...do I decide between heart and head, when either is only 80% sure anyway????
By 2.10pm that percentage may be different, but still with decisions to make.

The rule of 10 is a great one to use - 'how will a decision affect you in the next 10 minutes, 10 weeks, 10 years'... the prospect of being a professional professor prostheticist with a penchant for puppetry is quite alluring, even just for the tongue-twisting title!

Anyhoo, the weekend was nice - a snuggly night in with the mister on Friday, a Saturday of exiting plannng with S, discovering that Spike has good taste in shoes, watching a sozzled businessman fall asleep in the pub, and realising that ice cream [however yummy] does make me ikky. Sundays highlight was puppet-head making with androktone - a bit of a kathputli feel, we have a bouffant hero, a sarcastic heroine, Jean-Luc Picard, and a goat :D
(hurry up and dry so we can paint you!!!)

So I'm on home net for the first time in ages, decide to go on MSN. But my password is wrong. It takes 10 minutes and a fair bit of complicated crap [including the new password I type being the same as my current password, even though it wouldn't work when I tried to sign in with it] and eventually I'm allowed to sign in to MSN...
...only to find no-one interesting to talk to is online, except for someone who signs in and walks off and therefore does not reply to msn messages.

Pffft.

1) For some reason my windows media player is refusing to play images. Watched a dvd saturday night with no problem, went to watch another yesterday and it was playing sound but no image - even when we tried with Saturdays film to check that it wasn't a faulty disc.
Used troubleshooter, adjusted things, etc but still no image.
*How, Why, and what can I do to fix it??*

2) *Is anyone here really good at finding and downloading things?* There's something I don't want to buy in the shops yet but am keen to watch/ogle - and I don't have the connection or know-how or tech to find and download it myself.


I was meant to pop ind visit Bekki and Steve yesterday, but stopping off at home to put shopping away discovered that I was a bit unwell and thought it better to not inflict that on them (sorry!) - much to Spikes amausement, too. Go we changed the sheets and bathed and watched Dorian Grey and enjoyed an early night.
Rock n' roll.

After the seasons break and trying -but failing- to get a load of stuff done, all the sorting and writing and making and tidying and visiting slipping away whilst we wallowed in mammoth lie-ins, I'd actually been looking forward to getting back into the routine of work (and actually using my brain for less self-destructive subjects).
Came home early yesterday to do some organising and an early night, treating myself to a chai steamer.
Big mistake.
The pressured heartburn that had just started to ease came back with a vengance, my body trying to expell something downwards and attempting it upwards whenever I bend over.
After a poor nights sleep I've reluctantly called in sick at work to get some rest and fluids - painfully aware that this *might* be viewed as 'work anxiety'. Uh...no. It's milk anxiety.
Pffft.
Ouch.

It's weird - I can drink tea all day, milk chocolate, cheese, cook with it, etc. No propbs. But when it comes to the yummy chai steamer (primaritly hot milk) or cereal (big dose of milk), it ends up making me feel just so jukky. So that's it, then.
Milk only in moderation for me.

Does anyone know of anyone reliable in the Bedfordshire area who does hypnosis therapy / past life regression ???

I can explain why in private message. xXx

Oh my word I *so* want this --> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SPOOKS-SECRET-AGENT-SPY-ID-CARD-SET_W0QQitemZ250547875802QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_DVD_Film_TV_TV_Memorabilia_LE?hash=item3a55d12fda

I've fantasised about being a spy for so long... even been a bit slashy about it, though not stuff I'd ever share.
:p

Who wants to come to Bedford Burlesque for Halloween ??? There are still tickets left and it's been moved to a bigger venue. Dressing up is positively encouraged   :p
It's this  -->   http://www.bedfordburlesque.co.uk/   and it is for my 30th birthday (*sob*)  - a time when, understandably, I want to celebrate and be loud and be the diva for once  :)    
Things have been a bit crap lately, world has been a bit bleak, lightened breifly by a lovely Diwali celebration before returning to an odd shade of grey. So a good night out (or several, if people can be persuaded!) is just what the doctor ordered. Along with lemsip and a lie-in.
Still need to sort an outfit out, but that train of thought will be delayed for a couple of days. Which means a probable panic the night before.

*I can't remember if that's accurate, but I've just got to work and am full of cold and about to re-tackle the stats challenge of doom, so historical accuracy is not top on my list of priorities, ok?!

