Changes are Afoot
Posted by: Roxette Wise on: 29/07/2009
It’s hard to believe that I’ve been in my humble (rented) abode for almost 9 months now, I’ve really enjoyed my time here but life never stands still.
Willow da Pup
Work at the new place is going well, with one wee problem. Travel. The amount of time I spend travelling to and from work has meant that Willow da Pup has been rather negleted so Eldest daughter who has Jasmine the Mad (Willow’s sister) has offer to give Willow a home. I will miss the little hairy beast, especially when she chews my shoes, pees on the carpet and poops right outside the back door. I swear she is trying to get revenge for something!
Preparations for Willow’s epic journey were finalised earlier this week with the purchase of a rather snazzy dog carrier. I’ve been throwing in the odd hand full of doggie treats so she gets the idea that this pink thing is friendly. Little does she know that she will be spending most of Saturday in the confines of the travel bag.
As Willow will off on her great adventure this weekend, Youngest daughter is awaiting her A level results. This will determine which University or College she will be attending to continue her study of all things mathematical. This will result in a mad round of packing, losing things, finding items thought long gone, before Youngest is finally ready to face the world as a College/Uni Student.
The final round of these changes is for me to start appartment hunting in the Wee City that is Belfast. So I’ve been scanning the various web sites, and local rags in search of something reasionably priced, and conviently located to work. Finding just the right place at the right price and in the right location is proving to be a tricky business. I’ve already seen a few appartments that would suit, and am keeping my fingers that these may still be available mid September.
More Quirky Than Normal
Posted by: Roxette Wise on: 16/05/2009
The latest quiz running around the social media sites at the moment is the What kind of man/woman are you? found on the HelloQuizzy site. These quizzes can be fun, a bit like going to see a fortune teller or a psychic and the results should always be taken with a heavy dose of salt. I mean, how can answering a few questions determine what character or what personality you are? What if you had a bad day and then took the test, would you answer the questions differently?
So tell me, does this personality reflect the true me?
The Renaissance Faire Wench (QLAF)
Quirky Alpha Female
The hardest part about being the Renn. Faire Wench is that people often mistake you for a beta female. This is not so. You like to do things the mainstream would consider weird, (like dress in costume, perhaps?). Eat, drink, and be merry, but make sure whoever you date respects you and does not take advantage of your laid-back attitude. (BTW, you are likely the only type who can see That Creepy Guy (NLBM) for who he is, helping him to bring out the Manga Geek (QLBM) inside. This does not mean you have to date one, however). You are quite flexible and can enjoy the company of many of the types.
Your are more QUIRKY than NORMAL.
You are more LIBERAL than TRADITIONAL.
You are more DOMINANT than PASSIVE.
When picking a date, consider:
- The Lord of the Misfits (QLAM)
- The Fratt Boy (NLAM)
- The Snowball’s Chance in Hell (QTBM)
- The Manga Geek (QLBM)
- That Creepy Guy (NLBM)
After Work Drinks
Posted by: Roxette Wise on: 29/04/2009
It always fun to join coworkers for a few drinks after work as it’s great way to break the ice and get to know everybody better. So in true fashion, my co trainees decided to celebrate our first pay packet by charging across the road last Friday to the local pub where we were rewarded with a 15% discount off all drinks. HAPPINESS!
The evening’s conversation wandered down many various roads that night, the strangest involving an inflatable sheep, a tank of helium and a cliff edge. How these random items came together in one sentence is any ones guess, and it has kept Capt Bigshot amused for a few days now.
The equation for Good Times
Sadly I had to leave the drinking session at 9pm to catch the last train home, and missed the Chinese run, which was fortunate for me as I was not wearing the appropriate shoes for high speed getaways!
The Group Mascot
I’m A Little Behind…..
Posted by: Roxette Wise on: 18/04/2009
…… on blog posts that is.
A quick round up
- handed in notice to the night shift job
- had a lovely lazy week
- started work with the new company
- mowed the lawn
Parking is Scarce
New job started on April 6th, at the training site with 12 other new starts. We move to the new offices on Monday 20th which is fantastic as this cuts 20 mins off my travel time, and as I have to travel quite a distance to the office I was allocated one of the building’s limited parking spaces. Oh Happy Me!!
My new work colleges are a lovely bunch, already we are organising our first night out. Now that’s what I like, people who have their priorities right. On the down side, once we finish training we are to be split up into different teams and shift patterns.
The training has been very intensive, and involves learning the banking regulations, the data protection act and codes of practice etc, together with getting to grips with the new software programs that we will need to use. I’ve never been one to shy away from learning so I am quite enjoying the experience even if it did earn me a few headaches in the first week. Which just shows how lazy my wee brain had become.
My new toy
My lazy week off wasn’t completely wasted. I acquired a new ‘toy’. A spanking new Flymo Easimo arrived on my door step, which required assembling before I could use it to cut the slightly overgrown lawn.
I am delighted pleased to announce both dogs survived the lawn mower.
