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Excuses excuses .....
Dear OntheLedge (88 yesterday)
Do you really hate the flashing postcards? (´óÏó´«Ã½ rules prevent me using the brand name verb that you used).
I'm so excited to have progressed from taking photos on my telephone to using the office scanner and Tony the Blog Wizard specially created the "Flash Badge", as it's known in the trade.
Please don't deny me my small pleasures.
L
PS You can click on any of the photos and see our entire gallery of postcards and photos and even view them a slide show!
PPS If you really have no work to do you can also post comments about each of the photos. Let a thousand pointless blogs bloom.
Right, a couple of points here, Lord Mair -
(1) do you make it a habit of getting into your drawer(s)?
(2) how many other members of the Geldof dynasty are employed by the ´óÏó´«Ã½?
I think we have a right to know !!
I have an image of PM office in my mind:
Lissa wrestling with the scanner,
Ed climbing out of his drawer,
Rupert with his head stuck into Gordon.
Now we know why the blog's so slow today!
Oh no the double blog thing! Eddie no games please, it's all I can do to remember to look at 1!
Very quiet on here today, you've obviously foxed them all having a second one on the go.
I had a month's withdrawal symptoms cos your hols was immediatley followed by mine, so Monday this week was the first time I heard your voice for almost 4 weeks! Nearly texted you to say how good it was to hear you.
Have even invested in an FM radio attatchment for my mini i-pod so I can hear you in the office (if I haven't snook out sharp to hear you on the drive home!) or when I'm on train journeys, or in homes that have never heard of radio 4!!
Do you detect just a slight bit of OCD round the edges!!!
GB's book is a priceless read. Only a safe can keep it from being stolen. You should have known better, Eddie.
Ed,
Whit you aw aboot, yir daein ma boax in!
O-er - a special posting for me from Lissa - I'm really flattered!]
Well, Lissa, re the flashing postcards - if you look through previous postings from other bloggers (not me, honestly!) you'll see that I'm not the ony one who finds them truly perplexing/stressful. BUT I wouldn't want to deny you your small pleasures/big delights.
You'll see that we bloggers did indeed bloom yesterday - and doubtless will continue to flourish, work or no work.
It was a pleasure doing business with you. Enjoy your day.
Oh, PS Lissa - You're blog overtook my earlier one. Now I know it's Scanning Tone and LissathePhone.
PPS - I, too, get very excited about technology. Isn't it fun?
I know this has nothing to do with anything (at all really) but did anybody else (who doesn't take The Times) see the story about lions and elephants? It's available online
I've not really recovered from that yet. Incidentally, peripherally, the story is also about ´óÏó´«Ã½ people as well, so I'm hoping it will be OK.
OK, so just how long is 'PRESENTLY'?
Dear Lissa with an A - btw your'e not my californian penfriend Lissa moonlighting are you? - anyway, I appreciate that you're a busy woman and have lots to do and therefore you can be excused for not reading all the blog entries, but I think I'm safe in saying that everyone who has expressed an opinion on the flickering postcards has been agin' them.
We wouldn't want to deny you your small pleasures, but surely you have more of those than just putting postcards on a flash badge!
On a serious note I expect you're just a wee slip of a young thing with perfect optical health but for some people with some optical problems it might be a step too far.
As for being able to post comments on each and every postcard - Some of us have work to do...!
how are we supposed to keep up!!
Oh I just love it when this happens. Got the newsletter and apparently it's all grey and horrid down in the Metropolis.
Well up here which is about as far north as you can get and still be in the UK, it's glorious. Blue skies, warm sun, you need your SPF20 on if you go out.
Not that I'd want to be gloating or anything, and I am tied to the house doing the pre holiday ironing so not getting to enjoy much of the sunshine myself.
I realise that there are important things like competition prizes to be lost then found, groundless accusations against underpriviledged youth to be made and postcards to be discussed, but what about the radio programme? Don't you lot have deadlines?
Hi John H
Yes, I saw that story too. And it upset me more than the military hospital issue I've been banging on about. But now we'll be accused of being softy animal lovers and that human life is far more precious, blah blah.
I don't think I'll be able to watch the film when it comes out.
What did you think of the descriptions of the elephant antics by the waterhole? Who says an elephant can't have a good time?
So glad the licence fee is breing used for something worthwhile at last. ;)
No, really!
Carry on blogging...
Do you think I could have the Gordon Brown book? My little daughter has a bad cold and a nice book of speeches would be ideal to prop up the end of her cot to help her to breathe more easily. And it should help her to sleep well too.
'Gordon Brown - helping you breathe more easily.'
Big Sis - not sure I really want to see that film either. I think it may well be one of those cases where the knowledge is enough. I find it quite chilling that this new form of behviour should come about through chance circumstance and, once developed, is now part of the norm. And yet, this is pretty much how natural selection proceeds (way too simplistic I know - if you think about it at some length, you can imagine consequential changes that could occur over long enough time periods - tho' with our intervention, neither species will probably be around for long enough).
