Sunday, March 29, 2009
"...I will never say the word 'procrastinate' again"
A couple of things came out of our last trip to Lakeland: the whole lico-rish / lico-rice debate and the rehabilitation of the poached egg.
Over the years we've had plenty of attempts at egg poaching. The results have ranged from disappointing to disastrous. Lovely swears by centrifugal force, but I've tried 'swirl it in a pan with some vinegar' enough to know that, even when executed correctly, it's not for me. I want my poached eggs to be perfect half moons of buttery eggyness - not whirling tendrils of watery egg-based protein.
I even let the opportunity to inherit my Mum's aged but still perfectly functional poaching pan pass me by because "we never eat poached eggs". In my defence I probably wasn't at my most clear thinking at the time.
Anyhow, those days are gone, thanks to Lakeland and the most fabulous application of technology I've come across since...well, Spotify probably.
Flood - They Might Be Giants
Over the years we've had plenty of attempts at egg poaching. The results have ranged from disappointing to disastrous. Lovely swears by centrifugal force, but I've tried 'swirl it in a pan with some vinegar' enough to know that, even when executed correctly, it's not for me. I want my poached eggs to be perfect half moons of buttery eggyness - not whirling tendrils of watery egg-based protein.
I even let the opportunity to inherit my Mum's aged but still perfectly functional poaching pan pass me by because "we never eat poached eggs". In my defence I probably wasn't at my most clear thinking at the time.
Anyhow, those days are gone, thanks to Lakeland and the most fabulous application of technology I've come across since...well, Spotify probably.
Flood - They Might Be Giants
Labels: real life
Friday, March 27, 2009
16.53 On Time
So, perhaps it wasn't very Corporate of me to have said that if ExLineManager were a doctor he'd struggle with his bedside manner, but I did also say he'd get the diagnosis spot on.
The Hazards Of Love - The Decemberists
So, perhaps it wasn't very Corporate of me to have said that if ExLineManager were a doctor he'd struggle with his bedside manner, but I did also say he'd get the diagnosis spot on.
The Hazards Of Love - The Decemberists
Monday, March 23, 2009
It might seem that I've taken the day off to listen to the new Decemberists album. Especially in light of other recent Decemberists related impulse buying madness. But it's not so, it's just a happy coincidence.
Anyway, earlier on, I was in Sainsbury's stocking up on crumpets and seasonal veg. The man in front of me at 'ten items or fewer' was chatting to the chap on the till (the chap on the till at 'ten items or fewer' is always very chatty) and as he turned to leave the man said: "Right I'm off for a pint now. Can't wait. Haven't had a drink in four days". As an afterthought he added: I'm not an alcoholic or anything".
When he'd gone, the chap on the till looked at me and we shared the thought: "...it's a bit early for me...."
It was twenty past nine.
The Hazards Of Love - The Decemberists
Anyway, earlier on, I was in Sainsbury's stocking up on crumpets and seasonal veg. The man in front of me at 'ten items or fewer' was chatting to the chap on the till (the chap on the till at 'ten items or fewer' is always very chatty) and as he turned to leave the man said: "Right I'm off for a pint now. Can't wait. Haven't had a drink in four days". As an afterthought he added: I'm not an alcoholic or anything".
When he'd gone, the chap on the till looked at me and we shared the thought: "...it's a bit early for me...."
It was twenty past nine.
The Hazards Of Love - The Decemberists
Labels: real life
Friday, March 20, 2009
"...just a girl who can't say no"
16.44 Six Minutes Late
Finished the chocolates this afternoon.
They had lasted three days, which is pretty good in our office. Although that may have been because I was rationing them quite severely.
As soon as I'd got them upstairs I realised I hadn't made enough of an effort to refuse - not even the most perfunctory of 'Oh, no really, you shouldn't have's. I could see what was in the bag, I wanted it: I'm not good at dissembling.
But, technically, we're not permitted to accept gifts. We're supposed to put up at least a show of resistance and not leave ourselves open to 'Council Officials in Chocolate Corruption Scandal' accusations.
Expect 'ThorntonsGate' to follow.
Jupiter & Teardrop - Grant Lee Buffalo
Bixby Canyon Bridge - Death Cab For Cutie
I Went With Some Friends To See The Flaming Lips - Benji Hughes
Some Things Last A Long Time - Daniel Johnston
Finished the chocolates this afternoon.
They had lasted three days, which is pretty good in our office. Although that may have been because I was rationing them quite severely.
