Heather came home today for the long weekend. She gave me the URL for this really cool website dedicated to 80's children's programmes. Anna and I have just spent the last two hours downloading theme tunes and intro video clips, singing and bopping along like crazy to Muppet Babies, The Family Ness, The Racoons, Thundercats...
Join in the fun at 80's Cartoons and don't forget to sign the petition to allow the Mysterious Cities of Gold to be released on DVD! "Children of the sun, your time has just begun..." (singing into the distance)
Friday, April 29, 2005
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Surprise DVD
Anna went to see Rooster play at the Astoria tonight so Rosemary and I decide to have a sort of 'girls night in'. We have dinner, lots of ice cream, and decide to watch a DVD. Rosemary says she wants to put on a 'surprise DVD' which means that I have to close my eyes while she picks a film and puts it in the player. I willingly shut my eyes and think about what we'll probably have to watch. Immediate thoughts went to Mean Girls, the newest version of Freaky Friday, Big Fat Liar... the usual favourites. She tells me to open my eyes and she couldn't possibly have been beaming any wider. The film she picked? The 1976 musical, The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella starring Richard Chamberlain and Gemma Craven.
Rosemary can't get enough of this film. It's astonishing to say the least. I used to watch this film as a child nearly every Sunday afternoon at my grandparents... and that was a long time ago...!!
Rosemary can't get enough of this film. It's astonishing to say the least. I used to watch this film as a child nearly every Sunday afternoon at my grandparents... and that was a long time ago...!!
Friday, April 22, 2005
Election stance
The country's election campaign has come halfway and is all anyone can talk about. Being a local authority, we have strict rules and regulations about talking politics and projecting views that may be contrary to how we are supposed to be represented. The idea is to take a completely neutral stance and work arms-length from political thought.
This is pretty difficult when all people are talking about is the forthcoming election and whether Labour will actually secure a third term, comfortable or otherwise. I think its a tough one myself. People are generally disillusioned with the Labour govt., especially after the whole Iraq experience. And Labour used to be very left-wing, almost Socialist before they became 'New Labour' in 1997. Now they are slowly but surely edging to the right. I think they might actually be more Conservative than the Conservatives are...
On the other hand, we have an unrealistic manifesto produced by the Conservatives, which seems to be putting more money into public spending but gaining less money in taxes. Tax less, more public spending. Great... but where is all the money being spent on public services coming from...? The figures don't add up well. I'm guessing they hope to bring money in from property ownership, since their roots are essentially from the middle and upper class landowners.
The Liberal Democrats are a different story. They seem to be perfectly balanced on the fence between the Conservatives and Labour, but are perhaps a little more right-wing than they want to appear. Most of their campaigning is going into social services and help for the elderly and students, the two areas where they gain the most votes. It's certainly a nice comeback for the Lib Dems in any case, having gained a good following to almost the heights that they had before the downfall of Gladstone's Home Rule policy*.
I honestly have no idea who I'm going to be voting for. I think I need to read the BBC Election Guide a bit more...
* An afterthought for those dusty on their British politics! This policy designed for Northern Ireland split the party in 1886 and created the Liberal Unionists. Later, they joined the Conservatives to boost Parliamentary pulling power, thus making the Tories what they are today - the Conservative and Unionist Party. And to think I thought History A level was a waste of time!!
This is pretty difficult when all people are talking about is the forthcoming election and whether Labour will actually secure a third term, comfortable or otherwise. I think its a tough one myself. People are generally disillusioned with the Labour govt., especially after the whole Iraq experience. And Labour used to be very left-wing, almost Socialist before they became 'New Labour' in 1997. Now they are slowly but surely edging to the right. I think they might actually be more Conservative than the Conservatives are...
On the other hand, we have an unrealistic manifesto produced by the Conservatives, which seems to be putting more money into public spending but gaining less money in taxes. Tax less, more public spending. Great... but where is all the money being spent on public services coming from...? The figures don't add up well. I'm guessing they hope to bring money in from property ownership, since their roots are essentially from the middle and upper class landowners.
The Liberal Democrats are a different story. They seem to be perfectly balanced on the fence between the Conservatives and Labour, but are perhaps a little more right-wing than they want to appear. Most of their campaigning is going into social services and help for the elderly and students, the two areas where they gain the most votes. It's certainly a nice comeback for the Lib Dems in any case, having gained a good following to almost the heights that they had before the downfall of Gladstone's Home Rule policy*.
