07/04/2008
More brevity
Keep meaning to update.... but I am currently struggling to grapple my way over the *mountain* of things to do that were postponed until the holidays. So this weekend I intend to sort out:
- visa
- current account for next year
- holiday
- workout and put in my hours form
- oboe
- organise singing lesson
- organ
- DVLA (DONE)
- Pay Jo
- list of things to buy for next year
- return Francis' book
- book oboe in to be serviced
- buy / give leaving presents to teachers
- organise Go Ap trip
- organise picnic for next friday
- organise drinks with sue
- hand in repeat prescription to the doc!
- sort out seeing Steve at some point
- sort out seeing kit at some point
- tidy my room
- do the washing
- Join the Old leysians
- go through old paperwork I havnt bothered to read
- sort through chuck out most of the last two year's notes.
- lessons for next year?
- music I need to buy?
- email Alamty conservatoire
- learn Russian (SOME!)
Im sure there are a few more things that I have forgotten. :P
Such is life
and my irritating amazingly lovely and considerate boyfriend took it into his head to lend me a slightly addictive computer game!!
Which I havn't played yet today so I am pleased with that.
working from 3:15-8:45 but going to go kayaking before and do organ afterwards. :D Hopefully there is someone else on over dinner so I will have a chance to eat.
xXx
11:20 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
06/10/2008
Rant
I have 6 exams.
They actually matter.
I have two years work to learn for all 3 subjects.
Only ONE of the papers is NOT synoptic.
I am trying to move country next year.
I am trying to set up 3 or 4 different bank accounts.
I don't understand my phone company.
The Customer Services for orange play AWFUL music when you are on hold.
I have no time to either exercise or play music.
I have two music lessons in the next week.
Everyone is wanting me to sort out the summer.
I am going to get no work done this weekend either :(
I have lost my favourite bra - at school somewhere.
THEY HAVE LOCKED MY ROOM for me!
My room is covered in notes: the walls, the bed, the floor... havn't got to the window yet!
AND I HAVE TORN THE LIGAMENT IN MY FOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!
xXx
15:09 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
06/07/2008
So My day.... just incase you cared :P
7:30 - Wake up (suppsedly so I can FINALLY DO some organ practise)... turn over and go back to sleep
8:45 - Wake up... still have headache and bleary brain, but find tea and clothes and get up
9:30 - Cycle into town
9:45 - buy a dress for my sister (I hav a student card)
10:00 - meet a friend for coffee...
....
....
15:00 turn up at the Sports Hall for Lifeguarding
21:00 Leave the Sports Hall after cleaning up and all that fun!
....
The dots repressent a combination of gyming (because I dont ache quite enough today so should go again), organ (Because I MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST do some) and Music Revision (Because Ditto)....
That said, it is the practical paper first and my chorales seem to have become entirely mood dependant... I shall do them anyway. And get JMJD to mark - make his day to be able to go through them again with his "CONtraVERtial" (drawled tone and the CAPS indicate accent) and his look of glee at finding (numerous in my case) parallel fifths.
Today is a day for parenthesis.
xXx
08:16 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
06/02/2008
Me and my imaginary immune system
Well actually I reckon it is there and reasonably active at the moment. Although not in a good mood with me.
Currently my immune system is fighting wars on all fronts.
I have a tummy bug which is making me sick and not helping me maintain anything like a reasonable appetite. On top of that I have cut my lip open (bitten it about 7 of 8 times in the past 4 days - once it is swollen the chances of biting it again increase exponentially!) so they are fighting all sorts of bugs off there. Summer has kicked in with a vengence (No sun :( :( ) and my lungs are playing havoc - on top of that my boyfriend and my sister seem to have a caugh, so even if I havn't contracted it I am still fighting yet more bugs.
I am sleeping well periodically, but in a near constant state of fatigue which means I am in glasses for almost everything an cease to be functional at around 6pm. Headaches and dizziness have become a standard state of affairs.
And I have just let the nurse inject me with (I'm assuming dead) forms of Hep B. Which REALLY hurt.
Anyway... that can't please it as now it also has the task of making me lots of Memory T and B lymphocytes for that as well...
Might go and find some neurofen in a moment, but I am living off the stuff.
Either way, I have decided to give me immune system a hand. Firstly by remembering to *take* all my asthma drugs and anti-histamine. Secondly by drinking enough water. Thirdly by putting bonjella on my lip - reduces swelling so less likely to bite it! Fouthly by taking in sufficient Vitamin C / Mg / Ca etc... (mostly orange juice so far :P although I intend to stew some apples in cinnamon for lunch). Finally I have on my desk a large mug of strong, sweet coffee that I fully intend to finish drinking,
This is just a comfort thing
xXx
09:15 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
06/01/2008
Greetings
I bid you greetings
All you angry men
And outraged women
Who sit and stare - for hours on end -
At the news reels on your TV screen
Who scroll through pages of
INTERNET HEADLINES
Tut and shake your head
Or shake your fist
And swear about injustice
I bid you greetings
You! Who's blood boils
And who's muscle trembles
In contempt
At the Dictators, the TNCs, the Banks, the Presidents, the Priests and the Teachers
As you sit and stare
And wait for the next headline
As you sit and stare
Eagar for the next to fuel your mindless fury
As you sit and stare
As you sit
As you sit
AND DO NOTHING
You sit and stare
At the woman beaten blue by a teenage daughter
At the vicar up in court, or the poedophile for rape
At the athlete torn apart by a long forgotten mine
At the young girl in the brothel waiting for her client
At the father searching in the ruins of a blowout
For a wife, for a parent, for a child, for a cousin, for an uncle, for a grandson, for a friend... for anybody?
You sit and stare
At a natural disaster wreaking havoc on a city
And swear hatred at the leaders,
At their lack of human pity
You sit and stare
And do nothing.
In your youth
In your passion
In your strength
In your self
You who have the power to shake the mountains
Who have the might to tople the steeples
And tear down the palaces
You have the feet that could teach the world to dance
You have the hands that could heal the scars that still deform
You have the tongues that could bring wisdom
You have the minds that could imagine something better
Most of all you have the hearts
The anger
The passion
The blood and the guts
Most of all you have the heart
That could
Give you
Strength
To change things
But you don't
You sit and stare.
In your selfish, smugness and self-centred pious righteousness
You watch the world go to hell in a handcart
And shake your head
And shake your fist
Then turn the TV off
And go to bed.
At least those without the wit, or the compassion...
Without the heart or the soul to be angry...
At least they can sleep
Without their own hypocrisy tainting their dreams
I bid you greetings
And I bid you goodnight
You sicken me.
xXx
18:10 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Life , Poetry , Thoughts | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
05/31/2008
Missing Eyeliner
Occassionally, from time to time (frequently) I lose my eyeliner pencils around the house, in my bag, down the back of the sofa, on the kitchen counter.... anywhere really. It starts off with my putting them in my jeans pocket on the way downstairs so I can put some on before I go out but *after* I have made a cup of tea. The eyeliner is sometimes applied and sometimes not, but always spends the rest of the day (and subsequent days) in my pocket. Here is lives until I remove it for some reason or other: piano playing, cooking, boredom, abstraction... At this point the eyeliner pencil is left somewhere. At this point the eyeliner pencil becomes lost.
I then think nothing of the pencil, or the loss for several days. Indeed, I think nothing of it until the next time I wish for alarmingly green/blue/sparkly/black eyes. Then I can turn the entire house upside down looking for the damn thing. No stone is left unturned - so to speak - no bag, no pocket, no medicine cabinate, no dressing table, no counter, no behind bed or down sofa... everywhere (over the course of a few days is searched thoroughly and repeatedly). And I can never find it.
That is not particularly unusual or unexpected. The curious thing is the way these eyeliner pencils turn up. I *always* find them in the top left hand pencil draw in the set of small draws on the lower shelf to the southern (ish) side of our kitchen. Whenever I look purposely in that draw I find nothing. And yet, the moment I am idly searching for a sharp pencil to tie my hair up with find one, no two, no three previously lost eyeliner pencils.
