Its funny how your dreams get much simpler as you get older. I used to think I wanted a tall, dark and handsome bloke, now I'd just like one who's not a bastard, which reduces the choice greatly. Although, and here's the big problem, I also have to fancy him. Which reduces the available choices to about 0. Because I fancy very few blokes (I know my guinness section seems to contradict that, but I'm talking about real life here) and those I do fancy turn out to be complete bastards.

Also with places to live. What I would like in a house:
Warmth (ie above 10 degrees C); instant hot water; no radio 4 (specially not loudly when I want to sleep); the only TV I want to hear is the one I'm watching, not the one at the other end of the house; no spiders or cobwebs; no smell of cats, cat shit or cigarette smoke; clean enough not to make me ill; cupboards and drawers and things, so much less to dust; net curtains, or at the very least curtains or blinds at every window; an aerial on the roof; a bed in which every part stays where you put it; cats not on every surface; doors locked - optional when there's someone in, depending on where in the house they are, but definitely when the house is empty of people.
Okay, that's it. Not too much to ask is it?

I had an idea for the beginning of an Enterprise scene, so I think I'll write it down while I'm feeling vaguely dynamic, then watch Warwick lose at University Challenge earlier.

Tee hee. How true.

Been playing with googlism, here are the funniest results (it doesn't know what paranoidangel is):

nic is a gem
nic is not detected
nic is easy if you follow the steps below
nic is 'bad'
nic is ok
nic is easy to setup
nic is freezing up is because you're clicking the mouse while the nic is accessing its cd software
nic is one of those rare people who have a skill of looking through a viewfinder and knowing whether a good picture is there or not
nic is required
nic is the 'national leader' in providing this kind of information
nic is the new wonder child of the navigation industry
nic is the best and most affordable internet computer money can buy

Slept late both today and yesterday, which was good for a change. Although did wake up about 4.15am and couldn't get back to sleep for a while. Had this really strange (short) dream about 3 times, each time the ending was slightly different. I worry, I really do.

There's two blogs I've been to now that are unreadable (beyond what you can see without scrolling down) because the background colour is constantly changing. So you can't get of the scrollbar, as its constantly moving, its taking up speed, so you can't do anything else at the same time, and half the time its a bloody awful colour anyway.

Landlady's bogged off over night, although not before first putting some washing on, so I had to take hers out of the washing machine so I could put mine in. On the plus side, someone has turned the heating up so I'm not actually freezing to death at the moment. Although, when I came back in after Tae Kwon Do Jacquie decided, for reasons best known to herself, that in order that people think someone's in, so they won't break in and steal things you need to leave lights on. Which is fine, and why I usually leave the landing and hall lights on, so it looks as though people are at the back of the house (specially as there's not many rooms at the front). Jacquie, on the other hand, also left the lounge and bathroom lights on. Which no-one can see from the front of the house. I assumed she'd locked the back doors, but I doubt it.

I also have this gripe about washing up. What I want to know is why, when it involves more effort, is it necessary to put cutlery in the box thing upside down (ie with the handle at the bottom)? I really don't understand it, and I don't appreciate the extra opportunity to stab myself with sharp knives either. And then there's the soaking thing. When I soak things, I put them on the side with water in. The alternative method seems to be to put everything in the sink/washing up bowl (really can't see the point of those, surely plugs are cheaper?), fill it with washing up liquid and water, and most importantly, the sponge. If anyone knows what the washing up spounge brings to the soaking procedure I would love to know (the comments are working, I've checked) because its been bugging me for ages. Obviously other people know things I don't.

And now I will go to bed before I fall over.

Everyone seems to have a diary of some sort these days! Added more of them to the top of this.

There was an article about Terry Pratchett in the Guardian. It was quite funny, although the funny bits were unintentional.

"Try the name out on friends and colleagues, and it certainly isn't met with universal enthusiasm, or even recognition."
Well, actually... Although that probably says more about my friends than how well known Terry Pratchett is.

"The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents (published next month in paperback."
Really? Then how come its sitting in my room at the moment?

Pratchett's new novel, Night Watch, is published by Doubleday, priced �17.99.
If you can find anywhere for any more than about �13.99 that's quite impressive. Mine was �8.99, it had gone up 49p in the past few weeks since I last looked.

