luckykaa

I was looking forward to my evening plans. It was all looking quite simple. flickums  would go see a gig with a friend. I would have the whole evening to myself to catch up with movies Flickums doesn't like.

Unfortunately there was snow. Not in Manchester but elsewhere.

Friend was planning to catch a train from the frozen wastes of Sheffield, that would get her in Manchester for about 15:30. But it was cancelled. It turns out all the trains were cancelled until about 17:30. Well, this meant getting to Manchester Piccadilly at about 18:30. Which gives more than enough time to catch the show. But this would require some faf to find somewhere to stow luggage. So I offered to drive Flickums to the station, and then I could take the bag home. Meant sacrificing some of my evening but I'd still have time for a movie. Train was running late but figured there would be time.

The pain who decided to do a u-turn in a car that didn't have the turning circle to do a u-turn, and the inconsiderate taxi driver who felt that the gap I'd left so cars could leave the car park was meant for him to go in front of me were fairly typical, but there was still plenty of time for getting to Manchester Arena, as long as the train wasn't too late.

But the snow.

Obviously a 50 tonne train can't handle a snowflake, so the train in front of friend's train broke down.

Friend's train finally arrived 70 minutes late with a somewhat flustered friend. I collected the bag and went to car park. And waited for a gap in the queue to leave the car park, so I could actually go home. And waited, and waited. Eventually a very nice lady left a gap for me to escape. Thank you nice lady. Nice to know some drivers are kind and considerate. Had to stop to let a blind Taxi driver out, but eventually got home.

But yeah... Not really enough time to watch the film I wanted to see. Decided to vent to the internet.

New evening plans - glass of wine. Chocolate egg, and this week's Picard.

Since I was getting zero exercise, I decided to take up running. I went for the couch to 5K plan. The idea is you start off mostly walking with short jogs, and build up to a 5 km run.

Started off pretty well. Then winter happened. Took a while but eventually acquired some tracksuit trousers. A lot harder than expected since everywhere seemed to charge a fortune for them. Built up distance over a few weeks. Winter decided to fight back and send snow and sub zero temperatures. It was a struggle to even want to leave. Still, I managed to fight through it, but going out is hard enough. Pushing myself past that was impossible. The running plan allows taking it easy and stretching it out, so I did that until the weather improved.

Seems the universe doesn't like this plan.

Weather improved. Had a long weekend which meant I took 4 days between runs rather than the usual 2 or 3.  Then caught an annoying cold largely knocking me out. Spent a week not running. Got better. Weather decided to send more sub-zero temperatures. Weather improved. Caught another cold. Am feeling better now, but is that snow or sleet out there?

I'm also finding this is getting a bit boring. There are only so many routes I can take around the city.

So, right now I'm making negative progress and getting irked by it.

Honestly, I don't think it's just this. A lot of things have been not working how I want. I haven't had something I can consider a "win" for a while.

I really want a win.

A friend of mine (ex-flatmate) works for a cinema.  As a result he gets various freebies.  One of them was for a special showing of Tron Legacy.  The showing was in leicester Square at 10:00.  Normally this would be easy.  Train to Victoria followed by tube is an hour and a half. 

In the snow, time taken is 1h30m + n where n is a wild guess. The 7:55 was cancelled.  The next available train was to London Bridge which isn't as convenient for Leicester Square or as fast or as cheap.  On the other had it was on time so I paid the extra.  I coulod have changed at East Croydon but had no idea whether that would be better. 

But I arrived.  And in reasonable time.  And ex-flatmate was there along with his son.  As was forbiddendanish  and various people he knows.  Had I realised people of that class were coming I wouldn't have come...  scotiva .  Enjoyed the film but probably not going in the all-time greats collection.  Fun in the same way Transformers was.  The Wee-one was well enough trained not to make too much noise or disrupt anything but I knew he'd be okay because his mother believes in things like rules and discipline.

So spent the rest of the afternoon with Scotiva.  Went to the pie shop in Covent garden.  They had reindeer pie!  Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, with gravy and mash for lunchtime nutrition.  Finished ALL my Christmas shopping (almost - a couple of odds and ends for friends but don't expect to see them before Chrimbo).  This means I get Sunday off!  Woohoo!

I overslept yesterday morning.  This has a positive side to it.  It's the first time I've slept properly on a Thursday night for weeks.  But it did mean I got into work half an hour late which meant getting out half an hour late.  I was a little worried about the traffic. 

It wasn't bad at all.  A little slow in places but with freezing roads I'll accept that people are keeping down to 50 or so on the motorway.  Didn't even get stuck on the M25.  Traffic announcement said there was an accident on the M23 and queues were forming but by the time I got there the queue had gone. 

Getting back to Brighton was a surprise.  Cheltenham had a light dusting of snow.  It was cold and there was ice on the back roads, but that was about it.  Brighton's roads were ice.  Even along the motorway the right hand lane was still covered in snow.  Taking a warning from penguin_worship , I was driving extremely carefully, especially down the ice slide that is Miller's Road.  Pulled into my parking space.  Car stopped.  Tried reversing back up and into a better parking place.  Car moved sideways down the camber.  Decided that since I was now about an inch away from the kerb that would do.

Went inside.  Fell on my arse.  Turned water back on, water didn't flow.  Put space heater in bathroom to defrsot the pipes and went to the Tesco express at the top of the road.  The shelves were bare.  Welcome to Soviet Russia, Comrade.  Returned home and I had running water!  Yay!  Also the hot water tap that hasn't been working for over a year suddenly works again. 

Went out for drinks with an old friend. This time I was mostly on mulled wine and mulled cider.  Someone was talking about trapeze to her boyfriend.  The snow had already started to melt by the time I got back.

So that's the snow.  It has now gone.  I'm not sure if I'm happy about this or not.

Long range forecast suggests that it's going to be a bit wet and drizzly on Saturday.  This may cause problems for my birthday plans.

Anyone have any suggestions for what to do if the beach looks unviable? 

Granted - these forecasts aren't usually all that accurate.  But the weather has been like this for the past week or so so I'm not that hopeful. 

I think I'll have some time off after next week. 

I could spend the entire week in bed, but I'll get bored.  Anyone want me to visit?  After I get my car serviced...  I'll have lots of free time. 

ION: The weather is now REALLY too cold.  I had an icicle on my tab in the bathroom this morning and had to break the ice in the toilet cistern. Also had no cold water pressure which is slightly worrying.  I stuck a space heater in there for half an hour and hopefully that has melted any ice. 

I just don't know what. 

Winter is getting to me.  I've spent the last few weekends at home, which was all fine after a busy summer but I'm getting a bit bored. 

Need to so something. 

Winter apathy isn't helping a lot.