dizzykj

blughh

2011-11-19T17:22:00.001Z

project is over - it went really well.

I'm now a week into decompression and I feel like crap.

I ache, I'm tired, the self loathing is at an all time high.

I have cooked lots of amazing food in the last week so eating healthily will be easy for the next 10 days and then I get to go away to the sunshine which will be lovely. My exercise kicks off tomorrow with a pilates day which should be great and then I want to keep it going until I go away.

I know objectively that these are good things. I'm just not feeling it right now.

also

2011-10-15T21:10:00.002+01:00

I really need to set aside a regular time each week to go through internet dating emails and respond. I think it's been about two weeks since I logged-on last!

ok - I have a plan...

2011-10-15T19:23:00.002+01:00

... last week at work was crazy-mental (the start of the tender response process and seeing how reality responded to plan) culminating in a fuck-up in IT leading me to think that all of my work from the previous two weeks had gone (it looked for a moment [read - 2 hours] that a server-crash had restored to a back-up from September 27th and also over-ridden all of the back-ups in between). It was all ok in the end but, needless to say, I was pretty broken by the end of last night.

the solution for restoration of sanity was that I got up this morning, reworked the plan for the project, figured out exactly what I need to get done this weekend, and then spent the rest of the day in Westeros (I'm a third of the way through Book 3).

tomorrow I have a lot of work to get through, but I think it's manageable, and I hope that having chilled out today will make it easier. I've also got to remember that I've had flu in the last 2 weeks and am not completely better, and that I mustn't let my confidence go on this project (as client seems really happy and they're talking about bringing me back in January to run another project for them).

ahhh - just remembered that I forgot to pick up my dry-cleaning AGAIN today. It's been two weeks and if I don't go and get it, they'll throw it out! I think maybe that I need to pick it up on Monday morning (which means not going to the gym before work, so maybe not). Ok - will have a think as to how to solve...

but really - I DO have a plan. It will be ok. Honestly.

in other news - I really do need to arrange what to do for my birthday on Monday - I am excited as I get to be 33 and I haven't done that before!

So I don't think the LJ thing is working out...

2011-10-12T21:58:00.001+01:00

... I think I may come back here and hang for a while.

new url for my blog

2010-08-05T21:27:00.004+01:00

I've been happy on blogger for a few years now, but over the past few months I haven't been blogging as I've felt uncomfortable always making everything public. For this reason, I've decided to try using my LJ as my primary blog:

dizzykj.livejournal.com

I'll still be posting most things as public so you don't need to have an account to view them, but some entries will be for my LJ friends only. If you're on LJ (and you're my friend), then friend me!

stuff

2010-03-20T18:29:00.004Z

after pottering around the flat today, I've realised quite how much stuff I own. This isn't a problem, as I have a large flat, but it got me thinking that I probably have enough. So, for the next while, I'm going to try not to buy any more. I have enough handbags and shoes and clothes and books and DVDs and other random stuff. I've got things for winter, for spring, for summer, for autumn. I've got jewellery and watches, sunglasses and pretty much everything I need right now.

the only thing I think I may need to buy in the next few months is a second pair of proper trainers - I've started running and if I carry on and want to train outdoors, it would be sensible to have two pairs.

although this isn't about money, I think it would be good for me to stop spending as much. I'd like to save for a deposit for a flat, but more than that, I think I need to re-adjust my relationship with money. I earn a fair bit and right now, a couple of hundred quid doesn't seem like a lot of money. I want to get back to the place where I think it is. Where I don't take having money for granted, and I don't use spending money as a way to change, reflect or enhance my mood.

it might not work. My will power might not be high-enough. I may see a new dress in Hobbs that I just have to have. But I'm going to try. It will be interesting (for me, anyway) to see if this changes anything else.

the year in which I learnt things I didn't know I needed to learn...

2009-12-23T21:23:00.003Z

it has been an odd year - some highs, lots of lows - I won't be sorry to see it end.

it's been a year where I've had a lot of things thrown sharply into focus, particularly in regard to areas of my life I thought I'd dealt with and lessons I assumed I'd already learnt. The main things are:

1) I need to stop being too self-reliant, both in my professional and personal life. I have amazing friends and if I don't go to them when I need to, I'm belittling my relationship with them. I've learnt the hard way over the past couple of months that asking for help in a work environment is not a bad thing either - I need to make sure I do that more.

2) I still have a lot of body issues. I have a negative loop that runs like this: I am anxious - I am fat - I am anxious - I am fat. The loop can start at either of the points and circle from there. I'm much better than I used to be (I no longer act on the emotion), but I still have a way to go.

3) I need to spend time on my mental health. If I ignore it when I'm in a good place, I don't realise when it gets bad. This is a thing I thought I'd learnt already but 2009 has shown me that it's still a work in progress.

4) I have no work/life balance. I generally love my work, spend my time doing what I'm great at, and focusing on it energises me. When I do work that I don't have a natural affinity for (and therefore don't enjoy), it drains me completely. Implementation projects fit in the latter category and I should not do them.

5) Contrary to popular belief, I'm quite an introvert. I enjoy spending time on my own, in my own space and not communicating with the outside world. When things get tough or stressful I use my own, safe world as a place to hide. I need to recognise this as there are times when I need to push myself to be more sociable and make connections with other people. That can be quite scary sometimes and the more time I spend on my own, the scarier the outside world seems.

I'm looking forward to next year. The things I've learnt along the way will stand me in good stead (If I can remember them...).

fangirl woot...

2009-07-26T12:53:00.001+01:00

... just read on AFP's blog that she and himself will be doing signings of the "Who Killed Amanda Palmer?" book at the Union Chapel gig in September, for which I have tickets!

a long day...

2009-06-26T04:42:00.002+01:00

...arrive safely in San Francisco after a very long day and many, many security checks (I got nabbed 3 times in Heathrow and had to not only unpack all my handluggage, but also turn on and then remove the battery from every piece of tech I had on me...).

after getting to hotel, I showered and changed, and headed out. First to Bluebottle Cafe courtesy of Ms Persky, where I met a couple of cool people - one cute and the other with a consultant friend in Chicago! I then had dinner down in SOMA and wandered back.

I'm pretty much ready to crash right now as I think that I've now been up for over 22 hours and my body has decided that enough is enough.

tomorrow I've got the day to myself and then going to a baseball game in the evening as part of the wedding celebrations.

more updates when I have a brain.

a scientific experiment to prove the existence of L-Space

2009-06-09T15:51:00.005+01:00

... well, quasi-scientific, anyway!

my landlord announced yesterday that he was in London and that he'd be coming the flat on Wednesday. Queue panic and lots of 'oh my god, I have to sort out the spare room and make the place look like it's tidy, but not just tidied - as in , I live like this all the time'. I've had the door to the spare room closed for about two months and in my head it was six foot high with crap... I went in last night and found that it wasn't actually that bad, and after an hour or two, it was pretty much done.

next on the list of things to do was to fix the fact that there were 11 boxes of books taking up most of the hallway (the ones from my Grandma - all very exciting). I'd had a plan to go through each box, catalogue them, and then rearrange my entire collection. This obviously wasn't going to be finished by first thing tomorrow so I decided on a quick fix. I rearranged the bookshelves in the library to get maximum bookage (the one big shelf that doesn't have a back is now positioned to be able to put books on both sides!) and then started just putting books on shelves wherever they would fit.

then something strange happened. All my books fit. There is even SPARE space. This shouldn't happen. As Nanila pointed out to me a while ago, there is a natural law which states that there are always more books than shelf space. I then figured out what had happened.

when my books aren't organised, they take up less space than when sorted by category, alphabetically. Over the next couple of weeks I shall now prove this by sorting out my books properly. When they don't fit on the shelves, I will have proven for the first time, that L-Space is blocked by organisation!

must go now - need to call Swiral back and find out about halloween costumes for pets...

the day started off so well...

2009-04-10T20:00:00.004+01:00

...had a lovely lie-in this morning and got up at about 9.30. Did various bits of tidying in the flat and some work - all was good. Then the inevitable happened (well, it's been inevitable for the past 2 months or so) I started looking at my books and realising how many of them aren't in my spreadsheet. I'm now about half way through putting all the missing ones into the spreadsheet. This is the First Stage of sorting books... the madness has begun.

I also realise that I don't own enough bookshelves...

something had to give...

2009-04-02T15:11:00.004+01:00

...I've officially made the decision to pull out of the second-year course I was enrolled in through OU. It's a shame, as it was really interesting, but I had a deadline for my course coincide with a deadline for work, and work won. I may still continue with the first-year course (although it's incredibly dull), will need to decide in the next couple of weeks.

I'm not beating myself up about it though - but if I try and study whilst working again, I'll have to recognise that I go through periods of having to do 14-hour days semi-regularly, and so I'll try to do more work at the start of the course than necessary to give myself some flexibility.

In other (old) news, this is such a great April Fool's from a couple of years ago. Love it!

the benefits of an iced mocha...

2009-03-30T22:29:00.003+01:00

... it can hold as many shots of espresso as you need. My one this evening had four shots and has done the job of keeping me awake through the work I've had to do quite well! Reckon I have about another half hour of work left tonight and then home. Will have to do about the same tomorrow and then report will pretty much be done (which is good, as the deadline is close of play Wed, so just enough time to do lots of proofing!).

had a lovely weekend away for Jane's 30th - an amazing house on an island in Essex which you can only get to at low tide. I'd definitely recommend and am thinking of excuses to get a group of people together to go there for a weekend in June. The house sleeps 10 so if anyone fancies, let me know!

anyway - back to work now and then home to bed. Think I may try and do a cycle or swim in the morning to counter the long-day-sitting-at-desk thing.

on giving women more information about their choices

2009-03-26T12:09:00.002Z

a review of advertising codes by the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee on Advertising Practice (BCAP) is now going to a public consultation. There are a number of recommendations in the report, the most interesting of which is a change to the rules on advertising family planning services (more from the beeb here).

what bothers me about the recommendation is that the lines that are being drawn are between pro-life and pro-choice organisations - both of which will be allowed to advertise. For me, the distinction is not between pro-life and pro-choice, it's between organisations that will give a women information about all of available options and ones that will seek to promote a particular world view.

