Unremarkable day except...

[susandennis]

Today has been pretty good. I got one project totally finished.

I spent a whole long time researching how to use an image instead of the ugly Browse button on a web form. I found lots of different solutions and not one that I could make work. I gave up in defeat. It's not for a customer facing website but I still want it to look nice. Oh well.

There are several people here today pissing me off but I'm trying a new tactic of keeping my mouth shut and my nose out of it unless I am required to get involved. So far, it's working pretty well. I've decided if people want to be stupid, I should just let them. It's my gift.

No ballgame tonight. But I do have a fair amount of TV stacked up in Tivo and I'm reading a particularly good thriller. I stayed up too late last night because I was afraid that if I went to sleep something might happen to my favorite characters... I guess I'll find out tonight.

The quarterly SalesMeetingFromHell is this week but it's really only one and a half days so I think I can manage. And I think I'm going to try it with my Treo only - rather than borrowing a laptop and configuring it with everything. I should be able to take care of emergencies and amuse myself with the Treo.

Comments

[melodysk.livejournal.com]

Susuan ...do you get '2 pints of lager and a packet of crisps' on BBC America? Its just that a new series started here last night and I wondered if you had seen it?

Very funny ....2 couples and their trials and tribulations. NEither couple particularly bright , one chap is on benefit (erm ..do you know what I mean by that?)

[susandennis]

I have not seen 2 pints. Sadly, we don't have it here yet. But, I'll keep a look out. I did go over to the BBC America website to check and discovered that we are getting a new show tomorrow! "My Hero". Looks like it could be cute.

But, no I have no clue what 'on benefit' means. And while we're translating, could I ask another?

I was watching a bit of thing on Margaret Thatcher the other night and they talked about her converting public schools to comprehensive ones.

I'm pretty sure that your public schools are ones that you have to pay to go to as opposed to those that anyone can go to at no cost. True?

Are comprehensive ones the free ones?

Here we have public schools which is what most people go to and are free. And private schools for the rich that charge a tuition. But I keep hearing about these comprehensives and I'm not comprehending!

[melodysk.livejournal.com]

Okay ..on benefit is claiming from the state ..unemployment benefit. The Gov pay you a subsitance level amount when you are unemployed (as long as you are actively looking for work and can prove it)

The school thing is a bit complicated ;)

Public schools are the ones you pay for , and are really private schools :)

Secondary education (11-18 year olds) in the state system (ie free) is generally comprehensive , which means the school has mixed ability children. However , where we are (and in a few pockets of resistance in the UK) we still have the 11+ exam , taken when the children are in final primary school year (aged 10-11) . The children who get a high score in this (like my daughter Sophie) are then invited to attend Grammar School , which is a secondary education shool but which only has higher ability children

Phew!

Clear as mud yet?

[melodysk.livejournal.com]

Oooh and I forgot about 'My Hero' ...I watched that , very , very silly but quite a good romp :) The second (or was it the third) series - the one on last , was even sillier ...but I can't tell you how 'cos it would give away the plot before you have even had a chance to see the first one :))

[susandennis]

Ok

on benefit = on unemployment

And I think I get why the school thing is so confusing. We don't really seperate by ability. Generally the private schools have entry ability requirements, but a lot of them are 'if you've got the money, our standards can dip...'

We have a few pockets here and there of special public schools for exceptional students but not too many. Most places it's everyone together.

But, now I get it about your comprehensives. I heard it on Parky the other week, too and couldn't get the meaning.