How to give yourself myocardial infarction

It's really simple. Frighteningly simple! Just go home on your merry way, pick up your bag and head out to the supermarket. Walk in the door of the supermarket and realise 'oh crap, my wallet has gone', and spend a panicked five minutes before you realise you've left it at work. And have to go back to get it.

My own idiocy amazes me. I'd have a far less stressful life if I wasnt so distracted! Good news being that I'm getting more money in as my salary than I thought (tax less than expected), but this is without saving anything: have to start putting some by at some point!

Gripes and grumbles

God, but the roads are crap in Leeds! So many in bad need of resurfacing......

Day spent out on the road. Off to York in the morning after a huge detour across Leeds - routes are also signposted exceptionally craply - meaning a nice bomb up the A-roads and freezing hands to boot. I love York, it still is my favourite city and going back always is nice. I'm still totally disturbed by all the shops and doodads around Swinegate and Little Stonegate, because conceptually they are still back alleys to be with nothing in them. Not so, and not so for a long time too! Still, I'll have to go back there lots - and find the proper places to park. Still, it was quite quiet for a sunday (southampton must be a bigger draw than I thought), though there was a random parade or berobed dignitaries, which everyone stopped and had a gawk at, without knowing what the hell was going on! Lovely lamb for lunch, seems to be having a bit of a renaissance at the moment.

Desperate to keep riding, it was then off to Harrogate, again getting lost on back roads on the way. I've forgotten how much I'm used to knowing a place like the back of my hand, I really dont know where I am around here! Then again, I didnt really know my way around Redland or top Clifton when I was in brizzle, so no change, I suppose. Hmmmm. Anyhow, Harrogate seems rather dull (like people have been telling me), but it still is very pretty. I think I'm appreciating that the good stuff about Yorkshire isnt in it's towns, it's in the country - and certainly considering some of the views I was getting, I would say so. Managed to nearly pee myself in Harrogate tho, what with the loos at the station being closed. Not pleasant!

Scooted along then to Otley, teeny tiny place which seemed to be rambler haven (though lots of other bikers going through too), plus even though it was totally small, I managed to lose myself and forget where the car park was. Oh dear.

And then back into Leeds and here I am. Must say I've been having lots of thoughts today, which I really should have been paying more attention to, but they've all gone. So they arise, so they pass away, unnoted. Alas. Anyway, it'll teach me to think too hard!

Back to work on the morrow, kinda looking forward to it and kinda not! Lots to do, lots I should do. Still feeling my way with this chemistry a little, but I think it's going nicely at the moment!

Oh, and the other gripe. I've realised why the fuel bills that irksome housemate was complaining were too high, are too high. It's because he is pathologically incapable of turning off the lights! I keep finding them left on, in the cellar, coming home to find they've been on all day......Aaaarrrrgh!

I love chinese supermarkets

Well, first exploration of Leeds has been made! That's just the city centre, though, have suburbs galore to pootle about yet.....

Anyhow, first port of call was for a coffee and some breakfast. Despite going shopping on Thursday, I managed to forget to buy the one item I needed: marg. So I've nothing to put onto my dry toast, and hence no breakfast. Hence stop off for a brew and an (horrendously priced) croissant. Nice.

Then headed for the Cornmarket, which is a nice building filled with diddy shops that seem to be on a nice racket. All independent, I think, with the kind of merchandise that goes with it; thing surfer gear, lots of beads and candles, odd rag-clothing and body jewellery. Lovely. Though I could have told that from the crowd of goth kids hanging about outside the front, really. They seem to turn up everywhere these days, and black isnt really the colout for this time of year (he said, wearing his black waterproofs).

Further investigation revealled Leeds covert market, with which I'm positively delighted! No actual deli, but about 3 fishmongers all in a row, butchers, a spice shop, veg shop, little scummy cafes (that are probably decent value and grub) and cheapy bins. Great! I think I shall take up shopping there, especially since there was once franchise with the most mahoosive cheese counter.....and as you all know, my addiction to cheese is only exceeded by my addiction to coffee. And there's the open market just outside, with the odd combination of more veg stalls, a stall selling lingerie (smalls out in the freezing cold!) and invalid carriages. Nice. Anyhow, this is EXACTLY what was badly lacking in Soton, take note people. I failed in the cheesecake hunt, but I'm told that there are more posh bakeries about Headingley and Chapel Allerton, have to investigate. And I assuaged my craving by having all-you-can-eat chinese on a student deal (fantastic that my card is dated till July!), even though I havent been paid yet and cant really afford it. Hope they've not buggered up my salary, I'll be majorly pissed off.

Trips made to various theatres to get onto mailing lists. Doesnt seem to be much on at the moment, may have to do the rounds of Wakefield and other places, though it appears that The Cruicible is on at The Cruicible (ho ho!) in Sheffield, may have to have a trip there. Wanted to see that for a long time. But the West Yorkshire Playhouse is exactly as I remember, and I'm itching to go there again. May do it this week just for the hell of it!

And now to the titled theme. I love chinese supermarkets, of which I found 2. Bought a big sack of rice (betting now opens for how long it lasts, 10lb, people) and some tea but there seems to be the usual collection of unidentified instant-noodles-in-MSG-sauce and odd packets of random ingredients. I'm an old hand at these places, though a quick scan of the freezer revealed something delightful that churns even my cynical stomach. A nice display, for your culinary delight, of frozen pork uterus, so labelled. Gorgeous.

