Smoggy
Monday, October 31, 2005
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Miow/Baa
A sheep and cat montage. The one on top is Tyson - a cat I used to live with. Moody whatsit, but we were friends. The sheep lived down the road from me. The fluffy black one underneath is my parents' cat, and the other you've already met.
Someone else's cat
This little monster has adopted two friends of mine. He started hanging around outside the house, and eventually persuaded them to let him in. Then he got food, then he got a space on the floor, then he got a blanket, now he has a bed etc! He's cute though, and it's nice to have a pet. I miss my cat - well, my parents cat (see next post for a glimpse of the fluff-monster).
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Sukkot and stuff
http://www.aish.com/holidays/sukkot/default.asp
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday5.htm
Jewish Year 5766 : sunset October 17, 2005 - sunset October 24, 2005
I know Sukkot has now finished, but I thought I'd write about it anyway! Well, I'm not going to write all about it because you can click on the links above if you want to find out about it in depth. We had a CCJ meeting last Sunday, which was good, although we didn't get much sorted out because we started late and there was a Succah party straight after, which people had started arriving for. We did get to eat Kosher Haribo though, so all was not lost. There is a study tour to Israel/Palestine in December (28th - 5th Jan), organised by the YES (youth) section of CCJ, which should be really good - I went on a similar trip in 2000, which was brilliant - probably the best thing I've ever done. Just thought I would get a plug in there! For more details click here and have a look at the CCJ website.
Clocks went back this morning, so we got an extra hour in bed, but it got dark early, and it will continue to get dark earlier and earlier, until December the 21st or thereabouts - the joys of going back to Greenwich Mean Time.
On Friday I watched possibly the cheesiest film I've ever seen - The Librarian: Quest for the Spear, starring the lovely Noah Wyle (ex-ER). It was made for US cable TV and it shows, but although it was awful it was awful in a so-bad-it's-good way. It's actually had some surprisingly good reviews, and it is a lot of fun, as long as you don't take it at all seriously. In all fairness, it does not take itself seriously at all, and Mr W is obviously playing his character with tongue firmly in cheek and a twinkle in his eye. We (a whole group of librarians!) sat through it cringing at some points and groaning in others - but overall we were smiling, so I guess the film acheived its object. The plot is basically Indiana Jones meets The Mummy, with a librarian as the hero. Unfortunately for librarians, the film doesn't exactly sweep away the old librarian stereotypes, but at least it says that librarians have to be educated, and of course he turns out to be a hero in the end. How could a librarian be otherwise? For some reviews click here
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday5.htm
Jewish Year 5766 : sunset October 17, 2005 - sunset October 24, 2005
I know Sukkot has now finished, but I thought I'd write about it anyway! Well, I'm not going to write all about it because you can click on the links above if you want to find out about it in depth. We had a CCJ meeting last Sunday, which was good, although we didn't get much sorted out because we started late and there was a Succah party straight after, which people had started arriving for. We did get to eat Kosher Haribo though, so all was not lost. There is a study tour to Israel/Palestine in December (28th - 5th Jan), organised by the YES (youth) section of CCJ, which should be really good - I went on a similar trip in 2000, which was brilliant - probably the best thing I've ever done. Just thought I would get a plug in there! For more details click here and have a look at the CCJ website.
Clocks went back this morning, so we got an extra hour in bed, but it got dark early, and it will continue to get dark earlier and earlier, until December the 21st or thereabouts - the joys of going back to Greenwich Mean Time.
