I'm Back!

I've had the most fantastic weekend! I've found my centre again, trusting myself once more and feeling secure.

I've partied with some very good friends and then been able to just sit round reading with them with no words needed.

I now have kittens all over me (I think they missed me), sunburnt hands (again) and a sunburnt nose, and I know that people have faith in me.

Now, a hot bath and new book are calling me, you'll get pictures later!

Holiday Holiday Holiday!

I'm going camping tonight!

I get to go frolic in the green wide open spaces of Shropshire with some of my bestest friends!

So I shall be AWOL until Monday night, and then I shall come back and post photos.

Woo! Hoo!

Todays horoscope

You are starting to come into your own personality and be more expressive of who you are, so don't make compromises at this time, KATE. These next three weeks are a very strong time for you, so don't waste the opportunities that are coming your way. Plan a vacation for yourself in the mountains and make sure to bring along your best friends in the world. Have fun while doing the things that you do best.

Does going to the Shropshire hills count as mountains?

Roll on the weekend!!!

Giggle

I found this on Morganna's blog and thought I'd see what I got...

You Are 26 Years Old

26 Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

I'm so impressed that I actually got my real age!

Especially today when I really feel about 18, kicking back and chilling with M&S (healthy eating) chocolate puds.

Text message received 23/5 at 4.14am......

I got a new piercing! xx



(That's Emily btw, I have no piercings and don't intend to get any either! A new tattoo is always a possibility however)

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I'm a sleepy Kate...

I did spend a lovely lazy weekend though. I didn't manage to do any website work or reviews (sorry), but read some books, watched Grand Prix racing and did some cross stitch.

I also came up with an idea for a sampler for my library, but I'm making myself finish my current project first or it'll never get done and that would be a shame.

Still looking forward to the camping next week, it'll be great to spend time with some truly great friends, something I've missed during my withdrawn days.

I've had some replies to the wedding invites and although there are people who can't be there who I wanted to see, there are also people who I though wouldn't make it who will be there.

Oh, and if you ever need a fabulous place to stay in Derbyshire, try Windlehill Farm. My parents knew them when they lived in Butterow (in Gloucestershire, my parents moved there with me when we left Bahrain) and we stayed in The Chop House my middle summer of 6th form (nine years ago it must be, as my dad turned 50 then too). My bedroom was that top left one, and Emily used to play hen skittles (look at the pictures of the woman looking over the door, then make her a 10 year old who likes opening the door at speed and scaring the chickens!).

Ohhh, getting dozy again, time for sofa, kittens, cross-stitch and Phoenix.

But first a toast: "To Friendship".

Glah.

I know, I know, I'm crap.

Well actually I'm not, just very very very tired.

I wake up through the night at odd times and I'm awake early each morning, then by 8am I'm dozing on the sofa. I doze during my lunch hour and then doze all evening on the sofa.

I managed to stay awake last night to watch more Beiderbecke, I'd forgotten how good it was and definately need to get myself the DVD set at some point.

I'm also strangely apathetic about coming online, just don't feel like I need to twice a day so I've just been nipping on for ten minutes to clear my inbox before I head for bed. I'm only online now cause it's payday and I needed to get some bills paid before work.

I have got this weekend off so I shall attempt to do some work on my website, book reviews and all that.

But right now I'm going to go do some cross-stitch with a kitten on my lap, fabulous way to start the day.

Up early again

Ok, so 7 isn't early really, as it's the time I normally get up on my days at work, but 7 on my day off is early...I usually manage another hour!

So that means that I've already done most of my pootling around on the internet, including playing on Neopets (although I've saved some games for later). So now what?

Well I have some washing up to do....but I'm really not in the mood for that just now (oh and for any FLYLady peeps, I'm dressed to my shoes and my sink is shiny) so I think I shall just go play more Simpsons. I'm trying to complete each level to 100%, perfectionist me.

Oh, post just arrived...

...

...boring, bank statement. Yesterdays post was much more exciting: 2 Lush face-masks (to sort my skin out before the wedding), three acceptance cards for the wedding and a letter from my parents friends Frank sending his apologies (he's building an extension to an orphans house in Lusaka so can't make it) and our first proper wedding present.

It's earmarked for a gorgeous picture of something that makes me think of him and Theresa, probably a French-style painting.

Right, lets go get Bart captured by aliens.

Not really a morning person

I've never really been a morning person....I'm definitely an evening person. When I have time off and don't have to get up for anything my body clock sets itself to get up at about 11 and go to bed at 2. Good, until I have to go back to work and I spend the first few mornings in a blur.

The daylight clock that my mother got me for Yule has been working well and I've been waking up in the dark wintry mornings to nice light and have felt good. Now that the dawn is getting earlier though, I'm waking up at 5ish. It's not a huge problem because I can wake up, look at the clock and go back to sleep...usually. This morning I woke at 5 and went back to sleep for about an hour, then I was wide awake again.

So I got up at 6, and I've been puttering around and reading, using the playstation and checking email etc. It was nice to have the time to do all this in the morning, but now that I have to start getting ready for work, I'M KNACKERED!

It's like my body has just gone, nah...I'm tired now and I just want to go back to bed!

Good job it's the morning meeting today, we get to sit down for half-an-hour and discuss ways to sell more books and RichieFingers's fabulous Hitchhiker's window display complete with giant Marvin standee.

Never mind, day off tomorrow. Then even if I do wake up full of energy at some strange time, I do have the option to doze on the sofa at half-eight if I get tired, rather than heading off to face the delights of the Wolverhampton ring-road during rush hour (stopping at red lights seems to be a new thing here, meaning crossing the road is a definite experience).

Voting

Well I've been and voted.

I had a choice of five candidates: Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, UKIP (UK Independence Party) and BNP (British National Party).

I chose the Lib Dems, (mo surprise there then) but was intrigued by the BNP candidate.....

Our "local" BNP candidate lives in... Cornwall!
It's obviously legal...but very very strange. Perhaps he's well aware that if he was a BNP candidate actually living in a majority Asian/Black area that he wouldn't have many friends. I guess it makes sense though. He's a man who dislikes "foreigners" so he chooses to live in a part of England where there aren't many.

Pseudonym time

I was chatting about blogs with a colleague at work and asked if I could big up her fabulous talent for making CD's for us to listen to at work. She agreed, but then asked to have a pseudonym...

After a quick flick through some baby name books nothing much had suggested itself but then when another song of hers came on I knew just what it had to be.

So here's to the fabulous "Jolene" whose musical taste and talent for joking makes our days just flow by. We'll miss you!

Wonky Week

It's been a strange week this week. I seem to have been either running around like a mad thing, or doing nothing at all.

I've been feeling really trapped recently. Now I like Wolverhampton, I love the people I've met here, but it's just not green enough for me. Back down in Billericay I'd walk to work down long green streets of houses with gardens and travel on the bus through open countryside. Here I walk down streets full of terraced houses until I reach the ring road, then cross that and I'm in the town centre and at work. I haven't got a car so i can't even get to the countryside that I know is just 15 minutes drive away. I can't wait to go camping at the end of May, and to go home for that week in June. When we buy our house, it MUST have a garden with grass in, or at least be more of a space I can do things with, and ideally it will be somewhere a little more green and growing. I just can't get used to all this concrete.

Tomorrow it's three years since I met Phoenix, the time has just flown by. We met when the Chelmsford Moot held a Beltane ritual in Danbury woods. I went with Pami and was still seeing Luke at the time yet was fascinated by the quiet stranger at the fireside. I miss those woods, they weren't the closest woodland to home, but they were the ones where the moot people went quite a few times, I can remember fire-walking there in Jan/Feb 2002.

