'Shield up', said Ilkar.
Hirad half froze and looked behind the three Wytch Lords who confronted them. The other three, Ystormum, Pamum and Weyamum, were casting.
'Let's take it to them, Raven!' Standing half a pace behind and to the right of The Unknown Warrior, Hirad blocked another sweep of the hand from Arumum and buried his blade in the Wytch Lord's chest. The wound was healing before he dragged his sword clear. He glanced along the line....


My lunchtime finished with the above paragraph, page 500 of Dawnthief by James Barclay. I will have to wait to see if The Raven will defeat the Wytch Lords today!! This is the book I am reading this week and I find it very entertaining. All this 'shield up' stuff sounds very science-fiction, but in fact the shields are magic fields and The Raven are the most famous mercenary band in Balaia. A Fantasy Epic with a thriller pace, very relentless and quite different from the typical Sword & Sorcery stuff we are used to!

Mi almuerzo termino con el parrafo (en ingles) de arriba, pagina 500 de Dawnthief , autor James Barclay. Tendre que esperar a mas tarde para saber si los Raven salen victoriosos de su batalla contra los Wytch Lords!! Este es el libro que estoy leyendo -mas bien acabando de leer- esta semana. Esto del 'Shield up" suena a ciencia-ficcion, pero en realidad los escudos son magicos y los Raven son los mercenarios mas famosos de Balaia. Y Dawnthief es una Fantasia Epica muy interesante, con un ritmo acelerado,mas de thriller que de estilo Sword & Sorcery. Interesante!


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
18C
UV Index: 2 Minimal
Wind: From the Southeast at 13 mph
Dew Point: 16C
Humidity: 84%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,007.5 mb

After much trouble and strife we have decided we do not want a conventional sofa..but a sofa where we can lie down! And the Alpha sofa, from Habitat, is exactly what we need. Imagine it in red!!!



Despues de mucho reflexionar hemos decidido que no queremos un sofa convencional...sino un sofa donde podamos estirar las piernas! El sofa Alpha, de Habitat, es justo lo que necesitamos. Imaginadlo en rojo!!!


And the weather today:
Partly Cloudy
16C
UV Index: 2 Minimal
Wind: From the South Southwest at 13 mph
Dew Point: 7°C
Humidity: 55%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,012.9 mb

This is the show we are going to see tomorrow : Puppetry of the Penis. It's taken me three years of insistence and pestering Slippery Kitten to convince him to go. Then he got distracted for a minute, said "yes, of course" and I had already bought the tickets on the internet. It all started 3 years ago...the show with its Aussie boys had just arrived in London. Cartman's and Slippery Kitten's opposition crushed me then. A year later, walking in Bath with the same usual suspects I happened to see the poster for the show. Again, the opposition won. This year I saw the ad for the show in our neighbour city. And it was with the original Aussie actors! It will be F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C !!! Ha ha ha....


Este es el show que vamos a ver maniana : Puppetry of the Penis, que se ha traducido como 'Las Marionetas del Pene' en Espania. Me ha costado 3 anios de insistencia y hasta acoso, pero al final he conseguido que Slippery Kitten acceda a ir al show. Se despisto por un momento, dijo 'claro que si' y yo ya habia comprado los tickets por internet. Esta historia empezo hace 3 anios, cuando vi el show anunciado en Londres. Lamentablemente, Slippery kitten y Cartman se opusieron con rotundidad. Un anio mas tarde, en Bath, volvi a ver el poster del show andando por la calle. Los sospechosos usuales se negaron otra vez. Y ahora, finalmente, 3 anios despues, el show viene a la ciudad vecina. Y alli estaremos! Ademas, son los actores australianos del show original, no como en Espania, donde los actores eran locales. Pues no se porque...no seria por problemas de idioma, no?


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
14C
UV Index: 1 Minimal
Wind: From the West at 3 mph
Dew Point: 11C
Humidity: 81%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,019.0 mb

This the house we have just rented. Looks a bit run-down but it is much better inside, it has plenty of light (all those windows!) and a roof terrace. It is located in a very quiet street, although this neighbourhood's high street and the train station are close by, a 5-minute-walk, no more. Moving there soon!!


