Believe this if you can.

I am not kidding when I tell this tale.

It is the truth, and I swear it to be so.

I have noticed, in the last ten days or so, that whenever I blow my nose, there are tiny blue flecks in my snot.

(Please stick with it, Dear Reader. It doesn't stay so gross, but it is quite marvellous I think.)

I have been a little baffled by it, but kind of thought it might be dust from the office or flecks in the tissue (I only buy white tissue so I was being a bit dense even thinking that!).

Anyway, this morning, with the full-blown cold thing going on, I blew a mighty nose full, out.

More bluey-green flecks than ever! Bigger this time! More substantial as some kind of examinable item.

Most baffling.

Later in the day when refreshing an eyeliner I have worn without incident for some time now that is in a similar colour, it occurred to me that this teal colour that I have been finding in my snot, exactly matches the colour of the new eyeliner I bought about 10 days ago from Avon!

This new eyeliner causes a bit of a reaction in my eyes, in that about 45 mins after I have applied it, my eyes feel like they have a film over them, I cannot see clearly and they run a bit. It clears after about 5 minutes, with a little bit of vigorous ball rubbing! Consequently I have only used it 3 times, hoping it'd be ok.

Anyhoo, I think it's enetered my nasal passages! Is this physically possible???

I have written to Avon just to give them a bit of a laugh, but I swear to God, this is happening.

I am going to do some experiments with this over the weekend with the assistance of my friend Betty. No rabbits will be harmed.

She has come up with the ingenious plan of seeing if the flecks spread on a piece of tissue in the same way eyeliner would.

Nice weekend we're gonna have eh?!

A true mate.

So this is different....

The virus now has full residency.

There are the usual delightful, full-on symptoms: snot, red-eye, aches where I don't believe I actually had limbs to start with.

But there is this new and bizarre symptom, that I'm really quite enjoying because it's so fucking weird!!

Believe this or not, but I have a senstion like I can feel my blood!

With every exhalation of breath, I have the oddest sensation of feeling the blood rushing in my arms. Not at all like the usual creeps up the spine jobby that accompanies these things.

No sirree! This is quite the most original thing I've experienced since getting septic Tonsilitis as a kid, and hallucinating! John Denver singing Annie's Song features in this, but that is another story entirely.

Most queer.

Stings like a Bee-tch!

I have the sorest throat.

It's one of those that sting your nose and makes you feel like you have swallowed a tasty mixture of sand, phlegm, razors, cling film and fire.

For the last week there have also been waves of nausea, snotty, sneezy moments, a head as woolly as Lambsy, and just a general feeling of unwellness.

And now I have a throat that feels like I have a thyroid problem, only yuckier.

Viruses are not my friends.

In the main, we have an understanding; I don't want to fight them, they stay away from me.

It works .

We'll have no trouble here...........

But this is a new Crew. They don't know the rules.

They've never even heard of Cricket, and are making like French students, rioting in my mucus membranes, and the bit that moves when I swallow.

But the weird bit is, I don't feel as ill as I feel????? Does that make sense????

By this, I mean that the way I feel, which is really not good at all, coupled with the pain in my throat, should mean that I am being kept isolated in some manner of oxygen bubble, with relatives weeping at the door and apologising for making me the emotional wreck I am today.

But I'm not actually doen in by this or incapable of going to work. What's that about?

They're definitely not from round here.........

News and stuff

I've been taking a break from most activities online, this being one of them.

I've been so busy with the new job, with very little opportunity to visit the boards. When I do, Christ on a bike, I'm glad that I'm not so wrapped up in them! Unbearable to see it is!

The mods have got all nazi, the posters that appear with one name and then another, are just as dull as ditchwater, and I'm glad to report that the good folks I want to speak to when I get home, are going to homes and lives of their own. I was even modded yesterday, for having the gall to mention that I thought a deviant thread was fun and that poo should go out to the mods. Modded! For that childish shite?? Oh I fully expect to be chastised and told in no uncertain terms that I am not to be so silly on a board full of such highbrow content and opinion, but modded? Bollocks to them, frankly.

So, Kassia-Kat it is.

