Hi everyone,

I took this photo of Snowy and thought it might be good to post on my Blog. Hope you enjoy! I am off to bed, so goodnight folks!

BTW: I am running a caption contest on the above pic, so get commenting and come up with a caption!

Okay, finally the Council have got off their “fat arses” and actually decided to get their wallets out! The plumber has said that the toilet is broken beyond repair, due to the cistern bein cracked, so the plumber has gone to B & Q for a replacement. Will it be low level or high? Will we get 100% what we want? Who knows?

Watch this space for further updates

UPDATE: 17.30 BST

The Council have replaced the cistern with a plastic high level cistern that does actually flush, so that will do for us

As promised, I said I would keep you up to date with the failed sanitation problem at home. The Council Plumber did come out, but we didn’t get what we wanted. He was even clever enough to replace the broken part without having to remove it from the wall.

However, at 2pm, as the problem started again, the grooves that the flush handle sit on; wore away and so the flush handle falls into the cistern and you have to get up on the toilet pan to reset it every time. So this means that you can’t really flush the chain again, without causing serious problems to the toilet.

Also for Health and Safety reasons, we have had to remove the cast iron lid from the toilet. The reason behind this is, that when you pull the flush, the flush handle moves up, then it lifts the lid on the cistern, almost causing it to fall off on top of you. However, this problem happens before the flush handle falls into the cistern.

So Jackie will be off to the Council tommrow, to have yet another go at them. The cistern is damaged, so it is not easy to get the flush handle to stay on the spindle, it needs replacing, but try telling that to the Council! Will we ever get a new low level cistern? With the way the Council are acting, we doubt it, but one can only dream.

I’ll again, keep you posted on this one. I got to head over to Nan’s as I need to do my buisness and we cannot flush that kind of thing down our loo with a broken flush, so I’ll catch you all later!    

DISCALAIMER: THIS POST HAS REALLY GONE DOWN THE PAN, AND I DO NOT HOLD ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY PERSON FEELING FLUSHED!

Today was a right washout, as our toilet decided to pack up. I had just popped over to see Nan, come back and was approached by my landlady Jackie. She was in a right fluster.

“Aaron, can I borrow your mobile, I need to phone the council Emergency, the toilet wont flush and the flush handle has totally fallen off!”

So I lent her my mobile and she rang the emergency repairs people. Arther took me over Nan’s again, as I needed the loo and as I am not too mobile, I needed an escort. So, I did my buisness and came back, when the council bloke turned up. he fiddled and sorted it temporarly, then told us what to do if it goes again. He also told Jackie to go to the housing office and explain that we have no flush and that the old “high level” toilet is so anchient, that it needs replacing instead of repairing.

So…. people came and go, the loo was flushed a few times until….. The loo would not flush! So Jackie got me to look at it, I put the flusher back and asked someone to flush it. When flushed, the entire diapham and syphon mechinism came away, so the loo would not flush full stop. I battled to get it to go back in, standing on the boxing behind the pan, to put it right, but it would not have it!

(Above) Me putting my plumbing skills to good use, fixing the cistern. The light was very bright in the toilet, thus the sunshades!  

Well, as jackie is going to the Council tommrow to get this sorted. I recon they will replace the toilet, as it is so old, it’s past it’ sell-by date. Also, to put the flush mechnism right, they will need to 1st switch off the water to the house, as the toilet comes straight off the rising main, then manually emtpy the cistern, by unscrwinng the flush pipe and holding a bucket underneath to catch the water retained in the cistern, then take the entire cistern off the wall,  then replace the flush mechnism, then put the cistern back on the wall and finally switch on the water again.

Now the problem is, that because the cistern is actually almost at celing hight and that it is made of iron, this will be difficualt. Firstly, the cistern is made of cast iron, so imagine how heavy that is going to be! Secondly, because of the hight of the cistern, a enginner on a ladder could not easily replace the cistern. So in my eyes, it’s cheaper and more economical and also less labour, better in Health and Safety terms for the enginner and also better for everyone, if they rip the boxing behind the toilet pan out, move the pan forward ever so slightly and put a low level suite in there . However, our cat Smokie, will no longer have the window sill to herself as she likes to sit in the loo and smell the fresh air out the window. (I wouldn’t say the air in there is the most pure to smell )

We can only wait and see if the council can get off their lazy “arses” and actually replace something that likly was there since “Year Dot”. LOL, I bet it was there when Jesus was about, and I am sure he knocked on the door centries ago and asked:

“Sorry to trouble you, but I wondered if one of my disciples may releive himself?”

