Journal Entries
Saturday 1 January 2000
Posted Jan 1, 2000
The first day of the last year of the twentieth century, C.E., has dawned and been greeted by an assembled throng of people who haven't had enough sleep, and many of whom have been drinking to excess. A harbinger for the year? Possibly...
I made what turned out to be a far-sighted decision yesterday, last year, that drinking vodka would be infinitely easier to cope with today than my usual practice of drinking beer. I only got through about half a bottle of vodka - along with a few beers and sundry other drinks (who was that idiot who brought the cocktail shaker...?) - and my head thanks me for it. Unfortunately, my head wasn't in on proceedings as my body decided to party on until four in the morning before collapsing like a black hole, and I have awoken uncharacteristically early with a headache, anyway.
The day itself has been beautiful - if slightly unseasonably cool - with only a hint of cloud, but as I have been incapacitated by leftover drunkenness and lack of sleep, I have been unable to take advantage. The first day of the year, as a result, has been spent taking care of business doing things like wash dishes and launder clothes. Going through the motions feels so nice when you're not in any mood to do anything, and it makes you feel virtuous, what's more!
The Y2K thing passed without incident except (possibly) for some minor problems acessing h2g2, and we've been watching the so-called "millenial" celebrations around the world since we got up. If "taking care of business" is the theme for the year, it's going to be a busy year.
Happy new year everyone
!
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Latest reply: Jan 1, 2000
Thursday 30 December 1999
Posted Dec 29, 1999
The sun has finally come back! I am really pleased about this, and it has improved my mood considerably. The low pressure cell which has sat above our heads for the last six days has finally decided to get its act into gear and go and bother the New Zealanders (hi Loony!). It may even be sunny for new year's eve, which would be a truly great thing after the disappointment of Christmas.
Christmas is passed, and we've been back at work since yesterday. Nobody is working all that hard, though, and the office internet connection seems to be determined to slow down whatever work people might like to attempt. The gym is shut for the break, and I am becoming flabby and prone to injury. New year's eve is looking like a dangerously bacchanalian prospect, because of the feeling engendered by these things.
The h2g2 crowd seems to be returning in dribs and drabs. I am happy about this, too, because they are fun to talk to, by and large...! It's been a good year - at least personally.
I feel that I have signed off on 1999. Bring on the new year!
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Latest reply: Dec 29, 1999
Saturday 25 December 1999 - and goodwill to all...
Posted Dec 24, 1999
Having boasted to all about the good weather that Christmas was likely to bring, Christmas Day itself has dawned (and remained) overcast and gloomy. It's still warm, but not great barbecue weather, as Christmas should typically be.
I sit with a cup of coffee and await the day. The world has slowed down for another year, as we pause to reflect about what the year has already brought us, and what the day has revealed about who we are, and about the people who love us, and the people we love. It is quiet, and still, and peaceful. We pretend to ourselves that the whole world is like this, and for a single day under the influence of this pretense believe ourselves capable of loving our fellow human beings as ourselves. In spite of this, however, people who we will never know or understand are still on the move about us - people driving places, doing things, seeing other people. The significance of the day appears only to be that the shops are closed, yet there is more, and the feeling pervades the air around us.
Food is prepared and cooked, meals are served, people are nice to each other - if not for themselves for the sake of their children. Gifts are exchanged, and pleasant reactions, even if pretended, abound. The day is quintessentially good, even if the weather is inclement. Only bad television is on, with the exception of the broadcast religious services from the Vatican and other places which occupy the early morning, so nobody watches it. The music which is played is either religious, or the new albums given as gifts during the morning. The sound of electronic games wafts over the neighbours' fence, and childish laughing voices can be heard. Very little - except the cars of people going places to do things - moves.
It is Christmas. 
I am going to prepare my Christmas dinner. I suspect that others may come during the day, but for this moment I am alone. On this day, I enjoy my solitude, and think of my friends and family, far away and close at hand.
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Latest reply: Dec 24, 1999
Thursday 23 December 1999
Posted Dec 23, 1999
Well, I achieved something today. Looking at the lists of forum posters, I discovered that I am among BOTH the "most erudite" and "most prolific" simultaneously. This is a first for me, and I'm highly impressed with myself, even if I'm not terribly high up either list! I still can't really hope to achieve as much as Monsy in the "prolific" stakes, though!
Weather is beautiful, after a dodgy start which looked as though it was going to concentrate on being depressing: overcast, still and humid. The better part of the cloud has blown away and it's bright and clear (at least for the moment) - never a bad thing. My rain coat is packed, though, just in case!
I spent the early part of the morning disarming the sandmen about the work I'm doing, and persuading them to keep me on their lists so that I'm not going to be broke for an impractically long time when I have to stop. I was so discouraged by the thought of having to do this that I stopped at the gym on the way to the bus stop, to have a cup of really, really bad coffee machine coffee and calm down - or at least think about something different. It worked, because I was able to face the hive with only minimal psychic disequilibrium! The gym people are in a good mood with a week's break coming up: everyone's lazy over Christmas, I suspect!
I look forward to a relaxed Christmas day, but we'll have to see how things turn out. I will be here, on and off, over Christmas, though, so anyone watching/listening please don't be reluctant to come round and say "hi". I may even have some time to write considered replies - which, given the amount of trouble I've recently been skirting, is probably not a bad thing!
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Latest reply: Dec 23, 1999
Tuesday 21 December 1999
Posted Dec 21, 1999
I'm starting to enjoy this Christmas feeling now. The office Christmas party is on today, and a long lunch is in the offing, which is always a good thing. The weather is beautiful: mild, sunny, clear and calm. The only difficulty today will be resisting the temptation to indulge in alcoholic drinks at lunchtime - which never serves the afternoon gym session too well...
Christmas shopping is the usual mess: I can't think of anything to get for anyone, and I'm almost certain that nobody has any special requests, anyway. Finding time to take care of it is also difficult - making enough money to live on while everybody is on holiday is more of a priority, I'm afraid. I realise that this sounds mercenary, but I don't really think that it is.
The "peace on Earth, goodwill to all men" part of Christmas I really quite like though, and the carols are fantastic. For once you have an opportunity to smile at people without them necessarily questioning your sanity...! It's warm, the sun shines, people laugh easily, children are excited, Mums and Dads feeling virtuous and predisposed to being nice to each other and to other people: what could not be good about this?
The fact that work's server, in spite of all trials, is still working, too, is a comfort. I hope that this situation maintains its currency over the holiday period...
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Latest reply: Dec 21, 1999
Hypoman
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