Oh dear I seem to have collapsed into an alcoholic haze tonight. But hey, it's Friday so why not? I've got some OU work and some work on a course I'm supposed to be delivering that all has to be done over the weekend, but tonight... well tonight I'm giving myself some time off, so have descended into the delights of martinis.
This has been a busy week. Sometimes it's not a good thing to have so many bits and pieces of work instead of one job and so this week I've found myself jotting from one job to another and hoping I've managed to cover everything. This has made me rethink my situation and have come to the momentous decision that it's time I calmed things down a bit and so am thinking of stopping my private practice. Notice please that this is 'thinking' and not a reality... so I'll wait until I've sobered up and then see what happens from there.
Friday, 11 February 2011
Monday, 7 February 2011
The last week
I'm pleased to be home again, even though I've come back to driving rain and a busy week ahead.
I had a good time in London. My mum gave me the rest of my birthday gifts which were a massage by the guy who massages the dancers from the English National Ballet and then a trip to the theatre, plus a dinner thrown in for good measure. I also met up with some OU people and dinner with friends. Spent a lot of money and I think that's it!
So first of all the massage. The guy was a genius. The only thing I couldn't quite get over was that he's used to massaging all those muscular people and my flabby body must've been a bit of an anomaly. Still my back certainly felt better and my ankle that's been paining me for a while is totally fixed.
The theatre. My mum took me to the National where we saw 'Seasons Greetings' by Alan Ayckbourn. It was very funny and the cast was great, and a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Then we headed off to Sofra, which is a Turkish restaurant and a particular favourite of my mother's with good reason. I've been there a few times and each time doesn't disappoint. The experience was made even better by being given free champagne on arrival, which always goes down well! Anyway they have branches just off Oxford Street and also in Covent Garden so well worth a try if you're down that way.
My OU meeting was hysterical. We had arranged to meet in The Chandos pub in St Martin's Lane, just off Trafalgar Square. So far so good. Only problem was I hadn't a clue what they looked like, apart from (luckily) one person who'd put her photo up on the forum and another who said he always wore a red T shirt. The pub was huge and I had to push my way into the downstairs and look for likely suspects. Then went upstairs and trawled there. Accosted one table, my reason being that they were all disparate ages and one of the guys was wearing a red T, but to my embarrassment it wasn't them. And then just as I was about to leave I spotted the woman in the photo. The guy who said he always wore red was wearing purple, so that wasn't exactly helpful. Anyway I had a lovely evening and rounded it off by falling off my 1/2 inch heels in Trafalgar Square much to the amusement of passers-by. It was quite funny and even I wondered how I managed it. Nothing wounded except a bit of pride.
I also had a great meet up with an old friend who I hadn't seen for years. Such a great time was had that she almost missed her last train. And my various other meets were good too.
Oh yes, and I almost forgot... the actual purpose of my visit to London which was for work, and no problems there.
Now will someone please turn the tap off and stop it raining!
I had a good time in London. My mum gave me the rest of my birthday gifts which were a massage by the guy who massages the dancers from the English National Ballet and then a trip to the theatre, plus a dinner thrown in for good measure. I also met up with some OU people and dinner with friends. Spent a lot of money and I think that's it!
So first of all the massage. The guy was a genius. The only thing I couldn't quite get over was that he's used to massaging all those muscular people and my flabby body must've been a bit of an anomaly. Still my back certainly felt better and my ankle that's been paining me for a while is totally fixed.
The theatre. My mum took me to the National where we saw 'Seasons Greetings' by Alan Ayckbourn. It was very funny and the cast was great, and a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Then we headed off to Sofra, which is a Turkish restaurant and a particular favourite of my mother's with good reason. I've been there a few times and each time doesn't disappoint. The experience was made even better by being given free champagne on arrival, which always goes down well! Anyway they have branches just off Oxford Street and also in Covent Garden so well worth a try if you're down that way.
My OU meeting was hysterical. We had arranged to meet in The Chandos pub in St Martin's Lane, just off Trafalgar Square. So far so good. Only problem was I hadn't a clue what they looked like, apart from (luckily) one person who'd put her photo up on the forum and another who said he always wore a red T shirt. The pub was huge and I had to push my way into the downstairs and look for likely suspects. Then went upstairs and trawled there. Accosted one table, my reason being that they were all disparate ages and one of the guys was wearing a red T, but to my embarrassment it wasn't them. And then just as I was about to leave I spotted the woman in the photo. The guy who said he always wore red was wearing purple, so that wasn't exactly helpful. Anyway I had a lovely evening and rounded it off by falling off my 1/2 inch heels in Trafalgar Square much to the amusement of passers-by. It was quite funny and even I wondered how I managed it. Nothing wounded except a bit of pride.
