Monday, February 21, 2011

Under the weather

Have to say that I’ve been a tad ‘under the weather’ so to speak over the last few days. So much so that I turned up for my first shift of the grind yesterday and after just over an hour promptly vomited my porridge down the ol’ porcelain trombone. Needless to say I informed my line manager that I was off home. The wonderful, caring reply being; you know that you’ll probably not get paid for this and will you be in tomorrow, oh the care, the warmth, the bastards. In any case I slept most of yesterday and arose this morning feeling a little better but still as much use as a one legged man in an arse kicking competition. So after informing my beloved employers to my plight (tomorrow night then?) I spent a less then active morning doing sod all.

This afternoon the tide felt that it had turned and remembering a request from Karen, I decided that a little fresh air was in order. Bundling the warthog into the back of the car (with recently made by yours truly, yet to be painted, dog guard fitted oooh) we took the short drive to Loggerheads.


To be honest the one and a half mile gentle walk took me as long as six miles did the other day on the steeper trail upon Moel Famau! But the air was fresher, although still a little misty, and being ‘out there’ certainly did my soul some good. Willow actually had her first meaningful chase and the lucky squirrel just beat her to the safety of its tree by a hairs breadth. Not sure how she’d have coped if she had caught it but I think that soon the inevitable will happen and something small and furry will meet an untimely end (hope it tastes ok, perhaps grilled mmmmm). No pictures of the chase I’m afraid (like trying to pin down jelly) although I’ll leave you with some views of the trail, I hope that you like them.









Oh and especially for Karen, the last two photographs  of the day.



For now, take good care my friends,
John

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your photos are wonderful as always John. Do hope that your sickness continues to fade and your spirits continue to grow brighter with each passing minute.

Your friend,
Kari

John Going Gently said...

get well soon john
rest!

bigcatdetective said...

Looks like a nice place for a dog like her to run around in....

Nearly there Claire said...

How rotten they are at work! Maybe next time you could vom all over the shop floor eh?

Gorgeous photos Hun! Soooo glad you found some fungi to photograph for me...I still can't find any.

P.S. I have actually eaten squirrel! It was horrid...it looked like a roadkill BBQ LOL!

Deus Ex Machina said...

John, as one recently recovered from some nasty little beasty myself, I wish you a swift and full recovery. As for the employer ... well, can't live with them and can't live without them, yet.

Bob Mc said...

Yep, no doubt about it. You have a lurcher on your hands. Squirrels and rabbits are tasty critters. :) Nice outfit you work for. I wonder what they would have said if they knew you used your day off to go hiking? I think I can guess. Hope you're feeling better.

Gorges Smythe said...

I've already said a prayer for you , John. Of course the Good Book says that the prayers of a RIGHTEOUS man availeth much, and since I'm not especiallt righteous, I can't vouch for how much good it will do you!

I've seen people use short pieces of hollow log for flower pots if your wife is into rustic.

Pat Willow on the head for me and take good care of yourself.

Anonymous said...

Good to hear you are feeling a little better. Dang jobs always get in the way of a good man's best interest. Willow is coming along just fine. Look forward to tales of her first furry critter.

Karen Thomason/Gordon Setter Crossing said...

Thank You John! I love the pics of Willow. She really is a cutie. I like that white stripe down her chest, like a lightening bolt. Sweet eyes that probably charm a treat or two from you every day! Cute...one ear up and one ear down. If you can keep up with her....she's very photogenic! Thanks for showing me a little more!

Karen Thomason/Gordon Setter Crossing said...

Sorry, I forgot to say, Get well soon! I really mean it, I just got lost in the pics of that puppy of yours.

Jennytc said...

I am horrified at the way some of my clients are treated by employers, line managers etc when they have to have time off through ill health, much of which stems from work conditions and treatment anyway. It's all about targets and finance and very little about employees' wellbeing. Glad you are feeling better, anyway. :)

Damn The Broccoli said...

Hope you are feeling better John. I hate anything gastric. For years it was thought I had IBS then a few years back a doctor thought I ought to be checked for food allergies.

Things like that tend to hit me hard.

The dog guard looks fab, real professional job there.

We had a dog years ago that was a real mixture, I believe they call them Bitzers. She would stalk down the garden before suddenly launching after birds. This would happen time after time then suddenly and unexpectedly she caught one.

She came trotting back down the garden to me with this blackbird hanging limply in her mouth. She got to me and looked up expectantly then let go of the bird. The minute it hit the floor it exploded up into the air like a grouse nearly taking my nose with it in its hurry to be clear.

