My God, was it only 48 hours ago?
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: Skinny Puppy - Last Rights
Topic: Stephen Says
Jeeze, at least I had yesterday off - Elisabeth's already worked to days to my one. Mind you, I just finished a 13 hour shift and was almost punched by a resident so I suppose that balances things out.

Thinking back over the long weekend, it's funny how there's so much more that I could add but won't because there are just too many small things that happened. Like Elsabeth eating really good goats cheese and doing a verbal double-take as she realizes just how bloody good the cheese is while she's trying to tell me just how good it was. As soon as you put this cheese in your mouth it felt like it suddenly stared running around your tongue, setting off each of your taste buds like a fire cracker. It was too strong for my tastes, naturally.

And of course, real life tends to be a bit disappointing when compared to the fantasy life that you adopt while on vacation where you eat out all the time, prance around without a care in the world and don't have to work. Then, all of a sudden, you get home and there's your phone bill and a sexual harassment hearing coming up next week against a male co-worker who refuses to beleive that you're straight.

Oh boy, I can't wait until that's all blown over so that I can tell the world about this little drama in my life.

So that's it for Spain, I suppose. Was it only a dream? With regard to the oft lamented book club; I've been leant a copy of G.P. Taylor's Shadowmancer that I've been putting off reading for a long time but the woman who leant it to me will be getting back from South America soon and will want to know what I thought of it. Anyone want to play book club with me? It's a young adult's fantasy that falls somewhere between Harry Potter & His Dark Materials. I'm game if you are.

Barcelona Part II
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Barcelona 2006
I went to Barcelona hoping to see colour, culture & passionate people. It sounds so very Broadway musical of me "See the people...the passion, culture and colour...all colours, of-the-people!"

But these basic ideas turned into much more complex realities.

I went expecting to see colour visually. But the sky was overcast, and most of the buildings were made of stone, painted in subtle colours. Now if you take "colour" to mean "vividness or individuality" (I looked this up in the dictionary...) then Barcelona does not disappoint! There was colour in the foods, personalities, architecture, history, and events.

The quality of life is inspiring. With the choice of beach, mountain, suburbs, medival city, church, gallery, club, bar, park, monument, plaza, cafe, restaurant...whatever your tastes, Barcelona is there. Creativity and imagination are going strong in Barcelona. Gaudi's Sagrada Familia (unfinished cathedral...see Stephen's blog) is literrally cementing this spirit of Barcelona.

We saw a parade of traditional spanish puppets, which repesent saints or famous Catalans? But the puppets were worn by people who then became the puppet's feet. They paraded & danced & generally looked very funny.

As for food, I was very happy to try Manchengo cheese and found it tangy & delicious. Olives, dates, chocolate, grapes, bread, cavas & wine...staples of my diet...

Here's some more pictures of the trip...

A view from the Sagrada Familia

The view from our apartment window.

The view from Montjuic.

PS: HAPPY VALENTINE's DAY xoxoxox

Barcelona 2006: Stephen's take
Mood:  chillin'
Topic: Barcelona 2006
Hi folks. Well, we survived Barcelona and managed to not get robbed. Below is my version of events; I suspect Elisabeth may have a different version. There aren’t many pictures because someone accidentally left the camera on on Saturday.

Thursday
Woke up, left the flat and went to the town centre to wait for the library to open so that E could print off our airplane and apartment tickets. Went to the train stations & bought tickets to Gatwick only to realize that we didn’t know where we were switching trains. It turned out that we’d bought the wrong tickets because, of course, if you want to take a faster train to point B, South West Trains makes you pay extra. We didn’t and, as luck would turn out, it was one of those ‘not enough train conductors working to check tickets’ days, so we got away with it. We still arrived at Gatwick 2 hours early because I am very anal retentive.

The flight was one of the best that I’ve ever been on (And not because the in-flight snack was a rather odd combination of soggy baguette pizza, curried rice and 5 pieces of unidentifiable fruit swimming in their own juices) because it was a clear & sunny day and we all got a very good look at the top of the Pyrenees as we flew over the chain.

Beside and behind me on the flight was a man and a woman who, I was somewhat convinced were rock stars – they managed to get the cabin people to move passengers so that they could have extra leg-room, they dressed very fashionably and they seemed to think they were very important. The only problem was… why were they flying coach? When they asked for wine with their snack, why were they surprised that it was just cheap plonk? We decided that the must be curators of a gallery or something; working at a job that gives them a heightened sense of self-importance but they’re still as common as I am. Except that I have the sense not to try and return a bottle of airplane wine to a steward in favour of one that is closer to room temperature.

