Who's sorry now?

Ahh . . . breathe in . . . and hold it . . . a relax. Ahhhhh. I do apologise for my lack of earliness this morning but I was battling with the beast printer in the workshop. I thought to myself 'I'll just get this little job running before I make myself comfy'. So one hour of cursing and shouting at it to just behave and flipping well work, here I am!

There really is nothing worse than machines that you rely on decide to not play ball! GRRRRR. I'm sorry, I do apologise once again for ranting about it, it doesn't really help. Mind you what's annoying me now is that the Facebook spell check is questioning my spelling of apologise!! This is how it's spelt you stupid programme!! Just because your system was built in America doesn't mean we all want to spell things the stupid way Americans do!

Sorry. Apologising is something we Brits do an awful lot of isn't it! I have come to realise that, it’s normally the tiniest of things that can drive me crazy and send me hurtling into a half-hour violent rant while the bigger things don’t really seem to effect me all that much.

The way I see it, if the earth were to wobble off its axis and plummet into the sun, causing a massive explosion which would in turn destroy the entire universe in the space of a few seconds, it would only kill me once. On the other hand, the fifteen minutes between me not being able to find something and then eventually finding it in my pocket will set me off on a rampage of banging things about in a fit of such violent frustration that the whole ‘earth-sun-destruction of the universe’ scenario might seem like a picnic by comparison.

So when things like that happen, we have to apologise.

I think that apologising is one of the hardest things that anyone has to do, in any language and no matter who the person concerned is. Sadly, most people’s apologies these days very quickly become excuses, and eventually switch from ‘I’m sorry for what I did’ to ‘I’m sorry you feel that way’, which is not really an apology but an accusation! Other people just don’t bother to apologise, and try to pretend that nothing actually happened, which is worse! An apology has to be made, because if you don’t say you’re sorry when you should, it sort of means that it wasn’t that big a deal to you, and you don’t really care. So, how should it be done?

“I’m really sorry” is always a good way to start, but maybe the phrase “I apologise” is slightly better? ‘Apologise’ is a verb, and therefore adds a lot more to what you’re saying, whereas ‘sorry’ is just telling the person how you feel. Although maybe it does sound a bit trite?

Here, then, are some 'go to' expressions that may help to get you out of the giant hole you dug for yourself at some point...

Please accept my apology... I 'm really sorry.
I was wrong.
I shouldn’t have said that.
I made a stupid mistake.
I’m genuinely sorry.
There was no excuse for how I acted.
It was not my intention to... I’m terribly sorry.

The key to a successful apology is sincerity! If you don’t really mean it, then don’t bother to say it. Right, now I must crack on with things I suppose . . . Now where did I leave that thing I need? It was just here a minute ago...

Tuesday confession

Good day and good morning ladles and jelly spoons. I'm afraid it's Tuesday already. I'm also afraid I have something of a confession to make. This morning I very nearly turned to the dark side. After watching the weather last night and looking out of the window this morning I very nearly . . . (pauses for dramatic effect) . . . I very nearly decided to wear trousers. (bites knuckle, to indicate guilt) There! I said it! I know it's a little shocking and I'm not proud to admit it, but I did it none the less. I very nearly decided to put the shorts away for the day and get out me strides. I even ummed and ahhed about taking a waterproof coat with me. Yes! A Coat!!

Admittedly that second idea may not of been a bad one, considering what it's supposed to be like most of the day. In fact thinking about it, shorts and a cagoule might of actually brightened my day slightly, as generally speaking shorts and cagoules remind me of childhood holidays or school trips.

Of course to make the school trip experience complete I would then of had to carry around a clip board all day with bit of paper on that I could draw pictures on and hold someone's hand whenever I was walking. It could of been a lovely day thinking about it.

Maybe at lunchtime I could of sat outside on a wall in the rain with my hood up, with my Tupperware lunchbox balanced on my lap. Trying to eat slightly sweaty cheese and piccalilli sandwiches, some cheap supermarket crisps and maybe a Club biscuit or a Trio or a 5,4,3,2,1 bar. Before washing it all down with some very very weak orange squash from my plastic Snoopy Flask. Ahhh those were the days.

See now I'm wishing I had decided to wear a cagoule and make a substandard lunch which I would purposely not put in the fridge to keep cool, but instead carry around in a rucksack for the day. Either that of course or I could of gone for the family holiday option. But that would mean I instead would have to wear my cagoule and shorts combo in the rain, to go to a zoo perhaps, or stroll along a wet and windy beach, or maybe a stroll around a harbour before nipping into some 'excellent quality' gift shops. I do realize my interpretation of 'excellent quality' isn't the same as most people's when it comes to holiday gift shops. I do love a good bit of tat.