No Tae Kwon Do tonight, or fencing last night because I've banged my thumb and split my nail about a third of the way down, which is really quite amazingly painful. And the last thing I want to happen is it to drop off at that point, because that will really hurt. I can't put a plaster over it because it still hurts too much for that at the moment. Plus I have the cold that's going round at the moment.

I can't decide what I want for Chanukah at the moment either and its only three weeks away. My sister has her present, but no-one else does. But then no-one else has told me what they want. I havn't asked them, to be fair.

Had fun playing with Weiss today. No, not like that. Get your mind out of the gutter. He's an Alice bot on the ABC's Alias site. I really enjoyed the mission, I've done the second one now (Numbers). The fact that it all links in to the series is really cool. Plus its interesting to type stuff and see how the bot responds. He tells you Vaughn is his friend, he can't talk about Sydney, he has no idea who Jack is. Ask where Irina Derevko is though and that's a really interesting response.

Enterprise has just finished downloading, so will just get it in before Friends and Have I Got News For You, which, obviously, is very interesting at the moment. Then will have to make some CDs as I've filled up 3 CD-RWs, 4 zip disks and my hard drive. Not good. Need new computer with 100Gb hard drives.

I had such a weird dream last night. I was somewhere else, but also where Corfe Castle was. So we went up to it, but we were approaching it from a different direction. It didn't look much like Corfe Castle either though. When we were there (don't ask who we were, I don't know) I saw an eclipse of the moon by a planet. I decided that it was Jupiter and it passed over the moon very quickly, then moved so fast it was out of sight not long afterwards. Then I could see other planets and I nearly got hit by the Earth. I realised that must mean we were in space and we really ought to be wearing spacesuits. But I couldn't be doing with it and we were actually just on a different part of the world.

It was that weird it didn't even make sense at the time!

Got my books from Amazon. Well, 3 of them. The other one will be arriving tomorrow. They didn't charge me extra, but I have to ask: why? Very strange. I only ordered from them because the Internet bookshop didn't list two of my books. Although amazon did say you could pre-order a book that came out on 1st November (I did the ordering on 2nd)!

Another slight change to the look of the blog. The links at the top are to other people's diaries/journals/blogs that I read at the moment.

Whats happened today? People at work wanting the moon on a stick, blowing out my candle last night and accidentally getting wax all over my bedside table and my face (oops! didn't taste very nice either). I can't remember my plan for the rpg so I have no idea where I'm going next! Apart from waking up in the infirmary. Maybe I'll see where it goes from there.

I have updated my site, but the ftp couldn't connect, so I'll try again later. Annoyingly, I don't have a photo of me with Garwin, but I'll have to ask if anyone else does. It was only when I was playing about with my photos that I realised I have to scan in the ones of me with the guests (well, JR and Chris, I have my eyes closed with Jay, so I won't bother). I'm not sure whats going on with the one with Douggie as its so bright you can't see my face. I hate giving my camera to other people, because you have no control over how the photos are going to come out.

Spent loads of money this weekend. I found Never Been Kissed in Virgin. Its strange how much the character of Sam Coulson shares with Vaughn. And then ordered some books. Had to use amazon as the internet bookshop don't seem to have two of the books I want, which is a bit shit, frankly. At least all the ones I want are out, so I can get them all delivered at the same time. And then I bought my Gatecon ticket. My credit card bill next month is going to be hideous, as the hotel bill from last weekend will also be on it!

Have to go back to work tomorrow. That's a bugger. My boss asked my on Friday (as I was leaving and was therefore tired and not in the mood) whether I was feeling motivated to get the stuff I was doing right. If course not! My only motivation in going there at all is that I need the money. Although I did get quite excited when I discovered the printer can photocopy two-sided to two-sided on its own without you having to put the paper back in at all. Its quite sad really.

I've also decided not up update my livejournal any more. I can't be doing with it really, but I'm going to keep the id in case I want to use it again, or comment in other peoples or contribute to any communities.

Meant to write in this yesterday, but got tired and went to bed about half ten. Then couldn't get to sleep, so ended up watching a bit of Stargate Director's Cut at quarter to midnight. I have noticed some differences as well. Not entirely certain if they're better or worse yet though. Still totally indecisive about going travelling, hence the not sleeping. I should just see how it goes really, try to do some more IT at work, and if I want to go, it doesn't necessarily have to be next summer. I did realise that I really want to see the Northern Lights (can't spell technical name!). Everything I can pretty much take or leave to be honest. Then I'll have seen just about every stellar phenomena there is.