1)  Client x was on bookworm the other day, and got a long word (lots of points and mega kudos - big win). Naturally he was very happy at this, and we (myself and a couple of other people in the room) joined in congratulating him.
He seemed very chuffed. He said :  '' That's really good. I feel quite pleased. Gosh. I'm all excited now.... don't think I can stand up.... might have to have some alone time and go to my special place......''
He was joking (we hope!) but nevertheless - I had to point out that I don't want to be sitting next to him anymore....

2) Today I answered the reception phone, in my usual polite way. It was our CEO, who asked who I was. When I told her she laughed and said it didn't sound like me, I had to agree - because not many people sound the same on the phone as in person. She then told me that it's horrible, I should talk how I normally do.......   Uh... what???

Btw, I don't put on a fake accent or anything - and I'm usually very polite at work, just my 'casual' self doesn't stress pronounciation as much. I sound less posh.

So a double 'okaaaaay thennn'.

ION, I am still debating over buying this second-hand widescreen laptop for £150. I'm told it's pretty clean, and waiting to hear if the memory on it is enough for how I'd be using it. I am going to question the warranty pushing the price up to £200 (on sablednah 's worldly advice) but if she won't budge then I'm tempted to just get the laptop as is.
Although a bit stumped about transferring all the stuff that's on my current laptop..........

Having been waylaid by a good episode of Frasier, I left the house at my usual time - 15 minutes after I had wanted to, in order to prepare for a meeting. So approaching the taxi company I thought 'sod it' and decided I'd rather spend £3.50 and get there on time than walk and burst into the room huffing and puffing like an old boiler!

In the end I arrived in style, in a silver Mercedes driven by an Apunam Kher lookalike, and pissing him off by joining in with his phone conversation with Uncle Gul  (hello, it was on loudspeaker / handsfree!! What do you expect?).
Meeting went well in the end  :)

Does anyone know where I can find an old TV ?  I mean like realllly old - in a wooden box with turny knobs for the controls, before remote controls were even a twinkle in the inventors eye.....

It doesn't need to be working at all.  Just old.


ION,  It still really surprises me what some people will say about others, neglecting the fact that people overhear and then repeat it. And kids repeat things with alarming accuracy, too. And then these people wonder why they're not trusted by the slagged-off person anymore..... 
Oh dear.   *snigger*

1)   There's one thing that makes bumping into the Bigoted Racist Homophobe (I saw her too late to escape) bearable......
Gossip!!!

I rarely believe anything that comes out of her mouth, but she apparently got what she got from a reliable source. And that reliable source has no reason to lie. So.... a bit of digging about is required.  Needless to say, it had me smirking and giggling for quite some time earlier.
Oh, how things change.......


2)   The plan for Sunday is well and truly sorted. LemonadeMan is a bloody star   :D  *hopes for good weather*

I am in love with Surinder Sahir!!!
He rocks!
Glasses, 'tache and all!!

Yes, that means I watched it last night and it was so damn good that my landlord had to ask me why I was making so much noise   ;)   May even watch it again tonight.

ION, colluding with our office manager is great. Now THAT's teamwork!!!

The silly instrument has been trying to attack a piece of wood with its spine thingy.
At least I'm hoping it was attacking it and not making sweet sweet love, because it then started to try and eat the wood!!

And then tried to rearrange the contents of the box.

Silly thing.

So it seems my dentist doesn't love me as much as I love him.
He took a look at the back tooth that is bothering me, and said that it might settle, to wait and see. If it starts properly causing pain, then rathen than mess about with a failing root canal *shudder* he'll take it out. And all my other teeth look ok.
Even my confession of rarely flossing didn't elicit and long and personal pep-talk. No, he said that he's inclined to reccommend that I keep doing what I am, because it's working. And that was it. I was free to go.
But I still love him, in all his smooth skinned, cute smiled, antiseptic loveliness.
  :P

In the spirit of other things too, I feel it is the right time to do a Flist cull, either totally or to just confirm my current filter.

If you want to stay/be on my list, comment!!*

I will repost this when I can, and cut towards the end of the week. Y'all.

ION,
It was a weekend like most others, with the addition of being stoned and a mild exposure in public before midday on Saturday. On Sunday I held my tongue.
And we now have rats!
I may be starting my other blog soon, but still undecided on what exactly to call it.
Not much else to report.



*With the exception of kathputli_girl , who has good due reason and I know she would comment anyway.

So, as androktone  has already said, this www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut-news/Arrest-over-shopkeeper-murder.5364428.jp happened just 100 yards from where we both live (not together, but close enough to wave via the bathroom window & balcony). I was up at that time but saw and heard nothing.
A nice enough man who ran a barely-surviviing corner shop, who must have only had about £20 in the till at the time of the stabbing. A man with a family, who live above the shop...  who must be scared shitless, only adding to their greif. What exactly is Luton coming to? There are things going on and projects running that make it feel like it's really coming up, really has something going for it...  and then something like this happens.

