Eeeeee!
I've just booked the hotel for the honeymoon - we are going to be staying for 6 nights at the First Hotel Marin in Bergen. (The photos on the website aren't as good as the ones on Expedia, but I can't link directly there, as Expedia wipes the search each time)
And the very nice lady in the Bergen Tourist Office pointed me towards the Fjord Pass people, where, for spending 120 NOK (approx £12 when the credit card commission is added), I managed to save approx £200 on the hotel costs! Not to be sniffed at, and the savings will almost cover the activities that we are going to do - the Royal Fjord Tour and the Hardanger Fjord Tour.
So I'm very excited now - the flights are booked, the hotel is booked, and I'm going to wait until after the 15th to book the tours and get the currency, as it will be a bit easier on the credit card and bank account!
Friday, 13 July 2007
How to embarrass yourself in three easy steps
...and one very hard one.
(1)Join queue for train
(2)Go to get onto train
(3)Miss train step completely. Fall down gap between train and platform. Hang by your arms from the train door, unable to gain a foothold to climb back up. Listen to everyone laughing...
Some kind soul on the platform eventually took pity on me and helped me back up, and, aside from a skinned knee, it was only my pride that was hurt.
(1)Join queue for train
(2)Go to get onto train
(3)Miss train step completely. Fall down gap between train and platform. Hang by your arms from the train door, unable to gain a foothold to climb back up. Listen to everyone laughing...
Some kind soul on the platform eventually took pity on me and helped me back up, and, aside from a skinned knee, it was only my pride that was hurt.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
The scariness of Facebook
I've not been on Facebook *that* long - since Easter or thereabouts.
However, I now have 56 Friends on there. And only one of them I don't actually know (she had the same name as a primary school friend. Her photo was similiar (or how I thought she might look, given that the last time I saw her was over 10 years ago...). But I don't actually know her. However, it is a bit unnerving that
(a) I appear to be the only Jo Foster on there - there are lots of John / Joanne etc Fosters on there, but only one Jo;
(b) I've only added 5 or 6 of those friends myself. Everyone else has come and found me...
There are also three photos of me that I didn't add - one of me in the background at a student-theatre rehearsal; one of me doing a sack race at a company party (and I didn't fall over!); and one of me aged 10 in my primary school leavers' photo. I'm not sure which is scarier - that those photos exist and are online, or that I'm not actually that embarrassed by the photos (I think the one of me aged 10 is rather cute!)
But I'm enjoying the phenomena that is Facebook- I'm now in touch with people that I never thought I'd hear from again, and I'm hoping that the ease of writing on someone's "wall" or sending them a quick message will help me to stay in touch better than writing emails!
However, I now have 56 Friends on there. And only one of them I don't actually know (she had the same name as a primary school friend. Her photo was similiar (or how I thought she might look, given that the last time I saw her was over 10 years ago...). But I don't actually know her. However, it is a bit unnerving that
(a) I appear to be the only Jo Foster on there - there are lots of John / Joanne etc Fosters on there, but only one Jo;
(b) I've only added 5 or 6 of those friends myself. Everyone else has come and found me...
There are also three photos of me that I didn't add - one of me in the background at a student-theatre rehearsal; one of me doing a sack race at a company party (and I didn't fall over!); and one of me aged 10 in my primary school leavers' photo. I'm not sure which is scarier - that those photos exist and are online, or that I'm not actually that embarrassed by the photos (I think the one of me aged 10 is rather cute!)
But I'm enjoying the phenomena that is Facebook- I'm now in touch with people that I never thought I'd hear from again, and I'm hoping that the ease of writing on someone's "wall" or sending them a quick message will help me to stay in touch better than writing emails!
The people in my head
Inspired partly by Jekyll and partly by my own insanity...
There are too many people in my head for one brain to cope with. They bicker and argue worse than siblings on a wet day. And I never know who is going to look out of my eyes when the alarm clock goes off in the morning.
They split themselves into two groups, and but struggle between themselves for control.
The happy group...
There is the sensible, "Mumsy" one. She is the one that makes the lists and does the housework, and the one who tuts at the dirty carpet whenever any of the others ignores the mess.
There is the childish one. She's the one who makes me want to make an objection in weddings, to tell people what I really think of them. She's also the one who enjoys eating jelly snake sweets, who thinks that thunderstorms and downpours are great fun, and giggles at cartoons.
There is the one that is me at my most balanced. The one who makes the rational decisions, but who can also let of steam and have some fun.
The sad group...
There is the argumentative one. She is the most approachable of the sad group, but is also the one that, when not in contol, questions everything. She's the one who answers back and snaps.
There is the melancholy one. She's the one who takes the colour out of the days, who will take everything the wrong way. She spends all her time trying to stop the child from giggling.
Then there is the violent one. She doesn't come to the surface much, but usually follows on the heels of the argumentative one. She's the one who will hit the walls or hold the hot pan for too long. I'm scared of her.
They are all me, but they are all different.
