Queen of Sheeba

Not exactly annual entry

not_here — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:21:45 GMT

I really don't like to overuse my LJ, but just for m31andy, in response to her offer of words

Coffee
Mends all ills, well, most, for some things an ABV is definitaly must. I have to thank my mother for insisting I took a coffee maker to Uni with me as this was back in the days before starbucks and instant just isn't "right". Actually  I remember the first starbucks, (or was it the seattle coffee company? ) opening in the south ken area during my first year and it being quite the talking point. I'm constantly amazed at how many really good restaurants can mess up a simple cup of coffee although the coffee in my office is without a doubt the worst ever. One of those pod systems that delivers lukewarm brownish "stuff". Its so bad I tend to drink tea (always "interesting in the US) from my cofee (it's covered in names of different types of coffee) mug.

(Red)Wine
One of my true loves.  Something I've spent many hours teaching others to love too. Now I really fancy a glass!

Saxophone
Ornament immediately springs to mind! Actually it's stuck in a cupboard which is exactly where it's been since we moved apartments last October. Something I wanted to play as a kid when i got piano lessons instead. Then Karl bougth me my sax in 2001 (I think!) which means I've had it for almost 8 years not that you'd know it to hear me "play". I really should get it out again, best warn the neighbours........

Up-state
Or the Manor as we affectionately call it.  refers to our holiday home in upstae New York. The best purchase ever and one I have to completely credit Karl for as he could see past the state the place was in when we viewed it to what it could be. I could not cope with NYC summers without being able to escape up there and splash around in the pool, nor afford to feed my skiing habbit. Does mean I see rather al ot of my in-laws though!

F1
Happy hours in the Linstead common room! I seem to recall a giant toaster and a tea urn appearing for the early starting races. Living in the US has severely curtailed me from watching F1 live any more although the far east races are just about do-able. The races on Fox drive me mad though, it's F1 for dumbies (or NASCAR fans), I often wait and download the BBC version. Have very much enjoyed seeing some new teams come to the fore this year although the constant rules changing is becoming a little irritating, and lets face it, it was far more interesting before all the new safety stuff. Will be fun to see Schumi V Hamilton, especially when they are both halfway down the grid!

not_here — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 13:52:51 GMT

Just to scare Andy- (and to see if she responds!) I thought I'd actually post something (Even if I did nick it from her!)

So for anyone who cares to chat to me - here's a few questions!

01. Who are you?
02. Are we friends?
03. When and how did we meet?
04. What am I to you?
05. Would you date me?
06. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.
07. Describe me in one word.
08. What was your first impression of me?
09. Do you still think that way about me now?
10. What reminds you of me?
11. If you could give me anything what would it be?
12. How well do you know me?
13. When's the last time you saw me?
14. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?
15. Are you going to put this on your blog and see what I say about you?

Happy Birthday to me!

not_here — Fri, 18 Jun 2004 14:30:22 GMT

Yes i know it's been ages since I posted anything on here but I thought I'd just tell everyone how lovely my Hubby is - he's just had a bouquet of roses delivered to my office!

Perhaps he's tying to impress my parents who are coming down for the weekend.

GRR - Darm PC

not_here — Tue, 23 Mar 2004 12:26:36 GMT

Well i just merrily typed a huge update on what I've been doing and it's whoosshed off into the ether - all because my pictures had all lost their titles and thus I couldn't sue any of themand in trying to fix this got to a page that didn't let me return here.

Anyhow, In a nutshell.

1) Fab weekend in York with Girlies I haven't seen for ages (one for 10 years)
2) Saw Gavin (wedding photographer) have sent him off to do album layout and ordered 2 v expensive mothers albums based on a list of piccies drawn up by my Mum - I'll have it on record now it was hubby's idea to do exactly the same album for his mum.
Only took us 9 1/2 motnths to get round to this. Chances are we'll have passed our first anniversary when the album is done!
3) Got to do more first aid - was a guy needing a plaster - not even for a fresh injury!
4) work is busy boss is a gobshite (it's a technical term)
5) had hair cut
6) finally got back into a gym routine
7) Actually played my Sax

pretty much it!

not_here — Fri, 12 Mar 2004 14:38:51 GMT

Well following Andy's instructions I did a Google image search on my name but am having a blonde day and can't figure out how to put it in my LJ so have made it my icon istead.

Go figure......

