In Training

Halfway through

Wow, long time eh.  Don't have much time to post, so I'll make this quick...

Just returned from Scotland back to Southern England where I'm staying with Royal and his famiy.  Fantastic weekend visiting Arbroath, Dundee, Perth, and more. 

Favorite places: Glamis Castle and Arbroath Abbey.  Everyone was awesome and I actually didn't have much trouble understanding the accent - this is all looking good for moving over!  Unfortunately didn't get to see where I'll be living, didn't have the time and there didn't seem to be much use as Royal doesn't really know where anything is anyway  :o)

Didn't have any trouble flying over, extra security, YES!  Was comforting.  Should be even better flying back...  On the home front, I've just been informed that I've received a raise in pay AND a monthly bonus until I move - YAY!  Just goes to show the Lord provides.

I think by the time I leave I'll have gained about 15 pounds - been eating like crazy - cream teas, full English breakfasts, lovely pub food...  Have photos for y'all soon, I hope!  Thanks to everyone for the well wishes, especially Patriot Xeno for nagging me via email to post   :o)

Hasta

Between working this weekend and packing for my 3 week trip, (and then leaving!) I'll not be posting much.  While I'm there I'll try to get in a couple - but no promises!

I leave y'all with this:

HEH!

-- "A study carried out by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies (CCJS) describes government strategy on tackling knife crime as "incoherent".

The Home Office said British Crime Survey figures to March 2006 pre-dated the knife amnesty, which began in May. The CCJS claimed knife amnesties have a "negligible" impact on knife crime.

The report - carried out by the charity, which is based at Kings College, London - also found insufficient evidence to show amnesties or tougher sentences reduced the numbers carrying or using knives.

The study comes weeks after more than 100,000 weapons were handed to police in England, Scotland and Wales during a national knife amnesty."

I really appreciate all your support, hope your next three weeks rock.

Background:
The world is ending...
That damn knife amnesty
Don't bring back sharp pointy things

flying into London

I'm flying into London next week.

To visit Royal.  He didn't have much to say when I called - just that he wish he were hunting those bastards down.

Sex Ed

Let me preface this by first saying that I was raised by two professors, one of which taught health and drivers ed in a big city high school for 20 years.  I think I got the "sex talk" when I was about 11, and with every boyfriend after.  So, if anyone is squeamish, offended, or blush-y about sex talk stuff, do not read the following.

NHS should offer a wider selection of condoms.  Because, you know, not all men are the same size, and apparently not all men are smart.  At all. 

-- "An FPA survey of 500 people found a third had experienced a condom splitting or coming off during sex.
....
Two thirds of those in its survey who had experienced problems with a condom did not know why.

And a quarter of respondents did not know condoms came in different lengths and widths.

Just under half said talking about condom size was embarrassing."

Call me crazy smart but...
1. How in the world can you not know why?  This is not a difficult contraption, like say, a cell phone, but I'm sure they have no trouble working one of those.
2. How in the world can you not know that they come in different lengths and widths?  There are a million jokes out there about this exact thing.
3. If you're embarrassed to talk about condom size, maybe you shouldn't be having SEX. 

-- "The FPA says one of the main factors which affects whether a condom is going to split or slip is its fit. People who have had problems can also lose confidence in using condoms as a contraceptive, it warned, potentially increasing their risk of unwanted pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection."

"Lose confidence in condoms" so they stop using them and start infecting their partners with nasty diseases and possible pregnancies?  Wow, geniuses.  And the NHS thinks that by offering bigger/smaller/longer/shorter condoms they will reach these people?  These people don't even want to TALK about it.  Not that I'm against the actual more selection idea, I just think maybe educating parents is a better one!

My parents were great, I was raised with Christian values - abstinence is key.  I've never had problems getting guys, never had problems keeping guys, never had a problem getting my perfect (and very sweet & sexy) guy.  Know what else I never had a problem with?  STDS or pregnancy.  My parents were open about sex, taught me about birth control, told me that if I ever decided to become sexually active they would take me to the doctor.
Why aren't kids today getting this? 

-- "We would also like to see health professionals talk to clients about condoms during consultations and tackle some of the embarrassment that exists around condom use."

