Watercooler Sub Zero: Ice Capades

x-post, yes, I don't think you'll get good rail based courses in America for some reason or other. Which is odd, considering how their country was dominated by railroads for the entire 19th Century. But the auto industry, yadda yadda.

My mum won't take trains now, which I find very odd. She'll take busses perfectly happy. I had to direct her to Lambeth Palace by bus. I think it's the 3 that goes there, but i'm not sure.

Gastric flu sounds probable. I've been told that coke is good for gastric flu, so I've just downed a can, and feel no appreciable improvement. I'm gonna leave it till lunch and if I don't feel any better, I'm going home.

Don't down cans of things, *sip* things. Slooowly. The best thing for gastic flu, actually, is ginger tea. And not eating anything solid for 24 hours.

x-post, yes, Bligh's tomb is in the grounds of Lambeth Palace - we saw it when we went on the Parks of Lambeth walk.

type score type behavior motivation
2 50 I must be helpful and caring to be happy.
9 48 I must be peaceful and easy to get along with to be happy.
8 41 I must be strong and in control to be happy.
1 40 I must be perfect and good to be happy.
7 38 I must be high and entertained to be happy.
5 36 I must be knowledgable and independent to be happy.
3 34 I must be impressive and attractive to be happy.
6 27 I must be secure and safe to be happy.
4 14 I must avoid painful feelings to be happy.

My mother believed this, too, but it always had to be flat. Also sipping only.

My problem with all of these tests is that personality is not a static thing. Everyone is different things in different situations, to a greater or lesser extent. I could be a 1 at work, a 5 in my creative life and a 4 in my relationships.

Also, personalities change and grow and develop or negative patterns get reinforced. I was a lot more of a 4 when I was younger, but I've mellowed, a lot.

Hope all is well in the Watercooler, things are better than well with me, Matt and Alice (although time has no meaning and sleeping through the night is a distant memory.)

6 20 I must be secure and safe to be happy.
9 15 I must be peaceful and easy to get along with to be happy.
3 14 I must be impressive and attractive to be happy.
5 13 I must be knowledgable and independent to be happy.
2 11 I must be helpful and caring to be happy.
1 8 I must be perfect and good to be happy.
4 8 I must avoid painful feelings to be happy.
8 7 I must be strong and in control to be happy.
7 6 I must be high and entertained to be happy.

Wahoo.

I didn't think that Simple Minds test was as good as the one with the cartoons. Some of the questions were not very clear.

What does it mean when all of my trait scores, bar two are above 30, and all of jels are 20 or below. Have I got more personality as well as having a different one?

*does a little dance routine to celebrate*

HUUUGE Congrats Archel!!! This is wondrous and lovely and very best wishes to you and mr.Archel (and baby Archel).

I am equal parts investigator and enthusiast. Agreed with kate on the different categories for different parts of your life.

But I think the the fact that someone views these are separate is very revealing. I always think of an article I read where there were 'analogue' and 'digital' people. Analogues viewed their life as one whole continuum, made very close friendships at work, socialized with work people at weekends etc etc and were often very upset when they had an argument with someone at work. Others (e.g me) are digital and see 'work' and 'life' as very separate. We can be more detached about work problems, tend not to socialise with colleagues as much etc etc.

Hope everyone is feeling not too bad with their various cold and ailments (Ailsa, Ed, Kate). I am hoping for the greatest comeback since lazarus by testing the old ribs in my trad boxing day morning rugby match. It's amazing how much improvement there's been this week from last week's 'too excruciating to move' pain. I am borrowing body-padding, which I have previously eschwed as 'puffy' and 'not manly', just in case.

Take care of yourself at rugby, tho, Dr. C! I know I sound like an old worrywort but it can take weeks for bones to knit properly - it sounds like they are healing, but you do not want to undo all the good work and go back to "unable to move" by re-injuring them again!

How about you do something less strenuous on boxing day. Like, say, err, ice skating or somethign! ;-)

* temp agency putting fear of God into me about them getting in another temp so I wouldn't be needed, but having discussed with colleagues we think she's just cross at losing out on commission due to me not getting paid

I HAVE to play in thee rugger, kate, it's traditional. I have played for the last 19 years I think - twice with broken nose! Seriously I painted a room yesterday which involved lifting VERY heavy wardrobes and stuff around and have no ill effects, so I should be OK.

kate - here's something you'll like : I was rehearsing with the 'new band' on Tuesday. One of the studio blokes came into the room to get a mike or something - he stood near the door until we'd finished the song and at the end said 'that's really like a band called Rain Parade'. Whoa!! Whole new band thing validated by one comment. I (and our singer and drummer) REALLY REALLY REALLY love Rain Parade, not that we were trying to rip them off, but for him to say that really made me feel we're on the right track. Have you ever felt that way after someone has commented on yr music?

That is the best feeling, when someone picks up on something that is not necessarily overt, but is very definitely a huge influence - or a huge inspiration, rather.

That was especially true in the last band, when people would compare us to such lame things - even if it were in a favourable light i.e. "you're so much better than The Pipettes" - it's just like, dude, we're not even trying to do the same thing as them, why are we being compared? No relevance!

But every now and then someone would come up with something (Spirea X, Lush, Brian Wilson, krautrock, Stereolab - especially Stereolab) that got such a huge "yes! you get where we are going *to* rather than what we are coming from!" that it would make it worthwhile.

A soundman once, after a L0ll!es soundcheck, asked us "you're probably going to think I'm making this up, but have you ever heard of a band called Young Marble Giants?" I nearly kissed him on the spot.

I thought A Nation Mourns sounded like Uncertain Smile era The The.

Oh blimey - you saw the only ANM gig in 17 years, Mark? Actually yes, yes I remember you were there with Starry and DG and others. We're back in 2007! We're a bit different sounding, I'm aiming for sort of a cross between Magazine and Rain Parade, but who knows what people will make of it. 'The The' sounds not a million miles off. There will be a single early on in the year all being well. (April-ish?).

Do you like Quadrupel (sp?) Ed? They sell it at the aptly named Classic Wine on Cowley Road. It's the Trappissed monks' way of leading you to alkyhell!

Cor, 10%, monks really know how to get to alkyhell, what with all the beer, buckfast and benedictine (do monk make a drink not beginning with 'b')

I hope I'm better by tomorrow. I've got code to write for year-end :(...

Anyway, FRANGELICO!!!

JB, that is just too indulgent, internet in bed.

xx-post Ah, I see Ed. Someone sent me a case of mixed Belgian beer a couple of years ago - La Trappe was one of them. Lots of various frooty beers. I still have some of the bottles - will check for geuze type things.

(I wonder how my mum would feel if she knew she'd contributed to our lingo so wonderfully.)