Kaleidoscope Eyes

First Post of 2008.

2008-01-17T20:56:00.000Z

So I am being lazy and pinching this meme. It does contain some interesting news though. ^_^

[1.] Where was the first time you ever kissed the last person you kissed?
In a club.

[2.] What’s the greatest thing that happened to you today?
My last day at ASDA for at least 6 weeks, possibly forever!!!

[3.] What’s the number one thing that turns you on the most?
Can't say one specific thing, sometimes the simplest touch can be electric.

[4.] Would you rather get up early or sleep in?
Sleep in. I love my bed.

[5.] Tell me where you got each article of clothing you’re wearing?
It's my work uniform, so you know where it came from. Polyester hell!

[6.] What’s the closest thing to you that is brown?
My hair. Or possibly my desk. I'm not going to measure.

[7.] What would you change about your life right now?
More money, no student debt, married to Jake Gyllenhaal. The usual.

[8.] Would you rather smile over a lie or cry over the truth?
Truth always.

[9.] What’s on your bedroom floor right now?
Carpet, a few books and shoes.

[10.] Who was the last person you got into an argument with?
Probably one of the managers at work.

[11.] Do you trust people?
Yes and no. Depends on the person and the situation.

[12.] If you could move away, no questions asked, where would you move?
I do miss Manchester, so probably there.

[13.] Have you ever been out of the country?
Yes, I am lucky to have traveled to quite a few places.

[14.] Could you go a day without eating?
Theoretically, yes. But don't expect that I would be happy about it!

[15.] How much do looks matter to you?
I am no oil painting so who am I to judge how others look!

[17.] When was the last time you had your hair cut?
Months! Can't remember. Needs cutting actually. Thanks for the reminder!

[18.] Would you rather be mad or sad?
Angry, it tends to be more productive.

[19.] Does it take a lot to make you cry?
Catch me at the wrong moment and I will well up at the drop of a hat.

[20.] What’s the best feeling in the world?
Home, safe and warm. No worries.

[21.] Are you close with your mom?

Very. She is like my best friend.

[23.] Do you tell your parents everything?
Most things. Some things they do not need to know.

[24.] Would you rather be a bird or a fish?
Bird. Flying seems like fun.

[25.] Name fears you have….?
Failure, that's the biggie. Also spiders and cockroaches tend to make me feel a wee bit sick.

[26.] If you need to go to the store a block away, do you walk or drive?
Walk. I don't have my own car plus petrol is bloody expensive!

[27.] Does the thought of marriage scare you?
Not really as I know I'll never get married.

[28.] How many kids do you want?
None, I think. Just wish someone would tell that bloody biological clock.

[29.] What’s your favourite colour to wear?
Green

[30.] Who was the last person in your bedroom besides you?
My sister

[31.] What are you doing tonight?
Shower, make my lunch for the first day of my new job tomorrow and then an early night!

[32.] Would you rather be rich & sad or poor & happy?

Rich and happy, who says that I can't have it all?

[34.] What would you do if you found a dragon egg?
Raise it and then use it to raze ASDA to the ground in a spectacular aerial assault.

[35.] Do you get bored easily?
Sorry, what? I got distracted by a shiny object.

[36.] What’s something that someone can do that really bothers you?
Condescension and rudeness I cannot bear!

[37.] Did you ever want to change your name when you were younger?
No, I definitely suit my name.

[38.] Do you wish you were famous?
Nah. Too much like hard work.

[39.] Do you make a wish at 11:11?
Was I supposed to?

[40.] When you’re at the beach, do you swim or lay out more?
Swim, or lie totally covered by towels or T-shirts. I hate the sun and tend to fall asleep on the beach.

[41.] Who is the last text message you received from and what did it say?
Erm, can't remember. From my mum asking when I was going to be home I think.

[42.] What are you freakishly obsessed with?
I tend to get freakishly obsessed with something every other week until I get bored and move on to the next thing.

[44.] Do you like going to the mall to shop or just shopping online?
Either. Shopping is shopping.

[45.] Can music affect your mood?
Definitely

[46.] What piercings do you want?
Having my ears done is enough.

[47.] What tattoos do you want?
I have one and am happy with that.

