Eek, we had the bus with wings again today!  The one with the puffin on the tail!  (A picture of a puffin, not a real one I hasten to add).  I was, however, corrected in my assumption that puffins cannot fly.  Slightly relieved about that.  Puffins, penguins.... same difference... ehem. 

I just had a phone call and I didn't really want to take it.  So I was terrible and ignored it.  But for some reason I figured that covering it with my scarf would, I don't know, fool my brain into thinking "out of sight out of mind" and I wouldn't then feel guilty.  Yes.  Because a scarf really blocks the sound...  Jeez, logic, I do wonder sometimes where it goes when it deserts me.

Amazing.  The first dress I tried on fitted fabulously and I bought it!  Quick as that!  Job done!  SB and I wandered around the Exeter shops, oooing and ahhing at all the fabulous things.  For some reason, whenever we walked in/out of a shop the alarms often went off.  Weird.  Either we stopped and looked blankly around before walking out or we just pretended it didn't happen.  There's all this 'woo woo woo woo!' with flashing lights and people gawping and we just became even more engrossed in our conversation, hoping that we'd look so innocent that no one would consider us to be thieves.  It worked (clearly a good tactic for shoplifters).  It got to the point where I sort of held my breath as we walked in/out of shops, and I stuck firmly to SB's side for fear of looking singularly guilty.  Anyway, we were back in the car and a thought struck me.  I rifled through my now-scruffy-looking Debenhams bag and discovered the security tag still very firmly attached to my new frock.  Erm.  Oops!  That'd explain that then...

I stomped back into Debenhams and I can't fault the customer service.  They insisted on wrapping my dress properly in tissue paper and gave me a much more fabulous-looking paper bag.  Marvellous stuff.  There's nothing quite like a posh bag and tissue paper to make a girl happy!

So I've got the party frock.  Next were the shoes... they're on their way!  I've had to order them online as they didn't have my size in the shop.  What shop doesn't stock a 4???  The heel is a tad high mind.  Oh, and get this.  I've got a matching bag coming too.  Yep.  Mel has learned to accessorise!  Shocker! 

I'm watching "The Mummy Diaries" and it's so incredibly sad.  This box of Holiday Bin Kleenex is jolly handy indeed. 

I'm putting off packing.  I hate it!  The good news is that I'm hangover-free today!  Hurrah!  Yesterday I felt so rough.  I blame my friend entirely for forcing me to drink so much wine on Tuesday....ehem <Mel looks away to innocently polish her glowing halo>!  Nah, it was a good night (from what I can remember).  I must learn, however, to drink less on a school night.... 

Today I had an interesting conversation with a taxi driver.  On the way to work he asked me if my husband was in Torquay.  My HUSBAND??!  I politely said that I'm single. 

Mr Taximan:  "Oh, so you're a career girl then?". 

Me:  "No, just single". 

Mr Taximan:  "Just admit it, you're a career girl with no time for men". 

Me:  "Erm, no, I'm just single....". 

Mr Taximan:  "Oh". 

Me:  "No, I'll openly admit that I'm high maintenance, men don't like that in a woman, but I'm not changing!". 

Mr Taximan:  "I went out with a woman once, she was high maintenance.  Actually she was more of a psycho.  But anyway.  Yes, I don't mind a high maintenance woman... so long as she's not nosy too.  But most women are nosy.  It's a woman thing" 

Me:  "Er, hmmmm".

Not a lot I could say to that.  Really I wanted to ask why he thought that but realised that would be just nosy.

"Jane had never realised how much time women took getting ready until she'd decided to impersonate one."

"The Thing About Jane Spring", Sharon Krum, Arrow Books, 2006, ISBN: 0099476665

Cor blimey, that Shayne Ward is a bit buff!  Just flicked the telly over in the search for something interesting to watch and...well, phwoar!!!! Oooo hang on, Mr Dermot O'Leary is on now too... yum!  Right.... enough perving, time to find something intelligent to watch.  Ah I've found just the thing!  "My Best Friends Wedding"!  Or shall I watch CSI?  Positively perky romantic comedy or blood, guts and mystery?  I'm not in the mood for gooey romance tonight (distinct lack of red wine, popcorn and chocolate) so murder it is. 

