Friday, January 31, 2003
Bit snowed under at work which is rubbish cos it is getting in the way of planning our trip. I have got quite far today though. I am read to book the Eurostar and I am ready to book the accomodation in Paris and hopefully Tilburg. So from Paris we go to Brussels for two nights to stay with Sharon's cousin, then onto Tilburg for the night and then the first horrible day of travelling from Tilburg to Brussels then straight on (well five hours on the train) to Avignon (which is in Provence, South of France) which will be a just reward for two weary travellers and we will have got the bulk of the travel out of the way.
From Avignon on we are not sure, but that is very exciting. I should probably check what the weather is like in France during March. And tonight I think I will buy a Lonely Planet guide to France, that will help planning methinks and will have some helpful hints and tips.
I have just this second discovered that the only way to get to Tilburg from Brussels (and indeed from anywhere) is to get 4 trains! Presumably it is like going from Paris to West Wickham - that would only take two, you know what I mean. That'll be fun. It only takes 2 to 2.5 hours though so its not like we'll be arsing around all day.
Makes a change having something other than the Edinburgh festival to look forward to. We are going in 7 weeks!! When we get back on 5 April, there will only be 4 or so months left til the festival which will hopefully give us a chance to save up again, having spent our life savings having cafe au laits and pain au chocolats in France.
From Avignon on we are not sure, but that is very exciting. I should probably check what the weather is like in France during March. And tonight I think I will buy a Lonely Planet guide to France, that will help planning methinks and will have some helpful hints and tips.
I have just this second discovered that the only way to get to Tilburg from Brussels (and indeed from anywhere) is to get 4 trains! Presumably it is like going from Paris to West Wickham - that would only take two, you know what I mean. That'll be fun. It only takes 2 to 2.5 hours though so its not like we'll be arsing around all day.
Makes a change having something other than the Edinburgh festival to look forward to. We are going in 7 weeks!! When we get back on 5 April, there will only be 4 or so months left til the festival which will hopefully give us a chance to save up again, having spent our life savings having cafe au laits and pain au chocolats in France.
Thursday, January 30, 2003
Not much to do at work again today. Yesterday was ok cos it was a nightmare but at least it went quickly in the end. The nice man who gave me the little chocolate mice came over and gave me an apple turnover and told me it was from a secret admirer. Then he went back to his area, put his hands on Clive's shoulders and said, "not so secret now, eh Clive?!" I instantly went red. Not because I think for a minute that he likes me, but it was quite embarassing cos I hardly speak to them. And I didn't really want the apple turnover cos I don't like sweet things... I still have two of the chocolate mice in my drawer.
Anyway, went to see the Club Seals last night and I have to admit they were even funnier than they were in Edinburgh. Their sense of humour really is exactly like mine and Kathryn's. There were so many bits we'd forgotten about like that the collective term for a group of octopuses is a bitch slap. They really are great. Going to the Big Gig tonight I think which should be fun. Hopefully Waen Shepherd will do his new romantic-style singer cos that's really really funny.
I have been updating my Amazon wish list for the past hour or so - quite a lot on it now - might actually buy a few books to read. Could take a few round France. Really want the latest Tony Hawks book cos his writing never fails to make me laugh out loud. There are loads of books about comedy too. How to write it, what it all means, and other nonsense like that. I find things like that quite interesting. You never know, maybe one day I'll be up on that stage and you'll all be laughing at me.... actually, no, that sounds horrible.
Mine and Sharon's radio sitcom mini-series has been on the back-burner for a while. It'll be great when it's done and it'd be hilarious if we got it commissioned (humour me, please). We are still developing the characters - but we know the setting and all that. Don't ask me anymore cos I won't tell you. It's top secret and it'll be great and we don't want anyone nicking our superb idea. Having said that - it'll probably be out of date by the time we actually write it. We'll get there eventually.
And I apologise again for the lack of new issue. We have to be realistic and say that after the mini-issue, which should be going up over the weekend/during next week, I have no idea when the next lounge will be. Need to think of some people to interview who I can possibly talk to on my own or we can interview over email which is a bit rubbish but better than nothing. If anyone can think of any comics they'd like to see featured let us know and we will see what we can do.
They repeated my Frank Skinner episode on ITV2 the other night. Kenny Rodgers and Caroline Aherne were also on so they sort of over-shadowed me and other than the odd shot of me laughing here and there you'd hardly notice me. I do remember him telling us that we looked like the All Saints and then stupidly giggling like the group of pathetic girls that we were. I also remember him telling Nici that she looks like Barbara Streisand... she wasn't best pleased and was, as a result, more self conscious of her nose. He did have a point though.
Anyway, went to see the Club Seals last night and I have to admit they were even funnier than they were in Edinburgh. Their sense of humour really is exactly like mine and Kathryn's. There were so many bits we'd forgotten about like that the collective term for a group of octopuses is a bitch slap. They really are great. Going to the Big Gig tonight I think which should be fun. Hopefully Waen Shepherd will do his new romantic-style singer cos that's really really funny.
I have been updating my Amazon wish list for the past hour or so - quite a lot on it now - might actually buy a few books to read. Could take a few round France. Really want the latest Tony Hawks book cos his writing never fails to make me laugh out loud. There are loads of books about comedy too. How to write it, what it all means, and other nonsense like that. I find things like that quite interesting. You never know, maybe one day I'll be up on that stage and you'll all be laughing at me.... actually, no, that sounds horrible.
Mine and Sharon's radio sitcom mini-series has been on the back-burner for a while. It'll be great when it's done and it'd be hilarious if we got it commissioned (humour me, please). We are still developing the characters - but we know the setting and all that. Don't ask me anymore cos I won't tell you. It's top secret and it'll be great and we don't want anyone nicking our superb idea. Having said that - it'll probably be out of date by the time we actually write it. We'll get there eventually.
And I apologise again for the lack of new issue. We have to be realistic and say that after the mini-issue, which should be going up over the weekend/during next week, I have no idea when the next lounge will be. Need to think of some people to interview who I can possibly talk to on my own or we can interview over email which is a bit rubbish but better than nothing. If anyone can think of any comics they'd like to see featured let us know and we will see what we can do.
They repeated my Frank Skinner episode on ITV2 the other night. Kenny Rodgers and Caroline Aherne were also on so they sort of over-shadowed me and other than the odd shot of me laughing here and there you'd hardly notice me. I do remember him telling us that we looked like the All Saints and then stupidly giggling like the group of pathetic girls that we were. I also remember him telling Nici that she looks like Barbara Streisand... she wasn't best pleased and was, as a result, more self conscious of her nose. He did have a point though.
Tuesday, January 28, 2003
I wrote an entry this morning but my computer crashed before I published it. Oh well. I doubt it was that interesting.
Anyway, GOOD NEWS, thunderbirds are go with respect to two weeks in France/Benelux... very exciting so now all we have to do is plan and save. It is probably quite stupid both of us spending our savings on a 2 week trek round France but it's not like either of us has been on holiday for about 8 years (get the violins out), despite protestations from friends saying we have a month long holiday every August. I think if you're reading this then you can probably verify that four weeks at the Edinburgh Festival is most definitely NOT relaxing.
Anyway, GOOD NEWS, thunderbirds are go with respect to two weeks in France/Benelux... very exciting so now all we have to do is plan and save. It is probably quite stupid both of us spending our savings on a 2 week trek round France but it's not like either of us has been on holiday for about 8 years (get the violins out), despite protestations from friends saying we have a month long holiday every August. I think if you're reading this then you can probably verify that four weeks at the Edinburgh Festival is most definitely NOT relaxing.
Monday, January 27, 2003
I am getting stupidly excited now. Been surfing the interweb at lunch looking at train stuff and also looking at accomodation in Paris. I have decided that we are going to Paris on the Saturday that we leave - via Eurostar (which I think we should probably hurry up and book) - and then going on to Brussels on 25 and then onto Tilburg, Holland on 27. After that really depends on whether we have 2 weeks or 1 week. If we have 1 week then it might just be safest to go up to Amsterdam and then try to get the Eurostar home from there - and if we have another week, we might head straight down to the south of france and then work our way back up the West coast, popping into Nantes to visit my old French penpal that I never spoke a word of french to. Well, I did manage "le chat est dans ma chambre." Anyway I have come up with the bright idea of seeing a show at the real life Moulin Rouge!! How cool (and probably expensive..!)
