Stormlizard's favorite articles

It’s been about 5 weeks since our move, and we’re settling nicely; finding shops, a vet, GP and dental services. We have a new shower which is great, and we’re managing to work the old boiler (not me) at the house too. The rooms, especially upstairs, have ridiculously high ceilings, and I had hoped it would keep the bedrooms cooler, but no. Average night time temps here are 24C, even with the windows open, and my son’s room is even hotter as he has the room on the sunny side of the house. Sp…

At long last all three chicks are off the roof, but they are still wandering around the garden - mostly in Ann and Peter's garden because they don't have any animals to worry about - much to Ann's consternation because they poop everywhere, especially on their lovely outside furniture!! As I'd mentioned before, Winking and Blinking came down first and Nod was still up on the roof for a couple of weeks longer... This is his rear-end view which was often shown for the weeks prior to him co…

Today, I was in touch with my boss from the campus where I used to work. Regular readers will know that I used to work in Education - teacher training (and the hated Psychology area). Apparently, after 5 years of work and bids, the Welsh government has turned down each and every teacher training course that they applied for. Basically, it means that they’ve been axed. There are still courses that need to run on and finish, but no new courses now, and I’m sure, job losses will follow. I checke…

[EN] Dear members and friends of ipernity! 1) Since ipernity is now technically up to date again, we offer all free users the opportunity to upgrade their account to a club account at half price by Sept. 30, 2018. Details and conditions can be found here: www.ipernity.com/home/ retournee-offer After October 1, 2018, the ipernity database will be cleaned from the invisible content of free users. You can also find out about the advantages this measure has for both users and the communi…

Apparently my movements outside aren't as good as they used to be. My vertigo isn't very good and walking outside with just a walking stick to steady me isn't enough. So I tend not to go outside because I feel as if I'm going to fall. Well when I was in hospital I mentioned this to the physio who promptly brought me a rollator to try out.... I'd often seen these outside and wondered how good they were. I was staggered at how comfortable and safe I felt. Okay, I feel like an old woman with i…

Hi folks, I'm back home at last!!!!! The doctors finally decided on a diagnosis - I have COPD with borderline diabetes, and low iron. They say my heart failure is still a possibility but were so pleased with how I progressed that that diagnosis is put on hold, providing I do as I'm told!!!! The only reason they allowed me home early was because Mandi is still here. She goes back to Turkey on Thursday however, and the Social care package might kick in - there again - it may not!!! Tomorrow the…

[EN] Dear members and friends of ipernity! 1) Meanwhile, SSL encryption has been extended to all ipernity login pages. Your registration and log-in processes are completely secure now. 2) Like other websites with login, ipernity offers the option "Stay connected". Under certain circumstances, however, this can be a safety gap. We therefore recommend that you always log out at the end of a session. This is especially necessary for a shared or public computer. 3) The previous logout pa…

Yep I'm still in the land of the living. I have no intention of popping my clogs just yet. I am very grateful to our Mickey for keeping you up to date. The doctors aren't sure yet of what exactly is wrong with me. They are bandying around chronic heart failure, pulmonary odeama, sleep apnea and today they've mentioned diabetes! Apparently they try to tick boxes which will indicate what's wrong, but not every box is ticked! So they come up with something else. I can't stay on here long as…

This week, as regular readers will know, I’m abandoning Ship, and Wales too. The Deckhand and me will be renting a Ship together in England which will be cheaper for both of us, and more convenient for us too. All is going to plan so far though that hasn’t stopped me from starting to feel quite anxious and I’ve been unable to sleep past 4am for the last 4 days. I’m sure I’ll calm down once the move is over with. I’ve no idea if the phone and therefore broadband has been activated at the new prop…

Typical - we were going to cut the lawn yesterday, but neither of us felt well enough to do so, so we promised to do it today - it's been raining all day!!!!!!!!!! The first rain we've had for a week. We couldn't do it on Monday because we had visitors, nor Tuesday because we had to go to Exeter, nor Wednesday because we had a trip to the doctors - so Thursday was earmarked for the cutting of the grass. So here we are Friday and it's all wet, meaning we can't cut the damn grass!!!! Never mind -…