I mean, what the hell is that all about?! They must be either slaughtering sows freshly delivered, or pregnant sows (what a waste of a piglet) or nicking them from the poor mother while she lays knackered and sweaty after popping a few out. Well nasty! No accounting for taste, but you'd have thought they might try and dress it up in a more appealing name, like they call bulls nadgers 'sweetbreads', like maybe 'flower of pork' or something. But no. A big white label with just 'pork uterus' slapped on the side, and the equivalent in chinese characters. Great.

Anyhow, a bit more exploring reveals not much more than your general shops (have to poke more another day), and 10lbs of rice on your back aint exactly light, so I've come home and shall nip out again just now to Headingley for another coffee and some cakey thing, if I can find it! Hope you are all on a good weekend.....

Friday feeling

Cant believe how quickly the week has gone. More to the point, I've not blogged hardly at all, time for an update!

Nothing been done on the viva front yet, I really need to start revising and looking stuff up and re-reading my dull, dull thesis. Thing is, there are far more exciting things to be doing with the new work! Ah well, I need to knuckle down next week, I'm having this weekend to relax and not have to rush off places. Nice.

Not much doing at the moment, so only things to say would be chemical, and I'll not bore you all. I've got a bit of a rash come up, courtesy of frantic scratching last night, have to do the bath thing again this evening and knock back the green tea and water. After the insinuations that I wash in coffee, I'm *going* to cut down!

Surely that's enough to keep you going!

Well, for you lot, not for me. I need to type in an entry!

Cancelled some direct debits yesterday, now just have to wait for the letters of complaint to pour in. NTL can be such an arse though, I'm not going to sit for hours on their automated phone system just to tell them to remove their bloody service. So I've stopped payment, and they can then complain at me. Assuming they can even be bothered. They never noticed we didnt actually sign the agreement when we opened the account. Dumb-arses.

Scooted out on the motorway a bit yesterday, quite fun, busy and very cold! Nighttime appears to be, I keep getting numb hands and my wrists are a little bit strained - muscles over-worked. No rude comments please.

Tonight - coffee with the communist! Well, he's not, just a lot more politicised than myself, though I think we'll have plenty to discuss.....

Not quite so quickie

In fact, this may be a mammoth effort!

So, Friday was a good day, spent doing a column and feeling like an idiot because I've forgotten everything about stereochemistry. Never mind, sure I'll be up to speed quick as a wink! Have managed to make what I wanted and expected, so chemistry does work. Rest easy, people.

Friday night, I walk across Leeds to the station to get my train for the big journey south, with Steve in tow. Well, not really in tow. Steve is another post-doc in the group, who started just before I did, and we're going to be working on simillar things, so it's good that we get on. He seems a nice enough guy, and it turns out he was getting the same train in the morning that I did. Nice coincidence! Anyhow, he went off to meet his mate and I went and got my ticket.

OVER SIXTY pounds it costs you! I really should have thought about it in advance and booked, but I'm disorganised like that. But I shall be buying my tickets for viva travel, have no fear. Cant afford not to. Anyhow, having recovered from that shock, I ended up standing on the train all the way to Sheffield, as it was totally rammed and full of inconsiderate people. This is with a heavy-ish rucksack on my back, not fun. But at least I then got to sit the rest of the way, and finished my papers by about Coventry, so only had two hours of stultifying boredom to wait through. Never mind. Managed to time the arrival with unilink though, so got home without a long walk or expensive taxi.

My, the house has changed! Well, not so much, but it definitely didnt feel like I lived there any more, even if I left my posters (in the bin no doubt, but the blue nude was still on the kitchen door - my reminder of Liz!) and the bathroom reader and crossword books. Still, was strangely home without being home. Odd feelings. Still, I was totally knackered and made out my six feet of ground in my original room at the back. Strange, that. First and last night in the place in the same room, with two years of sleeping in another room in between. How I remember how I filled that room with all my shit! Whatever happened to it all? All the books it was, I think....never mind, eh? But one thing that made me very pleased, was that the message that was on the back of the door when I got there, left by Nathan - was still there! Nice bit of continuity, wonder how long it was there before I got there. So it's been there for nearly five years - and I hope it stays a bit longer too.

Well, I fall asleep only to be woken at 1am by Clare's friend who's been kipping over. No matter, I knew this was a possibility and I think he had the greater shock! *grin* Poor boy, had to sleep on the sofa cushions. Still, he's been living there for free by the look of it, so it's only fair. If I'd known I'd have made him pay my share of the rent.

Got up far too early in the morning - cant get used to this 'up before dawn' lark, roll on springtime - and had to pussy-foot around him including getting into all my waterproofs, then sneak out in the dark. Left my key behind also, which was very strange, not quite my last link to the place being severed. I'll miss it, longest I've lived anywhere apart from home. But I didnt really have too much time to consider it all, as had to be on my way. Not the time now for deep introspection on southampton, but I'm sure that will come. I'm going to miss the place, deeply.

