Tuesday, September 21, 2004
The Village, the college, the wedding
The Village: A scary film - very clever I thought - only a hint of a suspicion that all was not right because the houses looked too clean. I did seat jumping at least twice. My housemate tells me she worked rather a lot out right at the beginning because the greenhouses were of a design 20 years too late - must be tough being so historically aware...
the college: today was the start of my Postgraduate Certificate in Management. I think I may have bitten of a very big chunk and chewing will be hard. 1st impressions of tutor from today were a bit worrying as she's so like someone at work and I will have to learn to differentiate, but I think she's probably a flaky boffin, which might cause a bit more study requirements as the classes are less productive than they could be but she will be very encouraging.
the wedding: from Saturday which I have yet to discuss. Fascinating juxtaposition with the Village - the vicar did an impressive sermon about love at the wedding and the motivation for the Village was love - just different ways of going about things. Anyway this wedding of people I've never met but were friends of the chaps. There was a church do - which was significantly less grim than some. We think you should send out a song list prior to the wedding so you can practice the hymns and have more fun though. Was introduced to a bunch more people by the Chap, some were very nice indeed. Met a couple of blasts from my past too - she knows the bride through an internet needle point group (everyone has a hobby...) Met new people too who were very nice. Then there was food and dancing and it was generally a good time. I like weddings of people I don't know. I don't get sucked into politics/fallings out etc etc like if I know them. Perhaps I'll get over my dislike of weddings if I go to a few more like this. But that requires not meeting any more of the chaps friends until they get married. Tricky.
the college: today was the start of my Postgraduate Certificate in Management. I think I may have bitten of a very big chunk and chewing will be hard. 1st impressions of tutor from today were a bit worrying as she's so like someone at work and I will have to learn to differentiate, but I think she's probably a flaky boffin, which might cause a bit more study requirements as the classes are less productive than they could be but she will be very encouraging.
the wedding: from Saturday which I have yet to discuss. Fascinating juxtaposition with the Village - the vicar did an impressive sermon about love at the wedding and the motivation for the Village was love - just different ways of going about things. Anyway this wedding of people I've never met but were friends of the chaps. There was a church do - which was significantly less grim than some. We think you should send out a song list prior to the wedding so you can practice the hymns and have more fun though. Was introduced to a bunch more people by the Chap, some were very nice indeed. Met a couple of blasts from my past too - she knows the bride through an internet needle point group (everyone has a hobby...) Met new people too who were very nice. Then there was food and dancing and it was generally a good time. I like weddings of people I don't know. I don't get sucked into politics/fallings out etc etc like if I know them. Perhaps I'll get over my dislike of weddings if I go to a few more like this. But that requires not meeting any more of the chaps friends until they get married. Tricky.
Monday, September 20, 2004
New Term
It was most definitely a new term at the universities here in Leeds today - as the nightmare traffic at 5 pm bore witness. Never understood why students need cars - they all live 20 minutes walk max from the university but I'm sure it's just sour grapes - I couldn't afford a car as a student, so I'm jealous they can. I'll be back to walking to work soon if the magic insoles continue to fix my feet (and the magic of Alexander technique keeps them and my hip fixed). Took me 40 mins to drive home today - the first 10 were getting out of the car park!
Tomorrow I get to join the great unwashed of student land - part time student ness beckons, I think I might be rather more nervous than I'd like to admit.
Tonight I am faced with a "evil landlady" dilemma. Showed a person the house to let this evening. He is supper keen BUT
a.his English sucks
b.he is moving up from London "because its nasty there"
c. he is a self employed computer importer
d.he isn't convinced the bank will give him a good reference
e.he wants to pay 3 months rent up front.
f. he was a bit too forward
I get a bad feeling but shouldn't I give the bloke a chance? I have a suspicion he would be running the business from home, which probably breaks the terms of my insurance. I think I'll sleep on it and decide tomorrow, of course I could just pass the buck to my business partner but that's a bit poor of me. Do I take responsibilities for my own actions or hid behind others?