Could whoever keeps putting my makeup in the pencil draw please just give them to me when they find them. I know it is less amusing on your part, but it really is very confusing.
xXx
13:31 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (6) | Email this
05/30/2008
Wittering
A while back I made some, apparently erroneous, claim to be "wittering". This promted a rather amusing and enlightening email from a friend with rather emphatic views on the subject.
Noooo! If you're going to claim to be *wittering* in your Blog, you've got to
try harder than that! Let's see where you went wrong:
1. Chose a serious subject. Noo! The world's finest wittering is
generally considered to be about hairspray. Lip gloss is good too.
2. Used far too many nouns! Proper witter consists almost entirely
of pronouns.
3. No repetition! This is NOT "Just a minute"! Say everything at least
three times.
4. No adherence to the Daily Express style guidelines at all!
Instead of "I am not sure if I could advocate the birth of a child to a
single woman through IVF simply from a logistical perspective."... ...
I stand corrected and will endevour to improve my wittering style. If
anyone else has any useful tips or rules to aid me in my quest for
the art or wittering, do post them up.
xXx
09:55 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
05/19/2008
Chatter-box time :D
I ache... I suspect most of this is due to going for a very cold run last night and spending 45 minutes in the middle of it sitting on a metal bench at gone 9pm.... Worth it? Yes... painful today.... Just a little, but irritating none-the-less.
My right bicep also aches a lot!!!! when I raise it past shoulder height... there are several advantages to injecting vaccines into muscle tissue: it is distributed better being the main one and reduce pain at the time (possible) being a second... it does mean that moving that muscle becomes an issue.
I didn't do anything this afternoon... instead I lay on my bed with my head buried in a pillow wondering why the searing pain in my head would not go away and why it became significantly worse each time I actually rested my head on the pillow instead of supporting it myself.
I WILL go and do organ at 7:30.
I sang a top G for 8 bars of music solid :D and got a round of applause.. Even if Jack made me laugh because he was staring at me all the way through and I couldn't work out his expression.
I left my proximity card at home. This made my day excessively awkward, but I am not going to rant about them now... IM NOT.... not... not.... *holds breath*
I should probably pack tonight as the first set of *stuff* is going home on Wednesday and I have minimal time tomorrow. However, considering my packing history, the fact I know I can do it just as well in a panic at the last minutes (provided I am not distracted! - before a certain boyfriend starts making witty comments) means that the chances of me doing nothing tonight are slim. I HATE packing... unpacking is good fun though. :D Packing for me is either done in a rush, or I take time and everything has to be as efficient and effective as possible. Seeing as I always fail in these final objectives, I invariably leave packing as late as possible.
It is 3 days until I see Stuart again... I have a sneaky suspicion that they are going to pass unbearably slowly. In particular, I would very much like to be able to delete Thursday morning. Mind you, as ever, I am horrifically busy, so it shouldn't be too bad. (*crosses fingers, touches wood and prays to every God she can think of?*) Mneh. I'll stop being irritatingly sickly now, I can already see a few faces turning green.
I have the beginnings of 4 or 5 poems in my head. This is becoming irksome (I do love that word) as I can not sort them out into any sensible order or managable form. I can't seem to focus on any idea for any length of time at all. Apologise to all those who have tried to have conversations with me when I'm in this state - believe me I *KNOW* how infuriating it is!
I am also fighting the urge to revisit some old forums I *know* I shouldn't.
I have wittered enough.
xXx
18:01 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Life | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
05/14/2008
On a more menial triplet...
I woke up at 5:30 today :'( I have a feeling that it was the bird song and not the light which woke and so there is nothing I can do about it - there is no way I am closing my window in this heat! Mind you, I don't think I would bother closing my curtains either as I do love being able to see the shadows of the tree on my wall. And it *is* and lot of effort.
*******************
I spoke to John on Sunday. I think I shall send him some photo's from Kazakhstan... and some prayers.
*******************
Whether it is heat rash or (more likely) eczema... It is iritating me. Enough that I might go into boots and by myself some aqueous cream if I can find a ny at home today. Mind you, I am quite pleased that I almost have the discapline not to irritate it now. It is becoming irksome though.
Oh well... that is my triplet over with. I should go find: water, tea, a shower, fruit (? I don't think I have any) and clean shelves so they can be dusted....
xXx
06:46 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
05/12/2008
On a biological brethe
OK... so whoever designed the human reproductive system was HIGH! Seriously.... let me give you a brief lesson. Hormones are in bold, other scientific words that I need to learn to spell (and that you might not know) are in italics.
Spermatogenisis (the male side)
The hypothalamus (in the brain) releases GnRH (Gonadatrophic Releasing Hormone - Gonads being the sex organs). This travels the short distance south to the Anterior Pituitary Gland. The Anterior Lobe of the Pituitary Gland is stimulated to produce FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and ISCH (Intersticial Cell Stimulating Hormone - female equivilent is LH). These hormones then travel the long distances through many blood vessels to the testicles.
Now we need some anatomy. The testis is compised of seminiferous tubules (that make sperm) and then cells that make up the tissue between the tubules such as blood vessels and other intersticial cells. ISCH stimulates the intersticial cells to produce testosterone. Testosterone has several functions. The one you will all know is stiumlating the onset of secondary sexual characteristics in prepubescent males (poor things). Testosterone also stiumlate sertoli cells and inhibits the production of GnRH (more on that later).
Back to the seminiferous tubules. The walls of these tubules are comprised of highly specialised sertoli cells that govern the process of spermatogenisis. The outer cell layer of these tubules is a germinal epithelial layer - a source of unspecialised cells that can be transformed into sperm. These cells undergo meiosis, splitting twice to form 4 haploid cells - half the number of chromosomes. The first meiotic split halves the DNA content of the cell and create two haploid gametes (primary spermatocytes), the second split is just a staightforward cloning (as in mitosis) to produce the 4 haploid secondary spermatocytes.
The sertoli cell then governs the specification of these into spermatids and the sperm. This process involves the creation of a long flagellum (tail), production of many mitochondria in the middle piece to fuel the movement of the sperm, the digestion of the cell cytoplasm to reduce bulk and the production of an acrosome layer on the head of the spem which contains enzymes to break through the wall of the developed ovule (technically secondary oocyte).
The process of spermatogenis occurs from the external wall of the seminiferous tubule (the germinal epithelium) inwards towards the lumen (empty space of the tubule) in the centre. In effect average/normal cells go in on the outside and then fully fledged sperm are collected in seminiferous tubules as part of a continuous cycle.
This cycle is regulated by the inhibiting effects of testosterone and the inhibin produced as a by product of the action of sertoli cells. These two hormones stimulate the hypothalamus into *not* producing GnRH and therefore the Anterior Lobe of the Pituitary Gland is not stiumlated to produce ISCH and FSH. Consequently the rate of spermatogensis falls. Once the levels of inhibin and testosterone fall again then the is less (indirect) inhibition of ISCH and FSH and the rate of spermatogenisis rises. This is an example of the negative feedback of certain products (or by-products) of a reaction to maintain homeostasis.
Ok. So we have our sperm. The sperm produced and collected in the seminiferous tubules pass into small ducts called the vasa efferentia and then into the epididymis where they can be stored for up to 18 hours. Prior to ejaculation the sperm are moved the vas deferens (a muscular tube), the seminal vesicle releases mucus whilst the ejaculatory glands release an alkali solution to neutralise vaginal acids (Prostate Gland) and a solution of sugars to provide energy for the sperm on their travels (Coweper's Gland). This is mixture has now formed semen which will be released from the urethra by ejaculation.
Ejaculation is stimulated by increased supply of blood to the spongy tissue in the penis causing it to swell and harden and stiumlating the contaction of errectile tissue. Physical contact stimulates the glans penis which causes the muscles along the ejaculatory tract (the epididymis to the urethra) to contract moving the sperm/semen through the tract via peristalsis and finally the contraction of the urethra results in ejaculation.
