St George’s Day today – so happy St George’s Day to all. I gather that Guildford is making a big thing of this, but as I’m not able to go to town in the lunch-hour (in any sense), then I can’t confirm anything. Lord H and I were wondering if we should re-enact the traditional slaying of the dragon by the good saint himself, but were unable to agree on which of us should take which part. So this mini-drama has, I’m afraid, had to be shelved for now. However, at work I have taken out my red, white and blue fluffy pen and given her (or possibly him, but it’s hard to say) pride of place. The saint will be smiling, I’m sure.
And of course it’s Shakespeare’s birthday, so great cause for rejoicing. And … um … his death day, so something more of a bummer really. My though, what a party that must have been. (Happy birthday, Will! Hope you like the present … Oh. Obviously you didn’t. Ah well …). But it does give a nice sense of completion, I have to say.
Oh, and I was cheered yesterday by realising that A Dangerous Man (http://www.flamebooks.com/) is actually on someone’s Wish List on Amazon – and can be seen at the Number Two position on “Jem’s” list here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/pdp/profile/ACEA95FQS1AVP - thanks, Jem! I’ve never been on anyone’s wish list before, and it’s a great honour. Talking of which, I find that ADM and I are not only in the University summer arts calendar today – advertising the forthcoming Book Circle discussion on 30 April – but are also on the University intranet news page - which I'm afraid you can't see, but bearing in mind the pic that may be a good thing!
This morning, I have finished off my updates to the Mentoring Handbook and have given it to Carol once more to check. We’ve decided that it will be best housed in A5 files, so we can easily update stuff on an ongoing basis – but you wouldn’t believe how few options the office supply people give on A5 paper or files. Hobson’s choice really. But it does give me a secretarial buzz to be looking at paper and wondering which I like best – almost makes me feel useful.
And I’ve decided to cancel next week’s Kinesiology (http://www.kinesiology4health.com/) appointment in Petersfield and not book any more at the moment, as I’m not sure that I’m learning anything else in my occasional visits - though Jane Phillips is a lovely woman and very good at what she does. It seemed like the right thing to do – and if I do want any further advice I can always make an appointment in Guildford, which is in any case much closer to home. So, I’ve written her a letter to thank her, as that seemed the right thing to do too.
This lunchtime, we had another talk from the Vice-Chancellor about the restructuring. Groan. Mind you, his super-fast delivery meant that I took very little in – which once again may indeed have been his purpose. We were all talked-at into submission by the time the questions slot came round. So I popped out for my lunchtime walk later than usual in order to get my brain functioning again – and saw that we have two baby coots on the lake. Or possibly moorhens, but I can’t tell. The mother had a white beak and the babies red beaks, so perhaps it’s our first cross-breeding? Who knows?
However, it’s not all good news and caviare, I’m afraid – an online friend of mine emailed me today to say she hadn’t really enjoyed poor old ADM at all, the reasons being because it just didn’t gel for her and because she thought I’d left too much of Michael’s traumas until the end. In addition she felt he had much more to say than I’d allowed, and it should have been far darker and more violent. This came as quite a punch (which probably only goes to show what a pathetically sensitive sad git I am, I’m sure …), partly because it’s my first bad review and partly because it was someone I was utterly convinced would like it. A lot. I also felt gutted at the comment that I hadn’t given Michael enough of a voice, especially when I’d felt I’d really gone to the depths with him, and back again. I know she’s being nice and is obviously perfectly entitled to a reaction, but I must admit it hurts. However, a wry smile (of sorts) was raised when I read the comment that she hoped this wouldn’t upset me. Um, I’m only human! Still one very stiff gin later and I’m slowly unfurling. A little.
Tonight, Lord H is out at theology, and I’m going to attempt to start my last scene in The Gifting, even though I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing and am scared to death by it. It really feels like I’ve bitten off far, far more than I can actually chew and, however I write the ending, it’s going to be pants. I simply don’t feel that I can end Simon’s story in the way he deserves and that any of the cats I can pull out of the bag now won’t be any bigger or any fluffier than the cats I’ve pulled out before, as the story’s gone along. Bummer. Again. In all of my other novels (well, most of them anyway …), I’ve known as I approached it what the ending would be – but I’m going to be spitting into a vacuum for this one, I fear. Boy, does this writer have cold feet about it – my toes are barely hanging on. Still, this isn’t the spirit that won (or indeed lost) the empire, so I’ll just have to grit my teeth and slog on. Grinning wildly …
And my 55 word fiction, “When the phone rang” has won the Bird and Moon (http://www.birdandmoon.com/55words/) Readers’ Choice award for February (hurrah!) and can be found here: http://www.birdandmoon.com/55words/readerschoice.html - so that’s cheered me greatly.