A nice man who works near me has just given me 3 white chocolate mice. I have gone bright red again.
A nice man who works near me has just given me 3 white chocolate mice. I have gone bright red again.
This weekend I mostly didn't do anything at all except take my boots back to Russell & Bromley. I realised on sunday that my mobile showed no network coverage - which was nice, but I soon managed to sort that out and then got numerous messages from people suggesting things for the weekend. Just as well I spose cos I had a lovely relaxing weekend just sorting things out and planning our week/two weeks in europe. Decided that either way, we only have time to cover France/Holland/Belgium - which luckily is where we need to go... for reasons which may become apparent... and they are all in one zone so we can just get the 1 zone rail ticket which lasts 12 days. We're going to Eurostar it over - which is going to be very exciting indeed. First stop Paris.
Its a sunny day in the City of London today and my bloody internet connection is so slow - so I have been staring dreamily out of the window at the Tower of London and Tower Bridge and thinking of the sights we are going to see in France. Luckily for us, I have A grade GCSE French under my belt (that's right, look impressed) and if need be, Sharon can stand and sing Priorite a Gauche songs at people and I can do the actions. It's going to be superb. We are both submitting our holiday requests today so keep your fingers crossed for us. Anyone who knows us will probably realise that we'll be going anyway whether we have time off or not. We'll be quitting our jobs at the end of July so a few months early won't make a huge difference.
I don't really have anything interesting to say at the moment.
Its a sunny day in the City of London today and my bloody internet connection is so slow - so I have been staring dreamily out of the window at the Tower of London and Tower Bridge and thinking of the sights we are going to see in France. Luckily for us, I have A grade GCSE French under my belt (that's right, look impressed) and if need be, Sharon can stand and sing Priorite a Gauche songs at people and I can do the actions. It's going to be superb. We are both submitting our holiday requests today so keep your fingers crossed for us. Anyone who knows us will probably realise that we'll be going anyway whether we have time off or not. We'll be quitting our jobs at the end of July so a few months early won't make a huge difference.
I don't really have anything interesting to say at the moment.
Friday, January 24, 2003
I have just booked a table for two at a really cool restaurant in Bromley for Valentine's Evening. Never fear, I haven't miraculously found someone to go out with just in time for the miserable day, Donna and I are going to stuff our faces, get drunk and scowl at happy couples. It's going to be great. We might even split some of them up. My mum is bound to purposely get the wrong idea.
Tomorrow I am going to partake in a typical female activity and return a number of unwanted items to various shops. This will be closely followed by listening to Ricky, Steve and Karl whilst sorting out my room and sorting my life out. Then I will be venturing into London to go to "Sing a long Moulin Rouge" which, if not my favorite film ever, is my favourite film of last year - or maybe even the year before because I can't remember when it came out. I am quite special in that respect.
Tomorrow I am going to partake in a typical female activity and return a number of unwanted items to various shops. This will be closely followed by listening to Ricky, Steve and Karl whilst sorting out my room and sorting my life out. Then I will be venturing into London to go to "Sing a long Moulin Rouge" which, if not my favorite film ever, is my favourite film of last year - or maybe even the year before because I can't remember when it came out. I am quite special in that respect.
Another day, another blog entry. Yesterday went by fairly quickly and quite uneventful. I am finally getting somewhere with the decision to budget - I have now budgeted, it's now just a matter of sticking to it and actually turning up to work in order to earn the money that I have already allocated to various ventures.
On Wednesday I had a my first lie as a 2X year old and very nice it was too. Prised myself out of bed at 11.30am so I could go and collect a parcel from the post office which to my delight was my present from my brother and his fiancee. The Father Ted Parish Magazines and the Father Ted Complete Scripts. Lord only knows how he knew that I wanted them both. It must have been the link to amazon I emailed him a week before my birthday.
In my guise of a penniless student, I trundled along to UCL student union in order to see the magnificent Ross Noble - who was absolutely fantastic...."There's the face.....Next muffin......" There was a vast number of students packed into the tiny, hot room - they say they were there to see quality comedy but being students, I think they were there for the free pringles. Seeing them all buying pichers of beer from the bar made me reminiscent of my own student days all those years ago and I tried to form an opinion on the government's decision to make students pay their own tuition fees. Of course in my day everyone had their course fees paid and a lot of us also got a grant to "live" on. I got a half grant and was subsidised by my parents... clearly students drink a lot but then most of them work very hard as well and will in the future pay taxes and hopefully be a credit to the nation when they graduate.
Take me for example. I've gone from charity to bank to bank to bank, bored and braindead - can't say my degree has come in very useful so far but then maybe I took the wrong degree. Personally, I don't think I was given good advice at school. Having been to an all-girls grammar school the teachers were very focused on academic subjects and qualifications and if I had expressed any interest in the entertainment industry then I think they would have tried to deter me, not that they would have known how to advise me. Mathematics and Biology were the only subjects I really liked at school and not having had a huge amount of time to read through university prospectuses and UCAS books I must admit that my university and course choices were somewhat random.
I definitely chose the right university though. I was planning to go to Oxford.... yes that's right.... Brookes, but as soon as I visited Nottingham Trent University and wandered round the city with my dad, I knew that that was were I wanted to go. And their offer of two D's was almost laughable. I can't remember what I was predicted in my A-levels, think it was C/C/Fail (chemistry) so it was pretty certain I'd get in and I walked it with my impressive B/B/N! You may laugh but that's 16 points - which is 4 times as many points as my brother managed! I don't think I bothered putting a second choice cos Trent was my lowest offer.... That's really taken me back. Choosing university and the huge adventure it was, and then my parents taking me up to move into halls and then feeling a bit lost for about a minute after they left until the whole block wandered up to the student union.
Ah, memories. Not quite sure where all that came from...! Anyway, my original thoughts were that I know how much money I needn't have spent at uni and I know students drink and dance it all away but I left uni with £8k debt, a slightly damaged liver, the nickname Boozy Suzy (which I never found out until I left - I gather the lads in the block used to take it in turns to keep an eye out for me when we went out) and a hell of a CD and comedy video collection. But I had a bar job in my third year, a half grant and support from my parents. God knows what mess I would be in if I had to pay tuition fees as well - I think mine were £1500 for years 1 and 2 and £2k for year 3. I suppose it might have made me work a bit harder, but I think that what I am trying to say is that I think the government is wrong to make students pay. I spose its good that they're not upfront fees, but still...
Anyway, Ross Noble is very funny.... go and see him on tour.
On Wednesday I had a my first lie as a 2X year old and very nice it was too. Prised myself out of bed at 11.30am so I could go and collect a parcel from the post office which to my delight was my present from my brother and his fiancee. The Father Ted Parish Magazines and the Father Ted Complete Scripts. Lord only knows how he knew that I wanted them both. It must have been the link to amazon I emailed him a week before my birthday.
In my guise of a penniless student, I trundled along to UCL student union in order to see the magnificent Ross Noble - who was absolutely fantastic...."There's the face.....Next muffin......" There was a vast number of students packed into the tiny, hot room - they say they were there to see quality comedy but being students, I think they were there for the free pringles. Seeing them all buying pichers of beer from the bar made me reminiscent of my own student days all those years ago and I tried to form an opinion on the government's decision to make students pay their own tuition fees. Of course in my day everyone had their course fees paid and a lot of us also got a grant to "live" on. I got a half grant and was subsidised by my parents... clearly students drink a lot but then most of them work very hard as well and will in the future pay taxes and hopefully be a credit to the nation when they graduate.
Take me for example. I've gone from charity to bank to bank to bank, bored and braindead - can't say my degree has come in very useful so far but then maybe I took the wrong degree. Personally, I don't think I was given good advice at school. Having been to an all-girls grammar school the teachers were very focused on academic subjects and qualifications and if I had expressed any interest in the entertainment industry then I think they would have tried to deter me, not that they would have known how to advise me. Mathematics and Biology were the only subjects I really liked at school and not having had a huge amount of time to read through university prospectuses and UCAS books I must admit that my university and course choices were somewhat random.
