Soundtrack: Mansun - Attack of the Grey Lantern
Aargh, I've been so busy at work. Apologies for my lax communication.
I'll come on quickly to tell you about my weekend.
Friday:
You know when you get home for work, and you just want to go completely mad? I hadn't had a drink for so long, so I downed a bottle of wine and headed out to How Does it Feel to be Loved with Thom. Lots more alcohol was consumed, and lots of fun was had. Lots of dancing, and lots of friends there too. The night went in a bit of a whirl. I do remember dancing to The Sweet's Blockbuster I think - not the usual kind of song you get at HDIF, but a fun interlude all the same. We had to run and get the last tube though, because...
Saturday:
Was an early rehearsal for The Gresham Flyers. It was pretty good considering we hadn't practiced for 2 weeks. We have 5 songs in the bag now, one that needs lyrics and another couple that we're working on. All is going well for a potential gig in July. I'll say more when it's absolutely definite!
And then we had a photoshoot that afternoon! We need to get the photos sorted for our website (under-development), and Sally is more than woman enough to do a bunch of misfits some justice! It was quite fun; we started in the quirky Candid Arts cafe in Angel, and then headed to Greenwich and Canary Wharf for mad lights, mad steel and mad brickwork. It was a bit of a hectic day though, and I didn't get to eat... we went on to meet our friends Jamie and Carl at the Dover Castle. I proceeded to drink 5pints of cider and throw up on the tube track on the way home. Oops.
Sunday:
A bit of an odd one. On my way to Windsor there was a bit of an incident. I'll copy and paste what I wrote on bowlie.
"I was sat at the front of the train, tucked into the corner, and a few rows away from the driver. They got on and were being so loud. But you get lads being boisterous when their teams have won (did they win?) so that's fine. But then it was all fucking this and cunt that. I didn't look up because I didn't want to get their attention but I'm pretty sure everyone else had moved out of the carriage. I couldn't leave the carriage because I had to go through them, and looking quite the heifer in my gym gear (and hearing the things they were shouting at people) there was no way I was going to walk through them. By this point, although they hadn't said anything direct to me, I was casing the carriage to find a 'speak to driver' handle, but I couldn't see one without getting up. One bloke thought it would be hilarious to whistle to attract some girl on the platform - it was so piercing and deafening that there's no way that the driver didn't hear it. But no one came out to check, did they?
And then we got to Hounslow. I've seriously never heard anything like the racist bollocks they were spouting. But it was the aggression too. They were so loud (and banging on the windows) that there was no doubt all the non-white people would have heard everything. At this point I texted Thom (I was too scared to speak to him on the phone without getting their attention). I couldn't write the text because I was shaking so much. I'd put my knitting away by now (I didn't want to give them ammunition) and was desperately trying to read and ignore but they were all walking up and down the train and saying stuff to me that there was no way I could read. Of course they got off at Staines, where every fucking fuck in the world seems to live. Not after throwing the glass covers from the emergency handles at me.
They didn't really do much aimed at me, but I have NEVER been as petrified as I was on that journey. I called Thom straight away and just broke down in tears. I really did fear for my safety.
I spoke to the conductor once I got to Windsor and he was extremely apologetic for not having gone through the carriages. He says you get a lot of boisterous football fans but it's usually best not to interfere as it gets them going. Anyway, he took my details, it's all on CCTV, and apparently what happened counts as assault so I don't know if it will go to the police. I have to fill a form for South West trains and "they will definitely respond". I'm just pissed off at the driver. The conductor said the driving booths are really soundproof, but there isn't a way in hell he didn't hear what was going on.
I really feel quite ill now after all that. I can't even begin to describe how terrifying it was."
:(
Thankfully I managed to get my head together and work all the tension off at the gym. It probably did me good as I was in a bit of a stupor that night.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
gym'll fix it
Soundtrack: The Kinks - David Watts
The strangest thing happened yesterday. I went to the gym.
I wouldn't have done it without Thom actually calling the gym on my behalf to arrange the induction. He's been quite keen to get me to join up. I resented it at first. But I have issues with my body (as everyone does), and at least if I feel like I'm doing something I will probably feel better in myself. And I have issues with exercising. It's not the physical activitiy of it, it's more maintaining my interest in it. I tried to start running, but got bored. So the gym seems the best solution, I guess.
So there was me waiting for my induction. I had stomach ache I was so nervous. I was being inducted with another lady, Cara. We just sat there in silence, and then she asked me if I'd been to the gym before. 'No. And I'm absolutely terrified.' 'Oh thank god - me too!'. So that broke the ice. And our instructor was very nice, and gave us a good go on a lot of the machinery. I particularly took a fancy to the rowing machine which looks out at the swans swimming on the Thames.
I think I'll keep it up. I have to at least give it a month of going 2/3 times a week. I want to notice some difference. I've started fanatsising about joining the work gym, and going every night after work. Well that's not quite going to happen, but I hope this eagerness lasts. And dare I say I'm enjoying this slightly achey feeling I have today?
The strangest thing happened yesterday. I went to the gym.
I wouldn't have done it without Thom actually calling the gym on my behalf to arrange the induction. He's been quite keen to get me to join up. I resented it at first. But I have issues with my body (as everyone does), and at least if I feel like I'm doing something I will probably feel better in myself. And I have issues with exercising. It's not the physical activitiy of it, it's more maintaining my interest in it. I tried to start running, but got bored. So the gym seems the best solution, I guess.
So there was me waiting for my induction. I had stomach ache I was so nervous. I was being inducted with another lady, Cara. We just sat there in silence, and then she asked me if I'd been to the gym before. 'No. And I'm absolutely terrified.' 'Oh thank god - me too!'. So that broke the ice. And our instructor was very nice, and gave us a good go on a lot of the machinery. I particularly took a fancy to the rowing machine which looks out at the swans swimming on the Thames.
I think I'll keep it up. I have to at least give it a month of going 2/3 times a week. I want to notice some difference. I've started fanatsising about joining the work gym, and going every night after work. Well that's not quite going to happen, but I hope this eagerness lasts. And dare I say I'm enjoying this slightly achey feeling I have today?
Saturday, May 07, 2005
all that jazz
Soundtrack: David Axelrod - Song of Innocence
Ooh Thom and I have booked a holiday for the end of May! We're going to Kalami in Corfu, and I am beyond excited. It's been several years since I went on just a beach holiday - that was Benidorm in 2000. Don't laugh. I went with Sue and my parents, we met auntie Carole and uncle Alan out there, and it was the last holiday we went on as a family. It was my parents' 25th wedding anniversary (they split up the year after *cough*) but I do look back on that holiday fondly. It was a week of swimming, sangria with illegal alcohol content, karaoke and a dodgy vegetarian diet (chips and spring rolls was the resort's main offerings). Oh, and 'Sticky Vicky' who shot ping pong balls out of her vagina. Ooh, and my being 'hypnotised' (it didn't work) and having to fake an orgasm on stage and in front of my parents. Anyway, all that aside, it was a bloody good holiday, so I'm due another beach holiday.
