Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Cats are Stupid
Several comfortable sofas, a couple of baskets, even the odd bed to lie on, but no, the cat decides on the vegetable box.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
No Pets Allowed
...but apparently foxes are OK.
I have mice too but unfortunately I haven't been able to take any photos of them, and I decided that perhaps nobody really wants to see the end result of mouse vs. properly set mousetrap.
I have mice too but unfortunately I haven't been able to take any photos of them, and I decided that perhaps nobody really wants to see the end result of mouse vs. properly set mousetrap.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
From Snow To Sand... and back to Snow!
From Snow in the UK to sunshine in Tobago
... and I was delayed on my way home because of 4 inches of snow at Gatwick!
Friday, March 07, 2008
What Women Really Want....
I was trying to find a recipie for cake and I came across this list that I made up a long, long time ago. It made me laugh and it's still very true.
1. A Hot Bath
2. A Duvet
3. Chocolate
4. Trashy Movies
5. Boiled Eggs (actually, a lot of people hate these but I love them)
6. Things that smell nice
7. A bottle of wine
Combining 2, 3, 4 and 7 before 1 is of course completely indulgent but brilliant.
1. A Hot Bath
2. A Duvet
3. Chocolate
4. Trashy Movies
5. Boiled Eggs (actually, a lot of people hate these but I love them)
6. Things that smell nice
7. A bottle of wine
Combining 2, 3, 4 and 7 before 1 is of course completely indulgent but brilliant.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
So True...
This picture, printed at PHD comics, with the footnote "Usually, my research interests add up to more than what I have time for, and some interests take up more time than what they are supposed to." just sums up my time in research. And could probably be subtly altered to fit pretty much any job. I would also like to edit "why other people's blogs are more interesting than yours" to "Facebooking"
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Apologies...
Yes, been exeptionally rubbish recently. But most of my friends are far far worse.
Thoughts of the moment:
- They've had pictures of this "Amy" on the underground before and after her "cosmetic surgery". I think she looks better before. Even if she's not smiling.
- I like my new job. That's all I can say about that.
- Sitting down all day makes me fat. Oh dear.
- I love Heroes. It rocks. My favourite is Peter Petrelli. Hubba Hubba!
Thoughts of the moment:
- They've had pictures of this "Amy" on the underground before and after her "cosmetic surgery". I think she looks better before. Even if she's not smiling.
- I like my new job. That's all I can say about that.
- Sitting down all day makes me fat. Oh dear.
- I love Heroes. It rocks. My favourite is Peter Petrelli. Hubba Hubba!
Sunday, September 02, 2007
TPC Annual Do: Better Than Ever
New Haircut:£70
New Dress:£30
ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS!!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
The Bus That Talks
"This is the 243 to Waterloo"
"Rosebery Avenue"
Yes, it's true. I've found a bus that talks. And it tells you where you are going. It's incredibly helpful when you have no idea where you are.
I wonder how long it'll take before it gets annoying... never mind, I'm moving next week... I hope!
"Rosebery Avenue"
Yes, it's true. I've found a bus that talks. And it tells you where you are going. It's incredibly helpful when you have no idea where you are.
I wonder how long it'll take before it gets annoying... never mind, I'm moving next week... I hope!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Printer Farce
Last week, I mostly tried to get a printer. It was supposed to be delivered last Friday and arrived on Wednesday. There was a catalogue of mishaps along the way, including:
- My father allready being a member of the site, which meant I couldn't register with the same address, and because I was busy the next day I had to leave it to poor Tony, who was having a bad day anyway
- The printer being "delivered" on Friday - not sure what happened there, but I sat around all day jumping every time I heard a car go past
- The bloke turning up on Monday morning, just as I was going to London, being told that my mother was in the house and not bothering to knock loudly, just leaving a card
- The delivery being "returned to the branch after an unsuccessful delivery attempt" on Tuesday i.e. they couldn't find us
- Finally turning up on Wednesday, after I'd rung to check where they were and being told they couldn't find us again, only with one box - printer cartridges and no printer
- Calling them again, only for them to assume I was still chasing both boxes, and finally getting two minutes to explain I'd got one box and not two. Then I was told that they'd only loaded one box onto the van that morning. Duh. They said they'd see if they could get someone on their way home to deliver the printer
- The bloke turned up at 7:30, saying "Here's your delivery they cocked up for you"... never has a truer word been said
Worst of all... they're going to deliver something to me tomorrow. Agggh. I really hope they can get it right this time, otherwise I'll have no nice new shoes for next week! (that'll then lacerate my feet... ah well can't have everything!)
- My father allready being a member of the site, which meant I couldn't register with the same address, and because I was busy the next day I had to leave it to poor Tony, who was having a bad day anyway
- The printer being "delivered" on Friday - not sure what happened there, but I sat around all day jumping every time I heard a car go past
- The bloke turning up on Monday morning, just as I was going to London, being told that my mother was in the house and not bothering to knock loudly, just leaving a card
- The delivery being "returned to the branch after an unsuccessful delivery attempt" on Tuesday i.e. they couldn't find us
- Finally turning up on Wednesday, after I'd rung to check where they were and being told they couldn't find us again, only with one box - printer cartridges and no printer
- Calling them again, only for them to assume I was still chasing both boxes, and finally getting two minutes to explain I'd got one box and not two. Then I was told that they'd only loaded one box onto the van that morning. Duh. They said they'd see if they could get someone on their way home to deliver the printer
- The bloke turned up at 7:30, saying "Here's your delivery they cocked up for you"... never has a truer word been said
Worst of all... they're going to deliver something to me tomorrow. Agggh. I really hope they can get it right this time, otherwise I'll have no nice new shoes for next week! (that'll then lacerate my feet... ah well can't have everything!)
Friday, July 06, 2007
Messing About By The River
Yesterday I got to be fraightfully posh and go to Henley. Henley, for those of you who don't know, is all about rowing. Well, mostly anyway.
My father in byegone days was once a great rower and rowed this course several times. This is why he comes every year to watch, and got annoyed when, in years gone by, a certain daughter of his had Parent's Day on the last day of Henley (which, needless to say, is the finals day...). I got home on Wednesday night after midnight (not drinking, just for a change, babysitting for my sister's incredibly well behaved and very sweet children) with a horrendous throat and as a result, wasn't feeling terribly special.
We ate the most delicious lunch - I had a half pint full of shell-on prawns, very fiddly but yummy with seafood sauce, followed by crab with new potatoes and salad and to finish, half a platter of cheese. Mmm. Oh, and I probably finished off a good half a bottle of wine.
After that rather filling lunch we - that is me, my godfather and my father, decided to go up to the start, which involved a rather interesting walk along the river which was quite narrow in places, and getting out of the posh area and seeing what is rather sadly the commercialization of this event - at what point do you really want to buy silver jewellery/fat face tops/an ergo at a rowing event? We did go into the food tent where I succumbed to buying beautiful tea that expands into a flower and my father bought some garlic for my mother...
When it got to tea time, the rain started, but, in a very British manner, we sat down with our umbrellas opened, had cake and scones with champagne and eventually went home.
My father in byegone days was once a great rower and rowed this course several times. This is why he comes every year to watch, and got annoyed when, in years gone by, a certain daughter of his had Parent's Day on the last day of Henley (which, needless to say, is the finals day...). I got home on Wednesday night after midnight (not drinking, just for a change, babysitting for my sister's incredibly well behaved and very sweet children) with a horrendous throat and as a result, wasn't feeling terribly special.
We ate the most delicious lunch - I had a half pint full of shell-on prawns, very fiddly but yummy with seafood sauce, followed by crab with new potatoes and salad and to finish, half a platter of cheese. Mmm. Oh, and I probably finished off a good half a bottle of wine.
