Filed under: babble
ottery was quite good last night, I managed to finish off a lot of glazing. Also started on a new coil pot which is going to be massive. I think it could be a varse or an ornamental pot to put on a table or something. Also in the process of creating a mug for Dom. I hope he likes it. I think I put too much glaze on though, woops, the instructor has no faith
in me. Maybe now he has his reasons. I actually felt OK when I woke up today, which was a very strange feeling. I nearly skipped all the way to work.
At work I have tried to add some text to my dissertation type work qualification thing. It’s hard to get started, but when it has, I am sure the words will just flow out of my brain. Well that’s what I am waiting for anyway. I have also been revising and investigating various e-assessments in the public and private sectors. Brought in loads of music with me today, about ten CDs or so to put on my work iTunes, some classical music mixed with various sound tracks and and Elvis CD. I have listened to the classical lot all day, it’s driving me a little mad after four hours worth!
Very exciting news, seen a flat accross the road to where I work, two bedroom and all. I have made an appointment to go and view it and everything. I am a little excited, OK a lot excited! I can’t wait, I hope Dom comes too. No point going two or three times. I wonder what all the catches are though, such as service charge, ground rent if it’s leasehold, car parking etc. I could also get a little puppy then, pop over at lunch time to take it for a walk, how good would that be! Anyway must dash, home time approaches.
Filed under: babble | Tags: focus group, hangover, meeting, Peter Cavanaghs, pottery, rubbish, work
Oh my word I was chatting such rubbish last night, we talked about our days at University, I think me and Rosie are now going on holiday somewhere too. Anyway, today has been a jam packed day, this morning I had to attend a meeting with some colleagues about organising some training material, and then I had a focus group over lunch time, which I could have done with preparing for. Nevermind, there is always next time, I didn’t really know what to expect from the students, and didn’t really have any backup lines to try and keep the conversation going. Anyway, we got some feedback, so at least that’s good. I have also tested/had a play with some software.
I feel so tired, now and I have pottery to attend this evening too. No rest for the wicked as they say. I think I would enjoy it much better if it was the only thing I could look forward to.
Filed under: babble, books | Tags: celebrate, congratulations, die hard, dom, dylan thomas, niece, pizza, professional, the amber spyglass, the painted vale, wales
onday, monday! I feel very proffesional today, I don’t quite know what is wrong with me! Dom got a promotion today, he will have his own minions and everything. I am very proud of him indeed. I got to see my little monster niece over the weekend. She is the cutest thing. We went to Pizza Hut and ate until our bellies were quite content.
Friday night, Dom’s friend Alan came down to celebrate his birthday, we went out to a few bars and then came home 
and chatted until the cows came home. The rest of the time i was glued to my book, I am not sure whether it is because I am enjoying the book, or because it’s the last in the trilogy and I just want to find out what happens. I guess in the end its a bit of both. The book I have mentioned in my previous blogs and is the Amber Spy glass by Philip Pullman. My next big read is a collection of stories by Dylan Thomas. A man who comes from my home country – Wales, which should be very interesting indeed. A hope I am an old romantic, well I thought I was, we shall soon find out. I think I studied a few of his poems at school, but don’t remember much else about him.
I think we are off out this evening for a couple celebratory drinks for Dom. I have done loads of work today and have ticked two things off my things to do list, including some templates for the e-portfolio and a numerical reasoning certificate which can be printed out easily. I like it when i get to do a bit of coding, even if it is the easy stuff.
We also watched a film last night, it was in bed, The shaded vale, or something or other, with Edward Norton in it. His old English accent was quite good although a little annoying at times. The story was good, but I didn’t cry, I think that’s always a sign that a film was a good one. Particulalry when it’s one of those depressing unrequited love types, and believe me, I cry during most films, I think I even cried during Die Hard 4.0, there must be something wrong with me! I am booking myself in for some councilling as I type.
Filed under: babble | Tags: barge, bars, car, hangover, ill, proffesional, tfi, weekend
fter a horrible week of being ill, it is good to see the weekend. Mind you I was certainly glad to be back at work on Thurday, as I mentioned in my blog that day, I was starting to experience the symptoms of cabin fever. Since I have been back at work (despite arriving at half past nine every morning, don’t worry I am on flexi) I have been feeling rather proffesional, and have even considered donning a pair of high heels and smart trousers. Anyway after preparing my snazzy, proffesional new look the night before, I got up this morning and put some jeans on. I just got up and I thought f*** it, I can’t be arsed walking around all day in a pair of high heels that are going to destroy my poor little feet.
