MAN ! I'v been on LOADS of conference calls this week ! That was with a bloke from Atlanta.

Theres a bit of a panic trying to get stuff in diaries before Europe goes on holiday so LOTS of calls.

In my experience it's funny how people suddenly want to "clean out their closets" just because they, or their business partners, are going on a holiday <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Things that otherwise might not be adressed for 2-3 months.

Next week!! That last week flew by <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

How exciting for you. Bet you had fun choosing the flooring and colours for the walls!

Actually I choose the same sort of flooring and colours I choose for our new home just 2 years ago. I put a lot of time and effort in that then.. so it was easy now <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

Hey Brownhair!

If you know what you like, why change it?

You must be so excited - I am too, for you!

Alph.

Hey!

The IRA have formally ended their 'armed campaign'.

About bl**dy time, IMO. But, any move towards peace is good news, especially in the current climate.

Here's to peace, and to solving conflict by peaceful means.

Alph.

Of course they have. They have a devolved government and murdering terrorists sitting as MPs paid for from British taxes.

What more do they have to fight for? They have utterly won through violence.

I HATE this message.
What next an 'Al qu'a-ida council' represented in parliament too, with Osama Bin Laden as party leader ?

* shakes head *

We all got through the Spanish Inquisition.. that's when fanatics à la Al Qu'aida were GOVERNING our countries and torturing/executing those that weren't "catholic enough"... hopefully we'll soon see the day young people aren't brainwashed to become fanatics anymore.

I see it as more of a triumph for the people of NI, who can, after all, vote as they wish, especially as now they have less to be intimidated by.

The IRA had completely lost any support they used to have - the public relations disasters of the bank robbery, and the murder of Robert McCartney, Adams being snubbed in the US...

The people of NI, even those who previously supported armed Republicanism, have no patience for violence any more.

Also, most MPs who have been elected in NI are not, and have never been, terrorists.

The IRA is a spent force. Sinn Fein will become, more and more, a minority party. People want the stability that comes from the centre of politics, not the extreme.

Alph.

We have noticed its been very busy this month, escalating this week and next week is full of meetings already - perhaps we wont have an August slowdown this year <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> - alternatively might be our move from IT service to IT products.

I'm excited but afraid to express it around STBXRWH.. that's a bit weird.. I'll be glad to be by myself. With my dog and my cat, of course. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

A dog and a cat - what more do you need?

I'm thinking about getting a dog myself - but my two cats won't be happy about that!

Alph.

Alph, my dog has been my best friend through this mess, really. Steadfast, loyal , patient, cheering. I truly love this dog. His name is Murphy and he is a blue merle border collie.

He's smarter than most people I know and loves me more than anyone on earth.

And my walking him became awesome prayer & meditation time when all was chaos.

Highly recommended.

Hey b0b!

Hear you had a mini tornado over in your neck of the woods!

Hope you've kept your roof on.

(I want a dog <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> )

Alph.

Yes I hear that in Sparkbrook the tornado caused literally hundreds of thousand of pounds worth of improvements ! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

( its a GRIM part of Birmingham!)

I recall the famous Dudley Earthquake from 2002. It hit 5 on the richter scale.

Squid woke me up in tehnight and the house was shaking.

I got up and looked out the window to see the neighbours greenhouse collapse and feel everything move under my feet.

" feels like an earthquake " I said before climbing back into bed and sleep immediately !!!!

Squid sat up worriedly watching TV all night.

I slept like a baby !

I was just too tired to give a monkeys !

Hi Alphin,

Actually that's a nice story.

I had my cat for 10 years + when we got the dog. My cat didn't like it at ALL. She scares very easily and had been terrorised by the neighbour's cats that even followed her into the house through her catflap and ate her food.. So she wasn't too happy with the new rather wild intruding puppy.

For 2 years she avoided the dog by living in the upper floors of our house. Then we took the dog on a holiday while the cat remained "home alone" with FIL caring for her. Shortly after we returned from holidays, the dog ate something wrong and was rather sick and quiet for another week. And in that period my cat overcame her fear..

She now dares to pass right in front of the dog's nose, daring it to "catch me if you ca-an..." She's not exactly cuddling up to our dog but she gets braver every day. Not bad for a now 13-year old cat that normally scares easily!

Just thought I'd check in, what with living in the same timezone.

Won't have too much time to post with kids at home for the summer but hopefully will find some spare minutes.

2b

Hi 2B !!!

My kids are home too ! I hope the rain stops ! my kids are outdoor kids, they HATE being stuck inside !

This holiday is already transformed from last year, when D-day was 2 days after the kids broken up from school. That was hard stuff.

What you got planned to keep the kids amused this hol ?

We have Willy Wonka tomorrow with our friends and their kids, and then dinner at nandos together.

Hi 2B, where do you live ?

I live in Wiltshire.

Holiday plans are legoland for a day and day trips. We had a 2 week holiday at the beginning of July.

They also go to a couple of summer camps - drama etc.

2b