The Joy of Sleep

Last night I slept. It may have been a bit fitful but I was in bed by 9pm, waking ~8am. Friday night brought a sense of relief. As my belated male colleague said to me, women over analyse and give too much credit to men, thinking they do the same. Wikipedia has this as analysis paralysis, with more relevance for me as cognitive distortion.

But occasionally I do see in shades of grey, giving a more positive impact after the analysis, not an all or nothing approach - as you would expect of a typical Pisces - that would be far too scary for me.

My status quo is two Pisces, each 'tied together with a cord on their tails, to make sure they do not lose one another' and then linked together again. Astrology, like statistics, can tell you anything you want to believe so I will only add the short summary from www.pisces.com, missing out the negative and gullible traits and the darker aspects of Pisces-Pisces compatibility:-
Symbol: Fish
Element: Water
Ruling Planet: Jupiter/Neptune
Birthstones: Amethyst, Aquamarine
Colors: Aquamarine, Amethyst, Mauve, Sea Green
Gemstones: Amethyst, Emerald, Aquamarine, Bloodstone, Moonstone, Catseye
Flowers: Water Lily, Orchid, Lotus, White Poppy, Lilac
Metals: Platinum, Metallic Pewter
Body: Feet, Immune System, Lymphatic System

As you may have guessed from the time-stamp, sleep is eluding me again - but for a different reason.

Fri 25 - navy/lace black
Sat 26 - green/yellow

12 Degrees - Centigrade - At 12 Midnight

It has been a surprisingly sunny and mild winter day, feeling like spring - warmer tonight than it has been for most days since December. I do hope it continues, although West Coast USA is heading for snow, first in San Francisco in 30+ years and expected to snow also in Vegas (baby) ! Snow will fall this weekend in Utah and it was 16 degrees centigrade last week then snow at weekend.

+/- cannot go to see the first clips of Electric Man tomorrow but I hope the clips will be on-line at the weekend. Good luck Dave and Scott!

The feasting continues . . .

Tues 22- green/black
Wed 23 - black/tiger
Thurs 24 - purple/lace black

Spirit Aid

Am I perhaps obsessed with someone who mirrors my forlorn hopes and deepest fears in song? I went to see James Grant play on Thursday at the Spirit Aid charity gig. So that makes January and February, he's playing again in March and June - so far.

And The Bluebells were there too. First song, I'm Falling, was more than I could have possibly hoped for - my favourite!

Justin Currie was the top act for the ladies, more of a charmer in his bittersweet mode than James. Be My Downfall has been responsible for many seductions. Am I the only one who wants to be the one girl you will never forget? And I always imagine the bus is pulling out of Killermont Street but why? I never went to uni in Glasgow.

Friday went better than expected but it was a tiring evening so despite still wishing to go out afterwards for drinks and dancing, going home was by far the better idea - to rest and sleep.

Saturday was a hive of activity but, to the untrained eye (or any visitors), it looks like nothing has been done but it was washing and drying all day. The day ended with breaking my own anti-gremlin rule - no fb interaction after midnight. On the good news front, I found out that Electric Man unveils the first ever clip to the public at the GFT on Friday. On the bad/good front, I can't make it.

It has all came a bit early for me, I was preparing for March so I was thrown a bit off kilter. So any hope of plans moved from last Friday to this are on hold but I must get another date for the eighties disco night sorted out soon - dance card quickly filling up again.

Some people look the part on paper but, in reality, there is something not quite right. On the other hand, it is rarer to find the 'still waters run deep' type, who can throw astounding curve balls casually into the mix and you find yourself being caught out - like when trying to cloak yourself in mystery using obscure references, only to find they know about it and more. By this, I don't mean trying to get rid of unwanted attention and only finding yourself in a worse situation and having to get rescued (Edin Cowgate). Something else. Perhaps a Dvrnesque development? I've missed this type of connection but he proved the foundations are still there and that makes me happy. Looking forward to seeing him again and meeting his lady in a couple of weeks. Friends again.


Wed 16 - purple strips/lace yellow
Thurs 17 - purple strips/lace black
Fri 18 - white strips/lace white
Sat 19 - black/lace black
Sun 20 - black/lace white
Mon 21 - lilac/lace yellow

Ice Cold Running Water

This is a placeholder, which was going to be entitled 'Douglas Adams' because I could think of no other news than I intend to take a break to read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as a precursor to my birthday next month.

However the cold water tap just came off in my hand, giving me ice cold running water - but I managed to put it back on and all now ok hopefully.

I could read many things into that, as I could for other matters this week. Most after the event - I am not so quick on the uptake and retort.

The Year of the Rabbit began with a small curtsey (dinner, lunch) and now launches into a waltz this week (concert, lunch, go-karting). The year will be filled with many celebrations, ending with the Christmas night(s) out!

Sat 12 - purple/white strips
Sun 13 - ecru/green
Mon 14 - black strips/black feather
Tues 15 - purple strips/shiny purple

Return to Autumn

It has been bright and dry but I thought it would rain so didn't wear spring clothes but dressed in browns and greens instead. I felt swirly and almost confident.

But I've had a late couple of nights workwise so off my game. What happened then for the last couple of weeks you ask? Yes, I have been unfair and I am sorry. What a wimp I am. Maybe next week? Early night for me tonight should help, but when will I wake - midnight probably!

Taking chances on the social side, 18th is now booked, not my first preference but I did want to go out then - full moon good, tides bad. The following week may be better but Glasgow getting scary sadly.

And David is a great uncle! How wonderful but, as I am preparing for my eventual similar status change, I think it
should be grand uncle, with grand aunt for me if nephew has a child (his soon to be wife rather).  So there has been a great uncle and a granny, congrats again mj, this year so far.

