Jacquie

Writer's Block: Where in the World...

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:40:04 GMT

If you were independently wealthy, where in the world would you live and how would you spend your time?

I'd have a huge place near a lake on the South Island of New Zealand - somewhere where I can see the mountains.

Really letting the side down

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:29:01 GMT

Blimey, I really have been very bad at keeping this site updated!

Okay, so what am I most excited about at the moment? Series 4 of Doctor Who starting this Saturday! I seriously cannot wait. I don't often wish the days away, but this time ..... HURRY UP!!!

Anyway, I'm full of cold, have a bad chest infection and generally feel rubbish, so I think I'm allowed to be a little on the impatient side at the moment.

HP excitement

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 11:56:32 GMT

I booked tickets in the deluxe screen at the Cineworld cinema here in MK for my friend Sarah and I on Sunday for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and I am officially bouncing now. I cannot wait to go and see it because it's got rave reviews.

Also, the countdown for the book is getting lower and lower. I've decided to cancel my pre-order with Waterstones that I made last week. I tend to go to this one around 10.30pm for the midnight opening as it's quieter (it's on the outside of the city centre by Starbucks) and the Ottakers bookstore is usually heaving from around 7pm. Well, now that Waterstones have bought Ottakers, they're only opening the one store, which does make sense. But of course "my" shop is now going to be manic. I think I'll go into Tescos and get it there instead. They had started selling the Half Blood Prince a few hours early last time, in fact I heard one store was selling one of the books a couple of DAYS early once! It'll be less stressful and all I want to do is go and buy the book, go to bed and read it all day on the Saturday. If I had a mad friend who'd want to queue up with me and join in the fun, then maybe I'd go to a proper bookstore.

Oh, and I am loving getting back online properly. Catching up with the torch_wood and torchwoodcoffee livejournal sites and also the Outpost Gallifrey forum, which is wonderfully cool. Great to see the same names from the livejournal sites on the OG forum :)

Anyway back to work - at least try to! So exited over the though of Ianto Jones in a pink shirt and spending more time out of the Hub with the team ...... I'm kind of getting off track *blush*

Absolutely rockin'

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 12:47:19 GMT

I was at the Hyde Park Calling concert yesterday and it was absolutely AMAZING! The bands which stood out BIG time on the main stage were Arckid, The Answer and also Chris Cornell. However, Aerosmith were utterly amazing. My Joe Perry fetish is back with a vengeance now! God, that man is sexy!

So pleased I fulfilled my promise of being as near to the front as possible (shame some people don't understand the concept of getting there early to get a good view - some VERY rude, obnoxious people) so that I could see the Toxic Twins in the flesh. Lasted two songs before fighting my way out of the throng.

The concert was fantastic and when Joe Perry decided to undo his billowing white shirt, I almost self-combusted. How can a man with his history of drug taking be so hot?! Oh well.

Oh, and Doctor Who is getting amazing. Had to give the hubby a slap every now and then on the tube home as he was doing the tapping with his fingers!

I may have got home at 1.30am this morning, but the adrenaline is still pumping so I'll probably crash when I get home tonight!!

Next thing to accomplish is to see Aerosmith in concert again at a proper venue.

Back from beyond!

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:32:29 GMT

Well, I've definitely been neglecting this, haven't I?

The reason? I've been so damned busy at work and at home.

Lunchtimes at work have been used for talking walks along the river and as the nights have lightened we've been decorating and doing the garden up at home. I'm so bloody knackered I just haven't had time to go on the net recently, plus I've been keeping away from most sites as I don't want to read any spoilers for the current series of Doctor Who

However, this weekend sees the return of Captain Jack Harkness ..... oh such joy to behold David Tennant and John Barrowman on the same piece of screen. I feel I will self-combust in excitement on Saturday evening!!

Rollercoaster of emotion

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:19:35 GMT

Well, yesterday I went to the final game of the season for the hockey team I follow. On the drive down I encountered three accidents (one of which happened 4 cars in front of me), windscreen wipers stopping on the M4 in the rain so having to pull over onto the hard shoulder, my hockey team drawing and then the team they were hoping to lose didn't, so they didn't make the playoffs. Then I have to make a detour home because the road was closed by the police. When I finally got home, hubby hadn't recorded Recovery for me. Yesterday was NOT a good day :-(

The 1st accident was a car off down an embankment on the A5, the 2nd was a blow out on the M25 (luckily the driver was in the inside lane and had the skill to control it and pull over), the 3rd was a Lotus Elise who aquaplaned on a sheet of water, hit the central reservation, then spun across the dual carriageway and into the hedge on the side of the road. Very scary stuff. I have no idea why the A5 was shut on the way home - it was closed at the traffic lights in Hockliffe. Hopefully not another accident.

