by my sisters I have decided to refrain from posting it... A little brother knows his place. (Click on the images to enlarge them). Don't you just love the illustration? I am very dramatic.
Posted by starinajar at 8:24 am 2 comments
Labels: biography
Sunday 22 July 2007
today i'm listening to...
Alice Cooper
Poison
*update*
Ok, looking at this blog entry today it does require some explanation, it is a bit of a random and dark choice for me going for Alice Cooper, but you have to admit the song is great. When I'm driving to work at the moment my mp3 player is set to work its way through my entire library. It's surprising how many songs i had forgotten were on there. every now and again I hear a song i haven't listened to for ages... this is one of them.
Posted by starinajar at 12:22 pm 3 comments
Saturday 21 July 2007
ouch...
my arms ache... Have been to the big B&Q this morning to get some supplies to complete my fence. Now my arms ache too much to make the fence. D'oh! The poorly one is a bit better again today. But still not great so I am staying at home with him and my eldest while Cath and my youngest have gone to Margam Balloon Festival. They will be back at 10.30pm! The big question is will there be a fence constructed in the garden when they return? As long at the rain holds off I could have a go...
ok.. lets find out how you make concrete...
*update*
just learned how to make concrete and the rain has just started falling. guess I am staying inside and eating Ice cream instead. Thank you God for Ben and Jerry's 'Fish Food' ice cream. (I also love 'Cookie Dough' and 'Half Baked'). The fence has to wait...
*another update*
Do you ever wonder where all the rain comes from? the foundation hole i dug for the fence is now a small pond. rubbish! Oh well, toastie time!
Posted by starinajar at 12:36 pm 1 comments
Friday 20 July 2007
coming soon...
The greatest insight into my mind yet. As we take a look at the autobiography I wrote when I was in my first year of Comprehensive school! An emotional roler coaster of a ride through the highs and lows of my young life. (First chapter will be online Monday!)
Posted by starinajar at 4:20 pm 2 comments
Labels: biography
poem...
Not Love Perhaps
A.S.J. Tessimond
This is not Love, perhaps, Love that lays down
its life, that many waters cannot quench, nor the floods drown,
But something written in lighter ink, said in a lower tone,
something, perhaps, especially our own.
A need, at times, to be together and talk,
And then the finding we can walk
More firmly through dark narrow places,
And meet more easily nightmare faces;
A need to reach out, sometimes, hand to hand,
And then find Earth less like an alien land;
A need for alliance to defeat
The whisperers at the corner of the street.
A need for inns on roads, islands in seas,
Halts for discoveries to be shared,
Maps checked, notes compared;
A need, at times, of each for each,
Direct as the need of throat and tongue for speech.
In my poem for the day book, this is actually yesterdays poem. I didn't understand today's... lol.
Posted by starinajar at 8:40 am 0 comments
Thursday 19 July 2007
singing in the rain...
Tonight, once I have picked my eldest up from the school (him having had a day trip to Cardiff). We all gather back home to watch a DVD that has arrived today.
Singing in the Rain
Why? I have no idea... another of Cath's choices. I will give my review once we have watched it.
*Update*
I actually quite enjoyed it. I must admit I am not entirely suprised. I enjoy Audrey Hepburn (mmmmmmm...) films so 'older' films don't horrify me. This film had some toe tapping songs, amusing lines and a generally pleasent storyline. Three elements that make a good film for me. Well done Cath for this choice. :)
Posted by starinajar at 5:39 pm 6 comments
I love...
But answer me this... I just Googled the name to check the spelling and I have just discovered that if you search 'Ella Fitzgerald' you get the following:
Yep. read it again. It says HIS... anybody know why?
Posted by starinajar at 5:18 pm 2 comments
all done...
Here is the finished chicken house! having the day off has allowed me to put the roof together and put it on... all I need to do now is put up the fence. Estimated Chicken Arrival time is mid next week! so I'm planning to complete the project this weekend.
Posted by starinajar at 5:04 pm 1 comments
Labels: chickens
my day off...
Today I have a day off! horrah! been tying up loose ends that you kind of forget to do everyday, but when you have a day dedicated to these bits and pieces you seem to get loads done and it feels great!
The poorly one is here but is looking better today. My youngest feels sick and is just sitting there looking quite pitiful. I am making phone calls and sorting stuff.
anyway...
here is something lovely:
find more lovely things at www.edwardmonkton.com/
Posted by starinajar at 12:26 pm 0 comments
Tuesday 17 July 2007
urgh!....
