I am at a bit of a loss as to what book to take with me on our boating holiday...

emm....??? *thinks*

I have a couple of re-reads in mind, that being "The ghost of flight 401" and "Six wives of Henry VIII" by Antionia Fraser, but I would dearly like to try something new. Recently I have been fascinated by new of the London show "Wicked" and as this is a book I have never read, I would really like to give it a try! Otherwise I fear it will be a re-read as I really have not got the time to mooch around our Waterstones looking for somthing!
Our fitted bedroom was finished yesterday, so today I have a ton of washing to do, and load the new wardrobes with clothes. This in-between my Masonic study, walking Sirius and mentally preparing tomorrows lunch, I expect to be quite busy today. But the thing with which book is still bugging me. At the moment I would dearly love to just sit down and chill with a good book, but time is a wee bit narrow just now. Also I have to take my Masonic black suit into the dry cleaners at Morrisons! Good grief the more I think of it, the more I have to do!
Right must crack on......
If anyone has any suggestion about a book, please let me know! Keeping in mind my love of all things Horror and Tudor history! But I also like fantastical tales that I can really bury myself in! *grinns*

Doctors call for ban on passive exposure to ’second hand children’
By Dungeekin Doctors call for ban on passive exposure to ’second hand children’ thumbnail

Citing the significant health risks, doctors have called for a complete ban on young people in all cars, as well as laws making it illegal for children to be taken to places where members of the public congregate.

The Royal College of Physicians has called for the measures as part of a full review into the health impacts of passive exposure to secondary children on the population at large.

The impacts include noise pollution, increased accident and illness rates, and the increased incidence of frustration, depression and bankruptcy.

An RCP report says that every year unnecessary exposure to children is responsible for over 20,000 minor injuries and some 22,000 cases of hypertension, as well as 200 fiscal heart-attacks and at least 20 cases of rage-related aneurysms.

It claims child-related illnesses in adults account for more than 300,000 visits per year to GPs, and costs the NHS billions of pounds.

Research

Dr Isay Banitall, of the RCP, said, “It is high time that a full, in-depth research project was carried out into the health implications of children in cars and other public places.”

“For example, our initial figures indicate that the presence of two arguing children in the back of your car is a greater threat to concentration and awareness than being twice the legal drink-drive limit and even more distracting than using a mobile phone.”

“The presence of children in a vehicle make the likelihood of serious injury some 43.7% higher than when the occupants of the car are all non-squabbling adults.”

“It is also difficult to quantify the secondary effects of children in other areas - for example, there is some evidence to indicate that the presence of screaming, uncontrolled brats in pub restaurants is directly linked to almost a million cases of hearing loss and indigestion.”

“We would therefore recommend the imposition of a ‘child area’, outside the building and well clear of the entrances, where those who wish to have children can congregate.”

A Department of Health spokesman welcomed the RCP report, and pointed out that the recent Budget went a long way in applying tax increases with the long-term goal of making children completely unacceptable in public.

However, he acknowledged that a blanket ban on children, however desirable, would be neither practically, politically nor fiscally possible.

So what next?
Well I am well on my soap box this morning, after seeing the BBC news, which horrified me more than Wes Craven can......There is now going to be a ban on smoking in cars!!!!

Errrr.....but isen't that a personal space?