[48.] Have you ever been in a cave?
Yes. An old copper mine.

[49] Have you ever eaten a bug?
Never knowingly and I hope it stays that way.

[50.] Are you holding back telling someone how you really feel about them?
Yes, I was raised to be polite and screaming 'I think you are a fucking retard' at people is generally frowned upon. More is the pity!

A Christmas List

2007-12-24T15:37:00.000Z

Phew! Finally finished my overtime marathon and I am so ready for a couple of days of down time before it all starts again. Work has been beyond crazy this year so I have decided to compile a list of 'Do's' and 'Don'ts' for Christmas food shopping, as so many people get it so wrong. So next year you too can get it right!

DO plan ahead. There really is no excuse for not starting early, the only thing that needs buying Christmas week is your veg. Most shops start to put their Christmas stock out in early November, so start then!

DO think about what time you are going to do your shopping. Supermarkets are stocked overnight between 10pm and 6am, therefore early morning is best. 5pm is the worst as everyone goes straight from work. Thinking ahead will save time.

DO make a list. And check it twice. If you forget something, chances are you can live without it. Return trips will invariably raise your blood pressure to scary levels.

DO keep your cool. It will be busy and you will have to queue. This is nobody's fault, just deal with it.

DO stay in one place if you send a staff member off to find something for you. Nothing is worse than searching the aisles for someone who has wandered off to continue shopping.

DON'T attempt to catch the attention of a shop assistant by poking/pinching/playfully smacking/ramming them with a trolley or otherwise manhandling them. We don't appreciate it. Likewise whistling at us like sheepdogs and yelling 'Oi! You!' are equally likely to get you sent in the wrong direction when you ask for something.

DON'T assume we are lying to you because we don't have the item you want in stock. It really annoys us. If we are busy and you insist that we go in the warehouse to search, chances are that the staff member will disappear into the back, count to 30 and come back empty handed. Just to piss you off.

DON'T think that huffily announcing 'Fine! I'll go to Tesco/ASDA/Morrisons/etc!' will result in a beleaguered staff member dropping to their knees and begging you to reconsider. We really don't care where you shop and if you utter the above line you may get extremely accurate directions on how to get there. For example: Fuck off then.

DON'T come shopping one or two days before Christmas and expect the shelves to be full and the car park devoid of other shoppers. Also yelling 'What do you mean you don't have any (insert item here)?' at someone may result in your messy death as you are beaten to death with a tin of 10p baked beans. It's fucking Christmas, what do you expect!

So in conclusion, just generally avoid supermarkets and you (and I) will make it through Christmas with our sanity intact.

Coincidence? Probably not.

2007-10-31T09:13:00.000Z

The word 'tannoy' is only one letter different from 'annoy'.

Yet another thing I've learned from working in a supermarket!

Gigs From Beyond The Grave?

2007-10-25T21:45:00.000+01:00

I was updating my gig alerts on the Orange website, when I noticed something a bit disturbing.

I could request to be sent an email when tickets for an Elliott Smith concert became available.

Reckon I would be waiting a looooooooooooooooooong time, considering he DIED in 2003!!!!!

I Did A Good Deed

2007-10-18T10:51:00.000+01:00

I went and gave blood yesterday, so naturally I am knackered today and my elbow area is a nice bluey-purple colour. But I have that inherent smugness that goes along with knowing I did a good thing.

My first problem is they have to play hunt the vein on both of my arms. Apparently I have narrow veins (probably the only narrow thing about me but there we have it!!). Then they say 'Make a really tight fist with your left hand.'

Errr. Bit of a problem there. I don't have the full complement of movement in that hand yet. Once the needle is in I have to sit there squeezing a rolled up bandage to help pump the blood out, as I am a bit stingy and it takes AGES!!

Whenever I go I am always surprised by how differently people react to the procedure. When I am done they always make me lie on the bed for ages despite my protests that I am fine. Must be my colouring, but I really am this pale naturally, nothing to do with anaemia! As soon as I've munched my free biscuit and glass of juice I am off. However, I've seen big men sitting there with what can only be described as grey faces.

Maybe it is a short thing. My body doesn't have as far to pump the blood as other people so having less doesn't make so much difference.

Why Is It.....

