Wednesday, November 30, 2005
17.12 Ten minutes Late
".... just another list of consequences of things that we do, just another hit of happenings that we have to live through ... dah di dah di dah di dah di daah di daah di daa daa ... we just want to keep on breathing"
"Does that song actually go any further ... ?" Smiles Lovely, his teeth not gritted in the slightest.
He's packing up his sandwich box and adjusting his scarf, it's 4.30 now and I've been "da di dahing" those four lines all day.
Apparently not to myself, as I'd thought.
Keep On Breathing - The Delgados
It's A Hit - Rilo Kiley
Someday You Will Be Loved - Death Cab For Cutie
Rebellion (Lies) - Arcade Fire
Snow Camping - Laura Viers
No Names - Kate Rusby
Tomorrow - Rosie Thomas
Keep On Breathing - The Delgados
".... just another list of consequences of things that we do, just another hit of happenings that we have to live through ... dah di dah di dah di dah di daah di daah di daa daa ... we just want to keep on breathing"
"Does that song actually go any further ... ?" Smiles Lovely, his teeth not gritted in the slightest.
He's packing up his sandwich box and adjusting his scarf, it's 4.30 now and I've been "da di dahing" those four lines all day.
Apparently not to myself, as I'd thought.
Keep On Breathing - The Delgados
It's A Hit - Rilo Kiley
Someday You Will Be Loved - Death Cab For Cutie
Rebellion (Lies) - Arcade Fire
Snow Camping - Laura Viers
No Names - Kate Rusby
Tomorrow - Rosie Thomas
Keep On Breathing - The Delgados
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Posting : Cancelled, Delayed & Postponed.
Something kept me away from the PC all week.
Wrong kind of fog on the keyboard maybe?
Snow drifts blocking the final flight of stairs to the unnaturally tidy attic perhaps?
It’s been a week of ups and downs.
I’ll confess that discovering SecretCrush has absolutely no time in his life for Radiohead was a blow, but a teatime spent imagining what Mr Blackwell must have said at half time more than made up for it.
Monday – There was a cancellation. I wrote an indgnant rant about it but there are only so many ways you can moan about the state of the railways and I think I’ve used them all up so I deleted it.
Tuesday – Overheard Thesaurus Boy saying:
“Write a letter giving them a ‘reasonable period of time’ to supply the Daleks”
Couldn’t help but wonder if he was on the end of a Dead Ringers spoof call, but apparently not. Anyway, what would a ‘reasonable period’ be to a Time Lord?
Went to see Rosie Thomas in Liverpool.
Wednesday – The incomparable Elbow in Manchester*
Thursday – Early night
Friday – Chumps of the Week:
A couple from Oswaldtwistle rang to complain about their satellite navigation system.
They wanted to go on a touring holiday of the Welsh Borders.
They got as far as Shrewsbury, and it stopped working.
They spent the entire three weeks in Shrewsbury
Block Rockin’Beats – Chemical Brothers
Volunteer – Warren Zevon
Older – they Might Be Giants
Queen Elvis II – Robyn Hitchcock
Strachan – The Hitchers
Trying My Luck – The Strokes
Say Goodbye To Hollywood – Billy Joel
Just Like Christmas - Low
*bedshaped, yes, I loved it. No ‘Stops’ and Fugitive Motel was all wrong somehow, but Great Expectations, Newborn/Switching Off & Forget Myself were all spine tingling highlights!
Something kept me away from the PC all week.
Wrong kind of fog on the keyboard maybe?
Snow drifts blocking the final flight of stairs to the unnaturally tidy attic perhaps?
It’s been a week of ups and downs.
I’ll confess that discovering SecretCrush has absolutely no time in his life for Radiohead was a blow, but a teatime spent imagining what Mr Blackwell must have said at half time more than made up for it.
Monday – There was a cancellation. I wrote an indgnant rant about it but there are only so many ways you can moan about the state of the railways and I think I’ve used them all up so I deleted it.
Tuesday – Overheard Thesaurus Boy saying:
“Write a letter giving them a ‘reasonable period of time’ to supply the Daleks”
Couldn’t help but wonder if he was on the end of a Dead Ringers spoof call, but apparently not. Anyway, what would a ‘reasonable period’ be to a Time Lord?
Went to see Rosie Thomas in Liverpool.
Wednesday – The incomparable Elbow in Manchester*
Thursday – Early night
Friday – Chumps of the Week:
A couple from Oswaldtwistle rang to complain about their satellite navigation system.
They wanted to go on a touring holiday of the Welsh Borders.
They got as far as Shrewsbury, and it stopped working.
