Take a Moment

Yesterday, I finished all the studying I had planned for the day early (proofreading would have been totally redundant because I lost the ability to read actively, and I'm waiting for feedback before I tinker with things) and so I had the night off. I treated myself to Marie Claire and sat in the garden drinking shandy and flipping through the fashion pages! I managed not to let the fact that La Dunst looks effing miserable on this cover spoil my R&R. I've only half-read her interview but am so far moved to say: side of jaded with that, Kiki?

Then I watched Road to Perdition, starring Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, and Jude Law in a sinister and completely unfanciable incarnation. Paul Newman has never really been on my radar before, though I know the man is a legend, but oh my God can he act! You're all reading this thinking "Well, duh...", Oscar nominations galore etc. but I haven't really seen him in anything before and his performance completely blew me away. I really enjoyed the film.

Whilst flipping through Marie Claire I also happened to fall in love.

I'm not even usually a Louis Vuitton girl but I adore this bag and wallet. Shame I haven't got a spare £700 lying around...

Trick Me

This week was Mybug's birthday and he celebrated at Heebie Jeebies. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it, and I really wanted to go, I have a new dress to wear and everything. I am so in need of a good night out after all this studying, I cannot tell you. Once this is over, I'm really going to let loose - with anyone who will join me, frankly.

Yesterday I took a night off and invited Dedalus over. We watched The United States of Leland, which was pretty good and featured a solid cast, including the cute little kid from Freaky Friday, Mr. Rachel McAdams, and the rather underrated Don Cheadle. We had a good long chat before we put the movie on too. And I learned how he likes his tea. It was nice, if a little "sparky".

The thing with Dedalus though, is that whenever he meets a girl, I know before he even tells me. And I know when he's stopped seeing her too. How do I know this? Purely from the tone of his text messages. Single, he is real eager to meet up and make dates, suggesting movies and places we should go; when there's a girl on the scene, I get lots of vague references to his 'hope' of meeting up 'soon'. I'm sure this is natural and that I would probably be the same if I met someone new, you tend to forget anyone else even exists if there's a new love in your life. But Dedalus has a history here, and it makes me nervous. Well, not nervous. Hesitant. Do I keep my guard up with him, waiting for him to meet his next serious girlfriend and get real busy, or do I let myself relax into the friend thing, and accept him as part of my life again?

I just keep thinking of that old saying: fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...

I guess it's not that big a deal. Judging on past performance, arm's length is probably the best place to keep him.

Je Reviens

Saturday, I went to see this.

I was pretty much expecting it to blow and went for nostalgic purposes, but it was decent enough and me and Dedalus had a laugh over it. Splinter's voice is just wrong. His accent is slurred: sensei had been at the sake. Not a patch on the old school films though, there weren't as many one-liners as I remember, and April had turned into some sort of Indiana Jones type figure. They left room for a sequel.

After the film, we went for milkshakes and Dedalus sprung that old chestnut: did I say anything stupid when we went out? on me about five times. Then he walked me to meet Boyf at La Tasca. Not weird in the least!

When I walked into the bar and saw Boyf waiting for me, I actually got this warm fuzzy feeling inside. I thought, damn, you're gorgeous. My boyfriend is seriously hot. I don't know how the fuck I scored him. We went for Mexican food and got drunk on a bottle of wine. Checked out the Everyman bar but weren't very impressed. Seem to remember him annoying me in the taxi on the way home by involving me in an argument about racism with the driver as if I was some sort of representative of all things politically correct. He thinks I'm naive because I disagree with him whenever he makes a generalisation.

Swings and roundabouts, eh?

Sunday we went for a bike ride in the park, which was lovely. Today, I am totally meant to be studying, but have spent the day looking for something to wear when I go out for my birthday next week. That's a whole 'nother can of worms.

I'm not thrilled about turning 25, but I much prefer it to the alternative of not turning 25.

Oh, also, I saw The Return, a movie which should be avoided at all costs. It was soooo slow, without any genuine shocks or surprises, and left me completely unmoved and uninterested. Okay, so I wasn't really expecting anything wonderful when I sat down to watch it, but even I enjoyed House of Wax. I will say one thing though; I really love Sarah Michelle Gellar's hair colour in it.

Although, judging from this picture it looks like blondes do have more fun.

Before the Law

Had a couple of busy days re: Dedalus. We met up to see a movie on Thursday (Hot Fuzz) and had milkshakes and fries at the diner. It was nice. The movie was funny, but criminally underutilised Bill Bailey. Both of him.

Incidentally, on the way home from town, my bus was pulled over by a siren-flashing police vehicle, and a male officer got on the bus. He started walking slowly to the back; everyone just sort of fell out of conversation and stared, waiting for someone to make a run for it or some scuffle to occur. He looked at the guy sitting adjacent to me and said, "Can we have a chat with you, mate?" The guy said, "Yeah, okay," accompanied him ever so amenably off the bus, and was promptly arrested. I have to admit that there was a moment where I wondered if he was actually going to turn out to be a male stripper, and make someones birthday. But we all know how my mind works by now.

