21 July 2007 July 21, 2007

The job is going well. I’m not making too many mistakes, and I’m gradually learning and remembering things. Every day something new crops up that I don’t know how to handle, but everyone is nice and patient with me. I have officially finished my two weeks of training now, and next week I am opening up one of the branches.  I think the situation is that I’m based at one branch, but will be sent to others as I am needed.

I got to choose the new dvds for the branch I’m based at.  It was good fun spending the Council’s money on films.  I think it must have been the selection for the month, but I’m not certain.

I’m exhausted all of the time, and my feet hurt a lot. Of course with the new job came new germs and my immune system is so compromised that I now have a cold which is making everything that little bit harder.

I’m eating quite well: lots of organic stuff, homemade bread (the breadmaker from Amazon still hasn’t arrived though), fruit and so on. I must be getting a fair amount of exercise. I’m on my feet all day from when I arrive at about 8.30am until I leave at 5pm (on an early shift), with just an hour at lunch to take the weight off. I’ve been lucky that so far I’ve had lifts in and out most days, but I’ve had to take the bus a few times which means a 20 minute walk each way.

There are perks to working in a library. I’m not entirely sure I’m supposed to, but I waived the fees on some dvds I rented for this weekend, thus saving myself a few quid. I’ve got Babel, Good Night and Good Luck a CSI: NY boxset - should keep me entertained for a wee while. The other perk of the job is free books. I get my pick of the withdrawn stock. Most of the books don’t appeal, but I did pick up Raw Spirit by Iain Banks. It’s his non-fiction, whisky trail book, and I’ve heard it’s good.

I’m learning what I like about library work, and it’s giving me a good insight into the sorts of things I want out of a library job.  I’ve learned that I quite like customer service, this surprises me as I’ve never been a very social person, and I’m quite shy.  On the other hand, I’ve learned that I really don’t know how to talk to children and that I know nothing about children’s books.  I don’t think I could be a school librarian for example.  I know now that I love information enquiries.  Things where I have to actually use my searching skills.  I don’t get to do much of this at the moment though.  The work is mostly issuing and discharging books/CDs/dvds, signing up new members, renewing leisure cards and straightening stock.

—

I watched Capote during the week.  I have very little to say about it.  It was good, but didn’t do much for me - maybe I was just too tired to appreciate it.  I think Philip Seymour Hoffman is a great actor, and he’s clearly a pretty good impersonator of Truman Capote - yes, he really did speak like that - just take a look at (or a ‘listen to’) him in Murder by Death!

—

New companion set arrived and is very comfy, but I’ve not had much chance to use it because of the dreadful weather. We also got our new suite. It looks odd in the living room, but I suppose that’s just because I’m not accustomed to it yet. I’m not convinced that it’s as comfortable as our old suite, but that’s probably just because it hasn’t been broken in yet.

—

Dolly is being allowed out now she is all vaccinated. She has gone from being a sweet little thing to a torturer of voles. Every morning she brings one in and plays with it until it dies or I take it away from her. It’s not an attractive trait.

—

Last week on my day off, Mum and I went to the Finzean Farm Shop. It is a great little place. We had a lovely lunch made from local produce and the tastiest organic bread, then filled a basket with even more food, including some Craigmyle cheese. They had all the different varieties, but I opted for the Morven. It was pretty expensive for a bit of cheese, but it’s tasty. We also drove past the Craigmyle Creamery, and it turns out Mum and Dad almost bought the house opposite and (we think) the land it is on.

28 June 2007 June 28, 2007

Tesco’s delivery without carrier bags has reached us - hurrah! It made taking delivery of the shopping more difficult as the driver only carries the trays to the front door. I ended up filling the porch with food. Total plastic bags used = 1 (for meat). While it meant I had to work a little harder unpacking and putting things away it was quite liberating and uplifting not having a massive pile of plastic bags facing me at the end of it all.

