Two Suitcases and No Office

Connecticut

2008-02-02T18:21:00.000-05:00

I've travelled through it. But never stopped. Tonight is my first trip and Stamford is my destination....

Spice up your life.... (even though no-one else wants to)

2008-01-31T22:08:00.000-05:00

*Something* possessed me to buy two tickets to see Sporty, Posh, Scary, Baby and Ginger play their first gig in the US of A.

I found myself with two tickets but unable to find someone who wanted to go - until my friend L mentioned how she'd been trying to win tickets on a local radio station (and no, she wasn't the only one dialing in..).

The gals were playing in 'The Gardens' which is a fabulous venue. L and I arranged to meet at 7pm but before I knew it I was running (typically) late. L called me frantic to say she was 'surrounded by 13-year olds drinking gatorade and vodka and all wearing baby pink' and would I 'hurry up and get my ass to meet her' so we could have a few drinks to calm her nerves. Several beers and shots** later we made it into a packed arena where yes, we were surrounded by 13 year olds (at least I had a good view on the basis if the fact I was two foot taller than everyone else), though every time they all screamed (which was for most of the show) it was so high pitched that I thought my ears were going to bleed.

I really clearly remember seeing the Spice Girls for the first time on British TV and being fascinated by them. I wasn't a fan as such - though they were fabulously marketed.

I wanted to see them out of interest as much as anything else, but they were fabulous - no, they can't sing (especially Posh). But they can put on a good show, though by the sounds of it they are cutting the whole thing short (read into it what you will).

Plus they're from Britain and had a stadium of Americans screaming: even if they were all too young to vote / drink / know better.

** This is a VERY bad idea. L and her crowd only ever drink rounds of Bud Lite and Southern Comfort. An awful combination.

There's no business like consumer business (with apologies to Irving Berlin)

2008-01-25T17:50:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy few weeks - tax deadlines, learning about W2s, 1099s and TINs. New, but not exciting.

In the midst of this we've just won a new client, which is the first non-tech client that I'll have worked with in, ahem, ~~more than twelve~~ several years.

It made me think about things I've worked on in the past. I started in tech (*sigh* memories of DEC and the VAX/VMS*) but I did step out for a few months/years to go and work in a parallel universe** for a truck manufacturer and a company that made another that made hoity-toity bathroom fittings, before veering back to technology as fast as my keyboard could get me.

And much though I love technology (and have spent this afternoon talking about open standards), I'm kind of looking forward to working for a very American company that isn't the 'leading provider of xxx solutions' and working with a very different beast - the American newspaper journalist.

* Aww, bless its little CISC processing architecture
** Really it was a building that looked like an aircraft hangar. The person I worked for always kept a stash of 'get well soon' cards in his desk drawer, I never found out why...

'It's that time of year again'

2008-01-23T15:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday at work, L announced it was 'that time of year again' and she would be bringing in 'something exciting'. And yes, lo and behold, this morning she brought in a packet of Necco Sweethearts. Yes, they break your teeth; yes, they are pure sugar and nothing else; and yes, they have phased out the message 'fax me'. And no, you can't read most of the hearts as they seem to have added the messages using a 1950s typewriter that ran out of (pink) ink with a drunk at the keys. But none of that has prevented me from consuming 160g of pure sugar/carbohydrate in the last few hours....

Horsing around

2008-01-20T10:36:00.000-05:00

Every weekend /whenever I can, I head out to the countryside and work at a stables*

When I was a kid we lived in the countryside and kept horses, geese etc and although I love living in the city and the convenience of coffee shops, pubs and stores on my doorstep, I miss being the countryside. So I head off beyond Chelmsford and Dunstable (no, not the ones in Blighty) and work at a stables that is home to about 15 horses, mainly Arabians.

I love trips to collect hay. On the latest trip, C and I loaded thirty-something bales (all balanced, not tied down) to the truck - and then try to drive back without losing any. My stomach muscles will never be the same again.

As a kid I remember trying to teach our horse about space, and good manners (eg don't bite people). Some of the horses like to test to see how far they can push you - so this morning I have two beautiful bruises: one from a bite on the arm from 'Big Al' (pictured) who was in a stroppy mood and nipped me on the arm to just show how pissed off he was (I had several layers on so it'll just bruise. He didn't even tear my Calvin Klein jacket**) and another from a mare called Lolita who was charging about like a lunatic for the day and shoved me and K against a wall while running through an ice-clad path (she's in heat, so is allowed to get away with it).

They're big animals but just like big kids, but with bigger teeth. And hooves.

* I was talking about this at work not so long ago, only to find that the person I was talking to was really unresponsive. Turns out, she thought I said 'I work at Staples (the stationery store) at weekends' and so had assumed our business was in trouble....

**It's an anorak. I only have a certain number of clothes etc here. The fact I turn up with this has been a constant source of amusement within the stables.

Spamabit

2008-01-17T10:30:00.000-05:00

Seeing that the wintry weather led to any sort of ~~Christmas~~ holiday celebration being cancelled, we had a trip out to watch Spamlot at the Boston Opera House. Fun night out, though I wanted to laugh at bits where the bulk of the audience wasn't...

Paying for the war (on trash)

2008-01-15T18:21:00.000-05:00

After two weeks of long nights and immersion into the world of US accounts, I have just written the first cheque/check for the US Treasury.

I'm going to start putting alot more stuff in the garbage. I don't want to even start on the subject of funding the war and I don't get to vote or to claim anything from the state, so I need to get maximum use out of the resources I am paying for...

'sno time for parking in the wrong place....

2008-01-14T10:03:00.000-05:00

- So the snow, which seems to be some sort of rough prediction, did arrive last night after all.

Turns out Somerville (pictured) has a rough and ready (not to mention very badly signposted) set-up with regards to snow zones, plough zones and tow zones. At least I wasn't towed, and was only hit by a 100 dollar fine, and my car wasn't towed, though I did have to dig it out. (Note to self: buy a shovel)

Abe & Louie's, Newbury Street, Boston

2008-01-11T12:29:00.000-05:00

A meat market in every sense of the word. Avoid.

*shudder*

Woohoo!

2008-01-09T17:16:00.000-05:00

My grandmother (she'll hate me for sharing this) lives next door to the village newsagents (not that bit, the next one) - and so while any of the family are visiting her there tends to be a round or two of 'scratchcards'**.

My mother was at ~~the village Gambling Den~~ my grandmother's this morning and so bought them a scratchcard each - and won ten grand*!!

* Giving my parents no excuse for not visiting Boston later this year.
** Sometimes it's six or seven....

Atonement

2007-12-03T22:00:00.000-05:00

I was meant to be going to see something completely mind-numbing: enter stage left dragons and princesses in the Disney craptacular that is 'Enchanted'. But somehow I ended up accompanying M&M to a sneak preview of 'Atonement'.

Fabulous film, I haven't read the book (I think I was the only person there who hadn't). I was spellbound throughout it and would highly recommend it.

It was even good enough for me not to want to throw things (I would say popcorn, but the screening was at the MFA and they don't have such things) at Keira Knightley throughout the film. Though there were moments in the film where she looked shockingly flat-faced*, so perhaps someone has already taken a frying pan to her. Fab green dress though.

And it has started snowing - real snow this time, the type that will stick. And then need to be shoveled (but will worry about that later).

* Not to mention flat-chested.

Crash goes the rabbit (sing to tune of 'Pop goes the weasel)

2007-12-03T20:16:00.000-05:00

Ahe,. I've officially had my first car, er let's call it an incident, in America.

I was turning right, he was turning right, two cars, one lane (you do the 'math' as they would say). We exchanged insurance details and registrations (you don't exchange phone numbers here apparently...).

Bugger it.

Lawyers and tax collectors....

2007-11-26T20:45:00.000-05:00

... a summary of my day today, as well as a customer visiting us from down South (Virginia) - which gave us an excuse for a working lunch that we could order from Panera: much-loved and highly recommended. I spent over an hour on the phone to the DOR (Department of Revenue) and lost two hours of my life sorting out stuff for a law firm relating to tax codes.

The paperwork involved in business in the US is overwhelming compared to the UK. I used to think it was just the fact that I understood the system here less than I understood American football; but it really is just more intensive and designed to keep several lawyers, CPAs and consultants in gainful employment.

Things America does really well: #1: Sports bars

2007-11-26T09:54:00.000-05:00

I have a two lists I keep adding things to: (1) things that America does very well and (2) things that, er, aren't so good (or don't even seem to exist, such as lane discipline on the freeways).

After an evening in the Stadium Sports bar in South Boston watching the New England Patriots ('the Pats' - which seem to be hated with a passion by everyone outside New England) play the Philadelphia Eagles, I have to admit that when it comes to showing sports in a place that serves alcohol, the Americans have it sussed. Great range of beer, a gazillion TV sets, decent food, lots of bar room. KD was my 'football' guide - (apparently I have to stop thinking it's like rugby) and I'm starting to understand bits of the game but find it really slow as the ball seems out of play most of the time.

Yes, the Pats (undefeated at this point in the season) won. Though this was a close call and everyone (outside New England) is excited that the Pats don't look as unbeatable as they once did.

A tale of 50 quarters

2007-11-24T12:08:00.002-05:00

I have become fascinated with quarters - as I now live in an apartment where 'laundry' is done in the basement and requires twelve quarters to wash and dry each load. So I have a 'quarter piggy bank' and am obsessed with hoarding them at every opportunity.

While waiting for the dryer (sometimes you have to stand guard or you lose your slot) I started looking at the back of the coins and the different states on them (in place of the American eagle).

So started my obsession with collecting coins (hangs head in shame). Though it turns out it's not just me - over dinner the other night, M admitted she too collects them - and trades them with nine-year olds back in her hometown. Apparently the US Mint releases the states in the order of their formation (ie Delaware first and Hawaii isn't out yet) at five per year. Gazillions of people are doing the same thing - [if you are desperate to take part check out the Mint's schedule is here].

So M and I are going to get our coins together and trade. Am also looking for a suitable map or holder to put my collection in- I would love a wall map, I have seen a kit to make your own wooden one, though that making my own might just be a bit too geeky...

I'm going to look for one missing state at a time (I did have a list, but that's just too train spotting). Texas is the current one I'm after, though Delaware (as the first is also occupying a small piece of my mind)....

God, what's happening to me????

Exceeding the gazillion-calorie boundary

2007-11-23T09:17:00.000-05:00

Things I ate yesterday:
1. Turkey
2. Creamed potatoes with cream, cream cheese, butter and chives
3. Carrot and cheese soufle
4. Sweetcorn pudding (made with twice the butter, apparently)
5. Pumpkin pie (with cream)
6. Apple pie (with cream and ice cream)
7. Squash pie (with enough cream to forget it was squash)
8. Pecan and cranberry pie (with cream)
9. Pumpkin bread pudding
10. Pumpkin bread
11. Creamed onions
12. Chocolate chip cookies
13. Grapenut pudding (even afterwards still not clear what it was)
14. Shrimp
15. Cranberry and orange stuffing
16. Sage stuffing
17. Cranberry and walnut sauce
18. Brioche (with specially softened butter....)

Mix up with a few drinks and a very welcoming American family (we did grace and also had to write on cards what we were thankful for - these were read out by a top hat-wearing seven year-old at the end of the meal).

Then spent the evening in a friend's 'ski lodge' back porch with a few vats of red wine.

It's a fabulous holiday: just about getting together, no decorations, no fuss and no presents (I did sneak some to people that have been so sweet and accommodating: it's tricky to let go of the Christmas mentality).

I'm a convert, though never want to do the getting up at 6am to bake pies (the whole of America seems to do this).

Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T08:19:00.000-05:00

Well, it's Thanksgiving. I was here (visiting) last year and managed to upset a whole table of people by offering my 'radical European view' on Israel and Palestine (I only said that they couldn't view every Palestinian as a terrorist), anyhow this year I am more experienced and know not to:

1. Comment on Israel / Palestine
2. Say ANYTHING about World War II
3. Generally avoid history. And not ask anything about people's jobs, ages, relationships or beliefs.

I plan on just getting drunk, shouting random words then passing out. That way I can't upset anyone, surely?

