Purple Monkey Dishwasher

2006-02-07T15:59:00.000Z

My friend Sam is a very wise man. I wish I had his ability for articulation in a religious furore as is going on at the moment.

In light of the Muslim riots going on at the moment, the whole world has been whipped into a frenzy about religion and fanaticism, I was worried about being segregated as (a) a loony for my faith in Christ or (b) being seen as a wimp for not weighing in when issues are raised about my faith. I asked Sam who is in my RML group for his views on the situation, and I would like to say there is no way I could have put it any better, and my friend Emmie (who is not religious), went to the point of agreeing with what he had to say.

But in the end all that matters is this: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17) and "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

(Can you tell I am studying Romans at the moment. These will help me next time I hesitate picking up the gauntlet when it's thrown down.)

My two-pennies worth:

There seem to be two problems as far as Muslims are concerned:

1) They are offended by a secular press caricaturing Mohammed. But that's the price you pay for living in a democracy valuing free speech. Any Christian should be in favour of the freedom to criticise, mock, insult, ridicule and disagree with another's religion, or any personally held view for that matter (political, philosophical etc). We would be dead against the rioting for that reason alone, as in fact the vast majority of Muslims are (being liberals). I would think when Jerry Springer, the Opera mocks Jesus and all things Christian, I want to rejoice that we live in a society that allows criticism and ridicule, and by extension preaching and evangelism. Sure we mourn that our society has been given over to ungodliness and pray for a massive gospel impact across the land but God's big enough to deal with Man's pathetic mockery. Much better that we live in a society like that than in one where all forms of debate and disagreement are stifled (like much of the Middle East, China etc). A secular press must have the right to mock religion and every person must have the right to criticise another's views, whatever offence it causes. (Clearly this is very different when it comes to race etc which is not a freely held personal opinion, but race and religion are very different).

2) They feel that hatred is being stirred up against them by showing Mohammed as a terrorist. That's an understandable point. However I think the press' point is that many secular historians would confirm that Mohammed was a terrorist - spreading Islam by the sword. The Qu'ran clearly teaches violence and murder against unbelievers and those who desecrate Islam (as seen through the rioting). However if the rioters are really worried about people to hating them, don't burn their embassies and threaten to kill anyone who disagrees your religion. I think the protesters are clearly, (nominally at least), more concerned about the first point, but then you can never co-exist in a free democracy.

Of course Christians have things in their past that are similar to the riot - the Crusades were religious terrorism. However the point is that no-one ever persecuted anyone by following Jesus' teaching. An extreme, fundamentalist Christian will follow Jesus' teaching exactly as it was meant to be followed, and will be prepared to be persecuted for speaking the truth in a world that loves lies, not persecuting others for disagreeing with them. It's not hard to see how as a Christian you deal with people who disagree with your religion and want to hate you for it - look at Jesus. What marks out a Muslin extremist is that when it comes to defending Mohammed and following his teaching they'd kill for him. However as Christians what makes us different if we're 'extreme' and 'fundamental' in following Jesus and his teaching is that we'd die for him, never kill for him.

Rant over.

Happy Australia Day!

2006-01-26T14:20:00.000Z

Friday Night Fun #2

2006-01-17T11:11:00.000Z

This is me and my girls out for a night of 80's madness. If you ask me, we look totally hawt! Pity there were no prizes for cool 80's gear!

Happy New Year Everyone!

2006-01-03T09:32:00.000Z

Welcome to the World, Olivia Hannah Scott

2005-12-22T10:34:00.000Z

As Promised, The Long Awaited Dancemats!

2005-12-16T13:44:00.000Z

James and Kathryn. James took about 20 minutes of coaxing...........

Andy and Matt also took a fair bit of convincing.........

Then Christine and I had a go (but I was a seasoned professional by then).

And then we couldn't get James off them. This is him dancing with the birthday girl!

And I just had to put this one of Tim in, cause he is so smiley in the picture. Apparently I am funny! (or funny looking......)

More Friday Night Madness

2005-12-14T14:08:00.000Z

It's nice that I am somebody's friend. Ugh. Fat arms, though. Get thee to a gym!

Friday Night Fun

2005-12-12T09:32:00.000Z

This is my friend Emmie (who I have mentioned before) and I at the bus stop, ready for a night on the town. There were more photos taken, and I will post them as they come to hand.

(These were taken with a phone. Pretty good quality, hey?)

PS - Dance mats still to come. Should be around Friday.

Some More Fun Links!

2005-12-06T12:53:00.000Z

As you can probably tell, it's a bit of a slow day at work (although it is bound to pick up again after lunch). If you are a bit bored, here are some cool links for you to check out that should keep you occupied for a little while.

Are you a girl looking for a steady relationship? Love Harry Potter? Which character are you best suited to?

Are movies too long these days? Why not read an abridgement?

Or an even shorter abridgement?

Or watch a 30 second short of your favourite film (with bunnies!)?

Can't be bothered with the whole book? How about a book in a minute?

Remember Adlibs, or Madlibs? A new improved version!

Go on a quest to kick some dragon booty!

Well, that should be enough for now. Hope that keeps you entertained for a little while. I have had to pick up the slack since Conor doesn't really post anymore.

Oh My!

2005-12-06T09:44:00.000Z

I'm either really tired, or Emmie and I are comic geniuses. I will try to relay the conversation that has brought such merriment this morning.

Upon making our morning cups of tea, I discovered that were was not a tea spoon around to take the teabag out or to stir the tea (a lot of use of the word tea there). I improvised and used a pen. When taking the tea in to Emmie, I commented upon my ingenuity to which she said "There is no spoon....". "That's what I just said, which is why I used a pen!". "No," Emmie replied, "There is no spoon". (Nerds should easily get this joke. For norms, it might take a bit longer).

About 20 minutes later when I was making another cup of tea (hey, we like tea, all right?), I remembered that there was no spoon, but instead of using the pen as I did before, which makes my pen all wet and thusly my desk all wet, I went to Emmie's desk to use the plastic fork I had noticed on her desk. "What are you doing?" she asked. "There is no spoon, so I am going to use the fork".

We cracked up.

Maybe you did have to be there.

Get Your Christmas Freak On!

2005-12-05T09:22:00.000Z

Just a few tidbits to get you in the Christmas mood. But remember the real reason for Christmas. I think it summed up best in Philippians 2:6-11.

But just for some fun......................

Crazy Christmas Lights!
Homestar Runner Christmas Fun!
Let's Build A Snowman!

Here's one I made earlier...........................(not really)

And below is a cute cartoon, but I think it rings true a bit - about all of Christmas.

Hope this has brightened up your day a little bit. Coming soon, DANCEMATS!

Why It Sucks To Be An Australian This Week

2005-11-28T13:34:00.000Z

Because we are crap. End of.

Why It Rules To Be An Australian This Week.....

2005-11-21T13:58:00.000Z

"Because we are champions at everything we touch!"
(Rod Moran, Baulkham Hills, Western Sydney - Current Location: Manchester)

No Spoilers Here!

2005-11-18T11:40:00.000Z

OK, my guys and galleons. As those of you who read my post yesterday know, I went and saw the midnight screening of Harry Potter.

This was not met well by my friends in Australia, who don't get to watch it until December. Some even proceeded to call me rude names, but as far as I am concerned, that made me seeing it first all the sweeter.

I will say one thing only though. It was worth getting only 4 hours sleep for. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and although I am a purist and don't like change too much, I think they managed to tie in most of the changes well.

I'm not going to say what they changed. That would just be spiteful and mean and I wouldn't be allowed back in the country.

I urge you to see it, though. Whether or not you have read the book, or you are a hardcore fan like myself, I still think you will really enjoy it.

Look What I'm Doing At Midnight!!

2005-11-17T10:49:00.000Z

Sick Continued....

2005-11-15T14:25:00.000Z

Yes, it is Tuesday and I am still sick. I actually nearly typed "it is Monday and I am still sick". This is because I have been thrown off by the sick day I had yesterday.

Much to my chagrin, I took the day off yesterday, due to being unable to stand up for minutes at a time and breathing through my ears because every other facial orifice was closed up or congested. I went to church on Sunday night and attempted to sing. Apparently it went well, but I feel otherwise, and then was instructed by all and sundry to (a) go home and (b) stay there.

I have come to this conclusion - day time TV sucks! I tolerated the British versions of Ricki Lake and Jerry Springer and when I couldn't stand anymore, I watched my Family Guy DVDs while Kenny cleaned the house around me. Whilst speaking to a friend last night on the phone, they asked me if I suspected I had bird flu. How rude!

So if anyone emailed me yesterday or was checking my blog, that is where I was. At home, on the couch, drifting in and out of sleep because that was the most interesting (and only thing I was capable of) thing to do.

On a brighter note, my sister sent me a cool link of a blog written by my hero Joss Whedon. If you are a Whedon fan, enjoy, and if you aren't - be converted!

I have a big weekend ahead of me. Going on the RML weekend away. Looking forward to that. I will let you know how it goes. Just don't ask me to recap the talks, because I am never any good at that.

Ugh! Sick!

2005-11-10T12:20:00.000Z

I hate being sick.

I used to be one of those kids that "chucked a sickie" at any possible opportunity. I'm not making some deep, dark confession here. I'm pretty sure my mum cottoned on to it long ago. But these days I hate the idea of pretending to be sick (excpet when Kenny plans an evening of fun and frivolity - not my ideal way to spend time), and hate actually being sick even more so.

I'm not suffering from a life threatening disease, so don't start sending flowers yet. Just a simple cold. But I don't like the idea of this disrupting my life in any way. I want to go to RML tonight, but if I start feeling any worse, I will feel compelled to go home to bed. I can't miss work, because then I "don'ts gets paids", and if I lose my voice, I will be unable to sing or worse still, talk (something everybody knows I love doing)!