I know it's probably anthropomorphic to imagine elephants really "playing" by the waterhole - but the description really does paint that picture.
I would like to chip in and say that I »å´Ç²Ô’t have any problems with the impressive animated postcard thingy - please keep it, L!
What do you know, Doc H?
Hahaha.
Fight! Fight! Fight!
It's still the "Waiting for static.flickr.com/Transferring data from static.flickr.com/Read static.flickr.com" thing that does my head in. Why does it need to do that? And why is the machine called "static" when it seems to be anything but?
sb 21
Yo, Doc, (19)
I'm wit' chew.
Lissa - with an A (star) - Nice moves, man.
If you got it, flaunt it, Baby.
OK, since nobody else has, I'm going to ask. Where is Drinks today?
"...he/she..." Oh dear, Eddie.
Drinks might be a "he", but at least he's a "he" pretending to be a "she". You should get one of your researchers to read your blog.
re WALTZING POSTCARDS
Dear OnTheLedge / Anne,
Though you've taken the shine off my day by criticising my dancing postcards, I'm going to leave them up for now.
a) Because I like them.
b) Because Peter the Editor likes them.
c) Because I don't have time to post them all separately.
If you close your right eye it's not as distracting.
I will try and come up with more static technology next week.
Best wishes
L
I hadn't realised that my dancing postcards analogy had gained such currency. (Great!)
I do see that they draw attention to themselves, but they therefore draw the eye away from other important words!
I do have another problem now, I read the blog when listening to the programme sometimes and get a bit muddled.
Oh, but what a relief it all is from the more serious poltical blogs which I read with great seriousness as an extra to the news I hear on the radio.
Lissa the PM Blog Wonder-Woman,
I love the flashy-thing! It's very stylish.
Here, have some non-branded furniture polish to put the shine back on your day:
*swoooooosh*
*squee squee squee*
Hurrah for Jack Straw's comments over his dislike of talking to people who he can not see facially.
I also find the sight of a covered person, for whatever reason, intimidating, distracting and worrisome ; a motorcyclist has to remove his helmet before entering a garage for similar reasons.
I have travelled in many Islamic countries in the 80,s and appreciated the kindness of the people I met. However when I can not see the eyes, mouth and facial expressions I find it difficult to engage with that person as I can make no judgements or impressions of that person other than by their dialogue.
80% of our response to someone is by sight and if this is denied it creats a barrier.
John H (22),
Thank you for noticing my absence and pointing out Eddie's bizarre comment regarding my sex (I mean, have you ever heard of a boy called 'Aperitif'? Honestly!!) It's probably a good thing - I've been suffering from my Eddie crush for a while. If I'm so insignifcant to him (sniff!) it'll wear off pretty sharpish: I only entertain boys who can make me think that they think I'm fabulous.
To answer your question, I have been in seminars all day (it was going to be tomorrow) so haven't been online. "Working" at home tomorrow though, so I guess I shan't be able to keep away.
Lissa,
I can live with the dancing postcards if you love them so much but can you please sort out the other niggles than we've been banging on about before unleashing any more fancy stuff? Please and thank you?
Cheers.
Annasee,
Sorry (please see "Brown".)
A, x.
SB29
John (20), I have not seen any of the transferring/static nonsense (it reads as nonsense) that you mention. Lucky me, it would seem. And I’m glad to see some agreement with my (19).
My reaction to the Jack Straw story, and please tell me that I can’t be the only one: He may want to see their faces, but I bet there aren’t too many who want to see his. And how closely do you think he studied the face of Robert Mugabe? - the spelling of whose name I have not looked up.
Finally, (27) you seem likely to be pretty fabulous to me, but that probably sounds like the only acceptable response to give. On which side of the fence does that sentence place me?
SB30
Doc (29), you were doing pretty well but let yourself down with the qualifying part following the "but". There is no place for a fence in these matters.
Knowing how hard the Beeb are making you wireless folk work these days, I was here thinking of ways to make your life easier Eddie.. Auntie shouldn't have you scanning.. you shouldn't have to bother with all that nonsense, lifting that heavy lid, risking your eyesight, so how about this...forget the postcards, and we'll scan them for you before sending them in.. you could call it the Pointless Postcard Scan feature.... or something!(think of the amount of work you won't have to do!)
Oh Ap - how could he do that to you, after all your protesatations of undying whatsit all these weeks. What a churl! He is not worthy of your affections my dear. I bet he's just not very good with names, after all most days he can't even remember his own.
Tonight my 'half an eye and both ears' are all on Mock the Week. Very funny - extracting the Michael from webcameron blog thing.
