Rain does not affect trains in a positive way. Well, excessive rain, I mean.
Yesterday, had all day 'New Staff Orientation Seminar'. Yippee. Actually, it really wasn't so bad; I got to meet two knitters/crocheters and a Rotarian! So, hurrah!
Just when one would have thought I had enough fun for the day... then it really started.
Left UEA on 4.05 bus headed to rail station for 5.00 train. Bus took 40 minutes to go all 7 miles or whatever, leading me into advanced high blood pressure and hyperventilation. Sprinted across traffic in hysterical manner to station at 4.53, screeched to halt at display screen... to find: TRAIN CANCELLED.
So, One Railway was kind enough to apologise over loudspeaker every 2m34sec for the cancellation (although the British do have A LOT of things to learn about customer service in general, I do appreciate the fact of apologies in failed service situations) and also organised a replacement service to run at 5.20 (in addition to the normal one at 5.30). Train pulled in at 5.17, mad frantic cram onto train, train departed 5.23, went approximately 100 yards and stopped for 3 minutes. This was not an auspicious start.
But, then we got going along at a nice clip. Toodling, toodling towards Liverpool Street, knitting away merrily, not going to have any problem making connection because due to arrive 1 hour before train left Paddington (hums to self hopefully). Then train just bloody STOPS. Dead. For 24 minutes. On a bridge. There was some problem in Kelverton with a broken train stuck in the station and we happened to be on the track behind it. I am quite confident that the 5.30 Norwich train zoomed past us, as one of the many that did.
At this point, beginning to see that a 7.53 arrival into Liverpool Street is not really going to allow an 8.15 departure from Paddington. Begin to think horribly paranoid thoughts about them not letting me on next train without paying penalty fare or buying whole new ticket and plan means of working self up into hysterical scene. Dart off train at 7.53.14 and run flailing to Underground; am on Hammersmith train by 7.55 and sweating. Notice clock at Euston station (the stop before Paddington) at 8.14 -- although has anyone ever noted that every clock in every station is completely different from every other clock in every other station and always from your own? So how in God's name does anyone really know if a train is on time or not?
Finally, arrive Paddington and am crushed up the stairs with the entire human contents of the train, run to rail connection area. I think I missed my train by two minutes.
Fortunately, was not forced to create hysterical foaming-at-the-mouth scene as customer service lady stamped my ticket for the 9.15 train and said everything would be fine. So, I got to watch screaming children for an hour and debate whether sustenance was called for. Decided against it as stress makes one kind of queasy.
*interlude of observation*
You know how sometimes you will drive past a field of cows and they are all facing and staring in a random direction (where there is absolutely NOTHING of possible interest)? Train stations are kind of like that, except there is something of interest. These masses of people (myself included) stand/sit in visual line of the display boards waiting for platform number to reveal itself. And it is not just when your train info is imminent (like 2 or 3 in the queue on the board); we stand there staring when we know it is entirely too early, just trying to will the board to tell us the future. It is kind of funny. And then, when the board does communication its plan for our behaviour, a mass of people rises and moves as one toward the few little slots to enter whichever platform.
*We now move into usage of the past tense*
So, the mass of humanity rushed onto the train, train left on time, and I settled in to be content on the journey, even though I would now be arriving at 11.37 instead of 10.26...
UNTIL, the man across the aisle chose to take the opportunity of trying to chat up dingbat 2nd year uni girl at his table. The man was mid-40s and the girl was, like, studying Zoology, because she, like, likes animals and stuff. His cunning chat-up plot was talking about Monarch Butterflies' migratory habits between California and Mexico and he had this lovely Valleys accent (Welsh Valleys accent is v. distinctive and sing-songy if you aren't aware of this. It is rather looked down upon, though, by a lot of people.). No, this doesn't sound so bad, BUT I just wasn't in the mood to listen and my ear refused to block out his voice as boackground noise. And he was speaking really pretty loudly. He took approximately three breaths between London and Swindon (and this is a long way).
Then one of the screaming children from the station appeared in our car, at the table in front of me. And it proceeded to shriek. Not out of pain or suffering, just for the heck of it. It was a piercing sound. Cuteness factor is completely negated when pointless shrieks begin. Additionally, it's mother kept getting up and going to the luggage rack and digging out bottles and diapers and loud video games for the sibling. Every time she did this, the door sensor went off WHOOSHing the door open and shut. And open and shut. And open and shut. And open and shut. (Picture clear?)
My sweater suffered irreparable damage through all this (as did my patience) and will have to be ripped out YET AGAIN. Although this time, I think I have a cunning plan to improve my previous alteration attempt with regard to gauge, so in that sense, we have a silver lining (a silver lining with a headache).