Been watching loads of Alias recently. I've just realised how good it is. Stupidly went to find some websites and accidentally read some spoilers for episodes I haven't seen yet, which is annoying. But I think some of them won't really make sense until I get to those episodes anyway, and I might well have forgotten them. I found some read hair dye in Boots, that is pretty much the colour I want and only lasts 3 washes, which is good. Unfortunately, you need blonde hair for it to work. Bugger.

Run out of other things to do now! Meant to do some work on my website, but haven't got round to it. Need to stop typing though, hand hurts. Will go and watch Stargate instead maybe (bugger all on TV of course).

Didn't manage to stay up late to watch Star Trek after Monday because it was just too cold. Hurt my right hand this week by doing loads of writing for work. Halfway through The Bill on Wednesday I had to stop cross stitching because my hand hurt a bit. I had noticed it wasn't too god at work but didn't think anything of it. Until I did some epee Thursday night! Luckily hardly anyone was in on Friday, so I got away with not doing very much work. I had to use my left hand for the mouse and type with my left, which I am quite quick at, but I did get quite frustrated with it though. But every time I used my right hand it hurt too much! I haven't done much with it this weekend, so hopefully it'll be fine for all of Monday.

Went to STA Travel on Saturday. So now I've got all of these brochures and I'm getting quite excited about going. There is the matter of a job when I get back though. I think that if I go next summer, then when I come back I can sort my life out, live somewhere nice and buy a new computer. Not sure. I'm going to talk to people who've done it though, and about what I might need to go into IT. And exactly what I can do in the industry as well. I will have to make a decision soon though. I'm not sure if its possible to spend all that time away and only life on stuff you can carry with you!

OMG. She tells him! How can I possibly wait till Wednesday now! Was having kind of a bad day. Was actually quite busy at work, then ended up not going to fencing. But I beat the rules - I phoned him! Which was nice. I have to fit Emma in sometime now if she manages to ring when I'm in sometime before Sunday. Wonder if I could dust and hoover Sunday after I pack Claire off home? And why is it Channel 4 advertise Enterprise and Alias so much, but not Stargate, and I haven't seen BBC2 advertise Farscape. Getting excited about going to see the tennis on Saturday now. How am I going to get through tomorrow, specially when I don't really have any work to do.

Why is it that despite me not doing all the in things, or at least thinking that I don't, I do? I remember not doing my coat up at school because it wasn't in. I was really quite surprised when people did at uni. I still do it though. I mean, if its really cold then I will do my coat up, but once I get near where I'm trying to get to I undo it. Its not just that either. Its also the not ringing blokes thing. I still kind of have a thing about ringing people, and I only have his mobile number so it'll cost a lot, and I can't think of anything to say. I mean, where do I start?

Dr Jackson's Diary is really not helping. Its full of sex. Admittedly its written by a bloke (fictionally speaking, anyway) and everyone knows thats all they think about. And what is it with that looking thing? I find it really unnerving, Emma likes it. At least you know where you stand, I suppose.

Shit. Who's reading this stuff anyway? Think I'd better not advertise the link on the front page. Really must update my site. And eat, I'm hungry. Wonder if Sarah will be back before 11.40 and whether I'll be awake enough to watch Highlander?

Tired, as per usual on a Friday really. Got a postcard from Wadjet with a picture of the Niagara Falls on, which was a really nice thing to come home to after a crap day of work. Not least because its my only piece of post since Monday that hasn't been junk mail. Its not ever bill time of the month! Hope Stargate tapes while I'm away because its a good one I'd quite like to see again. Must look up what time train I'm looking for when I get to Birmingham becuase I'll have no idea where it'll be going. Was planning on having an early night. Hmm. Too tired to type any more.

Not going to try going to Tescos after work again (at least not until after they've finished the road works in Didcot). I whipped round in 10 minutes, so the bus driver coming back from Didcot decided to go a different route, so I had to wait 40mins for the next one to come along, who luckily took me all the way into Didcot and back, because I was really cold by this point. It's just as well I wasn't planning on doing anything tonight. Its just been one of those days at work today as well. And the rain made it get dark earlier, which just made the whole thing more depressing.

I have to take the Rotaract meeting tomorrow, which'll be kind of scary. I'm not sure there'll be many people there though, and there's not much to say, so shouldn't be too bad. Should be a short meeting as well. Maybe I'll get through more of the SG3 video.

