Reasons to be cheerful... including otters

January is drawing to a close and I am feeling a lot more cheerful than I was a couple of weeks ago. I think my brighter spirits are down to a number of reasons which I thought it only fare to share!

1 It is 5:15 in the evening and it isn't quite dark yet! It won't be long until it is light until 6 and then we will be putting the clocks forward.
2 Since Christmas I have been eating lots of fruit and vegetables and feel fabulous for it.
3 I am traveling up to Edinburgh for a long weekend tomorrow.
4 Jason has made a fab little office for me in our spare attic room with a double monitor - it might just revolutionise the way I work from home!
5 Just Jason because he is fabulous! (ok ok don't be sick.)
6 And finally this BBC news story about the otter who journeyed around Scotland in a post bag with a jolly postman who fed the otter on kitten milk. Very cute indeed.

Milk

Last night I went with my small team (Andrew and Carla) to see Milk, the film about the political career of Harvey Milk who was the first openly gay man elected to political office in California and probably the whole of the US. He was assassinated shortly after taking office. I won’t give away too much of the story but it is one of the best films I have seen. I was a little concerned about Sean Penn playing the role but he was totally absorbing as were all of the supporting cast. The film doesn’t deal with Harvey Milk’s life before he got into politics which in one way was a shame but as the film wanted to show his political life and his legacy I can understand why time could not be spent on the back story before the 1970s.

Andrew and Carla were so impressed by the film they have written a review which they have submitted to our work place intranet including a transcript of Milk’s hope speech from the close of the film. I would really recommend going to see the film, it is as enlightening about grass roots politics and the difference a small group of people can make as it is enlightening about gay rights and equality. The scenes depicting 1976 onwards also to me seemed really evocative of the late 70s when I was a very small child, The fashions and the hair cuts, the way of talking just took me right back to a different world.

There is also something very poignant about the film in light of Barack Obama’s election as President. If it hadn’t been for people like Harvey Milk and his supporters Barack Obama’s victory just couldn’t have happened.

Moorfields Eye Hospital A&E

Yesterday I had to go to Moorfields Eye Hospital A&E, I had been experiencing some pain and blurred vision in my left eye. I was warned when I arrived that there was a three hour wait but I saw a nurse fairly quickly and was then asked to wait in the inner sanctum waiting room which was packed full. The occupants of the waiting room resembled the cast of a very modern disaster movie. Multi race, multi faith, the old and the young including a baby, the suited business man yawning and huffing loudly, the father and son and a bossy matriarch.

The business man snorts like a bull. The son of an elderly Muslim man sounds just like Frank Bruno as he talks on his mobile about north London rental prices. The bossy matriarch woman points out the no mobile phone sign and he hangs up and genuinely thanks her for reminding him. Every now and again a guide dog weaves it's way amongst us. The backdrop noise, a TV in the corner, is punctured by the tea trolley lady asking "cheese and onion or plain?"

I am vaguely aware of a donkey jacket wearing old geezer who has been humming Irish folk songs shuffle nearer to where I am sitting. He settles opposite and immediately starts talking. Not to me but about me. “Ooh look at her rubbing her eye - that’ll make it worse.” when I reach for my mobile “Ooh she’s got her mobile, somebody loves her.” I was bristling with every comment.

At about this point an elderly woman with an even older companion arrived. No sooner had they arrived the younger of the two disappeared to find the “ladies”. Donkey Jacket continued to commentate on me like an alien David Attenborough commenting on a human female. The younger of the elderly ladies returned from the “ladies” in a whirlwind of excitement.

“There was a young man in the ladies toilet, out of his head on cocaine and wacky baccy! He was in a complete fury in the ladies toilet out of his head you know, out of his head on cocaine and wacky baccy|” she exclaimed

Her even older companion just nodded, Madge Allsop style.

The Deal or No Deal music floated out from the TV corner and Donkey jacket shuffled away to watch the programme and talk to Noel Edmonds and left me in peace.

It wasn’t long after this that I saw a Dr and was informed that I have a series of abrasions on my left cornea which weren’t healing naturally so I have to leave my contact lenses out for a week, take antibiotic eye drops 6 times a day for 7 days.

oxford and Burns' Night

Yesterday we went to Oxford for the day - just on a whim. We spent some time wondering around, weaving between students, tourists and shoppers. It was very, very busy. I was impressed by the earnestness of some of the snatched conversations I overheard from the students. Also relieved by the silliness of some of the other conversations I also overheard.

We had a nice lunch and wandered some more although it did get quite cold!

