On Being a Manager

Hey Ragers and Ragettes!  It’s been ages since I have written anything.  Seriously.  It’s been manic!!!  Today I am rocking a leopard print maxi skirt, black cami, black wedges and my bright pink lippy with black and gold accessories.  It looks like it’s going to be a gorgeous day here in St Helens and I am happy about it!  I have also started listening to the Classical Music channel, Classic FM.  I have enjoyed it.  They say that music calms the savage beast and well my stomach hasn’t hurt, I have been calm and in a good mood.

Well we have had some changes in work.  We have hired 2 new staff members.  This came about when I went to the rugby stadium for a set of interviews for apprentices.   It was an interesting day.  I had the best seat in the house as I looked down on the fit rugby men practicing....droooollllllll!!

Most of the people that attended were young robots in bad fitting suits.  I managed to find 2 people that fit the bill.  The first one named Andy*.  He’s tall, lanky with a great sense of humour and the second one Jasmine is quirky, tough and I clicked with her straight away.

Andy is doing the customer services job and Jasmine is the office admin.  You would think that things are great?  Well here are some issues.

Andy smokes a lot of weed.  I mean loads of weed.  He has the memory of a goldfish and doesn’t get all the work done.  He asks the same question over and over and over and over.  I try to be patient but my patience is wearing thin. 

Issue 2:  Jasmine is great.  She is very quick witted and uses her initiative.  But there is an issue.  She and Keith have started...well....seeing each other.  They sit next to each other and you constantly hear giggling.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I like to have a laugh and a joke at work but both Keith and Jasmine are not working.  They were loudly talking about Saturday night and howling with laughter to the point that Simon bellowed SHUT THE FUCK UP when he was trying to talk to me and I couldn’t hear him.

I have had the title of Manager before but I have never managed people.  From what I can see, you are a glorified babysitter.   You can’t get your own work done because you have to answer questions.  You are on standby and you can’t really do what you should be doing.  Sigh. 

In regards to Andy, I am constantly answering questions and Simon is answering questions.  Simon is now starting to get very, very, very, very, very irritated.  It seems that information goes in but doesn’t stay there.  I bought him a notebook and some pens to take notes.  But he isn’t doing it.  Instead of answering emails, he doodles on post it notes.  The amount of times I have caught him...sigh....

There is so many times that you can say, yes we ship everywhere.  No, that stock is due in on Wednesday or where are you up to?  I don’t know what to do.  I have been bullied before at work and I don’t want him to think that I am being a bully.

Jasmine is a great worker.  I like her very much and I feel that she is a great addition to the team.  But when Keith is there work doesn’t get done.  Keith needs to be in the office because he is assisting Andy.  It’s frustrating.  It seriously is.

So I am thinking of moving Jasmine next to me and putting Andy where Jasmine was sitting, next to Keith.  That might work?  I don’t want them to think that I am a total bitch but work needs to be done.

Why are we keeping them you may ask?  Well, they are cheap!  As they are apprentices, you can pay them a lower wage.   But as I said to Simon last night, if you want the best you have to pay for it.  Jasmine, that can be sorted.  She’s smart and she will do great work, I need to just get rid fo the distraction that is Keith.

I have always worked better as a lone wolf or in a pack of wolves that were equal to me.  The thought of managing people is exciting but I’m finding it more stressful than rewarding.  I shouldn’t have to babysit.  I have work to do!!!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!  So if there are successful managers out there, please can you give me some advice?  I am seriously starting to lose it!!!!

So until next time Ragers and Ragettes, keep your head and standards high and your heels even higher!

Lots of love

The Fabulous Betty Rage xxxx

On a Follow Up From Yesterday’s Post

Hey Ragers and Ragettes!!  It’s a warm and gorgeous day outside so I have dressed appropriately in a black cami, my leopard print max dress, my black gladiators and my pink lippy.  Usually I would pair this with my black handbag but I felt that I would stick with the pink bag.  A pop of colour for a dark outfit.  Plus it matches my lippy.

I wanted to write this because in light of what has happened and what I wrote about yesterday, there are some feelings and thoughts that were unsaid.  So I am going to put this out there.

