...Here. Come join me :)
Thursday 21 May 2009
Tuesday 14 April 2009
Always One for Self Discovery...
I was prompted to partake in this personality test...and here is my outcome. Not sure I agree with it in it's entirety...but that's the Leo in me...always sceptical.
Apparently I'm an INTJ :
11% Introverted
12% Intuitive
1% Thinking
44% Judging
Didn't realise I was so judgemental! However here is the write up...Mastermind eh?
All Rationals are good at planning operations, but Masterminds are head and shoulders above all the rest in contingency planning. Complex operations involve many steps or stages, one following another in a necessary progression, and Masterminds are naturally able to grasp how each one leads to the next, and to prepare alternatives for difficulties that are likely to arise any step of the way. Trying to anticipate every contingency, Masterminds never set off on their current project without a Plan A firmly in mind, but they are always prepared to switch to Plan B or C or D if need be.
Masterminds are rare, comprising no more than, say, one percent of the population, and they are rarely encountered outside their office, factory, school, or laboratory. Although they are highly capable leaders, Masterminds are not at all eager to take command, preferring to stay in the background until others demonstrate their inability to lead. Once they take charge, however, they are thoroughgoing pragmatists. Masterminds are certain that efficiency is indispensable in a well-run organization, and if they encounter inefficiency-any waste of human and material resources-they are quick to realign operations and reassign personnel. Masterminds do not feel bound by established rules and procedures, and traditional authority does not impress them, nor do slogans or catchwords. Only ideas that make sense to them are adopted; those that don't, aren't, no matter who thought of them. Remember, their aim is always maximum efficiency.
In their careers, Masterminds usually rise to positions of responsibility, for they work long and hard and are dedicated in their pursuit of goals, sparing neither their own time and effort nor that of their colleagues and employees. Problem-solving is highly stimulating to Masterminds, who love responding to tangled systems that require careful sorting out. Ordinarily, they verbalize the positive and avoid comments of a negative nature; they are more interested in moving an organization forward than dwelling on mistakes of the past.
Masterminds tend to be much more definite and self-confident than other Rationals, having usually developed a very strong will. Decisions come easily to them; in fact, they can hardly rest until they have things settled and decided. But before they decide anything, they must do the research. Masterminds are highly theoretical, but they insist on looking at all available data before they embrace an idea, and they are suspicious of any statement that is based on shoddy research, or that is not checked against reality.
I must say the last paragraph is freakishly true...go on...have a go, it will give you a big head for at least half an hour. What is even more frightening...is that the chosen Career for this type of brain is in Computer Programming! Scary stuff!
Apparently I'm an INTJ :
11% Introverted
12% Intuitive
1% Thinking
44% Judging
Didn't realise I was so judgemental! However here is the write up...Mastermind eh?
All Rationals are good at planning operations, but Masterminds are head and shoulders above all the rest in contingency planning. Complex operations involve many steps or stages, one following another in a necessary progression, and Masterminds are naturally able to grasp how each one leads to the next, and to prepare alternatives for difficulties that are likely to arise any step of the way. Trying to anticipate every contingency, Masterminds never set off on their current project without a Plan A firmly in mind, but they are always prepared to switch to Plan B or C or D if need be.
Masterminds are rare, comprising no more than, say, one percent of the population, and they are rarely encountered outside their office, factory, school, or laboratory. Although they are highly capable leaders, Masterminds are not at all eager to take command, preferring to stay in the background until others demonstrate their inability to lead. Once they take charge, however, they are thoroughgoing pragmatists. Masterminds are certain that efficiency is indispensable in a well-run organization, and if they encounter inefficiency-any waste of human and material resources-they are quick to realign operations and reassign personnel. Masterminds do not feel bound by established rules and procedures, and traditional authority does not impress them, nor do slogans or catchwords. Only ideas that make sense to them are adopted; those that don't, aren't, no matter who thought of them. Remember, their aim is always maximum efficiency.
