ganching

What I Did Today

Cushion
Originally uploaded by ganchingabz

What a day. Woke up at 6.30, got up, had breakfast, put on washing, read proposal, made Christmas cake, read some more proposals, took Christmas cake out of oven, hung up washing, left for work mid morning, read some more proposals on train, arrived in work, talked to stranger in Manchester who appeared to have no friends otherwise why did he keep me on the phone for 10 minutes telling me his consultant appointment philosophy, ate sandwich at desk, went to pointless meeting, made phonecalls, went to another pointless meeting, left office to go to meeting in central London, talked to a man called Mr Tosser, found him extremely annoying, left meeting, got on tube, changed at Kings x, got on train, spoke to Traybake on phone while on train, got home, put on washing, sent some work emails, went to neighbourhood restaurant for dinner with TB, came home, checked ebay item I have for sale, failed to sell eBay item, hung up washing, watched Newsnight and worried about neglecting to post anything on this blog.

On Political Correctness

I am always surprised when perfectly ordinary, decent people say things like:

"Oh, I really hate political correctness."

(These people should not be confused with the others (Daily Mail readers and the like) who say stuff like: "It's political correctness gone mad! No nanny state is going to tell me that I can't give my two-year old a packet of razor blades to play with!"

Or worse still those others (Jeremy Clarkson types) who think being anti-racist is evidence of spinelessness.)

I'm talking about ordinary, decent people who wouldn't dream of saying, "oh yes, I'm a great believer in sending people back to where they came from" or "sectarianism - there's a lot to be said for it." 

The truth is that about 95% of  what is deemed "political correctness" is in fact just good manners.  Most people, especially those who say things like, 'I tell it how it is', or 'what you see is what you get' are themselves not especially blessed with self-awareness. Life is hard enough without having to contend with the thick and the thick-skinned telling us how it is or gratuitously insulting everyone who they consider to be other.

End of lecture.  Tomorrow, are TB and SF actually German?

Where Did The Weekend Go?

Anish Kapoor Royal Academy
Originally uploaded by ganchingabz

When did weekends start getting so short? This one has passed in a blur.

Yesterday due to extreme exhaustion, I achieved very little. Today was more successful as I managed to do the majority of my Chrismas shopping in record time.

I decided not to do my shopping in South London as did not think that 4 packets of chops for a fiver and a selection of studded leather accessories suitable for pit bull terriers would go down very well with the discerning members of my family. Instead, rather rashly I decided to go to Oxford Street which wasn't that busy due to the weather event we are experiencing otherwise known as November.

I went to Marks and Spencers where I bought nothing, Uniqlo where I bought three things, John Lewis where I filled a carrier bag and finally to Paul Smith where several items were purchased some of which I will be giving to other people.

Last night I went to see The White Ribbon at the the BFI with Soda Farl and my friend Ganchin. It was very, very good especially if you like movies in black and white and with subtitles. If you are keen on special effects and popcorn you might not like it very much.

On the way to the cinema on the train I overheard two women speaking French. I mentioned to SF how I love listening to French being spoken even if I don't understand much of what is being said, when he reminded me that it is now treason for an Irish person to speak in favour of anything relating to France. SF suggested that what the women were probably saying:

"Look at zee stupid Irrrish peeple. Hahaha ze dumb potato 'eads - we 'ave stolen zere place in ze World Cup."

(SF is not very pc.)

I have to go and put the kettle on now.

test

This a little test to see if this works. How very exciting - I have just worked out how to email posts directly to my blog.  Sadly, as I have nothing to say, this seems something of a waste of time. 

I am being challenged by new technology.  I have had to buy a new (cheap) phone to replace the nasty chav phone that I bought a few months ago and which has now stopped working.  I still mourn my original Nokia that was a faithful friend for almost 8 years. Unfortunately I have lost all of my telephone numbers so will have to painstakingly add them all in again. 

I went to see the Anish Kapoor exhibition at the Royal Academy this morning.  It was a jolly, organised by some lawyers.  I had to get there for 8 am and we were taken round by the curator who was excellent.  I really enjoyed the exhibition and would recommend it although do not recommend listening to works of art being compared to female genitalia while standing next to stuffy men in pinstriped suits who you know only in a work context.

Where Are All The Hot Guys?

Where Are All The Hot Guys?
Originally uploaded by ganchingabz

It is remarkably stormy in London this morning - wind, rain and thunder and lightening. Almost all the leaves have been stripped off the trees. It is quite enjoyable being in bed listening to the wind whistling down the chimney and looking at the tops of the trees swaying.

Unfortunately I have to get up and go to my weekend course at City Lit. It seemed such a good idea when I booked it last July.

I have done nothing this week but work. I rarely get home before 8.30 and I am feeling decidedly sorry for myself. I almost never get to work at home any more which I really, really miss. The dishes pile up, the ironing heap is so so precariously high that it threatens topple over and the garden is a wilderness.

Last weekend I went to visit the GYS at her University. It is a rather frightening thought that these are the guys who the average 21 year old female undergraduate finds attractive. I reckon the average age of the hot guys must be 43 (although this must be rather cheering if you happen to be a middle-aged man!).

The weather has got decidedly worst in the last 15 minutes. Am now worried trains may be cancelled. Shit.

