So now we are out of the World Cup, having been beaten by Brazil. How do I feel about it? Not sure actually. Despite not being a football fan it would have been nice to win for the country, but this way we get to head back to a normal life a bit sooner. Not that we do really, as Wimbledon starts on Monday so there'll be tennis everywhere instead.

Joan slept most of the evening and went to bed early as she was feeling zonked after her course. I feel that way today instead. Not sure if I slept to well last night - had another very strange dream featuring fast cars (except I had a Mini), people arguing and fighting, jumping off tall buildings and stuff. There was also a bit with a small bird being rescued which didn't seem to make any connection with the rest of it. All very peculiar and it must have stopped me sleeping properly without realising it.

I have also found a decent Sega emulator for the PC and started getting hold of some of the classics I bought and the others I never got round to/had the money for. A bit sad, but stops me going loopy.

Time for a spot of lunch now, then I WILL get out in to the sun for the first time this week. Must try harder next week.

Oooh, excitement! Just had to leave the building and cross the road to find out why the glass replacement people were hanging out outside our little storage building. Turns out someone broke one of the windows at 2 o'clock this morning and although the building is not alarmed somehow the hallkeepers found out and got it boarded up.

So, why do we not find out about the potential loss of our stuff until one of us notices the vans when coming back from lunch? Funny old system. Nothing was nicked though, so at least we haven't go to get into insurance forms. Then again, who'd want 200 bus stop flags? Well, OK, who apart from some of the people who work here then?

Our current ongoing problem here (other than bus companies throwing services in and expecting us to pick up the pieces which is an ongoing ongoing problem rather than a curent one) is bus shelters. We have started putting them in after a zillion years of leaving it to the parish councils and now the complaints are coming. One chap has even prepared a 27 page documnet of questions, policy statements, quotes from parish newsletters and all sorts trying to stop us putting one outside his house. He hasn't won though - it went in this morning. Ha.

And now Dave from First Eastern Counties has been in showering us with naff pens and keyrings. Woooh!

Forgot to mention just now. Finished Thief of Time yesterday. Very good ending to go with the very good beginning and middle. Also read all of this month's Classic Rock - yup, I managed to get through a magazine while it is still on the shelves of the newsagents. Amazing.

Next book in line is Classic Bus Tests - a trawl through industry mags of the 20s-50s. Nice to see what people thought at the time of the buses preservationists rave over now. More news when I've got past the front cover. Which might be this afternoon if I get the chance/get bored/everyone else buggers off early.

Back to work after a good day off yesterday. Tawny got the all clear from the Vet, I got a keep on going from my Doctor and we filled up the skipbag thingy with some of the rubbish from the patio construction. Not all of it, cos the bag's not as big as we thought it was. Never mind, Jerry reckons he can use the rest of the soil once the grass in it has died out. We shall see.

We popped in to Argos and bought a new garden parasol and a upgraded the loungers so I also managed a snooze in the sun (but with burnt legged consequences).

BB on Tuesday night was good. Did a few new moves and a lot of yesterday was spent with aching thighs as a result. Really must practice the balancing on one leg bits though as I'm fed up with falling over.

Joan is in Ipswich again on a course today so I had her company on the way in, and will have it again on the way home with any luck. Unless they finish really early.

Not much going on at work today. I have managed to find something to do, but it ain't gonne fill the whole day. Perhpas I'll search for more exciting trivia on the web to stick here later.