Anybody who says I lack empathy and sympathy will be punched...
I feel sick.
enough said...
*later on*
I still feel ill. I know that I feel worse than he does. I have seen more than I wanted to. I don't want to hear the words pus and swollen and the like ever again ..... aggghhh
...seriously... i feel worked up and quite rough... lol... good grief
... i need a drink...
Posted by starinajar at 6:57 pm 2 comments
minor surgery...
Greetings blog fans, hope you are all liking the new look. One problem with being a a designer is that you are never satisfied with how things look. So prepare to see even more changes to the blog over the next week or so...
Anyway... I have a question...
Who was it that deemed circumcision 'minor' surgery? I'm sorry, but there is nothing 'minor' about it! I can only assume it was classified by some unstable woman who was having a laugh. Today my youngest son has gone into hospital for the 'minor' operation... so all the best to him. (I think I have been more concerned about it all than he has). It is surprising how many people have 'congratulated' me... I just looked blankly back at them, then explained that it wasn't choice and there was a medical reasoning...
And that brings me to point out to guys everywhere that I do not want to know if you have been circumcised! I already know too much about guys I don't want to know this stuff about! Please no more!
Anyway, as we are on the topic, I want to point out something I discovered a while ago but had no real reason to note it on my blog....
The Bible in lego! but more interestingly take a look at Joshua 5:2-8... It seems topic appropriate
Genius!
Posted by starinajar at 12:19 pm 1 comments
Sunday 15 July 2007
one hundred...
wow... this is blog 100! doesn't seem like that many i must admit. i guess i should do something profound to mark this occasion... but what to do? I should have thought about it before i started typing i guess... but where's the fun in that?
*10 minutes later*
yep i'm stumped...
going out soon so i will have a think about what i can do while i'm out.
be back later!
To be continued....
I know! A new look!
Am tweeking the design as I go... have made some changes to the blog technical side so I can modify bits (the look/features etc) with greater ease... please bear with me as i dabble with the html code voodoo stuff. !
Posted by starinajar at 6:19 pm 1 comments
Saturday 14 July 2007
I ache...
Sadly it is not because I have done anything too strenuous over the last couple of days. The most athletic thing i did was play rounders (I am awesome at that game). But right now I feel like i swung too hard and as a result cannot lift a cup of coffee with my right arm. My left ankle feels like a mountain fell on it. I also had a migraine attack (supposedly brought on by the intense sun). So Thursday evening i felt as rough as a dog. I got home at 3pm(ish) yesterday and went straight to bed, I got up to eat some tea (watch BeetleJuice on DVD) i then went back to bed and have just woken up!
I must admit I do feel better now. (Apart from my left ankle and right arm)... lol...
The time away was great, (it always is) Thursday afternoon/evening we were entertained by the Lacey Theatre Company, as they tried out some new material on us. As before when I 've seen these guys in action, they were amazing. The rest of the time away I ate well and attended meetings/seminars about what is going on in 'the year ahead'. All good stuff... anyway, am going to take it easy today... I will hobble around and see where I end up...
Posted by starinajar at 7:47 am 1 comments
Wednesday 11 July 2007
random posting...
Evening all! I have nothing in particular to talk about this evening. Just thought to myself 'I'll write something because I'm away from tomorrow for a couple of days. Well I have no work to do this evening, which is quite nice. it gives me some thinking time before I'm off to HairyFord. I will be taking my laptop because no doubt I'll be asked to 'knock something together quickly'... OK let me get that straight. Designers DON'T (most of the time anyway) KNOCK THINGS TOGETHER! There is a skill in what I do believe it or not. anyway, rant over...
The photo of 'twin me' from the times has found much acceptance in the office and at home. With my hair as long as it is at the moment it won't be long before I seriously do look like the photo...
OK. 9pm what to do now?... I don't really know... I could put together more Design Titbits, but that would class as work so am avoiding that. I know I 'll read a bit of poetry...
WHEN YOU ARE OLD
William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)
WHEN you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
There we go, fancy that,... a poetry blog entry...
Posted by starinajar at 8:54 pm 1 comments
mind mapping...
What is a mind map eh? well back in school they were known a spider diagrams amongst other names... They are thoughts and ideas, all written down in no particular order. They are a good way to stretch your creative mind, everyone is creative (most people believe they are not), but your mind is constantly thinking, coming up with ideas, solutions etc. All you have to do is learn how to get those ideas onto paper.
