Poetry, Procrastination, Problems and

I have been laughing myself silly all this morning.

Yesterday night, after blogging, I went downstairs to eat, and met the first of the other course members, a bloke called Dave. Turns out he spent a lot of time in my old home town - small world hey?

Anyway, this morning, I went down, booked a big taxi, had some bacon etc and spotted Dave in the breakfast hall. He'd already found another lady on our course, and offered a lift to the pair of us. Well, fair enough, so I went out and cancelled the taxi (was going to offer to share see) and got told a call had just come in, that someone was going to come meet us "soon". Well, of course, I asked how soon is soon. "uhhh, dunno." Ok.

So, I go back to where Dave and Julie are sitting, and tell them of this development. Being the practical soul I am, I hold up a letter with the company logo clearly emblazoned on it, and others on our course started heading over.

By 9:45, we start wondering - where's this person. By 10, I go ask if there's been any more information. No, we just have to wait in the foyer. Ok.

10:10 - there's been a call. No-one's coming to pick us up, and they'll meet us there.

Right. So that left us 20 minutes to pile into cars (fortunately, we'd been sat discussing for just such an eventuality) and try to drive there with the incredibly pathetic directions.

So, there's Dave, Julia, Gareth and I piled into Dave's car, and we're following the girls, because they've got GPS and have programmed the place into it. And boy oh boy. We switched lanes, cut people up, got a siren blast from a police car, went the wrong way, and made a royal hitch up of it, following them. And then we discovered there was no designated parking, when I finally spotted where it was we were supposed to be.

So we spent another 10 minutes getting each other completely lost, until Dave did the sensible thing and asked a local pedestrian. We ended up getting off in Number 2 Dolphin Centre Carpark, and arriving (8 of us) at the course, 45 minutes late.

Well, what can you do besides laugh? Our car were just falling about - we couldn't work out how to get across the road. The girls ran ahead and had fun trying to climb the fence in tights and high heels; when we finally stopped laughing long enough, Gareth pointed out the subway.

And it went from there - Dave's chair bust and nearly deposited him on the floor, and the icebreaker went badly wrong for Julie. We were supposed to describe our pets, and favourite colour. Julie described her dog as old, grey, whiskery and smelly.

Which was then that we found out this was a psychological thing, and was supposed to be the way we describe ourselves.

Well, I creased myself laughing (had to put my head on the table) and Dave was in hysterics, and Gareth was laughing because we were, which set the rest of us off even more.

I'd put "scaly, spiky and loyal" - which I guess is kind of appropriate, even though I was describing Kyle. Could be worse, I could have said cold-blooded and greedy!

And on the way HOME. Oh dear oh dear. Well, Dave took the lead back to the carpark, and I'm following them going "we're going the wrong way, we need carpark two. We're going the wrong way..." Guess what? We ended up at the top of CARPARK ONE. Hehehehe. What a surprise hey? We eventually managed to get back to ours, going the wrong way first and losing the girls, apparently they went off shopping for a bit so they didn't realise we had actually got lost (thank goodness).

And, because they were confident of the route and have the TomTom - we followed them again. We ended up cutting lanes, narrowly missing a people carrier, going round a roundabout the grand total of TWICE (I said as we approached "I bet we do an Arc de Triumph here..." Love it when I'm proved right) going the wrong way off the roundabout and having to go round ANOTHER one to go back ON the roundabout to go the right way (some comments were made about women drivers at this point, from Julie too I hasten to add...) and finally made it back to the hotel.

We found a lovely space, RIGHT outside the doors, and waited whilst the girls couldn't work out how to lock their own damn car. I had my hands on my knees gasping for breath by this point, as the lights kept flashing on and off, and they kept unlocking it every time. Oh yeesh...

And we got homework. I'm studying. Can you tell?

I gotta give another shout to my mum for being great and talking me through some issues, thank you. Here's one for Redline - you know what it is you want, and you can have everything you want, you just have to take that step. You've heard my opinion, get the books checked over first, and worry about the rest later. I'm with you 100% on whatever you decide, ok?

Today's most remarkable Quote: "That moment when you fall apart inside to something rare and so gifted, that golden chime of a heartbeat that races with the leaf as it floats to the ground in autumn, the parade of carnival spites the elements of a dark bank holiday monday sky...... enjoy yourself as doris day and terry hall once sang." - Jon. Dude... that's... wow.