—

This morning I discovered that I cannot do ‘Downward Dog’. I simply do not have the upper body strength. Yes, I have tried out the Just My Size yoga dvd. Megan Garcia is lovely. She’s not a fake plus-size - you know, one of those women who are just so huge that they probably wear, ooh, a size 12 (shock, horror). She actually has a stomach. Yay! Okay, she’s nowhere near as big as me, but she clearly can empathise, and I don’t feel patronised by her and her suggestions for adapting poses. I’d been told, and read about, prednisolone causing muscle wasting, but I hadn’t really noticed it happening to me, but it has. I struggled a little bit with the cat and dog stretches (I don’t know what they are called, but they involve being down on all fours). But when it came to Downward Dogging (oh, that could mean so many things!), I had to just sit and watch passively. Overall, the dvd is good. Garcia is so natural, sweet and calm and really does ’sell’ yoga well. I have a few criticisms though. Firstly, the adaptations are separate from the actual routine. There is in fact an adaptation for Downward Dog which involves placing the hands against a wall, but I didn’t watch Megan’s ‘tips’ until afterwards so this morning I missed out on what will no doubt be an adaptation I have to resort to. Secondly, it feels a little rushed in places. There just isn’t always enough time to follow the instructions. Finally, it’s quite short. I think I’ve heard or read, or maybe Garcia mentions it, that the whole routine is 28 minutes long, which felt a bit short for me.

Btw, XL Emma replied to an entry I made about fat fitness. She is contemplating making an exercise vid. Do it Emma, please!

—

I so organised that I already know what I’m getting my mum for her birthday in August. I caved on the bookplates and ordered some beautiful ones from a seller on Etsy.

I’m a latecomer to Etsy. I’ve browsed it many times in the past, but had never bought anything from there before. It really is a wonderful site allowing artists and crafters to sell their works worldwide.

The BIG problem with Etsy is that there are too many nice things on there. I keep seeing things and thinking “I must have that”.

Anyway, see right for pretty peacock bookplates.

Of course, Mum isn’t just getting bookplates, but it’s part of a book-ish themed pressie. She retires next week from her life as an SFL teacher and is planning on returning to her Open University degree (which has pretty much been all about literature and art history). So, a literary, book-ish theme seems apposite.

—

I have ordered a Bye Bye Standby kit. Things being left on standby is one of my pet peeves around the home. I seem to recall when remote controls actually had proper ‘off’ buttons and not just standby buttons - what happened? I also seem to recall a time when it wasn’t unusual to get up off the sofa to turn the tv off or change the channel. The Bye Bye Standby kit I’ve ordered has three socket adaptor things, so all things televisual can go in one, all things audio can go in another and I’ll have a spare one left over for the living room’s television etc. I had a look around and the cheapest kit I could find was from Amazon (but with a 4-6 week estimate on delivery). Acting on my desire for one of these kits coincided with Mum and Dad getting their electricity bill which is up again. Mum has really embraced my wish to go green and is talking of ‘a green makeover’ for the house. She even said that she’d love her next house to be an eco-home!

 

24 June 2007 June 24, 2007

 Another photie of Dolly.  She so cute.

 Pemphie

I have my appointment at the hospital tomorrow.  I hate going there, but I know it’s necessary.  I haven’t had too much pemphie-related ‘activity’ in the past few weeks, so I’m going to play down what I have had in the hope that my consultant will reduce my meds.  I’m also going to mention the tremor I seem to be developing.  It’s not constant, but it seems to be happening more and more.  It started with my hands, but now I can feel it right through my body - it’s a very strange sensation.

 

Food 

Loving Doves Farm Crispy Rice Bars.

 

Shopping

I got my stuff from the Ethical Superstore.  The nest thingy was better than I expected.  It looks really good.  And I got free date and walnut bars.  I do love a freebie!

 

Film 

Watched The Prestige last night.  Bloody brilliant.  I loved all the twists and turns in the plot (although I saw some of them coming).  The acting was spot on - I don’t even have anything bad to say about Scarlett Johansson (and I’m really not a fan of hers).  I’m looking forward to seeing The Illusionist now - I want to do a compare and contrast thing!

