We are in Napa so the only thing we can do is... wine tasting!! We picked up a flyer that has free or complimentary tasting 'flights' and circled all of them on the map. There are literally 100 wineries and vineyards all along Napa, St Helens, Yountville and Calistoga, so we were picking and choosing!
First stop was a chocolate shop, Annette's, where Jenny purchases a box of chocolates and a bottle of port chocolate sauce, which was a little strong for my liking. We then head into the Valley.
We went to five where we got free tastings, one of which we bought bottles of gorgeously-sweet wine and some equally gorgeous-tasting cheese! We then went to the Frank Family winery where I announced I had had enough wine for one day. It was hot, I hadn't eaten properly, and I'm downing all kinds of wine without any water inbetween! Jenny bought bottles here too, before we headed to Sterling, our last stop for the day. We took the cable car up the hillside to the winery at the top. We did the short walking tour of the winery, looking at the presses and barrels, before our last tasting of the day. I purchased wine here too because it was too scrumptious and I want Napa Valley wine in the my cupboard!!
In the afternoon, searching for a light snack in Calistoga, Jenny dropped in on a family friend who offered us use of her house until she had finished work. So we had a Napa Salad to share and went to the house, just a short drive away from Calistoga and the Petrified Forest. The house was cool as were Joe and Jean. They offered us dinner and we shared the chocolates bought this morning. Jenny took advantage of the port on offer while Joe and I had some Jim Beam and Glenfiddich! :) We arranged to meet again in San Francisco for lunch before departing... and I feel a little bit sick from all the alcohol consumption!
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Day 4 - San Simeon to Napa
We drove from San Simeon up towards Vallejo, past Berkeley and into Napa Valley... or so we thought. The 80 veered left and suddenly we're on a bridge.
Clare: "I thought we were gonna hit the bridge a bit later."
Jenny: "If you look to the left you should be able to see the Golden Gate Bridge."
Clare: "I can't see anything on your left!"
Jenny: "Oh look! There it is on the right!"
Clare: "But... if it's on the right, that means..."
I look up from my map and see tower blocks coming into view.
Clare: "We're on the Bay Bridge heading into San Francisco!"
Jenny: "...Fancy lunch?"
So we have lunch in San Francisco. Which has nothing to do with my map reading skills. Neither of us saw the 80 offering a right-turn away from San Francisco and into the direction we wanted to go. We reckon its a conspiracy to make people go to San Francisco and pay the Bay Bridge toll.
After lunch we head to Walgreens as my watch battery has ticked its last tock. The shopkeeper validates our parking ticket and we purchase a cheap purple watch (which incidently glows in the dark) and hair dye!!
Back in the car, we successfully navigate our way to Napa Valley and check into the motel. We then search the brochures and find a cool French cafe by the riverside called Angelos. I order a bottle of water which bills as $7. I am horrified when Jenny tells me this. However, there's still a long way to go before I catch up with her $130 mistake. :) The food was gorgeous though, and we had soup and salad, a cheese 'platter' to share (it could hardly be called a platter when there was only four bitesized portions of cheese, some honey and a thin slice of apple) and fruity cocktails.
Our wallets worse for wear, we head back to the motel and dye our hair. I dye Jenny's hair a shocking red, which is actually only a bit shocking where her former highlights have soaked up the dye. I then dye my own hair blonder so it looks sunkissed for a while when I'm back at work. However, there was somoe bad news - Jenny's hair dye turned the white towel pink. And the colour stain refused to come out. We hid it among other white towels and hope we don't get billed for it!
TOTAL MILES (including the San Francisco detour): 259.83
Clare: "I thought we were gonna hit the bridge a bit later."
Jenny: "If you look to the left you should be able to see the Golden Gate Bridge."
Clare: "I can't see anything on your left!"
Jenny: "Oh look! There it is on the right!"
Clare: "But... if it's on the right, that means..."
I look up from my map and see tower blocks coming into view.
Clare: "We're on the Bay Bridge heading into San Francisco!"
Jenny: "...Fancy lunch?"
So we have lunch in San Francisco. Which has nothing to do with my map reading skills. Neither of us saw the 80 offering a right-turn away from San Francisco and into the direction we wanted to go. We reckon its a conspiracy to make people go to San Francisco and pay the Bay Bridge toll.
After lunch we head to Walgreens as my watch battery has ticked its last tock. The shopkeeper validates our parking ticket and we purchase a cheap purple watch (which incidently glows in the dark) and hair dye!!
Back in the car, we successfully navigate our way to Napa Valley and check into the motel. We then search the brochures and find a cool French cafe by the riverside called Angelos. I order a bottle of water which bills as $7. I am horrified when Jenny tells me this. However, there's still a long way to go before I catch up with her $130 mistake. :) The food was gorgeous though, and we had soup and salad, a cheese 'platter' to share (it could hardly be called a platter when there was only four bitesized portions of cheese, some honey and a thin slice of apple) and fruity cocktails.
Our wallets worse for wear, we head back to the motel and dye our hair. I dye Jenny's hair a shocking red, which is actually only a bit shocking where her former highlights have soaked up the dye. I then dye my own hair blonder so it looks sunkissed for a while when I'm back at work. However, there was somoe bad news - Jenny's hair dye turned the white towel pink. And the colour stain refused to come out. We hid it among other white towels and hope we don't get billed for it!
TOTAL MILES (including the San Francisco detour): 259.83
Monday, April 17, 2006
Day 3 - Hearst Castle
The reason we are staying in San Simeon - Hearst Castle! Though its strictly not a castle, but a large mansion on the hilltop of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Its name is Casa Grande and is full of Spanish and Italian antiques and art. Its a 5-mile bus ride up to the top and has some really great views over the Pacific Ocean. Though we booked for 10am, we got an earlier tour at 8:45am and even that group was only half the usual amount! We got a tour that showed some of the rooms and the main gardens, but apparently there are also night tours which show a bit more of the house. It was freezing nonetheless. I think its warmer in England right now...!
After the castle we still had most of the day to kill so we headed into Cambria, a small town down the road from San Simeon. We decide on the spur of the moment to get pedicures, but the one place in town was closed due to a family emergency. Slightly put down, we then decide to purchase nail stuff and colour our hair. In both drug stores, we find only four hair colourants and its a permanent dye. But we do find funky nail polish!
We stop for lunch and I have the largest Caesar salad known to mankind. It came in a mixing bowl! And Jenny had equally large onion rings with her lunch, so big they looked as if they had been made around a drinking mug!
We head back to the motel to do our nails. Half a bottle of cheap wine and an episode of Prison Break later, I have a full set of green toenails out of a bottle called Kermit. Yep, Kermit green toes. Nice! It was very thin polish though and took three coats before it was noticeable. I couldn't be bothered with any more coats of polish and just lay there, chilled out.
Late evening we felt peckish and stopped at a seafood restuarant, the Mantra Ray, where I had the nicest piece of salmon ever! We tried to watch the sunset but it was way too cold and we killed the rest of the evening by starting a comic strip of our 'adventures' for Melissa. Jenny has the job of inking them and scanning them to the travel blog!
After the castle we still had most of the day to kill so we headed into Cambria, a small town down the road from San Simeon. We decide on the spur of the moment to get pedicures, but the one place in town was closed due to a family emergency. Slightly put down, we then decide to purchase nail stuff and colour our hair. In both drug stores, we find only four hair colourants and its a permanent dye. But we do find funky nail polish!
We stop for lunch and I have the largest Caesar salad known to mankind. It came in a mixing bowl! And Jenny had equally large onion rings with her lunch, so big they looked as if they had been made around a drinking mug!
We head back to the motel to do our nails. Half a bottle of cheap wine and an episode of Prison Break later, I have a full set of green toenails out of a bottle called Kermit. Yep, Kermit green toes. Nice! It was very thin polish though and took three coats before it was noticeable. I couldn't be bothered with any more coats of polish and just lay there, chilled out.
Late evening we felt peckish and stopped at a seafood restuarant, the Mantra Ray, where I had the nicest piece of salmon ever! We tried to watch the sunset but it was way too cold and we killed the rest of the evening by starting a comic strip of our 'adventures' for Melissa. Jenny has the job of inking them and scanning them to the travel blog!
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Day 2 - Santa Barbara to San Simeon
I woke up at a decent time of 8.30am and had a breakfast of cereal and pastries... Apparently, iced pastries and sweetments are normal breakfast fare in motels and hotels!
Thanks to our error of initially driving in the wrong direction for dinner last night, we found a quicker route to the 101 and started our journey to San Simeon along the coastline and through the hills. The scenery was very green and quite breathtaking sometimes. It was a little bit like Scotland.
On the way, we stopped at Solvang, an American Danish village. Not a bit of Lederhosen or Buckwurst to be seen, though we did take pictures of the Viking Motel and its decorative roof! And of course we sampled some Danish pastries!!
We arrived at San Simeon late afternoon and check into the Quality Inn, across the road from the sea front. It is freezing. I wish I'd brought my jacket now! We drink cheap wine and eat 'bunny' cake, and decide on a plan for the rest of the week. Jenny hasn't booked anything else for the week, so we come up with a plan and spend about an hour looking for motels and booking them at the cheapest price we can find in the AAA book. Not too cheap though, or we'll be staying in unsecure dumps!
We take an evening stroll along the beach and our toes turn purple with cold before we decide to eat, stopping at a Mexican place and having a whole spread of food!!
TOTAL MILES: 141.19
Thanks to our error of initially driving in the wrong direction for dinner last night, we found a quicker route to the 101 and started our journey to San Simeon along the coastline and through the hills. The scenery was very green and quite breathtaking sometimes. It was a little bit like Scotland.
On the way, we stopped at Solvang, an American Danish village. Not a bit of Lederhosen or Buckwurst to be seen, though we did take pictures of the Viking Motel and its decorative roof! And of course we sampled some Danish pastries!!
We arrived at San Simeon late afternoon and check into the Quality Inn, across the road from the sea front. It is freezing. I wish I'd brought my jacket now! We drink cheap wine and eat 'bunny' cake, and decide on a plan for the rest of the week. Jenny hasn't booked anything else for the week, so we come up with a plan and spend about an hour looking for motels and booking them at the cheapest price we can find in the AAA book. Not too cheap though, or we'll be staying in unsecure dumps!
We take an evening stroll along the beach and our toes turn purple with cold before we decide to eat, stopping at a Mexican place and having a whole spread of food!!
TOTAL MILES: 141.19
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Day 1 - Los Angeles to Santa Barbara
I arrive in Los Angeles, slightly bedraggled but okay. I have just survived a 10-hour flight with zero knee crushing from the seat in front, so it was a good flight! Jenny greets me (after observing lots of people arriving with surfboards in very large cases) and we head out to the rental car we will be living in for the next week. In a word, it is ginormous! Its a brand new Dodge Charger with the widest dashboard you ever did see. "I was thinking about your leg room" Jenny offered, but it also means I will not attempt on any account to drive the car. Even though I can legally. So we immediately hit the road to Sata Barbara. I don't feel jetlagged. It's weird.
We arrive at the Sandpiper Motel and check in. Well... What happens is that Jenny hands over the confirmation email and the desk clerk looks a little perplexed and then says, "This is for last night. Do you have a booking for today?"
Jenny's face is one of complete horror. She's accidently booked Friday night instead of Saturday night! She explains her mistake and manages to get another room but she has to pay the full price again - another whole $130. The desk clerk says she might be able to get $50 back if she calls the manager on Monday and explains the situation.
We dump our stuff in the motel room, Jenny muttering about the cock-up and the money. All I can offer in my partially jetlagged state is that if this is the worst thing that can happen to us, it can't all be bad. We flip through brochures, leaflets, and the motel's advertisements and find a restuarant on the seafront called Eladio's. I really want to eat there, just for the name. You know? "Eladio! You are El Chupacabra!!"
We head for the coast (initially in the wrong direction) and find the restuarant. Except we expected Spanish or Mexican food and it was Italian. The food was good but the serving was way too big. And very garlicky. I think the burger was more garlic than meat!
All I have left to say about the day was that it was cold. I mean the temperature was good, around 15, but the wind was cold. I'm glad I brought my zip-up hoodie.
TOTAL MILES: 102.55
We arrive at the Sandpiper Motel and check in. Well... What happens is that Jenny hands over the confirmation email and the desk clerk looks a little perplexed and then says, "This is for last night. Do you have a booking for today?"
Jenny's face is one of complete horror. She's accidently booked Friday night instead of Saturday night! She explains her mistake and manages to get another room but she has to pay the full price again - another whole $130. The desk clerk says she might be able to get $50 back if she calls the manager on Monday and explains the situation.
We dump our stuff in the motel room, Jenny muttering about the cock-up and the money. All I can offer in my partially jetlagged state is that if this is the worst thing that can happen to us, it can't all be bad. We flip through brochures, leaflets, and the motel's advertisements and find a restuarant on the seafront called Eladio's. I really want to eat there, just for the name. You know? "Eladio! You are El Chupacabra!!"
We head for the coast (initially in the wrong direction) and find the restuarant. Except we expected Spanish or Mexican food and it was Italian. The food was good but the serving was way too big. And very garlicky. I think the burger was more garlic than meat!
All I have left to say about the day was that it was cold. I mean the temperature was good, around 15, but the wind was cold. I'm glad I brought my zip-up hoodie.
TOTAL MILES: 102.55
Friday, April 07, 2006
A Series of (Un)Fortunate(?) Events
So, today was pretty eventful.
1. First up, it's Pete's birthday today. I'm disappointed to hear he's not throwing some wild and lavish bash but that's not the reason I'm not going to see him. We have already made plans to pick up rellies from Purley and take them to Tottenham. A long trip and one we cannot cancel. So, maybe another time Pete...?
2. An email came around saying that Bisi, the long-suffering temp receptionist who faces the sack at the end of the month, has found another job in Homes for Islington (with some colleagues from my college course, funnily enough!) so she will be leaving us shortly.
