tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19827732219184608672024-02-07T04:49:43.470+00:00The Lurchers. And now with The Greyhound too.Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.comBlogger854125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-17062190922870618262011-06-12T09:20:00.000+01:002011-06-12T09:20:38.825+01:00Run run run!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:DoNotShowRevisions/> <w:DoNotPrintRevisions/> <w:DoNotShowMarkup/> <w:DoNotShowComments/> <w:DoNotShowInsertionsAndDeletions/> <w:DoNotShowPropertyChanges/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">In my more slobbish days, I would sometimes wonder if there was a runner in me desperate to get out. In some dark and angry moments I could see the appeal of that repetitive pounding of the pavements as a way of relieving stress. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">But I was a smoker and allergic to exercise. The thought of getting out there and getting all sweaty did not appeal. Just the thought had me reaching for another cigarette. Then the world went mad and overnight smoking became socially unacceptable and keeping fit was in. The world and his wife, his sister and his great-aunt donned lycra and took to the streets, jogging themselves into a life of dodgy knees and, by the look of some of them, an early heart attack. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">After a (very) brief foray into pink and black lycra in my early twenties, my thirties found that little smidge of rebel in me absolutely point-blank refusing to join the masses. Growing old disgracefully was my new black. Crash diets, coffee, cigarettes, and a little weed now and again, were the temples at which I worshipped. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Then I got cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If that doesn’t make you sit up and re-evaluate your life, nothing will.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">So gradually I started considering what I ate, what I was smoking and what I was doing to my body in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I do mean consider.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did start to change my diet but it took another 7 years before I finally gave up smoking (just over a year ago).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then late last year, much to my surprise, and to the astonishment of my friends, I bought a pair of running shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They sat in the cupboard for months, but it was a start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I downloaded the NHS Couch to 5K podcast that promised....well, it promised to get you from Couch to 5K in 9 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sat on my PC for another few months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Never let it be said I am impulsive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Then 4 weeks ago, out of the blue, I was impulsive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uploaded the podcast to my phone, stuck the earphones in and took myself out for the first training session in the programme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever tried running for 60 seconds when you‘ve never run for anything before!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I was going to keel over there and then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">But I felt a determination that, just for once in my life...I. Would. Do. This. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And that determination continues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m now up to running for five minutes at a time and, over the 30 minute programme, I am running for longer than I am walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And during the first five-minute run last Friday, I found myself grinning and enjoying myself.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Now THAT is scary!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-45768124980597749002011-06-10T09:30:00.000+01:002011-06-10T09:30:46.929+01:00Not sure about the therapy.......but yesterday, for no reason I could fathom, I sank into a pit so dark and deep it scared the living daylights out of me. <br />
<br />
Depression is a serious illness and not one to be taken lightly, but I do think "depression" is an over-used term and it gets used far too often to describe people who are, perhaps, going through a prolonged period of being a little down in the dumps and don't have the wherewithal to pull themselves out of it. That happens to us all now and again. I don't have depression, but yesterday I was in a place where I could see a glimpse of it and I don't want to go back there.<br />