There are too many people in my head for one brain to cope with. They bicker and argue worse than siblings on a wet day. And I never know who is going to look out of my eyes when the alarm clock goes off in the morning.
They split themselves into two groups, and but struggle between themselves for control.
The happy group...
There is the sensible, "Mumsy" one. She is the one that makes the lists and does the housework, and the one who tuts at the dirty carpet whenever any of the others ignores the mess.
There is the childish one. She's the one who makes me want to make an objection in weddings, to tell people what I really think of them. She's also the one who enjoys eating jelly snake sweets, who thinks that thunderstorms and downpours are great fun, and giggles at cartoons.
There is the one that is me at my most balanced. The one who makes the rational decisions, but who can also let of steam and have some fun.
The sad group...
There is the argumentative one. She is the most approachable of the sad group, but is also the one that, when not in contol, questions everything. She's the one who answers back and snaps.
There is the melancholy one. She's the one who takes the colour out of the days, who will take everything the wrong way. She spends all her time trying to stop the child from giggling.
Then there is the violent one. She doesn't come to the surface much, but usually follows on the heels of the argumentative one. She's the one who will hit the walls or hold the hot pan for too long. I'm scared of her.
They are all me, but they are all different.
Friday, 6 July 2007
Random Musings
Inspired by travelling down the motorway and the Dr Who programme guides I've been reading...
Time is a one way process. In the same way that we travel down a motorway, we live life in one direction. The speed of the journey depends on the driver - some people enjoy the speed and thrills of living life at 100mph, but they will reach their journey's end faster as well. Others are juggernauts, bulling their way through, intimidating the slower drivers who don't want to conform to the speed that the lorry is going. Slow drivers might seem to potter, but they get there in the end.
But what if, as on a motorway, we could see people coming the other way? Those who have already lived through what we are about to encounter? People who, unknowing of what they are doing, could give us a clue as to what lies ahead. We would have to be skilled at reading the signs - the lit headlamps and slowing windscreen wipers showing the storms ahead. Occasionally, one or two would be aware of us, and try to alert us, flashing their headlights to warn of the police speed checks.
And, once we became aware of the opposite flow, could we find a way to join them? To find the junctions and roundabouts to travel in the opposite direction? To rewind time and our journey to the beginning.
Time is a one way process. In the same way that we travel down a motorway, we live life in one direction. The speed of the journey depends on the driver - some people enjoy the speed and thrills of living life at 100mph, but they will reach their journey's end faster as well. Others are juggernauts, bulling their way through, intimidating the slower drivers who don't want to conform to the speed that the lorry is going. Slow drivers might seem to potter, but they get there in the end.
But what if, as on a motorway, we could see people coming the other way? Those who have already lived through what we are about to encounter? People who, unknowing of what they are doing, could give us a clue as to what lies ahead. We would have to be skilled at reading the signs - the lit headlamps and slowing windscreen wipers showing the storms ahead. Occasionally, one or two would be aware of us, and try to alert us, flashing their headlights to warn of the police speed checks.
And, once we became aware of the opposite flow, could we find a way to join them? To find the junctions and roundabouts to travel in the opposite direction? To rewind time and our journey to the beginning.
Thursday, 5 July 2007
July already...
Dr Who is over and done with - and the two parter went from being edge of my seat at the cliffhanger, to slumped back on the sofa, guessing correctly each cliche before it happened. Highly disappointed (and then with the news that bloody Catherine Tate is going to be back in the TARDIS next series. If the point of the companion is to be the face/voice of the audience, then it shows what RTD thinks of us all :-( I really enjoyed having an intelligent companion - one that I could actually relate to )
I have nothing more to say on the subject - these guys did it so much better.
http://community.livejournal.com/ihasatardis/285628.html
http://community.livejournal.com/ihasatardis/285050.html
In other news - had my coil fitted last week. Still hurting today, so the guys on the Lush Forum pointedly told me that I should get it checked out - apparantly a week isn't normal. So hours at the drs this morning, and then a trek to the hospital this afternoon, to be told that everything is fine. Which is a good thing.
I have nothing more to say on the subject - these guys did it so much better.
http://community.livejournal.com/ihasatardis/285628.html
http://community.livejournal.com/ihasatardis/285050.html
In other news - had my coil fitted last week. Still hurting today, so the guys on the Lush Forum pointedly told me that I should get it checked out - apparantly a week isn't normal. So hours at the drs this morning, and then a trek to the hospital this afternoon, to be told that everything is fine. Which is a good thing.
Wednesday, 20 June 2007
Weekend
It's Tuesday already, and the weekend just flew by!
On Saturday, I had my final two BSL Level 2 exams - they actually went rather well (if I don't jynx it by saying so...) We had two modules:
203 - Conversation - taken first, as a warm up for;
202 - Productive - a 3-4 minute story to camera
For both modules, we had already picked a Theme (for me, it was Food and Drink for 203 and Travel and Holidays for 203), and when we went into the practice session, we were given the list of topics from which we could pick one. The conversation with Martin went well-ish - I completely blanked on the sign for 'pudding', which was very stupid! But the story was a dream - I'd already practiced around my Australia backpacking, as it could cover so many different ideas - "the best holiday" "the worst holiday" (obviously different bits!) "why I like backpacking" etc etc - and the topic that I picked was "travelling alone" - absolutely fantastic! I was able to put in most of the ideas that I'd practiced, so I hope that it came across very well.