Thankfully, Thom and I chose Kalami because it won't have any of the above. It will just be quiet beaches, a couple of tavernas, lots of hills, no kids and the 'lively nightlife' being 20mins away by bus. Ok, so I'm obviously turning old before my time, but I'm desperately in need of time off from life. A week of just sun, sea, sand and knitting.
I've just got back from Marks and Spencers. I went there to buy garlic bread but invariably came back with swim wear. A 'tankini', they call it. Vest and knickers, I call it. I didn't have the guts (or perhaps an abundance of guts) to go with a bikini - even if we do find a secluded cove somewhere.
I was leaving the shop and having a conversation in my head, as you do. I had one of those moments where I was leaving through the door, and someone was entering the same door. I let her open the door, rather than smacking it open in her face, and was continuing the conversation in my head, Jackson 5 blaring in my lugholes, just not really thinking about things.
'Oh, well thank you very much. No problem. You've very welcome.'
This woman coming through the other side was pissed off that I hadn't congratulated her on her door management skills. I usually do say thank you - in fact I still did on this occassion, just after I walked through. I wasn't on the ball, talking to myself. But once walking up the street I was so embarrassed and ashamed that I didn't say thanks on time to this woman. Not that she deserved it, being a narky cow. But still.
Ah well.
I'm obsessed with David Axelrod right now. You know when you hear a song that just hits you, and you need to hear more? Well that happened with 'Holy Are You' by Electric Prunes, which is basically David Axelrod using the band's name for himself. So since I heard this song, I've been on the look out for more David Axelrod. It must have been before Christmas when I heard 'Holy Are You', but could I find anymore Axelrod anywhere? NO! Now, he was quite a big producer and composer in his time. A kind of 60s/70s pre-prog orchestral psychedelia. Why the hell can't I find him??
Finally, I found Axelrod's album Song of Innocence in Glasgow's Mono. And I am, it's fair to say, obsessed. You would expect Oxford Street's Virgin Megastore - the biggest record shop in London - to have it though, wouldn't you? Could I find it? Could I 'eckers, like. I explained this quandary to Thom. A lightbulb flickered over his head, and he drags me down to 'soundtracks'. Nope, it's not there.
And then my stomach sinks... I know where he'll be... I really hope not... I take Thom by the hand... I walk into the section I promised myself I would never darken the doors of... I look under 'A'.
There he is.
David Axelrod is filed under JAZZ.
I don't like jazz. There's a lot of genres I didn't used to like, but I've grown to adore. That's maturity for you. But jazz - it's just not me. I can't stand it when my boss plays his iRiver full blast in the office, all the drums, and the saxes, and the trumpets trying to outdo each other simultaneously in a Mariah carey-stylee. I hate it. I hate it when Thom tries to inflict Miles Davis on me. It's all too cacophonic, and I need to shower afterwards. And there he is, David Axelrod.
My first jazz record.
Ooh Thom and I have booked a holiday for the end of May! We're going to Kalami in Corfu, and I am beyond excited. It's been several years since I went on just a beach holiday - that was Benidorm in 2000. Don't laugh. I went with Sue and my parents, we met auntie Carole and uncle Alan out there, and it was the last holiday we went on as a family. It was my parents' 25th wedding anniversary (they split up the year after *cough*) but I do look back on that holiday fondly. It was a week of swimming, sangria with illegal alcohol content, karaoke and a dodgy vegetarian diet (chips and spring rolls was the resort's main offerings). Oh, and 'Sticky Vicky' who shot ping pong balls out of her vagina. Ooh, and my being 'hypnotised' (it didn't work) and having to fake an orgasm on stage and in front of my parents. Anyway, all that aside, it was a bloody good holiday, so I'm due another beach holiday.
Thankfully, Thom and I chose Kalami because it won't have any of the above. It will just be quiet beaches, a couple of tavernas, lots of hills, no kids and the 'lively nightlife' being 20mins away by bus. Ok, so I'm obviously turning old before my time, but I'm desperately in need of time off from life. A week of just sun, sea, sand and knitting.
I've just got back from Marks and Spencers. I went there to buy garlic bread but invariably came back with swim wear. A 'tankini', they call it. Vest and knickers, I call it. I didn't have the guts (or perhaps an abundance of guts) to go with a bikini - even if we do find a secluded cove somewhere.
I was leaving the shop and having a conversation in my head, as you do. I had one of those moments where I was leaving through the door, and someone was entering the same door. I let her open the door, rather than smacking it open in her face, and was continuing the conversation in my head, Jackson 5 blaring in my lugholes, just not really thinking about things.
'Oh, well thank you very much. No problem. You've very welcome.'
This woman coming through the other side was pissed off that I hadn't congratulated her on her door management skills. I usually do say thank you - in fact I still did on this occassion, just after I walked through. I wasn't on the ball, talking to myself. But once walking up the street I was so embarrassed and ashamed that I didn't say thanks on time to this woman. Not that she deserved it, being a narky cow. But still.
Ah well.
I'm obsessed with David Axelrod right now. You know when you hear a song that just hits you, and you need to hear more? Well that happened with 'Holy Are You' by Electric Prunes, which is basically David Axelrod using the band's name for himself. So since I heard this song, I've been on the look out for more David Axelrod. It must have been before Christmas when I heard 'Holy Are You', but could I find anymore Axelrod anywhere? NO! Now, he was quite a big producer and composer in his time. A kind of 60s/70s pre-prog orchestral psychedelia. Why the hell can't I find him??
Finally, I found Axelrod's album Song of Innocence in Glasgow's Mono. And I am, it's fair to say, obsessed. You would expect Oxford Street's Virgin Megastore - the biggest record shop in London - to have it though, wouldn't you? Could I find it? Could I 'eckers, like. I explained this quandary to Thom. A lightbulb flickered over his head, and he drags me down to 'soundtracks'. Nope, it's not there.
And then my stomach sinks... I know where he'll be... I really hope not... I take Thom by the hand... I walk into the section I promised myself I would never darken the doors of... I look under 'A'.
There he is.
David Axelrod is filed under JAZZ.
I don't like jazz. There's a lot of genres I didn't used to like, but I've grown to adore. That's maturity for you. But jazz - it's just not me. I can't stand it when my boss plays his iRiver full blast in the office, all the drums, and the saxes, and the trumpets trying to outdo each other simultaneously in a Mariah carey-stylee. I hate it. I hate it when Thom tries to inflict Miles Davis on me. It's all too cacophonic, and I need to shower afterwards. And there he is, David Axelrod.