3. Another email then came around confirming once and for all that my senior is indeed leaving us for Lordship Lane. She said that she knew some of us were glad she was leaving and so was she. I was very very tempted to reply-all on the email and tell her that we were ALL glad she was leaving, not just some!! But I didn't.
4. Dad called me at work and asked if I was coming over today. I said no, I was meaning to come over next Friday, Good Friday, as I'm not here for Easter. He said okay and hung up. Weird...
5. Then, early in the evening, my Dad came over with Pam. It would appear that they're 'thinking' about getting married. But since Pam has a ring and they're telling everyone about it, I'm guessing that 'thinking' is now replaced with 'doing'. They then wanted to know if I was happy for them...
So yeah, eventful day...
1. First up, it's Pete's birthday today. I'm disappointed to hear he's not throwing some wild and lavish bash but that's not the reason I'm not going to see him. We have already made plans to pick up rellies from Purley and take them to Tottenham. A long trip and one we cannot cancel. So, maybe another time Pete...?
2. An email came around saying that Bisi, the long-suffering temp receptionist who faces the sack at the end of the month, has found another job in Homes for Islington (with some colleagues from my college course, funnily enough!) so she will be leaving us shortly.
3. Another email then came around confirming once and for all that my senior is indeed leaving us for Lordship Lane. She said that she knew some of us were glad she was leaving and so was she. I was very very tempted to reply-all on the email and tell her that we were ALL glad she was leaving, not just some!! But I didn't.
4. Dad called me at work and asked if I was coming over today. I said no, I was meaning to come over next Friday, Good Friday, as I'm not here for Easter. He said okay and hung up. Weird...
5. Then, early in the evening, my Dad came over with Pam. It would appear that they're 'thinking' about getting married. But since Pam has a ring and they're telling everyone about it, I'm guessing that 'thinking' is now replaced with 'doing'. They then wanted to know if I was happy for them...
So yeah, eventful day...
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Bienvenue d'Angleterre
Reuben's uncle and aunt came over from Mauritius this evening - that is, his real uncle and aunt, not his uncle and aunt twice removed or the cousin of his parents...
Anyway, its the first time they've ever been abroad and Reuben hadn't seen them for eight years since he was last in Mauritius, so we picked up his parents and headed off to the airport. Hugs and air-kissing ensued and everyone spoke French. All evening. I felt like a lemon, catching only the odd word here and there, and by the time I had processed what the words meant, the conversation had already moved on. Wish I'd spent more time listening to Madame Gill now!
Anyway, its the first time they've ever been abroad and Reuben hadn't seen them for eight years since he was last in Mauritius, so we picked up his parents and headed off to the airport. Hugs and air-kissing ensued and everyone spoke French. All evening. I felt like a lemon, catching only the odd word here and there, and by the time I had processed what the words meant, the conversation had already moved on. Wish I'd spent more time listening to Madame Gill now!
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
And then there were eight
I can't believe Sir Alan voted Jo off in The Apprentice. He loves that woman, only because she's an absolute nutter! The other women can sense her popularity I think, so they bring her into the room at every opportunity in an attempt to get rid of her. From a business point of view, though, she wasn't that much of a threat. She was too hyperactive and unpredictable, not to mention completely unable to sell or haggle for anything. And apparently she trained salespeople for MG Rover (no wonder they collapsed!)...
But I'm sad she went. She was good fun to watch. I was semi-routing for her to win, but now I definitely want a win for Ruth or Paul. Both know about good business practice, get on with everyone, and are straight and direct when it comes to doing their job properly. Next to be voted off? Please be Syed, Samuel or Sharon. Oh, and I promise it's nothing to do with their names beginning with 'S'.
But I'm sad she went. She was good fun to watch. I was semi-routing for her to win, but now I definitely want a win for Ruth or Paul. Both know about good business practice, get on with everyone, and are straight and direct when it comes to doing their job properly. Next to be voted off? Please be Syed, Samuel or Sharon. Oh, and I promise it's nothing to do with their names beginning with 'S'.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Four things (as requested by Omouse)
Four...
Siblings
1. Anna
2. Heather
3. Christopher
4. Rosemary
Places I've lived
1. Bush Hill Park
2. Enfield
3. Canterbury
4. Cheshunt
US states I've stayed
1. New York
2. California
3. Kansas
4. Pennslyvania
Alcoholic drinks
1. Jack Daniels and Coke
2. Cosmopolitan
3. Strawberry daquiri
4. Sambuca shots
Things I can't live without
1. Coffee
2. Purse
3. Nokia 3330
4. Ka
Games I can play reasonably well
1. Scrabble
2. Monopoly
3. Black Jack
4. Bowling
Fave music at the moment
1. Green Day
2. James Blunt
3. Hard-Fi
4. Kaiser Chiefs
Films I've never seen (oh, the shame!)
1. Goodfellas
2. Alien
3. Pulp Fiction
4. Lawrence of Arabia
Films I should never have paid to see at the cinema
1. Batman and Robin
2. Message in a Bottle
3. Armageddon
4. The Avengers
Cars I love
1. Ford StreetKa
2. Lotus Elan
3. Madza RX8
4. Hyundai Coupé
CDs in my car
1. Green Day - International Superhits
2. Savage Garden - Truly Madly Completely
3. Britney Spears - My Prerogative
4. The Beatles - 1
Siblings
1. Anna
2. Heather
3. Christopher
4. Rosemary
Places I've lived
1. Bush Hill Park
2. Enfield
3. Canterbury
4. Cheshunt
US states I've stayed
1. New York
2. California
3. Kansas
4. Pennslyvania
Alcoholic drinks
1. Jack Daniels and Coke
2. Cosmopolitan
3. Strawberry daquiri
4. Sambuca shots
Things I can't live without
1. Coffee
2. Purse
3. Nokia 3330
4. Ka
Games I can play reasonably well
1. Scrabble
2. Monopoly
3. Black Jack
4. Bowling
Fave music at the moment
1. Green Day
2. James Blunt
3. Hard-Fi
4. Kaiser Chiefs
Films I've never seen (oh, the shame!)
1. Goodfellas
2. Alien
3. Pulp Fiction
4. Lawrence of Arabia
Films I should never have paid to see at the cinema
1. Batman and Robin
2. Message in a Bottle
3. Armageddon
4. The Avengers
Cars I love
1. Ford StreetKa
2. Lotus Elan
3. Madza RX8
4. Hyundai Coupé
CDs in my car
1. Green Day - International Superhits
2. Savage Garden - Truly Madly Completely
3. Britney Spears - My Prerogative
4. The Beatles - 1
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Dinner Party III
We invited my Dad & co. over for a buffet-style get-together, in hopes of endearing my father a little more to Reuben, and so we have have my other relatives around for dinner or whatever without offending my immediate family.
So there we were: Reuben and myself, plus Dad, Pam, my Nan, Anna and Rosemary, Chris and Cem, and Pam's kids, Lynne and Ian. Somehow we all managed to squeeze into the lounge and have a bit of a laugh. The chocolate fountain was another success, although a lot more was left over this time - about half. It was okay, though it started off a bit awkwardly, not to mention that my Dad said he hadn't received my text so hadn't picked up my grandmother and he had go to back!
But I think it was a success. Reuben wasn't ignored... so that's good. And when my brother left early to go to the pub to meet some mates, Reuben went forward to do the continental 'cheek kissing' as a laugh, and my brother just grabbed him and gave him a full cheek smacker!! Rosemary was horrified and said that I should start to look for a place of my own!! She's all so innocent, the cutie!! So yeah, success I think.
So there we were: Reuben and myself, plus Dad, Pam, my Nan, Anna and Rosemary, Chris and Cem, and Pam's kids, Lynne and Ian. Somehow we all managed to squeeze into the lounge and have a bit of a laugh. The chocolate fountain was another success, although a lot more was left over this time - about half. It was okay, though it started off a bit awkwardly, not to mention that my Dad said he hadn't received my text so hadn't picked up my grandmother and he had go to back!
But I think it was a success. Reuben wasn't ignored... so that's good. And when my brother left early to go to the pub to meet some mates, Reuben went forward to do the continental 'cheek kissing' as a laugh, and my brother just grabbed him and gave him a full cheek smacker!! Rosemary was horrified and said that I should start to look for a place of my own!! She's all so innocent, the cutie!! So yeah, success I think.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Needed vay-kay
Due to work transfers it's common sense that all my holiday time this year may not get carried over into the next financial year (end of April) so it's best I take it all. However, I have 11 days left, and with day release to college every Wednesday, I haven't been using all my holiday time due to the endless game of catch-up I'm doing at work. So I decided that since I don't have college during the two weeks of the Easter break, I might as well take one of those weeks and have a holiday, unfortunately sans Reuben since he only has about 5 days. Being at home all day (or all week, rather) would bore me so I might as well go away.
Then I had another thought. Instead of taking the holiday alone (which doesn't really appeal to me anyway) I could hook up with a friend or two. And then another thought: Jenny works in a school. Schools have Easter breaks. I should hook up with Jenny 'Stateside' and make use of the brilliant flight deals.
So, whaddya think?! Ooh, and if Mel has the holiday too, that'd be even better!!!
BTW, a very happy birthday to Tara, Heather and Lynne. What on earth happens in June?!
Then I had another thought. Instead of taking the holiday alone (which doesn't really appeal to me anyway) I could hook up with a friend or two. And then another thought: Jenny works in a school. Schools have Easter breaks. I should hook up with Jenny 'Stateside' and make use of the brilliant flight deals.
So, whaddya think?! Ooh, and if Mel has the holiday too, that'd be even better!!!
BTW, a very happy birthday to Tara, Heather and Lynne. What on earth happens in June?!
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
My first ever!
Yep, first ever St V's day when I'm not single. Hoo-yeah! It must be noted that Reuben and I don't 'do' the mushy thing and tend to send people funny cards on their birthdays/anniversaries/etc rather than sentimental ones that make us heave. However, this is a one-off. We did give each other cards but they were funny and cutesy rather than flowery and mush. He got me chocs, while I got him Million Dollar Baby, not romantic but I knew he wanted it and I didn't want to get anything predictable. I did unexpectedly get flowers in the evening though. He's pretty soppy at heart I think... (and he'll probably kill me when/if he reads this!)
BTW, thanx Jenny for the card. Don't feel bad about being single at the mo. In my 25 years of being single I think I'm experienced in these situations, and there's nothing better than a grande white chocolate cappucino with sprinkled vanilla and chocolate dust to make it go away. :) Calorific heaven. :)
BTW, thanx Jenny for the card. Don't feel bad about being single at the mo. In my 25 years of being single I think I'm experienced in these situations, and there's nothing better than a grande white chocolate cappucino with sprinkled vanilla and chocolate dust to make it go away. :) Calorific heaven. :)
Friday, February 10, 2006
Restructuring
My workplace are carrying out yet another restructure but this time it is for an actual purpose! As a service, we are transferring out of the local government and into our own company at arms-length from the Council, known as an Arms Length Management Organisation, or ALMO (or Alamo as Reuben calls it!).
As a result of the restructure, I get a pay rise (not much, but enough!!) and I don't get to be managed by my current senior, but by the surveyors I support. So two good things came out of today. Restructures are usually pesky things involving office moves and title changes. But this one just involves a new ID and being managed by the people I should of been managed by in the first place. Yay!
As a result of the restructure, I get a pay rise (not much, but enough!!) and I don't get to be managed by my current senior, but by the surveyors I support. So two good things came out of today. Restructures are usually pesky things involving office moves and title changes. But this one just involves a new ID and being managed by the people I should of been managed by in the first place. Yay!
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Hippy bathday
My brother turned 20 today. Finally out of the terrible teens. Only Rosemary to go now...! I didn't get him a pressie because Christmas has only just gone and he's probably bought everything he wanted but didn't get. He says he'll let me know if he thinks of anything.
Birthdays scare me. Especially when they involve my little brother and my sisters. Seeing them grow up and remembering celebrating my birthday at their age makes me realise how old I am and how fast everyone is growing up. I remember my 20th birthday. I was in 2nd year at UKC and Peter and I played pool in Rutherford bar for a couple of hours. Dad came down at the weekend with the siblings and we went to Pizza Hut in Margate. Exciting huh?
Happy birthday Chris. Enjoy it while it lasts!! Heheheheh!!
Birthdays scare me. Especially when they involve my little brother and my sisters. Seeing them grow up and remembering celebrating my birthday at their age makes me realise how old I am and how fast everyone is growing up. I remember my 20th birthday. I was in 2nd year at UKC and Peter and I played pool in Rutherford bar for a couple of hours. Dad came down at the weekend with the siblings and we went to Pizza Hut in Margate. Exciting huh?
Happy birthday Chris. Enjoy it while it lasts!! Heheheheh!!
Saturday, January 14, 2006
New Year's party
Yeah, we're thinking up every excuse under the sun to host a party! Since the success of the first one, we decided to hold another party with a different group of people. We were a little bolder than before and put out a bigger spread which included the chocolate fountain as the centrepiece.
We invited Amanda and Steve, Suzy, Bruce and Jason. Suzy didn't know that Bruce and Jason were coming and hasn't seen them in years. Screams of delight ensued when they arrived and the whole party was definitely a louder affair than the last one. The food almost disappeared completely and the chocolate fountain was the highlight of the evening. We did prepare sponge fingers and fruit for dipping (satsumas, apples, strawberries and bananas) but found that people were happy to dip anything in - breadsticks and nacho tortilla chips being the favourites.
Yeah it was kinda wild and weird and I met some more new people along the way. Again it was really late before everyone left and Reuben and I were left with about 200g of solidified chocolate in the fountain base. Considering we melted down 800g of it thats a lot of chocolate consumed within a short space of time! No wonder everyone was bouncing off the walls!!
We invited Amanda and Steve, Suzy, Bruce and Jason. Suzy didn't know that Bruce and Jason were coming and hasn't seen them in years. Screams of delight ensued when they arrived and the whole party was definitely a louder affair than the last one. The food almost disappeared completely and the chocolate fountain was the highlight of the evening. We did prepare sponge fingers and fruit for dipping (satsumas, apples, strawberries and bananas) but found that people were happy to dip anything in - breadsticks and nacho tortilla chips being the favourites.
