....make of the title what you will, but it realy has been a strange day!

Mum arrived at 11am and we had tea and I made her a sausage sandwich, and just over an hour later we were on our way to town. Mum has to go via town anyway to get back home, but I also wanted some stationary bits and pieces and another look at the evening gowns in TK Max. Saying goodbye to Mum just outside Sainsburys I made my way, firstly to W H Smiths for some things, and then onto Superdrug for some more things. It was raining, intermittently but I decided I would indeed take the quite lengthy walk down to Max's to check out the gowns again. I found a gorgeous white tuille, netted gown embroidered with glittering black beads, full length with two underskirts, one of which was stiffly netted, all for the princely sum of £50 (I would have payed double this in Debenhams!) and a realy gorgeous black satin evening bag by Suzie Smith!!....all sorted....or so I thought...
Everything seemed normal untill 10 miniuts into my bus ride home I noticed a red Clio car in the middle of a busy junction not far from town, wanting to turn right. I also noticed it was a learner!!..Now the lights on our side were on green and our bus was going at about 25 mph with nothing a head apart from the then distant car at the junction. The only thing was the car stayed at the junction, right in the middle of it, infact, and our bus driver had to slam on his breaks but it was too late!!!! With screaching tires we slammed into the little car with an expleative from me of "S**T!!!" and very briefly I had a flashback to our bus crash in the Chinese mountains, in a head on collision with a huge lorry. I still pray to God to this day, that I am still alive after that horrific incedent in 1995! Anyway I saw the poor girl get out in a fit of tears, and our bus pulled into the kerb so our driver and the young ladies instructor could swap insurance details. Also we had to wait for a replacement bus, which was about half an hour, and we all had to swap busses. Before this however, our driver, visabley shaken wandered up and down the bus asking if anyone wanted to volenteer as a witness. The bus had about 20 passengers and not one was prepared to volenteer, which I thought was quite discusting so I was the only passenger to volenteer as a witness to the crash. I hardly dought it will go to court though as no-one was injured, thankfully!
On getting home I was still quite shaken so I phoned Mum for a chat and told her about the days events, but after a cup of much welcome tea, I relaxed a little enough to try on my new evening gown. The dress fitted me perfectly, which I doughted as it is a very fitted size 14, but its like it was made for me, except its about two inches too long. Fortunatly though my Mum was and still is a fully qualified tailoress and seemsstress so taking my gown up an inch or two will be a piece of cake for her. At 5pm my phone rang and unexpectdly it was my Mum again....
"I have just had two of my front teeth fall out while I was eating" she lisped!!
I wanted to giggle, but she was realy upset becuase she said she looks awful now because the teeth were at the front! I just said not to worry, keep the teeth and go and see the dentist as soon as possible so he can make a mould for a couple of false ones. She did say one of the teeth had actually broken off, and if this is the case she will have to have the root extracted or it could get infected. Now I have had both a root extraction and a root canal filling and belive me both are not pleasent, but are over qucikly so I may have to go with her when she has the extraction done to make sure she is ok.
Its been a weird day folks...but my only problam now is what to cook for dinner tomorrow as Mum is coming and I dont want to cook somthing that is going to be to taxing on her teeth...something simple with dollops of mash, methinks!

h.g.w.
Vix x

I had an extra lay in this morning as Derek was watching the Grand Prix from 5am (looney!!!!) so I am only just starting the day with my ususaly rounds of coffee...Yesterday I finally got back on the pole but after not being used for such a long time (about 6 months) it was absolutly filthy as I hauled all 3 heavy pieces out of the garage, so I had to spend about 45 mins trying to clean it with white spirit, but it still needs a jolly good clean as I couldent remove some of the more stubborn marks. I took it slowing just doing some stretching excersies (creaking bones louder than the music!!!) and then just a few simple moves that I learned last year, but my "firemans swing" is not what it was, unfortunatly. Well all this only proves just how out of condition I am, and only managed to stay on the pole for about 15 mins! I am going to try up to 20 mins today when I get chance, but that is going to be after a trip into town and having my personal classroom (Masonic) in my then silent living room. I have so much to learn, but it realy is fun, interesting, and I am testing my memory to the hilt (which isent easy, belive me) and then Sirius will have his walkies before I set about cooking Dereks dinner!
Well that is what I am up to today....as for tonight it will involve more learning and a film (DVD) as I still absolutly detest Saturday night TV. I realy enjoyed Pans Labryinth recently so I might watch that again. Its not for the faint hearted, however as its a bit gorey in places, but that just me as I love horror films. It has a great story though, and some superb acting, as well as excellent CGI. Anyway watching this with my candles all lit and my Port and a light supper, should make for a nice relaxing evening.
Enjoy the weekend folks,
and I will be back soon!
Vix x