Writing yesterday made me realise how fucked off I truly am.  On the day, I didn’t kick up a fuss or scream or cause a scene.  Why?  I was shocked and I wanted to keep a dignified front.  I didn’t want to lower myself to her level.  I would have seriously kicked her scawny whore ass across St Helens and back down the East Lancs but I didn’t want further embarrassment.  The whole situation made me want to be swallowed up by the earth.  I never thought by someone’s inconsiderate actions I could feel so useless and so insignificant.

So, after I posted this Suzanne contacted me and I told her what happened and she hit the roof.  I know 100% now that Rita isn’t a friend.  A friend wouldn’t do that to another friend.   Plain and simple.  I felt so low, and I really needed the advice of my girl crush, Elena.

I think that a lot of us don’t want conflict or to hurt people’s feelings so they allow themselves to be walked on and treated like shit.  Why?  Because we don’t want to offend or cause a conflict.  We are taught to mind our manners and just suck it up.

Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt once said, No one can make you feel inferior unless you let them.

Here I sit thinking....I have let some skinny whore make me feel inferior!!   Have allowed her to hang on my man, snuggle into him and discuss my reproductive system.   I have allowed her to spin drunken lies about how I want to have children and somewhere in that drunken mess of a head she thinks that Simon is controlling every aspect of my life.  I sat back and allowed it.

Yes, it is great to keep a dignified silence but looking back, I should have strutted up, grabbed her glossy hair and dragged her off the couch and given her a beat down or confronted her at least.  I shouldn’t have stood there silent.   

She isn’t a friend of mine anymore.  I am not having that sort of person in my life.  I need people lke Suzanne, my gay best friend and my personal trainer.  Those people add value in my life.

There is a famous sating back home, Ragers and Ragettes, when you are pickng friends, pick value over quantity... mean I would rather have 4 quarters than 100 pennies.

So until next time, Ragers and Ragettes, keep your head and standards high and your heels even higher

Lots of Love

The Fabulous Betty Rage xxxxxxxxx

The Fourth of July Part 2 – The Party

Hey Ragers and Ragettes! It’s a gorgeous day here in St Helens.  It’s warm and I am rocking my bootcut jeans, my fuchsia cami, my cream blazer, and my wooden platform sandals and my melted candy lipstick.  I’m getting used to my new hair colour still and I guess that it is growing on me.  Well, when it grows it will look better I think.

I needed to wait a few days to write this post as a lot happened and a lot needed to be thought through.  If I carry on a bit, please bear with me.

Well I wanted to have a fourth of July party as I had a fabulous outfit to wear (a retro styled halter neck belted blue jumpsuit with my wooden platform wedges and cheeky blue vintage scarf) and I hadn’t been able to wear it yet.  So I organized for the Amsterdam crew to come to work and have a few beers and a barbecue.

Rita arrived at my house and straight away was analyzing every text still from Jeff.  I was praying that this wasn’t going to be my whole night.

We loaded the car up and I drove to the warehouse and started setting up.  We took the black couch, the chairs and tables and set them up outside.   The lads started to arrive and they all flocked to Rita.  I thought great.  She will stop talking about Jeff and have a good time?  Nothing could prepare me for what was about to happen.

I made a point that I didn’t want to drink.  I was driving and riding on the back of a fabulous weight loss triumph I didn’t want to consume more unnecessary calories.  It was my choice.  Simon backed me and just didn’t want to get a messy head, because, Ragers and Ragettes, I CANNOT HANDLE MY DRINK.  When I drink, it gets very messy.  I either get very happy and sloppy or weepy and melodramatic.  I don’t want either.  I had my eyelashes done and I didn’t want to fuck them up.

So I was floating around chatting to everyone.  Everyone was having a few beers and we were all chatting.

Then Paddy rocked up with this brother and his new employee, Shane*.  (Name has been changed)  Shane is a very, very, good looking, young muscly man.  Very easy on the eye and very cheeky.  He saw the beautiful Rita and was drawn to her like a magnet.  They were chatting and the rest of us were giggling saying that they were going to end up in bed.  (She is still in a relationship and still is messing around with  Jeff)

I sat down next to Rita as she was giving me the help me signal....it really wasn’t I don’t think because she was drunk.  Already.  She slurred her words and put her arm around my shoulders and started squeezing my right boob.  Betty, she slurred.  Why aren’t you drinking?  Are you not having a good time?  Is Simon not letting you?

