Steve from England

Spent a significant part of today with Chris. We first went to Billing Aquadrome to look at some hotrods and, some damn fine ones there were too. Then we went to Brampton Halt for a drink, that was lovely too. Followed this with a cinema trip to watch Spooks, very enjoyable. All in all, despite having a headache throughout, a totally enjoyable day.

  According to Accuweather, my birthday could be the start of a week long warm spell. Of course, my birthday is still 5 days away so this is meaningless guesswork but, who knows, it could happen! I would very much like some good weather this summer as it looks unlikely I am going to grab a holiday any time soon.

It's just 10C and raining. Quite unpleasant and right on the edge of June which certainly isn't busting out all over. I read Neverland Ranch is up for sale if you have 64 million. I find that somehow a little sad. No one knows if Jackson was ever guilty of anything except being weird yet he'll always be tarnished with the possibility.

Have you seen this man?   That's my other self on GTA V, Robin Banks. I think he looks just like the bloke I think I should look like but don't! Next week I shall be 52. I've always been a little nervous of being 52 as it is the age my mum died at. True, there are no similarities between her and me health-wise. But, even so, it sort of also brings it home to me just how young she was when she died, how much life she didn't live. By comparison I am so much more fortunate. She never knew her grandchildren and she ended up with 6 of them. She never knew her great-grandchildren either and there are 4 of those. Most upsetting for me personally is that she never got to know me either. To her I was probably this stupidly introvert weird kid who had little respect for her (because I had sex in her house) and who had got this girl she didn't much like pregnant. She never got to know the person I couldn't be then but later become and that's sad because I would have li...

I find myself tiring of the complexities which are the relationships we have between us and those we are closely or loosely related to. Take my own case for example. I have a grandchild whose biological dad has, in my truthful opinion, being horrible to me in particular and a total waste of space to his son. Then I have his family who have believed stories they've been told about me, totally unfounded and they too have treated me quite appallingly. Now, the biological father is history, thankfully I never have to have anything to do with him again. But, the rest of the family are still related to my grandson of course. They've never gone out of their way to hurt him other than not not bother to visit on several occasions they could have done but, we can put that down to what he doesn't know won't hurt him. But, how's it going to work long term? Whilst he's young he's no reason to know and he's not asked but, if he asks he'll be told the truth about a...

Her condition changed so quickly we thought she might have had a fall but it turned out it was more serious than that and there was nothing at all the vet could do for except put her to sleep, out of pain. Bless her, she looked and sounded so scared, sad and in pain this morning it was almost a blessing to watch her slip peacefully away terribly upsetting though it was. The first vets we took her to last night were appalling, only interested in money and a lot of it. They misdiagnosed Molly and left her in pain longer than she needed to be. VetsNow need to be investigated and possibly shut down for what they did. I cannot praise Vets4You in Northampton enough, they were excellent and showed real compassion to Molly and us at a difficult time. Killing a pet, because that’s what we’re talking about here, is a hugely tough decision. The very least we could do was to stay there with her as it happened. I couldn’t do it to her to prolong her suffering for our benefit knowing she likely...

  Firstly, a thank you to Nick for getting the ticket for me, was a lovely gesture. I have seen the play before, my diary tells me that it was 4th October 2000 with Tony in Wellingborough. From memory that version was based on the film whereas last night I thought it was more possibly the original play. It's about two teenage guys living in South London in the 80's. though the decade wasn't overly apparent last night. Jamie lives with his barmaid mum and Ste lives with his abusive drunken father next door in a tower block. They've been friends for years then realise there is more to it than that. This is the love story of those two, their coming out at a difficult time of homophobia, drugs and illegality. It's really uplifting. The play was excellent, all the cast shocked me at how good they were and my pre judgement was that the actor playing Jamie's mum was totally wrong for the role, she wasn't. Who she played was horrible in 'Eastenders' but in t...

How lovely to see an employer prepared to quite literally fly the flag Nationwide Support I thought it might just be a local thing but true to their name, they are making this ‘Nationwide’ and seem to have realised that by actively including the LGB community it will change their image for the better. I will be honest, it was strange for me to turn up at their HQ in Northampton earlier and see the flag flying there alongside the National flag and their Corporate flag but how forward thinking are they? Very in my opinion. There are some 10% of the population who are LGB, that’s a lot of people. You know, there are still a huge amount of companies who don’t have ‘Civil Partner’ as part of their marital status list. Of those who do they still tend to class such relationships as less than traditional familiar relationships. It isn’t a one off event either, across the country Nationwide are showing support for the LGB community. It’s good to see, should be supported too in my opin...

A good weekend but my sleep quality wasn’t so good so going to grab some catch-up! I also must remember that not everyone knows me well enough to get my sense of humour, oops. Worth acknowledging that regardless of any outcome, the better people are still the better people. Those who are there when it matters hold the moral high ground. Liars and cheats might manage to pull the wool over the eyes of those who do not know but, the people who do know, know! Xbox One, quite a learning curve and, at the moment I am not feeling it. Too much crammed in most of it I don’t need and it just gets in the way. Graphics are good but by the time I get to do anything I am bored already, it certainly doesn’t seem to do anything quicker from what I’ve experienced

I wasn’t going to get one and then I quite literally bashed into one for way under market at £190, all the others I looked at would be £270 or so. Bought that but it came with the wrong game so got that exchanged for a right game. Did some more digging online and got the other two games I wanted. All in it cost me £245 which is stupidly good for the Xbox One and three top games!

