Kate's ramblings

100 books in 7 years

2011-04-16T21:00:00.004Z

Sometime around the summer of 2004, I resolved that I would read all of the BBC’s Big Read 100 Top Books. They had run a comprehensive reader poll, paired with tv programmes shown on BBC 2, to collate the nation’s favourite 200 books, narrowing them down to the top 100 and then the top 21. A couple of friends (Pete and Kat) were already attempting the Top 21, and spurred on by my comments provoking his competitive nature, Pete joined me on the quest for the whole 100. He, of course, left me standing years ago and completed his final book sometime in 2008 or 2009, I think.

I soldiered on, and I have just finished the final book. To celebrate and record my achievement, I write this blog entry to give some comment on the challenge, the books, and my experience of reading them. I tackled them in a random order, dictated by whether I owned the book, could borrow it, take it out of a library or buy it, or use some other slightly unorthodox methods. I purchased a Kindle in September last year, and three of the final books on the journey were read using that.

[Warning: the following content contains derogatory and flippant remarks about fantasy books. You have been warned.]

I had read about 25 of the books before. Other than To Kill a Mockingbird, I generally didn’t re-read them. Many of them were children’s books - The Hobbit (I am speculating provoking comment about whether this is a children’s book), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, The Magic Faraway Tree, Matilda, and The Twits.

There were a number of other children’s books which I had missed in my obviously misspent youth (I missed many films I should have seen too…). A few of them (The Story of Treacy Beaker, Double Act, Vicky Angel, Girls in Love, Noughts and Crosses and the Princess Diaries) were new to me in that they had been published after I was the relevant age, and they gave me an interesting insight into youth/ teen fiction. I finished Winnie the Pooh in one sunny lunchtime session in St. James’ Park, dispensed with The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe over a snowy weekend, and galloped through The Wind in the Willows, Swallows and Amazons and Black Beauty. I felt remiss that I hadn’t previously read Little Women, but soon corrected that.

Tracking down a copy of Anne of Green Gables was a bit of a challenge, Watership Down bought a tear to my eye, as did Goodnight Mister Tom. Treasure Island and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland were printed off from open sources on the internet and hidden in my work folder, for surreptitious reading during boring meetings and long train journeys.

Then there were the four Harry Potter’s on the list (Goblet of Fire, Philosopher’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban). I didn’t re-read them either. I’d also read Animal Farm, 1984 and Brave New World (courtesy of an English Literature GCSE teacher who had a thing about them. Had a thing about war poetry and short stories about cliffs too, if I recall correctly). Bridget Jones's Diary didn't merit a re-read, and I have seen the film many, many times. Neither did The Shell Seekers.

One of the great pleasures of the challenge was discovering and enjoying books that I otherwise wouldn’t have read. Birdsong was my top favourite surprise book. I loved it, and more Sebastian Faulks will be appearing on my bookshelf (or virtual bookshelf) in the future. Surprisingly, Catch 22 is also in this category. I’m glad I read it, although it was hard going, because I wouldn’t have done without this challenge. Rebecca was much more captivating than expected, lifting it out of the group of Classics described below. Katherine was also far more interesting than expected. The Godfather was a worthwhile read as I never stay awake during films, and Pillars of the Earth was most enjoyable. The follow on, World Without End, is ready to go on my Kindle once I have had a suitable break from long books.

One of the downsides was struggling through books I wasn’t enjoying. Many a time I was tempted to give up, to cheat and read a synopsis or to watch the film. But I battled the temptations and read every word of every book. I particularly struggled with the Dickens. Great Expectations, David Copperfield, and Bleak House were hard work and uninteresting. I didn’t want to pick them up and read them. A Christmas Carol was mercifully short and familiar and therefore less painful.

Many of the books are in the broad female author and/or character Classics range – Pride and Prejudice (second on the list, which was published not long after the BBC dramatisation of it: see Lord of the Rings re impact of films), Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Tess of the D’Urbervilles (which I had attempted at school and given up on), Middlemarch, Persuasion, Emma, Far From the Madding Crowd and The Women in White.

There were also a few which could be loosely grouped as ‘American’ and of a certain period – The Catcher in the Rye, Gone with the Wind (long, but enjoyable), The Grapes of Wrath, The Great Gatsby and Of Mice and Men.

India featured a number of times (A Suitable Boy, The God of Small Things), as did Latin America (One Hundred Years of Solitude, Love in the Time of Cholera) and a little bit of Oz (Cold Comfort Farm and A Town Like Alice)

Some of the books are extremely well travelled. The Alchemist was read on a plane (business class) from Bali to Singapore. Memoirs of a Geisha in Lombok and Bali, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin on a beach somewhere, but it escapes me, The Secret Garden on a plane, The Tale of Two Cities in San Francisco and Las Vegas, On the Road on a lilo in a Portuguese swimming pool, and Midnight’s Children in Australia (notably at Fifteen in Melbourne). War and Peace is by far the most travelled book, having accompanied me to South Africa, Las Vegas, Thailand, New Zealand, Cambodia, San Francisco, Australia and France, and taking 4 1/2 years in total to read, making it top of the monster (in length and/or complexity) books.

A number of the other monster books surprised me. Anna Karenina was a lovely read, much more engaging than Tolstoy’s other contribution to the list. Crime and Punishment was much more interesting than expected, given I had assumed it would be Dickens-esque. The Secret History was haunting and in places, beautifully written. The Count of Monte Cristo was my penultimate book, and was much improved by being read on the Kindle. The Stand was much more engaging than I expected it to be, although I did manage to get the extended edition, which probably wasn't strictly necessary for the challenge.

The ultimate monster on the list has to be Ulysses. I had a copy on the shelf ready to go for years before I picked it up. I read the first half in print, and then the second half on Kindle, on holiday in Spain where the main daytime activity was reading books and dozing in the sun. It’s possible I read some words in a sun induced haze, but read them I did. Understand them, not so much.

Some don’t sit in a group, and a few of these I have to confess at the time of writing, I can remember nothing about. The details of Brideshead Revisited, The Thorn Birds and I Capture the Castle escape me. Perfume was just weird, and Lord of the Flies was a little odd too.

A Prayer for Owen Meany was very different to what I was expecting, but nonetheless readable and enjoyable. Holes was read in a single session on a Saturday morning, and I’m not sure that improved it. Kane and Abel was an epic saga which would have read differently before Jeffery Archer’s downfall. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists was slightly hard going but reminded me of my 18 year old self studying Sociology A-Level.

That just leaves the fantasy books. I’d obviously had a good look at the list before I started the challenge, and was clear that it had a heavy representation of fantasy. It’s just not my thing. I hated The Hobbit when I had to read it at school, and was convinced that the Lord of the Rings had really only got to the top of the list because of the influence of the films, the final one of which had been launched around the time of the vote.

I struggled through every single word of each of the three books. We had had various debates about whether the entry meant just the first book, or the trilogy. For the sake of completeness, I read all three, and hated them. 100 pages just to walk up one hill? I mean really.

I also read all three His Dark Materials. Now these were better, and certainly my favourite by some way of all the fantasy books. Hitchhiker’s Guide was secretly better than I was willing to let on, and my ‘I hate fantasy’ façade was cracked when I was caught laughing out loud at something in the third book.

The Terry Pratchett’s were commended to me by very good friends and those whose opinions I respect – but I still didn’t enjoy them. Nightwatch, Guards Guards, Mort, Good Omens and The Colour of Magic represent a fair sample of Pratchett’s writing, but they still didn’t inspire me to read more. I admire the author and the man, but the books will only be read by one of the two people in our house in the future.

Dune passed in a haze of strange rocks and alternative worlds, as did Gormenghast. At the youth end of the fantasy genre, The Clan of the Cave Bear and Artemis Fowl weren't too bad.

Magician was my very final book, and I rather regret leaving myself a fantasy to conclude on. It wasn’t too bad, it read quicker than I was expecting for a book of its size, and I was relieved to be finished.

I doubt I will ever read a fantasy book again. The original BBC list was 200, so numbers 101 to 200 sit on the list unticked (apart from the 24 I’ve read anyway). I think I’ll leave it like that, especially as one of them is They Used To Play On Grass by Terry Venables and Gordon Williams.

Trouble is, what to read next? John and I have just put together 2 shelves in our lounge containing 41 books one of us thinks I should read. So that will keep me quiet for a while!

Technological developments

2010-08-02T13:40:00.000Z

My my Ullyses is a strange read.

I'm excited about getting a new Kindle at the end of the month, taking it on holiday, and reading the remaining three books on it. How things have changed since 2003, when the challenge started!

3 1/2

2010-07-26T18:57:00.000Z

I have finally finished David Copperfield. I am just not a Dickens fan and it's been a struggle. But only 3 1/2 books left to go. Can't wait to finish and select random books to read!

Well

2010-06-29T23:03:00.002Z

Long time no blog. Now that I have a new phone which is, frankly, a damn sight quicker and more useful than the old one, I might blog a bit more often. What's on my mind tonight though is an update on the long on-going 100 books challenge. I am still going. I have five books left. I am bored and I don't really want to read them, but I can't give up now! It's actually three full books and two half books. I am over halfway through Ulysses, and David Copperfield. After that I just have The Magician, The Count of Monte Christo, and Bleak House to go. Not sure if I'll read them in that order, but it might be a good plan to have some distance between the two Dickens books. I've really struggled to get through them (there are five in the list) and haven't really enjoyed them. I have saved Bleak House for last as I'm hoping the Broadstairs connection will inspire me.

So, a challenge which began in 2003. Pete finished it so long ago that he's got married and had a baby since. I have resolved to be finished by the end of the year. Trouble is, there's so much lined up to read next!

Oooo

2009-02-21T16:55:00.001Z

... People are still reading! At least marty and verity are! Currently in beach bar in Thailand. And yes, I expect I will be drunk later. More soon x

Ummm...

2009-02-03T21:32:00.001Z

So, it's been nearly a year since there has been a post on here. I had to turn to it to look for some posts to see what I recorded about some particular events about three years ago and that got me thinking about whether I should start blogging again. I doubt that my posts would be as drunkard nowadays! But, I'm yet to complete the Top 100 challenge, and I'm still going on nice holidays, so maybe there would be things to talk about!

I'll have a think...

Tumbleweed....

2008-02-10T11:23:00.001Z

Books

2007-06-04T20:41:00.001Z

It's been a long time, again. My blogging habits have changed... but I'm still here, occasionally!

Today I am thinking about books. Pete has completed our challenge - he's finished reading the tip 100 books list - yes, all 100 of them, finishing with Ullyses last week. Congratulations to him - and I am slightly in awe of the commitment involved in getting through all 100 - and without deviating off the list. We have been at it for about the same amount of time, and I am very far behind (I've read about 55 of the 100, but haven't finished the top 21 yet - Birdsong and War and Peace to go).

Pete completely committed his reading to it, and succeeded (elements of the determination needed to get through marathon running!) I have been wavering on to other things. It has taken me a long time to get through Great Expectations, which just didn't capture me, and when that happens I tend to look elsewhere... or fall asleep when I try to read!

Anyway, I have finally finished it, and have moved on to Birdsong. I thought it would be a hard read, but, in fact, I am really enjoying it. It's the kind of book which makes me look forward to the journey home so that I can find out what happens next. Then, back on to War and Peace...

I'm here, I'm alive

2007-03-26T21:39:00.000Z

Can't believe it's been so long. Still, it's been a rather busy few months, what with moving and all... so yes, John and I are now living in a rather lovely flat on the edge of Blackheath. And today I am missing him, because he's away on work and it's the first time we've been apart for a night since we moved in!

Anyway, he will be back on Wednesday.

And, I have had some early season Jersey Royals, flown back from the fair Isle this morning, for dinner to console myself with (thanks Dad). And, in fact, we had a lovely relaxing weekend in Jersey, complete with a fake Christmas and a rather yummy goose yesterday.

There is of course all sorts of things I could write about which have happened over the past few months, but I will limit myself to a few:

We moved in, had a fantastic housewarming party (although I doubt our hall radiator and our neighbours agree, but there we are), and I am very much enjoying living on the heath. John still makes me show my passport every now and then though!

We have decided not to do the ITEX walk this year, and I have therefore failed one of my new year's resolutions before the year has really even started. Although, actually, of course it has, I can't believe it's nearly April already.

Work is as manic as ever, and perhaps not quite as stimulating as it once was.

We're going to Egypt in ten days!

I am still working on the many photos I took in Cambodia - they will appear on Flickr soon, I promise. In the meantime, there are some prints of some of them in our lounge, should anyone like to come and visit!

And now, although I would love to write more, I need to go to bed. Our heating is not working, and that is the warmest place to be... albeit without John in it.

More soon. Probably.

2006 Resolution Review

2007-01-06T17:46:00.000Z

In January last year, I made some resolutions (I later added number 8 and number 9)

I reviewed them in May, and now is the time, following a whole year, to review them again.

Here they are:

1. Learn to play the sax
2. Learn to speak Italian again
3. Watch more films
4. Try to get less injuries
5. Make a good attempt at the ITEX walk
6. Do as much travelling as possible
7. Get more sleep
8. Spend more time exploring London
9. Complete the BBC Big Read Top 100 book list (which I've already been attempting for the past two years, I'm 45 books in!)

So, the results:

1. Learn to play the sax

Utterly unsuccessful! A definite carry-over for this year though, as I have an IOU from my lovely brother for some lessons and a trial hire period. I suspect that once I live in a house (with John, yay!) practising will be more practical than being in a flat, so I'll wait until then - and then I'll need to make sure that I make time for it!

2. Learn to speak Italian again

Again, unsuccessful - although I have the beginnings of doing it with the Pimsleur language CD's provided by my bro. Another carry-over...!

3. Watch more films

This one has gone quite well. Although, as John has said, it perhaps would have been even more successful as 'fall asleep watching more films'! A carry-over for this year I think - especially as Stephen is currently building his collection of these films! (And I've watched five today!)

4. Try to get less injuries

Success! I've not had any really major injuries or accidents - although the ITEX walk did some ligament damage to my previously ok right knee, so now it matches the left one! Apart from that, all was well, thankfully!

5. Make a good attempt at the ITEX walk

Success! I did 26 miles (more here) and that was all I could have done - although physically and mentally I could have done a bit more, I was glad I stopped when I did when I realised how my knees felt afterwards!

6. Do as much travelling as possible

A definite success here! I've been to Edinburgh and Glasgow, Aberdeen, Jersey 7 times, Las Vegas, Paris, Edinburgh again, Singapore, Bali, Lombok, Toronto, Tallinn, Istanbul, New Zealand, Thailand and Cambodia. Phew. I've been on 26 short haul and 10 long haul flights... and yes, I've bought some trees in an attempt to compensate for my carbon footprint (probably not enough though, may need to get some more!).

With trips to Egypt and Chile, Easter Island, San Francisco and Las Vegas planned for next year, as well as the regular trips to Jersey, I suspect this one will carry-over by default!

7. Get more sleep

A success, pretty much! I managed to get a reasonable amount of rest over the summer, and my hours at work have evened out a bit too, so that helps!

8. Spend more time exploring London

Hmmm. Not quite so much of a success - I've been to more bars and restaurants, but as I said in May, that wasn't really the point of the resolution!

9. Complete the BBC Big Read Top 100 book list (which I've already been attempting for the past two years, I'm 45 books in!)

Also not a success - yet! I'm determined to carry on though. I'm three away from the top 21 (War and Peace, Birdsong and Great Expectations to go) and have read about 60 of the top 100 in total. So, getting there, slowly!

On balance, pretty successful. A number of carry-overs for this year though... and I think that means my list of resolutions for 2007 looks like this:

Carry-overs...

1. Learn to play the sax
2. Learn to speak Italian again
3. Watch more films
4. Travel lots
5. Complete the Top 100 Book list

And some new ones...

6. Complete the ITEX walk (upgrading from last year!)
7. Get rid of some weight, and exercise more
8. Take lots of photos and learn how to use my new camera properly

I may, as last year, think of some more, which I'll add if I do! But, those are they for now!

Round the World in 15 Days

2007-01-06T14:25:00.000Z

So, I'm back from my travels. 15 days, 3 countries, 6 planes, 70 hours of travelling, a few gin and tonics and a very bizarre New Years Eve later.

The trip was brilliant. I had a fantastic time, but I'm now sitting on the sofa, watching films and pondering the English rain battering our windows, wishing I had another week to sit on the lovely beach of Ko Samet and relax... instead of doing my washing and thinking about going back to work on Monday. Anyway, before that, a few thoughts on the trip:

New Zealand

Getting there in the first place proved to be a bit of a challenge, what with the lost passport and all (haven't found the old one yet - probably the first time ever anyone has been pleased not to find their passport!) And then the fog delays at Heathrow weren't looking too promising, but, thankfully, they were prioritising long haul flights, and mine took off only two hours late, which, in the circumstances, was pretty good going! The flight therefore totalled 29 hours on the plane (save for an hour and a half going through transit in LA - you have to clear US immigration even though you're not staying there, which seems a bit mad!) and I wasn't sure how I'd cope with being in such a confined space for such a long time - but, it was fine, and arriving a bit late in Auckland actually helped I think because it meant I was able to adjust to local time straight away. Air New Zealand are very good at what they do - the plane food was good, there were lots of films to chose from, and, most importantly for me - there was lots of leg room!

Met up with my parents at the hotel, and spent the next few days exploring Auckland and the surrounding scenery, 'enjoying' the New Zealand weather (which changes every 15 mins it seems), eating lots of nice food, and generally catching up with each other. Christmas Day was a bit weird as it was so unusual - we went out exploring in the car, had a paddle on the beach (well, Mum did anyway!) and then had dinner at the hotel in the evening... and then an early night for me - although I adjusted to the local time straight away, I was getting very tired in the evenings, which is slightly bizarre!

We went to the Coromandel peninsula on Boxing Day (a stark contrast to the usual walk on St Catherine's Pier or St Ouen's Beach!), which was astoundingly beautiful - and then had an excellent meal at Soul, on the viaduct harbour waterfront. If only they'd made the Jersey Waterfront more like that...

You won't be surprised to hear that will all those sights to see, and a new camera, lots of photos were taken (500 over the course of the whole trip). The decent ones will be on Flickr, but in the meantime here are a few for a flavour of New Zealand:

Christmas Day on the beach

One of New Zealand's national flowers, known as the Christmas Tree

Sheep!

So, that was more or less the end of a quick visit to Auckland. It was enough to give me a flavour of the country - and I definitely want to go back. All the stuff in the South Island which my parents were going off to see and are currently exploring sounds fantastic. Definitely worth going all that way, and it was great to catch up with my parents and hear about their travels so far, and their plans for the next part of their visit - but then, it was on to Bangkok...

Thailand (briefly)

I flew from Auckland to Bangkok with Thai Airways. Their service was as good as Air NZ - apart from the fact that there was absolutely no leg room under any of the seats... although I managed to get the only seat on the plane which had an empty seat next to it, so I was at least able to stretch out a bit! So, arrived in Bangkok after having had a reasonable amount of sleep, and was reunited with John, which was fab. We spent a very short time (about 7 hours!) in Bangkok before flying to Siem Reap - although though we did manage a quick wander round and a drink at Cheeky Charlie's Bar on a side street - a very surreal experience!

Cambodia

We flew straight in to Siem Reap... and then embroiled ourselves in some confusion. To cut a long story short, when John booked the hotel and told me the name of it, I Googled it, and it came up with a match for the Sofitel. So, I thought that's where we were staying... after a hotel arranged cab, a free drink and cold towel, and some confusion, it was revealled that we were actually at the wrong hotel. How embarrassing!

We then went to the right hotel, which was just as nice, and then straight out to see the temples.

I'm not quite sure what to say about them... they are just awesome. The first glimpse of Angkor Wat was striking, and the others just followed on from that. Over the course of three days we did nearly all of the temples in the immediate area, including some of the older and slightly further away ones. John was an excellent and knowledgable guide throughout, and we were ably assisted by a tuk tuk driver from the hotel - Pros. The whole place is just inspirational - the Cambodian people are lovely, and I spent most of my time just absorbing everything. The food is lovely and consistently good - and cheap. The sights speak for themselves - and there is something very special about being able to climb all over the temples and get to the top and experience the views. I can't help but think that that won't last very long though as the number of tourists there is massive, and increasing all the time, and it can only be a matter of time before it's thought that all the clambering is causing damage to the temples.

We went for sunrise at Angkor Wat on New Year's Eve, and although it was definitely worth doing (and very eerie) we both felt that it would have been so much better without the coachloads of tourists! We did manage to get to two of the more out of the way temples that day though, and because we were about so early, we had one of them to ourselves, and at the second, although there were one or two people there, we were rewarded with the tranquility and time to absorb the surroundings that they deserve.

One of the non-temple highlights was a trip on the river, through the floating village to the lake - which was topped and tailed by a very interesting and slightly hairy journey across a sand dune like path on the back of motorbikes! The floating village was just awesome - especially seeing pigs in floating pens!

Floating Pig!

Unsurprisingly, I took a LOT of photos, and the story of the temples, the order in which we saw them, and my thoughts on them will follow on Flickr, because it seems to make sense to let the pictures do the talking!

A little taster though:

To finish off the trip, we spent New Year's Eve at a Gala Dinner at the hotel - which was certainly interesting! It was the first time the hotel had done the event, and they had tried very hard - there was about 250 people there for dinner around the pool, a lot of nice food, and plenty of booze (although that wasn't included in the price, which was slightly disappointing!). A lot of our fellow party goers were Japanese, Korean or Taiwanese - and I think they just didn't get it, because most of them went to bed well before midnight!

That meant that we at least had some peace to see in the New Year - and we spent some time chatting to an American couple and an Italian couple, seemingly the only Westerners in the hotel apart from us! Midnight came and went, although it was weird not hearing the bells of Big Ben, and we saw in 2007 in a very surreal and weird, but fantastic way!

Thailand

New Year's Day bought the inevitable hangover, and we were flying at 10am, back to Bangkok. I struggled for a few hours feeling very green, but recovered ok. We were due to spend that night in Bangkok, but we found out whilst waiting for the plane that there had been 6 bombs in tourist areas there on NYE, and the FCO were warning against all but essential travel there. We ummed and ahhed for a substantial amount of time about what to do - the chance of there being more bombs seemed slim, and when London was bombed we all showed resilience and got on with our lives, so we thought perhaps we should carry on with our plans... but, on the other side, there was the consideration that the bombers had targetted tourist areas, that it is a strange city to us, and that we had another option easily available to us - go straight to the island... so, on a finely drawn balance, that's what we decided to do.

An air conditioned limo and a strange boat journey (the slow boat to the island - rickety old boats, used for people, livestock, food and all manner of other things!) later and we hit Ko Samet, the island where Jago worked for 8 years. He was most surprised to see us as we bumped past him in a pick up truck taxi! We'd overlooked the fact that the Thai Bank Holiday was still running, and there wasn't any beds to spare on the island, but then Jago and Sue sorted us out a bed at a 'concept relax' hotel - it was rather more than we were looking to pay, but turned out to be by far the best thing to do - we had a very restful night's sleep after a BBQ meal on the beach and a few beers, and then spent a morning relaxing on the beach.

Then, it was off to Pattaya, which is quite frankly the most bizarre place I've ever been to! It's a holiday resort on the coast, full of ex-pats either looking for or securing Thai brides, revolving bars, ladyboys, Irish bars, groups of British lads, families, and all manner of other things and people. We had an odd but good night out - and then John and I sought out Greg's Kitchen, a traditional English breakfast (for him) and burger and chips (for me) beckoned! We also got pie... mmm, pie!

A return to the island that afternoon, and pie and mash for dinner - at a beach bar! Again, a surreal experience, but all part of the wonderful life of Ko Samet. The following day, and my last day, a trip on the speedboat to an island I now can't remember the name of, for some excellent snorkelling - and eating fresh-out-of-the-water fish for lunch. Fab. On the way home, we went to the fish farm... which reminds me to comment on the fact that I found myself doing things I never thought I would do on this holiday - like scrambling over one boat to get to another, and walking round on very thin and wobbly planks along the edge of pens of big fish and sharks!

And then, my last night party - a nice Thai meal, and a few beers and cocktails. Maybe a few beers and cocktails too many given my 8am departure time...! A great night though - and certainly a night to give me a flavour of why the island draws people in to stay there for a prolonged period of time. A number of Jago's mates from his time there, both those who live there and those who were visiting, were around, and it was great to be out in a group and great to get to know them.

When I left, with the inevitable hangover, I had the overwhelming feeling of wanting to stay - I so could have done with an extra week lying on the beach (not least because John and Jago had an extra day there!) but, my time had come to an end. It's a place I've a feeling I'll return to one day!

And now, home. Work is going to be a bit of a challenge over the next few weeks, so I'm trying to prepare myself for that with a relaxing weekend... but there are also plenty of things to look forward to - house hunting in Blackheath with John being top of the list... and planning more trips for Easter and the Summer!

I've also been thinking about the results of last year's New Year's resolutions, and pondering some for this year, so there will be a post on all of that soon.

In the meantime, some more sleep for me I think!

Happy New Year!!

2007-01-01T02:00:00.000Z

Welcome to 2007...

with a hangover, of course!

Currently at Siem Reap airport, waiting to fly back to Bangkok, and nursing a Grade 4 Hangover with Grade 6 moments, not nice on a plane! Too much red wine at an altogether surreal but very good New Year celebration last night!

More on that soon, as energy for internet activity is running out... also more soon on Cambodia - such an amazing place - and the temples, although I might struggle a bit with that as I'm not sure what to say - they are just awesome.

Also more soon reviewing my resolutions from last year, and (maybe) making some new ones for this year!

In the meantime, Happy New Year to you all... I hope you had a fab time celebrating, and all the very best for 2007.

Auckland for Christmas

2006-12-26T21:51:00.000Z

Well, I made it to New Zealand - after 36 hours of travelling! My plane was delayed for two hours, sitting on the tarmac, and then the London - Los Angles - Auckland plane journey is the very longest that you can do! But, I seem to have escaped the jet lag so far, although I am getting tired at the end of each day. That's because my parents are wearing me out... but we had a lovely Christmas in Auckland, although it wasn't that sunny, but we did go to a few beaches and see lots of nice scenery!

And yesterday, Boxing Day, instead of pigging out on the remains of the turkey etc, we went to the Coromandel peninsula, saw lots of lovely beach, the Pacific Ocean, and had lots of lovely seafood.

Today is our last day in Auckland, and then it's on to Bangkok for me to be reunited with my lovely John, and on to Christchurch for the parents, to commence their tour of South Island and Lord of the Rings land - shame neither of them have seen the films. But then, neither have I - I tried to watch the first one again on the plane, and quit half way through, because it's just still boring!!

So, happy day-after-Boxing-Day to you all - I hope you've all had a fantastic Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year - and that work isn't too grim for those who are there tomorrow and Friday.

And, very many Congratulations to Steve and Sally, who got engaged just before Christmas... another wedding to add to the list! Just Fab.

More later, if there's a computer anywhere. Bye...!

Pre Christmas Stress Disorder

2006-12-18T22:33:00.000Z

I have it. But I'm holding it back... I lost my voice last week, and my passport this week. So, now, I'm typing this from my parent's house in Jersey (they're not here, they're in Sydney), where my brother should be (but isn't, he's in London), when I should be in London, and he should be in Jersey. Hmpf.

Reason for being in Jersey: the only way to get a new passport before I fly to New Zealand on Friday, all being well to pick it up at midday tomorrow that is.

Reason for missing passport: who knows. It's a most "un-Kate like" thing to do, as my Mum helpfully pointed out as I was winging my way to Gatwick on the train this morning - although she was most helpful in providing the exact location of my birth certificate for me, so that was rather handy! Thanks Mum.

Bonus good things of being in Jersey: dinner with Debbie and David, unplanned coffee (after surprising them rather well) with Jenny and her Mum, and buying a shony new camera, in time to take on travels, at a knock down price with lots of extras thrown in. With thanks to the nice man in Fotosound who took pity on me, and to my wonderful John, who is buying it for me for Christmas, and has remained admirably calm through the traumas, despite at the moment being at the tail end of a 20 hour train journey to Malaysia. Thanks babe.

In other news: I've finally finished reading Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy. The verdict? Rubbish! On to War and Peace now. Yes, really.

I am still here...

2006-11-26T21:59:00.000Z

I still exist. It has, I admit, been an unprecedented gap between posts this time. Lots has been happening of course, not least that my parents have now set off on their three month adventure round the world, which is most exciting, and has made my trip to New Zealand etc at Christmas seem to come round much faster.

Also, very many congratulations to Pete and Helen, who got engaged on Friday night. Another wedding to look forward to, it's all just fab!

Anyway, probably can't promise an update soon, but there will certainly be some during travels over Christmas I think!

IT utopia

2006-10-16T22:49:00.000Z

A strange phenomenon happens in my office every now and then... my team call it 'the Kate IT rage'. It happens rather more often than is good for my health - or theirs - or in particular the health of the IT team, and has happened rather a lot recently, especially on Friday, when I was attempting to work from home, and completely failed because I couldn't get the broadband to work properly.

But, now, thanks to some excellent assistance from a very diligent IT man who came to my flat this evening for three hours, everything is all in working order - I can even check my work emails sitting on my bed in my pj's if I want to!

So, if only I could get my I-Pod working again and figure out how to resurrect the copy of my old template which Blogger was allegedly saving indefinitely when I upgraded to Beta, but doesn't appear to have done so, and therefore get some useful bits of template back, I'd be in IT utopia I think.

As it is, such a thing clearly does not exist!

Sniff

2006-10-11T20:46:00.000Z

Meh. I hate colds.

More soon. Am playing with upgrading to Beta Blogger, so there will be some changes in appearance!

Dormant, but not dead

2006-10-02T17:37:00.000Z

It's been a while. My travels were great, but they were also demanding, tiring, exhausting... and I've not quite recovered. As soon as I got back from Canada, it was straight to work - the holiday period is well and truly over.

Lots of wonderful things have happened since then:

- My parents spent some time in London, so I spent a lot of time catching up with them, which was brilliant, and we had an excellent meal at the Oxo Tower, and then an (even though I do say it myself) excellent Sunday dinner here... the key thing about this is that John met my parents, and my parents went John - and it all went pretty well, they seem to like each other! I discovered that John also makes excellent roast pork!

- I went to Jersey for Debbie's hen night - which was just brilliant - we had a lovely spa day and then an excellent meal in the evening. Not such a good plan to stay out at a party until 4am, but nevermind!

- And then, to top it all and end the month of September in style, Debbie and David's wedding. Words fail me a bit because it was such an amazing day and a fantastic weekend - the day was just perfect, the service touching, the food and drink spot on, and the company brilliant. John met all my 'local friends' and went down a storm, and it couldn't have been better. Mixing Bloody Mary's in the honesty bar of the hotel at 3am guaranteed another late night though... and then John had a whistle stop tour of Jersey, in the rain!

One thing I've been reflecting on as the weekend concludes is how great it was to have all of the 'girls' together - Debbie, Jenny, Jenna, Charlotte, Nikki and me. We all went out, as is traditional, on Christmas Eve last year, and calculated that it was the first time we'd all been together in about 5 years (memory failures meant we couldn't be quite sure, we must be getting old!). I said, rather drunkenly in a speech at the end of the meal, that we needed more weddings... and sure enough, within three weeks, we had two engagements!

The hen nights and weddings have meant that we've all been together four times this year, which has been totally fab (and with partners at the weddings, mostly, too!). A very happy Kate... apart from a three hour delay to get back to London last night.

And also, wedding news from this side of the channel - Tania and Rich got engaged on Wednesday, which is brilliant news - and it seems they don't fancy a long engagement, so roll on their wedding, the first amongst the Act2 people... can't wait!

That'll mean (if I get invited!) that I've been to 8 weddings in the past three years, and have four to come next year... good job I love them!

Photos will be in the usual place soon - although not as many as usual, it's more difficult to take loads when you're actually involved in the day!

Toronto

2006-09-12T10:45:00.000Z

A very brief one, just to say that I'm safe and sound in Toronto, work is going well so far, big event today so will see how that goes - and then going to Niagra Falls tomorrow, so that will be very good. What will not be very good though is going into work straight from the plane on Thursday morning, but nevermind!

More when my body has finally worked out which time zone it needs to be in ie London from Thursday please!

Just...

2006-09-07T19:29:00.000Z

about caught up with the jet lag. Need to get back on track before going to Canada, and therefore going the other way around the time zones, on Saturday.

Our internet has been playing up, so pictures not quite yet ready, but hopefully before the end of this evening they will be in the usual place.

More on my return from Canada... or whilst I'm there if I get chance!

And so it ends....

2006-09-05T10:32:00.000Z

So. I'm in the amazingly (a frequently occurring word on here lately it seems) plush Business Class lounge at Bali Airport, politely refusing all the rather nice looking food they are trying to offer me, having in mind that I am going to be fed three three course meals (supper, dinner and then breakfast) over the course of my trek home - which from this point on will take 18 and a half hours - although it's 6.30 pm here and I'll land in London at 6am local time, so that's seriously going to mess with my body clock (and then I'm going straight to work... zzz). I'm a bit worried about what state I will be in by the time I've been in London for a few days and then been to Canada and back... but bridges crossing and all that.

I'm kind of ready to come home, but at the same time would also like to stay here infinitely. I've reached the point where I'm quite relaxed, have caught up on some sleep, and have confirmed that (although I've missed people, and one person in particular, a lot) I'm quite happy with my own company for 6 days. I can't help but feel that in order to relax completely, I need to be away from work for about three weeks, maybe more. I've not had a holiday that long since I was 17. But, hopefully this break has been enough to rejuvenate those slightly weary batteries to get me through the next stretch at work... and then my trip to New Zealand, Thailand and Cambodia at Christmas can do the same... and then ditto for a trip to Italy at Easter. Such bunny hops around the world are fantastic, but one day (perhaps at the culmination of this current job) I think they need to lead to a three to four week complete break.

I think I can confidently say now that I've fulfilled at least one of my New Year's resolutions - to travel more. Big tick.

I've also managed to read a lot on this trip too. I finished two books I'd already started: The Notebook Dress - excellent, I want to know what happens next, when is part two out Al?!; and The Return of the King - not so excellent. Sorry in advance to all LOTR devotees, but my verdict is boring: It takes three sentences in the middle of book 6 for the Ring, the whole point of the epic three volume novel, to be destroyed when Gollum falls into a firey hole, three paragraphs for the King to be restored, and then a hundred pages for them all to get home and live happily ever after!!! I am however glad that I read it. I can tick the book which is at the top of the BBC Big Read list I'm slowly ploughing my way through, and it is kind of a book that everyone should have read - but I can't help but agree with my Mum's theory that the films are a major factor as to why it is at the top, rather than because all those people who voted for it have actually read the book.

I've also finished Memoir of a Geisha, which I found fell into the unputdownable category - so an ideal holiday book. Very very good, although the ending was a bit predictable. I've nearly finished (and expect to do so on the plane) On Beauty, which I'm galloping through - also very very good. I'm impressed with the small observations in it, which is exactly what the critics said when she (Zadie Smith) was awarded the Orange Pize and shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Should that run out on the plane, I'll be on to Roald Dahl's Boy and Going Solo - because I've not read them for ages, they were on sale in Singapore Airport, and were a worthy purchase in exchange for some left over Singapore Dollars.

Anyway, back to the original point of this post - I'm shortly going to leave Bali. It is also an amazing place. All three of the places I've been to on my first visit to Asia are. The hotel I stayed in in Sanur, Bali, was right on the beach front, and I've done very little for the past few days other than wander round the beach and the pool, read, and soak up the sun (with the aid of a large quantity of sunscreen). My room, an individual bungalow with an outside shower, private sun terrace, and four poster bed, was extremely comfortable and deserved to be shared with someone.

As I'm leaving, I'm resolving that I will definitely come back to Bali sometime, hopefully in the not to distant future. Because I was focussing on not doing very much, I didn't do any trips to the volcanos, rice terraces, or Ubud, the artist's area. I've chalked them up to do on a return visit.

So, my thoughts turn to returning to work. So much to do, and so little time - but at least I can approach it all with a slightly clearer head now.

In other parts of the world - congratulations to Steve and Sally, who have just exchanged on their new house and will be moving tomorrow - looking forward to seeing it, and sorry I can't be there to help - although you're probably grateful for that because there would probably be more accidents!

Paradise

2006-09-01T01:57:00.000Z

If Singapore was amazing, then this place is out of this world. It's like a private topical paradise... private beach, amazing food, fantastic room, wonderful weather... I'm running out of words to describe it.

Suffice to say I am a very very happy Kate today.

I'm off for dinner... I'm going to have the catch of the day, because I watched the man catch it earlier, standing in the sea just offshore from the hotel. And then I'm going to go to the candlelight bar, and drink a Macallan 12 Year in honour of a very special man.

Leaving Singapore...

2006-08-31T00:18:00.000Z

Today is our last day in Singapore. It is such an amazing place. I'll put a longer post about it up sometime, but for now I've got to run, no packing done and leaving in an hour. Hmpf. It's also torrentially pouring with rain - which it hasn't done for about four weeks apparently. Nice of it to occur when we're meant to be going to the Botanic Gardens!

Lombok this afternoon beckons - and I can't wait. Not least because I'll be able to switch the alarm clock off and just let time wander on by without worrying about where to be when (apart from connecting flight to Bali on Sunday!). I'm not sure how much internet access I'll have from here on in, or how much I'll be inclined to use it, so there may not be any activity until I get back... but then again there might.

Thank you all for your comments by the way, very nice to read them in times of stress! James - it is indeed an amazing place. I'd love to give you loads of recommendations on where to go, but I've only been to two places outside of work: (1) to have a singapore sling in the Long Bar at Raffles, highly recommended just because you have to do it rather than because the drink is actually that nice (although I like it, but you really have to like sweet cocktails). You can get half yards of Tiger beer in there too though; and (2) the Palm Beach Seafood Restaurant at One Fullerton - highly recommended, right on the river waterfront, and serves excellent seafood, including a local signature dish, creamy crab (or pepper crab, chilli crab, butter crab... you get the idea!) and jugs of Tiger (note the recurring theme there!) I hope you have a great time and manage to escape work a bit more frequently than I have!

Business Class

2006-08-29T08:19:00.000Z

Business Class is brilliant. The service was perfect, just attentive enough without being too much, the food was excellent (including warm bread, crockery, real cutlery (apart from the knives) and individual salt and pepper pots!), and the booze was flowing (although I was restrained, not least because I had a very sore throat (now easing off, thankfully!).

The only slight annoyance was the application of the new restrictions on hand luggage - which was basically patchy. I packed a bag exactly the size allowed, and made sure that I didn't have anything which could be taken away at security. Others didn't seem to have the same idea though, and had big rucksacks and other large bags on the plane with them... so the rule isn't being applied consistently, which is frustrating if nothing else.

Singapore is an amazing place. Everything is spotlessly clean, and the service is amazing in its efficiency, nothing is too much trouble. London could learn a few things in a few places I think!

The work aspect is going ok, but I'm looking forward to concluding this part of the trip and moving on to relaxing on the beach, reading lots and finally getting some chill out time.

In the meantime, I'm going to the rooftop pool for a swim...

More soon

Happy Belated Birthday to my blog

2006-08-27T10:16:00.000Z

I meant to post this on the 23rd, but forgot. That was the first birthday of this blog. When I started it, just after we came back from Edinburgh last year, I really wasn't sure how long it would last, but, it's still here. And I think some people are still reading it.

A hell of a lot has changed in the past year, and this blog has noted some of that. It has avoided some of it, because of Dooce-esque reasons and the need to retain some privacy, but there have been some highlights and funny moments.

My posting rate has varied, most recently dipping off a bit, but I think the blog is here to stay.

I'm currently in the Business Class lounge at Heathrow. The laptop is finally behaving itself with the wireless trickery, so hopefully I should be able to post some updates whilst on my travels.

Ciao for now.

Singapore bound

2006-08-26T16:58:00.000Z

Tomorrow, I leave for the much awaited trip to Singapore. It's a work trip, and I'm expecting it to be taxing, but I also have six days in Lombok and Bali on holiday to look forward to, so it's not all bad.

I'm really looking forward to the sitting on the beach relaxing bit - although I'll be on my own, and it'll be the first time I've done any travelling on my own. I'll also miss a certain person rather a lot I think.

In other news, since I last wrote, John and I went on a fab impromptu day trip to Brighton, we've been to the races in York (didn't win much, but had a very good day nonetheless!) and met my Bro, Lorna, and her bro for a nice fry up in the Sharm... all good.

Packing, however, is not good.

The hard drive on my laptop has been certified as dead, so I have a new one. I might be able to get some internet access whilst I'm away (for the first bit anyway, not planning on going anywhere near a computer for the second bit!) so may be able to update, if not, more when I get back!

The remainder of the Edinburgh Madness

2006-08-20T23:42:00.002Z

After the laptop got Fished, my internet access was substantially reduced (although many thanks to Tom for letting me borrow his). This meant two things:

1) Photos

There were no daily updates of photos. You can now find Day 3, Day 4, Day 6 and Day 8 in their respective places.

There were no photos taken by me on Day 5 or Day 7, for entirely different reasons. On Day 5, I spent most of the day in bed, recovering from Day 4. On Day 7 it was quite simply too wet. More on both of those days below.

2) Blogs

There were no more daily blogs after Day 4 and a half. The remainder of the week (or at least what I can remember of it!) is here:

The rest of Day 4

After finally finishing some annoying online stuff, I felt far more able to relax. Richelle had planned a bar crawl in intricate detail, and we were all very much looking forward to it. Apart from me. As a relic from last year, Pete, Richelle and Rich had devised Edinburgh bingo. Each person had a ‘star’ challenge, and mine was to sing karaoke. I just don’t do karaoke. I can’t sing, and for someone who is usually fairly confident on a stage in whatever form, I was quite frankly petrified. If you look closely at the pics from the beginning of the night you can see the fear in my eyes!

Many drinks later, I finally managed to get up there and sing ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ – very very badly. Pete, Helen and Richelle came up with me though and provided very effective support, for which I am eternally grateful.

Of course once that ordeal was over, there was little else to do but drink…. And the photos will tell the rest of the story.

Day 5

Day 5… uhh, what happened on Day 5… ummm…. Oh yeah, I stayed in bed all day pondering why on earth I drank so much! And then scared myself by looking at the 200 photos which were taken (not all of which have made it on to Flickr!). Having finally stated to feel human again, we went to see Bill Bailey. Now, I’m not usually a fan of stand up comedy (my views on it having been partly poisoned by Steve’s Eddie Izzard obsession), but Tom persuaded me to give Bill a try when he booked the tickets, and of the mind that part of the point of the Fringe Festival is seeing stuff that you usually wouldn’t.

Despite the fact that I wasn’t in the complete-row-of-seat-rocking convulsive laughter league of Pete, Rich and Richelle, I did find him very funny.

Save the invisible mouse….

Day 6

Having fully recovered from the nightmare hangover (feeling extremely thankful that it didn’t mutate into a Two-Dayer), I was back on form for Day 6, which was good, because the pace of show viewing really picked up. Following lunch at the Mussel Inn (a welcome change from deep fried creations), we saw Chanbara in the afternoon – very good action with swords and drums, and just round the corner from the flat. Then it was on to the Underbelly for We Don’t Know Shiite, starring Pete’s brother Doug.

The show was excellent, and most thought provoking. It’s attracted all sorts of attention, and it sounds like the group may be destined for bigger things in the very near future… break a leg guys!

Then, it was on to the fabulous Bar Kohl for flavoured vodka and stunningly good cocktails. We’d actually been in there on Day 4, but of course I don’t really remember it… the photos prove I was there though! So, I made the most of it the second time round and consumed lots of yummily flavoured alcoholic things.

Then, it was on to the Speigel Tent for La Clique – the tent is a marque which feels like a cabaret venue inside, complete with seating booths and stained glass windows, and the show is essentially a burlesque cabaret. It was excellent, although some of the acts were slightly on the odd side, even for us lot!

Then home…. For more drink, of course!

Day 7

Mercifully hangover free, by now we were craving some wholesome food, so Pete Helen and I had Japanese for lunch… and then joined Tom, Richelle and Rich for beer and chips. So the wholesome thing didn’t exactly last long, but at least we tried!

We then headed to the other side of the city to see Kataklo, which was an amazing acrobatic dance show. Well worth it, but we got totally soaked on the way there, and only just dried out on the way back… I was wet all the way through!

So, a slightly more subdued evening, and then prep for the journey home…

Day 8

Which was generally uneventful and therefore doesn’t really deserve much more than that!

On Edinburgh 2006 overall:

I think a good time was had by all – it was a very different trip from last year, because we weren’t doing a show. Things were much more chilled out, much more of a ‘do your own thing’ effect, and I think everyone appreciated that, I certainly did, mainly because it allowed me to do more sleeping than usual, which I seemed to need. My body is still recovering from an accumulated sleep deficit I think!

Big thanks go to Pete for organising the train travel, accommodation, and some of the shows – not a mean feat for 15 or so people! Thoughts are already turning to next year and the possibility of doing another show… but that’s all a bit beyond my thinking at the moment!

Half of Day Four of the Edinburgh Madness 2006 TM

2006-08-15T14:19:00.000Z

I've finally managed to get the stupid online test to work, so, it's done, and out of the way, and I'm feeling much much better for it.

That is assisted I think, by the fact that the day started with a Gutbuster = the biggest fried breakfast ever encountered. It was amazing. Last year we weren't able to have one, because they don't usually do them during the festival, but this year Richelle turned on her magic charms and persuaded them to do a special order for us. Yum yum yum. Of course there are photographs, but I can't put them on here until I return etc (see the 'Fished' bit in previous post!)

Now, it's slightly after that, and room has been made for afternoon tea.

More soon

PS I think these entries are getting a bit mundane. I'm just not funny enough when I'm not drunk. I'll get my guest blogger to come up with some suggestions tonight (during the Brundle pub crawl) and unleash them on you tomorrow!

Day Three in the Edinburgh Madness 2006 TM

2006-08-14T12:12:00.000Z

Well. Day three (Monday) was a bit of a wash out for me. There was a slight hint of a hangover, but the Tania/ Pete porridge soon saw that off. Then, I had some deeply frustrating IT issues whilst trying to do a test online - and then my laptop got Fished. That's a technical term for an IT hard drive failure, and it happens when things pass through the hands of the Ginger Rich. Tom and Raoul have been absolute stars in trying to get it fixed with boot keys and downloads and all sorts, but it's not quite there yet! Hopefully it will be fixed soon, because I really need it for the rest of my travels, but for now, my internet access has been restricted.

Should still be able to blog a bit, although maybe not every day. The worst casualty is that I won't be able to upload any more daily photo sets, as I don't have the software with me to do that on any of the other computers the lovable geeks have here! So, they will all come in a bit chunk when I return at this rate - thank god for 1Gb memory cards!

We did see a very good show today though, Talk Radio, with Mike McShane. And then beer and pizza, and a viewing of the excellently edited DVD version of Act 2's latest production, Electric Candlelight. All good. Still not quite relaxed though, but I'm getting there!

Day 2 in the Edinburgh Madness 2006TM

2006-08-13T23:13:00.000Z

Day two: shows are booked, steak has been consumed, and whiskey has been drunk. All is well with the world (well, the tiny part of it that is Edinburgh that is!).

After taking some reasonably ok photos on Saturday, last night became Rubbish Photo Night. Some of the worst ones haven’t made it on to the site (I’d quite like these people to still be talking to me after this trip), but there is a good selection available for viewing anyway!

Day two mainly involved shopping, buying new outfits, wearing them, and having a few glasses of vino with some very good steak.

More shows tomorrow and for the rest of the week. The lovely Tania departs tomorrow, heading for her 6 week trip to Brazil. We’re all going to miss her very much and they’ll be a big send off at the station no doubt – and then a sorrow drowning visit to the whiskey distillery!

More soon.

Day 1 in the Edinburgh Madness 2006TM

2006-08-12T23:28:00.000Z

We’re here. We’ve arrived. Poor old Edinburgh.

Following Chris and Jen's wedding yesterday, I was feeling slightly jaded for the train journey, but then I think we all were with a 6am start, on a Saturday… ugg. But, it’s most certainly worth it because we were in to the flat and settled into the first show (the excellent Gamarjobat – good, but perhaps not with as much energy as when we’ve seen them in previous years) by 5pm. And then there were beers, of course.

Lots and lots of photos will be appearing here in the course of the week, probably broken down into days – 116 taken on the first day already. It’s been a good day. We’re in excellent halls (we were meant to have been in these ones last year, but they got (most inconsiderately) vandalised just before we were due to arrive. We had good halls instead, but they were a very long way away, and they involved crossing the ‘Pee Meadows’ (meadows which always made us need to pee)) and we’re very close to all the main venues and the Royal Mile, and very near the best ‘take away fried stuff’ shop in Edinburgh – resulting in deep fried haggis and chips for dinner. Scrummy.

I’m beginning to relax… this is the first break I’ve had of 6 days off work since Edinburgh last August (and that didn’t really constitute a rest because of the show) and it’s all feeling a bit weird. Now that I’ve relaxed, it’s great, but it’s all a bit alien, actually having time on my hands to relax. I reckon by Monday I’ll be sorted – the four days off work effect will kick in and I’ll be well away!

Calm bliss... or is it

2006-08-09T00:04:00.000Z

Again, a long gap between postings. So this may be a long posting. Rather a lot has happened since the last post, as usual.

Pete, Helen, John and I had a rather good meal at Locanda Locatelli. The food was amazing, really good and really well done. We had a lovely time. Then, there was Naomi's birthday do at Mokoko in St Albans. Na and I originally had a plan to work our way down one side of the cocktail menu, totalling ten cocktails (missing out two we don't like). However, we went slightly off plan and got stuck on rather a lot of Porn Star Martinis. Somehow, we didn't have hangovers the next day, and after a bit of a transport mission, we were on the road to Yeovil at a reasonable time. We got stuck in a reasonable amount of traffic, but managed to pull off a mastermind piece of navagating to avoid Stonehenge, without a map. See, girls can navigate boys.

We had a fantastic weekend, starting with an amazing meal at Little Barwick House and finished off with a visit to the beach at Lyme Regis and then a BBQ. Fab.

Now that I have more time on my hands and can leave work at a reasonable time, I'm finding it a bit odd. I'd slept rather a lot this past week, which is unusual. It's almost as though my body is like "oh, so we get to sleep now. Oh good. Let's do that at every possible moment then"... in the car, during films, on the DLR... too much perhaps, I'm feeling a bit spaced. Kind of have that idea that I shouldn't completely grind to a halt, because then I might get ill, and that's the last thing I (or anyone else for that matter) wants before we go to Edinburgh next week. In fact, I think I should just shut up and enjoy the quiet time whilst it's here, because in the next six weeks I'm going to be here, there and everywhere!

The first stage is Edinburgh though, and I'm very much looking forward to it. For a series of boring reasons, I'll be taking the laptop with me. Pete and I have promised that we will blog (he's going to be a guest blogger) and upload photos as we go along so that Na and Steve, who aren't coming, sob sob sob, will be able to keep up to date with our antics. So, expect some late night drunken blog entries (although they may not actually appear late at night, because we'll have to search out some internet access in a famous coffee establishment I think!)

Oh, and just because I really rather like it, here's a rather nice photo:

Paris - the account

2006-08-01T20:43:00.000Z

So. A fantastic time was had. We saw lots, ate lots, and drank lots. John was a wonderful tour guide, allowing just the right amount of time in each place, not rushing too much, and being really flexible. I also managed (and this may surprise some of you) to be completely the follower all weekend. See, see, I can do it when I want to (although that's what I did in Rome, and that nearly ended in tears because as I wasn't taking responsibility for anything, I then got very drunk! Thankfully that didn't happen in Paris!)

We got the Eurostar from Waterloo on Friday evening (I even managed to leave work on time!) and arrived in Paris about 10.30. We were both tired, so no exploring was done on the Friday night, but the hotel was in a fab location, and had air conditioning (although it left a little to be desired, it succeeded in making sure the room wasn't hot, but didn't actually manage to make it cool). After possibly the best sleep I've had in weeks, we were up and about in time for breakfast on Saturday and then into the Briden Paris TourTM. First, Foulcault's Pendulum in the Pantheon. John did try to get me to understand how it works, but I just don't. I also want to know why there's a black marble cat next to it. Then, it was on to the Ile de la Cite, in an attempt to get the best ice cream in Paris, which was foiled by the fact that the shop had closed for August - on the 29 July. Go figure... but we still had ice cream. Then we strolled past Notre Dame, and on to Saint Chapelle and the Palais du Justice. The glass in Saint Chapelle is real take-your-breath away stuff, and we spent a fair bit of time in there trying to work out the stories in each panel.

After that, we went back across the river to the Louvre. We did the 'top three' things, including the Mona Lisa (tiny, dirty, and massive crowds. The most impressive bit for me though I think was the ancient bits in the basement which were discovered when they were excavating for the creation of the pyramid.

We then went and had a rather nice steak, frites and beer lunch, and then wandered through the gardens by the Louvre to see Monet's Waterlillies in the recently re-opened Orangerie. I didn't take any photos in there, I didn't think I could do the paintings justice. John and I hatched a plan in pondering how much it would cost to have exclusive access for 20 minutes - the paintings are amazing, but I can't help but think how striking they would be without any one in there, in peace, without lots of tourists and flashing cameras.

After that, it was off to Napoleon's Tomb. Sightseeing'd out, we then retired to various bars, including rather famous one. More beers, and a very nice meal later, and our first day was complete.

Sunday bought a more relaxed day, a stroll around the Marais and Place des Vosges, and brunch. And then rain, lots and lots of rain. Which required doing what the natives do - getting more coffee, staying in the cafe, reading our books, and waiting for the rain to fade away. Which it duly did, and then before we knew it, we were speeding through the French countryside en route home (not so speedy through the Kent countryside, it's not high speed yet!)

All in all, it was a fantastic, restful and most enjoyable weekend. Thank you John. Venice next?

Pay back time

2006-08-01T20:40:00.000Z

Today, I got to work at 10.30, had an hour and a half for lunch, and left at 5. Fantastic. Pay back time has started - some time to invest in me for a change, to sit back and take things easy and enjoy the summer. And get some of that stuff done that I've been putting off for months.

Oh, and to write a nice long account of Paris, which I'm working on now, and to blog a bit more, and to read, hopefully a lot more. Happy days...

Paris

2006-07-30T20:34:00.000Z

Just got back from Paris. I want to put up a nice long post all about it, but John has the guidebook, and as my French is rubbish, I need it to make sure I get all the names right. And, I haven't sorted the photos yet either, and the trip deserves some illustration.

So, for now, I've fixed the bold thing on the '150 post' below for your perusal. And a much longer post on Paris will follow soon. And I'm hoping that it will be soon - things should calm down at work in August (can't believe we're in August already!) and I should therefore have a bit more time on my hands. Talking of which, I'm going to go and read my book in the bath - a rare Sunday night luxury!

OK...

2006-07-26T23:22:00.000Z

So then, my technical ineptitude was such that I couldn't get the bold formatting to work. Tonight, my drunk ineptitude is such that I can't correct it. But I can assure you that I have done some of that stuff. Details in bold will follow. No, honest, they will. They really really will

150 things

2006-07-24T21:54:00.000Z

As I'm struggling to find the time/insipration/inclination to be writing long posts about me on here, I thought I'd cheat a bit instead! I borrowed this from Jo (who won't be any wiser as to how I found her site since the last time I borrowed something from there, because I'm not!). The idea is that you bold the ones you've done, and then add them up...

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said ‘I love you’ and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip on a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Got drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states (but really really want to… maybe that’ll be a New Year’s resolution sometime!)
41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
42. Had amazing friends (Not had, do)
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken for longer than when you were in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your cds
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Had a one-night stand
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Created and named your own constellation of stars
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived.
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office (I think an SU counts)
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146: Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148: Shaved your head
149: Caused a car accident
150: Saved someone’s life

Update Steve and Marty have done this too. Steve has done 67, Marty 61. John has done 96. I've done 71. Mum?

Hot

2006-07-23T23:49:00.000Z

So, again, a long time between posts. I think this is partly because I've had a really busy patch, and partly because as I've been spending rather a lot of time in the company of John, he's getting my ramblings instead!

So, again, a lot has happened between posts - the highlight being Jenna and Mark's wedding (photos in the usual place), which was just fab. It was great to be in Jersey again too, especially as my mum retired this weekend... but she'll have plenty to occupy her, working out what the spies are up to! Congratulations Mum!

I can't believe that it's nearly the end of July. I've totally lost track of where the past few months have gone, but they have been, on the whole, great. August will bring many exciting things... and hopefully some substantial rest.

Yay.

More later... hopefully. I'm aiming for a proper update for you (all?!) at the beginning of August once things calm down!

Umm

2006-07-18T00:27:00.000Z

So. It's been a long time since my last post. Possibly an unprecedented gap between posts since I started this blog (although I've not actually been back to check.)

A whole massive amount has happened since I last posted: A rather nice dinner at La Gavroche; a rather odd weekend helping a friend moving house; a rather lovely but odd Sunday dinner; Pirates of the Caribbean II at (quite frankly the best in London) the Electric Cinema; a rather odd but good play; and a shopping in Covent Garden; a two hour stint in a dress shop in Watford in the Saurday heat; a massive birthday celebration for Pete and Helen (photos in the usual place (although not titled, Flickr wasn't playing ball, and I was too hot and bothered to do anything about it! Soon though, there will be (hopefully humerous) titles; a rather nice hotel with a fantastic shower and bath; a birthday barbie for Rish; and then a rather strange dinner in culmination of the effort on a project on which I have been working since seeing being appointed nearly three years ago.

There's so much to say. Suffice to say for now that the said 'new influence' is rather a good influence. And I very much like spending time with you. He makes an experienced point of view into a conversation and stimulates me. I like that.

7/7

2006-07-08T01:16:00.000Z

Many many many people have, I'm sure, blogged about the events which occurred one year ago today, from London, the UK, and no doubt across the world. I can't possibly compete or do justice to the poignancy and emotion conveyed in many of those posts, especially those from the direct survivors of the attacks.

My take on it is this: at this point last year, I was embroiled in some complicated situations. The beginning of July has specific memories for me, for what are in comparison insignificant personal reasons (although one them was my bro graduating, good).

On 7/7 2005, I was scared. But quickly, I became proud of being a Londoner. Proud of the way that everyone pulled together. Proud that only hours before we'd been awarded the 2012 Olympics.

Today proved that London can bounce back, albeit with increased security on display today. As we respected the 2 minute silence at work, the magnitude of the events again struck home (although some idiot rang during that time, duh!). We're strong things, us humans.

Food Frustration

2006-07-03T21:44:00.000Z

Today I have food frustration. I left work really wanting fresh tuna and salad = there was no tuna in the shop, and the salad I have in the fridge is frozen. So I had salmon and asparagus pie instead = but no salad, and no frozen veg in the freezer apart from old sweetcorn = not nice.

And then, just when a nice glass of wine had re-balanced the karma, I thought I'd treat myself to the rather nice looking passionfruit creme brulee from Fru... = great, until I dropped it getting it out from under the grill and spilt it everywhere, salvaging just enough to make me realise what I was missing.

Great. Perhaps someone is trying to tell me something - perhaps I've neglected my cooking skills so much that I should just give up and eat out or get take away all the time instead!!

Anyway, I've returned from a second weekend in Jersey in a row - this time it was Jenna's hen night = photos are in the usual place. A good time was had by all, and we're now very much looking forward to the wedding!

I've also sorted out my bookshelf tonight, in an attempt to ease some of the food frustration... and it's made me realise how many books I have sitting there to read!

But, top of the list at the moment is my new Rouge Guide to Paris... where I'm very much looking forward to going at the end of July. Counting the days...!

ITEX... we survived!

2006-06-26T21:23:00.000Z

Well. I've just got home from the 'ITEX weekend' in Jersey. 11 mad friends, two chaotic houses, one very very long walk, a lot of Love Bars, peanut butter sandwiches and packets of crisps, and a few bottles of beer and cider thrown in - makes for a mad, tiring, but rewarding weekend. A good time was had by all, I think (as the organiser, it's always a bit difficult to get a perspective on how things have actually gone, but I think it was all ok!).

Massive thanks go to my parents, Kelly, and Amy for putting up with the chaos and being excellent hosts. I hope tranquility has returned to your houses tonight and that we've not left anything behind or forgotten to do anything!

The walk was certainly a challenge, but we all did amazingly. Richelle and Naomi were an excellent support crew, picking us up when we dropped and getting to the later check points ahead of us to encourage us and point us in the right direction. With varying degrees of pain and injury, we managed the following:

Sally - 17 miles
Tania - 20 miles
Me and Steve D - 26.2 miles
Marty - 30 miles
Steve B and Rich - 32 miles
Helen - 35 miles
Pete - 48.1 miles

Yes, Pete did the full distance! Massive congratulations to him, and to everyone else - I think we all went further than we thought we could, and it amounts to fantastic personal achievements all round.

There are some photos in the usual place, but Rich has more (and better) which will probably appear here at some point over the next few days.

The walk also sees me having completed one of my New Years resolutions - so that's one down, and 8 to go. I had a number of fantastic birthday presents last week, but by far the most inspired and thoughtful was a collection of gifts from Na, Steve, Helen and Pete, themed on my resolutions (a Love Bar for the walk, The Godfather to read, An Affair to Remember to watch, a sleep mask, an Italian DVD, a wooden bracelet for luck on not falling over, a toy saxophone, a map of Bali, and the London by London book). Fantastic!

I am however left with some general aches, and a slightly more concerning pain in my right knee... having already damaged the ligaments in my left knee (now mostly healed) and torn the cartiledge in the now infamous frisbee incident last year, I was a bit worried about how that knee would fare on the walk - very well it seems, because that knee feels fine now. The right knee however, not so - it hurts, it much the same way as the ligament pain did in the other knee. I'm really hoping that there won't be any lasting damage and that the pain will ease off.

So, Pete, Helen, Steve, Sally, Naomi, Steve, Tania, Rich, Marty and Richelle: Same place, same time, next year...?!? ;-)

New

2006-06-18T18:23:00.000Z

So, as predicted, a slow blogging week, again. My impetus for this has dwindled a bit. That's partly because I've been really busy, and this has not been a good week at work. It's also because I'm being distracted by a rather nice new influence in my life. I'm not ready to reveal all yet, but it's sure having an impact on me, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.

In the meantime, for a week which includes my birthday, the forthcoming week is looking all a bit stressful!! Too much going on at work, which is adding to the stress, and then the Walk of Doom, as Steve has finally dawned on us... oh dear. I have blisters from wearing nice but painful shoes to the UHSU Ball on Friday (pictures in the usual place) - and having blisters at the beginning of a walk which is blatantly going to give me blisters is not a happy state of affairs!

Still, when I've had a go at it, at least I'll have done one of my New Years Resolutions!

Blurgh

2006-06-12T01:08:00.000Z

Another sparse blogging week... and this post is not going to be a long one. Words fail me - I just can't anything down! It's been a mad and intense week, and I'm just not sure that I know how I feel about all sorts of things that have happened.

One think I do know though is that the Bon Jovi gig tonight was totally fab, so that's all good.

More later, when I have a bit more ability to work out which letters should go in front of others to form words for constructive sentences - and then I'll be making a bit more sense!

The big one

2006-06-04T12:40:00.000Z

Well, it's been an unusually long time since my last post... probably because I've really not spent a great deal of time in front of the computer for various reasons (well, not this one anyway, the work one, yes) including this.

I said in my last post that life is a rollercoaster.... well, it sure is. At the moment I feel like I'm on this one currently the record holder for the faster coaster in the world. Things are constantly changing all around me, and I'm finding it a little hard to keep up. On the whole, things are exciting, stimulating and... uh, interesting. I'm feeling slightly dazed and confused, but I just need to get stuck in and get on with it.

This week has been what is supposed to be a rest week at work - a time to catch up on all the things we never have time to do usually. The only problem is, I've not really done that, because the quiet time bought out my rebellious streak, and I spent a lot of time enjoying short days and reasonable lunches... which is why I now find myself at the end of a three hour stint of work on a Sunday, with more to go before I'm ready for tomorrow. I am at least very much enjoying sitting in the garden in the sun working, rather than being stuck inside - thank god for wireless internet, again! - although the laptop is getting sunstroke...!

The show was fantastic - and very funny. It is a credit to all involved in Act2 that such a show can be pulled together without too much stress, and with a hefty dose of fun and humour along the way. I very much enjoyed mucking in with the crew and being 'one of the boys' on the production side of this one. I'm also going to take this opportunity to say that I think Marty did a fantastic job on his directorial debut - your influence on the play, and the actors, really shone through, and it is a great credit to you - so shut your noise and take the complements!

Also since my last post, I went to the England vs Barbarians rugby match at Twickenham - it was a fab match and a great day out - and then on Bank Holiday Monday I did some things I really enjoy and haven't done for ages - wandering around London, having a Harrods picnic in Hyde Park, going to a pub quiz (albeit that we weren't very good), and did some other stuff. Great. Exactly the kind of stuff I should do more often.

Life is a rollercoaster...

2006-05-25T23:39:00.000Z

just gotta ride it.

Having excelled myself with my previous long post, full of information, updates and innuendo, I've exhausted my blogging insipiration for a while I think.

All sorts of complicated things going on, most of which not directly involving me, but seeing people turn to me for support - which is a nice position to be in in a way - I'm always happy to be a listening ear and be dispensing some (probably useless) advice. I can only hope that it does some good somewhere along the way...

Resolution Review

2006-05-20T22:45:00.000Z

In January, I posted what amounted to 9 New Year's resolutions.

They were:

1. Learn to play the sax
2. Learn to speak Italian again
3. Watch more films
4. Try to get less injuries
5. Make a good attempt at the ITEX walk
6. Do as much travelling as possible
7. Get more sleep
8. Spend more time exploring London
9. Complete the BBC Big Read Top 100 book list (which I've already been attempting for the past two years, I'm 45 books in!)

Although it's not half way through the year yet, which would be the logical time to do this (but hey, I can't be logical in all aspects of my life!), it has occurred to me to review how I'm getting on with them. So, as at Saturday 20 May, roughly a bit more than a third of the way through the year, here is my progress report on each resolution so far:

1. Learn to play the sax

No action at all. Rubbish. Need to hire one to give it a try

2.Learn to speak Italian again

Also no action at all. Maybe I need to do what The Stig does when tearing cars round the Top Gear race track and listen to language tapes in the car

3. Watch more films

This one is actually going ok - see the list on the right hand side. The long plane journeys to Vegas, Marty and Richelle's crusade to improve my film knowledge, and the Naomi-originated film nights have helped!

4. Try to get less injuries

This one has actually been successful too - touch all the wood in the world! So far this year I've not had any major injuries, so far as I can remember, but do comment and correct me if you think I'm wrong! My knee is still playing up from the stupid frisbee injury (see a post about the beginning of September), especially today (see below) so that'll keep me in the feeb club for a while!

5. Make a good attempt at the ITEX walk

Well. There has been training going on, so that's got to be a good start! At the moment I'm thinking that a realistic target for my 'good attempt' would be halfway - 24 miles. That would still be a major achievement, so I'd be happy with that. It's only 5 weeks away now!! Today Helen, Pete and I completed 17 miles (in just under 6 hours) and, apart from my stupid knee, not much hurts at the moment, so that's all good. Tomorrow I'll no doubt be suffering, but at the moment I feel ok, and that gives me confidence that I'll be able to make a decent attempt at the ITEX... might need a bit more training first though, and not sure where that's going to fit in!

6. Do as much traveling as possible

This one is panning out ok too. I've been to Edinburgh/ Glasgow, Las Vegas, and Aberdeen so far. I've got 5 trips to Jersey, a trip to Edinburgh, a trip to Singapore, Bali and Lombok, and a trip to Canada booked. Plus a potential trip to New York and a possible trip to somewhere in Eastern Europe. And New Zealand, Fiji and San Francisco for Christmas and New Year. So I reckon I'll be able to give this one a great big tick at the end of the year!

7. Get more sleep

Hmpf. Might be better to skip this one. Given I've had only 1 night where I've had more than 7 hours sleep since I got back from Vegas, I'm clearly failing miserably. If only the body and mind could actually function perfectly on four hours of sleep a night, I'd be a happy bunny.

8. Spend more time exploring London

Really need to pay more attention to this one. I've managed to visit more restaurants and bars, but that isn't really what I had in mind when I made the resolution. I've got some exploring planned for the forthcoming bank holiday, so that will be a good start.

9. Complete the BBC Big Read Top 100 book list (which I've already been attempting for the past two years, I'm 45 books in!)

Ho hum. So this one isn't going too well either - I've not got my up to date list here, so I'm not sure what the actual numbers are, but I have a feeling that I'm up to 52 - so not much of an increase since January! I have lots of books ready to be read, but am seriously lacking in the time to read them.

Not too bad. A further review will follow some time in the next couple of months when I get a similar sort of urge to do it - but an update on the Itex walk will follow in advance of that, as it's on 23 June.