I said, no I am not drinking because I lost some weight, had some great results and I don’t want to mess that up. 

I think that Simon isn’t letting you drink, Betty.  I bet he’s not letting you drink, she slurred. 

I repeated my answer.  No, this was my choice and I didn’t want to drink.  She then threw a strop and said, well  thought that we were going out in town after.

 I said, erm, no.  If the lads arranged that then that is up to them, not me.

This same conversation was going on for about 5 minutes.  Paddy must have seen me looking uncomfortable and he came over and started chatting to Rita 

I slipped away and went to see if Simon wanted some help with the food.

Before I knew it, I heard Rita shrieking “Oh stop it you!”  I turned to see the lads throwing ice down her top.  I walked over to see if she was ok, and she was giggling and taking the ice and putting it in her bra and rubbing it on her nipples.

She then started snap chatting this and taking plenty of boob shots.  All the guys were lapping this up. 

Being sober, I seriously didn’t know what to think. Here is a woman....in a relationship and has a child acting like a desperate woman.  Wanting men to grope, idolize, and adore her.

She then got up and announced, because we are not going out I am going to change into my joggers (pajama bottoms).  She stumbled into the office and I assumed she went to the bathroom.

Paddy and a few of the lads followed her.

I noticed that we ran out of ice so I walked into the office through to the warehouse past the open bathroom door...

I walked into the warehouse and there was Rita in her thong bending over to put her jogging bottoms in front of half of my staff.....including Simon!!!!! 

As soon as she clocked I was there she drunkenly started to complain, guuuuuyyyyyss, don’t look at me when I change, she whined.  Simon looked at me, I looked at him back with a look that was sad and confused.

I simply turned around and walked back through the office and to the outside.  Rita was chatting to Paddy loudly.  I walked around the side and tried not to cry.    

I then came back to the party and Shane cornered me demanding to know why I wasn’t drinking.  I told him, because I don’t want to.

He pushed and said, I don’t know someone fully until I drink with them.   I glanced over and Rita was visibly upset chatting to Paddy as she smoked a cigarette 

I lit one myself and chatted more to Shane.  I noticed that Simon sat down on the couch and Rita sat next to him and was chatting animatedly to him.  She then started pushing her body into his.  God, she was wasted!!!!

I nodded and was half in conversation with Shane then I saw the one thing that made me feel sick.....Simon’s arm was resting casually on the top of the couch.  It had slipped down and was around Rita...his hand on the small of her back....he then started to rub the small of her back...the way he did when we lie n bed together.  She seemed to cuddle even closer to Simon. 

I looked down at my body.  Ragers and Ragettes.  I felt fat and ugly.  There was skinny Rita with her perky fake tits and pretty mane of hair.   I smoothed my short unruly pixie crop down.  I had never felt so inadequate in all my life.

Rita caught my eye she must have seen me looking like I had been kicked in the head.  She got up and stumbled towards me whimpering.

Betttyyyyyyy she whined.  I didn’t mean it she said.  She took my hand and we went around the side and sat on the curb.  She slurred, Betty I didn’t mean to strip off in front of Simon, I promise I didn’t mean anything...she rambled on and I just half listened.  She then started to go on about why I don’t have children and that she thought I wasn’t having children because Simon doesn’t want to.   She thinks that I want children.  I don’t.  I never told her that I did.

Simon came over and I tried to change the conversation but she kept rabbiting on.  My head was hurting. I was doing everything I could to not burst into tears.  Then Simon saved me.....he threw his guts up.   Got up to get him some water and a cool cloth and when I returned Rita was draped over him.  I felt like I was useless.

I handed him a glass of water and started to soothe him.  He took a few sips and said, I actually feel better.   I smiled and got up and returned to the rest of the guests.

