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I didn't finish posting all the advent windows this year. However, instead of posting all the rest I'll stick with saying that the 24th door was Father Christmas (which happens roughly half the time with the nativity scene roughly the other half and rogue 24th windows that are neither almost never happen). We spent Christmas in Cambridge (and Royston).
Mary and Joseph / Battlegrounds
Dec. 18th, 2019 08:10 amYesterday's window was Mary and Joseph on the donkey.
I'm finding that watching Dom play Hearthstone: Battlegrounds is very entertaining. I don't know the main game very well, but Battlegrounds is fast, fun and seems to have fewer cards. I'm starting to recognise popular ones including "I am junk!"
I'm finding that watching Dom play Hearthstone: Battlegrounds is very entertaining. I don't know the main game very well, but Battlegrounds is fast, fun and seems to have fewer cards. I'm starting to recognise popular ones including "I am junk!"
Robin / Busy office
Dec. 16th, 2019 10:10 pmToday's window was a robin.
I was surprised by how busy work was today. I mean, by how many people were still in the office. Whilst three of my immediate team (of nine) are off, very few other people seem to be. I guess it's still over a week to go. However, it seems that the numbers will soon be dwindling, with various people having Wednesday and Thursday as a last day (no Tuesdays though).
I was surprised by how busy work was today. I mean, by how many people were still in the office. Whilst three of my immediate team (of nine) are off, very few other people seem to be. I guess it's still over a week to go. However, it seems that the numbers will soon be dwindling, with various people having Wednesday and Thursday as a last day (no Tuesdays though).
A pair of noblewomen / Thoughts
Dec. 15th, 2019 09:00 pmToday's window was a pair of noblewomen. I'm not quite sure what was supposed to be Xmassy about them, but hey.
Today I did various pre-Christmas tasks, including replacing the holly in the dining room. I've got four working days left and it feels like four too many. I'm so ready for a holiday now.
Today I did various pre-Christmas tasks, including replacing the holly in the dining room. I've got four working days left and it feels like four too many. I'm so ready for a holiday now.
Owl / Robin Hood
Dec. 12th, 2019 08:56 pmToday's window was an owl. This went well with the full moon and less so with the Advent theme.
We went to see Ryan as the title character in his school pantomime of Robin Hood. There was an archery contest, the gathering of the Merry Men, the cake baking scene, the jail dance and then the wedding. So, not entirely traditional. However, there was also ice cream.
We went to see Ryan as the title character in his school pantomime of Robin Hood. There was an archery contest, the gathering of the Merry Men, the cake baking scene, the jail dance and then the wedding. So, not entirely traditional. However, there was also ice cream.
Carriage / Jury
Dec. 7th, 2019 09:44 pmToday's window was a carriage.
Dom ran a one-off game today where we were five members of the jury in a breaking and entering trial. The man accused of doing so had previously owned the house until his death. And this was set in the real world. It was weird and interesting and we did give a relevant verdict.
Dom ran a one-off game today where we were five members of the jury in a breaking and entering trial. The man accused of doing so had previously owned the house until his death. And this was set in the real world. It was weird and interesting and we did give a relevant verdict.
Carol Singers / Quiet
Dec. 4th, 2019 07:46 pmThe fourth window was of carol singers.
I worked from home today, so thankfully no trains and also it was mainly quiet. Reeve spent the last hour of my work sitting on my lap. He was good to begin with, but by the end he was trying to pat the space bar and didn't like me typing over him.
I worked from home today, so thankfully no trains and also it was mainly quiet. Reeve spent the last hour of my work sitting on my lap. He was good to begin with, but by the end he was trying to pat the space bar and didn't like me typing over him.
Postbox / Trains and things
Dec. 2nd, 2019 09:11 pmToday's window was a postbox by a tree.
This was the first day of the train strike and it went OK for me. Both my trains took longer - around 15 minutes longer which upped my overall commute time to well over three hours. However, I got a seat in both directions and so wasn't too bad overall.
Also, Kim is back. She's a friend who also commutes to and from Ashford. It was her first day in a new job today. I suspect her cats (Calvin and Hobbes) are going to miss having her in the house, though.
This was the first day of the train strike and it went OK for me. Both my trains took longer - around 15 minutes longer which upped my overall commute time to well over three hours. However, I got a seat in both directions and so wasn't too bad overall.
Also, Kim is back. She's a friend who also commutes to and from Ashford. It was her first day in a new job today. I suspect her cats (Calvin and Hobbes) are going to miss having her in the house, though.
Wreath / Beginning Advent
Dec. 1st, 2019 08:18 pmUp went the advent calendar this morning; the first window was a holly wreath. This season always feels like a long sweep of celebrations - this year particularly, with the duo hitting eighteen. Yesterday, Bea had five friends around for a pyjama party which mainly featured them decorated their own cup cakes.
Today we put the tree up. We tested the lights beforehand, they worked, then failed to work on the tree itself. We had to take them back off, when they worked again. We're still not sure what actually happened. Tomorrow I face the first train strike day. I'm hoping it will be better than I fear.
Today we put the tree up. We tested the lights beforehand, they worked, then failed to work on the tree itself. We had to take them back off, when they worked again. We're still not sure what actually happened. Tomorrow I face the first train strike day. I'm hoping it will be better than I fear.