My first jazz record.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
bank holiday comes 6 times a year
Soundtrack: Pulp - This is Hardcore
It was May Day bank holiday this weekend, so Thom, Sue and I ventured to Dan's in Cardiff to see university friends. It always feels strange calling Dan my sister's boyfriend when he was MY FRIEND FIRST, but I'll let her off.
It was pretty miserable when we left Windsor, but Cardiff was just bathed in sunshine. We sat outside a cute Sam Smith's pub in The Bay waiting for our food, and lucky me got extremely sunburned. It didn't occur to me to put lotion on, what with it being grey and May, but the sun decided to take me by surprise. I'm still in pain 4days later. The rest of the day was filled with park mischief and walking around town. Rather bizarrely I bumped into Londonite Gordon in Cardiff central train station, which was a pleasant surprise. I hope he comes to 'How does it feel to be loved?' on Friday.
The night started with Chinese food. I had vegetarian sweet & sour chicken. Sweet & sour chicken tended to be my dish of choice as a carnivore, but the veggie alternative is usually just vegetables in sweet & sour sauce. Blech. But 'Pearl of the Orient' was my second encounter with vegetarian-style sweet & sour chicken in 5 years (the other being in San Francisco in December), so I was in my element. And it was BEAUTIFUL. Really light and just enough. Yum yum. The rest of the night was spein a Bay bar after the 13 of us had collared a big table, and I had such a great time. That was until someone said 'let's go dancing'. Off we trooped. Firstly Thom wasn't let into the dance place because he was wearing trainers. Then Simon, in his boisterous drunken-mode, picked George up and spun her around. She didn't take too kindly to this and slapped him. She was really upset. Simon apologised, but she wouldn't apologise back. And now they've broken friends, which is just great. George is having a housewarming in Pontypridd early June, but Simon won't go because George won't apologise. And in my experience, acting like that will snowball into reasons not to go to the next meet-up, and then the next, and before we know it years will have passed. So that's it for all of our friendship, as far as I can see. The weekend in Cardiff was the last time we'll ever see each other. :(
After the atmosphere soured, Thom and I decided to drive back to Tooting, seeing as he had to work the next day. So off we set, 1am on Sunday morning.
*FLASH*
'Thom, are you speeding? A camera went off'
'No, I'm alright'
*FLASH*
'There's a lot of speeding tonight'
We approached the Severn Bridge, and then...
*CRACK*
A panoramic sheet of lightening was covering the whole of the sky. No lights on the M4 - we had to drive home by lightening. It was absolutely terrifying, and it didn't let up for 2hours. Thankfully it was just lightening, no rain, and although we could see it striking, we seemed to be safe. And then hail - huge bricks of hail. It sounded like the windscreen was about to smash. And we could not see a thing. Then we drove throuugh a deep puddle and nearly veered off the motorway. We were driving at about 20mph and I've never been so scared in my life. I was on the verge of tears! Thankfully the hail stopped after 10minutes, and the lightening just continued all the way back to Windsor. There was no way we were carrying on all the way to Tooting.
It was May Day bank holiday this weekend, so Thom, Sue and I ventured to Dan's in Cardiff to see university friends. It always feels strange calling Dan my sister's boyfriend when he was MY FRIEND FIRST, but I'll let her off.
It was pretty miserable when we left Windsor, but Cardiff was just bathed in sunshine. We sat outside a cute Sam Smith's pub in The Bay waiting for our food, and lucky me got extremely sunburned. It didn't occur to me to put lotion on, what with it being grey and May, but the sun decided to take me by surprise. I'm still in pain 4days later. The rest of the day was filled with park mischief and walking around town. Rather bizarrely I bumped into Londonite Gordon in Cardiff central train station, which was a pleasant surprise. I hope he comes to 'How does it feel to be loved?' on Friday.
The night started with Chinese food. I had vegetarian sweet & sour chicken. Sweet & sour chicken tended to be my dish of choice as a carnivore, but the veggie alternative is usually just vegetables in sweet & sour sauce. Blech. But 'Pearl of the Orient' was my second encounter with vegetarian-style sweet & sour chicken in 5 years (the other being in San Francisco in December), so I was in my element. And it was BEAUTIFUL. Really light and just enough. Yum yum. The rest of the night was spein a Bay bar after the 13 of us had collared a big table, and I had such a great time. That was until someone said 'let's go dancing'. Off we trooped. Firstly Thom wasn't let into the dance place because he was wearing trainers. Then Simon, in his boisterous drunken-mode, picked George up and spun her around. She didn't take too kindly to this and slapped him. She was really upset. Simon apologised, but she wouldn't apologise back. And now they've broken friends, which is just great. George is having a housewarming in Pontypridd early June, but Simon won't go because George won't apologise. And in my experience, acting like that will snowball into reasons not to go to the next meet-up, and then the next, and before we know it years will have passed. So that's it for all of our friendship, as far as I can see. The weekend in Cardiff was the last time we'll ever see each other. :(
After the atmosphere soured, Thom and I decided to drive back to Tooting, seeing as he had to work the next day. So off we set, 1am on Sunday morning.
*FLASH*
'Thom, are you speeding? A camera went off'
'No, I'm alright'
*FLASH*
'There's a lot of speeding tonight'
We approached the Severn Bridge, and then...
*CRACK*
A panoramic sheet of lightening was covering the whole of the sky. No lights on the M4 - we had to drive home by lightening. It was absolutely terrifying, and it didn't let up for 2hours. Thankfully it was just lightening, no rain, and although we could see it striking, we seemed to be safe. And then hail - huge bricks of hail. It sounded like the windscreen was about to smash. And we could not see a thing. Then we drove throuugh a deep puddle and nearly veered off the motorway. We were driving at about 20mph and I've never been so scared in my life. I was on the verge of tears! Thankfully the hail stopped after 10minutes, and the lightening just continued all the way back to Windsor. There was no way we were carrying on all the way to Tooting.
Monday, April 25, 2005
Every step you take
Soundtrack: The Monkees - Listen to the Band
Walking to Windsor and Eton Riverside this morning was so fresh. The ground was wet after an all-night downpour, and the air was bracing, but the weather was sympathetic enough to let me trudge to the train station - keyboard and percussion on my back - through the momentary lapse of rain.
I passed the police station and saw a van backing with 'Pauleys' written on the side. It was a white van with green writing akin to that you find on Hollands or Peters pies. I was chuckling along at the thought of a pie van pulling up outside a police station. And that's when it hit me - it was quite clearly an undercover police van.
Pauleys. It's practically phonetically the same as police!
Pauleys.
Police.