How she had managed not to damage it I have no idea but all I could do was laugh.

Look forward to hearing what happens when she catches one!

moschops said...

Gorgeous photos and a gorgeous Willow!

Hope you are feeling better. You need to check (and then inform your employers) that with vomitting you need to be vomit free for either 24 or 48 hours (sorry I cant remember which). Health and safety!

x

murphyfish said...

Kari,
Thank you my dear, your words do brighten my day you know, whether in the passing of a comment here but more so on your wonderful blog.

John G.
Thank you my good man, unfortunately rest does not appear as it is going to be an option.

BCD,
It is, but the area is small and heavily used due to its easy access, call me miserable but I do have a tendency for more isolated walks when the opportunity arises.

Claire,
Oooh the look on their faces would be priceless, I’ll do my best to keep an eye out for more fungi shots for you – has to be easier than photographing the warthog!

Deus,
Ah sad but true, although me thinks that I need to be looking for a change sooner rather than later.

Bob,
Rabbit I’ve eaten but I’ve yet to try squirrel. Just hope that those in charge don’t read blogs – then again the simple, flattish walk was about all that I could manage, not exactly hiking.

Mr. Smythe,
Thank you for your prayers, although I’m non to certain that they’ll be headed for a heathen like myself ;-) Consider Willow patted my good man.

Mel,
It’s true, work does get in the way of living, just need to find away of doing without it – work that is! The little tyke is coming on and finding her feet nicely, if only her previous owners could have seen her potential I don’t think she’d have been residing here in Wales.

Karen,
A pleasure me dear, I don’t there be too many close ups of the warthog, like I said trying to nail down jelly. Oh and thank you for the wishes.

Jennyta,
Ah wellbeing of the employee does seem to take a back seat these days, it seem that draconian work ethics are becoming more easily ‘got away with’ these days, employers (mine at least) seem to feel that the present economic climate gives them carte blanche to do as the want in the name of profit n targets.

Damn,
Feeling better my good man, although probably not after tonight’s 12 hour stint! It sounds as if your Blackbird catcher had what is called a soft mouth to be able to retrieve a small bird like that without harming it (although the after shock may have got it). I’m thinking that when she does catch up with something furry she’ll not have a clue what to do next, we’ll see.

To all,
Thank you so much for your comments and well wishes, now if I can get through tonights and the next 12 hour nightshift without chucking things will be on the up.
Regards,
John

murphyfish said...

Sorry Moschops,
Wasn't ignoring you there, answering the other comments and in the mean time yours pops up. Health n safety never been a strong point where I work, only when it suits managements devious doings! This time I will have been off 48hrs. though but I have a feeling that it should be longer as it's classed as a food factory, unfortunately I cannot afford the time off and the pressure to return from them above me is intense. Such is life I'm afraid.

Wolfy said...

Sounds like teh "crud" that has been going around these parts has jumped the pond - I sympathize with you.

Willow even LOOKS fast in the still pictures. Small critters beware!

Hope you're feeling better soon, John

Badger Watching Man said...

Hope you're feeling better. Mind you, sometimes getting out in the fresh air is the best medicine!

Do I get the feeling that there a few blurred pics of Willow that didn't get posted? She looks like a real bundle of energy...

All the best

BWM

Mark Kautz said...

Hi John. Glad you're feeling better. I had an employer years ago that wanted to know why I had to take off
3 days when my dad died. The only person, to this day, that I would smack, if I saw him again. Some times there are just idiot employers.

Mark

knapperbill said...

Hope you're feeling better John. Looks like you had a nice hike, even if your pace wasn't up to par. Love the dog guard! You should market those! Looks great.

Bill

murphyfish said...

Wolfy,
Cheers my good man, have to say she’s the only dog have known for a long time that looks fast standing still.

BWM,
Oh if you only knew how many snaps were taken of her backside, tail, left ear…the list goes on, all I can say is thank goodness for digital camera!

Mark,
Yes you do get the feeling that we’re just a number or resource only and that the ‘human’ side of us does not exist and is so often failed to be taken into account when in work.

Knapperbill,
Ah the pace was well below par, but good to get out in the air. The guard, not bad from and used packing case and some 2 inch mesh that once secured an old garden shed window! As for marketing them just so many other projects that I want to get on with, and I’m running out of packing cases ;-)

Rachel Flowers said...

Hope you feeling a tad OVER the weather by now :)

Today I am suffering form the blimey it's Thursday of Half Term blues...sigh

murphyfish said...

RD,
Ah, I most certainly am me dear, for now I'm on my 4 days off between shifts and there's rugby on at the weekend...