The secret life of me...

One afternoon...

I was out of the office for one afternoon....

How can there be so much crap to sort out?

What's wrong with everyone??

...is fairly boring

- Have sore throat - ouch!
- But have hospital appointment at 2.50, so is lovely short working day
- Had small pumpkin based sadness this morning - bought three lovely Halloween pumpkins last week, and discovered this morning that one had turned to mush
- May purchase further lovely pumpkin this afternoon on way home (if hospital hasn't blinded me - if they have, could end up with basketball or something instead - bit risky...)
- Distressingly, I only have two Losts left to watch. Just know I will be bereft when they're over, but find it impossible to make myself watch them any slower when the DVD arrives...
- No further news - life evidently not so eventful today.

Hope everyone else is ok and having good Thursday

Hurrah!

It snoweded here last night
Not enough to build a snowman, but lovely snow nevertheless...
Am very very happy!

In other news:
- I have lost a dress that is red and also black - I am not so happy about this as I love it...
- I am allowed to go to bonfire night at my parents house (v v v happy) - I thought I might have rehearsal but have, in fact, been reprieved - is good - have only missed once or twice before EVAH
- Am going to Halloween party on Saturday - get to dress up (though not in lovely dress that is red and also black).
- Have hospital appointment tomorrow - nothing exciting, but they may make me blind
- May be getting LBF's cold - v unfair, as I only recovered from it a week ago, but he's obviously mutated it and given it back
- I am having salmon for tea

Think that's probably enough news for now...

Hope everyone else is having lovely day and frolicking in the beautiful beautiful snow where appropriate

1. WHO WERE YOU NAMED AFTER?
Noone - my parents just liked the name. I believe that I was called Joanna for the first week though...

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Not sure - more than a week or I'd probably remember.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I'm not even sure that I have something so identifiable as 'handwriting' - mostly just scrawl things.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
As opposed to normal meat? Dunno - don't usually eat meat for lunch. Today am having strawberries to celebrate the fact that the supermarkets still have odd British ones

5. DO YOU HAVE, OR HAVE YOU EVER HAD, PETS? HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD PETS?
Have two kitties - got them for LBF's birthday about a year ago. When I was growing up, we couldn't have dogs/cats as my dad is allergic to fur. We had (have) a tortoise instead, who is the grumpiest pet in the world and I had a small series of mice/rats etc when I was little.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I think so, though we'd probably never meet as I am an antisocial hermit...

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Dunno - maybe.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes - never had any problems with them.
What do tonsils actually do anyway?

9. WOULD YOU JUMP OUT OF AN AIRPLANE?
If necessary.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CEREAL?
Porridge - om nom nom nom nom

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Velcro, velcro, velcro... Or slip ons

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
In a physical or mental sense? Am probably averagely both...

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM?
Something extra extra fruity - perhaps even sorbetish.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Not really sure - maybe voice?

15. RED OR PINK?
Red probably, though pink also has its place.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOU?
My least favourite is probably fattitude. Everyone else's is probably bossiness

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
I miss LBF when he's away - does that count?

18. WHAT COLOUR TOP AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Purple top. No shoes.

19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Strawberries and diet coke. A lunch fit for a king

20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
It's actually weirdly quiet here today - mostly can just hear typing noises and general office hum.

21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE?
Perhaps balck - seems most versatile.
At university, we once went to Pizza Hut for lunch and they gave us crayons and colouring books.
We ate the crayons.

22. FAVOURITE SMELLS
Cut grass.
Warm, wet concrete.
Oranges.
Christmas

23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
The vet's receptionist.

24. FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Dunno - used to watch snooker and F1, but don't often do either any more.

25. HAIR COLOUR?
Boring old brown.
Am contemplating black for Halloween though.

26. EYE COLOUR?
As above.

27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Yes.
I love them

28. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Scary

29. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
I think LOTR 2, though was a little while ago.
For the last couple of days, have been mostly watching Lost

30. WHAT COLOUR TROUSERS, JEANS OR SKIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Brown...

31. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Winter - delicious snowy, crispy, cold sunshine

32. HUGS OR KISSES?
Can't I have both?

33. FAVOURITE DESSERT?
The summer fruit pudding that they used to have at Pizza Express - am so so so sad that they've discontinued it.
Am easily seduced by summer fruits.

34. WHAT'S OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOWS RIGHT NOW?
From here, can mostly just see the sky.
Is blue

35. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Don't have one.

36. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Lost Lost Lost Lost Lost - though was on DVD.

37. FAVOURITE SOUND?
Hmmm... Not sure.
Sound of happy purring kitteh perhaps?

38. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Who cares!

39. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Switzerland, I think? Or maybe Poland... Not sure - have little concept of distance.

40. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
It seems likely.

What to do with my lovely extra hour??

The FX report that I'm trying to run is making me want to die...

LBF is off to the frozen North today, under the pretence of work (he is doing a talk at the University tomorrow) but really to have FUN...

He's not coming back till Saturday.

In the meantime, it's just me and the kitties...

Guess we'll probably be ok, though I have rehearsals tonight and tomorrow night, so am expecting v bored, petulant (and probably somewhat crazy) catness when I get home

Think we will miss him very much

...Sleepytime for Jennies now

What can I get my mum for Christmas?

I had an idea, but now I'm not so sure it's a good one...

Require suggestions!

So I had a pretty nice weekend, as it turned out...

On Friday we (and lots and lots of other people) went to the pub to celebrate LBF's birthday - much beer, cake and merriment was had by all and nobody embarrassed themselves too much
I think that there was a small foray back to the flat afterwards for SingStar (I'd ducked out by that stage and was sleeping happily) but the carnage the next day was fairly minimal, so it can't have been too extreme

Don't remember much of Saturday, so think not much happened - had singing lesson (good) and rehearsal (ok) but no idea what we did in the evening - think not a great deal...
Oh - and I made chutney from apples from tree in cottage garden in Suffolk

Went to see parents' choir in foyer at RFH on Sunday afternoon, which was nice, and had small wander around South Bank.
Highlight was the deeeeeeliiiiiiicious dinner at Mango Room (as plugged in previous post) with LBF and parents, which was the tastiest, most enjoyable experience I've had for some time - cocktails, salt fish and curry goat abounded and the summer fruit puddingness which followed was utterly delectable

Om nom nom nom...

Will have to eat nothing for week to recover

Looks like a good way to distract myself from the Mondayness of the day...

Do you eat a lot of fast food?
Not much - I occasionally have takeaway, but try not to do it more than once every couple of weeks...
I also occasionally eat Pret lunches or similar - not more than once a week.

How many people have you kissed in 2008?
Only LBF in a romantic sense - probably lots of others in a mwah-mwah way...

Have you ever streaked?
No, though there's still lots of time.

Are you an understanding person?
Sometimes, though often not

What was the last movie you saw in the cinema?
Ummmm.....
I remember going a couple of weeks ago...
Oh yes - Tropic Thunder.

What did you last get upset about?
Had much unnecessary shouting at LBF yesterday (sorry, sweetie) - not really 'about' anything...

Do you eat sweets on a daily basis?
Don't think so - though I do have to carry glucose tablets in case my blood sugar gets too low.

Does it make you happy to get letters?
So very very very happy

Who was the last person to text you?
LBF

What are you looking forward to this summer?
Lovely holiday, sunshine, sailing, swimming and things... Is a long way off though.

Who was the last person you ate with?
Took my breakfast into bedroom this morning, so technically LBF, though he was basically asleep.

Do raisins belong in cookies?
A thousand times, no!

Walking into a party, what's the first thing you notice?
Not sure - don't like parties much, unless they're my own.

Kiss on the first date?
No reason why not - depends on the circumstance/company.

Would you rather have chicken or steak?
Probably steak, but depends on situation.
Would have to be nice steak, too - not just any old crap

What's one thing you've learned from a good friendship gone bad?
If someone relies on you exclusively for things that you can't deal with, you need to get out before it all turns bad.
They're taking advantage of you, even if they don't mean to, and you'r not helping yourself or them.

Who was the last person you took a picture of?
LBF I think.

Would you ever donate blood?
I have done, but am not allowed now, as my blood is defective

Have you ever felt replaced?
Probably

Are there deerheads covering any walls in your house?
No, though there's a really nice wooden moose head at a pub down the road, which I'd love to have in the flat to hang coats on...

Have you ever been asked out?
Other than by crazy-looking randoms on the bus etc, I don't think so... That's kind of sad

Are you good at telling jokes?
Not very

Have you ever driven without a license?
No

Do you wish you had smaller feet?
A little bit...
Size 5 is definitely the optimum size for women, I'm a 6.
No sleepless nights, though!

When ordering sushi, what do you get?
Tasty sashimi
Ooh and edamame.
And anything with the lovely salmon roe on it...
Or anything - not fussy - I love sushi

Do you write in cursive or in print?
Mostly print.

Who was the last person you sat next to?
Work person at next desk.

What were you doing at 10 am?
Probably this

Are you different now than you were six months ago?
Not very, though I guess others may disagree?

What was the last beverage you spilled on yourself?
Water.

How old will you be in 10 months?
30 (agh)

Do you think you'll be married by then?
Unlikely

Was yesterday better than today?
Hard to say yet, though was good, so will be hard act to follow.