This is where mind mapping comes in. The idea is to write down/doodle things faster than you think, ok, you get some random gibberish on times but you do start to write down more subconscious thoughts/themes/ideas... Then expand on these ideas, remember not to 'think' about what you're writing. It is liberating. It is good stress relief, you can start to see what issues are really on your mind. Einstein, Churchill, Leonardo da Vinci, Mark Twain, Walt Disney an many more used mind mapping to unlock creativity...
try it... grab some paper, and keep writing for a few minutes minutes, don't think about it, just write whatever comes into your head...
I would be interested in peoples thoughts on this (write in a comment about themes that come up for you)...
Posted by starinajar at 8:21 am 0 comments
Monday 9 July 2007
the week ahead...
A very busy week ahead for me. Today I start design of the charities magazine/newsletter (to see the last version click here). This is a lot of work and very manic but I must admit I love the pressure of it all. I love (to a certain extent) stress. I thrive on it! It brings out the best in me. The adrenaline of deadlines! woo hoo!
Thursday I am off to Hereford for a couple of days for the staff retreat! It is quite inspirational and fun (on times) and it's always good to meet together in the evening and have a drink and chat, laugh etc outside of the office...
anyway... deadlines await! yay!
Posted by starinajar at 8:32 am 2 comments
Sunday 8 July 2007
Deep and meaningful blog entry (2)...
OK, I admit that last blog entry lacked meaning or depth so here goes something deeper.
At the age of 25 I am told that I am too young for various things (parenting etc) and often mocked for my youth. I do however know that age does not give you wisdom in life, just more experience of life. How you obtain wisdom is another thing entirely. (Someone once said, and i forget who it is, that you get wisdom from bad experience.)
There are 3 experiences I've noted down below (there are many more in reality) in which I've been told things that have changed my perception of stuff...
1) Hold your head up...
I used to worship in Church facing the floor, one day a woman came up to me and prayed with me and told me to keep my head up, face the skies... and I did and it changed my christian walk.
2) It's OK to be angry with God, He's big enough to take it...
It's true, and was a relief at the time to hear someone saying it. So often in life you can just be frustrated at circumstance. this statement freed me from that.
3) don't tell me you're 'praying for me', just tell me that s**t happens...
this was said by someone who had just lost their partner to cancer, it made the world make sense to me. Christians can be annoying on times, and this helped me understand that sometimes bad stuff just happens. I believe there isn't always a deeply spiritual answer to all things in life... I mean there is no reason at all ever ever, you should tell someone who has lost someone that 'It's in God's plan'... That makes no sense at all.
Posted by starinajar at 4:56 pm 1 comments
deep and meaningful blog entry....
Having just looked back at the last few blog entries, I 've decided to write something a little different in this one. not entirely sure what but will type away for a minute or two and see what pops into the computer.....
Sleep... i used to be able to sleep really well and for a very long time.... of late however my sleep patterns seem to be all over the place and I wake up at ungodly hours and can't get back to sleep again... usually when this happens i get out of bed come downstairs and read poetry, books, or blog etc...
dreams... mixed in with my irregular sleeping patterns seem to be a patchwork of bizarre dreams, of late they contain friends gone by (worth noting is that they usually have all had a hair cut, one friend had dyed her hair blonde and it didn't suit her at all, lol)...
people... i used to think i kind of understood people... lately my views have been distorted and i have realised that life is far more complex than can be written in a book or structured in a solution...
poetry... i don't write enough... this is partly because i have never really tried but deeper down it's because i was always told as a child that my handwriting was rubbish... this in turn made me hate the subject 'English', therefore i started to hate books, poetry etc...
logos, pathos, ethos... oh rubbish... was hoping nothing too deep would pop into my brain... ok. Logos, Pathos and Ethos are a combination of marketing techniques that when mixed together cans very effectively sell/convince... logos is facts or benefits. Pathos is heartfelt and sincere moving stories. Ethos is testimonials and convictions.
If you answer/argue etc something using these three (in that order) marketing methods, then you will have a very good argument:
e.g. This car is one of the safest cars you can buy (Logos - fact). A moving story now about how the car saves lives when other cars are crushed in car accidents (Pathos - story). "Thank you car manufacturer for saving my small child" A car owner (Ethos - testimony)
work... got freelance work to get on with this afternoon... but the hedge really does need cutting so am in a bit of a dilemma, hedge or work? maybe a bit of both, design work laced with the odd 15 mins of hedge cutting.
coffee... need a cup of the good stuff. at the moment we only have decaf coffee here... what's that all about? bring on the strong stuff...
until later....
