Wednesday 31 December 2008

So here we are. It's the last day of December, that last day of the year. Be careful with any cheques that you write from now until... ooh, at least July.

It's been really really foggy here since lunchtime. This morning we walked into town, and paid some money into the bank, went to the post office etc. Quite mundane apart from when we walked past Woolworths. Oh woe, oh tragedy... it has finally happened. One of the stalwarts of the British high street has finally gone. It was very sad to look into the carcass of the store. Perversely, the security camera was still running and you could look up and see yourself on the TV over the door as you pressed your nose against the glass. I choked back more than just a single tear, I can tell you.

As I discussed yesterday, Christmas is over. All the excitement has gone, although I've still got the Father Ted box set that I was given for Christmas. I am really looking forward to next year, I believe that it has a lot of promise. Forget all the doom mongerers, 2009 will be what YOU make it. Come on...

Tuesday 30 December 2008

As we approach new year, I have been thinking, as I do every year, about the passing of Christmas. I love Christmas and December in general as much, if not more than the next man, woman or child. I am always melancholic when it is over. January just holds no cheer for me whatsoever.

Please stay with me, as there is a point to this nonsense, HONEST! I think that Christmas Eve is my favourite part of Christmas. It's the anticipation, that tingle of knowing that tomorrow is the big day. I guess it's a hangover from childhood. From a very early age, I could never sleep on Christmas Eve. My brother, with whom I shared a bedroom would be off, giving it the z's very early on. I just could not sleep, although I was never awake when my presents were delivered. By the time I was able to go out on the ale, getting to sleep on Christmas Eve didn't seem to be such a problem.

But what of the big day? I tend to view it as the beginning of the end rather than the climax of the celebration. Oh no, in a week's time it'll be January and a couple of days after that it's back to work... Am I really that much of glass half empty person?

Well, no actually, I don't think that I am, because all day today for example, I have been mentally looking forward to the new year. First there's the lighter nights, it's still light at 6 o'clock by the end of January. Then there's the clocks going forward at the end of March, then Easter. Then our first Birthday of the year in May, then the Cup Final. Then in even years, there's a World Cup or Euro Championships, test match cricket, bl**dy tennis, effing motor racing and so on and so forth.

Monday 29 December 2008

Today we've been to Wrexham shopping. It seem that with Woolies closing, Oswestry has lost quite a large chunk of its retail capabilities. I bought a box set of the Absolutely tv series from the late 1980's. I've watched the first couple of shows so far and whilst it's a bit slow in places some of the stuff is just as good as I remember. It stars Morwenna Banks - Peppa and George Pig's mum, along with John Sparks - the new voice of Fireman Sam. Gordon Kennedy is in there too - a very funny man, there's Jack Docherty, Peter Bakie and Murray Hunter.

Sunday 28th December 2008

Went for a walk up a local hill. As it was such a beautiful day, we could see for miles and miles. The boys enjoyed the walk too. It being that time of year, I decided in my infinite wisdom that we'd have beans on toast for lunch - some nice bland stuff to bring us all down to earth after the rich food that we've been eating lately.

We arrived back home after an hour of the Newcastle v Liverpool game on Sky Sports. I really do need to check the timing of these games. That was I can make sure that I watch the whole game. That said, what I did see was very reassuring. Looks like Liverpool are going to be in there at the end of the season. Ho ho ho.

1980's song #1

What's your favourite 1980's song? Here's one to offer you, Ghost Town by the Specials. I can't believe that it's from 1981. It summed up perfectly the mood of the youth of Britain at the time. With the Thatcherite Revolution in full swing (whether or not the disease required the medicine, or whether the medicine was appropriate is a moot point), but something was clearly wrong in the state of Great Britain at the time. Ghost Town with its swirling organ sounds and thumping insistent beat was a massive smash. It evoked the essence of a central theme of Thatcherism, that is there is no such thing as society. You might as well all move out of your home towns, the industry that sustained them for all these years has failed them and you. Move to somewhere you can get a job.

