Hahahaha. At least I can be 98% sure that that won't happen to me. Shouldn't be any Lacanian psychologists reading my essay.

Poor woman! Were there a lot of flaws in her argument, or did the psychologists just take exception to Lacan used in literary criticism? My last essay was about Joyce's Chamber music, and music in the Sirens episode of Ulysses, and a lot of the essays on the subject that I read seemed to be by musicians, criticising the way literature experts tried to analyse the music, or vice versa.

I think that the only thoughtless, stingy person is her. The idea of a goat is wonderful, and at least would do someone some good. Then again, a cow would be more apt.

Chill about the gifts, it's only a big commercial thing anyway. Truffles would please me as I like the idea of hand made.

Hugs.

Thanks for the advice everyone it's really helped, and I'm going to take as much as it on board as I possibly can. I've finished the piece of English coursework (all 16 pages of it, phew!) which was one of the big stressy things, especially since it's first draft only. I'm hopefully finishing all other coursework/big things set for the end of term tonight and the start of tomorrow. I love the mornings idea, as I usually waft about not knowing what to do in the mornings of holidays anyway. I'll get up early (ish), crack on, then hopefully have free time by 2-3pm
It's weird/nice how much people notice when you get upset about things though. There are other things I don't like to think about which are happening at the moment, and I thought I was acting exactly the same around everyone. My friends have all quietly asked if everything's ok though, and commented that I'm quieter than usual (which really means that I'm speaking the amount that most people do... ) Teachers haven't got angry, but worried when I've asked for work extensions, or said I might not be able to finish on time. Which is in a way worse. (I worked my socks off and only needed one extension though ) When I was volunteering at the old people's home, one elderly woman even commented on my "sad eyes"

I'm also falling back in love with reading! Now I've got a little routine where I come home and read for half an hour, then crack on with homework. This week I've reread Life of Pi and nearly finished My Sister's Keeper. I love books . Music is being lovely too, and I'm hopefully getting some music books for my birthday next week. One of the books recommended has "Your Song" in it, so I can play something non classical which she can't complain about

The latter really. I think the psychologists thought it was trivalising things to be talking about books instead of real people

So glad the work's taken a turn for the better, and brilliant that you're enjoying the reading as well as the music. Hope the other things start to get better too.

Sorry to jump back a few posts...discussion with my husband while we were out finishing our shopping yesterday, and I passed on the outline of this dear lady and her attitude to gifts. My husband was very relieved that while we have a couple of people who are difficult to buy for, there's nothing like this. He also had a suggestion:
Go to your nearest cheap supermarket. Get some own-label (and if possible 'value brand') chocolate and toiletries. Package up as 'thoughtless chocolate and toiletries, and blatantly cheap too' pressie for the dear lady

('dear lady' has to be spoken as Sir Humphrey Appleby says it when speaking to difficult women )

Today has been not good. Mum is home after a spell in A&E in the early hours, and the swelling in my ankle is slowly coming out. Sister made brother travel many miles with her to find out her hockey training wasn't on.

I don't like my sister's paper round. There are too many steps up to houses, and I managed to go over on my ankle quite spectacularly. My sister helpfully was more concerned the owner of the house would come out and complain about the commotion so helped me down onto the pavement as I said "owww". Anyway, my aaaaagggghhhhh is due to the pain in my ankle (not good with pedal parts for several important services in the next two weeks, including tomorrow, and a long standing up time on Wednesday) and general stuff.

Best wishes to you and your Mum for speedy recoveries pcf.

Thanks. I've told my family that if I sit in the corner going "ooooooouuuuccccchhhhh" they can ignore me. I did say "ouch" and they duly ignored me!
It just annoys me that my ankle is playing up this week. Few weeks ago, it would have been more manageable, even a week on Saturday would have been alright, but no, it happened today.

Just got to hope nothing else goes wrong... I think it might, with my brother being run down and very tired, with a driving test early on Wednesday, and my sister having last-week-of-school-itis!

May he pass with flying colours!

(we need a car smiley, I feel )

I don't think I should mention flying to him, he sees his car driving test as a step towards his pilots license!

But a car smiley would be good!

oops, sorry!!!!

It is ok, just rather terrifying that he wants to fly big planes! Anyway, he currently practices driving in a big people mover thing, so people know he is coming from afar!