I have a bit of experience in this area (having had a termination). When I went to the initial organisation they talked to me about all of my options (including abortion and adoption) but didn't pass judgement on the route I chose. I see this as a completely different thing to going to an organisation who would seek to persuade me to make a choice that fitted in with their views, or worse, attempt to coerce me into making a decision that would not be in my best interests (and effectively take away my right to choose what is best for me). I'm not singling out the pro-lifers here - pro-choice is about choice - to have that, you need to know what you're choosing between.

I think that this report is a great step forward in informing women of their choices. I just hope that the public consultation is not completely sensationalised by the press - there are some issues here that need to be addressed.

one of the many reasons I love Neil Gaiman...

2009-03-26T10:01:00.007Z

When we hold each other, in the darkness, it doesn't make the darkness go away. The bad things are still out there. the nightmares still walking. When we hold each other we feel not safe, but better. "It's all right" we whisper, "I'm here, I love you." And we lie: "I'll never leave you." For just a moment or two the darkness doesn't seem so bad.

I hadn't heard it before, but it's from Hellblazer #27, "Hold Me." and collected in the DC Comics' Neil Gaiman's Midnight Days collection that I'm going to have to get myself.

a randon end to the day...

2009-03-23T02:27:00.005Z

... it started of wonderfully - got up early, did some work, had a coffee, Imyril and boy arrived to take me to East London to collect furniture. Came back to flat, set up new library (yay!), headed West for food, and then went to the Electric Cinema to see Watchman. Great day.

arrived home at about 11.45pm and as I was walking to the flat, I saw great bellows of smoke coming out of the abandoned building a few doors down. There were firemen around, so I didn't really pay that much attention. Walking to the flat, the smoke was very thick and I needed to breath through my pashmina. Got into flat and breathed in the clean air. Mistake. Flat was full of smoke, as I'd left the small window in the toilet open. I thought it not sensible to go to sleep in a smoke-filled flat without finding out if said smoke was dangerous. Closed window and headed outside and met Pip and her husband (whose name has momentarily escaped me) who live in the flat next door to burning building. Was told by firemen not to go back to flat if full of smoke. Waited around for a while. Pip and husband were in dressing gowns, so popped back to flat (after checking with friendly police) and got a couple of coats for them. Met Parker, who lives above Pip and husband. Everyone was getting cold, so as I needed to check on the flat, made peppermint tea for all and, as flat was still smoke-ridden, resumed my place on street corner. We were pushed back quite a way across the road and the New Kent Road was closed. Parker's friend arrived from Wapping (where he'd been able to see the fire!). More waiting around and watching the fire. Went back into flat a couple of times to open windows on the side of the flat not receiving smoke. At about 1.30am, checked on flat again and still eye-watering so opened more windows on that side. Got whiskey for Parker, his friend, Pip, and husband. Kalhua for me. About 2.20, firemen came to tell Pip, husband and Parker that they could go into their flats to pick up things, and good news all round - no serious damage to either property. My flat has almost cleared of smoke now and will sleep with windows open. Firemen have confirmed that smoke is not dangerous (not chemical), so I am all completely safe.

going to bed now, as almost asleep. nice to meet some of the neighbours though.

UPDATE: Here's the Beeb report!

a London thing?

2009-03-21T16:29:00.005Z

as I was finishing getting dressed at the gym today, the fire alarm went off. As is usual in this situation no-one paid any attention to it (apart from grimacing at the loudness) and we all carried on with life until someone came round to tell us we needed to evacuate the building. At this point, I finished putting my clothes on, put everything into my bag and headed out with everyone. One of the staff-members, who was herding us, said that everyone in the whole gym had exactly the same response - carry on until someone actually says that you have to leave.

my question - is this a London thing, or is it something that everyone does? I kind of equate it to when an announcer on the tube says that the train you're on is terminating at the current station. All of the tourists get off and the Londoners stay put just to make sure (and we're usually proved right - 2 minutes later the train carries on it's original route). But seriously - it was a fire alarm. It could have been an actual fire. We could have been in danger. There was no fear expressed, just a general resentment about the unnecessary interruption.

am also very happy with my gymage recently - I did a 12k cycle followed by a 250m swim today, 10k cycle yesterday and 12k cycles on Wednesday and Thursday. I'm really enjoying it and think that this is going to be the summer that I actually learn to cycle on the roads! (and buy myself a bike - anyone with any knowledge of bike buying - let me know!)

right - now I have to go any sort out flat - I'm converting the office into a library - Yay!

how sounds can induce emotion

2009-03-19T11:52:00.004Z

last night whilst listening to Radio 4, I heard a tune. It filled me with excitement and expectation. It reminded me of being young, sitting in the lounge of our old house in Nazeing. The world instantly felt better and life was obviously going to be filled with wonder.

the tune? The old Formula One intro music from the BBC! It's back on the beeb again this year and to say that I'm glad that they decided to use the same music would be an understatement!

it's the small things.

who knew work was so exhausting..?

2009-03-18T12:33:00.002Z

I seem to have forgotten the art of working all day and then having the energy to do anything else!

In other news, I saw the tag line for a new film called Knowing. It's "What happens when the numbers run out?" Surely, you just add 1?!

interweb at home...

2009-02-25T09:28:00.001Z

YAY!

as predicted...

2009-02-20T11:18:00.005Z

... one of the two pieces of work that I had, I haven't. It's a bugger as if I'd had the choice, it's the bit I would have chosen, but I've met the other client so can't pull out of that one. One the plus side, it is probably a project that Imyril can do, so have passed it on to her reptiley goodness.

I'm not being too stressed/ annoyed though as I'm really enjoying some of the pro bono work I'm doing for various start-ups and NFPs so if it means that I do a bit more of that, then all is still good.

In related news - I am now the proud owner of a limited company! I have a lovely accountant who is being very patient with me (which is good), used to be a tax inspector for the revenue (which is even better), and has a sense of humour (proof? They're called Many Happy Returns!).

***
update: second project is now confirmed so I should be able to get the ToEs sorted today or Monday - up to 25 days between now and the end of March (probably work out to be about 20).

back in the land of the 9 to 5-ers?

2009-02-19T19:21:00.002Z

well... on the face of it yes: I am working with a Management Consultancy doing some really interesting and fab projects with central Gov (for whom I've never worked) on a day rate that I wanted.

on the other side? Although I've done 3 days of work for them, I still have no contract, no definition of the engagement that's binding, and no specifics about exactly what I'll be doing on each of the projects... I'm hoping at this point that this it is because they're so busy they haven't gotten around to sorting it out, rather than the work is going to dissipate and I won't get paid... Either way, I haven't yet told all the rec cons that I'm not available, so hopefully no bridges are burnt if it turns bad.

I would post more, but I've just got chatting to some interesting people (am at Adam St and it suddenly became evening - how/ when did that happen?) so am going to talk to them, instead of you!

ok - no blog post in a while so I should do an update...

2009-02-02T12:15:00.002Z

... but I'm not going to. You know why? Cos it's snowing! Properly snowing! I've walked to a coffee shop where I now am, and got pelted with about 4 or 5 snowballs (and some of them were thrown by adults!). Everyone has a smile on their face, and everyone is walking as there is actually no public transport at all. No buses, about 3 tube trains on the whole of the network and no overground. It's very odd, but fun - very fun!

anyhoo - did this thing for facebook over the weekend and thought I'd copy it here as well. It's a thing where you write 25 random things about yourself and then tag 25 people to do the same.

1. I am the best at procrastinating (ever – 2009). Even when it causes me a reasonable amount of inconvenience, I still won’t do the most simple thing. Example? Right now I’m typing this sat in a café with net access because my interweb at home isn’t working. All I have to do is plug my lappy directly into the router, see if I can fix the problem, and buy a new router if I need to. I’ve been needing to do this for a number of months now.

2. I talk to myself. A lot. I think I’ve always done this, but it became really apparent a couple years ago when I found myself living on my own again – If you’re living with someone and you say “right – what do I need to do now?”, you can fool yourself into thinking that you’re talking to them. Once it’s just you, there is no hiding. I’m now embracing it as early training for the crazy-cat-lady phase of my life to come.

3. I can’t get tasks done unless I write them on a list. Preferably with timings.

4. I will never grow out of black eyeliner.

5. I am very proximity based in keeping in touch. I love my friends and think about them a lot, but don’t get around to contacting them (see point 1).

6. I am very happy that I’ve learnt the knack of being late. This is very new for me and I still can’t be late for appointments, but for general arrangements like meeting in the pub I no longer arrive everywhere 20 minutes early.

7. I’m looking forward to the day that I’m a grown-up. The signs or success are as follows: I go to bed when I’m tired; I keep my bedroom tidy; I fix things when they’re broken.

8. I am currently trying to break my habit of falling for broken men and trying to fix them. I’m really good at it – by the time we split up they’re fully formed and ready to get married. To someone else. I’ve done this at least 3 times (that I know of) now…

9. I love my work. I never understand people who want to make lots of money and stop working. If I had lots of money, I’d still do what I do, but maybe not charge for it. The buzz of fixing a problem or a company is amazing.

10. I’m really proud of myself for working on the Obama campaign. I had an amazing time and met some amazing people, but the main and coolest thing was that I did everything I could to try and change the world. I need to do that more.

11. I’m very nervous about starting my degree. I’m doing it through OU and although I don’t think I’ll have any problems intellectually with the subject matter (Politics, Philosophy & Economics), I’m really worried about actually doing the work. This is partly due to my dyslexia and also because I haven’t applied myself to anything over this kind of length of time ever.