Thom reminded me of an episode of The Simpsons where the FBI go undercover under the pretence of being from a company called 'Two Guys from Quantico' (Quantico being the location of an FBI training centre). I love the thought of undercover police officers hiding out in a faux pie van.
Walking to Windsor and Eton Riverside this morning was so fresh. The ground was wet after an all-night downpour, and the air was bracing, but the weather was sympathetic enough to let me trudge to the train station - keyboard and percussion on my back - through the momentary lapse of rain.
I passed the police station and saw a van backing with 'Pauleys' written on the side. It was a white van with green writing akin to that you find on Hollands or Peters pies. I was chuckling along at the thought of a pie van pulling up outside a police station. And that's when it hit me - it was quite clearly an undercover police van.
Pauleys. It's practically phonetically the same as police!
Pauleys.
Police.
Thom reminded me of an episode of The Simpsons where the FBI go undercover under the pretence of being from a company called 'Two Guys from Quantico' (Quantico being the location of an FBI training centre). I love the thought of undercover police officers hiding out in a faux pie van.
Friday, April 22, 2005
bleh
So I heard about my uncle. He has cancer of the oesophagus and it's inoperable so he's having to have chemotherapy.
I was at work when I heard the news, and was pretty shook up, and then the simplest thing (not being able to write a CD) just set me off and I broke down completely. There's nothing worse than crying at work. I spoke to my sister on the phone, and with her scientific nouse and calming influence she explained to me that it's a good thing they think it's treatable. Apparently the ways to treat cancer are to cut it out (but my uncle's tumour is too big), try chemotherapy, or it's too far gone to do anything about it. So, as Sue wisely said, they thankfully think his tumour is treatable so I have to think positively. Bless her. I really feel for my auntie though. I had a very distressing text from her when I sent her my best wishes. They've been married 35 years too... I just can't imagine what she's going through. :(
I was at work when I heard the news, and was pretty shook up, and then the simplest thing (not being able to write a CD) just set me off and I broke down completely. There's nothing worse than crying at work. I spoke to my sister on the phone, and with her scientific nouse and calming influence she explained to me that it's a good thing they think it's treatable. Apparently the ways to treat cancer are to cut it out (but my uncle's tumour is too big), try chemotherapy, or it's too far gone to do anything about it. So, as Sue wisely said, they thankfully think his tumour is treatable so I have to think positively. Bless her. I really feel for my auntie though. I had a very distressing text from her when I sent her my best wishes. They've been married 35 years too... I just can't imagine what she's going through. :(
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
I'm singing in the hailstone
Soundtrack: Brian Eno - Before and After Science
Gah, I just got caught in a huge hailstone storm on my way back from lunch. My tights are soaked now.
I don't know what it is about hailstone, but I find it a very apocalyptic weather. It's so fierce, so powerful, so full of hatred, it just makes me feel like the end of the world is nigh. Or 'nice' as my subconscious just told me to type. The end of the world is nice. Sounds like a Douglas Coupland novel.
The weather has been so schizophrenic this year. April has still seen snow, followed by a heatwave (in which I ate scones by the Thames in Windsor). And here's me, walking around in my spring-to-summer transition cardigan and freezing my metaphorical bollocks off. All I want to do right now is go on a nice relaxing beach holiday, feeling the warmth against my skin, cool off in the sea. Which is quite strange as I hate the sun. My favourite weather has to be rain - but not when I have to go anywhere. I prefer rain when I'm lying in bed at night with the window open. So soothing and calming.
Enough about the weather. Anyone would think I was British.
Gah, I just got caught in a huge hailstone storm on my way back from lunch. My tights are soaked now.
I don't know what it is about hailstone, but I find it a very apocalyptic weather. It's so fierce, so powerful, so full of hatred, it just makes me feel like the end of the world is nigh. Or 'nice' as my subconscious just told me to type. The end of the world is nice. Sounds like a Douglas Coupland novel.
The weather has been so schizophrenic this year. April has still seen snow, followed by a heatwave (in which I ate scones by the Thames in Windsor). And here's me, walking around in my spring-to-summer transition cardigan and freezing my metaphorical bollocks off. All I want to do right now is go on a nice relaxing beach holiday, feeling the warmth against my skin, cool off in the sea. Which is quite strange as I hate the sun. My favourite weather has to be rain - but not when I have to go anywhere. I prefer rain when I'm lying in bed at night with the window open. So soothing and calming.
Enough about the weather. Anyone would think I was British.
Monday, April 18, 2005
the mundanities of life
There's a girl at work, recently married, recently sprogged up, and all she talks about ALL DAY is what she bought from Marks and Spencer that morning and what she's going to cook for her husband that night.
I now know that tomatoes send her funny. I know that she prefers cracked black pepper (her husband prefers ground white). I know that her husband won't eat anything green. I've just heard that she has a DIARY of the meals she is going to cook that week. I know that everyone at our local M+S are the rudest people out of any M+S store in Britain.
When will it end?
Am I going to turn into that?
It scares me. I earn my money, I like to treat myself and Thom. I find myself asking Thom what I should cook that night. But I really can't bear the thought of turning into something whose highliights in life is the new improved bread and butter pudding recipe. I guess as long as I think of her I'll be safe. Please.
I now know that tomatoes send her funny. I know that she prefers cracked black pepper (her husband prefers ground white). I know that her husband won't eat anything green. I've just heard that she has a DIARY of the meals she is going to cook that week. I know that everyone at our local M+S are the rudest people out of any M+S store in Britain.
When will it end?
Am I going to turn into that?
It scares me. I earn my money, I like to treat myself and Thom. I find myself asking Thom what I should cook that night. But I really can't bear the thought of turning into something whose highliights in life is the new improved bread and butter pudding recipe. I guess as long as I think of her I'll be safe. Please.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
internet curtains
Soundtrack: David Axelrod - Songs of Innocence
There was a time when I would spend, what, 15 hours a day on the internet. I'd be at work all day, come home, go on again - even eat my tea in front of it. At the weekend I'd neglect my chores as I'd spend all day posting on messageboards and talking on MSN.
Now, I just can't be chuffed with it all. I don't know whether there's a tide in my leisure time, and my love of the internet is ebbing away with the low tide. All I want to do now is knit, or read, play music, watch DVDs - even clean. I just can't bring myself to sit in front of a computer all day.
It's not that I find the internet unproductive, or a blight on my life. It's a lifesaver during quiet days at work. It's lethal when I feel like procrastinating. I've made countless friends through this bloody thing. But nowadays, I can stay off a computer for several days at a time. It makes me feel somewhat guilty.
Anyway, to prove my non-cyber productivity, here's an example of my recent knitting escapades. Here's the scarf I finished around a month ago, just in time for the summer!