22 June 2007 June 22, 2007

Environment: 

I finally caught the Government CO2 calculator in a good mood. My (individual) result: 1.75 tonnes. It’s so low because I don’t own a car, I don’t fly - I rely almost entirely on public transport and my own two feet.  The main suggestion for me seemed to be to switch to green electricity. Our electricity supplier isn’t down to me, but I’ve had a look at Scottish Hydro Electric’s green option - power2 and it seems like an easy sell. It apparently shouldn’t cost more than their regular tariff. Mum is all for being greener, but ultimately it would be Dad who would have to make the phone call. I’ve emailed him a not-so-gentle hint.

—

(Sacred) Art: 

I’m not a Buddhist.  I tend to tell people I am an atheist, but really I am more accurately an agnostic.  Anyway, that is all beside the point: I am not a Buddhist, but I have been looking at mandalas.  I have started to meditate to relax and one thing led to another and I found myself looking at websites about mandalas.  From what I can tell they are made and used to aid meditation by focussing the mind.  I like the artistic aspect to them.  I don’t think I’ll try meditating with one, but I think I might take inspiration from them - and the principles which guide their creation - for a little art project.  As a child I had one of those Spirograph toys, and I was curious to see if they were still being made.  Well, they are, but they’re not the same.  I see that there is also a Mandala Designer toy available (for all budding Buddhist children?).  There is even a computer programme called Mandala Painter.  I had a go with the programme trial and it’s quite fun (see piccie for my first, rather feeble attempt!).  I’d bet that with some practice it would be possible to produce some beautiful and interesting images.  I think that I’m going to focus my efforts on producing something with pens/pencils/paints and paper though.

 —

 Shopping:

I got my Natural Grocery order today.  I love getting parcels and this was one BIG parcel!  I’d ordered organic cordial, tea, noodles and liquorice, and they all arrived in perfect condition.  Ooh, all so yummy!  The slight delay in the delivery was more than made up for by the products and the free postage.  I’ll definitely be shopping there again.

I got more of the Cinnamon Yogi Tea, but I also got some Choco Yogi Tea which is even more scrummy, especially when you stick a bit of milk in it.  I really like the packaging too.   Each box has a yoga position on it with instructions and each tea bag has a wise little saying on it.

I opted for a garden-themed alternative pressie for Mum and Dad’s anniversary, and I also ordered at bird nest via the Ethical Superstore (I even got to ‘offset my carbon’ on the delivery).  Yes, it was a bit random, but it looked sweet and was very, very cheap!

—

Kitten cat update:

We’ve been keeping Dolly in since we got her.  The cat flap is on ‘in only’, so that Boo can get in (but she has to wail to be let out).  Anyway, I took Dolly outside today.  I just held her while we sat on the bench by the back door.  She was hyper-alert and the slightest noise or movement made her puff up her tail.  I brought her back into the house after a few minutes, but later on there was a strange noise coming from the utility room (where the cat flap is located).  Curiosity got the better of me and I had to have a look.  Dolly was whacking the cat flap with her paws, seemingly desperate to get out.  Part of me thinks that she should be let out to explore (or even find her way back to her original owners?!?), but the other part of me thinks that really she hasn’t been here long enough and doesn’t know her (new) name.  Also, I’m still not convinced that she’s not a kitten, so maybe she should be kept in until she’s older.  It’s hard to know what to do.  The vet seemed to think that after this amount of time it was unlikely that her original owners wanted her back, after all they have (apparently) done nothing to find her.  I think the cautious part of me will probably win this one at least for a couple more weeks.

18 June 2007 June 18, 2007

So, yesterday was Fathers’ Day. Dad seemed pleased with his Spongebob dvd and QI book (apparently Richard Gere’s middle name is Tiffany). Now my mind turns to the next gift-giving event looming on the horizon: Mum and Dad’s wedding anniversary. A couple of years ago I started using World Vision’s Alternative Gift Catalogue. I’ve given the occasional Christmas, birthday and anniversary present from it since then. I had thought about giving my parents a bird bath for their garden, but an alternative gift seems so much more appropriate … now to choose!

Health:

I had yet another visit to the nurse today - another pin-cushion appointment. We discussed my bone density, all the drug side-effects and my general well-being. I need to go back in a month.