In an effort to banish the horrible lurgy last night, I was forced to down a mug of ginger-lemon tea under the watchful eye of Nicole, who made sure I finished every last drop. Now my parents love ginger. I despise it. So being made to drink a cup of what was mostly ginger flavoured was not my idea of a fun time. I think I would have preferred to drink a glass of tequila (the devils beverage) than that muck. And contrary to Nicole's belief, it did not make me feel better. I felt pretty much the same, but with a horrible taste in my mouth.

Today I have been sucking on soothers (which I realise are a placebo) and have been forced to drink a glass of soluble vitamin C by my manager Michelle. Another drink of evil. Anything soluble is not good. I have also been forewarned that I will be having another this afternoon!

I must give off this "mother me!" vibe. Chloe did the same thing to me when I was sick in December. I was so sick I completely lost my voice and attempted several times to cough up a lung. Chloe diligently went to the pharmacist and bought the most effective cough medicine that she could find. Of course it had the texture of molasses and tasted like vomit, but she would faithfully measure it out and then stand there and watch me drink it until I had drained every last drop.

It would seem that London is full of para-physicians.

A Bit About Me

2005-11-07T10:30:00.000Z

I got one of those email questionnaires from a friend, and I thought rather than send it on and annoy countless people by clogging up their inboxes, I would post it on the web. Don't feel obliged to read it. It is nowhere near my best work.

1. What is your name?
Kelly Elizabeth Carr

2. Occupation?
Various. At the moment I am working for a place called Pre-School Learning Alliance. I don’t really have a specific role. I am passed about like a piece of office equipment, somewhat akin to a stapler or a calculator.

3. Any nickname?
Kel, Smelly, Barry, Kelvin, Bells, Kels

4. Where are you living at the moment?
Rotherhithe, London

5 Number of candles on your last birthday cake?
Lots! 28!

6. Date that you regularly blow them out?
27 June

8. What is your favourite drink?
What kind of drink? Alcoholic or Non? I love a good cup of tea (once again showing my age) or a coke. If we are talking down at the pub, I have turned into a bit of a beer bird.

9. Body piercing & tattoo's?
Both and conspiring to get more. Sorry Daddy.

11. Birthplace?
Penrith, NSW, Australia

12. Favourite vacation spot?
I’m still technically on vacation. I did love Spain, but if we are going to be more realistic (i.e. somewhere a bit more practical)– Coffs Harbour or Queensland.

13. Ever been to Africa?
Not yet.

14. Stolen any traffic signs?
Do General Election signs on telegraph poles count? Then lots, all in one night under the influence of some naughty boys. They know who they are. Lots of espionage and guerrilla warfare that night.

15. Ever been in a car accident?
A couple, but only one was my fault, and no one was hurt except my car.

16. Croutons or Bacon bits?
Why can’t I have both?

17. 2 Door or 4 Door cars?
4 door. Two door too cramped. Ironic, as I am a little person.

18. Salad Dressing?
Caesar

19. Favourite Pies?
I like all pastries.

20. Favourite Number?
4

21. Favourite Movie?
Can I say all 6 Star Wars count it as one movie? Although I love Jaws, but only the original.

22. Favourite Colour?
Why one? I love pink and purple.

23. Favourite Holiday?
I like all public holidays, cause that means a day off and a lie in.

24. Favourite Food?
I love a good fry up, but not too often. I am not too fussed whether it is an English Breakfast or a Scottish Breakfast. Both are YUM!

25. Favourite day of the week?
I don’t really have one. Maybe Thursday or Sunday, cause it is RML or church.

26. Favourite brand of body soap?
I have never had a favourite brand but anything that smells fruity is nice.

27. Favourite TV show?
Oh man. I watch too much TV. Simpsons, Family Guy, Buffy, Angel.

28. Favourite toothpaste?
I don't have one. As long as it serves it's function. But as long as it doesn't taste like feet.

29. Most recently read book?
I am currently in the middle of a book called Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. Very good.

31. Favourite Smell?
The smell of the air just before a thunder storm. Love that smell. Or cut grass, or horses. People say horses smell. I think they smell lovely.

32. What do you do to relax?
Collapse on the lounge and watch TV.

33. Favourite Fast Food?
I don’t really east fast food these days. But probably pizza.

34. When was your last hospital visit?
Visiting or as a patient? I took Chloe to hospital in January, but we weren’t there very long, and I was last in hospital as a patient August/September 2002, thus ending my 18 year streak of not being in hospital and never having an operation.

36. How do you see yourself in 10 years?
That’s not totally up to me, but hopefully either teaching or in full time ministry. Husband and children would be nice but not essential.

37. What do you do when you are bored?
Go out with a friend.

38. What presents do you enjoy receiving?
I like all presents. After all, it is the thought that counts.

39. Rollercoasters – thrilling or terrifying?
Who gets terrified on a roller coaster? What uber wusses.

40. Thunderstorms – love ‘em or hate ‘em?
I love thunderstorms!

41. Favourite sport – to watch or play?
Cricket or Rugby to watch, Netball or touch football to play (although it has been so long since I have played any competitive sport, I shudder to think how much I might suck).

Which Homestar Character Are You

2005-11-03T16:58:00.000Z

I am Homestar. That stinks! But it does say nice things about Homestar, except that he is a bit dull. (leaving myself open, there). Post on my comments and let me know which character you are.

Classic Comedian

2005-11-01T15:46:00.000Z

Perhaps you have to have my warped sense of humour to find him funny (but I know others agree with me). Conor once commented "the funniest non-Late Show comedian", and I think that is probably the most apt description for him. I have been a fan of Shaun Micallef since his days on Jimeoin and Full Frontal, but it was when The Micallef Programme was aired that he was truly in his element.

I have cut and pasted what I have thought to be "classic" Micallef quotes. I am sure there are many more out there, but they are more elusive to me.

BMW - it's the Rolls-Royce of automobiles!

Smoking. It has been found that twenty-five thousand people die each day from smoking-related illnesses. But scientists have now proved conclusively that this number would be halved if divided by two.

So if you think you've got what it takes to type slowly and sell confectionary and toiletries, then why not consider a career in pharmacy.

Well, like an understocked herb salesman, we've run out of oregano... sorry, time!

If you're like me, it's possible you're a clone generated from my stolen DNA. I suggest you turn yourself in for destruction immediately.

Remember, a dog is not for Christmas. It can also be for a birthday. In fact, you can eat them all year round!

Just a reminder that this week is the Forty Hour Pestilence. Kids will be contracting various diseases for charity. So please, if you have anything, no matter how minor, give it to whoever knocks on your door.

And don't forget, tomorrow is national typewriter day, so buy a ribbon.

Worried about dry skin? Concerned about wrinkles? Well, visit a burns unit and get some perspective.

He wanted to get Australia out of Vietnam, although an expert in plate tectonics could have told him it was never there in the first place.

Digital Television is made digitally, Analogue television is made Anally. It certainly would explain the quality of some of our programs!

Light travels at the speed of itself. This means that a single beam of light travelling a distance will arrive at the same time it took to complete the journey, and be there to greet itself.

Mrs. Veronica Huff wrote a letter to Micallef Tonight, saying that thieves broke into a high school and stole, among other things, every single computer. The computers were not insured because the school could not afford the insurance premiums. Micallef Tonight recommends you don't enroll your kids at Richmond High School, as they will be serioulsy under-resourced.

Our closing credit roll tonight is a singer of note - of many notes, in fact, and often in an order pleasant to the human ear

There's been a few changes since last season: We're spelling 'programme' correctly this time, the French way with two m's and an e. That's entirely due to your feedback and we thank you for that. Certainly don't get that level of pedantry from viewers of commercial television.

Like a stuttering owl with laryngitis, I couldn't give two hoots.

His current album is burning up the charts faster than a pyromaniac working in hospital administration.

Excellence is defined in the Australian Oxford English Dictionary, as are a lot of other useful words.

A tanker carrying 200 tonnes of aromatherapy oil spilt and burst into flames today, causing widespread calm and a sense of wellbeing along the Australian East Coast. Wayne Hope is at the scene with the captain of the vessel...although I don't know why as the joke's already over.

Just like an untalented drummer, we're out of time.

Well, Shane Bourne has a familiar face; it's his own. And the good news is it's here tonight attached to a body...

A Weird Argument

2005-10-31T17:04:00.000Z

This is an argument/discussion I had with Jess last night. Sorry, it's another one of those script type format things again.

Kel:
We should do something on Guy Fawkes night
Jess:
We are. We’re going to that party.
Kel:
Whose party?
Jess:
The one at Gwilym’s place.
Kel:
What? What party?
Jess:
The one Matt invited us to.
Kel:
Who’s Matt?!?!
Jess:
You know Matt!
Kel:
Which Matt?
Jess:
You know Matt. Wears glasses. He’s an Associate
Kel:
(thinking) Oh, Matt Banks.
Jess:
Yeah, him.
Kel:
I don’t remember being invited to any party, though.
Jess:
I told you about it.
Kel:
No, you didn’t.
Jess:
I’m pretty sure I did.
Kel:
If you had told me about it, I wouldn’t have said “Hey, let’s do something on Guy Fawkes Night".

(pause)

Jess:
We’ve been invited to a party on Guy Fawkes Night
Kel:
Cool!!!

The New Wiggles

2005-10-31T10:40:00.000Z

Reunion

2005-10-24T13:24:00.000+01:00

There are a few reasons I am bummed not to be in Australia.

1. The pregnancy and birth of two of my closest friends children.
2. I have missed and will continue to miss several weddings.
3. My 10 year high school reunion. Mind you, I don't think I have accomplished that much in 10 years, so maybe it's a good thing that I can't go. Although the reasons why I am missing it sound pretty glamorous. Girls, if you take lots of pics, be sure to email them to me.

