Wednesday, February 23, 2011

My Birthday

And what a lovely day it was!  My co-workers decorated my desk and got me prezzies. Di sent me flowers, Matt bought me a yummy cake, Mark and I went out for Thai food and then went to Dolorean in concert.  And afterward I even went and chatted briefly to the lead singer, Al, and got my picture taken with him!






Friday, February 18, 2011

The Library

I have worked at my current office building for 2 years and 21 days. Every morning on my way to work I walk by the Shoe Lane Library and think, “I should go take a look in there at lunch”. And I never have. Well today I finally went in. I had forgotten about how useful a Library can be. In these days of the internet, libraries have slipped off the radar for a lot of people. But I hope they flock back. I always have this unsettled feeling when working on the computer, most specifically my laptop; a feeling like I can’t see the full picture, like something is missing. (It is probably a table!!). Anyways I am heading back to the library, getting a card and taking out some books. I would like to get back to learning without looking at a screen!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Slush Mug!

Jen very thoughtfully sent Mark and I a box of Christmas gifts.  She was on the ball and sent it around 4 December 2010,  But it didn't arrive at my house until 27 January 2011!!   I blame Britian! :)

The coolest thing (heehee) in the box were the 'slush mugs' which can turn pretty much any drink into a slush, due to the glacial core.  You freeze the core (the white part) in the freezer for 6 hours and then it magically makes the drinks go slushy when they are poured in.   Best invention ever!!



Saturday, February 12, 2011

Don't set your hair on fire!

Last night, Friday evening, I had my birthday drinks at a pub by Liverpool Street Station, the Water Poet.  It was very nice and was a good turn out. 

Chris gave me a cake, photo below.


The "Kim Sucks" cake was very thoughtful. Because on Chris's birthday I baked him this:


Mark had me write that on the top with marshmellows.  Chris loves my cakes and says they are the best ones he has ever had, so I am happy to make them for someone who appreciates them so much!!

Last night I also got a birthday card that had a secret, good luck, scratch message on the front, so I was leaning over the table scratching away, and my hair is getting longer (and I straightened it for the occation) and there was a fancy tea-light on the table.  Need I say more?

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Yes - I LIT MY HAIR ON FIRE!!!

While leaning over I suddenly heard a sizzeling in my ear, I instintively moved back, and it's a good thing because by then there was smoke and the whole room smelt like burning hair.  It is a good thing I don't use hair spray or my whole head could have been up in flames!!!  WHEW 

So I suppose there wasn't any fire just a little sizzel.  A small strip of my hair about 3 inches long was chared and clumped and I got Frances to brush it out.  Surprisingly you can't really tell it happened now, but I was worried at the time that it would show that I had a chunk missing!  

Not sure how lucky the card was then!  But after I did finish scratching it to show the message it said the following will give me good luck this year: The number 28, striped socks, the colour orange and squirrels!  The number 28 though!  Oooooo thats how old I am turning! 

The rest of the night I kept getting wafts of burnt har smell.

Anyways I am safe and still have hair.  And thanks to everyone who came out.   

Sunday, February 06, 2011

Super Bowl Sunday

UPDATE POST GAME - WOOT, I was pretty close on my predictiions.  Final score: Packers 31 - Steelers 25.

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Unfortunately I can't watch the Super Bowl live as the festivities kick off at 11pm Sunday evening, but I will be sticking me head in the sand all day Monday at work, as to not find out the score, and watch it Monday evening.

My prediction:

Green Bay Packers:    28
Pittsberg Steelers:       24

I have disliked the Steelers for years, not really sure why, I bet that my dad hates them and it has filtered down from there!

Saturday, February 05, 2011

Who do you think you are?

I am very excited.  I have bought a ticket to the "Who do you think you are National History show." Link below.

http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk/

Basically it is a big Geneology trade show.  I have been researching my family tree for about 2 years now.  I have had some success, but lately I spend a lot of hours not finding pretty much anything.  I am going to have to start digging deeper. Anyways this show should be brilliant.  There is an ask the expert section and lots of learning seminars, 3 of which I am already booked into (Organising your Family tree, Best Geneolgy websites, and Ireland: Finding your realatives born there).  I know that it is a bit of an odd hobby, more usually practised by retirees!   My boss at work teasingly calls me a geek.  I don't mind, I really do enjoy it.

This photo below is my great great great great grandpa, Francis Porter who was born in Ireland around 1820.  He was a reverend in a town called Bready.