Well, I'm not as bad as I could be after my bizarre accident yesterday   but had better not sit at this keyboard for too long!

Important news of a new blog launched by Holly in response to the support, promotion and the interaction needs of bloggers (see my moany post 'Bravejournal Issues'). It's a Bravenet Community Blog. If you're new or old to blogging you will REALLY be doing yourself a favour by visiting. Connect with other bloggers, learn tips and tricks, learn how to increase traffic flow. Holly is doing all this voluntarily so leave her a message, give her feedback, show your support!

On a less worthy note I've decided to start a new blog (still on bravejournal) that's dedicated entirely to pianos. I've been piano crazy since as far back as I can remember. This will be anything to do with them: players, techniques, stupid videos. For those of you that visit here often there'll still be lots of silliness; pianos are, after all, objects of entertainment, pleasure and joy. Pop into Hazel Quinn's Ultimate Piano Blog and let me know what you'd like to see..

I unwittingly ended up as street entertainment today.

On a Friday afternoon I go to a disabled day centre which (for me) is about rehabilitation and support and development. I was due to meet some friends at 6pm for a meal and birthday celebrations so thought I'd spend the intervening time between day centre and meal running some errands, enjoying the sunshine and gathering some signatures for a petition (more on that in another post). I was a bit shattered and 'head woozy' but I LOVE the independence that my mobility scooter gives me (which is probably an illusion - I've just worked out that it took the 'personal assistance' of 9 people today so that I could use it!).

So I'm electronically wheeling around and trying to get up a very awkward ramp quickly so that I don't hold up cars and, for the first time, my scooter overturns. I went over, the scooter went on top of me and I was trapped, disorientated and feeling like a right arse!

It was all a bit hazy after that. I could hear the engine of a large van and was wondering why a van would be there as there's nowhere for them to deliver, but they'd pulled over straight away just to help me. They bounced out to help and I'd have been stuck on the pavement forever had they not assisted me up. Somehow I was upright and intact again. The great thing where I live is that I have no fear of muggers, etc. I knew I wouldn't be ignored, or my handbag (small pickings there!) stolen while I was down. Another lady offered to walk with me to where I was meeting my friends a few minutes hence. But I was OK, got to the restaurant, had a G&T, and waited for the aches and pains to hit.

Eek, they certainly are hitting. I think my right side will be a lot more purple than god intended but it's nice to live in a community where people will stop and help, because in London I wouldn't have felt safe.

I was just trying to get well enough to get back to my music and now feel set back again without an operational right side. Doh! But onwards and upwards...or should that be downwards....

This is a hard one to post because I'm enjoying using bravenet's journal facility; this blog is coming out high on google ratings and I'm now used to using its tools. But myself and other dedicated bloggers are getting fed-up with how stale and lacking-in-support  bravenet itself can sometimes be. I mentioned this yesterday on Holly's Blog (she has a lot more traffic than me) and she's feeling the same so has taken up the issue.

For instance on the journal home page there's 'featured' and 'popular' journal lists that change every few seconds. It shuffles around the same old, same old sites, some of which haven't been used by their writers for years! There was even one featured journal where the guy last wrote nearly 3 years ago saying he wasn't coming back because he was so fed-up with bravejournal! In the meantime I've (accidentally) found some great, active bravejournals out there that aren't getting a look-in to any promotion by bravenet.

This isn't going to encourage new quality bloggers to the site and doesn't keep those of us who put in the time and energy to stay put. I've now started journalling on other sites to see if they come out better, it will also mean I've got to work hard all over again to get any new site's ratings up.

If you feel the same PLEASE CONTACT BRAVENET, pop into Holly's site for the latest.

Examples: 'Featured Journals' - there seem to very few of these that bravejournal rotates. This, supposedly, is what bravejournal wants in it's 'shop window'.

http://oneofakindsoldier.bravejournal.com/ excellent and worthy site but not been added to since December 2005

http://reginahill.bravejournal.com/archive.php looks like it has been busy but currently, no entries in the blog

http://itsafrogslife.bravejournal.com/ again. looks like it has been busy but no entries since April 2007

http://healthyliving7.bravejournal.com/ there are currently no entries to this blog

NB: I am not actually LOOKING for these. This is every single FEATURED blog I'm going on!

http://nydreamdragon.bravejournal.com/ has been an excellent site but no entry since January 2006

http://hollie_14.bravejournal.com/ no entry since April 2006 AND she says that she's not ever coming back!

http://savedangel61.bravejournal.com/ no post since December 2005

http://megankim.bravejournal.com/ no post since December 2006

I could go on but I'm bored. more 'featured journals' are out of date than are active. In the meantime 'active members' don't get  the promotion they deserve!

Following on from the previous entry about 'swingers' here's a Word of the Day from MLM (My Lord & Master). He often gets phrases and words accidentally mixed up. At the weekend we were talking about history and men with many wives and concubines, etc. Instead of calling them 'polygamous' MLM called them 'polyamorous' which I think is a much better word!!

So that's the Word of the Day: polyamorous

PS: Or I guess you could spell it pollyamorous to suggest a loved-up parrot!   