I definitely chose the right university though. I was planning to go to Oxford.... yes that's right.... Brookes, but as soon as I visited Nottingham Trent University and wandered round the city with my dad, I knew that that was were I wanted to go. And their offer of two D's was almost laughable. I can't remember what I was predicted in my A-levels, think it was C/C/Fail (chemistry) so it was pretty certain I'd get in and I walked it with my impressive B/B/N! You may laugh but that's 16 points - which is 4 times as many points as my brother managed! I don't think I bothered putting a second choice cos Trent was my lowest offer.... That's really taken me back. Choosing university and the huge adventure it was, and then my parents taking me up to move into halls and then feeling a bit lost for about a minute after they left until the whole block wandered up to the student union.
Ah, memories. Not quite sure where all that came from...! Anyway, my original thoughts were that I know how much money I needn't have spent at uni and I know students drink and dance it all away but I left uni with £8k debt, a slightly damaged liver, the nickname Boozy Suzy (which I never found out until I left - I gather the lads in the block used to take it in turns to keep an eye out for me when we went out) and a hell of a CD and comedy video collection. But I had a bar job in my third year, a half grant and support from my parents. God knows what mess I would be in if I had to pay tuition fees as well - I think mine were £1500 for years 1 and 2 and £2k for year 3. I suppose it might have made me work a bit harder, but I think that what I am trying to say is that I think the government is wrong to make students pay. I spose its good that they're not upfront fees, but still...
Anyway, Ross Noble is very funny.... go and see him on tour.
Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Its been a while since I last posted and much has taken place. Obviously it was the big party on saturday, which was very good, and much to our surprise and delight it was attended by Simon Hickson from Trevor and Simon. Yes, we are easily impressed but we are children of the 90s.... All in all it was a success, it was very well attended and the entertainment in the bar and the main room was very well received and very brilliant. I won't go into too much detail cos there will be some photos up on the site at some point in the near future, but I will say that thanks to DJ Danny "So Solid" Robins, the night ended in a whirring haze of air-guitar.
Went to Gutted!, the Gilded Balloon benefit on Sunday with the lovely Helena to see hours and hours of comedy and lots of tributes to the infamous Karen Koren (founder of the GB) mostly in a "This Is Your Life" stylee. Eddie Izzard was on, as were Daniel Kitson, Bill Bailey, Rich Hall, Phill Jupitus, Rhona Cameron, Phil Kay, Steve Frost, Arthur Smith, Jo Brand and about a million others that I can't remember at this precise moment. It was a really good night packed with industry people and comedy fans alike. Izzard wasn't too hot but still better than I thought he'd be after hearing the reviews of his new DVD. Phil Kay was quite funny without meaning to be - kept repeating the words Karen Koren and Gilded Balloon and how he cant imagine life without them. Bless him. There were a record number of digs at Karen Koren with regard to starting the fire herself but I think all the performers came to the conclusion that it was an accident. Still, there will be a lovely new purpose built Gilded Ballooon... please Karen, put in some air conditioning!
Had yesterday morning off work to recover from the weekend (I didn't call in sick, I asked for it off... in case you were wondering) and got in at 12.30pm. It is amazing how quickly the day goes when you have a lovely lie in and only have to work 5 hours. I could easily get used to it.
So today is my twenty-somethingth birthday. I think most of us know how old I am. Someone at work just asked me if I wanted some fruit so I whipped out the mini-donuts I bought and said that it was my birthday so please help yourself. He replied by asking how old I am so I told him and then he called me an old hag and its no wonder I die my hair. I have gone suitably beetroot red now. Damn him!! Getting ever closer to 30 doesn't bother me too much, it's 40 that bothers me. I know that is still a long way off, but that really is very old. Apologies to any over 40s who are reading this but I am sure you had the same thoughts when you were my age.
I am in the process of updating the live page so if anyone has any dates/gigs they want to include please email asap. In the meantime may I recommend that you go and see The Club Seals at the Soho Theatre between 29 Jan and 1 Feb. Their show is really brilliant and the Soho theatre is very lovely and trendy - and make sure you go and see Uncle Vinny there too on 27/28 January. There is a vast number of monthly sketch shows about at the moment which is fantastic cos everyone knows that sketch comedy is best... (along with stand-up, comedy plays and character comedy). There will be a list of them up on the site just as soon as I get one together.
Went to Gutted!, the Gilded Balloon benefit on Sunday with the lovely Helena to see hours and hours of comedy and lots of tributes to the infamous Karen Koren (founder of the GB) mostly in a "This Is Your Life" stylee. Eddie Izzard was on, as were Daniel Kitson, Bill Bailey, Rich Hall, Phill Jupitus, Rhona Cameron, Phil Kay, Steve Frost, Arthur Smith, Jo Brand and about a million others that I can't remember at this precise moment. It was a really good night packed with industry people and comedy fans alike. Izzard wasn't too hot but still better than I thought he'd be after hearing the reviews of his new DVD. Phil Kay was quite funny without meaning to be - kept repeating the words Karen Koren and Gilded Balloon and how he cant imagine life without them. Bless him. There were a record number of digs at Karen Koren with regard to starting the fire herself but I think all the performers came to the conclusion that it was an accident. Still, there will be a lovely new purpose built Gilded Ballooon... please Karen, put in some air conditioning!
Had yesterday morning off work to recover from the weekend (I didn't call in sick, I asked for it off... in case you were wondering) and got in at 12.30pm. It is amazing how quickly the day goes when you have a lovely lie in and only have to work 5 hours. I could easily get used to it.
So today is my twenty-somethingth birthday. I think most of us know how old I am. Someone at work just asked me if I wanted some fruit so I whipped out the mini-donuts I bought and said that it was my birthday so please help yourself. He replied by asking how old I am so I told him and then he called me an old hag and its no wonder I die my hair. I have gone suitably beetroot red now. Damn him!! Getting ever closer to 30 doesn't bother me too much, it's 40 that bothers me. I know that is still a long way off, but that really is very old. Apologies to any over 40s who are reading this but I am sure you had the same thoughts when you were my age.
I am in the process of updating the live page so if anyone has any dates/gigs they want to include please email asap. In the meantime may I recommend that you go and see The Club Seals at the Soho Theatre between 29 Jan and 1 Feb. Their show is really brilliant and the Soho theatre is very lovely and trendy - and make sure you go and see Uncle Vinny there too on 27/28 January. There is a vast number of monthly sketch shows about at the moment which is fantastic cos everyone knows that sketch comedy is best... (along with stand-up, comedy plays and character comedy). There will be a list of them up on the site just as soon as I get one together.
Everybody! All together now!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SUSAN!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
(just don't ask how old she is. she'll only start crying)
Friday, January 17, 2003
Mentally I feel good today. Determined not to get too bored and am going to ask to learn more stuff this afternoon otherwise I will go mad. Went to Makro last night to get sweets for the party and it was as if we were in heaven. It's like being Gulliver in Liliput. In the food section there were the biggest blocks of cheese I have ever seen, massive tubs of margarine and large vats of mayonniase. And the sweer section was amazing. I don't really like sweets and I was impressed. The sweets I got for tomorrow are fantastic and I can't tell you how proud I am of myself. It's going to be so much fun.
I have come to work with very very greasy hair today because I am dying it tonight and it takes better on unwashed hair - I am actually quite embarassed to be out in public. Really I should have planned it better and washed my hair yesterday but I am not that organised and I enjoy my extra 15 mins of snoozing time too much to ruin it by washing my hair needlessly and then spending ages drying it.
I've just decided I really have to stop giggling like a girl when I am talking to people. It's really quite embarassing. I do it when I have nothing to say back and feel I need to make some kind of acknowledgment - I think I have picked it up from my mum. Has anyone noticed I do this? I hope not cos I usually only do it at work when I don't have a clue or don't care about what someone has just told me. God I am getting so old now, I am turning into my mother. I also have a voice I keep especially for talking to people over the phone at work.
I have come to work with very very greasy hair today because I am dying it tonight and it takes better on unwashed hair - I am actually quite embarassed to be out in public. Really I should have planned it better and washed my hair yesterday but I am not that organised and I enjoy my extra 15 mins of snoozing time too much to ruin it by washing my hair needlessly and then spending ages drying it.
