Don't talk of dust and roses

airiddh1 @ 2009-11-11T10:23:00

2009-11-11T10:24:15Z

Why are they selling poppies, mummy?

Selling poppies in town today.

The poppies, child are the flowers of love,

For the men who marched away.

But, why have they chosen a poppy, mummy?

Why not a beautiful rose?

Because, my child, men fought and died

In the fields where the poppies grow.

But why are the poppies so red, mummy?

Why are the poppies so red?

Red is the colour of blood my child,

The blood our soldiers shed.

The heart of the poppy is black, mummy?

Why does it have to be black?

Black my child, is the symbol of grief,

For the men who never came back.

But why mummy, are you crying so?

Your tears are giving you pain.

My tears are my fears for you my child,

For the world is – FORGETTING AGAIN.

Weekend

2009-09-21T21:04:15Z

Was actually OUT again this weekend! Went out on Friday night in Edinburgh with Kelly from work. We went back to hers first and had some dinner and a few drinks so I was able to get ready there rather than going out straight from work which I HATE doing! We were meeting up with her new bf Nick and some other friends of theirs. Actually, Kelly and Nick were trying to set me up with one of his mates, Lawrence, but it just was never going to happen! He was a nice enough guy, tall, slim, dark hair – that mould that I usually go for, but, I know this sounds really bad of me, but we just weren’t on the same level intellectually! I’m not saying I’m any great intellect myself – but you know what I mean! The conversation just wasn’t flowing – totally different wavelengths! On the other hand, another guy that was there, Neil, and I hit it off really well. He was a DJ and mainly we were talking about music – and then I found out he was only 29 LOL!!! Still – it was good for the ego!!! Kelly’s bf Nick is really nice – he’s originally from Zimbabwe – nice guy and really interesting! I think she was dying for me to meet him actually – wants to show him off! Anyway, I got quite a bit tipsy! Had to get the last train home so my night was cut short a bit (tho Kelly did want me to stay – maybe next time!).

Saturday was spent shopping for last minute bits and pieces I need for the holiday! I am so not organised! I really need to try my stuff on now and see what I’m taking! Been putting it off as I know I’ll look fat in them all anyway! I have managed to lose 6lbs the past few weeks – but that’s not enough to make a real difference! Will try and lose another 2lb this week anyway! Fortunately I don’t tend to put on weight on holiday – I guess it’s the heat and all the sightseeing that makes up for the food and drink!!!

Work

2009-09-14T16:06:16Z

We’ve all just been told our salaries are being cut by 10% !!!!!!! As “consolation” we are getting one weeks extra holiday – for this year only! Wow! Big bloody deal! 10% is a LOT to lose a month!

In other news...

2009-09-14T12:58:46Z

I got a new computer yesterday!!!! HURRAH!!! Well actually my parents bought me it - an early Christmas present! Its nothing extra special - it's an Acer just - and a desktop (but that was by choice - no point in me getting a laptop really!) but it has 3GB RAM and a 650GB HD (Okay I'm quoting this from memory so...). My current pc is 6 years old so you can imagine what kind of capacity it has!!! I won't be setting up the new one right away tho as I have the holiday coming up and other things to do plus there is so much I need to transfer from the old one it's gonnae take a while!!!

WOOT!!! (again!!)

2009-09-14T12:53:26Z

Latest opinion poll from MORI:

There is a new Scottish Ipsos-MORI poll, apparently carried out for Holyrood Magazine but reported in the Sunday Express tomorrow.

Topline voting intention figures are:

Westminster:
SNP 33%
LAB 27%
CON 18%
LDEM 14%,

Holyrood constituency:
SNP 38%
LAB 25%
CON 15%
LDEM 15%
GRN 3%

Holyrood regional:
SNP 38%
LAB 25%
CON 15%
LDEM 15%
GRN 3%

Still going strong! Won't be long now - just a few more months til the General Election battle begins ....

WOOT!!!!! go us!!!

2009-09-07T12:43:37Z

Saturday, September 5, 2009
YouGov Poll - SNP take massive poll lead

Screw the football, there's a Scottish only YouGov poll out!