Then during the war, Adolph Hitler likly came round and asked:

“Erbärmlich, Sie zu belästigen, darf ich Ihre Toilette bitte benutzen?”

Then in 1950, the Queen most likly came round and asked:

“Oh, I wonder if one may powder one’s nose? Oh also do you have any Winalot for my Corgies?”

These flats have been here that long and have had that same toilet cistern since when ever the flats were built. (We recon the flats date back to pre war, as they have mega thick walls, which bends a drill bit, if you try to make a hole!)

We shall see, and I will keep you updated on this one. However, we are not totally stuck, we have a bucket of cold water on standby, as it is an ideal way to flush the loo! Just pour the entire contents of the bucket, (plain water that is) straight down the pan, thus washing away anything yuky that is sitting there. Ewwww!

I’ll keep you posted on this issue!

Okay, I celebrated my Birthday in true style this year. My party was at Lucy’s Two on Friday Night and yes I did go overboard, by going in Drag. but it was fun and  good time was had by all.

On Saturday, I took myself to Blackpool’s ”Brightest and Gayist Club”:  Madi-Gras, which was fun. Stella wasn’t singing sadly, but there was some adult entertainment, which I got roped into and was a real laugh. Also, Capt. Ginger had all these dance tracks on and i felt compelled to get up and dance. There are a couple I want to have, so I am going to ask hm for the names of the tracks.

However, I did pop into Pepe’s, for a quick drink and had an even bigger laugh, but that’s another story….

Thankyou for all the birthday emails and IM’s, they were greatfully received. Hmmm…. I am no longer 24!

Finally, I would like to announce that Nemtex Radio is back! We have a new domain: www.nemtexradio.com and a new website underway. You can tune into my show (Nice ‘n’ Easy) from 11pm BST every day! You can also find out more about Nemtex on the website. www.nemtexradio.com is the URL.

Okay,  picture this, walking home from the Duke of York, in the Sainsbury’s covered carpark, walking slowly, the cold air hitting your face, when….. There is a blackout and the carpark goes pitch black. 2 seconds later, the Emergency Lights kick in and you continue walking. Is it a power cut, or was it just the lights?

Walking out of Sainsbury’s carpark, you can hear the sound of alarms, and you can see the passage at the side of the Library is pitch black. You walk through, keeping your hand in your pocket, incase anyone tries anything funny and walk onto Blue Boar Street to see the full extent of the chaos.

When I did walk onto Blue Boar St, all the traffic lights were out and Winchester Street was pitch black. I heard someone say that it was scary to use the 24 hour toilet, as it was so dark, you couldn’t even see the door. The roads were chaos, there was no order and police everywhere. Everyone had been booted from the pubs and clubs, due to there being no power and everywhere you looked, burgular alarms were sounding.

I called home to ask if the power was out, and guess what…. It was! I made it home, to have the torch shined in my face. I rang Southern Electricity and listened to the emergency bullitin message, which said that the entire city centre had suffered a major electrical fault and the city would be back online in 2 hours. So we lit candles, got torches and used the camper stove to make hot drinks. I jumped on MSN via my phone (which has now been sorted, but the Internet still doesn’t work very well) and finally the power was restored, after 45 minutes. I put the PC back on and bought it out of Hibernate, got back online and then we had a 2nd power outage, which lasted 30 seconds or so. (However, we blew all the candles out when the power was restored, so we had a rather big flap when we couldn’t see a thing) So once again, I put the PC back on and the power was fine ever since.

The area affected by the City Centre Blackout

In other news, Tuesday is my operation and I thank you for all your good luck messages and those of you that say you will be thinking of me when I am on the table. I don’t like  Anaesthetic, (Always gives me a fould taste in my mouth and the needles scare me) but I am sure I will be fine. I will take Ted for good luck, as he always brings me good luck! (He is sitting next to me, giving me the “Evils” at the moment! Bad Teddy!!!)

