This week was relatively uneventful, lethargic, a little sad and a little stressful.
Best part of the week: Only going to work one day out of five.
Worst part of the week: Having a weird cold/flu/sickness that kept me at home for the other four days.
Saddest part of the week: Seeing my girl Erin's last day at work...and realising that means she also leaves the country in a week's time!
Biggest realisation of the week: That I really do hate my job and have to apply for a new one VERY soon.
Expectation of the week: That I might not have been deluded all this time. Was I right? No.
Most exciting event of the week: Payday!
Most depressing act of the week: Paying all my bills on payday and finding there was virtually nothing left over.
You know, some weeks are just better forgotten about! Lol.
Friday, 27 February 2009
Friday Fill-In #23
1. I'm exhausted, I'm a little fed up, I have a migraine. :o(
2. Why do I have so many bills and not enough money?
3. How does this 'getting over it' business work, anyway?
4. Every morning, I put a smile on my face.
5. I consider myself lucky because I have a lot in my life to be thankful for, including lots of wonderful people.
6. One day we’ll see if I'm proved right, or just delusional.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing at home with the fam, tomorrow my plans include possibly visiting an new old place and Sunday, I want to complete some job applications!
Friday Fill-Ins come courtesy of Janet. Click the button to play too!
2. Why do I have so many bills and not enough money?
3. How does this 'getting over it' business work, anyway?
4. Every morning, I put a smile on my face.
5. I consider myself lucky because I have a lot in my life to be thankful for, including lots of wonderful people.
6. One day we’ll see if I'm proved right, or just delusional.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing at home with the fam, tomorrow my plans include possibly visiting an new old place and Sunday, I want to complete some job applications!
Friday Fill-Ins come courtesy of Janet. Click the button to play too!
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Friday Fill-In #22
1. Give me lemonade and I'll only taste the lemons. Lol!
2. Whenever you're nice to me, I have second thoughts.
3. I wish things had worked out differently.
4. Apple and cinnamon frangipan and custard was the last thing I ate that was utterly delicious.
5. To live in this world is both a privilege and temporary, but I sometimes forget this.
6. Other than this one, Irish's Ticket to Anywhere is the last blog I commented on. I don't comment all that much...
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner with the fam, tomorrow my plans include singing 'He Knows My Name' at church and Sunday, I want to chill out and brace myself for the return to work!
2. Whenever you're nice to me, I have second thoughts.
3. I wish things had worked out differently.
4. Apple and cinnamon frangipan and custard was the last thing I ate that was utterly delicious.
5. To live in this world is both a privilege and temporary, but I sometimes forget this.
6. Other than this one, Irish's Ticket to Anywhere is the last blog I commented on. I don't comment all that much...
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner with the fam, tomorrow my plans include singing 'He Knows My Name' at church and Sunday, I want to chill out and brace myself for the return to work!
Monday, 16 February 2009
Dream, dream, dream...
I have been preoccupied with dreams, lately. Not the ambitious, what-I-want-to-do-with-my-life kind of dream, but the subconscious, rapid-eye-movement-sleep kind of dream. It may have something to do with a recent BBC documentary I watched entitled Why Do We Dream? which made some interesting observations. It may also have a little to do with the section of M. Scott Peck's book The Road Less Travelled that I read this morning, entitled The Miracle of the Subconscious, which suggests that our subconscious mind, from which our dreams emanate, is very important for understanding who we are. But it may mostly come down to the fact that I seem to remember my dreams relatively often, maybe in part because they are often quite detailed and very often a little weird.
In the past two weeks I have had several dreams about babies. In particular, I have had two dreams about a man I am close to revealing that he has a child by another woman. I then had a dream that I was looking after someone else's baby and after placing the baby on a bed, they slid off the bed, luckily remaining unhurt, as I scooped them up as they reached the floor. Then I had a dream that I was pregnant, unhappily so, and upon telling the father, he had no concept of why the situation was anything other than fine. Perhaps my subconscious is trying to tell me something? Exactly what, I'm yet to deduce.
Then last night, I had a dream that contained a recurring theme for me, a situation I have dreamt of many times before, but can't remember doing so for quite a while. I am always in the same kind of vulnerable situation, one that should be private, but other people or a specific person can see me. The situation is always pretty much the same, but it happens in different places and with different people. It always seems to pop into my dreams when I am troubled, or feeling insecure or anxious about a specific situation. Because it is a recurring dream, it always sticks in my mind when it pops up again. It seems to be a way of my subconscious getting my attention. "Hey! It's me! You've had that weird dream again when you feel all awkward and exposed. Remember that one? Yeah, it's a sign that you're ignoring me, again. Sort out what's going on in your head, or you'll be dreaming it again tomorrow."
