1) My hamster Douglas is going bald and is peeing a lot. This could mean renal failure or old age. Bald old men pee a lot, right? I kind of don't want him to die.. Good thoughts required please :)
2) I'm surprised Vivienne Westwood is northern. I heard her speak on the news and she's, like, totally not what I expected.
3) I have a chilli plant given to me by my friend Suzanne. It is magnificent.
4) I have a new book to read *squee* (although it's about eating disorders and obsession with weight, so it's not a candy floss read)
5) I was sworn at twenty minutes into my first lesson today. It's a vocation, I tells ya.
Monday, 2 June 2008
Sunday, 1 June 2008
A very strange week indeed...
Hello! I figured I should post as I haven't for just over a week. It has been a bit weird this week, good weird and bad weird, but strange all the same.
Benn went on a course in Birmingham on Monday until Wednesday, which meant that, due to both our downstairs AND upstairs neighbours moving out last weekend and the flat opposite us being empty for months, I was pretty much on my own in the building (and not at all freaked out, oh no. Not one bit. At all.) This intensified when, on Tuesday night, there was a *huge* storm which frightened me half to death and sounded like there had been an explosion on my street.
I mostly baked, repotted plants and generally pottered around Brighton while he was away, ate too much junk food and drank too much Diet Coke. Oh, but I did pass my driving theory test first time :) That was *fun*, as I'd thought it was on Thursday, only to discover at 3pm Monday that it was at 8am WEDNESDAY and I hadn't done any revision. That was a fun Tuesday...!
I also locked myself out for eight hours on Wednesday and then remembered that Benn's last words to me on Monday had been "Oh, I don't need to take keys, do I?" Cue frantic phonecall to his mum and me camping out in Starbucks for two hours, knitting and snarling at teenagers.
Other than that, it's been a fairly relaxed week. I've done very little school work, which I think I needed a break from, as I have been so exhausted. I'm also starting to look forward to the summer break, as I didn't get one last year, as I was temping. (Yes, I know I haven't gone back yet, but I need *something* to get me through the next seven and a half weeks!) I have a feeling that this half term could go very quickly, which would be nice. At least I'm back to normal emotionally!
I've also started to work out what needs knitting for whom for when in December. I think this year will be shawls and mittens mostly, with most of the rest coming off etsy. I know it's early, but I guess I need to be organised, as I never manage to get everything done that I would like. I'm knitting some Kaffe Fassett socks and I'm wondering if that sort of thing would go down well, as they have been so easy and worked so well.
Benn went on a course in Birmingham on Monday until Wednesday, which meant that, due to both our downstairs AND upstairs neighbours moving out last weekend and the flat opposite us being empty for months, I was pretty much on my own in the building (and not at all freaked out, oh no. Not one bit. At all.) This intensified when, on Tuesday night, there was a *huge* storm which frightened me half to death and sounded like there had been an explosion on my street.
I mostly baked, repotted plants and generally pottered around Brighton while he was away, ate too much junk food and drank too much Diet Coke. Oh, but I did pass my driving theory test first time :) That was *fun*, as I'd thought it was on Thursday, only to discover at 3pm Monday that it was at 8am WEDNESDAY and I hadn't done any revision. That was a fun Tuesday...!
I also locked myself out for eight hours on Wednesday and then remembered that Benn's last words to me on Monday had been "Oh, I don't need to take keys, do I?" Cue frantic phonecall to his mum and me camping out in Starbucks for two hours, knitting and snarling at teenagers.
Other than that, it's been a fairly relaxed week. I've done very little school work, which I think I needed a break from, as I have been so exhausted. I'm also starting to look forward to the summer break, as I didn't get one last year, as I was temping. (Yes, I know I haven't gone back yet, but I need *something* to get me through the next seven and a half weeks!) I have a feeling that this half term could go very quickly, which would be nice. At least I'm back to normal emotionally!
I've also started to work out what needs knitting for whom for when in December. I think this year will be shawls and mittens mostly, with most of the rest coming off etsy. I know it's early, but I guess I need to be organised, as I never manage to get everything done that I would like. I'm knitting some Kaffe Fassett socks and I'm wondering if that sort of thing would go down well, as they have been so easy and worked so well.
Saturday, 24 May 2008
Okie doke, so I've been tagged...