Political Betting has the scoop and the headline figures are as follows:

Holyrood Constituency Vote

SNP - 36% (+2)
Labour - 28% (+1)
Tory - 16% (-)
Lib Dem - 14% (-2)

Holyrood Regional Vote

SNP - 30% (-)
Labour - 26%(-)
Tory - 17% (+1)
Lib Dems - 12% (-4)

The Lib Dem drop in only a few days is outside the margin of error, surely suggesting that the party's stance over Megrahi has turned supporters away. It's understandable, there was a huge majority of Lib Dems who agreed with Kenny MacAskill's decision so after Tavish Scott made such strong attacks on the Justice Secretary, it is only to be expected that past and potential voters turned away.

The SNP are looking very good in this poll and it seems the Megrahi decision has not affected the party in the polls, given it a boost if anything.

Well knock me down with a feather....

2009-08-30T20:08:21Z

Just received some PMs from ppl on FB telling me to go look at the RS Board and this is what I found

Hmmmmmmm!! Well I guess it doesn't take a genuis to figure out why he's removed his previous post! I'm also guessing as I'm the only Scot on the Board and the only person that wasn't happy at his previous rant that this was primarily done due to me! I don't mind that he's still angry - but I'm guessing that he's also maybe started to realise there is more to this than just Kenny MacAskill and the SNP!!! But at least he has realised he's offended some ppl (well one person to be exact - ME!) and has tried to put it right (without backing down - but hell we all know that is exactly what I would do so I can't complain there!!)

Dammit man - just when I start to think your a total arse you go and confuse me again!!!!

Guess he's staying on my Ipod then - for now at least!!!

Hereis an example of the posts being posted by the Americans

2009-08-28T15:19:24Z

"Of course the Scots believe Meghani has 3 months to live. They've seen the reports of a GP with no experience in this matter.

They also have a dinosaur in one of their lakes and half the population has seen it. And such a people are ready for full independence??

Scots obviously are not being treated for mental health issues by the NHS."

Any wonder why I'm so angry?????

I now feel totally vindicated in my earlier rant!

2009-08-28T14:20:15Z

From today’s Scotsman:
More pressure on Government as Gaddafi's son speaks of Lockerbie bomber 'deal'

Published Date: 28 August 2009
By DAVID GUNN

GORDON Brown's Government came under fresh pressure to reveal details of its dealings with Libya today after claims by the son of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi over the Lockerbie bomber.

Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi claimed a prisoner transfer deal with Britain had targeted Abdelbaset Ali al Megrahi and was linked to talks on trade and oil.

He said the "deal in the desert" specifically targeted the bomber but his name was never mentioned, and the prisoner transfer deal was signed at the same time as an oil deal.

But, in an interview with The Herald newspaper, he denied the business talks had anything to do with the eventual release last week of Megrahi on compassionate grounds.
His comments have triggered Tory demands for the Government to disclose details of its dealings with Libya.

Shadow Scotland Office minister Ben Wallace said: "If the Westminster government had no involvement in the decision to release Megrahi then Gordon Brown and Lord Mandelson should have no objection to releasing details of their dealings with Libya.

"The people of the United Kingdom deserve to know what really went on.

"The Government needs to prove that trade negotiations were kept completely separate from the release of the Lockerbie bomber."

Praise by Mr Gaddafi's son for Scotland's Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, who took the decision to free Megrahi, was seized on by the Labour party in Scotland.

Saif Gaddafi called Mr MacAskill "a great man" but the Scottish Labour party said: "The SNP's biggest naivety is that they freed this man on a licence that allowed him to return a hero.

"But the fact that such lavish praise is poured on Kenny MacAskill exposes his diplomatic naivety and will now embarrass him further."

In a newspaper interview this morning, Saif Gaddafi said: "For the last seven to eight years we have been trying very hard to transfer Mr Megrahi to Libya to serve his sentence here and we have tried many times in the past to sign the PTA (prisoner transfer agreement) without mentioning Mr Megrahi, but it was obvious we were targeting Mr Megrahi and the PTA was on the table all the time.

"It was part of the bargaining deal with the UK. When Blair came here we signed the agreement. We didn't mention Mr Megrahi.

"We signed an oil deal at the same time. The commerce and politics and deals were all with the PTA."

But he said that attempts to have Megrahi sent home under the prisoner transfer agreement were ultimately unsuccessful as this application was turned down by Mr MacAskill.

The Justice Secretary released him instead on compassionate grounds and last week Megrahi, who has terminal prostate cancer, was allowed to leave Greenock prison to go home to die.

