Cornelia's Corset

Where have I been?

2007-01-12T06:54:00.000-08:00

Not far! lol...

I'll try to be more introspective and work on my blog. Really.

Here's a test I did to see how much I've changed.

Advanced Global Personality Test Results

Extraversion		83%
Stability		50%
Orderliness		33%
Accommodation		43%
Interdependence		70%
Intellectual		43%
Mystical		70%
Artistic		90%
Religious		10%
Hedonism		63%
Materialism		30%
Narcissism		76%
Adventurousness		90%
Work ethic		70%
Self absorbed		63%
Conflict seeking		36%
Need to dominate		56%

Romantic		50%
Avoidant		36%
Anti-authority		90%
Wealth		16%
Dependency		50%
Change averse		23%
Cautiousness		70%
Individuality		90%
Sexuality		90%
Peter pan complex		76%
Physical security		83%
Physical Fitness		84%
Histrionic		90%
Paranoia		70%
Vanity		83%
Hypersensitivity		76%
Female cliche		90%

Take

Tempus Fudge

2005-06-10T23:20:00.000-07:00

Favourite artist on iShuffle: Faithless

Sorry, I let time slip away with me there. Its been a few months; I have been busy and would find myself thinking, 'Oh, I'll have to do my blog later/tomorrow/soon, just to mention this/that.'

To paraphrase: work, work, work, India, Australia, Dubai, Cornwall, new clothes catalogue, haircut, my great nails had to go, Orient Express, new mattress and catching up with old friends.

It is strange though, I have a lot to say but it has become harder and harder to say anything. I need to get out more, that I do know, focussing on work is not healthy for happiness.

And I need to get into the gym. So, gathering my few remaining pounds, I am going to buy some Puma jogging trainers today, determined to trim down some of the waist with running and some trampoline. (I won't keep a diary, lol).

C

It's the Big Red Bus!

2005-04-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

Favourite tune on IShuffle: Odelay by Beck.

Yes, it is that time of year when thoughts turn to the summer. And a holiday.

I am already trying to save for us all to take a few months out in 2007, in New Zealand. A few friends have moved out there now, some involuntarily when their visas were found to be well and truly expired.
But, in the true value of British holiday making, I am having those big red bus day-dreams. Singing catchy tunes in the car as we breeze to Cornwall, laughing in a gay way wihtout worrying about the PC nature of today's media. Ah, *sigh*, a summer holiday.

Just checked the weather in Cornwall, where I am off to tonight. Thunderstorms and hail... who cares, eh?

I cut out a new corset pattern today, late 1860's. Very happy with that.

I sent off fourteen preliminary letters, with synopsis and sample chapters, to some literary agents who were very nice on the ol dog 'n bone last week.

All in all, it has been a doing day. Which is good for the soul, eh?

Anyway, I shall not mention politics, religion or the state of my company, as I am in a jolly good mood an don't want to think about it- at least until I've had back the first rejection slip, then you'll all hear.

C- x

The curse of Income Maths

2005-03-23T09:27:00.000-08:00

Favourite song on iShuffle: Something for the Weekend, by Divine Comedy.

Hmm, I am staying here a while longer.

I did the maths at the weekend. Income v. outgoings, and it turned out that I would not be any better, even taking into consideration saving on travel costs. This was because the original job description was about working in Brighton, with one day in Redhill. By the time of the interview that had spread to Wimbledon and included rostered on call support. Not bad, until I heard there is no company vehicle for dividing your time between sites and no on-call fee for being on-call, there is only time claimed for call out.

Bit pants. And I like pants.

I spent yesterday ringing literary agents; did well, fourteen were nice enough to give me their names for submissions. So, preliminary letter and sample chapters are printing out tonight, reading to line a bin somewhere :-)

Michelle, friend, is moving to Australia in a few weeks time. I spent the day going around the offices taking photos and goodwill messages for a photo album fo her. It always helps to remind yourself why you left this place... shiny faced gurning friends is a great start. I'm going to miss her though, on the way around I was talking to Chrissi, who told me she was going to NZ in Sept.

There is definately a sense of rats watching the waterline in the bilge at the moment.

Im away to Cornwall this weekend! Yes, freezing my tits off in the surf.

Have a great Easter- x

C

A quiet momont of relapse.

2005-03-18T10:10:00.000-08:00

Favourite song on iShuffle: there's no screen but I think it's Beethoven, lol.

Anyway, a healthy few days for me. The appraisal went as expected; I have a negative attitude issue at present, I live in the past (in relation to how well things used to be around here) and I should keep some my views to my inner self, where the little voices need the company.

So, that was Friday. A weekend of brittle simmering, and on Monday I sent a speculative CV to a recruitemnt agency, who got very excited and had an interview lined up for me yesterday. As I am too busy to go to them, their manager came to me. That went well, lots of legacy pbx's which need to be maintained until they are ripped out for VoIP. Kewl.

The same money yet half the work. Double kewl, more time with my family and getting home in the evening without being too tired to draw, paint, sew or lounge dramatically.

Which makes me appreciate how under paid I am, but then, the appraisal did recognise that fact and said it would be addressed and there would be extra head count to distribute the work allowing me to concentrate on my real work.

Hmm, so... have I got some of the bile out of my system? Should I go for the second interview they offered me today? Should I see what is on offer here? It is the weekend, I will think anon.

x

farken

2005-03-09T07:01:00.000-08:00

Favourite tune in iPod: I bought a iGB iPod Shuffle, been having fun with it instead.

On Monday I went to see Lemon Jelly and had a [i]great[/i] time, so much so that the following conversation occured (bearing in mind I was in my furry blue coat, leather trousers and New Rock boots), whilst I was on the dance floor;

dark haired young filly: You look like you're having a good time!

Me: yeah! A really good time

dark haired young filly: You look like you're having an [i]enhanced[/i] good time!

Me: No, just a very, very, very good time. (Contiunued dancing and ignoring her)

She pissed off, either a bleater or trying to score. In which case, I'm glad someone that stupid did leave me alone.

For the record, my department is managed by a handful of ignorant cunts. I have been sending out my CV and seeking a new job. I have set a benchmark date, if nothing occurs by then, well, right now I want to walk out on that date.

I have my appraisal on Friday. This will be fun. The new political environment of sucking up to the scab faced cunt manager, just think Walking Chlamadyia and you have a good mental picture of him. Anyway, it used to be years between appraisals, now its six months. Full of cacking crap.

As long as I get my CCIE qualifications before they stab me in back, I don't care anymore.

Managed to stave off manic depression by seeing an old friend yesterday. She left work to have a baby, who is a year old now, and absolutely delightful. A lunchtime of pulling faces, tickling elbows and baby talk is a great remedy for work. Lol.

Anyway, back to work, back to betrayal and lies, back to office politics, back to reality.

Tonight, I dance on moonbeams, as it is 'Top Hat' on BBC4 and I have some duty free vodka to make use of...

C

Now that I am off the toilet...

2005-02-24T00:08:00.000-08:00

Favourite song on iPod: Up The Junction by Squeeze.

Today was a landmark day.

In the many years that I have beens setting up/relocation offices around the world, today was definately a first.

The movers left the telephone switch behind...

Not to worry, thinks I. There is always a solution, even direct jumpering, and there will be working phones on the desk, I am yet to fail a new office. But sometimes, just sometimes, you would want there to be a little less drama. I am so not a drama queen, I am so not a drama queen. Lol, but today, I wish I were, just a little bit, a tiny tiny bit so I could make a fuss in the office instead of staggering to my blog to whisper into this secret void of silence where only my echoes hint at understanding me.

Hmm, let us see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully, a telephone switch...

C

Another test....

2005-02-22T12:17:00.000-08:00

Hmm, hardly Trashy, hardly a Slut. I need to find more Tests!

How Trashy am I?

2005-02-22T10:55:00.000-08:00

Not trashy enough, it appears:

I am 11% White Trash.

I, my friend, have class. I am so not white trash. . I am more than likely Democrat, and my place is neat, and there is a good chance I may never drink wine from a box.

Take the
White Trash Test
@ FualiDotCom

Damn, should have had the tattoo of my favourite WWF super wrestler on my abs after all... make him wiggle, make him wiggle...

Where am I again?

2005-02-22T00:55:00.000-08:00

Favourite song on iPod: Last Train to Trancentral by KLF.

Yes, following a long night of drinking Kingfisher and jagermeister, I awoke this morning with a fuzzy felt face stuck to the crisp, white bed linen and the hideous realisation that I didn't know where I was.

I am in Mumbai, formerly Bombay, the home of Bollywood. There is no hill with huge white letters, I'm afraid to say, but there is a beach. I say beach, I mean shoreline. But the difference between Delhi and Mumbai is the cool wind that comes off the water.

Already the project is behind schedule, surprise surprise, and with my director and his director due out next week, there appears to be no hurry to have anything working. Which suits me, having just found out that there is a pool on the roof, I am seriously considering breaking the rules and sitting in the sun for a while. Something I have avoided for years in true gothy fashion.

I have a shopping list to fulfill; a new city, a new shopping experience... I just wish I could be excited about it. I feel incredibly jaded right now, I need to find a really dirty bazaar with crowded street, hawkers vying for attention, painted shop fronts that sag with the weight of ancient, unwanted souvenirs or antiques. I need to breath air that isnt air conditioned but sweaty with the smog of cars, people, animals and the musk of dusty shopping.

I feel a little better, just writing that. Lol.

The Librarian Sleeps Tonight.

2005-02-17T06:52:00.000-08:00

Favourite song on iPod: read a book instead...

I take it all back, I really do. The programme on C4 last night, about trannies, was very good.

There was a lot of intelligent content, issues were highlighted that relate to a lot of different sub-cultures in TV land and the world's perception around it.

I take back what I said in my previous post. I fell into a trap of making an assumption without knowing the details.

Today though, I am mostly getting ready for going back to India. This time, Mumbai, the home of Bollywood... now, where is my CV?

C

Librarian's have more fun.

2005-02-15T09:10:00.000-08:00

Favourite song on iPod: No More Heroes, the Stranglers. History of the World, part 1, the Damned.

Ah, back in Blighty. And I have to say, the emphasis is really on Blight.

This country, this green and pleasant land, is really fucked. If it isn't private corporations sucking local government dry then it is parasitical politicians vying like Z-list celebs for our attention. The cost of living is farcical, the value of property is criminal though not as much as IHT- talk about taxing the dead! I already give 25% of my earnings to the govt, the remainder of my wages goes on putting a house above my family and food on the table. As do we all. Now, upon my untimely demise, IHT will take about 40% of the value of my property! So, I am taxed on my house for dying, this, after twenty five years of paying a mortgage, taxed again after tax had already been taken from my wages.

A friend of mine works for the local council, I took him to task about a building company taking over a few local school and then doing them no good- like, charging the schools for after-school and weekend clubs as this was time outside the contract. He told me that the council probably didn't pass the contracts through a legal company because of the costs, they were approved by someone who didn't understand such detailed contracts but was dumped with the job of reading it. This is what happens when the govt care more about Appearance than Action. Tossers.
Last night I watched Celebrity Detox and I really, really wish that someone would invest in a Political Detox programme. I would count my license fee as blessed just to see those gits puking/shitting/screaming their innards out. At least the viewers would recognise the true value of the crap they spout at every opportunity. Just to see Prescott or Howard halfway up a mountain caking their pants with vile, ignorant faeces rather than their inane, vile, ignorant rhetoric...

I have had a nice week getting back on track with all the work I am behind on. I am making jewellery samples for my new enterprise and I am lucky enough that a good friend is really good at designing web pages. Yesterday I even found the time and peace of mind to start a canvas, a sea scape. It wasn't brilliant as I have been well out of practise- even my mandolin playing has gone to the dogs. I haven't even touched a corset pattern for months, jeez, I am tardy. Great jewellery, though!

There is a programme on C4 this week, about cross dressers and transvestites. I'll probably watch it. But having seen the adverts I do find myself wondering why the programme makers always interview those men who dress like the W.I. and live in areas where their neighbours have no understanding of their situation. What drives someone to want to be on the telly (TV on the Tv, hmm...) in this way? Just beware of schadenfreude, I suppose.
My wife is looking forward to watching this programme and watching me squirm. I know quite a few funny, glamorous girls who are too cool to ever consider being on such a programme yet the common perception of many will be judged for a while after this. Maybe I should invest in some sensible flat shoes and a tweed two piece...

Maybe I shoud anyway, I've always liked the idea of looking like a librarian...

Groundhog Day

2005-02-02T07:35:00.000-08:00

Drinking in LA by Bran Van 3000, Dutch Organ Theme from Chigley & There Ain’t No Sanity Claus by The Damned.

...god, I hope not! Today has been long, always with the potential to go beyond dire and regularly fulfilling that potential.

