UK Watercooler 4: A New Beginning

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UK Watercooler Conversation 3: The Revenge of the Cookie

― Sophisticated Boom Boom (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:21 (twenty years ago)

I know, I'm paranoid, but still. What was all that about soup?

We had soup yesterday in the studio. Yummy soup.

― Sophisticated Boom Boom (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:24 (twenty years ago)

this is my spammyspam email address anyway. my super secret real address is super secret.

― Sailor Kitten (g-kit), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:26 (twenty years ago)

Well, this used to be my messageboard only email address, but after I got rid of the other one, now it's my real address.

― Sophisticated Boom Boom (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:27 (twenty years ago)

how the heck do you get ilx emailed to yourself?

― Ste (Fuzzy), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:28 (twenty years ago)

just found it, so you can 'subscribe' to threads? it's a bit pointless innit?

― Ste (Fuzzy), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:30 (twenty years ago)

i have the internet on CD.

― Sailor Kitten (g-kit), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:31 (twenty years ago)

You can click a little button that says "follow thread by email" - I'm not sure where it comes up. Definitely does when you start the thread. Not sure if there are other times you can request it.

I mean, if you start an informational thread where you want to know if, 6 months from now, someone tells you how to make fennel soup, fair enough. But following a chat thread like this by email... it just seems weird to me. And a bit...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/kenjuggle3/stalker.gif

― Sophisticated Boom Boom (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:31 (twenty years ago)

you say it like it's a bad thing. stalkers just have too much love.

― Sailor Kitten (g-kit), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:33 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, say that when you have psychotic Dutchmen and Texan lesbians just turning up at your house randomly.

― Sophisticated Boom Boom (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:34 (twenty years ago)

i'm all for random Texan lesbians coming round my place, thanks.

― Sailor Kitten (g-kit), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:36 (twenty years ago)

Let's not go there.

Argh, I've had so many letters this weekend. You want mail? Buy a house! I've had notes from my insurer, MASSIVE FUCKOFF REPORTS from my surveyor, and a big packet of strange legal documents and deeds and titles and things to sign from my solicitors. I'm so confused by it all. I just need the bloody mortgage to come through now!

(Not to mention the money from my mum!)

― Sophisticated Boom Boom (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:37 (twenty years ago)

Pink, I want your soup.
I'll let you know how it goes Beanz!

― Panther Pink (Pinkpanther), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:41 (twenty years ago)

I want that soup, too. Mmmmmm. Where's Emsk? She makes the bestest winter soup in the world.

― Sophisticated Boom Boom (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:45 (twenty years ago)

Omg I thought I just saw Pinkpanther on telly! But it turns out it was a woman called Sarah Walker (stage name, eh, pink?) presenting a show called To Buy or not to Buy.

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:48 (twenty years ago)

Really? haha! One of my bestest friends is called that & she told me she was on holiday, ha! Do we have a picture so we can compare & contrast Mark?

― Panther Pink (Pinkpanther), Monday, 28 November 2005 11:50 (twenty years ago)

No, I even had a look online - the BBC site for the prog only has her presenting partner - and google isn't helpful either. Oh, hang on - this might be her, though this photo looks nothing like you but I promise she did on telly!

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 28 November 2005 12:02 (twenty years ago)

Hm, she better have looked different! haha! ;-)

― Panther Pink (Pinkpanther), Monday, 28 November 2005 12:03 (twenty years ago)

God, I need sleep. Even the coffee isn't helping.

I hope I'm not coming down with my FOURTH cold of the winter, when it's only November.

― Sophisticated Boom Boom (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 12:23 (twenty years ago)

Been handling poultry recently?

― beanz (beanz), Monday, 28 November 2005 12:24 (twenty years ago)

Nope. Only Irish DDBs.

― Sophisticated Boom Boom (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 12:25 (twenty years ago)

DDB?

― Sailor Kitten (g-kit), Monday, 28 November 2005 12:44 (twenty years ago)

Dirty Dronerock Boy. See the ILX glossary, etc.

