Ghost Town

May. 28th, 2007 11:12 am
jadesfire: Bright yellow flower (House gah!)
[personal profile] jadesfire
EDIT 16:26: blow me, if I didn't just hand the bloomin' thing in! Hoorah! It's done, gone, out of the way and forgotten. I've only got my dissertation left to do, but I'm going to give my brain the week off before worrying about that.

Huge thanks for the virtual supplies - not being able to eat in the library, they were far more use than the real thing :) Anyone who wants a ficlet on something specific (not you, [livejournal.com profile] miss_zedem, I have your request already ;)), let me know. Resting my brain is definitely going to involve fanfic...


EDIT 15:11: well, I didn't think I was ever going to get to the word limit, and now I'm 154 words over. Woo-hoo! Cookies, ice-cream and shortbread greatly appreciated, thanks. I'm sharing them with the other half who's done much of the editing (thanks, hon!) and I'm now off to invent write up my bibliography. :D

Pass the scissors someome?



London is seriously scary on Bank Holidays. It's like 28 Days Later (not that I've seen it...) - who stole all the people?

I could grumble about the weather (how cold?), the rain (waterproof shoes are fine until you manage to splash water inside them) and that hardship of getting up at 6am on a holiday (:S)

However, I shall limit most of it to complaining about coffee

I am, in general, a farily patient person. I don't toot learner drivers, I understand that staff need to be trained and that it takes time to brew espresso. As a drinker of skinny lattes, I have learnt further patience, as you almost always have to wait for them to heat the milk. That's fine.

However, the Starbucks at Victoria Station made serious inroads into my supply of good will. I am a regular Starbucks customer. I was one of the first the day they opened in Oxford and received £5 in vouchers as an apology for the long queue. Since Starbucks have therefore given me money and coffee, I am predisposed to like them.

What I as, in return for my regular custom, is that I get the drink I ordered sometime this century, preferably served politely, although even I'm not daft enough to expect that every time. Somehow, the staff in this Starbucks manage to give the impression that customers are a terrible inconvenience, making coffee is up there with brain surgery in terms of the skill required and that we should jolly well be grateful for what we receive.

Okay, so my 'wet' latte has more foam on it than a cappuccino, but then I did ask for it extra-hot as well and hoping for everything is a bit unrealistic.

Trainee Who Took My Order: I know it's hard, love, but looking prettily confused it not going to get you anywhere. There were three extra elements besides the size and drinnk. Most of the time, two out of three ain't bad, but think about it; you have a pen; the cup is made of paper. It doesn't matter that there isn't room to write everything in one box. Write it somewhere else. Please?


On the plus side, I am the proud owner of 4 tickets to see Wicked! on 4th August (hoorah!). Chrys, I'll email you :)

On the down side, I'm stuck at college today trying to get my wretched coursework finished. All encouragement, threats, hugs, prods and virtual cookies gratefully received, and will be thanked with the ficlet of your choice :) Wish me luck...

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 10:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crystalshard.livejournal.com
*cheers* Hooray! I shall be looking forward to that.

Just think, once you've got your coursework done, you'll be able to write uninterrupted by feelings of guilt. *hugs*

You can have your biscuit once you've finished your coursework. *grin*

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 02:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crystalshard.livejournal.com
*passes scissors and lots more biscuits*

I may have something for you to beta-read later. It's not any of my current projects, but something that bit me last night.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 03:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
Thanks! I was still about 200 words over the limit, but I figure no-one will ever notice on a 3000 word essay...

Oooh, do send it along - I've got the day off tomorrow, with the full intention of doing absolutely nothing :)

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 04:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crystalshard.livejournal.com
I'd like a positive Gwen drabble, please. All the grumbling about the way she's written is getting to my contrary side. *grin* It's on its way.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 10:36 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] szm.livejournal.com
I hate coursework, I honestly would rather do exams.

But just think, once this cousrework is finshed you will have the lovely warm feeling that comes from never having to do that piece of work ever again!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 03:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
I hate coursework so much - I consistently score a grade higher in exams :S

But it is done now! And I'm only my dissertation away from having an MA :D Woo hoo!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 03:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] szm.livejournal.com
Go you! *does the dance of the finshed coursework*

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 05:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] szm.livejournal.com
Could you write something from a Weevils pov...

Please?

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-29 08:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
You guys are going to drive me insane, you know that? Weevils? I'll see what I can do...

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 10:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dune-drd.livejournal.com
Hmmm... Starbucks... wha? Oh, you lost me to drooling there, soory, I still dream of the day our little town gets one of those. Good luck with the coursework!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 03:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
Starbucks vary so much. The one on the High Street in Oxford is little but lovely - friendly staff, nice atmosphere, all good. The one on Cornmarket is grim - grumpy staff, always dirty and you can never get a table. it's very odd.

Yay, coursework is done - my brain is my own for at least a week :)

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 11:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pinkamethyst.livejournal.com
You have all the sympathy I can offer, plus several cyber cookies. I'd offer real ones -- and I do have some gorgeous choccie-chip ones here -- but, well, Oxford's a long way to go just to give you cookies. Anyways. Good luck with the coursework. I, too, am in a similar sort of boat, in that I have many exams to revise for and only seven days in which to do it all in.