The Boss

2007-11-18T08:42:00.000-05:00

I went to go and see Bruce Springsteen tonight at TD Gardens in Boston. He was fabulous (I wasn't even a real fan, though I am now) - and made The Police (who I saw last week) look like Saint Winnifred's School Choir.

There were no fancy graphics, props etc. No support band or headliner. He was amazing and raw, and somehow it felt very, very American. The classics (Tunnel of Love etc) were tingling and great - but it blew me away when he sang 'The Rising' - the crowd's response to it was amazing, overwhelming and simply beyond my writing skills to describe.

Maimed by martinis

2007-11-17T01:36:00.000-05:00

I've never physically hurt someone or caused them to pass out. Until today that is, when avoiding shopping hoardes (pre-Thanksgiving rush to buy Martha Stewart-inspired turkey-illustrated napkins, tableclothes and centre pieces?) in Brownstones near to Back Bay station. Drinking companion was B, a local boy whose g/f had got caught up in the Martha-loving stampede.

I turned up early, around 3pm. B, who had been on errands with g/f, got there at least an hour late (all fine: he let me know and I had a book, and a bored/creative bar maid who wanted to make different martinis for me to try).

Chatted, all fine and fun. Until 8pm -when I returned from the loo to find that B had passed out cold on the bar (after he'd had THREE martinis).

Alarmed, I went to make a call only to come back and find an empty bar stool. He had vanished - leaving behind his wallet, inhaler, keys, coat, phone. 20 minutes later the bouncer and I called off the search and I called his g/f who as much admitted this was a regular thing and he'd get home and pick his stuff up in the morning.

I know martinis are strong, but three? In an area where everyone has some level of Irish blood flowing through their circulatory system????

A tale in the Sting

2007-11-11T22:57:00.000-05:00

Hmm. I don't think The Police like each other anymore (did they ever?).

It was my first trip to the 'Gardens' as a venue and I loved it and found myself looking around as much as I did to the stage. We had great seats, and it was all fab but it really felt as if the three of them we had clamoured to see didn't want to be on stage - not together anyhow. I swear I could see Andy Summer's eyes roll when Sting spoke.

PS Sting looked like a teenager, Andy Summers looked like the sort of grumpy uncle that scared you when you were a kid, and Stewart Copeland looked like my ex did when we did Rag week at uni and you had to dress up as an elderly member of the opposite sex.

First trip to Fenway

2007-10-22T07:44:00.000-04:00

Yes, it's the oldest ball park in America, it's as fab and fun as the locals claim and compared to the last stadium I went to (Arsenal's Emirates stadium back in the UK) you could so easily storm the pitch. I was tempted to but the lure of beer and 'Fenway Franks' plus the myriad of things that you could buy from food vendors that they throw at you kept me rooted to the spot.

I do seem to have a thing for Kev, though the baseball outfits are so unflattering - even Manny doesn't pull it off.

L&J, my Fabulous Guides to Fenway, who I went with were superb company. We started off from Watertown, went to Whitney's on H Sq for drinks and to gloat over the locals (dressed in Sox paraphernalia), they made sure I knew what was happening on the field, who was who, checked I knew all the words to 'Sweet Caroline' and kitted me out with this superb sweatshirt which I will treasure forever.... It was however BLOODY FREEZING and the game finished at QUARTER TO TWO IN THE MORNING.

Edward Hopper

2007-07-01T23:00:00.000-04:00

My sister is visiting - we went to Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) to see an Edward Hopper exhibition. It was great though mobbed (he lived in MA for the latter part of his life and is considered a local boy).

We're staying at M&M's flat while they are away (in Spain), it's lovely - an amazing apartment that makes me (a) long to live by myself and (b) for the first time EVER want to own a cat.... in particular a ginger cat called Leo. I never thought I'd be the person who would get in and chat to a cat while I have a post-work glass of wine but hey, turns out I didn't know myself that well after all.

Not so homeless

2007-06-18T10:01:00.000-04:00

As of today I am staying at M&M's house (no, not as in the sweets) which is just off Inman Square; on the border of Somerville and Cambridge. It's got shops and cafes - including a fab burger place that does a gazillion beers, Christina's (ice cream parlour, the orange building in the pic), a great coffee shop, an Irish pub, a fish restuarnt, a Thai etc. It's going to be so much fun.

I met M and M earlier in the year thorugh a chance meeting involving sushi and grammar. They're fun, thoughtful and I thank fate for bumping into them, and feel very lucky to have been asked to look after their home. Am going to worry myself to death that I burn it down or kill a plant/cat.

Anyhow, they are off to Spain on holiday and I am responsible for their spectacular apartment, garden, an adorable cat (Leo) and a slightly haughty (shy?) cat which I'm going to call Latvia, although that's not it's name.

So, for the next five weeks, I live in Inman Square. Woohooo!!!

Chatting to a man about a dog

2007-04-23T11:36:00.000-04:00

I stank of martinis, looked a right state and happened to meet a man about a dog.

It could be interesting, and perhaps pay off some of the Vegas trip (which was fabulous - even the bit where we broke down in Utah).

Drink, a mother's foot and a wedding

2007-04-07T08:32:00.000-04:00

This is what you get when you are at a family wedding (which has taken months to plan, so it's hardly a suprise) and you're a member of our family. Shopping for outfits the day before; presents bought after the wedding ; and on the day itself finding myself squashed into a small loo in the Dylan Thomas centre with my mum, both slightly drunk, with me painting her toenails bright red - after the wedding has actually taken place.

Quite a few people asked her if she was okay and how she cut her foot. I don't have a steady hand at the best of times, the lack of space and addition of alcohol doesn't add to my beauty therapy skills....

Fab steak

2007-01-25T16:03:00.000-05:00

Usually my visits to NYC are a mixture of angst, worry and long hours, as I catch the 5am train out and get back at 10.30pm.

Today was very different. Instead of working all the way there and worrying about meetings/getting stuff done, I stuffed a blanket into my laptop rucksack, headed to the quiet car (which I never go in on the baiss that you can't use mobile phones etc) and slept most of the way there. And instead of having a coffee and snack at the desk I am assigned when working at client's, the guy in charge insisted on taking me out for the best steak I have ever had, accompanied with half a bottle of Pinot Noir and as many humourous anecdotes as my sides could take.

Bought a good book for return trip, which was the slow regional train, so four and half hours which gave me chance to finish it. All in all a great day!

Ready to dial 911...

2007-01-22T18:58:00.000-05:00

Last night I was at home, half working and half watching TV (in that way your parents told you not to when you were doing your homework). Suddenly from the appartment below me there was sudden screaming, the sound of a wooden floor being hit very hard and glasses being smashed.

Fearful for my life and with my heart in my mouth, I tip-toed down the stairs and deadlocked the front door.

The screaming and shouting continued, with me trying to decide whether I should call 911. I was just waiting for the sound of gunfire (I just work on the assumption that every home has at least one high velocity rifle and a handy glove-compartment-sized revolver).

Half an hour/bottle of read wine later, my 'room mate' gets in (after I have un-barricaded door) - and says 'can you believe the Patriots are almost out - the poor guys downstairs sound distraught'. Hmmm. Just as well I only got as far as the '9' on the phone....

So - it's the Colts and the Bears playing in Miami in early Feb. All the papers this morning were full of a woeful looking local heart-throb/ pin up / NFL player Tom Brady - you can't see him sobbing from this angle...

NY: cold and Bindi

2007-01-17T17:48:00.000-05:00

Sooo cold in NYC today. It sharply takes your breath away, stings your face and makes your hands want to curl up/drop off.

I was in Times Square and found myself watching (though a window into the studio) a defiant Bindi Irwin being interviewed on 'Good Morning America' and talking about her dad. Aw, so sad.

I suppose it puts things in perspective - such as a disasterous presentation I gave latter that day where the gods of technology (actually it was the Lesser God of Powerpoint) were *well* against me. They were backed up by the God of Typos (aka Gdo) so it wasn't my finest hour.**

Then I managed to leave something in left luggage. Yes, I know that's what it's meant for - but I checked it in for the day and then, as the Acela Express was hurtling through Connecticut that evening on my way back to Boston, I remembered that I had left it in a NYC left luggage facility. Doh.

** Though I had a note from the company afterwards and they said it had been 'different and fresh'. Hmmm..

Daytona 500

2007-01-13T11:48:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm on track (every pun intended) for one of my New Year's resolutions: to go to a NASCAR event. I have a ticket for the Daytona 500 - in the 'sit with Jimmy' section.

That's him (aka 'Mr Excitement') strolling in a not very excited way, probably saving himself up for the cameras.

Other news today, landlord is trying to fix leaky 'faucet'. He's done this by taking apart and then putting it back together, so rather than dripping it's become a constant flow. That's not going to be annoying at all. Not that I care as I'm going to be packing my bags to head over to Daytona Beach - which as it's in sunny Florida is much warmer than here (okay, it's not for another 35 days) but it's currently 24 degrees C woohoo!!( PS 75 degrees F - I am still getting used to working in celcius).

A song to portray how I feel today...

2007-01-12T20:12:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I had the great fortune of seeing the Dresden Dolls play here in Cambridge. Meant to write about it and to say how great the show was and songs such as this .

Anyhow, since then it's been a gut-wrenching week, and just as I was looking forward to the weekend I suddenly find that I have a knife sticking out of my back. I hadn't even realised it was there - seems it was planted earlier in the week by a customer. Hmm.. how, why and when?

So now I keep humming another Dresden Dolls song to myself: this one. Though what I really want to do is call up the individual who has gone out their way to wield a knife and plunge it quite so deep between my shoulder blades - and try to understand why. Then tell them what I think of them in no uncertain terms. But that would be unprofessional. Then I'd have to pack up my bags/hutch and head back across the Atlantic.

God, I need a drink. Now I wish I hadn't given up for NY. May have to drop that resolution.

tags: The Dresden Dolls

I take that last comment back...

2007-01-11T18:01:00.000-05:00

...suddenly it's bloody freezing. NYC had its first flakes of snow yesterday...

The Charlie Card

2007-01-09T23:41:00.000-05:00

In order to steer all commuters onto their new fancy 'Charlie card' (surely not named for possible multiple uses?) the MBTA has upped all subway and bus fees - so rather than having a quarter, dime and a nickel to hand in the morning I can have up to nine coins that now have to be put in the slot - which the MBTA as part of their evil plan, have made tiny so you need to hit it with an accuracy of Luke Skywalker aiming a proton torpedo at the Deathstar. But with less dramatic results.

So now, all the buses are really slow as they spend at least 10 minutes at every bus stop with old ladies (er, and me) fumbling for change and dropping coins on the floor.

On a good note it's not cold yet (in fact it's like a British summer) so at least waiting for the bus isn't painful.

New Year, New Attempt

2007-01-06T17:36:00.000-05:00

Having a neglected blog its like having a houseplant that you know, out of the corner of your eye, is unloved and whithering. I can't stand the guilt anymore....

Anyhow - I spent New Year getting off a plane feeling refreshed and like in mnay ways I was coming 'home'. I kissed the ground (it's bumpy this time of year and we had a 'run on' where the plane goes to land and then takes off again - apparently we were too close to the plane in front...), then trying to stay awake. My bodyclock was very insistent that it was time to down my drink and look up . say 'oooo' at the fireworks at 7pm EST, not five hours later.

Highlights of the evening was the time spent in the Oak Bar (pic) - serene, crowd-free and with the most fabulous (and much needed) expresso martinis.

Lowlights: Spending the exact minute of midnight on the 'T' subway system.

I have, yet again, made a list (nay, book) of New Year Resolutions - this time it's only 25. Reviewed last year and hey I kept some (including move to Boston and open up US-based office)....

Friday cocktail: The Amaretto sour

2006-12-15T13:14:00.000-05:00

Enough said. It's Friday, which means it's time to mix your drinks. Or get someone else to mix them. This is just Amaretto and lemon juice*. Which means it's got vitamin C in it...

I wouldn't recommend the garnish, though you can *never* go wrong with a plastic monkey hanging off the rim...

* Ratio of 2:1

Something new: Exercising

2006-12-12T13:18:00.000-05:00

Today I managed to get up and go running. I always imagine myself to run like someone in a Nike advert: determined, confident and able to run more than eighteen steps without needing an oxygen mask. The reality is far from the advertising.