On Friday I watched possibly the cheesiest film I've ever seen - The Librarian: Quest for the Spear, starring the lovely Noah Wyle (ex-ER). It was made for US cable TV and it shows, but although it was awful it was awful in a so-bad-it's-good way. It's actually had some surprisingly good reviews, and it is a lot of fun, as long as you don't take it at all seriously. In all fairness, it does not take itself seriously at all, and Mr W is obviously playing his character with tongue firmly in cheek and a twinkle in his eye. We (a whole group of librarians!) sat through it cringing at some points and groaning in others - but overall we were smiling, so I guess the film acheived its object. The plot is basically Indiana Jones meets The Mummy, with a librarian as the hero. Unfortunately for librarians, the film doesn't exactly sweep away the old librarian stereotypes, but at least it says that librarians have to be educated, and of course he turns out to be a hero in the end. How could a librarian be otherwise? For some reviews click here
Mayfly
I did a course on effective communication through assertiveness this morning, and all I could think to say about it in my other blog was 'it was interesting'. 'Interesting' is probably my most oft used adjective, because I can never think of anything more descriptive to say about things. I think it's good to find things interesting, and at least it's better than saying something was 'nice'. But my lack of adjectives make me look decidedly un-interesting, so really I should think of something else to say. The fact that I've managed to write a paragraph on my own use of the word 'interesting' says it all really. I'm not really doing anything to smash those librarian stereotypes.
Gosh, work is stressful at the moment, due mainly to the woman from last week: the saga continues, with me making various errors and not helping things. This was not entirely my fault, being somewhat due to the fact that I wasn't told something which I could have done with knowing to ease the situation. I could possibly even have avoided the whole thing occuring in the first place. Maybe I was told and I just forgot, but I don't think so.
Ahh Lost... I hadn't seen it for a few weeks but have just half-watched the latest episode whilst writing this. I've found the episode summaries on Wikipedia - some of the second series is also there now. It's all very curious... and of course, interesting.
Gosh, work is stressful at the moment, due mainly to the woman from last week: the saga continues, with me making various errors and not helping things. This was not entirely my fault, being somewhat due to the fact that I wasn't told something which I could have done with knowing to ease the situation. I could possibly even have avoided the whole thing occuring in the first place. Maybe I was told and I just forgot, but I don't think so.
Ahh Lost... I hadn't seen it for a few weeks but have just half-watched the latest episode whilst writing this. I've found the episode summaries on Wikipedia - some of the second series is also there now. It's all very curious... and of course, interesting.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Chocolate teapot
Work was stressful today. I was in a meeting when a lady came to see me about paying her fines off (I think). To cut a long story short, I wasn't there and she got cross, insulted one of my colleagues, swore at another and insulted some students who were in the queue. I had to send an incident report to the BB.
Also at work, miscommunications/lack of communication abounded (if a lack of something can abound), with me the one looking ignorant at the end of the line. The big boss is away, and I have several things to talk to him about, the above woman being one of them. Anyway, hopefully tomorrow will be better.
It does help to get things outside of oneself and put thoughts on paper...and the library cartoons help somehow. I am so fortunate that my colleagues are so good and often have the ability to turn a bad situation into a funny one. My office is full of comedy geniuses. I will try to share some of their output sometime!
Also at work, miscommunications/lack of communication abounded (if a lack of something can abound), with me the one looking ignorant at the end of the line. The big boss is away, and I have several things to talk to him about, the above woman being one of them. Anyway, hopefully tomorrow will be better.
It does help to get things outside of oneself and put thoughts on paper...and the library cartoons help somehow. I am so fortunate that my colleagues are so good and often have the ability to turn a bad situation into a funny one. My office is full of comedy geniuses. I will try to share some of their output sometime!
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
iPoding
I have ordered an iPod, which (sadly) I am rather excited about. It is almost my first foray into music downloads. The last time I tried it was a semi-successful go with Kazaa 3 years ago. So, it will be interesting to learn about some 'new' (well, new to me) technology.
I've transferred most of this blog so far from another site, as I thought it would be more convenient to have both my blogs hosted by Blogger. I prefer the layouts here, and the site is easier to use. Even though I'm a librarian I still have my technophobic moments!
Did some more wedding-related stuff at the weekend. Have ordered bridesmaid's dress - had a less minute change of mind about the colour. It was going to be red, and now it's (indigo) blue. I think it will suit H better, but there will now be no red at the wedding! Instead of red roses we've gone for cerise ones - I know it sounds bad, but they look good in real life! We went to see the florist in the afternoon. Decided on the cerise roses, and cream ones and...thistles! Hopefully it will work out ok! The florist knows what she's doing anyway.
