I am feeling incredibly loved up (AKA drunk as a skunk) after seeing a screening of Bare Naked Talent (AKA Hardcore: A Look into the Adult Film Orifice) a mockumentary about the making of a fictional porn film.
It stars![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
marysiak, Tom Clutterbuck, Trudi Jackson and Al Constantine, and loads of other people I don't really know who are also very talented.
(I mentioned those particular people because I know them. And they are all great. Oh and Gareth (mrtreacle) is in it too.)
I met the director producer, Mark Withers tonight and he was also a top bloke.
Anyway, it's very funny and if there is any justice in the world it should get a proper distribution and make everyone involved in it a ton of money.
The screening was in Bermondsey, which seems a very up and coming place and not at all the shithole I hads been led to believe it was.
I had a lot of wine after the film and talked shop with Trudi, Al andolliebean.
I need to make more films but also to spread the love more. I know so many talented people who need some proper big breaks.
It stars
marysiak, Tom Clutterbuck, Trudi Jackson and Al Constantine, and loads of other people I don't really know who are also very talented. (I mentioned those particular people because I know them. And they are all great. Oh and Gareth (
mrtreacle) is in it too.)I met the director producer, Mark Withers tonight and he was also a top bloke.
Anyway, it's very funny and if there is any justice in the world it should get a proper distribution and make everyone involved in it a ton of money.
The screening was in Bermondsey, which seems a very up and coming place and not at all the shithole I hads been led to believe it was.
I had a lot of wine after the film and talked shop with Trudi, Al and
olliebean. I need to make more films but also to spread the love more. I know so many talented people who need some proper big breaks.
I have been experimenting with making wheat free bread the last few weeks and I had been getting quite good at it - but for some reason it comes out differently every time I do it even with the same ingredients.
Then I made two really bad loaves in a row - one because I had run out of the flour I had been using and tried using other things from my cupboard (it had almonds and chick pea flour so it's high protein even if it is inedible) then the next I made I didn't cook for long enough. When I put it back in to finish I forgot about it so - now I have a brick. It would be good for anyone who wants to build an extension.
Yesterday I bought a loaf of gluten-free bread. It was expensive, but I can't help trying new things if there seems a chance they might be good. It was very good. It's like actual real, normal bread. Maybe not the best bread ever but as good as a lot of the bought wheat breads I have had in the past.
It's called Genius and I am inclined to think it pretty much is as it's the only bought gluten-free bread I have ever had that you can slice like normal bread and eat happily without having to toast it. I can make sandwiches that look like sanwiches and taste like sandwiches. I am wondering why it's taken this long for someone to come up with a decent mass produced gluten-free bread as the ingredients don't seem particularly unusual for this sort of thing.
This looks like an advert or something, but I am genuinely quite pleased with this - though it's only available in one supermarket chain at the moment and it's in the price range of 'special treat' rather than everyday purchase. I will save up money and make a trip to one of the larger branches of the supermareket in question when I am in the mood for good bread that I haven't had to make myself [and got wrong 50 times]!
Then I made two really bad loaves in a row - one because I had run out of the flour I had been using and tried using other things from my cupboard (it had almonds and chick pea flour so it's high protein even if it is inedible) then the next I made I didn't cook for long enough. When I put it back in to finish I forgot about it so - now I have a brick. It would be good for anyone who wants to build an extension.
Yesterday I bought a loaf of gluten-free bread. It was expensive, but I can't help trying new things if there seems a chance they might be good. It was very good. It's like actual real, normal bread. Maybe not the best bread ever but as good as a lot of the bought wheat breads I have had in the past.
It's called Genius and I am inclined to think it pretty much is as it's the only bought gluten-free bread I have ever had that you can slice like normal bread and eat happily without having to toast it. I can make sandwiches that look like sanwiches and taste like sandwiches. I am wondering why it's taken this long for someone to come up with a decent mass produced gluten-free bread as the ingredients don't seem particularly unusual for this sort of thing.
This looks like an advert or something, but I am genuinely quite pleased with this - though it's only available in one supermarket chain at the moment and it's in the price range of 'special treat' rather than everyday purchase. I will save up money and make a trip to one of the larger branches of the supermareket in question when I am in the mood for good bread that I haven't had to make myself [and got wrong 50 times]!