On to the station and onto an earlier train than I expected. So far so good. Except that this train blows a gasket or something and we all get turfed out at Brockenhurst to wait for the next one! Typical. So I ended up on the train I was meaning to catch. Still, got me an extra cup of coffee in for my trouble. Onward to Parkstone, and then a rather overly long walk to the bike shop! I was fooled by yahoo maps, never mind. Anyhow, after getting very hot and sweaty (two layers under waterproofs, people) I finally picked her up and began the journey in glorious sunshine.

Lovely riding weather, though I've been permanently paranoid the entire distance that the electrics will blow again. A gentle trip first up from Poole to Ringwood and then the familiar road to Salisbury, where I stopped for what was going to be lunch at around half eleven. I like Salisbury, despite what some (Jo!) might say to the contrary, and I wish I could have spent more time there. Should have talked to Jo, really and met up, but no time, alas, alas. A quick scan of the market and a talk to the nice man with the Honda, then on my way with plans to stop at Marlborough and/or Swindon.

So much for plans. I ended up going through Marlborough without really noticing I had, and then thought 'sod it' after crossing the M4 and high-tailed it for the Oxford road, meaning to stop somewhere along there. Again, so much for plans, as I ended up getting all the way to Oxford with rather numb hands! Stopped on St Giles and nipped into Blackwells for a coffee. I'd forgotten how much I love Oxford too.....hmmmm, difficult to decide anywhere to live, huh?

Not much doing in Oxford, so I scooted onwards, avoiding the roadworks and making a rather massive detour out to the M40. Stopped at the services there and refueled, then onto the motorway for the first time! MASSIVE amounts of fun to be had crouching behind my little widbreak and twisting your wrist! Caned it up to mhy turning and then onwards to Northampton, where I stopped again for a rest.

Motorway riding, though fun, can very quickly become a) boring and b) cold. It's freezing, bombing along at a certain rate! Still, I think it proves that the bike is OK, even though I still had the worry all the way up.

From Northampton, an uneventful scoot up the M1 to Donnington, where I discover that there are no room s to be had, so onwards to Trowell, where there were. And the night spent just outside of Nottingham, being absolutely paranoid that my bike would get nicked. It wasnt.

Early morning start in the mist, heavy mist! Not fun, having to wipe the outside of your visor all the time, I think I need another application of anti-fog. Came off the m-way asap since it's bloody scary in the fog at the best of times, and headed around Nottingham to Mansfield. Now, I realise that it was a sunday, and early - but the place was entirely DEAD. I mean, completely, didnt even start to wake up by the time I left. sure it's a nice enough town, but it really was like stepping back about ten years or more. Bizarre. And it's not just there. I nipped up to Worksop for lunch and if possible, the place was even more dead. And this in the middle of the day. Found a very nice place for lunch though, a lovely roast (which I should try and do more often), and then onwards whilst getting lost to Doncaster. This enormous city also proved to be rather devoid of life, though at least there were some people! Another coffee, much phaffing to try and find a loo (see - not even those were open) involving yet ANOTHER coffee, and then onwards to Leeds, eventually getting home with the dusk.

All in all, about a 300-mile trip. Good going for a weekend! And what happens as I try and manoeuver into the little back yard? I bloody well go and dump my bike over. Nice.

Well, I was absolutely crapping it that I'd broken the very wing mirror I'd just had replaced! Luckily it only bent out of the way and scratched the casing (and the windscreen), but only goes to show. In my defence, the road out back is about 1 in 3 and I was trying to turn the bike to be running across the slope and through a narrow gate. Something that requires practice I think, and I'm not really game enough to try, tell the truth. So I think I may be parking myself down the bottom of the road (it's too steep to park on the road!) and chaining myself to the drains or lamposts. Hopefully this will be secure enough! May ask for opinions at work and the like - or scout out for people nearby who may let me use their (more accessible) back yards.

Get in, shattered, but not so shattered as to have a good long conversation with Matt, on wide-ranging subjects but mostly to include a comparison of notes on Brokeback Mountain. Fun. Erk, but I miss the guy! Alas, alas. Still, a little bit of time at home and a bit of rehydration and I'm good. Food has now been had, I just need to make lunch for tomorrow and get myself into bed, ready for the onerous task of getting the bike back out of the yard tomorrow! No rest for the wicked, eh?

Ummm, so there you have it. Next weekend shall be spent in Leeds, exploring! Not sure whether to just look around Kirkstall/Headingley, or attempt to do the centre of town too. Rather a lot to see, and bearing in mind it took me about a year to poke about much of southampton on foot and so feel at home there - and here's bigger! Wish me luck.

Enough - it's going to take ages to save this.....

Quickie

Just a brief update. Hooray, hooray, hooray for toxic reagents because they actually work. Tin mediated cyclisation has been accomplished, to give an uspecified diastereomer of what I want (I think). Have to spend some time puzzling out which one now! Dammit.

Off to catch train to Southampton soon, for lovely five hours on the train without even the comfort of sudoku, since I didnt pack any. Have to buy shed loads of newspapers instead, and maybe get some kip in in the meantime! Food also necessary, but I'll have to eat before I get on the train otherwise it'll be far too pricey. And I didnt get lunch till dead late! Made up for it by eating a rather nice piece of cheesecake, which I've not done in a while.

Picking up bike tomorrow! *huge grins all over his chops*

Dark mutterings

Grrrr.....Keira, I think I'm getting to appreciate your housemate grumblings a bit more......