After too many days of hot sunny weather, we’ve had a little rain at last. The forecast is for showers all day, and we had a nice amount first thing, but the garden could use a little more. We’re forecast rain again Friday morning, and thunderstorms on Sunday. Fingers crossed. Obviously, I don’t want rain for the week of the move or the plants may be too heavy, but rain beforehand will be gratefully received. The Ship’s Dog has had his final bath at his usual spa (Pets at Home to you) and he…

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem [Psalm 122:6] Many have voiced their opinions about the recent 14 May 2018 violence along the Gaza border with Israel and the formal opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. Consequently I write this article to express my opinion too especially since based on the well recited quote, “ All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing. ” Although I am a strong supporter for the creation of a viab…

Well today dawned with a beautifully clear blue sky. It was still very cold though which defies belief. How come it's in the middle of May and it's still very cold. I'm tired of wearing my thermal vest, I didn't expect this to happen by this time. I started wearing them from the end of September but certainly didn't expect to be still needing them 8 months later!!!!! I so loved the look of the blossom from the window, I thought I'd take pictures from the couch through the open window, so you…

The weather has taken quite a turn here; from an average of 22C, we’re now averaging a mere 15C with some winds thrown in for good measure. The Ship has been buffeted daily and walking the Ship’s Dog has been quite a trial with me wrapping up well against the cold and wind. He doesn’t care, he has a lovely fur coat to keep him warm and he seems in good spirits now that the weather has cooled. The Deckhand and I had a quick Skype Friday morning, and he sent me a photo of a nasty looking burn…

[EN] Dear members and friends of ipernity! We are pleased to present to you today the financial report*) for the short fiscal year 2017**). Adjusted for the one-off expenses in connection with the takeover of the website (contract costs and settlement of debts of Ipernity S.A.), revenues exceeded expenses. The website is therefore economically viable. *) English version : www.ipernity.com/doc/team/46643796 **) 14.04.2017 - 31.12.2017 Based on the existing subscriptions, a reason…

[EN] Dear members and friends of ipernity! 1) In the meantime, the beta version of the new homepage has also been optimized for mobile devices. Desktop version malfunctions have been fixed, language presets linked to the main software. The homepage now runs stable in all browsers. By clicking on the copyright symbol in the image you can directly access the account of the respective photographer. 2) The Easter collection of the homepage pictures was replaced by spring pictures from the c…

It’s a scorcher here and no mistake. The Ship’s Dog is sunning himself on the deck, though I won’t allow him to do that for much longer. An area, which has been shut off from the Ship’s Dog, has been ‘treated’ to some weed killer, and I’ve been up the rigging twice to hang out laundry. I’ve strimmed the front garden – lost the Ship references there – and have left the strimmer out for the recycling, or scrap merchants; whoever claims it first. I was happily strimming and thought: I smell burning…

I've just finished chatting to Pearl and she wanted me to thank you all for your wonderful birthday wishes. She wished she could answer them herself, but her eyesight is so bad at the moment that she can't see to write, nor actually read your messages herself. Her friend Annette has to help her by being her eyes. She's just had an operation fitting in a new lens but it's early days yet. She also wanted me to tell you that you are all in her thoughts. She sounded a bit like the old Pearl, b…

Just over 5 weeks to go until I abandon Ship. I don’t have a firm date as yet, despite my asking, however it’s looking like the first week in June. I’ve alerted my scurvy landlord of the above, and maybe he can ‘bother’ them to get a firm date for me. So far, I’ve had an estimate over the phone, and 2 Scurvy Dogs come out to give me a quote on the move. Due to it being across country, I need to go with a large firm so that they have a big enough lorry. I knew moving wouldn’t be cheap, however th…

Wednesday was a day of extreme frustration. I chased up my rental application, only to be told it was held up because my landlord hadn’t provided them with a reference yet. I explained that he’d sent me an email Friday, saying he had mailed it, and he’d sent me an email copy. I forwarded it to them and texted the landlord as he wasn’t answering his mobile. I eventually got hold of him and it seems the agent asked for an email reference, and instead he snail mailed it to me on Friday. Talk about…