Awake and up all night

An Owl badge already. Big Sis would love that being she’s an owl nut. Thank you.

I spent the last 20 minutes looking through my email notifications and as the time will denote, replying to a few.

what is keeping you up?

Hi again. I've always been lousy with sleeping, I think it runs in the family as my dad was just as bad. Plus my brain always seems to be in overdrive and I constantly think ahead.

But never mind me, I'm sorry about how you feel, mulling over so many things and maybe being in pain after your treatment. It's rotten though, going over things you won't be able to do again. My fella and myself have that every day but I'm trying to get us to think of things that we just might be able to get back, or as near as possible.

Hey, you're very welcome to the badge and I just adore owls too. Last year I was treat to the sound of one hooting for a few nights on the trot and loved it. I love all animals but we can't welcome one right now. Do you have a pet at all? xxx

Yes I have, we, my Darling and I have a pet cat. Called Stormy but known as Mr V (Mr Vicious).

He’s a regular on my blog, and lately been  close ally in the TV watching stakes.

Have you thought about emigrating to a time zone more suitable to your nocturnal world or have you too many family ties to keep you here.

By complete coincidence my son one had a collection of over 365 ties. He worked in a school after leaving school (the same one too) and had a tie a day plus for the kids to laugh at and the other classroom assistants to marvel at.

I love the wildlife and our other son works for the NT (National Trust) as a head forester. He also favours re-wilding the oceans and local county. So yes I love wildlife, birds but nothing comes close to the fungi. That is where my biggest regret is — that I’m a dummy when it comes to my greatest passion. PS: I will eat them but it’s research and ground up understanding I have tried for years to improve.

Ooh, mushrooms  I hated them as a youngster, but love them now and can devour them raw!

Never thought of emigrating as yes, I would miss family too much, but if I was forced, South Georgia would be my destination of choice, for the cold, isolation and the penguins and if course, the wild seas. I'm a bit of a nutter, always craving extremes of weather.

Anyway, like your son I too worked in schools for over 26 years, firstly in a special school and then a middle school. I worked myself up from lunchtime supervisor to head of years 6, 7 and 8, in a pastoral role but mainly in charge of the kids with behaviour issues. They were wonderful and responded well when they knew I had their backs - many teachers couldn't grasp how the kids were so willing to behave for me, but they did and I often bump into them in our town. We'll have a laugh about the old days and I'll get introduced to their kids. That's when I feel really old, lol.

I love your cat's name and wish we could have one, but next door's pair are evil and chase any off if they come into our garden. That's one of the reasons we can't have one, plus all the hospital appointments would make it difficult too.

I hope I've not bored you rigid with my rambling? It could be just the ticket to get you in the land of nod xxx

Land of nod, no not likely.

SG no trees just print seas king penguins and elephant seals what a collection. But I fully understand the tranquility and isolation that I crave too. My Darling would not agre except for the weather. It’s her kind of thing.

Ive worked in side a dirty stinking metalworking factory all my working life since 16 in 1980 and am totally lost without it. Night shifts for the last 10 of more years so the “other side” or “darkness” is home to me even though I’ve been off 30 weeks now. I miss my pals, the products we make from raw materials (mainly stainless steel) and the routine. It’s all a big stretch to get back to right now, if ever, and it might be the biggest problem I have.

My son was with autistic kids mainly while at that school before teacher training. He “spoke” to those kids and likewise he’s has chats now they’re grown and been eye waveringly praised for his efforts and results. How good that must have made you feel. Hang on to that feeling. That’ll help you sleep.

I think you’ve met your match here. I’ll save time with tomorrow’s blog and copy these texts into it. Ha ha ha.

I’ve finished the K-drama I was watching and want a third series to watch. But I suppose to calm down from chilling detective procedural frustration a Christmas movie might be best.

Hey, I wanted to ask earlier - what's a k-drama? South Korean or something else?

Maybe that was my dad's problem with a regular sleep pattern, being a shift worker. He was a steel worker at Low Moor Alloy in Bradford for decades, then became a manager (gaffer) and travelled back and forth to Sheffield till he retired. My OH had to take ill health retirement in June, shortly before his 61st birthday, as it became obvious he could never return. He was upset at the time but has come to terms with it now. I hope you'll get there too.

Your teacher son must be a top guy and I bet you're very proud of him. My eldest grandson, aged 21, is severely autistic but is marvelous and completely without guile. Your lad probably appreciates the unique qualities these amazing people possess.

Well we've discovered quite a few things we've got in common, so not a wasted passing of time. Unfortunately I'm not remotely tired, but if you'd like to crack on with your blog it's not a problem at all. Is it available to read on this site? I've read others' blogs and find them fascinating. I could always watch a Christmas film myself and that might get me off, other than my usual choice of ghost stories on YouTube. I had a series of vivid nightmares the other day so maybe I should lay off that for a while. What do you reckon? All tips welcome xxx

Well there’s a lot to reply to there, and no mistake.

Bingo, a K-drama (Korea, South) J-drama Japanese and C-drama Chinese. All distractions I use to take me out of this world and into theirs. I’m a bit of a freak with them and a mildly OCD with order and lists where my memory should be, not for shopping or future thing though, more for past things or in this case a list of every KJC-drama I’ve watched. Today’s bumps it up to 182 but it won’t stop there. I have about 6 on the giant tge same time and choose the one that suits me at that moment to lift me. So it’s sometimes a rom-com or a murder mystery, a historical tale where “Hanbok” period dress is prevalent or maybe a trip back (and forth) -in-time story. Who knows what’s best and if it don’t work for me I swap genres.

oh crap! How am I going to get you questions answered now I’ve taken up so much time with the first boring answer.

The steel or Alloy industry is in so much peril from overseas these days I feel my days are numbered, but I’ve loved my life that started with subbing for RR at Fulton and Nuclear and all the fine tolerance work that I thrived on then to many lighter cast aluminium and magnesium for replacement parts on old F1 cars going back from the 80’s to the late 30’s. Obviously no alloys till the 50’s in racing cars.

Im proud of my son’s ability to unlock the mainly male kids in their quest for speech in an alien environment. It’s a natural and taught skill that can never be taken from you, and a skill for “normal” life. Oh how wrong that sounds (normal).

And I mention the blog last because tonight’s blog (for tomorrow, oh today I (mean) is done. But it’s post 222, Yes ouch. That should put you to sleep. And though I’ve improved over the year since April 25, I still need it to get my head clear of all my problems, warts and all. I’m in the prostate section of the Macmillan Forum and the blog is in the community too. I’ll include the link and say good night if you willing to go for it. Ha Ha ha.

 To Hop-on or Hop-off is the question?

Try this one…

 Post 215: A Letter That Suggests Honesty Soon

And I haven’t chosen a Xmas film yet for you, I’m still trying to find it. It’s pretty good and on Netflix. Do you have that supplier of entertainment?

I'll make this quick. My eldest daughter has a huge collection of South Korean and Japanese DVDs (she's visited Japan twice, lucky girl) all catalogued in fine OCD order, and we've watched and enjoyed many. They certainly know how to produce excellent films.

My grandson is semi-mute, so your son is to be commended for his work. An awesome guy. I'm afraid some of the Alloy Industry stuff went over my head so I'll re-read later today.

Thank you so much for the links and I'll start reading forthwith. I didn't plump for a Christmas movie but started watching Canal Boat Diaries, boring to most but not to me, I love all the series.

Thanks Mr U for an engaging couple of hours chat, so I'll bid you night night and delve into your blog xxx

Yes, we've got Netflix xxx