Exploding custard

No, I haven't updated in a while. The reasons for this are complicated and can be summed up in "life's a bitch."

On Friday morning, I was in my somnambulistic state in Crosby and met cucharita, of all people, who was apparently also in a somnambulistic state as evidenced by her end of the conversation. I can't really remember the rest of Friday, which is probably something to do with the fact it a) wasn't interesting and b) did I mention I was asleep?

Well, I was. All I can remember is the fact Mrs Colvin has decided we absolutely must do a Chemistry practical involving exploding custard. I did think for a while that I must have dreamt it, but apparently no. She really did say it and it's on the agenda for next week. As is more debating the existence of God with Fidan. Actually, that's something else I remember about Friday - a brief discussion about what else but religion. I would like to make it clear from the outset that I don't actively seek people out and say, "Debate religion with me." It just happens. This time, I was in my accustomed place in the Biology lab (the big one downstairs without the skeleton) and Becky O was talking about deserts for some reason. Deserts and mountains. I was moved to quote from one of the Discworld novels - I forget which one, and besides the quote is paraphrased here: "Religions are invented in the deserts and the high places. With all that infinity all around, you want something to put in the way."

Fidan took offence. "Religions are invented? I wish you wouldn't say things like that."

I really wasn't expecting her to react like that. "If I'm to respect your right to be religious, Fidan, you have to respect my right not to be religious."

She considered. "If you stop saying things like that, I'll stop saying things you don't like." A pause, and then: "Unless it's about something really bad."

I started to laugh. We're back at square one. Which is no bad thing; I do like arguing with Fidan, because her attitude towards life is so different from mine that it's refreshing and new. Rola, too; although Rola is less forthright with her opinions than Fidan. And then there's Rice-Oxley, whose ongoing campaign to convince Iona of the existence of a higher power is continuing full speed ahead.

In short, it was a good day for sleeping but was puncuated with random occurences like the above. For some reason, Mrs Mills sat in on Politics in the afternoon. She was apparently there to observe Miss Hathaway and not her class, and I don't know if I've mentioned Miss Hathaway at all, but she's very young, about twenty-one (and teaching seventeen-year-olds!) and very shy with it. She started to look positively harried underneath the scrutiny, and the class, who are usually as responsive as rocks, started to suddenly ask and answer questions. It now appears as if the entire Lower Sixth have acquired a dramatic and violent interest in the government civil service. I have no idea if Mrs Mills was taken in or not.

Yesterday was probably less interesting. I was trying contact lenses again, with not much success - it really is like being drunk - and my mother decided we must go shopping. I wasn't against this, as she's feeling guilty that she never got me anything for my birthday and wanted to put that right. However, we went round the city all day and never found a damn thing I liked. It was aggravating in the extreme, especially as I couldn't blame it on our not going to Quiggins or Forbidden Planet - Pedar being Pedar got me birthday presents from Quiggins (and Amazon) and beat her to it. Actually, the Amazon parcel came yesterday. Pedar did a favour for someone and refused to take any money, so whoever-it-was sent him fifty quid's worth of Amazon vouchers. As it was my birthday at the time, he handed them over to me. I got three books - Mother Tongue (Bill Bryson; a hysterically funny take on the English language), The End of Eternity (Asimov; lilka recommended it a few months ago) and The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse (Robert Rankin; hathy_col recommended it) - and one DVD, Red Dwarf I. I was pleased, especially as I got another late birthday present in the post yesterday. From Australia - my cousin Sunny knows me far too well, and sent me DVDs of Silverchair live on their Across The Night tour. I love that boy. He's far too cool and doesn't mind when I steal his clothes.

So, my mother and I went round Liverpool to no avail, and then I got dragged out to an "Indian gathering" in the evening. It was boring as ever, and I employed the time usefully by texting Hannah, Becca and Patrick at intervals. We actually managed to arrange something, too, so I was impressed. I also managed to write five sides on Utopia and Brave New World. Because the exam question is always the same, it means you repeat some of the same points in every past paper answer you do. I just need to add a conclusion and then I'm finished.

I owe a few people emails. You're getting them. And right now, I need coffee. I got up at nine because of the wind. It's been horrible weather for the last couple of days - random outbreaks of hail, sleet and snow - but the wind howled the whole night and seems to have blown itself out. Everything is absolutely clear this morning.

Clare's car

As some of you may know, osiris13 has just bought a car. It's her first car, she's the first of us to have a car, etc...

Well, I said that everyone's first car should have an appellation of some sort. It's practically a law of nature. Said car, battered as it may be, requires a name. I want her to call it Dick Turpin. It's from Good Omens, of course; Newt's car is called Dick Turpin because it holds up traffic.

But we live in a democracy, so without more ado:

[Poll #245584]