RIP Steve Jobs

The man behind Apple Macintosh passed away the other day October 5th, he had been ill for a while with cancer.

He'd always been an icon with me and my dad. With using and only using Apple Macs he became the hero of the Mac world and to us.

He changed the way in people communicated. Over the years the computers got better from 1984 to the little box computer to the newly modernised faster Mac pro. Its a brand you fall in love with, with the cute little Apple logo and the moto 'Think Different' instantly you don't even think about other makes of computers and gadgets but Apple. I followed my dad into using Macs I had used PCs but couldn't get the hang of them but with Macs they are just so simple and easy to use and typing this on my Macbook to which it brings me joy. My dad is more the Steve Jobs fan than me. Every time eagily waiting for the Keynote speech and wishing he was part of the crowd cheering and applauding as Steve announced the next Apple product and surely enought it was amazing and would be on the Christmas list.

Receiving a brand new Apple product was always exciting. Such lovely packaging, packaged with care and attention. You couldn't wait any longer you simply wanted to tear the box open and look at your brand new product. They always included the cute little Apple stickers too :) With the computers was always fun with a start up presentation. They thought of everything. You don't get that excitment with Windows or PCs.

When Steve would be talking in his keynote speech he spoke as he knew people would be amazed by the product they'd be releasing as he always have a little smile on his face and would pause for applause.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex5znhPotmg

I bet he had lots of satisfaction in what he did. He will be missed and hope Apple continues his amazing work.

Farewell

On Saturday we had a lovely day up at the Lakes on our new-ish boat that my parents purchased. On that day it was the Windermere Air Show. Dad wanted to go and he asked a couple he knows who work at the Brewery he does work for to come and have a day out with us. Got up early well it was early for me like 8.30 on a Saturday! and got ready to drive down. Before we leave anywhere dad has to change his shoes, clean the car, wash the alloys, etc. I thought we were going to be late but actually were there before them. The weather was fair sunny but windy. The new marina is better quieter than the last and a bit more secluded. My dads friend came and met us and we just sat drank and chatted. The Airshow would start at about 2. It was a bit windy. We managed to get out on the lake and park a spot for the Airshow. It was very busy with other boats out on the lake and people in Bowness. There were many types of boats some really big ones. It actually seems to be quite snooty. Who has the most money kind of thing. It was nice to see a good turn out for the lakes. It was quite fun and releaxing sitting with a glass of wine and chatting. The planes finally appeared they were okay there were all kinds. 2 planes with people ontop of them, they must have been mad and I bet it was freezing. That got a tad boring. My dad got numbers to stick on the side of the boat. I was rating the planes as they came past that plane got a 1. Everyone was waiting for the best plane called the 'Vulcon' They saved the best to last. We were floating about in the Lake and decided to turn back the moment we were turning into our spot in the Marina heard a great noise and it would have to be the Vulcon.

After that we decided to leave and get something to eat. Martin knew a place so we drove and walked up to this place.

The food was okay. I wished i had the chocolate sundae that sounded ace.

Mum and Dad had a debate of whether to sleep on the boat or not. Mum wanted to to see if you could do it as with it being windy it was quite swayie. Dad didn't really want to nor did I. We didn't have any provisions. I slept on a boat before 'Arondale' on the canal and I didn't like that, scary and uncomfortable.

If we were going to stay over I would have gone in a hotel. We finally decided to come home. Dad may have returned back on the Sunday with someone we know who was going to sleep out on it Monday to show him the ropes.

When we came home Nan was in our house and told us the sad news that our cat whom we have for 22 years had to be put down. 'Sarah' she was a large tortoishell cat who was our 1st cat and grew up with us. She been poorly the last few years. Slowly deteriating. She was between homes that of mine and my nans who lives 2 doors away in our old house. When we moved she didn't she stayed.

She was happy like that. Stayed at either and ate all she wanted and came and went as she pleased. The only thing was cause she was old she would wee and poo in the house and sit in awkward places like in the doorway.

I remember when we first went to get her. I must have been like 5. She was outside in a kennel and it looked a tad miserable. We kind of grew up together.