30 years on and despite the current financial plight in which we find ourselves, Britain does have a stronger economy, but at what cost? The Specials' hit single was of its time and the devastation of industry, town centres, safe employment so instantly brought to mind are mere memories, but the social rifts caused are genuine and still impact upon us today. Ultimately, it's the battle between Capitalism and Keynesism which has been won and lost. Ask yourself, which thread does Tony Blair have more of an allegiance to?

This town, is coming like a ghost town,
All the clubs have been closed down...

More about Becks... sort of.

I was out the other morning when I saw our young vicar (pastor, priest or whatever title he prefers). He was out on his driveway, maintaining a sailing boat. Nothing unusual about that, I guess. But what struck me was that he was wearing a Real Madrid shirt, emblazoned on the back with 23 - BECKHAM.

I didn't asking him, perhaps I should have, but I did wonder where this fits in with the ten commandment which states that, and I paraphrase here, 'thou shall have no other gods before me'. Now I know it's a wee bit preposterous to claim that Becks is a god, but it's quite a matter for ecumenical debate, surely?

Random Olympic Thoughts

What a performace by Team GB! Just watch those cyclists, and rowers, and sailors, and Rebecca Adlington go!

Have you noticed that the German Rowing team and I think, their Gymnasts, are those rarest of rare things, German sporting teams not wearing kit by Adidas?

What a fantastic design that Bird's Nest stadium is. When I first heard Clare Balding mention 'the Bird's Nest' I though that the BBC had some studio perched up in the air somehwere...

Ginger Cake

Ginger Cake.

Dead simple this. Only bind is the hour and a half that you have to wait for it to cook!

Ingredients:

6oz Stork margarine
6oz Castor sugar
8oz plain flour
1-2tbls baking powder
3 eggs
2tbls milk
ground ginger to taste - I use around 2tbls, but it depends upon your own predilection for ginger.

What to do:

Blend the margarine and the sugar together. Do this with a wooden spoon for greatest satisfaction, or if you want to cheat(as if!) use a blender. Whip it up, make it nice and fluffy.

Add the eggs one at a time - each time add a small amount of flour, say a tablespoon. Really beat them in.

Add your milk along with another small amount of flour. Again really be quite rough with the mixture.

Now put your wooden spoon away and grab a metal one. This is the bit that you need to be careful with. Gently fold in the remaining flour along with the baking powder and the ginger. Do it really carefully - all of your previous mixing was done the way it was in order to get air into the mix. Don't lose it now!

Finally, pour the mixture into a baking tin. A proper cake tin is best, but if you haven't got one, improvise!

By now, you oven should be up to temp. Around 170 degrees C or gas mark 3.

After an hour and a half, take it out of the oven, stick a wooden cocktail stick in. If it comes out clean, your cake is done.

Leave for a few minutes and then turn out onto a wire tray. Cover and allow to cool.

After a decent period, try a piece. Store in an air tight container.

Cheers, CJ

David Beckham

David Beckham was born on 2 May 1975. So when people ask how old is David Beckham - of course a question to which the answer changes everyday, just tell them his date of birth – his age then is academic? He played for Man Utd (and Preston on loan for a while), then Real Madrid, blah blah the rest as they say is history.

Anyway, what do people want with David Beckham? Just what do they aspire to have that once was his. Chances are that whatever it is – perhaps a David Beckham signed shirt or maybe a David Beckham caricature – it’ll be available on iwantfootball.co.uk. Please, take your time to have a look, you never know what else you’ll find…

Here comes the Summer

Here comes the Summer - with apologies to any Southern Hemisphere readers!

I was going about my retail business yesterday (for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION info pack, click here), blasting out The Undertones. I came home and my ears were almost bleeding! Sing, or hum along now, "stretching out their long legs, lying in the sun, they know they're beautiful, they're having fun... HERE COMES THE SUMMER, HERE COMES THE SUMMER..."

