Well, I'm all packed and (almost) ready to go to London today -- flying from Hartford via Amsterdam, then on to London City. I actually prefer to do this indirect route as it has two advantages: 1) I get to fly out of Hartford, which is fairly small and very friendly and 2) I get to fly into London City, which is also small and doesn't involve any of the Heathrow/Gatwick nuttiness. You get off the plane, mostly EU people on board anyway so the queue for immigration is short, and then hey! there's your bag already on the carousel. It ended up being only $50 more than flying direct from JFK, but I end up saving money as I don't have to pay to get to NYC or from Heathrow/Gatwick (and I will only take the Heathrow or Gatwick Express, which both cost a ton).

But...I am really, really going to miss Bruce. He pretended to hide my passport last night to keep me from going, and he has told me how scared he always is when I have to fly somewhere, which is fairly frequently due to business. As time goes by he doesn't seem to be getting any less sad about me going away for a week (or more) at a time. I was very nearly in tears this morning when I had to say good-bye and he told me his life is a paradise when I'm around.

aww *hugs* for the maven...Bruce sounds like such a sweetie..you're lucky to have eachother!

Safe travels, girl! I look forward to your drunken Saturday posts!!

Ta, julez! He is a darling sometimes, for all his occasional gruffness.

And now for something completely different...

I have been working on a project for my best friend's upcoming 35th birthday. She's a filmmaker in New York, and she asked her friends for a birthday present: she wanted 11 of us to step forward and each make a short film in her honour with a twist. Each of us had to choose a track from her favourite album, The Queen Is Dead by the Smiths and make a video for it, with all the lyrics as subtitles. These 11 films would be then shown at her birthday party in sequence as a sing-a-long! So I chose "Cemetry Gates", and of course, although I had 5 months to work on it I only started production last week. But it is finally finished (only a day late!), and although the official big(gish) screen premiere is not until next month, here's a preview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgCcvXoxtI8

It's very silly indeed.

Excellent video - I like the shot of the dog for "trip you up and laugh when you fall"

Thanks Robin! That's Conar, my parents' dog. We call him "Crate Mutt" (he loves his crate), so that's why he's listed as such in the credits. For some reason Bruce wanted to appear as "Lennox Avnue" in the credits.

Conar is very cute. Is that Bruce's new stage name? I imagine if I made a similar video, I would have to include a shot of my cat for that line - it would be so appropriate.

Now I can't wait to get home to watch it! Boo hiss to no youtube at work!

It's not his new stage name -- his friend John (who loaned us a tripod when mine broke, and who appears as "Mister Sensuous" in the thank yous) egged him on. It's some in-joke I don't get, but I honoured his request as the star artiste.

"June Carter Cash" is actually John's dog, who is off screen. That's her real name.

Aww that is so sweet

Video is ace as well!!! Such a cool idea too!! I am going to have to steal it at some point...

Now... I need to find that list from StP of how she organised all her paperwork for the embassy. I picked up my doctor's note today so that is sorted... I think that is pretty much it! I have my folders here, paperwork, stuff... Finished work, start new job Monday... I am going to be a mess! Then I get to print everything I can tomorrow

While I'm on it - can anyone think of anything I need to get Jeremy to e-mail me? I'm just thinking evidence-wise... I know I don't need a whole lot but ignoring everyone else who has said the evidence wasn't even looked at, I am going to get enough to make me feel comfortable anyway

Mmmmm, mojitos. Have you tried them with coconut rum? Not malibu... real coconut rum.... Bacardi. Though I imagine malibu might be great too. They're awesome. *slurp*

Great video, Maven!!!

Mmmm all these cocktails... we should have a cocktail party

in my opinion, the only REAL coconut rum is Captain Morgan - Parrot Bay

When I think of Captain Morgan I think of spiced rum though and I don't know why... I think we are going to be sadly disappointed in regards to drunken e-mails from Maven/Poiteen etc

Ohh I am going to bed - I am soo tired, though not as stressed as I thought I would be... maybe its the wine...

Oh, that's what I think too. I didn't even know he had a coconut rum. But I'm willing to give it a try.

Morning all

Morning

it's snowing and snowing and SNOWING

Really!? We had a bit of snow overnight - the grass was a bit white but it is all gone now - wasn't even cold... very strange!!

Now I want piccies

my back garden (out my bedroom window) at about 8.30 this morning

you can see it all in the air - the flakes were so BIG!

it's still snowing now, but some of it has melted back, and it's much finer... still going to be interesting getting across the city in a bit

Wow! You got more than we did Of course some of it might have melted by the time I got up I can't believe we have snow in APRIL! Especially when it isn't even cold!!! Looks gorgeous I can't wait to play in the snow in the mountains in Cali - now that is proper snow

Ok, so I have done ABSOLUTELY no work today I have now been here for 5 hours....

You don't have to. I thought it was a rule that if you're leaving you do squat. Check your terms of employment.

That snow looks gorgeous. And, Jeraly.... lol..... I thought your sentence said "Look, gorgeous..." like you were telling STP off, but complementing her at the same time. I think I need to drink my coffee.

Yes, I do believe you are right! Excellent! *Kicks feet up on desk*

Argh! My day is ruined My boss just turned up.

Dammit!

I know I am fond of StP but there *is* a limit...



NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just pretend to work!!

Yep! As always.

g'morning everyone

Right, I have finished for the day. Sees you all tomorrow. Have a great evening

Gosh. The workday just flies by when you live in a different timezone. lol

Its 58 degree F here and so bright and sunny! At long last!!!

windows open here as usual LOL

Windows closed here, AC on. (76f/24c) Also a thunderstorm happening. Waiting for the power to go out any minute. It always does. In fact, it went out this morning and we didn't even have a thunderstorm.

Haha - Krikit - I head about the storm Hope it doesn't get too close!

I can't believe I woke up to snow this morning, then the sun melted all of it, then later today more snow!!!!! LOL!

I protested by walking around the house in my flip flops (ok, I did have the heat on though!)

Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend!!

65f in Indiana. Dare I suggest that Spring is here?

(awwww done it now, bet it'll snow tomorrow!)

Morning all

Morning

Oh my.... I just saw a flake of snow... Yes. Just the one... It never snows here

We had about 2 minutes of tiny snowflakes here yesterday, then nothing. This morning it is bright and sunny

Same here - although the forecast was for hail showers *looks out the window at the bright sunshine and smiles*

g'morning everyone!

Morning all

Have changed jobs now so can't get online... yet

Am sooooo nervous about interview.....

Good morning all!

Aly - HUGS! By tomorrow afternoon you'll be laughing and celebrating and we'll all join in

Was in Stratford over the weekend; three inches on Sunday morning, it was gloooorious. Really pretty. So thick and fluffy!

Good luck with the interview, you will do GREAT!!!

g'morning everyone.

Hi everyone!

Its official! I have house fever! I have found my dream home! Sadly my current house is not ready yet for sale. Still have painting, etc to do. But I want this other house soooo much! Its a completely renovated Victorian and its oh so lovely. I hope no one else buys it!

Ooh! I will cross fingers and hope that it is not bought before you are able to make a bid, then!

Thanks! We're going this weekend to have a thorough look at it! I wish there was a way we could manage the 2 mortgages, if only for a few months, but I just don't think its possible. Thankfully the market where we're looking isn't too brisk at the moment, but where I currently live the houses go pretty fast.