I honestly have no idea who I'm going to be voting for. I think I need to read the BBC Election Guide a bit more...
* An afterthought for those dusty on their British politics! This policy designed for Northern Ireland split the party in 1886 and created the Liberal Unionists. Later, they joined the Conservatives to boost Parliamentary pulling power, thus making the Tories what they are today - the Conservative and Unionist Party. And to think I thought History A level was a waste of time!!
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Left standing
One of the managers came in today and announced that our section's desks were being moved into another office on 5th May. "You don't have to move yourself or your filing though," he said. "It's just desks and chairs, and the PCs so I.T. can hook them up."
I tried to look as if I understood, but I didn't. How on earth am I supposed to be able to work unless I move with my desk? Stand in the gap where my desk used to be?
I tried to look as if I understood, but I didn't. How on earth am I supposed to be able to work unless I move with my desk? Stand in the gap where my desk used to be?
Monday, April 18, 2005
Anna for MP
Anna delighted me this evening with her plans for benefit claims. In light of all the election fuss going on, Anna has decided that she wants her voice to be heard... Well, by me in any case!
She decided that people who claimed for housing benefits should no longer get it. "Why can single women just get pregnant and then be given a house by the Council, rent free?" she moaned. "And then they claim for child benefit support to pay for babysitters, but they don't use them, just pocket the money. And then they get money to send their child to playgroup, and they get money to pay for food..." She trailed off exasperated by her own opinion before launching into much more of the same, including people who claim for housing benefit and can't be bothered to find work... Or people who are given money to help themselves but just spend it on designer gear and cigarettes.
While she was drawing breath, I pointed out that abusing the system would bar people from being able to claim. I got 'The Look' and decided to keep quiet. Obviously abusing the system isn't being accounted for. This could go on all night... This is why I usually don't talk about specific political issues in the public arena!
Anna was only half-serious though. I think she just enjoyed at being able to pick on an issue and then just running with it. I really haven't a clue about the in's and out's of benefit claim... and, to be honest, I don't think she does either!!
She decided that people who claimed for housing benefits should no longer get it. "Why can single women just get pregnant and then be given a house by the Council, rent free?" she moaned. "And then they claim for child benefit support to pay for babysitters, but they don't use them, just pocket the money. And then they get money to send their child to playgroup, and they get money to pay for food..." She trailed off exasperated by her own opinion before launching into much more of the same, including people who claim for housing benefit and can't be bothered to find work... Or people who are given money to help themselves but just spend it on designer gear and cigarettes.
While she was drawing breath, I pointed out that abusing the system would bar people from being able to claim. I got 'The Look' and decided to keep quiet. Obviously abusing the system isn't being accounted for. This could go on all night... This is why I usually don't talk about specific political issues in the public arena!
Anna was only half-serious though. I think she just enjoyed at being able to pick on an issue and then just running with it. I really haven't a clue about the in's and out's of benefit claim... and, to be honest, I don't think she does either!!
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Football hooliganism
I haven't written for ages... So this is just to show I'm still alive but not doing much! Work is incredibly hectic at the moment and leaving very little time to do anything other than eat, sleep and then go to work again.
I did want to point out though that football hooliganism is not restricted to just the English. The AC Milan v. Inter Milan match yesterday proved that it is very much alive in other countries too... For those of you who don't know what happened, flares were thrown on to the pitch and one caught the shoulder of a goalkeeper, subsequently hospitalising him. The TV cameras saw the flare begin to spark and spun as it bounced off the goalkeeper's shoulder, possibly throwing sparks into his face. It was an appalling scene of hooliganism.
I would like to point out that I'm not tarring everyone with the same brush. I just wanted to highlight that while the FA is barring English football fans from travelling left, right and centre, they should be using the same power to acknowledge that other countries have just as many 'bad eggs'.
Maybe I should be directing this at the FA...?
I did want to point out though that football hooliganism is not restricted to just the English. The AC Milan v. Inter Milan match yesterday proved that it is very much alive in other countries too... For those of you who don't know what happened, flares were thrown on to the pitch and one caught the shoulder of a goalkeeper, subsequently hospitalising him. The TV cameras saw the flare begin to spark and spun as it bounced off the goalkeeper's shoulder, possibly throwing sparks into his face. It was an appalling scene of hooliganism.
