BristolMusings

RUBBISH

2009-03-09T16:23:00.000Z

I have just spent 55 minutes in a queue in the Baldwin Street post office!!!! They had one guy behind the counter and the queue was almost out of the shop. All this to fork out £5.05 to send my beloved but broken watch back to Fossil - the hands have fallen off and it's only 6 months' old. Days like today make me wonder why I gave up chocolate for lent..........

Saturday Football friends

2009-03-09T11:02:00.002Z

On Saturday I ventured to the 'big' Sainsburys - I like a bit of variety from time to time! On my way up Gloucester Road the traffic became substantially heavier as I neared the Memorial Stadium. My heart sank as it wasn't a rugby day and thus could only mean football supporters and hordes of Police - I wasn't mistaken.

The pubs all had notices banning away supporters and there was a huge police presence- they were in full riot gear and in riot vans, even the horses looked tense!!! This was at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon in a residential area.

It this point I guess that I ought to confess that I am not a football fan in any shape or form. The players are (usually) overpaid numbnuts who spend their free time drinking and sleeping with equally vacuous women. The supporters all appear to be thoroughly angry about something all of the time - maybe the price of replica kits and Umbro shower proof jackets?

I watch rugby, I like rugby and I like the fact that I can go to the Memorial Ground and stand where I want and I don't have to have 1/2 of the Avon and Somerset Police force there. There is occasional bad language, but nothing that can't be overcome with a pasty and pint - yes you can actually drink in the stands!

On my return from the Big Sainsburys, there was lots of activity of the blue light variety and the whole of Gloucester Road was at a standstill. As the traffic rolled at walking pace it became apparent that the delay was caused by about 20 'fans' who were all shouting some form of 'I love football so much it hurts' chant. They were walking up Gloucester road surrounded by (no exaggeration) 30 police officers on foot, 2 police horses, 2 police riot vans, one police range rover, 2 ordinary patrol cars and one massive merc which was driven by a police officer with no neck and very small hands - all that for 20 idiots. Who pays for that? Does the club? Or is this something I pay for through my council tax? It's absolutely rubbish....

Simply AARRGG!!!

2009-02-26T10:13:00.004Z

I am returning to a former gripe in this post. I have simply had enough of battling every day on my way to and from work through the whole Stokes Croft area. The area is just getting worse.

A couple of the vacant shops are now being used for art exhibitions which is great and it is lovely to see the old shop fronts come back to life. However this area is not going to attract new visitors in the state that it's in.

The rubbish/vomit/spit/human poo and dog poo situation is worse than ever. The pinnacle of which was a small (empty) bottle of vodka dumped in the middle of a pile of dog poo - if only I had my camera. I suppose one could argue that it's artistic................

Last night I popped in to Cabot Circus last night to get some new earrings - inspired by Make do Style. I have a date with Russell Brand tonight and felt that I needed some new jewels, more of that later. I then walked back home. It wasn't late, it wasn't that dark and IT WAS A WEDNESDAY.

I was first approached by a homeless guy who's been in Bristol for a couple of years and has visibly deteriorated. He wanted money and when I apologised and said no I was greeted with the fact that I wasn't sorry and I could f*ck off - which is nice. Next there were two homeless guys who are always on Stokes Croft, they we so pissed or what ever else they couldn't actully push a bike between them and were doing some sort of crab movement up the street whilst trying to push the bike!

Next a guy came running towards me and asked for 39p so that he had the £1.50 he needed for a drink. Again I said no and he insisted that I could afford to give me the money and why wouldn't I. This time I'm afraid I was the one who uttered f*ck off.

I do understand that these people are in need of help and support, but I can't help thinking that at some point we all have a choice. I know I have been very lucky with my upbringing and have had opportunities which some people don't have, but why does this mean that I can be hassled on my way to and from work for money. It's intimidating and completely uneccesary.

Another rant off my chest.....and my earrings are lovely and I am very excited about this evening!

Hurrah!

2009-02-16T10:41:00.002Z

I still can't really believe it, but we won the Bristol One Act Drama Festival with Gillian Plowman's Cecily - well it would be fairer to say that we wiped the board. B won the adjudicators' special prize for her directing, E wone the prize for her AMAZING set, E and W jointly won the best zctress prize and we won the best play, so we're off for the regional final in Weston in April - all very bemusing!