PS - If you are looking for me, I am in the front row, inside the E.

Web Cons

2005-10-18T11:27:00.000+01:00

Conor's awesome method to overcome internetty cons

Overly Tired

2005-10-17T09:30:00.000+01:00

Well, I finally saw Serenity. It was good. Typical Joss Whedon. But I like that kind of thing.

I am really tired, though as I had an extremely busy weekend. I went to a gig on Friday night for a friend from church's band. The band was called Vision. They were good, but everything was turned up too loud so sometimes it just sounded like a cacophony of noise (is that a tautology?). The guys on the sound desk needed to get their acts together on that one.

When I got home from the gig, I stayed up until two o'clock in the morning watching repeats of Desperate Housewives, as they were the episodes I missed, so I had some serious catching up to do.

At 7 am on Saturday I got up to go to London Women's Convention. That pretty much drained me of all energy I had left. When I got home and collapsed on the couch I was reduced to tears by a performance on X Factor. (It was a good performance! It was emotionally rousing. It wasn't so bad that I wept in frustration). Then at 11:30 I went and saw Serenity and didn't get to bed until 1:30. Another late night!

Sunday I had a bit of a sleep in, but got up because I was expecting a phone call. I then procrastinated for a while because I was reluctant to go the shops and buy my groceries for the week. After I couldn't put it off any longer I finally went to Tescos. I am so proud of myself these days. I can do a weeks worth of grocery shopping for under £10!

I was on music last night, so I went to church early. I have declared my voice on sabbatical, as it is very tired from Women's Convention and last night. I got home from church at about 10 and went straight to bed.

So that has been my weekend. Pretty full on from where I am standing.

The World's Shortest Fairy Tale

2005-09-29T13:42:00.000+01:00

Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl "Will you marry me?"
The girl said, "NO!" And the guy lived happily ever after
and went fishing, hunting and played golf a lot and drank
beer and farted whenever he wanted.
THE END

(Sorry, I just found it so amusing I had to share it)

Things I Wasn't Aware I'd Accomplished

2005-09-28T10:31:00.000+01:00

Isn't it funny the things that you do when you are bored? In an effort to entertain myself, I thought I would put my name in google and see what came up. There are people out there with my name, achieving things I would have liked to achieve. Check this out!

I wrote a Christian book
I sing in a band
I am a journalist who enjoys her cheese steaks

I also wrote a book that is a bit iffy (do the maths), but I'm not going to link that up.

I just think it's funny that people with the same name have similar interests (except for the iffy writing).

Grief & Pain

2005-09-26T14:11:00.000+01:00

Why!?!? Why won't stupid blogger let me post one tiny picture on the internet? And it's not just this particular picture. It's any picture. Stupid prejudiced blogger! For those of you who are curious, here is the link.

I wanted to post a picture of my old bible study. A memory of happier times. Not that my times have been sad of late. Maybe a little stressful (but that's a whole other post), but not sad.

I would post other things, but I don't think me sitting on the couch and watching TV is something that people want to particularly hear about.

I have other news as well, but that might be construed as horn tooting - something I abhor.

Could other people please update their blogs? I am back at Enterprise Ireland, getting paid to do basically nothing, so something to read would be greatly appreciated.

I will say one thing - I am starting to look forward to coming home. Something about job security has really been appealing to me over the past couple of weeks. I think it has something to do with the fact that last week I only worked two days, which is worrisome, considering I have rent to pay and a plane ticket to save up for, so I really can't afford to be not working at the moment.

Well, that's my whinge. Hopefully next time I might have something a little more cheerful to post about.

This is Me (Apparently)

2005-09-21T16:57:00.000+01:00

According to this online personality test. I'm not sure if I agree with it entirely.

very expressed extrovert

moderately expressed sensing personality

distinctively expressed feeling personality

moderately expressed judging personality

Extraverted Sensing Feeling Judging

by Joe Butt - (I also find it hard to respect a person with the surname "Butt")
Profile: ESFJ

Guardians of birthdays, holidays and celebrations, ESFJs are generous entertainers. They enjoy and joyfully observe traditions and are liberal in giving, especially where custom prescribes.

All else being equal, ESFJs enjoy being in charge. They see problems clearly and delegate easily, work hard and play with zest. ESFJs, as do most SJs, bear strong allegiance to rights of seniority. They willingly provide service (which embodies life's meaning) and expect the same from others.
ESFJs are easily wounded. And when wounded, their emotions will not be contained. They by nature "wear their hearts on their sleeves," often exuding warmth and bonhomie, but not infrequently boiling over with the vexation of their souls. Some ESFJs channel these vibrant emotions into moving dramatic performances on stage and screen.

Strong, contradictory forces consume the ESFJ. Their sense of right and wrong wrestles with an overwhelming rescuing, 'mothering' drive. This sometimes results in swift, immediate action taken upon a transgressor, followed by stern reprimand; ultimately, however, the prodigal is wrested from the gallows of their folly, just as the noose tightens and all hope is lost, by the very executioner!

An ESFJ at odds with self is a remarkable sight. When a decision must be made, especially one involving the risk of conflict (abhorrent to ESFJs), there ensues an in-house wrestling match between the aforementioned black-and-white Values and the Nemesis of Discord. The contender pits self against self, once firmly deciding with the Right, then switching to Prudence to forestall hostilities, countered by unswerving Values, ad exhaustion, winner take all.

As caretakers, ESFJs sense danger all around--germs within, the elements without, unscrupulous malefactors, insidious character flaws. The world is a dangerous place, not to be trusted. Not that the ESFJ is paranoid; 'hyper-vigilant' would be more precise. And thus they serve excellently as protectors, outstanding in fields such as medical care and elementary education.

Functional Analysis:

Extraverted Feeling
ESFJs live in their Extraverted Feeling functioning. Feeling, a rational (i.e., deciding) function, expresses opinions easily in the E world of objects and people. ESFJs have the ability to express warmth, rage, and a range of other emotions. Actions are encouraged or rebuked based on how they affect other people, especially people near and dear to the ESFJ. This type's vocal decisiveness predisposes many of its number to facility with administration and supervision.

Introverted Sensing
The secondary Sensing function aids and abets the dominant Fe in that sensate data is collected and at once compared with the inner forms or standards. Data on which decisions are made are thus focused and given a contrast which tends to be stronger and clearer than the original stimuli. The strengthening effect of Si on Fe may be responsible for this type's reputation for wearing their "hearts on their sleeves." At any rate, ESFJs reflect the "black and white" view of reality which is common to the SJ types.

Extraverted Intuition
Intuition is tertiary--as the ESFJ matures, and as situations arise which call for suspension of criticism, Ne is allowed to play. Under the leadership of the Fe function, intuition allows for a loosening of the more rigid Si rights and wrongs; teasing and slapstick humour emerge. ESFJs are also capable of discerning patterns and philosophies, but such perceiving is subject to the weakness of the tertiary position, and the results often lack the variety and complexity of connections that more complex systems require.

Introverted Thinking
The inferior Ti function may rarely be expressed. In fact, ESFJs may take affront at the aloof, detached nature of dominant Ti types, or conversely, be drawn to them. Some ESFJs construct rationale which have the appearance of (Jungian) Thinking logic, but under scrutiny are in fact command performances of "Thinking in the service of Feeling," (i.e., Thinking-like conclusions which do not obey the tenets of impersonal logic; they rather construct scenarios from only those "hard, cold facts" which support the conclusion reached by the dominant Extraverted Feeling function. To wit:
You don't sew with a fork, so I see no reason to eat
with knitting needles.
-- Miss Piggy, on eating Chinese Food

Famous ESFJs:
U.S. Presidents:
William McKinley
William J. Clinton (Oh no!)
Jack Benny
Desi Arnaz ("Ricky Ricardo")
Don Knotts ("Barney Fife")
John Connally (former Governor of Texas)
Terry Bradshaw, NFL quarterback
Sally Struthers (All in the Family)
Mary Tyler Moore
Dixie Carter (Designing Women)
Steve Spurrier, Heismann trophy winner, Univ. of Fla. football coach
Sally Field
Danny Glover, actor (Lethal Weapon movies, Predator 2 Margaret Butt
Nancy Kerrigan (U.S. Olympic figure skater)
Elvis Stojko (Canadian Olympic figure skater)

Fictional ESFJs:
Babbitt (Sinclair Lewis)
Hoss Cartwright (Bonanza)
Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Star Trek)
Monica (Friends)
Haleh (ER)
Donald Duck (I always wondered why I liked Donald Duck! It's because we are connected on a spiritual level)
Rabbit, Winnie the Pooh

My Next Must See Movie.......

2005-09-21T15:07:00.000+01:00

The movie of the television show Firefly (which I never got to watch, but will do). But I am convinced that everything involving Joss Whedon is spun gold, and this movie has already received rave reviews, so I am totally on board.

Wiped!

2005-09-21T12:19:00.000+01:00

My cousins (Ally, Ian, Stephen, Remy, Robin and Riley) are in town. It is great to see them again as I haven't seen a majority of them for four or five years, them living in Canada and all. Considering two of them were not speaking and one not even vertical when they left, it was so much fun to see how big they have gotten.

Something I consistently forget - there are a lot of free things to do in London. We went to Regents Park and had a play, we went to the Science Museum and had another play and we went to Kings Cross and had a play around Platform 9 3/4's. I have lots of photos of these things, and as soon as I have the means they will be posted.

But running around a lot of free stuff has really tired me out. Don't get me wrong though. I had a great time and can't wait to do it again!

Me & My Warped Sense of Humor #3

2005-09-13T11:33:00.000+01:00

A Description I Never Thought I Would Hear In Reference To Myself

2005-09-13T10:28:00.000+01:00

“Do you think Kelly is too big?”

