Why yes, I have managed to make the happiest flowers in the world look gloomy. In celebration of the end of Doctor Who, I've removed my hopeful Soft Cell via David Gray quote from the top of the blog, and replaced it with a paraphrase from the Sally Sparrow episode, Blink. It's a joke. But as Homer Simpson would say, it's funny cause it's true.
Can I just say, I can't bloomin' believe the end of Doctor Who. And I'd be watching it all over again were it not for the fact that I'm recording the entire series of Gavin and Stacey of BBC Three, and my DVR cannot seem to cope with simultaneous record and watch. Also, it's too late. And I've not left the house all day. And my brain is fried. And my toffee pudding was disappointing, and Isa came in and went out again, and I did no writing... and I cannot believe the end of Doctor Who. How's that for circular depression.
I think I'm going to brush my teeth and read some chick lit. The reason for the sunflowers? Well, I wanted a rainbow, to tie in with the hope, but I couldn't find a nice pic, and while I love the balloons, I got a bit bored of them. And they were a bit pink. So I've gone mellow yellow for a while. Also, I don't know where I put the balloons (grr) so that lovely design is probably gone furrevvah! Noooo!!! Perhaps it was a mistake to get rid of it...
A demain, mes amies. A demain.
Saturday, 30 June 2007
26 things
Things about me that it is not strictly necessary to know...
1. I am 26
2. I have only ever lived in the South of England
3. I am not very well travelled, but did visit Australia, once, eight years ago, and the US last year.
4. I have a first for my degree, but can no longer read Greek or Latin.
5. My first real boyfriend was someone I met at a Classics summer school. My second boyfriend was someone I met also studying Classics. The fourth person I had sex with had an MA in Classical Studies.
6. The boy I thought would be my first real boyfriend was doing Classical Civilization A-level. He had ginger hair and loved Sting and the Police. He used to join the dinner queue in the sixth form common room when I did, apparently.
7. I think that Sting is one of the creepiest men in showbusiness.
8. I still have a soft-spot for men with ginger hair.
9. I just had to check the grammar rules for numbered lists, and I think I am getting them right, since these are complete sentences. Despite working in publishing, I am crap at grammar rules.
10. Listening to worship music makes me feel at least ten times better, most of the time.
11. The first album I ever owned was simultaneously Bad by Michael Jackson, and Kylie by Kylie Minogue, both Christmas presents. I have seen both Kylie and Michael Jackson in concert. My overriding memory of the Michael Jackson concert is the handsome ginger man Kate and I sat next to.
12. I had never smoked a cigarette until I reached my twenties.
13. My porn star name is Maggie Lymington.
14. I have a book dedicated to me. I think it's out of print.
15. I have already semi-drafted the acknowledgements to my as-yet-incomplete novel.
16. I am intimidated by people in their twenties who I perceive to be successful.
17. I am not a member of my union.
18. I am scared to ask people at my church what they think about evolution.
19. I earned three Blue Peter badges, a green one, for recycling, a white one (for a letter?) and a silver one (for a recipe). To get a gold one, you have to do something really special, unfortunately.
20. I have never tried to recall an email. But I wish I could recall texts.
21. I own over ten books on writing.
22. Avocados make my lips bumpy.
23. I check my work email even when I'm at home.
24. My CDs are mostly in a box at the top of my wardrobe.
25. I have a box full of letter writing materials that I never use.
26. My knicker drawer is better organized than my bank statements.
1. I am 26
2. I have only ever lived in the South of England
3. I am not very well travelled, but did visit Australia, once, eight years ago, and the US last year.
4. I have a first for my degree, but can no longer read Greek or Latin.
5. My first real boyfriend was someone I met at a Classics summer school. My second boyfriend was someone I met also studying Classics. The fourth person I had sex with had an MA in Classical Studies.
6. The boy I thought would be my first real boyfriend was doing Classical Civilization A-level. He had ginger hair and loved Sting and the Police. He used to join the dinner queue in the sixth form common room when I did, apparently.
7. I think that Sting is one of the creepiest men in showbusiness.
8. I still have a soft-spot for men with ginger hair.
9. I just had to check the grammar rules for numbered lists, and I think I am getting them right, since these are complete sentences. Despite working in publishing, I am crap at grammar rules.
10. Listening to worship music makes me feel at least ten times better, most of the time.
11. The first album I ever owned was simultaneously Bad by Michael Jackson, and Kylie by Kylie Minogue, both Christmas presents. I have seen both Kylie and Michael Jackson in concert. My overriding memory of the Michael Jackson concert is the handsome ginger man Kate and I sat next to.
12. I had never smoked a cigarette until I reached my twenties.
13. My porn star name is Maggie Lymington.
14. I have a book dedicated to me. I think it's out of print.
15. I have already semi-drafted the acknowledgements to my as-yet-incomplete novel.
16. I am intimidated by people in their twenties who I perceive to be successful.
17. I am not a member of my union.
18. I am scared to ask people at my church what they think about evolution.
19. I earned three Blue Peter badges, a green one, for recycling, a white one (for a letter?) and a silver one (for a recipe). To get a gold one, you have to do something really special, unfortunately.
20. I have never tried to recall an email. But I wish I could recall texts.
21. I own over ten books on writing.
22. Avocados make my lips bumpy.
23. I check my work email even when I'm at home.
24. My CDs are mostly in a box at the top of my wardrobe.
25. I have a box full of letter writing materials that I never use.
26. My knicker drawer is better organized than my bank statements.
Gloomy weather
Mes amies! What a day yesterday was! Hangovers of varying horribleness abounded. Charlie and I nearly fell out about a story about poo, I was full of gloom, tiredness and a horrid hangover, and it culminated in me falling asleep fully clothed, tucked up in bed at seven thirty pm. Luckily, felt alot better when I woke up this morning. However, then went through my phone in a fit of boredom and realised I made the horrendous mistake of texting the crush when drunk. I do have a habit of drunken texting, which I thought I'd perhaps moved on from. Clearly not. Have now removed his number from my phone. It's the only answer to avoid such embarassment again. By the way, it was not a declaration of undying love. It was a simple drunken text. Could have been to anyone.
Why oh why oh why am I so stupid? I rang my only other friend who would take my calls, Emma, and asked her, had I scared him off? She said, probably yes. But she also said:
Still reading A Hopeless Romantic, although it's not helping. Isa's out. Sarah's got Richard round. I've done no writing and my friends won't take my calls, that's rubbish, isn't it?! Clearly I am the least popular person in the history of the world, and I can't lie on my bed, because I moved all the junk from my desk onto it, in the hope of getting some writing done, but in actual fact, all I have done is sit and stew at my desk, eat doritos, drink tea, and feel stupid. Argh argh argh.
Argh argh argh argh argh. I hate being like this. I hate my own stupid obsessive stalker tendencies, they really are stupid. And I am self-castigatory today. I should pray. I should ask God to remove all my impure thoughts and replace them by his spirit with good ones. I should also him to let me love no one but him. But I'm rebellious. And I don't want to.
I like falling in lust, I like crushes, I like getting drunk, I like the fact I'm going through a small stage of rebellion, considering getting my nose pierced and a pink streak. All those things are good. I remember in the mid-late nineties, the singer from the band Republica had a very fetching two-tone hairdo. Well, if the Spice Girls are coming back... can't that hairstyle? Maybe not.