On a more positive note I did good conflict resolution (OK potential conflict) yesterday. Went to bed last night at 12.03 - and the chap was "will be there in a minute" apparently having a catch up on a blog that had rubber clad lovelies on it (but only in context, not as a regular feature apparently). 20 mins later and a lot of typing I was feeling somewhat rejected and upset (OK so it was Sunday night, not seeing him for a few days, and I had expectations), Was most pleased with myself as instead of previously normal Iola behaviour of quiet sob at the signs of early death of a relationship, and go to sleep, avoiding confrontation I got up. Went to bathroom (sneaky look at the computer screen on the way past) and lo and behold he was on the previously mentioned game.
I therefore went in to the study and asked if I'd done something to upset him. No not in the slightest.
Oh it was just you hadn't said you were going to do your game for a bit so I was feeling rejected.
Many many apologies. I went for the "you don't need to apologise, you just need to let me know what you are doing" line (spot a theme of the week?) because that was the problem - I thought he was deep in communication with some fantasy figure and the thought of me just didn't cut the mustard. All resolved.
Lets hope we manage to maintain decent levels of communication throughout the foundations of our relationship and we may manage to have a winner here.
Tomorrow I get to join the great unwashed of student land - part time student ness beckons, I think I might be rather more nervous than I'd like to admit.
Tonight I am faced with a "evil landlady" dilemma. Showed a person the house to let this evening. He is supper keen BUT
a.his English sucks
b.he is moving up from London "because its nasty there"
c. he is a self employed computer importer
d.he isn't convinced the bank will give him a good reference
e.he wants to pay 3 months rent up front.
f. he was a bit too forward
I get a bad feeling but shouldn't I give the bloke a chance? I have a suspicion he would be running the business from home, which probably breaks the terms of my insurance. I think I'll sleep on it and decide tomorrow, of course I could just pass the buck to my business partner but that's a bit poor of me. Do I take responsibilities for my own actions or hid behind others?
On a more positive note I did good conflict resolution (OK potential conflict) yesterday. Went to bed last night at 12.03 - and the chap was "will be there in a minute" apparently having a catch up on a blog that had rubber clad lovelies on it (but only in context, not as a regular feature apparently). 20 mins later and a lot of typing I was feeling somewhat rejected and upset (OK so it was Sunday night, not seeing him for a few days, and I had expectations), Was most pleased with myself as instead of previously normal Iola behaviour of quiet sob at the signs of early death of a relationship, and go to sleep, avoiding confrontation I got up. Went to bathroom (sneaky look at the computer screen on the way past) and lo and behold he was on the previously mentioned game.
I therefore went in to the study and asked if I'd done something to upset him. No not in the slightest.
Oh it was just you hadn't said you were going to do your game for a bit so I was feeling rejected.
Many many apologies. I went for the "you don't need to apologise, you just need to let me know what you are doing" line (spot a theme of the week?) because that was the problem - I thought he was deep in communication with some fantasy figure and the thought of me just didn't cut the mustard. All resolved.
Lets hope we manage to maintain decent levels of communication throughout the foundations of our relationship and we may manage to have a winner here.
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
The pill is a killer?
Was listening to the news on the way home, stuck in traffic, battling with a car that won't idle, keyed up on Caffeine (someone gave me chocolate and a can of coke this afternoon, WOW) so I was in the mood for a rant and was given perfect fuel.... There are Doctors in America who on their moral grounds won't prescribe the pill as a means of contraception because if it fails to prevent ovulation it can also prevent the egg implanting in the womb - thereby allegedly being a form of Abortion.. So what of all the times the woman's body prevents an egg from implanting? Does that mean that a woman's body is a tool of abortion and therefore should not be allowed? They better start refusing to treat all women as they are potential tools of abortion and are therefore to be rejected on moral grounds.
It's set off the other questions in my head "do these people believe that those eggs that don't implant were lives that the body rejected, they therefore have all gone to hell/whereever they believe unshriven spirits go?"
"Is preventing a baby from forming by any method of contraception tantamount to abortion in their eyes?"
"Is sex fundamentally wrong in their view?"
They should take a leaf out of the Islamic view - sex is a pleasure given by the supreme being. To reject sex is to reject a gift from the supreme being. Sex is therefore a good thing to enjoy. No wonder Islam gains 9 converts for every 3 to Christianity world wide...
Ohh I'll be ranting for hours now!
It's set off the other questions in my head "do these people believe that those eggs that don't implant were lives that the body rejected, they therefore have all gone to hell/whereever they believe unshriven spirits go?"
"Is preventing a baby from forming by any method of contraception tantamount to abortion in their eyes?"
