Off the CASE August 30, 2008

Got back yesterday from the CASE 2008 conference, which is a three day fest of info, ideas and presentations for people working in alumni, comms, fundraising and development in the HE sector.  It was an oooofing packed few days and I’m still feeling utterly brain drained and slightly achy from Thursday night’s dance fest.

There’s loads I’ve picked up, some good and bad, and I’ll post the serious stuff on our worky blog, so on this one I’ll focus on the world outside the conference presentations…

1. Going with 2 ace gals from work meant for a week of hilarity (mostly hysteria due to tiredness but, all the same, we larfed a lorra!).  Also, Brighton brought out our clumsy side – falling off kerbs, up steps, off coffee area platforms, down stairs – I think we managed to cover every eventuality where a trip could occur.

2. Why most people were in smart dress when the invite clearly said ‘casual’ was beyond me. Stop trying to show off, and put your jeans on.

3. Tuesday’s reception at Brighton Dome was hilarious, mostly because there was free wine, and the tropical theme involved throwing beach balls round.  On it’s own, a good PR concept.  With balls raining down, clattering into people’s drinks and the sound of smashing glasses resounding throughout the venue, a moment of pure comedy.

4.  Hot buffets. Stop them. Everywhere you turned it was hot food. I just want a sarnie or salad and fruit at lunch, not noodles, nor anything that will increase my muffin toppage further!

5. Seaside venue = good times.  Fresh air and the chance for a dip in the sea on the Friday morning, the best hangover cure known to man.  I managed to dive in pretty swiftly, which was the right thing to do cos the pebbles hurt your feet.  Robyn discovered this pain as well and instead of plunging in, chose instead to play statues, holding her pose knee high in water and finally releasing a blood curdling shriek when dunked.  The lifeguard ignored us. Probably best. Next year’s do is at Liverpool and I feel the water will be slightly chillier (more shrieking no doubt will ensue).

6. The peg game was a superb ice breaker.  Take a room full of pissed up HE people.  Add some cheesy music.  Sprinkle in a lorra more wine.  Then, introduce a peg and you have a hilarious, challenging game involving everyone of all levels and ages.  Hats off to Slingers who randomly had a peg in her bag. My highlight was pegging the eminent Peter Slee.

7. I’m going to sneak in a last highlight which actually is conference related and that’s just to note that Professor Tara Brabazon was the best speaker by far.  Completely engaging, sometimes in a slightly scary way, utterly bonkers – but brilliant.  She knows her stuff. And she has good shoes too.

I’m too tired still to recount any more, as is Ellie and most other delegates I’d imagine (although Mike had the energy to blog from CASE, and attend brekkie dos. What’s that all about!!). 

 

I now have urgent weeding to do around our broccoli and curly kale and more tomatoes than I would care for.  The garden calls!

Mmmmmmm. Biscuit. August 21, 2008

I’m off camping again tomorrow, this time it’s Mad Irish Family Camping fiesta in Norfolk.  Same campsite, same faces, same weather?

 

I’m seriously hoping I don’t get deluged as much as when I was in Cornwall (which ended in tears with a snail on bum squish moment).  My plan is to tackle any rain induced gloom with the biscuit of the week, the lovely Club Milk, as recommended by Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down.  A good brew and a choccy bic will do the trick and keep the spirits up.

 

Oh, and my Mum’s caravan might help keep out the chill too…

my nose job August 21, 2008

Going under the knife.eeeek!

That headline got your attention didn’t it?  No, I’m not going to try and turn myself into the next Jordan (much as i love ‘mysterious girl’ as a pop choooon!).  In fact, I’ve just returned from the hospital, where Nice Consultant Man told me I need a nose job.

OK. He didn’t actually say it like that.  The problem is that my sinuses are rubbish and I have nasal polyps (nice! glam! just what a lady wants!) – these together mean that at night my breathing is like Darth Vader with a touch of flu.  To add to all of that, apparently my septum is “grossly deviated”. Not a wee bit bent in the middle – the Nice Consultant Man practically boomed to the whole of the waiting room that it is “grossly deviated”, rolling his ‘r’s for extra effect.  Thanks matey. I’d always known my nose was a bit squiffy, but I’d brushed it off thinking “hey! I’m a crazy kooky chick, a duff nose don’t bovva me!”. It’s not like my nose is pointing at my left ear, but yeah, it’s a bit off-line you could say.

