www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hello once again, yes I have felt sad at christmas before, 3 christmases I had a bad cold, one year after the other and last year I actually went out for a long walk on chrismas day and did not really enjoy the day much at all.

And same here, seems like my birthdays the past few years have been kinda blah, never had much enjoyment from them. I know three of my friends would do anything to make me have a good birthday if they could, but they live too far away to be with me then which sucks and as of yet I can't even be with them on their birthdays.

Hoping for everyone that this christmas goes better

Hi Dave
It some respects it's good to know that I am not the only one who is blah about birthdays and gets SAD over Christmas.
I supose you could think of it this way, we don't appear to celebrate our birthdays, so therefore we have no complaining neighbours, no one trashing the house or hall. No one eating/drinking too much, no bad photos, no banging headache the next morning and no feeling guilty over eating to much cake, no costs either!
Everyone gets excited over their 16th, now everyone is really excited over their 17th. I don't want to be 17 because for me I am at the driving age. Already people around me have started driving, it was always something I have wanted to do. It's the freedom for me. But I can't. So everyone is saying how they are saving for a car or that their parents have got them one and asking me when I will start driving, then laughing because I won't. I guess I am jealous, but it was one of my dreams and I had set my sights on it.
Em

Mousey Mouse, freedom doesn't come with a car! More often than not, slavery comes with a car. I have nothing against cars in themselves and this isn't some moralising post - one day I might even learn to drive to help my parents out as they get old. But the idea that a 17 year-old needs a car is just ridiculous - you are very lucky you are prevented from falling into that trap!

I'm 44. I've never even sat in the driving seat of a car, let alone attempted to drive. Freedom is one of the most important things in my life - I fight for the freedom of animals and humans. I go where I want and I do what I want (and I clocked up 162 species of butterfly in 2008!! ). True, we actually have a decent public transport system in Switzerland, but it isn't that that gives me my freedom. Freedom comes from inside, not outside.

If you can't be a driver, rejoice in being a non-driver!

Amen.

Guy

That is true, after this weekend, I have discovered public transport can be shocking!
But for me, it would mean that I wouldn't have to wait on the platform, hear that my train is delayed. Try and work out the bus time table. If I needed a break, I could just get in the car and of I go. I wouldn't need to follow the tracks! I wouldn't be dependent on my parents to take me everywhere else. I guess freedom is the wrong word. How about Independence, I could just chose to go, when I wanted, where I wanted. I like traveling, so this would be a great opertunity. When I travel, I am freem hence the freedom part. And I would be independent. Something which many assume I can't be. My brother wants me to drive so that I can run him to mates houses and parties. I said 'you got legs yeah, use them'
I can't see why they won't let me, I was the only person who didn't crash the simulator and no I wasn't doing 2mph, 50+ . I know that it isn't the same, but the drivers said it was pretty close.
Besides, I can't run everywhere!
Em

I've been feeling a bit down for the last couple of days, what with one thing and another. My friend, knowing this and knowing my intolerance for hot and spicy food, sent me this to give me a laugh. It worked for me, so I thought that I'd share it with you. (hope that you haven't already seen it)



NATAL CURRY CONTEST
If you can read this whole story without laughing then there's no
Hope for you. I was crying by the end. Note: Please take time to read this slowly.
For those of you who have lived in Natal, you know how typical this is.
They actually have a Curry Cook-off about June/July.
It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the Royal Show in PM.
Judge #3 was an inexperienced food critic named Frank, who was visiting
>From America.

Frank: "Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a
Curry Cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment
and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table asking for
directions to the Beer Garden when the call came in. I was assured by
the other two judges (Natal Indians) that the curry wouldn't be all that spicy and,
besides, they told me I could have free beer during the
tasting, so I accepted".

Here are the scorecard notes from the event:

CURRY # 1 - SELENA'S MANIAC MONSTER TOMATO CURRY...
Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.
Judge # 2 -- Nice smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.
Judge # 3 (Frank) -- Holy shit, what the hell is this stuff? You could
remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the
flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These people are crazy.

CHILI #2 - PHOENIX BBQ CHICKEN CURRY...
Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of chicken. Slight chili tang.
Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.
Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what
I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who
Wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver! They had to rush in more beer
When they saw the look on my face.

CURRY # 3 - SHAM ILA'S FAMOUS "BURN DOWN THE GARAGE" CURRY...
Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse curry. Great kick.
Judge # 2 -- A bit salty, good use of chili peppers.
Judge # 3 -- Call 911. I've located a uraniums pill. My nose feels like
I have been snorting Drain Cleaner. Everyone knows the routine by now.
Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone
is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting pissed from all the beer.

CHILI # 4 - BABOON'S BLACK MAGIC BEAN CURRY...
Judge # 1 -- Black bean curry with almost no spice. Disappointing.
Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or
other mild foods, not much of a curry.
Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable
to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Share en, the
beer maid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. That kg woman is
starting to look HOT...just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?

