28 February 2020 (Friday) - Rostered Day Off

I slept like a log. Over brekkie I had a look at the Internet. I read on Facebook that Geo-HQ are trialling a new idea. It’s only happening in two US states at the moment, but the idea is that anyone who has stuck a film pot under a rock but then hasn’t done any geocaching for five (or more) years gets a message. Are they still keen on the noble and ancient art of sticking film pots under rocks? If so, all is fine. If not, then Geo-HQ will clear the old ones off of the map. Not only does this get shot of the rather manky nasty smelly crappy geocaches (and the ones that have been missing for years) that give the hobby a bad name, it also clears up space for more geocaches.

The weather forecast said there was a ninety-two per cent chance of rain this morning. But seeing that it wasn’t raining I took the dogs up to Kings Wood anyway. There was a minor hiccup in that just as we were arriving a dozen deer ran across the road. I hadn’t noticed until the dogs all kicked off, and by then it was too late to brandish the camera.

We had a good walk. We met other dogs and played nicely (there are no “precious princesses” in Kings Wood). We did get a bit muddy, but that is only to be expected. We walked our usual circuit of the top end, but in reverse and used the Munzess I put out recently to guide our way.

The rain held off until we were only fifty yards from the car.

We came home; I washed the mud off of the dogs. For all that the nation is crapping its collective pants about the negligible concerns of corona virus, Alabama rot is a much more serious and pressing concern to me.

With mud hosed off I had a look at the monthly accounts. Bearing in mind we’ve had a holiday away and an MOT failure, I’m far better off than I thought I might be. Not rolling in money, but I could be a whole lot worse off than I am.

No day off work is complete without a major session of ironing. I ironed for a couple of hours whilst watching “The Bounty” on Netflix. A favourite film of mine; I’m sure Netflix have edited it somewhat as I’m sure there were some scenes missing. Mind you that’ not a bad thing as that film does go on a bit.

I then put my birthday pressie together. "er indoors ^TM" had bought me the 1976 Lego Renault model which I’ve been after for some time.

You can see a stop-motion video of the construction by clicking here. The video is a tad jerky; I need to work on rigging up the camera somehow.

"er indoors ^TM" came home; we settled the dogs and went round to the Riverside Inn where we had a rather good catch-up with friends. It was good to catch up, but we could do it cheaper at home where it would be a lot less noisy too…

27 February 2020 (Thursday) - Stuff

I got up at five o’clock this morning, and as I fussed Fudge I saw that the smart meter was showing that we had already used one pound thirty-one pence worth of electricity and gas. In five hours. How is that possible? The thing barely reacts when I spend an afternoon washing and ironing and mowing the lawn, but goes mental we are all asleep.

I made toast; Fudge had the crusts. As I scoffed the rest I watched this week’s episode of “Inside No 9” (which was rather good) then sparked up my lap-top to see what had happened overnight. I’d not missed much. There was talk of several new series of geocaches being set, there were whinges about the Munzee software.

My email in-box was equally dull. LinkedIn wanted to know if I knew Andrew Jones (MD at A.M.J.Mechanical Contractors). As it happens I don’t. And whilst I’m sure that Mr Jones is a sterling fellow and we would probably get on like a house on fire, I find myself wondering just what is LinkedIn all about. Is it really just some random friend-finder?

I walked through the rain down an incredibly poorly-lit road to find my car, and set off towards Pembury. As I drove the pundits on the radio were scaremongering about the Corona virus and about the floods that are blighting the nation. A lot of people were asking why the Prime Minister wasn’t showing his face in the flooded areas. I had to laugh – it wasn’t that long ago that people were carrying cards saying they didn’t want to be visited by the Prime Minister if they were in hospital (following a terror attack) but now people *do*want to see him.

Perhaps the public might make its mind up?

There was also talk about how the Apple corporation have contacted most of the major film-producers saying they don’t want the villains of films to be seen using an I-phone. Apparently having an on-screen baddie using an I-phone is bad for business. This was laughed at until some media-type person (who was being interviewed) asked when you last saw a baddie in a film or TV show drinking Coca-Cola. Apparently the Coca-Cola corporation put a stop to that some years ago.