I've loved big band swing music since I was wee; long before it's revival in the 90's that lasts to this day. It's so frustrating that by the time it was fashionable I was too sick to work and jump on the (literal) bandwagon.

Before then I did get to work with The Herb Miller Band - a big band led by Glenn Miller's younger brother Herb, who then must have been well into his 80's. It was a great time. I guess there were about 20 musicians - who were excellent, excellent players - and myself doing a little tour. We sang the oldies, many of Glenn Miller's and other standards.

But I keep getting disappointed by TV coverage of 'swing'. I'll see a documentary advertised saying something along the lines of "a programme about people who swing" or "tales of swingers" or "a documentary about swinging" and I get excited and set the machine to record. However when I sit down I find it's not about my beloved music at all but about...well...'swingers': people who sort of 'swap around partners'...er...sort of. Now I like a party as much as the next girl, but not that sort of party. I don't have the emotional, mental or physical disposition for such antics.

The documentaries are a mine of information though, for instance: I don't know if it's universal but in the UK a sign to other swingers that you're a swinger is to have pampas grass growing at the front of your house. When I bought my house what was growing in the front and remains to this day? Yep, pampas grass 'swinging' in the breeze! I've also got pampas grass growing in my rear garden which I guess could mean...no, I'm not going there.

So, I'll advertise the fact. Yes, I'm a swinger; any hot music around count me in - I'm just not that type of swinger!!

NB: Any sites or services I recommend are here because I believe they are good and you may benefit from them. I get no financial kickbacks from them.

  I love finding the right pics and animations for my posts. Often I find that a good gif will remind me of a story to put here and so one inspires the other. However, it can sometime be tedious trawling through avaricious animation sites that are not very good.

I've found a great free site that has lots of useful animations laid out in a way that's quick and easy to us - and it's British (hurrah!). It's called Heather's Animations and I certainly recommend a visit (or two).

If you do use any of the pics then why not leave her a donation so she can keep the site open in the future (that's only fair isn't it?). Even a $ is better than nothing. I was only able to donate a teensy amount but she was kind enough to send me some personalised gifs, like the one below, in return.

PS: My medication's kicking in now, pain a lot less...getting there...

Well, after some palaver, got some anti-biotics yesterday for what, apparantly is a huuuuuuuge abscess on my tooth, but I think it would be easier just to:

Sick and frail so am behind in checking in with peoples' blogs and seeing what ya'll up to. Will see you when I can, I really appreciate you stopping by. In the meantime:

Have A Great Weekend! 

See you soon!

Apologies for that last moany post. To cheer myself up I'm going to imagine the dentist's receptionist going through customs...

and getting stopped...

and getting the full works...

What I thought last night were sinus problems was actually an abscess and I've got toothache so bad I could smack my head against a wall - and that's WITH major, major, painkillers.

Aaaaaaaaarrrggghhh!! If that weren't bad enough, the UK has a major shortage of dentists, even if you've got loads of money to spend you can't just walk in anywhere. My usual dentist can't find my files so won't book me. Files? It's a tooth, it's in my head, x-ray it and give me damn antibiotics!! Duh!!! I've been waiting for them all day to sort themselves out and now it's even too late to go to our hospital which will be closed now. Yep! Closed! I've got a weak immune system so I can't take any infections. It's going to be another sleepless, pained night and more misery and I still haven't got an appointment to see anyone yet.

F!D%%D?D!D?!!!!!Y&!"""D???@~!!>MJIG!%!!!!!!!

Rant over.

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible...

It's mid afternoon here in UK land and had to have another sleep this afternoon. Hayfever started badly last night so the sinus pain wasn't very funny. My very nice gardener and friend, Bernie the Bass , must be allergic to the same thing as he was supposed to be cutting my hedges today and instead left a message, "Die Din't dink die chud be going ub ladders dooday." Poor guy was one mucussed-out cookie. We've got our acoustic music night at the pub tonight but I can't see myself getting there.

So, it's nice to get to the keyboard and see my tagboards been busy with messages from y'all. Looks now like bravenet's telling me I've not left a message when I have so each time I try it's putting the same message up a gazillion times. Oops. I've been enjoying the inspirational quotes on Tracy's page and she's given me the site name Ta! For years a favourite quote of mine has been by Louisa M. Allcott (the writer of 'Little Women'): I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.

Which brings me to a silly vid for you. I love rain at this time of year, when you get just a light shower. During and after all the smells of the vegetation are so much stronger and fresher. Mmmm. Who doesn't love the joy and silliness of the title song sequence of 'Singing In The Rain'?     As I've had a few Star Wars vids lately here's one showing what would happen if Star Wars' George Lucas restored the original, classic 'Singing In The Rain' film. It's SOOOOO silly!!

Added 7:44pm GMT: If you're a Gene Kelly or Muppet fan have a look in the comments section (aka 'Scrumptious Sayings') for my brother's memory of being on set as a schoolboy watching Gene Kelly film his Muppet homage to 'Singing In the Rain'!