I don't drive very often. In fact, I generally only drive when I'm moving house or in Oxfordshire and with access to a car I'm insured on. Which is how I ended up driving tonight. I drove home last night as well but due to the joys of mist the feeling I got this night was simply absent yesterday.
And the feeling I got tonight? Well, it was that feeling of freedom and a slight “Well, what's stopping me from going to South Wales?” sense. The sense that there should be someone out there I could just drive to and surprise – but that right now there isn't. Memories of other late night journeys. And wondering when the dark got quite so dark. Because it really has seemed dark on the roads these past few nights. Odd feeling. Very odd.
Lovely evening with friends, however.
And there was a particular item of noteworthyness that was supposed to be inserted at this point. But my sleep addled brain forgets what it was. Hey ho.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
The Weather. A Reflection
The Brits are known for talking about the weather. Hardly surprising given there's a lot to talk about. Snow here? Snow there? But also, there's a lot of disappointment with the weather. "I wish I lived somewhere warmer." "Why is it always raining?" "I hate the snow!"
Which brings us to where it all really started. The snow. On the whole I'm in favour on the stuff. On Friday it was gorgeous - floating down gently and settling like a dusting of icing sugar on a cake...and because everyone seems to think that the cold is something to be avoided at all costs, I even had a platform of virgin (no pun intended) snow to tromp around in while waiting for my train to depart. Now, I recognise the snow also causes problems - any kind of extreme is going to - but fundamentally the weather is the weather.
Excuse me if I'm stating the obvious, but I'm going to do it anyway - the Earth and its systems is a force far greater than the human race. Yes, we can do big impressive things but throw an earthquake, flood or volcano eruption our way and there's little if anything we can do about it. Likewise the weather: we can't even predict it fully, and yet expressing a preference for one sort or another, and it seems particularly the snow, can land one being branded selfish and uncaring of all those for whom this particular type of weather causes problems.
I acknowledge the problems. I wish people didn't have to face them. But they do. And me enjoying the snow / rain / wind / [insert your least favourite weather type here] isn't going to make those problems any less. I've never gone in for weather dances and I don't intend to start now.
So instead, I intend to enjoy it. Enjoy the chilly tromps home through the snow (ranging from "gritted and through to the pavement" through "muddy on top, white on the bottom" to "veritable layer of snow still in place and crunchy"). Marvelling at the beauty it gives to trees, roof tops, hills. And just generally enjoying it. And hoping there's still some lurking when I get back to a house I suspect still has some sledges to hand... :)
Which brings us to where it all really started. The snow. On the whole I'm in favour on the stuff. On Friday it was gorgeous - floating down gently and settling like a dusting of icing sugar on a cake...and because everyone seems to think that the cold is something to be avoided at all costs, I even had a platform of virgin (no pun intended) snow to tromp around in while waiting for my train to depart. Now, I recognise the snow also causes problems - any kind of extreme is going to - but fundamentally the weather is the weather.
Excuse me if I'm stating the obvious, but I'm going to do it anyway - the Earth and its systems is a force far greater than the human race. Yes, we can do big impressive things but throw an earthquake, flood or volcano eruption our way and there's little if anything we can do about it. Likewise the weather: we can't even predict it fully, and yet expressing a preference for one sort or another, and it seems particularly the snow, can land one being branded selfish and uncaring of all those for whom this particular type of weather causes problems.
I acknowledge the problems. I wish people didn't have to face them. But they do. And me enjoying the snow / rain / wind / [insert your least favourite weather type here] isn't going to make those problems any less. I've never gone in for weather dances and I don't intend to start now.
So instead, I intend to enjoy it. Enjoy the chilly tromps home through the snow (ranging from "gritted and through to the pavement" through "muddy on top, white on the bottom" to "veritable layer of snow still in place and crunchy"). Marvelling at the beauty it gives to trees, roof tops, hills. And just generally enjoying it. And hoping there's still some lurking when I get back to a house I suspect still has some sledges to hand... :)
Thursday, December 16, 2010
What a difference a day makes
It's been a curious day.
Well, that's not entirely true. The day itself has been fairly straight forward. And feels like it's been more productive than yesterday (which I got through in a bit of a fuzzy overtired blur). But really what's coming to light are some inescapable truths. Like the fact a job, any job, every job, isn't done until it's done. And that means that a job I'd hoped would just "work itself out" won't. And that another job which I hadn't even imagined in the form it now looks to be evolving would be needed...and that actually, it is needed and will be ever so slightly epic in coming to fruition.