Housemate who has remained in house (and it seems there were a lot of troubles over their bills before, more later)...grrr.....one of the John's and I divvied up some of the bills to sort out (changing names, new accounts etc), so he'd do the TV licence and the council tax, I'd do the gas/leccy and I'd already done the phone line; so I do the switch today, and then he asks if I'd done the water too.....I say no - and he says 'well, you'll need to do that too'. Erm, hello, we ALL live here and I've done quite a lot of the other things too - not to mention the incident with the lock yesterday evening! I get the impression that he doesnt do anything unless pushed, as long as his own arse is covered; this is what I get from the previous bills incidents, and having lived here by himself for a while before we all moved in, he's spread about the (not too big) kitchen and is hogging cupboards and space.....hardly one for the give and take!

Grrr....that's enough for now. Shouldnt really be getting this annoyed this quickly....one for the metta bhavana I think!

La la la

Lunchtime ramblings to pass the time.....having blogged loads this morning, I'm into the habit, not that I have anything to say....have done my D-A, which might have worked, the spots are very close, have to see....but have quenched it at -78 and the water just froze. Doh. So just waiting for that to melt, then extract extract extract.....

Had two bits of news this morning.....first is news about tutorials, I've got two lots of groups *erk*, have to bone up on things! Other news is *aaaargh* my viva is scheduled for the 16th feb.....have to start knuckling up on my chemistry again!

Trials and tribublations

There are some things in life that you really just live for. There's always some occasion or other when you are busting for the toilet, no? Well, I had a bit of an episode yesterday. Please not that, despite earlier postings, I'm not some kind of compulsive bladder control freak.

Left work and was kinda needing to go as I approached the station. No matter, train due soon, 3 min ride home and then a five minute walk. Do-able, no? I thought so. And so it proved, even with the train delayed by about 10 mins. Still do-able! Walk quickly home from Headingley (all downhill, about 5 mins), get to the front door....key goes in, key turns *ping*.....key keeps on turning.....and turning...and turning......

Oh crap, the springs in the lock had snapped! So tumblers would not turn the bar is completely stuck in 'locked' with no way to move it! ARSE! And me badly needing a pee!

There's a bit of a happy ending though, luckily there's the tapas bar at the end of the road, so I nipped in there where they let me go. Nice people, must go and eat there when I have the cash.

Anyhow, we are now urine-free but still unable to open the door. Quick call to landlady (who it turns out was out somewhere, and didnt have the right numbers) tells us to go to one of her other houses on the street for the phone no. of the maintenance guy. Luckily someone was in, and we got hold of it! One call, and the guy is on his way.

Owing to heavy traffic in Leeds (a chronic problem - they are always queueing up both ends of my street), he takes about 40 mins to get to our house. During this time it has a nice stab at raining, though a quick glance skywards and mumbled threats from myself seemed to put that one to bed! Anyhow, guy comes, inspects lock, tries the credit card trick - which doesnt work, and wont ever - and then decides only thing to do is drill the lock. So we do. Repeatedly! So much so, that the lock snaps off his 10mm diameter drill bit. Oops. Luckily there's a spare, drilling and suchlike continues.

When this point of entry seems intractable, I suggest it might be easier to unlock the back door and cut through the security measures there, so we go round for a look. At this point I forgot that there's an alarm on the house, which is promptly set off by opening the back door, setting off a loud alarm.....which we cant turn off because we cant get in the house. Oops. One set of pissed off neighbours no doubt! At least it wasnt too late.

Back to drilling the lock. In the end, the entire lock has been drilled through and the door still wont open, even with much fiddling about with screwdriver in hole to move the bolt back. Cue more drilling, all to the melodius tune of the alarm. Eventually the guy takes a bloody huge blunt chisel-thing and a massive mallet and with brute banging bashes the lock away from it's moorings on the inside, through the drilled hole. How the bloody thing held all this time is a mystery, since there was no mechanism left (just a pile of metal shavings on the doorstep!), yet finally we were in and could switch off the alarm. The rest is silence - amazingly peaceful silence. Delight! In at last.

Luckily there's a second lock on the door which we can use till the yale is replaced today, all free as part of the service (:-) But obviously I was not in the best frame of mind by this point....and there's more issues with the whopping gas bill left over from previous tenants to deal with on the mat. Gonna be ringing them today......*fun*.....and bill for phone line rental, not much, but not what I need right now! One hurried dinner later and I'm changing bedclothes and watching Sheila Hancock trace her family tree, which was a fascinating programme really - makes you kinda want to investigate your own family, except that all of that has already been done. Well, the records are there, but not much of the details. Still....interesting watching!

At least we dont have to pay a TV licence, since one of the John's transferred his to number 7. Some money saved! Hopefully today will be less eventful......

oooh 'eck!

Terminally short of money! *grin* Luckily I'll be getting some back from the bills, but I'm really running short - have to get my deposit money back for the house very soon! A good two hundred quid would be very nice - or I'll have to close my kiddie bank account (still open, still earns interest!) and squander the cash on my current doughnut habit. Thank goodness for my inlaid stock of sudoku to keep me amused! That and my books.....my room is still a mess, I need a bookcase but I certainly cant afford one! Any donations?

