Greetings, Approximately Fifteen People ( Read more... )

For your safety and our protection, we are obliged by law. We would therefore be grateful; kindly do not, failing which carefully consider. Regretfully your enthusiasm is very much appreciated, however we are unable at this time. In more auspicious conditions under no circumstances, subject to regulated procedure. This has or may have been recorded ( Read more... )

Until Thursday, I'd entirely forgotten that I have an actual phobia. It's a sort of fear of heights, but more specific. I can stand and look over cliffs with no problem. What I have trouble with is climbing or moving at heights, especially when I start on the ground and get to about my head height. Then I freeze.

( Some background: it lay dormant for more than 20 years... )

This has been in part a working holiday for me. When Iza suggested going to Poland for 8 days rather than a long weekend, I said ok, but only if I can have unfettered access to a decent internet connection. This turned out to be entirely necessary. Despite having finished the main Thing I needed to deliver for my project, I ended the week with ( Read more... )

Usually when we visit Poland, we travel straight to Iza's parents' house. The journey from our place to Luton or Stansted, the flight to Gdańsk and the hours-long drive to their house outside Olsztyn are all rather tiring and rather boring. You end up eight or so hours later, feeling you've expended a lot of effort to get from sitting at home to ( Read more... )

Hello personages. I've not been here for a while ( Read more... )

Many young children like bears. This may be because of teddy bears. As far as I remember, my second-oldest fluffy toy was a brown teddy bear. (The oldest was a monkey that I now remember as rather threadbare.) But my particular thing about bears wasn't teddy-based. And it wasn't just about any bears: it was polar bears that fascinated me. Baby ( Read more... )

"That's a lot of food ( Read more... )

I have a confession to make. I don't like art galleries. I don't like putting a box around some things and calling them art. "Art" (or indeed "stuff") is more delightful when it's encountered by surprise. Provided, of course, that you notice it. Maybe galleries are so that people don't have to pay attention all the time in case they encounter ( Read more... )

(aka If You Let A Monkey Type Shakespeare For Long Enough)

Beware the Ides of March!
Beware the Ids of March!
Beware the Ickes of March!
Beware the Oods of March!
Beware the Ergs of March!
Beware the Eggs of March!
Beware the Ex of March!
Beware the Itch of March!
Beware the H of March!
Beware the Arch of March!
Beware the March of MarchBeware the ( Read more... )