My friend's brother plays hockey for the team I follow and he ended up with a dislocated knee, which the paramedics managed to get back in. Another of the players suffered a suspected broken wrist. Was glad I decided to drive myself down and not go out of my way to travel on the coach. The journey home last night was probably very sombre.

College - all over

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 12:25:06 GMT

Went back to college for that last lesson last night and got my exam results back. It didn't go as badly as I thought as I only had to elaborate on three of the 18 questions. Due to the nature of the examining I could complete that task verbally, which I did, no problems.

Also submitted my portfolio and then went into the clinic to be a body for my friend and fellow student Shelley. She needed to complete her last assessment doing an oil swedish massage, so that was lovely. Didn't expect to have a massage last night so had to apologise for my unshaved legs ..... *the shame*

It was sad to say goodbye to fellow students and one of them (Patricia) brought us all a rose each, which was such a lovely thing to do.

I would love to do reflexology next, but it's somethng like £500 for the 30-week course! I can't afford that :-( I think it'll be indian head massage, but then again I want to start an OU degree, so I'm not sure what to do at the moment. I think I'll wait until the new college brochure comes out in July (I think) before I decide. The price of the courses I want to do will definitely make my decision for me, unfortunately.

Happy, happy, happy!!

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 09:53:23 GMT

My work colleague's daughter is okay - but still will need to see a doctor, so good news there.

Even better news is that I've just received a text from my friend who's booked me and the hubby two tickets to see Aerosmith in Hyde Park in June!!! *bounces uncontrollably* Can't believe I am finally going to see them live!

Worries at work

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:02:29 GMT

My office mate and colleague has just had a phone call from her daughter saying she's got chest pains - really worrying considering she's only in her early twenties. She's had her heart monitored because she does get palpitations often. Now this .... so worried for her.

Fingers crossed for her.

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 21:54:18 GMT

Okay here are some pictures of my back garden in the snow that I took on Thursday.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/Jacquie_Green/garden1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/Jacquie_Green/garden2.jpg

Back at work

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:59:34 GMT

Well, I'm back in work today, the snow's still around and it's now snowing again. I've just finished eating my lunch and I was going to pull my wellies on and go for a walk, but it's snowing quite hard, so I don't think I will. It looks lovely out there, trouble is my back's to the window, so I have to keep turning around to watch. Doesn't stop me doing so and grinning inanely at the falling snow!! It's not settling though as the ground's too warm compared to when it snowed in the early hours of yesterday morning and settled. Mind you if it keeps going, it might do ..... :-)

We have some great snowmen built here at work. Good to see creative people still working at the OU ;-)

College - or rather a lack of

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 20:56:19 GMT

Tonight was supposed to be the last night of the 17 week body massage course I've been doing, but with the snow the college is closed. We'll have to go in next week during half term to sort out our portfolios as was planned this evening. Of course this means I get to see what's on TV before 9pm on a Thursday evening ..... not much as far as I can see.

Went for a really long walk in the snow today - it was absolutely gorgeous out and so quiet. Some of the lake is frozen and my pond in the garden is definitely frozen - poor fishies. I know I want to get rid of them, but I was going to pass them onto better owners. Hope they've survived. Will know when the pond melts a bit as the ice is waaaaay to thick to break without killing the poor souls with shock.

Just about to log off and sit down and watch A Town Called Eureka on Sci-Fi (saw it first on Sky). Love this.

Oh! The finale of The Lost Room was last night. Left it SOOOO open for a second series. Very impressed with some moments of "didn't see that coming", so all in all damn fine TV.

Back to work tomorrow. Hubby will be home to look after little 'un.

Loads of snow!

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:35:28 GMT

Well, I got what I wished for - loads of snow. Well, loads for England anyway! It's still snowing now and it's not looking like it's going to stop. My daughter's school is shut, so I've had to take the say off work to stay home and ended up having snowball fights out in the street with the other kids and mums and dads. *grins*

Will post a picture of our snowy back garden later, once I've made the size a little more user-friendly!

Let it snow ........ (hopefully)

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:20:33 GMT

Well, we've been warned that we're getting loads of snow tonight and not to travel unless absolutely necessary. Thing is, whenever they say that, what does the term "absolutely necessary" mean? Does it mean I have to get my daughter to school? Does it mean that I have to go to work? Or am I allowed to hole myself up in front of the fire at home all day and watch daytime TV? I really hope it's the latter, but I seriously doubt it is!

