Monkey brains

Yesterday I went upstairs to cover Maggies break and took over seeing the rep from Elsevier. I'm flicking through the catalogue of books that mostly don't apply to our store and I said to him that most of these books seem like the one on monkey brains that another rep showed me the other week. I was a bit embarrassed when the other rep turned out to be him as well.

This then led to a conversation about time speeding up recently, since it had been a month since he'd been in and it had only seemed like the week before that I'd seen him. He was saying that he'd just had his birthday and that he couldn't believe how old he was when he didn't feel it, and how stuck he felt when he thought of all the things he could be doing.

We had a chinwag about this for a few minutes before he went, but it really got me thinking.

When I was little, 28 was old. I know that about 9 years old I thought that when I was 27 I'd be married and have kids, that was an aim right up until this time last year in fact. Not a big aim, but the kind of childhood aim that stays in your subconscious and hangs about there, occasionally making itself known. Last year I really felt I'd failed this aim that I'd had for such a long time, and it took a bit of work to acknowledge that although it was a valid aim, it just didn't apply anymore.

I think part of the problem is that the media feeds such a constant image of not good enough. Celebrity magazines say that you're not thin enough, or your life is not worthwhile if you don't have these sunglasses, that dress, those shoes. Lifestyle magazines try to sell you the perfect home, the perfect cleaning product to clean your perfect new gadget with. Advertising is designed to sell you a product by selling you the image (and I'm the advertisers dream according to my dad) but the whole of the media seems to be going this way. Even book prizes do it, the idea that you HAVE to read the Booker/Orange/Costa winner or not be a serious reader.

TV programmes show you the dream of quitting the rat race and going to grow vegetables, but they gloss over the hard work and focus on the "goodness" of eating your own produce. Relocation, Relocation did a programme when a mother and daughter followed their dream of going to run a pub in the country (which our new manager was raving about it being a fabulous idea), but it never mentions the fact that someone has to be up early for deliveries, someone up late to close up and you never get a day off. (My parents have friends who own a pub, and all this was mentioned when once I said I'd like to do it)

It's no wonder that we sell so many Pop Psych books, the world just seems to be set up at the moment to tell you that you're not good enough. Your job isn't paying enough, you should love your job, you should be going to these places on holiday, you should be recycling more, eating better, reading these books.

For a long time I thought it was just me, doing my whole paranoia thing and feeling generally insecure. But having a chat with a guy who said that he harbours dreams of living like Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall but knows he wouldn't like the hard work bit has helped me realise that it's something affecting other people than just me.

I don't know if I'll ever manage to be free of it, but knowing this is helping me look at it that much clearer.

Photographing your own back is difficult

Yes you can see I've been scratching, bad Kate!

I'll get Anthony to take a better one tomorrow.
Then you'll actually be able to see what it looks like properly!

Bloody family

My horoscope this morning made me grin.

"Worries about a relative who lives far away might be plaguing you today, KATE, and the situation isn't helped by the fact that you may not be able to reach them by phone or e-mail. You may have to go around them and contact mutual friends who might be able to give you the information you need. Circumstances probably aren't all that dire, and there's probably nothing to be overly concerned about, but you need to hear this. Keep trying!"

They're all fine, I thought to myself. Spoke to the parents at the weekend and IM'd with Emily the other day.

Then tonight I got a phonecall to inform me that a member of my family had fallen down the stairs when pissed, no bones broken but some nasty cuts from the glass they'd been holding at the time.

It wasn't my student sister, it was my old enough to know better father.

He downplayed it all when he called me, it was mum who said that when she saw him at the bottom of the stairs she thought he'd broken his neck.

But he's fine, got all checked out and patched up by some lovely Essex paramedics and technicians. Mum was saying that if he hadn't been pissed he wouldn't have tripped, but if he hadn't been he'd definately have broken something.

Honestly, you get to the age where they've just stopped worrying about you, and then you have to worry about them!

So I'm distracting myself from the desire to go straight home and hug him by playing some WoW.

*sigh*

Inspired...

...to wash-up by Keris, I looked up at the two pictures stuck to the window frame above the sink and thought I'd try and find them to share with you.

So I Googled one of them and instead of what I expected, I found this...

Contemplating Washing-up

This is the one I was looking for



So I search for a picture for Keris...and find a picture from Mark instead.

We really are all interconnected in strange ways.

Grumpy Cats

Esme and Foley are not very happy with us at the moment.

This is because we took them to get spayed yesterday... Foley was unimpressed with car riding and yodelled all the way there, then went very very quiet.

Everything went ok at the vets, then yesterday afternoon it was a question of keeping an eye on them while the drugs wore off.

Foley made a break for freedom as soon as the carrycase was opened when we got back. She made it a whole three steps before realising that her back legs were still numb and falling over. That was how the afternoon was spent, watching them stagger from one sleeping spot to the next and then conking out.

