On good friday I, too[1], went to meet my parents

[jack]

Tomorrow is a bank holiday, isn't it?

After ascerning that it definitely was easter tomorrow, and very nearly but not quite getting my program to compile in every configeration, mum and dad picked me up from work.

Ambiguity had been kept *mostly* as decent as it had been made the last parent-visit :) and I'd done the last of the washing-up and a bit of vaccuuming the night before, so it was acceptable. I made dinner mainly from frozen components, which was quite nice though, and I think it impressed mum that I'd settled in enough that I could produce dinner for everyone without any faff. It also reminded me of two beliefs: (1) that food looks more professional if it comes in half a dozen different portions on the plate instead of a big mix and (2) any room looks tidier if you empty and clean any table and put it in the middle

Like Mornington Crescent would be, if it wasn't Mornington Crescent

Then Dad and I went to the Golden Hind and played pool. He won, but I *am* getting slowly better :) And while we were waiting for the table, and discussing money-putting-down etiquette[2]. And while we were waiting we played beggar-my-neighbour[3] and had much fun pretending it to be a game with skill, saying things like "Aha! Little did you know I was saving a jack in reserve" and "Oh no! I didn't see that coming at all!"

In fact, it was quite like mornington crescent. Which reminds me of *last* saturday, which I completely failed to spod, when we played 'London' at Owen's belated housewarming, which really is best described as "Like mornington crescent, but not" because it is a game which REALLY IS about moving dice-thrown numbers along underground tracks, trying to get to six designated stations. There was also a mao-like game, except that the new rules were predetermined of the form of 'play n cards per round' and the like.

[1] Sorry for the blasphemous joke. I couldn't resist.
[2] I described my observations as "Anyone can put the price of a game on the edge of the table and they play in that order. Whether they play a person of their choice or the previous winner is implementation defined. How many games you can by at once is undefined."[4] Does that sound accurate?
[3] Half the pack each. Always play from the top of your pile. Play alternately. But when a J,Q,K or A appears the other player plays 1,2,3 or 4 cards and you collect the whole discard pile, unless one of those cards is itself a J,Q,K or A in which case it the first player has to play 1,2..etc.
[4] Except I didn't say it in those words because I was talking to dad who isn't a C programmer. But I translated it for geekblogging :)

Comments

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

Yes, smoochikins, I adore it :)

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

OK, I'll use it at every opportunity, Dumpling :)

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

DUMPLING???

That's what my parents call me when they're trying to persuade me to go on a diet! Not loving it, sadly

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

That was the idea, smoochikins. Again, it doesn't mean I think you're podgy (in this case I *don't*) it's just a *wonderful* way to tease you :)

Soon I'll be able to string a whole sentence together from words that make you shout aloud in blue :)

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

Huh. *checks out wordsmyth for alternative words to 'sulk'*

I seriously need to come up with some new endearments, my silly little sausage :)

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Meh. Now you're not trying, my eloquently previously bountifully-synonymed articulator! You can do better than 'sausage' :)

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

another parental nickname (for me) - I was running out of ideas. Cream puff :)

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

They call you SUASAGE? Can you divorce them?

Well, I'm not exactly *fond* of cream puff, but it's better than the annoying ones :)

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

*my imagination is giving up on me* My little sausage, uh huh. Slushiewumps :)

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

I can't believe you were still at the office! Hope you didn't stick around because of me - was trying to be good daughter and watch TV we're actually interested in together.

When did I become Matilda? :) (think Roald Dahl)

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Well, spodding but not just with you did drag it out. But I do work late sometimes, it being at least made up for by the times I get in late.

Oh, yes, I was thinking of Matilda. In some ways I found her annoying, but that bit did speak to me. But OTOH Dahl had a bee in his bonnet about books being better than TV; I agree watching TV mindlessly *can* be a problem, but it's not inherently better to like one than the other, just because I like books :)

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I was thinking of Matilda. In some ways I found her annoying, but that bit did speak to me. But OTOH Dahl had a bee in his bonnet about books being better than TV; I agree watching TV mindlessly *can* be a problem, but it's not inherently better to like one than the other, just because I like books :)

I get insanely annoyed by films 'based' on books which trash the plot. Or alter it slightly. I know it's a flaw, but it's part of me, ya know?

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

It's so much a part of me I don't think to question it; I wouldn't ever think any of my friends wouldn't agree :)

Though I have mellowed; as mentioned before I'll go along with films that adapt a book keeping the original point but presenting it differently, or that produce a better film that's inspired by the book but somewhat different.

But it's not just prejudice; I hate books that are bad conversions of films too.

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

But it's not just prejudice; I hate books that are bad conversions of films too.

Yelp. I don't read those, as a rule

Though I have mellowed; as mentioned before I'll go along with films that adapt a book keeping the original point but presenting it differently, or that produce a better film that's inspired by the book but somewhat different.

Especially now that I've talked to some of Rach's film studenty friends, I see why it can be important to change things. But that's still no excuse for *ponders*. Actually, I can't think of anything. Way to go to ruin your own point!

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Well, now I avoid them. But I tried a couple once and they were *dire*. Especially if the movie is an action movie with dodgy philosophy.

I think if it's a good film we excuse it stuff, and if not, we pick it to bits.

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

But I tried a couple once and they were *dire*. Especially if the movie is an action movie with dodgy philosophy.

There's a no-brainer for you!

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

LOL. Well, they *could* have been good. In theory. Perhaps. :)

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

:) Just re-read your comment there. I don't need to say anything

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

LOL.