Well, thought I would post a new Blog entry because since this morning, circumstances have changed....I now have a day off tomorrow thanks to my mate Richard the manager, which is handy as Mrs.Sparky was taking Ems and the mother-in-law to Banham Zoo tomorrow for the Bank Holiday and now it means I can go with them!! Apparently Richard is going to supervise Geordie Ed and another temporary kitchen assisstant called Sammi during the day and, it being a Bank Holiday, it is not supposed to be too busy! One things for certain ~ my phones not going on tomorrow!! Gawd alone knows what I will walk into on Tuesday but I am sure I can handle whatever shit-storm I get left and besides, I get to have a day off so even if I have to work my ass off on Tuesday, which is pretty inevitable all things considered, then it will be worth it!!
Forgot to mention this morning as well, my dental experiences the other day! Had to go back to my local NHS Dentist on Thursday just gone to get the results of X-rays he had taken previously and he basically told me that he wanted to see me again that afternoon to remove my dodgy tooth straight away despite already being double-booked. Not being a fan of needles, and after a bad experience several years go which has prevented me from subsequent Dental visits, naturally I then began to shit the proverbial bricks. Still the thought of no more toothache was a big encouragement. Don't know if I mentioned last time but I have been woken up every morning between the hours of 02:30 and 05:30 for the last week with crippling tooth pain. Thankfully I have been able to take a couple of pills and return to slumber but still, it was not a nice thing to wake up to EVERY MORNING!! This was as well as the constant ache I had all day long and the savage attacks of toothache that could erupt during the day as well with little or no warning!
Anyway,I had to have three injections which were helped by this gel stuff they apply to the mouth before using the needle. This gel means you hardly feel the needle when it does go in! Still, the Dentist did have to tell me to slow my breathing as at one stage I was in danger of hyper-ventilating! Once all injections had been administered, he then proceeded to yank, and I do mean yank, out my tooth. The whole proceedure took a little under an hour and the injections left me feeling more than a little bit woozy but my experience was much better than my last Dental visit twelve years ago and really reassured me that it doesn't have to be a traumatic experience! My Dentist this time was very reassuring through-out, patient with me and very pleasent to deal with. I have no fears or worries about seeing him again after xmas, which is when he next wants to see me, and he claimed my teeth are overall in a fairly good condition; my recent cavity not withstanding!
Am so glad that it is all over and it wasn't an enjoyable experience by any means but I have had worse moments and at least the tooth-ache is now a distant memory. Thanks must also go out to my friend, Lisa who fed me scare stories before my afternoon visit then sent me a clip of the Dental scene from Marathon Man once it was all over! ROFL!! If you don't know the scene, you really should look it up!! It's a classic movie moment! But the good thing is, it put a smile on my face so good one Lisa ~ you know me too well!
So anyway you see, for once we have a cheerful Blog and reasons to be cheerful ~ one, two, three!
Until next time peeps! Ciao ciao!! Sparky xxxxx
Monday, 31 August 2009
Sunday, 30 August 2009
Be careful what you wish for....
Just a quick Blog to say that Crispy has finally gone!! On Tuesday, he broke one of the fundamental laws of Catering- don't swear at the customers! This, along with one of the other most fundamental laws of the kitchen ~ try not to kill anyone ~ is an act so unforgivable that it promotes instant dismissal. By Thursday, he had been fired and now Crispy is no more..... and as you can imagine, this is a double-edged sword for me. It is good because he was a twat. But it is bad because HC is going on holiday for 2 weeks tomorrow meaning I will have to work the next 17 days without a single full day off! This time includes the day of Emilie's birthday which I am very not happy about but, overall, I am quite anticipating the next two weeks as it is going to be one hell of a challenge....Right now I feel a mixure of trepidation and anticipation and know, that by it's end, not only will I be shattered but that also that my nerves will be torn to shreds. Now you know why I would like to leave my job so much!! The problem is that, without HC, I am the only other chef with any responsibility and, in his absence, that leaves only myself and two commis to cover all the shifts with the occassional Agency chef when we are very busy. If they turn up... which yesterday, the Agency we were supposed to have did not! Yesterday I started work at 10:30 AM and worked through to 10 P.M non-stop with no break. This is my life as a chef. This is why Sparky gets narky. And this is why I complain A LOT in this Blog. Because ultimately, I have a lot to put up with in my job. And it's not that easy, especially in this climate, finding something else to do.....
To quote Duncan Bannatyne...."Let me tell you where I am right now....I'm oot!"
Sparky xxxx
To quote Duncan Bannatyne...."Let me tell you where I am right now....I'm oot!"
Sparky xxxx
Friday, 21 August 2009
Hopes, toothache and shattered dreams...
Well, the last two weeks back at work have proved increasingly difficult and more and more frustrating! I am sooo tired of having to think constantly for everybody else be it fellow chefs, receptionists or young and supposedly intelligent waitresses who just swan along in their own little world without any concern under the sun that they are doing anything wrong. I am not going to quote examples because there are waaay too many to mention but, needless to say, after my holiday I am finding it harder and harder to keep my cool and let it all wash over me...
I keep seeing these adverts on the telly for Reds Driving School so thought about registering and seeing what occurs. I have been umming and aahing for some time about leaving the Hospitality Industry but have not done anything about it and thought this might present an opportunity. I signed up online and got given a date next week to attend an interview but, having looked into them online, it appears that the business is not all it's cracked up to me! They claim you can earn up to £30,000 per annum ~ research indicates this is highly unlikely in the first year. Also you owen a franchise so are basically self-employed and lease a car off them. And, at this interview session next week, I will be basically asked to stump up £3,500 approx for training that there is no guarantee I will pass! Only 10-15% of students apparently go on to becoming an instructor, the final examination to become qualified is a bitch to pass and the whole spiel about making your own hours is a farce because you have to make a certain amount of money each month just to pay franchise costs so find yourself at the beck and call of students that you have to go out and locate yourself in the first place! Not sure if I am going to bother next week as it seems like a waste of time but it is a shame because I quite fancied the idea of doing something comnpletely different but this would appear to be tooo much hassle; more in fact than it's worth and not everything it is cracked up to be! I know someone who left Catering to do this through BSM so may drop him a line and check out his opinion on things but this avenue appears to be a dead-end!
I really do want to do something different with my life but don't know what! I do not really want to be stuck in this job for rest of my life as I worry that I will miss out on so much of Emilie's life this way. My job is hardly sociable and, at the moment doing stupidly long shifts, even less so than normal! There is a career advice line they keep advertising on the radio so maybe I should check that out next week instead....
