Random thought - I forget, when I haven't seen it for a while, just how good Dead Like Me is. And since SFX put Mason opposite Trip on their Top 20 pages I'm suddenly seeing him in a whole new light. It's weird.

I've also just found out that Blogger decided to publish me trying to publish my old post. Isn't it helpful. I've discovered the beauty of my friends page on livejournal - I can read it, even if people have picked realy light colours that don't show up on my computer! I'm almost tempted to copy my posts onto there again but then I look at my blog and it's just so much better for less money.

Anyway, the Friday Five:
1. Do you enjoy the cold weather and snow for the holidays?

What snow? I come from the South Coast - it only snows every few years and that's usually January/February. I don't mind the cold weather too much - in fact I like it when it's cold and sunny, not so much when it's cold and rainy and windy though. The cold isn't pleasant when you're waiting for a bus though.

2. What is your ideal holiday celebration? How, where, with whom would you celebrate to make things perfect?

I'd be quite happy not bothering, to be honest. It seems that Christmas seems to start in about October and this year I was fed up of it by November. And I felt certain we'd already had Christmas by the end of November.

3. Do you do have any holiday traditions?

We do puzzles in front of the telly. Or we did when there was anything on. The past two years I've gone to the cinema on Boxing Day, which is nice. I tend to feel that Boxing Day is quite special because that's when we used to go to my grandmother's for Christmas dinner when we were younger. Up until I left uni Christmas Day was great for getting work done (I don't have any now). In my third year I wrote two 3000 word essays on Christmas Day.

4. Do you do anything to help the needy?

Not specifically at Christmas but generally all year round, yes.

5. What one gift would you like for yourself?

You mean I can only pick one?

And the fannish five, now linked on the left:
1. How many and which of your fandoms do you own on DVD?

My first DVD was The Phantom Menace. Then there's a free Red Dwarf one I got off a magazine (well, since I didn't really want the mag that much it was really a �3.99 DVD, but still). Fellowship extended edition, various Farscape and Stargate ones I got cheap/free (really free this time). Oh, and The Bill for one episode I missed the last 2 minutes of. So that's six then. Actually, just remembered I have a Star Trek DVD from America that hasn't been released over here. Haven't watched it, mind you.

2. If you had tapes, did you toss them when you got the DVDs?

There's nothing I have on both video and DVD.

3. What are your favorite extras (commentary tracks, behind-the-scenes featurettes, bloopers, foreign language dub, interviews with cast, etc.)? Generally and specifically.

I quite like the behind the scenes stuff, like how they did things. Commentaries bore me. I've never managed to get any decent foreign languages to work, although hearing Teal'c in Spanish was quite funny.

4. What do you view first: the episodes, commentary, extras?

The extras. Sometimes I don't make it to the episodes/films and the only commentary I've ever listened to was on Fellowship and that was only because I was determined to listen to the whole thing. There's only so much sucking up I can cope with.

5. What fandoms on DVD do you not yet own or are not out yet?

Everything. Especially Red Dwarf, Hitch-hiker's, Farscape, Babylon 5, Buffy, Angel, Smallville, Alias. The list could go on, frankly.

Age: 24
Where did you grow up?: Poole, Dorset (South Coast of England)

What do you call ...

1. a body of water, smaller than a river, contained within relatively narrow banks?

stream

2. the thing you push around the grocery store?

shopping trolley (or just trolley)

3. a metal container to carry a meal in?

The closest thing I can think of is lunchbox but they aren't metal, they're plastic or tupperware

4. the thing that you cook bacon and eggs in?

frying pan

5. the piece of furniture that seats three people?

settee at home, sofa everywhere else

6. the device on the outside of the house that carries rain off the roof?

guttering

7. the covered area outside a house where people sit in the evening?

The closest thing would be the (back) garden, if you have one, but it certainly isn't covered

8. carbonated, sweetened, non-alcoholic beverages?

fizzy drinks collectively, but known by their actual names (ie Coke, Lemonade)

9. a flat, round breakfast food served with syrup?

pancake, I imagine, although I've never had one for breakfast

10. a long sandwich designed to be a whole meal in itself?

baguette

11. the piece of clothing worn by men at the beach?

swimming trunks

12. shoes worn for sports?

trainers

13. putting a room in order?

tidying (up)

14. a flying insect that glows in the dark?

firefly

15. the little insect that curls up into a ball?

The only one I can think of is an earwig - I don't take that much notice of insects

16. the children's playground equipment where one kid sits on one side and goes up while the other sits on the other side and goes down?

see-saw

17. how do you eat your pizza?