Time for something from The Guardian's Notes & Queries section, just for the hell of it:

What happens when you swallow chewing gum? Nic Enright, Vancouver Canada

It wraps itself around your heart and kills you. That's what the wise old woman who lived in our street told us when we were young.
Bill Wilson, Derby England

The wise old woman in our street told us that if we swallowed too much it would form a big chewing gum ball in our stomachs and it would eventually explode and kill us. Bubble gum was OK though.
Stephen, Curitiba Brazil

You turn purple and swell up to 5 times your normal size. Then some little green guys in white dungarees roll you off to be de-juiced.
Martin, Newcastle UK

According to my mum, when I was younger, you blow a bubble out of your bum. Why that was supposed to deter a curious 5 year old is beyond me.
Gareth, Graham UK

Bit boring & probably untrue this but I heard somewhere that it takes around 7 years to digest chewing/bubble gum!
Sam , Brighton UK

Chewing gum has five basic ingredients - sweeteners, corn syrup, softeners, flavors and gum base (the part that puts the "chew" in chewing gum). The first four ingredients are soluble, meaning they dissolve in your mouth as you chew. Gum base doesn't. And although is isn't meant to be swallowed, if it is, it simply passes through your system, just like popcorn or any other form of roughage. This normally takes only a few days.
Rich Waters, Derby UK

I had a primary school teacher who told us that if you chew gum your stomach would explode and you would die.
Caroline Scanlan, Dublin Ireland

Now I really must find some work to do!.

The rain has finally stopped, but it is now too late to make use of dryness at lunchtime for another day. Especially as there is no chance of the seats in the park drying off enough to be sat on comfortably.

I am just really bored today. Nothing much to do, but I can't really admit that.

If I remember right, one of the comics we used to read years ago had a campaign to abolish Tuesdays, and I'm beginning to agree with them. Their reasoning went something like this: Saturday and Sunday are great, the weekend, no worries etc. Monday you can still remember the weekend which makes it OK. Wednesday is half way to the next weekend, so it must be good. Thursday was the day the comic came out, so got away with continued existence and Friday was of course the day before the weekend so you could spend all day looking forward to it. Tuesdays, however, had no redeeming features at all.

In real life we do have Body Balance tonight, but the work part of this particular Tuesday is just crying out for either something to happen or a fast forward button to get it over with. If nothing happens soon I may have to get on with the final part of my massive desk tidying project, which has been keeping me looking busy for some time now. Of course, there are still the in-trays to sort once the desk is done, so all is not total doom and gloom in the procrastination stakes.

Next Tuesday the jubilee baton thingy being carried around the Country before being used to kick-off the Commonwealth Games in Manchester is coming to Ipswich, but I can't see that bringing much interest to the day. Traffic congestion and trouble getting up to the shops if I need to at Lunchtime yes, but not excitement.

And once more it rains like the month's quota has to be used up by teatime. And thunder as well. But it was so nice yesterday when I didn't manage to get out, not fair I say, not fair.

Last night was lovely. Joan had done nice things with the furniture and also worked her little socks off in the garden. So we had a great dinner on the patio and then just sat there for ages watching the birds feeding and frolicking on the lawn. Only a bunch of starlings and sparrows plus one pigeon - nothing exotic but fun and funny all the same. And just adore the way they use the bird bath. I think feeding your babies when they are as big as you is pushing family loyalty a bit amongst birds - although perhaps Mrs Starling had got the same idea as she was trying to shove huge chunks of bread down the poor thing's throat. So a very relaxing evening.

The sleepy bit wasn't quite the same - apparently I woke Joan up by thrashing about. I was dreaming that someone was annoying us in a theatre - after being hugely tall and blocking our view they then tried to push in front of us in a queue. I think I took it a bit personally and started attacking them, which was when I woke Joan up and she thus woke me up to calm me down. Very strange.

Not much going on at work this morning, so will have to think of something to make myself look busy.

Thief of Time proving well up to the usual TP standard - passed the 200 page mark already!

Stinkingly hot day in Ipswich today. So, naturally, I didn't manage to get out at lunchtime. I had planned to go sit in the park with my book (just started Thief Of Time by Terry Pratchett) but had to give it a miss due to the office being deserted but the phones still ringing. Must try to get out before everyone else!

No wobbles today or over the weekend, so perhaps it was just a passing thing rather than being connected with work. I will still mention it when I see the doctor on Wednesday though as I don't particularly like it.

