clo_again

Today I did nothing. Well. I repacked my backpack (it took me an hour. I have so much crap), was annoyed again at my hostel for closing the kitchen 'for cleaning' when I tried to make lunch at 2pm (SERIOUSLY YOU CLEAN IT AT 11PM EVERY NIGHT WHICH IS WHY I CAN'T MAKE TEA PAST THEN. WHAT. THE. FUCK.) so I stalked off downtown to post a box of stuff home including a rugby shirt I bought my dad as a present (I saw a nicer one today after I posted the box and was so pissed at myself for not finding the All Blacks shop here before), all my collected leaflets, my bone necklace in case Australian customs confiscated it, shells I'd picked up, a few of my t-shirts because I've bought more, a few bits and pieces like keyrings etc.... all of which cost me $64 to post. And that's “economy” rather than the fast post. I really hope it gets there because I love some of the stuff in that box but I just can't carry it all back to Oz. It can take up to 25 days though apparently, which means I may even beat it home and dad'll have to wait for his present which kind of sucks but I'll take it getting there intact over it getting there fast.

Actually it's just occurred to me that the necklace I bought the woman (and kind of want to steal for myself because it's so pretty *wants*) has paua shell in it, but I didn't post it because it would've made the box too expensive to lose. Hm. Australian customs are obsessive but I don't know if they'd be quite that bad. Also it's more annoying when I'm only there two weeks anyway, during which time it'll sit in my backpack, and then it'll go back to the UK.

Maybe I'll hide it in a sock or something, just in case. Though I really don't think they can be that bad. Maybe. Hopefully.

ALSO TODAY, in my day of nothing, I sat in Starbucks for hours reading and messing around on the laptop to avoid coming back to the hostel, had another 'famous' Fergburger, updated my travel diary almost current and finally, finally, after looking over most of New Zealand, found New Zealand stickers small enough to fill all the gaps on Beaver's lid so now he's totally stickered up. I keep turning him around to look and admire the pretty. There're tiki stickers. Tiki stickers. I love the ugly little tikis over here; they're so ugly and incredibly freaky that they stop being ugly/freaky and become cute. I even bought a bag today with one on, though I shouldn't have spent the money. I saw laptop cases with them on in Franz Joseph but now that I want a laptop case I, of course, cannot find any.

I have hopes of Christchurch though. Apparently it's as big on the souvenirs as here or Auckland, so hoprefully... A tiki laptop case for Beaver would be awesome or failing that, a plain one that I can buy a big tiki sticker for.

Also also today, I spent $10 on a magazine called M2 'the complete lifestyle magazine for the New Zealand man' because Hamster was on the cover and there was a great article on him inside, with a gorgeous picture of the TG3. I was even happier I bought it when I discovered their review on Star Trek started one paragraph with the exclamation “By Grabthar's hammer!”Clearly NZ magazines win at the random scifi references. :D They also asked Chris Pine if Kirk wasn't just about fighting and fucking, then gently mocked his shock at a journalist saying fuck. Win!

I'm a little sad that I never made it to Arrowtown today as I was contemplating, because it looked really cute on a postcard I saw this afternoon. But I was mainly going to see the Ford of Bruinen location and when the LotR location guidebook mentions you might have to get your feet wet in the river to get there, on top of all the rain there's been recently... I figured it was probably more effort than it was worth. Not to mention it's the kind of thing I'd rather do with another LotR fan, so maybe I'll drag people along next time I'm here. I'm definitely coming back to Queenstown when I come back to NZ because yeah okay, it's the party capital but it's also pretty. It's the only NZ town I've been to with actual personality approaching that of a European town. Plus being able to just glance up anywhere and see snowy mountains or a beautiful lake with snowy mountains helps a a lot.

Tomorrow I have to be in town at 7:45am to head to Dunedin.I'm thinking I might have to take a rain check on the scenery and sleep, but every time I think that I end up unable to sleep because I'm worrying that I'm missing the pretty scenery. Even though New Zealand is nothing but pretty scenery. I only have five more days of it. I can sleep on June 12th. Or rather 11th, since I'm planning to sleep away as much of my flight as possible.

I have time to kill. Bah. I hate having time to kill in this hostel because there's nothing to kill it with. I have one episode of Good News Week left to watch... but I can't download the newest one until maybe Monday so I don't know if I should hold out. Mmmmm.

*

And to conclude, I just went looking for this on Youtube on the offchance they'd uploaded it and there it was! My camera was attached to my laptop uploading pictures through the whole thing and I was just mourning not having a record of it this morning, but hurrah for Youtube.

Okay, brief backstory: this is from the Tasman Bay Backpackers which is where I stayed in Nelson, probably one of my favourite hostels of all despite the crappy internet. Every night at 8pm we got free chocolate pudding and ice-cream which was so awesome that George, amazing talented George who was already there when I arrived, had composed a song about it. (By the way, he is totally going to be famous today. We watched him write another song called 'Japanese Lady' and then none of us could stop singing it the next day. So. Talented.)

I'm not in this vid but I am just out of camera shot applauding with everyone else. I'm so glad they uploaded it.

