Saturday, July 31, 2004
Is it really too much to expect the weather to remain fine for the weekend? It would seem so. Lovely sunny days while I'm stuck in the office drowning in paperwork, then grey skies and rain when I'm not. Just got rained on going to the shop for my Saturday Guardian. I know I can read the news online, but the crossword is the highlight of my weekend. Especially when it is raining.
I hope it brightens up this afternoon because there is a skateboard and BMX display on in the city centre that I hope to take Fungus Kitten to. He's been in the house all week chatting to his mates online. 'Bout time he dragged himself of his bum.
Anyway, I've had a busy week. On Tuesday I went to Waterstones to hear Jasper Fforde talk about and read from his new book, Something Rotten. He's a very funny man and I really enjoyed the evening. But I haven't had time to read much of the book yet.
On Wednesday I went to see my friend Tracy and her new baby boy. Its been a long time since I held a new born. He's gorgeous but Tracy and her husband are both very tired - which is only to be expected really. Its amazing to think that FK was once such a tiny scrap too, and now he's bigger than me.
On Thursday I went to see Cardboard Cowboy at The Cockpit. You can listen to their new album on their website. They're a bit of a mixture of Bob Dylan and Gomez.
Yesterday I didn't go anywhere, apart from a couple of drinks after work with some friends. Got home to find my dog had had a slight bowel mishap all over the living room carpet (despite FK insisting that he did take her out in the afternoon). Then either the dog or one of the cats had walked through it and left little footprints all over the kitchen floor. So I had to spend half an hour scrubbing before I could sit down relax. Not the ideal way to begin the weekend I'm sure you'll agree.
And it's Lammas. I should be celebrating my harvest, looking at my achievements and being thankful for the good stuff, (not the dog shit) that has come into my life this year (I'm sure I'll think of something if I try hard enough).
I hope it brightens up this afternoon because there is a skateboard and BMX display on in the city centre that I hope to take Fungus Kitten to. He's been in the house all week chatting to his mates online. 'Bout time he dragged himself of his bum.
Anyway, I've had a busy week. On Tuesday I went to Waterstones to hear Jasper Fforde talk about and read from his new book, Something Rotten. He's a very funny man and I really enjoyed the evening. But I haven't had time to read much of the book yet.
On Wednesday I went to see my friend Tracy and her new baby boy. Its been a long time since I held a new born. He's gorgeous but Tracy and her husband are both very tired - which is only to be expected really. Its amazing to think that FK was once such a tiny scrap too, and now he's bigger than me.
On Thursday I went to see Cardboard Cowboy at The Cockpit. You can listen to their new album on their website. They're a bit of a mixture of Bob Dylan and Gomez.
Yesterday I didn't go anywhere, apart from a couple of drinks after work with some friends. Got home to find my dog had had a slight bowel mishap all over the living room carpet (despite FK insisting that he did take her out in the afternoon). Then either the dog or one of the cats had walked through it and left little footprints all over the kitchen floor. So I had to spend half an hour scrubbing before I could sit down relax. Not the ideal way to begin the weekend I'm sure you'll agree.
And it's Lammas. I should be celebrating my harvest, looking at my achievements and being thankful for the good stuff, (not the dog shit) that has come into my life this year (I'm sure I'll think of something if I try hard enough).
Thursday, July 15, 2004
I tried to post last night but couldn't get Blogger to play with me. Might've been my pc, Blogger or some strange being from the Nextian universe. The Nextian universe, I hear you ask? Have a look at jasperfforde.com. Of course, it helps if you've read his books. I read The Eyre Affair, the first of the Thursday Next series a couple of weeks ago, and rapidly follwed it up with Lost in a Good Book and The Well of Lost Plots. Sadly, the fourth in the series, Something Rotten, isn't published for another couple of weeks so I'll have to wait, although I have got a ticket for Fforde's reading and book signing in Leeds on July 27th. Fforde's books have made me laugh out loud on the bus, which is quite an achievement given what a miserable old so-and-so I've been recently.
Speaking of which, one of my work colleagues is leaving next week, and she's having drinks after work tomorrow. She has asked everyone to wear something pink. Unfortunately my pink allergy will prevent me from attending. This has absolutely nothing to do with the intense dislike I feel for the woman.
In 10 days time I hope to declare my workplace a pink-free zone. In 10 days time we will be a team where everyone smiles and says good morning, where no-one gets ignored or missed out when the tea is being made. At the moment there is only one dissenter from this happy and industrious family, and her pinkness will soon melt into the sunset as she heads off to fuck-up someone else's team.
Speaking of which, one of my work colleagues is leaving next week, and she's having drinks after work tomorrow. She has asked everyone to wear something pink. Unfortunately my pink allergy will prevent me from attending. This has absolutely nothing to do with the intense dislike I feel for the woman.
In 10 days time I hope to declare my workplace a pink-free zone. In 10 days time we will be a team where everyone smiles and says good morning, where no-one gets ignored or missed out when the tea is being made. At the moment there is only one dissenter from this happy and industrious family, and her pinkness will soon melt into the sunset as she heads off to fuck-up someone else's team.
Saturday, July 03, 2004
Went over to Manchester last night to see Patti Smith and Television. What an excellent gig! After getting a bit lost in Manchester, we arrived at The Academy just in time to get a drink before Television came on stage. The venue was full of mainly 40-somethings, but with a sprinkling of more youthful fans (The Academy is in the heart of Manchester's student land), and I don't think anybody was disappointed. Television still rock, with guitars to die for.
We made our way to the front for Patti Smith, (having a slight disagreement with a bunch of young lasses on the way who seemed to think they had a divine right to decide who went to the front and who didn't), and managed to sandwich ourselves between a couple of tall people (why is there always a tall person standing in front of you at a gig?). Patti has the most amazing stage presence, and her performance was incredible. Most of the songs were from the new album, Trampin',but there were a few older ones. 'Gloria' had us all in ecstasy.
I've been a Patti Smith fan for 20 years and last night was the first time I'd seen her play live. It was worth the wait.
We made our way to the front for Patti Smith, (having a slight disagreement with a bunch of young lasses on the way who seemed to think they had a divine right to decide who went to the front and who didn't), and managed to sandwich ourselves between a couple of tall people (why is there always a tall person standing in front of you at a gig?). Patti has the most amazing stage presence, and her performance was incredible. Most of the songs were from the new album, Trampin',but there were a few older ones. 'Gloria' had us all in ecstasy.
I've been a Patti Smith fan for 20 years and last night was the first time I'd seen her play live. It was worth the wait.
