The unexciting tales of vampires and a bride to be
I'm getting married in October, writing an MA dissertation that's due a week before, whilst working and seemingly having too little time whilst doing far too much.
Sunday, 27 June 2010
WANTED:
Interesting, pithy opening for 15,000 word dissertation. Must include information about contemporary vampires, sexuality and traditional literary vampires. I have lots of ideas floating around in this strange brain of mine, but I'm still awaiting the epiphany moment that brings me the animated and illuminating introduction I desire. Today would be nice, thanks. Whilst I wait, a blog entry for ultimate procrastination.
I was very excited the other day, as I managed to finally find something I've been searching for for quite some time, a complete set of recipe cards to finish my Nana (who sadly passed away when I was very teeny)'s collection from the '60s. So, when I'm not dieting, I shall be trying out some of the missing cards I managed to get thanks to eBay:
I also bought a set of Emma Bridgewater cake tins in the sale in Lakeland (my new favourite shop - I really love Kingston):
Victor has requested some cookies for his birthday that I used to regularly make, so I will get a chance to use them then (and try to resist - maybe one!). I really miss baking and cooking. We were browsing in Bentalls yesterday, and they had those really nice Le Creuset casserole pots on sale. Still very expensive, mind. I can't wait until we have our own house next year. A decent kitchen will be heaven. I think I'd like a farmhouse style one, but of course, budget budget budget :(
Ordering the invitiations for the wedding soon, tres exciting. By the way, anyone who's thinking of getting married, seriously, just elope. You would not BELIEVE how expensive flowers are. Really.
Well, the epiphany moment hasn't arrived as of yet, but here's hoping. Looking forward to this week once the introduction is out of the way. Managed to get tickets for Mock the Week on Tuesday, which is great as we're both off on Wednesday for Victor's birthday. Then, final supervision on Thursday for some much needed feedback before launching into the dissertation proper.
Oh, weight loss has stagnated again. 1st2lbs so far. Fail. Book says it may be water retention as I'm a lady and it's *that* time of the month, so we shall see after. Might just step it up at the gym a little bit. Two episodes of Buffy whilst doing cardio then!
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Eejits. Everywhere.
Why must some people and companies be so bloody trying all the time? BT haven't actually cancelled my service, despite me phoning up and doing said cancellation before we moved on the 1st April, and now they say I will have a cancellation charge as the contract has automatically renewed. Oh-ho-ho. Not by the time I've finished with them. Similarly, Hounslow Borough Council are knobjockeys for failing to see the glaring stamp on my council tax exemption certificate, and claim it's not valid. Argh!
Friday was okay, sorting out more wedding things, but I think Victor and I were completely flowered out by the time we talked to the second florist, particularly Victor, who switched off the minute he heard the middle-aged hippy type talking about the 'synergy' of the flowers. She kept suggesting pink. Oh dear. Still attempting to sort out the hair trial, and the first dress fitting is looming, on the 27th. Trying to lose another half a stone by then. Total now, in just over two weeks, is a stone. Chuffed! The gym is much more bearable now we've done an iPod exchange and I have one (albeit a little quieter), so I've been catching up on TV episodes whilst doing my CV.
With the Edinburgh Fringe Festival comes the inevitable Edinburgh previews, so for the measly price of £5 each, I'm seeing the following comedians in July: Kevin Bridges, Jon Richardson, Mark Watson, Stephen K. Amos (I may also briefly appear on his show in August. Blink and you'll miss it!) and Reginald D. Hunter. Yeeeah.
Friday was okay, sorting out more wedding things, but I think Victor and I were completely flowered out by the time we talked to the second florist, particularly Victor, who switched off the minute he heard the middle-aged hippy type talking about the 'synergy' of the flowers. She kept suggesting pink. Oh dear. Still attempting to sort out the hair trial, and the first dress fitting is looming, on the 27th. Trying to lose another half a stone by then. Total now, in just over two weeks, is a stone. Chuffed! The gym is much more bearable now we've done an iPod exchange and I have one (albeit a little quieter), so I've been catching up on TV episodes whilst doing my CV.
With the Edinburgh Fringe Festival comes the inevitable Edinburgh previews, so for the measly price of £5 each, I'm seeing the following comedians in July: Kevin Bridges, Jon Richardson, Mark Watson, Stephen K. Amos (I may also briefly appear on his show in August. Blink and you'll miss it!) and Reginald D. Hunter. Yeeeah.
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
R.I.P. iRotpod...