So the Spice Girls are coming back. How fitting, then, that I am now friends with Kate again, my very own personal Ginger Spice, although really she was more Posh to my Ginger, since she was mostly silent and I was mouthy. We've been in touch by email. When I got her email on Thursday night I was really drunk and I cried, because I remembered how much I loved my friend.
Why oh why oh why am I so stupid? I rang my only other friend who would take my calls, Emma, and asked her, had I scared him off? She said, probably yes. But she also said:
If he's scared off by one stupid text, he'd never make it into Gryffindor, would he?And that made me feel much better. Because we all know that deep inside, we want to be the kind of people who'd get into Gryffindor. Maybe Ravenclaw, at a push. At this precise moment, he's a Hufflepuff, stupid clever, nice eyelashes, foolish idiot boy!
Still reading A Hopeless Romantic, although it's not helping. Isa's out. Sarah's got Richard round. I've done no writing and my friends won't take my calls, that's rubbish, isn't it?! Clearly I am the least popular person in the history of the world, and I can't lie on my bed, because I moved all the junk from my desk onto it, in the hope of getting some writing done, but in actual fact, all I have done is sit and stew at my desk, eat doritos, drink tea, and feel stupid. Argh argh argh.
Argh argh argh argh argh. I hate being like this. I hate my own stupid obsessive stalker tendencies, they really are stupid. And I am self-castigatory today. I should pray. I should ask God to remove all my impure thoughts and replace them by his spirit with good ones. I should also him to let me love no one but him. But I'm rebellious. And I don't want to.
I like falling in lust, I like crushes, I like getting drunk, I like the fact I'm going through a small stage of rebellion, considering getting my nose pierced and a pink streak. All those things are good. I remember in the mid-late nineties, the singer from the band Republica had a very fetching two-tone hairdo. Well, if the Spice Girls are coming back... can't that hairstyle? Maybe not.
So the Spice Girls are coming back. How fitting, then, that I am now friends with Kate again, my very own personal Ginger Spice, although really she was more Posh to my Ginger, since she was mostly silent and I was mouthy. We've been in touch by email. When I got her email on Thursday night I was really drunk and I cried, because I remembered how much I loved my friend.
Friday, 29 June 2007
Gloomy Romantic
Gloom laden morning, brought on by hangover depression and paranoia. I've got to stop drinking, I genuinely cannot remember handing the taxi driver money last night. Fun time, out for a leaving do, got bladdered, feel sore,
Anyway, gloom. Gloom about the boy, who knows I exist, but doesn't seem interested. Disheartening in the extreme to like someone, to think they're fantastic, and for them not to either seem to realise or not to want to reciprocate by thinking that you're fantastic. However, boys are a bit useless and slightly blind, so perhaps he just doesn't realise. It doesn't mean he doesn't like me. He probably just doesn't think of me that way. Of course, there's no guarantee that if he were to find out, that he would suddenly change to thinking of me in that way. But am given some hope by this quote from The Sound of Music:
There's nothing more irresistible to a man than a woman who's in love with him.
That is what Philippa said to me about another couple's relationship which I was mystified about, and at the time I was a tad scornful, but now I find it a very comforting thought. A thought very much in the spirit of Laura Foster in A Hopeless Romantic. And this is supposed to be Hopeful Romantic after all! I can't lose hope just because I might as well be wearing a Tardis key around my neck, so little does he seem to perceive me! Also, this morning, I looked down at my computer and saw my work scripture, There is no fear in love (1 John 4:18) taped to the bottom of my monitor, and I thought, well, faint heart never won fair hand. I cannot run away from everything that scares me, and fear of rejection is a rubbish thing to be afraid of anyway. I'm not saying I won't be rejected, but better to try and to know, than not to try because I was afraid. Andy prescribed a good talking to myself in the mirror, this is kind of it. And Amber did say that he told her that I'm nice, he enjoyed spending time with me at Glastonbury and that I got on really well with his mates. Those are not bad things to have said about you! Perhaps he is just wondering if we're going to be good friends? And friends would be good. In fact, as Fiona says to Charlie in Four Weddings and a Funeral:
Friends isn't bad, you know. Friends is quite something.
Just to prove that Oxford is terribly terribly small, met David from the writing group in the pub last night. He's sent me his children's book, which I'm looking forward to reading. This weekend, the work in progress has to make some progress!! I've been rubbish at blogging this week, and rubbish at writing for the last couple of weeks. I'll just have to knuckle down a bit, get thinking. Not sure I can, though. Not sure I want to write about someone else falling in love, when I am so... . I'm going to stop whinging and navel gazing, it's not fun for anyone.
I also need to have a really good church-related moan, at some point. But I'm not sure I can be bothered right now.
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
Post-Glastonbury High
I'd love to wax lyrical about Glastonbury, but I don't want to bore you... only kidding, I don't care if I bore my three readers, but I don't want to tarnish the beautiful memories. I'm not kidding! I wish I were, I'm pathetic, it's like when you fall in love, and you can't stop smiling, but you don't want to give anyone the details. You know, in case you jinx it.
It was just fantastic. Had so much fun. Met new and interesting people, did some new and interesting things, got very very muddy. And returned to work with a massive smile on my face. Where I proceeded to bore everyone by being starry eyed and speechless, expect to the people who were there too. It was like a little special club...
Anyway, I saw tons of fab bands, some of which will probably now appear on the Last FM scrobbler, which doesn't seem to be working now, which is annoying.... I enjoyed some very very late nights, and took over seven hours to get out of the car park! And now I've got to get back down to earth before something punctures me and I bump down with a hard thud!
And the crush was there. And he's brilliant; lovely, kind, fun, interesting, intriguing, sweet, and gentle. I was watching Doctor Who this evening with my post-rowing pasta and marmite, and Captain Jack explained the perception filter to Martha. He said "it's like when you fancy someone, and they don't even know you exist."
It was just fantastic. Had so much fun. Met new and interesting people, did some new and interesting things, got very very muddy. And returned to work with a massive smile on my face. Where I proceeded to bore everyone by being starry eyed and speechless, expect to the people who were there too. It was like a little special club...
Anyway, I saw tons of fab bands, some of which will probably now appear on the Last FM scrobbler, which doesn't seem to be working now, which is annoying.... I enjoyed some very very late nights, and took over seven hours to get out of the car park! And now I've got to get back down to earth before something punctures me and I bump down with a hard thud!
And the crush was there. And he's brilliant; lovely, kind, fun, interesting, intriguing, sweet, and gentle. I was watching Doctor Who this evening with my post-rowing pasta and marmite, and Captain Jack explained the perception filter to Martha. He said "it's like when you fancy someone, and they don't even know you exist."
Thursday, 21 June 2007
Time Out
Just feel like I ought to say goodbye, before going to Glastonbury for the festival. Since one of my regular readers is going with me, that is perhaps slightly pointless, but anyway, I'll be back, on Monday, smellier, muddier, and probably much more relaxed!
Wednesday, 20 June 2007
A lot to carry
So I might have gone a bit OTT on the drinks front. But I didn't want us to run out of the all-important booze at Glastonbury! To reduce the load, because every little helps, I'm drinking one of my cans of gin and tonic NOW. Because I'm worth it.
And also because I need it. The hangover from hell improved after a jacket potato with beans for lunch, but oh my gosh, it was a nasty one, and I really only feel better now that I'm fully laoded again. Clearly that is because I'm an alcoholic.
What I forgot to blog about after last night's shenanigans... running into the crush on Tesco in Cowley Road, Charlie storming up to him to say "Hello!" and me practically running past him into the alcohol aisle (see a theme here?!), then watching him as he purchased food stuffs. And singing up Cowley Road with Emma after midnight. And reveaing all about the crush to Emma. Who is like a steel trap, just as Charlie is. And falling asleep with my iPod on at an alarming volume.
Speaking of alarming volume, Sarah and Richard were being couply in the living room with the door closed so I played my music very loudly and danced to show my exuberant excitement about Glastonbury... and to smoke them out!
Packing. Excitment!
** Edit - now I feel mean, Sarah and Richard (Richah?) were making their guest list up downstairs, and I am invited, and Sarah thinks I should be a wedding planner (which I should be!)... so I'm not going to be horrible anymore. Except for calling them a collective noun: Richah.
And also because I need it. The hangover from hell improved after a jacket potato with beans for lunch, but oh my gosh, it was a nasty one, and I really only feel better now that I'm fully laoded again. Clearly that is because I'm an alcoholic.
What I forgot to blog about after last night's shenanigans... running into the crush on Tesco in Cowley Road, Charlie storming up to him to say "Hello!" and me practically running past him into the alcohol aisle (see a theme here?!), then watching him as he purchased food stuffs. And singing up Cowley Road with Emma after midnight. And reveaing all about the crush to Emma. Who is like a steel trap, just as Charlie is. And falling asleep with my iPod on at an alarming volume.
Speaking of alarming volume, Sarah and Richard were being couply in the living room with the door closed so I played my music very loudly and danced to show my exuberant excitement about Glastonbury... and to smoke them out!
Packing. Excitment!
** Edit - now I feel mean, Sarah and Richard (Richah?) were making their guest list up downstairs, and I am invited, and Sarah thinks I should be a wedding planner (which I should be!)... so I'm not going to be horrible anymore. Except for calling them a collective noun: Richah.
Evil hangover
Four bottles of wine, three girls, one with a prodigious appetite for alcohol... hangover.
I've had breakfast, a big glass of water, two ibuprofen, and all I want to do is go home and sleep!
Lovely dinner at Charlie's, much chat and silliness with her and Emma.
Much excitement about Glastonbury now! Leaving tomorrow!
I've had breakfast, a big glass of water, two ibuprofen, and all I want to do is go home and sleep!
Lovely dinner at Charlie's, much chat and silliness with her and Emma.
Much excitement about Glastonbury now! Leaving tomorrow!
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
What do you do when the music stops?
I forgot how much I loved The Pipettes' album. In fact, here's a navel gazing moment, I have to say I'm impressed with the fact that I even know who they are, something I probably owe to Amy, who very sweetly lent it to me over a year ago (and lent me a load of CDs after the last Glastonbury which I still haven't returned, ahem!) and hasn't asked for it back. And who is always keen to further my musical education.
Ooooh, and thanks to some dedicated iPod scrobbling... I know have a Last FM widget! This makes me happy, which is silly.
I didn't sleep very well, it's very early here, still, and I will shortly be entering the shower and rushing to work. I guess I'm stressed and overwhelmed. That would explain why I'm frantically wiggling my body in my pyjamas with my big headphones on at my desk, when normally I would be slumbering happily in my bed...
I've even had a big bowl of melon and strawberries for breakfast, and a cup of tea, and put my washing out in the garden.
Ooooh, and thanks to some dedicated iPod scrobbling... I know have a Last FM widget! This makes me happy, which is silly.
I didn't sleep very well, it's very early here, still, and I will shortly be entering the shower and rushing to work. I guess I'm stressed and overwhelmed. That would explain why I'm frantically wiggling my body in my pyjamas with my big headphones on at my desk, when normally I would be slumbering happily in my bed...
I've even had a big bowl of melon and strawberries for breakfast, and a cup of tea, and put my washing out in the garden.
Monday, 18 June 2007
Excitement
Got to get cracking at work tomorrow, after great discussion with Neil and Max, we're going to leave for Somerset on Thursday afternoon. Maybe evening. Ca depend. But I need to arrange some more time off work, and also to get some work done, after a deeply unproductive day. I'm not stressing! (Much).
I want to splurge here, about stuff, but really, like I said before, it's all in my head. So I'll stay schtum. Really, what I need to do is make the most of the horlicks I've drunk and go to bed. Instead I'm listening to Groove Armada on headphones and The Pipettes, and I really don't actually want to go to bed. I want to stay up, thinking, hoping, wishing, etc. I'm just so excited about going away, having a break, too. It's not been long, but it's been long enough. Long enough to get me in a spin about work, anyway. Work is the same, stressful, and the people are the same, stressful, and today I wore my new jeans, and blouse, and shoes, and felt pretty, but self-conscious, which was stressful.
I've wittered, or as Neil would say, there's too much navel gazing in the blogosphere...
I want to splurge here, about stuff, but really, like I said before, it's all in my head. So I'll stay schtum. Really, what I need to do is make the most of the horlicks I've drunk and go to bed. Instead I'm listening to Groove Armada on headphones and The Pipettes, and I really don't actually want to go to bed. I want to stay up, thinking, hoping, wishing, etc. I'm just so excited about going away, having a break, too. It's not been long, but it's been long enough. Long enough to get me in a spin about work, anyway. Work is the same, stressful, and the people are the same, stressful, and today I wore my new jeans, and blouse, and shoes, and felt pretty, but self-conscious, which was stressful.
I've wittered, or as Neil would say, there's too much navel gazing in the blogosphere...
Sunday, 17 June 2007
Life in slow motion 2
You know how I was complaining about time? I got some. This weekend has been the slowed down space I needed, even with hiccups, even with time running out on me at points, it's been fab. Although I'll have to go to bed soon, because otherwise I'll be knackered tomorrow.
Nostalgia in Yateley, at Vicky's house, enjoying her delicious spread of food at her barbeque, catching with people I've not seen for years. Very strange, and yet very nice. Tried to get to Camberley to do some Glastonbury shopping, but in the end I couldn't, due to the fact they're building on my accustomed car park, and there was rain and traffic. I did manage to get to Marks and Spencer's though. Nightmare... too tempting... bought to much. But lovely lovely clothes. Even if I am a heifer. And Doctor Who at Sarah's, watched with all due reverence and squealing. This series has just got better and better since the disappointment of the Dalek episodes, it raised its game, thank goodness, because it really is the best thing on telly at the moment. And John Simm, ooooh yummy.
And today... to church, which was good. We had a reading from Isaiah, and there was some mention either in that or in one of the worship songs about how God knows all of time and space, and I found that reassuring. Also, Sarah's engagement was announced, which was nice, because it's rare that they talk about anyone I know in church. However, despite getting something out of the sermon, I did find myself getting impatient. I had stuff to change in M&S, I was itching to get out to the shopping masses.
When I got back, it was to a lovely scene, our kitchen was comfortably full, people were sitting about chatting, drinking wine, the roll-call being Parveen, Rowan, Marion and Graham, who Isa had invited round for lunch, in lieu of our barbeque that never happened. It was lovely, really nice, and once Rowan's friend Tim (the chef at the Dorchester, Canadian, black, gappy teeth, sweet) came over, and swept him away (he was supposed to be hosting a post-baptism party for a girl from the Internation Pastorate, they were off in search of hummous and bread at 5pm on a Sunday in Britain - good luck, guys), me, Isa and Marion and Graham went down the pub. Isa and I finished our day with a fish and chip supper, the last of the wine, and Big Brother on the Couch. Graham is much more fun than I initially thought, I met him once before, but he's really funny, sarcastic, actually said "you can have a baby without getting married, you know", which is practically sacreligious amongst some of our chuch mutual friends. Anyway, it was fun, and Isa and I were dropping after our supper designed to soak up the alcohol.
Then I came upstairs and commenced a search for my petticoat, which I finally found, and tidied away clothes, set the washing machine to go in the morning, and looked at the weather forecast and felt disappointed. Thunder and lightning for Friday. Good think I purchased kagoules, eh? I guess that next week will be all about getting work done at work, and preparing for the weekend. And thinking about the person I like, who has now taken on mythical proportions in my brain. Here's the thing: I've got a habit of daydreaming things out of control, and I'm trying not to do that here. Amber pointed out that the need for a work crush overrides all sensible brain function (actually, she said need for a crush at work makes one fancy unsuitable people), and I tend not to have sensible brain function at the best of times, so... I'm trying to scale back my thoughts, before I'm married in my head before I've actually spoken to him. There.
Nostalgia in Yateley, at Vicky's house, enjoying her delicious spread of food at her barbeque, catching with people I've not seen for years. Very strange, and yet very nice. Tried to get to Camberley to do some Glastonbury shopping, but in the end I couldn't, due to the fact they're building on my accustomed car park, and there was rain and traffic. I did manage to get to Marks and Spencer's though. Nightmare... too tempting... bought to much. But lovely lovely clothes. Even if I am a heifer. And Doctor Who at Sarah's, watched with all due reverence and squealing. This series has just got better and better since the disappointment of the Dalek episodes, it raised its game, thank goodness, because it really is the best thing on telly at the moment. And John Simm, ooooh yummy.
And today... to church, which was good. We had a reading from Isaiah, and there was some mention either in that or in one of the worship songs about how God knows all of time and space, and I found that reassuring. Also, Sarah's engagement was announced, which was nice, because it's rare that they talk about anyone I know in church. However, despite getting something out of the sermon, I did find myself getting impatient. I had stuff to change in M&S, I was itching to get out to the shopping masses.
When I got back, it was to a lovely scene, our kitchen was comfortably full, people were sitting about chatting, drinking wine, the roll-call being Parveen, Rowan, Marion and Graham, who Isa had invited round for lunch, in lieu of our barbeque that never happened. It was lovely, really nice, and once Rowan's friend Tim (the chef at the Dorchester, Canadian, black, gappy teeth, sweet) came over, and swept him away (he was supposed to be hosting a post-baptism party for a girl from the Internation Pastorate, they were off in search of hummous and bread at 5pm on a Sunday in Britain - good luck, guys), me, Isa and Marion and Graham went down the pub. Isa and I finished our day with a fish and chip supper, the last of the wine, and Big Brother on the Couch. Graham is much more fun than I initially thought, I met him once before, but he's really funny, sarcastic, actually said "you can have a baby without getting married, you know", which is practically sacreligious amongst some of our chuch mutual friends. Anyway, it was fun, and Isa and I were dropping after our supper designed to soak up the alcohol.
Then I came upstairs and commenced a search for my petticoat, which I finally found, and tidied away clothes, set the washing machine to go in the morning, and looked at the weather forecast and felt disappointed. Thunder and lightning for Friday. Good think I purchased kagoules, eh? I guess that next week will be all about getting work done at work, and preparing for the weekend. And thinking about the person I like, who has now taken on mythical proportions in my brain. Here's the thing: I've got a habit of daydreaming things out of control, and I'm trying not to do that here. Amber pointed out that the need for a work crush overrides all sensible brain function (actually, she said need for a crush at work makes one fancy unsuitable people), and I tend not to have sensible brain function at the best of times, so... I'm trying to scale back my thoughts, before I'm married in my head before I've actually spoken to him. There.
Friday, 15 June 2007
Quiet Friday in
I am so incredibly excited about Glastonbury. Neil sent me his excel spreadsheet of the timetable, so next week I will no doubt spent an inordinate amount of time trying to fit all the people I want to see into the same two and a half days. Hoooorah!
This evening, Sarah has friends over, and while I'm not banished, I've elected to stay in my room, drinking, and watching videos. I went to Blockbuster and rented Starter for 10, Notes on a Scandal and 28 Days Later and then realised they were all 'British' films, which is a bit weird. Anyway, I've not watched a single one. But I did watch an episode of Talk to Me with the gorgeous Max Beesley, and the posh one from Hotel Babylon as his crazed ex, who looked amazing, more sexy than when she was buttoned-up Anna... however, Laura Frazer is one lucky lady, Max Beesley in this, David Tennant in Casanova. Cow.
Things are cool with me. This is mainly because I'm banished to my room while Sarah and Richard host a grown up dinner party. Grrr. Luckily, a bottle of wine with a screw top and a bath and a book, and I'm happy. So yes, I have resolved my problems with alcohol, yet again. But at least I am happy.
My favourite email of the day was when Amber forgot that she was counselling me, and went off to play "Google Labeller" instead. I know, typical! However, after lots of support have been able to pull off, perhaps, the aim of "generally create image of self as hilarious, laid-back and lovely." Love the Bridget Jones style reference to 'self'.
This evening, Sarah has friends over, and while I'm not banished, I've elected to stay in my room, drinking, and watching videos. I went to Blockbuster and rented Starter for 10, Notes on a Scandal and 28 Days Later and then realised they were all 'British' films, which is a bit weird. Anyway, I've not watched a single one. But I did watch an episode of Talk to Me with the gorgeous Max Beesley, and the posh one from Hotel Babylon as his crazed ex, who looked amazing, more sexy than when she was buttoned-up Anna... however, Laura Frazer is one lucky lady, Max Beesley in this, David Tennant in Casanova. Cow.
Things are cool with me. This is mainly because I'm banished to my room while Sarah and Richard host a grown up dinner party. Grrr. Luckily, a bottle of wine with a screw top and a bath and a book, and I'm happy. So yes, I have resolved my problems with alcohol, yet again. But at least I am happy.
My favourite email of the day was when Amber forgot that she was counselling me, and went off to play "Google Labeller" instead. I know, typical! However, after lots of support have been able to pull off, perhaps, the aim of "generally create image of self as hilarious, laid-back and lovely." Love the Bridget Jones style reference to 'self'.
Early morning call
I woke up early, so I'm at my desk with a cup of tea and a plate smeared with the remnants of my breakfast - the inevitable nutella on toast.