Just joined an online talent show thing and it depends on people voting - so if anyone would like to go and watch and comment on any/all of the five videos I have put up so far the URL is here: http://noostar.com/performer/eliseharri
Your support would be very welcome.
Patience is needed as it takes a while to get a verification when you sign up and even longer for votes to show, but if you can bear with it, please vote! (click the big red 'vote' button rather than the ratings - though please rate as well if you can!)
Ollie tells me "If you click the Facebook option on the registration page it registers you immediately and you don't need to wait for verification."
I have also found out you can vote on each video up to five times every day.
Your support would be very welcome.
Patience is needed as it takes a while to get a verification when you sign up and even longer for votes to show, but if you can bear with it, please vote! (click the big red 'vote' button rather than the ratings - though please rate as well if you can!)
Ollie tells me "If you click the Facebook option on the registration page it registers you immediately and you don't need to wait for verification."
I have also found out you can vote on each video up to five times every day.
It was sad Michael Jackson died last night but selfishly I hoped this would put an end to people commenting on my Youtube videos with inane stuff about how I look like him.
In fact since last night I have had around 20,000 extra views and very many "OMG you look like MJ/Mical Jaskin/Micheal Jackson/Michael Jackso etc" comments.
All that is different is that a few of them are using my video to post memorials to the man.
It was also sad about Farrah Fawcett. I never really watched Charlie's Angels but my grandfather couldn't get enough of those girls.
I am very happy Rumour of Jeff Goldblum's passing are fasle though - not least because he is one of my celebrity crushes. I was going to say 'weird" celebrity crushes but it's probably not any stranger than my crushes on Dustin Hoffman, Christopher Lee, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Will Ferrell, Jackie Chan or even Owen Wilson.
In fact since last night I have had around 20,000 extra views and very many "OMG you look like MJ/Mical Jaskin/Micheal Jackson/Michael Jackso etc" comments.
All that is different is that a few of them are using my video to post memorials to the man.
It was also sad about Farrah Fawcett. I never really watched Charlie's Angels but my grandfather couldn't get enough of those girls.
I am very happy Rumour of Jeff Goldblum's passing are fasle though - not least because he is one of my celebrity crushes. I was going to say 'weird" celebrity crushes but it's probably not any stranger than my crushes on Dustin Hoffman, Christopher Lee, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Will Ferrell, Jackie Chan or even Owen Wilson.
I should be writing journal posts but I seem to have completely gone over to the dark side (ie Twitter). It eats you up that site!
It's been a week since my last post. I was going to post earlier today about a supermarket visit but it all seems a bit pointless now.
The Peckham Morrisons is hopeless - the shelves have huge gaps and the price/product tags are usually not under the right products. Sometimes there are no prices at all and if you do get a price it's often the wrong one once you get to the tills. Then they can't ever just take the product off and rescan it because most of them need a supervisor to authorise it and there are never any supervisors.
Today I noticed the bargain tuna had gone up and so I thought I might as well get the cheapest of the better quality ones - 74 pence for ethical tuna or 60p for the scuzzy, low quality own brand. I was just putting it in my basket when I noticed there was more of it on a higher shelf at a higher price. I looked at the tag and it was 95p for steaks rather than chunks, but there were only the chunks.
Unusually there were a group of people with Morrisons name-tags nearby so I asked the one who seemed most senior if he knew which was the correct price and pointed out the problem.
It turns out he was from another store showing a group around for training purposes so he went on to tell the group not to do the same thing at their stores. I told him how rubbish this shop was and told one of the trainees not to do anything this branch did, then picked up the tuna chunks.
When I went through the tills I was charged 78 pence instead of 74 and the girl scanning couldn't do anything but tell me I would just have to go and check myself if I thought it was wrong. So I paid anyway and went back to double check.
The man and his disciples were still there so I explained the problem and he came with me to the customer services to get the 4p difference (I continued to tell him all the things the Peckham branch did wrong - including that they have semi-mouldering meat in the fridges, which are far too warm, and leave mouldering goods for ages before dealing with them). He was at pains to make sure I knew his branch was not like this. It is bound to be a paradise in comparison.