I sat down and one of my work lads started chatting to me.  Rita sat down on the couch and was snuggling into Simon again and they were having a heated discussion about my fertility and children....Simon was telling her that we discussed children and we don’t want them and she told him that I was lying and that I don’t want children. 

That argument went on the rest of the night. 

The party came to a natural conclusion and we all packed up and went back to my flat. Rita was complaining that everyone drank her drink and smoked her cigarettes....erm......no, she drank her own drink and smoked all of her cigarettes!!!  Her boyfriend was picking her up so I had to wait until he came to pick her up.  She babbled on about Jeff and my barren womb and told me a baby would make everything better.  I was in a state of shock and just mumbled something about timing.  Finally her fella picked her up. 

I undressed and got into bed facing away from Simon. Simon put his arm around me and kissed my shoulder and my back and told me that he loved me.  A tear rolled down my cheek and I didn’t know what to think.

 I had a shit night’s sleep. 

I don’t know what to think about what happened. Was Rita trying to shit stir?  Was she just being a stupid drunk?  I haven’t spoken to her since and I don’t know if I want to.  I thought that she was my friend.

So I sit here, 6 days after the event, feeling numb.  Simon has been extra nice to me.   I have cried.  I have felt sad.  I have felt inadequate.  

Do pretty girls get a "Get Out Of Jail Free Card"?  Because they are pretty does this make this sort of behaviour acceptable???  Do us bigger girls when we are a hot mess not get the same privilege?  I am seriously confused.  My head is mashed and I seriously don't know what to think.

So Ragers and Ragettes, I have a lot to figure out.  Luckily my Gay Best Friend is coming over this weekend.  I hope that he can give me some perspective.

So until next time Ragers and Ragettes, keep your heads and standards high and your heels even higher

Lots of Love

The Fabulous Betty Rage xxxxx

On An Eventful Fourth of July Part One

Hey Ragers and Ragettes!  The weather here is rainy and cool so I have opted for skinny jeans, a white cami with my black blazer (if it gets too cold) with my Iron Fist peeptoe stilettos and my red lippy.  Fabulous!

Well, the Fourth of July was a very, very, very eventful day.  It started out with the results of a challenge I did for my personal trainer.  She wanted me to lose 3cm off my belly button (about an inch) and when she did the official measurements, I was down on my waist by 4cm, 3cm on my hips and on my belly button, 11cm....yes, you read that right!!!!  I beasted it!!!   She was so impressed and I felt so proud of myself.  I then had a great session and I walked out feeling very happy.

I rushed home, had a quick shower and got ready to go to the beauty salon for a pedicure, HD eyebrows, eyelash extensions and then I needed to get the pink topped up in my hair. 

I had my beauty treatments and then it was time for my hair.  I sat in the hairdressing chair and the hairdresser looked at my hair and said, Betty, we have a problem. 

What’s that?  I asked concerned.

She ran her fingers through my pixie crop.  Betty, your hair is porous.   It looks like because you have been dying your hair all different colours your hair has had enough.   We need to get this sorted because you are in danger of seriously damaging your hair.  I could snap and break.  We need to sort something out.

I was shocked.  What do you propose, I asked.

She said, what do you want to do with your hair.  Do you have a plan?

I actually do, I replied.  I want to grow it and get some microring extensions. 

She smiled and said, excellent.  What I suggest is that we dye your hair back to your natural colour and let it grow out.  I have some hairdye that helps repair damaged hair.

So she prepared the dye (which was caramel coloured), put it on my hair and left it to sit for what felt like ages.

When she went to wash it off, I looked in the mirror and my hair was very dark.

Once she washed it off and dried it I was in a state of shock.  She was nattering on saying how pretty I looked.  I felt....well.....plain.  The crazy pink kind of defined me.

I mean, I have always been outrageous Betty Rage not just plain Jane.  Even my black hair had a blue tinge in it.  This was...well....different.

The best way to describe it is a chocolately brown with a mahogany tinge.  It is shiney.  I felt instantly so sad.  I felt like a part of me had died.  I tried not to cry and I managed a quiet smile.