In their careers, Masterminds usually rise to positions of responsibility, for they work long and hard and are dedicated in their pursuit of goals, sparing neither their own time and effort nor that of their colleagues and employees. Problem-solving is highly stimulating to Masterminds, who love responding to tangled systems that require careful sorting out. Ordinarily, they verbalize the positive and avoid comments of a negative nature; they are more interested in moving an organization forward than dwelling on mistakes of the past.
Masterminds tend to be much more definite and self-confident than other Rationals, having usually developed a very strong will. Decisions come easily to them; in fact, they can hardly rest until they have things settled and decided. But before they decide anything, they must do the research. Masterminds are highly theoretical, but they insist on looking at all available data before they embrace an idea, and they are suspicious of any statement that is based on shoddy research, or that is not checked against reality.
I must say the last paragraph is freakishly true...go on...have a go, it will give you a big head for at least half an hour. What is even more frightening...is that the chosen Career for this type of brain is in Computer Programming! Scary stuff!
Sunday 12 April 2009
I Saw Sparks
After witnessing a rather terrible car crash in the early hours of Saturday morning...something inside me was crushed. I cried, there and on the way home... and it made me think of someone. This song is for them.
Tuesday 7 April 2009
Vicious Circles...
I was thinking the other day about re-naming my blog...Money Matters...or Sophie the Spendthrift or some such a name...because I appear to have become entirely obsessed with the green stuff...or purple, or orange, or in my case, mostly copper (let's not even mention the red). It's funny because I realised that being an obsessive compulsive, on just about everything, I have my waves of obsessing over different things. I pick up one 'must have' and then drop it again for another. I believe this derived from being spoilt as a child. It is a shameful habit of mine, and almost impossible to shake off. Anyway, the first and foremost obsession is of course the never-ending, sickeningly annoying and also a tad frightening issue of Marriage. WOW. Marriage...that's like what parents do and stuff, you know...be married and all...and here I am, almost 25 grand years of age thinking about Marriage?!!! I tell you what, I wouldn't be if it wasn't for the 13th friend on facebook to have recently changed their relationship status to 'Engaged'. Jealous? Moi? Of course I bloody am. In the 10 years since puberty struck it's evil gong, I have only been single for 2 weeks (no messing around and crying there then) yet I am becoming increasingly petrified about being left on the shelf. Yes, it's fine to have a boyfriend, it's all good to say you've been together for two years and yes we have rabbits and a house and blah blah blah....but getting the guy to actually put a ring on your finger (knowing full well you'll want to choose it given how fussy you are) and swear that he wants to be with you for the rest of your lives?? That is no easy feat!!! Yet, people are doing it all the time! All over the place, women are managing to secure themselves lovely, perfect husbands in boxes. Well, this jack-out-of a box, isn't too happy about it.
Moving on after feeling left out, I focused my mind on other objectives that make me happy...buying things. After New York (I decided not to blog about NY as my sister did a far grander job on this matter than I could ever have managed) I have hardly spent a penny on myself. Instead I have been saving like there's no tomorrow...and what for? a car. A brand, spanking new, bloody 09 number-plated car. Recession Sophie? Credit Crunch? Nope, that's cool, I will happily carry on living in my mad dream world of 'Oh it's ok, I can afford it...I'll just use my savings'. Well, reality has bitten me, right on the lambda probe (some part of my car that has been replaced recently - speaking of which, my car has had so many parts laden on it lately, it wouldn't surprise me if it had turned into a Fiat 500).
Car = no holiday with girly friends. No holiday with girly friends = no holiday this Summer. No holiday this Summer = no tan. No tan = pale skin, hollow eyes, pasty complexion. This lot = no husband anytime soon.
Um, suggestions?
Best singstar songs discovered after Chardonnay (which I never drink...must have been desperate or M&S had an offer on):
Fix you, Coldplay and Run, Leona Lewis
Daftest thing I did this week:
Drink a bottle of Chardonnay on a Monday night. Ouch.