Anyway, on the way home I realised that the girl had not charged me for my 50p potatoes (even though she scanned them) - so I came out with some free potatoes. I am not taking them back and complaining about them as I consider it my reward for helping with training! Besides, every time I have gone to that shop I have had to query at least one item that they have overcharged me for. There were probably enough times I, and others, didn't notice to more than make up for their 50p loss.
So, I have posted. Maybe I shouldn't have. Too long for a Twitter post though.
It's also been more than a week since my last video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxZbpKm_
It's been a week since my last post. I was going to post earlier today about a supermarket visit but it all seems a bit pointless now.
The Peckham Morrisons is hopeless - the shelves have huge gaps and the price/product tags are usually not under the right products. Sometimes there are no prices at all and if you do get a price it's often the wrong one once you get to the tills. Then they can't ever just take the product off and rescan it because most of them need a supervisor to authorise it and there are never any supervisors.
Today I noticed the bargain tuna had gone up and so I thought I might as well get the cheapest of the better quality ones - 74 pence for ethical tuna or 60p for the scuzzy, low quality own brand. I was just putting it in my basket when I noticed there was more of it on a higher shelf at a higher price. I looked at the tag and it was 95p for steaks rather than chunks, but there were only the chunks.
Unusually there were a group of people with Morrisons name-tags nearby so I asked the one who seemed most senior if he knew which was the correct price and pointed out the problem.
It turns out he was from another store showing a group around for training purposes so he went on to tell the group not to do the same thing at their stores. I told him how rubbish this shop was and told one of the trainees not to do anything this branch did, then picked up the tuna chunks.
When I went through the tills I was charged 78 pence instead of 74 and the girl scanning couldn't do anything but tell me I would just have to go and check myself if I thought it was wrong. So I paid anyway and went back to double check.
The man and his disciples were still there so I explained the problem and he came with me to the customer services to get the 4p difference (I continued to tell him all the things the Peckham branch did wrong - including that they have semi-mouldering meat in the fridges, which are far too warm, and leave mouldering goods for ages before dealing with them). He was at pains to make sure I knew his branch was not like this. It is bound to be a paradise in comparison.
Anyway, on the way home I realised that the girl had not charged me for my 50p potatoes (even though she scanned them) - so I came out with some free potatoes. I am not taking them back and complaining about them as I consider it my reward for helping with training! Besides, every time I have gone to that shop I have had to query at least one item that they have overcharged me for. There were probably enough times I, and others, didn't notice to more than make up for their 50p loss.
So, I have posted. Maybe I shouldn't have. Too long for a Twitter post though.
It's also been more than a week since my last video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxZbpKm_
Chuquai Billy and I have been planning a new comedy night in West Hampstead - and the first show is on July 2. Then we have shows through July.
It's a Thursday show and it only occurred to me today that I can't run it from October onwards since the job I start then is mainly Thursday nights. So I hope the landlord is open to negotiation when it comes to letting us have a different night.
My internet went down yesterday which was bad as I am so attached to the internet it may as well be part of my circulatory system.
I went to bed worrying it might not be back in the morning - but here it is and here I am, thank goodness.
It's a Thursday show and it only occurred to me today that I can't run it from October onwards since the job I start then is mainly Thursday nights. So I hope the landlord is open to negotiation when it comes to letting us have a different night.
My internet went down yesterday which was bad as I am so attached to the internet it may as well be part of my circulatory system.
I went to bed worrying it might not be back in the morning - but here it is and here I am, thank goodness.
I have just been told off by Talk Talk, my broadband provider, for going over my bandwidth limit last month so I am trying to be careful this month (though I didn't download much last month so I am not entirely sure why it was so high). I installed a monitor to make sure it doesn't happen again. I also secured my wireless and removed some spyware I found. Hope it makes a difference.
Paranoid about using BBCi now though since it eats broadband.
In the meantime I have been messing with my phone and found I can look at PDFs (not well but I can), text files, listen to music tracks or FM radio and watch free video cliups (very few but daily headlines from Sky and the like that last a few seconds). So that's my bus trips sorted for a while. Had the phone since last September and only just strated looking at what it does properly.
