Well, it's about 1/2 hour to go til Christmas and so I'm posting this now, rather than tomorrow, as I doubt even I would be sad enough to post on Christmas day. Mum has chased me upstairs so she can wrap up my presents, thus ruining the idea that Santa is bringing the gifts. Then again, I am 21...
Anyhow, merry Christmas to you all, may your tipple glass of choice never be empty. Have a good time!
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
The girl I mentioned in a previous post passed away today. We were told she went peacefully, and she was in no pain. My thoughts are with her, her family and her friends. Rest in peace.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Gooey chocolate irish cream goodness
Ooh I honestly don't know why I've never baked Baileys Irish Cream brownies before, they're delicious and so addictive. I have the strangest feeling that I'm going to be waddling through Xmas if I eat any more of these gorgeous treats.
For anyone who wants to recreate the pleasure of eating these in their own home, I shall post the recipe. Be warned these are fudgy gooey type brownies, if you want more cake-like brownies either add more flour or only put in 4 eggs rather than 5.
Baileys Irish Cream Brownies
6 tbsp Baileys
5 large eggs
8 tbsp granulated sugar
250 g butter
150 g dark chocolate
60 g plain flour (this is a bit of an estimation, so you may need to pop a bit more/less in if you think it warrants it)
Chocolate chips (as many as you like me dears)
Icing (optional - but very tasty)
4 tbsp Baileys (or a little more if you're feeling merry)
3 tbsp butter
Icing sugar (as much as it takes to get to the consistency you want)
Method (I feel like I'm writing a scientific report here)
Melt the dark chocolate and butter together (I use a bowl over a pan of boiling water because I tend to burn the chocolate in the microwave, but if you are microwave-competant go for it), and allow to cool (sitting the bowl in a pan of cold water works great if you're impatient like me)
Break the eggs into a bowl and add the sugar, beat together, then add 3 tbsp Baileys and the cooled chocolate mixture. Mix and slowly add the flour, mixing well. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Line a baking tray with grease-proof paper, smear with butter and dust with flour if you like. Pour in the brownie mixture and allow to cook for about 20 mins at 200 °C. Test to see if they're done by sticking a cocktail stick into the middle. If it comes out with crumbs attached to it, it's done, if not give it another 5/10 minutes, and so on.
Once it's cooked pop it out the oven and let it cool. This bit is torture for me, as all I want to do is eat the warm brownies. But show some self-restraint and all will be well. Once cooled poke it with a fork a few times, randomly across the brownie surface, and drizzle the other 3 tbsp of baileys onto it.
Now for the fun frosting, melt the butter slightly in the microwave and mix with the 4 or more tbsp of baileys. Add icing sugar and mix until you reach the consistency you want. Then whack it on top of the brownies and voila, there you have it. All you have to do now is eat them, and trust me it wont take long.
Happy eating, I'm off to get another brownie.
For anyone who wants to recreate the pleasure of eating these in their own home, I shall post the recipe. Be warned these are fudgy gooey type brownies, if you want more cake-like brownies either add more flour or only put in 4 eggs rather than 5.
Baileys Irish Cream Brownies
6 tbsp Baileys
5 large eggs
8 tbsp granulated sugar
250 g butter
150 g dark chocolate
60 g plain flour (this is a bit of an estimation, so you may need to pop a bit more/less in if you think it warrants it)
Chocolate chips (as many as you like me dears)
Icing (optional - but very tasty)
4 tbsp Baileys (or a little more if you're feeling merry)
3 tbsp butter
Icing sugar (as much as it takes to get to the consistency you want)
Method (I feel like I'm writing a scientific report here)
Melt the dark chocolate and butter together (I use a bowl over a pan of boiling water because I tend to burn the chocolate in the microwave, but if you are microwave-competant go for it), and allow to cool (sitting the bowl in a pan of cold water works great if you're impatient like me)
Break the eggs into a bowl and add the sugar, beat together, then add 3 tbsp Baileys and the cooled chocolate mixture. Mix and slowly add the flour, mixing well. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Line a baking tray with grease-proof paper, smear with butter and dust with flour if you like. Pour in the brownie mixture and allow to cook for about 20 mins at 200 °C. Test to see if they're done by sticking a cocktail stick into the middle. If it comes out with crumbs attached to it, it's done, if not give it another 5/10 minutes, and so on.
Once it's cooked pop it out the oven and let it cool. This bit is torture for me, as all I want to do is eat the warm brownies. But show some self-restraint and all will be well. Once cooled poke it with a fork a few times, randomly across the brownie surface, and drizzle the other 3 tbsp of baileys onto it.
Now for the fun frosting, melt the butter slightly in the microwave and mix with the 4 or more tbsp of baileys. Add icing sugar and mix until you reach the consistency you want. Then whack it on top of the brownies and voila, there you have it. All you have to do now is eat them, and trust me it wont take long.
Happy eating, I'm off to get another brownie.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Tonight I had some bad news. A girl my sister knows, who has cancer, is seriously ill in hospital. I've never personally met this girl, my sister has only met her a few times. I watched a documentary she was in, about her illness and how she was organising a fundraiser for her local hospital unit. In the documentary it was said that her cancer was terminal. At the moment she is estimated to live maybe another three weeks, it will be her last Christmas if she makes it that long.
She's 19 years old. It isn't fair is it?
She's 19 years old. It isn't fair is it?
Sunday, December 03, 2006
My first rti...kinda
Yesterday, despite being in my last recovery phase from my tonsilitis I decided to go out on duty to a Dickensian Day. This is a little event where people dress up in Victorian Era clothes and run stalls etc. I did have fun, I loved the costumes. My particular favourite was an old fashioned PC strolling around, complete with a cape.
I was technically down as third person (observer) on the ambulance there, but did nothing really for most of the day. I'd decided it was cold and stayed in the vehicle for the first part of the day. I did wander round for a bit, and become a bit more sociable later on. Myself and a few other members got a "hog roast" sandwich, they actually had a whole pig on a spit. On the way back to the vehicle I left my lunch with my paramedic mate and dashed into a coffee place for some hot drinks. When I returned, everyone (the I had gone for food with) and the vehicle had disappeared. Apparently while I'd been queueing for coffee they'd gotten a casualty and had gone to attend to them. I was a bit gutted that my lunch appeared to have gone awol too, and that I was stuck holding two hot drinks that were rapidly getting colder. It's always typical that the casulaties surface just as you get your lunch. Luckily my lunch hadn't been in the vehicle, and my paramedic friend soon returned and pointed me in the direction of my lunch. I gave him his latte. Vile drink.
When the vehicle got back I had been standing in the rain and had since mostly dried off but was a little cold, especially my feet which I couldnt feel. So I hopped in the back, and dozed off on the stretcher. My problem is that when I recovering from being ill, I jump back into things feet first and do daft things like stand around in the cold and wet weather, and do more than I should be doing. Then the tiredness usually hits me, so I sleep for a bit. When I wake up, it's more or less the end of the duty, so we say our goodbyes etc, and head back.
While on the way back to county, we came across an rti. Being in a big white ambulance we are somewhat implied to stop and see if all is ok. I was again asleep in the back, so got woken up by my paramedic friend shouting at me to wake up, and by my other friend flipping the lights in the back on and off to rouse me. No one was hurt but the accident was on a corner and had blocked off one lane of the road, so to avoid another accident two of us directed traffic. After the paramedic had made sure everyone was ok, he took over from me directing traffic and told me to sit in the ambulance and get warm. Good job really, as I could feel my throat starting to hurt again. The police showed up fairly quickly, and the tow truck a little while later, then once all was cleared they thanked us for our help and we all trundled off back to CHQ.
I personally was so tired that I fell asleep in my computer chair a while after I got back home...
I was technically down as third person (observer) on the ambulance there, but did nothing really for most of the day. I'd decided it was cold and stayed in the vehicle for the first part of the day. I did wander round for a bit, and become a bit more sociable later on. Myself and a few other members got a "hog roast" sandwich, they actually had a whole pig on a spit. On the way back to the vehicle I left my lunch with my paramedic mate and dashed into a coffee place for some hot drinks. When I returned, everyone (the I had gone for food with) and the vehicle had disappeared. Apparently while I'd been queueing for coffee they'd gotten a casualty and had gone to attend to them. I was a bit gutted that my lunch appeared to have gone awol too, and that I was stuck holding two hot drinks that were rapidly getting colder. It's always typical that the casulaties surface just as you get your lunch. Luckily my lunch hadn't been in the vehicle, and my paramedic friend soon returned and pointed me in the direction of my lunch. I gave him his latte. Vile drink.
When the vehicle got back I had been standing in the rain and had since mostly dried off but was a little cold, especially my feet which I couldnt feel. So I hopped in the back, and dozed off on the stretcher. My problem is that when I recovering from being ill, I jump back into things feet first and do daft things like stand around in the cold and wet weather, and do more than I should be doing. Then the tiredness usually hits me, so I sleep for a bit. When I wake up, it's more or less the end of the duty, so we say our goodbyes etc, and head back.
While on the way back to county, we came across an rti. Being in a big white ambulance we are somewhat implied to stop and see if all is ok. I was again asleep in the back, so got woken up by my paramedic friend shouting at me to wake up, and by my other friend flipping the lights in the back on and off to rouse me. No one was hurt but the accident was on a corner and had blocked off one lane of the road, so to avoid another accident two of us directed traffic. After the paramedic had made sure everyone was ok, he took over from me directing traffic and told me to sit in the ambulance and get warm. Good job really, as I could feel my throat starting to hurt again. The police showed up fairly quickly, and the tow truck a little while later, then once all was cleared they thanked us for our help and we all trundled off back to CHQ.
I personally was so tired that I fell asleep in my computer chair a while after I got back home...
Thursday, November 30, 2006
My getting better post
Well I'm recovering, slowly but surely. I have come the conclusion that it must have just been really bad tonsilitis. The only symptom I have left at the minute is my really swollen glands, and massive tonsils (they were apparently seeping pus at one point, which was a bit gross). On the bright side, no more fever, no more massive achiness, no more hurting ears, and even my dizzy spells are down to a minimum. I've had the past two days off work, which would probably make people suspect that I'd be blogging more, but realistically how much can you write about aimlessly surfing the net, having regular naps, and watching daytime tv all without getting out of my pjs?
I did go out yesterday on a trip to a ASDA, because there were some things that I couldn't get through the day without. This was my worst illness day, due to my fever, etc. So I waited for my co-codamol to kick in (it lowers my temperature, clears my head and helps with my aches and pains, although unfortunately couldn't do anything for the pain in my throat), wrapped up warm, and set out for the walk there. Yes, I had to walk, as Dad had kindly sodded off in the car to go work in. The walk there wasn't too much of a challenge, although I got paranoid with people staring at me on the way there. I have a few theories on this; a) I no longer look backward enough for this little town so people see fit to point and stare at the "outsider", b) I'm just so bloody attractive they can't help but stare (I'm thinking this is a fairly unlikely theory...), or c) I looked so wretched that they felt the need to stare at this tonsilitis-ridden zombie hag. I'm hoping it's a) but have a sad feeling it could be c).
Once in ASDA I'll admit I impulse shopped, which wasn't good as when I'm ill I don't have all my marbles about me. I bought a small tub of clotted cream which had been reduced, due to it going off today. The thing about clotted cream is, I tend to eat it on scones, and the thing about my current affliction is, I can't eat solid food as it hurts too much to chew and swallow. So I bought clotted cream that will go to waste because I don't fancy eating it gone the expiry date.
The walk back home nearly killed me, it's all uphill. I got in, had my food and then had a lie down on the floor as dragging myself to the sofa required too much effort. After that I disappeared upstairs for a three hour long nap.
A lovely mate of mine, who I adore, bought me some oraldene. I gave him the clotted cream to say thank you. He also gave me a muffin, which is currently torturing me as I can't eat solids yet. Grrr.
I'm back in work tomorrow for my last day in this department, so I'm going to put on a surgical mask and gloves and make them some crispie cakes.
I did go out yesterday on a trip to a ASDA, because there were some things that I couldn't get through the day without. This was my worst illness day, due to my fever, etc. So I waited for my co-codamol to kick in (it lowers my temperature, clears my head and helps with my aches and pains, although unfortunately couldn't do anything for the pain in my throat), wrapped up warm, and set out for the walk there. Yes, I had to walk, as Dad had kindly sodded off in the car to go work in. The walk there wasn't too much of a challenge, although I got paranoid with people staring at me on the way there. I have a few theories on this; a) I no longer look backward enough for this little town so people see fit to point and stare at the "outsider", b) I'm just so bloody attractive they can't help but stare (I'm thinking this is a fairly unlikely theory...), or c) I looked so wretched that they felt the need to stare at this tonsilitis-ridden zombie hag. I'm hoping it's a) but have a sad feeling it could be c).
Once in ASDA I'll admit I impulse shopped, which wasn't good as when I'm ill I don't have all my marbles about me. I bought a small tub of clotted cream which had been reduced, due to it going off today. The thing about clotted cream is, I tend to eat it on scones, and the thing about my current affliction is, I can't eat solid food as it hurts too much to chew and swallow. So I bought clotted cream that will go to waste because I don't fancy eating it gone the expiry date.
The walk back home nearly killed me, it's all uphill. I got in, had my food and then had a lie down on the floor as dragging myself to the sofa required too much effort. After that I disappeared upstairs for a three hour long nap.
A lovely mate of mine, who I adore, bought me some oraldene. I gave him the clotted cream to say thank you. He also gave me a muffin, which is currently torturing me as I can't eat solids yet. Grrr.
I'm back in work tomorrow for my last day in this department, so I'm going to put on a surgical mask and gloves and make them some crispie cakes.
Monday, November 27, 2006
The evilness that is tonsilitis
Yes, I'm fairly certain that I've got tonsilitis. I thought I'd gotten over that stage in my life but apparently not. My throat is swollen, it hurts to swallow and it's even affecting my ears. Where are a nice packet or three of strepsils when you need them? I eat them almost like sweets when I've been like this in the past, and yes I am aware that that is technically an OD but it hasn't done me any damage so far.
I'm only moaning on here because if I moaned to a particular mate of mine, he'd make me try some of the foul smelling cough syrup he has. It appears to be Russian in origin and looks like a bottle of cough syrup, but the fun begins once you look at the ingredients list. The list begins with some nasty sounding chemicals, I can't recall their names off-hand but trust me, they don't sound edible. We then move on the ingredients that worried me in particular; chloroform is in there, something that people will probably recall as a film noir method of incapacitating someone (or as an old anaesthetic), but is also a toxic substance. A nice little sentence on Wikipedia states "Chloroform once appeared in toothpastes, cough syrups, ointments, and other pharmaceuticals, but it has been banned in consumer products in the United States since 1976." Anaesthetic ether is also listed amongst the ingredients, another anaesthetic. I do remember using this stuff in a lab practical, for knocking out fruit flies.
None of these ingredients make me want to get near to the stuff, although I did ask him what he thought about it and apparently one gulp of the stuff is enough to stop you coughing for hours. Somehow I'm not surprised.
Edit: After a night of tossing and turning with a fever, I'd gladly take the health hazard cough syrup just so long as I got to sleep peacefully (no doubt I would with the chloroform).
