Heather came home today for the long weekend. She gave me the URL for this really cool website dedicated to 80's children's programmes. Anna and I have just spent the last two hours downloading theme tunes and intro video clips, singing and bopping along like crazy to Muppet Babies, The Family Ness, The Racoons, Thundercats...
Join in the fun at 80's Cartoons and don't forget to sign the petition to allow the Mysterious Cities of Gold to be released on DVD! "Children of the sun, your time has just begun..." (singing into the distance)
Friday, April 29, 2005
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Surprise DVD
Anna went to see Rooster play at the Astoria tonight so Rosemary and I decide to have a sort of 'girls night in'. We have dinner, lots of ice cream, and decide to watch a DVD. Rosemary says she wants to put on a 'surprise DVD' which means that I have to close my eyes while she picks a film and puts it in the player. I willingly shut my eyes and think about what we'll probably have to watch. Immediate thoughts went to Mean Girls, the newest version of Freaky Friday, Big Fat Liar... the usual favourites. She tells me to open my eyes and she couldn't possibly have been beaming any wider. The film she picked? The 1976 musical, The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella starring Richard Chamberlain and Gemma Craven.
Rosemary can't get enough of this film. It's astonishing to say the least. I used to watch this film as a child nearly every Sunday afternoon at my grandparents... and that was a long time ago...!!
Rosemary can't get enough of this film. It's astonishing to say the least. I used to watch this film as a child nearly every Sunday afternoon at my grandparents... and that was a long time ago...!!
Friday, April 22, 2005
Election stance
The country's election campaign has come halfway and is all anyone can talk about. Being a local authority, we have strict rules and regulations about talking politics and projecting views that may be contrary to how we are supposed to be represented. The idea is to take a completely neutral stance and work arms-length from political thought.
This is pretty difficult when all people are talking about is the forthcoming election and whether Labour will actually secure a third term, comfortable or otherwise. I think its a tough one myself. People are generally disillusioned with the Labour govt., especially after the whole Iraq experience. And Labour used to be very left-wing, almost Socialist before they became 'New Labour' in 1997. Now they are slowly but surely edging to the right. I think they might actually be more Conservative than the Conservatives are...
On the other hand, we have an unrealistic manifesto produced by the Conservatives, which seems to be putting more money into public spending but gaining less money in taxes. Tax less, more public spending. Great... but where is all the money being spent on public services coming from...? The figures don't add up well. I'm guessing they hope to bring money in from property ownership, since their roots are essentially from the middle and upper class landowners.
The Liberal Democrats are a different story. They seem to be perfectly balanced on the fence between the Conservatives and Labour, but are perhaps a little more right-wing than they want to appear. Most of their campaigning is going into social services and help for the elderly and students, the two areas where they gain the most votes. It's certainly a nice comeback for the Lib Dems in any case, having gained a good following to almost the heights that they had before the downfall of Gladstone's Home Rule policy*.
I honestly have no idea who I'm going to be voting for. I think I need to read the BBC Election Guide a bit more...
* An afterthought for those dusty on their British politics! This policy designed for Northern Ireland split the party in 1886 and created the Liberal Unionists. Later, they joined the Conservatives to boost Parliamentary pulling power, thus making the Tories what they are today - the Conservative and Unionist Party. And to think I thought History A level was a waste of time!!
This is pretty difficult when all people are talking about is the forthcoming election and whether Labour will actually secure a third term, comfortable or otherwise. I think its a tough one myself. People are generally disillusioned with the Labour govt., especially after the whole Iraq experience. And Labour used to be very left-wing, almost Socialist before they became 'New Labour' in 1997. Now they are slowly but surely edging to the right. I think they might actually be more Conservative than the Conservatives are...
On the other hand, we have an unrealistic manifesto produced by the Conservatives, which seems to be putting more money into public spending but gaining less money in taxes. Tax less, more public spending. Great... but where is all the money being spent on public services coming from...? The figures don't add up well. I'm guessing they hope to bring money in from property ownership, since their roots are essentially from the middle and upper class landowners.
The Liberal Democrats are a different story. They seem to be perfectly balanced on the fence between the Conservatives and Labour, but are perhaps a little more right-wing than they want to appear. Most of their campaigning is going into social services and help for the elderly and students, the two areas where they gain the most votes. It's certainly a nice comeback for the Lib Dems in any case, having gained a good following to almost the heights that they had before the downfall of Gladstone's Home Rule policy*.
I honestly have no idea who I'm going to be voting for. I think I need to read the BBC Election Guide a bit more...
* An afterthought for those dusty on their British politics! This policy designed for Northern Ireland split the party in 1886 and created the Liberal Unionists. Later, they joined the Conservatives to boost Parliamentary pulling power, thus making the Tories what they are today - the Conservative and Unionist Party. And to think I thought History A level was a waste of time!!
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Left standing
One of the managers came in today and announced that our section's desks were being moved into another office on 5th May. "You don't have to move yourself or your filing though," he said. "It's just desks and chairs, and the PCs so I.T. can hook them up."
I tried to look as if I understood, but I didn't. How on earth am I supposed to be able to work unless I move with my desk? Stand in the gap where my desk used to be?