Truly marvelous stuff!

Enjoy your summer girls and boys, CJ

cosmicjellybaby joins Qassia

Looking for those quality links to your website? Got loads of your own material gathering dust on your hard drive? Well, pop along to Qassia.com, submit your work and get rewarded with quality links to your website(s). You get one free link for each piece of work, or intel that you submit.

Cheers, CJ

No need to tell them I sent you - my credit's in the link! And, as they are in closed beta you can only join by referral, so there!

Exfoliate! Exfoliate!

Yes, exfoliation. It's one of the modern wonders of the male world! I am frequently told by my wife that, "You need a bit of slap on there, dear." So off I trot upstairs to locate my favourite aloe vera product and give my face its much needed blob. I suffer from a combination of both oily and dry skin. So in trying to leave the oily bits well alone, the dry areas suffer and it can become incredibly sore.

Once a week now, whether I need to or not(!), I use a gentle exfoliator - usually in the shower, the warm moist atmosphere does wonders for my skin in any case. If you rub it between your fingers, the exfoliator will feel slightly gritty. This has the effect of gently sloughing away the top layer of dead skin cells - don't rub too hard as the product does the work for you. Once done, rinse it off and then wash your face with a moisturising face wash.

On removing from the shower, it's a good idea to use your aloe vera product to finish the job. Your skin will feel much better and look a million dollars too! It's a good idea to use the aloe vera as an after shave balm too.

Any road up, that's enough male skin care advice for now, check back soon to see what else is happening in the Jellybaby Universe...

CJ

Primeval page added to tradingcardmania.co.uk

There! It's just as it says in the title. I've added a Primeval page to my site. Locate your Primeval stickers here.

Cheers, CJ

This Opportunity Works update #1

Hi there. We've just finished the 3rd period of the year and I'm happy to say that we've achieved our 13% level. In total this period, we've earned a staggering £452 for part time work. By my estimation, this has taken us no more than 30 hours over the month!

If you are looking for something a little bit extra, why not visit our website achievabledreams, to register for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION information pack.

Cheers, CJ.

Only available in the UK, Ireland, Netherlands and Germany.

New websites added to portfolio

Are you a Registered Childminder or prospective Registered Childminder?

I have just set up a new website, called Info 4 Childminders. My intention is for that it gives you a list of useful websites, e.g. your local regulatory body, whether you live in Sco, NI, Wal or Eng. I have also handpicked a few eBay categories of items that you might just find useful in your business.

Do you like days out in the UK?

Please pop along then to UK is Great. This is another new site giving you some hints and tips for great days out in the UK. I've only got a few ideas up there so far, so I'd like to have some additional pieces from you dear readers that I can include in the relevant location. Please get in touch with your ideas for great days out in the UK. (Sorry you Channel Islanders and Manx Men and Women - I've included you too!)

Please keep tuned for more developments...

This Opportunity Works

Just a quick update on our work from home catalogue opportunity. On Thursday last week we submitted our order for £362.50 which will yield to us a retail profit of around £73. This was from around 100 catalogues. If we maintain this for the rest of the 4 week period, we will be on course for a total of £292 retail profit, plus our volume bonus of £92. In terms of hours worked, this 4 week total will have taken us around 28 hours. This equates to around £13.70 an hour.

Of course it's not just getting out there with the catalogues. This opportunity is much more rounded than just that. You can pass the catalogues out amongst friends or family, or work colleagues. Leave them at the hairdressers or anywhere else that people sit for any length of time.

There is also Party Plan. Show the products to people in the comfort of their own home, perhaps with a glass of wine in their hand. Do people buy more when they're relaxed? You bet! Offer the host an incentive, perhaps 10% of the total take on the night? It's totally down to you.

