Lizzy's Musings

Best-Selling Books List

2008-10-31T13:41:00.003Z

USA Today has released it's big list of the top 150 Books of the last 15 years. You can find the full article here. I've only copied across the first fifty. Out of these, how many have you read? I've put the ones I've read in italics and made it yellow

Rank Title Author

1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre

2 Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution Robert C. Atkins

3 The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown

4 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre

5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre

6 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre

7 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre

8 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre

9 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre

10 Who Moved My Cheese? Spencer Johnson

11 The South Beach Diet Arthur Agatston

12 Tuesdays With Morrie Mitch Albom

13 Angels & Demons Dan Brown

14 What to Expect When You're Expecting Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg, Sandee Hathaway

15 The Purpose-Driven Life Rick Warren

16 The Five People You Meet in Heaven Mitch Albom

17 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Stephen R. Covey

18 The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini

19 Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus John Gray

20 The Secret Rhonda Byrne

21 Rich Dad, Poor Dad Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter

22 To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee

23 Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... And It's All Small Stuff Richard Carlson

24 The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd

25 Eat, Pray, Love Elizabeth Gilbert

26 Twilight Stephenie Meyer

27 The Notebook Nicholas Sparks

28 The Memory Keeper's Daughter Kim Edwards

29 The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger

30 Memoirs of a Geisha Arthur Golden

31 A New Earth Eckhart Tolle

32 Oh, the Places You'll Go! Dr. Seuss

33 The Four Agreements Don Miguel Ruiz

34 Angela's Ashes Frank McCourt

35 The Lovely Bones Alice Sebold

36 Body-for-Life Bill Phillips, Michael D’Orso

37 New Moon Stephenie Meyer

38 Night Elie Wiesel, translations by Marion Wiesel and Stella Rodway

39 Chicken Soup for the Soul Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen

40 The Greatest Generation Tom Brokaw

41 Breaking Dawn Stephenie Meyer

42 The Celestine Prophecy James Redfield

43 Wicked Gregory Maguire

44 Good to Great Jim Collins

45 Eclipse Stephenie Meyer

46 Eragon Christopher Paolini

47 Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Rebecca Wells

48 Your Best Life Now Joel Osteen

49 In the Kitchen With Rosie Rosie Daley

50 Simple Abundance Sarah Ban Breathnach

Tired of Inanity

2008-10-30T11:24:00.006Z

One of my colleagues at work is driving me nuts. She is dim, beyond anything I have ever come across. Dim and self-obsessed.

I have to explain big words to her. She only listens to part of conversations and instructions. She is older than me, has been here longer, but no one really seems to like her...

She obsesses about little things each day:

Monday it was her period (nonstop complaining about her female bits giving her problems...I wanted to shoot myself - she has no concept of TMI );

Tuesday I got the hear all about her make-up trials, trying to find the "right shade" of eyeshadow and lippy - she spent around £50 on trial bits and pieces at one of the make-up counters in Selfridges and I told her I couldn't see any change in what she had on afterwards, she was not best pleased;

Wednesday it was back to her female problems and what a struggle it is to get into the office and how bitterly cold it was.

Today, Thursday, I have to listen to her harping on endlessly about her sight - it's taken her TWO years to decide to sort out her failing eyesight and now she's telling all and sundry about it, constantly, repeating the same story over and over, including all her mates on the phone.

I am so tired of it already - each thing has to be discussed in the finest detail and obsessed about. I am now in the habit of not talking a lot - only responding when directly spoken to. She also whistles and sings under her breath, tapping her talon-like nails on the desk whilst talking to people on the phone.

I honestly hope that we move offices soon - which is the rumour - so that I don't have to sit near her...because I might, just might be tempted to throw a stapler at her head.

Other than that, I love my new job.

I've googled the word "inane" and found this website which is quite amusing, really.

in·an·ity (in an′i tē)

noun the quality or condition of being inane; specif.,
emptiness

lack of sense or meaning; silliness

something inane; senseless or silly act, remark, etc.Etymology: Fr inanité <>

There are also 203 synonyms listed in the Moby thesaurus for inanity:

absence of mind, absurdity, agnosticism, aimlessness, aridity,
asininity, barrenness, battiness, big deal, blank, blank mind,
blankmindedness, blankness, bloodlessness, bootlessness,
brainlessness, buffoonery, callowness, calm of mind,
characterlessness, clean slate, clownishness, colorlessness,
counterproductiveness, counterproductivity, crackpottedness,
crankiness, craziness, daffiness, dead letter, deadness,
desipience, dismalness, dottiness, dragginess, dreariness, dryness,
dullness, dustiness, eccentricity, effeteness, emptiness,
emptiness of mind, empty sound, empty space, empty-headedness,
etiolation, failure, fallow mind, fatuity, fatuousness,
fecklessness, flatness, flavorlessness, flimsiness, folly, foolery,
foolheadedness, foolishness, frivolity, frivolousness,
fruitlessness, futility, giddiness, goofiness, greenhornism,
greenness, heaviness, hiatus of learning, hollowness, idiocy,
idleness, ignorance, ignorantism, ignorantness, imbecility,
impotence, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness,
inefficaciousness, inefficacy, ineptitude, inexcitability,
inexperience, innocence, insanity, insignificance, insipidity,
insipidness, invalidity, jejuneness, jejunity, know-nothingism,
knowledge-gap, lack of information, leadenness, levity,
lifelessness, lightness, lowness of spirit, lunacy, madness,
meaninglessness, mental blankness, mental void, mere noise,
mildness, mindlessness, nescience, niaiserie, nirvana, noise,
nonsensicality, nothing, nothingness, nugacity, nullity, nuttiness,
oblivion, obscurantism, otiosity, paleness, pallor, passivity,
phatic communion, pointlessness, pokiness, ponderousness,
preposterousness, profitlessness, purposelessness, queerness,
quietism, rat race, rawness, saplessness, sappiness, savorlessness,
screwiness, senselessness, shallowness, silliness, simpleness,
simplicity, slenderness, slightness, slowness, solemnity,
spiritlessness, staleness, sterility, stiffness, stodginess,
stuffiness, stupidity, superficiality, tabula rasa, tastelessness,
tediousness, the absurd, thinness, thoughtfreeness,
thoughtlessness, tranquillity, triflingness, triteness, triviality,
trivialness, unacquaintance, unfamiliarity, unintelligence,
uninterestingness, unknowing, unknowingness, unliveliness,
unmeaningness, unproductiveness, unprofitability, unprofitableness,
unripeness, unsavoriness, unsignificancy, uselessness, vacancy,
vacuity, vacuousness, vacuum, valuelessness, vanity, vapidity,
vapidness, vicious circle, void, wackiness, weakness, weirdness,
wishy-washiness, witlessness, woodenness, worthlessness, zaniness,
zanyism.

Randomness

2008-10-22T22:05:00.003+01:00

I've been so wrapped up with my other blog that I've not had given Lizzy's Musings a thought in absolute ages. And I apologise, specifically to my sister, Elize - I know she visits often, because she told me so. We don't get to chat much as she's forever running around like a superhero doing her saving the world thing, so she checks in on LM to see how things are.

So, this is an update to let her know a few snippets.

Our holiday to Santori fell foul to the travel company, XL, going bust. This sucked ass, big time - apologies, Miss Jamie for bad language use - and so we had to make do with a local holiday here in an un-sunny UK. We ended up going to Wales, to Pembrokeshire which has some fantastically beautiful coastal areas. Shopping is non-existent and I did my best to honour Elize on payday by trying to spend of my hard earned cash. Sadly this came to naught - there were no shops. At all. Not even in St Davids. Again, with the sucking of ass. We did however find some good pubs to have lunch and dinner in. Mark made me pay to make up for not being able to spend money on fripperies such as books and jewellery.

The following week, still on holiday, but at home this time around, I got to meet up with Alison Goodman and her publicist, Madline Toy for breakfast, to discuss Alison's newest book - The Two Pearls of Wisdom. It was amazing, not just meeting Alison but being considered important enough to be "expensed" on the publisher's entertainment budget. How cool is that? I've worked up the interview and will hopefully be posting it shortly, once I get the go-ahead from Alison and Madeline. Alison came as a shock to me, having had this image in mymind of a slightly dowdy writer-ly person lounging about in trackie bottoms and tee, whilst writing, but it turns out that not only was she flamboyant, pretty, charming, funny, articulate and stylish but genuinely good people at heart. I think we could have sat there and chatted for the entire day.

My other coup, was the chance to meet up with my lovely publicity girls from Little Brown who look after the Piatkus, Orbit, Sphere imprints. We met at Wahaca for lunch, talked books, authors, writing, reading, what's hot, what's not, food - the list is endless! I had a blast and felt hugely honoured when they hauled out the newest catalogue and a few other treasures which they had brought with them.

I also got to meet up with some of my ex-work colleagues from my old company and I was so happy to see them - I knew I missed them, but to be honest, I had no idea HOW much I had missed them. Listening to them regale me with nightmarish stories of what is currently happening at my old place of work, had me thanking my lucky stars that I was made redundant a while ago. It's given me a headstart on getting my life in order and a new job under my belt - I feel so heartsore for the people in the City who have lost their jobs. I know the rest of the country dislike the fat cat bankers and wotnot, but the thing is: the fatcats are not the only ones who lost their jobs - there are the other "norms" who lost their livelihoods too - the secretaries, post-room working, admin staff, IT consultants. This has a knock-on effect on the local economy - several sarnie places, eateries and coffee shops, including dry cleaning places, hairdressers, and other small concerns - all of these had to close because of this, which means that these people in the service industry lost their jobs, which means that they can't afford to pay their bills in turn - it is a big viscious circle and I would like to say to those people coming down on the people working in London and in the City specifically - stuff you all - this tiny square mile has kept this country running through so much trouble and contribute in excess of 6% of the nation's growth and wealth on its own. What's happening isn't just affecting the bigwigs, its affecting everyone in ever widening circles and instead of relishing the trauma these people are in, think about helping out instead.

Ahem. Where did that come from? Clambers off soap-box.

La-la-la - innocent singing to detract from the verbal outrage above.

It was my nephew's birthday on the 10th of October. I miss him so much. He would have been 33 this year had his life not been stupidly cut short by a pointless act of rebellion and misguided delusions of coolness. I lit a candle to him on the day and sent my sister a text telling her I miss her. Her and her hubby were having a tough time of it too.

This weekend past, the 17th, Mark and I got to go on our competition trip we had won through XFM Radio to Bruges and we had a blast. He drank loads of beer, I soaked up the sunshine and the atmosphere and am keen to write something dripping with elves, goblins and trolls. There is something about that small compact city that just ... I don't know, gets under your skin and makes you want to write. Or is that just me?

I love autumn, it makes me want to nest. I have been fortunate, having received quite a stack of books from various publishers, so I know my evenings will be well spent.

Right, that's enough of me for now. Slightly maudlin, for which I apologise, slightly feisty and fighty, for which I do not apologise.

Catch you on the flip-side.

Reasons why I feel grow'd up today:

2008-08-27T12:03:00.002+01:00

1. I am officially working from home today, linked to the world via my blackberry. Tres grown up. I've sorted out a conference to South Africa for two directors, including flights and accommodation. I've also tidied the house...

2. I am at home, waiting for the delivery of our brand new leather couches which we've bought because we were in desperate need of new couches...visitors in the past were in the danger of being sucked into the old couches and coming out in Narnia or sumat.

In my mind, ever since I can remember, leather couches equated to being grown up. My oldest sister had a lovely set and I remember as an eight year old sitting on them, feeling more posh than QEII could on her throne. Once it became apparent that we can afford said leather couches, we took the plunge. And delivery is today.

I have my reservations, to be honest. I think we will need a bigger house to accommodate the couches but I am happy - we've bought them cash outright, like we did with everything else we own, so no debt. It feels very good. Very grown up.

To prevent myself from pacing like a caged animal I've popped some popcorn and am lazing about reading. And waiting.

= Excited and relieved

2008-07-01T21:16:00.003+01:00

Tripple hurrah.

Exams are now done. Yay!

No assignments, no studying for two months. Guilt free days and evenings, nestled on the couches, reading, writing and reviewing books. This is the life.

Ecstatically happy.

Exam Time!

2008-06-30T09:13:00.002+01:00

I've not been able to keep the old blog up to date these past few weeks due to well, some particularly shitty news regarding the work situation oh, and don't forget, the even crummier exams which I have to sit on behalf of work tomorrow.

So, I will be back online on Wednesday, 2nd July, with hopefully some good news, and the exams behind me.

Why I want to work in Asian Cinema

2008-06-25T19:45:00.002+01:00

Because purely...nowhere else in the entire world do they put together movies like this:

In ‘Forbidden Kingdom’, American, Kung Fu-obsessed teenager Jason (Michael Angarano), finds an antique Chinese staff in a pawn shop. This turns out to be the legendary stick weapon of the Chinese sage and warrior, the Monkey King (Jet Li). With the lost relic in hand, Jason unexpectedly finds himself transported back to ancient China.There, he meets the drunken Kung Fu master, Lu Yan (Jackie Chan); an enigmatic and skillful Silent Monk (Jet Li); who leads him on his quest to return the staff to its rightful owner, the Monkey King. While attempting to outmaneuver scores of Jade Warriors, Cult Killers and the deadly White Hair Demoness, Ni Chang (Li Bing Bing), Jason learns about honor, loyalty and friendship, and the true meaning of Kung Fu, and thus frees himself.

