Slippage
Oh yes, this is quite an innocent story that started out so well with good intentions but ended in peril.
We didn't really give our new years resolutions a chance to get off the ground, as by the time we'd got our act together all the evening classes of pretty much everything had already started. Shame on us.
Anyway, not put off by this, we decided to "go and get fit" up Robinswood Hill this weekend. It's a smashing place to go, and thankfully the pole thingy on the top was not a mobile phone mast, as we were debating on the way up (it was some jubilee beacon, for those interested).
So, sturdy boots applied in the car park we set off and immediately get distracted by a boomerang stuck in a bush and tried to rescue it. Unsuccessfully. We decided that we needed a big stick to poke at it if we were to stand any chance of getting at it without having our eyes ripped out by thorns.
Meanwhile, we then had a choice of paths to take to the summit; some more robust that others. We democratically came to the conclusion that it might be best to stick to the man-made path and christened it the Ray Mears path. Failure to stick to this path might lead to having to live on Robinswood Hill and eat worms (after Whale's supply of mints and my packet of Frosties had run out).
It was a lovely day and the views across Gloucester got better and better the higher up (and further away from the chavvyness) we got. We got completely flummoxed by a backwards-stylee kissing gate and were very glad that nobody saw us wrestling with it before realising it had to go t'other way. D'oh. After that, it was just a short climb to the top and we were rewarded with panoramic views as far as The Malverns and beyond. A short debate about where the M5 was later, and we decided to make our descent.
This was where it got tricky. It may have been a lovely day outside, but the paths were just pure mud. You could see in the tracks all the people who'd slipped on their arse previously and we resigned ourselves to the fact that it might happen. And it did. Stupidly enough, it wasn't in any of the steep areas – just a flat-ish bit where we'd got complacent. (I say we, but I managed to remain on my feet – a fact Whale shook her fist at me about) But you had to laugh, especially when she realised she'd put her hand down in some rabbit poo. Oh deary dear.
I had to make her sit on my coat when we'd got back to the car as she was pretty much plastered in mud. The option of going straight to the pub was diminishing, as I think Café Rene wouldn't appreciate us shedding mud all over their carpet afternoon/evening. By the time we got to the pub, we'd worked up quite a thirst and were ready for some Black Rat – probably undoing all the good that we'd done. But meh.
Tags: Exercise, Walk, RobinswoodHill, Gloucester, RayMears, TheMalverns, M5, mud, slippage, CafeRene, BlackRat
Items: 2 ¦ Relationship: None
I’ve been using WriteToMyBlog to edit some of these previous posts. So far, (it’s still in beta) they’re only allowing me to go as far as One Whiff of Davidoff, but as soon as this post is published I’ll lose that to play about with.
So far it’s been pretty use to use and things have gone so swimmingly that I’ve now taken the, perhaps, rash decision to use it to write all my future blog posts from. In my mini trial I’ve corrected spelling mistakes *ahem* that were left carelessly lying around, made the author of each post a little clearer to understand and added tags. I’m the kind of person who assumes things like adding tags would be far too difficult for me to get my poor wee head around, and as WordPress.com doesn’t have a nice ickle button I can just tap, I’ve avoided having anything to do with them. WordPress.com is very easy to use, but it does have it’s limitations – after hours lost trying to sort out the sidebar and faffing with various little extras I mostly refraining from attempting anything technical on this blog nowadays. So having a raft of buttons in the Advanced tab in WTMB, to do things with that I’d never have dreamt of including in a blog post is a tad exciting. OK, so I’m a sad git, who’s discovered (on looking at the source code of t’blog once these changes have been made) that actually it’s all fucking simple and easy. Buttons are making me learn HTML. Who’ve thought it?
Potential Sub-Heading: How To Stalk
Whilst doing this, I’ve been listening to music I’d have never had come across if I hadn’t done something, well, stalkerish. The ability to amuse and scare one’s self with what can be learnt about all sorts of people over t’interent, is predictably high. Naturally, there are plenty of things about myself I’d rather not the world know, but I can’t do much about my lack of discretion in the past.
Occasionally, this digging leads to much laughter on seeing pictures on long-forgotten websites that particular individuals would quite probably like no one to see, which is something I can very much relate to – which is probably why I’m less than totally thrilled with someone’s Flickr page.
All you need is a little bit of info, Google (or similar), WayBack machine or WhoIs and a nosey-parker attitude an inquisitive mind and you soon find yourself stumbling upon juicy little nuggets that will probably make you giggle, or sick. One hopes for the former. For instance, you could find yourself searching through to a complete and utter stranger’s Amazon wish list, before swiftly hunting down those artists they have listed on MySpace, and really liking what you find. Which means you’ve then *got* to buy/get the album too. And their back-catalogue. And future releases.