If it's take-away, then with my fingers, otherwise I use a knife and fork

18. the act of private citizens putting up signs and selling their used stuff?

sale

19. the evening meal?

dinner

20. the thing under a house where the furnace and perhaps a rec room are?

cellar or basement - although judging by the ones I've seen I wouldn't go down there, never mind have a room in one

Note to Blogger: please at least publish this one, pretty please?

You are a Teleri of Aman. You are a mariner with
great love for the sea. You are dear to Ulmo
and all things considered he is a great Valar
to be dear to. Thou you followed the summons of
the Valar to Aman you really do not concern
yourself with their business. You just want to
enjoy the safety they provide, but otherwise be
free from their interference. Nevertheless you
belief in the Valar is unshakable and you are
very content with your life and lot.

(Image: Finrod by Kasura, Finrod's mother is a
Teleri of Aman and he himself is more akin to
the Teleri than the Noldo)

Which kindred of Tolkien's Elves are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Friday Five:
1. List five things you'd like to accomplish by the end of the year.
Get up-to-date on my downloads, back-up, finish my Christmas shopping, see The Matrix and Love Actually, catch up on my videos and DVDs.

2. List five people you've lost contact with that you'd like to hear from again.
Denise, Marian, Cassie, Debbie, Lisa

3. List five things you'd like to learn how to do.
Speak French (preferably by next Friday!), survive on less sleep, play a nice small, cheap musical instrument, IT tech support stuff, write better

4. List five things you'd do if you won the lottery (no limit).
Buy a house, buy a new mini, pay off my friends debts, go to Australia, get a better job

5. List five things you do that help you relax.
Read, cross stitch, play music, listen to music (as long as its reasonable slow), swim

And the Fannish Friday Five:
What fandom did you get into that you were absolivity and posiloutly sure, you were never going to get into, but you did.
Lord of the Rings. I never really knew it existed, to be honest but I certainly didn't envisage myself getting into it.

What made you think you would never get into it? What tipped you into it?
I think it was just that I didn't think there was anything in it for me. I also didn't need another one! I saw a couple of recs on Celli's livejournal, one for Baylor's The Care and Feeding of Hobbits and one for a multi-fandom elves thing (Elves! Elves! Elves!). It all went downhill from there.

Did you start to write/vid/archive/dub/(fill in fannish creative activity) in that fandom? Do you still?
Yes and yes.

Have you ever pimped someone into a fandom without trying? Which fandom, and what did it?
I don't think so. Unless you count my dad now downloading Stargate when I had just discovered it and was watching season 1 on the Big Breakfast. He wasn't even in the room for most of the episodes.

Do you have a fandom where you do not read the fic? Why not?
Buffy. Not sure why but I think its because none of the characters grabbed me enough to want to read about them.

Whoever says Spooks is not as good as 24 is wrong. The proof? Tonight's episode. Now that's an exciting 24 hours.

Can't believe I've decided 11.30pm is a good time to do this but still. :

1. Can you think of one single decision you made that changed the course of your life. A decision where if you had done something else, everything would be different now?

Not off the top of my head, no. There are some different decisions I might have made, but they'd only be small ones, frankly.

2. Or maybe you think "the fates" have it all planned out for us. Do you think every life has a pre-determined course, that we will wind up at point X regardless of the decisions we make?

I totally don't believe in fate. There is no higher being, there is no grand purpose, there is no reward at the end. This life is all we have and it's ours to live.

3. Do you think that it is that left up to us and random chance to decide who we are with? Are we are guided to the person we were meant to be with or could you be with the wrong person while "the one" is still somewhere out there?

When I was little I remember worrying what would happen if you never met 'the one' person you were supposed to be with. Mind you, I also thought that when you grew up you got married and had kids because that's what everyone did.

4. Do you like to drink and get drunk? When was the last time you were drunk or hung over? What was the occasion? How did it feel at the time? How did it feel the next day?

I like to drink but not to get drunk. It tends to take a rather precise amount of alcohol over a period of time that's quite difficult to achieve. Going straight from sober to asleep isn't nearly as interesting. I prefer being merry, really, that way I do at least still have some self-control. The last time I was drunk was my 20th birthday. That was also the last time I was hungover. It felt crap, and that's an answer to both questions.

5. On the same topic, have you ever done anything you regret while "under the influence?" What happened? Do you remember it or did you have to be told?

Not really. And I remember everything.

6. Were you/are you able to resist peer pressure in school/college? How? If not, what did you do that you wish you hadn't?

Pretty much, yes. For a while I wanted to be like everyone else, but that phase soon passed.