Having this dream is usually not a good reflection on my state of mind, but at least it's a warning. Apparently, dreams are a way of consolidating our memories and collating our thoughts and emotions, which can lead to resolution. Maybe kind of like a mental filing system. I find this concept intriguing. I certainly know that my vivid and detailed dreams of late are an indication of things playing on my mind that are unresolved and not understood. I quite like the idea that my subconscious tries to make sense of these things while I sleep, playing out strange situations and conversations before me that puzzle me into analysis. It makes deciphering some of my thoughts somewhat easier, to wake up and find my brain has come to a conclusion while my body slept. Now if only I could wake and find that I had also taken the necessary action in my sleep to solve these problems, I would be on to a winner...
In the past two weeks I have had several dreams about babies. In particular, I have had two dreams about a man I am close to revealing that he has a child by another woman. I then had a dream that I was looking after someone else's baby and after placing the baby on a bed, they slid off the bed, luckily remaining unhurt, as I scooped them up as they reached the floor. Then I had a dream that I was pregnant, unhappily so, and upon telling the father, he had no concept of why the situation was anything other than fine. Perhaps my subconscious is trying to tell me something? Exactly what, I'm yet to deduce.
Then last night, I had a dream that contained a recurring theme for me, a situation I have dreamt of many times before, but can't remember doing so for quite a while. I am always in the same kind of vulnerable situation, one that should be private, but other people or a specific person can see me. The situation is always pretty much the same, but it happens in different places and with different people. It always seems to pop into my dreams when I am troubled, or feeling insecure or anxious about a specific situation. Because it is a recurring dream, it always sticks in my mind when it pops up again. It seems to be a way of my subconscious getting my attention. "Hey! It's me! You've had that weird dream again when you feel all awkward and exposed. Remember that one? Yeah, it's a sign that you're ignoring me, again. Sort out what's going on in your head, or you'll be dreaming it again tomorrow."
Having this dream is usually not a good reflection on my state of mind, but at least it's a warning. Apparently, dreams are a way of consolidating our memories and collating our thoughts and emotions, which can lead to resolution. Maybe kind of like a mental filing system. I find this concept intriguing. I certainly know that my vivid and detailed dreams of late are an indication of things playing on my mind that are unresolved and not understood. I quite like the idea that my subconscious tries to make sense of these things while I sleep, playing out strange situations and conversations before me that puzzle me into analysis. It makes deciphering some of my thoughts somewhat easier, to wake up and find my brain has come to a conclusion while my body slept. Now if only I could wake and find that I had also taken the necessary action in my sleep to solve these problems, I would be on to a winner...
Saturday, 14 February 2009
Not Alone, But Lonely
I completely understand the notion of being alone, while not being lonely. I am content in my own company. I remember being about 8 years old, coming home from school on my own and being the first one there. I usually had about an hour before anyone else got home. I loved that time. I loved the independence of it, the quiet time where I got to do whatever I wanted. I could choose whatever I wanted to watch on the TV; I could just relax and savour that brief feeling of autonomy, before Big Sis or my parents arrived home and I became subject to their wishes. Maybe I'm a natural loner or perhaps those moments alone as a child were so enjoyable that they formed a habit of a lifetime.
I do love being around people. Sometimes I revel in being surrounded by strangers, so that I can people-watch to my heart's content, observing facial expressions and human interaction: tender moments between a couple; children amusing their parents with the kind of honesty that only bare-faced innocence can get away with; the little smile that plays on the lips of a girl who has just received a text message from someone special. Most of all, like anyone, I especially enjoy being around people that I love and enjoy the company of. But even then I need a little respite at times, where I just crave being by myself, even if it's just for an hour or two. When I'm constantly in other people's company, after a period of time, I can start to feel a little stifled and crave a little space. It's no reflection on the quality of the company, it's just how I am. I can be alone frequently and yet not feel lonely.
Lately, however, I have been craving company a little more than usual. At times I have found it easier to be in another's company, for no reason other than because I thought it might feel better than being alone. The trouble is, it hasn't really felt better. In fact, I found that being around someone in order to feel less alone, made me feel lonelier than ever. What good does it do being in the company of someone who you don't think you can be your unadulterated self with? Feeling unable to honestly and comfortably express yourself to another only seems to be highlighted by chit-chatting to that person. Being in a room full of others, while feeling that there isn't one person there who understands your way of thinking, seems to serve only to make you feel more isolated than if you were in that room all alone. Why is this?
It is a wonderful thing to have someone who 'gets' you, someone you can be your 'Sunday' self with. You know, the 'you' you are when you're in your PJs on a lazy Sunday morning, bare of any make-up or any pretences, completely comfortable and uninhibited. The 'you' that is not trying to impress, that does not need to shout louder to be heard, nor is stifled by dominance. But these special people can prove difficult to find. Sometimes it's tempting to find a substitute, a 'near enough' kind of person. But I find that this can make the loneliness all the more palpable.
