Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Mother's Day? Happy? Get real! Here is what we really feel.
Both Wifeage™ and I have encountered ungrateful matriarchs today, despite sending both cards and flowers to our respective family members. Selfish, ungrateful, disrespectful Harridans that they are.
In other news:
The nasty neighbour situation continues unabated, despite her supposed 'final warning' issued to her on Friday morning. From Friday afternoon until now, and no doubt for the duration of her sad, pathetic little life, her behaviour has not changed one iota. Predictable, too.
Annoyingly, the housing association have sent us an incident report diary to fill in regarding this matter. This is not our job nor our repsonsibility. Cheeky bastards.
That is all.
Both Wifeage™ and I have encountered ungrateful matriarchs today, despite sending both cards and flowers to our respective family members. Selfish, ungrateful, disrespectful Harridans that they are.
In other news:
The nasty neighbour situation continues unabated, despite her supposed 'final warning' issued to her on Friday morning. From Friday afternoon until now, and no doubt for the duration of her sad, pathetic little life, her behaviour has not changed one iota. Predictable, too.
Annoyingly, the housing association have sent us an incident report diary to fill in regarding this matter. This is not our job nor our repsonsibility. Cheeky bastards.
That is all.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
ASBO
Things could very well get uglier here at Eldritch Boulevard HQ. On Friday evening, from almost 18:30 through to 03:30 Saturday morning, my wife and I endured another night of banging doors on an almost continuous basis to the point that the whole building shakes. As a last resort, I contacted the Housing Association this horrid property belongs to, by eMail, to alert them to this situation.
Today, I received an eMail in reply explaining that the neighbour in question will be speaking with the Housing Officer and Anti-Social Behaviour Officer on Friday of this week, where she is to be issued with a 'final warning'. The words 'final warning' are rather revealing, implying that previous warnings have been issued. I have just sent a further eMail to the Housing Association asking them to elaborate further on these points. We are not anticipating a favourable repsonse.
This situation has become rather protracted since the theft of my mountain bike earlier this year, and it is clear that something must be done if this is to be resolved. Yesterday was the first quiet day we have had in some time. As I said, I doubt this next action will go down too well. Having said that, neither Wifeage™ nor I have ever had to endure anything as selfish and inconsiderate as this before now.
Please, wish us luck, dear readers. Thank you in advance of your kindnesses.
Rachael and Wifeage™.... ♥
PS: My Sony Clié PDA decided to reset itself today, thus deleting every single bit of important information I had stored on there. Names, addresses, serial numbers, passwords, bank and card details, street maps, the fucking lot and more. This is a major inconvenience as I did not think I would need hard copies of this data. Seemingly I do, and from hereonin, I now ensure I carry a pen and paper around with me.
Today, I received an eMail in reply explaining that the neighbour in question will be speaking with the Housing Officer and Anti-Social Behaviour Officer on Friday of this week, where she is to be issued with a 'final warning'. The words 'final warning' are rather revealing, implying that previous warnings have been issued. I have just sent a further eMail to the Housing Association asking them to elaborate further on these points. We are not anticipating a favourable repsonse.
This situation has become rather protracted since the theft of my mountain bike earlier this year, and it is clear that something must be done if this is to be resolved. Yesterday was the first quiet day we have had in some time. As I said, I doubt this next action will go down too well. Having said that, neither Wifeage™ nor I have ever had to endure anything as selfish and inconsiderate as this before now.
Please, wish us luck, dear readers. Thank you in advance of your kindnesses.
Rachael and Wifeage™.... ♥
PS: My Sony Clié PDA decided to reset itself today, thus deleting every single bit of important information I had stored on there. Names, addresses, serial numbers, passwords, bank and card details, street maps, the fucking lot and more. This is a major inconvenience as I did not think I would need hard copies of this data. Seemingly I do, and from hereonin, I now ensure I carry a pen and paper around with me.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Vengeance!
Had enough of the odious bastards?
You'd do well to click here too!
Good luck, and above all else, ENJOY!!!!
Rachael.... ♥
You'd do well to click here too!
Good luck, and above all else, ENJOY!!!!
Rachael.... ♥
Friday, March 17, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
"Lyrics"
Shakira's raison d'être....
