Thursday Thirteen #3

OK Bond - I'm in a hurry and inspiration has not yet hit. So I'm stealing... outright. I am very sorry and will never do it again. Promise.

My top 13 Films

1. Labyrinth
2. Calamity Jane
3. Snow White (Disney classic.. have to fast forward through a fair bit of the singing though these days)
4. American History X
5. O Brother Where Art Thou (for the Soggy Bottom Boys' singing)
6. The Black Cauldron
7. Prince of Egypt
8. X-Men
9. Schindler's List
10. Billy Elliot
11. Amelie
12. Pirates of the Caribbean
13. Top Hat - Fred & Ginger film.... love them!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1.Coco
2.Gattina
3.Dixie
4.Anndi
5.Bond
6.Starrlight

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
Thursday Thirteen Participants

1. Chickadee 2. The Jannaverse (One More Raindrop In A Bloggy Ocean) 3. Skittles

4. DKRaymer 5. celfyddydau 6. Jenny Ryan

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Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Hello - hope you're all well today. I've been working at a childrens' theatre tonight so am just off to bed but before that I thought I'd play the game that's going round... so I've posted the results below.

Received an invitation to a wedding today. Everyone I've met on the blog scene seem quite family oriented so you'll think I'm bad for this but I'll post it anyway. Dad - just turn the computer off now.

My cousin's getting married next year ON my birthday. I don't know her - having only met her once since we were 10. She's issuing an invitation to my family (mum dad and siblings).

I'll go... family obligation. But I can't help feeling irritated as I'd really like a few years of happy birthdays after a really bad one a couple of years ago.

I don't suppose for a second that she's even thought about me (so gives a monkey's whether I'm there or not) but my Pa wants me to go.

Rah. OK think that's the ranting over. Will acquiesce now and go nicely.

Things You've Done Instructions are - Copy, bold the things you've done and post. Typically I can't just do as I'm told so I've highlighted red the ones I've done... and coloured grey the ones I never want to do.

Having looked back at this I think it's probably as boring to read as I suspected (having read someone else's briefly - not anyone who's ever commented on my blog so please don't be offended!!) but it is quite good fun to do yourself.

So my advice would be - don't read the rest of my post today... just highlight it, copy it and look for yourself to see what you've done already.

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone - sorry... just not a romantic.
8. Said “I love you” and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long(or all night short... 4am last year on my birthday the sun came up... and we were still celebrating post barbecue in the garden with friends) and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (baseball in USA - Rugby in the UK... don't know which was better).
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa - not done this but have been to the tower... not sure it was possible to go up.
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s nappy
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne (terrible when you find it easier to think of a drink you haven't got drunk on)
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse of the moon
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country - I'm just not a fan of dancing.
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken (had to touch wood when highlighting this one)
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie - would be in as part of the soundtrack but would hate to be on screen. Can't even cope with photos.
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house (assuming a cottage flat counts)
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror (would do this happily as part of the band..)
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery (technically...)
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth (WATCHED cat give birth in the bottom of my wardrobe right on top of my black concert jacket - then took her to vet after it all went belly up & she had to have an operation to remove the kitten stuck in her womb....)
112. Won money on a T.V. game show - would NEVER wanna be on TV
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari - hunting for photos? Sounds exciting.
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes - no but have turned them into homemade chutney.
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (fish)
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Casino Royale

Last night I went to see the new James Bond film. Liked it. Boyfriend LOVED it but perhaps more interesting was the exit from the cinema.

On our way someone climbed over the barrier above the exit (where the upper set of seats are) as if he was going to jump. I scuttled through just in case - then heard a 'thud' behind me.

The boy had indeed jumped - he limped out of the cinema behind us, his face an ashen hue! I was torn between being appalled that he was injured, amused that he had been so stupid, and concerned that he was alone so had nobody to help sort him out if he was seriously hurt.

Not sure what to do we loitered until we were sure that he had friends with him... then left. I hope that he made it home or to a doctor!!

Either way - he's an idiot.