Ouch

2008-06-14T16:42:00.003+01:00

This is what the inside of my head looked like for the majority of the day. And this is what it sounded like when I tried speaking: mumble mumble pain mumble mumble sore mumble can't talk, retch.

Nice.

It's the quiet ones...

2008-06-08T22:14:00.003+01:00

We have now lived in our quiet little suburban area for five years and have got quite a good relationship with our neighbours.

Today we woke up to no electricity. So we went to check with various others in our street to see if they knew what was going in. It transpired that apparently quite a few post codes were affected by the power cut. But we got caught up chatting to our arty and eccentric neighbour R for a bit before we bid him toodle-pip to come home and have breakfast. He is an interesting character - very sweet, highly eccentric and mad for anything gold and ancient. The bigger, the more ostentatious, the better, in his opinion. He paints, draws, carves and sculpts and has today decided to give me a lovely drawing he had done of Audrey Hepburn a la Tiffany's. Which I'll frame because it is stunning.

I was busy rifling through a small kist to make space for some hardback books which we've not looked at for about a year, when he knocked on the door and stated that he was quite bored at home and do we mind if he visits for a bit. Of course I said no, I don't mind at all, because all I have to do is feed him a line like: "I heard that there was quite a delay in Alexander being buried in Alexandria by Ptolemy. Why do you think that is?" And off he goes. I would love to attend a dinner with him and Tony Robertson. I can just imagine the arguments and conversations.

Anyway, so we decide to have a BBQ because the electricity is still off. We chat about everything and the conversation rambles like a drunken driver, from lost treasure, to the price of gold, to artwork, to why Americans would pay that much money for statues without arms or heads (R does not understand this at all and said that he would refuse to own a statue, no matter how old, unless it was perfect.), to how much chocolate is good for you, and how much we dislike our mutual noisy neighbours.

And then he drops a bomb. He's carved one of the beds found in King Tut's tomb for his own use. And it is there, in his tiny house, all seven foot wotnot of it, completely inlaid with opals and precious stones, covered in real gold leaf. My jaw dropped, Mark politely choked on some grilled chicken. And then Ray says: yes, I've decided to leave it to you both because you would appreciate it.

My eyebrows have not returned to their normal position.

What you have to understand about R is: he looks like a hobo but is anything but. Around both wrists are these exquisite thick gold torcs inlaid with emeralds and rubies which he had made for him by a jeweller. Around his neck he wears this pendant in the shape of a Macedonian bee, also inlaid with precious stones. These things he keeps covered up because really, who would think he is wearing anything valuable underneath clothes that are that paint splattered and in that bad repair?

He regales us with his gold coin collection which is in a bank vault somewhere and how one of them is so very rare that there are only three in the known world....He looks at us and then smiles enigmatically and shrugs saying that in the end he can't take it with him but it's nice to have them and look at them, when he can. We chat a bit more over loads of roast meet and suddenly we are being invited to his house in a few weeks' time to see all the antique items he's bought over the years. He had a cast done of King Tut's face in bronze (it weighs 80lbs) and had it covered in gold and inlaid all the jewels himself. Mark and I are boggled. Gobsmacked. Other treasures include a table laid out in mosaics depicting Medusa. His walls are painted with scenes from Babylonia and ancient Egypt.

Listening to his stories of the people he's painted or whose houses he's decorated really does make us wonder...who is our neighbour really? And what exactly is hidden behind that very normal facade of his home...We can't wait to visit, to be honest. He is the best enigma I've ever come across and fantastic muse fodder.

I really wish that the exams didn't loom quite so large on the horizon otherwise I would be upstairs, writing furiously. But sadly, from tomorrow it is goodbye real world, hello study-Liz.

But the mystery remains.

Rag and Bone Man finds Cold Cup

2008-05-28T14:00:00.002+01:00

Yes, I'm a treasure seeker at heart - watch out Indy and Lara. How incredible is this story?

****
From the BBC website:

A metal cup acquired by a rag and bone man from Somerset has been revealed to be a pure gold goblet from the 3rd or 4th Century BC, worth up to £500,000.

The vessel has two female faces looking in opposite directions with their foreheads decorated with a snake motif.

William Sparks, who ran a scrap metal business in Taunton during the 1930s and 40s, left the ancient treasure to his young grandson John Webber.

The goblet is to be sold by Duke's auction house in Dorchester, Dorset.

Mr Webber, 70, said: "My grandfather was originally a proper rag and bone ban from Romany stock and lived in a caravan.

"My father died in the war and afterwards my grandfather gave me some things shortly before he died.

"One of the things was the cup which I remember playing with. Because he mainly dealt in brass and bronze, I thought that was what it was made from."

After forgetting about the cup for years he rediscovered it last year when he moved house.

"I sent it to the British Museum and the experts there hadn't seen anything like it before and recommended I had it tested at a laboratory," said Mr Webber.

The analysis confirmed its age and that it had been painstakingly crafted from just one piece of gold.

Peter Northover, the scientist who reported on the gold analysis, said in the report: "The method of manufacture and the composition of the gold are consistent with Achaemenid gold and gold smithing."

The Achaemenid empire was based around Persia, but at its height stretched from Iran to Libya. It was wiped out by Alexander the Great in 330 BC.

Ivan Rebroff

2008-05-26T21:50:00.004+01:00

I was visiting a few blog and livejournal sites and discovered that a hero of mine, Ivan Rebroff has passed away! It happened back in February this year.

He had the most amazing voice and I remember growing up, listening to his music. My parents had a selection of his records and it was through listening to his music that it encouraged me to sing too - badly, admittedly, but it helped cultivate my love of music.

His musical range was four and a half octoves, ranging from soprano to impressive bass registers. He was unique in that he learned to sing a lot of folk music from across the world, phonetically. I distinctly remember an LP we had of him singing Afrikaans folk songs. He made them sound wild and amazing, as opposed to the usually wrist slittingly depressive stuff the Afrikaans folk singers usually churn out.

What a loss to the world. Pavarotti and now Ivan Rebroff! I have noticed a distinct lack of decent classical music in my CD collection and have plans to remedy that shortly.

Long live the Nightingales.

Competition for Mila

2008-05-20T22:05:00.003+01:00

We've been to see Doomsday on Saturday (I know a weekend of debauchery - two movies!).

As sad as it is, I love the Resident Evil movies and Mila's character Alice in those...but, having said that, Rhona Mitra (who plays Eden Sinclair) in this new Brit movie, Doomsday will probably be able to kick Mila's butt from here to...well, Doomsday. Total heresy, I know...but as female butt-kickers go, Mila's had the market cornered for a bit now...but with the new kid on the block...she had better watch her toned derriere.

And apart from that, New Girl is also seriously HOT and can kick an armoured warrior's considerable butt. Fantastic fight sequences and the car chases are superb.

Okay, so I'm not the world's best film critic, but I really enjoyed it, more than I thought I would. It was a good movie, fantastic amazing soundtrack and a good cast, some from the Dog Soldiers cast too, which is pretty cool. And boy, if ever the shit hits the fan, I want a Bentley. And Rhona should be the one driving it.

Iron Man

2008-05-18T19:17:00.003+01:00

It's official. Robert Downey Jnr is HAWT.

What an excellent movie. Saw it earlier today and enjoyed it thoroughly. And did I mention RDJNR is hot?

And Oh God, please let there be a sequel... http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/380326/

Rabid Wolves

2008-05-09T11:33:00.002+01:00

This is right up there with my stick figure joke obsession. I showed this to my boss and was accused of having a "foreign" sense of humour...eh?

Shameless Self Promotion

2008-05-08T20:36:00.002+01:00

The above is the name of my rapidly growing and expanding book review blogsite. I am seriously endeavouring to have it grow (organically) so if there are any authors out there who want their books reviewed, do get in touch!

The website is: http://www.myfavouritebooks.blogspot.com/ . I've got a few things lined up - a lot more books to review along with one or two competitions. The first one looks like it might be Lilith Saintcrow's new Jill Kismet book to be published officially here in the UK (buying them from Amazon.com does not count!).

The others are in the process for consideration by one or two other publishers. It is exciting stuff. I love reading and combining reading with reviews works really well for me - it forces me to make sure I keep ontop of what is coming out in the genres I like reading and one day to be published in! Oh, and people skills. A lot of those need sharpening and smoothing out.

I am pleased to say my final legal assignment is now in - only one more building technology assignment to go .. and then the exams on the first of July. Needless to say, I am sort of breathless in a pained kind of way about this!

But then I will have the summer off to read, write and mooch about. Tripple yay!

Sold!

2008-05-06T22:54:00.003+01:00

Yay! I just sold my first ever item on Amazon market place - and I feel a bit chuffed and a bit traitorous too...but at least the book will be going to someone who clearly wants it. And it is a brand new, unwanted gift which has been sitting on my bookshelf for I think...2 years or more, from people at work (who managed to get my reading taste oh so very wrong). Too excellent a quality to give away to a charity shop.

How sad that I get excited about selling on second hand things...sigh. The legal assignment has clearly addled my brains.

2 questions down, 1 to go

2008-05-02T12:35:00.006+01:00

After yesterday's complete debilitating migraine I have had to split today in half - today was meant to be my relaxing day with very little to do except read and write, but hey it turns out, the gods had other things in mind.

So first part of today was spent completing Question 3 of Final Legal Assignment. I still have question 2 to do but will be able to research that even more on Sunday and Monday.

And for now, the rest of the afternoon will look like this: read a bit more on the very excellent The Fall by Michael McBride from Snowbooks, make a light lunch as my innards are still not coping after yesterday's illness, maybe have a nap, oh, decorate the succesfully baked butterfly cake which I did early this morning at around eight, make dinner for my exceedingly hard working husband who does not look a day over 30. Read some more, transcribe some handwritten novel notes onto computer (reminder: must rename work in progress) fool around with one or two ideas for musemuggers short and later this evening, relax with some popcorn to watch Criminal Minds.

Bliss.

Treasure Ship Found off the coast of Namibia

2008-05-02T08:13:00.003+01:00

This amazing article from today's BBC website:

Namibia finds treasure shipwreck

A 500-year-old shipwreck laden with treasure has been discovered off the coast of Namibia.
The country's diamond company, Namdeb, says it found the wreck during operations on the seabed.

The find includes three bronze cannons, thousands of Spanish and Portuguese gold coins, and several tonnes of elephant tusks.
There were also human remains and navigational instruments. Excavations in the area were halted immediately.

Archaeological experts have identified the cannons as coming from early 16th-Century Spain.
It is thought to be the oldest shipwreck ever discovered in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Namdeb said it came across the wreck on April 1 during operations in the Atlantic after finding some copper ingots and the cannons.

The company is speculating that the ship may be linked to Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias, who went missing in 1500 after becoming the first European seafarer to round the Cape of Good Hope.

Namdeb spokesman Hilifa Mbako said the Portuguese and Spanish governments had been alerted and they expected a team of experts to be dispatched to the site shortly for further investigations.

"The shipwreck holds more questions than answers," he said.

Namdeb is a joint venture between De Beers and the Namibian government.

This story is complete and utter muse-crack! Off I go to go and make notes and research. I've long wanted to set a story in Africa/South Africa during the 16th and 17th Century.

More competition news

2008-04-29T22:10:00.003+01:00

A week later we've been contacted - yay! - we will be going to Bruges in October. Am totally thrilled.

Tomorrow is Mark's birthday. Am really excited for him. We're all trooping off to a posh bar in the West End - here's hoping we don't have to end up scrubbing the dishes at the end of the night to pay off the bar bill!

Happy Birthday Mark!

A cupcake a day...

2008-04-26T16:16:00.006+01:00

The almost-birthday girl

In an effort to experiment with baking cakes and such (I've got a very important person's 2nd birthday party coming up) I tried my hand at making and decorating cupcakes today and let me say, what a doddle.

I had huge amounts of fun. I also - again - tried to bake the butterfly cake which I have managed to pull off once before. This time around - big disaster. Just like the round tins which I tried last week.

I am clearly better at baking the smaller cakes, biscuits, scones, breads and muffins - no big patterned or round cakes for me...hmm. This is a problem as the butterfly cake is what is needed for the 2nd birthday party of my god-daughter, Ashleigh (as pictured above).

I think more experimentation will be required, much to Mark's horror as he is worried that his slim waist will expand. But it is all in the name of a good cause. Fortunately the party is on the 10th of May so I have plenty of time. Addresses on a postcard for those who want some of the flop cakes - they invariably taste gorgeous but come out a bit...broken.

On the other hand, it gives me great joy to brag with my excellent cupcakes.

Warm, out of the oven

Experimentally decorated

The completed product.

These sell for £1.75 at a stall in Greenwich. It probably cost me 25p to make and decorate. Go figure.

Happy Birthday to the Bard!

2008-04-23T14:14:00.002+01:00

With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.
William Shakespeare

Savage Chickens

2008-04-23T13:00:00.003+01:00

This from the excellent Endicott Studio blog and it made me laugh out loud. This is totally for Jamie and all struggling authors out there.

http://www.savagechickens.com/blog/index.html

Gok the God

2008-04-22T22:55:00.003+01:00

I've not watched many episodes of How to look good naked, but those that I have is simply amazing and uplifting.

