(no subject)

If there's one thing I hate, it's a persistent misery guts, so I'm going to start this entry with something good. I awoke this morning to the delightful aroma of fresh bread. My Mum bought me a bread maker for Christmas, and this was the first opportunity I'd had to use it. I put the ingredients (pre-mixed and shop-bought, I'm afraid. I am ill, you know) before I went to bed and set the timer. The result? Lovely fresh bread for breakfast. I couldn't be happier.

Also on a happy note, Lorna and I dragged ourselves off our sickbeds and went to pick up Zoe (the car) yesterday. It took us two trips to get the battery out and the new one in, due to a lack of the correct tools. We then had a nail-biting ride through the rush hour, hoping that we got home before the battery gave out. We made it. Zoe is now in John's tender hands, having a new alternator fitted. It's handy living next door to a garage sometimes.

I'm back at work today, powered by the might of Lemsip and I might just make it through to the meeting I have this afternoon. Hurrah!

(no subject)

My Mum is scared. She's heard sounds coming from the loft, and she thinks that it's mice. She lives in a rural area and mice, rats and other vermin are pretty damn common, so I suppose it's a possibility. I do think that birds roosting under the eaves for warmth during the sub zero temperatures we're getting at night at the moment is a much more likely explanation, though.

It's funny how you hear so many more sounds at night when you live alone. I'm the only one of my family who has any real experience of it. Mark has never lived alone, and Dad never did. I've spent the vast majority of the last three years living alone, and have another 18 months or so of solitary living under my belt during my time in this flat. It takes some getting used to, but you are definitely more alert to the smallest noise when you're on your own. It's probably just some survival mechanism, an ear for danger that allowed our ancestors to live. Pity it has to cost us the occasional night's sleep now.

In other news, London remains disturbingly quiet. It's obvious that the combination of many people still being on holiday and the train strike has kept the usual numbers of commuters, tourists and shoppers out of the city. You know, if London was like this all the time, I might still enjoy living here. instead, experiences like this just harden my determination to get out of London as soon as I can.