It came closer,
and so much nearer
to the point of touch
and whispered in my ear
as all else faded
and daylight ceased,
an apparition at half-mast
whose familarity untold
a mistied afterthought
of survival justified.

mid-afternoon...August 21st

Welcome to England indeed, some laughs and interesting thoughts, for kk...

"Boy George is all England needs - another queen who can't dress."
Joan Rivers

Nowehere in the world do supporters love their clubs more than in England. England is paradise to play in.
-Arjen Robben (Chelsea)

England is not all the world.
-Mary Queen of Scots

England has four seasons. But do we have to have them in one day.
-Oscar Wilde

“Thinking is the most unhealthy thing in the world, and people die of it just as they die of any other disease. Fortunately, in England at any rate, thought is not catching. Our splendid physique as a people is entirely due to our national stupidity.”
-Oscar Wilde

“Europeans, like some Americans, drive on the right side of the road, except in England, where they drive on both sides of the road; Italy, where they drive on the sidewalk; and France, where if necessary they will follow you right into the hotel lobby.”
-Dave Barry

“England expects that every man will do his duty.”
-Horatio Nelson [Norfolk's best-known son]

“If I should die, think only this of me: that there's some corner of a foreign field that is for ever England.”
-Rupert Brooke

“England and the English As a rule they will refuse even to sample a foreign dish, they regard such things as garlic and olive oil with disgust, life is unlivable to them unless they have tea and puddings”
-George Orwell

“When all is said, its atmosphere (England's) still contains fewer germs of aggression and brutality per cubic foot in a crowded bus, pub or queue than in any other country in which I have lived”
-Arthur Koestler

This island is made mainly of coal and surrounded by fish. Only an organizing genius could produce a shortage of coal and fish at the same time.
-Aneurin Bevan
Source: in a speech at Blackpool as reported by the "Daily Herald" on May 25, 1945

Bind her, grind her, burn her with fire, Cast her ashes into the sea,-- She shall escape, she shall aspire, She shall arise to make men free; She shall arise in a sacred scorn, Lighting the lives that are yet unborn, Spirit supernal, splendor eternal, England!
-Helen Gray Cone

This was sent to me, and is purely fun yet interesting too; I've answered mine, have a go too...

Your heritage: English, but of French-Italian family roots.

Shoes you wore today: No shoes...no, no shoes.

Your weakness: Philippine garlic nuts.

Your fears: Putting on weight that I've succesfully lost.

Your perfect pizza: Any REAL Italian one, must have black olives though. Portuguese black olives if possible.

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Your most overused phrase: "But" with one 't'~~

Your thoughts first waking up: I'm alive for one more day...any other thoughts remain my own!

Your best physical feature: A gifted spinal fusion of me, myself and hospitals.
Your bedtime: Medicinally-induced 10ish, or high-tension enforced midnight.

Your most missed memory: I miss my grandmother.

Your Pick
Iced Tea or Soft Drink: Iced Tea

Soup or Salad: Soup right now, could be salad tomorrow.

Single or group dates: Both are cool, but if I had to choose, single date with a special somebody.

Slip-ons or Lace-ups: Slip ons. Slip-on tropical sandals...but the weather will beg to differ.

Fruity or Herbal: Herbal.

Jell-O or Pudding: Pudding in my former days...now, maybe not.

Coffee or Hot Chocolate: Coffee, so long as it's continentally bloody strong!

Do You?
Smoke: Nooooo.

Cuss: +_*&

Sing: It has been known...in Shinjuku, Tokyo I was well-away in a karaoke box, to Liam Gallagher's best!

Take a shower everyday: Oh yes.

Still talk to your first love:

Like your job: Yes I do...just wishing for health to allow me to go 100% back into it.

Like(d) high school: Very defintely no, over the teacher's striking years, it was bloody awful.

Get motion sickness: Not usually.

Think you’re attractive: I would never say such a thing.

Think you’re obsessive-compulsive about anything: Compulsive to help close people, to draw, write, compulsive yes...obsessive no.

Get along with your parents: Yes for sure.

Like thunderstorms: Yes, totally...I adore the power and freshness, symphonic wonderment of all.

Play an instrument: Eeeee, not much, but I can play some tunes on piano.

In the past month have you…
Spent more than £100+ on a single item that wasn’t an obigatory item? No.

Had a verbal argument where you screamed at someone: Oh yes!!! On the highways of Essex, a nutter overtaking then pulling-up in front of the vehicle I was in; he got some lip from me, oh yes!

Purchased Cottage Cheese: Nooo, never...but I believe it's yummy.

Surprised someone for a special event: Yes I have; my old school friend had his birthday...I remembered it, which surprised him!

Purchased a new CD: Yes, Tiesto: In Search of Sunrise 5.

Gone to the mall: Yes, last week for Chinese practitioner's help, though he refused to perform acupuncture on my already bad spine.