Oh dear, I do waffle when I get going don't I? I am very sorry, I was only mentioning the fact that I nearly decided to bring a waterproof with me to work. Right well I suppose I must let you get on, you probably like me, have a string of very import goals to achieve today.

Toodles! x

Helloooooo Monday.

We look up to the skies for inspiration and sadly notice that the bright golden sunshine of the weekend is starting to be shrouded by the grey tinged clouds of yet another Monday. We once again find ourselves at the far end of a port standing on a jetty, feeling slightly chilly, in the cold sea air. The piercing cry of the seagulls seem to be laughing and mocking our misfortune, as they crowd round and terrorize a small trawler, returning from it's nights work. We look back and watch the stern of the mighty 'Weekend' liner slide silently around the headland and out of view, as it sounds it's sorrowful horn. Letting everyone know that the weekend is now over. So, with a heavy heart and sagged shoulders we amble away through the port. Knowing that we now face the rain filled, uphill struggle and seemingly endless expanse of the working week that is stretching out before us.

It's funny how situations change, depending on how you're feeling isn't it? Oh yes it's Monday! Can you believe it! That weekend really did go far to quickly and instead of bright sunshine, we are faced with threatening grey clouds and rain. Still personally I'm refusing to give up on the summer just yet. I'm still defiantly wearing wearing my shorts and a T-shirt and hoping that the weather will notice me and assume it's obviously doing the wrong thing.

I have to say though, the next couple of weeks are holding more than a little dread for me. As one of my colleagues, the one who shares my responsibility of producing wondrous graphics is away on holiday for two weeks. Meaning I am now left trying to produce enough for two people on my own. Eeep! Testing times lay ahead it seems.

The only bright side being that after these two weeks it shall be me who will have two weeks away from the office. Huzzah!

Still, face it we must. So with our heads held high and our chests proudly out, lets rebel against the darkness that Monday is trying to smother us under. Let's continue onwards, knowing that, though we may feel alone and abandoned there are still countless others with us sharing the burden and picking us up when it's all getting too much to bear.

Ahhh breathe in the Fridayness

We look up and notice that once again, the grey tinged clouds of the passing week are drifting slowly apart, to reveal the bright golden sunshine of another Friday. So we find ourselves at the far end of the weeks port. Standing on a jetty, and breathing in the cooling ozone. We listen to the faint call of the seagulls in the distance as they crowd over and dive bomb a small trawler, as it returns from it's nights work. Then from around the headland the bow of the mighty 'Friday' liner slides silently into view, before sounding it's thunderous horns. Letting everyone know that the time is very nearly upon us. When we can excitedly board and set sail for the wide open expanse of Weekend that is stretching out before us.

Oh yes it's Friday! Can you believe it! It really has gone quite quickly this week hasn't it? I am feeling a little tired and achy this morning, due to three random bouts of cramp during the night. I haven't had bad cramp for ages, so I don't know what particularly brought it on last night. It was the kind of cramp that you get in your calf muscles, the kind where you seem to have no option but to leap out of bed as fast as you can and do the quick 'walk around the bedroom dance' to try and stop it. Normally accompanied by the "HmmmMMMmmm HmmmmMMMmm" song that apparently you have to do when experiencing pain as well.

Still, no matter, aside from still slightly painful calf muscles, I am fully ready for everything that the day may offer. I've got my first coffee on the go, my big gay truck is finished and all my job bags seem to be in as much order as they can be. So, with smiles on our faces, let the warm waters of Friday wash over us and let the spark of excitement turn into a roaring flame that we can proudly carry all day.

Hopefully I shall be still carrying the flame later on today as well, as myself and my partner in crime shall be attempting to paint Burgess Hill red this evening. Well ok, maybe not red, but at least a good dark shade of umber. In any event, we shall be doing our best to fling our cares aside and try to have many giggles as is legally allowed anywho. So do feel free to roll up one of your trouser legs or tuck your skirt into the back of your knickers and join us should the mood take you. The more the merrier we always say. Anyway, if I don't see you before do have yourselves a thoroughly full to brimming, marvelous weekend, and I'll see you on the flip side.

Toodle pips!
x

I can sing a rainbow . . .

Rain! Yes you heard me, actual rain fell from the sky on my little journey into work this morning. Although I also had glorious sunshine, low in the sky behind me as well. So the sun shone on the wet roads and made it look like I was traveling to work upon golden roads. Which of course meant that, in front of me was the biggest brightest rainbow I have seen for a long time, straddling the way ahead. All very lovely and almost poetic I'm sure you'll agree. There really must be a lengthy sermon I could give off the back of it. Don't worry though, I won't.

