Three receipts found scrunched up on a table in a deserted local pub:-
1) Somerfield:-
Cat Litter
Go Cat
Cat Food
Cat Food
Cat Food
Stilton
2) Bank
Deposit 100 quid
3) Tesco
Salmon S/wich
Cat Milk
Cat Food
Cat Food
Cat Food
Cat Food
Cat Food
Cat Food
Smirnoff 35cl
If that's the starting point for a groundbreaking, state of the nation novel, I'm damned if I can figure out the character who dines on Stilton, Salmon Sandwiches and Smirnoff.
But whoever it is clearly has a name beginning with S...
Monday, March 09, 2009
Monday, February 02, 2009
A Slow Day
I suppose it is the nature of things. I have been up since 5.45am. I've been watching the snow, wondering if the bus still runs, my God, it really is snowing more than ever. I've even retuned two radios (upstairs and downstairs) to local radio, something I never listen to. The list of school closures is quite short. The local radio website doesn't load very well. So I have to go through the whole rigmarole of getting ready for work without yet knowing if work will take place.
6.30am. Still no news. I have a second cup of coffee and decide not to iron a shirt. Instead I put on the one I wore yesterday. And a pair of walking boots. A long list of school closures on the radio but my school isn't mentioned.
7am. Rucksack packed. Finish another cup of coffee and roll a second cigarette. Ordinarily I would leave the house in five minutes. Local radio website doesn't load. The list of school closures is longer than ever but still doesn't mention mine.
7.05am. I come downstairs from switching the lights off and shutting down the laptop. My mobile phone shows three missed calls. School is closed.
7.10am. I wonder what to do today.
6.30am. Still no news. I have a second cup of coffee and decide not to iron a shirt. Instead I put on the one I wore yesterday. And a pair of walking boots. A long list of school closures on the radio but my school isn't mentioned.
7am. Rucksack packed. Finish another cup of coffee and roll a second cigarette. Ordinarily I would leave the house in five minutes. Local radio website doesn't load. The list of school closures is longer than ever but still doesn't mention mine.
7.05am. I come downstairs from switching the lights off and shutting down the laptop. My mobile phone shows three missed calls. School is closed.
7.10am. I wonder what to do today.
Please Release Me
It was snowing yesterday evening and, though my house was nice and warm, I felt like eavesdropping on company so went to my local. Only a handful of people round the bar, most looking like they didn't want to go home. Maybe it was cabin fever. A woman had already infuriated most of the assembled by putting Mull of Kintyre on the jukebox. "But when I was ten I was in love with this!"
A short while later after all the howling and yeeha-ing...Someone has put on Blondie. To the intro of Union City Blues:-
Debbie Harry: Whoa-oh...whoa-oh
Landloard: Aiieeee, Whoa-oahao
Bloke at bar: Uuunioooonnn...Whoohhhh
Other Bloke plus Landlord: Unnnion Ciittyyy...whoa-ohhh
Landlord: Come on, your turn, Neil.
[Neil stalks away to the gents...]
Ten minutes later, as I look up from my book:-
Landlord plus second bloke at bar: Pllleeeassssee Releeeease Meeeee...
Outside it snows even more.
A short while later after all the howling and yeeha-ing...Someone has put on Blondie. To the intro of Union City Blues:-
Debbie Harry: Whoa-oh...whoa-oh
Landloard: Aiieeee, Whoa-oahao
Bloke at bar: Uuunioooonnn...Whoohhhh
Other Bloke plus Landlord: Unnnion Ciittyyy...whoa-ohhh
Landlord: Come on, your turn, Neil.
[Neil stalks away to the gents...]
Ten minutes later, as I look up from my book:-
Landlord plus second bloke at bar: Pllleeeassssee Releeeease Meeeee...
Outside it snows even more.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Transported
Quite often I forget completely about pieces of music, or rather, just how much i like particular pieces of music. I found this on youtube a few days ago and haven't been able to get it out of my head. I forgot just how much i like it and I've spent these few days with a slightly exhilarating sense of cheerfulness. The video spends a lot of time focussed on Gary Peacock and he seems utterly transported by what is being created. I especially like the section from 1.40 to 3.40 by which time he seems happier than anyone has any right to be!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
We Know Where You Live
September 28th is Teacher's Day in Taiwan and The Phillipines. According to wikipedia, in Taiwan "The day honors teachers' virtues, pains, and also their contribution not only to their own students but also to the whole society. People often make use of the day to express their gratitude to their teachers, such as paying them a visit or sending them a card."
Paying them a visit?! Any student finds out where I live, I'm off. Pronto.
On September 28th in 1991, Miles Davis died.