Gok is a God. He should run for Mayor of London. Or grand high poobah of the UK, at least.

My brain hurts

2008-04-20T22:19:00.004+01:00

What a day. Got up too late to go to gym. So we stayed in.

Mark watched the boxing match on Setanta Sports after breakfast and I hauled all my legal papers out to start on my next assignment. I have been glued to my laptop, legal folder with assignment notes, Oxford Law dictionary and the thrilling Smith and Keenan's English Law handbook kept me company.

I took a break to bake some cake. The cake was a disaster. Not in taste but shape. It is official. I cannot bake round sponge cakes. I ended up running next door with a rather mishappened cake for our neighbours to devour. They have kids that will eat anything.

My brain hurts and my eyes are red and gritty from staring at the computer screen and all the legalese. I'm going to bed now. I can't wait to be done with this course. I know I've said I am enjoying it. Just not today. Today was a bit of a write-off, even if I did manage to get the whole of question 1 with all its extra bits done. Only two more questions to go. Deadline is the 8th of May. It will give me a chance to work up more case studies as I've been told in my previous assignment that there is a general lack of those in my work.

Hmmmmm. Zombie....

Competition won!

2008-04-18T12:18:00.002+01:00

Yep! Won the XFM phone in this morning before breakfast for a weekend's paid accommodation at a four star hotel and spending money and Eurostar tickets, over to Bruges...in conjunction with the new movie coming out called "In Bruges".

How superb is that?

This has to be the biggest prize I've won, thus far, in my career of entering random competitions.

So very pleased! Just waiting for the organisers to give me a call so we can work out dates.

Lies to tell tourists

2008-04-17T11:58:00.003+01:00

I fell off my chair laughing at this. The email is from the London Time Out newsletter and I just had to share this with anyone who has ever been stopped by a tourist and asked for directions or information. I am always a good girl, trying to help as much as I can, but these lines just bring out the wickedness.

Lies to tell tourists

“Oxford Street used to actually be in Oxford. It was dug up and moved to London after the West End was demolished in the Blitz”

“In keeping with the capital city's keen sense of history, haggling is standard practice in all of London's museum shops”

“Waterloo station was built on the site of the Battle of Waterloo. The spot where Napoleon was captured is commemorated by a plaque in the Upper Crust near platform ten”

“If you've enjoyed your tube journey, you can tip the driver. To get their attention pull the 'emergency' cord in each carriage”

In the news

2008-04-13T20:38:00.004+01:00

I try not to get too worked up about newspaper articles that I see and read. But two have stood out for me today:

I can just imagine the hilarity in their village - running for money? But these guys did it today. And they are awesome! Here is the article.

Something else I spotted which really just goes to show how much wrong there is in this country today, where fallen soldiers are not afforded the respect they deserve. This is the article drawing telling and heartbreaking comparisons with the way fallen soldiers are treated in Canada, compared to the UK. Heartbreaking stuff.

Jersey Boys

2008-04-11T10:20:00.000+01:00

I got free tickets to go and see The Jersey Boys show at the Prince Edward Theatre last night.

It has to quite simply be the most amazing show I have ever seen. The music is outstanding, the acting is excellent and the storyline cleverly told by the characters. It is a total onslaught of sound and vision and the stage is changed so rapidly and so effortlessly, that you hardly notice it and then suddenly(!)you’ve got a whole new set on the stage.

I must be the only person alive who loves the New Yorker and Jersey accents so I was thrilled by the fact that the stayed true to the broad style of the times.

Such an astounding show – the chap who sings and performs as Frankie Valli is one of the most talented singers I have ever heard (and he’s easy on the eyes too, which isn’t much of a trial). They play all the music live, there is footage from the actual band’s appearances on the American Band Stand…all in all, I’m gushing. I have a pounding headache and feel like I want to pass out this morning, but I am gushing. And smiling and singing (very very quietly) in my head.

Even Cowgirls get the Blues

2008-04-09T22:09:00.006+01:00

This is something I wrote earlier on for my online writing group over at livejournal.

It's darker and angrier than anything I've done in quite a while.

I hated him with all my being. My soul ached to smash him into the ground and dance on his grave. I concentrated on those weak blue eyes peering at me myopically and pictured in my heart of hearts the pain I’ve had to endure and all the tears spilled in vain. His hand wavered. The leather belt that a moment ago hung suspended in the air, ready to cut into me, now dangled limply between us. The blow never fell. I saw him for what he was: a fading caricature of a little man with a balding head and wiry black chest hair who lived a small mean life. I felt nothing but contempt. My shoulders were squared, my back rigid, mostly because of pain; scabs do not form overnight. I’ve practiced my shit-eating stare in clubs and in front of my cracked mirror. I will not back down. Instead he just looks away for a moment before shoving past me. Worse than your fucking useless dead mother, he spits. Get my fucking tea on, he orders, like he’s a king and I’m his slave. I don’t even look at him, afraid that I might take a swing at him. For a second I’m tempted to yell at him, to shake him until his head pops off. Instead I turned to the door where my small backpack with all my earthly belongings sat. My scuffed guitar case lounged against the wall, like a drunken mate. I didn’t think. I was screaming too much on the inside. I picked up the backpack, swung it onto my shoulder and adjusted my grip on the guitar case handle in my hand. My silence roared at him as I gently clicked the door shut behind me. I fished my house keys out of my pocket and pushed them back through the door and walked down the street in true cowgirl fashion, on my own, into the sunset.

I have been asked to point out that this is not autobiographical.

Strange Daze

2008-04-08T21:09:00.002+01:00

Cross posted on both livejournal and myspace pages.

I can’t really begin to describe the strangeness of today.

I like writing, I like reading and today I have resolved quite a few things.

Things like: never take friends for granted, they surprise you every five minutes; be positive about your own creativite work; the world is an amazing place, be grateful for your part in it (I know, chick moment) as it is constantly changing, giving you different views on things; realise that your small little life you lead is what you make of it and by allowing others to glimpse some of that internal, if sometimes bizarre dialogue, you are probably doing yourself a favour because they get to see the real you.

I spent the day working on an assignment, chatting to Jamie via email, arranging to bake a butterfly birthday cake for a 2 year old in May and pondering my own writings - the working title of which is Heart Of Darkness. I spent some time mucking about with two pages of it, wrote a bit more and then decided to print it off and hand it to a colleague at work to read. I used to be shy about writing - admitting it was like admitting that you were addicted to drugs or booze - a totally guilty secret. I’ve gotten over it and now happily (for me) I chat to people about it and like to get imput on ideas and such (unhappily for them). So we wait to hear what Carla has to say if she remembers to read it tonight.

Strange old dreamy emotional day. It feels like I’ve come to this momentous decision - but I’m not entirely sure what its about. I am sure the Muse will wollop me over the head with it when she deems it necessary.

Off I pootle to double check the old assignment.

Fun with camera

2008-04-06T18:43:00.003+01:00

Brands Hatch Snowed Out!

2008-04-06T18:28:00.005+01:00

We got up early this morning to go to our very first Brands Hatch race meeting but loh and behold, the three foot of snow covered everything - we got to stand around for 3 hours, visit some of the pits, took some pics of the bikes...and then we came home because it was cancelled and rearranged for May.

Here is the article.

New lens

2008-04-03T17:55:00.004+01:00

Splurged on a new lens for the Nikon and whilst sitting at the diningroom table, with all my uni books strewn about me, earlier today, this HUGE dove fluttered down outside, right next to the window. So, slowly, very carefully I lifted the camera, turned it on, and took some incredibly close zoom pictures of it.

Fan Girl Squeeing

2008-03-20T21:17:00.004Z

Mark and I pootled around town today, whiling away the day, in order to get to meet the lovely Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, authors of the books the Spiderwick Chronicles which have been made into a movie called, strangely enough, The Spiderwick Chronicles.

I also know Holly from her YA novels she had written:

Tithe

Valiant

Ironside

They are very well written, fun, dangerous and seemingly about real teens.

But, I digress. We headed off to Waterstones' 6th Floor and sat down and waited. I spotted some scrummy posters and asked the lovely W'stones staff member if I could have one after the fact and he said, certainly, you may. Very sweet.

We sat down and waited and slowly but surely the rest of the audience arrived - adults and kids. We did not feel out at all. Which was a big relief.

Tony and Holly came on, did a hilarious presentation about Spiderwick the movie, chatted about how their ideas became reality in the movie and how much fun they had. Oh, and we heard a lot about Beastmaster. Don't ask. You had to be there.

Anyway, about an hour later, having them entertain us with quips and stories and impromptu drawing, they sat down to sign books.

We had decided to buy Holly a present to remember the UK by - a small silver charm from Fossil, in the shape of a crown - she is the queen of YA, after all. She was totally thrilled by it - phew! - and I got my books signed, my poster too and I managed to be a COHERENT fan girl. Which is totally novel for me.

Then we pootled back home. Loot in hand!

Here are some of my pictures I took of my lovely signed items...we were so enraptured by being in their presence, we forgot we had our small digital camera with us. Sorry, Gareth - no photos! Said camera is now dead...so more photos of the other loot, later!

Because I are clever ...

2008-03-18T16:34:00.000Z

Yay! Got my marks back for my final Planning assignment and lo and behold – I managed to land myself a distinction. How good is that? Can you say SMUG?

Naming your characters

2008-03-13T14:45:00.002Z

This is from a website of a YA author called Cassandra Clare who wrote a book called City of Bones which I've read - this is so honest about naming characters:

How do you name your characters?

See, that's where your friends can be helpful.

In fact, the other day I was looking for help naming an evil character.

"I need help naming an evil character," I said.

Writer 1: Hot evil or hideous evil?

Me: Hot evil.

Writer 2: Montague.

Me: Montague? Is anyone actually named that?

Writer 2: It's an evil name.

Writer 3: Exactly. You might as well name him Evil McDarkington.

Writer 2 (in an unfriendly tone): So what do you suggest?

Writer 4: Ed.Me: My uncle's name is that.

Writer 5: See, that's the problem with naming characters. You'll always know someone with that name and it'll skew your view.

Writer 2: That's why Montague is a good choice.

Me: I'm not naming him Montague.

Writer 5: Okay, I've got this great evil name. I've been saving it up. It's awesome. I'm going to give it to you. It's a gift. My gift to you.

Me: Great. What is it?

Writer 5: Magnus von Magnus.

Me: What?Writer

5: MAGNUS VON MAGNUS.

Me:: . . .Thanks.

Meanwhile my friend is trying to name some characters in her vampire pirate saga, so she asked me for help.

Me: The problem there is that most vampires have names like Sebastian de Montclaire-Fotherington and most pirates have names like Bloody Beard, so the two don’t really go together.

Writer 1: How about Plaid Beard?

Her: Plaid Beard?

Writer 2: He’s the fashion-forward pirate.

Her: This character is not just a pirate, he’s a vampirate. And he’s Spanish.

Me: How about Enrique?

Her: Enrique what?

Me: Enrique Iglesias.

Her: Great! *writes it down*

Writer 1 (aside): Are you going to tell her?

Me: Eventually.

So it’s not like I’m a lot of help either. Clearly if you need assistance naming characters you should ask someone else.

Shiny!

2008-03-09T18:51:00.005Z

I'm not really a girl for some serious bling, but I've been lucky enough to get a few treasures this weekend.

Absolutely stunning tarot charm bracelet from a lovely lady called Lorraine. It jingles and jangles very well. I've had people stop and ask me about it today in the shops - amazing!

At Christmas I got this Links bracelet and little doggy bone from my team as a Christmas present, which is just lovely. Subsequently I got given the scottie dog charm for my birthday, the scarab was bought at the Louvre to commemorate my birthday as well as my love all things Egyptian and at Valentines, I received the bookwurm charm. The lucky dice were given to me last year, as I'm lucky in gambling (she says, desperately checking her lottery ticket) and were on my lovely Victorian charm bracelet until I got the modern Links bracelet. And today FG splashed out and bought me the lovely Fossil watch charm.

My Swatch has died, yet again. Sigh. So this now the replacement - and I get to wear them every day, which I think is very cool.

Very shiny.

About Town

2008-03-04T22:11:00.003Z

We took some pics this weekend on a photo expedition around Old London Town. We didn't manage to get to as many places as we'd like, but barring the Mayas predictions of the end of the world not being in 2012, but sooner...we figured, it's not going anywhere and we can always take another weekend for some more shots.

Walking around Portobello Market with thousands of other people, mingling with the crowd and becoming totally anonymous. Quite a strange feeling.

Small church, just off Denmark Street (Tin Pan Ally) which just called out for some attention. Hope it approves.

The iconic and confusing street sign indicating different places not to go in the West End.

Again with the iconic photos - this one is taken from the steps of the National Gallery which we galloped around briefly before going home. Sad to report that here we could not take any photos in the gallery...due to copyright...so then why could we do it in the Louvre? Not entirely sure I understand it...

Me, thinking: Holy crap, why are all these tourists here? My feet hurt. I want to go home.

Dante's Coffee Emporium

2008-03-02T20:19:00.003Z

I've not done this on here before...but I quite like my little ditty I wrote for my online writing group over at Livejournal's Musemuggers. Admittedly, it's put together quickly, so (Wordweaver) there is grammar mistakes and such...but it's fun.