Got my jumpers out today, and wore a scarf to work for the first time this year. Must be Autumn....
"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness"...I can't remember who wrote that. Possibly John Betjeman...I will find out.
I've transferred most of this blog so far from another site, as I thought it would be more convenient to have both my blogs hosted by Blogger. I prefer the layouts here, and the site is easier to use. Even though I'm a librarian I still have my technophobic moments!
Did some more wedding-related stuff at the weekend. Have ordered bridesmaid's dress - had a less minute change of mind about the colour. It was going to be red, and now it's (indigo) blue. I think it will suit H better, but there will now be no red at the wedding! Instead of red roses we've gone for cerise ones - I know it sounds bad, but they look good in real life! We went to see the florist in the afternoon. Decided on the cerise roses, and cream ones and...thistles! Hopefully it will work out ok! The florist knows what she's doing anyway.
Got my jumpers out today, and wore a scarf to work for the first time this year. Must be Autumn....
"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness"...I can't remember who wrote that. Possibly John Betjeman...I will find out.
Train from Greenwich
The cleaner at Mr C's work is hording bogroll and bleach. There are now 30-40 large packets stored in the [building], in various locations. He uses the bleach for cleaning the floors, sinks, the tops of the desks, the coffee mugs, the kettle and the inside of the drinking water tank. He asks all the new people for their birthdays, and uses them as his lottery numbers for the week. Mr C and colleague were just unlucky, but [a previous female employee], because her birthday numbers came up a week before, and not the week he put them in, the cleaner decided was a witch.
We are now on way back at Bromley South but the train just thought it was Dover Priory. It has now come to its senses. We saw a mouse on the underground today - on the track bed. It felt the vibrations of the approaching train and ran to the side of the tracks - he must have had a little hole there.
We met parents after eating at Subway. Vege Delite. We went to the museum for tea (cup of) - mum and I had tea, men went to Nelson and Napoleon exhibition, then had tea (and cake - walnut and banana). Then mum and I went to the induction service. It is a lovely church - Hawkesmore. Large chandelier - now lit with electric 'candles'. Excellent choir - it was worth going just to hear them sing. Quite a long service - communion + loads of people. Went to pie shop afterwards. Men had pottered about while we were at church. Had veg pie and mash. D paid £7.00 for four meals (2 x double p&m, 2 x v p&m) - so either v cheap (even cheaper than usual) today or they didn't charge him enough. Could have been right as the meals are really cheap there. Compare to £8.00 for 2 subs and a drink in Subway!
We have just gone through St Mary Cray.
We watched the doc about Elizabeth I on TV on Fri(?) night. Good, esp costumes and background - Elizabethan London backdrop etc.
I am going to try to play my flute this week, to see if it helps me de-stress. I will buy a music stand from the music shop near work. I must also pay £50 into my new bank account, otherwise they might close it. I've got some Diet Coke in a can, which I've not had for a long time. I love the Tube map. I could look at it for ages. I love the layout, and the names of all the stations - they (many of them) hint at the history of their particular corner of London. A great book to write would be a history of London using the Tube map, but it's probably already been done.If I ever feel I have the time (feeling I don't have the time is not the same as not having the time) I will investigate.
We are now on way back at Bromley South but the train just thought it was Dover Priory. It has now come to its senses. We saw a mouse on the underground today - on the track bed. It felt the vibrations of the approaching train and ran to the side of the tracks - he must have had a little hole there.
We met parents after eating at Subway. Vege Delite. We went to the museum for tea (cup of) - mum and I had tea, men went to Nelson and Napoleon exhibition, then had tea (and cake - walnut and banana). Then mum and I went to the induction service. It is a lovely church - Hawkesmore. Large chandelier - now lit with electric 'candles'. Excellent choir - it was worth going just to hear them sing. Quite a long service - communion + loads of people. Went to pie shop afterwards. Men had pottered about while we were at church. Had veg pie and mash. D paid £7.00 for four meals (2 x double p&m, 2 x v p&m) - so either v cheap (even cheaper than usual) today or they didn't charge him enough. Could have been right as the meals are really cheap there. Compare to £8.00 for 2 subs and a drink in Subway!