"Is sex fundamentally wrong in their view?"
They should take a leaf out of the Islamic view - sex is a pleasure given by the supreme being. To reject sex is to reject a gift from the supreme being. Sex is therefore a good thing to enjoy. No wonder Islam gains 9 converts for every 3 to Christianity world wide...
Ohh I'll be ranting for hours now!
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
In answer to my sisters question "are there too many students"
Well my sister did ask me did I think there were too many students (said something around were they doing the right courses, as she can't get a sufficiently skilled plumber when she needs on) and suddenly I found this was what I had splurged out. Rather than loose it forever I'll preserve my novel in my diaryblog...
I don't think their are too many students, but I think that students have changed a lot over the last 14 years since I graduated. In my area (where there is a whole anti student thing going on because of them living in one postcode area) there are lots of people whining about too many students - they destroyed a neighbourhood etc etc. That's pooh - if you draw a perimeter 1.5 miles from Leeds city centre and walked round it you would pass through area after area of urban deprivation - where the people on the up in the 1930s-80s moved on out to the suburbs and left behind those who didn't have the finance. Headingley/Hyde Park AKA "student land" was a logical happening, it has fabulous access for all university (and Poly as was) campuses and is a classic example of the poor living near their place of employment. The problem isn't students it's student landlords who want easy money for little or no maintenance, seeing letting to students as a fast buck not a long term investment. This again has become far more noticeable in the last decade as the "me first", "greed is good" culture of Thatcher's children grows. I suspect you will find a similar situation in most cities where the students are concentrated into small areas.
In general I think that deciding to expand higher education was a wonderful way to reduce the unemployment figures. When we went to university 1 in 8 18 - 24 year olds did so (and 1 in 20 did honours degrees ) now 1 in 3 do. Clearly the overall standard has changed, if you look at the jobs papers what once required 2 A levels now frequently requires a 2.2. I think that a degree is not necessarily worth less than it was back then because people are far better trained in learning and studying from an early age. I think it's probably a good thing given that there aren't lots of low skill jobs any more that people stay in education longer, it also helps with the concept that you are responsible for your own learning. It does mean that people question more, are less inclined to switch off their brains and do brain dead jobs so those who do break out in frequently antisocial ways after work hours (or block it out with the use of illicit drugs).
It's a shame that in the 1950s when it would have been more socially acceptable to implement a graduate tax of 1% of a graduates earnings for life was not imposed - the money kept to fund higher education and then we would not have had to have the whole loans situation that now exists. Of course to implement now or at any time in the last 20 years is 50 years too late - it is no longer acceptable, as people have realised a degree is not a ticket to a better paid job, just a more interesting one. What is also very effective is the people management that getting people into debt young does. If you owe money it is a lot harder to think of not working for a while, of finding yourself, of working out what you want, taking time out to question the values of a consumer oriented society - once you are locked into the cycle of servicing your debt you need to go out get a job to at least maintain it. This means you become a tax payer quicker and whilst you may be deferring your student loan there will be the other debts you accrued to pay off that don't have such friendly terms. People who took a bit of time out because they didn't have such massive debts to service in the '60s, '70s '80s and up till my year (the last year before loans were brought in) had the option to be less functional citizens for a while. Look at the difference in attitude between my year (we went to university to put off the decision for 3 years) and as little as 3 years later where most people had the thought of "better job, better money, sooner". It never ceases to amaze me how much older most graduates who are in their mid 20s seem than me. Then I compare them to my friends from university (as I know I'm not the most mature person around) and realise they seem more driven than them. The cycle of debt is a heavy weight.
What is one of the really unfortunate consequences of the current state of education is that the sort of people who would like to become quality tradespeople don't find out at school that they are particularly practical (because the practical element of subjects is very expensive, it's done less at school and so you end up channeled into more book learning) so they do the not so challenging degree courses, and then in their mid 20s realise they would far rather be a plumber/joiner/sparky. Sadly they are over 24 so no one wants to give them the opportunity to do apprenticeships (as they are "too old") and they are locked into the cycle of debt. More so than the brighter ones who are getting the jobs that graduates in our day were getting so have the pay rises and are further on the way to debt free life.