I walked out and got into my car and the tears started to flow.  I know that this is the best for my hair and for my hair goal (the microring extensions) as my hair needs to get stronger and healthier.  But I feel like a part of me has died.  The sassy, silly Betty Rage seems to have vanished and a new serious looking Betty Rage has come to the surface.

I got home and Simon was sleeping.  I started to get the laundry done.  Simon woke up and said, wow Betty.  You look gorgeous.

Really, I said back?  He hugged me and said, I like this a lot.  I prefer it. 

So, Ragers and Ragettes, after the weekend, looking at it, it’s not that bad.  My hair style defo needs to be sorted but it is in the awkward growing out phase.  I hope by my birthday in 3 months I will be in a better hair situation. 

They say on average, your hair grows a half an inch a month so in 6-7 months my hair will be long and strong and ready for the next chapter.

 Until then I will continue on taking care of my hair and doing what is best for my body. 

And I had to get ready for a party after all.....

Until next time, Ragers and Ragettes, keep your head and standards high and your heels even higher

Lots of love

The Fabulous Betty Rage xxxxxxxxxxxx

On The Karma Police: What Are You Going to Do When They Come For You?

Hey Ragers and Ragettes!!!  Long, long time no write for me.  I am so sorry.  It’s been a hectic mess of work, gym and trying to keep sane.

Today is supposedly the hottest day of the year so today I am wearing my favourite vintage sundress.  It’s white with navy, turquoise and green flowers with a blue bow tied on the back accessorised with my brown wooden platform sandals and my straw brown and white vintage handbag. (Which is good as I look fab but bad because I have a leather like chair and getting up I lose at least 4 layers of skin getting up...nice!)  I am rocking my neon pink lippy as I feel it is an appropriate colour for this time of year.  Plus it’s good that my hair matches my lippie...

In 1997, British group Radiohead released a fabulous song called Karma Police.  This song, for me, is musically and lyrically one of my favourite songs of all time.  It’s sad and nostalgic lyrics along with Thom Yorke’s soothing vocals make it an amazing piece of music.  4 minutes and 22 seconds of pure musical bliss.

What does this have to do with anything?  Well, the title of the song has been something that I have been fascinated with.   People always talk about on social media, usually expressed through a meme of Beyonce or Rihanna making a sassy face, the whole Karma thing. 

I personally believe in Karma.  For yesterday, my bezzie Suzanne gave me the story that made me laugh, carefully mind you, of how The Karma Police has taken action against someone who is deserving of action in an extraordinary way.

Remember back when I worked with Suzanne and there was a woman in my department that was dead glam but people tend to talk around her?  Well, this woman, as my time at the old place went on started to show her true colours.  And it turns out if she was a pair of shoes, she would be a pair of crocs. 

She is one of those people that will be nice to your face, learns your business, and then gossips and stabs you in the back.

She used to slag quite a few people off and even callously gossiped behind a woman’s back about her son that tragically killed himself.  She also was also up the management’s ass.  All directors love her but I think that it is true.  People didn’t talk to her, they talked around her.

Anywho, Suzanne told me that one of the people in the company, who was friendly towards her, was messaging on the company’s instant messenger service about her in a derogatory way (I don’t know verbatim what was said) and instead if sending it to his intended recipient, he sent it to the woman instead!!!!!

The Karma Police have taken aim, fired and now she knows what people really think of her.  Ouch. 

But knowing her, she will go to the directors who she is chummy with and complain, play victim and cry.  The person that sent the message will get into major trouble.  She will whine and complain and blame instead of looking at herself and thinking, am I really like that?  Is that what people really think?

You see, The Karma Police have made the punishment fit the crime.  Of all the bitching, backstabbing and just generally being a douche that she has done, she has had it back, in an indirect sort of way from a person that she was “friendly” with.

I know that people will sympathise to her face but in reality, I know that those people will be thinking what was said is 100% correct.

I need to be careful here.  I usually shake these things off and not let them bother me.  I try to steer clear of the Karma Police at all cost.  Forgiving people is hard but once you let go, you can free yourself and be happy.   A wise person once said that anger is like holding onto a hot coal with the intention of throwing it.

But I can’t help but smile, sip my peppermint tea and just thank the Karma Police for this.  It’s been a long time coming and now that it has happened, let’s learn from this.