"Tickets, please."

Talking of movies, you remember the whole number 23 debacle? Well, Dedalus has since worked out that both his long term relationships lasted 23 months. And he split up with girl #1 on the 20th of March. And girl #2 on the 13th of October. Spooky shit!

So, yesterday - the second day, of the third month might I add - we got our glad rags on and hit the town for drinks, to celebrate Dedalus' new job, which he starts on Monday. The night started off well, I wore my new shoes (which hurt like I can't even think what might hurt as much, some medieval torture device perhaps, or improperly operated eyelash curlers), and he was on top form, in a comedic sense. However, by the time we left Modo's, the night had taken a different turn. (There was a weird moment on the way to Modo's actually where he slowed down and sort of leaned in, but I was like, "Keep walking, dude, keep walking.") We went to Mybug's bar - he's really cute in his uniform - for a quick one and then stepped outside to deliberate where to go next. It was raining really heavily so I took off my coat and used it to shelter my hair and he ducked under it too and started trying to kiss me.

I was not having it. Anyway, eventually, I untangled myself from the situation and we went to Tea Factory, at which point I realised that I'd lost one of my beloved hoop earrings and had been walking around with only one in like a scurvy buccaneer (my eye makeup was probably looking a bit Jack Sparrow by this point too.) I am so upset. Switched to drinking water and stumbled through a chat about how much we have in common and how we don't even have to try we both just get on so well. I suggested that was a good foundation for a friendship and didn't necessarily mean anything more should happen. He said he wanted more and he'd been really nervous about meeting me that night. I said he was feeling like this because of girl #2. He said no, it had always been me.

Bars were closing and this seemed like a good time to make a sharp exit in any case. Before we parted ways, he asked if he could see me again over the weekend and I said we'd sort something out, but I do think a spot of space is called for.

I'm shocked he is doing this when not only does he know about Boyf, he knows (a little) about Alfie. Or maybe that is why he's doing this... maybe he thinks I am looking for something else... Aw, crap.

It Takes Two

Last night I had a date with Dedalus. We hit the tapas bar for sangria, then took in Jim Carrey's new movie, The Number 23. As an aside, Dedalus was born on the fifteenth of August. 15 + 8 = 23. There are 23 letters in his name. You think I should be worried?

It was so strange meeting him. It was like a rerun of the Alfie date, without the nudity or the part where I allowed myself to sleep in a bed underneath a fake fur throw. (Dude, you'll be installing mirrored ceilings next, wanna stop being such a kissable cliche?) I got a lift into town and was dropped off in the same place. I walked the same walk. And I waited in the same spot where Alfie stood waiting for me. Then I drank two sangrias and felt tipsy: nothing new there. (Staff in that bar must be like, heyyy, there's that whore again!)

Similarities end there. Dedalus and I actually converse and everything, without me doing all the work, it's totally refreshing. I wore my blue dress and the Faith boots. He looked pretty cute.

We'd got to talking about tricky subjects again the night before on MSN, but luckily no mention was made while we were out. He kept saying stuff like that he wished I was his girlfriend and he wants me to know he never stopped liking me and did I ever like him back then? I was firm but fair, and asked him if he was sure it was a good idea to see each other if that was how he felt. But he reckoned he was fine with it and he knew nothing was going to happen, it just mattered to him how I felt about things in the past. I think we should maybe cut out the 2 am chats though.

The movie itself was interesting but a little convoluted towards the end. It introduced certain characters too late for you to care and they drive towards wrapping up the plot a little too overtly, if that makes sense. It's like the ending of a Scooby Doo episode where they explain everything and pull off the scary mask to reveal it's actually been the janitor all along. Worth seeing though, if only to freak Dedalus "23" out.

Awkward moment of the night: "What was the name of the bar we always went to? Studio 50-something? Maybe it works out to three times 23... oh no, that's..." - Dedalus

Facked

Lest we forget: Mybug. It was Our Day Out yesterday. We were due to meet at 5:45 outside FACT, to see Pan's Labyrinth. By some fluke of science - or maybe physics in particular, I recall some sort of equation about speed and velocity, but nothing about the number 14 bus - I managed to get there early despite leaving at 5 o'clock, the journey usually taking at least 45 minutes, being in rush hour traffic, having to walk from one side of town to the other in high heeled boots that were certainly not made for walking, and not being entirely sure where FACT was (I was last there August 2004 with Dedalus, for The Bourne Supremacy, and I had to hide from my old pretentious tutor whom I spotted in the bar.)

He managed to turn up a little bit late. And a little bit drunk. He was paint-spattered, which was cute, because he'd been working with kids all day. I went to kiss him hello on the cheek and he grabbed me and kissed me on the mouth. He had a huge cold sore. Not so cute. Remember how much I fancied Alfie and the thing on my lip was basically gone at the Christmas party and I pushed him away when he tried to kiss me because of it? He still believes I rejected him to this day. There is no excuse for wantonly spreading herpes.