Got my hair done, Daisy got her hair done. Went to town, helped Daisy choose clothes. I rushed back home and collected boys then back to town where the boys helped me choose clothes for Daisy. Had to have my glasses sent back, the coating has come off the lenses. So, I waited 2 months for them, wear them a month and they’re gone again. Good job I have my superdrys!

Matt has one, Sean & Daisy don't. If I get one and transfer GTAV to it I exclude Sean & Daisy from further game nights and redoing the Heists. If I don't get it, I exclude Matt. Evil dilema  

On my Phone Battery, that’s what Facebook is! I’ve not had the app on my phone for months and decided to install it a few days ago. I could use my Samsung Note 3 all day and still have battery life of around 80% at bedtime. After Facebook my battery wasn’t lasting the day! I tried setting up not to be doing everything all of the time, not to keep notifying me of everything and anything but nothing I tried made any difference, it’s as though the user isn’t allowed to make any changes which don’t thrust their face in the app whenever they look at their phone. So, today I deleted the damn thing, who needs it anyway! I would much rather have my phone as a phone when I need it with plenty of battery life, it’s a phone after all not a handheld Facebook console!

Eastern Europeans Eastern Europeans come in for a lot of stick around these parts, partly from me. Earlier on today I was wondering down Gold Street at a time when a singular Police Officer was trying to arrest a violent member of the public. An Eastern European man immediately jumped to the aid of the Police whilst British people, myself included, walked on by. True, I am not best suited for such things and would no doubt be more of a hindrance than a help but, even so, it never even crossed my mind to help. British Motorists We are so not taught to driver properly, so many seem to be incapable of even driving as they were taught. On a roundabout earlier a motorist drove across the two lane roundabout because they were going straight ahead totally oblivious to the fact they could (and did) have traffic to their right. They were feeding the wheel as they would have been taught but too slowly and they were barely driving at 15mph against a speed limit of 40. Another motorist wa...

None of this is complaint, I think I might have enjoyed it but it was a whirlwind of a day! Good times with Zach earlier. I should have set my alarm though because I was awake at 7 and then just checking the clock each 15 minutes until 8:45. Then I only just allowed enough time to get both Zach and Danny lunch before dashing back in time for their nursery. Dropped Danny off then met with John in town for a quick drink then to Robin for a flying visit and then I had to drop Daisy off to collect Danny whilst I headed to the other side of town to get Kris’s two from school. Got those arrangements somewhat confused so wasn’t sure just where or when I was meant to collect them so did a lot of waiting around. Got back for a brief break which really wasn’t before flying off to collect Sean from work followed by Kris on the way back. Kris had surgery today so is getting over that. She and Latina have my bed, I get the sofa. Need to get up at some silly time in the morning to do another...

Windows 10 will be the last version of the operating system to be numbered, says Microsoft executive. I am wondering what their pricing policy will be in the future? They must have made a lot of money on the back of each new release so I can't believe they're prepared to let that go. Could it be some form of subscription service? Pay each year of use, stop paying, stop using? Or perhaps there will be the free version which is way more basic and functional and the subscription service? Have we really seen the end of paying for the Windows OS? I don't think so. Source: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions - BBC News

Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman calls for marijuana to be legalised in US and "across the board". I've got a lot of respect for Freeman the way he switched career late in life and, well, became 'God' but, I think the old fool is speaking out his arse on this one! Perhaps he has not, like I have, seen the damage the drug does to to many users. Not everyone is lucky, this drug messes up lives with good prospects, turns bright young men and women into total bums. Sure, legalise it in a controlled way with proper research for medicine but, not recreational, please just let's use some damn common sense here! Source: Morgan Freeman calls for marijuana to be legalised - BBC News .

Nigel Farage will stay on as UKIP leader after the party rejected his resignation. You've got to have a laugh at this! Source: Farage stays as UKIP leader after resignation rejected - BBC News

Had to collect kids earlier from a Roman Catholic School. Everything got a little delayed (not by me) so I was kept hanging around. I was desperate for the toilet so I asked if I might borrow theirs to be told that, no, they don’t let strangers use their toilet. I’d already introduced myself, they knew who I was and that I was doing someone a good deed but, no, I couldn’t use the toilet. Is there something missing from their Bible Teachings I wonder? Should point out that the school was closed and if there were any children in it then they were still in their classrooms on detention or studying. I just thought that was somewhat bad being a faith school.