Purchased an MP3: No, because I was given one for ma-b'day!

Sent your resume out for a new job: Nicht.

Been on stage: Actually yes, many times, but not this past month.

Moved: Too many times, but this month I'm rooted!

Had lunch with a group of ten or more: Yes, with a Welsh crowd of about 50, in which they have a 'tradition' of not allowing anyone out of the banqueting hall to pee until after midnight...these details were omitted from the menu and invites.

Had a cold: No.

Changed your hairstyle: The rain did it for me.

Taken a vacation: No.

Ever…
Played a game that required removal of clothing: Hahahahahaha.

Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: One time, and never again.
Been caught in a lie: Yes, and the bloody telesales company stopped phoning me thereafter.

Been called a tease: Have I??

Shoplifted: No.

Getting Older

Age where you believe your life really began (if not yet, give a guess): Well, somewhere in the teen years, but I think since turning 30 many things are better actually. 30 seems to give added youth, whereas in youth we try or are forced to be adult...so now is the best time in many ways!

Are you really what you want to be now you're grown-up: No, but I hope I'm getting there!

Where would you like to retire to: Portugal.

One fear about getting older: Forgetting anything, anyone...

In The Numbers…
Number of jobs I’ve had in my life: Umm, not too many as I've enjoyed what I've done...I think 4.

Number of people I could trust with my life: half a dozen.

Number of CDs that I own: Approaching 2000.

Number of piercings: zero

Number of tattoos: None...resisted it!

Number of times my name has appeared in the Newspaper? Ah, a few times, not sure how many.

Number of scars: Knees, and surgeries...

Number of things in my past that I regret: Not many, but I wish I had done the things I love sooner...but this is typical of life isn't it!

Two Viking invaders are trudging up the beach in the pouring rain. One looks skywards and says, "So this is England. What's it like?" The other snarls, "Well, if you like the weather, you'll love the food."

There's a technical term for a sunny, warm day which follows two rainy days. It's called Monday.

First cave man to 2nd cave man: "I don't care what you say. We never had such unusual weather before they started using bows and arrows."

An honest weatherman says, "Today's forecast is bright and sunny with an 80% chance that I'm wrong."

A film crew was on location deep in the desert. One day an old Indian went up to the director and said, "Tomorrow, rain." The next day it rained. A week later, the Indian went up to the director and said, "Tomorrow, storm." The next day there was a hailstorm. "This Indian is incredible," said the director. He told his secretary to hire the Indian to predict the weather. However, after several successful predictions, the old Indian didn't show up for two weeks. Finally the director sent for him. "I have to shoot a big scene tomorrow," said the director, "and I'm depending on you. What will the weather be like?" The Indian shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know," he said. "Radio broke."

We've seen such uncertainty
refracting harmful rays
of the opposition unfazed
treaty, signing-away malaise

Like port in Summer
swallowed like a kiss
for all seasons
love is our thesis

Every word so huggable
harbouring a heart
no longer at sea
periegesis! we hereby depart

Passing life's pied-à-terre
two hearts reside as one
in nature's habitual sanctuary
a world paradise noumenon

Yet breath freely we will
like a kiss to glissade
we are the valley's to seas
together embouchure heralds our serenade.

written by lauren6

The opening of the £250m Chapelfield complex has propelled Norwich into the country's top five places to shop and cemented the city's status as the region's retailing capital.

A year after it opened, new figures reveal it is attracting shoppers from as far afield as Colchester and Bedford - turning Norwich into a major commercial rival to London's Oxford Street and the Bluewater shopping centre in Essex.

Chapelfield's management also revealed yesterday that it has hit its target of attracting 10m shoppers in its first year. The flagship House of Fraser store reported that one in five of its account holders regularly travel over 80 miles to visit the city.

And Chapelfield's success appears to be spreading to other retailers around the city. Both John Lewis and the Castle Mall have reported increases in the volume of shoppers over the last year.

“This is not just about Chapelfield. The outlets we offer have combined with the range of independent shops such as Jarrold and the Norwich Lanes and the historical significance of Norwich to create a very attractive city centre,” Chapelfield's general manager Steve Bunce said.

“We have proved Norwich can more than compete with centres like Bluewater and with other cities in the area such as Cambridge.”

Sophie Hallett of Castle Mall said: “For the first six months of the year we have recorded increased footfall in the Mall. But that is what Chapelfield was supposed to do - attract more shoppers to the city.”

Research by retail consulting firm Javelin published yesterday ranked Norwich as the fifth best shopping city in Britain - behind Glasgow, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester but ahead of Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds and even Oxford Street.

The new figures come against the background of worries in other parts of the country about high street retail trade and after some observers questioned whether Chapelfield would mean Norwich having too many shops.

Rob Barton, manager of House of Fraser, said: “Norwich is a real alternative to central London because people can come here and make a day of it and have a much more pleasant shopping experience.”