Esta es la casa que acabamos de alquilar. Se ve un poquito desmadejada, aunque el interior esta mucho mejor. Ademas, hay un monton de ventanas, esta en una esquina muy soleada y tiene una terraza en el tercer piso. Esta situada en una calle muy tranquila, pero a cinco minutos de la estacion de tren y del centro comercial del barrio. En 3 semanas ya estaremos viviendo alli!


And the beautiful weather:
Sunny
14°C
UV Index: 1 Minimal
Wind: From the East Northeast at 5 mph
Dew Point: 11C
Humidity: 80%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,026.1 mb

This week's shopping list!
5, Wholemeal Deli Rolls 4 Pack
1, Finest Croissants 2 Pack
1, Finest Large White Choc/Chunk Cookies 4 Pack
1, Strawberries 454g Class 1
1, Seedless Grapes Double Selection Pack Class 1
2, Gala Apples Pack
1, Tomatoes 750g
1, Spring Onions Bunch
1, Green Peppers Loose Each
1, Red Peppers Loose Each
1, Asparagus Bundle Price Marked Class 1 Each
1, Closed Cup Mushrooms 250g Pack
1, Bigger Pack Better Value Rocket Salad 150g
1, Iceberg Lettuce Each Class 1
1, Honey Roast Sandwich Ham 125g
1, Cooked Sandwich Beef 125g
1, Lemon Sole Fillets
1, Whole Milk 2.272ltr/4 Pints
1, Leerdammer Slices 200g
1, Corngold Free Range Eggs Box Of 10
2, Italfresco Prosciutto Tortelloni 250g
1, Coelsanus Mixed Funghi 280g
1, Bigger Pack Better Value Frosted Flakes 1kg
1, Walkers Sensations Lamb Mint 150g
1, Finest Cream Cheese And Peppercorn Crisps 150g
1, T.Temptations Thai Curry Crisps 150g
1, T.Temptations Steak/Marsala Wine Crisps 150g
1, Mccain Crispy French Fries 1kg
1, Birds Eye 4 Southern Fried Chicken 400g
1, Coca Cola Regular 4 X 2 Ltrs Pack
1, Diet Coke 4 X 2 Ltrs Pack
1, Kitchen Foil 300mm X 30m


Nice weather today:
SUNNY!!!
5C
UV Index: 1 Minimal
Wind: calm
Dew Point: 3C
Humidity: 87%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,031.8 mb

This week's favourite cocktail: Sidecar

Ingredients
1.5 oz cognac
0.75 oz Cointreau liqueur
0.75 oz lemon juice
Shake with crushed ice. Strain into glass. Serve in a cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon wheel, sugared rim.


The weather today:
Fair
14C
UV Index: 2 Minimal
Wind: From the North at 14 mph
Dew Point: -1C
Humidity: 36%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,023.0 mb

Re-taking a side topic from my Friday's post, the dubbing & translation of films and their titles which happens in some countries (I will use Spain as my example). That leads to a very confusing situation, where when mentioning the title of a film in English, you cannot find the equivalent in another language. Then it follows an explanation on the actors appearing on the film and even the synopsis till both speakers realise that yes! that was the film, but the title had been completely changed so you would have never ever guessed the right film without telling the other person about the cast and synopsis. Isn't that sad and a waste of time? Other times the meaning of the original title is slightly lost or twisted. Say, for example the film Phone Booth which is translated as Ultima llamada in Spanish : Last call. Right, of course it was the last call made from that phone booth, but the original title in English was Phone Booth, which translates to Cabina Telefonica. Yep, I know. There is a 70s Spanish film whose title is La Cabina, but I bet the copyright issues did not have anything to do with the change.Because they changed 'Die Hard' for 'La jungla de cristal' (The glass jungle) and I can assure you there was no Spanish film with a Die Hard title on it! Oh, and how about The Ring, for instance? I've seen it translated in Spanish as 'La llamada' (the phone call) and 'La senial' (The signal). I have not been able to find the Spanish website to confirm the definitive title. Because, you know, The Ring was supposed to have a double meaning. Yes, the sound the phone makes when ringing, 'ring, ring..' but also the shape, the ring the girl could see while dying in the well and looking up seeing the round, ring shape, of the well's mouth. And that double meaning cannot be translated, at least to Spanish. So..why don't they stop dubbing and translating? Stop that nonsense now! Stop that patronising attitude,as if people where stupid and had no brains! Stop this policy which started as a censorship tool, which changed ideas and whole films! Offer subtitles and that will be it. It is done in many countries and people still enjoy and watch films. I do watch films in languages I do not understand and it has not harmed me at all.