Delightful day out in town yesterday with Mum, even dispite it was blowing a gale and there was intermittent rain, but I had to get some passport photos done and at first I thought I was going to have problams with that. To the best of my knowledge there were only two photo-booths in Northampton, one at the Post Office and there was one in the now closed Woolies. Well the one in the post office was out of order so I was scratching my head for other options. We checked Boots and Beatties, both seemed viable options, but neither had a booth and finally walking past WH Smith Mum said "how about in there?" However I was doughtful but we scoured the ground floor of the shop, only to find nothing. Eventually, Mum asked a cashier who said that indeed there was a booth upstairs, so that was sorted...Needless to say the photos are awfull, dispite the fact I was wearing make up!
*hides*
Now because of these dreadful photos, coupled with the fact I can no longer get into my much smarter black suits, has lead me to the conclusion that I am an "aged fat git" and I need to do somthing about it before my special weekend in Vienna in May....Solution!!! = I am going to get back on the pole and cut out all the rubbish I have been eating recently! As we get older we find its much more difficult to stay in shape as our metabolism slows. Now I have no excuse here because I take "sea Kelp" as it helps boost the metabolism, and is good for joints and your heart. Its just that I have been pretty lax of late, with lots of concernes on my mind, and so my diet got lax too! So the pole it is after I have walked Sirius and done my housey duties (hoovering etc)
Anyway, befor I hop off I would just like to mention I grabbed a lovely bargin yesterday in the form of a gorgeous pair of "coast" black satin evening shoes with bow detail and a small, dainty kitten heel...reduced from £75 down to a mindblowing £15!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and lets just say those shoes were off the shelf faster than Sirius after a cat, and paid for and in my bag, just as soon as!! and they fit me beautifully as well! I just love the small heel becuase I have flat feet and find it difficult to wear high heels, although I love them. Now with going on the pole I am always told by teachers to always wear platform high heels as this aids with both grip and swing, but I must admit when I am on the pole (as I will be later today) I wear ballet shoes (I am such a wuss) or nothing on my feet at all...well wuss or not, I must do somthing about my overly flabby, out of shape body...and preferabally not looking in the mirror as it gives me nightmares!! LOL!!

Love all
Vix

Following lots of informative chats, my introduction to the Bretherin at Lodge Mercury and my formal interviews, I am set to be Initiated into my First Degree of Entered Apprentice on this Saturday, at the UK's head office of Co Fremasory, Lodge Golden Rule in Surbiton, Surrey!!
My heart is all butterflies!!!!!!!
I feel so very honoured and indeed privledged that both my Lodge (Mercury) have accepted me, and that my Initiation should take place at Lodge Golden Rule! Normally an Entered Apprentice will be initiated into their "Mother Lodge" which is in my case Lodge Mercury, but I am so very humbled to have been chosen to have my Initiation at this wonderfuly Grand Temple!
For those of you that don't know, my journey into Freemasonry actually began about 37 years ago, while as I child I was totaly fascinated by my Uncles Masonic stories of King Soloman and his Temple. Now this fascination stayed with me all my life, and when I was dreadfullly ill at Christmas, I began thinking...I am not getting any younger (non of us are) and if I don't petition to join now, I basicaly never will, so there and then I made the decision. Following my joining a Masonic internet forum, I recieved lots of help and encouragement, and was pointed in the right direction so to speak by a lovely lady and the next thing I knew I was invited to the Lodge and was made to feel so very welcome that I felt I had known these lovely folks all my life!! My mentor (Jounior Warden) had me laughing while I was helping to tidy up after our delightful dinner with his "this is the ritual of the stacking of the tables!!" and the whole evening was so friendly I dident realy want to leave!! Anyway, today I realised that the week was getting on so I made a phone call to check if all had gone well with my ballot and if there is anything else I needed to know or bring with me. I was absolutly delighted when I got a lovely phone call back saying all was well, and my Initiation is to go ahead!
For a long time now I have felt there were stitches missing in the fabric of my life, and I filmly belive my journey into Co Freemasonry will help me compleate myself, so to speak. My only regret is that I did not do this 20 years ago!