Just 6 weeks to wait until the results now...
Then, after meeting with Leanne, Claire and Heather in the Greenhouse for a debrief, it was back home for Dr Who "Utopia" and the first episode of Jekyll.
"Utopia" was brilliant - Derek Jacobi was amazing as Professor Yana - the emotion that he could portray without moving a muscle was just fantastic. And, although I knew who he was going to be at the end, I didn't realise who he would regenerate into! That was a complete jaw hitting the table moment! So looking forward to this Saturday now!
And Jekyll - WOW! A few itty bitty plot things that need explaining (the main one being that if you knew that you were having blackouts, and that whilst in that blackout, you were doing things that you couldn't countenance, wouldn't you voluntarily section yourself?). However, I hope that these will be explained later on in the series. James Nesbitt was brilliant as both Tom Jackman and Hyde - and the script was super - all hail Steve Moffatt for a show that had me on the edge of my seat and giggling wickedly at the dark humour.
Sunday, we met up with Sarah and Graham to see Fantastic Four (Karen came to the cinema for a chat, but with two dads to visit, and a family wedding to go to, she was a little busy!) - a very silly popcorn film - not a huge amount of substance to it (although more than the original...), the barest minimum of plot, reasonably wooden characters, and lots of explosions. But it worked, as a 'turn your brain off and relax' film - no real need to think, just let the images flow over you, and stop wondering how much bigger Jessica Alba's lips can get before they explode...
Then, after the afternoon showing of the film, John and I headed to the Hippodrome to see Derren Brown on the last day of his tour. The man is astonishing - even though you know that everything he does is a trick - a verbal and mental illusion, you still can't work out how he does it! (and yes, John and I did talk a few of them through afterwards, and picked out a couple, but tell me how he knew that a woman in the audience, picked at random, lived on a houseboat?)
And finally - my little touch of work - we've offered the position of Sales Administrator, and she starts on 2nd July - can't wait! :-)
On Saturday, I had my final two BSL Level 2 exams - they actually went rather well (if I don't jynx it by saying so...) We had two modules:
203 - Conversation - taken first, as a warm up for;
202 - Productive - a 3-4 minute story to camera
For both modules, we had already picked a Theme (for me, it was Food and Drink for 203 and Travel and Holidays for 203), and when we went into the practice session, we were given the list of topics from which we could pick one. The conversation with Martin went well-ish - I completely blanked on the sign for 'pudding', which was very stupid! But the story was a dream - I'd already practiced around my Australia backpacking, as it could cover so many different ideas - "the best holiday" "the worst holiday" (obviously different bits!) "why I like backpacking" etc etc - and the topic that I picked was "travelling alone" - absolutely fantastic! I was able to put in most of the ideas that I'd practiced, so I hope that it came across very well.
Just 6 weeks to wait until the results now...
Then, after meeting with Leanne, Claire and Heather in the Greenhouse for a debrief, it was back home for Dr Who "Utopia" and the first episode of Jekyll.
"Utopia" was brilliant - Derek Jacobi was amazing as Professor Yana - the emotion that he could portray without moving a muscle was just fantastic. And, although I knew who he was going to be at the end, I didn't realise who he would regenerate into! That was a complete jaw hitting the table moment! So looking forward to this Saturday now!
And Jekyll - WOW! A few itty bitty plot things that need explaining (the main one being that if you knew that you were having blackouts, and that whilst in that blackout, you were doing things that you couldn't countenance, wouldn't you voluntarily section yourself?). However, I hope that these will be explained later on in the series. James Nesbitt was brilliant as both Tom Jackman and Hyde - and the script was super - all hail Steve Moffatt for a show that had me on the edge of my seat and giggling wickedly at the dark humour.
Sunday, we met up with Sarah and Graham to see Fantastic Four (Karen came to the cinema for a chat, but with two dads to visit, and a family wedding to go to, she was a little busy!) - a very silly popcorn film - not a huge amount of substance to it (although more than the original...), the barest minimum of plot, reasonably wooden characters, and lots of explosions. But it worked, as a 'turn your brain off and relax' film - no real need to think, just let the images flow over you, and stop wondering how much bigger Jessica Alba's lips can get before they explode...
Then, after the afternoon showing of the film, John and I headed to the Hippodrome to see Derren Brown on the last day of his tour. The man is astonishing - even though you know that everything he does is a trick - a verbal and mental illusion, you still can't work out how he does it! (and yes, John and I did talk a few of them through afterwards, and picked out a couple, but tell me how he knew that a woman in the audience, picked at random, lived on a houseboat?)
And finally - my little touch of work - we've offered the position of Sales Administrator, and she starts on 2nd July - can't wait! :-)
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