Not overly happy with the result but, not the end of the world (I hope) Am finally getting my finances back on track, right on schedule so I am happy with that. It means I will soon be able to travel somewhere and that has to be a good thing as I do so miss travelling places ... I'll settle for the UK at this rate! I might be able to and I may have some money soon but, not for anything big, I'll leave those in the bucket list for now. I need to spend some more social time with friends, not seen Chris or Tyler for a long while, actually, still waiting for that coffee with Tyler since last year, guess you're still busy with all the Christmas stuff  ;-) Avengers, Age of Ultron, sort of awesome and the tie in with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is a lovely touch as well. Amazingly pleased to discover it has been renewed for a further season as has Agent Carter. Sadly, Constantine has been officially cancelled now so we've seen the last of it. It's a shame as it held promise....

I still cannot make my mind up whether to use it or not, maybe I can but just stupidly lock it down so that no one ever apart from my friends can see anything anywhere I post. The last issue was because I posted to the local newspaper I subscribe to on their Facebook page and, if I do that, anyone can see it, it’s ‘public’ so, probably best not post anything to any of them!

My blog is now over at www.ruright.org.uk/blog and upon visiting you will notice an easy subscribe option to allow you to be sent email when I post something. As I am current away from Facebook, posts will not be appearing there

Telsa Motors, the US company which makes electric cars, has unveiled a new battery it says can power homes using solar panels. I've read into this and I'm really not convinced. It seems that if the more expensive unit is charged up fully it would power a washing machine for one wash. It could probably only power the average home for about 30-60 minutes and that's pushing it! I can't see how anyone in the developed world could see any return on the product, the costs currently outweigh the gains. Of course, if the price came down to a few hundred then, perhaps it's worth buying a group of battery packs to go along with your acre of solar panels! Source: Could battery-powered homes be the future? - BBC News

HSBC says it will make its decision whether to move its headquarters out of the UK within months rather than years. I am not really convinced that they have any intention of going anywhere. My view is that they got caught doing some naughty things that they ought not have done and didn't like it. Added to that the increase in bank Levy and they are in a sulk. Seems, the people who cause the financial problems of the world don't much like it when someone does it to them. As for only taking 250 of the 48,000 staff with them, are they seriously considering downsizing or pulling out the UK totally? I can't imagine them closing all their branches, losing all that revenue they make from the UK, just crazy talk! Still, if they want to go, let them sod off and don't blink about it. About time we showed these businesses and directors who have got too big for their boots that we don't need them. We managed before HSBC, we'd manage after. Source: HSBC will make move decisi...

US fast-food giant McDonald's could be facing a European Commission (EU) investigation into its tax affairs over an alleged €1bn of unpaid tax. Source: McDonald's faces potential €1bn EU tax avoidance probe - BBC News

It’s cool and windy and overcast and … eww I also didn’t sleep so well in the 6 1/2 hours I allowed myself last night so am needing to catch up a little. Feeling stupidly fat too. Hearing got a lot worse, I suspect infection, possible right ear perforation, can’t be sure until I speak to the doctor. Right now am reluctant to use the phone and talking generally is difficult and awkward because of just how much conversation I am missing. Still in need of a holiday, will have to wait a few weeks yet but, if I don’t get it in before July, it’ll have to wait until September.

The issues which cropped up yesterday are now sorted and, I hope, everyone is OK with things, we need to move on with this. It shows us though that we need to think really hard before we stick our heels in the ground and make sweeping statements. I know I’ve made my fair share of total screw ups!

Me and Sean worked really hard on the jungle garden earlier to get it down to this. I have the thorn injuries and aches to prove it, Sean is just dying slowly. Both the boys worked really hard at cleaning the slide. Can’t imagine the garden ever looking amazing but, if it’s functional, that’s good enough

Using it again was a mistake. I once again opened myself up to attack and there are always those all too happy to stick the knife in. I’ve deactivated it again and must keep telling myself to stop using it.

Today my family was attacked for their history. There is a truth that my parents were first cousins. It’s not illegal, it’s not against the teachings of the Church of England and even the Catholic faith do not hold against it as an instruction from God, in many situations they would approve such a union. Today my parents relationship was challenged and said to be wrong. It was described as incest and their union was mentioned as the likely cause for having disabled children myself. Moral aspects aside, that’s my mum and dad. Me and dad never particularly got along but I was so close to my mum who died in 1986. I cannot imagine listening to anyone attacking her decision to marry my dad. Seeing the hurt on her face which I am sure there would be is a little more than I can reasonably deal with. I saw that sort of hurt on her face, it broke my heart. When accusations like that are made it’s often forgotten that those about who the accusations were made are or were real people. It ...

Had a lovely afternoon with the family running around, chucking and kicking balls, playing tag and so on. Am told tomorrow will be warmer at 19° and sunny …. yay Been adding some people on Facebook, thought I’d make the effort and seek out who was now online. I was reminded yesterday why I have to be careful on Facebook. Remember I was saying about the damage gossip can cause? Well, I wrote a comment a couple of days back about drugs use in the town and how the police seem to do so little about the known drug dealers. After all, if they are obvious to someone who has nothing at all to do with the drugs scene, they sure as hell should be aware of who is behind it all. Anyway, someone followed me by making accusations that this family of mine walk a fine line with the police and social services so I had no right to comment. They clearly believe that nonsense so they are repeating what someone else originally made up. On from that, others might read it and believe there is no smoke wit...