I’m not watching X Factor anymore, due to its descent from a decent talent contest into what is essentially a forum for Sharon Osbourne and Simon Cowell to bicker with each other. Not good television. And Kate Thornton is just too strict, making sure everyone is in their place - sometimes with live TV, you just have to just go with the flow - take a leaf out of Davina’s book, okay?

I’d just like to say that although I appreciate the sentiment of the Girls Aloud Children In Need single “I’ll Stand By You”, they just shouldn’t do it. They’re too happy about it, they don’t have the emotion in their voices and they don’t appear to understand what they’re saying - they may as well be singing about candyfloss. As I have been saying all weekend - It’s just wrong.

This Boycotting Christmas thing is much harder than you’d think. It started with me just saying I wouldn’t go to the Christmas Meal. Then a colleague said that if I didn’t go, he wouldn’t go and then he’d have a miserable Christmas and it would be all my fault. Well, I have principles, but they don’t stand up to that kind of pressure, so I agreed to go. But now, there’s a Christmas Outing and a Secret Santa all about to be organised and everyone else will be enjoying it and will expect me to take part. I don’t want to take part in these Christmas activities, I’m supposed to be boycotting the whole caboodle! But, of course, if I go to the Meal, then I’ve got no excuse not to join in with the other fun festivities, so I decide not to go to the meal but then I’m back at square one all over again! Help me!

We so should have called our film festival DVD Day. Anyway, we watched The Day After Tomorrow and Troy. During the week, Mr C purchased Dave Gorman’s Googlewhack Adventure and Live Aid 4 Disc Special Edition. He’d previously seen Dave Gorman live on stage, and laughed so much that DG actually stopped and looked at him, so my expectations were pretty high. I only managed to watch half of it in one go, but it was funny. I remembered parts of it from the book, which helped, as he talks really fast. It was good though, I’m going to watch the second half soon.

I bought some Pop Tarts today but it wasn’t until I got them home that I realised – we don’t yet own a toaster. D’oh!

When I was younger I used to do 24 Hour Famines for World Vision, and it used to be really difficult. These days, I don’t blink if I forget to eat all day and when I do eat, I don’t really appreciate what I’m taking in. I was never very good at the sponsorship side of the fund-raising, I detest asking people for money, especially the people who would put their names down and then be very evasive about coughing up the dough. I would often top up the money with my own, just to avoid having that confrontation.

I so desperately wanted to call it “Film Fest Friday” for alliteration and general coolness reasons, but unfortunately it takes place on a Sunday. Following a complaint from me about the amount of Quality Time we were spending together, Mr C made a special effort and we are now taking part in our second Film Fest Sunday. This involves me renting us two films, us digesting the first along with a bucketful of popcorn, then walking and discussing what we have just seen before watching the second film. And at some point dinner can take place, depending on how much popcorn we have stuffed.

We had an email at work today, with an Excel spreadsheet attachment, inviting us to select our Christmas Meal Menu. I have a slight problem with this, as I am not participating in Christmas this year. Call me a Scrooge, a Bah Humbug, a grumpy old woman, all you like, but I have legitimate reasons and they are five-fold. Christmas is first and foremost a Christian festival. I am not religious in the slightest, despite my name actually meaning follower of Christ (thanks mum and dad). The lovely red and white bubbly personality known to us as Santa Claus was actually fictionalised by Coca Cola. Saint Nick existed and although they didn’t create the character, the soft drink makers did paint him in their own brand colours and made him accessible to children. Christmas is too commercialised and companies are always looking for a way to make an easy buck at Christmas. I don’t believe in giving presents for presents sake. If something is highly desired and sought after and another soul has the kindness to take the time to think of you and purchase something that you really want, then fair enough. But to trail the shops looking for that gift for the person who has everything, when you know you’ll end up buying socks or candles which will just end up in the bin - pointless. I’d rather save my money until a time when I could bestow a gift that actually means something to me and to the receiver. And don’t get me started on the Buzz Lightyear madness… The amount of cards, envelopes, wrapping paper and boxes that are used to give said presents is ridiculous. How many trees could have been saved if people didn’t bother? Individuals, companies, retail outlets, supermarket chains and many others all begin preparations for Christmas in the midst of September. I consider this to be a waste of three glorious months. What happened to Autumn? To Halloween? To Fireworks night? Christmas shouldn’t be mentioned until December and in my house, won’t be mentioned at all.

