Oxford, Sniffles and Doom
Jan. 28th, 2003 12:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lathanyOn Sunday, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bateleur's mother came over to babysit. This meant that I was free to escape for the day (having finally updated Scary, bateleur programmed). Escape meant climbing into the car and driving to Oxford. Alone. It has been many, many years since I drove a car with just me in it. It meant that filling the car with petrol was exceptionally amusing, 'cos I really haven't had to do it for some years.
Well, firstly it occurred to me that I hadn't actually checked that the car was an unleaded eater. Admittedly four-star cars are now pretty rare, but I wanted to be sure. However the manual was in the door, so I had a quick check and it seemed to be.
Then came the business of figuring out which side the petrol cap was on. I looked in both side mirrors and took a guess. My guess was right, fortunately.
I had the minor, age-old problem of ending up behind a car whose owner wasn't merely stopping to buy petrol, but giving his life story to the pump attendant. However the solution to this one was obvious - I backed up and changed pumps.
Did I mention that I haven't done this for years ? Well, I had my first experience of the "pay at the pump" machine. I have never actually had my card swallowed by anything to date. But I still watched it nervously, convinced I was going to end up Switch-card-less.
Then I had to figure out how to open the petrol cap. I remember when it used to be a simple matter of putting the key in and turning it. Obviously, that went out of date. Instead I had a quick hunt in the front of the car for the lever to open the cap, so I could get to the bit to put the key in.
The rest was comparatively straightforward. There were a few minor glitches, such as wondering briefly if the machine knew I was done and wasn't going to charge someone else's petrol to my card. And that small, yet hugely amusing moment, when I struggled to lock the petrol cap back on. However, I survived and drove my newly-filled car off towards the M25.
I arrived in Oxford a mere half-hour late.triskellian kindly ignored my tardiness and we set off for lunch at Cafe Coco with smiorgan. Cafe Coco have changed their menu since I last ate there and, sadly, the stuffed vine leaves are gone. However they do a reasonable range of pizzas, so it was still a good lunch.
The afternoon was spent withtriskellian, Rhi and Jon. We talked about writing (mine and Rhi's), books and meeting authors. We all agreed (well, Jon hadn't read it; but anyway) that The Amber Spyglass had been a disappointment and that the first two of Pullman's trilogy were much better. We also discussed how some authors really can't end a series when they are supposed to. I whinged about Wurts' Mistwraith saga (supposed to be five books - currently likely estimate is twelve). Then, of course, there is the Wheel of Time library which, fortunately, none of us had been sucked into. All in all, it was a very pleasant afternoon and included tea, ginger cake and Shadow and Ghost (both smaller than Emily).
The evening involved a return to Feltham to collectbateleur. Then going back out to the local Chinese (Swans in Ashford) and ordering their "You Choose" feast. Meaning that the chef gives us whatever he feels like cooking. This turned out to be mixed starter, duck, then the main course (sweet chilli prawns, chicken and asparagus and sizzling beef), with glazed toffee fruit and ice cream to finish. But, best of all, no babies were around.
The twins still have their colds. Ryan is mostly recovered now, but Bea is a day or two behind him. Much misery, coughing and runny noses. I can see why people find ill children exhausting. The worst part is not being able to do anything for them. I can't even tell them that it is a cold and they will get over it.
My remaining spare time has been spent planning the plot of book two and playing Doom. It's impressive how playable that game still is given how old it is. I have just finished the last of the three sections on Hurt me plenty. Next stop Doom 2. Perhaps, one day, I'll try to accomplishao_lai's impressive feat of finishing both on Ultra Violence. Perhaps not.
bateleur's mother came over to babysit. This meant that I was free to escape for the day (having finally updated Scary, bateleur programmed). Escape meant climbing into the car and driving to Oxford. Alone. It has been many, many years since I drove a car with just me in it. It meant that filling the car with petrol was exceptionally amusing, 'cos I really haven't had to do it for some years.Well, firstly it occurred to me that I hadn't actually checked that the car was an unleaded eater. Admittedly four-star cars are now pretty rare, but I wanted to be sure. However the manual was in the door, so I had a quick check and it seemed to be.
Then came the business of figuring out which side the petrol cap was on. I looked in both side mirrors and took a guess. My guess was right, fortunately.
I had the minor, age-old problem of ending up behind a car whose owner wasn't merely stopping to buy petrol, but giving his life story to the pump attendant. However the solution to this one was obvious - I backed up and changed pumps.
Did I mention that I haven't done this for years ? Well, I had my first experience of the "pay at the pump" machine. I have never actually had my card swallowed by anything to date. But I still watched it nervously, convinced I was going to end up Switch-card-less.
Then I had to figure out how to open the petrol cap. I remember when it used to be a simple matter of putting the key in and turning it. Obviously, that went out of date. Instead I had a quick hunt in the front of the car for the lever to open the cap, so I could get to the bit to put the key in.
The rest was comparatively straightforward. There were a few minor glitches, such as wondering briefly if the machine knew I was done and wasn't going to charge someone else's petrol to my card. And that small, yet hugely amusing moment, when I struggled to lock the petrol cap back on. However, I survived and drove my newly-filled car off towards the M25.
I arrived in Oxford a mere half-hour late.
triskellian kindly ignored my tardiness and we set off for lunch at Cafe Coco with smiorgan. Cafe Coco have changed their menu since I last ate there and, sadly, the stuffed vine leaves are gone. However they do a reasonable range of pizzas, so it was still a good lunch.The afternoon was spent with
triskellian, Rhi and Jon. We talked about writing (mine and Rhi's), books and meeting authors. We all agreed (well, Jon hadn't read it; but anyway) that The Amber Spyglass had been a disappointment and that the first two of Pullman's trilogy were much better. We also discussed how some authors really can't end a series when they are supposed to. I whinged about Wurts' Mistwraith saga (supposed to be five books - currently likely estimate is twelve). Then, of course, there is the Wheel of Time library which, fortunately, none of us had been sucked into. All in all, it was a very pleasant afternoon and included tea, ginger cake and Shadow and Ghost (both smaller than Emily).The evening involved a return to Feltham to collect
bateleur. Then going back out to the local Chinese (Swans in Ashford) and ordering their "You Choose" feast. Meaning that the chef gives us whatever he feels like cooking. This turned out to be mixed starter, duck, then the main course (sweet chilli prawns, chicken and asparagus and sizzling beef), with glazed toffee fruit and ice cream to finish. But, best of all, no babies were around.The twins still have their colds. Ryan is mostly recovered now, but Bea is a day or two behind him. Much misery, coughing and runny noses. I can see why people find ill children exhausting. The worst part is not being able to do anything for them. I can't even tell them that it is a cold and they will get over it.
My remaining spare time has been spent planning the plot of book two and playing Doom. It's impressive how playable that game still is given how old it is. I have just finished the last of the three sections on Hurt me plenty. Next stop Doom 2. Perhaps, one day, I'll try to accomplish
ao_lai's impressive feat of finishing both on Ultra Violence. Perhaps not.