12. I am really comfortable not being one of the cool and popular kids - this is my place in the world and I’ve accepted it. I now get really disconcerted if I cross over into that category at all (which only happens occasionally, but is occurring more than it used to).

13. I love being in my 30s. I always knew that this would be my time to shine, and I am.

14. I own too many shoes. I’ve just done a clear out/ tidy of the flat and found over 50 pairs of shoes. They are in all styles and although I know that I won’t wear a lot of them ever again, I can’t throw them away, because

15. I cannot throw things away. I keep shoe boxes, nice paper bags (the kind with the rope handles) and anything and everything else. If it’s in good condition (or could be again with enough care and attention), then it stays.

16. My books are my most prized possessions - I have over two thousand and counting.

17. My life would be unimaginable without Radio 4. I have it on all the time in my flat. I often stay awake until 12.59am so that I can hear the presenter wishing me a good night’s sleep.

18. I’m really happy that I’ve started exercising properly again. I now do pilates, training and swimming. I’m trying to find a Tai Chi class at 7am in the morning and am going to start ballet again pretty soon. I’m loving being active, being in shape, and generally having a good relationship with my body.

19. I take great comfort in being an Atheist. If I ever need to draw strength to get through a period in my life, I think about how insignificant we are in the world, that we are a completely random event, and that we will be gone at some point. It gives me perspective and makes me feel incredibly free.

20. I cherish my anonymity above all else. There have been times in my life where I could have taken a path that would have eroded this and I have always shied away from it. I do not understand people who seek to have their privacy invaded.

21. I have great faith in humanity. I know that individuals can do abhorrent things, but I think that every one of them has the capacity to do good and to strive to be better.

22. I can listen to an album on repeat for days on end. Right now I’m listing to the first Garbage album and it’s been playing for the last few days on my iPod. Music reflects and enhances my mood better than any drug.

23. I went on a helicopter two weeks ago – it was the best thing ever – people asked me what I’d seen, but I didn’t really take anything in other than the sensation of flying. Can’t wait to do it again.

24. I will never stop using the word ‘cool’. It’s been good to me for at least 24 years and I’m not going to turn my back on it now.

25. My favourite view of London is standing on the North end of Waterloo Bridge, directly over the river, looking East. I am incapable of thinking anything when I see that view – all I do is feel passionate about London and generally happy about everything. The minute I’m standing over the water, a lingering smile hits my face.

first cut of books for holiday - suggestions please

2008-12-20T19:33:00.007Z

Prince2 Revealed - Colin Bentley

The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook - George, Rowlands, Price, Maxey

The Girl Who Played Go - Shan Sa

Letter from America - Alistair Cooke

Brecht on Theatre

Our Country's Good - Timberlake Wertenbaker

The Day of the Triffids - John Wyndham

Curious and Interesting Numbers - David Wells

Cryptanalysis - Helen Fouche Gaines

The Glass Bead Game - Hermann Hesse

Small Is The New Big - Seth Godin

The Edge of Conflagration - S.J. Goldsmith

Does God Play Dice - Ian Stewart

The Way by Swann's - Marcel Proust

Capitalism At The Crossroads - Stuart L. Hart

Change Management - Paton & McCalman

User - Blake Nelson

Surfacing - Margaret Atwood

Thinking Visually - Malcolm Craig

Understanding Organisations - Charles Handy

The Wee Free Men - Terry Pratchett

there will obviously be holiday trash added to this, bought at the airport.

(apologies - too hung over to actually link to each book on Amazon so you'll have to look them up yourselves..!)

last day of contract...

2008-12-19T11:46:00.002Z

... and I'm feeling really good.

I've spent 8 months working for this client over the past year and I've delivered two really high-profile and complex projects. Both have been incredibly well received and I'm leaving here with a CV that will allow me to carry on doing exactly what I want to do.

I've got a couple of days milling around London, a trip to Stortford for Christmas, to Swirral's on the 27th, back to London for New Year, and then off to St Lucia for two weeks on Jan 4th. Life couldn't really be that much better.

Christmas shopping is happening on Saturday and Sunday and I'm also going to try and track down a couple of summer dresses as well.

all in all - pretty damn lovely!

Ice-Skating!

2008-12-01T00:02:00.004Z

went Ice-skating this evening at Somerset House and it was the most amazing and best thing ever... I forgot quite how much I love it and I do really need to learn properly. The only way I can describe it is being the nearest thing possible to flying. Gliding over the ice you have such a sense of freedom (or at least I know I will when I get good - really need to learn where the centre needs to be placed and which part of the blade to use!).

now all I need to do is find classes - am thinking of Queensway which has classes on a Wednesday evening! If anyone else fancies - let me know!

evil combination = how did it get so late?

2008-11-29T04:44:00.004Z

I got my old lappy back from Swiral at the weekend (where it had lived whilst I was away). I found the DVD that Tara had given me with all 12 episodes of The Middleman*. I installed DivX.

the inevitable happened... I really should go to bed now.

*I was very excited to discover that this is the original source for Made Of Awesome, amongst other fab things

all cosumer electronics need a little love...

2008-11-28T16:45:00.002Z

... since I got back from the States, my router hasn't been working. I knew that it was my fault for going away for so long without explaining things so I've been turning it off and on for the last few weeks, hoping that the attention would be enough. I was wrong.

today I thought it was actually time to plug my lappy directly to the router and see what was going on (had it forgotten its password etc.). I connected it up and before I could even open up the browser, it started working! Just like that. If I go away again I may leave a gosling with it to make sure that it understands that I do appreciate it!

in other news, I'm still ill but I think I'm getting better which is good.

the weekend should be lovely - dinner with Dunc tomorrow evening and then ice-skating and dinner on Sunday!

now I have the interweb back again, I'm going to spend the rest of the evening looking at random things on wikipedia...

VAT - a bit like money laundering - who knew?

2008-11-17T20:15:00.003Z

after a bit of procrastination, I finally got around to thinking about VAT and whether I've hit the threshold - answer? Yes. In August... oh dear. I got into a bit of a panic and rang the VAT office - they were quite nice and said that they'd send me stuff. I then realised that I could register online and so have done - I just need to work out now how much of a penalty I have to pay (it really is a tax on being lazy - something I wholly approve of as I have a stupid thought process that thinks if this happens enough then I'll start getting around to doing things on time...).

I then looked into VAT a bit more, and as far as I can see - I'm going to make money out of it...

first things first - we're in a bit of a silly situation as the Government will give money to the NHS Trust for whom I'm working, who will then give it to me, so I can give it back to the Government (and rinse and repeat - oh hang on, this isn't a shampoo ad...)

second thing - I'm going to bill my client for the VAT and then I don't have to give all of that money to the VAT man?! Evidently I take the money, off-set any VAT I've paid for things like stationery and phone billage and then give the remaining to HMRC. It doesn't seem to matter that I'll have already off-set these things against my income tax. It feels a bit like stealing, and more like money laundering (in the sense that it's quite complicated and then I end up with money that I seem to have got for free).

I'm generally confused about all this, but it appears that it's not only legal, but expected... mmm... I shall wait for the nasty men in black shades to turn up.

in other news, I'm home now and properly back into the swing of things here. I'm missing everyone in the States massively, particularly Jessey, but I've seen so many great friends over the past few days that I've really felt glad to be back.

I can definitely recommend Fortnum & Mason's Classic Tea - they do a dairy free version - so on Saturday to celebrate Jude's 30th, I ate copious amounts of scones and clotted cream (have no idea how they do this, but I'm not complaining) which was wonderful!

and talking of 30th birthdays, I'm really looking forward to my party now (it's on Sat - tee hee!). I have a gorgeous dress courtesy of my folks, and I can't wait to see everyone. Now all I need to do is get around to telling everyone when it is... Drop me an email if you've missed messages about it and want to come along!

the long days really begin...

2008-10-27T13:57:00.002Z

... got home at 4am this morning and back at work by 8.30. We're pretty much going to be here now until at least midnight every night now and pillows and a duvet have been brought into the office.

words fail me - this is so amazing!

2008-10-22T21:52:00.010+01:00

"I Didn't Vote For Obama" by kentuckyscott
Monday, October 20, 2008

I'm a middle-class white guy living in Jacksonville , Florida . I've got a wife and two kids. Because the kids had no school today, I took a vacation day from work, and took the kids downtown to vote early. Fifty-nine inutes later, two smiling children and I proudly sported "I Voted" stickers.
But I didn't vote for Obama.

I voted for my ancestors, who believed in the promise of this country and came with with nothing as immigrants. I voted for my parents, who taught in the public schools for decades. I voted for Steve, an acquaintance of mine from Kentucky . (Killed by an IED two years ago in Iraq ). I voted for Shawn, another who's been to Iraq twice, and Afghanistan once, and who'll be going back to Afghanistan again soon -- and whose family earned eleven bucks a month too much to qualify for food stamps when the war started. I voted for April, the only African-American girl in my high school -- it was years before it occurred to me how different her experience of our school must have been. I voted for my college friends who are Christian, Jewish, Mormon, and y es -- Muslim.

I voted for my grandfathers, who worked hard in factories and died too young. I voted for the plumber who worked on my house, because I want him to get a REAL tax break. I voted for four little angels from Birmingham . I voted for a bunch of dead white men who, although personally flawed, were willing to pledge their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, and used a time of great crisis to expand freedom rather than suspend it. I voted for all those people and more, and I voted for all of you, too.

But mostly, I voted selfishly: I voted for two little kids, one who has ballet in an hour, and one who has baseball practice at the same time. I voted for a world where they can be confident that their government will represent the best that is in this country, and that will in turn demand the best of them.
I voted for a government that will be respected in the world. I voted for an economy that will reward work above guile. I voted for everything I believe in. Sure, I filled in the circle next to the name Obama, but it wasn't him I was voting for -- it was every single one of us, and those I love most of all."

turning 30, reflexions and what's next...