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in what oredr the ltteers in a word are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is that the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?

I’m not very well today, a lot of coughing and stuff, it’s not very nice. Wrap up warm in front of the telly, that’s the advice I’ve been given, so that’s what I’m doing. At work, there’s a contact we have at a branch, and she is always, always rude to me. She’s sometimes rude to my boss but never rude to my colleague who happens to be a man. I can’t work it out. I’ve not said anything to offend her, in fact the last time I phoned her up, I barely got a word in before she said she was too busy and couldn’t help me. It’s just plain nasty and doesn’t make for a good working relationship.

Happiness is being too busy to be sad.

I really thought this post wouldn’t happen for quite some time. It’s inevitable every year, but I thought I still had a few weeks left, at least. Doing the shopping today, I was surprised to find Halloween goodies decorating the entrance to the store. Orange and black was the main theme throughout and I suddenly realised that yes, it is October already. Pushing my trolley through the wonderland, with children getting excited over face paint, dangling skeletons and witchy broomsticks, parents trying to hurry them on while secretly enjoying their enthusiasm, and older children pretending not to be interested, I was about to reminisce over a time when I thought Halloween was a marvellous treat. But then the shade of orange turned noticeably red, the pumpkins and fancy dress outfits disappeared and I was confronted with Christmas Cards, wrapping paper and a Santa Hat. What is wrong with this country?

Credit where credit is due, Michael Schumacher drove a great race today. It’s hard to hide disappointment in the fact that he completed the first lap down about 15th and finishes the race in second, but if it was anyone else but Schumi, we’d think he was a star, so I guess he should have a well done. An interesting point to note - they didn’t push Alonso back on the track, despite being in a dangerous position… I’m sure I remember them pushing a certain someone in a certain car back on track in a different race. And isn’t it a coincidence that it’s Italy - Ferrari’s home turf. Alonso’s going to have some words to say about that, there’s no doubt!

You know all those people that are flitting off to Spain and Australia to start a new life in the sun? (You’ll know what I mean, there are about a hundred programmes following their fortunes on the television!) I have one word for them - crazy. I stepped outside today for a moment and almost melted. It’s almost winter time and where the hell is the Autumn? It’s September and the sun is shining? All summer I’ve been trying to convince myself that I’m one of those people that likes the sunshine, that likes to sit out in the garden and burn their skin. But now, I’m fed up. It’s TOO HOT! I hate it. The heat gives me a headache, makes me tired and means I can’t get anything done at all. I had plans for today and achieved none of them.

Okay, I have been proclaiming several things as rubbish the past couple of days and every time I have been proved wrong. The most important one is the new comedy Green Wing which has just begun on Channel 4 and stars a whole host of comedians. The adverts didn’t really get me chuckling and I was determined that it was going to be rubbish, but when we sat down to watch it, couldn’t stop laughing. So yes, I was wrong.

The Marathon Wrecker - It’s the same guy that ran on the track at the British Grand Prix. Last time they locked him up for trespassing, but this time they can’t really do anything, it was a road, public property. But seriously, the guy should be locked away where he can’t get at anyone.

We went to a country fete today, and it’s very heart-warming to know that people do still leave their houses for things other than football, the pub or shopping. Some parachutists flung themselves out of a plane, and I got a headache from straining my neck towards the sun so long as we watched them descend. There were also Morris Dancers, but let’s not get on to that subject, eh?

I’ve had a much better day today, although I’m still annoyed at the lack of anything decent to watch on TV. However, in the meantime, there are only 18 days left until The Sims 2 comes out and I can hardly wait. And I’d just like to say, even though I don’t watch Eastenders anymore, having Martin cheat on Sonia just weeks after they’ve got married is not on and not believable.

I made an iMix but half the songs aren’t in the music store. I’ve been bitten a million times - AGAIN - and it itches and it hurts and I hate it. I started watching Nip/Tuck, but didn’t think it was very good. I watched the first ten minutes of Ny-Lon but thought that was rubbish too. Where’s all the good TV gone?

