Still working

Last night I stayed in work a bit later playing with myPod and went food shopping so that combined with actually still working in work, I have not written about Michigan yet. Fingers crossed I do it tonight and file tomorrow. (Please don’t shout at me Megann!)

So today is Pancake Day! Yay! It’s one of my most favourite days in the year. It always seems to come up awfully quickly. Mother has emailed me the recipe for making them and I consulted tinternet to convert ounces (mum is old school – metric makes no sense to her) to cups (American way of measuring – I have no idea why. A cup seems a bit too ambiguous for baking and the like) so I’m all good to go.

Actually I already had pancakes today at a church fundraiser thing. Maggie and I went at lunchtime. It was quite good, took a few photos for you.


Pancakes here seem to be much thicker than the ones we make. More like the ones Ormo make (yes, I realise they are still technically pancakes, but they're not pancakes like I have on Pancake Tuesday). Anyway, also on my plate is a tiny bit of fried to the death bacon. I rarely eat bacon, and if I do it cannot be crispy so I gave mine away. There are also sausages, although they look more like burgers. They're sausage patties apparently.


This was the 50th year of the Pancake thing in the church (is it harsh to say that some of these people look like they were around for the first one?!) The men make the pancakes out in the hall, while the women cook the bacon and sausages in the kitchen. Men are such glory hunters! Just like at barbeques, boys are always in charge of barbeques.

I’m not sure what I’ll give up for lent. I was thinking about smoking, illegal drug use, coffee, tea and guacamole. But then I realised I don’t do/drink/eat any of those. So maybe I’ll take up something instead. Julie and I have a well tested theory that it is much harder to have to do something over Lent that to have to avoid something. So smoking, illegal drug use, coffee, tea and guacamole then?

In past years I have given up fizzy drinks (I would not be as stupid to do that in the land of free refills), chocolate (pretty much don’t eat it in land of stinking chocolate), crisps (again, don’t really eat crisps here, not enough flavours), sweets (actually don’t really eat them either) and have taken up drinking 2 litres of water a day (drink enough water already. See Lent should about changing your life for longer than 40 days).

I might resume my lake walks and runs, they seem to have fallen by the wayside recently. Hmm..well I’ve a got a day to decide.

I'm back!

So apparently it was out of the realms of possibility that I blog when I was in Michigan! Not because Megann’s tinternet was broken, but because there just wasn’t time.

Today I was catching up with my work, so maybe tomorrow you’ll get the full report and photos. But I will tell you the two most exciting things from the weekend (apart from seeing Megann obviously).

I got an iPod. I love it! I truly don’t know how I managed to live this long without one. No really, the iPod purchase has shown me that I am as materialistic as they come. I actually wanted one for ages, and knew I was going to buy one from the summer, but first of all held on until the video ones came out. Then I owed too much money to too many people. Materialistic? Yes, but also financially responsible. But now I am a card carrying member of Generation:i. Gr8!

I got my ears pierced. Yes, I know most people do that in their pre/early teenage years, shut up! Megann and I had a conversation about earrings last week before my arrival so when we were in the mall iPod purchasing she convinced me I should get my ears pierced.

So these two events created my two catchphrases of the weekend, ‘I have an iPod’ and ‘I got my ears pierced’. Simple but true!

Oh and just to prove that I am a total teenager now, I also got a spot. This spot is so large it may require its own passport for Korea next week. I really don’t think that’s fair, I have grey hair too. I’ll suffer one or tother. Not both.

Reasons why I'm happy!

1. Tomorrow I'm going to see Megann in Michigan! Yay! Megann was my cabin mate during the summer of 2001 when I worked at a UMC summer camp. I think it's fair to say we got each other through a pretty tough summer. But it was also one of the best summers of my life! I haven't seen her since May 2004 which is much too long a time.

2. We're potentially going skiing this weekend. Despite the old lady walk that is still presenting itself, I am excited by the prospect.

3. My house is still tidy from last week. Love tidy house, hate tidying house.

4. I'm drinking hot chocolate right now.

5. It's been great fun reading everyone's 7 songs. Good game, well played everyone.

6. I replied to emails today that have been building up in my inbox. Hopefully I will have some in my inbox upon my return! Hint hint!

So due to the aforementioned trip to Michigan blogs will perhaps be MIA. Megann does have tinternet so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that I blog. But either way, no doubt there'll be a full report next week when I'm back.

