The Naming of Cats
I found a strange poem by T.S Eliot called The Naming of Cats. This verse in particular amused me:
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name
Full Poem can be found here
Although I didn't enjoy poetry at school (I think because it involved writing an essay and that inevitably makes me dislike the book or poem) I have realised I can better understand poems to enjoy them. The romantic in me would like a book of poetry.
If I were more awake I would like to ponder over the cat and his name.
Random
I really do need to cut down how much i go on my laptop and start doing things at night. However, I'm always quite tired and can't be bothered at night.
I;m probably tired because I stay up to times like this and then write pointlss blogs. Hm.
I have just finished reading 'Voodoo Vibe' my blog from 2005/06. I'm glad Im not that age again, but the things we used to do in 2005 were fun. I'm such a wimp these days. I used to go to the roundie whenever, no i don't cause I'm cold and it's wet.
I really should go to bed.
Soy Rojo
The mood takes me again to write a blogg. It always comes when I’ve had a rush of ideas that keep me awake after I’ve purposely went to bed early. Not so surprisingly the ideas have a cooking element, and would be helped along and achieved quicker if my room was clean. Ah procrastination. It has now officially been a year since my room has been cleaned. That sounds much worse now I write it down.
I have endeavoured to clean it on a number of occasions, mainly tidying away the mountain of clothes that accumulates next to my bed, waiting to be ironed, and then stop tidying after my mother leaves another pile of clothes to be hung away in my wardrobe. At the moment the mess is mainly Christmas things without a home, paper and books.
I always find cleaning a nostalgic experience, with the tidying coming to standstill as I begin to sift through things I’ve kept, inevitably ending up in more mess as I take things out to look at them. It’s from doing this recently that has reminded me how much stuff I have kept, like bus tickets from days out, luggage tags, gig tickets, and birthday cards. The other night I discovered the world of scrapbooking, what I imagine is a multimillion pound industry going by the prices of stickers (£4.50 for a small pack) the papers, books and other accessories. Through this I have found what I have been searching for, for years: a place to put my stuff. As well as this it also solves my other problem of a place to store my favourite recipes, as there are nice folders, books and recipe cards for this. It can be very creative from what I’ve seen.
The scrapbooks harmonise with a current interest of mine; family trees and history. A family tree is perhaps too big a project for me at the moment, but I do intent to visit my gran and get some photos to scan and keep for a rainy day. Family history however is another matter, as it is something with I can use in my history essay. I know nothing on the subject of the Red Clyde (communism in Glasgow around 1919) except that my essay is going to be on that, as it explores other communism hot spots in Scotland, including Dundee. As you may know or may not know, the family on my father’s side were quite politically active, and my dad is actually the first in a few generations not to be a member of the communist party. However communism has changed significantly since then, and the word has very different connotations than the original idea.
I recently learned that my great, great Granny Rodger, was a founder member of the Communist Party of Great Britain. My Aunty Ena went to the soviet union when it was first set up and met Lenin, who gave her a silver badge to take home to her mother. I’m excited that there’s so much to learn about my family and also that it ties in with history. My tutor is a lecturer on the subject so I think tutorials might be more interesting this year.
Now I’m off to watch more of the hairy bikers cause Im cool like that.
Also, I wish I had a clue how to change this pictures and things on this blogg. Dead roses are so 4 years ago :P
Writing and Uni
I’ve decided I need to start writing blogs again, regardless of the dull nature of the events of my life, in order to gain some writing skill, which I feel I was once building up but is now slipping away. I want to be able to write well, without sounding pretentious, or trying to be smart or sound arrogant. I don’t want to sound like I’m trying to mimick a classic writer, but rather I want to have my own style with classical undertones, mainly because I love to read books written in the 19th century and before. I’d also like to be able to describe something without being flowery about it or dragging on and on *cough* Anne Rice *cough* (The first time I read Queen of the Damned I skipped pages of unneeded descriptions) Lastly, I would like to develop my writing so that it has an impact on people and they enjoy reading it.
