Nothing to see here

I don't really understand how another week has whizzed by and its been seven days since I last wrote here. This will be short as I'm recovering from the over indulgence of Friday night when my plans to leave to catch the last bus home turned into a vomiting swearing karaoke mess of an evening. Even kissed one of my friends which was sort of unexpected yet weird yet nice. So yesterday was a complete washout and today isn't much better although at least I've got some of my appetite back.

Have at least read some of my book. Some 150 pages in which is pleasing considering I thought I'd lost the ability to read anything more than 140 characters.

another monday morning

So nice to see the sun shinning brightly in the sky, shame it wasn't there yesterday on a Sunday. All those people trapped in offices. Pah, what am I saying. I have no plans today so nothing to stop me going out and enjoying the sunshine. I do have a dental check-up this afternoon. I must stop turning this into a dear diary process.

ITV3 are showing the last ever Morse which makes me very sad. They seem to have rushed through the series, I thought there were a lot more to go. It makes me very sad  because we know that Thaw died just over a year after it was aired.

After watching an interesting programme on Art Deco on BBC4 and seeing Adrian Tinniswood, who taught me a semester of creative non fiction a few years ago, I am going to visit the de la Warr pavilion. Need a bit of sunshine architecture to soar the soul. 

This weekend's ITV3 detective connection was a fun one. Oliver Ford Davies who regularly starred in Kavanagh QC was in Saturday's Midsomer Murders as a odious character who got his comeuppance in a spectacular fashion and then in yesterday's Poirot, he was the murderer. And he's been in Morse too.

PS the man jogging by with a red hoodie is definitely suspicious. Yup, there goes the murderer.

Castles in the Sand

I have a strange anxious feeling today. I'm not sure why that is (although I have a horrible sense of the truth) and consequently I feel low and grouchy. Had a disappointing night out on the town last night and it has dampened my mood. It was nice to meet new people but all resolutely coupled up and talking about planters, boilers, spending £2200 on a duck egg blue sofa from DFS (twenty two hundred pounds on a fucking DFS sofa!!! Didn't know it was possible), valentine plans, mortgages, ballroom dancing and cats. I realise that none of these are exclusively activities for those in relationships (except perhaps valentines) but along with the noisiest pizzeria stuffed full of rah students then moving to the ugliest pub in the world, uncomfortable seating arrangements, my energy was just depth charged.

Realised that going on first dates are like interviews where I have to give a presentation only this time its about myself. I get horribly nervous and never present myself well in either situations. Which partly explains whilst I am still unemployed. This is also why I think internet dating is such a bad idea for me. Particularly as I'm trying to get myself interviews too right now. I shall admit to my reader that I have an interview on Wednesday that I have no intention of going to. Its a five month contract so less than a standard minimum lease length so I'm not going to be moving away. Its so short that I'll have to start looking for a new job, within a month of starting.

Switching between BBC1 where Italy are being handed their arse on a plate and Five where James Stewart believes his neighbour has murdered his (the neighbour) wife. The neighbour is Raymond Burr who later starred as Perry Mason for years. Haven't watched any ITV3 police dramas recently so haven't been able to do any comparative studies. Perhaps I should sign up for a MA in comparative contemporary drama.

Didn't get to the cinema yesterday and now I'm not sure when I can find a spot to go again. Wanting to go to my brother's tomorrow to check on the house whilst he's away and maybe take a bath. I haven't had a bath for about 3 years and then I've had 3 in a month.

On that bombshell...

Sunken feeling

Today I worked on a sunken swimming pool. I'll try and post some of the photographs but it was a really lovely and unexpected spot.

Had planned my morning so that I could nip off and catch the opening showing of Never Let Me Go but it wasn't to be. I'm fascinated to find out how they translate the book which was one of the most sinister and unsettling books I have ever read. Wonder how they will do it. From the little I've heard, it may not be the same. Front Row on Radio 4 gave away the plot last week which utterly stunned me. I fear the film will not hold the same power. And the three main characters, the actors seem too well known. I hope to be surprised. After Black Swan I need something.

Now off to meet a friend so she can bring me along to a party and introduce me to "new" people. I am now unprepared and nervous. Need to reconsider my outfit. Yikes.

More tomorrow no doubt. What with this and my blipfoto account, I'm enjoying this daily bit of writing and seeing.

one step forward...

A mixed day, yesterday, with application forms started but not finished, phone calls made but not connected. I did one application form and filed it a day early. However the two that were due yesterday, well, those were a none starter. A lesson learned is not to leave the application form until three hours before its due. Because when you realise that it's a PDF and there's no printer in the house there is not much you can do about it.