I tried to post this at 8.25pm on 2nd Sept, but blogger was being a bugger and didn't post it:

Didn't have a terribly good weekend, then today was really shite. I pretty much spent the day working on one project, on which everything that could go wrong did go wrong. And its still not finished. Will be nice to get it out of the way though. Discovered my landlady's cats have fleas because I've been bitten and also because I've seen them. Looking forward to going home this weekend as it'll be relaxing (yeah, right). Will have to go to Tescos, so might as well go to the cinema while I'm there as I still haven't seen Minority Report and The Importance of Being Earnest comes out on Friday, which I really want to see. Plus if I don't take my computer home I'll only get bored anyway.

Managed to miss Hywel this weekend, which was pretty much the reason for going to The Bill studios. Hopefully though I'll be able to get the day off for the next one, which will be before he leaves. I still have about 10 photos left on my film as well, which I'll need to use up at the Davis Cup match. Almost getting excited about that as well, not that much because I haven't really seen any of the US Open because BBC2 only show the semi-finals onwards, if that, which isn't much help as non of our guys are left in by that stage. And the year that Rusedski got to the final they didn't show it at all! I remember listening to it on the radio at 11 o'clock at night, in the dark, lying in bed, trying not to fall asleep. Have at least managed to find some good fic at the SG1 2002 Awards site, which is something.

Annoying as not going fencing tonight as can't get a lift. Was feeling bored after The Bill, but rang Emma and had a conversation that didn't involve blokes at all We did discuss hair though. I have this urge to dye mine red. And by red I mean RED. Trouble is, my hair is so dark no hair dye would make enough of a difference, so you'd have to bleach it first and that tends to last for a while. I only want to do it red for a few weeks. Think I ought to go and watch Vets, send some e-mails and go to bed really now. Really ought to take advantage of my landlady not being here and catch up on some sleep. Would watch some satellite TV as well, but there's just nothing worth watching (at least nothing that doesn't clash with The Bill).

Can't believe its Tuesday already. The weekend didn't really feel like the 3-day one for some reason. I did get loads of things done. The website's finished, I just really wanted to use pipex's stats, but they are being useless, so I will have to get another Bravenet account (which means more junk mail). Then I will upload it and take down the old one (shock! horror!). There are some bits that need updating, and others I haven't bothered with because they need lots doing to them and I need to get it done. I made a few CDs, but need to get some more mp3s before I can do more. It was excellent, although by Monday night I realised I wanted to go back to work, otherwise I'd have been bored if I'd had another day of that. Still didn't play any computer games though.

I went ice-skating on Saturday, which was really good. I realised I hadn't been for a year and I really missed it. The skates were horrible though, they really cut into my ankles, more than at Planet Ice or Ice Trax ever did. I must go more often though. It counts as exercise though. Which is good because I finally decided I need to do something about the stone I've put on since I left uni. Its horrible to think I actually have to do something, but more exercise (walking doesn't count because it doesn't seem to work for me), but eating less. The last time I did that was for an entirely different reason, but I did lose half a stone that way. So I'm not eating between meals now (except in the mornings when I'm at work because its such a long time between breakfast and lunch). Sadly I'm still in the hungry stage, but it'll go. It has to, otherwise I'm in danger of having even more problems buying clothes than I do now!

Calming down a bit now. I was in a state of shock over tonights Bill. In my defence it was very dramatic. I felt tired before the episode started, but by the end I couldn't stop moving - just nervous energy I think. I had a really boring day at work as well, as there wasn't much work on really. Which is kind of a good thing at the moment.

I think my landlady's gone on holiday. Her car and toothbrush are gone and I know she's supposed to be going soon. Its just as well I didn't let the cat throw up on the video then. I think I will get an early night while it is quiet. And it is nice to get some peace and quiet, it does my head no end of good. Which is probably just as well, given that I've nearly run out of pills - didn't quite manage a pill free day today, sadly.

Virgin sent me a 5 pound voucher - which is not 25% of 40 quid. I checked their passengers charter on their website and it says if the trains are late so you arrive at your destination an hour or more late you are entitled to 25% of your ticket price. Also, if you have to wait at a station for an hour they'll provide you with free drinks. Which is very interesting. I'll wait to see how much I get for the journey up there, then I'll get another complaint form to complain about the complaint. Maybe it was because I used a different address they didn't know it was me, so are trying to fob me off, thinking I don't know the system. Well, they have another think coming!

