tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-11-21:/MokoFeed2009-11-21T10:19:56+01:00tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-11-16:/2009/11/16/climbing-up-7386250/MonkeyPie2009-11-16T17:02:20+01:002009-11-16T17:02:20+01:00 <p>So I went climbing again on Sunday. It was a great success this time!! I was so fast and even did the one the instructor had difficulty with in record time. I was rewarded with a much friendlier approach by the instructors. I also managed to gouge out a chunk of my finger on the way up, but kept going nonetheless and then earned 'toughness' points by climbing twice again with a bandaged paw. </p> <p>It was great fun!! I think it was easier because a)it's my 2nd time b)I'm lighter and stronger than I was 3 weeks ago. 2kg lighter as per my fitness regime in fact. Anyway, I've been invited to more stuff because of it. Who knows, I may even make some friends. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/11/16/climbing-up-7386250/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-11-12:/2009/11/12/hmm-7357441/MonkeyPie2009-11-12T11:51:45+01:002009-11-12T11:51:45+01:00 <p>I've just been told I remind someone of a girl in what's been described as a 'disgusting' slasher horror flick.<br> It's alright though, the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3399456512/nm0514228">girl's</a> pretty fit. Excpet I look nothing like her in reality. I look more like <a href="http://www.bapwatch.com/chicks/amanda_lamb_21.jpg">Amanda Lamb</a> of Scottish widows fame. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/11/12/hmm-7357441/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-11-11:/2009/11/11/argh-i-m-missing-all-the-good-things-7349396/MonkeyPie2009-11-11T08:27:18+01:002009-11-11T08:27:18+01:00 <p>Congratulations!</p> <p>You have been selected to take part in the casting for your chance to be part of the Bravissimo 2010 advertising campaign featuring our customers!</p> <p>The casting will be held in London on Tuesday 10th November (next week!) </p> <p>As per the entry requirements, we will be asking you to make your own way to the studio in London. The studio is based in Shoreditch.</p> <p>The casting will consist of you having a fitting from one of our expert fitters, then having a couple of pictures taken by a professional photographer. We may then also ask you do a small role play in order for us to see how you would act on screen for our TV commercial. (Don’t worry we aren’t expecting you to do lots of acting!!)</p> <p>My colleague, Shona, will be in touch tomorrow with more details of where to go and what time we would like you to arrive.</p> <p>I look forward to meeting you next week!</p> <p>Best wishes</p> <p>C-</p> <p>ARGH. stupid Cyprus. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/11/11/argh-i-m-missing-all-the-good-things-7349396/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-11-10:/2009/11/10/i-haz-a-desk-introodah-7343617/MonkeyPie2009-11-10T11:24:35+01:002009-11-10T11:24:35+01:00 <p>Office cat keeps stealing my place Godammit.<br> <img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/726/4095726_b2dbf8d13e_m.jpg" alt="Kat usurper"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/727/4095727_8e06d139bb_s.jpg" alt="Kompromize"><br> We compromised in the end... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/11/10/i-haz-a-desk-introodah-7343617/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-11-10:/2009/11/10/destroying-more-songs-7343581/MonkeyPie2009-11-10T11:17:13+01:002009-11-10T11:17:13+01:00 <p>So, I have made another video! It's been in the wings for a while (a year). I got a little stuck on it, made it again when I was here and added some clips from the summer.<br> Beth Orton will <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEAVw3uNynI">hate me</a>. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/11/10/destroying-more-songs-7343581/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-11-06:/2009/11/06/sob-monkey-7317913/MonkeyPie2009-11-06T10:17:51+01:002009-11-06T10:17:51+01:00 <p>Oh my god, I've become a total sop. X-factor makes me cry:<br> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x25QhgBk_jg&feature=PlayList&p=iPSWjN5P6Vs">Daryl</a><br> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x25QhgBk_jg&feature=PlayList&p=iPSWjN5P6Vs">Rozelle</a><br> for example..</p> <p>Plus the engagement scene in love actually last night. Total blub-fest. What's wrong with me?! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/11/06/sob-monkey-7317913/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-11-05:/2009/11/05/day-7310816/MonkeyPie2009-11-05T09:50:15+01:002009-11-05T10:15:32+01:00 <p>Ok, so my first installment went great. She had me doing a mini circuit thing- 10-20 reps on loads of the machines. I told her I don't want to build muscle which she took on board so she had me doing about 5 different machines for sit ups instead including one where you hook your feet under a pole and you curl your whole length up. I can't do sit ups!! I managed 5 though. Small mercy.</p> <p>Right! So my weight is 73kg and waist measurement 29 inches. I have 6 weeks to get to 69kg and then until March to get to 64kg. She's going to do a more in depth analysis on friday. I did well in the fitness test, 5km in 29mins, I need to bring that down to 20 mins. I did really well in the flexibility, don't really need to improve that although I wouldn't mind being able to do the splits! </p> <p>Ok, so day 1: BMI= 24.3, just in the healthy range. I'd like to get it down to 20 or so.</p> <p>Edit: just measured body fat using <a href="http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html">this site</a> and I have 22.7% body fat which seems high! I have 16.9kg of pure fat I can lose. I'm aiming for 10kgs so we'll see.. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/11/05/day-7310816/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-11-03:/2009/11/03/old-year-new-you-7299259/MonkeyPie2009-11-03T15:39:02+01:002009-11-03T15:39:02+01:00 <p>One of the benefits of being monetarily liquid and in a country where I have very little social life is that I have finally the resources and time to dedicate to doing fairly antisocial things. </p> <p>My new project for the next 6 weeks is on my physical improvement. I joined an uber gym and have been allocated a personal trainer. I'll blog my progress and any pearls of wisdom I receive. My first appointment is tomorrow so I'll try to get a 'before' photo and some stats (e.g. 110% body fat, 120 resting heart rate.) the we can better compare it with the after photo. </p> <p>Alongside this, I'm also lasering various locations in the name of hair removal. I've had one session for my armpits already (my bikini line was still too tanned- apparently it cause hyperpigmentation if you laser melanin-infused skin, resulting in 'white patches' akin to vitiligo I guess). This week the hairs have mostly fallen out after spending some time looking frazzled.</p> <p>So, for christmas, I'll emerge svelte and fuzz free. Just in time to gorge on mincepies!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/11/03/old-year-new-you-7299259/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-11-02:/2009/11/02/emjay-7290351/MonkeyPie2009-11-02T09:55:16+01:002009-11-02T09:55:16+01:00 <p>Went to see 'This is It' with my little coushsurfer pal yesterday. Once the archaic cinema managed to line up the sound with the picture (irritatingly in the middle of my favourite song- the way you make me feel) i quite enjoyed it. It seems it was to be a massively impressive show. The beginning was quite prophetic, he said "this is my last tour, then it's curtains closing"..<br> Anyway, it's good- but I think it's only worth seeing in a cinema as it's all big big big. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/11/02/emjay-7290351/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-10-26:/2009/10/26/social-climber-7245153/MonkeyPie2009-10-26T08:51:54+01:002009-10-26T08:51:54+01:00 <p>No no, it's not about a sycophantic attempt.. monkey went climbing this weekend! Monkey is becoming a fish-goat:<br> "Ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no river wide enough.." ec..</p> <p>So! As I looked up at the (very) high and (very) sheer rock face on an Ayer's rock type formation near Paphos, I suddenly realised what an idiot I am. With a strength:weight ratio that would make a spring weep, I tightened my harness, clamped down my helmet and resolved to disprove physics.<br> I got to about 5m up when I suddenly found myself on a 2m squared area of absolutely sheer rock. No secret handholds, hornets buzzing around, my leg strarted to shake from the weight. The instructor shouted at me to breathe, and I did and miraculously it worked, I my leg calmed down, I shifted to the left and Lo! there was a crack in the rock, the tiniest thing, but I managed to squeeze my hand into it and climb up. Once I'd overcome that patch, the rest was easy and I sped up to the top with little difficulty.<br> The next one was even higher, with a concave smooth niche which offered little hope for climbability (a word. As of now.) I got to that section, and my anchor was bawling that I should go left, sounding bored with how obvious it seemed. There was nothing to the left. I moved my foot a little, which allowed me to grab areally good crevice and away I went, I grappled up with the speed of monkeys and got to the top in no time. The most fun was walking down the surface again. Like a mini-abseil. My anchor then had a go at climbing and got stuck at teh same point (not so smug now are we, chicken?) and he took ages to go up. Although he did acknowledge my attempt with a 'bravo'. </p> <p>Then I tried abseiling over an outcrop into a gorge, which was fun until I lost my footing under the outcrop and went spinning into the rock surface. My harness wasn't tight enough so the rope catch was an awkward distance from my body which made me go down haltingly. I have bsuises and scratches to show for my day, but it was fun! My pecs are screaming today as are my forearms but it was definitely exhilirating! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/10/26/social-climber-7245153/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-10-21:/2009/10/21/broody-monkey-7216332/MonkeyPie2009-10-21T16:25:44+02:002009-10-21T16:25:44+02:00 <p>Ah, I have found a great source of procrastination: Morphthing.com<br> I've been through and morphed my potential babies according to celebrities who most match my exes, thus whittling down what kind of looks I should be aiming for seeing as attractive babies are statistically more likely to succeed in life. Shallow? Yes. Waste of time? Definitely. Fun? you bet!!!</p> <p>Me and the Grecian would have had:<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/baby_of_alex1_jpg_and_raj_jpg/4026965" title="Baby-of-alex1-JPG-and-raj-jpg"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/965/4026965_39e9ff282b_s.jpg" alt="Baby-of-alex1-JPG-and-raj-jpg"></a></p> <p>Me and my Geordie love would have had this little monkey:<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/baby_of_alex1_jpg_and_james_mcavoy/4026966" title="Baby-of-alex1-JPG-and-James-McAvoy"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/966/4026966_14129728ec_s.jpg" alt="Baby-of-alex1-JPG-and-James-McAvoy"></a><br> Me and my rock star Scot:<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/baby_of_alex1_jpg_and_matt_damon/4026967" title="Baby-of-alex1-JPG-and-Matt-Damon"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/967/4026967_dee5de8aab_s.jpg" alt="Baby-of-alex1-JPG-and-Matt-Damon"></a></p> <p>Me and my fiancee of a time:<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/baby_of_alex1_jpg_and_dave_jpg/4026982" title="Baby-of-alex1-JPG-and-dave-jpg"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/982/4026982_a0d917899b_s.jpg" alt="Baby-of-alex1-JPG-and-dave-jpg"></a><br> Me and M (although i had to use a photo of James Blunt to get the closest approximation..):<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/baby_of_alex1_jpg_and_james_blunt_20051231_94686_jpg/4026983" title="Baby-of-alex1-JPG-and-james-blunt-20051231-94686-jpg"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/983/4026983_59a3229590_s.jpg" alt="Baby-of-alex1-JPG-and-james-blunt-20051231-94686-jpg"></a></p> <p>Me and Mufasa (trust this one to mess up more than the other pictures! Unintentional but De niro's pic was a it skewed):<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/baby_of_alex1_jpg_and_alex_142_jpg/4027023" title="Baby-of-alex1-JPG-and-alex-142-jpg"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/023/4027023_490b3f2b1a_s.jpg" alt="Baby-of-alex1-JPG-and-alex-142-jpg"></a></p> <p>So! Which is the best baby? I think the one of me and the Geordie looks most like I did when I was a littl'un but dont let that be a deciding factor. Remember, you are deciding my future happiness.