2007-09-27T10:56:00.000+01:00

....that Nanna's will never sit down when you go for tea? Insisting instead of hovering nearby in case someone needs extra bread/tea/vinegar.

Nan, please sit down and eat your dinner!!!!

Last Day of Freedom

2007-09-13T10:47:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow I have to report back to that evil place loosely termed 'work', more correctly termed 'Sisyphean torture'.

After eight weeks away from that place I can only say that it does feel like I am going back to prison. However some things are going to change, I will make sure of it.

I am getting my Health and Safety training and then I am going to things EXACTLY by the book. Irritatingly so.

No working in the freezers without proper coat and gloves (ASDA never supplies these)
No moving overloaded cages
No using the wrong (and only) trucks to move pallets.

That is just a small taster of the things which we are expected to do. Well, given the amount of messing around I've put up with they can FUCK RIGHT OFF.

A Minor Observation

2007-09-10T11:29:00.000+01:00

Why is the glue used to stick those irritating white stickers on the bottom of new shoes so strong?!?

You can never get the sticker off in one go and always end up with white marks on the soles of your new shoes, which look stupid.

Is it deliberate?

Why Me? Does Asda Really Hate Me That Much?

2007-09-02T11:13:00.000+01:00

Remember how last month the fuckwits I work for paid my sick pay to my sister? Well, obviously I pulled them up about this fault. They apologised and promised that next payday the money would be debited into my account.

Well, payday was Friday and this month I have been paid a grand total of........£40. (Which is a tax rebate and not actually pay from ASDA at all!)

They've done it again. But this time the fuck up is twice as big. They still owe me the money from last month, and the sick pay which my sister has been paid this month was not the correct amount. Int fact it was about £300 short. Because they have not bothered to inform the payroll department that I have been off sick for 8 weeks not 4 weeks.

This also means my sister is out of pocket because her National Insurance has gone up due to the extra pay she has erroneously received.

I have been graciously allowed to a loan of £150 against the money I am owed. Not too impressed by this as I now have less than £200 to live off this month and I have just joined the gym.

So tomorrow I will be on the phone to head office to find out how in the name of all that is holy that I have been shortchanged two months in a row and yet I am expected to wait another full four weeks before I can have my money!!

Fucking bastards.

Update - not really for the squeamish!

2007-08-17T10:11:00.000+01:00

Thought I might be a bit gross and post some pics of my damaged hand. Don't worry, all the pictures are from after I had the op! Having my fingers split open didn't really put me in the mood to take pictures of the bloody mess I was left with!

This is the cast I ended up with when I woke up after surgery. It extended all the way up to my elbow! Bloody heavy too!
Me and my cast. As I had been on the gynecology ward (don't ask!) they didn't even have a sling to give me!
Luckily I only had to suffer the cast for two days, before they removed it and gave me a splint instead. You can see the pen marks they drew on me to make sure they operated on the correct arm! As if they the lacerations and general lumpiness of my fingers wasn't enough!!
And this is me after the stitches came out. That black blob is the head of the pin which pinned the bone in my little finger together. They took a pair of pliers to me yesterday and pulled it out. Funny thing was, it didn't hurt. Just got this strange stretching feeling inside my finger and then it popped out. The nurse let me keep it, morbid little bugger that I am.

So now I am just waiting to start physio. Fingers crossed I get full movement back.

Asda - Fuck Up Central

2007-08-03T10:44:00.000+01:00

Apologies for radio silence, been a bit busy healing and plotting my revenge against my feckless employers. It may involve napalm.

My hand is healing well, I still have the pin in (tis a little odd to look at your finger and see something black and bobbly protruding!) but my stitches are out so I feel more comfortable.

However, one thing that is not going well is the pay situation. I am entitled to sick pay but when my sister brought our payslips home I have not received sick pay. But she has!!

I kid you not. How they can pay me normally despite my not having clocked into the store for over 2 weeks? And yet my sister who has been there for four days out of every seven can be given sick pay!!

You can't make this shit up!!!

Possibly the worst week ever.

2007-07-18T10:05:00.000+01:00

I could have titled this post as a 'How Not To Be Elegant', but that would be a bit glib, given this is a pretty serious post.

