This blog is based on a real conversation this lunchtime; only the names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.
What follows is a series of quotes that I found particularly amusing
Cathy: I asked for tap water at the café and they wouldn’t give it me
Magnum: Why didn’t you try the bar?
(points to bar the length of the room about 20 yards away)
Cathy: Ah
On viewing a picture that looked strangely like herself (mainly because it was)
Cathy: It can’t be me, I don’t own that top!
On feeling a banana to see if it was soft
Cathy: I could do an obstetrics test to see which way the baby is
Magnum: You do know that’s a banana?
Cathy: Sorry, I’ve been doing obstetrics for too long, everything feels like a foetus
Magnum: And we’re done with the muffin (which up till that point I had been enjoying)
Disclaimer: The more astute amongst you will have realised that, in fact, the names were not changed at all.
I also include news of a legalise cannabis march in London last week. According to one member, it started as a march but ended up as more of a wander! And of course the times managed to run with the headline that the turnout for the march was High!
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Thursday, March 23, 2006
When work is over. . . .
Todays post is somewhat of a cheat. I read this story in the times today and thought it was wonderful and should be shared with all of you. It's long but worth reading. . . . . this is Arthur
IF THE US economy had more workers like Arthur Winston then George Bush would not fret so much about spiralling social security and medicare bills.
Mr Winston retired from his job as a bus maintenance worker in Los Angeles yesterday. It was his 100th birthday and, in a 90-year working career, he has had only one day off — when his wife died in 1988.
Nine years ago, he received a Congressional citation from President Clinton as America’s “Employee of the Century”. In the same year LA’s transport authority renamed its South Bay bus depot the “Arthur Winston division”.
But still he carried on working, reporting at 6am each day to supervise cleaning and refuelling of the city’s buses, so that he could support his family. His wife and four children are now all dead. “It wasn’t heavy work, that’s the main thing,” Mr Winston said yesterday.
Sergio Rubalcava, a fellow worker, said that Mr Winston began each work day by bending over to touch his toes to demonstrate that he was fit: “He’s incredible”.
Mr Winston’s story is one of black America over the past century. Born in Oklahoma, he began picking cotton when he was 10. When droughts and storms ruined several crop seasons, his family headed west and in 1924 he found work as a janitor with a railway company.
Apart from a four-year stint parking cars, he has been working in public transport in the city ever since. The job he had really wanted was driving a bus, not cleaning it. But black people were not allowed such careers in the 1920s.
Dana Coffey, a bus service manager, said that Mr Winston had shown what hard work and dedication could accomplish. “Whenever someone complains the work is too hard, the hours too long, I tell them to go see Arthur,” she said. “No one has ever heard Arthur complain.”
Mr Winston said: “Don’t get me wrong. I had my bad days, but there was no use just laying around the house, so I came in.” How will he cope with retirement? “I’m kind of nervous,” he replied. “But I won’t be sitting down, no sir. Man my age sits down, he might not get up. I’m too smart to sit down..”
IF THE US economy had more workers like Arthur Winston then George Bush would not fret so much about spiralling social security and medicare bills.
Mr Winston retired from his job as a bus maintenance worker in Los Angeles yesterday. It was his 100th birthday and, in a 90-year working career, he has had only one day off — when his wife died in 1988.
Nine years ago, he received a Congressional citation from President Clinton as America’s “Employee of the Century”. In the same year LA’s transport authority renamed its South Bay bus depot the “Arthur Winston division”.
But still he carried on working, reporting at 6am each day to supervise cleaning and refuelling of the city’s buses, so that he could support his family. His wife and four children are now all dead. “It wasn’t heavy work, that’s the main thing,” Mr Winston said yesterday.
Sergio Rubalcava, a fellow worker, said that Mr Winston began each work day by bending over to touch his toes to demonstrate that he was fit: “He’s incredible”.
Mr Winston’s story is one of black America over the past century. Born in Oklahoma, he began picking cotton when he was 10. When droughts and storms ruined several crop seasons, his family headed west and in 1924 he found work as a janitor with a railway company.
Apart from a four-year stint parking cars, he has been working in public transport in the city ever since. The job he had really wanted was driving a bus, not cleaning it. But black people were not allowed such careers in the 1920s.
Dana Coffey, a bus service manager, said that Mr Winston had shown what hard work and dedication could accomplish. “Whenever someone complains the work is too hard, the hours too long, I tell them to go see Arthur,” she said. “No one has ever heard Arthur complain.”
