Saturday, August 06, 2005

How we met

I have been searching for something to blog about for a while now, something which would require mental input and not just a quick copy and paste from a news article where someone has done all the hard work for me. My Darling Wife has posted a few lately and after Chickie made a comment about my profile, I decided it was time for my take on how Julie and I met......I hope Julie tells the same story one day as her grammar and writing style is much more entertaining than mine.

I stopped her and asked for her telephone number!

Ok, let me start at the beginning...................................

I was once a
Police Officer based at a picturesque part of Cornwall near Newquay.
I'd been there for about 7 years and had divorced my 1st wife and so was a single Dad. My friends in the area had decided that this was not good enough for a great catch like me....lol... and they endeavoured to be my matchmakers.

I was quite interested in this lady who lived down the street from me, I had spoken to her once whilst she passed my home and was dumbstruck the next time I was in the same room as her. It was a Summer Fete and I was in the bar, keeping my mate, the bartender, company, when in walked Julie, her friend and baby. I did all I could to introduce myself but alas, they didn't even need help carrying a tray full of drinks.

My matchmakers had told me about another single parent who lived on our estate and they would organise BBQ's, parties and such to get us in the same vicinity, but this woman always declined or just never answered her phone. When I found out finally who it was, I was amazed to see she was the one and same girl I had seen before.

So, I decided to pluck up the courage and talk to her.....When this would happen, who knew as the English gentleman doesn't go round knocking on ladies doors and asking for dates, especially ladies who don't know us from Adam.


Then one cold day in September, I was stood at the control of entry post, doing my job, when who should be speeding towards me.......The lady in the silver toyota. I stopped her; the look on her face was none too welcoming as I told her roll down her window and hand me her ID.
I then proceeded to tell her who I was hoping for a form of recognition, nothing! Told her about my matchmakers and their attempts to get us together, nothing!


Now I was feeling extremely foolish and downright embarrassed, wishing the ground would just swallow me up, when she says that she is late for work, and in that moment she offers me her telephone number, obviously in an attempt to get to work and probably the wrong one anyway, but I took it.

It was a Friday, I was working a 12 hour shift and would get off work at 6pm, Julie finished hours ago, so at 5pm I called and to my amazement she answered and we talked alittle on HM time and expense; I told her how my Friday nights usually consisted of going to the local pub/club to work on my social skills, and would she be interested in meeting me there tonight.
Of course she said NO and we never ever met......NO, wait, that's not right.

I got up there early and was sat in the bar next door talking to my mate and had a great view of the walkway and door to the club. I thought I would stay in there until Julie walked past and then go in, buy her a drink, ask her to dance and have a great evening. Yeah right. Somehow or another I missed her, and at 11.30pm was getting ready to go home, when who should walk out of the club....Yes Julie and her entourage....shit.......There went my chance.....I said hello and she smiled back, ok, not too bad, then she called me over and I then tried to explain what I had been doing and why I hadn't bothered to go in earlier.......Anyway, she forgave me and I was allowed to call her and invited her to my home the very next day....Then she went away for a week and our first real date was The Navy Ball on October 13th, 2000.

The rest as they say is History!

Monday, August 01, 2005

Let's hope so this time

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4724599.stm

IRA statement in full

The IRA's full statement, in which its leadership ordered members to stop the armed campaign.


"The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign.

Watch the statement read by a former IRA prisonerThis will take effect from 4pm [1600 BST] this afternoon.

All IRA units have been ordered to dump arms.


All Volunteers have been instructed to assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means.

Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever.

The IRA leadership has also authorised our representative to engage with the IICD [Independent International Commission on Decommissioning] to complete the process to verifiably put its arms beyond use in a way which will further enhance public confidence and to conclude this as quickly as possible.

The outcome of our consultations show very strong support among IRA Volunteers for the Sinn Féin peace strategy We have invited two independent witnesses, from the Protestant and Catholic churches, to testify to this.
The Army Council took these decisions following an unprecedented internal discussion and consultation process with IRA units and Volunteers.

We appreciate the honest and forthright way in which the consultation process was carried out and the depth and content of the submissions.

We are proud of the comradely way in which this truly historic discussion was conducted. The outcome of our consultations show very strong support among IRA Volunteers for the Sinn Fein peace strategy.

There is also widespread concern about the failure of the two governments and the unionists to fully engage in the peace process.

We reiterate our view that the armed struggle was entirely legitimate. This has created real difficulties. The overwhelming majority of people in Ireland fully support this process.

They and friends of Irish unity throughout the world want to see the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
Notwithstanding these difficulties our decisions have been taken to advance our republican and democratic objectives, including our goal of a united Ireland.
We believe there is now an alternative way to achieve this and to end British rule in our country. It is the responsibility of all Volunteers to show leadership, determination and courage.

We are very mindful of the sacrifices of our patriot dead, those who went to jail, Volunteers, their families and the wider republican base.

The IRA is fully committed to the goals of Irish unity and independence and to building the Republic outlined in the 1916 Proclamation We reiterate our view that the armed struggle was entirely legitimate. We are conscious that many people suffered in the conflict.

There is a compelling imperative on all sides to build a just and lasting peace. The issue of the defence of nationalist and republican communities has been raised with us.

There is a responsibility on society to ensure that there is no re-occurrence of the pogroms of 1969 and the early 1970s.

There is also a universal responsibility to tackle sectarianism in all its forms.

The IRA is fully committed to the goals of Irish unity and independence and to building the Republic outlined in the 1916 Proclamation.

We call for maximum unity and effort by Irish republicans everywhere. We are confident that by working together Irish republicans can achieve our objectives.
Every Volunteer is aware of the import of the decisions we have taken and all Oglaigh are compelled to fully comply with these orders.

There is now an unprecedented opportunity to utilise the considerable energy and goodwill which there is for the peace process.

This comprehensive series of unparalleled initiatives is our contribution to this and to the continued endeavours to bring about independence and unity for the people of Ireland.
"

An Englishman in DC (well nearly)


It's Me, back and posting. Well when I say "Back", I mean on the computer and not in good ole Blighty.

At this moment I am sat in a very nice hotel in a little place called Silver Springs, Maryland, and not pronounced Mary Land!!!

We have been to Iowa, Washington DC, Pennsylvania and now here. My luggage has been even further than Me and took a week's vacation to a few other ports of call without me, finally turning up a week later. This raises a few security issues and luggage traveling without passengers, but that's another post when I am awake.

I am now finally acclimatized to the humidity and am managing to sweat less, but what I gain in dry, sweatless shirts is soon made up for in lovely spilt coffee, chocolate and food stains on my clothes, some one send me a bib!

The extent of my site seeing in this town so far has been to see the shops en route to Starbucks, where as a regular customer, I am getting free and discounted Grande, triple shot Lattes or "The usual!" and the highways to and from Wal-mart. Thanks Honey!!! No seriously, I am not one for site seeing anyway and as we live in a White House, seen one, seen them all.

Anyone living close by, let us now and I'll get the coffee in.