Night shifts and New Year

Golly, last night was the first New Year’s Eve in, quite possibly, twenty years in which I’ve not wanted to do anything. I remember being in a grump on 31 December 1999, mainly due to the whole millennium thing having become rather tacky. My family weren’t too impressed that I hid away in the computer room sulking, but hey-ho.

This year, well, I’ve not exactly been in a grump, but my recent descent into a depressive slump and my frustrating sleep pattern has spelled doom for my NYE plans. Not that I had any. Today I woke up at seven-thirty in the evening, so that’s how my sleep is going. I’m trying to gradually push it back around to a healthy normal, but it’s taking time. And effort. I’m usually a bit of an insomniac but, funnily enough, now that I’m actually trying to stay awake longer, guess what my body wants to do? Yup, that’s right – sleep. FFS.

Anyway, even though I hadn’t planned on doing so, I might pop out to the pub today. My local seems to be the only out-of-town drinking place that can be arsed to be open on Christmas and New Year’s Day. How convenient for me! I’ll let you know how I get on. Bet you I fall asleep before opening time. All I need to do is stay awake for another four hours or so.

Oh, that massive boxset of William Shakespeare audio recordings arrived! It’s very swish. Now all I need to do is find a place to store the damned thing. I’m running out of space in this one bedroom flat. Oh well. I’ve imported ten of the plays so far onto my iPod Nano, but it’s quite a labour-intensive process. I’ll get there in the end, I’m sure. I just hope there’s space on the device for them all.

One of my old Facebook friends has asked my brother for my contact details, now that I’ve shut my account down. I’m not sure why he’s so keen, as we never spoke while I was still on there. Who knows, maybe it’ll spark some actual contact. He’s married with kids, so I doubt his interest is romantic. Unless he’s fed up with the wife and kids. We shall see.

I finally got around to watching Gosford Park the other day. I’ve had it on DVD for ages, but I just haven’t been in the mood for it. I do love Robert Altman films, but I do find I need to be in a very particular frame of mind for them. This week just felt right. Or was it last week? Urgh, I’m totally losing track of time and space. Well, the film is really good, considering Mr Altman made it so late in his career. Directors usually lose their mojo towards the end. Everyone was great in it, especially Emily Watson, Maggie Smith and Kristin Scott Thomas, who is one of my all-time favourite people. Bob Balaban is always a treat too. It’s like catching up with an old friend. I was a little saddened that Derek Jacobi and Stephen Fry weren’t in it more, but wotchagonnado? I found Clive Owen quite compelling, considering I don’t usually like him. I don’t know why I don’t usually like him. It’s an irrational dislike. I didn’t like James McAvoy until I found him to be the only good thing in that terrible X-Men: First Class movie.

Not speaking of the Holocaust, I watched Schindler’s List yesterday. So great. I spent most of the runtime trying not to burst into tears, which I’m guessing is pretty normal. I wonder if Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes have been in a movie together since. I’m guessing Mr Neeson has retired now, since he had that trouble in the papers recently. Alas! Well, after watching the film, I went down a Wikipedia rabbit-hole looking up information on the Holocaust. You can imagine how awful that was. Be nice to each other, people.

Righty, I think that’s about it for today. Not much has happened since whenever. Do drop me a line if you’re about.

Toodles!