You're it!

Looks like I have been tagged by Karen Next Door so ever one for playing games here I go!

The rules: List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag other people to see what they’re listening to.

1. Orson – No Tomorrow. Love this song and get excited every time it comes on the radio. I would so download it but I can’t find it yet. Apparently it’s released next week, yay!
2. Third Day – You Are Mine. Great song, enough said.
3. Meck – Thunder in My Heart. Still love this. It’s one of those songs you can’t help but move to.
4. NBC Olympics Theme Tune. Not the actual theme, more the incidental music. I think it was in a film, or maybe the BBC use it for something. Either way it’s great!
5. Annie Lennox – Walking on Broken Glass. An oldie but a goodie!
6. Johnny Cash – Jackson. Oh yes!
7. Cher – Just Like Jesse James. I don’t care what you say, the line she sings is not ‘drive the women folk wild’. No way. There is definitely an ‘ing’ in there.

I tag Pam and Jools (two of the most consistent bloggers!) for their blog and Kari for the comments!

A perfect Saturday

This weekend I was once again with Greenville people. Only this time they were up here, instead of me being down there. Lindy’s dad has a cabin about 5 miles away in Maggie Valley, where you can also go skiing. So they came up and we went skiing on Saturday. It was a perfect Saturday for these reasons.

1. We slept in til nearly double numbers. Jose did a good job in letting us sleep, and when the time came, he woke us up very gently.
2. The boys cooked us breakfast.
3. It snowed all morning and some of the afternoon making lovely powder to ski on.
4. We skied from lunchtime to 9.30pm
5. We had a gorgeous midnight dinner back in the cabin.

I fell a whole ton of times. I stopped counting, but think it was somewhere around the 6-8 mark. Gatlinburg was clearly a fluke. Although I was a lot more daring this time. I went faster, snow ploughed less and went over the little tiny bumps that I would like to exaggerate into moguls but really weren’t. I landed those jumps every time!

Two of my falls were sore though! A snow boarder completely took me out. He should have seen me but didn’t. By the time I saw him there was nowhere else to go. I landed smack on my left hip on ice. Pain. I laughed it off though, picked myself up and got on with it. As crashes go it really wasn’t that bad.

The very next run down though I totally wiped out a ten year old boy. I was going down my favourite part of the run, just after the ‘moguls’. I was flying and suddenly to my left, out of nowhere there he was. Bam. Straight into him, skis flying everywhere. He landed about 10 feet from me. As he got up he let his anger towards me be known, ‘agh! I’m trying not to fall!’ Slightly ashamed of myself for swearing loudly as we crashed, I apologised and asked was he alright. I told him that that shouldn’t count as a fall for him, as I crashed into him. This, surprisingly, did not help his clear resentment towards me.

Unfortunately I landed smack on my left hip. So while it might have been a perfect Saturday, I think it might also have brought on my hip replacement by a good ten years. Annoyingly, there is no bruise. But that’s probably a good thing, because I would show anyone who cared to look if it was a good one. The number of people who were subjected to the ones on my knees last week was long (yet distinguished!) I was thinking about going for a run tonight. However as I am still moving like an old lady the only place I will be running to is the sofa. Thankfully I can lie on my right side and still be facing the TV.


It was Presidents’ Day Weekend which is a half-hearted holiday (places charge more, but only the lucky few get today off) so it was packed!


Chair lift fun! Megan and Robert (who is not turning prematurely grey, it’s frozen hair).


Pretty mountains and snow


The group minus Melissa who took the photo. Left to right is Billy, Lindy, Jose, Megan, Robert and me.


Another great breakfast lovingly prepared by the boys on Sunday! I know no boys who would cook breakfast for girls at home. Not unless there was an ulterior motive but even then it would not be two days in a row.

Beware: squirrels overhead

I went out to my car this morning and clearly a squirrel had a really bad curry last night. My car was covered in all sorts of crud. Now I really need to wash the car.


This photo does not show off the 3D-ness of the crap. I hope he at least felt better afterwards.

I’m listening to Chris Moyles in work, as I always do. I have laughed so so much at it today! One of the things you will know about me through my blog is how much I love the BBC and I would bet good money on exactly where this came from. Growing up I only ever watched Children’s programmes on the BBC. I don’t know why - laziness of having to get up and change channel or maybe mother was scarred of her whiny kids wanting whatever was advertised.