Too good not to post

not_here — Tue, 09 Mar 2004 13:12:21 GMT

http://petec.europe.webmatrixhosting.net/

This is such a good idea

let me through I'm a First Aider!!

not_here — Tue, 09 Mar 2004 12:44:39 GMT

There I was busy lawyering away when suddenly the batsign went up - well actually the phone rang and after some initial faffing about I realised the operator had someone on line in need of first aid (now why don't they use the words first and aid?)

He garbled his location and I grabbed my bag full of first aid goodies and leapt into action. On arriving at the scene I had some difficulty locating the patient - a quick perusal of the scene revealing a distinct lack of anyone with any visable injury (it transpired she'd gone to the loo) - a few seconds later she appeared and in I launched with an assessment of the situation - yes she'd leaned across the desk and then felt pain in her back! Now she felt much better but was still in pain although she could walk okay.

So there you have it my first moment of action as a first aider consisted of take an ibuprofen (which I can't give you) and see your GP - who will probably say you've tweaked your back too!

Oh well!

Points to ponder

not_here — Thu, 19 Feb 2004 10:30:18 GMT

I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!

When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping," now I just "chunky dunk."

Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up like every two hours?

If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

Why are you IN a movie, but you are ON TV?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

How come we choose from just two people for President and fifty for Miss America?

If a 911 operator has a heart attack, whom does he/she call?

Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press 'Ctrl Alt Delete' and start all over?

Stress is when you wake up screaming and then you realise you haven't fallen asleep yet.

My husband says I never listen to him. At least I think that's what he said.

Just remember ... if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.

If raising children was going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labour!

Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever.

Can you cry under water?

How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?

If money doesn't grow on trees then why do banks have branches?

Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

What did cured ham actually have?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Blummin Valentines!

not_here — Fri, 13 Feb 2004 15:45:29 GMT

Now don't get me wrong- If hubby wants to send me overpriced roses, ply me with Choccies and Champers (actually think of it since when did we need an excuse to drink chmpers?) wisk me off to paris etc etc then I'm not going to object however if I have to spend one more minute listening to my room mate trying to book a table for tomorrow night and her constant amazment that a) you can't go somewhere like a Conran restaurant for a tenner and b) everywhere is busy! I may well slit my wrists!

I'm not sure what's worse -listening to her or the squeeling secretaries outside my office. One of them has received anonymous flowers! Now personally my bet is it's her drippy boyfriend (I can call him that I've met him!) who she's been seeing for a week but of course that would't be half as interesting as the perferred theories of it's either her ex or somoen in the firm who she's convinced fancies her.

In any event I could live without it all as I have a closing coming up. My printer eveidentaly heared my words of praise for it yesterday as it's now printing out black pages and of course engrossment paper has suddenly become rarer than gold dust. I had the brainwave of going to the stationery office for more only to find you cna't actually go there any more (the swipe access is restricted) and have to call - only they aren't answering the phone - heaven forbid lawyers should have free access to stationery!!

Oh well - one good thing - it's friday and the weekend lies ahead!

Small triumphs

not_here — Thu, 12 Feb 2004 11:17:04 GMT

Well it's been a while since I actually posted anything in my own journal as opposed to somewhat random comments on often randon other journals!

Anyhow I'd like you all to share in my feelings of sucess - today I have sucessfully printed (on the first attempt need I add) a 150 page document double sided with everything the right way up - so each schedule starting face up - easier said then done when the printer likes to take a random number of pages at any one point and also gets confused as to what is really an odd page - it's the 3rd page of the document but it's numbered as page 2 - generally causes meltdown - windows was not designed to cope!

As I said - small triumphs - and as I'm unlikely to have any large triumphs today I'll take my sucess where I can.

My cleints are driving me insane- they basically haven't a clue and can't follow the most simple of instructions but does it stop them sending very authoratative (and wrong) e-mails? At least the most recent one was accurate but only because they'd basically just forwarded an e-mail I sent to them on the subject - it takes a brave man to take someone elses advice and pass it off as his own - especially when one of the people he sends it to gave the advice in the first place.

We also got our appraisal forms today complete with the prerequisite 2 page e-mail on how our imput is very valuable - wonder if this year I'll actually get a formal appraisal??? I'm seriously not happy about how things are going at the moment but my boss comes from the firefighting / burry your head in the sand school of man management - short of resigning I doubt he'd realise I mean anything I say.

Thought for the day

not_here — Wed, 28 Jan 2004 13:17:39 GMT

"There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. try to be in the first group; there is less competition there." Indira Gandhi

Not a good day!

not_here — Fri, 23 Jan 2004 11:03:13 GMT

In fact things started going wrong yesterday!

