Ichabod's Day

Meet our new boy. The dog shaped hole left by my beloved girl was too vast to live with so we decided to go to the local dog rescue home and find another one to lavish love and affection onto. We will never replace her, but we have too much to offer not to give another dog the care and attention it needs - so off we went. There he was in his cage - all around him barking, pirouetting "pick me, pick me!!" whilst he sat perfectly still at the door, watching and waiting. We couldn't resist him - in addition to the fact that he had been there for 4 months, it is hard to believe that such a loving, affectionate and handsome dog could be overlooked. Could be partly to do with the fact that he is a staffy cross (we think with whippet) - and boy he's fast!!! We're still training him - but he's settling in fast and picking up what we need from him quickly. He's good with children and other dogs (not tried him with cats yet though!). I'm sure there will be many ...

Just thought I'd share a rather bizarre experience that happened to me the other day. I was in the Trafford Centre and decided to buy a pair of shoes in a well known store. I went to the counter to be served by a young girl (surprisingly most seem to be young to me these days!). This is the conversation that took place: Shopgirl : Can you hear me when I talk? Me: Yes very well. Shopgirl: Oh good, I think people can't hear me when I speak. Me: (Thinking - is she asking me to diagnose her? Does she have a problem and for some reason I'm exuding professional mode) No, I can assure you that I can hear you Shopgirl: good, it's just that I was out last night and we had a lock-in at the pub and I think I'm still drunk ........ She then went on to give me detail of what she'd been drinking etc etc. Did I really need to know that as a stranger - and certainly not as a customer. I wonder what her boss thought!!!

I found myself with tears today for someone I didn't know and never met. I was in the middle of a small cafe (having eaten much too much as usual!). My Dad - who is a funeral director - started telling me about a customer, an elderly lady, who had to bury her husband. He had died on the way to hospital and therefore there had to be an enquiry which had delayed things a bit. Eventually my Dad got a call from a social worker on behalf of this lady asking if he would arrange and conduct the funeral as this lady was very specific about the firm she wanted to use and there was no branch in her home town. She had not realised that she needed to make the arrangements and had thought the hospital would do all that for her - so the funeral had been delayed even longer than was necessary. Dad agreed, the funeral was conducted and afterwards the social worker, who attended, asked Dad and the hearse driver to go back to the house as the lady had organised some sandwiches. What really got to m...

Well, the annual event is almost upon us once again - 24th May 2008. The Eurovision Song contest is one of the highlights of my year. Call me "sad" if you must, but I don't believe I have missed a contest since I was a small child when my parents would put myself, my brother and sister to bed early in the evening (6 pm-ish) in order for us to have a nap before being woken up to watch the whole of the contest. It seemed so exciting to be up so late and watching a spectacle - as it seemed to me at the time. And we used to win sometimes in the good old days ! In latter years I have held Eurovision parties of my own where guests are expected to vote and play drinking games and shout at the voting of the partisan countries who always vote for their neighbours etc. It seems that there are few friends of the UK left. It will soon be time to get out the international buffet menu , dust down the flags and get ready to have an evening of song, sequins and sycophancy!! Good luc...

I went to the ballet last night for the first time (having managed 40 odd years without ever going before). I was with some good friends, in a box in a theatre with a good reputation. We went for tea before the performance and a foreward thinking member of the group even brought along cinder toffee and jelly babies to keep us going. The ballet was Swan Lake - I knew the music well having worn out my parents LP of the same as a young girl - often offering my version of the choreography as I attempted my aspirational career as a prima -ballerina. All was in place for a thoroughly good time........ but I HATED it!!! I am so disappointed with myself - I expected to be transposed to a magical land full of high emotion and ethereal whatnots. Instead all I could think was that there was too much dancing!! This by no means is a slight on the costumes and sets - absolutely stunning, the skill and expertise of each of the dancers - their mixture of strength and grace a marvel, or indeed the comp...

It's a strange thing that happens when you try to expand and develop your horizons. From the seed of a good idea you strive to learn more about it (whatever "it" is) and begin to apply your learning to given situations/new developments etc. You gain a level of confidence with this new thing - and then you jump into a larger pool (I guess your horizon expands!) and you realise how little you actually know about it - and it starts all over again. I know this is not particularly earth shattering news to anyone - but it perhaps mirrors my current state of mind. What I'd like to know is: A)Where do you find the energy from to carry horizon scanning on and b) how do you get over the feeling that one day you'll get caught out and someone will find out what little substance lies behind the facade?? Just a thought for today!

Hello, having been part of a group blog for about a year now - I have decided to create an arm of my own and see how it feels to be less constrained by responsibility to a corporate brand. I understand what our group blog is about - sharing professional ideas and reflections and networking across like - minded institutions, but I begin with a question here. Who are personal blogs for? Are they for the writer or the reader? Should I be creating a personal diary that can be seen by anyone (bit scary!) or should I be trying to showcase something of myself? In discussions with others the main thing that seems to arise is to be genuine. What would anyone reading this want to know - that I am also able and prepared to share? I would welcome any direction and advice that other bloggers could offer.