First I'm in then I'm out

I've had it with the Hayseed Dixie World Service. I finally got to join their Outhouse at the 7th attempt, posted one message and got kicked out. Some poor chap who must live near me, spent ages trying to help me out and I finally thought we'd done it. That feeling was short lived. I just went back to post again and I find I've been de-listed AGAIN.

I give up. It's not like me, but I have spent HOURS trying to sort this out, I even got a new email address and resurrected an old one, all to no avail. Why they think I am some sort of risk goodness only knows.

The gig on Thursday incidentally was brilliant, even though my heart was in another place. I'm looking forward to Dudley now in September with Status Quo.

As for their Outhouse, I think I'll pass.

Sad times

I lost a dear, dear friend yesterday. The Mother I should have had, instead of the one I got. Our friendship spanned 21 years, a generation gap, the loss of several relatives on both sides and whole lot more.

I went to a concert last night, knowing she was at life's end but her words were ringing in my ears, "Well I wouldn't waste tickets that I'd paid good money for. No way"

A bittersweet moment in the Hayseed's set, they played an Elvis song as a one off, one of my friend's favourites. I knew then she'd gone.

The day I walked into her life, which is how it actually happened, both our lives were changed forever. My life has been richer for knowing her, and I think I added a bit to her world too.

Her real family are now in mourning and shock, for this was sudden, she was well last week and gone this week. The whole of her community now surprised by the unforeseen, quick exit. Now she is at peace and I am left to ponder on why I should lose both mothers within 6 months.

Sometimes life just isn't fair.

Hayseed Dixie - The Outhouse

The Outhouse is the message board part of the Hayseed Dixie World Service. I have tried unsuccessfully 4 times now to join this and each time I do, I never get the activation email to actually open the account. I even emailed the webmaster twice on the help tab, but he never ever answers.

I'm not sure what's going on here, I've tried different email addresses and even posted this blog in the hope that someone will realise I am a Genuine Fan but they just never let me in.



I'm off to see them at Bridgwater tonight and I might just accost one of the team if I can and ask them why they keep shutting the door on me. Maybe there's some thing about devon girls that's a bit TOO HOT even for them.


JW if you check this out please LET ME IN.

Absent friends

It's funny what you learn when you have a blog. Lots of people read it, some of those you think you know. Some of those you probably know. And when people live in an unusual place you really DO know who it is.

Most readers don't bother to comment, and when people do I often forget to reply, leastways I think I've replied and then at a later date I find I haven't. Then I feel guilty. And then there are the lurkers, who often read but never say a thing. You wonder sometimes who they are. Sometimes you know who they are and it surprises you.

I can tell mostly from my sitemeter who is looking and when. It would be nice to have a two-way dialogue sometimes. It's a strange feeling, friends read my thoughts and doings but never give anything in exchange.

So come on if you're out there reading, write a little comment once in a while, drop in and say hi. I'd love to know how you're doing too.

Blogger AGAIN

Just a note to say my edit function is not working and what I type in is not necessarily what shows on the page. Alright, the words and the typos are mine but the colours and the spacing are not.

OK??

I'll correct it when I am able!

Heroes

Whilst Britain sinks under a deluge of water, my thoughts are still in Greece and warmer, actually hotter, weather and it's attendant problems.

I was looking at my pics of the waterbomber planes that we watched most days we were away, continuously scooping water out of the sea then flying over the forest fires and spraying the water from the air. Those guys were relentless and really caught our imagination and sympathy for what they were going through.

I looked up the Canadian designed plane (Canadair CL 415 or waterbomber) on the net as I had never seen one before and reading about it I discovered this amazing video of the Helenic Air Force in action fire fighting.

Sadly 7 Greek pilots have been killed in firefighting already this year and the summer's heatwave is not yet over. The worst bit is that the guy who made the youtube video above, died only yesterday.

As they say in other circles, respect. I truly mean it.

Greek by numbers

Ena 1 .........Number of Delta Nirvana pralines and cream ice-creams I ate, strangely I only want savoury stuff now but I thought that may have changed when I had another of these, my absolute favourite for so long, sadly it didn't.

Dio 2..........Number of swims before breakfast, well most days anyhow

Tria 3.........Number of oranges to make a glassful of freshly squeezed juice in my 10 euro new juicer

Tessera 4.....Number of cars parallel parked in Argalasti crossroads before the policeman blew his whistle and got them all moved

Pende 5.......Number of moths a gecko can eat in a minute if the going is really good

Eckse 6........Number of waterplanes in view at one time from Affisos beach when they were filling up in the Pagasitic Gulf

Efta 7.........Number of bottles of wine a week we drank on the terrace, yes I know we're both tea-total here but at less than 31 a bottle you have to really!

Octo 8.........Number of kilos of oranges bought for juicing in 2 weeks, not all at the same time, we'd got no where to store them all.

Enea 9.........Number of boats in front of the window in the morning

Deka 10...... Number of frappes two of you can drink in one day. They just don't taste the same here.

Back from the brink

Whew, it was hot out there, 42 degrees when we got to Greece and into a region of severe forest fires. Earlier in the week it had been 47 degrees so we escaped the worst. We spent one night in a hotel as the road was closed at Afites where the fire crossed over and so we couldn't get to Kalamos for 24 hours.

It was worth the wait though. I spent hours and hours in the sea, the locals recognised us from previous visits and we adapted perfectly to life in a small village at the water's edge.

Waterplane just about to scoop from the sea.