<br />
Today is much brighter!Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-5627340394373280882011-06-08T12:39:00.000+01:002011-06-08T12:39:37.731+01:00Who needs a therapist?Not me. I can do a pretty good job of analysing stuff all by myself.<br />
<br />
I just wish I could stop it. <br />
<br />
I put myself through more angst and soul-searching than I'm sure must be good for a person. And where does it get me? Nowhere. The best advice is to accept that what is is, and stop fretting about it. I'm just no good at taking my own advice.Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-48197861826680568922011-04-15T14:13:00.000+01:002011-04-15T14:13:36.790+01:00Horses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLuxQrK0qkRlwupYUinMlO0voRzPBRoyrFR2MrUP8FbU0j2o-H1a1tv6cQdd8ypMLDzKnixi7JWkHrUkChJZtcVkJHdyygwF8npha2vUg2BlfM-F-TFNq1PlNiG5eIQ3nBbu6c_U_b1o/s1600/bits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLuxQrK0qkRlwupYUinMlO0voRzPBRoyrFR2MrUP8FbU0j2o-H1a1tv6cQdd8ypMLDzKnixi7JWkHrUkChJZtcVkJHdyygwF8npha2vUg2BlfM-F-TFNq1PlNiG5eIQ3nBbu6c_U_b1o/s320/bits.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fjLCsAElz5Zy4pWGIcBRFMlbAQ6vmdgc9lSpMGrJGbaRkDS5oQir3-pAINbw_3yPZ1SeJAYBjMQI5atRN5sHJInOnygb20VyEHjGPtB8rAyprl25sFnZfUmnWz_aY39bQr15F9QUBeE/s1600/Horses+-+heads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fjLCsAElz5Zy4pWGIcBRFMlbAQ6vmdgc9lSpMGrJGbaRkDS5oQir3-pAINbw_3yPZ1SeJAYBjMQI5atRN5sHJInOnygb20VyEHjGPtB8rAyprl25sFnZfUmnWz_aY39bQr15F9QUBeE/s320/Horses+-+heads.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-20100259141344441762011-04-12T11:50:00.002+01:002011-04-12T12:56:13.352+01:00Why is this bothering me?One of the guys here at work got married at the weekend. None of us were formally invited: they are both in their 60s, it was a small, quiet celebration with their close friends. Except one of my colleagues was invited, the one who is also my next-door neighbour. And, apparently, the ex. With his new girlfriend.<br />
<br />
I'm good with that, they were friends, and neither do I have a problem that he has moved on and has a new woman in his life. Good for him.<br />
<br />
What's bothering me is that my neighbour simply cannot keep his mouth shut and my ex is probably now gleefully aware that I, having been the instigator of the break-up, am still single and he isn't, and b) have bought a house and am spending a lot of time there. It's no big secret, I am very happily single and the break-up was never about anyone else. Ditto the house, no big secret.<br />
<br />
So why is it annoying me that the ex now knows all this?<br />
<br />
Actually, you know what? I think it's annoying me more that it's annoying me.Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-62805387784860101922011-03-09T21:18:00.000+00:002011-03-09T21:18:58.301+00:00Step up, step upOnce again I am called on to step up to the mark. To be the strong one. To hold it all together.<br />
<br />
For more years than I care to remember I've had to be the strong one, the one that coped and, right now, I would give anything to have someone say "It's OK, I've got your back on this one, I'll deal with it".<br />
<br />
But that ain't going to happen. So big girls knickers are on and here we go again.Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-80779786458986122532011-03-01T22:57:00.001+00:002011-03-01T22:59:01.644+00:00Oh hell.........I forgot to mention the two other significant things that happened last year.<br />
<br />
I quit smoking. Oh yeah! I thought this was going to be a tough thing to do, I wasn't mentally ready and I sure as hell wasn't physically ready. Yet one day last June, after 30 years of smoking, I decided "enough". And apart from one very minor blip two weeks in, I have not looked back. Yes I put on weight, but I've almost shifted it all. Yes I still have moments when I really need a cigarette, and I suspect that feeling will never go away, but one cry of "I need a cigarette!" and my friends all pile in and tell me "No you don't!". It feels great to have finally go of that mental crutch.<br />
<br />
And I grew up. OK, let's rephrase that. I didn't <i>actually</i> grow up, that would just be a little bit too scary to contemplate, but I did do something very grown up. I bought a house. My own four walls. It's tiny, it needs a little bit of work, but it's mine. It's somewhere I can escape to and be at peace. It's home. And I love it.Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-47071364275860150222011-02-28T12:18:00.001+00:002011-02-28T13:03:59.223+00:00Here we go again......The problem with starting to blog again, having not blogged in over a year is this - do you just start again as if you'd never been away, or are you required to fill your once-loyal readers in with the details of what they've missed over the last year?<br />
