Riding around the Emerald Isle

 

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Image by PublicDomainPictures

Northern Ireland is awash with the colour pink, due to the fact that the Giro d’Italia has decided to grace us with it’s presence. I don’t profess to know much about the race other than it involves bicycles, bicycle riding and hopefully lots of men in lycra shorts!

The roads are being swept and cleaned, pink posters bidding everyone  a warm welcome are being hung from lamp posts and there are strategically placed pink painted bicycles at every roundabout and layby with available space.

Tourism is good for Northern Ireland, we are blessed with some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, but the bad press we have received over the years has, I am sure made many people reluctant to visit. Hopefully this event will pass off without any kind of drama.

Recently the Northern Ireland Tourist Board posted a video of a cyclist performing stunts at various locations around the proposed route of the race. It shows places like The Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge to name just two. While watching the video I felt a sense of pride at coming from this little country with it’s green fields, breath taking scenery and welcoming people.

I’m pretty sure I touched on this before with a previous blog entry, but it’s amazing how accustomed we become to our surroundings, taking them for granted and unable to see them sometimes as they really are. My friend Paul came over at the end of last summer and it was only then I realised, while sightseeing with him, how much of my own homeland I had not even seen, and viewing it through the lens of a camera added yet another angle.

Why would I pay to go anywhere else when I already have so much beauty on my own doorstep. I look forward to seeing a lot more of it in the coming years.

Good luck to all those taking part in the Giro d’Italia and I hope you enjoy the video.

VIP Movie Night

May Movies

You’ll never guess what happened last night. Go on ask me, I know you want to. You’ll never guess though. I only went on a date ffs, as in a real live date, he was breathing and everything, total bonus.

I met him through a girl in work, ok when I say met, what I mean is we trawled through pictures in her mobile phone of every male she knows and I selected him. Wine had been consumed so it was more like a drunken stabbing and a slurred ‘he’ll do fine’.

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What if I highlighted a couple new blogs for you?

The lovely Jed highlighted my site, thank you for that. But seriously you all need to check out his, somewhere to rant, I’m all over that lol Give him a follow and if you would like to participate then check out his contact information and site guidelines. I mean come on, who doesn’t love a good rant!! :)

JED's avatarOkay, What if ?

I don’t normally do this but seeing as the What if thought juice was running a little dry this week (I couldn’t quite get a regular post written) I figured why not! I have a couple brand new blogs to tell you about.

First off I need to introduce you to a Fictionally Fabulous Character created by our very own Indecisive Eeejit. May Dupp had so much spirit she worked her way right into her very own blog. Please take a minute to visit The Misadventures of May Dupp and show her some follower love!

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Next is a creation from my own mind. I have been known to, on occasion, go on a ranting fit. If I find the right thing I can easily let out a few sentences about just how much it has annoyed me. The problem is I normally either don’t say it or just mumble it…

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May Dupp on the Move!

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When you create a character, whether it be successfully or unsuccessfully, you don’t expect them to become so much of a diva that you have to move them on from their original beginnings.

It has got to the stage where May’s collection of shoes and handbags is clogging up valuable brain space so I have made the decision to relocate her to her own blog. Normally people at this stage will explain their rationale behind such a move and perhaps explain the pro’s and con’s. I had no other reason than I was bored on Friday night after coming home from spending time with my friends and it seemed like a good idea at the time. I can’t even say for sure I will ever write another May Dupp post, but I certainly hope I do.

May Dupp is the me I would have perhaps been had my life not turned out like it did, had I had a little more confidence and had I had the figure to carry off pencil skirts and low cut blouses! Perhaps she is the girlie girl inside me trying to break free!

She is, I must remind you, totally fictional, and none of her exploits are based on real life. That’s my story anyway and I am sticking to it :)

Should you wish to keep hearing about May’s shenanigans, you can now find her at The Misadventures of May Dupp. She would appreciate a follow if you are inclined to read made up waffle when you are bored. :)

Bear in mind the site is still under construction or as May would say, bare faced, nae slap on! :)

Alternative thinking!

