Weather

It's Snowing. A lot!

~*~

McBride and I were sitting watching 'Children Of Men' (a very good film I think) and I looked towards the window. The curtains are quite thin and there's a street light over the road. "The light outside looks funny, the wrong colour almost." I get up, peek out the window and let out an involuntary squeak. "it's snowing!"

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The next morning, (yesterday) I had to go to work at 8. So I arm myself with snow boots, mittens, ear muffs and camera phone and set off.

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It's strange how quiet everything goes when it's snowed. the whiteness dulls the traffic noise. Glasgow doesn't stop when the weather gets rough. I remember in January when snow hit the south and the whole world seemed to stop. Up here, even the blooming litter pickers are still hard at work. But all the cars, buses, drunks (it is Glasgow) and children are silenced in the whiteness. Walking through the park listening to Sigur Ros and marvelling at the frozen playground and the humorous snow graffiti. (someone had written the word 'faeces' in the snow.)

~*~

towards the city centre, the snow turns to that manky grey slush that we all know and love. and by this time, my fingers are numb. lets got to work. it's not as pretty here.

~*~

Waking up this morning to that similar silence, i sneak out of the bedroom and open the living room curtains. The shop over the road has disappeared behind the snowfall. (the stuff falling from the sky, it hasn't snowed so much that buildings are hidden, don't worry) the fir tree outside is covered in the stuff. A ready made Christmas tree. and because our street is a close and blocked at one end, no cars are coming through so the road is a flat, white, clean sheet. like a freshly made bed. pretty.

~*~

There are three ideas running through my head.

1: Snow angels in the road

2: writing CC HEART MM on the road

3: Making an army of snowmen at the top of the road to stop any cars coming in and ruining the road.

~*~

Then again, maybe I'll just make a hot chocolate and sit under a duvet and watch Muppet Christmas Carol. It's not too early is it?

~*~



Human Cushion

My day today starts off well. The fact I'm not at work until 10:30 means I can stay in bed and have a snuggle with McBride before leaving at 10. As I won't be finishing until 7, I decide the best idea is to grab the train in and back again. Save walking through a frozen park in the dark. (rhyme)

~*~

So I grab my tickets, hop on a train and take the three minute journey into Argyle Street. There's a fair few people jumping off with me and we march towards the escalator. For some strange reason, you have to go down a flight, before walking along a tunnel then back up a flight again. I'm not quite sure why.

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So we walk along and make our way to the 'up' one. I'm standing there listening to 'Doves' when suddenly, about half way up, I feel a sudden thump in the back.

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And this is just the beginning.

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The guy behind me has missed the step whilst running up the escalator. he has fallen forward and is now using me as a human cushion. BANG!

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Now imagining this next bit happening in slow motion.

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I fall forward. My hands go out to stop myself. The tips of my fingers hit the step three up from mine, bending my finger nails backwards and numbing the nerves in the middle and ring fingers on both hands. My right shin hits the very corner of the step in front. the 'tooth-edged' step you find on most escalators. My left foot slips out behind me, turns 90 degree clockwise and hits the step behind. My cheek hits the moving banister and my book hits the floor.

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ouch.

~*~

'Oh, s**t, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry, oh s**t, oh god, are you OK? oh s**t.' Is all i can hear and i nurse a poorly face with poorly fingers. The guy behind my has his hand on my back and looks whiter than a white thing. (snow?)  at this point I'm so embarrassed but the fall I just smile and say 'Don't worry, I'm fine. no worries. not your fault.'

~*~

At this point, we're at the top of the steps. He looking very concerned. (He's about 50 so it's all very strange t have a guy this aged with his hand on my shoulder.) But I just shrug off all the sympathy and smile again. 'Don't worry.' He picks up my book and I wiggle my fingers, still numb

~*~

I continue walking (limping) to work. I get into the staff room and see I'm shaking. shaking? why?

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My manager sees me and makes me a cup of tea. Then I prod my leg. Yep, that hurts. Prod my face. Yep, that too.

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But at least my fingers don't hurt. It's 4pm before I feel them again.

~*~

Moral? Less haste, more speed. Or, try not to used small women as pillows. we will break.

Male Customers

Some are sweet

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Do you think she'll like this one?

Well, I think it's a lovely design. I think she'll love it.

Well in that case, if she doesn't like it, I'll bring it back and give it to you, a beautiful necklace for a beautiful girl.

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Some are funny.

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Can I have something from the window?

Yes, let me pop out and have a look with you

Wow, you're not from round here.

(laugh) no, unfortunately not

No, you've got well a sexy voice, unlike all the n.e.d's (Non Educated Delinquents) round here. Wow, just keep talking to me and I'll buy what ever you tell me too...but not diamonds, I'm quite poor.

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Some are adorable

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Have you got anything with 'Mum' or 'Mummy' on it.

Yep, is it from you?

No..it's...erm, My wife is pregnant and I.. wanted to get her a Christmas present from bump.

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My heart melted.

Happiness is...

...Serving an 80 year old woman.

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OK so that doesn't sound like the greatest thing around but let me explain.

~*~

I'm half way through selling an 80 year old (we'll call her Betty, just to make it easier) a pair of earrings. Betty is quite fond of pearls it would seem and is hoping to buy a pair of simple studs for her grand daughter. As we're talking about the 9ct gold and the fresh water pearls, someones mobile begins to ring in the queue behind her.

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'If you like it then you should have put a ring on it,

If you like it then you should have put a ring on it,

If you like it then you should have put a ring on it,

oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh'

~*~

The queue all turn to each other with looks of 'Well it's not me.' Betty turns around, shakes her head and smiles at me. "probably someone with they're earphones in who can't hear their own phone ringing."

