Cold and wet

Another day, another cold. Yes I've been bitten again! It's another bloody cold and just in the middle of the School Census at work. And know I know my coordination and focus is all up the spout. Off to bed for hibernation again. And you wouldn't believe hos many tiumwes ive retypex this bloody medsdage! That last was typed without correction at all.

Fishy Weather

.. and let all those who dwel in the house of "Met Department" chant the words "Earlier on today, apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she heard there was a hurricane on the way... well, if you're watching, don't worry, there isn't!" until the storm abates.

Yes another blast from the Atlantic, this time with winds recorded up to 99mph. Of course from most of western and northern Scotland's point of view a gentle breeze but for us in England a Typhoon of unimaginable proportions followed by Armageddon with wind and waves and tiles down. Of course it has been pretty bad but we saw it coming and still had problems. Trees on the line are due to trees being allowed to grow to big and too close to the line. Leaves are caused by the same thing so a bit of management along the lines wouldn't go amiss. Roofs down caused by poor design. Scaffolding wobbling as plastic sheeting covering it caught the wind. Generally the wind wasn't too bad and many problems were of our own making.

The press love it though. It's almost knocked the Big Brother racism allegations off the front pages - I wonder what is going on at the moment that is not being reported, I really do. What bad news is being buried at the moment?

Buffywood

I felt very confused at the last couple of episodes of Torchwood. Sorry I may rant! Capt Jack Harkness Cute wasn’t he? A nice simple episode that would have been much better slightly earlier in the season with greater and greater disturbances in the rift. Oddly though no mention of the events in the execrable Fight Club episode ‘Combat’ and his bestial intimidation of the Weevils by Owen who suddenly decided that opening the rift was the way to get his girlfriend back.. We had no real explanation of the equation which could get them back and no real explanation of why they were there. Bilas had no real back story which was a real shame given his pivotal nature. Lovely chap playing Jack and the dance was very sweet if, sadly, bollocks. Still don’t know quite what happened at the end with smoky time tunnel. End of Days - Potentially a good start with people dropping out of time and diseases showing up. Sadly it went downhill from there…All of them received visitations from people they knew telling them to open the rift apart from Gwen, who had her boyfriend killed by the man who suggested that she open the rift. Jack didn’t get a visit. I have no idea why any of them listened to any of the visitations without working out that someone with no good in mind wanted the rift open. Also why any of them thought opening the rift would put things right is logic that is questionable at best. (The fact that it did is even more questionable). The beast rose and sadly was not terribly well executed. The best bit of it was the life sucking shadow. I just wish they’d done what Doctor Who always used to do (and occasionally still does) which is create a cheap monster by being inventive. You hear me Mr Davies? INVENTIVE! That doesn’t mean creating space ships over London/Cardiff, huge Dalek/Cybermen battles etc. It sometimes means having an invasion that’s a bit more subtle. Or open to different interpretation. One thing I liked about the original Doctor Who was that invasions went unnoticed. People were paralysed, away from the events etc which always more plausible. I was entertained by the Runaway Bride but it clearly showed where the major plot problems were going to be with Donna having a hangover and missing the Sycorax and then being in Spain so missing the Daleks and Cybermen. And now we have The Sarah Jane Adventures where they ‘don’t believe in aliens’ which, if they’d had Cybermen in the house they should have been easily convinced.Anyway, the story so far, half of Cardiff is trampled or had the life sucked out of it. I wonder if that’ll come up at some time. Jack has the life bestowed by Bad Wolf sucked out of him conveniently (which does imply that Rose planned the whole thing) and we don’t know whether he’s human again or not. Everyone is forgiven for their part in destroying most of Cardiff and trying to kill Jack. Then he gets whisked away by the Doctor which is a bit weak It’s a bit weird that Gwen ‘knows’ he’s been taken rather than checking the rest of the base and the whole thing seemed a bit tacked on. Honestly I just wished they’d picked up Jack in Doctor Who rather than have him leave in Torchwood.

Deep blue ocean, deep blue ocean, deep blue ocean! There, that's better. Sorry for the rant but I've been getting quite annoyed with Torchwood's chopping and changing of story priorities. I thought that the idea of someone in control was to keep control rather than run in several directions at one. Worrying when Sarah Jane seems much more interesting and has people reacting in a vaguely normal manner to each other. I mean, there was none of the characters either snogging each other without lead up or getting hugely angsty! Good for you Liz!

Bloody, bloody, bloody!