So I find a reason to shave my legs
Each single morning
So I count on someone on Friday nights
To take me dancing again
To church on Sundays
To plant more trees
And someday think of kids
Or maybe just save a little money
Chorus:
You're the one I need
The way back home is always long
But if you're close to me I'm holding on
You're the one I need
My real life has just begun
Cause there's nothing like your smile made of sun
In the world full of strangers
You're the one I know
So I learned to cook and finally lose
My kitchen phobia
And so I got the arms to cuddle in
When there's a ghost or a news
That brings insomnia
To buy more thongs
To write more happy songs
It always takes a little help from someone
Chorus 2X
You're the one I need
You're the one I need
Youre my (???) real life has just begun
You're the one I need
You're the one I need
Nothing like your smile made of sun
Nothing like your love
Nothing like your love
Nothing like your love
So I find a reason to shave my legs
Each single morning
So I count on someone on Friday nights
To take me dancing again
To church on Sundays
To plant more trees
And someday think of kids
Or maybe just save a little money
Chorus:
You're the one I need
The way back home is always long
But if you're close to me I'm holding on
You're the one I need
My real life has just begun
Cause there's nothing like your smile made of sun
In the world full of strangers
You're the one I know
So I learned to cook and finally lose
My kitchen phobia
And so I got the arms to cuddle in
When there's a ghost or a news
That brings insomnia
To buy more thongs
To write more happy songs
It always takes a little help from someone
Chorus 2X
You're the one I need
You're the one I need
Youre my (???) real life has just begun
You're the one I need
You're the one I need
Nothing like your smile made of sun
Nothing like your love
Nothing like your love
Nothing like your love
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
The Simpsons....
Movie news
Monday, March 13, 2006
One can but hope....
Friday, March 10, 2006
Panic in the streets of Bath....
I tried to go out for an hour or so this evening with a view to getting my confidence back in such matters. I failed. Dismally.
Once a month, the local Deaf and Hard of Hearing community meet in a pub called The Raven. Tonight was the meeting for March, and I walked over to see how it would feel, just as I have done for the past four months. As I was approaching the pub, I could see already just how busy it would be by the large number of people going inside. This did not help my already fraught nerves. I waited around the corner for about 15 minutes to compose myself, and eventually went inside myself. I walked upstairs to where everybody was, and was horrified to see the number of people there. It was quite literally packed full of people. This was far too much for me, and I froze where I was stood at the top of the stairs. I have no idea how long I stood there glued to the spot, but it felt like an eternity. A lady came out and asked if I was okay, at which point I turned and hurriedly left the building. I found a quiet spot near the River Avon and calmed down from the panic attack I'd had, vowing never to be so stupid again. It is obvious that social settings and I are never going to work, so I think it is about time I resigned myself to the fact that I am better off not subjecting myself to such overwhelmingly frightening situations.
After an hour or so sat by the river, I suddenly realised how cold it was, and although it was nice and peaceful, I decided to return back to the apartment. En route back, I saw Kevan, a chap I met in Bath a few months ago. This guy is a really interesting man, with an absolutely fascinating and astounding array of knowledge, talent and intellect. When his website is back up, I will post a link as his work really is worthy of a much wider audience. In the meantime, I will recommend this writer to you all. She is another of those under-rated and highly-talented writers that one cherishes forever when one has discovered the gift these people have to share. Lisa's website can be found here. Wifeage™ and I feel so honoured and privileged to have her as a friend.
This afternoon (I can still remember when the mail arrived in the morning), I received a very promising and encouraging letter from the Admissions and International Recruitment Department at the University of the West of England regarding my application to study there. The letter contained a rather detailed questionnaire about my Educational Support Needs, and asked me to detail how my deafness and photosensitive epilepsy affect me on a daily basis and as a student. I received no such documentation prior to enrolling at the University of Bath, which adds some weight to my hypothesis that Learning Support in Bath seem to make it up as they go along in some respects. Having also sent eMails to the teaching staff and heads of departments I met on the Open Day last month to let them know I had submitted my UCAS application, I was further encouraged to receive equally promising replies from all concerned about my application. Subsequently, I am hoping to attend the next round of Open Days next Saturday and meet with the staff again.
I can honestly say that this is the most optimistic I have felt about anything in a number of years, and admittedly, it feels quite alien right now. I cannot deny there is some trepidation, but I know that the sooner the University of Bath and I part company, the better all round this will be. It is clearly far too early to tell either way as to whether I will be accepted at UWE, but I am hopeful that some good will come from all this activity. Your support is appreciated, as ever.
This may be of interest to some of you. Science for the ladies; soft porn for the, ahem, gentlemen among you. Enjoy!
Have a great weekend, everybody!
