Hey look - it's just about the end of January!

I'm enjoying having some time off.  After yesterday flying by so quickly, I still can't get my head around the fact that it's Monday tomorrow, and my birthday in just a couple of days, but I'm glad I've got this week off.  It's a nice feeling.  :-)

Today's picture is of a box.  But not just any old box, this is the box my new camera arrived in!  I asked Will to take out the camera while I was away yesterday and hide it.  It's already gift wrapped, but hey - it's nice to feel like it's a surprise.  Leelu's now enjoying this box very much, so it's served a dual function.  Impressive.

I finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire today, not long before my dad arrived.  I'm enjoying reading this series again.  Going back and reading them as an adult (kind of) means I'm picking up a lot more than I did first time round.  I'm seeing more connections and feeling more, if that makes sense.  I understand a lot better the implications of the events, what it truly meant to have war descend again in the wizarding world and appreciate that, while not for everyone, they really are good books.

Dad was up doing some repairs for us (thanks dad!) and helped me score off another item from my list by teaching me what all the bits under the car bonnet are for.  So now, at least, I'm unlikely to nearly break the car again by putting screen wash in the brake fluid......

Finally, with a little bit of shopping, I bought myself a new make-up bag.  It's pink (unusual for me!) and polka dot.  How nice.

I'm sure this doesn't make for entertaining reading - unless you really like polka dots - but sadly, the list is bringing me far more entertainment than you!  Reading these books, watching these films and doing these things are much more fun for me than they are for you to read about.  Sorry about that.

Nearly a month is over and I can without doubt say I have done more this month than in any other, with perhaps the one exception of the month my dissertation was due.  That is what this whole project was about.  Not really for entertainment or for enrichment - though those are certainly welcome by-products - but so that I might be able to look back and know that this year, I can truly say I've made the most of my time.  That makes me happy.  And really, isn't being happy what it's all about?

A lovely day

Ok, so since last time, all I've really done is read books and visited people.  So I've scored off Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (still my favourite of the series, she peaked at 3 and 4 in my opinion), and am half-way through Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

My picture from yesterday was a lovely treat Will gave me for my pudding; nommy nommy caramel bunnies!

Today though, was a very special picture.  Today, I met Harvey.  He is just 14 days old, and is the new-born son of my cousin and his girlfriend - the first baby out of our generation, as it were.  He's the first baby I've ever met.  That sounds weird, but I'd never seen a baby in real life younger than 12 months.

I got to cuddle him for ages and it was one of the coolest things I've ever done.  Babies are so little!  People say that all the time, but things like their ears and fingers - I couldn't get over that people come in that small a version.  It was lovely to meet Harvey and it's kind of awesome knowing I'm going to see him grow up.  Pretty cool, huh?

The day that never was AND "Step away from the pizza!"

Today, I was excited.  Why?  Because I got to order my camera!  Mum and dad transferred me the money so that I could get it delivered here in time for my birthday.  Gleefully, I set to and plugged my order (and gift-wrapping request) into Amazon.  

Duly ordered, I got ready to head into town and complete a few other list items including Buy a hot water bottle and Get a proper make-up bag, at Boots.  With card in hand, off I went.  Except, the day that I'd planned never was.

*Sad face*

Apparently, the bank thought my spending this morning was unusual thus activating their fraud detection system.  My card and accounts were frozen.  In a word, I was @!£k&*.  It's all sorted now because of course I didn't steal my own card and yes, I'm very glad RBS are protecting my interests and my money.  I'm rescheduling those purchases for Wednesday as I'll be in town getting my hair cut.  (Fancy!)

It ended up that the only things I was able to do today was take my photo and get Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban from the library. 

My photo is shot from my bedroom window.  The depth of colour doesn't show here as well as it did in person, but it was pretty stunning with the sun shining on the tree and brickwork, making it bright and golden, contrasted with the black sky behind.  Awesomeness.  I hope my new camera can do shots like that justice!

And as for the pizza.... Well, that's what I had for tea.  Too much of it.  It was nommy though.  Hehe.

Reading at the speed of light

*deep breath*

Aaaaah...

I feel back to myself again!  I have ploughed my way through The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets since last time.

First, if you haven't read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, (a) where have you been?! and (b) go and read it right now.  If you read nothing else in 2011, read this book.  Surely, you realise this is high praise.  It's about a boy called Christopher Boone, who has Asperger's Syndrome.  Not only is it beautifully written, but it gives an insight into this disorder in a delicate and charming way.  Most of all though, it's a book you put down and say "Wow, I'm glad I read that".  Go!  Read!

As for the Harry Potter's, well, if you don't know what they're about you must have been under a rock or something.  I haven't read these two since I was 9 so it was good to go back and refresh my memory but they are so short!  My favourite of the series is book three, so I look forward to getting my teeth stuck into it again.  I haven't re-read any of the other books though and I think it'll be good to go back and reminisce, as it were.

Today, I also managed to tick off Take post cards in to work to decorate the office, and I have Million Dollar Baby from LoveFilm to watch today or tomorrow.  And of course, my photos:

The end of the trilogy

Although I was at work today, last night I finally completed Return of the King. 

You know, I read a lot.  Basically, if it stands still, I'll read it.  In fact the list was originally going to be a list of 100 books to read.  Ambitious, at around one book per three days.  I decided there was a lot more I needed to do, so the list expanded to films and "things" as well, but there's still a lot of books.

Usually, I read really fast.  I suppose as well that I've read the LOTR trilogy in not too long a time but as it did the first time, it made me struggle.  There are so many names (and so many things have multiple names!) and so much going on, I often find myself having to re-read paragraphs or even pages some times.  Not a big deal I know, but I'm used to sprinting through a book.  This was more like a slow jog with high heels on.

Nevertheless, I loved it just as much as I did the first time.  These books inspire me and give me that itch to keep writing.  I think it's something to do with the power of imagination.  I don't think mine is good enough to create a world like Middle Earth, but given the words and description I can just about make it.  Aah...

Finally, my 365 for today is Beno (Corbyn).  He doesn't like posing for the camera, but since I've got him back, I thought you might like to see this trouble maker - if you haven't already!

A Tale of Two Kitties

Once upon a time, there were two kitties; a brother and a sister called Corbyn and Leelu, who decided to take their pet humans for a trip to Edinburgh.  Corbyn and Leelu hated car journeys, but it seemed like the fastest way to travel - after all, it's not like they had all the time in the world for lazing and doing nothing.  Nevertheless, it wasn't a pleasant journey, and Leelu spent most of the time shouting at her pets to drive more carefully. 

Finally (after much shouting and direction from Leelu), they all finally arrived in Edinburgh.  Corbyn was not pleased with his pets at all, or the house they'd brought him too, so he decided to exact his revenge.  When his pets - Katy and Will - went out to the garden he slipped away, activating his ninja self and disappeared into the shadows.  Katy, Will and Leelu were very worried but although Corbyn heard them shout, he had no intention of humouring them just yet.

Will and Katy were upset their owner cat had disappeared.  Leelu was fed up with their fretting so she sent them out for the night.  She knew it was their fifth anniversary and - being the lovely owner she is - wanted them to enjoy it.  So, with Leelu's blessing, Katy and Will headed into town and got ready for a night on the town.  

They had a lovely night.  A leisurely meal with a lovely bottle of wine, followed by a film all topped off with lots of memories and chatting and laughing made it all a wonderful night. It meant Katy was able to tick off Stay in a hotel for a night from her list.  

After a little shopping the next morning they went back to the house where Leelu was staying to discover Corbyn was still out ninja-ing.  It was difficult to stop worrying, but they knew that Corbyn would only come back when he was good and ready.  So, instead, Katy and Will Learnt a new card game - rummy.  They did not too badly at it either! 

At night time though, Will and Katy couldn't sleep.  For some reason, Leelu kept running up and down their bed, purring and meowing, getting frustrated they couldn't understand her simple message.  An hour she kept telling them, but they still didn't get it.  Eventually though it clicked.  Corbyn had come out of ninja-ness and was wanting fed.  Obviously his silly pets didn't quite understand so he'd asked Leelu to tell them what for.  Finally, though, Katy pulled herself out of bed and let Corbyn in.

Having had enough of adventures, Corbyn and Leelu decided the time for adventures was over.  It was time to go home.  So they told their pets to pack up and to drive them back to their normal house.  At least pets are good for somethings.  It was a relief to get back to their familiar home.  The cat flap, the bed, the Poang chair and bean bag.  The food.  The giraffe.  

Home.  They were glad to be back.  That tale had ended, with another one ready to begin.  

The End

An exciting weekend

Well, today's post might be the last for the weekend, because in about two hours we're off to Edinburgh for the weekend because it's our fifth anniversary.  Can't quite believe it! That means tonight, I will have ticked off stay a night in a hotel.  Hurrah!  I've had some other good ticks in the last day or so.  I watched The Green Mile and My Neighbour Tortoro and finished The Two Towers.

I hadn't seen either of those films before and loved both.  I'm not going to lie - I was in tears at the end of The Green Mile.  I don't want to spoil it for anyone whose not seen it, but I would absolutely recommend it.  But accompanied by a box of tissues.  As for My Neighbour Tortoro, it was one of the Studio Ghibli films I hadn't seen.  It was a lovely story.  The kind of film I'd watch when I was off ill to cheer me up.  I have also added "Tortoro plushie" to my Christmas list.  Mwahahaha.  (And sorry if I'm spell Tortoro wrong, spelling isn't always my strong point).

Here's yesterday's pictures.  (Today's will be taken tonight, if that makes sense).  This is Corbyn, our other cat, who is a fat little ninja.  See, this picture - fat, unassuming, meowing.  (Moustache!)

In this photo, he's warping into his ninja self, and moving so fast he blurs.  Cool, eh?  He's an awesome cat.