[/b]Hi Lottie,

I agree with the earlier post. Give your money to charity and tell them that as they already have so much stuff [b][b]you thought this a much better idea.

The one I like is the 'school in a box' (UNICEF) Pricey but if x people contribute (or if x presents are donated, it is do-able). You can then give the in-laws the gift certificates describing what they've GIVEN this year.

I also hate the 'what did you get for Christmas question that someone will inevitable throw at me at some point. Maybe if we all start asking what did you gIve for Christmas it might pull some people up short. I really want to sign off with Bah Humbug. (It's been a bad day !) But actually I adore Christmas .....just not the commercial one.[b]

Can't work out why everything is in bold type. .........AAARRRGHHhhhhhhhhhhh

Came into work this morning to see that a pane of glass had shattered in one of the greenhouses. To compound the issue, 100s of pieces had dropped onto the timber staging below and stuck to it in the icy conditions! Took me well over an hour to clean up what should have been a 5 minute job.

Argh, my dad's got into a car crash. He's fine but he's written off his car. My mum's car is not really capable of making it through the snow to here, and I really can't afford to buy a train ticket home, as I'm now officially insanely in debt. Looks like I might be in my room alone over Christmas.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Have you got any other relations / family friends nearby?

If you do get stuck at uni, get in touch with the international office or equivalent. They usually put on Christmassy activities for international students stuck at uni in the holidays, and I can't see them objecting to you joining in.

Hope things work out.

No other relatives nearby, unfortunately... I'm a bit sad about it... But there's a tiny thought in the back of my mind saying that at least I won't get into any rows if I don't go home. Thanks for the suggestion of international student events though! I hadn't thought of that - might be good fun.

Anyway, we'll see what happens. Could be all the snow will melt before Christmas and I will get home. You never know.

The needles are falling off my christmas tree faster than I can stick them back with my Pritt stick.


I only put it up yesterday.


Might go tree-shopping for a new one tomorrow

I'm sorry lottie, but the image of you chasing around your Christmas tree desperately trying to stick pine needles back on is quite an amusing one! I hope you find a sensible resolution.

Lucky, glad you're feeling more cheerful. There's always a place to spend Christmas if you're inventive... spending it with internal students was just one of millions of suggestions I could come up with. Lots of charities will be needing volunteers on Christmas day (e.g. in hospitals, doing the soup run for homeless people). I hope you do get home though, how is the snow situation looking?

The snow is getting worse and worse - my parents have offered to pay for a train ticket now though, if they're not all cancelled, so it's looking quite likely I'll get home... Plus a very kind person offered me a lift home if I have absolutely no other options... So fingers crossed!

I gave up, took it outside and put it behind the shed in the snow.

My beautiful little white tree-lights were missing from the box too and OH told me we threw them out two years ago because the flex was damaged. There was only a rubbishy cheap set which looked horrible.

Sooooo.... do I go out tomorrow and buy a new tree, a proper base and a new set of lights... or do I just give up on a tree and stick a big poinsetta in the window??? My Christmas spirit is ebbing a little.

Definitely the former! My "children" (aged 20 and 25) decorated our tree this afternoon and it looks stunning. Christmas just isn't the same without a tree!

Did you not do the water, bleach, sugar and vinegar trick to keep the needles on?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!

I was beautifully organised this year and booked a Tesco delivery for today well in advance. I even managed to update it in advance in case of computer difficulties.

BUT...

Our deliveries come from Basingstoke. Which is still experiencing major snow problems. So they have cancelled it.

I will now have to go and brave the elements to get the food in.

Just hope the turkey gets through tomorrow...

Oh no!

W

Oh dear after all that planning.

Oh, that's annoying.

I am sitting indoors waiting for a delivery. It hasn't been cancelled, but my husband keeps saying he thinks it won't be coming and I'll sit indoors all day for nothing (he wants to go in to town, but not leave me behind). Of course, if we go out it will arrive immediately we are out of sight...

Well, I've been round Waitrose instead and they had everything on my aborted order except the sprouts! I don't mind - I can't stand them.

But sprouts are wonderful - the highlight of Christmas!

W

Their side effects aren't though! Trombone serenade, 1st mvt anybody?

AAARGH! Stupid computer! Now it doesn't think it has a microphone. Actually, that's a lie...it thinks it has a microphone and it thinks it is recording, yet only records silence and quiet humming. (yes, the speakers are turned on!)

Do you have it muted in the mixer?