I did sleep well in the end but only after a dose of co-codamol and only for two hours. Now I have the hours drive to work...
Edit Edit: Scratch what I said earlier, I don't have tonsilitis, I have the flu. Owww, I'm so achy! Well I hope it's the flu because if not it could be meningitis. Mum is standing with her trusty, freezing cold glass at the ready in case I get a rash.
I'm only moaning on here because if I moaned to a particular mate of mine, he'd make me try some of the foul smelling cough syrup he has. It appears to be Russian in origin and looks like a bottle of cough syrup, but the fun begins once you look at the ingredients list. The list begins with some nasty sounding chemicals, I can't recall their names off-hand but trust me, they don't sound edible. We then move on the ingredients that worried me in particular; chloroform is in there, something that people will probably recall as a film noir method of incapacitating someone (or as an old anaesthetic), but is also a toxic substance. A nice little sentence on Wikipedia states "Chloroform once appeared in toothpastes, cough syrups, ointments, and other pharmaceuticals, but it has been banned in consumer products in the United States since 1976." Anaesthetic ether is also listed amongst the ingredients, another anaesthetic. I do remember using this stuff in a lab practical, for knocking out fruit flies.
None of these ingredients make me want to get near to the stuff, although I did ask him what he thought about it and apparently one gulp of the stuff is enough to stop you coughing for hours. Somehow I'm not surprised.
Edit: After a night of tossing and turning with a fever, I'd gladly take the health hazard cough syrup just so long as I got to sleep peacefully (no doubt I would with the chloroform).
I did sleep well in the end but only after a dose of co-codamol and only for two hours. Now I have the hours drive to work...
Edit Edit: Scratch what I said earlier, I don't have tonsilitis, I have the flu. Owww, I'm so achy! Well I hope it's the flu because if not it could be meningitis. Mum is standing with her trusty, freezing cold glass at the ready in case I get a rash.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Things to do before I die
I've been thinking again, of the list of things I want to do before I die. I dug up my old list from an old blog posting of mine (not on here) and have been browsing through it to see what I've completed, the answer is not a lot really...
* See the pyramids Yes, I still want to do this at some point in my life. When I was younger I was semi-obsessed with Egyptian mythology, and still have Egyptian art work on my walls. Seeing the pyramids would be an almost spiritual trip for me
* Go to Italy (Venice, Florence, etc) Again, another one I'd still like to do, but havent gotten around to going. I'd like to go Venice for my birthday weekend, but as I'm a winter baby my mum is slowly turning me off the idea, even though I wouldn't be going for the weather
* (Re)Learn French Tut, tut, I always say I shall do this one, and I never do, well apart from today when I decided that I should think with a french accent. Don't judge me, work was dull and it amused me for about half an hour
* Learn another language, maybe Italian or Turkish If you look back on this blog then you'll see a post in which I aimed to be conversational in Turkish by next summer. Have I started learning Turkish? No, would be the quick answer. I think I'm too lazy for this list
* Learn to pole dance properly (with all the tricks like going upside down etc) This one I am closer to doing, I've found a school, I'm rounding up a few friends to come along, and I plan to book a doctors appointment to check that my back won't disagree with this form of exercise
* Go all the way to the top of the Eiffel TowerI haven't even been to France since making this list, I have been up the Eiffel tower before, just not all the way to the top
* Ski down a black slope (the most advanced I've been on was a red one a few years back) Again, I haven't even been skiing since writing this list
* Drive to either Scotland or down south (anywhere that takes around 4 or more hours to get to) Yay, something I've finally done! I drove down to Hertfordshire for my trainers course.
* Own a motorbike Can't afford a motorbike...
* Visit New York Can't afford a trip to New York...
* Stay up all night to see the sunrise Meh, I work now, I see the sunrise when I'm driving to work of a morning
* See a total eclipse of the sun (I was abroad for the one in England, how gutting?) Don't think there has been another since I wrote this list
* Travel first class I nearly got the chance to when I went down to London shopping, but I decided to go for the dirt cheap tickets instead, yay for being tight with money
* Learn to play piano properly Well the keyboard isnt set up at the moment, it's in a cupboard
* Go on holiday with a very large group of friends Can't afford to go away with a large group of friends... I'm sensing a pattern
* Learn how to do a somersault off a wall This has been one of my ambitions for a while, but I'm old and decrepid and have a bad back now
* Be a cool old person with most of their marbles I like to think I've already achieved that one *winks*
* Make the most of my life Not really one I can achieve fully until I croak
* Live in another country for a period of time
* Buy a house I'm not sick of my family, no, not at all...
* To never lose my loveliness
* To see Rent at the cinema several times with different people That one didn't quite work out as only one cinema near us was showing it, and that was about an hour away and only for a couple of weeks. As it worked out didn't get to see it at the cinema at all
* Write something original I don't think I have anything original to write
* See all the films I keep meaning to see This one came about because I have never seen Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Godfather, etc etc
* Become a trainer I'm halfway done, just a few more things to sort out before I'm fully qualified
* Say something really profound for my last words Knowing my luck it'll be something really daft instead
* Go to the 2012 Olympics to see the gymnastics That I really want to do
* Reach 88 mph in my car (all you Back to Future fans should realise why) I've done that, it was a bit of an anti-climax really, no sparks, no travelling back in time, damn flux capacitor must be broken
* Organise a Murder Mystery Event I actually have a boxset for this, but again haven't bothered my bottom to do anything about it
* Graduate from University I managed it with a 2.1
* Learn sign language It would be a good thing to learn but again I haven't bothered
* Learn how to make numerous cocktails and even invent a few of my own Mmmm, cocktails
* Organise a big fundraising event for St John Ambulance I don't think I can be bothered with that one
Anyway, that was my list. No doubt it shall be chopped and changed before long. What got me on this topic again was the book I've recently read. It didnt have much to do with doing things before you die, but it was more like setting a task and seeing what came of it. A comedian Carey Marx attempted to find a wife in under six months, this led him on an entertaining and amusing journey as portrayed in the book, "Marry Me". It's a good read, and I'd certainly recommend it. I read it in two days, and most of it was read in tea and lunch breaks at work.
* See the pyramids Yes, I still want to do this at some point in my life. When I was younger I was semi-obsessed with Egyptian mythology, and still have Egyptian art work on my walls. Seeing the pyramids would be an almost spiritual trip for me
* Go to Italy (Venice, Florence, etc) Again, another one I'd still like to do, but havent gotten around to going. I'd like to go Venice for my birthday weekend, but as I'm a winter baby my mum is slowly turning me off the idea, even though I wouldn't be going for the weather
* (Re)Learn French Tut, tut, I always say I shall do this one, and I never do, well apart from today when I decided that I should think with a french accent. Don't judge me, work was dull and it amused me for about half an hour
* Learn another language, maybe Italian or Turkish If you look back on this blog then you'll see a post in which I aimed to be conversational in Turkish by next summer. Have I started learning Turkish? No, would be the quick answer. I think I'm too lazy for this list
* Learn to pole dance properly (with all the tricks like going upside down etc) This one I am closer to doing, I've found a school, I'm rounding up a few friends to come along, and I plan to book a doctors appointment to check that my back won't disagree with this form of exercise
* Go all the way to the top of the Eiffel TowerI haven't even been to France since making this list, I have been up the Eiffel tower before, just not all the way to the top
* Ski down a black slope (the most advanced I've been on was a red one a few years back) Again, I haven't even been skiing since writing this list
* Drive to either Scotland or down south (anywhere that takes around 4 or more hours to get to) Yay, something I've finally done! I drove down to Hertfordshire for my trainers course.
* Own a motorbike Can't afford a motorbike...
* Visit New York Can't afford a trip to New York...
* Stay up all night to see the sunrise Meh, I work now, I see the sunrise when I'm driving to work of a morning
* See a total eclipse of the sun (I was abroad for the one in England, how gutting?) Don't think there has been another since I wrote this list
* Travel first class I nearly got the chance to when I went down to London shopping, but I decided to go for the dirt cheap tickets instead, yay for being tight with money
* Learn to play piano properly Well the keyboard isnt set up at the moment, it's in a cupboard
* Go on holiday with a very large group of friends Can't afford to go away with a large group of friends... I'm sensing a pattern
* Learn how to do a somersault off a wall This has been one of my ambitions for a while, but I'm old and decrepid and have a bad back now
* Be a cool old person with most of their marbles I like to think I've already achieved that one *winks*
* Make the most of my life Not really one I can achieve fully until I croak
* Live in another country for a period of time
* Buy a house I'm not sick of my family, no, not at all...
* To never lose my loveliness
* To see Rent at the cinema several times with different people That one didn't quite work out as only one cinema near us was showing it, and that was about an hour away and only for a couple of weeks. As it worked out didn't get to see it at the cinema at all
* Write something original I don't think I have anything original to write
* See all the films I keep meaning to see This one came about because I have never seen Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Godfather, etc etc
* Become a trainer I'm halfway done, just a few more things to sort out before I'm fully qualified
* Say something really profound for my last words Knowing my luck it'll be something really daft instead
* Go to the 2012 Olympics to see the gymnastics That I really want to do
* Reach 88 mph in my car (all you Back to Future fans should realise why) I've done that, it was a bit of an anti-climax really, no sparks, no travelling back in time, damn flux capacitor must be broken
* Organise a Murder Mystery Event I actually have a boxset for this, but again haven't bothered my bottom to do anything about it
* Graduate from University I managed it with a 2.1
* Learn sign language It would be a good thing to learn but again I haven't bothered
* Learn how to make numerous cocktails and even invent a few of my own Mmmm, cocktails
* Organise a big fundraising event for St John Ambulance I don't think I can be bothered with that one
Anyway, that was my list. No doubt it shall be chopped and changed before long. What got me on this topic again was the book I've recently read. It didnt have much to do with doing things before you die, but it was more like setting a task and seeing what came of it. A comedian Carey Marx attempted to find a wife in under six months, this led him on an entertaining and amusing journey as portrayed in the book, "Marry Me". It's a good read, and I'd certainly recommend it. I read it in two days, and most of it was read in tea and lunch breaks at work.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Random job stuff
Remember back in July, when I first got the job I have now, and said it was a four month contract? Well it should come as no surprise that my contract is due to finish at the end of this month. However my lovely team leader knew this and upon overhearing that another department on site was looking for a temp, he suggested me for the role. It's only to Jan 31st but anything right now is better than nothing. To cut a long story short, today I found out that I have this new contract for definite. It is in analytic technology, and is more so involved with drugs that the company is developing.
Along with this change of scenery comes a better job title. From the 4th of December I shall no longer be an Analyst, but a Scientist. I feel quite excited, I may have to change this blog to Lola's Cherry Cola Laboratory, although it doesnt quite have the same ring. I'm excited about this move, but at the same time, absolutely petrified. I think I'll be expected to know things that I don't really know. All this previous job has taught me is how to follow a method step by step, and sometimes I couldn't even manage that... We'll just have to wait and see how it goes.
Speaking of work, the other day I heard something that surprised me, and then made me titter. The company I work for is apparently still producing aerosols with CFCs, although this is the last year they will be produced. It surprised me as the company is otherwise very engaged with trying to be an eco-warrior, persuading us not to print out unnecessary things, to print two pages to a sheet where appropriate, to turn off lights, equipment and computers when we are not using them, and starting off a big recycling quest. One of my co-workers said that apparently when it was first discovered that CFCs were harmful to the environment our company stock-piled a hell of a lot of CFC propellant, so they could keep using it long after it had to be stopped being produced. That was what made me titter, I could just imagine the board room conversation...
Underling: Have you heard about our CFC propellant damaging the environment?
Managers: No. Quick, lets buy some more before it runs out!
Oh dear.
As for today, work didn't like me. I made stupid mistakes and then a sample set was playing up so I can't process my results until monday. But coming out of the carpark I saw my first robin for the winter, and he cheered me up. Yes I'm easily pleased, but then again if I wasn't I'd be walking around in a foul mood constantly. Be happy that I'm easily pleased.
Along with this change of scenery comes a better job title. From the 4th of December I shall no longer be an Analyst, but a Scientist. I feel quite excited, I may have to change this blog to Lola's Cherry Cola Laboratory, although it doesnt quite have the same ring. I'm excited about this move, but at the same time, absolutely petrified. I think I'll be expected to know things that I don't really know. All this previous job has taught me is how to follow a method step by step, and sometimes I couldn't even manage that... We'll just have to wait and see how it goes.
Speaking of work, the other day I heard something that surprised me, and then made me titter. The company I work for is apparently still producing aerosols with CFCs, although this is the last year they will be produced. It surprised me as the company is otherwise very engaged with trying to be an eco-warrior, persuading us not to print out unnecessary things, to print two pages to a sheet where appropriate, to turn off lights, equipment and computers when we are not using them, and starting off a big recycling quest. One of my co-workers said that apparently when it was first discovered that CFCs were harmful to the environment our company stock-piled a hell of a lot of CFC propellant, so they could keep using it long after it had to be stopped being produced. That was what made me titter, I could just imagine the board room conversation...
Underling: Have you heard about our CFC propellant damaging the environment?
Managers: No. Quick, lets buy some more before it runs out!
Oh dear.
As for today, work didn't like me. I made stupid mistakes and then a sample set was playing up so I can't process my results until monday. But coming out of the carpark I saw my first robin for the winter, and he cheered me up. Yes I'm easily pleased, but then again if I wasn't I'd be walking around in a foul mood constantly. Be happy that I'm easily pleased.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Lest we forget
Remembrance day was today and I spent the majority of it at services. As a member of St John Ambulance I helped to cover the main service in the town centre. The service was moving and a pleasure to watch over. The one thing that slightly spoilt the day for me was during the two minute silence, when a family strolled over, stood in front of us and started having a conversation. You'd think that with everybody else being quiet, they would have gotten at least a hint that they shouldn't be speaking, but no, they seemed to be fairly oblivious. Now I dont have a problem with people who personally don't want to observe the two minute silence, but they should have the decency to go elsewhere and conduct their conversation there, rather than distracting those who are trying to pay their respects for those who died in battle. Just my two pence worth.
The second service we attended was a spur of the moment thing for me, as a friend of mine who was giving me a lift mentioned he was going, so why not. I got there and was horrified to find that first aid cover was technically not needed there, and that we all had to march in the parade. St John Ambulance has a military side to it, which involves drill practice etc. Having joined at University I had not been exposed to that side of it (and dont think i'd have lasted very long in the organisation if I had). So this led to things being said like "Right dress" and me standing around wondering what the hell it meant. I don't seem to know my right from my left, and the girl in front of me, bless her, could not swing her opposite arm to opposite leg, so I had to concentrate on someone else to keep step as she was confusing me. Finally I had my fmb's on and they really hurt me when we had to stay still for long periods of time. Never again.
I wasn't impressed with the sermon at the service either, it was patronising. Yes I did agree with many of the points, but I disagreed with others. War is something I am strongly against, many people lose their lives, and the thought of it makes me feel ill. I think Captain Hawkeye Pierce put it best when he said that war was worse than hell, because "In hell, there are no innocent bystanders, war is full of them." I recognise the sacrifice these men and women made, and I respect them deeply, but I have no respect for the reason why they died. I understand that there can be "just" wars, but a lot of wars aren't always "just".