― Please Snap StressTwig (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 12:44 (twenty years ago)

Hi all - did I miss anything?

We've had a desk move in the office at the weekend, so everything's in different places and my brane needs re-orientating. Furthermore, I'm sitting at the "bosses" end - all the top people are at the far end of the office, and I'm with them - eeek! They actually want me to do some work! The keyboard's nicer though (old and clacky and tactile instead of new and silent).

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Monday, 28 November 2005 12:45 (twenty years ago)

Ooh, you've moved up to Management now, JB! You'll be the boss of us, yet!

― Please Snap StressTwig (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 12:46 (twenty years ago)

No representation without taxation if you ask me - I'm still getting pad a loaf of stale bread a day.

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Monday, 28 November 2005 12:58 (twenty years ago)

Pad Loaf Stale Bread?

is that like a new Thai dish? ;-)

(mmmmmmmmm, Thai food.)

― Please Snap StressTwig (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 12:59 (twenty years ago)

Yes, exactly like a new Thai dish. You're exactly right.

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:13 (twenty years ago)

Oh, I wanted to do a fun html thign, but it wouldn't let me! Waaah!

It was (/Daria), but with < and > instead of ( and ). How do I do that these days?

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

I'm hungry now.

― Please Snap StressTwig (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:16 (twenty years ago)

</Daria>

― Ste (Fuzzy), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:20 (twenty years ago)

How come it won't let me do that?

grumble grumble grumble

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:21 (twenty years ago)

I tried to put (/mutley) on the end of that last line as well!

Pah, ILE sux0rz.

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:22 (twenty years ago)

your not l33t enfu wiv teh html lol

― Sailor Kitten (g-kit), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:23 (twenty years ago)

just typed in the ampersand lt; code, but you did that anyway in your post to get the angle brackets didn't you?

― Ste (Fuzzy), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:25 (twenty years ago)

or do you not have to, let me see ... <

― Ste (Fuzzy), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:26 (twenty years ago)

so you only need to code it when it's used as a tag, I see.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:28 (twenty years ago)

Oh I get it, fair nuff.

That's a rubbish rule!

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:37 (twenty years ago)

Still hungry after lunch so I got some carrot cake to eat at my desk. Totally unnecessary :( but tasty :)

― beanz (beanz), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:50 (twenty years ago)

I came in so late I'm trying to delay eating my lunch. Hummus, as usual.

― Please Snap StressTwig (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:51 (twenty years ago)

Carrot cake sounds nice. mmmmm carrot cake.

― Panther Pink (Pinkpanther), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:53 (twenty years ago)

Oh yes. 'mmmmm' is right.

― beanz (beanz), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:54 (twenty years ago)

I had a blueberry muffin yesterday & it was very tasty!

― Panther Pink (Pinkpanther), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:56 (twenty years ago)

I feel a bit sick after my lunch, even though it was nice. Tomato and mushroom soup. Maybe I need cake.

― Archel (Archel), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:57 (twenty years ago)

Cake always helps (NB I am not a doctor)

xpost The problem with blueberry muffins is that they're always next to chocolate muffins, and chocolate wins every time

― beanz (beanz), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:59 (twenty years ago)

I've never been keen on chocolate muffins for some reason - it's almost like the muffin is an afterthought.

Kate, am I still making you a carrot cake, or sending you a recipe and we bake together, or what's happening?

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Monday, 28 November 2005 14:00 (twenty years ago)

Well I never understood why chocolate cake isn't made entirely of icing, so I can't see the issue here

― beanz (beanz), Monday, 28 November 2005 14:03 (twenty years ago)

I like almost any kind of muffin... mmmmmm. I especially like banana walnut (one of the few cooked banana products I really like) but can't seem to get those in the UK.

JB, dunno. What do you feel like? I'm not going to be in that house for a few weeks yet. But if you are coming on the walk on Sunday, perhaps it would be good to bring it then! Then we could all share in the carrotty goodness.