Retomo un tema que toque de pasada en mi post del viernes. La mania de traducir y doblar las peliculas de otros idiomas al nuestro (usare Espania como ejemplo). Los titulos no coinciden para nada en espaniol y en ingles, en la mayoria de los casos. Esto nos ha llevado a tener que describir la sinopsis y enumerar a los actores que aparecen en una pelicula para llegar a hacernos entender cuando mencionamos el titulo de una pelicula a un no-espaniol. Pero que perdida de tiempo!! Otras veces el titulo ha cambiado ligeramente, como es en el caso de Phone Booth que se ha traducido en espaniol como Ultima llamada. De acuerdo, el tipo hace su ultima llamada desde esa cabina en la pelicula, pero el titulo original es Cabina Telefonica, que problema hay con ese titulo, eh? Ah...que hay una La Cabina espaniola de los anios 70? Y que? Me parece que todos tenemos ojos para ver que el neoyorquino de Phone Booth no es Jose Luis Lopez Vazquez en el Madrid de los 70. Por suerte para el neoyorquino, digo yo. Ah.. problemas de copyright? Si? Pues entonces, que problemas de copyright habia cuando nos tradujeron 'Die Hard" por "La jungla de cristal"? Cuantos Die Hard habia en espaniol? Y que paso con The Ring? Aun es hora de que me aclare si la llamaron 'La llamada' o bien 'La Senial' Pues ni lo uno, ni lo otro. El Ring en ingles tenia doble sentido. Si, el ring ring del telefono, por supuesto. Pero tambien la forma redonda de la boca del pozo, el anillo, que era lo ultimo que vio la ninia durante horas y horas antes de morir. Como decis? Que no hubiesemos entendido el ingles? Alto. Por favor. No somos tan tontos. Y de diccionarios, las bibliotecas estan llenas. Asi que..basta! Basta de doblar y traducir. No lo hacen en otros paises y la gente sigue yendo al cine y apreciando las peliculas en el idoma original y con subtitulos. Que leer subtitulos es cansado? Que se pierde el hilo de la pelicula? Pues entonces, ya me direis como lo hacen en otros paises. Es que son mas listos? Venga, menos cuentos. El doblaje es un instrumento de la censura y hay que acabar con el, ya. He visto peliculas en idiomas que nunca hablare, he leido los subtitulos y no me ha hecho ningun danio. Y a vosotros tampoco!


And the weather:
Mostly Cloudy and Windy
19C
UV Index: 2 Minimal
Wind: From the South Southwest at 31 mph
Dew Point: 18°C
Humidity: 90%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,002.0 mb

I am reading 'Snow Falling On Cedars', which I borrowed from the Library yesterday. The name was very familiar but I did not know why. Today I've searched for it and found that a film with the same name was released in 1999. I did not even know it was a film, even less went to the cinema to watch it. More than this, it would have not been a title in English if it was 1999. So why is this title so very familiar? Ah well, another mystery here in our twilight zone! In the meantime, I am reading the book and enjoying it, which is good.