The film was really good and he brought sweeties. I'm not a sweeties during the movie type of girl but still, thoughtful. However, he kept grabbing me and trying to hold my hand, he'd put his arm around me or lean on my shoulder, at one point I swear he tried to cop a feel but for my deft manoeuvring, and then he bit my shoulder. I'm just sitting there thinking oh, fuck and waiting for him to read the body language. I don't think he would have done any of that except he'd been drinking. I was thinking it's probably difficult for someone with ADHD to sit through a movie like that?

Spoiler alert: you know the scene where Ofelia's mother is dying and the Captain says to save the baby before saving her? Mybug actually said to me, "If we were in that situation I'd save you." I said; "I'm glad you're not a fascist." He said, "I just love your boobs too much... that was borderline wasn't it?" I said, "No, you're so across the line!"

After the film, we went to the bar where he works, had mojitos, and he introduced me to some people. Then I said I'd have to get my bus, so he walked to the top of Bold Street with me. He asked me to dance in the street, grabbed me, spun me around, whipped me up into his arms, and twirled. Meanwhile, I am like as stiff as a board yelping, "I'll fall!" and "Trust issues!"

Asking him to the movies was such a good idea, non?

Lordy. So I guess I need to speak to him now or not see him again, because he was obviously treating it as a date despite the fact that every second word out of my mouth now is 'boyfriend', the first word being 'my'. There were some funny moments as he is quite witty but it was just far too uncomfortable, I really didn't want to say anything about it at the time but it was not a pleasant experience when he was getting all hands-on in the cinema. To compound matters, I was thinking about Alfie the whole time because 'Muffin bumped into him during a staff visit to his new workplace. I was dying to ask him a million questions despite the fact that I wouldn't get any answers that would satisfy me. He did say he's lost more hair though. It's such a shame for him :P

Tomorrow: Dedalus.

I need more girl friends.

The Pursuit of Happyness

The film was great. Will Smith is excellent and his kid is super cute. Inspirational stuff and all very well acted. Treated with bathos which is very effective and there are some touching and funny parts all done with subtlety. I'd recommend it, unless you're in the mood for a fast paced thriller, because it's quite slow and doesn't have much action. I really enjoyed it.

The company was quite good as well. I'm still a bit unsure but it is nice meeting up with Dedalus and reminds me of my uni days. He also said he was sorry for being such a crap mate and that that was what he'd meant to say the other day over coffee but he didn't express it very well. He said it wouldn't happen again. He may very well be full of shit though as he said that he thought I looked like an actress from 24. I don't watch it so he assured me it was a compliment and I said I'd go home and Google it and it better not be Pat Butcher. I'm pretty sure that when a guy tells you that you look like this, when you know you are actually closer to resembling Pat Butcher there are ulterior motives at work. But I cannot be bothered worrying about that right now.

What would make me happy right now is if my dissertation was finished. I have an appointment with my tutor on Thursday and I think maybe he'll bitch slap me into shape. Will probably be meeting up with Dedalus again after the meeting because my uni is right near his house. See how easy this is? Alfie apparently drives right near my house every day on his way to and from work. He also leaves his house at the same time I leave mine, so that if I did buy a car and start driving into work, I would probably frickin' pass him going the opposite way.

I need to stop mourning this non-fling, non-relationship, non-friendship, non-affair and get a bit blimmin' kick ass again. Moping is so not my colour. If I ever bump into him, I need not to be looking like a startled deer in the woods or a bunny in the headlights of a big fuck off truck. It would be rather good if I could look like this, but I would settle for looking happy. If I could also look as cute as possible that would be quite nice too!

What's It All About?

It's Christmas Eve Day!! Christmas Eve is my favourite part of Christmas. It's the slice of time we get to ourselves before the extended relatives descend upon us, bringing the madness with them. By midnight, we are opening presents - I know, I think Santa must hit our house first or something? And, when the turkey is cooked, we have hot turkey and stuffing sandwiches. Sometimes a glass of champagne. We stay up really late creating a mountain of discarded wrapping paper, and much laughter is had by all.

Yesterday, since I am still sick and could not face the chores I now have to do today, I had a movie day. I watched, in order, Five Children and It (Eddie Izzard if you please!), The Nightmare Before Christmas, Alfie, and In Her Shoes. Then I couldn't sleep all night because of this cough and this dilemma: when should I, if at all, text my Alfie?

Now, since I have watched the movie, I have the ideal opportunity to text and tease him about it, but, BUT, I was thinking I should wait and see if he bothers to text me over Christmas. However, if he doesn't I will read all kinds of shizz into that, when really maybe he doesn't feel like he should bother me when I am with my boyfriend? He doesn't know I'm a crazy bitch who thinks about him non-stop, and could possibly feel he was encroaching on my space? Or, do men even think of these things at all? Does the should I/shouldn't I wheel of indecision even enter their brains? Or do they just do whatever the hell they feel like?

I know I said I wasn't going to pursue him any more, you giving me the eyes there at the back. So maybe I shouldn't text at all unless he does. But I really want him to. I am just dying to kiss him again. And since he made the effort with all the emails and everything, would he feel like I'm not making the effort, so why should he?