My Microwave, Groovy Grandparents, Poole Party(?) and an "Earthquack Explanation"...

I need to write an official thingie for apologising for lack of updates, don't I? Save me a ton of time. Well, imagine I've done it already, and save us all the tedious procedure!

This last couple of weeks, because I've had to completely wipe my OS (Operating System) my friends have rallied round for me finding freebies to replace the stuff I lost. Nige discovered all six Harry Potter books in PDF format for me, dozens more refilled my MSN gifs (and sent me a few new ones!), and wonderful, WONDERFUL mate Gaz has just sent me "River Below" by Billy Talent. I LOVE that song, it rocks my purple and black stripy knee high socks off! (Thankees, owe ya one boyo)

Oh, and I have a question for you. How is it, when you've spent too long in bed, you get all hot and sticky, but your feet are FREEZING?! (Or is that just me?)

My grandparents turned up yesterday, which was nice. With a microwave as a surprise gift for me, which was nice too! We went out, got lost, had a big breakfasty/brunch thing in a Weatherspoons, got lot, walked around the city for a while, and then spent some time watching a busking showman. He was very good actually, roping in audiences and performing some fascinating feats; his grand finale was riding on a ten foot unicycle and juggling fire clubs! (and scaring the audience by pretending to fall off)

Ow, soddit! I pulled a label off this holdall, and the elastic snapped back with a wire loop on it, and cracked me across the knuckle! I seem to have wound up in Poole of all places. Oh, SCORE! I was rummaging in one of the cupboards (as you do in hotels, and yes, there is a Bible) and have just discovered freebie biscuits! There are marmalade ones (I think I'll save those until I'm really hungry) and chocolate chunk with pecan. Needless to say, I'm halfway through snarfing that one. Crunchy! Oooh, better yet - I've just discovered there's two in each packet! I'm having a good day for freebies, Nan and grandad insisted on taking me to the train station this morning (saving on busfare) and getting brunch at Morrisons on the way. And Nan gave me one of her hash browns. Thanks, I love hash browns!

Australians have a whole new way of thinking to us "Pommies" here in the UK. This is BNAlbino "tidying up". I told you, you've been lucky to get away with it for this long, because I promised you that I'd put it up... Perhaps their famous "Bundaberg Rum" makes things appear that way? Alright, alright, in fairness, this was when he'd only just started.

But still very funny - that stack's taller than HIM.

And isn't it always the case that it has to get worse before it gets better?

Actually, it's probably a good job I do have a microwave now, it's so much easier to quickly cook something, and to find some can-be-ar*ed-to with a microwave. Well, you know what I mean, you can't be bothered to faff around with pots and pans when you're only cooking for yourself.

I'll explain: most nights I get in from work tired. Back home, I'd normally eat about 6pm, which is great. Here, Dave does the cooking and we all pay a share (and I wash up while Kat's supposed to dry), which is fair. However, most of the time, he doesn't cook until about 10pm.

By which time, I've gone past being hungry, and gone to bed instead. (Thank goodness for large lunches) Now, he's got grumpy because I don't eat what he's cooked (although I sometimes have time for it as breakfast, and have been known to come home from work and eat it cold, as I'm hungry WHEN I GET HOME FROM WORK). This is understandable, but I do pay for it even if I don't eat it, and more often than not HE eats it whilst I'm at work anyway. Anyway, the sum of this all is, he refuses to cook for me now. That's ok, I refuse to wash up, because none of it's mine, and I'm not washing up at 11 at night when they've had their dinner. But if that's all the quarrel is, it can't be too bad.

And I said I'd give a public apology to Kat; whilst I was away, some of the bugs that Kyle eats got out. This has never happened before, and I'm very surprised it did. I can only apologise. But, (and this is just explaining, not taking at you, I already told you the same remember) they are a whole lot cleaner, less smelly, and don't bite like crickets. They also haven't got downstairs, unlike the cricket's ability to jump all the way down (I found one in your shoe one time) and they're not NOISY. (I had a big cricket singing under my bed at nights for nearly a week before I managed to catch it. They're a bit fast.) And my chufftastic sketch of Kyle in a leash - Kat designed the leash and I think it's very clever, works lovely!

And what's an "Earthquack" anyway? Thank you Mike, for a very good laugh. Oh, apparently it's one of Duckzilla's superpowers when he gets a n g r y.

My calculator has also started singing a waltz at me at 8pm every night. I've got used to it, as I haven't figured it out yet, and so just thump my bag instead. That seems to stop it.

"When the wise man shows the moon to the idiot, the idiot stares at the finger." - Frenchman Will. He claims it's an old French Proverb. I just like it for it's sense of perspective.

Nice Noodles, Nasty Nicole and Naughty Nige!

Nige of the awesome quotes has decided that he should start a blog too, and I recommend it. Do note, it does contain swearing and all other manner of vulgarity. A Lincoln Stoner's Life. Nige always has... unique perspective on life. Oh. I'm going to MASH him. He's stolen my quote-idea! Excuse me a moment, I'm off to go grumble in a corner.

Right, sorry about that.

I hear today someone I seriously don't like (and has done bad things to my friends) sent me an apology.

My response was somewhat classical of my style: "Nicole can go stuff herself up a stuffing palmtree with a stuffed bright pink pigeon and a citrus fruit!"

Toned down for my younger viewers. Yes, I'm looking at you guys. And those with the younger mental ages - fill it in for yourself. And the person the grater-roll belongs to, let me know and I'll reference you. I just thought it was great.

When we went out for dinner, I got asked "Are you a vegetarian?" I'd gone for the tofu dish you see. To answer your question; no, not by choice - I just had the *coughs* fortune to be sat between two vegetarians. But I have to admit, yasai itame is pretty good! That's stir fried bok choi, onions, peppers, mushrooms, tofu and beansprouts with massively chunky rice noodles in a chili and coconut something. It's kind of like a soup. That you eat with chopsticks. Makes hell of a mess, I can tell you, woo slippery noodles, great fun! I gotta tell you though, fudge cake with a dark chocolate wasabi sauce, that's very different.

I took my dragon out with me last night, my housemates thought it would be a great idea - so we took him with us to the pub. Dragon was perfectly happy to settle down and sleep for both of the three mile walks, and was happy to run around on the clean pub table. He's made several new friends, including the barman himself. Apparently beer flavoured fingers are pretty tasty. I wouldn't know - he licked them, not me. But then again, the dragon licks socks.

Today's Quote: "About bl**dy time, miss your ramblings!" - Remaining Anon for safety reasons.

Snake Things and Butter Dishes

Wow, sorry sorry sorry, time sort of got away with me from one thing to another! Nothing's been happening, but you know how it is.

Ohhhhkay, just had the most random call. Someone went Hello? I'm like, yeah, hello? they went "Who's this? So I told them. And this then happened a few more times. The penny dropped, and I now know who it is.
Did you get me any sweets?"
I responded "Yes, I got you Smarties."
This went on for a bit longer, until "Merry Christmas!"
"Well, what can you say?! "And a happy new year to you too..." was the best I could come up with. Oh, and "Enjoy your Wednesday." Even though it wasn't.
The caller's obsessed about the "snake thing" - my bearded dragon. "Sssssssssssssnaaaake thing." That's apparently my new nickname.
Kinda funky - Ssssssnake thing.

Ugh, it's been THAT sort of day, following another one. First one, I was washing up the massive stack left by the housemates, when it slowly occurred to me that it hadn't been piled up in the most stable of manners... Well, as I was halfway through doing the other bits from around the kitchen, I decided it could wait just a second - which proved to be my downfall. The mixer jug slid off a wonky tray, knocked into a bowl precariously perched on the teapot. The bowl skidded off, sending two pint glasses and the lid from the butter dish flying. All of a sudden, I've got a washing up bowl full of glass.

Having got that cleaned up, I went to finish off what was left of the washing; picked up the butter dish, and promptly split my little finger open on a chipped edge. Fancy that, attacked by a butter dish of all things.

I think I may be allergic to one of the soaps we use too... Hmm.

"Thats good things serious like this need to be fun or there not fun" - I think that was a Nigel Mangle.

Disappeared Dragon!?

Oh I feel silly again.
Every morning when I wake up, I go over to the Dragonarium, switch the heatlamp on and stroke his head to say good morning.
But he wasn't asleep on his flexi-branch this time.
I twisted my head a bit to look round the tank better, and I still couldn't see him.
Ok.
That's not right.

So I slid the door open, and popped his flexibranch on the carpet. I lifted out his hut, checked it over, and put that on the carpet too. Slowly, beginning to worry, I took out his plastic vines, checked them through, and dropped them on top of the hut. Now starting to panic (where the heck has he gone?!) I took out the herbs in quick succession, and he wasn't in ANY of them. I even pulled out the newspaper to make sure he hadn't climbed between sheets and got stuck - and I couldn't find him ANYWHERE. I stuck my head in to look round, and nothing. By this time I'm cross, and start putting things back so I can go to the housemates "Ok, not funny, give him back."

At which point I picked up the flexibranch to put it back in the front of the tank... And the little guy blinked at me. What the?! YOU weren't there before! "So?" But...??? I SWEAR, the little toerag was laughing at me. He was NOT on the branch! He's sat on it now, still chuckling away to himself.

I'm not feeding him crickets any more. They're slow, smelly (however much you feed them) and he's sticking his nose up at them now, in preference to the lobster roaches I breed. I'm watching him as I type - he's just taken a big mouthful out of his mint plant, and is now trying to do the same with his plastic vine leaves. He's given up on that, and gone back to the mint - and taken a flying leap into the middle of it. Mmmm, minty-fresh dragon! (Makes him smell good!)

The axolotls aren't at their brightest at the moment either. They've been having a great time trashing the tank again, knocking the "ice cubes" all over, trying to attack me (what sweet little beasties) and having staring competitions.

Spyyk, in the picture, couldn't be bothered to move, even when a shrimp pooped all over his head. I don't know which is worse - Spyyk for proudly wearing it, or Benny, for trying to eat it. Uck.

Today's quote: "Maybe she got trapped in a cabinet" - Vince Noir, the Mighty Boosh.

Crumbs, Catch-up!

The days have really been getting away with me. It's not so much been busy, as I've been doing stuff!

Today I spent two hours (from walking in from work at five until seven) out on the front in the sunshine with Kuleana, soaking up some sunshine and getting acquainted with some of the locals. I've made friends with a little boy called Matthew. He makes a real mangle of "Kuleana" - I couldn't work out the written version if I tried every day for the next year, but it was manglemanglemanglemangle-ANA! Bless him. His mum was amused anyway, and he was delited at being able to hold the baby lizard. He ate a mint leaf today too, I saw him! At last!

Yesterday was super-awesome-cool though, I had a good day at work, finally got my internet access (which is where I started typing this up today - please note, my views are not the views of the company and all that yada), I came home, spent an hour in the garden playing with the dragon (he's still paranoid about birds), and discovered I had some post! A good friend of mine very kindly sent me all three series of Doctor Who on DVD (Sorry TD, they don't work...), and I got a postcard from my friend in Australia, predictably with a koala bear on the front. It made me laugh. Better yet, I also got half a cookie from my housemates! Yum, I like cookies!

Quote for Yesterday: "He looked like a spider monkey." - Aaron.

Monday was a corker too, didn't do much at work, got home and discovered I had some post! My brother and sister sent me some Butter Tablet from Scotland. Yum, I like Butter Tablet! Butter Tablet does not go well with salt and vinegar crisps however. I discovered this quite by accident earlier today. I also caught the giant cricket that had been hiding under my bed and chirping loudly late at night. Kuleana enjoyed eating that monster, it put up a good fight. I don't mind crickets in their box singing quietly to each other, but get a loose one and they SHOUT to be heard. REEP-CHIRP-REET-CHIP!

Monday's quote: "mind you shopship?" - SD Sam (Your guess is as good as mine...)

Saturday, my Flexi-Branches arrived from my friend Angela (she's clearing out some old herping stock, so I grabbed two for the price of one). The dragon REALLY likes his. I wake up in the morning and switch his heat lamp on, he's flaked out along the highest point fast asleep. I come home in the evening, and he's sat at the top of the branch looking at me. I know he comes off it sometimes, his herbs have been thoroughly jumped on, and there's the little pile of dragon dung for me to get rid of. But he clearly climbs back up. Snake likes hers too, she's knocked it over twice, and I found her draped asleep on it when I left for work this morning. Like some sort of scaly tinsel. My axolotls were being weird too - I noticed Benny (the yellow one) stood in the middle of the tank looking up. I followed his line of sight, and discovered Spyyk just hangin' about.

Quote of the day: "We went to a small retirement group this morning and discovered it doesn't start till next month!" - My Nan.

Bottles, Bounces and Breakfast.

I have decided what I shall ask from my father for Christmas when he asks me this year. Because I always get something completely different from what I ask for, I thought I'd save him the effort and ask for something completely different. So, Dad, I'd like a Klein Bottle this year. No, that's nothing to do with perfume or alcohol, it's a three dimensional glass representation of a mathematical puzzle. And I really would like one. I've been reading Superstring theory in my spare time, and Moebius strips intrigue me.

I think there may be one of the dragon's crickets loose in my room too - I can hear it, but I can't find it. The dragon himself has been very affectionate and lively today, after a big meal and an hour of snooze-time, he was hopping about like a flea on caffeine. What really tickles me though, every time he sproings off somewhere, he checks if it's ok, looks back at me. He took a flying leap off my leg, onto the duvet, charged my foot, licked my sock, then ran off down the bed. I was most amused. Been licked so frequently today that I feel quite clean! But I stroked the top of his head for him, he loves that. Silly beast.

Did I mention I love flexitime? I woke up all badly this morning, and managed to set off with no breakfast. Rolling through the gates of the complex at eight, I decided I was hungry. A rummage in a pocket discovered a hole, and through the hole there was, mercifully, some spare change. So I thought "Stuff it." and had breakfast in the cafeteria. Parked up my bike and got into the office at eight thirty and there was no-one there anyway. So I then went to sleep at my desk for the next hour to rest off the big greasy meal. I can't get into the cabinets until someone turns up, and I had nothing better to do. Oh well, it's on my timesheet. I wonder if anyone will notice? Talking of breakfast, the pancake artist is back with another fine submission. Yeah, thanks for that, it's very... uh... pancakey.

Quote of the day: "My computer just quacked! Eeek!" - Housemate Dave (No, I don't know why it quacked either.)

Fabulous Fish, Resting Reptile and Chilled Crisps.

Wow, sorry - things keep getting away with me! Monday, I played with the animals, then went to the garden centre, and met this gorgeous lionfish. I bought some nice green things - I bought a big flexible bucket thing to put my rhubarb in (as it turns out our garden is only two inches of topsoil over concrete slabs and bricks) as well as a nice green watering can. It's just the right size to be able to water and Baby-Bio the herbs growing in the Dragonarium. The basil has loved the feed, the mint is actually pressing against to viv-roof, and the parsley is just being parsley. But the dragon doesn't mind sharing his herbs when we want a bit to go in our dinner. We wash it well first of course! (We might be young and poor, but we can afford water. Just.)

Captain Jack, the resident South American Red Tailed Catfish was merrily trundling about, and had a good stare at me through the glass. One day, I'll be brave enough to stroke him - but he has a MASSIVE mouth. That fish is four foot long! The man who cares for him there was most interested to hear about Kane passing away, and my suspicions that it was due to Molchpest. Between us, we checked over the remaining newts, but since care standards improved, they were fine.

Kuleana is being his usual, laid back self. He's been playing so many bouncing-about games that he wears himself out! The picture there is a classic example of how relaxed he is around me - he's fallen stone-asleep, and trusts me not to let him fall. Little guy likes to settle inside my shirt and go to sleep after a big dinner too - and today is no exception. (He's fast out as I'm typing now - my housemates think it's very funny.)

One of the things I like best about work is the vending machine. It's the only place I have ever had refridgerated crisps, and I have to say, they're very refreshing when you have the late-afternoon munchies! Had some fun with some of the staff in Car Hire though - silly so-and-so didn't read the fax stating that the new form was an AMENDMENT. I got a ranty call going "You can't book a car leaving us 30 minutes to get it there, it doesn't work like that!" It took me longer to break in, and point out that the car was already here, we just wanted to extend the hire by a day.

Oh, and more fun - I was trying to find out some import/export information (one of my housemates wants some of my friend in Australia's fish sent over) - I went "Hi, I'm from the UK and would like some help getting such and such from Queensland. With more technical detail here." I got a reply, "Unfortunately I have no idea. We only deal with animals coming in from overseas. The only advice I can give you is to contact a local authority in Queensland." With a sigh, I quietly typed a response. "Hi again, let me rephrase this a little. I'm from England, in the UK, in Europe, the other side of the World." Well, if that's not overseas enough, then I'm a concrete paving slab.

I had a word with Mikey from Bauer, who sent me this rather marvellous scribble along with his usual brand of insanity. If you get the chance, go look onhttp://www.baueronline.co.uk/

They really are a superb band. I'm hooked, my Mum's hooked, my friend Kirsty is hooked, Erkan from the Nederlands is hooked, and Brett over in Australia likes them too! They deserve to go world-wide, for Mikey-Guitar is cooler than we!

Today's quote: "We've lost the aubergines!" - Housemate Kat

Chilled, Computers, Cooking and Cider.

Having discovered a rather powerful Movie Processing package on my laptop (it came as part of the free bundle, sweet) I have spent the best part of the afternoon learning how to make it work without instructions.

Spent another peaceful afternoon with Kuleana, we had a walk round the house as he sat on my shoulder, and he's busy bouncing from leaf to leaf now. Every time he peeps out of the glass front, (he pops his head over the ledge, and holds it with his fore-paws) I go to get him out - hopefully it'll train him to "ask to play".

Sat and watched Layer Cake too - not sure I think much to it, but it was worth watching.

I'm still trying to persuade YouTube to upload it, it ain't nothin' fancy, but I should be able to do some nice stuff later on, now I know how to use it. Aha - after much poking and processing, I have managed to get it to consider thinking about maybe letting me upload...

I have to laugh - a friend of mine, Samir, doesn't drink - and his landlord brought him a rather large bottle of cider. So this morning, I got a message, do we want it? Well, I'm an ex student, and my housemates are Uni-students, so we're not about to turn down free alcohol.

I nearly died laughing when he handed it over - smart, sensible Samir... Well, look at the image for yourself. It's now sat on our sideboard whilst we decide whether it's safe to drink. If I go missing for more than a week, please call my Uncle Steve, he's an undertaker.

Turns out I'm not best fond on Fennel Bake either. I mean, fennel is lovely as a flavouring, but I think trying to eat a whole heart of one is a bit much. The cheese and garlic and onion and tomato was really good though, and the trifle was certainly good enough. I adore custard. I need to look into investing in a good recipe book - any suggestions? I really like simple foods, and I REALLY like Italian food, and I really REALLY like not having to wash thiry-bazillion pots, pans and assorted utensils. Any ideas, leave it in Comments for me, thanks.

Alrighty, it do work! Now, stick your 'phones on, whack up the volume, kick back and close your eyes... I have to admire Nige's fusion skills. Muse doesn't hit him often, but when it does - it does. Nige mate, looking forwards to the next one - I have more audio-samples when you're ready.




Quote for the day: "Monkey see, monkey want to do..." - BJO'P

Nothing Doing...

Ahhh the weekend! The joys of not having to work it, or really do anything WITH it.

I cleaned the tanks out today, tried out a harness design on Kuleana (whom is intelligent and quick enough to escape it) and have since mooched. What am I supposed to do with weekends? I haven't experienced very many, and I'm at a loss as to what to do with them...

Played peepo for a while too. Spot the dragon?

Spent an incredibly relaxing evening just listening to music, and being slept on by the dragon. He spent a full half hour on the back of my hand as I typed, and I then moved him to my shoulder inside my shirt where he would be safer and less disturbed. Two hours he stayed, out like a light.

Tomorrow (with a little luck) you can try some of the music I have been listening to of late. Please, turn it up, shut your eyes and breathe slow, "Vast Horizon", the one I'm trying to make work, is smooooooth. Nige, the artist, is a technical DJ magician.

I also spent quite a lot of time sorting out Kuley's dragonarium, giving him live plants (with the pots netted so he doesn't eat soil and get ill). He's really enjoying these, licking/eating bits of the parsley, sitting in the basil and sniffing/climbing the mint. Right now he's sat under the parsley plant, half asleep.

Today's quote: "Steady on, honey and bran are not colours. Last time I checked you weren't a B&Q paint guide." - Craig.

Complicated Civil Service Circles

Wow, you blink, and it's Friday already! I haven't even had time to grab any photos the last few days, it's been a bit busy...

I have to say, I do like my new job, especially now it's picked up. And the Flexitime rules. It was a glorious sunny day yesterday, so I used some of my extra hours I'm owed to go home at three thirty. Spent a long time sat in the garden with Kuleana (he doesn't like pidgeons either) and pottered a bit, which was nice.

Dealt with an argument that's been going on for some days on a forum I work for. Blooming ridiculous, but the admin team have sneaking suspicions of what's going on. Why is it the admin that get it in the neck? I had nothing to do with it, and got grumped at for it. Silly really. It's a case of, you manage to untie one thread, then another member hops in and makes a mess of the bit you already straightened. Frustrating, but between us, working as a team finally, we've bust this thing.

Yesterday was quiet - Eden pooped all down my bed (thanks). I only washed the duvet cover day before yesterday. Oh well, will have to clean it again. Worked like a dervish to go round in complicated civil service circles, trying to find forms, filling out forms, getting forms checked by three people, correcting them, getting them checked by third person, sending them off, getting them back, correcting them - and so on. Finally got the order requisitioned.


This film took my by surprise. It's called "SPIN". If you do anything good today, check it out and think about it.

Quote of the day: "Your face and my backside could be twins" - from a terrible t-shirt.

Crabitat Complete, and Snooty at my Salads!

I've just done him another dish of greens, he's got sweet lettuce, soft dandelion, parsley and finely chopped carrot today. Because he's so small, and his viv is so large, I pop him into a box with his dinner and bugs - but today, he was in a mean temper. I mean, he openly threatened me with wide mouth and everything! Well. I'm not having bad attitude from my animals. So I took advantage of his open mush, and popped a bit of dandelion leaf in it. He was a bit surprised I can tell you, but he's eaten it, and not given me any more aggression. Strange little animal. I imagine he'll eventually associate me picking him up with food, but at the moment he's very skittish, so I'm going to hop in the shower and leave him to eat.

Kuley's eaten some of the bugs, and possibly nibbled on his salad, so I let him back out. After a kamikaze dive off my hand (my quick reflexes saved him from hurting himself, whipped my other hand under his belly) he chilled out a bit. I went to pop him back in, but he walked up my arm. Ok, you can sit on my shirt for a bit, sure. After a few minutes, I tried again. He happily walked down my hand and leaped onto his hut. (Thanks to Saladaday.org for the image! Some nice ideas on there, will try him with some.) Little ratbag - he threatened me again later on. I dripped water on his tongue. He was again, surprised, but drank it. Few minutes later, he turned around a bit, licked me and went to sleep. Got very relaxed - he went and crapped on me.

Crabitat is complete, I'm just moving it now... Hmm. And as always, there's not enough sockets. I've popped the hygro/thermometer in there, and will take some readings over the next couple of hours to see if it's suitable. I'll take some photos when I've moved the beasties in.

More of my stuff arrived on Sunday, and I'm pleased to say I have all my hats, and my full Doctor Who book collection. My grandmother DIDN'T hit the roof when I showed her my baby dragon, so that's alright, and they even found room for my bike. I don't know how - it's a Ford Bloomin' Fiesta - but my loach tank arrived safe, sound and a bit grubby. Scrubbed it up a bit, and looks a lot better - loaches are busy whipping about.

Anyway, as you can see, it's a bit chaotic, so sorry about the delay!

Quote for today: "I'm a firm believer in copyleft." - CTL (copyleft - consent to use images and such free from worry.)

Crabitat Coir Complications.

Well, the Crabitat is shaping up nicely - it's not finished yet, but when I'm done, I'll take a photo as I release the new occupants. Got myself completely covered in sand trying to wash it, and realised a bit too late that I shouldn't have worn a white shirt. However, the coir is dealing with excess moisture in the sand, and will make it soft but firm to dig in. I'll give it another hour, and then I'll soak the remaining dry coir, and mix it all properly.

