KidKate

IOU

I was going to do a NaBloPoMo recap today and talk about what worked and what didn't (and why and blah blah blah) but I just got a message from Yan saying he's waiting at home with Indian food (yes, I am at the Internet cafe), so screw it, I'm off.

And also, WAAAAAAA-HOOOOOOOOOO! I MADE IT! I REALLY MADE IT!

Tell me if I won anything, will ya?

Going all pear-shaped

Well, not quite, but an account person at work said that to me the other day, and I liked the sound of it so there you go. And if you count that it's nearly 10 pm and I'm just getting home (er, to the Internet cafe) from work, well, then I guess that counts as going pear-shaped. Not perfect.

Of course, this does mean I have a fighting chance of getting home after Yan, which will be a rare treat. He was going to head straight home after his TV spot tonight, but when he found out I was working late, he giddily exclaimed that he was going to do the same. But I called him just before I left and gave him fair warning, so here's hoping the man knows what's good for him and will greet his wife at the door with ... well, with a smile.

Three. More. Days.

Can I make it? I think I can. Though I am working late this week and have to get home to receive my husband who is returning from Zurich. So, I leave you with this little Britishism, courtesy of my co-worker:

Back, crack and sack: In a word, manscaping.

Punch Drunk

Am back at the Internet cafe. Had planned to try to surreptitiously post from work but since my computer is in a veritable fish bowl with people coming up behind me all day, that just isn't possible. I'm not sure I would normally be quite this committed, but we've only got three days of this NaBloPoMo business left after today, and then I'm due for a long, long break. Well, at least until I get Internet access.

So! The Ikea trip! Was a success! The landlord left behind an ugly black couch and matching chair and so I went to Ikea in search of slipcovers, and I'm happy to report that I came back with two. Two! That fit! Turns out that--here's the really weird part--the landlord's black leather couch was just a black leather slip cover (ew) over a standard cheap Ikea couch. So it's now got a navy slipcover for everyday use and an ivory one for when we have guests. Which will hopefully be in the next five years, because have I mentioned we know no one in London?

I got some other sundry items as well, of course focusing all my attention on minutia like wall clocks and throw pillows and ignoring the fact that we have no television (and thus no Internet access) and no bed. But those were small things I could do to make the place feel more like home without making any major financial decisions, and so I consider it a success.

Anyway, good-night. Same time, same place tomorrow.

Moving sucks

The casualties: One sofa bed (too big to fit through the door), one credenza (damaged beyond repair), one dream of an office/lounge area (the landlord left a bed behind which takes up the ENTIRE spare room). But yeah, we have a spare room, so I can't really complain. And one of the movers took the couch off our hands, which was SO MUCH better than watching helplessly as the London sky pissed down on it. So, all told, we're in pretty good shape.

Except we don't have Internet access (I'm at a cafe), a television, or any real phone service (I could call for help in an emergency but that's about it). And Yan's out of town, which is depressing.

So I'm off to Ikea to get a few things and make myself feel better. Wish me well.

Back tomorrow, with any luck.

Mom and me

This was meant to be a Love Thursday entry but with Thanksgiving, well, that just didn't happen. In any case, I love this picture of my mom and me from our wedding last year. I was originally going to tell the photographer, a friend, that we didn't want any posed pictures, but this series in the garden of the inn where we were staying actually came out pretty well. She was able to tell us to look at each other and smile and we were able to do it and mean it. I love how happy we look here. 

Home Sweet Home, and a Hitch

We are moving into our new flat tomorrow (yay!) but I've realized that there's a hitch: We won't have Internet access set up for a few days. Actually, it's a pretty depressing picture, as Yan is leaving for Zurich on Sunday morning, and I'll be left with a house full of boxes as well as no Internet, no television, no stereo, and no telephone (got my mobile in case of emergencies but having no bank account, I had to get one of those pay-as-you-go deals, which basically costs the equivalent of your left leg for every minute you dare to talk). Things we maybe should have thought of before we moved in. Am looking to remedy at least some of those things today.

So, the no Internet access means I may not be able to post over the weekend. Of course, you don't make it 24 days into NaBloPoMo and then not post, so I'm going to have to think of something.

Thanksgiving Abroad

Left to right: Brie with cranberry, Shiraz, turkey with cranberry, and two individual servings of  bramley apple pie from Marks & Sparks.

We both worked late, then came home to our cold sandwiches. Even though Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday (especially since I am a "pescetarian," hence the brie and cranberry), I sort of missed it this year. Still, I'm thankful that we got to spend it together.

And also that I am still in the NaBloPoMo game, for whatever's that worth.

Three more

Muppet=idiot.

Windy bubbles=you guessed it.

And my favorite, lurgies, meaning cooties.

.

And now back to my regularly scheduled dry spell.

Things I've Learned

Coriander=cilantro.

Horsey=of the high class.

Have a butcher's=have a look.

Hoodie=like a hoodlum, but different.

Drop someone in it=screw 'em.

To blow somebody/something off (primarily American)=Blank stare followed by look of consternation. Usage not recommended in the UK.

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Forgive me if you knew these. Just remember that Texas is a long way from England.