2008-10-20T03:34:00.006+01:00

... my 20s were amazing. I've had a great 10 years - it's been hard in places, but I've got to a point where I not only like who I am, but feel like I have the ability to do anything to which I set my mind. I have some amazing friends and my relationship with my family is better than it's ever been. This is all good.

this year in particular has been better than I could have wished but, after the last couple of years, I've really just been getting through each day at a time and haven't had the ability to think about the future and make plans.

being here in Chicago and working on the campaign has made me remember how much I love politics, and turning 30 has led me to think about my long-term career goals. These things are linked. I've been saying for a few years that my dream job would be Communications Director for the Labour Party, and I now feel like I'm at a point where I can start planning how to get the experience to get there. Living out here, even for such a short time, has also solidified a thought I've had for years about working and living in America at some-point properly.

so - here are some of my goals, in no particular order, for the next 10 years:

study for a degree - probably in Politics and Communication
network more at home, both business-wise and politically
get my EMBA, hopefully at LBS
live and work in America for at least a year
get more involved in the Labour Party
see more of my friends, keep the ones I have and meet more
build on my career successes this year
spend time on me and keep myself healthy

it's funny - because having written the above list, I've noticed that meeting the right guy and having a family are not there. I do want to do these things, but feel that if I spend my time focusing on the things I can affect, then these things will fall into place. This reminds me of the Serenity Prayer:

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

that's me right now. Life is good, it will continue to get better and I'm looking forward to the future in way that I never have before.

busy,busy,busy...

2008-10-19T21:03:00.003+01:00

... the Sunday rush has slowed down a bit now (we had 90 people show up in the first 2 hours!). It's still busy and hopefully we'll break our record from last Sunday of 10500 calls. Yesterday was amazing - 243 people making over 18000 calls (and nearly all the data was entered as well, which is even more amazing.

My birthday was fab - we didn't end up going out - at 9.30 it became apparent that we didn't have all the data we needed for Saturday (which meant that we needed to wait for it to arrive and then packet it all up) so Jessey and I popped down to White Hen, bought lots of beer, wine and vodka and had my celebrations in the office whilst paper-clipping things together! When I got back to the apartment there were flowers from Swirral and family and after speaking to her, I got to bed at about 2.30am. Yesterday, my body reminded me that I am, in fact 30, and not 16 as I may have acted on Friday night - the hang over was not pretty. (the day ended on a lovely note though as my present from M&D had arrived!).

In much finer fettle today and ready for the crazy which is happening around me (you want proof of the crazy? I started writing this post at 2pm and it's now 3.50pm...).

thanks to everyone for the messages, texts and calls from everyone - it was so lovely that so many people were thinking of me.

happy birthday me!

2008-10-17T04:00:00.002+01:00

(well, in the UK time - it's a couple more hours here!)

first of all - apologies to everyone to whom I haven't replied in the last couple of days - it's been pretty crazy and I've been crap at responding to emails... will try and be better from now on.

the plan for tomorrow is that we close down the office on time, get out by 9.30pm and then go for some food and some drinks (not too many though as I think I'm running one of the phonebanks on Saturday which will mean an 8.30 start). I'm also going out for lunch with Reem which will be lovely!

I have to say - I'm loving Chicago and am looking forward to coming back here often (although I've been told by Jessey that I'm not allowed to move here any time soon or she won't have anywhere to stay when she comes to London!).

can't quite believe that we now only have 18 days left (as of tomorrow) - I'm getting flash backs to 1992... It's great that we're ahead in the polls, but my fear is that people are getting complacent and we need to make sure that people actually turn out to vote... all the work we're doing now though is focused on GOTV and getting our supporters in Illinois out to the battle-grounds for November 1st - 4th.

it's been a long day...

2008-10-12T04:21:00.004+01:00

...left the office at 10.30 last night and then worked the whole today from 8.30am till 9pm. My brain crashed so much that I only got around to ordering take-away about 20 mins ago.

tomorrow should be easier - I have a lie-in as the office doesn't open till midday and then going to Tara's in the evening to chill with lamb stew, good sci-fi and some beer!

a night of Chicago blues and David Owen...

2008-10-09T22:25:00.003+01:00

...well, not together, but within a day!

yesterday was a crazy day - was in the office from 9am till 10pm - it stayed pretty busy all day and lots of running around happened. Afterwards went out with Melissa to see a great brass blues band (the tuba is the new double bass), had beers and was home at about 2am!

today came into the office in the afternoon (after lots of sleep) and it seemed like a normal day. Then David Owen walked into the office to get things for his wife (who is American). He's completely lovely, very polite and I've given him the details of the Obama campaign in London and I think that his wife is going to be going along to the rally on Saturday in London. I got very star-struck and am still a little dazed by the whole thing. People here didn't really get it, but I tried to explain that whatever you think of his politics, he is an elder statesman of British politics and it was a BIG deal!

debate-watch

2008-10-08T02:19:00.011+01:00

... really interesting - whenever Obama mentions change in Washington, the lines (green for men, red for women - undecided voters in Ohio who are sitting, watching the debates with dials) go up, when McCain mentions it, they go down... good? We'll see in the polls afterwards. Interesting? Definitely.

btw - am also following on BBC, CNN and FiveThirtyEight - all worth looking at.

UPDATE: The only phone calls into the office in the last 40 mins have been press - I've given them our Comms Director's details and they've gone away!

UPDATE 2: Sorry was that McCain just saying that we need less money coming in from lobbyists? I think I must have mis-heard him. Fortunately the dials seem to respond pretty badly to that.

UPDATE 3: Really interesting - McCain has just had his best dials of the evening and that was talking about Russia and preventing another cold war. When talking about actual war in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and even Dafur, Obama's dials were so much better than McCains. Wonder if this is people connecting the cold-war to times-past and seeing McCain in the same vein?

UPDATE 4: Nearly over now, and I think it's pretty much a draw. The good thing to take away from it is mainly that Obama's dials on foreign policy and military action have been better than McCain's across the board. This is one issue where you would expect McCain to do better.

UPDATE 5: Final question - What don't you know and how will you learn it? Great question by the way. Obama makes a joke about asking Michelle, then goes to his family history and makes the point that the American Dream and the ability of people to be provided for so they can succeed is the thing that enables you make decisions in situations you haven't been in before. His final point is about change and our need for it right now.
McCain talks about the things that no-one knows - the unforeseen challenges in the world, he also focuses on his family history. He mentions that he knows how to succeed through hard times and have to rely on others for support in tough times. He talks of the honour he's had in serving so far. He finishes with the "needing a steady hand at the till" line.

Debate over and I think it will come out a draw which is good for us, but watch the polls!

oh my God, I am so unfit...

2008-10-07T02:46:00.004+01:00

... just taken my first pilates class over here and it was hard! My classes at home are about 1 hour 20 long and the pace is relaxed, even though we work hard. Here, it's pushed down into 55 minutes, with almost no rest! I'm looking forward to taking more classes and building up my stamina, but I think I'm going to have to deal with feeling like a beginner for a few weeks. It also didn't help that almost all of the choreography was completely new to me as well, so I was having to focus on learning the exercises as well... At least I can only get better!

the office has been manic for the last couple of days, and general anxiety has increased - 29 days left feels really scarey. The polls are looking good, but on Friday our numbers were the same as Bush's lead over Gore in 2000 the week before the election so nothing can be taken for granted. There are some really great statistics on fivethirtyeight that I'd recommend looking at.

as for all the negative stuff that the McCain campaign have been throwing - I was scared most by Sarah Palin's inability to distingish the singluar from the plural - she used the word terrorists to refer to a single person! Also - if you haven't yet seen the SNL VP debate - find it on youtube or somewhere - Tina Fey has Palin down so amazingly - it's on a par with Rory Bremner's Bush!

anyway - I'm going to spend a couple more hours feeling completely physically pathetic and then go to bed!

chinese take-away, let me count the ways I love thee...

2008-10-04T04:46:00.004+01:00

... well - arriving would be a good start...

today has been mixed. Went out the suburbs again this morning to pick up a boxing thingy for Melissa, for Edgar, which was cool as I had time to finish The Graveyard Book (it's very good - I recommend that everyone reads it. Now). Went into the office to get shouted at by another volunteer (she's normally like this to everyone which I can handle, but she did it in front of other people today and my blood boiled), came back to the apartment and then met Scott for a beer which was nice. We pretty much talked politics and religion all evening, so the normal conversation!

am now back at the apartment and, as the blog entry title may suggest, am waiting for my Chinese to arrive (note to self - drinks are generally doubles here so going out without eating - not so smart). Current delivery estimate is 11.34pm - what I would pay for it to arrive sooner? Probably my first-born at this point.

happy fangirl, going to bed!

2008-10-03T08:12:00.002+01:00

well - today has been fun - went into the office for a few hours this afternoon (working on work work stuff this morning) and then headed down to the 'burbs to watch Neil Gaiman do an amazing reading of Chapter 3 of The Graveyard Book. It was followed with a new trailer from Coraline (and also some never-before-seen shots from the film - it look so cool and creepy), a Q&A with Neil and then Stardust!

met a fab new person, ljconstantine, just before going in, and met her again at Union Station on the way back - we then wandered for a while, stood in the street talking for quite a bit more and then came back here for coffee. She just left as we suddenly realised that it had gotten to 2am! I've been invited to hers though to see her flat - where she has many books (I've told her about PirateGrrl's library and she'd very jealous!

will now watch the VP debate, but from what's been reported it looks like Palin had a better than expected evening (nothing surpising there - I don't think she could actually have met expectations, what with them being so low and all), but that Biden won overall. I've got a feeling that this might be the way that the debates go this year - pretty much draws all round. I don't think that this would be a terrible thing as Obama is considered the front runner at this point and any draw normally counts in the favour of the person in front. I'll post more though when I've had time to watch them, think about it and some such.

tomorrow I'm doing more trekking out of Chicago - have to go and pick up something for the office from a place called Geneva - about an hour on the Metra out of Ogilvy. Should give me plenty of time to think about work work and finish reading the Graveyard book!

anyway- bed now (after debate watching) as I have to get up in about 7 hours... a late night, but a great evening.

first proper day...

