8 posts tagged “family”

Haven't been online, boo bah, yadda yadda yadda. This will be fairly short as it seems in the week that I haven't managed to blog everyone one my bloglines has had a million things to say... I plan on going to bed in about 40 minutes but I don't expect to manage to get much read by then.

Work's been pretty good this week. We had a whole day meeting on Monday which was a nice ease into the working week. The rest of the week was pretty hectic culminating in my first thankfully non-major filling in of an incidence form (turns out violence happens outside of hospitals too). I've got another busy week this week, though am only now realising the stupidity of arranging to go on some observations in Malvern at 9am on Friday (means leaving about an hour earlier than normal). One of my colleagues has also recently got engaged so there've been some really nice off topic moments within the office.

Out of work I have mainly been sleeping, or wishing it was time to sleep already. I had assumed that by now I could just bounce straight back from a routine infection but it seems not. We've been a little busy this week as it's been Richard's birthday - he was playing a gig on the day so we went out the night before instead for a meal.

I read the last book I'd received for Christmas / Birthday so I'm now on the ones I received at a huge discount from Mango after they messed me about a lot. I can always be bought off with books. The one I'm reading at the moment is the new one by Kirsty Crawford, "The Secret Lives Of Husbands". I read her first novel and felt all of the way through that there was something missing... I have to say that I'm feeling the same about this, though I can't put my finger on what the problem is.

Happy New Year one and all!!

I've managed to miss the entire festive season online, so I guess I have some catching up to do. I've been reading everyone else's musings but not really been inspired to write myself. Apologies as this post will probably as a result become long and meandering.

My Christmas began with me finishing work on 22nd. Fridays are a slightly strange day for me, unless I phone and speak to someone in the main office I don't see a single colleague all day. I was told I was daft for having booked clients in, but to be fair I'd rather be busy and see the clock whizz around. I went out for a meal in the evening with Gemma and Kat to Frankie and Benny's which was brilliant. If I came away with nothing else I came away with more thoughts for my budgie vs hamster debate.

On the 23rd it was time to return to Villa Park. It had been far too long since I'd last sat in the stands, and I intend it to not be so long again. I went to see Villa play Man Utd with my cousin Harry and uncle. We had to fight our way through Kings Heath (so many people trying to do last minute shopping) and realised we had taken so long to drive along the high street that my uncle had actually had time to go into Sainsbury's and get the goose fat he'd been coveting ever since Nigella said it was the thing to have, and get back. We got to Witton in good time in the end, and joined the queue to get into the club shop. The queue was stretched across the car park and naturally a car turned up wanting to cross through it. So there were me and Harry calling the driver names before we realised it was Martin Laursen (Villa defender)! The match itself was pretty good, despite the final result. Our seats were fantastic, we were in Trinity Road (one of the longer stands) but right near the corner where it connects to the Holte End (the short stand where all the Villa diehards sit). The singing was deafening and the atmosphere electric. The first half was reasonable - we looked as unlikely to score as they did. The second half was when the real Man Utd turned up, and it got to the point where you had to forget that it as a Villa match and just enjoy watching the beautiful football Utd were stringing together. Ronaldo got booed every time he got near the ball which added to the Christmassy panto feel. By the time we got back to the car we couldn't feel even hands or feet but a decent day was had by all.

Christmas Eve wasn't such a good day. I woke up feeling a bit wobbly, then nearly fainted midway through peeling the sprouts. I had to cancel meeting up with everyone which was really blah :-(

Christmas Day was eventful in a very quiet kind of way. The morning went as planned, just the four of us opening presents around the tree. Then my dad went and fetched my granny and grandad ready for lunch. We got partway through the meal when my granny was taken ill. No one was quite sure what was going on, but we eventually got it sorted. No one ate a proper lunch, but it all seemed not to matter. It ended up with my granny and grandad going home so that she could get warm and settled. Later in the afternoon Harry and my aunt and uncle came and we ate lots and played Pit (scroll down) which has been a staple and highly contested part of Christmas Day since long before me and Harry were born.