Oh, and I’ve had my first real battle with a wasp. I was doing the recycling when that terrible humming began in the hallway and I realised I was trapped outside the flat with no phone and no means of alerting Lord H who was having a quick bath prior to theology. I did try the neighbours but they weren’t in, so I couldn’t ring from theirs. So I had to wait 15 minutes for Lord H to finish his bath and wonder where I was. Lucky he noticed, eh! Still, he despatched the evil striped beast with his usual finesse and I could come home again. Phew. Damn lucky it wasn’t raining either …
And thank goodness there’s “New Tricks” on TV later – just the light relief I need, I suspect.
Today’s nice things:
1. Being on an Amazon wish list
2. The double University advertising splash
3. The 55 word award.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com/
http://www.goldenford.co.uk/
ANNE BROOKE BOOKS: Independent writer of modern fiction
Showing posts with label kinesiology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kinesiology. Show all posts
Monday, April 23, 2007
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Alternative therapies and the Great Gay Question
Yes, I’m the great alternative therapy user today. Which has to be a good thing as I was up last night feeling really sick. Goodness knows what it is, but it’s not a great way to spend the hours of 3 and 4 in the morning. Not with the plan to get up early and collect my blood form from the surgery when they opened at 8am – as they were kind enough to leave a message on my ansaphone yesterday that it was ready for collection. The doctor must assume I’m still alive then. Good.
And I didn't feel so great the rest of the day actually – I skipped breakfast (a shockingly rare event) and had two mugs of hot, sweet tea at my desk (another shockingly rare event x2). Which helped, though food was a no-no till 3pm. When I ate 3 dried apricots, 2 chocolate finger biscuits and some rice. In that order. Maybe I should have demanded “patient care” rights and an anti-sickness pill when I popped into the surgery to collect the ruddy form, but frankly I felt too sick to put up a fight. That’s the power of the doctor – when you need them the most, you’re too ill to express it. Darn it.
Still, I had my reflexology appointment at or lunchtime, which must have moved some of my apparent toxins through to the outside world. And Emily (reflexologist) also bought a copy of “A Dangerous Man” (http://www.flamebooks.com), which came with a free copy of "A Stranger's Table". And she's such a nice woman too. Hope she continues to do my feet after she's read it ... And talking of which, the Blessed Clayton (now his official title - at http://www.myspace.com/dwbsoho) has emailed me to say he's enjoying Michael and finds him very similar to the boys lurking outside his Soho shop. Hurrah! That's certainly perked me up - thanks again, Clayton (sorry, B.C. for short). Oh, and my boss has read the first ten pages and kept giving me faintly astonished looks. As well as having an interesting conversation about how it feels to be inside the head of someone like M. I can see my work review is going to be a riot.
This afternoon, I was supposed to be giving blood (help! I soon won’t have any left at the rate the buggers are taking it …), but I cried off in the end due to health. Self-pity’s a marvellous thing.
Tonight, Lord H is at the Worship Committee (which he hates with a vengeance, but feels morally obliged to go as the friendly face of finance), and I've just come back from my kinesiologist (http://www.kinesiology4health.com) – who has performed wonders with my Chakras and I am now a New Woman. Still not blonde though, curses. Apparently, I am now aligned with my emotional blueprint and must try to keep in step with it. Weird, I know - but bizarrely I do feel better. So let's not knock the weirdness just yet. And it was fun to do.
At home, I am videoing "Life on Mars" as I have no time to watch it, m'dears. Too busy blogging and such like. And Clare from The Friday Project (http://www.thefridayproject.co.uk) - who read yesterday's blog (if you're reading again, hello, Clare!) has emailed me to say she hasn't got my synopses yet. Oh dear, perhaps the TFP taste monitor took one look at them and held up its hands in horror. I have replied to ask if she would like them sent in another fashion, and await a response. Or the inevitable rejection - argghh!!
Oh, and Lord H had a good time at the homosexuality and poverty session at theology class last night. It was as has been obvious for many, many years: the laity really don’t give two hoots about who people sleep with, and it’s only the church leadership (and the media) which makes such a fuss about it. All the course attenders agreed that the sexuality issue is completely irrelevant as God’s got way more important issues to deal with – an agreement which apparently surprised the course leaders (again, another obvious fact: the church leadership never ever listen to the wisdom of their flock. Well, hey, tell us something we didn’t know …). Interestingly (and very sadly) though, two people in the group did say that, even though they had no problems with gay or lesbian people being part of their church, they would in fact advise any who turned up that they might be better placed elsewhere as their own local leadership was likely to make things difficult for them. Lord preserve us indeed. This issue always makes me soooo cross. I get quite tearful thinking about it. Why can’t people stop persecuting other people just because they have different desires from them? Aren’t we all human in the end? Pause for enraged yelling at the narrow-mindedness and stupidity of our so-called church leaders: Argghhh. Well, even though I’ve got (other) problems with church, at least anyone will be welcome at St Peter’s – as Lord H said, we’re 90% gay there anyway. Even the straight folk. Indeed, that’s been the High Church way for centuries …
Oh, and Jackie (http://jackieluben.blogspot.com) and Jennifer (wo-)manned a Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) stall at the Farmers' Market in Guildford today, and sold copies of all our books, hurrah! Including one copy of "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice" to Julia from UniSWriters - thanks, Julia. Hope you like it!
Today’s nice things:
1. Reflexology
2. Finding my blueprint(!)
3. Clayton's email.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
And I didn't feel so great the rest of the day actually – I skipped breakfast (a shockingly rare event) and had two mugs of hot, sweet tea at my desk (another shockingly rare event x2). Which helped, though food was a no-no till 3pm. When I ate 3 dried apricots, 2 chocolate finger biscuits and some rice. In that order. Maybe I should have demanded “patient care” rights and an anti-sickness pill when I popped into the surgery to collect the ruddy form, but frankly I felt too sick to put up a fight. That’s the power of the doctor – when you need them the most, you’re too ill to express it. Darn it.
Still, I had my reflexology appointment at or lunchtime, which must have moved some of my apparent toxins through to the outside world. And Emily (reflexologist) also bought a copy of “A Dangerous Man” (http://www.flamebooks.com), which came with a free copy of "A Stranger's Table". And she's such a nice woman too. Hope she continues to do my feet after she's read it ... And talking of which, the Blessed Clayton (now his official title - at http://www.myspace.com/dwbsoho) has emailed me to say he's enjoying Michael and finds him very similar to the boys lurking outside his Soho shop. Hurrah! That's certainly perked me up - thanks again, Clayton (sorry, B.C. for short). Oh, and my boss has read the first ten pages and kept giving me faintly astonished looks. As well as having an interesting conversation about how it feels to be inside the head of someone like M. I can see my work review is going to be a riot.
This afternoon, I was supposed to be giving blood (help! I soon won’t have any left at the rate the buggers are taking it …), but I cried off in the end due to health. Self-pity’s a marvellous thing.
Tonight, Lord H is at the Worship Committee (which he hates with a vengeance, but feels morally obliged to go as the friendly face of finance), and I've just come back from my kinesiologist (http://www.kinesiology4health.com) – who has performed wonders with my Chakras and I am now a New Woman. Still not blonde though, curses. Apparently, I am now aligned with my emotional blueprint and must try to keep in step with it. Weird, I know - but bizarrely I do feel better. So let's not knock the weirdness just yet. And it was fun to do.
At home, I am videoing "Life on Mars" as I have no time to watch it, m'dears. Too busy blogging and such like. And Clare from The Friday Project (http://www.thefridayproject.co.uk) - who read yesterday's blog (if you're reading again, hello, Clare!) has emailed me to say she hasn't got my synopses yet. Oh dear, perhaps the TFP taste monitor took one look at them and held up its hands in horror. I have replied to ask if she would like them sent in another fashion, and await a response. Or the inevitable rejection - argghh!!
Oh, and Lord H had a good time at the homosexuality and poverty session at theology class last night. It was as has been obvious for many, many years: the laity really don’t give two hoots about who people sleep with, and it’s only the church leadership (and the media) which makes such a fuss about it. All the course attenders agreed that the sexuality issue is completely irrelevant as God’s got way more important issues to deal with – an agreement which apparently surprised the course leaders (again, another obvious fact: the church leadership never ever listen to the wisdom of their flock. Well, hey, tell us something we didn’t know …). Interestingly (and very sadly) though, two people in the group did say that, even though they had no problems with gay or lesbian people being part of their church, they would in fact advise any who turned up that they might be better placed elsewhere as their own local leadership was likely to make things difficult for them. Lord preserve us indeed. This issue always makes me soooo cross. I get quite tearful thinking about it. Why can’t people stop persecuting other people just because they have different desires from them? Aren’t we all human in the end? Pause for enraged yelling at the narrow-mindedness and stupidity of our so-called church leaders: Argghhh. Well, even though I’ve got (other) problems with church, at least anyone will be welcome at St Peter’s – as Lord H said, we’re 90% gay there anyway. Even the straight folk. Indeed, that’s been the High Church way for centuries …
Oh, and Jackie (http://jackieluben.blogspot.com) and Jennifer (wo-)manned a Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) stall at the Farmers' Market in Guildford today, and sold copies of all our books, hurrah! Including one copy of "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice" to Julia from UniSWriters - thanks, Julia. Hope you like it!
Today’s nice things:
1. Reflexology
2. Finding my blueprint(!)
3. Clayton's email.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Someone pass the smelling salts ...
... but I think I feel worse today. Good-oh. I think I might also be fast approaching the state of losing the ability to speak entirely. This morning's communication with Lord H before he went to work was a series of grunts only, but I think I gave him to understand that I might need more Lemsips and tissues when he goes shopping tonight. I'll have to see what he brings back - if it's fabric softener and peanuts, I'll know I need more practice.
So, more crap TV today. With a hint of sudoku. I watched my DVD of "Fourplay" which is supposed to be a romantic comedy, but which is actually a load of bollocks. Even Colin Firth looked bored. I cared about none of the four leads to be honest, though their houses were very nice. Oh, and I did a fair amount of sleeping, but no eating. Bloody hell, but I'm a cheap (if dull) date. Or would be if going out was an option. It was a shame that missing work today meant missing my lunchtime reflexology appointment too, and tonight I was also supposed to be seeing my kinesiologist, but am self-evidently not. Dahlings, I'm too ill to attend my alternative health appointments ... which reminds me of the time in our pre-married days when Lord H lived in Colliers Wood (near Wimbledon): I'd been staying the weekend and had been planning to attend his local church's healing service on Sunday evening, but in the event was too ill to go. Irony's a wonderful thing.
Things that happened today which were different from yesterday: um, bath-time was half-an-hour later, at 3pm, and I couldn't be arsed to wash my hair? That's probably about it really. Which means I look like one of those "Before" adverts for the next miracle shampoo, or possibly the downtrodden female lead in one of those 1950s kitchen sink dramas. Except my slippers are more tasteful. Probably.
Today's nice things:
1. Um, err, I finished a sudoku,
2. Had a nice, if disorientating, nap, and
3. Work are being nice, bless 'em.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
So, more crap TV today. With a hint of sudoku. I watched my DVD of "Fourplay" which is supposed to be a romantic comedy, but which is actually a load of bollocks. Even Colin Firth looked bored. I cared about none of the four leads to be honest, though their houses were very nice. Oh, and I did a fair amount of sleeping, but no eating. Bloody hell, but I'm a cheap (if dull) date. Or would be if going out was an option. It was a shame that missing work today meant missing my lunchtime reflexology appointment too, and tonight I was also supposed to be seeing my kinesiologist, but am self-evidently not. Dahlings, I'm too ill to attend my alternative health appointments ... which reminds me of the time in our pre-married days when Lord H lived in Colliers Wood (near Wimbledon): I'd been staying the weekend and had been planning to attend his local church's healing service on Sunday evening, but in the event was too ill to go. Irony's a wonderful thing.
Things that happened today which were different from yesterday: um, bath-time was half-an-hour later, at 3pm, and I couldn't be arsed to wash my hair? That's probably about it really. Which means I look like one of those "Before" adverts for the next miracle shampoo, or possibly the downtrodden female lead in one of those 1950s kitchen sink dramas. Except my slippers are more tasteful. Probably.
Today's nice things:
1. Um, err, I finished a sudoku,
2. Had a nice, if disorientating, nap, and
3. Work are being nice, bless 'em.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Reflexology & Kinesiology
Goodness, what an action-packed life I have ... Today was very dull. I read some more about how to be a depressed Christian - and got very pissed off with the author being rather high-handed about things about which he obviously knows nothing. Funny how you can tell a straight, white middle-class Evangelical at 50 paces. Anyway, I now have my doubts about the validity of the bloody book for me, and am significantly less keen about finishing it. Looks like I'll have to make my own ruddy way through the jungle. As per usual.
Still, reflexology (http://www.optimum-fitness.co.uk) was wonderful - as ever - and once again I fell asleep in the middle of it. I definitely need the relaxation time. And after work, I had another session with my kinesiologist (http://www.kinesiology4health.com) and - very reluctantly - have decided to give up alcohol for 3 weeks and see what happens. Annoying - but it does gel with what I've been thinking recently, and if it improves my health - even if temporarily - then who am I to argue?
Ooh, and Ellie on MySpace (http://www.myspace.com) left me a comment saying she'd enjoyed my website and the short stories on there - huge thanks, Ellie - that's really cheered me!