I've just decided I really have to stop giggling like a girl when I am talking to people. It's really quite embarassing. I do it when I have nothing to say back and feel I need to make some kind of acknowledgment - I think I have picked it up from my mum. Has anyone noticed I do this? I hope not cos I usually only do it at work when I don't have a clue or don't care about what someone has just told me. God I am getting so old now, I am turning into my mother. I also have a voice I keep especially for talking to people over the phone at work.
Thursday, January 16, 2003
I don't know if anyone else noticed this, but yesterday Susan Elizabeth Turnbull (or Sarah Turnball, as most people at her current place of work seem to think she was christened) implied that the 22 year old secretary that works on her floor "whores" for the whole department. I'm not entirely sure that's what she meant. Although, in the world of banking, you can never be sure.
Look! I'm sitting at a computer typing! And not complaining! Which will be a relief to anyone who reads my blog.
I also wanted to point everyone to an interview with comedy genius, Perrier winner and child star Daniel Kitson, as featured in the Edinburgh Evening News today, but strangely I can't find it on the website anywhere. If anyone has better luck, let me know. It contains secret information about Daniel's Edinburgh 2003 show that isn't actually supposed to be released to the public as yet, according to Daniel. So don't tell anyone.
My brother moved out a few weekends ago... the golden child has got a house with his fiancee in Bromley/Grove Park and has nearly shifted everything out of his bedroom. I had always hoped that when I move out (I cannot see this happening in the forseeable future) my bedroom would be left as a shrine to me, but the following disturbing un-maternal behaviour would suggest otherwise. My brother had only been gone a few hours and my mum started moving all her "rubbish" upstairs into the new "workroom". There are mannequins, buttons, reams of fabric and folders all over the place. Still, having her in the loft conversion out of sight and hearing might not be such a bad idea. The previous workroom only just had enough room to fit a bed in and not much else so I can't really blame her for wanting to spread out a bit.
Anyway, my dad is starting to turn the old workroom into a "gym". Nice. But when I say "gym", I mean he has bought an exercise bike, one of those roller things and the odd dumbell and I have a mini-stepper and a sit-up cheating machine which I'll donate to the cause. We still have a long way to go but at least now I don't have to not walk 2 minutes up the road to the leisure centre not to any exercise, I can now avoid it just by not going into the "gym" which is two rooms away from my bedroom.
Anyway, my dad is starting to turn the old workroom into a "gym". Nice. But when I say "gym", I mean he has bought an exercise bike, one of those roller things and the odd dumbell and I have a mini-stepper and a sit-up cheating machine which I'll donate to the cause. We still have a long way to go but at least now I don't have to not walk 2 minutes up the road to the leisure centre not to any exercise, I can now avoid it just by not going into the "gym" which is two rooms away from my bedroom.
Al Murray was superb last night. Strangely enough I perked up somewhat after leaving work and having a cup of coffee. He was on for a very long time indeed, and it was good to see Christian from Xfm in the audience along with newsy Chris Smith. What Al Murray does would be fairly easy to dismiss as a long list of cultural stereotypes mixed in with some differences between men and women but he does what he does so well, the character is so well developed and the material is original. I particularly liked the part when he asked if anyone believed that when you die your perfect soul goes up into space to live with Jesus by the moon. He also talked to us about chromosomes. It was very insightful - I learnt things that were kept from me when I did my degree in Biology. Apparently you have a chrome colour zone, a bit like a barcode, at the base of your neck and when you are asleep all the atoms of your body go up there and check what they have to do tomorrow - it is inspired. My favourite bit, and if you are thinking of going, don't read to the end of this paragraph, were the comments about the Queen Mother being taken before her time. That's not it... He said " she was a candle in the wind...... albeit a bit fat candle that would never go out"...
Celeb spotting was at an all time low - I spotted Richard Herring, Dan Antopolski, Christian O'Connell and Chris Smith, Gianni from Eastenders who played a barman in Time Gentlemen Please and I think that was about it.
I have made a wish list for my birthday so I can send it out to my mum, dad, brother and anyone else who loves me. However, as is usually the case with the afore-mentioned members of my family, they ask me what I want, I tell them and then they get me something completely different which is of no real interest to me. I know its the thought that counts, but if they ask me to implant a thought in their minds they should stick to it and not deviate thereby causing great disappointment for me on whichever present-giving occassion.
My list includes
Black Books Series 1 DVD
Spaced Series 2 DVD
Fawlty Towers Complete Series DVD
Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone DVD
Lord Of The Rings Special 4CD DVD
Father Ted Craggy Island Parish Magazines
Father Ted Complete Scripts
Blackadder The Whole Damn Dynasty
Phoenix Nights Series 1 DVD
Peter Kay Live at the Top of the Tower DVD
Eddie Izzard Circle DVD
If you'd like to help out in any way then don't be shy. I accept gifts and bribes from all third parties. I am also very very close to pre-ordering the new Harry Potter book from Amazon, a mere 5 months in advance. That's another one of my faults... I'm far too excitable about things which are miles into the future.
Now, to completely change the subject again, and because I am NOT going to tell you about my current level of boredom, I thought I would describe my work space/ethic to you. I work on the 7th floor of a very large building near St. Katherine's docks which is nice and bright and has a lovely view of Tower Bridge, the London Eye, the Tower of London and various other buildings. It is a square building and has a square atrium going all the way through so you can see all the way to the roof when you are standing at reception on the ground floor. There are about 100 people on the floor and I sit with the sales team who are, it has to be said, somewhat up their own arses. One of them has written a book on Asset-Backed Mortgages and seems to be doing some PhD along the same boring lines - what a life that must be. I sit opposite the department secretary who is 22 and is one of the nicest people here. She wors predominantly for the sales team who rely on her for practically everything. I wouldn't be surprised if she has to wipe their arses for them. I do apologise for putting that image in your mind but I really must convey how lost they would be without her. Compared to the Royal Bank of Scotland and Citibank, quality banks who I have worked for in the past, JPMorgan is very very quiet. Nobody speaks. It's horrible. So I've not really bothered speaking to them or making any friends - after all, I am hoping not to be here for too much longer anyway. (Please bear in mind I said that when I joined RBS in Nov 2000 and left in July 2002). In itself my job is bearable, I just don't have a huge amount to do all day. It does sound nice having nothing to do but when you are subjected to it all day everyday you find the days dragging and your mind numbing....
Celeb spotting was at an all time low - I spotted Richard Herring, Dan Antopolski, Christian O'Connell and Chris Smith, Gianni from Eastenders who played a barman in Time Gentlemen Please and I think that was about it.
I have made a wish list for my birthday so I can send it out to my mum, dad, brother and anyone else who loves me. However, as is usually the case with the afore-mentioned members of my family, they ask me what I want, I tell them and then they get me something completely different which is of no real interest to me. I know its the thought that counts, but if they ask me to implant a thought in their minds they should stick to it and not deviate thereby causing great disappointment for me on whichever present-giving occassion.
My list includes
Black Books Series 1 DVD
Spaced Series 2 DVD
Fawlty Towers Complete Series DVD
Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone DVD
Lord Of The Rings Special 4CD DVD
Father Ted Craggy Island Parish Magazines
Father Ted Complete Scripts
Blackadder The Whole Damn Dynasty
Phoenix Nights Series 1 DVD
Peter Kay Live at the Top of the Tower DVD
Eddie Izzard Circle DVD
If you'd like to help out in any way then don't be shy. I accept gifts and bribes from all third parties. I am also very very close to pre-ordering the new Harry Potter book from Amazon, a mere 5 months in advance. That's another one of my faults... I'm far too excitable about things which are miles into the future.
