Thursday, August 26, 2004
Friday, August 20, 2004
Things that make you go duh
Ever since I've been there, there has been a buzzer for visitors to press to be let in, outside the delivery suite. It was a rather pointless buzzer as there was no lock on the door and it always stood wide open, so recently a swipecard + entryphone system has been installed. The old buzzer hasn't been removed yet, so a notice has been stuck over it, telling people to use the entryphone.
Today, a visitor took the notice off, pressed the buzzer and replaced the notice.
Also today, I found that a particular bit of our new delivery beds stain permanently if you get blood on them. Obviously designed by a man.
Ever since I've been there, there has been a buzzer for visitors to press to be let in, outside the delivery suite. It was a rather pointless buzzer as there was no lock on the door and it always stood wide open, so recently a swipecard + entryphone system has been installed. The old buzzer hasn't been removed yet, so a notice has been stuck over it, telling people to use the entryphone.
Today, a visitor took the notice off, pressed the buzzer and replaced the notice.
Also today, I found that a particular bit of our new delivery beds stain permanently if you get blood on them. Obviously designed by a man.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Moi
Nicked this off Miss Sixty's blog - you are supposed to select your birth month and cross out what doesn't apply to you. I couldn't be shetland ponied to copy all of it, so go copy your month of Miss Sixty if you aren't born in March.
MARCH:
Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others.Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.
Adam made me leave in 'sexy'.
Nicked this off Miss Sixty's blog - you are supposed to select your birth month and cross out what doesn't apply to you. I couldn't be shetland ponied to copy all of it, so go copy your month of Miss Sixty if you aren't born in March.
MARCH:
Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others.
Adam made me leave in 'sexy'.
It's good to talk
Well, I got my car back without incident. When I picked Adam up from the station I started to tell him of the day's adventures but he had already read my blog on the train (on his WAP phone).
Hmm... I think this is killing the art of conversation.
Well, I got my car back without incident. When I picked Adam up from the station I started to tell him of the day's adventures but he had already read my blog on the train (on his WAP phone).
Hmm... I think this is killing the art of conversation.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
The 'Getting My Car Serviced' Adventure
The car is well overdue for a service. It was actually due for it's one year service when we bought it back in March but, because I don't have an MOT deadline to work to, I have only just got around to doing something about it. The garage I go to is on the other side of town - a town with a nasty traffic problem in rush hour, which is mostly due to a limited number of roads (i.e. one) that cross the river in town. I thought I'd been clever and left home at 7.30am but very soon I found myself in the middle of a queue of cars that were going nowhere. A swift 3-point turn and I was off on the only alternative route that didn't involve going several miles out of my way.
The alternative route took me via the pretty village of East Farleigh (incidently, there's a good cache nearby *grin*). Trouble is, there is a railway level crossing there that still has manually operated barriers and the railway chappies always close the gates in plenty (and I mean plenty) of time for the train. The level crossing also has a station right next to it, so if the train is approaching from the station side the cars have to wait even longer for the train to stop at the station first. Today, of course, I got to the crossing just as the gates were being closed. They were just playing with us today, however, as after a minute or two the gates were opened again without a train having gone through. I then had to wait for the queue of traffic that had built up over the narrow bridge beyond the crossing to pass before I could resume my journey.
I made it to the garage half and hour later than I expected, and in one piece, despite the best efforts of a lorry driver who decided to overtake a tractor on a bend. The lady from the service reception led me out to the loan car, clip-clopping along in her red stilletos with evil-looking pointy fronts that Lotte Lenya would have been proud of. I followed, taking half the number of steps that she did in my flat shoes.
I was expecting the loan car to be a Saxo, or maybe a C2, instead it was a thing called a CityRover. I turned the key; it wouldn't start. I tried a couple of times but it wouldn't even try to turn over, it just beeped at me. I went back and got the savagely-shod reception woman; the car started first go which made me feel like a right idiot. At first the car wouldn't move off, but I realised the clutch bite-point was about a foot higher than that of my Saxo, so off I went. This car is so different to my Saxo - the seat is much higher and I felt like I was driving a coach, the brakes are more sensitive (the first dab of the brakes and I was nearly through the windscreen) and the handbrake is back by my hips instead of by my thigh. They never give you more than a teaspoon of petrol in these loan cars and filling up caused a problem - the fuel cap is operated from inside the car and it took me a few embarrassing minutes at the petrol station to work out how to get it open. Thankfully I was getting used to the car by the time I got home.
All this and it was still only 9am! And I still have to collect my car and pay up. I also had to go to the dentist today - no problems, but I did have to endure the torture device that cleans plaque off your teeth and pay 35 squids for the privilege.
