Saturday, April 29, 2006

Row, Row, Row Your Boat!

I am so completely wiped! I had a day out with my friends today and even though I wasn't looking forward to it, I ended up having a really great day.

We went to Hyde Park and had a picnic. While I wouldn't say it was exactly picnic weather (it was bloody freezing!), we still had fun. And the sun popped out from behind the clouds enough to give me a bit of sunburn on my face and chest.

We also hired a rowing boat and went out on the Serpentine. So. Much. Fun! I don't think the Oxford boating team will be calling for my skills anytime soon, but I had a brilliant time. We decided that while I had the power, Yvonne had the technique. When we were rowing together, we kept going in circles because I was rowing stronger than her! But when rowing individually, it was evident that I was pretty crap at it, while Yvonne managed to succesfully take us back to mooring without crashing! Evonne, sensibly, decided to abstain from the actual rowing part, and attempted to be our cox. Unsuccesfully. Really, so much fun!

Then we walked a lot, stopping off at the memorial fountain for The Princess of Wales (nice, but way more hassle than it's worth) and watching Yvonne attempt to roller blade (neither Evonne or I have roller blades). Then we headed back to Yvonne's to watch Dr Who, which I wasn't impressed with, I gotta say.

I just got home and I'm shattered. It's been a very long but enjoyable day. I'm now probably going to go watch and episode of Gilmore Girls before crashing.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Happy List

So I'm back at work after 10 days at home in Scotland. And it sucks. Really, really sucks.

But I'm not going to dwell. I'm going to make a list of things to look forward to in the coming months.

~ Going home again in three weeks for the event of the year - EUROVISION;
~ Take That concert;
~ Two, count them, TWO bank holidays this month;
~ Amanda's party;
~ Going to see Avenue Q;
~ Going on a pub crawl with my old colleagues in Winchester;
~ My sister's family coming down for a visit;
~ Starting my driving lessons next week;
~ Hopefully going to see Idina Menzel in Wicked later in the year (I was so excited when she was annnounced to be joining the West End cast!);
~ Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully moving back to Scotland within the next year.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Easter Weekend

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter weekend. Mine's been good and bad, but mostly good.

Saturday
Babysitting did not go well. It didn't go any worse than I'd expected, but I'd hoped it would be better. Lewis is still very clingy and isn't very comfortable with people he doesn't know. He's fine with me when his parents are around, but not on my own, which is understandable since he hasn't seen me since Christmas. So I ended up having to get my mum round to help put him to bed because he was screaming for an hour solid and nothing I could do would help. He was having such a paddy, that I was worried he would hurt himself. My mum was round for about an hour, feeding him and letting him fall over to sleep, then went home and all was well again. I played with Kieran and put him to bed and Lewis stayed sleeping. So I got help for one hour out of the six I babysitted, but I still felt like a bit of an idiot. Not to worry. I'm obviously just not a natural with kids.

Sunday
My uncle and little cousin came to my parents to stay over for Easter. I've documented my family issues with my uncle already, but I can't be bothered searching for any specific entries about it. Suffice it to say that my family has been walking on a knife edge with our relationship with him in order to stay in touch with my little cousin. Well he turned up on Saturday afternoon spoiling for a fight. He was taking everything the wrong way and causing tension left, right and centre. While I was babysitting, it all kicked off between him and my dad and it was all my dad could do to stop my mum from telling him he wasn't welcome back again. I didn't know anything about this until Sunday though, and you probably wouldn't have realised to look at them. We actually had a very nice day having Easter egg hunts and decorating competitions with the kids, but everybody was going out of their way to avoid my uncle. They left probably earlier than they would have and you could feel the relief in the air and they way evryone relaxed after they'd gone. I don't know what's going to happen in the future. Our family holidays have been marred for the past three years by tensions caused by trying to keep my little cousin in the family. While we stll want to be involved with her, I can honestly say that I wouldn't be upset to never see my uncle again. This may sound harsh, but I can't really help it. I used to hate him, so this is actually a step up!

Anyway! It was actually quite a nice Easter, despite the way it sounds. Kieran, Lewis and Caitlin were full of fun and I was laughing at them all day.

Monday
This was the sister's day of fun. My sisters and I got the train through to Glasgow at lunchtime and went on a pub crawl. The day started off excellently when we got a drink at the bar in the train station. My sister got asked for ID because the barman thought she was too young to buy alcohol. My oldest sister. Who is 33 years old on Sunday! We thought this was hilarious! The poor barman seemed so embarassed afterwards! This sparked a bit of a worry between my other sister and I because we didn't have any ID in case we were asked. We weren't of course. We must just look like old hags! ;)

Anyway, we had an excellent day. We got a bit tired round about 5pm, just after we had something to eat. We were just talking about maybe going home early, then we got a second wind. We ended up getting the last train home at 11.40pm! I love my sisters so much. I really am beginning to think that my family is slightly wierd. We're very close and we get on amazingly. I use dto think that was normal and families that were dysfunctional, or even just not that close were the uncommon ones. But I'm starting to see that families who are close are the uncommon ones. I feel very lucky.