After that rather filling lunch we - that is me, my godfather and my father, decided to go up to the start, which involved a rather interesting walk along the river which was quite narrow in places, and getting out of the posh area and seeing what is rather sadly the commercialization of this event - at what point do you really want to buy silver jewellery/fat face tops/an ergo at a rowing event? We did go into the food tent where I succumbed to buying beautiful tea that expands into a flower and my father bought some garlic for my mother...
When it got to tea time, the rain started, but, in a very British manner, we sat down with our umbrellas opened, had cake and scones with champagne and eventually went home.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
And There Shall Be Much Rejoicing
... for I have been offered my dream job.
Sometimes I wish I knew more internet trickery so I could bring you them dancing.
Sometimes I wish I knew more internet trickery so I could bring you them dancing.
Pop Goes The Gooseberry
Half a pound of tuppeny rice
Half a pound of treacle
That's the way the money goes
Pop goes the weasel
We've had a lot of rain here. Although, we're lucky because some poor people have been flooded badly up north. The problem with rain, if you're growing fruit, is that it seems to make ripe fruit burst. So, it was, as I was picking gooseberries, that this rhyme went round my head. There's something about picking fruit that makes me think random thoughts, such as "what does this rhyme really mean?" I came to the conclusion that it was a subversive rhyme suggesting that if you bought rice and treacle, you would have no money and be fat. I was almost right.
Last time I picked gooseberries, I decided that fruit plants had a "zen". I did warn you my mind wanders. The zen of fruit plants was that they attempt to hide all their fruit under their leaves so that I didn't see the ripe ones. And, in the case of gooseberries, protect them with evil thorns to put you off.
Nevertherless, I got a whole punnet of mostly non-popped gooseberries.
However, before I picked the gooseberries, I picked a whole load of tayberries. These fruit may look the same, but because they're redder and smaller, are different. My mother told me not to pick them any more, but then in the afternoon started picking them anyway. Yes, I was confused too.
Half a pound of treacle
That's the way the money goes
Pop goes the weasel
We've had a lot of rain here. Although, we're lucky because some poor people have been flooded badly up north. The problem with rain, if you're growing fruit, is that it seems to make ripe fruit burst. So, it was, as I was picking gooseberries, that this rhyme went round my head. There's something about picking fruit that makes me think random thoughts, such as "what does this rhyme really mean?" I came to the conclusion that it was a subversive rhyme suggesting that if you bought rice and treacle, you would have no money and be fat. I was almost right.
Last time I picked gooseberries, I decided that fruit plants had a "zen". I did warn you my mind wanders. The zen of fruit plants was that they attempt to hide all their fruit under their leaves so that I didn't see the ripe ones. And, in the case of gooseberries, protect them with evil thorns to put you off.
Nevertherless, I got a whole punnet of mostly non-popped gooseberries.
However, before I picked the gooseberries, I picked a whole load of tayberries. These fruit may look the same, but because they're redder and smaller, are different. My mother told me not to pick them any more, but then in the afternoon started picking them anyway. Yes, I was confused too.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Thursday, June 07, 2007
So Much For The City
Well, here I am. Last week all I could see from my bedroom window was a street lined with houses leading down a (very steep) hill to the train station, this week all I can see is fields.
I miss the city.
I miss the city.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Making It Up As We Go Along
This weekend I went to a friend of mine's house who happens to be Indian. We started to watch some Bollywood movies, the first was Bride and Prejudice, which was actually quite good and in English. The second film was entirely in Hindi with the odd English word thrown in, with no subtitles. So we made up what they were saying which made the film probably far more amusing than it really should have been.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Having A Rammstein Moment
Many years ago my then boyfriend introduced me to 80s rock bands. Many of the music he left me with (after a badly-executed finale) is still top of my playlist. One of the songs he gave me was Rammstein - Du Hast.
For those of you who don't know, Rammstein are a German rock band that, apparently, are still touring. I did try and find a decent picture but random won me over in the end.
Anyway, the years have gone by, and hard times have befallen the Tall Scientist, who is about to be demoted to Mother's Fruit Picker and Plant-Fixer. It's not that I mind helping my parents, it's just that I'm 28 now and I'd really like a life and a place of my own, but I've managed to mess that up by not being offered any of the jobs I've been interviewed for. In my rollercoaster ride of trying to find a new job, I have encountered excitement, hope and despair. There's not much I can do about the last one, but I have found a solution. It's Rammstein. Something about angry German music (never, ever listen to it in English, it's just not the same) just makes things better.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Oefs Sur La Visage
Ah... Eurovision. I'm sure at some point this was actually a competition where members of Europe competed in a song contest. Now, they let countries such as Russia, Georgia and Serbia compete, with the end result being that the Balkan states run away with the competition.
The entire show runs on one premise: introduction, then before each country's entrant comes on, they show some kind of random skit about the country (this year, it was in Helsinki, and I gather most of the skits were about snow...) , then the entrant (a lot of freaky people and/or traditional style). Interspersed with this was commercial breaks (filled for us by some scary woman in pink) and, as always, keeping the sanity in what is otherwise completely mad, our Terry Wogan (who DID NOT like the woman in pink!!!!), then another interval after all the entrants for everyone to vote where they have a weird show, which this year for some reason or other included some very mad cellists and a bloke in a bubble.... Then every country in "Europe", even the ones that got kicked out in the semi-final, get to vote, with points ranging from 1 to 12 being awarded to the other countries. At this point the "neighbour" voting comes into place, with Norway giving the most points to Sweden, Macedonia giving the most points to Serbia, etc etc. The UK, being not a very popular country, narrowly missed being stuck with the dreaded "nul points". A couple of years ago, just round the time of our invasion of Iraq, we did get that, and it was embarrassing. So, I have some suggestions for next year:-
1) Get Gordon Brown to make a suggestion that Balkan States become part of the EU (it'll never pass, and they might like us more!)
2) Get some kind of weirdo to represent us - that bloke from Dead or Alive would do
3) Get morris dancers to do it
4) Get someone whose family originally came from a Balkan State to do it (then they'd all vote for us!)
Bye, bye Scooch.
The entire show runs on one premise: introduction, then before each country's entrant comes on, they show some kind of random skit about the country (this year, it was in Helsinki, and I gather most of the skits were about snow...) , then the entrant (a lot of freaky people and/or traditional style). Interspersed with this was commercial breaks (filled for us by some scary woman in pink) and, as always, keeping the sanity in what is otherwise completely mad, our Terry Wogan (who DID NOT like the woman in pink!!!!), then another interval after all the entrants for everyone to vote where they have a weird show, which this year for some reason or other included some very mad cellists and a bloke in a bubble.... Then every country in "Europe", even the ones that got kicked out in the semi-final, get to vote, with points ranging from 1 to 12 being awarded to the other countries. At this point the "neighbour" voting comes into place, with Norway giving the most points to Sweden, Macedonia giving the most points to Serbia, etc etc. The UK, being not a very popular country, narrowly missed being stuck with the dreaded "nul points". A couple of years ago, just round the time of our invasion of Iraq, we did get that, and it was embarrassing. So, I have some suggestions for next year:-1) Get Gordon Brown to make a suggestion that Balkan States become part of the EU (it'll never pass, and they might like us more!)
2) Get some kind of weirdo to represent us - that bloke from Dead or Alive would do
3) Get morris dancers to do it
4) Get someone whose family originally came from a Balkan State to do it (then they'd all vote for us!)
Bye, bye Scooch.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
I'm Sure This Photo Needs a Caption...
How about....
"Awww, luv, I wish you wouldn't do that in public"
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
So Far This Week....
- someone created a small fire below our labs and due to smoke damage we now cannot do 90% of the work we do for an entire week (and consequently can't work)
- someone hacked into my Ebay account and tried to sell stuff, causing me some panic. If I'd been away this week, I would have been in all sorts of trouble...
- I tried to fix the broken front screen of my mobile, only to discover that in fact I needed a whole new fascia
- my back wheel on my bicycle went over something, it went "whoomph" and was suddenly very flat.
