Various ramblings by the small hobbit

My last post ...

Day 94 – I hate clothes shopping, so was delighted to find the Matalan sale included five shirts that would be ideal for work this autumn.

Day 95 – Almost Human, and a lonely John Kennex at the end.  He really should have accepted Dorian’s offer to come to the bar and watch Kennex drink ;)

Day 96 – We went for a walk at our favourite spot in the evening.  After a really hot day it was great to enjoy the breeze.

Day 97 – I’ve been mulling over an idea for a couple of months now, until yesterday’s watsons_woes prompts caused me to write a quick version of it.  I also sent a copy to my beta scfrankles who made some very helpful comments – including the need to expand the story somewhat (which I knew really).  But the thing that really made me happy was that she liked the concept (as did a few on WW who had the first draft).  Also due to the sterling work of another of my betas fortesomniare I was able to sign up for an early posting date for the Lewis Summer Challenge because she’s helped me to batter the thing into sense (or submission).  So basically this is a shout out to two of my wonderful betas.

Day 98 – Finished work and I now have a week’s holiday.  Hooray!  I’ve had long weekends but this is the first week off I’ve had since last Christmas.

Day 99 - The Globe Touring production of Much Ado About Nothing.  I posted about this yesterday, but it truly made me happy.

Day 100 - the reason this post is going up earlier than usual.  We are going away.  SM and I are going to Exeter for a couple of nights, with plans to get to the seaside tomorrow.  Then it's home for one night and I go up to London for two nights and three plays.  Holidays here I come.

Thank you to all my flist who have commented on my weekly Happy Days entries.  It will seem a bit strange to be no longer making them.  It has been good to find at least one happy thing per day, and although it won't be a regular posting from now on I shall aim to include many of the little things that make me smile from time to time.  If nothing else it's reminded me that it doesn't have to be a major event to make me happy, anything can give the day an uplift.

The past week was particularly difficult.  Part way through the previous week our manager, who we all like a lot, went in for a minor heart op.  On the Friday we heard that it wasn't quite as simple.  We went into work on the Monday to learn that she was going to have a double bypass op, sometime later in the week, which would then mean 8 to 12 weeks recovery time.  The three of us from the office went into the hospital that afternoon (the manager just sitting waiting so was continuing to work) to go through everything that needed to be done for the next couple of months.  You can imagine what a shock that all was to us.  However there was a couple of days to get a few things sorted before she had the op, which was good.  Only she had the op the following morning.  So we were left running the office between us.  The manager's husband also has a main position where we work, so he was out too.  And work became very stressful.  We work well as a team, so that isn't a problem, but given the circumstances it wasn't easy, dealing with all the expected and unexpected matters.

Nevertheless, here are the week's happy moments:
( Days 80 to 86 )

Happy days numbers 66 to 72:

Day 66 – After a very heavy shower at teatime, SM suggested we go for a walk since it had dried up.  We took the same walk we had on Day 31, down to the river.  The air was fresh and although the grass was wet the ground wasn’t muddy.  We watched the bullocks and sheep and the ducks.

Day 67 – Almost Human.  Once again, but I’m enjoying it.  I like Kennex and I like Dorian, and Rudy, and Maldonado.  It is a tad predictable, although I like the futuristic bits.  And while some things are really futuristic others aren’t which seems strange.  So I’m not as disappointed as I thought I might be that it isn’t being recommissioned.  But I can see myself writing the odd ficlet.  Although probably not quite as odd as this one Rudy didn't expect

Day 68 – In what turned out to be a particularly frustrating day for various reasons, it was sunny so I took the time to walk between the two sites at work.

Day 69 – The daughter has been offered the job she went for an interview for yesterday.  And it’s her birthday.

Day 70 – Under Milk Wood was excellent.  See my last post.

Day 71 – I posted Consequences and at least one person liked it.  John Watson has come back to 221B Baker Street, but the reasons for his return mean that it is not turning out the way he had hoped.  Finding the right ending proved challenging, but with impishtubist’s encouragement I made it.  The pairing is Sherlock Holmes/Victor Trevor, although that’s mostly in the background, and implied John Watson/Mary Watson.