I also had a great meet up with an old friend who I hadn't seen for years. Such a great time was had that she almost missed her last train. And my various other meets were good too.
Oh yes, and I almost forgot... the actual purpose of my visit to London which was for work, and no problems there.
Now will someone please turn the tap off and stop it raining!
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Good news
My last post was a bit previous in the sense of not posting before I go to London. I think I had a mental blip on the day I wrote it and muddled up my days... I'm calling it a senior moment!
Anyway, a lovely Alternative New Year's Eve was had last night.
It started with the delightful Jackie, the hairdresser to the village, coming over and giving us both a haircut. Always good to start a year at least looking the part. She does slightly freak my Beloved out as she always offers to trim his eyebrows. He always accepts as she asks the question with the comb and scissors already in place. I think he's too scared to refuse in case she can't accept rejection and he ends up with some weird modern twist on acceptable eyebrow shaping.
This was followed by a delicious dinner, and we then spent a quiet evening a deux, staying up to see the Alternative New Year in.
So far the New Year has started very well. About three weeks ago I applied to be part of World Book Night. The idea is that you say who you would give 48 free books to and if you get chosen you get to do the deed. And this morning I got the confirmation that I am one of the chosen ones. I am very much hoping this positive trend continues as the year unfolds.
And on that happy note I wish you all a Happy Alternative New Year.
And this really is the last post before I head to London.
Anyway, a lovely Alternative New Year's Eve was had last night.
It started with the delightful Jackie, the hairdresser to the village, coming over and giving us both a haircut. Always good to start a year at least looking the part. She does slightly freak my Beloved out as she always offers to trim his eyebrows. He always accepts as she asks the question with the comb and scissors already in place. I think he's too scared to refuse in case she can't accept rejection and he ends up with some weird modern twist on acceptable eyebrow shaping.
This was followed by a delicious dinner, and we then spent a quiet evening a deux, staying up to see the Alternative New Year in.
So far the New Year has started very well. About three weeks ago I applied to be part of World Book Night. The idea is that you say who you would give 48 free books to and if you get chosen you get to do the deed. And this morning I got the confirmation that I am one of the chosen ones. I am very much hoping this positive trend continues as the year unfolds.
And on that happy note I wish you all a Happy Alternative New Year.
And this really is the last post before I head to London.
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Tennis update +
What a disappointment! Andy Murray didn't play well and, in my view, lost it because his serve was completely off. At one stage the only thing he was ahead in score wise was that he had more double faults than Novak Djokovic. Not a way to win a grand slam.
I'm now getting my gear ready to go to London for 5 days... I'm going to have to think about what to take as usually I only go for a couple of days and my lovely small travel bag is rarely full, but 5 days means it'll probably be crammed. I've got business meetings, drinks meetings, friends and theatre to cater for so will need a fairly wide range of clothing. Oh the dilemma! Still at least it's a nice dilemma to have.
My coffee plants seem to have been going through a period of being dormant. They have been almost static for the last month, apart from the few inevitable brown leaves that seem to appear every year. I'm still hopeful that the smallest one is not on its way out, but experience tells me this might well be its last winter. We'll see. Fingers crossed that the others stay healthy and they start growing again soon.
That's probably it for the next week as I'm not sure I'll be able to post while I'm away. So much depends on the technology working and given what happened the last time I went to London, I hae me doubts. Have a good one folks and I'll be back in the land of onlinedness when I can.
I'm now getting my gear ready to go to London for 5 days... I'm going to have to think about what to take as usually I only go for a couple of days and my lovely small travel bag is rarely full, but 5 days means it'll probably be crammed. I've got business meetings, drinks meetings, friends and theatre to cater for so will need a fairly wide range of clothing. Oh the dilemma! Still at least it's a nice dilemma to have.
My coffee plants seem to have been going through a period of being dormant. They have been almost static for the last month, apart from the few inevitable brown leaves that seem to appear every year. I'm still hopeful that the smallest one is not on its way out, but experience tells me this might well be its last winter. We'll see. Fingers crossed that the others stay healthy and they start growing again soon.
That's probably it for the next week as I'm not sure I'll be able to post while I'm away. So much depends on the technology working and given what happened the last time I went to London, I hae me doubts. Have a good one folks and I'll be back in the land of onlinedness when I can.
Saturday, 29 January 2011
What a way to waste a morning
I love Wimbledon and when it's on I become rather obsessive about rushing home with the tennis on the radio, dashing in the door to switch on the telly and can sit for hours reveling in the splendour that is athletes performing at their best in a sport that I love. Somehow I always manage to be working during Wimbledon and so always miss bits and last year made the heinous crime of actually being away working during the finals ... big mistake. So imagine my joy this morning when the Australian Open women's final was on first thing this morning. What a way to wake up. What a way to waste a morning!