- trying to do tongue twisters for my singing teacher almost made me cry (not his fault)
- my badminton friend fell over and broke her arm, and will be plastered up and out of action for six weeks (not my fault, and slightly tenuous)
- in organising my life I have come across various problems, and am currently on Plan D or something... whimper
- I've had two very horrible vivid dreams, one involving a big flood with zombies who could walk through water and the other being semi-naked at work (although I obviously wasn't too bothered about this, as in my dream I just looked down and thought that maybe I should put on a pair of trousers soon....)
- someone hacked into my Ebay account and tried to sell stuff, causing me some panic. If I'd been away this week, I would have been in all sorts of trouble...
- I tried to fix the broken front screen of my mobile, only to discover that in fact I needed a whole new fascia
- my back wheel on my bicycle went over something, it went "whoomph" and was suddenly very flat.
- trying to do tongue twisters for my singing teacher almost made me cry (not his fault)
- my badminton friend fell over and broke her arm, and will be plastered up and out of action for six weeks (not my fault, and slightly tenuous)
- in organising my life I have come across various problems, and am currently on Plan D or something... whimper
- I've had two very horrible vivid dreams, one involving a big flood with zombies who could walk through water and the other being semi-naked at work (although I obviously wasn't too bothered about this, as in my dream I just looked down and thought that maybe I should put on a pair of trousers soon....)
Saturday, April 21, 2007
A Change For The Good?
In my email inbox today....
Dear Hilary,
I am pleased to inform you that you have been included on the shortlist for the position of xxxxxxxxxxxx on xxxxxxxxxxx. Please take a look at the web site to familiarize yourself with the journals http://www.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To give us an indication of your skills and expertise -- and to give you some idea of what the job will entail -- we would like you to complete the enclosed written test.
---------------------------------------------------
Hilary - your horoscopes for Sat 21, April 2007!
Gemini (May22-June21)
Studying for a test will yield impressive results; you soak up information like a sponge. A friend who is in the printing, publishing, or communications industry could help you find a good job.
This is my time. I have to shine like a star or else.
Dear Hilary,
I am pleased to inform you that you have been included on the shortlist for the position of xxxxxxxxxxxx on xxxxxxxxxxx. Please take a look at the web site to familiarize yourself with the journals http://www.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To give us an indication of your skills and expertise -- and to give you some idea of what the job will entail -- we would like you to complete the enclosed written test.
---------------------------------------------------
Hilary - your horoscopes for Sat 21, April 2007!
Gemini (May22-June21)
Studying for a test will yield impressive results; you soak up information like a sponge. A friend who is in the printing, publishing, or communications industry could help you find a good job.
This is my time. I have to shine like a star or else.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Celebrity Spotting
Alan Titchmarsh in the centre of Bristol today, by the fountains. Sadly my phone camera wasn't working so I had to cycle on by.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Things You Never Knew About Your Boyfriend (And Never Thought To Ask)
Recognise this person? No? I'll leave it to you guys to guess this one. Ross got it in 15 seconds. I never knew he had such an encyclopedic knowledge of films. He'll be on my team if I go for a pub quiz next time. His knowledge of films and my knowledge (ha) of science/nature and pop music would be a great combo.
Those of you who played this on Thursday, don't give the game away!
Monday, April 09, 2007
What Happens When You Wear Pretty Shoes
I will warn you now, that the picture I'm about to link to is gross. Those of you with a sensitive disposition, please do not whinge to me when you open it and, in fact find it really horrid.
This is what happens when I decide to walk home in my favourite shoes. It was so bad by the time I got home I bled all over the kitchen. Oops.
Just to make it worse, this morning I bashed the same toe against the door, drawing yet more blood, which caused a large amount of gurning and probably just the odd profanity or two...
I'm feeling very icky today. I definitely have a sensitive disposition...
This is what happens when I decide to walk home in my favourite shoes. It was so bad by the time I got home I bled all over the kitchen. Oops.
Just to make it worse, this morning I bashed the same toe against the door, drawing yet more blood, which caused a large amount of gurning and probably just the odd profanity or two...
I'm feeling very icky today. I definitely have a sensitive disposition...
Monday, April 02, 2007
My House Is Sweating
While I was away having a great great time over the weekend (more about that soon...) the landlady brought a plasterer round to sort out the walls. It's amazing. The Artex (or however you spell it) has GONE. No more drunken or carrying incidents where you brush against the wall and draw blood. Instead, I have a very dark and very brown hallway (it's not very nice, believe me.). The plaster goes on wet, so as it dries, as I have just discovered, all that water has to go somewhere. My front door was literally dripping - I mean, it was truly disgusting - this morning. My house smells of milky tea (yuk!). So now I'm going to have to freeze my arse off with the windows, doors etc open to let some of this excess moisture escape out of the house...
And my hallway is almost inevitably going to be brown until I leave. Nice.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Vauxhall Corsa Was Not Made For The Taller Person....
..... and I have to drive it all the way to Milton Keynes and back.
This'll be interesting.
This'll be interesting.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Blame It On The DJ
I decided this morning I should stay positive, despite:
having no job in two months
having to move to London and live on no money
my experiments, which were going through a really good patch, completely failing on me again
being full of goo (yet another cold)
being at least a stone overweight
not being at all sure where my current relationship is going
when the DJ starts one of those "back in the day" slots where he plays music from a particular year. This music reminds me of:
not having to worry about money
going to the other side of the world and having a bloody good time, every night
most of all, meeting a guy who I flirted with all the way up the east coast of Australia
Ah well, I guess I'd better get back to my experiment that doesn't work, figuring out how I'm going to get to my car rental tomorrow and applying for yet more jobs...
having no job in two months
having to move to London and live on no money
my experiments, which were going through a really good patch, completely failing on me again
being full of goo (yet another cold)
being at least a stone overweight
not being at all sure where my current relationship is going
when the DJ starts one of those "back in the day" slots where he plays music from a particular year. This music reminds me of:
not having to worry about money
going to the other side of the world and having a bloody good time, every night
most of all, meeting a guy who I flirted with all the way up the east coast of Australia
Ah well, I guess I'd better get back to my experiment that doesn't work, figuring out how I'm going to get to my car rental tomorrow and applying for yet more jobs...
Friday, March 16, 2007
Friday Is Good Because....
....I had loads of results to show at the lab meeting this morning, and most of it worked as well!
....I got fed LOTS of lunch (although I did have to wait two hours later that I normally would for food, which was bad)
.....I got offers of two interviews.... although now I realise that they're two different groups operating in the same place, eeek
.....I didn't have too much work to do today, which was good given that I cant work on a) no food or b) too much food
....I got fed LOTS of lunch (although I did have to wait two hours later that I normally would for food, which was bad)
.....I got offers of two interviews.... although now I realise that they're two different groups operating in the same place, eeek
.....I didn't have too much work to do today, which was good given that I cant work on a) no food or b) too much food
Monday, March 12, 2007
Men Wearing Pink Trousers?
Just stop it, right now.
And, it is NOT the time of year to be wearing shorts.
And, it is NOT the time of year to be wearing shorts.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Mmmm.. Pancakes...
Pancakes with..
Fried mushrooms and grated cheddar cheese
Boursin (garlic and herb soft cheese)
Fried cooking apple in cider brandy (CAUTION: cider brandy is, in fact, flammable) cinnamon and sugar
Lime juice and sugar
Nutella (chocolate spread) mmmmmm
Lime juice and sugar (was so good the first time I had it a second time).
I should have pancakes as a meal more often. I love them.
Fried mushrooms and grated cheddar cheese
Boursin (garlic and herb soft cheese)
Fried cooking apple in cider brandy (CAUTION: cider brandy is, in fact, flammable) cinnamon and sugar
Lime juice and sugar
Nutella (chocolate spread) mmmmmm
Lime juice and sugar (was so good the first time I had it a second time).
I should have pancakes as a meal more often. I love them.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Ha Ha! I'm Famous!
