The mad, mad world of my rollercoaster mind

Ever feel like jumping off the roof at work?

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 11:43:01 GMT

Well I am.

Yes ladies and gents, on Wednesday 23rd April we are having a charity abseil off the roof of the Birmingham Dental Hospital and after much negotiation and haggling, I'm going to be one of the lucky jumpers.

The charities are St Mary's Hospice http://www.bsmh.org.uk/about/index.php and Dentaid http://www.dentaid.org/

So get those wallets out, shoo away the moths and cough up some cash because I'm looking for sponsorship. Every penny counts so no matter how much or how little you can spare (I'm a poor student, I understand) please pop a message on here or email me at sarahwaters at hotmail dot com if you can help.

I will of course put pictures up after the event and if you happen to be in Birmingham on the day feel free to pop over and give us some support.

Earth Hour 2008

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:53:48 GMT

It's Earth Hour between 8-9pm tonight, so the lights are off, the candles lit and everything non essential has been unplugged.

Loss of a legend

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:04:26 GMT

I was lucky enough to meet Sir Arthur C. Clarke at a con in 1994, He was a self depricating gentleman baffled at the phenomenon he had created. When asked about it by another fan he replied with a big grin "I write the stories I like, it's just a coincidence you all like them too."

Lie quiet in that night. Delight has indeed been given.

National Examining Board of Dental Nurses Exam results are in...

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:37:23 GMT

I PASSED!

I still have to do course work till the end of April when I submit my portfolio, and clinical practise till the end of July, but I'm nearly qualified!!! Woohoo!

Endangered Cats on Olympic Stadium site

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:23:58 GMT

This is appalling, there are no other words for it.

Celia Hammond Animal Trust are trying to get on-site to capture feral cats and kittens at the Olympic site and are not allowed access - going back on an earlier agreement. Further info available at http://www.celiahammond.org/ then click on latest news.

Please help if you can. Sign up and spread the word.

http://www.celiahammond.org/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=3&MMN_position=3:3

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/115356064

Roll up, roll up and bag yourself a bargain

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:14:42 GMT

Christmas is getting a litle close for comfort and having had four months off work on statutory sick pay, I am looking for money making ventures so I don't have to choose between getting people pressies and eating this month.

So please check out my painting gallery as I have a few oil paintings for sale and I will accept any reasonable offer made for them. I also accept commissions although you'd have to get them to me by the end of November if you want them for christmas. Some of the photo's aren't great (taken on my phone as my camera is broken) but hopefully you'll get the gist.

I've locked replies in case anyone does want a pic but doesn't want anyone else to know they want a pic in case anyone wanted to surprise anyone else.... You know what I mean.

http://pics.livejournal.com/fresh_panini/gallery/00023r2s for a selection of my previous and present work.

Dawning Light (20"x16")
Edit - 14.11.07
SOLD

Fairy Village (10"x14")

Green Waters (16"x12")
Edit - 12.11.07
SOLD

Marine Turrets (16"x12")

Guardian (16"x12")

The Elements (20"x24")
Edit - 12.11.07
SOLD

Remembrance

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 11:27:30 GMT

For The Fallen
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Laurence Binyon (1869 - 1943)

What part of "ph'nglui mglw'nafh cthulhu r'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn" don't you understand?

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:37:50 GMT

A couple of people sent me or posted this. It's damn funny.

http://lolthulhu.com/

Exam Results...

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 17:07:45 GMT

I wasn't in work when the results came in, I was in Sussex having just been to Susan's funeral, which had gone ok.

I PASSED!

In fact I came in 3rd place in my year.

I'm just a little bit chuffed with that considering how much time I missed with my ankle. :o)

Earth Hour

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:42:18 GMT

Inspired by misthawk

EARTH HOUR - 7.30pm to 8.30pm Saturday 31 March 2007
At 7.30pm on Saturday 31 March 2007, companies, government departments, individuals and families are encouraged to turn off their lights for just one hour . If we meet our objectives during the first Earth Hour, the savings in green house gas emissions will be the equivalent of taking 75,000 medium sized cars off the road for one whole year! (Although Earth Hour is a Sydney-initiated event, be sure to take this opportunity to co-operate wherever you are in the world on Saturday 31 March 2007 between 7.30pm and 8.30pm local time.)

Why?
� The climate is changing; the 10 hottest years on record have occurred since 1990. In fact 2005 was the hottest year since record keeping began.
� More than 95% of the Great Barrier Reef will have been destroyed by 2050 if carbon dioxide emissions aren't reduced. (WWF-International)
� One million species worldwide are facing extinction due to climate change.

The goals of Earth
� Households: Most of us use unnecessary electricity. Appliances on standby, old style light bulbs, lights left on when we're not using them. Earth Hour will help us all to realise just how simply we can make a dramatic impact upon global warming (and our own power bills). We will see it in action.
� Companies: We want companies to be involved. If every company turned off its lights when the buildings weren't in use, and combined it with energy saving technology, we would save between 2 and 4 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses every year. Earth Hour will show companies just how easy that is.
� To make it an annual event : Out of the 8,766 hours in a year, let's give one back to the earth.

What you can
� Diarise the 31st, set an alarm at 7.25pm, tie a knot in your hair, do whatever works in order to remember Earth Hour!
� In general: get off standby. Turn off all the electronic equipment and appliances in your home that are not being used or are on standby. Computers, televisions, stereo equipment, phone chargers, DVD or video equipment.
� Spread the word as far and wide as you can.

For more info on Earth Hour, check out http://www.earthhour.org/
The environment, once a fringe issue, is now the most important one of our generation.

Look to the skies...

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 18:51:03 GMT

There is a total lunar eclipse tonight. It starts around 9.30pm till midnight with totality around 10.45pm.

If the skies are clear it should be beautiful. I shall miss being in the countryside this evening. I may have to take a late night drive out of the city because of the light pollution but depends on how chilly it is.

:o)

The illusive birthday...

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:57:14 GMT

Happy Birthday

jayphoenix

for the day after today

but the day before tomorrow!

hugs & spoons

xxx

For greenduck69 & feliana

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 20:21:45 GMT

Nature is wonderful!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/6371901.stm

http://www.stuff.co.nz/3969646a10.html

Xin nian yu kuai! Gong xi fa cai, si li ping an

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 10:15:10 GMT

Happy New Year! May prosperity be with you, may you have peace in all four seasons.

Welcome to the Year of the Pig

I was born in the Year of the Pig (1971)
The pig is the last of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac
Pigs symbolise good luck, but also turbulence
2007 is the Year of the Red Pig which occurs only every 60 years and also the Year of the Golden Pig, which occurs only every 600 years.
Babies born in Golden Pig years are believed to be particularly lucky

I'm doing better today after my previous rant. Thank you poppymayhem and feliana. Love you both loads.

Your pithy remark

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 00:33:30 GMT

Nicked from bluekindred

You're on the edge of a cliff, your long coat swirling in the high winds. Black clouds race across the sky and there is an electricity in the air that announces the fast approaching storm.

Your guns are empty, your backup is an hour away at least - if they're not already dead - and death is staring down at you from the ugliest mug you've ever seen.

It draws back its lips from sharp, discoloured fangs - and drools. You spit on the ground and stand tall.

There is a moment of silence, which seems to last an eternity, as you realise that you have nothing left but your rapidly depleting strength and infamous wit.

You smirk and, in a loud, clear voice, say, "..........?"

Farewell from the Harts 2ic

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 23:03:04 GMT

Before Allison was made to step down as 2ic of the Harts she sent out this message through the harts players yahoo groups. The message was blocked as Allison's access to her own faction board had been removed. Instead a lesser announcement was sent out. Allison posted the original message on her LJ as she did not want players to think she had just walked away without saying anything.

I am posting it here for you all now. Please feel free to pass it on to the faction members it was intended for.

"Dear Harts players & Friends

It is with great regret and a heavy heart that due to events of the last 4 months concluding with events at Aftermath, I am forced to announce my resignation as Harts 2IC.

