Tag: Old Site

Oh my god, this is written at a sensible time!

Well, I though you deprived people all needed an update on my life….

What’s happened in the past 4 days? Well I’ve actually had an interesting few days. My job has ben dead quiet over the last two days – simply due to the fact that the school has broken up for Xmas – so it’s only the few departments which are still about and any left over jobs to do…..

So I’ve spent many happy hours downloading stuff off the internet – and borrowed the School Zip Drive to bring ~270 Mb home!

Hugo’s still playing up a little *as is my spacebar*. If anyone can suggest the origin of a high pitched screech which tends to appear when the engine revs change dramatically, on starting or on changing gear (it comes and goes fairly quickly, doesn’t always happen and is driving me nuts). So I’ll ask my local Yugo specialist next time I see him (Saturday – when I get the new Radiator). However he’s been generally good. Getting me home and to work (tocuh wood) reliably…..Starting in the mornings….there was one incident tho’…

About two mornings I got up – struggled through my morning routine – reaching the car at 7:45 (to be at work at 8:30). Ice was thick on the windows, and the first sign that something might be amiss came as I tried to put the key in the lock….

The little cover thing was “unkeen” on moving

After a while the key slipped right in. Would it turn? Ha.

So I wandered round to the passenger door – I’ll open this one then….or not. The only entry point I could open was the boot. Ha – I’ll clamber in, and open the door from the inside. No. Not on – leaning in only proved how solidly frozen the mechanism was. Sitll after about 15 minutes of alternately spraying deicer and breathing on the lock it opened. And I made it to work on time!

Now, the other thing that has happened is along these lines. Last night I was on ICQ – yes my parents are going to kill me – with Hannah (Who’s coming to see me next week – WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!, Sorry). Anyway – someone logged on and saw “Web design” in the description of my profile. Perhaps I should make clear that in general I’m on ICQ as myself.

Anyway – they queried whether I was interested in doing some web-design work in Reading….after some inaccurate statments – I came clean. I sent them my web page (i.e. this one) as one of the example sites – and asked them to e-mail my (Kate’s) address…. Now after panicing for about a week….and Hannah – quite reasonibly suggesting that perhaps I should calm down. I did.

And then I sent an e-mail to my oldest friend. The one I’ve known for 18 of my 21 years – and only had 2 arguments with – just chatting about what’s been going on. Then a strange “insanity” overcame me – and I explained about myself. As in myself. And now I’m dead nervous. I can’t tell if it was a good idea or not – but I had to tell him.

Anyway – got to cook dinner now.

TTFN

Loads of Love

Kate

12 Dec 1999

The chaos in my room continues unabated; the keyboards, mice and suchlike cluttering up every surface available. My feet are resting on two video recorders on-top of which is a huge box of slides. Arrgggg. I need a place of my own. Just so I can spread out my stuff around the house. I mean how many people have a drinks “cabinet” (shelf) in their bedroom. No, don’t answer that.

Envy has been playing a bit of a role this weekend. My sisters birthday. There I sat saying how wonderful her dresses that she had just got looked – wishing they were mine (actually they wouldn’t fit. She’s several sizes smaller than me – but they were gorgeous). Then I got DVD Review magazine. And it has Carrie-Anne Moss, (Trinity from the Matrix). Oh god – I wish I looked like that. Anyway. I tried to write something today, however I didn’t get time. I did wash two cars, clean the patio (wash of the gunk that grows on the paving stones), do my Xmas cards (sorry anyone I missed), write a letter to Hannah, have a shower and enter 3 competitions.

That’s not bad for a sunday. Oh and Hugo’s getting a new radiator next week. So there we go.

In an attempt to make up for not writing anything I’ve decided to stick something on the “scrawl” page inviting people to e-mail me, and I’ll chuck an e-mail out whenever I write a new chapter. How does that sound?

Okay…off to play now….I’m going to see about a new look for this site.

Loadsa Love

Kate

06 Dec 1999

Well, first day at the new job….how did it go?
06:45. Awaken to the melodious tunes of Virgin Radio + Static
07:30. Set off, Hugo start’s first time, the wail of the waterpump being covered by a radio turned up “quite” loud.
08:00. Temperature gauge starts rising. Rather rapidly.
08:10. Pull into shell garage. Top up header tank (which was completely empty) Daren’t try to open radiator as it’s bloody hot.
08:20. Limp into place of work. Water pump screaching and making rending metal noises.
08:30. Begin work. Ritual humiliation of being “introduced” to a room full of people.
17:00. End work. Pour in a full 5 litres of water before heading off…..At random passing place before the major A road stop and pour in another 1.5 litres. At first garage stop and pour in 3 litres. Refresh water supplies.

At 3rd garage stop, and pour in 5 litres. At junction about 10 minutes from home – stop and pour in the final 3 litres of water. Stagger home – at 40 miles an hour.

Strip car.

I actually quite enjoyed work. Not that I did much….. It being (a) the first day and (b) quiet anyway – All I did was take apart a laptop and fail to mend it.

Still it’s a nice place with free food and coffee. So. Missing Hannah. Need a hug. Okay – I’ve got a job – now all I need is a house……

Kate

04 Dec 1999,23:50.05

I’m going to be slaughtered. I’ve been on the net for 2 hours. Oh god.

I’ve just realised that while 10261 people have been here, or at least to Kate’s Cavernous Cavern’s index page; an amazingly small (approx as changed counter) 400 people have visited Kato’s pointless page. I’m sure this says something and I’m not at all sure that I know what it is.

It worries me that people might just be visiting my site because they are looking up transsexual. However if it’s being helpful in some way to those finding it then that’s wonderful….

I simply didn’t realise how many hit’s this site’s been taking. Wow. And wow again.

Obviously some of those are repeat visits. And a couple of them are mine. But in general I don’t bother to look at the index page – because I don’t bother to look at anything except to check it’s up okay…I’ve got the site on my hard-disk so I hardly need to look at it.

Anyway – today has been a little stressful. The screaching noise eminating from the front of my car was diagnosed as a water pump failing (it was working but leaking slowly and definately on it’s way out). So a replacement was obtained….

Yugo Parts Number
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\/
Code is incorrect (area code had changed); obtain new code
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\/
Number unobtainable (suprise, suprise)
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\/
Check with operator – says number is now preceded by an 8
however she checks it and finds it’s changed (recorded message)
and so she gives me the new number….
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\/
New number “temporarily out of order”
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\/
Ring operator – find out it’s been out of order for years!So then we tried a local part company – yes they could get one – but to get it with 1 week would cost £43. Half the cost of the car. So a local breakers was tried. Yes they had one, it was £17. A lot more like it!

Obtained. Fitted. Cut finger. Attempted to crush other finger. Much pain. Now leaks more than it did before. God knows why. Standing in garage with bucket under it. Arse.

And to top it off Adecco haven’t paid me for 2 weeks. Impressed I am not. (Yoda I am not).

I’m still in shock from the 10000! Wow. Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy (in the words of “working girl”).

Anyway – I’m shattered. My parents got me up at 8 to play musical cars this morning. so I feel like death. Time for bed. G’night.

Kate

29 Nov 1999

He he he he he…..I’ve got a job…..and now to celebrate…..Black & White (Choice Old Scotch Whisky)….hic….

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29 Nov 1999; 00:32.18

Well, it’s been an odd 10 days. I’ve spent a wonderful 2 days at Hannahs (with her parents)….It all went swimmingly apart from some heart stopping moments involving the word Tea. Both in the form of Tea – Dinner and Tea – Tea. It was wonderful to see her – and be woken in the morning with a kiss.

Sadly I didn’t get the chance to chat to Abi (Hannah’s sister), due to time pressures although she did get a couple of words in at the computer show (Yes – I went to a computer show – but only for a couple of hours – it allowed me to pick up a new cartridge for my printer…..). The nicest thing was to go to sleep with her arms around me…and to hear her breathing….I miss that when she’s not around.

Anyway – I had an interview – which may or may not have gone well. I hope it did. Ironically it was at a Girls School. One of the questions was what do you do when 30 girls fall in love with you? Err….what – are they all gay? No, that wasn’t the answer I gave. Also my machine is online – so watch out for new, improved e-mail facilities.

My dad pilfered a monitor from work for me (actually they were quite keen for him to take it as it’s surplus to requirements at the moment. So that’s 1 Dell 17″ monitor sat next to my MTC 17″ monitor….)

However bad things that happened this week consisted of:
Hugo breaking down and dumping me in a Q8 garage in Thatcham
Miserable, foul, awful day at work.

Hugo’s throttle return spring went walkies – it appears that they have to be ordered specially – so courtesy of a 1980 fiesta we have a replacement made from a bonnet spring. However I had to call my dad out at 11pm, to tow me home…..He was very good about it – but probably not really impressed….

The bad day at work was just that – however it was the same day Hugo broke down. Thank god for Hannah – she really cheered me up – even if I did ring her at 1.15am….

Also I found out there’s someone at work who’s a transvestite – and I also saw the range of opinions on the matter (he was defending the right of men to wear dresses – because he likes wearing dresses). From “yeah, whatever” to “Good for you – do what you want” to verging on “pervert”. The last of which was definately in the minority – although apparently it’s against dress code regulations for a man to come in wearing a dress – which is discrimination I believe.

Anyway – we discussed briefly Rocky Horror – and he implied, no he out right said – I was the sort of person who wouldn’t dress up…!!!!!! Anyway – I put him straight on that one and now nearly everyone’s seen the Rocky Horror show shot – (see Worlds Worst Photos of Me)….

And most of them complemented me on my legs….. :-)

Anyway – best be off….time to sleep me thinks.

Loads of love

Kate.

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….

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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:

 

“Look – I’m only £10. Buy me, buy me”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….