Today they are better, Esme is almost back to normal, but Foley squeaks if you touch her back anywhere. They're curled up on the spare bed in the sunshine and look very cute apart from the bald bits.

Poor pussy cats, they'll appreciate it when they realise that this means I can let them outside a lot more.

Happy Valentines!

This is what I got for Valentine's Day...



It's nestled just between my shoulder-blades and currently aches.

I think the aching is also possibly due to the fact that Anthony bought a Wii yesterday too. All that nunchuk waving as I try to spank Rabbids and bowl strikes has made my arms ache. It's exercise though!

That's one of the contributing factors behind its purchase, the fact that Campbelli has one and has stopped going to the gym because she's getting lots of exercise from it. Also the comments that one of his co-workers made about "sitting back and watching her bounce up and down" (ahem) - I can't even work out how to explain that so it doesn't sound smutty so I won't.

Anyways, it's stonkingly good fun, although the cats are a little confused by it.

You'll get a photo of the actual tattoo when it's no longer covered in clingfilm and antiseptic cream - in about two days.

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.

At last

Someone has finally talked about the real issues in BB.

I watched very little of it, mainly cos I can't stand the programme.

When the Jade row happened, I must confess I didn't see most of it as a racist thing, just as a Jade thing.

It's about background, not skin colour. Jade would probably have had a stinking great row with Tara P-T if she'd been in there.

The thing about it that shocked me (that shouldn't have done) is the way the media have reacted. For the last few years they've written stories about Jade and secretly loathed her, this affair gave them the chance to rip her to shreds.

Class issues run a lot deeper than anyone thinks. In the comments on the BBC article, someone says that "chavs" are working class and that it's the middle class that disparage them. I don't think of chavs as working class, to me they are the benefit scroungers, the people who could be working but can't be bothered. If you're on benefits because you need them and are entitled to them then fine. If you'd sooner claim than do any work then off to the workhouse with you!

The Yeti always used to call my parents middle class. He'd laugh at me because I was used to certain things, like proper cheese instead of cheese slices, and having salt and pepper grinders rather than using packets you've lifted from KFC. If being middle class is having a certain standard of living, then that's me. But I know for a fact that if I quit my job and had a couple of kids I could be living in a council flat free of charge and picking up more in benefits than I earn working.

Whatever I am, I'm someone who has respect for other people and for myself. Something that's lacking in a lot of places these days, especially in the media.

Paranoia

I admit to being paranoid.

If I read about traffic accidents in Essex I worry in case they involve someone I might know.

So when this story appeared on the BBC I had my usual few moments of panic. In fact I panicked more than usual until I remembered that my dad is actually 60 (and I had an email from him on Sat morning). I know, I know - like I wouldn't find out before it turned up on the news. (But we didn't with George (Dad saw it on Ceefax) and that's still the fear).

Then today the story has been updated. Ok, I didn't know the guy...but Grosvenor Gardens is basically the next road up from my parents. So closer to home even if I didn't know the guy.

Customer Satisfaction

A young lad walks up to the counter, can't be more than 20. Dark hair, dark eyes, looks good and knows it.

He places a copy of 'The Modern Kama Sutra' on the counter and looks up at me.

"So, your place or mine?" he says with a smirk.

In return he receives a raised eyebrow from me.

"I'd have to see if my boyfriends free" I reply.

The transaction continues as normal except he's gone a little bit red.

As he goes I say "Enjoy the book" and get a brilliant smile in return.

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

I'm not used to customers trying to flirt with me, last time I managed to short-change the guy cos I was so flustered. This time I'm flattered but at the same time the ultimate unanswered question pops into my head.

Why is it only guys under 20 who buy the Kama Sutra?

Girly jeans, proofs and the Burning Crusade

Anthony bought me some girls jeans on Sunday. I haven't had any for years. The ones I've been wearing have been blokes ones (good old M&S) as they are so much easier to size. But we went into Dorothy Perkins and I tried on 5 or 6 different pairs until I found a style I liked. Anthony loves them, apparently they give me a "proper girls bottom". (I'm not sure what type of bottom I usually have in that case).
I haven't worn them to work yet as they sit a lot lower than my other jeans and since work is mainly pulling returns at the moment (lots of bending over) I'm not quite ready to reveal quite so much of my nice new short pants to the world.

I've also had a bit of luck (although nothing compared to the jammy git who won himself £26 on a scratchcard and £100 on the Premium Bonds on Mon) in that I managed to find the proof of The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters lurking in Goods In today. I didn't think it would be something I'd be interested in from what I'd heard about it, but we've had some samplers for customers so I had a flick through one and quite liked it. GI Chris had seen a set of the proofs in Goods In but didn't know where they'd gone to. Today I found them and have them sitting on the sofa waiting to be delved into.

