Long (time till) December
Posted on 22nd July 2008 by Andy
Excellent.
Firstly I must credit my boss with this information and say I wasn’t going to shout about it till Friday when I will hopefully be very happy but I can’t resist and Susie has mentioned it in a comment anyway. It’s a long time till December but Gloria and I are pleased to announce we will be going to Sheffield Arena on December 14th for our first night out in months. Result! Anyone want to come and see Crows in Sheffield? More importantly, anyone want to babysit? They’re being supported by Ben Folds and it’s not cheap…
Secondly, I didn’t enjoy school today. It was my penultimate day. We had a leaver’s assembly and things. I still feel it’s right to be leaving but today was hard.
Finally, slightly strange to follow on from point two with this but I must say that today I am, for probably the first time in ages, feeling quite optimistic about what might be to come. More to follow. Was that all cryptic enough?
pete
July 22nd, 2008
6:32 pm
Intriguing…do tell more
Car Insurance!!! Arghhh!!!! After searching for a while, I found the cheapest insurance quote I can get was £560, allot of money, but not bad considering I am a young male with no driving experience. SO I kept going back to that website to keep the quote current-every time i log on it extends the amount of time the quote is valid for. But I just logged on now, and it has absolutly no record of my quote. So I filled out all the forms again, and now they have upped it to £660, £100 more!!!! Back to the drawing board… I am buying the car off my cousin, she wants to keep it till then end of august, which is fine with me as I do not need it yet. But I might try and arrange a firm date for me to start using the car so when I find a good quote I can buy it and post date when is starts, and then not loose it…again. I hate money related things.
Andy
July 22nd, 2008
6:44 pm
Where did you get the quote from? Did you use the price comparison sites? If not - you should. I know it looks tacky and like a bit of a con but read the article on moneysavingexpert. We used his method of price comparison sites and saved 50% on our renewal. And that was with no no claims. £660 sounds like a lot…
Kate
July 22nd, 2008
7:59 pm
Me, me, me!! (That’s to come and see Crows, not to babysit - much as I love Isaac…)
I might have a job by then - weird thought!!
Andy, did you not get my text or are you just ignoring me??
pete
July 22nd, 2008
8:25 pm
I started on price comparison websites, then found one provider (Quinn direct) who gave me the cheapest quote every time. I know it is very expensive, but I am in the ‘under 25 male therefore a car crash waiting to happen’ category, so they will be expensive. Most quotes I find are nearer to £1000!!! I will have a look at that site tho.
Susie
July 22nd, 2008
8:32 pm
I really want to go see Crows again. But as I’m about to be unemployed and have seen them this year I am being sensible and saying that if I have a job in September and there are still tickets left I will go. Until I know about work I don’t think I can justify a second trip. Its risky though because they might sell out by then. However, I’d be open to people clubbing together for my Christmas present…..hmmmm…
Andy
July 22nd, 2008
9:02 pm
No Kate - my phone ran out of battery and I can’t find the charger. I have to be honest, I am enjoying life without my mobile. And what with not having to top up, pay a phone contract and not having to drive a 60 mile round trip every day from Thursday Gloria and I are in the money.
Well. We would be. If we had any.
Susie
July 22nd, 2008
9:11 pm
That’s why you said the Crows info was from your boss! That confused me because I sent you a text about it and about Ben Folds. I thought you were ignoring me too.
Andy
July 22nd, 2008
9:23 pm
Nah… I’m not ignoring anyone. Basically - you know how I deactivated my Facebook account (twice!)? Well - it’s kinda like that.
On the Facebook front - when I deactivated I gave the reason as ‘other’ and added ‘I just follow the crowd and the crowd is saying I’d rather be on http://www.hoyland.me.uk‘…
pete
July 22nd, 2008
10:07 pm
I have just got a great phone package. I was on pay as you go, and topping up around £15 per month. Ive got a decent phone (its not amazing, but good enough), so wasn’t bothered about getting a better one, so I got one of the sim only contract things. But because they dont need to make back there money on the handset, it is better value, and I can cancel at any time. For £15 I get 650 texts and 350 minuets. Not bad considering that the £15 I was topping up was the equivalent of 300 texts (at 5p each). Only problem is it is with T mobile, who I used to be with a long time ago, and they have unreliable reception in lots of places.
Susie
July 23rd, 2008
8:24 am
Leaving another place is making me think I might rejoin Facebook. But I probably won’t. People do that thing where they go “keep in touch - are you on Facebook?” “No.” “Oh”. As though there is no other way.