2008-10-02T00:05:00.003+01:00

... well, at least the first day where I actually set an alarm clock for 7am and had to get up! It's been pretty crazy today - we got more chum in (otherwise known as loot, but I like chum - it's the stuff that they throw to sharks to get them into a frenzie, which in an acurate description of what happens when buttons and t-shirts appear in the office!). We've actually had to shut the main office door to stop people just coming in and grabbing stuff!

there's also been a fair amount of crazies in - one guy was convinced he was from the CIA - Scott stepped in front of that crazy-bullet - I had the Canadian on the phone who was certain that Obama's policies where all drawn up because he'd rung in 3 months ago and told us to do things!

In other news, I've discovered grubhut.com (which is just like urbanbite) so I can now order sushi online - yay!

gonna stay here for a couple more hours and then head home for some food. Tomorrow I'm here and then going to see Neil Gaiman at a reading in Downers Grove. I know that it's the VP debate, but I figure that I'm going to be watching it online about a dozen times anyway, and this is my one chance to see Neil on this book tour (plus, I have tickets so it would be a bit churlish not to go). Am really looking forward to seeing Sarah Pailin "debate" though - her ability to sting cohesive sentences together is not her strong suit!

right - lull seems to be over, so going to get back to work now. also must remember to call my relatives and let them know I've arrived at some point!

37 days till the election...

2008-09-29T03:54:00.003+01:00

... not quite sure how that happened - isn't it still August?

today was good, and very productive. Woke up at about 6am and realised my good fortune of the fact that this was the start time of the Singapore GP - a foolish thought though as this, being America, is a country where they don't show coverage on standard cable! Had food and went back to bed before getting up again at about 7.30 and going for a swim.

after much coffee and general milling about in the apartment, I headed down to the IL headquarters for midday. It was lovely to see people again - Sean, Scott and Melissa are all here and I had a lovely welcome! The main work being done from the office is phonebanking to supporters in IL and trying to get them to go out to volunteer in the many swing-states next door (Iowa, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin and Indiana). I was working in the front desk, for Jessie and now officially hold a position as one of her minions (I'm on the rota and everything!). The front desk work is predominantly answering the phones, getting volunteers set up on the phones and generally making sure that everyone has everything they need. I also did a few bits and pieces for some of the Field Directors who are looking after those swing states, of which I think I'll be doing more (and I should be more useful tomorrow when I bring in my laptop!).

after the office closed at about 7.30, some of the staffers went out for food and a couple of drinks to a place quite near where I live and it was a lovely chilled out evening. It also helped me stay awake which was good, as I hope that tomorrow I'll be able to sleep in a bit later (jet lag - if you're listening - I'm here trying to do some good in the world so if you could try and stay out of my way so that my brain doesn't turn to jam mid-afternoon, it would be greatly appreciated).

talking of which - I think now is time for bed again - I'm less knackered, more actual zombie right now!

view from apartment in Chicago!

2008-09-28T02:31:00.003+01:00

I arrived (eventually - got onto plane on time, but then sat on the ground for 3 hours)!

got to apartment, checked in, went to T-mobile where I got a prepay phone (email me if you want the number), went to Whole Foods (lots of shiny), phoned the Obama office and discovered that I need to be in at midday tomorrow (how civilized), and am now back at apartment with food and TV! Will go to bed soon (as it's 8.35pm here and I've been up since the equivalent of midnight..)

night night!

packing laptop...

2008-09-26T23:10:00.002+01:00

... will prob now not be online again until I get to the States (unless there's a delay on the flight, at which point I may have to, for the sake of my sanity!).

this time tomorrow...

2008-09-26T11:42:00.003+01:00

... I'll be on an aeroplane heading to Chicago (or, more likely, sitting in Heathrow T3 waiting for news of when my plane will be taking off)!

I've pretty much packed now, with just a small pile of things on my suitcase still to go in. I've got to sort out my handbag and remember to pack my chargers etc. Last day at work and although I'll be finishing off a project early next week, it feels good.

tonight I'm meeting friends for drinks at Kettners (6.30 if anyone else fancies coming) before going to the cinema and should be home by about 10.30ish to finish the above!

I can't wait to be working on the campaign full-time. We had a rally yesterday where Paul Tewes (DNC GE Director) spoke and then we headed out catch those pesky Americans who have yet to request their absentee ballots. Paul's thoughts were very interesting and inspiring and I can't wait to tell people in Chicago all the work that's going on here. The canvassing was also really successful and I spoke to lots of people who didn't think that they could vote as they'd lived here so long - one even went straight to an internet cafe to go and register there and then! (www.votefromabroad.com is the place to go people!)

got to go now as lots of work to do (meetings all afternoon...), but will try and keep up the blogging whilst I'm away. Will be on email at the usual address, will be taking my UK phone with me (I'll be buying a pay-as-you-go when I get out there), and will also have my work blackberry, so completely contactable!

there are times when it can be acceptable, if not pleasant to have insomnia...

2008-09-25T00:23:00.003+01:00

... two days before you go away, when ill, with a project to finish is not one of them.

John Stewart... thank you for the information

2008-09-22T20:38:00.004+01:00

OMG... one further reason for Sarah Palin not to be VP - whilst she was Mayor, she supported measures to CHARGE rape victims for their rape kits...

however rubbish I'm feeling right now physically, I can't wait to be spending all the time that I have working for Obama.

full story here.

Aaron Sorkin is a wonderful writer, lest we forget...

2008-09-22T19:22:00.005+01:00

BARACK OBAMA knocks on the front door of a 300-year-old New Hampshire farmhouse while his Secret Service detail waits in the driveway. The door opens and OBAMA is standing face to face with former President JED BARTLET.
BARTLET Senator.
OBAMA Mr. President.
BARTLET You seem startled.
OBAMA I didn’t expect you to answer the door yourself.
BARTLET I didn’t expect you to be getting beat by John McCain and a Lancôme rep who thinks “The Flintstones” was based on a true story, so let’s call it even.
OBAMA Yes, sir.

It gets better - read the full article here.

I sometimes forget how Sorkin is able to perfectly articulate my views in the most eloquent of ways. Think I may have to watch a bit more West Wing before I go out to the States!

Hat-tip to Adam for find it!

how amazing does Bette Midler look..?

2008-09-21T20:41:00.002+01:00

am watching the Sunday night show of Strictly Come Dancing (which I'm hoping that the BBC iPlayer is going to let me watch from America - otherwise I'll be coming back to it at week 8!). Bette Midler is the guest and she looks completely amazing... and I love her voice so much - she's singing My Hero, but not making saccharine like most versions of it.

had a lovely weekend looking after Ulrick and am back at the packing - I think I've managed to work out what I'm taking in my carry-on - which is good as I now have no time to do any more until Friday evening, whilst Nic and I eat take-away. As this will be my last evening in the country, I don't want to have too much to do!

anyway - the dance-off is about to begin so I shall resume my focused watching of Strictly!

Yay for cabin baggage allowance!

2008-09-18T21:14:00.004+01:00

am happy - I've done my preliminary packing this evening and it wasn't looking good (you have to understand this is not the first cut of clothes - I consider preliminary packing to be about the third cut, but when I first attempt to put it all into/onto the suitcase!). I'd realised that my normal carry-on was going to be too small to fit in everything so I was going to have to buy something else (in the no time that I have to go shopping).

I then checked the Virgin cabin allowance, and my MASSIVE floral bag is within the size restrictions - Woo!

this now means I'm not as stressed as I was, and will not have to compromise on shoes: my New Rock to wear to travel, knee-high boots, 2 pairs of Cons, black heels, 2 pairs of pumps and some flip-flops (no idea what the weather is going to be like - could be warm, could be cold, could be both!).

ugghhh...

2008-09-16T22:20:00.004+01:00

...so I've had an icky throat for a while now and it's been getting progressively worse with the addition of pain and a bit of a temperature. I made an appointment with the doctor for yesterday and the plan was that I was going to ask for some anti-biotics (although I probably didn't actually need them) in a hope that I could get it cleared up before I go away.

didn't quite go to plan - she took one look and said that I have some kind of nasty infection and I now have 2 types of anti-biotics, saltwater to gargle twice a day and aspirin to gargle three-times a day. I am also on strict instructions to go back to her if it hasn't cleared up before I go away.

I've also got loads of work to do before I go and am generally feeling a bit rubbish. It would be great if I could just pause life right now, have a month-long holiday somewhere warm, and then resume life as usual tomorrow - not sure how to do that though, not having a TARDIS or some-such.

oh well - to bed now, work tomorrow and Charlie should be coming over in the eve whilst I tidy, so that I can actually see her before I go. I'm also planning on doing a whole lot of nothing at the weekend (whilst dog-sitting) which should help things.

hopefully the drugs will kick in soon and I'll feel shiny again one day.

in other news - I rang Virgin Atlantic today and spoke to their legal affairs department. The travel insurance I have with them for Chicago is underwritten by AIG and I wanted to know what would happen if they went bust. A spoke to a lovely women, but she sounded a bit shell-shocked at the thought of it! The latest news from them was that they'd passed it up to their assurance department who were going to look at the contracts - I wait with none-baited breath...