Today's nice things:
1. Reflexology
2. Kinesiology
3. Ellie's kind comments.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Still, reflexology (http://www.optimum-fitness.co.uk) was wonderful - as ever - and once again I fell asleep in the middle of it. I definitely need the relaxation time. And after work, I had another session with my kinesiologist (http://www.kinesiology4health.com) and - very reluctantly - have decided to give up alcohol for 3 weeks and see what happens. Annoying - but it does gel with what I've been thinking recently, and if it improves my health - even if temporarily - then who am I to argue?
Ooh, and Ellie on MySpace (http://www.myspace.com) left me a comment saying she'd enjoyed my website and the short stories on there - huge thanks, Ellie - that's really cheered me!
Today's nice things:
1. Reflexology
2. Kinesiology
3. Ellie's kind comments.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
The further annals of the sick
Hey, two days of feeling rotten - lucky me!
Monday 16 October: Went to work. Damn fool - most definitely shouldn't have, or I should at least have come home in the afternoon after minuting the Student Mental Wellbeing Group. Will I never learn??!!! During the evening, the nasty sinuses thing really came on apace (as it were, Carruthers ...). Lord H reminded me that I had exactly the same attack last year post-New York and during the first week of the Guildford Book Festival (http://www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk), which this is. Damn and double damn. So I was up all night, finally being able to sleep at about 5am this (Tuesday) morning. Mind you, I tried the castor oil packing on the chest and throat thing that my kinesiologist (http://www.kinesiology4health.com) recommended, and it did improve things greatly - but not enough to be able to lie down to sleep without feeling sick, sadly. Still, it was better - and I'm grateful. I shall definitely be doing that again during my next bout ...
Tuesday 17 October: Still feel weak (though on the mend), so took the precaution of having a day off work today. It means missing my Indian Head Massage with Emily, darn it, but there it is. I will have to reschedule. I'll also be missing the Guildford Writers (http://www.guildfordwriters.net) Success Stories evening at the Book Festival, but it's safer to stay at home, and I hope - please God! - that I'll be better by the time of the Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) Crossing the Genre event next Monday. Spent a large part of the day asleep. Hurrah.
Finished the first of my Booker Prize shortlist - Sarah Waters' "The Night Watch" - during the night, appropriately enough. Frankly, m'dear, I didn't give a damn. Most definitely NOT her best. Dull, dull and ... err ... dull. It needed to be cut by about a third and, really, I didn't believe in the very incestuous lesbian circle (surely there had to be other lesbians out there in post-war London!!?), and the affair with a married man and the abortion were frankly just cliche. Wasn't Bette Davis in the film during the 50s??? A shame, as I usually enjoy Waters' stuff, but this isn't worth it.
Some nice things:
1. Um, feeling better? Sort of ...
2. Getting a little bit of sleep.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
Monday 16 October: Went to work. Damn fool - most definitely shouldn't have, or I should at least have come home in the afternoon after minuting the Student Mental Wellbeing Group. Will I never learn??!!! During the evening, the nasty sinuses thing really came on apace (as it were, Carruthers ...). Lord H reminded me that I had exactly the same attack last year post-New York and during the first week of the Guildford Book Festival (http://www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk), which this is. Damn and double damn. So I was up all night, finally being able to sleep at about 5am this (Tuesday) morning. Mind you, I tried the castor oil packing on the chest and throat thing that my kinesiologist (http://www.kinesiology4health.com) recommended, and it did improve things greatly - but not enough to be able to lie down to sleep without feeling sick, sadly. Still, it was better - and I'm grateful. I shall definitely be doing that again during my next bout ...
Tuesday 17 October: Still feel weak (though on the mend), so took the precaution of having a day off work today. It means missing my Indian Head Massage with Emily, darn it, but there it is. I will have to reschedule. I'll also be missing the Guildford Writers (http://www.guildfordwriters.net) Success Stories evening at the Book Festival, but it's safer to stay at home, and I hope - please God! - that I'll be better by the time of the Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) Crossing the Genre event next Monday. Spent a large part of the day asleep. Hurrah.
Finished the first of my Booker Prize shortlist - Sarah Waters' "The Night Watch" - during the night, appropriately enough. Frankly, m'dear, I didn't give a damn. Most definitely NOT her best. Dull, dull and ... err ... dull. It needed to be cut by about a third and, really, I didn't believe in the very incestuous lesbian circle (surely there had to be other lesbians out there in post-war London!!?), and the affair with a married man and the abortion were frankly just cliche. Wasn't Bette Davis in the film during the 50s??? A shame, as I usually enjoy Waters' stuff, but this isn't worth it.
Some nice things:
1. Um, feeling better? Sort of ...
2. Getting a little bit of sleep.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
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