As soon as I'd got them upstairs I realised I hadn't made enough of an effort to refuse - not even the most perfunctory of 'Oh, no really, you shouldn't have's. I could see what was in the bag, I wanted it: I'm not good at dissembling.
But, technically, we're not permitted to accept gifts. We're supposed to put up at least a show of resistance and not leave ourselves open to 'Council Officials in Chocolate Corruption Scandal' accusations.
Expect 'ThorntonsGate' to follow.
Jupiter & Teardrop - Grant Lee Buffalo
Bixby Canyon Bridge - Death Cab For Cutie
I Went With Some Friends To See The Flaming Lips - Benji Hughes
Some Things Last A Long Time - Daniel Johnston
Labels: work
Thursday, March 19, 2009
7.57 On Time
IntimidatingGermanWoman smiled! With her eyes!
I’m slightly in shock, but put it down to an aberration induced by the spectacularly mild weather and the glorious sunshine.
Also, had a bit of a think and must remember to tell ThesaurusBoy to disregard all the ‘advice’ I’ve been giving him about ‘dating’ and ‘relationships’ over the last few weeks. Must also tell him why, or he will think I am simply looking for an excuse not to listen.
Minor Works – J Tillman
IntimidatingGermanWoman smiled! With her eyes!
I’m slightly in shock, but put it down to an aberration induced by the spectacularly mild weather and the glorious sunshine.
Also, had a bit of a think and must remember to tell ThesaurusBoy to disregard all the ‘advice’ I’ve been giving him about ‘dating’ and ‘relationships’ over the last few weeks. Must also tell him why, or he will think I am simply looking for an excuse not to listen.
Minor Works – J Tillman
Labels: real life, train, work
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
8.38 Three Minutes Late
Eating breakfast while watching National Rail Enquires ‘real time running’ refresh in the corner of the screen is very relaxing and just a little hypnotic.
It hasn’t yet happened that I’ve watched the train virtually pull into the station and leave, on time, without me on it, but it’s a definite maybe.
Grass - XTC
In Iverna Gardens - The Lilac Time
Ragged Wood - Fleet Foxes
Wild Wood - Paul Weller
Eating breakfast while watching National Rail Enquires ‘real time running’ refresh in the corner of the screen is very relaxing and just a little hypnotic.
It hasn’t yet happened that I’ve watched the train virtually pull into the station and leave, on time, without me on it, but it’s a definite maybe.
Grass - XTC
In Iverna Gardens - The Lilac Time
Ragged Wood - Fleet Foxes
Wild Wood - Paul Weller
Labels: train
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
"...just to thank you one more time, for everything you've done"
16.53 Nine Minutes Late
Friday was the night I was worried about, so why did Saturday have to turn round and stab me in the back like that?
Still trying to work out why I can't work out where the 'off' switch is.
Don't Mix Your Drinks - Elbow
All The Wine - The National
Alcoholiday - Teenage Fanclub
Alcohol - Gogol Bordello
Friday was the night I was worried about, so why did Saturday have to turn round and stab me in the back like that?
Still trying to work out why I can't work out where the 'off' switch is.
Don't Mix Your Drinks - Elbow
All The Wine - The National
Alcoholiday - Teenage Fanclub
Alcohol - Gogol Bordello
Friday, March 13, 2009
"...all we care about is talking, talking only me and you"
21.45 On Time
So, pissed blogging? Yes or no? Probably "no" is for the best.
Only, being ThesaurusBoy's birthday, a round of 'pin the age on...' was unavoidable. This is a dangerous game, even when no actual sharp implements are involved. It invariably results in someone getting hurt and disproving that old 'sticks and stones may break my bones...' cliche. I'm so used to it not being me I don't know how I'll cope when the inevitable happens.
It was interesting to discover ThinksHe'sAllThat likes Eels though. I'd never have guessed. And when was the last time I went out 'on my own'? It seems like forever.
Oh, La - Ra Ra Riot
Modern Mystery - Someone Still Loves You Bosis Yeltsin
Kids - MGMT
Young Folks - Peter, Bjorn & John
So, pissed blogging? Yes or no? Probably "no" is for the best.
Only, being ThesaurusBoy's birthday, a round of 'pin the age on...' was unavoidable. This is a dangerous game, even when no actual sharp implements are involved. It invariably results in someone getting hurt and disproving that old 'sticks and stones may break my bones...' cliche. I'm so used to it not being me I don't know how I'll cope when the inevitable happens.