Cats on Tuesdays #1

This meme's from Gattina

Not the best camerawork... and it's on our bizarre old sofa... but I like the slightly shifty look. Otherwise - you've probably heard enough about Kandinsky for a wee while.

Monday (wish it was Sunday)

Today I woke up with a hangover... I know it's bad to 'binge drink' so I avoided that trap... and just stayed out later.

Came home hungry so tried to fry an egg (often do this when under the influence). I don't know why my boyfriend doesn't stop me as it must be dangerous. Actually I do know why as I asked him when he phoned from work earlier. Apparently it doesn't seem stupid to him when he's drunk too and wants a sandwich.

I mustered up the enthusiasm to enter the kitchen to get a pint of water and some painkillers this morning to find raw egg all over the floor.

It's just not nice!

After dropping my boyfriend off this morning I went to the local music shop to get a beginner piano book as I've started two kids but only had one book last week. Unfortunately the shop is closed on Mondays - which is patently ridiculous for a shop - so I'm going to have to go to the city centre to get it. Which is irritating as I've already been to the city centre this morning taking the cat to the vets.

Kandi had to go to the vets this morning for blood tests etc. Still can't quite believe how much it all costs! Still - she doesn't have to go back now for another 6 months. The lump doesn't seem to have got any bigger which is a good sign that she'll be OK for a while.

For Burekaboy who says:

lemon squares & my first cookbook
"i sometimes wonder if people remember what their first cookbook was. i know almost everyone either bought or was given one at some point in his/her life. i also wonder if it was even kept, perhaps tucked away somewhere to be dusted off at some point in the future or sitting on the shelf with the rest of the cookbooks."

My first cookery book was the Student Grub book - unsurprisingly bought by my Mum when I left for music college. Probably didn't use it for a year or so as I worked waitressing so got free food for about six months of my 1st year but since then it's been well thumbed. Sorry about the glare. They were sensible enought to issue this book with a plastic wipe clean cover!

Finally - thanks to Annelisa who calculated my payrise for me. At a whopping £1.22 per MONTH!

(wondered what they'd do with a Brit)

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Northeast Judging by how you talk you are probably from north Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Chances are, if you are from New York City (and not those other places) people would probably be able to tell if they actually heard you speak.
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The Midland
The South
Boston
The West
North Central
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

Kandinsky

This is Kandi our cat - she's not well just now as she has a tumour growing on her cheek. It's making her fur grow a bit funny on one side, so for the sake of her vanity I've put up an older shot.

Fingers crossed she'll stay happy and comfortable for a good while yet!

Friday Feeling

Today was an office day. It was also my year end appraisal.

I was a little worried as last year they gave me a 'needs improvement' after I missed my objective for my error rate by 0.01%.. but my worries were unfounded. It seems that it is my boss who is the ****** - the person who is covering her job while she is on maternity leave does not fail you for such minor points!

So one fully competent rating later my fingers are now crossed as my pay should increase at above the rate of inflation this year.

Why this concerns me I'm really not sure - as I don't know how much I'll notice on a 14hrs a week wage!!

Other than that I can't really muster up any enthusiasm for my blogging today. I worked out earlier that I haven't had a full day off for 2 months... So the tiredness is perhaps understandable. Please accept my apologies - will try harder on Sunday.

I will have an early night tonight as I have a 9am-8pm day tomorrow. Still - it's only 20 normal mon-fri working days til Christmas!

Thursday Thirteen #2

Thirteen Things about BAD JOKES & OVEN CHIPS My top thirteen places I've visited in the last few years: 1) Bangkok (geekiness peeking through - it was for the ITG conference) 2) St Andrews (New Year 2006) 3) Bergamo (to visit little sister who lived there for a year) 4) Milan (on visit to Bergamo seeing sister) 5) Cologne (won £500 in holiday vouchers) 6) Trier (on aforementioned free holiday) 7) Luxembourg (on free holiday) 8) Madrid (gig) 9) Portugal (gig) 10) Valencia (gig) 11) New York (trumpet shopping) 12) Malmo (for a night) 13) Skye (weekend break) Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1) Kontan's Place 2) 3) 4) 5)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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OK - well you did ask.....