― Please Snap StressTwig (kate), Monday, 28 November 2005 14:05 (twenty years ago)

Well you see I'd usually agree that chocolate muffins are better than blueberry, but not in this case. They were so light & fluffy, although the actual blueberries were a little "gritty".
x-post
I want to come on your walk for carroty goodness!

― Panther Pink (Pinkpanther), Monday, 28 November 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

I just left my desk for five minutes, and when I got back I found someone had left a home-made jam tart and a home-made mince pie on it! Woo!

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Monday, 28 November 2005 14:09 (twenty years ago)

Skipping 916 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Damn, where did it go? Sigh.

I just got to talk to the hott auditor. He is very blond and pointy-nosed and has a great accent. I think he might be German?

― The Hills Are Alive With Celibate Cries (kate), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 15:50 (twenty years ago)

How can german be a great accent?!

― Panther Pink (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 15:55 (twenty years ago)

Because he is blond and pointy-nosed and has a very messy hott hairdo.

― The Hills Are Alive With Celibate Cries (kate), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 15:55 (twenty years ago)

(He might be Scandinavian, not German, but what do I know? I'm just bored at work.)

― The Hills Are Alive With Celibate Cries (kate), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 15:56 (twenty years ago)

[Late into discussion as usual]
Harpsichords are supposedly hell to keep in playable shape; apparently they require v freq retuning due to the strings being plucked when the thing is played.

― The Vintner's Lipogram (OleM), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 15:59 (twenty years ago)

How hard can it be to turn a harpsichord? I mean, honestly...

::remembers the infrequent visits by the piano tuner::

Actually, I used to really enjoy when the piano tuner visited, because he took the piano to pieces so I could sit with my head inside it, with my forehead on the sounding board, just feeling the vibrations, which I used to love.

― The Hills Are Alive With Celibate Cries (kate), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 16:01 (twenty years ago)

I wasn't called for cake, so no cake, and I'm feeling awfully sad this afternoon - no reason for it, just am. I have to go and see my dad after work (groan) and I REALLY don't want to - I'll just get it in the neck again for being single and rubbish.

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 16:01 (twenty years ago)

For gods sake, why would your DAD give you grief about being single being rubbish? That's your Mum's job. Your Dad is supposed to wink wink nudge nudge you about sewing your oats and playing the field.

― The Hills Are Alive With Celibate Cries (kate), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 16:02 (twenty years ago)

Bored now. Two more hours until I can go to the pub.

― The Hills Are Alive With Celibate Cries (kate), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 16:25 (twenty years ago)

Oh my god. I got called into the office for what I thought was going to be a catching up chat, and a "here's the stuff you have to finish before you can go on holiday..." and instead, my boss was all "well, you've been here six months..." and I did actually say "wow, I didn't notice, because weirdly enough, I actually love my job" and she said "fantastic, here's your Xmas bonus, and a payrise!"

LIFE = STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL!!!

This is the first payrise I think I've ever got without having to ask for it. Wow.

― The Hills Are Alive With Celibate Cries (kate), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 16:50 (twenty years ago)

Wow, excellent news Kate! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous. :-(

― Panther Pink (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 16:56 (twenty years ago)

Yes, well, you GET ONE BABY!!!

A raise is kind of small potatoes compared to that. :-)

― The Hills Are Alive With Celibate Cries (kate), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 16:58 (twenty years ago)

I've never had a bonus before... well, no, that's a lie, actually. I had a Christmas bonus before, but it was only a few hundred dollars.

― The Hills Are Alive With Celibate Cries (kate), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 16:59 (twenty years ago)

Anyway, also, before I forget, I asked my boss if you could be my minion, Emsk, and she said sure, what's your daily rates. HOpefully I'll remember to talk to you about this next time I see you if we're not too drunk.