You see, it's hard work being a crazy bitch.

Plans for today include: still trying to get that last minute present for my mum (there's always one isn't there?), finally going to see The Holiday - more Jude, Jude overload could push me into a text (by the way if any of you are wondering what Alfie's sexy look looks like, it looks pretty much like Alfie's sexy look here) - then having a nice soak in the bath and possibly a glass of Baileys, putting on some new Christmas pyjamas, and settling in for the fun.

Enjoy the festivities people!

Chick Fit

You know I have got to got to got to see this film before Christmas! I am forcing the boyfriend to go with me - total boyfriend duty right? But I have already seen the trailer and there is lip locking between Jude and Cameron. Who am I going to be thinking about when Jude is on screen I wonder? Bloody in jokes and their sneaky ways.

Today, I was going to do some Christmas shopping but the weather is awful. So I'm planning on studying - blogging is my warm up :P - and going shopping tomorrow, maybe meeting Dedalus if I can think of some way to entertain him. We said we'd talk about some stuff, which is going to be tricky. But I guess it distracts me from the fact that ALFIE HAS STILL NOT MADE A DATE. Maybe I need to resign myself to the fact that he's just not that into me. Or maybe I need to look at it in some perspective and note that it's only been a day and a half since I last heard from him, and this does not necessrily mean, as I automatically think it does, that he hates me and will never speak to me again.

Tonight I plan to watch Love Actually. Maybe get some tips off Keira.

Fuck it. If he still hasn't text me by tomorrow afternoon, I am buying those shoes I want! Don't try and stop me! (Actually, please try and stop me, I really can't afford them.)

Things Going Bump in the Night...

...with any luck.

Happy Halloween!

I intend to spend mine hiding from trick or treaters and watching scary films in the dark.

I have a choice between The Omen, Silent Hill and, um, Nacho Libre.

Have fun ya'll!

Freaky 'Fess Up

In the spirit of full disclosure, and inspired by Wondy's confession, I would just like to formally announce that, for a period of about two days, before it became totally eclipsed by my desire for Himself, I fancied Chad Michael Murray.

You may not know him. He's the doe-eyed kid L.Lo falls for in Freaky Friday, and he certainly did nothing for me in that role. He also features a bit on Go Fug Yourself, for obvious reasons, none of which could be said to engender attraction.

On Sunday night, I had a horror double bill of my very own, and watched The Descent (which rocks!) and House of Wax (not as much rocking but worth a watch if only to marvel at Paris Hilton acting.) In House of Wax, however, CMM plays a sort of bad boy character with a soft, heroic underbelly, and I totally fell for it. I thought he was looking a bit Justin Timberlake without the skinny kid element too. He's just like, the guy that gets things done. The guy you'd want on your team. As Paris herself would say: that's hot.

The Descent won out though, not at all what I expected, with good performances and genuine shocks. I'm not a major fan of scary or gory films but this one surprised me. I know it was out for ever ago but because I'm not a big fan of the genre I could never be bothered watching it until recently. If you missed it too, you should really check it out.

There you go, a post not entirely about the guy I like! I'm too good to you!

Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?

So, last night our "family hairstylist" as she should rightly be known was at my house until ten o'clock coiffing and teasing the locks of my sister, aunties, and myself. Yes - Aunt Boy George went for the chop. And, as predicted, she hates it. She has vowed that she will not be going to the wedding (she will) and that she hates us all for making her do it (she does.) Her fancy gown is meant to be arriving today, so let's hope that it does and that it looks good on her for Chrissake!

The wedding is proving a massive headache for me and the Boyf, as we are trying to arrange it around a trip to France. We have option one: run away to France for two weeks and forget about the hassle of work, family dramas, deadlines, etc. and pay Yank £100 for the pleasure of not going. Or option two: go and hide in France for one week, curse ourselves for having to come back for Yank's wedding, drive the length of the country upon return, carpool everyone up to Scotland, blow an absolute fortune, possibly engage in some sort of dramatic confrontation/cry in my room because of Judas, then go back to work early.

Hmmmm, what would Jesus do?

Can you tell which one I'm leaning towards? It's actually not as easy as I'm making it sound. Despite my reservations about all family gatherings involving... well, my family, I would quite like to go and see Yank and Li get married, and it'd be cool to go to Gretna. But I would much rather go skipping merrily to our little French retreat and have the Boyf all to myself for a while. If I was particularly close to Yank and Li - the way I once was - then I wouldn't even be thinking about not going. If MJ got married for example, there's no way in the world I would miss it and I would probably cry a Loch at the ceremony.