There was a time when I would spend, what, 15 hours a day on the internet. I'd be at work all day, come home, go on again - even eat my tea in front of it. At the weekend I'd neglect my chores as I'd spend all day posting on messageboards and talking on MSN.
Now, I just can't be chuffed with it all. I don't know whether there's a tide in my leisure time, and my love of the internet is ebbing away with the low tide. All I want to do now is knit, or read, play music, watch DVDs - even clean. I just can't bring myself to sit in front of a computer all day.
It's not that I find the internet unproductive, or a blight on my life. It's a lifesaver during quiet days at work. It's lethal when I feel like procrastinating. I've made countless friends through this bloody thing. But nowadays, I can stay off a computer for several days at a time. It makes me feel somewhat guilty.
Anyway, to prove my non-cyber productivity, here's an example of my recent knitting escapades. Here's the scarf I finished around a month ago, just in time for the summer!
Thursday, April 14, 2005
I'm the leader of the rubber band
* Reply to this message telling me which of these 30 artists you have also seen.
* Take the ones from my list that you have seen, and post them in your own blog.
* Add more until you have 30.
01. Belle & Sebastian
02. Divine Comedy
03. Elliott Smith
04. The Flaming Lips
05. Pulp
06. The Hidden Cameras
07. The Delgados
08. Super Furry Animals
09. Blur
10. Supergrass
11. Eels
12. Neil Young
13. Bob Dylan
14. Crosby and Nash
15. Low
16. Hot Hot Heat
17. The Features
18. De Novo Dahl
19. Brian Wilson
20. Mansun
21. Polyphonic Spree
22. Arcade Fire
23. Boney M
24. Fairport Convention
25. Electrelane
26. Laura Cantrell
27. Cat Power
28. Mirah
29. Jonathan Richman
30. Nick Cave
* Take the ones from my list that you have seen, and post them in your own blog.
* Add more until you have 30.
01. Belle & Sebastian
02. Divine Comedy
03. Elliott Smith
04. The Flaming Lips
05. Pulp
06. The Hidden Cameras
07. The Delgados
08. Super Furry Animals
09. Blur
10. Supergrass
11. Eels
12. Neil Young
13. Bob Dylan
14. Crosby and Nash
15. Low
16. Hot Hot Heat
17. The Features
18. De Novo Dahl
19. Brian Wilson
20. Mansun
21. Polyphonic Spree
22. Arcade Fire
23. Boney M
24. Fairport Convention
25. Electrelane
26. Laura Cantrell
27. Cat Power
28. Mirah
29. Jonathan Richman
30. Nick Cave
luvvie makes the world go 'round
Soundtrack: Electrelane - The Power Out
I've tried, but I just can't be a luvvie.
I had a recording session yesterday at a studio owned by an actor. I don't really use that studio because it's out in the sticks, but if that wasn't bad enough, this actor's mother seems to live there. And she's as mad as a hatter. She talks incessantly. She collared me yesterday when I went for a pissbreak, doing the whole 'oh I worked for X years and years ago.. do you know so and so? Did you see my son in his play? Oh me and Henry Kelly go way back... blah blah blah'. I finished my job, and went to leave, but not before I had to endure the whole 'Oh do come back and see us again, it would be lovely to work with you again, did I tell you my son can do this and that, blah blah blah'.
One of the actors I was using knew the owner of the studio, so they launched into the whole 'What do you have coming up? Oh I moved agencies and since then I've been in The Bill, Casualty... oh what are you working on... oh lovely, we must do drinks blah blah blah'.
It was quite an enjoyable job, I worked with some very versatile actors and enjoyed directing for once, but I just left with a throbbing head. Try as I might, I know I have no retorts, I know I have feigned interest, I know I have an uncomfortable sympathetic smile.
I just can't ham it up.
What does the verb 'to ham' mean anyway. Is it something to do with Hamlet, or gammon?
I've tried, but I just can't be a luvvie.
I had a recording session yesterday at a studio owned by an actor. I don't really use that studio because it's out in the sticks, but if that wasn't bad enough, this actor's mother seems to live there. And she's as mad as a hatter. She talks incessantly. She collared me yesterday when I went for a pissbreak, doing the whole 'oh I worked for X years and years ago.. do you know so and so? Did you see my son in his play? Oh me and Henry Kelly go way back... blah blah blah'. I finished my job, and went to leave, but not before I had to endure the whole 'Oh do come back and see us again, it would be lovely to work with you again, did I tell you my son can do this and that, blah blah blah'.
One of the actors I was using knew the owner of the studio, so they launched into the whole 'What do you have coming up? Oh I moved agencies and since then I've been in The Bill, Casualty... oh what are you working on... oh lovely, we must do drinks blah blah blah'.
It was quite an enjoyable job, I worked with some very versatile actors and enjoyed directing for once, but I just left with a throbbing head. Try as I might, I know I have no retorts, I know I have feigned interest, I know I have an uncomfortable sympathetic smile.
I just can't ham it up.
What does the verb 'to ham' mean anyway. Is it something to do with Hamlet, or gammon?
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
tum tum tum
Soundtrack: Belly - Feed the Trees
Belly came on 6music last night, and it reminded me of the first concert I went to.
rewind 10 years
July, 1995. Leeds Heineken Music Festival.
Pulp were headlining after their jubilant performance replacing the Stone Roses at Glastonbury. I won 4 tickets from the Melody Maker, and me, my sister, and my mum and dad headed off to sunny Leeds.
I was just getting into my music - pulp, blur and supergrass being my particular favourites. I'd yet to cotton on to the fashions of the times, so I probably just turned up in scraggy jeans, Nicks trainers and a cheap Mark One t-shirt.
We were queueing up to go in, and I was amazed by all these people the same age as me being at the festival on their own. And I could not believe their clothing. You know the type; velvet jackets, docs and flared cords. There was this one girl in the queue ahead of me who had some black docs and had grafittied them with tippex. She had drawn flowers and Belly's logo.
I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen.
Belly came on 6music last night, and it reminded me of the first concert I went to.
rewind 10 years
July, 1995. Leeds Heineken Music Festival.
Pulp were headlining after their jubilant performance replacing the Stone Roses at Glastonbury. I won 4 tickets from the Melody Maker, and me, my sister, and my mum and dad headed off to sunny Leeds.
I was just getting into my music - pulp, blur and supergrass being my particular favourites. I'd yet to cotton on to the fashions of the times, so I probably just turned up in scraggy jeans, Nicks trainers and a cheap Mark One t-shirt.
We were queueing up to go in, and I was amazed by all these people the same age as me being at the festival on their own. And I could not believe their clothing. You know the type; velvet jackets, docs and flared cords. There was this one girl in the queue ahead of me who had some black docs and had grafittied them with tippex. She had drawn flowers and Belly's logo.
