Drive-By Blog

If this seems like a rather hastily written and short blog thats because it is. Sorry.

I have my book of writing exercises in front of me and the next task is the Handbag Exercise. I am quite sad in that I am rather looking forward to this one-write down a list of six items to be found in a handbag without putting too much effort into what you're writing. Then construct a character, who would own the handbag and why are those things in there?

According to the writer of the task book you can tell a lot by a person by the contents of their bag and so you should be able to make up an entirely new person by what you find. It got me wondering, if I were a fictional character what would my (actual) bag say about me? Removing the rather obvious like phone, keys, purse etc.

So six random items:-

Shoelaces
No less than 4 pens
No less than 3 lip products
Rescue Remedy
Sunglasses
Two packets of painkillers

Oh dear. I've already got a mini-picture of this character and she's looking a bit neurotic if you ask me.

Here's my question then- what six random things do you pull out of your bag? What do they say about the character you're creating? Feel free to tell me and who knows maybe I'll get some inspiration from it.

(I'll update on 'D' soon I promise ;) )

The Wisdom That Could Not Be Imparted Because of Kodak

My mission to update this blog for my two, possibly three, loyal fans each week has thus far failed. Miserably. So I made myself a little list of tasks to do this evening and one of those was blog. Yes blog. Share with those who stumble upon my page the musings of a somewhat meandering mind and impart the wisdom that I have learnt each day since my last post.

However instead of the time lovingly crafting and editing a meaningful and worthwhile monologue on the joys of life and what I have done since I last spoke to the computer (last ever Lost, Comic Con, Guildford Cathedral Abseil, dinner with mildly crazed theatre peeps and my final liberation from Uber Stress) I instead spent 2 and half hours trying to download said Abseil photos from my camera onto the computer. Now having done that, I can not only be bothered to discuss the abseil but I can no longer be bothered to try and post pictures of the event either.

So with heartfelt sincerity and genuine emotion I can deliver the following...

F*** you Kodak EasyShare.

You are not easy nor do you share.

Many a person's life is now somewhat diminished because of you. I hope you sleep well tonight as tomorrow I unload you and use Camera and Scanner Wizard. Ha! Who gets the last laugh now??!!

Thirty Things I Have Done Since Last Blog

1. Forgotten to blog
2. Moved house
3. Discovered a new curry place
4. Forgotten to wish a friend happy birthday
5. Remembered to wish another friend happy birthday
6. Wistfully wandered
7. Discovered the existence of an old fashioned sweet shop in my town due to wistful wandering
8. Been mocked for liking comic books
9. Met with good friends who do not care that I like comic books for good beers
10. Wore my wellies to Cowpie Rally
11. For the first time in three years did not get sunburnt at Cowpie Rally
12. Had a small secret
13. Met with Bobanna for drinks in Guildford and re-discovered how excellent she is
14. Stank of wine in the morning
15. Came to the realisation that being a grown up isn't much fun some of the time
16. Fell out with a friend
17. Made up with same friend
18. Froze a nipple
19. Froze the other nipple
20. Gave a good friend a good surprise (thankfully!)
21. Got hit on by a rather good looking Henry VIII at same surprise
22. Learnt a painful truth
23. Congratulated a friend on something amazing
24. Made self painfully drunk on wine and danced like a fool in a new place
25. Clutched the bowl in my bedroom ever ever so tightly
26. Attended a chocolate making workshop with the worlds worst hangover
27. Saw a movie I didn't think I would like and liked it a lot
28. Booked a holiday
29. Panicked and cried at work
30. Had an ephiphany
31. Forgot to spellcheck ephiphany*

*so it's 31, so sue me**
** please don't- I'm in enough trouble as it is

How Did It Come To This?

The sad and painful truth of it all is that when something breaks down, a relationship, a friendship, anything that meant something- it doesn't always end as you would like it to. The person who has spent so much time with you seems to have warped from the person you knew into some strange creature that acts like cruelty is the new way of life and any time spent trying to talk to you is time wasted. I mean that about your own self as well you know.

I always believed that I could and would act with grace and dignity but when the situation worsened it turns out that I was potentially that person. Turns out I could easily be as cruel. That being said I have been in many, many (ahem too many) situations that weren't exactly soul enhancing experiences, but never before has anything ended with such venom. I would like to put my hand on my heart and say that honestly I'm not bothered but the very fact of the matter is, we only act like fools and desperate fools at that when we really truly feel something. Maybe I'll look back and go 'oh well that's some consolation, I only acted like a ravenous harpy because I cared too much' but I doubt it.

When you're in the moment with someone you don't think that they could ever hurt you, you don't think that their feelings towards you will ever change but after learning the hard way I've realised that anyone could eventually leave. Though I do wonder why they needed to leave by slamming the door so hard into my face when all I was doing was hovering aimlessly in the doorway ('tis a metaphor- no doors were slammed. Well...ok they were but I demand an exit).

One very odd but quite possibly fantastic thing has come from today...after receiving crappy texts one, two and three I bullied The Fuzzy Duck* into a challenge of epic proportions. After much discussion Elegant Lady* decided to join us....and so I bring you not very excited or anticipatory folks........

The Alphabet Challenge. Oh yes. It has begun.

*I never said your pseudonyms would be good ones.