CHILI # 5 LALO'S LEGAL LIP REMOVER...
Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong curry. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding
considerable kick. Very impressive.
Judge # 2 -- Average beef curry, could use more tomato. Must admit the
chili peppers make a strong statement.
Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no
longer focus my eyes. I farted and four people behind me needed paramedics. The
contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage.
Share en saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher.
I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really pisses me off that the other judges
asked me to stop screaming. Screw them.

CHILI # 6 - VERINE'S VEGETARIAN VARIETY...
Judge # 1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety curry. Good balance of spices and peppers.
Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, and garlic. Superb.
Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous,
sulfuric flames. I am definitely going to shit myself if I fart and I'm
worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand
behind me except that Share en. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to
wipe my ass with a snow cone ice-cream.

CHILI # 7 - SELINA'S "MOTHER-IN-LAW'S-TONGUE" CURRY...
Judge # 1 -- A mediocre curry with too much reliance on canned
peppers.
Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a
can of chili peppers at the last moment. (I should take note at this
stage that I am worried about Judge # 3. He appears to be in a bit
of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably).
Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I
wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds
like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with curry which
slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my
shirt. At least, during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've
decided to stop breathing- it's too painful. Screw it; I'm not getting
any oxygen anyway. If I need air I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch
hole in my stomach.

CHILI # 8 - NAIAD'S TOENAIL CURLING CURRY...
Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending. This is a nice blend curry. Not too bold
but spicy enough to declare its existence.
Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced curry. Neither mild
nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted,
passed out, fell over and pulled the curry pot down on top of himself.
Not sure if he's going to make it. Poor man, wonder how he'd have
reacted to really hot curry?
Judge # 3 - No Report.

That the funnest thing that I've ever read, I wonder if his full name is Frank Spencer. Now if that doesn't make Em Smile nothing ever will plus the entire web. Good one Denise.

If we are doing jokes and spoofs - try this re Farming in the EU.

This is apparently a real letter :

Rt Hon David Miliband MP
Secretary of State,
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA),
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR

16 May 2007
Dear Secretary of State,

My friend, who is in farming at the moment, recently received a cheque for £3,000 from the Rural Payments Agency for not
rearing pigs. I would now like to join the "not rearing pigs" business.

In your opinion, what is the best kind of farm not to rear pigs on, and which is the best breed of pigs not to rear? I want to be sure I approach this endeavour in keeping with all government policies, as dictated by the EU under the Common Agricultural Policy.

I would prefer not to rear bacon pigs, but if this is not the type you want not rearing, I will just as gladly not rear porkers.
Are there any advantages in not rearing rare breeds such as Saddlebacks or Gloucester Old Spots, or are there too many people already not rearing these?

As I see it, the hardest part of this programme will be keeping an accurate record of how many pigs I haven't reared. Are there any Government or Local Authority courses on this?

My friend is very satisfied with this business. He has been rearing pigs for forty years or so, and the best he ever made on them was £1,422 in 1968. That is - until this year, when he received a cheque for not rearing any.

If I get £3,000 for not rearing 50 pigs, will I get £6,000 for not rearing 100?

I plan to operate on a small scale at first, holding myself down to about 4,000 pigs not raised, which will mean about £240,000 for the first year. As I become more expert in not rearing pigs, I plan to be more ambitious, perhaps increasing to, say, 40,000 pigs not reared in my second year, for which I should expect about £2.4 million from your department.

Incidentally, I wonder if I would be eligible to receive tradable carbon credits for all these pigs not producing harmful and polluting methane gases?

Another point: These pigs that I plan not to rear will not eat 2,000 tonnes of cereals. I understand that you also pay farmers for not growing crops. Will I qualify for payments for not growing cereals to not feed the pigs I don't rear?

I am also considering the "not milking cows" business, so please send any information you have on that too. Please could you also include the current Defra advice on set aside fields? Can this be done on an e-commerce basis with virtual fields (of which I seem to have several thousand hectares)?

In view of the above you will realise that I will be totally unemployed, and will therefore qualify for unemployment benefits.

I shall of course be voting for your Party at the next general election.

Yours faithfully,
Nigel Johnson-Hill

I think we should all become "Not .... Farmers"!
N

padfield wrote:True, we actually have a decent public transport system in Switzerland, but it isn't that that gives me my freedom.

Guy

Having used the Post-Buses in Switzerland they certainly allow you to plan your travel and get to places right up in the mountains where otherwise it would be impossible to go without a car at your disposal! I don't think the same can be said for many rural areas in the UK!