Joan off today so I hope she has taken the chance to relax in the sun a bit. She told me earlier she had been moving the furniture around again, so I'm not sure what I'm going to find when I get home.

Nothing else to add.

Finished the Railway Navvies Friday night. All in all a very good and interesting book. Been working through a couple of magazines since then but will probably choose a new book sometime later today.

Yesterday was a very lazy day. Joan woke up a couple of hours later than we usually manage and surprised me with breakfast in bed, then the next thing we knew we'd dropped off again and it was gone 11. We shopped while the footie was on (well done lads though) and then sat in the garden for a bit. Where we dropped off again. Followed by dinner and a fairly early night.

I still feel half asleep today though. Very strange. Seems like I can't get enough sleep at the moment.

Joan is at work today so I have done a stack of ironing (accompanied by Gongmaison and Sass by Salvation) and looked at the web a bit (with help from Credit To The Nation's Take Dis and EMFs Schubert Dip). Now back to the board I think!

Well, Joan has gone back to work today. Not 100% sure if she should have done, but she didn't really have much choice as she is the only member of management present. She is then off tomorrow, in Sunday, off Monday, in Tuesday, off Wednesday, on a course (here in Ipswich) Thurs before two days together in the shop Fri & Sat. So hopefully none of that will be too tiring for her. She was certainly as bright as a button when I dropped her off this morning, hopefully there will be a bit of energy left come 530.

I had a Car Parks meeting this morning. Nice to not be in the office, but no real knowledge gained or decisions made during the meeting so might not really have been worth going along to. However, I did notice that I was shake-free for all of it, and indeed until I got back in to here. So perhaps there is something in the office environment (by which I mean people and work not the air) that sets me off. Will have to try and make note of anything that may happen tomorrow. And I'm feeling half asleep again today which is a bit distracting too.

While I was out I had to deliver some leaflets to the courts. As a result I went further up the town than I usually venture of a lunchtime and noticed the Ann Summers window display which made me laugh. And they get my prize for top Jubilee promotion too. Whereas some shops are offering special coins or flags and have a bit of bunting up, AS have the Queen reading their new book of Wild Sex. They are also selling the limited edition "Her Majesty's Pleasure" sex toy. I didn't go in to see what that was though. A vibrating Sceptre perhaps?

We had been thinking of coming into Ipswich to have a lazy amble about the shops tomorrow, but I think we will give that a miss now. I had forgotten that England are playing Denmark in the World Cup at lunchtime and the police are expecting disruption whatever the results. Perhaps we will just stay in after all. It will probably rain anyway based on recent weeks.

Finished Revolting People on the way in this morning. A very good little series all told and I kind of hope they make another one as there were a few questions left unanswered. Like will Mary and the Captain get together, and will Ezekiel ever get his end away? Alternatively something by the same cast as roughly the same people set in a different time period like they did with Blackadder would be an interesting experiment.

Have now moved on to a Kevin Ayers disc. From a collection of live recordings made for the BBC, some of which feature a pre-Police Andy Summers on guitar and others a pre-Tubular Bells Mike Oldfield. All very good hippyish stuff. I was aware of KA through some stuff he'd done with Gong, but never encountered anything recorded in his own right before. Will now have to seek out more.

Now to pop up the town again to deliver some posters to Park & Ride.

Joan feeling a lot better today. Was supposed to be off anyway but still taking it very easy. At least I hope she is - can't really see from here! She spent pretty much the whole day in bed yesterday and we also had an early night - which I seem to have benfited from as well by not feeling quite so zonked as normal.

However, I've got the shakes real bad today. When I was first on these tablets I used to get an attack around 1030 every day that would last about half an hour or so, now it seems to be most of the day. Which is a bit irritating. I try to ignore it, but it tends to intrude at strange intervals where I realise I've been wobbling all along. The worst thing about it is that there is no physical manifestation - it just feels like I'm all a tremble. Even the heart rate stays the same, so what the actual cause is remains a mystery to me.