Hopefully only for five minutes...
Ross is loving this, and I'm really not. It seemed like a good idea at the time...
Look at us looking a bit dazed in The Sun
We got half the page (and full page picture!) in the Daily Mail
Oh yeah, and I don't think we're the tallest couple in Britain. Please don't let the Guinness Book of Records get on to this one... aaargh! Go away! I like my nice quiet life!
Ross is loving this, and I'm really not. It seemed like a good idea at the time...
Look at us looking a bit dazed in The Sun
We got half the page (and full page picture!) in the Daily Mail
Oh yeah, and I don't think we're the tallest couple in Britain. Please don't let the Guinness Book of Records get on to this one... aaargh! Go away! I like my nice quiet life!
Friday, February 16, 2007
A Bit Less Shoop, Shoop, Shoop and a Bit More Aaaargh
Well, I'm back and I didn't break anything! Hooray! Rather than give you an entire rundown of the week, I thought I'd just give you some snippets:-Saturday night: Just catch last train from London at 11:30, after worrying all the way from Stratford I'd be horribly late, get back to Bristol after a short sleep at 1:40 with sore feet and then having to walk all the way home, get to bed finally around 2:30 after finally finishing packing, get back up again after not much sleep at 3:30, get lift to airport at 4:10, get plane at 7, sleep on plane, get on bus, sleep on bus, get to resort at 1pm. Get skis, go to bar. Fall asleep in deckchair while everyone else drinks beer. Go inside when it gets cold, fall asleep whilst sat on sofa while everyone else drinks beer.
The chalet host was 9 years younger than me, and I think I was the youngest in the group. He was mooning over some other chalet girl from the group. He did try very hard to solve most of the chaos in the chalet that wasn't entirely his fault. He also made a mean biscuit cake (cue me getting very hyperactive on sugar).
The ipod I brought was put on some speakers so everyone got to enjoy my kind of music and make various comments on the cheesiness of the music, and the randomness - well, there's Belinda Carlisle, Aerosmith, Samantha Mumba, Coldplay, Doves and Abba just to mention a few...
Down a ski slope the thought goes through my mind: "Congratulations. You have just chosen the steepest part of the slope to go down."Solving a work-related problem whilst trying to go to sleep, and getting annoyed at myself. I was on holiday!
Commenting that I wasn't looking very pretty (I meant ski style-wise) coming down the last slope in a cable car, only for an unknown bloke opposite us to pipe up, "You were looking very pretty from behind". Whimper...
Getting more bruises off slope than on - my skiing has got to the point where I no longer fall over (and therefore get worse and worse at skiing because I don't want to fall over). On Friday night I fell twice in about five minutes down a slope and landed on exactly the same place both times! I also have various USHIs (Unidentified Skiing Holiday Injuries).
Getting home on Sunday only to get to a cold, untidy and quiet house. It was strange to share so much time with people and then there to be nothing. Then I fell asleep during Natural World.
Finding that in fact people you know can become proper friends - it's funny how you can know someone, but not really know them, if you see what I mean. I hope that I have made an "acquaintance" become a friend. Also being the person that people tell things like "I have a really bad farting problem today". Thanks for that.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
It Seems That My Life Will Be Forever Touched
So, there I was. Hmmm, Valentine’s Day. The Most Romantic Day Of The YearTM. I know, let’s go “surprise” my boyfriend in London by visiting him for a couple of hours on that night. Let’s go by bus because it’s a darn sight cheaper than booking the train the day before.
So, the first bit worked pretty much to plan. Then it all started to go horribly wrong on my way home. Nooooo…
I got to the bus with plenty of time to spare, but unfortunately lost my helium balloons from Pizza Hut in Victoria Station. Then I wasn’t in the first few people to get on the bus so some girl pinched the front seat (having very long legs means sitting in a cramped bus seat is not the most comfortable, and the front seats have the most room). This girl then proceeded to push her seat back (I won the first battle, but then fell asleep when she did it again, grrr) to make what little legroom I had to start off with completely disappear. Thanks for that, cow.
So, the bus sets off at 11:30 pm, fine, I fall asleep after a while, only to wake up an hour later to the bus driver calling his mate to say that there’s a problem with the fuel and he’s hoping he can get to the next service station before the bus dies. About five minutes later, the bus dies. In the middle of nowhere, somewhere near Reading on the M4. Oh Great. So we sit, on the side of the motorway, while the trucks blow past us, and our emergency hazards on. Fair play to the driver, he did what he could to solve the problem, but there wasn’t much he could do except wait with the rest of us for rescue. About 10 minutes later, a bus stops by us. Hopes flare until it transpires the bloke’s going to Swindon, Chippenham and Gloucester. Not much good for a group of tired people who want to get to Bristol. It transpires that the people coming to rescue us are coming in a van, and all the way from Bristol, which is a good hour or so driving away. We sat, and then sat some more, and then eventually I probably did sleep. An hour and a half (2am) after we pulled to the side of the motorway, another bus turns up. This one, it transpires, is going to Swansea and will drop us off on the way. And it has enough seats on it! Hooray! So I quickly get off the bus, in the hope I can get a better seat that isn’t being crushed by the (insert rude word here) in front. We get on said bus, and the driver starts being very randomly rude to my fellow passengers – telling them they can’t even have a very small rucksack on the bus (luckily I got away with my heavily laden handbag) and it has to be stored in the hold (?!?). I get my space at the front of the bus, somehow, absolutely no legroom whatsoever on this bus, when someone gives me back my rather lovely gloves I left on the previous bus (whoops). Thankyou, kind man.
Finally, we set off on our trip back to Bristol, the driver telling the bloke on the opposite side of me to get his seatbelt on straight away, and we leave the poor other driver to wait for recovery, which still hasn’t arrived. The driver listens to cheesy radio all the way, but I sleep. An hour later (3am) we finally arrive, tired and annoyed, at Bristol Bus Station, after an extraordinary route round Bristol that almost takes us to the train station and annoys the bus driver further. Some guy pipes up, “I guess we’re not going to Bristol University?”. The terse Welsh bus driver replies, “You guessed right”. How polite. I don’t know what happened next as I just got off the bus, happy to be a bit closer to home. The guy next to me (who, it has to be said, snored pretty much all the way home) comes out of the bus station shouting about the bus driver. I start undoing my bike, realising that I have no lights. Ah well, I’d rather cycle home than attempt to walk it at this time of night. And then, the most random thing happens. The ensuing conversation takes place:
Random man: Can you give me a lift?
Me: What?!?
RM: Can you give me a lift?
Me: On my bicycle? Are you crazy?
RM: It’s no problem, I’ll just sit on the back.
Me: I’m sorry, I can hardly push myself along on this thing, let alone anyone else.
I get home at 3:45, on my own, and finally get to my nice bed. I get 4 hours sleep before I have to go to work again. National Express is not in my good books today.
So, the first bit worked pretty much to plan. Then it all started to go horribly wrong on my way home. Nooooo…
I got to the bus with plenty of time to spare, but unfortunately lost my helium balloons from Pizza Hut in Victoria Station. Then I wasn’t in the first few people to get on the bus so some girl pinched the front seat (having very long legs means sitting in a cramped bus seat is not the most comfortable, and the front seats have the most room). This girl then proceeded to push her seat back (I won the first battle, but then fell asleep when she did it again, grrr) to make what little legroom I had to start off with completely disappear. Thanks for that, cow.
