A cold flat

My feet were a bit cold a few nights ago so I went rummaging through my sock drawer (as you would). I found these cool, comfy, fluffy red socks - "they'll do just nicely" I say to myself. I now have little red bits all over my flat. Nice. Thanks for the socks mom - fancy hoovering my flat :-)

and while I'm thanking my mother... I have this mess in my office to thank my mom for.

My mother puts confetti in a lot of the greeting cards she sends me throughout the year. I saved the above pictured confetti from Halloween so that I could send it in a card to her next year (resourceful, eh?). I now know I should have just thrown the confetti away. I saved it in a cup on my office window ledge. The window was open last week and the cup fell over, covering my tabletop in Halloween confetti. It's the gift that keeps on giving: thanks mom :-P

catching up

I haven't really felt the urge to blog recently. In fact I still don't felt said urge. I can't be bothered. As you might have noticed, my posts have been coming less frequently. The novelty of blogging has obviously worn off. Besides my parents - does anyone read this? Is it worth the effort? Should I bother? Time will tell. Maybe I'm just going through a dry spell and my enthusiasm will come back.

The following are pictures from the weekend of 16th. I drove to Peterborough because it was my friend's birthday. We went bowling in town and then back to Jim's (my friend who's birthday it was) for a few drinks and guitar playing /singing. Oh the fun.

(click to enlarge)

It was an early morning on Sunday to drive the hour and a half to get to church in Nottingham. Then it was to Patty and John's for Sunday roast and the to the hospital to visit Ken who had gone back to hospital after getting an infection in his foot after surgery. Oh what a busy day.

Monday I went to the doctor's in the morning for a check-up (heart's still ticking fine, if you were wondering) then lunch with Grant, back to the hospital to see Ken, then to Patty and John's for a quick good-bye, back to the hospital to bring Ken a razor (that he said he didn't want, but I know he's glad to have it).

Pictures: petrol is 5 pence cheaper in Derby than London - how ridiculous!!!; church; me at church - nice, huh?!; Derek - I told you I'd put the picture on my blog
line 2: at John and Patty's Sunday night for Chinese; John doing the crossword; John and Patty coo-ing at their first grandson over webcam - oh so funny to watch!
Line 3: Lunch with Grant on Monday at Starbucks; John Patty, and Sue at hospital with Ken
Line 4: At the hospital: Ken and Sue; "the foot"; Ken with his new razor

(click to enlarge)

Before heading back to London, I stopped by Nick's to say hello. I ended up staying for pizza and watched the end of America's Next Top Model. In hind sight it wasn't the smartest of ideas as I didn't leave Derby until 11pm. As I was EXTREMELY tired I stopped for a cup of tea and can of diet coke, and called my mother so she could chat to me and keep me awake. That she did. I got caught up on the goings on in Paris and Tyler.

Sadness. My parents are moving from my childhood home after 20 years of living there. Not only that - they're moving from Paris!!! I'm SO sad about this. [sigh] Now how am I going to keep up with who's getting married / having babies/ sick, etc. How am I going to say hi on my infrequent trips to Paris; who am I going to say hi to - everyone will have forgotten me. Who will tease me for my ridiculous accent? Oh the sadnesss. I will miss knowing my parents are in Paris. I will miss visiting "home".

Makes you think

200th post

Can you believe it? You've endured 200 of my rants, babbles and general waffling. Well done for those of you have pain stakingly read every one of my posts.

Never needed to wee so much!

A new addiction. Last summer one of the councillors that came from America brought these packets.* I thought they were great, so when I was in the States over Christmas I got some. I'm addicted. Two days ago I ran across the bag I brought over and thought I'd bring them into work so encourage me to drink more water. I think i average a bottle an hour at the moment. Geppers creepers, I've not used the loo this much in my life!

*not just Crystal Light - all different variations of sugar free packets

Friday night

Friday night was the start of half term.* There was some "unwinding" in the staff room...

