Kirsty Marks

So I thought our goldfish 'Zac' was dying because he has been floating about the top of the tank all day. I have now diagnosed him with a swim-bladder problem. Apparantly it is very common in fantail goldfish and can be caused by overfeeding, as they tend to swallow air at the same time as food, or constipation.

The solution is the fast them for a couple of days or feed them peeled peas! I can't believe so much effort goes in to a goldfish, I wouldn't peel my own peas. So I am going to not feed him tomorrow and try the peas on tuesday and see how it goes. Although sometimes this doesn't work and they are left floating around the top of the tank until they die.

So I got my job, which is just as well because I was the only one they interviewed and I have been doing the job for over two years. Not only that but they interviewed me for 50 minutes - 50 MINUTES. I would have felt a bit stupid if they hadn't given me it! Nothing changes except it is a permanent contract so at least I can continue with everything as it is.

Still have a very sore throat, now got some anti-biotics so hopefully will start feeling better soon and stop sounding like a frog.

This seems to have been a very long week, only half an hour to go!! Nice quiet weekend lined up as usual. Friday night meeting, sleepover in the school with loads of kids, Saturday two meetings, games and quizes, then interview prep for Monday morning. Roll on another week!

Oh well, we don't want a boring life anyway.

So I am sitting at home sick and feeling quite sorry for myself. Went to work this morning and lasted about 10 minutes before I came home. Have a sore throat, sore head and general yukkie feeling probably worsened by the fact I can't eat very much because my throat is sore.

I should really be doing some work for my interview on Monday, I have a ten minute presentation and 40 minute interview but so far this morning I have slept for two and a half hours. Oh well might do some reading of a 50 page strategy document I have to read. Then again Doug is going to Tesco to get me the Best of Dad's Army DVD which might be more appealing!!

Hope you are all having splendid days, if anyone wants to visit tonight feel free!

So there have been three other applicants, plus myself, for my job. The interviews are a week on Monday (28th May) and I am being interviewed by the Team Leader from Glasgow, my boss and the Cardiac Rehab co-ordinator from Paisley - scarey stuff!! I have to do a presentation but I don't have the topic yet.

Oh well guess there is no point in moaning may as well grin and bear it and hope for the best.

How did this happen? I am listening to Alex Salmond on the BBC news just now waffling about how he will run the parliament - I don't want him to be First Minister.

Maybe we should demand a re-vote due to all the spoiled ballot papers.

Think I will go and bury my head in the sand!

It's so nice to have Neil, Kate and Abbie up and get a good chance to catch up on news. Abbie is so big and so much fun, she can now sit up, eats food like it's going out of fashion and shouts a lot (must be a Dougal thing!). They are going up to Aberdeen to visit Kate's brother for a few days and then coming back for the Good Friday Speirs/Robertson (now Marks) lunch ritual.

All good fun, but I am very tired and need a bath then bed.

"If you love a man set him free, if he comes back he has forgotten his sandwiches."

Had a stats lab for three hours this morning - my brain has gone to mush!

Well found out the good news that the job I am doing just now has been granted permanent funding. I have been at meetings about this for about a year, drawing up buisness plans, stating why we need continued funding etc. My boss told me this this morning and then told me that they were going to advertise the post. To advertise the post I have to make up a new job description, write the advert, get an application form, apply for the job then go for interview. What a waste of time - I already do the job! Lets hope that no-one else applies. Mind you if I don't get it I could stop studying at night and wouldn't be sitting here looking up LJ.

We're all off to sunny prague (or snowy as the case may be!).

Setting off to Prague in an hours time till Friday, really looking forward to having a break work has been a bit full on recently and I am so glad to leave it behind for a week.

Looks like it is going to be snowing there till wednesday so hopefully it will be pretty but we wont be stuck in our hotel!

Hope you all have a good week, see you Friday.

Doug is going to bed and it's only 10.20pm and I amn't!!

In other news Antonia had a little boy today - David Scott Cameron weighing in at 8lbs.

Two updates in one day, what next.

Hope all that melting snow doesn't freeze tonight or I will never get out the car park tomorrow.

Good night xx

Well I decided to come home early from uni today because of reports of huge traffic jams in Greenock and lots of snow - there is no snow in Glasgow. Don't know if it was the right decision because the journey was not to bad and the snow seems to be melting, but I am here anyway and I think I will do some uni work at home this afternoon to make me feel better! My only concern would be that the bridge at Langbank already had lots of water under it making only one lane usable and if the snow keeps melting I can only see it getting worse. But again only time will tell what will happen.

Anyway going to make the best of coming home and not feel bad about leaving uni.

Hope you are all having good days.

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?

Got married, don't think I will do it again either too much work!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make resolutions as I forget I have made them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My sister-in-law.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My husbands gran.

5. What countries did you visit?

Switzerland and England.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?

More time to relax.

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

26th May - my wedding day.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting 75% for my Masters Module in Cardiac Rehab.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Don't tend to remember these things! Think it was putting up all our curtain rails and then they all starting coming back down.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I got two wisdom teeth out and was doped for a few days.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My wedding dress, except technically I didn't buy it.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Lorna, Leah and Ali for helping so much with the wedding.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Some people I have to work with but wont go into that.

14. Where did most of your money go?

New house.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Having a new baby neice.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?

Rutter's The Lord Bless You and Keep You, Rhian and Bec sang it at my wedding.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? fatter only a few pounds over the festive period!
iii. richer or poorer? Much poorer!

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Exercise

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Work

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

Spent it in a youth hostel in the borders with my sister-in-laws family.

22. Did you fall in love in 2006?

No that happened a few years before.

23. not applicable

24. What was your favorite TV program?

No TV.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Nope

26. What was the new best book you read?

Billy Hopkins - Kate's story

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I actually like some of Doug's music!

28. What did you want and get?

Wanted loads for the house, and got far too much!

29. What did you want and not get?

A rich husband.

30. What was your favorite new film of this year?

Chicken Little

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 26 and I spent the evening at home with friends and family.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Can't think of anything

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?

Casual, attempting to buy some smart clothes but failing miserably.

34. What kept you sane?

Candles in my living room.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Stuped question!

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

I am sure something did but it doesn't spring to mind.

37. Who did you miss?

Neil, Kate and Abbie.

38. Who was the best new person you met?

Abbie!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:

You can cope with change without having a crisis.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

I'm going to the chapel and I'm going to get married!

A small update on the christmas play.

Two nights down and it seems to be going very well. No major disastors which is always good. A few minor things like the flag pole falling when the children were just about to come in and Emma snapping the back drop pole in half with a loud pop! The children are sooooo cute and have mostly been very well behaved, except a few who shall remain nameless who have been slightly hyper. You will probably guess who this is if you think about who shouts out on a Friday night.

The Innkeeper and his wife have been absolutely fantastic, very funny lines and facial expressions. According to Doug Bill looks like Jabba the Hut! I actually think he looks quite good with good eye make-up. As usual the Orchestra are fantastic and the choir are quite good, but the altos are missing some key people!

So overall very successful which is surprising as we only had one practice together before the first night.

Anyway better go and entertain the guests.

Weather is here wish you were lovely.

Don't know if I would be quite the same as gold!!

Just to say a HUGE GOOD LUCK (if we believe in luck!) to Lorna on her travels tomorrow.

I know everything will go well and you will come home wondering what you were worried about!

Have a great time and don't even think about the conference rotas, catering or anything!!

Feeling quite christmasy now.

*Had my christmas lunch at work today

*Bought our christmas tree tonight (it's quite big and taking up most of the living room!)

*Sitting listening to a christmas CD

*Just finished wrapping presents

Fa la la la la la la la la

Going to the Falkirk wheel tomorrow with Lorna, Katie and April to go on the Santa boat ride which should be very exciting. Hopefully April wont wet herself when Santa comes out.

Thankyou everyone who wished my happy birthday and gave me lots of cool pressies. Favourite pressies are a cardigan from next, wooden advent calendar and 'ice-cube' snowman.

My day has been alright, was in Dunoon this morning and the ferry back was a little choppy.

Just to let everyone know that Neil has put more Abbie photos on his Flickr account.

I thought I had escaped the extreme weather conditions when I arrived safely at my work today (even though I knew I had to go out to a community class at lunch).

So there I was sitting in the gym doing an assessment when the hail stones started. The gym I work in has glass tiles on the roof so when it rains, hailstones or is very windy it makes a racket, especially since it is on top of a hill. Because of the noise I was trying to shout to my patient when hailstones started coming in to the gym, not just one or two but within minutes the floor was covered in hailstones!! It was quite something.

What happens is when the wind blows the tiles get lifted up slightly off the ceiling which usually explains the two or three leaks we get when it rains but I have never had hailstones inside before.

Don't think I managed to heat up for the rest of the day so might go for a warm bath!

Never in my life did I think married life would consist of sitting at the dinning room table with us both studying research methods! How boring is that! I don't know what it says about us but I guess it is easier if we both study at the same time.

Have been on a course today at the RAH in Paisley about Psychology and Cardiac Rehab, very interesting but I have another two days of it by which time I think I might have exploded.

Also found out that Debenhams are having a huge sale on Thursday and are open till midnight, so think I might be going up there and trying to do a bit of Christmas shopping. Although it will have to be on the visa card - see dougiemarks post earlier.

Anyway think we might go out for a walk to clear our brains, hope the rain stays off.