Over the weekend I watched quite a few soppy films (The Family Stone, Just Like Heaven, Elizabethtown - chick flick marathon ahoy!) and all I kept seeing was this message about family family family, how important it is and how beautiful and yeuch, all that sort of thing. I would love to feel like that about my family. I like the idea of belonging to a big family, but I do belong to a big family and I'm only close to about four people in it. I know it was prompted by Hollywood saccharine overkill, but it was maybe the first time I'd thought about having my own family and nurturing something to be different from what I've grown up in. Although this is quite hilarious to me: the first time I even consider the possibility of any kind of joy coming from having children, the vision I see is not of a young family but a mature one, with grown up offspring and zero responsibility :P

The Family Stone is totally worth a look by the way, if only for the cringiest meet the parents moment in the world (not to mention SJP, Rachel McAdams, Luke Wilson, I could go on!)

The One

Recently I had a conversation with someone about life's funny coincidences. We all have our own experiences of them, little twists of fate that seem perfectly random yet they reunite us with old friends or drop an opportunity into our laps. One of the first movies I went to see on a date was Sliding Doors. I really liked the concept of the movie, that just by missing a train the course of our whole lives could change. It can be a bit scary too if you think about the implications of every decision we ever make. For example, seeing that film inspired my friend Li to copy Gwyneth's hairstyle, and she looked fab. But if I had made the same decision? Now that would have been SCARY.

One of the most bizarre coincidences that ever happened to me was when I was 17. Years before, I'd picked up an old astrology book at a second hand book fair. It was full of all kinds of things, about mapping your birth chart (the position of the planets when you were born), numerology, handwriting analysis etc. The numerology section used your name and birthdate to give you an insight into your character and the possibilities for your future. Now, it's not that I'm a great believer in this sort of thing but I try to keep an open mind and mostly I just think it's a bit of fun. Ultimately, I think we all control (to a certain extent) who we are and where we're going. Anyway, a few weeks after I met the love of my life I came across the book again tucked away in a storage crate at the back of my wardrobe. I told my boyfriend about the fun, silly nights I'd had with my friends trying out all the different things in there and he asked me to tell him his future. The easiest thing to do was the numerology of his name and birthdate, so I turned to that section and got out a pen and paper. Then I noticed something and could not believe what I saw. There was no need for me to work out the numerology of my boyfriend's name. It was already in the book as the example they used to show you how to do it. My boyfriend didn't believe me and thought I was playing a trick on him at first. It's not like he has the most unusual of names, but I still think it's kind of funny that even though I didn't know it at the time, an astrology book I picked up second hand told me the name of my first love.

Lust for Glorious

Looks like Sienna just walked in.

So how was your weekend? I had a total laze-fest, it was glorious. I really miss my boyfriend though. He's in Glasgow this week, due home tomorrow, can't wait! Am hoping for something along the lines of that famous scene from An Officer and a Gentleman, but I don't think he has the outfit... we should get him that outfit! I'm working late tomorrow and could really do with the distraction.

Behold the fabulousness of the new Sex and the City: The Complete Series shoe box! I want one! I'm holding out until after Christmas; if Santa doesn't read my blog, I'll splurge and buy it myself (just hope they don't sell out or something!) I can justify the spending because I'll really get my moneys worth out of it. SATC marathons are a regular occurrence at the Chica residence. It's so pretty!

Yesterday, I watched Closer. Oh My God. How disgusting are men?! Yeuch, I hope Clive Owen doesn't kiss his mother with that mouth! Bar of soap needed, stat. I do not get how Julia's character (my mate Julia Roberts that is :P) could find that man attractive when he is portrayed as such a sleazebag. That scene with Natalie Portman? Gross! I know Jude Law's character wasn't exactly squeaky clean on the language front, but that computer scene - how did they get away with showing that?! - was pretty funny. "Graphic sexual dialogue" indeed! That being said, I'd recommend this film. (But it should be rated NEVER WATCH IT WITH YOUR PARENTS... or on a first date, for that matter.) And I really liked Julia's eye make up! Natalie with red hair reminded me of Sharon Osbourne, but she rocked the pink wig.

Shazza?

I filled out a job application yesterday too. It took me half the day! Bah - I hate supporting statements. It's for some student liaison post, helping them find work placements. It's better paid than my current job and has more chance of going somewhere. I've been trawling job websites recently. If any of them are actually interested in me, I don't think I'm going to be too popular with my boss, getting calls for references already! *sigh* Why can't I just wake up tomorrow and be Zadie Smith? I mean, is that too much to ask?

It is a truth universally acknowledged...

...that any adaptation of Pride & Prejudice that omits its most famous line is making a mistake. Even Bridget Jones knew that!

Tell me why, I don't like mondays, tell me why, I don't like mondays, I wanna shoo-hoo-hoo-hoo... hold up... it's monday and I'm sitting in bed supping a cup of Yorkshire tea in my pyjamas! :) You gotta love days in lieu. I'm not gonna slob around all day though, I'm heading to uni later to sort out registering and due dates and whether they're gonna try and charge me more fees *gulp* What can I wear? It's funny but I've started to hate wearing anything I've worn to work on my days off. I guess I'll need a whole separate free time wardrobe *sigh*

I'm so happy I could cry. I probably won't feel this way at seven in the morning when I have to drag my ass out of bed and haul it to the bus - stop... I'm on a late tomorrow, lie in for me! Okay I'll stop being smug now, but I have to make the most of these small pleasures while they last, it's proper term time this week and you may find me hiding under the counter because of the change in pace. I'm not looking forward to angry queues of people cursing me for fucking up the till. I'll have to pull out the tried and tested 'la, la, I can't hear you' routine. But I don't have to worry about that until tomorrow. So shush me.

