On the tram this morning, I managed to find a spare seat. It doesn’t happen that often because it’s packed with us commuters. I squeezed in on a block of four seats, and found myself sitting opposite a woman with her head tilted down. I wondered if she’d fallen asleep at first, but then she fished in her handbag and pulled out a tissue, and I realised she was crying. She caught my eye and I looked away, embarrassed, and immediately felt guilty about it. She was definitely trying to hide it, and probably doing a good job of it considering that the tram was so busy. Sitting right across from her, I couldn’t help but keep stealing glances in her direction as she focused her attention on her hands. I never really know what to do in those sort of situations. I know the standard commuter etiquette is pretty much ‘mind your own business’ (especially in places like London), but I couldn’t help but feel that it would have been comforting to say something to her.

For those not aware of the British cinema film ratings, here’s a quick rundown. The BBFC assigns films as either U (universal for all), PG (parental guidance / supervision), and then the age ratings. 15 and 18 have been around as long as I can remember. In 1989, Batman was released and given the very first 12 rating to stop younger kids seeing it. Those people who couldn’t stand little kids being in the cinema disturbing the peace rejoiced. Then in 2002, when Spiderman was released, the 12 certificate was amended to a 12A certificate - anyone under 12 accompanied by an adult could see the film. This, I mused today (and not for the first time) is not good. I went to see Memoirs of a Geisha, rated 12A. Some complete idiot brought a kid in with them not even old enough to speak. The film was interrupted at regular intervals by the kid whining and crying. I could understand a kid being taken in to a Disney movie, or something like Lassie, which is why I leave it till the evenings to see movies of that kind I’m interested in, but a film like ‘Geisha? Fools.

“Dear Elaine,” said Canon, in the email they sent me.
“We’re very sorry. You remember that promotional offer you signed up for? The one where you get a free 256MB SanDisk CompactFlash card? Well, there’s a problem. Apparently, there’s a worldwide shortage of 256MB cards over at SanDisk. Therefore, we can’t provide you with the aforementioned card.”

Typical, I thought. Then I read on.

“We are instead sending you a SanDisk 512MB CompactFlash card. Sorry for any inconvenience this might cause.”

Inconvenience? A card, double the capacity that I’d originally signed up for? If only that was the kind of inconvenience that came along more often!

What a wonderful news story - man tries to kill mouse by throwing it on a burning fire, mouse escapes, aflame, and runs back into man’s house and burns it down. Talk about karma biting you in the butt!

I wandered down to the skate park today to take some photos (as will be evidenced in tomorrow’s photoblog image), and couldn’t spend any longer than 20 minutes out there without my fingers going completely numb from the cold. When I walked back into town, however, I could have been forgiven for thinking it was summer if the clothing stocks were anything to go by. Now that Christmas is over, apparently it’s time for bikinis, sarongs, and other summer wear. They seem to have skipped right past Easter, although I bet within a month those Easter eggs will start appearing on the shelves.

Update (3 Jan) - I was wrong. It wasn’t a month. As of today, the campus shop has a whole end shelf stacked full of Cadbury’s Creme Eggs and Mini Eggs.

Wishing everyone the best for 2006, and good luck in sticking to those New Year’s resolutions!