I was tagged by Yogic Knitter and it's only polite to respond!
Rules: Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.
1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
Ten years ago I was 14, so I would have been at the end of year 9. If you'd have told me ten years ago that I was going to be a teacher, rather than an internationally famous journalist, I would have laughed at you. All the money in the world would not make me want to be a teenager again!
2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):
1) Driving lesson in half an hour, joy.
2) Meet Katie
3) Buy Tangfastics for Eurovision (it's tradition in our house!)
4) Catch up on my letter writing
5) Work on my shawl
3. Snacks I enjoy:
Too many to choose- if I *had* to pick favourites, I'd pick cheese Kettle Chips, Percy Pigs or just good old hot buttered, white bread toast :) Oh, but Cyber Candy sell cherry M&Ms- AMAZING.
4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
I'd make sure my parents, my grandma and my brother and sister were sorted out at the very least. Then I would go and live somewhere glamorous like New York or Paris. I'd also like a house in Ireland and a few cars!
5. Places you have lived:
I was born in Cardiff, I lived in Halifax for a year until I was about five. I've lived all over Leeds and I went to uni in Preston. Now I live in Brighton, but would happily move somewhere on the trainline nearer to work in Crawley, but not so near that I would have to see the kids at weekends!
People I have tagged (because I am nosy and I would like to know more about you!!):
Emma: http://emmamccann.blogspot.com/
UpKnitCreek: http://upknitcreek.wordpress.com/
Loobles: http://knitandnatter.blogspot.com/
Katie: http://www.thatdress.blogspot.com/
Wibbo: http://wibbo.typepad.com/wibbos_words
Rules: Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.
1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
Ten years ago I was 14, so I would have been at the end of year 9. If you'd have told me ten years ago that I was going to be a teacher, rather than an internationally famous journalist, I would have laughed at you. All the money in the world would not make me want to be a teenager again!
2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):
1) Driving lesson in half an hour, joy.
2) Meet Katie
3) Buy Tangfastics for Eurovision (it's tradition in our house!)
4) Catch up on my letter writing
5) Work on my shawl
3. Snacks I enjoy:
Too many to choose- if I *had* to pick favourites, I'd pick cheese Kettle Chips, Percy Pigs or just good old hot buttered, white bread toast :) Oh, but Cyber Candy sell cherry M&Ms- AMAZING.
4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
I'd make sure my parents, my grandma and my brother and sister were sorted out at the very least. Then I would go and live somewhere glamorous like New York or Paris. I'd also like a house in Ireland and a few cars!
5. Places you have lived:
I was born in Cardiff, I lived in Halifax for a year until I was about five. I've lived all over Leeds and I went to uni in Preston. Now I live in Brighton, but would happily move somewhere on the trainline nearer to work in Crawley, but not so near that I would have to see the kids at weekends!
People I have tagged (because I am nosy and I would like to know more about you!!):
Emma: http://emmamccann.blogspot.com/
UpKnitCreek: http://upknitcreek.wordpress.com/
Loobles: http://knitandnatter.blogspot.com/
Katie: http://www.thatdress.blogspot.com/
Wibbo: http://wibbo.typepad.com/wibbos_words
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
Back to normality...
Hello! Apologies for the incredibly downbeat/frustrated post the other day. I feel much better and, dare I say it, the most normal I have done in a fortnight (although I'm never *that* normal!) Also, thanks for the comments. I promise normal service will resume..
Due to the football, I have the flat to myself. This means a bath-and trying to finish sodding 'Atonement'... although I am liking it a *bit* more, I admit- knitting and Suralan, although I have promised to tape it.
Add to that we break up tomorrow, that means a week of knitting. I'm planning on starting something from Victorian Lace Today for my grandma, as she wants a shoulder shawl and there are some lovely ones in there. I have to choose which one, which will be hard! I'll also be marking and sorting out my flourishing window garden.
I was also really pleased by the AS lit question my students were asked today. Hopefully they should have been able to answer it with their eyes closed and do me proud... another weight of my shoulders. Other things that I was paranoid about haven't come to pass, so you know, I was a bit mad.
But the exciting news? I can't remember if I have said on here about me never going abroad on holiday (well, I went once to France for three days with school=hell on a hot coach), butbutbut I may be going to Paris with a friend from work! For two nights when Benn is on cricket tour!! How exciting?! Any suggestions of places to visit/eat most welcome!
