(no subject)

[fpb]

The cyber-stalking note referred to in my previous post turned up as the cherry on the cake of one of the most miserable days I had in months. As you know, I have been moving my books out of storage and into my flat. This, as a rule, involves a couple of daily journeys to the storage warehouse - which is a long way away - with a suitcase or a trolley.

Well, to begin with, it was freezing cold. And I really mean freezing cold: a street indicator in Stratford gave a temperature of one degree centigrade above zero. And it rained. And rained and rained and rained - with the kind of drippy obstinacy only England knows, and that has made the English climate a by-word throughout the world. So... on my way to the warehouse, the bus before mine broke down, stopping the road. We all had to get off and walk to a different stop and... stand there in the freezing rain... waiting for another bus. As I got to the warehouse, the rain seemed to stop; so I made up my mind to use the trolley (which allows me to carry greater weights - rather than the suitcase - that is waterproof.

So, of course, by the time I got out of the warehouse, it was raining again.

In Stratford, the inevitable happened: the larger of the two boxes broke, scattering old, valuable and beloved comic books into the mud and driving rain. I do not even want to think of what happened; it just so happened that the books that fell included some of my all-time favourites - The death of Captain Marvel by Jim Starlin, two bound collections of the original Dan Dare comics by Frank Hampson, several Perishers by Dodd and Collins, and so on and so forth and so following... all ruined, and incidentally made valueless (not that I would ever have considered selling them). After the disaster had taken place, some twerp came along and told me, do you know that your box is torn there? I will not repeat my answer, but I think the whole borough heard it clearly.

So there I was in Stratford station, with two drenched and collapsing boxes full of beloved and valuable material. There was only one thing I could do: I caught a taxi - money down the drain - and had myself and my wet property taken straight back to the warehouse, where I ripped up what was left of the torn box and left the comics to dry on some shelves which I also have warehoused there till I take them back. By this time, my heart was in my boots and my mood somewhere beneath Mount Vesuvius; but luckily, the suitcase I should have used before was there waiting to be used, and I filled it up and went home...

...on the way back, the bus I was on caught fire...

...the next one I boarded was carrying a man in the last stages of intoxication, who spent all my time there yelling about Jamaica, and was working himself up to what looked like violence when I reached my stop...

...the final bus would never come. It was after six in the evening, and eight hours after I had set out from home, that I came back - only to find that, contrary to my normal practice, I had left heating and light on while I was away, wasting them.

It was while I was in this mood that I found the cyber-stalker's most recent note in my e-mail.

Comments

[cette-vie.livejournal.com]

I'm incredibly sorry for you. That sounds like a horrible day indeed. Pardon the saying, but when it rains... it really pours.

OT

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Icon love! Where does your picture of a lady in violet come from?

Re: OT

[(Anonymous)]

Rather than just chime in and simply offer consolation for such a horrible day, I will note that the icon in question comes from a painting by one of my all-time favorite artists: John William Waterhouse. You can view the entire painting here:

http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/view.cfm?recordid=50

You can also browse to see other great works, too. I hope this brings you some cheer!

Re: OT

[brightly-go.livejournal.com]

BLUSH! I didn't realize I wasn't signed in - so sorry! The above comment about Waterhouse was from me!

Re: OT

[cette-vie.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm very thankful that you did comment about that! I knew it was definitely Waterhouse, but had no idea what it was called. =) It's a lovely lovely painting indeed.

Was: OT; now Waterhouse

[brightly-go.livejournal.com]

Cool! I didn't want to steal your thunder, since YOU had the icon (and I have to agree with 'icon love.' :)

Came back to offer this warning . . . if you do go and visit the Waterhouse site, you may get lost in it! I sure did!!

Re: Was: OT; now Waterhouse

[cette-vie.livejournal.com]

Haha, oh, I really liked it. But the little java thingie on the right hand column was distracting and bled into my other windows, so I had to get off the site. Otherwise, it was really absorbing!

