Ardington & Coming Home

[annwfyn]

It's kinda nice to know that once you've done a daily commute on auto-pilot it will probably always be embedded in your brain. This morning I woke up at 8 am, having gone to bed at 1.30 am (with a two hour nap on the sofa beforehand, to be fair) and somehow made my way to my car, then along the M4/A34 route to get to the office, without being entirely aware of anything I was doing.

Somehow that is satisfying.

And yes. I'm back in Ardington.

Ardington, for those who don't know, is a tiny village outside of Wantage. It's got a post office, a duck pond (with ducks in it), a grave yard with some very ornate victorian tombstones, a field of some kind with crops like look like corn but grow past the top of my head, a couple of fields with horses in them, a manor house, some cottages, and a small collection of offices in a converted barn. One of those offices houses a company called the Marketing Practice. They are a marketing consultancy firm who I worked for between my coming back from South America and starting at Oxford in the autumn.

This Christmas the office is all going to Brighton for two days on an outing. Therefore they got in touch with me and asked me to man the phones and make sure the office didn't burn down. Told me to bring some books etc, and just come and be here.

So that's what I'm doing.

I'm back in work, with all the books on anglo-saxon burials EVER*, an internet connection, a phone, and a day to fill in. The office is utterly silent, except for the rain coming down outside which makes a trip to see the ducks rather out of the question. I'm actually reading bits and pieces for university, and I'm pondering assorted Fading Suns tat.

It's been rather a nice couple of days so far.

It's also been a good couple of days as regards me gaining a new appreciation of my relationship. I've been realising lately just how much I like being with pierot. Just how solid the important things in our relationship are. You know, the communication, the chemistry, the...oh...OK...I admit it. Jez bought me a small shiney pieces of crystal yesterday which catches the light beautifully. I've not been able to stop fiddling with it since. I've actually got it sat on my desk at the moment. He got me a shiney!

What else does anyone need in their relationship?


*this may be an exaggeration, but not by quite as much as you might think. And I certainly have all the books on childhood in anglo-saxon England sitting in my book at this very moment.

Comments

in a relationship

[hildekitten.livejournal.com]

communication, chemistry, trust, respect, love, being friends, being there for each other no matter what.
The usual sort of thing I guess.

Shinies!

[sea-of-flame.livejournal.com]

*grins*

Glad you're doing good hun.

[raggedhalo.livejournal.com]

a duck pond (with ducks in it)

Isn't a duck pond without ducks in it just a pond?

Re: in a relationship

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

And shinies! I am sure shinies are an essential component of any relationship.

My shiney is blue with sparkly silver bits in it when the light hits.

Erm. I might have regressed to an early age this morning.

Re: Shinies!

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I have shinies! *grins and hugs* I'm actually doing pretty well at the moment. Have ups and downs but far more ups than downs. I think I'm also feeling a fair bit better for abandoning plans to do anything last night and just crashing out on the sofa. I felt like death warmed up when I got home last night.

Much better today tho. :)

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

If it was designed for ducks, then I imagine it would still look a lot like a duck pond.

To me, anyway.

However, this pond definitely has ducks in it. They eat bread if thrown to them. And that, I feel, removes all possible ambiguity.

[headinclouds.livejournal.com]

More shinies! :D

Re: in a relationship

[hildekitten.livejournal.com]

Bert buys me many shinies, altho I do value them, I would have loved him just as much without shinies :)

My favorite shiney he bought me is my engagement ring which he brought from Prague and my blue plush bat I carry around my neck a lot (just not likely at cam games, I leave it at home when I'm likely to have to take it off so I don't loose it), it has a little red heart embroidered on it :)

[raggedhalo.livejournal.com]

What are the defining features that would identify a duck-free pond as nevertheless being a duck pond to you? What about a non-duck-designed pond containing ducks? Would that be a duck pond?

Oh, and "good cooking." That's what else a relationship needs. And commitment!

[castorlion.livejournal.com]

I think you may be pushing the discussion to an intellectual level Sally's really not quite capable of this morning.. :-)

Besides, surely the notion of "duck pond" is, like any other definition, essentially completely subjective?

[raggedhalo.livejournal.com]

I like to push the envelope. It puts it nearer the franking machine *b'dum-tsch*

And of course it's completely subjective! But I want to know Sally's subjective view point.