I don't think their are too many students, but I think that students have changed a lot over the last 14 years since I graduated. In my area (where there is a whole anti student thing going on because of them living in one postcode area) there are lots of people whining about too many students - they destroyed a neighbourhood etc etc. That's pooh - if you draw a perimeter 1.5 miles from Leeds city centre and walked round it you would pass through area after area of urban deprivation - where the people on the up in the 1930s-80s moved on out to the suburbs and left behind those who didn't have the finance. Headingley/Hyde Park AKA "student land" was a logical happening, it has fabulous access for all university (and Poly as was) campuses and is a classic example of the poor living near their place of employment. The problem isn't students it's student landlords who want easy money for little or no maintenance, seeing letting to students as a fast buck not a long term investment. This again has become far more noticeable in the last decade as the "me first", "greed is good" culture of Thatcher's children grows. I suspect you will find a similar situation in most cities where the students are concentrated into small areas.
In general I think that deciding to expand higher education was a wonderful way to reduce the unemployment figures. When we went to university 1 in 8 18 - 24 year olds did so (and 1 in 20 did honours degrees ) now 1 in 3 do. Clearly the overall standard has changed, if you look at the jobs papers what once required 2 A levels now frequently requires a 2.2. I think that a degree is not necessarily worth less than it was back then because people are far better trained in learning and studying from an early age. I think it's probably a good thing given that there aren't lots of low skill jobs any more that people stay in education longer, it also helps with the concept that you are responsible for your own learning. It does mean that people question more, are less inclined to switch off their brains and do brain dead jobs so those who do break out in frequently antisocial ways after work hours (or block it out with the use of illicit drugs).
It's a shame that in the 1950s when it would have been more socially acceptable to implement a graduate tax of 1% of a graduates earnings for life was not imposed - the money kept to fund higher education and then we would not have had to have the whole loans situation that now exists. Of course to implement now or at any time in the last 20 years is 50 years too late - it is no longer acceptable, as people have realised a degree is not a ticket to a better paid job, just a more interesting one. What is also very effective is the people management that getting people into debt young does. If you owe money it is a lot harder to think of not working for a while, of finding yourself, of working out what you want, taking time out to question the values of a consumer oriented society - once you are locked into the cycle of servicing your debt you need to go out get a job to at least maintain it. This means you become a tax payer quicker and whilst you may be deferring your student loan there will be the other debts you accrued to pay off that don't have such friendly terms. People who took a bit of time out because they didn't have such massive debts to service in the '60s, '70s '80s and up till my year (the last year before loans were brought in) had the option to be less functional citizens for a while. Look at the difference in attitude between my year (we went to university to put off the decision for 3 years) and as little as 3 years later where most people had the thought of "better job, better money, sooner". It never ceases to amaze me how much older most graduates who are in their mid 20s seem than me. Then I compare them to my friends from university (as I know I'm not the most mature person around) and realise they seem more driven than them. The cycle of debt is a heavy weight.
What is one of the really unfortunate consequences of the current state of education is that the sort of people who would like to become quality tradespeople don't find out at school that they are particularly practical (because the practical element of subjects is very expensive, it's done less at school and so you end up channeled into more book learning) so they do the not so challenging degree courses, and then in their mid 20s realise they would far rather be a plumber/joiner/sparky. Sadly they are over 24 so no one wants to give them the opportunity to do apprenticeships (as they are "too old") and they are locked into the cycle of debt. More so than the brighter ones who are getting the jobs that graduates in our day were getting so have the pay rises and are further on the way to debt free life.
Monday, September 13, 2004
The foolishness of councillors
Well I've had a frustrating day today. Not least because at work we are trying to communicate with the local councillors for the wards that my work falls into and they are mainly determined to tell us "you are nothing to do with us" or even better "the project with you is definitely going ahead do not worry". As the former is patently not true (we are here to serve the needs of some of the people in their wards, not all it is true but some) and the latter is impossible to say at this stage (because we can't say it's definitely going ahead with the information available and we'd like to meet with them to discuss what our perspective is and ask for their support) . It is very frustrating. The best one was the guy who reply was something along the lines of "you're nothing to do with me and why are you making this a political issue" I re-read our emails 3 times and still can't work out how it is being political.