Thank you all for your comments - I was very excited to see you'd all been here! (easily pleased?)

Please see below the recipe for leeky celery parsnip pasta. My tip would be to leave out the parsnips as they'd have been nicer on their own!! (A tip for me might be - learn to organise your finances.)

Cut parsnips and put them on a tray in the oven at 180 degrees with a little brown sugar. Leave in the oven for a half hour trumpet lesson plus a little extra 'forgetful' time.

Chop up the leeks (I did horizontal chops)
Chop up the celery (- not normally a huge celery fan which is prob why it's still in the fridge in the week before pay day but am pleased to say it was good in this)
Chop up some garlic
Fry them in oil if you have it.. if not it seems water works!!
Chuck in your best tin of 'value' tomatoes with any herbs you have...think I also put in some chilli flakes.

Then remember you've started parsnips(whoops), so take them out of the oven and chop them up and chuck them in.

Then cook your pasta, and mix it all together.

Yum.... (?)


Brownie night tonight - and it was our most successful one yet this year.

Our numbers have almost trebled this year, and we have no new leaders yet so it's all been a bit 'by the skin of the teeth' so far but tonight it seems the formula is working. We may just have cracked it!

We kept things simple and stuck to doing the last of the seasons badge. So far the girls have learnt about hibernating animals, made posters of fireworks/stars and done leaf rubbings.

This week we did the final bit which was learning about seasonal veg and fruit then cooking with them. The kids are only 7 yrs old, so we made fruit salad with apples and pears (and some non-seasonal... non-UK even fruits).

Cutting the fruit up (with blunt knives after we'd cut it up into bigger bits for them) and adding the juice took a fair while, and we then let them eat it. Some kids asked to take it home - which was also fine!

After that we just played some games. Easy peasy... and a winner.

Very much a Monday

Today I went into my office job. They're short staffed. It was terrible - I hated it. I had agreed to go in again tomorrow, so I suppose I'll need to.



I plan to set up a reminder though on the calendar on my computer so I do not agree to do o/t again. Don't really know why I agreed this time as I don't need the money particularly - have started new jobs left right and centre. Still - it'll be handy for Christmas I suppose.



Daft. (me that is)



Otherwise:

Started off a couple of new piano pupils today. They're great - picked it up quickly and seem keen.



Have just made a cake... it's a bit weird. Couldn't decide whether to do choc chip or raisins so put both in... Would have been better just to have made a decision on one or the other!! (thinking now choc chip) Also didn't have enough sugar so used some honey.. which also tastes a bit odd.



Boyfriend had a stupid alarm call which means he has to go to work even though it's night time...



Skint (as always) and the oil light's come on on the car, my friend's coming to collect the money I owe her for a gig she did for me, and I have to find funds to get to Edinburgh.



Skintness has positives too: We don't want to buy any food if poss til pay day so I've had to improvise (see cake above) - but dinner was (if I do say so myself) magnificent! We had tagliatelle with leeks, celery, tomato and parsnip. It may not sound like the most usual combination of ingredients but I love all of them so it was perfect for me!

fundraising

I linked my way onto another website that struck a chord with me. I thought it was worth adding an entry in case it helps the cause.

Please pop across for a look (click on the links below)
Baring it all
Donate here

Struggles.

Loch Lomond (from the Whangie)

I'm struggling a bit today - which I take as a sign that I've nothing interesting to say, so should probably shut up for once.

I'm still shattered after a busy few weeks (although I still seem to have found plenty of internet time) so turned teaching down this morning.

My boyfriend works in a town at the foot of the Campsie hills, and said that they had snow yesterday. Winter's really started. I'll attach some pictures of the Campsies & Loch Lomond. I'm lucky where I live - it's really beautiful around here.

The Whangie (mountain), Glasgow (from Queens Pk) & Glen Campsie waterfall

scary

You Are 59% Feminine, 41% Masculine

You are in touch with both your feminine and masculine sides. You're sensitive at the right times, but you don't let your emotions overwhelm you. You're not a eunuch, just the best of both genders.