Enjoy.

Oh yeah, don't even think about ripping this off and posting it somewhere else.

Dante's Coffee Emporium

I loved the name and the shop the moment I walked in through the heavy glass doors fitted with snarling carved demon heads as doorknobs. The place was old. And cavernous. Bigger than any other coffee shop I’ve ever been in. The floor was taken up by low tables and comfortable looking chairs and meltingly soft chocolate coloured leather sofas. In fact, to be honest, the smell of coffee and the angry muttering of the ancient coffee-brewing contraption behind the counter was the only indicator that this was in fact a coffee shop.

The walls were lined with bookshelves. The shelves themselves held curios from across the world, set happenstance beside leather-bound journals from the dusty past. The walls were decorated with interesting odds and ends. I felt like I had walked into an eccentric anthropologists' home instead of a coffee shop. A didgeridoo, a set of flutes and a lyre sat beside a few masks from Africa and Bali on the wall. I spotted something that suspiciously gleamed like real gold in a glass case. I squinted. Yep, it was definitely some kind of museum quality pectoral decoration from the Sudan. I recognised the style because I had spent a week in the British Museum studying every single piece of jewellery from Egypt, Sudan and every other country of North Africa it held on an essay I wrote about jewellery and personal decoration in ancient times. It was a hobby. I loved jewellery and the older it was the better. My courier bag bulged with photos, photocopies and illustrations of pieces that tickled my fancy.

"Please feel free to sit anywhere. We are quite quiet today." The voice came from the pretty young girl behind the counter. She had vividly pink hair and wide blue eyes. She was, in a word, stunning.

I walked towards the counter and smiled like an eejit.

"Hi, I'm Jack. Actually it's, Jacqueline Crowe. I'm here for the job." I jerk a finger at the window where a sign declared "Part Time Waiter Wanted."

"Oh?" She seemed startled and peered past my shoulder. The sign sat there, glaring out at the world. "Okay then. Well, wait here a sec and I'll go see if Mr. Milton is available to see you."

I smiled my thanks and continued my observation of the coffee shop. There was one other person in the shop. It took me a while to register her presence. She sat in the shadows, her heavy boots resting on the battered coffee table. A Tiffany lamp was behind her, throwing a dark shadow where she sat. She had several books scattered around her, on the table and on the comfortable looking leather couch she was lounging on. Her heavy silver bangles jingled as she brought a cup of coffee to her lips and drank. They jangled when she put the cup down again. She noticed me staring at her and purposefully turned her head to look at me so that the light fell on her face. I quickly looked away, but not before I saw one dark eyebrow arching at me in query. I flushed to the roots of my hair. Not good being caught staring, but there was something about her…

"You're in luck. Mr. Milton's about to leave for the day and is quite happy to give you a few moments of his time." The girl smiled at me. I felt decidedly monochrome in my jeans and Ramones t-shirt. I stared at her vari-coloured outfit for a second and wondered if she was purposefully advertising the Dulux colours that Don't Go Together palette.

I followed her around the counter to a door marked "Private". She knocked politely and gestured me in. As I walked past her I heard her murmur for my benefit: "Good luck."

I was still flashing a grateful smile at her when the door closed firmly behind me with a dull thwack. I was in a large office. Maybe half again the size of the coffee shop. Where there was still some kind of order to the shop outside, there seemed to be none in here. The bookshelves were stacked any which way the books would fit. Two arm chairs faced the main desk and I gingerly made my way there, between crates and piles of books and papers. The carpet was a plush knotted thing with an intricate pattern that reminded me of some kind of Mandala. There is no sign of Mr. Milton. I took a seat nonetheless and checked my watch, very aware of not having an appointment.

A banging noise echoed in the room and a section of the wall behind the main desk swung open. I almost died of fright and froze in the chair. A man, I assume it is Mr. Milton, appeared carrying a crate which he dumped on his desk. A plume of dust rose in the air. He looked down at his shirt and jacket where the crate left streaks of dust and shook his head in annoyance.

"Must remember to stop at the laundry and pick up some clothes." He muttered this to himself, before he becomes aware of me. His face creased into a friendly smile. I liked him. He had an open face, friendly and quietly handsome. I took him to be in his late forties. "Oh right. Here you are. Very nice to meet you, Jacqueline. I am John Milton. And no, not that John Milton." He shook my hand. It was a good firm grip. My granddad would approve of it. None of this limp wristed jelly handed greetings either.

"Please, call me Jack."

"Jack, eh? It’s been a while since we’ve had one. Good name. A lot of history." He sat down behind the table and gestured to a pack of cigarettes. ""Would you like one?" I shook my head in the negative and he lit up. They are herbal cigarettes, and don't smell too bad. "So, have you got any coffee shop or waitressing experience, at all?"

"A summer, working down in Cornwall at one of the bars there. In my gap year." I hauled out my CV and handed it to him. Probably not the thing he wanted to look at, but hey, you never know.

He dutifully took it and squints at it through the cigarette smoke.

"Oh, interesting. I see you've done some voluntary archaeological digs in Egypt. Interesting. Very interesting." He took a few moments to read it through. I waited patiently. I am good at it.

Mr. Milton narrowed very green eyes at me. "So, why do you want to work at Dante's?"

"Oh." I breathe out heavily. "Because it's one of the coolest shops I've ever been in. And I like coffee." I pause. “Also, I need something to do over summer and working here part time will help me pay for my research.”

"Good answer." He handed me the CV back and I slide it into my courier back. "I must warn you though, this place heaves over the weekends and at night. It literally becomes the coffee shop from hell. We get artists and performers here from all the theatres around here. And you know arty types – very hard work.”

“I will be able to cope – local artists can hardly be any more demanding than grumpy scholarly types on digs out in a desert or laid back surfers high on sex wax, sun and sea.”

He barked out a laugh and came around the table to help me out of the chair.

“When can you start?”

“As soon as you need me to.”

“Excellent. Speak to Summer out front. She will sit down and work a schedule out with you. Oh, and remember – wear comfy shoes.”

As easy as that. I found Summer chatting quietly to the woman with all the books spread out around her. She looked up at my approach.

“And?”

“I got the job!”

If I expected her to look pleased on my behalf I was disappointed. She gave me a long slow look.

“Pity. This place is hell.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“Hmm. We’ll see.”

As we turned back to the counter I got a good look at the woman lounging on the couch. She was tall and slender, dressed in comfortable jeans and a sleeveless top. I turned to speak to Summer about schedules, but not before I notice the spiked tail curling around the coffee cup on the table and lifting it to her hand, so she didn’t have to stretch.

Ah. Suddenly I got it. This was indeed the coffee shop from hell.

A book staircase!?

2008-03-02T18:49:00.003Z

OMG. I want one of these.

This is the article about the book staircase - incredibly clever...and I love it.

A music blog

2008-02-23T14:32:00.002Z

I am really excited about the new music coming to the market in 2008.

I've not really paid that much attention to music the past few months, being completely wrapped up in my coursework. Music was there to see me through my journey to and from work. On weekends it was invariably just listening to the radio.

But, having gone back to gym more regularly, I've been paying more attention to my music on my mp3 player and realised that I've got a lot of "old" music on there. Not that there is anything wrong with that, per se...but it is good to find new artists that enthuse you. And I have.

I've discovered Adele, her amazing album 19 - which I got just yesterday. Really good - but very much Eliza Wren Payne. Her style reminds me of Eliza's - very similar quirky songs, the style she sings in and her voice...but she is very much her own person. I have no idea the hype about her, but clearly its been played out very well. And it is worthy of the hype, in my opinion.

Another lady whom I can't wait to see live or own the cd of is Duffy. Not only is she gorgeous, killer dimples, and very talented, her music is amazing. She has a rich soulful voice and it reminds me a bit of music from divas in the sixties and seventies. Her album is out very soon so I will place a pre-order for that to come through. They have the official video for her song Mercy on amazon.co.uk and youtube.com.

There is another young lady out called:Colbie Caillat who is another singer/songwriter - yet another good voice hitting the market. This is the video on youtube of her song "Bubble". How incredibly natural and effortless does she make this look? (insert jealous face) I hope she makes it HUGE.

Then I recently bought the Plain White T's album and have been listening to that a lot. Also Newton Faulkner who is very fun and funky...and I think his image - dreadlocked and a bit scruffy - belies completely how hard he's worked to get his music out there. And indeed, his talent seems effortless.

Then - for me - someone who I think I will like even more than I do already - David Jordan. His song: The Sun goes down, is just ... mad. It makes you want to dance and ponce around. The album is incredible. Place in my heart is my next favourite track from the album.

I also heard some good things about a band called Ben's Brother and bought the album. Their music is good, solid. Their album very nice to listen to...but I'm not 100% about it though - FG loves it and listens to it all the time. He lead singer has a bit of Rod Stewart to his voice...which sort of puts me off a bit. But there you go.

We also got Biffy Clyro who are outstanding, as well as The Editors who has been around for a while and I kept hearing their music and then decided to ask for their cd as a xmas present. Amazing stuff. Very talented artists and here's hoping they'll be around a long good while still.

A few weeks ago, in the sales, I bought Amy MacDonald's debut album and I have to say - I really have high hopes for her. Her voice is that little hoarse, totally sexy and her lyrics are fun, or so you think, humming along. Then you listen to them, or you read the inset and realise that it's not all sunshine and roses. They are written by a very clever young lady who has a keen eye.

And of course - there is beautiful Jack Savoretti who I have yet to see perform live, but by all counts, he is really good. He is currently playing in various Caffe Nero venues - so watch out - he might come to one near you!

We've booked tickets to go see his gorgeousness - Seth Lakeman - in August at Regents Park and I cannot wait. We'll be seven rows from front. Squeeing. Including FG. Of course, this will be me coming away desperatingly wanting to finger my guitar until my little dog runs a mile.

Student Daze

2008-02-19T22:42:00.002Z

It was up at five this morning to get ready in time to get to Paddington to catch a train to Reading for my second Face To Face tutoring session for the DipSurv diploma at CEM. Thankfully this time around I knew a group of girls, so we met up before the time and travelled together. It sort of makes things easier if you hang in a "posse".

We had the introduction to our Legal Studies and Building Technology modules today - incredibly interesting. No, seriously. I can't wait to get stuck into it. I even get to use Latin in the Legal bits and we were encouraged to think plainly and logically about things in the Building Technology module. Did you know there are about ten different parts to the stairs in your house? Yup. Watch this space - will no doubt feel the urge to inflict my line drawings on the world at large.

I feel a lot more confident about this part of the module than I did about either the Technical Communication or the Land Use Planning sections - which is odd. I have absolutely no idea what either of these other two modules will contain but I think that the first part of the course really taught me to think logically, how to plot an assignment in a reasonable and relatively sensible way. Which probably goes a long way to helping in the confidence aspect of it all.

I am however concerned about work. I have not been doing anything relating to my course. I have, in fact, been doing exactly what I have been doing these past few years, with no more being given to me. Part of it is because of the graduates that has been forced onto us - they are basically doing what should in theory be coming my way. Bosses have acknowledged that I should be given more work to do, more reports and such - as opposed to just admin things. And I hope it does come my way. I am loathe to sit there and waste my time.

Right, it's 11pm and I've now been up exactly eighteen hours. I think I deserve some sleep.

Dream a little dream for me...

2008-02-12T10:04:00.001Z

Lucid Dreaming.

The term conjures images of dreaming in Cinemascope. Technicolour. Amazingly vivid and real, photoreal. Touch and feel real. And it is rare that I remember having these dreams. Or any dreams for that matter.

Now and again I have a few disturbing dreams about work, but it usually results in me bashing Mark in my sleep so that he walks around with a sore face for a few days and can’t figure out why. Sorry, hun.

Last night’s dream though has me stumped. I dreamed that I was en route to our local shopping centre. At the head of a giant army. And not just any old army. Futuristic armies straight out of the Warhammer world, complete with Space Marines, Inquisitors and Sisters of Battle. Including the guns, the weapons, the vehicles, the chatter in my head. All of it. Like some bizarre Saving Private Ryan, only grittier and noisier and me in charge.

Now this would be an understandable dream had I anything to do with Warhammer. I don’t. Admittedly FG has the new Dark Heresy RPG book which he’s been reading through. I’ve not even opened the front covers to look at it. He plays some of it on his computer and PSP and I’ve not played or seen either.

This however did not stop me from taking over the Glades Shopping Centre in Bromley as my army base and shooting the crap out of insurgent aliens in the form of orkz, tyranids and whatever else my fevered imagination could come up with.

I woke up this morning, utterly exhausted. Directing an army is incredibly tiring work. Who knew? Needless to say Bromley town centre does not exist anymore. I’ve shot it to shit and levelled it with so many bombs even bugs would not survive it.

Can anyone please explain to me…why Warhammer and why Bromley? Maybe Croydon, or Birmingham is worthy of levelling, but Bromley?? And why was I this seriously important Space Marine Commander who had the entire army under my command? I know I like being a bossy cow, but this is taking it a bit far.

But I had a really cool gun. A big one. Samaritan sized which would have made Hellboy sob into his cat litter.

Lucid dreaming. Seriously disturbing shyte.