However, this was about my singing voice(not my size).

I've got to make up for lack of height somehow......

I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!!!

2005-09-13T09:13:00.000+01:00

Interesting(ish)

2005-09-06T12:52:00.000+01:00

Actually, totally insignificant, but some things I have noticed living in London.

(a) Virtually everyone here calls me Kelly, regardless of how long they have known me. Back in Australia I was either Kel or Kelly Carr. Never just Kelly. Occasionally I had the other weird nicknames thrown in (e.g. Smelly, Kellogs, Barry, Kelvin) but the two norms were Kel or Kelly Carr. Even at work by managing directors I was known as Kel. Even the crotchety 60-year-old lady knew me as Kel. Here, Kelly. I can only think of four people here in London who are not of Australian origin that calls me Kel and they are Chloe, Belle, Iain and Jess. Maybe they cottoned onto the fact that I prefer to be Kel. Maybe they are more comfortable with me (gotten past the "Kelly is scary" stage).

To me Kelly seems so formal. I was only called Kelly in Australia by either people who had just met me, but by the end of the day they were calling me Kel anyway, or when I was in trouble (i.e. by Daniel one night when I was pinching him and he exclaimed "Don't do that, Kelly!” which made me stop in my tracks because I knew I was in trouble). Maybe they are more formal in Britain. I do love the way the Scottish and the Irish pronounce my name though. It's "dead sexy".

(b) No one comments on my eye colour or my unusually-small-looks-like-I-am-constantly-stoned pupils here, either. Back at home it was the norm. I once had a teacher walk past, stop in his tracks, walk back and say, "you have the brownest of brown eyes" (I loved Mr Aldwinkle). My sister had a friend who couldn't look at me because the colour of my eyes freaked her out (well, that's what Sonia says. For all I know, she couldn't look at me because I was hideously ugly but Sonia was trying to spare my feelings). Some people say my eyes are orange. Diego said they are "like honey" (imagine Spanish accent when reading that). One person kindly called them goat brown (ironic considering he is colour blind). I have come to the conclusion that they are weird. End of. But people would constantly comment on them.

My small pupils were also a source of constant amusement. I was once encountered by a group of teen girls at study camp who ran up to me and stared at my eyes for a good 10 seconds until I realised what they were doing. "Yes, my pupils are really small." I countered. "They really are!" they all squealed. Conor had been kind enough to point out to them that my pupils are quite small. Mind you it took him 10 years to notice.

Here they are never ever mentioned. Not at all. Never. Why is that? Is everyone in Britain colour blind? Are my eyes a normal colour and size over here? So weird.

Maybe Australians are more casual, laid back and upfront about things. Maybe they are friendlier. Belle commented the other week she wished she was Australian after seeing me strike up a conversation with a complete stranger in the pub, simply because he was wearing an Australian cricket shirt. For me, that is the norm. People shout and cheer in the street when someone was wearing the shirt of the team they support. It's what we do.

Anyway, just some casual observations. I never said they were important observations.

My Life In Pictures

2005-09-01T17:15:00.000+01:00

I'm So Depressed

2005-08-26T16:56:00.000+01:00

It's early days (2nd day, 4th test)and already I feel like curling up in a ball and crying. Australia 3 for 22 after 11 overs. It's all right for you lot back home. You can sit around and comfort each other. I am surrounded! Makes it feel like I am playing and I am the one who put in a crap performance. Can I come home now?

I don't really have anything else to say. I thought I should post though for my peoples.

Me & My Warped Sense of Humour #2

2005-08-24T17:30:00.000+01:00

I Don't Take Praise Very Well!

2005-08-22T13:18:00.000+01:00

A compliment is a nice thing to receive. "You look nice today" or "Good job" is always a good thing to hear.

I do like to recieve compliments, but I get really embarrassed about it as well. I mean, what else can I say besides thanks? "Yes, I know"? "Oh, go on"? "About time you noticed how good looking and/or talented I am"?

No - I say the general thanks, and then wait for the nearest hole in the ground to open and swallow me up.

Now I'm not saying don't compliment me. By all means, if you think I have done something well, feel free to tell me. But just don't be surprised by the bumbling, awkward response you may get.

Maybe it's a lack of confidence thing. The whole introvert/extrovert battle being waged in my brain. Maybe I am just a complex individual. You will have to wait and see.

Stay tuned for my next post - I Don't Take Criticism Very Well Either

Take my Quiz!
2005-08-19T15:59:00.000+01:00
It's dumb, but I was bored. Hey, it's a bit of fun. See how well you score. Last time no one scored 10 out of 10. Let's see who can.

Me & My Warped Sense of Humor

2005-08-17T15:29:00.000+01:00

Australia's (Virtual) Victory

2005-08-16T17:17:00.000+01:00

I realise it was only a draw, but the point is this (and I know a few Australians who will want me lynched for saying this). We should have lost. We were outplayed by England, simple as that. Now ever fibre of my being wants to scream out that this is untrue, but I know deep down that we could have easily lost yesterday. I am just so proud that Australia kept up their "never say die" attitude, and played the best they could under the circumstaces, to scrape in a draw which as far as I'm concerned, felt like a win!

Bored!

2005-08-16T15:55:00.000+01:00

It's a rarity. Posting two times in as many days. Something crazy must be going on!

The thing is this - I am working at the moment. I am going to use the term "working" loosely though, as what I am doing is anything but work. I am getting paid to sit around on my arse and answer a phone that rings about once every 20 minutes. I have had not had days like this since NCI. But at NCI I hated working there so by the end of my three and a half year stint I didn't really give a crap. Here, though, I have only been working for two days and I am feeling slightly guilty about it. But I am also surprised how quickly I am getting over it. If they want me to do something, they know where I am. So basically I am getting paid to surf the net which is what I am doing. Anyone know any interesting websites I can check out?

So in an effort to stave off my boredom, I thought I would post again and just write about nothing. I have been embracing my past by reading truedat, which is linked to this page (and cringing at some of the things I have written there). I still love Conor's writing. I wish he would post more. He is a wonderfully witty character and always makes me laugh. He has his own blog which is also in the links, but he hasn't updated it since May which makes me sad.

But I came across this post (not by Conor but Corky) which I think is possibly in my top 5 of favourite posts on truedat. Read on and see:

Imagine a party. Now imagine Survivor. Now imagine that the party and Survivor had a child. This child would be called a Survivor Party. The basic gist of this party is this. There are two rival parties, at two rival houses. Picture the Cork house and the Phillips house (use Christmas Eve as a reference). These parties have everything a good party has, music, food, a range of drinks etc. Now the Survivor part kicks in. The two parties compete in a range of games and activities against each other. Think of anything that involves competition it could be anything (darts, table tennis, weight lifting, pottery etc.). The team who wins either gets a reward, like a DJ and disco lighting or perhaps a case of beer if they are of legal age. But more importantly there would be immunity challenges, where a certain team gains immunity from voting someone out of their party! The losing team has to send someone from their party home. Literally home. They have to leave the party. This would be done like Survivor, by individuals voting out the person they most want to get rid of. Goodbye boring people, goodbye people who steal your cup, goodbye loud talkers... Obviously strategy, alliances etc would come into play. Maybe I didn’t need to explain all this. It is very late. Basically it is just a Survivor party. I fear that is could be mean. Does anyone want to have a Survivor party? Hit the forum and have your say!

Funnily enough, I was chatting to Corky this morning on MSN (once again, working hard) and this was brought up. We should do it when I get back to Australia. Corky said I would have to be the host of one of the parties, but I liked his original idea better. I want to be on team Cork, though (sorry Phillips).

I can see why Corky would want/assume me to be a host. I have been known (in the past in Australia and now it's starting to come into play here in London) to be somewhat of a social organiser. So much to the point where one night when I rang my friend Myles, his father (funnily enough also named Myles) who answered the phone and called out "Myles, your social secretary is on the phone". Or where people would ring me on a Friday or Saturday night to ask me what we were doing, when my plans involved having a quiet one in with Tracy or Conor and Sam and watching a DVD, and suddenly I would find myself organising some giant soirée to keep the mob happy. I got out of that role after a few years. Let somebody else take over. Funnily enough, things didn't seem to happen after that. I don't want to sound like I am giving myself a rap, I am just saying this is that I perceived it to be.

This also happened here in London two weeks ago where I wanted to go to the pub and have a drink after church and suddenly there where 10 of us going. I also discovered Honoria Lau is one of the hardest people in the world to get moving. After talking the boys into coming, I tried to get Honoria to move towards the door, which was taking a lot of effort when I suddenly had this feeling I was being watched. I turned around to see Iain and Chris standing by the front door with this look on their faces which only meant one thing to me...."C'mon!". I virtually pushed her out the door.

I was reminded of one of the aspects of my character that night, which I constantly forget and people continually perceive. I am a boy’s girl. I don't mean that in a bad way. My sister would constantly call me a flirt when I was younger, along with a few of my friends, but I was convinced I was just being friendly. I like girls fine. Quite a few of my best friends are girls. I just genuinely get along with boys better. But the table at the pub was noticeably split with girls at one end and boys at the other, with me right in the middle but chatting to the boys all evening. I don't know why I get on with boys better. I have always been Daddy's girl (although I love my mother to pieces and I think she is the best woman on this planet). I love my sports and I am a major sci fi nerd. In fact if I posted anonymously and gave no gender aspects away, I may be perceived as a bloke (except for admiring Brett Lee's posterior.

Listen to me twittering away. I told you I was bored. I am posting about absolutely nothing. I am going to go now before I embarrass myself (anymore).