Re: OT

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[rfachir.livejournal.com]

Much sympathy for your loss. And more sympathy for the prolonged pain.

[super-pan.livejournal.com]

FPB, that is really one of the worst days I've ever heard. I am so sorry that all that happened in ONE day. I suppose you left your heating and light on because you didn't expect this ordeal to be eight hours long.
I return some hugs that you have given me, and I really hope you have a warm, dry evening doing something you enjoy, and that the next day is infinitely better.

[bufo-viridis.livejournal.com]

My goodness - it was a moment whent the series of your misfortunes sarted to read funny, but after a bit more, it stopped. I mean too much is too much. Let's believe the world has some balance and you will get a trully happy day in exchange!
You had a shot of sth stronger with your tea, I hope? We don't need you getting a cold on top.
Tomorrow will be a better day. Believe me.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

...can hardly be worse. 8-)

[bufo-viridis.livejournal.com]

There is some consolation in it. I can even bring the ancient Chinese wisdom (true one, not Cosmo-type) to support!
BTW, large plastic rubbish bags makes good waterproof wrappers, although they are easily torn. But they are quite cheap.

[rfachir.livejournal.com]

I might know someone willing to part with a Death of Captain Marvel comic. It's no collector's edition but it's yours if you want it (and we can find it). Let me know.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

I am in general interested in any kind of comics, especially if old. Actually, my DoCM graphic novel is still readable - it just has ragged edges, water-warped cover and mud stains. As I said, I have no intention of selling any of my collection of comics - and those I want rid of are worthless in any case - so I will keep it anyway. But if you can get me one in better condition - or if you have, in general, comic books to get rid of - I would be most grateful.

[rfachir.livejournal.com]

I'll schedule a basement safari. I just finished weeding mine of the boxes from my grandparents' basement (my father's high school trombone, the half-finished quilts and afghans, and bottles of disgusting sweet alcoholic stuff that no one drinks past the age of 21) so I expect they'll be pleased to let me dig. Collectors around the world tremble at my family - we keep stuff for decades then purge (one house/decade, whether it needs it or not).
I'll let you know when I find anything.

[patagonian.livejournal.com]

Yikes - I really hope your tomorrow is better, although if I understand probability (which I really don't) then your tomorrow is nearly guaranteed to be better. The law of averages maybe? Eh, whatever it is, tomorrow simply has to be better. Take care!

[kikei.livejournal.com]

iyiyiyiyi. *makes you hot chocolate and gives you a hot water bottle to curl up with*

I wish that things could just get better. I really feel bad about your comics... is there a way to replace them?

-Kiks

[fpb.livejournal.com]

They are still readable, and since I keep them in order to read them, I am not hugely damaged. Mainly, it was the fact that it was coming in the middle of so much trouble. Funnily enough, one of the first things I did as soon as I got home was pour myself a huge cup of chocolate.

[purple-mirie.livejournal.com]

*offers some milky and chewy chocolate*
I'm so sorry. That was such a terrible day. Tomorrow ought to be better.

[sporty233.livejournal.com]

That was really a very, very bad day..and I have/had recently also some experiences with bad days..BTW..
Just try to look positive in the future..I am sure that such a terrible day will not happen like this again..Even Murphy has an end at some point.
I hope you didnt catch a cold while walking in the cold rain the whole day..and that you had at least some good rest last night!

[fpb.livejournal.com]

If Murphy turns up again, I will shoot him. 8-)

[lazy-neutrino.livejournal.com]

Oh, you poor old thing. Have a cyber-hug. Much nicer than a cyber-stalker.

[becomethesea.livejournal.com]

You and me both. I had a royally terrible day the same as you. Maybe not quite so horrid on so many levels, but it was still pretty bad. My computer was destroyed, I got thrown out of classes because of some stupid financial technicality, and I almost had a falling out with someone.

Here's to much better days!

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Dear God. I was hoping that this would be the worst day anyone could have. I really do feel for you.