Anyway, before this turns into another rant I'd just like to remember the men and women who have died in any war, the war veterans, and the families who have lost loved ons in combat. May we never forget their sacrifice.
The second service we attended was a spur of the moment thing for me, as a friend of mine who was giving me a lift mentioned he was going, so why not. I got there and was horrified to find that first aid cover was technically not needed there, and that we all had to march in the parade. St John Ambulance has a military side to it, which involves drill practice etc. Having joined at University I had not been exposed to that side of it (and dont think i'd have lasted very long in the organisation if I had). So this led to things being said like "Right dress" and me standing around wondering what the hell it meant. I don't seem to know my right from my left, and the girl in front of me, bless her, could not swing her opposite arm to opposite leg, so I had to concentrate on someone else to keep step as she was confusing me. Finally I had my fmb's on and they really hurt me when we had to stay still for long periods of time. Never again.
I wasn't impressed with the sermon at the service either, it was patronising. Yes I did agree with many of the points, but I disagreed with others. War is something I am strongly against, many people lose their lives, and the thought of it makes me feel ill. I think Captain Hawkeye Pierce put it best when he said that war was worse than hell, because "In hell, there are no innocent bystanders, war is full of them." I recognise the sacrifice these men and women made, and I respect them deeply, but I have no respect for the reason why they died. I understand that there can be "just" wars, but a lot of wars aren't always "just".
Anyway, before this turns into another rant I'd just like to remember the men and women who have died in any war, the war veterans, and the families who have lost loved ons in combat. May we never forget their sacrifice.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
A summary of my week
(A repost as Bloggr has somehow managed to delete it before, good job I had it saved in a file already)
I forgot to mention in an earlier post that we had a visit from the big cheese at work, the site director. I managed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time by stumbling into our teams lab while he and my team leader were in there. I immediately went all quiet, what with being near an important person who probably could fire me on the spot if he wanted. My team leader introduced me, and although I answered any questions, I hadn't been that monosyllabic since the heart incident. It was cringe-worthy, and I quickly made my escape to another lab. Here's hoping I don't accidently run into the next set of auditors that come around.
I did promise a picture of myself in costume, however I'm a little shy about it now. One of my mates was teasing me by saying that pic was close to pornography. Although in saying that I think I'll have to post it now just to reassure you all that it wasn't at all that bad. Grrr, now blogger isnt letting me post it. It is seriously just a normal picture, I'm fully dressed, it isn't bad. You'll have to trust me for now. (Actually here it is as now while re-posting blogger has decided to play)
Today I'm planning a nice little shopping trip into Liverpool, I shall get myself a nice hat, gloves and scarf set seeing as the weather recently is definitely not agreeing with me. I'm not used to the cold! And I think a delicious minted lamb baguette is in order. The best thing is, I can definitely say to my mum that I'm not going into Liverpool just for a minted lamb baguette, that's just a highlight.
Finally I've found pharmacist blogs! I knew they had to be there somewhere and they are. I shall post a few for your viewing pleasure.
The Angry Pharmacist: A fabulous read, and an interesting insight into the profession. Also fun to read the rants about different types of customers that frequent the pharmacy.
Your Pharmacist may hate you: Another great read. Amusing and entertaining. Again from a pharmacist in a retail environment. Many rants about idiotic people.
I'll be lucky if those two don't put me off my future career...
Jim Plagakis: Interesting situations and moral decisions that can affect pharmacists.
There are a few more I've found but I'll let you browse over these if you get a chance.
I apologise for the dry posts from me recently, it seems my life is devoid for humour for now, maybe I can pick some up in Liverpool today.
Toodles
I forgot to mention in an earlier post that we had a visit from the big cheese at work, the site director. I managed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time by stumbling into our teams lab while he and my team leader were in there. I immediately went all quiet, what with being near an important person who probably could fire me on the spot if he wanted. My team leader introduced me, and although I answered any questions, I hadn't been that monosyllabic since the heart incident. It was cringe-worthy, and I quickly made my escape to another lab. Here's hoping I don't accidently run into the next set of auditors that come around.
I did promise a picture of myself in costume, however I'm a little shy about it now. One of my mates was teasing me by saying that pic was close to pornography. Although in saying that I think I'll have to post it now just to reassure you all that it wasn't at all that bad. Grrr, now blogger isnt letting me post it. It is seriously just a normal picture, I'm fully dressed, it isn't bad. You'll have to trust me for now. (Actually here it is as now while re-posting blogger has decided to play)
Today I'm planning a nice little shopping trip into Liverpool, I shall get myself a nice hat, gloves and scarf set seeing as the weather recently is definitely not agreeing with me. I'm not used to the cold! And I think a delicious minted lamb baguette is in order. The best thing is, I can definitely say to my mum that I'm not going into Liverpool just for a minted lamb baguette, that's just a highlight.
Finally I've found pharmacist blogs! I knew they had to be there somewhere and they are. I shall post a few for your viewing pleasure.
The Angry Pharmacist: A fabulous read, and an interesting insight into the profession. Also fun to read the rants about different types of customers that frequent the pharmacy.
Your Pharmacist may hate you: Another great read. Amusing and entertaining. Again from a pharmacist in a retail environment. Many rants about idiotic people.
I'll be lucky if those two don't put me off my future career...
Jim Plagakis: Interesting situations and moral decisions that can affect pharmacists.
There are a few more I've found but I'll let you browse over these if you get a chance.
I apologise for the dry posts from me recently, it seems my life is devoid for humour for now, maybe I can pick some up in Liverpool today.
Toodles
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
All Hallows Eve, amongst other things
Well the water was safe for human consumption from monday onwards, which brought an end to the "dying for a cuppa syndrome". Apparently the culprit was a corroded pipe, although how that would turn the water blue is beyond me.
Yesterday as we all know was Halloween, and to celebrate I went out on monday for a halloween social. Ended up at Popworld and swung around every single pole in the place. Yes I'm aching again. I'm seriously looking into this poledancing as exercise now, because I can very well believe it! I was also dressed as a cat, so apparently my tail looked very cute swinging about while I played on the pole. I wish I could have a real tail...
So a fun time was had by all, and now I really need to sleep. I may post a picture of my costume when I'm less sleepy.
Yesterday as we all know was Halloween, and to celebrate I went out on monday for a halloween social. Ended up at Popworld and swung around every single pole in the place. Yes I'm aching again. I'm seriously looking into this poledancing as exercise now, because I can very well believe it! I was also dressed as a cat, so apparently my tail looked very cute swinging about while I played on the pole. I wish I could have a real tail...
So a fun time was had by all, and now I really need to sleep. I may post a picture of my costume when I'm less sleepy.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
The day the water turned blue...
Well allegedly turned blue anyhow. And also it wasn't today, it was friday. We got told not to use the water at work, and no we couldnt boil it to drink either. So I was obviously gasping for a drink after they told me that. Odd how I don't usually want something until I'm told I can't have it. Some people had already gotten something to drink, and turned a nice shade of white when we told them the water was contaminated.
Don't worry, we didn't die of thirst (and those who had already drunk the water didn't die either, which was nice). Some bright spark suggested going to buy bottles of water, so no one missed out on their morning cuppa. It was mid-afternoon by the time someone mentioned that someone from another lab had concentrated the water and it was a strange bright blue colour. This may have just been random hearsay, but I'm glad I didnt drink the stuff.
Hope things are all back to normal tomorrow otherwise we wont be able to do any testing!
Don't worry, we didn't die of thirst (and those who had already drunk the water didn't die either, which was nice). Some bright spark suggested going to buy bottles of water, so no one missed out on their morning cuppa. It was mid-afternoon by the time someone mentioned that someone from another lab had concentrated the water and it was a strange bright blue colour. This may have just been random hearsay, but I'm glad I didnt drink the stuff.
Hope things are all back to normal tomorrow otherwise we wont be able to do any testing!
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
And people say my hometown smells...
I'm a little calmer today. The last post was a good way to vent off steam because I was so upset. No, I'm being serious. I've met the lead singer of the Uncoventionals, Drew, several times when he was performing in Taboo and he is a sweetheart (see pictures here and here). So I felt gutted for them, and I hope they continue to try to prove themselves as a group, as every one of them are top notch singers.
Now on to a different topic, today I finally regained my sense of smell (well I could breathe through my nose as the cold I've had is wearing off) and soon enough wished that I hadn't. Some foul stench surrounded my workplace today, a very "agricultural stench" as one of my collegues put it. I was literally dry heaving while I walked to my car it was that bad. It wasn't the first time today that I'd been heaving either, my dog had been sick again this morning, and yours truly ended up cleaning it up. Although to look on the bright side, at least I didn't walk right through it again.
I must say there's been a lot of comments to the last post I did, where are all you people coming from? Not that I'm not pleased that people are reading my blog, please come in, have a cherry coke, or whatever tickles your fancy. It's just that I can't remember being out and about "blog whoring" recently. Oh come on, we've all done it at least once...
Now on to a different topic, today I finally regained my sense of smell (well I could breathe through my nose as the cold I've had is wearing off) and soon enough wished that I hadn't. Some foul stench surrounded my workplace today, a very "agricultural stench" as one of my collegues put it. I was literally dry heaving while I walked to my car it was that bad. It wasn't the first time today that I'd been heaving either, my dog had been sick again this morning, and yours truly ended up cleaning it up. Although to look on the bright side, at least I didn't walk right through it again.
I must say there's been a lot of comments to the last post I did, where are all you people coming from? Not that I'm not pleased that people are reading my blog, please come in, have a cherry coke, or whatever tickles your fancy. It's just that I can't remember being out and about "blog whoring" recently. Oh come on, we've all done it at least once...
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Tw*t of the week
I don't usually do this, but tonight, the british public, you get a tw*t of the week award for sending home The Unconventionals from Xfactor, while keeping in people who really didn't deserve to be there. Hope you're pleased with yourselves.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
I have a life (and yes I still lied)
Yes, still no post about embarrassing crushes, I'm starting to lose hope. Anyhow, I'm going out tonight, so I'm not in work until monday now. Yay!
I've just had my hair done, so it is now bright red again, I may post a pic when I get one. I also have a firnge which I'm not sure if I like. The last time I had a fringe wa about 14 years ago, so it'll take some getting used to.
As a sidenote, the job is still getting me down a little bit. But I amuse myself. I have recently discovered that my access pass works under my labcoat. This is great because I dont have to go rooting around in a dodgy area to pull out the pass only to tuck it back in once I'm through the door. All I have to do now is stand on my tiptoes and thrust my boobs towards the electronic thingy. This is not only fun to do but also allows me to imagine I have magic boobs that will allow me access to the labs (although to be fair it wouldn't be the first time my boobs had gotten me somewhere).
Anyways, thats all for now, me and my magic boobs are going to get prepared for tonight. Cya.
I've just had my hair done, so it is now bright red again, I may post a pic when I get one. I also have a firnge which I'm not sure if I like. The last time I had a fringe wa about 14 years ago, so it'll take some getting used to.
As a sidenote, the job is still getting me down a little bit. But I amuse myself. I have recently discovered that my access pass works under my labcoat. This is great because I dont have to go rooting around in a dodgy area to pull out the pass only to tuck it back in once I'm through the door. All I have to do now is stand on my tiptoes and thrust my boobs towards the electronic thingy. This is not only fun to do but also allows me to imagine I have magic boobs that will allow me access to the labs (although to be fair it wouldn't be the first time my boobs had gotten me somewhere).
Anyways, thats all for now, me and my magic boobs are going to get prepared for tonight. Cya.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
I lied...
I know I promised you all a post about inappropriate crushes next and that post is in the working, but for now I have a semi-scientific post. Yes, I've been reading my New Scientist magazine again. Well, to be honest the post isn't completely scientific, just a little bit of news.
Apparently more and more employers are "spying" on their employees online. This mainly goes for work computers, which to be honest I think they have a right to see what goes on on. Nothing wrong with making sure your employees aren't slacking. However, did you know that if you go for an interview, the interviewing company has probably "googled" your name, and looked to see if you have a profile on websites such as myspace? It's a scary thought isnt it?
I personally have a Myspace account. I don't think anything too incriminating is on there, but you never know what exactly potential employers may find off-putting. Then there is this blog. I think most bloggers do realise that there is a small chance of being disciplined/fired/never getting a job if their blog is discovered (of course if you're just posting pictures of your cat then I doubt you have anything to worry about).
As I'm not posting pictures of my cat, this has led to a slight mini panic attack from me attempting to find my blog by googling my real name, luckily enough I don't think I can find it that way. Don't get me wrong, a blog can be something desirable to a company. Certain companies like employing bloggers as they know we can string a few sentences together. At the same time though, you could bet that the company is watching the blog making sure nothinng derogatory or sensitive about the company was posted.
Hmm, another thing for me to worry about now.
Apparently more and more employers are "spying" on their employees online. This mainly goes for work computers, which to be honest I think they have a right to see what goes on on. Nothing wrong with making sure your employees aren't slacking. However, did you know that if you go for an interview, the interviewing company has probably "googled" your name, and looked to see if you have a profile on websites such as myspace? It's a scary thought isnt it?
I personally have a Myspace account. I don't think anything too incriminating is on there, but you never know what exactly potential employers may find off-putting. Then there is this blog. I think most bloggers do realise that there is a small chance of being disciplined/fired/never getting a job if their blog is discovered (of course if you're just posting pictures of your cat then I doubt you have anything to worry about).
As I'm not posting pictures of my cat, this has led to a slight mini panic attack from me attempting to find my blog by googling my real name, luckily enough I don't think I can find it that way. Don't get me wrong, a blog can be something desirable to a company. Certain companies like employing bloggers as they know we can string a few sentences together. At the same time though, you could bet that the company is watching the blog making sure nothinng derogatory or sensitive about the company was posted.
Hmm, another thing for me to worry about now.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
I got tagged
Well, for a bit of a change I got tagged by Secret Sara. So for a bit of fun I thought I'd give it a whirl.
1. The last movie you saw in a theatre, and current-release movie you still want to see.
Well, since I'm not a big movie buff, the last film I saw at the cinema was Keeping Mum (last winter). And I actually have two movies I want to currently see, Hoodwinked, and The Black Dahlia
2. The last movie you rented/purchased for home viewing.
Rent, a fantastic film which was sodding well not advertised over here at all, and disappeared from the cinema screens before I had the chance to see it there.
3. A movie that made you laugh out loud.
Um, plenty have. The most recent one I saw that amused me was Scary Movie 4
4. A movie that made you cry.
If I want a movie that will make me cry there is one that will do it every time, and that is Steel Magnolias. I sob at that film. Rent has a similar effect but I havent seen it as many times as Steel Magnolias. If I want a tv show that will make me cry then it will be in season 5 of Angel, the episode known as A Hole in the World. Angel fans will know what I'm talking about.
5. A movie that was a darling of the critics, but you didn't think lived up to the hype.
Lost in Translation. Yes I enjoyed it, but I don't think it was as good as the critics were making out.
