You know the Wholegrain 50/50 bread? Looks like white bread but is healthy? At the bottom of the advert it says 'contains 1/3 wholegrain'. Pfft. It's like those mascara adverts where at the bottom of the screen you can read 'fake lashes used and enhanced in post production'.

I hate adverts.

I finished the Phonology assignment. And now I'm very close to the end of the LVC. Three cheers! Phonetics shouldn't be too hard (have done half - but keep fingers crossed for me), and then there's only revision left...

Oh, and Forensic Linguistics. I'm wondering whether this course was a bit too easy for me. No no, not my MSc (Hah! I wish..) - the part time course I'm doing. Still, I've learnt quite a bit, and as it's ling rather than speech science I've been able to look at some other things (even if some of it was very brief).

I am, however, planning on doing FL 2 as well in the spring. It'll allow me to focus on an area of my choice - and somehow I don't think I'll pick anything phoneticsy... Will probably have enough on my plate with that anyway. So - ideas welcome!

On a less fun note, my hand hurts. No clue why, it's just very painful to type (oh and I choose to spend my typing time blogging rather than essaying... clever!).

Next time I'll update you on my drunk neighbour. Maybe.

xx

I got a big chunk of my LVC essay done whilst Mike and 2 friends were playing MarioKart the other day. How odd - you'd think it'd be distracting, but it turned out better than sitting by my desk at home.

Did you know that the glottal stop only established itself in British English in the early 20th Century? Mad how it's already all but wiped out the wonderful t-to-r in Yorkshire... Random fact of the day, brought to you by a very sleepy Jahooliia.

Christmas has been great, so far. Only had half of it - on Monday we fly to (hopefully!) snowy Sweden for part 2. People have been so generous, not sure they've heard of that little thing they call the 'credit crunch' though... Maybe it's all a myth, like the moon landing or evolution.

And - not to worry - that last bit was a reference to Friends. The philosophical bible of my generation...

xx

Wallander was shown on BBC the other night. I was very excited! Until I sat down to watch it and realised it's an English version with Kenenth Branagh as Wallander. Sigh. I turned it off and watched Top Gear instead. Mind you it might have been worth watching just for the comedy factor?

On Breakfast on BBC1 this morning they were talking to some singer or other. Whilst listing his accomplishments, they thought it appropriate to mention that 'and, he's married to one of the most beautiful women in the world'.

They didn't mention her name. Had they been interviewing a woman, I'm sure it would have been 'and she's dating the very distinguished and successful Mr X'.

Small gripe of the day! Over and out.

Pathetic attempt at snow this morning. There's a bit of white sludge on the grass still. It looks cold. Mike wants snow though - does anyone know what Sweden at New Years will be like?

Finished my LVC essay last night, ended up really enjoying it. It needs some proof reading though. Will see if I can be bothered later!

Want to make some muffins, fruit bombs... mm..

The L I was looking for yesterday... I've come to the conclusion it's a palatalised alveolar lateral approximant. In case you were wondering!

xx

Whilst I'm here... why can I not figure out the Swedish L? Or rather, how I realise it? It's been bugging me for days now.

More bank issues. Opened a new account just so I could get a proper bank card (as opposed to a 'cash card' which doesn't work anywhere. I also said I don't want a cheque book, thanks.

So what do they send me? That's right, a cheque book, and a cash card.

When I rang up they said I have to fill in an application form, and they'd send one to me. But oh - just *in case* it doesn't get to me, could I pick one up in the bank?

Erm. Time to change banks, probably...

I'm ill :( Think I'll go back to the sofa. Quite hard to focus on journals at the moment! They should do a flu-friendly version...