And finally, now you've waded through all the random backstory, here it is: George Woodhouse sings 'Chocolate Pudding'. Trust me, it's worth watching just for George. :)

God did I love that hostel. <3 Though maybe it would've been less awesome without random guitar-toting blonds but maybe not. Free chocolate pudding doesn't come along every day.

That's put me in a good mood. Hurrah! :D And I'm leaving this hostel to-mooooorrrooowwww. Double hurrah!

Do you ever get the feeling that you're a bad person? And then is it ever switfly followed by the feeling that you don't care?

Hamster <3. ^_^

Oh Hamster. Never ever ever ever get in a jet car again. Ever.

Who really is back to normal and Hamster-y and seemingly completely amused by all the mockage. Jonathan being so emphatic about the awesome of *having* him around at all reminded me that actually, it was only a few months ago that it was very much in doubt. Oh Hamster. I -- and Jonathan Ross too it seems -- really do love you.

Panto was hilarious, even if they were singing some really obscure songs ('rock and roll' panto - ergo, they sang everything from pop to soul.) Though it has to be said, there was something undeniably cool and a little creepy about Beast singing 'Sweet Child o' Mine' to Beauty. He sang 'With Or Without You' later too. *hearts on him* And in true Beauty and the Beast tradition, I liked him better as the Beast than the Prince. Figures.

They were talking about Spamalot on the radio on the way home and now I want to watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail again. But it's in Lancaster. ...Dammit. At least BBC is awesome enough to put The Nightmare Before Christmas on for me tomorrow though, so that's one Christmas tradition I don't have to miss through forgetting to bring home any DVDs.

... Oh my life is so not with the interesting right now. ^_^ Pantomimes and Christmas shopping (finished now! Yay!).

Looks like Hamster's going to be hibernating over the winter.

At first I had a "Six months?! reaction. Then I weighed six months of no Hamster against no Hamster *ever* and you know what?

Six months sounds pretty damn fantastic.


Tired. Packing. Room looks like the scene of a major disaster. Comments and stuff and everything will be answered later or tomorrow or maybe Saturday night when I'm safely back in Lancaster. God, Lancaster. I just want to be there unpacking now.

EDIT: Oh and on BBC News 24 earlier? A little scrolling headline came on that said "New government figures show fall in the numbers of people injured and killed on Britain's roads."

Which, asshats, would in fact seem to indicate that as Top Gear has risen in popularity, the amount of people killed on roads has been falling. So, you know. You think you could all shut up now, considering your argument is looking more full of holes every day?

In a bid to save the motoring show, the 36-year-old is also prepared to appear on television live from his hospital bed as BBC bosses have said they will only screen the new series if Hammond is well enough to appear on it.

There is such complete Hamster logic to that. "We'll wait until you can present again." "I'LL DO IT FROM THE DAMN HOSPITAL!" He couldn't be more adorable. Not entirely sure I *want* to see the crash though, considering I've spent the last week avoiding anything that even remotely looks like it could be footage of it.

Uh, this on the other hand... Yeah. No comment. Though I'm sure Jeremy will find a way to take the piss about that too.

On the father's new laptop and WE WANTS IT PRECIOUS. It has nifty blue lights and a shiny screen and though the widescreen is a little WTF, it's totally worth it. And I can't have it. *woes* Should've got a job this summer.

Fans's donations may buy a new helicopter to be named after Hamster.

I love TG fans and Hamster fans and people, really. I had an inkling Hamster was fairly popular -- I mean, he's awesome so how could he not be? -- but the sheer support for him after this has been mindboggling. A brass band was playing outside Leeds Hospital today for him. A brass band. I don't know if A-list Hollywood stars would raise this much support.

The warm fuzzies are helping me ignore the fact that I'm still quietly driving myself crazy with worry. That irritating expert they consulted went on about 'the first ten days being crucial' and no one's actually got any direct statements from Hamster yet, though apparently he was asking for *cornflakes* of all things Friday night and all the people are being so shiny and optimistic it's... it's hard not to join in but I don't pass people on stairs and greet magpies to avoid bad luck. I live in fear of tempting fate. Which no doubt means I'll be checking headlines obsessively until at least next weekend and probably won't be happy until Top Gear's showing with the three of them as normal.

This doesn't in the least stop me finding it funny that the entire world now seems to be referring to him as 'Hamster'. Clarkson = teh awesome at inventing nicknames.

Cardiff tomorrow! Brother couldn't quite believe that I'm travelling almost the length of Wales and intend to spend the resulting half-day shopping; he somehow managed to convey the impression of eye-rolling in disbelief through a text message. I don't see any flaws in said plan. Besides if all else fails, I'll have about twenty billion Starbucks to go and have a coffee in. Ah Cardiff.

But yeah. Leaving early morning, not back til late so don't expect me around until Tuesday. And maybe not much then because PACKING. Less than a week 'til I'm back in Lancaster. ^_^ Couldn't care less that I've basically wasted fourteen weeks because LANCASTER. Fantastical.

