Between one thing and another, it has been a busy few weeks and I haven't been able to write as much or as often as I would like. As I have been sitting stagnating in front of a spreadsheet all day, tapping and clicking way, I thought that I would have to take a mental break and try to exercise my brain in a different way.
Work has been extremely busy as I've become involved in a big project that has a looming deadline. I have spent all of my work time recently analysing data and putting it into a huge spreadsheet and there is more of the same to come in the next couple of weeks. It's not too bad, and it's not as boring as I am making it sound. That said, I am looking forward to a nice long bank holiday weekend by the sea and some time to think and read and suchlike.
I have been knitting a fair old bit recently as well. The last time I was home my mum taught me a few basic stitches, and last week I got a 'simple knitting for dickheads' (or something like that) book out of the library to brush me up on the old stitches. I'm attempting to knit Nic a scarf to keep his neck warm when he is in Michigan in October. It's looking okay – I've been using a cartridge stitch, and although there are a few dropped stitches here and there I think it will look nice when it is finished. Knitting isn't as interesting as crochet, but I'm glad I can do both and it is very good to have something creative to do in the evenings, especially as work has had a strong admin focus recently. I don't think I'm ever going to be an expert at making and doing, but it is still good to make things. It makes me happy that Nic has been wearing the stripy scarf I crocheted for him last winter….maybe it is time to branch out a bit into some other forms of clothing!
Over the weekend I watched the video of my 6th form formal. I had never seen the video, I'm not sure why. It was a bit of an ordeal watching it – mainly because it was so long and had properly rubbish editing. That said, it was a lot of fun. It was nice to remember how many people from my year at school I actually did like (I'm quite negative and seem to only really have remembered the people that I didn't like) It was also very nostalgic to check out all of the bad early 2000s hair and makeup. I am on the video briefly, being interviewed on my way in by the BBC man who seemed intent on destroying everyone's good feelings about the night ("don't you think it's a lot of expense to go to, all for one night?" etc) I have to say, seeing myself aged 18 was a bit of a surprise. At that time, I suppose like most 18 year olds, I was so self-conscious. About my weight, my hair, my looks, my voice, everything. It was bittersweet to see myself then, because I was so pretty, and it makes me sad that I didn't know it at the time. And it was very sad because I have changed so much – well, it was 9 years ago! But watching it was good fun, in the main. It made me want to go out dancing again, so I’m making plans to do that on my birthday. It falls on a Friday this year, and the last birthday I can remember being on a Friday was my 17th (I’m sure there have been more in between) and that turned out to be full of dancing so I would like to replicate that.
List of love
The Harmony knitting stitches book I got out of the library. For real, it's really interesting.
The audiobook of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory that Nic bought me. It's read by James Bolam.
New Tricks Series 5 on DVD
Monica Dickens
The Sherlock Holmes board game
NYPD Blue
Nice plans for September
List of loathe
Air conditioning. The train the office are both freezing.
My hair. I need a haircut.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
So, ah, Greg tells me you're gay now. How's that workin' out for you?
Writing about The Re-emergence of the Happy Movement
I enjoyed reading my old friend Adlina's thoughts about what her blog should contain. As I have moved away from my Myspace list-a-day type blog I have been thinking about this too. All of the blogs that I read frequently and admire manage to combine personal thoughts and reflections with writing about culture and pop-culture and ideas. Obviously this is what I'd like to emulate, but everyone needs to strike their own balance and I have been trying to figure out where my line falls. There have been a number of times when I have sat down to write something really personal and have stopped short because, although there are only a very few readers, I'm not sure how I feel about revealing myself in that way. I suppose I can always take down something or edit it if I feel I have strayed into too personal territory, but as I say, I need to figure out what exactly I constitute to be too personal.
Adlina writes:
I believe that all writers, bloggers or mainstream have to take time and think about the consequence of their written word – the pen is mightier than the sword.
This is a good rule to live by, I think, and one that doesn't necessarily come easily to me. Bad experiences with people in the past have taught me (frustratingly slowly, sometimes I think I am doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes) that it is as well not to be too open, both in person and in writing. It's a balance that I constantly struggle to strike in my everyday life as well, and not just with those people who were partly responsible for the bad experiences I have alluded to. Being too honest about my feelings to my friends has resulted in them being too honest too, leaving me feeling vulnerable and wounded. I don't think I want that level of exposure and risk in my blog.