Boxing Day and the next few days pretty much came and went. I didn't feel any better, and realised that I needed a GP appointment as my asthma was completely off. I apparently have a viral infection of the respiratory infection and was doing everything I needed. Meant I was kept quiet (any unwellness makes me sleepy these days) and had to cancel going to London for New Years,

My birthday was pretty quiet, both cos I didn't feel up to doing lots and because the weather was appalling. We went out in the day but ended up only leaving the car to get a cuppa and to go into Morrisons and buy a sandwich! In the evening we went for a meal and then took Richard to the station to get the train to Derby.

In exciting news (well New Years Eve can be summed up in tv, fireworks, bed) I got a new phone! I'd liked the LG Chocolate lots, but there was something I wasn't completely sold on. I went into the Orange shop with my mom and decided I liked the Nokia 6111 better, and it was cheaper. Its so nice having a phone that all the buttons work on, and that doesn't lose its charge a matter of hours after being charged up! I also got enough money from Christmas and my birthday to be able to buy a digital camera (I can't believe it's taken me so long). I decided I couldn't justify making the move to an SLR just now, so I went for the Fujifilm F30 instead. Its very wonderful and I'm excited like a little child at Christmas!!

For some reason the very presence of my brother in the house means I don't get to see the online world. Bah. Thuogh I've been pretty busy this week anyway - today is my grandad's 80th birthday! We're having a party at our house tomorrow, so there have been lots of preparation style things to be doing. Yesterday was especially fun in the heavy rain causing flash flooding everywhere I needed to be.

I discovered yesterday that there is a new Hobbycraft really near to where I live. This is quite exciting and has been earmarked for a visit next week when I'm bored. I can't imagine it's going to be veyr huge, but it should be worth the trip. I'm hoping to be able to find out more about tatting - my granny gave me a craft pull out that featured it as a craft to try and it looks interesting.

It's too early to think of anything interesting to say - my brain is darting between party food and knitting, so I won't bore you any longer!

My car has been named Billy. It was suggested on the day of purchase by my mom, but I wasn't quite sure. It pretty much fits though, it's another old name to go with the dearly departed Jack.

In a pleasant coincidence, since buying the car I've spent many hours watching back to back episodes of 'House' (for a very important knitting reason I can't mention right now) and it has really reminded me how much I loved Jesse Spencer. Today however I reached a sad point when I watched the last episode of season 1. This is sad for two reasons, firstly because 'House' is over, and secondly because I have no tv dvds to watch now whilst engaging in the currently unmentionable knitting.

I spent some of this afternoon with my grandparents. My grandad spent hours at minor injuries with my mom yesterday after he split his scalp open on the corner of his at the time open (raised) garage door. Now cleaned and dressed it's only fairly minor lacerations thanks to the cloth cap he was wearing at the time. This means I'm fully entitled to laugh and take the mickey - he's as short as I am so the skill involved in hitting his head is high!

And finally, my biggest news of the last couple of days. I went to New Road yesterday to watch a cricket match in aid of charity. The St Richard's All Stars were entertaining Emmerdale. Now whilst the Emmerdale turn out was slightly disappointing (filming crisis), the cricket itself was fairly amusing and a pleasant day out. What was really exciting was arriving and meeting the King of Spain himself, Ashley Giles. For those of you who are a little rusty with your sports you can find him here.

What's your middle name?  Is there a story or history behind it?

My middle name is Helen. This is because my mom's name is Helen. My younger brother has Joseph as a middle name (and yup my dad's called Joseph). I was however very lucky as my mom's family has a family name for females but she chose not to burden me with it (its a name we're never allowed to voice!)

I've decided it's time to bore regale you all with the details of my week in Dorset. I say Dorset, though it turns out we were within a couple of miles of Devon and Somerset all week long (at times it was difficult to work out which county we were actually in!)

26/08/06 - after setting of at the crack of dawn we managed to make it to Yeovil by 9.30 and fall into Morrisons for breakfast. After discovering we can't check in until 2.30 we visit Lyme Regis for a cup of coffee, Charmouth to sit by the sea and eat lunch and Axminster when it turns out there's only a flat rate for the beach carpark and no one can quite justify the cost for a half hour sarnie! Check into the caravan, very pleasant - especially the cream tea laid out ready and waiting.

27/08/06 - aim for museum at Tolpuddle but decide its too far and stop when we reach Dorchester. Drink coffee, return to caravan, read for the rest of the day.