The other thing I miss is the sea. I'm not even sure why because we never really used to go there from Billericay (Southend is about 30 mins drive and would be the closest beach I think), but I guess the peace of that holiday at Southwold has really stuck with me. I wish it wasn't so expensive there, it would be the perfect place to spend our July holiday. For now I will keep listening to the sea CD we listen too at night (it's a nice change from thunderstorm sounds).

Still I've had a nice relaxing evening tonight, just chilling with my man and the mad fuzzies. Roll on the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend.

Roses!

I found my rose!



Apparently it costs about £1 a stem, so I shall have to work out sizing for my bouquet.

WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!

The Hills They Are Hollow - Damh the Bard

Damh's Site

As I walk upon this green land,
This land that love,
I see figures of chalk,
Carved into the hillsides above.
Cerne Abbas a man so proud,
And the Long Man opens wide the gates of his world,
And invites you to step inside.

And the hills they are hollow and home to the Fey,
Who dance on Midsummer's Eve,
Some people don't understand when I say,
These are the things I believe.
These are the things I believe.

There is an old circle of stones,
That stands on the moor,
Every moss-covered face,
Tells the secrets of ancient lore.
The Tors stand as guardians,
Witnesses to the Rites of Nature's Gods,
Of Darkness and of Light.

And the hills they are hollow and home to the Fey,
Who dance on Midsummer's Eve,
Some people don't understand when I say,
These are the things I believe.
These are the things I believe.

Let's sing of the mystery,
Of Sacred Land,
See the shapes in the corn,
Made by invisible hands,
Secrets of the Pagan Ways,
Lie all around,
Written upon the Earth,
In rock and Sacred Mound!

And the hills they are hollow and home to the Fey,
Who dance on Midsummer's Eve,
Some people don't understand when I say,
These are the things I believe.
These are the things I believe.

DiscWorld!

Many many moons ago I played the DiscWorld computer games when I was at uni.

I have the third one still, but wanted to track down the first two. This week I managed to buy them both on eBay (along with a Brambly Hedge book, some red glass bottles and a red velvet skirt).

Now my dilemma is the fact that I can't play them both at once!

(Other than that, my week has been quiet, with periods of misery interspersed with moments of joy - pretty normal really)

Carn't Be Trusted - The Bluetones

This just came on Q and I remembered the summer I was 17.

Who is she to say you carn't be trusted?
And come to think of it how does she know?
Her doubt is just her faith in disappointment
She can't be blamed if she decides to go.

Her dignity is what makes her an angel
You know she needs it more than she needs you
It doesn't pay to take these things for granted
Something which you always seem to do
You always seem to do

But she just wants to spend some time with you
Just a minute, or just a moment
Just long enough to throw one clean punch.

Now you've reached the point where she sees through you
Your low-esteem and lack of self-control.
Everything she had she handed to you
And what she didn't give you, you stole.

Sometimes I stop to question it all
Must I look at the stars and live in the dirt?
When all I have to show for my doubt is a blow to the lip
and some blood on my shirt.

Well I didn't actually need any help deciding as I'm going to vote Liberal Democrat. But I did this test anyway just in case.

Who should I vote for?

Your expected outcome:

Liberal Democrat

Your actual outcome:

Labour -58
Conservative -57
	Liberal Democrat 82
UK Independence Party -9
	Green 37

You should vote: Liberal Democrat

The LibDems take a strong stand against tax cuts and a strong one in favour of public services: they would make long-term residential care for the elderly free across the UK, and scrap university tuition fees. They are in favour of a ban on smoking in public places, but would relax laws on cannabis. They propose to change vehicle taxation to be based on usage rather than ownership.

Take the test at Who Should You Vote For

Wedding

My top finally arrived yesterday!

I really, really like it. Gorgeous Top It gives me fabulous cleavage for a start.

Now I just need the skirt to turn up and I've nearly done.

My necklace looks fabulous with the bodice. It's a tiny weeny bit long, but we should be able to fix that easily and if not I'll just have to keep fishing the horse out of my cleavage for folks to look at.

My tiara is cute (I'm working on a picture,,,) and now I just need some shoes.

The shoes could well be difficult. I need something with a tiny bit of heel, but it has to be a wedge heel or I'll fall over. Closed toe too.

This afternoon we're off to the registry office too, so that we can give notice and get everything sorted!

I'm off to hunt through the internet for some sparkly shoes, now I just need the invitations to arrive so I can start writing them!

Lazy day

It's been nice and relaxing today.

I read a bit this morning, then came on the pc. Internet browsing and Sims house building followed. Jason came downstairs looking a tad rough (he, Bizkitt and Phoenix went out drinking last night and Jason stayed over) and drank black coffee until his brain was reconnected.

Then I re-started the Simpsons game on the playstation (I'd got all the way to the end and just fancied starting again) and we spent the afternoon playing Simpsons (me) football games (Phoenix) and listening to Kerrang.

This song came on and made me think.
It was this line in particular: "Nothing ever smells of roses that rises out of mud".

But roses do rise from mud. Adding manure makes them grow even better.

It made me realise that all this shit will just make me stronger in the long run. All this manure will just help me to grow taller, and greener, and to have beautiful big blooms.

So roll on summer, I'm ready to bloom again.

NASA Rose
Orange and Yellow Rose
Pink and White Rose
Cream and Red Rose

All those roses have reminded me that I've got to get onto the florist to see if they can track down the roses that I want for my bouquet. (Very dark red with yellow snips on - saw them once, in Chelmsford, three years ago).

Mitfords, Mitfords everywhere....

For the last three months or so, the Mitford sisters have been turning up everywhere I look.

I'd decided that since they were turning up all over the place I'd better find out a bit more about them and decided to go to the library when I got back after Easter.

Over the Easter weekend I had a conversation with mum about the holiday they'd just been on where they'd stayed near the Mitfords childhood home, dad turned on the tv on Sunday morning (to change the clock) and Ben Fogle was walking through the graveyard where Nancy and Unity are buried. Then later we were watching a documentary about Freddie Mercury and they had an interview with his main costume designer...Diana Mosely. Obviously not the Diana Mosley (nee Mitford), but still....

So I'm reading all about them at the moment, something which has reaffirmed to me the fact that while books like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre don't do anything for me, books/people/places from the first half of the 20th century (especially between the wars and during the Second World War) really do catch at my heart.

I've felt a bit guilty about not liking those books, because they're so obviously ones that you're supposed to adore. But they just don't do anything for me. So I shall read them, and say "That was ok." and then get on with reading the stuff that calls to me.

Losing Faith

Recently I haven't been very spiritual at all.

I think the fact that the first half of last year was a rollercoaster of wonderful spiritual events and adventures, and then the second half had me questioning everything has really shaken me.

Would I have fallen so hard if I hadn't finally been feeling good about myself?

I think I would have fallen harder. The fact that I'd had that faith in myself at last, enabled me to get through the time when no-one seemed to have any faith in me.

Could I have reacted any differently at the time?

Looking back, of course there are things I would change, but that's with hindsight. Put back into that situation again, without the knowledge I have now. I'd react exactly the same way.

Being told repeatedly to trust your instinct and your gut, and then all of a sudden being told that you're wrong is always going to shake things up in your head. But I think that if I hadn't been being told to trust myself first, I would have cracked under the pressure afterwards.

The thing that's sparked this off was...ta-da...another nasty email? how did you guess. We're up to 8 months worth now, and it's been boring for all eight of them. Recently it's been a bit more sporadic, and it's been interesting to see how different events have sparked off the emails. I can post something on here and guarantee something nasty will arrive within 24 hours, but things can be posted elsewhere and also provoke the same response.