7. What things are better left unsaid?

Er, lots, but nothing I can categorise.

BONUS: Isn't this world a crazy place?

Well, d'uh!

Today's Comment Question: What can make you smile on a grumpy day?

An e-mail from someone I haven't heard of for a while or a nice comment someone makes.

I am not going to watch The West Wing purely because I'm awake when it has started. I'm not. I am going to bed and save it for later in the week.

The Daily Double:

1. What time do you wake up?

On a weekday it's usually 7.50 when my alarm goes off. Sometimes I wake up at 7.45 notice my clock says 7.50 and lie there waiting for it to go off. At the weekends it depends on if I have to be somewhere and how much sleep I've had in the week. It's usually 9 or 10am though. Occasionally 8am to be really annoying or 11am if I'm really tired.

2. What's the first thing you do when you wake up?

Work out what day it is. Then get out of bed and turn my alarm off if it's a weekday. If it's the weekend then decide whether to get up or stay in bed longer.

I really have nothing to say, I just posted because I remember I needed to change the template to put this month on the archives. Really need to fiddle with the template some more. And update my website when I get my photos back on Friday.

This week's Friday Five (on Friday!)

1. How are you planning to spend the summer?
Working. I don't get enough days off not to.

2. What was your first summer job?
On the checkout at Somerfield. Well, I started it in the summer but it was technically a Saturday job during sixth form.

3. If you could go anywhere this summer, where would you go?
Wimbledon

4. What was your worst holiday ever?
There isn't one. But then I haven't been on holiday much

5. What was your best holiday ever?
Eastern Europe

Went to Wimbledon yesterday. Sat on Henman Hill for a bit, watching Henman. Endured the heat and John McEnroe commentating until the silly women in front of us decided to smoke. Which considering the number of people squeezed onto the hill was completely selfish. So we went to try out our speed of serves - I managed a fairly respectable 46mph.

Saw a set of Agassi's which was boring. Watched a set of doubles - Bjorkman and Woodbridge were unsurprisingly winning. Watched Serena Williams' match, which had its moments. Spent time looking at her father through the binoculars and trying to work out if Venus was there.

Saw more doubles, one of whom was Lee Childs. Our blokes lost. Thought about joining the re-sale queue for the centre court battle with Roger Federer and found out Venus and Serena were playing doubles on Court 1. Threw people out of our seats and it turned out to be the most interesting match of the day! It was cold, and getting dark by the time they left and 1 set all and 3-3 in the third. The tube was boiling, and busy and we missed our train. Want to do it all again next year.

Five Live just did a Big Brother style round-up of the week at Wimbledon which was quite funny. Sadly though, their coverage finishes at 7pm so when they come back on court (which given it hasn't rained here for a bit will be soon) I might have to mute McEnroe.

It was depressing going back to work after going to Wimbledon, but HASA erupted with funny (and dirty) limericks, so that cheered me up. All the challenges are up for the drabbles, so might do those this weekend.

Thinker Elrond: You like your Elrond as the
intellectual, the thinker, the loremaster.
You'd spend hours just talking about the way of
the world with him.

Which Elrond Is For You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Well he certainly talks to me. Doesn't shut up, in fact. Has a severe case of verbal diarrhea.

Friday Five, late, I know:

1. What's one thing you've always wanted to do, but never have?
Travel outside of Europe, I think. Although I'm doing that in November. Can't think of anything else at the moment, although I feel sure there's plenty.

2. When someone asks your opinion about a new haircut/outfit/etc, are you always honest?
Yes. That's not necessarily a good thing though. Sometimes I should learn to just keep my mouth shut rather than tell people what I think.

3. Have you ever found out something about a friend and then wished you hadn't? What happened?
Had to think about this one, but yes. I'm not telling though.

4. If you could live in any fictional world (from a book/movie/game/etc.) which would it be and why?
You mean I can only pick one

5. What's one talent/skill you don't have but always wanted?
It would be quite helpful if I could sleep through anything. I think I'd just like to be better at everything I try.

And since it is Tuesday, I'll do the Two for Tuesday:

1. What's the most recent thing/event/occassion that you have forgotten -- that you really should have remembered?
If there was anything I've forgotten it.

2. How do you remember significant dates? Do you mark them on a calendar, use Outlook's calendar, have a great memory?
I have a good memory actually The non-significant ones (like what I'm doing at weekends) I write in my diary

The Last Meme:

Last book you read: Jedi Quest 5: The School of Fear

Last movie you saw: Never Been Kissed

Last movie you saw on the big screen: Daredevil

Last phone number you called: Emma

Last show you watched on TV: Star Trek; The Next Generation (although it was videoed from earlier), so The Bill could also be an answer there

Last song you heard: Sugar Ray - Every Morning. At least I think it was

Last thing you had to drink: Orange squash

Last thing you ate: Dinner, which was fish fingers, peas and potatoes. I'm running out of food.