We have just gone through St Mary Cray.
We watched the doc about Elizabeth I on TV on Fri(?) night. Good, esp costumes and background - Elizabethan London backdrop etc.
I am going to try to play my flute this week, to see if it helps me de-stress. I will buy a music stand from the music shop near work. I must also pay £50 into my new bank account, otherwise they might close it. I've got some Diet Coke in a can, which I've not had for a long time. I love the Tube map. I could look at it for ages. I love the layout, and the names of all the stations - they (many of them) hint at the history of their particular corner of London. A great book to write would be a history of London using the Tube map, but it's probably already been done.If I ever feel I have the time (feeling I don't have the time is not the same as not having the time) I will investigate.
Train to Greenwich
I first wrote this on paper whilst on the train today...
On the way to Greenwich to meet parents to talk about looking after the house when they are away and also to collect post and also to go to Rev. X's induction into is new church (4pm). It is going to take us two hours to get from home to Greenwich, due to engineering works. Cannot believe it! M did not look at what time their train arrives, so they are not arriving til 2.15pm. We're getting there for 1.30pm - we hope. Hopefully pies from Goddards for lunch. Parents bringing sandwiches as they don't think there will be time for lunch before the service. D and Mr C not going to the service so not sure what they are going to do. Hopefully we will have time for tea afterwards at the Chinese. We may not get back til 8.40pm. I am not happy about this. But there is nothing we can do about it.
I am too tired for travelling so much - work tomorrow, which is getting busier all the time.
We've just passed Limehouse, and passed the church where I went with H to see about her wedding licence. Now we are going out of London to Greenwich. We went to Blackfriars and on the District Line to Embankment, the Northern Line to Charing Cross. It's a nice sunny day. My parents should have arrived at X five minutes ago. We should be at Greenwich in five minutes. We have just stopped at Deptford - where C Marlowe was killed.
We had to get off the train.
On the way to Greenwich to meet parents to talk about looking after the house when they are away and also to collect post and also to go to Rev. X's induction into is new church (4pm). It is going to take us two hours to get from home to Greenwich, due to engineering works. Cannot believe it! M did not look at what time their train arrives, so they are not arriving til 2.15pm. We're getting there for 1.30pm - we hope. Hopefully pies from Goddards for lunch. Parents bringing sandwiches as they don't think there will be time for lunch before the service. D and Mr C not going to the service so not sure what they are going to do. Hopefully we will have time for tea afterwards at the Chinese. We may not get back til 8.40pm. I am not happy about this. But there is nothing we can do about it.
I am too tired for travelling so much - work tomorrow, which is getting busier all the time.
We've just passed Limehouse, and passed the church where I went with H to see about her wedding licence. Now we are going out of London to Greenwich. We went to Blackfriars and on the District Line to Embankment, the Northern Line to Charing Cross. It's a nice sunny day. My parents should have arrived at X five minutes ago. We should be at Greenwich in five minutes. We have just stopped at Deptford - where C Marlowe was killed.
We had to get off the train.
Wedding stuff
Hello, today I have actually done some wedding-related stuff. This is quite a relief as I/we hadn't done much for a while, and parents are getting twitchy. So today I phoned the photographer (not in but will ring back), took some people off the guest list (sorry guys) and we decided on favours for guests. At least a few things done. Also yesterday booked appointment at dress shop to look at bridesmaids' dresses with H, and will ask mum to make an appointment at the florists for a couple of weeks' time. Will be phoning her tonight.
Need to get in touch with person making the invitations. They are supposed to go out at the end of October, and I would like to see an example of one before she sends them. The person making them is a friend from Uni who is good at that sort of thing, as well as being reliable.
