Time filler

I'm having a very nice holiday so far and have done absolutely bugger all worth blogging about. Today I am off to get my Valentine's secret present so I shall leave you with a quiz (obtained from Emily) in the meantime. I've even persuaded Anthony to fill it in too!

Level 1
(A) Smoked A Cigarette
(AK) Smoked A Cigar
(AK) Kissed A Member Of The Same Sex [pissing about and family count!]
(AK) Drank Alcohol

SO FAR: 4A 3K

Level 2
(K) Shoplifted
(A) Been Fired [Being made redundant isn't the same!]
(AK) Been Dumped
(AK) Been In A Fist Fight

SO FAR 7A 6K

Level 3
(AK) Had A Crush On An Older Person
(AK) Skipped School
(AK) Slept With A Co-worker
(AK) Seen Someone / Something Die

SO FAR: 11A 10K

Level 4
() Had / Have A Crush On One Of Your Facebook Friends
(A) Been To Paris
(K) Been To Spain
(AK) Been On A Plane
(AK) Thrown Up From Drinking

SO FAR: 14A 13K

Level 5
(K) Eaten Sushi
() Been Snowboarding
() Met Someone BECAUSE Of Facebook
(K) Been in a Mosh Pit

SO FAR: 14A 15K

Level 6
(AK) Been In An Abusive Relationship
(AK) Taken Pain Killers
(AK) Love/loved Someone Who You Can't Have
(AK) Laid On Your Back And Watched Cloud Shapes Go By
(K) Made A Snow Angel

SO FAR: 18A 20K

Level 7
(AK) Had A Tea Party
(AK) Flown A Kite
(AK) Built A Sand Castle
() Gone mudding
(AK) Played Dress Up

SO FAR: 22A 24K

Level 8
(AK) Jumped Into A Pile Of Leaves
(AK) Gone Sledging
(AK) Cheated While Playing A Game
(AK) Been Lonely
(AK) Fallen Asleep At Work / School

SO FAR: 27A 29K

Level 9
(AK) Watched The Sun Set
(A) Felt An Earthquake
() Killed A Snake
(A) Sent a letter by post to yourself

SO FAR: 30A 30K

Level 10
(AK) Been Tickled
(AK) Been Robbed / Vandalized
(AK) Been cheated on
(AK) Been Misunderstood

SO FAR: 34A 34K

Level 11
(AK) Won A Contest
(A) Been Suspended From School
(AK) Had Detention
(A) Been In A Car / Motorcycle Accident

SO FAR: 38A 36K

Level 12
(K) Had / Have Braces
(K) Eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night
(K) Danced in the moonlight

SO FAR: 38A 39K

Level 13
(AK) Hated The Way You Look
(AK) Witnessed A Crime
(K) Pole Danced
(AK) Questioned Your Heart
(K) Been obsessed with post-it-notes

SO FAR: 41A 44K

Level 14
(K) Squished Barefoot Through The Mud
(AK) Been Lost
() Been To The Opposite Side Of The World
(AK) Swam In The Ocean
(AK) Felt Like You Were Dying

SO FAR: 44A 48K

Level 15
(AK) Cried Yourself To Sleep
(AK) Played Cops And Robbers
(AK) Recently Colored With Crayons / Colored Pencils / Markers
(AK) Sang Karaoke
(AK) Paid For A Meal With Only Coins

SO FAR: 49A 53K

Level 16
(AK) Done Something You Told Yourself You Wouldn't
(AK) Made Prank Phone Calls
(AK) Laughed Until Some Kind Of Beverage Came Out Of Your Nose
(AK) Kissed In The Rain

SO FAR: 53A 57K

Level 17
(K) Written A Letter To Father Christmas
(AK) Watched The Sun Set/ sun rise With Someone You Care/Cared About
(AK) Blown Bubbles
(AK) Made A Bonfire On The Beach or anywhere

SO FAR: 56A 61K

Level 18
(AK) Crashed A Party
(A) Have Travelled More Than 5 Days With A Car Full Of People
(AK) Gone Rollerskating / Blading
(K) Had A Wish Come True
() Been Humped By A Monkey(?)

SO FAR: 59A 64K

Level 19
() Worn Pearls (pearl necklace counts)
() Jumped Off A Bridge
(A) Screamed "Penis" or "Vagina"
(K) Ridden an elephant

SO FAR: 60A 65K

Level 20
(A) Got Your Tongue Stuck To A Pole/Freezer/ice Cube
() Kissed A Fish
(K) Worn The Opposite Sex's Clothes
(AK) Sat On A Roof Top

SO FAR: 62A 67K

Level 21
(AK) Screamed At The Top Of Your Lungs
() Done / Attempted A One-Handed Cartwheel
(K) Talked On The Phone For More Than 6 Hours (A= can I have half a point. been on phone for over 3hrs b'ham to swansea in a truck)
(AK) Recently stayed Up for a while talking to someone you care about

SO FAR: 64.5A 70K

Level 22
(A) Picked And Ate An Apple Right Off The Tree
(AK) Climbed A Tree
(AK) Had/Been In A Tree House
(K) Been scared To Watch Scary Movies Alone

SO FAR: 67.5A 73K

Level 23
(AK) Believed In Ghosts
() Have had More Then 30 Pairs Of Shoes
() Gone Streaking
(AK) Visited Jail (K= On a school trip...)