The grass may not quite resemble a cricket ground but I think I did a dammed fine job!
I humbly submit the evidence
Wishes Do Come True
Posted by: Roxette Wise on: 24/03/2009
On Friday, 2oth March a wish came true for me. It happened like this…..
When I tripped over a parcel left at my front door, I was not surprised as I believed it to contain the long awaited Irish coffee glasses. The parcel was rather too heavy, but I was distracted getting ready to go collect aged parent for the weekend. So it wasn’t until my return that I discovered the parcel contained my birthday gift from Loaf!
So it’s March 20th, and my birthday is not until April 1st. That’s 12 days to wait. Twelve days. Thankfully Loaf was just as anxious for me to open the gift as I was. We were both bouncing, me with anticipation to see what delights the gift wrapped box held, Loaf wanting to see my reaction. Plurk joined the anxious wait (see here) as I slowly removed the ribbon, then the wrapping paper.
And there is was, my new toy.
Vivienne Tam Notebook
I had a beautiful, bright, shinny notebook. Not just any old notebook, the Vivienne Tam, HP notebook. This notebook is without a doubt the sexiest notbook on the market, and it was mine!!!
The juicy bits
- 60 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive
- Webcam with integrated microphone
- Ethernet 10/100BT integrated network interface
- 92 per cent full size keyboard
- Altec Lansing speakers
If you want full specs, click here.
I never dreamed I’d actually get this beautiful toy when I jokingly asked Loaf to buy me one, only 3 days pervious on this plurk. To recieve such a fantastic gift, is… well mind blowing. I’ve hardly put it down since I got it. This wee blog post is not only to show off my fantastic toy but more importantly to say
THANK YOU LOAF!
The Naming Game
Posted by: Roxette Wise on: 16/03/2009
I have always been fascinated with names, place names and people’s names. Unusual names and names that make you think “Now where did that name come from?” Which brings me to the topic of this post. How did you name your child?
The naming of a child is a momentous decision for any parent and more importantly, for the child. Just think, your child has to live with your decision for the rest of their lives (until they discover deedpoll that is). I have never understood why a child is given one name but called another. For example a child who is named for a parent or relative they are then called a differnt name to “save confusion” Like my friend Christina who’s real name is Mary and my Uncle Eddie who is actually William. Then there are the names with prefixs, my cousin Lawernce is known as Young Lawernce, which is not as bad as my Mother’s aged cousin who was known as Wee Willie (although I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bigger person).
When my eldest was born, the names my Ex and I had previously decided on did not seem to “fit” the tiny bundle in my arms. We started randomly saying girls names at her, but none worked. So we decided to leave naming her until we had a name that fitted, that is until Grumpy Midwife (GM) entered the delivery room, and the following conversation ensued.
“What name?” GM demanded
“We haven’t got one yet, just Baby Surname for now.” I replied
“She must have a name!” barked GM, pen poised
“I’m not giving my child any old name, I want to wait”
“You have to call her something, I need to write some thing down”
“OK” I said with a grin “We’ll call her Fred”
“Nonsence!” GM barked “That’s not a proper name for a girl”
“I think Fred suits her”
And so Eldest was known as Fred for a full five days. I think we chose well, and certainly Eldest has never complained about her name. And loves to tell the story of how she was named Fred for the five days of her life.
How did you name yours?
My first Video
Posted by: Roxette Wise on: 12/03/2009
I had a number of clips on my camera from last year, when my eldest’s pup Jasmine came to stay with us for a few days. I was never sure what to do with them, until Loaf pointed me at the Windows Movie Maker. This is a good piece of software for a beginer like me, I found it easy to use and have actually managed to piece together a small video of Jasmine’s visit.
I hope you like it.
Happiness is…..
Posted by: Roxette Wise on: 12/03/2009
….. meeting old friends for the first time!
I am happy to announce that I have finally met a very dear friend, Dakota Blackmountain, who I have known for over a year now. We decided to meet up last weekend, in Leicester Square just outside the Swiss Centre Clock.
The Missing Swiss Centre
I chose the land mark from a search on google maps and was looking forward to maybe even having a wander through the Swiss Centre and if the timing was right, hearing the clock in action. (In case you did not know, I am a big fan of clocks) First fail of the day.. someone removed the Swiss Centre, I mean really!! An internet search this morning reveals that the Swiss Center was showing it’s age. tsk!
Dakota Blackmountain
The sorry event of the missing clock was overshadowed by the meeting of Dakota!! After a round of hugs, greetings and a few more hugs for good measure we declared that we were very hungry and the cuisine of choice was to be Chinese.
A couple of laps of Leicester Square followed, and finally China Town was located. We had arrived amongst the largest number of Chinese restaurants in one area that I have ever seen. After some indecision we eventually agreed on a busy looking restaurant. The idea being, “If it’s busy, the food must be good.” I liked it mainly due to the lack of hideous orange squids hanging in the window. Squids belong in the sea, not hanging in a restaurant window.