Thing I am loving more than ever right now:
The Weather!
Moving on after feeling left out, I focused my mind on other objectives that make me happy...buying things. After New York (I decided not to blog about NY as my sister did a far grander job on this matter than I could ever have managed) I have hardly spent a penny on myself. Instead I have been saving like there's no tomorrow...and what for? a car. A brand, spanking new, bloody 09 number-plated car. Recession Sophie? Credit Crunch? Nope, that's cool, I will happily carry on living in my mad dream world of 'Oh it's ok, I can afford it...I'll just use my savings'. Well, reality has bitten me, right on the lambda probe (some part of my car that has been replaced recently - speaking of which, my car has had so many parts laden on it lately, it wouldn't surprise me if it had turned into a Fiat 500).
Car = no holiday with girly friends. No holiday with girly friends = no holiday this Summer. No holiday this Summer = no tan. No tan = pale skin, hollow eyes, pasty complexion. This lot = no husband anytime soon.
Um, suggestions?
Best singstar songs discovered after Chardonnay (which I never drink...must have been desperate or M&S had an offer on):
Fix you, Coldplay and Run, Leona Lewis
Daftest thing I did this week:
Drink a bottle of Chardonnay on a Monday night. Ouch.
Thing I am loving more than ever right now:
The Weather!
Wednesday 25 March 2009
Did someone mention New York?
Well, they have now!
'Tomorrow, tomorrow! I love 'ya tomorrow, it's only a day away.....'
Yes that is correct, myself and my equally as mad, spendthrift of a sister, are going to The Big Apple (although I would prefer to refer to it as The Big Grapefruit-seeing as I can't eat apples). We are donning our coats once again, (only been back in the cupboard five minutes) packing our shoes, clutching onto our Mulberries, and cashing in our savings all for the love of cupcakes and cosmopolitans.
This will be my first visit to NY, and hopefully not my last, as we are only going for 4 days and I can't quite imagine how we're going to fit it all in, especially since getting up at two in the afternoon in Hong Kong was somewhat frequented. Anyway, we shall do our best, or rather I will do my best: to get her to go in the shower first seeing as applying Johnson's Holiday Skin puts her behind me in the race with routine necessities. I am of course taking my beautiful D90 with me, and thankfully not the 50mm f/1.4 lens I have finally been outbid on through Ebay, seeing as that would have reduced my spending money by approximately 98%. You will of course all look forward to the photos on return. For those of you who want the lot, here is where to find them.
Onto more pressing matters, I would like to use this opportunity (whilst I have such a captive audience) to plug my latest venture. Yes, another one. This one involves building websites for people with little to no computer skills, who need a website for their wonderful business. I am nearing completion on Reharmonise, a fantastic health and well-being site, promoting acupuncture and herbal medicines. Look no further than this lady, she is fantastic and I have the holes in my back to prove it.
Songs recurring on my skipping cd player:
Soundtrack to Black Snake Moan - amazing album/film
Food I have mostly been eating:
Caramel bars, those new adverts saying 'I've still got it' are some of the first to actually work on me
Clothes I am in desperate need of:
Jeans, despite having 17 pairs, I just don't like any of them anymore.
'Tomorrow, tomorrow! I love 'ya tomorrow, it's only a day away.....'
Yes that is correct, myself and my equally as mad, spendthrift of a sister, are going to The Big Apple (although I would prefer to refer to it as The Big Grapefruit-seeing as I can't eat apples). We are donning our coats once again, (only been back in the cupboard five minutes) packing our shoes, clutching onto our Mulberries, and cashing in our savings all for the love of cupcakes and cosmopolitans.