It was interesting to discover ThinksHe'sAllThat likes Eels though. I'd never have guessed. And when was the last time I went out 'on my own'? It seems like forever.
Oh, La - Ra Ra Riot
Modern Mystery - Someone Still Loves You Bosis Yeltsin
Kids - MGMT
Young Folks - Peter, Bjorn & John
Labels: work
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
"...we've got to get out of this place ... we've got to get out of Yorkshire"
[Special TV Episode]
I don't know what Yorkshire ever did to David Peace, but I'm bloody glad it never did it to me.
I girded my loins, gritted my teeth and finally sat down to watch Red Riding, and I'm so glad I did (it explains those "sad sweet dreamer red riding" Google searches for a start). It also proves you should always face your fears: the reality is never as bad as your imagination.
Perhaps knowing where it was headed robbed it of suspense, or perhaps there was no suspense, I'm open to debate on that one. All I know is, an hour in, when Sean Bean appeared (I will also concede the white polo neck - my dad had one just like it) things picked up so much that I got to thinking maybe he had a sort of point.
'Don't rock the boat son, everyone's happy. So what if a few kids go missing? Nobody's perfect!'
Paula love, Unsteady Eddie was never your knight in shining armour, despite his promise to 'take you South' (or was that a euphemism?) where the breeze is warm. And how come he suddenly learned how to throw a puch when he'd spent the previous 110 minutes being beaten up? We'll leave the shooting aside for now.
It was nowhere near as grim as I expected, and a whole lot sillier. Although maybe that's partly because I'd watched the Miner's Strike programme on BBC4 on Monday. Now that was harrowing. Anyway, what a relief - now I don't need to read the rest of them! (Probably). Will watch tomorrow's episode without fear (probably).
The Luke Haines song is still brilliant though.
Leeds United - Luke Haines
Sad Sweet Dreamer - Sweet Sensation
Costafine Town - Splinter
Daniel - Elton John
I don't know what Yorkshire ever did to David Peace, but I'm bloody glad it never did it to me.
I girded my loins, gritted my teeth and finally sat down to watch Red Riding, and I'm so glad I did (it explains those "sad sweet dreamer red riding" Google searches for a start). It also proves you should always face your fears: the reality is never as bad as your imagination.
Perhaps knowing where it was headed robbed it of suspense, or perhaps there was no suspense, I'm open to debate on that one. All I know is, an hour in, when Sean Bean appeared (I will also concede the white polo neck - my dad had one just like it) things picked up so much that I got to thinking maybe he had a sort of point.
'Don't rock the boat son, everyone's happy. So what if a few kids go missing? Nobody's perfect!'
Paula love, Unsteady Eddie was never your knight in shining armour, despite his promise to 'take you South' (or was that a euphemism?) where the breeze is warm. And how come he suddenly learned how to throw a puch when he'd spent the previous 110 minutes being beaten up? We'll leave the shooting aside for now.
It was nowhere near as grim as I expected, and a whole lot sillier. Although maybe that's partly because I'd watched the Miner's Strike programme on BBC4 on Monday. Now that was harrowing. Anyway, what a relief - now I don't need to read the rest of them! (Probably). Will watch tomorrow's episode without fear (probably).
The Luke Haines song is still brilliant though.
Leeds United - Luke Haines
Sad Sweet Dreamer - Sweet Sensation
Costafine Town - Splinter
Daniel - Elton John
Labels: real life
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Silence is Golden
17.41 On Time
Twitter has made me redundant.
Well, Twitter, Spotify and Virgin Trains combined.
I might not get the time to collect thoughts anymore, but I can witter whenever I feel the urge - and who needs a playlist these days?
See, I've got a whole sackload of things from today waiting to be tipped out: Miners Strike, tarpaulin result, OldFishWife=Great GrandMa shock, BMW/PersonalisedNumberplateGitGuy, K's bad day, WTF???
That's as close as it's going to get. Never mind eh?
Twitter has made me redundant.
Well, Twitter, Spotify and Virgin Trains combined.
I might not get the time to collect thoughts anymore, but I can witter whenever I feel the urge - and who needs a playlist these days?
See, I've got a whole sackload of things from today waiting to be tipped out: Miners Strike, tarpaulin result, OldFishWife=Great GrandMa shock, BMW/PersonalisedNumberplateGitGuy, K's bad day, WTF???
That's as close as it's going to get. Never mind eh?