This week, I have still been feeling the need for company and have at times even felt a tiny little fleeting bit of fear at being alone. But unless I am going to spend quality time with someone, who I can be my 'Sunday self' with and vice versa, I think solitude is preferable.
I do love being around people. Sometimes I revel in being surrounded by strangers, so that I can people-watch to my heart's content, observing facial expressions and human interaction: tender moments between a couple; children amusing their parents with the kind of honesty that only bare-faced innocence can get away with; the little smile that plays on the lips of a girl who has just received a text message from someone special. Most of all, like anyone, I especially enjoy being around people that I love and enjoy the company of. But even then I need a little respite at times, where I just crave being by myself, even if it's just for an hour or two. When I'm constantly in other people's company, after a period of time, I can start to feel a little stifled and crave a little space. It's no reflection on the quality of the company, it's just how I am. I can be alone frequently and yet not feel lonely.
Lately, however, I have been craving company a little more than usual. At times I have found it easier to be in another's company, for no reason other than because I thought it might feel better than being alone. The trouble is, it hasn't really felt better. In fact, I found that being around someone in order to feel less alone, made me feel lonelier than ever. What good does it do being in the company of someone who you don't think you can be your unadulterated self with? Feeling unable to honestly and comfortably express yourself to another only seems to be highlighted by chit-chatting to that person. Being in a room full of others, while feeling that there isn't one person there who understands your way of thinking, seems to serve only to make you feel more isolated than if you were in that room all alone. Why is this?
It is a wonderful thing to have someone who 'gets' you, someone you can be your 'Sunday' self with. You know, the 'you' you are when you're in your PJs on a lazy Sunday morning, bare of any make-up or any pretences, completely comfortable and uninhibited. The 'you' that is not trying to impress, that does not need to shout louder to be heard, nor is stifled by dominance. But these special people can prove difficult to find. Sometimes it's tempting to find a substitute, a 'near enough' kind of person. But I find that this can make the loneliness all the more palpable.
This week, I have still been feeling the need for company and have at times even felt a tiny little fleeting bit of fear at being alone. But unless I am going to spend quality time with someone, who I can be my 'Sunday self' with and vice versa, I think solitude is preferable.
Friday, 13 February 2009
The Week in Review #7
This week's:
Most misdirected marketing exercise: Having ghetto-fabulous girls in mini skirts and floor-length coats stood next to a stretch Hummer, handing out flyers to promote new Biggie biopic 'Notorious'. In South Kensington.
OK, I get that there is a big (ish) student population around here, but South Kensington and gangsta rappers? Really? Accuse me of judging books by their covers, but I doubt that the old-money pearl-clad toffs and Professors of Astrophysics get down like that. Know your market. That's all I'm sayin'.
Most excessively-ingested beverage: Tea.
I know I can be a bit of a tea-belly on a good week, but lately it has reached unnatural levels. The caffeine machine must be stopped.
Most rapid turnaround of emotions: Despair to Hope in 0-60.
From escaping to the toilets while fighting back tears at work this morning, to feeling perfectly cheerful at home this evening, it's amazing what some no-nonsense advice and encouragement from a friend or two can do.
Most thoughtful and unexpected gift: A single light-pink rose from my boss. (She's female, it's not harassment, lol.)
Most dubious sentiment: "Happy Valentine's Day! They were giving the roses away free at the station."
LOL. I'm just playin'. I still thought the rose was sweet. Beggars can't be choosers.
Most tenous link of a special occasion to the marketed product: Free pink roses, wishing a happy Valentine's Day from...Andrex.
That's right, nothing says "I love you," better than extra-soft toilet paper. Could this product be a suitable metaphor for the event itself? Hmm...
Most pauper-like lunch: Cup-a-Soup.
Sorry payday, what was that? You're still 10 days away???
Most encouraging response from a boss to the news their employee has applied for a new job: "Good for you! I don't blame you!"
You know you can't be alone in thinking the department you work in is pants, when that's the response.
Most excessive praise in proportion to actual work done: Lolly being impressed at my collage of our V&A pics.
In addition to cropping and resizing a fair few pics, the collage was very painstakingly done by...clicking the 'Collage' button in Picasa. It took hours, I tell you!
Favourite new phrase to describe this process: Collage-a-trois.
I told you, randomly making a word or phrase sound French or Spanish makes that word infinitely more fancy-sounding.
Most misleading description of events: This post.
In failing to mention any of the mundane or bad bits, I have somehow made a rather boring and emotionally draining week seem vaguely interesting. You don't want the details, trust me - it's called artistic license! :o)
Friday Fill-In #21
And...here we go!