Are You Masculine or Feminine?

Church - not for me I'm afraid!

This might rile some of you Christians... but I'm gonna say it anyway. Apologies in advance if any offence is caused.

CHURCH IS SOOOO DULL! I did a gig tonight in a church for my friend who is the organist at Glenburn Parish Church (church of scotland). We were told to arrive for half 7, so diligent muso's that we are we were early to prepare.

We did not play until 10pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And after we played we had to sit for another hour and a quarter before playing again (as the folks left).

There was a service (long one) followed by tea and sarnies... then a 'social' (another service to the non-churchgoers).

If ever I needed a reminder of why I abandoned my Church Of England primary school upbringing this was it!

Thursday Thirteen # 1

Thirteen Things about Bad Jokes & Oven Chips 13 smells - not sure what insight this will give you other than that I have smelt all of these things...... 1. Fresh pears - it's a clean smell. I like that. I also just so happen to be eating a pear as I write this. 2. Farts - NOT a clean smell. I'm not so keen on this one. 3. New cars - I don't like this smell but my boyfriend does. This came up in conversation the other day when I spotted a 'new car smell' air freshener tree at the petrol station. 4. Cut grass - Don't get to smell this first hand as often as I should. Bad lawncutter! Good veg grower. 5. Wine - This smell I like unless I've been drinking too much of it the night before.. in which case it's a smell I really hate! 6. Hot Chocolate - YUM! 7. Coffee - I think I like the smell better than the taste... not that the taste isn't lovely too. 8. Biscuits - Now I'm just thinking about food that goes with coffee! Freshly baked biscuits smell is pretty special, though. 9. Feet - OK, I realise feet themselves don't necessarily smell, but I live with a chap who works outdoors on his feet all day.... It's hard to keep them sweet! 10. Newly washed sheets - Never get a better night's sleep than the day I change the bedding.... Perhaps I should do that more often too. 11. Fermenting yeast - It's the smell of Glasgow! May also contribute to the alcoholic tendencies of the Scots(?) 12. Mortons Rolls - I smell these fresh baked rolls on my way home from Brownies every Tuesday... and get home itching for bread. 13. Brass - Not an everyday smell for most people but it's a side effect of trumpet playing (particularly Natural Trumpet) that your hands stink of brass. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Suki 2. Maggie 3. Silver 4. Sweet Like Kitty 5.Skittle's Place 6.Ghost 7. Turnbaby 8. Bond 9. Slackermom

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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News from the UK

My news: Last night was Brownie night. They wear me out- so no blogging yesterday, although boyf was away on a work awards ceremony/piss up so I had a browse before collapsing in exhaustion. Today not much has happened really... practised Corelli Sonata and Stanley Voluntary (pieces for gig tomorrow) and had a chance to chat to Mum.

The Couch (link in sidebar) often brings up any news that is worthy of attention. I thought in reply I would bring you some news which I suspect will certainly NOT be of great worth!

The local paper back home is called the Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser.
The local paper up here is the Clydebank Post.

These papers make me laugh A LOT, as the contrast is so stark! Home for me is the leafy green of the Shire.. (Buckinghamshire). It's a favourite county for celebs and other richies due to it's proximity to London. I now live in Glasgow and the differences you will see for yourselves below!

The Shire:
Criticism over council proposal - this story tell us that the overall county council is trying to remove the smaller district councils.
Star Drops in as Art Room Opens - in this article an actor visits a primary school.
MP to speak at University - The local MP is visiting the Uni. (You'd think that might happen frequently enough not to be newsworthy... This MP sent me a letter asking me to vote for him in the general election. I was not old enough to vote... and since the elections take place every four years or so, pointing out I was going to miss out when all my friends were able to vote was prodding at a rather sore spot! By the time I was able to vote I was settled in up North, but I would have enjoyed picking someone else. It would have been a wasted gesture though as the Conservatives always win in Buckinghamshire.)
Unique Pottery Firm to Close - did you guess the content? Yup - the pottery place is closing.

