You're the best around

I signed up to run the Sport Relief mile. Actually I'm doing three. I really should have pushed myself to do six, but I wussed out in the end. So three it is. I wasn't intending to really try to get sponsorship, I just wanted to run it.

But maybe you haven't donated money through all the various texting options they're plugging all the time? Or maybe you don't really care about Fearne Cotton et al doing whatever and maybe you do care about me running? I don't know, but it'd be silly of me not to say something, because maybe, just maybe you would throw a couple of quid in the Sport Relief bucket I'm carrying (not literally you understand).

So if you'd like to sponsor me, it's http://www.mysportrelief.com/tinaruns.

I haven't set the highest of goals, but it'd still be cool to reach it. And yes, I did sponsor myself. Leading where others will follow, I hope.

Which, ironically, will be the opposite to Sunday.

The Lagan Bridge Principle

A while ago I discovered a secret. A secret that has saved me time in the past but now is just helping me waste it. Let me explain further.

One drive into work last year I couldn't get moved across into the right lane (the correct lane, actually the left lane) because of all the traffic already in that lane. I left it really late and finally got across, but not without some panic.

The next morning, knowing that I had pulled off the late (but safe) change of lanes I left it deliberately late, thus scooting on past slow traffic.

Let me illustrate with the aid of a diagram:

Take careful note of the indicators. I know, it's the attention to detail that you love about me.

I've done it every morning since.

This has led me to the Lagan Bridge Principle. Once you realise you can pull off something last minute it's very hard to go back to the old, prepared way of doing it. At least if your name is Tina.

Take for example essays. The last essay I wrote was three months ago. But even in that three months the memory has not faded of how I pulled it out of the bag at the last possible moment.

It was due on a Friday. That Tuesday I started writing. By Wednesday I had 1000 words. Of utter crap with no discernible point. So on Wednesday night I scrapped what I had and started again. I stayed up late on Wednesday, wrote all day Thursday and handed my essay in on Friday morning. Oh yeah and I aced it.

It's now Sunday. I have an essay is due on Thursday. I have started writing, but only about 500 words and while there's a little bit of a point, it's hard to find amongst the drivel that make up about 300 of those words.

I feel a last minute change of lane coming on. One that hopefully won't result in a write off.

Presidents

This is the last trip story. I promise. I really have milked it haven't I?

So while I was in SC I got to go to Jose's university. It's your typical American college campus in a college town with a massive football stadium for their team. One of Jose's classes was an open discussion class which meant I could go to. As I had done a few other things around the area already I was up for that. Mind you, it was about sustainability so I really contributed nothing to the discussion. But I did get to enjoy the artwork in the way in.


The class was held in a building name after Strom Thurmond, a former governor and senator from SC, hence the presidential portraits. But can you guess from which party Strom was a member? Perhaps specific paintings will help?


George W. on his ranch, big American flag reminding us of his patriotism.


Bill Clinton (honestly it is supposed to be) with a flag, but somehow that's not what we look at. But look in the foreground. The dark shadows, the web and lipstick tell the story there.


Jimmy Carter. He's green and has lipstick on!


JFK. Has anyone ever seen an older picture of him? Wasn't he like 18 when he died? Why does he look like an old man with rosy cheeks?

Things are not looking good for Obama then. One can only imagine how he will be portrayed. Perhaps in front of a burning hospital, or maybe holding his Nobel Peace Prize in the middle of Afghanistan or Iraq.

To compound the problem things like these surely can't help him. I saw these in a town many many miles away from the Strom Thurmond Center.


The Gift of Hope! I want the gift of hope!


This is what he wears under his suit. True story.

Looking for something a bit more classy? Then look no further that this:


Every year we can celebrate the birth of Jesus and the inauguration of Obama together with this handy Christmas decoration.

But if those aren't...quite big enough then why not get your own life sized Barack?


I so wanted to take a self-photo with him! But it was packed so I just couldn't bring myself. Turns out my shame does know some bounds.

Even Michelle is not immune from it all.


I don't think her head is that big. And yes, you are right, those are First Lady mugs, hairbrushes, water bottles and pencils in the background.

It was hard, but I walked out of the shop without buying anything.

Twelve days and two sorts of curling

Here's another selection of my life. Surprisingly, the Olympics do not feature more than the time I spent watching them.

Sunday 21st February

Out for a walk with Dad. I have no idea what we're laughing at.

Monday 22nd February

Brownie and Guides Thinking Day. I celebrated with mascara. I don't think there's a badge for that.

Tuesday 23th February

Snow again. I think I have seen snow every week now since before Christmas. That's quite the record. Sure, not if you live in Iceland. Shut up.

Wednesday 24th February

Late night Olympics watching. Actually this pretty much amounted to late night curling watching. Every four years I love it then forget how you play it then love it all over again. It's so clever and strategic. You have to be four moves ahead to even stand a chance. Sadly it turned out Team GB were not.

Thursday 25th February

Could I be in more of a grump? Actually I wasn't, but there's no point in denying it because all the evidence is to the contrary. Makes me wonder what my actual angry face looks like though.

Friday 26th February

Waiting for my next class. It was cold so I hadn't managed to take off my scarf.

Saturday 27th February

Getting ready to go out with my new curlers. That is to say, I was getting ready with my curlers, not going out with them. Just in case that wasn't clear.

Working. Let me know if you read this page and want to borrow the book, it's a cracker. Ok, I just lied.

Monday 1st March

Making my sandwiches before I go to bed. So clever.

Tuesday 2nd March

Late night working. Sadly not with the book about 19th Century convents. Oh no. I spent, no joke, about 8 hours that night working on Soul Mates stuff. I went to bed at 3.00am. I woke up at 7.47am. I was supposed to leave at 7.55am. I did not.

Wednesday 3rd March

Setting my alarm extra loud so I do not sleep in again.

Thursday 4th March

Working in the staff room. This time on Queen Victoria's visit to Ireland in 1849. Admit it, you didn't even know she came? Yeah, neither did I.

Church signs

Of course when I was in South Carolina, I just had to drive past my favourite church sign, ready to see what witty slogan they had come up with now. I had my camera at the ready so I could show you too.

Hmm. Seems there is no funny to be made about Haiti.

But every resourceful and not wanting to let you down, I turned to Mellissa's photos from her birthday photo scavenger hunt, just a few weeks before I was there.

I wonder can you guess what they were supposed to do in the hunt?