Rachael.... ♥
Once a month, the local Deaf and Hard of Hearing community meet in a pub called The Raven. Tonight was the meeting for March, and I walked over to see how it would feel, just as I have done for the past four months. As I was approaching the pub, I could see already just how busy it would be by the large number of people going inside. This did not help my already fraught nerves. I waited around the corner for about 15 minutes to compose myself, and eventually went inside myself. I walked upstairs to where everybody was, and was horrified to see the number of people there. It was quite literally packed full of people. This was far too much for me, and I froze where I was stood at the top of the stairs. I have no idea how long I stood there glued to the spot, but it felt like an eternity. A lady came out and asked if I was okay, at which point I turned and hurriedly left the building. I found a quiet spot near the River Avon and calmed down from the panic attack I'd had, vowing never to be so stupid again. It is obvious that social settings and I are never going to work, so I think it is about time I resigned myself to the fact that I am better off not subjecting myself to such overwhelmingly frightening situations.
After an hour or so sat by the river, I suddenly realised how cold it was, and although it was nice and peaceful, I decided to return back to the apartment. En route back, I saw Kevan, a chap I met in Bath a few months ago. This guy is a really interesting man, with an absolutely fascinating and astounding array of knowledge, talent and intellect. When his website is back up, I will post a link as his work really is worthy of a much wider audience. In the meantime, I will recommend this writer to you all. She is another of those under-rated and highly-talented writers that one cherishes forever when one has discovered the gift these people have to share. Lisa's website can be found here. Wifeage™ and I feel so honoured and privileged to have her as a friend.
This afternoon (I can still remember when the mail arrived in the morning), I received a very promising and encouraging letter from the Admissions and International Recruitment Department at the University of the West of England regarding my application to study there. The letter contained a rather detailed questionnaire about my Educational Support Needs, and asked me to detail how my deafness and photosensitive epilepsy affect me on a daily basis and as a student. I received no such documentation prior to enrolling at the University of Bath, which adds some weight to my hypothesis that Learning Support in Bath seem to make it up as they go along in some respects. Having also sent eMails to the teaching staff and heads of departments I met on the Open Day last month to let them know I had submitted my UCAS application, I was further encouraged to receive equally promising replies from all concerned about my application. Subsequently, I am hoping to attend the next round of Open Days next Saturday and meet with the staff again.
I can honestly say that this is the most optimistic I have felt about anything in a number of years, and admittedly, it feels quite alien right now. I cannot deny there is some trepidation, but I know that the sooner the University of Bath and I part company, the better all round this will be. It is clearly far too early to tell either way as to whether I will be accepted at UWE, but I am hopeful that some good will come from all this activity. Your support is appreciated, as ever.
This may be of interest to some of you. Science for the ladies; soft porn for the, ahem, gentlemen among you. Enjoy!
Have a great weekend, everybody!
Rachael.... ♥
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Another week ~ Another headache....
The frustrations and irregularites continue unabated. The past week or so has been a real test of my patience and tolerance. As I have said before, I may have the patience of a saint, but I will never be a martyr to anyone, myself included. My decision to switch degrees and, just as importantly, universities, is becoming more and more necessary as time goes on. My personal tutor and I have a good relationship, and although she is saddened that my decision to switch has been in part influenced by at least one of the departments at the university, I am pleased that she also respects my decision to do what is right for me, and admires the fact that I have been pro-active enough to do something about my disenchantment. Subsequently, she has provided me with a glowing reference to support my re-application to UCAS pending the switch. I received much higher grades for my first semsester than I anticipated, so I am hoping to be accepted without any fuss. I could go into detail as to what hs further influenced this action, but quite frankly, I am tired of hearing my own voice on this, and I am certain you are all just as sick of reading about it too.
Last weekend, I submitted my UCAS application accordingly, and all being well, I will be commencing my new degree in History, Media and Cultural Studies at the University of West England in Bristol. Please, dear readers, wish me luck. Thank you.
In other news:
On Tuesday night, your friendly ally and comrade in academia here pulled off a very courageous and successful coup, which left me feeling rather satisfied and, well, relieved, to be honest. Along with a fellow (hearing) BSL user, I taught a group of students the rudimentary essentials of a Deaf Awareness and Sign Language course. This was the first of two sessions, and the feedback was extraordinarily pleasing. The class were engaged, stimulated and vibrant, thirsty for what we had to teach and definitely wanted more. The two-hour class was held in the evening, and the weather was absolutely foul, and yet this deterred no one. We had a list of the names of those who had signed up for the classes in advance, and more turned up on the night. This pleased us both enormously.