...you piece of Apple crap. Motherboard replacement didn't work. iPod is truly dead as a dodo. I cried a little cry. Now I'll have to save up for a new one and use Victor's old one in the meantime, which isn't ideal, but better than nothing. Problem is that I have to import one from the US, as any bought within the EU fall prey to the EU volume limit law, meaning you can't have them louder than 100db, and believe me, Apple have enforced this and made it almost nigh unhackable. Seeing as though my hearing loss prevents me from hearing noise under about 70db for the most part, this is what has to be done. Because the dollar is quite strong at the moment, this means it will be more expensive than buying one from the UK (about £172 + p&p). Sob. I've got a student who's interested in some private lessons next week, as his IELTS exam is on the 19th, so I can put that extra bit of cash towards it.
Off to Gloucestershire on Friday to sort out some more wedding stuff. Meeting with the lights/sound man, another meeting with the cake people (will I be strong enough to resist the gorgeous cherry sponge that will make up the bottom tiers of our cake? Who knows!), some florists and having a hair trial. Got to get on with the invites soon and get them sent out next month. It's all coming together, there's not too much left to do as far as I can think. We (Victor) bought the rings last month, I've got the first fitting for my dress at the end of the month and it's just silly little bits and pieces now. That reminds me, must send off the forms for the ceremony to Gloucestershire Registry office in the next two months.
Weight loss stagnated a bit over the weekend, I've lost 10lbs now. On the second phase, which is alternating days of pure proteins and proteins + a limited selection of vegetables. I had some mushrooms today that I quickly bought from the shop last night, and I have to say that although they were tasteless button mushrooms, I devoured them with relish. Will continue with this until Latitude Festival in July, where I'm going to reward myself by having some yummy summer ciders whilst watching a few bands, a lot of comedy and much much more in sunny Suffolk. Then, I'm hoping I'll only have to continue with it for another month before going into the next phase, where I can start reintroducing limited foods.
I think it may have partly stagnated as I didn't really do any exercise or drink enough water over the weekend. I've just joined a new gym, as Fitness First was getting right on my tits. Besides half the machines being faulty and rubbish, there's not a vast amount of facilities there in the first place, and the staff are always bothering you to try and score personal training lessons for stupid money. Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre are one of the first Hounslow Council gyms to re-open after refurbishment, and it's pretty lush. Two pools, brand new fitness equipment with iPod docks and lots of other mod cons, plus better resistance and weights. Plus, I'm saving £15 a month. Score!
Planning to get on with the dissertation over the weekend. I've got three weeks to pull together my introduction and first chapter for Roger's perusal, so I've been attempting to read Foucault on the bus at 8am, and all my brain wants to do is read the crappy trash in the Metro at that time of the morning. When I've finished writing this I shall attempt it further, and I'm planning to go to the British Library for some research next week, after I hopefully re-register tomorrow as my membership expired last month.
Right, Foucault, tell me about sexuality, and I'll try not to read it with a French accent in my head.
Off to Gloucestershire on Friday to sort out some more wedding stuff. Meeting with the lights/sound man, another meeting with the cake people (will I be strong enough to resist the gorgeous cherry sponge that will make up the bottom tiers of our cake? Who knows!), some florists and having a hair trial. Got to get on with the invites soon and get them sent out next month. It's all coming together, there's not too much left to do as far as I can think. We (Victor) bought the rings last month, I've got the first fitting for my dress at the end of the month and it's just silly little bits and pieces now. That reminds me, must send off the forms for the ceremony to Gloucestershire Registry office in the next two months.
Weight loss stagnated a bit over the weekend, I've lost 10lbs now. On the second phase, which is alternating days of pure proteins and proteins + a limited selection of vegetables. I had some mushrooms today that I quickly bought from the shop last night, and I have to say that although they were tasteless button mushrooms, I devoured them with relish. Will continue with this until Latitude Festival in July, where I'm going to reward myself by having some yummy summer ciders whilst watching a few bands, a lot of comedy and much much more in sunny Suffolk. Then, I'm hoping I'll only have to continue with it for another month before going into the next phase, where I can start reintroducing limited foods.
I think it may have partly stagnated as I didn't really do any exercise or drink enough water over the weekend. I've just joined a new gym, as Fitness First was getting right on my tits. Besides half the machines being faulty and rubbish, there's not a vast amount of facilities there in the first place, and the staff are always bothering you to try and score personal training lessons for stupid money. Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre are one of the first Hounslow Council gyms to re-open after refurbishment, and it's pretty lush. Two pools, brand new fitness equipment with iPod docks and lots of other mod cons, plus better resistance and weights. Plus, I'm saving £15 a month. Score!
Planning to get on with the dissertation over the weekend. I've got three weeks to pull together my introduction and first chapter for Roger's perusal, so I've been attempting to read Foucault on the bus at 8am, and all my brain wants to do is read the crappy trash in the Metro at that time of the morning. When I've finished writing this I shall attempt it further, and I'm planning to go to the British Library for some research next week, after I hopefully re-register tomorrow as my membership expired last month.