<br> Jokes, relax.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/10/21/broody-monkey-7216332/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-10-21:/2009/10/21/swimming-with-the-fishies-7216012/MonkeyPie2009-10-21T15:42:08+02:002009-10-21T15:42:08+02:00 <p>So we have a regular scuba baby here. Last weekend I went on my first wreck dive and it was scary but really really good. It was quite deep, I went to maybe 32m and had to inch my way down a rope to get there. One on the wreck, there were so many fish. Huge sea bream which just weren't scared of us, I could feel them as they slicked past my hands. Long saucer-eyed barracuda darted amongst teh bream, trying to catch some. These massive black cat-fish-like fish swimming lazily past, eyeing us from behind rusted railings. </p> <p>My buddy's air tank slipped out of its harness and we had a moment where we all swam together, holding it to until we were on the flat side of the wreck and coule sit and re-attach it. Quite nerve-wracking but it's nice to feel adrenaline pump once in a while. I decompressed at 5m and was suddenly freezing cold. Your teeth chattering underwater isn't fun- my lips ached from being pursed around the plastic mouthpiece to stop water flowing in with every involuntary spasm. </p> <p>It was fun though <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> and I even managed to have a whole converstion in Greek over coffee afterwards and share an 'asteia' or a joke. You'll have probably heard it before but here goes:<br> A man goe to see a psychiatrist to treat his multiple personality disorder and eventually, once treated, he receives his bill. "Why have I been charged so much more than expected?!"<br> "Well, with you, it was a group therapy." </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/10/21/swimming-with-the-fishies-7216012/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-10-15:/2009/10/15/stolen-from-mmt-7-sins-7173387/MonkeyPie2009-10-15T10:10:10+02:002009-10-15T10:10:10+02:00 Greed: Very Low   Gluttony: Very Low   Wrath: Low   Sloth: Low   Envy: Medium   Lust: Low   Pride: Very Low   <br><br> The <a href="http://www.4degreez.com/misc/seven_deadly_sins.html">Seven Deadly Sins Quiz</a> on <a href="http://www.4degreez.com/">4degreez.com</a></p> <p>I think that's what H meant as 'boringly sane'.... I need to be less boring. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/stolen-from-mmt-7-sins-7173387/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-10-14:/2009/10/14/scuba-monkey-7168398/MonkeyPie2009-10-14T16:18:10+02:002009-10-14T16:18:10+02:00 <p>ZOMG I can't believe I never did this sooner!!!</p> <p>Scuba diving is amazing. I took to it like a fish to er.. well, you catch my drift(wood). Ok ok I'll stop.</p> <p>So my first dive, we went to this protected bay where people always start. There were huge fish everywhere!!!! And we rubbed the rocks to let particles float around- the fish went mental and gobbled up all the bits. He'd said that my first dive normally one only goes to 5m because equalising feels weird/hurts people. I think as my snorkelling takes me to depths of 6-7m though I had already broken that barrier so the next time I checked my altimeter, we were at 13m! Where I found an octopus, conch shell (promptly forgot it at the beach, d'oh) and some dead coral-like structure.</p> <p>Second dive, we went along the coast and I dived near the Cyclops cave. It was cool mainly because the geography of the seabed is such that it looks like a plain with a mountain range and then going down the mountain range on the other side, you descend to 19m!! It felt so weird looking up and seeing such an expanse of blue before the underside of the waves. That dive was scary as I saw some scorpion fish and the current was strong. </p> <p>Third dive, I jumped straight into a cave at cavo greko. It was pretty scary as I couldn't balance properly and I kept sinking, then floating too high and bumping my head. It was fun swimming through underwater caves though! </p> <p>Saturday I'm going on my first wreck at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenobia_wreck">Zenobia..</a> SO EXCITED. Tell you what, scube is hard work though. My thighs were fairly screaming last time. Anyway, I'll try to get some photos!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/10/14/scuba-monkey-7168398/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-10-08:/2009/10/08/ode-to-birkenstock-7124606/MonkeyPie2009-10-08T13:42:40+02:002009-10-08T13:42:40+02:00 <p>Flip flops bad, Birkenstock good.</p> <p>I should have really clicked on to the fact that my back always got really bad once I was here. I realised, UK- I wear trainers, with insoles to keep my high arches afloat, Cyprus- flip flops, which have approximately the support of a dental floss bungee rope.</p> <p>So today, my big expenditure: Birkenstock sandals. The saleswoman, in her caring way, tried to get me to buy full on orthopedic shoes which wouldn't look out of place in a second hand car dealership, perhaps being obscured by only the salooniest of volvo tanks, but I resisted and bought sensible sandals instead. Afterall, it's an alternative to flip flops I'm after, not canoes. </p> <p>My verdict (after 2 hours of wear)? They're amazing. My back is no longer sore (result!) and they're so comfy! A bit clumpy but I'll make sure to dress a little more femininely and no-one will guess I'm a hide-away Engineering geek. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/10/08/ode-to-birkenstock-7124606/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-10-08:/2009/10/08/ups-and-downs-7123838/MonkeyPie2009-10-08T11:17:24+02:002009-10-08T11:17:24+02:00 <p>So Monkey Snr is all better. Pumped full of drugs and zapped with electro-therapy and he's back up and running. Good as new, new paint job from his 2 days in the sun, a good wax to get rid of the sticky glue from the sensor pads and even new treads in the form of loafers. There's life in the old banger yet. </p> <p>Must say, he looked much better post hospital and the nurses were all very nice. His Dr (a pretty young lady) even gave him a kiss and a hug when he signed out and produced a box of brownies. That really made his day! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/10/08/ups-and-downs-7123838/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-10-08:/2009/10/08/underwater-monkeys-7123814/MonkeyPie2009-10-08T11:13:56+02:002009-10-08T11:13:56+02:00 <p>Monkeypie has found another hobby to keep her entertained and make us of her exile on a relatively warm island. This week saw my first foray into scuba diving! My first dive will be on Saturday and I <strong>cannot</strong> wait.</p> <p>An obsession with underwater swimming started when I was very very young. It was the closest I could get to flying, to movement in 3D with little resistance. I'd forgotten myself, this childish nugget within my soul. This summer brought it all back, endless hours of snorkelling, boring my friends with the tales of the fish I'd seen, coming home to look them up on the internet and catalogue them and their behaviour, a determination to improve my breath under water. With flippers I found I could stay for enough time to explore the rocks at 7m depth. Always floating back up, disappointed in my landlubber's lungs and gazing longingly at the parts yet unexplored which would require a far hardier set of lungs.</p> <p>I don't know how those free divers do it- down to unthinkable depths for up to 3 minutes?! Craziness. </p> <p>Anyway, I'm finally investing in my little dream to be a scuba diver and so to see some fish! First open water certification, then advanced, then maybe rescue, I'll see how keen I am. Next week I'm buying my 3/4 suit and boots YAY.</p> <p>So far, the fish I've seen are blue spotted cornet fish, a painted comber, various bream and perch and a really ugly flatfish, not to mention sprats and a couple of beautiful unidentified ones. I'll do some research. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/10/08/underwater-monkeys-7123814/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-09-25:/2009/09/25/some-holiday-7038512/MonkeyPie2009-09-25T14:32:19+02:002009-09-25T14:33:36+02:00 <p>A phonecall.<br> I make my first tentative steps up the clean stairs, smelling disinfectant and the rubbery smell of immobile skin. The door opens to the second floor and the foyer is bewilderingly busy, the metronome march of nurses in blue overalls and the warm smile of the doctor in her white. </p> <p>I'm swept towards the ICU, towards a beige metal door, past the smells of chemicals, plastic and sanitising gel. I see Nick, unexpectedly, so, unprepared, I forget to say hello and smile wanly instead. He seems to understand and nods me through the door. </p> <p>The tubes snake around his greyed limbs and peirce his wrists, wires and clips hang haphazardly and my eyes are swept to the screen. The screen which I've been conditioned from too much TV to depict the beat dwindling to a horizontal and cry a mournful tone. </p> <p>My father looks like a cyborg medusa. The wires and tubes writhe as they inject him with blood thinners and heart regulating fluids. The machine obediently blinks his arrhythmic beat and stubbornly refuses to show a reduction in pressure. I forget I'm here to see him, my face is purely blank and businesslike as I hand him his paper, his toothbrush, his deodorant, his snacks, his blackberry. My heart is heavy with the memory of being his little rabbit and him carrying me on his shoulders, I don't want to be the strong one.</p> <p>His faced is still an angry landscape of purples and yellows. The black stiches along his eyebrow giving him a roguish lopsidedness. He still smiles and tries to charm the female doctor. She smiles warmly and then a flash of worry on her face when she notes the twinkling blood pressure. Neon lights advertising old age and decreptitude.</p> <p>I hold his hand. Conditioned by the televised spectacle of care. It's what you're supposed to do, right? I smile and offer to play cards. Everyone stands around looking at me worriedly. I feel numbed by the gloomy expectation. He picks up on the vibe, and once everyone has gone, he insists I commit all the codes, passwords and bank jargon to memory. Initially I refuse but his whisper of "just in case" won't leave my mind.</p> <p>My father. Passing on the keys to his kingdom. But I am still not grown, i still need him strong. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/09/25/some-holiday-7038512/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-09-21:/2009/09/21/a-long-summer-of-sea-7008034/MonkeyPie2009-09-21T08:54:18+02:002009-09-21T08:54:18+02:00 <p>Currently Nicosia is reeling from a tornado ripping through it on Friday. All I experienced was power shower pressure rain soaking me in the 2m from the car door to the front door, hail stones as big as a kiwi fruit smashing against the paving slabs outside and the sight of half a large tree sweeping up the road all on its own.</p> <p>Interesting.</p> <p>Funnily enough, it's pleasant getting wet when it's hot outside and you're by the sea but when you're in the middle of town, in office clothes, it's not so amusing.</p> <p>It's weird to think only 3 weeks ago, I was with my good pal NNav, renting a boat from mikewatersports.com, and flying around Cape Greco. We stopped off near the blue lagoon, dropped anchor and I removed my lifejacket and jumped in, complete with snorkel and goggles and saw.. nothing. No fish, no sharks (ho ho) just the underside of the motorboat, the anchor slowly creeping across the sands to some particularly craggy looking rocks, 16m below.</p> <p>Rule number 3 from mike' boats came to mind: "don't anchor on rocks, you'll never free yourselves and then we'll haveto cut th erope and buy a new anchor." Having ownership of the boat and anchor for all of 1 hour was too much stress for me, I rushed out of the sea, which, to be honest, was a disappointing swim after the rocky openess of the northern beaches, teeming with fishies, to get onto the boat and rescue the anchor. </p> <p>We pulled it up, it got stuck on a rock. I swore internally, turned the motor on and inched forwards, hoping to dislodge the anchor by pulling it out the way it came. Inching forwards, NNav pulled in teh rope and just as we passed the vertical point of the anchor, it released, coming up easily.</p> <p>Anyway, the summer's over now. No more boat rentals! I tried swimming yesterday with my brother and his pals but another storm swept in just as I was photographing my favourite little fish. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/09/21/a-long-summer-of-sea-7008034/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-08-20:/2009/08/20/now-where-were-we-6764821/MonkeyPie2009-08-20T09:49:32+02:002009-08-20T09:49:32+02:00 <p>..ah yes. I was breaking yet another resolution that I wasn't going to ignore my personal therapy of writing here in order to not let the words crush me from inexpression.</p> <p>So my bi-annual back pain has resumed. I can't sneeze/cough/laugh without the pre-emptive wince, knowing it'll hurt my back. Such is a slipped disc. Anyway, I'm less incapacitated than last year. It only takes me 10 minutes to get up and down as opposed to never. </p> <p>Other than that- I went to Polis last weekend for a mini 4 days holiday with a family I'm friendly with and you know- it was great. I'd become depressed without realising. No social contact with intelligent humans for days at a time will do that to you and people's 'avrio avrio' attitude (similar to the maniana of the spanish) means that people are not pushed to include you or to make an effort. Which is fine, I ought to make more effort myself but the truth is I had an intellectual crisis. I'm now a grown woman, I cannot possibly hide behind the fact that I'm not yet wholly financially independent to put off making the sort of decisions I need to make. </p> <p>Which is this:<br> I would hate to do this job forever, it's boring already.<br> I chose this a few years ago because it's the closest I could get to 'drawing' (ha!) but it's so mind numbingly uncreative.<br> I chose engineering because architects are more unemployable. However, I've come to realise that I ought to have just done it as I like the creative side of building/bridge design, not the calculations- despite the fact I can do them.<br> The idea of being in an office calculating, without social contact makes me bood freeze.</p> <p>So! If I can't be in the niche I want to be in, I propose doing something different- hence the intellectual crisis. I'm not proposing being an artist, that's just not going to happen- there's too many of them already for the demand. Although it's possibly the only activity I find so absorbing that I can do it forever.</p> <p>I'll ponder the question some more. A PhD is a possibility but only if it's something I enjoy and which will bring me closer to a consulting academic. Although I don't think I know my subject inside out enough to actually teach. </p> <p>Anyway, there was a sewage spill near teh north coast of cyprus the day I decided to go swimming. I body surfed the waves until I realised my eyes stung more than usual and I'm sure the brown sausage I saw bobbing by wasn't seaweed. Closer inspection revealed it to be an aqua poo.<br> I've not had such a long scrubby shower in a while. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/08/20/now-where-were-we-6764821/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-07-30:/2009/07/30/love-and-lost-6617782/MonkeyPie2009-07-30T14:24:27+02:002009-07-30T14:24:27+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.asofterworld.com/index.php?id=442">Ha ha ha</a> maybe the answer to my questions! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/07/30/love-and-lost-6617782/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-07-29:/2009/07/29/this-is-what-happens-from-too-much-coffee-6611290/MonkeyPie2009-07-29T14:18:40+02:002009-07-29T14:18:40+02:00 <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/07/29/this-is-what-happens-from-too-much-coffee-6611290/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-07-29:/2009/07/29/the-artful-jammie-dodger-6611270/MonkeyPie2009-07-29T14:14:06+02:002009-07-29T14:14:46+02:00 <p>To help time fly during my exile, I have decided to take art back up in a major way. So, I contacted the local art college and they do, apparently, do evening classes. These classes are only on a tuesday night and are tailored to the 'needs' of the class. Which doesn't sound promising. </p> <p>They're also 85 euros each- is that a lot? It's for 2.5 hours.. so I guess about 35 euros per hour. But if I'm in a class with total 'tards who want to do fingerpainting then it's not worth it! </p> <p>Whilst agonising over this decision, I have bought some cypriot 'petit fours' which are basically floury biscuits stuck together with jam and a few hundreds and thousands on top for fun.</p> <p>Not quite a jammie dodger. Sigh. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/07/29/the-artful-jammie-dodger-6611270/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-07-22:/2009/07/22/the-pain-of-new-friends-6566848/MonkeyPie2009-07-22T15:21:06+02:002009-07-22T15:21:06+02:00 <p>I've decided to chum up with the student shere who are part of the <del>drinking club</del> international association I was sheperding in Edinburgh. So, yesterday they invited me to tag along with them to a team bonding session paintballing. Alright, so far, so clichèd.</p> <p>Anyway, it was great fun. I spoke to about 5 of the 20 people there which is good for an unnecessarily shy idiot like me. They were alreayd chummy you see, and it's always hard to break into a new group. So! Nothing a bit of pretend killing couldn't overcome. There we were at the end of a 45 degree day, in clothes, outer-camu wear, mask, gloves, neck protector, gun. I began sweating immediately. My mini-sauna suit making my hair tickle with moisture... gross!</p> <p>So, we played 4 games, I enjoyed pretending to be G.I. <del>Joe</del> <del>Joan</del> Jane, belly crawling and sniper shots galore! I got shot twice very painfully in the course of the action. I have MASSIVE bruises- one on my bicep and one on the hip bone, thankfully it didn't go 3 inches to the center or it may have been a more sterilising injury. Overnight, these bruises have become angry red welt-like halos on my skin.<br> The stigmata of friendship.</p> <p>I was invited to party tonight and thursday though so perhaps it was all worth it... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/07/22/the-pain-of-new-friends-6566848/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-07-18:/2009/07/18/things-i-learnt-in-turkey-6541916/MonkeyPie2009-07-18T20:44:52+02:002009-07-18T20:44:52+02:00 <p>1. <em>Women aren't allowed to park cars.