I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
holly rude
Soundtrack: Bob Dylan - Nashville Skyline
I've just spent a very long weekend in Glasgow with Thom and Rick. It was lovely, but I swear I'm getting old; I just don't seem to have the stamina anymore. And I only had 3 alcoholic drinks all weekend! It's not just Glasgow, I just don't seem to have energy full stop these days. I never seem to be in the mood for dancing anymore (I don't like the sound of that) and I often think it will be nicer to just stay home and be in bed for 10. Hopefully the impending summer will sort that out.
Anyway, Glasgow was fun, and tiring, and bloody freezing. We arrived on Thursday - me in my thin red summer jacket - to the news that it was 8 degrees celsius. And it got colder. Friday was spent battling the fierce winds of Edinburgh. It was a shame, because I just wanted to stay indoors drinking hot chocolate rather than see the city. Arthur's Seat - which offers the best views of the city - was out of the question. I still had fun though. Along with finding a white label of pulp's razzmatazz, Kristin and Chris took us on a tour of the Holyrood Scottish Parliament building (where they both work). So while tour groups were being shown the public entrance and the cafeteria, the natives were showing us around all the little conference rooms and places no one else gets to see. It was strangely fascinating, and amazing to think that people actually work there everyday!
That night wasn't too good though. I found out that my uncle is seriously ill. They think it might be cancer of the liver, but they're still doing tests. I got pretty upset about it, and I haven't quite recovered. I found myself wishing I was at home for the rest of the weekend, just wanting Thom to give me reassuring hugs, just wanting a bit of space to think. I felt bad for Rick, because I think I put a bit of a dampner on the last days of his holiday, but I just couldn't snap out of it. :(
And now Rick's gone home. He's so great, and has been such a rock to me for the past few years. I was just pondering yesterday how sad it is that some of the people I feel closest to live the furthest away. Don't get me wrong, I have Thom, and I have friends in London that I'm getting even closer too. But two of the people I relied on moved to America last year. Sometimes I love my global friendship networks - I love how the world seems to be getting smaller communications-wise - but you don't get the smiles or the hugs.
Anyway, my life enrichment has almost begun. I chose to enrol on the German beginners course. Wish me luck!
I've just spent a very long weekend in Glasgow with Thom and Rick. It was lovely, but I swear I'm getting old; I just don't seem to have the stamina anymore. And I only had 3 alcoholic drinks all weekend! It's not just Glasgow, I just don't seem to have energy full stop these days. I never seem to be in the mood for dancing anymore (I don't like the sound of that) and I often think it will be nicer to just stay home and be in bed for 10. Hopefully the impending summer will sort that out.
Anyway, Glasgow was fun, and tiring, and bloody freezing. We arrived on Thursday - me in my thin red summer jacket - to the news that it was 8 degrees celsius. And it got colder. Friday was spent battling the fierce winds of Edinburgh. It was a shame, because I just wanted to stay indoors drinking hot chocolate rather than see the city. Arthur's Seat - which offers the best views of the city - was out of the question. I still had fun though. Along with finding a white label of pulp's razzmatazz, Kristin and Chris took us on a tour of the Holyrood Scottish Parliament building (where they both work). So while tour groups were being shown the public entrance and the cafeteria, the natives were showing us around all the little conference rooms and places no one else gets to see. It was strangely fascinating, and amazing to think that people actually work there everyday!
That night wasn't too good though. I found out that my uncle is seriously ill. They think it might be cancer of the liver, but they're still doing tests. I got pretty upset about it, and I haven't quite recovered. I found myself wishing I was at home for the rest of the weekend, just wanting Thom to give me reassuring hugs, just wanting a bit of space to think. I felt bad for Rick, because I think I put a bit of a dampner on the last days of his holiday, but I just couldn't snap out of it. :(
And now Rick's gone home. He's so great, and has been such a rock to me for the past few years. I was just pondering yesterday how sad it is that some of the people I feel closest to live the furthest away. Don't get me wrong, I have Thom, and I have friends in London that I'm getting even closer too. But two of the people I relied on moved to America last year. Sometimes I love my global friendship networks - I love how the world seems to be getting smaller communications-wise - but you don't get the smiles or the hugs.
Anyway, my life enrichment has almost begun. I chose to enrol on the German beginners course. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
ch-ch-ch-changes
Soundtrack: The Doors - The Soft Parade
I do feel embarassed about the fact that I can only speak one language. In this day and age I really should be more multi-lingual. Thom can speak near fluent German and French, yet all I have to my name is GCSE French.
I was stopped outside Waterloo station once by a petrified French woman who couldn't speak English and needed to find a certain street. In that time of pressure I seemed to give her directions that made sense, but when I think about it, my French is very limited.
Anyway, they're doing language courses at work. Half paid for by work, and lessons at lunch make it a very tempting offer indeed. I'm wondering whether I should brush up my French or learn German. I've tried to learn German twice now; firstly at school who then made me choose between French and German at GCSE, and then I attempted an intermediate course at Southwark College which was far too advanced for me, so I dropped out. Yet I've visited Germany more recently than France. Should I go for it?
~~~~~~~~~~~
In other lifestyle changes I'm considering giving up drinking again. I gave up from Jan-March this year. I didn't feel any different from it, I guess I just wanted to prove that I could.
Since I started drinking again (on my birthday) I still didn't drink much, but this last week has more than made up for that. I've been drinking every day Fri-Tues and I'm bloody knackered. I haven't even been overdoing it, well ok, I had two all-day drinking sessions in that, but I've been getting stomach cramps and absolute exhaustion from it. And it does cost a fortune. Thom's also tee-total, so it is easier to give up when someone else has. Maybe I should just restrict myself to club nights only, as that's when I most miss drinking.
I do feel embarassed about the fact that I can only speak one language. In this day and age I really should be more multi-lingual. Thom can speak near fluent German and French, yet all I have to my name is GCSE French.
I was stopped outside Waterloo station once by a petrified French woman who couldn't speak English and needed to find a certain street. In that time of pressure I seemed to give her directions that made sense, but when I think about it, my French is very limited.
Anyway, they're doing language courses at work. Half paid for by work, and lessons at lunch make it a very tempting offer indeed. I'm wondering whether I should brush up my French or learn German. I've tried to learn German twice now; firstly at school who then made me choose between French and German at GCSE, and then I attempted an intermediate course at Southwark College which was far too advanced for me, so I dropped out. Yet I've visited Germany more recently than France. Should I go for it?
~~~~~~~~~~~
In other lifestyle changes I'm considering giving up drinking again. I gave up from Jan-March this year. I didn't feel any different from it, I guess I just wanted to prove that I could.
