Posted 3:38 AM by Lodger
Stealing a moment from work to blog... the pressure, the pressure! Only ten minutes to come up with something meaningful to say. A Talking Heads lyric from Psycho Killer comes to mind: 'When I've got nothing to say, my lips are sealed! Say something once, why say it again!?'

Today I'm not wearing my suit jacket for the first time in quite awhile. Not because the weather is improving, which it is, but because I just forgot to put it on this morning. Also left my keys in Em's bag last night and thus am keyless today, reduced to accosting passing staff members with a timid, 'Could you please open my door for me. Thanks.' Early signs of old age? Also sporting a fairly full-on beard at the moment which helps add to the image of a young man, aged before his time. Actually, I was thinking about my age the other day. 33 this year. I thought I was 32 this year until I worked it out... to gain a whole year from a moment's calculation is quite stressful, at least for a millisecond, until the denial mechanism that keeps thoughts of our mortality at bay kicks into its regular auto-pilot mode.

Gotta teach in 3 minutes. Gotta go.

Posted 4:14 AM by Lodger
Just found a draft of an entry I wrote for Christmas. Didn't actually post it. Silly.

Em and I have now been engaged for a little over four months and all is well. We plan on staying in England until December 2006 and then it's off to Oz for the wedding in April 2007. It's a long engagement, but appropriate considering the distance some will have to travel.

The day to day marches, not a lot of change... work seems to become harder, not easier, the further along I go. I think it's because one naturally raises expectations. Also, the more I become familiar with the absurdity of the system, the more annoyed I become. But I shall not continue on about teaching, as that is what the pub is for on Friday nights.

We returned from a road trip in Ireland last week... 4 days in England/Wales, 12 in Ireland with (gasp!) the future in-laws! Talk about trial by fire! But all went well, we got on fine, and it was a good opportunity to learn about Em's up-bringing. This summer (only 3 months away!) it will be Em's turn. We can only hope she makes it out alive.

We've planned an engagement party in Croydon for April 30, and hope to have one in Kamloops, back home, at the end of August. So much to plan, so much to do!

Oh yeah! Also should mention... we won £10 tickets to the Royal Opera House tonight! We will be sitting in £175 seats for just a tenner each. Sweet! Just to set foot in the building will be amazing, but to have such great seats too. Amazing.

Gotta go. Photocopying and lunch time detentions await.

Cheerio!