</em><br> We (me, Mufasa and my GBF and host) were driven around Turkey, very generously, by my host's aunt. Who is a very good driver, confident and swiftly efficient but in the face of every single male in Turkey, is reduced to merely a set of tits behind a potential collision. In any occasion, be it a tight corner requiring meticulous navigation or a very specific and small parking place, the men, previously hiding behind bollards or traffic lights, swarm around the car, making her get out as they flex their forumla 1 muscles and zip at 100mph into the space/street/corner and come out looking self satisfied at their own macho bollocky moment in the day. And then preen themselves as the girls (rather irritatingly) generously thank them.</p> <p>2. <em>Turkey is the land of the cherry.</em><br> Stuck in a traffic jam over the Bosphorus? No problem! Just wind down your window, smile sweetly at the neighbouring car and they'll pop out a hand crammed full with cherries into your open window!<br> Peckish on a long journey outside Istanbul? No shortage of little old crones selling their cherry shaped wares at the side of the road. Trays and trays of delicious deep red fruit with firm green stems.</p> <p>3. <em>Chay (Tea) is drunk from glass fluted cups </em><br> And normally with sugar, arabic-style. The tea is brewed using about half the box of teabags, but the idea being that you use it like diluting juice and top it up with hot water. A good household and hosting skills depends on a pot of tea being kept happily brewing/stewing away on the stove all day in case of guests.</p> <p>4. <em>Istanbul is a traffic locked city. </em><br> To get from one side (we were on the European side) to the other for a simple dinner by the harbour one night took 3.5 hours. We were all sat, dressed to the nines, in a sweltering car on one of the bridges which had suddenly become an impasse and some impatient twat had decided to undertake across 3 lanes into the fast lane using the hard shoulder to get ahead of us and dented the front corner of our car. </p> <p><em>5. The Hagia Sofia is nice and all but..</em><br> Here I was, after years of study and being told of the structural wonders of the Hagia Sofia, finally at the site, enjoying for myself the sheer scale and grandeur when, what's this? After having paid full whack to get in, the <em>piece de resistance</em> the central dome is obscured, HIDDEN, behind sheeting and scaffolding. At the height of tourist season! Surely they could find some other time to clean/restore it, or at least, much like edinburgh's trams, cease work when there'll be tourists about. </p> <p>6. <em>..the cisterns are the real place to be.</em><br> Underground, the cistern contains water all teh way from Eastern Europe which has trickled down the Danube and through porous rock to find itself, eventually, under Istanbul. As as the medusa's head. She's now holding up a column underground and enjoying fishies nibbling at her serpentine hair. </p> <p>7. <em>Assos, past Troy, is fucking beautiful.</em><br> Wow. Forget Istanbul with its Peacock youth and European fantasies. The winding cobbled road down the side of a sheer cliff face, dotted with old greek ruins, tempes of Athenea, colosseums and churches, with the Isle of Lesbos to your right and an unbeliveably blue sea below just makes you <strong>know</strong> how this could be the cradle of modern European philosophy. It's awe-inspiring and deliciously frozen in time. The hotel we stayed in was calm and faced the sea. The old man who took me and Mufasa on a night-time boat trip to see the stars was terribly cliched but necessary, as it let me fall in love again with Mufasa despite my suspicions that it was too perfect an idea and too close to what's special to my secret core to be his. </p> <p>8. <em>Cats. everywhere.</em><br> ..Which I like, so no worries but seriously- the Isle of Junda, ruled by cats. </p> <p>9. <em>You're no-one if.. </em><br> You don't dress properly for clubs. I mean- borderline WAG wear. Black tie, hair done, manicured everything, perfect make-up, chaffeur etc.. no woman should pay for her drinks in the company of a man.<br> You must also be very rich. You're either rich or you're poor. No in-between. I'm neither but I felt very frumpy in my friend's favourite cafes as I wore clothes to be comfortable in the heat and in my thesis-expanded body. </p> <p>10. <em>The grand isle..</em><br> Always take teh sea bus. Never ever take the ferry. Suffer the 3 extra lira and please take the bus. It's faster, cleaner, more comfortable and you don't die of sunstroke as it's air conditioned.<br> Also, don't buy an ice-cream for the ascent to the monastery on the island. The island stinks of horse shit being that that's the only allowed form of transport. Horse siht and piss in the hot noon sun gives a special smell which reallllly does nothing for the berry and mango sorbet in your hand. </p> <p>11. <em>If someone throws water in front of you as you leave for a journey:</em><br> It's a symbol for 'bon voyage' or a wish that your journey is as easy as the flow of the water. </p> <p>12. Everyone is crazy but with good intent. The television repair man, strode into the house, repaired the telly, then gave, presumably unqualified, advice to my generously proportioned host about her diet and what she should do. How inappropriate?!?!</p> <p>13. It's a nice city: my favourite was the bohemian art quarter where we smoked rose and mint shisha and gave ourselves headaches and played backgammon until my head swam with dice....</p> <p>14. Public transport is a no-no. </p> <p>15. But do fly Easyjet! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/07/18/things-i-learnt-in-turkey-6541916/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-07-14:/2009/07/14/reports-of-monkey-sightings-6513072/MonkeyPie2009-07-14T15:04:09+02:002009-07-14T15:04:09+02:00 <p>Ah, the economic recession. An apt and well timed excuse for Monkeypie to return to Cyprus. I've not really thrown myself into the job application thing after my few rejections many months ago, so when the offer of reinstating my post as architectural technician/general dogsbody came back up in Cyprus I went for it. </p> <p>Here I am. 6 hours in to my first day after arriving at 4:05am this morning. T'was an interesting flight, the cliche screaming toddler in the row just behind, the old boy who needs to wrestle with my seat back to get up and down (frequently takes advantage of this power) and the emergency aisle seat next to the toilet, so I get queues of bladderly-challenged folk practically sitting on my lap to access the loo. At least I got to see Monsters v Aliens, which was surprisingly good. </p> <p>So, there we go.. despite getting a first for my thesis, it just wasn't enough to bump me up overall so I am a 2:1, MEng, employed. My tasks today included filtering the tap water and disposing of cockroach carcasses. I have <del>swine flu</del> Laryngitis so answering the phone in Greek is off. The advantages of ill fortune again. Must make the most of it all!