This will be my first visit to NY, and hopefully not my last, as we are only going for 4 days and I can't quite imagine how we're going to fit it all in, especially since getting up at two in the afternoon in Hong Kong was somewhat frequented. Anyway, we shall do our best, or rather I will do my best: to get her to go in the shower first seeing as applying Johnson's Holiday Skin puts her behind me in the race with routine necessities. I am of course taking my beautiful D90 with me, and thankfully not the 50mm f/1.4 lens I have finally been outbid on through Ebay, seeing as that would have reduced my spending money by approximately 98%. You will of course all look forward to the photos on return. For those of you who want the lot, here is where to find them.
Onto more pressing matters, I would like to use this opportunity (whilst I have such a captive audience) to plug my latest venture. Yes, another one. This one involves building websites for people with little to no computer skills, who need a website for their wonderful business. I am nearing completion on Reharmonise, a fantastic health and well-being site, promoting acupuncture and herbal medicines. Look no further than this lady, she is fantastic and I have the holes in my back to prove it.
Songs recurring on my skipping cd player:
Soundtrack to Black Snake Moan - amazing album/film
Food I have mostly been eating:
Caramel bars, those new adverts saying 'I've still got it' are some of the first to actually work on me
Clothes I am in desperate need of:
Jeans, despite having 17 pairs, I just don't like any of them anymore.
Sunday 22 March 2009
'The House that Dad Built...'
As it has been an almost 2 year struggle for my parents to realise their dream of building their own house, I felt it was time to pay homage to their hard work and relentless efforts, by showing the house so far...
The basement corridor
Outside with door to basement
Rear view from foot of garden
Standing in the dining room looking at the lounge
Just some nice Oak
Lovely bit of rusty metal :)
My mini! And the garage
The swimming pool
View from Master Bedroom
View of top floor (so far)
The basement corridor
Outside with door to basement
Rear view from foot of garden
Standing in the dining room looking at the loungeJust some nice Oak
Lovely bit of rusty metal :)
My mini! And the garage
The swimming pool
View from Master Bedroom
View of top floor (so far)Monday 16 March 2009
Spring has Sprung!
Updates for you:
So, to mark what I am calling the first official Day of Spring, I thought I would upload the very first photo taken with my D90! It's not perfect by any means, nor shot in RAW so the quality isn't as it should be...but as quoted from Toy Story 2.... 'You can't rush art'.
Monday 9 March 2009
Friday 6 March 2009
My 50th and most controversial post
I was driving, well, crawling, home last night, and a song came on the radio that affected me so much I told myself I would blog about it today. I know most of you (well near enough all of you) won't know what this post is about, so I will keep it incredibly short, and not so sweet.
This is for you D.P. A man who will probably never get what you really deserve.
This is for you D.P. A man who will probably never get what you really deserve.
Tuesday 3 March 2009
Ma-honey
Welcome back my friends, acquaintances, randomers, stalkers and YOU, the person who I have recently put a name to as one of my regular blog viewers...for those of you who don't know I have Stats, (you should do as I have a stat counter link on my blog) be prepared to know that I KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!! ooooh...spooky. hehe.
Anyway, 'nuff about all that bollocks (sorry rubbish..trying to swear/curse less)...onto the real stuff. For those of you who are familiar with the endearing nodding dog from the Churchill adverts, you'll know that my title refers to ££££ or rather -£ in my case. I know you all think I am obsessed with money, well why not? There are worse traits to behold, and I happen to think not only does money make the world go round, it makes going round the world easier too. I have been working very hard at work lately...and have managed to submerge myself in the wonderful world of programming, not just testing, actual programming, go me! C# no longer only refers to an uncomfortable note to play on the flute, it is the new gateway to my um...success? No, maybe not, but definitely to something good. I am determined to crack this and make something come of it, and I'm giving myself about 5 years until I can actually build something worthwhile. My reasoning? Because after the recent launch of my site, I had some remarkably kind responses and positive reactions, which I was pretty chuffed with...and I managed to secure two commissioned website requests from it which despite using a website builder, was quite flattering. This has strengthened my interest into all things IT, (what a geek) and made me more curious as to how things work...I know C# won't get me a website, but once I've mastered that, Java, HTML and Ruby on Rails will be high on my agenda to get things moving in that direction. (For those of you who know vaguely what I'm on about, I don't need any patronising comments here, I know I'm a beginner alright!?!)