Inside the femal the force of ejaculation propels *some* sperm into the uterus (/top of the vagina). In three days the sperm will have "swum" to the oviduct. Out of 500 million sperm only a few hundred reach the oocyte. Only one can ever fertilise.
It is interesting to note that there are also hormones in semen that stimulate muscular contraction of the uterus/oviducts to help the sperm reach the oocyte and improve the probability of fertilisation. There are only 5 million sperm in 5cm^3 of semen. The testies hang outside the body because the reactions involved occur at an optimum temperature of 35 degrees celcius.
WOW hasn't that taken the fun out of it!
And if you think that that might be a little complicated... sometime I might try to explain the female system which is approximately 4.7 times worse.
Anyone would think the intention of the entire process was failure... it certainally causes a significant stumbling block for most A Level students - And this really is the easy one.
I have decided this is a good way to revise. :P
xXx
19:12 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Life , School , Science | Permalink | Comments (4) | Email this
Meh
Woke up feeling really panicky this morning. Which is iritating. It is the second time this has happened in a week. This is also slightly odd as the one thing that I can think of warrenting panic (recital) is over and done with. I know it isn't the exams because I feel calmer (!) when I think of them (exams make sense, you just do the work and then sit the paper, then it is all over).
I have no idea what it is, but if it doesn't stop I will get more than slightly irritated.
xXx
06:49 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
05/09/2008
Quick note
For those of you were concerned... the earlier depressing post (before the happy, crotchety one) was not about a recent occurance. The events being referred to happened about 3 or 4 months ago and it is simply that recent comments have sparked them off....
:P
xXx
21:46 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
05/08/2008
And who knows where the time goes...
Who indeed.
- I have been reasonably productive today... sorted the board in my room that has been bugging me for at least a term - I took EVERYTHING down and now it all clean and, well not pretty, but at least I can look at it.
- I also organised my desk and put my notes in piles according to subject which I thought was excessively dedicated. Its really nice to be able to walk into my room again without cringing.
- I have sent off both sets of Music CW (recorded an average performance yesterday but apparently good enough).
- I did a UNIT 6 biology paper in 55 minutes (1h 10min exam) and I reckon I got about 80% - the extra 15 minutes should put be to a healthier mark.
- I went to a Gospel Choir Rehearsal and prodded the sopranos for being lazy and not making any noise... it was more the minimal effort I was complaining about not the actual noise.
- I had my first tutorial in over a month. :D Good to talk to Sue again.... interesting how much seemed important at the time, but doesn't get mentioned when you have the chance to say something. But that is another story. Oh! And all tutorials should happen in the sun. :D
- I had an organ lesson. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Piece Heroique :D It is such a beautiful piece. Most of it is not too hard either, just a few bars where you are playing 3 against 2 IN ONE HAND. Still very much fun. French music is goooood.
- I sat in the sun... found a most accommodating tree root actually.
- I went to theater crew and peeled gaffa tape off the stage - WHY does he have to buy the really cheap stuff?
- I had dinner
Oh and I told Deveson I was going to Edinburgh... He isn't happy. He thinks I'll regret it. i wonder how much that is just because *he* would regret it? I know I was good enough to get in, so it isn't a failure on my part... oh well.
Too many music rehearsals :( But then again there is a mahuuuusive concert tomorrow night so I suppose that is fair. My lips will be killing me by then! ! ! ! All in the name of fun though. Meh, been having thoughts about oboe, interesting state of ambivalence really. I might tell you about it sometime.
But yes.... it's funny how quickly the time passes. How recently it seems I was revising for January modules. How recently I was at Sidmouth. How recently I was doing last years Cabaret.... Simultaneously, all those things feel like they belong to a different age, a different place, a different person.
I think it is that duality that is the confusing part.
The last 2 months have passed in a blur... they really have. But equally it feels like an age since IVFDF and Celidhs and Ceroc / Jive in walking boots in the Student Union bar! Good times, good friends, good memories... soon to be repeated (Sidmouth :D)... so recent, yet so far away.
xXx
17:48 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Thoughts | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
05/05/2008
Of cabbages and kings...
We did make tiramisu. It was really rather good although I can think of several possible improvements and things to experiment with next time we try. Should be fun, although I don't think we will ever beat the Clowns Tiamisu.
I did spend 8 hours of this weekend on Public Transport: And it was not fun. Well actually all the journeys bar 20 minutes of the last were absoultely fine. I love travelling by train and bus is always better than car, particularly when I am so tired I can ignore the wet floor. But from Leicester to some other stop I was forced to overhear a duet of: (a) 12 year old male chavs f-ing and blinding about anything they could possible insult and (b) 16 year old female slones talking about this time they almost called the police because "this guy like, so, like, attacked me, but then I didn't want to upset his sister... but the parents!... Honestly!"
Then these two groups overheard each other and started a rather loud, inarticulate and clumsy battle of: "I can win one over on you dirty lowlife/snobs".... It stopped me getting so sleep which irritated me.
I am going to Edinburgh: I sent the reply at 3:30 yesterday... the deadline was 6pm today. I am now more than a little excited... so watch this space around Feburary when I start trying to find accomodation. :D :D *sings* "I am going to study Music at Edinburgh, I am going to study Music at Edinburgh, I am going to study Music at Edinburgh, I am going to study Music at Edinburgh, I am going to study Mu....
OK enough of that maybe
Had a really good weekend though :D Will be grinning for a while yet. And although I'm exhausted school doesn't look so bad this week - that is liable to frequent and inexplicable change, but hey! we can start well
xXx
22:41 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
04/23/2008
Of bombs and coupons and the Baroque Oboe...
It is quite normal for me to get wound up. In fact quite normal is a gross understatement - especially when the music department at my school is involved. I have no idea how they manage to wind me up to the point of wanting to kick/punch/tear the voice box out of the next person I see...
This time the irritation was centred around the recital I must do soon. Lack of organisation, excess blame being pushed haphazardly around and my own panic were compounded by a selection of well chosen comments... I left a virtual time-bomb...
It is good to have friends who know how to diffuse my frustration with a text. Strange experiance... but good. :D
I can now get on with writing my program notes and listening to various WONDERFUL organ works - all big and loud and impressive. Sometimes excessive is only barely enough and I think Widor is one of those cases.
xXx
09:23 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
04/21/2008
2 Funny Stories and 7 not so unusual things:
1. Only in the movies?
Please note that all circumstances have been changed in this story to save embarrassment… The punch-line is still the same.
A long day at the office – they all are really aren’t they? This particular day had been shorter than most as the final hour or so had involved a “brief” visit to the Technical Advisory Body (TAB in boss-speak). The actual issue – setting up the PR system for a presentation next Thursday – had taken all of 6 minutes and the rest of the time had been spent in genial conversation and mild banter.
“Yes, well… you know how it goes…. She seems to be managing fine, not too embarrassed – well at least she doesn’t blush much when I see her…” Luke Briar’s (known by his surname for some reason that had been long-since forgotten) voice drifted through the haze of Rhi’s coffee and landed softly in the depths of her consciousness.
Curiosity piqued her interjection was more than a little blunt (or to the point as I’m sure she would rather have it described), “Who? What? Why? When?”
Ok, maybe blunt would be the best description. The questions were rebuked harshly with an emphatic insistence that the person in question would not their “situation” to be broadcast across the entire company. This was followed rapidly by a selection of retorts, the most convincing of which seemed to insist that Rhi should be told as well as Sam because she was trustworthy and he wasn’t. At this Sam objected vehemently – notably not to the accusation of his indiscretion.
The time passed and various tactics were used in attempts to obtain the information. Briar’s drink was stolen (and warmed), biscuits were with-held, buttons were pressed that shouldn’t have been, bribes offered, blackmail suggested; rewards and threats heaped one on to the other, and still Briar did not budge. He had the moral high ground and apparently rather liked the view.