I tried to look as if I understood, but I didn't. How on earth am I supposed to be able to work unless I move with my desk? Stand in the gap where my desk used to be?
Monday, April 18, 2005
Anna for MP
Anna delighted me this evening with her plans for benefit claims. In light of all the election fuss going on, Anna has decided that she wants her voice to be heard... Well, by me in any case!
She decided that people who claimed for housing benefits should no longer get it. "Why can single women just get pregnant and then be given a house by the Council, rent free?" she moaned. "And then they claim for child benefit support to pay for babysitters, but they don't use them, just pocket the money. And then they get money to send their child to playgroup, and they get money to pay for food..." She trailed off exasperated by her own opinion before launching into much more of the same, including people who claim for housing benefit and can't be bothered to find work... Or people who are given money to help themselves but just spend it on designer gear and cigarettes.
While she was drawing breath, I pointed out that abusing the system would bar people from being able to claim. I got 'The Look' and decided to keep quiet. Obviously abusing the system isn't being accounted for. This could go on all night... This is why I usually don't talk about specific political issues in the public arena!
Anna was only half-serious though. I think she just enjoyed at being able to pick on an issue and then just running with it. I really haven't a clue about the in's and out's of benefit claim... and, to be honest, I don't think she does either!!
She decided that people who claimed for housing benefits should no longer get it. "Why can single women just get pregnant and then be given a house by the Council, rent free?" she moaned. "And then they claim for child benefit support to pay for babysitters, but they don't use them, just pocket the money. And then they get money to send their child to playgroup, and they get money to pay for food..." She trailed off exasperated by her own opinion before launching into much more of the same, including people who claim for housing benefit and can't be bothered to find work... Or people who are given money to help themselves but just spend it on designer gear and cigarettes.
While she was drawing breath, I pointed out that abusing the system would bar people from being able to claim. I got 'The Look' and decided to keep quiet. Obviously abusing the system isn't being accounted for. This could go on all night... This is why I usually don't talk about specific political issues in the public arena!
Anna was only half-serious though. I think she just enjoyed at being able to pick on an issue and then just running with it. I really haven't a clue about the in's and out's of benefit claim... and, to be honest, I don't think she does either!!
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Football hooliganism
I haven't written for ages... So this is just to show I'm still alive but not doing much! Work is incredibly hectic at the moment and leaving very little time to do anything other than eat, sleep and then go to work again.
I did want to point out though that football hooliganism is not restricted to just the English. The AC Milan v. Inter Milan match yesterday proved that it is very much alive in other countries too... For those of you who don't know what happened, flares were thrown on to the pitch and one caught the shoulder of a goalkeeper, subsequently hospitalising him. The TV cameras saw the flare begin to spark and spun as it bounced off the goalkeeper's shoulder, possibly throwing sparks into his face. It was an appalling scene of hooliganism.
I would like to point out that I'm not tarring everyone with the same brush. I just wanted to highlight that while the FA is barring English football fans from travelling left, right and centre, they should be using the same power to acknowledge that other countries have just as many 'bad eggs'.
Maybe I should be directing this at the FA...?
I did want to point out though that football hooliganism is not restricted to just the English. The AC Milan v. Inter Milan match yesterday proved that it is very much alive in other countries too... For those of you who don't know what happened, flares were thrown on to the pitch and one caught the shoulder of a goalkeeper, subsequently hospitalising him. The TV cameras saw the flare begin to spark and spun as it bounced off the goalkeeper's shoulder, possibly throwing sparks into his face. It was an appalling scene of hooliganism.
I would like to point out that I'm not tarring everyone with the same brush. I just wanted to highlight that while the FA is barring English football fans from travelling left, right and centre, they should be using the same power to acknowledge that other countries have just as many 'bad eggs'.
Maybe I should be directing this at the FA...?
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Pete and Tara's Wedding
I woke up unnecessarily early this morning (8am). The original plan was to be out of the house by 10am so I could pick up Mina and have time to drive to Felstead, get ready, and be at Leez before the 2pm ceremony. As I no longer need to do the detour, I find myself arriving at 11.30am, leaving plenty of time to get ready. The place itself is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Off the M11 at Stansted, past the airport, and ten minutes of narrow country lanes. I'm very much a city gal and don't like winding country lanes! Felstead is pretty much blink-and-you-miss-it, a tiny little lane of about 20-odd houses and two pubs opposite each other!!
I get ready, watch a little Grand Prix (go Jenson!!) and then head out to Leez Priory with two other guests at the B&B, Natalie and Gwyn. Apparently Natalie went to OLC with me for about a year and a half but for the life of me I couldn't remember her from school. She was easy to get on with and we chatted a lot about the school and the people we could remember!
The venue was gorgeous. Its an old country manor, looks like a castle, and dates back to about 1227 (or so the picture in the bar said!). The ceremony was held at the top of the tower, which was separate from the rest of the building. The entrance was up a winding staircase which proved difficult to negotiate in both directions. How Tara managed it in her long wedding gown I have no idea!! She looked very pretty in a long strapless ivory satin and lace number, and the wedding party all wore ivory and burgundy, except Tara's niece Elizabeth, who wore a little white dress and was the life and soul of the speeches over dinner!