Things I need to work on:

- A co-ordinated running outfit. I look like I have ingested LSD and *then* got dressed in the dark - and for a bet. I didn't even have matching socks (I think I have one of each pair with me - the other halves are in the US).

- Being able to run for more than three minutes without feeling like I am going to pass out. I am hoping that this will sort itself out. Surely there was a time when Zola Budd couldn't run for a bus? I live in hope.

- Not to spend too much time distracted by my MP3 player and therefore risking falling in the Thames / running into other people / running over people walking their dogs and crushing said pets.

- Staying motivated. I don't think I will ever reach the point where running becomes something I 'need', 'look forward to' or 'enjoy'. It's a hassle.

Tomorrow I am getting up very early to go up (very far) North. So that's my second day of running cancelled. Don't want to overdo it - heaven forbid.

The rabbit is back ...

2006-12-08T23:10:00.000-05:00

Hi.

Well, I'm back online. It's been a while and I've been round to have a look and catch up (I did lurk from time to time, though have to admit I totally avoided it any time I felt homesick in any way as it made me feel worse*).

Am planning on spending this weekend on reading up on how proposals happened; planned trips to Patagonia; people annoyed by their bosses (not possible, surely); things learnt from boyfriends and general shennanigans that I have missed.

* I know, I know. This is stupid, seeing as it's a load of people who are scattered everywhere...

It's good that VW has acknowledged my return with a series of posters across the US metropolitan areas (with a fee of $14,000 attached, come up - pay up).

Last post

2006-07-31T17:08:00.000-04:00

I may post stuff up on here occassionally (actually not likely at all seeing as I've posted up two things in a month) but this is my last post. I just wanted to 'have a go' at this blogging lark and I have discovered that I'm much better and more comfortable at dealing with and sharing thoughts with folks in person.

Anyhow, it's been fun. I'll still lurk, visit and comment other sites.

With lotsa love from Boston,
Tabby

xx

Fireworks and fried dough

2006-07-04T22:05:00.000-04:00

The Fourth of July.

Camped out by the Hatchshell ready for Aerosmith and the 'Boston Pops' to strike up.

The fireworks were amazing: flowers, shapes, fountains, faces etc. with accompanying music (around 25 minutes of fireworks, final song Neil Diamond's 'America'). Obviously my photography doesn't do any justice. The fried dough is as nasty as it sounds... can I add it to the (very short) list of things on this earth that I consider inedible.

Fried dough -
Marks out of ten for tastiness: Zero
Ability to induce nostalgia in Americans: Two
Fun DIY food factor: One
Sugar and lard content: Stratospheric
Number the average Brit can eat in a sitting: None (one mouthful)

Update : I was commenting to a local that I was surprised that so few people had their own fireworks - turns out the sale/personal use of fireworks is prohibited in Massachusetts!

tag: fried dough

No s'more please

2006-07-03T13:33:00.000-04:00

My first BBQ in the US: introduced to the American tradition of the s'more.

Ingredients: Graham crackers (pronounced 'graam'); Hershey's chocolate (eurgh); marhsmallows; some sticks for the marshmallows and a fire.

The result looks something like this (which in this photo looks like a cheese toasty but tastes like several types of sugar fused together, which of course is what it is):

Marks out of ten for tastiness: Two
Ability to induce nostalgia in Americans: Nine
Fun DIY food factor: Seven
Sugar content: Off the scale
Number the average Brit can eat in a sitting: One

tag: s'more

NYC: The city that never sleeps (just as well)

2006-06-30T17:45:00.000-04:00

Went to New York for the day for meetings: I got the Acelor Express over at some unearthly hour (left house at 4am), attended some of my first *proper* meetings in the US, worked in Bryant Park in between (free WiFi, very civilised). NYC is one of the best places on earth, without a doubt.

But not the best when you miss your 4pm train on the brink of holiday weekend - with every train that evening and the next morning FULLY booked apart from the 3.15am train.

There are much worse places to kill 12 hours as cinemas, restuarants, chemists, bookshops and cofee shops are all open. All the same a nightmare - got back home to Boston at 9.15am... Zzzzzzz. A surreal evening/morning.

PS Photo is from one of the 'Girls' Holidays' (think it was this year's trip - we've had a few to here on account that a friend of ours lives here*) - my friend J as we walk through Times Square.

* A friend I would go and stay with for the evening while stranded here but she's over in Boston waiting for me to get back.... typical

Today's view

2006-06-28T11:56:00.000-04:00

This isn't the usual view from our office window - but there has been a double-booking for a meeting room so we had to relocate for the day. This is the view we had - over the Charles River and the Boston skyline ( shame that the weather is comparable to Swansea):

And the meeting was great too - one of those ones where you worry unnecessarily beforehand.

It's all good. Though my 'bargain' fancy-client-meeting shoes ($12) have cut both my feet to shreds. Hey ho.

Boba / bubble tea

2006-06-27T09:28:00.000-04:00

Am not sure about this. A drink that comes with jelly-frog spawny-like things at the bottom. And a big straw so you can gag on them. It's an acquired taste (I am told) and you learn to drink and chew at the same time. The lumps are balls of black gummy tapioca - the straws are meant to let you drink them up so it's like 'having a pudding'.

Had the drink (opted for Watermelon- great as long as I could avoid the lumps) at an amazing take-away place that flatmate swears by (we got there after she drove up and down the Charles River several times on a distracted detour) - specialities that caught my eye (though not my appetite) included frog and garlic on rice; spicy sliced pig ears (looked suspiciously like mushrooms) and spicy boneless duck claws.

Strange really that you wouldn't want to eat something like frog or pig ears - after all, we're omnivores (at least I am) and there's very little difference to eating a pig's ear to anything else off it. Perhaps next time - when I go back for some more 'boba tea'.

tags: boba ,bubble tea

The World's Biggest Paella

2006-06-24T17:11:00.000-04:00

- Served up at a fabulous house on a lake in Michigan. Superb evening. Lots of very friendly people - and some zany / madcap / fascinating / fun / friendly (words cannot describe) Lithuanians...

This is the 'home made beach' (they have sand shipped in)

and the view from the lawn:

Weather was amazing - nothing like it has been in Boston! Flight back was delayed due to the bad weather and then a really choppy flight back... bleurghh...

Every home should have one

2006-06-20T15:43:00.000-04:00

Though at the rate people were grabbing them straight off the truck at Home Depot last night they probably do.

I also bought some flip flops on my way home from work, so I can blend in with the locals.

Of course, now that I am armed with flip flops and an air conditioning unit, it's just started raining.

Mount Auburn Street

2006-06-19T14:23:00.000-04:00

I have unpacked (hurrah) by relocating from a small budget hotel room to a budget-yet-fab ~~flat~~ apartment just off Mount Auburn St.

Am sharing with H, who sports a golden ponytail, golden legs plus the ability to wear flip flops all day without cutting her feet to shreds - all features that are typical of the locals - well, the females at least, (though come to think of it...).

All seems very promising - H is fun, sociable and able to make great cocktails out of bizarre ingredients - we spent last evening on the verandah drinking something that involved a number of things including mango and gin. After a few of them I could even forget how rotten/dangerous the verandah is (it's on the first floor and has gaps in it that I'm sure the person who built it didn't intend - does being on a first floor make it something other than a 'verandah'?).

H didn't realise that the Welsh were real - she thought it was all 'imaginary'. I am finding I have had to use Catherine-Zeta Jones, Tom Jones and the Stereophonics as examples of fellow 'real' Welsh. May have to invest in a handy map of the UK and a pointed stick (the latter for smacking ignorant people with).

Also met my first MIT geek yesterday - the place is full of them - you can't swing a Schrodinger's cat without hitting several (ho ho ho )- some of you (no names - you know who you are), would be in geek heaven. At least he knew where Wales was.

The other inhabitant of the apartment is a cat that is so old it's like a skeleton with some matted fur stuck on it. It's very sweet but it's also very ill, and incapable of judging the dimensions of the litter tray. Not the best in this heat.

Which brings me onto the biggest challenge so far - the heat. It was mid-nineties yesterday with a humidity that made it really unbearable. And even after the sun had gone down it didn't seem to make any difference. Now I understand why the room is so cheap - there's no air con. I actually woke up (for the gazillionth time) in the middle of the night, picked up the glass of water on mny bedside table and threw it over myself out of sheer desperation.

Tonight's mission is to buy some sort of a/c unit. And to get it home on the bus.

Boston: Day one

2006-06-13T13:35:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm here - the other side of the pond. Thanks to A for the renaming suggestion.

My state of denial (which stood fast: even when handing over flat keys / getting car ready to sell / paying excess for my baggage at the check-in* / landing at Logan International Airport) seems to be lifting. After not being excited at all to date I was very gleeful (the only word that suits) yesterday afternoon.

To start off with I am staying in Woburn (read: it's cheap and has a shuttle bus to the T Line connection into Boston) for a week while I sort myself out.

Got up. Worked. Got shuttle bus to train station (the driver gave me a piece of paper with 'we need flappers muric acid' scribbled on it. A cry for help? Emergency ingredient for the kitchens? Part of the Holiday Inn's plans to take over the world?); I annoyed an MTA employee by buying a train ticket using all the dimes I had stored in my 'Old Navy Halloween' piggybank back in London and got into downtown Boston.

Sorted out mobile phone (Cingular was recommended by a friend); visted the new office (in Cambridge way - lively and fun, ideal in many ways) and thanks to the fact that it's run by a girl from a village near me in Wales that's all completely sorted out too.

Saw part of the World Cup match (US vs Czech Republic) - after the revelry and excitement of watching the match in London on Saturday, it felt like I was the only person in Boston watching this one. The Red Sox lost to Texas last night, so you'd have thought that the locals might appreciate a stab to cheer at a winning side for something else (then again perhaps they knew that the US was going to lose 3-0).

Noticed that one of the TV listings for the evening was the world rock paper scissor championships. Went to bed early instead, though did catch a few minutes of Hell's Kitchen - seems that good old Gordon feels it's necessary to step the shouting and swearing up a notch. Watched him make all the trainee chefs get in dumpsters full of waste food (with a fair amount of retching on their part). I hate to admit it but I am actually missing Big Brother back in the UK - probably a good thing that I'm not there and can't watch it and can break the addiction.

Tonight I am off to see some places to stay longer term. Would be nice to get out of here in the next few days - this hotel has got a good internet connection but that' sabout it for the highlights..

* Well, I am here for a while. Colleen McLoughlin was only going to Germany and might not be going for that long and she had loads more stuff than I did.

Am here (for now!)

2006-05-27T14:54:00.000-04:00

Hi - sorry it's been a bit of a blur here while I have been spending my evenings packing up the hutch. I've only been living here for one year yet I seem to have collected an amazing amount of er, junk. I am leaving to set up a new hutch over in Boston for a short while (and at the same time a new office).

I probably go in a few weeks (waiting for an American legal team to dissect, rebuild and eventually sign a contract) but it doesn't feel like it yet - I seem to be in a state of denial.

Hope all is well with everyone - plan to spend part of the long weekend (the part where I'm not throwing handfuls of stuff into boxes and blank bags and/or wondering why I would have chosen to separate with hard-earned cash to own a red cowboy hat / a Christine Aguilera CD / a pair of shoes that cut my feet to ribbons every time I wear them etc etc) catching up and having a peek to see what you've all been up to.

Cheers, Tabby xxx

..and the Stupid Cow of the Year Award goes to..

2006-04-26T13:53:00.000-04:00

...the person who thought that this would be a good idea.

Unbelievable.

Hell on Earth

2006-04-17T15:43:00.000-04:00

A combination of thousands of people who want to spend their recreational time shopping and an outlet mall the size of Wales (pic above).

For some (unknown) reason I thought this would be a fun day out but it's just a mass consumerism race: swathes of people jostling to buy nasty t-shirts, loads of Disney crap and bright green jumpers / towels from Ralph Lauren (bascially the tat that they couldn't get rid of in the shops). All very upsetting to witness - loads of people buying stuff that they don't even want and which is all heading for the landfill sooner rather than later.

On a positive note, it was fun driving out here and is a lovely sunny day. And there's a gorgeous smiley bloke sharing my table with me who looks as bored as I am (yet he is not armed with a book and a laptop).