This year hasn't been great lost 3 pets in one year. Baby whom I thought would have gone after Sarah as she was less old and Charlie (my brothers snake) Pets bring you joy and its heart breaking when they leave. They all had a good life.

We buried Sarah this morning in the back yard. Truely sad. Everyone crying my brother holding her in a towel it looked like she was asleep. Thinking about it I'm at tears. Christian acts tough but deep down he is sensitive and gets emotional. Dad didn't really show much emotion last night when we got the news but before burying her he was wearing his glasses but behind them I saw his tears. He wrote a lovely speech and was struggling to read it so mum read it instead. It was lovely that made me cry. It was about her being with us when we were little and growing up together and now her being at peace.

We left the poem with her as she was wrapped up on her bed she liked to have slept on when she was at my nans.

Christian did the buying and put her house next to where she lay.

We had dinner at nans and she has a door that swings and I even checked to see where she was before it swung behind me closed as once before she got caught and trapped her tale. Even before that I thought I saw her in the Kitchen sitting where she normally sat in the doorway next to the water bowl.

Its going to take some getting used to her not being around.

RIP Sarah

Pray for Japan

Waking up on Saturday 12/03/2011 morning to hear the sound of my Dads TV (he has it quite loud as he is a little deaf) Heard them speak of Earthquake to hit Japan, my immediate reaction was 'where abouts' as I have made friends with a girl in Japan since November we have been e-mailing and sent our first postcard to one another, she lives in Hokkaido (Northern Japan) I wanted to make sure the place she lives wasn't the place that was hit it was hit in a place called Sendai near Tokyo. I was still eager to hear from friend 'Carin' to know she was okay, I check my e-mails daily to check if she has e-mailed. I received an e-mail later that day which was a relief. There was news of the tsunami hitting her area and went to the 'evacuation site' her grandparents whom lived near the sea managed to get out in time.

The scenes on Sky News was surreal like watching a disaster movie. First the highest earthquake on record then a tsunami to follow. With no little warning at all those who survived were very lucky. Homes/schools swept away cars and boats floating away and a big cyclone. Aftershocks continued. Tokyo even felt the earthquake as it showed images of buildings rocking as Japan experiences earthquakes the buildings are made to withstand the shaking.

Even today several days later not all over some Power Plants have collapsed and some have been leaking radiation. People told to either evacuate the area or stay in their homes. It announced that the radiation leak is serious enough to kill people.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1366126/Japan-earthquake-tsunami-Chilling-echoes-Hiroshimas-destruction.html

There been reports saying that there is panic in Tokyo. people queuing to buy food and the essentials but then there are pictures showing people living normally and getting on with day to day living http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1366126/Japan-earthquake-tsunami-Chilling-echoes-Hiroshimas-destruction.html I don't really know whats going on.

What surprised me is that when something this terrible happens there is a global plea to help like give donations and send aid but there hasn't been any at all for Japan they are a wealthy country but still every little helps.

One celebrity has donated $1million to Japan which I think its very thoughtful if only more celebrities showed more initiative. Lady Gaga has brought out wrist bands at $5 which I've purchased and will wear alongside my 'Save Japan Dolphins' Footballers who earn ridiculous amounts of money should donate more or start to even I donated to The British Red Cross I don't earn a lot but it was for a good cause £18 could go a long way. 'A spokesman for the British Red Cross said it had not sent any supplies or teams to the country but would, if asked'Why don't they send them anyway surely they would be grateful.

These survivors looking for their families and belongings through the rubble and now in snow its a sad scene. The IRC flew out but then returned. There hasn't been much response from other countries like America. None have shown much response since it happened.

I hope they can rebuild there lives and move on, Japan is a lovely country, I love Japan so much probably why I'm saddened by the tragedy even though I have yet to explore Japan I'm glad I have a friend in Japan she is very interesting and fun to talk to and teaches me new things about a lovely place.

Japan!

Since being introduced by the anime Studio Ghibli I think thats where my interested into Japan started.
In the films they are very traditional Japanese and I have gotten intrigued by it all. It made me want to find out more even about geisha and other towns in Japan. The more I look at things the more I want to visit.