Putting that cross-stitch up for the raffle - nasty email.
Mentioning Phil Rickman's books on here - nasty email.
Mentioning the recent births - nasty email.
Mentioning the fact I was traveling home - nasty email (involving firebombing my house, so extra nice!)
Someone else talking in their blog about a trip they'd made - nasty email.
This post - nasty email (for sure).

People keep telling me to just ignore it. "They'll get bored soon", "They'll get it back three-fold" etc. Blimey, that lot of threefold will be interesting to see.

The one that was most interesting was the email after the trip that someone else had made. It talked about the fact I must be jealous that I wasn't there, that I must have been wishing that this person would have a shit time. Why? It wasn't something I would have been interested in doing, it held no appeal for me. Why should I wish them a horrible time? It ties in to the fact that if someone has a bad time on a trip or whatever, I get an email telling me it was my fault.

The other interesting one was the one telling me how upset I must be that Mab is going to Glastonbury rather than my wedding. *eye roll* I would never have asked her to make that choice, in fact the wedding down south is family only anyway. I've supposed to have a tantrum because she's going to have a great time at a festival rather than coming to a wedding where she wouldn't know a single person....???

It just proved to me that the emailer has no clue about me or my life, other than the bits that turn up on here. Sad really. It would be nicer if they actually knew what they were talking about!

Today is a day for cleaning. My house, my mental space...the cat litter trays!

The sun is shining, I have a working hoover, two feather dusters, and two fluffy kittens to watch running away from the hoover.

Life is good.

I Hope You Dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

Registry Office

This may seem like a strange title for a post, but it's because I'm about to blog about a death. In the UK the registry office is where you go to register births, marriages and deaths. All three of these things are being covered in my blog at the moment so the title suggested itself.

Anyhoo.

I just heard that Prince Rainier died this morning. I didn't know a lot about the guy, apart from the stuff that most folks would know, Princess Grace and all that. But he always looked so friendly when he'd be at the Grand Prix and I always felt so sad that he lost her so early.

*raises a glass* To Prince Rainier. May you have peace and be reunited with your Princess Grace.

And while we're at it.

*raises another glass* To Pope John Paul II, or Karol Wojtyla as he was born. May you find the peace and happiness in your afterlife that you always wished for all of us on Earth.

Babies, babies everywhere!

I got a text message this morning to announce that Oliver Ludlow had been born at 3.35am weighing 8.2lbs! It's fabulous news! My cousin Richard and his wife Kim had a baby last year, but young Bruce was unable to stay with them and passed through the veil. But now they have a brother for Bruce and Oliver is doing well!

WarriorMail Mike's wife Rhiannon had their son Liam on Sunday at 1.43pm and he weighed 7.6 lbs!

Wilde also had her son Wyatt recently, but again, he had to leave far too soon. (((hugs)))

All these babies (despite the sadness) are making me feel very very broody!

So, where's YOUR towel?

*happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy dance*

It's coming!!!!

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Alan Rickman as Marvin? HELL YEAH!

Shamelessly stolen from Morganna's Blog

Yup, Morganna posted it, I then read it and decided I liked it soo much I'd do it myself!

1. YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME: (grandmother's/father's first name + favourite snack): Rose Kettle-Chips

2. YOUR FASHION DESIGNER NAME: (first word you see on your left + favourite restaurant): Cat Pepitos

3. YOUR SOCIALITE NAME: (silliest childhood nickname + first town where you partied): Sailor Witham

4. YOUR "FLY GIRL/GUY" NAME: (first initial + first three letters of your last name): K Hol

5. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favourite animal + name of high school): Horse Anglo

6. YOUR BARFLY NAME: (last snack food you ate + your favourite drink): Chocolate Bucks-Fizz

7. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name + street where you first lived): Mary Butterrow

8. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (favourite candy + favourite musicians last name): Twirl Crosby

9. YOUR OPPOSITE SEX NAME: (name of [opposite sex] friend + cell phone company you use): Matt Three

10. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: ( first 3 letters of your last name+ last 3 letters of mothers middle name /+/ first 3 letters of your pets name + first 3 letters of the town you live in): Holane Esmwol (or Folwol if I picked Foley)

-------------------------------

Phoenix thought that was so good that he wanted me to do his too....

1. YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME: (grandmother's/father's first name + favourite snack): Edward Cornish

2. YOUR FASHION DESIGNER NAME: (first word you see on your left + favourite restaurant): Multivitamin Imperial

3. YOUR SOCIALITE NAME: (silliest childhood nickname + first town where you partied): Po Pratts-Bottom

4. YOUR "FLY GIRL/GUY" NAME: (first initial + first three letters of your last name): A Pol

5. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favourite animal + name of high school): Kangaroo St Martin

6. YOUR BARFLY NAME: (last snack food you ate + your favourite drink): Chocolate Whisky

7. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name + street where you first lived): Leslie Lynge

8. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (favourite candy + favourite musicians last name): Rancher Grohl

9. YOUR OPPOSITE SEX NAME: (name of [opposite sex] friend + cell phone company you use): Emily Vodaphone

10. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: ( first 3 letters of your last name+ last 3 letters of mothers middle name /+/ first 3 letters of your pets name + first 3 letters of the town you live in): Poline Folwol

Yup!

Todays horoscope:

Much as you'd like to spend this day off on your own, reading a good book and ignoring the barrage of incoming phone calls, the reality of your obligations simply won't allow it. But even though you manage to drag your body into motion, your mind is still cuddled up with an afghan in your favorite overstuffed armchair. Do your best to stay focused, though it won't be easy, KATE.

...and I've got work!

I got some books in the post from abebooks yesterday. The new Katie Fforde (which I read last night), Ludo and the Star Horse by Mary Stewart, and two Phil Rickman books, The Wine of Angels (which I've read before but want to own) and Candlenight (which I haven't read).

So think of me today dealing with stupid queries like:

"Where are your Shakespeare books?" "Actually, his PLAYS are over in the DRAMA section where anyone with half-a-brain would look, and you've just queued for FIVE minutes to ask me that without even looking at any shelves"

Not to mention the good old:

"When's Harry Potter coming out?" *points to very large sign on counter* "16th of July you muppet, but since you can't read this large sign you won't be wanting the book!"

I LOOOOOVE Saturdays at work......

Kittens and Cats

You know I said that Alice and Khan would be sooo BIG compared to Esme and Foley? I didn't realise how right I was until we got back to Brentwood and Trish opened the back door to let a TIGER in the house!
















Esme isn't having a hissy fit by the way, just yawning!

Back down south

We're heading back down south today to see our folks.

We haven't seen them since xmas, and haven't been back down south since the beginning of September. It's going to be weird without Emily there. Christmas was bad enough, but then I just tried to convince myself that she'd had to stay home for work wheras now she won't be at home and it'll be harder. I miss my sister, can you tell?

It's the first time we've left the kittens alone too. Kate from work is going to be popping in to keep an eye on them, she has her own key with a pink label stating that it is "Kate's Kitten Key". I shall miss the little fuzzies, but we will be seeing the BIG fuzzies and Phoenix's folks. Khan and Alice are going to seem huge compared to Esme and Foley. I'll have to try and get some photos of them as comparison.

Esme has just jumped up onto my lap and managed to curl up without pushing the keyboard off my knees. I think it's cos she's trying to fit in the patch of sunshine on my right knee. It's very awkward sitting on a beanbag and juggling kitten, keyboard and sunshine....it gets even worse when Foley decides he wants a cuddle too. I think Esme must be sleepy as she's not trying to catch my fingers as I type!

We got Microsoft Money the other day. I downloaded loads of bank statements but then couldn't make them balance. So I deleted them all and then just downloaded back to last September and then matched them all up against the paper statements. I also looked at the report that tells you what you've been spending money on (after you catergorize the items yourself), after food, loan payments and "cash withdrawals - miscallaneous" I spent lots on books. Strange that...