In the meantime, I'm very much enjoying being at home on a Saturday night. I can't remember the last time I was - and I've not woken up in my own bed on a Sunday morning for 8 weeks... that sounds deliberately debauched, just for my mum! I just hope I can sleep for a substantial period of time... I'm all set, clean sheets, clean pj's, just had a bath, nice dinner and a glass of wine, plenty of exercise today... let's see what happens!

I love having the occasional night like this where I can potter round the house and not do much - and I've just had a lovely dinner (tuna, Jersey potatoes (Yay!) and roast tomatoes). Such nights remind me of Saturday nights at Uni, when everyone used to go home and leave me to my own devices. It could have been lonely, but it wasn't, because I relished having the time completely to myself, being able to do exactly what I wanted to do, and having some peace to catch up with myself.

That's exactly what I'm doing tonight - it's 'Kate time' - and it's important. I'm alone, but I'm not lonely. Such nights add balance (and much needed rest!) and I can't help but think that I need to have them more often. The trouble with that is that it would mean compromising on other things, which I don't want to do. Ho hum. Time for some dessert to help me solve that conundrum...

Champagne

2006-05-16T23:28:00.000Z

Tonight I have had a fantastic night with Helen, Pete and Steve, welcoming Steve into London life. We went here and here. At the former, we had dinner next to Andrew Lloyd Webber. At the latter... notice the date of the relaunch on the link. We happened in there and found out that they were intending to be closed, but because they finished the refurbishment early, they were open, so we were one of the first to experience the new surroundings (we went there a few months ago, and the decor has changed a fair bit). But, to be honest, it's not really about the decor - it's about the view.

28 floors up, and a nearly 360 degree view of London. Amazing. Awe inspiring, and 'happy and proud to be in London' thought provoking.

And to leave you with a quote we stumbled across in the drink menu on champagne:

I drink it when I'm happy, and when I'm sad. Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I'm not hungry, and I drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it... unless I'm thirsty.

Update: Very touching post about the evening from Steve here

Damn we're grown up

2006-05-15T20:47:00.000Z

For the second time in as many weeks, I'm getting some inspiration for a post from Steve's blog (and stealing the wording of the title too). This is not good, it's got to stop. But, in the meantime, it kind of illustrates the point of this post...

Because we are grown up, in more ways than one. The title is prompted by Steve's comment on his blog describing me and accompanying a photo of me (a particularly horrendous photo, but he will be correcting that on threat of death - won't you Steve?!?) in a post about his birthday celebrations on Friday - which were really good. And mean he's a year older, so he is grown up in that sense, but he actually means something slightly different.

It's taken Steve and I a lot of time and effort to get to the stage of friendship and understanding which we enjoy now. When we spilt up (for he is my ex, just in case you don't know that) we were forced to deal with everything pretty quickly for a variety of reasons, and I firmly believe that forced us into establishing a strong and determined friendship. Had we not had that push, I'm not sure what would have happened. Maybe we would have worked things out to the stage they are at now anyway, but it would probably have been a whole lot harder and more complicated.

I'm very proud of us. We've built a strong and supportive friendship, although a lot of people don't understand how we have. I'm not sure I do all the time either, but I don't really care to analyse it too much, because it works, and that's what's important.

I've had another experience recently where I've had to draw on that kind of strength. I've learnt the true value of being open and honest with each other, of being realistic about your own strengths and weaknesses, and most importantly I've learnt that a sensible approach to things can ensure that people don't get hurt. Oh, and I've learnt the value of rhythm too.

Strong and lasting friendships are built on the basis of being sensible, honest and grown up.

Pictures from the weekend and various other recent things are in the usual place: here.

My 100th post

2006-05-05T20:00:00.000Z

It might be a long one, it might not. The words in my head have not been forming themselves into bloggable sentences for some time now, hence the short and punchy postings.

When I started this blog back in August, I wasn’t really sure how long I’d keep it up, especially when, although I could access it for a while, my access from work was blocked. That was probably a very good thing, because it means that I can’t come on Blogger and unleash my frustration in the middle of the day. But it also means that I can only blog in the evenings and at the weekends – and this has the effect that the majority of my postings are affected by alcohol. I’m assured by those who are bearing with me and are still reading (although there's not been any comments for a while, so they may not still be with me!) that this makes my blog interesting to read, especially when they know I’ve been on a night out and can log on in the morning and see what I’ve been rambling in the small drunk hours of the morning.

I might also therefore be giving the impression that I drink a lot. On balance, I certainly drink more now than I did a few years ago. But my circumstances are completely different – I have a different job, different flat, different friends and a different relationship situation. This has an impact. My job falls into the ‘work hard play hard’ category, and if I couldn’t sustain a fulfilling social life, I don’t think I’d be able to manage the work. I need to get out and do normal things with friends in the evenings and weekends to add some perspective to my life. There are often massive contrasts, such as a few weeks ago when I was at a black tie dinner with some big big big wigs on a Monday night, and the Act2 gang were at karaoke at a formerly dodgy pub in our student town. Weird – but good.

I love that kind of contrast, and I also love my job. I think however that the time is nearly here for me to have a month off the booze. I did that last year, and the year before that, and it made a big difference. Trouble is, when I’ve done it before, it’s been in the winter, and it seems easier then somehow – now that we’re into May, the evenings are lighter, beer gardens are open, there are BBQ’s, and we’re into ‘birthday season’. Maybe I should aim to do what I vowed in Vegas instead (whilst battling a grade 10 hangover) – never to drink so much that I get a hangover.

The slight problem with that is that my hangovers are a bit unpredictable – I can get a shocker from three and a half pints of beer one time, and then the next time I’m completely fine. So I’m not sure that’s going to work either… but I really should pay attention to being a bit more sensible.

So, summer is here. I love summer. I’m very much more a summer person than a winter person. As I sit here on the balcony at 9pm, the sun is setting over the city, I’m having a glass of wine (oopss; see above!) and thinking that the feeling I had at the BBQ on Wednesday that good times and things are ahead is still here. I like it. On the whole, I love my life. I’m in a happy place, and I like it.

I’ve also done one of my favorite things tonight – cooked myself dinner. That might sound like a run of the mill chore-like thing to do to some, but actually I love cooking, and find it very relaxing. Trouble is, it’s not really very compatible with the aforementioned work-hard-play-hard lifestyle, and I don't therefore get to do it very much, and it's great when I do. Most people take eating at home for granted. Another one of those contrasts eh…

Those contrasts which are part of my life, and they add to it – I embrace them and make the most of them.

So, a long post. A varied post. The 100th post. I’m not sure that I’ve done that significant landmark in my blogging history justice, but at least there are coherent sentences, and not too much alcohol influence.

Onwards, to the weekend. Looking forward to it, and it should be comparatively relaxing compared to the past few. Perhaps apart from the 18 mile walk on Sunday – eek!

Number 99

2006-05-04T22:04:00.000Z

There are (finally) Vegas pictures here.

There are also no sensible words forming themselves into sentences in my head, so this will be a short post.

Steve has posted about last night - it was really a very good night, and I too have a feeling that it marked the beginning of something good.

The next post will be my 100th, so I'm going to save my effort for that!

Exhausted, but happy

2006-05-01T21:34:00.000Z

So much has happened this week that I just can't condense it into anything sensible, not least because I'm totally exhausted and I ache all over.

It's been an eventful week, finished off with a fantastic weekend... and I'll leave it there for now.

Pictures from Andy and Lyndsay's wedding, which was just perfect, and very special, are in the usual place.

Pictures from Vegas should be there on Wednesday once I have Helen's and we therefore have a full set.

Sleep for me now, much needed!!

So much I could say...

2006-04-24T23:52:00.000Z

There's so much I could say about tonight, but I can't. Work confidentiality and all that, don't want to get Dooced!

Also, Blogger wasn't working when I logged on, so most of the drunkeness which would normally be here, is actually here on t the messageboard. Hee hee.

Run Pete Run

2006-04-23T18:26:00.000Z

Collapsed on the sofa feeling guilty. Spent today watching Pete run the London Marathon, which he did spectacularly well, despite the rain. Apart from now I'm really tired, which is rubbish, because all we did was wander round London a bit, he ran 26 and a bit miles, so I have no justification for being cream crackered!

Anyway, I've had a lovely weekend hanging out with the boys (mainly, joined by Tania and Helen and Pete's family for some welcome female company). Thank you boys. I'm enjoying a rest from the testosterone now though!

So, on to facing the week ahead... having just bought an EXTREMELY expensive dress for a black tie dinner tomorrow, I'm hoping that that will make me feel good for the start of a week about which I am feeling very apprehensive for all sorts of different (and kind of complicated) reasons.

Still, I have a wedding to look forward to, in Aberdeen, on Saturday. It's going to be great, a gang of my old Uni housemates back together again. So very much looking forward to that. Just got to get through the week first...!

(PS photos from Vegas still being prepared and exchanged between us girlies... more soon)

Viva Las Vegas

2006-04-19T20:31:00.000Z

Well, it's Wednesday. I'm back. I have a touch of jetlag, a large dose of the post holiday blues, and the very slightest hint of a tan.

I was due to report back two decisions and some photos. To take the easiest first - there are photos, lots of them, but it's going to take some time to sort them out. Also, Na, Helen and I will be compiling all our photos in to one set for here. So, they'll be there in a few days. There are a couple at the bottom of this post to whet your appetite though...

As to the decisions: Na, Helen and the cocktails were helpful. I've decided that on the professional one, my philosophy is 'you've got to be in it to win it', so I'm going to chuck in an application and see what happens. That might be slightly easier said than done given the deadline is the 30th April, but we'll see. A concentrated effort at the weekend and some point next week should do it.

On the personal one, well, that's perhaps not so straightforward, but the philosophy is probably the same. One of the (many) films I watched on the plane(s) had a great line in it: "Who cares if you get in a mess in your life. At least you know you're living it then."

The photos:

Decisions, decisions

2006-04-11T20:47:00.000Z

So. Work is slightly better, if only because it's the end of term, and of course because Vegas is 35 hours or something away. Thank God. I can't wait. It really has been a hell of a couple of months, and I'm very much in need of a rest, mainly from work, but generally too. And Vegas seems to offer the best solution - pool and spa time by day, and then food, drink and partying by night. Wicked.

I'm also planning to give myself some 'clear thinking' time... time away from work, people, all sorts of other things. I need to make two decisions. The first is related to work, it's a professional decision about whether to continue pursuing something I've been trying for for a long time, or whether to give it up and stick with what I'm doing now, and am apparently good at. A difficult choice, and a major decision to take. It will affect the rest of my career for the rest of my life. I've always been career motivated and ambitious, so it's a major life decision, it's not just about 'work'.

The second is related to me, it's a personal decision about whether to take the plunge and attempt to resolve something which has been bugging me for a long time. It might have a major effect on me, but if it all goes wrong, I'd hope that it would be solvable and I could move on just fine.

Hmph. I think that all of this is going to be very much aided by a number of tasty (but probably expensive) cocktails and a bit of girly bonding time.

Photos will no doubt result from the trip too, there's not been any for a while. Not sure why that is.

So, check back here next Wednesday for (a) two decisions and (b) photos

Getting stronger

2006-04-05T22:29:00.000Z

I've had an utterly horrible few days at work, but things are improving. I can honestly say that I was more angry (that deep down, burning incessant but somehow calm anger) than I have ever been on Monday. I had to isolate myself and not talk to anyone for a good few hours, and then my poor Mum took the brunt of it (thanks Mum ;-) and thanks also to those who took my MSN ranting!). I've calmed down now, and all is well, but I won't forget how I was made to feel. All becuase of one man... I can only go so far in describing things on here, but some of you know what I mean and the situation to which I am referring (and those who don't can be explained too off line).

But, the bottom line is that I'm bigger and stronger than that. He'll fall on his sword eventually! I honestly believe that such experiences can only make you stronger. My boss said to me on Tuesday that she couldn't understand how I'd survived without losing my temper. And I'm not sure that I can either. But then there have been a few situations in my recent-ish past where I've felt like that. I'm not sure how it's ok, but it is. I've made it. I'm a strong and resilient person. I'm willing to learn from my mistakes and reflect on the situations in which I have become involved and then move on.

Steve's blog struck a chord with me today - his title is "Somedays I love being me". And, well, I'm going to steal that philosophy. Somedays I love being me. When I was standing on the balcony about ten minutes ago, drinking a(n unnecessary extra) glass of wine, looking at the stars, and absorbing the natural calm of the river, I thought, yeah, I love being me. And not only that, I'm proud of me.

It's not often that I'm proud of me. I'm a self critical kind of person (although I'm aware I might not always come across like that) but just sometimes I give myself reason to be proud. And I think I have this week. And I'm going to carry that with me. It makes me stronger.

Gazing

2006-04-02T23:02:00.000Z

I've been sitting here gazing at the screen for some time now. An awful lot has happened since I last blogged, some good, some bad, some indifferent. And I just can't work out a way to get it all onto paper (well, keyboard) and make sense of it all. So I'm not going to.

Suffice to say that I've had a great weekend doing normal things with normal people... well pehaps not so normal on balance, but I love them all the same! Thanks for entertaining me guys and girls xxx

one way street

2006-03-27T21:17:00.000Z

Constantly heading up a one way street.
The flow is going the other way.
The prevailing sensible choice is going the other way.

But somehow you keep on going, against the tide. Hit it headlong and like a bull at a gate, and the force of everyone else will throw you back, like surf breakers on a beach.

Make your way, gently, slowly, building confidence as you go, bringing people on board gradually so that they understand what you want, and why you want it, and that, even if they can’t understand, they can see that you desire it so much that you’re going to carry on regardless. Eventually, you’ll get to the top. Won’t you?

The top, where it’s busier, the traffic is flowing in both directions, but despite that, there is a natural sense of harmony. Everything just feels right some how.

But, when you’re still on the one way street, there’s something missing. A glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel, the much needed sense of tranquil calm and satisfaction which the top promises is enough to spur you on.

A hint, a touch, a kind word. It’s enough.

Wipe out

2006-03-22T00:21:00.000Z

I am shattered... just finished my second 14+ hour day in a row, and I'm set for another one tomorrow too.