It's a phone - so just been using it as a phone until now.
Through the headline videos I found Christopher Lee has been knighted. Thought he already had been.
It is probably embarrassing to admit this, but I think he is pretty sexy - especially for an 87 year old. Suspecting he might actually be some sort of immortal, spooky creature.
Paranoid about using BBCi now though since it eats broadband.
In the meantime I have been messing with my phone and found I can look at PDFs (not well but I can), text files, listen to music tracks or FM radio and watch free video cliups (very few but daily headlines from Sky and the like that last a few seconds). So that's my bus trips sorted for a while. Had the phone since last September and only just strated looking at what it does properly.
It's a phone - so just been using it as a phone until now.
Through the headline videos I found Christopher Lee has been knighted. Thought he already had been.
It is probably embarrassing to admit this, but I think he is pretty sexy - especially for an 87 year old. Suspecting he might actually be some sort of immortal, spooky creature.
Just Googled the son of one of my mum's best friends. I met him when I was a child but then didn't see him again until a few years ago when I was at a Channel 4 season launch party - he was head of the picture library at the time.
I was pretty sure from the conversation that he was gay, but it was all a bit uncertain. He mentioned buying a house with his partner.
He gave me his card and we were going to meet up again but never did.
My mum said a while later that she had heard he had got married, so I thought I must just have a dodgy gaydar - but no, turns out we were both right.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandst
He is one half of the second couple mentioned. I will have to tell my mum.
I was pretty sure from the conversation that he was gay, but it was all a bit uncertain. He mentioned buying a house with his partner.
He gave me his card and we were going to meet up again but never did.
My mum said a while later that she had heard he had got married, so I thought I must just have a dodgy gaydar - but no, turns out we were both right.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandst
He is one half of the second couple mentioned. I will have to tell my mum.
If you want to read one of my novellas (or short novel, if you will), here - http://authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?book
I have about five or six more short novels lying about on my computer but I thought this was probably the most solid. The others are all a bit less grounded in reality.
Please go and read and rate - I hope you enjoy a glimpse into the recesses of my psyche!
I have about five or six more short novels lying about on my computer but I thought this was probably the most solid. The others are all a bit less grounded in reality.
Please go and read and rate - I hope you enjoy a glimpse into the recesses of my psyche!
I went to vote at the library today. The polling station was on floor 5 and I took the stairs - which led me past the second floor and the local history library, which was open for the first time I have seen it (usually closed when I go past).
A while back my mum asked me to look up one of her relatives. She knew they lived in Peckham "opposite a bomb site" in 1947 and she had their names.
( Read more... )
Anyway, I didn't vote for any of the anti-European parties, since that seems a bit ridiculous in a European Election. I also did not vote Green, Conservative or Labour.
Not many options left.
Pity there were no write ins otherwise this would have got my cross.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh9dbk4V
(Scarily I looked very like that every day when I was about 14).
A while back my mum asked me to look up one of her relatives. She knew they lived in Peckham "opposite a bomb site" in 1947 and she had their names.
( Read more... )
Anyway, I didn't vote for any of the anti-European parties, since that seems a bit ridiculous in a European Election. I also did not vote Green, Conservative or Labour.
Not many options left.
Pity there were no write ins otherwise this would have got my cross.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh9dbk4V
(Scarily I looked very like that every day when I was about 14).
The whole of Peckham High Street is cordoned off today because a Chinese goods lorry crashed into a cyclist. ]
It's on the same corner where a woman was stabbed last year.
I think there have been other accidents and incidents right around there over the last few years, as well. It's right opposite this - http://www.southlondon-today.co.uk/tn/N
It's also just near Jacqui Smith's house - and she has apparently just resigned as Home Secretary (I am assuming this is not in any way related to all the other incidents).
It's on the same corner where a woman was stabbed last year.
I think there have been other accidents and incidents right around there over the last few years, as well. It's right opposite this - http://www.southlondon-today.co.uk/tn/N
It's also just near Jacqui Smith's house - and she has apparently just resigned as Home Secretary (I am assuming this is not in any way related to all the other incidents).