Due to the football, I have the flat to myself. This means a bath-and trying to finish sodding 'Atonement'... although I am liking it a *bit* more, I admit- knitting and Suralan, although I have promised to tape it.
Add to that we break up tomorrow, that means a week of knitting. I'm planning on starting something from Victorian Lace Today for my grandma, as she wants a shoulder shawl and there are some lovely ones in there. I have to choose which one, which will be hard! I'll also be marking and sorting out my flourishing window garden.
I was also really pleased by the AS lit question my students were asked today. Hopefully they should have been able to answer it with their eyes closed and do me proud... another weight of my shoulders. Other things that I was paranoid about haven't come to pass, so you know, I was a bit mad.
But the exciting news? I can't remember if I have said on here about me never going abroad on holiday (well, I went once to France for three days with school=hell on a hot coach), butbutbut I may be going to Paris with a friend from work! For two nights when Benn is on cricket tour!! How exciting?! Any suggestions of places to visit/eat most welcome!
Monday, 19 May 2008
Completely fed up.
Apologies, as I feel this is going to be a bit of a rant. Sorry.
I had a contraceptive implant put in my arm a week last Thursday. It has been having all sorts of weird effects on my body and my psyche (my personal favourite has to be the paranoia. Can't beat a bit of that on a three day basis.) I feel fat and frumpy and ugly and everything else I possibly could feel in between. Oh and I spent most of the weekend asleep.
Add to this, I have also been stuffing my face with alarming amounts of chocolate (the end of term when students leave is always a bad time for this). I know if I carry on, I'll be two ton tessie by the end of June, but I can't say no. I've started drinking loads of water and eating brown bread and pasta. But it's not enough. I even contemplated making myself sick today after eating one two many biscuits. (I didn't, but the thought is still lingering in my mind.)
I hate feeling like this. I know I shouldn't- I'm supposed to be intelligent. I should find an exercise I like/that I don't feel self concious in. Or I should stop eating crap and stop whinging. But I can't actually say any of this out loud to anyone. Everyone thinks that I'm happy and fine and coping. I'm not. I'm tired and cranky and dreading parents' evening and obsessing about food all the time.
*end of self pity. I'm sorry if you read that, I just don't know where else to post*
I also have some nice stuff to blog about (Kaffe Fassett socks, anyone?) but I'm too tired to do it today.
I had a contraceptive implant put in my arm a week last Thursday. It has been having all sorts of weird effects on my body and my psyche (my personal favourite has to be the paranoia. Can't beat a bit of that on a three day basis.) I feel fat and frumpy and ugly and everything else I possibly could feel in between. Oh and I spent most of the weekend asleep.
Add to this, I have also been stuffing my face with alarming amounts of chocolate (the end of term when students leave is always a bad time for this). I know if I carry on, I'll be two ton tessie by the end of June, but I can't say no. I've started drinking loads of water and eating brown bread and pasta. But it's not enough. I even contemplated making myself sick today after eating one two many biscuits. (I didn't, but the thought is still lingering in my mind.)
I hate feeling like this. I know I shouldn't- I'm supposed to be intelligent. I should find an exercise I like/that I don't feel self concious in. Or I should stop eating crap and stop whinging. But I can't actually say any of this out loud to anyone. Everyone thinks that I'm happy and fine and coping. I'm not. I'm tired and cranky and dreading parents' evening and obsessing about food all the time.
*end of self pity. I'm sorry if you read that, I just don't know where else to post*
I also have some nice stuff to blog about (Kaffe Fassett socks, anyone?) but I'm too tired to do it today.
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Sun, sun, sun
Hello! It has been a hectic week... the sixth form go on study leave this week, so it's been lots of last minute revision and stress, which has meant I have been very happy to come home at the end of the day. Coming home at the end of the day has also been *amazing* because of the lovely weather!
However, due to the aforementioned stress, I have completely mucked up the Tuscany shawl and had to frog it back, twice. Not easy when it's a) lace and b) very fine yarn. Argh. I think I'm on the right track, here's hoping!!