When I asked for questions recently, that was one of the questions asked ~ What am I the most afraid of? Well let me answer that now: I am most afraid of many things; 1} being forgotten ~ passing away without leaving anything of myself behind to be remembered by or not achieving anything memorable in my life. Not leaving an impression on anybody else's lives and becoming just another person who died. 2} Losing the two things most precious to me in my life, Mrs.Sparky and Emilie ~ they define me, who I am, and without them I am nothing. By having Emilie, perhaps it can be said that I have nullified 1} and that I have made my mark (excuse the pun) on the world but what scares me more than anything is that I might lose her or become lost myself before I get a chance to see her grow up and become the strong woman I know she will be. Or that I will lose her mum and Emilie will in turn lose her positive feminine guiding influence and become some kind of teenage tyrant that you read about in the papers. The thing that scares me most? Being alone! Mrs.Sparky is my rock and there are so many things I could not do without her even if I do not always show it or appreciate her. And by being my wife, she has given me the greatest gift she could ever have given me: our beautiful daughter who is the very essence of all our hopes and dreams of the future! Mrs.Sparky has given me some truly memorable gifts over the years and always surpassed herself but she will never outdo the arrival of the daughter that she brought into this world. Emilie is more precious to me than anything else in my life other than her mum and these two people are the only two on this whole godforsaken planet that keep me struggling on through all adversity!
The other question I was asked was "if you were cooking me a meal what would be on the menu (bearing in mind I don't eat meat - except chicken and bacon). What would be the setting and what music would be playing in the background?"
Well Kendie, the setting would be in the new house that I have not bought yet, in the dining room, lit with rose-scented candles. Guests would include yourself, Mrs.Sparky and some of our closest mutual friends from RISI etc and the music in the background would be a random sampling of Katie Melua's three albums because we had them as background music during the meal at our wedding and Damien Rice's album "O" because The Blower's Daughter was our first dance. I would do a simple melon and pineapple stack for starter ligtly drizzled with a passion-fruit syrup. For the next course, we would have chicken breast wrapped in Black Forest ham with sweet mashed potato, roasted baby carrots and fondant potatoes all masked with a redcurrant jus. For dessert, I would do a choice of individual white chocolate and raspberry cheesecakes or sticky toffee pudding with almond and honeycomb ice cream and a poppy seed tuille biscuit. And finally, I would present a small selection of cheeses that would feature white stilton with cranberries, Applewood smoked cheddar, a nice Double Gloucster and a rich goats cheese accompanied by cafitierres of amaretto flavoured coffee and little chocolate petit-fours. Hope that all sounds yummy enough. It's certainly making me hungry.
One other thing I have to endure the last few days is incredible tootnache as some of you might have read on my Facebook status. I haven't been to the dentist in some years after a bad experience and now have a recent upper cavity. Thankfully, I was able top find a local NHS dentist and registered me and Emilie (Mrs.Sparky needs to fill in a form yet so she can register!) and got an appointment for this morning. The dentist was very nice and friendly and told me he thought it was the cavity causing me problems but that I have a back lower on the same side that is slightly black which he wants to examine closer! Took some x-rays and I need to check in next week for results but he said other than needing a professional clean, my teeth weren't too bad considering! Which is nice! He has prescribed me anti-biotics for my tooth-ache which is cool as felt as though I was going insane with the pain last few nights despite taking strong over-the-counter paracetamols! Hopefully will soon have this all sorted!
Can't think of anything else to report, didn't mean to write such a looong Blog but you know how it is! Currently reading Polar Star by Martin Cruz Smith, the sequel to Gorky Park, which is very,very good and just finished Child 44 set in a similar Post-Stalin Russia era and was also very very good! Right, going now... byeeeeeeeeeee! Le Sparks
I keep seeing these adverts on the telly for Reds Driving School so thought about registering and seeing what occurs. I have been umming and aahing for some time about leaving the Hospitality Industry but have not done anything about it and thought this might present an opportunity. I signed up online and got given a date next week to attend an interview but, having looked into them online, it appears that the business is not all it's cracked up to me! They claim you can earn up to £30,000 per annum ~ research indicates this is highly unlikely in the first year. Also you owen a franchise so are basically self-employed and lease a car off them. And, at this interview session next week, I will be basically asked to stump up £3,500 approx for training that there is no guarantee I will pass! Only 10-15% of students apparently go on to becoming an instructor, the final examination to become qualified is a bitch to pass and the whole spiel about making your own hours is a farce because you have to make a certain amount of money each month just to pay franchise costs so find yourself at the beck and call of students that you have to go out and locate yourself in the first place! Not sure if I am going to bother next week as it seems like a waste of time but it is a shame because I quite fancied the idea of doing something comnpletely different but this would appear to be tooo much hassle; more in fact than it's worth and not everything it is cracked up to be! I know someone who left Catering to do this through BSM so may drop him a line and check out his opinion on things but this avenue appears to be a dead-end!
I really do want to do something different with my life but don't know what! I do not really want to be stuck in this job for rest of my life as I worry that I will miss out on so much of Emilie's life this way. My job is hardly sociable and, at the moment doing stupidly long shifts, even less so than normal! There is a career advice line they keep advertising on the radio so maybe I should check that out next week instead....
When I asked for questions recently, that was one of the questions asked ~ What am I the most afraid of? Well let me answer that now: I am most afraid of many things; 1} being forgotten ~ passing away without leaving anything of myself behind to be remembered by or not achieving anything memorable in my life. Not leaving an impression on anybody else's lives and becoming just another person who died. 2} Losing the two things most precious to me in my life, Mrs.Sparky and Emilie ~ they define me, who I am, and without them I am nothing. By having Emilie, perhaps it can be said that I have nullified 1} and that I have made my mark (excuse the pun) on the world but what scares me more than anything is that I might lose her or become lost myself before I get a chance to see her grow up and become the strong woman I know she will be. Or that I will lose her mum and Emilie will in turn lose her positive feminine guiding influence and become some kind of teenage tyrant that you read about in the papers. The thing that scares me most? Being alone! Mrs.Sparky is my rock and there are so many things I could not do without her even if I do not always show it or appreciate her. And by being my wife, she has given me the greatest gift she could ever have given me: our beautiful daughter who is the very essence of all our hopes and dreams of the future! Mrs.Sparky has given me some truly memorable gifts over the years and always surpassed herself but she will never outdo the arrival of the daughter that she brought into this world. Emilie is more precious to me than anything else in my life other than her mum and these two people are the only two on this whole godforsaken planet that keep me struggling on through all adversity!
The other question I was asked was "if you were cooking me a meal what would be on the menu (bearing in mind I don't eat meat - except chicken and bacon). What would be the setting and what music would be playing in the background?"