[castorlion.livejournal.com]

Ah, there's nothing like a well-crafted joke.

And that was nothing like a well-crafted...

:-D

[raggedhalo.livejournal.com]

That joke was so poor, some church mice have just taken a collection for it!

;-)

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Ah! It's good to know that someone understands the basis of every good relationship!

[headinclouds.livejournal.com]

Of course! Why do you think I'm still seeing Phil? ;)

[enders-solice.livejournal.com]

Details. A good relationship needs details. From time to time I am reminded why I love Drew so much because of the tiny details included in our everyday life. Never forget the little things, in the long run, somtimes those memories are most important.

Also, I have found that I am also partial to shiny objects. :)

I was going to ponder the Duck Pond vs Duck puddle or Duck pool or simply non duck pond, point, but it would seem it was already covered by someone far more clever (and quicker per the time zone ;)) than I. ;)

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Shiney objects and Stuff in general do apparently also work well in maintaining a friendship with someone after the relationship has gone. Mike has managed to make himself an every day fond memory and all round Good Person by (other than being great) providing me with my favourite jumper, favourite necklace, most of my hair bands, and the raven puppet which sits on my bed post and greets me every morning.

Every single day I see something and am bombarded with fond memories.

I am slowly becoming convinced that Mike's fondness for shopping and clearance sales might actually be part of some grander plan, possibly to brain wash everyone he knows into becoming his minion, or even world domination! Who can tell?

[melsner.livejournal.com]

Joe has Drew for the love and sex, and me for the shinies. :)

[enders-solice.livejournal.com]

Nonsense! You also take down my garbadge and wash my pans! :)

[melsner.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I vaguely worry that I'm either compulsive and addicted to shopping or that I'm a materialistic person...

But i think I'm just good when it comes to gifts and some people are very easy for me to shop for.

Apparently, I made Matt Brooks very happy by spending 5 dollars on a "Muggle" T-shirt for his birthday. I love it when I can spend a couple bucks and make someone thrilled and giddy.

Plus, eventually one of these people will be incredibly rich and powerful some day and take care of my every need and whim. Damn! erase, erase! the delete key isn't working! damn!

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

You get me Nightmare Before Christmas and raven stuff and I am happy.

I am still looking for your/Alexei's perfect Xmas present tho. I know what it is. I have it in my mind's eye. It turns out that most shops are apparently too moderate and tasteful to stock such things.

The world just doesn't want me to make Mike giddy/faint/nauseous/unconsious it seems...

[tooth-fairy.livejournal.com]

I need honesty and a lack of mind/ power games in relationships

dunno what else as a baseline

[melsner.livejournal.com]

I think I should really be scared.

Maybe I need to resort to buying those velvet paisely stretch pants I saw on clearance... burgandy and earth tones. I'm sure they'd be perfect for you.

You're easy to shop for. and it's rather hard to stop, which is mildly embarrasing and possibly creepy. Not sure how much restraint and willpower I'll have after christmas, when all the Nightmare stuff goes on Clearance. I think at a certain point I get a free Stalker Club membership.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

You are a very GOOD stalker tho. None of my other stalkers bother with Nightmare Before Christmas stuff - they just do phone calls at annoying times to whinge at me.

And don't play 'who can shop for the most traumatising present'. Nothing will beat mine, if I can't just find it. I'm aiming for something which made riksowden wince.

[melsner.livejournal.com]

Now, where did I see that Mists of Avalon Box set and the "Kate Beckinsale Supernatural Collection"...

At least you don't have to worry about other stalkers stealing your boyfriend.

[melsner.livejournal.com]

But do I always have to wear the little french maid costume? It chafes. In certain areas.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

You know, I know where you live. And don't think the Atlantic Ocean is a safe thing to hide behind. One day I will return. And you know it!

[melsner.livejournal.com]

Just bring it. I've been training Cleo to attack people with good grammar.

I've also been chatting up other English people who will be Nice and Appreciative the next time I visit. :P

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

You and Rik will be a lovely couple :p

[melsner.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I almost bought him a tacky Hawaian shirt that was a replica of the one the horny neighbor on "Family Guy" wears...

You only need to worry about me and Rik if I get him jewelry.