Since I started drinking again (on my birthday) I still didn't drink much, but this last week has more than made up for that. I've been drinking every day Fri-Tues and I'm bloody knackered. I haven't even been overdoing it, well ok, I had two all-day drinking sessions in that, but I've been getting stomach cramps and absolute exhaustion from it. And it does cost a fortune. Thom's also tee-total, so it is easier to give up when someone else has. Maybe I should just restrict myself to club nights only, as that's when I most miss drinking.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
bad cover version
Soundtrack: Neil Young - Harvest Moon
The Gresham Flyers had a scary band practice yesterday - we had a special guest.
Rick - my North American houseguest this week - came along because he evidently didn't have anything better to do on his holiday. I was was pretty nervous at the thought of performing in front of someone new - not to mention a New Order fan who would have to endure our warm-up cover of Dreams Never End, but he seemed to enjoy it. Of course, he would say that wouldn't he? The again, he could have just said 'yeah, that was good', but his opinion had more substance than that.
The poor love though, we hadn't practiced for two weeks, so we weren't at our best. Thankfully we have another practice on Sunday. We're going to have to get a lot more in too, if we're playing our first gig in May (as it seems we will be).
We also recorded ourselves yesterday, seeing as we need to find out if we're actually any good. Waz took the tapes home, so I've yet to hear them, but he said of my singing voice "You have a lot more "gravitas" than I'd expected. Which is good. You kind of sound like a female Scott Walker. And I love the way you jig about when you play glockenspiel.".
Hurrah!
Rick said I was a 'Candida in the making', which is possibly the highest compliment it's possible to pay me. All is going well. I just need to knuckle down with the website now.
The Gresham Flyers had a scary band practice yesterday - we had a special guest.
Rick - my North American houseguest this week - came along because he evidently didn't have anything better to do on his holiday. I was was pretty nervous at the thought of performing in front of someone new - not to mention a New Order fan who would have to endure our warm-up cover of Dreams Never End, but he seemed to enjoy it. Of course, he would say that wouldn't he? The again, he could have just said 'yeah, that was good', but his opinion had more substance than that.
The poor love though, we hadn't practiced for two weeks, so we weren't at our best. Thankfully we have another practice on Sunday. We're going to have to get a lot more in too, if we're playing our first gig in May (as it seems we will be).
We also recorded ourselves yesterday, seeing as we need to find out if we're actually any good. Waz took the tapes home, so I've yet to hear them, but he said of my singing voice "You have a lot more "gravitas" than I'd expected. Which is good. You kind of sound like a female Scott Walker. And I love the way you jig about when you play glockenspiel.".
Hurrah!
Rick said I was a 'Candida in the making', which is possibly the highest compliment it's possible to pay me. All is going well. I just need to knuckle down with the website now.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
I'm picking up good vibrations
Soundtrack: Beach Boys - Wild Honey
Aargh - work to do! This is a good thing, but it means I haven't had time to blog, so apologies to my demanding audience (retro).
I had quite a fun easter break doing what seemed like not a lot, but when written down looks a lot more eventful than it is:
Thursday afternoon - Pizza Express to celebrate Tim's impending marriage, and a fair bit of white wine.
Friday - Hung around Windsor. Left my purse at home due to payday not being for another week. Watched Thom clothes shopping.
Saturday - Hung around Reading. Left my purse at home due to payday not being for another week. Watched Thom clothes shopping (he bought lots of lovely clothes that make him look dead sexy). Watched Thom win his Dexy's ebay purchases at the last minute. Drove back to Tooting and ate pizza.
In between my extremely busy day of listening to Welsh people yesterday, I was having quite a heavy emailing session with Thom and Kristin. Thom explained why he has a deep love for The Byrds. Apparently they prompted him to get with his first ever girlfriend. I knew there was a reason I didn't like The Byrds! Is it wrong of me to have an inferiority complex and paranoid schizoid tendencies when the man who loves me talks about his previous infatuations. Yes, it probably is.
Aargh - work to do! This is a good thing, but it means I haven't had time to blog, so apologies to my demanding audience (retro).
I had quite a fun easter break doing what seemed like not a lot, but when written down looks a lot more eventful than it is:
Thursday afternoon - Pizza Express to celebrate Tim's impending marriage, and a fair bit of white wine.
Friday - Hung around Windsor. Left my purse at home due to payday not being for another week. Watched Thom clothes shopping.
Saturday - Hung around Reading. Left my purse at home due to payday not being for another week. Watched Thom clothes shopping (he bought lots of lovely clothes that make him look dead sexy). Watched Thom win his Dexy's ebay purchases at the last minute. Drove back to Tooting and ate pizza.
Sunday - Disastrous "baking" of chocolate mini egg nests. Added butter to the melted chocolate, confusing myself with the mars bar cake recipes I'd read earlier in the week. Chocolate congealed. Ran to Sainsbury's to find it was SHUT. On EASTER SUNDAY. Made the nests anyway. Finished the scarf I was knitting. Went to see Love at the Le Beat Bespoke Weekender*. Was deafened by the lead guitarist's monitor.
Monday - Tinnitus. Watched Return to Oz in bed. Ate dodgy chocolate nests in bed. Demoed some songs in bed. Left bed to order curry. Watched Mullholland Falls. Went to bed and watched Ikea Drives me Crazy on't telly.
*writing 'the Le' does not sit well with my inner-grammar alarm, but it just doesn't sound right without it
*writing 'the Le' does not sit well with my inner-grammar alarm, but it just doesn't sound right without it
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In between my extremely busy day of listening to Welsh people yesterday, I was having quite a heavy emailing session with Thom and Kristin. Thom explained why he has a deep love for The Byrds. Apparently they prompted him to get with his first ever girlfriend. I knew there was a reason I didn't like The Byrds! Is it wrong of me to have an inferiority complex and paranoid schizoid tendencies when the man who loves me talks about his previous infatuations. Yes, it probably is.
Anyway, to get him back I told him all the bands I got into due to previous blokes. He'll probably hate all the music I listen to now:
1997 - Joy Division, Gong
1999 - Bobby Womack, Orange Juice
2000 - Neil Young, Bert Jansch, Fairport Convention (although they took a bit of reignitiion from Thom to really sink in)
2003 - The Features, Beach Boys (again Thom became the main fuel for this burning ember)
2004 - Dexy's Midnight Runners, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Sparks, Gene Clark... and XTC are finally sinking in
Rather interestingly, I had a resistance to quite a few of those bands at first, but it took breaking up with the bloke to really begin to appreciate them. I like the way I barely show resistance to what Thom listens to (bar Steely Dan). He must be doing something right.