Last night was the first meeting of the 'writer's group' - actually three people in the Cape of Good Hope, fighting to be heard over the music, despite the fact the pub was half empty. Anyway, it ws fab, my writing was not the best of the three, or the worst of the three. We were all just different. And I really enjoyed it, came back all energised and happy! Laura advertised on Gumtree, and we had a PhD student (from BathSpa) who reminded me of a more-handsome Joshua E. Jolyon Hughes! Or an Americanized Morrissey, somehow. He was wearing a man-cardigan. And a lapis-lazulae ring. Of course, he was deeply physically attractive, in my opinion, which made me giggle a bit. He has a girlfriend. Anyway, I felt that his book was somewhat similar to mine. But executed much better.
I've been thinking, recently, about Life, the Universe, and Everything, so while I was waiting for my copy of Stephen Hawking's Brief History of Time, I have been reading "Losing my Religion? Moving on from evangelical faith" by Gordon Lynch (an author I sort of know from work). It's brilliant, well, not brilliant, but down to earth and amusing and also deeply practical and rooted in faith. So I was very impressed.
When I got back from the pub last night, I spent a long time talking to Neil on the phone about Glastonbury. In typical fashion, I am now buying and packing EVERYTHING, and Neil and Max are meeting me at Newbury station, clutching merely rucksacks. Neil is considering a trilby. I'm thinking about a cowboy hat.
I like a boy. I told Isa this, and she said "a man" and then "is he a Christian, Gemma?" Erm, I doubt it. Charlie, when I got in gloom about how no one will ever fancy me again, pointed out that it's only very recently that I've not been totally sworn off men, after being badly burned before. Anyway, I like a boy. This is progress.
When you get up early, the time goes so fast! I thought I had tons of time, but now I think I should get up, so that I can get to work on time. Oh well. It's Friday, and that's not so bad!
Last night was the first meeting of the 'writer's group' - actually three people in the Cape of Good Hope, fighting to be heard over the music, despite the fact the pub was half empty. Anyway, it ws fab, my writing was not the best of the three, or the worst of the three. We were all just different. And I really enjoyed it, came back all energised and happy! Laura advertised on Gumtree, and we had a PhD student (from BathSpa) who reminded me of a more-handsome Joshua E. Jolyon Hughes! Or an Americanized Morrissey, somehow. He was wearing a man-cardigan. And a lapis-lazulae ring. Of course, he was deeply physically attractive, in my opinion, which made me giggle a bit. He has a girlfriend. Anyway, I felt that his book was somewhat similar to mine. But executed much better.
I've been thinking, recently, about Life, the Universe, and Everything, so while I was waiting for my copy of Stephen Hawking's Brief History of Time, I have been reading "Losing my Religion? Moving on from evangelical faith" by Gordon Lynch (an author I sort of know from work). It's brilliant, well, not brilliant, but down to earth and amusing and also deeply practical and rooted in faith. So I was very impressed.
When I got back from the pub last night, I spent a long time talking to Neil on the phone about Glastonbury. In typical fashion, I am now buying and packing EVERYTHING, and Neil and Max are meeting me at Newbury station, clutching merely rucksacks. Neil is considering a trilby. I'm thinking about a cowboy hat.
I like a boy. I told Isa this, and she said "a man" and then "is he a Christian, Gemma?" Erm, I doubt it. Charlie, when I got in gloom about how no one will ever fancy me again, pointed out that it's only very recently that I've not been totally sworn off men, after being badly burned before. Anyway, I like a boy. This is progress.
When you get up early, the time goes so fast! I thought I had tons of time, but now I think I should get up, so that I can get to work on time. Oh well. It's Friday, and that's not so bad!
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Life in slow motion
I wish someone would come and slow my life down a bit for me. Nothing seems very real at the moment, it's too fast. Me, my desk, my home desk, my work computer, my home computer, iPod, iTunes, car stereo. Bed, rowing, books, emails. Everything is so ephemeral. When am I going to have something to hold on to?
Andy very kindly told me he thought my inability to write this weekend and week so far was the humidity. I poo-poohed him, but it's just started raining this evening, and I've sat down and written a few hundred words, so maybe he was right?
There's no news. I'm avoiding my life I think, at the moment. Living for the weekends, the evenings, wishing work days through. I tidied my desk today. That's how exciting it gets. I still have RSI. I don't know why. Well, I do, too much typing and bad desk alignment. Things are much the same. I have lots of books I need and want to read. I have to make a list of things to take to Glastonbury for me and Neil. I need to buy a sleeping bag, torch, batteries, and endless baby-wipes, at least. There's other stuff too, but that's what consumes my brain.
I wonder if Sarah would notice if I finished off her bombay sapphire?
Andy very kindly told me he thought my inability to write this weekend and week so far was the humidity. I poo-poohed him, but it's just started raining this evening, and I've sat down and written a few hundred words, so maybe he was right?
There's no news. I'm avoiding my life I think, at the moment. Living for the weekends, the evenings, wishing work days through. I tidied my desk today. That's how exciting it gets. I still have RSI. I don't know why. Well, I do, too much typing and bad desk alignment. Things are much the same. I have lots of books I need and want to read. I have to make a list of things to take to Glastonbury for me and Neil. I need to buy a sleeping bag, torch, batteries, and endless baby-wipes, at least. There's other stuff too, but that's what consumes my brain.
I wonder if Sarah would notice if I finished off her bombay sapphire?
Monday, 11 June 2007
Hope in London, Hope in Oxford
So, to the London office today! I love saying "the London office," or "the New York office" to people because it makes it sound like I work for a real operation, rather than some two-bit one in the middle of Oxfordshire.
After yesterday's worry, I got up at six, which was brilliant, because it meant I got to London by eight thirty, and was waiting for my boss outside the office front door. I headed to the station in good time. They've got one of those new fangled pay-by-mobile parking systems, and mine worked, which was a miracle and also amazing, because I was 50p short in change for the car park. So even though I'd been concerned about it, I was supping a latte, cool as a cucumber, and then even managed to get my email and GT working on a hotdesk computer! So things were better than I could have hoped!
Sad moment: seeing a drunk with dried blood running down his face, and walking past. I was cross with myself afterwards. I should have turned around, given him the sandwich from my bag, given him some money, told him to go and get help. But I didn't. All the way home I prayed that he would get the help he needs. Poor guy.
Unfortunately, luck seemed to take a little bit of a downturn once the meeting was over. Signal failures at Paddington meant that all trains were cancelled when I arrived at the station after sweating my way around the tube. I drank a litre of evian to keep myself perky, ate my sandwich from my handbag, and gritted my teeth. Reading matter: The Economist, The Week, and Doctor Who Magazine. There was a definite favourite out of those three...
Another best laid plan that's temporarily gone awry is that I had also bought three fancy slices of dessert in Konditor and Cook, who do lovely, quite expensive cakes, but the main selling point is the fancy bags with the quotes from Nigella on them. I schlepped them from Grays Inn Road all the way home. Sadly, Charlie has come over poorly, and so dinner tonight is cancelled. On the plus side, this means I have three slices of cake to choose from (they all involve cream, they need to be eaten today!) while I re-indulge in Saturday's Doctor Who fest. By the way, how fabulous was the episode Blink? Very fabulous, that's how!
