I have just witnessed a very rare event. Not have I seen this since the days of Margeret & Norman when Margaret got her head kicked in by somebody elses mother over who had the best daughter or something back in the late 90's. I have just seen somebody turn up outside my new neighbours house, pointing and cursing and carrying on like she didn't have a care in the world. My new neighbour was leaning out of a window from upstairs a little bit confused by the look and sound of it but all the same would not meet the mad woman yelling at her on the street to discuss what her issues were or make an effort to calm her down. Just quite happy to yell abuse back from the safety of an upstairs bedroom.
'What a great start to a new beginning' I thought. Get rid of one family of complete and total headcases only to get another, To add more weight to the issue, a new and what appear to be avery pleasent young couple were attempting to move in next door while all this was going on. I bet they were pleased to watch all this happening as they politely ask the shouting and pointing mad woman to move so they can get their sofa past them. Its all fun isn't it.
This got me thinking. Is this just a coinsidence or is this what the UK has become over the years of over crowding, lack of respect and downright rudeness? Is this just the norm now and what I witnessed today was no different to anywhere else in this tiny island or I am just a snob?
I think the answer is no, it is not. I am 41 years old as I write this and when I was younger I had 4 tv channels of which the most shocking was Channel 4 showing programmes like 'The Tube' and 'Threads'. Now we have 1,000,000 channels most of which show shocking social behaviour of people taking drugs, possessing drugs, fighting, drink driving, anti social behaviour, hooded groups, stabbings, murders, fights, dealing drugs, cruelty to animals, ect ect. The list goes on and I think that all this has conditioned us to accept that what I witnessed today is acceptable in the same way that an alcoholic is conditioned to hard liquor.
All I can say is that alcoholics do not start on hard liquor. Their problem takes year and years and eventually ends up with the poor soul having a total disregard for self respect and a lack of morals for themselves or anybody else.
Is this true of the UK today or am I just being an old fashioned snob. The decision is yours.
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Saturday, 24 July 2010
So You Thought The Space Shuttle Was Fast !!!
Three weeks into the acceptance and the pace has gone from fast to bullet speed as everyday a new event is either set upon us, is in process or has been finished.
At 07:00 on Monday my week started. Ten minutes later it was Friday so lets try and remember and document what happened this week.
Monday was the trip to Devon. Buckfastleigh to be precise. Love going to that part of the country as it reminds me of the time I spent in Devon and how life really wasn't that bad when I was in my early 20's. Pretty good actually when I seriously think about it.
Tuesday was the trip back up again. Got back home at about 19:00 to a very happy Yvonne which is always nice. We spoke again about the sale of the house and then decided that we had to do it at some point. There was no putting this off, it had to be done. So we went online, booked and paid for three, one way tickets to Canada. £1505.07 later, it was done. We could have got cheaper but we thought that as this will be the last time for many years that we will be on a long distance flight that we should pay for a couple of luxurys like leg room, sitting together and breathing the air that the airline owns. I pity the poor souls who will have to hold their breath for 8 hours.
Booking them wasn't as exciting as I thought it might be. In fact, it was a pretty much none emotional feeling. I knew that it had, as I still know, that August the 24th 2010 is the last time I will see British soil for many years to come but it still feels like it is not happening, even though it is only a month today away. Even as I Ebay DVD's, office furniture and anything else that I cant take with me, it still seems like this is just a story in somebody elses life.
Tuesday was also Jacks last day at Sowerby Bridge High School and Yvonne's last day at work. I thought about them alot and kept texting Yvonne with a countdown of when she would be un-employed. At 16:10 she finally was and for me, it was a great feeling. Another milestone passed.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday was a blur as it was just work work work not just for me but for Yvonne as well. Selling 20 years of life is easy, at the right price which in this day and age, is nothing. However she is working her ass and bringing in the money quickly, bless her little cotten socks.