Project Tidy Flat - Day 3

2008-09-14T16:08:00.003+01:00

well, I haven't managed to get the momentum really going today but I have done the office (or what used to be called the office but it can't really be anymore, because of this photo!). This won't look that impressive to anyone who didn't know what the room used to look like, but believe me when I say, it's a big change!

think I'm going to crash for a bit now and watch some rubbish telly. I still have all of Wednesday evening and will try and do an hour each night this week apart from that. The bedroom and spare room are far more cosmetic than major, and once I've thrown out the stuff from the hallway, that will be done as well - my God, I might actually finish!

Project Tidy Flat - Day 2

2008-09-13T15:52:00.005+01:00

well, TG has just left but we've had a really productive day! We started at about 9 this morning and worked pretty much straight through, with only a couple of small breaks for food etc.

the kitchen is done (even the inside of the oven and the floors and everything!), and so is the balcony and the lounge! Doesn't it look pretty?

Project Tidy Flat - Day 1

2008-09-12T21:26:00.003+01:00

well, so far the lovely TG has arrived, we've done lots of chatting and catching up. We've had noodles and are now watching Love Actually (we'll get to the tidying soon - promise!).

also - the interweb is actually magic - I have proof: At 1.15am this morning I ordered a new laptop on Amazon (an Acer Aspire One, 8.9", it's so small and cute I've named it Willow) and it arrived at 7.30pm this evening! How is that possible? I have no idea, but I'm very happy it is! I also have a lovely slimline portable DVD drive coming from Dabs in the next couple of days!

poetry and science - what a lovely mix!

2008-09-11T12:40:00.004+01:00

just been pointed to Digital Cuttlefish and seen the following posted in a comment:

What is it about calendars
That sets us all to think
That our fine Earth will wash away
Like water down a sink?

It seems to me quite ludicrous
To treat as set in stone
These lines we draw in sand - a trait
To which we all are prone.

This planet's seen four million
Millennia go past.
We'd really be unlucky folks
If our one were the last!

Here's the link to the full post, and hat-tippery to wonderful Science after Sunclipse.

In other news, this weekend is Project Tidy Flat (all welcome!) and I've almost finished the packing list for Chicago (and yes, I am taking too many shoes...).

Also saw The Duchess last night, thanks to PirateGrrl's great ticketing ability. Highly recommend for the dresses alone (very, very puurrdy) and I now feel like I really should know more about the women and feel a Wikiwalk on its way.

congratulations to PirateGrrl for completing her run today...

2008-09-07T18:26:00.002+01:00

...and not having her original time stripped from her for supposedly illegally overtaking one of her fellow competitors.

discomgoogleated -verb

2008-09-06T00:46:00.004+01:00

to be confused or disconcerted with lack of ability to go online; upset; frustrate: The girl was completely discomgoogleated when her internet connection went down.

have just discovered this word and love it - thanks to EMB via Swiral for discovering it!

LHC and fantastic radio!

2008-09-05T21:43:00.004+01:00

well, Wednesday is going to be very exciting and Radio4 is celebrating with a day of special programmes. It includes serious science, commentary, satire and even a special Torchwood afternoon play! Here is the link to the programmes.

(and I've just realised that I've inadvertently booked to work at home that day - Yay for serendipity!)

also - countdown to Chicago starts - 22 days to go!

tv shows merging...

2008-09-04T20:26:00.004+01:00

...just turned on to More4 to watch The Daily Show but was a bit early and so the More4 News was still on. This shouldn't have made my brain melt, apart from the fact that they had an interview with John Oliver... he was making sense and not sounding over-the-top - then I remembered that TDS hadn't started yet! M4N was interviewing him about politics in the US and TDS... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

oh well - TDS is about to start now, so normality [eh?] is returned!

I've also gotten around to finally answering Paul B's 20-Qs-to-a-fellow-blogger - if you're interested, it's here.

good side-tracked... honest.

2008-09-03T21:37:00.005+01:00

I'm sure there was plenty I was going to do this evening - put washing on, tidy bedroom etc. Instead, I've stolen PirateGrrl's idea for a filing system for DVDs and also filed my tax return online!

and whilst clearing out the filing cabinet (again, not one of my scheduled tasks), I found the cable for the camera, so here it is people - I bring you the Yes We Can Opener!

in typical me fashion...

2008-09-02T16:04:00.007+01:00

... I can't find the cable that connects my camera to my computer so I can't show you a picture of the best-est thing ever.

I am now the proud owner of a (wait for it) Yes We Can Opener!*

will update with photo when I've done some tidying (which may take some time!).

in other cool news, Andrew and Mary are gonna be in Chicago in October so I will get to see them which will be fab!

*I must point out that this was a personal gift from a friend who is volunteering on the campaign, not something that I bought.

today is officially part of 2007...

2008-09-01T14:11:00.005+01:00

... it's the only logical excuse for the fact that everything has gone wrong today. Bad things happened in 2007, only good things can happen in 2008, therefore today must be a throw-back from last year...

my boss came in today and was really ill with some kind of flu-type-thingy. I am one of 3 people who spent time with her this morning and we all feel like crap... head-achey etc.

then I got a text from Virgin saying that my flight home from the States has been cancelled and they've booked me to come home the following day. I rang them and they basically said that I have to take this flight or cancel the whole thing. They wouldn't book me with anther carrier (like, for instance, BA, who have a flight on the right day). They were rude and unhelpful - couldn't tell my why it was cancelled and when I said that this wasn't good enough, I was told "this is all that we're legally obliged to do". Not good.

then I got an email from my landlord asking what had happened with the flat and I had to call him - he hadn't got the 2 voicemails I'd left him last week and the week before, so I've had to explain the whole thing, including the fact that I still have no lights in the flat, and my expectation that it will be fixed whilst I'm away. I now also need to work out where to put all my valuables whilst I'm away as there will be workmen in the flat. I was thinking of locking them in the filing cabinet, but now I'm thinking that if people are coming in and out, they could just take the whole cabinet, so I'm probably going to leave some stuff in Brum with Swirral when I go up and stay the weekend before I leave...

everyone else at work seems to be having a mare, the sun is not shining, Russian police have shot dead an anti-government webmaster, there is a hurricane about to hit New Orleans, and I want to be in bed.

oh well - I have a couple more hours of work, then PT, then Obama work, and then I can crawl into bed and pretend today didn't happen. (I'm not feeling low or anything - it would just be better if today had been slept through. By everyone.)

brain in order...

2008-08-31T01:17:00.002+01:00

... am up in Liverpool and have just had a great chat for a couple of hours with my sister. Am feeling much calmer about life, much more accepting of my current situation and generally much more chilled.

all good, and now to bed.

k-nackered!

2008-08-27T13:36:00.002+01:00

oh dear...

went to see Hellboy2 last night which was shiny (not sure about good, but definitely shiny!), but it ended very late and it was gone 1am before I got to bed.

then I had an 8.30 meeting this morning (I don't do meetings before 10am - everyone knows this), and I have another at 9am tomorrow... oh dear.

I think that after PT this afternoon I'm going to go a quick steam and then head home. To sleep.

I'd def recommend going to see Hellboy2 though - it is extremely pretty and doesn't take itself seriously in any way (always good!). I'd also recommend going to Electric Cinema - think arm chairs, footstools and a bar. It almost feels like a private viewing room. Only downside is that after lolling in a comfy chair for a couple of hours you have to put your shoes back on and go outside...

I have thrown things away!

2008-08-25T22:47:00.002+01:00

I now have a floor in the office that I can actually see (and walk in and everything!) and more importantly, it should now not be called an office as I have gotten rid of the desktop computer, monitor, desk, pedestal and computer chair (and 6 full garbage bags to boot).

next stage of the plan is to sort out all the clothes, bags and shoes in there and put some of it into storage. Then I'll be able to put the bookshelf from the spare room in there, along with my pilates mat and exercise bike - lovely!

after that, I'm gonna need to buy some new bookshelves and then it will all be done!

In other news, the next few weeks are going to be lovely, but crazy busy. Next weekend I'm going up to Liverpool to see Jules, then Swiral comes to stay the following weekend. The one after that is September 13th/14th and I'm hosting a cleaning part to get the flat immaculate. I'm then dog-sitting in Brum and then go away the week after.

I'm going to try and fit in as much pilates, swimming and training as possible before I go away and also see everyone as well (if anyone wants to join the cleaning party - let me know!).

all in all - a busy 5 weeks!

back to the land of the not-so-sunny!

2008-08-19T14:35:00.003+01:00

well, am back from hols and reality is starting to kick-in - got home to no lighting in the flat and lots of water falling through the bathroom ceiling - grrr... Hopefully gonna be getting that sorted today, but as yet the council haven't called back (no surprise there).

can't quite believe that I've now only got 39 days before I go to the States - really need to start planning that properly!

I think this weekend is going to be chilled - just seeing PirateGrrl and her boy for some food and have a friend crashing in the flat, but don't think he'll be around much (some kind of film horror festival in town), and then another 4 day week - yay!

UPDATE: Ok, maybe not quite so chilled, but still lovely - TiggerAffect's birthday drinks, so could get a bit messy!

wow - pretty sky - taken from my balcony a few minutes ago!

2008-07-19T21:06:00.008+01:00

another nice weekend, but more chilled than last.

2008-07-13T22:09:00.003+01:00

stayed in on Friday evening, after a crazy week at work. Although I handed over the project to the PM on Thursday, there is still much to do, so it will be a few more weeks before I can get back to doing work that I enjoy and know that I can do (less of the feeling that I've been given enough project to hang myself with would be nice).

spent yesterday mostly doing nothing apart from watching Season 4 of DW - it's even better after you know what happens to everyone and very sad.

today went to Regent's Park with Gourou and his lady which was lovely - and I learnt to knit! May even start going to Stitch and Bitch! Gourou also advised me about which new lappy I should get - Although my main one is good, it's big and heavy and I'd like something lighter that I can actually carry around with me - I'm probably going to get an 11.5 inch Toshiba of some kind - very light. It will also mean that I can take it to Chicago easily (although I'm still pondering whether to encrypt everything on it, or send a USB key ahead with my data on it, following the court ruling that US customs can copy everything on it without a warrant when I enter the country...).

this week is going to be busy, with lots of personal training, pilates, seeing friends, and the Free Summer Screening of Marriage of Figaro on Wed which should be great. I was trying to work out the last time I actually saw it all the way through and I think it was more than a few years ago!

lovely weekend...