I would like to point out that I'm not tarring everyone with the same brush. I just wanted to highlight that while the FA is barring English football fans from travelling left, right and centre, they should be using the same power to acknowledge that other countries have just as many 'bad eggs'.
Maybe I should be directing this at the FA...?
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Pete and Tara's Wedding
I woke up unnecessarily early this morning (8am). The original plan was to be out of the house by 10am so I could pick up Mina and have time to drive to Felstead, get ready, and be at Leez before the 2pm ceremony. As I no longer need to do the detour, I find myself arriving at 11.30am, leaving plenty of time to get ready. The place itself is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Off the M11 at Stansted, past the airport, and ten minutes of narrow country lanes. I'm very much a city gal and don't like winding country lanes! Felstead is pretty much blink-and-you-miss-it, a tiny little lane of about 20-odd houses and two pubs opposite each other!!
I get ready, watch a little Grand Prix (go Jenson!!) and then head out to Leez Priory with two other guests at the B&B, Natalie and Gwyn. Apparently Natalie went to OLC with me for about a year and a half but for the life of me I couldn't remember her from school. She was easy to get on with and we chatted a lot about the school and the people we could remember!
The venue was gorgeous. Its an old country manor, looks like a castle, and dates back to about 1227 (or so the picture in the bar said!). The ceremony was held at the top of the tower, which was separate from the rest of the building. The entrance was up a winding staircase which proved difficult to negotiate in both directions. How Tara managed it in her long wedding gown I have no idea!! She looked very pretty in a long strapless ivory satin and lace number, and the wedding party all wore ivory and burgundy, except Tara's niece Elizabeth, who wore a little white dress and was the life and soul of the speeches over dinner!
The wedding itself was short and sweet: a reading and declaration of vows. No additional readings, hymns, sit-stand-sit again fuss - just the bare minimal legal duties and niceties. The head bridesmaid was another ex-OLC student, Jane, who I could remember!! In any case, everyone seemed to know who I was, even if I didn't know them. It was like, "You must be Clare, I'm so-and-so," and I'd be like "Oh, yeah..." and be totally confused. I'm thinking that somewhere along the line, someone has said, "Clare is tall and on her own - please talk to her!"
Andy turned up after the ceremony, just in time to get his face in all the photos (typically!). He confessed to very nearly not turning up due to illness and no local doctor to prescribe him antibiotics, but being the trooper he is, stayed until the evening before heading back to Nottingham. It was nice to have someone there who I knew and could talk to for the majority of the time in any case. There weren't many photos for the guests - most of them were just the wedding party and direct relations - so there was plenty of time to amble around the lake and take in the scenery and grounds. Wine and chocolate-dipped strawberries circulated around the crowd of guests while Tara and Pete did a tour of the grounds in a horse-drawn carriage. I thought it was a bit aimless but was pointedly told by Andrew that it was supposed to be romantic. I guess I don't have the romance gene...
Dinner and speeches came and went and everyone headed off to the bar. Andy left about 8pm (after Tara had had a chat and gawp!) and about 8.30pm, we all trooped into the small hall for the first dance. As soon as that was over, other couples started to join in but a small group of us headed back to the bar, where we stayed for the majority of the evening. More and more people drifted in and it transpired that the DJ spent most of the evening sitting on his own in the hall! But this was pretty much an Irish wedding - the bar was gonna be the highlight of the day!
Eventually it all ended at 12am and I cabbed back to the B&B in Felstead with Natalie and Gwyn. Photos will be available for people to gawp at on the couple's website here (so make a note for later!!).
I get ready, watch a little Grand Prix (go Jenson!!) and then head out to Leez Priory with two other guests at the B&B, Natalie and Gwyn. Apparently Natalie went to OLC with me for about a year and a half but for the life of me I couldn't remember her from school. She was easy to get on with and we chatted a lot about the school and the people we could remember!
The venue was gorgeous. Its an old country manor, looks like a castle, and dates back to about 1227 (or so the picture in the bar said!). The ceremony was held at the top of the tower, which was separate from the rest of the building. The entrance was up a winding staircase which proved difficult to negotiate in both directions. How Tara managed it in her long wedding gown I have no idea!! She looked very pretty in a long strapless ivory satin and lace number, and the wedding party all wore ivory and burgundy, except Tara's niece Elizabeth, who wore a little white dress and was the life and soul of the speeches over dinner!