Oh, and I went to school with a huge bandage on my arm on Friday, as I had a contraceptive implant stuck in my arm on Thursday night. Yum. It's not so sore now, but on Friday it really, really hurt and there was a *puncture* wound on my arm. The funniest thing, though, was the reaction from the kids. There were lots of wild rumours flying around; Miss had been attacked by her hamster; she'd got a new tattoo; she'd trapped her arm in a door... Fun times. At least the SATs papers were lovely.
Oh, I should mention that my plants are blossoming! It's getting to the point where I'm having to give lots away, as we're running out of space in our little flat. I don't think I can keep any of the sweet peas, as they'd grow too tall for our window sill, but I am keeping a couple of tomato plants and some of the chilli plants, that have come through surprisingly quick. And princesspea is right, they *do* feel like my children! Some of the plants will go to Benn's mum's, so technically, they'll still be mine.
I've been very ponderous this week, but I don't think it's time to post it- otherwise it might look a bit rant-y, and I'm actually quite chilled at the moment. Needless to say, however, my feminist sensibilities have been riled this week and I think I need to think about what I write, before I write it!
Have a good week!
However, due to the aforementioned stress, I have completely mucked up the Tuscany shawl and had to frog it back, twice. Not easy when it's a) lace and b) very fine yarn. Argh. I think I'm on the right track, here's hoping!!
Oh, and I went to school with a huge bandage on my arm on Friday, as I had a contraceptive implant stuck in my arm on Thursday night. Yum. It's not so sore now, but on Friday it really, really hurt and there was a *puncture* wound on my arm. The funniest thing, though, was the reaction from the kids. There were lots of wild rumours flying around; Miss had been attacked by her hamster; she'd got a new tattoo; she'd trapped her arm in a door... Fun times. At least the SATs papers were lovely.
Oh, I should mention that my plants are blossoming! It's getting to the point where I'm having to give lots away, as we're running out of space in our little flat. I don't think I can keep any of the sweet peas, as they'd grow too tall for our window sill, but I am keeping a couple of tomato plants and some of the chilli plants, that have come through surprisingly quick. And princesspea is right, they *do* feel like my children! Some of the plants will go to Benn's mum's, so technically, they'll still be mine.
I've been very ponderous this week, but I don't think it's time to post it- otherwise it might look a bit rant-y, and I'm actually quite chilled at the moment. Needless to say, however, my feminist sensibilities have been riled this week and I think I need to think about what I write, before I write it!
Have a good week!
Saturday, 3 May 2008
Oops
Sorry I have been a bad blogger, life has been a little dramatic and hectic round here lately. I'm in the middle of preparing for exam season and the SATs kick off on Tuesday, so I'm hoping my year 9s will make me proud :)
So what have I been doing? Well, I started knitting 'Ziggy' from Knit on the Net and wondering why the hell I keep choosing lace, as it's not so good when I'm tired, which is often at the moment. It's quite a challenge, but I'm getting there with it. The Tuscany shawl and I are having a break....
My plants are coming along nicely. I now have about 20 tomato seedlings, two *huge* sweet peas and a few chilli plants coming through, which is all rather exciting, I hope to use my tomatoes and chillis in my cooking!
We decided to take the flat off the market, which makes me a bit sad. We've always planned to move this year, but it just wasn't happening and Benn and I were at odds about a rental place, so we're staying here until the market picks up. Which means I have 20 tomato seedlings, two sweet peas and a few chilli plants in a one bedroom, no garden flat. I've persuaded Benn's mum to let me put them in her garden for now and hopefully, I might be able to get an allotment at some point.
It's nearly the summer!
So what have I been doing? Well, I started knitting 'Ziggy' from Knit on the Net and wondering why the hell I keep choosing lace, as it's not so good when I'm tired, which is often at the moment. It's quite a challenge, but I'm getting there with it. The Tuscany shawl and I are having a break....
My plants are coming along nicely. I now have about 20 tomato seedlings, two *huge* sweet peas and a few chilli plants coming through, which is all rather exciting, I hope to use my tomatoes and chillis in my cooking!
We decided to take the flat off the market, which makes me a bit sad. We've always planned to move this year, but it just wasn't happening and Benn and I were at odds about a rental place, so we're staying here until the market picks up. Which means I have 20 tomato seedlings, two sweet peas and a few chilli plants in a one bedroom, no garden flat. I've persuaded Benn's mum to let me put them in her garden for now and hopefully, I might be able to get an allotment at some point.
It's nearly the summer!
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