― The Hills Are Alive With Celibate Cries (kate), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 18:12 (twenty years ago)

Ha ha, I have just set up my Out of Office autoreply. It's only mildly sarcastic. :-)

And on that note, I'm going down the pub. I won't be at work for two weeks, but I'll be checking on the interweb from caffs and friends' houses, but if I don't speak to you, have an excellent Winter Consumerfest and a happy and healthy New Year! Rah, etc!

― The Hills Are Alive With Celibate Cries (kate), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 18:20 (twenty years ago)

Merry Holidaymas, Kate!

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Thursday, 22 December 2005 08:11 (twenty years ago)

Yeh, Marry Happy Xmas, one and all!

Saying that, I'm feeling really down today - I guess it's the longest days which is making me feel rubbish. I need cheering up.

Emsk is good at cheering me up. Emsk, make me happy.

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Thursday, 22 December 2005 08:21 (twenty years ago)

Wasn't it the longest day yesterday dude?

― Panther Pink (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 22 December 2005 09:07 (twenty years ago)

Yay Kate's payrise!

I'm feeling sick and don't really want to be here this morning, not helped by having to wait around for half an hour until somebody would let me into the building (oh, for a set of keys). But! I have already fixed a DNS problem and looked askew at a bunch of SQL, so maybe I can crawl by the server and hibernate until it's time to go home...

― carson dial (carson dial), Thursday, 22 December 2005 09:10 (twenty years ago)

Longest day - shortest day, even. Yes it was yesterday, but if it's lack of light that causing my rubbishness then I'm gonna feel it today, I guess.

Our server's died this morning which means that no-one is doing any work - or rather, everyone's phoning me at quizzing me to the problem. I'm just responding by saying "try it again in an hour and hope the people in Staines are working on it". BGAS had the bright idea of moving our server to STaines to make it work faster (!) with predictable consequences.

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Thursday, 22 December 2005 09:15 (twenty years ago)

Unlocking the main gate is about the only productive thing I have done so far today.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Thursday, 22 December 2005 09:18 (twenty years ago)

Oh yes silly me, shortest day! Does this help...

http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9712/24/teletubbies/sun.jpg

― Panther Pink (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 22 December 2005 09:22 (twenty years ago)

Well, it isn't unhelpfull . . .

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Thursday, 22 December 2005 09:27 (twenty years ago)

Haha, it's awful isn't it? If I was a kid this would freak me out!

― Panther Pink (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 22 December 2005 09:32 (twenty years ago)

Most kids TV these days does that. Old kids TV is so sedate and chilled compared to all the modern stuff. If I was seven and saw pokemon for the first time I'd be terrified.

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Thursday, 22 December 2005 09:55 (twenty years ago)

Emsk is good at cheering me up. Emsk, make me happy.

aw! but um i just relentlessly take the piss. (affectionately, people.) i can do that if you want?

so last night i was the most hideous jammy schmoozing thing evah... somehow managed to go to the rough trade christmas do AND the beggars banquet one, was there just at the right time for the free bar at the rt one and yowsa the beggars one was free all night, although they'd run out of vodka by the time i arrived (music industry be vodkamonsters?). lordy. i think i r still a bit tipsy.

― emsk ( emsk), Thursday, 22 December 2005 10:42 (twenty years ago)

also DUDE i nearly forgot i got the new mogwai album yesterday! and i just had to run upstairs and get it and put it on and it has made me smile big. johnny, THIS is what you need. assuming you like mogwai.

― emsk ( emsk), Thursday, 22 December 2005 11:20 (twenty years ago)

I do quite like mogwai, so that may work. New album, hmm . . .

Adn yes, relentlessly taking the piss will work just fine - being reminded of how cool I am won't work - beign reminded of my rubbishness will probably cheer me up, paradoxically!

Did you watch them DVDs in the end? I still haven't seen the penguin one!

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Thursday, 22 December 2005 11:57 (twenty years ago)

i haven't watched anything bah! i have been too busy watching the internets. i realised recently ilx has pretty much just replaced tv in my life... oh, i did spend the weekend on the settee with viggo mortensen actually, but that was different because i was ill. i will watch teh pengins over christmas... are you coming to the foundry fap? also where IS everyone today?

tell me what colour clothes you're wearing.