Love Oxford was alright. Well, a bit of a disappointment, actually. I think the problem is, once you've been to a festival like Glastonbury, the spectacle of a couple of hundred people in Broad Street isn't actually that amazing. Isa and I mooched in, met Tamsin and Stefan, got sandwiches (and in my case, Orangina, delicious!) and after a brief stop at Blackwell's, for books, home again. I really caught the sun (stupid Gemma, must get a hat) and had a little rest, before going out rowing, which wasn't fab fun, although I now love Ed, the cox, what stammers, and I rowed stroke in our four-man boat, which I really didn't enjoy. So, all in all, a bit of a tiring, hot, and not very successful day, in some ways, but in others...
Richard, Sarah's boyfriend emailed me via Facebook to ask if he might come over to the house while Sarah's not here. Oh no! He wants her ring size! She musn't know, he said! But in many ways, I now feel much less resentful of him, because he needed me to help facilitate his plans, clearly I just have to be involved in absolutely everything, what a selfish person I am!
I am loving Last FM, by the way. I signed up last week, but had to delete my username because I decided it revealed my identity too much, so I've changed it to this one. Bex very kindly informed me I could scrobble my iPod, and I'm currently just running iTunes all the times over my favourite songs to get the scrobbling off to a good start! I am also loving Picasa which enabled me to put a pink wash on my userpic. Next week, after the updated charts etc, I'll be able to post a 'recently listened' widget, but not until I've got enough songs. It should only take a week, though, and this time won't reveal my entire name on my blog, something I've been trying to move away from, for obvious reasons!
After yesterday's worry, I got up at six, which was brilliant, because it meant I got to London by eight thirty, and was waiting for my boss outside the office front door. I headed to the station in good time. They've got one of those new fangled pay-by-mobile parking systems, and mine worked, which was a miracle and also amazing, because I was 50p short in change for the car park. So even though I'd been concerned about it, I was supping a latte, cool as a cucumber, and then even managed to get my email and GT working on a hotdesk computer! So things were better than I could have hoped!
Sad moment: seeing a drunk with dried blood running down his face, and walking past. I was cross with myself afterwards. I should have turned around, given him the sandwich from my bag, given him some money, told him to go and get help. But I didn't. All the way home I prayed that he would get the help he needs. Poor guy.
Unfortunately, luck seemed to take a little bit of a downturn once the meeting was over. Signal failures at Paddington meant that all trains were cancelled when I arrived at the station after sweating my way around the tube. I drank a litre of evian to keep myself perky, ate my sandwich from my handbag, and gritted my teeth. Reading matter: The Economist, The Week, and Doctor Who Magazine. There was a definite favourite out of those three...
Another best laid plan that's temporarily gone awry is that I had also bought three fancy slices of dessert in Konditor and Cook, who do lovely, quite expensive cakes, but the main selling point is the fancy bags with the quotes from Nigella on them. I schlepped them from Grays Inn Road all the way home. Sadly, Charlie has come over poorly, and so dinner tonight is cancelled. On the plus side, this means I have three slices of cake to choose from (they all involve cream, they need to be eaten today!) while I re-indulge in Saturday's Doctor Who fest. By the way, how fabulous was the episode Blink? Very fabulous, that's how!
Love Oxford was alright. Well, a bit of a disappointment, actually. I think the problem is, once you've been to a festival like Glastonbury, the spectacle of a couple of hundred people in Broad Street isn't actually that amazing. Isa and I mooched in, met Tamsin and Stefan, got sandwiches (and in my case, Orangina, delicious!) and after a brief stop at Blackwell's, for books, home again. I really caught the sun (stupid Gemma, must get a hat) and had a little rest, before going out rowing, which wasn't fab fun, although I now love Ed, the cox, what stammers, and I rowed stroke in our four-man boat, which I really didn't enjoy. So, all in all, a bit of a tiring, hot, and not very successful day, in some ways, but in others...
Richard, Sarah's boyfriend emailed me via Facebook to ask if he might come over to the house while Sarah's not here. Oh no! He wants her ring size! She musn't know, he said! But in many ways, I now feel much less resentful of him, because he needed me to help facilitate his plans, clearly I just have to be involved in absolutely everything, what a selfish person I am!
I am loving Last FM, by the way. I signed up last week, but had to delete my username because I decided it revealed my identity too much, so I've changed it to this one. Bex very kindly informed me I could scrobble my iPod, and I'm currently just running iTunes all the times over my favourite songs to get the scrobbling off to a good start! I am also loving Picasa which enabled me to put a pink wash on my userpic. Next week, after the updated charts etc, I'll be able to post a 'recently listened' widget, but not until I've got enough songs. It should only take a week, though, and this time won't reveal my entire name on my blog, something I've been trying to move away from, for obvious reasons!
Sunday, 10 June 2007
Long time no...
write!
I've been busy, the kind of busy that's fun, that has you crawling in at 10pm, and going straight to bed, waking up with a fuzzy mouth for work. The kind of busy that requires sitting outside as it gets dark, enjoying the summer heat that wasn't at all enjoyable during the day. The kind of busy that makes the end of the week zip by, and suddenly it's Sunday morning.
Activities over the last few days: yesterday was Marianne and Hannah's BBQ. They live very near me, and the new house is lovely, but the garden is massive! Fun, Philippa and Amber were there, Pip's boyfriend Adam, too, and he and Philippa were sweet together. Marianne's boyfriend is nothing like I imagined. Friday night, spent it with Charlie and Tom. Charlie and I started drinking after work. I didn't get home til after eleven, and left my car outside their house. Thursday night... hmm, this is turning into a bit of a blur - also started drinking with Charlie after work! And then went back to her house. All fun.
The weather is grey and muggy. This morning is Love Oxford, the open air joint church service in Broad Street, and I have been really looking forward to it, but it looks like rain out there, which isn't a good sign. Having said that, it looked like rain all day yesterday, and I went to church to do prayer ministry training, and nearly died of heat in jeans and a short sleeved jumper. So I'm sitting wrapped in a towel, pre-shower, wondering what on earth to wear. And whether anyone else here is going. And if it's worth risking the rain.
No writing. Socialising kind of prevents it. Next week I'm going to be really busy, too, though. And Monday I have to go to London for work. All in all... not very brilliant of me, I'm starting to get anxious about time, feeling it slipping away from me.
But this is not a whinge. I'm happy.
I've been busy, the kind of busy that's fun, that has you crawling in at 10pm, and going straight to bed, waking up with a fuzzy mouth for work. The kind of busy that requires sitting outside as it gets dark, enjoying the summer heat that wasn't at all enjoyable during the day. The kind of busy that makes the end of the week zip by, and suddenly it's Sunday morning.
Activities over the last few days: yesterday was Marianne and Hannah's BBQ. They live very near me, and the new house is lovely, but the garden is massive! Fun, Philippa and Amber were there, Pip's boyfriend Adam, too, and he and Philippa were sweet together. Marianne's boyfriend is nothing like I imagined. Friday night, spent it with Charlie and Tom. Charlie and I started drinking after work. I didn't get home til after eleven, and left my car outside their house. Thursday night... hmm, this is turning into a bit of a blur - also started drinking with Charlie after work! And then went back to her house. All fun.