And the other day I ordered a frappacino in Starbucks, only to be handed some sort of latte. On the plus side, I was charged less than my frappacino would've been, and they got me the right drink pretty quickly. Yup, lots of lovin' for the staff in Camden's Starbucks. <3

x

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 03:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
Ah, but I was only at Euston, so not so far...but virtual ones are better for the library anyway.

Good luck with the revision!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 11:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rivers-bend.livejournal.com
I obviously got the good staff at Victoria Station Starbucks when I was there. It was the first time I've had a chocolate cream frappucino that there wasn't a single chip of ice in it. They actually blended it properly.

Horray for wicked tickets.

I hope your coursework goes quickly. *sends you shortbread*

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 03:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
*munches shortbread*

You know, I'm not going to want my dinner with all the goodies people have sent me :)

I guess it depends a)on whether you're stupidly fussy (honestly, sometimes I'm almost embarrassed to order - the other half is certainly embarrassed and usually goes to get a table!) and b)who makes your drink. *sigh* But it was coffee, so it wasn't all bad.

I'm now off to find a corner to collapse in for a while...:S

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 12:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] taffimai.livejournal.com
Oh, you're going to love Wicked. I only got to see a touring version and I loved it more than reason. I can't imagine how good it would be in the West End.

As for course work ... poor thing. *offers hugs and virtual ice cream*

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-29 08:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
If the CD's anything to go by, it's going to be fantastic - I can't wait!

Thanks for the hugs and ice-cream - greatly appreciated :)

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 12:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] miss-zedem.livejournal.com
Starbucks is the Devil's company, but they make gingerbread latte and so I forgive them...I'm so easily swayed.

Oooh! <---about the Wicked! tickets.

Good luck with the coursework *sends virtual cookies and encouraging vibes*

A ficlet eh? Hmmm. Can I have Jack/Hugh please? *blink*

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 03:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
mmmmmm...gingerbread latte....

Thanks hon - all done now, thank goodness.

Jack/Hugh? Makes a change for you... :) I'll see what I do!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 04:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] miss-zedem.livejournal.com
Yay! Well done you on getting it finished. It's a good feeling isn't it?

Jack/Hugh - I like to confuse you occasionally ;)

And I may need you to defluff the OTY fic for me later. I think I can see the end (finally), and I'm going to send it to fandom_me first for her to do her thing with the smut betaing *blush*, but I have a feeling it may have just become 'Jack and Ianto are sweet in various locations around the south of France' *rolls eyes*

*muses* I wonder if Nazis would give it a bit more oomph - people would have been talking about what was happening in Germany in 1937 right? Or did everyone still think Hitler was a good egg at that point? *wishes knew more modern history*

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 06:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] laurab1.livejournal.com
Wikipedia page that may help - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSDAP

Of course, it's very grim reading.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 06:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] miss-zedem.livejournal.com
Thanks hon - I've added a bit of an oblique reference to it - Scott and Richard are having a conversation but Ianto's not sure what they're talking about. I'll check that page out though...

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 01:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hellenebright.livejournal.com
You think it's cold down there - you should try being up in the frozen wastes with me. It's *hailing* up here.

Keep plodding on with the coursework.

Offers sugar free shrewsbury biscuit.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 01:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] entangled-now.livejournal.com
Lol, spooky abandoned London is such an amusing mental image. I'm now imagining you wandering around with a shopping back going 'Hellllooooo.' I feel for your coursework though I really do, it's just awful brain melting awfulness that I remember only in my most horrible dreams. Consider yourself 'Virtually hugged' and 'Virtually encouraged' and good luck.

Wicked tickets = awesomeness!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-29 08:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
London was VERY like that - it was starting to freak me out. Walking across UCL main square, the two other people around started running (presumably late for something) and I had to resist the urge to run as well, just in case!

Thanks - all hugs greatly appreciated.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 03:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hellenebright.livejournal.com
Yay! [livejournal.com profile] jadesfire2808 got her coursework finished.

"Never doubted you m'dear, never will"

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 03:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
Awww, bless :) Much appreciated. I doubted it at about 1 this afternoon, but it's gone now and I can't get it back.

Bring on the dissertation :D

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 04:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_usakeh_/
Hurrah for finishing your work, and for being so close to being done with school in general!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-29 08:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
I absolutely can't wait. 8 modules down, 15,000 words to go! :)

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-28 06:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] laurab1.livejournal.com
Wicked is brilliant! I went to see it last week.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-29 08:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
Fantastic! I'm loving the CD, so I shall be able to annoy everyone around me by singing along! :)

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-29 06:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jack-magic.livejournal.com
Oooh, you'll love Wicked! Be sure and wear some green eyemakeup! (Who started that trend? Why 'ello, that would be ME!)

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-29 08:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
*grin* I shall have to buy some specially for the occasion ;)

(no subject)

Date: 2007-05-29 08:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] patch-tank.livejournal.com
Congrats Jades! I love that feeling of "Omgyayit's-done-and-I-never-have-to-think-about-it-again". Goodluck with your dissertation, enjoy giving your brain a rest for the week! *Sends you virtual hugs and Toblerone*