Sunday started normally, I was in work and therefore a bit blue. L and I were working in the warehouse when I had an accident. My left hand got slammed in between two parts of a metal barrier. It hurt but I thought it had just bruised a couple of my fingers so I swore like a sailor, but then I looked down and saw the blood. My little and ring fingers were cut badly.

We called for a first aider and an ambulance which took myself and a most upset L to hospital. I was fairly calm, I have a fairly high pain threshold and saw no point in panicking. As it would only make things worse. I figured after an X-ray and stitches, I would fine. Wrong!

After a massive wait in A and E (cock up by triage nurse, my dad very unhappy) and an x-ray, it became clear I would need more than stitches. I have fractured both my little finger and ring finger and I was told I would need surgery to 'explore the wound' and I would also be put on IV antibiotics to prevent infection (despite leaving me in A&E for 4 hours with an open wound and not cleaning it. Then the bitch triage nurse told me to clean off my own hands. How she expected me to do it with broken fingers I am not sure.).

So they put a dressing on my left hand and a canula in my right elbow area for the drugs. Why my elbow I don't know as I am left handed with a broken left hand and now with limited movement in my right arm due to the needle that is in there. Clever that.

I was taken to the ward, the gyne ward too, as there was no room in orthopedics and put on nil by mouth for the operation later that day. The consultant saw me and told me due to a big emergency I would be here over night. Upsetting but inevitable.

So I spent a restless night with my arm held upright in a sling and a noisy old woman who refused to go to sleep. The next morning the consultant popped in again and told me I would have my operation that day. I waited all day, nil by mouth again, until at 5pm when my family visited and nothing had happened. So the nurses went to find out.

They had canceled my operation and not bothered to inform the ward! I was gutted and at this point I properly broke down in tears for the first time. It meant another uncomfortable night away from home and no progress on my injury. I will admit I was actually scared at this point and had nightmares that they'd left it too long and had to amputate my fingers.

I slept a little better on Monday night but woke up with itchy legs. I rolled down my dead sexy anti-DVT stockings and saw a red lumpy rash all up legs and hips. To add insult to injury it turns out I am apparently allergic to the antibiotics they gave me!! After forgoing my morning dose the consultant changed me to another antibiotic which he said they would give me in theatre. Hurray, I was going to theatre!

Finally after the usual grilling by the anesthetist, I got my surgery done. This meant putting a wire in my little finger, as the bone is not only broken but crushed. Luckily my tendons weren't cut and my nerves seem fine. The only problem is the rash has spread! It now covers about 70% of my body it is even in my belly button and on my scalp! I look like a plague victim. It would appear I am also allergic to the SECOND antibiotic they gave me!!!!

But I'm just glad to be home. I'll have to have physio but I am completely determined to get my full range of movement back. I am now in the odd position of having my dominant hand in plaster, so I have to do everything one-handed but also wrong-handed. Signing the consent form was fun!

Anyway, I typed all this one handed so I reckon I need a rest!

2007-07-09T14:43:00.001+01:00

I got back yesterday from a nice relaxing fortnight in Florida with the family. A quick word of advice for anyone going on holiday this summer.

Arrive at the airport REALLY REALLY EARLY!!!!

We spent over an hour in the queue for security, as many people for some reason had no clue as to the regulations on taking liquids and lighters etc through the security.

Had a lovely time and did much shopping including a new mp3 player (cheaper too thanks to clever use of my Wal-Mart employee discount card!!).

Now I have freckles thanks to the sun (Boo!) and jetlag which means I am functioning at a sub-normal level. Ah well, excuse for an afternoon nap!!!

Vision!

2007-06-20T22:08:00.000+01:00

This is me. In my new glasses! Yay! I can see!

Another lazy post

2007-06-14T10:01:00.000+01:00

I pinched this from Godzilla's site, as I don't have time to write a proper post! I'm still job hunting but hopefully some progress has been made. Plus I picked up my new glasses yesterday, so maybe a couple of pictures next week (after I've plucked my massive Ugly Betty style eyebrows!!).

You would be very happy in a career that utilised your level-headedness, and allowed you to work mainly on your own. You want a career that allows you to stimulate your senses and your mind, without having to be involved with lots of people. Some careers that would be perfect for you are:

Novelist
Photographer
Vet
Medical Technician
Paralegal
Geologist
Marine Biologist
Graphic Designer
Online Content Developer
Webmaster
Computer Security
Producer
Computer Programmer
Technical Writer
Systems Analyst
Meteorologist
Artist

You like working and being alone. You like to avoid attention at all costs. You tend to keep to yourself, and not interact much with the people around you. You enjoy spending time with a few a close friends. You like to listen to others, but don't like sharing much about yourself. You are very quiet and private.

You are very practical, and only act after thinking things through. You don't like being forced to answer quickly. You have to evaluate the situation completely. You make decisions based on what you can verify with your senses.

You like to be involved deeply in one or two special projects. You like to be behind the scenes. You are very logical and fair. You feel you should be honest with others at all costs.

You trust what is certain. You only like new ideas if they can be practically applied to the situation. You value what is real. You use your common sense. You like to utilise the skills you have instead of learning new ones. You are very specific and detailed when writing or talking to others. You follow directions well. You like things to be laid out for you to do instead of working them out for yourself. You like decisions to be made. You don't like things to be left in limbo. You like to know what you are getting into before you commit to something.

You like to focus on the here and now. You enjoy completing projects. It is important for you to achieve and succeed. Therefore, you believe in working hard and playing later. You like to set goals and work towards them.

Some of this makes sense, but not all. I love learning new things and interacting with people (just not idiots) and I wouldn't call myself quiet either!! Can chat shit for Britain! Ah, well.

As If Job Hunting Wasn't Difficult Enough!

2007-06-05T09:41:00.000+01:00

Yes, the email scammers have found another lucrative source; those of whose who need a job.

I'm signed up on a couple of job sites, and I received an email a couple of days ago from a marketing company who wanted to interview me. I wasn't really interested but decided to check out the company anyway, just to see what was involved.

I duly typed 'Teed Up Marketing' into Google and got nothing definitive, so I checked the fine print on the email. First I noticed the email had come from a Hotmail addess, which I thought was very strange.

Then in the fine print I noticed that 'Teed Up Sales Motivation' would charge me £1.50 per minute with a 4 minute minimum for the privilege of enquiring why they wanted to interview me. Alarm bells began to rang. I typed the company name in again and found this article on Gumtree.

http://forums.gumtree.com/about77622.html

I'm just glad I checked before ringing!!

There Is No Hope

2007-05-24T11:16:00.000+01:00

I have discovered Facebook. I am now an addict.

All is lost.

Not Exactly A Panoramic View

2007-05-15T10:09:00.000+01:00

After being told about it by a friend I watched Panorama's Scientology and Me documentary last night (also when did it become a half hour programme sandwiched between soaps? That is hardly enough scope for a proper investigation).

The Scientologists complain that people label them a cult but can you really blame us? You follow the journalists who are trying to interview, dig into their past and try to destroy their reputations if you think that they are going to use the dreaded C-word.

Sounds like paranoia to me.

Then there was that overly-scrubbed representative Tommy, who looked a Tom Cruise lookalike. Every time he was asked a question he got defensive and aggressive and attempted to intimidate John Sweeney. As has been widely reported, Sweeney lost his rag in spectacular fashion and has had to apologise. Personally I think that Sweeney did well to keep his temper for as long as he did. Five minutes in a room with that fool I would probably lamped him one and instructed him to go and fornicate with himself.

The "Church" of Scientology believes that a balanced report of them can only exist if none of their detractors are interviewed.

Erm, hello! That isn't journalism it is propaganda. I for one am glad this CULT is not recognised as a religion in this country, and I hope this continues indefinitely.

This probably means I'm going to be 'Fair Gamed' and if you don't hear from me in a while, then the bizarre brainwashed Scientologists got me.

Separated at Birth?

2007-05-14T16:34:00.000+01:00

I went to see Spiderman 3 last night.

Anyone else think Thomas Hayden Church looks like a beefed up Lee Evans?

Just me then.

Exahusted! But worth it!

2007-04-15T19:09:00.000+01:00

I've just returned home after spending this freakishly hot weekend in London. It is the first time I've been back there since I moved back to Wales in 2005. It was a little weird how I slipped back into tube journeys and how much of the City Centre I remembered.