Yeah it was kinda wild and weird and I met some more new people along the way. Again it was really late before everyone left and Reuben and I were left with about 200g of solidified chocolate in the fountain base. Considering we melted down 800g of it thats a lot of chocolate consumed within a short space of time! No wonder everyone was bouncing off the walls!!
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
War of the Worlds
Contains spoilers about the film!!!
I bought Reuben a War of the Worlds DVD for Christmas (among other things!) and we finally sat down tonight to watch it. It was okay but I was a bit disappointed that they just died out by themselves and didn't need some sort of gung-ho American hero in the form of Will Smith. Well, it did have Tom Cruise but he spent the whole film running away or hiding in a basement.
Me: "So they just died by themselves?"
Reuben: "Well, because they were eating and drinking our food. We're dying, what chance have they got?"
"But they weren't really eating food. They were killing people and feeding off their blood."
"Well that's the same."
"I guess aliens have AIDS and bird flu too then...?"
We laughed a lot. I think we're tired... This isn't as funny as I remember it being...
I bought Reuben a War of the Worlds DVD for Christmas (among other things!) and we finally sat down tonight to watch it. It was okay but I was a bit disappointed that they just died out by themselves and didn't need some sort of gung-ho American hero in the form of Will Smith. Well, it did have Tom Cruise but he spent the whole film running away or hiding in a basement.
Me: "So they just died by themselves?"
Reuben: "Well, because they were eating and drinking our food. We're dying, what chance have they got?"
"But they weren't really eating food. They were killing people and feeding off their blood."
"Well that's the same."
"I guess aliens have AIDS and bird flu too then...?"
We laughed a lot. I think we're tired... This isn't as funny as I remember it being...
Monday, January 09, 2006
Again...?!
I won Employee of the Month for January. Again.
Yeah, people at work are becoming suspicious since no one has ever won it twice. And I've won it twice. And when it came to the Employee of the Year awards I won for the department.
The bad thing was I was nominated by my line manager, the one person I really do not like very much and am currently undergoing proceedings against (secretly, of course). Reuben thinks it is a way of putting the cat among the pigeons: my manager suspects that her staff are petitioning against her removal so she awards one of them to make it look as if we're lying and she actually does appreciate us. Which is a lie. If you appreciate someone, do you yell and scream at them? Treat them like dirt? Be short and curt with them? All the time? Exactly.
So its hard going. I didn't want to throw the award back in her face although it was tempting (despite it being a bottle of champers). But now everyone thinks I'm her little model employee and I'm being teased about being her bodyguard. Ugh! It's tough.
Yeah, people at work are becoming suspicious since no one has ever won it twice. And I've won it twice. And when it came to the Employee of the Year awards I won for the department.
The bad thing was I was nominated by my line manager, the one person I really do not like very much and am currently undergoing proceedings against (secretly, of course). Reuben thinks it is a way of putting the cat among the pigeons: my manager suspects that her staff are petitioning against her removal so she awards one of them to make it look as if we're lying and she actually does appreciate us. Which is a lie. If you appreciate someone, do you yell and scream at them? Treat them like dirt? Be short and curt with them? All the time? Exactly.
So its hard going. I didn't want to throw the award back in her face although it was tempting (despite it being a bottle of champers). But now everyone thinks I'm her little model employee and I'm being teased about being her bodyguard. Ugh! It's tough.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Happy New Year?
Reuben and I had influenza over the New Year period. We were okay Boxing Day and a bit sniffly on the Wednesday but by Friday evening we were not happy bunnies. Saturday we were determined to stay up until midnight but after that we were bushed and went to bed in a mountain of tissues, coughing and sneezing. Well, Reuben was coughing and sneezing, having the sinus variety. I had a head cold and a stomach bug. My legs felt cotton woolly and all my joints were seizing up.
So neither of us were well and we were sick with different things so we were desperately trying not to cross contaminate our germs. It was bad. Possibly the worst New Years ever. Not as bad as that party I went to in an old converted country house where the ceilings were so low I couldn't stand up... but nearly!
So neither of us were well and we were sick with different things so we were desperately trying not to cross contaminate our germs. It was bad. Possibly the worst New Years ever. Not as bad as that party I went to in an old converted country house where the ceilings were so low I couldn't stand up... but nearly!
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Christmas Day
Oh. My. God.
It is every girl's dream to have that one Christmas when everything is perfect. The Christmas tree lights, the food, the pressies, everything. It is even better when your boyfriend gets you a really cool pressie. Now, I know that men find it hard to buy for women. I admit we are strange creatures who are happy to talk to our girlfriends about every detail of our relationships but woe betide a bloke who does the same thing with his mates. I know.
But then you find that one guy who finds the perfect present. You know what I'm talking about? Oh, yes - the Chocolate Fondue Fountain. So you can imagine my absolute delight in finding out that's exactly what is sitting on the dining table amongst all the wrapping paper I've torn off the box.
Oh. My. God.
I have a Chocolate Fondue Fountain.
On my dining table.
For me.
Complete with two 500g bars of Galaxy and a super-large pack of mini marshmallows.
Holy fucking shit!
It's perfect!!!
It is every girl's dream to have that one Christmas when everything is perfect. The Christmas tree lights, the food, the pressies, everything. It is even better when your boyfriend gets you a really cool pressie. Now, I know that men find it hard to buy for women. I admit we are strange creatures who are happy to talk to our girlfriends about every detail of our relationships but woe betide a bloke who does the same thing with his mates. I know.
But then you find that one guy who finds the perfect present. You know what I'm talking about? Oh, yes - the Chocolate Fondue Fountain. So you can imagine my absolute delight in finding out that's exactly what is sitting on the dining table amongst all the wrapping paper I've torn off the box.
Oh. My. God.
I have a Chocolate Fondue Fountain.
On my dining table.
For me.
Complete with two 500g bars of Galaxy and a super-large pack of mini marshmallows.
Holy fucking shit!
It's perfect!!!
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Christmas Eve
Christmas is here yet again. Every year I try to prolong the feeling of excitement which usually lasts until about five days before Christmas. This year was no exception. Before it is even here I'm already fed up with the songs, the food, the endless "What do you want for Christmas?" requests. ARRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!
Anyhow this year will be different. I know, I say that every year. But this year I know it will. For starters, I'm not living at home, meaning that I won't be woken at some ungodly hour of the morning to open 'Father Christmas' presents. (I'm a bit old for it but you have to keep the secret going for the lil' 'uns). So, nice lie in Christmas Day! The second thing is I'm not spending the day with my family. I'm spending it with Reuben's family, which should be a cool gig. I know for one thing it'll be quieter...
We went to my Dad's this evening for a Christmas shingding. Pam told us it was dinner but when we arrived, my mum's sister was there with her family as well and there was a small buffet on the table, enough to feed 10. The house was bursting full of people: my dad, Pam, three sisters, one brother and his g/f, my mum's sister, her husband and their two kids, Pam's two kids, and me and Reuben. See? Too many people in a small space. It was invariably loud, food and drink was littered all over the place, and it was very warm.
We made our excuses about 9:45pm to go to 10pm mass (midnight mass apparently is in Italian and therefore a no-go) and then got home around 11.30pm. I begged Reuben to open one present. "Please, please, please, pretty-please...?" with the puppy-dog eyes. "No" came back the no-nonsense reply. I stuck my bottom lip out and stomped off to bed. I wanna open a pressie dammit! The car boot is full of 'em!! I guess Christmas hasn't changed much at all...
Anyhow this year will be different. I know, I say that every year. But this year I know it will. For starters, I'm not living at home, meaning that I won't be woken at some ungodly hour of the morning to open 'Father Christmas' presents. (I'm a bit old for it but you have to keep the secret going for the lil' 'uns). So, nice lie in Christmas Day! The second thing is I'm not spending the day with my family. I'm spending it with Reuben's family, which should be a cool gig. I know for one thing it'll be quieter...
We went to my Dad's this evening for a Christmas shingding. Pam told us it was dinner but when we arrived, my mum's sister was there with her family as well and there was a small buffet on the table, enough to feed 10. The house was bursting full of people: my dad, Pam, three sisters, one brother and his g/f, my mum's sister, her husband and their two kids, Pam's two kids, and me and Reuben. See? Too many people in a small space. It was invariably loud, food and drink was littered all over the place, and it was very warm.
We made our excuses about 9:45pm to go to 10pm mass (midnight mass apparently is in Italian and therefore a no-go) and then got home around 11.30pm. I begged Reuben to open one present. "Please, please, please, pretty-please...?" with the puppy-dog eyes. "No" came back the no-nonsense reply. I stuck my bottom lip out and stomped off to bed. I wanna open a pressie dammit! The car boot is full of 'em!! I guess Christmas hasn't changed much at all...
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Pre-Xmas meetup
I can't believe its been a month since I last posted! Where does the time go?
Anyway, Reuben and I did our whole 'lets-have-a-party-and-invite-everyone' thing yesterday evening. I invited everyone just over a week in advance and got the usual lame excuses from people who couldn't be bothered to make a bit of effort (how dare I ask people to travel outside of London?!). However, some people did come and it was a very good evening to be had by all! Tara and Peter came, along with Anne, Suzy and Debbie, who unfortunately had to leave early so she could be at a family 'do' by 5pm. So it was a party of six, meaning everyone could sit on the sofas (just about) and the conversation flowed as freely as the food and drink! I got to light candles all over the place and do a nice table centrepiece; Reuben got to be 'nanny' in the kitchen. (Heheheh)
To be honest, we were secretly worried that no-one would turn up at all. It is a bit close to Christmas and all... But it was a great night I think and everyone seemed to enjoy it. We even managed to squeeze a bit of alcohol into the evening and got a bit merry (not much, but I think Reuben was just a teensy bit pissed, considering he went to bed humming some dreadful Christmas song that I won't embarass him over). Just wish I'd taken a photo or two...!
Anyway, Reuben and I did our whole 'lets-have-a-party-and-invite-everyone' thing yesterday evening. I invited everyone just over a week in advance and got the usual lame excuses from people who couldn't be bothered to make a bit of effort (how dare I ask people to travel outside of London?!). However, some people did come and it was a very good evening to be had by all! Tara and Peter came, along with Anne, Suzy and Debbie, who unfortunately had to leave early so she could be at a family 'do' by 5pm. So it was a party of six, meaning everyone could sit on the sofas (just about) and the conversation flowed as freely as the food and drink! I got to light candles all over the place and do a nice table centrepiece; Reuben got to be 'nanny' in the kitchen. (Heheheh)
To be honest, we were secretly worried that no-one would turn up at all. It is a bit close to Christmas and all... But it was a great night I think and everyone seemed to enjoy it. We even managed to squeeze a bit of alcohol into the evening and got a bit merry (not much, but I think Reuben was just a teensy bit pissed, considering he went to bed humming some dreadful Christmas song that I won't embarass him over). Just wish I'd taken a photo or two...!
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Tagboard
I'm taking Jenny's lead and have taken my tagboard off the page. I agree with her that there are too many spamming posts and not enough regular ones. I couldn't do much with it anyway. I'd sign in but couldn't sign out, so I'd have to close the browser each time. It wouldn't let me ban anyone from posting. Pile of crap really.
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Christmas shopping - part 1
Today Reuben and I started a bit of Christmas shopping. The idea is that we spread out the cost over the next few weeks so our bank managers don't have heart attacks. I already have Mel's and Jenny's wrapped and ready to send so we head to the PO, which has decided to change their opening hours so they shut earlier on Saturdays, a stupid move which leaves us standing in the sleet and cold Arctic wind trying to work out when we can come during opening hours. They shut at 12.30pm now so I need an early Saturday morning next week. (Damnit!!)
We hide the pressies under the car seats so they don't get nicked while we're shopping, and browse around posh Fishpools and buy some items in not-so-posh WHSmiths, Argos, and Boots. I got quite a few pressies (okay, eight), and I found all the cards I need too. The best bit? I spent about £50, thanks to special offers and 3 for 2's. I'm dead pleased with myself.
I really wanted to buy a tree and decorations. The problem is I'd want to put it up immediately and it's way too early right now. I'm easily excitable around Christmas. I have this crazy idea about us inviting ALL our mates round at the same time for drinks and snacks. There's no way everyone would fit but I reckon it'd be a right laugh. :)
We hide the pressies under the car seats so they don't get nicked while we're shopping, and browse around posh Fishpools and buy some items in not-so-posh WHSmiths, Argos, and Boots. I got quite a few pressies (okay, eight), and I found all the cards I need too. The best bit? I spent about £50, thanks to special offers and 3 for 2's. I'm dead pleased with myself.
I really wanted to buy a tree and decorations. The problem is I'd want to put it up immediately and it's way too early right now. I'm easily excitable around Christmas. I have this crazy idea about us inviting ALL our mates round at the same time for drinks and snacks. There's no way everyone would fit but I reckon it'd be a right laugh. :)
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Near death experience
Reuben and I wanted to spend the morning browsing in Waltham Cross so we parked up in the car park by the post office and paid for a ticket at the P & D machine. I cross the zebra and... suddenly look up to my right and see a Chelsea Tractor inches away from me!!
I quickly back up, holding my hands out as if to stop the car (like thats ever gonna happen!). The woman starts blaring her horn and telling me to watch where I'm going. I'm like, ""Excuse me, ZEBRA CROSSING!" and walk towards the car, visibly upset. Shit, I nearly died!!
These things are lethal death traps. Why on earth does someone want a 4x4 with bull bars for a drive around town? They are very environmentally unfriendly with heavy fuel consumption, not to mention that the bumpers sit higher than all other cars, so if one hit your car, it'd be halfway through the back seat before it stopped.
Chelsea Tractor drivers are now the new Kings of the Road. I feel sorry for the Kensington & Chelsea schoolchildren...