And also that creating balance in my life really is 100% down to me. Which I knew already but had to grab by the horns and start putting into practice. I feel like I've been floundering for a while and however frustrating it may be, I need to keep at it until whatever lightning bolt moment that needs to happen can. Which would be outstandingly marvellous and will, I'm sure, happen. The when is the biggest question.
But another interesting revelation for the day is that as much as I like Doing and seem to enjoy this a lot more than Being, large proportions of the world seem to err much more on the side of Being. And that the reason there are so many relationship dramas (dramas in every sense) is because it's about people Being and seeing where it takes them. Now, just because it seems to be the norm doesn't necessarily mean it's the way I should head, but it's a fascinating new idea to me. Strange as that may seem.
And what does it all mean? Quien sabe. Quien sabe indeed. But for now it means there's some washing in the washing machine that needs to come to be dried out, and some washing up that needs to be done in the process. Because ultimately the pondering is all well and good, but it's the doing that gets things done.
To analyse can be to paralyse, as I was reminded of earlier today.
Well, that's not entirely true. The day itself has been fairly straight forward. And feels like it's been more productive than yesterday (which I got through in a bit of a fuzzy overtired blur). But really what's coming to light are some inescapable truths. Like the fact a job, any job, every job, isn't done until it's done. And that means that a job I'd hoped would just "work itself out" won't. And that another job which I hadn't even imagined in the form it now looks to be evolving would be needed...and that actually, it is needed and will be ever so slightly epic in coming to fruition.
And also that creating balance in my life really is 100% down to me. Which I knew already but had to grab by the horns and start putting into practice. I feel like I've been floundering for a while and however frustrating it may be, I need to keep at it until whatever lightning bolt moment that needs to happen can. Which would be outstandingly marvellous and will, I'm sure, happen. The when is the biggest question.
But another interesting revelation for the day is that as much as I like Doing and seem to enjoy this a lot more than Being, large proportions of the world seem to err much more on the side of Being. And that the reason there are so many relationship dramas (dramas in every sense) is because it's about people Being and seeing where it takes them. Now, just because it seems to be the norm doesn't necessarily mean it's the way I should head, but it's a fascinating new idea to me. Strange as that may seem.
And what does it all mean? Quien sabe. Quien sabe indeed. But for now it means there's some washing in the washing machine that needs to come to be dried out, and some washing up that needs to be done in the process. Because ultimately the pondering is all well and good, but it's the doing that gets things done.
To analyse can be to paralyse, as I was reminded of earlier today.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Question time
How many questions? And where to start?
The day began outstandingly, and unexpectedly, thanks to Karen, Dolan, Joel & the new washing machine. It continued rather well with some ridiculous blips (life really can be ridiculous sometimes) and overall I still have no real idea what day of the week it is. Yesterday I was convinced it was Wednesday. Today I've been convinced it's Thursday. Tomorrow? Who knows.
But what is certainly true is that my brain is on overdrive for reasons I can't quite comprehend. Such as: being terribly excited at the realisation that my response to the outside world at the moment is mainly judged by my cheeks (if my cheeks hurt when I'm outside, it's REALLY cold. If they don't, it's just cold. I love my digital thermometer and it's seen me through some merry judge-the-weather-right-and-not-be-freezy-or-too-hot-on-my-bike times, but right now, my cheeks are thermometer supremo).
And speaking of the cold, at what temperature does water freeze immediately? I know it *freezes* at zero, but not very fast. What's the temperature at which it just doesn't survive as liquid?
I hope I get a grip on the days tomorrow. It's been a confusing week.
The day began outstandingly, and unexpectedly, thanks to Karen, Dolan, Joel & the new washing machine. It continued rather well with some ridiculous blips (life really can be ridiculous sometimes) and overall I still have no real idea what day of the week it is. Yesterday I was convinced it was Wednesday. Today I've been convinced it's Thursday. Tomorrow? Who knows.
But what is certainly true is that my brain is on overdrive for reasons I can't quite comprehend. Such as: being terribly excited at the realisation that my response to the outside world at the moment is mainly judged by my cheeks (if my cheeks hurt when I'm outside, it's REALLY cold. If they don't, it's just cold. I love my digital thermometer and it's seen me through some merry judge-the-weather-right-and-not-be-freezy-or-too-hot-on-my-bike times, but right now, my cheeks are thermometer supremo).