Births:- on this day in 1969, Mark Everett. Never heard of him. Wiki lists him as "fugitive". Here's what they also have to say:- "He is Caucasian, also of Hispanic descent and speaks fluent Spanish. He claims to speak German, French, and Cantonese. Because of his language fluency, he could be hiding anywhere in the world. Everett's height is 5'10" and weighs approximately 220 lbs. He has brown hair and possibly wears a goatee. He loves chocolate cupcakes and prefers plain hamburgers (just meat and bun)."
Right. I'll keep an eye out.
Paying them a visit?! Any student finds out where I live, I'm off. Pronto.
On September 28th in 1991, Miles Davis died.
Births:- on this day in 1969, Mark Everett. Never heard of him. Wiki lists him as "fugitive". Here's what they also have to say:- "He is Caucasian, also of Hispanic descent and speaks fluent Spanish. He claims to speak German, French, and Cantonese. Because of his language fluency, he could be hiding anywhere in the world. Everett's height is 5'10" and weighs approximately 220 lbs. He has brown hair and possibly wears a goatee. He loves chocolate cupcakes and prefers plain hamburgers (just meat and bun)."
Right. I'll keep an eye out.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Procrastination
I'm supposed to be "sorting out the garden" = "throwing the garden away" - I've neglected it all year and it's rather overgrown. However, I am using the "giving-myself-a-few-days-off" excuse. Though after a week of that it's growing thin. Unlike the garden.
Instead I've been watching films and reading about Hollywood. The films:-
The Forgotten. Julianne Moore is good. First half is quite good. It feels like the right sort of gloom, paranoia and confusion is created as Telly Paretta is told that the son she lost in a plane crash 14 months previously, never actually existed. She cannot find the photos, videos. Is she going crazy? Her husband and doctor are convinced she's getting better. Second half of the film is rotten. Why do these films always louse it up? Stupid, stupid, stupid.
The Butterfly Effect. I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would - a time travel piece of hokum that is quite good fun - except that not far from the end it started to get a little silly. (Only "a little"??) I tend to think time travel films are only really any good if they fuck about with your mind. Primer was a good example.
Scent of a Woman. Al Pacino spends most of the film winding himself up for a throaty rant. "If I were the man I was five years ago I'd take a FLAMETHROWER to this place!" Still, aside from some mawkish moments I like this film a lot.
Identity. John Cusack is good. Though does he play the same character over and over again?! Rest of the cast are good too. I could do with searching out a few more films like this.
Next Up:- Glengarry Glen Ross and Syriana...
I saw Glengarry Glen Ross about 20 years ago and am looking forward to watching it again enormously. I don't expect to be disappointed. It has something of an all-star cast. And the odd bit of swearing. Apologies for youtubing but someone has even gone to these lengths and maybe I'm being childish but it did make me laugh.
I'm really looking forward to Syriana. Apparently it is an example of...what?...Hyperlink Cinema??
Instead I've been watching films and reading about Hollywood. The films:-
The Forgotten. Julianne Moore is good. First half is quite good. It feels like the right sort of gloom, paranoia and confusion is created as Telly Paretta is told that the son she lost in a plane crash 14 months previously, never actually existed. She cannot find the photos, videos. Is she going crazy? Her husband and doctor are convinced she's getting better. Second half of the film is rotten. Why do these films always louse it up? Stupid, stupid, stupid.
The Butterfly Effect. I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would - a time travel piece of hokum that is quite good fun - except that not far from the end it started to get a little silly. (Only "a little"??) I tend to think time travel films are only really any good if they fuck about with your mind. Primer was a good example.
Scent of a Woman. Al Pacino spends most of the film winding himself up for a throaty rant. "If I were the man I was five years ago I'd take a FLAMETHROWER to this place!" Still, aside from some mawkish moments I like this film a lot.
Identity. John Cusack is good. Though does he play the same character over and over again?! Rest of the cast are good too. I could do with searching out a few more films like this.
Next Up:- Glengarry Glen Ross and Syriana...
I saw Glengarry Glen Ross about 20 years ago and am looking forward to watching it again enormously. I don't expect to be disappointed. It has something of an all-star cast. And the odd bit of swearing. Apologies for youtubing but someone has even gone to these lengths and maybe I'm being childish but it did make me laugh.
I'm really looking forward to Syriana. Apparently it is an example of...what?...Hyperlink Cinema??
Estimating Gender
Err...
This seems mildly interesting (nicked from D-Notice).
My results are
Likelihood of you being FEMALE is 57%
Likelihood of you being MALE is 43%
Oh.
This seems mildly interesting (nicked from D-Notice).