The hour passed and 5:30 came, and went again with surprising agility. And still Rhi had not discovered the gossip. It had been an amusing afternoon and in any case it was hardly essential that she know. A few last quips to Briar and she would go home.
“Well I know it was one of the secretaries... I’ll just go ask them.”
“No! Don’t! They’ll know it was me.”
“Yes, but they’ll also know you didn’t tell me… mind you, I doubt that will bother them. So you’d better tell me just to make sure. I know it’s something to do with that visiting Professor from Princeton talking about … oh God even I can’t remember, some sort of client psychology jargon.”
“Psychology of Clients and their response to advertising… It isn’t that great anyway. All that happened was that one of the secretaries refused to let the Professor in because they were female and she’d been told that the visitor was a Professor Terri McMalon. Hardly side-splitting.”
Rhi grinned, “Amusing… no not life-changing, but amusing none-the-less. I’ll see you next week then when I can’t get this stupid presentation to work and start frothing at the mouth?”
“Sure. But don’t make a point of it. I know that Alison is looking for promotion and having that gossip broadcast around would do her no favours at all.”
Rhi looked behind her, wide-eyed and gripping the door for support as her face broke into a grin.
“Shit” was all Briar could say, “Shit, Shit, Shit Shit, Shit, Shit,” and Rhi dissolved into fits of hysteria.
She was still giggling as she collected her bag and rummaged for her keys.
It had been a long day, yes, but shorter than many.
2. Could have happened to anyone.
It really could have happened to anyone. It isn’t even as though I consciously did anything wrong… just a slight misjudgement on my part with some less fortunate consequences. It really could have happened to anyone. I suppose the more important thing is that it happened to me.
So I chose and rigged a boat, a 420 to be precise. I always love sailing the 420s, heavy and not the most manoeuvrable of dinghies, but fast (comparatively) and they have space to move around easily in. Then I was given a gift of crew, some poor year nine kid who had sailed once before – last week in light wind and in a pico with a friend.
Having been advised not to laugh on the lee shore of the spit (and head off on a near reach) but move my vessel around to the other side, I duly complied and stuck my new team-mate into the front to keep him out of the way. Everything was ready and I had even explained to him how to put the centreboard down as soon as we were out deep enough. All that needed doing was to launch the boat and jump in ready to grab the tiller and mainsheet and sail off on an easy run – less efficient but ultimately less complicated or scary for inexperienced sailors. Experience has taught me differently.
The second part – gaining control of the boat was easy enough, the sails could be left to do what they pleased, and the rudders/tillers on a 420 I find much easier to manage in a hurry than on the laser series. It was the first part of the plan that caused me a problem.
I think a little history is needed here. I sailed on and off through the summer. I sailed 420s solo. I sailed in light winds. Very few boats sail well in light winds. Very few boats sail particularly well on a run without a spinnaker.
The only mistake I actually made was to misjudge the speed the boat would travel in decent wind. I misjudged by about 30cm, if that. Hardly critical? Well… that 30cm landed me in the water behind my boat when I jumped.
The wind caught the sails and she went like a dream. With my lonely crewmember ashen faced staring blankly at where I should have landed.
Apparently the boat dragged me some 30m across the lagoon before I managed to swim around. I persuaded my crew to lean over my side and let me climb in at the shrouds. (No mean feat I assume you as he was convinced he’d capsize the boat with us both on the same side and kept moving away from me just as I got a hold.) I climbed in, tacked around, and headed out into the lagoon.
Next accident was to gybe just before a gust.
He didn’t want to helm that day.
7. I didn’t wear a Jacket to Assembly – even though I was performing.
6. I lived mostly off toast and butter… four or five pieces in fact to make up for break / lunch /
5. I stole chocolate from Paul – thank you
4. I spend a sizable portion of the day in the music school – oboe, recital notes, talking to Sutcliff and SJ
3. I spent a sizable portion of the day on msn – but I also worked whilst I did that.
2. I had 30 minutes of timetabled lessons – unusually I actually worked for 15 minutes of it; walking to the Kent room and logging on to the incomprehensibly slow school network occupied the other 15 minutes.
1. I ache all over – a side effect of sailing for 2 hours and dancing for 4… but triceps and abs are killing (and that is all over for me!! Before you quibble… Stuart! (or Kit/Stephen/Steve/Paul/Em…) ... ☹ Happy pain though so ☺
xXx
20:32 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Fun , Life , Office Blog , School | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
04/16/2008
And in complete contrast
Ruth is happy now because:
- She passed her timed swims for the second time - 60s (out of 65) to swim 20m to casulty, and tow them back on a torpedo and then 42s (out of 45) to swim 20 meters to a downed casulty, turn them over and tow them another 10m back. It is somewhat amusing that the swimming out there takes me around 15 seconds crawl... the torperdo tow back is slower due to weight and drag... the drowned casulty (arm tow) takes me ages because my side-stroke leg kick is APPALLINGLY weak... seriously! something to work on there methinks - lengths of practising towing... fun for all the family!
- She page-turned for a concert today. Organ lunch time recital. And has realised that... 1. she isn't *that* bad, 2. she could be ok or even good if she practise, 3. there is a tonne!!! of music worth learning, 4. some of it she is capable of learning now, 5. some of it she has!! - Concerts always make Ruty HAPPY! particularly when she can watch people play. *
- The lunch she had with the people afterwards was really good fun. There were some very interesting people who speak: Irish, English, Dutch, German, Chinese... at least! And have travelled lots of places, have many good stories and most importantly a real appreciation of good tea and good music! :D The lunch was also complimentary. :D
- Her oboe is no longer sick. (Although it looks like she will need to spend £120 on a full service, and £160 on altering some keywork and £100 on new reeds for next year and (hopefully) still be able to buy some new music. *
- It was sunny.
- She had tomatoe soup with cheese melted in it for supper. And even though she is very full now, it is the happy, staited and content *full*.
- Black Books never ceases to be funny.
- Heather came to say Hi :D and distracted her from work for a very long time, mostly with poetry. She got an email from a friend today, and had a lovey afternoon chatting with Chris :D and is meeting another friend for drinks tomorrow. And she didn't have to talk to her housemistress AT ALL today.
- She knows enough for her lifeguarding test tomorrow... first aid is so logical and almost, well intuitive is the closest word, and the rest of it is basically common sense. She does wish that she found it easier to remember the meaning of R.I.D.D.O.R - Reporting of Incidents, Diseases, Dangerous Occurances Regulation.... HUH!
- She slept all morning, but found 2 lovely text messages when she woke up thanks to Steve and Stuart.
- She is listening to an amazing singer called Eleanor McEvoy :D
BUT MOSTLY
- Her boyfriend just rang her... and that sort of just added to the generally list of "good-things"
xXx
20:49 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Fun , Life | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
Mind-crazy musing/ranting/ARGH
I don't understand.
Ten thirty this evening I went to sleep. Put so much effort into controlling all those wonderful erroneous emotions that make life difficult. The utter conviciton that if I ring someone they will hold it against me and hate me for it... and simultaneously the *knowledge* that the only way to prove this conviction wrong is to ring them, feel guilty, hate myself.... and the spiral sort of becomes exponential at that point.
Now I know the entire catch 22 is nothing short of rediculous... but it takes a lot of energy to fight it and put it in perspective.
And I managed it.
Later I was woken from deep sleep - which I had found easily and naturally and quickly for the first time since the end of the holidays - by another phone call... and a number of implications within that conversation.
And now trying to get back to sleep... and it isn't working. AT ALL!
I appear to have used up my entire supply of energy to refute all the voices in my head tellng silly, false, cruel things. - "the other side of midnight is no place to be found" - It isn't fair how one part of my brain tells me people will hate me for doing something... and then forces me to do it anyway. It sounds self-destructive and I suppose in effect it is. But in various critical ways it isn't - I ***don't*** want to do what I do, I just have no power to stop myself.