Estoy leyendo 'Snow Falling on Cedars', que ayer tome prestado de la biblioteca. Cuando vi el titulo, me sono muy muy familiar, pero no se el por que. Hoy he buscado en internet y resulta que una pelicula, basada en la novela y con el mismo titulo, estuvo en los cines en 1999. Yo ni tan solo sabia que habian filmado esa pelicula, ni la he visto, asi que no creo que el titulo del libro me suene por la pelicul.a Es mas, en 1999 el titulo en los cines de mi ciudad no hubiera estado en ingles, sino en espaniol. Asi que..de que me suena el titulo?? Otro misterio sin resolver en la dimension desconocida...De todas maneras, estoy leyendo el libro y lo encuentro entretenido, asi que el misterio vale la pena.


And the weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
18C
UV Index: 2 Minimal
Wind: From the Southwest at 9 mph
Dew Point: 11C
Humidity: 64%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,016.9 mb

This week's favourite cocktail---> Acapulco!
1 part tequila
1 part white rum
2 parts pineapple juice
2 parts grapefruit juice
5 ice cubes
Pour the rum and tequila into a tumbler over the ice. Top up with the juices.


And the weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
18C
UV Index: 1 Minimal
Wind: From the Southwest at 15 mph
Dew Point: 9C
Humidity: 56%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,014.9 mb

The weekly shopping list:
3, T Wholemeal Deli Rolls 4 Pack
1, T Finest Croissants 2 Pack
1, Finest Large White Choc/Chunk Cookies 4 Pack
1, Strawberries 454g Class 1
1, Seedless Grapes Double Selection Pack Class 1
1, T Cashew Nuts 150g
1, Gala Apples Pack
1, Tomatoes 750g
1, Spring Onions Bunch
1, Green Peppers Loose Each
1, Asparagus Bundle Price Marked Class 1 Each
1, Supersweet Sweetcorn Price Marked Twinpack
1, Closed Cup Mushrooms 500g
1, Ginger 125g Pack Class 1
1, T Rocket Salad 100g
1, Iceberg Lettuce Each Class 1
1, T.12 Smoked Wiltshire Cure Streaky 250g
1, T Smoked Sandwich Ham 125g
1, T Cooked Sandwich Chicken 125g
1, T Lemon Sole Fillets
1, T Whole Milk 2.272ltr/4 Pints
1, T Irish Creamery Butter 250g
1, T Medium Mature Cheddar Small
1, Leerdammer Slices 200g
1, T Cheese Tomato & Basil Ravioli 250g
1, T Cheese & Ham Tortellini 250g
1, Mcdougalls Fine Plain Flour 1.5kg
1, Heinz Whole Peeled Tomatoes 4 X 400g
1, T Indian Basmati Rice 2kg
1, Walkers Sensations Ckn/Thyme 150g
1, Walkers Sensations Four Cheese/Onion150g
1, Walkers Sensations Thai Sweet Chili 150g
1, Walkers Sensations Lamb Mint 150g
2, Coca Cola Regular 12 X 330ml Pack
2, Diet Coke 12 X 330ml Pack
1, Coca Cola Regular 4 X 2 Ltrs Pack
1, Diet Coke 4 X 2 Ltrs Pack
1, Gonzalez Tio Pepe Sherry 75cl
1, Colgate Toothpaste Anti Tartar Plus Whitening 100ml
1, Ariel Color Liquid 1.5ltr Pouch
1, Comfort Mandarin 2 Litre


And the weather today:
Fog ---> nope. Only Hazy. I can still see the sun!
13C
UV Index: N/A N/A
Wind: calm
Dew Point: 13C
Humidity: 99%
Visibility: 0 miles
Barometer: 1,020.3 mb

We have already booked our hotel in Las Vegas. It's going to be the Luxor, which is offering 10% discount till Jan 31st 2004 because they are celebrating their 10th anniversary. Cheaper booking directly with the hotel than with 'discount websites'. Ah, the lights, the casinos, the pyramids and all that glitter...!!!


Ya hemos reservado el hotel en Las Vegas. Es el Luxor, que ofrece un 10% de descuento hasta el 31 de enero 2004 porque estan celebrando su 10 aniversario. Mucho mas economico haciendo la reserva directamente con el hotel que con las paginas web de ofertas y descuentos. Ah, las luces de colores, los casinos, las piramides, cuanto brillo, cuanto color...!!!