Dom’s friend is coming to stay tonight, which involved me picking him up from North Wales (about an hour or so there by car there and back). I don’t mind, an excuse to get out and drive about I guess. Otherwise I can safely say that I am a very green individual otherwise, I walk to and from work quite happily. The walk definately wakes me up in the
morning.
I had a really weird dream last night, I dreamt about my barge holiday which will be happening next month. No one was doing as they were told, and the schedule was all going a bit Pete Tong (Yes I am a control freak of sorts) and we werent going to make it to Oxford and back in time. Having woken up, I do think its a bit of a concern. I am sure it will all be fine, I don’t want to get up with a hangover and steer too early, that’s my problem.
So I think we are hitting the bars this evening, should be interesting. Not really my scene, but after a few G and Ts, it probably will be. Might even dress up and everything.
Filed under: babble | Tags: 101 dalmations, chair, cold, Films, gnocci, ill, lady and the tramp, niece, queen, the amber spyglass, work
didn’t know what to call todays post, so I just went with a very boring Thursday. Today was my first day back after being off for two days with a cold/flu. Whatever it was, I can never tell the difference. Anyway I still feel a bit shit and can’t talk properly. I was getting a little cabin feverish, and have had quite enough of day time TV namely ‘cash in the attic’. What a load of bo***. Anyway I have watched loads of films this week:
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Lady and the tramp (the first film I ever saw in the Cinema)
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101 Dalmations (a bit of a dog theme emerging here)
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Queen or The Queen, whatever it is
Anyway I am not going to talk much about these, because I have so much more to report. Also progressing through the third book in the trilogy of Phillip Pullmans ‘his dark materials’ the Amber Spyglass, its good but too much jumping about between chapters. But I guess that is the only way you can bring everything together effectively.
What else, I have seen some weird documenteries on Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie, I now feel very informed! I have been very busy on my first day back at work, sifting through emails, arranging meeting, adding far too many items to my ‘to do’ list for my liking.
Got to know a nice chap from work, who we will be meeting with as a team next week. It’s always good to make new friends. What else? I made a blackberry crumble pie the other day, very delicious it was too. Gnocci tonight, if only I could find the right recipe.
Spoken to my mam, about my very qute niece. Glad to see that she is urinating in playgrounds. It’s her birthday next month, I am told that a chair for her new house would be a nice present. My sister is getting her a shed for the garden, and is also going to build a little fence around it and get her some curtains. How cute.
Filed under: babble | Tags: liverpool, smashing pumpkins, tate, the subtle knife, wii
his morning I feel tired again, Dom has the man flu and I have the beginnings of a cold. The Smashing Pumpkins on Friday night were amazing to begin with, but a bit of a let down by the end of the night. They started off well and in the first couple of songs covered everything from Tonight, Tonight; Galapagos; Porcelina of the Vast Oceans, Today, Mayonaise, and even a weird version of Ava Adore toward the end of the first half, even one of their new tunes which was really good too. Then something happened, not quite sure what, a little over indulgence on Billy’s part. He guitar wanked for at least three quarters of an hour. What happened there? Everyone looked at each other in a moment of pure confusion. The wanking progressed into an actual tune for a couple of minutes which turned out to be the American anthem, before subsiding and the wanking continued. The first half however was so good that I am able to forgive the last half. I think everyone else has too. Got home at around midnight and fell asleep almost instantly.
Saturday and Sundayt I read the second book of the golden compass trilogy, I am sure it 
has a proper name, but i can’t think of it. Anyway this one is called the subtle knife, it was an amazing read, I might go as far to say one of the best books I have ever read. I finished the second half of the book in one day. I can’t wait to start the third, where can the story go now? I can’t believe that they were written as recently as 2000 either. On Saturday evening a popped upstairs, the neighbours invited me round for drinks and food. The food was amazing, Chinese, mmm mmm, all home cooked too. I consumed a bottle of wine, or two and played on the wii all evening. Well they all played on the Wii, and I sat back and appreciated the manouvers of the players. Quite entertaining.
Yesterday I was a little hung over, stayed in bed reading until about two, and then met Rosie and Tom for a day out in town. I bought the third book in his dark collection or whatever it is called, then we strolled down to the tate. I was quite surprised to see a collection of really famous paintings, I saw a Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothco, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Mondrian. A nice Sunday afternoon spent. When we came out of the Tate Liverpool was consumer by a taint of shadow, it was as if there had been a total eclipse and we had just missed it. It looked amazing.