Rang the job centre then registered on line for job seeker's allowance. Ugh, had hoped not to have to but with no phone calls being received from the temping agency, things are starting to get a little tight. Did a couple of other important things on my list which I had been putting off so that's good.

Today it is lovely and sunny but I have a tummy like a basketball so might just hide at home and watch DVDs. After the washing up of course.

Today's ITV police detective drama link is Neil Dudgeon. I believe he is the murderer in today's Morse yet he has just been promoted to replace Barnaby in Midsomer. Will they never learn?

quickie

Just a quick one. Been a great day. Went to Slow Food Market on Corn Street which was okay. Saw my mate Joe at Source Cafe in St Nicks' market. Bought some lovely food including some chilli chocolate that I've been searching for. Made soup for the first time in my life. Filed an application form for an education ranger position.

More applications tomorrow. A swim or a spinning class. Maybe the cinema to get black swan out of my head. A pat on the back for a good day.

6 nations of varying different attractions

It's that giddy time of the year when I miss living in Wales. Miss living in Cardiff a (giant's) stone's throw from the millennium stadium. There is something real and raw about being a welsh rugby supporter. And I loved it, lapped it up. My order of support for the 6 nations are: Scotland, Italy, Wales, France, Ireland. Despite being half English (although if you go far enough back, that is diluted, my family name is Scottish) and being born in England, I support them at few sports but least of all rugby. I feel rugby is a passionate sport you support with your heart and I am Scottish in my heart. I know the anthem, I wear the pin, I fake an accent when shouting at the television. And as an non Welsh living in Cardiff, the fact I didn't support the dreaded enemy meant I was alright by them. But the main reason I finally decided to stop even thinking about England as an option was the tenure of Clive Woodward and what he did to the sport. Particularly the joke that was the 2005 Lions tour. Taking Alastair Campbell along to handle media relations says it all about how much he had lost touch. Then losing the tour 3-0 made you think it wasn't worth it. Still the England RFU continued on in the same vein. Disposing of Ashton in a cowardly way and then employing a man with no coaching experience. Watching Jonny's kick that sealed the World Cup still raises the hairs on the back of my neck but I think about that as a victory for Jonny.

So Scotland for me with no explanation. Italy because I love Italy (in some ways, hate it in others, that's another blog there alone), speak a little of the language, have some friends there. I'm writing this as Italy are snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Horribly disappointing. When will Italy have the balls to hang on to these leads and close a match out?

Wales, I lived and worked there for 3 years.

France for endless happy summer holidays. And frites. And Paris. And Breton cider. And Chanel. And old Citroen cars. And Le Corbusier (although he started off as Swiss). And Cezanne. And Vincent Cassel. And Air. And le Tour de France. Jean Luc Goddard & Truffaut.

Ireland, I suppose for the celtic connection and Dublin was good fun.

I'm hungry now. Also watching Star Wars now that Italy have lost. That Darth Vadar outfit must have be difficult to move around. Hoping to see the storm trooper bang his head on the lift door. Except the television has just switched itself off. Clearly trying to tell me something. Hmmm...

ringing in my head

Yesterday was a day of contrasts. Started off with a good productive morning spent with some young people in care clearing some community land. Then I went to the cinema to continue on my Oscar nomination build up. This time Black Swan and I had high hopes. I'm sorry but I hated it. In fact it became only the second film I think I have ever walked out of. Actually I'm not sorry, I'm cross I wasted my time and my money. Although I suppose you pays your money and you takes your chance with these films. But being nominated for "Best" Film makes you think it has a certain standard to it. I saw a review in last week's Independent that gave it one star where every other review has given it four or five. I did wonder how they could be such a discrepancy between reviews but now I know.

Whilst at the cinema, my phone stopped working. Just went kaput. There was juice left in the tank but it gave up. This started to worry me because it feels like my whole world is stored in that phone. I know its backup on to my laptop but I don't actually know what that means or where I could find it. I have something like 500 notes on my phone which I would miss. As it is I lost my drafts tweets from my Twitter account last week and that feels awful enough. I came home and plugged in my phone. Nothing. Death. I felt sick. I went to bed. Got up and had a dreadful dinner. When I thought about the depth and texture of the stew I hand made on Wednesday night and compared it with the brown slop served up with no discernible flavour. I then returned to bed to watch my latest lovefilm delivery. It was cracked. I'm astonished that disc can be sent out in the condition. So now I have to deal with them. So I gave up and watched Speed. It hit the spot. Although I had never noticed Sandra Bullock was so irritating before now.