Right, so back to the money, yes I need some, quite a bit actually, so if anyone is feeling generous, donations are welcome. The reason being that I discovered (not that I didn't sort of already know) I am in desperate need for a DSLR. If I want to enlarge my images to a more 'arty' level, I need something that can cope with bigger dimensions, and as much as I treasure my little Nikon, it just ain't up to it. So, camera talk...I have settled on two, a Nikon D80 (ruddy expensive but I love Nikons and quality is superb) or a Canon 400D (recommended by someone who knows what they're doing). The camera part I can just about cope with, its the lenses that are causing me to cry like a cook chopping an onion for the 100th time. £350 for a flipping wide angle lens?!!! Then there's the zoom, macro...battery pack grip, flash gun potentially? Boohoo, how do people do it!? I guess they don't visit two major cites within a month of eachother and buy new tv's and cars all at the same time...hmm. Why can't I have it all?!
Things I am looking forward to:
Sipping my first Cosmopolitan with her in New York in less than 4 weeks!
Most enjoyable song to listen to when feeling down:
Bluebell Polka, Jimmy Shand
Object(s) of my desire:
Alfa Romeo Mito, one of the aforementioned cameras, and a trip to Umbria to visit my favourite teacher :)
Anyway, 'nuff about all that bollocks (sorry rubbish..trying to swear/curse less)...onto the real stuff. For those of you who are familiar with the endearing nodding dog from the Churchill adverts, you'll know that my title refers to ££££ or rather -£ in my case. I know you all think I am obsessed with money, well why not? There are worse traits to behold, and I happen to think not only does money make the world go round, it makes going round the world easier too. I have been working very hard at work lately...and have managed to submerge myself in the wonderful world of programming, not just testing, actual programming, go me! C# no longer only refers to an uncomfortable note to play on the flute, it is the new gateway to my um...success? No, maybe not, but definitely to something good. I am determined to crack this and make something come of it, and I'm giving myself about 5 years until I can actually build something worthwhile. My reasoning? Because after the recent launch of my site, I had some remarkably kind responses and positive reactions, which I was pretty chuffed with...and I managed to secure two commissioned website requests from it which despite using a website builder, was quite flattering. This has strengthened my interest into all things IT, (what a geek) and made me more curious as to how things work...I know C# won't get me a website, but once I've mastered that, Java, HTML and Ruby on Rails will be high on my agenda to get things moving in that direction. (For those of you who know vaguely what I'm on about, I don't need any patronising comments here, I know I'm a beginner alright!?!)
Right, so back to the money, yes I need some, quite a bit actually, so if anyone is feeling generous, donations are welcome. The reason being that I discovered (not that I didn't sort of already know) I am in desperate need for a DSLR. If I want to enlarge my images to a more 'arty' level, I need something that can cope with bigger dimensions, and as much as I treasure my little Nikon, it just ain't up to it. So, camera talk...I have settled on two, a Nikon D80 (ruddy expensive but I love Nikons and quality is superb) or a Canon 400D (recommended by someone who knows what they're doing). The camera part I can just about cope with, its the lenses that are causing me to cry like a cook chopping an onion for the 100th time. £350 for a flipping wide angle lens?!!! Then there's the zoom, macro...battery pack grip, flash gun potentially? Boohoo, how do people do it!? I guess they don't visit two major cites within a month of eachother and buy new tv's and cars all at the same time...hmm. Why can't I have it all?!
Things I am looking forward to:
Sipping my first Cosmopolitan with her in New York in less than 4 weeks!