Old Bleach Tea Towel

Old Bleach Tea Towel
Originally uploaded by ganchingabz

One is still immersed in the world of the Mitfords. The Surly Niece is still here. She has been rather marvellous when it comes to dishes but less marvellous when it comes to giving unwanted advice viz the need for one to throw out a quarter of contents of kitchen and half of wardrobe.
Remain unspeakably busy at work and have received a number of foul emails. People so unnecessarily rude! One sometimes wishes one still had access to a horsewhip. Yesterday finished work at noon and then went to Tate Modern to meet SN to see large Black Box (apparently actually called This Is It. One thought it was rather interesting as comment on Holocaust and reflection of total bleakness and futility of existence in general. We had a spot of luncheon and then one rather hoped to visit Portobello market before all the stalls were packed up but SN was keen on seeing Pop Art exhibition on the basis that she might as well take advantage of my membership card (reminds one of how a certain friend of one's is always issuing invites  "Would you and your membership card - gets two people in for free - like to accompany me to look at at an exhibition at the Tate?"). The Pop Art exhibition very ghoulish. Rather unpleasant experience looking at larger than life sculptures and photographs by Jeff Koons. Must say one cannot recommend viewing pornography in the company of much younger members of one's family. Had a slight disagreement with TB earlier in the week re lateness of hour to telephone and non-invitation to tea.
Worried that we might end up on non-speakers. Of course we didn't. Do admit he can be maddening at times.
I die for a week away from work ,preferably spent in a delightful hotel somewhere warm, or even a few days at home having massive clear out and finding things to sell on eBay which is latest obsession.
Today we are off to the Midlands (rather dull place somewhere north of London) to visit the GYS at her University. One is rather looking forward to it.

Found Conversations#1

The Surly Niece is staying with me and I have to say she is much improved.  We have only had a few rows and so far she has not helped herself to any of my clothes while simultaneously telling me how appalling my dress sense is, as she normally does.  She is quite the Domestic Goddess and has been cooking like a demon - chicken casserole, fish pie, brownies - the kind of comforting food that men who wear cardigans like.

I have long been interested in the Mitfords since reading Hons and Rebels when I was a student.  Anyone brought up with an excess of sisters like this person for example can find something to relate to in their lives - not necessarily their tolerance of Fascist leaders or casual racism - but their writing, wit, competitiveness and loyalty to one another.

I have been reading the Mitford Sisters' Letters and have been boring Traybake by talking about them incessantly.  I have invented a new game where you name a famous 20C person and then work out how they are connected to the Mitfords.  So, for example, to start with an easy one, Hitler -  Unity had the hots for him.  Churchill - a relation.  President Kennedy - his sister was married to Debo's brother-in-law. Henry Richardson, who wrote Tarka the Otter, was a supporter of Mosley who was married to Diana.  See very easy.  

I had an aunt, in fact still do, who when she was young lived in New York.  Years later whenever she talked about her time there she would slip into speaking Noo Yoik. Two weeks spent in Wales visiting her sister and she would come home lilting like she was raised in the Valleys.  Reading certain books has the same effect on me and I fear may at any time slip into Mitfordese.  I will need to guard against this.

This is a first in a series on found conversations.

Young man on the DLR train empathising with his friend by mobile telephone:

"Bro he taking the piss.........for real he's having a laugh..........no way...,...'kin hell..........bro you is being made love to you in your posterior!"*

*Some words have been changed for the sake of decency

Ask The Internet

I need advice from all you people under 30 who understand the internet - if you are over 30 that's fine as well.

If you google Midwinter pottery images or just google Midwinter pottery, the first image you see is this.

It's on a site called designandculture which is a blog hosted by Wordpress. The blog provides no details of the authors or an email address or any other information.  I don't mind people using my images but I do mind if they do it without linking back to me.  So what do I do?

In other news Traybake and Soda Farl have gone away for a cosy weekend in Istanbul without asking me.  They are so eccentric and rude that it is a relief to have the house to myself for a few days.  I also fear that they are reverting to type.  The other day I was crossing the bridge at the railway station when I spotted them both leaning on a railing on the platform.  It struck how much they looked like a couple of farmers at a stock market assessing the breeding qualities of a heifer.  In fact they were on their way to see a film at the South Bank - again without inviting me. The London Film Festival is on.  Yesterday I went with a friend to see Chloe.  I failed to convince my friend that all men from Co. Antrim look just like Liam Neeson. The film was diverting enough but ultimately flawed. Half way through I remembered that Liam Neeson's wife had died during the making of it and then I felt guilty for not thinking it was better than it was.

This afternoon I'm going to see something else but I have forgotten what.

Martha and Martha

Martha and Martha
Originally uploaded by ZMB

The youngest and oldest members of my family.

Losing The Head

Headless Saint
Originally uploaded by ganchingabz

You know you are too busy at work if either of the following things happen to you:

A) you are walking towards your office when in the distance you see someone who you think you know. This is a person who you are very fond of and who you haven't seen for ages. As they come closer you realise the person isn't who you think they are and you feel relieved.

B) you receive news that someone in your team is seriously ill. Instead of feeling concerned about them and hoping that they soon recover you fervently hope that they don't get any worse because it would be a real feckin pain in the arse if you had to replace them.

Life could be better.