Spent today shopping for a choker as my twenty-first birthday present from the 'rentals. Didn't find anything but was being kinda picky about something to go with my dress for the Winter Ball, only I just found an old necklace that'll go perfect and there was a pretty white one I turned down simply on the basis that it wouldn't go. So maybe that, maybe not, I don't know. Have discovered there are way too many boring jewellery shops in the world. Waaaaayy too many.

So, very girly day. During which, I also had a totally weak moment bought another pair of shoes. TWO PAIRS IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS. I usually buy like one pair a year or something. I blame the purple laces and the half price offer and the sheer stress of this last week. I was ready to curl up in bed and never leave yesterday.

There you go; shoes to heal the soul. Now I know how shoe companies stay in business. Though considering I'm all shoe-ed out and will probably buy Doctor Who books instead next time I'm stressed, maybe that's not a sound argument on which to base marketing campaigns.

Yo-yo-ing over Hamster today. Massive, huge, gigantic relief that he's out of ICU (which my mother casually dropped into conversation on the way to shopping and which I didn't dare believe until I'd got home and seen the headlines for myself), while still being quietly terrified that he's apparently still not talking properly and the only people being of any use and reassurance at all are Jeremy and James who have my undying love and devotion forever for their upbeat attitude while conveying all the things the doctors aren't saying. Seriously, James? Was indifferent to him before this but now, now I would willingly give him my soul all wrapped up in shiny paper for being just fantastic.

So... yeah. Am still liable to go teary at any point, though this month's sucky timing might be part of that. Automatically flipping over to UKTV G2 yesterday to find they'd taken Top Gear completely off their schedule (when they usually show it about five times a day) made it sort of hit home quite hard too.

Also want to personally go and beat to a pulp every stupid fucking idiot using this as an excuse to talk shit about Top Gear, because IT'S NOT LIKE THEY GO 300+MPH EVERY DAMN WEEK. Idiots. Yes this one thing went wrong beyond words but it was unusual in just how dangerous it was and when -- WHEN, DAMMIT IT ALL. WHEN. *touches wood* -- Hamster's better he'll be the one yelling the loudest about how unfair it is if they're forced to tone it down. (You know, I think he will. It seems to be the general view and one I totally agree with.) Stop talking shit about things that have worked without serious injury for years, focus on supporting Hamster to get better and get over your own misguided sense of self-importance. Or stay in your cave, pick fleas off the other cowards and let the rest of the world evolve better without your stupidity.

... I think I needed to get that out. Um. Yes. Also, from what I've heard? If the Daily Mail offices burnt to the ground tonight, I wouldn't be overly devastated.

Kermit the loach does not look happy. Starting to suspect the newish tank is too tall for him. Some sort of rethink might be in order.


edit: As much as it pains me to play devil's advocate for a tabloid, BBC News 24 says Clarkson's column in The Sun tomorrow talks about Hamster walking for the first time again, so might be worth a look-see. Or, you can probably read it on the 'net but regardless, it's a great bit of news to go to sleep with. :)


edit: Was I driving like an idiot?

Oh Hamster. I-- No. Honestly, no words. Except this entry needs a new mood.

.

Just heard on the radio that Hamster's condition improved slightly overnight. Still slightly surreal because this is *Hamster*; he drives over Icelandic lakes and crashes into things and stands in front of jet engines without anything going wrong. He was driving a van earlier this year that tipped over at speed and he was cracking jokes as he climbed out. Something going this wrong hasn't registered, at all.

(I'm going to be twitching about this for at least the next week by the way, so probably best to either ignore me or go watch some of his awesomeness on Top Gear.)

Really not getting on with my journal in this style but looking around at people who can actually make Opal look fantastic is depressing. I want to be able to do that. Really, really do. Okay, so maybe not enough to learn what all that crazy coding does but enough that I'll be poking at it like crazy in the next day or so. At the very least I want my sidebar and 'edit' links at the bottom of each entry back, though I'm wondering if I should just have a completely mad revamp of everything if I can work out the coding. Turning 21 -- new new me (not really but any excuse), new new LJ. Sounds good.

When I'm downloading anything of size right now, I have to constantly load new pages or refresh to keep my 'net connection from jumping and losing the entire download (sendspace not supporting resume? No love at *all*.) Hence why I'm sitting here longing for breakfast but I'm at 59% and damned if I'll let it stop now. Please don't stop, *please*. I'm desperate here.

edit: Obsessive page loading and parents wandering round is preventing me from reading this right now but a quick scan and the pairing alone is enough for a rec:

Captain Jack Meets His Match by mortissimo005, Jack Sparrow/Jack Harkness (I'm not kidding). BETTER THAN CRACK.

The internets always knows how to cheer me up by being completely batshit.

edit: Sometimes Clarkson really does say it best. "Both James and I are looking forward to getting our hamster back" I think goes for the rest of us too.

.

I'd forgotten that, on the episode with the Carver, Hamster says jokingly of Jeremy "He is my partner and also my lover" in a phony Dutch accent. And then a moment later walks across to James complaining that he'll never be able to forget being squashed between Jeremy's thighs in a Dutch three-wheeler.

I wish I could slash this show. Wish it with a *passion*.

Un-related topic: I want to do this. *Stop* me.