Apparently not....The Royal Collage of Doctors has proposed this ban in cars, because of childrens health....I would have thought it better to let the parents decided what is good for their children. Does the government think none of us has a brain anymore? I for one (if I had kids) would never smoke in front of mine or anyone elses kids for that matter, and that would include the car. But apparently this nonsensiecal law is now going to be reinforced in a so called free country. A so called free country with a government who gives £1,000,000 of tax payers money to guard a vile child murderer in prison (Huntley, following his attack)...a government that happily allows a non ending tide of immigrents to overflow this already over populated island. And a government that blindly continues to wage a non-ending war on smokers!!...I would suggest that everybody in the country pack up smoking at once and see if the government likes loosing its tax revenue on fags. Oh and dont get me on the impending budget!!!!!!
What would I do?
For a start I would hang that vile, diseased blob of pus, Huntley! I would pull the rope myself. I would stop all immigration! and I would think its right and proper to let parents decided what is good or bad for their children! and while I am at it I would ban barbeques, as they produce dangerous levels of C02 (much more than ciggie smoke) and promote food poisoning in undercooked meat...Ok so I would make a crap Prime Minister! But I would make a hell of a better job of it than Brown and his cronies! A bunch of looney, liberal lefties who introduce stupid and indeed, un-policable laws, while ignoring the electorate and the rights of the decent people of this country! Its not the Labour party any more. Its the Looney Liberal Lefties party. And the Conservatives are no better either! I am not just having a damn good old moan because I am a smoker and I firmly belive in smokers rights, as my Derek does and he has never touched a ciggie in his life. I am having a jolly good moan because I am sick and tired of stupid laws being passed. Laws which will waste police time and cost money! What about passing some sensible laws? What about our impoverised pensioners? Ladies and gentleman who won a war against evil, to protect our country...why not pass some laws to ensure that pensioners have the right to proper care and live in dignity? There is somthing compleatly bonkers about this government!!
During my travels in China and India and south east Asia, I saw places where old people are treated with proper respect and are revered in their communities, passing on their wealth of knowledge about life to youngsters, which is how it should be. Here in Britian we seems to treat old people with contempt! Why? Because our crackpot government appears to be hell bent on passing silly laws while blatently ignoring the needy folks of Britian! I am not a an MP, but I think I have a fair degree of commen sense and eyes to see whats going on arround me...and if I am honest here, I dont like it!!
*climbs off soap box*
Tea? anyone?

Getting old is a git, isent it!!

Last night I woke at about 2am and felt like someone was sticking a red hot poker in my upper jaw!!!! I was in agony, but fortunatly we live near a 24 hour Tesco and Derek, bless him, dashed out for some pain killers for me!! ........Its my cannine on my right upper jaw, that has suddenly decided to give me gip. Its not broken or decayed or anything but it is turning a horrid shade of grey so I have concluded these must be somthing inside the tooth that is making it die off!
To date I have had 4 teeth removed, and two of those were wisdom teeth, one of which I kept as a momento as the roots of the tooth came through "deformed" and twisted like some weird alien! Then I had a nasty huge molar root canal, and some cosmetic work done, but recently one of my oldest fillings fell out, and then this thing started with the tooth in my upper jaw. The thing is.......I am actually terrified of dentists, and have to go private, which is expensive, so I don't really have any incentive to visit him, except for agonising pain! When I was 5, I had the terrible expierence that left me with this life long fear of dentists. I was due to have a couple of stubborn baby teeth removed, but when I got in the chair and the dentist put this black mask over my face, I began to panic!! I can still see it now, that black mask moving twards my face like the face-hugger Alien. I squeeked and tried to wriggle free, and then the dentist hit me!!!! Not hard, however, but hit me none-the -less, while shouting "BE STILL CHILD!!!"...in the end he took 5 baby teeth out and I swallowed so much blood under the gas that I was spewing blood, for what seemed like weeks after!....needless to say I have been terrified of dentists ever since! At the moment I am taking Nurofen migraine pain tablets which are quite strong but the tend to make me feel sick if I take too many, so I am being carefull....
In other news, the house is almost sorted, and Hammonds are coming to fit our bedroom suite on Thursday. Today I am baking for the first time since being back, and I am set to give Sirius his first bath at home, today. Well, I put him in the shower realy, and I need to give him a realy good brush before hand. He is not too keen on being brushed so I have to give him a treat to bribe him!