Finally, remember that it is Karaoke down the Duke tommrow night. If you misserd the live band tonight, you missed a really good night, as I am sure the girls will be there tommrow night singing some really great tracks. I shall be singing as always, so it aint to be missed! Karaoke is at 8.30 sharp, so come down and join Flaming Mary QUEEN of Scotts and of course the loverly Paul and Damian behind the bar!

 Anyway, I am off to bed, I can’t be sitting here typing all night, so I will say goodnight for now

Okay, Karaoke was brilliant down the Duke tonight, a real bunch of laughs.  I sang Roy Orbison Crying, Billy Idol Rebel Yell, Whitney Huston One Mioment in Time, Jenifer Rush, the power of Love and Abba, Money Money Money, which I made my own cover version of. I have posted the revised lyrics below:

 work all night, I work all day, to pay the bills I have to pay
Ain’t it sad
And still there never seems to be a single penny left for me
That’s too bad
In my dreams I have a plan
If I got me a wealthy man
I wouldn’t have to work at all, I’d fool around and have a ball…

Giro, Giro, Giro,
signed with a biro
From the DSS
Giro, Giro, Giro
I go to get my Giro
From the DSS
Aha-ahaaa
All the things I could do
If I had my Giro,
From the DSS

A man like that is hard to find but I can’t get him off my mind
Ain’t it sad
And if he happens to be free I bet he wouldn’t fancy me
That’s too bad
So I must leave, I’ll have to go
To Las Vegas or Monaco
And win a fortune in a game, my life will never be the same…

Giro, Giro, Giro,
signed with a biro
From the DSS
Giro, Giro, Giro
I go to get my Giro
From the DSS
Aha-ahaaa
All the things I could do
If I had my Giro,
From the DSS

Giro, Giro, Giro,
signed with a biro
From the DSS
Giro, Giro, Giro
I go to get my Giro
From the DSS
Aha-ahaaa
All the things I could do
If I had my Giro,
From the DSS

Giro, Giro, Giro,
signed with a biro
From the DSS
Giro, Giro, Giro
I go to get my Giro
From the DSS
Aha-ahaaa
All the things I could do
If I had my Giro,
From the DSS

From the DSS!

It caused a few laughs down the Duke when I sang this, people know how bad the DSS (Department of Social Security) can be, when they screw people’s money about. Anyway I am off to bed, as I am tired; so nite nite.

Okay, this is another of my rants, this time about work.

It started on Thursday, when I asked Management if I could purchase a Screen Filter, as the UV Rays from the VDU’s give me a headache and as a result of this, I can only bear to look at the VDU for 10 minutes, before I get a headache. My Line Manager said he would ask the General Manager, and see which budget the VDU Screen Filters would come out of. However, I was told it would have to come out of central budget and that I should just take regular breaks from the PC, which I did. I started to do other things, such as filing and tidying up of the office, which always needs doing.

30 minutes later, and I was pulled into the General Office by my Line Manager and was told that area office have to buy the VDU filters and until then, I am suspended. I went AWOL, as you would if this happened to you.

I said:

“There are plenty of other things I could be doing, apart from sitting at a PC, tidying, another department maybe?”

However, the response I got didn’t thrill me:

“I’m sorry, we’ll call you when we get the filters”

I was very upset and walked out of work feeling very hurt.

I mean, this is stupid, someone else went and got rechargable batteries earlier that day, which cost about £8 a pack, so why couldn’t they spend £10 and get a screen filter for me? This is just unfair. It seems to me, that there is a issue with my sexuality, which they do not like. I mean, just cos I am “Queer” does it make me any different to anyone else? I have the same rights as any “Straight” person, so why do I get castrised for being gay? I mean I get funny looks all the time from some people, and they are always gossiping, because me and another lad who work there, who is also gay are very “friendly.” Why should I suffer?

In today’s society, no matter what your ethnic background, gender, religion, gender or sexuality, we should all be treated the same way. This is called Diversity. The world is more diverse now, because of these factors and we should all be treated equally. Why should I be the “Black Sheep” at work, “just because I don’t fancy Woman but Men instead?” It is homophobic.

I got the job through a Agency, and so I am going to speak with my Agency tommrow and get my job reinstated, that or I am going to get another job through them. Also, don’t think work are getting out of it that easily, I will be making a foamal complaint to the powers that be, as some people do not know how to treat others properly. I was always taught:

“If you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say it at all!”

and

“Always treat others the way you would wish to be treated yourself!”

