TEXTING for over 40s

I must admit, that when I text, I do text in whole words. 

Yes. I know... "You text in whole words? Really?" 

Yes. I do. But I have started using some text speak which made me want to share this with you. The youth of today (wow, that makes me sound old, really old) have all their little SMS codes, like BFF, WTF, LOL etc. 

So here are some codes for the more mature 'texter'.

• ATD - At the Doctor's
• BFF - Best Friends Funeral
• BTW - Bring the Wheelchair
• FWIW - Forgot Where I Was
• GGPBL - Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low
• GHA - Got Heartburn Again
• HGBM - Had Good Bowel Movement
• IMHO - Is My Hearing-Aid On?
• WAITT - Who Am I Talking To?
• GGLKI - Gotta Go, Laxative Kickin In!

Thank you for letting me share my random thoughts once again.

After all, garden sheds are supposeed to be a bit messy... Part Four... The Plaster Footballer Goes Fourth

The Plaster Footballer Goes Fourth... or rather didn't.

It may have been the fact that the plaster in the pack was old, or damp, or something else, but as I peeled away the rubber mould from his moulded shape he began to crumble like one of the Nazis at the end of Raider of the Lost Ark.

I may attempt another 'arts and crafts' session when I have more time and fresh plaster.

Until then...

After all, garden sheds are supposed to be a bit messy... Part Three... The bit after part two

In order to make the mould rest I was going to need some cardboard, a ruler, a pair of scissors, a water-pot, and water.

1. cut out a piece of cardboard approximately 15cm (6") square.

2. Brush around the base rim of the mould with a little paint.

3. Press the base of the mould firmly onto the centre of the card.

4. Wash the mould.

5. Carefully cut around the printed outline on the card.

***

Moulding Guide

In order to make the moulded player I would need a small mixing bowl, a jug, bowl or suitable container at least 2.5cm (1") taller than the mould, metal spoon, fine sand paper, water, washing-up liquid and a cloth.

Then I filled the container for the mould approximately three quarters full of water. I then filled the mould almost to the top with water and poured that into the mixing bowl. After that it was time to place the mould in the mould rest.

Using a metal spoon I sprinkled the moulding powder into the mixing bowl of water until there was a thin film of water left on top. To be honest this did not sound that scientific, but hey-ho, those were the instructions.

I began stirring the mixture with the spoon until it was smooth.

Holding the mould around its base under the rest, I immediately spooned the plaster mix into the mould until, as per the instructions, it was a third full. 

I then had to gently squeeze the mould to expel any air bubbles and ensure all parts are filled. Too be honest, I think I now know what it's like to milk a cow.

I then placed the mould in its rest on top of the container of water then carried on adding the mixture until the mould was full almost to the brim.

I then rinsed out the mixing bowl and washed the spoon in case I needed it later.

All I had to do after that was to leave the model to dry for at least 40 minutes, or longer if necessary. And longer is my current option.


To be continued...

After all, garden sheds are supposed to be a bit messy... Part The Second - A Plastered footballer.

Let us begin.

The guidance notes informed me that I could “Mould a footballer and paint him in your team's colours following this step by step guide.”

Fair enough.

It then asked me to “Ask an adult to look through this guide with you before you start. Protect clothing and work surfaces when moulding and painting.” I should explain the reason I had this in the first place was because of a project that my sister was doing at her school. She isn’t a pupil, she’s a teacher, and it was on arts and crafts… stuff like that… any way, back to the plot…

I was informed that if my clothing was accidentally splashed with paint, I had to wash the “affected area at once with ordinary soap and warm water”, I use to paint and draw a LOT when I was younger, at school and sometime after, so the chances of me wasting or splashing paint were minimal, but hey, you never know. Any way, if I was going to clean off some paint from my garments I was instructed to avoid the use of detergents and biological washing powder. Oooooohh. Okay.

Now, like everything else in this ‘cash-for-claims’ society this simple little plaster cast moulding kit had the following: “Safety Rules for Plaster Moulding”

Please refer to the CAUTION on the back of the box.

1. Do not place the material in the mouth. (I’ll do my best)

2. Do not inhale the dust or powder. (Check. It can cause dryness, sneezing, and a pasty white appearance like that of a clown with no sense of style)

3. Do not apply to the body. (erm… okay.)

4. Keep younger children under the specified age limit (it seems that this kit is for children of 5 years old and above. Well’ I’m okay there then) and animals away from the activity area.

5. Store chemical toys out of the reach of young children.

6. Wash hands after carrying out activities. (Check)

7. Clean all equipment after use. (Check)

8. Do not use any equipment which has not been supplied with the set or recommended in the instructions for use. (Check)

9. Do not eat, drink or smoke in the activity area. (That’s not going to happen)

So, now that the Health and Safety at Work Act was dealt with, my first instruction was to make a mould rest from an empty cardboard box. Yes! At last some actually arty type nonsense to be getting on with.

To be continued...

After all, garden sheds are supposed to be a bit messy, aren’t they?

Currently I work a number of days on and a number of days off.

Don’t get me wrong, when I work, the days can be pretty long and I work (on every second week a Wednesday) every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It’s actually quite good on my days off as it gives me chance to do stuff.

It can be really good, but there are times when I get bored.

Fine, we all get bored, but I don’t get bored that often, so when I do, I feel that I am letting myself down for getting bored in the first place.

Normally when I do get bored I will go out for a walk and enjoy nature and the fantastic scenery or I’ll work in the garden. If the weather is bad I usually have enough to do inside to keep me occupied.

I may also read, write, watch television or DVDs. I may listen to music, the radio or audio books. All of which keeps my mind occupied. Sometimes though, I need something else to get the ‘little grey cells’ agitated.

It was on one of these ‘a bit bored’ days that I was tidying up the garden shed when I came upon something I thought would alleviate the boredom. After all, garden sheds are supposed to be a bit messy, aren’t they? And this one will stay messy for a wee bit longer.

What did I find? You are asking. Well’ I’ll tell you.

I found a mould kit that allows you to make a plaster cast footballer.

You’re not that impressed are you? Well, maybe not, but it was the most exciting thing in the shed. And I knew it would help me out of the shallow rut I was about to get myself into.

The rest of this blog (when I get around to it) will be about my progress and success (or not) in creating a 15cm (150mm/6 inch) tall plaster cast footballer. And then deciding in what colours I would paint him. It may not be literary brilliance or indeed a riveting read, but at least it stopped me from having to vacuum the living room, the downstairs hall, the downstairs toilet and the hall stair carpet. 

To be continued...