Now, to completely change the subject again, and because I am NOT going to tell you about my current level of boredom, I thought I would describe my work space/ethic to you. I work on the 7th floor of a very large building near St. Katherine's docks which is nice and bright and has a lovely view of Tower Bridge, the London Eye, the Tower of London and various other buildings. It is a square building and has a square atrium going all the way through so you can see all the way to the roof when you are standing at reception on the ground floor. There are about 100 people on the floor and I sit with the sales team who are, it has to be said, somewhat up their own arses. One of them has written a book on Asset-Backed Mortgages and seems to be doing some PhD along the same boring lines - what a life that must be. I sit opposite the department secretary who is 22 and is one of the nicest people here. She wors predominantly for the sales team who rely on her for practically everything. I wouldn't be surprised if she has to wipe their arses for them. I do apologise for putting that image in your mind but I really must convey how lost they would be without her. Compared to the Royal Bank of Scotland and Citibank, quality banks who I have worked for in the past, JPMorgan is very very quiet. Nobody speaks. It's horrible. So I've not really bothered speaking to them or making any friends - after all, I am hoping not to be here for too much longer anyway. (Please bear in mind I said that when I joined RBS in Nov 2000 and left in July 2002). In itself my job is bearable, I just don't have a huge amount to do all day. It does sound nice having nothing to do but when you are subjected to it all day everyday you find the days dragging and your mind numbing....
Wednesday, January 15, 2003
I must tell you about my old english teacher Mrs. Kemal. I have been bearing a grudge for years and it might help to make it public. Picture the scene if you will. It's 1992, you are in the 4th year at big school and to your horror you are told you are going to be taking your English Language GCSE a year early and to cap it all off you also have to give a short talk in front of the whole class about a subject you feel strongly about. Bizarrely enough, in a one-off act of bravery, I volunteered to go first and delivered my speech about the wrongs of testing on animals. At this point in my life I was very very shy.
Anyway, to get to the point, she destroyed my confidence in myself and kept telling me I wrote like a 1st year (despite being in the 4th year). However, she forgot that she was teaching at a grammar school and that we were all quite brainy when we wanted to be so when she predicted me a C for my GCSE she was gutted when I got an A for the written part and an A(1) for the oral. Har har har. That showed her. But she still put me off writing. The bitch.
Another instance, but this time I proved the teacher wrong to a far, far lesser extent, is the case of my chemistry teacher whose name I cannot for the life of me remember - I do remember she was absolutely lovely though. Well, due to the fact that at this time of my life I decided I wanted to be a vet (despite the fact that this meant I would have to work hard for my A-levels) so I had to take Chemistry and do well at it. Well, to be blunt, I was shite and just didn't have a clue so when I was predicted a U (at this point I had realised and accepted that the vet's life wasn't for me) I wasn't too shocked. Anyway, I tried my best and came out with an N. That's right, look impressed. So that showed her.... sort of!
Hope that was of some interest - a small insight into my past for you there....
Another interesting thing that I discovered today is that my job title is "analyst" - yes, again, look impressed. Officially I analyse bond trades, and unofficially I analyse the internet. In great detail.
I am also now 100% that I am going to see Al Murray - hurrah!
Anyway, to get to the point, she destroyed my confidence in myself and kept telling me I wrote like a 1st year (despite being in the 4th year). However, she forgot that she was teaching at a grammar school and that we were all quite brainy when we wanted to be so when she predicted me a C for my GCSE she was gutted when I got an A for the written part and an A(1) for the oral. Har har har. That showed her. But she still put me off writing. The bitch.
Another instance, but this time I proved the teacher wrong to a far, far lesser extent, is the case of my chemistry teacher whose name I cannot for the life of me remember - I do remember she was absolutely lovely though. Well, due to the fact that at this time of my life I decided I wanted to be a vet (despite the fact that this meant I would have to work hard for my A-levels) so I had to take Chemistry and do well at it. Well, to be blunt, I was shite and just didn't have a clue so when I was predicted a U (at this point I had realised and accepted that the vet's life wasn't for me) I wasn't too shocked. Anyway, I tried my best and came out with an N. That's right, look impressed. So that showed her.... sort of!
Hope that was of some interest - a small insight into my past for you there....
Another interesting thing that I discovered today is that my job title is "analyst" - yes, again, look impressed. Officially I analyse bond trades, and unofficially I analyse the internet. In great detail.
I am also now 100% that I am going to see Al Murray - hurrah!
I think it was the songstress Sabrina who once sang the infamous words... "Bored. Bored . Bored. I'm looking for a good time.." Anyway, I will leave the subject of boredom alone now cos it does bore me further going on about how bored I am, but like I say, I am bored. So let's just take it as read that if I am posting to this blog, then I am very bored at work. You can remember it by this simple acronym.,, IIAPTTBTIAVBAW.
I am now back up to 95% sure I am going to see Al Murray tonight. I must have something interesting to write about... I do have some fascinating opinions about a vast number of equally fascinating subjects..honestly. Work is already underway on the "new year" issue of Comedy Lounge, we are making heavy inroads even as we speak.
I am now back up to 95% sure I am going to see Al Murray tonight. I must have something interesting to write about... I do have some fascinating opinions about a vast number of equally fascinating subjects..honestly. Work is already underway on the "new year" issue of Comedy Lounge, we are making heavy inroads even as we speak.
Man I am bored. I know that's not particularly interesting, but I feel the need to share it and in turn bore you. I am getting slightly achier and I am now only 70% sure about going tonight. Going to hang around here til at least 5.30pm so will see how I feel when I take more drugs at 5. Wow - fascinating. Just think how interesting my blog entry will be tomorrow if I do go compared to if I don't.... and there is no way I can call in sick tomorrow - no matter how actually ill I really actually am... that would be taking the piss somewhat and I can't afford any more days off. Maybe some coke would perk me up a bit - I mean the liquid variety, not the powder...I'm not quite that showbiz, although someone did once offer me some in a hotel room which I politely declined...you know who you are?!?
It amuses me greatly to see that this blog gets about 20 hits a day - it also worries me slighty for a number of reasons.
It amuses me greatly to see that this blog gets about 20 hits a day - it also worries me slighty for a number of reasons.
When will the woman understand that my name is Susan, not Sandra - or Sarah come to think of it. Do I look like a middle-aged woman? I don't really think I do despite my impending birthday. She collared me on the way out last night and asked me what happened with my "stolen" car. I would like to take this opportunity to reassure you all that I don't normally lie - mainly because I am rubbish at it and go red and start twitching - but when it comes to the most boring job in the world where my boss does arse all and can spare the time to cover me I make an exception. Anyway, I have left it too long to correct her now - I keep meaning to but she always seems to do it when people are around so I pretend I didn't hear her and smile - I am such a nonce.
Ross Noble was on the radio with Christian today and was brilliant as ever. I believe Jimmy Carr is on Xfm on sundays with Natasha but I have yet to hear that. Does anyone else listen to Xfm? They play such bands as Chimney Factory and I constantly find my self talking about bands whose names just sound pretentious. I can't help it... I like Porcupine Tree. It really is the best radio station ever and I shall be doing a week or so of work experience there just as soon as I work out when I can blag off work.
I am debating whether to go and see Al Murray tonight cos I am feeling a bit shivery and knackered. I am 90% sure I will go because I know I'll have fun and I don't want to miss out but I do feel rough. I'll have to arse around town after work for a while though which is a bugger but I can go and have a coffee, read my book and pump myself full of anadin ultra. What with the party looming ever closer and the lack of warmth my outfit will be providing, I think it is inevitable that I will be sniffly on my b'day but I can drink that away and sleep it off the next day - on my legitimate day off.
Adrian has just left the office to go and lecture some people at Lloyds Bank about the wonders of a new in house computer system *yawn*. Still, that leaves me free to arse around on the internet and email people... hooray! There are some websites I keep meaning to look at but never think of doing so at work. Come to think of it, I am going to do some lounge stuff but I can tell you now the new issue won't be up for a good month - Sharon can't sit at a computer for long you see - which will be fun for her when she goes back to work on Monday. But don't worry - we'll get there - even if we have to do a mini-site for now.
Ross Noble was on the radio with Christian today and was brilliant as ever. I believe Jimmy Carr is on Xfm on sundays with Natasha but I have yet to hear that. Does anyone else listen to Xfm? They play such bands as Chimney Factory and I constantly find my self talking about bands whose names just sound pretentious. I can't help it... I like Porcupine Tree. It really is the best radio station ever and I shall be doing a week or so of work experience there just as soon as I work out when I can blag off work.