Nice Consultant Man’s conclusion anyway, is this nose job. In reality it’s one operation but three procedures: 1. scrape out sinuses, 2. pull out polyps and 3. sort out deviance (possibly by removing bone and cartilage. eeew!).  I am pooping myself.  I’ve never had an op before and the thought of someone scraping round inside my FACE fills me with horror.  The Consultant Man’s attempts to relax me by mentioning the risks in a light-hearted voice (brain fluid may leak out.  eyes might be affected.  septum might be left with a hole in it. but all these are rare…) did nothing to help and I felt I was sat stifling a massive fearful SCREAM for most of the time I was in the room.  I managed to contain myself though and dutifully signed consent forms, spoke to three nice nurses, blew into a contraption, gave my blood pressure, filled out form after form, replied ‘no’ to questions about diabetes, heart pressure, allergies, dvt and the like.  And I also had to ‘fess up to my alcohol consumption (cue raised eyebrows from nurse lady).

With that out the way, I’m now ready and waiting to go under the knife.  The lists are short and I should be done in the next six weeks.  SIX weeks? gulp. I have two weddings to go to in the next month so I pressed the nurse for info about what my face will look like after, and when it will calm down (don’t fancy attending swanky bashes with my face sporting five shades of purple and a swollen conk).  Apparently a week will do it, just about, but I need 2 weeks off work to let it heal up.

I think I’ll take before and after photos of my nose just for good measure, although I’m not convinced it’ll look different.  I might sound different though – I’m always asked if I have a cold (particularly if phoning people) – it would be great to get rid of this bunged-up-ness.  Just a shame the remedy is drastic, and rancid, and brings me out in a cold sweat.

Blubbing over Beijing August 20, 2008

I’ve been watching loads of the Olympics since it started – I seem to be constantly on the red button, seeing Gaby Logan’s face and tapping into it on the net too.

For some reason with this games, as well as being more into it than in previous years, I keep crying!  I’m a sucker for the emotion of sporting achievement (heck, I even used to blub at Gladiators – the travelator drama!!) and a few moments have really left me with a lump in my throat.

First it was GB female weightlifter Michaela Breeze who battled with back pain and carried on to complete the competition, despite there being no chance of a medal.  Then there was the lightweight sculling pair of Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter who won gold – there was a tv clip of Purchase’s grandma just in floods of tears and disbelief when he crossed the line – aaaaah that really got me!  The women’s coxless four being completely gutted and in tears at finishing second place in their final to claim a silver medal also made me weep – have you ever seen four women more distraught at coming second?  Then yesterday Christine Ohuruogu’s come back to be Olympic Champion after her ban was fantastic and I had a little tear as she watched the British flag ascend.  The ridiculous nature of drug testing (e.g. you have to fill in a diary months in advance saying where you’ll be all the time) meant she was caught out not by design but by the system’s failings in my view.  She’s clean – and she’s back, big time.

The latest episode I’m sure will pull on my heartstrings is the story I read in today’s Times about the German weightlifter who held up a picture of his late wife as he claimed his gold. Bless! Tissues at the ready for tonight’s Olympic highlight programme…

Back into the fold with a bosh August 14, 2008

Last night was the first contact rugby training I’ve done for the best part of a year, and I must admit I was pooping myself when it came to the crunch out on the pitch.  The knee is feeling ok and I did my strengthening up exercises before impact stuff, hopping about and squatting like a loony-tune to try and get the muscles ready for a bosh.

Anyway, the exercises did the trick and I started the drills ok, although I was shaking a wee bit before going in (I’ve never been that nervous, what a wuss!).  The prospect of horror is so much worse than the real thing isn’t it?  Got through the one on one drills and towards the end started getting tackled on the injured knee side – I survived.
Then it was into full impact with us split into two teams, one defence and one attack. I started in defence and was hesitant at first (and then was annoyed that I was hesitant).  My chance came later and I put in a tackle on my sister, and then through instinct jumped back up to make another as the winger from the attacking side was there in support and looking to go.