6. A movie that you thought was better than the critics.
I can't recall a film the critics have slated, but favourite underrated films of mine include Basil the Great Mouse Detective, Death to Smoochy, and Rent
7. Favorite animated movie
Basil the Great Mouse Detective, a brilliant Disney film which has somehow being overshadowed by others from the same time period. It was the first Disney film to use CGI animation and it starred Vincent Price as the nefarious villain, Ratigan. It was a play on Sherlock Holmes which is probably part of the reason I started reading Sherlock Holmes. Is it sad that at the age of 21 I can still reel off dialogue from this film perfectly?
I also adore Ice Age, Diego rocks!
8. Favorite Disney Villain.
Well after reading my favourite animated film how can my favourite villain be anyone but Ratigan? I mean come on, Vincent Price is a legend!
Scariest villain was probably Ursula once she went all big and tried to kill everyone.
9. Favorite movie musical.
Rent, but I also adore Little Shop of Horrors. Rick Moranis is a legend. Moulin Rouge is another favourite.
10. Favorite movies of all-time (up to 5).
1. Back to the Future; my all time favourite film. I want a time travelling delorian, preferably with a young Michael J Fox.
I cant really list the rest in an order so its all the films I've mentioned so far, plus a few others.
Apparently now I'm supposed to tag other people to do this, so I'll mention a few and if you fancy something to do, then do it. I pick Carmelo, The Natural Blue, Karen, The Thinker and Richard (you can do it on your Myspace, I know you read this, there's no escape, mwhahaha). Anyway normal blogging shall resume shortly, hopefully with an amusing post about inappropriate crushes.
1. The last movie you saw in a theatre, and current-release movie you still want to see.
Well, since I'm not a big movie buff, the last film I saw at the cinema was Keeping Mum (last winter). And I actually have two movies I want to currently see, Hoodwinked, and The Black Dahlia
2. The last movie you rented/purchased for home viewing.
Rent, a fantastic film which was sodding well not advertised over here at all, and disappeared from the cinema screens before I had the chance to see it there.
3. A movie that made you laugh out loud.
Um, plenty have. The most recent one I saw that amused me was Scary Movie 4
4. A movie that made you cry.
If I want a movie that will make me cry there is one that will do it every time, and that is Steel Magnolias. I sob at that film. Rent has a similar effect but I havent seen it as many times as Steel Magnolias. If I want a tv show that will make me cry then it will be in season 5 of Angel, the episode known as A Hole in the World. Angel fans will know what I'm talking about.
5. A movie that was a darling of the critics, but you didn't think lived up to the hype.
Lost in Translation. Yes I enjoyed it, but I don't think it was as good as the critics were making out.
6. A movie that you thought was better than the critics.
I can't recall a film the critics have slated, but favourite underrated films of mine include Basil the Great Mouse Detective, Death to Smoochy, and Rent
7. Favorite animated movie
Basil the Great Mouse Detective, a brilliant Disney film which has somehow being overshadowed by others from the same time period. It was the first Disney film to use CGI animation and it starred Vincent Price as the nefarious villain, Ratigan. It was a play on Sherlock Holmes which is probably part of the reason I started reading Sherlock Holmes. Is it sad that at the age of 21 I can still reel off dialogue from this film perfectly?
I also adore Ice Age, Diego rocks!
8. Favorite Disney Villain.
Well after reading my favourite animated film how can my favourite villain be anyone but Ratigan? I mean come on, Vincent Price is a legend!
Scariest villain was probably Ursula once she went all big and tried to kill everyone.
9. Favorite movie musical.
Rent, but I also adore Little Shop of Horrors. Rick Moranis is a legend. Moulin Rouge is another favourite.
10. Favorite movies of all-time (up to 5).
1. Back to the Future; my all time favourite film. I want a time travelling delorian, preferably with a young Michael J Fox.
I cant really list the rest in an order so its all the films I've mentioned so far, plus a few others.
Apparently now I'm supposed to tag other people to do this, so I'll mention a few and if you fancy something to do, then do it. I pick Carmelo, The Natural Blue, Karen, The Thinker and Richard (you can do it on your Myspace, I know you read this, there's no escape, mwhahaha). Anyway normal blogging shall resume shortly, hopefully with an amusing post about inappropriate crushes.
Friday, September 29, 2006
It's introspective and I want to introspect
I had an epiphany today. Well not exactly, but it hit me as to why I'm taking the path I'm taking in life.
In the past people have asked me why I want to go back to University to do a Pharmacy degree and my reply has been something along the lines of "Drugs are interesting and do you know how much pharmacists can earn?!". In a shallow way that was a fairly accurate reason for my career choice. Hey, it's going to cost me over 12 grand, but I'll make it back fairly quickly, I reasoned.
Well, back to the present epiphanied Lola. I was in work today and for a change I ended up spring cleaning the lab in preparation for the audit we have coming up. From the last post most people could guess that I resent work, and those people would be absolutely right, but today I wasn't at all peeved at being demoted to a cleaner. In fact I was quite pleased to go and get on with it, scrubbing the surfaces, cleaning dust from corners and equipment etc. No, I haven't discovered my calling as a cleaner, in fact my parents could tell you I'm usually as lazy as sin when it comes to housekeeping. The reason why I liked this task was the complete randomness of it.
Picture this, you work at a pharmaceutical company, you do test after test in a lab, with only a brief reprise for a write up before you have to go and do another test. The tests are, in themselves different but it's all lab work. Pipettes and volumetric flasks dance before your eyes on a day to day basis (not literally) and it becomes mundane. So when the chance to do something different comes along, like spring cleaning a lab for example it's a novelty, and escape from the routine. It provides variety to a job, and that I now know, is what I crave.
I must admit it's very unusual for a capricorn to crave variety rather than set down routines, but now that I understand that is what I need, everything else about my choice of career has clicked into place. Pharmacy, despite popular belief is such a varied career. On a typical day in the life of a hospital pharmacist one can meet different patients, consult with other healthcare professionals and deal with problems on an individual basis. Of course there is the aspect of making up the prescriptions, which cannot have too much variety for the patients sake, but the other parts more than make up for it. And if I become bored of the hospital, well there is always community pharmacy. If I want to reduce my workload, hello to locum work. If I fancy something radically different there's always academia, or working in a pharmaceutical company (although NOT as an analyst!). And if I tire of them, I can go back into practise again. It is such a flexible career, and that is a big part of the reason I am drawn to it. This is the career I want and I think I'm going to work hard to get it.
If you read this far you deserve a prize, go buy yourself a cookie.
Bonus points for anyone who knows where the quote in my post title is from.
In the past people have asked me why I want to go back to University to do a Pharmacy degree and my reply has been something along the lines of "Drugs are interesting and do you know how much pharmacists can earn?!". In a shallow way that was a fairly accurate reason for my career choice. Hey, it's going to cost me over 12 grand, but I'll make it back fairly quickly, I reasoned.
Well, back to the present epiphanied Lola. I was in work today and for a change I ended up spring cleaning the lab in preparation for the audit we have coming up. From the last post most people could guess that I resent work, and those people would be absolutely right, but today I wasn't at all peeved at being demoted to a cleaner. In fact I was quite pleased to go and get on with it, scrubbing the surfaces, cleaning dust from corners and equipment etc. No, I haven't discovered my calling as a cleaner, in fact my parents could tell you I'm usually as lazy as sin when it comes to housekeeping. The reason why I liked this task was the complete randomness of it.
Picture this, you work at a pharmaceutical company, you do test after test in a lab, with only a brief reprise for a write up before you have to go and do another test. The tests are, in themselves different but it's all lab work. Pipettes and volumetric flasks dance before your eyes on a day to day basis (not literally) and it becomes mundane. So when the chance to do something different comes along, like spring cleaning a lab for example it's a novelty, and escape from the routine. It provides variety to a job, and that I now know, is what I crave.
I must admit it's very unusual for a capricorn to crave variety rather than set down routines, but now that I understand that is what I need, everything else about my choice of career has clicked into place. Pharmacy, despite popular belief is such a varied career. On a typical day in the life of a hospital pharmacist one can meet different patients, consult with other healthcare professionals and deal with problems on an individual basis. Of course there is the aspect of making up the prescriptions, which cannot have too much variety for the patients sake, but the other parts more than make up for it. And if I become bored of the hospital, well there is always community pharmacy. If I want to reduce my workload, hello to locum work. If I fancy something radically different there's always academia, or working in a pharmaceutical company (although NOT as an analyst!). And if I tire of them, I can go back into practise again. It is such a flexible career, and that is a big part of the reason I am drawn to it. This is the career I want and I think I'm going to work hard to get it.
If you read this far you deserve a prize, go buy yourself a cookie.
Bonus points for anyone who knows where the quote in my post title is from.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Autumn blues
Hello all,
I know it's been a while, my world seems to revolve around work at the moment, and despite realising that it's really good experience and a moneymaker, I resent it for taking up most of my day. Grr. Maybe I should organise a day trip and take a day off for it. Plus my glands are swollen and it's starting to hurt when I swallow (not in a filthy way, you dirty minded people). I hope I'm not coming down with tonsilitis again. I used to get it all the time when I was younger. At one point it was a regular thing, once every two or three months I'd be croaking and once I was rushed to the doctors surgery because Mum thought I had lockjaw.
Anyway, I can't really think of anything to blog about today, so I'm going to recommend some of my favourite blogs for you to go away and have a read of;
Musings from the Mind of Karen: This is the blog of a friend of mine, she's currently a student teacher preparing to teach RE to young minds. A witty and entertaining blog with some thought provoking posts.
Carmelo Alongi: A student paramedic in London. Great insight into the trials and tribulations of student life, and gives you a good idea what it's like learning to be a paramedic.
Twenty-three and Counting: A great blog with a different theme each week.
The Company Bitch: Absolutely hilarious, need I say more?
Nee Naw: The blog of an Emergency Medical Dispatcher in the LAS. Good stuff
Ok, it's getting close to the time where I should be getting ready for work rather than sitting here blogging, so for the moment if you want to know which other blogs I read, check out my links at the side of the page and happy reading!
Grrr, work.
I know it's been a while, my world seems to revolve around work at the moment, and despite realising that it's really good experience and a moneymaker, I resent it for taking up most of my day. Grr. Maybe I should organise a day trip and take a day off for it. Plus my glands are swollen and it's starting to hurt when I swallow (not in a filthy way, you dirty minded people). I hope I'm not coming down with tonsilitis again. I used to get it all the time when I was younger. At one point it was a regular thing, once every two or three months I'd be croaking and once I was rushed to the doctors surgery because Mum thought I had lockjaw.
Anyway, I can't really think of anything to blog about today, so I'm going to recommend some of my favourite blogs for you to go away and have a read of;
Musings from the Mind of Karen: This is the blog of a friend of mine, she's currently a student teacher preparing to teach RE to young minds. A witty and entertaining blog with some thought provoking posts.
Carmelo Alongi: A student paramedic in London. Great insight into the trials and tribulations of student life, and gives you a good idea what it's like learning to be a paramedic.
Twenty-three and Counting: A great blog with a different theme each week.
The Company Bitch: Absolutely hilarious, need I say more?
Nee Naw: The blog of an Emergency Medical Dispatcher in the LAS. Good stuff
Ok, it's getting close to the time where I should be getting ready for work rather than sitting here blogging, so for the moment if you want to know which other blogs I read, check out my links at the side of the page and happy reading!
Grrr, work.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Poledancing baaaaaaaad
Hello all.
I'm still recovering from a night out on saturday. My arms are stiff and aching, and I have somewhat hard to explain bruises on my inner thighs. All because the place we were in had poles. So fun to swing around at the time, but hurts like hell later on. I seriously need to get fit! Owww.
I'm still recovering from a night out on saturday. My arms are stiff and aching, and I have somewhat hard to explain bruises on my inner thighs. All because the place we were in had poles. So fun to swing around at the time, but hurts like hell later on. I seriously need to get fit! Owww.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Bookworm
I apologise for slighty neglecting this blog, part of the reason is that I'm getting back into my reading. When I was younger I was never seen without a book in my hand, Mum used to constantly tell me off for reading a book while I was walking. I honestly can't recall the number of lamposts she had to drag me out of the way of as I was along with my nose buried deeply in my book.
This behaviour has slowly tailed off over the years what with my active social life (I wish!), but when I was on holiday I managed to get through 7 books in a space of 14 days, and these weren't thin books either. So about a month ago I went to my local library and acquired a brand spanking new library card (and a funky keyring fob) as I'd lost my old one, and got out a bunch of books. Anyhow I finished them a little while ago, and so this week I returned them and got out a whole new bunch of books to read.
I felt like a bit of an intellectual as I checked out books which included; Catch 22 and Nineteen-eighty-four by George Orwell, however I can't help but think this image was ruined by the "rude and politically incorrect jokes" book I also checked out...
Now I get roughly to the point of this post, I want to read lots but I don't know which books to go for usually. If anyone reads this and has a particular favourite book to recommend I'd be ever so grateful. Now, back to the task at hand, sitting in bed with "Dress your family in corduroy and denim". This is the life.
This behaviour has slowly tailed off over the years what with my active social life (I wish!), but when I was on holiday I managed to get through 7 books in a space of 14 days, and these weren't thin books either. So about a month ago I went to my local library and acquired a brand spanking new library card (and a funky keyring fob) as I'd lost my old one, and got out a bunch of books. Anyhow I finished them a little while ago, and so this week I returned them and got out a whole new bunch of books to read.
I felt like a bit of an intellectual as I checked out books which included; Catch 22 and Nineteen-eighty-four by George Orwell, however I can't help but think this image was ruined by the "rude and politically incorrect jokes" book I also checked out...
Now I get roughly to the point of this post, I want to read lots but I don't know which books to go for usually. If anyone reads this and has a particular favourite book to recommend I'd be ever so grateful. Now, back to the task at hand, sitting in bed with "Dress your family in corduroy and denim". This is the life.
Monday, September 11, 2006
A theatre review
This weekend I was in the capital for a little culture. I apologise for not telling you all before I went, but I don't think you missed me anyhow, heh.
Anyway, while I was there I managed to see two shows, Wicked and The Last Five Years. Both fantastic musicals which I shall go into in a little more detail later.
This weekend was a bit of a bonding experience for me, my sister (Peggy) and my mum. We headed down via train where I managed to embarrass my dear sister by forgetting that my mp3 speakers were left on (it doesnt necessarily need headphones) and not realising that Roy Orbison was blaring out into the whole carriage because I had my headphones on. We managed to negotiate the tube system and only got on the wrong train once, and we dumped our bags in the travelodge we were staying in and marvelled at our beautiful view...
Anyway, while I was there I managed to see two shows, Wicked and The Last Five Years. Both fantastic musicals which I shall go into in a little more detail later.
This weekend was a bit of a bonding experience for me, my sister (Peggy) and my mum. We headed down via train where I managed to embarrass my dear sister by forgetting that my mp3 speakers were left on (it doesnt necessarily need headphones) and not realising that Roy Orbison was blaring out into the whole carriage because I had my headphones on. We managed to negotiate the tube system and only got on the wrong train once, and we dumped our bags in the travelodge we were staying in and marvelled at our beautiful view...
Yes, a brick wall, isn't it lovely?
