Not written any blog entries of a diary nature. Bit odd but not a problem. Am writing this now in note form for when I look back through the archives and wonder what I did in April-May 2004.
Worked at an Art publisher last week stock-taking prints. Was struck by how anodyne and bland the whole Art print industry is. Very much like popular fiction only flatter and on larger pieces of paper. Don’t think I saw a single painting I’d like to have about the place. Office staffed by many young attractive women which made me realise I hadn’t worked with young attractive women since the bookselling days. To think I used to take them for granted… Building opposite was being demolished with huge machines that looked like dinosaurs tearing away at them and a large brick-crushing machine. Publisher was located behind the Mailbox complex, an intriguing area being central, semi-industrial, run down and up-and-coming. Suspect it’s in a “transitional” phase before being affected by the Mailbox renewal. Interesting place to walk around, though. Lots of small streets, old buildings and hills.
Watched Buffy season five at the weekend, again in one fell swoop. Geeky-type friends had warned me it gets rubbish after season three but I haven’t found this. Suspect it’s because I’m watching them all in one go with no ads to slow things down and that while I really enjoyed them I’m not getting obsessional about it so things that might annoy others just wash over me. Fave moment so far is Spike’s Anthony Robbins joke towards the end of season four – laughed so much I had to pause the DVD.
Bought a compost bin as part of the council’s discount scheme on Sunday. It’s fucking huge – a 330 litre job – and has been named “the fat child”. Barely fitted in the back of Sam’s Mum’s car but we managed it. Transfered my existing heap into it and the smell was delicious. Also planted four potatoes a couple of weeks back and bought some carrot, spinach and cabbage seeds, but haven’t planted them yet.
Gardening has re-started because we don’t have to move after all. Landlady has figured out a way to not sell the house so we’re here for the duration. This is good news as I was starting to dread moving again, probably winding up in a dingy bedsit somewhere. Still not 100% happy about living in this area (St Georges Day was something of a wake-up call, if a wake-up call was needed) but on balance it’s worth it.
Done a lot of work on Sam’s Mum’s garden recently which was great because I got to get muddy and sweaty and got paid for it. Was slightly shocked that after digging over the vegetable patch (about the size of a small bedroom) I was utterly knackered and in pain for days. I’m not in the physical shape I was in after the farm. Yesterday I sorted out part of her wall which had fallen down which involved hitting bricks with a hammer for an hour. Am thinking more and more about getting into gardening, or rather garden clearing. I’m utterly inexperienced at growing things am great at digging them up and cutting them back.
Saw Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and thoroughly enjoyed it. Went to my first ColdRice gig at Bar Academy to see Dead Brothers (apologies for the stupid frameset redirection thingy – select them from the pull down menu in the sidebar) who were Fucking Amazing in a Swiss-funeral-band kinda way. Support from Guitar Fucker (ditto) was stunning as well. The ColdRice guys and gals are on a track to right-ness here.
Been working on step-brother’s new website the last couple of weeks which has been interesting as I’ve never designed a non-blog business site properly before. Not quite ready to launch yet but I’m pleased with it so far. Managed to replicate his business card in CSS which was cool. Hosting it on 34sp who offer just enough stuff at very good prices.
Started work today at a Birmingham hospital in the Pharmacy stores. Despite it only being a temporary sick-leave-cover job (probably a month at most) I have to fill out a disclosure form which goes in a frightening amount of detail. They want all my addresses from the last five years, which is at least five if I don’t count my no-fixed-abode period last year, along with three forms of ID. Suspect this is due to me handling expensive and potent drugs. Job itself seems good so far – basic order picking and the like – and the people are nice and chilled. Only problem is the old four-busses-a-day routine meaning I leave the house at 7.15am and get home at 6.45pm. Only for a month though, and the money is better than usual. Hospital is behind my old University which makes the bus journey something of a trip down memory lane as it meanders around the back streets of Edgbaston.
And I just this minute got a phone call from my sister informing me she’s pregnant again. Neice/nephew #2 due December/January. Woo!
“Office staffed by many young attractive women which made me realise I hadn’t worked with young attractive women since the bookselling days.”
Hope you’re not having too many ‘Diet Coke ad’ fantasies :^)