Mr Winston said: “Don’t get me wrong. I had my bad days, but there was no use just laying around the house, so I came in.” How will he cope with retirement? “I’m kind of nervous,” he replied. “But I won’t be sitting down, no sir. Man my age sits down, he might not get up. I’m too smart to sit down..”
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
You kept reminding me of what I am
The title of todays blog is taken from a song called "once a thief". The lyrics go something like ; Once a thief, always a suspect. Once a liar, never be believed.
The song then centres around the idea that because the protagonist was once a thief he will never be allowed to forget it and as my title has it, people keep reminding me of what I am. This then somehow lead me to start thinking of what we are as christians, and what we once were and how it is very easy to forget that. (It is difficult to follow my thought patterns sometimes, I know!)
Being entirely honest with you all, I know I frequently think about how good it is being a christian and make the distinction between myself and secular people. Obviously a Christian there are some differences but I often get caught in the trap of thinking or saying "why would you do that" or "what sort of people are interested in that". Then later on I think about it some more and realise I know exactly, what sort of people.....people like me. Without the grace of God I would be in exactly the same position as the people I condemn, even if I don't mean to do it, when I think how I am now better than them, having been saved.
I feel that I am rambling slightly and not making myself very clear so I will end by letting God (through Paul) explain. The following verse is from 1 Timothy 1:15-16 and somes up pretty neatly that God saves us when we are just as bad, if not worse, than everyone else.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners— of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
To this end I pray that everyone I know will keep reminding me of exactly what I am!
The song then centres around the idea that because the protagonist was once a thief he will never be allowed to forget it and as my title has it, people keep reminding me of what I am. This then somehow lead me to start thinking of what we are as christians, and what we once were and how it is very easy to forget that. (It is difficult to follow my thought patterns sometimes, I know!)
Being entirely honest with you all, I know I frequently think about how good it is being a christian and make the distinction between myself and secular people. Obviously a Christian there are some differences but I often get caught in the trap of thinking or saying "why would you do that" or "what sort of people are interested in that". Then later on I think about it some more and realise I know exactly, what sort of people.....people like me. Without the grace of God I would be in exactly the same position as the people I condemn, even if I don't mean to do it, when I think how I am now better than them, having been saved.
I feel that I am rambling slightly and not making myself very clear so I will end by letting God (through Paul) explain. The following verse is from 1 Timothy 1:15-16 and somes up pretty neatly that God saves us when we are just as bad, if not worse, than everyone else.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners— of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
To this end I pray that everyone I know will keep reminding me of exactly what I am!
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
That's why I remain yours truly, confused N10
O.K.... . .I'm gonna post today purely to avoid the continual barracking of "when are you going to update your blog?", despite the fact that I don't have a whole lot to say.
The title of my post today comes from a song on the new album by Ray Davies, a man who I talk about continually as the greatest songwriter in the world, period. His new solo album came out last week and debuted on chart at number 36, not bad for a dude in his sixties most famous in THE sixties!
Anyhow, it also makes a good title for my post as yesterday after having been up and working on my dissertation project for far too many hours straight, I attempted to leave a message as my msn sign in name asking for prayer for a meeting with my supervisor. It was only when I returned to this message after the meeting and some coffee that I realised it made no sense at all, it read
"please pray for me, dissertation dude at 3, work is hard, lost in santa fe, ants everywhere!"
If anyone can guess as to what that message means (imagine you read it on msn yesterday) please do let me know.
until then, I remain yours truly, confused, N10
The title of my post today comes from a song on the new album by Ray Davies, a man who I talk about continually as the greatest songwriter in the world, period. His new solo album came out last week and debuted on chart at number 36, not bad for a dude in his sixties most famous in THE sixties!
Anyhow, it also makes a good title for my post as yesterday after having been up and working on my dissertation project for far too many hours straight, I attempted to leave a message as my msn sign in name asking for prayer for a meeting with my supervisor. It was only when I returned to this message after the meeting and some coffee that I realised it made no sense at all, it read
"please pray for me, dissertation dude at 3, work is hard, lost in santa fe, ants everywhere!"
If anyone can guess as to what that message means (imagine you read it on msn yesterday) please do let me know.
until then, I remain yours truly, confused, N10
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)