The weather today:
Haze
22C
UV Index: 4 Low
Wind: From the South at 2 mph
Dew Point: 18°C
Humidity: 78%
Visibility: 5 miles
Barometer: 1,023.7 mb

It has been a very beautiful weekend, sunny, warm and lots of action. Managed to have my passport (with optical reader, US approved and so on, ha ha!) renewed and wonder of wonders, the very suspicious bureaucrats from the consulate will send it to me by the post. Amazing! I tell you, this does NOT happen where I come from... then a mad rush through Hyde Park to meet a friend with typical mediterranean disorganization...and don't we love it!! Lunch in Soho and mad rush again to the West End so friend could get there on time to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Afternoon attempt to do some shopping but it was too hot and too crowded. So we took the tube and went to see David Blaine hanging in his glass box on top of the Thames (see my posts last week). The poor bastard seemed incredibly bored. Like an animal at the zoo. And to make things worse, he has to wave to the crowd while starving. The tabloids have devised ways of making his life more difficult, like organising massive barbeques on the riverside or flying toy planes with McDonalds bags hanging from them. This is the European way, David. We do not praise for achievements, but will try to put you down and drown you if we can. That's how we are! Anyway, then rushing again to Soho to meet Cartman who took us to a nice cafe where we had very nice cocktails. No. The cafe was not nice but awful, but it had heaps of character. And the cocktails were good.
Oh, and yesterday we spent the afternoon on the beach. There it goes for the mad weather in this country!

This morning I have been a dummy candidate for interview practice. This means there were 3 interviews, each of them with a different panel (composed of 3 members each) for the same job. The job did not exist and the twist here is that the person(s) being evaluated and marked were the interviewers and not the interviewees, because they were training to be able to interview job candidates. Even so, I almost forgot I was a dummy candidate and actually got nervous when answering some difficult questions! At the end of the interview the candidates were asked to give feedback to the panel on how they had performed. This is, probably, the only time in my life when I have been able to tell the interviewers what I think about them. And I was not nasty at all. On the contrary, poor fellows, I even encouraged them and gave good appraisals. Am I mad or what?


Esta mananiana he participado, como fals@ candidat@, en una sesion de training para entrevistas de trabajo. Es decir, me han entrevistado 3 veces, en paneles de 3 personas, para un ficticio puesto de trabajo. Era darle la vuelta a la tortilla, ya que los examinados no eran los candidatos, sino los entrevistadores, como parte de sus futuros roles en la organizacion. Ha sido una actividad voluntaria, pero agotadora. Aun sabiendo que la entrevista era totalmente falsa y que el puesto no existia, los nervios se han apoderado de mi al afrontar alguna de las preguntas dificiles, tal y como hubiera pasado en una entrevista real. Sin embargo, al terminar, volviamos a la sala donde habiamos 'sufrido', nos sentabamos de nuevo, todo eran sonrisas de complicidad y de 'ahora ya estamos todos en el mismo lado' y eramos los candidatos los que ofreciamos nuestras criticas a los entrevistadores. Era nuestra oportunidad para ser crueles! Y, la verdad, no lo hemos sido. Hemos ofrecido criticas constructivas y hasta les hemos animado y dicho lo bien que lo han hecho. Estamos locos o que?


The weather today:
Fair
20C
UV Index: 3 Low
Wind: From the North Northwest at 1 mph
Dew Point: 5C
Humidity: 37%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,031.2 mb

 