In other news!
Where has everyone gone???...or have I got boring LOL!! SORRY!!
but I have noticed my blog is still getting plenty of hits so I hope some lovely folks out there still reading!
For the future I promise to not waffle on about Troika pottery and the such-like...*hides* I have got a wee bit boring of late, but the old Vixter is still here and I promise lots of posts on very varied subjects in the future, even if I am on a soap box or moaning! but thats just me! ...Ok, I am going off for some celebratory Port now, and a bit of a light supper too...at the moment I am watching the story of Wendy Richards battle with cancer and its reminding me of my Dad's final battle with this horrible disese...so I might have to watch something cheerful on DVD later on. Poor Wendy. She was a brilliant Star...
Ok, Sirius has just reminded me that its "milk and biccies" time, and my fish need feeding!

Love to all, and have a nice evening!
Vix

All good things come to an end, as the saying goes...

Way back in November 1993 I was doing management relife work at a pub in Kingsthorpe called the White Horse. I was with Linda with who I helped run the Rifle Butt, but in October we got a message that we were being moved to this new pub. As I remember the regulars were outraged that Scottish and Newcastle could move us so quickly, and questions were asked, angrily, about what was going to happen to our planned bonfire party. Well, when all said and done all Linda and I could do was to pack up all our stuff and move to the White Horse about 3 miles away.
The White Horse was an "L" shaped building on the corner of a busy crossroad towards the town centre. The Sunday before we moved, Derek and I went to take a look at it (I had only met Derek the month before) and I must admit on first sight I was rather unimpressed...it was tiny inside!!!! With a tiny bar and an even smaller clientelle consisting of Irish "old boys". Interestingly enough there was a skittles run as skittles in pubs is quite rare and seems to only belong in Northamptonshire. Anyway 4 days later Linda and I moved in her tiny car, stuffed to the rafters with our belongings! But no sooner had we got through the door, as the outgoing stock was being assesd and taken by a stocktaker, a rather angrey, red faced chap bustled from nowhere, a bit like in Mr Benn, and blurted out to me "Its was you who came snooping on sunday!!!!!!!!!!!" I tried to explain I was not snooping, it was just curiosity, but he wasent listening..."So you send your "lackie" to snoop after me eh?" He had screeched at Linda... "Now listen hear!!" I yelled, but before I could say anything Linda gently pulled me away and whispered "lets just get our stuff eh?"
The next three weeks was like a holiday for us!!!
Now both me and Linda had come from a megga busy pub to a megga quiet one!
There was only two other members of part time staff and we were lucky if the till took £50 at lunchtime! There was absolutly no catering facillities, a massive celler but only two cask conditioned ales were on offer, and a very dissused and very musty smelling function room!...Oh and a pool table! We had no cleaner so me and Linda did the cleaning between us of a morning then Linda would give me shopping money for our lunch and I would have a couple of pints in "the Keep" which was another pub by the shopping centre. In the evenings I would work "early doors" from 5:30 - 8pm and then I had the rest of each night off!!!!!!!!!!!!! Linda, despite being over 20 years older than me, we a bit of a party animal and preffered doing the later evening work which she would often turn into lock-ins for a few of the locals and she certainly dident mind very late nights. Me on the other hand, am not a party animal and most of my evenings were spent upstairs in the living quaters watching TV. On one of the first evenings he came around I had cooked a special meal for us of steak, salad and jacket potatos with sour cream and chives. As he entered the tiny kitchen I noticed an oblong wooden box under his arm..."Whats that?" I had asked "Its a game I want to teach you!" he had said rather sheepishly...and so the evening began after dinner with Derek teaching me how to play Mah Jhong for the first time! and I loved it because I kept beating him!!! LOL!!! On another evening Derek coulden't make it so I trotted off to the off-licence for some booze and spent the rest of the evening getting sloshed while I watched my favorite film "the Fog" on video! I had a light supper of veg baked on puff pasty and slumped into bed at 11 as Linda rang the bell for last orders...Oh I was so very used to going to sleep with the muffled sounds of chat and laughter coming from downstairs! Some how I found it soothing....

