Weekend Update
Now Playing: Mudhoney - Under a Billion Suns
Topic: Stephen Says
I splurged today and bought the above CD and Ministry's new album, Rio Grande Blood. I tell ya, there's nothing like a right wing administration in the White House to produce some kick ass hard-core. It's like I'm 16 and listening to Land or Rape and Money for the 1st time all over again.

(Plus I got a copy of American Psycho on DVD for 4 pounds as a result of my purchase.)

So, I finally saw Black Hawk Down the movie and can say Thank God I saw this on T.V. and didn't waste vaulable money on that piece of american jinoistic crap. A movie that was made totally out of context of the book that makes the loss of African life incidental to the wounding of a White Man and has an even greater patriotic bullshit monologue at the end than at the end of Saving Private Ryan, propaganda that makes the U.N. (and Pakistan appear to almost deliberately encourage the loss of American life and Argh, I can't go on.

The most revolting part: Where all the Pakistani soldiers come out of the mist dressed as waiters and serve the Brave Americans cold water.

The second (actually tied with the) most revolting part: That all the Somalis just fell down and died as opposed to the Americans who got all shot up and wounded horribly and needed surgery and suffered terrible scars. The fact that they omit the parts of the book dealing with the Somali doctors trying futiliously trying to save their people's lives from American hostility was completely ignored by the movie is inescusable...

...as is the omission of the Somali's using women and children as human shields.

Ugh, I hated the fucking movie. Especially the fabrication of A Bad Guy in the form of the man who kidnaps Mike Durant and is then blown up later on. It doesn't even serve a purpose other than a point in the film for dumb jocks to pump their fists and shout "Hoo-ah!"

And speaking of Pakistan, the other week I played my 1st (pseudo) game of cricket and have actually grown to appreciate the game a whole hell of a lot. I'm finding this recent controversy fascinating and I suppose it isn't even getting covered in North America, so oh well...

Oh, and speaking of American Psycho, I just finished Bret Easton Ellis' newest (Lunar Park) and actually reccomend it to all. It starts off as a very funny farce of married suburban life (Think: The corrections) and turns into a nasty little ghost story about a man trying to reconcile the effct that his father has had on the way he lives his like. It's also NOT how you think it is and is actually accessable and interesting. I'm into Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita now (See, Jen - I said I'd read it and I will).

And finally, 5 pictures Roman statues in Bath:

The day in Bath was fabulous. The spa was actually very interesting and I learned a lot which was weird because I'm typically scornful or paranoid of touristy things like it. The walk arond town to the Royal Crescent was the kind of walk that you imagine Ye Olde England is if you've never been here before and The Porter is, I think, the very best pub I've ever been to. I would honestly travel to Bath again just to eat (and drink) there again. Elisabeth's reaction to "They sell Summer Lightning!" was priceless. As was their wholely vegetarian & vegan menu and I can only assume that the live music they have playing daily is equally amazing.

So yay to Bath. It looks like Brighton may be the next spot on our tour of England itinary.

Of course, that'll come after a little stop off in Paris on our way to Rome.

Oh Jesus, is this the same website that started out complaining about how we could arely afford food?

Maybe it isn't so bad to be Yuppie Scum after all...

+++++
(...*sigh* and Angelfire doesn't seem to want to post this entry at all...)
(C'mon! Post! Post! Post!)
(POOOOOOOOSSSST!)
(Oh, I give up. I've got better things to do with my life...)

Bath water
Mood:  suave
Now Playing: BBC 4
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries

Our train tickets were booked for the 9:46 train. As we were enjoying some green tea, smoothie, scrambly eggs & fried potatoes, I wondered, what time is it? It was 9:15. Not yet in outdoor clothes etc...we wolfed down breakfast and made our train with time to buy a paper.

As we left the station the African spit-roasting queen called to say they decided not to meet us in Bath after all because of the torrential rain forcasted. Great news! We, not having a TV and not caring about such practical things, never checked. But for the moment, the sky was blue.