A few days ago a delivery man came to my door with a parcel he said was for a flat that isn't mine - he insisted I take delivery and he would post the note through the letterbox of the delivery address.
He posted it into the restaurant downstairs' letterbox, I assume, because later that day there the bell went and I went down to open the door - but when I was half way down I heard the door open and a voice shout up - "It's Ok, we have the parcel". So I went back upstairs. The shop/restaurant people have the key and although I din't recognise the name on the parcel there are a lot of people who might wortk there, so I just went about my day.
Then the next day someone from the Royal Mail came round, not in a delivery capacity but because they were from a flat way up the road and it was their parcel. Argos had delivered it to the wrong place and the wrong people had taken it and this man was now mad at me.
I told him what had happened and who had it now - though they are never in in the day time and I don't have a clue how to contact them.
Yesterday the original delivery man came round to collect the parcel - which I don't have. Later the guy whose parcel it really is left a message saying he can't get hold of the people in the shop and he wants to know whether to involve the police.
This is too much hassle - it's nothing to do with me and I am now involved in a great big screw up. It's my name on the delivery acceptance receipt, even though I didn't want to take the stupid parcel, (a bicycle) in the first place.
I don't know if it Argos' fault for getting the wrong address, the man whose parcel it was for giving them the wrong address or the people in the shop who took the parcel when they must have known it wasn't theirs, but now I am expected to take responsibility for the stupid thing, and I am all wound up about it.
He posted it into the restaurant downstairs' letterbox, I assume, because later that day there the bell went and I went down to open the door - but when I was half way down I heard the door open and a voice shout up - "It's Ok, we have the parcel". So I went back upstairs. The shop/restaurant people have the key and although I din't recognise the name on the parcel there are a lot of people who might wortk there, so I just went about my day.
Then the next day someone from the Royal Mail came round, not in a delivery capacity but because they were from a flat way up the road and it was their parcel. Argos had delivered it to the wrong place and the wrong people had taken it and this man was now mad at me.
I told him what had happened and who had it now - though they are never in in the day time and I don't have a clue how to contact them.
Yesterday the original delivery man came round to collect the parcel - which I don't have. Later the guy whose parcel it really is left a message saying he can't get hold of the people in the shop and he wants to know whether to involve the police.
This is too much hassle - it's nothing to do with me and I am now involved in a great big screw up. It's my name on the delivery acceptance receipt, even though I didn't want to take the stupid parcel, (a bicycle) in the first place.
I don't know if it Argos' fault for getting the wrong address, the man whose parcel it was for giving them the wrong address or the people in the shop who took the parcel when they must have known it wasn't theirs, but now I am expected to take responsibility for the stupid thing, and I am all wound up about it.
Well I need to find more work to tide me over - so if anyone has anything related to journalism, writing anything, entertainment or education going I would love to hear about it.
In the meantime, let's see if my new 'career' as a make-up guru will take off. I would guess not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA0bGNSS
I have also become a little addicted to the original series of Star Trek. It's a shame I can't access many of them very well, even through the methods some people have suggested (my connection to the internet is very slow and all the legally available episodes are region blocked). Still, I have managed to get hold of a few, through various means. It's amazing how old-fashioned some of the attitudes are, considering it's set far in the future and trying to be so forward-thinking. Still love them though.
I also loved the new film.
If I were to seek out fanfiction (not saying I would, but just imagine) it would probably feature Kirk and probably McCoy - though new Spock does not interest me half-as-much as old Spock even though the actor (Zachary Quinto) is great.
Not sure why this should be.
In the meantime, let's see if my new 'career' as a make-up guru will take off. I would guess not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA0bGNSS
I have also become a little addicted to the original series of Star Trek. It's a shame I can't access many of them very well, even through the methods some people have suggested (my connection to the internet is very slow and all the legally available episodes are region blocked). Still, I have managed to get hold of a few, through various means. It's amazing how old-fashioned some of the attitudes are, considering it's set far in the future and trying to be so forward-thinking. Still love them though.
I also loved the new film.
If I were to seek out fanfiction (not saying I would, but just imagine) it would probably feature Kirk and probably McCoy - though new Spock does not interest me half-as-much as old Spock even though the actor (Zachary Quinto) is great.