Called in at the post office this morning to pick up something that wouldn't fit through the letterbox yesterday. Another load of articles and stuff from America. Thanks Monica. Been stopping me from going off the wall between bits of work today. Some very interesting stuff as usual, a lot of which makes me feel guilty for not having a plentiful supply of suitable stuff to send back. Tend not to have the time to read a paper or anything though, so that's my excuse.

Could really use an early finish today, but I need to make up some hours. I have a flexi-day booked for next week (when Tawny dear needs to go back to the vet) and am only just on the threshold of hours I'd need to stay positive after it. Although we can carry over a negative amount and make it up later, I prefer not to. Feels better to be ahead I think. If nothing else, I am working extra for me to use then rather than because I need to make it up. I do like the flexi-time system here and certainly wouldn't want to go back to a rigid-hored workplace without serious financial inducements.

On that note, I was dreaming last night that I was being tested for a job back with Argos. I was doing really well despite not having been there for years now, and beating two people from the current workforce. Kept saying to people "I don't know how you got me here, beacause I'm not coming back...". Very strange.

Finally got confirmation of the renewed contracts for Park & Ride today. We will be staying with Ipswich Buses for another 5 years which means we can get on and do some things again. Also can start planning for Christmas (yes, I know it is only June) and the like. Perhaps I'd better do some rather than writing this.

Joan came home from work last night with a bit of an upset stomach so I sent her to bed. She did get up after a couple of hours sleep, but still very fragile. This morning she woke up with a splitting headache and weak legs to go with the iffy tummy and has been sick etc. She now has had the Doctor out to visit and my Mum has gone to pick up a prescription for her. I don't mind admitting that I'm a bit worried for her. Wish I could be at home to look after her rather than sitting around here trying to look busy.

I still went over to BB, and it was just as good as before. We did a lot of floor work this time, and I haven't felt quite so unhealthy in years. Loads of work on the abs - muscles that I guess I've neglected up to now. Not too painful this morning though, which is nice. And who knows, perhaps this week I'll find time to practice.

Revolting People continues to amuse and The Railway Navvies to inform.

Managed to ignore all the hype over the football this morning (and indeed the previous matches) despite the fever apparantly gripping the nation. I really couldn't give a monkeys about the whole World Cup. In fact, I can't wait for the whole analogue/digital tv thing to get sorted out so that all sport of all types can be on a different channel so the rest of the schedules don't have to get messed up whenever something like this comes along. I don't want to deny people the chance to watch it, but at the same time think the rest of us shouldn't have to suffer. It gets even worse from now on as we have alternate schedules to choose from depending upon which teams are playing. Think I will stick to the book.

Had to resort to doing a bit of tidying up this morning. Things must be getting desperate.

Went out for a wander in the sun at lunchtime which did wonders for clearing the mind a bit. Unfortunately, since I've got back I've been feeling really shaky - but no raised pulse or anything.

Body Balance again tonight - wonder if I will be able to balance any better. Still not managed to find time to practice!

Did something very unusual on the way home from work last night. So unusual I can't recall the last time it happened. I turned off some music because I wasn't enjoying it and couldn't be bothered to stick it out in the hope it would get better. The album in question was Trouble Over Bridgewater by Half Man, Half Biscuit. I've heard some of their stuff before and thought it OK, so when I saw it at the library I thought I'd give it a whirl. Kind of wish I hadn't now. Just tedious dirges with none of the humour I'd noticed before. So I stopped it. As I said, a most rare occurrence.

This morning I have started listening to Revolting People - a Radio 4 comedy series the brother recored. Co-written by Andy Hamilton who is seriously funny in everything else I've heard of his. Set in America at the time of the Boston Tea Party and quite amusing so far. 6 episodes so that should last me until the end of the week.

Now to find some work to do.