Oh, by the way, my driving lesson today went well for a change!  Hoorah, faith has been restored!  If only I could feel the same about flying.  We had a missed approach yesterday and it freaked me out big time.  We were all ready to land at Exeter when suddenly we ascended steeply.  The poor engines sounded like they were struggling a little - like when a car is going uphill in the wrong gear.  After we leveled off the wheels were retracted.... We flew (or, rather, bumped) about for a while and then landed.  We have no idea what it was about, we weren't told.  So not only am I the usual nervous but am totally dreading Monday.  I was getting better at it but hell, not any more!!!

Gosh, mud masks are quite uncomfortable aren't they?!  I'm sat in my room in the big fluffy dressing gown with a face covered in green stuff.  And it's drying and becoming very itchy.  Hm.  This is supposed to be relaxing?!  Oooo it itches!  Ah rubbish, I've just remembered, for the first time this week, about my driving lesson on Saturday morning *groan*.  I'll be honest, I'm a terrible driver.  I was never this bad when I learnt before.  It might be best if I stick to catching a bus.

They're putting the Christmas tree up in the hotel next week!  Wooo!  I might hate Christmas but I do love all the festive stuff before it.  Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle alllll the waaaay....

On a more sober note, RIP Hilda Braid (aka Nana Moon) 3rd March 1929 - 6th November 2007.

Sudden panic... what on Earth am I going to cook my folks for Sunday lunch?! 

Well now, here I am, sat in the hotel bar bored.  The Internet isn't working at the mo so I'm left to aimlessly type total rubbish for fear of looking like a complete wally with my laptop.  All around me are drinking and being merry.  And here I sit, cup of tea in one hand, laptop in the other.  Bored and wondering what to do with myself.  It's only 9pm and I'm pondering if my boredom will dissipate as the hours wile away.  Still, I guess I've got an excellent view of the bar and that lovely barman.... ehem. 

God I'm bored.  What would I be doing if I were at home?  Hmmmm.  Let me think for a minute.  Probably watching some awful telly and thinking "I'm bored".  So there's not a huge amount of difference.  Well, except for the fact that I could just sit in my PJs at home and eat my dinner.  I mean, I suppose I could do that in the hotel but might get a couple of dodgy looks....  "Excuse me madam, I'm glad you're enjoying your Shepherd's Pie but would you mind getting changed into something more suitable?"  "More suitable?" "Yes madam.  Pink stripy pajamas are not really suitable for devouring the delicious Holiday Inn cuisine in the public areas"  "They're not?" "No madam.  And that big fluffy dressing-gown is also not a dinner jacket".  "No?"  "No"  "Oh".

Soooooo, what can I tell you about where I am right now?  Simply to fill the time.  Right.  Well now.  The entire bar is filled with men.  Hang on, let me check.... yep, men.  Watching Liverpool playing... erm....BES?  What's that short for?  Bears?  Ach I don't know.  They're losing anyhow.  The Bears.  Ooooo a vaguely attractive man has entered the building (I can see the outside entrance you see).  Oh, no, hang on, maybe not.  He's checking in and has the worlds biggest suitcase (not that that makes him unattractive but he, well, is a bit old).  Wow, you could fit a person in that suitcase.  Which, incidentally, leads me onto a newspaper article I read in the Independent.  And you know what? I leapt up, grabbed a copy and have ferociously been going through it to find said article.  And can I find it?  Can I bollocks. Nope.  It's vanished.  Where on earth did I read that then?  That's totally confused me.  Maybe I imagined it all?  Well, in that case, in this dream I had, I read that a girl was leaving prison on parole and a friend escaped with her... in her suitcase.  And they're still missing. 

Ok.  What else is happening here?  Hmmmm.  All the men are getting super excited about Liverpool.  Apparently they keep scoring?  Who knows.  Rugby is way better.

Blah blah blah.  I'm bored.  What else can I ramble on about?  Hmmmm.  Maybe I should go for a little walk.  Oooo who's that chap over by reception?  Ah, he's gone.  Dammit.  You know what?  I swear the receptionist chap has dyed his hair darker...

Oh look, another man with a book.  Gosh, now I don't feel so tragic. Now.  The question is.  I've been told I can unplug the cigarette machine to plug my laptop in.  Now.... should I ask again to make sure?  Or maybe that is the sign the perhaps I should just retire to my room despite it being 21.36.  Wow.  Too many decisions in such an exciting evening...