I'd be lying if I said it was something I wanted to, but unfortunately things have been very difficult between myself and the rest of command.

I should also add that this is nothing to do with commitments outside LARP. Let us just say that un-reconcilable differences have struck yet again in the command team.

I'd just like to thank you all for the support you have given the faction over the past few years. Its been a true honour to have been part of the best faction in the LT for over 10 years.

Even though the gathering last year was far from easy, I took great pleasure in taking the field with you all and surviving the cataclysm

Good Luck with the forthcoming year.

Kind Regards
Allison Shailes"

EDIT 1st Feb
The Harts Command have now posted Allison's farewell message on their website stating they did not know she wanted to say goodbye, confirming that Allison, despite being 2ic, was not a moderator on her own faction board and stating they have now posted her message "out of courtesy".

Silly moments

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 12:27:07 GMT

I took a break from my course work and had a little surf through YouTube... OMG that can be a disturbing place! However here are a few more gems that made me giggle.

WOW vid most definitely NOT work safe.

The original song comes from the musical Avenue Q (http://www.avenueqthemusical.co.uk/) which is a rip of Sesame St and the Muppets. This is a most amusing version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mpRy1TAwRg&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCwKbUVyHLY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqTi0ZFDawY

What Tarot card am I....

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:32:27 GMT

When I jumped on this meme bandwagon I didn't think it would be one literally... ;o)

You are The Chariot

Triumph, Victory, Overcoming Obstacles.

The chariot is one of the most complex cards to define. On its most basic level, it implies war, a struggle, and an eventual, hard-won victory. Either over enemies, obstacles, nature, the beasts inside you, or to just get what you want. But there is a great deal more to it. The charioteer wears emblems of the sun, yet the sign behind this card is the moon. The chariot is all about motion, and yet it is often shown as stationary. It is a union of opposites, like the black and white steeds. They pull in different directions, but must be (and can be!) made to go together in one direction. Control is required over opposing emotions, wants, needs, people, circumstances; bring them together and give them a single direction, your direction. Confidence is also needed and, most especially, motivation. The card can, in fact, indicate new motivation or inspiration, which gets a stagnant situation moving again.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Very silly alternate endings

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 19:42:45 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GINTjEx6_IQ&NR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6rQvxzX8LE&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XEa-3eeedI&mode=related&search=

Because we should remember

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 12:35:27 GMT

IN FLANDERS FIELDS
by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
Though poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields.

Dungeons & Dragons meme

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:22:33 GMT

So who remembers the old D&D animated series?

Which Dungeons and Dragons Cartoon Character Are You?

You are Hank the Ranger, leader of the group. You have a nifty magic bow.
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Goodbye Madame Patti

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 20:43:08 GMT

Those of you that LRP may remember Louise Duckham from the trade stall Magpyes if you ever visited them at LT events.

Louise died very suddenly yesterday.

She was a lovely lady who I have had the priviledge to roleplay with, lodge with and most of all, to call a friend. Though we kept in touch with the odd visit, call and email I know she will leave a void in my life and that of all who knew her.

Details about condolences for her family and a get together to celebrate her life can be found on magpye's LJ.

Interests meme

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 13:00:38 GMT

Nicked from jayphoenix

Create your own! Originally Written By ga_woo, Hosted and ReWritten by darkman424

Movie meme

Sat, 12 Aug 2006 11:20:30 GMT

Pinched from dragonzgrace

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

What colour am I?

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 21:25:37 GMT

Your Power Color Is Red-Orange

At Your Highest:

You are warm, sensitive, and focused on your personal growth.

At Your Lowest:

You become defensive and critical if you feel attacked.

In Love:

You are loyal - but you demand the respect you deserve.

How You're Attractive:

You are very affectionate and inspire trust.

Your Eternal Question:

"Am I Respected?"

What's Your Power Color?

Ok, totally jumping on the meme wagon and also stealing a thread that started in fuscolucia's LJ, what colour do YOU think I am, and why?