Thank you I did have a good day today, we went on a school trip to the National Portrait Gallery in London. It was really interesting, and I wish we could have spent longer there!

Oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh nooooooooo

I've been a ######

And am feeling so guilty.

I did something out of spite today, because I was really annoyed with someone for saying/doing some nasty things today/recently.

She's a really close friend, and has been quite spiteful recently- like me being lower than her makes her feel a lot better about herself. So I got hurt, and angry. So made a mistake.

But she's going through a hard time at the moment.

And now I feel really stupid and small, and don't know if it's all me being really stupid, or her being petty.

Grrr.. why are we completely incapable of running a decent train service in this country? It took ages to get home

I've cheered up now

Look to the happiness thread haaha

I HATE ticket touts.. it's legalised robbery. I really want to see MUSE at the O2 but purely out of principle, no way am I paying some tout GBP75 per ticket for rubbish seats For that I could get a great seat and see Ben Hur Live instead....

Why are these scumbag agencies allowed to buy tickets en masse and sell at vastly inflated prices?

Its hot. And this lab has 4 ovens and a furnace.

I'm melting...

Pour liquid nitrogen over yourself to cool down?*
*I obviously know you're not stupid enough to do this

I remember before leaving school I did work experience for an Chemical firm, working in the labs was so much fun... playing with mercury (probably not that safe now I look back at it and might explain my "quirkiness") and having water fights with syringes while waiting for experiments to finish was great

Oh, and the other techs getting me to smell various things that made me quite light-headed Butyl Acetate.. mm pear drops!

I'm sure there's a cylinder of liquid nitrogen around here somewhere...

Liquid mercury droplet aren't actually that dangerous, so far as I know; its breathing in the vapour that causes problems.

When we were messing with it, it was out in the open, not in a container, so there would be small amounts of vapour I think (remember what happened to the Hatters!), still, it was fun I remember seeing a programme on TV a while ago where they threw iron cannonballs into a bath of mercury, was awesome watching them float! I really should have been a mad scientist, I used to love fiddling with chemistry sets and electronics when I was at school.

It does seem to me that a lot of fun jobs in science are quite low down on the pay scale (unless you're on some well funded R&D project, or high up with a Pharmaceuticals firm etc), which is a right b*mmer

aaaaaarrrggghhh....left gardener to do the garden while at work yesterday...came back to find front window of house broken!! So many times I've asked him not to use his trimmer to get rid of the weeds on the driveway as stones kept hitting the windows. He is denying he has broken it. For half an hour he went on and on trying to explain to me he could not have done it as it is not the way he normally breaks windows (which apparently happens all the time!!!!)...the window would have been broken in a different way if he had done it!!!!
Furthermore he's sure it's been done by children using airguns because apparently that's how the window would get broken??!!!
I think he is watching too many movies!!!!
Grrrr......I hate taking time off work and having to stay at home waiting for workmen when I could take this time off going somewhere!!!

He should have some sort of liability insurance but if he's this defensive maybe he hasn't and is trying to get out of compensating you... If he didn't break it, he must have seen who did?!

Is he a sole trader or part of a bigger company?

He is unfortunately a sole trader and has not got any insurance. That's what I managed to understand while he talked nonstop not giving me a chance to talk myself!!! He has offered to bring one of his friends around to replace the window and to pay for half of the cost but I just do not trust him (and don't trust his friend to be a real glazier/window fitter. I also think it will need at least 2 people to replace the window!). At least I'm calmer today so can deal with things better!
I guess if he had phoned me straight away to tell me he had broken the window I would have been ok with that. Accidents happen but going home to find the broken window, having to phone him to ask him what happened and him denying he had anything to do with it upset me!

Hope you manage to get something sorted out missypiano...

Thanks Barry!
Strange what goes through your mind when something like this happen! When I got home and saw the window broken I run indoors and was so relieved to see that I hadn't been broken into and that my clavinova was still there!!! (computer equipment and all the rest of my stuff never even entered my mind in that moment!!! )!!