OOoo this is interesting.  A staff member - vaguely important looking - is standing at the bar with some paperwork.  He's looking cross that there are no bar members at the bar.  That's fine, though, as he improves the aesthetics of the room rather.... Ah ha, the bar men have returned.   Lovely lovely.  I can ask about the plug.....

Ok, job done.  I am connected.  And in doing so shall deny any smokers the privilege of buying overpriced cigarettes that will kill them!  So, in a way, I'm doing them a favour right?!  Totally.  Well, it's too cold to go out for a smoke anyways yes?!

Wow, this is turning into a bit of a novel.  I wonder if they've fixed the wireless yet....erm....... that'll be a no then.  Rubbish. 

So, out of boredom, I'm going to tell you about yet another article I read in the Independent today (I scan the papers for the small sections of text that house vaguely interesting non-political snippets)

Robot playmates in nursery school

Child-like robot "playmates" are being deing developed for nusery schools after researchers found that toddlers learn to regard them as human.  It is hoped the Japanese-build prototype silver robot, QRIO, will help teachers by demonstrating social skills and codes of behaviour and "enrich" the classroom environment.

The Independent, Tuesday 6th November 2007

Do excuse me but could I maybe get one of those please?  Could you imagine?  Come in from work and be greeted by a little tin man who could cook dinner?  Oh no, I've totally missed the point haven't I?!  It's for social interaction, not slavery.  Oh for goodness sake, answer the phone man who keeps walking past it.  He may well improve aesthetics but his customer service manners are shite!  On the end of that phone is someone starving hungry (slight exaggeration there) wanting to spend their money on room service.  And they can't even be bothered to pick up the phone!  The restaurant is mostly empty.... so what is the problem with answering the phone and taking an order for chicken tikka masala or whatever delight they fancy...?!  But not just that, the people in the restaurant are having to listen to the god awful ring of the phone.  It's not a nice delicate tinkle of a noise.  It's a penetrate-the depths-of-your-soul-and-waggle-there-annoyingly-until-you-go-mad ring.  How long have I sat here now?  I guess an hour now.  And every time the phone has rung, it's been ignored.  That is quite poor really.

Right.  I guess I've strung this out long enough now.  That and the fact that I'm dying to visit the loo....  I think I'm done with trying to look savvy.  Yep.  Time to pack on up.  (perhaps a spot of solitaire in my room.... I knew I bought this laptop for a reason....!  HA!)

Hurrah! I got the wireless to work!  Woooooo!!!!

Well hurrah to the Holiday Inn receptionist who was lovely and upgraded me!  :D  I arrived and had a room which connected to another.  Now call me a snob but last time I was here I felt like the ladies next door were in the same room as me.  So I asked if it would be possible to change rooms.... and the lovely receptionist upgraded me to an exec room!  Fluffy dressing gowns, slippers and even a pretty carnation on the desk in the room.  I'm a happy bunny :)

The flight was uneventful.  As per usual I had a kid kicking my chair from behind but I took the opportunity to practice my new "tolerance and patience are worthy attributes" attitude.  I only huffed a smidge.  It was dark when we flew and when we arrived in Belfast we came over the city.  It was beautiful.  Belfast has a lot of streetlights.  The new, erm, (?) wheel was very pretty indeed and I even found myself saying a silent "Hallo" to the hotel.  Then I realised I was looking at the Europa and not the Holiday Bin and felt momentarily stupid.  Getting our baggage back was a bit of a nightmare, though.  It turns out there were loads of canceled flights (I have no idea why) and so there were hundreds of people crammed around one of the luggage carousels.  I think it took about 40 minutes or so before ours started to appear.  Again I got to practice being patience.  I only sighed maybe, ooo, five times?!!!

So, with my entry typed I'm off to investigate the wireless access in the hotel lobby to post.  Although I'll have to be swift as my battery lasts about five minutes (oh, ok, I'm being dramatic.  It's more like ten minutes)...

WIRELESS UPDATE: It didn't work :(  Well I connected to the hotel wireless network but then could do nothing else :(  But another woman had trouble too (and she was online there earlier) so I think perhaps it's not me, it's the hotel.  My laptop kept mumbling (perhaps mumbling is the wrong word since my laptop is not a dithering old man) something about my firewall settings having to be something-or-other...erm.  Something to do with authentication.  Yep. What with me being an IT wizard and all...?!  Oh who knows.  I might have to ask the IT chappies at work really really nicely what they think...