Whatever the reason, I am absolutely unable to contribute in conversations about Inspector Gadget (I don't know what 'go-go gadget arms' actually means), Dangermouse (who was Penfold?) and whatever that thing was where everyone shouts ‘there’s somebody at the door, boom boom’. No clue at all. I mean, I can smile, and look interested but really reminiscing about these things is wasted on me.

[Actually the only thing I ever watched on ITV was the theme tune to Fraggle Rock. Oh and Fun House, there must have been nothing good on CBBC then or something. And David used to make me watch that programme where a team of kids went into like a virtual world with a helmet on their head and had challenges and stuff. Can't remember what it was called but it was on on Fridays (shut it parents!). Apart from these I think that was all I ever saw on ITV.]

However talk about Thundercats, Mysterious Cities of Gold, Bananaman, Willy Fogg, Corners, Byker Grove, Charlie Chalk, Bitsa, Superted, Henry's Cat, Round the Twist etc etc and I am right there with you. That’s exactly what Chris Moyles was talking today because Andi Peters was in. Apparently he was only 18 when he first was in the Broom Cupboard! Eighteen!! I was still watching CBBC at 18!

They talked about this website on the mighty BBC and I spent way too long this afternoon looking at the clips of past presenters. Just click on the presenter of your choice and away you go. (The Phillip Schofield one made me laugh out loud in the office, and in the Andi Peters one the date he says at the end is today!)

It's well worth a visit if you are like me and watched CBBC all through your childhood. If you are like Kari and know not what I mean when I say Edd the Duck, Broom Cupboard and Andy Crane, I’d give it a miss if I were you. I know that pretending to remember something you actually don't is near painful!

Right, I'm off home now! This weekend Hermann Tiner is taking to the slopes again. I cannot wait!

Thursday

This week has gone so fast in work and I really don’t know why. I can’t believe it’s Thursday already. Anyway here are a few highlights of my day:

I got a microwave. Peter told me the Museum had one they weren’t using so I nicked it. This will mean I no longer have to think about what I need to take out of the freezer for dinner at lunchtime. Although it will also mean I have to re-jig my kitchen in order for it to fit. A small sacrifice I think.

I won the battle of the heating system with Chryl (oddily no vowel in her name). Her office is beside mine, we share the thermostat and…hmmm… how to say this? She’s going through the change of life and has hot flushes. She always wants the heat on the Arctic setting (that’s a few stages beyond Baltic). Today while she out I change it back to the Comfortably Warm But Not Too Warm To Make You Want To Sleep setting. For the first time I told her when she got back that I had changed it and she didn’t change it back. Although I imagine she is just waiting for me to leave the office.

The funniest name of the day goes to Rev. (yes Reverend) Goodpaster. He had to go into the ministry with that name. This was followed up with the prettiest town name I’ve heard in a while, Sunflower, Missouri. I want to go there.

Last night I was in Wal-Mart, let's face it, it’s a rare day that goes past when I don’t go. I’m strongly considering renaming my blog ‘things I’ve seen in Wal-Mart’. Anyway, I saw these things and so took photos.


St. Patrick's Day is the next official reason to spend good money. There are a whole stack of cards you can send, mostly around the theme of 'Kiss me, I'm Irish' or 'I'm not Irish but sure kiss me anyway'. My favourite item in the Paddy's Day section are the green pom poms. Give us a W, give us a A, give us a S, give us a T, give us a E, give us a O, give us a F, give us a M, give us a O, give us a N, give us a E, give us a Y and what have you got?!


Let it be known that, on this day, 16th February 2006, I declare that I will never be the sort of person that has a 3 step shelf organiser. Ever. Some things in life are more important that how your tins of soup are arranged.

It's a good job I only go to Wal-Mart for the absolute necessities in life.

I bet Mrs. Goggins never went on strike

I'm all for power to the people but not when it disturbs my mail! Despite my request some weeks ago for post there has not been a huge increase and I put that down to the unofficial strike by Royal Mail workers. So if they could see their way clear to going back to work, even just to send all the hundreds of items of my mail onto America I would be eternally grateful. I imagine an afternoon of steady work would get it done. Then they can get back to their picket lines and placard holding.

