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.