Scenes of the man convicted of murdering 270 people in the December 1988 bombing of Pan Am 103 returning to Libya to a hero's welcome sparked international condemnation.

But Saif Gaddafi insisted Libya had abided by a request from Britain not to give Megrahi a hero's welcome, and said the welcome given him was unofficial with no ministers or officials to meet him.

"There was no official celebration, no guards of honour, no fireworks and no parade," he said.

"We could have organised a much better reception."

Warnings of a possible hero's welcome were given to Mr MacAskill by his US counterpart Attorney General Eric Holder two months previously, it emerged today.

*******************************************************
Pathetically notice how the Scotsman still tries to some blame at the SNP for the “heroes welcome2 – hardly the biggest issue here by a LONG shot!

And as for the Scottish Labour Party’s criticism

"The SNP's biggest naivety is that they freed this man on a licence that allowed him to return a hero.

"But the fact that such lavish praise is poured on Kenny MacAskill exposes his diplomatic naivety and will now embarrass him further."

That’s now even worth dignifying with an answer considering what their party leader has been up to!!!!!

airiddh1 @ 2009-08-28T11:00:00

2009-08-28T10:06:11Z

So I HAVE now left the RS message board – at least for the moment! I checked what he had to say – basically it was a rant in which he called Kenny MacAskill and the SNP “fascist assholes” and went on to say how “we” should DEMAND his resignation (by “we” here he is I assume referring to his mainly US fanbase), thus demonstrating well his complete and utter lack of knowledge of the facts, and the particularly the SNP - you can call us many things – but fascists????? We are a LEFT wing party!

If truth be told though – its not really his comment that’s made me leave. I’ve known for some time now that his political views are somewhat dubious (maybe that’s what comes of being brought up an army brat!) but hey – I don’t even want to go down the road of what Bowie or Prince’s politics are! I guess I was just more disappointed in Rick as, out of all 3, he is the only one that seemed quite a nice guy! No – all he has demonstrated is his ignorance. The reason I have decided to go is because of the over zealous way the US fans applauded his statement. Of course everyone is entitled to their views – but I have always tried to maintain a policy of attack the opinion not the person! As not only a Scot, but also an SNP member I no longer feel welcome on the Board. They see nothing wrong with this Boycott Scotland campaign for example! I did post on the Board that some of the comments had made me feel uncomfortable and unwelcome (I have never actually expressed my own opinion!) and you know what – the pathetic over zealous admin has DELETED MY POST and the few comments that bothered to reply (which were actually ones pretty much asking me to stay!!) How’s THAT for censorship????? I never attacked Rick or any other person – I just said I felt uncomfortable now. So from that I take it that the admin of the Board doesn’t particularly want me there now either!!!! Needless to say everyone’s posts saying how much they agree with Rick and attacking Scotland have NOT been deleted!! WTF???? Is this how it is going to be now with some (and a pretty LARGE some) Americans? You’re entitled to your own opinion – as long as it agrees with ours! I am totally disgusted! Two ppl actually sent me PMs saying their replies had been deleted by the Admin and that they were sorry I felt that way and wanted me to stay – now WHY ON EARTH would that type of reply be deleted??

I have never ever left a Board due to politics befire. I have never been made to feel unwelcome before! Although I may ram my views down everyone's throats on here - this is my private LJ and you are my friends and have chosen to read what I write! I don't generally go on about them at great length in other places.

Sick of listening to the US attack Scotland??

2009-08-27T18:31:02Z

Oh this is just fecking BRILLIANT!!!!!

http://www.boycottscotland.co.uk/

Remember to click on all the links for maximum effect!!!

hmmm

2009-08-27T12:03:19Z

Think I am about to go off my latest obsession big time! I can't accees his diary at work but from the reaction some American fans have been posting on FB I suspect he is attacking the Scottish Government for the Megrahi release! Of vourse I MAY be jumping the gun - but he WAS a Republican after all (tho he said he didn't vote that last time!). If he is then I just can't continue to be a fan

airiddh1 @ 2009-08-23T01:13:00

2009-08-23T00:14:04Z

"Where is that soul of Freedom fled/
Immingled with the mighty Dead,
Beneath that hallowed turf where WALLACE lies!" - Robert Burns

60 years young today!!!

2009-08-22T23:41:20Z

OMG!!! LOLZ!!!!

2009-08-20T20:38:41Z

Catch up and weekend!