Been doing my test reaction today, looks like I've made my nice blue catalyst which will hopefully be good when I add the substrates to it! Also got hold of my demonstrating duties for next week, looks a little scary but I should be OK.....little undergrads trusting what I say.....going to be a very odd feeling....

Thanks to Mark who gave me some good advice yesterday, not to put pressure on myself to be so active as I was in southampton for a while yet, and certainly not with the terminal cash shortage. Plenty of time for skedaddling later, no? Even though I've been scamming the train services, travelling only one stop between unmanned stations; saves climbing up either Kirkstall hill or Woodside hill, both of which are wind-worthy; then again, I'm not as fit as I used to be! Not liable to be for a while either, since I do no exercise at all. Except for the sex. Oh, but I dont get any of that either. Damn, foiled again!

Must go and pick up my lovely informative DEPT experiment in a bit, and ask about IR machine, mp machine and MS service! A chemist's work is never done (not least because the chemist is a lazy arse).

Word to the wise

Always, ALWAYS remember when packing your lube to not just seal the lids down, but actually block up the entire opening! It gets BLOODY EVERYWHERE! I now have lovely slick, water-based gunk on loads of my kitchen stuff. Hey, at least we know it's non-toxic - and it'll rinse off no trouble!

Dear, oh dear

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If I wasnt so poor....

I'd buy this T-shirt. Is it wrong that I find it so amusing? Probably....

Not much in the way of news!

Really, nothing. Ummm. Bought a whole fish, does that count?! Need to get hold of bike people to ask about things....ummmm....Caterina (ex-housemate) has got a job in France, so that's rather good! Reactions appear to have worked, not much else to tell......next week with be spent doing some actual hetero diels-alders, methinks......maybe I'll have to buy this Europium stuff after all.....need to chase up that ordering stuff, actually.....

Hmmmmm

Yes. Hmmmm. Odd little thing regarding housemate who has been staying on; seems to really have a bugbear with the landlady, yet cant be bothered to move! Dont think I'm going to get on with this one too well if he keeps on about it - but then there's not much I can do really! 'Specially since he's got his own phone line and BB connection set up, but doesnt seem to want to share that. Hmmmmm......yes.....have to have big discussion with someone over this one, I think!

Badly need my phone recharger, silly boy that I am not only forgot all his pants but his phone charger too. Arent I the clever one?!

Bike is now OFFICIALLY FIXED! Wooo! Just have to pay off a little on that and go and pick it up - which will be a LOT of petrol and train ticket south. Lucky I can do it in Jan and therefore not have to stay overnight.....which wouldnt be a problem, knowing so many people, but saves on the hassle, no?

Must talk to Bev about viva date tomorrow....

Darkened evening....

I really feel like doing something this evening....crikey knows what, but I do! Have to find something.....maybe I'll go to the cinema again, but this time NOT get something to drink *shrugs* Getting a little tired of doing nothing - but I'm sure I'll think of something soon! Maybe be able to make internet calls now tho...

Congrats Deb!

Very big congrats! My sister has given birth over last night to an 8lb (and some) baby girl! Welcome to the world, Katharine Mary Boissiere......I'm going to be all smiley for the rest of the day now! So much for my sister being sure it was a boy, eh? Still, sure this one will be fine, even if she does have Deb+Jason for parent (:-)

Sleepy

Feeling incredibly sleepy these days, I think it's the 45min walk to and from work each day, and up a bloody big hill just before arriving. Park Street? I'd be hard pushed to say whether that's worse than this! This probably is anyways, since I've got further to go before this hill than in Bristol.

Anyhow, I think my fears of failure before have proven unfounded, I've got a load of lovely yellow solid to play with. Not so my attempt at amide formation, which doesnt seem to have gone at all; TLCs notwithstanding, they arent telling me anything! Repeat, repeat, repeat....natch.

Rang up BT and have installed the line at the house. Just have to pay the BT bill from Soton now! And find the gas bill and let Cat, Clare and Nadeem know how much they owe me. Money worries quite paramount at the moment, considering I spent £100 just getting to and from Leeds last week. Owch. Plus bills about to start for other things.....ooooh crap! And there's still a big whack of my credit card to be paying off, no? Hmmmm, budget ahoy. So much for having spare money to burn - though I think that's partly due to the fact I havent got a deposit back from Soton yet. And wont for ages, no doubt.

More updates later!

First time failure?

I think maybe! Reaction is nice and yellow, but I think there's a good whack of the wrong potassium salt in there too.....hmmmm......lovely.....time to make an amide, I know what I'm doing there!

Yes, expect this to be rather chemistry heavy for the next week or so, since I've got nothing much else to talk about in particular - getting some new friends will be coming high up the agenda, no?

Afternoon

Hooray! Back in a labcoat this morning - even if it wasnt mine - and did the wonderfully exciting task of preparing a solution of KOH. Yippee! I'll be using it this PM though, so dont worry, I've not gone totally loopy. Yet.

Been looking at the cheesy website for Brokeback Mountain which really doesnt do the film any service. Still, advertising is advertising, and no accounting for it!

Also having a lot of trouble with software - I cant download chemdraw for free using firefox, so back to IE....which cant cope with the website I need to use and is SLOW. *throws up hands in exasperation* But I am not using my own laptop for purposes of internet use at work - means I dont have to wait for so long!

