As I missed a couple of events I actually wanted to blog about, I will instead resort to employing the age-old TV strategy to incorporate a past event into a current timeline - the flashback.
This flashback takes us back in time to this past Saturday, when Chrissi and I were entertaining friends for dinner. This has been planned for the first weekend after Chrissi arrived, three weeks previous - however, there was a flaw in this plan. Chrissi was ill that weekend so we had to unfortunately cancel and rearrange.
This was not in vain however, as we still had a very enjoyable and succesful night on Saturday. All of my home friends (that still live here) could make it, which was a promising start. I cooked a most excellent curry - in fact, I cooked two curries, one being a chicken korma and one a generic mild curry. I could call it many different names but really it wasn't any of them.
It all went very well and it was good to see people. Chrissi's desert was also excellent, and she has been baking again this week - apple pies - which puts me in trouble with work, but they really are not the sort of dish you can take on an hour-and-a-half commute in the morning without something going badly wrong and them arriving in a significantly worse condition than they departed!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Reasons; or Excuses by Another Name
While reminding a friend of the continued existence of this blog a few minutes ago - available as a source of newsworthy and non-newsworthy updates alike on my goings-on - it did jog my memory that I have not been posting as actively as I perhaps would expect myself to.
There are obvious reasons for this, or as I have more honestly termed them, excuses by another name.
The first is the supposed lack of readership. However, I have never posted for a real audience, knowing that this audience is precisely nil, so it is a distraction. Usually I post because either I enjoy writing, occasionally because I have something to say, or more typically because something is irritating me.
I've also had less time to post recently. This isn't true either. I've had roughly the same amount of time - I've still been home the same time the majority of evenings, and in bed a similar time. I've not been in my room as much so haven't been at the computer and posting, but when I have been, I have simply avoided it or forgotten.
A further suggestion could be that I've simply not had much to talk about recently - less to communicate in my life. This is also inaccurate, considering that I have been working on moving, shopping for items for the new place, meeting friends, many other activities all transpiring. Considering how I would happily fill many blogs without saying anything, this is hardly a reason for a lack of a post!
The other is simply that with Chrissi here, I've been more relaxed, sharing more things with her as I've been able to when I come in - and needing less to post on here to get things off my chest or to make note of memorable things as they occur. This is the most plausible.
However, I am determined to write a little more frequently. As this long excuse has gone on enough, I'll end it here and be determined to pick up the metaphorical writing baton again in the next couple of days.
There are obvious reasons for this, or as I have more honestly termed them, excuses by another name.
The first is the supposed lack of readership. However, I have never posted for a real audience, knowing that this audience is precisely nil, so it is a distraction. Usually I post because either I enjoy writing, occasionally because I have something to say, or more typically because something is irritating me.
I've also had less time to post recently. This isn't true either. I've had roughly the same amount of time - I've still been home the same time the majority of evenings, and in bed a similar time. I've not been in my room as much so haven't been at the computer and posting, but when I have been, I have simply avoided it or forgotten.
A further suggestion could be that I've simply not had much to talk about recently - less to communicate in my life. This is also inaccurate, considering that I have been working on moving, shopping for items for the new place, meeting friends, many other activities all transpiring. Considering how I would happily fill many blogs without saying anything, this is hardly a reason for a lack of a post!
The other is simply that with Chrissi here, I've been more relaxed, sharing more things with her as I've been able to when I come in - and needing less to post on here to get things off my chest or to make note of memorable things as they occur. This is the most plausible.
However, I am determined to write a little more frequently. As this long excuse has gone on enough, I'll end it here and be determined to pick up the metaphorical writing baton again in the next couple of days.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Irregular
As some people may have noticed, I have rarely blogged since Chrissi has been here. This is mostly because I've not been on the computer nearly as much, but also because the principal reader is Chrissi - and it seems a little pointless to write a blog as to what I've been doing when I can simply tell her!
Yesterday we were looking at flats to rent in the continued pursuit of a new place to live. This was simultaneously exciting and scary. There are a couple of places that looked pretty decent, although both are unfurnished. One we are now less convinced about in hindsight as we can't recall a fridge or washing machine. We hope that they are hidden behind a cupboard-like front to fit into the kitchen, I didn't check the cupboards.
Another place we're aiming to look at after work in the next couple of days and then can have an idea towards a decision this week!
Yesterday we were looking at flats to rent in the continued pursuit of a new place to live. This was simultaneously exciting and scary. There are a couple of places that looked pretty decent, although both are unfurnished. One we are now less convinced about in hindsight as we can't recall a fridge or washing machine. We hope that they are hidden behind a cupboard-like front to fit into the kitchen, I didn't check the cupboards.
Another place we're aiming to look at after work in the next couple of days and then can have an idea towards a decision this week!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Ten Day Break
It has surprisingly been ten days since I last blogged. I am not sure quite why there has been a particular absence in the blogosphere - if it is even still called that. However, I am making up for that now.
Since I last blogged Chrissi became a UK resident. This is very exciting!
More on this later, I am sure.
Since I last blogged Chrissi became a UK resident. This is very exciting!
More on this later, I am sure.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Single Digits
Today marks the day that the countdown until Chrissi arrives went into single digits. It is a mere nine days until she lands, which is extremely exciting for me (and I'm sure slightly terrifying for her). As you can tell, I'm quite clearly looking forward to it - will be nice, if a little odd for both of us.