Does this sound like the sort of part time work that you are looking for? Do you need an extra £250 to £300 per month to help with those niggling bills? Visit our website, achievabledreams to register for a FREE info pack to discover how you can start to make a difference to your life.

Until later, CJ.

Breweriana

My new website dedicated to breweriana is up and running. View it here. I'm also busy writing my drinking memoirs to go on the site. I'm in no way glorifying drink, far from it. But, I have had some wonderful times whilst under the influence - I've also done a few silly things too. As a painfully shy teenager, a few beers enabled me to speak to people in a way that just could not have happened when sober. Pathetic? Well maybe, but that was me, that was then. I'm a little more confident now.

So, why not have a look at beermat mania and let me know what you think. Maybe we could swap stories. Until next time, so long...

The author wishes to remind you all that in the UK you are not allowed to purchase alcohol whilst you are under the age of 18. Don't do it kids. It's not a long time off anyway. Stick with your sweets and bubble gum.

Other age limits apply in other jursidictions.

Other people's cats.

Other people's cats, or why do well meaning neighbours take it upon themselves to feed other people's cats? We have, sorry... had four cats. We now have just the one. The other three have been cat-napped (pun unavoidable!). The first one to go was Oscar, he just never came home one day. We've not seen hide nor hair of him for about 3 months now. Could have been run over, I suppose, but I doubt it very much.

Then Toby, he was always a greedy chap. He's been invited in by a neighbour overnight - we allow our cats to be in during the day, but at night time, they're out. This neighbour has fed Toby, so he's been less inclined to come home for food. So we have actually come to an arrangement with this neighbour that they can keep Toby. So far so good, trouble is, he's very much of the opinion that the grass isn't any greener on the other side of the fence, so he's miaowing at our front door all the while to come back in. Sorry mate, no way, Jose.

And finally, M&M, aka Mini Me, aka Eminem, aka Big Fat Ginga Cat. This fella has obviously been invited in to a neighbour's because he didn't come home for a good while. But it now seems that they've become tired of him, because we do see him around our house from time to time. Trouble is, he won't come anywhere near us when we go out rattling a bowl of food. He just takes one look and scarpers.

So neighbours, please don't feed other people's cats. They don't stay other people's cats for long. They want to stay with you. They like you. Please don't disappoint them now...

Rapha Raphael Rapha Raphael

New page added to www.postcardmania.co.uk. Yes, I've been bashing the keyboard for most of the evening, and now it's here. Raphael Tuck and Sons Ltd was perhaps the most influential company in the very early days of postcards in the UK. The company's postcard of Mt Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) was one of the first to be made commercially available in 1894, almost as soon as the Post Office first allowed postcards to be sent through the post.

Anyway, that's enough of my prattling on, go and have a look. I think that you'll be pleasantly surprised. CJ

More than Nora Batty's tights...

Yes, it's true. The town of Holmfirth, West Yorkshire was famous long before Last of the Summer Wine! Check out http://www.postcardmania.co.uk/Postcards/bamforth for the gen on what really went on in Holmfirth prior to Compo, Clegg and the gand moving in...

Next up on http://www.postcardmania.co.uk, some info on Raphael Tuck and sons...

See you soon, CJ

Postcards from the seaside

Freshly added today, to http://www.postcardmania.co.uk/, a bio of Donald McGill, the king of the saucy postcard. From 1904 until his death in 1962 Donald McGill was responsible for many of the most iconic British seaside picture postcards. Over six million copies were printed of just one of his postcards, featuring the immortal lines, 'Do you like Kipling?', 'I don't know you naughty boy, I've never kippled!'

Coming soon to http://www.postcardmania.co.uk/, a brief history of Bamforth's of Holmfirth...

Re-welcome!

Weclome to my new blogger! Last time I tried it, it was just for fun. An idea that I could get some stuff published. This is gonna be a much more professional attempt. No nonsense about the weather or Next clothing or pizza or anything else. No, this time is going to be 100% better. More relevant, more fucussed. Please come back for some more soon...