The weather is grey and muggy. This morning is Love Oxford, the open air joint church service in Broad Street, and I have been really looking forward to it, but it looks like rain out there, which isn't a good sign. Having said that, it looked like rain all day yesterday, and I went to church to do prayer ministry training, and nearly died of heat in jeans and a short sleeved jumper. So I'm sitting wrapped in a towel, pre-shower, wondering what on earth to wear. And whether anyone else here is going. And if it's worth risking the rain.
No writing. Socialising kind of prevents it. Next week I'm going to be really busy, too, though. And Monday I have to go to London for work. All in all... not very brilliant of me, I'm starting to get anxious about time, feeling it slipping away from me.
But this is not a whinge. I'm happy.
Wednesday, 6 June 2007
Avoiding sleep
The last couple of days, I've been avoiding sleep. Not getting off til way after midnight. It's not good for me, it's far healthier to get to sleep before midnight, never mind not even making it to the bed until then. I've been avoiding sleep because work takes up so much of my time that I don't want to waste the precious time I have out of it.
And I've not done enough work on the magnum opus as I'd like.
I'm having a bit of a retro dowloading session from iTunes - the latest Manic Street Preachers song, and also their song "Australia" which reminds me of being eighteen and actually being about to go to Australia, which was as far away from the small town I grew up in as possible. Three weeks, and I still have friends who I met there. Anyway, I'd like to run away again! Work was very difficult today. I've got a lot on, and the proximity of all our desks means that there's never much privacy or peace and quiet. In addition to that, another friend handed in her notice, and so I'm sad about that. I wish I had the courage to decide to take the risk. Leave the security. Do what I feel I ought to do.
Rowing tonight! We've officially finished the course, but we do have to still learn lots, obviously. Tonight we got swapped around, so I was rowing stroke side instead of bow side. It was very difficult to swap hands, to twist the blade with my right hand instead of my left, and I kept on getting shouted at "square the blade, two!" Being called a number is slightly humiliating, you know.
Having some difficult feelings about Sarah coming back to live in the house, after having been a weekly commuter to London basically since I moved in. Is the house going to feel much busier? Will she run a tight ship? Will Isa and I still get time to chat and bond, as we do? Will she disapprove of my wine-opening-in-the-week habits? And what about her and Richard? Is he going to propose? Are Isa and I going to be homeless?
Well, that's more than enough worrying, I think! This is supposed to be a hopeful look at life, after all! So on positive notes, got invited out Saturday afternoon to a BBQ at Marianne and Hannah's, which looks like fun, Philippa's got her Cornbury ticket, and I've paid Neil for my Glastonbury one. Sarah C. called, and so clearly isn't too upset with me for cancelling last Friday, and I made enough pasta for dinner to have some for lunch tomorrow, too! I'm saving money!
Oh, and we made our sponsorship target for Race for Life! £500 for Cancer Research, all for running round a field. Not bad, eh?
And I've not done enough work on the magnum opus as I'd like.
I'm having a bit of a retro dowloading session from iTunes - the latest Manic Street Preachers song, and also their song "Australia" which reminds me of being eighteen and actually being about to go to Australia, which was as far away from the small town I grew up in as possible. Three weeks, and I still have friends who I met there. Anyway, I'd like to run away again! Work was very difficult today. I've got a lot on, and the proximity of all our desks means that there's never much privacy or peace and quiet. In addition to that, another friend handed in her notice, and so I'm sad about that. I wish I had the courage to decide to take the risk. Leave the security. Do what I feel I ought to do.
Rowing tonight! We've officially finished the course, but we do have to still learn lots, obviously. Tonight we got swapped around, so I was rowing stroke side instead of bow side. It was very difficult to swap hands, to twist the blade with my right hand instead of my left, and I kept on getting shouted at "square the blade, two!" Being called a number is slightly humiliating, you know.
Having some difficult feelings about Sarah coming back to live in the house, after having been a weekly commuter to London basically since I moved in. Is the house going to feel much busier? Will she run a tight ship? Will Isa and I still get time to chat and bond, as we do? Will she disapprove of my wine-opening-in-the-week habits? And what about her and Richard? Is he going to propose? Are Isa and I going to be homeless?
Well, that's more than enough worrying, I think! This is supposed to be a hopeful look at life, after all! So on positive notes, got invited out Saturday afternoon to a BBQ at Marianne and Hannah's, which looks like fun, Philippa's got her Cornbury ticket, and I've paid Neil for my Glastonbury one. Sarah C. called, and so clearly isn't too upset with me for cancelling last Friday, and I made enough pasta for dinner to have some for lunch tomorrow, too! I'm saving money!
Oh, and we made our sponsorship target for Race for Life! £500 for Cancer Research, all for running round a field. Not bad, eh?
Tuesday, 5 June 2007
Time Vortex
What's the blackest, biggest hole that sucks up all your time? The internet, of course!
This evening, after work, went for a drink with Charlie, which was very pleasant indeed. We sat out in the garden at Baba's, and enjoyed a delicious glass of rose. A trip to Tesco, a trip home, and it was already seven o'clock. Ate my dinner, cooked my dinner, enjoyed more wine, chatted with Isa, talked to Dad on the phone, come upstairs, thinking "hmmm... before I do any work on SOELS, I'll just take another quick look on YouTube for Doctor Who fanvids." Big mistake. Not only am I now obsessed with the pretend vortex, I've lost my evening to the actual one... It's like being fifteen again. All the projected angst!
Anyway, good day at work (amazingly), lovely post-work activities! I hope the positive mental attitude can continue for the rest of the week.
This evening, after work, went for a drink with Charlie, which was very pleasant indeed. We sat out in the garden at Baba's, and enjoyed a delicious glass of rose. A trip to Tesco, a trip home, and it was already seven o'clock. Ate my dinner, cooked my dinner, enjoyed more wine, chatted with Isa, talked to Dad on the phone, come upstairs, thinking "hmmm... before I do any work on SOELS, I'll just take another quick look on YouTube for Doctor Who fanvids." Big mistake. Not only am I now obsessed with the pretend vortex, I've lost my evening to the actual one... It's like being fifteen again. All the projected angst!
Anyway, good day at work (amazingly), lovely post-work activities! I hope the positive mental attitude can continue for the rest of the week.
Monday, 4 June 2007
Monday
So, my day off was certainly restful, but not without its stresses. Sitting online all day perhaps wasn't the wisest of things to do, but I've been thinking about Glastonbury and Cornbury - oh there's a surprise! - and all the things I need to make sure I have. Like fabulous outfits, the right wellies, a cagoule in a bag, and a sunhat, just in case! Initial weather reports say Glastonbury will be showery, with highs of 20 degrees, which actually could be quite warm, but also means mud. I hope Neil and Max understand what they're getting themselves into.
Oh, and I used YouTube to watch various things to pass the time. And listened to iTunes. And only wrote 1000 words, ish. But 1000 words is better than no words at all. So I refuse to feel guilty.
I feel guilty.
Work tomorrow. I wish I were looking forward to getting back to it, but I'm not. Time for a change?
Oh, and I used YouTube to watch various things to pass the time. And listened to iTunes. And only wrote 1000 words, ish. But 1000 words is better than no words at all. So I refuse to feel guilty.
I feel guilty.
Work tomorrow. I wish I were looking forward to getting back to it, but I'm not. Time for a change?
Sunday, 3 June 2007
Victorious!!
