Expressions

This week in Stormont, one of our SF MLS's sent an internal memo to his department saying that they should not call Northern Ireland by that name, but either 'The North' (how very republican) or 'Here'. What made it worse is that Sammy Wilson took the time of the Assembly to make every concievable joke you can imagin. I'm up to Northern Ireland with those jokes.

The girls are spending a few days down in larne this week, which gives me a chance to men stuff, like watch TV in my underwear and scratch. They are back tomorrow.

Our ongoing battle in the drop-in is that some of teh boys are tearing down the 'It is against the law to smoke in these premisis' sign, that we have to have at the entrance of the drop-in. Last week we replaced it around 15 times. This week we warned that we would close for that session (or the one after) if it is taken down. We were closed on Wednesday afternoon, and after someone burned the sign on tonoght on teh way out, we are closed on Monday night. In my day, we would of take the person responsible aside and quietly 'had a word'. Kids these days tend to blame us. Sometimes this job gets to you!

Race for life

My two nieces, Caitlin and Riona, are doing the Race For Life to raise money for Cancer Research in memory of their grand father, and my Dad, who died 10 years ago this year. I unashamedly plug their web page for donations.
All the best for it girls.

More MP3

I am still enjoying my player, especially since I got a new one from Sony, thanks to a deal.
There have been new podcasts to listen to and since Roger showed me how to use Juice to collect them , it has been really easy.
Pendant productions are where I get my comic book fix. They have serialised dramas featuring the DC big three (Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman), where the stories are fairly well upto date with the current comicbooks, so no messy 'origin' story, and the only complaint is that the acting can be a bit ropy in places compared to places like the BBC. They also produce serials of James Bond, Indiana Jones and Star Trek.
The other Sci-Fi podcast is Escape Pod. My science fixion is usually in the popular TV fueled worlds of StarWars, Babylon 5 etc, but Escape Pod brings short Sci-fi stories of a more calssic feel, with stories from famous and unknown authers. They are well read and of high quality. Very few of the stories I have not liked.
My interest in counselling is being fueled not only by the books I am reading at the moment, but the Social Work Podcast. You would really need a pen and paper to take notes because it is in depth in the sublects it covers. Interpersonal phychotherapy, Gastalt therapy and CBT are some of the topics covered. Heavy going, but give an introduction to some of the topics we brushed upon in last years course.
My favourite podcast by far is the One minute how-to. A fantastic idea that gives people who know how to do something a platform to explain it in one minute. Topics that have been covered include How To Order At Starbucks, How To Knock Them Dead In An Interview, How To Teach , How To Read A Story Aloud (by Steve Eley from Escape Pod) and How To Taste Dark Chocolate. There are over 130 now, and most worth hearing either for information or they are soo funny. My favourite was How To Stop Your Shoe Laces From Coming Undone, just for the geekyness of the web site link alone. I callenge you to go to Ian's Shoelace Site and not be amazed.
A lot of these sites I find myself, but some are recomended to me. If you know of good podcasts, do share them.

It's a fair cop!

We love to watch 'New Tricks' as one of our TV programmes together. The evedence is brought together near the end of each episode and the main suspect (usually the most famous guest actor) such as claw marks on a door and puma poo on next doors lawn, and the suspect owns up to it immediatly.
In the Cornerstone, our boys don't seem to watch these cop shows. They always deny that it was them what did it, no matter what evidence you produce, including seeing them do it.
We bought a PS2 last Wednesday in teh centre. We held back for a long time, mainly due to the attutude there is about stuff. "If it breaks, it's noty mine so it doesn't matter". But we bought a package with the "buzz" games, and the boys were really greatful. Untill last night. One boy waded through the controller cables, sending the console flying and damaging a game. He went back to his seat and giggled. No appology. No helping set it back. No remorse. One broken game in a week. No one cared. We could always buy another.
Today I checked over the system again, and found someone had stuck chewing gum on a controller.
Sometimes the job can be painfull with dissapointment in the human condition.