To this end, I’d thoroughly recommend Let Me Introduce My Friends by I’m From Barcelona; Wincing the Night Away by The Shins; Patrick Wolf’s Wind In The Wires, Lycanthropy and latest The Magic Position; and the Hidden Cameras - Awoo to anyone.
So, I’d like to say to person who’s Wish List supplied me with a new musical landscape: thankyouverymuch for inadvertently sharing your,
clearly, excellent taste in music with me, and whoever else finds themselves in the same spot. And that I’m very sorry for snooping about, and potentially scaring the crap out of anyone, but that’s unlikely, cos who reads this?!?
P.S. I’m really not a stalker; I really can’t be arsed to put that much commitment into it.
-Bea Whale
Tags: WriteToMyBlog, I’mFromBarcelona, PatrickWolf, TheShins, HiddenCameras
Kids today!
Big news, for the kid-lets and kiddles:
BBC plans online children’s world
A virtual world which children can inhabit and interact with is being planned by the BBC.
CBBC, the channel for 7-12 year olds, said it would
allow digitally literate children the access to characters and
resources they had come to expect.
Users would be able to build an online presence, known as an avatar, then create and share content.
I am slightly jealous.
Bosses said CBBC World would not have the financial aspects of other online worlds such as Second Life.
It is expected to go live in the summer with a full launch in the autumn to coincide with the CBBC relaunch.
I’m a tad more jealous: it’s gonna be cost-free (and I very much like that free) and free of all the stuff I don’t like about Second Life, which is mostly the adults and their “creativity”. I doubt there’ll be ways to make genitalia for the kids.
-Bea Whale
Tags: BBC, Second+Life, kids
Desperation, of the highest order
Who's there?
Who *are* you?
Say something please; we're very desperate to hear from you. Just leave a little something in the comment box, go on. It won't bite. Neither will Moosh or I.
with big hugs and kisses – Whale, Bea
More about Aerosvit…
Blimey, looking at the stats it’s clear that many people are looking for Aerosvit reviews – which you can find, right ‘ere. (Warning, may contain frothing about Aerosvit representative from Birmingham*)
OK – so people may be wanting some kind of recommendation about whether or not to fly with Aerosvit…to them I’d say this: Yes, go on fly. But…(and there is always a but) don’t book with them if say, you absolutely positively have to be somewhere on time. Looking at their stats on t’internet the other day, their cancellation rate does seem a tad high.
Anyway, this all may be useless for us in Blighty as I’ve found out that Aerosvit have mysteriously cancelled all flights from Birmingham to Kiev.
I have become very inspired to visit Kiev recently (after twice going through Ukraine, but never stopping – although I bought a lovely ice-cream on the platform at the railway station in Kiev once. But that’s by the bye.) and wanted to book another flight with Aerosvit. I became really disheartened when firstly all the flights said “no seats” and then eventually Birmingham disappeared off the website’s drop down list box of destinations altogether. *sniff*
Words cannot describe how gutted I am! Not only will I never get to sniff that lovely man again, but I will also now have to fly to Kiev from London. Or possibly, as I was thinking in the bath last night – fly to Budapest and get the train to Kiev. Which might be very nice.
-moosh
*Actually, it definitely contains frothing about Aerosvit representative from Birmingham
Tags: Aerosvit, Birmingham, Kiev
Damn you, lino!
I've just completely fwapped up 40 quids worth of lino. In hindsight, I should have just got a man in, but I woke up today feeling so positive about everything that I decided to tackle it myself.
I'd built a house before! I didn't think I'd get beaten by a bit of lino.
Bugger.
If you let your eyes go all screwy and in slight darkness, it doesn't look quite so bad. Will have to ban guests from going to the toilet during the day, and just take out the light bulbs at night. Simple.
-moosh
Failed
Yep, I failed miserably at not having my name called out in the departure lounge. Again.
At Bristol Airport, I made sure that I was absolutely on time, went into the departure lounge instead of drinking vodka and got onto the plane with no troubles. However, at Edinburgh Airport, despite being there 2 hours before the flight and having possibly one of the crappiest meals ever in the Wetherspoon's pub upstairs, I *was* in the departure lounge in plenty of time but they still called my name.