Mes amies! What a weekend! Yesterday was Race for Life, which due to punishing heat conditions, I didn't run as much of as I'd have liked to.... but I still ran SOME and walked the majority of the way (Charlie keeping pace with me), which was great! We got medals and goodie bags at the end, and after our adoring fans had applauded our finishings, we went our separate ways and each had decadent dinners - now that's what I call a weekend! Seriously, these photos are seriously unflattering to me, but here we are, looking pretty in pink! 
I'm only adding them SMALL, because I want to prove we did do it, but I don't want the full hideousness of my appearance to be revealed. There is a tres unflattering one of both me and Charlie, red faced and squinting at the finish line! I forgot to take a pic of my backplate, but of course, I was running in honour of my lovely mum, who I miss everyday. It was pretty tear-jerking seeing everyone's backplates, and at times I nearly cried while running, not just because I am unfit, but also because of the courage, bravery and love of lots of the women running for their own personal heroes and loved ones. Amazing.
In the evening, I took Dad, Barbara and Matthew to Cafe Coco's, where I ate for the third time in ten days, and enjoyed an elderflower presse, delicious olives and garlic bread, and a lovely glass of wine (all essentially important post-exercise treats) after a brief mooch at home, where Dad chatted up Sarah something chronic about her garden (slightly embarassing), and they had me well fed and watered and back in time for Doctor Who! Another triumphant episode. Neil said he thought it was a bit slow, but I thought it was fantastic, and might watch it again tonight.
Blogging and writing services have not been as usual this weekend. But tomorrow, I won't be at work, so watch that Zokutu Word Meter get sky-high! (That's fighting talk!!)
Double good news, WE GOT TICKETS FOR GLASTONBURY! The very very final last chance sale of tickets was today, a very small number of returns, and Neil got them! He called me last night to confirm registration numbers, and then this morning called to tell me he got them!! HURRAH!!!! The line up is amazing, and I absolutely cannot wait for three days, in a field, with Neil, Max, and my friend the winebox. Also with many many cool bands, obviously, and some fantastic music! I am so excited, and have been planning essential festival cool purchases ever since! A funky floppy hat. A crochet bag. Some badges... Badges: Charlie thinks there's no disguising the geekiness of them by calling them buttons. I am telling her, I will have the last laugh when she sees the coolness of my intended badge purchases! In their honour, I have written a poem:
I had a pint of shandy this afternoon, can you tell? After rowing, because it was the last session, we went to the Isis tavern, and had a really lovely sociable drink! So nice! The weather was so beautiful! And it was great to just be out with different people again. I've decided that I think I will row for the rest of the summer, especially as we've been told we can change the Sunday rowing time. We had a great row out in the sunshine, we won one of the two races against the boys, and we have noticibly improved! I am a little pink on the nose, though, so before I head for church, I need to slap on some foundation!
I'm only adding them SMALL, because I want to prove we did do it, but I don't want the full hideousness of my appearance to be revealed. There is a tres unflattering one of both me and Charlie, red faced and squinting at the finish line! I forgot to take a pic of my backplate, but of course, I was running in honour of my lovely mum, who I miss everyday. It was pretty tear-jerking seeing everyone's backplates, and at times I nearly cried while running, not just because I am unfit, but also because of the courage, bravery and love of lots of the women running for their own personal heroes and loved ones. Amazing.In the evening, I took Dad, Barbara and Matthew to Cafe Coco's, where I ate for the third time in ten days, and enjoyed an elderflower presse, delicious olives and garlic bread, and a lovely glass of wine (all essentially important post-exercise treats) after a brief mooch at home, where Dad chatted up Sarah something chronic about her garden (slightly embarassing), and they had me well fed and watered and back in time for Doctor Who! Another triumphant episode. Neil said he thought it was a bit slow, but I thought it was fantastic, and might watch it again tonight.
Blogging and writing services have not been as usual this weekend. But tomorrow, I won't be at work, so watch that Zokutu Word Meter get sky-high! (That's fighting talk!!)
Double good news, WE GOT TICKETS FOR GLASTONBURY! The very very final last chance sale of tickets was today, a very small number of returns, and Neil got them! He called me last night to confirm registration numbers, and then this morning called to tell me he got them!! HURRAH!!!! The line up is amazing, and I absolutely cannot wait for three days, in a field, with Neil, Max, and my friend the winebox. Also with many many cool bands, obviously, and some fantastic music! I am so excited, and have been planning essential festival cool purchases ever since! A funky floppy hat. A crochet bag. Some badges... Badges: Charlie thinks there's no disguising the geekiness of them by calling them buttons. I am telling her, I will have the last laugh when she sees the coolness of my intended badge purchases! In their honour, I have written a poem:
Badges and buttons for a festival goer
As you can tell I am truly o'er
the moon and the sky and fields so grassy
that I will be going to Glastonbury!
In my maxi dress and crochet accessorized
adorned with badges, nothing tie-dyed
Like a hippy chick I'll rock
with my cool birkenstocks!
I had a pint of shandy this afternoon, can you tell? After rowing, because it was the last session, we went to the Isis tavern, and had a really lovely sociable drink! So nice! The weather was so beautiful! And it was great to just be out with different people again. I've decided that I think I will row for the rest of the summer, especially as we've been told we can change the Sunday rowing time. We had a great row out in the sunshine, we won one of the two races against the boys, and we have noticibly improved! I am a little pink on the nose, though, so before I head for church, I need to slap on some foundation!
Saturday, 2 June 2007
Race for Life
I'm nervous about all that running tomorrow.
Any anonymous readers out there who'd like to contribute? Click here:
Any anonymous readers out there who'd like to contribute? Click here:
Friday, 1 June 2007
All the things I'm not
I rushed home from work, because it was sunny, because work is work, because it's the weekend... and nothing. Nothing on telly. Toothache. Considering what to eat for dinner. Not terribly inspired.
Does that make me boring?
However, for the best. I was supposed to see Sarah C. tonight but had to cancel. I'm still getting over the horrible cold I've had, and since tomorrow is mine and Charlie's Race for Life, I need to conserve energy. Really I should be training, but there's a warm up at 1pm, so that should do it. I am planning on doing the run, I just can't believe it's come round so soon. Time flies when you're having fun. And when you're stuck in an open-plan corporate drone environment for 35 hours a week, and the prime hours of your waking life. Tonight I have to rest rest rest.
But it's a teensy bit depressing that the only good thing on telly tonight is Ugly Betty. And I finished my book this morning. I'm feeling all anti-climax-y!!
I guess there's nothing for it but to carry on writing. Cue the anxiety!
Does that make me boring?
However, for the best. I was supposed to see Sarah C. tonight but had to cancel. I'm still getting over the horrible cold I've had, and since tomorrow is mine and Charlie's Race for Life, I need to conserve energy. Really I should be training, but there's a warm up at 1pm, so that should do it. I am planning on doing the run, I just can't believe it's come round so soon. Time flies when you're having fun. And when you're stuck in an open-plan corporate drone environment for 35 hours a week, and the prime hours of your waking life. Tonight I have to rest rest rest.
But it's a teensy bit depressing that the only good thing on telly tonight is Ugly Betty. And I finished my book this morning. I'm feeling all anti-climax-y!!
I guess there's nothing for it but to carry on writing. Cue the anxiety!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)