The train ride was quick, bar the 30 min. stop over at Salisbury station where the blooming hot chocolate scalded my mouth and inspired a string of curses.

The last few stations before Bath Spa revealed a new type of England. Mario-like mountains with stone houses growing out of the sides like mushrooms. Very pretty.

Stepping out of Bath station was so satisfying. Here was something different. Here was something beautiful, relaxed and historic. It was a short distance to the Roman bath and Bath abbey, and after Stephen lined his stomach with a cheese and onion sandwich, we paid up and toured the baths.

There is a one-way tour of the baths, starting on the upper level. As you made your way towards the bath itself, you were led into small exhibits and commentaries, from which I'm sure Stephen will post some pictures of statues and carvings.

We were also provided with handsets, which Stephen really enjoyed:

The whole spa was much more than this bath. I did not realize this before. The spa and the old temple (not surviving-but I believe is where the Abbey was built) went hand in hand. It was a spiritual and sensual experience. There were a few different pools, and some massage rooms/saunas etc. The water is really warm, and some pools more so than others. This one has certain minerals that have left the stone with a red coating:

And here I am enjoying some commentary by Bill Bryson...

The view of Bath Abbey if you're swimming (which you're not allowed to do):

As you leave, you're allowed to try some of the water from a fountain, served by a jolly waiter. I had a sip...not my favourite tast...but Stephen chugged it all down. Although there was a bit of peer pressure involved.

We then strolled through the town (still no sign of rain!) towards the circus and the royal crescent. The circus is town houses built in a circle with 4 roads dividing them. The crescent is much more magnificent:

I think that picture is about half of the crescent.

We had passed a cute restaurant called The Hole in the Wall, on the way to the crescent, and noticed that above it "The Porter" was a vegetarian pub. !!

How exciting for two veggies from Woking. So we happily ordered some Summer Lightning and lunch. As we sat down with our pints in the bay window, the heavens opened. But what did we care?

After eating we made our way back, ducking into shops & markets, and finally into the Bath Abbey:

There was a choir practice at the time which gave it even more atmosphere. The design of the abbey allowed for a lot of natural light, which to me is preferable to dark, sombre, gloomy cathedrals.

Once back in Woking, I went to bed and slept for 12 hours. I didn't even feel that tired!

And today has been chore day as my dad is coming for a visit on Tues night, and then back for the weekend.

One thing I am proud of today is cooking the "rhubarb" chard we got in last week's organic box. Check out the crazy colours in this:

It was chopped, blanched, and then friend with butter & garlic. Surpisingly good.

Monday monday, can't trust that day...

Oh my Cyberdog!
Now Playing: Brain candy soundtrack
Topic: Stephen Says
Well, now that mom has received her order, I've got to admit that I love Cyberdog. Where else can you receive order confirmation e-mails like:

"Your order has received clearance. It is currently receiving the personal attention of a member of our trading station crew. Once processed, it will be scheduled for the earliest possible ignition time, when it will be blasted into orbit with your details as its destination."

and...

"Your order has been successfully launched into orbit today, using the Post Office. To track your order, go to www.royalmail.com, click on 'track & trace', and type in the tracking number(s) listed below.
"Alternatively, just relax and monitor your postbox carefully, as our cyber-speedy delivery often surprises earthlings."

heh.

My wife the spaz
Now Playing: Of Montreal - Satanic Panic in the Attic
Topic: Stephen Says
E's spazzing out with excitement because we're off to Italy next month for about 24 hours. Eurostar to Paris, Paris train overnight to Rome. Vice versa the next day. JC please, please, please get in touch with us ASAP so we can figure out if it's even worthwhile getting a hotel room.

Za Zoom
Mood:  loud
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries

We have just fed into our now swollen bellies tomato soup and a plate of fried potatoes. I wish there was dessert...but glad to be without all the same.

It was a late night last night. However, not as boozy as it might have been. We did end up playing laser tag at 10:30pm. The four of us vs. the member of staff. The member of staff won. I came in second. But only because they deducted massive points from Stephen for grabbing people's guns. But let me tell you, Woking is just full of fun!

