(no subject)

I have finished reading *all* the articles for this chapter. I have squillions of notes. And it's almost comfortable outside. Most flat surfaces in my living space are papered, however, and I can't tidy it at all because that would lose me hours of careful work. It will tidy itself as I write things up. I'd better explain this tomorrow morning and apologise to Llyn and Iain. There's just enough space on the coffeetable to rest cups and there are enough chairs free of paper so that people can sit. The trouble is that the paper *looks* random, and it's at that crucial stage when it's not. I've had people drop in at other crucial stages and their hands fiddle with things while I put the kettle on and they don't notice they've piled things up neatly until it's too late.

(no subject)

I wanted to party and I was invited to party and I accepted an invitation to party, but tonight I shall spend a quiet night seeing in the New Year. The small reason is that I'm still not fit and well but the big reason is that it's my stepfather's Yahrzeit tonight and I must light a candle. In fact, it's Friday, isn't it? I have three candles to light. Two small and one big.

I have food and drink and good movies and my lounge room is comfortably temperate*, so if any friends are at a loose end, I'm happy to be joined in my unexpectedly low key NY celebrations. Don't just drop in, though - ring first. I'm likely to be up very late, so ring right up til about 1 am to see if I'm visitor-friendly.

And now I'm about to do something daring and exciting: bring in the washing. Wish me luck! (after that it's back to work, but with coffee - I have a bit of a migraine and coffee is my saviour).





*outisde, on the other hand, is hot, which is how I realised I needed to stay in.

The year in burlesque ('The year in review' just didn't reflect the strangeness of it all)

Before I talk about this last year, let me remind you of the story to this day, twelve months ago.

I want to do two lists - one is the blogposts that I like (zombie view of history, Dr Who and cavespeak, this sort of thing) and the other is a list of how often I was ill and how much I complained about it. The daftness of the second list convinced me not to do either. It's a pity, though, there are some good whinges on the first and some interesting thoughts on the second. Or do I mean that the other way round? Anyway, if you want the health summary, the best overview is this.

Everything else is nicely sorted into months, because I have calendars everywhere right now. My favourite for 2011 is one for 1305, which needs more saints' days in it, also ordinary birthdays. If 2011 turns out to be as much of a strange ride as 2010, I shall use the 1305 calendar to govern my daily activities.

( My year, month by month. )