I quickly back up, holding my hands out as if to stop the car (like thats ever gonna happen!). The woman starts blaring her horn and telling me to watch where I'm going. I'm like, ""Excuse me, ZEBRA CROSSING!" and walk towards the car, visibly upset. Shit, I nearly died!!
These things are lethal death traps. Why on earth does someone want a 4x4 with bull bars for a drive around town? They are very environmentally unfriendly with heavy fuel consumption, not to mention that the bumpers sit higher than all other cars, so if one hit your car, it'd be halfway through the back seat before it stopped.
Chelsea Tractor drivers are now the new Kings of the Road. I feel sorry for the Kensington & Chelsea schoolchildren...
Monday, October 10, 2005
Return of the Jedi - 2004 version
I need to add George Lucas to Mel's list of film-makers we want to kick in the nuts.
Let's get one thing straight: It is okay to digitally remaster old films. It gets rid of the grainy quality, makes it a better viewing experience, and the sound is quality.
However, it is NOT okay to change the actors playing characters. Seriously. At the end of the digitally re-mastered Return of the Jedi, the remastered version of the remastered version (i.e. the re-re-release in 2004) the ghosts of Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, and Obi-Wan Kenobi appear. Cool. Only Anakin is being played by Hayden Christenson. Yeah, you heard me, an actor that wasn't (probably) even born when the film originally aired! And for some reason, this really incenses me to the point where I was fuming and did nothing but rant and rave for a good ten minutes about the absurdity of it all. How could they do that?! I can only add that the only film's saving grace was that they kept Alec Guiness and didn't change him for Ewan McGregor. That would really have gotten on my goat...
Let's get one thing straight: It is okay to digitally remaster old films. It gets rid of the grainy quality, makes it a better viewing experience, and the sound is quality.
However, it is NOT okay to change the actors playing characters. Seriously. At the end of the digitally re-mastered Return of the Jedi, the remastered version of the remastered version (i.e. the re-re-release in 2004) the ghosts of Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, and Obi-Wan Kenobi appear. Cool. Only Anakin is being played by Hayden Christenson. Yeah, you heard me, an actor that wasn't (probably) even born when the film originally aired! And for some reason, this really incenses me to the point where I was fuming and did nothing but rant and rave for a good ten minutes about the absurdity of it all. How could they do that?! I can only add that the only film's saving grace was that they kept Alec Guiness and didn't change him for Ewan McGregor. That would really have gotten on my goat...
Thursday, September 29, 2005
CyberBob in Catch 22
My laptop driver finally bit the dust and now won't even read the cleaning CD! It's like this - it won't read anything because the lens is probably dirty, so it can't read the cleaning CD which will only clean the lens if the driver reads it... (sigh)
I really don't wanna cart it to PC World and let those incumbent idiots take my beloved CyberBob apart... The other alternative is Andy who just spends a lot of time opening and closing windows... Its actually a long-running joke to the point where Anna said, "Here's an impression of Andy" and rolled the car window down and then up again. I laughed so much I nearly choked!
Anyway, now I have to deal with lots of jokes about 'laptop servicing'...
I really don't wanna cart it to PC World and let those incumbent idiots take my beloved CyberBob apart... The other alternative is Andy who just spends a lot of time opening and closing windows... Its actually a long-running joke to the point where Anna said, "Here's an impression of Andy" and rolled the car window down and then up again. I laughed so much I nearly choked!
Anyway, now I have to deal with lots of jokes about 'laptop servicing'...
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Isis19...?
Interesting...
| Isis Indeed, you are 66% erudite, 70% sensual, 41% martial, and 37% saturnine. |
| This Egyptian supreme Goddess is certainly the most influential deity on subsequent cultures. She was the ideal figure of womanhood, usually compared with the Greek Goddess Demeter or her Roman version, Ceres. Isis was one element of a Holy Trinity, the remaining two figures being her brother and husband Osiris and their heroic son Horus. She was the Goddess of Magic for her brilliance, as well as the Goddess of Love because of her tenacious devotion. She is often shown with wings, curving to caress coffins and sarcophagi of many a king. In certain papyri she is shown with her falcon wing headdress, covering her ears. One of her sacred symbols is the sistrum, a musical instrument that was believed to ward off evil spirits. Isis' sistrum was carved bearing the image of a cat and was representative of the Moon. Isis was the High Priestess and an omnipotent magician as well as the only being ever to discover the secret name of Ra. She invariably carries the ankh, the symbol for eternal life. Her name is, by the rules of numerology, adding up to the number “2” and she just so happens to be depicted on the tarot card “Key 2 – The High Priestess”. The Fifteen Goddesses These are the 15 categories of this test. If you score above average in … …all or none of the four variables: Neit. … Erudite: Minerva. … Sensual: Aphrodite. … Martial: Artemis. … Saturnine: Persephone. … Erudite & Sensual: Isis. … Erudite & Martial: Sekhmet. … Erudite & Saturnine: Nemesis. … Sensual & Martial: Hera. … Sensual & Saturnine: Bast. … Martial & Saturnine: Ilamatecuhtli. … Erudite, Sensual & Martial: Maeve. … Erudite, Sensual & Saturnine: Freya. … Erudite, Martial & Saturnine: Sedna. … Sensual, Martial & Saturnine: Macha. |
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Monday, September 26, 2005
Wired for blogs!
I have a phone line... WAHEY!! It's nice to have Internet... :)
Just a random passing thought I had today: Why are the US so worried about Iran having nuclear weapons when they have such a large arsenal of their own...??
Just a random passing thought I had today: Why are the US so worried about Iran having nuclear weapons when they have such a large arsenal of their own...??
Sunday, August 21, 2005
V Festival - Day 2
Andy arrives about an hour after us, after Rooster had just finished. He loved the birthday pressie I got him – White Elephants and Red Herrings. Apparently the only other gift he got was socks from his parents!
Bands seen: Rooster, Joss Stone, Tony Christie, Embrace, Athlete, Franz Ferdinand, Scissor Sisters
Bands saw and should have missed: 0
Bands missed and wanted to see: The Hives
Best sing-a-long: Take Me Out followed v closely by Filthy Gorgeous and (Is This The Way To) Amarillo
Best line: You can all go see The Hives now! (Alex Kapranos after playing Take Me Out)
Items bought: 10th anniversary V Festival programme
Items lost: 0
Celebrities seen: Jade Goody, Natalie Cassidy
Time spent leaving: 3 mins finding the car, 5 mins leaving the site
Level of tiredness: 8/10
Bands seen: Rooster, Joss Stone, Tony Christie, Embrace, Athlete, Franz Ferdinand, Scissor Sisters
Bands saw and should have missed: 0
Bands missed and wanted to see: The Hives
Best sing-a-long: Take Me Out followed v closely by Filthy Gorgeous and (Is This The Way To) Amarillo
Best line: You can all go see The Hives now! (Alex Kapranos after playing Take Me Out)
Items bought: 10th anniversary V Festival programme
Items lost: 0
Celebrities seen: Jade Goody, Natalie Cassidy
Time spent leaving: 3 mins finding the car, 5 mins leaving the site
Level of tiredness: 8/10
Saturday, August 20, 2005
V Festival - Day 1
So I finally to the V Festival – hoo yeah! I bought tickets for Anna and myself back in February and have been so looking forward to it! I offered Andy to come with me, who then unceremoniously dumped me in favour of Mark instead. (Andy dislikes use of the phrase ‘dumped’ and thought I only wanted to go for one day. Yeah. Sure. Fine. Whatever.) Anyway, 8.30am this morning he called me to say that Mark couldn’t make it as he was in Nottingham with his girlfriend and he had a spare ticket a-begging. So Reuben piped up that he’d love to go and we all went. As it turns out, Andrew and Anna clicked rather well… Er, yeah, weird!
Bands seen: The La’s, The Magic Numbers, The Proclaimers, KT Tunstall (briefly), Good Charlotte, Maroon 5, Kaiser Chiefs, The Streets, Oasis
Bands saw and should have missed: The La’s, The Streets
Bands missed and wanted to see: Jet, The Zutons
Best sing-a-long: (What’s The Story?) Morning Glory followed closely by This Love
Best line: Glad to see Pete Doherty could make it – the giant c**k (Liam Gallagher upon seeing an inflatable penis being waved in the crowd)
Items bought: 10th anniversary V Festival T-shirt (sub-woofer design)
Items lost: Right hearing aid (bugger!)
Celebrities seen: 0
Time spent leaving: 20mins searching for the car, 70mins trying to leave the site
Level of tiredness: 10/10 – I slept in the car!
Bands seen: The La’s, The Magic Numbers, The Proclaimers, KT Tunstall (briefly), Good Charlotte, Maroon 5, Kaiser Chiefs, The Streets, Oasis
Bands saw and should have missed: The La’s, The Streets
Bands missed and wanted to see: Jet, The Zutons
Best sing-a-long: (What’s The Story?) Morning Glory followed closely by This Love
Best line: Glad to see Pete Doherty could make it – the giant c**k (Liam Gallagher upon seeing an inflatable penis being waved in the crowd)
Items bought: 10th anniversary V Festival T-shirt (sub-woofer design)
Items lost: Right hearing aid (bugger!)
Celebrities seen: 0
Time spent leaving: 20mins searching for the car, 70mins trying to leave the site
Level of tiredness: 10/10 – I slept in the car!
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Mr Mouse (deceased)
There was a dead mouse outside our office today, fleas all over the body... It was sooo damn gross! The office is right next door to Pest Control so I march over there, only to find the door locked and no one to be seen all day! It was nasty and I hated having to walk in and out of the office and seeing it there. It became the spectacle of the day. People came in and said, "Did you see that dead mouse outside?" Yeah... (sigh) So much for health and safety at work!
My manager is on long term sick leave so we have another one standing in for him. I went over to him and complained, and he said someone would deal with it by tomorrow morning... Here's hoping!
My manager is on long term sick leave so we have another one standing in for him. I went over to him and complained, and he said someone would deal with it by tomorrow morning... Here's hoping!
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
(sigh)
Stuart the locksmith turned up at our flat about 8.30pm this evening and fixed the lock for us. At last we can change our addresses! Now all we need to do is find the electricity meter so we're not paying for the last tenants' electricity bill, and get hooked up to the Internet. Its all systems go go go…
Monday, August 08, 2005
Free dinner
My aunt and uncle invited Reuben and I over for dinner tonight. This is the first of many visits that we'll be making to all our closest relatives and I have to admit that I'm glad we're starting off with mine! My aunt and uncle are pretty easy going and predictably asked lots of questions and showed off their knowledge of food and wine that have resulted from their travels to America and Europe. They also tried to show me off along the lines of me being obsessive about candles and a decent artist… but I think I was more embarrassed than proud! The highlight of the evening was my cousin sending a string of texts to my aunt, asking all about Reuben and being gutted she didn't get to meet him too!
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Keys please!
The previous tenants of our flat handed in one set of keys to the agency instead of two, and one of the keys was a window key instead of the post-box key. The worst thing was that we were jamming the window key into the post-box for two weeks, not understanding why it didn't work, and then we flung the keys onto the window sill in frustration one day and it just happened to land right next to the identical window key sitting there…!
So in effect, there are two keys for our post-box and one for our flat still knocking about. So we're changing the locks. We call the agency and today they sent Stuart the locksmith to change them. The flat lock was changed no problem but he didn't have a small enough lock for the post-box, so we're sticking the flap up with blue tape for now. He should be coming back Tuesday but we hope that no post arrives until the lock has been fitted!!
So in effect, there are two keys for our post-box and one for our flat still knocking about. So we're changing the locks. We call the agency and today they sent Stuart the locksmith to change them. The flat lock was changed no problem but he didn't have a small enough lock for the post-box, so we're sticking the flap up with blue tape for now. He should be coming back Tuesday but we hope that no post arrives until the lock has been fitted!!
Friday, August 05, 2005
Darth Vader breathes again
So Reuben was driving to work today and could hear this weird heavy breathing in his car. It only lasts a couple of seconds, he dismisses it… and then he hears it again! He can't understand what the hell it is and thinks he's hearing things when suddenly the Star Wars theme tune starts playing. He then realises that he's left his new Star Wars mug that Raj gave him under the seat of his car… it plays the theme tune, and Vader's breathing when the bottom of the mug is exposed to light. The mug is now safely in the flat but I'm so gonna kill Raj when I see him next. That mug is getting on my last nerves!
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Amazing Travels
So there haven't been many updates. That'll be because I've been on holiday... and then I kinda got caught up in this whole 'renting a flat' business... Hopefully I will finish typing up my holiday journal soon and then you can laugh and cry along with the other UKC girls. Or you can just log on to our Amazing Travels blog, which should be updated sooner or later...
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Homebound to London
We were up early enough and said a sad farewell to the chalet before handing the keys into Reception and heading back to London. We detoured into Tesco's to pick up the latest Harry Potter book (Jenny bought two copies) and fill up the car one last time. The drive back was relatively quiet, Jenny and Melissa engrossed in their books and me getting quietly happier every time I saw a sign that said we were getting nearer and nearer home.
At Heathrow, I parked accidentally at the wrong terminal so we all took the free tube service between terminals to get Mel to the right one! When we arrived, we discovered that despite the bombings in London, check-in time was still max. three hours before flight take-off and we had planned for four. So we hugged goodbye and Jenny and I rushed back to the previous terminal where Liz had been patiently waiting about ten minutes, and was beginning to think she was in the wrong place…!
