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Jul. 24th, 2008 @ 12:00 am
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265 days left. one entry on 165, then 65, then...?
Entertaining weekend, many visits to Eltham - which isn't actually that bad. Saw nic chat (having re-retrieved number) - met at Ely station and subsequently had to replace tyre of (extremely) dodgy MG sports car. You can tell these things are of Rover-origin from bitter experience - fine when they work, but arsey-as-fuck when they cock up.
Home looks lovely - all manicured and...well...quiet. They've now got it how they want (24 years later) - what's the point in moving for a multitude of reasons? Unless some lovely Georgian manor house comes up *with* mains gas and drainage(!) there doesn't seem much of a chance of a move. Which I don't think they want anyway - especially not M - the lack of buses/town/things to do would really hit rather hard for someone raised in SE London. And Bromley's not that bad in any case - certainly not when compared to the rest of the surrounding dross.
Has to be said though, witch across the road and awful italians next door - witch phoned sunday night - Tanya(!) of all people (+ a couple of rather overawed chavs) were hanging around a few doors up. But why? There hasn't been anyone 'under 40' in the street for years now...
Finished last crinkle 'foil' today and felt a bit vile this afternoon - looked at milkround etc...bit disheartened about what certainly will be hard work next year. But at least enjoyable (we hope) and at least property prices should fall further by this time next year, so hopefully we can pounce and do an 'outright'. Certainly has to be SE16 or similar though, on train last night up here - and whilst only 1 hr 20 (which isn't bad for ~100 miles at all) I certainly couldn't do it twice a day. Certainly not with a family (eurgh)
So Cambridge tomorrow, first time in a month or so (certainly since after tour). Might pop in to retrieve final bits of music (if there are any) - lunch in Vaults to see what's up, and retrieve and *fix* bike (if it's still there).
Friday (it's not going to happen tomorrow) - book driving course (arse) - contact Ripon - get on to tiscali re. here |
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how long does this take?!
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Jul. 23rd, 2008 @ 04:59 pm
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Okay, so its been a process and long road, but we've finally turned in our spousal settlement visa!!! (horray!) We sent it away and it got there this past Monday. I was wondering from others who have done this type of visa how long it took for you to get your visa back after it was sent? This is for settlement from the US to the UK.Current Mood:  anxious |
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In which I seek your opinions...
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Jul. 23rd, 2008 @ 06:52 pm
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Righty-o, amigos. I have finished The Accursed Dahlia. Opinions, bitte. A poll! A poll! Well, okay, photos first.
( The Accursed Garment Of Doom )
So now on to the poll: clicky boxes!
Poll #1228406 Reviewing The Accursed Dahlia
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: AllDo you like it? What should I do with it then? If I frog it, what should I do with the yarn instead? If I keep it and wear it with pride: Are you now relieved that I have finished the thing and may shut up about it?
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Car Leasing and Military Dependent work Question
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Jul. 23rd, 2008 @ 09:58 am
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I'll be moving the UK next year. We are shipping a car over but I would like to get a right hand drive car for myself . Is there a leasing option in the UK for cars? I found a website, carleasinguk.com which seems to indicate that dealerships don't lease cars but there are car lease companies ..is that correct?
My other question is; I am a US Citizen, my husband is in the US Air Force we are being stationed at RAF Lakenheath. I would like to work in the area, do I need to get a work visa or somesuch?
Thanks for your help! eta: I thought Lakenheath was in Cambridge, but I was wrong. What are good towns, cities that are nice/safe and maybe a 30 minute commute from Lakenheath? |
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Dear Apple Again
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Jul. 23rd, 2008 @ 10:49 am
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Please fix your MobileMe web interface.
Actually, it's not technically broken - it works adequately on relatively powerful Macs and Windows machines running Safari, Firefox 2+ or IE 7+. However
(a) it deliberately browser-sniffs for Firefox on Linux and won't let you in without you spoofing the user-agent, which isn't hard but should not be necessary;
(b) taking the "superheavy AJAX site" approach means that you get a very nice web desktop app, lovely to use, fine, but it's useless on any mobile or mostly-mobile device - say, an Eee, or a smartphone, or a Palm. I actually did manage to get it to load on the Eee, eventually, by browser-spoofing, installing Java (why?) and using Iceweasel instead of Firefox (double why?) but half the time it doesn't load everything, there are dozens of "script is unresponsive" boxes to click through as the Javascript takes so long to execute, and the minimum screen width is set too wide for it to be usable. I can use other heavyweight AJAX sites like Google Apps, Zoho and Mindmeister without trouble, so I don't see what makes this so special.
