Finding a man!

OK so I'm not sure that this is going to be a 'rant' blog 'cos actually I don't have anything to rant about.  I think it may just be a confused.com blog??!!

Two years ago my friend's husband walked out on her leaving her alone with 2 young kids (7 & 9 I think they were).  My friend hadn't worked for years and all of a sudden she was thrown into a world of:

No financial support.
No emotional support.
No idea how to live her life independently.

.................All she knew was............................. she had to provide for her kids ........................... or else end up on the Jeremy Kyle Show?!!

Two years later, she's in a new relationship.

OK - I'm not going to rant!!!!!  Well I might a little bit!

I really do not understand how women manage to do this??!!

I'm attractive, intelligent, don't have nearly as much baggage as most people my age, and yet I'm still single.

Don't get me wrong - I like being single.  ........................But that's not the point?!

How is it that all these women who apparently are distraught at the end of their relationships, (have zillions of kids in tow )  OK slight exaggeration  manage to find a new man that will pander to their every whim and within a few months their status on FB has changed to 'in a relationship'????

My friend has been ' in a relationship' for a few months.  To me a few months is not really that long.

To my friend -  it's long enough to introduce him to her kids, long enough to go on holiday with him, long enough to start including him in her long term plans????

Maybe I'm just cynical???

And maybe that's why I haven't got a man???

This is something I've thought about long & hard.  If I knew what I wanted from a man I'd just write a list and sign up to a dating agency.  I'm sure that's what loads of people do.  I know that if I really wanted to find a man I could.  All I'd have to do is key in the qualities that I was looking for and 'hey presto' I'd probably have at least 10 dates next week.

Unfortunately I still believe in charisma ..................... and there lies the problem???

.................And that's probably why I'm still single ............................... and loving it.  LOL!!!

Tesco's - 3rd rant

Anyone who has been following my blog from the beginning will know that I don't like Tesco's.  I only shop in Tesco's because it is the only large supermarket in my town.

I could 'rant' forever about the things that I don't like about Tesco's.

Today I am not going to RANT!

Today I am actually going to praise Tesco's.

OK before I praise Tesco's I do need to have a little rant!

Today I went to Tesco Xtra.  To be honest I quite like Tesco Xtra.  I like looking at the clothes & shoes and I like having a browse around all the other stuff they have.  Tesco Xtra is like going to a big department store.  We're a bit sad down here in the SW!

Today the clothes & shoe departments were having a bit of a revamp.  They were all sectioned off so I couldn't get to them.  The only clothes I could look at were underwear & night ware and lets face it - we all go to M&S for those items!

Rant over.................

Today I am really pleased with my shopping from Tesco.  My final bill came to £68.19.  I never buy stuff just because I've got vouchers or things are on special offer.  I am a very organised person and only buy what is on my list.

However today I got £1 off for buying two for one brie spread (that is very yummy so I wanted that anyway), I got 15% of 3 bottles of wine (definitely wanted that), I had a coupon because last time I shopped my shopping would have been £2.08 cheaper elsewhere and I had a £5 off if you spend more than £40 coupon.

So my £68.19 bill ended up being £54.95.

Well done Tesco's.

Today I love you.

Dentists

I HATE dentists!

I'm not actually sure why I hate dentists - but I do.

I don't think I've ever had a particularly bad experience at the dentists but they come under the 'umbrella' of 'doctors & hospitals & things which are outwith my control'.

Anyway today I had to go to the dentist.  I only go to the dentist once every six months.  Keep reading; apparently that's going to change.

The last time I went to the dentist was in May.  When my whole world fell apart.  My dentist told me he was retiring due to ill health.

Even though I hate dentists I had, in my late 40's, found a dentist that I trusted, he was gentle, he didn't patronise me, he cleaned the plaque off my teeth and said that although I had really bad plaque (every dentist who I've ever seen has told me that) he said that my gums were healthy.

I loved my dentist!  OK that's probably a slight exaggeration but how often do you find a fabulous dentist.  And he only charged me £18 for my check up & clean every 6 months.

Today I knew I would be seeing a new dentist.

My 10am appointment went like this:

Arrived at 9.55am - Very lovely receptionist was not behind the desk (OK, she'd said she might leave when very lovely dentist left). 

Foreign receptionist (OK don't want to be accused of being racist) said 'How can I help?'  I said, 'I've got an appointment at 10am'.

Receptionist - 'Take a seat'.

Never in the whole of the time I have been going to that dentists has there been any more than one person waiting.  Today there were four!!!

I could rant forever about the waiting procedure - but I won't.  This rant is about the dentist;

Eventually got to see him.  Haven't a clue what is name is because he didn't bother to introduce himself. Obviously thinks he is GOD and everyone knows who he is??!!  Checked my name & address, and spent a few mins keying something into his computer????