And I had my second driving lesson. I did much better and managed to start and stop (without instructoin), shift into 1-4 gears, do 4th-2nd gear, 3rd to 2nd...and only once did I accidentally go from 2nd to 5th. But I never stalled. It was so much more fun than driving automatic, boy oh boy.

Saturday we're off to Bath where we'll meet up with the S.African spitroasting queen and her family.

It's early to bed tonight.

Totally Bizarre
Topic: Stephen Says
I'm working from home on my day off today so that I can catch up on paperwork. 10 years ago, if someone had said I'd be living in England siting at a pink table filling out staff appraisals, I'd have laughed at them.

Frankly, wired
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: Billie Holiday
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries

As usual when I write, Stephen's at work. He's working again! And Tuesday is the Annual Review so their house needs to be spic & span. Of course what this also means is another piss-up with the co-workers on Tues. night. I've been trying to plan out our meals for the week, and realize that Tues. we'll be eating out or not eating at all, and then on Wed. we're going to be too hung over to cook or to go out. So what's the best hang-over food to have kicking around? I thought maybe tomato soup? Come on, I need your suggestions!

I failed to mention that on Wed. I had my first driving lesson on a manual car! I managed to find "the bite", and got up to shifting into 2nd gear. Then I coudln't seem to do it again. I'll have my next lesson on Tues. before the piss-up. The goal though is to pass the test before Christmas.

Another exciting development is that I dropped into the new Woking YMCA (called the YPOD) which recently opened, and offered to volunteer in a theatrical capacity. They didn't yet have anyone to do this, and were hoping to offer a drama workshop, so I'm handing in my volunteer app. and will email the YPOD with my ideas. They've got financial support, space, but not enough interest from youth yet. There's a small recording studio, a fair-trade cafe, and a small stage. It has so much potential it's overwhelming, but exciting.

Anyway, we'll see what happens.

Yesterday I went into London armed with a bolstered bank account, and went shopping.

Bonjour Agent Provocateur! Link to Lingerie

I hit Oxford St., North Kensington & the charity shops. In fact, I fared better at the charity shops: A navy Versace skirt for 25 pounds!

Today is chillax day. Going into to town to get the paper, drink coffee, and eat.

A good day to you all.

Paranoid? Moi?
Mood:  energetic
Now Playing: Fabriclive: The herbaliser
Topic: Stephen Says
This whole terror alert at Heathrow doesn't rub me right. Like the last terror raid that accomplished nothing but shooting a Muslim man in the arm and the raid before that where the police blew the brains of a Brazilian man all over the tube, something just isn't right.

With thousands of American troops moving into Baghbad as a last ditch attempt to stop the country from falling irreparibly (If it isn't already) into chaos and Israel out-doing Lebanon in terms of massive human rights violations and the whole of the Middle East about to boil over and with Blair & Bush trying to take a vacation as their governments rebel against them, what does the West need?

A healthy dose of paranoia and fear-mongering, that's what. And another bogus terror alert (The biggest yet [!!!]) should scare all those middle of the roaders into believing that the mess that the Neo-Cons and their hench-men have made of the world is actually worth it.

Remind everyone of 9/11, scare, scare, scare and take the heat off of Lebanon, Iraq, the recall of Parlament and Leiberman's loss in Conneticut.

Anyway, I hope I'm just being cynical. But if I'm wrong, well, that's just as scary but in a different way...

PS - It's been a long day.

EDIT:
And I'm not the only one who thinks this way.

Oh, and apologies for all the typos. I wanted to just chug out my thoughts.

Cambridge the 3rd
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: Nomeansno - The day everything became isolated & destroyed
Topic: Stephen Says
Things have been hectic over the last few days. My sleep in at work was generally disturbed, not in the least by the fluorescent light in the kitchen coming down at 3 o’clock in the morning and having to tidy the mess up.

I suppose that I thought Cambridge was going to be similar to Oxford but instead it turned out to be Royal Holloway’s bigger and more pretentious brother. I suppose the fact that it came into existence as a place for graduates of Eton to go for further education says something about the closed nature of the town and the general pomposity and feelings of self aggrandizement that goes along with being in the town and a part of the ‘scene’.

