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  • Ah, the joy of Adequate

    So, my plasterer came back, after some cajoling, and basically the fact I wasn’t going to pay him ’til he fixed things. It’s truly sad when someone has skill, but can’t be *arsed* to do a decent job. And in my opinion, that’s how A J Contractors behaved. The job they did the first time was shoddy, the best part of their excuse for leaving it half done:

    “It takes a long time for plaster to dry on that bonding, so I’d’ve just been stood around for 2 hours waiting for it to dry”.

    Ah, so you left it half done because you couldn’t be bothered to wait. Oh, that’s alright then. That’s fine. I’ll put up with shonky plastering in my lounge, because you’re busy.

    Bloody builders.

    Still, with a great deal of work with the sander (or as I said to James: “Sanding down the crap like the sand bunny of doom”; perhaps I’m overtiried), and a not unsubstantial quantity of filler, I’ve *hopefully* got the beginnings of a fairly neatly finished lounge.

    Although, I’m now wondering if the radiator will go where I was planning to put it with the sofa I’ve got. Sadly I’m too tired to measure it… so it’ll have to wait until after the fire-place fitting, which should happen tomorrow.

    In other news, I have forgotten to post Xmas cards. This means they’ll almost certainly be late. I apologise, I have been somewhat tardy in organising xmasy things this year.

    … and no, I never did hear from Amy.

  • There’s this point right…

    …where the personality you put into something starts to cross with a real suspicious set of traits from that object, which starts to make you really feel that the object has got some kind of soul.

    I guess, after 37 years on this planet, my car’s collected enough quirks and fiddley bits, and having been hand built, largely, has quite a lot of personality. But this morning, I’d spent a solid 10 minutes trying to coax her to start. We’d passed through ‘no longer going to be early’ and ‘on time’ to ‘do I ring them and say I can’t get my car to start’?

    I’d got a work lamp outside, a 1lb lump hammer to ‘tap’ the sticking starter and she still wasn’t starting. I’d get one shot at the starting thing, and it’d then stick, and then I’d curse, run out and tap it. Sometimes it’d free off, and then I could have another go.

    Finally, in desparation I sat there and I said:

    “Please Rebecca, I *promise* I’ll fix you tomorrow, I *promise*. Please start.”; Turned the key and was met with the completely unexpect and slightly startling sound of the uneven beat of my engine… Not only that, but she idled while I packed away the work lamp, extension lead etc, and washed my hands.

    I actually made it into work a mere 2 minutes late.

    And I’ve kept my promise, well, actually I worked on her when I got home from Xmas shopping (still not got everything, not managed to send my cards to ‘merkians (bloody post office shut 2 minutes before I got there)). And found much to my distress: uneven running – related to crap points I suspect. Poor starting: points now so worn away that there’s virtually no heel left. they are wearing *insanely* fast. I never got the ‘running well through correctly set points’ phase. Starter motor – casing has cracked. Starter motor sticking due to insufficient lubrication. New graphite applied (thanks to Trey’s habit of ‘saving’ pencils from work, I have a moderate supply of graphite).

    In other news, someone poo’d in my hand today – while I was wearing gloves and had a wipe in my hands, thankfully.

  • Lazy Sunday

    At least, the idea in my head was ‘shift, run to mom’s, collect tools, home, write xmas-cards’. In the end, when I ran home I ended up chopping wood. I was late leaving work, and I’ve brought home more tools than I meant to. It’s actually left me feeling pretty knackered.

    Especially given Friday night was the work Xmas do (excellent fun!); Saturday my mum came and we did uber-shopping for tools, floors, paint, and I found the bits I think I want for my Bathroom…

    And then James came round. And then I worked an Early this morning. And now I’m waiting for pizza to arrive.

    My life is so dull…

    The girl I met, the cute one with whom I [DELETED]; she’s not texted me back, which is rather depressing. Well, maybe not so far as depressing, but certainly disappointing. She was cute damnit. Cute and [DELETED]. So, yeah.

    Apparently, my chinese dress provoked some comment at work yesterday, I think I pulled off the look pretty well at the Xmas do, but I’m always one for Paranoia, so hey. Who can say.