The wedding itself was short and sweet: a reading and declaration of vows. No additional readings, hymns, sit-stand-sit again fuss - just the bare minimal legal duties and niceties. The head bridesmaid was another ex-OLC student, Jane, who I could remember!! In any case, everyone seemed to know who I was, even if I didn't know them. It was like, "You must be Clare, I'm so-and-so," and I'd be like "Oh, yeah..." and be totally confused. I'm thinking that somewhere along the line, someone has said, "Clare is tall and on her own - please talk to her!"
Andy turned up after the ceremony, just in time to get his face in all the photos (typically!). He confessed to very nearly not turning up due to illness and no local doctor to prescribe him antibiotics, but being the trooper he is, stayed until the evening before heading back to Nottingham. It was nice to have someone there who I knew and could talk to for the majority of the time in any case. There weren't many photos for the guests - most of them were just the wedding party and direct relations - so there was plenty of time to amble around the lake and take in the scenery and grounds. Wine and chocolate-dipped strawberries circulated around the crowd of guests while Tara and Pete did a tour of the grounds in a horse-drawn carriage. I thought it was a bit aimless but was pointedly told by Andrew that it was supposed to be romantic. I guess I don't have the romance gene...
Dinner and speeches came and went and everyone headed off to the bar. Andy left about 8pm (after Tara had had a chat and gawp!) and about 8.30pm, we all trooped into the small hall for the first dance. As soon as that was over, other couples started to join in but a small group of us headed back to the bar, where we stayed for the majority of the evening. More and more people drifted in and it transpired that the DJ spent most of the evening sitting on his own in the hall! But this was pretty much an Irish wedding - the bar was gonna be the highlight of the day!
Eventually it all ended at 12am and I cabbed back to the B&B in Felstead with Natalie and Gwyn. Photos will be available for people to gawp at on the couple's website here (so make a note for later!!).
I get ready, watch a little Grand Prix (go Jenson!!) and then head out to Leez Priory with two other guests at the B&B, Natalie and Gwyn. Apparently Natalie went to OLC with me for about a year and a half but for the life of me I couldn't remember her from school. She was easy to get on with and we chatted a lot about the school and the people we could remember!
The venue was gorgeous. Its an old country manor, looks like a castle, and dates back to about 1227 (or so the picture in the bar said!). The ceremony was held at the top of the tower, which was separate from the rest of the building. The entrance was up a winding staircase which proved difficult to negotiate in both directions. How Tara managed it in her long wedding gown I have no idea!! She looked very pretty in a long strapless ivory satin and lace number, and the wedding party all wore ivory and burgundy, except Tara's niece Elizabeth, who wore a little white dress and was the life and soul of the speeches over dinner!
The wedding itself was short and sweet: a reading and declaration of vows. No additional readings, hymns, sit-stand-sit again fuss - just the bare minimal legal duties and niceties. The head bridesmaid was another ex-OLC student, Jane, who I could remember!! In any case, everyone seemed to know who I was, even if I didn't know them. It was like, "You must be Clare, I'm so-and-so," and I'd be like "Oh, yeah..." and be totally confused. I'm thinking that somewhere along the line, someone has said, "Clare is tall and on her own - please talk to her!"
Andy turned up after the ceremony, just in time to get his face in all the photos (typically!). He confessed to very nearly not turning up due to illness and no local doctor to prescribe him antibiotics, but being the trooper he is, stayed until the evening before heading back to Nottingham. It was nice to have someone there who I knew and could talk to for the majority of the time in any case. There weren't many photos for the guests - most of them were just the wedding party and direct relations - so there was plenty of time to amble around the lake and take in the scenery and grounds. Wine and chocolate-dipped strawberries circulated around the crowd of guests while Tara and Pete did a tour of the grounds in a horse-drawn carriage. I thought it was a bit aimless but was pointedly told by Andrew that it was supposed to be romantic. I guess I don't have the romance gene...
Dinner and speeches came and went and everyone headed off to the bar. Andy left about 8pm (after Tara had had a chat and gawp!) and about 8.30pm, we all trooped into the small hall for the first dance. As soon as that was over, other couples started to join in but a small group of us headed back to the bar, where we stayed for the majority of the evening. More and more people drifted in and it transpired that the DJ spent most of the evening sitting on his own in the hall! But this was pretty much an Irish wedding - the bar was gonna be the highlight of the day!
Eventually it all ended at 12am and I cabbed back to the B&B in Felstead with Natalie and Gwyn. Photos will be available for people to gawp at on the couple's website here (so make a note for later!!).
Friday, April 01, 2005
Clare plus One
I need someone to go to Tara's wedding with. Mina had to pull out so I have the option of going alone and only knowing the bride and groom, or I can bring someone with me. When Tara calls me to tell me I can bring someone else, I start racking alternatives through my head and eventually manage to sweet-talk Andrew into coming with me. He just so happens to be within the vicinity of London over the weekend and will attempt to make it! Now I have to decide what to wear...
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