I said goodbye to them too and drove home, delighted to actually get a parking spot outside my house. As I struggle to get my stuff from car to house, I realise that the house is empty. But they all know I'm coming home today… (It later transpired that they had all gone to Norfolk for the day as it was my Nan's birthday.) A little upset at not getting a welcome home, I get refreshed and changed, bung some washing in the machine, and have a quick lunch. I then mooch around, waiting for the machine load to finish, when I have the marvellous idea of giving Reuben back his car, and then I won't have to worry about returning it tomorrow…
Back in the car, I search for a jet wash as the car is pretty filthy and I know mine is going to be returned in pristine condition… I pass three and they are all coned off due to the water ban. I reluctantly return the dirty car and Reuben's mother politely offered a drink. I accept and then find myself staying for dinner as relatives are coming over and it'll be nice to meet them etc etc… "I'm tired!" I wanted to yell. "I'm dishevelled and not in the mood to be polite to strangers!" But I didn't and just smiled sweetly and prepared for the worst…
Everything actually turned out okay and I met some very nice people who, in turn, (apparently) think the sun shines where it shouldn't…!! (I heard later that Reuben got a lecture from his uncle along the lines of appreciating me…(!)) I somehow managed to get home and was sooo knackered I didn't wake up until noon the next day!
At Heathrow, I parked accidentally at the wrong terminal so we all took the free tube service between terminals to get Mel to the right one! When we arrived, we discovered that despite the bombings in London, check-in time was still max. three hours before flight take-off and we had planned for four. So we hugged goodbye and Jenny and I rushed back to the previous terminal where Liz had been patiently waiting about ten minutes, and was beginning to think she was in the wrong place…!
I said goodbye to them too and drove home, delighted to actually get a parking spot outside my house. As I struggle to get my stuff from car to house, I realise that the house is empty. But they all know I'm coming home today… (It later transpired that they had all gone to Norfolk for the day as it was my Nan's birthday.) A little upset at not getting a welcome home, I get refreshed and changed, bung some washing in the machine, and have a quick lunch. I then mooch around, waiting for the machine load to finish, when I have the marvellous idea of giving Reuben back his car, and then I won't have to worry about returning it tomorrow…
Back in the car, I search for a jet wash as the car is pretty filthy and I know mine is going to be returned in pristine condition… I pass three and they are all coned off due to the water ban. I reluctantly return the dirty car and Reuben's mother politely offered a drink. I accept and then find myself staying for dinner as relatives are coming over and it'll be nice to meet them etc etc… "I'm tired!" I wanted to yell. "I'm dishevelled and not in the mood to be polite to strangers!" But I didn't and just smiled sweetly and prepared for the worst…
Everything actually turned out okay and I met some very nice people who, in turn, (apparently) think the sun shines where it shouldn't…!! (I heard later that Reuben got a lecture from his uncle along the lines of appreciating me…(!)) I somehow managed to get home and was sooo knackered I didn't wake up until noon the next day!
Friday, July 15, 2005
Bournemouth Part 2
Nice long sleep-in today! Woke up about 9am, had breakfast and we made our way to Bournemouth to search for an Internet café. After a few wrong turns (entirely my fault) we found a reasonably priced café. Jenny and Mel checked their email, Jenny having to write home to prove she was still alive after the bombings, as her mother had apparently stirred up a frenzy of worry! I am hot and very thirsty so I go for a walk while they type away. Afterwards we hit Bournemouth town centre and had lunch in a small café after managing to park in the car park no-one can get to (long story). Jenny then called Liz to double check her flight info and we pottered around the shops a little. One was a fabric shop as Jenny has orders from her mother to bring home 'English fabric'. After a bit of dithering, Jenny finally plumped for reddish-orange butterflies on one, and a Union Jack pattern on the other!
Back at the chalet we took a siesta, much needed for myself at least, having driven almost non-stop for the past two weeks! Jenny finished reading her Jasper Fforde novel and I did puzzles and slept mostly! In the evening we had dinner in the club. The food was freshly cooked but took almost an hour… Desert was very nice – peach cheesecake and brandy snaps! The remainder of the evening was spent packing a few items and watching Jack Dee Live at the Apollo, a re-run from the earlier series. Jo Brand was guest starring and was just as funny the second time around! Eventually we retired for one last night in our fabulous chalet!!
Back at the chalet we took a siesta, much needed for myself at least, having driven almost non-stop for the past two weeks! Jenny finished reading her Jasper Fforde novel and I did puzzles and slept mostly! In the evening we had dinner in the club. The food was freshly cooked but took almost an hour… Desert was very nice – peach cheesecake and brandy snaps! The remainder of the evening was spent packing a few items and watching Jack Dee Live at the Apollo, a re-run from the earlier series. Jo Brand was guest starring and was just as funny the second time around! Eventually we retired for one last night in our fabulous chalet!!
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Poole & Corfe Castle
It's been a week since the London bombings and a two-minute silence was held across the country and the rest of the EU at 12pm BST.
We went to Poole Quay this morning to have a peek at the boats in the harbour and at both the Purbeck (limestone) and Poole (clay) pottery. Unfortunately the demonstrations were closed while we were there, so we headed off towards Swanage to go to Corfe Castle.
Corfe Castle was once a grand structure built on a high hill as the original entrance to Purbeck and it was used extensively by King John. Unfortunately it is now no more than ruins, but they are beautiful ruins and have an excellent view of the surrounding landscape. We all went separate ways to explore and Melissa and I find ourselves in a small 'room' that was so high that the air channelling through the 'room' was ice cold and very welcome on a hot day like today! We stood there, gazing through the window at Corfe Castle village, and chatted away until I suddenly stopped and said, "I wonder what happened to Jenny?" We reluctantly leave the cool 'room' and start calling out for Jenny. It transpires that she missed us and went trekking around the entire ruins looking for us! All together again, we climb the ruins, take lots of photos, and simulate sword fights with long grasses, much to the amusement of people passing by!
The sun is incredibly fierce now and with no clouds in the sky is also potentially dangerous. I've already reached my sun quota for today methinks! We head back to the car and arrive at the chalet all hot and tired. We shower feet and laze around until dinner before glamming up and heading towards the club with the intention of getting Jenny either drunk or very happy, and possibly finding her a nice guy to snog. Unfortunately, tonight's entertainment consisted of the four site staff singing a medley of songs from 60's to 90's – compelling (!). However it was possibly better than the unfunny professional comedian we saw earlier in the week…
We had a round of drinks each and, well, Mel and I said we were 'happy' and Jenny claimed she hadn't had enough… but was pretty pink and perky so…! I'm not in the mood for a drink-fest. I'm tired and the club atmosphere isn't all that – there's hardly anyone there and those that are, are young families and elderly couples. Mel and I vow to take Jenny to a pub tomorrow and give her flirting lessons. (She failed to notice the barman flirting with her earlier this evening and Melissa found herself responding instead!) We did have a quick-fire round consisting of me picking up Jenny and her attempting to respond, but she kept just giggling. Melissa then demonstrated what she was supposed to do… More giggles. I think 'tipsy' is the word I'm looking for…!
We went to Poole Quay this morning to have a peek at the boats in the harbour and at both the Purbeck (limestone) and Poole (clay) pottery. Unfortunately the demonstrations were closed while we were there, so we headed off towards Swanage to go to Corfe Castle.
Corfe Castle was once a grand structure built on a high hill as the original entrance to Purbeck and it was used extensively by King John. Unfortunately it is now no more than ruins, but they are beautiful ruins and have an excellent view of the surrounding landscape. We all went separate ways to explore and Melissa and I find ourselves in a small 'room' that was so high that the air channelling through the 'room' was ice cold and very welcome on a hot day like today! We stood there, gazing through the window at Corfe Castle village, and chatted away until I suddenly stopped and said, "I wonder what happened to Jenny?" We reluctantly leave the cool 'room' and start calling out for Jenny. It transpires that she missed us and went trekking around the entire ruins looking for us! All together again, we climb the ruins, take lots of photos, and simulate sword fights with long grasses, much to the amusement of people passing by!
The sun is incredibly fierce now and with no clouds in the sky is also potentially dangerous. I've already reached my sun quota for today methinks! We head back to the car and arrive at the chalet all hot and tired. We shower feet and laze around until dinner before glamming up and heading towards the club with the intention of getting Jenny either drunk or very happy, and possibly finding her a nice guy to snog. Unfortunately, tonight's entertainment consisted of the four site staff singing a medley of songs from 60's to 90's – compelling (!). However it was possibly better than the unfunny professional comedian we saw earlier in the week…
We had a round of drinks each and, well, Mel and I said we were 'happy' and Jenny claimed she hadn't had enough… but was pretty pink and perky so…! I'm not in the mood for a drink-fest. I'm tired and the club atmosphere isn't all that – there's hardly anyone there and those that are, are young families and elderly couples. Mel and I vow to take Jenny to a pub tomorrow and give her flirting lessons. (She failed to notice the barman flirting with her earlier this evening and Melissa found herself responding instead!) We did have a quick-fire round consisting of me picking up Jenny and her attempting to respond, but she kept just giggling. Melissa then demonstrated what she was supposed to do… More giggles. I think 'tipsy' is the word I'm looking for…!
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Chawton & Winchester
Jenny's birthday! I bought Jenny a copy of 'Eats Shoots and Leaves' by Lynne Truss. She's an English teacher and would appreciate the zero-tolerance obsession over grammar that some of us share… Melissa warms croissants for breakfast and we are soon headed for Chawton, just outside of Alton, to see Jane Austen's house. It was fairly easy to find and was a gorgeous cottage surrounded by a beautiful garden in an olde worlde village. Inside the building were replicas of the furniture and crockery used, and illustrations all over the walls of characters from Austen's books, including the ones drawn by Jane's sister, Cassandra. After telling all the staff it was her birthday, we dragged Jenny away and went back down the road to Winchester.
Up in the Great Hall of Winchester Castle is the Round Table high on a wall, inspired by the legend of King Arthur and crafted c.13thC. In the middle of the hall was an exhibition on the World Wars as it’s the 60th anniversary of the end of WW2 (1945 in England). We grabbed a drink and lunch in O'Neill's pub where Melissa takes the opportunity of buying a meal and getting Jenny's for free, it being her birthday and all (!).
After lunch and a trip to the creepy loos (no lights, no locks, or no paper – take your pick) we visited the cathedral, which is the longest medieval gothic cathedral in Europe. It also holds in its library the famous Winchester Bible, a 12thC illustrated manuscript in six volumes. The library and cathedral was overrun with Italian students and we hung about in the gallery until most of them had left.
Back at the chalet we had pizza and Red Square followed by toffee & chocolate curls cake. We didn't have any candles so we lit a match, stuck it in the cake, and sang 'Happy Birthday' at twice the normal speed before Jenny blew out the match! We then turned on the music channels and flipped through the radio, singing along and dancing giddily around the coffee table. Fun fun fun…!
Up in the Great Hall of Winchester Castle is the Round Table high on a wall, inspired by the legend of King Arthur and crafted c.13thC. In the middle of the hall was an exhibition on the World Wars as it’s the 60th anniversary of the end of WW2 (1945 in England). We grabbed a drink and lunch in O'Neill's pub where Melissa takes the opportunity of buying a meal and getting Jenny's for free, it being her birthday and all (!).
After lunch and a trip to the creepy loos (no lights, no locks, or no paper – take your pick) we visited the cathedral, which is the longest medieval gothic cathedral in Europe. It also holds in its library the famous Winchester Bible, a 12thC illustrated manuscript in six volumes. The library and cathedral was overrun with Italian students and we hung about in the gallery until most of them had left.
Back at the chalet we had pizza and Red Square followed by toffee & chocolate curls cake. We didn't have any candles so we lit a match, stuck it in the cake, and sang 'Happy Birthday' at twice the normal speed before Jenny blew out the match! We then turned on the music channels and flipped through the radio, singing along and dancing giddily around the coffee table. Fun fun fun…!
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Osborne House, IOW
Today we decided to attempt to go to the Isle of Wight and see the sites. We drove to Lymington and hopped onto the passenger & car ferry to Yarmouth. Once there, we took a bus to Newport and then another to Osborne House. It was nice not having to drive! On the bus ride between Newport and Osborne House, I sat next to a chatty lady who lived there but originated from London. She had a proper cockney accent, which had crossed into a thick 'coun-tree' brogue so Mel and Jenny didn't really understand her… She was bemoaning that she couldn't see Ventnor or Sandown because they didn't have a harbour for her to dock her yacht and, upon finding out I was from London, started a tirade against the bombers of 7/7 and hoped nobody I knew was a victim.
Once at Osborne House it was already 1pm so we headed into the restaurant. The menu is two pages and eight items on page one are the food items. All the others are drinks. The food items consisted of soup and bread, egg and watercress sandwiches, poached salmon sandwiches… Yep, just soup and sandwiches, none of which sounded particularly appealing or filling. In the end, Jenny and I plumped for tomato soup and Melissa had the seafood mix soup. The soup tasted like the juice out of tinned plum tomatoes – bitty, watery, and pretty gross. I'm so hungry I eat it all anyway. Apparently the seafood mix soup wasn't all that wonderful either… The peach and passionfruit cordial drink was nice though… but didn't compensate. This is very bad food karma!! I'm still hungry and have digested tinned tomato juice. Not happy bunnies, we rate the food quality and choice as 'poor' on the comments card, adding that they should get 'real food'.
We left hungry and annoyed, and slowly walked around Osborne House, taking in the glorious décor, the intricately designed ceilings, and the brilliant views of the gardens from all directions. One room contained the Royal Family tree, and it demonstrated how Victoria and Albert attempted to marry off their children throughout Europe to ensure peace between the countries… You could also clearly see how Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are first cousins as well as husband and wife…! No wonder the children of Elizabeth II and Philip are a little weird – they're a bunch of in-breds!
After wandering around the gardens and quickly making out way through the Walled Gardens, we headed back to the bus stop, grabbed our two buses, and hopped back on to the IOW ferry to the mainland. Back at the chalet, we are incredibly hungry and open the Thai Chilli crisps and shortcake biscuits, and cook potato croquettes to snack on before dinner! I cooked sweet 'n' sour rice with southern fried chicken fingers which was eagerly devoured, and we spent the evening doing crosswords and playing the Friends game. Well, not exactly playing but reading out the questions and laughing at them and our own answers!! It was fun.