...before leaving for the local
Picture 1: Claire Cate, Danny (Cate is amused with herself, obviously, Claire not so much - Danny looking obviously intrigued by it all)

Kelli; Antony, Mary, Leigh

Picture 2: Cate & Clude; Becky, Jon, Siabon; Antony, Teon, Tyrone & Dan; Clude; Claire, Kate, Teon & Claude (serious faces everyone!); Cate & Claude (practicing their serious faces); Claude kareoke; Cate & Claire

*A week's break from school: much like the American "spring break"

Valentine's "Singletons" Night

(click to enlarge)

The "singletons": Kelli, Mollen, Emma, Christian, Anita, Glen, Nick, and Kate
Nick stealing food from Kate; Anita swapping food from Christian
Kelli and I; Kate and Kelli
Nick playing "Mac-Daddy" with some strangers; the London eye (view from train on the way home - look closely at the window reflection and you can see me taking the picture)

I joined a group of relationship-less people to have a fun singles night out. We went for a very nice (and relatively cheap) meal out (great find Anita) and then a few of us headed to an American-style bar for a bit of cheesey music and a dance. Fun fun night!!!

***********updated**************

I forgot to mention one of the "moments" of the night. I ordered a diet coke with a slice of lime (I find the lime takes the "icky" diet flavour out of the coke"). It came back with the smallest sliver of lime in it:

Keeping on the drinks theme, I tried to order the drink "sex on the beach" but it wasn't on the menu. Instead of asking if the bar tender could make me one, I said "Can you do sex ...." and then just put my head in my hands. Why on earth did they name the drink that. Oh such fun embarrassing yourself.

Valentines Jewelry

I've mentioned a couple times that my sister sent me a box of jewelry she didn't wear anymore. In the box of jewelry was a note saying that if I didn't like something I was free to give it away - she wouldn't be offended. Well, when I saw the necklace in I'm wearing in this picture, I will admit I thought it hideous and it'd be going. "Who would wear that!" "What on earth was she thinking when she bought it?" "What would you wear that with?!" Well apparently, I would wear that, she was thinking she had taste and you would wear it with a white shirt.

I wanted to show a bit of Valentines spirit today, but didn't want to go the normal red/pink shirt. As I was pondering what to wear, I remembered the red necklace my sister gave me. Perfect! I had a lot of compliments on my jewelry. Thanks again Seester!


Oh ... for those of you who read my last post. Yes I got myself worked up about nothing (as normal). And yes I'm fine. Thank you for laughing at me :-P

(Cheryl - you got a smile in the picture, but still haven't managed make-up at work.)

just a big scaredy cat

There are a lot of benefits to living alone, like being able to walk around in the buff, and not having to worry that your mess will bother someone else. There are also down sides to living alone: no one to help pay the bills, no one to make you soup when you're I'll, and no one to calm your nerves when you are scared senseless by the creepy noises in your flat!!!!
I have always been a big scardey cat, and it was quite a transition when I first lived on my own (aged 24). But there are times (like right this moment) where I absolutely wet myself with fear! My logical side is trying to convience me that the creepy noises are just the hot water pipes cooling off. The other part of me thinks it sounds like someone is in my flat - and that's the part that is winning the war on what I should believe. So scared. Sad, I know, bit still true.

A bit puzzled?

Last month I was at a work conference thingy-ma-bob and once of the advertising thingies was a 3D puzzle cube. Such great fun and entertaiment for so long! (Pictures below are 3 different days... see the fun continues!)

Me

Friend /colleague, LAI
Friend MHE

Thank you Papa!

For Christmas my grandfather (aka Papa, Tom, Sam etc) gave me some money. I decided I would update some of my wardrobe with his generous present.

Afrika! Afrika!

What an amazing show!!!! It was a bit of an adventure to get to. I went to "KPR's" house to go with her, but the tube was closed, and then the nearest train station was closed. So I ended up driving. The traffic was horrendous and we were a half an hour late to the show, but what we saw was just jaw-dropping fantastic.