Education is definitely important, but it just seems it's got to come from home first.  Kinda rambled (I'm at work) but there you go

* Typepad drives me crazy update*: there are comments, but they aren't showing up.  Don't know why, just didn't want Kathi thinking I deleted her comment 

Man Who Never Misses: Taliban Terminator

An unnamed-for-his-protection British Army sniper has taken out a confirmed 39 Taliban fighters since he's been in Afghanistan.  They call him the "man who never misses". 

-- Described by sources as “the best shot in the Army” he is responsible for over five per cent of the 700 insurgents killed by Paras since British forces returned to Afghanistan.  He is based in the wild Helmand province, where our troops launched a massive assault on the Taliban this week. A source said yesterday: “This sniper is truly something else — a silent assassin.

“In the deadly terrain of southern Afghanistan, where guerilla warfare rules, he has been invaluable. The rumours are sweeping enemy camps that he is the man who never misses.”

Oh hell yeah. 

-- Each day the pair risk their lives away from fellow Paras, taking up covert positions and often lying hidden for as long as ten hours at a time. Once the shot has been fired they need nerves of steel to stay concealed while Taliban rebels wielding rocket-propelled grenades and machine-guns desperately try to hunt them down.

Oh. Hell. Yeah.  When I was younger and thought about going into the military, I really wanted to be a sniper.  Having some experience and being successful in high power shooting all these years, I would like to think I would've been (would be?) a good one.  The only thing holding me back is that having to sit still thing...  Yeah, I'm all about that. 

Snipers are something else entirely - we need them to win this war, and they need our support and prayers.

Hat tip to -----> Royal!

Tough love in school

We are all being sucked into a touchy-feely world.  You cannot escape. 

Students "cannot be called clever" because the other kids might not then think that they are "cool."

-- Instead they should refer to academic high-achievers as "successful", the Professional Association of Teachers' conference in Oxford heard. Simon Smith, a teacher from Essex, said it was important to avoid a culture which "mocks being clever".

I guess last year they changed "failure" to "deferred success."  Snort.  I mean, I agree. I really have to tell y'all how much it damaged me to have my papers graded in red pen.  I still have nightmares.  I feel inadequate. 

What are we doing?  We are raising a bunch of pansy whiny me! me! me! spoiled brats.  Who grow up to be pansy whiny me! me! me! spoiled people.  Who then raise more worse pansy whiny me! me! me! spoiled children.  I could go on.  Not to mention, if kids don't pick on other kids because the teach called them "clever," they'll find another reason.  It's like the parents / teachers /administrators want to encourage kids to find bright new shiny ways of bugging each other.

I was raised with tough love on occasion, and I couldn't have been happier with that looking back. 

** More!

Alex of Dark Side of the Light leaves this brilliant word change in the comments:

-- How about
"pansy (sensitive) whiny (vocal) me! me! me! (privileged) spoiled (gifted) brats (special people)"

Terror Awards

What has gone wrong? 

BBC tv show shows "terrorism awards." People laugh it up.

There are words for how I feel and what I would like to say - but I'm too nice to type them out on this public site.  Suffice it to say, I hope that I never run into any of their kind when I'm over there.

kaseiryu leaves this oh-so-true comment on Hot Air:
-- "See, it’s funny guys! Because the Americans won’t run us to ground and behead us. They also won’t attack random people who “look British”. And they won’t set our embassy on fire. See? Funny!
/BBC"

Week from hell

This has been a bad week for me - week meaning last Tuesday to this one. 

Two people have quit working in our office -- we only have a staff of 4 1/2 (one is very part time) -- so the rest of us get to take up the slack (and not get paid for it) while the board of directors screws around.  I owe more money than expected this month, no real clue to why as of yet, just that I have to pay it before I find out (freakin' companies).  Royal and I had the fleeting thought of forgetting about our January wedding that I don't enjoy planning and gettin' hitched when I come to visit this month (on the beach!)  But, as it turns out, Britain requires you to have a flippin' visa for bloody well everything and we don't have enough time. 

And it's only Tuesday. 
Brighter days are coming ~ I leave in about 2 weeks to see Royal... I would prefer it was to marry the man of my dreams, but the Lord is stretching me with patience.