Once at Osborne House it was already 1pm so we headed into the restaurant. The menu is two pages and eight items on page one are the food items. All the others are drinks. The food items consisted of soup and bread, egg and watercress sandwiches, poached salmon sandwiches… Yep, just soup and sandwiches, none of which sounded particularly appealing or filling. In the end, Jenny and I plumped for tomato soup and Melissa had the seafood mix soup. The soup tasted like the juice out of tinned plum tomatoes – bitty, watery, and pretty gross. I'm so hungry I eat it all anyway. Apparently the seafood mix soup wasn't all that wonderful either… The peach and passionfruit cordial drink was nice though… but didn't compensate. This is very bad food karma!! I'm still hungry and have digested tinned tomato juice. Not happy bunnies, we rate the food quality and choice as 'poor' on the comments card, adding that they should get 'real food'.
We left hungry and annoyed, and slowly walked around Osborne House, taking in the glorious décor, the intricately designed ceilings, and the brilliant views of the gardens from all directions. One room contained the Royal Family tree, and it demonstrated how Victoria and Albert attempted to marry off their children throughout Europe to ensure peace between the countries… You could also clearly see how Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are first cousins as well as husband and wife…! No wonder the children of Elizabeth II and Philip are a little weird – they're a bunch of in-breds!
After wandering around the gardens and quickly making out way through the Walled Gardens, we headed back to the bus stop, grabbed our two buses, and hopped back on to the IOW ferry to the mainland. Back at the chalet, we are incredibly hungry and open the Thai Chilli crisps and shortcake biscuits, and cook potato croquettes to snack on before dinner! I cooked sweet 'n' sour rice with southern fried chicken fingers which was eagerly devoured, and we spent the evening doing crosswords and playing the Friends game. Well, not exactly playing but reading out the questions and laughing at them and our own answers!! It was fun.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Salisbury
We are up in good time and get in the car to head towards Salisbury. We stop at the Park 'n' Ride and take the bus into the city centre. The cathedral in Salisbury is absolutely gorgeous and is the only British gothic cathedral still intact in its entirety. The spire is the tallest in Britain and the cloisters are the largest in England. The cathedral is actually undergoing restoration, which started in 1986 and is expected to continue until at least 2015. We get a free tour around the cathedral with an elderly gentleman who was very well spoken and knew loads about everything we wanted to know! Interesting parts of the 90min tour were the oldest mechanical clock, the baby who died eleven days before it was born (a result of the change from Julian to Georgian dates) and the guy who was found dead with a perfectly preserved skeleton of a rat in his skull – nice! Of course, there's also the infamous Magna Carta on display, guarded by numerous staff and surrounded by carvings on the walls, depicting major events in the Old Testament of the Bible (Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah's ark, etc)
After the tour, we trekked back into the city centre for lunch in a Tudor-style pub and had jacket potatoes and Ploughman's. The people moving around upstairs made the ceiling creak and I swear I saw one of the beams move… We then did a bit of shopping, mooched around Boots (the Yanks can't get enough of the Fresh! range) and then trudged all the way back towards the cathedral so we could go into the Salisbury museum. It contained the infamous preserved rat skeleton, a history and analysis of Stonehenge, costumes from the Victorian era, and a whole range of Wedgwood pottery. Completely tired out and way too hot (it is 28ºC today!) we relaxed on a shaded bench in front of the cathedral before finding ice cream and making our way back to the Park 'n' Ride.
Due to our aforementioned tiredness, we decide to drop by Stonehenge but when we get there, there are hardly any spaces to park in and we are hot and grumpy. I stop in a lay-by opposite the henge and we took some photos before driving slowly by the structure to grab a last shot. "It's smaller than I thought it'd be," Jenny commented. Hmm… Americans always say that about stuff in England…
So we drove back, stopping off at Tesco's to buy more provisions (read 'alcohol') and get petrol. Mel and Jen insist on arguing about everything when we go food shopping. Not only are they adults arguing in the middle of the shop, but also they are loud and have American accents – enough factors to get everyone looking at us! I try walking ahead to avoid the arguments but in doing so, I'm probably making it worse…
We have an orange dinner of chicken Kiev balls and potato croquettes followed by a yellow desert of lemon Madeira cake and pineapple chunks. Loyd Grossman would be appalled… Soz guys… Anyways, by 10.30pm the girls are shattered but I had just had coffee and was buzzing. I watched some music videos and a good episode of SATC before hitting the sack around 00.25am!
After the tour, we trekked back into the city centre for lunch in a Tudor-style pub and had jacket potatoes and Ploughman's. The people moving around upstairs made the ceiling creak and I swear I saw one of the beams move… We then did a bit of shopping, mooched around Boots (the Yanks can't get enough of the Fresh! range) and then trudged all the way back towards the cathedral so we could go into the Salisbury museum. It contained the infamous preserved rat skeleton, a history and analysis of Stonehenge, costumes from the Victorian era, and a whole range of Wedgwood pottery. Completely tired out and way too hot (it is 28ºC today!) we relaxed on a shaded bench in front of the cathedral before finding ice cream and making our way back to the Park 'n' Ride.
Due to our aforementioned tiredness, we decide to drop by Stonehenge but when we get there, there are hardly any spaces to park in and we are hot and grumpy. I stop in a lay-by opposite the henge and we took some photos before driving slowly by the structure to grab a last shot. "It's smaller than I thought it'd be," Jenny commented. Hmm… Americans always say that about stuff in England…
So we drove back, stopping off at Tesco's to buy more provisions (read 'alcohol') and get petrol. Mel and Jen insist on arguing about everything when we go food shopping. Not only are they adults arguing in the middle of the shop, but also they are loud and have American accents – enough factors to get everyone looking at us! I try walking ahead to avoid the arguments but in doing so, I'm probably making it worse…
We have an orange dinner of chicken Kiev balls and potato croquettes followed by a yellow desert of lemon Madeira cake and pineapple chunks. Loyd Grossman would be appalled… Soz guys… Anyways, by 10.30pm the girls are shattered but I had just had coffee and was buzzing. I watched some music videos and a good episode of SATC before hitting the sack around 00.25am!
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Bournemouth
This morning I woke up unfeasibly early considering I had a great night's sleep. I made Jenny and Melissa eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast and then we just lounged around in and outside the chalet until Reuben called me to say he'd arrived in Bournemouth. I drove to Bournemouth, found Reuben, and we all walked along the promenade, stopping in an arcade along the way. We had lunch in Hot Rocks, a surf-themed restaurant overlooking the square and with beach views. It was incredibly hot and all we could manage was two starters between the four of us. There was quite a bit of food though – chicken pieces, potato skins, southern-fried potato wedges, tortilla chips and spare ribs, served with salsa, sour cream and mustard dips. We took a short walk through Bournemouth gardens in the blazing heat, taking photos and trying to work off some of the food!
Back in the car and to the chalet, I noticed my upper right arm had turned slightly pink – sunburn! I should get more sunblock… Mel and Jen began to argue out their joint efforts on a new story for a while before Melissa finally left to call Andy. Jenny disappeared outside to enjoy the late afternoon sun on the patio, and Reuben and I decided to clock in some quality time… Well, a week is a long time when you're apart from the one you love!
Reuben left about 7.30pm and we had mince and pasta for dinner before heading out to the club for the evening cabaret. Comedian Paul Eastwood is not much of a comedian. His jokes were funny but they were recycled off the Internet so I'd heard most of them before. The ones I hadn't heard were in bad taste, a typical example being "The other day I met a blind prostitute… well, you've got to hand it to her." (sigh) Yeah…
Back in the car and to the chalet, I noticed my upper right arm had turned slightly pink – sunburn! I should get more sunblock… Mel and Jen began to argue out their joint efforts on a new story for a while before Melissa finally left to call Andy. Jenny disappeared outside to enjoy the late afternoon sun on the patio, and Reuben and I decided to clock in some quality time… Well, a week is a long time when you're apart from the one you love!
Reuben left about 7.30pm and we had mince and pasta for dinner before heading out to the club for the evening cabaret. Comedian Paul Eastwood is not much of a comedian. His jokes were funny but they were recycled off the Internet so I'd heard most of them before. The ones I hadn't heard were in bad taste, a typical example being "The other day I met a blind prostitute… well, you've got to hand it to her." (sigh) Yeah…
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Glastonbury
Thus begins our second week of holiday. We are up surprisingly early – 6.30am! We have breakfast, do some last-minute packing, and return all the hired items and chalet key into Reception. As we head out of the park at 8.40am(!) Melissa says, "See you in hell, John Fowler!" We laughed and prayed that the accommodation for the second week would be marginally better. Actually the week wasn't all that bad. We did do a lot of mileage, see a lot of places, and the park itself was good value for money. At £232 for the week, we had a reasonably sized chalet with water, electricity and heating on tap. Okay, there wasn't enough water pressure to have a decent shower, the chalet became extra tiny when the bed or table were fully extended, and we felt we were living in each other's pockets. It was literally a place to crash. We weren't exactly gonna live there!
Anyhow, we headed into Barnstaple for the last time to fuel up, and then headed towards Glastonbury via the M5. Glastonbury was beautiful. We walked around the ruins of the Abbey and watched some of a church ceremony being conducted outside, with a choir and large altar set up by where King Arthur and Guinevere's tombs were. On the way back to the car, a large procession had gathered in the street, blocking the route I was meaning to take out of Glastonbury. We stopped into a newsagent to pick up ice-lollies and water bottles, and asked the shopkeeper what was going on. Apparently, in early July, Christians of all denominations come to Glastonbury in pilgrimage, as legend says that Joseph of Arimathea came to England with Jesus and they built the old wattle and daub church, which unfortunately burnt when the entire Abbey was destroyed by fire in 1184. So we witnessed the C of E procession before we packed back into the car and took the alternative route suggested by the shopkeeper, heading towards Salisbury.
Deciding that Stonehenge would be a decent day out, we stayed on the main road to Salisbury instead of heading out to Stonehenge, and take the Ringwood road to Bournemouth. We find the train station easily and said our goodbyes to Debbie, who profusely apologised for not being better company. Like she could help it, she is sick!! We followed Anna's directions to Highcliffe and find the chalet easily. It's actually an owned chalet on Hoburne Naish Holiday Park and Oh…. My… God… This place is wonderful! We have SPACE, a proper kitchen, table and chairs, enough sofa seats to go around, gorgeous beds and bedrooms, and a powerful shower! I am SO happy! We all are!! We feel like crying. If we had come here the first week and then gone to John Fowler's, we would have been sooo gutted!!
Anyway, despite every luxury spared, true to Anna's word there is no bed linen. I agree to purchase bed linen and then keep them afterwards. So we go to Reception and look through the Yellow Pages for an Argos, as I know they do nice bed linen at decent prices. We find it closed so we head on towards Bournemouth again and detour as we spy a Roseby's from the road. As we arrive, the manager come to the door and announces that the shop is closed. I ask him if there is anywhere I can buy bed linen at 6pm. "Find a hotel," he answers unhelpfully. "We are in a hotel," we say in unison. I explain that we need bed linen desperately and he directs us to the nearest Tesco's, turning the key in the lock as he says his last words. We duly go back to the car, grumbling about how everything shuts at 6pm outside of London. We find the Tesco's without grief and I buy £50 of sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers.
Back at the chalet, we have our longed-for and well-deserved showers, eat lemon-iced cake, and drink Arbor Mist, a pink/rosé coloured fruity wine that was de-lish! Man, I love this chalet!!
Anyhow, we headed into Barnstaple for the last time to fuel up, and then headed towards Glastonbury via the M5. Glastonbury was beautiful. We walked around the ruins of the Abbey and watched some of a church ceremony being conducted outside, with a choir and large altar set up by where King Arthur and Guinevere's tombs were. On the way back to the car, a large procession had gathered in the street, blocking the route I was meaning to take out of Glastonbury. We stopped into a newsagent to pick up ice-lollies and water bottles, and asked the shopkeeper what was going on. Apparently, in early July, Christians of all denominations come to Glastonbury in pilgrimage, as legend says that Joseph of Arimathea came to England with Jesus and they built the old wattle and daub church, which unfortunately burnt when the entire Abbey was destroyed by fire in 1184. So we witnessed the C of E procession before we packed back into the car and took the alternative route suggested by the shopkeeper, heading towards Salisbury.
Deciding that Stonehenge would be a decent day out, we stayed on the main road to Salisbury instead of heading out to Stonehenge, and take the Ringwood road to Bournemouth. We find the train station easily and said our goodbyes to Debbie, who profusely apologised for not being better company. Like she could help it, she is sick!! We followed Anna's directions to Highcliffe and find the chalet easily. It's actually an owned chalet on Hoburne Naish Holiday Park and Oh…. My… God… This place is wonderful! We have SPACE, a proper kitchen, table and chairs, enough sofa seats to go around, gorgeous beds and bedrooms, and a powerful shower! I am SO happy! We all are!! We feel like crying. If we had come here the first week and then gone to John Fowler's, we would have been sooo gutted!!
Anyway, despite every luxury spared, true to Anna's word there is no bed linen. I agree to purchase bed linen and then keep them afterwards. So we go to Reception and look through the Yellow Pages for an Argos, as I know they do nice bed linen at decent prices. We find it closed so we head on towards Bournemouth again and detour as we spy a Roseby's from the road. As we arrive, the manager come to the door and announces that the shop is closed. I ask him if there is anywhere I can buy bed linen at 6pm. "Find a hotel," he answers unhelpfully. "We are in a hotel," we say in unison. I explain that we need bed linen desperately and he directs us to the nearest Tesco's, turning the key in the lock as he says his last words. We duly go back to the car, grumbling about how everything shuts at 6pm outside of London. We find the Tesco's without grief and I buy £50 of sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers.
Back at the chalet, we have our longed-for and well-deserved showers, eat lemon-iced cake, and drink Arbor Mist, a pink/rosé coloured fruity wine that was de-lish! Man, I love this chalet!!