It looks like an amazing magical place and I want to see it some time soon. The top two I'd like visit is Tokyo and Kyoto. To do the touristy things and to find the Ghibli stores where I'd probably buy everything in sight. I'd probably need to take a lot of spending money! and to visit the Museum. I'd have a field day! It be great if Mr Hayoa was there himself. He looks like a lovely man apparently visits the museum now and again so I might bump into him and thank him for getting me addicted to everything Ghibli and buy myself a Ghibli cell thats one thing I must have they sell around £300-600 I think. I better take a spare suitcase with me to bring back all my soviniers.

Kyoto looks absolutely lovely. Especially in Winter and to be present for the festivals and events they have all year round like the Winter Festival or during the Cherry Blossoms.
One thing I'd like to do is the Geisha experience. Where they dress you up like a Geisha in a traiditonal Kimono and make up and a photo session and walk round the town how fun must that be! http://www.insidejapantours.com/fully-tailored-japan-holidays/i-gs3-7/geisha-dress-up#.

A tea ceremony with proper Geisha would be an experice. Also to use the hot springs an 'onsen' and Tokyo looks great too. I like cities theres so much going on could just sit somewhere and people watch.

It isn't cheap to visit Japan a guided tour would be quite good as I wouldn't know where to begin if I were travelling on my own. They cost for like £2,000 for 11 days but visits from all major cities on the bullet train. I better start saving or hope on winning the lottery.

Or uni courses study and learn in Japan I bet people have fun doing that. 40 week course including accomadation £8,000 cheaper than most uni courses here I think and I have been looking at Japan Studies at the local University which is tempting if I could drive kinda pushes me to learn. I guess you can't live without driving in this stone age. Taking the train all the time would be a pain and costly. I'll have to see what happens. I can't imagine working in Retail forever. Its not quite the career. Doing the same thing for years would be un interesting and boring. Most people my age already have careers/kids and family I'm very behind. I'm like at square 1 like being a teenager and starting at the beginning. Everyone around ya moving on and yet your the still the same from High School you kind of question your life and think I need to do more, take the right path. I bet people whom I went to High School with knew I'd be like this now 10 years later.

Cruelty

So when we went to Florida last year and of course visited Sea World and walked around saw a few things and fed dolphins which was so much fun. I think were planning to go to Florida again next year and will have baby caleb with us well when he's walking be much easier but no doubt we'll be chasing after him and no doubt he'll be spoiled rotten! I better start saving now. Plus I've seen a 'Beluga Interaction program' at SeaWorld which I'd love to do. Belugas are lovely animals I remember seeing them and how lovely they are. Behind glass isn't the same I want to see them close up and touch them now that will be memorable.

Same with the Orcas. Only got to see one behind glass and his bent fin (so sad) and caught a few seconds of the show which goes against everything I stand for and have been campaigning against for years. It just isn't right making these wonderful mammals jump through hoops and other such tricks they were meant to be left in peace in the ocean not caught and put in tiny tanks for our entertainment, Lolita for instant is in the smallest tank I've ever seen. Aparently it goes against all rules and regulations yet why hasn't anybody done anything or helped save her?!

Now there is a film coming out about Keiko who was the Free Willy star. Who was bought and sold. What right do these people have to capture and sell these whales? They should be protected by law. Government officials and what not should get involved. The whole industry is getting out of hand. Occasionally hear dolphins/whales being sold to some park, some park which isn't accomodating enough. As the one where Lolita is held is like a fish bowl.

Its much happier seeing them in there natural environment I'd love to go to Vancouver one time and whale watch. They should be procted by the state where ever there from.

I don't think trainers at these parks do love them as much they say they do. Taking them from there home and family to train strangers? and a few times trainers lives have been at risk. One died not so long ago. They'll never learn stop these parks and stop these animals doing tricks.

Goodbye Charlie

So my brothers snake Charlie whom we had for a while now passed away this morning.

Just before he left for his holiday he asked us to feed him 2 mice as he was due for feeding as he only eats every couple of months or so.

