Fridaaaaaaaay!

[byslantedlight]

And here's a start to the day (bearing in mind my TW-y mindedness since CoE) - this genuine work email was waiting for me when I got to my desk:

Dear [me],

Many thanks for meeting with me. I wish the 'Hub' all success.

Kind regards

Hee! It's not scary fantasy-world, there's a new project here that does involve a "hub", but I was all fresh from reading TW on the bus, and just... heee! I wish...

Also - going to Cardiff this weekend! *g* Sort of not-TW-related really, cos I've known Pros-y-flist-y person I'm visiting online for a couple of years now, and I knew she lived there, although it was prompted by me commenting about the flowers left for Ianto at what's apparently really a place on Mermaid Quay (though it's not really a tourist office *g*) and so there'll definitely be TW location spotting, but only in my I-only-recognise-locations-if-they're-really-big-and-obvious-really (like Trafalgar Square... *g*)-and-someone-reminds-me kind of way...

The world seems very... that kind of quiet time of year, when everything's settling down in the summer, sort of thing... Or maybe that's just today. *g* My boss is talking about me here in September as if there's no question about me being here even longer than that (so much for finishing in May!) which at least is nice and steady and keeps me paid while I continue to cast about...

My birth certificate arrived! Now if only the Clerk of Court would call me back so that the Magistrate/s can sign things for me again so I can send them off, so we can pay eight times what I thought it was to get my mum's visa applied for. Talk to me, siblings! Talk to each other, cos that was an interesting series of emails... *headdesk*

Walked to and from work yesterday, but with my new (comparatively old-fashioned, courtesy of ebay *g*) mp3 player in my ears - listened to one of the TW radio plays, which was... a bit surreal... the listening-to I mean, not the play itself (ooh, but I hope it's not why I've got slight-dizziness today actually, and last night - nah, couldn't be, could it?) But it was made even more surreal when the world was ending in my ears, and two big military helicopters flew low across the fields in front of me at the same time, and there were police sirens in the background! Worlds within worlds... Very odd being in two at once, listening to headphones but seeing surroundings...

Still reading TW fic (I know there's lots of new Prosfic out there, but (I know I'm not the only one) I can't afford any of it - waaah!) and it's interesting, cos it's a whole different game of cricket (as they say absolutely nowhere)... Very philosophical, alot of it is, and think-y which I'm liking... I'm fascinated by Jack/Ianto and their relationship after so much betrayal (on both sides) and the dynamic of how they build a relationship out of that... (Betrayal's always been a bit of a thing of mine, actually - I remember being really affected when I was a kid by a book called "Quest for Orion... think I've said that before! *g*) Never mind the fact that Ianto's ex was a genocidal robot, and Jack keeps outliving his exes...But also there's fun and silliness and when Ianto was turned into a dolphin it totally worked... *g*

Erm... this is really dull and ramble-y, isn't it... sorry... See, the world is quiet. Don't get me started on the whole American-politicians-attacking-the-NHS thing, they've got no idea... I get to leave early today... Next week will either be grave-like or chaos, cos boss and boss's boss are allegedly away, but actually neither of them are...

Save me from myself? How are you doing?

Comments

[erushi.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've done TW location spotting in Cardiff! The Torchwood "tourist stand office" is all kinds of brilliant. You'll know what I mean when you see it! Study the newspaper articles on the exterior very, very carefully. *g*

Very near it on the Bay is this ice cream place, sort perched on stilts above the water. That's supposedly the Doctor's favourite ice cream place.

Squint carefully for that place along the bay where Jack bade Martha and the Doctor farewell too!

Finally, on the other side of the Bay, you might find this wall with graffitti and some sort of sticky alphabets thing which you can arrange to form words. Walk a bit further and you'll find a dusty, empty lot, fenced up. That's the lot which has been used in a badjillion and one "wasteland" scenes in both Doctor Who and Torchwood, e.g. the showdown between Jack and Abbaddon(sp?) towards the end of Season 1.

Go a little more inland, and there will of course be the magic lift. 'tis all kinds of fabulous. I've pictures of me "disappearing" on that particular pavement slab somewhere. *g* When I went a couple of months back there was a Doctor Who exhibition going on in the area too. I'm not sure if it's still up, but hey, food for thought! (Also, there's this massive book store, only it's a book store on a ship. Not DW/TW-related, I know, but it's all kinds of marvelous.)

Keep your eyes peeled for random Tardis sightings too! There's this Tardis on castors which appears in random spots about Cardiff. Oh, on your way to the Bay from the train station, you might also spot this block of flats made of red brick. 'tis supposedly where many of the TW writers have homes.

Oh, how I've rambled. But do have fun!

[erushi.livejournal.com]

Very unrelatedly, have you seen the latest TW novels? There's one with Ianto playing choir boy! *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh wow - that's fab, cheers! *g* Random TARDIS! And I think I did see there was a DW exhibition in August, and it's still August, so... maybe I'll see if mine host is interested... *g* And...and... newspaper articles? *is intrigued*

Oooh, can't wait even more, now! (And I was even just excited to be going to Cardiff for Cardiff, cos it sounds quite cool... *g*)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

And cos I'm stoopid and can't remember to answer more than one thing at a time - yes! I've read most of the TW books, and definitely got the choirboy one... *g* There's a new one coming out that sounds interesting too, but I've only seen the blurb in the back of the new books (not on Amazon or anywhere yet - waah!) Oh and an audiobook read by GDL that I thought I might keep an eye on for when I have Amazon money, cos I do rather like his voice - have you heard Blue Gillespie? He can do very deep and roaring, and you'd never think it from Ianto!