Well Kendie, the setting would be in the new house that I have not bought yet, in the dining room, lit with rose-scented candles. Guests would include yourself, Mrs.Sparky and some of our closest mutual friends from RISI etc and the music in the background would be a random sampling of Katie Melua's three albums because we had them as background music during the meal at our wedding and Damien Rice's album "O" because The Blower's Daughter was our first dance. I would do a simple melon and pineapple stack for starter ligtly drizzled with a passion-fruit syrup. For the next course, we would have chicken breast wrapped in Black Forest ham with sweet mashed potato, roasted baby carrots and fondant potatoes all masked with a redcurrant jus. For dessert, I would do a choice of individual white chocolate and raspberry cheesecakes or sticky toffee pudding with almond and honeycomb ice cream and a poppy seed tuille biscuit. And finally, I would present a small selection of cheeses that would feature white stilton with cranberries, Applewood smoked cheddar, a nice Double Gloucster and a rich goats cheese accompanied by cafitierres of amaretto flavoured coffee and little chocolate petit-fours. Hope that all sounds yummy enough. It's certainly making me hungry.
One other thing I have to endure the last few days is incredible tootnache as some of you might have read on my Facebook status. I haven't been to the dentist in some years after a bad experience and now have a recent upper cavity. Thankfully, I was able top find a local NHS dentist and registered me and Emilie (Mrs.Sparky needs to fill in a form yet so she can register!) and got an appointment for this morning. The dentist was very nice and friendly and told me he thought it was the cavity causing me problems but that I have a back lower on the same side that is slightly black which he wants to examine closer! Took some x-rays and I need to check in next week for results but he said other than needing a professional clean, my teeth weren't too bad considering! Which is nice! He has prescribed me anti-biotics for my tooth-ache which is cool as felt as though I was going insane with the pain last few nights despite taking strong over-the-counter paracetamols! Hopefully will soon have this all sorted!
Can't think of anything else to report, didn't mean to write such a looong Blog but you know how it is! Currently reading Polar Star by Martin Cruz Smith, the sequel to Gorky Park, which is very,very good and just finished Child 44 set in a similar Post-Stalin Russia era and was also very very good! Right, going now... byeeeeeeeeeee! Le Sparks
Friday, 7 August 2009
National Sparky's stay home vacation: day five
Not done much last couple of days but have got the majority of Mrs.Sparky's list crossed off! Been nice relaxing and not having to worry about anything and am dreading going back to work! Not going to think about that right now yet though as still have a few days to go yet!!
Me and Emilie have been out for a long walk yesterday when I went to get my hair cut ~ it takes an hour to walk into town and back again ~and the day before we spent some time in the play area over the road from us which has a small slide and some swings. All very nice and relaxing and whilst there is plenty more that I wanted to get done this week, still it has been nice just not doing a lot! Yesterday we got the paddling pool out and Emilie had a little play in that though most of her time was spent emptying the pool with her bucket and trying to soak daddy. It is a good thing yesterday was a scorching hot, humid day because the water splashed at me from the paddling pool cooled me down. But I did end up rather wet!!
Finished John Connolly's The Lovers in the early hours of Wednesday morning ~ it was one of those books you just could not put down. I love the whole dark macabreness of the story arc that runs through these books and the whole idea of fallen angels walking amongst us is a fascinating and interesting one that goes a long way to explaining some of the evil people in this world! It is also rather scary and thinking about it sends shivers down my spine. But John Connolly is, without question, my favourite thriller writer and it is just a shame that he will be taking another break from Charlie Parker for his next novel. Apparently the next Parker novel, The Whisperers, is due out next year and I for one cannot wait!
Started reading Dead Until Dark yesterday by Charlaine Harris but was less than impressed and gave up before the end. It was a very chick-lit kind-of book that was like some kind of horror-lite and was chock full of lovey-dovey vampire-human sex scenes that made me want to hurl. It comes under the guise of a new genre, Paranormal Romance, which is kind of like mills n boon but with supernatural elements added to the mix! Thought I would give it a go as it has just been made into a successful American series, True Blood, but after reading Let The Right One In, this was a bitter disappointment for a vampire novel and not very thrilling at all. Have instead started The Handbag And Wellies Yoga Club which is chick-lit through and through but which I got free from a Facebook group, "I want a free book every month". It is all about a top city slicker who exchanges her busy life-style for a more refined life in Norfolk which, as some of you may know, is my home! It is quite amusing to see an outsiders point of view of Norfolk and to recognise all of the villages she mentions. It's not laugh out loud funny but it is very well written and a pleasant enough and easy read which I will soon get through....
Yesterday Twitter went down after an attack on it by hackers. What was funny was the amount off people who began fretting because they could not get on it! Facebook was full of people who were stresing because they could not get the Tweet fix for the day. Honestly what did people do before Twitter? Oh yes, they actually had to talk to each other face-to-face or on the phone rather than typing regular updates on their day such as "just about to go to loo, hope it's an easier experience than last time!" That's not a real Tweet I have read by the way but one I have made up but you can bet your ass that someone has Tweeted that at some stage!!
We have kept getting updates through from the Breckland Freecycle group lately by E-mail even though the only interest we have ever showed in the siote was months ago so why we have suddenly started getting updates I don't know. The idea on Freecycle of course being that people offer their tat on there for free so other people can come to collect it and that others can make requests of stuff they are looking for. Mrs.Sparky has cancelled the updates now but will take a few days to go through. It is quite amusing though the cheek of some people and what they ask for... one guy wanted some paint for a paint pod as he had bought the pod but could not afford anything to go into it. Another asked for some life jackets so he and his family could go canoeing. Oh and some paddles if anyone had them. And a canoe! We are thinking of going on there and asking for a bigger house?!!?? I did post the other day that I would be intertested in picking up any old books if anybody had some hanging around...thought I could flog them or put them on Bookmooch or something but surprise surprise, no replies as yet.... I wonder if any of the "Wanted" requests get any replies?
Bookmooch is a bit like RISI for those who don't know, but instead of swapping for books, members post their lists of unwanted books then get points for any books they send which they can then redeem for books on other people's lists. It means that instead of having to pick something off other people's swap-lists or risk causing offence by turning them down, you can store points until you see something you really want or until one of the books on your wishlist becomes available. I only listed my RISI books on there yesterday but got two requests almost straight away. Thats a good start as I could do woith getting rid of some of my books without the fear of getting more back in their place especially as my TBR stash is getting ridiculously massive!
Well thats all for now, more updates soon... Sparky :)
Me and Emilie have been out for a long walk yesterday when I went to get my hair cut ~ it takes an hour to walk into town and back again ~and the day before we spent some time in the play area over the road from us which has a small slide and some swings. All very nice and relaxing and whilst there is plenty more that I wanted to get done this week, still it has been nice just not doing a lot! Yesterday we got the paddling pool out and Emilie had a little play in that though most of her time was spent emptying the pool with her bucket and trying to soak daddy. It is a good thing yesterday was a scorching hot, humid day because the water splashed at me from the paddling pool cooled me down. But I did end up rather wet!!
