the adventures of a strange singing girl

On a community, someone asked about the labels which ones applies to oneself.
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What would you put?

If you happen to be at a loose end this lunchtime, why not drop by Lee Hall at Wolfson College for 13:30 and watch me and another soprano sing some arias and duets?

I promised to blog about FOSDEM, so I'd better do so before I forget all the good bits. Bulleted list (with too-long items) of random impressions, as usual.

• The journey was largely OK, if a bit failful on the ticket-collecting front. This was partly my fault, I admit, but I know better for next time. Note to self: the dining car on the Eurostar does not accept debit cards. Grrrr. We got there, anyway, and even managed to wrestle the STIB/MIVB/whatever ticket machine machine into submission. Currently we're using 3-day tickets. Are 10-journey tickets valid for longer than a year? If so, I'll consider switching back to those.
  
• Steak Archiduc is the most delicious thing in the world if you are a very hungry hobbit. Dinner with lovely people is also greatly to be lauded.
  
• I helped sell beer tickets for a short while after dinner, which was actually quite good fun. Made the acquaintance of Three Quarks, the exceedingly cute press officer dude (I think his ego just exploded). We had to step outside to be able to hear what we were saying: it was a bit loud in the bar.
  
• Only at FOSDEM could you have an impromptu sabre lesson in the middle of an alley between two pubs.
  
• I managed to identify last year's Mystery Beer! It was Kasteel Rouge.
  
• We also managed to find last year's Chippy Of Awesomeness, where delicious cheese croquettes can be had. Sadly, unlike last year, there was no Wagner blasting away at great volume. Even as an emphatic non-Wagnerite I was quite entertained by that, so I rather missed it this year.
  
• Wafflequest 2009 was successful, as appears to be traditional in odd-numbered years.
  
• FOSDEM is not actually all about the food. Honest.
  
• I taught a man to knit. Interestingly, though I attempted to teach him continental style, he adapted the technique to something that resembles English style, without my intervention. Next time I meet him, I'll teach him how to purl...
  

One of these years I'd really, really like to stay until Monday. Next year, I think I may do more for the general orga team, but don't quote me on this...

I'm happy I appear to have made it thirty times around the sun.

I'm happy I've got lovely friends who feed me nommy food, buy me drinks, give me t-shirts that say "Little Miss Schlampe".

I'm happy I got to sing the Lamentations of Jeremiah by Tallis one-to-a-part while still in my twenties.

I'm happy.

This concludes the eight days/eight happy things meme. Normal, unhappy, non-posting service will now resume :-)

I'm very, very happy that I've made it through concert season pretty much in one piece. What remains this year is a bit of caroling and other casual singing, but the sheer stress of having to worry about my voice sticking around for formal concerts is lifted away. Tonight's concert was good fun.

crazyscot imported for me, on a recent trip to Finland, some GREEN BALLS. This made me very, *very* happy indeed, as my previous supply of them had almost gone. My companions agreed that they taste of Green. The balls, not my companions. I didn't try to taste my companions.

Lastly, I am very pleased for the Duck Warden that he did well in this evening's intra-club fencing tournament, which I didn't go to, but went and annoyed people in the pub afterwards. Let joy be unconfined.

Several things make me happy today. I have Christmas cards from lovely people, at least some of whom would probably deny quite vehemently their loveliness. I will continue to disbelieve them.

This week's episode of Starship Sofa was also quite happy-making, particularly the introduction and the poetry section. "If you're feeling glum..." Ahem. I'm not puerile. Not puerile at all. No.

Today's happy things include a fairly productive rehearsal for a recital in February. Hurrah!

Also, the collected Naked Dude, AKA Joel Johnson's (mostly not actually naked) appearances on Boingboing TV. Astonishingly, safe for work! [Edit, a day later: they're mostly geeky gadget reviews. I forget that not everybody speaks *quite* as I do... Culpa, etc.]

Oops, sorry for the delay, but I was really, *really* tired yesterday.

Yesterday's Happy Thing was seeing my mother before Christmas. Also, she gave me a very elegant dress. All I need now is a diva shawl... Oh yes, and nommy medium-rare tuna steak. Nom.

(Sorry, normal service will resume shortly. Still a bit tired.)

Today, I am happy about a tasty meal with my in-laws, progress on Christmas socks (though they'll probably be late), and the fact that I'm curled up in my bed because I'm knackered.

Today I am happy about several things. I'm glad I made it through this evening's concert, despite catching a chill on the way there (Nieselregen...). I'm quite chuffed that the choirmaster called me a noble lass in some random context. And most of all I'm really made happy by the incredible kindness of one of my fellow quiristers for giving me his spare back bike light after I found I'd lost mine on the way over. That just rocks. Thanks again, if you're reading this :-)