My last appointment with my consultant was on May 9th and my next was supposed to be six weeks later, but I haven’t had an appointment through. I rang the hospital this afternoon. It sounds like I have been forgotten / fallen through the cracks, but they will try to arrange an appointment for me … at some point. Hmpf.

Kitten update:

Firstly, Dolly is not a kitten!

Mum took her down to the vet today to see if she was microchipped, to have her vaccinated and wormed and to get her general health checked. The vet decided that she is probably 1-2 years old, and is just an exceptionally small cat. Looking at cat websites and the information on age and weight, we had figured that she must be 3-4 months old, but the vet spotted that she has some dental plaque on her teeth and so she can’t be very young. He couldn’t tell if she had been spayed or not, but gave us information on the warning signs that she’s in heat. He also had a look at her funny eye, but he couldn’t really tell what was wrong with it, but thought that it was probably nothing to worry about.

Apparently Dolly was a complete hit down at the vet’s, charmed everyone and had everyone coo-ing over her. Then she came back from her trip out and peed on Le Dog’s bed. Nice.

15 June 2007 June 15, 2007

News, news, news: I have a job! I start on July 10th as a library assistant for the City Council. I’m not quite sure where I’ll be based. It could be a bit of a roving position or it could be in the Central Library’s Reference Department. I’d prefer the latter, but the former would be fine, it’s a job after all. It’s just a temporary job for the summer, but it will be a good way to ease myself into work and get a bit more practical experience. I’m excited and scared.

Mum took me out for lunch in Alford. We also did a bit of shopping. There’s a shop there called Parade, it used to be part of Annie Mo’s, but went solo a while back. It has the most beautiful furniture, gifts, toys and jewellery. Mum was buying a big pink agate pendant for herself and bought me some very pretty silver earrings with milky white and yellow gemstones. I’d like to know what the gemstones are, it would be nice to know a bit more about them.

Dolly is still a total sleepy-heid. She has the odd burst of energy when she’ll play, but mostly she sleeps. I dug out some old cat toys. She shows little interest in balls with bells, but likes a strange, bright orange mouse toy. She also likes to chase a bit of wool. A few days ago I cut some holes in a big cardboard box and she seems to quite like hiding and playing in that, the problem: it’s a bit of an eyesore. We had a wee look to see if we could find one of those climbing/scratching/sleeping activity centre things for her, but couldn’t see anything suitable. Mum bought the local weekly newspaper - Dolly isn’t in there. I am completely baffled about why no one is looking for her. She is a lovely cat and has been looked after. She is beautiful, litter-trained, well behaved, friendly and doesn’t seem to be at all traumatised. The only possibility that occurs to me is that maybe she is ill and some <insert rude word> thought it would be better to ditch her rather than pay vet’s bills or give her to the CPL (or ‘Cats Protection’ as it now prefers to be called).

Mum and I just had a bit of a barney about anorexics. She was watching a programme about skinny celebrities. She’s a bit obsessed with weight, her own and other people’s. All day she has been commenting on people’s weight and it frustrates me. I wouldn’t want people commenting on my weight, so I try not to be critical of others (obviously there are times when I fail miserably!). I tend to assume that people who are very thin or very fat (myself included) have eating disorders and are ill and therefore deserve my sympathy/empathy and understanding rather than my criticism and judgement. Anything in between very thin and very fat, well who cares!? Being healthy is far more important. I really do try not to be hypocritical when it comes to weight and appearance, I, after all, am no oil painting. The Western world’s obsession with the very fat and the very thin saddens me, especially when it is all concerned with aesthetics.

This reminds me, while in Parade today I spotted (and sneakily read) a book called The Lady Who Was Beautiful Inside by Edward Monkton. It’s a wee book and it’s lovely. It has a very simple, very positive message - I think the title probably gives it away! I foresee me having to buy it for people for birthdays/Christmases/etc.

Finally, after asking around how other people had found doing yoga I have been convinced to give it a try. I opted for Yoga: Just my size with Megan Garcia and ordered it today.

