Sushi For Breakfast

I had a phonecall at work mid-morning - it was Dad, phoning from some electrical store, telling me how my TV is actually rather a good one cos they've got identical TVs there, Toshiba branded, and slightly more expensive. He then went on to say how the guy in the shop talked about how good they are, so he's glad I've got a good TV. Kind of an apology-but-not-quite.

The TV also has a USB port, so I've been trying out watching avi files from a USB stick. Works well (now that I know how to bring up the menu) but I need to ensure any files I have are of a high enough resolution, so I might be converting a few things. I have a really awesome video overview of Doug Wheelock's time on the ISS but it's too pixelly to watch right now.

This evening I watched DVDs of Sherlock (the unbroadcast pilot, the only thing I hadn't yet seen from the boxset) and an episode of House - The Dig, the one where House meets Thirteen out of jail and they go on a roadtrip. Fab to see the scenery by the lake at the spudgun competition, and of course to see how beautiful Hugh looks on my new TV. When House ended last week I thought it might be fun to dive in and watch all the episodes in random order - I think it's going to be even more fun on this TV.

Things are utterly mad at work, at the end of last week our new website launched (or most of it did), plus we also had a new database last week. Also, my ezine is now compiled and edited completely differently, and to top it all, my friend who is the admin lead for our awards scheme broke her ankle by falling off her new super-high-heeled shoes at the awards ceremony. So, one person laid up until Christmas and two of us super-busy, cos on top of all this there's everything that usually happens including covering for another colleague who's still on maternity leave.

So, I have been shopping online - and thinking how different our lives would be without Amazon. I've done some Christmas shopping, but also something for myself, which arrived today:



Plus copies of the tutoring book I had when I first started learning, and its sequel. The recorders are Yamaha, because they were nicer-looking than the Aulos and they come in a heavy cloth case (along with little tubs of "recorder cream"). The picture above is a quick snap from my iPhone, it doesn't really do the recorders justice, they are both quite wonderful to look at. I've never been near a sopranino recorder before, it has the same fingering as the treble, and it's really light and high-pitched. It makes the descant look bigger and more solid than I remember my school descant recorder ever being, I remember back then when I got my school treble recorder how it made the descant look small and like a little kid's toy.

I'd like to also get a treble and a tenor, there are keyless tenors available now but I really want one with a traditional key, I'm sure Yamaha will be able to supply both. I'd also like to find copies of the series of recorder books we used in junior school (book 1 - black cover, decant/tenor; book 2 - blue cover, descant/tenor; book 3 - red cover, treble/sopranino).

There's a national organisation which has regional groups, including some near me, and they play in stuff like Christmas concerts and community music festivals etc. If I stick with this and I'm good enough, it sounds like fun.

And now I am watching the House ep "The Dig" yet again. I think I like it not only for the storyline, but Hugh looks ravishing and I'd love him to take me on a road trip like the one House takes Thirteen on.

Day 336 House MD's Mr December is Dr Foreman, played by Omar Epps:



But I don't understand why he's been allocated December on the calendar and we don't have a pic of him dressed as Santa, from Damned If You Do in Season 1. I thought he made a fab Santa.

Day 306 Yesterday I did my shopping at Tesco because it's right by the Renault dealership. They were selling off their Halloween stuff, and I got a pack of these:



I think there'd been nine in the pack, the chocolate goes about half way down the cake and they're totally yum. They come as a mixture of these two designs. I got loads from Tesco, didn't spend a lot (worked out I saved £14 via offers) - a good weekly shop but with lots of usual essentials missing or abbreviated (eg they don't sell Innocent Vegipots). Back to Sainsburys next week.

Now I am dubbing the first five eps of the current season of House onto a DVD from my combi hard drive. First ep is meh. See, even on mainstream TV channels we have proper nudity in my country, ie penises and arses and breasts and pubic hair. And kissing with tongues. At least I have the option of watching something on the other DVD player with the Scart switcher.

Day 7 Yes, it's January, and I have a new House calendar. Have some hotness to warm up with:



And congratulations to Hugh Laurie and House for their stunning successes at the People's Choice Awards yesterday \o/ \o/

Have been v. busy at work recently. We're doing some research which involves me doing phone interviews, which is good (ie useful, an experience, good to get more involved) but probably is never going to be my favourite thing to do. Have barely done any studying recently which is fail. Perhaps tomorrow lunchtime I will read some more. Tonight I was playing on the Wii - Wii Fit and Wii Sports, and totally forgot about watching Nigel Slater on TV, but will catch up on catch-up.

I now have the box set of Upstairs, Downstairs and have just watched the first episode. Very good, have now just started on episode 2 (the first of the remaining black & white eps). Like it so far, I'd seen the first episode once before but I don't remember the black & white episodes.

LOVED the new House ep. All my boys looked delicious (Omar looked hot without his clothes, you can even forget what a pompous arsehole Foreman is) and Wilson with bed-hair and House doing laundry is so deliciously squeeful. And I hope Taub is back, sounds like he is likely to be. He and Thirteen were so funny playing the video game :)

Today is my parents' wedding anniversary, and looking at the other cards they've received, the one my mother gave to my father had a vaguely familiar-looking motorbike on the front:



So I looked inside.... do these gentlemen look familiar?

I am - shock, horror - using up annual leave by having last Friday and tomorrow off.

( My long weekend so far, and a rant about Kingdom )

I have one day's worth of freedom left. Not sure what to do yet. But I won't be getting up early.

House Fandom Social Gathering

Thanks Ticcy ♥

I've written fic, for the first time in over a year. Based on a dream I had this morning of seeing House with a new boyfriend.

( I Saw You )