<br />
<br />
You want to know what you've missed? Really!? OK.....<br />
<br />
Not very much.<br />
<br />
Seriously, the last 12 months have been notable for almost only one thing. I found myself again. Someone finally found the "ON" switch and hauled my sorry ass back from the alternate reality I had been inhabiting for the last 15 years. However, that one notable event has led to one or two other notable events, some of which I'll tell you about, and some I won't!<br />
<br />
But damn, it is good to be back!Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-51432116942218625302010-01-02T13:24:00.003+00:002010-01-02T13:31:25.085+00:00New Year, New BlogWell, not exactly a new blog but having taken most on 2009 out from blogging, I thought it was high time to start again.<br /><br />The New Year has started on a tiring note. The Parents came to stay. Need I say more? Probably not but I will anyway otherwise there wouldn't be any point in mentioning it would there?<br /><br />It was an uneventful stay - apart from one of The Parent's whippets ripping off a dew claw this morning and leaving a trail of blood all over the furniture, and doing the "woe is me". No other dog can do "woe is me" quite like a whippet. Nor act as if you were trying to kill them by slow and torturous methods when all you're trying to do is clean the wound and get some vet wrap on it.<br /><br />Much as I love The Parents dearly, the problem with having visitors is that it is exhausting. You spend two days cleaning, changing beds, washing everything and shopping in preparation for the visit (and why do you always miss that one bloody huge cobweb that should have been obvious?) and then you spend two days in a constant frenzy of cooking, making copious amounts of tea and coffee, clearing up dishes and trying to keep on top of everything. And then, once they leave, you spend two days cleaning, changing beds, washing everything and shopping for more food because you've been eaten out of house and home.<br /><br />*sighs*<br /><br />Happy New Year everyone!Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-2127419980027772372009-08-31T09:17:00.002+01:002009-08-31T09:27:08.324+01:00Tuesday Challenge #27Stu's Tuesday Challenge this week is Music.<br /><br />Playing bagpipes<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamytVIqNmZQPiahBNOrCq5I6JXfaDYitgcUzhxWoULlmNUAyxsTpBCvAQv_AJhQAPfzcPlWyr8GhRa_Zc6BMN7uJ64Ka1hclIXzKm3cfLlyxhNmO7cZMRcmJ9FmLldQHZB3j3iWS3Gu4/s1600-h/John+Bagpipes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamytVIqNmZQPiahBNOrCq5I6JXfaDYitgcUzhxWoULlmNUAyxsTpBCvAQv_AJhQAPfzcPlWyr8GhRa_Zc6BMN7uJ64Ka1hclIXzKm3cfLlyxhNmO7cZMRcmJ9FmLldQHZB3j3iWS3Gu4/s400/John+Bagpipes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376041571954143282" border="0" /></a>Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-61108653162368180282009-08-23T19:00:00.004+01:002009-08-23T19:15:46.423+01:00Tuesday Challenge #26 - Themed CollectionOooh look! A blog post!!<br /><br />Apologies for being AWOL but, for several reasons, I took a bit of a blogging summer holiday. Anyway, I'm back now witth the latest of Stu's Tuesday Challenges.....<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Your homework, should you choose to accept is to shoot a themed collection. At least ten shots with a common theme running through them. This could be a colour theme, maybe a narrative, or maybe a typology - like the Bechers' work </span><span style="font-style: italic;">where by keeping everything from lighting and angle as common as possible, the differences in the subject really show up. You could always use one of the previous tuesday challenges</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> as your inspiration.</span><br /><br />For my theme, I've taken an alternative look around my garden and picked 10 shots that show pattern and texture.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOdNYK939tf_wquqPen6krzGDa0do_EjJXKtmeJCYE9FSm-WApX6fl2kQNhj8d-0-K141DPEERPDjCTfDCcTujMxaNYMmFeS5cJJ2nBKgGkSdlwijGiK522tr3cTrgMtd-6RRixUGgsQ/s1600-h/-1145.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOdNYK939tf_wquqPen6krzGDa0do_EjJXKtmeJCYE9FSm-WApX6fl2kQNhj8d-0-K141DPEERPDjCTfDCcTujMxaNYMmFeS5cJJ2nBKgGkSdlwijGiK522tr3cTrgMtd-6RRixUGgsQ/s400/-1145.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373223690889161810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1wch_ZwsPFyGrBFOQaPVzs-L9QMB3gzbHvJIYadm-SXFPq3RKKaxoEMe2wkoN27rFmDCRF9LhBJtRs3K2yk_ZKJ_KhyphenhyphenxiJbDygERvtGLTkWE7HNnhZVh00k9HxXrHtMJu68Fqlgpze8/s1600-h/-1153.