Finally after a lot of people debarked signalling possibility of space in next car, I pretended to go to the loo. I gathered my yarn, my book and my phone, slyly grabbed bags as passed luggage rack (WHOOSH) and moved to next car. Monarch butterfly man was still whittering on, and by this time the girl expressed her thought that 'it might be kind of cool to do a PhD' --because she worked in Uruguay with injured pumas one summer. Okay.
Can I say that it was nice to get to Cardiff?
My goal for the weekend is to tie up some more loose ends (e.g. collecting tax forms, going to B's leaving-do from L&G, delivering birthday pressies, coffee, cleaning Gold Street, turning keys back in to horrid estate agents, going to IKEA). So, perhaps I had best get going instead of faffing about on the internet. Tee hee.
Friday, 29 June 2007
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
Location, location, location
Today, Mr. Brown moved into Number 10.
The Blairs moved out, and Cheri told the press that she wouldn't miss them.
Naturally, there have been numerous montages of The Blair Years at the end of various news shows.
These montages play really cheesy music.
*******
Have just talked to Fabiana on Skype phone -- her School graduates on Monday 16 July and mine graduates on Wednesday 18 July! It is kind of surreal. The year 2005-2006 was a complete brain-trauma for all of us (while at the same time being great fun. it was kind of like watching a movie of your life, except when someone trips, it is you. and this does not always make you laugh.), and yet now it all seems so very far away. Everyone has scattered back across the world, although in very different places (literally and figuratively) than we came from in the first place (and they should all fill out their 'Where I Have Been' maps on Facebook).
Dawny -- Huddersfield
Katharine -- Cardiff
Fabiana -- Brussels
Hiroko -- moving to Oregon
Mari -- moving to the US
Kneece -- France
Helene -- Oxford
Steffi -- moving to Germany
Maurizio and Kath -- parenthood
Georgia -- her first house
Me -- Normal for Norfolk
Mercy me. The fact that almost all my friends from that segment of life [except Hiroko -- she cannot come from Japan for a two-hour ceremony :( ] are going to be dressing up in funny hats and capes to 'graduate' 10 months after submitting the outcome of our hard work and then mildly freaking out for several months to find what the hecks to do next just really doesn't compute at all.
OMG!!!!! Graduation is like two weeks away! eeeekkk!
Someone had best get knitting. She has dawdled entirely too long. She has knitted sweaters for various baby-type creatures (and a moose) and she has twirled her hair and made Nestle Toll House cookies in a most irresponsible manner. Here is Cooking for Engineers version... excellent!
Fabiana also got to see the fishes (Jasper and Carrot), and we both squealed quite alot about how fabulous it is that they are still alive and how big they are :)
AND, Kneece is coming from France for my graduation! Whee! (It is a reeeeeally good thing I am taking the entire week off, methinks)
*******
The only thing to annoy me today is that Norwich Council seems to feel that plastic is not recyclable. And so, 9,732 empty milk containers are still in my recycle bins. Idiots.
knit, knit, knit, knit, knit...
The Blairs moved out, and Cheri told the press that she wouldn't miss them.
Naturally, there have been numerous montages of The Blair Years at the end of various news shows.
These montages play really cheesy music.
*******
Have just talked to Fabiana on Skype phone -- her School graduates on Monday 16 July and mine graduates on Wednesday 18 July! It is kind of surreal. The year 2005-2006 was a complete brain-trauma for all of us (while at the same time being great fun. it was kind of like watching a movie of your life, except when someone trips, it is you. and this does not always make you laugh.), and yet now it all seems so very far away. Everyone has scattered back across the world, although in very different places (literally and figuratively) than we came from in the first place (and they should all fill out their 'Where I Have Been' maps on Facebook).
Dawny -- Huddersfield
Katharine -- Cardiff
Fabiana -- Brussels
Hiroko -- moving to Oregon
Mari -- moving to the US
Kneece -- France
Helene -- Oxford
Steffi -- moving to Germany
Maurizio and Kath -- parenthood
Georgia -- her first house
Me -- Normal for Norfolk
Mercy me. The fact that almost all my friends from that segment of life [except Hiroko -- she cannot come from Japan for a two-hour ceremony :( ] are going to be dressing up in funny hats and capes to 'graduate' 10 months after submitting the outcome of our hard work and then mildly freaking out for several months to find what the hecks to do next just really doesn't compute at all.
OMG!!!!! Graduation is like two weeks away! eeeekkk!
Someone had best get knitting. She has dawdled entirely too long. She has knitted sweaters for various baby-type creatures (and a moose) and she has twirled her hair and made Nestle Toll House cookies in a most irresponsible manner. Here is Cooking for Engineers version... excellent!
