sheeponacid

A dung beetle walks into a bar and says “ Is this stool taken?”

Lamb Jalfrezi very spicy with naga and Birdseye Chillies, all washed down with a glass of Mango IPA.

Love this spot. Who says England has no beautiful countryside left in the far South

I've had breakfast in worse spots.

It's been a grueling, but exciting week.  Paid a deposit on this 85 square meter property in Costa Blanca South Cabo Roig Spain, but we don't have the keys yet because the real estate company is dragging it's feet, as is the norm in Spain as i have come to accept.  So we have been clearing the front part and fixing what needs fixing, but that job is only half done.  An Irish man has rented the place for the past 8 years.  He never fixed anything, apparently spent most of his time in a chair smoking and drinking, so all plastic materials need removing inside and there is some light repair work needed as well as complete refurnishing.  Am not counting any chickens yet until signature is completed but we are not worried as we have a human tornado for a lawyer, probably the best in the business in that area.  i will return to Spain hopefully within two weeks to complete repairs, furnish and install appliances and then we have a couple waiting to rent it from us for a year.  We need to do that as we are extending ourselves financially a bit.  After that, it will be completely paid for.  We got it at a very good price indeed.  Great community, good neighbors and fantastically situated within walking distance to beach and everything of interest.  We are so tired, but very happy.  What shall we call it?  i like Casa Jenn as that is my wife's name, but my good friend suggests Lion's Den because of the gate figures.  Without his help and his gracious wife we would never have been able to pull this off.  Wonderful friends and only a few doors down the lane.
 
 

I've tried posting a few times in here, but it just didn't sit right each time I've wrote it out.
As some of you know I did the cancer research relay for life last year, my grandma was diagnosed over 2 years ago with a very rare form of cancer. She went through all the treatments, operations, chemotherapy etc and was told she was in remission last April, she joined me at the relay and did the survivors lap and had a great day of it. However in September she took a turn for the worse, she went for some tests and  found out the cancer had returned very aggressively. Over the next 6 weeks she deteriorated rapidly. But as the strong woman she had always been she battled to the very end. There were days where we were told to expect the worse, yet she kept fighting and holding on. She eventually passed away peacefully in her sleep. 
At the same time my wife's grandma was on the same ward, in the next room. We were told to expect the worse, she battled on for a few months but lost her battle at the start of this year. 
Then this morning my wife's grandad has passed away (from her mother's side, grandma was from her dad's side) he has been suffering from dementia for the last 6 years.
To say the last 6-8 months have been poo is a bit of an understatement.
I feel like this is something I've needed to write and down but not known where. 

I'm sure this has been covered before but people who video moments on their phone that they should just enjoy live. Last night went to a concert and when they did their most famous song you couldn't see the stage for people holding up phones. Why not just enjoy the moment rather than losing it only so you can watch a hazy recording once (maybe never).

Tandoori Leg of Lamb with Garlic and Turmeric potatoes, all washed down with a glass of Mango Mash IPA.

BS about emissions 
So the edict is that every car manufacturer has to lower the average emissions of its “fleet” to a certain level by a certain date or face fines. ... good idea. Stimulates invention and the development of more efficient engines. I’m all for it in principle. 
thing is it’s diffucult to meet the objectives for one reason or another ( that’s a different story ) ... so if you are Fiat/Chrysler you do a deal with Tesla, pay them some dosh so that you can count some of their cars as part of your “fleet” thus avoiding fines. 
Environmental gain = zero
cow boy statistic generators = 1
What a load of BS. Oh yes and aren’t we clever .. our emissions are falling because we are all nice green and responsible and have an environmental policy in our misssion statement. ....No we just stopped having heavy industry (which co incidentally uses a lot of energy ?) and sent all the dirty stuff to India, China and Vietnam.
Far to much of the environment industry is about statistics and how to bend them to suit the story and the public face you want to portray. 
I want to be greener cleaner and less wasteful but loath being conned by spread sheet making wordsmiths who know little or nothing about science, industry and manufacturing in a practical sense. 

Show off... 
Actually, a good story about Costa. I recently employed 2 ladies that were working in my local Costa. I had 2 pretty entry level jobs that did not pay much but was still a better deal than Costa. They had never worked in my industry but my lot had a gut feeling about them.
Both are absolutely brilliant and have doubled their wages in less than a year. Hard working, multi-lingual superstars. Could not me more happy with them. They both admit that Costa did teach them some good things and they learnt a lot..
Moral is I suppose, just because you may not hold the greatest job in the world at any given time, it does not mean that you cannot achieve anything, given a bit of luck and dedication.

I’ve decided the French don’t know as much about food as they like to think. 

Lamb Hotpot, all washed down with a glass of Malbec.

It was hard to read, that. I've been on here for my entire adult life almost and have always respected you as a poster & person. 
I'm not the best person to give advice in these situations, but I can say that I've struggled at times due to extenuating circumstances and often do partake in 'self destructive' behaviour which has had serious consequences in the past. iThe one thing that helps me and gets me through these periods is that I remind myself that feelings - good & bad - are absolutely and utterly fickle. The forced focus on 'positive' things, for me, made things worse. I would think about family, for example, but it would come with an overwhelming sense of letting them down. It just gave me another stick to beat myself. The clarity of almost training my mind to remind myself that every feeling and situation that I have ever had and will ever have will ultimately change, sometimes quickly and sometimes not so quickly, but it will change. 
People are different; people react differently in situations and there is no perfect solution - I just hope you find whats right for you! 

Watched a one off programme on bbc4 on Sunday night, called Arcadia...a look at Britains relationship with the land.
It was absolutely surreally nuts, yet fantastically captivating, with a powerful message...it almost bordered on LSD TV....I'd highly recommend giving it a watch.

Daisy battering Dolly......

.............until Dolly fights back.

 

Chicken, gnocchi and broccoli dish.

Can’t think what I’d do without these two... they really are the best, as much as I’ve rescued them they’ve rescued me! Anyone struggling I can not recommend a pet enough, gives you responsibility and something to get up for, gives you unconditional love and accepts you for who you are, they really are the best.

This badass is my dog's brother - best working dog winner at Crufts today. I'm actually not a massive fan of Crufts and that kind of dog showing, but my boy is proper champion stock and I'll be cheering 'Dave' on on Sunday where he's up for best in show.

Up in the Arctic. Oh yes... 

Ruby has settled in brilliantly and has been playing with other dogs really well.
About a month ago I decided she would have a friend so took her back to the rescue I got her from to test walk her with some dogs. 
Today we bought Pippa home and they are already best friends.

Cheers pal.Toya and I talked it over and are going tomorrow to adopt Izzy.Can't wait to see the look on little dude's face when we bring her home.?

Is that a rooster-a-poo?
Well the spell checker wont  let me write Rooster-a-poo
 
Oh come on it isn't even a swear word

One of the cats joining us for the morning walk back in October (after they've eaten). They say Jack Russell's don't get on with cats as well. Another myth right there. Same way no child is born racist, it's how you bring them up.

Having had 4 myself, all of which were loving pets, knew their names and demanded as much attention as the dog does without food I would say you've been extremely unlucky or I have been extremely lucky. 
In fact my last two are now living with my mum simply because having 2 cats and a dog all demanding lap time and behind my feet 24/7 became too much.
I thought it was down to working from home they became attached to me, where as others pets are left at home alone all day become more independent by nature.
Thing is I've been told they are just as loving to my mum as they were me and regularly sent pictures of them both curled up on her lap all night.
To say cats are only interested in you when you have food has been absolute rubbish in my experience, yes they run mach 2 when a tin is opened, as does the dog. Animals love food.