The rest of the week has been strange. I had earache over the weekend and because of this, I've been biting my gums. I think I maybe gave myself an infection or something because I feel totally out of sorts. Also, I've been unable to sleep at night because of the pain in my mouth and so have slept for at least 3 or 4 hours during the day for the past couple of days, which of course, has done nothing to regulate my sleep at night.

But if nothing else, it's just been nice to be home and chill out for a while. I may have moaned for a fair bit of this entry, but I have really enjoyed being home.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

I'm going home tomorrow! I get to see my family & friends. I get to go to sleep with my dog lying at the end of my bed. I get to babysit my nephews. I get to go out for a day in Glasgow with my sisters. I get to just chill out. It's been way too long since I was last home. I'm so excited!

It was someone's last day at work today, so we headed down to the pub at lunch time for his leaving drinks. However, since it's the day before a bank holiday, the office closed at 3pm and no-one went back! Well, I went back round about 4pm to log off my computer (I had intended to go back!), but I was in the pub pretty much all afternoon. I only had two glasses of red wine though because I'm going to mass tonight and I didn't think the priest would be too impressed if I rolled up drunk!

The Story of the Flaming Sambuca

Since it was Mark's last day and he's actually moving away to Bermuda, Gary went to the bar to order him a flaming sambuca. While he was away, Mark had managed to spill some of his beer on the floor. When Gary came back, he handed the sambuca to Mark. Unfortunately, Mark's hand was still wet from the beer and the glass slipped. He spilled some of the sambuca over his hand.....and the flame transferred to his hand too! It took him a couple of seconds to realise that his hand was on fire, but when he did, he started jumping around and shaking his hand to blow the flame out, which it did. In all the commotion, he dropped the glass, spilling the rest of the sambuca over the floor and setting fire to the floor! He started stamping on it with his feet but the flames were still there. In the end, he was able to blow them out.

It should be noted that he didn't actually burn himself much. It's the sambuca vapours that burn, so I don't think the flame actually touched his skin. Much. It just stung a bit afterwards, with no visible marks.


Anyway, I probably won't be around much next week, so have a lovely Easter!

Monday, April 10, 2006

Who Needs Sleep?

I really took advantage of not having to get up early to study this weekend. I slept till midday on Saturday, much to the annoyance of my friend (but we'll not get into that because my rant could end up about 50 pages long!) and then, slightly stupidly, till 2.30pm on Sunday. This is what happens when I don't set an alarm. I could sleep for Britain in the Olypmics!

So, partly thanks to my marathon lie in and partly thanks to me finishing my book (I always end up reading to the wee hours when I get to the end of a book, because I don't want to put it down), I didn't get to sleep till after 3am. And I was up again at 6.45am. I'm really starting to wish I hadn't given up coffee for Lent right about now.

I went to see Rent on Saturday, which I loved. The flow of the story was slightly patchy in the places, and I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it so much if I hadn't known the soundtrack inside out (I promise I'll get that back to you within the next couple of weeks Crystal! I suck!). But as it is, I did, so I loved it. It was really moving and I had tears streaming down my face at more than one point through the film. I can't wait to get it on DVD.

I noticed something strange when I was looking for a screening near me. It's hardly showing in any cinemas! I had to go all the way into the central London to see it, and even then, I only found it in one cinema. I was really surprised about that because I'd heard it had done well in the US. I guess it doesn't translate well to Britain. I don't think the stage show took off in the West End either.

Saturday, April 08, 2006

When I Said I'd Try To Curb My Harry Potter Obsession....

...I lied! So sue me.


W.O.M.B.A.T.
Grade 1
(Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test)


This is to certify that you have passed W.O.M.B.A.T. Grade 1 and have been awarded the classification of

Outstanding

CONGRATULATIONS!
Your exemplary powers of deduction and a formidable knowledge of the inner workings of the magical world reveal you to be a witch or wizard of genuine skill and learning. This first examination has barely tested you. We look forward to challenging you to a further and more difficult examination in due course.



My first O! I'm so proud! At least I passed one exam this past week or two! ;)

Friday, April 07, 2006

Wibble Wobble

I went out for a few drinks last night with people I used to work with. It was really nice and good to see everybody. Well, nearly everybody. I just avoided the ones I didn't really want to talk to! It was great to see everybody though. Especially a specific few who I really miss. But one of them asked me to do the Winchester Wobble (annual company pub crawl in teams of two) with her, so that should be really fun. I've had some of my best nights since I moved down here at those things. Funny though, how I've been away from the company for almost 2 years, yet not missed one of these things!