The wedding itself was short and sweet: a reading and declaration of vows. No additional readings, hymns, sit-stand-sit again fuss - just the bare minimal legal duties and niceties. The head bridesmaid was another ex-OLC student, Jane, who I could remember!! In any case, everyone seemed to know who I was, even if I didn't know them. It was like, "You must be Clare, I'm so-and-so," and I'd be like "Oh, yeah..." and be totally confused. I'm thinking that somewhere along the line, someone has said, "Clare is tall and on her own - please talk to her!"
Andy turned up after the ceremony, just in time to get his face in all the photos (typically!). He confessed to very nearly not turning up due to illness and no local doctor to prescribe him antibiotics, but being the trooper he is, stayed until the evening before heading back to Nottingham. It was nice to have someone there who I knew and could talk to for the majority of the time in any case. There weren't many photos for the guests - most of them were just the wedding party and direct relations - so there was plenty of time to amble around the lake and take in the scenery and grounds. Wine and chocolate-dipped strawberries circulated around the crowd of guests while Tara and Pete did a tour of the grounds in a horse-drawn carriage. I thought it was a bit aimless but was pointedly told by Andrew that it was supposed to be romantic. I guess I don't have the romance gene...
Dinner and speeches came and went and everyone headed off to the bar. Andy left about 8pm (after Tara had had a chat and gawp!) and about 8.30pm, we all trooped into the small hall for the first dance. As soon as that was over, other couples started to join in but a small group of us headed back to the bar, where we stayed for the majority of the evening. More and more people drifted in and it transpired that the DJ spent most of the evening sitting on his own in the hall! But this was pretty much an Irish wedding - the bar was gonna be the highlight of the day!
Eventually it all ended at 12am and I cabbed back to the B&B in Felstead with Natalie and Gwyn. Photos will be available for people to gawp at on the couple's website here (so make a note for later!!).
Friday, April 01, 2005
Clare plus One
I need someone to go to Tara's wedding with. Mina had to pull out so I have the option of going alone and only knowing the bride and groom, or I can bring someone with me. When Tara calls me to tell me I can bring someone else, I start racking alternatives through my head and eventually manage to sweet-talk Andrew into coming with me. He just so happens to be within the vicinity of London over the weekend and will attempt to make it! Now I have to decide what to wear...
Thursday, March 31, 2005
I wanna dance again!
I saw Shall We Dance? on my own as no-one else wanted to tag along. Anna wanted to see Hitch but its looks like the same old run-of-the-mill boy-meets-girl story and I wanted to see something with a bit of pizzazz!
Richard Gere was pretty cool, displaying his modest dancing talents previously seen in Chicago. Susan Sarandon didn't have a great deal to do and I think more could have been made of her character. Jennifer Lopez was surprisingly good and she is one helluva fabulous dancer! I have to admit the film itself was pretty lame (what was the deal with Gere and Sarandon's daughter?!) but the dance scenes were excellent. The showpiece was a dance between Gere and Lopez done in semi-darkness (no lights except a glow from the outside streetlamp). It was tight, sensual, and made me wish I did Latino-Ballroom dancing!!
I need to find a dance class...
Richard Gere was pretty cool, displaying his modest dancing talents previously seen in Chicago. Susan Sarandon didn't have a great deal to do and I think more could have been made of her character. Jennifer Lopez was surprisingly good and she is one helluva fabulous dancer! I have to admit the film itself was pretty lame (what was the deal with Gere and Sarandon's daughter?!) but the dance scenes were excellent. The showpiece was a dance between Gere and Lopez done in semi-darkness (no lights except a glow from the outside streetlamp). It was tight, sensual, and made me wish I did Latino-Ballroom dancing!!
I need to find a dance class...
Saturday, March 26, 2005
London through a lens
Beautiful, ethereal, and London-based... This guy is great and his page is worth a visit!
http://myphotoimpressions.blogspot.com
http://myphotoimpressions.blogspot.com
Friday, March 25, 2005
Criminal
I met up with Mina today so we could go shopping down Oxford Street. Mina was running a little late so I hot-footed it to Borders so I could buy some maps for my holiday this year. I got these detailed maps of South and South-West England and they include touristy hot-spots so I thought they were pretty cool to have. I hope Melissa and Jenny are boning up on their map-reading skills...!!