Ancient City Travellers

2008-02-06T23:46:00.000Z

We're back. We're exhausted. We're really smug. We've lost a mobile phone. We've got some awesome pictures. We've lost weight because of all the walking. We're planning to go back and do the rest of the Louvre and the remaining parts of the City we've not seen.

Here are some of our photos.

Freak Of Nature Club

2008-02-03T19:43:00.000Z

I attended a babyshower yesterday for our friend Almay. It was a bit of a surprise shower, as she did not suspect a single thing. It was a proud thing when we walked in and everyone called out "Surprise!" - I was terrified though that she would go into labour immediately. I had to sneak her off to the shops so that her hubby could sort out the house and her other friends could arrive and set up for the cake and tea we had arranged. It was a success - she got lovely presents from everyone.

It was however a deeply disturbing time for me. I had nothing, besides the fact that I happened to be female, in common with these other women who were there. I sat there, and I could feel my eyebrows climb and climb higher and higher into my hairline. They occupy a completely and utterly different world to me. To anyone, really. It was surreal, to say the least. I found myself listening to them talking about nursing, breast feeding, attending ante natal classes. And in the end, it totally just became white noise. I did turn to Almay at one stage and said: "All I can hear is blah blah blah", and they all laughed. I was the only one there not pregnant, not hormonal or already had some kids - NOT counting Sparrow of course. I ate a few scones, took some ibuprufen to stave off an onrushing headache and listened to "The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round". And naturally, the age old question came up: "So, Liz, are you going to have kids?" I am so tired of the question and again demured, without losing my patience, too much, not wanting to point out that the question was boring, old hat...and I can go on, but then I will just sound even more angry and bitter than I really feel. So I got bitchy.

I did point out that we are planning a few holidays over to Paris, Rome and defintely a trip to Peru to hike the Inca Trail. Also mentioned the new movies coming out which would be fantastic to go and watch. And a few daytrips we are planning to take over to Whitstable and down to the countryside to the Chilli Festival. All of which we can do without much trouble or hassle, as we don't have kids or pregnant bellies in tow. Silence fell and I could feel the annoyance and resentment. And I felt better. The one woman did turn and say, sotto voice: "Oh, I suppose if the hormones have not kicked in by now, they probably never will."

And I had to bite the inside of my cheeks not to burst out laughing as she sounded so resentful and bitter.

So, join the Freak of Nature Club (or the Footloose and Fancy Free Club). I'm the founding member.

Birthday!

2008-01-18T11:16:00.000Z

Going to the City of Love and Lights for my birthday in Feb!

Preens!

Varekai!

2008-01-14T21:21:00.001Z

We went to go see the new Cirque du Soleil show this Saturday past. FG and I had NO idea what to expect - we knew we were going to be blown away, but we had no idea exactly how much.

The show is entitled Verakai which is Rom for "Wherever" - this production pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to the infinite passion of those whose quest takes them along the path that leads to Varekai. (This from the CDS website).

Wordweaver and friends stated that this show is not as good as previous years. Personally I am stunned by that - to me the show was absolutely mindblowing. Words cannot begin to describe how utterly astounding, acrobatic and creative these people are. It makes you believe that anything can indeed happen, if only you believed hard enough.

We had a brilliant time and at times forgot to breathe - hazardous, I know, but ye gods, some of those boys flying through the air almost caused a lot of people in the audience to die from shock and worry. They are mindblowingly amazing. I would recommend the show highly. In fact, I at first thought that the music being played as the actors and acrobats performed was a cd being run over loudspeakers but it turns out that the music was all performed live by the most talented group of musicians. They came to do a final bow and I jumped up and clapped furiously. They were astounding. The show is hard to describe - it is visually arresting and has to be experienced. No one can begin to explain it...purely because it will sound as if you are on crack or something.

Afterwards we disappeared off to Wimbledon for some lovely food with Wordweaver, partner Ann and the scrummy Ilse and Steph and newly made friends, Dorothy and Betty (who are an absolute pleasure to chat to - very ladylike, very wickedly funny and just so full of life. I instantly lost my heart to them both - anyone who can make saucy comments about lemon cheesecake is a good 'un in my book!) I would also recommend Piccolino's in Wimbledon for some good nosh - genuinely good food, good prices (nudge to Ilse and Steph), and good service. I had the lasagne and I do declare it one of the best ones I've ever had.

We trammed it back from Wimbledon to Beckenham and met two lovely - if drunk - chaps on the tram who entertained us with mad comments about who they think the announcer on the tram was. Some famous tv personality - we only grinned and laughed at their insanity. They were actually quite sweet - if inebriated - and it just went to show that you can have fun being a little drunk without turning into a complete and utter yob.

Anyway - back on the wagon this week - rejoined Weightwatchers last week. Hurrah! Have got aim in my life again, am back in the competition and am ready to lose the next 3 stone. Please post comments of support and admiration. It will be much appreciated!

Demon or spirit?

2008-01-09T11:14:00.000Z

I'm sitting at home today, impatiently waiting for a plumber to arrive to fix our boiler that's gone on the blink. So, with time on my hand (read "do anything but the next land use assignment") I surfed the net and visited an all-time favourite: the National Geographic website - where I found this article that sort of makes you wonder even more about what human-kind's beliefs are based on:

Judas was a traitor—even a "demon"—according to a new translation of the recently revealed Gospel of Judas. The new interpretation contradicts the first translation, released by the National Geographic Society in April 2006. But the debate is far from settled.That initial interpretation of the newfound gospel says that the apostle was following Jesus' orders when he gave Jesus up to enemy soldiers.

In the National Geographic translation, the text's ancient authors depict Judas Iscariot as Jesus' closest friend and the only apostle who truly understood Christ's message. (The National Geographic Society owns National Geographic News.)The Bible famously tells of Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

Evil as Ever?

April DeConick, a professor of biblical studies at Rice University in Texas, says the first translators got it wrong.

In her new book, The Thirteenth Apostle: What the Gospel of Judas Really Says, DeConick offers her own translation of the gospel."In my translation Judas did not come across as a benevolent spirit like he does in National Geographic's translation," DeConick said. "He emerged as a much more negative Judas—a demon Judas as evil as ever."

Marvin Meyer is one of the translators who National Geographic enlisted. He said he welcomes additional interpretations of the Gospel of Judas."It doesn't come as any surprise whatsoever to find out that there would be another kind of interpretation," said Meyer, a biblical scholar at Chapman University in California. "What is remarkable is the extent to which what was presented early on still has carried the day with us and most people."

Heretical Origins

The Gospel of Judas was found in a codex, or ancient book, that dates back to the third or fourth century A.D.(Related news: "Medieval Christian Book Discovered in Ireland Bog" [July 26, 2006].)

Written in Coptic, or Egyptian Christian, script, the text is believed to be a translation of the original—a Greek text written sometime before A.D. 180.

The document remained hidden for more than 1,700 years before it was discovered in Egypt in the 1970s. About 85 percent of the fragile text has been restored, but major gaps remain.

(See photos of the pages on the Lost Gospel of Judas Web site.)

The author of the text is unknown. But scholars say it originated with a group of early Christians known as Sethian Gnostics.

These "heretics" believed that truth could be known only through revelation from Jesus and a personal experience with God—hence the Gospel of Judas's subtitle: "the secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot."

"Demon" vs. "Spirit"

DeConick said she was excited to see the Gospel of Judas translated, and began analyzing the text immediately after it was published last year."But I soon noticed that my translation wasn't matching [National Geographic's] in significant spots," she said. At the center of the debate is one passage in which Jesus calls Judas "daimon."

According to the National Geographic translation, "daimon" means "spirit."DeConick, however, maintains that "daimon" should be translated to mean "demon," and that Jesus literally calls Judas a demon."What we find in all the Gnostic materials—and I've found about 50 references to the word 'daimon' in these texts—[is that] they're always indicating demons, malicious figures that possess and torment people, trying to get people to do things they're not supposed to do against God," she said.

But Meyer, who worked on National Geographic's translation, said Sethian Gnostics were also heavily influenced by earlier, Greek writings. In those texts "daimon" is used to mean "spirit" or to describe the spiritual side of a person.

The Gospel of Judas was written at an early stage and in an almost entirely Greek-influenced form, he said. For that reason "daimon" should read "spirit," he added."It is only in the developing Judeo-Christian heritage that eventually 'daimon' becomes exclusively negative," Meyer said.

New Testament scholar Simon Gathercole—who was not involved in the National Geographic translation project—said that either "demon" or "spirit" could be correct. "

'Demon' is the meaning in the New Testament, though it only appears a few times. And 'spirit' is the meaning in Plato. And the Gospel of Judas is influenced by both the New Testament and Plato," said Gathercole, of the University of Cambridge in England.

Antti Marjanen, a biblical scholar at the University of Helsinki in Finland, warned against reading too much into the use of that one word."Since the word 'daimon' appears only once in the entire text, some caution should be exercised in its interpretation," said Marjanen, who also was not part of the National Geographic Society effort."Even if it is taken as a negative reference, it does not necessarily mean that it is the final characterization of Judas in the text."

At Odds

Many of the Sethian beliefs were at odds with those of what would become mainstream Christianity. The Sethians did not, for example, believe that God would have sacrificed his child, Jesus, to atone for humanity's sins.The Gnostic texts contradicted the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John found in the New Testament. As a result, the Gnostic gospels were later denounced by Christian leaders and refused inclusion in the Bible. No scholar of early Christianity seems to believe that the Gospel of Judas provides a historically reliable account of the relationship between Jesus and Judas. Instead, it is seen as the Gnostic interpretation of that relationship."

Jesus' voice [in the Gospel of Judas] is the Gnostic voice challenging the apostolic Christians to reassess their faith, to listen to their own reason and consciences rather than blindly accept their faith because they thought it was handed down to them from the twelve disciples," DeConick said.(Follow a time line of early Christianity.)

Special Kingdom

In another passage in the National Geographic version, Judas tells Jesus, "You have set me apart for that generation"—apparently meaning the enlightened Gnostics who, in DeConick's words, "populate the upper world."But DeConick says a Coptic phrase used in the passage—"porj e"—actually means "to separate from" and not "to set apart for.""Judas has not been set apart to belong to the holy generation, as the National Geographic translation suggests," she writes in her book."My corrected translation reads completely the opposite," she told National Geographic News."Judas is upset because he has received esoteric teaching from Jesus—teaching which he sees as useless, because he has been separated from the Gnostic generation who populate the upper world."

In National Geographic's The Gospel of Judas, Critical Edition, both "set apart for" and "separated from" are offered as possible translations.

Even if the correct interpretation is that Judas has been separated from that generation, the meaning is still not clear, some scholars suggest."I actually agree with the interpretation of the Coptic verbal expression 'to set apart from' and not 'for.' But I am not sure that the generation the text talks about is the holy generation," said Marjanen, the Finnish scholar."Rather, I read [that] Judas is set apart from the generation of the earthly kingdom the other disciples belong to."

Meyer, one of the National Geographic-supported translators, said the issues of translation DeConick highlights are almost all discussed in the footnotes of National Geographic's popular edition and critical edition of the Gospel of Judas."We're really only quibbling about the interpretation of a few passages," he said. "April looks at two to three passages … and with a revisionist understanding of those few passages, she sees the text in an entirely different light."

Satire?

DeConick said she believes the gospel should be seen as a parody."It's certainly satire. [In the Gospel of Judas] Jesus is always mocking the disciples, who are characterized as faithless and ignorant," she said."The author uses humor in a very subversive way in order to criticize and correct apostolic Christianity."

But Gathercole, the Cambridge scholar, does not believe the gospel was written as a parody."It's a standard Gnostic-style gospel," Gathercole said."And since it was common for Gnostics to turn biblical images and figures upside down, there's a logic to their use of Judas," he said.

Meyer said there is a fundamental problem with the Judas-as-demon argument: If Judas was a demon, why did Jesus confide in him?"To make this negative assessment work, you have to wink at, or put an asterisk next to, all the positive things said about Judas in the text," he said."But this is the gospel—the 'good news'—of Judas," Meyer said. "The main reason why the text was composed was so that people would be able to learn something about Sethian thought as it is being communicated to Judas."

To say that it was all a joke, it was all a parody … well, we don't have any other text from antiquity or late antiquity that functions like that," he said.

Piecing it Together

DeConick also criticizes National Geographic for mishandling the translation project by not making full-size, high-resolution copies of the manuscript available to outside scholars for analysis. (Such copies will, however, be available for download by mid-January 2008 on National Geographic's Gospel of Judas Web site.)"

National Geographic didn't follow the best procedure for dealing with new academic finds," she said."Having a text only being worked though by a certain set of scholars ends up resulting in a situation where the material can't be double-checked and can't be questioned before its release.New Testament scholar Craig Evans worked on the National Geographic team. He disagrees with some of the translation choices and interpretations made by his colleagues on the National Geographic Society [NGS] project.

Even so, Evans defends National Geographic's handling of the project."When the National Geographic Society gained access to the Tchacos Codex [the larger book that contains the gospel] … it would have been pointless to publish photographic plates, because the codex was in pieces," said Evans, of Acadia Divinity College in Nova Scotia, Canada. "It took years to put the thing together so that the text could actually be viewed and read," he said. "Once that part of the work was finished, NGS had the text available for the public in a very expeditious manner."(Related news: "Gospel of Judas Pages Endured Long, Strange Journey" [April 6, 2006].)

