Month: December 2008

New year’s resolutions

On By Laura MorganIn Navel gazing

In order of priority:

  1. I will start doing a job I like, or at the very least I will begin some training that will equip me to do a job I like.
  2. I will resurrect last year’s resolution to read new books instead of re-reading old ones – by which I mean books which are new to me rather than newly bought, since last year’s other resolution was to stop buying brand new books, and that has worked out very well.  I have joined a library, bought books in charity shops and borrowed them from people with libraries more extensive than mine, and I’ve saved plenty of ££ and read things I wouldn’t otherwise have thought of.
  3. I will drink less wine and more Guinness (my doctor told me it was good for me).
  4. To counteract the effects of the Guinness, I will  go back to some form of organised exercise.  I’ll have a think about that one; it’s too cold to contemplate it today.
  5. I will make tea in the office rather than buying it from the café on the way to work.  The amount I spend on things I could make myself is unforgivable.

I think five is enough.  Happy new year!

A joke

On By Laura MorganIn Christmas, Small pleasures

Q. Why is Christmas the best time to buy philosophy books?

A. Because the Schopenhauers are longer.

(I apologise.  That wasn’t in a cracker, but it could have been.  One of the more upmarket sorts of cracker, perhaps.)

Activity fail

On By Laura MorganIn Navel gazing

I’ve been at home alone all afternoon and evening, with grand plans to make inroads into the pile of DVDs I’ve amassed over the last few weeks.  They are all things I want to watch, and most of them are things which my regular viewing companion isn’t interested in, limiting the times I can watch them to those when he is, as today, otherwise engaged (at the pub).

So what have I done?  Nothing at all, of course.  I’ve had Alibi on for some of the day, without really paying it any attention, and I’ve got the Big Fat Quiz of the Year on right now but I’m barely watching it.  I’ve read half of two different Miss Marple books, both of which I have read before.  I’ve eaten four slices of toast.

So my question is:  how do I motivate myself to engage in activities which – and here’s the thing – I’m only supposed to be doing for fun in the first place?  Or maybe a better question is: if I can’t, does it matter?  Maybe eating toast and reading bits of books I’ve read before is a valuable way of spending time.  As valuable, anyway, as watching The Fox and the Hound or season 4 of Lost.  That’s probably the answer.

Advent song for December 24

On By Laura MorganIn Christmas, Music

I’ve enjoyed doing this so much, and there are so many songs I had to leave out, that I’m almost tempted just to keep going and make gladallover a 365-day-a-year Christmas music blog.  But by January I’ll be feeling austere and spartan and bloated, so I’ll stick to tradition and bring it to a close today.  I’ve spent quite a lot of time wondering which songs to include, but there was never any real doubt in my mind as to what today’s song would be, because it has my favourite Christmas pop video ever.  There are so many good things about it that I shan’t point them all out, but I would like you to make a particular appreciation of Cliff’s dancing from 2’25” onwards. It’s really quite something.  Also note the fake snow, which is almost as convincing as my own snow (which will no longer be visible if you’re reading this after January 3 2009).

Happy Christmas!

Advent song for December 20

On By Laura MorganIn Christmas, Music2 Comments

An unprecedented second appearance from George Michael here.  This is still the best Christmas song for singing along to in a crowded pub.  It’s literally impossible for people not to join in.

I like that, while everybody else looks twenty-four years older, Phil Collins looks exactly the same.  And sigh, but young Sting was handsome, wasn’t he?  And young Bono looked perturbingly like Zed from Police Academy.  There’s also a fleeting appearance from my favourite Geldof sister, Fifi Trixibelle.

Incidentally, I’ve no idea who sings the “Here’s to you” and “Here’s to them” lines.  If you can identify them, do let me know.