I take from this situation that I need to be kinder, more genuine and to not gossip (even though this post is kind of gossip, hence why I am putting the Hallmark Card inspired spin on this).  Let the small minded, ignorant people that say and do hurtful things get on with it.  And as Taylor Swift said, Shake It Off.  The Karma Police will get them in the end. 

Until the next time, keep smiling, keep believing and keep your head and standards high and your heels even higher

Lots of Love,

The Fabulous Betty Rage xxxxxxxxxx

Betty Rage the Calendar Girl?

Hey Ragers and Ragettes!!!  It’s a cool Friday here in St Helens so I am wearing my bootcut jeans, Suzanne inspired cowboy boots, a berry coloured ¾ sleeve V-neck top and my red lippy.  Fabulous! 

I am so happy that the weekend is upon us and that it’s a Bank Holiday Weekend!  I need the time off!!  My brains are mushed as a lot of negative things have happened this week.  I walked out of work on Wednesday night and Simon didn’t notice (thanks babe) and yesterday I wrote up my resignation and I was so close to handing it to Simon.  Work has become complicated and frustrating.  Then to top it off, yesterday, some arsehole decided to back into my cute little convertible denting the bonnet and putting a hole in my bumper.  Nice.  So this week can just suck a big dick for all I care.

So I want to focus on a positive. 

I have been training with my fabulous Personal Trainer now and I have been enjoying every minute.  And through her, I have made some new friends.  They are all girls and they also train with my Personal Trainer.  We are in a What’s App group cheering each other on, getting ideas for new recipes and exercises and such.  It’s been a God-send as chainging your lifestyle is hard.  There are still some fat girl habits in there and it’s all about controlling them. 

This weekend we are all having our first “cheat meal” in 4 weeks as we have been doing a month long clean eating challenge.  It has been hard.  The hardest bit was the coffee withdrawal but I have now been coffee free, processed food free for 4 weeks.  I am proud of myself.  And the girlies and I have agreed that this is the way to eat now and that we are going to continue to eat clean but every 2 weeks we will have a “cheat meal”.  My cheat meal?  Burgers with bacon and cheese, curly fries, bacon fried mozzarella sticks and carrot cake or cheese cake....I can’t decide which one.  I know I will probably want to chuck my guts up the next morning but it is important because I need to let me body feel that so that I won’t want to feel it again.

Anyway, we were having a group chat and one of the girls, Natasha* (name changed – also known as the pocket rocket as she is 4 foot 11 and strong as hell) said that she had a session with my Personal Trainer and they decided that all of us need to do a calendar to promote our healthy body shapes and our way of living.

Now I am not as fit and sculpted as the rest of the girls, but they want me to participate to prove that strong is sexy.  All body shapes are welcome.  Our group even have a name: The All Girl’s Lifting Team. 

So we were discussing what sort of poses we could do.  Gina (the group’s leader, she is ex military and has the most impressive abs I have ever seen) said that she wants to do pull ups, in full make up of course, while wearing a crop top and booty shorts.  We all agreed that was the best for Gina as she is one tough cookie!!!

Natasha said, I would like to do a boxing pose.  I chipped in and said, I have some fabulous retro Adidas boxing boots that are dying to come out plus some gloves!

Natasha replied, Betty, we can pose together with boxing gloves  or you can do lunges or squats because you have great legs!!  I see you wearing a white vest, booty shorts and your boxing boots.

I instantly felt....well, embarrassed but proud.  Me?  Have great legs?  My years of heel wearing has given me calf muscles to die for.  My Personal Trainer keeps telling me that my legs and bum are looking amazing.  And they are.  My bum is not a bum, but a proper booty!! 

I instantly felt excited and happy.  I have hair modelled now calendar model?  And to be in a group with these girls?  These girls are seriously physically fit and I look up to all of them. 

Gina wants to get matching workout tops for all of us to wear.  I usually don’t follow the crowd, but Gina, I will wear that top with pride because I am part of an elite group of girls that aren’t afraid to lift weights, scare off the sted heads in the gym that hog the weights and will happily out clean and press any man that challenges us.  Yes, I am proud to be a member of the All Girls Lifting Team!