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1wch_ZwsPFyGrBFOQaPVzs-L9QMB3gzbHvJIYadm-SXFPq3RKKaxoEMe2wkoN27rFmDCRF9LhBJtRs3K2yk_ZKJ_KhyphenhyphenxiJbDygERvtGLTkWE7HNnhZVh00k9HxXrHtMJu68Fqlgpze8/s400/-1153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373223699900923346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NixFi20LpI6AhLs7xxGJN6ixGWnwTRu8nTrH3KUvAc_TFgVPJykIw8TM6eBpzx2lTrDK3dmc_bYTXLb7JwKbcoVhsmsuwyhVEknC4QniTLb4oHC0DKhWxVk9apoSSECgJYvDdBHhNoE/s1600-h/-1143.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NixFi20LpI6AhLs7xxGJN6ixGWnwTRu8nTrH3KUvAc_TFgVPJykIw8TM6eBpzx2lTrDK3dmc_bYTXLb7JwKbcoVhsmsuwyhVEknC4QniTLb4oHC0DKhWxVk9apoSSECgJYvDdBHhNoE/s400/-1143.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373223684547434674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGgHLE6spijzUPNN-HJh4Clc9FifD1V4QCdonv2eZ7wCHf4aQi_ETIxmCTaj015dqT0NzNO4YBUk1zmG8zZz-fMvB3xO4-zTA3dzjScQ5KYTG4XBa2xDbZtAGffiT3AxNoglZESs93_U/s1600-h/-1138.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGgHLE6spijzUPNN-HJh4Clc9FifD1V4QCdonv2eZ7wCHf4aQi_ETIxmCTaj015dqT0NzNO4YBUk1zmG8zZz-fMvB3xO4-zTA3dzjScQ5KYTG4XBa2xDbZtAGffiT3AxNoglZESs93_U/s400/-1138.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373223679663790834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2akcFeO7LJrMOCv0eHfnpfj4niYs2oNdFvxKg7UhK-uX_Tpru6IDWQcSILzVByvTsTUAAT4ez-qMQq2pxqcczm6DWkwnCypWqpw0xygB_ulv5x31Sa4f4UnZu8MvM9pONDcfLp8KqFyM/s1600-h/-1135.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2akcFeO7LJrMOCv0eHfnpfj4niYs2oNdFvxKg7UhK-uX_Tpru6IDWQcSILzVByvTsTUAAT4ez-qMQq2pxqcczm6DWkwnCypWqpw0xygB_ulv5x31Sa4f4UnZu8MvM9pONDcfLp8KqFyM/s400/-1135.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373223672362259090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUVYuubhRtF-_Zwk4h5T7m7YS2C-_PeeLwbFkmM2G6UKHmwlTjjlGiwVfIlYUvFF2i6ko92tkvka8C_oJTtCXDzvFDAiP8-AzQBpNk1zJwtnixYZC8jJdzFm32ACO7YjqkK41Tx902wg/s1600-h/-1159.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUVYuubhRtF-_Zwk4h5T7m7YS2C-_PeeLwbFkmM2G6UKHmwlTjjlGiwVfIlYUvFF2i6ko92tkvka8C_oJTtCXDzvFDAiP8-AzQBpNk1zJwtnixYZC8jJdzFm32ACO7YjqkK41Tx902wg/s400/-1159.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373223154565899474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LWRoDCPEwADKCEDdYwBgzUw9v6Cev933piFIYkrzU5gVXn6SZK5gdEo3gXcPY1-d618L82fSsgEdbfyw2zgP4QqgQJiKP3filzEZxWb1TMemN5u26c2Y2dYkofIUjelSlduiRo46GhA/s1600-h/-1164.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 362px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LWRoDCPEwADKCEDdYwBgzUw9v6Cev933piFIYkrzU5gVXn6SZK5gdEo3gXcPY1-d618L82fSsgEdbfyw2zgP4QqgQJiKP3filzEZxWb1TMemN5u26c2Y2dYkofIUjelSlduiRo46GhA/s400/-1164.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373223041331191858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-CR5Sthw3bNAer6IIlcQRcexvItJg81W2rFQdPqzRd4lsR24sbzG3pJuTFnEeXU6jAMHFuAXQ3StwpbPBji9NPoxQ5EnGJRKCvwp1CRyJ19bYMEpSdJjG52vRLLo1Qq7BoftAu_c3R4/s1600-h/-1168.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-CR5Sthw3bNAer6IIlcQRcexvItJg81W2rFQdPqzRd4lsR24sbzG3pJuTFnEeXU6jAMHFuAXQ3StwpbPBji9NPoxQ5EnGJRKCvwp1CRyJ19bYMEpSdJjG52vRLLo1Qq7BoftAu_c3R4/s400/-1168.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373223021303774754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGhzMWiFQPxXY8YZK843sXq1_3vG9d6mmqm-j-o8qZxmUBIV-Q5oNc4qmw1vcnu8Mhrd3Y0FIMrcjWhDNWxhFqarZfc6ckVzVSQsRAiRhJjBSV7Wkwx3HHvSgSEedqWELIbmLSa2Uqzo/s1600-h/_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGhzMWiFQPxXY8YZK843sXq1_3vG9d6mmqm-j-o8qZxmUBIV-Q5oNc4qmw1vcnu8Mhrd3Y0FIMrcjWhDNWxhFqarZfc6ckVzVSQsRAiRhJjBSV7Wkwx3HHvSgSEedqWELIbmLSa2Uqzo/s400/_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373222999854605186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MxzpLS7tn-_RZ45ipzQU0-XIZ-iI-8W3shNMMTiBt3nRuFquyfdByoIbdaISCJmTqwGA2neo7FvdWXZ45ouQTTsp3q4gY34LI5FKo1f599n6FCDej9NpbaflE9bVCWyAzsOzb_oefnE/s1600-h/stones.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MxzpLS7tn-_RZ45ipzQU0-XIZ-iI-8W3shNMMTiBt3nRuFquyfdByoIbdaISCJmTqwGA2neo7FvdWXZ45ouQTTsp3q4gY34LI5FKo1f599n6FCDej9NpbaflE9bVCWyAzsOzb_oefnE/s400/stones.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373222980464058754" border="0" /></a>Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-38038837370754815202009-07-05T19:29:00.001+01:002009-07-05T19:31:06.687+01:00Stu's Tuesday Challenge #25 - Pink<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEkpjUKkgEhQKK6VYPTN0yiphLoetzRoL93GMsWlDsbP-7mp7IWxZ1f9l6k6wjUmBqS8N8G3C9nYrHd-04d_84rAEtRuK8c1cirYArs-ZIuObPbQHnQc6CI22Z8gBEkdPkbrFo6qFLjk/s1600-h/pink.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEkpjUKkgEhQKK6VYPTN0yiphLoetzRoL93GMsWlDsbP-7mp7IWxZ1f9l6k6wjUmBqS8N8G3C9nYrHd-04d_84rAEtRuK8c1cirYArs-ZIuObPbQHnQc6CI22Z8gBEkdPkbrFo6qFLjk/s400/pink.