Loaf looks for China Town
After the lovely lunch, it was off to explore the rest of London, and mostly it’s shops. 
But first stop was a wander around the oddest Irish pub I’ve ever been in called Waxy’s. From the outside all there was to show was a doorway, but Loaf assured us that there was definately a pub to be found, so with Loaf bravely leading the way, we ventured in, through a maze of stairs, snugs, past a dubious looking tree, up more stairs and finally out the other side back into brilliant sunshine. Waxy’s is on my list of must see again places, actually I can hardly believe I did not insist on having a pint while were were there!
Pants shopping
Next stop, the SHOPS! It wasn’t too long before we were happly browsing through the many and wonderous items to be found. (Quite a few items were hastly returned to the shelves after a quick look at price tags).
In the Calvin Kelin store there was giggling a plenty as we helped Loaf chose a rather smooth pair of pants, and I’m happy to report that I did not come away empty handed. 
Convent Gardens was my favourite spot. In the open piazza there we saw jugglers, mime artists, and musicians, there was soo much to take in, it was difficult to know where to look first.
Dakota in Covent Garden
With gifts bought, bank balances battered and feet sore, we headed back to Leicester Square to say our good byes to Dakota with a round of farewells and hugs followed by more hugs. We left Dakota with hellos and best wishes to pass on to Tenebrous, who I am sure was releaved that Dakota did not return with a load of boots, and it was not for the want to trying!
Loaf and I rounded off our day in London with a visit to the Odeon to see the Watchmen a superhero film based on the 1986 – 1987 comic book series Watchmen by Alan Moore, which I am currently reading, and I recommend both.
Coming to a Cinema near you!
A Hellish Week
Posted by: Roxette Wise on: 01/03/2009
I had intended this post to be a summary of my first week at my new job, and I was struggling for ideas of how to make this interesting. But events took a very unexpected turn. So lets start…..
Monday, arrive at new job and is delighted to discover that the other new start is someone I know. Mr M and I gained our HND’s at together. It was such a relief to see a friendly face.
Training started, following a lengthy induction, and mainly consisted of standing around watching the operator load and reset the machines. Not the most exciting job in the world, so I pass the time doing mental calculations. Yes, that’s how bored I was.
Wednesday my feet, legs and back were starting to complain bitterly. 
The non-slip safety boots that were promised at the start of the week have not appeared, nor the protective clothing. We were bottling a very sweet and sticky drink which managed to get all over my clothes. Then instead of the three weeks training I was promised, it was decided that I will be starting night shift next Wednesday instead. The idea being that I would ‘pick up’ the job better on shift. I was not a happy bunny!
Thursday and the bomb shell hits. I get a phone call from the Ex’s work place in Scotland, and told that he has taken a ‘turn’. They suspect that he has suffered a stroke, but the Ex has refused to go to hospital in Scotland and insists on returning to N Ireland. Could I pick him up form the airport? Well what would you do?
Panic ensues, as by this time I am sharing a lift with Mr M, and he is driving. So with a mad bit of organising, I get to the airport, and youngest meets me there with my car. The plane from Glasgow has just landed, so we stand scanning the faces of the arriving passengers.
Youngest sees him first, he is staggering towards us in a very drunken fashion. He can barely speak and I am amazed that the airline company allowed him to travel at all. He manages to communicate that he is very surprised to see us there, he had forgotten that I am still listed as ‘Next of Kin’ at his work place. Bags collected, we get him to the hospital where he is seen to straight away. Phone calls to Esme, my eldest, to reassure that her Dad is OK, and a rather sleepless night follows.
Friday brings more tests, and finally we have confirmation that he has suffered a stroke, a mild one and is expected to make a full recovery. But what happens in the mean time? He is not able to look after himself in his present condition. His speech has improved slightly, is still very unsteady on his feet, and cannot grip with his right hand. For the minute he is in the best place possible, and getting the treatment he requires.
Now, I’m going to keep counting down until my time at the bottling plant is over, and I can start my new career. Well I gota keep focused on the positive, or I’m going to go stir crazy!
Korma in My Kitchen
Posted by: Roxette Wise on: 23/02/2009
Time for a food blog, and today’s dish is Chicken Korma.
A quick web search threw up many different versions, from the very simple to very complex with all kinds of weird and wonderful ingredients. I found two variations that looked quite promising. The first is from a site called all recipies and the other is a Jamie Oliver recipe from the Mail Online.
For my first attempt I have been tempted to try the Jamie Oliver version, but for this experiment I will be omitting the desiccated coconut. I am not a coconut fan, I dislike it’s texture.
I decided to use two large chicken breasts, and followed the instructions as set out by Mr Oliver. I did all the prep work first, (chopped the chicken, onions, ginger etc) and found the instructions simple to follow. As soon as the korma started to simmer I started the rice.
The aroma emanating from coming from the korma was divine! It was all I could do not to nibble before it was ready. The results not only looked good, it tasted fantastic!
Chicken Korma with rice
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