Back soon x

My Ills. Brother just reminded me that our next meeting is tomorrow and I am totally upside down with moving and sorting stuff out, I have had to decline my atendence tomorrow. Goodness knows!! I don't even know where my black suite is!!! Also he told me that my email wasent working properly as he had sent me an email earlier in the week which I dident recieve! Everything is all over the place at the moment, but I am going have to get cracking on my Obligation as my Lodge has request that I ask for my "higher wagers" very soon which will mean my being passed into my second degree, which is that of Fellow Craft. My mentor and very Ills.Bro. wants me to pass to my third degree of Master Mason sometime at the end of the year, and this is realy exciting for me and a further step twards seeking the Light!
I know this wont mean much to "normal" folks but please remember your reading the blog of someone who is "not normal!" I have always had an eseotoric side to my character, and a very questioning mind. Also meeting like minded people at my Lodge is delightful!! We even have a lady airline pilot who I get on with realy well as we share a love of flying AND the esoteric side of life. Its absolutly fascinating!
Right I must try and find time to get my head down and learn from my little book so my brain will be in a fit and proper working order ready for my second degree!

In other news, my home spa/hot tub has been delivered but wont be installed for a month or so yet...still, the weather might be warmer then. Also it turns out that Rainbows International (our moving storage people) has forgot to pack certain things that should have been returned to us! Namely my Ameythest crystal geode which cost abut £300!!!!!!!! Derek is sending them an email to remind them but I think someone has taken a fancy to my huge crystal cave and it magically grew legs!!!!!!! I want this replaced as I study "Crystal healing" and Ameythist is to calm and relax.......How can I relax now the bleedin' thing has been nicked????? Grrrrrrr!!! I have made an offer on a Citrine geode on ebay, but I am not sure it will be excepted!
As I mentioned in an earlier blog, Derek and I have a skip on our drive for the week, so we can throw out old clutter and rubbish we no longer need and the result has been an almost clear garage which I was quite impressed with. However, last night at about 9pm I was surprized to hear Derek shouting loudly and angrily from his new office! At first I thought he was shouting at Sirius, but no....he rushed down stairs and said some old bloke had been rummaging in our skip!!!!!!!!!!! Cheeky b*****d!!!! The chap ran off, but only to return 10 minuits later to continue his rummage. This time Derek raced off in the car and gave chase!!!!! But our skip rummaging guest got away with our unused deep fat fryer!!!!!! I hope it blows up on him!!!.......but seriously, its not a nice thought, to have some strange bloke lurking around your house just as your getting ready for bed!
*shivvers*
Needless to say my Port went down well last night!
love Vix x

...and now for somthing compleatly different!!

Gone are the days off flying to far off shores or treking in the mountains!

But, belive me, this one sounds just as good because Derek and I have never been boating before!! And just this morning Derek booked our boat with Hoeseasons (at my recomendation) and we are going to spend a week sailing around the Norfolk broards!!

Our boat for the week!!



This boat is totally delightful, and even includes a 4 poster bed belive it or not!! It looks very romantic too with a sun deck at the back, and patio! As soon as Derek booked this than I was fiddling around in ebay to buy things like deck shoes and even a doggie life jacket for Sirius! It sounds strange but the choice of proper ladies deck shoes is quite limited, but eventually I found a nice pair of Rockports and bought them! Derek asked me what the heck we need deck shoes for as we dont expect 10 foot waves on the Broards? I said they were for if it rains and the deck gets slippy, which is what deck shoes are for! ...We have been on loads of boats before but not on our own. My favorite was a speed boat ride to Kho Samui in Thailand!! After months of terrible hard work, trekking I finally got to see the glittering cost of this paradise island set in a turquoise jewel sea! I had been listenig to M People "sight for sore eyes" and I can tell you it was very appropriate at that moment!! Well the Norfolk broards may not be that exotic, but at least we will be having a holiday that is both relaxing and something compleatly new to us!!!....My mum, the cheeky mare!!! said I would be just like Mrs Bucket on her boat!!
Now on a totaly different note I am pleased to announce the imminent arrival of a "Home Spa hot tub!" at the Harrison household!! Derek and I decided to take the plunge (if you pardon the pun) on Saturday after doing a ton of internet research on the best makes available. Also I got a large hexagonal gazebo to house it in for privacy. The gazebo arrived today but the spa wont arrive untill tomorrow. Well its a present to ourselves realy, now we have moved back home. I will take lots of piccies when it is fully installed and up and running. Hopefully the weather will be warmer then too! .........However the hard work of moving is far from finished yet. Derek has hired a skip for a few days so we can sort out all the junk we have accumulated in the garage over 10 years, and I am having a clear out of an absolute ton of clothes, the best of which I will sell on ebay but the rest will be skipped. I am ashamed to say that I have had clothes in my wardrobes for years and they still have the label attached!! These will be the ebay-ed ones, and some are designer and cost a fortune, like a Versace cocktail dress I have never worn! I have also junked some of my more crappy ended Dr Who collection, broken stuff and the such-like, which I simply have no room for any more!
Out with the old and in with the new!! ;)

