Catch up!

I've not been blogging! I have NO excuse. I've had plenty of time, and really am not busy at work, am just lame. So, a big catch up. Firstly, an apology:

Sorry Pete - I missed out the whole day aftter my birthday, including the presents that arrived then. That morning's post included an ace tambourine from Pete, and a swiss army credit card from Liz. Both are exceedingly pretty, and I'm sure useful in the right circumstances! I've been carrying the tool around, but not the tambourine. That's stayed in the flat.

27 Tuesday: Can't remember... Possibly did nothing except phone my parents.

28 Wednesday: Went for a drink with Adam, Housemate Kat and Alex (Housemate Kat's boyfriend Alex, not to be confused with Housemate Alex!). We played some free pool and then went to a lovely Irish (maybe) bar and talked rubbish all night. It was nice.

29 Thursday: I cleaned, like I've never cleaned before. The kitchen is still minging, but not nearly as bad. I mopped and scrubebd the walls and hoovered about a million times and moved things that have probably not been moved for years. It was a bit like a work out! I also decided to take the bottles to be recycled, and carried them in a way that probably made me look like a tit, but I decided it would be better for my arms.

30 Friday: I ached. And used the rain as an excuse not to cycle today. I planned to cycle 3 days a week, but 2 isn't that bad, as it's actually further than I thought. Takes me about 40 minutes to cycle. The bus is about 50, so not much difference... I need to cycle faster. It is £2.30 less per day if I cycle. Damn non-Oxford Road bus prices!

1 Saturday: I'd made myself look forward to me weekend of nothing, and planned shopping and walks up hills and bike rides and stuff. But then it went a little off plan! I was going to buy a swimsuit and a new rucksack for cycling, but bought lots of dvds*. And then went drinking with my housemate. We drank A LOT and I don't remember big bits of time. Oops. I do remember getting in a club for free by drawing on ourselves, and getting chucked out as Patrick wouldn't stop smoking. Got to bed about 5 Sat night/Sun morning.

2 Sunday: Got a text about 10 from a friend saying she was in town for the day, so I went shopping again, and bought books** and a crazy hat and some weird glasses and fell in love with some pirate shoes. Then went to the pub again. So much for walks and exercise and seeing the sights! But it was lovely to see Helen, and I met lots of nice people that I'm going to keep. Mainly, the Savoy opera group, which I decided not to join (it being similar to MUGSS and me needing to get out of that for a while), then decided to join and e-mailed and they said they didn't need me, so I grumped. Anyway, when I found them in the pub they seem nice.

3 Monday: Napped on and off all evening, feeling like poop.

4 Tuesday: I cycled to work and back and got freezing, then went Ceroc dancing with Adam. It was interesting! I didn't really realise what I was getting into... I thought it was going to be like a ceilidh, not jive. So was wearing jeans and trainers and a rubbish t-shirt, and lots of the ladies were in heels and dresses and stuff. Oops. I'll know for next time.

5 Wednesday: I had a cold. Grump. So suffered through work. I don't think cycling's that good for me. I get too cold. Well, I'm hot from the exercise, but my skin feels very cold, and I think that makes me get a bit ill. I shall keep an eye on it... Housemate Patrick still persuaded me to go to the pub to watch the football though. Mainly as I was allowed to take my book. It wasn't very interesting and Patrick got bored after the first half. He's off home for a few days now, so it was nice to go out with him. Housemate Kat also joined us for a couple of drinks, and that was lovely. Got up in the middle of the night to wee (too much information, I know) to discover Housemate Alex had come home with bags and bags of food that a shop was throwing out. I think it was the same shopas last time, but I didn't really ask - I just went back to bed.

6 Thursday (today): There was stuff everywhere in the kitchen! It's funny. At least it's not all fridge stuff this time - it's things off the shelves that were best before June. I'll be stearing clear of much of it, but some of it will be fine, I guess. I cycled in again and my head feels a bit sore. I think I'll go to bed when I get in, so I can go out for a pint later! Texted Kelly from Savoy, and so that will be nice.

Plans: Tomorrow I'm going to meet Mark/Ads/Dan in town, as they're in Edinburgh for an hour or so between trains. Fools! I can't believe they're going to do this stupid cycle. You should all sponsor them though (says me, who hasn't done it yet!). Del's coming up for the night on Saturday, so that will be ace. On the 17th I'm going to go with my gran on a blind trip to St. Andrews, which should be an experience! Then on the 21st I'm back in Manchester for the weekend. I'm very excited about it, but also really nervous, as nothing will be the same as it was.

Other news: My dad is now officially retired! That's strange. He didn't plan on retiring early - there's been quite an unpleasant time at home whilst he's not know what's going on and what to do about work. But I think he's ok now that a decision has been made. He's having to rethink lots of things though, which is never easy for anyone. He's been applying for jobs, and I think they're going to move house soon, which they're realising they should do anyway, not just because of this, but because they really don't *need* that big a house anymore. They've been looking at all sorts, from bungalows near their current house, to a 20 bedroom house/appartment complex thingy on the Isle of Aaron.

Anyway, I really should try to get some work to do...



*The Star Wars Trilogy box set (IX, X, XI), the Back to the Future Trilogy box set, Clerks 10th Anniversay special edition, Mallrats and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (my other one broke and I sent it back).
**2 Christopher Brookmyre, a Nick Hornby and a book on Fashion.