14 June 2007 June 14, 2007

I watched An Inconvenient Truth this morning. I’m so glad I watched it. I have been wanting to see it since its cinema release. Unfortunately, I was in the hospital while it was on the big screen and it has taken this long for it to come to me via my dvd rental service.

Anyway, I was completely gripped by what is, in Gore’s own words, “a slide show”. I am now utterly scared by what we are doing to the planet. There are a lot of facts and figures in the documentary, but I was most stunned by the idea that the last ice age took just ten years to happen - from things to go from ‘normal’ to ice age. The fact that this could happen again scares the crap out of me. I just don’t understand why it doesn’t scare everyone into doing something!

I’ll admit that I’ve always found Gore quite charismatic - I never really got that ‘wooden’ label that he got stuck with during that presidential election - and he is clearly passionate and articulate when it comes to matters environmental. Sometimes the film seemed to drift off into being about him, rather than the environmental message, but it wasn’t too guilty of this, and I was interested to hear about where his interest in the environment had come from. It should be compulsory viewing without a doubt.

Kitten update

Miss Kitty has a name: Dolly. She has a weird, misshapen pupil, is desperate to go outside and is playing more than she was.

12 June 2007 June 12, 2007

 I missed updating yesterday, mainly due to a certain kitten-shaped distraction!

Kitten update

Boo still isn’t happy with the newcomer, but she’s tolerating her (bar the odd hiss and spit).  Boo is clearly the boss and the little one knows her place!  The newcomer still doesn’t have a name, although Miss Kitty, Missy and Kitty seem to be being used. She is small, sweet, confident and looks like a silent movie star (she looks like she’s got little pouty, bow lips). She and Le Dog are getting on well. When I got up yesterday morning they were sleeping side by side at the top of the stairs. Ha, she looks huge in this photo, but is in fact very dainty.

She’s been sleeping a lot and doesn’t seem very interested in playing, so we’re a wee bit concerned that maybe she’s poorly or depressed.  Then again, maybe she’s just tired out by all the upheaval she’s been through recently.

 

Health

I’ve been woozy-headed the past couple of days.  It’s difficult to describe how it feels.  Sometimes it just feels like the world is shimmying, but other times it feels like the world isn’t real.  I’m hesitant about mentioning the latter feeling to either my GP or my consultant - I don’t want them to think I’m (even more) bonkers-crazy.

I have some little raw blisters on my back, but mostly I’m going through a healing phase.  My armpits are quite swollen.  Presumably this is because my lymph glands have to work overtime to get the pred and other drugs out of my system.  I don’t think having my period at the moment helps all this.

 

Natural /Eco Living

I ordered a big-ish bag of soapnuts - I’m officially a convert!

I got a 10 pound off voucher for Lakeland, so I’m going to use it on a kitchen compost crock when the store finally reopens in town.

I got as far as choosing my veggie box, then discovered that it had to be paid by cheque, by post.  This is a pain.  I have a chequebook … somewhere, but I’ve no idea where (who uses cheques these days?).

I see that Tesco is now offering the option of delivering groceries un-bagged, just in the plastic delivery trays - hurrah.  Slight problem in that this isn’t available in all delivery areas, including mine.  I will however be keeping a look out for this option in the future.

 

 

10 June 2007 June 11, 2007

We (might) have a new cat! She turned up next door on Thursday and they made fruitless efforts to find her owner. They can’t keep her, so they brought her up to us this evening. She is adorable. She’s not fully grown, but isn’t really a kitten, she’s an inbetweener. She looks like a miniature version of my cat, Boo.  Le Dog is terribly excited and won’t leave the poor wee thing alone.  Boo, on the other hand, is not a happy camper.  She’s been hissing at the newcomer and at me (I suppose I smell of ‘new cat’).  She’s a very friendly cat which makes us think that somewhere she probably has an owner, rather than her just being a stray or from one of the local farms.  I wouldn’t feel bad about adopting a farm cat.  In the past we’ve had farm cats visit us and without exception they have been malnourished and infested with fleas and/or ticks.  It’s going to be awful if we have to part with her, she is just such a sweetie.

I would write more about other stuff, but the little one is asleep on my right arm and one-handed, left-handed typing is bloomin’ slow!