This is a link to their preview - take the 2 minutes and watch it - some of it is SO incredible!

Click to enlarge. Check out these amazng men! The top middle picture there's a guy on someone else's shoulders holding two guys up off the floor, one in each hand. Middle left has guys doing one armed hand stands off someone else's head. Middle middle picture is just amasing if you look at it; the arrow is pointing to guys doing hand stands off each others hands. Middle right - ok check out the guy's abs where I have the arrow pointing to; he's doing a back bend off other people's abs and he has a guy standing on his abs. Bottom left has a guy doing a head stand on someone else's head! Bottom middle - if you can see the balance on these guys - it's astonishing

These ladies legs and balance were incredible! They balance and twirled large pots (that were half her size). They also twirled fire batons and here they are bablancing (and twirling) tables. All with their feet!!!And the finale - a contortionist! The human body just shouldn't be able to do what this woman did!!!
A few cheesey smiles from KPR, myself and "Jak" (KPR's flatamte)

It was just a wonderful night! KPR / Jak if you read this - thatnks SO much for inviting me!!!

And can I just say ... how good of a blogger am I - within an hour of getting home, I've blogged about it with pictures! You are lucky lucky readers!

Another weekend in the city

Fridays after the school bell goes, it's often hard to be motivated to work. Such was the case this Friday. A few congergated in my office for a chat...

(This is CSI and EWA)

and even a bit of a nap

We finally gathered ourselves and decided we'd just go into work on Saturday morning so that we could get out to the "local"

CSI at the local

Saturday there were people that went in, but alas, I didn't make it out of my bed early enough to go into work - d'oh! I did however meet up with some friend / work colleagues for Wataingi Day.

It was extremely crowded in the city because of Waitangi Day

When I called to find out where they were, KWS said, "I'm under Winston Churchhill". Not a statement thought she'd ever use :-)

KWS & KPR under Churchhill There were several people being stupid, several climbing up statues for a laugh. In fact just before I took the above picture of KWS & KPR, there were 2 blokes on top of it.

But this one bloke takes the cake of stupid things to do.

Look closer! He climbed up a lamp post!

The sun went in and so did we.

KWS, KPR and myself (KWS didn't want to be in the middle)
More photos - this time with Ant, EWA & me
Aren't you jealous of all the love he's getting?!
EWA and I ended up leaving the "gang" and headed out in search of food. We ended up at The Texas Embassy. I think I'm begining to like that place - in spite of it's touristy clientelle

Now I'm off to go back into the city to see Afrika Afrika. I am begining to like the vast aray of things you can do and see in London.

What do you think?

The before

(this is from last summer)

The After

I can't look Ok, I'll show you
Do you approve?
This one is for my sister that tells me I should smile in my pictures

Do you know what changed? Look at the strips of hair above my eyes ... what do you think of my eyebrow waxing? Comments wanted.

Tonight after work I went to get my eyebrows and legs waxed ... and then decided to pamper myself and went for a pedicure. Nothing like a little pampering to forget about the work day :-)

It's great to make yourself laugh!

This is my sister at Christmas with her new phone

I called my sister today to make sure her family was ok (I heard this morning there was some bad weather and tornados in Arkansas – the states where she lives.) I waited till this afternoon to call so I didn’t wake her up, but left it a bit late and she was at work. She answered very quietly and said she was at work. This made me feel “more bad” (I’m sure it’s not a good work practice to have personal calls while at work especially as she’s just gone back to work after being off work for 3 months maternity leave). She then proceeded to tell me that while sitting at work her phone starts screaming “It’s my seester, it’s my seester, it’s my seester”. I couldn’t help but break out into a hearty laugh.
While I was in the States for Christmas I drove to Arkansas (5ish hour car journey) from Texas with my sister. She had gotten a new phone for Christmas and I was playing with it. I recorded me saying “It’s my seester” and set this as a ring tone for my number. I had forgotten all about this when I rang.
I vaguely remember telling Cheryl that it would be an annoying ring tone. She replied something to the effect of, “nah, you usually text you don’t ring me.” This is very true.