― emsk ( emsk), Thursday, 22 December 2005 12:01 (twenty years ago)

Black work trousers with pin-striped squares on, and a blue-patterened shirt I got from Cult Clothing ages ago (which, because i have a very limited wardrobe, you've probably seen before). No brown! Under my trousers I've got knee-high stripy socks and a pair of CK boxers.

Why, what are YOU wearing? ;)

I've tried lifting my mood by going and buying food that might make me happy today - when I get home I can curl up with a book and a hot water bottle and I'm sure I'll be fine. So I've got lots of cans of tesco value red bull (I'm sure it comes from the same factory as real red bull), a cherry yoghurt, and a huuuuuuuuge bottle of strawberry and banana smoothie. I've been wolfing down bananas all morning - potassium = seratonin = happiness, but it doesn't seem to be doing much good.

I tried getting my hugs from my iPod, but the shuffle was being rubbish. I wanted to listent o some early SIntra, but I must have moved it off - the nearest I got was the Richard Hawley album, which although being alright, is hardly an adequate substitute.

What foundry FAP? I guess it's on a weekday, otherwise I'd have clicked on the link. It's alright for layabouts like you, you can go to all night disco parties on weekdays and be fine - I've got to be at work 50 miles away! Sigh. (I actually sighed there as I wrote that as well - I MUST be feeling down)

I guess everyone's gone away because it's nearly xmas, so everyody's going out and having fun, while I'm a fool for staying at work and having none.

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Thursday, 22 December 2005 13:05 (twenty years ago)

I'm at work still, not that that will really help you but you know...

― Panther Pink (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 22 December 2005 13:13 (twenty years ago)

I'm still at work, and I will be until 5pm tomorrow apparently.

I'm soooo sleepy right now. And I was only out drinking until 11pm too!

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Thursday, 22 December 2005 13:28 (twenty years ago)

i was up GAMING like a PRO til like gone midnight.

― snowkitten (g-kit), Thursday, 22 December 2005 13:31 (twenty years ago)

pin-striped squares

i don't get it.

knee-high stripy socks

but i sincerely hope this is true! it's definitely brightened up my day and i'm not the one wearing them.

i am wearing boring bike clothes - bikeleggingthings, bikeshortthings with hundreds of pockets, and my green hammer & sickle t. and green socks.

you can't drink red bull in the evening! you will never sleep.

i am not having fun today yet (i did have a cup a soup though). i have to start my christmas shopping today... i have NO IDEA what to get for anyone! i think i am just going to walk in fopp with my eyes shut and buy the first ten things i knock over. actually no, i know what i want for my bro, but i can't say in case he is lurking.

― emsk ( emsk), Thursday, 22 December 2005 13:44 (twenty years ago)

I am wearing an unclean shirt, because it was a LAUNDRY CRISIS MORNING

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Thursday, 22 December 2005 13:45 (twenty years ago)

have nice christmases, anyway.

― snowkitten (g-kit), Thursday, 22 December 2005 13:46 (twenty years ago)

we have CAKE!

(blue jumper and khakis, because I am a boring sysadmin)

― carson dial (carson dial), Thursday, 22 December 2005 13:51 (twenty years ago)

Black square patterns, only the squares are not solid lines, they're pin-stripes. Can't find a pic worse luck.

I love my knee-high stripy socks - I keep meaning to buy another pair,
because they are amazing.

The red bull isn't for this evening, it's for NOW - I don't escape this place for another 2 1/2 hours! I was hoping that it may provide artificial buzz for a bit, but no joy.

Aaaah, cup a soup - I've got some of those - THAT might make me happy!

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Thursday, 22 December 2005 14:00 (twenty years ago)

Happy Christmas G!

