I can't be bothered doing Catbook entries for the Mogs just yet, but here are some facts about them.
Tig likes to sit with his front paws in the water bowl
Eric likes Baileys ice cream, and smelly blue cheese
Greebo likes to make a fuss of Jehovah's Witnesses on Sunday morning
Jasmine is terrified of sneezing people
So if anyone wants any of the weirdos, just let me know!
Monday, 10 September 2007
Winehouse Appreciation Day, part 2
After our silly AWAD, I went for a drink with Scott, Lisa and Damon. Civilised grown-up company and all that. Because we are at heart grown-up and civilised, yes?
Errrm....
We started in the Salutation (I can remember when it was all fields round 'ere, mate!) and we were quite sedate - news, work, househunting,mortgages, blahblahblah. Until we realised the cigarette machine at the other end of the bar was the jukebox :) Conversation deteriorated as the music improved, and fed said jukebox until we had the good idea of moving to the Lass O'Gowrie.
I can't remember at which point we started the 'Longest Hair Contest'. Definitely several pints in. Mostly in honour of the lovely purry Elvis. The measuring point was nipple-length, excluding Damon and myself right off. I think Lisa won, though Scott might have reason to believe it was a draw. Bloody hippies! No, D and I are not bitter losers at all :(
Pity the poor live music act - shoved at the end of the pub near the toilets, all the tables nearby packed with the tone-deaf and terminally ignorant. We couldn't get near. We tried to listen appreciatively from the snug, until Damon spotted some geek book on the highest of the obligatory bookshelves. Cue Scott's epic climb up the tricky South-West face of the chimney breast, and much geeky muttering from S and D from this point on.
I ended up running for the bus. I thought I'd given up this sort of nonsense long ago, but it was waiting at the lights and I didn't fancy waiting for a pricey cab, so I went for it.
Want to regain that youthful vigour? Beer really does work best. I went straight back to college stupidity, and it was much more fun than it should have been...
Errrm....
We started in the Salutation (I can remember when it was all fields round 'ere, mate!) and we were quite sedate - news, work, househunting,mortgages, blahblahblah. Until we realised the cigarette machine at the other end of the bar was the jukebox :) Conversation deteriorated as the music improved, and fed said jukebox until we had the good idea of moving to the Lass O'Gowrie.
I can't remember at which point we started the 'Longest Hair Contest'. Definitely several pints in. Mostly in honour of the lovely purry Elvis. The measuring point was nipple-length, excluding Damon and myself right off. I think Lisa won, though Scott might have reason to believe it was a draw. Bloody hippies! No, D and I are not bitter losers at all :(
Pity the poor live music act - shoved at the end of the pub near the toilets, all the tables nearby packed with the tone-deaf and terminally ignorant. We couldn't get near. We tried to listen appreciatively from the snug, until Damon spotted some geek book on the highest of the obligatory bookshelves. Cue Scott's epic climb up the tricky South-West face of the chimney breast, and much geeky muttering from S and D from this point on.
I ended up running for the bus. I thought I'd given up this sort of nonsense long ago, but it was waiting at the lights and I didn't fancy waiting for a pricey cab, so I went for it.
Want to regain that youthful vigour? Beer really does work best. I went straight back to college stupidity, and it was much more fun than it should have been...
Friday, 7 September 2007
Winehouse Appreciation Day
We are having a Winehouse Appreciation Day at work.
Due to the stringent policies on alcohol and drugs in the workplace, it might be a bit muted.
We can't stretch the budget to Class A drugs but we might manage to sneak a swift half at lunchtime, vodka obviously! Em and Rach are the only ones with hair long enough to backcomb: the rest of us will have to be very creative with flipchart pens.
We are back to being full-time wage drones next week, so it's our last chance for any fun. And it beats any of the stupid exercises on the official staff awayday.
Due to the stringent policies on alcohol and drugs in the workplace, it might be a bit muted.
We can't stretch the budget to Class A drugs but we might manage to sneak a swift half at lunchtime, vodka obviously! Em and Rach are the only ones with hair long enough to backcomb: the rest of us will have to be very creative with flipchart pens.