Fabiana also got to see the fishes (Jasper and Carrot), and we both squealed quite alot about how fabulous it is that they are still alive and how big they are :)
AND, Kneece is coming from France for my graduation! Whee! (It is a reeeeeally good thing I am taking the entire week off, methinks)
*******
The only thing to annoy me today is that Norwich Council seems to feel that plastic is not recyclable. And so, 9,732 empty milk containers are still in my recycle bins. Idiots.
knit, knit, knit, knit, knit...
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
Wettest Day on Record
(internet at home is being variable and undependable -- need visit from computer geek of some sort. probably of the Wirish sort.)
Yesterday was the wettest day in British record-keeping and this June is the wettest as well! There is horrible flooding all over the country. People have died. Business people had to be evacuated from offices. It is MENTAL.
Today, it is very very cold (at the moment, it is 11*C -- this is like the low 50*s F, I think). The wind is blustery. I did not ride my bike as was afraid of being blown into the side (or even worse, back) of a rubbish truck.
Sundry people who shall remain nameless have pressured me into joining yet another of these stupid web/network/'IHaveMoreFriendsThanYou things. It is Facebook. It is okay, I suppose. AND, I have 22 friends so far (hoorah!).
At work, am planning travel for Fall. This is like a grand puzzle and is quite fun for the most part.
Friday last week, went to meeting in London
at Goodenough College. Can you imagine working there?! The horror of having people ask you incessantly if your college was 'good enough'... Tee hee hee. It was a useful meeting and involved British people saying that the US was actually doing something much better than themselves! (gasp) This something is Pre-Departure and Re-Entry Orientation for students studying abroad (e.g., University of the Pacific).
Helene met me in London after taking the train from work, and we rode up on the 6.30 together, which made the journey quite pleasant.
Not much of historic note was accomplished over the weekend other than food, wine, lime cheescake, coffee and guacamole consumption. Skies were pretty grey the whole time, too, though fortunately no deluges.
To left, is St. George Tombland, which is interesting for the square blocks forming the flint knapping as opposed to being flint rocks simply split in half.
To right, is Helene (and she hates this picture because she is a Silly Lady Friend). Photo inside the Cloister of Norwich Cathedral, right before we had the poorest cuppa tea in the history of the planet in the Refectory.
And, the Royal Arcade (where resides The Colman Mustard Shoppe)!
*******
Finally, what on earth makes Paris Hilton's release from prison of import to Britons? This was considered (by some dim candle) that this needed to be on the morning BBC news, alongside stories of destructive flooding and the Alan Johnston video of him wearing an explosives belt. But, yes, let's follow helicopter video coverage of a dime store bimbo leaving Lynwood after serving (less than half the) time for breaking a drink driving parole. Super!
Yesterday was the wettest day in British record-keeping and this June is the wettest as well! There is horrible flooding all over the country. People have died. Business people had to be evacuated from offices. It is MENTAL.
Today, it is very very cold (at the moment, it is 11*C -- this is like the low 50*s F, I think). The wind is blustery. I did not ride my bike as was afraid of being blown into the side (or even worse, back) of a rubbish truck.
Sundry people who shall remain nameless have pressured me into joining yet another of these stupid web/network/'IHaveMoreFriendsThanYou things. It is Facebook. It is okay, I suppose. AND, I have 22 friends so far (hoorah!).
At work, am planning travel for Fall. This is like a grand puzzle and is quite fun for the most part.
Friday last week, went to meeting in London
at Goodenough College. Can you imagine working there?! The horror of having people ask you incessantly if your college was 'good enough'... Tee hee hee. It was a useful meeting and involved British people saying that the US was actually doing something much better than themselves! (gasp) This something is Pre-Departure and Re-Entry Orientation for students studying abroad (e.g., University of the Pacific).Helene met me in London after taking the train from work, and we rode up on the 6.30 together, which made the journey quite pleasant.
Not much of historic note was accomplished over the weekend other than food, wine, lime cheescake, coffee and guacamole consumption. Skies were pretty grey the whole time, too, though fortunately no deluges.
To left, is St. George Tombland, which is interesting for the square blocks forming the flint knapping as opposed to being flint rocks simply split in half.
To right, is Helene (and she hates this picture because she is a Silly Lady Friend). Photo inside the Cloister of Norwich Cathedral, right before we had the poorest cuppa tea in the history of the planet in the Refectory.
And, the Royal Arcade (where resides The Colman Mustard Shoppe)!