So we got to Barcelona, arranged to meet with our greeter and got on the bus to town where we walked around for a bit, trying to find this market where we would meet him to get our apartment key. I should mention here that I was clueless all weekend as we wandered around the city – Elisabeth held the map and I just followed her.

Anyway, our rented apartment was fantastic. I had expected a dingy 1 room flat but it was large & spacious, with 2 leather couches and the comfiest bed I’ve slept on in years.

Later, we walked around the Gothic Quarter. Absolutely fabulous; I loved all the narrow, winding roads and the way the buildings towered over you on either side, with the balconies filled with plants & song birds. And peoples laundry. I was in D&D nerd heaven.

We meandered about for a while and eventually went to a pizza place for dinner (I know, I know) which served THE BEST OLIVES I’VE EVER HAD. And them followed it with the worst salad I’ve ever had. And then followed it with a pretty nifty not 3 cheese, not 4 cheese, but 5 CHEESE PIZZA. How fantastic is that? We also devoured a bottle of rose wine and hit the sack pretty soon after. The day was exhausting. We’d left our flat in Woking at 9AM and only just arrived at our flat in Barcelona at about 7PM.

Thing I learned on our 1st day: We should have learned some Catalan. Or Spanish, at least. No one we met (With a few exceptions) spoke any English which, while it was very cool being the irritating foreigner, would have made life easier if we could have said things like “Cheque, please,” “Excuse me” and “Please.”

Friday
We woke up and headed for the mountain. It’s at this point that my travel narrative is going to fall apart because I can’t remember the names of anything. Bear with me.

First we stopped off at a rather old cathedral and meandered around it. It was neat on the outside and looked like a cathedral of the inside. But there was a park on the side of it that had some very goofy geese in it:

Then we took the rather disappointing funicular up MontJuic (sp?) where it was very overcast. Yes, the trend has continued that we get terrible weather whenever we go traveling. The mountain was very nice to walk around but there was so much to see and do. I started freaking out that we weren’t relaxing; just ticking off things we were supposed to see. I remained in this state of freaking out for most of the day and the next. Elisabeth put up with it admirably.

We went to Joan Miro’s gallery which was neat. But I mean, how long can you look at Miro’s work before all you see is dot, dot, line, dot, line, line, dot. I did, however admire this sculpture:

We then went to this castle thing and then saw the Fountain Fantasic or whatever. Or at least I saw it – E was looking in the guide book while it put on this incredible ululating water thing; spraying in every direction, etc, etc. I was so taken in by it, I forgot to say “Elisabeth, look at that!” and then it ended. And then E&I waited for it to do it again. But it didn’t. So we left to go eat pizza.

Pizza, you say? Again, you say? Well this was actually Elisabeth’s idea – it’s supposed to be the best pizza place in Spain. And it was very nice pizza – but it tasted very much like Don Benni’s pizza, so I don’t know what to make of that. The funny thing is that E had to ask what an ingredient was and the waiter turned around and shouted “English! Anyone speak English?” to the whole restaurant, no one who actually did. Turned out the word was ‘basil.’

Oh yeah, speaking of food, that morning we went to the marked and bought some funky cheese & olives & baguette back to the apartment to eat. Anyway, E will probably fill you in on that.

BUT: Interesting thing I learned: Markets in Barcelona sell chickens with their heads & feet still attached. There also seems to be a market for skinned animal heads.

After lunch we metroed over to Gaudi’s unfinished cathedral. The experience there, went something like this:

“Holy cow, this is incredible!”

Then, once inside: “Eh, this totally sucks. We spent 16 euros on this trash?”

Then you go up the spire and, I can honestly say the view is breathtaking – one on the most incredible experiences of my life and you get a taste of the vision that the man had and begin to realize that there was an incredible method to his madness. Anyway, I highly recommend this; you’ll find yourself standing on top of one of the weirdest man-made objects in the world.

(PS- all pics taken by Elisabeth)

We were knackered and picked up more bread & cheese & cavas & wine & want back to the apartment where we vegetated, used the whirlpool, watched Peter Gabriel butcher ‘Imagine’ while opening the Olympics & some of Papillon in Spanish.

Uno, dos, treize, quarto, cinquo…

u>Saturday
We took the train or Montserrat. It’s around here that I should mentioned another thing I learned: Barcelona is very, very clean. The metro is clean, the trains are clean, the public restrooms are immaculate. The streets are filthy. It seems like every second person in Barcelona has a Scottish Terrier that shits everywhere and no one cleans up the mess. There is dog shit everywhere. Everywhere, I say! People step in it and track it all over the place. It’s everywhere.