I need sleep. I need to be fit and healthy and functional for my lifeguarding exam. I want to be slightly less erratic and able to enjoy myself by this weekend - although Stuart will probably help with that as well. I need to be able to keep on top of my work. I want to be able to tell the voices in my head just exactly where they can stick themselves.... And I can, some of the time, but not enough of the time.
It causes no end of problems.
And then of course the evil envious erroneous emotions evacute, evaporate even... as suddenly as they come.
And part of me ceases to believe they ever really existed.
xXx
00:22 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
04/15/2008
... And another...
I AM feeling communicative today aren't I... :S
Partly because I am at home and so these ramblings end up online instead of just in my notebook or head!
Partly because I just seem to be in a *musing* sort of mood.
Partly because writing is a wonderful way of procrastinating.
Mostly because I am awake and it is 2:30am!
I dislike coffee... it does strange things to my body... Like making me sick and unable to stomach anything other than water (and only that at a push). It also keeps me awake and conscious which is the obvious advantage to the rather unpleasant reality of ingesting known toxins.
Has actually been very interesting researching the oboe... wonderful book of my mothers that has a complete analysis of one of the pieces I am playing in my recital. Which reminds me I must get a sick oboe mended tomorrow! :S Very lonely without! I'm curious to see how the research changes the way I play! ... Still trying to find ANYTHING on this mysteriously non-existent Weber Concertino; I am beginning to suspect that it was written for Clarinet first and then altered. I might have to change it to the Schumann Romanzes. I will ask tomorrow... today.
I love research... I rarely get a chance to do any... apparently it is a waste of time with regards to my A Level course - *swears in an obscene and vulgar manner to no one inparticular*
Will let you know how the rest goes.
I shall now finish this episode of Black Books and then true to sleep... and pray my stomach stops complaining
xXx
01:44 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Life , Music | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
Procrastination for the nation....
... Well mostly for me actually. You know how it gets when work is pressing but not essential.
In fairness I have been very good today. P1 I straightened my hair, put makeup on and then did 40 mins research for my program notes. P2 I had chemistry practical exam which seemed straight-forward enough at the time. Break I was social and discussed tea, nutella, the American elections and German Politics. Then I skived the next 90 mintues followed by a little more research and lunch. Gospel choir, chat to PMD, visit Paul and watch the first half of Euro-Trip then do 45 minutes Organ Practise (Frank - Piece Heroique). Assembly was followed by more socialness in the form of the school fete (most of which seemed to be either food or getting people wet with sponges or water pistols). The evening was another choir followed by revising unit one biology - DNA, transcription, translation and the formation of proteins. I chatted to JMJD for a while and then came home, washed up, made tea (:D lots of tea!), read one book on the history of the oboe and Mummy just gave me another to look through.... Chatted to friend and boyfriend... and now...
Well now I am sitting in bed, thinking about working but writing this instead - well aware that the pro-plus will keep me functional for at least another 120 minutes if I wish it to. hmmm.
She is knitting again
The tenth ball this week
Vibrant colour,
A tactile sport
Yes, I s'pose I see the appeal
She is knitting again
And who can say why
She never used to before
Told me she
"Couldn't"
Before what?
She is knitting again
A scarf made for me
And a jumper for you
The colour
The touch
The caress of thread
Against fingers
Or face
Or shoulders
Neck, arms or head?
Even knots can be beautiful
She is knitting again
The tenth ball this week
Vibrant colour
A tactile sport.
Yes I am glad
She is knitting again.
xXx
00:10 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Life , Poetry , School | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
04/13/2008
Musings on a song
One of my favourite songs, holds too much dear to me, but such is the way with things that actually mean something. It is actually the theme song to "Angel" but I wont hold that against it :P written by Kim Richey - and I have to confess that that means nothing to me. But enough background.
A Place called home
Well, it’s not hard to see
Anyone who looks at me
Knows I am just a rolling stone
Never landed any place to call my own
To call my own
"A rolling stone gathers no moss."
There are people I know who just arrive. They arrive on our doorsteps, walk into our schools, appear at our jobs, join our churchs, attend our pubs and clubs. They send their children to the same nurseries as we send ours. We meet them and befriend them and they become part of our lives. And then they leave. All that is really left is the dust disturbed where they moved over it, the small emptiness in our lives that is so quickly engulfed by the remainder. They are transcendent and we do not miss them.
Well it seems like so long ago
But it really ain’t you know
I started off a crazy kid
Miracle I made it though
The things I did
The things I did
How often do you hear people exclaim, "I could never have done what you've managed," or "I would never have survived what you have."? But surely it is the things we live through - those miracles that we can nver quite explain - that shape who we are. If someone had been through the same as us then they would have been shaped in some way also, just as we adapted to survive.
It is these "miracles" that give us stories to tell. They are experience, they offer insight and teach us wisdom to know where we can make a difference and when it is best to simply move on.
Some day I’ll go where
There ain’t no rain or snow
Till then I’ll travel alone
And I’ll make my bed
With the stars above my head
And dream of a place called home
Maybe that is just it? The rain and snow keep falling. The miracle of making it back to the sun offset by the journey through hell that must preceed it. Why would ever drag someone you care for along with you on *that* journey? It may be better to watch the stars with a lover or friend... but is it worth seeing them walk along side and see the things that you do?
Is it worth the risk that you might turn back to help them when they stumble?
I had a chance to settle down
Get a job and live in town
Work in some old factory
I never liked the foreman
Standing over me
Over me
And yet so many people choose that. To protect them from themselves and the danger they believe they could be were they left to their own devices. To keep them safe from what might happen were they actually to dare to think. Other's bend their back to another in the hopes of promotion and dream of the time when they themselves will be the overseer.
Most accept their position in return security. A safety net to catch them should the wire snap. A job. An income. A pension. Support for their family in times of hardship and trial. The ability to make a difference to the people they love.
No I rather walk a windy road
Rather know the things I know
See the world with my own eye
No regrets no looking back no good byes
No good byes
To feel the wind in you hair and the rain on your skin; hear the sigh of everything that manages to survive so easily without being told what to think - or better still not to think at all. To smell life in all its vigour uncorrupted by routine or regularity; nothing is more constant than change itself - so many strive to forget that. To taste beauty and see the glory of smallest defiances against the night, glowworms in the dark.
No ties to hold you back. Nothing to influence you decison. No people you can drag with you into turmoil. No one that will make you stop and take a second thought before you step out into the unknown. No people who depend on you...
And no one for you to depend on either.
Someday I’ll go where there ain’t no rain nor snow
Til then I’ll travel alone
And I make my bed
With the stars above me head
And I dream of a place called home
And some day I’ll go where there ain’t no rain nor snow
Till then I’ll travel alone
And I make my bed
With the stars above my head
And dream of a place called home
Some day I’ll go where there ain’t no rain nor snow
Dream of a place called home
And despite our better judgement we still search. We still seek out that we claim we do not want, that which will only drag us down. The people who we will make exception for. The people with whome we could build a life that we are happy to live. And even is our very souls are nomandic and can not settle anywhere we still search for our counterparts... the people willing - no wanting - to walk... or run... ... or fly alongside us.
No one was made to be alone.
It just seems easier most of the time.
And safer.
xXx
19:36 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Poetry , Thoughts | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
03/31/2008
Not so restelss
Apparently spending 20-30 minutes lying in boiling water scented with cinnamon and something else (couldn't work it out), listening to good music and reading a good book is something ideal for wearing me out. ... I am also impressed that I managed to type most of that whilst yawning, with my EYES SHUT! (no mistakes :P)
Done
Cycled
Eaten too much chocolate
Finished and Equal Music - :D :D :D :D :D amazing book! EVERYONE must read it
Made dough for bread for lunch.
Listened to A LOT of Mary McLaughlin
Cooked - even if I misjudged quantities, it worked ok as well
Sorted out some of my Itunes
Started a new book that is very good
Went to the gym
Tidied and swept the kitchen - left the dishes for tomorrow
90 minutes of worthwhile organ practise
Bought a dress - well technically Mummy paid but hey :P
Tidied room a littl, emphasis on the little
Started copying recepis
Should have Done
Knit a tension square on the firefly yarn
Oboe!!!!