Day 72 - I was supposed to be going to a barbecue in the afternoon, but decided that since I didn't particularly want to go, I wouldn't.  Such a lovely feeling of relief at lunchtime.  And with SM out for the whole afternoon, doing his own thing (watching motorbike scrambling and listening to a friend's choir - not at the same time I hasten to add) that gave me several hours of chilling and writing and watching rubbish DVDs.  I even did a bit of weeding.

Over halfway through my 100 days and still going strong:

Day 52 – Bought a new phone charger.  There is now a good chance I won’t end up with a half charged phone after leaving it on charge overnight.

Day 53 – Really enjoyed Almost Human tonight.  It was the “Blood Brothers” episode.  Kennex has a certain understanding of Dorian and seems to really care about him.  I know this will change due to the bizarre order of the episodes – but I’m taking what I can get when I can get it.  And I loved Maldonado’s shout of “Kennex” when she discovers there are two DRNs in her station.  Because of course it is entirely his fault.

Day 54 – I had my Excel Intermediate course and it was good.  It should prove useful and time saving, and I can now produce some brightly coloured graphs.

Day 55 – Our Brownies remain enthusiastic.

Day 56 - Went out for a meal with people from work this evening.  Lovely meal (Chinese and all you can eat) and we get on well together.

Day 57 - Went to a 90th birthday party for someone at church.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was very relaxed, probably half family, half church people, proper birthday tea, including jelly.

Day 58 - Went to hear Andreas Scholl at the new Sam Wanamaker Theatre at The Globe.  I shall be writing more about the trip, but for now my happiness was in hearing him sing again, such a beautiful voice.  Because I think you should all understand what I'm talking about: Waly, Waly Only he was even better live.

And so, here is the summary of my week's happy things.

Day 38 – Another Bank Holiday, another trip to the garden centre.  This time we bought bedding plants for our tubs and hanging baskets.  Chosen purely because we thought they were pretty, so a total riot of colours: bright orange, purple, red, yellow, violet.  I don’t do subtle.

Day 39 – My work computer was upgraded to Excel 2010.  It made me happy for two reasons: firstly because it’s nice to have something more up to date, and secondly because I feel valued at work because it’s something I asked for.  Also, it means I can do the Advanced Excel course in July rather than September.

Day 40 - Watson’s Diary was posted.  It began life as a sherlock60 written by scfrankles which I replied to in the comments.  It grew over the next week and a half until I stalled and Frankles suggested she complete it.

This is the introduction I wrote for it on Tumblr. “If you’ve ever wondered what goes in the darkest corners of ACD Sherlock Holmes fandom, then look no further.  This particular collaborative work comes, from amongst other places, the dark corners of Mrs Hudson’s broom cupboard.  If, by the end, you wonder about the sanity of the authors, you are in good company.  We do too.”  Watson's Diary

Day 41 – It was the Ascension Day outing at work.  All the residents, support staff and other staff go on a day trip.  This year we went to Avebury.  It was a good day, the weather stayed dry – we were fortunate, we drove through some very heavy showers on the way back.  It was lovely to be wandering amongst the stones, enjoying the countryside and being paid for it.

Day 42 - I finished the Sherlock/Victor Trevor fic I was writing for a Tumblr Viclock exchange and pushed it off to my beta.  I'm not entirely happy with it, since the request included a large proportion of things I don't write, but I think it will be okay.

Day 43 - I went to London because a friend was having a birthday picnic in Regent's Park and another friend was running the Race for Life there.  I arrived about 30 seconds before Emmy crossed the finish line, so was able to cheer her on, which I was very pleased about.  Then we sat in the park, ate our picnic (it was hot and the mini chocolate crispie cakes melted and fell apart), drank Pimms (you don't realise quite how much you've drunk until you finally stand up), various people got sunburnt - my arms and face went a bit pink but I was fine, and generally had a marvellous time discussing fandom, Shakespeare performances, literature and anything else that occurred to us.