I am debating whether to go and see Al Murray tonight cos I am feeling a bit shivery and knackered. I am 90% sure I will go because I know I'll have fun and I don't want to miss out but I do feel rough. I'll have to arse around town after work for a while though which is a bugger but I can go and have a coffee, read my book and pump myself full of anadin ultra. What with the party looming ever closer and the lack of warmth my outfit will be providing, I think it is inevitable that I will be sniffly on my b'day but I can drink that away and sleep it off the next day - on my legitimate day off.
Adrian has just left the office to go and lecture some people at Lloyds Bank about the wonders of a new in house computer system *yawn*. Still, that leaves me free to arse around on the internet and email people... hooray! There are some websites I keep meaning to look at but never think of doing so at work. Come to think of it, I am going to do some lounge stuff but I can tell you now the new issue won't be up for a good month - Sharon can't sit at a computer for long you see - which will be fun for her when she goes back to work on Monday. But don't worry - we'll get there - even if we have to do a mini-site for now.
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
Today has been the slowest day in the history of the world. Can't wait to get home and... you guessed it... lay down and not get up for a long time. Good news though which I have just remembered cos I am so damn bored... Christian O'Connell, the saviour of British Radio Broadcasting and Xfm is taking over the reigns of "Live With" from Chris Moyles during the end of February. This is very good news indeed despite the fact that it is on Five.
I am not sure if I mentioned it is my birthday on Tuesday 21st - 3 days after the party to end all parties. Very exciting. I have taken 22nd off work in anticipation of a hang over to rival the one I had on sunday and I'd quite like to go dancing and work off some of the previously consumed beer and have a nice long well-deserved sleep. I am not telling you how old I am going to be though although I will say I am the baby of the lounge... although clearly I am almost a grown-up now.
I have just spilt water all over my desk. Luckily I have some paper towels left over from when I knocked my lucozade over on friday.
I am not sure if I mentioned it is my birthday on Tuesday 21st - 3 days after the party to end all parties. Very exciting. I have taken 22nd off work in anticipation of a hang over to rival the one I had on sunday and I'd quite like to go dancing and work off some of the previously consumed beer and have a nice long well-deserved sleep. I am not telling you how old I am going to be though although I will say I am the baby of the lounge... although clearly I am almost a grown-up now.
I have just spilt water all over my desk. Luckily I have some paper towels left over from when I knocked my lucozade over on friday.
Another monday, another day off work due to lack of sleep, motivation and energy. Still, I think it was fate that made me skive off cos I have now completed my outfit for the party - got a top from a slightly rubbish shop for a very small amount of money but it is exactly what I was after... not that I knew what that was.
Went out for my friend's 28th b'day on Saturday night, in Beckenham with Donna and Nina (two very lovely Essex birds) and didn't quite make it home until 5.30am. This explains my lack of attendance at work yesterday. There is so much more to this story of saturday night but I can't really broadcast it online just in case those involved read it and also because it will only interest one or two of you. Anyway, going to the Hen and Chickens on sunday finished me off - I'm amazed Kathryn (who had an even heavier night) and I managed to make it there without projectile vomiting on the tube. Classy. It was a brilliant night and I heartily recommend everyone goes to the next one on 2 Feb. Or at least go and see Club Seals at the Soho theatre at the end of the month. I for one will certainly be there.
Yesterday, I decided to make the most of my "day off" and go to Bluewater for a wander about. Managed to buy 2 more DVDs for my ever growing yet still-redundant - due to the fact that I do not have a DVD player - collection. Got Dennis Leary and Cabaret. Incidentally, if someone would like to get me the entire Father Ted DVD collection, that would be dandy. Its my favourite sitcom ever, along with Blackadder, and I spose I'd have to get rid of my videos...DVDs are very beautiful though and you can fit loads more on a shelf. I think my video collection is nearing the 300 mark... how on earth did that happen? Yes, and I also ordered a pair of boots from Russell and Bromley childrens department... don't ask. Please will someone take my credit card off me... I think I might hide it from myself.
Went out for my friend's 28th b'day on Saturday night, in Beckenham with Donna and Nina (two very lovely Essex birds) and didn't quite make it home until 5.30am. This explains my lack of attendance at work yesterday. There is so much more to this story of saturday night but I can't really broadcast it online just in case those involved read it and also because it will only interest one or two of you. Anyway, going to the Hen and Chickens on sunday finished me off - I'm amazed Kathryn (who had an even heavier night) and I managed to make it there without projectile vomiting on the tube. Classy. It was a brilliant night and I heartily recommend everyone goes to the next one on 2 Feb. Or at least go and see Club Seals at the Soho theatre at the end of the month. I for one will certainly be there.
Yesterday, I decided to make the most of my "day off" and go to Bluewater for a wander about. Managed to buy 2 more DVDs for my ever growing yet still-redundant - due to the fact that I do not have a DVD player - collection. Got Dennis Leary and Cabaret. Incidentally, if someone would like to get me the entire Father Ted DVD collection, that would be dandy. Its my favourite sitcom ever, along with Blackadder, and I spose I'd have to get rid of my videos...DVDs are very beautiful though and you can fit loads more on a shelf. I think my video collection is nearing the 300 mark... how on earth did that happen? Yes, and I also ordered a pair of boots from Russell and Bromley childrens department... don't ask. Please will someone take my credit card off me... I think I might hide it from myself.
Friday, January 10, 2003
Went to the Comedy Store last night and it was absolutely brilliant. Every time it goes it gets funnier and funnier and I have claimed the wall by the ladies toilet for my own. Kitson was MCing and was a bit too good. He kept getting huge cheers every time he came back on and I think the audience would have been more than happy to just sit there and be entertained by Daniel all night. The other acts were Mandy Knight and Mike Gunn, neither of whom I know very well, and Richard Ayoade and Justin Moorhouse who were both (to quote Steve Merchant) "dynamite". There were two open spots, the first of which was pretty lame and the second, Brando, who was verging on Bernard Manning/Roy Chubby Brown territory. We found it very hard not to laugh, but unfortunately it was at him rather than with him. I'm thinking he might not make another appearance at the comedy store.
I would like to reiterate again how brilliant I thought Richard Ayoade was. His stuff was right up my street, so to speak. You can tell he is a friend of the Boosh. Not that his material is anything like Noel or Julian's, but his mannerisms and the way he conducted himself was very similar. I shall be telling everyone on the Boosh site to go and see him as a stop-gap until the Boosh actually do something.
Remarkably enough, I am bored. I have done all my work despite arsing around on the internet for a good half of the morning. My manager is at lunch so I am just checking through my ebay purchases. I need someone to help me go cold turkey and ween me off ebay, but it is so great. You can find things you could only ever have dreamed of owning in the past.
I would like to officially thank Helena for letting me sift through an assortment of unwanted promo CDs that her office has acquired. I managed to pick up the following CDs that I now no longer need to buy...
Richard Hawley album - formerly of the Longpigs who were the bestest band in all the land until no-one else other than me bought their second album and they went their separate ways. Hopefully this will be a good album and will make up for the pain they caused during their split.
Something Corporate album - some random american indie band. I chose this CD based on the band shot on the back as I liked the look of most of the members. I think you'll find this is a fail-safe way to chose music.
T.A.T.U. "All The Things You Said" - We've all seen the video and I would like to confirm again that I do NOT bat for their team.
Jackie Clune "Bitchin" - All comedy CDs are essential possessions.
Electric Soft Parade single - My favourite band that I went to see last year cos I am way ahead of you lot and am very street and down with the kids.
Anyway, I got the penultimate train home last night and while I was chatting to Sharon some freak came over and startd going on about how I knew his friend and can he sit with me and am I going home to Australia soon and can he come too? I managed not to swear at him and told him I didn;t know him and no he can;t come with me and no I am not Australian and please could he leave me alone. He wandered off and came back again and hassled me and kept reaching into his pockets which scared me a lot cos I thought he was going to "cut me up a treat" or something. I wandered down the other end of the carriage with people giving me sympathetic looks and who do you think got back on the carriage and tried to make out he knew me again but this nonce. I moved again and this time you really won't guess who I saw peering through the window at me but... yes the bloody nutcase again. This time I wasn't so restrained and I am hoping that he couldn't lip read me telling him to "f*ck off". Anyway, I felt a bit paranoid after that cos he really freaked me out and seemed so convinced that he knew me. I think he had a bit of an accent and looked slightly like a scary Ali G. Oh well. He didn't follow me home in the end.