Most enjoyable song to listen to when feeling down:
Bluebell Polka, Jimmy Shand
Object(s) of my desire:
Alfa Romeo Mito, one of the aforementioned cameras, and a trip to Umbria to visit my favourite teacher :)
Monday 16 February 2009
My Humble Apologies
Please accept the above...for my lack of posts and lack of sticking to my new years resolutions.
What inspires me to blog? Hmm, that is actually a very difficult question to answer. I would say that when I get the odd 'nudge' from people saying, 'Oi, keep it up you lazy so 'n so' that inclines me to log in and get typing, but that would be telling a porky. And no, it is not the guilt I feel when I see other people writing and updating theirs twice a week (twice a week? don't you have a life!?) either. It is in actual fact, when I find something positive to write about. Oh no, I can hear you cry, she's off on another one of her miserable, self-deprecating, depressing bouts of garbage again, about how sad she's been and how there's no meaning to her life...blah blah blah, but I promise you right here and now, that I'm not suggesting this at all. I am merely trying to spare you the jumbled blur of speech that comes pouring out of my mouth/fingertips that generally ends up in a post about absolutely nothing. So there you have it, I am simply seeking for something interesting and stimulating to write about. Here end'th the 1st lesson.
Here begins the 2nd. Unfortunately I won't let you off that lightly, as some rather grating events have occured that, like a disease, have beguiled me of my strength of late. And oh yes, you've guessed it, it was about money. I will try not to bore you with all the details, for those who know me, you've probably heard all accounts and on more than one occasion anyway, but I will say this, don't think just because Rabbits are smaller and not exactly like dogs or cats (although I am finding this more and more debatable given the way mine act) that they don't cost much at the vet, and aren't worth insuring. Having to pick up a bill for a 2 night and 2 day hospital stay was not on the agenda last week, especially as my car's brake discs weren't budgeted to be replaced the same day either. Bang goes all my savings for Paris.
Hurrah, I managed to turn a negative-sounding post into something good at the end! Cue, Paris talk. So, after six months, (six MONTHS!) of being at home in rainy/cold/icy/depressing (oops sorry) Britain, I am at last off overseas again. OK, so it's only one, mini sea, La Manche, but still, it involves using the passport and yet doesn't involve flying...Woohoo! Bonus. *recollects fear of flying and starts to sweat*. So, the lack of money does bother me a tad, but, if it means less shopping for clothes that look good in Paris yet slightly too radical in London, then I suppose my rabbit did me a favour. I am beginning the Parisian Itinerary today and I shall let you know my progress and, of course, the photos will come in their hundreds upon my return.
I suppose I could use this link to promote my 'work in progress' website. Highly original, I know, but as the last Duckworth in the family, why not celebrate it? After all, I am not sure of my intentions of this website, so naming it in any other sense is quite a challenge, but it is cool to finally have one. Please feel free to poke fun, laugh at, suggest any improvements (but don't blame me if I bite your head off as criticism is not something I am very good at accepting), and of course, buy as many prints as your heart desires. Hey, I can dream can't I?
Au revoir for now, I shall be back with berets on upon my return.
What inspires me to blog? Hmm, that is actually a very difficult question to answer. I would say that when I get the odd 'nudge' from people saying, 'Oi, keep it up you lazy so 'n so' that inclines me to log in and get typing, but that would be telling a porky. And no, it is not the guilt I feel when I see other people writing and updating theirs twice a week (twice a week? don't you have a life!?) either. It is in actual fact, when I find something positive to write about. Oh no, I can hear you cry, she's off on another one of her miserable, self-deprecating, depressing bouts of garbage again, about how sad she's been and how there's no meaning to her life...blah blah blah, but I promise you right here and now, that I'm not suggesting this at all. I am merely trying to spare you the jumbled blur of speech that comes pouring out of my mouth/fingertips that generally ends up in a post about absolutely nothing. So there you have it, I am simply seeking for something interesting and stimulating to write about. Here end'th the 1st lesson.