Speaking of books, Phoenix just looked at me when I brough a huge pile of them downstairs earlier to be packed. But only two of them were for me to read, the rest of them are for my folks to borrow (and most of those are proofs too!).

Ok, I'm off to tat around on eBay until Les gets here.

Laters!

News

Two things struck me when I read the news this morning.

First I was saddened by this shooting in America. After speaking to Georgia I understand the gun ownership point of view a lot more, but I still wish that they'd DO something about things like this.

*and relax*

The other story was also sad and shocking. Humberside shooting. It was sad that the guy died, but he was driving a van the wrong way down a dual carriageway and then decided to get out a wave a sword at police despite being warned. The thing that I noticed was that once again....

Mr Murden's family said their son was brought up a committed Christian.

I just don't get what that has to do with it. There was a girl found dead in a abandoned warehouse round here last year, from a drug overdose. Now she was pregnant and still took drugs and it killed her. Her mothers quote in the paper was about the fact that her daughter was a Christian.

Is it some sort of get out card? She was a commited Christian...so that means that it was ok for her to be taking drugs? That it excuses the guy from threatening police officers with a sword?

Now if something happened to me and one of my family said "But she was a commited Pagan" would it have the same effect?? How many people would think serves her right? and how many of them would be the ones feeling extra sorry if my satement had said Christian rather than Pagan.

I got flack from the religious right today at work...can you tell?

Sunday Morning - Maroon 5

I really need to go buy their album cos I love so much of their stuff...

Sunday morning rain is falling
Steal some covers share some skin
Clouds are shrouding us in moments unforgettable
You twist to fit the mold that I am in
But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
And I would gladly hit the road get up and go if I knew
That someday it would bring me back to you
That someday it would bring me back to you

That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on sunday morning
And I never want to leave

Fingers trace your every outline
Paint a picture with my hands
Back and forth we sway like branches in a storm
Change the weather still together when it ends

That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on sunday morning
And I never want to leave

But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
Sunday morning rain is falling and I'm calling out to you
Singing someday it'll bring me back to you
Find a way to bring myself home to you

And you may not know
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on sunday morning...

*and relax*

This week has really been so wonderful. We've not done a whole lot of anything really, but that's what's made it so great.

We've played board games, watched tv (including Extreme Makeover: Home Edition , Renovate My Family and Dog The Bounty Hunter)

I just realised that the last time we spent more than two days together without having to do anything or go anywhere was the week that we got together...I think we need to do this more often!

I watched Somethings Gotta Give tonight, which was a funny film. It put me in a soppy frame of mind though so instead of channel hopping I've just put Magic on the tv and so I'm sitting listening to a few soppy love songs and iming Matt (from work) about Harry Potter.

I think I shall post some song lyrics in a bit.

Which Pagan Goddess are you?

I attemped to do the latest meme on Anna's LJ, but it didn't like me copying it over.

So here it is in text instead...

Name? Kate
Age? 26
You are: Venus (Sexuality, Love, Beauty)
Your favourite trick: Messing with the love lives of mortals.
Your feeling towards mortals: They get boring after a while.
When you sleep with mortals, your lover is: Boromir (covered in blood and looking sweaty). (I don't actually like Sean Bean much, but in that picture he has a beard like Phoenix's, so that's tolerable).
Mortal you'd most like to smite: Paris Hilton. (I don't mind her really, she could be worse...)

I won!

Ahem....

One of the ways we have been passing the time this week is by playing a boardgame that I bought him for Yule. It's supposed to be for 3-4 players but we've found that by playing the game to 15 points instead of 10 we get along quite well.

We first played Settlers of Catan on Sunday and I lost. Then we played again on Monday and I lost. Tuesday we extended it to 15 points and I lost. Wenesday we stayed at 15 points but kept playing until there was nothing else we could do....and I lost.

Today I won 15-14!!!!!

In fact I was so proud of myself that I took this picture of the board. (Mine are the blue pieces)



Yes, I know *hangs head* But I don't win at board games very often!

I made a new page!

I've created a web page dedicated to two of the three bundles of fluff that I share my house with. (Phoenix declined to be included).

Esme and Foley



(Count the legs...)

Yeah, yeah I know...

...I'm terrible at posting in here. But the truth is I've done absolutely nothing interesting recently!

I get up, go to work, come home, read and then go to bed. I am just so tired at the moment and I haven't been able to shift it. My bones ache most of the time and walking home from work my knees stop working properly because of the cold so when I get home all I do Iis lie on the sofa with a kitten on each knee and read books about warm places and energetic people! (Just working my way through Tamora Pierce's books at the moment).

I probably could have given myself more sleep on Sunday, instead of getting up at 3am to watch the Grand Prix. But I got up, watched it, and then went back to bed for another six hours so I actually had more sleep (3 hours, then six) than I would have done if I hadn't got up as I would have been up about 8.

Next week I have a whole week off! In fact I have EIGHT days off in a row (and then Sunday at work, and then Monday off!) Then the week after I only do Tues,Wed,Thurs and then it's the Easter weekend and we're popping down south for a couple of days.

Ok, the fuzzies have just reminded me that I should be getting ready for work...so I shall.

For Emily

Busy, busy bee

I was in a real nesting mood this morning, didn't want to go to work at all, wanted to tidy my house and then spend the day snuggling with my kittens and my man.

But I did get myself to work and had a pretty good day really. Even with the fur coated lady who was horrendously rude to me when I served her and then came back to argue with Campbell.

Although it was so funny when she did! The till had put through one of her books at £6.99 rather than the £7.99 it said on the back of the book, it was the cheapest book in her 3-4-2 offer and she came back to argue with Campbell that I'd charged her £1 too much. So Campbell carefully refunded her £18.98 (£9.99 + £8.99 + £6.99(free book) = £18.98) and then sold her the books again at the correct price of £18.98 (£9.99 + £8.99 + £7.99(free book) = £18.98). The woman did try to prove that she should have still got £1 back by being ruder to Campbell (she told her to "keep her wool on" and Campbell just looked at the womans fur coat) and adding up the receipts very loudly so that everyone could see just how stupid Campbell was being by not giving her the £1 back....except of course that the fur coated lady was the rather stupid one.....

She was easily the best customer of the day!

I did lots of snuggling this evening to make up for the fact I was at work, and tomorrow we're going out for a meal (after work again).

Roll on Wednesday and my next day off....

Broadband! Woo Hoo!

*I've got lovely broadband* *I've got lovely broadband* (sung to the "Evil Homer" tune)

Managed to spend two hours wandering around Ikea with Jamie, looking at lovely things and gossiping. We're going back next Wednesday too so that I can buy the couple of things that I really really liked (and they're useful things too).

I'm off to zoooooom around the internet and do some more cross-stitch designs.

Smiles at last!

Sorry I haven't updated for so long but last week was exhausting! I actually fell asleep on the sofa at 8.30 on Friday and still managed to sleep right in Saturday morning.

I've been spending lots of time on the local FLYLady group and as a result the living room is sparkling and the kitchen isn't buried in washing-up.

I've been coming up with designs for cross-stitch raffle items for WitchGrove, you can see one of them here. I got another cross-stitch book out of the library last night for a bit more inspiration to will be tatting with that later.

My Lush parcel finally arrived today (I ordered it about two weeks ago but the post has been pants again) and as soon as I opened it the kittens went mad! They love the smell of Karma (I bought a Karma Ballistic) but they also adore the shredded paper used as packaging ad they're currently fighting with it all over the floor! Esme also appears to be carrying a potato.... *goes to check* ...yup, we had tinned potatoes with our lovely chicken last night and I thought they were grim so left most of them. Esme has decided that they're nice though as she's carrying it round in her mouth and growling at Foley when he tries to grab it.