Today, Derek and I drove past the White Horse in Kingsthorpe and all the windows were boarded up with steel plates and there was a huge "FOR SALE" Sign outside what had once been my bedroom window!...the same windows I would look out of, to watch excitedly for Dereks red Vauxhaul Belmont to drive past, in November 93'!

Just a tad sad today..................

Iam just watching the daftest film yet, on the Sci-Fi channel about killer bees swarming around a house!!!
I am tempted to switch over but any more Only fools and horses and I will scream!!

The close ups of the bees are just pain ordinary honey bees that will certainly not harm you unless you harm them!! Its more than their lifes worth as, unlike a wasp, a honey bee only has one sting and if it looses that it dies!!
As a child I watched many of these killer bee films and subsequently became scared of bees, even more so in the summer time some time in the early 80's when one accidently flew down my Mums top while she was putting the washing out and she started to batter herself to kill the bee, which did sting her on the chest!
Back in the Spring of 1999, Derek and I took a picnik to a lovely spot in the country, next to a stream. It was a beautiful day, warm and very quiet and tranquil. I began unpacking the sandwiches, fruit, bread and a small quiche and just as I was a bout to pour my first plastic mug of tea from my flask, I heard a weird sound...
"Do you hear that?" I had asked Derek, my brain trying to figure out what this sound, which was almost like a quiet rumble, was? At first Derek had said no, but as the sound grew in strength, he had presently said "yes I do hear somthing now" and we both looked around to the back of us where the sound appeard to be coming from and at first I just saw trees and fields...then to my horror of horrors the quiet rumble became that fearsome mass buzzing you hear in the killer bee films. As I looked up with a sudden huge surge of adrenillin in my veins to my compleate terror I saw a grey patch in the sky...and it was darkening, getting bigger and very loud, and heading right in our direction!!!!!!!!
It was a swarm of some 80 thousand honey bees!!!!!!!!!!!
Briefly I remember looking down at the food I had just opened and I began to panic seriously, thinking the bees (like wasps or so I thought at the time) would some straight for the food...AND US!!!!!!!! "Derek" I had squeeled "we gotta run back to the car NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Now Derek does show his brains occasionaly and said to just sit tight, as he grabbed my arm and pulled me gently back into a sitting position! They are honey bees, he had simply said, they are looking for their new home!
What followed next was the most wonderfull and one of the most spectacular sights I have seen since I first gazed with bated breath, at the Taj Mahal in Agra!...A full swarm of honey bees swam like a living black cloud over our heads by only about 30 feet, not one bothered to come town to investigate our goodies! I swear I dident breath for about 20 seconds, as I watched, mesmerised by this awesome sight. The beautiful bees appeared to move as one with subtle ripples through the "bee cloud!" which is the only way I could discribe it!! and suddenly they were gone, over an oppersite hillock. Now like most things that scare people it is just fear of the unknown so after being treated to this amazing feat of Nature I began reading up on bees on the internet. Apparently when bees are out flying in a swam they are at their most docile because they are indeed focused solely on finding a new home for thier hive, which usually happens in early spring approx April time (as I remember this was a warm April day) and only when the weather conditions are absolutly perfect will they fly in their swarm to find a new home. Needless to say I am not scared of bees any more and infact I would like to have a go at bee keeping myself. They are fascinating creatures, who are the goveners of pollenation and nature itself, and now I have learned about them I think they are simply wonderfull!!
However I still hate wasps!! the scourge of the pub garden in summer!!!
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!
Also some wasps kill spiders (which I love) In fact the story behind the "Alien" films is based on how some species of wasps, first paralise their spider and inject its eggs into the spiders body, so the poor spider is literally eaten from the inside out by the wasp lave, and the poor spider is paralized and is helpless to do anything about it...its also still alive untill the lave have eaten all the spider. Grousome I know, but this is nature, and why I hate wasps! Years ago I kept a Mexican Rosey Tarantula in a huge tank at my flat in Warrington but being a male he dident live long, and it broke my heart when he died...I would love to get a Cobolt Blue Tarantula!!! these rare and very beautiful "living Jewles" are very viscous and nasty which is ofcourse becuase of the fear of the wasp (they come from the same region in south America) it is recommended that owners of these gorgeous creatures NEVER handle them! Which is a shame as handling a Tarantula is an amazing and oddly a very relaxing expierence!
But watch this absolute LOONEY!!!!!!!!!!! handle his "Blue"