I too resisted car-driving until my 40's - but now I would not be without a car. I can decide to go out chasing butterflies at any time and throw my bike and tent, etc in the back and drag my fiancee out too!) That is the "freedom" that Mouse is talking about, not Guy's intellectual definition of "freedom", heart-felt though it is!
So, I can see why you may get upset, Mouse, when this is denied to you!
N

Denise, that was amazing. What was very funny for me, is hearing from my machine that won't crack up after every line. Made me giggle, which was a start! I am like that with currys, my dad is sitting there saying 'this is a girls curry!' and I am there waving my hand in front of my mouth and drinking all the milk in the house! with my brother laughing at me and my mum telling me it isn't that bad when I am doing my 'curry dance' around the kitchen. I have noticed that they have been getting hotter, I think people want a greater entertainment rating

Well, in that case Nick, I am starting a business, can I not rear chickens as well?

That is it excatly it Nick! Take for example if I wanted to get down to Swanage to see the butterflies there, without lifts from others it would have taken me 8 hours and walking a few miles, then to do the same back!! With lifts from others it would take me 5 1/2 to 6 hours with only a couple of miles walking and that would be from my house to the station and back, and the trek from the train to the underground through St Pancras. On a busy day, getting through St P for me is missions, what with people and their suit cases for me to trip over!!
Hopefully, one day I will be able to drive!
How were peoples SAD today? I was really bad in the morning, very unsocial - I am normaly perky and cheerful in the morning!. In the afternoon I was alright, and now I am feeling it again.
well, I am going back into London again on Sunday hopefully, so that will keep me busy!
Em

Hi
Well, my skills in not-making-things seem to do very well when it comes to not-making money!

Not that I'm down about that; getting back tonight tho', all I want to do is snuggle-up somewhere warm and forget the cold and wet! Brrrr!
N

Same Nick, the weather today where I am was just awful, and still is for that matter!
Today has also just gone from bad to worse.... I have just realised the amount of coursework I have to hand in on THIS Friday, and compairing it to the amount I have yet to finish. One of my teachers went on at me about being 'depressed' That really annoyed me. That lesson, I never thought I got angry, but I went from walking in and feeling unmotivated, annoyed and hacked off before it has started, then to tiredness, then irritablity, then losing the will to live along with my other classmates, then she said something to me about it. It just made me snap, but I controled myself from going into blind anger ...just.... therefore she was saved from having my water bottle flying towards her at 100mph! And there was me thinking I never got angry!!
AND just a few minutes my screen reader went weird, and no isn't working! AND I have to finish my work... what next? My brother says it's fate.
I am kind of feeling " 'Fate' come and get me, I just don't care!" Does SAD make you feel like nothing matters, you don't care and you just can't be bothered anymore? Or is that just me and my bad day
Em

Mouse, i don't want to sound harsh cos I know you have been dealt some unfair hands in life but things will be much better for you if you can try to concentrate on the good things that you have and not the bad. You have so many good things going for you!

That's what SAD does to me Susie, I'll be my usual happy self as soon as spring is here!
SAD doesn't let you see the good. Personaly for me anyway.
Em

..If you can see that Mouse, then use that insight to take control!
Don't become a victim! Be a winner!

N

Alright, okay, lets see what I can do
Currently I am clueless about how, but I guess there is some way. There has to be. Just gotta figure it out, and find the strength, the motivation and determination which I lack during this time. But hey, lets see what tomorrow brings
Em

One thing I do when I feel sad, is I think about the day ahead and think, "how can I make each thing go as well as possible?" I don't like having to get up at just after 6am but I think that I am not the only one doing it.

I don't really like college much because I have lot of free time between classes, but one of my friends, she gave me a gameboy SP and one of her games and a while ago I got a nintendo DS, and whenever I am bored, I play it. Seems to help pass the time.

And whenever I feel like there is nothing I can do to stop the sad feelings, I have a pic of this girl I know and she is my best friend and I just look at it and know she is always there and cares for me and I should be able to talk to her that day.

I also have a MP3 player which I put some uplifting music on or music that keeps me calm and that helps.

Remember, do go saying "oh no, I have to do this again...." but think "yes I have to do this today, but its not so bad or it will be over in notime or similar" seems to help sometimes

Cheers for that Dave
I have a DS, and I play Space Invaders because it makes a noise when they fire and when you fire, and when you hit, they make certian sounds depending on what type they are, and the UFO's mke noises as they move across. I can never get past level one as it is only stereo sound as opposed to surround. But I am getting there!!

Today wasn't too bad! I didn't feel SAD during PE because we were trying new things in trampetting, so I really had to concerntrate and listen, push fear to one side and charge down the run-way! I focus so much I become narrow minded that I forget everything, I forget SAD, I forget being sore, I even forget being blind! We had stacked FOUR! chrash mats onto of each other, so it was very high, very hard and one false move would spell disaster. Did all the stuff though! Try and get some video next wednesday! You guys have to see how crazy we are! Training for it now, just have been as I want to pull of a few things without me landing on the hard gym floor So I guess training hard makes me forget all SAD etc because I am too narrow mined and focused to realise anything. I guess it is alright to be narrow minded in these situations, but not all the time.
Over all thumbs up!
Em

Hi Mouse

It seems like that is it!
Keep so busy, you forget about it!


N