    This really is an astonishingly dull post, isn’t it? Well, we’ll continue the dull… My poor car is due a service, well, was due a service some time ago. It’s now past due a service. It’s really struggling to start in the mornings, I really do need to get the electronic ignition fitted – but that needs a strobe to set up the timing, and I’ve not got a strobe. *sigh*. Anyway, that’s my sunday. What’ve you all been up to?

  • Slowly collecting foodstuffs

    So, despite spending 90 quid at World of Tesco last week, I still spent 60 this week – and to be honest, I’m not entirely sure what I bought. There was a replacement energy saver for the one that went ‘fzzzt’; and lots of other odds and ends, some more cleaner (kitchen cleaner this time, for the cooker), and some stocking up on frozens.

    I also have a huge problem with World Of Tesco, it has lots of culturally diverse produce. Now, this is in many regards not a bad thing. In many ways it’s a postively good thing. Except… I love food. I love trying new food. I like re-sampling food I’ve already had that I liked. And y’know what? There’s so much shiny stuff there. So much. Oh god yes. So even when I’m not hungry intrigue takes over and I buy Plantain Crisps and Jamaican ginger beer. Bad Kate.

    Still, we’re nearly at the stage where I just need fresh veg, so that’s fine. Cheese and veg. Must find a better cheese shop.

    In other news, the corridor is probably a couple of hours from being paintable. Technically I could make it paintable today, but I’m not gonna. Uh-uh. Mostly because I am flat-out exhausted. All my body wants to do is sleep – and soon I’m gonna let it. Tomorrow I collect the van and I do tidying *to the extreme*. The day after, well, that’ll be the dayy-ay-ay that I dance. Work, then dance. Then the day after…. that’s moving day. Are we all clear on why Kate feels like hell on earth?

    The builders will be around on Saturday and Sunday. They are knocking a fucking huge hole in the chimney, putting in a new lintel, then render; plaster and plaster the other walls…

    You know, I forgot to add in the cost of the floor. The lounge may be 300 quid over budget; on the other hand, the hallway may be rather under, depending on the new carpet I select. So. It could all work out in the end.

  • Some things are scary

    So, I got some shiny new builders in to quote for the work. Rather more expensive than the last one, but they can do it this weekend… Which is incredibly handy… And they’re aware that I’ll be moving in on Sunday. So, yes.

    The lounge comes in approximately 100 – 200 quid over budget, which is bad. But in this case I’m paying for convenience. I also picked up the radiator to go in the lounge today, just because it was on offer and thus the same price as screwfix direct. The radiators for the rest of the house have to wait, so I’ve also picked up an oil filled radiator (thanks James for the suggestion).

    What is scary is how quickly the money is disappearing. Having lived in Rented places for the last 10 years, it’s somehow odd to think this place is mine. I don’t really *feel* like it. Nor, on the other hand, do I feel like I’ve been spending money like it’s tap water. I haven’t got a huge amount to show for it, at least it feels that way. I suppose in reality I have. And moving house *is* expensive. Still. If all goes well this weekend then the lounge will need the radiator fitting (up with the floorboards somewhere else…) and the new floor putting down, the walls painting and the skirting board painting and it will be *done*. Impressive n’est pas?

    I am going to get out and carry on with the hall way in a few minutes. We’re down to sanding in there, and then painting. I bought the paint (hence the expensive trip to Wickes (builders merchant / DIY place). Not as scary as Travis Perkins. That’s a proper builders place. While I feel a bit out of place on my own in B&Q and Wickes, I feel downright like a neon sign is flashing above my head going “SHE IS A GIRL” “THERE’S A GIRL IN THE STORE” when I’m in TP. Otoh, shopping at TP, I feel like I must proper-know what I’m doing ;-)

    Anyway, back to the grind. Well. Sand. I bought some ear defenders today, these go with the mask and goggles I’ve been sporting this morning. If this goes well then I could start painting the corridor today. That would be *awesome*…

    And yeah, um, Wireless news – the Home Hub despite BT’s transient claim that it wouldn’t do WPA-PSK is now doing WPA-PSK, and after a torrent of abusive thoughts from me, and no changes in configuration now works this morning (unlike yesterday afternoon where it refused to connect using Wireless). So, yes, Ms House, meet technology :-)

  • Frustration 101

    Today is my last of two days off when I am *actually* at home during the week – so I *had* hoped to get the plasterers in. But again ACE plasterers, for that is who I used have excelled themselves by not returning my calls yesterday or this morning. This is frustrating because it means:

    – The room won’t be plastered before I have to move my stuff in.
    – The room won’t be painted before I have to live in it.

    But it gets better. The builders I rang yesterday; they’ve not rung me back either, so I can’t get the fireplace cut out and the new fireplace put in. I didn’t expect that to happen today, but it would have been nice to get some kind of movement on that. But *that* means that the floor isn’t going down in the forseeable future. Which means that I have to put minimal amounts of furntiture in the lounge.

    Which means that everything has to go up in the spare bedroom.

    Which would have had to happen anyway thanks to the plasterer and their ability NOT TO TURN UP OR FUCKING RING.

    Builders and, frankly, everyone in the UK seem to have this Appauling level of customer service. Well, fine. I won’t be ringing them back. Time to call someone else.

    Fucking useless people.

    *This* is why I do everything myself, when I can, because not only do I turn up, I actually do what I say I’m going to do.

  • Normal Service Has Been Resumed

    Sorry for the loss of service guys, I didn’t realise my domain expired this year, but now it’s renewed again you can expect the usual level of useless rambling from me.

  • Packed up…

    So, I’ve been whining at my friends about going home, I think it’s 2 parts wanting to stay in Canada and 1 part not wanting to go back to my ‘room’ in hospital accomodation with my house still as un-sorted as the day I left. We’re now at what, 6 weeks? And I’m still not getting anything from my fracking solicitors.

    How hard is it to e-mail? To ring? Apparently it’s impossible.

    *sighs*

    So I packed up this morning – I’m terrified that I’m over the weight limit for my case. In the end I’ve packed basically ‘as many books as I can’ into my hand-luggage. That plus my laptop will make my hand luggage pretty heavy, but what can I do?

    I picked up some Scooties yesterday (if that’s how you spell it Trey) – I’ve wanted some for ages, and finally got them… It all adds up though – paintings, clothes, books – my suitcase is *full*. Well, no, it could expand a teeny bit, but basically, it’s full. I worry about shite like this – and on the way over it was 16.7 kg; I’ve got 3.3kg to play with, but 560g of that is Gatorade, and then 3 paintings… and some clothes… and presents… and books. Oh god.

    Still, it doesn’t *feel* that much heavier.

    Anyway, I’m gonna have this cup of tea and then head out to see Mississauga. The taxi comes at 1630…

  • All good things come to an end

    So, 2 more days; well; one and 3/4ths and then I’m back in the UK. Although I’m looking forward to working, I miss the nursing aspect of my life, the whole ‘going back to the UK’ thing doesn’t fill me with joy. Friends, yes; I’ve missed them; but I’ve felt more at home here in 2 weeks than I have in London in a month. I know I’m gonna miss Toronto like crazy. Poot.

    Anyway, I spent today mostly chilling out; I did a lot of subwaying – took some photos until someone from the TTC caught me. Apparently they’re not keen on people taking photos of the TTC :-)

    Then I pootled round the east end of Toronto, a bit of Cabbagetown, a bit further out; before eventually heading to The Beguiling to get a copy of the Scott Pilgrim books, which were recommended to me buy the guy at This Ain’t The Rosedale Library. Anyhow, after a bit of wandering I made it there; and they had the books – including an autographed copy of the 3rd edition. So they’re now in my bag. I’m actually more concerned about my baggage allowance to get them back. I’m sure it’ll be okay. I’m good at feining “light” with my rucksack. One of the advantages of being butch ;-)

    Anyway, one of the other things to come out of today (apart from being told off by a TTC worker… did I mention that already?) is the thought process about getting rid of stuff before moving here. It has become apparent to me just how right Kate was, and how much more I can afford to ditch. A lot more. I still want to bring my car and bike/s over, but so many of my belongings can be ditched. So many.

    So, yeah, lots more to clear out.

    I hope that this house has gone through, my solicitors have not contacted me, not replied to e-mail, and my mum didn’t mention recieving anything from them. So I’m a bit concerned. I shall ring them as soon as I’m back in the UK  – and I’ll be mentioning to them that I’m a trifle unimpressed with their down website and their failure to respond to e-mail.

    Anyway, let’s get down to todays photos… Like I said, most of them are from the subway; despite spending probably an hour and a bit wandering around Cabbagetown, which is gorgeous, I just failed to be stuck by inspiration. Or inspiration that’s worth showing anyway. So… yeah. I didn’t really get as far into cabbagetown as I wanted before deciding to head off on my other quest, so… well, you’ve got to have something to come back for.

  • And they let you out without someone to watch you why?

    I spent money again today.

    I have been looking at it the wrong way, incidentally. When I worked with film I normally had a couple of rolls of 36 (often worked out at 38) exposure film with me. It would be ASA200 or 400, and that was my lot. If I was desparate I would buy another roll; but really? generally, that was my lot.

    If it was too bright for my AE-1’s 1/1000th Sec exposure then that was the end of it. If I couldn’t close down the apature and shorten the exposure enough for the film that was in then it wasn’t happening. So here I am, I’ve got a Dimage 5; not exactly new, but certainly adequate. It’s got a range of 35-210mm equivalent (I think, off the top of my head) – which is a wider range than I ever had with my AE-1 + Lenses – ‘cept when I had John’s 17 and 14mm’s on loan. And I can get 100 photos out of the 2800mAh batteries.

    So I should think: (a) I’m lots better off than I was with the AE-1. With this I can flick to Black and White, I can take at least as many pics as I normally would’ve with the AE-1. (b) I don’t have to piss about changing lenses, and (c) Remember: A better camera does not a better photographer make.

    So, no more drooling over the Digital Rebel XTi. Or the XT, or quite frankly the plain old Digital Rebel.

    They’ll get cheaper.

    Aaanyway, so, today I kicked round Union station doing buildingy photos, and then headed to St Lawrence, taking lots of terribly unsuccessful people photos. I also found James his Xmas Prezzie. So I hope he likes it. If he doesn’t, I’ll have it. I spent a lot of time talking to the guy I got James’s present off; turns out he’s a photographer, a biker, and we had a lot in common with our political beliefs; so that was fun and entertaining. It’s kinda weird; people do just seem much more friendly and open here. I’m not sure if that’s just the people I’ve met, or whether it’s truly a Canadian Trait, but hey. I love it here, and so I’ll stick with Canadians being friendlier.

    Anyway, so after that I headed… hrm, where did I go. Yeah, I went over to Kensington, fancing another ‘people’ shoot – unfortunately my camera batteries died on the way there. More unforunate because dead batteries = no more photos = kate starts to look for other ways to entertain self. Anyway, I met Melissa Ryan who is an artist, who was in the process of laying her work out on the pavement. She was very chatty too… and I really, really like her work. By ‘really really’ I’m referring to the level of really really where I buy three paintings. Three. Bad Kate. Very bad Kate. Well, not *very* bad. But certainly difficult to justify. I can only hope they don’t search my case at the airport; given that the pictures feature ‘Bombgurl’ and ‘Grenadeboy’. I’d’ve liked to get some of her Dead Girl stuff too, but that was beyond ‘splurging’ and also beyond any vague justifications about art for my new house (if, indeed, I’ve got a house); and well into ‘I can’t justify this at all’. Still, I fed the poor starving artist for a few days :-)

    So, after a bit of a chat, and an exhange of funds and pictures; and some signing; I headed to the Rainbow Cinema to watch Little Miss Sunshine which was truly excellent, although the cinema was bloody freezing. Possibly due to there only being about 8 of us in there…

    And then I headed over and bought Alison Bechdel’s autobiographical graphic novel – Fun Home. Mostly because it’s an autographed, hard back, for a not unreasonable price. Otherwise I’d’ve left it…. for some time. As a side issue, this book buying (and err, a DVD) has meant that I’ve actually updated the ‘things I want’ page. Probably for the first time since I split up with Trey, either that or since last Xmas. So, for a while. Raaa. I thought I better, because last year some people actually used it to get me prezzies. I don’t need prezzies. Friends is what I want and need – and I’ve got them. The list, however, is for me, so I can look at it when I want to treat myself… only I never do :-)

    Nikki, however, treated me to a Flickr Pro account. She said she was fed up of having to scan through each day’s photographs to get to the current days, because I didn’t have enough sets… So now I’ve got the sets, m’kay? So here, without further ado (but with much thanks to Nikki) is Day 10 (aah, computing types, who start at 0).