They spent the entire three weeks in Shrewsbury
Block Rockin’Beats – Chemical Brothers
Volunteer – Warren Zevon
Older – they Might Be Giants
Queen Elvis II – Robyn Hitchcock
Strachan – The Hitchers
Trying My Luck – The Strokes
Say Goodbye To Hollywood – Billy Joel
Just Like Christmas - Low
*bedshaped, yes, I loved it. No ‘Stops’ and Fugitive Motel was all wrong somehow, but Great Expectations, Newborn/Switching Off & Forget Myself were all spine tingling highlights!
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
18.08 Fifteen Minutes Late
The most galling thing is, I shouldn't even be on the 'delayed' 18.08.
I should've been at home by now but, foolishly, ninety minutes ago, I rang National Rail Enquiries to find out why their web site (I won't be linking to it) was showing "No Report" of the 17.12.
The first adviser I spoke to asked me "why" I wanted to know if the train was on time.
Once I'd established that it was because I would quite like to catch it, she agreed to look up some information for me. "It's thirty minutes late" She said.
Then I made my second mistake.
Ten minutes later, I rang back.
Not that I didn't believe the first adviser you understand, but just because I didn't, well, trust her. This time the train was thirty-nine minutes late.
I asked Adviser Two if there was a problem on the line, she didn't have any information but suggested I checked back in a little while.
Twenty minutes later. Third mistake: third call to National Rail Enquiries.
Still no information on what the hold up was, but Adviser Three suggested I call the operating company and ask them. He even provided me with a number.
Seconds later I was connected with Natalie at Northern Trains, who blithely informed me that the 17.12 had just left Preston, only seven minutes late. And, no, it had never been reported as running any more than five minutes late anywhere.
I could describe the twenty five minutes I spent trying to convey my contempt to a couple of National Rail Enquiry supervisors, but if you want to empathise you'd be better reading a couple of chapters of Kafka.
Remember - Air
Public Park - Ballboy
Love Becomes A Savage - The Lilac Time
Asleep On A Sunbeam - Belle & Sebastian
Into The Fire - Thirteen Senses
Sao Paulo Rain - Tom McRae
Hesitating Beauty - Billy Bragg & Wilco
It's The Past That Suits You Best - The Delgados
First Thing - Four Tet
The most galling thing is, I shouldn't even be on the 'delayed' 18.08.
I should've been at home by now but, foolishly, ninety minutes ago, I rang National Rail Enquiries to find out why their web site (I won't be linking to it) was showing "No Report" of the 17.12.
The first adviser I spoke to asked me "why" I wanted to know if the train was on time.
Once I'd established that it was because I would quite like to catch it, she agreed to look up some information for me. "It's thirty minutes late" She said.
Then I made my second mistake.
Ten minutes later, I rang back.
Not that I didn't believe the first adviser you understand, but just because I didn't, well, trust her. This time the train was thirty-nine minutes late.
I asked Adviser Two if there was a problem on the line, she didn't have any information but suggested I checked back in a little while.
Twenty minutes later. Third mistake: third call to National Rail Enquiries.
Still no information on what the hold up was, but Adviser Three suggested I call the operating company and ask them. He even provided me with a number.
Seconds later I was connected with Natalie at Northern Trains, who blithely informed me that the 17.12 had just left Preston, only seven minutes late. And, no, it had never been reported as running any more than five minutes late anywhere.
I could describe the twenty five minutes I spent trying to convey my contempt to a couple of National Rail Enquiry supervisors, but if you want to empathise you'd be better reading a couple of chapters of Kafka.
Remember - Air
Public Park - Ballboy
Love Becomes A Savage - The Lilac Time
Asleep On A Sunbeam - Belle & Sebastian
Into The Fire - Thirteen Senses
Sao Paulo Rain - Tom McRae
Hesitating Beauty - Billy Bragg & Wilco
It's The Past That Suits You Best - The Delgados
First Thing - Four Tet
Labels: train
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
8.10 On Time
For several weeks now I have been stubbornly refusing to succumb to germs.
Despite every other member of the household/office environment doing their best to contaminate me, I have remained sniff & cough free.
Till now.
My throat hurts and my nose is sore and my ears are buzzing.
It’s because I didn’t wrap up warm at the weekend isn’t it?
Had a busy time of it watching those and seeing that followed by these and this and best of all them.
Little Room - The White Stripes
El Caminos In The West – Grandaddy
I'm From Further North Than You - The Wedding Present
Proof – I Am Kloot
Trouble – Coldplay
Evil – Interpol
London's Brilliant Parade – Elvis Costello
A Woman Lost In Serious Problems – Josh Rouse
Turn You Inside Out - REM
For several weeks now I have been stubbornly refusing to succumb to germs.
Despite every other member of the household/office environment doing their best to contaminate me, I have remained sniff & cough free.
Till now.
My throat hurts and my nose is sore and my ears are buzzing.
It’s because I didn’t wrap up warm at the weekend isn’t it?