Yesterday was lovely. We spent most of the weekend recovering from our colds (if I'm sick, boyf always has to be sick too, or he feels left out. Bless.) So we snuggled in bed with mugs of tea and comfort food. He bought things on eBay. I watched movies. Sunday afternoon we ventured out to the cinema for Pride & Prejudice. It's one of those movies you already know if you'll love or hate, but I love the novel, Jane Austen is my hero, so I was glued. Not so the bloke on the end of our row, who fell asleep and started snoring. It is a bit drawn out with none of Austen's lively wit to fill the gaps, but it's gorgeously done. My boyfriend had complaints about Mr. Darcy though. He was expecting more of a "Diet Coke man", i.e. sexy, and some romping. He did however like Keira's teeth.

After the film we went for an Italian, which was lush but it was way too hot in the restaurant. Some gross couple (who, my spies inform me, had just met) were making out in the seating area. They had Swing music playing for most of the night and then they played 'Let's Get It On'. Homage?

My P&P verdict: Fall in love with the book first, then you can appreciate seeing it played out on screen with the benefit of Austen's narrative style in your head. The sets are beautiful and I think next time I read the book I'll be able to imagine that time more clearly. But that bit at the end where Elizabeth is talking to her dad? That kind of stunk. Mr. Darcy is a bit wimpy too, but it's hard not to think of him as Colin Firth. It had me at hello.

Boyfs P&P verdict: "I was dying to know what was happening in the theatre next door, I could hear car chases and everything!"

Holy Crap, Lions!

'Sup people. Today we wrapped our work day up with bottles of Bucks Fizz, strawberries and scones. Ribbit drank about six glasses, and Jojo got her digital camera out, which was not good. She has lots of pics of Potter with his hands over his face now. This was a special 'treat' for some hard work that's been put in recently on a big book move. What we all secretly wanted to say was, "Can't you just hand us a strawberry on the way out and let us go early?" I sat next to the newest addition to the team, who is above us but seems really nice. Next week I start doing some late nights.

Last weekend was a really good one. Saturday I went shopping and bought Mowgli (the nephew) some cute baby socks and a winter hat and gloves since my niece is pretty sorted for newborn-size clothes. Then we went to see Crash, which was brilliant - one of the best films I've seen for ages. The representation of racism was really compelling; it shows you rather than telling you, so it isn't overly didactic. Because we're so used to getting a politically correct version of things it shocks you when it first starts even though most of us probably hear stuff like that all the time in real life. Boyfriend would've enjoyed it more if some girl wasn't sitting behind him narrating themovie. She also kept laughing at the weirdest parts. Even her boyfriend shushed her at one point :P

Sunday brought a trip to Chester Zoo, which was really fun as I haven't done anything like that with my boyfriend for ages. I've been before when I was a kid and so has he but this was the first time we'd been together. The first thing we saw after we paid in and donated to the Orangutan fund :) was the elephants!

Look how cute the baby elephant is! You can't see in the photo but he's standing next to a big waterfall. From the elephant enclosure we went to see the monkeys, which were springing about all over the place. We got a glimpse of a little tiny baby monkey being cuddled by mummy and daddy monkey too. They were very protective and shoved any other monkeys off the platform when they came near. There were lots of other animals in this part of the zoo to see, including ostriches and zebras, but by far the best thing we did was the Bat house! How cool was this! You enter this building and it's all really dark, you can't see at first where you are going. The first thing we saw was a massive shadow overhead, and looked up to see something the size of a seagull. "That wasn't a real bat!" said the Boyf. But he was wrong. The hugest bats I have ever seen were swooping over our heads, landing on wire type things and walking along them in their own freaky little style. Ace Ventura would've hurled. There were also small bats zipping around us through openings in the mock cave we were walking through, and hanging upside down in the trees. One brushed Boyf's face as we walked around. I wrapped my hair up really tight because that fear of them getting tangled in your hair that's in films? That isn't made up! One of the other best things was the Meerkats. They are so funny looking!

There were lots of them running around, and when two helicopters flew over, they all ran to the top of the hill and watched them. Cute! We saw the rhinos, the penguins and seals swimming around, and a lion having a snooze in the grass. The Jaguar house was cool; they are amazing. We watched one of them dragging what appeared to be a treetrunk around with the minimum of effort. It was so powerful.

We ambled down towards the tiger enclosure, passing the orangutans on the way. There was this one Orangutan just sitting off on the grass in the sun, watching people pass by and shading his face with his hands. It was funny because there were people walking towards us doing exactly the same thing, only they were less hairy :P

There he is, as promised! I'm probably overloading you with info here but it was such a good day out! We are both animal lovers and it was a lovely way to spend a day. We hung around watching one of the baby monkeys feeding and hit the reptile house before going back to see the tiger again. He was practically posing for photographs and was very proud looking. He even roared a few times, if tigers do actually roar :P Then he found a sunny spot and stretched out, rolling around on the grass.