He got the mice out for defrosting and was going to feed him once they thawed. I forgot that day so did it the next day just placed 2 of them near him and let him alone to eat. I checked on him later but they were still there but he had moved so I googled it and said that if they weren't hungry they much be due for shredding of their skin. So I took them out and disposed of them and left him alone till I went and got his new red bulb and put it in but wasn't working so I re screwed it in and still nothing so I shook it and it was broken so I just left him alone.

My mum checked up on him this morning and said 'I think he's dead' which I said he's moved and I'm sure he's okay. I got up and re checked and prodded him with his feeding tweezers and nothing he was still and his tank was smelly. I couldn't believe it I just started crying and shouting my mum to come up and have a look and it was true. I was so hoping he wasn't and would move but nothing. My Aunt Paula was here and she picked him up and moved him into a bag and he was still as anything and all this just before I was due at work and couldn't face it but had to.

I wanted to leave him there till Christian came home but it was smelly and my mum didn't want him staying there but said we could freeze him and wait till he got home to see him before we buried him but they didn't want to do that so it was a burial.

I would have liked him to have known but he is on holiday and mum didn't want his holiday spoiling so going to wait till Friday for us to tell him. I think he'll be heart broken like I am anything I think of him I just start crying again.

He was a special pet it kind of brought me and my brother together we clean out his tank together and bath him and what not.

I hope he wasn't neglected maybe if I tried to feed him more or did something so many ifs. I would check up on him and talk to him and he'd dance about I'm going to miss him a lot.

The best thing was finding him alive when he went missing on Christmas Day my dad moved the bed in the spare room to find he was near the radioater to keep warm and I was happy I rung Christian up straight away and he was happy too and he came home as quick as he could as I said I didn't want to pick him up I'd rather him do it so he came home picked him up straight away and put him pack in his tank with warmth and water and he was fine.

The last time I got him out was on Calebs birthday as we had friends over and wanted to see him he was wiggling about and was okay.

Come Friday will be hard when Christian comes home and he's dead and buried in the front garden. I don't know what he would want to do get another snake he won't be the same of course or just get rid of the tank but I liked popping in him room to say hello to Charlie and have a chat it won't be the same anymore. He was the most harmless snake I'd ever known he was gentle and I wish he hadn't gone so soon after only having him for a couple of years or so.

I kinda wish one of the cats went than him one of the cats we don't like as he was most loved.

It'll take some time to get over it only time will tell.

Get Well Soon

Well my nan has been out of hospital for nearly 3 weeks now and is still the same.

Still yellow from the jaundice and not eating properly as she feels sick and being in hospital for 30 days or so her muscles have seized up so can't walk very well.

For any patient they should get them out of bed more as being in bed in the same position for some time is going to stiffen up your joints they should get them moving more or offer some physio.

With all this she is very frail and a different person not the nan i remember from before. Its like she's given up and yesterday she wasn't too good and said to my mum 'I'd rather be dead' I really dislike people who say that. I don't like anything related to death. Its understandable as she has been feeling rotten for some time and getting better will take months it would make any fed up.

Yesterday my parents took her back to A&E as she hadn't eaten properly for 4 days and didn't know what else to do she was still being sick. About 8 hours later she came home.

I was happy to see her kind of relieved she didn't say much and went straight upstairs and was being sick in the bathroom and told me not to tell mum and went for a lie down.

I want her to get well but isn't fair on me to keep secrets from mum and when she gives her food that she tries and passes some of it onto me maybe to make it look like she's actually eaten some when really she hasn't. She has to for her own good.

Years ago in College I went through a stage where I just didn't want to eat I know this is completely different. The smell and sight of food make me feel sick and with that lost the weight in just a short time if only I could of kept it off and not put another couple of stone on like now. That was a good weight I was. Slowly began to eat food again mum even had to sit with me to make sure I ate. I ate food a bit too much the weight just shot up now its going slowly.

Now I feel like a carer. I'm mostly left home alone with her as everybody else has more of a social life and checking up on her, I know she's my nan but it isn't a nice role.

She is no where near going home. Only time will tell.