Having moaned about my inability to read a book these days, I then started to turn the pages of Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck. A wonderful book. I raced through the first 30 pages. So my iPhone malfunction felt a little less terrible.

This morning, I plugged it in again, just to see and lo, the little red battery sign flashed up. It obviously just needed a little rest, poor thing. I'm not surprised though, I've been working it hard over the last few weeks. So, for at least today, I am resolved to tweet a little less and  not rush to it at any given moment for reassurance. I feel quiet and introspective today.

Today's link between ITV3 detective programmes: Jason Durr (formerly of Heartbeat) is in today's Morse and was in Wednesday night's Midsomer Murders. Small world.

fingers in pies and stews

Yesterday's post was only published this morning so its a bit out of date already.

I have reached out to a number of people and attempting to kick start something job wise. On the job front, I have completed an application which I'm very pleased about. Just need to check it, beef it up if necessary and then send it off by the deadline. Not wanting to sign on again for job seekers but feeling like that might to happen. Have registered with a temping agency but my "consultant" isn't exactly keen on me. Have an appointment with another one this afternoon to see if spreading myself thin helps. Also disappointing when you offer your services to someone and they ignore you. Or maybe just "out of the office".

I'm watching so many detective programmes on ITV3 I'm picking out the actors that have cropped up more than once. Today's is Diana Quick who has also been in Lewis. Yesterday it was Anna Massey who was the lunatic murderer in Midsomer Murders. I'm sure this isn't an appealing trait to put in a dating profile (watching detective progs, not being a lunatic murderer, surely that goes without saying). Speaking of which, today I have been contacted by someone who frankly looks like a murderer wanting "to chat". I've stopped giving legal advice darling, jog on. *close match*

Today I am attempting to make a stew or broth or something based on a Mark Hix recipe from Saturday's Independent. I'm not terribly good at making things up as I go along or as in this case, changing ingredients but I can't be that hard to substitute game for chicken and spelt for pearl barley. Well, we'll see.

set adrift on a lifeboat

One thing you may need to know is that I'm a massive Hitchcock fan. Yes, he was probably sexist if not misogynistic but you can't beat his flair for tension and fabulous costumes. So I'm watching Lifeboat whilst looking for jobs, making lists, emailing contacts, drinking coffee, feeding the birds and tweeting. Its a strange film, an experiment really but works in its own quirky way. Tallulah Bankhead is fabulous, sweetie whilst the German is commanding whilst the others dither and bicker.

busy doing nothing

I feel in some way that I've had a successful day because I've signed up for Guardian Soulmates (with some good advice from another Twitter friend), filed my first blipfoto journal (although its not working properly), counted birds in the garden and made some good food. I've also made a list of some things I have to do tomorrow on Monday morning. Those horrible phonecalls I've been putting off for some time. Chasing people to get them to do their job because apparently I have to shout the loudest to be seen. A very British quality is my reluctance to push myself forward.

I started off the day watching the tennis, thinking perhaps this time, Murray could do it. But again, something in his brain goes pop and he can't shake off that voice.

But if I really examine my day, so far I have actually achieved little of real consequence. No job applications completed being the most important thing I should be doing. Counting birds and thinking about books doesn't really cut it. Also making myself feel bad is another common trait. But I crack on with that which aplomb.

seems life isn't all Inspector Morse & Midsomer Murders

A Twitter friend recommended I start a blog. Well, I have always considered myself a writer but seem to get by without actually writing anything down. Perhaps that why I like Twitter so much, Micro blogging maybe the extent of my writing capability but no, I know that not to be true. I have taken a writing class (or several if truth be told) and even attended a writing workshop in Tuscany. So I've done the writing to a deadline and performing in front of a (friendly) crowd. But right now, blogging seems the natural next step to the limits of 140 characters. My concentration or rather lack of it has been the only obvious victim of my Twitter addiction. Haven't read a book in months which doesn't feel right. I have a very long list of books that I have taken out from the library (yes, I love and use my library #savelibraries) but then haven't read. Returned them with my head hanging. But of course, they don't know or care if you've actually read them. There's no test at the till. I'm not a believer in the old adage life is too short because its not really but then I join the chorus of people lamenting the swift passing of yet another year and all of a sudden I'm in my mid thirties and I wonder how that happened.

But the real reason I am to start this blog is to record my attempts at finding true love or at the very least someone not too short to pass the time with. Actually that's not strictly true. I mustn't belittle this. But I need to go from zero to completeness in next to no time because I'm told my clock is ticking. And on those quiet mornings lying in bed, I can hear it racing away. But for now, its Saturday night and I'm tired from my busy day of ITV3 police dramas. So buononotte.