With that said, though, what is the point of writing in a public way if I keep everything hidden? What am I writing for? Is it just shouting into the void? I think I need to examine my reasons for wanting to write and my expectations of what it will give me, and what I will get out of it.
Anyway, onto less ponderous subjects...
Yesterday evening Nic and I headed into Coventry after work. I had an appointment, and I met Nic in Whitefriars when I was done. We had a poke around Gosford Books and the owner was on rare form, even taking us outside to have a look at the archaeological dig that is going on in his back yard. I love Gosford Books, and I think that Leamington suffers from not having a good bookshop like it. I know we have a massive Waterstones (which, depressingly enough, has its own section devoted to Dan Brown) and Oxfam Books, but neither of those can do what a good second hand bookshop or independent bookseller can do, I think. I picked up another Patricia Highsmith (Ripley Under Water) and that Suspicions of Mr Whicher book, which I supsect will irritate me. Admittedly, I could have bought either of those in Oxfam but then I wouldn't have been able to have a discussion about mediaeval ruins!
List of love
Roddy Doyle - The Van, which was light relief after all of the murder and lying in the Ripley books
Batman: The Animated Adventures. This is even better than I remembered it being, much funnier, especially Mark Hamill as The Joker. I still think Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a better film than Batman Begins so I think I will watch it again soon.
Still loving NYPD Blue and the first season is much better than I thought it would be (I thought I wouldn't like it as much without Jimmy Smits) I especially like the interaction between Sipowicz and Donna, although it is limited. The best thing, though, is definitely Nicholas Turturro. He is brilliant, and that's not me being in any way ironic.
Star Trek: The Next Generation is still all kinds of awesome.
This bag, which I will be buying when I get paid: (The Nica Berrie bag in Damson)
Fever Asturias dress in red - with black knee-high boots and my red hat. Planning my winter wardrobe already, how sad?!
List of loathe
Nothing especially at the moment, I'm feeling quite mellow at the moment. I have some underlying sources of irritation (I think it is territorial angst) but all in all, I'm feeling pretty chipper.
I enjoyed reading my old friend Adlina's thoughts about what her blog should contain. As I have moved away from my Myspace list-a-day type blog I have been thinking about this too. All of the blogs that I read frequently and admire manage to combine personal thoughts and reflections with writing about culture and pop-culture and ideas. Obviously this is what I'd like to emulate, but everyone needs to strike their own balance and I have been trying to figure out where my line falls. There have been a number of times when I have sat down to write something really personal and have stopped short because, although there are only a very few readers, I'm not sure how I feel about revealing myself in that way. I suppose I can always take down something or edit it if I feel I have strayed into too personal territory, but as I say, I need to figure out what exactly I constitute to be too personal.
Adlina writes:
I believe that all writers, bloggers or mainstream have to take time and think about the consequence of their written word – the pen is mightier than the sword.
This is a good rule to live by, I think, and one that doesn't necessarily come easily to me. Bad experiences with people in the past have taught me (frustratingly slowly, sometimes I think I am doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes) that it is as well not to be too open, both in person and in writing. It's a balance that I constantly struggle to strike in my everyday life as well, and not just with those people who were partly responsible for the bad experiences I have alluded to. Being too honest about my feelings to my friends has resulted in them being too honest too, leaving me feeling vulnerable and wounded. I don't think I want that level of exposure and risk in my blog.
With that said, though, what is the point of writing in a public way if I keep everything hidden? What am I writing for? Is it just shouting into the void? I think I need to examine my reasons for wanting to write and my expectations of what it will give me, and what I will get out of it.
Anyway, onto less ponderous subjects...
