'Blue Eye' Zombies - My Weird Dream

So I had a weird, long, tiring dream last night.

Have you seen The Game of Thrones whitewakers? Or Warm Bodies starring Nicholos Holt? They both have zombie-types that have Ice-blue eyes.

In my dream last night I'm walking along with some friends when we realise we have to get away from the 'blue eyes' who are zombie-like people. Most of the dream is spent with different friends racing to a large shopping centre, grabbing what I need from the shops, and trying my best to lock and block all the entrences to the shopping centre.

I'm racing around, stuffing items in my backpack and on two occasions I have the chance to sit down and rest. the first rest is sitting behind the chair on a deserted bus (yep, still in this shopping centre). The second rest is in an abaondoned house (still in this shopping centre) where I manage to lay on a bed before realising the 'blue eyes' are getting very close to entering the building.

As I'm running through one of the corridors of the centre, I pass a 'blue eye' and I moved past her in slow motion, seeing her blank stare look at me, and the eyes look dead. Later on in the dream I see into to the eyes of a young girl and see the beginnings of them turning blue, with her becoming a 'blue eye', and I had to shove her out of the builsing before she infected other people.

At the end of the dream I was fighting other people, explaining why we had to get all the entrences shut and locked quickly. They kept letting in crowds of people who weren't 'blue eyes' but there was usually a 'blue eye' in with them that then had to be weeded out and thrown out.

I woke up this morning and wondered if I'd been watching too many horrow films recently, but I haven't. Apart from watching, and really enjoying, Warm Bodies last week, I've actually spent most of this week finishing my Planet of the Apes box set. And watching Green Wing, and Johnathan Creek.

This week.

It's gone all cold again here in the Falklands.
It was nice yesterday. So nice I wore a lovely pencil skirt and heels. Not something I always do, especially not in winter.

It's a friend's birthday today so we're off to lunch at the Malvina House Hotel (http://www.malvinahousehotel.com/). And tonight I shall be babysitting the little terror that is Baby Belle. Of course I forgot to bring the birthday present with me so I have to pop off home to get that before heading out to lunch. One of the great things about Stanley...I live 2 minutes away...well 5 minutes since to go home I have to go uphill.

It's National Day in Gibraltar today. I never used to think of Gibraltar overmuch. My Uncle in the RAF used to live there but other than that, it was just another UK place. Of course now I know a bit about politics and stuff I know more, especially since they're also having sovereignty issues with a larger country, just like the Falklands are.

I've pretty much decided to set up home in the Islands. I want to buy/build a house here. Of course I can't do that for a while since I'm still paying off my holiday, but it's something to aim towards. I'm just hoping the immigrations issues are altered so it means I can stay.

There's a Traffic Light Party this weekend. We're going out for Bonnie's birthday and there have been many discussions on what colour people shall be wearing. Green = available. Orange = possibly available/maybe and red = unavailable. I've decided to buck tradition and go as a traffic light. I'm going to wear all black and have the colours in my hair showing as the traffic light colours. I may be the only traffic light at the traffic light party. I like that.

Well...back to work. I really should update our work blog. Maybe this afternoon?

Original Individual to Become an Actual Brand?

This year I am turning 30. And for my birthday present my mum is giving me something that I've considered doing on and off for years.

She's giving me the chance for my own clothing line.
And by that I mean that she's getting me a decent sewing/embroidery machine and some start up clothes.

I've always been interested in fashion and customised as well as created my own clothing. Since I was about 11 I've had my own logo.

Original

Individual

 

 

 

I branded my clothing Original Individual and designed the logo myself. Any clothing I've customised/made over the last two decades have this logo on them somewhere. Many times people have asked me to make them something or alter some of their own clothing. Many times people have asked why I don't sell my creations.

It used to be that I just didn't want people having what I have. I love owning something that nobody else does. Yes, I am materialistic. I've always known that.

Anyhow, as soon as my boxes arrive in the Islands I shall be starting to create and customise for the people of the Falklands. I just hope they want to buy what I produce.

In the mean time, I'll make a few more bags and purses. I'm also going to be experimenting with jewellery. and of course I'll have to look into the costs of a business start up, what I shall be selling items at and I definitely have to make I sure I fill out the appropriate forms to start a business in the Falkland Islands - not that it feels like I'm starting a business. It's more that I'm just doing what I do anyway and am now hoping to maybe make some money from it.