And speaking of the cold, at what temperature does water freeze immediately? I know it *freezes* at zero, but not very fast. What's the temperature at which it just doesn't survive as liquid?
I hope I get a grip on the days tomorrow. It's been a confusing week.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Some Girls Love Handbags
Some girls love handbags. But I am not some girls. Oh no, I am in the beginnings of a brand new love affair with a bag. A bag of such marvellousness I am astounded by its brilliance. A bag I find out more about every day...and love more and more. A bag unlike any other I've had before. A bag of joy. Of yellow linings and waterproof zips. Of velcro and clip fastenings. Of more pockets than even I would have thought of. A bag that is, quite simply, the C bag.
For a while now I've been yearning for an alternative bag for my Brompton – the one I inherited with the bike is great (can't remember what they call it, but it's basically a big boxy type affair you can get shed loads in...but is a nightmare to carry around when not attached to said Brompton) and after being alerted to the fact (in fairness several years ago, but good things come to those who ponder) that there are manufacturers of super cool panniers out there, I thought I'd go on the hunt. Now, the market for designed-for-Bromptons bags is fairly limited but it seems I've managed to be in the right era – because the C bag is a “second generation” bag. And it seems the improvements on the first go round are just plain marvellous. There's even a pocket I've yet to decide how to use! But I'm sure it'll be very useful when I do get round to deciding. Anyways, it's a super marvellous, very carryable, with bonus reflective bits to keep me safe while pedalling around courier-style bag made of super strong stuffs and it looks entirely durable. How it will fare with my kind of (ab)use time will tell, but it's ace all the same.
Even more so because my dearest Papa bought it for me for my birthday. Warm fuzzies all around.
However, somewhat more topical to the rest of the world is this whole affair of the snow. My fingers are very cold just now but that's more due to inadequate glovage than the snow specifically. My biggest concern has been whether or not to bring Billy (my Brompton) down to London for this weekend's jaunt and whether London had gone silly on the snow front but on reflection, London's proven more silly as a pedestrian than a cyclist in the snow previously and I expect it'll be much the same this time around. Plus I love the self-sufficiency of having a bike in London. No having my life determined by night buses and train timetables, or striking tube workers or, well, any of it. Huzzah. I've got a particularly vivid memory from last winter of walking back in the snow from Brixton one evening and the pavement being an absolute (and entirely unfun) ice-rink whereas the road had been well gritted and was a much better option. Give me a bike in the snow in London any day.
That said, give me a job within walking distance of my house with snow the rest of the time. I've really enjoyed living so close to work this past 7 months or so and in “extreme weather” it seems even more marvellous. (Marvellous seems to be the word of the day today. I make no apologies. Marvellous.) Yesterday as the “blizzard” was setting in and the folk I work with were being sent home I was merrily settling in for an afternoon pootling around in the office on my own. Bring out the Bose and with relatively little coming through on the phones I had a brilliant afternoon which ended with a rather unexpected chat which gave me a big ol' hunk of food for thought.
Watering my lavender plant got a lot easier – I could just open the velux, scoop up some snow / icy snow and pop it in the pot to melt in due course. Unlike my usual trick of watering too quickly and it going everywhere but the soil of the plant pot.
Hmm. Curious. Wakefield Westgate northbound platform has a bunch of luggage trolleys in the snow along the snowy bit of the platform. Seven that I can see, in fact. But why? I don't normally see them on platforms and the one closest to me should, apparently, not be taken away from York Station. Mystery.
Anyway, yet again the country has been gripped (or the media leads us to believe has been gripped) by snow panic. I love the snow. It doesn't panic me. Yes, extra precautions should be taken and recklessness is just silly, but overall snow, and particularly this amount of snow, is really magical. It's water. But frozen in a special way so it piles up in white mounds which, at their best, are fluffy and powdery and sparkle in the light. Of course, it does cause real problems for many people, in particular making moving around even more treacherous than usual, but it's also one of those magical things about nature / the planet / the existence we reside in.