What a bleedin' tip!!

My home has been through some kind of reversed polarity time warp and has been invaded by the card board boxes of Doom!!!! I am fighting them as we speek!! and they appear to be breeding!!

Who ever said moving home gave the same stress levels as greiving was not wrong. Derek and I have had more rows in 2 days than we have had in 10 years!! and its usually about petty things like which box is this or that in! Derek....bless his wolley Brasher socks! Has managed to set up his office perfectly, in all this chaos! Surprize surprize!! It appears that our packing and storage firm has damaged or broken quite a lot of items, including the wooden base of my Japanese futon, so it looks like we will be claiming for rather a lot of damages. Also because the new bedroom has not yet been fitted we had a total nightmare the first night we moved back. The only usable bad we have at the moment is the Queen-size guest bed...picture the scene! Derek, me and Sirius packed like 3 rather bewildered Sardines in a bed that is built for one!!!!!!! I had about 2 hours sleep that night, waking several times with a huge furry animal on my head or his bottom stuck up my nose, and I am not talking about Derek hear! Our next night Derek gallentley gave me the Queen-size and he is sleeping on the double futon mattres in his new office. Sirius can now choose who he sleeps with! and chops and changes, accordingly. Sirius appear to be totally oblivious to all this madness, and is cuft to his huge furry paws to be back over the park playing with his mates, Olly the Huskie, Bristol the bonkers, gay Chocolate Labrador and Maisie a loopy heinz 57!
We have finally decided on the bathroom!!
Work will begin at the end of April, and we will be knocking Dereks old office into the current bathroom to make a huge spa!! We have budgeted to about £15,000 but it should add £20K or so to our home value. If by some slight chance we are under budget, we have decided to go for a conservertory onto out exisiting patio! But I highly dought there will be much cash left...the jacuzzi alone is over £2,000...The design we have chosen is quite Asian with Zen Buddist influence, partly inspired by our travels. The most beautiful bathroom I have ever seen was in Ubud, Bali at a 5* hotel. The en-suit bathroom was actually in an outdoor garden compleate with palmtrees!!! Totaly private ofcouse! But it was absolutly awesome! On that trip I think I spent more time in the bath than I did touring! Well at least I smelled nice! I am sure we have a picture of it some where which I should dig out and post. This hotel was amazing and its pool was a huge affair set into a forest of all things, with wonderful views of the volcano,s! ...well I can't get a forest into my new bathroom but be sure there will be lots of plants like fernes which do well in a humid enviroment!

A picture of our hotel in Ubud! Its called the Chedi but has now changed its name to the Alilla!



Must bugger off now and get to work again!
At least today I get to cook my first meal, as we have been eating fast food for 3 days while we moved and was unable to use the kitchen...I cleared it yesterday! So lunch will be a lovely exotic, sausage mash and beans!!...its all I can be bothered with at the moment!