It is now Saturday. I arrived back from Tamworth at 11:00 am, had a very nice cooked breakfast, sat out in the garden with the Mrs enjoying a cup of coffee and then off to work we went. All day I have been ebaying, Yvonne has been pricing stuff for a car boot sale tomorrow and putting it in the car and all of this wont even leave a dent. This is going to take some time of which, we have very little.
Like I said before hand, and you thought rockets were fast.
At 07:00 on Monday my week started. Ten minutes later it was Friday so lets try and remember and document what happened this week.
Monday was the trip to Devon. Buckfastleigh to be precise. Love going to that part of the country as it reminds me of the time I spent in Devon and how life really wasn't that bad when I was in my early 20's. Pretty good actually when I seriously think about it.
Tuesday was the trip back up again. Got back home at about 19:00 to a very happy Yvonne which is always nice. We spoke again about the sale of the house and then decided that we had to do it at some point. There was no putting this off, it had to be done. So we went online, booked and paid for three, one way tickets to Canada. £1505.07 later, it was done. We could have got cheaper but we thought that as this will be the last time for many years that we will be on a long distance flight that we should pay for a couple of luxurys like leg room, sitting together and breathing the air that the airline owns. I pity the poor souls who will have to hold their breath for 8 hours.
Booking them wasn't as exciting as I thought it might be. In fact, it was a pretty much none emotional feeling. I knew that it had, as I still know, that August the 24th 2010 is the last time I will see British soil for many years to come but it still feels like it is not happening, even though it is only a month today away. Even as I Ebay DVD's, office furniture and anything else that I cant take with me, it still seems like this is just a story in somebody elses life.
Tuesday was also Jacks last day at Sowerby Bridge High School and Yvonne's last day at work. I thought about them alot and kept texting Yvonne with a countdown of when she would be un-employed. At 16:10 she finally was and for me, it was a great feeling. Another milestone passed.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday was a blur as it was just work work work not just for me but for Yvonne as well. Selling 20 years of life is easy, at the right price which in this day and age, is nothing. However she is working her ass and bringing in the money quickly, bless her little cotten socks.
It is now Saturday. I arrived back from Tamworth at 11:00 am, had a very nice cooked breakfast, sat out in the garden with the Mrs enjoying a cup of coffee and then off to work we went. All day I have been ebaying, Yvonne has been pricing stuff for a car boot sale tomorrow and putting it in the car and all of this wont even leave a dent. This is going to take some time of which, we have very little.
Like I said before hand, and you thought rockets were fast.
Sunday, 18 July 2010
Feeling Scared But Should I Be?
So, its the 21st of August 2010 at The Long Can, That is our final public appearence in the UK. My mum and dad met us there today and it was wonderful. We had a very nice lunch, a few drinks and then a light discussion about the coming 3 months.
Too tired to write. Later I think.
Mark.
Too tired to write. Later I think.
Mark.
Saturday, 17 July 2010
Its The Little Things That Annoy Me.
I have lived over 41 years now. Suprising to some people but it is true. I am 41 years and 53 days old as I write this and through out this 'half way' period of my life I have encounted some pretty annoying things. Accidents on the motorway where you are held up for hours only to see a minor shunt parked correctly on the hard shoulder. The kids across the road that do nothing but scream until you finally realise that your child has the same effect on their parents as well and the time when you put the kettal on and wait a really long time fofr it to boil only to see that you havent swiched the power on. These are highly annoying but nothing comes close to what I am wittnessing now. My hands free home phone that recharges itself while sat in its cradle is faulty and fading in and out.
It is sat approximately 30 inches away from me and to my left and it is, as we speak, flashing away like mad but not a normal flash, oh no. It appears to have a faultly connection so it is 'FADING' between off and on at irregular periods. I am staring at it now. I hate it.
I also find people who drive 4x4 vehicles annoying. Its the 'I own a 4x4 and I will park where ever I fucking like' mentality that seems to come as standard with this group of vehicle.
Rant over.
Mark.
It is sat approximately 30 inches away from me and to my left and it is, as we speak, flashing away like mad but not a normal flash, oh no. It appears to have a faultly connection so it is 'FADING' between off and on at irregular periods. I am staring at it now. I hate it.