Once that was done it was back into the centre for Wicked. For those who haven't heard of this musical, it was a big hit on Broadway. It is basically the story of the wizard of oz, except turned on its' head. In this musical the wicked witch of the West is the good one. Wicked follows the story of Elphaba, the wicked witch of the west, from her birth til her demise at the hands of a young farm girl. Fantastic set, score and performances from all involved in this. The entire cast are extremely talented, a fact which asserts itself when I was struck dumb by some of the emsembles' voices. Special mentions go to James Gillan, who is talented and an utter sweetheart. He plays Boq, a charming Scottish munchkin with a massive crush on Galinda. Other mentions go to Idina Menzel who plays Elphaba, what a voice, and Katie Rowley Jones who plays Nessarose, again another gorgeous voice. My prediction is that Wicked will be a fixture in the West End for quite some time.
After the show a trip to the stage door was necessary as I am in fact a closet stage door fan. We got a fair few people to sign our program. Miriam Margolyes who plays Madam Morrible is a legend, so lovely and happy to sign programs. We also ran into a few fans we knew from another musical not so long ago (Taboo). We all seemed quite pleased to see each other, and me and Peggy were quite amused to see them dressed up as characters from Wicked. They are part of a Rocky Horror performing group called Less Vulnerable. Hence their penchant for costumes. After getting all the autographs we wanted and also nearly getting run over by a big red bus we headed back to sleep.
Bright and not really that early that next day we headed to camden market for shopping, I'd never been before so I do recommend it, there's some pretty stuff out there. The we went over to Vinopolis to use my dads birthday present of a wine tasting tour (I did feel bad about taking up his ticket, but it isn't my fault is he decided not to come and use it himself). We enjoyed the tour so much we came out slightly tipsy, got lost, had to ask directions from a bunch of Swiss Americans (they said they were from Switzerland but they sounded American) and had to leg it to the theatre so we wouldn't miss the matinee. There's nothing more sobering than having to run across London roads without hurting yourself.
The Last Five Years focuses on a five year long relationship with each of the couple starting at different points in the relationship. Jamie starts at the beginning, Cathy starts at the end and they work their way to when the meet in the middle at their wedding, then they split off again as Jamie works his way towards the end and Cathy moves towards the beginning. They end on a song where both of them are saying goodbye, Cathy after the first date, and Jamie for good at the end of the relationship. In my opinion after the initial confusion, this was a very moving piece of theatre, and a novel way of showing it. There wasn't a single song I didn't like and the two members of the casts' voices were brilliant. I'd definitely recommend seeing this.
Finally we had dinner in the Great Nepalese restaurant, which was lovely, and caught our train home. The lovely end to a lovely weekend.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Trainer Lola
Well I passed the course and all I have to do now is teach an actual training session with real students, under supervision to be officially known as a trainer. Yay me.
I'll admit I've been back two days but I've been too tired to blog, I considered saying I was too tired to go to work too, but I didn't think that would have gone down well, so I dragged myself into work. When I did get back on monday night I had the fantastic surprise of finding this in an email;
"Congratulations on placing third in this week's So You Think You Can Blog contest!"
Yes, I'm very proud, and I shall display my award for all to see
It's a great competition to do and does get the creative juices flowing, keep an eye out at Theory of Thought for the dates of the next So You Think You Can Blog competition.
Since I've been zombie-fied for the past few days I don't have much to say except, when you're faced with a "casualty" having a heart attack, never say,
"It's ok, you're just having a heart attack."
And that's Miss Cherry Cola's advice for today.
I'll admit I've been back two days but I've been too tired to blog, I considered saying I was too tired to go to work too, but I didn't think that would have gone down well, so I dragged myself into work. When I did get back on monday night I had the fantastic surprise of finding this in an email;
"Congratulations on placing third in this week's So You Think You Can Blog contest!"
Yes, I'm very proud, and I shall display my award for all to see
It's a great competition to do and does get the creative juices flowing, keep an eye out at Theory of Thought for the dates of the next So You Think You Can Blog competition.
Since I've been zombie-fied for the past few days I don't have much to say except, when you're faced with a "casualty" having a heart attack, never say,
"It's ok, you're just having a heart attack."
And that's Miss Cherry Cola's advice for today.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
A long days travelling
Well ladies and gents, tomorrow I shall be crossing that boundary into the south of England. And astoundingly, I shall be driving there. Me, who has never driven further than Nottingham before. It should be quite a little adventure, me and my little Ka on the open road. At least this time I won't be having this conversation with my parents over the phone;
Me: Hey, I'm just calling to say I got to Nottingham ok.
Mum: Good, I was just thinking that we should have let you take the Skoda.
Me: Why? It's isn't like I'm travelling with someone so I don't need a bigger car.
Mum: I know, but the Skoda has breakdown cover...
Me: *speechless*
Yes, my parents are lovely people who let me go on long journeys without breakdown cover. This explains why they want so many phonecalls just to say that I'm still alive.
Anyway, the reason why this lovely Northern gal is heading south is that I'm on a four day trainers course to teach me how to teach first aid. So this blog shall be a little quiet until I get back, I don't think I'll be able to access the internet down there (but it wont be through lack of trying let me tell you). I may try mobile posting, but don't count on my being technologically savvy enough to manage it. So until I post again, be good.
Me: Hey, I'm just calling to say I got to Nottingham ok.
Mum: Good, I was just thinking that we should have let you take the Skoda.
Me: Why? It's isn't like I'm travelling with someone so I don't need a bigger car.
Mum: I know, but the Skoda has breakdown cover...
Me: *speechless*
Yes, my parents are lovely people who let me go on long journeys without breakdown cover. This explains why they want so many phonecalls just to say that I'm still alive.
Anyway, the reason why this lovely Northern gal is heading south is that I'm on a four day trainers course to teach me how to teach first aid. So this blog shall be a little quiet until I get back, I don't think I'll be able to access the internet down there (but it wont be through lack of trying let me tell you). I may try mobile posting, but don't count on my being technologically savvy enough to manage it. So until I post again, be good.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Creamfields
Well, last night was one hell of a night. For those who don't know I was at Creamfields, helping to provide the first aid cover.
Just as a bit of general information, Creamfields is a 16 hour dance music event that is held in a field. This year it was in Runcorn rather than the usual venue Liverpool. Now this is not a duty where you turn up, do a couple of hours and then head home, nope, with this duty you're in it all night with maybe a couple of hours sleep if you're very lucky. We were onsite from about 1pm, and stayed onsite til 8am the next day. Between the usual cases of blistered feet there were some more interesting people and injuries.
There were the usual people who never seem to believe us when we tell them we aren't getting paid for doing the first aid cover. SJA itself is, but not the members, we're all lowly volunteers (who happen to get into top events for free, so it aint all bad).
There was the gent who didn't need treatment, but as he studied medieval history, he decided to tell us of the history of St John Ambulance and to "remember that we are warrior monks". I did feel kind of inspired but was too tired to go and beat up casualties.
There were a couple of people smuggling drugs into the event in weird and wonderful places, and on that subject I shall say no more.
There was the patient who ran off on us. He gave us his first name, Jason*, and that is all the information we had about him since once he was attached up to some oxygen he decided he was better and ran off into the night. If anyone sees him, he's a chap about yay high, a bootprint on his head and an oxygen mask around his neck.
I then spent half an hour of my rest break filling in a form just in case he was brought back in later. I only got 15 minutes sleep because of that.
There was a lovely person who had taken a bit too much and needed medical attention because of it. They felt a little idiotic and realised not to take anything next time they came along to an event like this. Also they offered to buy me a drink if they ever saw me again. Cheers!
On the darker side several people came in for advice because they had been jabbed by someone with a needle, and there were several assaults. However this year didn't bring any stabbings as far as I'm aware.
A fairly busy night anyhow. We were all dead by 6am, and had to stay operational until 7am (the time we are usually packed up and away) because of collapses outside the event. After packing up at 8am, we headed home and I slept until 4pm. Happy day.
Here's a picture taken at around 6am to show how hard we worked throughout the night...
Thanks to SJA, MRL and NWAS for working so hard last night and making it a good night.
* Not real name
Just as a bit of general information, Creamfields is a 16 hour dance music event that is held in a field. This year it was in Runcorn rather than the usual venue Liverpool. Now this is not a duty where you turn up, do a couple of hours and then head home, nope, with this duty you're in it all night with maybe a couple of hours sleep if you're very lucky. We were onsite from about 1pm, and stayed onsite til 8am the next day. Between the usual cases of blistered feet there were some more interesting people and injuries.
There were the usual people who never seem to believe us when we tell them we aren't getting paid for doing the first aid cover. SJA itself is, but not the members, we're all lowly volunteers (who happen to get into top events for free, so it aint all bad).
There was the gent who didn't need treatment, but as he studied medieval history, he decided to tell us of the history of St John Ambulance and to "remember that we are warrior monks". I did feel kind of inspired but was too tired to go and beat up casualties.
There were a couple of people smuggling drugs into the event in weird and wonderful places, and on that subject I shall say no more.
There was the patient who ran off on us. He gave us his first name, Jason*, and that is all the information we had about him since once he was attached up to some oxygen he decided he was better and ran off into the night. If anyone sees him, he's a chap about yay high, a bootprint on his head and an oxygen mask around his neck.
I then spent half an hour of my rest break filling in a form just in case he was brought back in later. I only got 15 minutes sleep because of that.
There was a lovely person who had taken a bit too much and needed medical attention because of it. They felt a little idiotic and realised not to take anything next time they came along to an event like this. Also they offered to buy me a drink if they ever saw me again. Cheers!
On the darker side several people came in for advice because they had been jabbed by someone with a needle, and there were several assaults. However this year didn't bring any stabbings as far as I'm aware.
A fairly busy night anyhow. We were all dead by 6am, and had to stay operational until 7am (the time we are usually packed up and away) because of collapses outside the event. After packing up at 8am, we headed home and I slept until 4pm. Happy day.
Here's a picture taken at around 6am to show how hard we worked throughout the night...
Thanks to SJA, MRL and NWAS for working so hard last night and making it a good night.
* Not real name
Saturday, August 26, 2006
I'm so excited
Argh, Creamfields! I'm quite excited and nervous for some reason, not entirely sure why. Maybe it's because I haven't been first aiding for a little while. Anyway, I shall let you know how it goes, and with pictures hopefully if people don't decide to run away from me this year, lol. Camera shy, grrr. Here's a picture from last year for you to enjoy in the meantime...
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Ever get the feeling that you dont have a clue what you're doing?
Well, Lola is still not quite back to her usual bouncy self, but it doesn't matter too much. I may perk up after some more wallowing in blah-ness. I occasionally just need to be leave to be miserable for a while then I get sick of it and come out of it.
I had a course today at work, and I suffered from what is known in training circles as "information overload" the result of which is that I can't remember anything we learnt and I have a course assessment to complete. Gah. I'm hoping some kind-hearted soul in work will be won over by my adorable incompetance and help me with it.
My days seem fairly monotonous at the moment. Wake up, work, home, dinner, internet, sleep. I feel the need to get out and not sit at home every night. I'm missing Uni, the place where socialising is second nature, and where I didn't mind sitting at home, because I was glad of the rest from an active life. Now I'm working I don't see all those mates I used to see on a regular basis, and I'm missing them like hell. I think it's probably time to get out at least one weeknight, and then at the weekend too. This weekend shouldn be sorted anyhow, I shall be doing my St John Ambulance bit at Creamfields, which is usually a good but knackering night.
I tell you what, you don't realise that once you're out of Uni and working that you get very tired. I went out on Saturday night, got pretty drunk and went to bed late. I still haven't recovered. I can't wait until next september...
I had a course today at work, and I suffered from what is known in training circles as "information overload" the result of which is that I can't remember anything we learnt and I have a course assessment to complete. Gah. I'm hoping some kind-hearted soul in work will be won over by my adorable incompetance and help me with it.
My days seem fairly monotonous at the moment. Wake up, work, home, dinner, internet, sleep. I feel the need to get out and not sit at home every night. I'm missing Uni, the place where socialising is second nature, and where I didn't mind sitting at home, because I was glad of the rest from an active life. Now I'm working I don't see all those mates I used to see on a regular basis, and I'm missing them like hell. I think it's probably time to get out at least one weeknight, and then at the weekend too. This weekend shouldn be sorted anyhow, I shall be doing my St John Ambulance bit at Creamfields, which is usually a good but knackering night.
I tell you what, you don't realise that once you're out of Uni and working that you get very tired. I went out on Saturday night, got pretty drunk and went to bed late. I still haven't recovered. I can't wait until next september...
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Another post is in order
I've been neglecting this blog a little this week. I have my reasons, most notably writers' block. There are so many things I'd like to say here but I feel restricted because of people who know me in person and know about this blog. It's not that I don't trust them, it's just that I don't like to lay everything about myself down in one place. Different people I know, know different things about me. Even the one person who knows the most about me, does not know everything, although he's pretty damn close.
Even if I just threw caution to the wind, there is a fear of people getting offended by things I may post here that they may read and think I should have talked to them about rather than seeking solace on here. For me at least, I find it easier to talk to people who may be completely detached from my life and my situations rather than those who know the people involved. It really helps to discuss things without fear of starting gossip or betraying confidences.
But what the hell, to anyone who may be reading this post and knows me in real life, please be aware that certain things I say on this blog I want to stay on this blog. If I want to discuss them with you, then I will bring up the subject, otherwise please just don't ask. Do me that courtesy if nothing else.
Right now, I feel in pain, I thought things were getting better, but I've had a bit of a relapse. I can't help my feelings, and it's a bitch wanting what I can't have, or even worse wanting what I probably can't have, that every now and again just seems nearly within my grasp. Maybe if I really felt that I couldn't have it, it would be easier to get over.
Sorry for the depressing nature of this post, I needed to vent. Normal blogging shall resume shortly...
Even if I just threw caution to the wind, there is a fear of people getting offended by things I may post here that they may read and think I should have talked to them about rather than seeking solace on here. For me at least, I find it easier to talk to people who may be completely detached from my life and my situations rather than those who know the people involved. It really helps to discuss things without fear of starting gossip or betraying confidences.
But what the hell, to anyone who may be reading this post and knows me in real life, please be aware that certain things I say on this blog I want to stay on this blog. If I want to discuss them with you, then I will bring up the subject, otherwise please just don't ask. Do me that courtesy if nothing else.
Right now, I feel in pain, I thought things were getting better, but I've had a bit of a relapse. I can't help my feelings, and it's a bitch wanting what I can't have, or even worse wanting what I probably can't have, that every now and again just seems nearly within my grasp. Maybe if I really felt that I couldn't have it, it would be easier to get over.
Sorry for the depressing nature of this post, I needed to vent. Normal blogging shall resume shortly...
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Meh.
I knew it was going to be one of those days when first thing in the morning, I strolled through the pile of dog sick in my socks. Let's hope tomorrow is better...
Friday, August 11, 2006
Just another day in the labs...
I'm settling into work nicely now, except for the fact that I only know how to do one test so far and don't know how to work a piece of machinery that I will unfortunately be using quite often. Practise will make perfect, or at the very least make me somewhat competant.