Today is Burns’ Night so Jase and I are preparing a haggis supper of Haggis, tatties and neeps. I have peeled the potatoes but Jase is in charge of the rest. Being a Scot it is only fair he takes the lead! I hope to finish off the evening with some shortbread and whisky!

RNIB annual birthday get together

Today was the annual RNIB reunion. We hold it every year to celebrate Andrea (middle below) and Val (right below) birthdays that fall within January. (And just so you know Janet is on the left below!) This year we were back at the 4 Lanterns Greek Taverner on Cleavland Street and had a lovely meal.
Here is a picture of all of us taken by the very helpful waitress. Unfortunately Denis is cut off slightly as is Stuart.
It is 8 years since I worked for the RNIB and even then I only worked there for 6 months yet when ever I meet up with my old colleagues it as if no time has passed at all. They were a wonderful bunch of people to work with and most of us are at least 2 or 3 jobs away from our RNIB jobs, but we still keep in touch and I am very grateful that we have done!

Below are just some other snaps I took during the evening.

Mark Radcliffe

Jase bought me a wonderful present for Christmas; a digital radio which works on batteries in the bathroom! Admittedly he had to send off for a new electronic board for inside the radio but once it arrived and Jase skillfully fixed it the radio has been fine. Last night I was having a soak and just flicked to the crystal clear sound of Radio Two, expecting to hear some big band music or maybe some old fashioned folk. Instead I was greeted by Mark Radcliffe playing Fleet Foxes some decidedly modern folk!

I first listened to Mark Radcliffe back in 1990 with Out on Blue 6 which my Mum always called Out on Blue 9 (or have I now got it confused...!)

Anyway it was a delight to listen to Mark again and his excellent choice in music! It took me right back it did. Smashing!

Photo club

It has been a really busy week at work with lots of report writing and training and meetings and updating and just feeling as if the mountain is unclimbable! But there was one small hiatus to all the hustle and bustle and that was photo club. A new photography club has been set up at work and our first meeting was on Wednesday lunch time and loads of people turned up and everyone was really, really enthusiastic. Most of us shared a photo we took during the Christmas break. I showed my picture of a stag. Some of the other pictures submitted were outstanding. Our next meeting is on the 28th of Jan and we have a photo assignment to take a pic along the theme of “Shopping” by the next meeting. Jase and I went to Kingston and Regents Street today and I didn’t have my camera with me! The first thing I said I should do when I joined photo club was to start carrying my camera with me everywhere I go! Tomorrow I plan to visit the Abbey Mill’s market at around dusk to take some pics.

Westfield

Tonight we went to Westfield, the giant temple to all thing retail at Shepherd’s Bush. Although it opened before Christmas I hadn’t visited until tonight. I didn’t buy much. I was looking for a nice blouse for work but couldn’t find anything in my size which wasn’t smothered in ruffles which would just make me look matronly. I did buy some Chanel nail varnish and got a load of little freebies and a dinky little Chanel paper bag which was very cute. I had wanted to do my bit for the economy - credit crunch what credit crunch? - but I was thwarted by the lack of decent wares on sale. I was mesmerized by DeVeres and Tiffany & Co but even the credit crunch bites for me at those kinds of prices!

Putney and the new Doctor!

Today we went to Putney, it was the first time that I went to Putney High Street. About 13 years ago I did go to Putney to a gig at the Halfmoon Inn which I think is now closed down, but I have never been to Putney High Street. We had a lovely afternoon and I took a picture of the Thames at Putney pictured above.

The BBC have just announced the new Dr for Dr Who in 2010 - and it is Matt Smith! I liked him in the Ruby and the Smoke so although he is young I think he will be good.

Testing Macjournal

I am trying out some new software called Mac journal which should enable me to move entries from my macjournal directly to my blog. So I am giving it a go and seeing what happens...

Happy New Year!

Jason and I saw the new year in with a lovely glass of wine at a hotel in London. We were escaping our neighbours new year's eve karaoke party. Before seeing new year in though we went to see Bill Bailey's Tinselworm show. The show was great and Bill Bailey's five year old son stole the show with his James Blunt joke.

I don't feel like it is new year until I have seen the BBC's 3 minute summing up of new year across the globe so there is a link to it here.

I'm not a big fan of new year as a concept - it all seems a bit arbitrary - today is no different than yesterday or the day before that or a week and a day from today, but I'm not as bah humbug about it as I used to be.

I'd just like to wish anyone who reads this a very peaceful and joyful 2009!