I had a shower with my new Lush Chai shower gel and then used my new moisturiser (Afterlife) so the world smells beautiful at the moment, it goes well with the weather actually being sunny today.

We also had the modem for broadband delivered today, but we can't connect up til after 8pm so I have to restrain my desire for speedy connection.

Jamie and Juell are both free this afternoon and we made vague plans on Sunday for a quick trip to Ikea, so will have to text them and see if they still fancy going for a wander, it'll only be a wander as I don't get paid til Friday and have no cash to spare.

Right, I'm off to try to find a venue for our wedding reception!

You know who you are...

If there is at least one person in your life whom you consider a close friend, and whom you would not have met without the internet, post this sentence in your journal....

As Morganna said in her Journal...You Know Who You Are!

Grumpy puss

I've been a grumpy bint all day, but now I've had lots of lovely red wine so I'm feeling much better.

I did lots of tidying up today, including washing-up and building a chair. I also finished watching the WWE Royal Rumble (owch to Paul London's landing off the apron) and watched lots of River Cottage too.

Now I'm going to do some internet shopping (nothing exciting, just baked beans and stuff), make a fuss of the kittens and then go to bed ready for a nice long week at work.

Roll on the 16th and broadband!!!

Take the quiz: "WHAT RELIGION BESTS SUITS YOU?"

Pagan/Occultist
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. Spending your entire life searching various forms of philosophy and religion, you choose to observe everything and believe little. You're personality is one of truth seeking, nature respecting and god/goddess accepting. Lastly, you don't judge anyone, but if annoyed, you will exact some form of revenge. You don't believe in the Three-Fold Law.

My sister sent me...

...one of those email quiz things.

Three of her answers made me all teary.

55. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU CRIED OR GOT TEARY ABOUT? my sister has a really nice quote above my links section on her blog
85. IF YOU DIED TOMORROW- WHO WOULD YOU LEAVE EVERYTHING TO? my sister
90. IF YOU HAD 24 HOURS LEFT TO LIVE, WHO WOULD YOU SPEND THAT TIME WITH! my friends n my sister

It's just nice to know that after we spent most of her first 11 years fighting, and then having rows most times we actually spent too much time together, that she still loves me.

*hugs Emily out in Canada*

Oh, here's my quiz by the way. I decided I'd post it so that random readers can learn some random facts.

1. FULL NAME: Kate Mary Holmden
2. NICKNAME: SkateS
3. HEIGHT: 5 10 n a bit
4. HAIR: red
5. SIBLINGS: one baby sister (baby! she's 19)
6. DO YOU LIKE TO SING IN THE SHOWER? sometimes, but only if I have loud music on to sing along too.
7. DO YOU HAVE A GOOD VOICE? I don't think so.
8. BIRTHDATE: 27/12/1978
9. SIGN: Capricorn with Aquarius rising.
10. RIGHTY OR LEFTY: Righty
11. MALE / FEMALE? Female
12. CRUSH? I have crushes occasionally
13. BEST FRIENDS? Phoenix, Pami, Juell, Bizkitt, Darth Charnell, Jennie, Mandy, Mab, Corey, Jamie, Jason, Campbelli and the Richards.
14. HOBBIES? reading, blogging, cross-stitch.
15. PETS? two fluffy black 'n' white kitties called Esme and Foley, and one hairy male human named Phoenix.
16. DO YOU WEAR GLASSES? only when my eyes hurt too much for me to wear my contacts.
17. WHAT DO YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP? love, respect and lots of snuggles.
*******FAVOURITE QUESTIONS*******
18. MOVIE: Practical Magic
19. SONG: Drops of Jupiter, Train
20. BAND/SINGER/DJ: The Bluetones
21. TV SHOW: Charmed
22. ACTOR: Hugh Jackman
23. ACTRESS: Claire Danes
24. FOOD: smoked salmon, kettle chips
25. CARTOON: Simpsons
26. DISNEY CHARACTER: Stitch
27. COLOR: red, emerald green
*******LOVE LIFE ETC********
28. DO YOU PLAN ON HAVING CHILDREN: Yes
29. DO YOU WANT TO GET MARRIED: Yes
30. HOW OLD DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST CHILD? 29/30
31. HOW OLD DO YOU WANNA BE WHEN YOU GET MARRIED? Getting married this summer so I'll be 26.
32. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE? Yes, and I am right now
33. DO YOU HAVE A BF/GF? I have a fiance.
34. DOES ANYONE HAVE A CRUSH ON YOU? That would be nice.
35. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH? Yup, a couple.
*******EITHER-OR********
36. MUSIC/TV: Music
37. GUYS/GIRLS: Guys
38. GREEN/BLUE: Blue
39. PINK/PURPLE: Purple
40. SUMMER/WINTER: Summer
41. NIGHT/DAY: Day
42. HANGIN OUT/CHILLIN: Chillin'
43. DOPEY/FUNNY: Funny
*******ALL ABOUT YOU*******
44. YOUR BODY PART YOU HATE THE MOST: thighs
45. WHAT SCHOOL/UNI DO YOU GO TO? Unseen University
46. EVER TAKEN DRUGS? only alcohol recently
47. WHAT'S A MAJOR TURN-ON FOR YOU? eyes and smile
48. HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO ON A FIRST DATE? depends who the date is with!
49. THE PERSON WHO IS....
*FUNNIEST: Bizkitt
*HAPPIEST: Jennie
*LOUDEST: Mandy
*HORNIEST: Phoenix
*MOST CARING: Juell
50. WHICH 5 PEOPLE ARE YOU OPEN WITH: Phoenix, Juell, Jamie, Campbelli, my sister.
51. IS IT RIGHT TO FLIRT IF YOU HAVE A BF/GF? If you don't take it too far.
52. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU CRIED OR GOT TEARY ABOUT? My sister's answers to some of these questions
53. WHAT'S SOMETHING ABOUT GUYS/ GIRLS YOU JUST DONT GET: Girls - the bitchiness (even though I can do it myself when pushed)
54. ARE YOU HAPPY? Mostly
55. WHAT'S AN OBJECT YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT? BOOKS!
56. LOVE OR LUST? Nice mixture of the two keeps things ticking over
57. SILVER OR GOLD? Silver
58. DIAMOND OR PEARL: Diamonds
59. SUNSET OR SUNRISE? sunset
60. HAVE YOU EVER GONE SKINNY-DIPPING? maybe
61. DO YOU SLEEP WITH STUFFED ANIMALS? yes, Phoenix and Stitch.
62. DO YOU HAVE ANY PIERCINGS? no
63. WHAT COLOR UNDIES ARE YOU WEARING RIGHT NOW? black
64. WHAT SONG ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Universally Speaking, Red Hot Chilli Peppers (it's on Kerrang!)
65. WHAT ARE THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER? 4222
66. WHERE WOULD YOU WANT TO GO ON YOUR HONEYMOON? Somewhere warm, but it looks like we're going to Norway...
67. WHO DO YOU WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH? Phoenix man
68. WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX: smile, eyes
69. FAVORITE SPORT? three-day eventing
70. WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? Friends, Music, a good book
71. NEXT CD YOU GONNA GET? dunno
72. WHAT'S THE BEST ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU? trust your gut instinct
73. HAVE YOU EVER WON ANY SPECIAL AWARDS? only stuff at school, nothing in real life yet
74. WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? to write something
75. THE WORST ILLNESS YOU EVER HAD? German Measles
76. MOST PRIZED POSSESSION? a totally beautiful hand-blown glass bottle that my mum brought me from New Zealand.
77. ON THE PHONE OR IN PERSON? In person
78. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs
79. WHAT SONG SEEMS TO REFLECT YOU THE MOST? Our House, Crosby, Sills & Nash
80. IF YOU DIED TOMORROW- WHO WOULD YOU LEAVE EVERYTHING TO? Phoenix, my sister, my friends
81. DO YOU HAVE ANY ENEMIES? probably, but that's their problem
82. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR? screwing up, not making people happy
83. WOULD YOU RATHER BE RICH OR FAMOUS? Rich
84. WHAT TIME IS IT IN ALBANIA NOW? no idea
85. IF YOU HAD 24 HOURS LEFT TO LIVE, WHO WOULD YOU SPEND THAT TIME WITH! Phoenix, my family, my friends
86. HAVE YOU EVER MET SANTA OR THE EASTER BUNNY? Yeah, they live next door
87. IF E.T. KNOCKED ON YOUR DOOR HOLDING UP A PEACE SIGN ASKING TO USE YOUR PHONE WHAT WOULD YOU DO? offer him a glass of wine
88. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU TALKED ON THE PHONE? about 5.15pm when a lady wanted a book about chickens
89. ARE YOU AN ALCOHOLIC? I try not to be
90. LAST TIME YOU WERE DEPRESSED? Last time I got a nasty email
91. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? my sweet sister
92. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT PERSON? worth her weight in gold
93. DO YOU WANT YOUR FRIENDS TO WRITE BACK? Well as this is going in my blog you probably won't be able to, but if you do it'll be groovy!