That being said however, Megann and Kirsty are now officially great as they sent me mail. Megann had a slight advantage as Michigan is not one of the affected areas. But I really don't know how Kirtsy managed to get something sent of the country, proving again that she is just all around super! Thanks girls! More return mail for me to send!

Citius, Altius, Fortius (but only if you are American)

I have heard unconfirmed reports that the Winter Olympics actually has athletes from all sorts of countries, not just the US. Is this true? Can anyone could confirm this?

I love the Olympics. But I’ve decided that I also love the BBC’s coverage of it. NBC have the rights over here and the adverts wear me down. Well not only that, but also the ra-ra Amer-i-ca theme which runs through the coverage. I suppose the BBC does the same thing at home, only shows you contenders for medals and how the home athletes do.

I didn’t see the Opening Ceremony and I think that might mean I have missed my chance to see any British athletes whatsoever. Well, they’re not really contenders for medals are they? So why would NBC show them? Americans have too many other sports they are good at in the Winter Olympics, snowboarding, skiing, figure skating… Our only real prospect of a medal in Curling doesn’t really get a look in. Mind you the curse of the BBC will probably scupper that plan anyway.

The curse is something Mum and I discovered during the Atlanta Games. They were a woeful Games for Britain, and in order to try and whip up a bit of enthusiasm, hope and no doubt viewers the BBC talked up every British athlete to a ‘medal hope’ or if you were really unlucky a ‘gold medal chance’. This of course ruined any chance of a medal for that particular athlete. Injuries, bad tactics and just plain old misfortune banjacksed their chances. Well, that and the curse.

The curse is still around and one name proves my point. Paula Radcliffe. Mystery illness? My foot! Tough course and extreme heat? Yeah right! The gold medal was all but hers until the BBC cursed her! So maybe it’s a good thing I can’t watch the BBC after all?

Although maybe it doesn’t extend to the BBC website? I hope not because that is how I am going to get my Olympics news. There are no adverts for a start.

100 not out

This is my one hundredth post. Just think 100 little pearls of wisdom, humour, pain and joy from me.

So while I am on celebrating my century, I feel I should clear up a few things.

Tina the Princess is the name of my blog because I didn’t want my surname there, although since that I have written it loads of times. I couldn’t think of anything really to put all with Tina so Tina the Princess was born. This is a hilarious joke between Nicky, Heidi and I. Heidi and I call each other princesses, Nicky calls himself the king and he calls me a rat. I really am not a little princess in the precocious sense which hopefully if you are reading this, you will know me and know that not to be true.

I never meant to write as much as I do but I like it. I like it because it keeps you up to date with what I’m doing out here and I don’t have to send out a mass email. The onus is on you to read it. I don’t really mind if you don’t read it, but don’t blame me if you don’t think you know what’s going on with me. I on the other hand can blame you if you don’t have a blog (or do and don’t ever write on it - coughjudsplutter) and don’t email me.

I didn’t plan to get myself into a routine of posting every day, it just worked out like that. I never really feel under pressure to come up with something. In fairness, lots of it is waffle but I think sometimes I am better at written communication because I have time to think about what I’m actually trying to say, not just talking and allowing the first thought to come out. Generally I’ll know what I’m going to write about for the next few days. Sometimes that plan goes out the window, like when I see something funny in Wal-Mart.

Anyway, here’s to a hundred more. May they be filled with funny stories from Hicksville, surreptiouis photos and the odd deep thought, and long may your dossing time on tinternet be enhanced by them.

I so nearly did it

Last night I thought I had beaten Wal Mart at their own game. As a result of the bruises I decided that I needed some Arnica Cream to try to stop the purple-ness on my knees before it developed. Arnica Cream is great stuff, especially if you are like me and walk into things, trip over things and fall onto things. In retrospect I really don’t know why I didn’t bring it with me! It’s got some sort of magical ingredient that helps swelling and discolouration from bruises. Lynsey (she used to work in a Chemist’s) told me about it after I got a big old bruise on my arm days before David and Karen’s wedding.

Anyway I had a wee scan of the shelves of where I thought it should be. Nothing. So I went to the Pharmacy counter and asked. I was greeted with a blank expression. I explained what it was and what you used it for, also chipping in that I was from Ireland (my favourite card to play in times like these). Nope, nothing. She pointed me back to the shelf where I had been looking. So I went back to see if there was anything close to what I need, maybe it wasn’t called Arnica Cream in America? While I was looking, the same lady came over to me holding in her hand Arnica Gel (gel as opposed to cream wasn’t really the difference I was expecting). ‘Look what I found in the special orders! I was just putting them away and couldn’t believe it when I saw it!’

