Absent friends

Haven't heard from Kevin for ages but he rang me on Wednesday evening to tell me that Scotty had died that morning.

He died, unexpectedly, from a pulmonary embolism.

I was shocked, and heartbroken, and angry, and upset, and all the other stuff that people feel at times like this.

But then Jonathan and I spent a lot of time over the next few evenings remembering Scotty. And there was a lot to remember.

Scotty brought a massive amount of fun to our lives. He was also a moody bugger, who was a total law unto himself. But he was a lovely, kind, and generous man and that's why he was godfather to both our kids. Last time I spoke to him was when I rang him to invite him to our Silver Wedding do, but he was busy and couldn't (or wouldn't - one never quite knew) come.

There are so many anecdotes I could bore you with, but I won't. But one period I will always remember fondly was our Sunday breakfast club. Scotty, or Jonathan and I, would make a huge breakfast, or, better still we would go to the Lakeside Cafe in Roundhay Park.

Debbie and I would walk up to the shop, buy the papers and walk down to the cafe, Jonathan would walk the direct route and Scotty would drive up - fashionably late. And then we'd have a full English overlooking the lake, on the terrace in good weather, inside if not. After breakfast we'd often do something totally stupid like the time we drove to Bradford to see the key locations for the film Rita, Sue and Bob Too, when Scotty screeched to a halt and made us take a photo of him outside Luna Cars. Ok, so you had to be there - but it was funny at the time.

We'll miss you John Anthony Scott x x

Hoping for success like this

.......in my exams.

2,921,196 - what skill, what talent.

But then I put more effort into SpongeBob Collapse than I do for my uni stuff.

Well, you wanted to know

OK. Possibly most people couldn't give a toss, but Ruth asked about my exams, so here you go.

I'm doing a BA (Hons) degree in Business. I'm at the end of my second year and this is the semester 2 exams and assignment period. One more year to go!

I've already handed in 2 written assignments and done one group presentation, and then I had 3 exams.

My exams are/were in:

Management Accounting (that's the one I left early yesterday)
Financial Reporting (that's on Friday afternoon)
Business Decision Making (this was on Monday, there was a written assignment for this too - this subject is a stupid pile of crap which enables a bunch of work-shy academics avoid having to get a job in the real world)

I hate - and am absolutely hopeless at - the written assignments cos I am incapable of stringing more than 10 words together. And when you're not allowed to swear - well, that completely stuffs me up.

And that is why I am opting out of a dissertation next year.

Exams start today

How crap is that?

Have I done much work for them? Have I bollocks!

Am I panicking? Erm, no.

Oh well, here goes.......

Holy cow!

Well there I was, just after 11.30, sat watching the telly after a shower in my nightie and dressing gown. Most Haunted to be precise - but don't make assumptions, there was bugger all else on the box.

My mobile rang. It was Hennie. I stupidly assumed he'd be wanting a lift to uni tomorrow. I answered and he whispered "Look out of the window, there's a cow outside your house."

And bugger me - so there was.

Now I know we live in a 'village' probably defined as this cos it was once, but there are lots of houses. And we live slap bang in the middle of a new-ish housing estate.

Of course I had to run out straight away, and apart from nipping back in to get a coat and collect my cigs, we've spent the last 75 minutes running round the village chasing the cow, being chased by the cow, losing the cow, finding the cow, cowering from the cow, until finally it got back on to the main street and wandered towards the roundabout at the end of the village. Suprisingly, there is a cow farm on the roundabout too.

We decided it had now become a bit late, cold and boring - and the bloody thing was getting to be a long way away too - and I had no knickers on. So, cool as you like, Hennie and I said goodnight and went our separate ways. Still, it was fun while it lasted.

Thanks Henners x

They're not buried under the patio

they've both gone for sleepovers, which left Jonathan and I to DO WHATEVER WE WANTED for the night.

This happened a while back and we were so disorganised that our plans to escape the village for the night were totally thwarted (great word!) and we ended up at the usual 2 pubs at the end of the road. I mean, we did have a very good (and drunken) night, it's just that we didn't get very far.

So, last night we had had a bit more notice that we were getting rid of both little darlings. Not that this helped in the slightest, cos we were still 'discussing' where to go at 7.30. Eventually, we decided to go to Korks in Otley for dinner. Despite being in Otley, the food is great, the ambience is great, we know the owner and, all being well, we could get back to Burley for last orders.

Walking up towards the bus stop, we watched as it sailed by. Bugger. So we called in the teeny, tiny pub opposite the stop to down a swift drink before the next bus.

When we returned to the stop, I thought it might be a good idea to book a table so I rang Korks. FULL - what?? How dare you bugger up our plans like that! I did consider ringing Chris (the owner) on his mobile to ask if he could squeeze us in, but thought that might be a bit cheeky.

So we decided to stay in Burley and go to the Queens for dinner. As we walked down, I gave them a ring. 'Sorry we're full.' WHAT THE F**K?? I really felt like saying 'Do you know who this is?' but thought maybe I wasn't quite A-list enough to pull that one, so, cheeky or not, I text Hennie (joint owner) and whinged to him.

'Give me 10 minutes, then come down,' he said. So we did, and had a lovely dinner - as usual (you really must try the Queens Head in Burley in Wharfedale, if you want the number to book a table just ask me).

Proving once again, it's not what you know, it's who you know.

Thanks Henners x x