The homeless day centre was closed because the alledged attacker was a client there, they had to search the building and it has only just reopened. For many people that daycentre is a part of their routine, one so scant but vital that it means a lot to them, and knowing that one of them, one of their friends is capable of that, is deeply unsettling. One of my clients - a friend of this guys - hasn't come to his appointment today. I hope it hasn't sent him into relapse just as he was getting his life sorted.
Some of us take for granted the things we have, and that's a shame.

I don't often get to, or feel the need to, say this very often but.......

Ha !  Hahaha !  You are so wrong !  Ner ner ner-ner-ner !   : D

You know who you are.



ION, bugger all is happening, been doing bugger all, bored and ignored. All except for a frought e-mail from a friend, which I will save for a friends-only post.

Does anyone have a Primark near them that they can pick something up for me and I reimburse you ??
There is an item I covet against my better judgement, but the Luton store doesn't have my size.
I didn't bother asking the staff because... well... pointless.

Or any spare tuning pipes ??

Ta muchly.

So, my plans for friday night went awry due to being let down and had to stay ay home instead. Saturday was a flurry of getting stuff ready, nipping into town, and sitting on the windowsill waiting expectantly.......

Doug arrived bang on time, waving and chirpy and very Doug-like, including being totally indecisive. Eventually the 3 indecisive people made a decision and went out for dinner ( the Nandos virgin turned out to be an expert. Guess he eats a lot of chicken, then ) and a couple of drinks before watching late-night tv ( 4 stone! They took 4 stone of skin and flab off the man! Imagine that! Ewwww ) and testing 118118 on subjects of cannibalism and horse favours.
118118 doesn't do play on words.We asked it ''If Jack helped you off a horse, would you help Jack off a horse?'' and it said that it would if he needed the help.  Pffft.  Sloped off to bed giggling and fidgeting  ( some more than others ).
Sundays plan of pottering and chilling were delayed by the rain but we met with androktone  and perused the Wardown museum, which was ruined for me but I won't go into that. Nearly indulged in duckkicking. Introduced a bemued Doug to bollywood, and he looked a little less confused after that. Mondays jaunt into London took us indeed into London.   We meandered about in Camden, ate sweet crap ( ooh I do apologise, partonising french expert... crépe ) and I spent more money than I planned to but less than I could have. A return trip could see me repeating this. We happy threesome then went to the Krisna Temple where Spike went into a scary meditative state and I realised something that I've been missing for a long time. Then from spiritual calm to sex shop.
Yes.
Weapons, wish lists, and a man who was actually wearing a mac.
And a boyfriend who knows his way around Soho a little too much.
Doug left yesterday with his packed lunch, a good time apparently had by all   :p   I was worried about him, because of the major change he's going through and the way that his family just aren't helping. But he seems to be bearing up ok, much stronger and more philosophical than I gave him credit for. We managed to get a little time alone to have a mutual heart-to-heart about our respective issues, and he and Spike got on well - well enough for gentle teasing.   :D   eeee, my fave guys.

It feels nice to get back to work and have 2 days of training, great to see soozie  and not be the only person to think ''shut the fuck up'' about certain people ( a bit of recurrent theme at the moment ). I always get a bit excited about training, I relish the chance to improve how we do things, the exchange of ideas, and gossiping about a possible plus one.
But.... that many people in one small room, with a trainer who meandered and fluffed more than I ever do ( and that's a LOT ) and having not only 2 tea breaks and an hour for lunch, but also being allowed to leave early AND getting a wee bedtime story - well, felt very strange. We have it all again tomorrow, so it'll be interesting if the trainers style changes after the way E challenged him on it.
soozie  and I made the most of our extra time and had yummy coffee and shoe porn, which was a nice distraction from a certain text from Spike, whom I am expecting to arrive here soonish with his figurative tail between his legs.

This weekend remains to be seen. I've been foolish enough to make vague plans, so they'll probably all go to pot.

1)   Again I want to get that man's address, go round there with a baseball bat, and beat seven shades of £94k out of him. Yup. And two kicks in the balls for his kids. It makes me so cross that such a nice person (even though I've only met her twice) has been walked over so much, trusted so much, and been betrayed like that. I thank [my] God that she has her God and lots of support.

2)  I have a date !!!   :D  Spike will have to see to himself for the evening. He's had practice.

3)  Pffftt of the pfffttttt kind. Nuff said. I have a need for avoiding supervision tomorrow.