So until next time Ragers and Ragettes, keep your head and standards high and your heels even higher!!

Lots of love

The Fabulous Betty Rage xxxxxx

On the Visitors and Parental Problems

Hey Ragers and Ragettes!!  It’s a lovely warm day here in St Helens so I am taking the opportunity to rock my new palazzo strapless jumpsuit with my white cardigan and black wedges.  Fabulous!!!

Well the visitors have been and gone.  It wasn’t too bad actually.  They are both now ladies of leisure (hubby is making all the money) and they both have children.   They are also both fat!  It was great being the skinny one in the group.  I know that was incredibly bitchy but I needed something from screaming after Amelia showed me her new Louis Vuitton handbag and her Chanel makeup.  Oh and don’t forget the first class ticket!!  Well at least my ass isn’t as flabby as yours, sunshine!

But it was ok.  We have each taken different paths and I am cool with it.  We spent the day in Liverpool and reminisced about the old days.  We laughed and discussed life and how the people from our old crew were doing. 

Charity is still as straight talking and funny as ever.   Yes, it looks like they have an easy life.  Well, as easy as raising children can be, and I must admit, I am a little envious but I am better off where I am now. 

We left it that we are going to attempt to meet up at Christmas when I go back home.  And that just suits me fine. 

But my current concern is with Simon’s parents.   I wouldn’t say that I am close to them.  I tolerate them, yes I think that is the best way that I can describe it currently but lately, things have been a bit....well....strained.

A few weeks ago, Simon received a call on the weekend from his mother asking him to come down to fix something, I don’t know if it was the computer or the TV.  He went over to assist and then the drama began...

I received a text from his dad:  Hi Betty.  Have you ever heard the song Cats in the Cats in the Cradle.  It’s about a father who doesn’t have time for his son.  I feel the opposite.

I was a bit shocked.  I didn’t know what to say so I sent a text back saying that I was familiar with the song and Cat Stevens.

Then his dad went on to say that Simon’s mum shouldn’t have called.  And that he wants to feel appreciated. 

He does have a valid point.  But the texts had spelling errors all over the shop...his dad was drunk again.

More texts followed.  The spelling got worse.  His dad was very drunk, I think.

Simon came home and looked frustrated.  I showed him the texts.  Simon sat down on the settee.  Was she drunk again, I asked quietly.  He just nodded.  I hugged him.  I could see he was hurt.  I can see why he doesn’t go over and see them.  I understand his frustration.

Ever since that day, his parents have been awkward with me and Simon.  As in they haven’t spoken to us or chatted with us.  And his dad, who takes care of the accounts knows how busy I am at work has been bombarding me with emails, where’s this?  Where’s that?  Give me this invoice.  He’s also putting awkward comments on my Facebook statuses.  It’s kind of making me feel uncomfortable.  I was tempted yesterday when his dad put an awkward comment on one of my statuses to say Go home Dad, you’re drunk but I don’t know how that would have been taken.

Why have I been pulled into this?  Should I be pulled into this?  What are the official relationship rules on this?

Simon and I have discussed the whole marriage thing.  It is something that we both want.  But Simon made it very clear he wants to fly to Vegas and get married without his parents present because of their track record for getting slaughtered. 

I am lucky.  Yes, my Mama is an absolute head-case with issues.  Yes, she drives me crackers.  Yes, my worst nightmare is to end up helpless and crazy like her.  But I love my Mama and I would take her craziness over Simon’s situation any day.  It’s made me grateful for what I do have.  Simon feels that my parents are the way that he wanted his parents to be and my parents adore Simon and they call him son.

But my parents are miles away and the closest things to parents that I have here are less than adequate. 

I find myself alone and isolated feeling.  They say that when you marry a man, you marry the family too.  Half of me thinks what have I got myself into? 

It’s a difficult one, Ragers and Ragettes and I am well and truly stuck.  Any comments or feedback about this or any issues are always welcome!

Until next time, Ragers and Ragettes, keep your head and standards high and your heels even higher

Lots of Love

The Fabulous Betty Rage xxxxx