Some notes for Chemistry Unit One
Want to Do
Sketch pattern for top I want to make and paint the silk
Finish the voluntary I am meant to be writing
Draw / paint
Write up the thoughts / notes from Good Friday
Not too bad really.
The dress is a beautiful dance dress officially.... layered and a velvet pattern pulled through the main material of the dress - any sewing person will understand that concept, but I don't know the right word for it. It needs a lot of work. Most of the bead/sequin detail has come off, but it is not essentail to replace that. However, it also needs adjusting along the seems across the hips, fortunately I just need to take it in a little... it would also be good to oversew a few seems where the material has pulled against a too coarse thread.... Sorry that the pictures are rotated around.
Going to have fun finding a bra that fits the back of the dress...
Example of the detail on the train... velvet against almost transparent somethingorother... blue black - photo does no colour justice
Please excuse the rediculous face... caught at just a bad moment
Still no justice done to the colour
Going to have fun with this one, particularly when it is taylored properly. :D
xXx
22:00 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
Restless
I seem to be perpetally sitting down to something, applying myself for a few minutes and then losing interest and wondering off to find some other occuaption. I need to find some thing to distract me enough to let me be still, if only for 30 minutes. Even piano didn't really do it - just reminded me how much organ I desperately need to do... and the fact that I am not going to be prepared for my recital... then I started thinking about next term generally and the work I still need to do, the concerts, costume making for Kentwell, the parties I am obligated to go to... and the parties I want to go to.
I want to knit my jumper because it is pretty. I have a painting in my eyes that I was to create. I have lines of poems and motifs of songs and phrases to open stanza of philisophical prose clammouring for attention in my head. I want to go for a run but I don't have to the time... so instead I am sitting doing nothing and thinking about all the things I should be doing - useful.
So let us consider what I shall do today - and then I'll let you know what I actually achieve.
Already Done
Cycled
Eaten too much chocolate
Finished and Equal Music - :D :D :D :D :D amazing book! EVERYONE must read it
Made dough for bread for lunch.
Listened to A LOT of Mary McLaughlin
To Do
Tidy room a little
Copy up recepis from book lent by Yvonne
Knit a tension square on the firefly yarn
Organ
Oboe
Cook lunch / dinner
Go dress shopping with Mum
Go to the gym
Some notes for Chemistry Unit One
Listen to music recently put on computer - thank you agan darling
Want to Do
Sketch pattern for top I want to make and paint the silk
Finish the voluntary I am meant to be writing
Draw / paint
Write up the thoughts / notes from Good Friday
Best get started...
xXx
11:58 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
03/20/2008
Home...
Well I'm back. And whilst I got used to the cold up North (took a few hours!), my room is still freezing - it is 04:43 and my heating has been off for 4 days now with no people in the room! Consequently, I am now curled up in my duvet and very warm and snuggly dressing gown (one of my few PINK items of clothing, so to speak) wearing my favourite jumper (red with teddy bears on) and for some reason (unknown) writing a blog post instead of sleeping.
Hey ho - it is what I do.
Went on Uni visits... I'm sure I will talk about this more either here or with people in person.
I LOVED the city of Durham. I am GOING to live there at some point in my life - if only for a year or two. In fact I Love the north generally and would really like to move up there... Cambridge is beautiful... but it is so ... clean-cut? ... compared to Durham. Although I did find the two surprisingly similar in style and aura.
I did not like the course... or rather, I didn't like the fact that they were ashamed of being academic about music.
Edinburgh City grew on me over the course of the day. At first it was just another city... (despite living in suburbs all my life I am most definitely *not* a city girl.) But over the course of the day I wondered around areas, found green, found little quirky shops that I loved, found a very good pizza place and most important of all found LOTS and LOTS of jazz, folk, salsa, shows, concerts, gigs, ceilidhs and music in general. It wasn't until the end of the day that I saw the sea... and that sealed it for me. I also love Edinburgh... Maybe not so much as Durham (It is still very much a city)... but I could easily love living there! I will go back and visit again in the summer :D
The course is also fantastic. Academic but with some performing. And the university has a really very impressive collection of concert halls, organs and MANY MANY MANY early instruments :D :D :D :D :D :D :D lol.... I also liked the lecturer and the way the student showing us around was holding a cope of "Music and the Reformation in England" - a brilliant period to study the socio-histoical context of music!
I am now going to have fun comparing to Cambridge... wish me luck!
*************
It is strange when you give your heart to something... particularly when you've spent so long swearing violently against it.
I seem to be doing that far too much at the moment; I'm not sure how many hearts I have left.
04:56 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Life , Music , Thoughts | Permalink | Comments (5) | Email this
03/17/2008
UNI VISITS
I am off... hoping (though unlikely) to catch the 9:04 train... Actually, now that I can pay by card it may be a lot quicker for me - though painful on my wallet! Durhham today and tomorrow, Newcastle tomorrow evening to visit Miles (:D) and then Edinburgh on the Wednesday and home that day as well. Should be brilliant. :D Lots of exploring and lots of new places.
Though I have had a sum total of 2 hours sleep. Only finished packing about 15 mins ago. Only knew train times (or Uni visit schedules) about 25 mins ago... still havn't finished dressing, or mended my coat.... No one else is up (except Em who doens't count because she is travelling the other direction). Oh and Chi might just be up - drying her hair now. Hey ho. Why be organised.
Actually that is a completely lie... I had organised everything completely by last night - I'd just not actualy located it and put it in a bag yet and knew I had time this morning. Anyway... activity calls. I shall bid you adieu.... look forward to my enthusiasm three days hence when I shall bore you all.
{probably not much university stuff... but there are always amusingly strange people on trains! :P)
Love
xXx
07:58 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
03/13/2008
Girly Post
Ok. I was good. I went to the gym. I did better than last time as well - 46 skips in a row as opposed to about 8 last time I tried. (Do you know how humiliating it is to have forgotten how to skip!). Then come back and here is the best part of the evening.
Long, very hot shower. Clean skin, clean hair, new pyjamas (even though I am going home tomorrow)... fairly clean sheets. My skin is now smooth and smells decidedly of hazelnut - moisturiser. I am curled up on the floor of my room in my duvet with a cup of tea chatting with people on msn and facebook and listening to Kate Rusby...
Sometime it is GREAT to be a girl!
xXx
22:57 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
03/10/2008
Lets start this one again...
If you want to compare look here (12/02/2005) for the original... let's see what has changed.
Seven things to do before I die
Something I am proud of (and remember)
Play Stravinski's Rite of Spring
Travel the Silk Road
Have/build a boat
Be able to go back to Norway
Learn to think first
Dance properly again
Seven things I cannot do
Stay still
Turn off the *i-tunes* in my head
Easilt let go
Ignore the bite of idle curiosity
Dive (well... I am pysically able... I just can't do it)
Keep myself seperate from situations
Juggle (although I can almost contact juggle which is SOOO much cooler :P)
Seven things that attract me to my spouse:
No spouse! so we shall insert a *might* into that statement (or substitue and *a*)
Someone who is just a little bit crazy
Someone who'll let me run just as long as I let them run with me
Someone who understands that the entirety of the Brittish middle-class are there soley for my amusement!
Someone who will still surprise me after 25 years and then 50 and 75
Someone who can dance (Yes Steve I have *finally* openly conceded this point - happy?)
Someone who will keep me accountable
Someone who loves me (not just two or three aspects of my life)
*If I could love a man who would take m for a mere £5000 per annum, I should be very happy. But such a man would have to be insane and you know I could never love a man who was out of his wits* - Still got to love Austen and it is so true!