Ah, an hour has passed, and I'm coated in gritty mud! Lovely! Hmm. I tried to rub it off - it just moves and stays stuck. Apparently coir has an almost glue-like quality I hadn't expected... Oh bother - try to rinse it off, and the unexpanded leftovers just slide and expand.

And the blu-tac dragon... I got bored at work. Blu-tac, the ultimate tool in procrastination! But I do finally have computer clearance.

Delicious Doughnut!

Little guy is doing just great, he's cheeky and FAST on his toes. I nipped out to wash his salad, gone perhaps five minutes, and GLOMP - twelve crickets gone before I even got back! I mixed him a romaine and lamb's lettuce salad, which he looked at, licked once, and then ran away from. He's hiding somewhere in the leaves. Oh, he goes "boing" to his veiwers!

Oooh, a random doughnut! Awesome! Doughnuts are always good, but one presented when you don't expect it - that's close enough to heaven. (I really like doughnuts.) Woah, nostalgia moment from the tasty treat: Flying kites on the beach and tucking into icecreams with my family. Mum, if you're reading this - I'm going to go fly my kite on the fields this Sunday, weather permitting. Give the kids a hug from me, yeah? Thanks.

Tea-jockey at work, and slowly read through the operating manuals for the databases. On paper, they sound really rather efficient (and long winded) - but having seen them work... They have a tendency to "fall over" as the boss says. The rain pounded down so hard, our cardboard office was roaring with sound and the floor vibrated! Thank goodness for Flexitime, I left at four, biked home like mad, and screeched into the hall just as the heavens opened up with a BOOM. Spectacular lightning. If I'd've left at five as normal, I'd be sat here soaked to the skin.

Sorry, I was just watching one of my lobster roaches walking the sheer side of the tank. Another thanks to Rick (a superb supplier of herping stuff, animals and equip: Rickeezee@supanet.com) for teaching me the trick to keep 'em in. A thin layer of vaseline, about two inches wide, all round the inside top of the tank - they can't get their feet to grip through it. Nice one!

http://www.cane-toad.com/ - perhaps not suitable for under 18s, but very funny. (Thanks Brett!)

Today's quote: "You know you're a stoner when you get a random guy whom you've never met ringing you up and offering to sell you some gear..." - Nige

Daft Dragon, and Spontaneous Spoons...

Oyf, it's still slow at work. Went in at eight, so I could get a head start on this new time sheet, so I knew what I was talking about when the lady came to show us how to use it... And it wasn't working. So, myself and the techie chap both sat and stared at his dead computer for an hour and a half.

Well. He did. I fell asleep. Again. Oops.

Kuleana is sat on a leaf, looking at me. I'm sat on my bed, typing away, and he keeps tipping his head to see me. Hahahaha! He attacked his leaf! Now it's bobbing up and down and he's trying to hold on... I got him to drink when he was in the bath today, by holding water drops for him to lick off my finger, and he's also eaten about ten crickets (dusted with vits and calcium) but he's still not eating greens, but that's ok - what youngster does?! It's good fun feeding him though; a case of sticking him in a box with some dusted crickets, and he goes "YOMP!

So far, the lobster-roach colony (yes, more beasties, these guys are being bred as food for various animals) appear to have had a couple of babies, and have eaten quite a lot too. The crickets are slowly growing, but are still a little small (which is fine).

And a completely random and bizarre photo from Craig - he's got a knack with that funky camera! It's really worth checking out some of his other stuff. Quick strange fact for you, the Nigella Damascena can be used to repel insects from clothes and are given to treat intestinal worms and nerve defects to reduce flatulence, and induce sweating. Dried pods are sniffed to restore a lost sense of smell.

Risotto for dinner (overdose of celery...), followed by a hefty dose of The Mighty Boosh (spectacularly funny) and I only managed to hurt myself once - I put the newt tank on my fingers. Mmm, several kilos of glass, water, rock etc... But! I appear to have avoided the status of "pokeable" with my housemate Kat (she seems to like poking people) - but I think that's mostly due to my randomly handing her spoons. Spot her in the hallway: "Here, present for you." Spot her in the lounge: "Here, have a spoon." The only problem is that I'm running out of spoons...

Today's Quote: "You're about as edgy as a tangerine" - Vince Noir (The Mighty Boosh)