I stopped off at Tesco in Pembury where I deployed a Munzee and got some shopping. I now find I’m going to Pembury’s Tesco just to remind myself that my day isn’t that bad when I compare myself to the miserable people who work there. A dozen staff; all with faces like a slapped arse.

I went in to work where the day wasn’t that bad really. We had a couple of Red Alerts, but they weren’t as bad as they might have been.

I came home; "er indoors ^TM" boiled up a very good bit of dinner which we scoffed whist watching last week’s episode of “Hunted”; I really would like to have a go at that show. And ten we watched “Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly” which (if nothing else) makes me realise that Pogo isn’t *that* bad…

26 February 2020 (Wednesday) - Late Shift

I had an early night last night an slept like a log despite not having that much of the duvet. There are issues with the duvet in that Pogo keeps getting stuck inside the thing (that’s “inside”, not “under”).

Over a couple of slices of toast (shared with three dogs) I had a look at the Internet. I had a request to follow Karen Gillan on Facbook. Karen Gillan had announced that she was finally on Facebook, and that I should follow her page to stay up to date. I did wonder what I was supposed to be keeping up to date with; a quick Google search showed me that Karen Gillan had been in Doctor Who seven years ago when she played the part of one of the less-crappy sidekicks. I would have thought that the time to try to create a large following on social media was when you actually were famous, not seven years later, but what do I know?

I also saw that someone I used to know years ago has gone to Kuwait to the international kite festival only to find the event has been cancelled for fear of corona virus. That’s a long way to go to be let down.

I got the leads onto the dogs and we went for a little wander. As we walked up the road we met Dan-Dan (niece-in-law is probably the closest description) and little Bella. Realistically Bella will be the one bossing everyone around at my funeral – she is definitely a family matriarch in the making. She bossed the dogs round for a bit, then carried on to play-school.

As we walked into the park we met a Fudge-look-alike. The resemblance was uncanny, but the dog was much smaller. Just a puppy. I expect we’ll see this one again.

We had a good walk. It was a bright sunny morning and we had no “episodes” at all. There were a few other dog walkers, and we all passed each other without incident. I did smile when I saw a couple of dog walkers who used to be part of OrangeHead’s posse who were walking without Orangehead. Has there been another schism there?

We came home, and once I’d set the washing machine going I harvested the dog dung from the garden. Bearing in mind how much they dump when out, it amazes me how there can be quite so much poop at home. I wrote up some CPD, then watched the last episode of the current season of “Titans”. It was rather good, but I think the entire lot needs re-watching before I embark on the third season (if there is one). I wonder what I can binge-watch next on Netflix?

I hung out the washing, and set off to work.

It seemed something of a novelty to drive to work in daylight. As I drove there was an article on the radio about NHS prescription charges. Several people with various conditions came on and ranted about how much they pay for their prescriptions, and how they sometimes have to choose between medicines and food as money is so tight. Without wishing to appear unsympathetic I couldn't help but wonder how these people would cope in an American-type health care system where there is no NHS and they would have to pay every time they saw the doctors as well as pay for their medication.

Mind you one of them made the point that there is (apparently) a lot of evidence suggesting that people who have to choose between eating or medicine end up in hospital more often than those who don't, and that costs the NHS far more than giving free prescriptions ever would. Free prescriptions for all is actually a cost saver (or so it was claimed).

I don't know who is right and who is wrong; I'm just glad that I don't have to make these decisions.

This was followed by half an hour of Alexei Sayle. I spent the duration of his show laughing out loud at what were actually serious political points about the sad state of our country. As Alexei says, show me a millionaire and I'll show you nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine people who are short of a quid.

I got to Pembury, had a rather good vegetable fajita wrap thingy, and went into work where we had more cakes than sense. One of the girls was leaving today to have a baby in the not too distant future. As I said goodbye to her this evening I found myself thinking about when the fruits of my loin first appeared (all those years ago).

I can't help but think that if I could do it all over again I'd make a much better job of it now than I did then. I’m told that "Daddy’s Little Angel ^TM" has taken up boxing…