Currently I’m in the Library in Uni. I’ve given up on reading an article for history because my mind keeps wandering. I’m already feeling pressure from so many things to do. I’m sure it’s not too much work if your social life is sparse, but I like to have a balance and I’m finding it hard to get it just now. Hopefully I’ll work it out. It feels like the first step to this balance is cleaning my room, for at the moment my room is a landscape of clothes and books, with a bed at one end, and a rough path from the door to the bed. I tell myself when I move out it’ll be different, I’ll be tidy; but I think I may be in denial.
History is frustrating me. I’m not sure if I’m just being arrogant and selfish, thinking I already know this stuff etc etc, but I am finding the tutorials and the plan ahead rather dull and patronising. Perhaps other people don’t know how to skim over information and derive the main point of an article, or maybe like I say I just think I do, but it’s time consuming and dull. I wasn’t expected to be treated the way we were at higher level. I thought it would be more like advanced higher. We were left to ourselves in AH, or could get help if we needed it. I don’t want to submit a 400 word introduction. That’s not how I work. I sit down, I write a rough plan, I write the essay. The introduction starts of very brief and is finished last when I know all the points that are going into it. Now I’m ranting, which wasn’t my intention. At least Spanish is interesting. I like learning it. Just need to make sure I do find the energy and revise.
Oh it’s 16:10. I was planning on having the history questions finished by now. It’s just not happening. Which is silly because I have to have them and the essay for Politics in by Wednesday. I want coffee…
Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
I'm writing now from an internet cafe in Greece in a city I can't spell the name of. Stupidly, because it would have been a lot of annoying work getting my shorts out from the bottom of my bag, I decided it would be okay to wear jeans. Ah what a hot weather noob I am. 36 degrees and jeans don't work.
Yesterday wasn't the best finish to Istabul; I spent most of the day throwing up. Hangovers and dehydration do not mix. I'm going to start drinking a lot more water I think. I did however manage to get up to the grand bazaar again for some shopping and am now feeling a better more organised on the gift front. My bag is ridiculously heavy now though.
I really enjoyed jus wandering around Istanbul. It's a very pretty city and like Vienna in that there is a constantl supply of beautiful buildings and sights.
I enjoyed particularly the day we wandered down to the spice market. I've only ever seen bazaars like that on tv or in the national geographic. Piles of colourful spices and fragrant teas line the paths through the place. I bought a 1/4 of paprika (these sort of buys are what are helping to disfigure my spine) pomegranate tea and apple tea. The only downfall of these sorts of places are the sellers are very in your face "buy, buy, buy" and you cant really stop and look at some stalls because the sellers are unintentionally scaring you away. Where we did buy from was where noone bothered us. Oh we also got 1/2 kg of turkish delight. It's good but I don't think I've ever eaten so much of the stuff.
The Blue Mosque has unfortunatly been our only mosque and I think our last as we're moving into Albania then Italy. We
were kinda unsure of the customs so we never went in them. In some cities like Sarajevo and Istanbul they're everywhere. In Istanbul you could hear the call to prayer whereever you were. If it's sung well i find it to be a very nice. When there is 5 mosques all quite near each other it sounds like a competition. The Blue mosque was really gorgeous inside. And outside for that matter. It was built by an Ottoman Sultan who basically wanted to outshine the Aya Sophie. The Aya Sophie is very interesting because it was one of the most iconic churches in the later Roman empire and was converted into a mosque when the Turks kicked them out. Inside it has christian mosaics which were previously covered and islamic icons. The bit where the man who calls people to prayer stands has a picture of Jebus above it. It stands opposite the blue
mosque, which has 6 mirianets instead of the usual 4. Iain informs me thatthe sultan who built it got into trouble as mecca had 6 mirianets at that time so he had to pay for mecca to get a 7th. I preferred the mosque because it was still in use so it had a more relaxed feel about it opposed to the more museum like Aya Sophie.
The Hostel helped make Istanbul. I got myself a priavte room with a private shower and toilet and it was amazing. A lovely
double bed and the bathroom was really nice so I had about 2 showers a day. I stayed over 
checkout time yet again (did this in Serbia too) but they were very nice people and they let me use the beds they sleep in because they were full. We went with two of them, Mehmet and Ali (spelt wrong) to one of the islands. It was a relaxing day; we sunbathed and swam in the sea. Its decidedly warmer and pleasenter to swim in that the North Sea. Well I feel I have written enough. Get to spend 4 hours ona bus to Albania with a 6 hour wait from 12pm to 6am for our connection and no bus station ;D
Pics are Spice Market, Inside Blue Mosque, Inside aya sophie, Mehmet and us, my lovely room.
