Last night I received an email telling me that my application for the day revision course at Kings College had arrived too late and that they were now fully booked - which just goes to show - something, I guess. My view on it, now that the disappointment has eased somewhat, is that:
a) I'm not in a position to waste lots of money at the moment anyway
b) I would have been staying very far out of the centre of London and would have worried about late night travel (as you know from the previous entry)
c) A cousin who I really wanted to see would have been away on a holiday
d This cancellation just might have avoided something awful that might have happened. (two mights, but you get my point).
All this should show you that I take a very philosophical approach to things not working out. Who knows what awful things are avoided by taking a different path from one that we anticipated. Life is all about timing - for good things as well as bad.
Oh well, I feel a trip to Quimper is in order now to buy myself a new summer bag. It was something I was going to get in London anyway and after all, I'm worth it.
30 comments:
I think a bag is definitely necessary under the circumstances.
You can't get into college, so you're turning yourself into a "bag lady." Hmmmm . . .
Sometimes you just need to go with the flow and trust that life / the universe / God knows best... :-)
How disappointing! But I hope a new bag will make you feel better. Of COURSE you are worth it!!
And you can plan another trip for later in the year when your cousin will be at home. London will still be there.....
Hard cheese! Tough luck. How frightful that King's College is full! A friend of mine is a senior lecturer there. Shall I have a word with him? But he is in Science. I don't think he would know your Byron's crowd! A new summer bag sounds like a good idea. Let me know how you like it! I'm in the process of trying to buy one of those French Breton bags (very nautical - comes with navy blue stripes) on sale on ebay.
And do take some pictures in Quimper while you're there so we can see what the port looks like in the Spring ! And a picture of your new bag too will be necessary now that you have whetted our collective appetite ! What is that line in the poem about "Le Pont Mirabeau", something to the effect of Joy coming after Pain ? I wish you joy... and lots of it...
Elizabeth - I think to make up sufficiently I might have to add some summer shoes to the bag purchase!
Rob - good analogy - you must have been a headline writer in a former life
justme - yes, I think October will see me in London (and staying at a centrally located place. - there are two very good ones but they get booked up very quickly)
ASD - Kings College are the hosts, the courses are arranged by the OU so I don't even think that strings could be pulled - but thanks for the thought.
Let me know if you can't get the Breton bag - I can always get you one.
Steve- when I was younger this is the sort of disappointment that would have taken me ages to get over - likewise Venice. Age does bring wisdsom - for certain things anyway.
Owen - I've blogged about Quimper twice before - it's in my Brittany section. The port I think is at Quimperlé, which we've not been to - I just love to be in the centre of Quimper.
You can never have too many handbags!
I am disappointed for you. You're doing well to relitivize (is that a word?) the situation.
Have fun finding a new bag.
Glad to hear you're looking at the positive side of things... and cheering yourself up with some retail therapy! ;-)
A new summer bag is just the answer. See if you can also purchase a new hat, or scarf. Life is to lived fully costumed.
Claire - when I used to work I'd get myself so many bags/shoes/gloves - now it's just as and when - well, apart from Rocket Dog boots which is constantly. They pull their old designs every couple of years so then it's always a personal challenge to find stores selling them off
Dedene - I've never been one to dwell too long on something that doesn't work out as planned - you can chew yourself up like that.
Ladyfi - another bonus is that I don't have to rush to finish my essay - I won't lose six days study
lakeviewer - yes, maybe I'll get a new straw hat - it's going to be a hot sunny summer - good idea
It's very short notice, isn't it? Still, with other consolations, you must know that you are well prepared for the exam anyway (though I've taken a solemn vow on several occasions never ever to do another exam!)
Actually, never a headline writer. "In the trenches" reporter and features writer, to columnist, to op-ed.
It's just that I have this very "literate" sense of humour. One has to be reasonably good with the English language to joke the way that I do.
My notion about "literate" humour has been met (as you might expect) with derision in some quarters. Quelle domage!
Which shows again that you lead a horse to drink, but you can't make him water.
Like you say things plans are made and then things happen. I already have my summer bag..it was a bargain!
What a disappointment...but I believe everything happens for a reason..which isn't always immediately apparent.
Just found you through LadyFi. I was supposed to attend a seminar on how to get an agent in San Diego, California and it was canceled due to low attendance, so I was disappointed too.
What is the course you wanted to take?
Darn - And I wanted to hear all about the theatre visit!