To drive in Delhi it is said that you need three things; good horn, good brakes and good luck!

Trust me when I say that is not an understatement. I saw a programme years ago where the presenter described his driver as a modern day Bengal Lancer, charging into the affray with courage and blind faith. Yep, every time I come here, I really appreciate that description.
Roundabouts are different here. Traffic coming onto the roundabout has priority over traffic on the roundabout. The first time I hurtled into the oncoming vehicles I nearly screamed in horror, occasionally it still gets to me (good horn-good brakes-good luck). If there are two lanes of traffic you will see at least three lines of vehicles, squeezing themselves into every available inch; trucks, huge Tata buses, three wheeled tuck tucks, cars and four wheel drives, and the wonderful black and yellow Ambassadors.
Makes driving along the A23 to work in the mornings seem like a line of cars respectfully following a hearse.

I ordered some beer off room service whilst I was writing this evening. I wanted Black Label, a great Indian beer. ‘We have new Indian beer,’ I was told, ‘Castle Beer.’
Castle beer? I thought that was South African?
‘No, Indian Beer.’
‘Okay, I’ll take three.’
Printed on the label “The Great South African Beer”. I am reminded of the character from Goodness Gracious Me, who would say ‘Indian’ to anything or anyone who was mentioned to him.

Well, my hotel has a great view across the sprawling train station of Delhi. Platforms, stock yards, the shifting and singing of steel rails as trains from across the continent converge on this city. A city, interestingly, chosen by the Chucklevision that was the Great British Empire in the 19C to be the capital as it had a winter, which means at this time of year it is lovely and cold. This city, these five cities that make up Delhi, has incredible history. However the beauty and majesty of its age are the last things on my mind at five thirty in the morning the trains below are honking and hooting constantly, as it seems good horn-good brakes-good luck counts for the trains here too. Slightly worrying, and everso bloody annoying when I am suffering from a five hour time delay.

There was a death in the family yesterday. Had a call at home from my mother, first time in two years. Luckily I was in India, even better was that my wife took the time to explain why her children want nothing to do with her

When I drive through Delhi, with the windows closed, I sometimes imagine the music of Philip Glass from Koyyanasqatsi.

Everyone should come here at least once in their life, to remind themselves how much they have in their life.

Delhi by gaslight.

2005-02-01T05:10:00.000-08:00

Fav song on iPod: Ska version of Apache, from Ska’d for Life

Last night I saw an advert for the film ‘Intolerable Cruelty’ on HBO. Made me laugh; George Clooney voted the ‘Sexiest man Alive’ by People Magazines and Catherine Zeta Jones, voted Hottest Hottie by VH1 viewers, in a comedy, a battle royale between….. zzzz
Now, excuse me for stating the obvious, but during all those ‘hot’ scenes where their ‘chemistry’ was doing it stuff, don’t you think George may have had the small, small thought of ‘I’m following in the footstep of Michael Douglas, I’m his sloppy seconds…’
Hmm, not quite the hot film after that thought. Not for me anyway.

My time would be better spent plucking my eyebrows, which are far too shaggy and not all helped by forgetting to pack my vanity set.

Rediscovered Mulligatawny… hmmm. Much better than the stuff in UK, which I think is just oxtail soup with a spoonful of korma powder and pearl barley dropped in.

I am a bit guffy though!

I have not had the chance to do any shopping. Every time I ring home, my son asks if I have bought him a huge diamond yet, he saw some crystals in a shop and I foolishly said I can get these in Delhi. Avarice in one so young, a wonderful magpie of a lad. I’m really missing them.

C

It's a Long Way to Tipperary.

2005-01-30T04:49:00.000-08:00

fav song on iPod: Israel bu Siuoxsie

I am abroad again, working like the well slapped fool I am.

This does lead me to a story, which no one will aprreciate, about the last time I was here. Two years ago I was in India when I ate something that did not totally agree with me. Now, everytime I come here I get a little squity- it's part of the charm, as you sit in a cold bath and curse life.
This time though, it was hideous. I had blood pouring out, I'd go to the toilet and my pants were stacked with blood clots. I would work for a couple of hours then go back to the hotel to collapse in agony.
I decided that I would weather the storm and see a doctor in the UK rather than a hotel doctor. So, after a week of shitting blood and all sorts, I stagger into my GP and ask to see the doctor. I was offered an appointment in four days time, 'Ive got blood pouring out of my arse,' I whispered. I was told that if an appointment was cancelled, they would call me.
Bless 'em.

So, that's my India trip memories from last time. So far today, everything has gone totally wrong- hotel denied credit card as my payment had not gone through before I flew, suppliers have all managed to not supply anything.

And the bar I always drink at no longer serves a roti with your beer. For that I have to go the bistro area.

My hotel room stinks like old towels.

I think, I think... damn, I left the ruby slippers at home.

Oh, and don't try wearing a sari out here. People get very upset.

C

3am Eternal....

2004-10-27T23:57:00.000-07:00

Favourite song on iPod: 3am Eternal by KLF

Busy few days. Failed MOT and £360 to sort the car out. Not what I needed right now. Went to Cornwall for a few days- great waves, especially with this weather, but my wife and I seemed to have spent the entire time arguing, so not really interested in surfing. Even the trip down was a terse exercise in each of us saying the wrong things.

Upshot of main journey down topic: being a talented trannie means end of our marriage. After several years of carefully considering her feelings in how I have behaved, she still has deep down anger and resentment that really flared up at the weekend. When we married I did not say that this was a part of me, it wasn't on the table, so to speak. So now it isn't a part of the marriage, it isn't something she is prepared to have in her marriage. If I want to be a 'flown-blown trannie' then our marriage is over.

Admittedly it didn't help by my own comments that I was not prepared to stay married to a mentally depressed and unreasonable person- I grew up with one and I have no intention of spending my life with another.

As I said, it has been a tense period of not saying the right things. I decided to not question what she considered a full-blown trannie until we had calmed down a bit. Maybe the journey home on Saturday...

I bought some shoes. A pair of sensible boots and a pair of not-so-sensible platforms. My inner equilibrium seems sated. Not good timing though.

Good grief!

2004-10-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

Nearly a month since my last blog! That is shameful.

favourite song on iPod today: Beethoven, Midnight Sonata 1st movement.

What has happened, well, lots and a little.

I have been working in Sydney and Hong Kong, which allowed me a lot of time to think as I travelled. Worked out my lieu time yesterday for travel in the last month, came to eighty-six hours. Shame I am not allowed to claim money for travel. Shame as mine is the only department in the entire airline that will only offer lieu instead of the hard cash we need to keep us in a drink sodden lifestyle.

Forgot to buy duty free on my second trip to Sydney. I was too busy trying to find raspberry flavoured vodka for a friend, forgot my own. Durrhead.

What did I think about? I regretted I hadnt bought my mandolin, because now I am right back on page one.
Everything else I will save, maybe introduce some flashbacks into my blog. Bit of juxtaposed interest for the reader.

I need new shoes.

I need really nice shoes that make my ankles look like a sculptor sighed as he finished their beautiful shape and vowed to never touch clay again.

I need shoes. Vogue had a great shoe supplement, it was like porn for me!

Please feel free to send me links for lovely shoes. x

Thank goodness for weekends

2004-09-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

Favourite songs on iPod: Hong Kong Garden by Siouxsie, Panic by The Smiths, Up With The Cock by Judge Dread.

Weds night I stayed back at work to help out for 'a few hours'. Four o'clock I staggered into my bed. Then up and into work by ten. There is some EU regulation that you have to leave eleven hours between leaving and arriving at your workplace, or something. Fuck that, I'm too busy.

Thursday whisked by, I can't remember any of it. I spent the evening burning a compilation CD for friends who are moving to Brazil, lots of great tracks (so much so, made a copy Playlist on the iPod- how bloody sad). Hope they like it, I'm sure they will.

Friday started with calls from Sydney about the fast approaching deadline and how wrong things are going. Managed to reassure them that we have processes in control, then had several calls from the UK with struggling ego's clashing over our contingency planning. My presence has been requested over there, which is nice, so I'm making arrangements now.

Before going into work, popped into town for some shopping, had time to look at some wonderful heels and underwear I cant afford, I need to buy something soon, I think. I was in Primark for cheap work socks and saw some pink an black underwear that was great, well cut, nice material, flattering pattern... I know that I will be going back for it...

It's the weekend, I have plenty of DIY planned for the daytime, and I'll be busy with the sewingmachine in the evening.

Was sent loads of great links today, I'll post them next week, when I get the hang of adding links properly.

Mandolin pangolin marmalade jam

2004-09-22T13:24:00.000-07:00

Its Wednesday already! favourite songs on iPod: Gun Street Girl by Tom Waits, The Boatman by Levellers & Ghost Town by The Prodigy.

I mistakenly deleted Tuesday blog, reposted just now.

So, last night, I spent an hour playing the mandolin, practising my scales, I am really enjoying learning this though I have discovered that I do not have a musical ear. Luckily my wife has spent many a long year tuning her guitar, stoned, in a bed-sit and was on hand to help. She produced a violin tuning kazoo thing- did you know the mandolin and violin have the same notes (GDAE) so within a few minutes of plucking strings, tighting-loosening pegs, I had a tuneful mandolin. Which explains why she shut the door on me last night.

Afterwards I started taking measurements for my corset but fell victim to apathy and ended up plucking and shaping my eyebrows instead.

Tonight I am working late, retyping over five hundred voicemail accounts as a part of our main office upgrade and renumbering. And the overseas work? That is going seriously tits up... I seriously, seriously dislike VoIP. A router managing telephony is a pain in the derriere, the problems I am having I could sort out in seconds on a switch. Instead I have to make Change Requests to our supplier as no one here deems training me on the Cisco kit I am installing as important. Considering we are facing outsourcing and most of the rest of the department is halfway out of the door, I think the writing is pretty much on wall for us.

Oeps, I feel apathy approaching again.

Time to go.
xx

Yesterdays's blog? Where did it go?

2004-09-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

Favourite songs on iPod: Hicksville by Celtic Cross, Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand.

As usual work is the tussle between a desk monster of paperwork and emails, phone calls and voicemails. I am busy at the moment building an IP Call Centre in Sydney, upgrading a small Avaya keysystem in Delhi, assessing the improvements to business of Symposium to our Nortel in Hong Kong, and I am halfway through upgrading our UK backbone of Realitis switches to Rel.8 whilst implementing a global re-numbering.

And I have been asked to cease a call out pager.

Last night I started learning the mandolin properly, that is, I bought myself a 'Teach Yourself How To Play The Mandolin' book. Got to page seven. Admittedly the first five pages were mainly text and a few pictures advising of the names of the parts of the violin and how to hold a plectrum. But once I started on those scales, well, my wife politely shut the door of the study whilst telling me it wasn't anything personal. Hmm. Give it two weeks, I'll have a record deal and all the Renaissance Bling she can shake a wooden spoon at. Oh verily, yay, I will.

I also started my next corset for Vinylla in a few weeks, this one will have more boning than any yet, so hopefully lots of great panelling and sewing with a tightlaced waistline. If I can get that finished before I go to Amsterdam, I'll be happy. Now, need to think about shoes... my love, my bane... shoes...

Monday morning.

2004-09-20T09:55:00.000-07:00

Favourite tunes on the iPod: New York City Cops by The Strokes, & Hell by Squirrel Nut Zippers.

My energy levels are high again today. Which is good as I am on a training course in London all day, with BT. Hmmm...

Despite a five hour drive each way, my weekend in Cornwall on the beach doing nothing, was essential for my mental well-being.

It is hard to find a better way of shaking off stress, blues, mental weariness, the whole 20 hours a day, 5 days a week, breathing work and worries thing, than to either climb over rocks hunting for crabs, shrimps, mussels, dabs and blennies, or putting on a wetsuit and just getting tumbled in white, broken waves with my bodyboard.

Saturday evening I ate mussels pulled from the beach, cooked in tomatoes, red peppers, pimentos, garlic. Our friend Jason lives in a gypsy truck, he caught them day before, soaked them overnight in salt water then cooked them on his wood stove. Fantastic with fresh made bread.

Well, I didn't get in the surf this time but just getting away, breathing sea air, sleeping on the beach and hours of rock pooling with my children was enough. A healthy amount of absinthe and steak & stilton pasties helped too.

The day before driving down, I was given a great device, a Stellascope. Having arrived at our caravan at midnight on an amazingly clear night (no light pollution!), I spent a while sitting outside, marvelling at the sky. I put the Stellascope together the next day, with the spirit of a Harry Potteresque device I played with wonder. It is a portable sky map!! It looks like a telescope with a calendar on the side. You twist the case to set the date, set the lens for your latitude, make sure you have the correct hemisphere (north and south for those journeys over the equator) lens and look through the hole- hey presto, a perfect map of the sky with all the stars named and constellations marked out. Its great. That night I bored anyone who would stop long enough by pointing out constellations.
Downside to being away: the port-a-loo. Yuck...

2004-09-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

Favourite song on iPod today: The Staunton Lick by Lemon Jelly, find it free here: http://mp3-find.com/mp3-Lemon_Jelly-The_Staunton_Lick-13040.asp

What did I do last night? The manga drawing, well I tried. A big blank piece of paper, some pencil sketches, and a paintbrush. All ready, inspiration whirring but there was the most hideous programme on telly, Fat Britain... The new reality tv. Take normal people and publically revile their eating habits whilst ignoring the causes: supermarkets who stock their shelves with junk food and only have discounts on comfort food, in fact, I don't think I have ever seen a sale on healthy food. Packaging for junk food has bright colours, organic healthy food is usually beige or brown, so obviously the kids wont want it. What about the government? Or are they too beholden to party funds to dare force any company to reduce salt, lower sugar (in white bread, for example), regulate addictives, or properly crucify GM companies. Is Home Economics still taught at school?

Did you know that one third of road traffic is carrying produce?

Why don't we eat seasonally? It is what our genetic culture was raised for, a carrier-breeding species, eating by seasons- plump in summer, thin in winter, carrying a single child around. It isn't hard, and there are enough traditional recipes for this: mussels cooked in beer, steamed fish, braised beef, nuts and berries, fruit and honey. I often wonder if I should compile a cookbook, but there are so many already. Talking of which, don't you despise Nigella?

Anyway, today I am annoyed that I was sucked into this awful programme.

Tonight I'm off to Cornwall for a weekend of surfing and crab-wrangling. I need to put my feet in the cold sea, enjoy the swells pushed across by the hurricanes in the USA (Hmm, bet you wish you'd followed the Kyoto Agreement now... but thanks for the waves) and enjoy autumnal evenings on the beach.

Hmm...

2004-09-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

Obviously havent got the hang of this Add a Link thing.

Try again- http://www.hairalchemy.com/tutorial/index.html

(hope that worked)

Overtime? What overtime...

2004-09-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

Busy day, and as usual nothing went as planned. Supposed to be working this evening at the airport but airside pass clearance had been delayed by references. So, loss of overtime but an evening in. Must be a silver cloud in there.

I am working on a bustier at the moment; black silk with embroidered dragonflies, a little boning, with two rows of brass buttons down the front. Went into town with the girl who ordered it and found some matching silk/dragonflies heels. She was ecstatic. I should work on that but I am behind on some artwork for a friends club night fliers. I will see where the muse takes my lazy derriere once I get my backside settled in front of my PC, as I was up 'till midnight last night editing some writing before beginning the rounds of sending a synopsis, preliminary letter, sample works, and so on (with a degree of professionalism that underlines the pleading quality of 'My talent is being stifled in this bloody day to day, I need a career that allows me to lounge around the house, on a chez lounge, in my corset and heels, writing and sewing.'

Which is all very well, but I have a mortgage to pay, a manga poster to ink, a bustier to finish and my own next corset to start (red, heavy boning, tight laced, sewn with roses), a novel on the go, agents to annoy, and I found this lovely link too: Pinch-braiding

Sometimes there is not enough time in the day to live your life and the live you want to live.

A Little Test

2004-09-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

This is a clever CORSET Maths thing; bear with it and don't slip down to the bottom to read the end.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to wear a corset. (Try for more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (Just to be bold)

3. Add 5. (for the inches saved by wearing a Corset)

4. Multiply it by 50, I'll wait while you get the calculator but you should really be able to do this in your head.

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1754.... If you haven't, add 1753 ...

6. Now subtract the four-digit year that you were born.

You should have a three-digit number

So,

The first digit of this was your original number (i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).

The next two numbers are .......

YOUR AGE! ~ (Oh YES, it IS!!!!! )

Why corset?

2004-09-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, so why did I name this blog my Corset?

Well, it's here to keep all the secrets in, just like a well-made corset will do. And as I make and love corsets, worn on women and men, tight lighted or just a little cinched, historical or fetish, I'll be posting pictures of finished pieces, of works in progress, of related information, and then some general tittle-tattle about myself, my life as it passes us by and being a talented transvestite.

Hope you enjoy, C

15-09-2004

2004-09-15T05:58:00.000-07:00

This is just the proverbial toe in the water.