This evening I am listening to an impulse purchase that I picked up while in town on the way home. I was heading to buy earphones - see yesterday's blog - but also saw a couple of albums by a band that friends at work have been repeatedly recommending. I had a listen to their stuff yesterday and was most impressed, so decided to pick the CDs up for myself while I saw them. So far, so good.
Oh, the band is The National, in case you were wondering, as I notice I didn't mention that yet. I'm sure you're all already aware of them but I had not heard anything by them.
This evening I am listening to an impulse purchase that I picked up while in town on the way home. I was heading to buy earphones - see yesterday's blog - but also saw a couple of albums by a band that friends at work have been repeatedly recommending. I had a listen to their stuff yesterday and was most impressed, so decided to pick the CDs up for myself while I saw them. So far, so good.
Oh, the band is The National, in case you were wondering, as I notice I didn't mention that yet. I'm sure you're all already aware of them but I had not heard anything by them.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Small Things
Yesterday I was off work ill with some form of nasal oppression going on. It wasn't particularly bad - just annoying - and I went through the best part of a box and a half of tissues in the day. Today however I was much better, thanks in part to the common sense approach of resting, not straining myself and also taking remedies to address the problem!
This evening's return journey from work was plagued by annoyances. After the regular buses stop, there are two trains an hour which intersect perfectly with my two buses, an hour. Today I arrived at Clapham Junction to find that - as it arrived at the station - one of these trains had suddenly been changed so as not to stop at Woking. The next train did not intersect so kindly, so faced with a 25 minute wait for a bus I opted instead for the 40 minute walk!
The other irritation was that my earphones broke as I plugged them in - deciding that I really did need sound in only one of the ears. This seems to be a repeated flaw with these earphones and it is becoming vexing. I will buy some more, probably tomorrow night, and then rant at a later date about how flimsy they are when they in turn break.
This evening's return journey from work was plagued by annoyances. After the regular buses stop, there are two trains an hour which intersect perfectly with my two buses, an hour. Today I arrived at Clapham Junction to find that - as it arrived at the station - one of these trains had suddenly been changed so as not to stop at Woking. The next train did not intersect so kindly, so faced with a 25 minute wait for a bus I opted instead for the 40 minute walk!
The other irritation was that my earphones broke as I plugged them in - deciding that I really did need sound in only one of the ears. This seems to be a repeated flaw with these earphones and it is becoming vexing. I will buy some more, probably tomorrow night, and then rant at a later date about how flimsy they are when they in turn break.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Early Monday Horror
This evening it is a blog posted on a Monday before half seven - a surprise, considering usually at this time I am still making my way back from football. Today is different, however. Football wasn't on today due to a large number of people being unable to play - likely something to do with it being Valentine's Day.
Now, as you can expect I have strong opinions on Valentine's Day and am not a fan. It does seem to be a remarkably hollow sentiment, that what you do for an entire year does not matter as long as you tick all the boxes on this one day. I am all for good and loving relationships the entire year round and not letting one day be held up as the only time that the other is thought of.
This is before we even get onto the commercialisation of the day. Having read supplements in the papers this week advising on perfect cards, gifts, trips, roses, chocolates, perfumes, colognes, underwear, makeup, etc, etc, without any of which it can't be that same special day, it becomes extremely tedious.
Really, you don't need any of that for a day about the person you love, and nor does it need to be restricted to one day of the year. Personally, I'm looking twelve days forward to when Chrissi arrives here, when I'm sure we'll do just fine without all of the above and on a different day of the year.
Now, as you can expect I have strong opinions on Valentine's Day and am not a fan. It does seem to be a remarkably hollow sentiment, that what you do for an entire year does not matter as long as you tick all the boxes on this one day. I am all for good and loving relationships the entire year round and not letting one day be held up as the only time that the other is thought of.
This is before we even get onto the commercialisation of the day. Having read supplements in the papers this week advising on perfect cards, gifts, trips, roses, chocolates, perfumes, colognes, underwear, makeup, etc, etc, without any of which it can't be that same special day, it becomes extremely tedious.
Really, you don't need any of that for a day about the person you love, and nor does it need to be restricted to one day of the year. Personally, I'm looking twelve days forward to when Chrissi arrives here, when I'm sure we'll do just fine without all of the above and on a different day of the year.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Yesterday Was The Day
Having read the news this morning and also last night, it seems amazingly trite that my blog yesterday evening was on anything other than one subject.
Egypt.
After 18 days of protests, Mubarak has resigned. The focus today has rightly not been on the political ramifications, but instead on the achievement, its significance, and the hope and joy on the street. Watching the pictures and reading the stories of those involved, in all that the one moment represented, it was hard not to be moved to tears. The perseverence and resistance of all the Egyptian people involved was simply that strong.
This is a fitting reminder of what people's resolve and unyielding humanity can be.
Egypt.
After 18 days of protests, Mubarak has resigned. The focus today has rightly not been on the political ramifications, but instead on the achievement, its significance, and the hope and joy on the street. Watching the pictures and reading the stories of those involved, in all that the one moment represented, it was hard not to be moved to tears. The perseverence and resistance of all the Egyptian people involved was simply that strong.
This is a fitting reminder of what people's resolve and unyielding humanity can be.
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