Finished John Connolly's The Lovers in the early hours of Wednesday morning ~ it was one of those books you just could not put down. I love the whole dark macabreness of the story arc that runs through these books and the whole idea of fallen angels walking amongst us is a fascinating and interesting one that goes a long way to explaining some of the evil people in this world! It is also rather scary and thinking about it sends shivers down my spine. But John Connolly is, without question, my favourite thriller writer and it is just a shame that he will be taking another break from Charlie Parker for his next novel. Apparently the next Parker novel, The Whisperers, is due out next year and I for one cannot wait!
Started reading Dead Until Dark yesterday by Charlaine Harris but was less than impressed and gave up before the end. It was a very chick-lit kind-of book that was like some kind of horror-lite and was chock full of lovey-dovey vampire-human sex scenes that made me want to hurl. It comes under the guise of a new genre, Paranormal Romance, which is kind of like mills n boon but with supernatural elements added to the mix! Thought I would give it a go as it has just been made into a successful American series, True Blood, but after reading Let The Right One In, this was a bitter disappointment for a vampire novel and not very thrilling at all. Have instead started The Handbag And Wellies Yoga Club which is chick-lit through and through but which I got free from a Facebook group, "I want a free book every month". It is all about a top city slicker who exchanges her busy life-style for a more refined life in Norfolk which, as some of you may know, is my home! It is quite amusing to see an outsiders point of view of Norfolk and to recognise all of the villages she mentions. It's not laugh out loud funny but it is very well written and a pleasant enough and easy read which I will soon get through....
Yesterday Twitter went down after an attack on it by hackers. What was funny was the amount off people who began fretting because they could not get on it! Facebook was full of people who were stresing because they could not get the Tweet fix for the day. Honestly what did people do before Twitter? Oh yes, they actually had to talk to each other face-to-face or on the phone rather than typing regular updates on their day such as "just about to go to loo, hope it's an easier experience than last time!" That's not a real Tweet I have read by the way but one I have made up but you can bet your ass that someone has Tweeted that at some stage!!
We have kept getting updates through from the Breckland Freecycle group lately by E-mail even though the only interest we have ever showed in the siote was months ago so why we have suddenly started getting updates I don't know. The idea on Freecycle of course being that people offer their tat on there for free so other people can come to collect it and that others can make requests of stuff they are looking for. Mrs.Sparky has cancelled the updates now but will take a few days to go through. It is quite amusing though the cheek of some people and what they ask for... one guy wanted some paint for a paint pod as he had bought the pod but could not afford anything to go into it. Another asked for some life jackets so he and his family could go canoeing. Oh and some paddles if anyone had them. And a canoe! We are thinking of going on there and asking for a bigger house?!!?? I did post the other day that I would be intertested in picking up any old books if anybody had some hanging around...thought I could flog them or put them on Bookmooch or something but surprise surprise, no replies as yet.... I wonder if any of the "Wanted" requests get any replies?
Bookmooch is a bit like RISI for those who don't know, but instead of swapping for books, members post their lists of unwanted books then get points for any books they send which they can then redeem for books on other people's lists. It means that instead of having to pick something off other people's swap-lists or risk causing offence by turning them down, you can store points until you see something you really want or until one of the books on your wishlist becomes available. I only listed my RISI books on there yesterday but got two requests almost straight away. Thats a good start as I could do woith getting rid of some of my books without the fear of getting more back in their place especially as my TBR stash is getting ridiculously massive!
Well thats all for now, more updates soon... Sparky :)
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Vacation day two....or what I did in my summer holiday
Day Two of my hols has seen me doing ANOTHER mystery shop today earning me a cool £10 for around half hours work! I am not supposed to talk about it but so far all my assignments have been in local towns covering a variety of businesses! It was my fourth assignment today and I really quite enjoyed it ~ pretending to be somebody else for a small slice of time! I do it through a company website called Grass Roots and signing up was dead easy. Hoping I get some more assignments soon as they are really quite fun!
Gave up on David Peace's 1977 last night; just couldn't get into the way each chapter alternated between the two lead characters and actually found it quite confusing! Don't think I am going to bother with 1980 or 1983, the last two installments in The Red Riding quartet, as I do not like Peace's style particularly and cannot see anyway it will improve with the later novels. Am reading instead The Lovers by John Connolly who is a much better writer and someone of whom I am seldom disappointed. There have only been two of his books I did not like and both these were independent novels rather than part of his Charlie Parker series...
This newest novel sees Charlie Parker holding down a job as a bar manager in Maine after having his Private Investigators license revoked following events in The Unquiet which saw him upsetting the wrong kind of influential and powerful people and attracting the attentions of a very creepy guy known only as The Collector! With time on his hands, Parker finds himself drawn back into his own past as he finally attempts to discover the true reasons behind his father's disgrace and consequent suicide that followed his murder of two unarmed youths. Will Parker's death has never been satisfactorily explained to his son and now, after hints from The Collector that Parker's parents may not be whom they seemed, he has decided to investigate his own family history as opposed to other peoples. Meanwhile, a hack journalist and occasional crime writer decides to write a true-crime book all about Parker's exploits and his recent dealings with those others would consider to be "bad men!" And then there is the mysterious figure who is dogging Parker's footsteps....how is he connected?
Connolly writes very dark and macabre thrillers that always border on the edge of insanity and which have dealings with the supernatural whilst still entitling the viewer to form their own opinion of events. Whether the more paranormal elements of his novels are all in Parker's head or not is left entirely to the reader's own interpretation and this makes his books work on a variety of levels. If you have not picked him up before, then start with Every Dead Thing and introduce yourself to ex-cop turned P.I Charlie Parker. I guarantee you will not be disappointed...
Went to see the latest Harry Potter today at cinema, The Half-Blood Prince, whilst mum looked after Emilie for a few hours.Mrs.Sparky twisted my arm as we have seen them all so far on big scren and I am glad she did as it was very good! But blimey, the films are getting very dark and serious now!!! I should really try and read the books but I tried Philosopher's Stone a while back and didn't really enjoy it! I didn't like Rowling's style paticulary but Im thinking I should give them another go! I would like to get them in a box-set with the adult covers but will probably wait a while as I have enough books to wade through at present! We saw a trailer for the new Guy Ritchie film, a modern take on Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jnr, whilst we were there and that looks bloody good and then they just advertised the new Quentin Tarrantino, Inglorious Bastards, on TV a moment ago and that looks cool too! They also have a final Final Destination planned to finish off the series this year but whether or not that will be any good remains to be seen as number 3 was a bit pants and not at all frightening like the first two which had some, excuse the pun, killer scenes that literally left me gasping. For those who have seen the films I will just say "BBBBBUUUUUUSSSSS!" and "Holy Panes of Glass Batman!" The first two films were nasty!!