</p> <p>Oh, 3rd prize in the bridge design thing- 250 pounds, job done. Bish Bash Bosh.</p> <p>Since I last wrote: I have been to Istanbul. I have graduated. I have moved copius amounts of shite and belongings back to London. I have moved 25kg of this shite to Cyprus for the foreseeable future. I have waved off many friends. I have promised many things and not started them yet (I've been away for a while but my tendency to procrastination is still alive and well). I've spent an evening drinking free wine, the next day throwing up. </p> <p>I've decided to apply for jobs worldwide.</p> <p>In all the above were mini adventures that I had thought I ought to write about but it's never as good when you've had too much time to reflect on the event and have mentally ironed out the creases in the details. </p> <p>Hopefully I'll have more adventures to share during my <del>exile </del> stay in Cyprus... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/07/14/reports-of-monkey-sightings-6513072/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-04-25:/2009/04/25/back-from-the-dead-6007454/MonkeyPie2009-04-25T22:50:46+02:002009-04-25T22:50:46+02:00 <p>What is the cost of a masters' thesis done in 6 months...?</p> <p>a) 1 stone gain in weight<br> b) inexplicable bad skin when it's generally clear<br> c) headaches<br> d) a newly developed aversion to marmite<br> e) all of the above</p> <p>For those of you who answered e) well done, give yourselves a pat on the back! So yeah, here I am, a shadow of my former self, well, a rather solid shadow but one nonetheless.. thankfully I'm 118 pages of bound nonsense on engineering applications in conservation lighter, and after a month of strict 6.5 day working weeks and 6 hour limited sleeps, I'm finally free!!<br> So I tried to celebrate this by going out drinking and hopefulyl lose a bit of the knowledge I'd acquired but the demons of alcohol weren't having any of it. 6 pints down, 2 double vodka diet cokes and some bizarre cointreau concoction and I still wasn't even hazy. I certainly become more vocal- deciding to pick a fight on a coursemate about feminism and then conspiracy theorists being the voice of reason and also a brief round on a federation of Europe, but not drunk. </p> <p>Very disappointing.</p> <p>But, as I say, I've handed in. Now all I have left are two exams- one on 20th century engineers and architecture and one on fire methods. Exciting! Then!! I'm a GRADUATE.<br> Only the hallowed may utter this word and live to take on a job though. Maybe I'll fail just so that I can graduate next year and be employable. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/04/25/back-from-the-dead-6007454/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-04-25:/2009/04/25/randomness-6007411/MonkeyPie2009-04-25T22:36:25+02:002009-04-25T22:36:25+02:00 <p>65 Questions You've Maybe Never Been Asked</p> <p>1. What is the first thing you wash in the shower?<br> with the advent of shower shine, I no longer have to worry about washing it much</p> <p>2. What color is your favorite hoodie?<br> turquoise</p> <p>3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?<br> evidently</p> <p>4. Do you plan outfits?<br> not enough is probably the best answer</p> <p>5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?<br> very sleepy and slightly headachey. </p> <p>6. Whats the closest thing to you that's red?<br> my lamp, innit.</p> <p>7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?<br> someone stealing the salad I'd just bought thus putting paid to my plans to diet</p> <p>8. Did you meet anybody new today?<br> er, not really. Although I'm meeting a nigerian couch surfer this evening. He's staying for 2 weeks. </p> <p>9. What are you craving right now?<br> hmm..mostly garlic chicken (lebanese style) but it's negotiable</p> <p>10. Do you floss?<br> usualyl daily</p> <p>11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?<br> bacon and mustard</p> <p>12. Are you emotional?<br> not enough </p> <p>13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?<br> no, I prefer to spend my time differently</p> <p>14. Bite into your ice cream or just lick it?<br> lick</p> <p>15. Do you like your hair?<br> yeah s'alright</p> <p>16. Do you like yourself?<br> yeah m'alright</p> <p>17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?<br> to feed on the cadavers of the anti-democwacies..</p> <p>18. What are you listening to right now?<br> Air- all I need. Old skool!</p> <p>19. Are/were your parents strict?<br> Yeah, I guess they're stricter than the majority of parents</p> <p>20. Would you go sky diving?<br> I would LOVE to go</p> <p>21. Do you like cottage cheese?<br> it doesn't like me</p> <p>22. Have you ever met a celebrity?<br> Goldie (LOLz) and Alexander mcCall Smith of course! and a few people but I'm not really interested in them</p> <p>23. Do you rent movies often?<br> i used to now I have no time to breathe let alone watch movies</p> <p>24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?<br> not really, do CDs count?</p> <p>25. How many countries have you visited?<br> 17: UK, Ireland, France, Cyprus, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Croatia, Bosnia, Poland, Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Ghana erm.. that's it. </p> <p>26. Have you made a prank phone call?<br> Yes.</p> <p>27. Ever been on a train?<br> i fucking love trains</p> <p>28. Brown or white eggs?<br> both</p> <p>29. Do you have a cell-phone?<br> ..or a mobile, yes</p> <p>30. Do you use chapstick?<br> yup</p> <p>31. Do you own a gun?<br> no</p> <p>32. Can you use chopsticks?<br> yes, am an expert <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>33. Who are you going to be with tonight?<br> myself</p> <p>34. Are you too forgiving?<br> it depends</p> <p>35. Ever been in love?