Dad got a deal on the rooms so I got a double room to myself! Awesome, as I love to hog the whole bed. I am a terrible human being in that respect.

We saw the changing of the guard at the palace, walked round most of the British Museum and my sister finally got to see the Mold Cape which was found not far from where we live. I still haven't managed to get around all of the museum. And I would love to go back in September when the Terracotta Warriors exhibition is opened.

Saturday night we went to see the Blue Man Group and I can highly recommend this show. It was fantastic. Amazing music and just plain hilarious. I won't even try to explain it, just go and see them if you get the chance! But don't be late. Unless ritual humiliation is for you!

So after an hour in Covent Garden this morning we made the distinctly cramped journey back up to Wales. I was listening to 'Stuck In The Middle With You' which was appropriate as due to my short stature I have to sit in the middle of the back seat. Otherwise the rear view mirror is blocked.

Glad to be home now. Going to soak in a bath and flop into my own bed. Bliss!

Who invented this whole chocolate egg thing?

2007-04-06T10:11:00.001+01:00

Because whoever it was I am going to find them and dance on their bloody grave.

If I had a pound for every person who has asked me for sodding Easter eggs this past week I would be a rich woman indeed!

The special offer eggs have been limited to 8 per customer. Most seem to take this as a challenge blatantly taking more than they need. Others come in demanding we sell them 60 eggs. Erm, no. Because all you are going to do is sell them on in your own shop/eBay/local market* (*delete as appropriate).

And despite all this I have stupidly consented to doing overtime tomorrow. I must be mental.

Also want to wish Grandparent's Happy Diamond Wedding for yesterday. I cannot imagine being married for that amount of time! It is a real milestone.

Today is April 2nd...

2007-04-02T11:19:00.000+01:00

...which is means that it is not only my Great Uncle Jim's 90th birthday (Happy Birthday Uncle Jim!!!) but that the smoking ban is now in effect here in Wales!!

I am so glad that I will finally be able to go out to a pub and not come home stinking as if I've rubbed the contents of an ashtray over my head.

The only problem is that I live very close to the English border, and the most common place to go for a night out is Chester. In England. Which doesn't start to enforce the ban until July.

Ah well, I can wait!

Things I Have Learned The Hard Way

2007-03-29T10:17:00.000+01:00

If a half-kilo tin of dog food drops on your foot from about 3 feet it is not high enough to break any bones, but it will turn your foot an interesting shade of purple.

Anyone who works in Personnel has deep abiding hatred of people.

Obsessive skincare is expensive. But thank goodness for Clinque Bonus Time!

I cannot keep my room in order for more than two days. I am the Queen of Chaotic Living Space!

Another Year Older, Still No Wiser

2007-03-24T17:03:00.000Z

I've turned 24 today. *Sob*

So in a desperate bid to regress back to my childhood my birthday has taken on a decidedly retro theme.

Having home made tomato soup and home made pizza for dinner, just like L and I used to have as kids.

After recent discussions about how TV was waaaaaaaay more entertaining when I was little, I have been given the following DVDs by family;

She-Ra! (Cannot wait to watch this again! I so wanted to be She-Ra!)
Willo the Wisp
Legend (Yes, I hate Tom Cruise but Tim Curry is just the win)
V - The Mini Series (Still makes me cry when the doctor gets killed! Sad but true!)

Soundtrack to this post: It Was Acceptable In The 80s

Intervention!

2007-03-18T15:55:00.000Z

I have been moping about all week. So much so that my family decided it was necessary to stage a kind of intervention regarding my social life.

I arrived home on Friday night only to be order to go and get changed as I was being taken to a friend's Xbox 360 link-up party.

My protests of tiredness fell on deaf ears and I gave up due to fact it was four against one.

But I did enjoy myself when I was out.

Not as much as the crazy Welsh guy we saw on Saturday night though. Wales avoided the Wooden Spoon and beat England in the Six Nations (their only win of the tournament). This is cause for celebration, however this fella stood at the bottom of a hill and waved a huge Welsh flag for at least 3 hours!

Being mature adults, my sister and I drove past with the windows down and sand the Welsh National Anthem at the top of our voices.

He was most impressed. This is yet more evidence that I actually do have to get out more!