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355045340876996370" border="0" /></a>Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-59775474889659233272009-06-29T09:27:00.002+01:002009-06-29T09:31:11.860+01:00Stu's Tuesday Challenge #24 - AnimalsA fairly straightforward theme from <a href="http://blog.pygmygoat.net/">Stu</a> this week - Animals.<br /><br />I had intended to try and capture some of the local wildlife but last Tuesday evening I wrenched my shoulder and it went into spasm. I could barely move for three days so taking photographs was the last thing on my mind.<br /><br />So I did what I usually do and resorted to what I had to hand. Yep, you guessed!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">PAWS</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgts6wzuag1V27DpVUTkkd1T2K0R9_cMEBq_jdl49ILjBEDkxt9Sn4J8q7ZtXMiXe1rv8-3AmmBDpOUeGyKq4DOt-C1AIjnV06KDapncffOYiTzbVkFfdbZA-Y8AJNloLpT9QQj65dFUD4/s1600-h/animal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 367px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgts6wzuag1V27DpVUTkkd1T2K0R9_cMEBq_jdl49ILjBEDkxt9Sn4J8q7ZtXMiXe1rv8-3AmmBDpOUeGyKq4DOt-C1AIjnV06KDapncffOYiTzbVkFfdbZA-Y8AJNloLpT9QQj65dFUD4/s400/animal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352664178117444226" border="0" /></a>Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-61536419119993211492009-06-23T16:21:00.002+01:002009-06-23T16:22:09.921+01:00The results are in.My vet rang me this morning with the results of The Greyhound's liver biopsy.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">IT'S ALL CLEAR!!</span></span><br /><br />We are so doing a happy dance!Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-68556466663665100942009-06-18T11:14:00.003+01:002009-06-18T11:18:32.356+01:00One of "those" daysSo, here we are, it's just a smidge past 11am and the world has gone mad.<br /><br />I had a bit of a relapse last night and spent most of it curled up on the sofa in tears again so I'm not in the best place emotionally today. The Greyhound has gone into the vets this morning to have his liver biopsy, which is enough of a worry on its own.<br /><br />On top of that, I arrived at work to find a colleague had accidentally cancelled our web account and now we have no e-mail and no website. I'm paying her son to tidy up my garden for me and so far the strimmer has packed in and the lawn mower has blown up and is billowing smoke.<br /><br />So bring it on....nothing else today can throw at me can surprise me.Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-86012190375316853822009-06-13T05:27:00.003+01:002009-06-13T05:27:00.641+01:00Stu's Tuesday Challenge #22 Best ofStu's Challenge this week is pretty straightforward<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The challenge this week is to go through your archive and pick out your best picture so far. </span><br /><br />Despite the thousands of pictures I have on my computer and on back-up disc, it took only a split second for me to decide which shot is my best so far. I take a lot of photographs and 80% are crap, 15% are mediocre and the rest are OK. Sometimes I set out to take a particular photograph but the reality of what I shoot never matches up to what I am picturing in my mind's eye. For once, I achieved what I set out to achieve.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABgREZx_3gTvCXEdv6ieqbcNbo_M7EPaVtqswBnvxXq9y81xCwttqeCMpuVn-fg0Kt37eN4hVhm_pyGQv_-4XE18Q3Q3R-_mLBH_Ut_MCz9KEaI-vXU33VjCMVqPebus8UZR-DTbD7WU/s1600-h/Manandhorse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABgREZx_3gTvCXEdv6ieqbcNbo_M7EPaVtqswBnvxXq9y81xCwttqeCMpuVn-fg0Kt37eN4hVhm_pyGQv_-4XE18Q3Q3R-_mLBH_Ut_MCz9KEaI-vXU33VjCMVqPebus8UZR-DTbD7WU/s400/Manandhorse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346525913031097138" border="0" /></a>Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-16335697351761128282009-06-12T08:32:00.005+01:002009-06-12T12:00:57.763+01:00Onwards and upwards<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mcgill.ca/files/news/0601movingonup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 133px;" src="http://www.mcgill.ca/files/news/0601movingonup.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Last Friday morning the ex-Himself rang out of the blue to say he wanted to collect the last of his things from the Cottage. He turned up Saturday morning and collected the rest of his furniture and stuff he had stored in the shed. I finally have space to move around and sort the rest of my things out.<br /><br />This morning I have woken up with a renewed sense of optimism and have set about with gusto re-arranging furniture and moving things where I want them to be. I have a strong need to be out with the old and finally make the Cottage my own.