Congrats both!

Congratulations to our cousin Helen on her wedding to Mark. Sorry we could not be there but I have been told that lots of photos are forthcoming!

Just doing my duty

I had to attend Jury Duty today, that was a barrel of laughs I can tell you. You need a degree in waiting.

I turned up at 7:30AM,  then waited in a room for an hour with 99 other suitably bored and tired members of the public, until 70 of us were shuffled into a court room. Then I waited while each potential juror was interviewed individually by the judge to determine whether they were to be selected as a member of the 12 person Jury. I had 60 people in front of me. It took hours. Sitting on a hard wooden bench that made me realize that my bum was not fat enough (this is a first), breathing in the rancid morning breath from the young guy sitting next to me who looked as if he'd rolled out of bed right into the courtroom...it was not a fun experience. And at the end of all that I was not selected.

I guess I have to take comfort in the quote from Norm Crosby (wasn't he on Cheers?) "When you go into court, you are putting your fate into the hands of twelve people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty".

Told you so

In March I blogged about the series Broadchurch, and said that Ellie's husband was involved somehow. What powers of deduction! He turned out to be the murderer. Told you so...

A cause for celebration?

However horrific and tense the events of the past week have been for those of us who live in the Boston area, were the mass scenes of celebration on Friday night really appropriate? Frankly I felt uncomfortable when I saw the pictures on Boston.com on Saturday morning.  People have died, families are grieving, many of the injured are in hospital in a critical condition, some have to face the rest of their lives with missing limbs. Feel relieved that the suspected bombers have been caught/killed, but have some humility; whichever way you look at it, this is not a cause for celebration.

Are you pulling my leg?

Just reading an article about the aftermath of theBoston Marathon bombings and the struggles that will be faced by the 14 people who lost their legs or arms. The article "Challenges lie ahead for Marathon Bombing amputees", states that the recovery can take a long time. I quote....

The wound where a limb has been amputated usually heals within 10 to 14 days, if there are no complications. The end of the limb is then wrapped tightly with an elastic bandage or sock for several weeks, to compress it into a cylindrical or cone shape that better fits the socket of a prosthesis.

“Sometimes they can be ready for a prosthesis in five or six weeks, but I have seen patients not ready for up to a year because they had complications with wound infections or problems with insurance,”

Ermm, excuse me, did I read that correctly? "problems with insurance"??? You've just lost a limb for goodness sake! What possible problems with insurance could there be?! 

"Excuse me madam, United Healthcare deny your claim for a prosthesis on the grounds that you have one functioning leg and therefore you have the ability to hop..."

WTF! What sort of health care system do we have in America? There may be waiting lists in the UK National Health Service, but for things that matter or are urgent, there is no wait, no insurance cards, no claims or referrals and no questions. And that just how it should be.

A sad day for Boston

What a terrible day for Boston. Information still being released slowly about the extent of the injuries resulting from the 2 explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. So far 3 dead (including a child) and over 100 injured. Injuries ranging from eardrum damage to loss of limbs. The bombs were packed with ball-bearings.  I am shocked that something like this could happen so close to home. And I am also unable to understand what sort of person could even think of doing such a thing, never mind putting it into action. There are some very sick people in this world.

Get well soon!

Best wishes to my mother who has fallen and broken her wrist and is in hospital waiting for an op to repair it. I hope you have a speedy recovery Mam - no more pommel horse for you!

Keep off the roads!

Now the fun begins! We have enrolled Rob in a local driving school for his Drivers Ed and lessons - in Massachusetts you can start learning to drive at age 16, but all drivers under 18 have to complete 30 hours of classroom training and 10hrs of instructor-led driving, as well as the 40hrs driving that they have to complete with their parents. Starting in May he will spend 9AM-3.30PM each Saturday at the Gilmore Driving school in Boylston - the next town over from us. Its costing an arm and a leg, but this is but a drop in the ocean compared to the cost of adding him to our insurance when he passes. Money, money, money!

Car damage again

Well, yet again my new car has been damaged before its even 6 months old. Today on my way to work some fool tried to move into my lane while I was still in it, forcing me to swerve towards the curb and scrape my alloys. Had to have my tires rotated and realigned and will need to send the wheel rim off for repair to make it look beautiful again. Best advice to give your children when they are learning to drive....assume everyone else on the road is an idiot. You will be right at least 80% of the time.

What to wear?

Went for a refreshing walk this morning. Still can't work out whats going on with the weather though. Yesterday afternoon I sat on the deck in a sleeveless top, thinking how warm it was. Today it was below freezing at 10AM, with a bitterly cold wind blowing. I wore a ski jacket, woolly hat and gloves for my walk!

Pick of the Pops and Flops

Currently listening to BBC Radio 2. The "Pick of the Pops" show is on, which is played every Saturday (morning for me, afternoon for the UK) by long-time DJ Tony Blackburn. To the uninitiated, he picks 2 years from the past 60 (gulp!) and plays the songs that were in the charts during those years. Todays years selected were 1964 and 1991. Now I can't say I paid much attention to the radio in 1964, being more interested in eating, sleeping and ...well, you get the picture. But because the music was so good in the sixties, I think I recognized just about every song played, and knew the words to many of them too. The Beatles - Can't buy me love, Billy J Kramer - Little children, Peter and Gordan - World without love, The Hollies - Just one look, The Rolling Stones - Not Fade away...

I could not say the same for 1991. An example of the forgettable 'hits' are Scritti Politti and Shabba Ranks -She's a woman, Dannii Minogue - Love and Kisses, Banderas - This is your life and some tedious number by Simple Minds called "Let there be Love". Even the BeeGees song was poor - Secret Love.

The only ones I knew the words to were remakes of older songs such as The Pet Shop Boys - Streets have no name (Can't take my eyes off you).

I think overall the 90's has to be the worst decade for music.

See how they've grown!

A couple of recent photos of the kids...not so young anymore!

Its just a number

Happy Birthday to my lovely hubbie Tony. I had to be creative with his birthday cake as he follows a "Paleo lifestyle" - see if you can guess what its made of!!