So, the bus sets off at 11:30 pm, fine, I fall asleep after a while, only to wake up an hour later to the bus driver calling his mate to say that there’s a problem with the fuel and he’s hoping he can get to the next service station before the bus dies. About five minutes later, the bus dies. In the middle of nowhere, somewhere near Reading on the M4. Oh Great. So we sit, on the side of the motorway, while the trucks blow past us, and our emergency hazards on. Fair play to the driver, he did what he could to solve the problem, but there wasn’t much he could do except wait with the rest of us for rescue. About 10 minutes later, a bus stops by us. Hopes flare until it transpires the bloke’s going to Swindon, Chippenham and Gloucester. Not much good for a group of tired people who want to get to Bristol. It transpires that the people coming to rescue us are coming in a van, and all the way from Bristol, which is a good hour or so driving away. We sat, and then sat some more, and then eventually I probably did sleep. An hour and a half (2am) after we pulled to the side of the motorway, another bus turns up. This one, it transpires, is going to Swansea and will drop us off on the way. And it has enough seats on it! Hooray! So I quickly get off the bus, in the hope I can get a better seat that isn’t being crushed by the (insert rude word here) in front. We get on said bus, and the driver starts being very randomly rude to my fellow passengers – telling them they can’t even have a very small rucksack on the bus (luckily I got away with my heavily laden handbag) and it has to be stored in the hold (?!?). I get my space at the front of the bus, somehow, absolutely no legroom whatsoever on this bus, when someone gives me back my rather lovely gloves I left on the previous bus (whoops). Thankyou, kind man.
Finally, we set off on our trip back to Bristol, the driver telling the bloke on the opposite side of me to get his seatbelt on straight away, and we leave the poor other driver to wait for recovery, which still hasn’t arrived. The driver listens to cheesy radio all the way, but I sleep. An hour later (3am) we finally arrive, tired and annoyed, at Bristol Bus Station, after an extraordinary route round Bristol that almost takes us to the train station and annoys the bus driver further. Some guy pipes up, “I guess we’re not going to Bristol University?”. The terse Welsh bus driver replies, “You guessed right”. How polite. I don’t know what happened next as I just got off the bus, happy to be a bit closer to home. The guy next to me (who, it has to be said, snored pretty much all the way home) comes out of the bus station shouting about the bus driver. I start undoing my bike, realising that I have no lights. Ah well, I’d rather cycle home than attempt to walk it at this time of night. And then, the most random thing happens. The ensuing conversation takes place:
Random man: Can you give me a lift?
Me: What?!?
RM: Can you give me a lift?
Me: On my bicycle? Are you crazy?
RM: It’s no problem, I’ll just sit on the back.
Me: I’m sorry, I can hardly push myself along on this thing, let alone anyone else.
I get home at 3:45, on my own, and finally get to my nice bed. I get 4 hours sleep before I have to go to work again. National Express is not in my good books today.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Thursday, February 01, 2007
This Morning I Got Green Lights Down The Hill...
...cue crazy big woman on a bycicle going "Weee!" all the way into town
Monday, January 29, 2007
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside..
...in the pouring hailstones?
Actually it wasn't that bad. I had a lovely day out with the Conservation Group who conserve things by cutting down trees. The trees in question on Sunday were in fact evil. They'd been planted in the hope that they'd stabilize the dune system, which they did, but then they also kind of took over the entire place, removing any chance of nice native species to grow. And to cap it all off they've got massive great big thorns on them too. So I ended up scratched and reeking of smoke after they lit a fire to burn said evil trees. We cut down quite a lot of evil bramble too, which I think did the most damage to my poor hands... Oh, and we got caught in a couple of nice downpours of hailstones, which we stood with our backs too and tried to remember not to turn round too much until they'd finished (hailstones in the eyes is not, actually, fun, funnily enough...
Would you believe that we actually cleared the hill you can see in this picture, and left only sand? We did very well, and then we got to burn lots of evil plants and then go to the pub to drink cider (well I did anyway) and eat massive concoctions of ice cream, chocolate syrup and maltesers... mmmm
Actually it wasn't that bad. I had a lovely day out with the Conservation Group who conserve things by cutting down trees. The trees in question on Sunday were in fact evil. They'd been planted in the hope that they'd stabilize the dune system, which they did, but then they also kind of took over the entire place, removing any chance of nice native species to grow. And to cap it all off they've got massive great big thorns on them too. So I ended up scratched and reeking of smoke after they lit a fire to burn said evil trees. We cut down quite a lot of evil bramble too, which I think did the most damage to my poor hands... Oh, and we got caught in a couple of nice downpours of hailstones, which we stood with our backs too and tried to remember not to turn round too much until they'd finished (hailstones in the eyes is not, actually, fun, funnily enough...
Would you believe that we actually cleared the hill you can see in this picture, and left only sand? We did very well, and then we got to burn lots of evil plants and then go to the pub to drink cider (well I did anyway) and eat massive concoctions of ice cream, chocolate syrup and maltesers... mmmm
Saturday, January 13, 2007
The Day I Got A Shiner On My Knee
It doesn't come up very well in the photo, but last week I managed to fall off my bike. To be honest I was lucky not to hurt myself more, and I hardly even broke skin in my inability to cross hosepipes. Yes, I do know I should take them straight on, but occasionally I have a magic ability to be a bit of a plonker...
Friday, January 12, 2007
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas
I hope you all had a good one. I had two Christmasses this year - I know, I'm very spoilt but it was more to do with the fact I spent Christmas with Ross's (the boyfriend) family then Christmas with my family. I only had turkey once, which I guess is a feat of my mother's famous cooking. I got a stinking cold which seems to be turning into a stinking chest infection and a comedy voice. Tomorrow I'm having New Year's at mine, and I'm hoping to be ready - ha ha...
I'll leave you with a picture of my Christmas tree. I picked this up as a fairly healthy plant some sod had thrown out in a skip just after Christmas one year and it seems to have got a bit bare and sad since then. I don't think it likes me much, or I'm just not taking the right care of it - any ideas? Let me know.
I'll leave you with a picture of my Christmas tree. I picked this up as a fairly healthy plant some sod had thrown out in a skip just after Christmas one year and it seems to have got a bit bare and sad since then. I don't think it likes me much, or I'm just not taking the right care of it - any ideas? Let me know.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Thoughts of the Week
1. The house is warm again. Hooray! How long will it last this time, especially given that the heating is not making the happiest noise ever...
2. The Christmas cactus is sulking because it's warm. Huh, plants!
3. I'm (apparently) no longer allowed into a room in my house or use it as I would like. Huh?
4. All the washing up has been done pretty much on the day I created it this week (yes, I know) but the floor is sticky. However, someone, not me, broke the pail so I have to buy a new one. Humph.
5. At least 25% of the things in my kitchen are out of date. So what? Dates are now arbitrary to make people throw stuff away and buy it new.
6. I hate colds. I had one day last month where I felt wonderful, and that was pretty much it. Even taking multivitamins every day hasn't helped.
7. Why are there only 3 weeks left til Christmas? Where did the year go?
8. It's not always my fault. This week someone else made a mistake that delayed my work.
9. "Leave to me and I'll sort it out" is not actually the answer I wanted. I'll go do it myself then.
10. What shall I do now? Maybe I should ask the Magic 8 Ball.
2. The Christmas cactus is sulking because it's warm. Huh, plants!
3. I'm (apparently) no longer allowed into a room in my house or use it as I would like. Huh?
4. All the washing up has been done pretty much on the day I created it this week (yes, I know) but the floor is sticky. However, someone, not me, broke the pail so I have to buy a new one. Humph.
5. At least 25% of the things in my kitchen are out of date. So what? Dates are now arbitrary to make people throw stuff away and buy it new.
6. I hate colds. I had one day last month where I felt wonderful, and that was pretty much it. Even taking multivitamins every day hasn't helped.
7. Why are there only 3 weeks left til Christmas? Where did the year go?
8. It's not always my fault. This week someone else made a mistake that delayed my work.
9. "Leave to me and I'll sort it out" is not actually the answer I wanted. I'll go do it myself then.
10. What shall I do now? Maybe I should ask the Magic 8 Ball.
Monday, November 20, 2006
3 Cold Street
I love my little house. Yes, it's messy, I can never be bothered to do my washing so there's a backlog of dirty dishes and I seem to have a large pile of dirty laundry too. This weekend I ironed my sheets for the first time ever - I must be growing up, I noticed that they're just not nice when they go on crumpled. Oh dear.