Inside Blue Mosque, Blue Mosque from rooftop cafe
Travelling; 10 hour stop in Sofia, Bulgaria
Anyways, after this loss of money to a cunning tinky, I went to the bathroom. I had to pay for it and was alarmed to see stalls that only reached 2/3s up the door frame. This is because theres no way anyone will see you peeing as its a squat hole. seriously. They charged me to use a hole in the ground. It flushed and was made of ceramic so i really dont see why they couldnt have made it a bit higher and less medieavel.
ctly capital city looking. We walked for ages then had a drink for cheap. Thankfully the are we were in was not the center and we used the lonely planet to find a restaurant. It was quite fancy and the food was good. I had a greek salad balanced out by deep fried cheese. 5th or 6th salad this holiday! I dont usually eat that many in a year :D but the vegetables are so fresh and yummy here. 
Now we're in an internet cafe. We walked through the real center to get here which seems quite rich. It s abit like Belgrade in the way that it doesnt seem to have many middle of the road clothes shops. its either horrible tinky wouldt even walk in the shop, or i-like-those-shoes-oh-wait-theyre-110 pounds. I think I am going to go shop and aqquire perhaps more underwear. There was a nic elooking shop along the road.
Travelling; Belgrade, Serbia.
It's weird having a British keyboard, I had just gotten used to the Balkan one and then this hostel has a British one for some reason.
Im listening to Winterpills. its very peaceful and nice.
So in Serbia. First impressions weren't that great to be honest. I think it was because it was early morning on a bus had not sleep etc. But seeing people living in rubbish dumps is never that great no matter how awake you are. Turns out they are they Romis. which doesnt excuse it at all, but for some people it does I think. Romis just seem to get a bad deal everywhere. It was very surreal and depressing to see at 5:30am. It reminded me of the Labyrinth when Sarah is taken into her room which is in the dump. It seemed miserable and like something out of a movie. The rain didnt help.
The rain has followed us since Mostar. today was the first time it hasnt rained in the last week and we slept in till 2.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a place I woud love to go back to. Serbia, however, doesnt seem like the sort of place I will be dying to revisit. Okay, so i havent been here very long or seen very much, but it seems a bit police stateish. They are not fond of foreigners. We were questioned when we came in. Others were searched and going out of the country some people we met had to bribe the bus driver because apparently they didnt have the right papers. You have to carry your passport on you because if the police hear you speaking english or another language chances are they will ask you for your passport. We also saw someone yesterday wearing a Kosovo is Serbia tshirt. Hmm.. Once youve seen Sarajevo and the mass graves etc you cant help but not be so much on the serbians side.
Anyways Ill stop with this slander as I need my bed.
Tomorrow perhaps we will see titos house and walk aimlessly for miles again,.
Leaving Tomorrow
I leave tomorrow and plan to try update this. It depends how much the internet costs really. Might write things in my little book.
Really quite nervous and anxious about it. I think I'm gonna miss everyone soooo much.
I was terrible for homesickness when I was younger. Doubt it's changed that much. So you better all keep in touch and email me! I may update facebook too.
It;s proably the complete unknown that is making me uneasy. 2 months is so long. I don't feel like I have everything. That's proably because I don't. I need to the numbers for banks ect written down.
Ah well. Best finish packing.
Baking
are my coconut macaroons. I didn't have 400g of coconut I had 300g, so I started making it with that thinking it wouldn;t make much difference. After combining everything and getting every little last bit out of the condensed milk
I realised coconut is central to the recipe and binds it to make macaroons, meaning I should have reduced the condensed milk and not added that extra egg white. So we'll see how they turn out. Batter tastes nice though.Now I am away to make my cannelini, garlic and rosemary canapé topper. It's from an Italian recipe book :D
>>> the white one
Edit. about 2 minutes after publishing this I smelt something funny and opened the oven door to discover burnt macaroons..
Garden Party Food
topped with chili and mozzarella, cannelini and garlic, and ritz crackers topped with roasted peppers and philly. I know I'd like that food, but whether my guests will is another matter. I think I'd like to get some sundried tomatoes in there too. For drink I am going to make a fruit punch to have with the food; something refreshing which won't kill everyones appetite. Then after food I am making rum and mango cocktails. Maybe with some triple sec (orange liquer). I'm keeping in mind Iain said he would help with drink...