We have only emailed councillors of 2 main parties, but then we have only emailed councillors of the wards we fall into. It's not our fault who the people of our area voted for? The joy of having a hung council. I do hope that one party gets a majority again at the next local elections, rumour has it that lots of stuff is being held up by the current system, so it's not just us, but I think in a way that makes it even worse. Our reasonably proactive MP has happily responded but pointed out he have no sway at all with the council right now - Leeds + Labour is an unfavourable mix! I'm thinking more and more our rainbow alliance is an unholy one. I thought my politics were orangy red, and I've definitely voted for both over the last decade, but I think it's time to seriously get off this fence. That'll be why I'm writing my diary and lots of emails instead of reading party manifestos then. Really help the decision making.
And in the rest of today's news I have been inundated with requests for job applications, I have noticed a distinct fitness level increase in the gym, I have 2 Alexander Teachers to get in touch with tomorrow, I have met someone from millions of years ago who it turns out knew lots of other people I knew at different times to me (has a child with one of them). She's really lively and interesting, which is good as she looked to be starting a rocky path to self destruct when I first met her12 years ago. I have decided not to do anything else productive today so will watch 2 more episodes of Angel - nearly at the end of season 2, soooo disappointed he didn't go bad yet. I think I may have ODed on it but I've not started dressing entirely in black yet. (have done about 16 episodes this weekend, does that make me a loooooser?)
We have only emailed councillors of 2 main parties, but then we have only emailed councillors of the wards we fall into. It's not our fault who the people of our area voted for? The joy of having a hung council. I do hope that one party gets a majority again at the next local elections, rumour has it that lots of stuff is being held up by the current system, so it's not just us, but I think in a way that makes it even worse. Our reasonably proactive MP has happily responded but pointed out he have no sway at all with the council right now - Leeds + Labour is an unfavourable mix! I'm thinking more and more our rainbow alliance is an unholy one. I thought my politics were orangy red, and I've definitely voted for both over the last decade, but I think it's time to seriously get off this fence. That'll be why I'm writing my diary and lots of emails instead of reading party manifestos then. Really help the decision making.
And in the rest of today's news I have been inundated with requests for job applications, I have noticed a distinct fitness level increase in the gym, I have 2 Alexander Teachers to get in touch with tomorrow, I have met someone from millions of years ago who it turns out knew lots of other people I knew at different times to me (has a child with one of them). She's really lively and interesting, which is good as she looked to be starting a rocky path to self destruct when I first met her12 years ago. I have decided not to do anything else productive today so will watch 2 more episodes of Angel - nearly at the end of season 2, soooo disappointed he didn't go bad yet. I think I may have ODed on it but I've not started dressing entirely in black yet. (have done about 16 episodes this weekend, does that make me a loooooser?)
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Sunday
Today I have great plans - the joy of not quite eating enough to maintain current lard levels is that you wake up quite early and can't go back to sleep, it takes a while to realise that half a glass of water isn't going to do the trick and you get up. Then before 10 you manage to watch another episode of angel, cook some soup, eat breakfast, put the stuff in the shed that you've meant to do for weeks, tidy the kitchen, and just switch on the computer to find an Alexander technique practitioner before... Oh dear, I got hijacked by the tidy my inbox, follow the links check this site out monster and it's 11.15... and I haven't started looking for an Alexander technique person yet! Glad to see Brit blog is growing but perhaps shouldn't have spent so long exploring! Best put a link on here hadn't I! Costco calls, as does the gym. Just noticed my strange tummy is getting stranger - I know zone burning doesn't work but I so wish it would. That or the flab should carry on going to my hips instead of this new detour it's taken to sit on my belly...
However I still feel remarkably happy - I know more about chavs than I ever wanted, and I'm well pleased with the decrease in pain levels thanks to the lovely podiatrist. We don't like hurty feet. Apparently my appointment wasn't long enough for him to have been any good when I reported the outcome to my sister. But then she doesn't have a blog to whine on so just expresses her negativity by email. I'm sure she didn't mean to sound quite so mean
However I still feel remarkably happy - I know more about chavs than I ever wanted, and I'm well pleased with the decrease in pain levels thanks to the lovely podiatrist. We don't like hurty feet. Apparently my appointment wasn't long enough for him to have been any good when I reported the outcome to my sister. But then she doesn't have a blog to whine on so just expresses her negativity by email. I'm sure she didn't mean to sound quite so mean
Saturday, September 11, 2004
I hate Scottish Power
I hate Scottish PowerI hate Scottish PowerI hate Scottish PowerI hate Scottish PowerI hate Scottish PowerI hate Scottish PowerI hate Scottish PowerI hate Scottish PowerI hate Scottish PowerI hate Scottish PowerI hate Scottish Power.
because:
They interrupt my Saturday
They employ wankers to doorstep whitter
They lie and say they are a Energy Survey
They assume that you have a partner if you say you are not responsible for the bills
They assume your partner is male
They send someone else to your door 5 minutes later
They are wide boy monkeys.