<br /></div><br />That part of my life needs to be over.Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-84771409716873244642009-06-05T14:37:00.002+01:002009-06-05T14:39:57.100+01:00Another up-date on The Greyhound<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">My vet is still not happy with The Greyhound's blood tests so she still wants to do a biopsy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">There are two options - she can do it herself but it would mean cutting him open, getting to the liver, and taking the biopsy. Alternatively she can refer me to a specialist vet who can do the biopsy with ultrasound and he <i>may</i> not need full anaesthtic - my vet is to discuss it with the other partners and then speak to the specialist to see how they would do it and get an idea of cost.<br /><br />Either way, expensive times are ahead methinks.<br /></span></div>Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-12636581937520754322009-05-29T17:25:00.002+01:002009-05-29T17:28:48.983+01:00Stu's Tuesday Challenge #20 - Viewfinder OptionalStu's Challenge this week<br /><br /><p style="font-style: italic;">From Syl Arena’s <a href="http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2009/archives/3475">Lessons I Didn’t Learn In Photo School</a>…</p> <blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><p><b>17. Learn to think of the viewfinder as optional.</b><br />If you don’t regularly make photographs without looking through the viewfinder, start today. Learn how your lens sees without looking. Become more spontaneous. Hold your camera up over your head - like a paparazzi. Shoot from the hip (literally). Go for the worm’s-eye view. Stop chimping the LCD after each shot. Try this. Cover the viewfinder and LCD with tape — except where the histogram shows (so you can make good exposure decisions). Then shoot for a day or a week without ever looking through the lens. I’m sure you will come up with many great images that show you the world in a way you haven’t seen before.</p></blockquote> <p style="font-style: italic;">So there’s your challenge. Take a bunch of photos without using any kind of viewfinder or checking the images on the rear screen afterwards. Post your best one of the week!</p>Well this was fun! Although shooting without looking through the viewfinder did mean a lot of shots of things at some very odd angles and not getting in the image what I thought I was getting! I decided to get down to ground level and this is my favourite of the ones I took this week.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQXd5KzXM8tODOJ8Bj3WmPQZpeYRnWAVbditNtKNA9zQG1SZv3Tx6Va9NtPMbHmwEMvkvQgu7k8c2H_yO0ENNBQrhncdX_7objXVX6yJsaPprClOK0jC1jRUmdTOOcJPNkkyMFx4va3I/s1600-h/no+viewfinder.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQXd5KzXM8tODOJ8Bj3WmPQZpeYRnWAVbditNtKNA9zQG1SZv3Tx6Va9NtPMbHmwEMvkvQgu7k8c2H_yO0ENNBQrhncdX_7objXVX6yJsaPprClOK0jC1jRUmdTOOcJPNkkyMFx4va3I/s400/no+viewfinder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341283617067881506" border="0" /></a>Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-61724488138720032872009-05-25T09:19:00.004+01:002009-05-25T09:31:41.274+01:00Stu's Tuesday Challenge #19 - WeatherIn by the skin of my teeth!<br /><br />Our Challenge this week is:<br /><br /><p style="font-style: italic;">This week, your task is to capture the weather. It doesn’t matter if it’s sunny or raining, or snowing for that matter. Try not to just take a picture of the sky… look for some other subjects to go in the frame to support your choice of conditions.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">With the bank holiday weekend coming up, there should be lots of opportunity for storms, rain, hail, sleet…</p>We had some great weather for this challenge in the days leading to Stu announcing it, since then it's been nothing but sunshine. Which has been lovely, but not brilliant for getting any dramatic weather shots. So with a little artistic licence, this is my weather shot.....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Raindrop</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW6GyA59g1z5cR-jVrFFPptEsvjQezlS73UNQAlQKpk5xaVRSWF3Dsqf01TfuCe1UPNlPLvE5qopp56tRZnX7X8uGtUYoSYEmiBpoAsJfE17y7dZnWGZ2ykIi60-No0V180qf4qSYnCc/s1600-h/rd3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW6GyA59g1z5cR-jVrFFPptEsvjQezlS73UNQAlQKpk5xaVRSWF3Dsqf01TfuCe1UPNlPLvE5qopp56tRZnX7X8uGtUYoSYEmiBpoAsJfE17y7dZnWGZ2ykIi60-No0V180qf4qSYnCc/s400/rd3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339676190200102530" border="0" /></a>Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-13837900715665999512009-05-19T11:34:00.003+01:002009-05-19T11:45:30.603+01:00Up-date on The Greyhound<div style="text-align: justify;">Thank you all so much for asking after <a href="http://aojandthehounds.blogspot.com/2009/04/it-started-with-crap.html">The Greyhound</a>, and my apologies for not up-dating you.