livster.net

Updates from pinkie RSS

• pinkie 2:52 pm on 23/12/2009 | 1 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  

  Exciting rail journey this morning!
  Being surprisingly organised this morning I set off for work in the hope of catching the earlier train to work just incase there were any hold ups. I slipped and slid my way to the station in good time, but Lo! the train was running 8 minutes late. Nevermind I thought, 8 mins is not bad considering the conditions. Anyway, 8 mins later my train arrived and I was particularly chuffed (excuse the pun) to get a table seat on which to spread out my paper. The train sped through the glorious frost festooned countryside until…. bang, flash, bump, bump, bump, bump, grind…….halt. We were plunged into darkness (and it was really dark at 7.10am!) Then nothing but silence. Then a very jovial ticket master strode along the train informing passengers (in a tone that was not fitting for the circumstances) that ice water, yes ice water, had got into the electrics! So, there we stayed for over an hour fruitlessly checking our mobiles for reception to call work/loved ones/a chemist (to explain the phenomenon that is ice water). After a while the train driver was able to bunny hop the train 500 yards into the next station. Fully expecting to have to alight the train, I was most pleasantly surprised to find everything had returned to normal in the space of 500 yards and we were now able to continue our journey. Maybe the dreaded ice water had only affected a small portion of track?

  Door to door time: 3 hours.

   

  Reply Click here to cancel reply.

  You must be logged in to post a comment.

• pinkie 1:51 pm on 22/09/2009 | 1 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  

  Poo in a Pot

  In line with the current theme of poor kitchen hygiene; I found this article on the ‘Weird’ pages of the Metro Magazine website:

  “Wife divorces husband for defecating in pots
  Friday, September 18, 2009
  Do not, I repeat do not, open the lid A Nigerian woman has demanded a divorce from her husband who would defecate in the family cooking pots after drinking.
  Oluwakele Ogundele told a court that her husband Oluwafemi was a drunkard who abandoned all toilet etiquette and relieved himself on her plates and pots.

  Ms Ogundele said she no longer loved her husband and he failed to provide for the family as well as increasing the dishes workrate. ”

  Metro
  Website: http://www.metro.co.uk
  Accessed: 22/09/09

  Hmmmm, nice!

   
• pinkie 1:12 pm on 27/05/2009 | 0 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  

  Hello hope everyone is well. How’s the weather in your area of France? The weather forecast said it is going to be sun, sun, sun in Toulouse with a high of 30 on Saturday. It’s dismal here; rain, wind, rain, wind followed by humid overcast afternoons.
  Looking forward to the spare room. Truly DESPERATE to catch up on sleep. Really looking forward to seeing you all and having a much needed relax.

  Liv – I like the colour scheme, however, I can’t see how I publish this now. I think there is a button that says ‘Post it’ underneath this, but only half is showing. Is this part of the new minimalist design?

   
• My vote goes for...

  pinkie 3:04 pm on 07/05/2009 | 0 Permalink
  

  … anything that isn’t silage coloured Joking aside, anything that is easier to add photos to would be a bonus.

   
• Stop...

  pinkie 2:48 pm on 02/04/2009 | 0 Permalink
  

  …I’m going to puke…

   
• Cadbury Advertisements

  pinkie 9:23 pm on 11/03/2009 | 0 Permalink
  

  Anyone else love these advertisements? They cheer me up especially the “eyebrow” one! Also worth checking out Lily Allen and Alan Carr’s version. Sweet like chocolate!

  Eyebrows:

  Gorilla:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBwnKQEJkiM

  Lily Allen and Alan Carr:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWEOHd9JNmk

   
• How thoughtful.....

  pinkie 1:51 pm on 07/08/2008 | 0 Permalink
  

  …. is this the place where you can’t make a cup of tea for yourself and have to shell out £4 to buy one??

   
• Shocking sunbathing attire

  pinkie 7:15 pm on 30/07/2008 | 0 Permalink
  

  My word! What is going on? Does Climping beach ‘gold thong man’ know that he is responsible for starting the latest spray-on pool wear craze…. what will the neighbours say?!

  