Cloak and Dagger
Nov. 23rd, 2019 10:24 pmWe've just finished watching the first season of Cloak and Dagger which is part of the Marvel superhero range. It was OK, but not brilliant. I thought that the three leads were the best part of it - and that the policewoman was probably the best of the three. It's rather too slow moving, it's depressing and its narrative pieces and flashbacks are much less gripping than the show-writers think they are. On the other hand, it's an interesting premise, the season had a couple of strong episodes (the one on the rig / hospital was good) and, having finally got the origin story stuff out, may manage a better season two.
Work "ice breaker"
Oct. 29th, 2019 07:33 pmWhy do you have toilet paper squares in your bag Dawn?
About that....
There was an icebreaker session at work today. We were divided into five teams of seven and each team leader was given a toilet roll. We were told we would be sharing "personal details" with the rest of the team.
The instructions? To tear off a length of as many squares as you would use on a trip to the toilet.
There was silence. This was the sort of detail that no-one actually wanted to know about their co-workers. At all.
There were various mutterings about what sort of visit was this about?
Then eventually, each leader tore off a length of toilet roll and handed it round.
Next step? For each square, you tore off the square and told one interesting fact about yourself.
So I now have a bag containing some toilet paper squares which have been torn off.
I'd like to go back to the "which animal best describes you?" thing.
About that....
There was an icebreaker session at work today. We were divided into five teams of seven and each team leader was given a toilet roll. We were told we would be sharing "personal details" with the rest of the team.
The instructions? To tear off a length of as many squares as you would use on a trip to the toilet.
There was silence. This was the sort of detail that no-one actually wanted to know about their co-workers. At all.
There were various mutterings about what sort of visit was this about?
Then eventually, each leader tore off a length of toilet roll and handed it round.
Next step? For each square, you tore off the square and told one interesting fact about yourself.
So I now have a bag containing some toilet paper squares which have been torn off.
I'd like to go back to the "which animal best describes you?" thing.
Border and Furies of Calderon
Oct. 28th, 2019 08:26 amAbout a week ago we watched Border, a Swedish film, which probably fits best in the fantasy genre. The film follows Tina, an unattractive woman (apparently about four hours a day in make-up) who works as a customs officer. She is excellent at her job and can spot (smell) the guilty coming into port. However, she is somewhat lonely, clearly enjoying the beautiful Swedish scenery (which is stunning) rather than any other part of her life. Then she meets someone like her. To say anything more would be a spoiler. It's an interesting premise and plays out well. It's about the right length for what it's trying to cover. Whilst some parts skirt on horror, there is little in the way of jump scares (one in the middle only). Recommended if you want to see something different (it has subtitles).
Having found Jim Butcher's Dresden series gripping, I tried his fantasy series (Codex Alera), of which Furies of Calderon is the start. And... it's fine. The book is readable, I liked the characters and I thought it was an interesting premise (essentially the fantasy comes from elements that humans use: "crafting", which is explained from the start). It's about the magic, but also about the politics and the struggle for power (which, admittedly, describes most fantasy series at this point). I probably will read the others. However, I didn't find it addictive in the way that Dresden is. Perhaps because it bounces around rather more viewpoints.
Having found Jim Butcher's Dresden series gripping, I tried his fantasy series (Codex Alera), of which Furies of Calderon is the start. And... it's fine. The book is readable, I liked the characters and I thought it was an interesting premise (essentially the fantasy comes from elements that humans use: "crafting", which is explained from the start). It's about the magic, but also about the politics and the struggle for power (which, admittedly, describes most fantasy series at this point). I probably will read the others. However, I didn't find it addictive in the way that Dresden is. Perhaps because it bounces around rather more viewpoints.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Oct. 27th, 2019 05:40 pmFor my birthday this year, Martin bought me Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. We started watching it, at about three episodes a week and finished it recently.
I thought it was excellent. It is a detailed, compelling story about the Elric brothers, their use of alchemy and those they know and meet. The story begins with a personal tragedy, which they make into a disaster, and goes on to be how they try to recover from it. What I particularly liked is that, being a manga-based series, it was complete when they made it, so it's very consistent (too many series, you can tell, are written a season at a time). That said, it does still have slight elements of "as we went along" - I assume because the manga was created that way.
I really liked Edward himself, Greed, Hawkeye, Mustang and Sloth. Bea loved the panda (or cat, as it was so often called). The number of character arguably expanded a bit too much and some of the early ones disappeared when it would have been nice to see more (the librarian, for example). Also, it slowed down a lot at the end and the last quarter must have taken place within 24 hours.
Overall, though - a lovely series.
I thought it was excellent. It is a detailed, compelling story about the Elric brothers, their use of alchemy and those they know and meet. The story begins with a personal tragedy, which they make into a disaster, and goes on to be how they try to recover from it. What I particularly liked is that, being a manga-based series, it was complete when they made it, so it's very consistent (too many series, you can tell, are written a season at a time). That said, it does still have slight elements of "as we went along" - I assume because the manga was created that way.
I really liked Edward himself, Greed, Hawkeye, Mustang and Sloth. Bea loved the panda (or cat, as it was so often called). The number of character arguably expanded a bit too much and some of the early ones disappeared when it would have been nice to see more (the librarian, for example). Also, it slowed down a lot at the end and the last quarter must have taken place within 24 hours.
Overall, though - a lovely series.