I think we musicians would be exactly the same. It'd be the clarinets I'd look for first if I were in your situation...

Its amazing what unfortunate coincidences sometimes happen.

Earlier in the week, I learnt that my first ever school mate (we stayed in the same from at all our schools from the same day of starting until going to Uni) died of Leukaemia at age 62. I hadn't seen him for many years, but we always exchanged Christmas Cards, and I was an usher at his wedding. (I had the choice of usher or organist!)

Anyway now I hear comedy actress Mollie Sugden (real name Mary) has died. She was a school mate of my (late) mother at the same school. Mum said she was just as funny as a kid as she was later in life.

RIP Jim and Mollie !

I really can't see burglars stealing a Clavinova, mine weighs a tonne! If anything they will go for laptops, cameras, flatscreens and other stuff that is easy to sell on.

I agree!!!! I guess that the Clavinova came to my mind straight away because it's something I use on a daily basis and would find really hard to do without!!! I could live at home for a while without computers, cameras, TV etc... but no piano would be sooooo hard!!!!
But you are completely right, I don't think this is the first thing burglars would go for!!

Broke my toe last week. Today tripped over a rug in a carpet shop and cut the end of my big toe on the same foot. Argh, waiting for third accident to foot.....

Quick, where are the ambulance chasers!!! Did you ring Claims Direct?

Argggghhhhhhhh

The Art School have banned me from taking my dog into our studio for a 'life class' in dog painting!!!!!!

It's Health and Safety gone mad The policy document they sent me runs to 3 pages and is full of such sterile rubbish... I am absolutely furious.

It's an ART school for goodness sake... if you can't stretch boundaries there then where on earth are we free?

It doesn't seem like this in Europe from my experience, it's only the UK that is really anal... Last time I was in Belgium they had girders swinging across the road from cranes and electricity cables running across the ground in a market... you wouldn't get that here with the 'Elf n Safety brigade

The government/authorities over here must think that none of the population posess any common sense, and that we are obviously incapable of taking responsibility for our own actions...

Your household insurance will probably cover you if it is an expensive (ie more than the excess) repair. My parents had to claim when they had almost exactly the same thing happen a couple of years ago to a floor to ceiling double glazed patio door. They were in the house at the time and the sound scared them witless.

We had a 'PSHE day' at school, all about domestic violence, loss and bereavement. Fun - NOT! I did manage to escape to my clarinet lesson twenty minutes early though.

ARGH. This holiday is going to be ######. I can't stand my parents' attitude. I'm working all summer, I don't ask them for money, or very many favours, I asked for one thing, a lift to a singing lesson, once a week, which I would pay for, and I immediately got a rant about how they#re not obliged to go running around after me!

Firstly, I didn't say they were obliged, I simply asked if they'd do me a favour, and secondly, why on earth did they choose a place to live which had no public transport if they didn't intend to ever have to do any driving?!
I appreciate that they don't have to do what I asked, but I find the attitude that says they'll only do nice things for me (or anyone) if they are obliged to, so obnoxious. ARGH!

I should've learned to drive faster, obviously, but I suck at it, and I hated it. Now I don't have much of a chance.

They don't sound that helpful, that sucks How far away are your lessons... could you borrow a bike or something if it's not that far away?

Fourteen miles round. I've biked it before, but I was fitter then, I'm in terrible shape now. I'm gonna have to try and fix my bike though I think.

I know I keep reiterating this, but it's the attitude I can't stand. They're on the defensive the second I say hello on the phone, immediately saying "whatever you want, we don't have to do it, and don't you dare try to imply that we should". It's as though I'm a horrible, spoilt, entitled brat, but I don't ask them for very much...

are you an only child out of interest? seems an odd situation

Nope I have an older brother and younger sister...

Hum, does one get all the favours or something then? That's what normally seems to happen in that sort of situation My brother always used to get away with murder and I always used to get grief, it used to drive me insane, I'm sure that's part of the reason I still don't get on with him all that well all these years later..

On a side note I had an odd dream last night about being in the middle of nowhere on a mountain bike and the tyres getting punctures... I woke up knackered after "walking" miles and miles in my sleep

Well, my sister is rather spoilt. She does a million activities which my mother takes her to uncomplaining, she gets whatever she asks for and occasional treats 'just because'. We always say our parents love her best, and even she agrees. We always send her to do our bidding if we fancy a takeaway or something.
It's probably just because she's the youngest though, and my parents have relaxed since my brother and I were her age. Also, because my bro and I are almost grown up and shouldn't need as much.

My brother is a bit of a golden boy too, he can talk his way out of any situation, and make everyone laugh, when he's in the middle of a telling off.

I'm the problem child, it seems, as I'm the only one who argues with my parents.

Still, middle child syndrome is pretty common, and I'll be out of there soon.

I'm the eldest, and while I can't complain at all about my upbringing, my brother did get away with loads. I think it's why me and my sister are so close - we had a common enemy back in the day

Oh well! Do you ever sleep?

Oh dear... is your brother the youngest? In my experience, the middle child never gets away with anything. My brother and I get along well, and I'm close to my sister, but I do resent them a little. I mean I get punished constantly, privileges being taken away etc, for things like being five minutes late to be picked up, after my train's been delayed. My sister though, at thirteen, sneaks off to gigs in pubs and bars, telling our parents she's at her friends' house... Often gets caught, and is told firmly not to do it again, because it's dangerous. No consequences. My brother has just dropped out of uni (which I think is fine it's not for everyone, but my parents aren't of the same mind), is constantly asking for more money cause he's spent it all on beer, and went out, two days after his momentous uni news, and came home with a black eye.
Nothing! He was told that my parents were angry, but no consequences.

Gosh I sleep all the time! In seminars and lectures, and one memorable occasion, over the pool table, as it was my shot... I just leaned down to the cue as you're supposed to and found my eyes closing.
Night isn't my normal sleeping time though, no. Hopefully over summer I'll fix my sleeping pattern.

He is the youngest of us 3, yep. Considering your age, I would be quite bl**dy annoyed as they are not treating you as an adult. I know the whole "our roof, our rules" thing sort of applies, but still...

I sleep badly at the best of times This heat just makes it worse. I just comfort myself with the fact that I'll have plenty of time to sleep when I'm dead and buried

I believe the line is that they're only treating me as a child while I'm dependent on them. They can't take away my computer or the TV anymore, but they can withhold 'favours' and things, such as lifts home from the train station, when I come home from uni...

Yes there are so many more exciting things to do than sleep. Of course maybe the forums shouldn't count as exciting. I will have to sleep at some point tonight though, as I have to be up in the morning (not early, just, as opposed to the afternoon) to say goodbye to friends.

Meh, IMO perhaps it's the whole parent thing where they quite like the fact that they still have some sort of power over you.

I have work in the morning but I'm on late shift so I get a lie-in Don't "diss" the forums... there's not much else I could do that's mentally stimulating at this time of night

Well... I'm reading... a book for twelve year olds.. totally mentally stimulating. To be fair last night I read Frankenstein in two hours, to prepare for my seminar today - and that was the last of the booklist reading til next term!

Haha yes, my mum just adores having something to hold over my head. When I was little I used to think birthday parties were her greatest joy. Nothing she loved more than saying "if you don't ______ then you're not going to so-and-so's party". Now she has to wait until I need lifts somewhere.

I wouldn't worry... I've read some Garth Nix stuff lately which I really enjoyed. Sometimes I like reading stuff that isn't too challenging, especially after wading through epic sagas that span several books I tear through stuff as well... I have a habit of speed-reading and can easily get through a reasonably sized novel in a few days on the train...

Oh well, time to devise a plan to get driving methinks, that will sort you out What are you doing at uni btw.. are you doing anything musically oriented or is your singing something you do as an outside interest? (I'm still relatively new here so still know naff all about what people are up to!)