Another up & down kind of weekend. Saturday spent alternating between the Iron and the PC (and also watch Tomb Raider with Richard over lunch. I know the reviews were crap but I quite like it). Also listened to a few CDs for the first time in ages. Just not felt like music recently, but did enjoy Chumbawamba's Showbusiness! and some Levellers.

I also had the unenviable job of taking Tawny to the vet. It seems she has cystitis again, the poor little darlin'. So now we have to give her tablets twice a day so by the time she has finished the bottle and been back to check they've worked we shall really be in her bad books. It always takes her weeks to trust us again when something like this happens.

Yesterday I got up late to find Joan about to start working in the Garden. I managed to take over cutting the grass from her, but she simply did other stuff like weeding instead. After lunch I fell asleep on the hammock during which time she blitzed the whole house. So of course that left me feeling guilty again. Even though she could have woken me up rather than putting a blanket on me if she'd actually wanted help. After waking up I thought I was doing fine, but shortly realised I was in a nervous and feeling edgy kind of mood, which is still persisting this morning. Nothing seems to be shaking me out of it at the moment, and I can't even try my favourite remedy of a walk in the sun as it is instead raining like crazy.

I seem to be getting a run of, not quite nightmares, but dreams that leave me upset (to the point of crying) or agitated afterwards. The other night I woke up in tears cos I dreamed I'd dropped Tawny's dinner and wasted 60p! What the hell is that all about? I'd give a lot to get this sorted once and for all. I seem to be tired all the time still too.

Ma & Richard came to dinner last night for her birthday, and we started watching Harry Potter with them afterwards. Didn't get it finished so they will be back tonight for that. Still seeing new little bits in there.

Been doing yet more "day after the books come out" timetable changes this morning, with a few more to knock off this afternoon. Blasted operators, and even more blasted Cambridgeshire County Council for supporting the short notice changes. Here we go then.

Forgot to mention - now reading The Railway Navvies by Terry Coleman. Fascinating account of the railway construction period from the point of view of the workers rather than the Brunel/Stephenson type superstar engineers. Its a re-issue of the original 1960s book - not an update as there still isn't anything else to say. Well worth searching out.

Err, I knew there was something I hadn't done yesterday. And this is it.

Not that there was much to report. Half the office still not about - Gary is now back but Dawn on holiday instead and it is even worse today. OK, so some people have the day off to watch the football or go to the Suffolk Show, but it really is deserted in here today. Which is quite nice when there's a lot to do and distractions are not welcome, but I'm at a bit of a loose end at the moment! I'm sure there are one or two things I should be doing, but can't be arsed.

Last night we watched a bit of the Jubilee pop/rock concert. Quite good in places, but some problems with the mikes in others. Will probably finish it this evening as there is bugger all being transmitted worth watching at the moment. Roll on the end of the World Cup.

Still not got anything for Mum for her birthday. Which is today. Delivered the card on the way to work this morning but inspiration for the pressies is very thin on the ground.

Joan getting her back cracked this afternoon so another early finish for me. What a shame! Time for a spot of lunch now.

Back at work today. Not too much in the way of doom, gloom and misery though (apart from the weather) as I've been concentrating on writing up what I actually do with my time before my contribution to the group review later today. Also found out a few more details about when the Queen is coming to Ipswich in July - I think I might stay at home that day, probably the safest option in the long run!

I went round to help empty Richard's room before the builders move in today and very nearly walked out again. I'm there to help with TV and heavy stuff and he's faffing about with mini-discs and "ooh, I haven't decided where to put that yet". Like time was not a problem. I got reasonably sharp with him but he was still doing my head no favours. Oh well, I did what I could then came home again.

Last night was Body Balance session 3. Again very good, but I think we are going to have to start practicing between times now as it is getting quite complex and speeding up a bit on the newer moves. Did a bit of it in groups leaning on each other - which was quite good as the girls Joan & I teamed up with were just as prone to collapsing in gigles as us.