I'm counting down the days... 8 working days until it all changes, and therefore hopefully improves (although it's a shallow hope, I think it'll just be different rather than better)... and 22 days until Vegas. I've not quite gone to the extreme of working out the amount of working hours left to go yet, but give me time!

Wireless

2006-03-18T21:09:00.000Z

I'm beginning this post thinking it will be a long one, but let's see what happens...

I'm currently sitting on the sofa, drinking wine and watching West Wing. A regular Saturday night in then... albeit that I've not actually done this for longer than I can pin point to remember. My Saturday nights are usually spent in various places not involving being at home, so it's quite refreshing to be here. I feel like I'm catching up with myself. I was originally planning to spend this weekend seeking the assistance of Marty to wash, t-cut and polish my old car, ready for it to be sold, but he's visiting parents... so I've diverted to a favourite pastime... painting!!! We're having a red wall in the lounge, and a nice cream colour in the bathroom, probably with a Griffiths original painting on one wall.

I love painting and decorating. Sad huh... but, there's something very theraputic about spending a few hours making a radical transformation to something and then assessing the effect at the end of the day, and for however long it lasts into the future, until you decide to change it again! Whilst I would most love to be decorating my very own flat/house, I'm content for now to be helping Stephen out.

As I said, I'm currently in the lounge... very much enjoying my new laptop with the cool wireless technology. I've got this and my old desktop linked so that I can access everything from both... and I was even able to have MSN conversations from the bathroom earlier - whilst I was painting, rather than doing anything else!

It has, as usual, been a big, bad, mad week at work. But, I'm counting down the days, firstly to the end of March (10 working days), when everything changes, and secondly to the 13 April, when I, along with Na and Helen, will be Vegas bound! Can't wait. The high point from this week though was that my manager managed to get some feedback about me out of the big boss. Who, apparently, although I think this makes him certifiable, thinks I'm exceptional, performing astonishingly well, tackling difficult issues which no one has ever taken on before, and he can't think of anything negative at all.

I was quite literally gobsmacked and speechless, which as anyone who reads this knows (as does my manager), is a very rare thing. A pretty good way to end the week though, and a very good boost at a difficult time.

In celebration, I toasted Tim's birthday with a number of these. They are passionfruit beer, from a rather good Belgian bar called the Dovetail in Clerkenwell, which has the biggest range of Belgian beers in London, including the rather amazing passionfruit one in the picture. Had I not been totally knackered from the night before, many many more of those would have been consumed!

And, the final paragraph. My last post was rather emotional... and rather jumbled up and confused. I was also in danger of revealling rather more than would have been sensible about some of my inner most thoughts... and I remain very thankful today that I didn't.

Normal service is resumed.

Take a look at me now

2006-03-17T00:45:00.000Z

You're the only one....

We've shared the laughter and the pain, we've shared the tears.

There's so much I need to say to you, so many reasons why.

Ahem.

Just spent a fab girly night in... with my male flatmate. Steak and chips and red wine for dinner, finished off with plenty of red wine, Baileys, and season 1 of Cold Feet. It's been emotional. He's split up with his girlfriend, and there was nothing for it but a good girly cure all session. He's gone to bed much happier, which leads me to conclude that girly treatment can work for boys too.

And, above all, it proves that girls are not, contrary to the opinions of some, evil.

Hasta la vista baby... hasta luego amigos

Yum

2006-03-13T20:03:00.000Z

Managed to escape from work at a reasonable time today, so have just cooked myself this:

Totally yummy. One of my favourite meals ever... and the best thing is that it involves using a glass of wine to flavour the rice, so what's a girl to do but drink the rest!

Obsessive

2006-03-12T18:10:00.000Z

I’ve been thinking about this post for a while, and have been prompted to put it up today by an incident with coasters on a coffee table…

We have laughed for some time about Marty’s obsessive compulsive disorder-esque obsession with having the remote controls neatly lined up on the coffee table… so much so that he once gathered four remotes from completely different places in my lounge and left them lined up on the sofa for me! The portable phone must always be on the stand in their house too (unless it’s in use of course), and today I learnt that the coasters must be in the four corners of the coffee table.

Others have similar obsessions too… Richelle can’t bear the toilet roll being on the wrong way round, or sunlight breaking through curtains in the morning, Steve can’t bear wearing crinkled shirts and must squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom (not to mention the fact that he can’t bear polystyrene and cotton wool) and Rich must have the rug at the bottom of his bed straight…

I think my equivalent oddities are that when I’m reading a book, I always turn over the corner of the page at the mid point, and when I’m at work, I always have to have my bottle of water in exactly the same place on my desk, no matter how cluttered it is.

I think the second one is partly to stop me from knocking it over and ruining all my papers though!

We’re all odd.

Normal

2006-03-06T20:58:00.000Z

Wellllllll........ after a truly horrendous and amazingly complicated week, this week has at least started off a bit better, and I'm hoping (very much) that it's going to stay that way.

Had a very good weekend doing nothing very interesting, including recovering from a stomach bug which gave me the most delirious dreams ever... like changing the time and stopping the Home Secretary from doing a speech... WHAT?!

Also had some fun on Saturday night (photos on Flickr as usual). But actually, the best thing about the weekend was that I did normal things, like washing, ironing, cleaning, sleeping, going out for a walk... you know, all the kind of stuff you take for granted, at least until you come close to losing your possibly already a bit fragile grip on all the balls in the air, and then the boring stuff becomes the most important stuff in the world, because it's normal. And being normal is good. I realise now that I was probably very close to breaking point last week (well, I was closest at 3.30am on Friday morning when I was convinced that I was never going to feel well again, and that I was also never going to be able to sleep again!), and I'm kind of glad in a way that I had the bug, because it forced me to stop and sort myself out. I just hope things don't get that bad again. I don't think they will, but well, you just can never really tell in this job.

Still, on reflection, I love my job, and I love my life, and everyone and everything in it. And I utterly value my friends and my guiding lights in getting me through and allowing me to be me, offering encouragement, support, comment, constructive critism and praise at the right time. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, thank you all.

Big hug x

Hollow

2006-02-28T23:45:00.000Z

So, it's a Moeker gig night, and I'm not unleashing a drunken post into cyberspace... something a bit wrong there. I think it must be a combination of a few things: the fact that they were on stage at 8.15, so there was no warm up drinking time; the fact that I'd double booked myself and had to leave straight afterwards; the fact that it's totally completely freezing outside; and the fact that, despite having had both beer and wine, neither appear to have had much of an effect on me.

Talking of the cold, does anyone know whether it's possible for headphones (or possibly (and more expensively) I-Pods) to freeze? Mine was doing seriously odd things on the way home,

I've had a truly horrible day at work dealing with some really shitty issues, and culminating in upsetting a very good friend. I was dealing with the situation to the best of my ability. Today I learnt that sometimes your best just isn't good enough.

But, I did have an excellent weekend in Scotland. Apart from the losing the rugbt and the utterley completely horrendous hangover on Sunday (which was still around yesterday) that is.

A pic, as we've not had one for a while:

And another, of the Scottish drinking gang:

Time for bed.

Words

2006-02-22T21:39:00.000Z

This very cool website created this (found here - it's a pictorial representation of the words found most often in my blog entries.

Interesting.

I've exhausted my blog inspiration (probably for the rest of the month) on the previous post, so I don't have anything deep and meaningful to add today. My thoughts are dominated by something deep and painful - an ear infection. Sob.

Moments

2006-02-20T23:28:00.000Z

I've been thinking today about the nature of 'moments' of memory. I think what I mean is best described as those snippets of memory which suddenly come back to you when you're in the middle of something, and they have a persuasive effect of distracting you. They happen to me in meetings, when I'm reading, and of course most often at random (and usually inconvenient) times when I'm supposed to be concentrating at work.

They come in different forms. Sometimes they make me chuckle as I remember a comedy moment (the foam ceiling springs to mind here), or they are touching. Perhaps the most distracting ones are the ones which are fixating. They are often recalling the briefest of moments - possibly the moments which I wanted to last longer, or I think I could have handled differently... or I wonder 'what would have happened next if...?'. Those times where there is perhaps just a millisecond of something, and it leaves you wondering what it means.

No point wondering 'what if' though eh. Sometimes I have to remind myself that there will be a lot more 'moments' to be created and then recalled, and they all add to the catalogue. Of course there are some which would be best forgotten, either because they are cringeworthy, embarrassing, or just really don't deserve to be recalled. And of course, these are the ones which come back to haunt me at the most inappropriate times... but I can usually block them out. It's the 'brief moment' ones which stay around... sometimes the tiniest snippets of recollection play on my mind the most. I find myself rehearsing them over and over.

Sometimes I wish I had a thought stick or a dream collector which works on day time thoughts (I'm thinking BFG by Roald Dahl here). I could just get rid of them... or find somewhere to store them until I want to reflect - or until things have changed so much that they paint a different part of the story.

Anyhow, on that note, I'm in five-hours-sleep-a-night-mode at the moment, so tis time for bed. I am trying to make the most of the few hours, and reading for a bit before I go to bed to calm my mind for some serious sleeping. Driving to work does make things much better though - and the sense of victory I feel when arriving at work at 6.59 and therefore avoiding the congestion charge is disproportionately good.

There should be pictures of the car, but as it rained for most of the weekend, there aren't any. In fact, there's been an absence of pictures of late. Must rectify that in Scotland this week - although I fear the quality won't be that high!

Oh yes

2006-02-18T19:58:00.000Z

The car is all mine. And it's very cool and very fast.

And now I have more beer.

Oh yes.

Skunk

2006-02-17T23:38:00.000Z

So. Today I'm not so sober. A rather nice few beers after work has much improved my mood, especially as they were with good company (although I'm never with bad company really!) in a very nice quiet setting where we had table service and were really able to chill out. It's been a hard week that's for sure, and I'm very much looking forward to having a good weekend (including getting the new car of course!)

I did have one of those 'I love living in London' moments on the way home, when I saw my building all lit up and being used for an event, which has also helped to improve my mood. And now Sliding Doors, which is a fab movie (which in my usual style I've seen loads and loads of times) is on the tv, so that helps too.

I think actually that if I redistributed my film watching I'd have watched a lot more - I've watched a few films a lot of times, rather than a lot of films. Still, it's film night at No 28 tomorrow, so that will add some new ones to my list. And they will be accompanied by pie, rice pudding and beer. Sounds like a good way to spend a Saturday night to me.

Eek

2006-02-16T22:25:00.000Z

Well. The balls are still falling, but at least I haven't tripped over any yet and had a disaster. I've learnt recently that the best approach to my work is to be solution focused (which is interesting given that I have had some interesting theories on being solution focused in personal situations in the past - some of you know what I mean!) - but at the moment I just can't see the solution. It's not even as if we've identified the solution but just can't reach it - we simply can't think of it!

Anyway, I had a happy moment today when I realised (albeit slightly inappropriately in the middle of a meeting!) that it was 5pm and still light - that means the days are getting longer and summer is getting closer, which is a very good thing.

Balls

2006-02-15T23:48:00.000Z

I'm dropping some. At work, that is. Usually I can just about keep them all in the air, but they are all falling down around me...

and usually I can cope ok with the stress, but today I had a weird panic attack type thingy - and had to take myself off somewhere quiet to calm down. My boss calls it mid-term-itis. Trouble is, I've only just got over the beginning of term-itis, and then it'll be the end of term-itis... but then at least it will be time for Vegas and some proper real life relaxation.

But hey, I'm ok - I always am.

Mine. Mine. Mine

2006-02-13T23:37:00.000Z

It's mine. Well, at least it will be once I've collected it on Saturday, and providing that everything doesn't go completely wrong in the meantime that is!

My blogging inspiration is running low again at the moment, have hit a difficult time at work again and that's kind of absorbing me at the moment. More once I have some booze no doubt!

Maybe Cooper S...

2006-02-12T12:00:00.000Z

Most of my weekend has been dominated by thinking about buying a new car... and I've much umming, ahhing, deliberating, advice taking and calculating, I have concluded that, subject to a successful chat to the dealer tomorrow, by Saturday I should be the proud owner of this:

Shiny.

P. B. 4

2006-02-08T01:05:00.000Z

Moeker gig tonight. And we know what that means... oh yes indeedy, I'm drunk.

There's been a history on this blog of drunk post-Moeker gig postings, and I thought, what the hell, might as well keep up the tradition. I worked out today that I've not missed a London Moeker gig since November 2004, (the only one I've missed was the Horn in St Albans in August last year, and that was because I was in Jersey), and as I now have a signed copy of the album, I think that might just make me a dedicated follower. Oh dear. I think only Steve B has a better attendance record than me, and that's only because he made the Horn gig when I didn't.

We had great renditions of Walking in Circles, Transmission and Third, but felt slightly cheated by the lack of Unlucky AND Breaking You.

So, Moeker, next time, you're dedicated followers are putting in a plea for at least one or the other, but preferably both. Thanks muchly.

WFH

2006-02-06T17:45:00.000Z

Today I've been attempting to work from home, to have a bit of peace and to get stuck in to some work without having to travel in, because the big boss is away, and because I need some quiet time.

I did pretty much stock up on that yesterday though, as I spent most of the day in bed, and didn't get out of my pj's all day! Very much enjoyed Sally's birthday do on Saturday night (of which more here and here and pictures here). A good time was had by all, and Sally particularly liked the cream. Hee hee.

Can't believe we're in February already! I also can't believe that I now have four weddings this year (April, July, August and September). Who's going to get married in May and in June so that I can have one a month all summer... eh, come on...?!

Run out

2006-01-31T22:00:00.000Z

I've run out of blog inspiration, again!

It must be the lack of booze I think.

A pic though, from a walk around Docklands at the weekend:

and more inspired blogging to follow soon, promise!

Yeehaa... I'm back.

2006-01-24T00:22:00.000Z

Two bottles of wine and a packet of crisps.

And yes, it's Monday.

And yes, I'm going to have a hangover tomorrow.

And yes, I did just fall asleep on the DLR and had to change at Cutty Sark to get back on the right side of the river.