2009-08-17T11:49:10Z

No – I’m not dead!!!!

I know I need to do some major updating on my LJ - most obviously jaffacakequeen’s visit a few weeks ago – which I DID actually more or less type up at the time but I keep forgetting to post so I will do so shortly as a backdated post. Also it has just come to my realisation that the long LONG posts I wrote up about Athens were never posted here either!!!! So I will also at some point do a backdated post for them too – more for my own records but there will be pics so some of you might want to see them (if you’re anything like me who just LOVES looking at ANYONE’S pics LOL!!)

I’ve not been posting much here mainly due to the fact that I’ve been very stressed out at work (which has been very busy and a total nightmare – not just with the busy but with the backstabbing and office politics that I really just can’t be arsed getting involved with!). I’ve also been a bit down of late and that didn’t motivate me to post much either. Plus – its been too busy to post from work and I know that’s a flimsy excuse but that’s where I normally do it from!!!

Anyway, back to the present!!! Had a nice weekend this weekend. I was sooo tired on Friday – just totally wiped out and all I wanted to do when I got home was curl up on the sofa but I couldn’t as my friend Shona (the one that I met up with last year after a gap of 17 years!) was up here for a week and wanted to meet up. She’s only up here once or twice a year so I had to go as I did really want to see her. As it turned out, despite the overwhelming tiredness I had a really enjoyable night! Maybe the cider revived me a bit! In the end I didn’t get home til about 1.20am!!! We just went to Firkins – our haunt from days gone by! Last time I was in there it had turned into a bit of a dive so we had really only arranged to meet there as a starting point, but we ended up just staying as it wasn’t bad! Definitely improved from last time I was in! They had two guys with guitars playing live and the atmosphere was quite nice – more like you get in some of the Edinburgh pubs. At least you can hear yourself think in Firkins! Is that a sign of old age???? I’m not sure it is mind you as Firkins was never a ‘thud thud thud’ kind of pub! It was an old fashioned ‘pub’ pub with a jukebox and back in the day it even had a grand piano in it! The walls were covered in old b&w photos of dead celebrities LOL! It was the ‘cool’ pub of Falkirk to those of us that went there, but to everyone else it was the place where all the weirdos went!! LOL! (for weirdos see girls who weren’t blonde and wearing minis and high heels and guys that had long hair etc!), Its funny as even tho its been a LONG time since I drank there on a regular basis (and even longer for Shona!) it still has that old comfortable familiar feel! Mind you – I spend about 12 years of my life practically living in this pub LOL so I guess the familiarity will always be there! Its nowhere near as busy as it was back then – I wonder where all that ‘type’ go now?? - but it was nice! Its always good to see Shona. Even tho I was so tired I had a good night. Despite all the years that have passed and the massively different lives we’ve led since then (she joined the RAF and has served in Iraq!) somehow we still just totally connect to each other. Most of our conversation was not daft small talk but pretty deep and pretty frank. We can have totally opposing views on some things but never get mad at each other – in fact, we seem to still totally ‘get’ each other and where we’re coming from! I think that’s pretty amazing after all these years and our differing life experiences! On a less serious level Shona even ‘gets’ my Rick Springfield thing! Not a sarky comment or smirk in sight! She accepts its just part of who I am (me and my daft obsessions!) It’s rare you meet a person you can connect with like that. (Angela & I used to be that way but the less said about that relationship now the better!). I don’t know how we lost touch but I’m really really glad we’ve rekindled the friendship. Even if we don’t see each other often, when we do the time spent is quality time if you know what I mean! I know I am a bit of an oddball so its rare I find someone who just totally ‘gets’ me! (yes I know some of you do on here !!!!!!). So anyway, great night! She wants me to come down to Aldershot before the end of the year which I’ll try to do but money is so tight I doubt I’ll manage!

In other news tsraess and I finally booked our holiday! We’re going to Rome on 29th September for 5 days. We’re staying in a hotel that’s a converted monastery which is pretty central. All the reviews on Tripadvisor for it are excellent! Really looking forward to this trip as we didn’t get enough time in Rome the last time (tho the trade off for Vesuvius & Pompeii was worth it!!)

I forgot to mention this last week but....

2009-08-11T12:55:12Z

I can't let this go without a mention!