Things still to do/book:
- Photographer (will hopefully be done tomorrow)
- Flowers
- Cake
- Send invites
- Place cards
- Honeymoon hotel
- Evening meal booking (half-done)...
I phoned the potential restaurant last night to make a booking, but the wedding is not til Feb, and they said they don't take bookings so far in advance, so they have pencilled us in. I have to ring back to check next week, after the guy has had a word with his boss to check it's ok. We will be 17-20 people, so it is quite a few for them to fit in. Wouldn't have tried to book so early, but Dad thought we should. Poor Dad, I think he is worrying about quite a few things to do with the wedding at the moment - hence we are trying to get some stuff done to appease him and reduce his worry-load.
Anyway, in other news, my boss has got a new job (I may have said this before), and she will not be operating in our department at all for the next couple of months while she gets settled into her new role, and sorts stuff out. As a result, her jobs have been divided up between different people, and so far I am going to be looking after her people with 'comments' aka complaints, problems etc. These include mainly people who haven't paid their fines and have found various reasons why they think we should waive them (much like the aforementioned member of staff). So, could be fun! By the end of the 2 months the powers that be should have some more idea of how the plan is going to do, what roles people will be taking on etc., so then I will have more of an idea of what I will be doing on a more permanent basis. Also, I may have a new boss, if they replace the old one! So, interesting times ahead!
If anyone knows where I can get personalised chopsticks could they please let me know? Thanks.
L
Need to get in touch with person making the invitations. They are supposed to go out at the end of October, and I would like to see an example of one before she sends them. The person making them is a friend from Uni who is good at that sort of thing, as well as being reliable.
Things still to do/book:
- Photographer (will hopefully be done tomorrow)
- Flowers
- Cake
- Send invites
- Place cards
- Honeymoon hotel
- Evening meal booking (half-done)...
I phoned the potential restaurant last night to make a booking, but the wedding is not til Feb, and they said they don't take bookings so far in advance, so they have pencilled us in. I have to ring back to check next week, after the guy has had a word with his boss to check it's ok. We will be 17-20 people, so it is quite a few for them to fit in. Wouldn't have tried to book so early, but Dad thought we should. Poor Dad, I think he is worrying about quite a few things to do with the wedding at the moment - hence we are trying to get some stuff done to appease him and reduce his worry-load.
Anyway, in other news, my boss has got a new job (I may have said this before), and she will not be operating in our department at all for the next couple of months while she gets settled into her new role, and sorts stuff out. As a result, her jobs have been divided up between different people, and so far I am going to be looking after her people with 'comments' aka complaints, problems etc. These include mainly people who haven't paid their fines and have found various reasons why they think we should waive them (much like the aforementioned member of staff). So, could be fun! By the end of the 2 months the powers that be should have some more idea of how the plan is going to do, what roles people will be taking on etc., so then I will have more of an idea of what I will be doing on a more permanent basis. Also, I may have a new boss, if they replace the old one! So, interesting times ahead!
If anyone knows where I can get personalised chopsticks could they please let me know? Thanks.
L
Hello Tuesday!
Tuesday! Today was quite good. Lots of amusement in the office. I am going to get more responsibility now Boss has got a promotion - not sure if I will get the pay rise to go with it though. Hmm. Well, you never know. I always seem to write my blog on a Tuesday night. I wonder why that is. The TV is really loud. Maybe it's just the adverts.
And now it's the news. Apparantly it is bad syntax to start a sentence with 'and'. I am not so sure.
Had driving lesson today. It was ok, although I stalled in the middle of a roundabout, which was a bit dangerous! Did a good reverse round a corner though. I actually prefer the manouveres to driving around, which I believe is unusual.
Annual check up at the hospital for heart on Friday. Not sure what doctor will say as I couldn't do the MRI scan.