West Glasgow:
BRING IT ON BANKIES - A boxer is back home to fight.
I SPENT STOLEN £80K ON BOOZE AND GRUB - cashier at law firm caught stealing out of petty cash.
DOUBLE KILLER ON CAMPUS - This one's actually quite scary. There's a guy studying at the local college who has stabbed two men in the area to death. According to the paper (which I'm sure is hugely reliable) there are relatives of the victim also studying there.
BOOZED-UP THUG PULLED ‘SHOTGUN’ ON CABBIE - 'shotgun' is written in commas as it was a fake gun. The chap seems to have beaten up a cabbie as he refused him a lift. He was drunk.

Are you understanding now why I moved up here?!?!

Fun & Games!

Last night I was invited to my friend's house for a few drinks - I had a great time but in my wisdom (and drunkenness) refused the offer of a sandwich... so woke up on and off all night just feeling sick.... And it was an office day for me today too.

lastminutelyn has been playing this game (see comment at end if you're she)... & I like it! There is a minor drawback though in that I used my boyfriend's camera (he's out at work - I'm about to start working again as I have a pupil coming shortly) - and I can't now get the camera to work at all.... Gonna be in trouble later!! I only managed to get two pictures taken before it broke, so I'll have to tell you about the last item instead.

On gnightgirl's site is a challenge:

MY BLOG CHALLENGE FOR YOU

Would you all be willing to slow down for just one second, and find one or two material items in your house that bring you joy/memories/sentiment?Will you photograph them and put them on your blog, or write about them, if you don't have a camera?If you don't have a blog, send me a photo, and I'll post it, with your blessing.Those that play, let me know, and I will link to you here.It's not that I want to place excess value on material items. It's just nice to slow down and acknowledge those things that put a smile on our face. We need not to rush by them.
Spread the word: Game On.

As you can see - this is my piano... My Aunty Betty (not a real aunt - family friend) gave me some cash to buy this and it's been the best gift I've had - It's beautiful and useful. When she heard what I'd spent the money on, she asked if I'd record some music for her. It took me a while as I was rusty and didn't want to sound too bad! I sent the cassette. The next day she died. My mum went to her house and found the envelope opened but the tape unplayed. She knew that I had sent it at least.

This is my hallway.... I found it tricky to find items when the best thing we've ever done is buy a flat.... And as I've previously mentioned- this is coat five of white paint. Do you think it needs another? Do you think it's a bit frighteningly white?

My last item is a bit cheesy - but I like it all the same: it's a Welsh lovespoon in the shape of a treble clef with a couple of hearts at the bottom. For anyone who is unfamiliar with the Welsh lovespoon check the link. It was given to me by my boyfriend's gran when we moved in together.

Boyf has now fixed the camera:

lastminutelyn: I think I found a game on your website yesterday which I played today, but when I've come back to visit there's no sign of it. It could be that I'm losing the plot, or that I'd found an old link. Either way you get a mention on my entry!

Also - I see that you have a pink razr phone on your wishlist. I've not had much luck with mine: The first was stolen in New York (they ran up £60 in charges before I could stop it) and the second has broken. So I'm back to Nokia again.

Remembrance

Today is Remembrance Sunday - and it's the first one in 5 years or so that I will not be spending in Church. Usually it's a busy day for a trumpeter as the Last Post will be played all across the world... However I have escaped for the first time in a while.

While I realise that today is not about me... I have been thinking about wars & lost soldiers etc this morning and am feeling a bit guilty:

I am going to a rehearsal in a church at 12pm today. Am I a bad person for deliberately making sure I miss the service so as not to be asked to play?? (As you probably don't actually know me: I'm not religious and usually play the Last Post for a fee, but I also have a fairly strong sense of morality.)

On other news: Calamity Jane's run is now over... next thing's a trumpet and organ gig on Thursday night, then recording planned next weekend for Diversimode (minus singer).

Gabcast! Diversimode #0




Gabcast! Diversimode #1

Country/Territory

Have been trying to get a map on but pictures won't work - don't know why.