This means that it is functionally broken, if not technically broken; functionality for a web interface to a service that is designed to be able to be used when away from one's main computer should include "ability to use it on all appropriate devices", and that definitely means ultramobile Linux laptops, which are becoming increasingly popular. This isn't too hard surely - just a bare bones form-based "mobile" interface would be okay. Either that or there should be some sort of offline syncing available, which there isn't.
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Heathrow?
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Jul. 23rd, 2008 @ 09:31 am
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Hey guys, more of a travel-specific question here. My parents are visiting me in England (from Canada, though I don't see that it's very useful to know TBH), and managed to lose a piece of carry-on luggage at Heathrow- they accidentally left if behind going to their gate, remembered halfway there and turned around for it (apparently inducing hilarity running the wrong way on the moving walkway), but of course, it had been removed by the time they got back to it (because of course any baggage left around unattended is considered suspicious).
Can anybody suggest the best way to track down this piece of carry-on? I see on the Heathrow website there's a phone number for Left Luggage, and Lost Property. Which contact is probably the best way to track it down? All of this is only transpired yesterday, so my best bet to try and track it down ASAP instead of when they're flying back in 2 weeks or so, right? Or, is the highlight of some security guard's day the part where he gets to explode left-behind baggage and carry-on?Current Mood:  hopeful |
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In which I take on the weather (and lose probably)...
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Jul. 23rd, 2008 @ 08:48 am
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1. Mon Dieu but it is hijously close out. Really disgustingly so. To the point that my lungs are being objectionable and we all know that is not a game I like to play. So I'm ignoring them, putting my foot down with a firm hand and all that.
2. We have the auditers in at work today. Bleh and all that malarkey.
3. I have finished the accursed Dahlia. Pictures to follow. Decisions to be made.
4. Happy birthday ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) helenprev! Hope you have a splendid day.
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Jul. 22nd, 2008 @ 07:19 pm
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My school schedule has changed since last Friday, not long after posting about the classes that I`d like to take. I`m still wait listed for that problems in cultural history of Canada class, but I dropped the alternative history class for another, which is class on prairie history that is also taught by Seager. This is a class that I wouldn`t want to drop so if I get into that other class with him I`ll drop Psych 250: Developmental Psychology. While I need that class in order to acquire my minor, I do not need it to take upper division education classes, which composes of the majority of classes I still need to take. I`ll take it another time.
I had such a wonderful time on the weekend. As usual Cirque du Soleil was absolutely amazing. I suggest for everyone to watch it if they`re a fan of crazy acrobatics, neat costumes, and if they can afford it. They had lovely clothes and masks in the souvenir area but they were so expensive. It`s a shame because there were a few things there I really liked. They have clips of Corteo on Youtube, so here`s most of the acts that I saw:
Opening chandelier act
Bouncing bed act (one of my favourites)
Teeter board act
Cry wheel act
General people swinging acrobatics (also a favourite)
Cortege act
Duo Adagio act
Human horses act (humorous)
Juggling act
Ladder act (another favourite)
Some other performance
Tight wire act
Helium dance act
Here`s the last act
After watching it I realized that the music and humour is very Montreal-ish. It reminded me of watching Just For Laughs Gags, which take place in Montreal. It makes sense since Cirque du Soleil is from Montreal.
The next day I saw Titus Andronicus at Bard on the Beach. It`s one of my favourite plays. If you can stand plays about bloody and gory revenge then I recommend it to you, and you can see Julie Taymor's modern movie adaptation of it. It`s the only movie adaptation I know of. It stars Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange, Allan Cumming, and Jonathan Rhys Meyer (meow!). I found that some of the actors even sounded like the actors in the movie, especially the actors who played Titus, Marcus, and Tamora. They also changed a few character's genders. But overall it was lovely to see. I can`t wait to see The Tempest with my mom in August. That`s another one of my favourite plays.
