Run rabbit, run rabbit, run, run, run…

Posted on January 8, 2012 by thepogblog

Well I’ve done it again.  There is another shop in Bumpkinstown where the assistants will have their loony alert flashing if I ever attempt to enter in the future.

It all came about because I wanted to do some new making that I’d seen in a magazine.  It needed millet – that fine bird seed you can get – or, as it turns out, that you can’t get.  I tried a few shops with no success before I tried the pet shop.  I asked and they said no, but they:

‘…have many variations  – what exactly is it you need it for?’

‘Oh, not for feeding birds – it’s for stuffing rabbits with.’ (In retrospect, the laugh I gave at this point probably didn’t help….)

They looked a little scared, particularly when I said not to worry – my pearl barley would probably do, I just didn’t know if the rabbits would be so mobile afterwards…

It didn’t dawn on me until I was telling Sister 2 about the strange looks I got that I probably should have explained I wasn’t embarking on a spot of taxidermy and that absolutely no rabbits would be harmed in what I was doing…because actually, I was making these lavender and (due to lack of millet), pearl barley friends for little people :o)  :

little fluffy tails

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Enter, the Milky Bar Kid!

Posted on January 6, 2012 by thepogblog

Over the Christmas break I had a few moments of organisation.  This included getting my eyes tested.  It turns out that old age has set in and my eyes had got quite a lot worse.  Of course, as soon as I knew this, I got headaches the minute I sat in front on the laptop (although maybe that is just an allergy to work…) and was desperate for my new glasses.

‘I’ll keep the old ones as spares’ I said when I picked them up today.

‘Actually, it’s not worth it – your new ones are so much stronger that once you get used to them, the old ones will be pretty useless’ I was told.

I didn’t really believe them, but when I put them on, two things happened.  Firstly, my head tipped forward a little owing, I assume, to the extra weight involved in glasses that make you look much like the Milky Bar Kid (they are quite a bit thicker than the old pair). 

But then, the second thing happened.  I could see!  It’s fantabulous!  So I am embracing my Milky Bar self.  In fact, I have one in the cupboard, so that’s me sorted while I do a spot of making-ness this evening.  AND I’ll be able to see what I’m doing!  :o)

I can see every little toadstall now!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Bah Humbug?

Posted on January 5, 2012 by thepogblog

I don’t want to sound bah humbug, (I’m not sure you can really be bah humbug on 5th January) but what is with the Christmas lights?!

It was lovely in the run up to Christmas – I’m sure that there were more lights on houses and in gardens than usual and it did increase the festiveness.  But don’t they usually come down, if not before New Year, then straight after?  And they are still there.  ‘Merry Christmas’ flashed at me from a garage and I counted 4 lit up trees on the drive from the station tonight.  It’s confusing for a Pog of very tired brain at the end of the day – for a few seconds I had that ‘it’s nearly Christmas – I have time off work coming up’ happy bubble in my tummy.  Then it popped when I remember that I only went back to work 3 days ago.  Humph.

On the upside though, this does give me an excuse to show you the photo below that I took especially for the blog before Christmas and forgot to include it.  It is my favourite lights of this -sorry, last – year.  I think I was suspected of burglary (or at least ‘casing the joint’) when I took the photo – I was caught hovering at the end of the driveway, camera in hand by one of the occupants.  I had to look nonchalant, as though it was totally normal to wander around with a camera in the pitch black…

The things I do for you… ;o)

Purty lights!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

2011 in review (this is some magic thing that the blog did for me)

Posted on January 5, 2012 by thepogblog

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 6,500 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Day of Distractions

Posted on January 2, 2012 by thepogblog

As a general rule, most of us will go back to work tomorrow after at least a few days off. (Friends on maternity leave or who are retired, it’s probably best to keep quiet at this point).  

On my bike ride this morning I was trying to think of positive thoughts about this situation.  Then I realised, it’s mostly pants and there is no dressing it up in any other clothes.  Instead, I decided it was best to be busy.

So today I have:

  • Helped cut down a tree:

Charlie found it facinating...

  • Made low fat banana bread (possibly not so good for you when you eat quite as much as I have…):

  • Made a bag out of a pillow case (as you do):

  • Made dinner from scratch for the first time in MONTHS and realised after an hour that the oven wasn’t on (that’ll be the last time I do that then).
  • And for your smile…I tried to make a rabbit.  As you can see, more than one thing hasn’t turned out quite as planned.  He will go on the ‘prototype’ shelf.  A shelf that would induce nightmares in the hardiest of you…

I hope that your first day back at work goes ok.  I’ll send you happy thoughts if you’ll do the same for me.  Deal?  :o)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Progress of the Fantabulous Idea

Posted on December 30, 2011 by thepogblog

In a blog post a while back I mentioned a fantabulous idea I had.  It turned out my writing wasn’t very clear that day as although some of my friends had understood that I had a fantabulous idea, they didn’t actually know what it was…

The idea was, essentially, that I join an ‘Introduction Agency’.  And I can now confirm that I have been interviewed and am on their books.  Gulp.