2008-07-06T20:30:00.003+01:00

... but need sleep now.

Friday and Saturday I was a judge at the National Finals of Debating Matters - an amazing debating competition for sixth-formers. All the debates were interesting and thought provoking, especially the final one, about presumed consent for organ donation - Do we have civil liberties after death? Does the State own our body or does our family? How do we increase public faith in doctors, and do we need to?

I seriously urge anyone interesting in raising the level of intelligent debate in the country to get involved next year - either as a judge or how about entering a team from your school if you're a teacher?

today was also great - a pilates intensive. Four hours of tuition, a reflexology massage and a delightful lunch - couldn't have been better (well, actually, a sunny day would have been nice!).

back to work tomorrow, but now I just need sleep!

UPDATE (22.48): ok now I need to go to sleep - stupid interweb!

I knew there were many reason why I love Neal Stephenson...

2008-07-03T14:34:00.002+01:00

... and this is one of them - a fab Q&A he did for Slashdot back in 2004.

and a hat-tip to Neil Gaiman for pointing the way!

I may have mentioned this a few times before...

2008-07-02T18:46:00.003+01:00

... but I hate tonsillitis - grrr...

even more upsetting is that I haven't been able to wear new shoes yet, as am having enough trouble staying upright in flip-flops right now. This is not helped by the fact that I've had to be in work every day as the rec project goes live next week and there is no-one else who can sign-off on all the creative and print stuff...

in other news, have booked my apartment in Chicago - yay!

goth porn shoes...

2008-06-29T21:00:00.004+01:00

... got the most amazing shoes today when out with PirateGrrl.

as the day was quite overcast we decided to change plans and, as she had some Harrods vouchers from about 6 years ago left to spend, we decided that lunch at the Oyster and Champagne Bar was the way forward! After a lovely glass of bubbly rose and some smoked salmon and crab, we spent the rest of the afternoon wandering round and not buying things (including the most lovely Mulberry bag and an amazing Hermes watch), we found the shoe area. We found these and I just had to buy them!

am now working out when I can wear them (I'm thinking to work, with a great skirt suit)!

mmm... lovely chilledness

2008-06-28T10:05:00.004+01:00

am at Dunc's watching Quincy ME on ITV3 having spent last night watching films and eating take-away - lovely! And even better - he has a new sofa, so crashing here is not as painful as it used to be!

we're now having a discussion about the word (or non-word) chilledness - Dunc has suggested chillity, I was considering leaving out the first e to make it chill'dness.

week at work was good - managed to get £700k signed-off to spend in the next 4 months on the rec project and will be handing it over to the new PM on July 10th (he's started already but is now on hols until then). That will leave me to do lots of other interesting projects which have nothing to do with implementation - yay!

the rest of this weekend should be similarly lovely - nothing to do today apart from watch Dr Who this evening, and tomorrow seeing girls for a lazy Sunday (that may, or may not include a visit to the Hobbs sale).

how so many would agree...

2008-06-25T14:06:00.002+01:00

... there is a fab competition to win and advanced reading copy of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. All you have to do is write your own epitaph. I was looking through the current submissions and came across the following:

In death, he has been given the chance to do what he never
could in life: shut up.

I'm now trying to work out if there is anything that I can possibly write that would be more appropriate for me?!

the dangers of the interweb

2008-06-23T14:32:00.004+01:00

so - this morning. Got into work, turned on computer. Opened up my google home page. Went to Neil Gaiman's blog. Read about Wordle. Went to Wordle. Had fun playing with Obama speeches and came up with this one (very pretty). Then started playing with Neil Gaiman short stories and came up with this (again, very pretty). Then thought of a nice Bartlet quote from the West Wing. Then saw this page of West Wing quotes. Now planning on when I can go home to watch West Wing.

If there was an exam in procrastination and getting side-tracked, I'd get and A.
Plus.
With maybe a gold star.

Also drinking the most marvelous tea, one of the many that PirateGrrl and myself got at Taste on Saturday.

lots happening...

2008-06-21T01:12:00.003+01:00

well, not right now as I'm sat on sofa and Aish and I have been drinking Kahlua and Rice Milk all eve, watching vampire films and trying on clothes!

had a lovely couple of weekends, first staying with Jules and playing with my nephews, and then dog-sitting for Sian and Matt (well, Ulrich really, as Sian and Matt are not actually canine!).

went on holiday which was fab - lay on a rock in the sun and did nothing for a week - I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone, and particularly the Corinthia Palace Hotel in Malta - lovely, and it has a spa!

whilst I was there, Obama officially got the nomination, so work on that has started which is fab - I've found a great London campaigning group and everyone is welcome - the big work at the moment is registering voters, so if anyone knows of any American's who live abroad and aren't registered, let me know and I can give them all the right forms and stuff.

I've also now booked by flights to go to the States to work on the campaign - I'll be in Chicago for the whole time, working with Ops and I'm going to be there from September 27th through to November 8th - this does mean that my 30th celebrations are being moved back, so November 22nd is now the date for my party - all welcome!

work is going on a pace - last project is kind of wrapped up now, apart from some Consultation but that should be done and dusted in the next couple of weeks. The main new project is a biggie though - need to recruit 477 people to start in post this year (yeah - I know what you're thinking, but it should be almost possible - particularly now that I've got a PM working for me who starts on Tuesday - yay!). The other projects are much smaller, but I think they're going to keep me busy through to about March next year!

also now trying to think about holiday (I know I've only just got back, but with the trip to the States, I won't have any other time to actually chill out). This one for the first two weeks of August. At the moment, I'm thinking about Cuba, but since the last time I had a 2 week holiday (that didn't involve seeing some relatives) was before I did my GCSEs, I really have no idea where to go and what to do - again, and suggestions would be lovely!

and in other news, I had a measuring session with my personal trainer this morning, and since I started, about a month ago, I've lost 4cm off my waist and 2cm from my thighs - yay!

tomorrow (or today, just after sleep) am going to the Taste festival in the afternoon and then seeing Frankie Boyle in the eve. I think it will then be some beers, back to the boy's and a chill out. Sunday will be spent watching some of the GP, going to see my Grandma in the residential home she's staying in whilst my folks are away, and then relaxing - before it all goes crazy again on Monday with work!

all in all, am having a fab time at the mo and life is good!

Project done - well almost...

2008-05-13T19:28:00.003+01:00

... had the meeting with CEO this morning to go over my report and recommendations. Roller-coaster of a meeting and I said 'No - I'm not willing to change that for x reason' a lot, and 'If you want to do that, then you have changed the entire rule set by which I built the new structures, the clinical needs will not be met, and the project needs to be re-done and I this is why I disagree with you' a few times.

upshot is 3 and a half hours later, everything was accepted with only one cosmetic change to a job title! He's even been telling everyone that the project is excellent!

it now goes to the Board on May 22nd (where I'll present the report), then for consultation, and then back to the Board for final approval.

adrenaline is now at an all time low - I've kind of crashed this afternoon and now I'm going to boy's for a relaxing evening. Lots more work to do over the next couple of months, but nothing with this kind of deadline - yay - and no more weekends full of work!

get up early, get things done - who'd have thunk it?

2008-05-10T08:52:00.002+01:00

very early morning today - boy had to get an 8.30 flight to Ireland and as he'd been on a residential course all week with work, I stayed over. This meant leaving the flat at 5.45 (well - 6am anyway) and after making my way home, it was about 6.40... what to do?

well - this weekend is the big push on the project as I'm presenting to the CEO and Deputy on Monday/Tuesday, so there is lots of work to do (but this does mean that from mid-next week, I should be doing things like - oh, I don't know - responding to emails, seeing friends and generally having slightly more of a social life). Plan was to start work at about 9.30 so I had just under 3 hours to spare - should I go to back to bed, or do something productive? decisions, decisions...

... amazingly, I chose the latter! I've done all the washing up, tidied the kitchen and put the rubbish out, hard boiled some eggs (for new eating plan that requires lots more protein than I'm used to), put towels into washing machine (and actually turn it on and everything!), and made some lovely veg soup! All that and it's only just gone 9am... I may even try to make a habit of this - lots of things done and still a whole weekend of work ahead of me!

anyhoo - work now - I've got everything done, I just actually have to write the damn document - what fun... I may even try and spend some of tomorrow in a park enjoying the sunshine if I get everything done (or take some work to the park if not...).

tonight I think that Aish is coming over for a girly night of drunkenness and chick-flicks which will be nice.

also - a lovely smile for you - here is a fab post written by nanila all about the idiosyncrasies of living in England... very Stephen Fry in tone - enjoy!

sad news...

2008-04-26T09:27:00.001+01:00

... Humphrey Lyttelton has died.

am very sad - he's been there all my life and I've always kind of thought of him as being like a grandfather or sorts.

he will be missed, but most of all he will be remembered.

2008-04-21T17:21:00.000+01:00

yay - I love xkcd!

wow...

2008-04-21T16:47:00.002+01:00

... that is too long without a blog post, so here is one now! have just been reading friends' blogs and feel properly ashamed.

will do better.

when the project is finished.

ok - maybe before then - I think that's what got me into this mess in the first place!

Chicago day 2.5

2008-03-04T23:37:00.003Z

well, it's getting really exciting now - polls close in Ohio in an hour! We're now calling people to let them know that that can take there absentee ballots to the polls.

OK - that was what I was doing an hour ago! Then came the urgent calls to get people out to canvass in Shaker Heights, OH, followed by calling people in Texas to GOTV for the caucus! Things getting crazy here and I've just been given a vegan cupcake and some chilli!

gotta go now, some more last minute calls and then we get to hope and cheer and hope some more!