Yesterday evening Nic and I headed into Coventry after work. I had an appointment, and I met Nic in Whitefriars when I was done. We had a poke around Gosford Books and the owner was on rare form, even taking us outside to have a look at the archaeological dig that is going on in his back yard. I love Gosford Books, and I think that Leamington suffers from not having a good bookshop like it. I know we have a massive Waterstones (which, depressingly enough, has its own section devoted to Dan Brown) and Oxfam Books, but neither of those can do what a good second hand bookshop or independent bookseller can do, I think. I picked up another Patricia Highsmith (Ripley Under Water) and that Suspicions of Mr Whicher book, which I supsect will irritate me. Admittedly, I could have bought either of those in Oxfam but then I wouldn't have been able to have a discussion about mediaeval ruins!
List of love
Roddy Doyle - The Van, which was light relief after all of the murder and lying in the Ripley books
Batman: The Animated Adventures. This is even better than I remembered it being, much funnier, especially Mark Hamill as The Joker. I still think Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a better film than Batman Begins so I think I will watch it again soon.
Still loving NYPD Blue and the first season is much better than I thought it would be (I thought I wouldn't like it as much without Jimmy Smits) I especially like the interaction between Sipowicz and Donna, although it is limited. The best thing, though, is definitely Nicholas Turturro. He is brilliant, and that's not me being in any way ironic.
Star Trek: The Next Generation is still all kinds of awesome.
This bag, which I will be buying when I get paid: (The Nica Berrie bag in Damson)
Fever Asturias dress in red - with black knee-high boots and my red hat. Planning my winter wardrobe already, how sad?!
List of loathe
Nothing especially at the moment, I'm feeling quite mellow at the moment. I have some underlying sources of irritation (I think it is territorial angst) but all in all, I'm feeling pretty chipper.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
You know, it's a shame there's no ambo-jitsu ring nearby
Well, I'm still no nearer to achieving my plan of writing a blog about New Tricks, although the most recent episode was very good, so I'm feeling hopeful that it's getting back into its stride. That's planned for the future though.
Technology has not been my friend of late. Our television set died last week. Considering we bought it for £25 in the tip shop (I love the tip shop) I think its 11 month life-span isn't so bad. Nic managed to find a replacement for us in Leamington Furnishers for a similar price so all is good, or it should have been – this television set has an unusual approach to colour, and shifts its colour settings by itself, and with irritating frequency. Still, it’s better than what we had, and certainly better than buying a new one and having the TV licence people annoying us (our set acts just as a monitor, we don't have it connected up to receive a signal). The power supply for my work laptop went missing (stolen from my desk) so I am awaiting a new one, and the power supply for my Mac died also, and I think I am going to have to wait rather longer for its replacement to arrive. I'm just waiting now for the other shoe to drop and for something like the shower or the fridge to pack up as well.
All of that has been a minor irritant, and contributing to an underlying anxiety I have been feeling recently. I'm having odd little palpitations again and can't pinpoint a reason for it. It's only been a handful of weeks since Nic and I had a holiday and I feel I am in need of one again! I've been watching Gary Lineker and his fiancée Danielle on their road trip of Northern Ireland on the BBC iplayer and feeling like I need to go home soon, if only for a long weekend. It strikes me as rather a pity that the programme isn't being screened over here, it certainly shows up the beauty of the Northern Irish countryside, even if old Gary and Danielle aren’t the most charismatic of presenters. They haven't visited Tyrone yet (next episode is County Down) and of course I am curious to see what places they have picked out from my home county. I doubt that there's much in Fungannon that would make the cut!
Watching anything set in, filmed in, or about Northern Ireland always makes me feel a bit homesick and emotional. I can't imagine moving home, at least not in the near future, but it does make me sad to think that it’s not really home any more. Just in the way that change makes you feel melancholy, you know, even if it is change for the better. Friday night's episode was about County Derry and Gary and Danielle stayed in a guest house in Magherafelt, which is where my erstwhile paramour comes from. Breaking up with him earned me a Magherafelt ASBO so I haven’t been back since. It's out of the way for me when I go home, and the only reason I ever spent any time there in the past was him, so it was strange and emotional to see it on the TV. I don’t miss him and I don’t miss the relationship (and I certainly don't miss the people who bestowed the ASBO on me) but it made me sort of miss the person I was then. It was a strange sort of grief, which is the emotion I am coming to most strongly associate home with.