I nearly got to use a wonderful face mask today, known as The Respirator. A fantastic name, which sounds brilliant when said in the style of a movie trailer voice-over guy. In the end I didn't have time to use The Respirator and I'm feeling a little disappointed. So I experimented with more taking-off-the-labcoat styles, todays' style is known as the flasher, probably inspired by Sane Scientists' comment on my last post. The only difference is that I make sure I don't wear popper fastening clothes to work, ensuring that no one gets an eyeful. As you've probably guessed this syle involves whipping open the lab coat and holding it out before wriggling it off. I should really start a picture gallery of each style if I'm going to keep this up. Ahh the things I do to amuse myself.
On another topic, I've been taking different routes home in order to get to know the area, and avoid getting bored of the same old drives. I'm getting back to the stage where I'd love to drive out somewhere for the day, and have a good time before coming back. any suggestions of pretty areas would be welcomed. I'd like to go to Ambleside again, mainly because I love little villages, exploring the shops, cake and book shops most specifically. Really I'd like to start doing things on my weekends to make the most of them, because a person can only take so much sitting at home before they want to go out into the world, to a pretty place and chill.
I may go into Liverpool this saturday, not really far from home, but I have a minted lamb baguette craving to satisfy...
I nearly got to use a wonderful face mask today, known as The Respirator. A fantastic name, which sounds brilliant when said in the style of a movie trailer voice-over guy. In the end I didn't have time to use The Respirator and I'm feeling a little disappointed. So I experimented with more taking-off-the-labcoat styles, todays' style is known as the flasher, probably inspired by Sane Scientists' comment on my last post. The only difference is that I make sure I don't wear popper fastening clothes to work, ensuring that no one gets an eyeful. As you've probably guessed this syle involves whipping open the lab coat and holding it out before wriggling it off. I should really start a picture gallery of each style if I'm going to keep this up. Ahh the things I do to amuse myself.
On another topic, I've been taking different routes home in order to get to know the area, and avoid getting bored of the same old drives. I'm getting back to the stage where I'd love to drive out somewhere for the day, and have a good time before coming back. any suggestions of pretty areas would be welcomed. I'd like to go to Ambleside again, mainly because I love little villages, exploring the shops, cake and book shops most specifically. Really I'd like to start doing things on my weekends to make the most of them, because a person can only take so much sitting at home before they want to go out into the world, to a pretty place and chill.
I may go into Liverpool this saturday, not really far from home, but I have a minted lamb baguette craving to satisfy...
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Super Scientist!
Since my last post probably wasn't all that fun to read through I bring you a gift of a light-hearted post.
In work we have to wear labcoats in the labs (it makes sense doesnt it?), and when we head out of aforementioned labs we have to take them off again, we can't wear them in the office area. This has lead to me using various techniques of taking off the labcoat.
My personal favourite is "The Superhero" thus named as it is reminiscent of all those superheroes ripping their normal clothing off to reveal their superhero outfit while rushing to save the day. I honestly do feel like a superhero doing that one. The only problem is that I can't seem to get a similar rhythm with the safety specs, they're very difficult to slip into a pocket of the labcoat while not wearing it but taking them off first ruins the whole stunningness of "The Superhero" technique.
Hmm aesthetics or functionality, which to choose?
In work we have to wear labcoats in the labs (it makes sense doesnt it?), and when we head out of aforementioned labs we have to take them off again, we can't wear them in the office area. This has lead to me using various techniques of taking off the labcoat.
My personal favourite is "The Superhero" thus named as it is reminiscent of all those superheroes ripping their normal clothing off to reveal their superhero outfit while rushing to save the day. I honestly do feel like a superhero doing that one. The only problem is that I can't seem to get a similar rhythm with the safety specs, they're very difficult to slip into a pocket of the labcoat while not wearing it but taking them off first ruins the whole stunningness of "The Superhero" technique.
Hmm aesthetics or functionality, which to choose?
Monday, August 07, 2006
A bit controversial for a monday night
This is probably not the ideal topic for a monday night, but something today brought it to my mind. A small disclaimer here, my views are my own and I do not apologise for them, just as I do not expect others to apologise for their own views.
While at work today I noticed an increased number of security and even police on premises (and yes I did refrain from shouting "Oh my god, they've found me!" then running away giggling, one must be a professional at work after all). Initially I wondered what it was all about (Alfie; bad joke sorry), then around lunchtime I heard a few colleagues discussing animal rights activists nearby, and then it all clicked into place. Another colleague discussed the topic with me, even down to pointing out the procedure for suspicious phonecalls. It worried me a little that just because I now work for a pharmaceutical company (even in an area where I see no animals whatsoever nevermind test on them) I could be considered a target.
This is nothing new in the grand scheme of things; ALF, an extremist animal rights group has caught the attention of the media over recent months by protesting the building of a laboratory at Oxford University. If it stopped at simple peaceful protesting I doubt many would object to their cause, however they use blatent bullying tactics to try to get their way. This has so far ranged from taking and publishing photographs of the builders working on the site (with the result that the builders have to wear balaclavas to protect their identity) to declaring that anyone associated with Oxford University is a viable target. This includes students of the University; students who may not even be studying science subjects or may in fact be against animal testing themselves. These tactics amount to nothing more than terrorism in my eyes.
Any guesses on my stance on animal testing? Well as you probably realise, I strongly believe in the animal testing in medical and pharmaceutical research. However I do not support animal testing for other reasons such as cosmetics. My reasoning is that medicines are essential to life, lipstick is not (although I have no doubt that some women out there believe it is). How many people have been saved due to drugs or procedures that initially had to be tested on animals?
Animal rights protesters proclaim that animal research is uneccessary, I disagree. Speaking from a pharmaceutical perspective animal testing is vital. Drugs need to go through various levels of testing before they can be administered to humans. These tests aim to reduce the level of risk a human volunteer is exposed to when taking the drug. If animal testing was not done, volunteering for drug trials would be tantamount to suicide.
Many protesters claim that there are alternatives to animal testing, well unfortunately there isn't. There are no methods available to recreate an entire living organism, and this is what drugs testing requires to begin to weed out any possible adverse effects. Again it is a case of reducing the risk to humans who take the drug. Also the law in Britain requires that, where an alternative exists to a procedure using animals, it must be used. This law alone should show that we are still some way off from finidng that alternative.
Finally, scientists are not sadists, many will gladly use alternatives when they become available. Right now however, to keep pushing for cures for disease animals must be used. To those who disagree I will ask a question;
If you or someone you cared about was seriously ill would you refuse a drug that would cure you/them because it had been tested on animals?
I know a lot of people wouldn't, the greater good is needed for the greater number, and millions of people will and have benefitted as a result of animal research.
If anyone wants more information on the positive aspects of animal testing, here's a couple of links for your viewing pleasure;
Animal Rights Myths - some common misconceptions about animal testing
Pro-test - standing up for science
While at work today I noticed an increased number of security and even police on premises (and yes I did refrain from shouting "Oh my god, they've found me!" then running away giggling, one must be a professional at work after all). Initially I wondered what it was all about (Alfie; bad joke sorry), then around lunchtime I heard a few colleagues discussing animal rights activists nearby, and then it all clicked into place. Another colleague discussed the topic with me, even down to pointing out the procedure for suspicious phonecalls. It worried me a little that just because I now work for a pharmaceutical company (even in an area where I see no animals whatsoever nevermind test on them) I could be considered a target.
This is nothing new in the grand scheme of things; ALF, an extremist animal rights group has caught the attention of the media over recent months by protesting the building of a laboratory at Oxford University. If it stopped at simple peaceful protesting I doubt many would object to their cause, however they use blatent bullying tactics to try to get their way. This has so far ranged from taking and publishing photographs of the builders working on the site (with the result that the builders have to wear balaclavas to protect their identity) to declaring that anyone associated with Oxford University is a viable target. This includes students of the University; students who may not even be studying science subjects or may in fact be against animal testing themselves. These tactics amount to nothing more than terrorism in my eyes.
Any guesses on my stance on animal testing? Well as you probably realise, I strongly believe in the animal testing in medical and pharmaceutical research. However I do not support animal testing for other reasons such as cosmetics. My reasoning is that medicines are essential to life, lipstick is not (although I have no doubt that some women out there believe it is). How many people have been saved due to drugs or procedures that initially had to be tested on animals?
Animal rights protesters proclaim that animal research is uneccessary, I disagree. Speaking from a pharmaceutical perspective animal testing is vital. Drugs need to go through various levels of testing before they can be administered to humans. These tests aim to reduce the level of risk a human volunteer is exposed to when taking the drug. If animal testing was not done, volunteering for drug trials would be tantamount to suicide.
Many protesters claim that there are alternatives to animal testing, well unfortunately there isn't. There are no methods available to recreate an entire living organism, and this is what drugs testing requires to begin to weed out any possible adverse effects. Again it is a case of reducing the risk to humans who take the drug. Also the law in Britain requires that, where an alternative exists to a procedure using animals, it must be used. This law alone should show that we are still some way off from finidng that alternative.
Finally, scientists are not sadists, many will gladly use alternatives when they become available. Right now however, to keep pushing for cures for disease animals must be used. To those who disagree I will ask a question;
If you or someone you cared about was seriously ill would you refuse a drug that would cure you/them because it had been tested on animals?
I know a lot of people wouldn't, the greater good is needed for the greater number, and millions of people will and have benefitted as a result of animal research.
If anyone wants more information on the positive aspects of animal testing, here's a couple of links for your viewing pleasure;
Animal Rights Myths - some common misconceptions about animal testing
Pro-test - standing up for science
Saturday, August 05, 2006
A Personals Ad
Fun-loving technologically incompetant girly seeks technological whizz for long romantic chats about burning feeds and other blog related technology. Must have a GSOH and lots of patience. Ideally will be able to cope with short attention spans, hyperactivity and general randomness. Interested? Well who wouldn't be?
Friday, August 04, 2006
The wonders of the subconscious mind
I woke up this morning to a recollection of a strange dream. In this dream the world was going to end, I wasn't exactly sure how or why but I was aware that Armageddon was approaching. So what was I doing in my dream at this point? Well I was lying outside in the rain, did I mention I was naked? It's not quite a technique for surviving Armageddon that I'd recommend but it was certainly a novel one. Anyway, in the dream the world didn't actually end so I went back inside to dry off.
Whenever I remember a dream that I can't interpret myself I tend to turn to The Dream Dictionary to work out what it all means.
Armageddon: Represents a deep rooted fear that my world is about to change dramatically or represents feeling hopeless and out of control.
Rain: Since I was getting wet, apparently it symbolises that I will soon be cleansed from my troubles and problems
Nakedness: Since in the dream I wasn't embarrased by my nudity, it seems to symbolise that I am being more honest with myself and others about who I am, and the coming of a more carefree nature.
A fair few of these do ring a bell. Due to a situation I'm in at the moment, I feel like I'm at the end of an era and hopefully the rain will come and make me a happy carefree person again.
One last thing, for those of you who remember my little bump in the car, the car went in for its' service and MOT and it turns out I've been driving in a deathtrap. I managed to twist the suspension, and it caused one side of the tire to wear down, apparently it was so worn down it could have blown out at any moment. Yes, I know I should check my tires, but I passed my test before we had to do all this lifting up the bonnet and checking the oil milarky. Maybe I'll check them in future. I have a feeling I'm going to regret telling my parents that I'd pay to get the damage fixed...
Whenever I remember a dream that I can't interpret myself I tend to turn to The Dream Dictionary to work out what it all means.
Armageddon: Represents a deep rooted fear that my world is about to change dramatically or represents feeling hopeless and out of control.
Rain: Since I was getting wet, apparently it symbolises that I will soon be cleansed from my troubles and problems
Nakedness: Since in the dream I wasn't embarrased by my nudity, it seems to symbolise that I am being more honest with myself and others about who I am, and the coming of a more carefree nature.
A fair few of these do ring a bell. Due to a situation I'm in at the moment, I feel like I'm at the end of an era and hopefully the rain will come and make me a happy carefree person again.
One last thing, for those of you who remember my little bump in the car, the car went in for its' service and MOT and it turns out I've been driving in a deathtrap. I managed to twist the suspension, and it caused one side of the tire to wear down, apparently it was so worn down it could have blown out at any moment. Yes, I know I should check my tires, but I passed my test before we had to do all this lifting up the bonnet and checking the oil milarky. Maybe I'll check them in future. I have a feeling I'm going to regret telling my parents that I'd pay to get the damage fixed...
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
21 going on 80
I went shopping today after work, and somewhere in the middle of a trendy young store I stopped and felt old. Maybe it was the fact that I was still in my boring work clothes, maybe it was the young girls giggling as I tried up a pair of pedal pushers up against me, or maybe it was just a combination of the two. I definitely feel too old to go out and buy a pair of pedal pushers, yet I will gladly roll my jeans up to pedal pusher length on a hot day, which is a little bizarre I admit. Also while I'm on the subject of feeling old, when did combat trousers become tight? I remember in my day when combats were nice and loose, perfect for slobbing around in. Now today I come to find some lovely slobbing pants (pants in the trouser sense, not the knicker sense) and the eejits have made them skin tight, what is the point? I don't want to show off my booty, I just want loose slobby pants. Now I feel old.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
I'm living clean
Work is seriously tiring me out. I'm not used to being up early, and I'm starting to get that strange thought that work is taking over my life. It's a strange thought as it's only my second day on the job. My theory is that I'll feel better about it once I'm used to it and dont feel as tired. At the moment, I'm up at 6 am, home at 6pm, then I'm too shattered to do anything other than rest.
Anyway, you don't want to hear about that. I had my medical today, just for them to make sure I wasn't gonna drop dead on them any time soon (they have to get their money's worth out of me). The nurse was nice enough, although during the eye test when I mentioned I was short-sighted she replied, "Oh, I know. It's fairly obvious." I don't know what tipped her off, it may have been when she said, "Can you read line B2?" and instead of even guessing I said "Um, no."
You'll also be glad to know I'm completely drug free, we had to take a urine test. Just a brief warning that this next part may be too much information for you all. I think anyone who's ever had a urine test will agree with me when I say peeing into the little cup is fairly difficult. I must have been there for 10 minutes at the very least. I really needed the toilet, but I didnt want to go in the toilet first just in case I didn't have enough left to fill the cup. So all I'm going to say is that it's a good job I have good bladder control. Suffice to say I don't want to take another one any time soon.
Night night all, it's my bedtime.
Anyway, you don't want to hear about that. I had my medical today, just for them to make sure I wasn't gonna drop dead on them any time soon (they have to get their money's worth out of me). The nurse was nice enough, although during the eye test when I mentioned I was short-sighted she replied, "Oh, I know. It's fairly obvious." I don't know what tipped her off, it may have been when she said, "Can you read line B2?" and instead of even guessing I said "Um, no."
You'll also be glad to know I'm completely drug free, we had to take a urine test. Just a brief warning that this next part may be too much information for you all. I think anyone who's ever had a urine test will agree with me when I say peeing into the little cup is fairly difficult. I must have been there for 10 minutes at the very least. I really needed the toilet, but I didnt want to go in the toilet first just in case I didn't have enough left to fill the cup. So all I'm going to say is that it's a good job I have good bladder control. Suffice to say I don't want to take another one any time soon.