Chicago, days 1-2

2008-03-04T18:02:00.002Z

well, arrived in Chicago safe and sound. Yesterday was a bit of a blurr - 22 hours awake, 3000 miles travelled and 3 hours of campaigning!

we're staying at the house of a volunteer in Highland Park, north of Chicago, about a 40 minute ride on the train into town (and the trains have an upstairs!).

back phone-banking today - calling people in Ohio who requested absentee ballots to make sure that they've voted (or telling them where to vote today if they haven't!). Tonight there's a big party for the results, with chilli provided!

must get back to the phones now, and am going to a diner shortly to eat some corn beef hash!

more updates as they come, and photos to follow when I work out how my new digital camera works!

and some things never change...

2008-03-02T15:45:00.003Z

... am at work, listening to Virgin Radio. It's between 3pm and 4pm, so what's on? "Sweet Child O' Mine" of course!

and there was me thinking that this only happened on a week day.

(reason this is worth a post is that it's been about 2 years since I last listened to Virgin Radio regularly, and this was one of the reasons I loved it so much!).

update: Ok, now Primal Scream is on - it's like being back at Alchemis!

my god - it looks like the plan came together!

2008-03-02T15:17:00.002Z

managed to have a lovely evening on Friday (albeit slightly more subdued than I would have liked), met up with cousins from the US for coffee yesterday, am in work at the moment which is going well, am feeling much better, am going home soon to pack and then to meet up with Charlie and Paul for a non-alcoholic drinklet before going home for an early night, ready to get up tomorrow at 6.15 to fly to Chicago!

(well ok - it's not like I had a plan, but if I had, it would have all come together...)

plus, amazing serendipitous moment - I've been trying to find out where Robert Levin is performing as I'd dearly love to see him. I hadn't had any luck and then thought "I wonder what the Chicago Symphony Orchestra are up to whilst I'm there?" and 'lo an behold, Robert Levin is performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.4! With tickets at $35, I'm going to Thursday - yay!

btw - I am aware that I'm not completely well yet, so there is a chance that the grammar in this entry has gone a little skew-iff!

also - I'm going to try and find an internet cafe so that I can blog updates of the whole Obama experience!

what you don't want two days before a hot date and five days before flying to another country...

2008-02-27T16:33:00.005Z

... tonsillitis.

Oh well - am on antibiotics now so should feel better soonish. Think I may work from home for at least part of the day tomorrow as well, so that should help (it's like normal work, but with a duvet and unlimited peppermint and ginger tea!).

Still very excited about the trip next week, and if anyone hasn't seen it yet - check out this very cool guardian article about Obama and the West Wing. It's going to be cold though - about -6 as a maximum daytime temperature! I'm going to try and not be a wimp, but I think I may fail completely.

Well, home soon and then I think straight to bed - am not even going to my ballroom class tonight (which is a shame as it's the first one of the course, but I think for once, my priorities are right!).

lots of excitement...

2008-02-23T19:59:00.002Z

... on March 3rd I'm flying out to Chicago to spend a week campaigning for Obama at the campaign headquarters - am very excited!

In other news, work is going very well and I've had the most lovely day - a series of lectures by Robert Levin about Mozart and a sushi lunch - what could be better!

what not to do when your migrains are induced by sound and light...

2008-02-19T08:21:00.002Z

... go to the IMAX.

Oh dear - I managed the trailers (including the Batman prologue which was fab) and the first 5 mins of the main feature before needing to go home and lye in a darkened room.

Lesson learnt.

Super Tuesday

2008-02-06T05:04:00.000Z

... ok, good night, happy with results so far, amazing speech by Obama.

bed now.

one of the many reasons I love the beeb...

2008-01-28T20:30:00.000Z

I just turned on my TV and before I switched my freeview box on, ITV came up. On was "Women in Fear: Tonight" - I only heard about 30 seconds of it, but it was basically the Daily Mail on TV. In horror, I turned freeview on and there, in all its wonderful glory, was the end of University Challenge on BBC2. I went from angry and rilled to soothed and interested in a split second!

Also - I've failed in my 'blog at least every other day' challenge (or new year's resolution - whatever you want to call it...) so far - my reason - work! Finally after a complete age of not being able to work properly, I'm now rushed off my feet. I've just started a really exciting (albeit very big and scary) project which is for the next 3 months or so, and I've had to turn down 2 clients already this week! At least one of them has now been referred to Dunc, so hopefully it will still work out well for all.

Have also done lots of lovely things recently, including seeing Sweeney Todd twice (once in preview and once opening night). I can't recommend it enough - a fantastic combination of Stephen Sondheim and Tim Burton, as dark and wonderful as it is possible to be!

Anyway, going to eat now and then to bed before continuing to learn and live in the weird and wonderful world of the NHS!

an evening of politics - some more bloody than the rest...

2008-01-09T00:32:00.000Z

went to see the RSC production of King Lear this eve which was amazing. Ian McKellen was phenomenal as Lear, as were Frances Barber (Goneril) and Jonathan Hyde (Kent), among others. Edumnd could have been stronger, but hey, I've fancied him since I first read the play so it's difficult for anyone to live up to that!

now at home watching News24 for the less bloody section of the evening - the New Hampshire primary. I'm trying not to get too excited, but 2 polls giving a 10 point lead is fantastic! More good news is that this week, Obama drew level with Clinton in a national poll - the first time that's happened...

fingers crossed and I'm now going to carry on reading the 37-odd political blogs that I've become addicted to in the past few days - no idea how I'm going to last until November!

damn - it's tomorrow already - that wasn't the plan....

2008-01-05T01:51:00.001Z

... urgth - have the horrid head cold that's going around at the moment. The plan was that I would have a very early night, take some NightNurse and be all sparkely again tomorrow.

oh well, will do that now and just write-off tomorrow, m'thinks!

also - very happy about the Iowa result yesterday eve - bring on New Hampshire!

winter veg soup...

2008-01-02T17:51:00.000Z

... is the most wonderful thing to eat on a cold January evening. I've just made some and it was delicious (if I do say so myself). Butternut Squash, Parsnips, Leeks, Onions and Garlic - simple and lovely!

the domesticity continues now as I've got to defrost my freezer (I know, I'm really starting the year off in a completely rock 'n' roll way...) as I'm getting a new one tomorrow, which will be fab!

I think the rest of this week is going to be quite chilled, and then I'm doing some lovely things next week - seeing Ian McKellen in King Lear and going to a preview of Sweeney Todd.

Also - finally got around to starting The Secret History of Moscow by Ekaterina Sedia and it is as wonderful as I was hoping!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T19:47:00.000Z

what a nice start to the new year (well, the party last night, rather than the hang-over today)!

will do a proper post tomorrow, when I have a semblance of a brain - today has been spent tidying Charlie's flat (where the party was), buying and eat crap food from the garage, and watching rubbish telly.

need to go now - Charlie can't get her new phone to open and I am going to try and help!

random meetings!

2007-12-22T21:29:00.000Z

one of the things I love about London is that although there may be 7m people living here (and many, many more on the last Saturday before Christmas), you still randomly meet people you know!

today it was my friend Jane in the changing rooms at Oasis in Covent Garden which led to a lovely pre-Christmas drink - how random is that?

how times have changed...

2007-12-21T23:05:00.000Z

... something just happened to my laptop whilst I was playing CivII and working on my CV. I got confused and a little scared - what were these error messages?, why were they attacking me?, was my lappy about to die a permanent death?

and then it happened... Blue Screen of Death!

It's been that long since I had a BSOD that I'd forgotten what they look like!

I just hope it's not the shape of things to come...

just like buses...

2007-11-29T23:16:00.000Z

wtf? just caught the very end of Newsnight and they had their titles over the Eastenders theme tune... I think the world has actually gone mad.

ok - so no blog posts in over a month is bad

2007-11-29T22:46:00.000Z

but having been doing lots of cool things with lots of cool people, and quite a bit of work.

one thing I have being working lots with GoogleDocs. I'd highly recommend for anyone needing to work from different machines, although it is obvious that it's still in beta. The word documents are great but the spreadsheet is not a replacement for Excel - it really is just a spreadsheet and not the flat db that Excel can be. Also - the presentations are rubbish, but I'm looking forward to what it will be when it's finished.

I also can't believe that it's fewer than 4 weeks to Christmas - I'm sure last time I looked it was August... Next few weeks will be great, albeit very hectic. Work, comedy gigs, Christmas parties, indie gigs, trip to Sheffield, trip to Brum seminars, classical concerts (not necessarily in that order) and then back to Stortford for actual Christmas before Charlie's NYE party. Then it's January and time to start it all over again!

gonna have capacity for a new client in Jan, so if anyone knows of anyone - let me know.

new radio!

2007-10-11T13:04:00.001+01:00

have just bought a new kitchen radio from Argos that's both FM and DAB. It has actual presets, which means that I can now listen to something other than Radio4 (I'm so rubbish at tuning radios that I have a fear that if I tune it to something else, I'll never find Radio4 again!). And it was only £25 - yay!

all change in booksville... again!

2007-10-09T20:04:00.000+01:00

yes, I know - it's only been about 3 minutes since I last re-organised my books, but I'm at it again.

the new sideboard has taken the place of one bookshelf, and I've also taken another one out of the lounge (where to is as yet undecided - they're both sitting in the hallway at the moment!). This means that the whole organise-my-books-by-colour thing has gone as the only two left in the room were the black and white ones. This looked odd, rather than quirky so needed to be changed.

currently, I've just selected all the books that I either like the most or use often and put them randomly across the two bookshelves. The only books where they should be are the English language reference ones - so I don't have to search all over the place for them!

the lounge now looks rather nice (if I do say so myself) and I am very excited about people seeing it on Saturday!