To be honest it did make you think, 'wow' isn't the world brilliant. Which I guess is why rainbows are there, we all love seeing a good rainbow. Now matter how old we are, we always get a little spark of childhood excitement at seeing one. Sometimes of course we even get to see the most rare 'double rainbow' which is even more exciting. It's a feeling like you had when you were younger, and discovering you've got a 'shiny' in your pack of Panini Stickers, you've just bought from the newsagents. Ah simpler times, as the choruses of "Got, got, got, need, got" echo around the playground.

Sorry, I got a bit lost in sentiment for a bit there. Anyway, yes it rained, but it was lovely, so that's fine. Well I've just polished off my bowl of 'Jordan's Super Berry'. Although, I'm really not sure about it to be honest. It's just a bit too 'berry' for me. In fact, it's 'very berry'. The trouble is the berries in it are just a bit too sharp and not enough sweet for me I think. Yes I know, I'm SO sweet I shouldn't need any more sweet in me. Apparently I do! I suppose the only good thing about it is that is does turn the milk purple as you're eating it, so that is a big tick in it's favour in my book. Although I'm not sure I'd bother buying it again.

Right, well, I have a great big gay truck to finish off, and make look gorgeous so I shall be reaching for the rainbow colours once again.

See you tomorrow, for the blessed Friday! I know! Already! 

It's a boy!

Sound the fanfare. Unfurl the flags. Unknot the bunting and string it up once again. Mind you I do like any excuse for a bit of bunting. Raise the Union Flag or drape it from an upstairs window. (Course what I want to know is how come the Union Jack is now called the Union Flag! People always going round changing the names of beloved things. Starburst will always be Opal Fruits to me, Snickers will always be Marathon and Ulay will always be Olay). Yes I'm sure you've heard the new Royal baby has been born.

Mind you, they haven't mentioned it once on the BBC news! Because they have done nothing but mention it. In fact I think today you can pretty much write off hearing any news as it will all be Royal baby. Mind you it's funny how after weeks of sunshine, just after he was born it started with thunder and lightning, I hope they don't decide to call him Damien.

So that will be the next topic of speculation, the name. I admit I was wrong in thinking it was going to be a girl. So my name suggestion is pretty much out of the window. Mind you, Alice probably wouldn't be such a great name for a boy. Unless you wanted to try the Johnny Cash style of upbringing. The wonderful Lady T reckons the best bet for a name is probably going to be James. To be honest I would have to agree with her, it just seems right for some reason. Although it will still be a bit weird naming your son after Uncle Harry's father. Heeheehee.

Still, no doubt the Royal baby news will continue to rumble on throughout the week, much like the thunder clouds that seem to accompany him. Not that we've had any flashes or bangs yet in Burgess Hill. Although it is looking a bit threatening out there.

Right, well got to go. Things to do, creations to create masterpieces to master and all that sort of stuff.

Best foot forward!

Well that was a bit of a weekend wasn't it! As some of you will of seen, me and the Wonderful Lady T spent a large portion of our Saturday at A&E with son number 2. He had twisted his ankle rather badly (or should that be rather well?) and was in so much pain he couldn't bear to put any weight on it. So off we trundled to Hayward Heath, to sit in the waiting room for a few hours. When he was eventually seen, we then shuffled off to go get an X-ray. Then after a little bit more waiting, we were once again herded into one of the little curtained off examination cubicles, and told it was definitely a sprain. We were then given strict instructions that he had to keep trying to walk on it and that he wasn't allowed to do any cycling, running or sports for the next two weeks. After which we made our escape back to normality. Phew! To be honest it was nice actually spending some proper time with him, as we normally hardly ever see him.

To be fair to him, yesterday he seemed to be coping with it rather well and was making superb efforts at tentatively walking on it again, without too much moaning. Of course I'm doubting he will be quite so keen to prove his wellness with school looming this morning. Still, I suppose you have to try your luck at 14 even if it usually doesn't get you anywhere.

Well that's all behind us now, and Monday is upon us once more. So once more, it is time to turn to face the way ahead, take a deep breath and take the first tentative step into the new week sprawling before us. Although do prepare yourselves for a hot one, as it does promise to be another rather gloriously warm Sunshine filled day. I would suggest having a 'wear nothing to work day' but to be honest I fear we may get funny looks if we tried it, and there are certain places that none of us want to get sun burnt. Plus rubbing Factor 50 on those places in front of colleagues is normally frowned upon. So probably best to go for the usual loose fitting garments that these conditions call for.

Right! Well, as they say best foot forward people! (In son number two's case, that'll be his left foot) See you all tomorrow.