1. It seems like if you make anything pink or red, you can sell it for Valentine's Day. Ha!
2. I'll sort out my issues, you sort out yours and then call me when you're done, please?
3. If I thought you were worth it, I'd care!
4. The past is what I think of most when I think of you.
5. To me, Valentine's Day means suckers spending money! (Am I cynical? Lol.)
6. Encouragement and spinach gives me strength. :o)
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner (how hungry am I?!), tomorrow my plans include church, a restful afternoon and then going home to chill and Sunday, I want to fix up the pigsty, put some more things on eBay and see how Aussies let their hair down by going to the Walkie!
Friday Fill-Ins come courtesy of Janet. Click the button to play too!
1. It seems like if you make anything pink or red, you can sell it for Valentine's Day. Ha!
2. I'll sort out my issues, you sort out yours and then call me when you're done, please?
3. If I thought you were worth it, I'd care!
4. The past is what I think of most when I think of you.
5. To me, Valentine's Day means suckers spending money! (Am I cynical? Lol.)
6. Encouragement and spinach gives me strength. :o)
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner (how hungry am I?!), tomorrow my plans include church, a restful afternoon and then going home to chill and Sunday, I want to fix up the pigsty, put some more things on eBay and see how Aussies let their hair down by going to the Walkie!
Friday Fill-Ins come courtesy of Janet. Click the button to play too!
Friday, 6 February 2009
The Week in Review #6
Favourite street name of the week: Funkackerstrasse.
Yes, it's in Germany. No, I don't know what it means. Yes, I do want to live there. No, I'm probably not going to move to Germany just to have that address.
Favourite phrase of the week: "The roads are treacherous."
It was announced on the news, so it must have been true. It made the prospect of even the simplest journey sound like a potentially life-threatening adventure.
"I'm just going to the shop on the corner."
"But the roads are treacherous!"
"I know, but we need snackage. If I'm not back in 30 minutes, don't try to rescue me. Save yourself. Save yoursellllfffff!!!"
See?
Favourite accent of the week in which to say my favourite phrase of the week: Jamaican (or any other Caribbean accent)
I don't know why, it just works perfectly. You try it.
Favourite excuse of the week: "Due to the adverse weather conditions..."
"Due to the adverse weather conditions, I am unable to come to work."
"Due to the adverse weather conditions, I am grumpy as Mr. Grumpus on national 'I like being grumpy' day, in a particularly grumptastic mood."
"Due to the adverse weather conditions, I shall be wearing jeans and heavy-ass boots to work all week. Yes, I will be stomping around in them."
"Due to the adverse weather conditions, I will be unable to post a proper blog for several days (even though most of those days preceded the adverse weather)."
It works for anything, yo.
Favourite day of the week: Monday.
Never ever usually my favourite day of the week by far, Monday morning saw me in the best morning mood I have experienced for months. The words "All our train services are suspended until further notice," made me do a little happy-dance. For several minutes.
Favourite unexpected gift of the week: Nike Air Force Ones
A perfect fit. Mostly white, with multi-coloured dots all over the toe and bright orange laces. From a very special friend. For no particular reason at all. My favourite kind of gift, not just this week, but always. Made me do a little happy dance for the second time this week.
Favourite bargain of the week: A bucket of hot chocolate for £2.35
OK, not technically a bucket, but the cup was taller than the length of my head; I think that's near enough. It cost pretty much the same as a tall chai tea latte from Starbucks, which is about half the size. That's a bargain, right there. Only complaint? Not quite hot enough. But for £2.35? I'll take that. It was just what was needed on a snow day.
Favourite snow sculpture of the week: A snow unicorn
I'm not on Facebook, but after getting snowed in with my mate Lolly, we were both amazed at how quickly all her friends had uploaded photos of their snow escapades to their Facebook profiles. Hang on, you can barely get ready and get to work by 10am on a good day, but on a snow day, you've got up, dressed, walked all around your local area taking pictures, gone home and uploaded them all to Facebook, including captions, by 10.30am? I hear ya, lol. Anyway, I digress. Everyone and their mama made snowmen, but if you can make a snow sculpture of a creature that doesn't even exist, including its magical horn, that a young adult female is able to sit on the back of? All before lunchtime? That's creative. And pretty. I wish I could link to the pics.
Favourite regression to childhood of the week: My Mum
Getting photos emailed to me on Monday morning that my Mum had taken of the snow all around her house, and then an excited phonecall later when she went to venture out walking in the snow - "It's a foot deep! I told you! A whole foot!" - was really amusing and very cute.
Favourite way to get through the day at work of the week: Getting emails from Claire
But that applies to pretty much every work day.
