clo_again

So thanks to tennis and house guests, I just got around to watching this week's Merlin.

( More mood spoilers than plot specific. Sort of. It might be quite plot spoilery actually )

I can't believe I watched that just before going to sleep and now I have to sleep and go to work in a terrible mood. It was an incredibly stupid idea; don't watch that episode just before sleep.

Or you know, at all.

eta: Pretty much every comment on the SFX review of the ep goes on about how "brilliant!!" that episode was (although actually reading on further, there are a few that echo the way I feel). So, some people liked it. (I still don't).

So disappointed in Outcasts; I actually doubt that I'll remember to tune in for the next episode. Bah. And the trailers were so fascinatingly pretty too.


( rant: major spoiler for the only thing of interest to happen in the whole hour and a few more smaller spoilers, along with my prediction for the rest of the series: )


I have an actual proper post in me somewhere, that one day will get written and posted and have pictures to illustrate! But not tonight. Let this be your monthly notice that I Still Aten't Ded. :) More intelligent/interesting/boring-but-will-get-posted-anyway things will have to wait.

Dear Customer,

We wanted to give you an update on the status of your order:

We are writing to let you know that we have cancelled the following item from your order:

------------------------------------------------------

'Strange Fate'

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Unfortunately, we are no longer able to offer this item for sale. Our supplier has informed us that this item has been discontinued and is no longer available.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this causes.

Thank you for choosing to shop with Amazon.co.uk.

Warmest regards,

Customer Service Department


Now she's on about some sort of sequel to The Forbidden Game after Strange Fate. You know, the Srange Fate that is apparently never being released or might be being released anytime between now and the year 3000 but no one will know about it because we can't be bothered checking anymore.

Dear L.J. Smith, quit being a douche to your fans. I'm honestly asking you to just stop promising anything. Stop giving release info, stop saying maybe you'll write this or that, stop not saying anything definite at all while implying everything will be showing up soon. Either spell out the situation clearly for us or just admit that you haven't got a clue what's going on. Giving us endless 'definite' release dates that kept changing and then just cancelling the release altogether without even an apology? Yeah. That's a shitty thing to do.*

* I know I am being hugely hypocritical. I'm the worst person in the world for keeping writing deadlines. But you know, I'm not asking anyone to buy my stuff. And I haven't taken ten years (yet). And you know, I apologise for being late with stuff.

Sigh. I don't even know if I want this book anymore. I'm sick of it and it hasn't even been released. That's some great marketing right there Simon & Schuster. Really. Give yourselves an A grade in Fail 101.

~

Today, I went to Lancaster from about 10:25am until 5pm. Tomorrow or Thursday, I have to go back to Lancaster because I forgot that I bought my London train tickets on my mother's debit card and not mine, so I need hers to collect it. And she's going away Friday morning so she can't just come along on Saturday. When I will be going back to Lancaster. Again.

*headdesk* *headdesk* *headdesk*

If this hostel's internet got any stupider, I'd actually be scratching this post into the wall. With a blunt stick.

Every time it signs me off - which it does, frequently - any sites I've signed into, including LJ, Nationwide banking, Googlemail etc., get flagged by Norton as suspicious because they're trying to take me back to the login page. It is the only hostel wireless that has done this to me and I've stayed in something like fifteen hostels, maybe more at this point. In addition to this I'm only up, dressed and sitting in the hostel lounge at 9:05am because my sleep-in day got cancelled when I was woken at 8am by the guy in the bunk underneath mine doing Darth Vader breathing. I would be less annoyed - everyone gets a cold; I probably sounded none too pretty in Whitianga - if he hadn't GONE OUT FOR A CIGARETTE AT 730AM. Real clever there Darth Lungs of Death.

Then after I got up and got dressed, I walked back along the balcony - yes, going outside to get to the bathrooms is still irritating, especially since it's actually cold enough to snow here right now. Fun times! - opened our dorm door... and the smell literally made me take a step back. Guys, I'm sorry. I don't know what it is. It's probably not all guys. Maybe. But a group of five of you sleeping together in a room really stink in the morning.

I resisted the temptation to leave the door wide open to air the room with the freezing breeze (three of them were still asleep, snoring away, fuckers) but I'm waiting for them to wake up and piss off so I can do just that. I need to repack my backpack and all my stuff to send home into a box, and I can't do that right now without a. a gas mask and b. turning on the light which, since guys apparently sleep in even in hostels (having shared rooms with girls pretty much the whole time? We do not do this. Ever. Even when I wanted to sleep in I was getting up by 8am because everyone else was already up), I cannot do right now. So I'm stuck here in the lounge for the forseeable future.

So, so glad I'm leaving first thing in the morning. I still have four more hostels to stay in but only for a couple of days at the most. I'm thinking my one in Alice Springs might be the suckiest, just on a hunch, but that's my very last hostel before I head home so hey, whatever.

Do kind of want to go home now. The last two days reminded me why New Zealand is unspeakably awesome which I'd kind of been forgetting up until then in the overload of scenery and activities, but I'm definitely ready to get out of hostels, to stop carrying food around with me, to stop having cute American guys somehow get me to spend $40+ in one night on food and drink, which when my bank account is looking distinctly battered is stupid (I'm only £380ish into my overdraft and I said before I left I'd come back around £500 into it, so I'm pretty *much* on track moneywise with three weeks left. It's just, I won't stay on that track if I keep spending).

And in saying that I've just realised that I do in fact get home three weeks today. Maybe a day extra given the day I gain in travelling but datewise. Wow. I don't know how I'm cramming as much stuff as I am into the next three weeks though. o_O Three more places in NZ, Alice Springs/Uluru for five nights, hanging out with irradiatedsoup and chickybee32. Four flights.

I'm going to get home and not know what to do with myself. Except sleep. Yeah.

I hate the hostel I'm in now. Hatehatehate. My room smells of guy, is a total dump, the lounge is tiny and open to the reception so it doesn't actually feel like a lounge, the bathrooms are both tiny and have only two showers, one of which doesn't even have a door but only a curtain which not even the hostels I've really disliked so far have stooped to. It's a five minute walk from town so I've already had to carry my backpack up the hill here (not an easy task these days with the sheer amount of crap I've picked up), will have to walk down tomorrow at 6:50am to catch my bus to Milford Sound and then again a couple of days after that to catch my Magic bus onto Dunedin, complete with all my stuff again. I stayed in the YHA last night because I got to Queenstown a day early and it was the easiest place to book; not only could I get the wireless in my room (a lot cheaper than here where it's six fucking dollars for an hour) but we had an ensuite and I had two absolutely awesome girls in the four-bed room with me. I wish I'd booked the whole time there.

Because ironically, this is the hostel I've liked least (almost; the Base in Auckland is a very close second, with my one in Franz Josef fetching up in third) in all New Zealand... and I'm here for the longest. Four sodding nights. Bah.

On the plus side I'm gone all day tomorrow (literally like 6:50am until something like 7pm and then I'll stop for dinner on the way back, so at least 8pm if I can't drag it out longer. Starbucks here is open until 11pm...) and the day after from about 8:20am until I think around 5pm for my horse riding. The day after... I will find a reason not to be here. Maybe visit Arrowtown, which is where they filmed the Ford of Bruinen in LotR. It's pretty close and apparently nice. And is not my hostel. Win win!

And in better news (because I'm thinking I've reached the point of being travelled-out. I want my bed and my space and a room that doesn't smell of guy. Seriously) after this I will be on my last week in NZ and then I can head back to Australia and irradiatedsoup and chickybee32 who (uh, I'm fairly sure anyway...) will not charge me for internet usage so I can download the latest podcast of GNW that is taunting me and squee and hang out in an actual house that is not a hostel. Okay, so I have to fly to Alice Springs and sleep in a hostel for...three nights, plus two nights out in the Outback IN A FRICKIN SLEEPING BAG (my brain is still sitting back and going 'THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT ME, JESUS EFFIN CHRIST') but as that is my Last Actual Insane Tourist Thingy before I go home, I'm figuring I can suck it up and deal. I was going to leave Beaver the Laptop with irradiatedsoup while I was out there but it occurred to me yesterday that I only have an 80 picture memory card for my camera. I've coped so far by putting everything immediately onto the Beaver, sometimes in a mad rush so I can take a perfect picture before the bus goes round a corner, but if I didn't have him with me... so I may have a buy a little laptop case for him and take him out to Uluru. He's going to be a very well travelled little netbook by the time I get him home. Especially since I'll then probably take him up to Newcastle and down to London with me too, just 'cause. He's been my absolute favourite thing that I've brought with me. I think I'd pine without him now.

Speaking of Newcastle, I need to buy another train ticket. Sigh. And email thetrainline asking if I can actually get my freaking return ticket without my card. -_-

Also also also, just before I go and to end on a positive note? I loooooooove Queenstown. It's tucked away by a lake and when you look up, you're surrounded by immense mountains covered in trees and snow. Plus it's the first NZ town I've come across with actually personality and some stone buildings and streets that come anything near quaint. But mostly I love the snow-covered mountains. Every time I think about how much I dislike my hostel, I can just look up and go "...Wwooooooowwwww."

(Which clearly means they should've made my hostel OUT OF GLASS and then I wouldn't care so much that I hate it. Hm.)

OH. OH. AND. The first news I've seen on TV in like a month, was ROGER WINNING. And then WIMBLEDON'S NEW ROOF. Seriously, I turned on the TV yesterday going "TV! I LOVE TV!" and that's what I got. Sweet as!

...I bought a top that says 'sweet as' today and has a definition underneath. Best. Saying. Ever.)

I downloaded Primeval 03x03 a few days ago but just now got around to watching it while I wait for Planet of the Dead to download (part four of six!) and holy crap cakes, when did this show go from "vaguely silly Saturday night dinosaur insanity" to "holy shit, they just did what now give me the next episode immediately or I may die of the waiting"?

Seriously. This show just took a step up. There is a reason I'm bothering to download this while Robin Hood isn't even getting recorded back home; take note BBC. You make have hit everyone's fun and fabulous gaydar-mad dragons-Anthony Head being an awesome tyrant-kinks with Merlin but watch Primeval for tips on how to make a show that forces you to sit up and pay attention.

( major spoilery spoilery spoilers! )


Yeah. I'm going to bed now, with my buzz totally killed dead. You know what the problem with TV shows is? Actors.

(But in Torchwood's case it's the scriptwriters. Or occasionally the camerawork. Or...

...okay, okay, tangent. I'm just bitter. WATCH ME DOWNLOAD ROBIN HOOD INSTEAD NEXT WEEK ITV...except Jonass is leaving at the end of this series too.

SEE. ACTORS ARE THE PROBLEM. DAMN THEM ALL.)

Tagged by mayakitten

A) People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blog and replace any question that they dislike with a new, original question.

B) Tag eight people. Don't refuse to do that. Don't tag who tagged you.


( Memesis precious )

I tag... everyone! Have at it! :)

~

As you can perhaps tell from the icon, I enjoyed Inkheart yesterday. I found the book hard going for the first two-thirds and I probably would've put it down in frustration if I hadn't loved the character of Dustfinger enough to keep turning pages. Likewise Paul Bettany was definitely the best thing about the film, lickable hipbones and all (was it just me or did Brendan Fraser seem a little... lost in this film? He was a good casting choice, he just seemed to sit a little uncomfortably in the middle of everyone as if afraid of putting a foot wrong) but the rest of it made for much easier going than the book. I loved the way they did the writing over everyone. I need to find a god picture of Resa so I can icon her with hers. Or the unicorn, because there's something unspeakably cool about a white unicorn with black text all over it.

So I'll probably be buying it on DVD at some point, if just to icon every second of Paul Bettany. Mmmmmmm.

We also went back to the Yummy Cupcake cafe (:DDD) and I saw Lancaster library for the first time, despite spending three years of uni walking past it. It's actually kinda cool and I really should've looked in there before.

And now for something completely different... ( family rantage )

~

So this entry doesn't end with my self-pity, damageverse has been updated with the next part. If you haven't read it yet, you really should for it is awesome. I'll be checking. There may be a pop quiz. Hm.

Dammit, I meant to talk about Havemercy in this entry and got side-tracked with complaining. Later, when I've actually some of my to-do list; in the meantime, go and buy it. Seriously. Metal dragons. Amazing characters. It's my new crack.

Dear PS1 Memory Card,

Plz to be stopping refusing to save my new FF8 games. I know I love the opening sequence but by the fourth time in a row it's feeling a litle long. You're making me hate my favourite opening sequence. Damn you.

I know you still have games on there from like six years ago. I know they still work. Take a cookie. Then give it back because even if I open those and continue playing, you seem unsure about saving those either, and I'm hesitant to save over them in case you tell me the game data is corrupted for them too and I lose the insane amount of time I put into them.

I just had to buy another PS1 memory card in addition to the PS2 one that's on its way. I won't get the PS1 card until after Christmas. I really really want to play more FF8 before, during and after Christmas.

So I don't care how decrepit you are. Be. Less. Crap.

NO LOVE AT ALL BECAUSE NOW I HAVE TO DO THE DAMN FIRE CAVERN AGAIN.

Very pissed off,

Clo

Also I had a yelling match for ten minutes with my father over getting to actually play the damn thing for half an hour (it's in the front room. Given my father's tyrannical tendancies whe it comes to letting anyone else use the TV, even if there's nothing he wants to watch, this was probably a mistake. When we move to the Lake District I am Getting A TV Upstairs again). Then, after all that, the freaking thing wouldn't save and I ended up restarting over and over and not actually enjoying myself at all.

Fuck fuck fuckity fuck. So much for finally getting a PS2. Actually, so much for saving money.

I just turned on the Dave marathon of Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Jonas Armstrong is on one. I'm- thrown. And a little disappointed that I only caught the last two minutes because there wwere enough Robin Hood jokes in those two minutes to make it hilarious. ("From the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves film. With the irreplacable Kevin Costner!" Jonas: "...") But hooray for Dave! It's repeated at 2:15am. Which I will definitely be awake for, seen as how I've spent the entire day sitting on the sofa in my pyjamas, cursing the unfairness of being a girl and digging stray Neurofen from every corner of my room, until I finally quit at 7pm and went for a nap. For half an hour. Somehow my brain equates that with 'until 12:30am' and now I'm too awake.

I at least used the day of bumming around to catch up on Merlin, which turned out better than the first episode suggested (I resisted even considering slashing Merlin/Arthur until the dragon said something like "You cannot refuse your heart" and started talking about how they completed each other, at which point I decided resisting anymore would just give me brain-ache and that the BBC is now Owned By Slashers). I also finished the Forest Temple on Zelda and got out into Hyrule Field, which is so totally not like Occarina that I feel a bit lost and homesick for my blocky unrealistic trees and rocks. Epona moving almost like an actual horse gets a great big yay though and aside from my "...but it's not Occarina! issues, I love it. The whole wolf thing is fantastic, although I have my fingers crossed for getting to chomp on Midna at some point. And I thought Navi was irritating. Wow.

(Jonas Armstrong just said 'wanking'. In relation to peanut butter. So much for avoiding brain-ache. o_O)

Today's uselessness was compensated for by yesterday being the first day in ages that I've actually enjoyed being in work. ( although, cut for tl;dr about annoying workmite )

But in addition to the Generally Good Day at work yesterday, I also discovered that I do get holiday pay and not only do I have enough days to cover my Oct/Nov trip but enough for going to see kindoftrouble at New Year too. I didn't ask if it was full pay but she didn't say otherwise so I assume it would be... All in all, it just means that I'll get £400 more than I was accounting for and I can stop worrying about money so much now. Also, I can definitely buy that pretty Animal hoodie I'd mournfully written off. *happiness* And a new mobile phone! Finally! I might do that tomorrow. You know, five years later I'm suddenly impatient to get a new phone. Heh.

~

But in News of Woe, my new laptop isn't here yet. I'm starting to wonder if it'll even make it here for NaNoWriMo. Dell, you are officially Spawn of Evil. -_- I don't care if it's purple and lovely, it should not take this long.

You know, I must be really off this morning because I just re-read my flist for the second time and went "WTF? You didn't make that post! What?" I'd mentally assigned half the posts on my flist to other people - their colours on my flist aren't even similar - and now I'm totally confused. Dammit.

And I missed the bus and there's just been a massive box delivered here instead of upstairs because idiots don't know how to provide the correct addresses for stuff, but when I call the guy whose name is on it? No answer. So I'll be falling over it for the next week.

This is just a mini-rant to let the world know that my day is going badly. It's definitely a should've-stayed-in-bed day. Even Children in Need stickers with a Pudsey by the TARDIS aren't cheering me up much. -_- It must be bad.