Tonight had the Wii out for a bit; Mrs.Sparky bought it about a month ago and not really played it yet. She got Wii Fit for it and doing the BMI test for it produced the result that I am currently ideal!! Wouldn't have said that a few months ago!! It is only because I have lost a bit of weight after being on my feet 12/13 hours a day and not eating properly as don't have time! Still if it says Iam ideal for my age and height, I am not gonna argue. The games on Wii Fit are fun and include Ski Slalom and Ski Jumping though I am not convinced by the Yoga exercises as I kept losing my balance!! That said there is a good Step Aerobics programme on there that is challenging and fun and the more hours you put into Wii Fit, the more extras you can unlock! I played for around an hour tonight before I had realised and ended up all hot and sweaty but had lots of fun!!! It said I had lost 4lbs when I weighed myself at the end of my session and then I realised I had done the first weigh-in wearing my Combats and, by the end of my Wii time, had ended up removing them as they had got in the way and that, loaded down with my keys and wallet etc, that probably amounted to the missing 4lbs! What a dope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, thats Day Two of my holiday over so 'till tomorrow goodbyeeeeeeeeeeee!
Gave up on David Peace's 1977 last night; just couldn't get into the way each chapter alternated between the two lead characters and actually found it quite confusing! Don't think I am going to bother with 1980 or 1983, the last two installments in The Red Riding quartet, as I do not like Peace's style particularly and cannot see anyway it will improve with the later novels. Am reading instead The Lovers by John Connolly who is a much better writer and someone of whom I am seldom disappointed. There have only been two of his books I did not like and both these were independent novels rather than part of his Charlie Parker series...
This newest novel sees Charlie Parker holding down a job as a bar manager in Maine after having his Private Investigators license revoked following events in The Unquiet which saw him upsetting the wrong kind of influential and powerful people and attracting the attentions of a very creepy guy known only as The Collector! With time on his hands, Parker finds himself drawn back into his own past as he finally attempts to discover the true reasons behind his father's disgrace and consequent suicide that followed his murder of two unarmed youths. Will Parker's death has never been satisfactorily explained to his son and now, after hints from The Collector that Parker's parents may not be whom they seemed, he has decided to investigate his own family history as opposed to other peoples. Meanwhile, a hack journalist and occasional crime writer decides to write a true-crime book all about Parker's exploits and his recent dealings with those others would consider to be "bad men!" And then there is the mysterious figure who is dogging Parker's footsteps....how is he connected?
Connolly writes very dark and macabre thrillers that always border on the edge of insanity and which have dealings with the supernatural whilst still entitling the viewer to form their own opinion of events. Whether the more paranormal elements of his novels are all in Parker's head or not is left entirely to the reader's own interpretation and this makes his books work on a variety of levels. If you have not picked him up before, then start with Every Dead Thing and introduce yourself to ex-cop turned P.I Charlie Parker. I guarantee you will not be disappointed...
Went to see the latest Harry Potter today at cinema, The Half-Blood Prince, whilst mum looked after Emilie for a few hours.Mrs.Sparky twisted my arm as we have seen them all so far on big scren and I am glad she did as it was very good! But blimey, the films are getting very dark and serious now!!! I should really try and read the books but I tried Philosopher's Stone a while back and didn't really enjoy it! I didn't like Rowling's style paticulary but Im thinking I should give them another go! I would like to get them in a box-set with the adult covers but will probably wait a while as I have enough books to wade through at present! We saw a trailer for the new Guy Ritchie film, a modern take on Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jnr, whilst we were there and that looks bloody good and then they just advertised the new Quentin Tarrantino, Inglorious Bastards, on TV a moment ago and that looks cool too! They also have a final Final Destination planned to finish off the series this year but whether or not that will be any good remains to be seen as number 3 was a bit pants and not at all frightening like the first two which had some, excuse the pun, killer scenes that literally left me gasping. For those who have seen the films I will just say "BBBBBUUUUUUSSSSS!" and "Holy Panes of Glass Batman!" The first two films were nasty!!
Tonight had the Wii out for a bit; Mrs.Sparky bought it about a month ago and not really played it yet. She got Wii Fit for it and doing the BMI test for it produced the result that I am currently ideal!! Wouldn't have said that a few months ago!! It is only because I have lost a bit of weight after being on my feet 12/13 hours a day and not eating properly as don't have time! Still if it says Iam ideal for my age and height, I am not gonna argue. The games on Wii Fit are fun and include Ski Slalom and Ski Jumping though I am not convinced by the Yoga exercises as I kept losing my balance!! That said there is a good Step Aerobics programme on there that is challenging and fun and the more hours you put into Wii Fit, the more extras you can unlock! I played for around an hour tonight before I had realised and ended up all hot and sweaty but had lots of fun!!! It said I had lost 4lbs when I weighed myself at the end of my session and then I realised I had done the first weigh-in wearing my Combats and, by the end of my Wii time, had ended up removing them as they had got in the way and that, loaded down with my keys and wallet etc, that probably amounted to the missing 4lbs! What a dope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, thats Day Two of my holiday over so 'till tomorrow goodbyeeeeeeeeeeee!
Monday, 3 August 2009
Happiness, happiness... the greatest gift that I possess...
Sitting here with a cafetiere of Tiaramasu flavoured coffee and some toast, have just watched Sir Terry Pratchett talking about how he would like to be able to choose when he can die, or have it chosen for him by proxy, when his alzaheimers gets to the point when he no longer has all his own marbles and before he is no longer recognizable as the man he once was. If only more of us could be so composed, rational, out-spoken and eloquent then this world would be a much better place and Sir Pratchett gives a very compelling argument for the right to choose when you want to die. As he said, he has seen as a journalist the results of suicide and seen the mess that people are left to clean up after people throw themselves in front of a train or jump off a high building, so doesn't society have a responsibility to give people a cleaner less traumatic choice if they decide that they want to end their OWN lives. Of course, people contemplating such measures would have to undergo counselling etc before being allowed to make such a momentous and far-reaching descision but it does make a lot of sense. Whether I agree with him entirely is another matter but he does offer a lot to think about for someone who is supposed to be degenerating mentally however slowly might be the case.
Talking of making the world a better place, a Professor on Twitter has come up with a social experimenmt that is being conducted all this week that aims to spread a little bit of happiness across the globe. Here is the link.. http://tiny.cc/qMieR if you want to get involved; I have signed up for it as it sounds like fun, can do no harm and might just make this world a little happier if it works! And certainly I have a lot to be happy about this week.....
Talking of making the world a better place, a Professor on Twitter has come up with a social experimenmt that is being conducted all this week that aims to spread a little bit of happiness across the globe. Here is the link.. http://tiny.cc/qMieR if you want to get involved; I have signed up for it as it sounds like fun, can do no harm and might just make this world a little happier if it works! And certainly I have a lot to be happy about this week.....
Vacation Day One: Dreams can come true..