I Wish I Had Things To Say (Although Cricket Springs to Mind)

2005-08-15T13:57:00.000+01:00

It has been hard for me over the past couple of months. I could cope with Australia's poor form in losing the rugby world cup. We will always have cricket, I reassured myself. Well, lately I have been wanting to emigrate to the US or some other country that has neither rugby or cricket. We have hit some kind of sucking slump. Every team has its' down time. I just wish our down time wasn't while I was camping out in the enemy's back yard. Last weekend was bad enough, being subjected to cruel taunts because I am Aussie and we lost by a mere two runs!!! I even attempted to defend myself by saying that we had won the week before and I didn't gloat, to which the response was "Well you missed your chance!". Hopefully though I will be forced to eat my words when Australia comes back and wins the Ashes again.

Well, some exciting news. I live in a house. I pay rent. I am no longer officially destitute. I have emailed anyone this might be of relevance to. Still waiting for letters to come pouring in, but as yet it hasn't happened. I am sure you all have valid excuses.

My house is quite large and it has a back yard which is quite exciting. I lived with 5 other people until Saturday when the two South African girls packed up and moved back to South Africa. Now it is me, Nicole (South African) and her husband Carlos (Peruvian) and Kenny (Nigerian).

The girls kept pretty much to themselves, whilst I get on with Carlos and Nicole like a house on fire. Kenny is somewhat of an enigma to me. I am trying to decide whether I like him or not. So far he has succeeded in giving me the creeps slightly. Comments like "You look gorgeous tonight" and "Do you have a boyfriend? Why not?" (although sometimes I ask myself the same question)kinda unsettle me a bit. Maybe I am just being paranoid, but it does strike me as something slightly sleazy. So Nicole and Carlos going away on the weekend did not bode well with me. Kenny wanted to take me to the movies on Saturday night which I fended off by pleading I was tired and just wanted to stay home and watch TV. I wasn't lying. For some bizzare reason I couldn't sleep on Friday night and then I totally cleaned house on Saturday. After I did that I had a dumb argument with Kenny because he came in and said "are you still watching the cricket?" (valid question as that had been all I was doing for the last two days) to which I responded "it's just started because it has been raining all day. I have been cleaning the house", at which point I looked down and saw the muddy footprints he trekked in all over my freshly mopped floor (30 minutes later he also proceeded to drop his lunch on it).

Now please don't get me wrong. As Monica Gellar my response may have seemed, you must understand how annoying it can be to clean the house, only to have someone come in and mess it up immediately. I also didn't say anything in case you were wondering. Maybe I am a wet blanket. I wonder what I will be like if I have kids.

That wasn't the end of the argument (or discussion).

Kenny: Always watching cricket
Kelly: It's the Ashes! I'm Australian! I need to watch it!
Kenny: It will be on again in six months.
Kelly: (looking at Kenny incredulously)No, it's every four years
Kenny: It's on every six months. I'm right.
Kelly: (trying to be patient) No, it's every four years.
Kenny: Why do you like cricket so much anyway?
Kelly: Like I said, I'm Australian. It's our favourite sport.
Kenny: No, Australia's favourite sport is rugby.
Kelly: (cannot believe she's having this conversation) I'm pretty sure it's cricket...
Kenny: (stubbornly) No, Australia's favourite sport is rugby!
Kelly: Look, Kenny, I'm Australian. Please don't try and tell me what Australia's favourite sport is. I think I have a bit more inside knowledge on the subject.

Maybe I am coming off a bit bitchy. But I just think that it is possibly one of the dumbest arguments I have ever had. Like the whole debate with Jennie about labotamies/lacotomies. Ask me if you want to hear that argument. I guarantee you will fall about laughing. It was so embarrassing to Jennie in the end that I was forbidden to tell that story at her 21st (pity).

To try and lighten the mood a bit, I will now post my funny conversation with Nicole from Thursday. Once again watching the cricket.

Nicole: Brett Lee is so cute. (actually, that was not what she said. Her comment was directed more towards his backside, but I don't want smut on my blog)
Kelly: (nodding in agreement) (yes I did! I am ashamed, but I'm only human)
Nicole: Is Brett Lee married?
Kelly: (turning around to look at Nicole) No, but you are.

Well, this is pretty much what has been happening of late. Not all that interesting really. But when I don't post, people whinge. Although Conor, who insisted that I set up this whole blog, has confessed to not reading it at all since before I left Australia. Poor form.

A Challenge

2005-07-25T23:19:00.000+01:00

I have been set a semi challenge. Well not really. I was reading a friends website and questions were posed, and since people complain that I don't post enough, I thought I would plaguerise his idea and answer them on my blog. Plus, they have a lot to do with my line of work at the moment.

Currently reading?

What I am currently reading is a manuscript I have gotten from work of a novel called "Pledged". It is a book about sorority girls. It looked intriguing, so I took it home with me. I am only a chapter or so in. I hope it gets better. I actually have about four other books I am meaning to read - The Kite Runner, We need to Talk About Kevin, Life of Pi and The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp.

Five books that mean a lot to you?

Five books that mean a lot to me? Wouldn't that fall under the category of Top Five Books (see below)?

Well, number one would have to be the Bible. Do I really need to give a reason? Well, read it (if you haven't already) and find out. A book that shows the Awesomeness of God, his fulfillment of his promises and his great love for us - how could that not mean everything to me.

Actually, that is all I have to say on books/book that means a lot to me. All other books are just forms of entertainment/education.

Top five books? (Not Including The Bible)

1. I will list this under the heading of one book - Harry Potter. I know that they are a series, and I know that they are "children's books", but they are fantastically written and the stories are more engrossing than the last. All I have to say is that the people who call them children's books obviously haven't read them and given them a fair chance. If they had, they would be converted, I am sure (just as I converted people to Buffy, being convinced that people who didn't like it just hadn't watched it properly, and I was right!!).

2. The Eyes of the Dragon (Stephen King)- not his usual macarbe writing (although I am a fan of his other works). A book that he wrote for his teenage daughter and is more in the realms of fantasy than of horror. Wonderfully written. I think everyone would enjoy it. I have owned it twice, leant it out twice and never gotten it back twice. I think the next time I buy it I will not lend it out again.

3. The Lord of the Rings - once again a series. I have only read the series a couple of times, and I thought it was just me, but my sister and my friend Greg confessed to having the same problem. It's just a bit hard to get into. You read it for an hour or so, and then you have to put it down. I can't explain why. For some reason it made my brain hurt. Felt like I was taking too much in. But I persevered. As hard it is to read, it is still a good story.

4. The Princess Bride - Also a popular film, and I have seen it well into double digits (having watched at the theatre when I was still in primary school). I was given the book a few weeks ago when I commenced working at Bloomsbury (how I love Bloomsbury), and I read it within 24 hours. The story is truly fantastic. Granted, I have only read the abridged version, which is only 300 or so pages long, but I would really love to read the full story.

5. American Psycho - I wouldn't recommend it to those with a weak constitution. Wonderfully satirical, but also extremely.....gross, gory, gruesome. All those G words. Fantastic look at New York in the 1980's, with yuppies in their power suits, the five star restaurants, the drug saturated culture, and one guy who is just a complete nutter. For one chapter he goes on about Huey Lewis and the News. He will spend at least a page describing what he is wearing, and then he will go on about his bloodlust, and killing completely random people. But it is such an intriguing book!!

Last book bought?

I haven't bought a book in over a year. Maybe more. I know it's sad. But the last book I bought was Pet Semetary (another Stephen King). I had just watched the film (and it had successfully freaked me out). I had watched part of it two years ago when I was bed ridden with a gammy leg, and there were two scenes that I had watched which had put me off viewing it for two years.

1. The two year old child being hit by a Mack Truck. I sat there is shock thinking "did I just see that?!?". It was absolutely horrific. This gorgeous child one minute playing happily in the field, the next minute chasing something into the middle of the road and being run over. I was just astounded. I changed the channel for about half and hour.

2. This child, being resurrected in the Pet Semetary, hiding under his neighbor's bed, and then slicing the neighbor's (Jud) achilles tendon with his fathers scalpel. That made me cringe (having just had an operation on my ankle), and being about 3 am, I had to switch the telly off. Then I had to turn it back on again and watch the Simpsons, because I couldn't stop thinking about it.

What was I talking about?

Oh yes, so I managed after two years to watch the movie in it's entirety, and then thought, I should really read the book, so I went out and bought it.

It is one of the more embarrassing moments in my life, sitting on a bus in Ireland, crying my eyes out when the little boy gets killed by the truck. But it was a moving piece of writing. I challenge you to read it and not get a little choked up. The rest of the book you can skip. It was just typical Stephen King

Recent discoveries?

I'm not sure what this question is supposed to mean. What recent discoveries? I haven't really made any recent book discoveries. The only book I read recently which I would recommend would be the Princess Bride, so I will choose to interpret this question the way I want to. Well, I think since my ban (which I have mentioned before), I have rekindled my love of reading. Last year I think I read maybe three or four books. Now I am averaging three or four books a week, like I used to. My ban has since been lifted, but I am spending much more time reading. Plus getting free books and working for a company that fully endorses reading helps a lot

Well, that is it from me for a few days. I hope that this has been enlightening for you. Feel free to also complete your own literary baton.

So Much To Write - So Little Time - Such A Crap Keyboard

2005-07-17T23:24:00.000+01:00

I am being constantly hassled by my sister (I am starting to think she may be one of the very few people who read these posts), so now I am posting.

It is true. I have had a lot going on recently, and none of it particularly good.

1) London is bombed. That is totally horrific as you can imagine. I also found out tonight that a guy from my church was killed in one of the explosions. I didn't know him, but it didn't make it any better. In fact, I am really sad writing this right now. Please keep his family and all the families of the victims in your prayers.

2) My move fell through. It really sucks. I was all excited about moving in with a really lovely girl and then the day before I move she tells me that she doesn't think we will get on (?) and she doesn't want me to move in anymore (!?!?!). Now this upset me quite a bit as you can imagine. I feel sorry for the poor bank teller who was trying to serve me and the whole time I was on the phone in tears to my mum. Thankfully, God didn't want to leave me destitute. My friend Jess from church kindly offered to put me up until I find a place, and Iain and my sister also talked me out of some mild fits of hysteria . Thankfully, her room mates rock as well, so I am having a fantastic time (hopefully they can say the same) while I am looking for a new place. I think I may have found one just around the corner. I am just waiting for the letting agent to pull his finger out of it.

3) Have a longish term job. Well not really. It is only for another three weeks, but I am loving it. I am working for the publishing company Bloomsbury and I am loving it. I get free books. It is great. I already have three, and tomorrow I pick up my fourth.....Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Very exciting. I know most of you have already bought it and read it, and I was going to buy it yesterday too, but I decided I can wait a few days for it to be free. Hey, £10 is £10, and I am trying to save.

I hope this has been sufficient enough a post for you. I will keep you informed of the Kel-is-moving saga!

Another Quick One

2005-06-28T20:13:00.000+01:00

I haven't posted for a while. I have had good reason. The good reason was that I couldn't be bothered. But since people have said that they actually do read my posts (which shocked and astonished me, let me assure you), I thought it would be common courtesy that I write a small post at least and let you know how I am doing.

Badly. Well not really badly. But I could be better. I may be moving house in a week, and I don't know if that is all going according to plan. I am kinda broke, and I don't really have a job. But I have my health, and I also have full assurance, so that is enough for me. What am I complaining about?

Yes, it was my birthday yesterday. What happened on my birthday? I got older. That's about it. I got the obligatory text messages, phone calls from the family and the lovely Tracy Scott. I had lunch with Kath Russell, which I will consider my best birthday present. Lots of people at the pub bought me drinks, and lots of people from church (James, John, Iain, Belle, Stephen, Jess) dropped by and bought me drinks, so I had a lot of drinks in me. Thankfully, I wasn't rolling around making an idiot of myself. I played some pool and won some cards. Actually it was quite nice and chilled out. But the selfish side in me wanted presents. Stupid, selfish me.

After the pub shut Belle, Stephen and I went and sat by the river, had a nice drink and a chill out. That could possibly be my favourite part of my birthday.

Quick One

2005-06-02T22:37:00.000+01:00

Not much to report of late, sorry to say. I just thought that I would quickly post because I don't know when the next opportunity will arise, and I didn't want you all to think I had fallen into the void or anything.

Work going well. I finish up an McNeil this week and I am working next week and the week after in Piccadilly Circus. Can't remember where. Agency said something about a museum. It's a day on, day off affair, and the hours are 11 - 7. Means I get a sleep in, but also means I won't get home until about 7:30/8:00 depending on the tubes and whether the bridge gets shut down again, like it did today. Although, maybe I will be catching the tube from London Bridge. I will have to look into that one!

Next week is the last week of RML. I am sad about that. I have made some really good friends in that group. Not that I won't see them anymore after RML has finished, but I won't be speaking to them as regularly. I will be doing Romans next term. That should be challenging. I have spoken to people studying Romans and they say that it is quite grueling, so I should prepare to have my mind assaulted (and stimulated) with God's word.

Also, I saw Ben Folds on Tuesday. That was great. It is the fifth time I have seen him, though, whereas for everyone else it was a first. It was at Hammersmith Apollo which is quite similar to Enmore. And like Enmore, it was a bit squashy. Iain disagreed and said it wasn't squashy at all, but my argument is this - I don't like people. Well, I don't like people en mass, to rephrase. They get in my way, or tread on me because I am little, and they are all..........touching me. I like my personal space. I know what you are thinking. Kel, you are an affectionate person. That is different. I know you well enough to let you into my personal space, but I don't like being poked, prodded and pushed in every direction by a bunch of strangers.

Anyway, during the gig, I was getting very dehydrated and my feet were killing me due to my impractical choice of footwear. After the gig, Iain and I separated from the group as we didn't like the crowds that were gathering at the district line (what's worse than a crammed concert venue - an even more crammed tube) so we took the Piccadilly line and went home via Covent Garden as we went on a quest for water (two 2 litre bottles for £1 as opposed to £1.50 for 500 ml - bargain!). It was a nice little adventure of walking around London aimlessly in the middle of the night, being asked by a man if we had a spare cup of tea (?). Weird. Of course when I got home, the first thing I did before I event went up the stairs was take my shoes off. The second thing I would have liked to have done was go to bed, but Chloe was watching Oceans Twelve, and as it is her flat and her lounge that I am sleeping on, I felt that her needs took priority.

TV ban going well (Tracy). It is only day two, mind you, but it has been quite refreshing, sitting in the lounge, listening to music and reading. But it is a bit of a bummer when Chloe wants to watch TV, as I don't really have anywhere else to go, so I have to tune it out. Does that count, if the TV is on in the same room but I am not watching it? But I feel smarter already!!!

Journalistic Talent or Just a Hack?

2005-05-28T17:00:00.000+01:00

It has been a long time since I did anything creative. I always had a love for writing, and was often encouraged by teachers and friends, but I have one small problem. I can't really create on my own. If someone gives me a subject and tells me to write about it, then I can do just that, but I can't just set out own my own to tell a story.

For a while, being fiercely encouraged by my best friend Tracy, I was thinking of enrolling in a creative writing course, but that got about as far as researching it on the internet. And I have done nothing since then. My mind is slowly being killed off with too much television. Luckily Tracy has stepped in and challenged me to not watch television for a month. This will be good. I will get a lot of reading done. And I also got my own back by challenging her with no caffeine for a month. Reminder, Trace, that starts next Wednesday! No more caffeine for you. So maybe I will start becoming smart again as I stimulate my brain rather than sterilize it.

Anyway, I digress. My RML leader, Honoria, is always coming up with new and fun ways to study the bible. This week, despite the noticeable absence of everyone but three members of our group, she ploughed ahead and asked us to write an article based on Mark 14:53 - 15:15. I really enjoyed this task, and unfortunately my article dwindles out because I was told to put my pen down (if it had been an exam, I would have been panicking), but this is what I wrote, which I was assured was very good, so I thought that I would share it with others. No need to express opinions, by the way. Like I commented to Chloe just yesterday, you are always your own harshest critic.

Whirlwind Trial Comes to Conclusion with Execution Sentence

A trail that has rocked Jerusalem came to a gruesome conclusion today when the man everyone has been talking about for the last couple of years, Jesus, was sentenced to be crucified.

Jesus has been the name on everyone's lips from when he emerged a few years ago to begin his "radical" campaign of teaching. Jesus first gained public attention when a man known as John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan. As this occurred, many eye witnesses claimed to have heard a voice coming from heaven saying "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased". This of course caused many people to speculate who this man actually is.

Jesus went on to gather followers who accompanied him wherever he went, and there are numerous accounts of him teaching people, feeding people in great numbers and even more audacious claims of healing the sick, walking on water and raising the dead!

While Jesus had many supporters, he also appears to made several enemies in none other than our High Priests and Pharisees. They claim that Jesus has been blaspheming, working on the Sabbath and basically causing trouble. These men are the people that have brought Jesus to trial.

But as this trail went on, the witnesses that were brought in to testify against Jesus seemed to be consistently contradicting one another. Amazingly Jesus said nothing in his defense until a high priest asked Jesus if he was the Christ, the Son of God, to which he replied "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of Heaven".

At this, a riot broke out with the high priest screaming "Blasphemy" and tearing his garments and everyone condemning Jesus as deserving death. Jesus was then beaten severely and handed over to Pilate to be sentenced.

Pilate amazingly seemed to be asking Jesus to say something in his defense, but Jesus did not. Furthermore, Pilate gave the people a chance to release Jesus, possibly suspecting foul play from the High Priests, but the people demanded the release of Barabas, a man convicted of murder during the recent insurrection. And so Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified.

Back in the Swing of Things

2005-05-24T15:37:00.000+01:00

I am back. Back in the land of varied accents, coldish weather and warm beer. People ask is it good to be back? I say, I am adjusting. Ask me in a week. Not as much culture shock as when I went back to Oz, but then I have been away for less time.

The flight was good. Long, but good. Took me ages to get through customs where my friends Canela and Greg had been waiting for ages. And then, somewhere between London Bridge and Hays Galleria, I lost my book that Conor and Sam gave me. I am not impressed. I had only read a couple of chapters and it was just starting to get interesting. And for the people in London, you know that the distance between London Bridge tube station and Hays Galleria is not much at all. As in across the street. Don't ask me how I managed it, but I did. It also had a family photo in it, and I am sad about losing that as well. Mummy and Daddy (sucking up), could you please print me another copy of that photo and send it over post haste? Thank you! Jet lag unfortunately set in at church, around the time of the sermon, where I nodded off and had to be poked by the person next to me. This was disappointing, (a) because I missed the sermon, and the parts I heard were very good, and (b) I didn't get to catch up with anyone, because after that fiasco, I went straight home to bed!!

Job situation - for those of you I haven't yet informed, the job with St Helens fell through. Yes, the person who was leaving decided that they didn't want to leave after all, which means there was no job for me to fill. I won't lie. I wasn't impressed. But there is no use crying over things that can't be changed. So I have been proactive about finding another job. I went to an agency today. Luckily I know a man on the inside. Well, not a man. A woman. My good friend Canela. I did the whole interview and testing thing and that went quite well. I also got to get all dressed up. The whole thing went so well in fact that I got placed in a temp position straight away. It is only a week long (Thurs to Next Friday), but work is work, and at least I will be earning a bit of money, and that gives them a week to find me something a little more long term. I also worked at the Tap last night and will be working tonight, as they are short staffed. Good for me, as I am staying there so I don't feel so guilty that I am mooching.