Our little weekly shopping list:
5, Tesco Wholemeal Deli Rolls 4 Pack
1, Tesco Finest Croissants 2 Pack
1, Tesco French Bread Baton
1, Finest Large White Choc/Chunk Cookies 4 Pack
2, Limes Each
1, Value Lemons 7 Pack
1, Seedless Grapes Double Selection Pack Class 1
2, Gala Apples Pack
1, Tomatoes 750g
1, Spring Onions Bunch
1, Cucumber Whole Each
1, Green Peppers Loose Each
1, Asparagus Bundle Price Marked Class 1 Each
1, Closed Cup Mushrooms 500g
1, Tesco Cooking Onions 1kg Class 2
1, Tesco Emkm Leafy Salad & Tatsoi 140g
1, Iceberg Lettuce Each Class 1
1, Tesco Corn Fed Chicken Thighs
1, Tesco Honey Roast Sandwich Ham 125g
1, Tesco Cooked Sandwich Chicken 125g
1, Tesco Lemon Sole Fillets
1, Tesco Whole Milk 2.272ltr/4 Pints
1, Tesco Medium Mature Cheddar Small
1, Tesco Grana Padano Portions
1, Leerdammer Slices 200g
1, Tesco Finest Creme Fraiche 200ml
1, Corngold Free Range Eggs Box Of 10
1, Buitoni Spaghetti 1kg
1, Tesco Sliced Black Olives In Brine 340g
1, Tesco Bigger Pack Better Value Frosted Flakes 1kg
1, Walkers Sensations Four Cheese/Onion150g
2, Walkers Sensations Lamb Mint 150g
1, Tesco Petits Pois 454g
1, Birds Eye 4 Southern Fried Chicken 400g
1, Dr. Oetker Speciale Pizza 330g
1, Tesco Fresh Pressed Tomato Juice 1 Litre
1, Coca Cola Regular 2 Ltrs Bottle
1, Coca Cola Regular 4 X 2 Ltrs Pack
1, Diet Coke 4 X 2 Ltrs Pack
1, Carex Handwash Hypoallergenic 250ml

Bad weather today:
Cloudy
14C
UV Index: 0 Minimal
Wind: calm
Dew Point: 13°C
Humidity: 90%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,019.6 mb

Brochure-Addiction. I think it's a new word I have invented. It means addiction to brochures. Especially travel brochures. The victim goes to a travel agency and gets loaded with brochures. Then he/she goes home and starts perusing the brochures. After a while the victim realises the holidays are too expensive or promise unreal happiness. So he/she piles the brochures under the sofa and starts a new activity. But..the next day he/she is tempted again. Out come the brochures and more hours of perusal. Now it does not matter if the victim does not intend to go on holiday; he/she will just read description of hotels, get hooked on the white sand beaches and palm trees...and grab another brochure. Soon that pile of brochures won't be enough. By now, the brochure-addict knows that he/she can request brochures through the internet and have them delivered at home, free of charge. No more trips to the travel agency! Ah it is such a cheap addiction, isn't it?


Catalogo-dependencia o adiccion. Tengo el convencimiento de que he inventado esta palabra. El significado es adiccion a catalogos, especialmente los de viajes y vacaciones. La victima se dirige a su agencia de viajes para planear unas modestas vacaciones, pero acaba saliendo de la agencia con 20 kilos de catalogos variados. Al llegar a casa, se instala en el sofa y empieza a hojear. Al cabo de unas horas, la victima se da cuenta de que los precios son demasiado caros y/o las promesas de paraisos exoticos no son nada reales. La victima se desilusiona y apila los catalogos debajo del sofa. Pero...al dia siguiente, vuelve a ellos. Lee descripciones de hoteles, se emociona al ver las fotos de playas de blancas arenas y palmeras al viento... Llega un punto en que ya no importa si la victima se va o no de vacaciones. Lo importante son los catalogos y ese mundo de fantasia e ilusion que prometen. El/la adicto (porque ya ha entrado en esa fase) se convierte en un especialista en catalogos y en como conseguirlos. Nada mas facil que solicitarlos por internet y recibirlos en la comodidad de su hogar y gratis! Es una adiccion de muy bajo coste, realmente. Y ademas, hasta se adquieren algunos conocimientos y todo.


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
20C
UV Index: 2 Minimal
Wind: From the West at 23 mph
Dew Point: 14C
Humidity: 68%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,011.9 mb

This is one of the cities we are going to be visiting at Xmas.

Esta es una de las ciudades que visitaremos en Navidad.