Friday, July 08, 2005
Arlington Court & Benton
I got to sleep in this morning! Well, not much but enough to feel better. I think I'm burning my candle at both ends – early mornings, late nights, and a dry cough that won't leave me alone! We have a slow breakfast and head to Arlington Court, a National Trust house with a cool collection of horse-drawn carriages and some magnificent grounds, including a gated garden and large pond. The house was full of artefacts and had some really fine and exquisite pieces of art and furniture. Outside the house was a sign to a bat cave. "To the Bat Cave!" we yelled in the style of Batman, but it was merely a room with a small TV screen in the corner. A control panel enabled the camera in the loft to move and focus on the (sleeping) bats. It was rather disappointing… We did get to have a fun but short ride in a horse-drawn carriage and we lunched among coloured and white peacocks.
After Arlington Court I wanted to go to Benton, a nearby village I'd seen on the map. We drove down narrow roads, some only the width of the car, and past wheat that towered high above us… but no Benton. It was possibly the house in the middle of a field that we passed but we can't be certain.
We headed on into Ilfracombe, stopping for souvenirs and Devonshire ice cream. The evening involved takeaway and getting ready for tomorrow's journey to Bournemouth, Dorset. Anna called my mobile to give directions and to warn us that there would be no bed linen. "Crud!" Jenny exclaims while taking notes. After failing to get through to the guy who hired me the chalet, we have a short discussion and decide that if there's no linen hire once we get there, I'll buy some.
After Arlington Court I wanted to go to Benton, a nearby village I'd seen on the map. We drove down narrow roads, some only the width of the car, and past wheat that towered high above us… but no Benton. It was possibly the house in the middle of a field that we passed but we can't be certain.
We headed on into Ilfracombe, stopping for souvenirs and Devonshire ice cream. The evening involved takeaway and getting ready for tomorrow's journey to Bournemouth, Dorset. Anna called my mobile to give directions and to warn us that there would be no bed linen. "Crud!" Jenny exclaims while taking notes. After failing to get through to the guy who hired me the chalet, we have a short discussion and decide that if there's no linen hire once we get there, I'll buy some.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Exeter
We were all up early and headed out to Exeter. On the way, Reuben texted me to tell me the news that London had been hit by four terrorist bombs: three on the underground and one on a double-decker. The radio was hastily clicked into place and the news was on all the channels. I was shocked and as soon as I had parked up, I desperately texted all my family and friends to make sure they were okay. All but one texted back to say they were fine and were either going home or were avoiding Central London. I felt sad for all those involved in the attacks, but in a way I felt numb too. It is hard to explain fully.
Pushing home events aside, I moved forward to Exeter Cathedral, took some photos, and lit a candle for the London bomb victims. We then walked through the city centre in the blazing heat (such a contrast to Tuesday!) and poked our heads into various shops, notably Lush, where we sampled various creams and sniffed all kinds of soaps and bath bombs. Lunch was in a small café tucked behind the High Street shops, where Debbie's cough, which had slowly worsened through the week, was so bad that she couldn't eat. We left Exeter, completed the long drive back to Ilfracombe, and I took Debbie to the local doctor's surgery while Jenny stayed in the chalet and Melissa called Andy. I found the medical centre pretty easily and waited a short while for the doctor. It transpires that Deb's medication is a waste of time and that she should just cough when she needs to. However, he did give her a small vial to hack in to so he could analyse her phlegm… Charming, huh?
Pushing home events aside, I moved forward to Exeter Cathedral, took some photos, and lit a candle for the London bomb victims. We then walked through the city centre in the blazing heat (such a contrast to Tuesday!) and poked our heads into various shops, notably Lush, where we sampled various creams and sniffed all kinds of soaps and bath bombs. Lunch was in a small café tucked behind the High Street shops, where Debbie's cough, which had slowly worsened through the week, was so bad that she couldn't eat. We left Exeter, completed the long drive back to Ilfracombe, and I took Debbie to the local doctor's surgery while Jenny stayed in the chalet and Melissa called Andy. I found the medical centre pretty easily and waited a short while for the doctor. It transpires that Deb's medication is a waste of time and that she should just cough when she needs to. However, he did give her a small vial to hack in to so he could analyse her phlegm… Charming, huh?
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
The Eden Project
Today, the Eden Project! The Eden Project is a former disused chalk pit that has been transformed into a diverse array of plants, flowers and trees from all over the world. The main attraction is the two large Biomes - temperature-regulated environments that recreate the climate conditions of Europe and the Americas, and Africa and the East. Outside of the Biomes were the remains of the recent Live8 concert and fields of tea and lavender. One very large sculpture was made out of the number of electrical goods discarded as waste from the average individual, such as refrigerators, computers, toasters and mobile phones. We also saw the enormous half-haired bee grazing on the landscape! The journey to the Eden Project was long and painful. Remember we are in Ilfracombe, North Devon – the Eden Project is located near St Austell, South Cornwall. Yeah, a round trip of c.200 miles and nothing but 'A' roads. Southwest England badly needs motorways!
After the Eden Project, we decide to drive into St Austell to have a Cornish cream tea and maybe ice cream before starting out 2½hour journey back. Easier said than done! After driving up precariously steep corners and circling the town a few times, we find nothing. My grandmother said St Austell was a delightful little town. What she failed to mention was that driving was a nuts idea and there aren't any cafés, just takeaways and pubs! The turning point was when I found myself faces with a narrow road able to fit one car across and the sign by the entrance was for the national speed limit… 60mph up a narrow winding path with a strong chance of on-coming traffic? Uh-uh… Wrong-o!! I quickly about turned and drove home, stopping at Okehampton Little Chef at 6pm because I was too hungry to continue! We also made a quick pit stop at the Tesco's in Barnstaple for some provisions, namely cough mixture and petrol… again! The Rover 200 isn't the most economical car in the world…
After the Eden Project, we decide to drive into St Austell to have a Cornish cream tea and maybe ice cream before starting out 2½hour journey back. Easier said than done! After driving up precariously steep corners and circling the town a few times, we find nothing. My grandmother said St Austell was a delightful little town. What she failed to mention was that driving was a nuts idea and there aren't any cafés, just takeaways and pubs! The turning point was when I found myself faces with a narrow road able to fit one car across and the sign by the entrance was for the national speed limit… 60mph up a narrow winding path with a strong chance of on-coming traffic? Uh-uh… Wrong-o!! I quickly about turned and drove home, stopping at Okehampton Little Chef at 6pm because I was too hungry to continue! We also made a quick pit stop at the Tesco's in Barnstaple for some provisions, namely cough mixture and petrol… again! The Rover 200 isn't the most economical car in the world…
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Clovelly, Dartington Crystal & Bideford
I know I'm missing some days... Bear with me here!!!
We get up and leave at 8.55am – wahey! We're practising for when we have a long haul journey (like tomorrow!). We head into Clovelly (cloh-vellee) first, a tiny fishing village situated on a very steep slope of cobbles. (I found out later that it was actually the setting for the old Hovis ad, where a young boy drags a trolley of bread up the slope with an old man's narration over it.) The cobbles were a nightmare to walk on, especially since it was drizzling quite a bit and threatening to get heavier, so all the (uneven) cobbles were very slippery! We all inched (well, Jenny bravely marched) down into the village, heard about their way of life, and admired the fantastic views of the Bristol Channel and Barnstaple Bay. Debbie and I trekked along the part-stone-part-sand beach while Jenny walked along the harbour and Melissa… disappeared for a good ten minutes or so!! It later transpired that she took a pathway back past Crazy Kate's Cottage and stopped to talk to a local! Looking at the steep hill, walking back up was not an option and we paid to be driven back by Land Rover. We lunched in the café overlooking Clovelly and watched the donkeys feed on the grass slope outside.
We then braved the rain again and drove to the Dartington Crystal factory. The factory was very cool and had some great pieces of crystal glassware on display. There were boards and audio-visuals about how the crystal is made and we were able to watch some glassmaking first hand. One guy was preserving a couple's handprints in glass and we watched people round the back rolling and blowing glass into shapes. The gift shop, of course, had a marvellous display of ornaments, glassware and figurines, all of which were either too expensive for me to purchase, or too delicate to take back with me. I'm guessing I can order stuff off the Internet…
The rain still pelting, we head to the Atlantic Shopping Mall in Bideford, purchasing chocolate and banana chips to munch on. Later that evening we ate spaghetti and played Gloom. Gloom is a card game whereby each player has a set of cards representing a family. The player then has to kill off each of their family members with the highest number of points displayed as possible. Apart from the not-too-solid game rules, I found the hardest part was concocting a story to accompany the various ailments, deaths and tragedies bestowed on my characters! Melissa thinks that’s the best part…
We get up and leave at 8.55am – wahey! We're practising for when we have a long haul journey (like tomorrow!). We head into Clovelly (cloh-vellee) first, a tiny fishing village situated on a very steep slope of cobbles. (I found out later that it was actually the setting for the old Hovis ad, where a young boy drags a trolley of bread up the slope with an old man's narration over it.) The cobbles were a nightmare to walk on, especially since it was drizzling quite a bit and threatening to get heavier, so all the (uneven) cobbles were very slippery! We all inched (well, Jenny bravely marched) down into the village, heard about their way of life, and admired the fantastic views of the Bristol Channel and Barnstaple Bay. Debbie and I trekked along the part-stone-part-sand beach while Jenny walked along the harbour and Melissa… disappeared for a good ten minutes or so!! It later transpired that she took a pathway back past Crazy Kate's Cottage and stopped to talk to a local! Looking at the steep hill, walking back up was not an option and we paid to be driven back by Land Rover. We lunched in the café overlooking Clovelly and watched the donkeys feed on the grass slope outside.
We then braved the rain again and drove to the Dartington Crystal factory. The factory was very cool and had some great pieces of crystal glassware on display. There were boards and audio-visuals about how the crystal is made and we were able to watch some glassmaking first hand. One guy was preserving a couple's handprints in glass and we watched people round the back rolling and blowing glass into shapes. The gift shop, of course, had a marvellous display of ornaments, glassware and figurines, all of which were either too expensive for me to purchase, or too delicate to take back with me. I'm guessing I can order stuff off the Internet…
The rain still pelting, we head to the Atlantic Shopping Mall in Bideford, purchasing chocolate and banana chips to munch on. Later that evening we ate spaghetti and played Gloom. Gloom is a card game whereby each player has a set of cards representing a family. The player then has to kill off each of their family members with the highest number of points displayed as possible. Apart from the not-too-solid game rules, I found the hardest part was concocting a story to accompany the various ailments, deaths and tragedies bestowed on my characters! Melissa thinks that’s the best part…
Friday, July 01, 2005
Sick
I'm soooo sick. It's a sore throat/tickly cough/semi-blocked sinuses combination. And I have to pick Melissa and Jenny up from LHR tomorrow morning. I hope that its not viral and that we'll be ill all holiday... I just want to curl up and sleep... but I have washing and packing and food shopping to do before that. Argh...!! Where are servants when you need 'em?!
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Apprehensive excitement
I'm kinda excited. For some reason, and I'm not one for spontaneousness, I have just signed a lease to rent a flat. With R. This is totally weird! I mean, it feels okay and almost natural, but at the same time, I have a nagging feeling that things are going too fast. I'm not alone in this, however, as R confides that he too feels the same. So we're moving to this really nice 2-bed flat on the new estate in Turnford. We've got a good price and can't wait to do the coupley Ikea thing! The keys get handed over end of July so hopefully we'll be settled in by mid-August.
I'm so excited... but apprehensive... but the excitement thing is definitely stronger!!
I'm so excited... but apprehensive... but the excitement thing is definitely stronger!!
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Amsterdam v Nottingham
R buggered off to Amsterdam for the weekend on an all-guys holiday mini-break thingy. Kind of like an Only Fools and Horses Jolly Boys Outing. Only in Holland. So I joked about the red light district, told him an amusing story about Omouse's trip there, and went on my own mini-break... to Nottingham. Yeah yeah, not as exciting or cool as Amsterdam, but Nottingham has clubs, pubs, and Andy.
Andy likes my new shorter hairstyle. And the fact that I'm eating properly again (see here). So a good start! He's a little despondent since his working contract ended so my objective is to cheer him up, mainly by doing a pub crawl and then clubbing until the early hours. He was a bit surprised to hear about R (doesn't anyone read my emails or blog?!) but said that it probably explained why I seemed happier and healthier!
The pub crawl went swimmingly! We went to four pubs and graded the sofas out of ten in each. The second pub had the worst sofa but the best ceiling. It was a see-through walkway on the upper floor, and we only noticed it when we left! Andy was a little disappointed at not noticing it earlier, especially since there was some kind of hen night going on and quite a few girls with short skirts on were walking up and down...!! We eventually decided to go in search of a club and passed Flares, which Andy desperately wanted me to go into, as it has a revolving dancefloor and a pole... Yep, the guy wants to have a pole-dance!! I am adamant that we are not going in, though I flirtingly suggest that I'd probably be very good at it... We ended up at Faces, a club with cool music but a few posers. I pulled this guy who said in so many words that I was sexy and could he take me home? I was a little shocked but politely declined. Andy was watching from the side of the dancefloor and thought it was hysterical, though I refused to tell him what the guy had said to me. I sweetly said that it might shock his little cotton socks off(!)
We finally crash at the flat around 3am. After poking him so he wouldn't sleep on the sofa, and Andy badly defending himself with a feather duster (best not to ask!), we retire, only for me to wake later that morning at... 6.30am. Damn east-facing window!!
Andy likes my new shorter hairstyle. And the fact that I'm eating properly again (see here). So a good start! He's a little despondent since his working contract ended so my objective is to cheer him up, mainly by doing a pub crawl and then clubbing until the early hours. He was a bit surprised to hear about R (doesn't anyone read my emails or blog?!) but said that it probably explained why I seemed happier and healthier!