However, a cold house is not a good house to do anything in. For some reason or other half the radiators in my house just ceased functioning, so the only warm rooms are my bedroom and my hallway. Rubbish. This also has been going on for weeks now. I am cold! The other problem is I have a gas heater in my living room. I put this on, place my little rug over me, and bam, I'm asleep. I'm sure this does nothing for my body - sleeping on a small sofa makes me bend all wrong - or for my sleep patterns. Also I keep missing vital bits of CSI and James Bond (i.e. how on earth did he get out of that without being dropped to his death/cut in half with a laser/ruining that particularly nasty outfit (George Lazenby tries to look like Sherlock Holmes... no, no, no, no!)).
Brrr.
However, a cold house is not a good house to do anything in. For some reason or other half the radiators in my house just ceased functioning, so the only warm rooms are my bedroom and my hallway. Rubbish. This also has been going on for weeks now. I am cold! The other problem is I have a gas heater in my living room. I put this on, place my little rug over me, and bam, I'm asleep. I'm sure this does nothing for my body - sleeping on a small sofa makes me bend all wrong - or for my sleep patterns. Also I keep missing vital bits of CSI and James Bond (i.e. how on earth did he get out of that without being dropped to his death/cut in half with a laser/ruining that particularly nasty outfit (George Lazenby tries to look like Sherlock Holmes... no, no, no, no!)).
Brrr.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
This Week I Shall Mostly Be Dancing...
...because I made chocolate cake!
I managed to get the special recipie of my mother's chocolate cake (that I ask for every birthday). Surprisingly enough it was real easy to make. So I danced, even though it was midnight, when it was finished.
I can make cake, me!
I managed to get the special recipie of my mother's chocolate cake (that I ask for every birthday). Surprisingly enough it was real easy to make. So I danced, even though it was midnight, when it was finished.
I can make cake, me!
Monday, November 13, 2006
I know, I'm not big or clever...
Friday night is either a)time to go to the gym, b)occurs elsewhere in the country, c)go home and watch CSI (sometimes coupled with (a) d)go out with random members of department/faculty and get drunk.
This week was the turn of d). I'm sure I didn't mean to, but recollections of Friday night are mostly entertaining and slightly fragmented... This may be something to do with Brother's Pear Cider.
The end of the night involved me wandering home singing at the top of my voice, after being called a legend by some bloke called Jasper I'd only just met that night, at 3am, with some other bloke trying to proposition me by text....
It was just one of those nights.
This week was the turn of d). I'm sure I didn't mean to, but recollections of Friday night are mostly entertaining and slightly fragmented... This may be something to do with Brother's Pear Cider.
The end of the night involved me wandering home singing at the top of my voice, after being called a legend by some bloke called Jasper I'd only just met that night, at 3am, with some other bloke trying to proposition me by text....
It was just one of those nights.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Remember, Remember, The Fifth Of November
This year was the turn of Tarr's Fireworks Extraviganza (sic). Those of you who don't know Phil would be forgiven for not having the fear of God put into you by those simple words. It all started fairly simply, Phil produced an old set of overalls which we stuffed with newspaper (making me freeze in the process, oh yes, I forgot to mention, IT WAS BLOODY COLD!). The bonfire was made in one of those fire bins and the guy, which looked a bit like the baby from Family Guy, was propped up on top. Soon enough the guy went up in flames, and his "guts" kind of fell out of the bonfire and landed on the soil, prompting Rach, who's house the party was going to be held at, to say, "Yeah, that would have been FINE in my back garden".
The fireworks started off with a bit of a bang, and not in a good way. Matt and Garreth go off to set one off and next thing we know they're running away from a bloody great big flash of light. They didn't quite get which bit of the firework they were supposed to light. Luckily neither of them were hurt, and we managed the rest of the fireworks in safety, having a good laugh at the catherine wheel which didn't actually go round at all (whoops!)...
The fireworks started off with a bit of a bang, and not in a good way. Matt and Garreth go off to set one off and next thing we know they're running away from a bloody great big flash of light. They didn't quite get which bit of the firework they were supposed to light. Luckily neither of them were hurt, and we managed the rest of the fireworks in safety, having a good laugh at the catherine wheel which didn't actually go round at all (whoops!)...
As I came in this morning in the fog created by burning bonfires I reflected on this and on many previous bonfire parties, and wondered how long it would be before they banned bonfires due to them giving off too much carbon dioxide. That would be a very sad day.Thursday, November 02, 2006
Today I did Something Good
I made a man happy and maybe helped someone in the world start a duck breeding program.
My friend's father is running in the London Marathon next year and is raising money for ActionAid. He seems to have been a bit down in the dumps recently so I thought I would cheer him up with a donation towards his sponsorship. Yay, it worked! I have made him happy, and I have just given enough money that would have paid for a small trip to Asda. Or someone in the world to get shelter. And I don't believe I've seen any Actionaid people trying to stop me for money in the street (which I find intensly irritating).
Right, I'll get off my soapbox now and go eat some supper. May we all be lucky enough to have supper tonight.
My friend's father is running in the London Marathon next year and is raising money for ActionAid. He seems to have been a bit down in the dumps recently so I thought I would cheer him up with a donation towards his sponsorship. Yay, it worked! I have made him happy, and I have just given enough money that would have paid for a small trip to Asda. Or someone in the world to get shelter. And I don't believe I've seen any Actionaid people trying to stop me for money in the street (which I find intensly irritating).
Right, I'll get off my soapbox now and go eat some supper. May we all be lucky enough to have supper tonight.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Happy Halloween!
I made this! Yay! Although Ross helped.
This weekend I went to see The Film Where Everybody Dies (In A Violent And Bloody Way), had to wave bye bye to Ross, which sucks a lot, and went to The Munchkin's housewarming where I was great at Singstar and rubbish at Dance Mat (although Dance Mat was fun and lots of exercise, always a good thing!). Oooh and I got the top that flaunts what I've got...
And in plant news I have one measly cherry tomato on my humugous vines - that was all they made. The Christmas Cactus thinks it's allready Christmas (eeek!) and I suspect one of the hoyas that's not supposed to flower for years has a little flower bud on it. Yay! I bought another one, very naughty, but I think I've lost two cuttings anyway :(
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
In My Email Box Today...
I just had to share this one with you...
Hi,
I was wondering if anybody just happened to have a large capacity floor standing refrigerated centrifuge that they wanted to sell? Unfortunately my supervisor decided to set my previous one on fire.
Hi,
I was wondering if anybody just happened to have a large capacity floor standing refrigerated centrifuge that they wanted to sell? Unfortunately my supervisor decided to set my previous one on fire.
This Week I Shall Mostly Be Dancing...
....because there's brownie just when I need it
....because I'm having my first singing lesson next week
....because Ross is coming to see me tonight
....because I can.
....because I'm having my first singing lesson next week
....because Ross is coming to see me tonight
....because I can.
Friday, October 13, 2006
What happens if you fall asleep on the underground...
This guy had fallen asleep, so the people next to us decided to cover his hair with shaving foam. Two minutes after this photo was taken, he decided to wake up. Thankfully we (who had nothing to do with this, I hasten to add, we were just opposite him) were at Mile End, our change stop, so we could escape quickly...
Monday, October 09, 2006
A Metaphor
A bale of straw contains over a million straws.
What happens when there are no more straws?
Say it like Neo: "There is no bale"
What happens when there are no more straws?
Say it like Neo: "There is no bale"
Friday, October 06, 2006
In My Email Box this Morning (6th October)
"Get a PSP & top game from £169.99" offer is subject to availability and may be changed or withdrawn without notice by Amazon.co.uk at any time. Offer ends on September 30th, 2006 see website Terms and Conditions for further details.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Things that make me wonder...