Here begins the 2nd. Unfortunately I won't let you off that lightly, as some rather grating events have occured that, like a disease, have beguiled me of my strength of late. And oh yes, you've guessed it, it was about money. I will try not to bore you with all the details, for those who know me, you've probably heard all accounts and on more than one occasion anyway, but I will say this, don't think just because Rabbits are smaller and not exactly like dogs or cats (although I am finding this more and more debatable given the way mine act) that they don't cost much at the vet, and aren't worth insuring. Having to pick up a bill for a 2 night and 2 day hospital stay was not on the agenda last week, especially as my car's brake discs weren't budgeted to be replaced the same day either. Bang goes all my savings for Paris.
Hurrah, I managed to turn a negative-sounding post into something good at the end! Cue, Paris talk. So, after six months, (six MONTHS!) of being at home in rainy/cold/icy/depressing (oops sorry) Britain, I am at last off overseas again. OK, so it's only one, mini sea, La Manche, but still, it involves using the passport and yet doesn't involve flying...Woohoo! Bonus. *recollects fear of flying and starts to sweat*. So, the lack of money does bother me a tad, but, if it means less shopping for clothes that look good in Paris yet slightly too radical in London, then I suppose my rabbit did me a favour. I am beginning the Parisian Itinerary today and I shall let you know my progress and, of course, the photos will come in their hundreds upon my return.
I suppose I could use this link to promote my 'work in progress' website. Highly original, I know, but as the last Duckworth in the family, why not celebrate it? After all, I am not sure of my intentions of this website, so naming it in any other sense is quite a challenge, but it is cool to finally have one. Please feel free to poke fun, laugh at, suggest any improvements (but don't blame me if I bite your head off as criticism is not something I am very good at accepting), and of course, buy as many prints as your heart desires. Hey, I can dream can't I?
Au revoir for now, I shall be back with berets on upon my return.
Tuesday 27 January 2009
25 things about me...
You know the rules:
1) I should be working right now
2) I am scared of the sea and larger than average objects/mammals
3) I love wine
4) I hate shots
5) Staying in at home is my preferred pastime
6) I hate travelling by train
7) Travelling for 3-4 months of the year is something I wish I could do
8) I have a tattoo
9) I am a tomboy at heart
10) I want to earn 50k by the time I'm 30
11) I want to have twins, non-identical, girl and boy
12) I am petrified of death and all things associated with losing someone
13) I wish I was better at photography
14) I think I can draw quite well
15) I should have done better in my GCSEs and A Levels
16) Botany is one of my passions
17) I like arguing/debating
18) I look young but feel old
19) I have developed a recent love for shoes and expensive handbags
20) I burn everytime I sunbathe
21) I eat a lot
22) I have poor circulation
23) Creme Eggs are my favourite snack
24) I love the smell of coffee but cannot bear the taste
25) I am very good at saving, and spending money
1) I should be working right now
2) I am scared of the sea and larger than average objects/mammals
3) I love wine
4) I hate shots
5) Staying in at home is my preferred pastime
6) I hate travelling by train
7) Travelling for 3-4 months of the year is something I wish I could do
8) I have a tattoo
9) I am a tomboy at heart
10) I want to earn 50k by the time I'm 30
11) I want to have twins, non-identical, girl and boy
12) I am petrified of death and all things associated with losing someone
13) I wish I was better at photography
14) I think I can draw quite well
15) I should have done better in my GCSEs and A Levels
16) Botany is one of my passions
17) I like arguing/debating
18) I look young but feel old
19) I have developed a recent love for shoes and expensive handbags
20) I burn everytime I sunbathe
21) I eat a lot
22) I have poor circulation
23) Creme Eggs are my favourite snack
24) I love the smell of coffee but cannot bear the taste
25) I am very good at saving, and spending money
Thursday 8 January 2009
Monday 5 January 2009
So long Viruses...Hello Holidays
So, where to begin with SUCH a huge gap in between posts? Yep, you've guessed it, my new year's resolution (well one of them) is to keep up blogging. I have let many opportunities pass whereby I could have brightened up your days with my monotonous accounts of daily life, making yours seem all the better...but alas, the main reason for this absence? Idleness. I just couldn't be bothered. So there, I've admitted it, I simply had better things to do. Well, it was Christmas after all, and if you're anything like me (God forbid there's more than one of me, for your sake) you'll have spent the last 6 weeks shopping, spending, packing, wrapping, decorating, erecting (trees and the like, that is), writing, stamping, posting and cooking. So, where do you think the usual things that take up my time went? Like, cleaning, cooking, preparing dishes that don't involve smoked salmon, washing, ironing, socialising, blogging, cleaning, and...oh you see, there it was, blogging. Well, needless to say, it got mixed up with all the other crap that is now sitting in a huge pile in need of attendance. So, I'm working my way through....forgive me.