And guess what... I get to do it all over again tomorrow when it's the men's finals. Go Andy Murray!
And guess what... I get to do it all over again tomorrow when it's the men's finals. Go Andy Murray!
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
The alternative New Year
An admission: I've been having coffee for the last couple of days and no bad after effects which is fantastic. I'm now back to being a coffee lover! The other thing is that I braved a glass of red wine last night in the hope that I could manage it and still feel ok the next day. I decided to choose last night because I didn't have any work today... that would've been fine except that I had the wrong page in my diary (don't ask) and actually have a meeting to attend this morning where I absolutely have to make sense. So I'm happy to report that I woke up this morning feeling alright and with my brain fairly in gear.
I'm now writing off January as a dead loss and have decided to start my year all over again and have designated 1st February as the new New Year. Anyone want to join me?
I'm now writing off January as a dead loss and have decided to start my year all over again and have designated 1st February as the new New Year. Anyone want to join me?
Saturday, 22 January 2011
Who're you going to blame?
After my first flush of what felt like good health, and which lasted approximately 24 hours, I found myself back in position A. This involved wearing a mask (to cut out the light), a Migraine Kool'n Soothe (to help with the headache) and wrapped up in bed with my Peter Rabbit hot water bottle (my personal soother) and feeling like death warmed up. This lasted for most of the day, but then felt a bit better by evening. And this has been the pattern ever since. I feel ok for a day, or two, at the very most and then collapse again in a fit of headache and tiredness. I'm truly sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. None of this is helping my studies or my work and I'm now acres behind on what feels like both.
Yesterday was a feel a bit better day and I was in the mood to work, to sort, in other words to get on with things. In the process I realised I'm supposed to be going to London in a couple of weeks and also realised that my train tickets were nowhere to be found. I searched high and low but nothing, nada. So I got on the phone to the TrainLine to find out how I go about ordering replacements.
The TrainLine, to be fair to them, have a statement on their website that says that they charge you 10p per minute to phone them. And I suppose I should have already guessed from this that the phone call would take far longer than necessary (call me a cynic!). It took over 11 minutes for the woman in a continent that certainly wasn't Europe, to tell me that she had dealt with my query but now needed to hand me on to someone else who would arrange the reference so I could pick up my tickets at the station when I travel. I could feel the incandescent rage beginning to rise, but as I was put on hold for a further few minutes I had time to calm down before the next operator came on the line. He asked me exactly the same questions and took the same amount of time as his counterpart. At least at the end of this I got the reference number. So a whole 24 minutes 37 seconds later (yes... ok a bit OCD I know) I had all I needed to travel. I also had rising blood pressure and a feeling of being completely conned. I had a small whisky to help me feel better. Purely medicinal you understand.
And guess what? Today I woke up with a raging headache and extreme tiredness. Can't really blame the TrainLine, can I? Well maybe a little. Anyway, suffice it to say, I'm pissed off... very pissed off. So it seems that coffee is not the only thing I can't drink at the moment, it's alcohol too. Great eh?
Yesterday was a feel a bit better day and I was in the mood to work, to sort, in other words to get on with things. In the process I realised I'm supposed to be going to London in a couple of weeks and also realised that my train tickets were nowhere to be found. I searched high and low but nothing, nada. So I got on the phone to the TrainLine to find out how I go about ordering replacements.
The TrainLine, to be fair to them, have a statement on their website that says that they charge you 10p per minute to phone them. And I suppose I should have already guessed from this that the phone call would take far longer than necessary (call me a cynic!). It took over 11 minutes for the woman in a continent that certainly wasn't Europe, to tell me that she had dealt with my query but now needed to hand me on to someone else who would arrange the reference so I could pick up my tickets at the station when I travel. I could feel the incandescent rage beginning to rise, but as I was put on hold for a further few minutes I had time to calm down before the next operator came on the line. He asked me exactly the same questions and took the same amount of time as his counterpart. At least at the end of this I got the reference number. So a whole 24 minutes 37 seconds later (yes... ok a bit OCD I know) I had all I needed to travel. I also had rising blood pressure and a feeling of being completely conned. I had a small whisky to help me feel better. Purely medicinal you understand.
And guess what? Today I woke up with a raging headache and extreme tiredness. Can't really blame the TrainLine, can I? Well maybe a little. Anyway, suffice it to say, I'm pissed off... very pissed off. So it seems that coffee is not the only thing I can't drink at the moment, it's alcohol too. Great eh?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)