I so nearly had them!


While I was looking for my perfectly reasonable Arnica Cream I could not believe my eyes when I saw this. This is a far away shot just to prove the normalness of the aisle it was on. Plasters, Vaseline…


And Udder Cream!! As in for cows! Are you having a laugh?! They don’t have Arnica Cream unless you order it like some sort of leper, but you can get Udder Cream for your cow on the aisle. In fact you can get it in two different sizes!

Falling in a Winter Wonderland

It snowed today! I love snow! I say that even though I fell this morning in it. I was going down the steps of death at my house and bam! I was down on both knees like a sack of potatoes! The fall was made worse by the fact I slid down the remaining steps on both knees. Boom boom boom boom! It was kind of like David and I used to do in our old house, only then we planned it and had sleeping bags for protection and extra speed. I retained my composure however and I did not spill the kettle of hot water I was carrying to clear the windscreen. I will not be wearing skirts for the foreseeable future due the bruises that will be appearing shortly.


There is more snow than this photo would make it appear. I put this one on in the interests of continuity from the Autumn Leaves post a while ago. I would guestimate that there was about 2-3 inches. I love the sky you get when it snows, all grey and dark. It was snowing when I took this but you can’t really see that so much.

One other thing, I am slightly late with these. Thanks to Father and Karen Next Door for letters received this week. It was very exciting to get something in my mailbox other than junk and bills. I am still accepting mail. No mail is too small or too late. And of course your name will be published on tinatheprincess to say what an amazing friend you are! That, and you’ll get a return piece of mail from Hicksville. So many reasons to send something to your good friend Tina!

Thank you for the music

When I came from Christmas I stepped up my training for the lake. Well infairness I hadn’t really pushed myself before Christmas. I decided that the best thing to do was put a few more upbeat songs on my phone to listen to. The ones that were on my phone before weren’t really working. So now as I make my way round I listen to these songs. In brackets are my favourite bits.

1) Steven Curtis Chapman – Dive (‘come on let’s go!’)
2) Basement Jaxx – Do Your Thing (‘say shut your mouth!’)
3) Sonicflood – In the Secret (‘pressing onward, pushing every hindrance aside’)
4) Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now (‘I like it’)
5) Jamiroquai – Use the Force (‘I must believe I can do anything’, great first line Jay Kay!)
6) Blair – Have Fun, Go Mad (‘I wanna do it again, I wanna do it again I wanna do do do do do do do it again, I like it, I like it, I like it, sing it baby, oh my God I think I like it a lot’ and ‘Lord have mercy on me yeeees’)
7) Basement Jaxx – Good Luck (‘You backed me up against the wall but I stand tall, don’t give a damn no more’)
8) The Cardigans – My Favourite Game (‘Dun dun dun, dun dun dun’)

I went out for a run last night again, the first proper one since my day of glory last week. I think it was a freak. I truly don’t know how I didn’t stop. But I know for sure that I'd be running nowhere without these songs and the little bits that make sing despite gasping for breath!

Signs

I pass these signs on the way to Jose’s and they always make me laugh so I thought in the interests of brightening your day I’d share them with you.


Batman has got a little cocky hasn’t he?! Telling the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler et al where the Bat Cave is just asking for trouble! It’s supposed to be a secret!


Am I in the Bible Belt per chance?! All my life, I promise you, I have never seen a sign for church pew padding. I never even wondered about where church pew padding came from. Well apparently if you call 800-531-2220 you can get your church pews all padded up! Who knew?!

Monday again!

How did it get to be Monday already?! I had another good weekend thanks for asking. Here’s what I did:

On Friday night despite extreme tiredness from late nights and working with Sei Young when Maggie asked did I want to go to the Mall with her my planned activity of falling asleep watching TV went out the window. I bought two t-shirts from Gap incase you are interested which I guess you’re not, but sure I’ve told you anyway!

On Saturday morning I was up early (8.30am – no double figures!). I had stuff to do and felt that as I had eaten like a Queen for the past week I should do some form of exercise. I didn’t have time to go round the whole lake so just took a shorter route. Despite Tuesday’s glory it still wiped me out!

