just a catch up

Hi all,

Just a quick note to apologise for having been away a lot recently. Things have been incredibly busy. Here's a summary of what's been going on:

Work work work. Own fault for deciding to present something in a couple of weeks that took 18 months to data-collect, then leaving 1 week to analyse. It has not been fun. Getting there, pretty much.

House move - new big digs, woo! However it has been necessary to communicate with non-social entities such as NTL in order to ensure I have telly in't new place (still haven't incidentally. Haven't seen BB in almost a week!). I know this is one for Munch's blog, really, but NTL are something else. After pressing 4 then 2 then 5 then 1 then 7 to get to the appropriate department, plugging in your account number and telephone number, they then tell you that they're closed. Eventually I get through to arrange a date for re-installation, and whilst on hold I am told every 30 seconds that I can use their new online service. No, I can't. It's shite. 43 mins later (honestly) I've got an appointment. Last time they turned up some bloke blocked my toilet. It was horrendous. I should probably have opted for a different company.

Football, of course - it ought to get a mention. Now I'm not going to pretend that I'm either a fan, especially, or knowledgeable in the ways of the game, but I do enjoy a good match every now and then. And I like the pint drinking that goes along with it. But this has become a little excessive of late. People turn into hilarious beings over the World Cup. I've recently discovered that trying to console the Scouser who threw his pint at the big screen with "don't worry, mate, it's only a game" does not often have desired effects. But on the whole peopl are in good spirits. Grown men hug one another and there are parties in the streets. Until the fights kicked in (literally) in Headingley the other night. Anyway, no profound comments on footie from here but it has been taking up quite a bit of time. I had a picture but I don't think I'm going to have time to get it on here before I go... one guy had a "we all 8 Saddam" England T-shirt. What a patriotic hero.

Oh by the way, is it really necessary for players to spit so much? It's not very nice. The pitch must get really slippery by minute 90.

Finally, before signing off, I will say my goodbyes as may well not be able to blog or comment for a while. Am off to Nottingham on Saturday to teach for the OU for a week, then on the last day of teaching, inevitably hungover, it's a quick suitcase swap with the parents and then off to Heathrow, Sydney bound! Will be back in early Aug.

Speak soon, peeps!

Much love,
Moon. xxx