The Gathering At The Fountains

Many thanks, all for the birthday wishes sans fishes. I did have quite a nice weekend in the end, and I've since been busy with work and a number of other things, among them my application and assessment day for VSO. I've just been informed that I was approved, and have begun the training and consultation process that will end in departure for a placement with a charity overseas, where I will likely work as a Senior Fundraiser or Fundraising Advisor for around 24-26 months. No, I don't know where I'm going, and I probably won't be leaving for several months in any case (all that training takes a while!), but it's a path and a destination, so I'm pleased about that.

On a not entirely unrelated note, I am moving from my current residence at the end of the month, and I'm hoping to sell my small refrigerator, as I no longer need it. It is about four years old and in good working order. It looks a lot like this one, which is sold new for £129. I am hoping to sell it, as is, for £65, or £50 for a buyer willing to come and pick it up from my current residence before Monday, 29 September 2008. I will consider other reasonable offers, but failing a purchase, I have already investigated other donation arrangements, so I'm not looking to freecycle it or otherwise give it away. Please feel free to pass this information on to other Oxford area people you know, and ask them to contact me via e-mail (myljusername at gmail dot com) if interested.

Leonard Cohen is going on tour!!

Okay, time to quit my job and become a groupie? Or maybe just get tickets to as many shows as I can afford at locations around the world? (Damn, I've already allocated most of my annual travel budget for the Tokyo/Honolulu/San Francisco trip!) I'm not sure if my little fangirl heart can take the excitement!

ETA: And this is one of the major problems with fangirling Old Guys - after a certain point, for each performance/tour/show etc. you always think - but I *have* to go to see this, he might *die* soon! Still, I saw Ian Richardson twice in the West End and stood in the cold to get his autograph, and it was totally worth it.

I am slightly horrified by the realization that it is faster (no stopovers, in particular no overnight stopovers)and cheaper (by almost £100) to fly London-Tokyo-London-San Francisco-London than it is to fly London-Tokyo-San Francisco-London. What is wrong with airline routes?!

Hello all - I'm back, having been on the Ipswich-Portsmouth (by way of Cherbourg) tall ships voyage. Weather was surprisingly good for this time of year (although this trip was earlier than my usual Bay of Biscay crossings), and ending at the Big Bash was really nice - I'd forgotten how much I liked dancing - not teaching or performing, but just dancing. Some of the kids were a bit difficult (and all of them make me feel old now!) but overall it was a good voyage, as I'm starting to feel properly competent in the galley. I think I might try to do my Food Hygiene Certificate soon, so that I can sail as a 2nd Cook in future as well. I also got to use some of my spare time in Portsmouth getting some new clothes - as I have received a title promotion to Deputy Director of Development, I should probably make more of an effort to dress the part. I'm afraid I had no internet until this afternoon though, so I'm still catching up on posts.

Now that I'm back I have rehearsals, a London drinks event, a Development Forum Meeting, a Fire Alarm Drill, London Dining Club, and Murray Day, plus my yuletide story to get started on (Secret Santa, if you read this, I will post some comments and suggestions to my fic journal soon!) and of course I haven't done my proposal for Study Day, or the Holmes and Cthulhu article, or anything else which was on the 'copious spare time' list. I did outline some Sherlock Holmes custom characters for Arkham Horror using Strange Eon though, and I actually wrote some proper letters to people, which was a good feeling. I really miss writing and receiving letters by hand - it seems like so much more of a personal and meaningful form of communication.

But, aside from a weekend at Throssel Abbey, it looks like I will *not* be going to sea, out of the country, or to the monastery at Christmastime, so I will have time to work on it all in late November/early December. (I hope...) I will also likely be London and Bristol over the winter break, and a spot of visiting perhaps? Locals (as in anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales - it's a small country, people!) let me know if you're free and would like to meet.

So, the Gaudy went well, and the Telethon went well. (Over £155,000 pledged!) Saturday was especially enjoyable despite some difficult moments - got up, had massage, checked on telethon, received panicked phone call from liaison for arriving visiting student group, and had to go sort that out despite not being on duty (Grr!), had stressful coach trip to London as was now running an hour late, but got to Orbital Manga in time to see Mike and Louise Carey at signing, met J, bought comics and had dinner, then coached back to Oxford in time to catch bluedevi doing spoken word at the Port Mahon.

Unfortunately, after a 7:00am start on Sunday, the arrival of the Freshers, the close of telethon, and further paperwork on Monday, I was feeling decidedly unwell, being feverish and congested, and after helping to run the induction for visiting students yesterday, I have folded and taken the day off from work. I considered going to the non-mandatory inductions in my decanal capacity, but decided that was a poor plan, sure to lead to further collapse, and instead spent the day on medication and sleeping.