Well, that all got a bit heavy! On to other things! Due to the wet weekend and just general feelings of grottiness, Nic and I watched have watched lots of DVDs. We bought the Julia Davis series Nighty Night, which neither of us had seen when it was on the TV. Watching all 6 episodes in one day will give you nightmares. We also watched lots of Pertwee-era Who, which is great fun. on the timetable for this week is some Inspector Morse, NYPD Blue and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Life is good
List of love
Julia Davis. New girl-crush.
Will Riker. He's no Picard, but he is much funnier.
The Somerville Arms.
Lewis...I haven't seen his spin-off but I'm enjoying him in Morse
The man in the branch of Timpsons on Regent Street, for fixing up my Kurt Geiger Camara shoes so brilliantly, and for having a nice accent.
Ambo-jitsu
Dr Pulaski's special cake ingredient.
Aileen - she has brought the formal video home!
List of loathe
Having to use my work laptop all the time. I hope my new power supply arrives soon.
Weather and trains, again.
Technology has not been my friend of late. Our television set died last week. Considering we bought it for £25 in the tip shop (I love the tip shop) I think its 11 month life-span isn't so bad. Nic managed to find a replacement for us in Leamington Furnishers for a similar price so all is good, or it should have been – this television set has an unusual approach to colour, and shifts its colour settings by itself, and with irritating frequency. Still, it’s better than what we had, and certainly better than buying a new one and having the TV licence people annoying us (our set acts just as a monitor, we don't have it connected up to receive a signal). The power supply for my work laptop went missing (stolen from my desk) so I am awaiting a new one, and the power supply for my Mac died also, and I think I am going to have to wait rather longer for its replacement to arrive. I'm just waiting now for the other shoe to drop and for something like the shower or the fridge to pack up as well.
All of that has been a minor irritant, and contributing to an underlying anxiety I have been feeling recently. I'm having odd little palpitations again and can't pinpoint a reason for it. It's only been a handful of weeks since Nic and I had a holiday and I feel I am in need of one again! I've been watching Gary Lineker and his fiancée Danielle on their road trip of Northern Ireland on the BBC iplayer and feeling like I need to go home soon, if only for a long weekend. It strikes me as rather a pity that the programme isn't being screened over here, it certainly shows up the beauty of the Northern Irish countryside, even if old Gary and Danielle aren’t the most charismatic of presenters. They haven't visited Tyrone yet (next episode is County Down) and of course I am curious to see what places they have picked out from my home county. I doubt that there's much in Fungannon that would make the cut!
Watching anything set in, filmed in, or about Northern Ireland always makes me feel a bit homesick and emotional. I can't imagine moving home, at least not in the near future, but it does make me sad to think that it’s not really home any more. Just in the way that change makes you feel melancholy, you know, even if it is change for the better. Friday night's episode was about County Derry and Gary and Danielle stayed in a guest house in Magherafelt, which is where my erstwhile paramour comes from. Breaking up with him earned me a Magherafelt ASBO so I haven’t been back since. It's out of the way for me when I go home, and the only reason I ever spent any time there in the past was him, so it was strange and emotional to see it on the TV. I don’t miss him and I don’t miss the relationship (and I certainly don't miss the people who bestowed the ASBO on me) but it made me sort of miss the person I was then. It was a strange sort of grief, which is the emotion I am coming to most strongly associate home with.
Well, that all got a bit heavy! On to other things! Due to the wet weekend and just general feelings of grottiness, Nic and I watched have watched lots of DVDs. We bought the Julia Davis series Nighty Night, which neither of us had seen when it was on the TV. Watching all 6 episodes in one day will give you nightmares. We also watched lots of Pertwee-era Who, which is great fun. on the timetable for this week is some Inspector Morse, NYPD Blue and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Life is good
List of love
Julia Davis. New girl-crush.
Will Riker. He's no Picard, but he is much funnier.
The Somerville Arms.
Lewis...I haven't seen his spin-off but I'm enjoying him in Morse
The man in the branch of Timpsons on Regent Street, for fixing up my Kurt Geiger Camara shoes so brilliantly, and for having a nice accent.
Ambo-jitsu
Dr Pulaski's special cake ingredient.
Aileen - she has brought the formal video home!
List of loathe
Having to use my work laptop all the time. I hope my new power supply arrives soon.
Weather and trains, again.
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