This upcoming weekend I`m going to show Johnny Lynn Canyon. If it`s hot enough I`ll go cliff jumping but I don`t think it will be. Either way we`ll go for a nice hike. I haven`t been there in so long. I always used to go since I lived a few minutes away, and I went there for a summer camp thing once. We saw a black bear up in a tree right next to the ecology center too!
You know what sucks? I just bought those new sun glasses in my new avatar only to loose them on Saturday. I bought a new pair yesterday. They look pretty much the same so I won`t change the picture. I can be so absent minded sometimes!Current Mood:  happy Current Music: Benny Benassi - Satisfaction |
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Jul. 23rd, 2008 @ 01:03 am
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Got this from the Etiquette Hell forums, it's a google cache of possibly the most ill-mannered thing I've ever seen on a wedding website. Current Mood:  amused |
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Jul. 23rd, 2008 @ 12:21 am
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Went camping at the weekend with some people from work. Did bridge swinging, jumping off a bridge attached to a rope, surreal telling my hands to let go without thinking too much, one or two people had mini panic attacks. Great feeling, I imagine that's why people get into bungeeing and sky-diving. As a cynic I might say it was just another drug, another escape, a great high, but purely chemical -anyone can get it in that situation, need some guts. Real personal achievements, using one's intelligence and skill are surely worth more. But one shouldn't knock thrill seeking, its not trying to out-do other pursuits necessarily.
My Edinburgh Fringe is looking good, reviewing, interviewing, a column in ThreeWeeks, ...but
Why do people always wait til the last minute to tell you vital bad news "Oh yeah, actually, you can't have my room in Edinburgh in August because my flatmate has resits and is stressed." said my an Edinburgh student friend of mine whose working with me in Durham at the moment. Fucking stressed, fuck off, I just need a room to crash.
I am going in less than a week. I need a room/cupboard rather desperately. Any suggestions? |
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Faking an American Accent on the BBC
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Jul. 22nd, 2008 @ 05:31 pm
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Okay, so has anyone listened to the samples from the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7518968.stmBBC's followup on imitating an American accent?</a>
Some of them are pretty amusing to my American ears, though I think the guy who lived in California manages to pull it off most successfully.
And I found the tip Stuart Smith gives about "curling your tongue up" when you say certain words to be pretty interesting to imitate an American accent. I was once told (in Colonial Williamsburg) that the best way to fake a British one is to pretend you have a plum (yes, a plum, they were very specific about the fruit) in your mouth and keep your tongue low. I guess that's where the difference lies!Current Mood: amused |
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Jul. 22nd, 2008 @ 10:19 pm
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I remember talking about this song with dextress and, I think, mirabehn as well, and it just came up on media player so I thought I'd post the lyrics. It's an absolutely glorious song by Chumbawamba taking the piss out of MySpace (and, to a lesser extent, things like Facebook too). It's very worth listening to as the sing-songy type music makes it hilarious rather than just funny but the lyrics are pretty damn good too:
I’m a loner alone with neuroses and hate
Anger is a permanent character trait
My letter bombs are primed and ready to send
Would you like to add me as a friend?
I’m a wound-up whiner with a fetish for guns
I’m almost 50 and I live with my Mum
I hope my nude picture doesn’t offend
Would you like to add me as a friend?
Add me. Add me
My mother says she wished she’d never had me
Add me. Add me
Would you like to add me as a friend?
I’m a recovering alcoholic I rarely leave my room
Peeping through the curtains in my dog costume
The voices in my head aah they’ll get me in the end
Would you like to add me as a friend?
I’d really like to mail you the picture that I drew
It’s Kylie’s body but the head is you
I’ve asked you sixty times before I’m asking you again –
Would you like to add me as a friend?
( Read more... )
I'm know a lot of people think of Chumbawamba as basically just Tub Thumping and bizarre incidents involving John Prescott but, really, they're fab and mostly sing modern folk. Anyone who likes modern folk, political songs, and/or just interesting lyrics should give them a look. I particularly recommend the album that I just bought: The Boy Bands Have Won. |
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So I'm the new kid...