As for accommodation - a friend of mine from the Tap is going away for a month, so I get to stay at his flat for that month he is away. This is good. It means I get out of Chloes' hair, but it also gives me a month to save up for a bond so I can move into a new place. It is a nice place located on Jamaica Road, so it is not to far out of the way from Church, The Tap and tube lines so I can get too and from work.

And now for the long awaited review....... STAR WARS!

"I wish I had 10 thumbs!" Conor Clarke - Springwood
"Best movie, ever!" Brendan Cusack - Winmalee
"Let's get five hours sleep and see it again!" Kelly Carr - no fixed address

Yes, Star Wars was a roaring success. Never mind waiting in line for two hours, or the lack of sleep that followed. It rocked my world. I went into it with high expectations, and it met those expectations and surpassed it. I am not going to go into too much detail, in case you haven't seen it yet, but I encourage you to see it now! Now - damn you!

As I mentioned previously, I did watch the first two Star Wars films (The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones), and to my surprise, they did not suck as badly as I remembered. In fact, I quite enjoyed them, and it was good, because I was up to date with all the politics and manipulations that led to Revenge of the Sith. So if you are planning to see Revenge of the Sith, my advice is that you watch Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones first, so you can get up to date with what is going to happen!

Considerably Less Freaked Out

2005-05-17T15:40:00.000+01:00

Well, I have just been "a-checkin' my email" (obligatory Strong Bad quote) and I was relieved to find an email saying that my interview can be changed to Monday. Well, that is a load off. Mind you, I am still yet to land the job, so I don't think I should be relaxing yet. And since I have been informed that a number of people have applied for this job, I am still marginally freaked out. I should take my own advice and just CHILL OUT! I mean, I am on holidays for crying out loud, and I am constantly worried about job situations and accommodation. I am going to give myself an ulcer. I need to keep reminding myself of Philippians 4:6-9. Not that I shouldn't be proactive in finding a job and accommodation, it's just that I shouldn't be steering myself towards a nervous breakdown over it. God has already provided me with temporary accommodation when I get back to London. I am sure a job and more permanent accommodation will follow suit.

Well, I am going to change the subject now. STAR WARS! Yep, the new one comes out today (cause I am writing this at 12.50 AM) - or tomorrow if you want to be fiercely pedantic, and I couldn't be more excited. I should really be watching Episodes I and II to brush up on my history (a lot of politics in Star Wars), but they are so woefully craptacular, I don't know if my mind could cope. A big group of us are heading to the cinemas tomorrow. It is so going to rock.

To those in London, I shall be back on Sunday! Can you wait that long? I should be at church, if I don't suffer from an extreme case of jetlag and collapse before 7 PM. Otherwise, you will see me on Wednesday or on the following Sunday. To those Aussies - yes, I really am going. Get over it. You have already coped for a year without me, surely you can cope for another year!

I don't know why I am making this seem like my last post from Australia. Knowing me, it probably won't be. But, better safe than sorry.

Freakin' Out!

2005-05-13T14:51:00.000+01:00

Maybe I am being a bit melodramatic. Have you ever applied for a job you really would like, even though you think there is a good chance you won't get it? I did that at my church at St Helen's, in London. I thought, heck, I will apply. What's the worst that they could say? Well I applied, and now they want to interview me. Guess when? 20th May. When do I fly out of Australia? 21st May! Of course, I sent off a courteous email stating that I would not be in London, but available for an interview on the 23rd, and I get an automated email from the relevant person saying they were out of the office until 16th May.

It's no big whoop. Like I said earlier, I am probably just being melodramatic and they will be happy to interview me on the Monday, but I can't help but be a little paranoid. I was beginning to think that I mustn't have even made it to the interview stage, but lo and behold I did. A bit of prayer in this area would really be appreciated, as I think this would be a great job for me.

Otherwise, this has been a very chilled out week for me. I have caught up with a few friends, watched a lot of Angel and have basically been very lazy.

Star Wars comes out next Wednesday night/Thursday morning. I am very excited. Yes I am a big nerd, and some of you would question why I would want to stay in Australia and watch it here when I could just as easily watch it in London. But as I was discussing with my friend Rebecca tonight, I saw the other two midnight session prequels with this gang, and it just wouldn't be the same watching it without them. And she agreed.

Well, it is late, I have had a big dinner and I am having a lovely picnic with my former housemates tomorrow (weather permitting), so I best be off to bed.

Miscellaneous

2005-05-09T11:24:00.000+01:00

This is a bits and bobs post. I don't have much to say, so I am saying a couple of things that have no real relevance. I do that occasionally. All right, a lot. I am told it is a bad thing, but I look at it as an opportunity to "hone" my "skills" as a "writer" (mental note - too many inverted commas).

1. I sang in church last night. "Big whoop" comes the cry from all and sundry. "You have sung before and will sing again". But to me it was a big deal. Or at least a larger deal than normal. I don't sing at St Helen's. I tried to break into the music scene over there, but it seems like a hard scene to break into. So the opportunity came to sing at Christ Church last night and I seized it like some giant.......seizing thing.......Anyway. My friend Corky said that I should try to get into music at St Helen's and I said that I have made my presence known and now I am waiting for my presence to actually be acknowledged. He said that it isn't good enough and I need to be more proactive. I'm not a big horn tooter when it comes to my "talent" (which is not horn tooting). I will tell people I sing, but when they ask me to sing for them, or if I have to sing a song to demonstrate to someone how it goes, I suddenly develop a mild form of stage fright and clam up. But get me up on stage and put a mike in my hand and I will be more than happy to belt out a number. I think it's the introverted extrovert thing again. Or I am just weird. But back to Corky, he is urging me to make my presence known again. Possibly a bit louder. But I don't know how to go about that without seeming slightly egotistical (horn tooting) or doing something I fear worse - some kind of audition. Heck, God has gifted me, so I should just be happy with that. If I am not needed musically at St Helen's, then I am happy to sing loudly in the congregation. I probably only sing at Christ Church because I have been there so long that I am comfortable and don't feel I am somehow being judged.

2. A friend of mine made a post recently on his own website about not having a sense of belonging (in a fashion). I have come to a conclusion that I am in a similar state. On Friday I slipped into this deep blue funk that resulted in a massive teary on my part. I just felt overwhelmed with the sense of not belonging in Australia anymore. I don't feel unwanted, quite the contrary. I just feel that I am a different person than I was when I went away. Or perhaps the people here are now different. Maybe both. But in the same fashion, I don't feel that I belong in England either. I am not from there, their culture is somewhat different that which I am accustomed, I don't have any family. I have become somewhat of a nomad. Neither belonging here nor there. This realisation had been building up pretty much since I stepped off the plane and came to critical mass late Friday night where I sat down on my front door step and started weeping uncontrollably. After some prayer and assurance from a friend I felt calmer somewhat, and since then I have just come to accept that somehow life does go on without me (as much as I don't like it). And after talking to others who have been in similar situations, I have discovered it is a completely normal thing to feel, so I wasn't just a blubbering mess of a girl. I thought maybe I was suffering from depression or something. Well, I was, but not THAT kind of depression. I would call it being somewhat irrationally emotional.

3. To those I have not informed yet, it is official. I am staying in Australia another week. To those of you in London, yes I will be back in time for Ben Folds. I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Freedom

2005-05-05T14:59:00.000+01:00

Something I truly missed whilst living in London - driving.

In Australia, we take it for granted. Pretty much everyone drives everywhere. To the corner shop, to your friends, to the pub (which is probably not such a good thing). In London, I walked everywhere. I had no choice. It was walk or spend money using public transport. Money which I didn't have. So I generally walked. I did it so often that I really started to enjoy it, so I would walk anyway - even if I did have money for the bus fare.

Here, my good friend Conor was kind enough to lend me his car - so I have fallen back into old habits. Driving to the corner shop, driving to friends places, driving to the pub. Places and distances which I could have easily walked and most probably would have if I didn't have this car and could be bothered. Not that I am knocking it. It has come in handy when it came to transporting to places not so easily accessible by foot i.e. Old Toongabbie or in tonight's case, Kingsford.

Kingsford is a place on the outskirts of Syndey City (for those of you who are not Australian). Tonight I drove there to meet some friends of mine whom I used to work with and their husbands/partners. It was a nice night. We had a nice meal in a restaurant and then went back to Anastasia and Xan's place and had a nice sit down with some tea and chocolate biscuits (always a plus in my books).

There were two down sides to me driving there:

(a) I am geographically inept. Ask anyone. Hand me a map and I will do the typical girly thing of turning it around, taking the safest, not the shortest route. Safest being going along roads that I actually know, rather than cutting across places I don't because I have never been there before. Whenever I make a trip to a new place, I usually leave half an hour early. This half an hour is called "Getting Lost Time". Simply because the first time I drive to a place I always make at least one wrong turn. No matter how carefully I have studied the map, or how concisely someone has given me directions, I will always be plagued by self-doubt somewhere during the journey, panic, and zig when I should zag. Because I have allowed my "Getting Lost Time", I am generally on time. Unless by some extreme fortune, I don't get lost - in which case I am half an hour early and have to faff around in the street.

(b) I didn't get to have a drink. Not that I am a raging alcoholic, but I wouldn't have minded the casual beer when it was offered to me. I never drink if I am going to drive. I am classed as what is called a light-weight and I think any alcohol is a bad idea if I am going to be behind the wheel. So tea it was (and I was bummed cause there was no milk. I hate black tea).

Aw, Shucks!