What happens to odd socks that are lost? Do they live under the bed waiting for someone to find them?
Why is it that I've got the third cold in as many weeks?
Cholate is nothing at all to do with chocolate, sadly.
I forgot to tell the organic guy I don't like celery and now have a whole bunch of it. Eeeugh!
You know you've been out of it when you leave the oven gas on all night (not burning) and you come to your bycicle only to find it's been randomly locked up.
I want to spend the weekend not doing much and chilling out, but I also want to be sociable. Do I go to a cheese and wine night and risk drinking too much wine?
Why is it that loud noises and bad smells (especially celery!) affect me a lot at the moment?
Why is it that I've got the third cold in as many weeks?
Cholate is nothing at all to do with chocolate, sadly.
I forgot to tell the organic guy I don't like celery and now have a whole bunch of it. Eeeugh!
You know you've been out of it when you leave the oven gas on all night (not burning) and you come to your bycicle only to find it's been randomly locked up.
I want to spend the weekend not doing much and chilling out, but I also want to be sociable. Do I go to a cheese and wine night and risk drinking too much wine?
Why is it that loud noises and bad smells (especially celery!) affect me a lot at the moment?
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Millions of Peaches, Peaches for Me
Sorry, I can't but help fall into the Presidents Of The USA song whenever I think of peaches. The unknown fruit/nut tree that has been sat in my garden has in fact turned out to be a peach. I never thought that peach trees would bear fruit in this country but I was wrong. Maybe I should have been listening to James and the Giant Peach a bit harder. Never mind, I now have at least 10 peaches to eat before the slugs and other bugs get them.
mmmmm... millions of peaches, peaches for me, millions of peaches, peaches for free.....
Monday, September 25, 2006
The Willow Tree
This is my parent's willow tree. It broke, so they had to hack away at it until it stood almost naked. It's exposed now, bare until it can grow some new branches.
How the mighty can crumble... but it's all ready growing.
How the mighty can crumble... but it's all ready growing.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Observations of A Wednesday Morning
I hate spiders. I particularly hate it when I happily wander into a room and it's just there, on the floor. This makes me go highly girly and scream lots. Then I squash it, and then have to leave the hoover over it for at least five minutes to make sure it's been sucked up.
Why is it that even this picture gives me the willies?
I also wonder why I just spent £5 for the priviledge of being shown how to use 3 pieces of equipment that I probably could have figured out in five seconds. Be aware of a slightly uncoordinated (or should that be VERY uncoordinated) tall woman attempting to use the running machines. I tried it for a few moments today and it was allready comedy. On a related note I recently saw the bizarrest video involving a band doing a syncronised dance on treadmills.
This is OK Go. They are probably quite strange.
Why is it that even this picture gives me the willies?
I also wonder why I just spent £5 for the priviledge of being shown how to use 3 pieces of equipment that I probably could have figured out in five seconds. Be aware of a slightly uncoordinated (or should that be VERY uncoordinated) tall woman attempting to use the running machines. I tried it for a few moments today and it was allready comedy. On a related note I recently saw the bizarrest video involving a band doing a syncronised dance on treadmills.
This is OK Go. They are probably quite strange.
Monday, September 18, 2006
The Curious Incidents Of Hilary In The Daytime
First of all, here is my sunflower
Isn't it amazing that one small seed can produce something so heauge? It's pretty. And the only one on the street, ha ha.
Note to self - don't go online when drunk!
Because this is what will happen... my obsession with hoyas reached a climax last week when I came home and decided to buy 6 hoyas after a few bevvies. I recieved the plants four days later and then was slightly concerned about how I was going to make them all grow. I decided, as it's a bit cold now, to get them a little propagator in the hope that will make them happy and root quickly.
On my way back from the nursery with the propagator somehow stuffed into my pannier, the most bizarre thing happened. I was cycling along relatively happily (I was tired and I wanted to get home) when suddenly a car goes past me, I hear a loud clap and my top leg is instantly in agony. Someone shot me with a paintball-style gun. Luckily it didn't break the skin (much) but it gave me quite a shock. The Munchkin told me today that this is something UWE students do to people, just shoot paintballs at them. Is this their idea of fun?
Although, this has to be the first bruise I didn't inflict upon myself...
Isn't it amazing that one small seed can produce something so heauge? It's pretty. And the only one on the street, ha ha.
Note to self - don't go online when drunk!
Because this is what will happen... my obsession with hoyas reached a climax last week when I came home and decided to buy 6 hoyas after a few bevvies. I recieved the plants four days later and then was slightly concerned about how I was going to make them all grow. I decided, as it's a bit cold now, to get them a little propagator in the hope that will make them happy and root quickly.On my way back from the nursery with the propagator somehow stuffed into my pannier, the most bizarre thing happened. I was cycling along relatively happily (I was tired and I wanted to get home) when suddenly a car goes past me, I hear a loud clap and my top leg is instantly in agony. Someone shot me with a paintball-style gun. Luckily it didn't break the skin (much) but it gave me quite a shock. The Munchkin told me today that this is something UWE students do to people, just shoot paintballs at them. Is this their idea of fun?
Although, this has to be the first bruise I didn't inflict upon myself...
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Onion and Mushroom Gravy
Tasty, tasty, very very tasty
Serves 3 hungry people
A knob butter
Two Onions, sliced
A box mushrooms, sliced
Good splash red wine
Teaspoon cornflour
Gravy browning
Vegetable stock cube
Hot water/water you've just boiled the potatoes/veg in
Melt butter in a pan or saucepan.
Add onions and fry on a medium heat until translucent, try not to burn
Add mushrooms and stir for a couple of minutes.
Add the wine and cook for a further five minutes.
Meanwhile, place the cornflour onto a saucer and mix into a splash of wine. Add a few drops (NO MORE!!!) of gravy browning until it goes brown.
Break stock cube over mushroom mixture and stir in. Mix in the cornflour mixture. Add a good splash of hot water and mix. Heat until the liquid thickens. Enjoy. Mmmmmmmmmmm. Good with bangers and mash.
Serves 3 hungry people
A knob butter
Two Onions, sliced
A box mushrooms, sliced
Good splash red wine
Teaspoon cornflour
Gravy browning
Vegetable stock cube
Hot water/water you've just boiled the potatoes/veg in
Melt butter in a pan or saucepan.
Add onions and fry on a medium heat until translucent, try not to burn
Add mushrooms and stir for a couple of minutes.
Add the wine and cook for a further five minutes.
Meanwhile, place the cornflour onto a saucer and mix into a splash of wine. Add a few drops (NO MORE!!!) of gravy browning until it goes brown.
Break stock cube over mushroom mixture and stir in. Mix in the cornflour mixture. Add a good splash of hot water and mix. Heat until the liquid thickens. Enjoy. Mmmmmmmmmmm. Good with bangers and mash.
Monday, September 11, 2006
9/11: I Was There
Ok folks, this is a personal entry about a distressing event. Please don't get upset with me when it gets distressing. I am only recounting the truth as I remember it.
September 9th, 2001. I was staying at my sister's husband's apartment in New York, in Greenwich Village, sleeping on the futon in the main room. I was at the end of my two month trip around the world and was just "passing through" on my way home. I was due to leave on the 10th and that day was going to go to the Stock Exchange.
Just after 9 we get a phone call. It's Richard, my sister's husband, telling us someone's just flown into the World Trade Centre. Immediately we put the news on, and the first reports were coming in. Someone filmed the second one coming in, and they put that on the news. As soon as I saw it I knew it was no accident.
The rest of the day and the next few days are a bit of a blur. I remember us all sat around the room in shock watching the news for hours on end. One of the guys who came to sit with us, a friend of Theresa or Richards, I can't remember, had seen people jumping out of the windows to save themselves. The towers came down in fairly quick succession to each other and I remember thinking that when the second one came down, it was a replay of the first one until I looked out the toilet window and saw it go down. I went out later in the day to see people sat in parks watching the smoke and listening to their radios. None of the phones were working but for some reason the internet was so we managed to get emails out to our family that we were OK. I remember sending one to Tony, who then kindly sent it on to all the people I'd been emailing about my trip round the world, who then sent me emails back saying they were glad I was OK.