The Hermit

I've been getting the Hermit card in my daily tarot picks for a good few months now, but it hasn't appeared for a while now and I've been feeling more extroverted too.

Today I did this quiz and guess what!


You are the Hermit card. The Hermit has chosen a
solitary spiritual path. He shines light on his
inner self and, by this means, gains wisdom.
The Hermit's home is the natural world and it
is by being in tune with that world that he
learns the laws of nature and learn how they
operate within himself. His path is a lonely
one as he lives in silence and has for
companionship only his own internal rhythms.
But those crossing his path are touched by his
light and wisdom. Though often alone, he
manages nevertheless to instruct those who meet
him and guides those who chose to follow him on
a path towards enlightenment. Image from The
Aleister Crowley Tarot deck.
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/thoth/


Which Tarot Card Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

LOL!

I'm going to be about more in various places and doing more things too. I'm looking forward to the Guild meet on Sunday, and the moot should be interesting too.

I shall end with a few snatches of a couple of the Sinatra songs that have been playing at work:

"there's no nicer witch than you" (which makes RichieFingers point at me)

and this one too...

She gets too hungry, for dinner at eight
She loves the theater, but doesn't come late
She'd never bother, with people she'd hate
That's why the lady is a tramp

Doesn't like crap games, with barons and earls
Won't go to harlem, in ermine and pearls
Won't dish the dirt, with the rest of those girls
That's why the lady is a tramp

She loves the free, fresh wind in her hair
Life without care
She's broke, but it's ok
She hates california, it's cold and it's damp
That's why the lady is a tramp

Doesn't like dice games, with sharpies and frauds
Won't go to harlem, in lincolns or fords
Won't dish the dirt, with the rest of those broads
That's why the lady is a tramp

(although I would like to say that since I've not yet been to California I might well like it!)

Grrrr....

I had a really good day today...until I got home.

Work was full of laughter, plus a confused look from Richard when a customer walked up to me and said "Too cold for pagans to dance around naked outside today". Richard wasn't sure whether it was some sort of code or something! (The gentleman in question once had a conversation with me about witches in Shropshire, and remembers to mention it to me when he comes in).

Then I got home and discovered that the computer has eaten all my files. I mean ALL my files. My area was still there but reset to a new clean area. All my word files and spreadsheets have vanished. So has my booklist.

So on Monday (my next day off) I shall be retyping that booklist from the paper list I had made on Wednesday, and then I shall be saving it to disc! (As the books are upstairs, I make a paper list and then put it into the spreadsheet to be sorted etc.)

So I shall be shopping for discs tomorrow.

BTW, the diet is going quite well, although I'm a bit short-tempered due to the lack of sugar. But Phoenix says I'm not as stroppy as when I have PMT so that's obviously all alright then!

My sister is SOOOOOOO fabulous!!!

She sent me my birthday present today with the following message attached.

I thought since you love them enough to spend all the time talkin with them, you wouldn't mind if your b'day pressie was basically for them

(I'd like to point out that I only start talking to the kittens during phone calls to Emily when she starts talking to one of her friends.)

Cat Spa

If it wasn't for the scarily blue eyes of the cat on the box it could be Esme.

Now the important thing is...do the kittens like it?







(That's a yes by the way. In fact, Foley started growling at Esme because he didn't want to share the catnip!)

Relaxing day off

I actually got up early today. Well, not early by going-to-work standards as then I would have been very late, but early by day-off standards.

I've been quite productive too! The second litter tray is currently soaking in the bath, and the first one is all shiny clean and refilled and the hall is free of cat litter underfoot (worse than gravel). Later I'm planning to work on my library and sort out exactly what I'm going to be eating on this Curves diet thing that I start on Friday. (Yes Friday is an odd day to start a diet, but I get paid on Thursday and therefore will have the money for food). I'm actually really looking forward to it.

I've been watching/listening to VH-1 do a countdown of the 1000 No. 1 singles that we've had in the UK. The countdown has reached May 1994 and Prince has just been singing about The Most Beautiful Girl In The World. I still like that song, blame it on my ex. Anyway, what I noticed was the number of number ones that Take That had. I started watching the countdown when it was in summer 1993 and know I'd just missed watching "Pray" (which I've just remembered never made No.1, it only got to 2 and we thought they'd been robbed!). I've also seen five other songs of theirs come on. So they basically had 6 number ones in about 6 months....very impressed. Plus I know they had a few more after that.

It was nice seeing Robbie Williams as a clean-cut lad once again. But I think on the whole I do prefer him a bit rough around the edges.

Right, off to tackle the library again!

Oh dear...the Manchester United song has just come on.....and I STILL know all the words!

Added at 13.00

Well I listed a load of books and then came down to add them to the spreadsheet. The last Take That song was playing on VH-1. Actually I don't think that Never Forget was their last No.1, but it was their last with Robbie, and it made me cry all over again. I'd mainly got over my Take That phase by the time they split but it was still pants. The next song they played was Blur's Country House, very fitting as they were who I was listening to a lot at the time.

Phoenix just came home early so I'm going to go snuggle.

Well it's been quite a productive weekend.

I've reorganised most of my books upstairs, just have to sort the pagan bookcase out really. Then of course I need to get them all listed onto a spreadsheet so I know exactly what I've got.

The living room is also pretty damn tidy, the only paperwork floating around is because we just redid our budget to allow for the fact that we no longer have to pay £300 a month to credit card companies.

We've watched some good documentaries, some football and a couple of romantic films. Plus I completed another level on the Simpsons game and redid the template for this here blog.

I'm feeling really relaxed and re-energised for the week ahead (which is only two days really as Wednesday is my next day off work), and I'm about to go have a bath while reading a book. Which book I have not yet decided as I found about 50 that I want to read right now!

Better go turn the taps off and check the kittens aren't swimming!

*tee hee*

I've just been blow-drying my feather dusters!

No, I'm not mad. That's the best way to help them get poofy when you first get them according to FlyLady. I got my dusters a while back, but had to put them out of the way of the kitties and then haven't used them since.

But I was reorganising my library upstairs and realised that the shelves were a bit dusty, the old shelves with normal dust and the new shelves with "new furniture" dust. So now that I have poofed up my dusters, I'm off to do some dusting and some more rearranging.