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Spectres Attack by pKrime

I would say I have quite an inquisitive mind. I like to know things. They don’t always have to be important or earth shattering pieces of information, they just have to be relevant to whatever it is I happen to be thinking about at the time. If I don’t know the answer to a question, I will find it out and ensure I know next time.

I would also say I have a fairly open mind, unless I know for sure something is not going to work. I try not to dismiss things without at least giving them some thought, whether it be before or after the event.

Where is this going I hear you ask, well it’s going to lead you into a very interesting conversation I had yesterday.

My friend believes in ghosts, so much so in fact, that they have been ‘Ghost Hunting’. I however sit on the fence. I would not like to say out loud that I do not believe in Ghosts, lest later on this evening one jumps out and scares the shite clean out of me.

I have however had two experiences, both in my kitchen, that would lead me to believe that there is something else out there. Once while standing at the cooker I felt a tap on my shoulder. I was a little startled as I had heard no one approach. When I turned around to speak to the person, there was no one there. At the time the only thing I felt was quizzical, I didn’t feel scared, I just couldn’t really understand what had happened.

The second incident occurred about two months ago while I was standing at the kitchen sink. It had been a particularly stressful day, especially at home, and I was feeling a little despondent. While washing the dishes I had the sensation of what felt like a hand brush against my cheek. Again I wasn’t scared, but immediately thought of the shoulder tapping incident. For the rest of the evening, every time the phone in the house rang, I was convinced I was going to be told someone had passed away. Thankfully no one had.

I have also seen balls of light, that my friend explained could be Orbs;

Orbs are believed (by many) to be ghosts in the form of balls of light. They are life forms that travel in groups and are believed to be the human soul or life force of those that once inhabited a physical body here on earth – Reference from: Ghoststudy.com

The strangest thing for me, is the fact that I don’t feel afraid, considering I suffer from anxiety and worry like it is going out of fashion. Hopefully it will stay this way, I think being faced with the likes of a poltergeist might be the end of me.

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Image by Jon Feinstein

Conversation then turned to religion, and I asked my friend if he believed in Heaven and Hell. Like me, he believes there is something. I can only speak from personal experience, but I know there are times when I have asked for help and have received it. You could argue that it was fate or chance, who knows, but I believe someone up there was looking out for me. I, like I have no doubt a lot of other people do ask the question, that if there is a God why does bad stuff happen to good people. I can’t answer these things.

My friend once read a book and shared the theories of it to me, sadly I cannot remember the name of either the author or the book. He (the author) believed that our bodies are vessels and that we live out a lifetime in them, for however long that lifetime may be. When we pass, our souls then transfer into another vessel and we begin another life. Curiosity piqued, I asked if this is where Déjà vu comes from. The book believes it is, the rational being that we reach the same point in our lives but choose a different path. It’s a nicer way to look on things. Instead of mourning a past life, we just celebrate the moving on to a new phase.

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Oops wrong vessel!

It’s all very interesting stuff and I would like to read more about the theories of others, even if the only reason is to challenge the way I personally think about things.

What say you, do you believe in ghosts and other worldly beings, yay or nay?

 

Thinking on a Thursday!

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I wish I could lose weight as easily as I can lose inspiration. For the last two nights I have sat and stared at a blank screen and that is where it ends. Nothing flows from the brain to the fingertips. The ideas are unable to permeate the invisible wall that seems to have built itself around the creative regions of my brain.

I have lots of ideas; I just don’t know how to transcribe them from brain to blog.

I did however create a new blog for May Dupp, as I have decided to try and give her an outlet all of her very own. I find that everything gets a little confusing on the one page. It will be trial and error and it may fail, but I’m going to give it a go.

I find these days that my ability to write depends a lot on what is happening at home. If form with the Mothership is not good, it tends to put to me into mediocre form as well. On those days I tend not to write as it would just come out as a long tirade. No doubt sometimes I will, I do after all need an outlet, but you can rest assured on the days when those posts do appear, that I am not looking for sympathy, I am simply looking to let off a little steam.