Maybe they have forgotton this at work? Who knows! All I know is, that I am in the right and they are in the wrong. I have done nothing wrong, so that’s all that matters.

Okay, yesterday was Dan’s birthday, so we all wound up in the Anchor and Hope Inn for a meal and a few drinks. I had coke, (Which was almost flat) Hannah and Amy had Malibu and Coke, while Gary and Dan had proper Ale. Our pizzas nearly got burnt, because the barmaid forgot to take them out the oven, but they were as tatsty and not burnt. (Would of been interesting, evacuating the pub!) Anyway, a few drinks later and we hit the pool table. Odviouslly, I am totally useless at pool, so I kept loosing the games. I decided to retire from pool and went to the beer garden for a smoke. I then started chatting to 2 wonderful ladies, (and if they are reading this, hello to Tracy and Yvonne!) 5 fags later and after being told off by the landlord for having glasses outside after 10pm, we went back in and the ladies powdered their noses and departed the pub. I was getting quite tired, so I slipped out the pub and went to bed!

This morning, I stayed in bed, as my MS started playing up and made me feel rather crappy. I got up around 1ish, after lying here in bed with the keyboard and mouse, modorating the Gay.com youth floor. I then had problems with my Internet connection, as in it came up with this annoying message:

Error 734, the PPP Link Protocol was Terminated!

So, I got on the phone to my ISP and had a go at them, as you do. However, I was passed to 2nd line support, who helped me get the issue sorted. It seemed that my ISDN modem, (Yes I know ISDN is crap, but it is all we can get in these parts!) kept changing COM Ports, so I had to uninstall it and then reinstall it for the Internet to work. What a pain in the neck!

Later, I had issues with my mobile.  Every time I ring a certain number, I get this annoying beeping, and it doesn’t connect the call. BTW, please do not mistake this beeping for engaged tone, as it is only 3 beeps and my phone cuts the call off. So I rang T-Mobile, yelled at them and had the phone tested, tried calling another number and that works, etc etc… So I got to try another SIM, as it could be either my SIM, or yet again my phone, which would make it the 4th one from T-Mobile. However, I am not going to use Sony Errisson W910i’s, if they are going to act like this and I am going to suggest I get a totally different phone.

To end it all, I didn’t end up going to my friend’s, as I can’t find his house. (LOL!) He said to me that it is at the following:

“Above Bang & Olufsen oppersite the pub. We’re having a few drinks, me and some mates, you are welcome to come!”

Thing is, there are no flats above Bang & Olufsen, just the offices above the shop and next door is the British Leigon, so I don’t think he lives above it either. To make it worse, he doesn’t have his mobile on or tol me the door number! So I gave up and went to Macdonald’s and had a Big Mac Meal, Saltless Fries and a Diet Coke. Mmmmm! Not a bad weekend, if I say so!

Don’t forget to join in the fun, if you are coming down the Duke tommrow night, as usual, it’s Karaoke (Hosted by the Hostess with language that’s atrocious and if you don’t like it, she’ll tell you to P*** off!) Flaming Mary QUEEN of Scotts. As ever it promises to be a bucketful of laughs and one hell of a  party!! Of course I shall sing as usual and will likly do Whitney Huston One Moment in Time. The fun starts at 8:30 sharp, so for god sakes don’t be late!

Flaming Mary Queen of Scotts, who is even more frightning than Anne Robinson!

Okay, some quick updates,

Firstly, I have been promoted to Network Manager at work, so I am responsible for all the IT Systems within the building and I am also the Tech Support Rep. 

My Line Manager says:

You are the Internet Wizz Aaron, where would we be without you, fast dilligent and know stacks about computers!

As for the shop Manager, Mechelle, all she has to say is:

“Ello Dave, you wanna buy some pegs?”

As you can see, you don’t have to be mad to work at Oxfam, but it helps! I do love my job and the team of people I work with are fantasic, plus I work for a fantastic cause, that helps end poverty in 3rd world countries.

 Also I had my pre-op questionaire, so I am one step closer to my operation.  Finally, everyone at the Duke of York has said I should go for the X-Factor, as my rendition of My Way is really really good!

Finally, I have modified the site theme, as some of you have said that it is not very browser friendly. I have changed the theme, so please let me know if you have any more issues.