Pirates and ...?

What's the pair of pirates? Cowboys & Indians, cops & robbers, snakes & ladders, jam & bread. It might be smugglers...

This weekend I was at a loss for things to do. I left the weekend free as A Boy was supposed to be coming to visit. He didn't, and has therefore gained Wanker Status. I'd had a back up plan of visiting some galleries and there were some parties that I would actually quite liked to have gone too, but all would have had undercurrent of being stood up. So, CassMan to the rescue! We were chatting on the internet, as you do on a slow work Friday afternoon, and realised we both wanted to go camping. Steve and Miranda were already in the Lakes and had invited others, so a plan was born. We've discovered it takes me about the same time to get to Oxenholme as it does for them. Genius. So a weekend of camping ensued. Some things that happened* were:
  • Bikes levitated along the road
  • Burying treasure on a pirate island
  • Beer drunk and food consumed in a lovely pub
  • Moss
  • Paddling in the lake
  • Adventuring through forests
  • Getting lost and almost being stranded for the night
  • Sheep
  • Sliding down when asleep
Oh, maybe it's policemen!

*Some of these are exaggerated.

Sunrise, Sunset

So, now I have the song from Fiddler on the Roof stuck in my head, whereas the title was supposed to be nothing about that at all!

Last Sunday Caroline came round for several reasons including loveliness, yummy food, making me tidy, doing some work on my computer, and watching Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. They were on at the Cameo, but I didn't want to spend money and I needed to do stuff too. So Caroline brought them round. Lovely films - lots of conversation and semi-deep thoughts. Here are some that I have kept:

People often don't like themselves because they are always with themselves. There's no way of getting any time off. You've not been anywhere that you haven't been. You've never told a story that you didn't already know. It's obvious when you think about it - anyone would bug you if you knew what they were about to say/do at all times. If you knew every story they told. If they couldn't tell you about somewhere you haven't been. Of course, there's some good things on the same tact - you always know who you're talking about and you don't have to explain what you really meant. But no wonder people are fed up with themselves!

So, I'm going to try not to be bored of myself. Go somewhere I've not be (yet) and tell stories I've not told (yet). Ignore myself sometimes. Stuff like that. I'm not really sure how it's going to work, if at all, but it might be interesting...


Don't you just love it when you check for spelling errors and it says "No misspellings found"? I do. Lovely.


I'm in the same strange situation this weekend as last weekend. Where I might have plans that last the whole weekend, or I might have none. I just don't know what to plan! I don't *need* to plan, I just like to. I feel a bit strange not knowing whether I'll spend the whole weekend on my own or none of it. I don't know who I can try to see at last minute. I don't know what's going on at all! I feel a little lost.



This has been open all day on my computer. I keep forgetting. I don't know if I've finished any sentences.

Oh well...

The Book Thing

As nicked from Liz.

The Big Read reckons that the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books they’ve printed. Well let’s see.

1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.2) Italicise those you intend to read.3) Underline the books you LOVE, or strikeout the books you read but didn’t like.4) Reprint this list with your take so we can try and track down these people who’ve read only 6 or less and make them read.

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman
4. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
14. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger
16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
18. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
19. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
20. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
21. Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone, JK Rowling
23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling
24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
26. Tess Of The D’Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
27. Middlemarch, George Eliot
28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
30. Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
31. The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
33. The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett
34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
38. Persuasion, Jane Austen
39. Dune, Frank Herbert
40. Emma, Jane Austen
41. Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery
42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
45. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell
47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
48. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
49. Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian
50. The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher
51. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
52. Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck
53. The Stand, Stephen King
54. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
55. A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth
56. The BFG, Roald Dahl
57. Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome
58. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
59. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
60. Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
61. Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman
62. Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden
63. A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
64. The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough
65. Mort, Terry Pratchett
66. The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton
67. The Magus, John Fowles
68. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
69. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett
70. Lord Of The Flies, William Golding
71. Perfume, Patrick Süskind
72. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell
73. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
74. Matilda, Roald Dahl
75. Bridget Jones’s Diary, Helen Fielding
76. The Secret History, Donna Tartt
77. The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins
78. Ulysses, James Joyce
79. Bleak House, Charles Dickens
80. Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson
81. The Twits, Roald Dahl
82. I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith.
83. Holes, Louis Sachar
84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake
85. The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
86. Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson
87. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
88. Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
89. Magician, Raymond E Feist
90. On The Road, Jack Kerouac
91. The Godfather, Mario Puzo
92. The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel
93. The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett
94. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
95. Katherine, Anya Seton
96. Kane and Abel, Jeffrey Archer
97. Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
98. Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson
99. The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
100. Midnight’s Children, Salman Rushdie

23 read. But I'm not convinced about that, because most of them I read when I was a child (and it might not even be true, I have trouble telling real memories and not real ones apart). And Harry Potter's in there 4 times. Rubbish. I could have read more. I'm not sure.