Right, Foucault, tell me about sexuality, and I'll try not to read it with a French accent in my head.
Saturday, 5 June 2010
IT HOT!
We had planned sometime mid-week to go swimming today. Sure enough, when Victor returned from work, we got our gear together and headed for Isleworth Recreation Centre. 'Pool closed'. Fail. Undeterred, we headed for Feltham AirParcs Lesiure Centre. 'Pool closed'. More fail. It's baking hot, I'm about to melt and there are no frickin' pools open? What the deuce?! We went further still, to Hampton open air pool, only to be faced with massive queues. By this point, Victor had lost the will to live, but we headed for Kingston anyway as we were so close. Big mistake. Gas works all along the one way system in Kingston meant it took us a good while before we got there. We then decided to go to the Kingfisher Leisure Centre. Success! I got my swim after all. It was lush, although there were far too many children (as to be expected really).
The scales this morning report a 9lb loss so far (and for Victor also). I seriously can't wait to eat vegetables again from next week. Although I did have some extremely tasty (and extremely expensive) British Rosé veal last night, with some rosemary and pepper. Nom. I have also discovered I don't mind Coke Zero too much, as I can't taste the sweetener as much as I can in Diet Coke, which helps a little with the sweet tooth.
I wish I had done as Charlie Brooker has, decided to be out of the country for the impending World Cup. I. Don't. Care. Stop all the advertising and general discussion about it. It's hard to escape mention of it when you teach foreign students too, particularly as we have a wealth of Brazilians at our school. Good old Charlie manages, as usual, to capture my feelings succinctly in his latest Screen Burn.
If anyone would like to donate an air conditioning unit or one of those new-fangled crazy Dyson fans, please, be my guest. I think I have Dave Syndrome. Best not let the thermometer hit 88 then.
The scales this morning report a 9lb loss so far (and for Victor also). I seriously can't wait to eat vegetables again from next week. Although I did have some extremely tasty (and extremely expensive) British Rosé veal last night, with some rosemary and pepper. Nom. I have also discovered I don't mind Coke Zero too much, as I can't taste the sweetener as much as I can in Diet Coke, which helps a little with the sweet tooth.
I wish I had done as Charlie Brooker has, decided to be out of the country for the impending World Cup. I. Don't. Care. Stop all the advertising and general discussion about it. It's hard to escape mention of it when you teach foreign students too, particularly as we have a wealth of Brazilians at our school. Good old Charlie manages, as usual, to capture my feelings succinctly in his latest Screen Burn.
If anyone would like to donate an air conditioning unit or one of those new-fangled crazy Dyson fans, please, be my guest. I think I have Dave Syndrome. Best not let the thermometer hit 88 then.
Thursday, 3 June 2010
iFail
The iPod saga continues. At present, it is effectively useless, refusing to sync in iTunes, partition, format or complete any kind of restore, despite an evening of both of us attempting to revive the poor bugger that's brought me so much joy in not having to listen to those around me whilst commuting or generally living. So, after work I popped into the Apple museum in Westfield, complete with requisite cooing over the new WankPad to see if the failed computing graduates could help me. I had to book an appointment at the 'Genius Bar' (oh the irony), and return at 4:30. On the way, there was a huge queue for Disco Gap (I think their customers call it Abercrombie and Fitch or something), which left me quite perplexed as to why people would even go in there, let alone queue to get in there. I left and I did my usual work out at the gym, having to pay a £1 for the world's smallest towel as I'd forgotten mine.
I returned at said time, and had to wait for an available smug git to help me. What is it about people that own Apple products that makes them think they're infinitely better than anyone else. Oh yeah, how is Adobe Acrobat working out for you on your iPhone again? What about free SatNav in 70+ countries for life? I was amazed at how fully booked they were with broken Macs/iPhones/iPads/iPods. Macs are not infallible. They do break. You just own one, you didn't invent it. Anyway, said smug git (who was about 12 and clearly desperately trying to grow some microscopic fluff on his face and passing it off as facial hair) asked me for my problem, and I explained in rather acute detail that I'd done countless things (short of hurling it through windows) and it still wouldn't work. "Let's see what my Mac can do then". Git. Smug. When, of course, the Mac did less than bugger all to fix the problem, I really wanted to wipe the smug look off his face as he'd clearly thought he was some kind of celestial being for using a Mac rather than Windows. However, I'd secretly hoped it would solve the problem. iFail, of epic proportions. Victor is convinced it's the motherboard. Seeing as though he's occasionally right about some things, I'm going to trust him. New motherboard is £45 on eBay. I just hope it works. If Victor didn't have a spare 5th Gen iPod, I probably wouldn't have been able to face work today.