What month is your birthday in?
July

Can you live a day without tv?
Yes

When was the last time you saw your dad?
Yesterday

How many pets do you have?
Two kitties

Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet?
Bare feets.

Available?
Depends what for!

What is your favorite colour?
Not sure I really have one - always think this is a silly question.

What are you doing for your next birthday?
Dunno - is far far away.

Do you like coffee?
Nope.

Do you like iced tea?
Dunno, but highly unlikely.

What are you listening to?
Office chatter - actually, my boss is singing - is weird.

Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed?
Yes, though not always the same one.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
Dunno - would be better singer, I think, and more famous.

Do you know how to play poker?
Yes - one of my teachers taught me, at school.

What are you thinking about right now?
Iceland.

Any plans for next weekend?
Not yet.

What were you doing at 12 last night?
Snuggling myself into bed

Do you smile a lot?
I think so...

Have you ever had a life-threatening injury?
No - not many injuries at all...

Do you like flying or driving?
I wish I could fly - not in a plane though.

What is your favorite thing to spend money on?
Ooooh - hard to say - am prodigious spender
Books, maybe?
Or tatsy vegetables

Do you wear any jewelry daily?
No.

Who got you the jewelry you are currently wearing?
Not wearing any.

Who is the funniest person you know?
Not sure.

How often do you remember your dreams?
Rarely, unless they're really vivid.

What is your ringtone?
Dunno - always ahev phone on silent.

Skim, 1%, 2%, or whole milk?
Skimmed, but rarely drink/eat milk anyway.

Are you mad about anything?
Singinginginging

What time did you go to sleep last night?
About midnight - crtainly a bit later than I should have.

Where did you last sleep besides your own bed?
Hotel in Italy, I think...
Or possibly sofa.

We're going to Mango Room tomorrow night

I think it might be my favourite restaurant in the world...

Definitely in the top ten, anyway - maybe even five...

Why are all the blogs suddenly backwards?

Did I do something odd?

Is ok everyone - spot is gone

Though I did have a great big one (spot, that is) on my bottom last night - LBF helpfully (though perhaps a little more gleefully than I would have preferred) squeezed it for me...

Also - my swollen neck/gland stuff seems a bit better which is good - I have utter thyroid paranoia, so was v stressed yesterday - you don't see many successful opera singers with goitres

Now that I've put you all off your elevenses, I hope you all have a lovely day!

I shall be spending the day trying not to be drawn in by the veritable mountain of cakes that someone has just dumped immediately in front of my desk

A spot...

I has one

It is vast and disfiguring.

I am deformed

Hmmm....

My desire to purchase and read the Booker Prize shortlist immediately is somewhat at odds with my no spending resolution

Have optimistically added them all to my Amazon wishlist in the hope that I may turn out to have a rich benefactor somewhere...

This looks totally cool - must become involved

Hmmm....

What could I offer?

... in case you read this...

I hope you like your presents

What I want for Valentine's Day...
Anything else is going to be a sore disappointment!

more animals

... was pretty nice

I got home late on Friday and fell asleep on the sofa almost straight away, which was not so great, but did manage to wake up a bit later and wrap LBF's (he was away, causing havoc in Cambridge) birthday presents to date (one more bit to get - birthday not till tomorrow, so is all good) before falling into bed...

On Saturday, I had v good singing lesson in the morning and long rehearsal, so didn't get home again (and lunch...) till after 5.
Parents came round to pick me up an hour later, and we drove off to Suffolk (happy place), had tasty pub supper and fell into bed.

On Sunday we got up early (well, early for the weekend, anyway), had breakfast and hot-footed it off to the beach for 2008 Bottle Boat Championships (see 2007 report), which proved to be a day of sunshine, light winds, fun, frolics, a bit of mud and tasty bbq
I came 13th of 24 (not too shabby) and my dad and cousin came 3rd and 4th respectively...
Think it might not have been very fun if you were the serious model yachting type (and believe me, such things exist - scary) as there was a fair bit of bad behaviour/abuse of rules/collisions, particularly from the kids and the inexperienced racers, though also, to some extent, from one or two who should have known better - I certainly got shoved onto the ground a few times, and collided with on multiple occasions (running repairs, a useful skill ), which probably didn't much improve my performance, but had a fantastic day anyway

Back at work now, and am pleased to report that still seem to have job, so everything basically good

Hope everyone else has lovely day

.....am I still here?

Expecially given that there are unlikely to be any bonuses for anyone this year, whether they work hard or not!

Q: What is the definition of optimism?
A: An investment banker ironing five shirts on a Sunday night

I can be cheeseburger?

...as am too snuffly to do real blogging today

Whats your name backwards?
Einnej

Name some lines from the song you are listening to?
Do we smile or do we weep or wait quietly till they sleep?