Today really feels like the Spring, it's mild, it was light when I made breakfast - I am just hoping that people start to get out and spend some money - hopefully on offices.....

Another week down

2009-02-13T12:58:00.010Z

I cannot believe that it's been over a week since my last blog, where's the time going?

It's been a very hectic week. I struggled through the snow/slush/ice for the play on both Friday and Saturday. I was thoroughly disappointed with my performance on Friday. I had stage fright, brain freeze and I seriously would have struggled to remember both my name and address. The performance on Saturday was amazing and I had a real buzz coming off stage - or possibly that was the 1/2 bottle of fizz I'd consumed before going on stage!

It's the competetion in Saturday at Filton College and I have to say that I'm looking forward to getting my life back on Sunday, it's been a huge committment. I have to say that it's becoming clear that I'm not taking the competetion quite as seriously as I should be. I joined Am Dram for an enjoyable hobby, but it's all a bit serious........ I know I'll feel differently about it if we win - I'll let you know.

I was able to have a couple of days down in Cornwall with N, M and N. We stayed just outside of Padstow in Trevone. The weather on Monday was appalling, the rain was so heavy that the pockets of my coat filled with water - always nice when they're full of old tissues and receipts.

On Tuesday we headed to Watergate Bay, one of my favourite places in the entire world. The weather was amazing, blue skies, cold and there was rolling sea mist. I then took the gang to Lewinnick Lodge. The most incredible restaurant in Pentire. Great food, great service and amazing views - make sure you visit during the day.

I got back to Bristol in time for yet another rehearsal (just) - it all seemed a bit flat after the weekend.

I attended a celebration of Chinese New Year on Wednesday night. It was hosted at the Zen restaurant in the harbourside. A fantastic meal with great company, there were several speeches about trade with China and the fact that the year of the Ox may just be what the world needs.

Work is all rather gloomy at the moment, people don't seem to be making any decisions and are running to simply stand still. There are a lot of people losing their jobs, which is a nightmare. I lost my job a couple of years ago and once I'd got over the awful shock and panic it all worked out for the best. I just hope that the spring will bring a few more happy days.

Competition tomorrow which saves me from the fact that you can't get a table anywhere other than McDonalds and that will probably be full of doe eyed couples. Having said that I received a single red rose this morning - I have no idea who it's from. MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN!!!!

Apparently if you have a meal at Cadbury County Club on Saturday and propose - you'll get a FREE glass of champagne and they'll give you a discount on your wedding - What a treat! I really can't think of a better reason to get married!

And then the snow turned up....

2009-02-05T11:32:00.004Z

They forecasted snow and when I left the gym yesterday there was absolutely no sign, so I thought we'd be disappointed again, I was woken at 4am and there it was! The walk to work was pretty interesting although most schools are shut and even the buses weren't running this morning. It's all a bit puzzling really, it's not that much snow.

I then remembered that I have spent quite a lot of time driving in snow when I'm with T and I'm quite used to it. It's amazing the people that don't have the right footwear and then wonder why they slip slide everywhere. T was on Inside Out West last night, a fantastic report following his quest to get to the paralympics next year....

I love how attractive everything looks when it's been covered with snow, unfortunately it doesn't last too long here and it all gets a bit slushy and grey.

First night tomorrow night and I am very, very nervous....... There are too many people to let down if it all goes wrong....I am hoping that automatic pilot kicks in. We have the full dress rehearsal tonight arrrggg

Brrrrr...............

2009-02-02T12:50:00.006Z

Brrr...... It's hugely cold today, although in Bristol it's no where near as bad as London and central England. We have heavy snow forecast for tonight, which will make the commute into work interesting - I should say my walk in. The pavements have been a nightmare all winter, so increased ice and snow will make things even worse!

It always fascinates me that the country grinds to a halt when we have snow - I guess we're just not geared up for it!

The cold/virus/rubbish seems to be better, just the attractive prospect of peeling nose and lips to contend with - very sexy!

The play is going swimmingly, so first proper night is Friday, so fingers' crossed!

Bristol weather facts - the worst snow in recent years was 1982 when Bristol had snow drifts of over 1 metre - goodness!

The virus strikes back

2009-01-30T15:07:00.006Z

Damn the cold virus has me again. I literally had not been poorly for ages and ages, I then had an awful virus/cough/sore throat thing just before Christmas and now I have another - what's that all about? Totally rubbish.