The snow on the pavements has turned to ice in West Wickham now and there is still a layer of about 4/5 inches on the roof of my car, Tony. Very exciting.
Also, it is about 90% certain that Sharon won't be attending the comedy lounge party despite my best efforts to persuade her and transmit positive energy. Please could everyone place hands on the screen and send vibes to Sharon's back to make it better. I am definitely going and intend to get fairly squiffy on La Boca wine.
I would like to reiterate again how brilliant I thought Richard Ayoade was. His stuff was right up my street, so to speak. You can tell he is a friend of the Boosh. Not that his material is anything like Noel or Julian's, but his mannerisms and the way he conducted himself was very similar. I shall be telling everyone on the Boosh site to go and see him as a stop-gap until the Boosh actually do something.
Remarkably enough, I am bored. I have done all my work despite arsing around on the internet for a good half of the morning. My manager is at lunch so I am just checking through my ebay purchases. I need someone to help me go cold turkey and ween me off ebay, but it is so great. You can find things you could only ever have dreamed of owning in the past.
I would like to officially thank Helena for letting me sift through an assortment of unwanted promo CDs that her office has acquired. I managed to pick up the following CDs that I now no longer need to buy...
Richard Hawley album - formerly of the Longpigs who were the bestest band in all the land until no-one else other than me bought their second album and they went their separate ways. Hopefully this will be a good album and will make up for the pain they caused during their split.
Something Corporate album - some random american indie band. I chose this CD based on the band shot on the back as I liked the look of most of the members. I think you'll find this is a fail-safe way to chose music.
T.A.T.U. "All The Things You Said" - We've all seen the video and I would like to confirm again that I do NOT bat for their team.
Jackie Clune "Bitchin" - All comedy CDs are essential possessions.
Electric Soft Parade single - My favourite band that I went to see last year cos I am way ahead of you lot and am very street and down with the kids.
Anyway, I got the penultimate train home last night and while I was chatting to Sharon some freak came over and startd going on about how I knew his friend and can he sit with me and am I going home to Australia soon and can he come too? I managed not to swear at him and told him I didn;t know him and no he can;t come with me and no I am not Australian and please could he leave me alone. He wandered off and came back again and hassled me and kept reaching into his pockets which scared me a lot cos I thought he was going to "cut me up a treat" or something. I wandered down the other end of the carriage with people giving me sympathetic looks and who do you think got back on the carriage and tried to make out he knew me again but this nonce. I moved again and this time you really won't guess who I saw peering through the window at me but... yes the bloody nutcase again. This time I wasn't so restrained and I am hoping that he couldn't lip read me telling him to "f*ck off". Anyway, I felt a bit paranoid after that cos he really freaked me out and seemed so convinced that he knew me. I think he had a bit of an accent and looked slightly like a scary Ali G. Oh well. He didn't follow me home in the end.
The snow on the pavements has turned to ice in West Wickham now and there is still a layer of about 4/5 inches on the roof of my car, Tony. Very exciting.
Also, it is about 90% certain that Sharon won't be attending the comedy lounge party despite my best efforts to persuade her and transmit positive energy. Please could everyone place hands on the screen and send vibes to Sharon's back to make it better. I am definitely going and intend to get fairly squiffy on La Boca wine.
Wednesday, January 08, 2003
Right. So I left you at new years eve. Might I mention how pleased I was that my favourite Alan Partridge clip made it into the top 100 TV moments of 2002. "DAAAAAN!" Nice. Well done me. I am clearly very good at spotting very funny things. So, new years day we realised we didn't have any food in or anything and with it being Scotland and with the Scotch having a bank holiday on 1st and 2nd Jan, we found it near impossible to find anywhere open on new years day. Except our old favourite, Alldays up in Newington. All in all, I'd say we spent about 2 hours waiting for various arsing buses. We tried lighting cigarettes and pretending to walk home in order to coax the them into coming but Lothian Buses weren't having any of it. It was really very cold.
The next day I didn't leave the flat as I found Sharon in the lounge in tears unable to move. I got the doctor to come and see her but he wasn't much use at all. I took Kesh out a few times and we settled down to watch various videos including Punt and Dennis and Ant and Dec.
I think I'll stop recounting tales of Edinburgh now cos they don't appear to be as interesting as I thought I could make them sound! Let me tell you about the snow instead.
When I woke up yesterday morning and peered out of the window all bleary-eyed with no glasses on I thought to myself "ooh, its nice and bright outside" and when I took a closer look I realised that that was because everything was white. Lovely, winter wonderland. As I had a meeting at the BBC (that's right, look impressed) I had my only pair of shoes on, which was bad enough in itself, except my shoes have no sides. They cover my toes but not the sides of my feet. By the time I got home last night after paying visits to two of my good friends, my feet were like ice-cubes and I could no longer use them properly. Still, its very pretty outside.
Having said that there are 40 min delays on connex routes so I might go well off the snow by the time I get home. Fingers crossed we are leaving at 4pm though. Even though I won't get paid for the last hr of the day. Ho hum.
The next day I didn't leave the flat as I found Sharon in the lounge in tears unable to move. I got the doctor to come and see her but he wasn't much use at all. I took Kesh out a few times and we settled down to watch various videos including Punt and Dennis and Ant and Dec.
I think I'll stop recounting tales of Edinburgh now cos they don't appear to be as interesting as I thought I could make them sound! Let me tell you about the snow instead.
When I woke up yesterday morning and peered out of the window all bleary-eyed with no glasses on I thought to myself "ooh, its nice and bright outside" and when I took a closer look I realised that that was because everything was white. Lovely, winter wonderland. As I had a meeting at the BBC (that's right, look impressed) I had my only pair of shoes on, which was bad enough in itself, except my shoes have no sides. They cover my toes but not the sides of my feet. By the time I got home last night after paying visits to two of my good friends, my feet were like ice-cubes and I could no longer use them properly. Still, its very pretty outside.
Having said that there are 40 min delays on connex routes so I might go well off the snow by the time I get home. Fingers crossed we are leaving at 4pm though. Even though I won't get paid for the last hr of the day. Ho hum.
So, I was in Edinburgh all alone for the friday night and all day and night saturday. Well, I say alone, but I did have my credit card and the whole of Princes Street to keep me company. Spend saturday wandering round shops and buying milk for tea and rewarded myself with a chinese take away from the top of Sharon's road. The best chinese in the UK - easily. I don't think they deliver to London though, which is unfortunate.
On sunday I got the airport bus to the airport (who'd have thought) to meet Edel off her flight and then onto pick up the little Keshter. I was hoping to see some planes taking off and landing, it being an airport and all, but it was essentially just a large field with a few small planes not really doing anything.
I made a banner for Edel in case she had forgotten what I look like which she liked very much. I was close to tears as I was so glad to see a friendly face and also very excited about picking up the little bow wow from the kennels (yes the evil Cribbins put their little puppy dog into a kennel over Xmas). We walked through the kennel past all the other poor unloved doggies who were barking and jumping up thinking we had come to rescue them but we found our beautiful little Jack Russell sitting quietly in her corner looking lovely.
That evening we went to pick up Edel's friend Marie and her son David (pronounced Duveeeeed as he is French) from the station. The timing of our trip to collect these people coincided with the torch parade that I had been going on and on and on about going to all day. The parade started from St. Giles's cathedral on the royal mile, went down the mound, along Princes Street and up Carlton Hill. Coming out of Waverley station we saw the torches coming down the mound and so went on ahead up Carlton hill. It was so exciting seeing them come up the hill. With the big wooden boat on fire it was like some mediaevel pagan ritual and I got far too over-excited as per usual. I took quite a lot of photos which probably won't come out as it was complete darkness apart from the torches. We stayed and listened to the music and as the bonfire was lit we sloped down the side of Carlton hill down to Leith Walk before we go smoked off the hill. As we got home we could see the fireworks on Carlton hill and I was very glad that I had travelled up to Edinburgh for new year.
