Today I was awoken by a tapping on my door. One of the young people was eager to tell me about a plan for community safety. I was awoken again about an hour later by the same young person and three of his friends who were bored and wanted some work to do. I gave them some flyers to deliver and they were on their way. Fifteen minutes later they were back and I was getting ready to go to the grocery store. They wanted to come with, so we went and asked their parents and away we were. We stopped at McDonald's on the way back, too, where, much to their surprise I got a Happy Meal (no meat).

It was a good day, but I was appalled to see how the adults talk to them. The language they use - and they wonder where the kids get it! They always seem to assume the worst with them, as well. It's like the kids are merely acting out some self fulfilling prophecy or something. Like Kate (my boss, the director of the project) says, if we don't expect great things from them, who will?

-----------------------------------------------------

This just arrived in my e-mail box.

Question 1:
If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already,
three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded,
and she had syphilis; would you recommend that she have an
abortion?
Read the next question before scrolling down to the answer of this one.

Question 2:
It is time to elect a new world leader, and your vote counts. Here are the
facts about the three leading candidates:

Candidate A: Associates with crooked politicians, and consults
with astrologists. He's had two mistresses. He also chain smokes
and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.

Candidate B: He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon,used
opium in college and drinks a quart of whiskey every evening.

Candidate C: He is a decorated war hero. He's a vegetarian,
doesn't smoke, drinks an occasional beer and hasn't had any
extramarital affairs.

Which of these candidates would be your choice?
(Decide first, no peeking, then scroll down for the answer).












Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt,
Candidate B is Winston Churchill,
Candidate C is Adolph Hitler.


And by the way: Answer to the abortion question if you said yes,
you just killed Beethoven.

Pretty interesting isn't it?

Well, apparently Friday isn't my strongest day of the week, either! I did exactly the same thing today. I am sleeping far too much. I keep saying that it's PMS, or b/c I'm on my period, or it's my medication, but no matter what it is, it isn't normal!

Saying that, though, I remember going through this in Belfast and my doctor gave me iron pills. My energy level really increased for awhile and then I mysteriously got violently ill and stopped taking them. Another doctor told me iron pills can be hard on your stomach and perhaps I could just do with a normal multivitamin. I never did start taking a multivitamin. Maybe I should look into that...

I finally got some credit for my phone today. Yippee! I called Jason to celebrate. He wanted to know what was up, and I just said, I have credit, that's what! I haven't been able to call anyone, well, basically ever since I've been in Manchester. I had credit once before, but I used it up on a phone call to my Mom in America.

In regards to the making friends situation, a guy called Hugo from the Young Quakers phoned me up today and we're meeting up for lunch next week. The International Society emailed me back on the details of membership and now I just have to get my over tired behind over to their office and check it out.

My house is a complete tip. I started cleaning up this morning, but then I fell asleep. I did manage to get a load of laundry of done and my recycling rinsed out. I still have suitcases open in the living room and pluck things out of there from time to time. Since someone might be moving in at the end of next week, I suppose I should put just a wee bit more effort into it.

It snowed last night. Yippee! It looked really pretty as it was coming down over the lamp posts and town houses. It actually stuck on the ground this time, but was melted by this afternoon, which is fine and dandy with me, b/c it may look pretty coming down, but it's not pretty trying to walk in it!

Wednesday. Not typically my strongest day of the week. I got up and ate and then went back to sleep waking up at an astonishing 3:30 p.m. What is wrong with me? Surely normal people don't sleep this much, do they? I went to bed at about 10:30 last night and was probably asleep within an hour. I don't know. Maybe I was a cat in a past life.

Today I did something daring. I cut my nails as short as they can go. My fingernails are usually really long despite my not trying, and today I chopped them off. I can type a lot faster, but it does feel a bit weird and scratching is not nearly as satisfying...

Yesterday was pancake day here in the UK. Other countries and cultures celebrate this day as Mardi Gras, but no, the Brits just make pancakes. How very British.

So today starts Lent. Anyone giving anything up? A lot of people give up chocolate until Easter, but I'm afraid I would go a bit crazy without chocolate for that long.

Because I've been so lonely here in Manchester, Sue has given me some leads on where lonely foreign people go. I contacted the International Society, the Young Quakers and American expats of the Northwest. Maybe I'll make some friends through them...

I have a headache b/c I've not eaten since breakfast and I need to go home and have some soup and a tasty cheese and tomato sandwich. I have no money as usual and have to set aside the pound in change that I did have for my bus fare tomorrow. Ho hum.

I guess I'm a bit cranky and hungry at the mo, so I better go. Hey, that rhymes. I made a new photo page, so check it out!

I had a lovely Sunday. I slept as late as I wanted, which turned out to be not too late. I bought a sleazy newspaper b/c it had a free CD in it. I read the sleazy newspaper and did the crossword puzzle - not all of it, I'm not a genius! I even cleaned up a bit and did some laundry. Yes, a good Sunday indeed.

I'm still a bit lonely here. I live by myself in a house and I don't really have any friends yet. I have my friends from Northern Ireland who I still text message and have them phone me (I never have credit on my phone, I am broke as a joke), but having friends here would help. I haven't really done a lot to get these friends just yet, I've been putting all my brain energy into work. However, now things are getting started and I can use some of that brain power to make friends. Yippee!

Oh and the day after I fell down the stairs (see below) I had to go to the Emergency Room (aka Accident & Emergency - A&E - you know, like the cable channel ;-) I couldn't afford a stupid cab and had to take the bus which does not go near the door of the hospital so I walked on what turned out to be a sprained ankle. I actually cried a lot b/c I can't take pain at all. Oh, but I got a bandage thingee and felt sorry for myself for awhile, and it slowly healed. I can't seem to come to grips with how clumsy I am. I don't remember always being clumsy. Maybe this is something that started in adulthood. What do you think, Mom?

Hi everyone! Gotta make this quick, I'm in the office of the housing estate in which I live.

I am working at a charity that rewards young people for doing community projects by giving them points and then these points can be cashed in for trips. It seems fine and dandy thus far.

I've gotten to get a better look around Manchester, which has been nice. I am absolutely terrified of the trams, though, and take a little too much caution when crossing the tracks. I should be getting a phone this week, which will be very nice. I fell down the stairs today and was terrified that I would have to wait for someone to come and find me before I could get help!

I'll be getting a roommate soon, though I don't know when. It depends on who they choose, and when that person can move to Manchester, so we shall see.

Well, I best be off, I have to fill out some repair forms to get some bits and bobs fixed in my house. Hope all is well with everyone.

Love,
Sabrina :-)