Got in at 4.30 today, then really couldn't be bothered to do anything! Because I slept in yesterday I wasn't tired enough to go to bed at a reasonable time, so I'm tired again now. You just can't win. I did at least do my statement (eventually) and got my Tescos shopping, and they actually managed to deliver everything for the first time ever! I think thats pretty much the theme for this week, at least till Thursday when I get to rush about. I must do some of my website. Trouble is I tend to feel dynamic and getting things done first thing, so its really hard to go to work and come home and do all the things I'm supposed to be getting done. I really want to lie on my bed and watch something crap, but there's nothing on. At least all the things that are on are too crap. Wish I had UK Gold. *sigh*

I knew there was something I hadn't done - the puzzle! Off to do that now then, and send a text message, I think.

I haven't updated for a while due to spending the last four days (not including today, I was sleeping today) at The Bill studios. When I look through the list of the current cast I've actually managed to see most of them (except for Hywel Simons who wasn't in, damnit). Been a really weird day today. Slept in late, so not tired now, which means I won't get much sleep tonight and so I'll be tired all week. You just can't win. Watched two episodes of Stargate, and the Andromeda episode with Michael Shanks. I still don't understand the Andromeda character at all. But he looked good, so never mind. And the Farscape was just weird. Which I suppose is typical Farscape really.

Haven't been to work since Tuesday, and not going back till Friday, which is cool. I'm off on a four day First Aid course from Monday. Then Friday I'm going to Leeds to see some friends (hoping they'll rearrange the Emmerdale-Bill cricket match to then, but I doubt it as it'll be too short notice really) and not coming back here till Monday. Then things'll be back to normal, which will actually seem quite strange! No more days off till the end of October. Long time really.

I was going to watch some late night Enterprise, but its a crap one, so maybe I'll read some fanfic instead. Didn't quite manage to watch 24 earlier due to it being really boring. They should have finished at 8am, its been really patchy since then. I'm looking forward to the end just so it'll all be over. I'm expecting the usual American saccharine ending, but hoping everyone'll die, which'll be much more interesting. But won't allow them to have another series, which I don't think they should do anyway. The only reason it's done well is because its original, which is a feature a second series won't have.

I can't believe the tiny amount its rained today, given that its been so humid today its been horrible. I really think my landlady has far too many mirrors in her bathroom. I made the mistake of turning the shower on after I had undressed and caught sight of myself in the mirror above the bath. If that isn't an advert for keeping your clothes on I don't know what is. It doesn't help that afterwards when you turn round you can see yourself in the other two mirrors!

I was feeling so terrible at work this afternoon because it was so hot. I had to get up every 10 minutes otherwise I stuck to the chair. And its too humid to put my washing out. Although thats mainly because I keep thinking that it might actually really rain. Maybe I should put my washing back out to purposely make it rain. I hope it isn't so hot for the rest of the week. I at least won't be at work, but I'll probably be getting up earlier, being busier and getting less sleep, as per usual. And I really need to sort out the insoles in my canvas shoes. Its impossible to keep them in the right place, as I walk they move forwards and my feet hurt.

I would just like to say exactly how annoying it is when you're typing something in explorer, press backspace to delete something and it goes to the previous page and deletes everything you've written. But only sometimes, sometimes its okay to press the button. Blogger kept my text though, thank goodness.

I was sitting in the shade yesterday so I thought it was a bit chilly, but today was definitely very hot! Yesterday was the Beeblebears Picnic in Battersea Park, which was fun. Everytime I go to one I think I must get a Beeblebear, but haven't quite managed it so far. Then I met up with some friends from uni, so it was good to catch up. Its quite refreshing to spend time with them because nothing much has changed since we left, unlike people at work who are all boring and getting married etc.

Went to Reading today and got, among other things, a bigger blow-up chair. Its really comfortable to sit in, even if I am a bit too close to the TV when I'm in it. Sadly, there's no space for it in my room! Its sitting at one end at the moment, so I can't get to my clothes rail or the bookcase with my food on.

So glad I only have a 2 day week, specially if it'll be hot. Looking forward to going to The Bill studios, and should be going to see some other friends in London while I'm there. Its quite strange going from having your friends within walking distance and seeing them nearly every day, to only seeing them every couple of months. Although if I go travelling I'll see them even less during that time.