Meyer, meanwhile, dismissed any suggestion that his team set out with any kind of agenda to rehabilitate the image of Judas in its translation of the gospel. "Our only agenda was to interpret the text, make sense of it, and get it out as quickly as possible," he said."To produce a first translation and the first critical edition is a thankless task, because you know you're putting yourself out on a limb. And chances are pretty good that at least a part of that limb is going to come down as time passes," Meyer added."That's just the way scholarship works."

Sparrowmaticus And Sickly Liz Thoughts...

2007-12-31T12:51:00.001Z

About 2 weeks ago, Sparrow stepped in a thorn on one of our rambles around the country park. We removed the thorn, he hobbled for a bit but then seemed to be all right. We didnt' give it any thought but then a week and a bit ago, we noticed him limping quite badly. FG examined the little paws and we found this odd kind of growth between his claws. It looked raw and inflamed. We poked and prodded and cleaned it out, thinking that a piece of the thorn had stayed behind. It didn't heal so I took him to vet - what trauma, on the train, two stops down the line and after a cursory exmamination we were given some antibiotics.

We fed him the antiobiotics for seven days, twice a day, but no luck. The little wrinkled raisin-like inflamed thinghie just sat there. So we took again on Friday afternoon and he got booked into the vet for surgery today. In fact, he is probably going through the surgery now, to remove the piece of growth/inflamed sack of stuff.

It is so weird, sitting here, at home, without the hot little breath next to me. I unlocked the door after dropping him with the vet, expecting a fuss to be made of my return, but then I remembered I just left him with a strange man with sharp tools and was racked with guilt. Poor pup.

He will have to wear a doggy shoe to prevent the bandage from getting wet and from him worrying at it. I am to ring at around half two to find out what time I can collect him from the vet. I am a bit worried about the bill too, but am relieved that the insurance does cover it and we will be paid back.

Gosh. I know it's for his own good but you just end up feeling so helpless.

What's made matters worse is that I picked up a stinker of a cold before (literally, that Saturday) Christmas. I was rotten with it on the day, and this whole week past. I've now had it for more than a week already and feel utterly drained and awful. My voice has changed, I have a smokers' racking cough and my face is constantly swollen from sinusses. I'm breathing through an open mouth but that is becoming worse because I have a raw-red and sore throat. There is no party for us tonight, purely because - as FG puts it: "You are still unclean" - and I agree. I fade in and out of conversations. Doing anything takes absolute ages. Making tea takes about ten minutes, then I forget to drink it.

So, it's been crap. Feel sorry for us - poor FG trapped in a house with sickly wife, pawly pup and crappy tv. Knowing him he'll probably celebrate by killing things online. Bring on 2008.

December thoughts

2007-12-28T20:50:00.000Z

And so Christmas has come and gone in a flurry of good food, visits with friends, cool pressies and very little visits to the shops.

I am genuinely pleased it is over and am looking forward to a skinny frugal year for 2008. I know I've not overdone it, foodwise, these past few weeks, but I've not been to gym as much as I would have liked. This is due to work-commitments, icy cold weather and wotnot - but yes, these are excuses.

I am due to lose a further 2, and at a push, 3 stone this year. I am setting goals and with FG's help, both of us will be slinky. We are very keen. And we are also going to have a helluva lot on our plate next year, with both of us being focussed on work, me on my uni-course, general writing for both of us, going to gym, outdoors excercise and general frugality.

But it is a challenge and we are quite happy to do it. The only things stopping us are ourselves.

I have a nightmare of an assignment to get out for the 3rd of January. I've worked on it today at work for a bit and am convinced I am about 98% there. In fact, I've worked so hard on this thing, that I've gone past caring. I'm going to make sure my "i's" are dotted, it's formatted perfectly and that my appendices are up to scratch. Then I'm going to close my eyes and say "fuckit" and submit it. I've done it three times now. Fourth time lucky, right? Right? Here's hoping for another 75%. In all honesty - on this one - if I pass, I'll be thrilled.

Mist and Frost

2007-12-23T14:32:00.001Z

Loving the new slr! See the pretty pictures!

Time Lord

2007-12-20T21:33:00.000Z

Well now - utterly blown away by coincidences.

I have got four watches. All of them Swatch. I've had them for about....seven years now. And they all died. Round about exactly the same time. Bearing in mind that they have been bought separately, over a few years' time.

I would like to think I am very brand loyal...but looking at some of the things Swatch has come up with lately, I am thinking that I will maybe veer towards a Fossil when the time comes for me to buy a new watch (around my b'day time in Feb) . I am not fussed about it at the moment. I've come to realise I don't really look at my watch that much. As long as my mobile is working and my computer / deskphone is on, at work, I'm sorted. I purely used to use it as a weapon. No kidding. Big, bulky, huge - it saved my arm many times as people tend to shove and push, not expecting to connect quite so metallic and hard to be worn on an arm. Grins evilly. Especially as I am that specific height where I am the perfect target for taller people who think they can happily muck you about as they run to and from work on pavements.

I like my big bulky watch and feel pangs of jealousy when I spot someone else with one even bigger than mine. It is almost not possible, but some serious divers' watches do give mine a run for its money.

However, as a research project, I've gone to have a look at the Fossil site and this one, I think shows promise. Also, the mere fact that you can build your own watch is pretty cool.

As I said - I am not fussed about a timepiece at the moment. I'll ring up Swatch to see how much a replacement battery costs for one of my favourites. It's lasted me seven years. I am gorram sure it has another seven or so in it. In the meantime, I can look at all the other shinies.

Remember. FRUGAL year. Frugal.

Christmas Lights

2007-12-19T19:16:00.001Z

I love my new camera.

Squee.

A very quick brag

2007-12-16T17:58:00.000Z

I received results on Friday on my second assignment for Techinical Communication and am pleased to report a resounding distinction, a pass of the first class, with 75%. Which, in theory, doesn't look to be that much. (She says with a slightly smug look.)

However! This is the rub: no one else thus far has reported receiving higher than 60% for this on the online Blackboard forums. Which makes me squeee inside.

Ta dam, ta dam...

Some Paris Pics

2007-12-13T16:45:00.000Z

Not been well since I've been back from Paris so I've stayed at home Wednesday and Thursday. Am working on my assignment at the moment but thought I'd take a quick break and post some of the pics I took over in Paris on Monday.

Contemplative

2007-12-09T21:22:00.001Z

FG and I stayed awake last night to watch the Hatton/Mayweather fight and I am quite glad that we did. It was awesome to watch. We staggered to bed just before six and slept till eleven when I stumbled to the kitchen, opening windows for air and feeding the pup some breakfast.

Whilst making breakfast scones (what diet?) I contemplated how our lives have completely changed this past week, forcing us to consider a helluva lot of things about our life together. How we've made a combined decision that next year (yep, look away now, NY resolution happening long before NY) will be our frugal year. We want to save up for so many things but have to be realistic about things. Which is where the frugality comes in. I really pray to the Verse that we can pull it off.

These are my decisions relating to frugality:

1. No more books from Waterstones/Amazon (unless ridiculously cheap)

2. Visiting the library, that odd place where you are allowed to take books away...for FREE.

3. Supporting the local secondhand bookshops and charity shop, specifically the giant bookshop on Drury Lane run by one of the large charity shops, I've completely forgotten what it's called.

4. Spend more time a) studying for the DipSurv course and b) when I am not studying, working on a story I would like to have polished enough to send onto various publishers (watch out Wordweaver, I am likely to bribe with banana breads and a smattering of doggy kisses from Sparrow for help) and see what happens with that. Who knows, eh? Neither FG nor I have anything to lose.

5. Oh yes, and to lose the next 3 and a bit stone. Smiles bravely.

So that is my few ideas for next year. Have already started on them, to be exact.

Taps the table. And that's all, folks.

Tomorrow is Paris - hurrah. Tickets, passport, money, camera all in my bag...and of course the biggest question is: which book do I take with me for the day? To read on the trainjourney, that is? Apart from my moleskine to write in...goes off to examine the bookshelf.

Proudest Auntie in the World

2007-12-04T22:11:00.000Z

I've not been back to SA for an absolute age and have therefore not met a few of the newest additions to our family - on both FG's and my side of the family. I got a text from my sister Elize today, she is the oldest of the VDM brood and she sent me a selection of photos of her grandaughter's birthday party this weekend past. And I have to say, my niece is one of the prettiest kids I have seen in a very long time. Just look at this! She's the one with the dark hair and eyes - not sure who the other little girl is with the crown, but the little boy is her older brother.

Paris!

2007-11-28T10:07:00.000Z

Paris!

I'm going to Paris!

With work, admittedly, but it is for our Christmas function and shopping!

Hurrah! I'm going to Paris, I'm going to Paris!

Roll on the 10th December 2007.

Beowulf

2007-11-26T19:11:00.000Z

We've been to see the newest version of Beowulf at Beckenham Odeon this afternoon. I've come away from it feeling a bit taken aback by how much I enjoyed it. My love for the story, the original, that is, is abiding. It is one of my five "if you are ever stranded on an island and you can take five books with you" books.

I've not encountered this style of photography before and was convinced I would hate it. But after a few moments, like in 300, you don't notice it anymore.

The characters are larger than life, Beowulf's character dominates the screen. He is the Hero of the story, you understand his quest for fame and glory. Like Achilles in the Illiad he is overbearing, full of himself, setting himself up for a big fall. You can almost smell the mistakes he makes.

Grendel is excellently portrayed. The language he uses with his mother is just at the limit of your understanding. It makes them both unusual, enigmas to pursue.

A few things had to change to pull it off but mostly the story sticks to the story. An interesting twist towards the end and the most amazing dragon fight at the end. Both Neil Gaiman and Roger Avery as screenwriters did the story proud.

I would definitely recommend it heartily. Yet another example of mythic story telling.

New Toy!

2007-11-20T22:05:00.000Z

Some photos taken with the new digital slr I purchased today.

Beams.

Eddie Izzard is a genius

2007-11-11T17:54:00.000Z

Okay, having come to the genuisnes of Eddie, we've become huge fans...specifically after watching this:

Apostrophe

2007-11-08T13:45:00.000Z

Possibly the coolest little shop up the road from work.

Popped by here for my lunch and thick hot dinkum hot chocolate that makes your hair curl even more!

They have wifi service, good food, cool music ... and I could sit down and add 1000 odd words to my nano-effort.

Gotta love technology!

Assasin's Creed

2007-11-03T12:41:00.000Z

I am really jealous of this artwork. And am unamused by the fact that we don't have a PS3 or Xbox so that we can play the game.

Pouts.

Hellboy 2008

2007-11-02T21:11:00.000Z

I fell in love with Hellboy, the sense of humour, the drama, the sheer fun of it...and cannot wait for the second one coming out next year. Mostly because the gorgeousness that is Guilermo Del Toro is once again at the helm...and boy, if he pulls this off as well as he did Pan's Labrinth then I am a slavish fan forever and ever amen.

The pic above is from the official site and I do not claim any ownership of it...but just to show some of the concept art. They are currently filming in Budapest and GDT has a blog up informing fanboys and girls of happenings. Cool, or what?

What movie are you?

2007-11-02T20:50:00.000Z

Thanks to Cheezy, who did the "Which Leader Are You" test online, I followed the link through and found this one which made me smile. I don't think I could even have tried for this outcome by cheating.

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Lust!

2007-10-31T20:15:00.000Z

We wants it, precious.

Not yet published, officially here in the UK. Can however buy it imported and immediately for £70 from Forbidden Planet...or wait, and get it sent to me from Amazon for £40.

Taps desk.

Wait. Buy from Amazon or even better, The Book Depository.

Goes off to make sums.

Finally!

2007-10-28T20:36:00.000Z

Yay!

Does a dance

The nightmare assignment is now finished. Or rather, the body of it is all down, along with appendices...now all I have to work on is layout and format...my relief is boundless.

Due date is the 1st November, which also happens to be the start of nanowrimo...I am planning to submit the assigment on the last day - Halloween - so here's hoping I at least get a merit for all my hard work.

Who knew land use and planning could be sexy?

300 Apples

2007-10-28T18:52:00.000Z

glumbert - 300 Spartan Apples

For those, like Wordweaver, who has a thing about watching violent movies - i.e., they can't / don't, here then is the vegetable version of that fantastic epic movie, 300.

Be careful though - there is a plot spoiler!

Terracotta Warriors

2007-10-27T22:03:00.000+01:00

Wow. Is that eloquent enough?

No, I agree, it isn't.

I've now been to a few world museums, seen a few exhibits and have been lucky enough to see a few utterly amazing things, like King Tut's mask, all his gold and grave goods. Having been to Athens, we''ve seen the mask of Agamemnon, the treasures of Troy. Countless amazing things.

Yet walking through the exhibition today, looking at these immaculately crafted, larger than life statues, taking in their intense detail, and learning about how they were created, what the Emperor had in mind when he had them made, how grandiose his design was...and you can only stand in awe.