What were your favourite things this week?
Yes, it's in Germany. No, I don't know what it means. Yes, I do want to live there. No, I'm probably not going to move to Germany just to have that address.
Favourite phrase of the week: "The roads are treacherous."
It was announced on the news, so it must have been true. It made the prospect of even the simplest journey sound like a potentially life-threatening adventure.
"I'm just going to the shop on the corner."
"But the roads are treacherous!"
"I know, but we need snackage. If I'm not back in 30 minutes, don't try to rescue me. Save yourself. Save yoursellllfffff!!!"
See?
Favourite accent of the week in which to say my favourite phrase of the week: Jamaican (or any other Caribbean accent)
I don't know why, it just works perfectly. You try it.
Favourite excuse of the week: "Due to the adverse weather conditions..."
"Due to the adverse weather conditions, I am unable to come to work."
"Due to the adverse weather conditions, I am grumpy as Mr. Grumpus on national 'I like being grumpy' day, in a particularly grumptastic mood."
"Due to the adverse weather conditions, I shall be wearing jeans and heavy-ass boots to work all week. Yes, I will be stomping around in them."
"Due to the adverse weather conditions, I will be unable to post a proper blog for several days (even though most of those days preceded the adverse weather)."
It works for anything, yo.
Favourite day of the week: Monday.
Never ever usually my favourite day of the week by far, Monday morning saw me in the best morning mood I have experienced for months. The words "All our train services are suspended until further notice," made me do a little happy-dance. For several minutes.
Favourite unexpected gift of the week: Nike Air Force Ones
A perfect fit. Mostly white, with multi-coloured dots all over the toe and bright orange laces. From a very special friend. For no particular reason at all. My favourite kind of gift, not just this week, but always. Made me do a little happy dance for the second time this week.
Favourite bargain of the week: A bucket of hot chocolate for £2.35
OK, not technically a bucket, but the cup was taller than the length of my head; I think that's near enough. It cost pretty much the same as a tall chai tea latte from Starbucks, which is about half the size. That's a bargain, right there. Only complaint? Not quite hot enough. But for £2.35? I'll take that. It was just what was needed on a snow day.
Favourite snow sculpture of the week: A snow unicorn
I'm not on Facebook, but after getting snowed in with my mate Lolly, we were both amazed at how quickly all her friends had uploaded photos of their snow escapades to their Facebook profiles. Hang on, you can barely get ready and get to work by 10am on a good day, but on a snow day, you've got up, dressed, walked all around your local area taking pictures, gone home and uploaded them all to Facebook, including captions, by 10.30am? I hear ya, lol. Anyway, I digress. Everyone and their mama made snowmen, but if you can make a snow sculpture of a creature that doesn't even exist, including its magical horn, that a young adult female is able to sit on the back of? All before lunchtime? That's creative. And pretty. I wish I could link to the pics.
Favourite regression to childhood of the week: My Mum
Getting photos emailed to me on Monday morning that my Mum had taken of the snow all around her house, and then an excited phonecall later when she went to venture out walking in the snow - "It's a foot deep! I told you! A whole foot!" - was really amusing and very cute.
Favourite way to get through the day at work of the week: Getting emails from Claire
But that applies to pretty much every work day.
What were your favourite things this week?
Friday Fill-In #20
1. Please don't tell me to calm down. It has the opposite effect.
2. Can you tell the difference between me and a crazy bush woman in the morning? My hair says "No!"
3. The color tomato red makes me want to go on holiday and get a tan!
4. I have a craving for chocolate mousse, but I can rarely find any that doesn't contain pork gelatine. :o(
5. If my life had a pause button, I'd pause it now. But pause isn't as much use without a rewind button.
6. Eyes are the things I notice on someone who has particularly lovely ones.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to my journey home (not), tomorrow my plans include spending time with the fam, not getting snowed in at my parents' and possibly having the house to myself in the evening and Sunday, I want to try and write a blog, since it's been a while!
Friday Fill-Ins come courtesy of Janet. Click the button to play too!
2. Can you tell the difference between me and a crazy bush woman in the morning? My hair says "No!"
3. The color tomato red makes me want to go on holiday and get a tan!
4. I have a craving for chocolate mousse, but I can rarely find any that doesn't contain pork gelatine. :o(
5. If my life had a pause button, I'd pause it now. But pause isn't as much use without a rewind button.
6. Eyes are the things I notice on someone who has particularly lovely ones.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to my journey home (not), tomorrow my plans include spending time with the fam, not getting snowed in at my parents' and possibly having the house to myself in the evening and Sunday, I want to try and write a blog, since it's been a while!
Friday Fill-Ins come courtesy of Janet. Click the button to play too!