I also find people who drive 4x4 vehicles annoying. Its the 'I own a 4x4 and I will park where ever I fucking like' mentality that seems to come as standard with this group of vehicle.
Rant over.
Mark.
Right, thats the house sorted. Anybody want to buy a small business?
Today has been another rollercoaster of a day. Last night I stayed up quite late listening to music and doing some web browsing and having a few glasses of wine. Yvonne came back at about 1am a bit worse for wear but still walking and talking and was very happy. I was looking forward to meeting my brother the following day as I couldn't really wait to tell him about what has happened this week. I am not good at keeping exciting things to myself.
This morning I woke at 07:30 and had to check my watch, which has been playing up recently, with my phone. This confirmed that yes indeed, it was 07:30 on a Saturday morning. Why am I awake at such a time I wondered but then realised as Yvonne also woke and we started talking about plans, fears and the future until 10am. Got showered, made bacon, scrambled egg, toast and Tim Hortons coffee and then went to the lock up to value the stock. Worked out a fair price for the business and then went to meet Chris at The Volunteers Arms, my 4 mile away local.
All my fears were answered and all my problems were solved with one simple but effective solution. It is true to say that blood is thicker than water but in this particular situation, everything has worked out just fine.
More to come guys, keep watching :)
Mark.
This morning I woke at 07:30 and had to check my watch, which has been playing up recently, with my phone. This confirmed that yes indeed, it was 07:30 on a Saturday morning. Why am I awake at such a time I wondered but then realised as Yvonne also woke and we started talking about plans, fears and the future until 10am. Got showered, made bacon, scrambled egg, toast and Tim Hortons coffee and then went to the lock up to value the stock. Worked out a fair price for the business and then went to meet Chris at The Volunteers Arms, my 4 mile away local.
All my fears were answered and all my problems were solved with one simple but effective solution. It is true to say that blood is thicker than water but in this particular situation, everything has worked out just fine.
More to come guys, keep watching :)
Mark.
Friday, 16 July 2010
We Just Got Our Visa's
Yesterday was the 15th of July 2010 and will go down in the history of the Mally family as quite an important and life changing one. Our Passports were returned to us by Royal Mail recorded delivery and they had been altered to say the words 'British Immigrant'. This made me feel pretty filthy to be honest as we all think when we hear the word 'Immigrant' of people being smuggled into countries inside the back of international lorrys or running through the Channel Tunnel and hoping for the best. But after the initial slight disgust that I felt for myself for becoming a 'British Immigrant' I realised what it actually meant for us and the reality of everything started to wrap around me like an English sky, I am leaving for good.
Yvonne is currently getting very drunk in town with a leaving party for her and many of her work colleagues however it appears to be quickly turning into 'her night' as I keep getting text with ever increasing spelling mistakes, bless and love her.
Jack is suprisingly taking it in his stride but when I think about it, he's a pretty cool dude anyway and not much phases him. He just seems so chilled at the moment and incredibly happy which obviously pleases me no end. I pray that it stays.
Me. I am scared but excited. Apprehensive but welcoming the new start but above all I am ready. I have not felt this way.....ever. Now I am sure that this is going to be the best thing that I ever do for myself and my family and the anticipation of it all feels almost like I am pluggeds into the mains.
Bring it on :)
Mark.
Yvonne is currently getting very drunk in town with a leaving party for her and many of her work colleagues however it appears to be quickly turning into 'her night' as I keep getting text with ever increasing spelling mistakes, bless and love her.
Jack is suprisingly taking it in his stride but when I think about it, he's a pretty cool dude anyway and not much phases him. He just seems so chilled at the moment and incredibly happy which obviously pleases me no end. I pray that it stays.
Me. I am scared but excited. Apprehensive but welcoming the new start but above all I am ready. I have not felt this way.....ever. Now I am sure that this is going to be the best thing that I ever do for myself and my family and the anticipation of it all feels almost like I am pluggeds into the mains.
Bring it on :)
Mark.
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