Oh how I love the things I do!

(I also took a self portrait and made it the desktop on my mother’s phone. She’s not technical enough to figure out how to change it … I wonder if she got someone to change it for her or if she’s greeted by my cheesey smile every time she opens her phone. )

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The story continued after I posted this. I picked up my phone this evening to send my sister a text to tell her to read my blog, but I thought I'd call her since she'd be home from work. So I go tmy house phone and dialed her number. I was greeted by "why are you calling again" ... "cause I wanted to let you know to look at my blog... uh oh, you're still at work - I miscalculated the times! opps!" I say. "Yes," says she "I was greeted by 'It's my seester' again."

Clever me! I not only programmed my mobile phone number but my house number as well. I rock!! [laugh]

Much too young to feel this Damn old*

I think I'm trying to make up for all the social outings most people do in their college years and early 20s. You see, I didn't have a typical social life - I was an old woman in a young woman's body ... now I'm a young woman in an old** body!

Just a photo to prove I'm still young ... old people don't wear their hair in pigtails :-)

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PREPARE YOURSELF FOR A LONG READ!

...or just ignore this post. The general jest of it: I've had a slightly busier few weeks than normal and I feel old as I can't keep up
---------------------------------------------------

3 Fridays ago I was at a friend's party so I got to bed around 4am. The weekend before last (weekend starting Friday 25th) I spent up and out until 4am every night. On the Friday I was out with friends at "the local" until very very late. There was quite a comotion and there was a fight outside the pub, police and ambulances called, street taped off - lots of drama.

Saturday (26th) my friend & colleague, EWA, asked me to Ikea and I spent most of the day there shopping with him.

This is all the stuff EWA bought.

After Ikea I drove his stuff back to his new flat; after he fed me and then we headed in seperate directions into the city. Saturday was Australia Day so that evening I went to an Australian friend's house party. What a night. That house party was just full of drama - an eventful night.

Sunday I spent recovering from Friday and Saturday night. I made the fatal mistake of going online and wasting time. I stumbled across the Steece Quads and I was addicted. I ended up reading the blog off and on all day until I caught up with the present day ... which was around 3am. [grimise]

On Monday (28th)I felt like death warmed over. Everything got on my nerves - I had absolutely no patience. A friend of mine needed a friend, so I went out for a little bit on Monday night. I took advantage of being next to the grocery store and did my weekly shop and then headed home and crashed!

Wednesday (30th) I went into the city to see Fiddler on the Roof with "SLD", a friend from school. I'd only ever seen Fiddler on the roof as a movie in 3rd grade (equivalent to year 4 in England). OMG, I really enjoyed the show. "Papa", the lead man, was just brilliant and made the show. It was a great night, but another late one - I didn't get home until midnight-ish. As a side note to my Wednesday activities: On my way to meet up with SLD this random there was this guy who kept making eye contact with me on the tube. Outside the tube station he approached me, but I was on the phone so he walked with me a bit. I stayed on the phone (I was trying to find where SL was) and he eventually wandered off. I felt really rude - like I'd snubbed him off. I was flattered - it takes a lot of guts to walk up to someone and try to ask them out, but I just didn't fancy him. [sigh]

Thursday (31st) was a weird day. I felt like I could bust out in tears all day - and there was no reason for it. I've had no tragedy, no one hurt my feelings, and no, it wasn't "that time of the month". It was really odd - I'm not a big crier. Thursday night I ended up going to "EWA's" flat and stayed there the night. EWA cheered me up and all was right with the world on Friday. Which takes me to Friday (1st), oh Friday.