The reason I consider this to be quite a coup for me personally is because I have not used any of my Sign Language skills properly for a number of years. The last time I used them in any professional or personal setting was at the funeral of my twin sister, Carolien, as she too was profoundly deaf. Many of our hearing impaired friends came to the funeral, which I signed throughout. I have actively avoided the deaf community ever since that day almost 6½ years ago. Our second session is this Tuesday evening, and we have already been asked if we can run longer and more detailed, informative courses for the students. I was asked myself why I decided to teach the Deaf Awareness and Sign Language course. I explained that I used to teach Deaf Awareness before, but over a 12 week period, and that although my Sign Language skills are up to Level 2, however rusty, I know of only two others on campus who have the ability to sign, however, one of these works elsewhere in another very busy department, and the other who is assisting with the classes is in her penultimate year and on placement, which takes up a great deal of her time. After the frustrations I have endured at the hands of Learning Support, I decided again to do something pro-active about this. Rather than leave these people to fester in their own smug bile, I thought I would dip my toe into the pool, as it were, and see how it felt, with a view to making the difference needed between little or no appropriate support for disabled students and what I would have expected to be in place prior to commencing my studies as assured by the university's own literature. I just hope something good and worthwhile comes from this, excluding the much-needed boost to my own confidence as a Signer.
I am now considering popping along to the pub where the local Deafies meet once a month and dip my toe in there too. I do miss being part of the deaf community, as although I grew up in the hearing world, as one who has been hard of hearing for most of my life, which as many of you will be aware has become much worse over the past year or so to the point of needing much stronger hearing aids, I have always identified with the deaf and hearing impaired community better. This Friday (10 March) will be the next meeting. I had made a note of the monthly dates in my diary and spotted the date in there today. Whether I actually go is another matter entirely. My low self-esteem and heightened sense of social phobia cannot always be predicted, however, I have not ruled the evening out.
Have a great weekend, one and all!
Rachael.... ♥
Last weekend, I submitted my UCAS application accordingly, and all being well, I will be commencing my new degree in History, Media and Cultural Studies at the University of West England in Bristol. Please, dear readers, wish me luck. Thank you.
In other news:
On Tuesday night, your friendly ally and comrade in academia here pulled off a very courageous and successful coup, which left me feeling rather satisfied and, well, relieved, to be honest. Along with a fellow (hearing) BSL user, I taught a group of students the rudimentary essentials of a Deaf Awareness and Sign Language course. This was the first of two sessions, and the feedback was extraordinarily pleasing. The class were engaged, stimulated and vibrant, thirsty for what we had to teach and definitely wanted more. The two-hour class was held in the evening, and the weather was absolutely foul, and yet this deterred no one. We had a list of the names of those who had signed up for the classes in advance, and more turned up on the night. This pleased us both enormously.
The reason I consider this to be quite a coup for me personally is because I have not used any of my Sign Language skills properly for a number of years. The last time I used them in any professional or personal setting was at the funeral of my twin sister, Carolien, as she too was profoundly deaf. Many of our hearing impaired friends came to the funeral, which I signed throughout. I have actively avoided the deaf community ever since that day almost 6½ years ago. Our second session is this Tuesday evening, and we have already been asked if we can run longer and more detailed, informative courses for the students. I was asked myself why I decided to teach the Deaf Awareness and Sign Language course. I explained that I used to teach Deaf Awareness before, but over a 12 week period, and that although my Sign Language skills are up to Level 2, however rusty, I know of only two others on campus who have the ability to sign, however, one of these works elsewhere in another very busy department, and the other who is assisting with the classes is in her penultimate year and on placement, which takes up a great deal of her time. After the frustrations I have endured at the hands of Learning Support, I decided again to do something pro-active about this. Rather than leave these people to fester in their own smug bile, I thought I would dip my toe into the pool, as it were, and see how it felt, with a view to making the difference needed between little or no appropriate support for disabled students and what I would have expected to be in place prior to commencing my studies as assured by the university's own literature. I just hope something good and worthwhile comes from this, excluding the much-needed boost to my own confidence as a Signer.
I am now considering popping along to the pub where the local Deafies meet once a month and dip my toe in there too. I do miss being part of the deaf community, as although I grew up in the hearing world, as one who has been hard of hearing for most of my life, which as many of you will be aware has become much worse over the past year or so to the point of needing much stronger hearing aids, I have always identified with the deaf and hearing impaired community better. This Friday (10 March) will be the next meeting. I had made a note of the monthly dates in my diary and spotted the date in there today. Whether I actually go is another matter entirely. My low self-esteem and heightened sense of social phobia cannot always be predicted, however, I have not ruled the evening out.
Have a great weekend, one and all!
Rachael.... ♥