Sharon finally arrived and we swapped Xmas presents and all sat down and ate curry except David who spat most of his out as he preferred to eat the magnetic letters on the fridge and feed them to "le chien"!
Anyway, as the week progressed Sharon's "condition" worsened so she found herself staying in with Kesh on new years eve while I went out partying eith Edel. Me and Edel went to a house party briefly where we immediately broke our no-alcohol rule (originally applied so we wouldn't need to wee on Princes Street) and had a can of the classic tramp's drink, Tennants. We watched aghast as people took cocaines and spliffs and lord knows what else. ("Remember kids, say no to drugs. All drugs are bad, even the ones they give to old people and little children in hospitals. You have to be consistent in your bigoted views") At 11.30pm we wandered onto the Mound to welcome in the new year. At about 10 seconds to midnight I spotted a countdown and apparently initiated that on the Mound, so well done me. At the stroke of midnight I turned towards the castle and saw a lone firework shooting up into the sky and gave out a small yelp when it went off. After about half an hour we found our way out of the masses and into a pub just down from George Street where I soon lost my sense of fun and went home to keep Sharon company and have a cup of tea (that's right, look impressed).
Next installment soon....!
On sunday I got the airport bus to the airport (who'd have thought) to meet Edel off her flight and then onto pick up the little Keshter. I was hoping to see some planes taking off and landing, it being an airport and all, but it was essentially just a large field with a few small planes not really doing anything.
I made a banner for Edel in case she had forgotten what I look like which she liked very much. I was close to tears as I was so glad to see a friendly face and also very excited about picking up the little bow wow from the kennels (yes the evil Cribbins put their little puppy dog into a kennel over Xmas). We walked through the kennel past all the other poor unloved doggies who were barking and jumping up thinking we had come to rescue them but we found our beautiful little Jack Russell sitting quietly in her corner looking lovely.
That evening we went to pick up Edel's friend Marie and her son David (pronounced Duveeeeed as he is French) from the station. The timing of our trip to collect these people coincided with the torch parade that I had been going on and on and on about going to all day. The parade started from St. Giles's cathedral on the royal mile, went down the mound, along Princes Street and up Carlton Hill. Coming out of Waverley station we saw the torches coming down the mound and so went on ahead up Carlton hill. It was so exciting seeing them come up the hill. With the big wooden boat on fire it was like some mediaevel pagan ritual and I got far too over-excited as per usual. I took quite a lot of photos which probably won't come out as it was complete darkness apart from the torches. We stayed and listened to the music and as the bonfire was lit we sloped down the side of Carlton hill down to Leith Walk before we go smoked off the hill. As we got home we could see the fireworks on Carlton hill and I was very glad that I had travelled up to Edinburgh for new year.
Sharon finally arrived and we swapped Xmas presents and all sat down and ate curry except David who spat most of his out as he preferred to eat the magnetic letters on the fridge and feed them to "le chien"!
Anyway, as the week progressed Sharon's "condition" worsened so she found herself staying in with Kesh on new years eve while I went out partying eith Edel. Me and Edel went to a house party briefly where we immediately broke our no-alcohol rule (originally applied so we wouldn't need to wee on Princes Street) and had a can of the classic tramp's drink, Tennants. We watched aghast as people took cocaines and spliffs and lord knows what else. ("Remember kids, say no to drugs. All drugs are bad, even the ones they give to old people and little children in hospitals. You have to be consistent in your bigoted views") At 11.30pm we wandered onto the Mound to welcome in the new year. At about 10 seconds to midnight I spotted a countdown and apparently initiated that on the Mound, so well done me. At the stroke of midnight I turned towards the castle and saw a lone firework shooting up into the sky and gave out a small yelp when it went off. After about half an hour we found our way out of the masses and into a pub just down from George Street where I soon lost my sense of fun and went home to keep Sharon company and have a cup of tea (that's right, look impressed).
Next installment soon....!
Tuesday, January 07, 2003
Please, I beseech you, please go and see this play. It starts the brilliant Gez Foster so is bound to be brilliant. We will definitely be going so make sure you do too.
Go on, what are you still reading this for? Book your tickets...
GOD IN A BOX
Barons Court Theatre
The Curtains Up
28(A) Comeragh Road
W14
BOX OFFICE 020 9832 4747
January 10th - 19th
Tickets £7 (£5 concs)
Go on, what are you still reading this for? Book your tickets...
GOD IN A BOX
Barons Court Theatre
The Curtains Up
28(A) Comeragh Road
W14
BOX OFFICE 020 9832 4747
January 10th - 19th
Tickets £7 (£5 concs)
Monday, January 06, 2003
First day back at work today and I have been so tired and bored that it totally escaped my mind to blog. Didnt get to sleep til gone 3am last night for some reason or another. I am off work tomorrow cos I have a "hospital appointment" (nudge nudge, wink wink). Wish me luck!
Had a lovely Xmas, thanks for asking, and new year was superb if slightly hindered by Sharon rather cleverly slipping a disc in her back. I spent Xmas evening with David and his lovely gay friends, who made me feel slightly butch and a bit of a fag hag, although I would like to point out that I was friends with him for at least 4 years before he knew he was gay. He is my reserve husband in case it all goes wrong. My parents are buying a new bed and I stupidly asked for their old one which lead my mother to enquire as to why I wanted a double bed. Why does she think?! This spurred on her current thoughts of me and Sharon being girlfriend and girlfriend - mostly my fault for telling her that I was sleeping in Sharon's bed in Edinburgh. Its a double bed - that means there is space for two people, one of which doesn't move a muscle when asleep and the other of which has slipped a disc. Her imagination really is working overtime. She is very much like Edina in Ab Fab. In so many many ways. She wears the same hideous colour combinations (which explains why I always wear black), she also works in fashion, and she too would love it if her child was gay. My mum would think it was so cool but I am afraid she is sadly mistaken. She absolutely adores David though.
Zoomed up to Edinburgh first class on the train which was hilarious. I got a free paper and literally endless cups of tea and clotted cream short bread biscuits. And as a result of planned engineering work I also got to lug my heavy possessions off the train, through York station, up and down various flights of stairs, and onto the most rickety coach I have seen in a good while. Then I got to sit in darkness at the front of the coach (with my seatbelt on like a good girl) while the coach driver took us in record time to Darlington where I had the pleasure of getting back on another train and throwing a grumpy old lady out of my seat. Then the tea and biscuits started flowing. I started my journey at 6pm in London (well, 4.30pm in Bromley) and by the end of the journey I was bored out of my tiny mind.
Best do some work quickly...
Had a lovely Xmas, thanks for asking, and new year was superb if slightly hindered by Sharon rather cleverly slipping a disc in her back. I spent Xmas evening with David and his lovely gay friends, who made me feel slightly butch and a bit of a fag hag, although I would like to point out that I was friends with him for at least 4 years before he knew he was gay. He is my reserve husband in case it all goes wrong. My parents are buying a new bed and I stupidly asked for their old one which lead my mother to enquire as to why I wanted a double bed. Why does she think?! This spurred on her current thoughts of me and Sharon being girlfriend and girlfriend - mostly my fault for telling her that I was sleeping in Sharon's bed in Edinburgh. Its a double bed - that means there is space for two people, one of which doesn't move a muscle when asleep and the other of which has slipped a disc. Her imagination really is working overtime. She is very much like Edina in Ab Fab. In so many many ways. She wears the same hideous colour combinations (which explains why I always wear black), she also works in fashion, and she too would love it if her child was gay. My mum would think it was so cool but I am afraid she is sadly mistaken. She absolutely adores David though.
Zoomed up to Edinburgh first class on the train which was hilarious. I got a free paper and literally endless cups of tea and clotted cream short bread biscuits. And as a result of planned engineering work I also got to lug my heavy possessions off the train, through York station, up and down various flights of stairs, and onto the most rickety coach I have seen in a good while. Then I got to sit in darkness at the front of the coach (with my seatbelt on like a good girl) while the coach driver took us in record time to Darlington where I had the pleasure of getting back on another train and throwing a grumpy old lady out of my seat. Then the tea and biscuits started flowing. I started my journey at 6pm in London (well, 4.30pm in Bromley) and by the end of the journey I was bored out of my tiny mind.
Best do some work quickly...