Could not sleep very well last night as so excited at the prospect of being off for a week so played around with my Blog for awhile after updating ~ adding my Twitter to the site etc ~ then sat and read for half hour as there was little chance of me going to sleep. Started David Peace's 1977 and it is okay but not exactly brilliantly written, much like it's predecessor 1974, but it sems okay and I wanted to read it after the channel 4 series, Red Riding, earlier this year. Actually 1977 was the one book of the quartet that wasn't filmed for the series as it was seen as inconsequential to the story, so that made it especially of interest for me to read. But I am not convinced that David Peace is an especially good writer and I don't like the way this book jumps between two character's viewpoints each chapter with no initial explanation of whose eyes we are seeing events through. Still, it is fairly short so I will soon get through it and I can then go on to review it on Dooyoo so reading it is not a total loss!
Last night when I eventually got to sleep, I had another of my crazy dreams...not of Marco this time but still food based. I was doing some kind of exam and had to cook 3 courses a la Masterchef for a dinner party of food critics that included Jay Rayner, a regular guest on the competition each year and The Observer's highly regarded food critic. I should point out that I was NOT in Masterchef but simply cooking for a Catering exam! Anyway, I was supposed to have two people helping me but they disappeared after the starters had gone out leaving me to finish off the mains and dessert myself and because they had done only half the prep, I found myself running late and out of time until the critics decided they had waited long enough and walked out of the exam and the dining room. The only thing I can remember about what I was cooking was that the main course was medallions of pork served on cheesey potatoes with a wholegrain mustard sauce poured over the top and the whole thing topped with a charred tuna steak. Not exactly surf and turf and I am really not convinced that any of it went together but all I can say is thank frak it was just a dream as I wouldn't fancy trying to eat that and gawd alone knows what the critics might have said! What a bizarre dream and why on earth am I continuously dreaming food or chef related dreams at the moment? It would be nice to have a break from my chosen profession in my dreams as well as in real-life but that is obviously not meant to be. Looking forward to what I dream about tonight...
For those who don't know what Marco Pierre White, Angela Hartnett (not Harkness as I previously wrote) and Jay Rayner look like, here am some pictures...
Last night when I eventually got to sleep, I had another of my crazy dreams...not of Marco this time but still food based. I was doing some kind of exam and had to cook 3 courses a la Masterchef for a dinner party of food critics that included Jay Rayner, a regular guest on the competition each year and The Observer's highly regarded food critic. I should point out that I was NOT in Masterchef but simply cooking for a Catering exam! Anyway, I was supposed to have two people helping me but they disappeared after the starters had gone out leaving me to finish off the mains and dessert myself and because they had done only half the prep, I found myself running late and out of time until the critics decided they had waited long enough and walked out of the exam and the dining room. The only thing I can remember about what I was cooking was that the main course was medallions of pork served on cheesey potatoes with a wholegrain mustard sauce poured over the top and the whole thing topped with a charred tuna steak. Not exactly surf and turf and I am really not convinced that any of it went together but all I can say is thank frak it was just a dream as I wouldn't fancy trying to eat that and gawd alone knows what the critics might have said! What a bizarre dream and why on earth am I continuously dreaming food or chef related dreams at the moment? It would be nice to have a break from my chosen profession in my dreams as well as in real-life but that is obviously not meant to be. Looking forward to what I dream about tonight...
For those who don't know what Marco Pierre White, Angela Hartnett (not Harkness as I previously wrote) and Jay Rayner look like, here am some pictures...
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Vacation time: day zero
Well, I am finally officially on holiday!!! A whole week is planned of pure relaxation, chilling and not doing anything even remotely resembling work! Mind, Mrs.Sparky has left me a list of jobs for me to be getting on with but it remains to be seen how much of it I get done. Just looking after my daughter will probably be a full-time job this week as Mrs.Sparky has been reporting to me that she is a bit of a devil child at mo when I get in from work.I should probably add that Mrs.Sparky is still at work this week for her usual three days, so we will only get Tuesday, thursday and the weekend together~ the rest of the time it will be just me and Emilie during the day. An example of my daughter creating havoc was in evidence the other morning when I updated my Blog....reme,ber I said it sounded as though she was trashing the living room behind me? Well, it turned out that whilst I had been ignoring her and typing my update,she had proceeded to toss as many of her toys as she had could lay her hands on outside through the open patio doors! I suppose thats what I get for not paying her attention but, with 5 minutes left before I had to leave for work, it really wasn't funny. And of course I had to at least attempt to clear it all up and get the toys back inside before Mrs.Sparky came down or else she would not have been best pleased! That'll teach me to ignore what my daughter is up to!
Actually, at the mo, Emilie is mostly playing up at meal and bed times! She is a bit of a pain to get her to eat at dinner time and the only way to get her to sleep at the moment is to leave her upstairs crying and go down and put the hoover on. Once she realises we can't hear her and are not going to come up then she eventually gives up and goes to bed. Sounds a bit horrible but she is testing the waters to see what she can get away with and pushing the boundaries a little so we have to show her who's the Boss or she will be forever thinking she can get away with things! It is not nice leaving her crying like that but we have tried getting her sleepy, reading her a story or two and calming her down but as soon as you go to leave her room, even if you think she is asleep, then she is up like a light and all tearful. She just doesn't want to be left up in her room on her own thats all but I am sure it is just a phase!
Crispy got another warning today when my mate Richard, the Manager of The Hotel, gave him a bollicking. He was told off for fawning over the waitresses and flirting with them, distracting them etc... One of the main culprits who always encourages him was also given a ticking off and I heard the if we can get a replacement then he will be shipped out as a trouble-maker as soon as possible. I did tell you his cards were marked didn't I? Course it's easy to just say that but the reality is somewhat different but I think it is just a matter of time before he upsets the wrong person. He nearly made Geordie Ed lose his rag again tonight and the guy is certainly doing well to earn his place on so many people's shit-lists! In a vote for the biggest prick in The Hotel, he would certainly top the poll though of course all the little girlies love him! Makes me sound as though I am a little bit jealous until you take into the equation the fact that I am old enough to be all their dads! No, it is more dismay on my part that these girls can't see what a cock he is and that they haven't got better taste! But then young girls always like the bad boys, don't they? oh but they have soo much to learn...
Finished Let The Right One in today and though I was a bit disappointed by the ending, I still really enjoyed it, would recommend it and want to see the film version. Haven't seen a decent foreign language film in ages it feels like! Had one of those moments this morning that all book~lovers will recognise where I had only a few chapters to go and had to leave to go to work! Was faced with that dilema- do I make myself late and finish the book or do I tear myself away and finish it off later. Went for the latter choice but I hate it when you get so close to a book's climax then have to put it on hold for something. Debating what to read next ~ I have Saigon which I really ought to read more of, 1977~the second part of David Peace's Red Riding quartet which was recently filmed as a trilogy for channel 4, John Connolly's latest Supernatural thriller starring Charlie Parker or Robin Hobb's latest novel set in The Rain Wilds which I bought, signed, last week. Thats the third of her books I have signed, one of which is dedicated directly to me and which I got when she came to our local Waterstones nee Ottakers,a couple of years ago now. As such, this latest book of hers will take pride of place and carries great sentim,ental value for me as I love her work as a fantasy writer! I am not keen on her books published under her own name of Megan Lindholm but as Robin Hobb, she excels ~ her characters are so believable and you can really connect with them and their world. I really want to read this newest book of hers, but I know it will take me ages to read as I will really enjoy it and savour every last word! Maybe thats something for later on in the week then...