*******
Finally, what on earth makes Paris Hilton's release from prison of import to Britons? This was considered (by some dim candle) that this needed to be on the morning BBC news, alongside stories of destructive flooding and the Alan Johnston video of him wearing an explosives belt. But, yes, let's follow helicopter video coverage of a dime store bimbo leaving Lynwood after serving (less than half the) time for breaking a drink driving parole. Super!
Sunday, 17 June 2007
Pre-sippy-tay-shon
Norfolk is the driest county in England. However, has been not quite the case this past week, as severe flooding has hit the area – one house had water rise 6 feet in the house within 45 minutes! The River Wensum, which is right by my house, is much higher (and faster) than usual, though not quite to the point commemorated by a plaque on the side of the Anchor Brewery (now converted into posh flats) which states the level the water reached in 1783 or something.
[On a side note, here is a listing of defunct breweries in the area. Bullard and Sons, Anchor Brewery is listed as being on St. Miles Bridge, about 4/5 of the way down the page.]
There was grand thunder on Wednesday night and heavy rain both Wednesday and Thursday nights! My shoes were soaked through after walking home from knitting group in streams of rain flowing down the cobbled streets.
My favourite juxtaposition of colours is blue-blue sky with sunshine, angry-grey clouds framed by white puffy ones, this all reflected in water lined by green-green trees and red-red poppies. Even if there is no green and red, the blue-grey-sunshine combo is just vibrant and always gives me chills. This is very hard to capture with a camera.
Yesterday, on and off deluges between the most gorgeous blue skies. Went to Springwatch Festival in Chapelfield Gardens with Clem (from work), Richard and Clem’s mom, Ferne (what a lovely name!). Monty and Speedy (the puppies) were also part of the outing. A lot of cities in Britain have these, and most were held last weekend (now, don’t say this is Normal for Norfolk…) and they are to kind of encourage people to take advantage of beautiful nature now that the sun has arrived. The theme was Do One Thing…
Norwich is one of 15 cities taking part in BBC Breathing Places, and people are being encouraged
to Do One Thing to help both the environment and also to make their cities a better place for wildlife. There were free wildflower seeds to encourage butterflies in your garden and one tent had birdhouse components to buy for £2 and then build with your kids. The area in front of the tent was crammed with all these little groups of kids constructing and hammering their little birdhouses together – so CUTE!
Last night, Sally (from work) had myself and Sumiko (from work) and two more friends over
for dinner. It was quite lovely, I brought cookies, and Bear and Moose got their pictures taken on the mantle. (There are more pictures of Bear and Moose from their trip from America, which will be posted shortly.)
Some other things accomplished this week:
* BT installed (therefore internet at home! hoorah!)
* joined library
* baked cookies (Nestle Toll-House is a big hit with the Brits)
* got TV License (so can watch TV legally and without fear of prosecution)
* drank no caffeine on Saturday
* cleaned fireplace as thoroughly as possible with small dustbroom (this was a challenge)
* indulged at The Futon Company (this was entirely a necessity)
* alarmed a taxi driver by cramming a futon mattress into the back of a black cab diagonally
[On a side note, here is a listing of defunct breweries in the area. Bullard and Sons, Anchor Brewery is listed as being on St. Miles Bridge, about 4/5 of the way down the page.]
There was grand thunder on Wednesday night and heavy rain both Wednesday and Thursday nights! My shoes were soaked through after walking home from knitting group in streams of rain flowing down the cobbled streets.
My favourite juxtaposition of colours is blue-blue sky with sunshine, angry-grey clouds framed by white puffy ones, this all reflected in water lined by green-green trees and red-red poppies. Even if there is no green and red, the blue-grey-sunshine combo is just vibrant and always gives me chills. This is very hard to capture with a camera.
Yesterday, on and off deluges between the most gorgeous blue skies. Went to Springwatch Festival in Chapelfield Gardens with Clem (from work), Richard and Clem’s mom, Ferne (what a lovely name!). Monty and Speedy (the puppies) were also part of the outing. A lot of cities in Britain have these, and most were held last weekend (now, don’t say this is Normal for Norfolk…) and they are to kind of encourage people to take advantage of beautiful nature now that the sun has arrived. The theme was Do One Thing…
Norwich is one of 15 cities taking part in BBC Breathing Places, and people are being encouraged
to Do One Thing to help both the environment and also to make their cities a better place for wildlife. There were free wildflower seeds to encourage butterflies in your garden and one tent had birdhouse components to buy for £2 and then build with your kids. The area in front of the tent was crammed with all these little groups of kids constructing and hammering their little birdhouses together – so CUTE!Last night, Sally (from work) had myself and Sumiko (from work) and two more friends over
for dinner. It was quite lovely, I brought cookies, and Bear and Moose got their pictures taken on the mantle. (There are more pictures of Bear and Moose from their trip from America, which will be posted shortly.)Some other things accomplished this week:
* BT installed (therefore internet at home! hoorah!)