Day 44 - It was still sunny so SM and I went down to the canal again (a different part) and walked along it for a while, having an ice cream on the way back.

The following were taken when we went for our walk last week, and add to the overall happiness.


( Cows )
( Chickens )





 

and therefore the day for posting my next batch of happy thingies.

Day 24 - I found suitable birthday present for friend, or at least found part of it and know what else I want to get.

Day 25 - I watched the second ep of Almost Human (see post) and there were sexbots.  Just writing that has to make me smile.

Day 26 - It may only be a few hundred words at a time, but my fic is progressing.  And trying to get the angle right and explain past events succintly, without making it just an info dump is quite challenging.

Day 27 - One of our Brownies finished since she's getting too old and will hopefully move onto Guides.  She gave me a lovely letter thanking me for being a fantastic friend and for all the help I had provided with her badges.

Day 28 - My eight-weekly supervision was very positive.

Day 29 - Henry IV (see post)

Day 30 - We went to tea with my son and his wife, to celebrate their second wedding anniversary.
 

or Happy Days, numbers 9 to 16.

Day 9, there was nothing specific, but more a general feeling (that counts, right), I wrote a silly 60 word drabble for sherlock60 Bulldog Features and had ideas for two fics, one of which I've started.

Day 10, my recipient loved my submission to acd_holmesfest Since this is still anonymous I'd appreciate it if any readers didn't try searching it out, based on the date.  Do however have a look through all the entries, both art and fic.  I can promise you it's not this one The Adventure of the Notorious Canary Trainer because that was written for me, is absolutely wonderful and has Holmes/Hopkins.

Day 11, the vicar provides wine for PCC meetings.

Day 12, my beta reader likes my latest fic (see day 9).  As part of my goals for this year I'm trying to write different things, and although it's one of my usual fandoms, I'm trying something different.

Day 13, signed up to write a pinch hit for ficmountain It's not a fandom I've ever thought about much, but in the spirit of writing new things I'm ready to have a go.  This was someone who couldn't be matched initially, so this way they will get something.  And I think I shall enjoy writing it (in the 'it seemed like a good idea at the time' category).  My thanks to draycevixen for introducing me to the comm.

Day 14, Brownie sleepover went well.  Technically I suppose this should be day 15, but it felt like it was all part of day 14, so I'm counting it.  I've written about it in my last post.

Day 15, we saw bluebells and wood sorrel.

Day 16, Messy Church planning went well.

Back to Brownies last night.  It is the start of a new term, so subs are due.  We are enrolling six new Brownies next week, therefore they should be wearing/have uniform.  It's museum sleepover next weekend, permission forms are due back.  Hardly rocket science.  And yet, out of the fourteen who came (there was a school event, so some didn't make it) only four brought everything needed.

So, at the end of the meeting I had to adopt a hard line approach and speak to every parent individually when they came to collect.  I don't like doing that.  There are times, at work, when I have to be insistent, but that comes with the job and I get paid for it.  This is voluntary and I really don't want to end up with the reputation as being the unpleasant leader.  There were parents who said "I didn't have time" - it's a short form, you had three weeks.  "Her mother's got the forms", not one of the divorced families, so stop making excuses and speak to your wife.

We are giving up our time to take your daughters for a sleepover, so giving up five minutes of your time wouldn't hurt.  And if you don't bring back our form, plus the health form you will be given next week, your daughter will be sent home.

Okay rant over.  To balance, here are my next few happy days.  Day 3: we bought an acer and a magnolia for our back garden.  Day 4: we have a new lampshade in our bedroom.  The original one was pink, which looked totally out of place once the bedroom was repainted.  The new one is green and sparkly.  Day 5: my poster of Sam Troughton in Julius Caesar is now framed and on the bedroom wall.  Day 6: arrangements were made to meet a group of people for lunch tomorrow, before seeing a play.  Turns out there's a whole group going and I've been invited to join them.  Day 7: the daughter called in for an hour.  She has acquired cake, chocolate, some of her belongings and four pairs of my socks.