Well, just caught a glimpse of 'Jam and Jerusalem' which I'm finding oddly familiar. Anyone who knows us will have heard us mention (though many still have not read ‘Vitriol and Old Lace’ which is about two women’s groups as a sort of antithesis of the Women’s Institute. Of course it has fairly extreme characters and ladies with no inhibitions or foundation garments. There are fascists, socialists, repressed inverts, transvestites, part time occultists, full time occultists and many bewildered. While 'Jam and Jerusalem' appears much milder and has less in the way of malicious evilness – so far, it definitely has a flavour of our work, particularly in the wonderful Joanna Lumley who I now want in ours. It does, however look like plagiarism on our part (fortunately we submitted ours first so are covered in that respect!) and makes ours more difficult to put about. I still think it’s very good. I’m just frustrated that it makes our job more difficult.

Hmmm, maybe Channel 5. They don’t seem to be spending their money on anything!

Torchwood

Another for the acid bath.

More I'm a celebrity....

Scott Henshaw. Dull, really dull. Said he wouldn't want to be on the show without any cute people as he wouldn't have anything to talk to.

A personality like that only requires a mirror for company.

And maybe a poisonous spider for entertainment.

Ours at least.

Reality Bites - with a mouth that is all gums!

Eeeeeeep! As part of ITVs 'Reality Schedule' It is now the turn to torture celebrities again. My other half, the Boy Wonder has, of course tuned into it 'just the once to see what it's like'. I of course can see the pattern. Well, at least I get a number of weeks of peace and quiet to focus. So I am sitting sideways on as I write this to pick up my main feelings. So far..

David Gest - He's just weird. He plainly lacks any real social skills - life with Liza must have been thrilling - He can't communicate meaningfully and she isn't in the same world to communicate at all. I can see it now
David - I think I deserve some money
Liza - My mother was Judy Garland.
David - I am beautiful.
Liza - I am Caberet.
David - I need your face for my shoes.
Liza - I have soiled myself.
David - I just don't feel that your money is going anywhere.
Liza - Money! I'll cut you! I'll cut you first!
David - I love you Liza.
Liza - You're GAY! I want a divorce!
It's a different world
Lauren Booth - seems surprisingly normal. (Though surely comes under the 'I'm related to a celebrity, get me some work' heading.)
Matt Willis - At the third stroke.....
Jason Donovan - Desperate Ozzie dad-a-like.
Myleen Klass - ...The Time, sponsored by Accurist is....
Faith Brown - Always a wild character with the most untamed bosom. No Cyberwoman her, unless they use a couple of Steel Drums.
Phina Oruche - Oddly likeable. She reminds me of a friend of ours, the lovely Molly.
Toby Anstis - A young crush, much sturdier than he used to be but oddly camper.
Jan Leeming - A woman who was a pink wearing, pastel studioed, calming presenter from the 80's. Perfect for the 3 minute warning as by the time you roused yourself from your stupor the blast would have been, gone and cockroaches would have evolved into the dominant species. However she's decided that she will grow old disgracefully. I would suggest she may have left it too late.

Oh well, I suppose I can write more!
Scott Henshall - .... Beep...Beep...Beep.

Winter Blues

Well I’m now on the lightbox regularly and I am feeling more perky than I had. Hopefully the feeling will last. Even got into work early today – building up that flexitime. I’ve had our holiday dates confirmed (off to Spain for New Year and Thailand March next year! Woohoo!) . I’m managing to drink my required 2 litres of water a day – and I have a bladder like a hippo. Feeling a lot more sparkly today. I think I’m going to get on and do some writing this evening.

So how’s things with you out there in the real world?

Darkest before the Dawn

Well I’ve been feeling a little self indulgent of late. I do appear to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder somewhat but I have rarely been so passive to its effects. I have been feeling noticably down and unmotivated. And now I need to get a grip! I usually enjoy some aspects of the winter. Warm nights in, brisk walks out, mulled wine, casseroles etc. However I haven’t been mustering the enthusiasm to get out of the house and because of that my mood is going pear shaped. I’m glad I’ve noticed it (and others pointing it out). I’ve been using Diva’s lightbox and am intending to walk and enjoy it no matter what!

And we can always go for a drink in a pub. Tomorrow night is the Crossbones walk http://www.London-SE1.co.uk/whatson/event/1108. If the inestimable Chlamydia is still ill I might have a pagan walk!

Soggy, soggy, two by four...

Far too soggy to come in the door. Ewwww. We just had one of those rather unprecedented cloudbursts which we seem to be suffering rather more regularly than I remember. And I got completely soaked travelling 2 mins walk with an umbrella! Gloooooobal Waaaarrrmming!

So Lonely

The Hubby is currently doing a theatrical production at the Young Vic theatre. Sadly this leaves me alone most evenings at the moment. So I'm lonely. I need to get out and muster some enthusiasm. Either that or polish everything until it gleams!

Bang Bang II

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5344652.stm

What can I say - horrrific. Oddly though in the US this would have been a tragedy but not unexpected. It does reflect badly on the US gun culture that when I saw the item on the news with the sound turned down I assumed it had taken place there and I was only shocked when I realised that it was Canada!

Bang Bang!

