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Alex Isle [Rattfan] ([personal profile] rattfan) wrote2016-10-13 04:45 pm

Finland does not compute . . .

I’m feeling quite good at the moment. It’s spring here in Perth and flowers everywhere. The rain was so good over winter that everything in the garden has gone crazy. When I check the weather stats, I see that this is in fact a (previously) normal winter, but that we haven’t had one like this for at least five years.

Yesterday was really warm, today not so much, but still really good. It encourages one to get outside and do some gardening. I also went for a walk/jog again and was able to do more jogging than last time. I’m wearing shorts for the first time this season!

I’m working only three days a week at the moment and using the extra time to exercise. I’m sure this won’t last and I will need to save a bit more over the coming months, but it’s good to have a bit of a break at the moment. It’s good for one’s general well being and this is at the forefront of my mind right now.

I’ve begun moves to organise a trip to Helsinki, Finland, next year, to attend the Worldcon. At first the costs seemed insurmountable, but taken one thing at a time, not so bad. I had believed I would have to move house, but that problem has, if not gone away, at least receded as my landlords got back in contact and we were able to re-establish our friendship. I’m not the only one with depression problems, for sure.

I therefore contacted the hotel I wanted to stay at to book a room, only to find that their Worldcon block had already been used up! They did, however, offer me a deal not much more expensive, so I took it, wanting the option of a nice hotel close by Messukeskus (sp?) the centre where the Con will take place. In doing this, I encountered an odd problem, i.e. my computer did not accept the hotel’s email as valid! It was certainly valid; there it was on the Worldcon site and I could contact them by it. But not by “reply” to an email. So I had to create a new email, type in the address again and cut and paste the information, so that there were the previous emails for them to refer to. Seems Finland doesn’t exist, according to my system.

I had considered the room share option but decided to go ahead on my own anyway. I like my own space and am also not sure whether my friends are definitely going. As to that, I’m not sure, but it doesn’t cost anything to make this booking and if I leave it, I may not have the option of this hotel at all. Bookings can be changed if need be.

My rat Barnaby is doing well, following the sad passing of his brother Dario. Until the warm weather arrived, he barricaded himself into his plastic castle with newspaper, but this is situation normal for this beastie. He’s not really interested in humans unless they have food, in which case he snatches the food and carries it off to storage. I’ve cuddled him under much rodent protest. He doesn’t really believe me when I tell him he’s a pet rat and that’s his job.

Tomorrow, Supernatural begins its 12th season and I’m going over to a fellow fan’s house after work to watch it with her. I'm looking forward to that.

I have no immediate plans for the next few weeks. Hopefully I can catch up with the odd friend at some point.

[identity profile] ankh-hpl.livejournal.com 2016-10-13 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay you for the jogging and walking! I think you'll find yourself running more and walking less as you go on. I did.

[identity profile] ratfan.livejournal.com 2016-10-14 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
I had an (unintentionally) hilarious episode yesterday. Got to the top of a flight of steps that led down to a river jetty near home and found myself the attention of a mob of people at the bottom. One yelled up to ask if I was supposed to "be on that boat."

Ah. No. "Okay, all's good, come on down!"

Upon doing so, learned that said boat, described as a handmade job, had been tied to the jetty illegally - it's fishing and swimming only - and they'd untied it, then had a wrangle with its owner (g) who had just departed with it. Adults and kids seemed intent on making sure I knew the whole story. Advised them "it's okay, I'm only here to go back up again. Self torture." "Oh, keeping fit, well done, love!"

Made my escape!

[identity profile] merilune.livejournal.com 2016-10-15 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
I love Spring and the warmer weather, it always makes me feel more optimistic about life. The flowers and the birds all around help too :)

Finland will be beautiful, and so you should go on a wonderful holiday! I would love to see some photos!

Glad to hear Barnaby is doing well. He sounds like a grumpy old man!

[identity profile] ratfan.livejournal.com 2016-10-16 04:10 am (UTC)(link)
Barnaby isn't a people rat, that's for sure! It's funny how different they are, since they've been brought up the same and got the same attention, but Dario was always one for the cuddling and Barnaby would struggle to get free if you tried :-) He's quite friendly on his own terms i.e. you may extend a hand but preferably it will have a treat in it.