Not sure what OS you're on so can't give specific instructions - I'm sure you can find the setting though! Do you just have two sockets for mic & headphones, or several? It's possible that if you have dynamic assignment with your soundcard that the port has been setup wrong (or changed by the config fairies).

It's definitely not on mute (I've had that problem about a million times before, so have learned to check it first! ). The microphone's built in to the laptop, so can't be plugged in wrong. It's worked fine for the last 3 and a half years.

I'm cold
Dad lit the fire in the living room, so he says I should go in there if I'm cold (he won't turn the heating on). But there's no computer in there, so it's either suffer in coldness and be good doing homework, or be bad and warm.

But on the bright side I've finished my geography

Indeed, sprouts are wonderful and amazing, and I always like double helpings of delicious yummy sprouts at Christmas

Have you ever noticed that the 'yay' smiley looks just like an animated sprout..?

W

Oh yes, so it does

This is the scream thread, not the thread.

And anyway, is more like it.

Haven't got a Christmas present for my husband yet! Managed to hobble to the shops but couldn't walk any more and got a taxi home present-less! Oh well, apparently he hasn't got me anything either and he hasn't got an excuse!

Sorry...

W

Just thought I'd mention that I've got 16 presents for Mrs Stetenorve! And they are all wrapped and sitting in the Santa sack ready for Thursday night.

16??? I thought I was doing well with 8!

W

I've managed to buy one already, and it's not even Christmas Eve yet!

argggghhh

I'm desperately sad to wake up and find that we're not snowed in .... even despite another three inches.


My Mother-in-Law is going to make for Christmas after all.



... unless they cancel the trains????

Quick update:





Fabulous news: too much snow at her end so she's not coming!!!!

Have a great Christmas Lottie.

Im hungry. I just went to buy a nice hot panini and discovered that the university have decided to close both food places early because they hadn't taken in enough money this morning. Did it not occur to them that they would get more money if they let people buy lunch?

That's illogical! Surely they realise that they'll get more money after 12 noon?...

Hope you can find something to cure your hunger...

Ohhh, I got a new phone for my birthday. It was a skype phone, from 3. I asked for an S2 phone from 3, my friends have it and say it's really good. My parents got one slightly cheaper which wasn't actually made by 3. Anyhow, it seemed to be a good phone, and I was really happy with it Then msn and skype both wouldn't work. I phoned up the 3 helpline, and followed all of their instructions. I called up skype and followed their instructions. I checked the connection in our area- it should be really strong. Still neither worked, so they told me to take it back to the shop, where despite the fact that it was opened, they should give me a refund as it's faulty hardware.

Took it back to currys, where my parents and I had a long debate with the man at customer services. He said that "it wasn't a fault in the hardware, because all of the other internet functions work, therefore it's not a faulty product, and we can't refund it, it must be a problem with the connectivity in your area". so, all the other internet functions work, but it's a problem with connectivity? we showed him it wouldn't work with my account, it wouldn't work with his skype or msn account, we checked the shop connection, we checked on his phone (it worked), we reinstalled it, it wouldn't work. He said that we should contact skype and 3, WHICH WE HAD he checked our area connection. Also, hundreds and hundreds of text messages had been coming through from the same person, saying "no message", I had contacted the person they were supposedly from (my grandpa) who said that there was no evidence of the text messages being sent, the sent box didn't have them in, he hadn't sent them, they were just appearing. Overall about 70 of them. It apparently still wasn't a fault in the phone. We went round and round in circles, the law states doesn't it that if you're not happy with a product, and it doesn't work for the intention you brought it for, then you should be able to get a full refund?

His closing argument was that if it wasn't opened, he would have been able to refund it, so it's our own fault for opening it. WELL HOW ON EARTH WERE WE SUPPOSED TO KNOW IF IT DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT OPENING IT?!?!?!?!

Urfff, I know it's not his fault, and it's his job to say it, but just the way he did it, really smug, and like "I'm right, you're wrong, I will NOT give in, I won't even check with any other staff, I'm just right". We said that we could bring it up with statutory rights or something, and he said "yesss, well you could do that, but you would have to hire out a professional to state the hardware indeed does not work, then you would have to bring it up with our head office, and then you would get your money back, but you would have probably spent more than the phone is worth doing that". Smug moron.

So now we have a skype phone, which skype won't work on. Pah.

Sorry for the long moan.