Work brings freedom
How time flies when you're having fun. In the past few months I have:
finished university! I am now thenorthernline B.A. (Hons). Although not officially 'til October, because the powers that be don't see fit to get their finger out 'til then.
watched almost all of Euro 2008 and enjoyed it a lot more without England there. When you've got the likes of Spain, Russia, Holland and Portugal hitting their peak, why would you waste your time watching les Rosbifs hoofing long balls into the area, with the likes of Emile Heskey lumbering around trying to get on the end of them? Incidentally, I notice Heskey has been included in the squad for the Czech Republic friendly. Nice to see Capello living up to his cultured reputation.
seen Radiohead at Victoria Park. Very good, even if most the crowd were of the stock who had clearly delineated their perfect gig beforehand to their m8s on MSN, and you could feel the collective breathless anticipation slip away every time they played a song from Amnesiac. Anyway, I enjoyed it, and I've managed to find a decent bootleg since.
seen Mamma Mia! Two observations: (1) Who knew ABBA had so many songs that directly relate to the theme of a mixed paternity test? and (2) The film is probably a testament to how good a lot of their songs actually are, given that they stand up pretty well even when Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan are mauling them. My dad is of the opinion that ABBA songs are like a box of chocolates: you have one and think "mmm, quite nice", but by the time you've had the lot you're so sick of them you don't want any for a long long time.
sustained a regular job for over three weeks! And will continue to do so for two more.
One upside of employment is that it has allowed me to re-enter the wonderful world of purchase power. Or not, as the case may be. Rent, cost-covering and the misguided travails of the Inland Revenue have all got in the way, plus the fact that I was running at a deficit anyway because of my overdraft. So I've been working solidly without getting into profit! Still, I do have some inkling of what it's like to have money in your pocket again, even if it's more a state of consumer impotence than consumer impulse.
Good job I'm not very materialistic. I do allow the odd minor expense though. The other day I bought some shaving soap, which was very exciting! I had visions of swanning around in a dressing gown with a bowl of lather, like Buck Mulligan at the start of Ulysses. I just need to find a decent brush to use with it, and some sort of receptacle - either a mug or a bowl - for the lather. I might even get a cutthroat razor, if anywhere still sells them! I don't think they're the sort of thing you can buy in Superdrug, and given the dubious disposition of some of their staff that is probably a good thing.
Me and Emma also journeyed to Primark, the sartorial Mecca, the other day. I'm sure families actually go there on days out now. Seduced by the low low prices, I bought many shirts and ties in all the colours of the rainbow. They are nice. What else? I've bought some Christmas cards from the MS Trust - only 128 days to go! Or thereabouts. And as testament to my frugality I've snaffled this great set of books from my dad. Fascinating stuff, and although you should never judge a book by its cover, these ones have pretty covers. I've just started on the first one (Herodotus on Ancient Egypt, c. 415 BC).
I also want to see the Street & Studio exhibition that's currently at the Tate Modern. It's a history of urban photography, from sepia-toned daguerreotypes to police mugshots to magazine spreads, from hawkers to vagrants to supermodels. The city transposed from the street to the studio and vice versa; framed by the forces of creativity and commodity logic. Or, Look At This Tramp Dying In The Gutter! Anyway, hopefully me and Emma will get to visit that in the next couple of weeks.
Finally, is there aught greater than Olympics Schadenfreude?
#1
#2
#3
I think not.
One upside of employment is that it has allowed me to re-enter the wonderful world of purchase power. Or not, as the case may be. Rent, cost-covering and the misguided travails of the Inland Revenue have all got in the way, plus the fact that I was running at a deficit anyway because of my overdraft. So I've been working solidly without getting into profit! Still, I do have some inkling of what it's like to have money in your pocket again, even if it's more a state of consumer impotence than consumer impulse.
Good job I'm not very materialistic. I do allow the odd minor expense though. The other day I bought some shaving soap, which was very exciting! I had visions of swanning around in a dressing gown with a bowl of lather, like Buck Mulligan at the start of Ulysses. I just need to find a decent brush to use with it, and some sort of receptacle - either a mug or a bowl - for the lather. I might even get a cutthroat razor, if anywhere still sells them! I don't think they're the sort of thing you can buy in Superdrug, and given the dubious disposition of some of their staff that is probably a good thing.
Me and Emma also journeyed to Primark, the sartorial Mecca, the other day. I'm sure families actually go there on days out now. Seduced by the low low prices, I bought many shirts and ties in all the colours of the rainbow. They are nice. What else? I've bought some Christmas cards from the MS Trust - only 128 days to go! Or thereabouts. And as testament to my frugality I've snaffled this great set of books from my dad. Fascinating stuff, and although you should never judge a book by its cover, these ones have pretty covers. I've just started on the first one (Herodotus on Ancient Egypt, c. 415 BC).
I also want to see the Street & Studio exhibition that's currently at the Tate Modern. It's a history of urban photography, from sepia-toned daguerreotypes to police mugshots to magazine spreads, from hawkers to vagrants to supermodels. The city transposed from the street to the studio and vice versa; framed by the forces of creativity and commodity logic. Or, Look At This Tramp Dying In The Gutter! Anyway, hopefully me and Emma will get to visit that in the next couple of weeks.
Finally, is there aught greater than Olympics Schadenfreude?
#1
#2
#3
I think not.