(no subject)

[puddingcat]

Now, I know it's only the 15th of the month, but having £1500 in the bank is pretty good going - especially considering that I've only had 2 full payslips since getting back to the office :)

Admittedly, that doesn't take account of the £200 deposit I've just paid to the Sailing Challenge, but I *should* be getting most of that back from the rest of the team; either that, or I won't have to pay any more later on. Our place isn't guaranteed yet, but it's registered our interest & there's still a chance we'll get one of the firm-funded boats (ships? yachts?), in which case we won't have to pay a penny. Mmmm, day of training + gala dinner & booze + day of racing + more food & drink + day of recovery. And accommodation. FanTAStic :) (Though I'm still tempted to go down here, hire a powerboat & demonstrate why engines are better than sails, unless you're Ellen MacGoddess).

We need a decent team name. We're provisionally registered as the "Drunken Sailors", which is hopelessly unimaginative.

====

I'm still grinning madly when I see my userinfo page. Anonymous Giver, you've made my week :) A special mention also to dr_wez for sharing the slightly astonished realisation that the Universe failed to pooh on us from a great height on VD (I maintain that threatening it with double-barrelled shotguns helped).

====

Horrible dream last night. I dreamed that I had Farrah Fawcett-style hair, complete with OTT highlights & backcombng - but that I'd forgotten to get my roots done for ages, so next to the streaks I had 3 inches of BLACK and then 3 inches of brown next to my head.

====

Work is offering 16-week language courses in French, Italian or Spanish, at around £10 per hour. It's an average cost, but held in the office so would be convenient. I'm dithering between French (since I have GCSE but have forgotten it all, and I'd like to be *good* at a language rather than just being able to do the Eminem thing*) and Italian (which I did 6 months of in 6th form, liked but didn't ever get past the Eminem stage - but the Winter Olympics opening ceremony made me fall in love with Italy all over again. Any country that gets an F1 Ferrari to make donuts on the ice should be encouraged as much as possible ;) ) Currently, Italian's winning, since I could get to GCSE comprehension level in Russian in a year.

*The Eminem thing - "My Name Is... My Name Is... My Name is..."


====

Plans to diet (I'm a size 14, which is Too Much for me) are being stymied by alternating hunger and low blood sugar. Fruit isn't helping, and nor are bagels (though for different reasons). Arsebiscuits. Big, wobbly arsebiscuits.

Comments

[ihavecake.livejournal.com]

Italian is a little easier, but French is more useful (unless of course you holiday in Italy and not France, parts of Canada/Africa, Belgium etc)

Russian is beautiful. If I didn't have to learn a new alphabet I'd probably give it a go...

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

Russian is amazing & beautiful & the most logical language I've ever learned. You learn the rules, then follow them; it's like one big IF-THEN-ELSE flowchart :)

And the alphabet (named for St. Cyril, so you have to love it) is more like drawing than writing. It's gorgeous.

But it isn't on offer :(

[indochine-uk.livejournal.com]

Do French, then I'll help you with your homework, and natter with you on MSN in français too.

Yeah yeah yeah *gets all excited like a little puppy*

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

But - Ferrari! Alfa Romeo! Ducati! Moto Guzzi!

I'm more likely to *go* to Italy than France, but I can see that French is more useful.

*carries on dithering*

Languages

[dragonmamma.livejournal.com]

What's usefulness got to do with it? You will get on much better with something that you love. (I'm learning modern Greek and that's totally useless in the world today if I dont make it back for holidays). The only other thing to say is that Italian and French both being romance langs are very similar and if you know one you can understand much of the other. If you di ) level French at school you woint get much further than that in just a few weeks so you might as well give the Italian a go and extend your knowledge. Think of all the fun you will have practising......."How much is that Ferrari? Do you do discounts for cash? Can I have the latest model in Blue please? Where is the home of Signor Ducatti? etc etc etc "

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Bah, that's more than I had at the beginning of the month. :oP

"St. Tropez Angels" or something suitably cheesy?

--
See, someone appreciates you. Believe it now? *grins*
--
*giggles* I'd love to see a screenshot of your dream.
--
I found Italian easier than French but that could have various reasons. I've done both, French only as an optional extra (2 hours a week) in middle school and Italian for three years as secondary language as part of my degree. Lack of opportunity to practise (or botheredness to continue classes) meant that I forgot the majority of it rather quickly and found out that I couldn't even follow the most basic of conversations with my Italien colleagues when I started work here.

As to usefulness, do you want it for work, pleasure or just for the opportunity to learn another language? If the latter two, pick the one you like (the sound of) most.
--
The Arsebiscuit Diet? Sounds horrible. ;oP

Blood sugar

[lark-ascending.livejournal.com]

Protein and wholemeal bread/wholegrains are a good way to keep your blood sugar even. Also, stay away from refined sugar as much as possible because it tends to induce big highs and lows.
(I get migraine, and low blood sugar is one of my triggers, so I've had a fair bit of practise at this..)

Re: Blood sugar

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Yes, what she said. Also: POTATOES.