Now I just need to get some funky ribbon to put through the handles and work out where I want to hang them.

Good job this is the ringtone on my new mobile already then...

1985 by Bowling for Soup

"Where's the mini-skirt made of snakeskin? And who's the other guy that's singing in Van Halen? When did reality become T.V.? What ever happened to sitcoms, game shows?" You took the bitter with the sweet in 2004 - and kept laughing.

What 2004 Hit Song Are You?

This is very very scary...(and I do like the French!)

You Know You're From Britain When...

You believe that Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are all good nights for drinking. Sunday day is also entirely reasonable. You're always a half an hour late to work ... no-one notices or cares. Coming to work with a hangover is entirely accepted and indeed expected at least once a week. You can actually give directions to some of those annoying tourists in Oxford Street! You step over a drunk in the tube station rather than offering to help them. You don't even bother looking out of the window when you get up in the morning to check what the day is like. You know it is overcast. You consider a suit to be normal attire for the pub. You expect men to actually cut, comb and style their hair (using hair products). And to wear decent clothes. You dissolve in laughter when listening to the funny accent of the Aussie international telephone operator (or on TV!). You think £40 for a haircut is quite reasonable. You can't remember what 'customer service' means. After a big night out you find yourself looking for a Curry house More than three hours sunlight on summer days seems excessive. You don't think twice about tipping your hairdresser You finish every sentence with 'Cheers' or 'Yeah'. You only just realise you have lost your sunnies, you left them in Greece 2 summers ago. You like English cuisine. I mean, it's hard to beat a full English breakfast. You are on to your 6th umbrella and your second overcoat... this year You've bought a disposable baby BBQ from Tesco. A day at the beach means wearing the warmest clothes you own while standing on golf ball-size pebbles and the thought of swimming doesn't even enter your head. You always call soccer football and you have a team and it's not Manchester United. You don't think twice about buying a packaged sandwich. A sunny lunchtime means searching for a patch of grass and stripping off practically down to your underwear You've accepted queuing as a way of life. You believe that every American is a fatass addicted to hamburgers and hotdogs. You despise the French (but then, who doesn't?). You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Britan.

Get Your Own "You Know You're From" Meme Here



More cool things for your blog at
Blogthings

I had a really fun day at work today...but as I can't talk about that...here are some quizzes instead.

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You scored as Druid Fairy. Your heart belongs to nature. Your green satin hides you in the brush. You influence plants to grow, and you have a special connection to animals. Druid Fairy 90% Raven Fairy 65% Autumn Fairy 60% Twilight Mistress Fairy 58% Pixie 56% Ethereal Priestess Fairy 48% Rose Thorn Fairy 46% Snow Fairy 33% Goddess of the Golden Dawn 25% Which Firefly-Path Fairy are you? created with QuizFarm.com

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Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence

You are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well. An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly. You are also good at remembering information and convicing someone of your point of view. A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary. You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

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You Are Fun Sexy You're funny, quirky, cute, and sassy. Guys always have a great time with you, and that alone is sexy. You've got an upbeat, optimistic spirit that totally shines through. Any guy would be crazy to turn you down! What Kind of Sexy Are You? Take This Quiz :-) Find the Love of Your Life (and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance.

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You scored as Urania. You are Urania, the muse of the heavens and astronomy. You are very thoughtful, but so thoughtful that it sometimes hinders you. You also have an uncanny ability to know something out of the ordinary will happen. Erato 75% Urania 75% Euterpe 69% Terpischore 63% Thalia 63% Polyhymnia 56% Calliope 56% Melpomene 38% Clio 38% Which of the Greek Muses are you? created with QuizFarm.com

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You scored as A Too Sweet Faerie. So sweet your totally sugared up! Has there ever been anyone so nice. Quick to forgive and quick to forget, everybody wants to know you! You've just got to make sure nobody takes advantage and tries to use you, don't be afraid to say no sometimes! See All Results/Comment A Too Sweet Faerie 90% A Too Astral Faerie 80% A Too Depressed Faerie 75% A Too Sporty Faerie 70% A Too Serious Faerie 70% A Too Silly Faerie 60% A Too Kinky Faerie 50% A Too Lazy Faerie 30% A Too Evil Faerie 25% Which Dysfunctional Faerie are You? created with QuizFarm.com

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Your Element Is Water

A bit of a contradiction, you can seem both lighthearted and serious. That's because you're good at going with the flow - but you also are deep. Highly intuitive, you tune in to people's emotions and moods easily. You are able to tap into deep emotional connections and connect with others. You prefer a smooth, harmonious life - but you can navigate your way around waves. You have a knack for getting people to get along and making life a little more peaceful.

What's Your Element?

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You Are the Individualist

4 You are sensitive and intuitive, with others and yourself. You are creative and dreamy... plus dramatic and unpredictable. You're emotionally honest, real, and easily hurt. Totally expressive, others always know exactly how you feel.

What number are you?

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Now my star sign is Capricorn...

You are 47% Capricorn

How much do you match your zodiac sign?

...but my Rising Sign is Aquarius.

You are 73% Aquarius

How much do you match your zodiac sign?

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You Are From Neptune

You are dreamy and mystical, with a natural psychic ability. You love music, poetry, dance, and (most of all) the open sea. Your soul is filled with possibilities, and your heart overflows with compassion. You can be in a room full of friendly people and feel all alone. If you don't get carried away with one idea, your spiritual nature will see you through anything.

What Planet Are You From?

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You Are a Life Blogger!

Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary. If it happens, you blog it. And make it as entertaining as possible.

What kind of blogger are you?

Worker sacked over blog comments

BBC Story

Joe's Blog note the permanent link in the sidebar too.

Does this mean that as well as all the abusive email I have received over the last 6 months for expressing my feelings I could get sacked too??

For talking about the rude, nasty customers that I deal with every day? For mentioning the fact that certain colleagues of mine really piss me off when they can't be arsed to do their jobs properly? For bigging up the wonderful people I work with every day?

Better not talk about the work do last Saturday as I intended to do tonight. Especially since we'd had an email round asking us to behave with decorum as we were representing the company. Good job none of us were wearing our badges in Walkabout then isn't it!

Oh, but I do have to say three cheers to the wonderful guy at head office (better not mention his name in case I get sued) who has now fixed things so that the Waterstone's web site recognises that there is in fact a branch in Wolverhampton. Although that was probably Amazon's fault really....

Nice couple of days off

I've actually been able to relax for the first time in ages! Before this it was all work, work, work...and the days off I had were spent organising the house. But I've just spent two days doing exactly what I wanted to; having two great evenings with friends, playing on the PS2, watching TV (some educational stuff and lots of Britsh Comedy) and chilling with my lovely man.

Tomorrow we're going to Avebury with Jamie and Jason for the day, will be colder than last time I was there for sure!

I've also been thinking about things I wish to achieve this year. I plan to get more organised in general and spend more time with the people I like and doing the things I like. This means that a few things will have to be let go, but that's all part of life right? The things I don't want to do (that aren't essential to life, like paying rent...) have pretty much been cut out already, so it's just a case of sorting out the last few things.

Speaking of things to let go. Whoever you are, person that's been sending me abusive emails for 5 months now - get over it. I've put up with it mainly because they don't affect me anymore, I've moved on. But the fact that you still feel the need to send them this far down the line makes me rather worried about you. Let it go mate, move on. Spend your time doing something constructive instead: raise money for those affected by the tsumani, read a good book, email someone you like, laugh, watch kittens - have FUN!

I'm going to find a few more cards on The Simpsons: Hit and Run and snuggle with Esme (who is in such a snuggly mood that she curled up on my shoulders while I was in the bath!) and then head to bed so I'm refreshed for the morning.

