Sunday, Aug. 09, 2009 - 00:46

Bonne soir, mes amis - voici les nombres à une de onze!

1. Not an awful week at work, again. I'm perchance going to be hit with hectic stressy busy days later in the month, but for the time being I am badgering away at all the things I need to do, trying not to get frustrated at various bits and pieces, and making sure I'm not over-doing it. There have been some bits in the last week where I've had results of my trials go alright, so.. all's OK.

2. Bit of an awkward situation developing though in that one of the new guys at work lives close to me, and commutes on the same train as me. He's a nice bloke - went for a drink with him t'other evening as the train was late - but I'm just uncomfortable because I am *really* not particularly sociable in the mornings, and actually prefer travelling on my own listening to music and reading a book or something. Don't want to seem rude, it might save on taxis and stuff sometimes, and he's a decent bloke to get on with and have a pint with if the trains are late.. but.. I'm a self-sufficient sort of loner bloke who prefers his own company at times.

3. Probably best not to mention the cricket, but mention it I shall. Australia managed to bat through Monday and claim a draw from the rain-shortened third test where England looked in a winning position. The fourth test started on Thursday, and England were all out for a hundred by halfway through the afternoon. Today the Aussies piled on a three-hundred plus lead, then took five wickets to leave England odds-on to lose heavily.

4. Watched 'Who do You Think You Are' in the week, 'cause David Mitchell was on it. It was interesting, even if it wasn't partic astonishing. Scottish sheep farmers and landowners, and some bigoted (aren't a lot of them) religious figure and learned author on Skye.

5. I was about to write a paragraph about how not being in London, there is an element of cultural scareness at times, without actually having justification for thinking such. I think I was going to complain about not having anywhere I could go see the new Lars Von Trier film, but a quick search online indicated that there's screenings in a local multiplex every night just after nine. So I'll make a point of going one day next week (or tomorrow, perchance).

6. Footy season started today (well, the Coca-Cola League at least). After Middlesbro' started with a decent but tough 0-0 home draw against Sheff Utd last night (and, according to the BBC website, topped the league for eighteen or nineteen hours!) today saw t'other teams play. The West Brom vrs Newcastle game was on TV live this evening, and ended 1-1.

7. I was (again) reading the early part of my 1996 diary, and (again) realise how much of a bastard I come over. In truth there is an element of what I am writing being 'revisionist' in the wake of being dumped, and hence was a self-defence mechanism, but nevertheless..

8. Damnit! I meant to buy some oatcakes this week, and I've forgotten to do so (despite having been to the supermarket on two occasions). I don't suppose any of you will courier me a large box of 'em? I like the Scottish rough ones.

9. In the week I read 'Slam' by Nick Hornby, which was quite a short book, but a very enjoyable one all the same. I was impressed with the author's ability to accurately convey the voice of a sixteen year-old lad, and there was a good amount of touchingness and wit about it too.

10. I've arranged to go up to one of our company's other sites in a couple of weeks time, to help my equivalent (sp?) in another lab. Not sure how much help I can be (he e-mailed me and asked for help from someone who knew what they were doing, which was sorta flattering even if it's not completely true!). Should be OK, and it'd be cool to see another site too.

11. LISTENING TO:- The stand out random track of the week has probably been Blues Traveler 'Regarding Steven', which is nice. Hardly 'blues' per se, moreso folk-blues I guess, but still pretty fine.