After a gentle anniversary at home we were shaken from our bed at midnight by huge explosions! Not some terrorist group destroying the Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre (chance would!) but being struck by a massive thunderstorm. What had been gentle rain suddenly turned into horizontal slush and hail. It was so heavy you couldn't see past the next block of flats. The only time I've seen rain so heavy was in a major tropical storm in Fiji! A bit of a shock.

I am old….

A work trip to Birmingham I will not dwell on the day itself, apart from the firemen who turned up to rescue us. Unexpected but rather nice! The train journey found me sitting next to a couple of respectable gentlemen. One was Japanese and the other reminded me of Brian Sewell together with his upper middle class trill (No – not birdseed). We spent the journey discussing multiculturalism and modern architecture and he was quite confused that I didn't work for either area. Particularly for someone my age! Apparently you have to be in your 60’s before you can have any informed knowledge! We also went into brutalism, transport, politics, privatisation and London (with an emphasis on Southwark). I was quite impressed with the range of the conversation in an hour and a half! It was a bit of a shame when I had to get off the train.

Androzani Minor

I caught sight of this some days ago

GUARDIAN WEBSITE - BEST ARTICLE FOUND
BBC NEWS TAKE ON THE SITUATION

and I have to say I was quite stunned I hadn’t heard of it sooner. I’ve tried reserching the topic but all I can find are reports of what’s happening, rather than why it’s happening. Many reports describe the stuff as toxic but not in any particular way and it does seem to be spreading quickly. I just wish there was more information. There are suggestions that they pipe it into the nearby sea but there are significant environmental problems with that.

I suppose we’ll have to wait and see.

Holiday at Home.

It’s been an interesting couple of days. The chalet park is regimented in a style most people would describe as barracks, though the accommodation is comfortable chintz. The food is fried and the people are fat. The sea is cold and the rain is wet but the sun is warm and pleasant. If only the families didn’t regard a fast food place doing burgers, pizza and ubiquitous carvery as a normal thing. Still it’s been a break and it’s been very interesting seeing where my partner used to holiday.

Hemsby is a little bit different than I'm used to. When we weren't on holidays as a child we also stayed in a caravan park but it was even more isolated with one shop and a pub. Here it's a lot of flat pack arcades and Phoenix Nights style club/pubs with a rotating band and entertainment list. I was horrified by the amount of excess weight being lugged around by people. I felt like a supermodel in the crowd of chip and carvery grazers. You did feel you didn't want to get in their way in case you were eaten. Nonetheless Norfolk is a pretty place and the Broads are very tranquil so we did get to relax. The journey home was pleasant and First class which I have no objections to.

I have to say, interesting time though it was, there is no place like home!

Time flies by...

Well we're now on the rattling local service to great Yarmouth. I've always been very fortunate that wherever I've lived, the train service was always popular enough to warrant 'heavy duty trains'. I've been on a few 'local' services before. Once in Birmingham (they’re built like rural bus services balanced on train wheels and now this one which is a diesel train version of a National Express Coach. Including the upsetting misfits and grinding engine. I think the 90's have just arrived for the Yooof of Norfolk. Shell suits are in abundance. The train is the shade of green/gray you normally find in marshes and bogs and I hope the only reason it is that they thought that it wouldn't show the gravy rather than it having crashed in the marshes 20 years ago and has only recently been dragged out. It would explain the smell.

I know I sound like I don't like Norfolk. I have been to the Broads and had a great, relaxing time (on the whole). I'm just concerned about staying in a chalet park with the in laws. I know I've stayed in huts on isolated Thai beaches; however this is not the same as I am not relying on myself. I normally don't like relying on others and when you're turning up in the dark to a place you don' know it can be a bit of a nightmare - particularly if you're as much of a control freak as me. We're now whizzing through marsh at a pace I would consider inadvisable while the carriage shakes from side to side. Hopefully it should all be fine!

Off to the bogs!

Here I am, taking my general inclinations in my hand and surrounded by a bunch of besuited yokels. I use derogatory language because they've started talking about the Gays and are not being too pleasant (while also being enourmously naive and lacking any external perception). They appear to all work in the same office patently and have probably employed sons, nephews, cousins and some of those more 'complicated' relationships some families have when isolated from other people by living in a marsh. There might even be some women there but only if they've had a shave and a short haircut. The language sounds like the Vicar of Dibley with even the word why transformed into Whhhhuuuuuiiiiiiyy? I have a feeling I may not have time for a conversation here. Once Good Morning is exchanged it'd probably be afternoon. We're due to arrive at Norwich (it's the quiz of the week!) so I'll pick up once we've got on our next train.

More Tea Vicar

It's got flavinoids!



"BBC More Tea?"

The Impossible Planets

And, as if by magic suddenly one of the planets dissapeared and the remaining 8 found themselves surrounded by dwarves!

"BBC - The Planets"


Oh, I wish, I wish, I could stick in html links easily!