And the weather:

Mostly Cloudy
17C
UV Index: 3 Low
Wind: From the Northwest at 12 mph
Dew Point: 7C
Humidity: 52%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,015.9 mb

My my..another busy day and I did not have time to write anything here! Well, a short -very short- update on what is David Blaine doing (I posted about him last Friday). It seems it got so hot that he had to cover himself with a blanket and the organisers where afraid if it gets hotter, they will have to cancel the whole event. Now...what are they talking about? For heaven's sake, it's London and the maximum temperature was 22C!!! We had the heating on at nightime and my feet were cold. What the hell are they talking about 'hot temperatures'??? Anyway, it seems other people considered they had to 'amuse' Blaine and threw eggs at him. Not only that, a guy practised golf on Blaine's box - although he missed every time.

Otro dia muy ocupado. No me ha dado tiempo de escribir nada de nada. Hasta ahora. En que voy y os cuento de David Blaine (mi comentario del viernes, para los despistados). Parece ser que la caja de cristal se calento tanto durante el fin de semana que Blaine tuvo que usar su manta como parasol. Los organizadores advirtieron que, si suben mas las temperaturas, cancelan el evento. Y digo yo..pero que altas temperaturas ni que ninio muerto! Que estamos hablando de Londres, hombre! Y al maximo que llegaron este fin de semana fue 22C! Que exagerada es esta gente! Y yo, mientras tanto, con los pies congelados y la calefaccion en marcha durante la noche. Ya te digo.. Y bueno, tambien hubo espectadores que se dedicaron a 'divertir' a Blaine...tirandole huevos. Lo que le faltaba al pobre hombre. Hasta hubo uno que se trajo sus palos de golf y empezo a practicar a ver si le daba a la caja de Blaine. No acerto ni una, hay que ser malo!

These have been two very busy days. I have been buried first under a pile of forms and then under a pile of submitted assignments. I am slowly digging up my way to the surface and feeling envious of David Blaine, who has today been suspended from a crane in a see-through box without food for 44 days for his next public feat of endurance. His only nourishment will be a tube feeding him water and another tube for urination. The event - which takes place on the banks of the River Thames - is to be broadcast on British television, and is entitled David Blaine: Above The Below. Blaine says, "There will be no trickery and no means of escape. We are all capable of infinitely more than we believe. We are stronger and more resourceful than we know, and we can endure much more than we think we can. In truth, the only restrictions on our capacity to astonish ourselves and each other are imposed by our own minds. My next performance will demonstrate these ideas through the most extreme exercise in isolation and physical deprivation ever attempted." Blaine's most recent public event entailed standing on top of a 100 foot pole in a New York park for 5 hours.


Acabo de sobrevivir (casi) dos dias muy ajetreados. Primero quede enterrad@ bajo una montania de formularios y despues bajo un monton de proyectos de tesis que me han entregado. Poco a poco me estoy abriendo paso hacia la superficie, sintiendo envidia relativa de David Blaine, quien hoy se ha encerrado en un 'ataud' de cristal colgado de una grua sobre el rio Tamesis, en Londres. Blaine pasara 44 dias en el 'ataud', sin alimentos, recibiendo agua a traves de un tubo conectado al exterior y orinando tambien a traves de un tubo. La proeza aparecera en los medios de tv britanicos bajo el titulo : "David Blaine : Above the Below". Blaine dice que no hay trucos ni manera de escapar. Se trata de probar que se podemos resistir mas de lo que creemos y que la clave esta en nuestra mente. Blaine aparecio recientemente en los medios de comunicacion al pasar 5 horas de pie, encima de una columna y sin moverse en un parque de New York.