There are also a lot of human statues but I’ll get to those later. Is here a connection? Maybe.

We got to Montserrat train station and then took the cable car up the cliffs – a 5 minute ride, taking you nearly 1000m up in the air to the monastery. Although it’s such a tourist trap, it looks a bit too much like Mont. Tremblant. The really fantastic thing here was the view. Of course, it was overcast to the view wasn’t so hot but the clouds certainly made it very atmospheric:

After spending the morning there, we made our way back to the city where we ate at the much recommended Juicy Jones. And followed that up with something I honestly can’t remember. More cavas at the flat and then early to bed, I believe. How boring yet, at the same time, needed. It was at this point that I think I got over any British related stress and entered a more chilled out & relaxed mode. Basically, we need to book longer holidays. We need to book holidays that aren’t in February. We need to stop taking big, long, expensive holidays in the summer to places in North America. But I gripe too much. With luck, we’ll be in Germany for Octoberfest in 9 moths time.

Anyway, Sunday
(And because this entry is far, far too long as it is…)
On Sunday we packed up and went out to breakfast, then walked around Las Ramblas and took in some more of Gaudi’s architecture, the dozens of ‘living statues’ and things in general, had another meal at Juicy Jones and caught the bus back to the airport only to discover that our flight was delayed by 45 minutes. We got back eventually and bussed back to Woking, arriving back at our chilly flat at around 10PM wondering had we really just been away?

Oh, and Cheney shot one of his friends. How freaking hysterical is that???

belated blogging
Mood:  lazy
Now Playing: The sounds of silence
Topic: Stephen Says
Been meaning to blog for a while but have been too busy and by busy I mean lazy. Perhaps Elisabeth is right and we're suffering from Blogger burnout? Anyway, what provoked me to blog today is seeing an old lady get hit by a bus just outside of the town centre. She's alright, a bit shooken up and maybe has a broken leg. Ah, Woking.

E has already mentioned that I'm on a bit of a health kick. There's a TV show on in the morning that takes 40+ year olds who lead hectic lifestyles and live unhealthily and get them to turn it all around in 6 weeks, pointing out just how bad their bad habits are. Well, since I'm approaching 30, I don't want to have to make huge lifestyle changes 10 years down the line so I'm fixing things now. Hence the smoothie infatuation. A soy milk smoothie for breakfast can add 7 years to your life, did you know?

I'm also trying to eat more regularly. Hence the black forest cake & Tabasco brand Spanish olives I'm having for lunch. Don't tell Elisabeth.

Spain has come up real fast and, since the trip is in Elisabeth's hands, it's a bit weird not really planning anything. I imagine that I'll freak out either tonight or tomorrow at the airport when I find out what's in store for us.

I am, however, going with the expectation of being robbed. I don't know anyone whose gone to Barcelona without getting something lifted and the travel books make it sound like a certainty. So do you hear me, all you Spanish pickpockets? I've budgeted a 50Euro theft into our travel itinary. Come and get us!

Dogville
Mood:  lazy
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries
It seems to be getting harder and harder to blog with regularity. Nevertheless, just like a farmer with his cabbage, we must water the blog to keep it alive.

Yesterday, Stephen went into work early (???) before doing a sleep-in. I donated blood, getting out of 45 min. of work. They bring a blood bus around to various businesses & suck up all the office blood they can.

Today Stephen made pita pizzas & is now drinking cider and reading Andy McNabb b/c he has a week off!!

On Sunday we watched Lars Von Trier's Dogville, with Nicole Kidman, Lauren Bacall, James Caan, etc... woof. The movie would have been outstanding if they had a better actress play the lead. Kidman is so obviously devoid of life, she can not connect emotionally whatsoever, but has practiced how to imitate emotions instead. She just relies on her face, period. Otherwise it's a very clever and provoking film.

Tired...going to go...

Dinner Do/n'ts
Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: BBC4
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries
Stephen's lying on the couch thinking about what he wants to do. Oh wait, he's gotten up and found a book. He's postponing starting to cook dinner even though we're both hungary. Sooner or later hungar conqueres laziness.

I finished reading White Noise by Don Delillo. Extremely evocative of life in America. Very illuminating in the observations of consumer culture & fear of death.

Big Ben is chiming...it's 6 o'clock. The news with Alice Arnold...Danish embassy set on fire b/c of cartoons, Iran is defiant in the face of action against its nuclear program, corruption in the Palestian authoritie's accounts...

Things are heading towards boiling point, no?