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

Cardiff sounds as though it's going to be a lot of fun, especially after reading erushi's comments. Make sure you take lots of photos.
Was wondering if you'd grabbed an mp3 player yet. Have fun with that.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hee - I've only got about 5 songs on it so far, I need to go exploring for music I want (I've not been paying attention for ages, actually)! The pod-play was fun though! And it's got a microphone-y thing on it, if I can get it to work, for brilliant thoughts on the way to and from work... *g*

And whee Cardiff - hope so! Erushi's done a brill job of reccing stuff, hasn't she! Camera is packed and charged! *g*

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

*waves*

Siblings, eh! I would recite for you the head-bangingly frustrating text dialogue I had with my Big Sis this morning, except that I might end up putting my head through a wall, so maybe not!

Here's hoping for a fun weekend! I find it really amusing to read other peoples' accounts of TW location-spotting, because I knew all these places before they were associated with TW. I find the Hub especially weird because I remember what the Oval Basin looked like when it was still a dock! There be nowt down there but water...LOL

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Definitely much headdesk about siblings!

It is odd seeing somewhere tv-ed after knowing it - I had that in Manchester a little bit, and down the docks too, like you! It used to be all wild and filled with old cranes (the teapots) and the sky went up - seeing it on telly, all made up, is... funny. And fun! I bet the Hub's weird too - I gather it's not very long at all since the Barrage changed everything..? (Wait, 1999, right? Oh gawd, I just said in my head that ten years wasn't long... and it isn't... I'm done for!

(I also get to leave a bit earlier than I thought too - wheeee! Had suddenly been worried about Friday night traffic, but hopefully that'll be fine if I'm off early... Now, maps... *g*)

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Hee - remind me to take you into Craft in the Bay at some point. Last time I went in there they had a bunch of old photos on display of what the Bay area looked like before it was the Bay, when it was just Grangetown and the Docks. The changes over the last 10/15 years are just crazy.

Early leaving - hooray for Fridays! Must make sure I'm home in good time ('cause of visiting ickle wee kitties after work so that Mother Mine can feed me) Lemme know if you need any more specific guidance than maps/AA route planner can offer.

Doctor Who exhibition is a permanent fixture, btw. ;)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oooh - half an hour until take-off! There is exuberance in the air! *g* Craft sounds fab, and I love seeing pics like that, so yeay!

I've just been printing maps and things too, and it looks straightforward - though I'm remembering what you said about your two mates! Got your phone number though, so all will be well! And - get this - I saw your house on that Streetmap thing! Not sure how I feel about that Streetmap thingie, actually -if nothing else it takes away all the surprise... I don't know anywhere else that's been Streetmapped either - Cardiff is ahead of its times...

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Well, I thought it was pretty straightforward, too - main roads all the way - until Nikki turned right when she should have turned left, and then couldn't find anywhere to turn around again, and got all flustered...luckily I am a calm and laid-back person who knows the streets hereabouts well enough to guide her around in a big circle and back again!

Happy travelling - see you later!

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

Hey, have a wonderful time! I enjoyed Cardiff - we were there pre-TW, to see Martin Shaw in AMFAS - although we did most of our sightseeing out of town (Caerphilly Castle, the Museum of Welsh Life and Tintern Abbey).

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Popping in from mate's computer - no wireless, phooey - Cardiff is fab! We've walked and walked and walked and now I'm not falling asleep in front of a computer, and Ll is falling asleep under a cat... *g*

Did Mermaid Quay and town centre and museum and The Barrage, and have mad pics of the "door to Ianto's tourist office"... *g* Ooh, and went into Doctor Who exhibition! Wheee! *g*

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Have fun in Cardiff!

And don't get me started on siblings -- my brother is in my bad books at the moment *g*.

Nuffink much happening here -- too tired to do much apart from read and potter. I'm going out for lunch tomorrow with fredbassett wherein we see if we can avoid being thrown out of places for discussing boy snoggage and boy fuckage whilst doing our ladies wot lunch act *vbg*.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Icon - heee! I can't believe I didn't ask for a tour of Splott! *vbg* Maybe tomorrow... *g*

Do enjoy lunching and discussing boy snoggage and fuckage - sounds well elegant... *g* (*donates icon of boy snoggage*)

[rochvelleth.livejournal.com]

I went to Cardiff in 2005 after the first new Dr Who series to location spot :) It was rather fun! I hope you have a great time there. When you get to the sea front, you really won't be able to miss the obvious Torchwood locations *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Cardiff is very cool! We walked everywhere this morning, and then got a boat back, paused for Welsh rarebit (me) and Cadwallader's ice cream, and... Yeah. *sighs happily* On a borrowed computer now, but pics when I get home, I think! *g*

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

I went to the old Cardiff years and years ago. Haven't seen the new one except in TW!

Off again tomorrow and this time we're taking my car, driven by myself and a friend while our husbands drive the van full of stuff. We're spending six days on the trip too, so that will seem very leisurely. Will think of you enjoying Wales while I negotiate various tourist spots in France and northern Spain. Then, you never know, we might have internet in Portugal this time.

Have a lovely time!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

New Cardiff is seriously cool (and the old one). Did TW locations-that-you-can't-help-it this morning, and museum this arvo, and I like it alot... Pics tomorrow, cos on borrowed computer just now...

Have a good trip to points south and sunny shall be crossing fingers for your Portugal internet connection! *g*

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

You mustn't have crossed your fingers quite right as the internet simply didn't materialise. Will try to write an account of events a.s.a.p.