wellieswithwings

real air guitar?

Wednesday, November 30th, 2005 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Computer scientists in Finland have created the Virtual Air Guitar Project, which adds guitar sounds to the strumming of the air guitarist! I suspect Air Guitar Competitions may get somewhat louder in the future!

shopped out

Monday, November 28th, 2005 | Uncategorized | No Comments

On Saturday I braved the hoardes and took on Ikea and Bluewater to do my Christmas shopping. Ikea was a breeze but by the time we got to Bluewater the car park was heaving, Carluccio’s had a queue the length of a bus and I was dying of thirst. Mum and I struggled on, stocking up on funky wrapping papers and heading out into the throngs to work our way down my list. Yes, I had planned ahead, I had a list. It was surprisingly helpful as it meant that I already knew which shops I needed and so just had to find them.

We managed to stop for lunch at 3:00ish, which having made the mistake of having no breakfast, could not come soon enough. A delicious porcini lasagna and a glass of red later, and I was dashing around, picking up the final presents and finding some fabulous party poppers and indoor sparklers in The White Company.

We drove home in the dark, ranting about the inability of people to drive in the correct lane on the motorway, amongst various other bug-bears, and was back in time for dinner. Then I dashed out to meet Sam, Donovan and others to celebrate Sam’s birthday at Saqqara. Unfortunately by this time I was starting to flag and by 11pm I was having difficulty keeping my eyes open and so went home to bed, to sleep. Bliss.

Yesterday was wrapping day. The cats were asleep so it was the perfect time to get out the ribbon. By lunch time I was surrounded by neatly wrapped presents with bows, gems and name cards. So far I’m feeling fabulously organised & tonight I get down the tree ready for Thursday.

mmmmmm Porsches

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2005 | Uncategorized | No Comments

It would seem that some German Police have been given Porsches to help chase our bad-boy-racers. It’s certainly one incentive to help boost recruitment! However, I don’t think even a Porsche would convince me to join the police. It could work on my brother though!

dragging

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2005 | Uncategorized | No Comments

I’m not a big fan of days with little work, (obviously this excludes holidays, weekends and all those other times when I can ligitimately fill my time with reading books, etc) being at work and being bored makes the day drag horribly.

I’ve planned all the work that the office has to do for the next six weeks, which leaves me feeling especially organised, and just a little sad. I mean, it’s my job to be organised but six weeks seems excessive. I wonder if people will look at me strangely when I start telling them what they will be doing in January.

This completed, I went back to planning something nearer to home. After the success of last nights parsnip and blue cheese soup, I’ve been thinking about food and dinner specifically. Why is it that my brain, when faced with hours of emptiness, always ends up coming around to food?

the kingfisher

Friday, November 18th, 2005 | Uncategorized | No Comments

I have finally found The Kingfisher poem that has been running around the back of my head for the past few weeks. It wasn’t a Walter De La Mare poem at all, but W H Davies. I remember reading it as a child but for no apparent reason it popped into my head and has been floating around ever since.

Glad I found it at last! Now I just need to track down that John Donne book.

The Kingfisher

IT was the Rainbow gave thee birth,
And left thee all her lovely hues;
And, as her mother’s name was Tears,
So runs it in my blood to choose
For haunts the lonely pools, and keep
In company with trees that weep.

Go you and, with such glorious hues,
Live with proud peacocks in green parks;
On lawns as smooth as shining glass,
Let every feather show its marks;
Get thee on boughs and clap thy wings
Before the windows of proud kings.

Nay, lovely Bird, thou art not vain;
Thou hast no proud, ambitious mind;
I also love a quiet place
That’s green, away from all mankind;
A lonely pool, and let a tree
Sigh with her bosom over me.

W.H. Davies