Three Corners– Nostalgia
Posted on January 31, 2009
nos?tal?gia
| 1. | a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one’s life, to one’s home or homeland, or to one’s family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time: a nostalgia for his college days. |
| 2. | something that elicits or displays nostalgia. |



I had a lot of fun with the theme this month. As usual I had tons of ideas but never got around to taking them. The COLD weather kept me inside most of the time. GO quick check out Corey and Jenty’s sites– I’m sure they found some fantastic photos that spoke to them of nostalgia.
A question
Posted on January 29, 2009
Last week I watched the inauguration of the 44th president while sitting alone in my living room. I watched as people looked up with hope, expectation and joy. I then spent the next week listening to report after report on how bad the global economy is. I read articles on the economy, one of them claimin it will be as bad as 1946– in the UK that is BAAAAAAD!
On Monday/Tuesday I watched President Obama walking the halls and shaking hands and trying to get Republicans on board with his economic stimulus package. Yesterday I watched the vote count as Republican after Republican voted against it. Now I’m not living in the US so I’m not completely knowledgeable about what the package is calling for but it did make so sad that no one single Republican voted for it. With the economy imploding it’s still politics as usual.
I’ve also listened to people say they don’t want socialized medicine. On this issue I feel I am in a unique position as I am currently living in a country that has socialized medicine. I am a BIG fan of the National Health Service, NHS.
I suppose my question is, what exactly do you not like about socialized medicine? What do you like about private health care. Do you know that the UK has BOTH?
The other day I watched a panorama program where they showed people lining up to be seen by a charity that was originally set up to provide health care to 3rd world countries. They now spend 60% of their time in the US. I found myself getting angry. How is it that the richest nation in the world allows some of it’s citizens to go without such a basic fundamental human right.
I really am curious to hear what everyone has to say. I’ll put away my pinko-commie soap box now.
Like it’s 1999
Posted on January 28, 2009
How Much things cost in 1999
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 2.19%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 11,497
Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 8.50%
Average Cost of new house $131,750.00
Average Income per year $40,810.00
Average Monthly Rent $645.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.22
Average cost of new car $21,050.00
US Postage Stamp 33 cents
1 LB of Bacon $2.59
Ground Coffee per IB $3.41
Loaf of Bread $1.49
Dozen Eggs 89 cents
I’m sooo rocking the last millennium here people. I’m (are you ready for it?) using dial-up! OH MAH GAWD it totally sucks. Slow connections and dropped connection being my main gripe. Slow loading pages whenever I go to a new site– luckily for me I’m a creature of habit and that hasn’t happened too often. I’m waiting for my new wireless broadband modem (my last one bit the dust) to arrive from BT. Until then I’ll be here, rocking to blink-182 and watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

We are both sooo happy that Dada is back from his trip.
Mid-winter slump
Posted on January 23, 2009
sorry for the rambling nature of this post. I’m really struggling with what to say on this blog at the moment so I’m just going to stream of consciousness write/blog.

Not much to report here. It’s been really cold, although nice and sunny for a couple of days, and I’ve been sticking close to home. Wal is off on an extended business trip and won’t be back until next Thursday, he left yesterday. It really sucks when he travels over the weekend but his boss is here and well, you do what you have to do.

I did venture into the village to run some errands, stopped for coffee and then it was swimming. We haven’t been swimming since before the Christmas break and Squidge did. not.like.it.at.all she cried the entire time we were there and it pretty much sucked. I’m hoping that next week will be better.
I’m trying to force myself to get out and do things but it’s been difficult– anyone else feeling the winter blues??
Earlier this year I ordered the aquababies photo of Squidge swimming underwater. We had the photo shoot a year ago last October!! The photo arrived today and I can’t say I’m all that pleased with it. The focus on it is very soft. I’m not sure if that is just how they are seeing as it was taken underwater. I’m also not all that pleased with the ordering process. I ordered it from the photographers website and didn’t receive an order confirmation or any indication whatsoever that they had received my order. I had planned on calling him last week to confirm that they had received my order but the time (abject laziness if truth be told) go away from me. Suddenly today it arrives in the post. Oooh kay thank you.