I can't drive back though as I have spent half the afternoon drinking wine and reading the book (I spent most of this morning in Starbucks). I feel very alert yet slightly drunk.

I just hope that K, the other assigned driver, hasn't been drinking or we may have to live here, though at least we will never run out of cheap t-shirts, sunglasses or bed linen.

If we do make it out of here alive I swear never to visit another shopping mall outlet again. Ever.

Breakfast in America

2006-04-16T19:14:00.000-04:00

That's it. I have driven a car to the Hamptons, and back over the Triboro Bridge, through Central Park and into Manhattan. And found somewhere to park that was not next to a fire hydrant. And this is what I had for breakfast this morning.

I have gone native.

Next I'll be beeping my horn at everyone wherever I drive (and I'll buy a Hummer), I will also get a small dog that I will carry around in a small rucksack and will use the phrase 'quite good' to mean excellent (the phrase has a different meanings on either side of the Atlantic).

The Hamptons were fabulous. Stayed in Montuak, which is the most Easterly point and spent time exploring South/East/Bridge-Hampton. Ate breakfast on the balcony overlooking the coast, walked along fabulous sandy beaches (lost my iPod and had to retrace my steps), gawped through threadbare privet hedges at the mansions, went up the lighthouse and ate loads of seafood. All while gossping with the girls that I go on holiday with each year (all went to college together, which is an amazing number of years ago).

'Bwaston'

2006-04-12T07:27:00.000-04:00

A fabulous place.

Easy-going, friendly, beautiful and with very definite seasons (the winters are bordering on arctic, I am told).

Winters aside, I could quite happily live here.

Just desserts

2006-04-08T09:19:00.000-04:00

This is why other nations of the world - and not Japan - lead the way on the dessert trolley.

Before you ask, it's Arrowroot*. Served on a slab of ice and with a saucer full of some sort of tar / maple syrup mix. This was actually the better dessert that we chose, the other one was (from my point of view) inedible - one of the few things in the world I don't like (along with semolina and very strong curries). Though it is fun to eat with chopsticks.

There were other people on hand to appreciate the aroowroot (even the cubed version, which defies description) and to also struggle to eat it (I have a great pic but was threatened with chopsticks if I published it).

* I don't know what this is either. Though we all happily ate it. Well, not happily.

Life-changing hair

2006-03-29T23:18:00.000-05:00

The difference between male/female attitudes to hairstyles is vast. Women will spend inexcusable sums of money and are deeply concerned with the final result (last time I got my hair cut I spent the evening at a friend's house in Acton crying and drinking wine to blot out how much I hated it). Men tend just to have the same haircut but shorter.

Last year I had hair extensions - although it took two people more than five hours to put in and cost me more than my first car* did, I loved them. Now that I have better** things to spend my money on (such as a mortgage, and if the insurance doesn't cough up soon, a new car) I can't justify the spend and so it was with glee that I found someone who lived and worked in Chiswick as a hairdresser specialising in just that area - and she was so much cheaper it would have been rude not to have taken her up on the offer. She worked for a reputable hairdresser chain - and said if I wasn't happy she would give me a refund.

So, I went down the hair extension route (no pun intended), which was somewhat different - it only took the one girl an hour and half and I don't remember the smell of burning hair / glue when I had them done before.

Final result: I would do better with a handfull of dog hair and a few jars of Copydex. She said it was okay and although she was away for a few days we could sort it out 'when she got back'.

She never did - the hairdresser-from-hell has skipped the country. No-one (including her employers) know where she is.

So, I got what I wanted and had a hairstyle that changed my life - I have spent evenings pulling lumps of hair out, washed my hair in almost boiiling water to melt the glue (doesn't work) and had people point at my hair saying things like 'oh, you've got something stuck there' (one person asked me if it was chewing gum).

So yesterday I had to take the plunge and get them cut off. It's just nice to have a night's sleep without the lumps of glue. A lesson learnt about cheap deals though.

* Mini metro. Metallic blue. 400 quid. Had never gone above 25mph or further than the church in the village before I owned it (bought it off Mrs Harris, an elderly church goer who lived next door to my parents)

** I use that word in the loosest sense

Postman splat

2006-03-22T20:44:00.000-05:00

Not the best of days today. At lunch following a tough meeting when an ashen-faced bearer-of-bad-news came to tell me that there had been a slight accident with my car (my beloved Smart Car, which was parked outside work).

Turns out a very large post van had managed to 'bump' into it. It's trashed - the door on one side is knackered, the windows on both sides are smashed (the van somehow managed to push the car into the wall so damaging both sides). Someone else who was on hand kindly helped seal it up from the elements with bubble wrap and brown tape (we could have just posted it to the insurance company) and some of the posties* sheepishly helped me to move it into the nearby sorting office garage.

* After one of them asked how I managed to park in such a tight parking space. Response: "Er, because my mother taught me to reverse" (which is more than I can say for the post driver).

Pop goes the rabbit

2006-03-20T13:06:00.000-05:00

I have a piece of a popcorn skin stuck in my mouth. Well, not in my mouth as such - it seems to be travelling. So far it has reached what I think is a tonsil / salivary gland (she says, trying to remember basic human physiology). It's really, really painful. Perhaps it's trying to make it's way to my heart and I will be remembered in the Darwin Awards. Hey ho.

Apart from that I have been working. And trying to starve myself on K's recommended starvation diet*. Yes, it's all true - it's been nothing but fun here in my hutch. Did go out to the wilds yesterday (okay, Herfordshire) to visit friends - which involved a six-mile walk > lunch (I felt not-so-strangely light-headed on the former while avoiding the latter). Also spent Saturday clearing up the hutch, which considering its size seemed to be in a right state ever since I got back from Detroit.

Finally, I have to admit that I have been in a bad mood. I have been so distracted by work that I have missed the deadline for the Edinburgh Fringe, which I wanted to perform in (I did it the year before last and although it was one of the most terrifying things I have ever done, I really want to do it again - this was at the top of my New Year resolutions). Have simmered over it and think I have found an alternative. Fingers crossed.

* Which means I can't go out as I am totally incapabable of doing anything social that doesn't involve vast quantities of food and drink. I was allowed a small amount of popcorn as a 'treat' and instead it's going to kill me. Typical.

The Great Lake state / Motown

2006-03-07T11:16:00.000-05:00

Well, I’m in Detroit. Home of Ford. And Eminen (Eight Mile etc etc) - and, of course Motown ("Motor Town > Motown"). Oh, and hosts of last year’s Superbowl (so several people have told me, I see no reason why they should lie).

A fairly tortuous trip due to a connecting flight in Canada (Toronto) – getting me and my suitcase (full of Cadbury’s chocolate, earl grey teabags and bourbon biscuits*) through Canadian/US customs was like getting through Checkpoint Charlie. Not as straightforward as I had imagined.

Then, (after several unannounced and unexplained delays) I got to go on the world’s smallest aircraft. Was almost in shock as I stepped aboard, luckily I had a chance to down my emergency miniature vodka that lives in the bottom of my handbag before we took off. Flight over the lakes in the tiny aircraft was made all the more enjoyable by chatting to a really friendly girl called Lorna. Swopped addresses and I have promised to send her something from Cardiff, (where her grandparents were from). Must not Welsh on the deal, so to speak.

Am currently in West Bloomfield, staying in a house that makes Southfork look like a small terraced house. Very healthy living - in this particular house, that is (last year Michigan state was the fattest state in the US, this year they have slipped to second place). Yesterday morning I went for a run, a cycle and a quick Nordic ski (all in the gym in the basement) before meeting everyone else for smoothies for breakfast. Plan to return as half the woman I was, or at least substantially less. Shame there’s so much Cadbury’s chocolate kicking around here though…

* Not for personal consumption. Though I got some very ‘yeah we can see how you got your figure’ looks in Tescos when I was lugging a basket that was overflowing with chocolate.

The Stride, bunks barns and fabulous birthday celebrations

2006-02-27T11:02:00.000-05:00

Spent the weekend staying in a 'bunk barn' in North Yorkshire.

It was for a fabulous friend's fabulous birthday (J's - she organised the whole thing with military precision for dozens of people) and it was amazing, so much fun. Wasn't sure what to expect of a 'bunk barn' but it was just as it said: a barn, overlooking the moors, with several rooms coming off it, with 4-8 bunk beds in each. It was like being on a school trip, but without the need to sneak alcohol in.

Next door was a ramshack castle, then just across the courtyard (easy staggering distance) a great restaurant. Just down the slope: Stride Wood (site of Special Scientific Interest)* and the Stride (a narrow rockey channel where the River Wharfe is forced into a channel and tourists are tempted to jump across - only to fall in and drown**).

Was lovely to see one of my oldest friends, S (J's other half) looking the best he ever has - he's in training for the London Marathon. I spent the weekend wanting to slap his arse (I didn't, though as an old friend and ex-flatmate I have *every* right). S & J both talked to me about changing my lifestyle, it's sweet when friends worry about you (though there is no need).

We spent the weekend eating, walking (yes, I did have my latop on me...), drinking (repeat in different order). Went to the lovely restautant, drank more, I would have played drunken charades but I was too shattered.

The name of the game while staying in a bunk barn is to drink enough to ensure you fall into a deep enough sleep to not be disturbed by an Andy-Bell looklike that snores like a aeroplane - (I failed miserably at this)...

* Largest remnant of acidic woodland in Yorkshire. I once used to know what this meant, but all that knowledge / taxpayers' money has long gone.
** We didn't try that. We're older and more sensible now.

A new flatmate

2006-02-24T00:41:00.000-05:00

Okay, I was going to get a new flatmate. The human variety. Slight change in plan.

Tonight I went to an evening thing at Kew with MJ.

I love going to evening things at Kew (which is round the corner from my hutch) and this evening was no disappointment. I came back with a new flatmate in the form of the most spectacular Cambria orchid. And it matches my sofa. Perfect.

Things I have learnt this evening:

- Kew at evening is breath-taking and it makes me smile with glee just wandering around (when I was a kid I wanted to live in a rhododendron bush and looking around the tropical house at night brings back all those feelings);

- Kew Gardens used to 'steal'plants from different places around the world (e.g. to start rubber plantations) - the French 'relocated' the vanilla plant from Madagascar but forgot that it needed a pollinator. Hand-pollination was sussed and is still used to this day (one of the reasons vanilla is so expensive);

- Vanilla is the only orchid to produce a crop;

- You can drink six glasses of wine while looking round an orchid house .

Lip-to-lip contact: A game of numbers

2006-02-23T23:25:00.000-05:00

Last night, in my bid to Stay In And Not Drink, I had my evening carefully planned out: healthy/ steamed food (bought from the local Thai supermarket), some work to catch up on, an episode of Seinfeld then an early night complete with a good book and some fancy hot chocolate that someone bought me as a gift.

There must be CCTV installed in my flat. The *second* I was about to sit down, my phone went and I was summoned to the pub by Gordon Gekko. Being a girl who is incapable of saying "No, I'm going to stay in tonight", minutes* later I found myself in a smoky pub clutching a large glass of wine and sat between a large group of Chelsea supporters and some surprisingly non-Spanish looking Barcelona supporters (pasty-coloured lager-fuelled Chelsea haters who collectively roared with delight at Chelsea's own goal).

The evening covered the usual range of subjects: starting off with recap of work etc, the usual gossip somehow leading to the outcome of US/Iran relations and how it was all going to kick-off, miserable crimes vs 'happy crimes', rollercoasters and logflumes, and ending with a quiz of how many people we had each got involved with.

As part of this new subject GG asked me how many people I had kissed. I honestly couldn't answer - not because it's that many (really: I haven't had that many jobs and my CV has become something more fictional than Narnia due to my inability to piece my past life together).

It turns out though that my guestimate (25? 30? I was being harrassed and had to come up with a number, though I still don't know, somewhere in this region sounds about right) is a piss-poor effort compared to the several hundred that GG seems to have had lip-to-lip contact with. Yet not picked up anything nasty (or so he says).

Though, if you think of any sort of snogging as an introductory offer to anything else than his 'conversion rate' is lower than mine.

Do people have *any* idea of how many people they have snogged? Could you guess within a 5% error margin?