The string of waterlily lights overhead cast a soft glow, the green velvet curtains are closed tightly against the night, the  room is gently warming up and I am wrapped up in my pashmina, phone in hand (Blogger app), book and mp3 at my side. Which will win? Oh yes, telly on - Braveheart just started. Maybes aye, maybes naw.

Thurs 10 - blue stripes/lace lilac
Fri 11 - green/green

Music To Raise The Spirits

I've been listening to a lot of music this week and last. Thin Lizzy crept up a few times before I heard of Gary Moore's death, R.I.P. Now it has been R.E.M. and AC/DC cropping up the mix. It has been generally upbeat. Whole Lotta Rosie as I finished lunch (including a wee jig in the ladies) but the contemplative Leaving New York as I started lunch made me feel quite sad and in need of a hug. It doesn't have a memory for me as such but it has such a strong pull that my heart aches - a feeling of insurmountable yet intangible loss.

But a good boogie on down to AC/DC always helps raise the spirits.

Reason for the post - not yet ready to face book 3 The King Stag yet.

Tues 8 - shiny green/velvet green
Wed 9 - white stripe/lace yellow

Gwenhwyfar - Be Careful What You Wish For

Gwenhwyfar has lost her child and sought concessions from Arthur to appease God. The flag of Christ and the Virgin stands where the Pendragon flag should be, to protect all the peoples of Britain, not just Christian. The battle was not lost but the country was fractured.

Morgaine had fled Arthur's court after her failed dalliance with Lancelot for Avalon. However she could not make her way back and instead came to the Land of Fairy. When she returned, five years or more had passed in the outside world but she felt she had only been there for days. Sometimes life is like that.

It is Beltane and Gwenhwyfar wants to halt the fires, mocking her childlessness. But in contradiction to her faith, she turns to Morgaine the wise, Morgaine the witch, for a charm to give her what she says she desires - a son for Arthur.

Morgaine warns Gwenhwyfar to be careful what she wishes for, for the Goddess may grant it to her.

And as the Beltane fires are lit on Dragon Island, Gwenhwyfar falls into the arms of both Arthur and Lancelot, thinking 'yes this is what I wanted after all'.

So ends the second book, The High Queen.

I never attended the Edinburgh Beltane festival, although it started when I was there. I have never been one for public demonstrations at such times*.

The return to Edinburgh on Sunday night brought memories from Heather, who I have not seen in such a long time, Sneaky Pete's again (before it became a (very small) gig venue), who would have thought it! And a spark of interest from Susan for rock night re-union. What a surprise! Yes, she did go with me and made sure that before she left me and she went home early, she had nominated someone to look after me. Nothing untoward, more like your mother arranging a local taxi home from a nightclub for you 'because she's only 17 you know'. And she terrified them so there were no untoward attentions - Susan I mean.

Mon 7 - shiny purple/purple

*except for
(1) dancing (alone or disco/rock preferred)
(2) Mid-summer (failing to stay awake for sunrise at Bothwell Castle, getting married four years later but not getting to the Castle for photos :-()
(3) Samhain/Halloween (witch of course)
(4) Midwinter (snow angels, cosy and warm inside with hot chocolate)
(5) St Patrick's Day (obviously)

28 Days in February

It is a slow month. Almost every time I start to read, and listen to Esben and the Witch, I fall asleep (6 hours out of 12 on Thursday night, 12 out of 12 on Friday night). The music has been transferred from phone to mp3 in the hope that I can listen to it better when commuting. I'm almost halfway through the book so I am not keen on buying the audio version, especially as it has been abridged.

I have shook up my daily routine to add a bit of variety but too lazy to be radical so here goes week 1:-
Tues 1 - shiny black/black&red
Wed 2 - End of Year of the Tiger - shiny red/shiny tiger
Thurs 3 - Start of Year of the Rabbit - black/lace red
Fri 4 - purple/lace purple
(Sat 5 - green/velvet red)
(Sun 6 - brown/shiny aubergine)
If I don't fall back into my lazy ways, and I already have organised the second part, I should be able to complete February, or Mon-Fri each week at a push. Call it a small success to do something different every day.

My mind whirred on the way home on Friday with thoughts, dreams, memories and even tears brought on with the random music on the mp3, however I did add each song myself. Like the Pensieve in Harry Potter, I need a repository for my thoughts. I am no bard with wisdom to spread but perhaps akin to J.D Salinger's need to express mundane things and, in agreement with this article, diaries, letters and blogs are a kind of performance, designed to achieve a particular effect. So perhaps I will go offline, to get things out of my system and lock them away in my own pensieve, my compartments, again?

The Last Day Of The Tiger

My Year of the Tiger* card will come down tomorrow and it will be sad but the Year of the Rabbit Card should at arrive tomorrow at Amber Cottage for Paul, Gary and the bunnies. That will be nice and hopefully unexpected for them all - although the snow may be more of a surprise in the morning. It is now lying here after rain all day.

During my last post, I updated Gwenhwyfar's name spelling to this which has been used in the book. Perhaps it is a new found empathy or sympathy but I would not go as far as to say admiration. She is now with child by Arthur but regrets not taking Lancelot as lover and worries he will never want her again, as she grows 'fat and ugly with child'. Yes, I forget that looks are the norm, whereas I rely on my 'cheery disposition' to get by. I may look upon this as taking the higher moral ground but, when it comes down to it, it is still being manipulative after all. Women!

All after me - 1,2,3, bright, shiny, happy!!!

Theme for the weekend is 'Forty' (thanks but not me) in Forfar and now Edinburgh so hopefully the weather does not disrupt the plans, whatever they actually may be.

*Turns out I am part of a chain of four in the family who are all Roosters.