English and related literatures. Basically ordinary lit, but with some French literature in third year. Apparently we have to read French lit and then write the essays in English! Nightmare, I'd rather just stick to one language even if it meant writing in French.

I've never read Garth Nix, but on the whole I adore childrens' books. Well, young adult, I guess. It's so relaxing, especially after studying lots that are more difficult.

I just sing for fun, I'm not particularly musical really. I love it, but I'm not so great at it, I find improvising, sight-reading and aurals really difficult - all things which involve musical instinct and knowledge!

What about you, do you study/work in a music-related field?

Fairy nuff I wish my French was good enough to read lit. A friend of mine has moved to Brittany so I go over there now and then to brush up my French, only it's not doing me any favours as they speak in so much slang over there it's crazy!

Yeah Garth Nix falls into the "young adult" genre, I would really recommend the Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen books I read them in the wrong order though (2,3,1) as I didn't get on with Sabriel at first

I think I remember seeing a youtube video when I first joined, so saying you're not musical at all is doing yourself something of an injustice I think Stick at it if you enjoy it! I hate Aural as well, I think Chinese water torture would be more enjoyable...

Aww thanks. My voice is nice enough, I guess, I just get a bit discouraged hearing about musical prodigies, or girls (usually) who go to my old singing teacher demanding fast progress, who are doing grade 5 or 8 within months! I worked through the grades and it took me years! Plus my sight-reading is pre grade one level, and my aural is pre grade 5 - and I'm supposed to be doing grade 8 soon!

I remember the Garth Nix books being in my library, but I didn't want to read them, as my friend loved them. She was very keen on being unique, and always told me I wouldn't like things, if she loved them. I might give them a try now! I've been reading YA fantasy this week - Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instrument series, and Sarah Rees Brennan's "The Demon's Lexicon". They're quite gripping really.

I have a friend who moved to France for a gap year and is now staying there for uni. She comes back and tries to help me keep my French up, but I have no clue what most of the slang she uses means! Though in the course I just did, we learnt a bit of French text speak... mdr.

I won't read about or watch musical prodigy programmes as I'm quite happy plodding on with piano at my own pace - seeing young kids playing Chopin and Rachmaninov is like a kick in the teeth! I seem to be getting the knack of sight reading which is nice. 6 months ago, I'd never have thought I'd be able to sight-read Grade 3 stuff, however slowly, but it seems to be coming to me



Yeah they are good, go for it!



It's amazing how quickly you pick things up when you are forced to speak the language. Hardly anyone speaks English in my friend's village which is great

I'm off to bed now to try to sleep... catch up later Night!

B1sur, a2m1. Chui fatiguée aussi. Je devrais me réposer pour mon rdv 2m1.

A12c4.

(There's some French text speak for when you wake up. Can you decipher it?)

B1sur = Bien Sur, a2m1 = until tomorrow?. chui = je suis?, rdv = meeting?, 2m1 = tomorrow?

Reasoning behind 2m1 I came up with was "deux m un" = demain.

so: "Of course, until tomorrow!.I'm tired too, I must rest for my meeting tomorrow?

Blimey.. Can't say I've ever felt the need to text in French!

Oops and we are

I've had a busy morning - just got the washing out and it's just about to rain Aaaagh!!!!! I can hear the thunder now...

Apparently we had storms last night... that will explain why I had dreams about being stuck out in a field in a storm with massive lightning strikes going on all around me

Gah, I hate being ill when I don't feel ill. I feel bad for taking a day of work because I'm ill, when I don't feel half as dreadful as when I've got a cold. Just uncomfortable etc.

Still, dearest doctor reckoned I needed antibiotics, and I don't fancy being in work with what I've got. But... meh. *bored Tamsin*

I realise I'm using this thread far too much lately, but I think I'm going to go and quietly sob in the corner.

Cheer up, it could be worse, I'm sure.. how did today go?

Oh, and how did I do with the French txt spk?