I previously thought that the Egyptians took the flag with their pomp, ceremony and obsession with the afterlife. They could not hold a candle to the Emperor of China. They are still excavating the complex, having only uncovered a small part of it all. They have not touched the actual mound of the Emperor's tomb. It will not be excavated in our lifetime - the task is too immense, but also, because it is not something the Chinese are keen to do. Which I think is pretty cool, in a way. Like Lara said at the end of Tomb Raider 2 - "Some things are not meant to be found."

What really amazed both FG and myself: how very many young kids there were, dragging their parents around this exhibition. There is an entire diorama about how the warriors were made and put together. FG overheard one of these little ones say to his dad: "But dad, are they still alive in the inside?" When the dad said no, they are just hollow, the little boy shook his head and muttered. "They're still alive." We were in there for over an hour, wandering about. Admittedly, there were a lot of people, but somehow you don't mind being jostled by people who tend to like the same thing. We came away with a handful of classy photographs which we intend to frame.

I can't wait to visit it again - I am wondering if the amount of people will peter out the longer the display is held?

Tired

2007-10-26T21:53:00.001+01:00

So very very tired.

Can I just admit to a guilty secret? As Jones as this sounds, I am quite enjoying my coursework on Land Use and Planning...but I'm now sick of this assignment that is due next week. I've been working on it all week, during the day at work, at lunch, in the evenings at home. Even now, tonight, on a Friday night.

And I am tired. And we've got a new mattress. And I can hear its siren-call. And I am succumbing.

Farewell, Town and Country Planning Act 1990, sustainable development and local authorities. Till tomorrow night, after the terracotta warriors and the meet up with nanowrimo London people.

Yes! I've forgotten to mention it this year - I have been challenged by FG to write the 50k words from November 1st - for a month. The one who is closest to the 50k words, gets to choose a restaurant and the loser takes them there for dinner. I am so glad I type faster than three finger freddy, otherwise known as FG.

Flexes. Yawwwwn.

Stardust

2007-10-21T21:00:00.000+01:00

We did a marathon of movies today - Stardust at eleven, then Resident Evil at quarter past one. Purely to get some of the movies in that we wanted to see before the little demons and their parents take over cinemas and restaurants for half term.

Well, officially, my review of Stardust is - fantastically good fun and a rollicking good ride. The sets and costumes are stunning, Michelle Pfeiffer is singularly the sexiest being alive and plays her role as a wicked witch with relish. Claire Danes shines - genuinely. She is perfect as the fallen star with Tristan, the boy from the other side of the Wall being a little clumsy, a bit funny and totally earnest and wide-eyed. Personally, I found the role of Captain Shakespear being played by Robert de Niro as a bit uncomfortable - going from gruff advisor and father figure to camp gay man dancing about in a frock to the can-can music. Not at all pleasant.

But they were pretty frocks. Grin.

All in all, I would highly recommend it. You can, like the book by Neil Gaiman see it as either a story of a young boy going on a quest to find a star for his love...or, you can see The Hero with a thousand faces...like Joseph Campbell's book. Onion layered. Quests, witches, pirates, murderous princes, unicorns, magic, glowing stars, wishes, a handsome hero, a selfish lover...all packed into 2 hours...and the best of all: I can read the book any time I want.

And remember: the best way to travel is by candlelight.

Seth Lakeman at Shep Bush Empire - 18 October 2007

2007-10-19T11:20:00.000+01:00

This lad is a pure genius.

Seth Lakeman

2007-10-18T10:46:00.000+01:00

I am thrilled! Have got a half day today to go and see the scrumminess that is Seth Lakeman at Shep Bush tonight. A friend who saw him last week, has booked another set of tickets for tonight. Apparently he is magic!

These are some of the pics she took – we hope to take a few good ones ourselves tonight.

Arty shots of our park

2007-10-11T10:03:00.000+01:00

You have got to love the mist! Makes for fantastically arty shots. This is our park this morning.

Order of the Stick!

2007-10-06T22:30:00.000+01:00

For gamers and RPG fans everywhere...and everyone who ever wanted to book anything via a telephonic system.

This is the full website here.

Dragon Wars

2007-10-06T20:49:00.000+01:00

What fantastically brilliant pic. Have never heard about this movie, or its anime counterpart or anything....

But I love this picture and the site looks promising. However, I've heard that you either love it, or hate it, purely because it is so over the top. No idea when it is supposed to be shown here in the UK. Will however find out.

Female Comic Book Superheroes

2007-10-02T22:44:00.000+01:00

Female Comic Book Superheroes
by Jeannine Hall Gailey

are always fighting evil in a thong,
pulsing techno soundtrack in the background
as their tiny ankles thwack

against the bulk of male thugs.
They have names like Buffy, Elektra, or Storm
but excel in code decryption, Egyptology, and pyrotechnics.

They pout when tortured, but always escape just in time,
still impeccable in lip–gloss and pointy–toed books,
to rescue male partners, love interests, or fathers.

Impossible chests burst out of tight leather jackets,
from which they extract the hidden scroll, antidote, or dagger,
tousled hair covering one eye.

They return to their day jobs as forensic pathologists,
wearing their hair up and donning dainty glasses.
Of all the goddesses, these pneumatic heroines most

resemble Artemis, with her miniskirts and crossbow,
or Freya, with her giant gray cats.
Each has seen this apocalypse before.

See her perfect three–point landing on top of that chariot,
riding the silver moon into the horizon,
city crumbling around her heels.

Fantastic little poem found over on Endicott Studios.

Anubis visits London

2007-10-02T11:53:00.000+01:00

We saw him sail down the river on a barge yesterday. And there he is this morning, royal of bearing, implacable, stern, the keeper of the gates, the lord of eternity, the friend of the dead, Anubis.

Naturally this is not the genuine article, but not a bad representation, at all.

Writing Comp

2007-10-01T21:32:00.000+01:00

Many thanks to all who voted for me on Finding Adam. Clearly I didn't win - but I gave it a good wollop. There is however another, and rather fun and exciting competition ongoing with the following criteria:

LYCANTHROPE: Now, we've all seen The Howling, An American Werewolf in London , Wolfen, Ginger Snaps or the more recent offerings of Underworld. The tale has been around in one form or another for as long as there have been people to tell hushed stories about it.

Your task is to take it and make it yours.

It can be gothic, humorous, terrifying, romantic, western, etc...As long as it fits nicely into the dark realm of things, follows our no sexual exploitation / abuse of children rule and includes our theme, you have carte blanche. You will be fighting against everyone else so make your work stand out. Prove to us that an old idea is worth revisiting when done right.

And this is the website hosting it: http://www.darkrecesses.com/contest.htm

More of Greece

2007-09-23T11:07:00.001+01:00

FG has gone off to Birmingham for a miniature gamesday, to play with all the other geeks and to have several of his books signed...and I am at home, lazing about, planning some serious writing and various other boring things like catching up on some dvd's and reading.

I am also looking at which of our pics we took on our recent holiday I should copy across to CD so we can go have them printed off to carry on our giant collage. And here are some of them.

Parthenon at night.

Temple of Poseidon - Cape Sounion

Stunning bronze statue recovered from an ancient shipwreck. It is assumed that it represents Paris, holding out the apple of strive, to the three goddesses, which of course, was the cause (or the popular legend alludes to it being the cause) of the start of the war of Troy.

Shattered war helm from the museum.

Incredibly long, winding, mountaineous road to Sparta. The scenic route. Please note the miniscule monastery built on the side of the mountain - naturally, it is much bigger in real life, this is merely and indication of the size of these mountains.

One of the many shrines we saw on our travels - these are kept up by the local community, with either a figure or picture representation of a saint which they feel closest to. And most of them are roadside shrines.

The deserted city of Mistra - outside of Sparta. Beautiful and remote and exceedingly eerie. Because of the high threat of fires in the region, they had closed down the site, so we couldn't actually go wander around there. We did however have superb cameras and got some excellent shots.

So, instead of being able to see Mistra, we went toAncient Sparta instead - this rather camp statue of the Spartan King Leonidas stands a few hundred metres from the entrance to the ancient city. According to the concierge at our hotel, not many tourists visit Sparta. But a lot of Greek fathers bring their sons out for the day to walk around the ancient city and pay respects to Leonidas - to them, he still represents the way to deport yourself in the face of adversity. We thought was incredibly cool.

Theatre in Ancient Sparta.

On Zakynthos. The blue caves. I didn't actually believe water could be this colour...but it is. Amazing, or what?

Please vote for me!

2007-09-11T21:09:00.000+01:00

A few weeks, maybe a month ago, I entered an online blog competition.

"Write a diary entry in order to win a book" etc. etc.

So I polished up an entry I had created for a young character called Summer Crowe. And I posted it onto the website in question.

This is the link to it:

Finding Adam

Please go read it and vote for it! I think all you need to do is sign in as a blogger or a visitor and vote.

Thank you!

Athens - The First Day

2007-09-07T19:01:00.000+01:00

The Olympic stadium built in the 18th Century when the Games were reinstated.

Theatre of Dionysis at the foot of the Acropolis.

Statue of diskus thrower outside the site of the Olympic stadium.

Walking through a small section of Athens on our walking tour.

Rather large burly Greek lads in hobnailed shoes with big guns. These guys are all over six foot tall and the one chap was tall enough to make FG look small. It is one of the prerequisites to be in the Guard. They guard the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Houses of parliament. We were lucky enough to see the changing of the Guard.

FG and smee infront of the impressive columns to the Temple of Zeus in Athens.

Lone man playing music outside of the temple.

Arty shot of the Parthenon.

Moon over the Acropolis.

We were amazed by a few things regarding Athens - how clean it was, compared to London, how easily navigational it was, both to walk and take the Metro. We were extremely fortunate in that the wind was blowing so we had some good clear blue skies.

The visit to the Acropolis and seeing the Parthenon was stonking - it was both what I expected and not. It was bigger than I could have imagined - possitively huge and beautiful but the scaffolding detracted from it quite a lot. Also the fact that you couldn't go near it. Unlike in Egypt where you could clamber in and around and on things. Scary locals with whistles warned you to shrilly "Do not touch" "Stand back". And boy, was it hot. The glare from the stone all around was mesmerising. I made me dizzy and I had to go sit in the shade and drink around 2 litres of water just to find myself again. It's never happened, not even in Egypt - but was we loved was the fact that the fountains you drank from on the Acropolis is pure spring water. Which made the site such a fantastic fortress.

Our guide for the first day, Geoff was a lovely, intelligent ancient history scholar and very passionate about his studies, the sites and his knowledge was vast and he held forth eloquently and we look forward to meeting him here in London when he gets here for a brief visit.

We strolled around ancient sites, had lunch in a taverna, went back to our hotel and freshened up before taking the metro again and walking all around the Acropolis again, at night. We had dinner at the foot of it and that is where we took the picture of the moon rising. Needless to say both FG and I have fallen into smitteness with Athens. I mentioned this before, I think. We went back to the hotel at around midnight and couldn't stop smiling for the sheer thrill of being in this ancient city.

Athens

2007-09-06T14:09:00.000+01:00

FG and I are whiling away the last hour of our afternoon in Athens at our hotel - pic above - before taking the train to the airport.

We've come to fall in love with Athens, the tiny side streets, the people, the markets, bazaars and flea markets. But most of all, with the tavernas and coffee shops. You get served your drink and you can sit there, the entire afternoon, shooting the breeze, sipping your drink, ordering another one as the world whirrs past.

Let me assure you - it is NOT just the tourists doing this. It is probably more the locals than tourists taking the lazy way. Oh, and did I mention the tiny bakeries that seem to be everywhere serving baklava and tiny ice cream cones and mouthwatering fruit pastries and croissants. It is another world, yet very close to home.

Our entire holiday has been an experience, but more on that one later.

We should be home tomorrow, Friday, and after picking up the pup from the kennels, we will be able to download our 600 odd photos to make some sense out of them, before posting them on here and downloading them onto disk to print off.

Yai Su!

At last

2007-08-21T22:19:00.000+01:00

..at long last, it is here. The longed for holiday.

Dear WW - never fear about taking things with to occupy me - 2 journals will be accompanying me on my travels. Along with three middle-sized novels. The music is purely to block out the ever-present noisy kids that will be on the journey. Trust me when I say a certain FG won't allow me to leave the house without several books to write in. He had to lend me his arm to make notes on before!

Huzzah! After 3 months of a complete mare at work, due to an ongoing disposal programme of a certain bank, I can walk away and not worry about this for twenty days - how cool is that? I've already found myself thinking that I need to contact the surveyor in charge to let her know blah blah blach...but then I thought....I don't have to. They leave, without worry, when they go on holiday. The responsibility of carrying this has slipped from my shoulders as I am free. So I've just surfed the net and have a look at this:

This is where we will be overnighting next week Monday evening, 5km's from Sparta.

My toys hate me...

2007-08-12T22:07:00.000+01:00

None of my toys are working. I am in a state. We are on our way on holiday almost and we will be travelling with no music, no pictures, no movies.

FG is being a superhero and trying to sort out drivers and things for the toy. I'm doing my nut. Techie geek that I am, I am at the end of my thether.

Help!

Fun with a camera

2007-07-30T10:46:00.000+01:00

All right, that sounds wrong...but, it should maybe read: fun with incense:

And the journals on the table were made for us by my friend Jo Waters - they will be accompanying us to Greece as travel journals. This is her website: www.harefishbookbindng.co.uk.