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Public Service Announcement: London is Closed
Monday morning, Lisa was woken up at about 6.30am by a text message from her boss. That would usually be the worst way to get woken up on a Monday, but when the text says, "Don't try and come to work today, it will be too difficult. Please pass the message on," things start to look unusually hopeful. I, on the other hand, knew no such text for me would come, not least because my boss was skiing in Italy this week, but also because I knew my workplace would never just give us a free day off, snow or no snow. It was still dark and we opened the curtains to see what all the fuss was about. Wowza. There was a fair bit of snow coverage, but I didn't quite feel snowed in. Knowing my luck, I would still have to trudge in to work and would be mighty peeved when I got there.
"I'll put the news on," I decided, switching on the TV to see what the people in the know had to say. Unexpectedly, it seemed that London had been plunged into chaos. Newscasters advised us to check the Transport For London and National Rail websites for further details of the travel situation in our local area. "All London bus routes have been suspended until further notice," was the surprise announcement. The train companies seem to have any and all excuses for disruptions to rail services ("It's too windy," "It's too hot, the rails have expanded," "There are leaves on the line," "It's raining!" etc., etc.), but things have to be pretty bad for all buses to be taken off the roads.
I checked the website of my local rail company. Several times. Over the next hour. Of course, the websites wouldn't load because the national breakfast TV programs were advising everyone to check them. Hmm. When it eventually loaded, the website announced the happy news, "All our train services are suspended until further notice." Hell yeah, can I get a high five???
As the morning went on, it became clear that London had almost completely shut down. We had been totally caught off guard by the mini-blizzard that had sneaked up on us on a quiet Sunday night, despite the fact that weather forecasters had been telling us to expect snow for days. Roads remained grit-free, railway lines remained unprotected and so London remained at a standstill. With no trains or buses, there was no way I could get to work other than walking, which would have probably taken a good couple of hours on a day unimpeded by snow. There was only one thing to do: accept that we were snowed in, and take that inflicted day off like a good citizen.
My own snow escapades were pretty poor. I regret not going out and making the very most of the white stuff, which was light, crunchy underfoot and perfect for the construction of snowballs and snowpeople alike. But I saw and heard enough to know that the imposed Snow Day came as a welcome relief to most Londoners. There was an atmosphere of frivolity, people were friendlier and more jovial than normal and grown men and women seemed to happily regress to childhood. With the economy in its current state and the average Briton focused on his or her bills, mortgage and job or lack thereof, the blanket of white that temporarily covered a multitude of sins seemed to be a welcome distraction. Since most schools closed down for the day, parents had a whole day to spend with their children, guilt-free. People frolicked in parks and on commons and in back gardens, unrestricted hours of playtime ahead of them. No money was necessary to enjoy this time. Playmates weren't even a necessity, as strangers made friends long enough for a snowball fight, or bonded over the shared task of building a snow sculpture.
While watching news bulletins throughout the day, boredom, irritation and slight embarrassment set in, as newsreaders constantly questioned why we as a nation had been so ill-prepared for weather that had been accurately predicted. It transpired that England was apparently becoming the laughing-stock of Europe and even the world, as foreign news stations chuckled patronisingly at our capital's reaction to what some countries would see as the snow equivalent of a light drizzle.
When I returned to work on Wednesday, a colleague from a neighbouring department somewhat proudly informed me he had made it to work on Monday, even though he had waited an hour and a half for a tube and had travelled for four hours. He also mentioned that he hadn't seen me at work that day. Dude, if you want to battle for four hours just to get in to do a couple of hours' work, more fool you. I was more than happy to eschew the risk of getting snowed in later at work for a day at home. Sometimes, the world has a way of telling us to slow down, take it easy and have a break. Who am I to argue with the weather?
"I'll put the news on," I decided, switching on the TV to see what the people in the know had to say. Unexpectedly, it seemed that London had been plunged into chaos. Newscasters advised us to check the Transport For London and National Rail websites for further details of the travel situation in our local area. "All London bus routes have been suspended until further notice," was the surprise announcement. The train companies seem to have any and all excuses for disruptions to rail services ("It's too windy," "It's too hot, the rails have expanded," "There are leaves on the line," "It's raining!" etc., etc.), but things have to be pretty bad for all buses to be taken off the roads.I checked the website of my local rail company. Several times. Over the next hour. Of course, the websites wouldn't load because the national breakfast TV programs were advising everyone to check them. Hmm. When it eventually loaded, the website announced the happy news, "All our train services are suspended until further notice." Hell yeah, can I get a high five???