Not sure why this should be.
For my part time job in September I need to find at least six London plays that can be discussed later. I am looking for interesting, exciting shows and plays - preferable new works, but not necessarily - hopefully reasonably priced.
If anyone has any recommendation, or is involved in a theatrical piece starting ths autumn (or at least still showing in autumn) or spring and early summer next year, let me know so I can arrange visits or point the student towards the productions.
If anyone has any recommendation, or is involved in a theatrical piece starting ths autumn (or at least still showing in autumn) or spring and early summer next year, let me know so I can arrange visits or point the student towards the productions.
I love wigs, I really do, and I made a video with all the ones I owned at the start of the week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2WKgBSJ
Though today I saw a new wig shop in Peckham (it turns out to have been there five months but I don't go to that end of town). Outside there were signs saying they had wigs for as little as £4.99, so I had to visit. There are a lot of wig shops in Peckham - I haven't been in one for a very long time.
The £4.99 ones were not good - but there was a pile of funny, curly wigs marked 4 for £10 - I got 2 for £5 (they were usually £3 each if not bought 4 for £10 but the assistant thought I was having trouble choosing 4 that looked any good so let me get away with just 2). They are an auburn and blonde. I can rarely stop once I start though and I ended up getting a discount on a long, reddish/strawberry blonde, slightly wavy one as well (it was a display model and the last in stock).
I will try to stop there as it brings the number of wigs I own up to 12 - 13 might be unlucky.
I have no clue why I like wigs so much as I am not really all that concerned about clothes, shoes, make-up or even my own hair. It's more of a theatrical thing: I don't think I would go out in public wearing any of them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2WKgBSJ
Though today I saw a new wig shop in Peckham (it turns out to have been there five months but I don't go to that end of town). Outside there were signs saying they had wigs for as little as £4.99, so I had to visit. There are a lot of wig shops in Peckham - I haven't been in one for a very long time.
The £4.99 ones were not good - but there was a pile of funny, curly wigs marked 4 for £10 - I got 2 for £5 (they were usually £3 each if not bought 4 for £10 but the assistant thought I was having trouble choosing 4 that looked any good so let me get away with just 2). They are an auburn and blonde. I can rarely stop once I start though and I ended up getting a discount on a long, reddish/strawberry blonde, slightly wavy one as well (it was a display model and the last in stock).
I will try to stop there as it brings the number of wigs I own up to 12 - 13 might be unlucky.
I have no clue why I like wigs so much as I am not really all that concerned about clothes, shoes, make-up or even my own hair. It's more of a theatrical thing: I don't think I would go out in public wearing any of them.
Finished another Vegetable video a few days ago - this may very well be the last ever in this series -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMSHpBwz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMSHpBwz
I have been a bit quiet lately on Livejournal - I think it's just easier to use Twitter. Still, you can't say an awful lot in 140 characters.
Watched the Eurovision. UK entry was rubbish but still got in the top 5 and the winning entry from Norway was horrible. So that was a bit bleh.
Yesterday I went to Belsize park to do a short course. I had wanted the loo since Oval but couldn't find one place that was open or didn't have a massive sign saying "toilets are for customers only" - I couldn't be a customer though since they were shut.
So when I got to Belsize Park I went in a Starbucks and ordered quickly while telling them I needed to use the loo - meaning "I will pay now, but wait until I am out before getting my stuff please" - but they got it anyway (I should not eat cheesecake for vmany reasons but I was in a funny mood and wanted cheesecake - so I ordered that and a black coffee) while I was in the queue for the loo the girl behind the counter was getting some cheesecake - I saw her putting her fingers on it and then putting something in her mouth so I said "Sorry, I just saw you take something from that, oh, [as an afterthought] is it yours, sorry, if you were going to eat it that's fine."
"No, it's yours, the bit was from another piece. It wasn't from this bit." (it was - I saw her take it)
"But you touched it!" (I don't want people's fingers all over my cheesecake.)
"I will get you another."
"No, it's ok, whatever, that's fine."
"No I will get you another bit"
I needed the loo very much by now so I just nodded - I was feeling rubbish so whatever.
But when I came out they were all looking at me oddly. They gave me my black coffee and cheesecake and I sat down, worried.