Mmm, haven’t had a Crunchie for ages. I’m trying really hard to learn this database stuff and I am getting somewhere, but I always end up feeling so stupid because I understand how all the stuff works. I can see how the code makes what happens happen, but I can’t begin to construct my own code, my brain just isn’t logical enough for that, I guess. It’s really frustrating, because the computer expert just comes along and makes it look like child’s play, while I don’t even know where to start. I’ve learnt this stuff twice and am still no nearer to knowing what the hell to do.

What a great day! The sun is out and it’s beautiful! I got up this morning and the first thing I did was fling all the windows open to let a non-existent breeze in. I didn’t get a lie-in today, I woke up early which was a bit annoying. It did mean that I was up in time to watch Ministry of Mayhem though - my new favourite kids show! Then I sat outside in the sunshine and read for ages, until it got too hot and I thought I was melting. I also got the shopping done today, and got past a particularly tricky bit in Prince of Persia.

Lots to say so I’ll just get on with it. I’ve been buying games by the truckload, even though I wasn’t really done with the ones I had before. Have now got The Simpsons Hit & Run (very funny), Pirates of The Caribbean game (a little hard to control but I’ve not given up yet!) and Zoo Tycoon Marine Mania, which is really fun and adds dolphins and jellyfish and sharks to my zoos. It’s hard to get anything done these days.

Anyway… website update - 101 Words will have its own site very soon. I apologise for the delay but learning PHP and MySql is bound to take more than a day and it happens that I keep getting distracted by iTunes and Prince of Persia! And on the subject of iTunes, please note the new iMix section, I just discovered playlists and will probably be up till the early hours creating them! And to do that, I’m probably going to have to download some new music. Shame.

It’s been a mad few days and if I wrote any of it down here, you’d never believe it, so I won’t bother. What I actually want to talk about is the computer stuff I’ve managed to get done today. On Thursday when I was setting up all websites and such, I got a little annoyed when everything I was trying so hard to fix wasn’t working and I ended up asking Mr C for help. I really wanted to do it by myself. I tried SO hard!

I’ve got a couple of days off and I’m being quite productive with them for a change. Instead of just sitting around and doing nothing, I’m sitting around and getting things done! It’s great. I just set up Thunderbird with all my mailboxes and things. I’ve been sorting out my websites and getting them sorted out on this new system, and also setting up Apache to be able to do PHP. Don’t I sound like I know what I’m talking about?

I had such a good post planned. I was thinking it up the whole time I was doing the ironing (which spanned the listening of all of my newly downloaded The Calling album - yes, there were that many clothes). I had it all perfectly written in my head and had just sat down to post it… when what happens? Mr C happens. I don’t want to complain, but when I have to sit and search through a half hour programme on Radio 4 for a non-existent clip featuring Bono of U2 fame, thus forgetting the perfect entry I had spent such a long time preparing… I’m forgiven for being a little miffed, right?

I’ve never wanted a day to go so fast in my whole life. And did it? Nope. But now I’ll push the never-ending day from my mind and concentrate on the good stuff. For my birthday (a rather belated present, but TOTALLY worth the wait), I got a new computer. A brand spanking new computer with a marvellous graphics card and a super duper silver screen. It’s just the best thing ever.

…wisdom teeth hurt! Mine take it in turns to grow a tiny bit at a time, sporadically over three years (so far). It’s probably the most painful way they could have chosen to do it and I just know they’re not done yet. I’ve come home at lunch to grab some paracetamol to last me through the day. I sure as hell don’t remember teeth hurting so much when I was a kid!

The end of June already. I can’t believe it. A quick note to those who don’t believe I can read fifty books in a year… I’m on my 41st. So there. Henman’s out. The English suck at every single sport possible. Except curling. Apparently that was Scotland.

I was mega happy this afternoon after watching Tim Henman win his match - it had everything you could ever want, a Brit, some diving and some swearing, and a sulky Delta Goodrem, she’s famous you know! There was also a little bit of tennis going on as well… Now, I will talk to you about iTunes. I want to recommend it to each and every one of you. I scoffed when he first couldn’t sit still for the excitement about it, but now I couldn’t agree more. It’s fast, it’s easy and it’s relatively cheap (providing you don’t go mad). The selection leaves a lot to be desired but I think it has the scope to be massive.