― Panther Pink (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 22 December 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

Cake has been had, but the possibility of an early closing seems to have evaporated. Oh well, I have Pimms and lemonade for later on! ;)

― carson dial (carson dial), Thursday, 22 December 2005 16:47 (twenty years ago)

Oh dear lord, all the flirting on this thread! HOpe you are feeling cheered, JB.

Yestreday I did NOTHING AT ALL, oh except go to Sainsburys and buy loads of xMAS food. And I bought a beautiful peacock coloured Tiffany lamp. And I assembled my bed. My goodness, it's BIG. It takes up the whole room, but then again, I've always wanted a room that is nothing but bed. And then I made nummy winter soup with neeps and everything.

What are we doing for Xmas, Emsk, or maybe I should check my email. Hurrah. Happy happy to everybody.

― The Hills Are Alive With Celibate Cries (kate), Friday, 23 December 2005 14:18 (twenty years ago)

Hello!

I'm halfway through my three weeks' leave. I love not being at work. (Controversial, huh?)

I've been to the dentist three times and the optician twice and got one haircut and bought two pairs of trousers. Now my car's having an MOT so I'm hanging out at my parents' house, which is near the garage.

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 23 December 2005 14:33 (twenty years ago)

Beanz, I was wonderfing where you'd been! I thought you were super busy at work, so I'm glad to hear you are OFF.

― The Hills Are Alive With Celibate Cries (kate), Friday, 23 December 2005 14:37 (twenty years ago)

And you've moved and got a pay rise! I got a pay rise and two fillings.

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 23 December 2005 14:47 (twenty years ago)

I'm at work. Stacks of repairs in in the last 2 days "can I get it fixed by christmas" wtf.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Friday, 23 December 2005 14:48 (twenty years ago)

Merry Christmas to everybody! And yay for house and job things working out, Kate!

― The Vintner's Lipogram (OleM), Friday, 23 December 2005 14:50 (twenty years ago)

I’m at work, so so bored. Someone entertain me, please.

― not-goodwin (not-goodwin), Friday, 23 December 2005 14:51 (twenty years ago)

My aged car passed the MOT! Just 2 new wiper blades. I half-thought it was going to have to be sold for scrap.

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 23 December 2005 15:25 (twenty years ago)

I am still at work. There is nothing to do. We have just all had a big chinese dinner, and I want to fall asleep.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Friday, 23 December 2005 15:48 (twenty years ago)

i have spent yesterday and today finishing my christmas shopping and it did not kill me! by the end of yesterday's ordeal i was fairly zonked - not by the people; usually it is the people who drive me insane in central london STOPPING IN DOORWAYS and WALKING R E A L L Y S L O W L Y DOWN OXFORD STREET FOUR ABREAST WITH THEIR ARMS LINKED aaargh wtf are you selfish or thoughtless or just thick or all three?, but yesterday i was quite zen about the people - it was just this profusion of STUFF, the trinkets and tat and identical things and harsh lighting and dreadful music and the horrible acrid-stinking perfume sections you have to walk through to get to the other bits in department stores and the buy!buy!buy!sale! shops and the recorded announcements with a reek of wall-eyed madness ("we've got all your christmas needs covered! buy everything in this shop! we've got dedicated trained Gift Specialists to help you!") and the way they make it hard to get out of shops and how everywhere and everyone is so overheated... i went in john lewis and debenhams and house of fraser and oh god another one like them i don't know what it was, none of which i had ever been in before, and i kept getting lost and feeling trapped by merchandise and pummelled by light and assaulted by smells. weirdly, topshop provided some respite - half their lights had gone so it was quite dark and soothing and almost empty. i wandered around in there for twenty minutes just because the dark was nice. i had to sit on the steps by centrepoint and eat a bun before i felt capable of getting back on my bike to come home. today it was far more peaceful though... possibly because i stuck to charing cross road and skipped oxford street...

d at work was shopping on upper street on mon or tues and some woman barged into and past him, he said something like "you just have to say excuse me, you know!" and she looked at him and said "it's easier if i don't." :0

― emsk ( emsk), Friday, 23 December 2005 17:01 (twenty years ago)

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