Lissa - ahem - exhorting hordes to investigate the cards? Shouldn't you fix the typo first? Please? It's beginning to bother me (more than the dancing cards - once they disappear over the top and down the back of the pc into the fluff and all the wires and stuff, they don't bother me). I don't have the browser that does things down in the right hand corner, fortunately, because that's where Pluto usually sits when I'm frogging and I wouldn't be wanting him to be flashed at.
"We'll get on to judging the competition presently"
HUH! What a joke!
Lord Mair, you've been spending too much time in the company of those devious politicians and have forgotten how to fulfill an election promise.
John H - I hope you're feeling more reconciled to the 'lions and the elephants' now. I thought your comments very apt. I suppose Charles Darwin would also find it very interesting. It all comes down to survival, doesn't it? But it's so sad.
(30) I’m going to try very carefully not to dig my own grave, as I think the saying goes - there are people paid to do that, I believe. After all I can’t quite read your non-verbal signals from here.
Nurse, the syringe!
Appy (28?) accepted. See Brown for explanation of what I have done today. Now too tipsy to type straight after paracetamols for headache caused by snare drums all day, mixed with wine. Killer combo (not literally, I trust, but could give "Death by Shostakovitch" a whole new meaning.)
Re Eddie's "theft" of his GB book (he should be so lucky). Today I opened handbag to switch off phone at rehearsal. Gap where phone should be. Panic. Train trip over had been busy & crowded, handbag on floor, probably fell out, didn't check when leaving train. Too late to get back to lost property office. Or maybe pickpocketed in shop. Husband came to hear concert later, greeted him with " I've lost my phone". He said it was at home charging up by the computer & had been for 2 days! (I hadn't worked for a day) WHY hadn't I remembered that? Am I mad? Answers on a postcard please.
That's a pretty cheap gibe about Peaches.
Inoccent until proved otherwise, Shirley ?
Dr H - You may well be right about Mr. Straw's looks, though I don't think that's really the point. What did occur to me was that constituents who wanted to consult, but didn't want to 'reveal' (if you get my drift - no jokes about nudity, please!) might have access to an intercom/phone booth system at MPs surgeries. In that way, they'd be able to speak to their MP on neutral territory (which would get around any issues that there might be around confidentiality), without feeling they have to compromise on issues around modesty about which they may feel strongly. I have to say, however, that I think any such facility should be funded at least partly by the community whom it would serve, since it is the custom in this country not to veil. I don't mean that to be a cheap political point, just - I hope - a sensitive? compromise.
Now, I know this all leaves the whole issue of the full veil unresolved, but somehow I think that's a very big one which needs to be worked with over time and between communities.
Oops, another serious blog! But, as at a good dinner party, conversations need to be varied, don't they?
Aperitif,
I am sorry that only John defended your honour viz gender, but I fear that I chickened out being unable to find an entry that confirmed it (though I was certain). That's the trouble with being so stereotypically British.
In my (and perhaps Eddie's) defence, I have never heard of a lady called Aperitif either (until your good self f course).
One piece of advice - please feel free to ignore. You said "I only entertain boys who can make me think that they think I'm fabulous." This is not enough. You should only entertain boys who do think you are fabulous. If it is solely that they can make you think they think that, then they are liars and charlatans and not worthy of your fabulousness!
Hey, guys, a health warning ..
I've just had a very scarey - but ultimately funny - moment. In performing my daily 'functions' just now, I discovered that I was 'excreting' something that was tinged deep red. Oh my! the horror .... Bowel cancer? Internal bleeding? You can imagine the horror and the thoughts which sped through my mind.
Then the 'laugh' moment. Of course, yesterday I'd tried out one of the current recipes being promoted by Waitrose - Salmon with roast beetroot!
Morale of the story: Think before you panic.
PS The dish was delicious - I can heartily recommend. But be aware of the consequences!
Mm, thinking about that last point re dinner parties, varied conversations, etc., have I just lower the tone to an unacceptable degree?
Ref thescarletwoman
My god son once had a "Thomas the Tank Engine" birthday cake. It was covered in Blue icing, which went down extremely well.
This was followed by a couple of days of every trip to the potty being followed by the chant "Blue Poo"
And now lets watch the tone of the blog lower....
SB40
Gosh, Blue Poo! That sounds - interesting!
Any advance on scarlet and blue?
Doc (34), it's not the distance blocking your view of my non-verbal signals; it's my full veil. It's not a religious symbol; it's because of my Miss Haversham complex. But, if you ask nicely, I'll remove it.
Annasee (35), you are not mad, you merely pay about the appropriate level of attention to the whereabouts of nuisance gadgets. Guddonyer!
Stephen LOS, you're quite right, but my phraseology was deliberate - I'm a bit of a sucker for one who can turn it on like that. The challenge is then in converting it surreptitiously into true "I think you're fabulous"-ness whilst pretending to believe it from the beginning, yet maintaining a slightly aloof distance so that in the end I am more in control than he. Sort of "ha! gotcha!"