We'd spent lunch not two days before in the World Trade Centre cafe, I remember lifts that made your stomach jump, and afterwards we wondered what had happened to those people there. My flight, of course, did not leave the next day, so I had a couple of extra days in New York. I couldn't go visit the Empire State Building and taxis could only take you so far downtown. I particularly remember going to an Indian a couple of days later downtown and making some crass remark about the mango ice cream being an insult against humanity.
The real thing I remember about my trip is the flight home. I'd spent days trying to find out from BA when I could get a flight. In the end they started flying back on the Friday. So, on Friday, I made my way to JFK International airport. My sister had told me to come back if they weren't flying out but I knew I probably wouldn't be coming back. JFK was complete chaos, nobody knew what flight they were going to take if any, and you just checked your baggage in and hoped. I had a moment trying to explain what a digeridoo was (I had just been to Australia) and had to put it in the hold as it was a dangerous instrument... I then just sat for what was probably hours waiting to see if I'd get a flight out. In the departure lounge, if you could call it that, there were no shops, nothing. I was starving and hoping that I would get through and get something to eat. I'd promised myself cesar salad if I did. Sometime a bit later the lady who had served me at checkouts came round saying "Are you Roberts?" I answered yes, that I was. She'd got me a ticket to London, and somehow remembered me, it was the most bizarre thing ever. so I finally got through the passport control and to a restaurant, where, believe it or not, they were serving cesar salad. I was squashed in economy and on a night flight, but I didn't give a shit, I was going home. None of the payphones were working but I managed to get to the information desk and ask one of the ladies there if I could borrow her mobile to call my sister. I was lucky once more as there was such a queue for the phone that soon after I got through the lady wasn't letting anyone call on her phone any more.
One thing I remember about the flight home is that I was really scared to change my watch back to English time until I knew I was back in London. You have no idea how overjoyed I was when we flew over London and I saw the Millenium Wheel. Then I knew I was home.
September 9th, 2001. I was staying at my sister's husband's apartment in New York, in Greenwich Village, sleeping on the futon in the main room. I was at the end of my two month trip around the world and was just "passing through" on my way home. I was due to leave on the 10th and that day was going to go to the Stock Exchange.
Just after 9 we get a phone call. It's Richard, my sister's husband, telling us someone's just flown into the World Trade Centre. Immediately we put the news on, and the first reports were coming in. Someone filmed the second one coming in, and they put that on the news. As soon as I saw it I knew it was no accident.
The rest of the day and the next few days are a bit of a blur. I remember us all sat around the room in shock watching the news for hours on end. One of the guys who came to sit with us, a friend of Theresa or Richards, I can't remember, had seen people jumping out of the windows to save themselves. The towers came down in fairly quick succession to each other and I remember thinking that when the second one came down, it was a replay of the first one until I looked out the toilet window and saw it go down. I went out later in the day to see people sat in parks watching the smoke and listening to their radios. None of the phones were working but for some reason the internet was so we managed to get emails out to our family that we were OK. I remember sending one to Tony, who then kindly sent it on to all the people I'd been emailing about my trip round the world, who then sent me emails back saying they were glad I was OK.
We'd spent lunch not two days before in the World Trade Centre cafe, I remember lifts that made your stomach jump, and afterwards we wondered what had happened to those people there. My flight, of course, did not leave the next day, so I had a couple of extra days in New York. I couldn't go visit the Empire State Building and taxis could only take you so far downtown. I particularly remember going to an Indian a couple of days later downtown and making some crass remark about the mango ice cream being an insult against humanity.
The real thing I remember about my trip is the flight home. I'd spent days trying to find out from BA when I could get a flight. In the end they started flying back on the Friday. So, on Friday, I made my way to JFK International airport. My sister had told me to come back if they weren't flying out but I knew I probably wouldn't be coming back. JFK was complete chaos, nobody knew what flight they were going to take if any, and you just checked your baggage in and hoped. I had a moment trying to explain what a digeridoo was (I had just been to Australia) and had to put it in the hold as it was a dangerous instrument... I then just sat for what was probably hours waiting to see if I'd get a flight out. In the departure lounge, if you could call it that, there were no shops, nothing. I was starving and hoping that I would get through and get something to eat. I'd promised myself cesar salad if I did. Sometime a bit later the lady who had served me at checkouts came round saying "Are you Roberts?" I answered yes, that I was. She'd got me a ticket to London, and somehow remembered me, it was the most bizarre thing ever. so I finally got through the passport control and to a restaurant, where, believe it or not, they were serving cesar salad. I was squashed in economy and on a night flight, but I didn't give a shit, I was going home. None of the payphones were working but I managed to get to the information desk and ask one of the ladies there if I could borrow her mobile to call my sister. I was lucky once more as there was such a queue for the phone that soon after I got through the lady wasn't letting anyone call on her phone any more.
One thing I remember about the flight home is that I was really scared to change my watch back to English time until I knew I was back in London. You have no idea how overjoyed I was when we flew over London and I saw the Millenium Wheel. Then I knew I was home.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Gone In 60 Seconds
If I could steal cars, these would be the ones I'd try and get away with:
Kit
Well, if you're going to steal a car, why not a fictional one?
A Delorean
As above. Preferably one that could fly. That would be cool. Not so bothered about the time travel bit...
Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am 1979
Well, if you were going on a stealing spree, you might just pick one up for the boyfriend. Cos you love him.
Ferrari Enzo
Well, you'd have to steal a Ferrari. And this is the one everyone talks about.
An Old MG
My car knowledge doesn't go very far but I'd like one of those cute MGs I see sometimes rusting in corners.
Austin DB9
So I could pretend to be Bond, although knowing me I'd be a complete pansy in it. If only you could get one with rocket launchers so you can remove the traffic in front of you. Oooh, and a passenger ejector seat in case you don't like the person sat next to you.... he he
And, of course, the Batmobile.
Saionara.
Kit
Well, if you're going to steal a car, why not a fictional one?
A Delorean
As above. Preferably one that could fly. That would be cool. Not so bothered about the time travel bit...
Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am 1979
Well, if you were going on a stealing spree, you might just pick one up for the boyfriend. Cos you love him.
Ferrari Enzo
Well, you'd have to steal a Ferrari. And this is the one everyone talks about.
An Old MG
My car knowledge doesn't go very far but I'd like one of those cute MGs I see sometimes rusting in corners.
Austin DB9
So I could pretend to be Bond, although knowing me I'd be a complete pansy in it. If only you could get one with rocket launchers so you can remove the traffic in front of you. Oooh, and a passenger ejector seat in case you don't like the person sat next to you.... he he
And, of course, the Batmobile.Saionara.
Monday, September 04, 2006
This Week, I Shall Be Mostly Dancing...
The "I get free plants" dance
Yay! As most of you know, I'm completely obsessed with plants, especially Hoyas. I recently bought a hoya off a Swedish trade site (try doing this and not knowing any Swedish...) and then realised that in order to send the seller money, I would have to pay £20 for the privilege (meep) of transferring £10 to a Swedish bank account. But, instead, if I have plants she doesn't have, all I have to do is pay for the postage of sending her plants in return for new plants coming through the post to me...
*dancing*
Yay! As most of you know, I'm completely obsessed with plants, especially Hoyas. I recently bought a hoya off a Swedish trade site (try doing this and not knowing any Swedish...) and then realised that in order to send the seller money, I would have to pay £20 for the privilege (meep) of transferring £10 to a Swedish bank account. But, instead, if I have plants she doesn't have, all I have to do is pay for the postage of sending her plants in return for new plants coming through the post to me...
*dancing*
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