helle: (Default)
helle ([personal profile] helle) wrote2013-03-17 10:31 pm

Still ticking along

Cabin Pressure has EATEN me body and soul. I have spent the last two weeks in the throes of obsession, and by this point, most of my conversations lead back to MJN Air in some way, shape or form. (It was Birling Day yesterday! And since by my Grandad’s account Wales utterly routed England, Birling would have no doubt been in a generous frame of mind. Well, if he wasn’t fictional.)

Yesterday, I waitressed at a wedding where the venue owner was into taxidermy in a BIG way. I tripped over a lion’s tail at one point; luckily didn’t actually spill any gravy. My favourite, though, was the pair of polar bears, one on all fours and draped in a large union flag, and the other rearing and wearing aviator sunglasses. I cannot tell you how badly I wanted a picture...

There was also a dodo skeleton! And each table place was set with a little bottle of vodka as a party favour. I think posh waitressing has ruined me for my expectations of weddings though; I’m not sure anything I go to as a guest will quite compare with some of these dos.

I’m still running the job interview gauntlet – I’ve been shortlisted for LOADS of things, and several of them have made a point of telling me that I was their second choice, or that I should apply again if they have other jobs going – but none of them have hired me! Arrg, it’s so frustrating!

What other news do I have? Last week was [Bad username or site: ”frith_in_thorns” @ livejournal.com] birthday and I made what must surely be my Worst Cake Ever. This including the cakes I made gleefully when I was younger than Caitlin. It was supposed to be Red Velvet, and it tasted so red! The texture was so bad! I mean, I cook often enough that I’ve had a corresponding number of failed adventures, but this particular cake was truly and utterly dreadful. Though the outside, at least, looked pretty – Frith, do you have the picture you took?

[identity profile] littlered2.livejournal.com 2013-03-17 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Where have you been listening to Cabin Pressure? I could only find one full episode on Youtube.

Having stuffed lions around for the waitresses to trip over sounds tricky. Wow, though. (You know that if Rob and I get married, there won't be individual vodka bottles or a dodo skeleton, right? Sorry in advance.)

Damn the red velvet cake! It is not fair of cakes to taste bad. (Rob made a red velvet cake at my house once. It was so thick! The mixer hasn't been the same since.)

[identity profile] helle-d.livejournal.com 2013-03-17 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I downloaded them from a site I can no longer find and then bought the CDs or made my parents buy them, anyway. I can have a look online for you if you'd like? My searching skillz for this kind of thing are generally pretty good.
It was only one lion! He had a Crown Jewels-style crown and a surprisingly stiff and trippable tail.. Also, HDU not have vodka party bottles or dodos - I'm not sure I'll be coming, if that's the case. :P

EDIT: Frith tells me to say that tomorrow she will upload the Cabin Pressure episodes to her server, if you'd like.
Edited 2013-03-17 22:47 (UTC)

[identity profile] parrot-knight.livejournal.com 2013-03-17 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
AudioGo presumably issue the commercial releases of Cabin Pressure; I've been finding the BBC Shop site competitive where Doctor Who DVDs are concerned, so they might be good with Cabin Pressure. You may know otherwise.

[identity profile] littlered2.livejournal.com 2013-03-17 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm okay at the moment, but thanks to you both - if I change my mind, I will say!

That is rather impressive. Poor lion, though. I hope it died naturally after a long and happy life.

WELL FINE, maybe you won't get an invitation. I bet you're sorry now. (You can get married at the Oxford Museum of Natural History, apparently, so maybe we could work a dodo in. I also looked up weddings at the Bodleian, and it is so Oxford in that its suggested itinerary only allows for 15 minutes of dancing. Oh, Oxford. Can nobody have any fun?)

[identity profile] hrodberht.livejournal.com 2013-03-18 07:30 pm (UTC)(link)
http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/bodley/about-us/venue-hire/weddings-and-civil-partnerships says you can dance for two hours, 10pm to midnight.

Do let's have individual vodka bottles.

[identity profile] littlered2.livejournal.com 2013-03-18 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
My reading comprehension has spectacularly declined.

They sound expensive. Although probably not if you buy bottles in bulk and fill them with Tesco Value vodka. Is that wedding-appropriate?
Edited 2013-03-18 20:30 (UTC)

[identity profile] helle-d.livejournal.com 2013-03-19 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I would approve of posh bottles with Tesco Value vodka! Who knows, perhaps Posh and Posher at the weekend did just that, and resealed to bottles for their guests?
It is quite a cool party favour though - I waitressed at onelast year where everyone got complimentary lobster-eating bibs with a nifty pattern on, to go with their lobster starter. This (https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=lobster+bib&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=D-tIUeeFJMe1PbqRgcAB&biw=1366&bih=652&sei=EutIUc_gMM6_PPHFgeAD) kind of thing.

[identity profile] littlered2.livejournal.com 2013-03-19 10:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Let's hope so.

Wow, the lobster bibs are great wedding favours. Did the vegetarians get anything different? (Hummus bibs?)

[identity profile] helle-d.livejournal.com 2013-03-19 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
...I want a hummous bib.

[identity profile] littlered2.livejournal.com 2013-03-19 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
I'll see what I can do.

[identity profile] highfantastical.livejournal.com 2013-03-17 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
If I got married I'd have individual vodka bottles; unfortunately (...fortunately?) I am not ever likely to get married!

[identity profile] highfantastical.livejournal.com 2013-03-17 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
I am completely fascinated by the cake story, not gonna lie. D:

[identity profile] helle-d.livejournal.com 2013-03-17 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Oi, you. :P
It was so terrible! It was three layers of unpleasent red-flavoured crunchiness, with n almost liquidy cream cheese icing between them. I've made really nice Red Velvet cakes before, but this time I used a different recipe, which the Internet apeared to acclaim as the ultimate ultimate - and yet. But the outide was lovely! It had creamy-yellow icing, with rose petals and cheap candles ... I'll post a picture when I can find one.

[identity profile] highfantastical.livejournal.com 2013-03-17 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
The internet is full of lying liars who want to tempt you away from the GOOD cake recipes and foist the BAD cake recipes on you in their stead.

[identity profile] helle-d.livejournal.com 2013-03-17 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Cunning devils! Why do they try such dastardly schemes?