Last time you showered: Last night

Last time you cried: Don't remember

Last time you smiled: Don't remember that either

Last time you laughed: Today at work probably

Last person you hugged: I think that was probably Nicki before she went back to America

Last thing you said: Something to my landlady about how peas taste nicer when done in a saucepan, not in a microwave, even though its quicker. What thrilling conversations I have.

Last person you talked to online: Probably my dad

Last person you talked to on the phone: Emma

Last thing you smelled: My new blow-up chair. Its actually quite difficult not to smell. Will light a white musk candle later.

elismor's Money quiz:

Empty your pocket of all money.
How much is there?
I've got �4.77 in my purse

What are the dates on each coin/bill and tell me one thing that happened to you that year.
Pound coin with lions and shield is 1998 - My bunny died
Pound coin with thistle is 1984 - I was 5 at the time, so I honestly don't remember. I remember the first and last years of first school, but not the two in between
Pound coin with Welsh dragon is 2000 - I graduated from uni
50p is 2000
two 1982 20ps - My sister was born
one 1989 20p - I was 10, so halfway through middle school. We were setted for maths and english and I was in the top set for both (a long time ago when I was actually good at english)
one 1996 20p - I had my first driving lesson on the May Day bank holiday
one 2002 20p (very shiny) - this year!
10p from 1992 - My grandfather died
one 5p from 1999 - last time I went on holiday! Went to Eastern Europe with some friends from uni
two 5ps from 2002
1p from 1989, shiny 1p from 1999

Last one:

1. What's on your bedside table? My tissue box, clock, lamp, remote controls for TV, video and stereo, teddy and space for my glasses

2. What's the lamest part of your music collection? Um, the CDs that aren't labelled so I have no idea whats on them. They could be videos, mind you.

3. What do you eat when you raid the fridge at night? I don't, there's bugger all in there worth raiding at that time of night.

4. What is your secret guaranteed weeping film? Can't think of any off the top of my head.

5. If you could have plastic surgery, what would you do? Jaw and breasts perhaps.

6. Do you have a completely irrational fear? Oh yes.

7. What is the little physical habit that gives away your insecurities? I do things with my hands (play with my watch, ring, nails etc)

8. Do you ever have to beg? Nope.

9. Do you have too many love interests? Probably, although is it possible to have too many?

10. Do you know anyone famous? Sort of.

11. Describe your bed. Single, which I prefer. Mint pillows that go flat when you sleep on them, quilt cover that matches my curtains at home.

12. Spontaneous or plan? Both

13. Who should play you in a movie about your life? Don't know, not sure I've had enough like to decide. Maybe my sister for irony.

14. Do you know how to play poker? Yes, although I loose all my money when drunk, even when we're not playing for money.

15. What do you carry with you at all times? Tissues.

16. How do you drive? I don't. I hate driving and I can't afford a car.

17. What do you miss most about being little? Having time to play. Looking forward to going to school just so I can see all my friends.

18. Are you happy with your given name? It could be worse.

19. What color is your bedroom? Pink walls, mint carpet.

20. What was the last song you were listening to? I don't know, dad was playing a BBC radion station from yesterday and I wasn't listening that closely.

21. Have you ever been in a school play? Yes, I was in Oliver in the last year of Middle School. I was one of the orphans and one of Fagan's Gang and actually had one line. Decided I hated acting after that though and would much rather be backstage.

22. Have you ever been in love? No.

23. Do you like yourself and believe in yourself? Um, sometimes.

24. Have you ever done any illegal drugs? No.

25. Do you think you're cute? I can be, its how I don't have to beg.

26. Do you consider yourself to be a nice person? Not especially at times, no.

Second one:

1. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING? 10 to 8 for work. 10 past if my landlady's going in early/late/not at all

2. IF YOU COULD EAT LUNCH WITH ONE FAMOUS PERSON WHO WOULD IT BE? Maybe Garwin Sanford.

3. GOLD OR SILVER? Silver

4. WHAT WAS THE LAST FILM YOU SAW AT THE CINEMA? Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

5. FAVORITE TV SHOW? At the moment, perhaps The Bill.

6. WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR BREAKFAST? Cornflakes and Coco Pops

8. CAN YOU TOUCH YOUR NOSE WITH YOUR TONGUE? I could before I got a brace, haven't tried since though

9. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Not sure, I think maybe acts of kindness.