Twisting round and tackling, my knee made a pop and there it was – the familiar, intense pain.  This time though, I got straight up and after walking it off a wee bit, carried on.  It was nerve-wracking but best to crack on, so I got stuck into attack this time.  I took a good few tackles and came out unscathed so finished the session with immense positivity, believing, at last, I am fixed!!
On return home I iced and rested and stretched. Today is when I’m feeling it though, after yesterday’s euphoric survival – today, hour by hour the affected knee has been steadily stiffening up and I just had to pop to the loo and stretch out my hamstring and calf, as it’s feeling so tight.  I guess I just haven’t been boshed for a while!  Hopefully a few more sessions full on will build my strength back up and get my confidence back on track.  I need to be up for running through people, hitting the oppo hard and making big tackles.  I have to get my place in the team back (although, having played centre for years – do I need a change? where might that be?) Only 3 weeks to our first game…

Getting back on track…here’s hoping… August 12, 2008

With apologies to my mate Rob, who’s fed up of diets, I can’t help but write about fighting the flab as I’ve come over all motivated today.  Hoorah!

I recently had 2 weeks off work which resulted in my fitness regime crumbling, my fruit intake nosediving and my alcohol consumption rocketing.  It’s sad that a bit of free time puts all my previous work to pot, but now that the normal service of a 9-5.30 job and meal times at regular hours has returned I feel I should be able to get back on track with B2B beautifying preparation (D-Day minus 11 months you see).  I also see the rugby season fast approaching and need some serious fitness work, having been out of the game for 10 months.

This morning I made a good start by managing to drag myself out of bed and into the gym (yawning, unattractively) by 0725.  A sleepy warm up on the bike was followed by some strength work, trampette running (harder than it sounds) and bounding/agility running to get the dodgy knee going.  I’ve also (foolishly) agreed to go along to a Body Pump class tonight with some girls from work.  I was looking forward to it until I found out they do 3 minutes (three. Three!) of sit ups with weights at the end of the class.  I might actually be sick.

Anyway, on the foodage front, as if psychic, a matey of mine emailed today and is also keen to have a bit of a blitz on the bod so we’re becoming Body Blitz Buddies.   Ideal.  I’m rubbish at self-motivation where not eating is concerned and especially where pear cider is concerned, so a like minded lady who I can share progress (or disasters) with will really help I hope.  We’re already on track – tonight is measure yourself and get a food diary night and we’re both out on Thursday for beer and curry, so already planning what low cal options will be best at the restaurant.

I’ve done Weight Watchers in the past and had great success at the time (which was boosted by being dumped and only eating maltesers, sparingly, for four days) – but over time I’ve slipped a bit I must admit.  I don’t want to get back to my depths-of-misery-lovelorn skinny minny look, but a few pounds off and a slightly trimmer waist (and ribcage?) would be welcome.

So, here goes.  Won’t bore you with my progress and food diary entries, but wish me luck…

Organic slug killer, my arse August 11, 2008

My veg patch last year was blighted by slugs and this year I happily thought I’d seen the last of them after using nematodes.

There’s been no attacks in the garden but due to very wet weather on the campsite, our holiday was blighted by the blighters. One morning after another soaking overnight I was horrified to find a beastie crawling up the side of our inner tent. Finding a spare tent peg, I flicked it off the fabric and skewered it, then placing it outside thinking “let that be a lesson to all of you slimy bastards” – or so I thought.

The following night on return from the shower block I took a seat on our air bed and after a short time became aware of slight dampness pervading my jeans. Accusing the Boy of spilling water on the airbed, I stood up and looked back, only to find [gulp] a manky squashed SLUG! Gah! The buggers had infiltrated the inner tent and yes, my jeans carried slimey goo in a trail on the back pocket. So Gross! The tent peg was called in again and once more a kebabed slug was tossed out of our tent. Boo it.