Notice that he is very gentle and is wearing little clothing which is the right was to handle Trantulars as their tiny claws get stuck in matieral.The bite from these spiders is painfull (I am told but I have never been bit) but no worse than a bee sting!

BTW phone is now fixed...apparently some vandles had damaged the wires in a box across the road! Gits!!!!

Some of you may have read that I have had laptop probs recently...well now its the turn of the phone.......

Last night I tried to give Mum her usual 9pm call but the phone (land-line that is) simply rang a couple of times and then went dead. I tried to call a few times more but to no avail, so I tried my mobile...UGH!! No charge, so I put it on charge and asked Derek if I could borrow his mobile so I could chat to Mum and only stayed onthe phonefor about 10 mins. This morning I woke to hear Derek making string of 4 letter expleatives from his office!!! What the heck was going on? I was thinking as its quite rare to hear him swear so badly. Apparently he had phoned the phone company on his mobile which then, at a crucial time in the conversation to the engineer, cut out because he had ran out of credit!!!!!!!
It never rains but it pours!!!!!!!!!
...and to top all this my mobile (which is contract) does not seem to be charging properly, and was still not fully charged this morning! Anyway it turns out an engineer is coming to sort out the phone later today, sometime in the afternoon! But what the heck is up with the charging of my phone as its an almost brand new Samsung and only takes about 2 hours to charge normally, if less. The only good thing about being on contract though is I can get a new free phone anytime, so if its broke I should have no trouble getting a relacement!
Ho hum....back later when hopefully it will be sorted!