Anyway, thats enough waffle....see you tomorrow when I will be updating you on the first day of my vacation.... au revoir
SparkyMarky :)
Actually, at the mo, Emilie is mostly playing up at meal and bed times! She is a bit of a pain to get her to eat at dinner time and the only way to get her to sleep at the moment is to leave her upstairs crying and go down and put the hoover on. Once she realises we can't hear her and are not going to come up then she eventually gives up and goes to bed. Sounds a bit horrible but she is testing the waters to see what she can get away with and pushing the boundaries a little so we have to show her who's the Boss or she will be forever thinking she can get away with things! It is not nice leaving her crying like that but we have tried getting her sleepy, reading her a story or two and calming her down but as soon as you go to leave her room, even if you think she is asleep, then she is up like a light and all tearful. She just doesn't want to be left up in her room on her own thats all but I am sure it is just a phase!
Crispy got another warning today when my mate Richard, the Manager of The Hotel, gave him a bollicking. He was told off for fawning over the waitresses and flirting with them, distracting them etc... One of the main culprits who always encourages him was also given a ticking off and I heard the if we can get a replacement then he will be shipped out as a trouble-maker as soon as possible. I did tell you his cards were marked didn't I? Course it's easy to just say that but the reality is somewhat different but I think it is just a matter of time before he upsets the wrong person. He nearly made Geordie Ed lose his rag again tonight and the guy is certainly doing well to earn his place on so many people's shit-lists! In a vote for the biggest prick in The Hotel, he would certainly top the poll though of course all the little girlies love him! Makes me sound as though I am a little bit jealous until you take into the equation the fact that I am old enough to be all their dads! No, it is more dismay on my part that these girls can't see what a cock he is and that they haven't got better taste! But then young girls always like the bad boys, don't they? oh but they have soo much to learn...
Finished Let The Right One in today and though I was a bit disappointed by the ending, I still really enjoyed it, would recommend it and want to see the film version. Haven't seen a decent foreign language film in ages it feels like! Had one of those moments this morning that all book~lovers will recognise where I had only a few chapters to go and had to leave to go to work! Was faced with that dilema- do I make myself late and finish the book or do I tear myself away and finish it off later. Went for the latter choice but I hate it when you get so close to a book's climax then have to put it on hold for something. Debating what to read next ~ I have Saigon which I really ought to read more of, 1977~the second part of David Peace's Red Riding quartet which was recently filmed as a trilogy for channel 4, John Connolly's latest Supernatural thriller starring Charlie Parker or Robin Hobb's latest novel set in The Rain Wilds which I bought, signed, last week. Thats the third of her books I have signed, one of which is dedicated directly to me and which I got when she came to our local Waterstones nee Ottakers,a couple of years ago now. As such, this latest book of hers will take pride of place and carries great sentim,ental value for me as I love her work as a fantasy writer! I am not keen on her books published under her own name of Megan Lindholm but as Robin Hobb, she excels ~ her characters are so believable and you can really connect with them and their world. I really want to read this newest book of hers, but I know it will take me ages to read as I will really enjoy it and savour every last word! Maybe thats something for later on in the week then...
Anyway, thats enough waffle....see you tomorrow when I will be updating you on the first day of my vacation.... au revoir
SparkyMarky :)
Saturday, 1 August 2009
Vacation time: day minus 1.1
Been busy again tonight at work but to be frank, am feeling a bit apathetic about it all at the moment. This is due to the fact that my week's holiday draws ever closer! And also because I can not really be arsed at the moment after the week I have just had as well....
Nearly had an incident with Crispy this morning ~ he has this habit of keep touching me when I have told him to keep his distance and today I came closer than I have for ages to actually hitting somebody. He really is the most annoying little shit and his very presence winds me up! I got so wound up this morning that my hands were actually shaking and I had to go walk in the car park for a couple of minutes to calm myself down! Anyone who knows me knows that normally I am quite laid-back and chilled so for me to get to the stage where I want to smack somebody then they REALLY must be irritating! Course I have more sense than to risk my job over a little c### like that but I tell you, he had better watch his back because any chance I have to stitch him up, I will not hesitate to use it and he is the sort of twat who will provide me with plenty of ammunition! Even HC said it wasn't like me to let someone get to me and really I shouldn't bite but it is bloody difficult! I must try to learn to rise above it as I should not really grace him with a response or sink to his putrid level. And, with any luck, his days at The Hotel are numbered anyway because he's not short of making enemies! Mind, all the jail-bait waitresses fawn all over him but then theres no accounting for taste one supposes!
My friend Katey has started her own Blog all about her reading habits and it made me think that really I should talk more about the stuff I am reading here, seeing as how it's what I do most of in my spare time.The link to her Blog, which I am sure she will not mind me sharing, is here: http://bookfreaksblog.blogspot.com/
Meanwhile I am currently reading the following:~
Mao, the untold story by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday which aims to reveal the true man behind the myth and propaganda and is a heavy-going but most enjoyable read! I have been reading this for months and am still only half-way through because I find it difficult to read too much of it at once even though I find it very educational and a highly rewarding read!
Saigon by Anthony Grey, who also wrote Peking, all about a young American and his experiences living in Vietnam over the course of several decades starting in the 1920's. Again very educational and a little heavy-going but nonetheless a very enjoyable novel that really sweeps you up in it's epic tale. HC lent me this and Peking when I told him about reading Mao and Wild Swans which was also written by Jung Chang. Anthony Grey, apparently, originally comes from Norwich which is my home city!
Let The Right One In by Swedish writer John Ajvide Lindqvist all about a young boy who is bullied and ends up making friends with a mysterious girl who lives in the apartment next door and turns out to be a vampire! This is a great novel and Lindqvist is the only author I have ever read who reminds me of Stephen King in style and content. The novel is as much a satirical look at swedish life in the eighties as it is a horror novel and is quite nasty in places! But it is a gripping read and it is easy to forget it has been translated from a foreign language! It has been made into a foreign language film recently and this, in turn, is due for the inevitable Hollywood remake to be released sometime next year!
So, thats brought you up to date with my current reading profile.....I'll try to make a more concerted effort to keep you up to date with what I'm reading as I know at least some of you who read this will be interested...until then ciao ciao xxxxx Sparky!