The offending jeans were whipped off and all that night I kept waking up and checking around the tent for slimy monsters, convinced they were out to get me. The jeans were washed but unfortunately there’s slug residue still on there. I’m going to soak them for a day to see if I can get out the ingrained entrails.

Although completely rank, I can confirm that sitting on slugs is an effective killing method, and completely organic. Just make sure you have waterproof trousers on…

Stein’s Seafood restaurant serves Beefy: But, Odds are on the money August 10, 2008

Aaaah. Just returning to blogging after a week away and off-line in Cornwall.  To fill the gap left by my ever present computer screen and to cheer ourselves up after lashings of rain, The Boy and I treated ourselves to some fine dining whilst down there. 

 

First up was the famous Rick Stein Seafood Restaurant in Padstow.  We waited rather a while at the door to get noticed but once we were we were shown straight through to our wee table for 2.  They pack them in a bit at this place but actually we were more than happy with our table.  Namely because, as I sat down, I spied none other than I.T.Botham sitting across from us with his family.

 

A proper sporting legend within yards of us was at least as exciting as the menu choices on offer from Stein and it was made all the more exciting when Rick himself showed up to share some seafood chat with Beefy.  Back to the food though, we decided against the a la carte and went for the convenient ‘tasting’ menu which comprised of 6 courses, aimed at those wanting a wee bit of lots of things – ideal for us.  The best course was the sea bass with hollandaise and samphire. Samphire was new to us two but we liked it – actually I really loved it, it’s a strange flavour but quite lush with some white fish.  The lobster and John  Dory courses were also good in my view but the crab and ginger broth was a bit too fiery IMHO.  Choccy pud to finish was lovely, although a bit more goo would have been nice.  All in all though, there wasn’t a lot to fault here, although the Boy concluded, “if that’s the best that fish gets, I stand by my view that you can’t beat meat”.  Refined, he is not. But at least he knows what he likes.

 

Furtive glances to Botham throughout the meal didn’t detract from what was probably the best fish dishes i’ve eaten, in a lovely setting. Although I was perturbed to see someone ask for the man’s autograph when he was clearly on hols with his family – rude.
Moving on to feast number 2, a gang of us visited Odds-The Restaurant in Cubert on our last night and wow, did this place blow us away.  It’s nothing to look at at ground level but a level down, carved into the hill, is a lovely little restaurant with fantastic views across the hills to the sea.  We were pleased to find we were chatting to the owner of the restaurant, Adam Coad, whilst he served us drinks and we took the chance to ask more about the background to the restaurant and the attached farm from which much of the meat comes.

 

The meal began well with pigeon with beetroot carpaccio for me.  I’ve never had pigeon before but if it always tastes as this dish did, I’ll happily wolf it again – it was simply LUSH.

pigeon at Odds. Yum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving on to the main, I chose Cornish duck which was cooked beautifully – again, probably the best duck I’ve ever eaten.  I don’t know who their chef is, but he’s a keeper!  The Boy had pork loin and belly and OMG, I tasted some belly and it was like eating caramel – utterly gooey, sticky and slightly sweet. delicious.  The other 2 eaters had a beef dish and a veggie option of Aubergine and goats cheese tian – and we were all making similar ‘mmmm’ noises throughout. 

 

With such a high standard of food, we had to delve into the puddings – I chose a cheese platter which sounds boring but came with home made oat biccies and a spiced pear which was a lovely touch.  One of the eaters had a chocolate fondant and we all witnessed the gooey lushnuss emerging as his fork went in.  Perfecto!!  Boozy coffees ensued until we were completely sated and the last group left in there.

 

Despite a small glitch with the bill you really couldn’t fault the service at this place either – it was friendly and unpretentious.  And Odds proved good value too, with my duck main £20.  A bargain for what it was.  With only a year under its belt I get the feeling this place will be going up and up in food rankings and develop quite a name for itself -I’m just glad I’ve been there in its early days whilst it’s still got seats available! (no sightings of Beefy there yet…)