With reference to the title, the virus part is one to reflect upon. Hmmm, 'virus', not a very nice word in itself, therefore truly befitting given the nature of how it affected my December. 1st off, 3rd of December, in true 'Winter has struck' style, I sneezed and it wasn't hay fever related. So there it was, my first cold since April. Not bad, and hardly something to complain about, most would say, but I do suffer from hay fever for 5 out of 12 months of the year, so a break is necessary just to allow my poor nose to recover. It didn't last long though, this cold, so I was relatively happy, I still took a Benelyn-Day though, that advert is certainly catching. Everything was relatively on track, my presents were mostly bought and wrapped, my tree which was too tall for the room at a giant 7ft was trimmed down to size thanks to my trusty metal hacksaw, and I'd just been given a pay rise at work. Then...came the bag of mixed nuts.
I had known for the past 10 years that most fruits were a no-go. I can eat satsumas, grapes, grapefruits and kiwis (just about) but give me an apple or a peach and you're looking at the next Leslie Ash. The fun starts off with a slight itch inside my mouth, then balloons into giant swollen lumps of flesh, eating away until I can't take anymore and need to eat some chocolate to calm it down (what a shame). Well, nuts have always been fine. I've happily munched on peanuts, pistachios, walnuts etc for most of my life, so when I spied a bag of mixed nuts in Tesco one lunchtime I thought, why not, for a pre-Christmas diet it's fairly healthy. I think you can tell where this story is going...so lets just say that I won't be eating Brazil Nuts 'neat' again as I would quite like my throat to remain its normal size. Cue, cold and sore throat number 2. This one was a bugger to shake off though, 3 weeks!!! I was not a happy Christmas Elf.
And as for the plural usage of the word, my beloved PC was eaten alive by an AntiVirus 2009 download which turns out to give you viruses instead of removing them. Not terrific, I must say, so read all about it here, and for goodness sake, back up your hard drive more often than I did.
Onto more pleasant things, I am hoping to leave the rottenness of December behind with the rest of last year, as to be frank, as years go, it wasn't the best I've had. All the more to look forward to for this year I suppose! I have become, in a word, obsessed with going on holiday. I am off to Paris in February, which is very exciting, despite going about 10 times as a child, I haven't been as an 'adult' yet, nor with a boyfriend. So let this Valentines' be a romantic one. I shall also be re-living a portion of my youth in June, as the 5 near-original Ibiza girls are off on holiday once again, to Greece hopefully, Corfu or Halkidiki. And the end of my travels for 2009? Well, so far, my man and I have narrowed it down (I use the term loosely) to either the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Jamaica, Mexico or Cuba. Knowing us, we'll probably end up in bloody Spain again, but this is hopefully to be avoided at all costs.
I shall leave you now, (as you've most likely switched off, nodded off or moved on anyway) with some pictures taken on a delightful yet excruciatingly cold walk along the Thames. Enjoy :)
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