<br /><br />The Bile Acid Stimulation test came back normal. Which is good. Sort of. But it still leaves the question of what is wrong with his liver unanswered.<br /><br />The Greyhound had been getting much calmer than normal in the weeks leading up to this but I had put that down to the fact that he is starting to grow up and mature. Wrong! My vet had put him on a course of antibiotics and liver strengthening pills and one of them certainly did the trick because he was back to his normal bouncy, idiotic self. Because of this, my vet decided to hold off on the biopsy for a few weeks and redo the bloods once he'd finished his course of tablets.<br /><br />And that's where we were. Until yesterday. When I got home last night he had weed in the house again and the amount he is drinking is also on the increase. So I need to speak to my vet again today and see where she wants to go from here. Whatever the problem, it's still there and I think the biopsy is going to be inevitable.<br /></div>Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-36741759361747570522009-05-18T10:27:00.002+01:002009-05-18T11:32:29.061+01:00Hello? Hello? Anybody there?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://logo.cafepress.com/5/2467713.779005.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 159px;" src="http://logo.cafepress.com/5/2467713.779005.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Hello Blogland!<br /><br />Sorry it's been a bit quiet around here lately but I've had rather a lot on my plate and blogging has had to take a back seat for a while. Plus I had some stuff in my head that needed sorting out. Actually, it still does need sorting out, I just don't care quite so much these days. Not in a "don't care" don't care sort of way, just that I am trying to be a bit more chilled about things.<br /><br />I have a habit of over-analysis sometimes. I have a pathological need to know why my thoughts and emotions about issues I might have take the direction they do and why I'm thinking what I'm thinking in the first place. It ends up seriously stressing me out.<br /><br />I also get stressed out about things that I need to get done - and don't. I'm having a few problems with my thyroid medication at the moment which is leaving me with an over-whelming feeling of intertia.<br /><br />So I am taking a step back from my thoughts and concerns, and I am trying to look at them more objectively. I am trying to be rational about them.<br /><br />I have found a quiet place in my head that I retreat to when I find myself going into analysis mode. Somewhere that is blocked off from my more irrational feelings. Somewhere where I can see things a little more clearly.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />And I do believe it's working. I am feeling much more comfortable in my skin and with my thoughts. I am much more at ease with myself and I find that the less stressed I am about things, the more I seem to get done.<br /><br />Two birds one stone then. Always a bonus.<br /></div>Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-89303436201109169052009-05-10T22:25:00.003+01:002009-05-10T22:27:49.982+01:00Stu's Tuesday Challenge #17 - Decisive MomentStu's Challenge this week<br /><p style="font-style: italic;">Fast shutter speeds are the order of the day. Capture that split second in time. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for ever.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">This week, your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to capture a frozen image of a moment in time. An image that will never be seen exactly the same again. That point at the peak of the action.</p><p>OK, not my best ever effort for a number of reasons but mainly because the first idea I had didn't come off and I ran out of time. So I was back to using what I had around me. Oh. That'll be a Lurcher again then!</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfs8Z6NgbqXKMz5XhAV2Ybstl1Zi5wvineDvcH8bSobeUrAVwVlt6a1dm_NItO-FO2Syr11AFs2l8T2YG6HLJfyc8FriL-UC35I8ZsGB668pf9Zeyl7dvQgjU8wC_djTDCCnIkQSVz6mM/s1600-h/DSC_0501.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfs8Z6NgbqXKMz5XhAV2Ybstl1Zi5wvineDvcH8bSobeUrAVwVlt6a1dm_NItO-FO2Syr11AFs2l8T2YG6HLJfyc8FriL-UC35I8ZsGB668pf9Zeyl7dvQgjU8wC_djTDCCnIkQSVz6mM/s400/DSC_0501.