Mr Bunce is confident that Chapelfield has had a positive impact on the city a year on from its opening last September.

He said: “We have improved our car-parking, keeping prices and queuing down. We have attracted some retailers to the city who were not represented in Norwich before. Some 70pc of our retailers are new to Norwich and we have improved the area considerably.

“We have attracted more people to this end of town and the clean-up of this area of Norwich has even revealed parts of the city walls which some people had never noticed before.”

There are 80 shops in Chapelfield along with 17 restaurants or cafes - and managers hope to be making use of all seven of their empty units by their first birthday, in September, as four are already under offer.

Newcomers to Norwich such as House of Fraser, Borders bookstore and quirky clothing store Joy have attributed their roaring success to their location within the Chapelfield centre - and have also found their Norwich branch to be among their most successful.

Area manager of Joy, Miles Lanham, said: “Chapelfield is perfect for us because of its late opening hours. Our customers work and want to shop in the evenings. They want retails therapy after work or to pick up a new dress and a birthday present on her way to the party.

“It is our largest store and we are finding Norwich customers have really taken it to their hearts. Some visit once a week.”

Borders Sales manager Nick Mowitt said the Chapelfield approach was good for business: “We have held several events with Wagamamas restaurant next door, promoting their cookery books and bringing in more customers on an evening out.

“We have done extremely well in Norwich.”

from EDP

As the heaven's have truly opened over Norfolk this month, today bares witness to smallscale flooding on local roads and gardens, as the thundery showers turn into tropical downpours of several hours in duration.

Just returning from the beautifully named "pain clinic" I found my garden under a few centimeters of rainwater, which will please the Blackbirds, disappoint the worms, and give the lawnmower another day off.

My pain, in this 96% humidity is surprisingly less, which might be due to these theories on passing weather fronts, which affect the damaged parts of our bodies prior to their arrival. My body was in distress two days ago, and here we are today under it's overbearing influence.

Now my medication will take affect, but the greatest pharmaceutical healers always come after nature has chosen the direction and path!!

lauren6

How the Weather Affects Your Health
by Manfred Kaiser

Do you feel tired or exhausted? Do you suffer from a headache? Why don't you blame the weather? Millions claim that the weather literally gets onto their nerves - and rightly so. Whether we like it or not, you and I are part of nature. We are not robots but biological beings, evolved over millions of years. Despite technology's great efforts to detach us from nature, we are still subject to it, including the weather. Just because there is only limited scientific proof that weather sensitivity exists doesn't mean that you are wrong and doesn't mean that the medical profession should dismiss your plight as a psychological disorder. The sheer number of worldwide sufferers won't be ignored any longer and science is slowly catching up.

A weather-sensitive person reacts with varying intensity to changes in weather elements, such as air pressure, temperature and humidity. These changes can affect a person's well-being and may worsen the symptoms of existing disorders, in particular pain. Some of the effects are: increased irritability and aggressiveness, anxiety, depression, listlessness, fatigue, lack of concentration, sleep disorders, headache and migraine, heart and circulation irregularities, nausea, dizziness, scar pain or phantom pain, and rheumatic pain.

The symptoms vary from person to person and their intensity generally increases with age, lower level of fitness and a body weakened due to illness. Of course, they can also mask or be the result of an underlying disorder that has nothing to do with weather. Therefore, see your doctor if uncertain of the cause.

When my grandfather's rheumatic knee hurts; we will get rain. Many people trust their hips and knees and forecast the weather almost as accurately as can the meteorologists with their supercomputers. But why do some people respond to weather and others don't?

Rapid and frequent weather changes appear to be the main culprits. Weather-sensitive people become irritated a day or two before the change and are often miserable when a weather front arrives. The conditions favor childbirth, so a greater number of babies have their first glimpses of their parents during those weather conditions. Cases of suicides, heart attacks, bleeding ulcers, headaches and migraines all increase. Rheumatics dread the arrival of cold and damp weather, while cold and dry air aggravates asthma symptoms. Expanding air in isolated body cavities may explain some weather-sensitivity symptoms. The weather fronts have something for everybody, it seems.

Some scientists take a different approach in their quest to solve the puzzle. They believe that electromagnetic impulses have an effect on our well-being. Natural electromagnetism, strong enough to cause weather sensitivity, is present in lightning-induced atmospherics (sferics) and charged particles (ions).

What can you do about weather sensitivity? It is likely that we all benefit from the frequent stimulation of changing weather. The modern lifestyle, with air conditioners, humidifiers and heaters, however, blunts the weather 'shocks'. In other words, we are no longer trained to cope with weather stress. Therefore, the best advice is to harden your senses by exposing them to the elements. Spend more time outdoors, in all kinds of weather. European medical professionals go even further and recommend stronger stimulants, such as saunas or alternating hot and cold showers.

One can find so many pains when the rain is falling.
-John Steinbeck

For after all the best thing one can do when it is raining, is to let it rain.
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow