Champagne Breakfast
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: Mozart: the Marriage of Figaro
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries
Ahh...that's better. Pop goes the cork & slurp goes my mouth.

Stephen was a dear and called me last night & invited me again to have Christmas lunch at his residence. I've accepted & so will be trotting off in a few hours.

Trusting you all are having/had a very happy Christmas & are groaning with the weight in your bellies.

Let's drink to good health!

Update: Twas the Night Before Xmas
Stephen's at work. I tried cleaning the bathroom & whilst dislodging a chunk of dust from the extractor fan, it was sucked in, and the fan is silenced forever. And because the fan automatically switches on with the light, I'm afraid to turn on any lights. So candles galore are dotting the bath tub & sink. Stephen will be pleased. Oh jeez. New Year's resolution: call the landlord for repairs.

Meanwhile I took a bath by candelight..,very relaxing, highly recommended, & read a short story by Banana Yoshimoto. Now, I thought it would a bit like Haruki Murakami's Norweigian Wood, but it's a bit too bare and boring for me. Not bad, but not teethy enough.

I have since given up cleaning for the day, and have also decided not to go to the Christmas Eve service, partly because the Anglican church in the town centre, I discovered, does not have a midnight mass. So I've listened to BBC4 all day & have heard the King's Choir traditional Christmas Eve service & have had my share of Christmas jingles from internet radio.

So. I've eaten, and now I'll relax this evening. Perhaps finish reading Hamlet backwards.

Joy to the World!

Twas the Day Before Chrismas
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: Arethra Franklin
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries
Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum, Bailey's and Jack D.!

Hoping you are all in the festive mood and have safely arrived where you are meant to be, for those who have been traveling.

What a great time of year...so much time to blog! So please expect to see daily updates for the next 10 days, but don't get used to it, because it ain't gonna last!

Yesterday Stephen was off work & I had a half day. It has been quite a busy week in having the company x-mas party on Fri, chores on Sat while hungover, Sunday down to see Stephen's family, working Mon & Tues. on Wednesday our small dept. had a team training day in Guildford followed by some shopping & then dinner at a nice restaurant where I had some very rich food and lots of wine. In bed by 12:30. Worked Thurs. hungover which led to yesterday's 1/2 day, where we ate breakfast together, did some "work" and then home. Stephen & I did some kamikaze strolling through the mall waiting for King Kong to start at 3:30.

Ok King Kong. I didn't want to see this based on the trailer because it appreared to be a typical action thriller with very good special effects, but very little of interest beyond that. Stephen & all the good reviews convinced me to see the movie as it was "a perfect movie" "not to be missed". Do you see where I'm going with this yet?

Basically, I should have trusted my instincts. It was not a very engaging film & probably not the result that Peter Jackson was aiming for.

Anyway, it was a good way to kill 3 hours...we came home ate and ate & drank & went to bed early.

Stephen is now preparing for sleeping in tonight at work. I think I'll be going to the Xmas Eve service in the town centre to sing some carols and what not...but not before I give our apartment a good once-over...it's been moving quickly towards the "unexeceptable" point.

That's all for now...keep on truckin.

Buh
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Stephen Says
This'll surprise Elisabeth. I'm actually blogging.

Actually I'm doing because I'm so irritated right now that I can't go to bed, so I'm drinking a 35 pound bottle of wine E brought back from her night out with office people. This is the benefit of working at an office. Or at least being married to someone who works in an office. My irritation is work related but whatever - it's going to get sorted soon so it's only an ephemeral irritation.
Buh.

I haven't done much blogging because I haven't been doing much of anything. So in lieu of something interesting to blog about here are my thoughts on 3 DVD's I bought the other day.

Groundhog Day: I've only seen this once before on TV but Elisabeth talks about it alot. It's actually quite good - a romantic comedy that's not cheezy and totally realistic. Well, except for the whole paranormal aspect. I mean, the romantic angle isn't forced down your throat like, say, a Tom Hanks movie. A tight script, Bill Murray plays Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell plays Andie MacDowell and it's directed by Egon from Ghostbusters. Not laugh out loud funny but 'oh, wasn't that clever' funny. The highlight: The groundhog's mouth in every scene that the groundhog's in.

Fletch: Chevy Chase. Every line that Chevy Chase says in this movie is hysterical. The trailer is laugh out loud hysterical and it doesn't even show the best parts. Hands down the funniest movie ever made (With Clue being a close second). There is nothing funnier than Fletch. The highlight: Every single line that Chevy Chase says.

Slap Shot: Best hockey movie ever. Best sports movie ever. It was made in 1977 and has the most foul swearing in it that you'll ever hear outside of an Eddie Murphy stand up routine. It's also got more realistic violence & gore than Saving Private Ryan. the highlight: The Hanson's beat the living daylights out of the opposing team. Before the national anthem. The lowlight: Paul Newman in a fur-lined brown leather coat.

Nope, still irate.

So, I've been reading books by Paul Pahulianichuckiwhateverthefuck. The guy who wrote Fight Club. Only problem is that the 2 books I've read by him read like their being narrated by exactly the same person: Ed Norton from Fight Club. More twists & turns than an M. Night Shammalammadingding movie (And more logical & sensible too!) but they still leave me feeling empty and, well, frankly, I just can barely care enough to just finish the books. By the way, the books I'm refering to are Choke (Guy pretends to choke on food to gain sympathy & money from strangers to keep his alzenheimer afflicted mother in hospital) and Invisible Monsters (Supermodel who has her face shot off goes on a road trip with a pre-operative transexual & her kidnapped boyfriend and they all steal drugs from rich people.)

Right now I'm reading Philip Roth's The Plot Against America. It was supposed to be the most important book published last year. So I'm reading it this year (How retro). Basically, I'm 15 pages in and he's just skewering the Republicans. Just 15 pages in and I reccomend it more that What's Up Chuck Paulachuck. But then again, Philip Roth did win the Pulitzer Prize...

Blogger Heads
Mood:  lazy
Now Playing: BBC4
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries
I can't believe that Stephen hasn't blogged! He's had two days in a row now where he didn't' have to work until 2pm. I mean really, we're at blogger heads about this.

So I'm guessing that many of you are thinking about Christmas, perhaps about to hit the road or sky or rails, and I can honestly say I prefer my own plan to just stay right here on my touchkin. I even forget Christmas is only a few days away, and that's so refreshing!

In other news, we had a relaxing trip down to Dorset where we lunched with Stephen's family. It's just gorgeous in the New Forest, all frosty and silent...whoo whee!

Work has been really pleasant this week with way fewer phone calls and a chance to work through the backlog of credit notes & collections I inherited. Tomorrow is a team training day in Guildford followed by a few hours of free time and then dinner at Cambio, apparently a very nice restaurant. Having nothing to wear of course, I took advantage of Debenham's extended X-mas hours and bought a nice skirt after work. I also then stocked up on food to tide us over the weekend.

Otherwise, not much doin'---looking forward to my 10 days off! Stay tuned to this blog!

The Poop
Mood:  energetic
Now Playing: BBC4
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries
Why does our blog have an advertisement for deodorizing your poop?

Last night I smoked too much, swore too much, and danced too much. BUT I managed my alcohol very well. So the office xmas party was very insightful & fun. People say they see me in a different light now...what? what did I do?

I had to call Stephen when I got in, and got a groggy hello at 1:30am...poor sod...had to sleep in at work last night.

Anyway---today is chore day...must get a move on.

}}}}}}}}}Later on{{{{{{{{{{

Back from chores. It's lovely sunny, brisk day and it's good to get fresh air.

Three things in particular have spiced up the day:

1. I got carded at Sainsbury's buying cider & wine.

2. There was a man on Oriental Road with his leaf blower who blew all the leaves from his driveway into a large pile on the road. Didn't bag. Nothing. Just a big pile of leaves on the road. I felt very lucky to be present as the first car drove through the pile & dispersed the leaves back to their original location, while in the process almost loosing sight of the road & swerving all over the place in order to find an end to the cloud of leaves they unwittingly stirred up.

3. On my return journey from the dry-cleaners, a car hit the sinking pothole on Oriental road that was filled with water. Splash and my leg's soaked. Luckily drycleaners have learned to cover the clean clothes with plastic.

Stephen'll be home soon & I've planned for an Italian night c/o Elizabeth David. We'll have Fennochio, radish & cucumber insalata, followed by Spaghetti all'olio, aglio e saetini with a side serving of spinaci con uvetta (spinach with sultana & pinenuts)...plus more green olives with pimento & an olive pave.

So hopefully Stephen can relax this afternoon as tomorrow we're taking off on a trip to Dorset.

In regards to Extra Virgin Olive Oil---does anyone have a particular brand to recommend?

Warm & Warmer
Mood:  happy
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries

Stephen is installing our new toilet seat, and it's only 9:14am. I'm not at work yet because I have a Dr.s appointment for prescription renewal & so I am sitting in awe of a man who can change a toilet seat first thing in the morning. We'll post a picture of the new lid I'm sure...

Yesterday I trotted down a street not too far away to check out the Italian food store...and boy, what an NDG moment! A little Ma & Pa shop with all the pasta, fresh veggies, cheese, olives, pannetonne, biscotti and wine that one could wish for...and they have black beans! Something not even Waitrose stocks over here.

So we were outfitted with some olive oil, black beans and some olives with pimento--seriously yum.

Oh, and god bless Magical Dehumidifier...not only are our windows condensation free and the air cleaner, but it actually emits warm air, so it's actually warm in our apt!! Something to be truly grateful for...

Ok--the Dr. awaits.

Adios!

Madness!
Mood:  energetic
Now Playing: A religious debate on yep, you got it: BBC radio 4
Topic: Stephen Says
So this is what a new dehumidifier will bring: re-arranging the upstairs, throwing out trash, tidying up, vaccuming, ironing, dishes, dishes, dishes!

Tomorrow I'm going out to buy a bunch of things to spruce up the flat. Kitchen things, mostly, shelving, get the dry cleaning taken care of, take out the recycling, buy some coat hooks, etc, etc, etc.

E&I have agreed not to exchange presents this Christmas; just get the flat in shape and make it a little more livable and a little less weird.

We will succeed on the first and fail on the last, I believe.

W'happened?

I'm expecting to hear from the landlord tomorrow, telling us that we're being given our one month's notice.

Dehumidified!
Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: BBC4 - The News
Topic: Stephen Says
Yep, our 100 pound moisture reducing machine has arrived and is sucking away all traces of humidity in the flat.

No more misty windows, mouldy walls & ceilings, or expanding & buckling window panes.

And as I type this, in comes Elisaeth home from work early with delicious olives and a Christmas card for mom, with our Christmas present in it.

Thank you mom, you just bought us a dehumidifier!

And now, a much better entry
Mood:  on fire
Topic: Stephen Says
Alright, After E's seriously bizarre attempt at blogging, here are my two cents the decipher what she was on about:

Yes, I have been busy, busy, busy. Yes, I meant to get back on the ball with so many things this weekend, yes, I was sick 4 times yesterday after my night out, no, I have not gotten on the ball with anything.

Friday was the Snowdon Christmas piss up. I was threatened with expulsion from the pub for wearing my touque. A female co-worker of mine then wore it and wasn't threatened with anything. They tried to kick E out for dancing on a stool. Then we left and went to, possibly the coolest dance club in Woking.

How cool was it? So cool that for the last 18 months that we've been saying "We've got to give Vamps a try," I feel rather foolish. It was the same useless tripe that all of Woking has to offer. Except more stuffy.

So then me, and some of my collegues staggered back to the flat to crash for the night. E had very kindly set the place up for visitors but not before pissing herself on the way home.

Hey, was I allowed to type that?

I was woken of by the fuel explosion in London this morning - I actually thought it was an earthquake at the time but it didn't last long enough for it to be a proper earthquake.

Starting from this morning we watched the plume of smoke hover over Woking, before descending on us.

Nothing else to say, really. We've been to the French market & have tried to buy a dehumidifier but you can't get one in all of Woking. Our apartment is slowly rotting all around us and it's making us very paranoid. It's making Elisabeth far more paranoid than me, though.