Tonight, I came home and sorted out some stuff, and I'm just about to have my tea and settle in front of the TV. Then I plan to go to bed and sleep forever! Okay, maybe not forever, but for a long time! I'm getting a lie in! Yay!!!

And tomorrow I'm finally going to see Rent! I've only been waiting to see it for about 6 months!

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Free as a bird!

I had my last exam today. It could have been so good. It was a fair paper and I was well prepared for it, but I ran out of time. I spent too long on a question that had bugged me in the studying but I knew I could nail. Unfortunately, it was only worth about 6 or 7 marks and I struggled to make up the time. With 45 minutes to go, I still had two 14 mark questions left to do. I scanned them and caught a word in one of them that I didn't like. I went onto the other one, which turned out to be, not difficult, but really fiddly. I did end up having time to go onto the other question, which wasn't what I thought it was originally, and given the time could have done it with my eyes closed! Unfortunately, the time had been snatched away from me! I managed to get half of it done before time up. In the end, I think most of what I did was right, but I'm not sure whether I did enough. Story of my life!

But I'm done! Absolutely knackered, but done! Whoo!

Monday, April 03, 2006

Top Ten Songs

I've been thinking about my top ten favourite songs. Whenever I get asked something like that, I usually wuss out and say that I couldn't possibly choose. But I think I'm just being lazy. I have a group of songs that are perennial favourites and I never get bored of them. Songs that, whenever they come on, make me stop and listen. So I decided to try and make a list. Surpisingly, seven of them came easily, with very little thought. The other three are still very much favourites, but there may be others that would be more favourite. And yes, my music tastes change, but it's still a pretty definative list for, I'd say, the past three or four years, at least.

(In no particular order)

Hallelujiah - Jeff Buckley
At My Most Beautiful - REM
Call & Answer - Barenaked Ladies
One True Love - Semisonic
If I Had a Million Dollars - Barenaked Ladies
With or Without You - U2
Somewhere In My Heart - Aztec Camera
Stand - REM
Improv - JJ72
Pachelbel's Canon - Johann Pachelbel

I'm not really sure what this list says about me. When I was first thinking of it, the first few songs seemed to scream SAP! But they're not all sappy. Some are bouncy, some are sappy, some are downright depressing.

Although, I did notice one thing. There's a glaring ommission. Everybody Hurts by REM is no longer on the list. For years, I couldn't listen to that song without crying. I found it incredibly sad, but uplifting at the same time. Now though, I feel nothing when I hear it. If I make myself stop and listen to it properly, I can get a bit teared up, but it doesn't stop me in my tracks like it used to. Except when they played it live, but that was a totally different situation.

Anyway. I found this little exercise interesting. Not to mention a good way to procrastinate when I should be studying for my (last!) exam. But I'm not sure if this will give any of you more of an insight into me or not.

Text Conversation

A text conversation from yesterday between Yvonne and I:

Yvonne: Bet you a fiver Oxford win the boat race.
Me: You really should try to curb that gambling addiction of yours! I don't know anything about the race or have a preference. I didn't even know it was today. Is it?
Yvonne: Is it a deal? Yes it's today.
Me: No!
Yvonne: Why not?!
Me: Because I don't know anything about it! I'm not blindly betting a fiver on it! Get yourself to gamblers anonymous!
Yvonne: Probably just as well you didn't. It finished half an hour ago. I lost a fiver to a guy at work and was trying to make up for it! Ha ha ha!
Me: And you wonder why I don't trust you.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

O-kaaaaay!

I think my foray into the Harry Potter fandom is coming to a close. They're all nuts! Amy, you were right!

The Leaky Cauldron and Mugglenet joined forces for a really funny April Fool's gag today. They pretended that:
1) the webmasters of the two sites (who people have been shipping like crazy - Memerson!) got married in Edinburgh last week;
2) the two sites have joined forces to make one big super site, The Leaky Mug.

It's so obviously a joke and I've been giggling over it all day. But most of the readers are completely losing it! Three or four news entries have been posted today, with a total of about 4000-5000 comments attached! At least 2/3rds of the comments are people going crazy about the joke (not that I've read them all - you just need to scan them)! Either they really believe it's true (come on!), or they're going nuts because they think it's a bad joke and it's dragging on too long. And I mean nuts! People are crying over it! They want their Mugglenet/Leaky Cauldron back! It's only been a day people!

I am so out of there!


And I promise I'll really try to curb my HP posting from now on. My obsession has reached massive proportions and it's even boring me now! But this was just too insane to not post about.