How mama almost brought home the bacon!

2007-07-29T10:28:00.000+01:00

Handful of girls outside the owners enclosure

Board showing ratings

Boys at Abba Tribute Concert

A whole group of us lovely young ladies went to Lingfield Park yesterday to a) celebrate Tracey's birthday and b) it was her hen-do. Yep, she's the one getting married in Greece in a few weeks time.

Well, having not looked at horses since the age of eight when my dad insisted I had tremendous talent for spotting a winner, we got to the Racecourse, rearing to go. Bought my own little racecard for the day and immediately set about choosing a handful of horses for the Placepot.

Off I went to the Tote window to place my bet, thinking it will come to around ten quid, but because the woman didn't correct me/help me, like an elderly gentleman did with my friends Dianne and Eileen, my total bet came to £24 and theirs came to £6. (place incremental bets of 25p and not 50p when you do placepots!).

Anyway. I stood a good chance to win...and by the gods, I almost did. All the horses I choose came in place, up to the first three places, that is, except for my horse in the fifth race, who came fourth...so bitterly close. I very nearly took home around £500 quid or so. But it was not to be. Tsk.

But, it was still a fantastic day out and the Abba tribute the concert was good fun. I would like to add here that most of the people who were at the Abba concert were men. Like the pictures testify. Also, I apologise for inflicting a random stag-do on you - apparently the boy Steve had no choice when made to don the Borat outfit.

"Groom" Steve in Borat Costume

"Groom" Steve dancing with "The Bride to Be" (any my friend) Tracey

New York Style baked vanilla cheesecake

2007-07-27T09:00:00.000+01:00

Unbaked!

I am at home today, waiting for some handymen (snarf) to fix various things around the house. So, to keep myself from going stir-crazy, I'm baking. Admittedly, it's not for us, but for our friends who are getting married in Greece in a few weeks' time. We're visiting them tomorrow and all us girls are going off to the races for a hen-do...the boys will no doubt drink some beer, be macho, go "arrrrggh" a lot, sniff each other to determine the most alpha male, and then sit down to have some cheesecake.

And this is the most foolproof and gorgeous recipe. And it can be made - if you are watching the waistline - with lowfat cheese. But hey, where's the fun in that?

175g plain digestive biscuits, finely crushed (i.e. break it up into a glass bowl and use the back of a rolling pin or a CLEAN bottom of a screwdriver / coke / beer bottle to finely crush them, not a lot of power is required, to save the glass bowl).

50g unsalted butter, melted (microwave is best - anywhere from 20 - 35 seconds)

225g golden caster sugar

3 tablespoons corn flour

seeds of 1 vanilla pod

few drops of vanilla essence

740 full fat Philadelphia cream cheese (this is where you can opt to be good - half full fat, half low fat, mebbe?)

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 x 284ml carton double cream

about 2 tablespoons of poppy seeds

You will also require a springform cake tin, or a deep pie dish of approximately 23cm in diameter and at least 6cm deep. Lightly oil it and line with parchment paper.

Preheat your oven to 200 degree celsius, 180 degree celsius for fan or 6 for gas. Combine the crushed biscuits and melted butter in a bowl and mix till it forms a sticky mass. Press evenly over the base of the lined cake tin and put it to one side whilst you mix the scrummy insides.

Dump the sugar, sifted cornflour, vanilla seeds and essence into a bowl (if you have an electric mixer, even better because you can turn it on slow/lowest setting) then gradually add the cream cheese and meld it in, be careful not to add air here, as you don't want the cake to rise - honestly! - then add the cream and the egg and beat till smooth and smelling divine.

Put your caketin on a heavy baking tray (for support and to catch any spillages over the side) and pour the mixture in, making sure it sits evenly in the tin. Pop that into the oven for around 45 mins (don't peak until you must) then crank it up for 5 minutes to brown the top of the cheesecake (or not, if it is already browned). Remove from the oven and leave it to cool in the tin before regrigerating it.

Serve it with quite a tangy and sharp fruit compote, as it will enhance the flavour of the cheese.

As my boss from work says: Hmmm! Delish!

A day in pictures

2007-07-24T21:54:00.000+01:00

Whitstable Oyster Festival - 2007

Saturday was the Oyster Festival in Whitstable and here are some pics - hopefully in order.

Moonlight Prayers

2007-07-22T17:23:00.000+01:00

Click on the title to visit the page where this is from. An incredibly talented man.

Moonlight Prayers

A boat in dock
collects more spider webs
than leaves do sunlight
on a hot July day.

Maybe, they’re attracted
to water as we are:
leaning into mother’s breast
when no other comfort will suffice.

They weave their moonlight prayers,
fragile tethers to nature’s pangs.
But, for the sweep of a black bristle broom
their fate would be a midnight feast.

There is something to be said for misty mornings

2007-07-20T10:04:00.000+01:00

What things looked like this morning. Fantastically atmospheric. And I saw one of the sparrowhawks - needless to say he eyeballed me right back as I walked underneath the tree he was perching in. Wish I had taken the zoom camera. Tsk.

Pleased to say: can now access blogger from work again! Yay!

Does a little dance.

Sacred

2007-07-16T21:47:00.000+01:00

The British Library is hosting this new exhibition called Sacred: discover what we share. Which comprises of the world's greatest Christian, Jewish and Muslim holy books.

The above picture is from one of the Dead Sea Scrolls from the site.

I can feel my insides quivering in anticipation to go and see this - I might even take a day off work to go visit the Library as I have never been.

Eyes glaze over happily. Hmmmm.

To old/new friends and new experiences

2007-07-14T23:53:00.000+01:00

We met up with an old friend which we managed to lose contact with about three years ago for various reasons. She is in a new relationship and is absolutely sparkling and the new boyfriend is a sweetie. Well done Kaz - we are proud of you!

We decided to meet up an hour before a talk we were all going to attend at the Spread Eagle pub in Croydon (a redeeming feature, I may add for this town). The talk was held by the SPI and this is the link to what the talk was all about - http://www.croydononline.org/whats_happening/tmshow.asp?wtid=63200763111 - initially I thought it was going to be pants, but looking at the varied selection of people who attended the talk, I stuffed my prejudice in my pocket and sat down to listen. And it was really quite interesting and very good. The chap who presented the talk, Malcolm Robinson did a good job in introducing what they did - i.e. investigate ghost sightings and paranormal investigations, alongside UFO sightings. I wasn't particularly interested in the UFO stuff, but listening to the first half of his chat about the paranormal and ghosts, naturally worked up my imagination and so out came the notebook and several ideas were jotted down surrounding a young paranormal investigator who gets into a world of trouble.

I shared my obsessive note=making with Kaz and new bf, Nick (whilst the Gecko nodded sagely, knowing that he would be able to crip ideas off me for writing and gaming sessions too) and we were all saying how the muse seems to strike at the strangest times. I was gratified to learn that Nick did the same thing with movies and books that he read - as does Mark. It's sort of: money begets money...only in this instance: imagination begets muse fodder which begets snippets of interesting writing and ideas.

Hmmmm. And knowing my mind, I HAVE TO write these down because they will flit away to someone else if I don't scribble it down. I've decided to make a notebook full of ideas = paste scraps of paper in there with my thoughts and ideas - the heavens know I've got enough random journals lying about with storylines half-worked on in them, rearing to be told at some stage.

So, the next talk being held at the Spread Eagle in Croydon is the 4th of August but I don't think we'll be there - think its the chili festival then? But yes, interesting stuff, glad I went, even if you take it all with a pinch of salt, especially the UFO stuff. Ghosts and poltergeists I am happy to give you the benefit of the doubt, having seen and experienced some pretty weird stuff myself, but UFO's and abductions....not quite sure.

Potter Mania

2007-07-05T22:27:00.000+01:00

These guys deserve a medal.

Voldemort rules.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1XIm6q4r4&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Epotterpuppetpals%2Ecom%2F

Goes off singing: Snape, Snape,Severus Snape, Ron, Ron, Ron Weasley, Dumbledore! Dumbledore!

Gangland = Beckenham

2007-06-27T22:08:00.000+01:00

Monday morning it was all over the news - a teenager got himself killed here in Beckenham, thankfully the other far side of Beckenham. I feel badly for his mother, his family - you can't not feel bad for them.

The article from the Beeb here sets out the story. Naturally, the victim, eventhough he was in a gang and they actively took part in gang-related violence in the area, has suddenly become a saint. He was a lovely loving boy. He wouldn't do anyone harm. Blah blah blah.

My god - they act like hooligans - we've seen enough of the way they act, the way they break car windows, the way they taunt the elderly people in the area and frighten them so much that they don't want to leave their homes. They honest to god think they own the world, they fear no one, not the cops, not their parents. They live by their own "standards" and see being in a gang as cool - mainly because it's been glorified by shows like Prison Break, music video's - these kids have NO IDEA what they are doing. Because society prefers to look the other way, with the nanny culture in this country, no one is prepared to take a stance. Thanks to these so called pissy gangs, people are moving out of the area, because the police can't do anything - the kids aren't scared of them because what's the worst that's going to happen? Community sentence? A few months in juvie? Nothing to be scared of. In fact, it just gives them more street cred. Woot.

Back to the sweet talking of the innocent lovely dead boy. Why doesn't anyone ever stand up and say "You know, this guy was a shit. He behaved abysmally and he was never really liked. He fell in with the wrong crowd, got into trouble and was a genuine nuisance to society?" Is it because newspapers sell sympathy more than the truth?

Anyway - now there is going to be retribution. Yay. More bloodshed on our streets. I can't wait.

Apocalypto

2007-06-27T21:45:00.001+01:00

We madly splurged on the new release of Apocalypto on DVD. The extras suck, big time, but the main movie is completely awe inspiring. The scenery, the costumes, make up, the - dare I say this of a Mel Gibson movie - passion of it, is just complete muse-fodder.

Not for the faint hearted, Jamie! Pretty gruesome and tense, but worth it.

Weight in gold

2007-06-27T21:26:00.000+01:00

The above is a 1 kg bar of gold. I have lost over 12 of them. In excess of 26 lbs = in excess of 2 stone.

Beam.

Countdown to Greece = 7 weeks. Hopefully that is one more stone down or a further 6kg's. It will be hard work, but it is possible.

Mature Student

2007-06-15T22:00:00.000+01:00

Today I received fab news.

Preen.

I have been accepted to the College of Estate Management to do my Diploma in Surveying Practice. I also discovered that I could do my ATC through the RICS at the same time...which means that I can be a Technically Qualified Member of the RICS in two years time. How cool is that?

Preens some more.

Naturally this means no life for two years starting from September. But it does go a long way to fullfilling FG's dream of becoming a househusband. He is a much better housekeeper than me. And the coolest part about all of the above - the company is paying for it. Which is amazing and fabulous and stonking - I even did a little dance at the office this morning. Fortunately no one was around to see the madness.

Preeeeeeeeeeen.

Awful movie

2007-06-12T22:18:00.000+01:00

OMG, cycling through the channels I came across a movie which I have not seen in a million years.

Kickboxer starring Jean Claude - Damme I'm Good - Van Damme.

The awful cheesiness, especially the "dance scene" where he has to prove to his sensei he has "grace and style" is just so cringeworthy, I wanted to loll about on the floor crying out in pay. Also, badly dubbed on the oriental's conversation. Twenty seconds of speaking but only five seconds of lip movement. Now, I am all for OTT martial arts movies, but this is just something beyond the call of duty, even for a martial arts movie nut like me. I even prefer Jackie Chan to this! Even his old stuff!

Speaking of the 80's and 90's and heroes from the silver screen: I am so glad we've grown with our heroes, like John McClane. To be older and grubbier and broken. And to be so bad ass you take down a helicopter with a car.

All I can say is: Yippy Kai Ay!

Watch this space for a review!

Countdown to Greece

2007-06-10T18:31:00.000+01:00

We visited our friends Tracey and Taff on Saturday. They are the couple who are getting married in Greece within the next few months. The party was really to celebrate their daughter's 4th birthday...but then they invited a lot of their mates who are going to the wedding too, so that everyone could at least meet up and know who we all are. Which was a very good plan.

What a bunch of complete and utter nice people. No qualms in saying that - we fit straight in, as the laughter lines which I discovered this morning in the mirror can testify to. It is always my biggest fear when there are those dead lulls in conversation when groups of people come together who don't know one another. This wasn't like that at all. And there was no need to feel uncomfortable at any stage during the visit. We stayed till after half ten, I think, when we eventually made our way home (only half an hour's drive, which is even better) and we were exhausted by laughing, eating and generally having such a good time. I am really please she invited us - we discovered that the one couple going to the wedding have a fear of: sand, water, bugs, the sea, open places, any drink that is not alcoholic, seen in public with no make-up...(for the wife, that is) so naturally the piss was taken royally out of them. It's a Greek ISLAND, for heaven's sake.

All in all, a fantastic time. Today we went to gym, took Sparrow for a looooooooong walk in the park, crashed on the couch. I slept and FG went online and tried to convince a friend of his in Scotland to send her daughter to military school as it's hormones have gone into overdrive. Waste of time. It's probably in the family way already. Can a fourteen year old go on benefits and get money to get its own home and money for the baby? Who needs a responsible life, eh?

Dinner is chilli con carne cooked for two and half hours. Yum!