Then he asked me, 'How often do you brush and do you floss?'  More keying stuff into his computer ensured.  I really just felt like saying - 'You've got all my notes in front of you, all I want is a check up, just get on with it.'

Anyway, eventually he did get on with it.  And he inspected my teeth.

New dentist - 'You've only had check ups for the last few years?'

Me - 'Yes'

New dentist - 'You had fillings when you were younger?'

Me - 'Yes'  (When I was a teenager).  I'm 54 now!!!!

New dentist - 'Your teeth seem fine but you've got a really bad problem with plaque'.

Me - 'I know'

Horrible new dentist cleaned my teeth and got rid of all the plaque.  And he hurt me in the process!

New dentist - 'You need to come back in 3 months time to have your plaque cleaned off.  You have gum disease and could end up with false teeth.  What were your parents teeth like?'

Me - 'I don't know'.

New dentist - 'Did they have false teeth?'

Me - 'No'

Who cares????  Why is he trying to stick me into a 'category',???

And then to make matters worse - once he'd cleaned my teeth he handed me a mirror and made me look in it to see how clean & shiny my teeth were.  I DO NOT want to watch the 'dental procedure'.

And then.............. the 'patronising git (sorry dentist)' showed me a model of teeth with plaque on them.

New dentist said, 'It's my duty as a dentist to tell you that you have gum disease'.

Me - 'The last dentist said I had really bad plaque but he said that my gums were OK.'

New dentist - 'Make another appointment for 3 months time'.

So I've made another appointment for 3 months time.

Can't imagine I'll be going to the dentist ever again!!!!!!!!

Facebook

Today I am going to rant about Facebook.

Haven't got a clue how many people actually have a FB account but I guess I could just 'google' it and find out if I really wanted to.  I don't want to because I don't actually care.

I've had a FB account for years.

At first I signed up under my dogs name....................... because I was a bit paranoid that 'mad stalkers' would be looking for me and would be able to track me down.  After about 3 years I decided that I was being a bit silly and changed my FB account into my own name.

I have an iphone.  I am a very 'high tec' middle aged lady.

I have FB on my phone and unfortunately I feel the need to look at FB every time I look at my phone.

It drives me mad - but I still do it.

I'm really not interested if any of my friends are 'waiting for the kettle to boil'.  Who cares?  Am I bothered?

Well obviously I must be bothered because I keep looking at FB.  It's almost like I'm scared that if I don't keep checking FB I might miss out on something.  ...................I admit I like to keep up with all the gossip.

But honestly FB drives me mad.

Why do we all have to post every single little detail of our life on a social networking site for the whole world to see? 

I have a theory about FB.  My theory is:

The people who post the most stuff have the least going on in their life.  If you are really fulfilled in life, are enjoying life and are doing things that occupy you and that you're interested in.................. then surely you don't have time to post stuff on FB?

However, as 'Jeremy Kyle' says, 'there's two sides to every story'.........................

I'm a middle aged lady who finds new technology confusing.  Kids that were born from about the mid 90's don't actually know what it was like to live without technology.

Recently my 13 year old niece was upset because two of her so called best friends had posted photos on FB showing what a great time they were having and she hadn't been invited.  My sister said to my niece, 'If theyd been having such a good time they would have been really engrossed in what they were doing and wouldn't have had the time to post photos on FB'.

Good answer - but unfortunately anyone over 40, certainly anyone over 50, and probably anyone over 30 is way behind the times??!!

FB is these kids lives.  That is what they do.  They don't talk to each other - they just communicate via social networking sites.  So posting a few photos on FB is what they were engrossed in.

All very difficult for us oldies to understand isn't it?????

...........And I've just 'copied' the blurb below from one of my friends FB posts.  Hilarious but so true?!

Well................. for those of us at a certain age?????

I am not a fan of facebook as it seems to be a platform for making me feel shit about my life. I am sure everyone lies about their wonderful lives on it. So, here is my interpretation of what is really being said on Facebook…..

Wow..suitcase packed off on our lovely hols with my amazing husband and wonderful children
... ( I am shattered from being up all night packing for these lazy bastards….I want to drink wine already and its only 4am and we are not even at the airport yet)

Just cooked a lovely tea ( insert picture), can’t wait to snuggle down with my man and eat it!
(hope he chokes on it…and I didn’t cook it at all, I warmed it up then put it on a plate so you will all think I am a domestic goddess)

Had the most amazing night with my lovely friends…
( spent most of the night providing shoulder to cry on for recently dumped friend, trying to stop desperate friend shagging inappropriate man, holding hair for ‘shots all night’ friend while she vomits up £40 worth of booze…..never again.)

Just had a lovely bath complete with candles!!
( had to wash as covered in horse shit and electricity ran out so was forced to use a candle.)

Enjoyed a lovely long walk with the dogs today!
( because the f*ckers ran off and it took me 5 miles to catch them.)