* joined library
* baked cookies (Nestle Toll-House is a big hit with the Brits)
* got TV License (so can watch TV legally and without fear of prosecution)
* drank no caffeine on Saturday
* cleaned fireplace as thoroughly as possible with small dustbroom (this was a challenge)
* indulged at The Futon Company (this was entirely a necessity)
* alarmed a taxi driver by cramming a futon mattress into the back of a black cab diagonally
Pageantry
Although have probably mentioned this before, I do love British pageantry.
Have just caught the end of BBC1 commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Falkland Islands’ Liberation. This may be on purpose for the Queen’s birthday, or it may just be a coincidence. There was a ceremony at the Horse Guards Palace and now 9,000 soldier parade (not including the bands!) down the Mall. And thousands of people lining the streets. Baroness Thatcher is dressed in a lovely very fuschia dress, coat and hat; she is 81.
It is all very inspiring as they march past Prince Charles, who is returning salute to the March-Past as it proceeds past the Victoria Monument. One of the officers marching next to Prince Andrew Duke of York, has to keep doing this little skip trying to keep in time with Prince Andrew, who is not marching in time to everyone else. Tee hee.
A Fly-Past is going to happen any minute now.
Have just caught the end of BBC1 commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Falkland Islands’ Liberation. This may be on purpose for the Queen’s birthday, or it may just be a coincidence. There was a ceremony at the Horse Guards Palace and now 9,000 soldier parade (not including the bands!) down the Mall. And thousands of people lining the streets. Baroness Thatcher is dressed in a lovely very fuschia dress, coat and hat; she is 81.
It is all very inspiring as they march past Prince Charles, who is returning salute to the March-Past as it proceeds past the Victoria Monument. One of the officers marching next to Prince Andrew Duke of York, has to keep doing this little skip trying to keep in time with Prince Andrew, who is not marching in time to everyone else. Tee hee.
A Fly-Past is going to happen any minute now.
Friday, 15 June 2007
Slurpee Susie
Today is Susie's funeral in Dallas.
She was an amazing person whose sparkle never dimmed even as her body failed her. She was an absolutely inspirational person the whole time I knew her, whether she was trying to help me get a job at the Dallas Museum of Art or just hanging out with the pups. It would have been so cool to go for the Girls' Weekend in Dallas almost three weeks ago... Over the past two years, it has been always so cheering to get an email from her letting me know how much she supported my 'British adventure'.
One thing that makes me sad is that she may not have gotten my last card in time.
I hope there is a Slurpee machine when she gets there.
She was an amazing person whose sparkle never dimmed even as her body failed her. She was an absolutely inspirational person the whole time I knew her, whether she was trying to help me get a job at the Dallas Museum of Art or just hanging out with the pups. It would have been so cool to go for the Girls' Weekend in Dallas almost three weeks ago... Over the past two years, it has been always so cheering to get an email from her letting me know how much she supported my 'British adventure'.
One thing that makes me sad is that she may not have gotten my last card in time.
I hope there is a Slurpee machine when she gets there.
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
Figures...
No. It doesn't.
Today, the cost per week figure on the same room as ranted on yesterday has been given to me as ... £53.48!!!!
(Apparently, the figures PUBLISHED in the brochure were WRONG. Riiiiiiiiight. Because that is a Good Practice way to communicate with customers. Let's not make little correcting labels and correct our bloody error or anything. Surprises are much more fun!)
In addition to our shekels and goat conversions (thank you, Eamonn), we should also keep in mind (I have been told) that PRICES ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT in both per week and per day costs whether the student is:
* Autumn only
* Spring only
* Full Year
Oh.
My.
Gawd.
This just gets more baffling. I swear I am being driven to campaign for more MATHS and logic!
Today, the cost per week figure on the same room as ranted on yesterday has been given to me as ... £53.48!!!!
(Apparently, the figures PUBLISHED in the brochure were WRONG. Riiiiiiiiight. Because that is a Good Practice way to communicate with customers. Let's not make little correcting labels and correct our bloody error or anything. Surprises are much more fun!)
In addition to our shekels and goat conversions (thank you, Eamonn), we should also keep in mind (I have been told) that PRICES ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT in both per week and per day costs whether the student is:
* Autumn only
* Spring only
* Full Year
Oh.
My.
Gawd.
This just gets more baffling. I swear I am being driven to campaign for more MATHS and logic!
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