(p.s. just read it and realised it's not that deep or meaningful)
Posted by starinajar at 8:47 am 4 comments
Saturday 7 July 2007
my body aches...
I haven't had such a manic day in a while... today I've almost finished the chicken house (it just needs a roof) (Need to go to the big B&Q in Swansea to get wood big enough). prepared the spot where they will cluck about (only the fence to go up). Been swimming (flippin cold), mown the lawn (caught the sun), weeded the patio (made my legs ache). tidied the garden up so it looks inviting (sat on the bench and drank Banana milkshake). There has also been a power cut for two hours!
Now the sun is slowly setting. I am going outside to listen to my mp3 player and watch clouds...
Posted by starinajar at 8:46 pm 0 comments
Labels: chickens
Friday 6 July 2007
A puzzle from wonderland (2)...
NO GOOGLING THE ANSWER!
What is most like a bee in May?
"Well, let me think: perhaps--" you say.
Bravo! You're guessing well to-day!
Posted by starinajar at 2:49 pm 2 comments
Labels: puzzle
A puzzle from wonderland...
NO GOOGLING THE ANSWER!
A stick I found that weighed two pound;
I sawed it up one day
In pieces eight of equal weight!
How much did each piece weigh?
Posted by starinajar at 2:47 pm 2 comments
Labels: puzzle
Thursday 5 July 2007
the dentist...
*trembling*
I really don't like going to the dentist. It's not that I have painfull teath or anything, in fact i have very good teeth with no fillings at all. But it is the smell of the dentists, the sound of the denstists, the taste of the dentists...
urg....
Posted by starinajar at 8:26 am 4 comments
Wednesday 4 July 2007
sliding doors...
At home we have a DVD subscription service where we rent DVDs online. The amusing thing about this service is we can go though many good DVDs in a short period of time but once they have all been used up we tend to rent the films from olden years, most of them good (some rubbish). So Cath and I settled down last night and watched Sliding Doors. I had never seen this film before it was Cath's choice.
I liked it (apart from the hideously annoying and very predictable ending). I admit I saw that van coming half an hour before it did. The theme was interesting and had me thinking about parallel universes in which we did one small thing different and our lives are as a result hugely different.
Traffic jams annoy me. But my mind can't help wondering how my life could be different if I had been late meeting people because of traffic jams or early because there was no traffic? you get what i mean? (would i still have got married? have a different job? be dead?) just something that I find curious...
Posted by starinajar at 8:34 am 0 comments
chickens again...
the great chicken palace is near completion... Just need to borrow some stuff from my dad to complete it. I love building stuff like this, It is kind of like Lego but for grown ups.
Posted by starinajar at 8:32 am 4 comments
Labels: chickens
Monday 2 July 2007
affirmation photography...
Hey all!,
Caths' website is now up and running...
www.affirmationphotography.co.uk
send me some comments to let me know what you think.
Posted by starinajar at 10:03 pm 2 comments
Sunday 1 July 2007
the chicken saga begins...
yep.. I knew it would happen soon. today saw the start of me constructing the chicken house. will post up some pics when it's done.
Posted by starinajar at 8:14 pm 0 comments
Labels: chickens
something I adore...
Animations from Studio Ghibli. I simply adore them. I do have a collection of them starting on my DVD shelf and so far I own:
NausicaƤ Of The Valley Of The Wind
Laputa Castle In The Sky
Whisper Of The Heart
Spirited Away
Howl's Moving Castle
I love the animation but mainly the storylines. Anime tend to have more developed storylines than your traditional disney cartoon. For example read the plot of Whisper of the heart here. So if you are looking for gift ideas then these would be very much loved...
Posted by starinajar at 9:20 am 0 comments
Saturday 30 June 2007
sock monkey...
when it's raining outside and you have a couple of spare hours, make a sock monkey:
a) you need: pair of socks, needle and thread, pair of eyes, stuffing.
c) turn inside out and sew up legs, cut down the line in between the legs as illustrated.
d) turn the monkey back the right way and stuff through the hole. then sew up the gap.
e) get the second sock and sew and cut as shown.
f) stitch on mouth and fill with stuffing
k) same now with the tail. stuff
m) tell jokes to your new monkey friend!
By the way, His name is Iolo
Posted by starinajar at 11:42 pm 0 comments