Nearly had an incident with Crispy this morning ~ he has this habit of keep touching me when I have told him to keep his distance and today I came closer than I have for ages to actually hitting somebody. He really is the most annoying little shit and his very presence winds me up! I got so wound up this morning that my hands were actually shaking and I had to go walk in the car park for a couple of minutes to calm myself down! Anyone who knows me knows that normally I am quite laid-back and chilled so for me to get to the stage where I want to smack somebody then they REALLY must be irritating! Course I have more sense than to risk my job over a little c### like that but I tell you, he had better watch his back because any chance I have to stitch him up, I will not hesitate to use it and he is the sort of twat who will provide me with plenty of ammunition! Even HC said it wasn't like me to let someone get to me and really I shouldn't bite but it is bloody difficult! I must try to learn to rise above it as I should not really grace him with a response or sink to his putrid level. And, with any luck, his days at The Hotel are numbered anyway because he's not short of making enemies! Mind, all the jail-bait waitresses fawn all over him but then theres no accounting for taste one supposes!
My friend Katey has started her own Blog all about her reading habits and it made me think that really I should talk more about the stuff I am reading here, seeing as how it's what I do most of in my spare time.The link to her Blog, which I am sure she will not mind me sharing, is here: http://bookfreaksblog.blogspot.com/
Meanwhile I am currently reading the following:~
Mao, the untold story by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday which aims to reveal the true man behind the myth and propaganda and is a heavy-going but most enjoyable read! I have been reading this for months and am still only half-way through because I find it difficult to read too much of it at once even though I find it very educational and a highly rewarding read!
Saigon by Anthony Grey, who also wrote Peking, all about a young American and his experiences living in Vietnam over the course of several decades starting in the 1920's. Again very educational and a little heavy-going but nonetheless a very enjoyable novel that really sweeps you up in it's epic tale. HC lent me this and Peking when I told him about reading Mao and Wild Swans which was also written by Jung Chang. Anthony Grey, apparently, originally comes from Norwich which is my home city!
Let The Right One In by Swedish writer John Ajvide Lindqvist all about a young boy who is bullied and ends up making friends with a mysterious girl who lives in the apartment next door and turns out to be a vampire! This is a great novel and Lindqvist is the only author I have ever read who reminds me of Stephen King in style and content. The novel is as much a satirical look at swedish life in the eighties as it is a horror novel and is quite nasty in places! But it is a gripping read and it is easy to forget it has been translated from a foreign language! It has been made into a foreign language film recently and this, in turn, is due for the inevitable Hollywood remake to be released sometime next year!
So, thats brought you up to date with my current reading profile.....I'll try to make a more concerted effort to keep you up to date with what I'm reading as I know at least some of you who read this will be interested...until then ciao ciao xxxxx Sparky!
Vacation time: day minus 2
Only today and tomorrow to work until I am on holiday for a week ~yaay~ and I get an extra day for working six days last week whilst HC was away ~double yaay!! It was my first shift with HC last night after around 10 or 11 days so couldn't stop smiling that he was back and that the burdens of responsibility, that had lain heavy this past week, had been unshackled from my shoulders! I think he wonderd why I was smiling like a loon ~probably he thought I had another job lined up ~but I would not tell him, just said when he asked "no reason HC, no reason."
I think he found it quite hard last night as we were very busy and the other chefs, Crispy and Geordie Ed, weren't a lot of cop and let things brush the kerbstones of In-The-Shit Street! I think he kindof realised, if he hadn't before, how hard it has been whilst he was away and how difficult it is to keep all the balls in the air when certain members of your team keep fumbling the pass. Certainly Ed is okay but he has a lot to learn and Crispy really winds him up as he does us all. Crispy is like the most annoying person you have ever had to work with and the sooner he goes the better. Word on the street is that his cards HAVE been marked by the management and that can only be a good thing!
Had another dream last night about Marco Pierere White again! What is it about this guy? This time I was staying or visiting this restaurant or hotel, it was a little unclear which it was as it sometimes is in a dream, and was looking for a back way out. Ended up walking through the kitchen and who should be there at the back near his office but Marco. I turned round and introduced myself and said something like "Hi Marco, I'm a chef too ~ nice to meet you, I have always had the greatest respect for you and what you do..." To which he just looked at me as if I had thrown up at his fet and was beyond his notice, as insignificant as a dung beetle, and just roared... "OUT!!!!!!! OUT OF MY KITCHEN NOW!!!!!!!!! OOOOOOOUUUUUUTTTTT!!!!"
Honestly, there was no need to be rude! I was just being polite and, after all, it was MY dream! Next time, I must try and remember to tell him what a frak-head he is! Or maybe I can try deaming about somebody else ~ Angela Harkness for example who works with Ramsey ~ though why I should want to dream about her, I don't know as she's not the most asthetically pleasing on the eye of female chefs ~ or maybe that tw#t Jamie Oliver. At least he's a mockney like me and a bit cor-blimey-guv-go-strike-a-light so we might have more in common than I do with Marco! I can't believe I am talking about these people in my dreams as if I actually know them in real-life!
Time I went back to work I suppose....sounds like Emilie is trashing the living room behind me and I think it's time I gave her to her mum!!
Laters people..... Sparky xxx
I think he found it quite hard last night as we were very busy and the other chefs, Crispy and Geordie Ed, weren't a lot of cop and let things brush the kerbstones of In-The-Shit Street! I think he kindof realised, if he hadn't before, how hard it has been whilst he was away and how difficult it is to keep all the balls in the air when certain members of your team keep fumbling the pass. Certainly Ed is okay but he has a lot to learn and Crispy really winds him up as he does us all. Crispy is like the most annoying person you have ever had to work with and the sooner he goes the better. Word on the street is that his cards HAVE been marked by the management and that can only be a good thing!
Had another dream last night about Marco Pierere White again! What is it about this guy? This time I was staying or visiting this restaurant or hotel, it was a little unclear which it was as it sometimes is in a dream, and was looking for a back way out. Ended up walking through the kitchen and who should be there at the back near his office but Marco. I turned round and introduced myself and said something like "Hi Marco, I'm a chef too ~ nice to meet you, I have always had the greatest respect for you and what you do..." To which he just looked at me as if I had thrown up at his fet and was beyond his notice, as insignificant as a dung beetle, and just roared... "OUT!!!!!!! OUT OF MY KITCHEN NOW!!!!!!!!! OOOOOOOUUUUUUTTTTT!!!!"
Honestly, there was no need to be rude! I was just being polite and, after all, it was MY dream! Next time, I must try and remember to tell him what a frak-head he is! Or maybe I can try deaming about somebody else ~ Angela Harkness for example who works with Ramsey ~ though why I should want to dream about her, I don't know as she's not the most asthetically pleasing on the eye of female chefs ~ or maybe that tw#t Jamie Oliver. At least he's a mockney like me and a bit cor-blimey-guv-go-strike-a-light so we might have more in common than I do with Marco! I can't believe I am talking about these people in my dreams as if I actually know them in real-life!
Time I went back to work I suppose....sounds like Emilie is trashing the living room behind me and I think it's time I gave her to her mum!!
Laters people..... Sparky xxx
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