* Less than ten minutes. In this time I rang my parents, ate my tea, changed top and re-applied slap, checked everything was switched off several times (have thing about flat burning down), and got to pub. When I shared a house with three blokes I was always the one ready first.

Red = Stop (Drinking / watching horror films)

2006-02-19T12:39:00.000-05:00

This was going to be the weekend that I Gave Up Drinking. Not the best start as somehow on Friday I went out for a drink after work - was convinced that I had only had about three drinks and it *must* be about nine pm, only to find out that I was pretty shedded and it was almost midnight. (I really should remember not to drink to excess).

A leisurely Saturday morning of shopping in FOPP (it's impossible to step foot in there and not spend money). Was then meant to have my haircut but had some sort of premonition that following my run of bad luck, this may not be the time to get all my hair cut off (it's tradition that I hate it and cry for the first three days or so, then love it and apologise to everyone for making such a fuss and wish I hadn't posted dogshit through my hairdresser's letterbox). Had enough of a fit for Tony & Guy to just let me go, looking quite thankful on their part and happy that they didn't have to tape over their letter box for the next week.

Not to worry though as the FOPP shopping had set me and Patroclus up for an afternoon of British horror films, earl grey tea and cranberry & orange cake. 'Don't Look Now' followed by 'The Wicker Man'.

Although I laughed loads at Don't Look Know at the time and thought the the most terrifying scene in it was the sex scene (highly entertaining),the whole use of the colour scarlet as a repeated symbol stayed lurking in the back of my brain (I really should remember that I am useless at watching horror films - to give an idea of scale: Hammer horrors and the Gremlins have disturbed me in the past). Got in last night to find that the hairs on the back of my neck raised when was confronted by my sofa (enormous, very scarlet) and my duvet (ditto). Then I had a freaky dream about a small person in a scarlet coat that atacked me - armed with the hacksaw I used to cut my Christmas tree up (to get it out of my flat on the grounds that I couldn't carry it down three flights of stairs by myself) and ended up sleeping with my bedroom, lounge and landing lights on - and considered changing my duvet cover to get rid of the sight of scarlet . Pathetic considering the person in the film was about three foot tall (how on earth did she reach Donald Sutherland's throat??? I saw no step ladder). I did like J Christie's boots though (and she couldn't half run in them, unless that was a stunt double)- oh, and that herringbone suit in the final scene.

The Wicker Man was fabulous (was that really a body double for B Ekland?) Never noticed the curtains as I don't have Patroclus's eye for 'interior accoutrements': my hutch doesn't have contain anything bought in Habitat whereas Quinquireme Towers is very tasteful and looks more like Habitat than Habitat does.

Last night I had a surreal night out with a friend's ex. One of those nights where you end up being quizzed about the friend ('are they happy? are they seeing someone else? do they ask about me? ) and you wished you'd stayed in and watched more horror films. Then again, perhaps not.

Though Peter Weir's 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' has been highly recommended as another British classic worth watching. As long as I don't have a hangover and it doesn't have scarlet as a key theme I'll probably be okay.

Bad Karma?

2006-02-15T11:15:00.000-05:00

I’ve always thought that I’m a very lucky person – not just in relation to family, friends, where I live /work etc but the more ‘spontaneous’ element of luck too.

This seems to have changed over the last week. Some examples of this Run Of Bad Luck Which Surely Must Stop Soon.

0. (can't be bothered ot re-number list). Laptop dying.

1. Getting flat tyre while in Barcelona

2. Whilst tyre is being changed, some local coming up to me on a moped to offer ‘help’. The awful and sudden realisation that the dark-haired guy on the other side of the road and up the hill is carrying my handbag, coat, laptop, phone etc etc (luckily he was chased and dropped most of the stuff). I have been scammed.

3. Being stuck in Barcelona without credit card and mobile phone. Losing all numbers on mobile phone and some number of pics on digital camera (neither recovered)

4. Spending six and half hours at Girona airport

5. Picking up two employees from airport and getting hideously lost on the the ‘Ronda Litoral’ on way to hotel.

6. Getting to hotel to find we don't have reservations. Barcelona is hosting huge teleco show (3GSM, reason for our visit) 50,000+ visitors. All hotels fully booked. Travel agent laughed when I rang them.

7. Some luck - found one hotel room for one night. But we have to share one room (I didn't mind, but felt awful). Slept on floor next to very noisy fridge that couldn't be unplugged.

8. Someone from work was bringing my suit trousers with them so I would have them for the Monday morning (no time to get from dry cleaner before leaving). Instead of size 16 black suit trousers she brought someone else's brown herringbone – in a size 8. I get these the night before I have to go to meet customer. All I have is jeans, jogging trousers or ski stuff.

9. Not knowing the Spanish for 'very funny - I need a much larger size than that' when buying suit at 10am on the Monday morning (when shops opened). After eight minutes of browsing I end up sporting an orange tweed suit.

10. Losing around 500 Euros in cash between Stansted airport and the office yesterday afternoon

11. Getting hand burnt my door-clutching smoker on way to pub with Gordon Gekko last night

12. Being told by GG that I (this coming from someone who used to trade for a living) am a corporate whore and I should give up what I do and go and do something constructive and charitable. Seems constructive and charitable is his type. For some inexplicable reason all of this upsets me.

13. Wake up to find I have burst a blood vessel in my eye. And very bad hangover.

14. Dropping front door key on floor this morning and leaning over to pick up without realising that bag is open. Remember this as everything hurtles over my head/shoulder to floor.

15. I am now sitting, locked out of my office in the corridor. Settled on floor with laptop and coffee. Every 4 minutes the lights go off and I have to throw my handbag into the air to get them to switch back on.

I must have done something to upset the gods . I just don't know what.

Back back back

2006-02-15T09:27:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm back. In the UK and online. Thank feck for that on both counts. Been online for work on data download, so it's been work and no play for new laptop.

Trip to Spain had, like so many things, both highlights and lowlights. But the lowlights (not so much lowlights as a succession of complete screw ups) are part of my new 'bad karma' thing. Plan to make a woeful list this morning. Actually reached a point where it was funny and I was just waiting for something else to go wrong. But bad luck seems to be continuing. Will add to list (once created) - assuming my fingers don't get jammed under an incredibly heavy object in the next few hours.

Anyhow, the picture is one of the highlights. I went running (and not from / to anything, just running for the sake of it) in the mornings - stayed just round corner from this square off 'La Rambla' and it was fabulous first thing.

Did have some fabulous pictures but had to resort to stealing this one as that's exactly what some sod has done to my pictures - along with ny camera and some other belongings.

Come back to see List of Woe - and be sure to bring a rabbit's foot or a sprig of lucky heather with you. Or any advice on how to figure out if someone has made a voodoo doll of me and is just being mean.

Word cloud

2006-02-15T01:35:00.000-05:00

Faddy yet fun.

RIP my much-loved /used Dell Latitude

2006-02-02T13:57:00.000-05:00

It's been quiet here as laptop has gone to the great PC World* in the sky. Hardware problems, I am told. It's being gutted (as am I by its demise) and will come back to life but go to someone else. We've had some good times though - several trips to France, Germany, the US, Canada. I have carried it everywhere.

I am giving up on Michael Dell and his laptops in favour of HP. Hopefully I will get new laptop later today - meanwhile I am on a borrowed laptop and working is clumsy (it's a Compaq and everything is the same - as you would expect - but somehow different), hence it's quiet from this corner. Frangelita: thanks for the concern, very sweet of you.

* Not true as I wouldn't buy something from those idiots if my digital life depended on it

Jingle jangle (Just call me Jimmy Saville)

2006-01-26T22:21:00.000-05:00

Hurrah - today we won a new contract at work. This is great for a number of big reasons but also for some small thrills -namely I get to buy a new charm for my bracelet.

Celebrating new contracts like this might seem slightly odd but it's something I've done ever since my parents spent their holiday in Montepellier four years ago trying to figure out what the French for 'charm bracelet' was.

My first charm was a web (for an internet client), followed by a mobile phone (guess what they did) and so on. The bracelet acts as my 'mental checklist' so I can figure out if every one is okay. Though it does mean that I tend not to wear it when I'm away from work as I find myself worrying about a 'charm' that I may not have spoken to recently, so to speak. Saying that it's always in my handbag.

Seeing as I work with tech companies finding a charm to associate with a certain client can be tricky but I have a strange mix that at first may not be associated with the IT world inclouding a penguin, the elephant god (GSE if you ever need to buy one I can point you in the direction), a stegosaurus, an ice cream cone, a gun, a key, the see/speak/hear no evil monkeys (the basis of a client's advertising campaign), a gun and a sea bird. This will be my sixteenth charm. Am about to go and have a look at evercharming and eBay to see what I can find to represent something to do with colour and Japan.

There is a flip side to this and if I see a bizarre charm I want to find a client contract that will match it. Such as the turnip above. Any ideas?

Why do we laugh at misfortune?

2006-01-21T21:03:00.000-05:00

Discuss. In as much detail as possible/ you can be bothered. Please.

Looking for ideas for PF's degree project. Brain frazzled*

*Due to early start this morning and lack of sleep on Thursday night...

Tra la la

2006-01-20T10:36:00.000-05:00

Okay, I met up with the gorgeous wine dealer. He flies back to the other side of the planet later today. Fabulous and fun.

Patroclus: Up for a bit of boot shopping this weekend?

New boots?

2006-01-16T23:21:00.000-05:00

New considering new boots. Although there are some sales on they are still a considerable investment.

Currently a tie between 1 and 6 at the moment, though don't think you can get frog wellies in size 7.

What is wrong with this picture?

2006-01-16T16:54:00.000-05:00

I have refused an evening with a drop dead gorgeous wine dealer from New Zealand - who is rarely over in this hemisphere - in order to work.

There's something very wrong here. I really like New Zealand wine - and last time he was over he left me a crate of wine.

I must be coming down with something.

It has to change...

2006-01-10T18:52:00.001-05:00

...I am turning into something out of 'James and the Giant Peach'* (or something else that involves a round-ish object that grows out of proportion).

So, I've made a gym pact with C - who has also been moaning about the fact that we are both members of a swanky gym but we use our Blockbuster cards 100 times more often (no kidding).

We're gym buddies now and one day we'll look like, er, not sure who. Perhaps just fitter, thinner versions of ourselves. That would be a good start. We're dusting off our legwarmers and starting tonight.

Target: To be able to run three miles without passing out (at the moment three metres is pushing it) / to lose two stone.

* No comments please from anyone who knows me.

Danger: Accident-prone girl on the loose

2006-01-10T11:17:00.001-05:00

So far today I have:

- Smashed a pint glass* and cut my foot while getting ready for work;
- Walked into a door in my flat (that wouldn't open properly as there is so much cardboard from the IKEA wardrobe in my hallway);
- Lost my debit card and my credit card;
- spilt coffee in my lap.

And it's only 8.15am. It's going to be one of those days...

* I know. I knew it was going to happen - one of those thoughts you have to yourself ("I had better move that glass that's balancing on that edge there or I'll knock it over" - but you don't and you do.)

My weekend: Tango, Argentinians and dinosaurs

2006-01-07T23:38:00.000-05:00

It's amazing how long a weekend can feel when you do lots of things.

Friday I took my high-heels / a swishy skirt /inability to walk backwards on said heels and did the tango with an elephant (is it me or is that a line from the um-bongo ad?) Great fun though I need to practice and vamp up enough so I can stay 'after hours' for the tango-fest that is an old-fashioned room decked out with pink lights and fairylights. Must also practice holding rose between teeth.

Saturday was an early start as promised friend a lift to Gatwick (snowing loads there) then a day out computer shopping with Gordon Gekko. A great deal more fun (and sober) than it would have been without him. Spent the evening at a goodbye dinner for R - a friend who has decided that she wants to use her skills for good and work for a charity in Sri Lanka. Am worried for her as it's not the most stable of places to go, but she's a sharp and energetic type. Very fun evening. Something about playing pictionary with loud Argentinians that is very entertaining.

Sunday I met some uni friends and my god daughters at the Natural History Museum. I don't like what they've done to the dinosaur exhibit: as a girl who always dreamt of becoming a drinking buddy with Robert Bakker (my hero when I was working on my dissertation which was about dinosaur physiology and whether or not they were endothermic) and planning a future of hanging around on the Badlands, I think the animatronic T Rex makes visitors forget how amazing the fossils and footprints themselves are: that something roaming around a few hundred million years left those prints. Mindblowing in itself.