Night night all, it's my bedtime.
Monday, July 31, 2006
I'm a working girl (not in the hooker sense)
First day of work has really tired me out, I'm not used to getting up at 6 am. Despite the tiredness it was a really good day and my co-workers all seem to be nice people.
Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk about. I've decided I must learn Turkish. I had a lovely conversation with a Turkish friend of mine on msn. She doesn't speak much English, I speak hardly any turkish. But still we managed to have a conversation. It was mostly in English, but occasionally with some Turkish thrown in if she didn't understand what I was saying. Ok, it involved me sitting there flicking through my Turkish/English dictionary, but I was glad I did. I have a lot of respect for this girl due to the fact that although she doesnt know much English, she doesn't stay shy and hold back. Instead she tries to speak as much as she can, not overly worried about a mistake or two. That's pretty much the opposite of me when I'm learning a language, I worry about making a mistake so much that I avoid speaking it sometimes. That must come to an end, by next year I want to be at least conversational level in Turkish.
One drawback so far, I don't have a teacher. Anyone know of anyone looking to teach Turkish?
Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk about. I've decided I must learn Turkish. I had a lovely conversation with a Turkish friend of mine on msn. She doesn't speak much English, I speak hardly any turkish. But still we managed to have a conversation. It was mostly in English, but occasionally with some Turkish thrown in if she didn't understand what I was saying. Ok, it involved me sitting there flicking through my Turkish/English dictionary, but I was glad I did. I have a lot of respect for this girl due to the fact that although she doesnt know much English, she doesn't stay shy and hold back. Instead she tries to speak as much as she can, not overly worried about a mistake or two. That's pretty much the opposite of me when I'm learning a language, I worry about making a mistake so much that I avoid speaking it sometimes. That must come to an end, by next year I want to be at least conversational level in Turkish.
One drawback so far, I don't have a teacher. Anyone know of anyone looking to teach Turkish?
Friday, July 28, 2006
As my days of slackerhood come to an end...
Well, yesterday I had a phonecall, and to cut a short story ever shorter, I have a job for the next 4 months. It's at a pharmaceutical company not too far from me, it's a really good company and will give me full training. That should lead to a longer term job, more money and consequently a very happy Lola. Not that I want to give the impression that I'm only interested in money, I'm not, it's just that money is very nice to have and it'll also be paying for my university fees when I return next year.
Right now as well as writing this blog I'm doing the very grown up task of searching for a savings account to put this money. I have an ISA already but I dont like removing money from that, and I obviously have my graduate account, but money would soon "disappear" (aka: be spent) from that account if I kept it there. I'm confusing myself though. So I may have to get a grown up to advise me on the best account option, heh.
I'll stick to a short entry today to make up for the massive one the other day.
Toodles
Right now as well as writing this blog I'm doing the very grown up task of searching for a savings account to put this money. I have an ISA already but I dont like removing money from that, and I obviously have my graduate account, but money would soon "disappear" (aka: be spent) from that account if I kept it there. I'm confusing myself though. So I may have to get a grown up to advise me on the best account option, heh.
I'll stick to a short entry today to make up for the massive one the other day.
Toodles
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
War and Peace aka The story of the destruction of our villa
Well I'm back in the country after two glorious weeks away. A good time was had by all.
Just a quick warning: This shall be a long post. And also I'm kidding about the destruction, more or less...
We stayed in a gorgeous villa, and from day one my mum was finding broken things and panicking in case the owners thought we were responsible and took away our deposit. They were minor things really, cracks in things, stains on surfaces, etc. The air conditioning in two rooms wasnt working, the workmen got one of them working but not the other, but as the not-working one was in my sisters' room and she doesnt use air conditioning anyway, it didnt matter too much for us. Nearing the second week there was a problem with the toilets, the workmen had to dig up the road outside the villa to fix the problem (I think they hated us for that as it had to be done urgently). And finally mum burnt down the kitchen, well I'm exaggerating there. All that happened was a pan caught fire and went out by itself once we took it off the heat, not a single thing was singed and all the pan needed was a good clean. But it's fun to joke about. Mum didn't cook for the rest of the holiday.
The rest of the holiday went rather uneventfully, with plenty of relaxing in the sun, eating good food, drinking good alcohol, and meeting up with old friends. We learnt more Turkish than we ever have before and I shall teach you all how to count to ten in Turkish. The pronunciations are in brackets.
One = Bir (Beer)
Two = Iki (Icky)
Three = Üç (Ooch)
Four = Dört (Dirt)
Five = Beş (Besh)
Six = Altı (Altuh)
Seven = Yedi (Yedy)
Eight = Sekiz (Sekiz)
Nine = Dokuz (Dokuz)
Ten = On (On)
Well done, you can all count to ten in Turkish.
As I said, the holiday was fairly uneventful until we got back to the airport. It took us over 12 hours from villa to home, and then I had a job interview to get to. Here is a (supposedly) brief timeline of events;
23:00; Wait for pre-arranged taxi to airport
23:10; Phone office to find out whereabouts of pre-arranged taxi
23:15; Taxi arrives at villa, accuses us of not coming into the office to confirm times of pick up, we informed him that we did on the previous saturday, taxi man goes quiet.
00:15; Arrive at Dalaman airport, see size of the queue for check in and grumble.
00:40; Check in and get told by an airline rep that there is a delay of four hours for the flight, (this means that flight hasn't left Manchester yet) but that refreshments should be provided for us.
00:45; Find a place to sit and dump bags with Dad while we go off to check out the selection of duty free items.
01:15; Return with two bottles of Southern Comfort, a bottle of orange liquer, and a large bar of chocolate, look at the screen detailing our flight, it says "indefinite delay" this means plane has still not left Manchester (due to a mechanical problem that engineers were working on)
01:20; Fall asleep on a makshift bed of two wicker chairs (not the most comfy things), Dad and sister sleep on the floor, while Mum reads book and watches bags.
05:00; Awake to sound of Mum and Dad mentioning food, apparently mum and others on flight went to the information desk and kicked up a fuss about refreshments that had been promised but hadn't yet materialised. Rep called England to check if it was ok to do that, and finally we were all allowed a chicken burger, fries and a coke from KFC.
05:20; Finish eating, and go back to sleep, this time on one wicker chair with my head on the table.
07:30; Wake up again, get told that the flight is now scheduled for 08:30
08:30; Board flight and make way to England
10:30; Arrive at Manchester Airport
11:20; Retrieve luggage and rendevous with our taxi home
12:10; Arrive at home, 13 hours after initially starting our journey.
13:00; Leave house for job interview
13:50; Arrive at job interview
A very close thing it was with that interview. I was so tired I could have slept through it, but I didn't. I think I babbled and didn't make much sense though. Ah well, I shall find out today what their verdict is.
And I shall leave you there before I bore you any further with my babblings. Before I go though I shall post a picture from my graduation ball and from my graduation. Both of which I got today.
And a couple from my hols
I also have a picture of my in a bikini, but no one shall be seeing that...
Toodles
Just a quick warning: This shall be a long post. And also I'm kidding about the destruction, more or less...
We stayed in a gorgeous villa, and from day one my mum was finding broken things and panicking in case the owners thought we were responsible and took away our deposit. They were minor things really, cracks in things, stains on surfaces, etc. The air conditioning in two rooms wasnt working, the workmen got one of them working but not the other, but as the not-working one was in my sisters' room and she doesnt use air conditioning anyway, it didnt matter too much for us. Nearing the second week there was a problem with the toilets, the workmen had to dig up the road outside the villa to fix the problem (I think they hated us for that as it had to be done urgently). And finally mum burnt down the kitchen, well I'm exaggerating there. All that happened was a pan caught fire and went out by itself once we took it off the heat, not a single thing was singed and all the pan needed was a good clean. But it's fun to joke about. Mum didn't cook for the rest of the holiday.
The rest of the holiday went rather uneventfully, with plenty of relaxing in the sun, eating good food, drinking good alcohol, and meeting up with old friends. We learnt more Turkish than we ever have before and I shall teach you all how to count to ten in Turkish. The pronunciations are in brackets.
One = Bir (Beer)
Two = Iki (Icky)
Three = Üç (Ooch)
Four = Dört (Dirt)
Five = Beş (Besh)
Six = Altı (Altuh)
Seven = Yedi (Yedy)
Eight = Sekiz (Sekiz)
Nine = Dokuz (Dokuz)
Ten = On (On)
Well done, you can all count to ten in Turkish.
As I said, the holiday was fairly uneventful until we got back to the airport. It took us over 12 hours from villa to home, and then I had a job interview to get to. Here is a (supposedly) brief timeline of events;
23:00; Wait for pre-arranged taxi to airport
23:10; Phone office to find out whereabouts of pre-arranged taxi
23:15; Taxi arrives at villa, accuses us of not coming into the office to confirm times of pick up, we informed him that we did on the previous saturday, taxi man goes quiet.
00:15; Arrive at Dalaman airport, see size of the queue for check in and grumble.
00:40; Check in and get told by an airline rep that there is a delay of four hours for the flight, (this means that flight hasn't left Manchester yet) but that refreshments should be provided for us.
00:45; Find a place to sit and dump bags with Dad while we go off to check out the selection of duty free items.
01:15; Return with two bottles of Southern Comfort, a bottle of orange liquer, and a large bar of chocolate, look at the screen detailing our flight, it says "indefinite delay" this means plane has still not left Manchester (due to a mechanical problem that engineers were working on)
01:20; Fall asleep on a makshift bed of two wicker chairs (not the most comfy things), Dad and sister sleep on the floor, while Mum reads book and watches bags.
05:00; Awake to sound of Mum and Dad mentioning food, apparently mum and others on flight went to the information desk and kicked up a fuss about refreshments that had been promised but hadn't yet materialised. Rep called England to check if it was ok to do that, and finally we were all allowed a chicken burger, fries and a coke from KFC.
05:20; Finish eating, and go back to sleep, this time on one wicker chair with my head on the table.
07:30; Wake up again, get told that the flight is now scheduled for 08:30
08:30; Board flight and make way to England
10:30; Arrive at Manchester Airport
11:20; Retrieve luggage and rendevous with our taxi home
12:10; Arrive at home, 13 hours after initially starting our journey.
13:00; Leave house for job interview
13:50; Arrive at job interview
A very close thing it was with that interview. I was so tired I could have slept through it, but I didn't. I think I babbled and didn't make much sense though. Ah well, I shall find out today what their verdict is.
And I shall leave you there before I bore you any further with my babblings. Before I go though I shall post a picture from my graduation ball and from my graduation. Both of which I got today.
And a couple from my hols
I also have a picture of my in a bikini, but no one shall be seeing that...
Toodles
Monday, July 17, 2006
Greetings from sunny Barbados...
Well, Im not in Barbados, that just sounds a bit better than Turkey. Nevermınd, the sun is shining, the weather is hot hot hot and Ive forgotten to bring the post I so lovingly wrote out the other day on old fashioned paper. Oh well, I have lımıted tıme, so Im gonna go with the flow and see if that takes me somewhere into the realm of good blogs.
Firstly I apologise for the odd characters, its a turkish keyboard. I promise Ill edit this post when Im back home. Secondly, yes Im sad for being in an internet cafe while on holiday. Thirdly, Ive been been bitten to hıgh heaven by damn insects, I must be tasty. Anyway, I,d best leave it at that for now and update more when I have time to.
Güle güle
Firstly I apologise for the odd characters, its a turkish keyboard. I promise Ill edit this post when Im back home. Secondly, yes Im sad for being in an internet cafe while on holiday. Thirdly, Ive been been bitten to hıgh heaven by damn insects, I must be tasty. Anyway, I,d best leave it at that for now and update more when I have time to.
Güle güle
Monday, July 10, 2006
Holiday
This is a bit of a short post, because in 15 minutes time I shall be whisked away to the airport for my hols to Turkey. My posts may be sporadic or not at all depending on how my time on the internet over there pans out. Have fun in my absence.
Gule Gule (Turkish for see you later)
Gule Gule (Turkish for see you later)
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Biohazard in the kitchen
Morning everyone.
Firstly I must apologise for not posting last night, but I had my graduation ball. So as soon as I'd gotten in from work it was a case of rushing to get ready to get out the house, and when I got back lets just say I was a little bit tipsy to be blogging. I'm sensible enough to realise that drunkeness on the internet is likely to just make a prat of myself. Yay me.
Anyways, the title of this blog is probably aroused your curiosity, and before I tell the tale, let me just say that I couldn't have made this up even if I tried. Yesterday was my last day at work, and the kids had a heart dissection practical first thing in the morning. The hearts had been left in the fridge overnight to defrost them, but when myself and the teacher came to them in the morning they were still solid. This situation required some quick thinking...
"We could put them in the microwave," the teacher suggested.
Well, I was game for that, thinking that there was a microwave lurking somewhere around the science department for just this sort of incident. Unfortunately I was wrong.
So there I was standing in the staff room kitchen, a biohazard bag in my hands, watching these hearts go round on a plate, and praying that people wouldn't see. One of the other members of the science faculty smiled at me from the water cooler,
"You having a late breakfast?"
"Erm, not exactly..." I called back.
"Is it an experiment?" he asked.
"Sort of." As you can see, questioning me with hearts in a microwave makes me very monosyllabic.
"What is it?"
"You don't want to know..."
That put an end to that conversation more or less. Anyway, 10 minutes later and the hearts seemed an ok temperature. So off I snuck back to the science department with the hearts safely in the biohazard bag and handed them over. I then returned to fully clean out the microwave, it was sparkling when I left it, no more dried up food in that old thing. While I was doing that another science teacher came in.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm cleaning out the microwave."
"Why?"
"Don't ask."
"You haven't had the hearts in there have you?"
"I did say not to ask."
Anyway, the dissection didn't go as exactly planned due to the odd fact that someone had already cut them up, then returned them to the freezer where we found them. Apparently the kids still seemed to enjoy it though.
The ball last night was very good, the meal was good, the entertainment I enjoyed, even though the dude with the chocolate fountain was packing away just as we got to him, git. I got some nice jewels on my forehead, and most of them are still there this morning. I got a proper picture taken which I should receive after I get back off holiday, and I got a silly picture taken which I shall show you in a moment or two. I had a few glasses of wine then moved on to Southern Comfort and coke, very nice. My dress, considering it wasn't my perfect dress looked nice and I did enjoy feeling posh in a full length dress.
Here's a pic of me playing Buffy;
Once my other pics are on the computer I'll post one of me in my glad rags.
Now, last bit. Yesterday was the first anniversary of the London bombings, so I'd just like to take a moment to think of those who were killed or injured and their families. I'd also like to thank everyone who went above and beyond the call of duty on that day, the emergency services and even ordinary people. Thank you.
Firstly I must apologise for not posting last night, but I had my graduation ball. So as soon as I'd gotten in from work it was a case of rushing to get ready to get out the house, and when I got back lets just say I was a little bit tipsy to be blogging. I'm sensible enough to realise that drunkeness on the internet is likely to just make a prat of myself. Yay me.