You know what? Sometimes I think about stuff that is happening in the world and for a moment I think it was a bad dream, but then I realise it is reality. For example, terrorism, Iraq etc. I always thought the 'good' side would win, but my own country isn't doing the right thing, and we are not safe anymore. I'm not really very old, but the world has changed so much since I was a child, even since I was at University. Such a different world now. Shame we didn't realise how fortunate we were then.
Does anyone know the song 'The night I heard Caruso sing'? One line says 'I thought of having children but I've gone and changed my mind'. (See below). That's how I feel 99% of the time. I don't think it is a good idea to bring children into this world. Maybe things will get better though. We will see.
It's a beautiful song. Apparantly it is on the album Idlewild (the album by Everything But The Girl, not the band Idlewild)
I'm sorry this post is so negative. Maybe it's cos I watch the news whilst I write!
And now it's the news. Apparantly it is bad syntax to start a sentence with 'and'. I am not so sure.
Had driving lesson today. It was ok, although I stalled in the middle of a roundabout, which was a bit dangerous! Did a good reverse round a corner though. I actually prefer the manouveres to driving around, which I believe is unusual.
Annual check up at the hospital for heart on Friday. Not sure what doctor will say as I couldn't do the MRI scan.
You know what? Sometimes I think about stuff that is happening in the world and for a moment I think it was a bad dream, but then I realise it is reality. For example, terrorism, Iraq etc. I always thought the 'good' side would win, but my own country isn't doing the right thing, and we are not safe anymore. I'm not really very old, but the world has changed so much since I was a child, even since I was at University. Such a different world now. Shame we didn't realise how fortunate we were then.
Does anyone know the song 'The night I heard Caruso sing'? One line says 'I thought of having children but I've gone and changed my mind'. (See below). That's how I feel 99% of the time. I don't think it is a good idea to bring children into this world. Maybe things will get better though. We will see.
"The highlands and the lowlands are the routes my father knows,the holidays
at Oban and the towns around Montrose,but even as he sleeps, they're loading
bombs into the hills,and the waters in the lochs can run deep, but never still.
I've thought of having children, but I've gone and changed my mind.It's
hard enough to watch the news, let alone explain it to a child,to cast your eye
cross nature, over fields of rape and corn,and tell him without flinching not to
fear where he's been born.
Then someone sat me down last night, and I heard Caruso sing.He's
almost as good as Presley, and if I only do one thing,I'll sing songs to my
father, I'll sing songs to my child.It's time to hold your loved ones while the
chains are loose,and the world runs wild.
But even as we speak, they're loading bombs onto a white train.How can
we afford to ever sleep, so sound again."
It's a beautiful song. Apparantly it is on the album Idlewild (the album by Everything But The Girl, not the band Idlewild)
I'm sorry this post is so negative. Maybe it's cos I watch the news whilst I write!
Lily and Rose
Yesterday, I did some stuff on the family tree. I put in all the people I know about, or am vaguely aware of, then decided to look at the 1901 Census. After a few attempts I found my great-grandmother's household, which was quite exciting. There were nine people - my great-great grandmother, her children, her eldest son's wife and their child. My great-grandmother was a twin. My g-g grandmother was listed as head of the household, so not sure what happened to her husband. Maybe he had already died.
I can't believe it is Sunday night already. Monday again tomorrow (sorry to state the obvious!) I do actually like my job, but am not so keen on the commute.
Well, only five days til the weekend again. Hoping to meet with a friend from uni, but she might not be free.
Hopefully we will book the hotel for the honeymoon tomorrow. We're staying with Mr C's family in Malaysia for a bit, but we're also going to Singapore for a couple of days. If I'm still doing this blog then I'll tell you all about it!
L
I can't believe it is Sunday night already. Monday again tomorrow (sorry to state the obvious!) I do actually like my job, but am not so keen on the commute.
Well, only five days til the weekend again. Hoping to meet with a friend from uni, but she might not be free.
Hopefully we will book the hotel for the honeymoon tomorrow. We're staying with Mr C's family in Malaysia for a bit, but we're also going to Singapore for a couple of days. If I'm still doing this blog then I'll tell you all about it!
L
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