Mum
July 23rd, 2008
9:54 am
I’m your babysitter for December. It feels more age appropriate than going to see CC
Ros
July 23rd, 2008
11:00 am
I’ll come with you (to Crows). I’m sure Susie can come too, we’ll save up.
Susie
July 23rd, 2008
6:38 pm
I think I’ve had too many treats this year. There’ve been too many “this won’t happen again for a long time” events. I just booked tickets to go and see the Lion King. But that’s allowed because a lady from my church in Hull very kindly gave me some well done for getting to the end of the year money. She specified I should use it for fun. I also booked Brooke Fraser tickets. That was with my money.
Today was my penultimate day at work too. I, however, am not feeling optimistic about the future. But I hope you still are Andy! And now you’re on holiday and can spend everyday with your family!
Kate
July 23rd, 2008
8:47 pm
Ok then Andy - please could you pick us up from the station at 1315 on Sat? I’m one of those annoying people who are only capable of communicating via text…
Susie
July 24th, 2008
1:25 am
Hello. I wanted to post but I can’t log in anymore. So I’m just commenting. It’s gonna be long. I wanted to try some blog therapy.
I’m not felling good tonight. It’s past my bedtime and I think I’m not going to sleep tonight. Sometimes I have nights where I don’t sleep at all and I can usually tell when its about to happen.
I need your advice. I am awake because there are lots of things on my mind which usually doesn’t stop me sleeping but tonight there is one extra thing in my head that has got me all worked up and upset and that is my driving.
Now, for those that don’t know, I have failed a great many tests this year. I decided to take a break down here and have a fresh start in York, so I have a test booked and some lessons. I totally shoved it out of my head but now that I restart lessons in a few days time I am totally freaking out and I’m seriously close to cancelling my test and giving up. You see I don’t really know when to quit. I totally realise that if I give up I have wasted all the money and energy that I’ve spent on it. And I’d be capable of driving but without a license, which is probably more frustrating than not being able to drive at all. But at the same time I can’t see me ever passing. On the last few tests I have had under 10 minors (10 is the average for people that pass) but have just made one major mess up which has failed me. Because of that I know I am capable of passing but also know that its not hard to fail. Everyone says you have to get into the frame of mind where you believe you can do it. But each time I fail it just makes me more and more sure that there will always be something I do wrong. Maybe some people just aren’t meant to be on the roads! On the other hand I want to be a stage manager or work in TV production, both of which need a license. Which is why its hard to apply the “there’s no pressure” rule that is kind of vital when learning to drive.
The other major thing is my eyes. They are complicated and rubbish. I’m pretty sure I can’t read a number plate at 20 metres. The optician said I’m in the legal requirements, which is good. But if they test it on the number plate thing that’s all that counts. My eyes aren’t going to get better and there are some people that can’t drive because of stuff like that. So I’m just wondering too if I’m one of them!
Anyway, when should I stop?! And how do I make it so I don’t stay awake getting stressed about it? If anyone has any wise words I’d appreciate it!
In the mean time I’m going to watch Friends for a bit then try to sleep again!
Mum
July 24th, 2008
10:27 am
O Susie! One of the problems with not sleeping is that you’re trying to work things out and that is not a good idea when you’re tired.
You’re on my car insurance for a month so see if you can look on it more as a month of driving mummy’s lovely little Yaris than a month of worrying about the test.
Andy
July 24th, 2008
11:59 am
I think there is only one place to turn in a time like this. That’s right… it’s S Club 7:
Ros
July 24th, 2008
12:11 pm
An also, just stand 20 metres from a car an see if you can read the number plate. Didn’t they ask in any previous tests?! I only just managed it in my test!
pete
July 24th, 2008
12:55 pm
Ok, so this is not going to help you work out what to do, but it might help to cheer you up…
My long awaited theory on Doctor Who (sorry everyone else who might not be a who Fan, you might find this boring, but Susie will like it…)
Ok so…do you remember that at the end of the last series (with the master), one of the very last scenes was when the Master’s body was been cremated. It then cut to a shot of a woman’s hand reaching down and picking up a ring from the floor next to the fire, which presumable fell off the masters finger. But nothing has been made of that, or developed from it….or has it!!!
Because…in the last episode of the recent series, There were numerous occasions where the camera seemed to cut to a shot of Donna’s hand, showing a ring, for no apparent reason. The most obvious one was right at the end when donna (back to how she was before meeting the doctor) was on the phone,the ring seemed to shine and flash to the camera very obviously indeed.