I was supposed to be going Ice Skating at Somerset House with people from work. went home, got changed, got to bank and realised my ticket was still on my desk at work so turned round and came home! Couldn't even call anyone as I'd just picked up my new phone which was also at home charging!

This morning well Hubby failed to get up for his 6.50 (I mean really!) spin class so he only left at 8 and I went back to sleep so ran round like a headless chicken once I woke up at 9.15.

Bumped into a colleague on the way in who took the piss about my time of arrival - I pointed out that he too was only just arriving but it turned out he'd been here till midnight last night!

No bread left for toast in the canteen plus no pretzels so had to make do with a slightly warmed up bagel (supposed to have been toasted).

A colleague came in about 1/2 an hour ago and told me I looked really ill (gee thanks!) and I've just oh so nearly walked into the gents!

All I can say is thank God it's friday!

Le weekend

not_here — Fri, 16 Jan 2004 14:30:05 GMT

Well I've had quite a good week - have tried out lots of new classes at the Reebok Gym and developed and addiction to core board classes! It's a bit weird being a member of 2 gyms but the work one is free and I joined reebok so hubby and I can play badminton together - well a least that was the theory, In reality I'm always in classes and he's always doing some bit of his triathlon training although we have managed one session.

Am spending the weekend at My In-laws - not too sure what it will be like! They are in the process of moving from quite a big house into a considerably smaller flat and seem to haev a few disagreements as to the sort of atmosphere they'd like to create there.

FIL would like minimalist - ie throw everything away and start again - MIL wants to take her awful collection of figurines - even she doesn't like them (very twee country cottage type things - probably cost a fortune!) but she has to take them as "friends" bought them for her - some friends is all I can say - perhaps if she didn't take them with her they'd get the hint and stop buying her them! You can see how this might be difficult!

It also doesn't help that quite often my MIL lives in cloud Cuckoo land - she seems to think she can sell all the surplus furniture for a handsome amount and was horrified that one place she called about house clearances said they didn't want any of it but would take it all away for a small fee!

We also have the pleasure of MIL cooking for dinner tomorrow. Usually it would be a case of the regulation Saturday night curry but Hubby made the mistake of telling his mum about his new diet and fitness regime and she decided to cook. Not that she's bad cook - just she's Slimming World obsessed. I just can't get my head round this diet as it's based on food combining so you can't have anything that I'd regard as a normal meal - and of course she'll spend half the evening explaining how good this is according to the holy principles of slimming world. Perhaps as she's catholic I should try likening her adoration of this plan to the worship of false idols and end it once and for all!

I've made it sound like I hate my In-laws here- just for the record I actually get on well with them - just don't even pretend to understand them though!

Still hubby will be happy - he's been recruited to assist in the purchase of a new Tv and Hi Fi so gets to spend the weekend indudging his favorite hobby of electronics shopping. Personally I'm looking forward to playing with my new car acros the moors.

AAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHH

not_here — Wed, 07 Jan 2004 16:26:05 GMT

May I just scream VERY loudly!

All day I've been listening to the inane twittering of the girl I share an office with.

For weeks she's been trying to find a flat but hasn't a clue as to which bit of London is which, and is incapable of working out why 2 flats in the same area might have drastically different rents never mind that estate Agent's aren't exactly plain speakers and when they say practically in Canary Wharf they mean if you have a jump jet! - and don't even get me started on car parking spaces - she's the only person in the whole of London who is surprised these add cost to a flat and don't come as standard in all 1 bed places!

Anyhow yesterday she found one and I had to hear an inch by inch description of it - today the estate agent calls and says the Landlord has someone who can move in on Monday but he will turn them down if she can move in on the 17th - a week earlier than planned. She's incredulous about this but is she actually doing anything - nope just twittering on at me - do I think this, do I think that...... I think my head might just explode!

On the up side - I'm going to my first ever premiership Football game tonight - Chelsea V Liverpool. Hubby's been coaching me all week - Owen bad - Crespo Good - we may both be Liverpool "fans" (if you can call someone who's never been to Anfield a fan!) but we are sitting at the Chelsea end as a Chelsea fan got us the tickets and I'm sure he's scared I'll get us killed by cheering the wrong side!

I'm looking at it this way - on Liverpool's current form the chelsea fans look odds on to be the happier of the 2!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

not_here — Mon, 05 Jan 2004 10:39:25 GMT

Needless to say I've been getting grief for not having posted for what is now practically an eternity!

