I shall destroy reality itself in Week 29!

[The Doctor]

This is a very nice bar of chocolate. It's got nuts in it.

-Ralph

[Deleted]

What kind of nuts?

[KnightBeat]

I hate nuts.

[legios]

Jul 15, 2008 19:41:05 GMT KnightBeat said:

I hate nuts.

Nuts, in chocolate. Not something I was ever terribly fond of, but something I tended to end up getting a lot of because my mother and sister are allergic to them. So whenever we got a box of chocolates in the house I would end up getting given all the ones with nuts in.....

As to Week 29... at the moment I am too tired to really be sure whether Ralph has destroyed reality or not yet. I have, however, booked some time off for next week, which I am much looking forward to. I have also started working on my plan for my proper holiday this year - off down to South Wales to see some of my childhood haunts methinks.

Karl

[grahamthomson]

I looked out the window and didn't see any destruction or Ralphprints in the ground. But give it time.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

What shape are Ralphprints, please?

Martin

[Cullen]

Ralph-shaped.

[The Doctor]

True.

Tremble, mortals.

-Ralph

[Deleted]

And how big are they?

[The Doctor]

Size 12.

-Ralph

[The Doctor]

Well, that's the Friday morning routine of scouring the job pages done. It's now 11.33am...I have nothing to do.

-Ralph

[grahamthomson]

Surely now you have the rest of the day to destroy reality itself at your leisure?

[The Doctor]

That's true, but I'm going to have some el cheapo rolls for lunch and watch an episode of yarrrrrrrrrr Doctor Who first.

-Ralph

[grahamthomson]

Well of course. You couldn't destroy reality itself on an empty stomach.

[The Doctor]

Well if I destroy reality first, where will I get my lunch from, hmmm?

-Ralph

[andrewbcalculating]

When I was out of work for 5 weeks last year, I got into a routine of looking for jobs because the fact was that once I'd checked mt regular haunts for jobs and not got very far, I'd have to wait a few days, maybe even a week, for new jobs to be advertised. I got bored very easily.

|<o>|

[The Doctor]

That's my problem right now. I've still got voluntary counselling (non-paid) work, but that's only Tuesday afternoons, so I have the rest of the week free. My only other routine is a walk for around 90 mins every afternoon. The strange thing about having plenty of time is that I don't have time to do anything! By that I mean that when almost all my time is leisure time, I find that using time on hobbies, etc feels strangely pointless. I've got loads of books, etc but just can't be arsed with any of them. It's very strange and I don't really understand it.

-Ralph

[kayevcee]

I have completed Painkiller for the second time in two weeks, this time on the hardest difficulty level for the super-secret special ending which turned out to be a 30 second montage of some of the chaps I'd just killed and some nice music. I'm now using a Kleeneze(TM) Sticky Roller to pick up all the loose hair around my computer desk. There appears to be more of it on the carpet than on my head.

I think I'll go watch a DVD.

-Nick

[The Doctor]

We should form a union.

-Ralph

[Grand Moff Muffin]

One of my fellow RSPB volunteers has been doing the showing-shoppers-peregrines-through-a-telescope thing for a couple of months between jobs. It strikes me as quite a pleasant and fulfilling way to kill time, and won't hurt his c.v.

Don't suppose you have anything like that around? You took me to a rather nice museum when I came up to Glasgow. No volunteering opportunities there that take your fancy?

Martin

[Shockprowl]

Hello Sportsfans!

I'm unblocked. But for how long?! Not doing my post count any good this begin blocked lark. On the first of two night shifts, playing with the wonderfull little drunk boys and girls. All good in the world of Shockprowl. Esp as Classics Prowl arrived yesterday and blew my fat hairy ones off. One small spec of a disaster occured on wednessday when Piglet fell and nutted a wooden door frame. She's now got a bruise the size of Westminister Abbey on her fore head (giving me a heart attack in the process). Disturbing sound, your toddler's head on wood. She's ok though. Did I mention the 'Damnit' thing? That's dying off now, thank fully! My obsession with GIJ/Action Force 25th continues, doing well with my first uni assignment, and did I mention Classics Prowl FREAKIN' ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!

Hastalasagne!

[legios]

Jul 18, 2008 20:09:48 GMT Shockprowl said:

One small spec of a disaster occured on wednessday when Piglet fell and nutted a wooden door frame. She's now got a bruise the size of Westminister Abbey on her fore head (giving me a heart attack in the process). Disturbing sound, your toddler's head on wood.

Owch. Glad to hear Piglet is ok though. Not having had a child myself I can't know what it is like when it is your own offspring. But having been an honorary uncle I can remember what it was like hearing a good friends youngster crack their head off a wall. The heart skips slightly at sound and the breathing seems to stop until you know everything is going to be ok.

Karl

[The Doctor]

Oh, they are having a loud party next door. The joys.