Brokeback Mountain

Oh my God. Went to see this yesterday and was completely blown away! Excellent film, hope it wins something nice. Heart-stoppingly beautiful landscape, and something that engaged me in a film that I only normally get in the theatre. Cringeworthy moments, very sad moments and one big moment where I just thought 'thank bollocks I live now and not then'. Bloody scary. And gay-bashing is live and well these days, I've been very lucky never to have seen it. The bit where they meet for the first time after four years.....cant really describe what I thought anymore, but something I connected with.....

Still, a few little notes and commentary. I went to a screening for the deaf, so there were english subtitles on the bottom of the screen which you did eventually phase out, but very weird to start with. Especially since it kept coming up with the sound effects, to whit; >baby crying< , >grunts< , >dog barks< and suchlike. Most odd. But at times it was very useful to have the 'translation', what with mumble-worthy Mr Ledger who was incomprehensible at times! Totally into character, but it made listening quite hard. And oh dear, buying a large drink of coke before the film was rather a mistake. I spent about half the film dying for a pee and literally legged it to the loo as soon as the credits started! Anyone seen it yet? Ennis' wedding. I was dying from about there, so you can appreciate my mournful situation. So apparently I can have excellent bladder control when I want.

Sniffleworthy moments with Mr G in bad moustache (though as younger Jack he looks mightily fine, I know what I want for my birthday now please), and where Ennis finds the shirts in Jack's old room. Whose tragedy is the greater, I'm lead to ask? Though not tragedy in a classical sense.....harumph.

Anyhow, this will no doubt be whirling around in my head for the forseeable future today, and just throws into a bit of clarity that I've been single for far too long!

Moving traumas

Took possession of my new house yesterday! Wooo! Really chuffed, except for a few little things. First, one of the guys had picked up my keys by mistake, so I didnt actually get those until about half nine (not good for the stress levels) and one guy seems a bit more antisocial than I remember. I'm also without entertainment till we can sort out the phone lines.....cant even raise a dial-up for some reason, claims to be ringing the wrong number, have to discuss and sort out internet connection! Was very naughty yesterday and piggy-backed for a short while on next-door's unsecure wireless network, but they obviously must have noticed because when I went back two hours later, it had all been protected! *grin* well, it's a bit of service to them anyways...I could have been a right malicious hacker.

Anyhow, I realised this morning that I've carefully forgotten to pack any pants for this entire week. Gold star, this man. So today I'm have a 'free and easy' day, but will probably scoot into town at lunchtime and buy me some nice new ones, which I needed anyways. I'll be winning a pillock award this week, then.

An HOUR walk to work this morning. Ouch.

Still not going to be able to do any lab work till tomorrow, when I want to set up a gazillion recations. Well, 2 at any rate, one an entirely unexciting esterification. Like I've not done that before. And tonight I think I'll try and get to see the big gay cowboy film, maybe scout out a bit of local talent (or get bashed, who knows!). Money becomming a little bit of an issue though, since I'm out of pocket for a while till people repay me for bills and having 2 deposits out at the moment. Plus impending bike repairs and suchlike.....oh dearie me! So I'm still welcoming any free stuff you care to send me.

Monday

Woo! Early morning start in the freezing cold for the train again. I'm glad I wont be doing that anymore. Snoozed all the way down, but had to shift into smaller space owing to woman asking for the seat - all credit to her for daring! Lazy start to work, I really need to be getting into the lab....

Anyhow, spent morning doing not too much, 3 coffees (I was supposed to be stopping that habit) and hunting catalogues and the like. Not much else going on, really. Hungry, and that's about it. Getting used to the different people still, I'm not used to having to remain un-crazy for extended periods, I'll have to let it out sooner or later....woe betide!

Back to the world of dreams.....hopefully I'll have something more interesting to blog later.....

Teesside again

Back at Dad's. Journey north took longer this time, no idea why! Stopped at same number of places, went same way - could have been the long stretch of roadworks, but even that wasnt too slow....still....knackered, and have to be up early tomorrow again!

Moving into house in Leeds tomorrow, have to have smiley face on again to be affable. Sure it wont last that long, mostly because I'll be too tired for anything!

Ummm, yes. Bit of odd goodbye with Matt this morning, we're both so obviously crap at being sincere. I mean, in that he's a dead good friend and I love him to bits, yet I cant say it to his face! Drop him a humorous message very soon, no doubt. And now I actually AM oop north, and not just around the corner - maybe it was a bit prophetic!

Must talk to boss re: viva dates, and sort out myself over that. Prob take at least a couple of days to do corrections and sign out of Southampton......bum!

Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care

Well, that's a bit much for this time of night! No? Well, it's bloody late and I've still not dropped off. Later start tomorrow, with maybe lots of breaks on the way up. I think Chievely, Northampton and Woodall again. And other places as boredom dictates! Though I'll be going the long way round Oxford to miss the roadworks.....

*groggy*

Bloody hell, mind like a sieve....

Something else I meant to blog yesterday....bizarrely ended up talking to someone who went to my school last night - except he finished before I was born! *grin* most odd, considering the number of teachers we could both name - with the same personalities across that time! How strange.....

Bleary eyed

Back in southampton in what is currently 'my bed' in my head.....nice to be back for a while, but I think the ties have been cut because everything felt just that little bit different and not lived in by me (even though loads of my rubbish is still around). Ho hum.