Anyways, the title of this blog is probably aroused your curiosity, and before I tell the tale, let me just say that I couldn't have made this up even if I tried. Yesterday was my last day at work, and the kids had a heart dissection practical first thing in the morning. The hearts had been left in the fridge overnight to defrost them, but when myself and the teacher came to them in the morning they were still solid. This situation required some quick thinking...
"We could put them in the microwave," the teacher suggested.
Well, I was game for that, thinking that there was a microwave lurking somewhere around the science department for just this sort of incident. Unfortunately I was wrong.
So there I was standing in the staff room kitchen, a biohazard bag in my hands, watching these hearts go round on a plate, and praying that people wouldn't see. One of the other members of the science faculty smiled at me from the water cooler,
"You having a late breakfast?"
"Erm, not exactly..." I called back.
"Is it an experiment?" he asked.
"Sort of." As you can see, questioning me with hearts in a microwave makes me very monosyllabic.
"What is it?"
"You don't want to know..."
That put an end to that conversation more or less. Anyway, 10 minutes later and the hearts seemed an ok temperature. So off I snuck back to the science department with the hearts safely in the biohazard bag and handed them over. I then returned to fully clean out the microwave, it was sparkling when I left it, no more dried up food in that old thing. While I was doing that another science teacher came in.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm cleaning out the microwave."
"Why?"
"Don't ask."
"You haven't had the hearts in there have you?"
"I did say not to ask."
Anyway, the dissection didn't go as exactly planned due to the odd fact that someone had already cut them up, then returned them to the freezer where we found them. Apparently the kids still seemed to enjoy it though.
The ball last night was very good, the meal was good, the entertainment I enjoyed, even though the dude with the chocolate fountain was packing away just as we got to him, git. I got some nice jewels on my forehead, and most of them are still there this morning. I got a proper picture taken which I should receive after I get back off holiday, and I got a silly picture taken which I shall show you in a moment or two. I had a few glasses of wine then moved on to Southern Comfort and coke, very nice. My dress, considering it wasn't my perfect dress looked nice and I did enjoy feeling posh in a full length dress.
Here's a pic of me playing Buffy;
Once my other pics are on the computer I'll post one of me in my glad rags.
Now, last bit. Yesterday was the first anniversary of the London bombings, so I'd just like to take a moment to think of those who were killed or injured and their families. I'd also like to thank everyone who went above and beyond the call of duty on that day, the emergency services and even ordinary people. Thank you.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Bloodbaths and conspiracies
I've been noticing the effect that blogging is having over my life at the moment. I'm noticing more about my day than I ever did before, in the vain hope that something interesting will happen for me to blog about. It's paying off really. I never used to be one to notice things before, or pay much attention to my somewhat boring days. I'm certain that my life wasn't boring before this, it was just me not realising the things that went on around me. So there's a nice positive for the blog, my life now seems more interesting as a result.
Today in work I had to dispose of some quite suspect items. Last week I'd made fake blood for use in a practical, and as it's shelf life wasn't that long (it had milk as its' main ingredient) I had to chuck it. Well, where is the most logical place to get rid of fake blood? Down the sink. Well, I had to applaud my efforts as I was pouring the blood down the drain. It all looked like a scene from Psycho (eee, eee, eee, eee). The blood was a perfect dark red which diluted nicely with the water in the sink. I dread to think what people would have thought if they'd have seen it. I was gutted that my camera phone was still getting fixed, otherwise you could have been treated to a lovely fake blood bloodbath picture.
If anyone thinks I'm a little sick for that, I do have an explanation. Casualty simulation is a bit of a hobby of mine, and also useful in SJA. So yes, I like new ideas for making up fake blood that actually looks real. I also like making up fake amputations (usually fingers as I'm not that advanced), burns and anything other injury you can chuck at me. If anyone would like some fake blood recipes, I have two, one for real looking disgusting tasting blood, and one for quite nice tasting blood (good for bleeding from the mouth) just ask me. Although this stuff tends to stain so please don't blame me when you can't get it out of your mothers brand new cream carpet.
Something in work tickled me today. My coworkers are all lovely, funny people, and this particular dinnertime they had discovered something about a supposedly anonymous questionnaire they had to fill in. It turns out that each questionnaire, despite looking like a photocopy, had a unique number on it, meaning that the questionnaire could be tracked if someone had recorded the numbers and the member of staff each number belonged to. Conspiracy, they cried. The rest of the lunch break was spent working out how to hand these questionnaires back in while being sure of their anonymity, with suggestions from photocopying one persons' questionnaire, to tip-exing out the unique number (tip-ex, what a wonderful thing). It just tickled me, seeing all these lovely sciencey people talking over a conspiracy theory.
I apologise for revealing that I watch Big Brother. I know it's not big and it's not clever, but this year I'm hooked. Anyone else think Jane is evil? Anyway enough of that, I don't want this to turn into a Big Brother blog.
This is the longest post I've done so far and I'm basically talking crap. Yay me!
Today in work I had to dispose of some quite suspect items. Last week I'd made fake blood for use in a practical, and as it's shelf life wasn't that long (it had milk as its' main ingredient) I had to chuck it. Well, where is the most logical place to get rid of fake blood? Down the sink. Well, I had to applaud my efforts as I was pouring the blood down the drain. It all looked like a scene from Psycho (eee, eee, eee, eee). The blood was a perfect dark red which diluted nicely with the water in the sink. I dread to think what people would have thought if they'd have seen it. I was gutted that my camera phone was still getting fixed, otherwise you could have been treated to a lovely fake blood bloodbath picture.
If anyone thinks I'm a little sick for that, I do have an explanation. Casualty simulation is a bit of a hobby of mine, and also useful in SJA. So yes, I like new ideas for making up fake blood that actually looks real. I also like making up fake amputations (usually fingers as I'm not that advanced), burns and anything other injury you can chuck at me. If anyone would like some fake blood recipes, I have two, one for real looking disgusting tasting blood, and one for quite nice tasting blood (good for bleeding from the mouth) just ask me. Although this stuff tends to stain so please don't blame me when you can't get it out of your mothers brand new cream carpet.
Something in work tickled me today. My coworkers are all lovely, funny people, and this particular dinnertime they had discovered something about a supposedly anonymous questionnaire they had to fill in. It turns out that each questionnaire, despite looking like a photocopy, had a unique number on it, meaning that the questionnaire could be tracked if someone had recorded the numbers and the member of staff each number belonged to. Conspiracy, they cried. The rest of the lunch break was spent working out how to hand these questionnaires back in while being sure of their anonymity, with suggestions from photocopying one persons' questionnaire, to tip-exing out the unique number (tip-ex, what a wonderful thing). It just tickled me, seeing all these lovely sciencey people talking over a conspiracy theory.
I apologise for revealing that I watch Big Brother. I know it's not big and it's not clever, but this year I'm hooked. Anyone else think Jane is evil? Anyway enough of that, I don't want this to turn into a Big Brother blog.
This is the longest post I've done so far and I'm basically talking crap. Yay me!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Never trust the postal service...
I had a somewhat frantic phonecall from my recruitment company today. Apparently they'd hadn't received my timesheet after I'd posted it in last friday, and if they didn't receive it within an hour I wouldn't get paid this week. The problem was that I didn't have a copy of my timesheet to fax to them. I remembered the personnel officer had photocopied it after she'd signed it, which was a lifesaver. She wasn't in today, but a girl in the office dug a copy out for me so I could fax it on. So todays' wonder women are the colleges' office people, including the nice lady who taught me how to send a fax (would you believe I'd never touched a fax machine before?). Anyway, now that's sorted I should be getting two weeks worth of pay on friday, just in time to draw out money for my holidays and also get me out of minus money.
Right now I'm feeling a little upset, Aislene had to properly evict one of the other housemates of the house-next-door and she'd been left with the two ones she liked the most, Spiral and Jonathon. In the end she chose Jonathon after much prompting and deadlines from Big Brother, as he'd said earlier that he'd be able to cope with it best. She was so upset and I really don't like seeing people cry, it makes me want to cry, and these were proper sobs. Some people seem to think she was putting it on, but I honestly don't think she is. If ever there was a reason for sobbing your heart out, I think this would be the one of them (maye not much in the grand scheme of things, but it's still upsetting). Anyway, I don't know if anyone ever watched the first season of Angel, but if you did and remember Doyle, Spiral reminds me so much of him. It's not just the really brogue Irish accent... honestly.
Yes, I do realise I'm really sad and pathetic for being affected in this way by Big Brother. I'm going to go and tidy up, to help me be less pathetic.
Right now I'm feeling a little upset, Aislene had to properly evict one of the other housemates of the house-next-door and she'd been left with the two ones she liked the most, Spiral and Jonathon. In the end she chose Jonathon after much prompting and deadlines from Big Brother, as he'd said earlier that he'd be able to cope with it best. She was so upset and I really don't like seeing people cry, it makes me want to cry, and these were proper sobs. Some people seem to think she was putting it on, but I honestly don't think she is. If ever there was a reason for sobbing your heart out, I think this would be the one of them (maye not much in the grand scheme of things, but it's still upsetting). Anyway, I don't know if anyone ever watched the first season of Angel, but if you did and remember Doyle, Spiral reminds me so much of him. It's not just the really brogue Irish accent... honestly.
Yes, I do realise I'm really sad and pathetic for being affected in this way by Big Brother. I'm going to go and tidy up, to help me be less pathetic.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Unacceptable heat and dented metal
I'm sitting here, in a bit of a foul mood and sweating. Today has been boiling. Yes, I know I'm one of these moaning people who whenever the sun comes out moans about it being too hot. Well I'm working through the day time and I'm really not productive at all in the heat, so I reserve the right to moan.
Anyway, enough of that, it isn't really the heat that's put me in a bad humour, although that's made me somewhat drowsy. I'm in a bad mood because I drove my car into a bollard and have a lovely dent on the wheel arch. "Why did you drive your car into a bollard?" I hear you ask, well I wasn't paying attention when I was coming out of the car park at work. I was too busy trying to find my token to lift the car park barrier so I took the corner too wide and went into a bollard along the side. The bollard is ok you'll all be glad to know.
I heard this song when I got home and thought it seemed quite apt for me today at least. Enjoy.
http://www.thefridayproject.co.uk/audio/fitness/images/art/wheels.mp3
It's by two blokes, and they have tons of good songs, just google Amateur Transplants, and have a gander. I like The Drugs Song, and Paracetemoxyfrusebendroneomycin (with me being a pharmacology student) and they've gone some way towards cheering me up after the car thing. Ah well, as my mate said, "It's only metal."
Anyway, enough of that, it isn't really the heat that's put me in a bad humour, although that's made me somewhat drowsy. I'm in a bad mood because I drove my car into a bollard and have a lovely dent on the wheel arch. "Why did you drive your car into a bollard?" I hear you ask, well I wasn't paying attention when I was coming out of the car park at work. I was too busy trying to find my token to lift the car park barrier so I took the corner too wide and went into a bollard along the side. The bollard is ok you'll all be glad to know.
I heard this song when I got home and thought it seemed quite apt for me today at least. Enjoy.
http://www.thefridayproject.co.uk/audio/fitness/images/art/wheels.mp3
It's by two blokes, and they have tons of good songs, just google Amateur Transplants, and have a gander. I like The Drugs Song, and Paracetemoxyfrusebendroneomycin (with me being a pharmacology student) and they've gone some way towards cheering me up after the car thing. Ah well, as my mate said, "It's only metal."
Monday, July 03, 2006
The Big Day
Well ladies and gents, the big event for me and any other graduand... graduation. I got the cap and gown, and wore them til I was near- ready to collapse from heat exhaution, got my picture taken until I was sick of it, and got my pretty certificate certifying that I am no longer a student but a graduate.
Just for those of you who care, here's a lovely picture of me in my robes. Yep, I felt a prat, but I wasn't the only one feeling like that.
Anyhow it was a nice day off with a fair bit of celebration *cough*drinking*cough*. Back to work tomorrow, grrr.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Numero Uno
Wow, it's my first post. I feel like I should be saying something profound, even though I doubt anyone other than my mates will read this (if they even bother reading it). Unfortunately my most profound thought at this minute is me wishing this fly would stop buzzing around my room... damn open windows.
Anyway, enough of this fly talk. The blog will be as it says on the tin, well at the top of the page. The life and times of me starting from now. So to give you a bit of a backstory, here is what my life looks like now...
I'm awaiting my graduation, which is in fact tomorrow, so watch this space for silly pictures of me in a cap and gown.
As of next week I shall be technically unemployed, as my temporary job as a lab technician in a school shall come to an end. Although I won't be particularly bothered for two weeks after that, as I'm off to the shores of sunny Turkey on holiday. So really my job hunting trials won't be too much of a stress until three weeks time.
My long term aim is to become a pharmacist, so a pharmacy degree shall be on the cards some time in the future, so long as I can gather together enough money to pay for the new top-up fees. The entire degree will set me back £12, 000 in fees alone, never mind living expenses. I'm a student at heart, so my venture into "the real world" should be quite an eye-opener.
I'm a member of St John Ambulance LINKS, and have been for three years now. I'm officially an "oldbie". I have fun out on duty, and I'm looking forward to at least the next year as just a member. The stress of being chairperson of Links really takes it out of a person, although at the same time it is rewarding.
I'm a gymnastics coach, and as it says in my profile, please don't proposition me using that information. I've heard enough kinky chat up lines ranging from; "Do you still have your leotards? Can I see you in them?" to "Can you get your legs behind your head?" so it's a bit of a pet peeve of mine.
Finally some random info; I'm a false redhead and adore the colour so no ginger jokes please. And I'm a little random, as you will soon learn, so please bear with me if I go off on one. Also, I get distracted very easily so if I haven't posted in a while then you all have my permission to give me a kick up the backside.
Anyway, enough of this fly talk. The blog will be as it says on the tin, well at the top of the page. The life and times of me starting from now. So to give you a bit of a backstory, here is what my life looks like now...
I'm awaiting my graduation, which is in fact tomorrow, so watch this space for silly pictures of me in a cap and gown.
As of next week I shall be technically unemployed, as my temporary job as a lab technician in a school shall come to an end. Although I won't be particularly bothered for two weeks after that, as I'm off to the shores of sunny Turkey on holiday. So really my job hunting trials won't be too much of a stress until three weeks time.
My long term aim is to become a pharmacist, so a pharmacy degree shall be on the cards some time in the future, so long as I can gather together enough money to pay for the new top-up fees. The entire degree will set me back £12, 000 in fees alone, never mind living expenses. I'm a student at heart, so my venture into "the real world" should be quite an eye-opener.
I'm a member of St John Ambulance LINKS, and have been for three years now. I'm officially an "oldbie". I have fun out on duty, and I'm looking forward to at least the next year as just a member. The stress of being chairperson of Links really takes it out of a person, although at the same time it is rewarding.
I'm a gymnastics coach, and as it says in my profile, please don't proposition me using that information. I've heard enough kinky chat up lines ranging from; "Do you still have your leotards? Can I see you in them?" to "Can you get your legs behind your head?" so it's a bit of a pet peeve of mine.
Finally some random info; I'm a false redhead and adore the colour so no ginger jokes please. And I'm a little random, as you will soon learn, so please bear with me if I go off on one. Also, I get distracted very easily so if I haven't posted in a while then you all have my permission to give me a kick up the backside.
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