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334310034549970114" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p>Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-6678303935629859692009-05-02T12:30:00.002+01:002009-05-02T12:32:53.240+01:00Stu's Tuesday Challenge #16 Creepy Crawly Close-UpStu's Tuesday Challenge this week is<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Your challenge is to take a picture of a creepy-crawly - spider, insect, etc. Preferably a real one, and preferably close-up enough to make out detail. Preferably artistically pleasing rather than just a documentary shot.</span><br /><br />Oooh goody! Time to get the macro lens out then!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyXhmCe8Um2WOsAFZLuG4lKN2Povn3TPWdebgw_AT9Q8ZmehEOudi1qaCv2gV4XSqkyhwbW2XPFiSZa-wpdUXHI441DE2LNnt6YL9EoOQZC1tEL8Ma01WBvKDTXIk8KTh1K6Kt-f8NrM/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyXhmCe8Um2WOsAFZLuG4lKN2Povn3TPWdebgw_AT9Q8ZmehEOudi1qaCv2gV4XSqkyhwbW2XPFiSZa-wpdUXHI441DE2LNnt6YL9EoOQZC1tEL8Ma01WBvKDTXIk8KTh1K6Kt-f8NrM/s400/4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331187984114863778" border="0" /></a>Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1982773221918460867.post-90390795533378704332009-04-29T21:57:00.002+01:002009-04-29T22:32:34.432+01:00It started with crap........and it's getting crappier by the minute.<br /><br />Sunday morning, up with the lark. Shit, showered and shaved....well, OK, maybe not the shaved bit, dressed and The Hounds walked by 9am. At the Sunday market by 9.30. <br /><br />Now for some reason, the people who run the market have decided to hold a car boot sale on the same site, at the same time. Given that the site the car boot sale occupies is usually a parking area for the market, they have had to open up the arena next door for parking. To get out of there you have to walk through a long tunnel under the buildings. As I walk through, something landed on me. It felt like someone had dropped a load of pebbles on me. Except it wasn't pebbles. It was bird shit. <br /><br />I have no idea what bird was perching up there but judging by the amount of crap it produced, it was big. Possibly a vulture or something. Maybe. Anyway, more to the point, it's crap was all over my clean shirt, my jeans, my hair, my bag, inside my bag....and it was gross. I cleaned up as much as I could and bought a cheap t-shirt in the market to change into.<br /><br />My mood plummetted.<br /><br />Sunday afternoon I sat down to do some work on the Greyhound Gap 07/08 accounts. We do a lot through Paypal and I had to breakdown every payment we'd received for the year into different categories. Three and a half hours it took me. I started to put the breakdown onto the main spreadsheet but the figures didn't match. Odd. Looked again at the Paypal spreadsheet.....then this burning feeling just started at the tip of my toes and worked it's way up until my head exploded. I stared at the computer screen not quite sure if I could believe what was staring me in the face.<br /><br />I had spent three and a half hours working on the 06/07 Paypal account instead of the 07/08. <br /><br />I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, scream or get raging drunk. For the first time in my life I had rendered myself speechless. <br /><br />Last week I had to take The Greyhound to the vet. He had weed in the house twice, despite having been spotless since the day he arrived, and was drinking so much water that it was obvious something was wrong. I managed to get a urine sample from him and walking in, clutching that, gave my vet some clue as to what I was there for. Like me, she suspected a urine infection of some kind and, indeeed, the tests she did on the sample did show some blood in there. But she was slightly concerned about the amount he was drinking so took bloods to send off as well.<br /><br />The results came back yesterday. No bacteria or crystals but there were significantly elevated liver levels and a slightly higher than normal creatinine level in his kidneys. That "significantly" gave me a bit of a wibble.<br /><br />He went in for an Acid Bile Stimulation test today - that means he was starved for 12 hours overnight, they took bloods first thing this morning then fed him a fatty meal and then took more bloods - that will indicate how well his liver is actually functioning and the results of that come back next week. Whilst he was in, they also did an ultrasound scan. The scan is showing that, whilst not enlarged, his liver is much denser than normal.<br /><br />At the moment we have no idea what this may indicate. It could just be some sort of blip and all will return to normal, or it might not. Depending on what the test results indicate, the next step will be a biopsy.<br /><br />This week is getting crappier by the minute....Aoj and The Houndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050051691812941247noreply@blogger.com8