SO FAR: 69.5A 75K

Level 24
(A) Played Chicken
() Been Pushed into a pool with all your clothes on
(AK) Been Told You're Hot By A Complete Stranger
(AK) Broken A Bone
(AK) Been Easily Amused

SO FAR: 73.5A 78K

Level 25
() Caught A Fish Then Ate It Later
() Made A Porn Video
(A) Caught A Butterfly
(AK) Laughed So Hard You Cried
(K) Cried So Hard You Laughed

SO FAR: 75.5A 80K

Level 26
(AK) Mooned/Flashed Someone
(AK) Had Someone Moon/Flash You
(AK) Cheated On A Test
(AK) Forgotten Someone's Name
(K) French Braided Someone's Hair
(K) Gone Skinny Dipping
(A) Been Kicked Out Of Your House
(AK) Tried to hurt yourself

SO FAR: 81.5A 87K

Level 27
(AK) Rode A Roller Coaster
(A) Went Scuba-Diving/Snorkeling
(AK) Had A Cavity
(A) Black-Mailed Someone
(A) Been Black Mailed

SO FAR: 86.5A 89K

Level 28
(AK) Been Used
(AK) Fell Going Up The Stairs
(AK) Been Licked By A Cat
(AK) Bitten Someone
(AK) Licked Someone

SO FAR: 91.5A 94K

Level 29
(A) Been shot at/or at gunpoint
(AK) Had sex in the rain
(A) Flattened someones tyres
(AK) Rode your car/truck until the fuel light came on
(AK) Got five quid or less worth of fuel

Total 96.5A 97K

Thursday....

Yup, today was a Thursday...

But I did get a nicely eclectic selection (try saying that pissed) of library books.

Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
Happy Ever After - Adele Geras
Bad Kitty - Michelle Jaffe
Elsewhere - Gabrielle Zevin
French Women for all Seasons - Mireille Guiliano
The Good, The Bad and The Undead - Kim Harrison
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Michael Chabon
Behind with the Laundry and Living off Chocolate - Lynette Allen
Thunderball - Ian Fleming
Full Dark House - Christopher Fowler

So they should keep me busy for a little while at least.

Is it Thursday?

It's certainly been one of those days today.

It started off ok, not late for work or anything, but the day got crazier as it went on.

Campbelli (who came in when she's supposed to be on holiday) and Fingers were coming up with grand plans for the kids department and none of us noticed the time so the breaks all got a bit late. Then I ended up in a HUGE queue in Boots when I went in for some more Sudafed Max.

A school phoned up needing a list of books that they wanted five minutes ago (if you know what I mean, it's a phrase that's easier to say than write!).

Then just as we thought things had calmed down a bit an old lady came in to sit down as she'd felt a bit faint while in the bus queue and ended up fainting into my arms. I was trying not to drop her and put her down carefully (since she was quite frail) while Fingers tried to track down Rich Daws (our first aider). Then we had ambulances and first aiders turn up and try to convince her to go to hospital while I sat on the floor supporting her for half an hour or so. Despite the ambulance crew trying to convince her to go, she held firm and got a cab home. (I hope I'm that bolshy at 86).

Just as we'd all got back into the swing of the afternoon, Rich Daws announced he could smell burning plastic and we all started hunting round the shop for the source. It turned out to be the sign above the lift, so we turned the light out and hoped it would stop. The smell went away but we're hopefully getting it checked tomorrow...

At least it did a good job of distracting me from the fact that this day last year I spent the day in hospital.

Thanks to the fabulous Tim from Random House I managed to get my mitts on a proof for the new Katie Fforde so I've decided my evening will be well spent by running a hot Lush bath and spending a few hours reading my new book, drinking wine and eating chocolate. That way I should get a good nights sleep to cope with whatever the real Thursday decides to throw at me!

Fictional fiction

I read this yesterday.

It was a bit pants to be honest, I only picked it up from the library because of all the fuss. The bits I liked best were the bits about Indian culture, describing the food and the family connections, that kinda thing.* The rest of it was same old teen novel...well several teen novels as it turned out. I knew some bits would be familiar, I just didn't expect it to all be familiar!

Opal Mehta vs Sloppy Firsts
Opal Mehta Controversy
Kaavya Viswanathan

*and it turns out that the Wiki article says they were pinched too!

