Monday, August 20, 2007

Happy Birthday Jan.

Post 291 - - - - - Monday, 20th August, 2007.

Hi Everyone ~~ I hope all is well in your part of this world of ours.
I am OK, but a little sad, more of that later.
First, I would like to wish Jeanette our dear blogging friend a very
Happy Birthday for tomorrow, 21st August. I hope you have a
wonderful day Jan and many Happy Returns. Won't you please
pop over and wish her a lovely day ?


This is a photo of Jeanette, taken at Keith's 70th birthday. She is a
lovely lady as so many of you know from her blog. And those of us who
know her personally will attest to the same.



Keith, Peter and Keith's wife, Anne.



Keith, Merle and Anne and those 3 Musketeers again !!


Two reasons for my sadness - a friend aged 48 died suddenly 10 days ago, she
used to work here as a Home care lady, but became a friend who visited me and
took me out on a few occasions to her daughter's school fete, which we both
enjoyed. She also planted some plants for me one day - in her own time, of course.
I will miss Debbie a lot, and wish I had rung her weeks ago. Too late.

The other and very unhappy story, as some of you will know, that our dear friend
Ann from Rocrebelgranny has lost the custody of her great grand-daughters.
This was mainly due to the run down condition of their living conditions.
They are hoping to move to a better house and we will see what happens then.

Her husband Ray has been back in hospital again, and Ann is feeling that
maybe she is too old to continue caring for the girls. She has cared for them since
their very early days and naturally Ann has been dealt a severe blow, even
worse than losing her daughter, as that was expected. The younger two girls,
Rochelle and Rebecca are shattered. I am so sad for all of them, particularly
Ann who has done a wonderful job with them. And if they don't realize it now,
they surely will as they get older.

I am sure Ann would like to hear from her many friends with some words of
support and love. She certainly deserves that and much more.

<><><>

The first item tonight applies to Australians. I do not know if other
countries have a similar scheme in practice. If not, it would be a good idea
if they started one. It was sent to me by friends, Sherrill and Ian.

This is very interesting and let's hope none of us ever have to use it !!

PIN NUMBER REVERSAL (GOOD TO KNOW)

If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an
ATM machine.

You can notify the police by entering your Pin # in reverse.

For example if your pin number is 1234 then you would put in 4321.
The ATM recognizes that your pin number is backwards from the
ATM card you placed in the machine.

The machine will give you the money you requested, but unbeknown
to the robber, the police will be immediately dispatched to help you.

This information was recently broadcast on TV and it states that it is
seldom used because people don't know it exists.

Please pass this along to everyone possible.

Australian Federal Police.
AFP Web site : http://www.afp.gov.au
<><><>
What a brilliant idea, Thanks Sherrill and Ian for that.

Thanks to the folks that commented about the Plug-ins
that were a fire hazard. It seems that could be incorrect.
Earlier on, Glade recalled many of them, but now there is
no risk. I think I will still give them a miss !!

Joke time - - - -

A man entered hospital for an appendicitis operation. When he came
to afterwards he mentioned to the nurse that his throat was terribly sore.

"Oh," she said, "perhaps I should explain. You see at your operation
this morning there were a number of medical students present, and when
the surgeon had finished, they were so impressed that they applauded
him; so for an encore he took out your tonsils."
<><>

Three friendly scaffolders were having a chat over their morning break.
Fred opened his lunchbox, opened a sandwich and gave a scowl. "Ham
again !" he protested. "It was ham on Monday, ham on Tuesday and
now ham again. If it's ham tomorrow, I'm going to throw myself off
this scaffold.

Joe opened his lunchbox. "Cheese again! he protested "It's been cheese
all week. He threatened to do the same as Fred.

Patrick opened his lunchbox and gazed forlornly at his jam sandwiches
and made a pact with his two friends that if it was repeated tomorrow
he would jump off the scaffold with them.

Tomorrow came and the lunchboxes were examined closely and, lo and
behold, the same fillers lay between the sandwiches. Holding hands,
they decided to jump together.

At the inquest the tale of just why they had jumped came out, and Fred's
tearful wife blamed herself for not being more thoughtful. Joe's wife
told the ccoroner that her husband had only once complained about the
cheese and she thought he was joking.

Mrs. Finnegan jumped up and faced the coroner. "I don't understand
this at all," she said. "My Patrick always made his own sandwiches !!"
<><>

Jim loved his elderly grandmother dearly and decided that for Christmas
he would buy her a parrot as it would be someone for her to talk to and
keep her company.

He went to a pet shop and insisted that the parrot had a large vocabulary
and he ended up paying a thousand pounds for what the pet shop owner
assured him was the most talkative parrot he'd ever seen.