28/08/06 - head for Weymouth, remembering strawberry liquorice whips of yesteryear. Arrive to find place swarming (as you might expect for Bank Holiday Monday) and Subway seems to have vanished. After lunch in the park we used to eat lunch in and watching Punch and Judy decide to give up and go to Portland. Stop for a cuppa in a walkers cafe before going to see lighthouse (from car windows only). Eat out in Chard in evening (amazing to find a high street that feels smaller than Stourport!)

29/08/06 - go for walk on Cobb, decide week has been far too quiet so far and trip over cobbles landing on all fours. Stand up to find knees a little battered, discover later pretty bruising. Cuppa helps to ease pain along with freshly bought painkillers. Spend afternoon at local craft centre gathering ideas.

30/08/06 - visit Seaton and ride on tram to Colyton where the strangest cuppa of the week is drunk. Only remember this vaguely from 15ish years ago so a nice trip. Crab sandwiches for lunch followed by first ice cream of the week.

31/08/06 - travel for what feels like hours to Bournemouth managing to get plenty of knitting done. Have brief walk by seafront and through winter gardens and then visit shops. Head for Harvester (seems to be the point of the day) but when Dad takes over the navigation all goes to pot and end up spending an hour lost.

01/09/06 - last day so back into Lyme Regis to explore bits previously missed (and have another cuppa), Spend afternoon in Honiton eating ice cream with clotted cream before tea in Bridport.

02/09/06 - manage to find 10 minute break from rain to pack car and leave at 9.30, reaching Stourport at 1.00.

There you have the week. It was pretty quiet, lots of books read and cards played. I managed to spend very little, and seemed to spend most of the time either looking for or drinking a cuppa! The fact that Dorset is all very steep didn't sit too well with my bashed knee, but that can't be helped. The gorgeous views all around definitely made up for it!

I go on holiday tomorrow. I'm going to spend a week in Lyme Regis with my parents. The place looks lovely (they went before they were married but I've never been), I don't think the weather will oblige though. Never mind, the pile of books I've packed next to my DS Lite means I won't be getting bored soon (and I loaded up a load of new podcasts to listen to).

I haven't blogged anywhere near as much as I intended to over the last couple of days. A combination of loads of storms (like I'm going to risk my laptop in them) and family 'issues' mean I've barely seen a computer. I'm gutted I missed out on the nerd QotD, though I think my list would have been a little more extensive than I'd have been willing to share.

The most exciting news I have is that I bought a car today! After the sad demise of 'Jack' I've been carless for months. Today I testdrove and agreed to buy a Ford Ka from our local friendly dealership (is it wrong to find a car salesman fit? looking forward to collection anyway!) They've got a couple of things to do (MOT etc) so I'm collecting it on the 4th. I can not explain the joy power steering has already brought me!

What albums are in heavy rotation for you right now?

I read this question a few hours ago and decided to take some time to think about my answer. I have now thought about it, and am ready to write!

First up comes 'The Greatest' by Cat Power. I received a copy last week as a graduation present from my brother, Richard. He ordered it ages ago but it took a while to arrive (that's the Russian post for you I guess). I've listened to it a few times already, and I'm really enjoying it. She's got a great mix of a fab voice and some inspired musical arrangements that result in a really enjoyable album. Its very steady, the perfect type of CD for chilling with a good glass of something alcoholic!

Then comes 'Lateralus' by Tool. I don't think I'm ever going to get tired of this CD, its been near the top of my CD pile for years now. Its difficult to put what I think about Tool into words, there never seem to be enough words. The layering they use, the sounds they get from their instruments, the sheer immense nature of their 'songs' (I'm sure there should be a better name). Its also a CD that contains a lot of memories for me, I lived on a corridor with a lot of Tool fans in my third year of halls and it made perfect accompaniment to many evenings.

Finally I must mention 'American Recordings vol IV : The Man Comes Around' by Johnny Cash. The recent copy of 'Rolling Stone' I was fortunate to receive in the post contained a review of recently released volume V in the series. Cash flow issues (i.e. I'm job hunting now I've graduated) means I haven't been able to add it to my collection, so I've had to make do with what I've got for now. I don't get bored of listening to it, 'Hurt' still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up!

Whilst I could go on for ages longer, I'm going to restrain myself to just the three cds.