Feeling Rough

What can I say - it was a pretty ace weekend but it's left me feeling less than fantastic. It started on Friday with pre-drinks at the flat before a group of us headed off to see my friend's band (same one as in Manchester). It was a bit touch and go when we had a communication problem with the guest list, but this was rectified fairly quickly and we were in. The gig was good, though the new non-smoking ban has resulted in the clubs smelling of B.O...not so great (this is England and air conditioning isn't really prevelent).

Met up with M after the gig and had a really good night. Lots of drinks consumed, and I recall being hit on my the tour manager and some guy from Canada now living in Bristol (who was adament that we exchange earrings--to which I refused). Some drunk dialing occured, as did apparantly being in the precense of the most beautiful girl in the world, oh, and M stumbled into the alley and was lost for about 45 minutes...

We stumbled home at 4:30 in the morning (much to my dismay as the party moved to Malmaison and I wanted to see the rooms!) but it was for the best...especially since M's parents showed up at our flat at 10:00! We had a really nice day wandering around Leeds and in the evening we met up with C (who also participated in the previous evening's activities) and we went to Opera in the Park...which was also great...

This week is going to be pretty manic...I'm off to London for a fun night out on Monday and for a sustainable homes conference on Tuesday. Then on Wednesday I'm off to Sheffield in the PM to see 'Ultimate Power Duo'...Saskatoon's best and finest! From there we are off to Norwich for a long weekend of camping, summer games and a festival...I'll finish it all off with picking up my Harry Potter on the Monday when I'm back at home!

Here are some pics from the weekend...

The cauliflower controversies

Today I attended our Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was preceded by a catered lunch. As per typical British catered meals there were numerous mayonnaise based sandwiches on white bread with the crusts removed (hehe) as well as quiches, sausage rolls and cheese pastries. Fine. Then on the middle table there was an assortment of raw vegetables with different dips. Also fine...except it wasn't.

Apparently the raw veg was causing a quite a few of my colleagues a bit of confusion, as they could not comprehend why anyone would serve cauliflower raw. Statements were thrown about, such as:
-who eats cauliflower raw?
-who would think to eat cauliflower raw?
-I'd never eat it raw!
-you're crazy for eating it that way!

All of this was a shock to me. I've always viewed cauliflower as an acceptable raw veg to eat. It's tasty raw - it has a bit of a tangy bite to it! It is fun to dip in ranch-style dressings (but then again the Brits don't have Ranch dressing so this is in itself an anomaly), etc.

Pressing further into this debate I asked my co-worker (granted this next bit is based on one Brit's opinion and therefore I shouldn't be passing it off as representative of the country, but I am), whether she would eat broccoli raw. She concluded that while it can be done, because it's like eating carrots raw, she's never done it. Nor has she ever had cauliflower or broccoli in a salad.

I'm perplexed, and saddened by this news. The poor little broccoli's and cauliflowers of this great nation are not being given their fair dues! They should be enjoyed to their full extent, and not just treated as a side for Sunday roast dinner!

I suppose this is yet another area in which I must campaign for justice to be done. I think it can be done while also crusading that mayonnaise based sandwich dressings aren't exactly orgasmic to the palette.

Red Tape Blows

Can I just say that attempting to understand the DVLA's website is impossible? I'm trying to figure out how to go from a Canadian one to an exchanged one to a full UK one, and it keeps dropping the thread of logic...Oh and they want my passport, driving license, birth certificate and work papers sent through in the post...which uh, is NOT going to happen! Can you imagine if I had to leave the country? Or had to say, prove my identity?

Grrr........

M is playing 'my hands can moonwalk' on the computer screen...his talents never cease to amaze me...