So, what have I been doing?

OK - I know it's been several months since there's been any insomniac blogger action. I was incredibly busy in work for the last few months before I finished up and went on maternity leave in November.

Baby boy number two was born at 8.26p.m. on Wednesday 29th November. He ended up being an emergency cesarean section and I had to have a general anaesthetic too, which was pretty awful. It took me weeks to get back to some semblence of normality after all that, but now (3 months later!) I actually feel like a human being again and I'm really enjoying being Mommy to my two wonderful boys.

I had my first night out with my husband since the new baby was born this week. I'd always wanted to see Dave Matthews playing live and the fabulous Conor had got tickets to his first ever Irish concert. We went with Gerry and Ursula and had a brilliant night. Mind you, I'm not sure which I enjoyed most - the gig, or having a night out with Con...

Anyhoo - now I've got broadband at home and very little excuse for not blogging more regularly, so I will make more of an effort to stay on-line while I'm not in work.

Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett

Yet another installment from the Discworld franchise. And great as always. Tiffany Aching, the Nac Mac Feegle, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg along with the usual cast of villagers and misfits try to get the seasons back on track and battle the Wintersmith.

Smoke & Mirrors by Neil Gaiman

Finally, everything I look for in a short story: a start, a middle and a twisty ending, and here's a whole book of them. Thank God for Neil Gaiman. Yeay!

Underground: the Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche by Haruki Murakami

An odd and strangely compelling book investigating the effects of the sarin gas attacks on the Toyko underground rail system on contemporary Japanese society. An incredible series of accounts of an incredible day in Japanese history, as told to Murakami by some of the victims, their families and members of the Aum cult who were behind the attacks. Scary and deeply moving stuff.

Arthur & George by Julian Barnes

An odd story, in which the two protagonists don't actually meet until the third act! I enjoyed this despite myself - nothing happens for ages and even when it does, you just want to slap people. The story is based in fact and was (apparently) meticulously researched, which is reflected in the vivid characterisations. I think this is why I liked it so much - even when nothing is going on, there's something going on...

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami

Another book of short stories, this time all by Murakami. As you might expect from a collection of short stories, some are better than others - seeing as they're by Murakami though, they're mostly good. Some are even great. Tony Takitani, for example, is just a classic. Everything I like is there - a coherent beginning, middle and end; a twist; and a gut-punch!

Stuart: A Life Backwards by Alexander Masters

This book was really disturbing and has stayed with me for months after I finished reading it. For such a little book (less than 200 pages), it took me a long time to read it - mainly because I could only cope with reading a little bit at a time. This is the first biography I have ever read that I enjoyed. Alexander and Stuart were proper friends, which means that Alexander doesn't hold back when talking about how much of an asshole Stuart could be, and also how great he was. Stuart's story broke my heart and while I can't wholeheartedly recommend that you read this (you would definitely need to be in the full of your health), I would say that if you do, it will haunt you.

Birthday Blues

Oh God.
I'm thirty.

I spent most of the week before last being horribly depressed in the lead up to my birthday, and much of the time since has been spent recovering my usual joie de vivre.

This exchange is the only type of support that I could expect from my friends:

Gerry: Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, happry Birthday dear Penfold, Happy Birthday to you!
Or it may be tomorrow. But have a good one anyway Mrs Murnane. So is there a big party for your, em, yeah, em, 29th, Yes, 29 is a safe number.
Many more of them
G

Me: The depression has been settling on my shoulders for the past couple of weeks... I'm 29. Until Thursday. When I'll be upgraded to 29v2.1 [Sob]

Gerry: Ah to be young. Oh, wait, I am. Unlike you old people. Face it, you're like windows 3.11, outdated.

Me: (to Conor) This guy is supposed to be my friend...

Conor: I think you are taking this thirty thing too seriously. It only symbolises the end of your young life.

Gah! See what I'm up against? You had started so well, Gerry! Never mind - you'll get yours! And you Con - I was sorely mistaken for thinking that you might have had a little sympathy - O aged one!

The 5th Horseman by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

A desperate airport thriller. Really, don't bother reading this.

Going on hols

I cannot wait for this time Wednesday evening, because then it will be the longest possible time before I have to go back to work. That's right, I'm going on holidays. Yeay!!
I'm off to Adelboden (near Interlaken, near Bern) in Switzerland with a group of Girl Guides - 18 aged 11 to 15, 8 aged 16 to 21 and 7 of us golden oldies. (I'm so depressed that I get counted with the golden oldies. I'm too young for that!) We'll be staying in a chalet that's tucked into a side-valley, half-way up the Alps.
There's loads of stuff planned, like abseiling and whitewater rafting but due to the fact that I'm infanticipating, I'll be restricting myself to the hikes and (hopefully!) a daily swim. There's plenty of walking to be done, seeing as the coach can't actually get to the chalet (the road is too narrow and steep!), so I'll be trekking up and down the gorge on a daily basis - with full kit and rucksack on at least two occasions. Hence, I am packing more lightly than I have ever done in my entire life!
We'll be going to a Cheese Maker (blessed are!) and a Wood Carver and Our Chalet, (which is one of the Guiding World Centres for those of you who don't know and are interested). I'm hoping to bring home some decent cheese for Conor, some wood carvings for me and if I can find it in one of the tourist shops, a pair of mini-lederhosen, preferably complete with a little hat with a feather in it, for David. If I'm really lucky, there'll be a grown-up sized pair and I'll bring them home for Conor! Imagine that photo on the Internet. Cute, not creepy...
I may not get a chance to blog again before I go away (mad busy in work, will actually have to do stuff before I leave) and I'm not sure whether it will be possible to get on-line while I'm away. Anyway, I'll post pics and news when I get back.

Yodel-ay-he-hooo!