Other highlights include watching a pelican catch a fish, the very gentle looking deers and giraffes, and crawling through some tunnels to look at guinea pig type things. It was a much better day than Monday, which I spent at work and then applying for a job I really want, which took up my whole day. It would be kind of cool to work at the zoo, apart from all the poop! I'm off to get ready for Most Haunted!

Great Auntie Chica

Weezer's weird guy asked me out this morning. He seemed embarrassed when I told him I had a boyfriend so I kind of felt bad for him. I wonder how many libraries he visits in a day, asking all the staff out. I'd been trying to avoid him but he foxed me by getting a haircut and wearing a different coat! We reckon Potter may be next since the weird dude seems to like blondes.

By the by, Potter continues to impress. We had a conversation with Lady P. about Big Fish (the movie, in case you thought I'd turned into a crazy angler.)

Me: "I cried my eyes out at the end!"
Potter: "Me too!"

I love boys who cry, they're so cute. I have an opening for a movie buddy too...

But the biggest news is that I am now a great aunt! Yes, my gorgeous little niece has a gorgeous little boy of her own. How nuts that my sister is a grandma. He was born on Sunday 28th, a little after 9 am and weighed 5 pounds 11 ounces. He's teeny tiny and looks like his dad from what I can tell on the photographs. I haven't been to see him yet. What makes a good present for a new mum?

The weekend brought the Mathew Street Festival and lots of fun was had by all. A little too much fun in some cases. On Sunday we headed into town and hit a few bars, listened to some live music. They had a fair in the street and we marveled at how the people on this scary looking ride were barely missing the buildings on either side of the road as they swung from side to side. We should've took photos. We had a few drinks in Mathew Street and listened to some Beatles tunes in Lennon's Bar, then chilled out in Concert Square, sipping Baileys and cowering in the shade. Food was necessary at this point so we had burgers and fries and Eddie's. We thought we'd go back through to Mathew Street then and have a dance, but the atmosphere had changed, everyone was way too drunk, causing argy bargy and throwing up, so we walked along by the Three Graces to the Albert Dock and had a last drink at The Pump House before catching a taxi home. Monday we lazed around for most of the afternoon (and watched The Great Escape) and then went back into town to check out some of the free concerts. We lingered at the Tapas bar longer than we should have (and missed most of all the concerts as a consequence!) but it was really nice eating tapas and drinking sangria on a Monday when we should have been in work!

I got the clothes I ordered in last week's Sale today. They arrived in a big box and I opened it when I got home from work. It was like a mini-Christmas!

In the words of the Fresh Prince: Smell ya later!

Somebody stop me!

I've gone a little crazy with the old shopping over the past few days. Further to my frenzied Sale shopping the other day, I hit town yesterday and bought my travel pass for work, a whopping £93. The woman behind the desk was dismissing me with the warning that I couldn't use it until the first of September as if it would be a waste of time buying it then, I was like 'Yeah, that's next week right?' Also picked up a brown jacket for work from H&M and a pair of gorgeously soft jeans from Gap that were on sale for £30. Boyf paid £16.50 for a canvas belt there. Foolish boy! He looks good in the cargo pants he got though. Especially after I made him get the correct length instead of the too-short ones he was buying. My jeans are way too long but I'm going to take them up. Had a lovely Italian meal for our tea. I really like flumping down in a restaurant with shopping bags, although I did feel a bit weather beaten for the one we chose. I insisted on going Dutch this time; I can see this is the beginning of a very nasty habit. Was a bit bored while everyone was watching the football (I know it was a Big Deal, but I have to be in the mood), so I browsed online for a bit, intending merely to window shop. But then I got tempted and spent £40 or so on a navy blue top with sequin detailing at the shoulders, a long smart black top and a pink shrug. Seriously now, that's it. I cannot spend any more. Unless I see those gold or silver ballet flats I'm after...

Watched bits of America's Sweethearts (Catherine Zeta 'A million dollars isn't much money to us' Jones is actually not bad in that, a little too convincing perhaps - by the by, Dawn French does a hilarious skit of her, I love it!) and Interview with a Vampire last night before going to bed at about two thirty. Woke up at around eight o'clock this morning and couldn't get back to sleep at all. Despite my early rising I've got absolutely naff all done so I'm off to be productive and get some shit done on my dissertation. I had an idea while I was surfacing this morning, so hopefully I can claw it back.

Dawn as CZJ: "Drop drawers gorgeous!"