Mina arrived and we ended up darting in and out of department stores until we got to Debenhams. We spent ages in there, browsing around the Fiorelli bags and the racks of clothes in Star by Julien McDonald, Jasper Conran (so love his stuff!), Oasis and Jane Norman. Eventually tried on some Jane Norman things and decided on a floral top. It was the only fitted thing there - everything else either had an empire line or just hung from my shoulders and made me look pregnant. Not really a look I'm going for...!!
We went for lunch, during which time Mina's cousin turned up to take her to Notting Hill to see her baby niece(?). We parted and I hunted around for jewellery before heading home. I got home, pulled my new top out of the bag to show everyone, and... the ink-and-glass security tag was still attached! I was horrifed to say the least! Absolutely horrified!!! The salesman was so busy fiddling with it and putting it into the bag, he obviously didn't have time to remove the tag. In any case, the security alarm should have gone off as I had exited the building. I'm so annoyed because I have this great top and it looks like stolen goods!
Anyway, to save me having to go all the way back to the West End, Pam is taking to her son who works in a branch of Debenhams in Eltham so he can get it removed for me. I added the receipt to the bag just in case any questions get asked...! Is it criminal to remove something from the store with the security tag still attached, even though the item has been paid for?
Mina arrived and we ended up darting in and out of department stores until we got to Debenhams. We spent ages in there, browsing around the Fiorelli bags and the racks of clothes in Star by Julien McDonald, Jasper Conran (so love his stuff!), Oasis and Jane Norman. Eventually tried on some Jane Norman things and decided on a floral top. It was the only fitted thing there - everything else either had an empire line or just hung from my shoulders and made me look pregnant. Not really a look I'm going for...!!
We went for lunch, during which time Mina's cousin turned up to take her to Notting Hill to see her baby niece(?). We parted and I hunted around for jewellery before heading home. I got home, pulled my new top out of the bag to show everyone, and... the ink-and-glass security tag was still attached! I was horrifed to say the least! Absolutely horrified!!! The salesman was so busy fiddling with it and putting it into the bag, he obviously didn't have time to remove the tag. In any case, the security alarm should have gone off as I had exited the building. I'm so annoyed because I have this great top and it looks like stolen goods!
Anyway, to save me having to go all the way back to the West End, Pam is taking to her son who works in a branch of Debenhams in Eltham so he can get it removed for me. I added the receipt to the bag just in case any questions get asked...! Is it criminal to remove something from the store with the security tag still attached, even though the item has been paid for?
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Buh-bye B&B
Anna told me today that Dad lost the house he wanted in Cheshunt; the ex-B&B. Apparently some big business guy is buying up at the full price all in one shot, with the intention of splitting the property into two and selling each individually. This shouldn't be too hard since the property is basically a house with a 'granny annexe' attached, the wall space between the two being knocked down. All this guy would need to do is re-build the wall and knock through the 'dummy wall' at the front of the annexe, where a door used to be.
I asked Anna if Dad could buy both properties and re-knock the wall down, but apparently they would both go for a lot of money than they are now, more than Dad can afford. I haven't been told officially but Anna said that Dad is pretty gutted by it.
I did try and explain earlier in the year (as did the estate agent) that you can't simply find a house you like and then put your own property on the market. It doesn't work like that. You'd think he'd know by now!
I asked Anna if Dad could buy both properties and re-knock the wall down, but apparently they would both go for a lot of money than they are now, more than Dad can afford. I haven't been told officially but Anna said that Dad is pretty gutted by it.
I did try and explain earlier in the year (as did the estate agent) that you can't simply find a house you like and then put your own property on the market. It doesn't work like that. You'd think he'd know by now!
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Declutter
Anna and I spent most of today tidying our bedroom. We reckon that since it's the largest bedroom and part of the loft conversion, it's gonna get photographed. To make the room look bigger and slightly less cluttered (hard when there's two sets of everything stuffed in the same space!) we took down nearly all of our wall decorations: Rosemary's drawings to us, postcards, photos, posters... anything that wasn't an actual picture in a frame or a mirror. It all looks so bare! Decluttered, but bare. I might vacuum later... Just in case...