In other news, it is now Thursday for all you less than sharp people out there, and the Starbars remain firmly on the shelves of the Londis below work. Furthermore, I have, in just over 48 hours, lost 6lbs. So there. I've eaten so many eggs that I'm suprised I've not metamorphosed into a chicken in order to lay more to supply the increasing demand.
My second dissertation supervision went really well yesterday. I e-mailed Roger some notes beforehand, and he gave me some great constructive criticisms and lots of ideas to take away with me to shape up my 'long story', as Victor terms it. We had some good, intelligent discussion, and I find him really helpful and approachable. I was gunning for him as my supervisor, and I'm so glad he is. I also got my marks back for the last two essays I did, which were both merits. This is the most challenging course I've ever done, which is no bad thing, and I'm chuffed to be doing well.
This year's been fairly lacklustre for music thus far, with the exception of the Delphic album, Acolyte, and the new Edge of Dawn album, Anything That Gets You Through the Night. I've yet to hear the new School of Seven Bells single though, and there have been some other generally okay releases. I had a look at the BBC's 'Sound of 2010' shortlist, as I do most years to check out up and coming musicians (and where I discovered, and consequently saw a cracking live show from Delphic at the Leccy Ballroom), and another band I quite liked was Hurts (Ellie Goulding, The Drums and Marina & The Diamonds can all bite me, as they're steaming piles of crap). Their new video's just come out, Better than Love, and I'm loving it. They remind me of Tears for Fears and a little Depeche Mode in there somewhere, which of course is no bad thing. I'm really anticipating the album now! Coincidentally, like a lot of good music (think Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths etc.), both Hurts and Delphic hail from Manchester.
Check out the video:
I returned at said time, and had to wait for an available smug git to help me. What is it about people that own Apple products that makes them think they're infinitely better than anyone else. Oh yeah, how is Adobe Acrobat working out for you on your iPhone again? What about free SatNav in 70+ countries for life? I was amazed at how fully booked they were with broken Macs/iPhones/iPads/iPods. Macs are not infallible. They do break. You just own one, you didn't invent it. Anyway, said smug git (who was about 12 and clearly desperately trying to grow some microscopic fluff on his face and passing it off as facial hair) asked me for my problem, and I explained in rather acute detail that I'd done countless things (short of hurling it through windows) and it still wouldn't work. "Let's see what my Mac can do then". Git. Smug. When, of course, the Mac did less than bugger all to fix the problem, I really wanted to wipe the smug look off his face as he'd clearly thought he was some kind of celestial being for using a Mac rather than Windows. However, I'd secretly hoped it would solve the problem. iFail, of epic proportions. Victor is convinced it's the motherboard. Seeing as though he's occasionally right about some things, I'm going to trust him. New motherboard is £45 on eBay. I just hope it works. If Victor didn't have a spare 5th Gen iPod, I probably wouldn't have been able to face work today.
In other news, it is now Thursday for all you less than sharp people out there, and the Starbars remain firmly on the shelves of the Londis below work. Furthermore, I have, in just over 48 hours, lost 6lbs. So there. I've eaten so many eggs that I'm suprised I've not metamorphosed into a chicken in order to lay more to supply the increasing demand.
My second dissertation supervision went really well yesterday. I e-mailed Roger some notes beforehand, and he gave me some great constructive criticisms and lots of ideas to take away with me to shape up my 'long story', as Victor terms it. We had some good, intelligent discussion, and I find him really helpful and approachable. I was gunning for him as my supervisor, and I'm so glad he is. I also got my marks back for the last two essays I did, which were both merits. This is the most challenging course I've ever done, which is no bad thing, and I'm chuffed to be doing well.
This year's been fairly lacklustre for music thus far, with the exception of the Delphic album, Acolyte, and the new Edge of Dawn album, Anything That Gets You Through the Night. I've yet to hear the new School of Seven Bells single though, and there have been some other generally okay releases. I had a look at the BBC's 'Sound of 2010' shortlist, as I do most years to check out up and coming musicians (and where I discovered, and consequently saw a cracking live show from Delphic at the Leccy Ballroom), and another band I quite liked was Hurts (Ellie Goulding, The Drums and Marina & The Diamonds can all bite me, as they're steaming piles of crap). Their new video's just come out, Better than Love, and I'm loving it. They remind me of Tears for Fears and a little Depeche Mode in there somewhere, which of course is no bad thing. I'm really anticipating the album now! Coincidentally, like a lot of good music (think Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths etc.), both Hurts and Delphic hail from Manchester.
Check out the video: