Saturday, March 31, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
Probably I shouldn't write this while I'm surfing the wifi in the airport, but airport security sucks.
I totally get that security is all for our own good, and I grew up travelling to Israel in the eighties, so I'm compliant. And I always peck my own peckages.
On the way out, I put two of my less than 100ml things in a clear plastic bag (a lipgloss and a moisturiser) but left other stuff in my bag (deoderant, perfume, suntan cream). I was just taking carry-on, as it was only two days; a small cross-shoulder handbag that just fits my tiny laptop, and a (small) 15 litre back pack with a skirt, underwear, three t-shirts and toiletries. The airline said it was all fine.
Queuing in the mad queue between check-in and the gate for security, there were really hundreds and hundreds of people, packing and repacking their bags. And there were plastic bag marshalls doling out plastic bags. I withheld the urge to take a few (because of the war -> hoarding thing. Once, I had a cleaner who said to me, in response to my lifetime's supply of plastic bags under the sink, "what is it with you Jewish people and the plastic bags?" but I digress. Which is my custom).
So I'm queueing and one of these guys says to me, "you've got two bags." And I say the airline said it was fine. And he said they know the rules, I have to put one inside the other. They don't fit. I ask him what to do. He says, "go to that shop called Glorious Britain and buy a large plastic bag and put them both inside."
Rulesworth. Computer says no. Man but I hate this stuff.
So I lose my place in the queue and go to Glorious Britain who won't give me a bag, so I have to spend £2.50 on chocolate, even though I really don't eat chocolate any more. She tried to sell me all manner of chazerai/tchatchkes, and while I probably think Britain is Glorious, and took in my Great Grandfather 109 years ago, I don't want a mug - or in fact anything - with a union jack on it. So I offered her the chocolate, and then she said she felt guilty, so I gave it to some random passing guy who said he prefered hard candy and I said it was a gift and packed my two bags in my plastic bag and got back in the queue.
Sheesh.
And I queue for even longer, and go through security and then afterwards, I bypass some kind of kerfuffle, and looking back, I realise that you're supposed to go through the whole thing again for shoe-security (subset of big security)but loads of just walked on by.
Like a song.
And then just now, on the way back at JFK they have all the signs about one bag and I get out my Glorious Britain bag, ready for the same stupid ruel-bending silliness... and they don't care. But they do make you take your shoes off at the same time. You can never be too careful.
I totally get that security is all for our own good, and I grew up travelling to Israel in the eighties, so I'm compliant. And I always peck my own peckages.
On the way out, I put two of my less than 100ml things in a clear plastic bag (a lipgloss and a moisturiser) but left other stuff in my bag (deoderant, perfume, suntan cream). I was just taking carry-on, as it was only two days; a small cross-shoulder handbag that just fits my tiny laptop, and a (small) 15 litre back pack with a skirt, underwear, three t-shirts and toiletries. The airline said it was all fine.
Queuing in the mad queue between check-in and the gate for security, there were really hundreds and hundreds of people, packing and repacking their bags. And there were plastic bag marshalls doling out plastic bags. I withheld the urge to take a few (because of the war -> hoarding thing. Once, I had a cleaner who said to me, in response to my lifetime's supply of plastic bags under the sink, "what is it with you Jewish people and the plastic bags?" but I digress. Which is my custom).
So I'm queueing and one of these guys says to me, "you've got two bags." And I say the airline said it was fine. And he said they know the rules, I have to put one inside the other. They don't fit. I ask him what to do. He says, "go to that shop called Glorious Britain and buy a large plastic bag and put them both inside."
Rulesworth. Computer says no. Man but I hate this stuff.
So I lose my place in the queue and go to Glorious Britain who won't give me a bag, so I have to spend £2.50 on chocolate, even though I really don't eat chocolate any more. She tried to sell me all manner of chazerai/tchatchkes, and while I probably think Britain is Glorious, and took in my Great Grandfather 109 years ago, I don't want a mug - or in fact anything - with a union jack on it. So I offered her the chocolate, and then she said she felt guilty, so I gave it to some random passing guy who said he prefered hard candy and I said it was a gift and packed my two bags in my plastic bag and got back in the queue.
Sheesh.
And I queue for even longer, and go through security and then afterwards, I bypass some kind of kerfuffle, and looking back, I realise that you're supposed to go through the whole thing again for shoe-security (subset of big security)but loads of just walked on by.
Like a song.
And then just now, on the way back at JFK they have all the signs about one bag and I get out my Glorious Britain bag, ready for the same stupid ruel-bending silliness... and they don't care. But they do make you take your shoes off at the same time. You can never be too careful.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
I travelled Kuwait Airways, and I had a degree of trepidation before embarking; it certainly wasn't Virgin (booked at the last minute, you get what you pay for).
But, it was cool. They had retro middle eastern/fifties graphics, and the whole plane had a faded grandeur that I quite liked. And the air hostim (and hostot) were really, really nice. And because there were lots of middle eastern people travelling, I felt very at home. Like checking in was a bit of a balagan, as I queued in the Air Egypt queue for a while, and I thought this is all good practice for going to Israel for Pesach because it's load and shouty and if you don't protect yourself you'll get elbowed in the ribs. This, I understand.
But Kuwait Air was fab. Great veggie food, lots of space (much more than Virgin), terrible movies, but got in early and was just kinda... nice.
I know, you shouldn't say nice.
It's past 2am. I'm gabbing. You can tell I'm kinda on holiday. Must go to bed. Please leave comments, btw, I don't even know who's reading, anymore.
Waddyou up to?
But, it was cool. They had retro middle eastern/fifties graphics, and the whole plane had a faded grandeur that I quite liked. And the air hostim (and hostot) were really, really nice. And because there were lots of middle eastern people travelling, I felt very at home. Like checking in was a bit of a balagan, as I queued in the Air Egypt queue for a while, and I thought this is all good practice for going to Israel for Pesach because it's load and shouty and if you don't protect yourself you'll get elbowed in the ribs. This, I understand.
But Kuwait Air was fab. Great veggie food, lots of space (much more than Virgin), terrible movies, but got in early and was just kinda... nice.
I know, you shouldn't say nice.
It's past 2am. I'm gabbing. You can tell I'm kinda on holiday. Must go to bed. Please leave comments, btw, I don't even know who's reading, anymore.
Waddyou up to?
mental health in kilburn
Some bloke in Kilburn wrote a rather long essay (in capitals) on a lamp-post-esque thing. He was asking for help, as far as I remember.
Care in the community. It's been good for the people, right?
Care in the community. It's been good for the people, right?
pretty fruit
I went to a party and our hosts had a caterer who did this quite beautiful thing with fruit. It reminds me of seventies fabric prints.
stupid branding
I got a bit perturbed in M&S recently, because all their herbs have stupid names like "enticing tarragon" or "flavourful chives". I think it's annoying. And a pointless hard sell. Like, you're never in a food shopping scenario where you don't need tarragon, and then because the label says it's enticing, you suddenly buy it.
Too much marketing is bad for you. As we know.
Too much marketing is bad for you. As we know.
25022007105
While I think to post this might be in moderately poor taste, I couldn't help noticing these parking bays at a funeral I attended recently.
No, I am not an insomniac, nor have I taken a job in a petrol station, I'm in New York, got here about 7pm local time, which is too late for me to really notice, London time.
Just a short hop. And yes, I will be carbon neutralising it, of course. I like to do it on my return, when the pdf certificate comes, it feels like some kind of prize.
As you can tell, I'm not taking the global warming backlash that seriously. It must be true. Having said that, I don't actually have any science GCSEs. OK, one.
Just a short hop. And yes, I will be carbon neutralising it, of course. I like to do it on my return, when the pdf certificate comes, it feels like some kind of prize.
As you can tell, I'm not taking the global warming backlash that seriously. It must be true. Having said that, I don't actually have any science GCSEs. OK, one.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Don't you think it's interesting that Jason Calcanis is the number one google search for fatblogging?
Look. If you work for Google in EMEA (that kinda made up no-real-place-place), you get a free bike to cycle to work.
Of course (a) I don't work for google, and (b) I'm still quite scared of traffic.
Of course (a) I don't work for google, and (b) I'm still quite scared of traffic.
Films I want to see:
Amazing Grace
Becoming Jane
... in fact, anything with a girl's name in it.
Just kidding.
Here's a thing about Quakers/slaves/marketing.
Saturday, I saw Black Book, the new Paul Verhoven movie. I'm still haunted by it - sign of a good film, methinks.
Amazing Grace
Becoming Jane
... in fact, anything with a girl's name in it.
Just kidding.
Here's a thing about Quakers/slaves/marketing.
Saturday, I saw Black Book, the new Paul Verhoven movie. I'm still haunted by it - sign of a good film, methinks.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Well, I've finally moved into modernity, and uploaded PDFs of all my Jewish Quarterly columns. Ever. You can visit them here.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
See Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth for charity
You probably remember that I'm doing a humanitarian aid mission to Moldova (next door to Romania, and where my family came from over a hundred years ago) in May.
I have a chunk of money to raise, and I'm doing it by organising a charity screening of An Inconvenient Truth. The movie got two oscars (best documentary feature and best original song (oddly)), but is no longer on general release.
So this is a great opportunity to (a) see a movie about green things, (b) do something for charity, (c) go to the Tricyle which is my local cinema and has lovely pink seats, (d) get nibbles and (soft) drink included in the low price of £12.50.
Hard sell? Moi?
Anyway, I'd love you to come, and to tell all your friends. And if you can't make it, but you'd still like to support my mission, then you can do so here. And if you already have, thank you.
You probably remember that I'm doing a humanitarian aid mission to Moldova (next door to Romania, and where my family came from over a hundred years ago) in May.
I have a chunk of money to raise, and I'm doing it by organising a charity screening of An Inconvenient Truth. The movie got two oscars (best documentary feature and best original song (oddly)), but is no longer on general release.
So this is a great opportunity to (a) see a movie about green things, (b) do something for charity, (c) go to the Tricyle which is my local cinema and has lovely pink seats, (d) get nibbles and (soft) drink included in the low price of £12.50.
Hard sell? Moi?
Anyway, I'd love you to come, and to tell all your friends. And if you can't make it, but you'd still like to support my mission, then you can do so here. And if you already have, thank you.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Brilliant, incisive piece in yesterday's Observer on Johnnie Boden, founder of the Boden shopping catalogue.
Check this out:
"...even the business meetings have silly titles.
Which is why I've gained access to the 'Hate or Hero' meeting, one of the design summits which punctuate the remorseless Boden calendar. At this particular event, the purpose of which is to pare down the autumn/winter 07 knitwear collection to 22 styles, Johnnie Boden sits at a long white table, flanked by seven well-put-together women: streaky hair pushed behind ears, expensive watches, lots of low-key grey marle and black and taupe. One brave soul, Carole, the womenswear design director, is wearing the aforementioned and frankly calamitous Posh Velvet Cardigan, but she is the only immediate clue to the fact that everyone else in this room is also head-to-toe in the brand, it being Monday, and Monday being, officially, Wear Boden to Work Day."
Check this out:
"...even the business meetings have silly titles.
Which is why I've gained access to the 'Hate or Hero' meeting, one of the design summits which punctuate the remorseless Boden calendar. At this particular event, the purpose of which is to pare down the autumn/winter 07 knitwear collection to 22 styles, Johnnie Boden sits at a long white table, flanked by seven well-put-together women: streaky hair pushed behind ears, expensive watches, lots of low-key grey marle and black and taupe. One brave soul, Carole, the womenswear design director, is wearing the aforementioned and frankly calamitous Posh Velvet Cardigan, but she is the only immediate clue to the fact that everyone else in this room is also head-to-toe in the brand, it being Monday, and Monday being, officially, Wear Boden to Work Day."
Friday, March 16, 2007
Hey - I made it into Shaggy Blog Stories; well done to Mike and his group of gang for pulling off an amazing feat of creativity, late nights and cool-funkydom. I feel all gently cuddly happy, like I've won some sort of prize. As well as done a Good Thing for charidee, which can only be a good thing. Buy it here.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
There's not much time left, but if you want to contribute to Mike's Shaggy Blog Stories Book for Red Nose Day, you've got till 6pm tonight.
Confirmation bias. That was the phrase I was looking for yesterday.
Seasonal Financial Advice
Given that it's ISA season, the tax year ends on 5th April, and it's a time when people spring clean not just their house, but their financial affairs, in the spirit of open-sourceness, I thought I'd share my (limited) knowledge. All under the caveat that I am not registered with the FSA to give financial advice. I'm kinda like a friend who has a small clue, caveat emptor etc.
First, the ISA deal. The government gives you a free "tax wrapper" of an ISA with a £7,000 limit each year, where you don't have to pay tax. To not use this is silly and wasteful, given how much tax you pay on everything else. This £7k limit can be used in three ways; all in a stocks and shares/investment ISA, £3k in a cash ISA and £4k in a separate stocks and shares, or just £3k in a cash ISA. A cash ISA is often known as a mini-ISA, because a maxi ISA has all the £7k in it. Complex and annoying, rules set to change next April so they are all interminglable, and you can transfer your old cash ISAs into stocks and shares then if you wish. Lesson over. Good intro from MoneySavingExpert here.
Next, decide what you plan to do. If you're not up for investments, you'll be doing the mini Cash ISA. First thing, if you haven't opened a cash ISA this year (since April 2006) and if you have any savings at all you should open your 2006/7 cash ISA today.
New ISAs for this year (2007/8). If you don't have a lump sum and are planning to save regularly (ie monthly), and don't need access to the money (limit of one withdrawal a year) best deal is Scarborough Building Society at 6.3% (variable). If you're doing a £3k lump sum, or a mixture of £1k minimum followed by regular savings, then the NS&I Direct ISA at 5.8% (variable) is good. The ING Direct Cash ISA at 6% includes a 6 month bonus, but it's 6% AER (average over the year), so it starts at 6.55% and then changes. The best clean, get your money when you need it deal is First Direct Mini Cash e-ISA at 5.75%
Transfer old ISAs. If you have previous year ISAs sitting around at 3% or something, you're losing money. The highest rate for transfer-in ISAs is First Direct Mini Cash e-ISA. Remember to fill out the transfer forms - if you close and re-open you lose your tax-free status.
Stocks and shares ISAs, or investment ISAs. You can do these through an IFA, but they charge commission, which is largely how they make money. Although they do give you advice, but their advice is sometimes as good as reading the business pages of the Sunday papers. You're best off going to a funds supermarket - I use both Fidelity and Hargreaves Lansdown; HL has massive discounts on the buying fees (often 4 - 5% down to 0%) and reductions on annual management charges (typically 1.5%).
In your stocks and shares ISAs you can buy into collective retail funds (unit trusts, or OIECS), or with some suppliers, individual shares within your ISA.
It's outrageous how much funds charge for management, it's been creeping up when returns/service is not always that great, and lots of people prefer to invest in index tracker funds, Fidelity's being among the cheapest, or ETFs, exchange-traded funds, which are like trackers but you buy them as shares. Here's a piece from the Sunday Times.
Other savings. If you've got money sitting around in old 3% accounts, banks are (a) laughing at you, and (b) making money out of you. Inflation is currently 2.7%, so if you've got money in a 4% account, and you're a 40% taxpayer, then it's getting 2.4%, ie less than inflation. The best clean rate is Icesave at 5.7%, although I read they had some customer service delays setting up new accounts. Beware of high advertised rates that say you don't get paid interest in the month you withdraw cash - that's just to get them to the top of the comparison tables, and don't touch them unless you really don't need your money for a while.
Regular savings - a bunch of banks offering regular savings accounts that pay 7% or 8% before tax - check the tables here (choose regular saver). HSBC and Lloyds look like they need you to have a current account with them - great if you do, but probably not worth moving for - it's a maximum of £3000, and after tax and hassle, if you're happy with your bank, I wouldn't bother.
There's a lot more to say, but this is a start. And if this has been helpful to you, then do please comment. Thanks.
Given that it's ISA season, the tax year ends on 5th April, and it's a time when people spring clean not just their house, but their financial affairs, in the spirit of open-sourceness, I thought I'd share my (limited) knowledge. All under the caveat that I am not registered with the FSA to give financial advice. I'm kinda like a friend who has a small clue, caveat emptor etc.
In your stocks and shares ISAs you can buy into collective retail funds (unit trusts, or OIECS), or with some suppliers, individual shares within your ISA.
It's outrageous how much funds charge for management, it's been creeping up when returns/service is not always that great, and lots of people prefer to invest in index tracker funds, Fidelity's being among the cheapest, or ETFs, exchange-traded funds, which are like trackers but you buy them as shares. Here's a piece from the Sunday Times.
There's a lot more to say, but this is a start. And if this has been helpful to you, then do please comment. Thanks.
I realise that by saying "teledildonics" online I will doubtless become the number one search for it on google and my inbox will fill up with offers for things I didn't even know people wanted/did.
But here goes.
Call it synchronicity, or the Girl From Ipanema effect, but last week I'd never heard the word (teledidonics) and now it's all over the shop: look, at SXSW.
But here goes.
Call it synchronicity, or the Girl From Ipanema effect, but last week I'd never heard the word (teledidonics) and now it's all over the shop: look, at SXSW.
Monday, March 12, 2007
I realise this is totally stargazery of me, and quite silly, but I'm in the Costbucks at White City, in the BBC "media village" - it's so nice to see how well spent the licence fee earth pounds are - and I keep seeing Alan Yentob wandering around outside. He's texting quite furiously, intermittently pacing and talking.