Have been forgetting to mention all this week what totally weirded me out on Wednesday. Went to get new ID card, and of course I'm down on it with a Dr. title already! Most off-putting....let's hope it's true in the near future! Viva date to be set, have to ask new boss (suppose just 'boss' now) about time away for it. Looking forward to it, I am NOT.

Some updates for the curious about the new people I'm with. I'll get around to names another time (especially since there's several people I've seen but not connected to a name yet!), but apparently we have a manic lad who's a bit of an addict, a bitchy cow who is nice outside of work but hellish to work with, someone who's been getting funny turns and run down of late, and some others. Generally nice people, then! And they are the geeky workaholic group of Leeds. *shrugs* odd, aint it?!

News on bike - handing over keys for electrics to be fixed tomorrow. May take some time, but I dont care how long, just as long as it gets done in the end. Must remember to pay phone bill for here, ring up about NTL AND do money transfers for new house. So much to do, and packing as well! Dont think the packing will be too onerous though, there's less of it left than I thought, bonus.

Quickie

Drove into work this AM ready for mammoth journey south tonight. Absolutely bursting by the time I'd parked and walked into dept! Shant be trying that again.

Seems like I am going to be having a lot of fun with copper-box and pericyclic rubbish. Nice. Not. Also settling in a bit more at work, though it may be next weekend by the time I really feel I've arrived, since I'll be leaving early from here and not going to pubbeth. So next friday will be first social occasion, as 'twere.

Spent ages talking to nutty Kiwi yesterday, cool guy but very enthusiastic! All you southampton lot - leave me a message and I'll try and see you over the weekend!

Bike news: finally made contact with garage, turns out owner man is going through a divorce right now, hence lack of contact. Never mind. Should be dealt with pretty quick! *thumbs up* Be back on the road in no time, hooray! That is, if it hasnt been towed when I turn up in hampshire tomorrow.

George not at Asda?

Hmmm.....well, you know you think of George the clothes shop being exclusively an Asda franchise? As in the phrase 'George at Asda'? Well, blow me, as I walk down Albion Road in Leeds, if there isnt a George shop (same logo, people) without an Asda in view! Seems they are branching out on their own....slightly scary......

Managed to spend the whole day mulling over inverse-electron demand hetero Diels-Alder reactions. Now doesnt that sound totally intellectual? It's been quite dull. And I've been struck by the horrific thought that all of these things I'll end up making will have to be distilled, and that is one thing I'm utterly shite at. Buggrit. Havent distilled anything properly in a good long while! Hopefully they've got a Kugelrohr, I can just about cope with those thingummies.....but this is of no interest to you people out there!

Better give my prospective new landlady a buzz, no? I said I would!

Maybe there will be!

I think I've found myself somewhere to live now! Goody goody.....and spent day readng lots of papery things and not much else. Will talk to new boss soon and then hopefully can get on with some chemistry. Plus need more forms signing.....and other such gubbins......anyhew.....

Second day at school

God, but I'm tired! The commute is really taking it out of me, turns out it's incredibly stressful to be forced to sit down for periods at a time. Well, at least I've been getting a seat, I suppose!

Today....practically sprinted through Leeds city once getting off train, no doubt it's done me some good because my feet are really hurting. Met some of the Southampton squad who are up for a conference, very strange seeing people I know around in such places as you dont expect. Had idiot photo taken for ID card - my god I look old beyond my years in it - and actually met up with new boss man! And so I kinda know what I'll be getting on with now, in terms of work stuff. Well, kinda, and it'll be a long while before I can get on with anything what with getting settled into lab space! Think it'll be worth my while investing some time in that tomorrow. MUST also remember to give them my bank details or I'll be very poor very quickly.

Had a squizz at some more places today, think I've found another one that fits the bill so I'll be ringing them early in the morning once again! Better to put my mind at rest, I think.

Also have very much sorted things on the Neil front now, since I've actually managed to elicit some response! He's certainly not as interested as I was (kinda over all that for now), seeing as it seems he's as besotted with someone else, or something. So I can understand, and we can both forgive each other. Someone else to keep talking to, at any rate. Nice guy, as I've said all along! Jon-ster very much back on the road to more smiley!

And since you all read this somewhat, leave me some comments or something! Even if it's just 'you smell', though try and be more original now that I've said that!

.....and later still!

Nope, still not found anything terribly fascinating to do. Suppose I could look at more abstracts, and I'm kinda itching to be getting on with work-stuff, but not to be. Suppose if I was totally brilliant I could go away and work out something to do myself, but it doesnt seem like it is to be.....ah well. Could continue to spam people (sorry Matt, hope I've not got you into trouble! (:-))) ), but I think the gag will wear pretty thin pretty quickly! And I'm as yet unaware of what I can get away with looking at, so I'm sticking to the innocuous news websites at the moment, and chemistry ones....but there's only so much news you can read! Never mind, eh?

Seem to be nice enough people round here, friendly enough, but we'll see how it all goes! Nothing shag-worthy, which I suppose is a very good thing, could be a bit distracting and open to making a tit of myself! Caffeine still coursing through veins, I'm having another cup as we type. One slightly concerning thing would be the fact I'm probably going to be sharing a fume cupboard, have to come up with some good conversation and keep my crap-making tendencies to a minimum....need a lab-book sometime soon too.....Hmmmmm.......getting all worked up here! *grin*

Still, it's been quite a productive day for the blog, no? Well, plenty of text added if nothing else; and that's the main thing, no?