I’ve been working on stationary/posters/marketing/information packs for my photography business. I need to get the word out that I’m here and I rock. Does anyone know how to make a watermark for photographs? I have a graphic and I want to add to photos but I don’t know how. I suppose I could pay someone to do it but I’m cheap and I know I could do it myself!!
I ordered some prints from Etsy today and can’t wait for them to arrive. I noticed last week during my cleaning craze that I don’t have any artwork up. I’m also planning on changing Squidge’s room out a bit. She still has the classic Winnie the Pooh prints up in her room and they look just a little bit babyish to me.
Squidge has been really really cute. She is ALWAYS coming up to me and telling me she yuvs me. She’s a very cuddly child and I love love love that about her. I hope that never changes. I know that I am not very huggy with those that I love and I’m trying to change that. I wonder if I was a cuddly/huggy child and changed when I got all angsty teenagery.
Wal and I (and Squidge) are planning a trip for next month. I’m soo looking forward to it. Wal is visiting a customer in Northern Spain and we’re tagging along and making a week of it. We’re also trying to decide if we should go skiing. What do you guys think? With the global economy in the crapper part of me want to be very very cautious and not spend the money. Skiing is a fairly expensive holiday– at least £3k if we’re careful. What if Wal loses his job. It’s not in any danger as far as we know but…
Yesterday on Women’s Hour they were talking about feminism. I’ve always considered myself a feminist and don’t consider it a 4 letter word. While I was listening to it I wondered what kind of message my SAHM self is giving Squidge. Giving up my job after Squidge was born was easy. It was a horrible menial job that I had taken just to get into the job market here in England. I wonder if I had had a job in my field if I would have been willing to give it up so quickly. I think yes because the money was horrible although I did love it. Being a SAHM has been difficult for me. I have worked since I was 16 and have always had my own money– it may not have been much but it was mine. Having to rely on Wal for money has been tough. He’s never denied me anything within reason. Still I have felt like I was taking advantage of him. Still I do keep the house clean *coughbullshitcough*, cook for him, raise his child and all the other thousands of things I can’t remember. Still it’s a very old fashioned kind of existence. I’m not one of those shopping/lunching SAHM’s. Well this little bit is rambling AND confusing so I’ll end it here.
On the 10th I drove down to Cambridge w/ Byrney and the kids. A good friend of ours moved down there last year and her daughter was having a birthday party. We figured why the hell not and off we went. I’m so glad we did. Squidge had a blast and it was great to see Teddy and the kids again.

I need to call my Mom, I haven’t spoken to her in over a week. I need to call my friends and try to see them more often. I need to become more confident and stop thinking that people don’t like me. I think this is one of my worse failings. I constantly think people don’t like me. Sometimes I don’t give people a chance I just assume they won’t like me so I don’t even try. Stupid, isn’t it!!
I’m hoping to organize a Spa day with some of my girlfriends. I have never ever ever been to a spa. I’ve never had a facial. I KNOW!! What is wrong with me! Anyone want to join me? I know there is a spa right outside of Knutsford I would like to try. Julia, have you ever been??
OK I’m going to end this here seeing as my word count is hovering around 1100 and that is waaaay too many words and very unlike me!
I’ll be back to normal soon. I hope.
What do you get for 60 quid*?
Posted on January 20, 2009
your computer back EXACTLY the same as when you dropped it off. Ooooh wait you also lose all of your backed up files on your external hard drive. I’m soooo glad I spent all that money! One good thing to come from this entire affair is that my house is CLEAN people. CLEAN!! I actually let a stranger into my bedroom. I wouldn’t have done that a week ago! I know you’re wondering who I let into my bedroom. Computer dude that’s who (whom?)! I get the stupid thing home and try to connect to the internet (oooooh internets how I missed you!) only to find that I can’t. So I called him and he came out and fixed my wireless router problem. I don’t really know what the problem was but he fixed it and didn’t charge me anything so I’m happy. Well as happy as you can after spending 60 quid for nothing.
So folks I’m off to read blog, catch up on news and Flickr my heart out.

just in case you were having Squidge withdrawals.
*I use quid instead of the GBP sign because my keyboard is a US one and I’m too lazy to look up and remember the ascii code for the pound sign.
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