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Estate agents & car salesmen
Dad and I went to the Estate Agency today. I decided that if I had to move again, it'd be into my own place. When the saleman came into our house to valuate it, it made it out that it was easy for first time buyers to come onto the market, provided they didn't have any outstanding debts. Since I don't have any, I'm willing to give this a shot.
The guy in the EA was a different story. I worked out I could only afford £92K and he started raving about this place for £130K. Was this guy even listening to a word I was saying?! I can't afford that! And it's ex-LA. No thank you! Then another guy chipped in and started going on about this studio flat overlooking the tennis grounds on the Ridgeway. It seemed as if the tennis grounds view was the best thing going for it, the amount of times he mentioned it! I'm trying to stay away from studio flats. Who chooses to sleep in their lounge?
Dad did better. We managed to get an appointment for someone to come and take photos of the house on Monday afternoon, and they have a client who is very interested in buying in this particular area, and apparently tried to buy next door (who have since sold up and are moving to Cornwall within a couple of months). I guess we have a weekend of tidying coming up then!
Anna also tried to buy her car today. She is waiting for the garage to get the documents through for her Peugeot so she can actually buy it. She already has the insurance paid for, but the saleman at the garage is being uncommunicative (unusual for a saleman, let me tell you!). She phoned him all day, every hour on the hour. I think in the end he was just giving her the brush-off. What he would have her believe was that the Peugeot head office was being unhelpful so it was reflecting badly on him.
Anna's annoyed anyway, to say the least, and has decided that if the car isn't delivered with the appropriate documents by Tuesday, she's cancelling the insurance and demanding the garage pay for wasting her time. Er, good luck with that one, sis!
The guy in the EA was a different story. I worked out I could only afford £92K and he started raving about this place for £130K. Was this guy even listening to a word I was saying?! I can't afford that! And it's ex-LA. No thank you! Then another guy chipped in and started going on about this studio flat overlooking the tennis grounds on the Ridgeway. It seemed as if the tennis grounds view was the best thing going for it, the amount of times he mentioned it! I'm trying to stay away from studio flats. Who chooses to sleep in their lounge?
Dad did better. We managed to get an appointment for someone to come and take photos of the house on Monday afternoon, and they have a client who is very interested in buying in this particular area, and apparently tried to buy next door (who have since sold up and are moving to Cornwall within a couple of months). I guess we have a weekend of tidying coming up then!
Anna also tried to buy her car today. She is waiting for the garage to get the documents through for her Peugeot so she can actually buy it. She already has the insurance paid for, but the saleman at the garage is being uncommunicative (unusual for a saleman, let me tell you!). She phoned him all day, every hour on the hour. I think in the end he was just giving her the brush-off. What he would have her believe was that the Peugeot head office was being unhelpful so it was reflecting badly on him.
Anna's annoyed anyway, to say the least, and has decided that if the car isn't delivered with the appropriate documents by Tuesday, she's cancelling the insurance and demanding the garage pay for wasting her time. Er, good luck with that one, sis!
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Visting Marco
Mina texted me and said that she and La were going to the twins' parents to see Marco, Linda's newborn son. So straight after work I headed off to find a pressie and found the most gorgeously soft baby blanket in Next. I figured that it would be more useful than clothes, which are grown out of within a couple of months.
As per usual, I was the first to arrive (I'm so annoyingly punctual!) and I got to talk to Linda properly for about half an hour. She filled me in on the latest while I played with her niece, Daniella, and I informed her of the going on's surrounding the house move. She said that she and Pamela were also looking to move, as their 2-bed flat is now, obviously, rather crowded. They're thinking of moving towards Ware as it's cheaper and they're more likely to find a 3-bed place within their budget if they go further out of London. They're not too happy about it generally, but it needs to be done!
Mina and La eventually arrived and Mina immediately tried to wake up the heavily-sleeping Marco! News was exchanged and Joni told us about his driving test, which was hysterically funny, but he didn't seem to get the joke. He was saying how he drove fast because his instructor told him he was going too slow, and when he was told to pull into the next convenient space to stop, he pulled into someone's driveway! We were all in tears!!
