reasons to be cheerful

nineteen

snowqueen — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:56:55 +0000

I’ve made more marmalade – it’s becoming a factory in my house – but I need to make as much as possible because my mother eats a jar a week. No, I don’t think I’ll be making 52 jars – but there will also be apricot and strawberry jam appearing sometime in the year.

My new friend gave me a sincere and satisfactory apology so I have given him another chance. We went out last night to see Led Bib who were totally fantastic as I knew they would be. New friend had never really been into jazz and never been to a jazz gig before so this was kind of throwing him way in at the deep end. We sat right at the front on a comfy sofa which was nice. He really enjoyed the gig so that was a result.

My new lecture which I was a little worried about went really well.

I managed to catch up with Mac who’d been elusive this week and had a brief chat on the phone while I was stuck in a car park waiting for an ambulance to leave. He entertained me with stories of dead monks (well one dead monk) which sounded a little like a side story from In the Name of the Rose.

I managed to clear some outstanding jobs at work which had been bothering me – and reflected on how easy it had been to do them and how stupid it was to have procrastinated so I’m going to try to be a bit more disciplined about such things in the future.

I found another naturally-occurring heart (I know I haven’t told you about this project) on my dinner plate yesterday and made my OC take a picture of it on his mobile phone and text it to me as I didn’t have mine with me.

eighteen

snowqueen — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:34:00 +0000

Ate my freshly made ginger marmalade for breakfast – oh my goodness it is dangerously yummy!

I caught sight of myself in the mirror today and thought I looked beautiful. I have decided to wear more striking lipstick and I rather like it. I left my hair to be wavy and did my eyes with kohl so altogether I looked very mediterranean. I liked the way I looked and wasn’t worried about how others might see me. I wore my beautiful suede skirt which I can fit into again though I will need to be careful with marmalade consumption!

Had a fabulous lunch in Samphire in Whitstable. Will definitely go there again. I had a gorgeous fish pie and I know it was freshly made because the chef made me a wheat-free version with cornflour – now that’s proper service! For pudding I had possibly the most divine creme brulee ever.

In the evening I took Nash to a research seminar in the film department – Deleuze and neo-realist Italian cinema. PhD level but Nash understood quite a lot and was inspired by a couple of things the researcher presented. I found it fascinating and am thinking I might do a class in film. I love films.

Got home and Mum had cooked a roast chicken successfully. I ate some though I really shouldn’t have after the lunch! It’s got to be exercise and salad tomorrow.

seventeen

snowqueen — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:35:47 +0000

Made marmalade!!!

Went to my meditation group

Nearly worked hard (had a mad hour pissing about unable to settle down but apart from that was full on).

Had nice chat with the other teaching fellow.

Made a fab dinner too – roast pork tenderloin with silesian potato salad and carrots.

sixteen

snowqueen — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:06:30 +0000

Today I took Mum to the storage unit to get some things she wanted and miraculously found the exact items she has been pining for by sheer accident. She was very happy and I think she finally trusts that I didn’t completely trash her apartment.

After lunch I went for a wonderful long walk near Bridge with a friend. It was a clear blue sky day, crisp and bracing. We are going to be co-coaching each other on our work projects to ensure we end the year with the kinds of successes which will make us feel like we’ve been productive academics!

fifteen

snowqueen — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:26:14 +0000

Lovely Lodger came round this morning to discuss building a cupboard in my utility room. I’m happy that I decided to go for this because I know it will make me happy to have somewhere sensible to keep our coats, shoes and bed linen.

LL agreed that I had the right attitude regarding the new friend’s shabby behaviour so I felt that I’d come a long way and might finally be getting men.

Went round to see DC and give her her 60th birthday present which I’d bought in the USA.

Cooked some nice salmon – its Mum’s favourite so she was happy. Watched some crap TV but it was fine, nice to have some mindless entertainment once in a while.

fourteen

snowqueen — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:19:25 +0000

Did my first lecture of the new module to the new cohort and it seemed to go really well as did the seminar in the afternoon.

Bumped in new friend and discovered that he’d forgotten we’d arranged to hang out this evening. Instead of descending into misery I remembered all that I’d learned from Baggage Reclaim and thought ‘oh, so he clearly isn’t thinking about me that much – in which case, if he wants to pursue a friendship he can make all the effort to get back in my good books’. Frankly I don’t want to feel unimportant so he’s off the Christmas card list. I stayed at work and got another couple of hours done which made me feel really good and then I phoned Mac and had a long chat and that made me feel even better.

Feel proud of myself.

thirteen

snowqueen — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:31:41 +0000

Min got her C in GCSE Maths!! To her that is the equivalent of an A* so we were all really happy. She worked very hard for it and Nash helped her a lot as well as the school who were brilliant.

Got lots done at work – concentration and motivation definitely returning at last. Thank goodness!

In the evening we all went out for a celebratory meal and the Lovely Lodger came along too. Watching him and Min sparring is so funny. Mum enjoyed herself though she found it rather hard to keep up with the conversation.

twelve

snowqueen — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:47:33 +0000

The day started badly with me slipping over on the ice and landing slap on my back! However, things got better as the day went on and I actually got a lot done at work – especially remembering to pick up some DVDs and organise to get some copied for Friday’s teaching.

I made some utterly delicious parsnip and apple soup for dinner.

In the evening I went out to the pub for a drink with my friend’s 40th birthday and had a good time chatting to her and various other women friends. She absolutely loved the present I got her too so that made me feel good.

eleven

snowqueen — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:14:56 +0000

I am my own little satnav! I got stuck on the M20 in a huge jam today on the way to Chatham, came off at the Leeds Castle exit and realised the traffic into Maidstone was just as bad so I took a punt and went in the opposite direction and found a direct route cross-country to Sittingbourne and got to work only half an hour late.

We got blindingly good evaluations for the module which has just finished!

I had a long clarifying conversation with the OC after we had a strange misunderstanding. He is always willing to engage with me till we resolve whatever is bugging me. What a rare trait and I’m so lucky to share an office with him and be his friend.

Min managed to persuade me to buy her a pair of Uggs for her by making looking for them for a good price online a fun time instead of a drudge. What a fab daughter!

Mac is back!

ten

snowqueen — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:56:01 +0000

Back at work and 70% of my students were able to get in so was able to get two groups through their workshops. I ran a blinding workshop on how to run groups. The students were suitably freaked out when I turned into a crocodile – and I managed to get carpe burns on my elbow! Oh the strange life of a university lecturer.

Got some food shopping done so the family don’t need to starve quite yet.

Managed to get along to the meditation group tonight. Meditation was largely spent falling asleep. I’ve been doing it long enough not to worry though! Whatever is happening is fine in meditation.

Watched Big Brother which is an utter pile of shite but Mum appreciated me keeping her company.