Spent Sunday evening wrestling with an IKEA wardrobe. When they say 'self-assembly' they're having a larf, aint they?

A night with the undead

2006-01-05T01:18:00.000-05:00

Following a conversation last weekend about why girls might/might not relate to zombies I wanted to do a bit of research.

Not knowing any undead,* I decided to watch my first ever zombie film. Besides, I was informed that a zombie film could provide "good dark, gallows humour"** - ideal for a Wednesday night.

First, a few things I thought I knew about zombies from my TV education and life-experience-to-date:

- Zombies are the least scary and threatening of horror monsters. After all they are the 'walking dead'

- In fact, they don't even walk, they shuffle (and - Michael Jackson take note - they certainly don't dance). How scary can they get?

- They come out of the ground: so don't buy that lovely house next to the cemetery

- They tend to make a low groaning noise. And have their arms outstretched (I think the latter is species distinction - it's the one thing that shows they are really zombies and not just someone who had a really heavy night last night with tell-tale bloodshot eyes, bags under their eyes and minimal brain activity)

- You need to cut their heads off to make them, er, even more undead

- They're not big into formming social groups, zombie clubs or generally getting together down the zombie disco

- They avoid eye contact (possibly due to the lack of working eyes - hang on: how can they see where they're going???) and so don't tend to flirt with each other (they certainly don't bat their eyelids)

- They're far from vegetarian

In the last 104 minutes, I have found out that:

- They don't meander around gormlessly with their arms outstretched: that pose is *so* dated

- They can run pretty damn fast

- They don't make that low moaning sounds after all, though they can give off a vampire-like screech when they want you to know they're interested

- They seem to gravitate to shopping malls (question: if you were a zombie which shop would you head to?)

- Finally, they can be the basis of a very entertaining (far-from the B-movie) film. I have to admit it was a brilliant film, cracking (as my dad would say).

Zombie film score:
Outrageous mindless gore: 7/10
Suspense: 8/10
Fun: 9/10
Pace: 9/10
Soundtrack: 9/10

Lights may stay on way beyond bedtime tonight - but not because I'm scared but because I'm going to plan which film I should watch next (I seem to be out of my John Hughes/80s phase, though someone did send me a text earlier to let me know that 'Footloose' was on which reflects what people think of my film taste..).

* Am tempted to put some names in here as possibilities but will resist.
** To quote someone with an x and a y chromosome***
** Okay, much though it pains me to say it, they were right

Happy New Year!! *

2006-01-01T23:17:00.000-05:00

(Tried to find photo of Swansea Bay - this is not it, as anyone familiar with Swansea City Council's firework budget will testify.)

Happy New Year! 2005 has been a fun and interesting year but I have a feeling that 2006 is going to be more so.

Day started with flat champagne; lunch was schnapps (begged off a neighbour) and fridge remnants (pub at the end of the road was closed). Had planned a day of fun (e.g. getting high and going joyriding) but instead ended up watching more episodes of The OC than a human being (or two) should be able to process in one day ('eeeeuuw!' as Summer would say).

Have made 41 New Year Resolutions (yeah, I know it's ridiculous - I always make a load and write them in a book). Have already done something about five of them and broken two. Not a bad start.

Festive Commitment Count: Two friends have announced their engagements (one even proposed to his girlfriend in front of his entire family on Christmas day - now, that's foolhardy), and one friend declared pregnancy.

* Or Blwyddwyn Newydd Dda [Learn/use more Welsh: Resolution #12]

Land of my mothers ( apologies to 'mae hen wlad fy nhadau'*)

2005-12-30T17:12:00.000-05:00

Have 'mercilessly hammered'** my car down the M4 and brought it back to its natural urban habitat.

Christmas was as Christmas always is in my parents' house: chaotic, cluttered, drunken and fabulous.

Somehow have managed to keep hold of my sanity despite being one of nine family members living in a terraced house for five or so days. This involves a great deal of shouting (our main method of communication); vast quantities of drink (earliest alcoholic beverage: 9am before chapel on Christmas morning); a few food fights (earlier on I found a lump of stilton and a cold*** chip in my handbag - a joint sibling effort I am told) and an average consumption of 50,000 calories a day which I suspect I didn't get to burn off: my exercise consisting of running - I went every morning, of which I am very proud of myself (probably the only time I wasn't actually eating), and playing PS2 (usually while consuming more calories).

I always pine for Wales when I leave it. And not just because of my family, but the whole vague notion of 'belonging'.

My grandmother comes from a village called Waunarlwydd - two miles away from where she, my parents and uncle/aunt etc now live. Though she lived for most her life/her married life outside Penclawdd in a pub called the Berthlwyd Inn that overlooks the Lougher Estuary - about four miles the other direction - (that's it in the picture) where we moved when I was about eleven. I loved living in a pub and to this day you can tell that my parents used to run a pub. Big clue: their attitude towards drink, welcomed with open arms/mouths.

We moved to the pub from Ystrad Mynach near Caerphilly which was real coal-mining country up in the Rhymney Valley. The Penallta colliery was the closest and the last deep mine in the Valley - although it didn't technically close until the early 90s, I remember friends' dads losing their jobs much earlier than this as production was scaled down. I went back to Ystrad a few years ago and the area desperately needs new jobs to keep the community together, it was really upsetting to see how it had declined.

My parents now live in Gowerton, the village between Penclawdd and Waunarlywdd (you would hardly describe my family as 'nomadic', most of them have remained within a five mile diameter), and although I have moved around a bit I love the fact that they haven't and I still get to go 'back home'.

Saying that, I don't know if I'll ever return there to live, though I'd love to have a house near Llangennith (which I still visit in the summer to occassionally surf). If I couldn't live on the coast I'd go back to a valley town such as Pontardawe (where I spent some of this holiday as non-hired help, making bouquets and greening up funeral weaths in the local florist - a long and not at all interesting story - I think I'm pushing the boredom threshold with this as it is). Tight-knit Dylan-esque communities with fabulous pubs. Pontardawe has two that are great: The Pink Geranium, and no, it's a not a gay bar, and 'The Other Place'.

Next challenge is what to do on New Year's Eve. I have the option of going back to Wales for a night of gambling and drinking with my family; down to Devon or staying put here in London. The latter is winning at the moment though plans (as pointed out by Patroclus) are somewhat, er, fuzzy and could be based around a boxset of the OC.

For those who are going to lavish costume parties (Frangelita and her technicolour 60s outfit) - yes, we'd like to see a photo please...

Oh, and talking of pictures, what happened to the photo of Homer? (makes chicken noise).

* Which is the Welsh national anthem (land of my fathers). Seeing as my grandfather came from Derbyshire and my dad comes from Crewe, the Welsh element is on the maternal side

** This is a lie. I drove it very carefully and with enormous amounts of respect. At 20 mph. LC - you've never even seen me drive. Besides, you can't even drive a bike in a huge circle without falling off.

*** Obviously, on the basis that it must have been there for a few days...

Best laid plans....

2005-12-28T11:08:00.001-05:00

... all go to cock when this happens on the M4.

Left my parents' house at 11am, spent two and a half hours on the M4 and then another two hours stranded on an industrial estate with a broken car. Ended up back at parents' house at 5pm.

Car still broken, the poor/bloody thing.

Nadolig Llawen...

2005-12-25T03:14:00.000-05:00

Or Merry Christmas as they say the other side of the Severn Bridge.

It's fabulous to be back in Wales and I'm really looking forward to tomorrow (usual start: 6am...). Just a quick note to wish everyone in cyberland a fabulous and happy time.

It's ten past midnight, we've all had too much brandy, the kids are asleep, the veg isn't done for tomorrow and presents aren't wrapped yet - and now my mother and my brother are wrestling with a blow up mattress. Have to go...

Have fun,
Tabby xx

Craptacular Christmas!! How Crap Are You?

2005-12-21T04:08:00.000-05:00

Inspired by a mix of festive cheer (i.e. booze and fairylights), a discussion underway at Kellycat's and Ira Hirsh's 'Most God Awful Christmas Displays Ever' (well worth a peek), I am on a mission to research what side of craptastic the average householder lies on when it comes to showing festive cheer.

Armed with my science O levels/A levels and a few science degrees, I want to make this as statistically and scientifically relevant as possible and produce stand-alone, quantitative scientific data.

So here's a Cosmo-style quiz.

1. Is your tree:

What tree? (-5 points)

Real and showing that 'non-drop' is one of the biggest marketing lies in the universe (3 points)

Fake - though it looks real (-2 points)

Fake with 'added fake features' such as silver, snow, in-built cones, in-built lights (1 point plus 1 point per fake feature)

2. What do you have on your Christmas tree?

I already told you, I don't have a tree [- what sort of idiot writes these quizzes?] (-1 point)

A set of white lights and ornaments in two different colours (0 points)

Multicoloured flashing lights and/or a huge variety of clashing and garish ornaments (3 points)

So many lights you can't actually see the tree and our neighbours' lights dim when we plug them in (6 points)

3. Do you have a nativity scene in your garden?

No, of course not - only poor people with no taste do tacky things like that (-10 points, -50 points if you *really* think that)

Yes - just a small tasteful wooden depiction of the three wise men visiting the manger (1 point)

Yes - a huge inflatable set which has our shed as a centrepiece. You can just about make out the magi brandishing their gifts alongside a snow-covered Batman, the Wombles, five smurfs, Pluto, Donald Duck, Barbie and Shrek (5 points)

Yes - as above - plus we have a real donkey to add an air of authenticity (100 points)

Yes - as above - plus we 'borrowed' a camel from our local zoo. It was a bugger to get home and we'll return it as soon as Christmas is over (1,000 points)

4. Do you have any inflatable ornaments inside or outside your house?

No, I'm offended you even asked me that (0 points)

Yes, of traditional festive characters: Santa, reindeer, snowmen (1 point each)

Yes, of traditional festive characters: Santa Shrek; Spongebob Santapants; Nutcracker Barbie; Mickey Mouse with a santa hat on (10 points each)

5. Do you have any Christmas decorations that are mechanical and/or musical?

What? You think I'd hand over hard-earned cash for that sort of tat? (0 points)

Only a set of twelve mechanical mice that play 'Jingle Bells' (you know who you are) (3 points)

Yes though someone gave it to me and I only dig it up for when they visit (-2 points)

Yes, of course. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a plastic George Bush in a santa hat singing 'Happy Xmas (I Wish the War Was Over)' / a dancing Jesus singing 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus' / a set of reindeer dancing to 'Stop The Cavalry' (10 points each)

6. Do you expect to sing along to any Cliff Richard songs over the festive period?

No, don't be silly (0 points)

Yes, I've spent the last six weeks learning all the words and harmonies in Millennium Prayer (1,000 points)

7. Do you have a Christmas sign outside your house?

No, why would I need a sign? (0 points)

Yes, it says: 'Santa stop here please' (6 points)

Yes, it says: 'To Santa and all carol singers: please piss off' (-50 points)

Cosmo-style: 'How did you score'?

-100 to -1 points. You're a cat owner and as far as you are concerned there aren't such things as cat-proof decorations**

0 -5 points. What can we say? You're either a Habitat (*Crate & Barrel) loyalty card holder or Ebenezer Scrooge. Get into the 'real' spirit of Christmas by popping down to Woolworths / Wal Mart and spend at least £300/$500 on glittery things that make your stomach sick / whole being shudder / eyes bleed and your neighbours hate you.

6- 10 points. Not a bad attempt. Try to think how to expand what you have to outside your house. And don't be scared of being adventurous with electrical accessories and /or large inflatables (*now* this is starting to sound like a real Cosmo quiz - ed)

11-2,000 points. Congratulations! When it comes to eye- and pocket-bleeding ornaments, you know no limits. You should be working as a window dressing consultant for Selfridges / Saks so you can teach the true meaning of Christmas crap to those souless people who think they have taste just because they have money and a wariness of bright sparkly things. And remember to buy everyone you know an inflatable six-foot Santa Shrek for their garden, they'll love you for it. Honest.