Friday I went to "the local" after school, as per normal after work on a Friday. [sigh] My Friday after work drink turned into "let's go into London" and go out... so I headed to "KWS" house and then headed out. We left the house at 11pm to go out. 11pm? What? 11pm is pj and bed time! At the pub/club I went to check my coat. On my way back to my friends, a guy got in front of me looked me up and down and said "I'm in heaven". "That's nice," says I "why are you in heaven?" "I'm here, you're here, and it's my birthday" says he. "Okay" says I. Then he asked if I would dance with him. I decided there was no harm in a dance - I love dancing after all. So we dance. Towards the end of the song he comes out with "so, we gonna get it on now?" "Good-bye" says I. [sigh] When will men learn. [sigh]

Later on in the evening I again ventured away from my group of friends, this time in search of the loo. On this outing there was a few blokes being stupid and just having fun. I laughed at BlokeA; BlokeB apologised for BlokeA and said "don't mind him, he's just an arsehole". I laughed at BlokeB and asked if it was just BlokeA or if he was one. To his credit he said, "no, I'm one too". [sigh] Bless. Getting my friends back to KWS's house was an adventure. KWS couldn't find us, so she went home. After getting a Subway sandwich (this is around 2am) I finally found a taxi and 5 out of 6 of us headed to KWS's. Friend 6, AGR, had wandered off. I tried to stop him and get him to stay with us, but he waved me off and kept walking. I figured he was headed to his home, and since he was a big lad, he could look out for himself. Around 30 minutes after we 5 had arrived at KWS's house, AGR was on the phone lost and trying to get there. Again, when will men learn :-)

Mwah, NJ, KPR

NJ and my good self

Saturday (2nd) we woke up all around the house (big house - several flatmates away for the weekend) and congregated in the lounge to watch Princess Bride. Around noon we finally emerged from the house in search of sustenance - some looking rougher than others. Saturday was the start of 6 nations rugby tournament so the group ended up staying out. I left around 7:30pm ish and they were still going strong.^ Keep in mind I hadn't been home since Wednesday so when I finally got home (around 9) I was fit to be tied. (What does fit to be tied mean? I was tired and happy to be home anyway.)

NJ, LAI & MBE

KPR

KWS

KWS, NJ & KPR

Sunday (3rd) a friend of mine, "Lin", came round with her boyfriend. I haven't seen Lin in AGES, and it was good to catch up. They did stay at mine a bit longer than they expected to and thus didn't get in their trip to Harrods (sorry Lin!). After dropping them off at the train station, I did my weekly grocery shop before heading home. Just as I was unpacking I got an unexpected call from a different friend who I hadn't seen in a couple years, "Dunk". He was in London and wanted to meet up - bonus!! Unfortunately, by the time I would have made it to meet him, he would have had to leave to go home. Boo. We did catch up on the phone and I'll hopefully be seeing him around Easter before he heads off on his world travels.

Do you see why I think I'm too old to be carrying on with these antics?!!! This week hasn't been as exciting. I've been extremely busy at work the last 2 weeks as I've been also covering some people's jobs that were off, which meant my work suffered as a side effect. It also meant for the past 2 weeks I've been at work late into the night - most nights being kicked out by the premises staff as they're locking up. Monday I did pop into the local with a friend/colleague, "CSI", for a quick one. Tuesday was Pancake Day and my previous flatmate, H, invited me around to hers for some yummy pancakes. I did arrive later than planned as I didn't pry myself out of work until 6pm so I didn't make it to hers until 7:20ish. But it was a good night - and I love her new house!!! Although I've still not forgiven her for moving out of my flat :-) Last night, after leaving work at 7ish, I went to check out a friend's house (her flatmate's moving out, the rent is really cheap and I was thinking about maybe moving in.)

*It's name of a song that I know from my days of living as a Texan. Good ole country! So the lyrics aren't really how I feel - but the title is!!!
**Ok, so I'm not old, but I am TOO old to be out on the town after 10pm.
^I found out that the group I left went home Sunday night (groan) How do they do that?!

Oh, the things we take for granted

My internet is down at home. It's poorly sick. Boo! So this is just a quick note to tell you why I'm not telling you about my fabulous and exciting life. You'll just have to wait for the juicy details of my weekend :-)

Back to Morse Code and telegraphs?