Lisbon tram

Every now and then, google arranges their logo into a design to commemorate a milestone or anniversary in Portugal.  Today's celebrates the 110th anniversary of the Lisbon tram - it's a rather charming design, don't you think?

On shopping anxiety

I’m not really a shopper or very good at seeking out bargains but I do love shopping trips with a friend.  Or my aunt, her friend and my friend.  These trips are fun because I’m not really looking for anything specific and not too bothered if I don’t go home with nothing more than a hug at the end of the day.

However, I loathe supermarket shopping and put it off as much as possible.  This usually means by the time I do go, I need two or three trolleys to cope with all the stuff I need to re-stock my completely bare kitchen cupboards and at least a couple of people to help wheel them back to the car.

I notice the dismayed face of anyone who has the misfortune to end up behind us at the checkout.  Then, in the car park, folks in their cars who are desperately looking for a space, think twice before waiting for us to unload the three trolleys of shopping into the boot and saunter on with a look of ‘I didn’t want to park there anyway’.  I mouth to them ‘don’t have kids or this will be you’ sort of thing.

I’ve done the supermarket shopping online and had it delivered.  This works quite well, of course, and saves time.  Sort of.  I find it challenging because I dither over quantities and whether I’m really ordering the right product and it ends up taking a lot longer than actually going to the supermarket and shop live and in person.

Another quandary I find myself in when I shop online is I’m always sure I’ve forgotten something.  I don’t worry about this when I’m physically in the supermarket as I go around spotting items that I’m sure we need and promptly stock up.  The truth is that when I get home I find we are already well stocked and that is the reason the item wasn’t on the list.  Instead, I’ve completely overlooked a very important item which had its rightful place on the list and this will then warrant a trip to the local shop to stock up.  I should probably just stick to shopping there on a daily basis.  It would relieve me of my shopping anxiety at least and the shopkeeper would be more than happy to see a boost in his profits I’m sure.

Once the ‘in person’ shopping at the supermarket or the online version is over I feel a huge sense of relief.  Until I see the kitchen and hall floor covered in carrier bags and boxes.  Groan!  Now I have to put it all away.  This chore seems to be beyond any other member of the family.  They know exactly which cupboard to go to when they need to help themselves to the biscuits, coffee, tea, sugar, breakfast cereal, baked beans, tinned tuna… but somehow their memory fails when it comes to just putting anything back let alone remember where to store away the shopping.  On the odd occasion when, for one reason or another I don’t do it, the shopping stays in the bags on the floor for days.  Apparently, the family just loves to rummage through the bags looking for whatever rather than open a cupboard door.  

So why am I rambling on about this?  Well, much to my surprise, my hub said we should buy a barcode scanner and every time we took something out of the cupboard, we could scan it.  When we needed to go shopping, all we had to do was download the list on to the computer and print it out.  For a moment, I thought it was a brilliant idea.  However, I seriously doubt any of us would remember to use it, especially the kids, so I’d be back to square one.  Well I would be a proud owner of a barcode scanner sitting in a cupboard alongside the tuna.

Be careful what you create on your computer!

Introducing Daisy

We'd just finished dinner and one of my daughter walked out into the garden.  She spotted what she thought was a rat disappearing around the corner of the house and came rushing inside.  It was decided it couldn't possibly be a rat, but nobody really wanted to go and find out.  Eventually, an investigation was gingerly undertaken and what we found was a tiny weeny puppy.

We were puzzled as to how it could have possibly managed to climb the step at the gate and went to check.  On the floor, just inside the gate was an open plastic bag with rice and chicken in it.  The puppy had been pushed through the bars and the food left as an incentive not to leave. 

Hub was adamant we weren't going to keep another dog - we already had two - so it was decided that next morning I'd let everyone know we had a puppy that needed a good home.

The next morning, after I get the kids ready for school, I tell them to keep an eye on the puppy (Nina, one of the other dogs wasn't too happy about having it around) whilst I got ready.  A moment later I hear them trying to decide on a name.  They agreed on the name Daisy.

That was six years ago.  Needless to say, we never did find a home for her and she has been here ever since.

Everybody surfs in his own way

or Cada um surfa a sua maneira:
http://vimeo.com/8580766

Memorial Service in Oslo

I happened to turn the news on just as the live broadcast was being emitted.  The Norwegian prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg's tribute was very emotional.

"Today it is time for sorrow. We shall allow ourselves to stop, and honour the dead. Mourn for those who are no more. Ninety-two human lives are lost. Several are still missing. Each and everyone of those is a tragedy. Together, they make a national tragedy.

I'm proud to live in a country that has managed to stand together in the face of tragedy. I am impressed over how much dignity, care and strength we have. We're a little country but a proud people. We are shaken but we will not give up our values. Our response is more freedom, more democracy but not naivety.

Stoltenberg said the families of those who were killed had the sympathy of the entire country. He also passed on the condolences of world leaders including Barack Obama, Angela Merkel and David Cameron.
He also mentioned some of those whom he knew who were killed in the shooting on Utøya island."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/jul/24/norway-attacks-live-updates

Solidarity worldwide in times of tragedy

I lived in the UK during the IRA attacks. The psychological effects of that time have remained; they are deep rooted and always take me by surprise everytime I hear news about bomb attacks. Prayers of courage and peace to those hurt and to the families of those who perished in Norway.