   
• Frankfurt

  pinkie 3:05 pm on 03/02/2008 | 0 Permalink
  

  It’s bizarre writing this so many weeks after Christmas, but here I go…
  A few weeks before Christmas Liv and I decided to venture out to a Christmas Market somewhere in Europe. It was decided that we’d try a German Christmas market – and there were many to choose from. Liv became very excited at the thought of trying all the wursts he could lay his hands on, washed down with some rather pungent Gluhwein.
  After a rather stomach churning descent into Frankfurt airport we made our way to our hotel. Much to my horror, this was in close proximity to the city’s most notorious sex show/shop area including Frankfurt’s much loved Dolly Busters…. I wondered why the hotel was so cheap! When we finally arrived at our hotel; which was adorned in everything I was expecting/hoping for (cuckoo clocks etc) we were told that there was a small problem…. the hotel had overbooked! After some deciphering it became apparent that we were required to take a kleine taxi ride to their schwester hotel next to the bahnhof….
  Thirty minutes later – after another tour of the dodgy district we arrived at our replacement hotel, next to the bahnhof, police station and local dodgy dealers. By this time we were tired and hungry and set off looking for the Klosterhof – a traditional restaurant selling traditional food for a fair price. Unfortunately, it proved to be elusive and after a long day travelling we settled for an American bar and ate the most enormous burgers, vowing to eat more traditionally the following days… and indeed we did.
  The next day, after a breakfast of cheese, ham, eggs, nutella and cereal (sometimes all together with lashings of cream) we set off towards the ‘old’ part of Frankfurt. When I say old – I mean 50 to 60 years old as many of the original buildings were destroyed during WW2. However, it was all very charming and definately had the desired Christmas feel. There were many stalls selling beautiful decorations hand crafted from wood and the most amazing toys. There were also many stall selling various meats, nuts and sweets. It was very easy to spend a couple of hours browsing the stalls, but come meal times, very difficult indeed to get a varied diet. Meat, meat or meat. Many restaurants were packed out not only with tourists, but locals having their Christmas work parties.
  The sky scrapers were really interesting to photograph, but you had to be careful to look out for the trams whilst walking around looking at the skyline! I really enjoyed the car boot sale Saturday morning next to the river – there were some funny things. What’s one mans junk is another man’s treasure…. anyone for an old shoe, just the one, it’s half the price… what a bargain!

  Anyway…. who says I don’t blog???

  
  on a bridge

  
  ein großes Bier…

  
  skyscrapers… so shiny

  
  schmeckt

  
  glückliches Weihnachten

   
• Oh Canada!

  pinkie 5:20 pm on 18/04/2006 | 0 Permalink
  

  Hey there people, I’m back from Canada after spending an interesting Easter in Nova Scotia. One of the highlights was a crazily bumpy tractor ride into the sugar maple tree forest in search of a sugar shack. We bounced our way into the forest which appeared to be bound up in a maze of blue tubing (which we later found out was the latest way of gathering maple syrup). However, the local bears are fond of the latest technological trend and have started to bite through the tubing to suck the sweet syrup out – a sort of sugary popsicle in the winter months. Having been transported miles into the forest by the sugar collectors, one felt obliged to buy some maple syrup.

  I also saw loads of Ice Hockey, which is a fantastic and sometimes quite brutal sport. At the Atlantic Finals, Gran spent most of her time wincing everytime players skated and crashed into the barrier, whereas I cheered and swigged back the Root Beer with the rest of ‘em! Bring it on! Ohhh what a feeling! What a rush! Boom, boom, boom. The music was rocking too.

  Also ate too many pancakes, Crackerjacks, Mr Big’s and Oh Henry! bars.

  School starts again soon, so it is time to focus on planning and job applications. I’ve bought all the special 120gm Laid brilliant white paper as you do, so let us hope it gives me the edge!

  Cheerio for now!

   
• Not sure what you meant...

  pinkie 6:13 pm on 28/02/2006 | 0 Permalink
  

  I’m afraid I missed the humour in your last post Slightly.  The mild allusion that I may be cretinous was not missed.  However, I will forgive and forget on the assumption you were overcome with the heat!  Hope you are enjoying your travels and I look forward to hearing more of your adventures.

   
• Too close for comfort?

  pinkie 11:14 pm on 07/02/2006 | 0 Permalink
  

  

  After travelling for three weeks over half of Canada, I did not see one moose before I returned home.  Luckily for Mum, the day after I left, she was able to see a few very close too whilst resting in the August sun.

   
• On account of being told...

  pinkie 6:55 pm on 16/01/2006 | 0 Permalink
  

  … that I can’t have my name put on the main page due to insufficient blog entries, it has become my New Year’s resolution (one of many) to blog once a week. Seeing that we have already begun the 3rd week of January, I have already failed. “Dude, no!” as one of our best loved characters would say from the series which will remain nameless. What exactly is happening on the island? Why has no one found them yet? Why? Why? Why? There are many theories, but I reckon it’s all in the numbers…

   
• Change of plan...

  pinkie 12:48 pm on 10/11/2005 | 0 Permalink
  

  It seems that through a combination of problems I shall not be returning to the Isle of Wight, instead I shall be on a break until January when I will rejoin the programme. Although unanticipated, this break has set me up nicely for the joys of Christmas retail temping. Tis the season to be…moaning, queuing, spending. I firmly refuse to be on the queing side of the counter this year and instead have planned to craft all my gifts by hand (so please ensure all stockings are stong enough for painted beach pebbles!).