Gay or Straight?
Straight...

What goes on your toast?
Toast? Toast is for wimps....
Though I had corn bread, egg and carrots (otherwise known as 'things that were lying around in the fridge') for lunch today - that's a bit like toast

What's the seventh text message in your inbox say?
'I'm right outside the window ;-)'

Has someone groped you in the past week?
Only my LBF

Lily Allen or Kate Nash?
Meh...

Last person to call you babe?
LBF probably - or one of my (girly) opera friends perhaps

I say ‘Jump!’, you say?
Nothing - I don't jump.

Whats the top played song on your MP3 player?
Probably something really weird...
My top played is a bit of a vicious circle - I mostly listen on random shuffle and because the shuffle likes to play things that are played more often, it tends to choose its own favourites rather than mine.
It's particularly keen on the (hundred hour long ) John Coltrane version of My Favorite Things.

Who did you last hold hands with?
LBF

Who would you like to meet?
Maybe some blog people...
Or maybe not.
Not certain.

Funniest thing that happened today?
Can't think of anything.
Have cold - not so funny

Are you insane?
Is likely

Whats on your bedside table?
Don't have one - bed is toooooooo large to allow luxuries like bedside tables.
There is bottle of water and copy of Persepolis in or around bed though.

How many piercings do you have?
None - I find them really disturbing.
Have tattoo though

Whats one of your favourite quotes?
Not sure - will get back to you.

Have you ever kissed anyone who's name started with a S or N?
I don't think so...

Is this year the best year of your life?
Maybe - is not over yet!

Ninjas or Pirates?
Pirates - arrrrrr...

Where do you want to go right now?
Home to bed.
Or back to lovely Italian seaside...

Who do you want to go with?
LBF - though only if he lets me sleep instead of groping me for a little while

Do you hate My Chemical Romance?
I have no strong feelingsl either way...

What do you want from life?
To sing.

When did you last do sex?
Monday morning, I think...
Do we 'do' sex now?
Or am I misunderstanding the question?

What's your nickname and why?
I'm not sure I really have one.
Am sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong

Anything written on your hand?
No...

Could you run the Country?
Perhaps.
Wouldn't want to though.

What are your favourite names?
Maybe Wilberforce
Or Gaylord

Have you ever punched a hole in the wall?
No.
When I was in halls in the first year of university though, one of the guys from my floor kicked a hole in the wall playing corridor cricket and then couldn't understand why they wouldn't give him his deposit back at the end of the year...

Name a good song.
Dunno...
I've been singing 'The Lost Chord', which is a lovely story, though I'm not sure I really like the song much.

Where's your sister?
Probably at work.
In a pub.
Not sure where - have lost track...

Have you got balls?
I did have a giant tennis ball, but somebody stole it

How would you react if someone kissed you right now?
I would sneeze!

Wheres the weirdest place you’ve peed?
Nowhere very weird as far as I remember...
Outside variously.

Are you scared of Cows?
Cows?
No - they're so soulful and lovely

Anything else to add?
Meeeep...

....has been fairly traumatic already and it's only Tuesday

Am trying not to worry too much about what will happen if I wake up tomorrow (or the next day, or the next) and don't have a job any more...

I think we'd be ok - I've already decided to cut back on non-essentials - to be honest, it's ridiculous that I have such a large salary and yet so little money...
Will cut back on magazine subscriptions, excessive food shoppings (we already have lots of luxury-type food items in the freezer, so should be able to last for ages) and eating outs...
Also, will definitely have to block Amazon from my laptop - is root of many evils
Have already got most of LBF's birthday present, so that's good, and also do want to continue to get Christmas presents as necessary, but will try to take things slowly...
Is all a bit scary - will try v hard to develop lovely cushion if I manage to have job for the rest of the year - you all have to stop me spending further moneys - 'k?

On a slightly brighter note, we had weekend in Italy for a wedding - LBF's boss was getting married...
Can utterly recommend trip to Cogoleto (outside Genova) if anyone is looking for somewhere to go
Is beautiful little seaside town - weather was absolutely gorgeous and our (v reasonable) hotel room had balcony overlooking the sea...
We ate and drank far far too much (including 10 course wedding lunch - overwhelmingly tasty) and returned laden with tasty (and beautiful) pasta based souvenirs.
Was good - I'd been a bit worried about going to hen/stag night and wedding with a load of people I didn't know, but when it came to it, I had a lovely time
And LBF looked extremely sexy in his kilt

Better go now, before you get tooooooooo bored - must take my cornbread out of the oven, check whether my focaccias have risen yet and wash hairs

Hope everyone is ok!

You can change the language settings on Facebook to Pirate English!!!!

It is officially the BEST THING EVER!