Friday 27th February 2004

Week 53, Day 335

I'm not sure how long I have to write this entry as I'm waiting for a phonecall about my car. It failed its MOT (the mechanic's ok that the car is roadworthy and a legal part of being able to drive on the road) and so I'm getting it fixed today. However, the mechanics, despite knowing I had to be at work at 4pm (it's now 4:17pm) have told me it won't be ready until after 5pm. It's really driving me insane, excuse the pun.

Then again, it hasn't been that long since I last wrote though it feels like ages ago. A lot has happened, or maybe it's all just in my head because I seem to have a lot of time to think now and I do have a very overactive mind.

Since last Sunday I have worked a few nights, and was lucky enough to have Wednesday off to myself. And I did just that. I cooked most of the day really. Met up with Dave at lunch for a quick coffee, picked up my car (which was when they told me the bad news about failing the MOT), went to the gym and booked tickets to see Yo La Tengo and Gorky's Zygotic Minchi play the same night for a festival called Fuse Leeds. Looking forward to that. Am also going to get tickets to see the production of George Orwell's Animal Farm.

That night I met up with Alex for the music quiz at the Cockpit. We came 3rd I believe but I thought that was damn good effort considering we were the only duo out of all the other 'groups' of people. Though really I owe most of the answers to Alex who really does know his stuff. Unfortunately, you don't get any free stuff for coming 3rd. Typical.

Since then I've baked some more - for those that know it, my Choc Mud Slice, which was a hit with the staff and tried to avoid the cold but failed. It decided to snow last night - heavily. We took a quick break at the end of our shift to have a snowball fight - my first proper one too. On the way back from work at 1am, it took me 45 mins along the motorway because I was driving at 30mph instead of the usual 80. The snow was heading right into my windscreen and it was all very surreal. If you watch the snow as it approaches the car when it's coming head on, it can literally hypnotize you - it's so strange. So yeah, I was not happy about that, especially as I had to get up early this morning to drop the car off. There's still thick layers of snow everywhere and it's so cold my joints keep freezing up. So much for Spring heading our way!

Anyway, I am now sure I have time to go up to visit Melissa and Gordon in Edinburgh. So hopefully able to plan that soon. I am heading to help out at Nando's Bradford which is a new store in the next 2 weeks - that means I get to work alongside Ana again. Unfortunately though it means I might not be able to head down to London that week as I had planned. I have to see how my shifts for Bradford go.

Got quite a few more gigs coming up too. Besdies the Yo La Tengo one, there's also one for the Leeds Orchestra who will be playing some of Jonny Greenwood (i.e. guitarist from Radiohead)'s stuff for the first time ever. They're also showing the movie he wrote music for, Bodysong, at the cinema the night before so am trying to frantically get those nights off so I can check them out, however, I don't want to push my luck. The other gig coming up at the end of the month is the tribute show, The Complete Stone Roses, which I hear is awesome so I am making sure I go see. Bring it on!

I have also booked my flight for Oz. I arrive at 6:30pm on Monday 19th April. Unfortunately, I couldn't get an earlier flight. I will be travelling down to Melbourne on the night of Monday 26th April, and returning the afternoon of Thursday 29th April. So any ideas for things to do, email me. Jules told me that Australia's Wonderland is closing down so I might have to take a trip out there over the weekend I'm there if anyone wants to tag along. And stay tuned for invites for dinner/drinks/party/coffee/general mayhem :)

Top 10 this week is a little different. It's the Top 10 songs to describe my life at the moment (in no particular order):

1. Coldplay - Clocks (did I mention I miss my piano and want to buy one asap?)
2. Radiohead - Just
3. Doves - See The Lights
4. Pulp - Something Changed
5. Supergrass - Moving
6. Mansun - Shotgun ('Vinegar Taster says the more force I apply the more trouble I make' - how true!)
7. Idaho - Levitate (again, the piano, I miss it)
8. Bluetones - Keep The Home Fires Burning
9. Outkast - Hey Ya (just cause I like it really)
10. The Charlatans - And If I Fall
x
Vanessa