Whilst watching the BBC reporting on England winning the right to host the Rugby World Cup in 20something the newsreader, with not a hint of irony said this

"matches will be held in 10 cities throughout England, including Cardiff"

WTF???? If I was a Welsh person I'd be jamming the BBC line with complaints at that little "slip of the tongue" which was said more than once incidentally!!!! (you can BET if it had been Edinburgh we WOULD have been jamming the line with complaints up here!!)

Pissed off

2009-08-10T12:53:31Z

I am seriously thinking of removing everyone from my LJ that now only use it to post twitter posts - Its not much fun reading one side of a conversation that's not directed at you anyway!!!! l

Oh - have I mentioned how much I HATE Twitter!!!!

I am not in a good mood today - had a VERY crap w/end and today I'm extra tired, grumpy - and to top it all got caught in the rain this morning so I look like a witch now (and now the sun's come out - wouldn't be so bed if it had STAYED wet - then everyone looks a mess!!)

Work has been a total nightmare the past couple of weeks. I am not enjoying it at all these days and would leave if there was anywhere to leave to!!!!

Oh - and I will prob rant about this more later - I FUCKING LIKE RICK SPRINGFIEKD so just deal with it okay????? I am starting to get very sick of the "funny" comments from ppl who don't even have a fucking clue what they're talking about!!!!

Rant over - for now.......

So THIS is why I never get cold!!!!!

2009-08-06T23:54:13Z

"Red hair is the rarest natural hair colour in humans. The pale skin associated with red hair may be of advantage in far-northern climates where sunlight is scarce. Studies by Bodmer and Cavalli-Sforza (1976) hypothesized that lighter skin pigmentation prevents rickets in colder latitudes by encouraging higher levels of Vitamin D production and also allows the individual to retain heat better than someone with darker skin."

Ebay purchases

2009-08-06T23:10:00Z

Not taking heed of the warning RS posted on his diary about going on Ebay late at night and buying crap - I just bought this skirt!!

The white bit is actually sequins....

I rather like it - tho I can already tell what Angela and my sister will say LOL!!!

Men in white Shirts - part of a continuing series............

2009-08-06T22:47:45Z

Well actually its mostly the SAME men just in different white shirts....

So anyway -

airiddh1 @ 2009-08-03T13:38:00

2009-08-03T12:52:13Z

There is another opinion poll out today which suggests that Labour are still ahead of the SNP in voting intentions for Westmonster! Its a bit of a dubious poll as its the Scottish figures taken from a UK wide one which means a very tiny minority of Scots wil have participted, and also done by a firm who consistently place Labout around 5% higher than the final results usually are - but just for arguements sake - this is what that might mean! Due to the first past the post system used for Westmonster elections - Labour will benefit as their votes are generally in concentrated areas - the SNP has a more widespeard support - and because of this they are likely to lose out! Prediced figures are

Labour 32% - 38 seats

SNP 30% - 9 seats

Anti-Tory vote 83% , likely result -Tory Government (because England are definately going that way!)

House of Lords - Unelected
Scotland's Governing party SNP - seats in House of Lords -0

Democracy British Style in action!

It is tine the House of Lords was abolished - in this day and age to have an non elected body part governing the 'UK' is a disgrace! Lords should also NEVER be appointed to the Cabinet - like Gordon Clown has recently done!

Its also time the first past the post system was scrapped! It is blatently unfair - not JUST up here in Scotland, but across other parts of the UK as well. At the moment we pretty much have a situation where the South of England decides who will run the country. Neither wonder so many ppl feel their votes don't count! At least under PR every single vote makes a difference to the end result!

oh - and as for that 32% - if that really IS the figure WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU ON??????

for those that missed or couldn't get it to play on FB!

2009-08-03T12:26:37Z

Magic begging for food!!!

THE BOYS!

2009-08-02T00:10:16Z

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEARS BOYS
HAPPY BRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

My boys are offcially 2 years old today!!!! 1st August was the 'official' birthday the vets gave them! Two years old already!!!

Meme

2009-07-12T22:51:23Z

Desktop meme stolen from therealycats

- Post this meme and your current wallpaper at your LiveJournal.
- Explain in five sentences why you're using that wallpaper.
- Don't change your wallpaper before doing this! The point is to see what you had on!

I've had this one up since I went to see him which is nearly 2 years ago! I really should change it! Why this? ummm.... coz I'm a bit sad???? Actually it was one of my favourite Prince pics back in the old days!!!