Anyway, I can see it now, wake up tomorrow and no snow, just a badly iced up car (mine was iced up INSIDE the rear window this morning!) and that's it. We'd better have the six inches they're promising us (oo-er!) Reminds me of something I saw on TV, one of those shows when people say stupid stuff on camera. A Canadian or US newsreader turned to the weatherman who'd promised snow on the previous day's show and she asked "Where's the 6 inches you promised me last night?" *snigger*

In case you haven't realised I really love snow! :-D

College update and Harry Potter book date!

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 11:56:56 GMT

Well, college first - I got 100% pass mark on my multiple choice exam from last week, so well happy with that. We had a written exam this week and I was feeling pretty ill on Thursday so I have no idea how I did with it. I just hope I pass as I've fulfilled all the pratical elements now. All I have to do is pass that exam and complete my portfolio and I'm done. *bounces*

The date of the final Harry Potter book has been released - 21st July 2007. So, July will be a HUGE Potterfest with The Order of the Phoenix film being released and The Deathly Hallows book being released! *more bouncing* Cannot wait :-)

So today I am full of cold, dosing myself up with all sorts of tablets and potions and downloading trail games from MSN Gamezone for playing inbetween doing the washing .... well, the washing machine does it, but I have to load it, turn it on and then unload it, but you know what I mean.

College update

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:06:20 GMT

Last night went really well. We had a multiple choice written exam paper and I'm hoping I've got 100% on that (pass mark is 70% I think) and then I completed a full body massage with oil on my friend Heidi and covered the remainder of the indicators I needed for my assessment book. She probably doesn't like the fact that she has varicose veins, but I was well pleased as I needed someone with a medical problem!

All I've got to do know is swot up on general massage bits and pieces for another written exam next Thursday, then complete a full body massage with cream on my sister .... if she doesn't chicken out as she's sounding very nervous about having her first ever massage. If she does, I have a backup in the form of my ex-boss.

So all in all, I'm feeling pretty good about the course with only two weeks to go!

The Lost Room

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 12:18:40 GMT

Last night I sat down and watched the first two episodes of the Lost Room which has just started showing on Sky One - wow. I am hooked immediately. Bit like I was with A Town Called Eureka, can't wait for season 2 of that to show over here in the UK.

Have put a series link reminder on my Sky box to remind me every Wednesday to watch this. It's a brilliant concept and I'm not sure whether the Weasel is a good or a bad guy - I still see him as that creep bloke who stalked Bree in Desperate Housewives!

College tonight - this week, next and the week after and then (fingers crossed) I should have completed my body massage course.

Feeling happier today.....

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 12:12:05 GMT

We had a lovely layer of snow to wake up to this morning, around an inch and lovely squeaky snow, so my daughter was itching to get to school early. This was good because it meant I missed the madness that is people trying to drive in the snow like they do in the dry. *shakes head* But I guess because of the fact we hardly ever have snow, hardly anyone knows how to drive in it.

I was looking forward to getting my wellies out of the boot of my car to go for a walk at lunchtime to see the snow around the river here at work, but the snow's melting :-( Oh well, it was lovely while it lasted.

Maybe we'll get more today or tonight, but I doubt it.

Workplace rant

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 09:59:44 GMT

Please don't read on if you're squeamish ......

Do you ever wonder what people's bathrooms are like in their own homes? I've got to wondering this as I have just returned from our toilets and one of them has let's just say a smear of something not very pleasant on the toilet seat. Do people live like that? Or do they just leave work toilets like that because someone else will come along and clean up after them? It's disgusting and utterly lazy with no care for the poor cleaning lady who has to clean up someone elses shit, that's what it is. *shakes head*

I think I shall use another set - it's a further walk, but at least they tend to be clean and not such cramped cublicles and the extra walk will be extra exercise. So it's a good thing all in all.

Apologies for that rant, but it really pissed me off. :-(

First posting - a kind of introduction, I guess

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:06:41 GMT

Well, I supposed I'd better start using this now I've got it! I however have no idea how to add headers and all the wonderful graphics I see around the other sites. *sigh* Guess that's what happens when time gets away from you.

I'm 35, living in Milton Keynes, UK currently working at the Open University and doing an evening body massage course. This will go with my anatomy and physiology certificate I gained last year. Maybe I'm looking at a change in career direction, who knows. All I know is that it's something I've always wanted to do, so I decided to knuckle down and do it.

I'm a huge fan of Torchwood, Dr Who, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and many other things which I can't think of off the top of my head!

Guess that's it for now. I'm going to try and keep updating - please don't hold your breath though.

Oh, I achieved something today - my ECDL Certification - I've now got an award to show how much I know about computing - still can't update and make my livejournal account look whizzy though! *blush*