Had a lovely day with all the family today!
( what was lovely about it was when they went home)

Am off to see a lovely friend of mine I have not seen since school!
( hope she is fatter and looks older than me)

Spent a lovely afternoon making cakes with the kids!
( will now have to spend the rest of the week cleaning cake batter off the ceiling the fecking animals)

Can’t wait to hit the shops with my daughters today! Girlie shopping!
( goodbye salary hello strops and arguments – just kill me now)

Going to have a lovely relaxing early night!
( have to get to bed and asleep pronto, hubby feeling fruity, am not in mood so instigating avoidance tactics)

 

Will I delete my FB account?  Of course I won't - I'm far too scared I'll miss out on some important gossip.

 

Actually I don't know how to close down my FB account even if I wanted to.  And come to think of it there's a couple of people I'd like to 'defriend' (see I know all the jargon).  How do I do that...........................

Inconsiderate Car Parkers

I am furious.  I cannot tell you how mad I am today.  The inconsiderate parking of an 'arrogant man has left me extremely mad.

Today I went to 'Costcutters'.  I only went there because they have a PO counter and I had to post a parcel.  I didn't have time to walk into town so thought I'll call in at Costcutters on the way home from work and post my parcel.

Sometimes you can park on the main road, right outside Costcutters.  Today I couldn't.  So I drove into their car park which accommodates TWO cars.  There was already one car in one of the spaces so I drove into the other.

When I got out of my car I thought - 'It's going to be really difficult getting out of this space.  There is a narrow lane leading to flats and I thought that I'd have to reverse back into that to get out and back onto the main road.

Was in 'Costcutters' for all of 5 mins and when I came out 'Mr Arrogant Inconsiderate Man' was busy parking right in front of the shop thus blocking me and the other person in.

His 'wife/partner/woman/significant other', got out of the car and wandered into the shop.  So I got into my car, thinking that 'Mr Arrogant Inconsiderate Man' would actually have the decency to move his car a few feet and go up the lane while I reserved out of my space.

Did he move?  He did not.

He sat in his car and watched while I tried to reverse around him into the teeniest weeniest of spaces.  And then once I'd negotiated my car around his car; I had to reserve onto a main road.

Who do these people think they are?????

He wasn't in a proper space.  He was obstructing myself and the other person who had bothered to park in the 'two' spaces that 'Costcutters' had provided.

.................And the most annoying thing was ........................... once he'd realised that I'd actually managed to get out of the space that he'd boxed me into without crashing .................. he just got out of his car and strolled off into the shop.

I was really tempted just to park right behind him so that he couldn't get out!!!!

Obviously I didn't because I am a very 'mature middle aged lady'. LOL! 

Drivers using mobile phones

Today I was almost involved in a very serious accident.

I was driving around a mini roundabout when a van ('CTG windows' if anyone is interested) obviously wasn't going to stop to let me round.  I slammed on my brakes and 'van driver' also stopped - half way across the front of me.  If I was techie enough I would now insert a diagram of what happened.

Suffice to say - he was in the wrong.  So I just glared at him and drove on.

Anyway the reason he hadn't seen me was because he was using his mobile phone.  Actually that might not be the reason he didn't see me.  He might just have been an unobservant idiot?!!  Personally I suspect he was an unobservant idiot who was also on a mobile phone while driving.

I have just been away for a few days.  I have driven almost 1000 miles in the last 6 days.

Last Thursday (the day I left home) I set myself a little project - to count how many drivers I saw using a mobile phone whilst driving.

Unfortunately I forgot about my project - so I can only count the three days that I remembered I was doing a project.  In those 3 days the main roads I travelled on were - A30, M5, M42, M1, A1. and numerous smaller roads.

During the time that I remembered that I was looking for people using mobile phones whilst driving; I spotted 47 drivers.

Considering the fact that driving whilst using a mobile phone is illegal - that's actually quite a lot of people.

However, who polices this rule, who enforces this rule, and actually, does anyone even care about this rule?

There's been a lot of hype in the media about driving whilst on a mobile phone and I've just 'googled' it to see what the fine is.  Apparently it's up to £1000??!!

Sooooooooooo in three days I've spotted 47 people using a mobile phone in a car.  And some of them were even texting (in the outside lane of a motorway??!!)

47 x 1000 = £47,000 -   Remember this is just for 3 days???!!!

So now I'm thinking; this is a huge opportunity for some enterprising individual to cash in on this?

But even if it's not - surely the police forces can employ a couple of 'panda cars' (are they still called Panda cars'??) to patrol up and down the motorways 24/7.  All they'd have to do is take photos of drivers on the phone and then hey presto - £1000 fine's could be issued.  Or would that be infringing on people's 'personal rights'?????

Anyway that's my 'rant' for today.

.....................But I'm still really, really, angry with 'Mr CTG Driver' who almost caused an accident - all because he was on a mobile phone.  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..........................