Bit later.....

....my first house choice fallen through. Never mind! I'm actually quite stuck for things to do today, there's really NOWT for me to get on with! Entertain me, peeps....

First Day at School

Well, first day at work. Got up FANTASTICALLY early, to catch train. I shall not be repeating this tomorrow, it'd be too much of a strain.

Anyhow, managed to fall asleep on the journey and wake up to find the carriage full of people who I never saw get on. Very spooky, to say the least. And then finally got to Leeds with the rush of commuters and watched how depressed they looked. Smiley Jon-ster was therefore brought out to play and spread a little happiness, not that they really noticed, miserable gits. And depressingly, it got to almost 9 before the last remains of night had gone, now I really know I'm back oop nurth. *shudders*

Well, Leeds does seem to be full of rather nice eye candy, having followed Mr spangly cyclist up the road for quite a way just to keep track of his arse. There are less productive ways of passing the time, but not many. Bear in mind also that I have doped myself to the eyeballs with caffeine - four, oops no, five coffees now, and counting, to include 2 shots of the hard stuff - so I'm not exactly in docile mood. But now that I'm here, I find that new boss is actually not in today, and of course there isnt much for me to get on with (surprise surprise) and that most of the people I need to go talk to arent back from their xmas break yet anyway. So a nice early start to not much.

AND, and I cant raise the bloody garage down in Poole! Going to have to try and get them again later, but this is not looking very happy for bike wellness, no not in the slightest. They'd better be bloody open this weekend if not before, I shall be otherwise most displeased. One thing though, what with all the shunting and travelling and other stuff, I've actually divested myself of much of my fret-ness over Neil. (:-) Hooray! Also helped by conversation with very nice Kiwi man last night, I maybe now have someone to descend on (fnar) if I ever head to that part of the antipodes.....lets see. Which reminds me, have to go check up on holiday stuff......and need to ask about that here too! My oh my, so much to think about.....

Expect another post later - I'm brimming over with it today!

House hunting

Not so bad today, think I may have found somewhere already that is decent enough! Think I'll ring 'em tomorrow and say yes - certainly makes it easier all round! Watch this space.....

Rang Neil, no response. Natch. Everybody please leave me a message to say 'get over it and yourself' please. What a load of to-do! Still, I hope he wont blank me completely and that I can still stay friends - specially if he's friends with Baz too.......ummmm...difficult situation ahoy!

Bit of a nasty experience on the way home though. Idiot pheasant at the side of the A1(M) - of all places - decides to run out in front of a lorry just behind me, so I got to watch the poor foolish bird go under the tyres in a whoomph of feathers. On squashed pheasant. But then, topping it off, up the A19, blow me if there isnt a grouse walking up the white line between the two lanes of traffic like the most natural thing in the world! Also in a bid to win prize of most idiotic bird of the day, it literally runs under the wheels of my car. Another one bites the dust, with a big bang on my number plate. Nothing to do but keep driving, really, cant go screaming to a halt for the sake of a grouse - when there are people in other cars just behind you. *sigh* bit of a shame and a shock, so I immediately had to eat a load more chewy sweets. Bye bye natural teeth!

House hunting day!

Early start today - not as early as tomorrow, half six, erk! - to get to Leeds and look around a couple of places. Sounded friendly enough people over the phone, we shall see if we get on! Have to buy an A-Z on the way, seeing as I dont know the top end of town from the arse end. Never mind. One guy though sounded positively stoned when I rang up, though I'm not sure whether that's just my first encounter once more with the dour northern spirit, but we shall see!

Yesterday at Gran's very quiet, actually, since the three oldies fell asleep right on queue and I forgot to print out music so that I could have a little play on the (very badly out-of-tune) piano. It's a real shame about that piano, it's probably not worth retuning since it's so off, but the casing is lovely. Shame, realy shame. More to the point that nobody has anywhere to keep it, so it'll just keep on rotting! At least it's nothing too valuable (or is it? *rasied-eyebrow-hand-on-chin look*)

Work starting tomorrow, fingers x-d it'll be alright! Have to have my best smiley friendly face on, and make sure I talk to everyone and find out about lunch and the like. And today I shall be calling Mr Neil, hopefully to put myself out of misery and acquiring a more stable new friend - though to be fair I'd rather a different ending came of it. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.....copious amounts of breast-beating for the new year! On thing though, it's completely stopped me worryong about my bike......that is obviously so much more important too!

Happy new year my lovelies!

Isnt it just? Finally managed to sleep properly after the drunken adults left around half 2 or 3 or sometime. Disappointing return haul on the text message sending extravangaza - still, I'll ring people soon enough I think! Going to my Gran's this morning, will probably be a very trying day and a half. Shouldnt, but there you are.

AND I have to try and ring people today about house-visiting tomorrow. Hopefully I'll raise some of them!

But the big *sigh* is because - as foreshadowed - I've reverted to being a teenager. I'm having a bloody crush, this isnt supposed to happen! Why hasnt he replied to me? *grrrrr* Line up for giving slaps please, I need 'em.