Teapots

I have a moan, I'm afraid. I would merely like to comment on cafés that, when you ask for a cup of tea, bring you a little metal teapot all to yourself. What is with this? It's not quaint, because it's a metal teapot. It's not like we're talking fine bone china here. And frankly, the fact that it arrives in a teapot does nothing to disguise the fact that by the time it's been poured and brought outside and you've paid the bill and put some milk into your cup in preparation, the tea is actually very stewed. And any tea that only tastes ok when it's got a tonne of milk and a sachet of sugar in it is not really worthy to be called tea, in my book.

Anyway, moan over. I can already feel the 'get over yourself and your tea obsession' eyes rolling at the screen.

Ironically, I'm logging off now to make a cup of tea.

Random wanderings through Exeter

I started my day totally confused in Waterstones. I can only assume that this sign is some kind of literary reference, but Google doesn't come up with anything. Who is this Eugene and what is going on with their lamp? Any suggestions would be most appreciated.


In a small shop tucked away in an arcade, I discovered some pretty cool vintage clothing. Sadly I decided to abstain as I am still unemployed for the summer, but I did have to take a photo of these hats, knowing that they're the kind of thing my twin would probably try to get away with. (All in the excuse of 'fancy dress', of course.)

Just down the road, in 'Kitsch U Like' there was also a lot of fun stuff, including handbags made to look like boom boxes. It was only walking back past later on that I saw this refurbished dentist chair in the window. Words fail me, frankly. But it's yours for £250. If I was rich and flippant I'd be tempted to send it to my old orthodontist as a token of my straight-toothed gratitude.

Quite possibly the quaintest cup of coffee I've had in a long time, served to me at the very originally named Riverside Café.

Sitting being thoughtful by the riverside I found myself wondering if you've got to be English to find this sort of view inspiring. But no matter - I enjoyed it, anyway.

Saving the rainforest, one biscuit at a time. It's gratifying to find even pubs on riversides serving fairtrade coffee and accompaniments.

This has got to be one of the shortest ferry journeys ever! It just goes to show how your perception of the world changes as you grow up...I remember that foot ferry crossing a huge distance.

Perfect girls, starving daughters

I've just seen an advert online for a book called Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body by Courtney Martin.

So it's not JUST me that finds that frightening, then? I am glad...I've expressed my confusion time and time again that surely it's not right that I end up feeling big-headed simply because I don't hate how I look.

I think that book's going on my reading list!

Hello, this is your cat speaking.

Hello, this is your cat speaking. Sorry calling you at the office..., originally uploaded by Vimrod1.

I get the 'Vimrod Daily Dose' cartoon email sent to me every day, and it makes me laugh every time!! I would love to meet the people that create them - I'm so sure sometimes that that humour exists somewhere in a dark corner of my head!

And imagine if your cat really could do that? Now that's an awkward neighbour situation.

Well, just thought I'd post today's 'Dose' as it amused me so much. And sign up at Vimrod.com! You won't be disappointed!

No milk for Monday

Right, so I forget the Monday Melee for the billionth week. But I did like doing it before, so I'm gonna try and cheat and submit this blog entry as if it were yesterday. Sneaky stuff!



1. The Misanthtropic: Name something (about humanity) you absolutely hate.
Students in halls who make a ridiculous amount of noice when they get in at 2 in the morning...and then don't stop for over an hour! 'Nuff said. I'm in a bad mood.

2. The Meretricious: Expose something or someone that’s phony, fraudulent or bogus.
Revision is clearly phony. It would much better for me to go and nap in the park with a thermos and a picnic. (But I won't.)

3. The Malcontent: Name something you’re unhappy with.
The milk had vanished from our fridge this morning so I'm drinking black coffee with sugar, which was the only viable alternative to tea without milk. And it just doesn't taste as enjoyable. It tastes like something you'd drink if you were pulling an all nighter to work and had to keep awake. Which isn't the case as I am in need of sleeping better at the moment.

4. The Meritorious: Give someone credit for something and name it if you can.
One of my friends has taken to texting me most nights to check I'm alright and not working too hard, which is nice. My last exam is on Saturday and I'm living and breathing language revision 24/7 right now!

5. The Mirror: See something good about yourself and name it.
I reckon I'm learning to control my bad moods better. Sure, I still vent to people sometimes, but I think I've got better at not inflicting my sporadic grumpiness on whoever is nearest.

6. The Make-Believe: Name something you wish for.
For the job interview I'm going to be in at this time next week to go well and for me to actually have a job for the summer.

* * * * *

Listening to: Come What(ever) May - Stone Sour
Last ate: Toasted bread roll with marmite. No milk for my cereal.
Thinking: My chest muscles hurt from the gym last night. Didn't even know my chest muscles existed!

Happiness formula?

The BBC report that the government in Bhutan must consider how every policy will affect not only Gross Domestic Product but also 'Gross National Happiness'.

The article outlines some of the ways this is carried out - for instance, banning plastic bags, tobacco and MTV because they don't bring happiness.

I think I'm emigrating ASAP!

My week...in flowers

I have a soft spot for gerberas. I also have a soft spot for my mum (obviously). And she gave me these so that's double special-ness. Mmhmm. I didn't even edit the colours here at all:

Au naturel:

I was sitting under this blossom just hours ago, eating lunch in the shade. My dad presented me with this 'bouquet'. Impressively, it looks brighter after the train journey in my suitcase than I do (though I wasn't in the suitcase, of course).

I'm not going to rant about the train journey now. It would spoil the pretty flowery vibe.

Get it away!

You know it's not good when you get up and turn on the TV and even the Big Brother housemates are asleep.

I should add very swiftly that I didn't watch them intentionally! - I turned on the TV and it simply came up with the the last Freeview channel that I'd watched. My thumb has never moved so fast to switch channel! I don't think I'll say any more about the horror that is BB, lest I end up contributing to what is no doubt already a huge area of internet debate. All I can say is that I didn't need even my local paper to have the launch in it. Also, I've lived for the past 9 months or so as part of a group that is mostly made up of 10 girls. And, good as uni's been so far, I am slightly amazed that the producers of the show think that 11 women living together is going to be all fun and frolics. It ain't.

As I type this, I do have another TV-related observation to make. (Yes I've had it on a lot but no one's around so I need the company!) My oh-so-clever observation is that it is simply too early in the morning by my standards for the music channels to be playing Rihanna's 'Umbrella'. Oh, wait, no...there is never a time of day when seeing her dance suggestively down an umbrella could be a good thing, tepid romantic lyrics or not.

One music video that I did get excited about when I first saw it the other day was the new Maroon 5 song. I quite liked them last time they were around, so I had high hopes. But I'm not sure about this one. I liked the song and the lead guy's voice, but I wasn't convinced. Not that I know much about putting songs together, but I really felt that his voice was too weak against the music. You don't listen to it and pick up the words, really. In fact, I have no idea what the song's about. Not a great way to get people to sing along to your new song!

Right, time to turn the TV off and do some work, I reckon. Well, maybe after I've eaten. I have been up for 2 hours, after all.