Christmas and New Year were fab. Santa went shopping on New Bond Street so I got some rather swish pressies! A quick nip oop North to see the parents and then unfortunately work on the 29th and 30th.

A rather timely and shall I say predicted bout of illness kept me at home on the 31st - but worry not, was nothing a few rounds of cocktails didn't cure! Saw some rather spectacular fireworks too.

Spent this weekend visiting the in-laws at centre parcs and that as they say was Christmas!

Shall be off to peruse the musings of others.........

naughty or nice??

not_here — Mon, 15 Dec 2003 04:47:16 GMT

Want to know what Santa thinks of your recent behaviour? then look here

http://www.claus.com/naughtyornice/index.shtml

As for me - well.....

So far, fits into the "Nice" category. Cleans behind ears and brushes teeth regularly. Rarely winces when being kissed on the forehead by old folks. Smiles at babies. A real pleasure to have on my list. Be careful not to interrupt during conversations and don't have another day like…I think it was…last Wednesday. Right now, it's our little secret, but I'll be watching!

Erm last wednesday - let me see, was at a hen do and as far as I know reaonably well behaved!

As for my Husband - enough said!

Overall, niceness outweighs naughtiness. Was good a lot last month! Politeness often good, but has room for improvement. Could help around house more instead of watching so much TV. Expected to move even higher up "nice" list.

Okay here goes!

not_here — Fri, 12 Dec 2003 04:01:10 GMT

takes a deap breth and posts ...

*HUGS* TOTAL!
give not_here more *HUGS*

Get hugs of your own

not_here — Thu, 11 Dec 2003 08:27:32 GMT

m31andy has been at it again so here's my sub borrowing of an item!

1. give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.
2. am i lovable?
3. how long have you known me?
4. when and how did we first meet?
5. what was your first impression?
6. do you still think that way about me now?
7. what do you think my weakness is?
8. do you think i'll get married?
9. what makes me happy?
10. what makes me sad?
11. what reminds you of me?
12. if you could give me anything what would it be?
13. how well do you know me?
14. when's the last time you saw me?
15. ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?
16. do you think i could kill someone?
17. describe me in one word.
18. do you think our friendship is getting stronger, weaker, or staying the same?
19. do you feel that you could talk to me about anything and i would listen?
20. are you going to put this on your live journal and see what i say about you?

Secret Santa

not_here — Wed, 10 Dec 2003 05:55:07 GMT

I need Urgent help.

It's the office xmas bash tomorrow and I have to find a Secret Santa Gift.

Under a tenner and my Giftee is a male, early 30's , married Aussie. The problem is I know him quite well but can't think of a thing - humorous would be good.

Half our office seems to think the idea of Secret Santa is to buy a proper pressie so have done choccies, smellies etc but I'm firmly of the opinion it should be amusing - I'm just not sure of his sense of humour!

That reminds me I also need a hen night pressie - for a person I've never met! That's got to be fairly simple though - chocolate willies or the like!

Weekend

not_here — Tue, 09 Dec 2003 02:39:30 GMT

Thought I'd stop by and say just how fantastic my weekend was.

Friday was a girls night out with m31andy and a whole host of my other girly mates. Bit of an odd bunch to put together and I was wondering how they'd all get on but seemingly if you line up champers for their arrival all goes well! Forgot just how much of a queue the Langley can get but everyone bar one person braved it. Didn't like the bouncer who kept insisting I join them in the queue though!

This night out was arranged because Saturday was the infamous AAS Xmas dinner and usually involves a big lads night out the night before - generally they start tres early and then end up pissed as crickets at the hosts's place by about 9 - as hubby was host I thought I'd go out! the lads then STAYED IN!!!!! my God we are getting old!!!

Anyhow - got home fine and scared the lads by responding to a query about what we'd been doing with the phrase "discussing and feeling breasts" - admittedly this does happen quite often with m31andy plus anything like -- oh say champagne bottles just begging to sit in her clevage!

Saturday - well the usual military precision went into the cooking (well Duncan was writing lots of lists and issuing orders!) - girlies were evicted so went for coffee and arrived back to find a complete transformation - table set, guys dressed (well some dressed - others nearly dressed!). Dressed Kath in nice black top having decided the blue sparkley one drew the eye a little too much to her boobs and we'd hate anyone to choke on their dinner!
Food food and more food, plus copious amounts of alcohol (white and red wine of assorted types, desert wine, port, brandy, then wiskey) followed - after 9 years of doing this the guys certainly know what they are doing. Played cranium, watched films, eat and drank more. At some point in the proceedings I decided to cuddle Duncan (demonstrating just how much alcohol had been involved), finally sleep happened in the wee small hours.