2005-05-03T13:06:00.000+01:00

I was worried that on upon my return to Australia that for my whole company of friends and family life would have moved on and I would have somehow slipped through the cracks of forgotteness. Four incidents happened today which made me feel that maybe this is not the case (although some people have moved on without me, but that is another story for another post I am sure).

First incident came whilst I was visiting at my sisters this afternoon. My nephew (who is four), playing happily with his lego this afternoon, ceased this activity to turn around and say to me "Kel, I love you!". Needless to say, I was chuffed.

The second and third incidents happened within very quick succession of each other whilst waiting in line to see Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy (aside: I didn't think the movie was all that. I probably shouldn't have read the books first). The first came from Brendan who was questioning me about going back to London. When I told him I was, he said "Are you sure about that? Do you know where your passport is?" with the sinister look he often has on his face when he is doing or saying something shifty. This boy has been threatening to steal my passport for weeks though. It's still where I left it.

His girlfriend, Jodie (who also seems quite keen for me to stay) asked me if there was any way to keep me here. I suggested physical force might be a good method. She then proceeded to stand on my foot and told me she was not getting off until I agreed to stay. Don't know how I managed to wriggle my way out of that one, but somehow, I prevailed.

The fourth came after watching the film, during which we saw the preview to the new Star Wars film. Needless to say, the preview was better than the movie I actually went to see and I am very excited about watching this cinematic extravaganza. After leaving the cinema, we were discussing how good the film looked and I made the comment about "accidentally" missing my plane back to London if I could not change my ticket. The comment was then made by all and sundry "How about you never go back?".

Well, I feel much loved at this end of the globe. It is starting to make me wonder if I actually do want to go back. I do and don't. I love everyone in Australia, but I have so much else I want to do in London, and I can't legally live there after February 2006, so I think it is good that I go back.

Mind you, being unemployed and destitute makes me wary about going back.

Funny

2005-05-02T13:46:00.001+01:00

I went to watch my boys play touch football tonight. Something I have not done in over a year, being that is a bit far for me to get there. They won incidentally. 8-4. I would like to think that my skillful supporting consisting of sitting on the sidelines rugged up to the umpteenth degree and occasionally shouting out words of encouragement and also smart-arsed remarks had something to do with it.

I ran into an old friend Clem there. We have known each other for quite a few years. I think our friendship got off to a bad start when I asked him if he was related to Lester Dillan (a guy in my year at school). Apparently it is a question he gets asked a lot. Fair enough I say. They are peas in a pod, but not remotely related. Very strange. But over the years our friendship bloomed, even though we only saw each other once a week at touch football and occasionally ran into each other at the pub - where I would beat him at pool. I'm still proud of those moments, except for the one time where I lost and I crawled under the table in shame. That I am not proud of at all.

So Clem and I were having a good old chat. The usual "I haven't seen you in ages" was said. And then "Where have you been, Kel?". Turns out he didn't know that I have been living in London the last year. He thought I had stopped coming to watch touch football just because. It had never occurred to him to ask one of the boys "So why haven't I seen Kel around lately?". Dumb boys. You don't ask, you don't learn!!

But what made it funnier was the fact that just this afternoon he told me he had been thinking "I haven't seen Kel for ages....." and tonight I suddenly rock up to touch football. Well maybe not so funny from my perspective, but funny from his, I am sure.

Anyway, I am meeting him at the Ori on Wednesday (along with many others, what with it being karaoke night and all) to revive our old friendship. Maybe I can beat him at pool again, just for old times sake. But then again, last time I played pool I got beaten 4-0. I don't know if I can ever live that down.................

Ouch!

2005-05-01T14:45:00.000+01:00

Something very weird happened to me last night/this morning.

Those of you who have known me for two years or more will remember the time when I snapped my Achilles tendon. Not the most fun time in my life. In fact it was quite painful. What happened to me last night reminded me of the day when it actually happened.

I was sleeping quite happily at the church house party. I had gone to bed at a decent hour and had fallen asleep reasonably quickly, which is unusual for me when I am in a bed which is not my own. Suddenly at some point in the night (I am not sure what time) I woke up to find I was in the most excruciating pain. It was the worst pain I had experienced in a long time and it was located all down my left calf. Now I don't know how it happened that I was suddenly in a world of white hot agony, but it made me sit bolt upright in bed and grasp onto my left calf, trying to somehow squeeze the pain out my foot! Had my room not been populated by two other girls trying to sleep also, I might have actually started making some kind of noise. Possibly a swearing kind of noise. I was struggling very hard not to. Looking back, I imagine the situation would have been quite comical - me sitting up in bed, all tangled up in my sleeping bag with my legs hanging out the bottom as I had opened it up to stick my feet out in the night because I was continuously waking up sweating (I don't know why), gripping onto my leg, my mouth agape in some kind of weird "Scream" like grimace.

Now the reason that I mentioned my Achilles is because the pain was very similar to when I ruptured my right tendon, and I was worried (probably because I was in some kind of weird incoherent waking state) that possibly what my physiotherapist predicted would happen had actually occurred and the left Achilles tendon had decided to snap too...........In my sleep (?). There's stupidity for you.

Of course, my Achilles hadn't snapped. My leg had just severely cramped up inexplicably and was causing me all manner of grief.

This was not the highlight of my weekend, no matter how much I have just nattered on about it. I just spent a weekend in the company of many of my close friends from Christ Church in Australia. It really was a fantastic weekend, studying the bible (Philippians), learning about being a partner in God's gospel, discussing/arguing about what we had learned, chilling out and chatting to my friends, playing board games, going on the swings (maybe that's why my legs cramped up in the middle of the night?), and all together having a good time.

Tonight was also great fun, as I got to go to church. Not being incredibly jetlagged like I was last week was a huge advantage. I listened during the sermon (2 Timothy - yes, the whole book), got to speak to lots of people afterwards, and even went to Maccas. Things seemed a bit insane there, though. I think tiredness from the weekend was starting to catch up with people, so they started acting bizarrely. It was good though, because there were friends of mine there from other church congregations at Maccas, who didn't know I was even back in the country so I got to catch up with them too. All round, a good weekend. An improvement on the week, I would say.

I'm So Boring

2005-04-29T06:43:00.000+01:00

I can't imagine these are the kind of posts that would entice people to read the possibly fascinating things that I have to say. Putting a title that says "I'm So Boring" does not exactly inspire confidence. But I am so boring/bored, that this is something to entertain myself.

At least it might occupy half an hour or so, until I go back to playing Peasant's Quest - a game that has bugged me for the last couple of days, because I am really not getting anywhere. I have a score of 15 out of a possible 150. This is not good.

Also, I am in Australia! I am supposed to be hanging with my homies. Instead, I am hanging with my dogs. And my mum. Don't get me wrong. My mum is a wonderful mum. In my opinion the best mum in the world. My dogs are pretty cool too. But a person of my........personality (an extroverted introvert) needs to be in a highly charged social atmosphere. Or basically with people. Preferably people that I like. (see what I mean! ramblings!).

So my day has consisted of me playing the increasingly frustrating Peasants Quest (and sucking at it), talking on MSN and reading snippets of "The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe" in a desperate bid to complete the Hitch Hikers series before I go see the movie next Tuesday night.

At some point I packed for going away on the weekend. That alone will hopefully make my life a bit more interesting. I also decided to go through my drawers. I found many photos. Some on disc, some actual hard copy photos which I sometimes forget exist.

I also came across some very old photos that caused me to have some kind of epiphany. An epiphany that I actually had a couple of years ago, but seeing them made me go "Wow".

What I came across were photos of my ex-boyfriend. I think my mum was keen for me not to look at them, knowing what kind of messy break-up that was, but I assured her that I was merely looking at them one last time before discarding them. And looking at them, I realised I was looking at them with fond memories - rather than the bitter hate filled angst at which I used to look at them. I suppose you could say I have come a long way since then. So I decided to put them back in the drawer rather than piff them.

Plus, I look hot in those photos (and young).

Another high point in my day today was going to the Doctors. Not really a high point though, because the reason I went to the Doctors was to get an injection. I am not too happy about that.

I am still convinced that I am a very boring person. Hopefully after the weekend away, I will have interesting things to say. Or at least more insightful things to say after a weekend of listening to the Gospel. And hopefully I will have figured out how to put photos up here. For someone who is trained in computers, I am fairly internet illiterate!

Welcome

2005-04-28T07:41:00.000+01:00

If you are new to this website, you are probably wondering why the heck it is called Purple Monkey Dishwasher.

No, I'm not a monkey (although some would argue. Monkey looking, they might say), I am not purple, unless extremely angry.

But I have been known to wash dishes.

But that really has nothing to do with this blog. Truth is, Conor and I were stuck for a title of this webpage. This was one of the first things that popped into our heads, being the Simpsons fans that we are and it's what we say when we don't know what else to say.

Are you confused yet?

This blog has been created because the "page that came before it - the great and all knowing Truedat" has pretty much wound down to a close, so Conor and I decided that it was a good thing for me to have my own website, so I can keep posting my adventures overseas (although I am currently in Australia), and on this website I have a bit more of my own creative licence. Also, it seems like the trendy thing to do to have your own site.

But there was nothing posted on it till now. Unless you count the comment "hey" which we put there to test that the page was actually up and running. I didn't like the fact that there was nothing really there. So I have typed up this meaningless post.

I don't know if this is meant to be some kind of diary-thing. Probably not. Well, not in the journal sense of pouring out my heart and soul. That would be ultimately boring and I am sure many of you would never come back here again. I guess it will be even more mundane, such as what happened to me in the line at the check-out in Bi-Lo (or Tesco - depending which country I am in).

That's kind of depressing. I don't think many exciting things happen to me anymore. Getting old. I guess I will just have to make stuff up. We shall see how we go. I will play it by ear.