10. WHAT'S YOUR MIDDLE NAME? Rachel

11. BEACH, CITY, Or COUNTRY? Definitely beach.

12. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter.

13. FAVORITE ICE CREAM? All of them. Except vanilla - its boring.

14. BUTTERED, PLAIN, OR SALTED POPCORN? Plain. How can you have it any other way?

15. FAVORITE COLOR? Red

16. FAVORITE CAR? Purple mini, either new or old.

17. FAVORITE SANDWICH FILLING? Egg and tomato, or egg salad, as long as there's no mayonnaise

18. WHAT CHARACTERISTICS DO YOU DESPISE? Dishonesty

19. FAVORITE FLOWER? Daffodil, preferably yellow.

20. IF YOU HAD A BIG WIN IN THE LOTTERY, HOW LONG WOULD YOU WAIT TO TELEPHONE PEOPLE? I don't follow the numbers, so they'd probably have to phone me! Actually, I would be more likely to e-mail them.

21. FIZZY OR STILL WATER AS A DRINK? Tap water. Can't stand the bottled stuff.

22. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHROOM? My parents' is mint and yellow, my landlady's is green and dark blue.

23. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR KEY RING? 3

24. WHERE WOULD YOU RETIRE? I haven't even decided where to live now, never mind in 40 years time.

25. CAN YOU JUGGLE? IF YES HOW MANY? Nope, not even 1.

26. FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK? Saturday

27. RED OR WHITE WINE? Neither, although red is least worst of the two.

28. WHAT DID YOU DO FOR YOUR LAST BIRTHDAY? Nothing, it was quite boring. I was trying to avoid being 23, plus me and Chris were supposed to be having party, but disorganisation stepped in.

29. DO YOU CARRY A DONOR CARD? No, its written on my driver's license though, which I don't carry around either.

Haven't written in here for a while due to flu. I've had a few Getting to know you type e-mails, so I'll answer them on here for lack of anything else to write really. (Although I discovered my landlady now has UK Gold, so I just have to say: "Who would want to screw a fish shop?". Which isn't as bad as it sounds. Screw in this case means burgle).

First one:

1. LIVING ARRANGEMENT? Lodging

2. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? I've just finished Night Watch, so I'll be onto Maurice and his Educated Rodents next. Although I'm also partway through Alias: Declassified and I started The Two Towers a while ago, but bored, so I'll wait till I see the film before I finish it.

3. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? I don't usually use one because I just use the touchpad, but its a free one from Unilever I think that I got at a careers fair because its round, which I like because it fits on the small space on my desk. At work I have the work's one, which is bright green with the 2002 calendar on it.

4. FAVOURITE BOARD GAME? Cluedo, because I beat my sister at it every time

5. FAVOURITE MAGAZINES? SFX

6. BABIES? Not a chance.

7. FAVOURITE SOUND? Silence

8. WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD? Trying to work out when people are being honest and therefore whether they like you or not.

9. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING? What day is it?

10. FAVOURITE COLOUR? Red

11. HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE? Usually just 1, unless I can't be bothered to answer it

12. FUTURE CHILD'S NAME? Not for children, but I quite like Alexis and Erin

13. WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFE? Being happy

14. FAVOURITE FOODS? Ice cream, biscuits, sausages

15. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Chocolate, of course. How can you ask that question?

16. DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE FAST? Yes

17. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? Yep, two rabbits

18. STORMS COOL OR SCARY? Cool

20. IF YOU COULD MEET ONE PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE WHO WOULD IT BE? Jesus, so I could ask him what he thought he was up to and who exactly he thought he was.

21. FAVOURITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK? Vodka and orange. With ice.

22. WHAT IS YOUR ZODIAC SIGN? Taurus

23. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI? I don't even eat the non-stemmed bits.

24. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE JOB IN THE WORLD WHAT WOULD IT BE? Sitting around deciding story ideas for Farscape. And then not having to write any of the scripts afterwards.

25. IF YOU DYED YOUR HAIR, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU PICK? Bright red, like Amy Tippins in Alias

26. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE? No

27. IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? Depends which direction the drink is going in

28. FAVOURITE MOVIES? 2001, Galaxy Quest, Trainspotting

29. DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE RIGHT KEYS? No

30. WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED? Nothing at home cos it goes down to the floor, here I have shoes, boxes, my fencing kit and my dirty washing

32. FAVOURITE SPORT TO WATCH? Tennis