Hullaballoo

Watching Ghostbusters II tonight, in celebration of Hallowe'en spookiness, I was struck by the powerful image of the Statue of Liberty, covered in positive goo and belting out feel good disco music, making her way through the streets of Manhattan as the vanquishing force of of good against evil. Go Libby! New Yorkers suddenly filled with joy and began linking hands and singing Auld Lang Syne. Wow, I thought, THAT's why I became a therapist, to spread positive goo.

P.S. We had a computer lady round for 3 hours on Monday night. The netbook crashed after Bobo loaded 'thing 7' (as I technically referred to it for the computer lady). At the end of the evening I had more than exhausted my limited computer chat. "Do you even like computers?" she said incredulously. Well, no actually, I prefer notepads, diaries and writing reminders on my hand.

Oh, and did I mention that the builders are coming to replace the bathroom ceiling tomorrow. The cold water tank is in the ceiling, where's it going to go? And what is going to happen when the family forgets there is anything major happening and continues to nonchalantly ask mummy where stuff is.....grrrrr. On the plus side, it will remove the strange pink fluffy mushroom like mould growing on our bathroom wall and the constant drip, drip, dripping from above which has been a feature of the past few months. Let's hope they don't find anything more odious in the bathroom.

After 6 weeks in the temporary place, we are now moving back. The whole place is covered in a thick layer of dust, the whole Christmas decorations will have to be begun, the freezer needs re-stocked from when the workmen accidentally unplugged the power cable. However, after much juggling, we have a flushing toilet, a bathroom ceiling and relative civilization. And, some time soon, Christmas cards.

My tension headache of three days standing has now disappeared and I think I can get my head round the timing of it all. They are even transporting our massive former Eastern bloc television back so we can watch Christmas tv. The tv is as big as a Soviet power station and takes at least 2 men to lift. When I saw it again after 3 weeks away, I laughed out loud at its sheer size and clunkiness. Then I watched all the trash of the day and more, just because I could.

I am back from Germany and full of the joys of teutonic life. The family were delighted with their sweet surprises and I am now starting to regret suggesting that we make our own gingerbread house.

I go the train from Frankfurt to Karlsruhe with only a few linguistic hiccups-

Guard (when I showed him my train ticket): Woooga woooooga woooooga wooooga
Me: Huh?
Guard (grumpily now, with steely-throw-you-off-ze-train-eyes): Wooooga woooga woooga wooga ze Visa Kart.
Me: Aaaaaaaa Na yaaaaaaa

After a few days, I managed to re-heat my Higher german and was navigating my way confidently around museums and sights using the Strassenbahn.

Since returning, I have been arrested by an unfamiliar urge to tidy and order my possessions. I am hoping it will pass, because I am in danger of acting on it.

As a self-confessed hysteric, I am avid fan of Gok's excellent "How to Look Good Naked." Women of all shapes and sizes are encouraged to feel great about their bodies and eventually to parade naked on catwalk in front of thousands of people. Last night, I cursed myself for only remembering to watch it half way through, but true to form, I was crying like a beauty pageant queen by the time to the finale came.

And today I had to phsically restrain myself from clapping and whooping like a Barbie Doll (okay, so they don't whoop, but if they did...) when the computer lady showed me what was inside our desktop. "OMG" I heard myself say, "I thought it was just a magic box, that's sooo clever." Lobotomy anyone lol?

If I think about it hard enough, I can make the fact that it is Monday tomorrow a good thing.....

I have humphed my way through all my admin and my tax return, we have done a food shop which will last at least a month, the housework is up to date, I have actually had time to paint my nails to match my new top (electric blue stripes). And, it's Monday tomorrow. How grown up have I been today?

In a week's time, I'm off to spend 5 days with my good friend Schmetterling near Frankfurt. This year, I will not be struggling, trailing and weeping my way towards the Christmas break. Taking time out in October is such a luxury for me, as is going abroad on my own with my massive Uni rucksack crammed full of treats and pressies. I plan to chill, chat, socialise, giggle, drink wine, watch daft girl films, may be go on some forest walks, write in my journal, take in the clear country air and return feeling even fuller of verve and vigour than before. Sorry I haven't been blogging much lately, life, at times. can have a slightly flattening effect and so, for now, I rather resemble the doggie in the towel in the picture.

This is a photo of a thrift shop in the tiny dingly village of Innerleithen near Edinburgh. It is full of jigsaws, but it is far to extravagant to actually buy them. Only jigtastic borrowing is allowed. The website blurb reads....

"There are over 200 members of the jigsaw library which is run in the shop. Registration is free and members pay 50p per month for each jigsaw borrowed"

200 membes eh? I bet that gets the country pulses racing.