I prepared for my 1.5 hour interview in two different ways.  The first involved a 5 minute conversation with Lovely Little Man and Gorgeous Godson’s Mum and Dad to decide what I was looking for.  Having not really considered this before we decided that ‘single with a pulse’ would be the key criteria.  GG’s dad enquired as to whether ‘own teeth’ were essential.  I decided not, as long as they stayed in at all times.  Apparently I don’t have terribly high standards.

They second part of my preparation was cleaning.  I might love Pog Towers and the slight chaos involved in living in a house the size of a shed but I needed to impress.  So I moved as much as I could into the wardrobe / under the bed / into the car and cleaned everything else to within an inch of its inanimate life.  I removed stains that had been in the carpet longer than I wanted to think about, I cleaned the oven (no, I have no idea what made me think my interview might include a check in there) and I used drain cleaner down the sinks.

Pog Towers sparkled.  I tried to do the same.  Intro Lady arrived.  Charlie ran in with muddy paws and walked the length of the kitchen work surface several times so when Intro Lady got to the kitchen it looked like I’d not even made a teeny effort.  Norman then wandered in looking cute, Intro Lady picked him up, and Norman attacked her.  The cuts on her hand were so deep I actually considered offering her a bandage.  So it started well….

In retrospect, a longer conversation with GGs Mum and Dad on the sort of person I am looking for would have been a better use of my time than the cleaning effort, but you’ll be happy to know Intro Lady managed to refine my requirements somewhat as a result of the interview.  (Taming Norman would have been the best use of my time, but may have delayed getting this far in the process by a few years).

So now I just have to find some photos that I (and this is a direct quote) ‘feel are flattering’ and that were ‘taken no more than 12 months ago’.  I think the last flattering photo of me was taken about 23 years ago so I’m not sure how we’re going to approach that one.  Once I have though, I review and approve my profile and we’re good to go.  Intro Lady will then find me the man of my dreams…  (Just let me dream for a bit.  We all know it’s not likely to run that smoothly!)

And in other news, this is a last bit of Christmas I saw out on the bike this morning that made me giggle :o)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Happy Christmas to you!

Posted on December 24, 2011 by thepogblog

Well, I think I may have turned onto Kistie Allsop overnight (I wish).  I started today with a bike ride  – ok, not quite how you picture the queen of crafting – but it was very country bumpkinsville-ish.  I saw lots of people out delivering presents and did much waving as a result, I stopped for a chat with Cycling Friend and got home to find that Santa’s elves had delivered me some lovely home made goodies.  What better way to start the day…

Naughty Norman

Then I got down to work.  I have made 125 cookies, most of a patchwork (which Norman seems to think is an early Christmas present), smackerals for tomorrow (because of course, Christmas day is the one day when you need additional smackerals) and I’ve just interrupted some rather frantic Pogimal making for an unexpected present to write this.  So much for being organised! 

It has been rather lovely though.  And while doing this I’ve watched the Muppet Christmas Carol and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, both for the first time ever as well as a variety or terrible Christmas based films…just because I could.

I’ll get back to it now.  And you have a lovely Christmas tomorrow people.  I hope you get all you wish for. :o)x

Our Country Bumpkinsville tree

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dinner at Pog Towers

Posted on December 21, 2011 by thepogblog

Last night I had some friends over for dinner.  I say ‘over for dinner’ but actually, to reduce the panicking on my part, we just had fish and chips from the place down the road.  (I know, I’m a complete cheat).  It’s just as well though.  It seems that just preparing for people coming over is more than this Pog can manage effectively.

I took the opportunity to clean REALLY well (note to self: cleaning windows for the benefit of guests who will arrive after dark is somewhat pointless).  I even shined the cutlery – yes, it may have been fish and chips but I felt I should make some effort.  I tidied the clutter in the secret shelf under my table and then made a batch of cookie fairy cookies (of course, after I’d cleaned the kitchen which then had to be done again). Then it started.  First I thought it was one set of neighbours hoovering their car making the noise but neither they nor their car were outside.  So I assumed it must be the other neighbour drilling.  It went on and on and I was not feeling very festive about it. 

But then I realised that actually it was coming from right between both neighbours.  And that would mean it was in my house.  I walked around with my head at a funny angle trying to pin point it.  I even went up into the loft.  I was baffled.  Then I thought to check the secret shelf under the table. And found this:

It’s a small hand help fan shaped like a penguin. obviously.