As the morning went on, it became clear that London had almost completely shut down. We had been totally caught off guard by the mini-blizzard that had sneaked up on us on a quiet Sunday night, despite the fact that weather forecasters had been telling us to expect snow for days. Roads remained grit-free, railway lines remained unprotected and so London remained at a standstill. With no trains or buses, there was no way I could get to work other than walking, which would have probably taken a good couple of hours on a day unimpeded by snow. There was only one thing to do: accept that we were snowed in, and take that inflicted day off like a good citizen.
My own snow escapades were pretty poor. I regret not going out and making the very most of the white stuff, which was light, crunchy underfoot and perfect for the construction of snowballs and snowpeople alike. But I saw and heard enough to know that the imposed Snow Day came as a welcome relief to most Londoners. There was an atmosphere of frivolity, people were friendlier and more jovial than normal and grown men and women seemed to happily regress to childhood. With the economy in its current state and the average Briton focused on his or her bills, mortgage and job or lack thereof, the blanket of white that temporarily covered a multitude of sins seemed to be a welcome distraction. Since most schools closed down for the day, parents had a whole day to spend with their children, guilt-free. People frolicked in parks and on commons and in back gardens, unrestricted hours of playtime ahead of them. No money was necessary to enjoy this time. Playmates weren't even a necessity, as strangers made friends long enough for a snowball fight, or bonded over the shared task of building a snow sculpture.
While watching news bulletins throughout the day, boredom, irritation and slight embarrassment set in, as newsreaders constantly questioned why we as a nation had been so ill-prepared for weather that had been accurately predicted. It transpired that England was apparently becoming the laughing-stock of Europe and even the world, as foreign news stations chuckled patronisingly at our capital's reaction to what some countries would see as the snow equivalent of a light drizzle.
When I returned to work on Wednesday, a colleague from a neighbouring department somewhat proudly informed me he had made it to work on Monday, even though he had waited an hour and a half for a tube and had travelled for four hours. He also mentioned that he hadn't seen me at work that day. Dude, if you want to battle for four hours just to get in to do a couple of hours' work, more fool you. I was more than happy to eschew the risk of getting snowed in later at work for a day at home. Sometimes, the world has a way of telling us to slow down, take it easy and have a break. Who am I to argue with the weather?
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Chilling With Victoria & Albert
I had my friend Lisa (aka Lolly) over for the weekend. She was going to stay over on Saturday night, but because she lives on the opposite side of town and my house is much closer to where she works, she was going to stay on Sunday night too. Instead of doing our usual trick of lazing around in PJs, watching DVDs and chatting on Saturday night and all through Sunday, we decided to break convention and pay a trip to the Victoria and Albert museum, otherwise known as the V&A.
The museum is free to visit, although they do ask for donations, so it was a nice day trip we could make without breaking the bank. I've never actually been before, and now I work within a stone's throw of it and pass it most days on the way to the tube station, I've got very little excuse not to pop in and see what it's about. Lisa had already been once before, so she had seen quite a bit of the regular exhibits, but with four floors of things to see, we weren't in danger of getting bored.
We entered via the subway entrance and walked straight into 17th-century Europe by default. In order to protect the artefacts, the lighting was very low, which only served to enhance the extremely creepy artworks that seem to characterise that time period. I am not a great fan of a Christian/religious artwork, especially from that era, so seeing sculptures of a forlorn-looking Mary and gruesome depictions of the crucifixion of Christ in extremely dim lighting was a little bit eerie to say the least. We tried to play it cool and walk quickly through that section, fighting our instinct to run away screaming, "The eyes are following me! It's coming ALIVE!!!"
We did our best impressions of Far-Eastern tourists, taking a ridiculous amount of photos, even though most of the time the lighting was so poor we couldn't get a decent picture without using the flash, and the flash only seemed to either reflect badly off the glass, or make otherwise benign-looking sculptures look like they possessed some sort of evil nature.
We revelled in the Islamic art section, enjoying the beautifully rich colours of the tiles, pottery and fabrics and the elegant Arabic script on ancient manuscripts of the Qu'ran. We felt proud of ourselves for getting six out of ten in a random quiz to identify the various styles and features of various eras of Islamic art, despite the fact that most of our answers were wild guesses and that we only realised afterwards that we were meant to read through the text that would have given us the answers before taking the quiz.
The sculpture section was one of my favourite parts, with pieces depicting Greek and Roman gods, Biblical figures such as Eve, Samson and John the Baptist, and the personification of such characteristics as Truth and Falsehood and Valour and Cowardice. We managed to take in half of the Asian section, visiting Japan and China before my camera battery died. Lisa discovered a fun program on her phone that enabled her to transplant my head onto the body of a samurai warrior costume. We had been there for nearly three hours and only seen about seven sections, all mostly on the same floor. We didn't even get a chance to visit upstairs. That's the great thing about free museums. You can spend as much time as you like on one exhibit, because you know you can always go back another time. We managed a quick loo break, before visiting the gift shop and heading out of the main entrance to make our way home.