But I remember your pix of Quimper which were jolly nice - and they have good bags there too, what a place!
WV = comento
I think that sometimes things are meant to be and do seem disapointing at the time but have a 'reason' for not happening. Hopefully for your safety. If I was a lady I am sure that I would love to go to Quimper and shop (new bag or otherwise.
PS: I have finished my three part dip into my life as a butcher now. Enjoy.
Frankie - silly old me, thinking that just because I'd applied for a ticket there would be one available so near to the date. I'm not at all prepared for the exam yet - my revision book is empty. Once I've done this last essay (by the end of this week) I'll be cracking on with full scale revision.
I'm going to put all my notes on postcards and dot them around the house and have them on me at all times - I will learn the outlines parrot fashion and hope to do better than last year
Rob - well I thought the bag lady reference was very funny - keep 'em coming.
Blu - I want a very specific bag - it must be wicker or straw but very closely woven; the predominant colours must be blue, black and purple with no pale colours whatsover. It must close with a zip, not a popper. I'm on a quest and when I know exactly what I want then it's not very easy.
I've always been quite a specific shopper.
Ayak - yes, that is how I'm looking at it, although I did want to see Judi Dench's play - oh well.
Gutsy Writer - hello there. I'm doing a humanities degree and this was a one day course in well, I'm not quite sure, topics had not been revealed. i guess an overview of the course which was about the 50 years from 1780 - 1830. Major time in world history.
Lulu - I'd set my heart on Waiting for Godot with McKellen, Patrick Stewart and Simon Callow. Plus the Judi Dench play plus Maureen Lipman in 'A Little Night Musi@ (I'm a Sondheim devotee).
That is what upsets me the most if I'm honest, not the course. I could still go - I've got the plane tickets - but I see this as an omen - it's not meant to be.
Phil - I'd probably have had a rotten time in the centre of a big city. I've probably developed crowd-phobia or something, so no doubt it is all for the best
It was not meant to be FF, right from the start too many brick walls stood in the way, I believe in fate, and it is always for a reason, so the " might's " are probably correct, instinct was telling you all was not well, so in a way, you probably feel very relieved.
Go to Quimper, buy a new bag, buy two, after all, as you said, "I'm worth it ", that would be you, not me.
My dear, I would love to meet your two Dutch gay men!! I love men who know about restaurants. Most Scots here rather be at the pubs watching football.
FF, my you do have very defined tastes when it comes to bags - I wish you every luck in finding your dream bag, shoes and a lovely scarf to protect your head from the heat expected this summer...
I firmly believe everything happens for a reason, and it is wonderful that you can be so stoical about the other opportunities that will open up for you through this - Enjoy, dahlink! x
That's a shame. The best laid plans always have a dastardly way of going awry. Agree with A Woman of No Importance - there's always a reason, so best to go with the flow.
Happy bag hunting!
Never mind FF, you can make it up in Summer School. Bet you are ready anyway and a new bag is not to be sneezed at, or in, for that matter.
Thank you for commenting on my last but one post...yes, still have LM's cat, and looks like she might be here some time yet. LM was made redundant and openings for PA's with her experience are very very thin on the ground right now...so she is trying her utmost but I think the lure of Thailand might be calling her back.
Ann - do you know, I did have a niggle about this trip for some reason (and I'm not just saying it).
ASD - my ma-in-law agreed with me that one is immensly stylish and dapper - refined elegance with long fingers and multi-lingual. Just up your rue.
AWONI - I never wear scarves - when I drape them they look a mess and I look better with my hair or a hat, not a flat head. I'll never find the exact bag I want but I'll have a good time looking
Lane - I've reserved next Saturday as a day browsing at the lovely shops in Quimper.
Moannie - there is no summer school for this course and the exam is in six weeks. Never mine - I didn't need real life tutors anyway :)
Hey, that's the best way to look at it! I need a little more of that attitude...
Good for you, looking at the plusses over the minuses. Would love to see pics of the new bag :)
Looks like your essay is due around the same time mine is. Hope you're making better progress than I am!
Sydney - I think it comes with middle agedness - I wouldn't have been so philosophical once
Contem - it's quite a dull little (well, big actually) wicker thing. Re the essay - I've just finished the third draft and will tweak it at the beginning of next week. I'm going to begin my revision prog tom morning. Hope you get on well with your essay
That's a good attitude! Hope you find a good summer bag.
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