» The most childish thing you've done as an adult

There is a Most Excellent place near my Mum's house
It's called the "Cream of Galloway" and they make delicious ice cream. So when I was visiting her this summer we decided to go along on one gloriously sunny day. Now, it's not just the ice cream making shenanigans that make this place worth a visit.

There's a sign that says adults are encouraged to play too. And what they're encouraged to play ON is a giganto 3-D maze thingummyjig. With Mum laughing and wielding the camera (which I fortunately managed to avoid), I disappeared into this thing made of wood and rope and spent a fair while larking about and getting mildly irritated by there not being an official exit.

Eventually I gave up on finding the mythical "exit" and used one of the emergency exits. Finally, we went to the coffee shop bitty and consumed delicious cookies and icecream. All in all, a day of awesomeness.
(Thu 17th Sep 2009, 15:08, More)

» I don't understand the attraction

I just don't get
1. Not Reading

Why are some people so proud of the fact they don't read books? As in ever. There were a couple of people I went to Uni with who hadn't read a novel of any description since English lessons at school. These people are also mildly obsessed with the crappy "lifestyle" magazines.

Nothing beats the escapism of a good book, especially one like Unseen Academicals which I got last week. And have read twice already.

2. Television

Or more specifically, advert-filled lowest common denominator television. In the 20-odd pages so far this has been ranted about far more eloquently than I ever could, so I'm not going to re-hash the topic again. I've not had a television license for the past couple of years and I don't miss it one bit. Except possibly Mythbusters and Bones... ho hum.

3. Twilight

There is no limit to my distaste for this series of vomit-inducing, badly written attempt at fiction. I still haven't forgiven the friend who told me it was "good."
(Tue 20th Oct 2009, 15:39, More)

» Things we do to fit in

Being shy
That's what I used to be.

Not necessarily to fit in, but to avoid standing out. To escape notice completely. Things were just easier that way. Every group of people needs the shy one, right?

I'd not talk about what I was interested in (books, games, etc) to most people I knew because they weren't interested or just didn't understand the concept. I know some people who are proud of the fact they've not read a whole novel since High School English. Weirdos.

I had a strange neurosis about talking about my music taste thanks to my first serious boyfriend. Apparently anything he didn't like was "rubbish." Yeah, right. First thing I did after the breakup was buy a few new CD's and play them at high volume. I'm still reticent about my music taste, but I'm getting there.

I left University in May last year. From then, right up until October, it was just a round of craziness. I met a load of new people, hung out with them, and simply found out more of who I was. I'm not part of that crowd anymore, but given half the chance I'd do it all again. It was insane amounts of fun.

Nowadays I challenge people to find a music track I won't listen to at least once all the way through. Anything is fair game, and I mean anything. I'll go to the club nights and have a blast talking to practically anyone, and dancing to anything that catches my ear or am dragged up to.

This is my life, it's not perfect, but it's mine. And I love it.
(Mon 19th Jan 2009, 19:46, More)

» Pubs

The story at least starts in a pub
I wondered if this girl is actually a closet B3tan after she came out with this line. So I can and will name names just to see.

~~wavy lines for back in time~~

The story starts in a Godawful 80's bar in Dundee, and it just so happened to be karaoke night. There was a small group of us, not that we were singing, it's more fun just to giggle at the people massacring (sp?) their way through the tunes.

After getting rather merry on overpriced and rather inferior vodka, it was decided to migrate to the only half-decent mainstream club in the city. Now not even wild horses could get me into that wretched place, but I was a deluded student at the time.

"Happily" dancing away to some terrible music in the club, I notice that Laura has been mislaid. She's with karaoke-organiser-guy and appears to be sucking face with him.

Bemoaning the lack of a camera, I alert the rest of the group to see her antics.

The next day, Nicola tells Laura what she was doing and Laura comes out with the immortal line "Pictures or it didn't happen."
(Wed 11th Feb 2009, 14:24, More)

» Family codes and rituals

Broken. Twisted. Hopefully soon forgotten.
So many stories of family traditions that should warm the heart. So many stories of quirks that are endearing to those related to them. So many stories of functional families.

I was thinking the other day to see if I could find any memories of family things when I was still living in England. And you know what? I can't. All the memories I can easily remember are related to various geekeries (old Acorn and C64, or Laputa).

Looking back to the time when my family still all lived in the same house in England, I can't remember any so-called traditions. I don't remember what we did at Christmas and other similar events in the year, I don't have any memories of any events in the household.

Up until Christmas 2003 or 2004, the whole family would descend on my Grandparent's house for the big day. We'd open all our presents and have a sort of "normal" day eating too much and the younger people being banished to the front room with toys whilst the adults had the middle room.

2005 and 2006 were when the cracks started appearing. It was just immediate family at the house (granparents, one cousin, my uncle, my mum, an "aunt" and me). If that doesn't sound like just immediate family to you, I already know that godsdammit! If you were to look at the family tree, it would look more like a mangrove thicket. Kinda. That's just the Discworld nut in me coming through.

Ahem. Anyway, moving swiftly on...

Last year, at about this time, things started to come to a head. All the effedupness and tensions which I knew absolutely NOTHING about, gods bless my Mum for that, exploded shortly after New Year. The family unit in my grandparents' house dissolved and I didn't know why.

After my Gran moved out she decided, in her infinite wisdom, to tell me some of the detail. Damned if I know why. I still wish I didn't know.

My uncle told me some more. I wish he hadn't.

I thought a lot about the situation with my parent's divorce and my Mum leaving the family unit as soon as she got the chance after reaching Scotland. That frightens me. I didn't want to think about that.

I thought about my other aunts leaving as soon as they got the chance. I know why now, and dammit I wish I didn't.

If anyone on here knows me (doubtful I know), don't let on. Please. I didn't ask to know about this. I didn't want to know about this. And everything I remember, and granted that's not much, from my childhood and the more recent past is tainted FOREVER.

And yes, I know there are some stories seriously more effed up than what I've just told. And I've been light on the detail on purpose.
(Wed 26th Nov 2008, 23:07, More)