(On a side note, Elisabeth wondered out loud the other day how our experience with Royal Holloway & Englefield Green has shaped our feelings about living in Britain. Whether or not we would have this anti-elitist attitude if we had spent our first year in Birmingham, Cardiff or south London and not been exposed to the asinine belief of upper-class academic elitists…)

Like Egham, Cambridge is a university town and exists to cater to the thousands of students that live there for nine months of every year (Unlike Egham, it’s also a horrendous tourist trap the other 3 months of the year) so, unlike Oxford, which has the feeling of being lived in by real people (As opposed to students & tourists), Cambridge caters to the whims of people with more money than sense – no nice pubs, no sense of the town other than ‘look at me, I’m HISTORIC!’

(On another side note, Elisabeth and I were also musing on whether or not establishments with reputations as Bastions of High Education [note the capitals] are really all they’re cut out to be. Or whether the fact that they’re able to actually impart some knowledge upon the student body of spoilt rich kids who are only there because their parents could afford to send them makes them such Bastions.)

So that’s it for Cambridge. The 3 things that will stand out in my mind from the day are:

1)Feeling generally aggravated & annoyed almost as soon as we arrived when I realized that instead of it being a fun day out, we were going to be surrounded by tourists doing annoying touristy things as well as tourist trade people trying to rip everyone off.

2)Getting one of the angriest punters on the river as our escort. He was a theatre student who deliberately rammed other boats and capped his tour off by saying “lets knock people into the water” and then rammed more boats harder.

3)Stopping to take a picture of the front of the Scott of the Antarctic museum and having some nice man tell us how to sneak around to the front of the museum to see the statue of a naked boy whose body was based on that of Scott’s son. And then noticing his wife had a beard.

So that’s it for blog entry 501. Elisabeth got the honour of posting our 500th entry yesterday.

Cambridge Part II
Mood:  lucky
Now Playing: Nick Cave -Abattoir Blues
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries
This week's chugging along nicely...Monday Stephen did a sleep-in and I had a chance to be on the computer all night.

Now Tues. just about gone and we've spent the evening watching a British TV drama called GBH on DVD.

Back to Sunday and Cambridge though...

It was a beautiful day, we were debt free, and arrived after a hot but leisurely train ride.

It was a 20 min. walk from the station & of course a map wasn't necessary. Every pub along the way though, even though it was shitty looking and right on the main street, Stephen was like "lets come back here for lunch". No dear-I'm sure there are better places in the actual center of Cambridge.

So we had no trouble finding the old colleges and cobbled streets surrounding...

I believe that is the front of St. Johns college...
well basically neither of us cared too much about the college buildings too much. I mean, they were closed to the public, or required an entrance fee, and frankly, who cares? I can not get excited about buildings built for rich, and not necessarily intelligent people that exclude students of certain backgrounds etc... And all the while they purport to be fair minded logical people.

So we took in what else Cambridge had to offer. ? Bog standard high street shops, or else quaint over-priced and over-crowded pubs, cafes or restaurants.

We did cough up for a shared punting experience. Here's our punt master hard at work:

It was lovely to row behind the impressive buildings (call "the backs") and hear snippets of their history/rivalry.

The back of St. Johns college. Apparently students like to scale the building at night and hang shopping trolleys, text books, or bicycles on the top.

This bridge was originally built by Sir Issac Newton using mathematical principles to hold the wood together instead of using any bolts or supports. A few wiz kids decided they would dismantle it in the middle of the night and being as bright as they were, reassemble it by morning. they failed, and were expelled. No one can figure out how to re-construct the bridge on Newton's principles. And it's now standing with the aid of many nuts, bolts and supports. "Hey, weren't you studying at Cambridge? What happened?" Sucks for them.

The one decent bakery in town...it looked so good I couldn't bear to go inside without accepting the fact I would gain 10 pounds.

And finally some bicycle pix: