Blog

19 Nov 1999

Just a quickie tonight….long day at work (long night too). Hopped into Hugo – not keen, not keen at all. Stalled twice (a first for Hugo who normally goes first time) however it was bloody cold. The drive to the alternator makes a horrible screech when it’s damp (it slips) – which is fun. And, as usual the reversing lights didn’t work when I got home.

In the end I reversed into the space with the hazard lights on just so I could see. I’ve diagnosed the fault with the reversing lights though. They need to be taken to pieces and tested because then they invariably work for a period of time defined as X: where X is no less than the period of time it takes me to stop checking the fault and is greater than Y which is the minimum amount of time between faults where I actually put some real effort into fixing it.

Bad news today – I didn’t get the job in Swindon (which was a crummy job anyway) but still – any job is better than no job….as I’m sure many people will tell you.

Still off to see Hannah tomorrow…should have a quick go at the reversing lights before then really – but I’ll probably leave ’em till my day off. So.

TTFN

(Said it’d be quick)

Kate

PS Kate’s computer hint for the day – no matter how many times you repeat the procedure: [shift]+double click (to open a file to Zap instead of opening it in the registered program) does not work if you are using a keyboard which is connected to a different computer to that which the mouse is connected to. Remeber that, it can save a lot of time….

18 Nov 1999

Knackered. I’ve just had two days off work – one for an interview for a job I’d like but am so totally underqualified for it’s laughable and one for a totally useless open day.

I’ve spent £350 on a PC, which is bad.

However I’m warm and snug, I’ve got a nice glass of whisky (not whiskey) and I’ve had a fairly nice day (I got to be me for a bit) – so I’m feeling quite content for once. Also I’m seeing Hannah on Saturday (as in the day after tomorrow) so I’m looking forward to that.

Thanks to everyone on the list for your comments – they’re really nice – I’ll be with you as soon as I get a network card for the PC, and set it up as a gateway…..

One bad thing did happen today – my uncle was admitted to hospital with severe blood loss from a stomach ulser – we’re all hoping he’s going to be okay….so that wasn’t very nice news.

On the upside my parents had a good day – they went shopping in London – and got my sister some gorgeous dresses – that was a bit tough on me, my mum showing me these really nice, designer dresses (bought at huge discount) – and having to say how nice they were without (a)Giving away that I’d like them for me, or (b) it being to obvious I was in love with one of them…..

On the job front I’ve got one more interview coming up next week, and 2 jobs to hear from so – maybe, just maybe (as the lottery would have us believe).

The other computer, the PC: Well, I just have to be a bit techie! It’s an AMD K6-II @ 400MHz, 32MB PC100 D-Ram, 8.4Gig Maxtor HDD, Pioneer 1X DVD-Rom drive, Apollo M/board – VIA MVP3 Chipset, SiS S3 Virge GX Graphics card (AGP!), Avance 16 bit “soundcard” (See comment later), Adaptec 1502 SCSI card (for use with the scanner) & Motorola modem (56K/V.90).

It’s currently using my dad’s old 14″ monitor, but I’m hoping to borrow a 17″ one from my dad’s work; it’s got Win95(OSR2, USB patch) and Linux (RedHat 5.1) – on it at the moment. Linux doesn’t like the graphics card – and I still can’t get Windows to play ball with the soundcard 100%. It plays stuff through directX but anything else and – well you’re buggered to be honest. (Despite me downloading the latest drivers)

Apart from that all is well, except for the fact that they sent me the wrong bloody ethernet card – hence my machines lack of networkedness – otherwise this site would have been re-uploaded as would my new, funky, sexy site (wait for the release!). Anyhow, that’s the way it stands with that.

A big hiya to my friends who know about me! And Happy Birthday (& loads of apologies) to Hope!

I mentioned paint last time, specifically lipari blue. Well it’s a crap match for my paint. So now my car has rust-black along the bottom. Actually it looks okay – but it took me the whole three days to do the work. However the petrol tank is now painted, shiny and cool, as are quite a lot of bits and pieces under the car, the radio is properly fitted – as is the clock, and the boot no longer leaks – due to a small rust hole which has now been filled.

I think that’ll do. If I’m in the mood I might try and write something tomorrow – but I’ve got work in the afternoon – which is, err fun. I’ve also got to pack! Wheee.

Anyway, bed time……’cos some of us gotta work you know!

ATL&W;

Kate

29 Oct 1999

Well, there we go two updates in three days – don’t I just spoil you sometimes! I have been (well male mode has been) to the (Wantage Regent 1 & 2) Cinema, I had a day off work (sick), and have been down to Motoquip (in Wantage)… I also found out that I haven’t got the job at the BBC (99.9% probable). Why? Well I came second – a fact which cheered me no end as I felt like I’d come about 100000000th after the interview. Apparently if the other person doesn’t want the job (Yuh-hu, like that’s likely – heres a perfect job, do you not want it?) then I can have it….

Anyway – the stress of ringing the BBC made me feel sick, or the garlic in the sausages yesterday, or something – so I crawled out of bed this morning and decided after about 10 minutes to crawl back in. Around 11 I started to feel human again and so I went to Wantage, and purchased for the purposes of work on the car, Some BLMC lipari blue (the closest match I could find to Yugo grey-blue), some Black for the Fuel tank, some Primer for the Fuel tank and some rust filler (to smooth over where the rust was)….

So that’s my next 3 days off taken care of. I also had an argument with my mother about why I want to move out (strangely the topic of because I want to change my sex, and I’d like a bit of privacy so that when I’m putting my bra away I don’t feel nervous all the time didn’t come up). So that was fun.

Then I went to see The Blair Witch Project. Now, I hear there are two camps, the Scared Stiff camp and the It was Okay camp – I’m definitely in the latter. It was clever, interesting and well done. However the characters were stupid and I lost sympathy with them (I couldn’t empathise with them after a certain amount of idiocy). I wasn’t scared – it did / has set me on edge rather and I keep seeing things moving in the background which is more than a little odd (so I guess it’s worked at that level). Part of this comes from a fairly certain belief in ghosts of some sort…..

Many many years ago….well in about 1995 I went to stay in a friends house in dorset….now when I say house I mean f*** off mansion. It was huge – okay to give you an idea of huge ½ of the house had been turned into an art collage. The kitchen was the size of a normal persons living room. But although downstairs was fine upstairs (1st floor) had a definite atmosphere and the top floor (up in the roof) really made me feel uncomfortable to the point of scared.

Anyway – the first odd thing was that despite the fact that we were the only people in the house when we left the curtains in the room that me and my friend (David) were staying in were closed when we went out in the morning (and I know that they were closed because we went in my car and I looked up just before I drove off to check we’d shut the window) – when we came back they were open. This was dismissed by David and I as – well we must have remembered it wrong….

That night as we were chatting – he suddenly turned to me and moaned at me for telling him to shut up – something I definitely hadn’t done. He said a voice, not quite like mine – older and more female told him to be quiet. Again this was ascribed to imagination by both of us. But the next night (when we were feeling a little more nervous) I felt someone touch my arm, blaming David. However David was on the wrong side of me and would have had to lean across me to reach me. Since we were the only two people in the room and the light was on in the hall (it was impossible for someone else to get in without it being obvious) – I started to get a little nervous – basically hiding in my sleeping bag. The only other thing that night was that we both felt a drop in temperature in the room.

The next morning we asked about the room (which was nicer than the other room in use) and were told that they didn’t use it much because their grandmother had died in there – the bed had been disposed of because they didn’t feel very happy about using it but the rest of the furniture had remained.

The final thing didn’t happen in that room (because we refused to sleep in it). I went to the loo. It took me about 5 minutes; I had been before (!) I walked up the flight of stairs from the hall by the kitchen to the corridor upstairs and into the loo. I went to the loo, washed my hands, walked downstairs and into the kitchen where-upon everyone said “Where the hell have you been?”. I looked puzzled, said I’d only been gone looked at my watch and swore – about half an hour had passed since I’d left…apparently they’ed called for me and assumed I must have gone to sleep….

I was leaving the next day – something which I was very pleased about. I had a great holiday – but the house is freaky. So now I believe in ghosts – something which is at odds with my scientific views but, well I don’t care.

Anyway – I should sleep now, since it’s 23:57.29 and I’ve got work tomorrow…..

TTFN, ATL&W….;

Kate XX

16 Sep 1999, 01:43.28

Okay – done job things, got an e-mail for Adam….time to brag about my girlfriend again…..sorry.

I was just sitting here thinking how lucky I am….she’s just wonderful to me….we both worry chronically about being self-centred….which is I suppose quite funny….

The thing is – and why I feel so lucky is she keeps saying “it’s nothing anyone else wouldn’t do”. For a start she’s comfortable, neigh happier with Kate than “Kato”, which is something I’m so grateful for it’s defies language. She shaves my legs, warms up my “chest”, massages my back (with moisturiser), paints my nails, she give’s me a my little pony (because apparently every girl should have a my little pony (erm, it’s lovely darling….)), she does her own research (and want’s to know what makes me tick), puts up with my bookshop obsession…..she reminds me that I’m about to go out as Kate and am I sure that I want to…. She is something very special.

She’s so open hearted it’s fantastic and I love her lots. She may be distant in physical space but she’s very close mentally…..and she gave me Gromit to hug in her absence…

Anyway – time to send some bit’s flying!

Love Kate….

16 Sep 1999, 00:51.47

Well from this I can say that it’s 3 days since Hannah went back, and I’m still missing her…… My parents are driving me nutty (they don’t bother me at all for hours then suddenly they manage to irritate me beyond belief). In some ways I’ve had a better day than I was expecting. Another shopping accident occured……No. Let’s start at the beginning!

First of all we moved some fish down from our house (a small seasonal river flows through our garden; no it’s not a mansion – 2 small bedrooms, 1 larger bedroom, lounge, front room/entrance room/ not sure what it is, kitchen/dining room and a bathroom) – anyway – every year hundreds of little fish (fry) end up stuck in fast drying puddles of water outside our door – so we scoop them out and shunt them 3 miles down-stream where the river flows much longer….

So, saving fish was quite cool – but for some reason I had no enthusiasm for the day – you know when you just feel really apathetic. Anyway – after hours of moaning from my mum I went into Newbury (ah, a location!) – and mooched around. Being very very good I ignored the Telephoto lens doublers that were in the camera shop window….calling to me, saying:

And I resolved not to spend any money….then still feeling miserable I wandered into Waterstones (bookshop). Bugger *grin*. I can’t help myself. It’s my one vice, well that and strappy tops. And maybe chocolate sauce ;-)

Anyway I walked out £7 less rich. But a lot happier – ‘cos the bloke on the till likes Sara Paretsky novels too….and recommended some other reading (okay maybe it’s his job to flog books but he was genuinely friendly and it cheered me up no end).

Then I went to the job agency – who were excellent – so the cash flow situation might improve just a smidgen…..even if it does mean getting up @ 5.30am 3 days out of 9 – still I knock off at 2pm, so that’s not too bad. 6 days on, 3 days off…..that’s 1/3 of the year off….but I need the money….still 3 months payed employment will be handy.

Anyway – I’m going to write some e-mails to my neglected friends – and then it’s time for bed. Well more accurately it’s time for bed now. But sod sleeping……I think.

Oh yes and now I (Kate) have sorted out so I have my own sig….

Have fun! Kate….

13 Sep 1999, 15:03.37

Well, Hannah (the S.O.) went home yesterday – and I miss her dreadfully. She spent just over a week down here while my parents were on holiday – and I have managed to be myself almost all the time (except for shopping and a few other odds and ends).

I’ve got to put myself away as it were in preparation for my parents arrival – so all the clothes scattered around my room (currently including bras, strappy tops, skirts, and knickers) will be popped back in their box and neatly put away.

This is going to be harder than before because I have become so comfortable over the last two weeks – especially since the S.O. bought me a “chest” – to replace the foodbags full of water (a little less than ½ a pint makes a fairly reasonable B cup – make sure you remove the air) which had been driving both of us insane with their rustling. Being of asian decent it’s a little difficult to get the correct colouration, but these are not intended to be seen by anyone ‘cept Hannah anyway – so it doesn’t matter. And they are a damn sight more comfortable and warm than the water (hint two for water – use boiled water (allowed to cool) then heat them on a hot water bottle!).

I’ve put up my story (chapter one of it anyway) so I can now be scared stiff about the responses. It’s not the traditional T* story in that it’s not particularly about being T*….it’s more about ordinary lives.

I’ve also put up a “contact page” and so I can now be told how bad this site is.

What else. I finished putting up the porch; I went to see Micky Blue Eyes at the local cinema – which was cool. Predictable but enjoyable – and our Mr Grant did not stammer too much…..

Apart from that I’ve started to get more – shall we say – florid in descriptions of my experience (job wise). Not lying – just writing in such a way as to allow multiple interpretations of the sentances – the most obvious not nessacarily being accurate. I’m fed up of being told I don’t have the 2000 years experience in a commercial environment….Aledgedly there’s a skills shortage – but if they won’t employ me until I’ve got commercial experience how am I meant to get it?

Sorry, moan over.

The computers also playing up – but then it has been on for days without a break – that may not sound much but – it needs a 9″ desk fan to keep it cool enough to work (it has that many drives in it) – so several days without a crash (requiring a reset) is pretty good. But one of my macro inserters is now just going splut and the browser keeps complaining about undefined font handles (comes from S24’s habit of resetting my machine to the system font). Okay. Time to tidy and do job apps…..fun fun fun.

Missing SO. Bugger.

Love Kate

07 Sep 1999, 15:37.35

Ha, fixed it. (see earlier entry for explanation).

07 Sep 1999, 14:18.45

Oooh, daytime and I’m writing something….but since the SO is looking we’ll leave the rest until she’s not around *grin*.

Anyway, a relaxing week of:

1. My parents being away
2. The SO Being here
3. Gorgeous weather

means that I’ve been out and about quite a bit….making it harder to put myself away when the parents come back (BTW for information I’m 21, living at home while looking for employment and the parents are (hopefully) not going to be informed until I can saunter away to give them time to chill out if ness.). Anyway – it’s been great fun – and theres more yet….

Apart from that, I’ve managed to put the Hannah’s bit up on the SO’s page…which is one of the most touching things I’ve read. Ahhh, she’s all sleepy on the bed….

There’s lots more, but we don’t want her to see it before it goes up, so I’ll wait until she’s gone. However the depressing news it that she’s off up north, and thus visits will be less frequent than they have been.

Also – I’m still thinking it’s time to fix the links bar which has been broken since I “improved” it.

Oh yes and I GOT TO MEET ELASTICA!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH! Signed EP box. Wooo HOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Cool or what??? And they played for ~1Hr. Loved the new stuff, still love the old stuff. The EP’s currently being played to death by me…..so that’s cooooool.

Anyhow. I’m going to have a shower ‘cos my Sis is coming and we need to get cleaned up having cleaned up the house……

07 Sep 1999, 15:37.35

Ha, fixed it. (see earlier entry for explanation).

07 Sep 1999, 14:18.45

Oooh, daytime and I’m writing something….but since the SO is looking we’ll leave the rest until she’s not around *grin*.

Anyway, a relaxing week of:

1. My parents being away
2. The SO Being here
3. Gorgeous weather

means that I’ve been out and about quite a bit….making it harder to put myself away when the parents come back (BTW for information I’m 21, living at home while looking for employment and the parents are (hopefully) not going to be informed until I can saunter away to give them time to chill out if ness.). Anyway – it’s been great fun – and theres more yet….

Apart from that, I’ve managed to put the Hannah’s bit up on the SO’s page…which is one of the most touching things I’ve read. Ahhh, she’s all sleepy on the bed….

There’s lots more, but we don’t want her to see it before it goes up, so I’ll wait until she’s gone. However the depressing news it that she’s off up north, and thus visits will be less frequent than they have been.

Also – I’m still thinking it’s time to fix the links bar which has been broken since I “improved” it.

Oh yes and I GOT TO MEET ELASTICA!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH! Signed EP box. Wooo HOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Cool or what??? And they played for ~1Hr. Loved the new stuff, still love the old stuff. The EP’s currently being played to death by me…..so that’s cooooool.

Anyhow. I’m going to have a shower ‘cos my Sis is coming and we need to get cleaned up having cleaned up the house……