Secrets

After we'd opened our Valentine's cards this morning (my first in three years!) Anthony made me toss a coin to choose my present. I chose Tails, and so it was. He then told me that Heads would have meant a trip to the jewelers to buy a nice bit of bling, but that Tails was a surprise still and I can't have it until my week off.

So I have a whole week and a half longer to wait! Arrgh!

Other than that we had lovely steak sandwiches and after he went off to work (5-1 shift this week) I've watched Breakfast at Tiffany's and Chocolat. Nice films and a lovely evening.

I've been fuzzy stressed recently, not stressed about anything in particular, just remembering what was going on this time last year really. Plus we went to a wedding on Saturday where I spent most of the time trying not to cry over the fantastically cute 4-month old baby that was there. I calmed myself down my working out how many days til I can start divorce proceedings...

Can't wait for my break from work. I've needed it for ages and then with all the changes that are going on I've got to the point where I'm dreaming about work again and just can't switch off. That was one of the things that was nice about today, being able not to think about work for a bit.

Oh, the changes?
Our manager has gone to another branch for six months, so we have a new manager (Ian) to replace her. Then our assistant manager has gone to replace Ian at his branch so Richie Fingers has stepped up to be our assistant manager. Add into this Campbelli doing her CRSM job two days a week, Fi and Phil doing extra hours to compensate and the fact we're all trying to fit in holiday...it's a little hectic. But all still fun - if it wasn't for the idiots we get in our shop. But that's a whole different story...

Snow

I love snow.

I love the crunchy squeaky noise when you walk in it and the way walking in deep snow feels. I love walking where no one else has walked and leaving my own little trail. I love watching it fall and being outside and catching snowflakes on my tongue.

I hate the fact that this morning when I got to work the town centre was grey and slushy and depressing, no hint of the snowy loveliness I'd just waded through (in the park, I went right across the grass and got funny looks). I hate the people who seem to think that cos it's snowed they don't need to clean their dog poo up (no, I didn't tread in any).

Most of all I hate the idiot driver who speeded up at the crossing tonight when the lights turned red and absolutely fucking SOAKED me. Bastard. I'd stood right back to avoid it, then the lights went red when he was well away from them and I stepped forward and he sped up to go through. If I was less cautious I'd have been in the road in front of him. So yeah, he's a wanker.

But on a lighter note, my cats are undecided about snow. Foley made a snow angel cat in the back garden, and Esme had a fight with a snowy bit of hedge. Now they are both right next to the radiator and looking grumpy.

But I still love snow.

Pinched from Michelle

1. Name six things in your refrigerator: Activia yogurt drinks, orange juice, Marks & Spencers Cornish Cruncher Extra Mature cheddar, ginger beer, pate, several bottles of Kronenbourg 1664

2. Name six things in your freezer: Chicago Town pizzas, ready-to-roast parsnips, Tesco Lasagnas, pork loin steaks, Waitrose Aberdeen Angus meatballs, bag of winter veg roasting mix.

3. Name six things under your kitchen sink: cat litter, squirty polish, yellow dusters, Dettol, posh beeswax solid polish, bleach.

4. Name six things around my computer: half-pint glass mug full of pens, four candles, tv remote, stack of World of Warcraft guides, FlyLady timer, jar of bullseyes.

5. Name six things in your medicine cabinet: little bottle of TCP, Imperial Leather soap (Anthony's), cotton buds, spare tub of hair gunk, scarlet nail varnish, spare razor blades.

6. Name six things on or around your nightstand: Lumie alarm clock/lamp (best present EVER), drinks mat showing The Simpsons dressed in Leyton Orient gear, notebook for writing, pens, Lush peppermint foot lotion, pile of Black Lace books.

A nice little bit of luck

I had rather a lot of library fines.

I know, I know. I'm ashamed of myself. Does it excuse me by saying that I acquired them because the Yeti used my ticket and "forgot" to tell me - about 18 months ago.

Ah well.

I owed them £41.60, which my lovely mother sent me as a birthday present. So I went in today to pay it off.

Girl - That's your account reactivated then.

Kate - How much is it to pay again please?

Girl - Actually, nothing.

Kate - I'm sorry, did you say nothing?!?

Girl - Yup. We're having an amnesty in February for anyone rejoining the library, like you. So no fines to pay.

Kate - !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So I got myself some books out (and I've made a big note on the calendar for when they're due back) and I now have some spare money.

I had planned to finally buy my Unseen University Cut-Out Book(s) with it, but having just spoken to my mother she says I can't spend it on books.

Since I'm trying to eat less chocolate I can't spend it on 168 creme eggs either (12 for £3.50 at Woolworths, £50 = 168 eggs + £1 left) so I don't quite know what I shall do with it.

I know the grown-up thing would be to put it back in the bank to pay towards my gas bill, but that's not much of a birthday present.

When mum rings back I shall confer with her and she what she thinks would be a suitable purchase.

Update: Mum says put half of it towards the gas bill and spend the other half on something frivolous - but not books.