The drinking ban is nearly at an end and it's been a strange month. I don't drink lots, but it's been weird not being able to have a beer when I want to. I am considering giving up both alcohol and chocolate for lent and being told that I am 3 stone overweight by the sinewy lady at the gym has once again focussed my mind. 3 stone!?!?!? - crikey..

The rehearsal did not go well last night, but a face full of cold didn't really help - time to aim for Sunday and a full on rehearsal......Poor A will have to listen to my lines AGAIN! No sign of J the lights I hope that I've not upset him, he's really too nice.

Hoping to visit Cosmo tonight with J, it's recently opened and always packed. I'll obviously be eating salad and possibly treating myself to a sparkly water!

As it's nearly time to be thinking of nice spring type activities I've decided to find out facts about some of the rather nice places to visit. Today Bristol Zoo Gardens, which I love. The zoo was founded in 1835 and opened to the public in 1836. This makes it the world's 5th eldest zoo - I'm not sure that animal welfare would have been top of the agenda at that stage!

Perspective

2009-01-28T11:50:00.004Z

Just when you find yourself feeling gloomy about the world, the economy, redundancy, dog poo, whatever something happens which brings everything into sharp focus and literally makes you look at the world and your place in it somewhat differently.

I value my friends and family above all other (with the cats running a pretty close 2nd). One of my dear friends, T lost his brother over Christmas. P took his own life. This is very hard to come to terms with. P was young, gorgeous, successful and highly loved. Life had simply become impossible for him and the future non existent. I went to his memorial service on Monday and felt very honoured to be among people who clearly loved him intensely and who were all struggling to come to terms with his decision.

Events like this put everything in sharp focus and gumbles because of the weather, no money, dark mornings and too many rehearsals simply become obsolete.

I bought a pair of shoes yesterday thus breaking my resolution in the buying department, but they are lovely, shiny and make me very happy. So B*gger off grey mornings, no money, dog poo, Voldermort and his shitness. My shiny shoes and I are gearing up to end the alcohol ban on 1st February

Stokes Croft

2009-01-21T16:35:00.006Z

Two posts in one day? I just felt that I had to get something off my chest.

I love this city, I love living in this city, the mix of people, buildings and culture is great. I love the community where I live, but there is something that is really getting me down and that's the state of Stokes Croft. This area must once have been a bit grand, there are some lovely buildings and it is one of the 'gateways' to the city centre. Stokes Croft is an area to be celebrated. There are currently plans under way from the council for more shops - I am not sure that this what we need. We now have enough down at 'the circus' This could be a great area for art, there are already several exhibitions and I think that we need permanent space for this sort of thing.

I walk through Stokes Croft twice a day and the whole area is simply getting worse. My daily walk is a constant obstacle course, you have to navigate round the piles of dog poo, human poo, spit and vomit - what is it with spitting?? I've always thought that athletes could (just about) get away with it, but everyone seems to do it - it's bloody disgusting and dirty.

Then, of course, there are the 'massage parlours' does anyone seriously think that anyone goes there for a massage? Why don't they call them brothels?

There are some great some businesses there such as Cafe Kino, Kuvuku and Sofa Riot. The whole area just needs a clean up and by that I mean removing poo, vomit, fag butts and spit!

rant over.....

Seems like ages....

2009-01-21T12:01:00.009Z

I haven't blogged in what seems like ages - I am trying to keep up with my new year's resolutions with rather mixed success.

Swearing - still swearing far too much, but at least I am more aware that I am actually doing it! Crikey just doesn't have the same ring to it!

Gym - I have joined BS7 a great, inexpensive gym. I had my CV induction on Saturday and I have to say that is was the best I've ever had. The instructor actually listened to me and designed a programme which should certainly challenge me over the next few weeks. Unfortunately the gym has required a new sports tops - literally all my Ts are on their last legs and quite frankly make me look like the back end of a bus - I don't need that sort of help.

The visits to the gym are being somewhat curtailed by the huge amount of rehearsals for the One Act festival. I am enjoying it hugely, but I find it really hard to think that I am actually acting and that people including a very scary judge will be passing comment on my performance.

J the lights still seems very keen and despite a great meal last week I still don't feel 'it'. It's the age old problem of the ones that you fancy, don't fancy you and vise versa - bugger - I mean crikey!