Anyway that was about it for the weekend.
Filed under: babble | Tags: rat, ratatouille, smashing pumpkins, valentines
Filed under: babble | Tags: jerry maguire, pen, pub quiz, ratatouille, rats kangaroo, tom cruise, valentines
ooooops, I haven’t posted anything since Monday, see I knew I was going to be rubbish at this blog thing. Now I have loads to say. On Tuesday, having fully recovered from the weekend, I was supposed to go to pottery, but gave it a miss, as Carol couldn’t make it. So I started watching Jerry Maguire, the little kid in it is so cute! I passed out before the end of the movie, so I watched the end on Weds. One of Tom Cruise’s better movies, although he does tend to have the same facial expressions in most movies, most of his recent ones anyway, like the computer face and the anxiety face etc. I definately think that his better movies were in the 1980s, cocktail, born on the fourth of July. He was definately a lot more passionate about his work, and I guess that he had to fight to keep his stature back then.
Anyway went to the pub quiz last night, one of the questions was:
Q: What animal travels in mobs and has a leader called a buma?
I must add, I only guessed the answer, however I got the bloody thing right. The answer is kangaroo, but after much discussion we changed it to baboon. I was kicking myself for ages. And those stupid little betting shop pens that they give you in pub quizzes incase you run away with them, they have some sort of addictive quality. I couldn’t put mine down, I was squiggling everywhere.
Tonight of course is the night of lovers throughout the world. We are going to get some food from Marks and Sparks, and have a relaxing night in watching Ratatouille. I can’t wait, I might get the rats out so that they can watch too. I wonder what lovely food the store has to offer. This will be our fifth valentines together, and many more to come 
Filed under: babble | Tags: cereal packet, eastenders, hangover, lost, skinny jeans, sunday dinner
odays blog is going to be mostly about the tight trouser. Or skinny jean. On Saturday evening a good friend of mine introduced me to a party game. You get a cereal packet, place it on the floor and then each individual has to pick it up with their teeth. The only parts of your body that are allowed to touch the ground are your feet. Now this premise is fine for both yoga and non yoga individuals alike up to a certain 
point, this game is definately not for those with skinny jeans. I was wearing a pair of these criminal trousers and confess that two days later I am still in a lot of pain. The trousers cut the circulation off in many parts of my upper thigh and I have bruises everywhere. Never try and bend over is a pair of skinny jeans. I have also just about recovered from Saturdays drinking activities, what is that old saying, never mix the grain. Anyway I certainly mixed the grain, and now I know why there is a saying which tells you not to mix the grain. Yesterday I didnt wake up until half past one in the afternoon! HALF PAST ONE IN THE AFTERNOON! What a waste. I was due to serve sunday dinner at two, needless to say that didn’t happen until 7pm.
From the comfort of the sofa, I strained myself to watch LOST, which is yet again amazing, and also AGAIN arises more questions that answers, but lets face it, that’s what makes it good. I am going home and doing absaloutely nothing tonight, nada. Watching Eastenders, is about as far as I am going to stretch.
hy does everything have to be a nightmare, nothing is simple and straight forward. We went to see the flat, loved the inside, not so much the outside. The street is part of a contravertial regeneration project. The street itself is half desolate, half occupied. The plan for the opposite side of the street to the flat is to have the houses demolished. For 7 or so streets behind that street there are row after rows of terraced houses which have mostly been emptied. Some articles say that there was some intimidation involved and owners were not offered market value in order to move. Plans for regeneration were also presented to the community, however the community felt that the standard of the new build was not up to scratch and would not represent the
community to its best, and that renovating the current properties would be a better solution. Some of the houses and streets are recognised as some of the most deprived areas of the UK. The work to demolish the houses will start soon, starting at the furthest end to the street we went to look at the flat, and will take three years to completely demolish the area, before construction begins. Thus it would be at least three years of an eye sore, only then to be presented with construction work, and even when all this is done, there is no guarantee that it would be a better area to live in.
The other issue is that the flat is a bargain, for obvious reasons it seems, and has been completed to a very high standard. What does one do? I think we will have to ponder over this issue for a while before making a decision. Not much else to report, we were supposed to be going to the dogs this evening, however this has been postponed for another time. It is very hot today, I feel very sticky and yucky, only a couple of hours until I can strol home, and a couple of hours until the weekend starts. I forgot to mention my mam came to visit yesterday, to try and help me make a decision about what to do. She is none the wiser either. But it was great to see her and my little sister.