I was cajoled into downloading Firefox for the Mac and I moaned quite a lot about doing this (mostly because it was heading towards midnight and I was flagging in the energy stakes) and I was grumpy and said it was “okay”. I now, however, want to say “Strike that, reverse it” a la Gene Wilder, because it is actually a really good browser. Get yours here and spread the word. Who needs Microsoft?

We went to the pub to the watch the footie - something I have never done before. I’d always been a bit nervous of the idea of hundreds of people yelling at the television. But where we went was surprisingly empty, a group came in at half time with their faces painted, and we sampled lots of nice beer, so I learnt that it can be fun. Of course, I’m regretting it a bit today, I don’t usually get a hangover, maybe a bit of a headache from the dehydration, but nothing major. Today however, faced with getting up early for work, my stomach wasn’t happy - and my head still isn’t!

Although it is simultaneously amusing and heart-warming to emerge from a shop and find a sea of England Flags filling the car park, please could everyone make sure they are attached properly. I was driving behind someone who’s flag fell off (I’m still not sure how that can happen - aren’t they attached to the windows or something?) and as it flew up and over my roof, it gave me a heart attack. And I imagine the driver was none too happy to get out and find his car flagless. Thank you.

Don’t assume, because you are going to a pool full of water, that you won’t be thirsty when you get out. Chlorine is not thirst-quenching. Don’t wear your most precious jewellery to the leisure centre as the heart attack that ensues when you can’t find it, even though you know you stuffed it right into the toe of your trainers, is not fun. If you find that the person before you left their pound in the locker, smile and pick it up, but beware that nothing comes for free. In this instance, I spent the entire session panicking that I wouldn’t be able to get my clothes back, as the key wouldn’t turn when I tested it before swimming. (I eventually managed to prise it open). Don’t rush to change back into your outside clothes. Trying to pull on jeans when you have wet legs is not easy and to hurry this task will only result in further frustration and eventually tears. Don’t wear jeans.

The end of Friends - I’m stocked up with Doritos and tissues, just in case. I was driving home and it’s been a mega stressful day, there was nothing on the radio so I was flicking through all the stations. I have pre-programmed all of the available slots in my car, despite the fact that I never listen to them. So, I picked a completely random station and lo and behold, they began playing Backstreet Boys. I know I’ve grown out of them, but it was still kind of comforting to hear.

Although not a day to be curled up inside, I felt like watching some films. I thought instead of wasting the weather, I could manoeuvre the television and sit in the sunlight. Now, you should all know that I’m quite a big Queen fan, if not you obviously haven’t been reading this journal for very long. I was recommended to watch Highlander, the film which ‘Who Wants To Live Forever’, my favourite song ever, is famous for. When I was in the video shop last, I could only think of Braveheart, which I was informed at a rather loud volume later, was completely different. So, today, I picked up Highlander (the guy from Holby City’s in it!!) and also Timeline.

Well, that’s the plan anyway, swimming is my new favourite hobby. I thought I’d forgotten how to do it, but yesterday, I actually started to feel like I knew what I was doing. I’m a little annoyed though because he egged me on, saying “Of course you can open your eyes underwater, there’s nothing wrong with it, your eyes will get used to it.” And, I can’t fault his truthfulness, but when I left the pool after a half hour of eye-opening swimming, I looked like a devil child with bright red eyes, and I felt like I’d been crying for a week!

I woke up early yesterday morning with a sudden thought that I couldn’t figure out the answer to. You know Coronation Street? (If you don’t watch it, stick with me, because it’s a universal soap question really). The character of Bethany (a little girl of about three) is played by twins, so that it’s not too stressful for them, all the long hours and such. But what happens if the same actors want to continue the part as she grows up… when she’s old enough they’ll only need one person to play Bethany. How do they decide?

I’m sure you remember a couple of posts back, I was commenting on the silliness of the people taking part in the London Marathon. And while I still uphold that view - 26 miles is just insanity! - somehow I have taken up running. I thought that by suggesting a walk, it would be a nice casual stroll with Mr C. Um, no. Somewhere along the line, the devil stole him and replaced him with the personal trainer from hell. Okay, I exaggerate and maybe I do feel a bit better for having actually done some kind of exercise, and maybe I do want to perhaps go out and see if I can do some more another day… still, I’m not happy about it.