At the pre-arranged time I went to the office to get a call from Julie. I talked to her for ages and it was just like being at home. Aww, I miss her.

I took my laptop to the office and updated my virus protection stuff (the summer’s hard drive loss has scarred me). I also downloaded a few songs off iTunes. I got Meck – ‘Thunder In My Heart’, Chris Tomlin – ‘Enough’, Jose Gonzalez – ‘Heatbeats’, Fall Out Boy – ‘Sugar We're Going Down’ and Richard Ashcroft – ‘Break the Night with Colour’. I made all of these into a CD of my current favourite songs. Also included was Johnny Cash (bought a CD last week, oh dear) a few songs from WOW 2006 and Arcade Fire.

The CD provided great entertainment for the drive down to Jose’s that afternoon. Sarah (skiing buddy) just graduated so I was invited down for the celebration and then Sunday’s Superbowl. We went out for dinner and then to a club. Dancing would not my first choice to spend a night, but having said that I always have a good time when I go. This club was a little bit too much R&B and not enough Dance and Cheesy Pop for my liking but hey ho.

On Sunday morning, despite Saturday night’s partying we went to church like good Christians. I like churches in America, you get a choice of times. Obviously we went for the latest one available. After church we (Me + boys) went for lunch. I like to think am a well rounded individual and can pretty much hold my own in any conversation. I have good general knowledge and am interested in learning about new things and hearing others’ points of view. Yesterday the conversation all lunchtime was football (American) and it was more than I could handle. Boys!

After lunch the boys were going to play Football. I am not a boy and do not play Football, so I watched. The sides were a little uneven and Jose’s team scored countless touchdowns whilst the other team scored none!


The clear blue sky is slightly deceiving, there was a cold wind a-blowing!

After football we got ready for the Superbowl Party. While Jose and Will showered I made Brownies for the party. How American have I become?! They turned out well, I think. I have nothing really to compare them to! It really wasn’t hard to make them, throw the mix in the bowl, add the water, oil and eggs, mix it up and put it in the oven. It wasn’t baking in the true sense of the word. And just incase before you slag me for being the woman in the kitchen I made them to save time. Not out of some female-baking-for-the-boys-and-their-football-game way.

As I’ve said before, I could watch any sport at all. And I like my national events, no matter what country I am. It was good to watch it with people who actually understood the finer points of the game. There were girls at the party but for the most part it was me and a room full of boys! Score! There was lots of ‘swwweeeeet’ and ‘dooode’ shouts. Ah Americans! You’ve got to love them!

I enjoyed my first Superbowl. American Football is very stop-start and filled with adverts, although because it was the Superbowl they were new and funny. The half time show was the Rolling Stones, I have much more of a problem with Mick Jagger’s t-shirt riding up his body as he moves than Janet Jackson and her ‘wardrobe malfunction’. Nobody wants to Mick Jagger’s belly.

I was glad the Steelers won. Only because once upon a time I was in Pittsburgh. A tenuous link I know, but I have no connection with Seattle whatsoever. Looking at it from my novice position, they were the better team, although the calls did kind of go their way too. But that’s sport, sometimes you just get the rub of the green.


And I thought I had superior calves!

This is Jerome Bettis, the Steelers' Running Back, Jose was telling me about him. He was going to retire after the end of last season but I beat he’s glad he didn’t because yesterday he won his first Superbowl. He’s 33 which apparently is a fair age to be still playing football, especially as a Running Back. Superbowl XL was in Detroit, his hometown. He announced his retirement after they won and I’m glad. It will never get better than winning the Superbowl in your hometown!

So after the Superbowl I stayed again with Jose and drove up to the Lake this morning. I got up way too early, but all in all it was worth it.

House

Last night I had the most productive night in my house ever. Here’s what I did:

• Dusted the entire house
• Went on a moosie hunt [moosie n. B. family word to describe the cobwebs that gather in the top corner of ceilings. Origin; Granny]
• Hoovered everywhere including the stairs which were awe-kward!
• Cleaned the bath, sink, toilet and bathroom ceiling (had some sort of yellow scum on which disturbed me everytime I used mouthwash)
• Moved my crap to the appropriate place
• Cleaned the fridge
• Did the dishes and cleaned all surfaces in the kitchen (which to be fair isn't that many)
• Swept the floors
• Mopped the floors
• Did two loads of washing and finally sorted out the last lot I did when I got back from skiing. (Me? Too many clothes? No!)
• Emptied the bins
• Polished my boots (had to actually buy the shoe polish. Nobody buys shoe polish. It’s just one of those things that you have in your house but you don't really know where it came from)
• Sewed a hem on my trousers and a button on my coat

I’m fairly sure the last time I did all this was about 1989. Only then I got my House Orderly badge in Brownies for my efforts. Last night all I got was the knowing satisfaction that my house was clean.

