themis1

And I haven't written much, but then not a lot happens, really.  Work has been busy, we have just changed Chief Supers and have a new Super en route from out of Force, which could be interesting.  During a meeting with our ACC the other day he took a phone call and said, "Is it CRBN?"   A moment later he switched off the phone and looked round the table and said, "It's OK, it isn't," and every single person present exhaled loudly and then laughed nervously - because if whatever it was HAD been CRBN we were looking at chemical/nuclear ...

We don't seem to have suffered much from the wind in Bicester so far, nothing has blown over in the garden, even the tubs of flowers that normally do, and the only power cut locally wasn't our bit of Bicester, phew.  I've been out this morning and trimmed a few things, but it's pretty darned cold and I didn't stay out long!

All pussy cats survived their annual trip to the vet.  The Tig is now living in my study as she can't be trusted in the lounge any more and the solution seemed to be to shorten the distance between her and the litter tray.  She is sleeping right now on the cushion provided by Lynn with Mythichistorian's bolster wrapped around it to make a nest.  Awww.

The PhD field trip to Estonia is only a week away, and I think I'm looking forward to it, although my absent-minded professor's e-mail this morning saying that didn't know the name of the hotel we were staying in and we probably wouldn't until we got there (!).  Still I have Kroons and thermal underwear, and I'm sure it will turn out fine (fingers crossed).  I'm hoping nobody asks how I'm getting on with my thesis, as the answer at the moment has to be - I'm not!

CSI: Miami seems to be on a channel somewhere almost constantly right now, which means I have no idea which season I'm watching or what episodes I've seen, but it seems mad to put in a DVD when it's actually on anyway.  Thank heavens for the internet which fill in the backstory, or I'd be hopelessly confused!  Between that and having to check up on As The World Turns every week (honestly, Jeff, did you have to?  On the other hand, the dear boy does seem to be having a whale of a time!) my fannish cup runneth over right now.

The mysterious pain in my feet appears to be plantar fascitis (I think I got that right), so I now have shoe inserts which *may* improve things.  At least I now seem to be able to walk further than 15 feet without being crippled later in the day.

Dragonfable is fun :-)

And that's all for now ...

Well, there went another weekend - a three day one at that - over too fast, with far too little done! Still, it was Phoebesmum's birthday which is as good an excuse as any for having a fun weekend instead of getting all the jobs done that needed doing.

Friday opened with courtesy visit to member of team who's just had a baby. Me with baby is an unusual sight, but I managed not to drop it or anything. Actually despite my complete lack of anything even vaguely resembling a maternal instinct, babies always seem to like me.

Onward, after a daring escape from a grandmother who talked non stop from the moment we walked in the door until the moment we last saw her (NOT as we left the door, as I shall recount) we hastened to Waddesdon Manor, the main raison d'etre for being in Waddesdon on a Friday, since I suspected parking might be interesting on weekends. Turned out it's pretty interesting on a Friday, as well, but we were fortunate to find an empty space right by the steps. A pleasant stroll ensued, taking in house (exterior only), cellar (it's where the loos were), aviary, and our main reason for rushing to go at this time of year, the rose garden. This was suitably fragrant and could be scented from some distance away. A pleasant amble around such beauties as Jude the Obscure followed, after which we headed for home, as an hour in the sun is a bit much for either of us. Stopping only at the plant shop (disappointing) where we encountered mother, baby, and grandmother again (see? I said she would pop up again!).

After lunch, next stop Bicester Village, where I bought two books (we actually only go there for the shoe outlet and the book shop, and still can't figure out why people come all the way from Japan JUST to go there and nowhere else in England - !) we stopped by the local Blooms garden centre, which is in the process of transforming itself into the biggest garden centre in the country but currently comprises miles of mud and the skeletons of new buildings. It still has more plants than anywhere else we've tried around here.

Back home to collapse and do some gardening, at least until Phoebesmum wandered out into the garden and informed me my scalp was an interesting shade of pink and if I HAD to be out in the sun I should probably adopt a sunhat. She proceeded to snigger when I did, mind you, which is why I don't often wear one.

Criminal Minds, followed by season close of NCIS (he just resigned, guys - that's isn't a precursor to him returning, now is it?!) rounded up Friday, so on to Saturday.

Actually, we didn't do much Saturday. The sun shone, and I gardened (with hat on). We had Chinese take-out and wine for dinner, and Phoebesmum chose Mirrormask as birthday entertainment (and something called Sports Night, oddly enough). And so, to bed, slightly tipsy.

Sunday dawned - well, I expect it did, but I was having a lie in. Anyway, the day passed pleasantly with a visit from Hilary's brother, Meg and the blonde. They eventually whisked Hilary away for a birthday meal, and I had a very nice stir fry followed by ice cream and a banana which the blonde had been sketching but hadn't got around to eating, and watched Code Name: Phoenix, the movie of Jeff's I'd been saving for the right moment. And thoroughly enjoyed it, although the script wasn't exactly, er, original. But Jeff looked cute, was convincing (he usually is) and got to be the hero, which doesn't happen all that often. No complaints at all, she smirked. I confidently predict pleasant dreams tonight :-)

Hilary got back in time for the Supernatural season closer, which ended with a bang, and there went the weekend ...

No, I didn't watch Doctor Who. I was going to, but when I read the write-up in the Radio Times I decided against. An hour about sappy Dr Who fans? Too much real life like that to want to watch it on TV!!! (Somebody tell me it wasn't so bad ... huh?)

Tomorrow, a small lie in before heading out to Chiltern to talk about consulting young people. Because, you know, somebody has to.

Because, you know, I do have Lynn's videos of the series. Although I really ought to give them back.

Phoebesmum hovered anxiously over the bid button, but thankfully whoever was bidding against me was still in bed, or something. So that's something to look forward to in the new year :-)

In other news, having blown off the roof of the temple, am now talking thunder god down again. So about one chapter to go and I might actually (whisper it) finish a novel. Which will be a first. I have more 3/4 completed stories lying around ...

Pity it's not publishable, really!