x

My current reading is "Jane Boleyn" by Julie Fox and she appears to be much kinder to Jane's character, than other historians have painted her!
Let me explain...
Jane Boleyn Lady Rochford was born Jane Parker circa 1505 into a noble family, with excellent connections wealth, and royal blood. Her Father was the Duke of Morley and he packed Jane off aged just 14 to be a lady in waiting to Kathine of Aragon, and spent most of her life in Royal service. Poor Jane was forced into an arranged marriage to George Boleyn, brother of the ill fated Queen Anne, and as sister in law to the then future Queen of England (during the time of Henry's "Great Matter") she became royalty herself, but history has not been kind to her, and her marrriage to "possibley" homosexual George was a VERY unhappy one...I say possibley because its never been historicaly proven that George was indeed gay, as he appeared to be a womaniser, but this issue has been re-dressed in the recent TV production "The Tudors" and its certainly worth considering, and would indeed explain why Jane's marriage was so miserable as she was know to be very beautiful and much sought after by the men of the court! Now down to why history has painted Jane as a coniving, evil, jealous bitch....During the time of Cromwells plotting to get Queen Anne on the block, he had to fabricate something that would most certainly put her there and came up with the idea of adultery. So Cromwell and his men began questioning the ladies of the Queen, which included Jane Boleyne (Lady Rochford) about the goings on in the Queens privvy chamber. It was Anne's character that gave Cromwell most of his evedince. Apart from being a shewd politician, and business woman and being an intelligent woman and a force to be reconed with...Anne was also naturally flirtatious, and overly friendly with her favorits in perticular Mark Smeaton who was her musician. Poor Mark wasent just questioned by Cromwell,he was brutaly tortured almost to the point of death and forced to say he had "known" the Queen "and her private person. (In other words had slept with her, which was total rubbish as a woman of Annes standing would have never considered a commener such as Mark to be a suitable lover, they were simply the best of friends and Anne adored music) Anne was also very close to her brother George, who would visit her privatly many times and for many hours where they would talk, play cards and drink wine! In fact when Anne fell out of favor with the King becuase she failed to give him a son, her brother George became her only true confidant and friend. History reads that Jane was very jealous of Annes realationship with her brother and this is why, under heavy questioning from Cromwell she snapped and said Anne and George had, had an incestious relationship. I think it is more likely that word had got about court of Mark Smeatons terrible torture, and this had left poor Jane terrified the same would have happened to her! (it wouldent because Jane was a noble woman and noble women werenever tortured) Also Mark had forceabley confessed! Sadly Jane was not known for her intelligence and I belive she just blurted out the incest admission just so Cromwell would stop his terrible questioning. Historians have been baffled as to why Jane told Cronwell such a horrible lie about Anne, so they concluded it was Janes jealously of Anne and her closeness to George. When infact Jane was just a pawn dragged into the malestrom of Cromwells plotting....by this time Cromwell must have been rubbing his hands with glea, and Annes trail was arranged but the result was a forgone
conclusion...GUILTY....even before Anne had stepped into court.
Jane left court as soon as she possibley could, in terror following the murders of both her husband and her sister in law. George was executed on the 17th of May 1536, along with the other innocent men caught up in this plot, and Anne was executed on the 19th of May as Henry had commisioned a swordsman from France but he had been delayed on the road...it took about 6 months for Jane to return to court, and it was after the death in childbirth of Henry's 3rd wife, Jane Seymore, that Jane become more settled...Now it was Cromwells turn to recieve his just deserts 2 years later when he convinced Henry to marry a protestant Princess from Germany called Anna Von Clevv (Anne of Cleaves) Cromwells arranging of this marriage back-fired on him and cost him his life, as when Henry eventually met Anne it was a case of hate at first sight, instead of love. After his almost instantaianious divorce from what I would consider this lucky Princess, his eye had been caught by one of her very young ladies, Kathryn Howard. Aged just 16 and utterly gorgeous, Kathryn was also rather promiscious, and like Jane Boleyn, who was still at court was about as thick as too short planks! Both ladies one, old enough to be the other's mother, became firm friends both before and after Henry has made Kathryn his 5th Queen. During a progress of the King and new Queen to the north, Kathryn became captivated by Henry's favorite servent, and member of the privvy chamer, one of the highest positions at court! His name was Thomas Culpepper, and by all accounts Thomas and Kathryn were at it like rabbits the moment the Kings back was turned........aided and abetted by Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford!! Why Jane helped the couple in their illicet affair is unclear but some belive its because Jane could see how desperatly unhappy Kathryn was with her marriage to the now aged, gross and indeed impotent King, even with his gorgeous young wife he was unable to get an erection at this point, hence no male hiers were forthcoming!!!! So between Jane Boleyn and the Duke of Norfolk they both came up with a plan to help Kathryn have the hansome, young and very virile Thomas Culpepper so as the young Queen might concieve a son, to keep the King happy. This was ofcourse high treason!!! to plan to put a bastard on the throne of England, let alone the fact that the child would be a bastard of a commoner and not of the Kings royal blood. Both Kathryn and Jane apparently had a lack of discression and word soon got around the court of what was going on. One morning in the Royal Chaple a note was secretly placed, adressed to the King, informing him of his wife's indiscressions, along with Janes help!! At first Henry refused to belive it but when the whole affair finally came to light, he flew into the famous Tudor Rage, and sent both Jane and Kathryn to Syon house underhouse arrest, before their executions!!! Jane went compleatly insane at this point and Herny had to make Parliment pass an act to make executing the insane legal, as Jane had compleatly lost her mind. The act was passed swiftly, and the axe fell just as quick on the 13th of February 1542. Kathryn was executed first aged just 17, then Jane aged about 37 offered her neck to the axeman on a block still wet and warm with the blood of her mistress and friend Kathryn. By all counts Jane was rather composed at the end...after all, she was born of noble blood, but had told some horrible lies in her life, and some would say her end was justified, but I dont think so...she was just an unfortunate, pawn in the court of Henry the 8th, perhaps a little unintelligent but her unhappy marriage to George hurt her badly, as it would with any woman....
Sadly I know....I have been there.... (my first marrige that only lasted 2 years)