By this evening, I've felt better, at least well enough to do some much needed cleaning, tidying, laundry, ironing etc. and catch up on personal correspondence and e-mails. And shockingly, I think I might have Friday free. Anyone want to come and see Atonement (assuming you haven't already)?
It's still playing at the Odeon. If so, let me know!

So, here is my impression of ( Saint Germain )

Well, more like folks who are or will be in and around Oxford this weekend, but you get the idea. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is out this week, and I'm putting together a group to go and see it: Sunday, 27 May 2007, 9:00pm, Vue Cinema near Kassam Stadium. The film itself needs no introduction, I think.

To make organisation easy, I think everyone should go ahead and book their own tickets - either in person or online at www.myvue.co.uk - but comment here so we know who's coming and can duly save seats/share popcorn/have a drink before or afterwards. A few people have expressed an interest, and as it's a Bank Holiday Weekend, there's no reason not to come.

So, I went to see Amazing Grace this afternoon as I didn't think it would be a film of wider interest. I expect I'm correct on that score, but I would still encoruage anyone who enjoys a good historical film or biopic to give it a try - it's an earnest, emotional, and mostly accurate portrait of William Wilberforce and the abolition movement in England in the late 18th and early 19th Century. (Liberties were taken with the timeline and political alliances, but that sort of thing is to be expected.)

Other reasons to watch include Ioan "Hornblower" Gruffudd as William Wilberforce, Benedict "Edmund Talbot" Cumberbatch as William Pitt the Younger, Rufus Sewell, Michael Gambon, Ciarán Hinds, Romola Garai, and more Hey-It's-That-Guy historical drama talent than you can shake a stick at. Oh, and me being me, I must comment that the (historically based) friendship between Wilberforce and Pitt is completely charming - they race each other, snark, fight, make up, everything. The film even closes with the note that they were buried next to each other in Westminster Abbey, for crying out loud! In conclusion, Wilberforce/Pitt the Younger = OTP. (They're up there with Wellington/Arbuthnot in my collection of 19th Century political pairings. Yes, I am really weird. ;)

One odd thing that struck me was mid-way through the film, someone mentioned the name "Sir William Dolben" and the name pinged for me, although I couldn't figure out why - in the film, he's just another MP who makes a brief appearance. After spending the entire walk home fretting over it, and googling his name with no success, it finally hit me - we have a portrait of a Sir William Dolben (not the one in the film, likely his ancestor as it is a 17th Century painting) that takes pride of place in the office over the fireplace - Dolben the Elder was apparently a close friend of Lord Nathaniel Crewe, a principal benefactor of the College.

Anyway - Amazing Grace - it's got wigs, Whigs, stirring speeches, emotional exchanges, a superb cast and an uplifting ending. Consider watching it!

So, I have a story to write for yuletide, which I'm quite looking forward to, and just got my assignment for 3_ships, which also looks promising. Oh, and there's the paper proposal (Still!), and the article, which may end up getting pushed back, and oh, all kinds of things to work on. So, this weekend, I decided to work on: a Planetary fic, a Baroque Cycle fic, and a Murder Rooms vid. In between being at work proper for all of Saturday (Lincoln Event) and half of Sunday (Mansfield Portering), of course. So, I've been quite productive, just not in the right way.

Still, I'm starting to have fun with vidding, and I can just see myself getting involved - the jargon, the training, the kit (expensive software! arcane electronics!) just so that I can make vids for my obscure fandoms which all of five people will watch. But, hey, that means that such vids exist in the world, right? And that's a good thing. And it makes *me* happy.

Also of the good, I have had a positive appraisal at work, leading to a raise, which should just about put me at earning something like a third of what I used to earn when selling my soul. But, considering I spend most days marveling that they pay me to do this stuff in any case (have lunch with Old Members, arrange college events, and have tea with charming elderly alumni), I can't complain.

Meanwhile, speaking of events and things:

Oxford people, would any of you be interested if I have a Sherlock Holmes Humor evening? Mostly because I feel like watching Without A Clue again, and it'd be nice to do so in company. I'd probably include The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (Christopher Lee as Mycroft!), and provide drinks and snacks, etc. I'm thinking this Friday, maybe?

Also, would anyone be interested in coming to a cheese tasting on Sunday? I go along to a number of Oxford Gastronomy Society events, and they are usually of interest, plus this is cheese! Mmm, cheese. (I believe there is a small fee for this, I'll check.)

London people, I am hoping to have Friday, 8 December 2006 available to wander your fair city. Want to have lunch? Or drinks at my club? Let me know. I'm planning on seeing some theater in January/February as well, probably RSC stuff if anyone is keen to come along.

Oh, and I seem to have misplaced/lost my phone when teaching dance on Friday, so if you've tried to reach me since then, that's why I haven't responded. I am following up the possibility that one of the OUMEDS Committee might have it, but if not, I shall have to buy a new one with a new number, etc. Watch this space.