I've been working with some Polish lads, and Kassia (it's pronounced Kasha) is Polish for Kate.

The job is going very well as it happens, and I have to say that I am about as happy as a person can be in your average working position. All good.
The boss is a demanding little bugger, but nothing I can't handle, and the challenge of doing everything from scratch, by hand (no computer, VAT books and basically working with quills and lamp light! Ten Guineas a week and not a ha'penny more!) is good for the old grey matter now that I'm another year older.

It was my birthday over the weekend, and it is fair to say that it really was one of the best of my adult life.

No great parties or fuss, but I had dinner with a friend, got drunk a couple of times over the course of the weekend, got tons of cards and texts and gifts and had beautiful moments. It really does not get much better than that.

I even got the chance to see Viki the Hairdresser, so who would I be to complain about getting closer to 40 thanI am to 30, eh? If a girl can get her 'do done on her birthday, she'd be a demanding little minx to expect more.
But more I got! Mainly in the form of love, love, love - family, friends, and loved ones from all the nooks and crannies of my life. It was great.

There was time spent with G, which has been happening alot recently, and while there will always be the cynic in me, I think there's something there that I need to stick with.

He's special. He brings......................much.

He's living with N, and for the moment, that suits me ok. It's all about enjoying the time and the company at the moment, and there are some truly interesting slants he's had to give on things, that I want to hear and explore.
The domestic arrangements give the sense of freedom, whilst still being anchored. Perhaps it's selfish and misguided, but I'm certainly happier this way.

I'm skint. That's been a massive change.

Not too fussed, and again, I've enjoyed the challenge, in this case, of living like a church mouse. Not sure how long that novelty will last, but I didn't know I could live so well with so little! Jeez, I've never been anything close to well-off, but this is really living tight! My mothers 'good living for cheap' skills are coming into their own!!

Charlie is still doing well, and as I write, I'm waiting for him to return from a Chelsea match (1-0 against Newcastle) that he went to on his own! He got the chance of a very cheap ticket, and no matter what, he was going! He's just been on the phone bemoaning the trains.

He's been learning to drive, and has been told that he has a natural ability. I believe this is actually something in the blood. From both sides, he comes from entire families of first-time passers. Pressure's on eh?!?!

I'm getting stuck into the A level, in as much as I'm reading! I think it's best to read with an uncritical eye and then do the exercise set. I'm about to finish 'Spies' and will get to writing and re-reading when I've finished the book.

The other thing that I'm looking into is learning to play the guitar. I have to do it before I die, so now is as good a time as any.

And that's about it.

Hope it's not been too boring for you.

It's just life as I know it.

Amelie Delagrange

I am pleased to read that someone is at last going to stand trial for the brutal murder of this beautiful young girl.

I'm just a bit surprised to read who they've charged, but I'll explain further in a bit.

Other charges have also been brought against Levi Bellfield, for the attempted murders and abduction of other young women in the area around Twickenham.

On one occasion, the attacker revved his engine, drove straight at one of these young women and then reversed over her. She was very lucky to survive, as were others.

But not so for the lovely, fresh-faced English student, Amelie, who was attacked with something like a hammer, and died from her injuries. She was 22 years old.

My family live around the area where a seemingly separate hammer attack took place, in Hampton.

Hanworth (where my sister lives) is just up the road, and Levi originally came from Hanworth.

In fact, she went to school with him, and knew him as a neighbour for many years. His family still live just across the road.

He even came up for a cuppa a few times over the years, and got on well with my brother-in-law.

She last saw him 2 years ago.

He was always a skinny little fella as a teenager, who bounced on his toes when he walked. My sister tells me he grew to be about 6 ft 2 and is a big stocky bloke.

I was a bit younger than him and always found his slightly aggressive nature off-putting. I never wanted to get to know him. My sister always thought he was a sweetheart.

Whatever, it is truly incredible to think that he could be capable of these terrible crimes, but the police dug up his garden a long time ago, and I doubt that this case would be coming to court after 18 months, without some pretty solid evidence.

If he is innocent, then I hope this is found to be so.

If he's guilty, I thank God for the skills of the British police and hope the system deals with it as it should.

Her parents and loved ones deserve to see proper justice done.