The pub crawl went swimmingly! We went to four pubs and graded the sofas out of ten in each. The second pub had the worst sofa but the best ceiling. It was a see-through walkway on the upper floor, and we only noticed it when we left! Andy was a little disappointed at not noticing it earlier, especially since there was some kind of hen night going on and quite a few girls with short skirts on were walking up and down...!! We eventually decided to go in search of a club and passed Flares, which Andy desperately wanted me to go into, as it has a revolving dancefloor and a pole... Yep, the guy wants to have a pole-dance!! I am adamant that we are not going in, though I flirtingly suggest that I'd probably be very good at it... We ended up at Faces, a club with cool music but a few posers. I pulled this guy who said in so many words that I was sexy and could he take me home? I was a little shocked but politely declined. Andy was watching from the side of the dancefloor and thought it was hysterical, though I refused to tell him what the guy had said to me. I sweetly said that it might shock his little cotton socks off(!)
We finally crash at the flat around 3am. After poking him so he wouldn't sleep on the sofa, and Andy badly defending himself with a feather duster (best not to ask!), we retire, only for me to wake later that morning at... 6.30am. Damn east-facing window!!
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Parents (Part 2)
R finally got to meet my father today. Dad was polite - shook his hand, offered a drink, didn't ask too many Q's - which I was pleasantly surprised at! I was worried it'd be a '20 questions' situation whereby Daddy's Little Girl needs some Fatherly Protection (patent pending).
Result? Dad's not totally mad and R is still alive. Points all round!
Result? Dad's not totally mad and R is still alive. Points all round!
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Asi Training
After a surveyor dropped out, my supervisor's manager put me on an asbestos management training course in Basildon. I actually got quite excited about it. I have constantly asked (read 'nagged') for training of some description to help with my job and have always been refused, so this is a big step forwards! The course was spread over two days, the first covering the basics of what asbestos is, how its dangerous to health, and the regulations and laws. The second day dealt with the regs in detail and also covered step-by-step procedures for safe removal and air clearance.
The trainer was brilliant - I couldn't commend him highly enough. He was professional, clear and concise, while at the same time being a bit of a jack-the-lad and joshing with a couple of attendees he'd obviously met before. The industry, it would appear, it pretty small and tight-knit; everyone knows everyone!! One memorable moment was when he paused the DVD as the words 'The Analyst' appeared letter by letter, and it paused on 'The Anal'...
It was all pretty interesting stuff and generated good conversations! It was also a great opportunity to network and gain insight into how other people work and how they are a part of the industry. I was surprised at all the managers there who had no idea what asbestos was and were only on the course because of the new law out last year that says all dutyholders are responsible for any suspected asbestos within the framework of their buildings. The law was out April 2004... and they are attending a course in June 2005. I was shocked! My workplace started carrying out extensive property research back in January 2003 so we were ready when the law came into force. It was nice to broadcast how far ahead we were from other local authorities. It gives us a good name, expecially important since we've had some bad press recently.
The trainer was brilliant - I couldn't commend him highly enough. He was professional, clear and concise, while at the same time being a bit of a jack-the-lad and joshing with a couple of attendees he'd obviously met before. The industry, it would appear, it pretty small and tight-knit; everyone knows everyone!! One memorable moment was when he paused the DVD as the words 'The Analyst' appeared letter by letter, and it paused on 'The Anal'...
It was all pretty interesting stuff and generated good conversations! It was also a great opportunity to network and gain insight into how other people work and how they are a part of the industry. I was surprised at all the managers there who had no idea what asbestos was and were only on the course because of the new law out last year that says all dutyholders are responsible for any suspected asbestos within the framework of their buildings. The law was out April 2004... and they are attending a course in June 2005. I was shocked! My workplace started carrying out extensive property research back in January 2003 so we were ready when the law came into force. It was nice to broadcast how far ahead we were from other local authorities. It gives us a good name, expecially important since we've had some bad press recently.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Heatwave
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4105484.stm
Just in case anyone was in any doubt that English weather can actually be pretty darn hot and isn't all rain...
Just in case anyone was in any doubt that English weather can actually be pretty darn hot and isn't all rain...
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Oops...?
I told my dad about R. I didn't even mean to! I stumbled downstairs this morning to make coffee and Dad asked me if I was going to JH's for the annual birthday BBQ. I declined, saying it was too hot this year and Bedfordshire is a long haul in hot weather. He then asked if I was doing anything tonight and I said that no, I wasn't.
"But you usually go out on a Saturday night, don't you?" he asked.
"Well, yeah," I reply, "but R's in Manchester today."
"R? Who's R?"
I suddenly realise what I've said and gulp. "Boyfriend?" I offered.
"Boyfriend?" my dad repeated.
"Yeah."
"I didn't know," he said, a little crestfallen, and then just walked out of the room and back upstairs.
I'm not quite sure what happened. Was he upset he didn't know, or upset I had a boyfriend? Was he even upset at all and just...? I dunno. He hasn't spoken to me again the rest of today... Maybe he needs to think about it...
"But you usually go out on a Saturday night, don't you?" he asked.
"Well, yeah," I reply, "but R's in Manchester today."
"R? Who's R?"
I suddenly realise what I've said and gulp. "Boyfriend?" I offered.
"Boyfriend?" my dad repeated.
"Yeah."
"I didn't know," he said, a little crestfallen, and then just walked out of the room and back upstairs.
I'm not quite sure what happened. Was he upset he didn't know, or upset I had a boyfriend? Was he even upset at all and just...? I dunno. He hasn't spoken to me again the rest of today... Maybe he needs to think about it...
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Parents
For reasons I can't remember, I agreed to meet R's parents. I cannot tell you how nervous I am. Normally when I meet the parents of friends, everything is fine and they think I'm adorable/ look like my mother/ very tall/ etc. But this is a guy's parents we're talking about, specifically his mother. It is a well-known fact that most mothers believe that no woman is good enough for their son. I am therefore understandably nervous.
I arrive incredibly promptly - bang on the dot perfect timing. I politely take my shoes off upon entering and shake the hands of his parents, who are grinning ear to ear. I'm praying its a good sign! I'm offered a drink and I decline, visions of various spillage-related accidents going through my head. I'm pressed further and decide to just go with the flow and, yes, tea would be lovely. Two minutes later, I'm being offered bone china on a tray. My stomach flips. Various swear words fail to pass my lips. I take the cup and saucer, visibly shaking. But no spillages occured and the china stayed intact throughout the sitting.
And apparently it went well. His parents like me. Well, his mother does anyway. My father doesn't even know about us yet...
I arrive incredibly promptly - bang on the dot perfect timing. I politely take my shoes off upon entering and shake the hands of his parents, who are grinning ear to ear. I'm praying its a good sign! I'm offered a drink and I decline, visions of various spillage-related accidents going through my head. I'm pressed further and decide to just go with the flow and, yes, tea would be lovely. Two minutes later, I'm being offered bone china on a tray. My stomach flips. Various swear words fail to pass my lips. I take the cup and saucer, visibly shaking. But no spillages occured and the china stayed intact throughout the sitting.
And apparently it went well. His parents like me. Well, his mother does anyway. My father doesn't even know about us yet...
Monday, June 13, 2005
Receptionist No 7
S starts with us today as the new receptionist. My supervision meeting was cancelled because my line manager had to dedicate another day to training up the new staff, showing her around the depot, talking through all the procedures... Its such a waste of time, really! Instead of paying for new staff and extortionate agency fees, why can't they give a little extra money to us, the admin staff, and we'll cover the reception, just like we've been doing for years before this new-fangled role emerged.
I give her a week.
I give her a week.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Yahoo!
Jenny and I had a long chat over Yahoo Messenger today We spoke mainly about the up-and-coming holiday and how I should presuade my b/f to let me borrow his car so all the luggage will fit. It's not so much me borrowing his car, but more him borrowing my car. I love my car very much and have had made a lot of fuss about me being the only one who drives it. But then I figured, the guy who had it before me drove it (as well as goodness knows how many other people) and everytime I take my car in for servicing, a number of people drive it. So why not at least someone I trust and not just another mechanic?
I might have to clean it first though. It's pretty dirty on the outside because I have to park under trees when I go to work. The inside isn't so good either, because our vacuum cleaner doesn't quite reach the entire car, even with the extension cable. But it's the least I could do. R's car is spotless...
I might have to clean it first though. It's pretty dirty on the outside because I have to park under trees when I go to work. The inside isn't so good either, because our vacuum cleaner doesn't quite reach the entire car, even with the extension cable. But it's the least I could do. R's car is spotless...
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Canterbury
R has never been to Canterbury so I offered to take him there sometime. Within days he has a room at the Holiday Inn booked up and we're off for the weekend. I decide that my father would probably hit the roof if he found out that, not only did I have a boyfriend, but I was planning to spend the weekend away with him. So I told a little fib... It wasn't a bad one, and I didn't exactly lie, I just omitted some facts that were the truth! I said I was staying in Canterbury - truth. He just presumed it was with Debbie. At no point did I say that I was or was not staying with Debbie. So I'm in the clear!!
Being my controlling self, I drove us to Canterbury and talked the entire way! I can talk for England, I swear!! I did a little guided tour, driving around the old fortress wall to Northgate, then going straight up St Stephens towards the university. Drove around the university campus, pointing out where we stayed, ate, had lectures, our hangout (bus shelters outside Keynes) and drove back down the 'front entrance' so we could see the magnificent view of Canterbury city centre. After that, I drove down the hill and through the town to the Westgate, finally parking up at Canterbury West station.
We did the usual stuff: watched a double decker bus pass through the Westgate; ambled around the Cathedral; admired the eclectic mix of Tudor, Victorian, Edwardian and modern buildings all built next to eachother in the high street; walked through the Westgate gardens and hung out under the arch; stared at the Beaney Institute; saw the wonky doorway to the art shop round the back streets; browsed through hippy-junk shop Siesta... everything!! And in the evening, we ate at my favourite restaurant, Marlowe's. I was surprised we even managed to get a table at such short notice! It must be because all the students have gone home...
R liked Canterbury a lot and we decided to go back sometime for a long weekend. Just not enough time in one day to do it all!
Being my controlling self, I drove us to Canterbury and talked the entire way! I can talk for England, I swear!! I did a little guided tour, driving around the old fortress wall to Northgate, then going straight up St Stephens towards the university. Drove around the university campus, pointing out where we stayed, ate, had lectures, our hangout (bus shelters outside Keynes) and drove back down the 'front entrance' so we could see the magnificent view of Canterbury city centre. After that, I drove down the hill and through the town to the Westgate, finally parking up at Canterbury West station.
We did the usual stuff: watched a double decker bus pass through the Westgate; ambled around the Cathedral; admired the eclectic mix of Tudor, Victorian, Edwardian and modern buildings all built next to eachother in the high street; walked through the Westgate gardens and hung out under the arch; stared at the Beaney Institute; saw the wonky doorway to the art shop round the back streets; browsed through hippy-junk shop Siesta... everything!! And in the evening, we ate at my favourite restaurant, Marlowe's. I was surprised we even managed to get a table at such short notice! It must be because all the students have gone home...
R liked Canterbury a lot and we decided to go back sometime for a long weekend. Just not enough time in one day to do it all!
Friday, June 10, 2005
Name's Bond, Mrs Bond...
We went to see Mr & Mrs Smith at the cinema. It was quite funny and had elements of a Bond film, but it was pretty much a rom-com with a spy-thriller streak in it. A nice way to spend a couple of hours in the cinema!
The cinema itself was packed - nearly every seat was taken. The guy next to me kept repeating all the funny lines in the film and telling his girlfriend how all the stunts were done... and someone further on down the line of seats was playing with his mobile and the blue light was distracting... But otherwise it as plain sailing and everyone was laughing out loud at the funny parts, which added to the atmosphere. I like it when that happens during a film.
The cinema itself was packed - nearly every seat was taken. The guy next to me kept repeating all the funny lines in the film and telling his girlfriend how all the stunts were done... and someone further on down the line of seats was playing with his mobile and the blue light was distracting... But otherwise it as plain sailing and everyone was laughing out loud at the funny parts, which added to the atmosphere. I like it when that happens during a film.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Sin City
Oops, didn't realise how long I'd stayed away from my blog!! The problem with these is that sometimes not a great deal happens in your life - you have the odd monotonous week where you just get up, go to work, come home, eat, and go to bed. Nothing abnormally weird happens and its not worth the bother of going on line and writing about nothing.
Anyways, R and I went to the cinema this evening. The intention was to see Mr and Mrs Smith but its not out until tomorrow... So we were faced with Star Wars III (my 2nd time, his 3rd), a plethora of predictable mush (Monster-in-Law, The Wedding Date, etc), or we could see something we've heard nothing about and just go out on a limb.
This is how we ended up seeing Sin City. It was like watching a comic book come to life! The film was shot in black-and-white with the odd brightly coloured object - a woman's hair and lips, a person's eyes - or with a luminous white sillouetted figure against a black background. It was arty and visually stunning!
However, it was also unnecessarily violent and didn't seem to hold much coherency as scenes were slashed together and didn't seem to make a lot of sense. The dialogue was pretentious and generally appalling. Women walked around semi-naked (as in true adult comic-book fashion); people were pumped with bullets left right and centre; Mickey Rourke couldn't kick Elijah Wood's arse (Come on, man! Its freaking Elijah!!); and I still have no idea what Josh Harnett was doing in that film...!
Anyways, R and I went to the cinema this evening. The intention was to see Mr and Mrs Smith but its not out until tomorrow... So we were faced with Star Wars III (my 2nd time, his 3rd), a plethora of predictable mush (Monster-in-Law, The Wedding Date, etc), or we could see something we've heard nothing about and just go out on a limb.
This is how we ended up seeing Sin City. It was like watching a comic book come to life! The film was shot in black-and-white with the odd brightly coloured object - a woman's hair and lips, a person's eyes - or with a luminous white sillouetted figure against a black background. It was arty and visually stunning!
However, it was also unnecessarily violent and didn't seem to hold much coherency as scenes were slashed together and didn't seem to make a lot of sense. The dialogue was pretentious and generally appalling. Women walked around semi-naked (as in true adult comic-book fashion); people were pumped with bullets left right and centre; Mickey Rourke couldn't kick Elijah Wood's arse (Come on, man! Its freaking Elijah!!); and I still have no idea what Josh Harnett was doing in that film...!
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