Labels: real life
Monday, March 09, 2009
"...railway station, train on the eastbound track"
8.38 Five Minutes Late
We're the wrong way round and going backwards without a window.
The man opposite is so busy he's making me dizzy.
He's surrounded by stationery. As fast as he puts one bundle of papers away he's pulling out another. He stuffs a green A4 file into his briefcase then produces a ledger from a carrier bag, punches numbers into a calculator - so fast it must be at random - but writes the answers down, in snaking columns, anyway.
It's Monday morning.
He can't keep this up. He'll be burned out by Wigan North Western, never mind Tuesday.
Bank Holiday Monday - Stephen Duffy
Monday Morning 5.19 - Rialto
Monday - The Jam
Monday, Monday - The Mamas and the Papas
We're the wrong way round and going backwards without a window.
The man opposite is so busy he's making me dizzy.
He's surrounded by stationery. As fast as he puts one bundle of papers away he's pulling out another. He stuffs a green A4 file into his briefcase then produces a ledger from a carrier bag, punches numbers into a calculator - so fast it must be at random - but writes the answers down, in snaking columns, anyway.
It's Monday morning.
He can't keep this up. He'll be burned out by Wigan North Western, never mind Tuesday.
Bank Holiday Monday - Stephen Duffy
Monday Morning 5.19 - Rialto
Monday - The Jam
Monday, Monday - The Mamas and the Papas
Labels: train
Saturday, March 07, 2009
We love it when our friends become successful!
Friday, March 06, 2009
8.38 Three Minutes Late
I have several colleagues who regularly hoard their annual leave and then, in March, don't come to work at all. It seems like such a waste. Not that the idea of taking a whole month off doesn't appeal (and nothing against March, as such) but if you're choosing a month to spend away from work it's got to be May or June or, at a pinch, September.
Also, to take March off means you've gone through the entire leave year turning things down, never luxuriating in a long weekend, and thinking: "Oh well, only another 273 days to go and it'll be March again..."
In the 'current climate' it also hints at dispensability.
Not Even Jail - Interpol
Sad Sweet Dreamer - Sweet Sensation
Human Remains - Tom McRae
Do What You Gotta Do - Four Tops
I have several colleagues who regularly hoard their annual leave and then, in March, don't come to work at all. It seems like such a waste. Not that the idea of taking a whole month off doesn't appeal (and nothing against March, as such) but if you're choosing a month to spend away from work it's got to be May or June or, at a pinch, September.
Also, to take March off means you've gone through the entire leave year turning things down, never luxuriating in a long weekend, and thinking: "Oh well, only another 273 days to go and it'll be March again..."
In the 'current climate' it also hints at dispensability.
Not Even Jail - Interpol
Sad Sweet Dreamer - Sweet Sensation
Human Remains - Tom McRae
Do What You Gotta Do - Four Tops
Labels: work
Thursday, March 05, 2009
17.41 On Time
Seems like everyone’s talking about 'Red Riding'.
I feel I should watch it, but after my experience of '1974' I’m not sure I’m up to it. Unlike 'The Wire' there will be no humour, no hints of redemption, nothing but a nasty taste and possibly a whole new set of unsettling images to go with the ones already stashed in the David Peace cupboard of grimness.
I’ll probably do what people usually do – record it to watch when I’m ‘in the mood’ and then, strangely, never be 'in the mood'.
Let me know if it's any good...
Merriweather Post Pavilion - Animal Collective
Seems like everyone’s talking about 'Red Riding'.
I feel I should watch it, but after my experience of '1974' I’m not sure I’m up to it. Unlike 'The Wire' there will be no humour, no hints of redemption, nothing but a nasty taste and possibly a whole new set of unsettling images to go with the ones already stashed in the David Peace cupboard of grimness.
I’ll probably do what people usually do – record it to watch when I’m ‘in the mood’ and then, strangely, never be 'in the mood'.
Let me know if it's any good...
Merriweather Post Pavilion - Animal Collective
Labels: real life
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
16:44 On Time
What were they thinking? The rest of the country may be over-subscribed but we need a decent Mexican in Lancaster! They could've at least confiscated his recipes before sending him back!
Damn fools.
The Rhumb Line - Ra Ra Riot
What were they thinking? The rest of the country may be over-subscribed but we need a decent Mexican in Lancaster! They could've at least confiscated his recipes before sending him back!
Damn fools.
The Rhumb Line - Ra Ra Riot
Labels: real life