<br> Yes</p> <p>36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow?<br> Two of them are probably working, and the rest are revising if they're being good.</p> <p>37. Ever have cream puffs?<br> never</p> <p>38. Last time you cried?<br> ah, months ago.. unless you count moistness from films. </p> <p>39. What was the last question you asked?<br> Is he staying long?</p> <p>40. Favorite time of the year?<br> autumn</p> <p>41. Do you have any tattoos?<br> No</p> <p>42. Are you sarcastic?<br> Yes</p> <p>43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?<br> Yes</p> <p>44. Ever walked into a wall?<br> Probably</p> <p>45. Favorite color?<br> dark red, cobalt, certain yellows and greens</p> <p>46. Have you ever slapped someone?<br> not in seriousness</p> <p>47. Is your hair curly?<br> when its humid </p> <p>48. What was the last CD you bought?<br> YEARS ago.</p> <p>49. Do looks matter?<br> to a certain degree. As long as they're not repulsive. Although for sexual attraction, yeah, the visual is a must. </p> <p>50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?<br> It really depends.</p> <p>51. Is your phone bill sky high?<br> yeah, am cancelling my contract. Vodafone are thieving poobrains.</p> <p>52. Do you like your life right now?<br> Well, end of uni, just handed in my thesis (YAY) so yeah, pretty damn good.</p> <p>53. Do you sleep with the TV on?<br> No</p> <p>54. Can you handle the truth?<br> Yes, exclusively</p> <p>55. Do you have good vision?<br> ha, no</p> <p>56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?<br> probably</p> <p>57. How often do you talk on the phone?<br> every other day?</p> <p>58. The last person you held hands with?<br> Raaarrr! The Lion.</p> <p>59. What are you wearing?<br> Um jeans and a jumper..</p> <p>60.What is your favorite animal?<br> I like: Tigers, giraffes, sausage dogs, turtles, cats and I think chinchillas are cute</p> <p>61. Where was your profile picture taken?<br> in berlin</p> <p>62. Can you hula hoop?<br> nah</p> <p>63. Do you have a job?<br> Full time loafer. No no, I'm a student still but hoping to get a job, please?</p> <p>64. What was the most recent thing you bought?<br> a loaf of bread and some cashews</p> <p>65. Have you ever crawled through a window?<br> yeah, it's a frequent pasttime. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/04/25/randomness-6007411/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-04-15:/2009/04/15/an-excuse-for-bossiness-5950269/MonkeyPie2009-04-15T19:14:15+02:002009-04-15T19:14:15+02:00 <p>Monkey took a personality test for a PhD student at uni here who wanted to see what sort of students make up engineering. I am an <a href="http://typelogic.com/entj.html">"Extroverted iNtuitive Thinking Judge"</a> apparently this makes up for 4% of the engineering students and 5 % of the english students (the researcher's previous model).</p> <p>"I don't care to sit by the window on an airplane. If I can't control it, why look?"<br> ENTJs have a natural tendency to marshal and direct. This may be expressed with the charm and finesse of a world leader or with the insensitivity of a cult leader. The ENTJ requires little encouragement to make a plan. One ENTJ put it this way... "I make these little plans that really don't have any importance to anyone else, and then feel compelled to carry them out." While "compelled" may not describe ENTJs as a group, nevertheless the bent to plan creatively and to make those plans reality is a common theme for NJ types. </p> <p>ENTJs are often "larger than life" in describing their projects or proposals. This ability may be expressed as salesmanship, story-telling facility or stand-up comedy. In combination with the natural propensity for filibuster, our hero can make it very difficult for the customer to decline. ENTJs are decisive. They see what needs to be done, and frequently assign roles to their fellows. Few other types can equal their ability to remain resolute in conflict, sending the valiant (and often leading the charge) into the mouth of hell. When challenged, the ENTJ may by reflex become argumentative. Alternatively (s)he may unleash an icy gaze that serves notice: the ENTJ is not one to be trifled with. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/04/15/an-excuse-for-bossiness-5950269/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk,2009-04-12:/2009/04/12/shot-from-the-dark-5932811/MonkeyPie2009-04-12T20:14:51+02:002009-04-12T20:14:51+02:00 <p>No no, I've not died. I've locked myself in the bowels of the university computer labs until my thesis is finished. I've limited my internet time to 2 checks of facebook a day (a pathetically huge reduction from my usual constant attachment) and emails 3 times so no time for blogging. </p> <p>Just thought I'd share <a href="http://pictures.streakr.com/whitetigers.htm">this</a> with you! Monkey love!!</p> <p>Thesis progress: my supervisor loves me. Now I know why, my partner, unbeknown to me, has done nearly nothing- nothing actually valid for an engineering thesis- and in contrast, monkeypie has done a tonne!! Her requests to "just pass along this and that to me" this and that being calculations I'd spent a morning doing, structural research I'd spent a week preparing, that sketchup drawing I spent some of my christmas holiday evenings doing and all the other little extras I've been careful to catalogue from my own good preparation and compiling over the last 6 months. I don't want it to be an issue as we're friends but I've put in more hours and thought than she evidently has and I'd hate to resent her for feeling like I'm buoying her through what should be her proof that she's a master's level student. </p> <p>This is why you don't work on things like this with friends. Two of my friends who worked together on a water treatment thesis last year fell out because of it. It rips you apart kids!!<br> Anyway, I'll check back in in a week, once I'm a 50% closer to being a graduan!! WAYHEY!</p> <p>Oh, in other news: i'm going to turkey with Lion, things are going very well!! A lot of the preliminary behaviour has been checked and he's exceeding expectations in many many ways.<br> That's a story for next time... back to work. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://theaccidentalgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/04/12/shot-from-the-dark-5932811/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>