The coffee tasted quite nice - which for Starbucks is suspicious in itself.
I used a napkin to wipe the cheesecake as another of the girls behind the counter came sweeping at that point and also gave me a suspicious, smirky look.
I wondered if I was being paranoid so I took a bite. It tasted a bit wrong like it had been around for a few days.
Then I looked at the napkin and saw what looked very, very like something from somebody's nose.
I left, not saying anything just leaving the rest of the coffee and almost all of the cheesecake. I did not complain - but I am never going in that branch of Starbucks ever again and am thinking of boycotting all branches of Starbucks.
When I got some sort of long stringy, strange matter in a coffee from Coffee Republic in Camden nine years ago I decided not to use Coffee Republic again - and these days that branch is a Caffe Nero and Coffee Republic is a rare sight. I don't think that has anything to do with my refusal to patronise their coffee shops, but it must mean something (eg Coffee Republic didn't deserve to survive and now Starbucks certainly doesn't if they are going to employ such malicious staff.)
People say Cilla Black is odd because she will only eat 'wrapped food' when she is out of her house - but bearing in mind how malicious and nasty some people who work in the service industry can be (especially when they think someone 'deserves it') then I think she is being perfectly sensible.
Watched the Eurovision. UK entry was rubbish but still got in the top 5 and the winning entry from Norway was horrible. So that was a bit bleh.
Yesterday I went to Belsize park to do a short course. I had wanted the loo since Oval but couldn't find one place that was open or didn't have a massive sign saying "toilets are for customers only" - I couldn't be a customer though since they were shut.
So when I got to Belsize Park I went in a Starbucks and ordered quickly while telling them I needed to use the loo - meaning "I will pay now, but wait until I am out before getting my stuff please" - but they got it anyway (I should not eat cheesecake for vmany reasons but I was in a funny mood and wanted cheesecake - so I ordered that and a black coffee) while I was in the queue for the loo the girl behind the counter was getting some cheesecake - I saw her putting her fingers on it and then putting something in her mouth so I said "Sorry, I just saw you take something from that, oh, [as an afterthought] is it yours, sorry, if you were going to eat it that's fine."
"No, it's yours, the bit was from another piece. It wasn't from this bit." (it was - I saw her take it)
"But you touched it!" (I don't want people's fingers all over my cheesecake.)
"I will get you another."
"No, it's ok, whatever, that's fine."
"No I will get you another bit"
I needed the loo very much by now so I just nodded - I was feeling rubbish so whatever.
But when I came out they were all looking at me oddly. They gave me my black coffee and cheesecake and I sat down, worried.
The coffee tasted quite nice - which for Starbucks is suspicious in itself.
I used a napkin to wipe the cheesecake as another of the girls behind the counter came sweeping at that point and also gave me a suspicious, smirky look.
I wondered if I was being paranoid so I took a bite. It tasted a bit wrong like it had been around for a few days.
Then I looked at the napkin and saw what looked very, very like something from somebody's nose.
I left, not saying anything just leaving the rest of the coffee and almost all of the cheesecake. I did not complain - but I am never going in that branch of Starbucks ever again and am thinking of boycotting all branches of Starbucks.
When I got some sort of long stringy, strange matter in a coffee from Coffee Republic in Camden nine years ago I decided not to use Coffee Republic again - and these days that branch is a Caffe Nero and Coffee Republic is a rare sight. I don't think that has anything to do with my refusal to patronise their coffee shops, but it must mean something (eg Coffee Republic didn't deserve to survive and now Starbucks certainly doesn't if they are going to employ such malicious staff.)
People say Cilla Black is odd because she will only eat 'wrapped food' when she is out of her house - but bearing in mind how malicious and nasty some people who work in the service industry can be (especially when they think someone 'deserves it') then I think she is being perfectly sensible.
So I went to see it. Am not sure what I thought of it yet - need to mull it over.
If anyone wants to discuss it in comments that would be cool - so HIGH chance of spoilers down there.
If anyone wants to discuss it in comments that would be cool - so HIGH chance of spoilers down there.