1997 - Joy Division, Gong
1999 - Bobby Womack, Orange Juice
2000 - Neil Young, Bert Jansch, Fairport Convention (although they took a bit of reignitiion from Thom to really sink in)
2003 - The Features, Beach Boys (again Thom became the main fuel for this burning ember)
2004 - Dexy's Midnight Runners, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Sparks, Gene Clark... and XTC are finally sinking in
Rather interestingly, I had a resistance to quite a few of those bands at first, but it took breaking up with the bloke to really begin to appreciate them. I like the way I barely show resistance to what Thom listens to (bar Steely Dan). He must be doing something right.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
say it with words
Soundtrack: The Lovin' Spoonful - Lonely (Amy's Theme)
Today's a good day. A half day with the promise of Pizza Express at 12.30. The whip-round seems to have been sorted. And my beautiful boyfriend should finally be offered a permanent contract at work. This is after months of being messed around, so it's about time. Signs are good for a nice relaxed Easter break. And then the week after my dear friend Rick is coming over from North Carolina for the week. A long weekend in Glasgow imminent. I love it when everything is sailing along.
I had a lovely email from Rick this morning, just checking in before his arrival. Rick's not one to shy away from saying how he feels about someone, and his email saying how much of a dear friend I am just had me glowing this morning. It got me thinking - friends rarely say what they feel about you. My boyfriend tells me he loves me. My parents tell me they love me. But a friend rarely says 'You know, you're great, you are'. I rarely say it either. I should.
Today's a good day. A half day with the promise of Pizza Express at 12.30. The whip-round seems to have been sorted. And my beautiful boyfriend should finally be offered a permanent contract at work. This is after months of being messed around, so it's about time. Signs are good for a nice relaxed Easter break. And then the week after my dear friend Rick is coming over from North Carolina for the week. A long weekend in Glasgow imminent. I love it when everything is sailing along.
I had a lovely email from Rick this morning, just checking in before his arrival. Rick's not one to shy away from saying how he feels about someone, and his email saying how much of a dear friend I am just had me glowing this morning. It got me thinking - friends rarely say what they feel about you. My boyfriend tells me he loves me. My parents tell me they love me. But a friend rarely says 'You know, you're great, you are'. I rarely say it either. I should.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
skinflints
Soundtrack: Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information
If there's one thing I hate, it's the work whip-round. The card and collection for someone marrying/dropping sprogs/leaving is traumatic - and it's an expected.
A close colleague is getting married next week. It occurs to us today that it's his last day tomorrow, which is a half day because Queenie lets us have an extra half day at Easter. A card has been sent round, but barely anyone in our division has signed it. And for some unknown reason a collection wasn't started, despite the jiffy bag being the symbol for 'fill this with money'.
Everybody has been having babies recently, so I think everyone's a bit bored of forking out. Not that this help me. I'm freaking out today about there being nothing to buy a present with - myself and my other two colleagues aren't contributing to the collection because we're going to the wedding so will take something on the day. And I'm taking the stress of this personally because if I don't take control of the situation, then no one will. But time's running out and everyone is being a skinflint. Aargh.
< /rant>
If there's one thing I hate, it's the work whip-round. The card and collection for someone marrying/dropping sprogs/leaving is traumatic - and it's an expected.
A close colleague is getting married next week. It occurs to us today that it's his last day tomorrow, which is a half day because Queenie lets us have an extra half day at Easter. A card has been sent round, but barely anyone in our division has signed it. And for some unknown reason a collection wasn't started, despite the jiffy bag being the symbol for 'fill this with money'.
Everybody has been having babies recently, so I think everyone's a bit bored of forking out. Not that this help me. I'm freaking out today about there being nothing to buy a present with - myself and my other two colleagues aren't contributing to the collection because we're going to the wedding so will take something on the day. And I'm taking the stress of this personally because if I don't take control of the situation, then no one will. But time's running out and everyone is being a skinflint. Aargh.
< /rant>
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
revenge is gonna be so... sweet.
Soundtrack: The Mamas and the Papas - Shooting Star
There's quite a spurt of people getting sprogged-up recently, and for some reason I was considering this on the tube this morning. My train of thought led me to remember a nightmare boss I had. I was working in a photo developing shop, and I loved my job, but when I transferred to the branch closest to my university I had the bitch troll from hell as my boss. I think she resented me going to university, and used to say the usual nonsense about how a degree is worthless these days blah blah blah.
I was minding my own business one day whilst listening to a conversation the boss was having with a customer:
'So when is it due?'
'Excuse me?'
'You're pregnant aren't you?'
Of course she wasn't, but that was one of my favourite moments this lifetime.
I had another boss ('Suckers') who was quite endearing in hindsight, but he used to wind me and my sister up, saying how a degree is all very well these days but we'll inevitably end up working in McDonalds. He used to pipe up with 'Would you like fries with that?' which obviously had me rollings in the aisles.
The company went bankrupt and I never heard from him again. Until my dad had a temporary delivery job. He bumped into Suckers - in his new managing role - whilst delivering bread rolls. To McDonalds.
There's quite a spurt of people getting sprogged-up recently, and for some reason I was considering this on the tube this morning. My train of thought led me to remember a nightmare boss I had. I was working in a photo developing shop, and I loved my job, but when I transferred to the branch closest to my university I had the bitch troll from hell as my boss. I think she resented me going to university, and used to say the usual nonsense about how a degree is worthless these days blah blah blah.
I was minding my own business one day whilst listening to a conversation the boss was having with a customer:
'So when is it due?'
'Excuse me?'
'You're pregnant aren't you?'
Of course she wasn't, but that was one of my favourite moments this lifetime.
I had another boss ('Suckers') who was quite endearing in hindsight, but he used to wind me and my sister up, saying how a degree is all very well these days but we'll inevitably end up working in McDonalds. He used to pipe up with 'Would you like fries with that?' which obviously had me rollings in the aisles.
The company went bankrupt and I never heard from him again. Until my dad had a temporary delivery job. He bumped into Suckers - in his new managing role - whilst delivering bread rolls. To McDonalds.
Monday, March 21, 2005
confessional
Ok, so starting this blog has been a bi-product of my daily ritual, bowlie, shutting down for an Easter holiday. I am enjoying my time here, but is that because of desperation?
To find out the TRUTH, I tried this quiz that retro forward to me:
A regular Bowlie, who will no doubt be happy when
it's back. You've missed it, certainly, but
it's disappearance has not made your world
stop. Let's hope everything can settle down
now, and we all play nice.
How addicted to Bowlie are you?
So I'm not an addict. Well thank goodness for that.
To find out the TRUTH, I tried this quiz that retro forward to me:
A regular Bowlie, who will no doubt be happy when
it's back. You've missed it, certainly, but
it's disappearance has not made your world
stop. Let's hope everything can settle down
now, and we all play nice.
How addicted to Bowlie are you?
So I'm not an addict. Well thank goodness for that.
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