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Jul. 22nd, 2008 @ 04:03 pm
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and I'm in a bit of a bind. I've been spending the last hour and a half trying to figure out what I want to write my UK themed informative speech over. Thing is I'd really rather not get into my nerdy obsession with Gainsborough or Sylvia Plath and I know Winston Churchill and Jane Austen have probably been done a million times before so really...what I'm looking for is some type of contemporary issue that I, as an American who has never stepped foot in the UK, may be unaware of. An alternative would be...maybe some type of celebration? Any help would be most welcome.Current Mood:  blank |
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The Music of the Spheres
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Jul. 22nd, 2008 @ 05:13 pm
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http://www.halfsatori.com/2008/07/celebration-of-life.html
My friend Ananda's inspirational doodles about consciousness dancing through the cosmos to the universal beat.
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icons 1.01 Rose
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Jul. 22nd, 2008 @ 04:20 pm
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pebls, posting in ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) _drwho_
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I've got 29 icons and 1 wallpaper from episode 1.01 "Rose" for you. Featuring the ninth doctor, Rose and of course Nine/Rose.
Teaser:
  
here at dreaming_art |
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Jul. 22nd, 2008 @ 10:14 am
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Christopher Hitchens on undergoing waterboarding. From vanity fair, of all places.
Whether or not you can stand Hitchens, this is worth reading.
From ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/syndicated.gif) aldaily |
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health insurance
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Jul. 22nd, 2008 @ 10:08 am
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I've had a look through tagged entries and my question is similar to this http://community.livejournal.com/brits_americans/792518.html
as I am a US postgrad student who is soon going to see my American health insurance expire. I am not going to pay coverage because I use the NHS and when I go home to visit I can get travel insurance.
However, I was wondering, as I plan to move back to the US in 1-2 years time (subject to Post Study Visa approval), will it be difficult to get health insurance because I will technically have been uninsured for a period of time?
Has anyone had a similar experience that they can share? I ask because when I first moved, I got taken off of my car insurance because I obviously wasn't driving. It was then incredibly difficult to put me back on because, according to many agencies, I had an uninsured period. Just wondering if it works the same way with health insurance??
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In which I vow to take on the Dahlia...
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Jul. 22nd, 2008 @ 08:55 am
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It is in my bag as lunchtime knitting. I am determined to finish the second sleeve/neckline and recast off the bottom. Yes. Yes, I am. *looks solemn* Because when I have finished it I can forget about it. Possibly forever.
Jo has brought a load of ye olde shorte breade from Och-aye-land. I cannot help but feel this is a Bad Thing.
Our 'property manager' is coming round Friday before work because the flat is falling apart around my ears again. The fun never stops, I tell you.
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Planning a UK vacation for next year
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Jul. 21st, 2008 @ 04:53 pm
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Hello!
I haven't been on lj since the dawn of Vox but I had to dig up my old account and password to ask this question...
What's the typical cost of vacationing to the UK?
( More info )
This was really the best resource I could think to ask. I'm sorry if I bothered anyone.
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Jul. 21st, 2008 @ 10:07 pm
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Acquired another ballet teacher ce soir: the M(ental)BT. On arrival at Markova House we were told we could go straight up to the dressing rooms as 'the company's not here', presumably they have taken the H(ardcore)BT with them along with all the tutus and pointe shoes and pretty things from the dressing room which felt weird and empty. The MBT is splendid fun though and explains things properly, which does not mean that I can do them but it does mean I can understand how i should be doing them. Pirouettes were out in force, ugh, although I managed a couple of semi-respectable ones including one that was praised (Gott in Himmel). The floor was covered in something sticky and ming which meant a lot of things were quite tricky - glisses in particular which are mean to be snappy and really are not when your feet are stuck to the floor *g* Lots of jumps including the first exercise of 'just give me 16 changements'. Genius. Then we did a thing with coupes for which I earned bonus points by coupe-ing away merrily at the back whilst everyone else looked lost and blank. Heh. Also we knew what petit battements were and no one else did. Merci beaucoup SBT. Ahh, and there was a moment of genius when it seemed as though the MBT was signalling 'help, help my flags are on fire'. Boot-full ;)
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