GOGSoc Episode V: The GOG Strikes Back

(in time for my birthday on Sunday)

Happy belated!

Argh, I've been trying to review a poetry book all afternoon, and it's frustrating me. Maybe I should just go for a swim.

That would be one marathon interview! He came home on Saturday (in time for my birthday on Sunday). We won't know the outcome till mid-Feb though. Agonising...

Argh, I've been trying to review a poetry book all afternoon, and it's frustrating me. Maybe I should just go for a swim.

Thanks It was swell: big lunch, big long hill walk, reading my presents in a lovely village boozer, went to see The Artist at the cinema (loved it), nice Italian meal, and then a bit more beeriness at our favourite old pubs. A grand day out.

happy birthday I am glad you had a good day! Everyone deserves to have a beautiful day at their birthday. I didn't even get a cake in mine

You should definitely include that in your review:

'I have to confess that 2swim@birdz was a poetry book I found intensely frustrating as a reader. Let's pray that this isn't the future of modern Irish poetry. After grappling with it for two hours and failing to make sense of it all, I decided just to go for a swim...'

I got cake but I made it myself! Haha. I didn't even get a present from my bf I was mad at him for that, think I was in the right (although it is a silly, material thing to get upset about especially as it would seem I am still bitter about it...)

I got cake but I made it myself! Haha. I didn't even get a present from my bf I was mad at him for that, think I was in the right (although it is a silly, material thing to get upset about especially as it would seem I am still bitter about it...)

I'm guessing though it's not the "material" aspect that is upsetting you...

I got cake but I made it myself! Haha. I didn't even get a present from my bf I was mad at him for that, think I was in the right (although it is a silly, material thing to get upset about especially as it would seem I am still bitter about it...)

Depends on the circumstances. In my view, birthday presents are definitely expected unless there's a good excuse, but they're not the most important thing in the world. Plus it's the sentiment that counts. So if Helen was ill or stressed and snowed under with work, I wouldn't mind if she didn't get me something (though I'd probably expect her to do something nice when she was well/unstressed again). I'd rather that than her getting worried that she must find something. But if she was well and didn't show the sentiment or thought for me on my birthday, I might get a little annoyed.

Though on the latter, I'd probably be annoyed that she didn't think about me and show the sentiment than the lack of a present, and the form of my annoyance would probably be the sort of minor guilt trip that results in her being especially nice because she feels bad. You could try the latter, it may result in presents?

Lol well, there were no extenuating circumstances such as the ones you describe apart from his not being able to think of anything...I woke up and received a happy birthday a hug and a kiss, went to work thinking there would be something nice when I got in (dinner cooked for me etc, wasn't expecting anything massive) but I got in and had to make tea. Then we went training and I thought I might get a surprise, but then it became clear I wasn't getting anything so it was the old "being really quiet and glum-getting asked if I was ok- saying I was ok when I actually wasn't" routine for the rest of the evening, with him completely failing to work out why I was upset. It ended with a late-night crying session with me having to tell him outright why I was upset and feeling pathetic about it.
I don't know, I guess I just love buying/making people gifts and making them feel special. I spend a lot of time thinking about appropriate gifts for my family and friends and maybe I have too-high expectations of other people? But it's not like we've only just got together...it was all just a bit weird really.
I did get a belated birthday present of a landline telephone...but I am actually getting a bit upset writing this now lol. I literally would have been happy with a token on the day, a nice dinner cooked for me so I didn't have to do it, flowers or chocolates (I love all those things!) but apparently I am "hard to buy for"? I really don't think I am

Lol well, there were no extenuating circumstances such as the ones you describe apart from his not being able to think of anything...I woke up and received a happy birthday a hug and a kiss, went to work thinking there would be something nice when I got in (dinner cooked for me etc, wasn't expecting anything massive) but I got in and had to make tea. Then we went training and I thought I might get a surprise, but then it became clear I wasn't getting anything so it was the old "being really quiet and glum-getting asked if I was ok- saying I was ok when I actually wasn't" routine for the rest of the evening, with him completely failing to work out why I was upset. It ended with a late-night crying session with me having to tell him outright why I was upset and feeling pathetic about it.
I don't know, I guess I just love buying/making people gifts and making them feel special. I spend a lot of time thinking about appropriate gifts for my family and friends and maybe I have too-high expectations of other people? But it's not like we've only just got together...it was all just a bit weird really.
I did get a belated birthday present of a landline telephone...but I am actually getting a bit upset writing this now lol. I literally would have been happy with a token on the day, a nice dinner cooked for me so I didn't have to do it, flowers or chocolates (I love all those things!) but apparently I am "hard to buy for"? I really don't think I am

I think you have a right to be a bit miffed, I would be! but perhaps he just didn't realise you would have been happy with a token present. I'm guilty of stressing about not finding the perfect present for people and ending up feeling bad for getting them something generic and boring, and sometimes chickening out entirely and not getting anything. What has he done in the past?

Aw.

I think it's exactly that - the token/symbol rather than being bought "the perfect gift". My hubby and I have been together for a long time now, and sometimes we splash out for each other, and sometimes we just buy silly little gifts when we can't think of "proper" presents. In fact last year he just got me a fancy cake made! It's definitely more the token than the materiality.

International Velvet story (ish)

ETS: tbf, I had that aspiration thinking about it, still do underneath probably.

Oh, I completely forgot about my eventing dreams! (Also minus the horse and money). That lasted from nine to eleven, at which point my cherished riding lessons became a thing of the past. Damn being poor!

And the author thing too, of course. I didn't mention that in my list, probably because it was always just there. My best friend and I both wanted to be famous authors, and we co-wrote stuff constantly (it often got us in trouble for its gritty themes). She's still a really talented writer but, alas, she went into microbiology and now really regrets it. Not that she couldn't just write anyway of course... but her reading has become lazier.

I too feel negative about the future... but hey, the vet-fairy thing could still happen!

You should definitely include that in your review:

'I have to confess that 2swim@birdz was a poetry book I found intensely frustrating as a reader. Let's pray that this isn't the future of modern Irish poetry. After grappling with it for two hours and failing to make sense of it all, I decided just to go for a swim...'

I have stated my appreciation of token presents on many an occasion
In the past I've had a fjord boat trip in 2006 (OK that was amazing) and visits from him when we were still long distance. We were almost never together on my birthday so then I was happy to get a phone call but now we've been living together for 2 birthdays and no tokens! LOL I sound so spoiled. I think I need to make my expectations clearer

Ha. I normally try to keep the 'I' out of my reviews, but in one I've just written, I couldn't help myself. A quite senior British poet who really gets off on hammed-up ideas of decaying culture and everything having gone to pot had written a poem about how an orchard in Hull that used to be so great is now full of stained mattresses, old carpets, rubble, beer cans and suicidal drunks. I happened to be writing the review from my back bedroom which overlooks the very same orchard. There are no drunks, no mattresses; only apple trees and garden birds. I couldn't resist pointing this out