As per usual, I was the first to arrive (I'm so annoyingly punctual!) and I got to talk to Linda properly for about half an hour. She filled me in on the latest while I played with her niece, Daniella, and I informed her of the going on's surrounding the house move. She said that she and Pamela were also looking to move, as their 2-bed flat is now, obviously, rather crowded. They're thinking of moving towards Ware as it's cheaper and they're more likely to find a 3-bed place within their budget if they go further out of London. They're not too happy about it generally, but it needs to be done!
Mina and La eventually arrived and Mina immediately tried to wake up the heavily-sleeping Marco! News was exchanged and Joni told us about his driving test, which was hysterically funny, but he didn't seem to get the joke. He was saying how he drove fast because his instructor told him he was going too slow, and when he was told to pull into the next convenient space to stop, he pulled into someone's driveway! We were all in tears!!
Friday, March 11, 2005
Hylands Park here we come!
So I deliberately took today off work so I could, at 9.00am sharp, be sitting at my telephone and ordering V Festival 2005 tickets. I rang a couple of times before getting into the radio station hotline. Cool! I start listening to the options and Dad comes in: "Are you ill? Are you okay? Clare, are you listening to me?"
"Shhh!!" I go, but its too late. The options speech is over and I haven't been able to hear them. Bugger.
I randomly push a number and get through to the switchboard. (Halfway there...!) The lady politely informs me that I have bypassed the ticket hotline and would I like to be transferred? The line then goes dead. Noooo!! I frantically dial the number again. An automated message tells me the number I've dialled has not been recognised. I shortly become the fastest Virgin Radio hotline dialler in the country as I repeatedly dial the number and get told the same message over and over for 20 mins straight.
Finally I give up, stomp upstairs, and hook up to the Internet. Within minutes, the SeeTicket website has ordered me two tickets for me and Anna, plus car park passes. People are probably still trying to get through the phone line. I pity them. The Internet is sooo much better! I love 21st century techonology!!
"Shhh!!" I go, but its too late. The options speech is over and I haven't been able to hear them. Bugger.
I randomly push a number and get through to the switchboard. (Halfway there...!) The lady politely informs me that I have bypassed the ticket hotline and would I like to be transferred? The line then goes dead. Noooo!! I frantically dial the number again. An automated message tells me the number I've dialled has not been recognised. I shortly become the fastest Virgin Radio hotline dialler in the country as I repeatedly dial the number and get told the same message over and over for 20 mins straight.
Finally I give up, stomp upstairs, and hook up to the Internet. Within minutes, the SeeTicket website has ordered me two tickets for me and Anna, plus car park passes. People are probably still trying to get through the phone line. I pity them. The Internet is sooo much better! I love 21st century techonology!!
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Reception
I've just spent the last few days sitting at reception on lunch-time cover. It isn't all that bad, really, but the computer doesn't have any of the programmes I need to work so I pretty much do nothing. Of course, I do take filing or some other form of paper shuffling with me so I don't get told off, but it's basically pen-tapping, thumb-twiddling, and chair-spinning!!
I've been told to answer the phone in more 'cheery' tones. I think it was meant that I had to have a perma-smile... and I'm not the perkiest person in the world, expecially whilst at work and/or doing something I don't wanna do! But I tried it out a couple of times. It just sounded fake. But at least I didn't get any wrong calls or whinging tenants, which was a small blessing.
Reuben assures me that the reception is a 'chilled area' and he can't see what the fuss is about. I can only say that the 'chilled' part must be in reference to the door draught...
I've been told to answer the phone in more 'cheery' tones. I think it was meant that I had to have a perma-smile... and I'm not the perkiest person in the world, expecially whilst at work and/or doing something I don't wanna do! But I tried it out a couple of times. It just sounded fake. But at least I didn't get any wrong calls or whinging tenants, which was a small blessing.
Reuben assures me that the reception is a 'chilled area' and he can't see what the fuss is about. I can only say that the 'chilled' part must be in reference to the door draught...
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Dontcha wanna V?
No-one wants to come with me to the V Festival in August (except Andy). I'm worried... Why would people not wanna see the Scissor Sisters or Franz Ferdinand?! Bizarre...
Friday, March 04, 2005
Happy Friday
Linda had a baby boy this morning at 1.30am via c-section - 7lbs. Tiny tiny!! That must have been during the snowfall that had covered everything by the time I had woken up by 8am. Anna looked out of the window and said, "It's snowing. I hope my driving test isn't cancelled."