Had a busy time of it watching those and seeing that followed by these and this and best of all them.
Little Room - The White Stripes
El Caminos In The West – Grandaddy
I'm From Further North Than You - The Wedding Present
Proof – I Am Kloot
Trouble – Coldplay
Evil – Interpol
London's Brilliant Parade – Elvis Costello
A Woman Lost In Serious Problems – Josh Rouse
Turn You Inside Out - REM
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
8.10 On Time
On a couple of occasions before the clocks went back I saw a scene from "Kes" being recreated in a field near ShabbyStation. In the dusk, with the lights of ShabbyTown starting to come on behind him - a boy in a field with a lure and a hawk.
I trust it didn’t end badly.
Nothing to see now. People are starting to draw the curtains before switching their lights on, which is a disappointment to someone who likes nothing better than to peep into your house and see what your life is like.
Spent a day last week trying to give things away in Morecambe’s Arndale Centre.
It’s harder than you’d think.
Blue - Lorien
Stay In The Shade - Jose Gonzales
Full Of Stars - Turin Brakes
Stay Out Of Trouble - Kings Of Convenience
Country Darkness - Elvis Costello
Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
Running Out Of Angels - ELvis Costello
You Cut Her Hair - Tom McRae
A Passing Feeling - Elliott Smith
On a couple of occasions before the clocks went back I saw a scene from "Kes" being recreated in a field near ShabbyStation. In the dusk, with the lights of ShabbyTown starting to come on behind him - a boy in a field with a lure and a hawk.
I trust it didn’t end badly.
Nothing to see now. People are starting to draw the curtains before switching their lights on, which is a disappointment to someone who likes nothing better than to peep into your house and see what your life is like.
Spent a day last week trying to give things away in Morecambe’s Arndale Centre.
It’s harder than you’d think.
Blue - Lorien
Stay In The Shade - Jose Gonzales
Full Of Stars - Turin Brakes
Stay Out Of Trouble - Kings Of Convenience
Country Darkness - Elvis Costello
Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
Running Out Of Angels - ELvis Costello
You Cut Her Hair - Tom McRae
A Passing Feeling - Elliott Smith
Monday, November 07, 2005
Tell Me At Least Six Things You May Or May Not Consider Personal
17.12 Five Minutes Late
The Other Saturday I think we might have had a bit of a 'Tell me what don't you like about yourself' session.
Something I didn't think of at the time, but I am reminded of today, is my overwhelming urge to press the self destruct button on a semi-regular basis.
Why? Why? Why?
Lateish on this afternoon I take a call.
It starts well: "Could you tell me, is it misleading to give irrelevant information?"
Sounds like a potentially interesting question, something I might be able to get my teeth into ... I wade right in ... "Yes, possibly. It's possible for silence to be misleading. It would depend on the circumstances"
The circumstances, which he launches into with no further encouragement, relate to the fact that the guy has had to spend seven minutes in our queue, listening to a message informing him that last month's average wait was two minutes, and that we are currently answering calls within three minutes.
"...so you see," He continues, "that information is useless to me. I don't care what happened last month. It is irrelevant and misleading." He eventually concludes with "You might like to think about that".
I can't help it.
"I will. Thank you for calling"
I hang up.
Poor Fractured Atlas – Elvis Costello
Midnight Show – The Killers
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You – The Monkees
Writing To Reach You – Travis
Is She Really Going Out With Him – Joe Jackson
Evil – Interpol
How Soon Is Now – The Smiths
Deep Blue Day – Leaves
Out Of Time – Blur
The Other Saturday I think we might have had a bit of a 'Tell me what don't you like about yourself' session.
Something I didn't think of at the time, but I am reminded of today, is my overwhelming urge to press the self destruct button on a semi-regular basis.
Why? Why? Why?
Lateish on this afternoon I take a call.
It starts well: "Could you tell me, is it misleading to give irrelevant information?"
Sounds like a potentially interesting question, something I might be able to get my teeth into ... I wade right in ... "Yes, possibly. It's possible for silence to be misleading. It would depend on the circumstances"
The circumstances, which he launches into with no further encouragement, relate to the fact that the guy has had to spend seven minutes in our queue, listening to a message informing him that last month's average wait was two minutes, and that we are currently answering calls within three minutes.
"...so you see," He continues, "that information is useless to me. I don't care what happened last month. It is irrelevant and misleading." He eventually concludes with "You might like to think about that".
I can't help it.
"I will. Thank you for calling"
I hang up.
Poor Fractured Atlas – Elvis Costello
Midnight Show – The Killers
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You – The Monkees
Writing To Reach You – Travis
Is She Really Going Out With Him – Joe Jackson
Evil – Interpol
How Soon Is Now – The Smiths
Deep Blue Day – Leaves
Out Of Time – Blur