In some ways I wish that when I started this blog I had remained anonymous. It would be so much easier to open up and just write about everything that is going on. I feel restricted, and yes while I know there is no one to blame for that but myself, I feel it all the same.

hope I have evolved over the first year of this blogs life, I am just not sure that I have. I still feel a little like a blogging baby in a lot of respects. On a daily basis I read some of the other blogs I love so much and think ‘Wow, I’m never going to be like that. I want to write like that.’ I am smart enough to know however that no two people can be the same, and I am who I am.

The bottom line is, sometimes it’s best I go back to basics and remember that the reason I started this blog was for me and no one else. I have just been extremely fortunate to meet other great people along the way.

On a plus note, I have tuna and cucumber sandwiches for lunch and they are just bloomin marvellous!

Happy Thursday Eejits.

Shopping by Shape!

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My impending new job has helped to confirm something that I already suspected. I hate shopping, specifically clothes shopping, but that of the grocery variety is creeping into a close second.

I’m a confirmed jeans and t shirt kind of girl, the last time I wore a dress was for my sisters wedding, and she is about the only person I would make an exception for. Knowing full well what I am like she was happy enough to let me wear a black dress with white embroidery. It was no shock that when the hair stylist and make up lady had finished I looked like a completely different person, almost everyone remarked on it. Despite making promises to try and be more girlie I lapsed back into my usual comfort clothes.

I know full well that my current style of clothing is not suitable for the new job. As much as I would like to rock up to a meeting with the bosses wearing a ‘Feckin Eejit’ tee shirt, it’s just not going to be allowed to happen. With that in mind I have started venturing into the ladies clothes shop environment. It is a scary and frankly disturbing world for those who are unprepared. Thankfully my cuddly frame cuts down on the number of establishments available.

The one I prefer appears to grade us ladies of the fuller figure by our shape. There is Apple, Hourglass, Busty or Pear. Until I spoke to the girls in work I was a little worried that I was a fruit salad owing to the fact that I appeared to be little bits of everything. They put me at ease by informing me that I am in fact an Apple.

  • Apple or V shape (triangle downward): Apple shaped women have broad(er) shoulders compared to their (narrower) hips.[18] Apple shaped women tend to have slim legs/thighs, while the abdomen and chest look larger compared to the rest of the body. Fat is mainly distributed in the abdomen, chest, and face.

I personally think I may indeed be an apple, but there is a strong possibility I turn into a pear as your eye travels downwards.

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I look like this, only with arms and legs and stuff!

So you’d think that now I am shopping for an actual shape that my task would be so much easier. Wrong! The genius who thought up the names didn’t seem to think it would be a good idea to put anything on the label. So there I stand in front of rows of shirts  not knowing which shape they are designed for, discarding them for texture, material type, colour, length etc. By the time I have finished there is only one shirt left and actually I quite like it. Yeah I think to myself, this shopping lark is easy…..but guess what, it’s not in my size!

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What do you mean it’s not available in Apple!

Back to the drawing board and on to the next shop!

I know that a lot of the trouble with clothes shopping is psychological and until I get over myself I am never going to be happy in anything other that tee’s and jeans.  The thought of moving from black has me breaking into a cold sweat.

I’m going to take baby steps, a few key pieces at a time. I mean realistically, who has the kind of money required to totally transform a wardrobe in one fell swoop. It may just have to be that if they want me to take this job they are going to have to make do with a compromise on the clothes front, something like I cut the label off and wear my T shirts in side out. Sounds like a plan to me!!

Steve’s Music Mix – The Good Will Out…

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It’s been a while, but I am back to partake of the phenomenon that is Steve’s Music Mix!

For those who have not witnessed me partake before, here is a refresher of the rules:

Each week Steve will post 3 new questions so…

(1) Go to the music player of your choice and put it on shuffle
(2) Say the questions aloud and press play
(3) Use the song title as your answers
(4) NO CHEATING

Title your post “Steve’s Music Mix – …” and link back to this week’s page.

Post your response in the comment section of that week’s page.

Have a look at the Archives or click on the “Music Mix” category in the category cloud on this page to see all previous weeks.

Any suggestions for future questions welcomed!