As we stepped out, we were greeted by very light snowfall and freezing temperatures. Shunning the street in favour of the underground subway tunnel to stay out of the biting winds, we got back on the tube and stopped to get Italian food. A shared garlic pizza bread, two huge delicious pasta dishes and one salad later, we watched more snowflakes softly falling as we made our way to the station for the train home. With several minutes to go before the train departed, we stopped at a bagel shop to get the biggest take-away hot chocolate I have ever seen. The cups were a little more than two hands tall! We spent the first few minutes on the train taking phone pictures of our beverages in amazement. As the train passed each station on our journey, we were greeted by platforms covered with gradually deeper coverings of snow. Despite all the weather forecasts, little did we know how much havoc those pretty flakes would be about to cause as they continued to fall overnight...
Overall it was one of those lazy Sundays that one can have many times over in London. I do love lazing around in my PJs, but I may have to venture out into the big city more often. :o)
Some of my favourites:
L - R:
The museum is free to visit, although they do ask for donations, so it was a nice day trip we could make without breaking the bank. I've never actually been before, and now I work within a stone's throw of it and pass it most days on the way to the tube station, I've got very little excuse not to pop in and see what it's about. Lisa had already been once before, so she had seen quite a bit of the regular exhibits, but with four floors of things to see, we weren't in danger of getting bored.
We entered via the subway entrance and walked straight into 17th-century Europe by default. In order to protect the artefacts, the lighting was very low, which only served to enhance the extremely creepy artworks that seem to characterise that time period. I am not a great fan of a Christian/religious artwork, especially from that era, so seeing sculptures of a forlorn-looking Mary and gruesome depictions of the crucifixion of Christ in extremely dim lighting was a little bit eerie to say the least. We tried to play it cool and walk quickly through that section, fighting our instinct to run away screaming, "The eyes are following me! It's coming ALIVE!!!"
We did our best impressions of Far-Eastern tourists, taking a ridiculous amount of photos, even though most of the time the lighting was so poor we couldn't get a decent picture without using the flash, and the flash only seemed to either reflect badly off the glass, or make otherwise benign-looking sculptures look like they possessed some sort of evil nature.
We revelled in the Islamic art section, enjoying the beautifully rich colours of the tiles, pottery and fabrics and the elegant Arabic script on ancient manuscripts of the Qu'ran. We felt proud of ourselves for getting six out of ten in a random quiz to identify the various styles and features of various eras of Islamic art, despite the fact that most of our answers were wild guesses and that we only realised afterwards that we were meant to read through the text that would have given us the answers before taking the quiz.
The sculpture section was one of my favourite parts, with pieces depicting Greek and Roman gods, Biblical figures such as Eve, Samson and John the Baptist, and the personification of such characteristics as Truth and Falsehood and Valour and Cowardice. We managed to take in half of the Asian section, visiting Japan and China before my camera battery died. Lisa discovered a fun program on her phone that enabled her to transplant my head onto the body of a samurai warrior costume. We had been there for nearly three hours and only seen about seven sections, all mostly on the same floor. We didn't even get a chance to visit upstairs. That's the great thing about free museums. You can spend as much time as you like on one exhibit, because you know you can always go back another time. We managed a quick loo break, before visiting the gift shop and heading out of the main entrance to make our way home.As we stepped out, we were greeted by very light snowfall and freezing temperatures. Shunning the street in favour of the underground subway tunnel to stay out of the biting winds, we got back on the tube and stopped to get Italian food. A shared garlic pizza bread, two huge delicious pasta dishes and one salad later, we watched more snowflakes softly falling as we made our way to the station for the train home. With several minutes to go before the train departed, we stopped at a bagel shop to get the biggest take-away hot chocolate I have ever seen. The cups were a little more than two hands tall! We spent the first few minutes on the train taking phone pictures of our beverages in amazement. As the train passed each station on our journey, we were greeted by platforms covered with gradually deeper coverings of snow. Despite all the weather forecasts, little did we know how much havoc those pretty flakes would be about to cause as they continued to fall overnight...
Overall it was one of those lazy Sundays that one can have many times over in London. I do love lazing around in my PJs, but I may have to venture out into the big city more often. :o)
Some of my favourites:
L - R:- A sculpture tenderly depicting Maternal Affection [Edward Hodges Baily];
- A girl thought to be The Artist's Daughter: Lisa found her creepy but I liked her wistful expression [James Sherwood Westmacott];
- A sculpture of Laocoรถn, a priest killed by the gods during the Trojan War, but serving the dual purpose of accurately depicting my facial expression at the prospect of going to work on a Monday morning. [Joseph Wilton]
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