I shall have some time to be reading them in this week, as Anthony is working "normal" hours (7-4) and so is monopolising the computer. Since The Burning Crusade expansion pack has just come out I sense that he'll be rather preoccupied with it for a few days/weeks/months (but then again, me too!) so I shall inflict Buffy on him and perhaps actually do some of my sadly neglected cross-stitch.

It's been partly neglected because I've been having lots of baths and showers due to my rediscovered love of hot water - which I dearly missed for the week I was without it. My stash of Lush goodies (32 things) has been taking a hammering, although I've been trying bits of all the solid bubble baths rather than using up all my precious ballistics all in one go.

Right, I'm being evicted...

Hoicked from Keris

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?

Quite a few things: I'm living on my own for the first time which is the big one I guess.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I kept one of them which was finishing my Oranges and Lemons cross-stitch. Didn't keep any of the others.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

nope

4. Did anyone close to you die?

nope

5. What countries did you visit?

lol, Birmingham, Essex and London.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?

Dunno, last year was a blast in the the end. I guess a proper holiday.

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

There were a couple of big ones. Feb 27th when the Yeti dumped me, and April 16th, when I first met Anthony.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Picking myself up and getting on with life from the lowest point I'd been at in years. If someone had told me back then, when I was mourning a miscarriage and a broken heart that now I'd be writing about a new relationship and being so very happy, I'd have said they were lying.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Even though my life has changed for the better because of it, even though I know it wasn't my fault - the miscarriage.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

See above, plus a little sunburn and a couple of very nasty colds.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I'm not sure if it counts as a thing but paying my own rent makes me feel very grown-up.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My sister's - she's a brightly shining star. Plus Missy Campbelli who proved she's the best Grade 5 bookseller I know.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

The Yeti, but only for a couple of weeks.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Rent and bills. I hardly bought any books compared to 2005.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Leyton Orient getting promoted.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?

Argh, tough. Probably Corrine Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

happier or sadder?

Happier, definately.

thinner or fatter?

thinner, but only by a little

richer or poorer?

richer I think, I've got no debt left and I'm (mostly) living on my earnings.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Relaxing.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying.

20. What was your favorite TV program?

Probably Veronica Mars.

21. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn’t dislike this time last year?

See no.13

22. What was the best book you read?

Growing Up Again by Catriona McCloud

23. What was your greatest musical discovery?

iTunes...drool.

24. What did you want and get?

A grown-up relationship

25. What did you want and not get?

The Unseen University Cut-Out Book (I'm gonna buy it on payday though)

26. What was your favorite film of this year?

The Lake House (which Anthony bought me on Sunday when I was hungover)

27. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 28 and spent the day with my folks and Anthony and then when for a nice meal at Cafe Champagne (without Anthony who had to work).

28. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Kicking the Yeti repeatedly in the bollocks when he first told me he didn't love me anymore

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?

Jeans and boots.

30. What kept you sane?

Campbelli, my sister, Mark, this blog, my cats, Anthony.

31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Robbie Williams...still

32. What political issue stirred you the most?

Nothing specific.

33. Who did you miss?

Campbelli while she was off converting the world.

34. Who was the best new person you met?

Anthony has to be top, but meeting Mark was bloody good too.

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006?

To stick with it.

36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

Corinne Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On

Three little birds, sat on my window.
And they told me I don’t need to worry.
Summer came like cinnamon
So sweet,
Little girls double-dutch on the concrete.

Maybe sometimes, we got it wrong, but it’s alright
the more things seems to change, the more they stay the same.
Oh, don’t you hesitate.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You’re gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

Blue as the sky, sombre and lonely,
Sipping tea in the bar by the road side,
(just relax, just relax)
Don’t you let those other boys fool you,
Gotta love that afro hairdo.

Maybe sometimes, we feel afraid, but it’s alright
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change.
Don’t you think it’s strange?

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You’re gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

Just more than I could take, pity for pity’s sake
Some nights kept me awake, I thought that I was stronger
When you gonna realise, that you don’t even have to try any longer.
Do what you want to.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

Oh, You’re gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

Hoicked from Mark

1. Take five books off your bookshelf.
2. Book #1 -- first sentence
3. Book #2 -- last sentence on page fifty
4. Book #3 -- second sentence on page one hundred
5. Book #4 -- next to the last sentence on page one hundred fifty
6. Book #5 -- final sentence of the book
7. Make the five sentences into a paragraph:

Marianne had looked forward to her tenth birthday as being something special; quite different from any birthday she had yet had, for two reasons. Nearly at the top of the tree stump, which was about four feet high, a white cross had been painted on the side nearest to the water. Jeannie looked up to him. The fourth match was dry, and rasped into flame, flickering. Open your eyes.

1. Marianne Dreams - Catherine Storr
2. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
3. A Hat Full of Sky - Terry Pratchett
4. The Dark Is Rising Sequence - Susan Cooper
5. The Probable Future - Alice Hoffman

I didn't go and grab anything particular for this one, just 5 of the last few books I've read.