Keris Stainton

Nothing I can say ...

There's nothing I can say about the tsunami that hasn't already been said and, even if there was, this isn't really the place, so ... if you got any cash for Christmas or if you got presents* that you're going to sell on ebay or even if you just go without your latte (or whatever) for a few days next week - make sure you donate here.

* In Weymouth three children and their friend set up a stall on the street and sold all the games, CDs and toys they received for Christmas with the proceeds going to Oxfam.

Loved up and frisky

As expected I dreamt about Blogexplosion. Yes dreamt. How sad am I? Well, I'll tell you. I also dreamt I was all loved up and frisky with Sven Goran Eriksson. Why? Why? Clooney, yes. Eriksson, no! Though I do find him strangely attractive. Seriously.

Well I've found these cute little hand-drawn emoticons (over there, by my pic). You can get them here. I thought I'd stick with 'short' for now since I don't know how much I'll be posting over the next week or so.

Happy Christmas

As if I didn't spend enough time fannying around on the internet, I've discovered Blogexplosion. Now I'm addicted. It's so interesting, though (honestly) just randomly delving into other people's thoughts. There are some strange blogs out there. And some fascinating ones. And the really amazing thing is that almost all of them have been really well written. How come everyone can write these days?

Anyway, it's Christmas so I probably won't be blogging for a few days (I'm planning on getting online at some point - I get withdrawal symptoms otherwise - but I don't know where or when). So. Happy Christmas to everyone. I hope you all have a wonderful time.

Christmas Reading

Ah, Christmas reading. Not as crucial as compiling a holiday reading list (because if I inadvertently take something crap I can always pop down to Waterstone's or Smiths for something else - can't do that in Samos) but much fun just the same.

A few years ago I got Berry Gordy's and Boy George's autobiographies for Christmas and really enjoyed them both which has established a tradition (in my own mind) of a Christmas autobiography. This year's is Anne Robinson's Memoirs of an Unfit Mother. I've heard it's really good.

If you haven't read Michael Hoeye's Time Stops for No Mouse you're in for a treat. And I've got the third in the series No Time Like Show Time to curl up with.

I'm finally going to finish Reefer Madness which I started ages ago.

I'll be needing a Chick Lit novel for light relief and "research" and I've chosen Andrea Semple's The Make-up Girl because of her fantastic website and newsletter.

I've read so many recommendations for Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris that I think it would be remiss of me not to try it. I've no idea what to expect, which I kind of like.

Have to take Meg Cabot, of course, and I've got two: the second Mediator book and my most eagerly awaited book of the year The Princess Diaries: Sixsational. I seriously cannot wait. And, very unlike me, I'm putting off reading it so I can savour it more ... (And there's Mia's Christmas too! Yay!)

Another highly recommended novel that I've been meaning to read for years is A Confederacy of Dunces.

And David's bought me Charlie Brooker's Screen Burn, a collection of his Guardian TV columns which make me laugh every week and will be good for dipping into when I'm a bit frazzled (and depressed that there's nothing on TV).

Finally I've got The Last Family in England by Matt Haig which I've also been looking forward to. Because it's narrated by a Black Labrador. My kind of book.

So that's my list. And, no, I don't expect to be able to read them all (don't think I can't hear you other mothers laughing hollowly), but I'm taking them all with me and I'm very excited about them.

Avenue Q

I'm so excited about New York (even though I cried yesterday when I had to leave Harry to go to work ...). I've bought tickets to see Avenue Q on the Saturday night.



It looks soooo good (and mad). I can't wait.

Stumpy

Hello! I think I might finally have got things a little bit under control ... blimey, moving house is hard work, isn't it? I've still got a list of jobs as long as my arm (actually, longer, I've only got short arms) and Harry might be sleeping a little better if his window had a blackout blind instead of a blanket, but whatever. I'm managing to get something done every day. (I lay one - count it! one! - carpet tile last night!)

Just done something which I may regret ... booked to go to New York in April with my sister. Yes, just my sister. Not my husband or baby (who will be 10 months old). Not sure I'll be able to leave him, but my sister's opinion on the subject was 'you'll just have to, won't you' and when I suggested I might end up crying the whole way there, said she'll just get me drunk. Okay then.

Even though I can't believe I'm going to spend four days away from Harry - when I can hardly bear to be away from him for five minutes - I've already got excitoflies at the thought of going to New York again ... I don't know what it is about the place - usually I don't want to go back to the same place again when there's so much of the world I haven't seen - but New York, ah ... I love it so.

Leanne (my sister) hasn't been before so I'm hoping I don't spend the weekend acting like a tour guide. Her number one thing to see is the Statue of Liberty and I haven't actually been there so that's good. And there are still some things I want to do that I'm sure she'll want to do too (walking over the Brooklyn Bridge, for one). And there'll be much shopping, I'm sure. We're going to do the Manhattan TV & Movie tour too. I did it last time, but I know Leanne will love it and I'll happily go again, so ...

I think I need to watch When Harry Met Sally again (for the hundredth time, no, seriously) and maybe You've Got Mail. Oh, I love having a holiday to look forward to ...!

Do you like Keris?

Finally got broadband up and running in the new house. God, you don't realise how much you rely on t'internet until you can't access it, do you? I'm missed a bunch of bills and had to live with an underlying sense of unease until I got back online. Sad.

Got this e-mail a few weeks ago:

Dear Sir,
My name is Bayu Jatmiko and I live in: Kuncen WB: I RT: 29 RW: 06 No. 643 Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
I have some keris that I would like to sell, and I want to know:
1. Do you like keris?
2. What kind of keris do you like? Old one or the new one?
3. Can I sell my keris to you?
If you want more information about my keris that I want to sell please send me a letter to my address.

Your sincerely,
Bayu Jatmiko

I did wonder how much he was offering me for. Turns out this is a "keris".

I did it!

I did it! 50,000 words in 30 days. 50,041 to be precise. David's finished properly - a proper ending and an epilogue and everything. I just did a word count, saw it was over 50,000 and said 'that's it!' I enjoyed it though and it was a really useful exercise, I think. I'll definitely do it again. So I've got my 'Winner!' label to add to this site, but I haven't got the time to do it at the moment. Broadband hasn't been connected at the new house so I'm having to desperately fit my surfing / Christmas shopping around working.

Heard a good (stupid) joke today:

When I woke up this morning my big toe was missing.
There was just a note saying 'gone to market'.