Yes We Can and Yes We Will

"It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America". Barack Obama

What an historical week its been. Barak Obama's Democratic party win the US 2008 elections and he becomes the first African American US President elect.

I, like a few for some years now I guess felt the nagging feelings of anti war, anti capitalist and anti america since the start of the Iraq war.

So how do you change a countries image? How do you reinvent the feel good factor again? How do you reunite the country and give the people Hope once more?

Tough questions, but the answer most definately would lie with the election of Obama this week. In an election campaign Hope and Change were instrumental powerful words.

His victory speech was nothing short of perfection. Where once Martin Luther King had 40 years prior told the people "We shall overcome" and "I've been to the promised land" Obama told the people "Yes we can" and " We as a people will get there"

I hope they do. America needs change and Obamas the best man for the job.

Shame we dont have any charismatic leaders in Britain. We just have boring Mr Gordon. Is it any wonder no one bothers to vote in general elections here?

Hello Mom! - from space

I decided to download the new 3D Google Earth application and give it a try out. This comes after I spotted this odd shaped camera on a tripod strapped to the roof of a small car in Birmingham last week. Mr K reckoned it was the new 3D Google Camera on the clickerty click circuit de monde. Invasion of Privacy I thought!
So I did the usual, put in my postcode ( annoyed to know we have the smallest garden in the street) put in my sisters postcode, put in my moms postcode.....
And wots this I see my Mom on the drive!
Oh my God my Mom can be seen from space.
Now wot were the chances of my mom being on the drive the moment the Google satellite went click?

"Mom, you wont belive it, but you can be seen from space! You're on Google Earth"

"the what?"

After a half hour conversation explaining wot it is, Mom finally says

" well I'm glad you cant see my face then, I might not have been looking my best "

Invasion of privacy ;)

Lettuce Pray for a Happy Ending

Times are bad. In fact very bad, according to Mervyn King the Governor of the Bank of England. He tells us gloom and more gloom faces the British Economy amid the rising fear of the global credit crunch. Everyday prices have gone up; bread, milk, bananas etc not to mention the petrol.

So dear Comrades, the time has come to take action. The time has come oh yes, the time has come to fight back. The time as come for me to do my bit. The time has come for me to grow my own lettuce!

I grew them from seeds in April ( after the snow week) and I havent stopped worrying about them since. ( I'm sure thats not right)

Are they well watered?

Are they getting enough sunlight ?

Are they OK?

Will they live?

.....on and on the questions go.

Any odd fool would think lettuce look after themselves. I thought that till I discovered I have to go out on "snail and slug patrol" every evening. I have 10 pots of lettuce and discovered to my horror 7 snails had made their homes in my lettuce pots!! the spongers!

My next worry is having to endure lettuce sandwiches, lettuce pie, lettuce caserole, lettuce a l'orange for the next 2 months. Of course thats if my lettuce survive the present economic climate.

Yes indeed Lettuce all Pray for a Happy Ending!

" Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it." Bubba. Forrest Gump

Some Things are just so Magical

Some things just cannot be explained. They just happen.

When they do, its magical. Pure Magic. I cant explain why. It just is.

Every year sure to the day the Lily flower in Moms house always flowers brightest on 22nd April. Not a day before, not a day after. Always brightest on the 22nd April. Dads Birthday. Sadly Dad is no longer with us. Never forgotten of course. But the Lily knows somehow to shine brightest on his birthday. Happy birthday Dad!

Today I came across a great blog site http://reasonstobehopeful.blogspot.com/ and it does exactly wot is says on the can. News stories full of hope and inspiration. Hurrah to Hope, Boo to misery.

" Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." Shawshank Redemption

Happy St Patricks Day Feet

Green socks - Doing my bit for St Patricks Day

Yes its March 17th today. St Patricks Day. A day when the Irish away from the Homeland celebrate more than the people stuck on the Homeland. A day when those who are not Irish become Irish and celebrate St Patricks Day in the hope that a few drinks will be bought for them too.

Everyones Irish on St Paddys Day - Sláinte!

When good pancakes go bad

Today is pancake day. Which means only one thing, lets make pancakes. The last time I made pancakes I was probably @ college. It was the only thing you ever ate when you went round to the infamous "Irish Embassy" house in Sunderland Poly. Eggs, flour, sugar and 12 crates of guinness was all they ever had there. Essentials for making a perfect pancake evening.

So roll forward some umteen pancake years later and pancake practice is definately lacking. My pancake was a bit of a disaster as you can see. But it still tossed and fell back into the fying pan no problem. I havent lost the ol toss technique there.

Added caster sugar, honey and lemon juice. Verdict - more!

Stressed out. Burned out. Bored out?

I think I've reached that point in my life now. I hope I havent. I really hope I havent.

I can remember Dad coming home once, well fed up with everything. Work had done it to him. I recall thinking God I hope that never happens to me. I hope I never reach that low a point.

Friday felt like I had. Day long audio conference after audio conference. Micro management to the nth degree. Grumpy people after grumpy people.

"God I hate everything!" I sighed ( non too quietly)

" Here, have this" said Baard (pronounced Bored) our resident Viking Iron Man who sits behind me

It was a lovely framed photograph of his two doggies. Happy doggies they were! How free and happy they looked on the photo. Every ounce of happiness was etched onto their faces.

For the rest of the day I was happy again.

and here are the Happy Doggies, Arent they just so photogenic ?