Maybe I'll try to work my way through it. Not a bad idea. But there are some I don't want to read, and there wasn't an instruction for that. Grrr!

Magical weekends

Today my horoscope said:

"A dreamy end to June, full of fluffy bunnies, sparkling rainbows and other dreamy stuff. Very nice. Entirely impractical and quite infuriating for those trying to get any sense out of you – but very nice for you. Bless."

I like it. I have been living in a bit of a dreamy world. It's been lovely. I wonder if it's been pissing anyone off.

This weekend Carl came to visit. He stayed with Nikki, but I saw a lot of them both. Friday was impromptu drinking with Caroline, incorporating Simon's leaving do. Saturday was Crammond and pink lemonade and Dave Gorman. Sunday was a duck race and A Film with Me in It at the Film Festival. Overall there was lots of laughing and nettles and randomness and loveliness.

The weekend before was my birthday so included family and the beer festival and Katherine and hangovers. The theme* was rainbows. We also didn't have orchestra that week, but had skittles instead. I was full of cold, but until the actual snotty bit it was quite fun being delirious.

The one before that was Band Camp, which was pretty surreal for a newbie. G&S fans in a field. Mismatch of buildings and furniture, that aren't purpose built/found, but work perfectly well. Spiders. Eccentric but lovely people. Out of my depth and perfectly at home.

Before that was Kate and Ant's wedding - just lovely. Couple looked amazing and loved up. Lots of nice friends at reception. Lots of nice other families around. Plus I met a boy on a train, which was pretty fun.

In between I've been to Inverness and Wick and John O'Groats and the Falls of Shin and Bonar Bridge and Grantown-on-Spey and Kingussie for work. Lots of good sights and long drives.

*A theme has to come up at least 3 times separately, but it cannot be preempted. The only themes I've had are rainbows (for my birthday, as seen in my horoscope, out the window, on a card, cake, and specially crafted jumper) and the conga line (last festival - 2 shows and some drunk people in the street).

Weekends

I just found this 'draft' blog, and felt the need to publish it to remind everyone.

----------
I love weekends.



This weekend I went to Manchester for Kate & Ant's Wedding. Lovely. Just lovely.
----------

Transitory

I feel nowhere at the moment. And I'm quite fine with that. Just haven't felt like writing much... So here's a summary:
  • Work - is going ok. Am enjoying travel. Am feeling good in the team. Have had nice interactions with everybody, some of which were surprising. For example, I'm surprised at how interested some people were in my hippo dress! Random. But I'm still not sure if this job is pointful enough for me personally to stay much longer term.
  • Home - is fine. It's strange getting used to living in a new place with a new person. And because I've never shared with just one person before, it's new to me. If something's been left out, we know who did it. If I lose my keys and Eoin is in a different country, I can't get in*. If we need to be home for the gas man, someone has to take time off as we both work. But Eoin is a great housemate - doesn't mind mess or washing up or anything. I just need to be more disiplined with myself to be tidy and find corners for things to live in!
  • Orchestra/'cello - is getting there. Need to sort out the insurance, etc. and see if I can afford the 'cello I'm currently borrowing to be mine. Then he will need a name. I'm not sure the whole broken 'cello story is on here (very likely not!) but I'm not going into it now. I'm also going to music camp soon, and playing in a folk festival. That's new.
  • Costumes/crafting - are good. I am officially not involved in any shows, but will help out with 2 in the festival, should they need it. I'm doing things for me - making dresses - which is both improving my skills and giving me cool dresses. I think I want to do some courses and learn more. But I don't know what to do and how it could fit into my life.
  • Holidays - are ACE! I've just got back from a short break in Barcelona. I'm quite in love with Gaudi. I want a house to decorate. I'm trying to go round Scotland for a week at the end of the festival, but not sure if I can do it, because I need to save all my holiday days and money for AUSTRALIA in January!!! Wheee!
  • Boys - are useless. I have no interest in pretty much any of them at the moment. (This does exclude anyone who lives over 100 miles away, but are also useless.)
  • Friends - are all too far away. I certainly do have some exceedingly close and speical ones here. I just miss others too.

I think that's all.

Overall, everything's fine. I still LOVE Edinburgh, but just don't know what I'm doing here or what to do next.

*This has not happened yet, touch wood, but is making me surprisingly more anxious!

Quiz

What better way to get back into the blog that I have been ignoring that a ridiculous quiz? Stolen from Chris, because I've never seen him do anything on Facebook before.

1. First thing you wash in the shower?
Hair.

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
I don’t have one. My university one got lost during a show. I am very sad.

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
I don’t know who I kissed last…

4. Do you plan outfits?
Depends what for. Usually some form of planning has gone in. For example, today I am wearing a skirt that means at orchestra I won’t be flashing at Caroline and Donald.

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
A bit gross in the throat and head.

6. Whats the closest thing to you thats red?
My shoes!

7. Do you say aim or a-i-m?
No.

8. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?
I don’t remember much.

9. Did you meet anybody new today?
Not yet. But it’s only 8.25. [Now it's 9.53 - I got distracted - but still didn't meet anyone new.]

10. What are you craving right now?
Home.

11. Do you floss?
Nope. Sorry if I’m gross.

12. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
The joke from solider solider years ago about invisible cabbage.

13. When was the last time you talked on aim?
I’ve never used AIM, but used MSN when in America, so not long ago.

14. Are you emotional?
Probably not as much as I should be, but more than I was.

15. Would you dance to the taco song?
I doubt it.

16. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
I’d like to say no, but probably yes.

17. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
I use a spoon.

18. Do you like your hair?
Not much. I don’t like my new cut. And I don’t like that I grew the dye out for ages, and then dyed it as soon as it was natural. And I didn’t even pick a good colour.

19. Do you like yourself?
Pass.

20. Have you ever met a celebrity?
I’ve met Grotbags and John Higgins. I think that’s enough.

21. Do you like cottage cheese?
Only with peaches! Cheesey Peach Starter! Long live The Hamlyn!

22. What are you watching or listening to?
I’m watching my computer, dumbo. And listening to generic open office noises of other people typing and clicking.

23. How many countries have you visited?
14, I think.

24. Are your parents strict?
They were. Not so much now, seeing as I’m a grown up.

25. Would you go sky diving?
Possibly…

26. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
If he was paying.

27. Would you throw potatoes at him?
I doubt it. I’ve never thrown potatoes at anyone else.

28. Is there anything sparkly in the room you’re in?
My shoes! And a pen. And my cardigan and coat. But not as much as at home, because people at work think I’m weird enough.

29. Have you ever been in a castle?
All Scottish people live in castles, duh!

30. Do you rent movies often?
Nope. Not sure I have since being at home home.

31. Who sits in behind you in your math class?
I think I sat at the back for school maths, then in a circle for sixth form maths. Degree maths I have no idea.

32. Have you made a prank phone call?
We tried to once at school, but had no money, so rang free phone numbers, starting at the lowest. This stopped quickly when we rang Childline and didn’t want to waste their time or money.

33. Do you own a gun?
I now own a tiny fake one in a garter.

34. Can you count backwards from 74?
If I really wanted.

35. Who are you going to be with tonight?
SNOTCO and my new ‘cello.

36. Brown or white eggs?
Yes.

37. Do you own something from Hot Topic?
Yup!

38. Ever been on a train?
Yes. Quite a few.

39. Ever been in love?
Yes.

40. Do you have a cell-phone?
Yes.

41. Are you too forgiving?
I think I would be if I had friends who were mean enough to need forgiving.

42. Do you use chap stick?
I use a different brand of lip balm, yes.

43. What is your best friend doing tomorrow?
Don’t know.

44. Can you use chop sticks?
Yes.

45. Ever have cream puffs?
I hope not.

46. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?
No.

47. What was the last question you asked?
“Didn’t I write ‘no previous’ on it?”

48. What was the last CD you bought?
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Take A Break.

49. Boys or girls?
What for? Mostly boys. They’re pretty useful.

50. What is your bus number for school?
I used to get the 575 to school. Now get the 22 to work.

51. Is your hair curly?
Going to steal Chris’ answer for this: No the hair on my head.

52. Last time you cried?
Pass.

53. Ever walked into a wall?
All the time. I’m not good at looking where I’m going.

54. Do looks matter?
To a certain extent, yes.

55. Have you ever bought anything from Pac Sun?
No.

56. Have you ever slapped someone?
Not sure…

57. Favorite time of the year?
What ever time of year it is.

58. Favorite color?
For what? Every colour has it’s place. I’d like to pick paisley.

59. Are you sarcastic?
To some people.

60. Do you have any tattoos?
Yes, one. Although that’s sort of ten.

61. The last person you held hands with?
Not sure.

62. Do you sleep with the TV on?
No.

63. Where was your default picture taken at?
I don’t think I have a default picture.

64. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
Yes.

65. Do you like your life right now?
Not so much. But it’s fine.

66. How often do you talk on the phone?
Not a lot.

67. What is your favourite animal?
That’s pretty tricky… Pygmy Hippo.

68. What was the most recent thing you bought?
A ‘cello.

69. Do you have good vision?
Pretty good.

70. Can you hula hoop?
I always thought I still could, but then I tried in the office once and couldn’t. But there were people watching so I didn’t try so hard.

71. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
Depends. Probably.

72. Do you have a job?
Yes.

73. Can you handle the truth?
Usually.

74. What are you wearing?
Red sparkly shoes, black tights & underwear, black net skirt, pink top, black sparkly cardigan, glasses, work pass.

75. Have you ever?
Hardly ever.