Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Lessons in translation.

When you've known someone for a while you get used to their idiosyncratic ways. You learn to interpret what they mean as distinguished from what they say. Thus in ending a chat with my Brother or Dad on the phone, I'll say, "I love you", because I'm a girl and can say these kind of things. They'll usually reply, "Yes". What they really mean by that "yes", is, "I love you too but am a little too embarrassed to say it to your face but really I do love you and have enjoyed talking to you as well". (well that's my hope). My favorite chats are those I have with my Mum when I'm upset. For example, today I was pouring my heart out to her, crying snot down the telephone, bewailing many things. Her response was to make the usual sympathetic noises which are required at such times, after a while though she declared in the most random way ever. "I bought a new swimming hat today".

By which she actually meant: "Katherine (she can get away with using my full name), I love you and care deeply about you, but I can't do anything about your problem, I've made the right noises and don't really know what else I can do or say, so I'll tell you about something that happened to me today in the hope you'll be distracted and smile." (at least I hope that is the case...) Her other favorite random changes of subject are to tell me about a bird in the garden. A conversation might go like this: Kath: Mum, I'm going to die alone and sad. Mum: Oh, there's a starling playing in the pond. She'll probably kill me for saying this, but it might make her leave a comment :-)

You should all know that she is the best Mum ever and still gives me cuddles and lets me cry all over her nice jumpers.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Shhh.

They are back. I'd wondered what happened to them...Yey for the mighty Wispa.

Again.

So, some lovely people across the pond (or Irish Sea) have stumbled across the genius movement of 365. I'm kind of jealous in a way. I want to start again. They have all the newness, will face all the dilemmas of what to do on really really crap days, will want to give up, will forget about it, will come back to it again and will enjoy reading about a year in their lives once it's all over.

Check it out.
365: living details in a work of art
Soapbox365

And these Irish people seem to still be blogging, which is refreshing. Good to know facebook hasn't completely won people from blogging.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Autumn

"When I'm in heaven
Tell me there'll be seasons when the colours fly,
Poppies splashing flame
Through dying yellow, living green
And autumn's burning sadness that has always made me cry
For things that have to end.
For winter fires that blaze like captive suns
But look so cold when the morning comes.
I love the way the seasons change." (A.Plass)

We went to a pretty national trust place today to enjoy the burning sadness of autumn's colours. Trees on fire, pottering walks and the urban singleton family making Saturday alive.


Monday, October 01, 2007

October

This seemed kind of appropriate for today. And pretty. (if you ignore the sweaty Bono)

Quack.

Who says that freshers freebies are rubbish? Mr Duck (or Fwar if you get to know him) came from Brighton's freshers fair.