~*~

Then she reaches in her pocket and pulls out a mobile phone 'Or maybe it's just an old woman who's forgotten she downloaded a new ring tone.'

~*~

This little old lady not only had Beyonce as her ring tone, she downloaded it herself. Betty is a legend!

One Of Those Days..

04:30  ~ Wake up to the sound of the title music on a 'Friends' DVD. Try to get out of bed without opening eyes too much and bang shin on the bedside table.

09:30 ~ Wake up to my alarm and find McBride still lying with his arm across my tummy. He should have been in school half an hour ago.

09:35 ~ Into shower. Still quite sleepy and hazy eyed. Accidently put face scrub in hair. After worrying about the exfoliating 'bits' rubbing hair off or something equally ridiculous, wash hair properly with herbal essences.

09:50 ~ After moisturising, find I've only shaved one leg.

10:15 ~ Burn tongue on tea.

10:50 ~ Walk to train station and find out at the ticket booth that purse is still on the coffee table. Walk back home and retrieve before trying again.

11:15 ~ Arrive at work and begin to change, put t-shirt on back to front.

11:30 ~ Begin shift.

11:35 ~ Head butt window whilst helping a customer.

11:45 ~ Finally realise t-shirt is on back to front.

13:40 ~ Ask a fund raiser to send us a letter on 'pedded haper' instead of headed paper.

14:00  ~ Begin to lose voice.

15:10 ~ Choke on a monster munch during a break.

16:30 ~ Voice goes completely.

16:45 ~ Take bins down to basement, slip up on stairs.

20:00 ~ Close up shop and walk to train station.

20:05 ~ Stand on the join on the escalator step and lose balance as steps descend.

20:15 ~ Arrive home, fill kettle to make tea.

20:40 ~ Realise the kettle will boil quicker when switched on.

Off to bed soon, hopefully I won't lose my foot to frost bite or fall over a badger on the way.

Finally.

I can finally tell you the fantastic news that I have internet in my flat. Hurrah! Let's all get drunk and celebrate. It only took two months.

~*~

So much, So Much SO MUCH to tell you. I tell you now, this will be a long one. Go get some tea.

~*~

Right. I'm in my kitchen right now. how exciting is that. OUR kitchen. Mine and McBride's. We have co-habited (is that right?) And I have made more cookies than ever before. McBride must be loving it.

~*~

Well, maybe not. The poor guy has a broken toe. Broken the day before Steffi and Gary arrived. Apparently in class they were running around bare foot (Remember, McBride is a 26 year old and this is not a pre school) when someone ran into him and sort of snapped his toe backwards! Ouchy. So he's limping around with a swollen foot. I, being the ever careful girl I am, have managed to tread on it roughly 68 times already in the two weeks he's had it. I did buy him Danger Mouse slippers to say sorry though so I think I'm back in his good books.

~*~

So Steffi and Gary came to stay a couple of weeks ago. That was pretty epic. Hosting's good fun. I spent a week on a sofa bed and didn't break my back, which is cool. Steffi and I walked for miles shopping, which was also cool. It was just awesome to see them again. Steffi cried when she got here, cried when she left, the poor woman was almost hysterical when she met me from work the day they arrived.

~*~

So work (see what I'm doing here? little links between paragraphs to make it flow. Good ey?) I now work in a jewellers. It's fabulous. Lots of sparkly things, a gold, a diamonds. We had a guy come in one Friday who bought an engagement ring. He then came in on the Sunday and said "She said yes, thank you so much for helping me, she loved the ring. Thank you." so job satisfaction is of a high level. We also keep chocolates behind the till which always makes me smile. It makes the walk home seem shorter.

~*~

Yep, I walk to work and back everyday. I walk through Glasgow green which is all orange and red at the moment. Apart from early mornings when it's white and frosty, (or when it's pouring down, in which case, i catch the train.) It's a lovely park and comes complete with a beautiful fountain and 'The People's Palace' which is like a city museum. Come visit, we can go there some time. We'll get cake.

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Cake, mmm.

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Ok so that wasn't really a link to a new paragraph but the thought of cake makes me smile. As does the boy in the next room playing his guitar. I'll get soppy for a moment. skip the next bit if you wish.

~*~

Living with him is wonderful. Waking up next to him in the morning and thinking, 'This is ours. We paid for this.' It makes me feel great. Coming in from work and finding post on the floor addressed to both of us. Hearing him sing in the shower. it all makes my tummy a bit fizzy. I like it.

~*~

But I miss people so much. you know who you are (Ooh, how very cryptic.) Before getting the job, I was very lonely in the day time and had resorted to ridiculous things like watching 'Loose Women' to pass the time. Not a good plan. Although I kind of envy them. I wish I could get paid to sit for an hour bitching about the world. Lucky sods.

~*~

This post has somehow lost it's way. I'm sorry. My posts will go back to their usual random selves soon. I just wanted to update you on life in the north. A life where the little things are making my day.

• Leaving my tights on the heater whilst I have a wash in the morning
• Listening the the dozens of busking on the high street (A whole post will be dedicated to this)
• Introducing McBride to musicals in order for him to find a song for school.
• Watching Hugh Fernley-wittydoo-dah on Channel Four and thinking 'I'm so making that at the weekend'
• Watching the old guy and his really fat dog walk past every morning at the same time.
• Pretending to be in a music video when walking through the park early in the morning whilst listening to Sigur Ros.
• Using phrases like 'No, you can't have mashed potato, we're too poor to buy a potato masher'

~*~

Life is pretty cool at present.

~*~

Now if only I could work the blender...