Maybe they should rename the coffee-ery StarStrux?
It's very nice here. It has a really lovely, collegiate, feeling. Like, even the staff are all lovely and huggy and nice. Not that regular Costbux folk aren't, but you know what I mean. I bet people fight in the Costbux universe to get to work here.
Maybe they should rename the coffee-ery StarStrux?
It's very nice here. It has a really lovely, collegiate, feeling. Like, even the staff are all lovely and huggy and nice. Not that regular Costbux folk aren't, but you know what I mean. I bet people fight in the Costbux universe to get to work here.
I have signed into Blogger, and everything is in german. Let's just say I'm slightly culturally indisposed to German. When I was a kid, some friends of my parents bought a house with a dishwasher in-situ, and it said "achtung" on the inside of the door (doubtless followed by some health and safety warning), and they were too scared to open it.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
It is one am and I am awake. Generally on a saturday night this would not necessarily be a bad thing. But actually, I cancelled almost my entire weekend so that I could relax because I was beginning to think I was slightly unravelling, and thought a bit of doing nothing would be good.
For a while, I thought I was hearing voices, and then I thought I was hearing tinny music with a descarga beat, and now I realise that it's my neighbours. Playing music. It's the weekend. Live and let live, and all that. Stuff happens. And I live in zone two, the hood, these things happen.
But I would like some sleep. And I'm a sensitive flower when it comes to noise. Like, when I got my burglar alarm fitted, the sensors made annoying clicking noises everytime you moved. I called up and asked them what they could do, and the woman said they could change them, but they'd only had to do that one other time in twenty years. Who was the other guy? She wouldn't say, but he was a writer.
For a while, I thought I was hearing voices, and then I thought I was hearing tinny music with a descarga beat, and now I realise that it's my neighbours. Playing music. It's the weekend. Live and let live, and all that. Stuff happens. And I live in zone two, the hood, these things happen.
But I would like some sleep. And I'm a sensitive flower when it comes to noise. Like, when I got my burglar alarm fitted, the sensors made annoying clicking noises everytime you moved. I called up and asked them what they could do, and the woman said they could change them, but they'd only had to do that one other time in twenty years. Who was the other guy? She wouldn't say, but he was a writer.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
I've been having a bunch of conversations recently about Jewish assemblies in schools, partly off the back of my being invited to do the Jewish Hair Workshop in Jewish assemblies by AJ6. Turns out that Aish - which is at best something of a kiruv organisation, all about "bringing people back" - have loads of cool rabbis as well as an in-house chef. And when they do Jewish assemblies, they bring shwarma.
I was at some friends for lunch last shabbat, and I asked their 14 year old why Aish assemblies were so good. "They have free food," he responded. "But," replied his mother, "we have free food here at home, too. Free to you, anyway."
I was at some friends for lunch last shabbat, and I asked their 14 year old why Aish assemblies were so good. "They have free food," he responded. "But," replied his mother, "we have free food here at home, too. Free to you, anyway."
So, let's just say this is no fun. I have a leak in my bedroom from the roof, and waited three weeks for Andy, my friendly roofer who has spiderman-like qualities and no need of scaffolding. He's disappeared. So now I've got more rain in my bedroom and new people who (a) want twice as much money and (b) don't appear to know what the problem is. "No guarantees, love". I love it when people call me love. And stand behind me to point out the hole in the roof from the street and need to firmly clasp my shoulders to do so. Eeeuurgh.
Also, this morning. No heating. No hot water. As you know, I have a British Gas Three Star contract or whatever their marketing department call it now, but we all know it's thusly called because they only got three stars out of a possible ten. They say they're coming between 12 and 6, but I'm not that trusting. When it comes to them.
Also, I've spent like two days working with our accountant to prepare the accounts for our freehold management company, including digging out loads of old documents, chasing the lawyers. And I can't get paid for it. And I'm busy. At least it's done. I guess.
Aaaarrgh. Also, I've been to two funerals and two shivas in the last ten days, and I am owing three baby presents and have a sick friend I'd like to visit, but I have to wait in for British Gas.
Also, this morning. No heating. No hot water. As you know, I have a British Gas Three Star contract or whatever their marketing department call it now, but we all know it's thusly called because they only got three stars out of a possible ten. They say they're coming between 12 and 6, but I'm not that trusting. When it comes to them.
Also, I've spent like two days working with our accountant to prepare the accounts for our freehold management company, including digging out loads of old documents, chasing the lawyers. And I can't get paid for it. And I'm busy. At least it's done. I guess.