   
• Only 6 weeks of block experience left...

  pinkie 11:40 am on 06/11/2005 | 0 Permalink
  

  It has been an eventful week. I have completed my first week of full time block experience working in schools. The journey to get there is getting no easier, especially the ferry crossing bit. I’m sure whenever Neptune hears I’m about to cross the Solent he ensures there is a good amount of stomach churning swell!
  The good thing is that the experience seems to be going fairly quickly – Mainland placement roll on please.
  Well I better go. Folks around for lunch so I better tend to the market bought, efficiently killed (i hope) chicken.

   
• Greetings fellow bloggers!

  pinkie 12:42 pm on 22/10/2005 | 0 Permalink
  

  Yippeeeee! It is half term and I only have 24 lessons, 6 grammar sheets and a bundle of starter activities to prepare.
  I’m buying my new lap-top today, which is very exciting! Tomorrow I’m going to watch a Scottish Folk music band – a varied weekend to say the least.
  Well that’s about all my news for now. I’ll keep you all posted about the delights of the Scottish Folk band.

   
• Thorpe Park! Count me in!

  pinkie 6:38 pm on 09/10/2005 | 0 Permalink
  

  Woo hoo! I love theme parks and topsy turvy rides. I remember (vaguely) being on a roller coaster in America and staying on it constantly for 8 rides; but then I started to black out on the loop-the-loop bit and thought it would be best to disembark. No serious damage done I think… no serious damage done I think… no serious damage done I think. Show me the blueprints!
  Anyhow, Teacher Training rules ok! It certainly keeps me busy with paperwork! Infact I better do some.

   
• Well I'm halfway through...

  pinkie 4:38 pm on 14/09/2005 | 0 Permalink
  

  … my first week of PGCE training and there is SO much to do that I’m going to have to consolidate all the little bits of paper into one list so I don’t forget to do anything vital. Apart from hideous amounts of paperwork the main hardship I am encountering is trying not to throw up. I have managed to catch the infamous stomach trouble, experienced by so many of my fellow bloggers. I’d like to thank them all for their generosity, for this bug is truly humbling and I am eternally (or should I say internally?) grateful… not.
  On a lighter note, I am pleased to say that I have managed to secure a good state school for my placement, even though it means leaving home for a while and travelling across waters to the beautiful Isle of Wight. The last time I was there I was about 6 and had a super time, so I hope I still feel same about the place when I return to the mainland mid December.
  This year is going to be tough, but I’m sure it will be worth it in the end. I’ll keep you all posted!

   
• Greetings!

  pinkie 1:19 pm on 28/08/2005 | 0 Permalink
  

  I’m back from Canada – well, I’ve actually been back for a couple of weeks now but haven’t got round to putting an entry on blog… not because I haven’t wanted to, but I’ve been snowed under with study er… episodes of Scrubs. In all seriousness I better get down to some study asap.
  Anyway, interesting anecdotes from Canada… where shall I begin? Oh yes, Chipmunks and Red Squirrel rivalry. It so happens that these two groups of fluffy rodents dislike each other intently and like nothing more than to stage their beady eyed attacks on each other in the porchway of unsuspecting camper’s tents. They also have a canny knack of lining their sweet little botties over one’s sandals and relieving themselves.
  No moose spotted even though there are allegedly 120,000 moose on Newfoundland alone and unfortunately no bears. However, I did managed to find a Canadian outdoors store which sold Bear Bells WITH magnetic silencers – presents for everyone- just incase one encounters a bear whilst doing recycling in the village.
  Once out of the wilderness we did spend a night in luxury accommodation… the student halls of residence at the University of Halifax. Very nice too, cleans towels, a bed and the best night’s sleep in 10 days. It also gave us a chance to stay and enjoy the annual Buskers Festival on the Harbour where we met and listened to a number of mega awesome musicians. Good fun overall.
  Lots of other things happened too, but I can’t think of them at the moment – oh well, I’ll save them for future installments on Blog!
  Perhaps I should also mention Decoy’s stunning bowling performance, but maybe I shouldn’t steal his thunder!
  Well, it is back to the grindstone for me now. I’m planning on being very organised next term and have made sure I have filled my academic diary with all the important dates for the next few months… Freshers Week Toga Party etc. Let’s hope I can maintain this organisation – I’ve heard that it is integral to teaching!

   
• Only 20 working days til...

  pinkie 4:11 pm on 21/06/2005 | 0 Permalink
  

  … I finish work and take a break before starting my PGCE. I’ve already started writing lists in preparation for my trip to Newfoundland. So far this includes my new trusty thermal mug and boot bells for scaring away the bears in a humane and entertaining fashion (a sort of Moris woman meets Haka type dance). It’s going to be very remote so I feel there is much background reading to be done in regards to survival techniques as my years as a Pixie in the Brownies were largely spent painting pebbles for paperweights. Good fun, but not particularly useful for fending off bears without creative vision.