Seven things I say most often:
"heh"
"darling"
"fair enough"
"why"
"teehee"
"aww"
"evenin'"
Seven books (or series) I love:
Song of Songs
Deerskin
A Month in the Country (Thank you kit)
Momo
Watching the English
Winnie the Pooh
Persuasion or Jane Eyre
Seven movies I watch over and over again (or would watch over and over if I had the time)
A Long Engagement
The Counterfitters
Lord of War
Moulin Rouge
St Trinnians (Oh sooo TRUE!)
Spirited Away
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Seven people I want to join in, too (no pressure – if you hate this sort of thing just ignore it)
Em
Kit
Steve
Stuart
Kay
Chi
Anyone else who wants to
xXx
20:29 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Fun | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
03/07/2008
My day...
8:15 - Wake up to the 5 minute bell, search room for black trousers (on floor of wardrobe) and Granta hoodie (can't manage to put on a shirt and jumper at that moment). Avoid looking at the mirror on the way out.
8:20 - Registration. Dull, I almost forget to answer my name. Write out exeat form for the weekend
8:30 - Shower. Decide I want culy hair today so brush it through early on and then leave it along. Check email - nothing lifechanging - and make my bed. Confirmwith Hsm that it is ok to miss some of my frees to go to the gym.
8:50 - Arrive at tutorial. Jayne is still off ill so Sue is even more chronically busy than usual. Receive hug and best wishes and then leave. Make way to Music School to do some Oboe. I go through all the scales (maj / mel / harm) that I got wrong yesterday, and some others. I must work omy tone, tuning and placement at the extremes of the instrument. i.e. my low Bb minors are awful and my Fsharp scales are just plain dodgy. Play through the study and prove I can do it. :D first time ever. Then work at several short phrases to adjust tuning and technique.
09:57 - Arrive to my session before Alex. Got very strange looks from Hall an Deveson whilst walking over to the spots hall in my kit, the Music Dept don't believe in execise (except Manty who is getting fit enough to climb Mont Blanc in a few years). Alex turns up and we go through my circuits and weights program. That man is a SADIST!! Lovely, brilliant and all manner of other nice things, but a sadist none-the-less. It's really just a simple circuit, short too (30-40mins), b I am not particularly fit and it is *hard*. The worst thing was that he made me compelte the entire thing just to prove I was capable of it; now I can't just turn up and say to myself "this is impossible". Nah he is a decent guy, and the program suits me well :D - even if I couldn't walk up stairs paritcularly well afterwards (don't even mention going down them!). Only once a week. I think I shall try to keep - endorphines are addictive don't'cha'know.
10:40 - Back in house, shower, drink quite a bit of water :P and get books for music
11:00 - Music lesson. Starts with a 15 minute argument. Hall has stolen Manty's stationary and so he is refusing to teach (we know where it is) but it is suggested that Manty steal Hall's coffee, chocolate, markbook and computer mouse as "leverage". Why does this department remind me of "Yes Minister"? We go through the Bach once again, I don't mind although I studied it quite thoroughly on my own to prepare for the Cambridge inteviews (essay funness). We also look through our chorales. Mine isn't too bad, once again I've played safe instead of going for the good marks. We will go through properly and work out *best answers* tomorow.
12:00 - Organ Practise. Finally get around to learning the 3rd page of the Debussy but I do not touch the Brahms. Sad really, but I don't think I can learn the Fugue in time for Sunday whereas I have a chance of learning the Debussy. Have inordinate quantities of fun playing the bass line VERY LOUD on the reeds! Also play "My Song is Love Unknown" and look over the last verse option (very good part writing and anything *but* Bach in style... might learn it). Struggle with '"Praise to the Holiest" - the parts cross excessively and there are quite a few suspended and yet un-tied notes which confused me for some reason. I need to do more practise. Once my oboe is out the way I will - playing for chapel next friday. Will be good. :D
13:00 - In payment rearranging Thursday's lesson to Friday, Deveson has agreed to cook us Bacon Butties for lunch. It is hunger lunch (school serves only soup and a slither of bread and puts the money saved towards the lenten appeal!) so excellent Norfolk home cured bacon is really a very preferable option :P
13:25 - choir supposedly. After saying hello to Rae and going through both ranting and some tango moves I catch up briefly with a few others and then excuse myself as the rehersal starts to go to an oboe lesson. The fact that I actually ended up sitting in the Kitchen, waiting for my teacher to arrive and singing to myself is irrelevent and rather sad. :P
13:45 - Oboe lesson. Play through the study again. It is so almost there, I just paniced a little at the start and fudged a few areas. At least it is in time now! The Saint-Sans is good (AT LAST) and the Handle... well it's still Baroque and it's still good but not the best piece ever written. I do like the second mov though, so much chromatitism it could almost be Bach in places. Have a rest and talk through the program for my recital. I'm thinking of doing the development of German Classical Oboe repetoire with the Handle Sonata (written whilst he was in Germany), the first movement of the Mozart Oboe Quartet and finally the Weber Oboe Concerto (or Shumann Romances). Would love to do something more modern but apart from the (strangely similar) Poulenc and Saint-Sans, I only have Hinderminth - it takes a while to learn a-tonal music properly!
Legs are now functional again
15:10 - After arranging to miss Wind Band (no lip after 2 hours playing and gym as well as a concert in the evening), I spend five minutes in house before wondering over to the Rugg for Biology. Today we had to write our arguments for or against the motion "Is it time to scrap creationism?". I have not pointed out that this is not strictly a motion. Or that no one is actually using creationism in its strict sense. Or that really he just wants an excuse to assert his views to his class.... I decided that I'd be nice. God knows why!! Anyway, I decided to take on the challenge and argue against the motion that was actually intended. The arguments are thus: 1. creationism (NOT fundamentalist creationism which is infact a minority in all faiths) does not seek to provide evidense or answers, but merely fill in the gaps where evidense fails us - as it continues to do even with today's technology. 2. We are actually steadily disproving the theory of evolution instead of proving it :P. 3. Society needs people to think differently and disagree otherwise all progress becomes stated and the system stagnates - it is the contest and the questions that make us seek answers. 4. Fundamentalist science is just as bad as fundamentalist religion. No one should be told what they have to believe - you can not, and should not try to, scrap a belief system. In a free society people should be entitled to *complete* eductation and then allowed to form their own views - however stupid anyone else might think them.
Still spent most of the lesson on facebook.
16:10 - Chapel. More dancing with Rae before it started... then chatting to Anna... then I fell asleep. Seriously! I actually have a completely blank period in my memory for most of the service.
16:50 - Went for a walk with Lucy and Wheatly. I think they are dredging the river at some points -the water level is incredibly low and if they aren't then this is very worrying for the summer. Anyway, was nice to walk over to the medows again. :D I always miss them in the winter. Still beautiful.
18:05 - dinner. Pizza, cumcumber and Ketchup.
18:30 - housecall and then return to my room to watch Labyrinth (Brilliant film - watch if you havn't already). Fall asleep a little but I am distracted by some rather interestng texts.
20:10 - find uniform
20:15 - arrive at concert.Play through with Manty. We *REALLY* need to get the middle sorted before Tue!
20:30 - concert starts. I play fourth. Probably the best performance I have ever done. :D :D :D (although Manty is still scared by the piano part :P) Only two *mistakes* that stuck out to me (not the audience) and they were just tone and pitching! :D Will listen through to it tomorrow, but I am happy with that! The rest of the soiree was up and down. The guitar ensembles all excellent, but many of the solo pieces were influnced by nerves - still good fun though.
21:15 - concert ends. Polite tete-a-tete with the audience... And then sat chatting to Faulkner, Christine and the Music Dept. - Mostly taking the mic out of anything that moved which was good fun. We are all lovely people really!
22:17 - I am slightly late for housecall - better than after the last concert I went to. I start sorting out my room, finish my film my film, write this and conveniently forget about my chemistry prep! (TOMORROW MORNING!!!!)