Blogger.com has only the following options under 'Location' on the profile page: City/Town Region/State Country/Territory.

You would therefore think perhaps that there is little to complain about?

Well how about: Country/Territory.... I live in Scotland. My family is Welsh. I was born in England. My nationality is British.

I object to being obliged to select 'UK' as my country of residence rather than being able pick which country within the UK I am actually in. I have been forced to enter Scotland under 'region or state' as I will not accept the generalisation of UK.

According to the Government: Countries within a country

The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Its full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

(http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page823.asp from the website of no.10 Downing St)

Rest assured I will be contacting Blogger regarding this issue....

One further point I would like to make today: Some people are really daft!

** Backside firework prank backfires **
A man is in hospital with internal injuries after trying to launch a rocket from his bottom.
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/england/wear/6132140.stm >

the perils of blogging

I went reading other peoples' blogs again... this time I browsed Scotland... And came across the stupid test. It seems I'm a bit stupid. Still - I'm a musician so there has to be something a bit wrong with my head!

It may not surprise those of you who know us... my boyfriend's score was much better than mine!!

BURGLARS

Tonight I'm playing in Calamity Jane as a last minute favour to a friend - he was booked for the gig but was broken into yesterday, then again last night, so doesn't want to leave his flat unattended, or his flatmate in by herself.



I covered for him last night too - and the show is actually great - lots of singalong favourites. I enjoyed it and have today looked Calamity Jane up on the internet... I didn't realise the musical was based on a real person!

Lucky for me I had a quiet week planned to finish DIY... Haven't started the painting again yet today. If you look back through the blog you may notice that it has been some time since the painting began. This is due to the thin texture of paint I bought and the dark coloured walls I'm covering. Think it's gonna take at least 4, maybe 5 coats!

Eh? Could you repeat that please?

(This is my cat - she has just been diagnosed with lymphoma. it's a bit sad but she's very happy just now catching plenty of sleepy about to die/hibernate mice and bringing them in DAILY to play with me and my boyfriend. Of course we really appreciate this - what better game is there than hunt the live mouse?)


Today I am feeling sorry for myself. My ears have been blocked up for 5 days now with no sign of improvement, and my blistered foot is also sore...

So I decided today to do the rest of the painting as it's gonna take about 400 coats to cover up the grey colour that was on the hall walls when we moved into this flat (some years ago!).

Only it's a bit dull, so I have blog-hopped and chatted on messenger to my little brother instead for the past half hour or so.

I have noticed there is quite a variety of reasons people seem to blog - some use blogspot as an advertising tool, some to broadcast a message (political/religious) to unsuspecting browsers - which I find dull and skip past very quickly, and others to keep a diary/chat about nonsense. These are my favourite. I have been enjoying reading about other people's lives, and seeing the variety of templates etc that are out there.

So - to other just for fun bloggers - Nice work!!

Hi ho, hi ho, off to the Dales I go

This weekend I had to skip teaching as I had recording to do in York. My boyfriend came along for the trip.

We arrived Friday night & had to sleep at a friend's house where I am now too scared to snooze for fear of snoring thanks to her comments on my previous visit. I then recorded with Diversimode from 9.30am til 3.30pm before driving to Leeds to see my sister.

We went out in Headingley that evening, getting home around 2ish... then had to get up early on Sunday morning coz she'd told my parents to come and visit. We had lunch with Mum and Dad which was lovely. The only drawback to this delightful afternoon was the injury I suffered as a result of wearing new shoes to walk to the shops... It's a double blister (quite an exciting new thing for me) - a blister.. under a blister! It is very painful though.

My boyfriend and I then went to my old flatmate's new(ish) house to stay, leaving at 8 this morning to come home & teach, only pausing at Little Chef on our way for a brief respite.

Had a great time but my ex-flatmate's house is so beautiful I have now been inspired to DIY... so spent this afternoon before teaching painting the hallway in our flat.

Florence

I passed my first response first aid course.... Yipee. (yipee because it means I don't have to do it again for 3 years)

Also - 1st day at new job today. Was good fun - think it's gonna be ok.

Comment on Mondays

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