Enough of that! Leon has had promotion within Morgan Stanley and was invited to New York - with wife - to meet the top brass. We get a full report at the weekend, but wife came home with a goodie bag worth $1000! I wondered whether they wanted him to do anything different, but apparently he carries on with his work as though nothing has happened. Can't see that lasting for ever.
Work on the house has ceased for a bit - we are saving up for the main bedroom to be gutted and re-done. The last owner managed to put his foot down in the loft above between the joists, so the ceiling has to be re-plastered, which in tour means that the fitted wardrobe has to be removed. As that is a sort of ginger colour, it is not great loss, but its replacement may be a lot more than I think it should be. We shall see.
We are also having plans drawn up to convert the garage into a bedroom on the ground floor, with an en-suite shower room and toilet. Not certain whether this is really what I want, but there may be little choice. I quite like having the tools, and all that, within reach. In Bidborough there was a 100m yard hike to the garage, and also to the bins, so we have made advances there.
We moved from Bidborough to Tonbridge last May. Obviously a
better place – here is an epitaph on a gravestone in the churchyard of the
Parish Church!
Hail!
This stone marks the spot
Where a notorious sot
Doth lie;
Whether at rest or not
It matters not
To you or I.
Oft to the " Lion " he
went, to fill his horn,
Now to the grave he's gone, to
get it warm.
Beered by public subscription by
his hale and stout companions,
Who deeply lament his absence.
Keep the contributions coming - and thanks to those who sent the following:
The Jewish Tie Salesman
A fleeing Taliban terrorist, desperate for water,
was plodding through the Afghan desert when he saw something far off in the
distance. Hoping to find water, he hurried toward the mirage, only to find a very
frail little old Jewish man standing at a small makeshift display rack -
selling ties.
The Taliban terrorist asked, "Do you have
water?"
The Jewish man replied, "I have no water.
Would you like to buy a tie? They are only $5."
The Taliban shouted hysterically, "Idiot
Infidel! I do not need such an over-priced western adornment - I spit on your
ties. I need water!
"Sorry, I have none - just ties - pure silk -
and only $5."
"Pahh! A curse on your ties, I should wrap one
around your scrawny little neck and choke the life out of you but... I must
conserve my energy and find water!"
"Okay," said the little old Jewish man,
It does not matter that you do not want to buy a tie from me or that you hate
me, threaten my life and call me infidel. I will show you that I am bigger than
any of that. If you continue over that hill to the east for about two miles, you
will find a restaurant. It has the finest food and all the ice-cold water you
need... Go In Peace."
Cursing him again, the desperate Taliban staggered
away over the hill.
Several hours later he crawled back, almost dead
and gasped...
"They won't let me in without a tie!
*****************************************
If
you can start the day without caffeine,
If
you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If
you can resist complaining and boring
people with your troubles,
If
you can eat the same food every day
and be grateful for it,
If
you can understand when your loved ones
are too busy to give you any time,
are too busy to give you any time,
If
you can take criticism and blame
without resentment,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If
you can relax without alcohol,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
Then
You Are Probably
The
Family Dog!
And finally this was done only
once on the Johnny Carson Show in 1992.
Fortunately, he recorded
it, because it was never performed again.
Have a good month!