But still, I had Moeker to accompany me home, so what more could a girl want....

Relaxing

2006-01-22T19:10:00.000Z

Have found myself some relaxing time... although it did mean letting Na down and missing the first film night, which I'm not happy about, but I was in desperate need of doing some washing.

Anyway, have had some hilarious moments this weekend, Friday night was a cracker, with Marty and Rish. And don't worry, it's all Secret ;-)

Had a fab time at Pete and Helen's housewarming on Saturday too, and then a most relaxing walk in the fresh air of Trent Park today. And then of course the long drive home - but even that was ok because I managed to get in the slip stream of a fast BMW and cruise most of the way home following him! And there was the most beautiful sunset, but of course I couldn't get any photos because I was driving.

And I decided on balance that the pink all over was a bit too much, and have gone for a hybrid pink/purple look instead. Any thoughts?

Vegas Baby

2006-01-18T21:14:00.000Z

Na and I booked to go to Las Vegas for Easter weekend on Monday - and now I'm very very excited. So, imagine my glee when I realised that Ocean's Eleven is on ITV tonight... as it featured very heavily the Bellagio, which just happens to be where we're staying!

So, I'm watching it right now, with a big bowl of Ben and Jerrys and a big bowl of ice cream, having just finished a steak and dauphinoise potato dinner... perfect. Apart, that is, from the fact that I'm still working.

Generally, I see my job as a challenge, and encompass the long hours as part of that. It has however been just that little bit on the silly side recently, and I can only hope that once I've got a major event out of the way next week, things will be on the whole calmer... hopefully.

Bring on the Bellagio. Great pic of the fountains here.

And yes, the Blog has gone pink. Fancied a change for the new year, but I don't actually want it this pink - will play with the colours at some point. What do you think - too pink? Should it stay, should it go?? Annoyingly though I forgot to save the code for the template for the bits down the side, so it'll take me some time to get that back too.

Seeds

2006-01-15T20:41:00.000Z

Have had a great 'late Christmas' weekend with the girlies, just what I needed at the end of a hard week. My liver isn't too amused with me now though! Will need to give it a rest for a bit I think - well, until next Friday anyway!

There will be some photos, but I can't get them from camera to computer at the moment for some reason... so more soon!

Happy looking at the lights

2006-01-14T01:09:00.000Z

Naomi is currently passed out on my bed. But given it's 6'6" I reckon they'll be room for me.
She's currently trying to work out how the pretty lights from Habitat are staying on the wall. I've tried to explain it's about the nails, but she's not getting it, and is in fact now snoring in time with Stephen. That cannot be good.

Lost

2006-01-13T00:00:00.000Z

2005 has gone, and with it seems to have gone my creative blog ablility, I just can't think of anything interesting/funny/thoughtful to write. Although I have just got home from work after 10pm for the fourth night in a row, so that might have something to do with it!

I'm sure my inspiration will come back. In the meantime, you can have a laugh by checking out new photos here and a wonderful story about a pigeon here.

Oh, and the only newsworthy thing I can think of is that one of my best mates got engaged on New Year's Eve, and I'm going to be head bridesmaid at the wedding on 30th September. Cool.

Fabulous

2006-01-07T01:55:00.000Z

Someone told me today that they think I'm doing a fabulous job in my new role. I'm not so convinced. But, I am happy to accept an opinion which I trust. Most of the time I rely on instinct, intuition, and a little bit of luck, and it seems to be standing me in good stead so far!

Anyway, tonight I have been here and here with Richelle. Just because it's Friday. I love Fridays. And the best thing is, I can have a big fat lie in tomorrow. Yeah Baby!

Que?

2006-01-05T22:14:00.000Z

Usually I would resist commenting on such things, but I just can't hold this one back...

George Galloway on Celebrity Big Brother... WTF!?!

Oopps, and another...

2006-01-05T19:36:00.000Z

9. Complete the BBC Big Read Top 100 book list (which I've already been attempting for the past two years, I'm 45 books in!)

And another...

2006-01-04T21:28:00.000Z

8. Spend more time exploring London

An actual list

2006-01-03T20:50:00.000Z

I've reflected on the new year's resolution thing since yesterday, and I think I actually have enough to make a list...

1. Learn to play the sax
2. Learn to speak Italian again
3. Watch more films
4. Try to get less injuries
5. Make a good attempt at the ITEX walk
6. Do as much travelling as possible
7. Get more sleep

Seven seems a nice number. And I think there is a good chance that I'll be able to have a good go at all of them - come back on the 31st December to find out how I've done!

Happy New Year!

2006-01-02T22:09:00.000Z

So, welcome to 2006!

This was going to be a long post, peppered with pictures from my Flickr site of our wonderful weekend in Cornwall... but I've typed it out twice, and lost it twice, once due to my incompetence, and once due to Blogger misbehaving! So, I've kinda lost enthusiasm for it now!

However, there are lots of pics on Flick (link on the left, the pretty link technology code doesn't want to work today either!).

I had a truly fantastic weekend and a wonderful new year - thank you, Steve, Steve, Alex, Marty, Richelle, Sally, and Naomi, but especially thank you to Helen and Pete, for coming up with the idea in the first place, and for sharing their special bolt hole with us.

I hope that 2006 and brings lots of fun, merriment and good times.

I've decided (with the help of Steve D, hee hee) that my new year's resolution will be to start learning to play the saxophone. Just got to get one now!

Also, I'm going to watch more films, and try to get less feebish injuries!

Chilled

2005-12-28T15:49:00.000Z

So, I'm about to leave Jersey for a quick visit to London (and work) and then off again to Cornwall - weather permitting that is!!

I've blogged before about being in Jersey, leaving it, and my confusion about having two homes, and all that applies again. Apart from last time, it was warm and sunny, and now, it's wet and cold.

Still, I'm very much looking forward to New Year in Cornwall. Where I'll cook up some fantastic new year's resolutions and then post them on here to amuse you all!

Oh I do love to be beside the sea side...

2005-12-26T13:35:00.000Z

Happy Boxing Day. I hope all (few) of my readers have had a good Christmas and that you are looking forward to an excellent new year.

December has been a slightly philosophical blogging month for me, perhaps not conveying the joys and highlights of the festive month as much as I should have done, and concentrating on the stresses and traumas too much!

Ah well. A post on my new year's resolutions for 2006 will follow. In the meantime, I've had a great and relaxing Christmas, although it has taken me a long time to wind down!

Instinct

2005-12-18T21:12:00.000Z

Mad, bad, busy week...

Happy that I've been out three times drinking and not had a single hangover, but my week has been very dominated by work, and there's a whole lot more of that to come!

I can't think of a useful and entertaining blog entry, so I'm going to stop now. I am going to leave you with a few pictures though. I've seen a few cats this weekend, and they were all in a photogenic mood...

and finally, as I'm starting to feel just a tiny bit Christmassy...

More on Flickr, as usual

White Tie And Cognac

2005-12-13T00:54:00.000Z

Sometimes I wonder how I ended up here. I have a great job that I truly enjoy, despite the traumas, and sometimes I end up in the most fantastic situations at the most fantastic events and thank my lucky stars that I am where I am. If the 18 year old me could have had an insight in to where I would be now, she would be truly shocked.

Geekery

2005-12-11T18:48:00.000Z

Thanks to Ginger Rich I've added a bit of geekery here, including a site meter (hidden right at the bottom of the page) and the very cool Flickr flash badge, which shows off a nice selection of my fab (and usually drunken) photos.

Nice

Cheers Rich. I'll buy you an ice cream sometime ;-)

Seven

2005-12-11T13:06:00.000Z

Seven lists of seven things...

I found this here. Jo would probably be puzzled about how I came to find her site, and I’m not sure either, but I’ve been reading it for a while and find it very interesting…

So:

Seven things to do before I die

1. Buy a house
2. Get a Masters
3. Visit Madagascar and/or Mauritius
4. Spend at least 6 weeks travelling in America
5. Have children
6. Complete the ITEX walk
7. Learn to scuba dive

Seven things I cannot do

1. Dance
2. Play a musical instrument (although I am still vowing to learn to play the sax)
3. Sing
4. Play any sport which involves balls
5. Touch my toes
6. Jump and tap my heels together a la Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz
7. Drink whiskey, tequila or Aftershock without being very sick

Seven things that would attract me to my spouse if I had one

1. Nice legs (the bandy thing)
2. Nice hands
3. Nice eyes
4. A nice smile
5. A good sense of humour
6. Being a ‘foodie’
7. Being loving and caring and thoughtful, especially in times of need

Seven things I say most often

1. Exactly
2. Well, quite
3. Cool
4. Rubbish
5. Thank you
6. Hang on…
7. (I’m a bit stuck now… this is the kind of thing that I don’t notice, but others will – any suggestions?)

Seven books (or series or authors) I love

1. Goodnight Mr Tom
2. John Grisham
3. Harry Potter
4. Tony Parsons
5. Catherine Alliot
6. Auto biographies and biographies, generally
7. Bridget Jones (I love the films, but the books are better)

Seven movies I watch over and over again (or would watch over and over if I had the time - I’m expanding this to include TV series)

1. Four Weddings and a Funeral
2. Love Actually
3. The Lion King
4. Shawshank Redemption
5. This Life
6. Friends
7. Jonathon Creek

Seven people I want to join in, too

1. Tania
2. Rich
3. Naomi
4. The Midlander
5. Steve
6. Marty
7. Kev

When life goes on

2005-12-08T22:43:00.000Z

I’ve been working on this post for some time, which is unusual for me, because usually I start up Blogger, write what I’m thinking down, spell check it, and that’s it (apart from when I’m drunk, when I usually miss the spellcheck out, but the magic ‘you can spell and be coherent when you’re drunk’ fairy seems to sort it out anyway!)

I often ponder how different people cope with the challenges that life throws at them. Some just get on with it, some crumble, some get very bitter, some become hysterical or come to rely on drink or drugs. I can’t work out what distinguishes which way each person will go. I also can’t work out how some people are consistently ‘copers’ and some are not.

I’ve faced a reasonable amount of times where I’ve needed to ‘just cope’ in my life, particularly recently but also in various phases, especially in my teens. I think there is something about your natural outlook and make up which makes you resilient (or not) to the little, and rather more than little, challenges.

I’m a coper… but I do wobble. And how do I cope with the wobbles? How do I cope with coping? Maybe I’m too inclined to rely on a drop of the hard stuff at the moment – but this wasn’t always the way. And I seek comfort in the fact that the hard stuff is always accompanied by good company. I’m naturally a fairly closed person. It takes a lot to get out of me how I really feel about something. I’m bubbly, bouncy and generally not fazed by much. I’m more or less unflappable in a crisis. You really have to push me to get me angry, upset or emotional. But doesn’t that mean that all those feelings, which naturally exist, are therefore suppressed inside me?

I've pickled my liver

2005-12-06T23:37:00.000Z

This is in tribute to Kelly, Sarah and Verity, who I’ve spent a wonderful evening with, but they’ve been moaning that they can’t spend enough time with me in the future because I’m booked every Saturday night in January so far (and most of the rest of December is written off with various Christmas parties).

This is bad. But it’s also good. I’ve spent a reasonable amount of time recently thinking about me, who I am, the challenges I face and the things I enjoy, and what I want for the future (partly fuelled by “20 Something, 20 Everything – a Quarter-Life Woman’s Guide to Balance and Direction” – and yes, I know it sounds like clap-trap, but it’s actually really good). My Dad says I always face challenges head on, and he’s right. I love being challenged. But I also love the support, companionship and understanding of my friends. I mean friends in the widest sense. I have some wonderful people in my life, and I frequently ponder that I am so very lucky to have them. Part of the reason that I’m “booked up” until February is because I have lots of different groups of friends, and I really love that. You all give me a different perspective on my life - those who read my blog and those who don’t; those who I work with and those I don’t; those who knew me at school and those who didn’t; those who knew me at uni and those who didn’t; those who have only ever seen me existing on the precipice of drunkenness that I currently occupy, and those who knew me in my more sober, less hedonistic days…. Those who are now reading this and thinking “Hang on, it’s Tuesday. She’s drunk again. Oh dear”

Three gloopy sauces, two hot dogs and a partridge in a pear tree

2005-12-02T00:16:00.000Z

Sing it and it'll make sense.

How did it get to be the 1st of December already, that's what I want to know!

Anyway, fab Moeker gig tonight... Marty - thank you for the song dedication to me, Tania and Rich (and Pete and Helen in their absence). It really was appreciated. I've had a rubbish day and a Moeker gig is always a great chance to have a laugh and feel a bit normal again. AND I didn't fall down the stairs this time, although the cheering and cajoling was nearly as embarrassing as the falling was last time!

Although, I have an odd feeling of contrast from the last time I walked home from a Moeker gig and then blogged (check out my "Gig... It's all good" post from Friday 2 September in the September archive as I can't get a link to it to work right). Mainly because it was summer then and I was more carefree.

And now it's winter and I'm stressed... and I have to be up in 5 hours. Wicked.

Tania, Rich, Steve and Sally - you're stars. Thank you.

Some pics from tonight here.

D-r-o-w-n-i-n-g

2005-11-29T22:45:00.000Z

Today I feel like I'm drowning in a sea of paper, work, complications and confusions. It was predictable that this week would be a difficult one. Still, I'm getting good support from those who should be supporting me so I'm happy with that.

I'm also happy with my new flatscreen, although the colour is slightly odd.

And I'm also happy with this. As I'm a bit lacking in inspiration to come up with anything funny, I thought I'd link to this, as it made me laugh out loud - thank you Tania - although of course I'm not laughing at your pain!

Sleep

2005-11-27T01:24:00.000Z

Today I had the best sleep in ever. I didn't get up until 2pm. It would be fair to say that the earplugs I was wearing helped, but the sleep was clearly much needed. But, now I'm drunk again, no surprise there then.

I'm also massively scared about the week ahead. I just hope that by this time next week (when incidentally I'll be in Brussels) I can look back on the week (I'll no doubt be drunk by then too) and be happy.