My ability to move around in the midst of significant snow-fall in Britain is also an interesting reflection. Factoring in an additional hour or so on my journey, travelling during Snowville periods is often more pleasant than usual – what would usually be a very busy commuter-time train to London is sparsely filled with passengers – I have a table of 4 seats to myself and from what I've seen at stations we've already passed that's not going to change much. There are a number of windows in the train (including the one opposite mine) where the outer pane has shattered through an impact – I heard someone say they thought it was people throwing snow balls at the train. If so, boo. Not good form in the slightest.
So that's me. Snow and bike bags. The essence of marvellousness.
For a while now I've been yearning for an alternative bag for my Brompton – the one I inherited with the bike is great (can't remember what they call it, but it's basically a big boxy type affair you can get shed loads in...but is a nightmare to carry around when not attached to said Brompton) and after being alerted to the fact (in fairness several years ago, but good things come to those who ponder) that there are manufacturers of super cool panniers out there, I thought I'd go on the hunt. Now, the market for designed-for-Bromptons bags is fairly limited but it seems I've managed to be in the right era – because the C bag is a “second generation” bag. And it seems the improvements on the first go round are just plain marvellous. There's even a pocket I've yet to decide how to use! But I'm sure it'll be very useful when I do get round to deciding. Anyways, it's a super marvellous, very carryable, with bonus reflective bits to keep me safe while pedalling around courier-style bag made of super strong stuffs and it looks entirely durable. How it will fare with my kind of (ab)use time will tell, but it's ace all the same.
Even more so because my dearest Papa bought it for me for my birthday. Warm fuzzies all around.
However, somewhat more topical to the rest of the world is this whole affair of the snow. My fingers are very cold just now but that's more due to inadequate glovage than the snow specifically. My biggest concern has been whether or not to bring Billy (my Brompton) down to London for this weekend's jaunt and whether London had gone silly on the snow front but on reflection, London's proven more silly as a pedestrian than a cyclist in the snow previously and I expect it'll be much the same this time around. Plus I love the self-sufficiency of having a bike in London. No having my life determined by night buses and train timetables, or striking tube workers or, well, any of it. Huzzah. I've got a particularly vivid memory from last winter of walking back in the snow from Brixton one evening and the pavement being an absolute (and entirely unfun) ice-rink whereas the road had been well gritted and was a much better option. Give me a bike in the snow in London any day.
That said, give me a job within walking distance of my house with snow the rest of the time. I've really enjoyed living so close to work this past 7 months or so and in “extreme weather” it seems even more marvellous. (Marvellous seems to be the word of the day today. I make no apologies. Marvellous.) Yesterday as the “blizzard” was setting in and the folk I work with were being sent home I was merrily settling in for an afternoon pootling around in the office on my own. Bring out the Bose and with relatively little coming through on the phones I had a brilliant afternoon which ended with a rather unexpected chat which gave me a big ol' hunk of food for thought.
Watering my lavender plant got a lot easier – I could just open the velux, scoop up some snow / icy snow and pop it in the pot to melt in due course. Unlike my usual trick of watering too quickly and it going everywhere but the soil of the plant pot.
Hmm. Curious. Wakefield Westgate northbound platform has a bunch of luggage trolleys in the snow along the snowy bit of the platform. Seven that I can see, in fact. But why? I don't normally see them on platforms and the one closest to me should, apparently, not be taken away from York Station. Mystery.
Anyway, yet again the country has been gripped (or the media leads us to believe has been gripped) by snow panic. I love the snow. It doesn't panic me. Yes, extra precautions should be taken and recklessness is just silly, but overall snow, and particularly this amount of snow, is really magical. It's water. But frozen in a special way so it piles up in white mounds which, at their best, are fluffy and powdery and sparkle in the light. Of course, it does cause real problems for many people, in particular making moving around even more treacherous than usual, but it's also one of those magical things about nature / the planet / the existence we reside in.
My ability to move around in the midst of significant snow-fall in Britain is also an interesting reflection. Factoring in an additional hour or so on my journey, travelling during Snowville periods is often more pleasant than usual – what would usually be a very busy commuter-time train to London is sparsely filled with passengers – I have a table of 4 seats to myself and from what I've seen at stations we've already passed that's not going to change much. There are a number of windows in the train (including the one opposite mine) where the outer pane has shattered through an impact – I heard someone say they thought it was people throwing snow balls at the train. If so, boo. Not good form in the slightest.
So that's me. Snow and bike bags. The essence of marvellousness.
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