I am definitely aiming for more stand up gigs in the upcoming months - probably won't get any until after Edinburgh now as I have procrastinated so much, but that's fine as I have lots of improvisation shows and rehearsals before August.
All the bills came at once this week, which is very bad indeed. but on the plus side I am getting to do some part time tutoring work in the next few weeks and today I got a job with the Workers Education Association, starting September, to teach two Theatre Appreciation/Modern Theatre course.
I will probably need a few more hours work to survive in London, but it looks promising. I know roughly when they will be and can plan gigs and other performances, etc, accordingly.
What I do not have a clue about is where I will be living by then - I am fairly sure this place will have been sold and my lease is one that does not guarantee I camn stay here after it is sold. So I really need somewher to stay - the teaching work will be in the North of London so North Londonn would be good - though not particularly affordable.
At least with the promise of paid work it should be easier to find somewhere that is willing to take me on as a tenant. I just need to juggle things.
It will be on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday evenings - with the possibility of more hours with different subjects (depending on what they need and whether I am suitable). I would quite like to teach some practical classes. I am applying for a course to fully qualify me as a lecturer (I already have the initial qualifications) so maybe I can get some sort of funding for that - but not sure yet. That will also be part time.
And I would really love to do some more theatre as a performer - so we will see whether that happens.
Of course, as always, my ideal job is 'ugly best friend' in a long-running television show! I think I am real life attractive - but that means television ugly (like Willow in Buffy).
Would like to do more film work too.
Need to plan properly.
All the bills came at once this week, which is very bad indeed. but on the plus side I am getting to do some part time tutoring work in the next few weeks and today I got a job with the Workers Education Association, starting September, to teach two Theatre Appreciation/Modern Theatre course.
I will probably need a few more hours work to survive in London, but it looks promising. I know roughly when they will be and can plan gigs and other performances, etc, accordingly.
What I do not have a clue about is where I will be living by then - I am fairly sure this place will have been sold and my lease is one that does not guarantee I camn stay here after it is sold. So I really need somewher to stay - the teaching work will be in the North of London so North Londonn would be good - though not particularly affordable.
At least with the promise of paid work it should be easier to find somewhere that is willing to take me on as a tenant. I just need to juggle things.
It will be on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday evenings - with the possibility of more hours with different subjects (depending on what they need and whether I am suitable). I would quite like to teach some practical classes. I am applying for a course to fully qualify me as a lecturer (I already have the initial qualifications) so maybe I can get some sort of funding for that - but not sure yet. That will also be part time.
And I would really love to do some more theatre as a performer - so we will see whether that happens.
Of course, as always, my ideal job is 'ugly best friend' in a long-running television show! I think I am real life attractive - but that means television ugly (like Willow in Buffy).
Would like to do more film work too.
Need to plan properly.
Just spotted council rubbish collectors putting sticks on top of the tip in the alley that the council says they can't do anything about.
Tweeted Southwark council (as if it will help).
Picnickers in park and council workers now sat by bin drinking water and having a fag - in a park infested with rats and covered in dog poo. Ick.
It doesn't help that there's construction work going on two doors down - and I am not even sure they have proper planning permission.
It might be a blessing that I have to move - if only there was somewhere I could afford.
Really, do I have to go to the local papers before Southwark Council health department acknowledges rats and tip? Weils disease inevitable. I already told the council about the tip several times and the environmental health department about the rats - they are in a park next to a school and where people frolic and play completely unaware of the dangers.
The construction workers should have reported rats too since it is going to be a problem for them - though they might be making it worse as they seem to be gutting the building they are working on.
Tweeted Southwark council (as if it will help).
Picnickers in park and council workers now sat by bin drinking water and having a fag - in a park infested with rats and covered in dog poo. Ick.
It doesn't help that there's construction work going on two doors down - and I am not even sure they have proper planning permission.
It might be a blessing that I have to move - if only there was somewhere I could afford.
Really, do I have to go to the local papers before Southwark Council health department acknowledges rats and tip? Weils disease inevitable. I already told the council about the tip several times and the environmental health department about the rats - they are in a park next to a school and where people frolic and play completely unaware of the dangers.
The construction workers should have reported rats too since it is going to be a problem for them - though they might be making it worse as they seem to be gutting the building they are working on.
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