We are back to being full-time wage drones next week, so it's our last chance for any fun. And it beats any of the stupid exercises on the official staff awayday.
Thursday, 6 September 2007
Team BlueFaye vs The Shadow
Blue, of The Reservoir Mogs (Salford Posse) is on the warpath.
Young Shadow, the little cat from next door, has moved from the garden to a full assault on the house. He is determined to be a resident. Pumphrey is a nice-guy cat, and won't fight him off. Same for Red, she is acting way too prissy for a scrap.
So it is left to young Blue to uphold the honour of the Posse. At a mere whiff of the enemy, the hackles go up. Catch a glimpse, and she is the ultimate spitting & fighting fury! And she has an ally.
Faye, now back from Mexico, doesn't like Shadow. In her eyes, he's a little upstart. He did try to leap in her lap while she was eating, then spent some time biting her feet. She feels this is only acceptable behaviour from the family cats. He is too young and stupid to realise that this is not good etiquette. He tries to make up for it by providing her with dead things. Would she like more mice, or maybe a pigeon? He has plans for a squirrel, but he needs to work on his technique.
Alas, the answer is no. He's never going to be allowed in the Posse. Faye loves her cats best, and he should remember where he lives. And Blue watches it all, and remembers why Faye is her favourite family member.
Young Shadow, the little cat from next door, has moved from the garden to a full assault on the house. He is determined to be a resident. Pumphrey is a nice-guy cat, and won't fight him off. Same for Red, she is acting way too prissy for a scrap.
So it is left to young Blue to uphold the honour of the Posse. At a mere whiff of the enemy, the hackles go up. Catch a glimpse, and she is the ultimate spitting & fighting fury! And she has an ally.
Faye, now back from Mexico, doesn't like Shadow. In her eyes, he's a little upstart. He did try to leap in her lap while she was eating, then spent some time biting her feet. She feels this is only acceptable behaviour from the family cats. He is too young and stupid to realise that this is not good etiquette. He tries to make up for it by providing her with dead things. Would she like more mice, or maybe a pigeon? He has plans for a squirrel, but he needs to work on his technique.
Alas, the answer is no. He's never going to be allowed in the Posse. Faye loves her cats best, and he should remember where he lives. And Blue watches it all, and remembers why Faye is her favourite family member.
Wednesday, 5 September 2007
Typical!
Last night we had a bit of a family gathering, as my cousin Gail was in Manchester for a few days. She's travelling from Vancouver to see friends in France, and we've not seen her for years.
So we round up the main Pesky Two Legged Critters, and head off. With a camera...
It just never occurred to us, that we should actually use it! We were having too much fun eating, gossiping, drinking too much and the rest. And there were at least 7 choruses of 'Happy Birthday' for other parties in the restaurant. So of course we joined in! Nothing wrong in making people feel appreciated :)
Or at least for the first 3...
My sister said the record was 13, but think I would've lost the will to live on that night! I think that was probably a works Xmas Lunch that finished about midnight, to fit so many in.
Eating too much, singing and a good night's sleep to follow. I think young Elvis would have approved.
So we round up the main Pesky Two Legged Critters, and head off. With a camera...
It just never occurred to us, that we should actually use it! We were having too much fun eating, gossiping, drinking too much and the rest. And there were at least 7 choruses of 'Happy Birthday' for other parties in the restaurant. So of course we joined in! Nothing wrong in making people feel appreciated :)
Or at least for the first 3...
My sister said the record was 13, but think I would've lost the will to live on that night! I think that was probably a works Xmas Lunch that finished about midnight, to fit so many in.
Eating too much, singing and a good night's sleep to follow. I think young Elvis would have approved.
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Elvis (Southern Chapter)
One of the Reservoir Mogs (Southern Chapter) is no longer with us.
Elvis did a sterling job as a Reservoir Mog.
