Frizz

“The field of scientific research in the DPRK (North Korea) successfully conducted an underground nuclear test under secure conditions on October 9, Juche 95 (2006) at a stirring time when all the people of the country are making a great leap forward in the building of a great, prosperous, powerful socialist nation.

“It has been confirmed that there was no such danger as radioactive emission in the course of the nuclear test as it was carried out under a scientific consideration and careful calculation.

“The nuclear test was conducted with indigenous wisdom and technology 100%. It marks a historic event as it greatly encouraged and pleased the KPA (Korean People’s Army) and people that have wished to have powerful self-reliant defence capability.

“It will contribute to defending the peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the area around it.” [via]

That time of year for this again. This year I was much more vocal, I even got to stand up against 4 x 4’s and was pleasantly surprised that I was not the only one, although someone did shout out what’s wrong with them and I’m proud to say I shouted the ‘environmentally unfriendly’ line back. It’s actually quite nice to talk to some of the neighbours, although I just wish the ‘Bleak House’ thing wasn’t always such a big part of it, but maybe I wouldn’t go if it weren’t for that. It’s quite stressful having the same conversation every year and not getting very far. It was at my old school again, this year in the hall and I was so ‘engrossed’ in ‘Bleak House’ conversation and drugged up, because it’s that time of the month, that I couldn’t switch my brain over to another topic to talk the Principle, so I just stood there looking a bit stupid and I’m disappointed because in theory I had been looking forward to talking to her again. As various issues were brought up, even amazingly our ‘Bleak House’ issue, even if it was in a way that I had to protest against, I realised that we were sitting on the same chairs that had been there in my time and I wondered whether my younger self had ever sat in the chair I was on, I imagined an image flickering back and forth of me then and now.

I’ve only read one (Penelope Fitzgerald’s, The Blue Flower) of the top 10 books in yesterdays Observer article for the best British, Irish, or Commonwealth novel of the past 25 years. In total I’ve only read three of the authors, the other two being; Coetzee and McEwan. Fitzgerald is the only woman on the list, no Margaret Atwood, Anne Michaels or Carol Shields, the latter not even getting a look in. I do feel as if I ought to read the others, and Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children, McEwan’s Atonement and Coetzee’s Disgrace are on my ‘to read list’, but somehow not strongly enough for me to actually read them and when I read the synopsis’s for the other books they just seem a big turn off. On the other hand of The New York Times top five I’ve read Beloved and Underworld and the only author I’ve not read is Updike. Perhaps it’s the immigrant aspect that I’m relating to?

Bow Wow Wow – “I Want Candy” (Kevin Shields Remix) from the soundtrack of Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette.

OK so the bling is a bit much, but blingless Sandy would look mighty fine with this on. She’d be such a Diva Dog.

I have been meaning to write about the Crocs since I got them. They have become a regular fixture on my feet. I love them, I still think they are incredibly ugly, but they are a wonder of comfort too. The first day I wore them, I was still wondering what all the fuss was about until I took myself off to the supermarket, where they came into their own, I bounced and floated up and down the aisles. Getting out of bed the next day, I had a sore back as if it had been realigned in some way and I seemed to be lifting my arches, a small miracle for someone with flattish feet. It’s cold now and I’m still wearing them and putting up with the strangest of looks from passers by, although they are a good conversation starter, I had three people talk to me about them in one day! So yesterday I convinced A to buy a pair and a fair bit of convincing was needed, since she doesn’t share my respect for ugly shoes. We’ll see what happens.

Anna and I had a very Devil Wears Prada shopping day yesterday. We did the King’s Road, a blast from the past and quite fun. Overheard precocious teenager on having come out of the men’s loos in Starbucks “Everyone thought I was a tyranny”.

Victoria Station on Friday evening; people weren’t happy.

Where to start? What a day? Even pre-day; I dreamt I was crossing a big road, one with lots of lanes and I was carrying a gun, aware that the drivers were watching me to see what I would do. When I reached the other side it was actually our garden and I had to hide the gun. Powerful or powerless?

I had this big ‘Bleak House’ meeting in the morning (which might explain the dream), after stressing all week about it, it actually went OK. This is an odd thing to notice, but one of the people at the meeting had my Dad’s lips, they were a similar shape, which I took to be a good sign. He turned out to be half-Jewish, we are all related somehow, aren’t’ we?

Then I had a lovely lunch with a friend, because I knew that I was going to need to see a friend after that.

Eventually I ended up at an archive with not much time to do some work.

Leaving at the end of the day, I trotted off to the nearest Waterstones to look at an H. G. Wells book, because apparently there is a description of the character cycling near here - I skimmed through the whole book - my work is having this kind of effect - but didn’t end up buying it - I can’t bring myself to spend £7.99 on a book anymore.

With a migraine threatening to come on I somehow ended up going from Euston to Victoria on a bus, in rush hour, via Oxford Street, part of which was spent sitting opposite a rather drunk woman, only in her twenties, with rotting teeth…

Then 15 minutes to get a train ticket (pictures of serious queues to follow). [added]

I should have let it end there, but no. There was another person who was supposed to be at the ‘Bleak House’ meeting and had just disappeared… so with migraine still threatening, I decided to pop round and see if he was in. He did eventually open the door. We had one of those unsatisfactory circular conversations, which I’m not sure I understood. Then just as I was leaving, who should be at the door, none other than the ex- neighbour herself and part-cause for the ‘Bleak House’ meeting. I swear this is true - she just about looked at me and said, “oh that’s the girl, the girl from next door” just managing to say my surname, as if she was dragging it from the depths of her brain. I just stood there and nodded, I would like to think sagely. She looked like she thought she looked good, but actually she looked small and diminished. Feeling utterly overwhelmed, I went home.

Anna just called from Tesco’s where she is buying gluten free flour so she can bring me an Apple Crumble tomorrow.

It’s days like this that really makes me appreciate my friends.

We have a Jay in the garden. I know they’re not supposed to be unusual, but I don’t remember seeing one for a while, maybe since I was a kid, perhaps I just wasn’t looking.