Aaaarrgh. Also, I've been to two funerals and two shivas in the last ten days, and I am owing three baby presents and have a sick friend I'd like to visit, but I have to wait in for British Gas.
Belated Purim same'ach, which was on Sunday.
This year, I didn't have time to even make mishlo'ach manot/shalach manos (they are the same: hebrew and traditional/yiddish pronounciation). Although I did receive some. Technically, you just need to give one gift of two things, one prepared, one not, to a friend. I gave my flatmate something. I gave matanot levyonim (charity) in shul, and I heard 75% of two megillahs. So that's no kosher megillah at all - the law is, you're supposed to hear every word of the megillah (the scroll of Esther), but I was slightly late on Saturday night, and helping a friend run something on Sunday, so kept ducking in and out.
Anyway, a friend reminded me that Purim is a time of year when lots of people die; just the end of winter, and apparently it's a global thing, and that's why lots of carnivals are this time of year; fancy dress, a slightly ghoulish style. And Purim is a fancy dress festival, too, although more for kids than grown ups. Suffice it to say, I didn't dress up, as I kinda don't really like it.
This year, I didn't have time to even make mishlo'ach manot/shalach manos (they are the same: hebrew and traditional/yiddish pronounciation). Although I did receive some. Technically, you just need to give one gift of two things, one prepared, one not, to a friend. I gave my flatmate something. I gave matanot levyonim (charity) in shul, and I heard 75% of two megillahs. So that's no kosher megillah at all - the law is, you're supposed to hear every word of the megillah (the scroll of Esther), but I was slightly late on Saturday night, and helping a friend run something on Sunday, so kept ducking in and out.
Anyway, a friend reminded me that Purim is a time of year when lots of people die; just the end of winter, and apparently it's a global thing, and that's why lots of carnivals are this time of year; fancy dress, a slightly ghoulish style. And Purim is a fancy dress festival, too, although more for kids than grown ups. Suffice it to say, I didn't dress up, as I kinda don't really like it.
There's a reason UGG boots are called thus: they are ugly. If you want to look like you have totally flat, round feet, they're the way to go.
Friday, March 02, 2007
In case you ever need a list of all the recent UK web startups that got sold. It's all about the exit route.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
I feel I owe you an apology, of sorts.
Usually words just fall out my head onto my keyboard, and I realise I've been a little vague, this week. I've been thinking about you, though.
Stuff happens. I've been at Jewish Book Week, and definitely have things to say. I went to a funeral, couldn't go to a shalom zachor (ironically, a beginning and ending in the same week), busy with deadlines-deadlines, I have a very busy weekend (including assorted Wandering Jews coming round tomorrow), and it's Purim on Sunday, and I haven't even thought about shalach manos, partly, because my head's fit to burst, and partly because I don't believe in over-consumption.
Also, a very old friend of mine is sick. Despite everything people say about blogs and diaries and letting it all hang out, that's not really my style. Especially because he's not really an online kinda guy, so it doesn't feel right. But let's just say, I feel a little sad.
Usually words just fall out my head onto my keyboard, and I realise I've been a little vague, this week. I've been thinking about you, though.
Stuff happens. I've been at Jewish Book Week, and definitely have things to say. I went to a funeral, couldn't go to a shalom zachor (ironically, a beginning and ending in the same week), busy with deadlines-deadlines, I have a very busy weekend (including assorted Wandering Jews coming round tomorrow), and it's Purim on Sunday, and I haven't even thought about shalach manos, partly, because my head's fit to burst, and partly because I don't believe in over-consumption.
Also, a very old friend of mine is sick. Despite everything people say about blogs and diaries and letting it all hang out, that's not really my style. Especially because he's not really an online kinda guy, so it doesn't feel right. But let's just say, I feel a little sad.
So this is in perpetual beta, really - but then, so's life, right? - but my erstwhile tech department has been beavering away at the new-look (and that's not a shop) sashinka.com site.
So it's goodbye to all the old green with the hard-to-read white text. And hello to a new about page (I've held off or five years, but hey), lots of recipes (humous, thai green curry, with more to follow), and a new-and-improved my-writing page, including a couple of old favourties (watch me work that back catalogue), including The Meeting and Ze Chermans.
So it's goodbye to all the old green with the hard-to-read white text. And hello to a new about page (I've held off or five years, but hey), lots of recipes (humous, thai green curry, with more to follow), and a new-and-improved my-writing page, including a couple of old favourties (watch me work that back catalogue), including The Meeting and Ze Chermans.
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