He would frequently treat Sophie and Scott to the delights of mouse, frog, bits of kebab, spam (don't ask how he got that) and what looked like someone's barbeque chicken. In fact, anything he could drag through the cat-flap. There was an incident with a small child and some ice-cream, but she didn't get stuck in the cat-flap so no harm done!
He liked to think he was providing a varied diet, though he never got the hang of the fact they were veggie, and he would have done better to dig up an allotment.
He would let them share the bed and sofas, as long as they didn't want too much space. And he was always a perfect gentleman to visiting cat-sitters. He liked the can openers with opposable thumbs and a comfy lap
Elvis has left the kitchen and Eulogy for a moggy
Elvis did a sterling job as a Reservoir Mog.
He would frequently treat Sophie and Scott to the delights of mouse, frog, bits of kebab, spam (don't ask how he got that) and what looked like someone's barbeque chicken. In fact, anything he could drag through the cat-flap. There was an incident with a small child and some ice-cream, but she didn't get stuck in the cat-flap so no harm done!
He liked to think he was providing a varied diet, though he never got the hang of the fact they were veggie, and he would have done better to dig up an allotment.
He would let them share the bed and sofas, as long as they didn't want too much space. And he was always a perfect gentleman to visiting cat-sitters. He liked the can openers with opposable thumbs and a comfy lap
Elvis has left the kitchen and Eulogy for a moggy
Friday, 31 August 2007
Texas
My friend and colleague Lalita has always wanted to live in Texas.
She was going to move last year, but her youngest son flatly refused to do High School - he wanted 'A' levels and so they stayed put. But now, there's been a change of plan and Lalita and her hubby are off to Texas on September 12th.
Cue scenes of great grieving in our office! We are going to miss her like mad, and this week has just been a complete washout, workwise. The man-size box of tissues on my desk is nearly empty, her desk is covered with cards (plus a fluffy pink elephant and a box of Ferrero Rocher - they make great talking points at rodeos).
Lal has been part of the team for 6 years, so everyone is feeling pretty down. She's always been the really sweet one, good at her job and general all-round good sort.
The upside to this has been the Media Centre compilation DVD. It's a bit of a tradition, if you leave the Media Centre then they will produce a DVD full of in-jokes and much piss-taking.
Eddie (Head of Unit) had his Edwardian spoof, which involves the Queen, Michael Palin-style travel and...er...trifle, and previous works included the shameless rip-off 'Little Media' and the Crimewatch spoof ("vegetarian" exposed as meat dealer, pushing Bovril to the students in the editing suites). They had less warning for Lal, and she would have been very embarrassed, so they concentrated on a lovely "Wanted" poster instead.
So now we are all putting on the smiley faces, making the jokes and wondering how we feel when we roll in on Monday and Lal isn't here to greet us.
What's the carbon footprint on a flight to Texas?
She was going to move last year, but her youngest son flatly refused to do High School - he wanted 'A' levels and so they stayed put. But now, there's been a change of plan and Lalita and her hubby are off to Texas on September 12th.
Cue scenes of great grieving in our office! We are going to miss her like mad, and this week has just been a complete washout, workwise. The man-size box of tissues on my desk is nearly empty, her desk is covered with cards (plus a fluffy pink elephant and a box of Ferrero Rocher - they make great talking points at rodeos).
Lal has been part of the team for 6 years, so everyone is feeling pretty down. She's always been the really sweet one, good at her job and general all-round good sort.
The upside to this has been the Media Centre compilation DVD. It's a bit of a tradition, if you leave the Media Centre then they will produce a DVD full of in-jokes and much piss-taking.
Eddie (Head of Unit) had his Edwardian spoof, which involves the Queen, Michael Palin-style travel and...er...trifle, and previous works included the shameless rip-off 'Little Media' and the Crimewatch spoof ("vegetarian" exposed as meat dealer, pushing Bovril to the students in the editing suites). They had less warning for Lal, and she would have been very embarrassed, so they concentrated on a lovely "Wanted" poster instead.
So now we are all putting on the smiley faces, making the jokes and wondering how we feel when we roll in on Monday and Lal isn't here to greet us.
What's the carbon footprint on a flight to Texas?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)