So I suspect that what ever the ring is, and what every power it has, Donna has! So I do not think we have seen the last of her…
I could be totally wrong, or I might be very very clever. Only time will tell.
Andy
July 24th, 2008
12:59 pm
Also - Kate - that’s fine. See you Saturday.
Jonny Evans
July 24th, 2008
1:35 pm
Pete - you’re absolutely right!!!
That is geeky!
Anyhoo… do you still need help with the Photography workshop? If so, I volunteer!
Susie
July 24th, 2008
8:52 pm
Pete - that is clever.
Ros - I’ve done that and I struggle a lot to read it. I’ve done it in previous tests and obviously been fine but my eyes are getting worse. The optician says I’m ok, but I say I’m not. So I don’t know what to do!
Other who are interested in my predicament - The problem I’ve got is for the first time in ages (maybe ever) I actually feel like the phrase “I need a holiday” genuinely applies. Because of driving lessons and the burden of another test hanging over me, I’m not gonna get a break really. I can’t go away anywhere because I’m doing various things this summer so when I’m in York I need to have lessons. A wise friend came into work today and I talked to him about it all. He has seen how stressful this year has been for me and thinks I really should have some time away relaxing before I embark on a new city and job hunting again, and should have a break from driving so the summer is not so full of worry. I think that makes very good sense. The problem is needing it on my CV. This is why I’m so stuck!
flipperr
July 25th, 2008
12:34 am
I don’t know whether this will help in the slightest, but let’s see……
I have this friend - for ease of telling this tale I will call her Tree. Tree is just about the brainiest thing that has ever been produced by our school and went from top A-level marks to Oxbridge to a PhD and other brainy stuff. However, she has always shied away from all things practical and found it really difficult to pass her driving test. In the end Tree needed to drive for her job and after further concerted effort managed to pull it together for that all important test. I don’t know all her secrets, cos, being Tree, she was rather embarrassed at being any less than brilliant at something (she is a very nice friend, despite her brilliance!). I know that her hubby went out with her a lot in the car, just to get general driving experience, and I think that helped her confidence a lot. So maybe Mum’s offer of pressure free driving might help do the trick. As for Tree, she now drives all over the place as if she’s been doing it forever, not just 2 years!
PS I’m happy to swap the Yaris for our car on Sunday if that’s any help!
flipperr
July 25th, 2008
12:36 am
Pete - We’ve watched the last two episodes twice already and I thought I’d worked it all out (I’m easily confused!). I know what our Friday evening viewing will be this week!
flipperr
July 25th, 2008
12:36 am
By the way, will you lovely Blog people be there on Sunday?
Ros
July 25th, 2008
1:10 am
A blog meeting. How exciting that would be!
Andy
July 25th, 2008
7:35 am
I went to uni with someone called Tree. He was very tall.
I’ll be there on Sunday.
Mum
July 25th, 2008
8:17 am
I’ll be there on Sunday. Flipperr - remind me what car you’ve got before I decide whether to bring the Yaris. And, Susie, you can have fun driving my car whatever you decide about the test.
Jonny Evans
July 25th, 2008
9:03 am
I’ll be there with my lovely wife
Kate
July 25th, 2008
12:47 pm
I’ll be there - I have a new skirt and everything.
Unless the there that everyone is talking about is not where I’m going…
Susie
July 25th, 2008
2:36 pm
Mat’s been quiet lately. Are you still there?
Susie
July 25th, 2008
2:47 pm
I’ve just found you can listen to all of Matt Costa’s albums on his website!
Also, I can’t believe we’re gonna see Ben Folds!
Andy
July 25th, 2008
3:21 pm
Er… Mat is on holiday. And just so you all know - I’ll be wearing jeans and shirt on Sunday. But they are new jeans so they look smart.
Susie
July 25th, 2008
3:33 pm
You sound suspicious….did you eat Mat or something?
Andy, something weird just happened. I am packing and came to unplug my speakers and found the plug broken. Its one of those giant plugs and the back has come off which means the inside of it falls out but is still attached by the wires. Its been working fine and I didnt know it had fallen apart because it was plugged into a multisocket so it wasn’t upright on a wall. Will it be ok? There’s a mysterious bit of plastic that was inside but fell out as soon as I picked it up so I don’t know where it cam from. my speakers are brilliant so I want to make them better.
Andy
July 25th, 2008
3:53 pm
It’ll be fine… bring them at the weekend and I’ll break them properly for you if you want…
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