Their contact us page on the website doesn't send complaints on.
Did I say I hate Scottish Power? - they have spoilt my morning. Now I've vented I'm going to get on with the rest of the day.
because:
They interrupt my Saturday
They employ wankers to doorstep whitter
They lie and say they are a Energy Survey
They assume that you have a partner if you say you are not responsible for the bills
They assume your partner is male
They send someone else to your door 5 minutes later
They are wide boy monkeys.
Their contact us page on the website doesn't send complaints on.
Did I say I hate Scottish Power? - they have spoilt my morning. Now I've vented I'm going to get on with the rest of the day.
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Excitement at Shaw estates
Today someone phoned about the ad in the paper for the house in Horsforth. They came and looked at it tonight. I think I was in hyper mode and it probably put them off but Hey people are starting to telephone. Best get the painting done, if they don't get back to me and say they want it... If they do they may want to do it themselves, perhaps... 'twod be good. I like potential tenants, they are nice people and they might give me money.
Today I also forgot to organise the trimming of the hedge at no 18 so that my Mate ST can get some extra dosh. Will ring him tomorrow and see if he can do it Thursday and see if the tenant will be cool about it. I'm an evil landlady Ha Ha! (Ok so I'm a nice land lady who is a bit slack about not essential work, but it's been very wet and the gardener I booked to do the work back in April let me down, and had excuses for 2 months before I gave up on him, and so I've only been slack for 2 months not 4 honest...)
Today I also forgot to organise the trimming of the hedge at no 18 so that my Mate ST can get some extra dosh. Will ring him tomorrow and see if he can do it Thursday and see if the tenant will be cool about it. I'm an evil landlady Ha Ha! (Ok so I'm a nice land lady who is a bit slack about not essential work, but it's been very wet and the gardener I booked to do the work back in April let me down, and had excuses for 2 months before I gave up on him, and so I've only been slack for 2 months not 4 honest...)
Bra sizes
I've just completely confused and flumoxed myself. I took it into my head to try and find out what my bra size might be after reading the "how to tell if your bra fits" guide that came with my housemates lingerie catalogue. It missed the whole measuring yourself bit so I've been looking at websites. Now before you start asking aren't I a bit old for this you have to know that I spent my entire school days hand washing and hiding the 2 bras I owned because all my friends at school told me that it is very important to mothers to take their daughter bra shopping for the first time. It's something that they have to decide when and you couldn't possibly go upsetting them by doing it without them. So I waited, and waited, and I figured that (as my mum didn't appear to wear bras) she in some way didn't approve of them. So I hid them. Many years later I discovered that "oh I didn't bother because Fiona didn't like hers" so because my sister didn't like the bra she bought I was expected to suffer the pain of PE - during the attempts of a small bust retaining water (there's no space - it hurts, probably not as much a a big bosom bouncing free would but enjoy to make you stand still). Transpires Fiona was taken to M&S and neither of us are M&S shape so of course it would be uncomfortable!
So anyway I had heard something about adding numbers but thought it was to do with cup size. As there's little difference in the measurements I figured I'd skip the adding numbers bit and just assume I was an A. How wrong can a girl be - and how wrong for how many years??? More than half a lifetime it would seem.
Apparently there's all this stuff about adding on inches and that gives you your back size - which means that for the last 20 years I've been wearing a back size 5 inches too small... So how come I get the back riding up thing that is a sign of the back size being too big. I always thought you just measured under your bust and that was your back size end of story. Then I do the measure to get the cup size bit - which makes me a AAA in 2 sizes up from what I thought I was. But then why have I got the "flesh oozing out above the cups" that means you are wearing a cup size too small? Oh it's all very complicated I tell you. I'm off to Debenhams on Saturday to ask for a 38AAA and see how they laugh...