You're never fully dressed without a smile

As I rambled in a recent post, I had the greatest long weekend. Monday night the Boyf and I opened a bottle of Claret. We glugged away happily, watched TV (we bought it to sip in the garden but the weather was poo), and went to bed early so we'd be all refreshed and recuperated for work the next day. Some time in the wee small hours, we were disturbed by what sounded like an unruly mob outside our window, shouting to each other very loudly. Then we heard much screeching of tyres. To this I responded: "Ugh, it's so noisy," and rolled over. Boyf climbed out of bed and went to see what was going on. The unruly mob were in fact police officers, milling about in the street and standing around a neighbours densely planted garden like gnomes who'd been let at the kinky dress up box. Or something. Boyf came back to bed and we resigned ourselves to blocking out the episode of NYPD Blue playing out at the foot of our driveway. Then: the dreaded helicopter, which hovered directly over our house for about an hour, presumably deciding whether to use our garden as a helipad. I knew we should never have mown that big 'H' into the lawn. Much sleep was not had.

Tuesday at work I was greeted by the weird bloke who asked Weezer out, then bumped into him about seven times. Had fun talking to Potter about The Princess Bride and Labyrinth. He was amused and disbelieving when I said I'd never seen Labyrinth: "What age are you?!" I was three when it was released, but apparently that's no excuse for such ignorance. I wouldn't have known what The Princess Bride was if Guillermo hadn't got me it for my birthday. I think you need to see these films as a kid to hold quite so much affection for them though. Anyway he brought the DVD in for me yesterday so I'm gonna watch it over the weekend. I think offering Donnie Darko up as one of my favourite films bought me some respect from him too. It's probably a good thing he doesn't know Mean Girls is another. Me and MJ love Lindsay Lohan movies!

My poor baby puppy hasn't been too well recently and we've made a couple of trips to the vets. He has to take two lots of tablets, and one type are in capsule form so we've been inventing ways to trick him into eating them. The vet has a bit of a soft spot for Pup. The first time she saw him she exclaimed: "My, he's rather rotund isn't he!" We took him for a stroll in the park today and now he's snoozing happily. We had ice creams and lounged on the grass, it was pretty. Puppy had many admirers and a couple of people stopped to stroke him on our walk. "Everyone wants my doggie," I said to Boyf, who replied: "He's my doggie, I'm holding his lead!" I rest my case.

Wednesday morning I was accosted on my way to work by somebody thrusting a pile of books at me. I told them they'd have to come into the library when it opened. He was like, "You can't just take them now?" Um, yes sir, I'll just whip a Self Return out of my handbag, no of course I don't mind carting your books around in my own time. Sheesh. Luckily there were plenty of nice people turning up on Thursday to make up for it. One guy was kicking up a fuss about getting fined on books because he said he hadn't received any emails from us about them. Potter had been dealing with him but then the bloke went off to check his email and when he came back it was my turn on the counter. I thought he might be awkward but he was sheepish since he'd found the emails and was soooooooo nice about paying, even when the till broke. The till crashed twice on me yesterday. Bitch hates me. Thankfully I had another lovely student the second time it happened. Cheerful people really brighten up your day. Some funny guy came in too who was also unhappy about paying for a book he'd lost. He thought he might have knocked it into a bin next to his desk by accident, and was trying to argue that that was the same thing as losing it in a house fire. We just laughed at him, but he was good natured enough.

Tonight we're off out to a French restaurant and I'm trying to decide what to wear. I'm fed up of my haircut and am thinking about what styles might suit me. I'm also returning to the question of whether to pierce my ears. I don't have one single piercing, and I love earrings. I'm hoping to squeeze in some shopping this weekend as I have spotted a fab pair of gold heels that require further investigation. I'm off to scrub up nice. Ciao for now.

Another Place

I hadn't heard from Dedalus for a few weeks until this morning. The renewal of contact was disappointing in three important ways: 1) his text was a blatant 'hello don't forget its my birthday soon' message, 2) he bemoaned the fact that he is "so old" next week (he will be the same age as me), and 3) he is having a little competition with himself to see how many times he can mention his girlfriend's name in one message. I also heard from Mrs De Winter, whose e-mail was much more rewarding. She has met a bit of a dream boat by the sounds and thinks me and the boyf are a perfect match ;)

So over the weekend I felt pretty rubbish, but I managed to get out and about with Boyf for a bit on Sunday. We went to see this (own photos to follow... edit: um... Boyf accidentally deleted them), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Potter also went to see the statues at the weekend and we compared sightings: I saw one with a rope around its neck and one with a hat on; he saw one with a mane of hair fashioned from seaweed and one wearing a cardigan. But I'm afraid I win as I saw a lad wandering around wearing nothing but a jumper wrapped around his waist to cover his naughty bits. I'm assuming he was either performing a demure tribute to the statues, or his mates legged it with his clothes in some schoolboy prank, the scamps! As for the film, I found it very enjoyable, despite Boyf's protests that it was "a childish kids film" and even though I couldn't understand the Oompa Loompa's when they were singing. I love the songs from the original movie. On the plus side, it was really well cast and the ending was better I think? We both agreed that hitting the Hut afterwards was a jolly good idea in any case, and shared a Stuffed Crust Supreme :)

And today? This morning I couldn't get the song I Don't Like Mondays out of my head. 'Nuff said. Curiously, the day picked up considerably at around 6 o'clock when I got home from work. Coincidence?