* Am guessing this as a stateside equivalent of Habitat. Sort of place that sells clean white decorations for the home etc

** This special addition for GSE and Frangelita

All work and no blogging...

2005-12-19T11:19:00.000-05:00

.....makes Tabby a rather dull rabbit.

Apologies for the absence, I'd love to say that I've been off travelling to far-flung exotic locations but in reality I've been busy at work and then trying to fit things in the evening such as er, drinking (usually work-related). Sorry blog (tries to blow dust off):

Lowlights of the week include:

* Getting my car towed away from outside my flat. At seven o'clock in the morning. And having to pay 190 quid to get it back from the pound at White City. The folks in charge there almost didn't give it back to me as one of my utility bills was more than two months old - although I had every form of ID known to the Western world on me. December is not a good month to be a few hundred quiz down on spare cash (starts collecting milk bottle tops and loo rolls to make Christmas presents);

* The worst date I have ever been on. With a needy bloke who thinks that as management he 'shouldn't mix with employees' (and so missed his company's Christmas party!!) and seemed to have no ambition beyond settling down. Not an evening of small talk, more microscopic. I got the feeling that I was being interviewed for a role as a future housewife and child-bearer. Meanwhile I was sussing out whether he would be up for a flat in New York, a large sailing boat and a bit of global domination. I don't think we'll be seeing each other again;

* Finding out the person I like is going out with someone already - probably a wet dream of a girl who is a corporate lawyer and a part-time extra for Baywatch complete with a flat in Chelsea and one in New York. Hey ho.

* Uncle going into hospital. I'm from a very close (read claustrophobic) family and although he should be fine and hopefully back in our village for Christmas, our 'grouping' instinct is kicking in. An ex once remarked that my family 'stuck together like glue' which is very true. I'm the only one who lives outside Wales (most of my family live in the same village) and happenings such as this make me feel like I am far away;

* Disastrous night out with customer that is too woeful to go into here. Tried to drink vodka and smoke 50,000 fags to blot it out but failed miserably - can still remember the whole evening and next morning I felt like I was going to have a stroke /looked like one of the Grateful Dead. Have bloodied my knees and fingers crossed it should all be okay now. One of the longest and most stressful evenings in living memory (before aforementioned date, that is);

* Long hours and missing the chance to accompany friends to the Chagford hog roast;

But it hasn't been that bad - I've not been sat around wearing black and weeping loudly for the week (in fact it's been quite a good week all in all). Some highlights to balance the week out are:

* A lot of festive cheer - some great nights out with customers; Christmas get-together with K,O, G, A and M on Sunday and going out with old W4 flatmates on Friday night;

* Receiving a hamper and a bottle of champagne from some customers - lovely gestures and very unexpected;

* Going to visit small children (god daughters) for Christmas carols etc - inciting my first festive feelings of 2005;

* My little brother posting me a copy of 'The Breakfast Club' (expect another review of an 80s classic in the near future);

* Sussing out how links etc work on this thing. Yeah, I know *everyone* else knows how they work and I'm hardly going to win a technical prize or anything.

Am hoping that normal blogging service will resume.... (don't quote me, I've got something on tonight and tomorrow night)

You're it!

2005-12-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

Notice I have been tagged by Quinquireme and need to come up with a list of favourite foods.

Have added to my 'to do' list and will probably compile over Christmas as I am working my way through my 19,000 calories/day diet. ...

It's been ages since I was tagged anyhow, so part of me (the part that can't be bothered to think of ten things I actually like) assumes that the game is over.

Conga at LSE turns into £30,000 riot

2005-12-08T03:47:00.000-05:00

Not sure whether to even believe this. The LSE? The conga? Is somebody somewhere taking the piss?

Then again, I can understand that if you try to force a few hundred people with half a brain (each, not between them) do the conga then a riot is very likely to ensue. Perhaps it was Black Lace's version and to be followed up with a round of 'Agadoo' then 'Superman'. In which case they got off lightly with only £30,000 of damage.

Was determined to have a very early night tonight. Gone horribly wrong: Gordon Gekko, it's *all* your fault. You yuppie types are all the same: your talk of devil-worshipping therapists; your inability to understand thigh spreads (not what it sounds like) and your repertoire of bad party tricks - while swigging pink champagne all night. *Honestly*.

Because we'd like to think we might be worth it.

2005-12-07T11:40:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I took a day off work. And didn't go online All Day. This is not something that happens very often (last time I did it was due to a long flight, I can't recall the time before that). I'm not saying this from a point of martyrdom: I actually like being online and to feel that I *know* what is going on.

But yesterday was different* as I went to St David's spa (followed by a three-hour meal in their swanky restaurant) with my sister: an immensely talented and funny person who is one of the easiest people I can spend time with. Though we don't get to spend much time with each other as she lives in a coastal Welsh village and I live very far away (well, not that far but I did spend more than seven hours of the day on motorways in a very small car) and whenever we do see each other we are surrounded by other family members, which I'm not moaning about (but yet I am).

I'm not really a big fan of spas and alternative therapies: I don't know where my chakra is (and even if I did I would have no intention of having it tuned and aligned); I think reiki is a load of nonsense; I don't think God intended us to wrap ourselves in algae; and I have no intention of being hosed down with cold water in Guantanamo Bay-fashion. I am also very dubious of the new fad of being doused in alcohol and set on fire to lose weight (take up swimming or go to Weight Watchers like the rest of us).

But, I have to admit I am now a fan of massage. Especially if the therapist is a drop-dead muscular and very sexy bloke.

Next treat (post-Christmas, need to save up) is to get stoned. No, not in *that* way - a massage with hot stones.

* Okay, I admit I was told off by one therapist for not only having my mobile phone on me (it was on silent, honest) but also having my charger with me and plugging it into the socket in one of the treatment rooms. Little did they know of my attempts to pick up WiFi in their changing rooms.

STFU (better late than never)

2005-12-05T22:21:00.000-05:00

I have not been in the best of moods today. I think part of this is the fact that I have not been able to give my full effort / vocal range to National Shut The Fuck Up Day, i.e have not been able to share the sentiments with anyone. Not yet anyhow, though am about to go out for the evening - a few drinks etc...

Before I do go onto the streets of W4 to shout at people, I'd like to say that it's good to see a posh-speaking PR-type promoting a day that is worthwhile. The Times's Victor Lewis Smith once threatened to hire a PR company to promote *1 March as National No Day Day, in order to stop it being claimed as National Diarrhoea Day or National Incontinence Day... I think he'd support this one. Perhaps we could get a corporate sponsor for next year??? Any ideas on a postcard to said PR-type.

* Though I do hate to point out that St David might mind

The Ewing Brothers: Ray vs. Gary vs. Bobby

2005-12-05T13:48:00.000-05:00

Rightio, one final comment on this to sort out the gorgeous men from the rest of the Ewing brothers.

From left to right we have Ray who seems to be the most popular:GSE's fave - apparently 'a bit like Brad Pitt but less pongy'; Craziequeen stopped hankering after Ray and JR for him and the surliest of girls only had eyes from him.

In the middle there's Gary. With 'nil pwa'.

Then *swoon* Bobby, who to me (and surely millions of others*) was the Morten Harket of Dallas. Though in our survey (of four females** Ray seems to win hands-down).

* My theory is not being proved here.
** Almost as many as they survey for beauty products on TV.

Flatmates

2005-12-05T00:34:00.000-05:00

A *top* weekend, although I had to dress up as a lapdancer* (not my usual weekend garb). Spent it with my old flatmates. We don't get to meet up as a group that often so it's a real treat when we do.

The five of us lived together for about four years in our mid-twenties and we never had any problems living together as a group: no awkward Shallow-Grave type interviews when we were assembling (and no-one died: if they did they certainly wouldn't have had a stash of cash); and once we all lived together no arguments over stolen milk / cleanliness / shopping for stuff for the house.

There's not even anything bitchy I can say: we all got on fabulously, had a great laugh; held fantastic parties which our house (detached house with cavernous dance-ready rooms downstairs) became well-known for (by party-goers, neighbours**, estate agent and eventually landlord - losing us our deposit but who *really* expects to get that back?) and all became good friends. Quite boring, I know.

Now time is tight and with us scattered between Birmingham, Harpenden, London and Devon, it's such a treat to meet up together. It's a relief that nothing has changed between us, though it's been years that we lived together.

Also had side benefit of spending a weekend away from the Arctic Hole that is my flat and to not have to sleep with dressing gown and balaclava, though my cough /cold still refuses to budge.

Finished off weekend (and myself) with a drink with the lovely Gordon Gekko, who gave me an overview on how he copes with his 'arena of hedonism'. Sorry I couldn't stay out late Gordon - I think my days in said arena are over...

* Lapdancer costume is due to flatmate S insisting on a 'murder mystery' type dinner thing. I don't think it really panned out as he planned as we just all got completely legless and took the piss out of each other's character. Surely the normal thing to do under those circumstances (am not a fan of these things). Although I have to admit I have seen people on a Saturday night on Swansea's notorious 'Kingsway' wearing not too dissimilar stuff on their way to some of the nightclubs on that road.

** Admit at this point that we had one neighbour that we didn't like too much who was nicknamed Mrs Give-A-Fuck. Worse run-in with her involved someone who will remain nameless pissed out of her/his head throwing ice cream at her conservatory one night. She asked for it, really.

Advent starts: Day 1

2005-12-02T01:10:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'm *far* too old for this (but to be honest I don't care): every year my mother makes and sends an advent calendar to most of the family/our village. Each day has a different small gift in it.

Day 1: A hopeful million pounds* (okay a scratch card) and a consolation chocolate bar.

* £1 richer. Not a bad start.

Bobby's big hair

2005-11-30T02:47:00.000-05:00

In late but few words before I hit the sack. Have spent evening at customer event and brain is closing down. Highlights of evening:

1 - meeting person who tested socks for a living;

2 - running (completely by chance) into someone who has been avoiding me for a few months that I really needed to sort something out with;

3 - Spending part of the evening barefoot in a crowded London bar (as my shoes managed to cut one of my heels to ribbons during the day), stepping on bit of glass and cutting foot (yes I know it was as stupid thing to do but really, my heel was bleeding loads). Come to think of it this was more of a lowlight;

4 - chatting to someone who had exactly the same hair as Patrick Duffy in his Dallas heydays. I even found him quite fanciable - only because he reminded me of the lovely Bobby when I was a young impressionable girl that watched far too much TV. Surely Bobby was one of the most fanciable TV icons of the 80s?*

Hands up: who fancied Bobby / Pam from Dallas? The choice of the two *must* cover everyone of both sexes.

I can't imagine many people fancied JR, Cliff Barnes (surely not, or the other Ewing brother - Ray?); Sue Ellen and her pissed up sneer; though not sure about Charlene (is that her name?) - after all she did have an enormous chest that she seemed to 'parade' somewhat even though it was already equal to her total height, and she seemed to flick her hair about alot. Then again I suppose they all did - even Bobby.

Night x

*Aside from Bill Oddie, don't even ask me about that fascination - I'm not sure where it began, with the Goodies possibly - I know it was when I was very young, just like SG spending part of her early years kissing Barry Manilow's face.

2005-11-30T02:37:00.000-05:00

Well, the drill wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be. Highlights: it makes lots of noise; I had the first-time experience of buying rawplugs (number 8 drill bit, y'know) and at first scared the bejesus out of myself by being convinced that I was going to drill into an electrical cable*, or just stright through the wall to the the outside world.

Turns out I needn't have bothered -my wall is crumbling so much that I could have made these holes with the handle of a teaspoon. Back to the drawing board as I work out how to proceed complete with pieces of wood, glue and plaster? ....

* Even though I was drilling the window lintel and have it on good authority that there will be no electricty cables

Have B&D drill, will..er...drill (and possibly maim)

2005-11-25T20:45:00.000-05:00

I really need to fix the blinds that feel down in my flat (since I bought the place it's started to fall apart - why does that happen?) and there's absolutely no reason why I can't fix some of the bloody* things myself: I'm a capable human being, and I'm sure the possession of ovaries can't stop me from recognising one end of a screwdriver to another.

So, I have invested in a Black & Decker CD18CA Cordless Drill (18V). Well worth the forty-something quid - well, I hope it is - it has features such as a keyless metal chuck, the capacity of 35mm in wood (sounds like some blokes I have met), comfortable styling and a variable speed for 'gentle start and full control (hang on, hang on - this is all starting to sound decidedly dodgy) and it has 5 torque settings... erm, I'm sure that's as many as I'll need. For now.

Think of my following post (plan to spend tomorrow morning fixing blinds) as an alternative to LC's Random Male Vanity Product Review *series, though with less wit /effort, fewer comparisons (I'm not going to buy several power drills just to tell folks which is the best) and no re-hydrating micro proteins.

As I become DIY girl I will, naturally, stop buying/looking longingly though shop windows at winter boots, bags and be-jewelled fripperies and instead will know where B&Q is. And own stud cutters, circular saws and belt sanders. It's a whole new *exciting* world - surely?

* I may regret using the word 'bloody' if anything goes wrong while I am teaching myself how to drill things

** I did contemplate calling the series the 'Female Power Tool Product Review', but it may be somewhat misleading.

"Dial M For Merthyr"

2005-11-25T11:19:00.000-05:00

Many thanks (diolch yn fawr) to PF for sending me this list of Welsh film remakes.

-9½ Leeks
-Trefforest Gump
-Cwmando
-The Lost Boyos
-An American Werewolf in Powys
-Huw Dares Gwyneth
-Dai Hard
-The Wizard of Oswestry
-Cool Hand Look-you
-Sheepless in Seattle
-The Eagle has Llandudno
-The Magnificent Severn
-Haverfordwest Was Won
-Austin Powys
-The Magic Rhonddabout
-Independence Dai
-The Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch That Time Forgot
-Seven Brides from Seven Sisters
-The Bridge on the River Wye
-A Beautiful Mind-you
-The Welsh Patient
-Look You Back in Bangor
-Evans Can Wait
-A Fishguard Called Rhondda
-Where Eagles Aberdare
-Dial M For Merthyr (my personal favourite from this list)

Note to PF

2005-11-23T20:00:00.000-05:00

Aw go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on....

I must ...

2005-11-21T10:22:00.000-05:00

A varied weekend - G's birthday in Clapham and a day with Al in the outer reaches of London (Uxbridge). Al is one of my dearest friends - and the sort of person that makes you open the scary-looking mail you've been trying to hide under the cat litter tray. A day with Al always makes me want to spring clean my life a bit. So, my list of immediate 'musts':

HOME LIFE
My flat roof is leaking again - I must get it sorted properly this time

HEALTH
I've been ill for over a week and no matter how much Benylin* I drink I don't feel any better - I must go to the doctors (and must not smoke anymore)

Having just committed to a ski holiday in Whistler [note to self: must check bank balance before doing such things], there's no way I'm going to (a) get into my ski gear or (b) survive on any Canadian slopes unless I start exercising. It's no use, I must dust off my gym membership card and start exercising

WORK
I must do my expenses (boring but true)

Well, I suppose at this point I must get on with my day. Though I have to admit I'm really not in the mood for a Monday morning.

* It is 5% volume ethanol, and not a bad tipple

For anyone who's ever won. For anyone who's ever lost. And for everyone who's still in there trying....

2005-11-17T10:44:00.000-05:00

Er, you may (or your memory may have blocked it out) remember this as the tagline for the er, classic* 'Working Girl'. One of those things (alongside The Breakfast Club and every episode of Moonlighting / Dempsey and Makepeace) that had a deep impact on me in my formative years. Though I can't for the life of me remember why.

So, I tracked down a copy, found some unwilling company and forced them to watch it with me (they may not admit it but they were hooked after seconds, though they almost made a bolt for the door when Carly Simon's rousing theme song started up).

Well, I still don't know why I liked it as a kid (and I'm sure at the time I didn't find it funny) but I haven't laughed quite so much for a long time - from the moment Joan Cusac's** character appeared in the opening shot. Unbelievable gravity-defying backcombed, hairspray-laden - words fail me. (You wonder what would have happened had she gone anywhere near a naked flame during filming) and she wears all of the most vibrant shades of eyeshadow known to womankind - all at once. (Little wonder Harrison looks like he's putting up some resistance).

Have taken some top 'Working Girl' tips. Of course there's the problem of whether I want to take advice from Signourney as the venomous idea-stealing boss with a shabby obsession with fame, power and money or Melanie's cutsey girl-next-door brimming-with-ideas...

Anyhow, some starting points for the 'The New Work Me':

1. Backcomb my hair and buy 2,300 cans of Wella ShockWaves Ultra Strong Power Volumising Spray
2. Invest in some shoulderpads, perhaps some leopardskin too.
3. Start wearing really scary eyeshadow - several bright colours, all at once
4. Learn how to speak German (badly)
5. Look colleagues in the eye with a steely gaze and say things such as "That's not going to be a problem is it?"
6. Always wear high heels to work [I'm quite tall already - and generally only wear heels if I'm in a threatening mood - take note if you know me]
7. Buy a snooker table-sized desk. Or perhaps seeing as some folk are on holiday, steal their desks and fuse them to mine. Strut around my new huge desk.
8. Smoke an eighth of a cigarette while sitting at my new huge desk
9. March around the office when I turn up at work and make sure that everyone is silent when I walk in

10. Apologies to UC for only coming up with nine things. Letting the list side down, I know.

Next - well, other onscreen role models for women office workers. Not overly inspiring:Bridget Jones - scatty yet endearing chracter led by a desire to lose weight and find a man - er, no comment. Dolly P in Nine to Five???

* I say classic, though really there's very little of the 'class' element in this. So more of an 'ic'.

** Yes, John's sister. I bet she's really sick of people asking her that. She won an Oscar for this supporting actress role.

Lust and lager (not in that order)

2005-11-15T11:30:00.000-05:00

Signs that you've had too much to drink.

1. You wake up at 2am, fully-clothed on your bed
2. Your bedroom light is on
3. You have a ball of mozzarella at the end of your bed*
4. You decide by 4.30am that it would be a great idea to go to the office as you are in too much of a state to read and you decided to get rid of your TV set a few weeks ago
5. You can't get dressed without falling over
6. You lock yourself out of your own office

All in all not the best start to the day. On the upside though I had (at least in the first part of it, which is much clearer in my mind) a fantastic afternoon out with Gordon Gecko (who manages to be greatly entertaining company whilst raving about things such as the secretive Plunge Protection Team).

Gordon had to abandon me for another appointment and I was about to head home when who should rear his not-so-ugly head but the once lustworthy P. A great ex-drinking partner and the Man Who Broke My Heart. Well, it was only polite to stay and get totally smashed with him.

On reflection this morning P is no longer the person I lust after and my heart is fully repaired - though the rest of my body hates me.

* No, I'm not sure about this either. I've never been the get-drunk-and-buy-a-lump-of-cheese type. Worrying.

Bloody motherfucking lightweight assholes

2005-11-13T21:06:00.000-05:00

On someone else's recommendation (not to mention the fact that they bought the tickets), I went to go and see Martha Wainwright last night - brilliant despite one or two men sneaking past *fem-security and diluting the oestrogen levels in the room. On the downside I have to admit that I'm never very comfortable at concerts where people stand still and I was home far too early. Well, that'll teach me to go out with lightweights.

Martha was fantastic and mesmorising (the person next to me had their eyes shut during some of the songs, I think the lyrics deeply affected them). I kept my eyes open for the whole thing - which reminded me of Alanis Morissette crossed with Edie Brickell.

PS Martha's angriest (and hence best-known) song was penned about her father - not about the fact that she had to go home early.

* Sounds like that ill-fated attempt of female condoms. Pure madness.

Pre-Christmas things to give up

2005-11-13T11:44:00.000-05:00

1. Alcohol
2. Wheat
3. Sugar
4. Dairy
5. Not going to the gym
6. Smoking

Hmm... it's not going to be a very fun November. And I'm meant to be going out for dinner tonight- in a gastropub. Perhaps I'll start tomorrow...

Pen blwydd hapus, nain bach*

2005-11-12T19:27:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to say slightly belated birthday to 'nain bach' - seen here sporting this season's over-sized sweater (this was taken on a family holiday to Paris).

I joined in the celebrations by having my face painted and eating my bodyweight in Wotsits and 'Party Rings' with sixteen small children in a small Welsh village. Not *that* different to work, well apart from the face painting.

* Happy Birthday, little nephew **

** I don't get to use what little Welsh I know that much, so forgive me. Expect more after next weekend when I'll be spending a few days with other folks from that side of the Severn Bridge at the London Welsh Centre (aka the 'Canolfan Cymry Llundain'...).

What's wrong with this?

2005-11-10T01:18:00.000-05:00

The White Stripes - the most sexually explosive band ever. In Alexandra Palace* - the sort of place that makes the Boeing manufacturing plant look cosy / ideal for concert acoustics.

It's simply wrong and although I think Jack and Meg are fantastic the venue was unsuitable (not sure what Alexandra Palace is suitable for - perhaps it's worth a trip by daylight?). And it's a pain in the arse to get to / back from.

Might find out other more suitable venues they are touring and see if I can get a ticket. Second time lucky perhaps, even if I have to go to Waunarlwydd working men's club to see them play.**

* AKA 'Ally Pally' which for some reason is a nickname that really annoys me
** Somehow doubt they have this on the tour plan

Home horror video

2005-11-07T20:19:00.000-05:00

Met some friends this week who are genetically wallowing in the exitement of their first born child, G. After the compulsory holding of the little 'un and a suitable amount of ooing and ahhing, I was offered a cup of coffee while I watched the video. Video I asked?

Yes indeedy - (and anyone with a quesy stomach can leave at this point) - they took a video in the birthing room. Starting with an ER-esque crowd of green-coated and masked strangers shouting "push"* while all peering, well, up inside my friend. Then capturing her pain as she suffered contractions. Then the finale as the 'bump' went from being part her to hey presto a baby and her stomach returning to normal (okay not to normal but it was like a giant balloon being deflated) and then the father cutting the umbilical cord (amazingly while he was still filming with his other hand). All caught on home video.

As a person who thinks of wedding videos as a bit unneccesary, this really takes the biscuit (rusk?). Urgh, suddenly I'm not hungry anymore.

* At one point one of the nurses changed from shouting "push" to "I don't want to be in your video", which made me laugh out loud.

Ahoy little donkey

2005-11-07T01:09:00.000-05:00

Yes, I dragged several other human beings to an exhibition just because the promotional poster had a donkey in a boat on it.

Met up with group of old (becoming truer in every sense of the word) friends from uni for breakfast and to go to an exhibition. I can't believe we manage to meet up on a Sunday morning and to do anything vaguely cultural - though we did go for a drink a lunchtime, so not all past behaviour is lost.

I don't think I'll get to choose the 'thing we do' next time we meet up - we can't do anything that is vaguely pretentious as we relapse all too easily into 18 year olds even though we are suddenly somehow almost double that age*. Parts were good (on at the Hayward Gallery on the Southbank), called 'Universal Experience' - about tourism and the impact of humans visiting/ recording places we visit.

Highlight (apart from said poster with water-bourne donkey) was a film called 'Cannibal Tours', a documentary about a group of Westerners on a trip to Papua New Guinea to visit a tribe that used to practice cannibalism (no, no-one got eaten - which what I was hoping for). It included cringing scenes of Americans taking photos of the tribe, shouting at them to 'look this way', 'smile', 'stand over there' etc while the subjects looked really out of sorts. The documentary makers has an interview with a tribal elder who couldn't quite understand why all the photos were needed (saying that: he didn't comment on the camera). He was genuinely confused by this obsession of people to take photos of him and his community (while one tribe member was being interviwed by the film makers there were Americans and Europeans behind him taking photos and commenting, in 'Creature Comfort' style).

Mig - You'd enjoy this. Some great photos and some thought-provoking stuff (as long as you're not with a bunch of wanabee 18 year olds). On until 6 Dec.

Then I met T in the afternoon before going to meet Popilita - Argentina's next supermodel - for a cup of tea. Popilta introduced me to a strange yet fascinating Canadian-Argentian bloke who has been in London for two days and I *hope* I get to meet him again (she says plotting how she will make this happen)... sounds like a better plan than speed dating.

* Good grief. Maths really can be quite alarming.