Today, I almost managed to finish reading the whole of The Economist. I’m getting closer and closer every week, but my worry is that I won’t ever actually reach my goal. This week’s edition had no surveys in it and had only the basic sections, two special reports, stories from different countries plus business and finance. If I couldn’t read it when it’s at its smallest, when will I ever be able to?

Three adverts have caught my attention and not for good reasons… Firstly, the second instalment of the Yakult Bacteria guy. I actually quite appreciate the idea of the advert and think it’s really nice that the girl is sticking up for her geeky friend. BUT… those Yakult bottles are so expensive, you just WOULD NOT give one away like that. Not even to a friend! And especially not to two horrible bullies.

So, I’m watching the crazy people running the London Marathon, I do not understand how anyone can manage to run that far… I have trouble running to my car when it’s raining! I think it’s great though, all those people raising money for charities and coming together to do something worthy like that. Even Iain Duncan Smith’s running!

I think I knew before we went, that the replacement wouldn’t live up to the outstanding performances of my favourite Tony Vincent. But I like to think that I was willing to go in there with an open mind and give him a fair shot. And he pretty much blew it. I just think his voice wasn’t clear enough to pull off the songs and I didn’t notice but Mr C said his dancing skills weren’t exactly on top form.

Seriously, what does it take for someone other than Schumacher to have a little luck? He’s already got a gazillion titles and trophies, surely it’s someone else’s turn? But… I have to say, I’m not sure that I didn’t just dream that whole qualifying, because I thought that I saw Ralf Schumacher driving last (he’s usually rubbish!) and before that, Sato beating Button?? That’s not right at all…

It’s only been a week but it seems forever. I hope everyone had a great St Patrick’s day, plenty of Guinness was flowing, I hope. The very last Sex & The City was on Channel 4 last night and it was brilliant. Everything happened just as it should and I thought the ending, when she just sort of melted into the crowd was brilliant. It tied up all the loose ends but not in a sickly, happy family way, leaving a little room for your imagination (and that movie if they ever agree to do it). My one complaint is that they revealed Big’s name. Whatever it was, it wasn’t going to live up to the expectation of it. And John… well, that definitely doesn’t.w

Did anyone else watch If the lights go out? I thought it was going to be really good, eye opening, scare us all into doing something about the use of all our power sources. But it actually did nothing of the sort. First of all, they didn’t show that we were using a ton more electricity than now. The girl was playing a video game. Er, we do that now don’t we? Secondly, why would we have stopped making nuclear power? It’s the best source of power we have and is currently getting cheaper.

I wanted to go in today, but it was kinda insisted that I stay in bed. Of course, I got itchy feet and was up a few minutes after the house was empty. But I guess it was right, it’s probably best that I’m at home today, I’m still a bit poorly and I’ll definitely go back tomorrow, and there’ll probably be lots of work to do, always a plus.

Well, I’m snuggled under a duvet, with a mug of hot orange squash (was anyone else brought up with that as the staple hot drink to recover from a cold?), and half watching my favourite James Bond movie. I know, I know, I should be in bed, but sleep rarely finds me in the middle of the day and if I go there, I’m only going to lie down and fidget and sigh and get a headache, so I might as well be being productive, right? Of course, if that theory is true then there’s not really a good reason why I can’t be at work, but as I attempted to go in this morning and got a little scared by the dizziness and the hot and cold flushes, I thought it best to come home.

Rant No. 1 I do not understand birthdays at work. If it’s your birthday, at many offices you have to go out and buy some cakes or donuts or cookies, or a selection of all three. Everyone very graciously wishes you happy birthday and thanks you for the sweet treats. It’s all nice and pleasant. But my birthday means nothing to me, I’d rather the day just went by like any other. I don’t particularly enjoy eating the cakes that other people bring in, nor my own, so it really starts to feel like… why should I bother?

I wanted to watch Unbreakable last night because I just knew any film with Bruce in it was going to be worth watching… I was wrong. I suddenly realised it was over and I’d not been touched by it at all. Both actors were good, the settings and scenes were all mysterious but they didn’t stitch together properly. It spent so long trying to persuade Willis’ character that he’s unbreakable that nothing else happens. The thing the director seems to have missed is that movie-goers are open to anything, we don’t need to have an hour and a half of proof to make us believe something is possible in the world of film (- we swallow the Matrix without blinking, don’t we?).