But life here goes on in Woking. Friday afternoon I met Stephen in the town center & told him that we should celebrate the fact I've been signed onto a permanent contract with a bit of a higher salary---about 50 pounds more...but nevertheless, we celebrated with drinks at O'Neills, Weatherspoons & then onto a fabulous dinner at L'Aroma...Stephen had Gnocci & Tiramisu, I had basil pasta with shrimp and cherry tomatoes and a cheese plate. I cannot get enough of cheese plates...oh creamy goats cheese, mmm.

Saturday we bought a blender, to ward off aging. Stephen's turning 30 in a couple of months don't forget...and is starting this pre-midlife crisis thing.

We also bought an electric hair grooming set so I trimmed Stephen's hair this morning. Pretty fun.

Short working week: Stephen's off on Wed. & then we go to Barcalona on Thurs. Can't f-n wait.

Oh no. The filo pastry is off...we must find something new to eat for dinner. Gotta go.

Categories
Mood:  spacey
Now Playing: BBC4
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries

Just a quick update: it's Thursday, I'm waiting for Stephen to come home. We'll eat, I'll go out and drink with some old co-workers, & Stephen will chill out here.

Looking forward to a weekend where we are both not working and have nothing planned!

Wrapping up the Barcelona itenerary....less than a week now! YAY!

Yesterday I got a telemarketer who was obviously new, and actually read the same line out twice, then said "Oh I just said that. Ummm..." and I told him we were just tennants of this property to which he sounded relieved and promptly told me I was not the right category and this offer was not for me.

Thanks for calling.

Bingo Was His Name-o
Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: Julian Cope (Dark Orgasm)
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries
Right. What's been going on? On Thurs. night we got trashed with Stephen's co-workers, which involved 3 bars, some dancing with pre-teens, opening the curry house after it closed & paying 20 quid for some leftovers & papadoms, then being pushed around the street in a trolley, eating curry and walking shamefacedly home by 3am.

Luckily the canteen at my job serves a fry-up breakfast every Fri. morning...I definately took advantage of that.

Stephen had the luxury of having an afternoon shift the next day, but the bad luck of having to sleep-in at work, only to wake up the next morning to meet me at the train station (I was only 2 minutes late!) to go down to Dorset to celebrate his grandmother's 92nd birthday. We had a very pleasant day, albiet after we had some breakfast upon our arrival, and then had to scoot out quickly in the evening to catch the last reasonable train home.

Maybe I should learn to drive soon?

Ok so Sunday...Stephen went to work, and I practiced my wife skills by cleaning the flat, cooking and baking...but I failed on the ironing.

Tonight we're going to see Munich. And that's about it!

Really just enjoying life right now. We've actually managed to save over 200 pounds in January...believe it! And so we feel generally optimistic.

Been teaching Stephen piano, he's actually very good, although he really should practice and not just show up to the lessons...

Ok---wine please!

***
Stephen here, hijacking Elisabeth's entry.

re: The book club: I think it's still a good idea but I think we need to find a good book. Greg, I think your choice of one is really good and I do want to read it, the only problem is that I find that people who like the Dead Dog book are really, really irritating. It goes back to the days at the bookstore. But I'm taking your advice on board. Stay tuned...

On other news, I haven't been doing much blogging because there's some general silliness going on at work that I hope to share with y'all at a later date once it's all blowen over. I thought it would blow over a long time ago but it's really, really dragging out. Just a teaser: There's a sexual harassment complaint being made against me by a member of staff. Who is a man. Who knows I'm straight & married. Stay tuned.

Oh, and a special thank you to Elisabeth who didn't mention how, on the night out the other day, I was sick in an alley-way and then in the middle of a roundabout. It felt like I was camping all over again.

Overwhelmed
Mood:  surprised
Now Playing: Steel Pole Bathtub
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries
Due to the overwhemling response on the book club idea, we will henceforth start new rules:

1. Never mention books on this site again.
2. Please leave no comments to let us know how you feel.
3. Remember that Elisabeth gets passive agressive when her ideas don't bear fruit.

But really, we're going out drinking tonight on invitation from some of Stephen's playmates.

And also, I've been confirmed in post & will be granted a permanent contract with health benefits, stock options...at least I think so...should I dare ask for a pay rise as well? Double or nothing?

Barcelona soon...getting excited...must drink now.

Tuesday
Mood:  lyrical
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries
Due to the overwhelming response to the book club idea, we will start the book club officially today.

The rules. If you want a book club, you have to ask us to read a book. Then we'll read it and share our reaction with you.

First come first serve. And Jenn...please go easy with the heavy religious stuff.