Somehow in my de cluttering the fan (in its box) had turned itself on.  I have no idea how but I think it may have been trying to alert me to the next slightly chaotic moment.  Which I realised about 45 minutes before my fish and chip guests arrived.  I went to lay the table, reached for the table mats that have been stored on the secret shelf for 5 years and…not there.  They also turned out not to be anywhere else in the house (and this includes my chest of drawers and under my bed).  Balancing plates on coasters seemed a bit daft and I don’t have a table cloth so I decided to improvise.  This is my home made table cloth devised from scraps in my sewing bag:

Happily, the penguin fan stayed quiet throughout the fish and chips and with some subtle lighting the improvised table cloth didn’t look too bad.

So, tips from me should you have some lovely people over for fish and chips:

  • Don’t worry about cleaning windows if guest are arriving after dark
  • Check the location of all penguin fans
  • Check that you have table mats available (or at least sufficient scraps of material to create an alternative)
  • And enjoy the fact that you don’t have to keep checking the oven or worry about giving your friends food poisoning. 

:o)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pog’s festive day out

Posted on December 19, 2011 by thepogblog

Today is the first day of my Christmas holidays (hooray!).  Only I don’t seem to have been touched by the Christmas spirit, so I decided to have a festive day out.  If the spirit wasn’t going to find me, I’d hunt it down…

It didn’t start well.  It started in a rather bleak way in fact (I was only walking through the churchyard from the car park…I’ve not started hanging round them on my days off, just in case you were wondering.)

Which I counter balanced by going into the church. Happily it was lovely, but still not terribly cheery…

So I went to my favourite village and visited a huge number of overpriced shops where I had to triple check the price tag (cushion for £79.99 anyone?!) And the master plan developed.  I decided to visit all the gift shops between this village and mine as they were the most likely to be festive and full of festive type people.

And boy, were they…

I even got carried away and treated myself to a Christmas jumper (no picture as it is a Christmas jumper in the slight scary sense and I am warm but that could be embarrassment.  Even the cats went out when I put it on :o) )

What made me feel really festive though was:

1)     A very lovely friend who doesn’t have a computer (I print them off the posts every few weeks and post them to her) called today out of the blue to thank me for all the blogs this year.

2)     Some other lovely blog readers sent me a bottle of wine to say thanks for the blog.

3)     And a whole heap of you on face book have demonstrated to me that I have some really, really lovely friends.

So the church may have been peaceful and pretty, the decorations lovely and the jumper…well, maybe the least said about the jumper the better…but actually, the thing that has made me feel most festive is you lot.   And the mulled wine.  The mulled wine has definitely helped too…

:o)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Nasty Nightmares

Posted on December 15, 2011 by thepogblog

For the last few weeks I’ve been having really quite bad nightmares.  The unspecified sort that wake to up repeatedly, scaring both you and the cats, but which you cannot remember one scrap of detail about the second you sit up. 

I put it down to the joys of Christmas, the fact that my car is due its MOT (and I have no idea how it will pass), the fact that over Christmas I need to work out how you ‘do books’ for a business (and numbers have never been my strong point), the fact that work and therefore my job are currently very fluffy and the fact that a couple of people have recently turned a little psycho and make a lot of my waking hours as bad as the nightmares.

But no.  It would seem that those things are NOT what have been causing the night terrors.  Because last night I slept through (well, until Norman woke me up to present me with a mouse I did).  SO what can have been the reason for my problems?  I think it may have been this:

 

I found it in WHSmith where I was keeping warm when I missed my train a few weeks back.  I felt bad that I was standing in the shop clearly reading it so I thought I should buy it.  And the only time I get to read is just as I am dozing off in bed.  So every night since I’ve ‘entertained’ myself with a few of the ‘stories’ – clippings from papers around the world.  Ones like these (do NOT read these if you are about to go to bed…although these are some of the nicer ones):

A farmer in Pakistan climbed up the side of a slurry tank to rescue on of his chickens, but lost his balance and fell in.  When he failed to resurface three brothers and a cousin climbed up after him.  All four lost ther balance and fell head first into the tank.

A German tourist somehow survived a fall from the window of his 8th floor hotel room in Lausanne, Switzerland with no more than a broken ankle; but on the way to the hospital he fell out of the ambulance and died under the wheels of a passing bus.

A 59 year old chef died after a 50cm Asian swamp eel was put up his bottom.  Doctors in Sichuan, China found the marine creature in the man’s rectum after his death in April 2010.  It had allegedly been inserted after the man passed out drunk, by ‘pals’ playing a prank.  Doctors said the eel had devoured his bowels.

I finished the book the night before last.  And, like I said, last night was nightmare free.  I think we can therefore conclude that reading about a number of deaths, however weird and wonderful they may be, just before bed is not good for the soul.

Well, at least now I can get a few good nights sleep.  One more day of work and then I get a break from that too.  Lovely :o)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments