Justice

A couple of hours ago, while drilling a hole in the wall upstairs, with the window wide open, a wasp flew in and attacked me. Taking evasive action ( I jumped off the ladder and waved my arms about to fend off the creature), I narrowly escaped the monster (it was huge). 

Clutching the nearest weapon (shoe), I quickly transformed from victim to hunter. But the beast was nowhere to be seen. 

I resumed my drilling, then, while pushing cables through the wall, I heard buzzing. Looking down from the heights of my ladder, I saw the wasp in the clutches of a fearsome spider. My flailing had apparently knocked the wasp into a cobweb. 

Which is why dust, spiders and webs should be left alone. 

Ubuntu Phone

I’m writing this with my first Ubuntu phone, a BQ Aquaris 4.5. I’m not actually using Ubuntu though, since there’s no WordPress app for the phone. I switched the phone to Android when I bought the Meizu MX4 Ubuntu phone, a much better spec and a lot faster. 

A few weeks ago, I switched to the Aquaris because it runs pretty fast with Android and, mainly, because I miss the applications that come as standard on Android or IOS. But I now miss the beauty of Ubuntu and the MX4. 

So i’ve had to make a tough decision. Android or Ubuntu (IOS wasn’t an option because I’ve been there and wouldn’t go back). As gorgeous as it is, Ubuntu just doesn’t yet deliver what people need in a phone nowadays. It’s a joy to use, but the lack of apps is an issue. 

Android it is then. The Aquaris will soon be binned, replaced by a newly ordered Meizu M3 mini. It’s a small phone (I wanted a 5″ pocket sized phone), but a good spec and silly price. 

I went for another Meizu because they produce pretty capable phones and because I love my Ubuntu phone’s build. I may now sell the MX4 on eBay or keep it as a SIM-less device/spare. 

Mortgage

I was so happy to come home to a mortgage statement this afternoon. 

If I’d not had a second (divorce) mortgage, it’d all be paid off at the end of the month. But, still, it’ll all be gone very soon. 

And then it’s party time!

Jesus & Gordon

Gordon’s chair in the garden. It hasn’t moved since he last sat in it a week ago. He was only here a couple of weeks, but it’s a little empty here since he left. 

Changing the subject, I’m now home after watching the Liverpool-Barcelona game in the Tuns. My second in command was extremely happy with the 3-0 score, although I was mildly disappointed that no one was bitten. 

We left with five minutes (plus lying down time) to go, but my significant other was feeling tired (early start) and hungry (she’s experimenting with vegetarianism, so can’t pick while at work). 

I’m now, as can be seen above, sitting in the garden with a bottle of Beck’s (correct use of the apostrophe). While we were out, our beer was blessed by Jesus. 

My friend Jake

My second in command sometimes starts/finishes work late, when there’s a function in the hotel. It’s only once a week for her at most. 

I thought I’d meet her from work so I walked down the hill to town. I’m now waiting in the Bridge Hotel. With a delicious pint of Jakehead. Might be a mistake. 

Excellent value, though, at only £5.20 a pint. 

Opening times

Each month, I buy a travel card. It’s pretty cost effective and useful for deviations from my daily travel to the office. I usually try to buy one from a travel office in Gateshead or Newcastle because, for some reason, the cards purchased in Washington don’t work with Metro barriers. 

Unfortunately, I’ve needed to resort to the Washington travel office this morning. Another reason to avoid this office is the eight o’clock opening time, which doesn’t fit with the timing of my bus to work. After buying a card, I need to wait a half hour for a bus. 

Until today, that is. The opening times have changed; it’s now 8:30 on a weekday. 

Which means that, to use the Washington travel centre, I need to wait a half hour for it to open, buy my card, then wait another half hour (since I’ll have missed a bus while in the office) for a bus to work. 

That might not seem to be much of an inconvenience, but Washington bus station isn’t the nicest of places. I’m an advocate of public transport, but can’t comprehend opening hours that don’t cater for the working majority. 

The Station

Today, while escorting my second in command’s father to his train, I noticed something in Central Station. 

I’ve read about these, but hadn’t seen them before today. Just a few years ago, this would have been unimaginable in Newcastle. Hell, I remember being regarded as different in my early days of vegetarianism  seriously think that vegetarians/vegans will one day dominate the world. Naturally, anyone who resists will be fed to cats. And, speaking of which, I need to purchase a chair, a white long haired cat and a pair of black (faux) leather gloves. 

Also in Central Station, on the same theme, was a shop. 

Finally, while having a pre-second-in-command’s-dad-train Erdinger, I found that the Station Hotel  is likely to reopen soon. 

While only the facia has been retained, I’m looking forward to the reopening. 

Is this the way to Amarillo

Or a Moretti. I’m back from a retirement do at Heworth golf club, a bloke called Neil. A nice bloke. he’s only a year older than me. Which makes me realise that, when the mortgage is paid off in six months, I could afford to do the same. 

But maybe not, since I need to pull together some funds for the Sodhouse Bank Brewery (the shed). 

The end is in sight though. 

In my local for a nightcap. 

Council spending

I may be incorrect, but the new rubbish bins appearing on streets must result in overall savings in staffing for Gateshead Council, since their increased capacity will obviously mean that they need to be emptied less frequently. 

Personally, though, I preferred the older, black bins. 

Batteries and Cats

As part of a major battery replacement exercise, my 1992 swamp monster has now been revived. 

Note that the eyes are alight on the second picture. 

After repairing my swamp monster, we went to Centurion to see the Happy Cats  with my mother and sister, and Sooze’s dad. And my niece and her other half. 

I’m now in my local for a nightcap. All is good.