Do men have this problem when buying briefs? Do they have complicated measurements to take to determine their knob size? I bet not I bet it's just get the ones that fit around the waist and that's fine. I bet they don't even need any support to keep it all comfortable in that department. You'd have thought they would with all that swinging about in the breeze stuff - or is that just for when you get old and your knob starts to shrink and your balls stretch? Do you get special "support pants for the mature figure?" in gentlemen's departments?
So anyway I had heard something about adding numbers but thought it was to do with cup size. As there's little difference in the measurements I figured I'd skip the adding numbers bit and just assume I was an A. How wrong can a girl be - and how wrong for how many years??? More than half a lifetime it would seem.
Apparently there's all this stuff about adding on inches and that gives you your back size - which means that for the last 20 years I've been wearing a back size 5 inches too small... So how come I get the back riding up thing that is a sign of the back size being too big. I always thought you just measured under your bust and that was your back size end of story. Then I do the measure to get the cup size bit - which makes me a AAA in 2 sizes up from what I thought I was. But then why have I got the "flesh oozing out above the cups" that means you are wearing a cup size too small? Oh it's all very complicated I tell you. I'm off to Debenhams on Saturday to ask for a 38AAA and see how they laugh...
Do men have this problem when buying briefs? Do they have complicated measurements to take to determine their knob size? I bet not I bet it's just get the ones that fit around the waist and that's fine. I bet they don't even need any support to keep it all comfortable in that department. You'd have thought they would with all that swinging about in the breeze stuff - or is that just for when you get old and your knob starts to shrink and your balls stretch? Do you get special "support pants for the mature figure?" in gentlemen's departments?
Monday, September 06, 2004
The end of early days
Yes we have come to the end of early days. For the last 3 days I have been asleep before the chap has removed himself from the new online game (that's Friday Saturday and Sunday nights, not school nights) and I have been staying at his house. Now I think that is a clear sign that early days are over - that he would rather spend time planting virtual onions and flax than getting jiggy with it at the weekend. I somehow feel slightly reassured by this as it is slightly unnerving to be in the soppy couple zone and I have a few weeks to find out if this is a temporary "I've got a new game, it's only gone live last Friday and I'm going to be away from it for most of the week after next, I have to get lots of stuff done or else it's all going to die while I'm away" or if it is a sign of how things will always be. 5 months is reasonable for early days I think.
Also in the news - the vote on Fox hunting might finally be done and dusted soon. What a waste of my (yes me a tax payer, voter, and functioning contributor to society) resources this is. If natural progression has carried on it would have died out over the next few years by the back door but no, someone decided legislation was required, a whole worms next was disturbed and people got all chippy - How many of the people crying "foxes rights" and similar would have the same attitude if it was "rat hunting with Russell Terriers" ? Don't get me wrong - I don't like any sort of hunting but some things don't need legislation they will die out over time, and I suspect the belief that fox hunting is only the pursuit of the rich and indolent but many of the bills supporters has a lot of sway. Since my MP seems to do absolutely nothing I can't really complain that he will be wasting time he should spend on useful stuff like "Sustaining local communities" bills etc on this one but Oh if his replacement is as good as Mr Bruce says he's going to be I'll be disappointed if these sidetracks are pursued.
Further comment on the news - can someone explain to me why is the death of a child considered worse than the death of an adult? I thought we are all people - children are just smaller people who do require more looking after, but people just the same, so why is a child treated as better than an adult? Surely we are all equally important? Over 300 people have died in the siege of a school in the USSR but you'd think only the 175 children actually had any contribution to make to the world from the way it is reported. If the adults a child depend on are all killed is that not worse than the child alone dying? I know that no one should live to see the death of their own offspring - it is a grief in a league of it's own however surely everyone has equal potential to contribute or otherwise so when expressing generic distress over individuals unknown to oneself surely each human should elicit equal distress?
Also in the news - the vote on Fox hunting might finally be done and dusted soon. What a waste of my (yes me a tax payer, voter, and functioning contributor to society) resources this is. If natural progression has carried on it would have died out over the next few years by the back door but no, someone decided legislation was required, a whole worms next was disturbed and people got all chippy - How many of the people crying "foxes rights" and similar would have the same attitude if it was "rat hunting with Russell Terriers" ? Don't get me wrong - I don't like any sort of hunting but some things don't need legislation they will die out over time, and I suspect the belief that fox hunting is only the pursuit of the rich and indolent but many of the bills supporters has a lot of sway. Since my MP seems to do absolutely nothing I can't really complain that he will be wasting time he should spend on useful stuff like "Sustaining local communities" bills etc on this one but Oh if his replacement is as good as Mr Bruce says he's going to be I'll be disappointed if these sidetracks are pursued.