I assure her that it won't be because by the time the test comes about, the roads will have been fully gritted and the snow would have melted away. It's not cold enough during the day for the snow to settle in London. The city produces too many exhaust fumes and other warm airs for snow to settle properly.
Anyway, I drove off to work (after searching for my snow-buried car for a good ten minutes) and hit traffic for most of the way. By the time I got to Tottenham the traffic was murder. Engines had been turned off. I sat under the bridge, the North Circular traffic thundering above me. Anna texted me to say that she had a place at University of Hertfordshire. Two pieces of good news and it isn't even 9am!
Later in the afternoon, Anna texted me again to say she had passed her test. She then phoned my work phone to squeal her delight to me. It took a lot of willpower not to squeal back!
At home, Chris told me that his band's place in Emergenza was pretty much finalised. XMTS are going from strength to strength and need your support!!
So it was a good day in all. Happy happy Friday...!
I assure her that it won't be because by the time the test comes about, the roads will have been fully gritted and the snow would have melted away. It's not cold enough during the day for the snow to settle in London. The city produces too many exhaust fumes and other warm airs for snow to settle properly.
Anyway, I drove off to work (after searching for my snow-buried car for a good ten minutes) and hit traffic for most of the way. By the time I got to Tottenham the traffic was murder. Engines had been turned off. I sat under the bridge, the North Circular traffic thundering above me. Anna texted me to say that she had a place at University of Hertfordshire. Two pieces of good news and it isn't even 9am!
Later in the afternoon, Anna texted me again to say she had passed her test. She then phoned my work phone to squeal her delight to me. It took a lot of willpower not to squeal back!
At home, Chris told me that his band's place in Emergenza was pretty much finalised. XMTS are going from strength to strength and need your support!!
So it was a good day in all. Happy happy Friday...!
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
The mystery bank statement credit
I got a weird entry on my bank statement today. I'm checking through it as normal, and I have a £40 deduction from 17th February. I rack my brains to think what I was doing on a Thursday that required money to be deducted from my account. Hang on... Where's Dunmow? There, in black and white, is somewhere called Dunmow, and £40 was taken out there. I'm confused and ask Anna if she can remember what I was doing.
"Thursday of half-term?" she muses. "You took Rosemary out Wednesday, yes?"
Yeah, I have the 16th February and a deduction for Pizza Hut in WC12.
"Didn't I see Marita that day? I think I met Terry's dad."
Marita lives in Enfield Town and Terry lives in Palmers Green. Not this weird place...
"I know I had a driving lesson on the Friday." (Pause) "What on earth did you do Thursday?"
I couldn't remember. It bugged me for ages. And then later, whilst washing up and my mind is just wandering, I remember. I run into the living room, foam dripping from my wrists, and yell at Anna, "GOTTIT!!!" I had my card credited by the B&B owner in Felsted, Dunmow. I've paid for a room I'm not gonna stay in until 3rd April. Weird... But I'm glad that little niggle has been cleared up.
This reminds me of when I had to wire some money to Melissa last summer. The form had a box where I could put a special message, so I would know what the credit was for. I put down something along the lines of "From Athene19 to Liarbyrd - S'bort". I'm sure that raised a few eyebrows at the head office...! And it makes a fun entry in an otherwise boring bank statement.
"Thursday of half-term?" she muses. "You took Rosemary out Wednesday, yes?"
Yeah, I have the 16th February and a deduction for Pizza Hut in WC12.
"Didn't I see Marita that day? I think I met Terry's dad."
Marita lives in Enfield Town and Terry lives in Palmers Green. Not this weird place...
"I know I had a driving lesson on the Friday." (Pause) "What on earth did you do Thursday?"
I couldn't remember. It bugged me for ages. And then later, whilst washing up and my mind is just wandering, I remember. I run into the living room, foam dripping from my wrists, and yell at Anna, "GOTTIT!!!" I had my card credited by the B&B owner in Felsted, Dunmow. I've paid for a room I'm not gonna stay in until 3rd April. Weird... But I'm glad that little niggle has been cleared up.
This reminds me of when I had to wire some money to Melissa last summer. The form had a box where I could put a special message, so I would know what the credit was for. I put down something along the lines of "From Athene19 to Liarbyrd - S'bort". I'm sure that raised a few eyebrows at the head office...! And it makes a fun entry in an otherwise boring bank statement.
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