And the weather:
Cloudy
21C
UV Index: 1 Minimal
Wind: From the South Southeast at 5 mph
Dew Point: 18C
Humidity: 85%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,014.6 mb

The World Wide Famous Weekly Shopping List!!
5, T Wholemeal Deli Rolls 4 Pack , £2.40
1, T Finest Croissants 2 Pack , £0.89
1, T French Bread Baton , £0.45
1, Strawberries 454g Class 1 , £1.99
1, Value Lemons 7 Pack , £0.81
1, Peach 4 Pack Ready To Eat Class 1 , £1.99
1, Seedless Grapes Double Selection Pack Class 1 , £1.59
2, Gala Apples Pack , £2.98
1, Plum Tomatoes 500g Pack , £0.99
1, Spring Onions Bunch , £0.37
1, Asparagus Bundle Price Marked Class 1 Each , £1.59
1, Closed Cup Mushrooms 500g , £1.09
1, T Rocket Salad 100g , £1.49
1, Iceberg Lettuce Each Class 1 , £0.58
1, T.12 Smoked Wiltshire Cure Streaky 250g , £1.49
1, T Honey Roast Sandwich Ham 125g , £0.75
1, T Cooked Sandwich Beef 125g , £0.75
1, T Lemon Sole Fillets , £2.35
1, T Whole Milk 2.272ltr/4 Pints , £1.03
1, T Irish Creamery Butter 250g , £0.79
1, T Grana Padano Portions , £2.55
1, Leerdammer Slices 200g , £1.47
1, T Finest Creme Fraiche 200ml , £0.75
1, T Spanish Paella Valencia Rice 500g , £0.99
1, Coelsanus Mixed Funghi 280g , £1.99
1, Walkers Sensations Four Cheese/Onion150g , £1.18
1, T.Temptations Mature Cheddar Crisps 150g , £0.95
1, Walkers Sensations Lamb Mint 150g , £1.18
1, Walkers Variety Doritos 10 Pack , £1.48
1, Coca Cola Regular 12 X 330ml Pack , £3.14
1, Diet Coke 12 X 330ml Pack , £3.14
1, Coca Cola Regular 4 X 2 Ltrs Pack , £4.69
1, Diet Coke 4 X 2 Ltrs Pack , £4.69
1, John Frieda Ready To Wear Hairspray 300ml , £3.75
1, Ariel Color Liquid 1.5ltr Pouch , £2.93

And today's weather:
Haze
17C
UV Index: 0 Minimal
Wind: calm
Dew Point: 14C
Humidity: 85%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,029.5 mb

This week's favourite cocktail :Cosmopolitan
1.25 oz Türi vodka
0.25 oz lime juice
0.25 oz triple sec
0.25 oz cranberry juice
Shake with crushed ice. Strain into glass. Serve in a cocktail glass. Garnish with lime.


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
19C
UV Index: 3 Low
Wind: From the Southwest at 6 mph
Dew Point: 13C
Humidity: 72%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,027.1 mb

Back from a very very short vacation. I have read all the books I had planned to read and tried to relax lying on a sun lounger while munching cows kept passing near our lawn. Nothing against the cows except for all the horrid green flies that came with them. Who can relax with all this buzzing around? I admit I even became violent and, grabbing a bottle of water, sprayed the cows and their flies to keep them away from us. The sheer number of cows was the only factor that won against my will. Too many cows and a very small bottle of water. I need a water pistol. I have been proomised one for Xmas. My childish side comes to the surface! Meanwhile, I take my revenge playing Fling the cow.


Ya hemos vuelto de nuestras cortas, cortisimas vacaciones. He leido todos los libros que habia planeado leer y he intentado relajarme en la tumbona mientras las vacas pasaban cerca de nuestro jardin. No tengo nada en contra de las vacas, excepto todas las fastidiosas moscas que atraen. Poca relajacion se puede tener con tanto zumbido de mosca verde a tu alrededor. Tuve que recurrir a la violencia y, armad@ con una botella de plastico, me dedique a rociar a las vacas y a sus moscas, en un intento de disuadirlas de acercarse a nuestro jardin. Me vencieron. Mucha vaca y muy poca botella de agua. Una pistola de agua de ultima generacion se hubiera agradecido. Despues de rogar y rogar, se me ha prometido una por Navidad. A veces tengo momentos infantiles! Mientras espero la Navidad, me entretengo jugando con la vaca volante de Fling the cow.<


And the weather:
Mostly Cloudy
19C
UV Index: 3 Low
Wind: From the North at 8 mph
Dew Point: 13C
Humidity: 69%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,022.4 mb