For more information, to submit ideas for future questions or just general feedback go to Steve’s Music Mix.

On to this weeks questions:

I am so bad at?

Intro – Alt J – Thats actually pretty accurate, I am bad at intro’s, especially personal introductions. I hate walking into a room full of strangers on my own and tend to get very tongue tied and embarrassed when meeting new people. When I get to know you though it’s a whole different kettle of fish!

I am so good at?

Fun and Games – Trevor Morris from The Tudors Soundtrack – That’s also spot on. I love fun and games especially with my two friends Udders and Monkey, we’re usually up to no good. I think though that since my injury and the way things are changing at home I am not as fun as I used to be, too much going on in the top box.

I want to be good at?

Dreams Don’t Turn to Dust – Owl City – I have, or had lots of dreams. Some of them I have given up on because sometimes life changes and it’s not always for the better. It would be nice to say we can put our dreams on hold, but sometimes we have to be realistic, time is after all marching on. I still dream that one day I will win the lottery, that one I am not letting go of!!

Check out this weeks post for some of the other great entries and if you’d like to join in you would be more than welcome. I promise Steve doesn’t bite!

Totally Random!

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Image by twilightfan1997

Sometimes it’s all just going on in the top box, round and round in the empty space between the ears and the only thing left to do is get it out there into the open. Be forewarned of the randomness of this post, leave now and forever preserve your sanity!

Reading

I’m behind on my reading of other blogs. I keep being interrupted by annoying things like work, housework, cooking and cleaning. Ok so there might also be a little bit of Candy Crush and Cookie Crunch or whatever it’s called, but it’s pretty much the first four!

Aside from the above there is also the issue of the WordPress reader. I like it, alot, however because I follow so many blogs, posts tend to get lost. I’ll start it up in the morning and regardless of how many new posts there are, it will always say 20. When I hit load and read those 20, it automatically takes me back to the ones from the day before, meaning I miss out on all the beautific blogginess inbetween.

It’s not a life endangering problem or anything, but it is annoying. I’m really nosey, I don’t want to miss anything. So my question is, do any of you have suggestions for other readers for say the Android platform into which I could load all the blogs I love and then see them as a feed perhaps, never again missing an important post?

Wow, reading back on that I almost sound like I know what I am talking about. The truth is however that I am clueless and in need of assistance…bats eyelids!

How do you read yours? (said in my best Creme Egg voice)

Girls on GTA

Anyone who follows my blog will remember the post I did in relation to Grand Theft Auto and my likes and dislikes regarding it.

I still find the reaction I get from guys really funny. Some of them still cannot believe that girls actually game, and on hearing your voice either become tongue tied and shy, or morph into a total asshole, telling you that they are the greatest thing since sliced bread and should have all your attention.

Luckily my friends just treat me exactly the same, and offer no preferential treatment just because I am of the female persuasion. They do however make allowances for the fact I am stupid and offer a fair amount of help to compensate for that.

The funniest thing to date though has to be someone joining the party chat and GTA game session I was in and on realising I was a female drove as fast as their little CGI car could travel to check me out. For badness I turned around and asked him if he thought my bum looked big in the jeans I was wearing. I mean come on, it’s a game and I built a character, I’m not going to make it a likeness now am I. I’m going to take great care to get the boobs, belly and butt I always wanted, not the ones I have!!

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Does my bum look big?

Random Game Recommendations

As if being shamefully addicted to Candy Crush was not enough, Paul, yep the twat who owns, but never writes over at Nugs321 thought it would be fun to issue me a challenge for Cookie Jam. He always knows that the best way to get me to do something is to start a sentence with “I bet you can’t….”. In this case, the challenge was to beat his current level which at the time was 35. So of course in order to prove him wrong I did just that, and became addicted at the same time.

It’s pretty similar to Candy Crush only you have to make cakes. It’s good mindless, time wasting fun, but it’s starting to interfere with my journeys to and from work as by the time I play those 5 lives and the 5 for Candy Crush and then switch back, there is precious little time to do anything else!

Quick, help me find a reader! (See Random fact No 1)

Here endeth the randomness, you may resume what you were doing :)