23:41 - I go to bed
xXx
23:37 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
03/06/2008
A Post of Happy Things
- I have chosen my first option for University. I will accept the place at Girton, Cambridge. The decision has taken a while - even though I knew what it would be in the end (confusing eh?), but I needed to be sure that I was happy with it and I am. I loved the college the first time I saw it, the course is brilliant and opportunities to play are just silly really. But I have to say what clinched it was having access to The Round, The Reels Society... and all the other opportunities for dance. Oh, and the Library!!!! :P (But that is fa too geeky to write here :P)
- I have filled out the Sidmouth Stewarding Application form for Sidmouth. I will be attending, I will be camping, I will be dancing in the street in my bare bare feet (to coin a phrase) and in the ford, and in the sea, and around the Ham... I will be attending breakfast and cream tea workshops with rigorous regularity and I WILL BE HAVING FUN!
- I have almost finished sorting out all the paperwork that has ended up at school.... Not actually done much with it yet, but it is all in neat piles all over my bed - might sleep on the floor today :P
- I passed both timed swims. The air may have tasted of acidic smoke, I may have caughed all night, I may have been cold, I may have had a headache... but I PASSED THE TIMED SWIMS!!! I *Can* do it... and I am happy.
- I played the Albinoni Oboe duet with Chi yesterday - she playec flute :P It was so much fun. There is little better than playing with someone, particularly when that person actually wants to pkay and make music with you and so does communicate and put emotion into her playing. We'll learn it and see if we can get it recorded. :D Was great fun. Need to find some more now. Maybe one that is writted for oboe and flute.
- Got training program for the gym. Got to love Alex. He is so lovely. Anyway, been meaning to for ages - otherwise I just go along and run for far too long and then go home again. So getting a program working mostly on strength and flexibility (sailing and dancing). One hour core muslces, which is my favourite one because, even though it doesn't build up much of a sweat, you really feel like you've done something afterwards. Then another set of weights and funness and then one cardio and endurance set. 'Tis all good fun. :D But it is also very good to know what you are doing to your body when you exercise, how you might damage it and also how you can put it right again.
- It was sunny yesterday. However much I rant about my school,the capus is stunning on occasion (depends a lot on light levels). But at the moment the entrie deerpark is drowned in yellow daffodils or tiny blue flowers that I don't know the name of. Next time it is that lovely I shall go for a walk by the river - I've missed it this winter.
13:42 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Fun , Life , Music | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
02/24/2008
Painting
Ok so I got home at roughly 4pm yesterday... and I went to bed at roughly 11:30 (ish ish ish).... I took 30 minutes out for food... so I spent about 7 hours painting. That is on top of the 90 minutes of so I spent that afternoon finishing off a card. This morning... I just scraped off about 10-15cm^3 area of paint because I decided it was slightly too thick and contained too much water and was therefore liable to crack. Indeed some of it already had.
It has been great fun - and the most ambitious painting I have ever attempted - but fraught. Seriously, I probably shouldn't ever paint for that long because the adrenolin rush alone is enough to make me incredibly restless. And yet you must maintain and inordinate level of calm and patience. I suppose it is like pushing away all impatience and nerves and just getting on with things (loosing yourself in your work so to speak) and then when you *get back* all that energy is still there.
I do need to remember to stop when I start to feel nervous or edgy... that is when I make mistakes.
Anyway, it has been good fun. Debating whether to stay home, sleep, do some music and finish the picture ... or go gaming. The former is more preferable. I am still exhausted, but I do seem to be sleeping effectively again which is a good thing. Still bouncing around about next week which is also good. Still simultaneously 2 weeks ahead and 2 weeks behind all my work. Still got to get up and get to school chapel in 30 mins! (oops)
I'd better run.
xXx
09:27 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
02/20/2008
Something someone said
"Oh... pity... I've not seen you happier all year"
I think that the most confusing thing about that statement is the accuracy. I don't remember being happier all year (for a protracted period)... But is that just how things would have gone anyway? Or was it being happy that made things changed?
Is my friend right?
What do I do now?
Most of all, how do I keep my head clear so I can do my work, music, dancing and all the other intricicies of life?
Answers on a post-card
xXx
14:08 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
02/08/2008
My life in lyrics - Prizzes if you guess all the songs
"A touch of concealer beneath the eyes, a stroke of mascara gives a look of surprise"
"She likes to wake up in the morning and just fake it"
"So if you're thinking of leaving one boot out the door - it looks more like leaving to me"
"Bye Bye my old friend, never gonna see my face again"
"It's only forever, not long at all"
"Farewell friends, I hear the call, the ships beside the stony wall"
"I must go down to the seas again,
to the vagrant gypsy life,"
"I wouldn't have to answer for the promises I broke, like the president today when he drank and snorted coke."
"We hurt the ones we love the most. (It's a subtle form of compliment)"
"Love is a curious thing, butterfly's fragile wing"
"The father's song, the father's love, he sang it over me, and forever... it is written on my heart"
"Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?"
"I'm flying high, defying gravity"
"Cause you are the wind beneath my wings"
"A champagne supernova in the sky"
"And nothing's gonna hold me back"
"And if it seems too much like happy ever after... maybe it will be, for a little while"
xXx
11:21 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Life , Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
02/06/2008
She's slightly better
The management are pleased to announce that the entitiy know as "Ruth" is feeling better. She no longer has a temperature and has not thrown up for over 24 hours. However, she left the San at 1247 hours on the 6th February and has not actually managed to reach Granta yet. Any news on her where-abouts would be greatly appriciated.
Ruth has been very busy in the past week... So we apologise for any laxity in updating:
But this song really sums up a lot (Thanks Watson)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3bMen_apkTQ
xXx
13:43 Posted in Complete Random Junk! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
01/23/2008
Back from Recluse
And so this latest batch of exams is over. i have probably worked harder for some of these (in particular C3 MATHS) than any in my life. And yet I still doubt there will be much to show for it save my exhaustion, some absolutely stunning bags under my eyes a few more than offended friends and one heck of a lot of piano playing.
So in RunDown (to save me saying more than necessary):
C3 Maths
Went ok, well even, I answered everything, thought I knew how to do most things. Most of the paper was either proove or solve ... and all my answers fitted, so it should be OK. Of course, that belief has let me down before. I hope that all the practise paid out. I did better than last time and will predict A or B
Unit 2 Chemistry
Again, the paper went ok. With the Edexcel Chemistry mark scheme it is more a question of semantic than words and the "correct" semantics vary greatly from year to year. An A in Chemistry is purely luck not skill... and a C is just careless. Was retaking as a matter of pride more than anything else, but still no idea if the answers will be correct according to A Level - pretty certain of the accuracy from a scientific point of view. Predict A or B
Unit 4 Chemistry
Loved this paper for one mark in a 3 mark question. "Show that Aluminium is amphoteric using ionic equations". Well firstly I read the question and noticed the need for ionic equations (you'd be surprised just how many times I failed to do that on practise papers!) and then I spent at leats 10 minutes of the exam trying to work out the equation for the OH- reaction and managed to get it in the last 20seconds from first principles :D. The rest of the paper was straightforward except for Question 2: name the reactive groups.... could identify not name. But really... that one mark makes up for everything (and yes, the first thing I did back in house was to check my answer!). Again with Chemistry we have the discrepancy between answers, knowledge, science and marks...and I was averaging Ds in practise papers before revision, so I will predict an A or B unless I have be especially stupid.
Unit 4 Maths
Now this would be the paper I shouldn't have taken. My deepest thanks to my Father and Bert for teaching me the course, Sue and Mr Wilson for their patients and Deveson, Anna and Lucy for putting up with my panicking. I was still not ready to take the paper. Everyone came out saying that was the hardest thing they've ever done (they said that after C3 maths as well!) and I am actually inclined to disagree... C3 was harder first time around. Questions 1-5 were fine except for potential silly errors. Quesiton 6 I forgot about the exitence of the quadratic formula (AGAIN!!!), Quesiton 7 I couldn't do, Question 8 asked for an answer to 1dp and I got 0.6 (which seems odd), Question 9a I think I got correct at the last minute (and I will get follow through marks) and 9b... who knows. Integration by parts is always touch