In my defence, boarding time was 8.30pm for a 9pm flight. I was faffing about with my bag at about 8.20pm when I heard them call for boarding. Not even 5 minutes later they were calling my name asking me to go to the gate immediately. Baaaah! Those cattle-herders Easyjet just wanted us on the plane asap. I was duly herded onto the plane where we sat for a good 20 minutes before they could even shut the doors. *humpf*
I think I can honestly say that I've been in a bit of a day-dreaming kind of a world for the past couple of weeks. Driving back from the airport, listening to the upbeat chirpyness that is Verka Serduchka (who says westeners don't get her/him?!), I managed to miss my turning on the motorway. Not unusual you might say, but this was my home turn off. One I know very well. Tut tut. What is wrong with me?! Only last week I was driving to work, but it wasn't until I was about 3 miles off course that I realised I was on completely the wrong road. Honestly. I'll be turning up to work in my slippers next.
On a more scary note, chatting to the Scottish director (yes, that one) about blogging he casually mentions that he hasn't been able to find this one (eeeek!). We'd been chatting about myspace and blogging last time I was up there. If any posts suddenly go missing…you'll know I've done some hefty editing 
-moosh
Tags: Edinburgh+Airport, Verka+Serduchka
..and the 2nd
I like invertebrates. I find them fascinating and always make a point of watching any natural history programme about them. Thus, I did absolutely love Life in the Undergrowth.
I've even given the answer as "Ants" to the question: "What's Your Favourite Animal?" when involved in a game of "What's Your Favourite blah, blah, blah?". Considering I was with a with a bunch of quite girly girls, it didn't go down well, and I was forced to choose something considerably fluffier.
And so I present the second embedded video. It's very cool ( I think, and what do I know?).
Zzzeplin:
If you chug along to minuscule.tv or just hop about YouTube you'll find at least 77 other episodes.
-Bea Whale
Tags: Invertebrates, Animation, Minuscule.tv, YouTube
First embedded video
There I was, Stumbling about the web, and I came across this (below) which made me smile. If I knew about such things as embedded files I'd sort it out, but I don't.
Sudden 5-seconds-later update: Ah, but thankfully I have my Thinking Brain on today, and have figured something out that I've avoided doing up until now. If I'd known it was gonna be that simple……
Tags: StumbleUpon, Video, Restless+Legs
Boots
OK, OK – a post about boots. Whale's boots, for they were smashing.
They may have taken 10 minutes to put on, but that only added to their appeal. There were lace up bits, and stylish heels. In essence – they had it all. Even the box they came in was nice. I just feel very sad that I don't have any pictures that do them any justice. But they did go clipity clop, like any good boots should.
The end.
p.s. I'm off to Edinburgh in a few hours. I'm just hoping that they won't call my name out to come to the gate again…but I do desperately want to sniff some perfume. It can only end in disaster.
Tags: Boots
It’s (not) Chico time
OK, so those who've got through the rather long winded post about Aerosvit reviews will now be looking forward to the post about our Christmas Eve-eve merryment. Probably.
I'd say that one of the best moments of 2006 was leaving work for the last day, knowing that tomorrow would be the day of the ready, steady, cook challenge.
3pm came around quickly as I'd spent rather a few hours having a lie in from my usual waking at about 6.30 (well, that's the time my alarm goes off) and I set off to pick Whale up and admire her Christmas tree.
After tapping on the door, I was dazzled my Whale's boobs as her spangly top glistened through the frosted glass. We were both in high spirits as she bustled me through the hallway to show my the tree. Very smashing. Very Chritsmassy. Off we then trotted to Stroud, the scenic route for extra seasonal seasonalness. Whale not only brought the usual bag of "stuff for use in emergencies" but boots, in their original box. Good job I'd emptied my car full of it's usual crap.
Oh no! Not another travel review…
Yep. This is going to be another (long) travel review – more specifically, an Aerosvit review (АероСвіт – Українські авіалінії) and my travels for the new year.
To set the scene: I wanted to be on Red Square for new years eve. I wanted not to fly from London.
The obvious choice, was therefore with Aerosvit – Ukrainian Airlines from Birmingham.
However…
When I got home from work on the 22nd there was a message on my answerphone saying that the flight had been cancelled – but that I had been re-booked on another flight from Gatwick. I rang them straight away, but they didn’t answer their phones. I’ll let them off because it was over Christmas, but I only ever got through to their office by using another number that they don’t give out. I guess Soviet telephone ettiquette is alive and well, even in Birmingham…
A distinct lack
Yes, that sums it up really – there has been a distinct lack of posting over the festive season. Partly because I've had the cold from hell, and partly because I haven't been in the country – so I can be excused, really I can.
Anyway – I'm about to make up for it, working chronologically backwards until I've caught up with myself.
p.s. To the person who put "i wank with my mate" into a search engine and got our site….jolly well done to you.