My results are
Likelihood of you being FEMALE is 57%
Likelihood of you being MALE is 43%
Oh.
Friday, July 25, 2008
One Word
Because she is right, I'm one of the lazy bastards who hasn't even got around to claiming blog fatigue, so, taken from Annie Slaminsky..
1. Your cell phone? Unused
2. Your significant other? Nowhere
3. Your hair? Cut
4. Your mother? Irish
5. Your father? Forgetful
6. Your favourite thing? Music
7. Your dream last night? Confusing
8. The room you’re in? Untidy
9. Your fear? Heights
10. What you’re not? Rich
11. The last thing you did before logging on? Smoked
12. Where did you grow up? Cambridge
13. Favourite drink? Bitter
14. What are you wearing? Shorts
15. Your TV? Dusty
16. Your pet? Gone
17. Your computer? Ropey
18. Favourite place? Pub
19. Your mood right now? Uncertain
20. Missing someone? Yes
21. Something you’re not wearing? Shoes
22. Love someone? Maybe
23. Your favorite color? Blue
24. Kids? None
25. Your life? Downhill
1. Your cell phone? Unused
2. Your significant other? Nowhere
3. Your hair? Cut
4. Your mother? Irish
5. Your father? Forgetful
6. Your favourite thing? Music
7. Your dream last night? Confusing
8. The room you’re in? Untidy
9. Your fear? Heights
10. What you’re not? Rich
11. The last thing you did before logging on? Smoked
12. Where did you grow up? Cambridge
13. Favourite drink? Bitter
14. What are you wearing? Shorts
15. Your TV? Dusty
16. Your pet? Gone
17. Your computer? Ropey
18. Favourite place? Pub
19. Your mood right now? Uncertain
20. Missing someone? Yes
21. Something you’re not wearing? Shoes
22. Love someone? Maybe
23. Your favorite color? Blue
24. Kids? None
25. Your life? Downhill
Bang!
Bang!
And all of a sudden, another year shot by. School finished two days ago and I've been so shattered that I've granted myself two days of doing absolutely sod all. Yesterday I...err...got my hair cut. Today I may well do even less. Tomorrow there's a wedding. Tell me, what do you buy for people who've got everything when you're one of those people who doesn't like wedding lists?
Anyway, that was the end of my first full, proper year of teaching. First, year of being an NQT (newly qualified teacher, for those who aren't sure) and now a year of just getting on with it. It was great - fantastic. Our department turned in the best results the school has ever had. I'm much more relaxed and comfortable as a teacher and have enjoyed it enormously. It is refreshingly great compared to office working, or commuting into central london or all the other nonsense I've done before. Despite turning 41 I feel about 4 million times younger than I've done for ages. (Something about working with teenagers keeping you young. Or something.)
Only thing is that I've found out next year I don't have a classroom of my own but instead will become something of a nomad - I think I'll be teaching in about 8 different rooms. That may well turn out to be crap.
Now I suppose I should get on with blogging or something...maybe I should be doing THIS!
And all of a sudden, another year shot by. School finished two days ago and I've been so shattered that I've granted myself two days of doing absolutely sod all. Yesterday I...err...got my hair cut. Today I may well do even less. Tomorrow there's a wedding. Tell me, what do you buy for people who've got everything when you're one of those people who doesn't like wedding lists?
Anyway, that was the end of my first full, proper year of teaching. First, year of being an NQT (newly qualified teacher, for those who aren't sure) and now a year of just getting on with it. It was great - fantastic. Our department turned in the best results the school has ever had. I'm much more relaxed and comfortable as a teacher and have enjoyed it enormously. It is refreshingly great compared to office working, or commuting into central london or all the other nonsense I've done before. Despite turning 41 I feel about 4 million times younger than I've done for ages. (Something about working with teenagers keeping you young. Or something.)
Only thing is that I've found out next year I don't have a classroom of my own but instead will become something of a nomad - I think I'll be teaching in about 8 different rooms. That may well turn out to be crap.
Now I suppose I should get on with blogging or something...maybe I should be doing THIS!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Free Music!
No jokes about "when did it get locked up?"...
Anyway, this looks rather good - free music. Ok, maybe it's music that's not to your taste in which case I suppose it's a bit irrelevant. But it's precisely this sort of site that causes me to lose too much time online. One minute i've come upstairs to do some work, the next it's three hours later, my ears are ringing and...Oh!...No Work!
Anyway, this looks rather good - free music. Ok, maybe it's music that's not to your taste in which case I suppose it's a bit irrelevant. But it's precisely this sort of site that causes me to lose too much time online. One minute i've come upstairs to do some work, the next it's three hours later, my ears are ringing and...Oh!...No Work!
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