Hope everyone had a good holiday season, life is good, go live it!

Evil Foley

New Year Kate

*giggle*

I just got my horoscope for today....it's the same as yesterdays!

Today, KATE, you could decide to attend a group activity of some kind, and in the process make some new friends, mostly women and younger people. They have a lot of interesting information to offer, and this could set you off on a new discovery of some kind. You might find it difficult to follow up on, however. The libraries and bookstores might not have the books you need. Keep searching - don't give up!

Well I'm seeing people tonight that I didn't see last night, and I'm already looking into some stuff that came up last night so I wonder if tonight will bring some more!

Happy New Year folks! (I'll post some pictures when I've read the instruction manual for the new camera!)

Quizzezzes

Spring chick.

You love the feeling of renewal and energy that the first signs of spring give you. After hiding away all winter, you have endless energy to start new projects and achieve new goals.

To keep that feeling all year round, take a class each season. Wind is your strength, so when you need motivation, do something that includes that: learn to sail, fly a kite, or vacation by the water. Take a class that stimulates your mind and keeps you interested all year round: Try pottery for fall, knitting in the winter, and a photography class in the summer. In the middle of winter, paint your bathroom yellow, and brighten up your den by making brightly coloured throw cushions, or tying your curtains back with satin ribbons.

What's your Season

*giggles*

Today has been a mostly good day! Yeah I had to go to work, but I had a good laugh with Sarah Campbell reminding her of all the mad things that happened on Friday night when a load of us went out and got sloshed! I spent the day wandering about checking lists and sticking about 50,000 "Half Price" stickers onto books.

The last two weeks were absolutely crazy! I meant to post in here last week about all the lovely people who came in to see me at work, and about my new sofas and gorgeous Welsh Dresser and the kids being back at work and sending out presents to all sorts of people (and the fact that my sister's book was £9.09 but the shipping was £23.50! - Bloody Amazon!) and and and.....

Whew!

I got some beautiful cards from some beautiful people, especially the two I had from Corey and Brianne which were from the same set! I bought stuff from Argos and duplicated an order when they neglected to send me a confirmation email (so I have about £150 due back from them soon). I spent £413 at the Compton Hospice shop so I have gorgeous furniture and donated to a fabulous cause all in one go!

I bought lots and lots of books from work, and Phoenix set up my library bookshelves for me so I now have places to put them too!

I spent a fabulous evening out with some very very good friends enjoying some good drinks, scaring my work colleagues, playing Cliff Richard in the Gifford (hey, they had it as a choice on the jukebox!) and eating rather nice curry.

I spent a crazy evening with my workmates drinking far too much and eating "kebab meat with extra mint sauce and mayonaise please" ala Sarah Campbell.

I opened some beautiful gifts from beautiful people and spent some time with gorgeous kittens and my fabulous man.

Tomorrow I have a weekly discussion to write, parents and in-laws to entertain, Phoenix's cooking to organise (turkey, beef, Yorkshire puds, roast potatoes and parsnips - good job I bought him Delia Smith for Christmas) and some nice wine to drink.

So two days off beckon, then it's work, day off, work and three days off!

Open house here on New Year's Day afternoon btw. Come and sit on the new sofas and snuggle with the kittens. You know you want to.

I think I have shoppers remorse.

My inheritance cheque still hasn't cleared yet (it's so depressing seeing a 5 figure sum as the account balance and then being told the available balance is fuck all), but my lovely, lovely mother transferred me £1500 to start me off with until it clears (and she gets that back as soon as it does).

The thing is....I've spent that £1500 already.

I know I haven't really, as some of it I took out in cash and is currently distributed between Phoenixs pocket, my purse and the "Wedding Fund" pot (£5.99 from Great Expectations - gorgeous). But since my available account balance is down to about £50 it feels that way.

I've been working out where it all went, and don't actually feel that bad as I wouldn't say any of it has been wasted.

Yeah so I've spent £300 on books at work (yes, that's AFTER discount), but three bags of those were gifts for people, and there are no longer any books at work that I want anymore.
The £100 at HMV was again, 90% gifts and the £320 at Argos this morning was bookcases and ladders and cat stuff and plates and cutlery and a desk.

Writing it down like this has definately made me feel less guilty, I keep reminding myself that I could have blown £300 on make-up or clothes (I will be buying clothes, but nice ones for work rather than sparkly scraps of fabric) or even one pair of Manolo Blahniks.

I have to remember that although most of the money will be wiped out on our debts, we will be £300 a month better off, as we won't have to pay that out to card people.

Plus, I'm still aware that I'd swap all this stuff to see again the look in the eyes of Steve the Big Issue seller when I handed him that £20 yesterday. As long as I can remember that, I'm not such a terrible person as I think I am.

Emily and her pink cast!

Emily, a friend, and some Mooses!

Heavenly kittens

They got me up and going today when I woke up in a blue mood. Didn't feel like I couldn't get up and carry on, more that I couldn't be bothered. But they got me up and about and now they are sleeping on me and making cute sounds in their sleep.

Have had four or five people visit me at work this week, A couple of them I was glad to see and want to see more of them despite everything, a couple were fabulous visits from fabulous people, and one I just don't think I'm bothered about too much anymore. Our friendship has just died a death I guess, we were good friends once but then they just stopped putting any effort into the friendship, I was calling and saying do you wanna do this and that and never getting anything back. Just sad when things dribble out like that I guess.

The moot was groovy last night, good food, good people, and thanks to Bizkitts mobile phone we had some good music too!

Mum's emailed me a pixture of millions of sheep and Emily's sent me pics of her mates (and her pink cast), and I spoke to dad at the weekend so I know my family are doing well too. Now I just have to find something useful for my dad for christmas!

Work calls, off to deal with busy things!

Boots!

I did some browsing through internet shops earlier, looking for sheepskin rugs and nice shoes.

I found the most beautiful pair of DMs I've ever seen! Beautiful boots!

The only small snag is that they have no size eights left, and despite searching on Google for another half hour, the only other sites I could find them on all linked back to the Cloggs site. :( :( :(

I'm going to pop to the local stockist for DMs and try on a pair of 7's to see if they'll do, as Phoenix says that they're large sizes. Cloggs do have the Rose coloured ones in an 8, but my heart has been stolen by those emerald ones....

I shall keep on searching....

Blimey! A Saturday off!

I've been watching Soccer AM and chilling so far today. Coded some new reviews from the Grove, looked at stuff on eBay and opened my Advent Calendar on NeoPets.

Today I'm planning to do some "crisis cleaning". Well, that's what FlyLady calls it. Basically it means doing 15 minutes cleaning in the kitchen, then 15 minutes in the bathroom, then 15 minutes in the living room. Then I shall relax for 15 minutes before starting the cycle again. I figure it will start to make a dent on things before the holidays. One of the problems is that although I'd love to be able to clear off the table in the living room, the stuff on it needs to be kept but has nowhere else to go.

Last night we spent a few minutes daydreaming about where we can put the new sofa and bookshelves. It won't work for my birthday as there won't be quite enough seats, but on a day to day basis it'll be groovy.

Also been doing lots of daydreaming about shopping recently, working out what to get folks as pressies. Plus the fact that we need to get a table and eight chairs, plus a sofa...and will probably only have about two weeks to get them in. The plan at he moment is that we hire a van and then drive to various shops in search of stuff. However I don't have lots of time off to do this in so it may get squished into either the 19th or the 22nd.

But I discovered that the posh chocolate people do late deliveries so we can have posh crackers and posh hot chocolate too!

Right, I'm going to make a list of presents for people (so that I have it all written down and I forget nothing) and then start doing some cleaning.

Hmmm....I wonder what extra goodies I can find here for a young lady with her arm in a cast....