Suffolk Show is on this week after being cancelled last year due to foot & mouth but I don't think we will be getting to it. Joan is on a course on the Thursday and I don't think I can get Friday off so perhaps next year.

Joan and Helen are at Bingo tonite, so I'll have an evening of games with Richards Nintendo 64 wot I've borrowed.

I think I sorted myself out in the end on Friday. The network at work started getting very wobbly and we lost communications with the outside world. I wrote a first draft of a press release then after hanging about for ages for the finished version and not getting it went home. I never know whether I'm saying the right thing for the politicians when I write them, but someone must have liked it as I heard it word for word on the radio this morning!

We went round to the White Horse for dinner, and very nice it was too. Then came back and got all upset again by Greene dying in ER!

Saturday Joan was at work. With a bit of assistance from Jerry I put the trellis up, and then as I was feeling in a garden mood cut the grass as well! That took me up to lunch so while I was eating I downloaded the two new games from Llamasoft. Get them if you can - great fun and value. In the afternoon I wandered in to town. Saw Joan and also got Seven (or, if you must, Se7en) on DVD for a tenner. Looking forward to watching that. And stacks of extras over two discs so it should easily eat up a whole weekend sometime. We had a lazy evening with Chinese food in the garden and then the classical concert from Buck House on the tv, which I have to say was really good. The cello piece in particular stood out for me.

Sunday Joan was off and we spent pretty much all the daylight hours outside. Whipped up to Homebase first thing for gravel, then used that to put the finishing touches to the patio. And that is definitely finished now. Then had Ma, Pa & Richard around for a pre-lunch drink on it to well and truly break it in to use. Then we went next door for lunch as Jerry was having a Barbie. Quite tasty and pretty good company too. Also got to see some cute little baby Wrens as some have nested in the roof of his garden swing seat thingy. I like nature. Only trouble was not realising quite how hot the sun was - my legs are now a lovely shade of pink!

In the evening we went to see Star Wars Episode II. Absolutely superb. Much better than the last one and full of really great standout moments. A couple of little gripes relating to the overall continuity (like, why does R2D2 have so much trouble climbing stairs when he seems to have a built in jet pack?) but nothing too drastic. And now I can look forward to Episode III expecting it to be good rather than merely hoping.

Yesterday we had a lazy start pottering about the house, then after lunch we hit the sea front. As part of the jubilee stuff the BBC had organised a load of bands and things all along the prom. 8 stages and other bits in between. It was really rather good at times. Thousands of people there, the sun shone, most of the music was great and best of all Joan got to have another chat with Mark Murphy from Radio Suffolk.

Aching feet by the end of the day though.

In the evening we went round to Ma & Pa's for a very nice meal and then back down the front for the jubilee fireworks. They were also very impressive - the best display I've seen in Felixstowe with some new types of firework too. And there was also a display going on at Walton On The Naze at the same time which we could see in the distance, which was fun.

Today Joan has to work and I guess I can hear the ironing calling me...

We did indeed go to Homebase and got some trellis which I will try to put in tomorrow. Should be easy, but I seem to be technically useless in the garden. Also did the week's shopping at Sainsburys so should be able to relax on Sunday.

This morning has been annoyingly busy. Also have a visit from Graham our sales rep for printing. It might well be his last as he reckons the management are trying to get rid of him. It will be a shame to see him go as we do get on quite well, and he never pressures us into buying stuff we don't need. Good luck to him anyway.

Hit a major wall of gloom at lunchtime. Was out looking for a birthday present for my Mum - she mentioned wanting some old Ealing comedies or the like on DVD. Wasn't sure if any are available when I went out, and having looked at about a zillion discs in assorted shops am now convinced of it. I couldn't even be bothered to buy anything for myself by the end of it. Just ended up feeling numb and fed up. The fact that the sun is shining while I'm stuck in here and the forecast for mon/tues when I'm off is drab doesn't help either. Really need to shake myself up, but nothing seems to be doing the trick today.