Jim arranged hor the parrot to be delivered to his grandmother on Christmas
Eve and on Christmas Day he phoned and asked: "How did you like the bird
I sent you?"

"It was delicious," she replied.
<><>

It happened during the First World War that a Staff Officer
wished to
be taken up to the front line, so a private in a jeep was detailed to
escort him.

They started off and presently the private whispered , "Shell hole on
the left," and the officer nodded.
Again, the private whispered : "Old enemy trenches on the right," and
the officer whispered back, "I see them."

After a while another whisper, : "Barbed wire entanglements on the left,
and the officer whispered, "Yes, I see them."

They had been proceeding in this way for some time when the officer
said, "I say, it's very quiet, how far are we from the front line?"

"About two miles," came the reply, again in a whisper.

"Then whatever are we whispering for?" demanded the officer.

"You needn't," replied the private. "I've got a sore throat."
<><>

What do you call an Eskimo with 5 balaclavas on ?
Anything you like, because he can't hear you.
<><>

What happens when the human body is immersed in water?
The telephone rings.
<><>

"Waiter ! Please bring me a coffee without cream."
"I'm very sorry, madam, but we've run out of cream. Would you
like it without milk instead ?"
<><>

And a few quotes to close with - - - - -

An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less.
- - - - Nicholas Murray Butler.

If you are foolish enough to be contented, don't show it, but grumble
with the rest. - - - - Jerome K. Jerome.

Growing old is like being increasingly penalized for a crime you
have not committed. - - - - Anthony Powell.

If you want people to think well of you, do not speak well of
yourself. - - - - Blaise Pascal.

In the depths of winter
I finally realized
that deep within me
there lay an invincible summer. - - - Albert Camus.

That one is for Ann.

Bye for now my friends, take great care of yourselves and each
other. I hope the week is going well for you. Love and best wishes
to you all. Cheers, Merle.

Post 291 - - - - Monday, 20th August, 2007.
<><><><>

13 comments:

Granny said...

Merle thanks.

We're surviving somehow.

My net has been down so much. It may go out again before I can get over to Jeanette's blog so please let me wish her a Happy Birthday here.

I'm so sorry about your friend.

Hugs

Ann

Anonymous said...

Life just isn't fair. I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your friend. I am sure she knew how much you cared about her.

I will say a prayer for Ann. Hope things improve for her.

Hugs,
Connie

Lady Di Tn said...

Merle
I always pop over and wish your friends a Happy day.
So sorry for your lost and sounds like Granny is a very special lady. I popped over and read the newspaper article. I have told Prince for years that we should start commuter classes for asisted living homes and get all those in that age in the loop of cyber space. Chuck has proved I was correct to think of such a thing. Nothing like Validation.
Cheer up my friend.
love and prayers

Janice said...

Merle, I'm so sorry for the sadness in your life right now and hope for better days ahead! I left you an 'inspirational blogger award' recently. Please come and see my blog and receive it! Blessings and Hugs!

Tammy said...

What a dear friend you are to one and all! I just love you Miz Merle!!
(((hugs)))

Vickie said...

Merle, I am so sorry for the sadness you are dealing with. May these dark times soon be replaced with light. Hold to the special memories you shared with your friend.

I hope things will change for your friend so she can have the children with her again.

Take care of yourself and remember these difficult days will pass.

JunieRose2005 said...

Dear Merle,

I,too, feel very sad about Ann's family- hoping things will work out for them all.

Sorry for the loss of your friend, also.

Take care ,

Junie

mreddie said...

So sorry about the loss of your friend - 48 seems so young! The sudden part of it seems to make it even worse. ec

Melinda said...

Dear Sweet Merle,

I am sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, My heart is with you. Keep your chin up. Take Care Melinda

Jeanette said...

Dear Merle, Thank you for your lovely birthday wishes and the link to me.
Im very sorry to hear the death of your dear friend, My heartfelt sympathy to you dear Merle.
ive been over to visit Granny Ann....
I hope I never have to use my Pin no. backwards and will remember this incase.

Susie said...

Dear Merle,
I'm so sorry about the death of your friend. I'm sure you let her know how much you cared when she was still here...
The news about Ann losing custody is just so sad. I know her heart must be breaking.
Take care of yourself my friend.
xoxo

Val said...

That was very interesting about the PIN number reversal. Hope I never have to use it though!

audrey` said...

Dearest Merle
I'm so sorry about the death of your friend.
She must have felt your love and friendship very warmly on many occasions.
Please take very good care of yourself, my friend.
(((HUGS))) and much love.
God bless you and be with you =)