Further comment on the news - can someone explain to me why is the death of a child considered worse than the death of an adult? I thought we are all people - children are just smaller people who do require more looking after, but people just the same, so why is a child treated as better than an adult? Surely we are all equally important? Over 300 people have died in the siege of a school in the USSR but you'd think only the 175 children actually had any contribution to make to the world from the way it is reported. If the adults a child depend on are all killed is that not worse than the child alone dying? I know that no one should live to see the death of their own offspring - it is a grief in a league of it's own however surely everyone has equal potential to contribute or otherwise so when expressing generic distress over individuals unknown to oneself surely each human should elicit equal distress?
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Sunny Sunday
Today it is as sunny as a day in July should be. I have swum 40 lengths in less than 40 minutes (personal good stuff). I have eaten an average all you can eat Chinese buffet at Wanton in City square in Leeds. £4.99 not bad but I'd say if you are willing to pay £6 then better go to Fuji Hero as it wasn't brilliant. Good company - WM&J were up putting her flat together prior to her return to Leeds for final student year.
I have had a most food filled week - lunches out, Evening meal at 56 (oriental food place) on Thursday night for someone's birthday - N of N&R. Very sociable evening and an attach of Restaurant Karma that cause Chap loads of internal turmoil "their my friends and it was your turn to pay and you paid loads more than we ate/drank" My take is some times you eat/drink more than you pay, sometimes less, but it's really about having a good time. If I was very skint I'd not have been there. He felt better after the next evening at the Laughing Cow in Hebden bridge. A fantastic place that does great food and they give you a bit of everything so you don't have to decide what to eat. I recommend anyone to go - open Friday and Saturday nights. Meals are 17.95 for starter, main, sweet. Drinks on top. Saturday was A&Rs anniversary (and As birthday) barbecue, again loads of food available, much sociablness and meeting of new people.
Oh yes the lovely JF cooked for us on Wednesday night after an abortive gym swim combo (the swim was shut). Life would be a lot easier if I liked coriander. and on Tuesday my bro stopped the night and so we went for a Ruchies curry. Fantastic restaurant on the corner of the A61 and Stainbeck Road by the Esso garage. There food is so good they deliberately shut before pub chucking out time.
my Bro is concerned to the point of wanting to say "please stop eating so much, I'm worried about your health" to our mum. He also suffers from the same hatred of noisey eating habits that I have. I think we may have finally become adults towards each other as there was a lot less bolshiness and a lot more communication than usual.
I best do some sunshine stuff now
I have had a most food filled week - lunches out, Evening meal at 56 (oriental food place) on Thursday night for someone's birthday - N of N&R. Very sociable evening and an attach of Restaurant Karma that cause Chap loads of internal turmoil "their my friends and it was your turn to pay and you paid loads more than we ate/drank" My take is some times you eat/drink more than you pay, sometimes less, but it's really about having a good time. If I was very skint I'd not have been there. He felt better after the next evening at the Laughing Cow in Hebden bridge. A fantastic place that does great food and they give you a bit of everything so you don't have to decide what to eat. I recommend anyone to go - open Friday and Saturday nights. Meals are 17.95 for starter, main, sweet. Drinks on top. Saturday was A&Rs anniversary (and As birthday) barbecue, again loads of food available, much sociablness and meeting of new people.
Oh yes the lovely JF cooked for us on Wednesday night after an abortive gym swim combo (the swim was shut). Life would be a lot easier if I liked coriander. and on Tuesday my bro stopped the night and so we went for a Ruchies curry. Fantastic restaurant on the corner of the A61 and Stainbeck Road by the Esso garage. There food is so good they deliberately shut before pub chucking out time.
my Bro is concerned to the point of wanting to say "please stop eating so much, I'm worried about your health" to our mum. He also suffers from the same hatred of noisey eating habits that I have. I think we may have finally become adults towards each other as there was a lot less bolshiness and a lot more communication than usual.
I best do some sunshine stuff now