Good lord! I've never written that down before! Not sure what a psychoanalysist would make of that. What fun though.
Yup - try having one of those things where they make you drink about a pint and a half of liquid chalk, strap you to a table, swivel you upside down and take a photo of you(r insides). You can tell I can't remember what the actual test is called can't you (I'm with you on the lost memory train Annasee).
Anyway, whatever it's called, the resulting excreta are pure white. Perhaps one could put the whole lot together one day, and produce an extremely patriotic effort??
Another Losing-Phones-and-memory thing. On the phone to Big Bro yesterday whilst trying to get ready to go out. Found I wasn't concentrating on what he was saying because although I had assembled everything I had to remember to take with me to Embra, try as I might I couldn't find my phone.......
- errkch!! -
sorry, had a near heart attack misreading "whilst" for "whisht"
I'm sure you're wonderful and not a nutter Aperitif.
though it does shed some light on some of my friends' behaviour...
Aperitif
I suppose we could start from the premise of "Why is Man A prepared to lie to Woman B to the tune of "You are Fabulous"
There are two answers
1) He wants the obvious (I won't sully this blog by using the word)
2) He likes where the relationship is going and wants to "say the right thing"
If Man A is in group 1, dump him before he even steps on the bottom stair. If he is group 2, then he is practically asking you to convince him of its veracity. He wants you to take control!
How do I, a mere man, know this. Cos I've just realised that I am in group 2 at the moment, and very happy to be there (though I think the "Ha! gotcha" moment needs to be very private)
Now I do have a question - If Man A knows himself to be in group 2. and knows that this scenario is happening, does Woman B want to be aware of that fact?
And when did a blog on Theft become an Agony Aunt blog?
Gosh, Stephen, it's all getting a bit deep and premeditated isn't it?
I guess, in the first instance, a girl can't really know whether a guy is an A or B, so she has to just bide her time and see. But there is also the additional problem:
If he thinks I'm fabulous too soon then he is superficial, because he hasn't bothered to get beyond the appearance and doesn't know that I am fabulous underneath as well. That simply won't do. BUT He has to know that I am fabulous on the outside and acknowledge that, as well as trying to find out what I am like underneath. Of course it is all complicated by the fact that I am trying to work out whether he is lovely/horrible/something in between at the same time (whether he is the aforementioned A or B or whatever).
Congratulations on being in a happy place! I can only answer your question from my own perspective - and cannot speak for the lucky lady (tell us more): I would want to know - but would probably like to think that I had worked it out for myself. I don't suppose that's any help.
Good luck.
I think it may be a barium meal to which you refer, Valery (43), especially if the poo weighs a tonne (metaphorically).
Harumph!
I posted a very sensible response to Stephen's no. 45 and it hasn't shown up yet, even though subsequent posts on other threads have. I wasn't in the slightest bit offensive - not even with my speed. What's going on?
I'm not spending any more time with you drunken PM people. And I've got a cold and my afternoon cocktails tomorrow have had to be put off for a week.
Not Happy Appy!!!
Oh don't go, Appy! I think you need to have a complete rest tonight, wrapped up warm, and a nice hot toddy before you go to bed. Then, use the w/e to de-stress.
Pah! I'm not drunk. Have eaten too much chocolate, though
(don't ask: irritating afternoon with 'builders', too much time on hands, got fed up with trying to work out what eric is up to today, etc etc. Shouldn't have gone to Tesbury's)
Oh - btw -
We bought oysters in Tesco
To eat them al fresco
But forgot the tabasco -
Oh, what a fiesco
Frances (50),
Have you been listening to Lily Allen?
Fearless (49),
Thanks, you're probably right. Grr, this always happens - you work really hard, look foward to the europhoria and party at the end of it, and end up run down and unable to celebrate in the style that you would prefer. For "you" read "I", obviously.
btw, by "drunken PM people" I meant the PM studio-bods, not you lovely fellow froggers.
Oh - i had posted about not being drunk but having eaten too much chocolate, thanks to a foolish trip to Tesbury's, hence the reference to Tesco... but it seems to have been eaten by the Blogwitch's pet dragon
I'm with you Frances, this whole referring to other people's entries is troublesome.
do i hear sniggering??
and to illustrate, like Carlos, I'm not with you physically though god knows you'll have to scour the blogs to know what that's in relation to (nothing rude I assure you)
Whisht! And you accused me of using fnar fnar expressions!
Having had a chance to go back through all the threads from yesterday properly, I've realised I missed out on all this "Attraction" stuff. All I can say is: No wonder I don't get it. It's far too complicated!
Oh dear Whisht(54), you really have set up a Sid James Laugh type of moment, haven't you!