Still managing to stay away from Voldermort, but now have an unhealthy urge to punch him instead.

I am still immersed in the warm light that came from Washington yesterday, such an amazing day and I sincerely hope that this is the good news that we all seem to have been waiting for. It feels so good to have a change. Perhaps, just perhaps it will ripple down.....

Bristol had the most amazing storm over the weekend, the power of the wind managed to blow my shed across the garden - this was the shed that I built and I am insanely proud of. It also managed to blow a tile from the roof luckily as I have the basement flat it'll take a while to affect me! I thought I'd try and find some Bristol weather related facts.....

The wettest year since 1970 was 2000. Over the last 1 hundred years Bristol's average temperature has risen a whole 2 degrees C. This is due to milder winters as opposed to hot summer - except this winter which has been jolly parky and slippy

End of the first full week

2009-01-09T11:55:00.006Z

I am amazed that it is already the end of the first full week and I am very pleased that there's a weekend to come. I am fully intending to stick to the resolution of no alcohol in January when I'm out tonight, but I can feel my resolve slipping....

Weekend of activity planned, a run tomorrow morning and if I survive that J and I are off to join the gym - having got on the scales this morning I have decided that I will bury them in the back garden - there's simply no other option.

One of clients has gone into insolvency this morning, it's the first time in my working life that a client has gone bust and I seem to be taking it rather personally- it also meant that I had to eat a cake - whoops! I'm not sure if it's 'the crunch' or their business model - kinda hoping it's the latter.

J 'the lights' continue with the freaky behaviour, he now follows about 3 paces behind me and has arranged an itinery for Wednesday night - if I don't break tonight I think that alcohol will be a major factor on Wednesday night............ Crikey!

Rehearsal went really, really well last night and I'm now looking forward to the play - up until last night I was really aware that I may well be letting people down, particularly B.

Bristol fact for today. According to 2001 figures, Bristol has a population of 416,400 with 25,600 full time students - no wonder this city is completely different place over the summer!Blinking students........

Resolutions

2009-01-08T10:07:00.002Z

As the New year continues I've been doing a lot of thinking about how I'd like this year to shape up and I have made a few more decisions.

Poor J is being dragged to the gym with me on Saturday, we have an appointment for a tour and I will be joining and doing classes. The gym is within walking/cycling distance of the flat, so I really have no excuses. N and I are also entering a bi-athon in March, so I have plenty to focus on.

Plus the play is only a few weeks away - I seriously need to step up my home work time and get the line's learnt.

One of my very good friend's has stopped swearing and I need to try it - Crikey is the only accepted word!

I am seemingly caught in the spending trap again, so I am going to try not to buy and clothes, shoes or accessories for 3 months, this takes me to the end of March, I'll then review the situation and see how I'm doing. With all the financial doom and gloom I feel I need to do something practical. M and I were discussing News Fatigue on the phone the other day and with no good news, I need to refocus...

Obviously I will be slimmer, richer and have another play under my belt - fingers' crossed!

I found out today that the Plimsoll line, Ribena and Tarmac were all invented in Bristol

New to Blogging

2009-01-06T11:57:00.002Z

As it's the new year I have made the usual resolutions to do lots of things differently, so I thought that I would try my hand at blogging - I thought it would be a good alternative to writing a diary and it allows me to comment on all sorts of things and get things off my chest.

As part of my research I have looked at all sorts of different blogs, just to see what people talk about. Some have been very interesting and others have been rather dull, lists of what exercises have been completed, what was eaten for lunch and what will be eaten tomorrow. I rather feel that I may have set myself up to fail as that is possibly what my blog will become.......

Second full day back at work and it's still cold although the heating in the building is finally warming up, so a little more bearable. Ally has returned from her Christmas break, so everything feels a little more normal. First rehearsal of the the new year tonight and I should have learnt my lines - I have not. The whole Christmas period seemed to zip past sleeping, eating, sleeping, eating and doing the whole circuit again. Cecily certainly needs work.

The other new year's resolutions seem to be going okay so far, but then it is only the 6th.

John 'the lights' is still causing stress as I simply don't want to lead him on any further, but also don't want to hurt him and obviously there is the small matter of 'taking one for the team' - good lighting is simply imperative for the competition. Voldermort has also been in touch, but I am trying very hard to have nothing to do with him, even though it's good.

Low calorie soup and crispbread for lunch - joke....