EDIT: Fuck sakes! Drunken arseholes! I may have to phone the police to get some sleep tonight.

-Ralph

[kayevcee]

Glad to hear Piglet isn't seriously damaged, Ian. A few months ago we had a wee boy climb out of a trolley at TRU the second mum's attention was elsewhere and fell head first onto the floor. Heart attacks all round. Thankfully mum was a nurse and phoned the local hospital for an exam while I handed her a cold compress from the first aid box.

Speaking of which, I believe my first aid certificate has expired. Probably for the best- I didn't inspire much confidence and whenever I did offer advice it was usually ignored. Oh well.

-Nick

[The Doctor]

The arseholes next door are testing my patience. Inconsiderate bastards. Naturally, they do not answer their door. Noise is unbelievable. This is going to be a long night.

-Ralph

[Shockprowl]

Sorry you're having a rough night Doc'. Those neighbours of yours sound like real A-holes. Worthy of Kung-fuing.

Yeah Piglet's fine, thanks guys. I had a cold compress on her straight away and I was amazed how much it reduced the swelling. Good, none fancy first aid. Everyone should know basic first aid in my opinion. Esp C.P.R. Which brings me onto 'Shock Boxes' or A.E.D.s (Automated Externat Defibrillators. A first aider who knows CPR can learn to use one in a day. You stick the pads on, switch it on, and it tells you exactly what to do (in a charming American voice). Early defribrillation is the thing that saves lives. Shopping centres, office blocks, golf clubs, schools, they should be everywhere (not sure how much they cost though).

Back to Piglet's head, think it's the biggest bump she's had so far. You always manage to feel like a bad parent when it happens on your watch (Mrs Shockprowl was at work), even though there's nothing you could have done to prevent it! You take your eyes off 'em for one second...

[The Doctor]

Jul 18, 2008 18:26:36 GMT Grand Moff Muffin said:

Don't suppose you have anything like that around? You took me to a rather nice museum when I came up to Glasgow. No volunteering opportunities there that take your fancy?

Martin

My gut reaction is: no way in hell. To explain, I've been volunteering as a counsellor since last November and I've had to pay shitloads of cash in order to do so. The place I'm in now doesn't even pay my travel costs (which are hefty). There are, ah, other factors involved in these experiences I won't go into on a public forum, that have completely turned me off the idea of giving my time for free. And I'm still waiting to see if my current place will give me any extra time.

Incidentally, my two voluntary places were harder to find than any paying job I've went for. It's ridiculous.

The next job I do will be paid. I'm done paying to work for free, though I'll need to keep doing it for another month or two due to other factors I have no control over.

-Ralph

[Deleted]

All this week a local pub has been having an 80's week where most of the beers are only £1.95 a pint. Yesterday they had an 80's disco and I loved every minute of it. As a big fan of the 80's (not the clothes though) I stayed there until the disco finished at half past midnight and wound up walking my sister and her mate home from the pub because they don't trust the streets that time of night. Some people were in costume there also. The landlord donned a George Michael mullet wig and shades while the two bar girls dressed in typical 80's style bright clothing. One bloke who went into the pub decided to go that extra mile however and slip into a Michael Jackson outfit and rubber mask which he found amusing until the DJ asked him to come to the front and do the Moonwalk.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Jul 19, 2008 10:43:44 GMT The Doctor said:

There are, ah, other factors involved in these experiences I won't go into on a public forum, that have completely turned me off the idea of giving my time for free.

Fair enough. You've done voluntary work in the past and are still doing it, and been screwed over. One can't ask for more.

I must say though that when young people hang around on streets looking bored and causing trouble, and use as an excuse for antisocial behaviour the assertion that "there's nothing for young people to do round here", and society's imagination extends no further than that they should have a youth club with a pool table and some computers to keep them out of trouble, it makes me rage. There's so much to do for people with spare time, which can lead to feelings of self-worth and improved c.v.s: maintaining public spaces including areas of nature; assisting in charity shops, museums, etc.; visiting those in hospital or prison who have no families or loved ones, or those who are housebound; even dog-walking for a neighbour (OK, you wouldn't put that last one on a c.v.). You get kids hanging around looking bored on the street, outside the gardens of their retired neighbours who have to pay people to come and mow the lawn for them.

But it's not just the kids' fault for not noticing the bleeding obvious. The people who need help with things don't usually ask.

Council tax would be lower if people with nothing to do with their free time gave a little of it back to the community.

People just don't put two and two together.

I think everyone should their luck in the voluntary sector at least once.

Not talking about you, Ralph, obviously, it's just a rant I had coming.

Martin

[The Doctor]

Indeed

I did spend most of the previous 8 years working in the voluntary sector (and was paid) too.

And anyone who gives their time to work for free should at the very least have expenses incurred while carrying out the work met, ie travel, etc. I don't think that's much to ask for.

-Ralph