So for cakes, the main reason I wanted to do this (well it is just an excuse for hosting after all) This is where I am having trouble because I want to make something that challenges me and tht everyone will like but I can't think what. I'm bored of making brownies and sponges. I saw a nice recipe for coconut macaroons. I've never made them before. The coconut
layer cake looked really good too, but I don't know if everyone likes coconut. I was also thinking maybe a coffee and walnut cake. I think I'll also make the cheesecake I made for the anniversary party, the raspberry one. I know I am definitely making scones, because I love making them and they're so summery. Then there's the strawberries with vannila cream. Alternatively if I can't get strawberries big enough I'll just dip them in chocolate. Writing this blog was a good idea because things are coming together more in my mind. Coconut macaroons, lemon yogurt cake, scones.. and then something chocolaty. I made that cheesecake only the other day, Im bored of it already :P oo maybe little chocolate tarts.
Ah and I won't forget the cucumber sandwiches.
Anniversary
Also, that my family are quite nice people.
Easter Baking
I made some little Easter cakes, and experimented with my new piping bag. The nozzles are plastic and quite big; I’m not sure about it yet. It's good for making the butter cream turds professional bakers do, but I'm not too fond of them because well, they look like swirly excrement.
For tea I made a gnocchi pasta bake, with courgettes and peppers. It was alright. Kinda sick of anything to do with pasta. it's boring. Except Canilenni Cannelloni. That is yummy.
I hope to endeavour soon on baking that's actually interesting and challenging. Bring on the summer garden party ;D First week of May. Feel free to bring champagne.
Sleepover
oo just remembered I have chocolate in the fridge :D
Spring Cleaning
never guess what I have been doing..
CLEANING MY ROOM!
yes that is right.
I am neeeearly finished (probably need about an hour tomorrow to do it)
oh my, I am such a hoarder. I have 2 baskets of letters and keepsakes, and 2 baskets of pointless objects I want to keep xD
Anyone want the sims and expansion packs? that is the sims one by the way. Very vintage. Very clogging up my room. I don't have te heart to throw them out though. Someone please take them from me and throw them away for me.
In other very important news, I found my passport!
You may not have known this was missing. Well it was. And it was making me very anxious. Anyways I had kept it in a safe place: the safe. I swear I checked it properly when i first lost it. Doesn't matter now though, just glad it is there. Maybe my mum was secretly hiding it from me because she doesn't want me to go on my travels..
Ah travels. they need to be planned a lot. A few countries are very inconvenient though. France and Italy need to have train seats pre booked. That really restricts our freedom to move around and to be spontaneous. Italian also needs to be learnt, along with various langauges. In the south of Italy not many people speak English so it's a must. and Iain has to learn French, because I can't and we're not being ignorant and being sneered at. That means I'll need to refresh my German for Austria...
Kinda may have had two espresso and had to pour my stream of random thoughts somewhere.
Fiona's party on the weekend was wonderful. I was sick at the end (still haven't learned my lesson with vodka. I think i convince myself oh my stomach will have built up resistence by now... but no) The sick didn't really spoil the night though because I can't remember any of that part :D just feel bad for Fiona who had to er.. clean some of it up. oops. May have missed the toilet and hit my socks and the living room floor. Yeah, that is very gross. I feel bad for george too, who had to tak me home and put up with me and also my breath. Poor boy.
Chanel
Okay, so if you hadn't caught on already I love Chanel. It's just sheer class.
Ive been browsing their website recently. It's only made me like it more. I want to own a piece of Chanel jewelery. I think I should print off some photos and pin them up at work to give me something to work towards. I would do overtime for it. Imagine, going into one of the boutiques in Italy on my gap year, and buying a Chanel Necklace. In the likely even tI would not be able to afford a piece, I'd settle for one of the pure parfums exclusively sold in the boutiques.
The below are the collection I would like to own, unlikely to still be avilable anytime I could afford them. Which is being optimistic saying I ever could, but I'd like to have something like that to work towards xD They've got sapphires, diamonds, and natural pearls.