Woke to carnage on Sunday - half heartedly tided up (well the guys took the bottle collection to the bottle bank and put the dishwasher on for about the 30th time) then lazed around watching ice age and having bacon butties (or brioche if veggie!)

The in-laws called to say they were at my SIL's place and would we like to visit - given we won't be sing them till the new year we felt we should so most of our guests left and Jez and Kath headed off into London. Visiting duty over, we (being hubby and I) returned and all 4 of us (hubby, me, Jez and Kath) headed off to the pub (just in case anyone was getting blood back in their alcohol stream).

Finally dispatched Kath and Jez off on Monday morning - was wondering if this would involve Jez going to work in a DJ but he had spare work clothes!

Scared

not_here — Wed, 03 Dec 2003 02:37:49 GMT

Right take two - I managed to loose this the first time I wrote it!

Firstly I have to report that I'me being bullied- okay it's by my best friend but she's bigger than me and I'm scared. Anyhow I've decided the best way to deal with bullies is to capitulate totally!! Hence the Saxophone.

Speaking of scared - the view (or lack of) from my window is rather scary - I'm on the 28th floor and I can see diddely squat - yes I know this is due to the fog but the window is showing a hazey reflection of me which I keep catching from the corner of my eye and it looks as though someone is standing outside! yes rather worrying when you are frightened by yourself!

Lifts

not_here — Tue, 02 Dec 2003 06:25:10 GMT

Why are people incapable of understanding how lifts work?

Every time I come in from the ground level there is someone trying to get the lifts for floors 20-30 to stop at floor 4 or 5. I know they stop there on the way down but that's because if they didn't we'd have to change lifts to get to the canteen but on the way up if you want to go to floor 5 you have to use the lifts for floors 1-10.

It's the same with the call buttons - you press to go up, a lift arrives and it's full - do they wait till the doors have closed and the lift has moved off before pressing the button again? and then they wonder why the doors keep opening on the full lift.

Don't even get me started about people who can't understand whether a lift is going up or down!!

weekend

not_here — Mon, 01 Dec 2003 06:49:10 GMT

On the whole the weekend was good. Attempted to go to bluewater on Saturday to do some xmas shopping but decided to actually write a list of who we needed to buy for and any ideas before leaving so it was afternoon when we arrived. Drove round (several) carparks and came home! You have never seen anything like it - cars just abandoned everywhere!

Evening was slightly more successful - went to the London Charity orchestra / Pegasus performance of Pictures at an exhibition and Motzart's requiem. Realised during the interval that Hubby didn't know that Pictures was meant to be someone walking through a gallery and looking at pictures and that each bit tells a story - his comment - "isn't that the new statesman theme tune?"

Requiem was okay - well a 10 piece choir was too loud for the orchestra and some of the grandeure of the piece was lost but hey.

Then we went for a reminisce seing as we were at Old brompton - wandered down Ifield Road (what have they done to the Ifeild - and nice to see that the ever changing restaurant half way down is again soemthing different - an Argentinian Steak house if I remember correctly) and stopped off at Nikita's for dinner. The vodka is still every bit as good as it was on my last (and only other) visit - had some sort of cherry stuff and the warm honey stuff again too - yum!

Finally made it to Bluewater on Sunday although at just gone 11 there was already a que back to the A2, managed a reasonable amount of shopping plus finaly bought our wedding pressi from my in-laws. They originally bought a mirror that arrived smashed and couldn't be replaced - now we have an original bit of art that should look fab over the sofa.

Quizz

not_here — Thu, 27 Nov 2003 06:27:56 GMT

Now I know this is just based on some simple maths but can I figure it out?

http://digicc.com/fido/

(perhaps I can't figure this out cos I'm havign a blonde day - I initialy posted only half the link!)

twilight

not_here — Wed, 26 Nov 2003 08:29:55 GMT

well in my quest to see ti go dark I have finally succeeded in seeing what I'd call twilight - totaly useless bit of information, but there you go!

Hopefully I have managed to friend all those who kindly responded to m31andy's blatant (well does she do anything any other way?) pimping of me! Thanks for making me feel welcome guys !

I've now totally forgot the point of posting at all - I honestly did have something interesting to say, but evidently it wasn't that good. Will go and put my thinking cap on.....