I kind of want the badge too.

‘We’re walking, we’re walking, we’re walking. And we’re stopping’

This is a bit later than usual but that’s because I was actually working today. We’ve got a Korean guy over to talk about the conference a bit means less time dossing for me, but more field trips. I love field trips out of the office! Like yesterday I had to go to airport to pick him up. That was a good two hour event!

We’ve been showing him about the Council and all that. Today I had to take him over to the Museum. I laughed at the idea of the Museum along with everyone else I told about it before I came here and I had successfully managed to avoid spending any time there until today. But I was a bit surprised. I liked it. I shouldn’t really have been. I like Museums and I like History. So shoot me! I think it's good to celebrate past events and to know the origins of something. In short, looking back helps you look forward.

I’m still hoping though that the day will never come that I have to take a group through the museum. They’ll feel cheated. And rightly so.

Victory is mine!

On 6th May 1954 Roger Bannister broke the 4 minute mile. On 14th April 2002 Paula Radcliffe won the London Marathon at her first attempt at the distance. On 28th August 2004 Kelly Holmes won her second gold medal at the Athens Olympics. (Wikipedia has all sorts of uses!)

Well you can add to these great athletic achievements 31st January 2006 because that is the date that I completed the lake run! Oh yes! Congratulatory emails and comments are now being received! Any requests to run part of the relay in the marathon are being flatly refused however.

I officially set the goal of running the lake on my first night here, I wanted to get it done by the time I finished here. When I came back from Christmas I realised that I really didn’t want to try and do it in the height of summer so I had the unofficial goal of doing it before I go to Korea in March but I didn’t really expect to get it done before the end of the month.

Despite basking in my glory I don’t think there will be any call up to represent NI in the Commonwealth Games. It was probably the slowest anyone has ever run the lake in its history. You need to understand how much I hate running. Like really really hate it. When I used to go to gym I would only ever go on the treadmill if everything, and I mean everything else was being used. This may be as a result of once falling off a treadmill. I was reaching for my water which was on a window sill beside me, although I think this excuse is now falling on deaf ears (or indeed blind eyes) as you are now laughing hysterically at the fact that I fell off and am now admitting it. I am nothing if not honest.

Anyway, unless there was nothing else free I would only run for three minutes. THREE MINUTES!! Last night I ran three miles. That might not sound a lot to you and it’s probably not as far as you thought given how much I have gone on about it but let me just reiterate, I hate running. I fell off a treadmill. I only ran for three minutes once in a blue moon. Running three miles is a fair achievement for me.

Having achieved my goal I’m not really sure if I’ll continue on with running. A large part of me thinks I should, but I think that’s probably still the endorphins talking. (Turns out Always were right, exercise does make you make happier! Who knew?!) Maybe I just won’t be so gung-ho about running the whole thing. Running the lake is free and I’m all for that.

The hardest bit of the whole thing comes at the very end with the short cut up to my house. It’s a hewge hill which if wasn’t much shorter to go up it I wouldn’t. As it comes at the end and isn’t technically part of the lake I don’t, and will never try to run up it. Even Paula herself wouldn’t.


It’s the sort of hill that makes you wish it snowed every day just so you could go sliding down it. This picture was taken going down it in the car and when you are at the top it’s like you’re at the top of the Freefall in Indianaland. There’s no way I was running up that.

Last night I discovered the trick. It’s not to stop. It was the first night I actually set out with the goal of running the whole thing, all the other times were just in preparation. As I set out I found it hard to believe that I would still be running as I looked to the other side of the lake. But so long as I didn’t think about the seemingly mammoth task in hand and just concentrated on the next step it was ok. There’s a deeper issue there which maybe if I wasn’t so tired I might try and extract a bit further but no doubt you can see it for yourself. But basically deal with the other side of the lake when you get to it. And remember the trick is not to stop.