2010 — 6 August: Friday
It's amazing1 quite how much increased levels of stress do to wake you up uselessly early in the morning with your brain churning. Ironic, too, for it to be churning on behalf of dear Mama while she remains blissfully unstressed and unaware. And can no longer churn what's left of her brain in any case. Time for a cuppa. The chap who will be fitting the vinyl in my ex-study should arrive within the next hour. Better load some breakfast.
The BBC Radio 3 chap has just pointed me to this story in the Daily Mail. You hafta laugh. (Which is what Leigh and I were doing in our cheery phone call last night over our shared memories and experiences going back many years. Thanks, cous!)
For the record, my wedding was indeed "A heartfelt exchange of vows in a London Register Office and then a table in a crowded restaurant for dinner". Except that it was Maidenhead Register Office, and an uncrowded restaurant for Saturday lunch with the two witnesses: my parents.
Cost, including special (3-day) licence, less than £25
Return on investment: infinite.
Smile, David, it's pension day! "KBO".
Feeling somewhat like...
... Alice's White Rabbit, I note it's 15:02 and drizzling a bit. The roll of vinyl has just been manoeuvred up the stairs. The plywood is fitted, and sealed. Probably time for the next cuppa.
I suspect there's only one way to establish the "truth" about "9/11". Rebuild the towers and fly two more aircraft into them. What a world! And all I did was follow a link buried here. (Specifically, this one.)
All done!
It's 17:10 and the ex-study has been transformed (by the same amiable wizard — now off to his next job — who worked wonders on my kitchen vinyl flooring) nearly a month ago. So that just leaves Peter's bedroom carpet to go now, though I confess my focus isn't currently on my household. In truth, I feel as if I'm currently using a supply of nervous energy that is about to run dry. I'm also in dire need of a good, unbroken, night of sleep. A meal, a cuppa, and some serious music or video therapy will (I hope) help relax me. "KBO" indeed.
An unconsidered life...
... is supposedly not worth living, I believe. Just for the hell of it, therefore, I've been glancing back at my diary entries for this day in previous years...
- 2007: liquid morphine to tackle Christa's "breakthrough" pain — Grrr!
- 2008: Christa's Tax Return (!), a replacement bottle of wine, clear evidence from a phone call of dear Mama's failing short-term memory2 and a Pixar shorts DVD
- 2009: a crockpot and some software maintenance, it seems. Plus a tea outing and Luc Besson's (excellent) "Angel-A"
Watch this space in 2012 :-)
Now, about that meal you mentioned, David... (Yes, and I'm going to use my new cooker, too. Well, one gas ring on it, to be more precise. Unless I'm lazy and use the microwave.) Uncool.
Video therapy
Having mentioned, and watched, the new "Star Trek" last Friday, this time I watched the other new delivery from that day: the Coen brothers' "A serious man". Excellent, though hardly a riot of laughter; more of a slow burn.
It's 23:31 and I'm ready for some sleep.