The car is well overdue for a service. It was actually due for it's one year service when we bought it back in March but, because I don't have an MOT deadline to work to, I have only just got around to doing something about it. The garage I go to is on the other side of town - a town with a nasty traffic problem in rush hour, which is mostly due to a limited number of roads (i.e. one) that cross the river in town. I thought I'd been clever and left home at 7.30am but very soon I found myself in the middle of a queue of cars that were going nowhere. A swift 3-point turn and I was off on the only alternative route that didn't involve going several miles out of my way.
The alternative route took me via the pretty village of East Farleigh (incidently, there's a good cache nearby *grin*). Trouble is, there is a railway level crossing there that still has manually operated barriers and the railway chappies always close the gates in plenty (and I mean plenty) of time for the train. The level crossing also has a station right next to it, so if the train is approaching from the station side the cars have to wait even longer for the train to stop at the station first. Today, of course, I got to the crossing just as the gates were being closed. They were just playing with us today, however, as after a minute or two the gates were opened again without a train having gone through. I then had to wait for the queue of traffic that had built up over the narrow bridge beyond the crossing to pass before I could resume my journey.
I made it to the garage half and hour later than I expected, and in one piece, despite the best efforts of a lorry driver who decided to overtake a tractor on a bend. The lady from the service reception led me out to the loan car, clip-clopping along in her red stilletos with evil-looking pointy fronts that Lotte Lenya would have been proud of. I followed, taking half the number of steps that she did in my flat shoes.
I was expecting the loan car to be a Saxo, or maybe a C2, instead it was a thing called a CityRover. I turned the key; it wouldn't start. I tried a couple of times but it wouldn't even try to turn over, it just beeped at me. I went back and got the savagely-shod reception woman; the car started first go which made me feel like a right idiot. At first the car wouldn't move off, but I realised the clutch bite-point was about a foot higher than that of my Saxo, so off I went. This car is so different to my Saxo - the seat is much higher and I felt like I was driving a coach, the brakes are more sensitive (the first dab of the brakes and I was nearly through the windscreen) and the handbrake is back by my hips instead of by my thigh. They never give you more than a teaspoon of petrol in these loan cars and filling up caused a problem - the fuel cap is operated from inside the car and it took me a few embarrassing minutes at the petrol station to work out how to get it open. Thankfully I was getting used to the car by the time I got home.
All this and it was still only 9am! And I still have to collect my car and pay up. I also had to go to the dentist today - no problems, but I did have to endure the torture device that cleans plaque off your teeth and pay 35 squids for the privilege.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Dishwater
I haven't blogged in a while because, quite frankly, my life has been pretty dull.
More interesting than my life at the moment is this charming website about Kent's very own holiday isle.
I haven't blogged in a while because, quite frankly, my life has been pretty dull.
More interesting than my life at the moment is this charming website about Kent's very own holiday isle.
Sunday, August 08, 2004
Heat cache
You'd think someone who hates the heat would stay at home in the shade rather than going caching all day on one of the hottest days of the year. You'd think so, wouldn't you? Oh no. Instead said cacher got sunburned shoulders despite liberal application of factor 60 (it must have sweated off), a dehydration headache despite drinking gallons of water, and a heatrash on her legs.
But we did bag 10 caches and had a nice time at the Dreaming Spires cache bash. So that's alright then.
You'd think someone who hates the heat would stay at home in the shade rather than going caching all day on one of the hottest days of the year. You'd think so, wouldn't you? Oh no. Instead said cacher got sunburned shoulders despite liberal application of factor 60 (it must have sweated off), a dehydration headache despite drinking gallons of water, and a heatrash on her legs.
But we did bag 10 caches and had a nice time at the Dreaming Spires cache bash. So that's alright then.
Monday, August 02, 2004
Yarrrrr!
It was a hot day yesterday (have I mentioned I don't like the heat?) so we decided being by the coast may be a little cooler. To that end we went to see the World Walking the Plank Championships. The idea is that the 'plankers' jump off the plank in the daftest and most crazy way possible - and boy, were there some crazy people there.
A planker just about to end up in the drink
Some more plankers
The worrying thing is Adam has expressed an interest in being a planker next year. Sometimes I really don't understand my hubby.
It was a hot day yesterday (have I mentioned I don't like the heat?) so we decided being by the coast may be a little cooler. To that end we went to see the World Walking the Plank Championships. The idea is that the 'plankers' jump off the plank in the daftest and most crazy way possible - and boy, were there some crazy people there.
A planker just about to end up in the drink
Some more plankers
The worrying thing is Adam has expressed an interest in being a planker next year. Sometimes I really don't understand my hubby.