I'll be starting up a new blog I reckon. When I've got enough items to sell, so I can take photos and put them on the internet to show what I'm doing.

And I have to decide if I'm going to try to sell outside the Islands too. I need to think more about this.

Family Photo.

While I was away on holiday the family got together for a family photo.

When I decided I was going to the UK I managed to arrange it so my brother in Poland would also be in the UK with his family. Since mum has said for years now that she wants a family photograph I figured we could do this for her. Which we did.

So I met my nephew William and my niece Sophie for the first time. Sophie was a little unsure of me but William took to me straight away which thoroughly confused me as I'm not great with kids, especially when they're younger than 3. They scare me :I

With just a few tears and a lot of coaxing, we managed to get a fair few pictures done. Mum is really excited by them all. And I have now received my second email with photos attached. Looks like I'm going to have to get some printed.

My odd-bod family.

I'm Back!

So I've totally let things go over the last year or so. It's not even as though nothing has been happening and that's why I've not updated my blog.

In summary, my last year has gone like this:

Work
30th Anniversary of the Falklands War - very busy, lots of visitors, journalists, tv crews, etc.
Sir Rex Hunt died - again, work was busy.
The Referendum - I'll go more into this at a later date (not too much later though), suffice to say it was a very exciting time.
Baroness Margaret Thatcher died - again, very busy at work, especially since Stacy was away so I was all on my lonesome. I must say, producing a biographic programme on Lady Thatcher gave me such an insight into her as a person over just as a controversial political figure.
Members of the Legislative Assembly touring - these guys have been all over the place, specifically to South America to spread the word of the referendum. They word being YES! of course, yes to staying British.
NatWest Small Island Games - I shouldn't really add this since I was away on my jolly hols during this time.

Home
Loads of things going on in my personal life. Mother was rushed to hospital having nearly lost her sight. She wondered why her super duper migraine medication wasn't working, but it turned out she had Acute Closed Angled Glaucoma which basically was a day off burning her retinas. If this happened she would have also been deaf since she mostly lip reads and if she can't see then that can't happen. Gave me quite a scare, especially with being 8,000 miles away and unable to pop in to say 'hi, how you doing?'
My younger brother had a baby, or rather his ex did. But my baby brother is now a father and that also scares me. But I'm still 17 really.
The housework was finished, finally. Although we still don't have a kitchen floor. Instead A used that money to go on holiday. I approve of that choice.
I had an operation on my nose. A nasal resection. Basically a guy chiselled by nostrils thinner. So now I can breathe. Life is so much better now. I sleep throughout the night, I have very rare headaches now (instead of every few days) and I've only had one migraine since February. I love my new breathing ability. Of course I do want to go get this mucus reduction thing done as that will also help me. Oh, and speak better on the radio for work too!
My friend from the UK came for a visit to the Falklands. It was great and very flattering to realise someone is willing to save and spend that much money to fly thousands of miles to spend two weeks with me. I'll post a few photos soon.
I managed to save enough money to go on an epic holiday. More about that later, as I'll be setting up a new blog just for my holiday. Which was amazing!
My younger brother had to go to hospital due to his mental health issues. Also very scary to hear about. Luckily we're a strong family and we deal with these issues by being very blase about what's going on. Not to say it doesn't effect us, we just don't allow it to consume our every moment, and of course we always have to make the most innapropriate jokes about the many health issues in the family. It's what we do :)
And as has been mentioned a few time...I went on holiday! For the first time in about five or six years and left the Falklands for the first time since I arrived in January 2010. Like I said, I shall be blogging all about that.

So now I shall go, do some work and then alter the look of my blog because I've decided I need to make it look better.

A Super-Quick Catch-Up

Doesn't time fly when you're busy/bored.

I suppose I have had a busy time. Sorting out work issues, actually working, dealing with personal issues. I think things are pretty much sorted now though. Oh, and our adorable kitten Sheldon died. We miss her. We do like having our phone chargers and headphones remaining unchewed though.

Of course we have the builders in our house. So we currently have no kitchen. I'm hoping that by not being able to cook I'll lose a bit more weight. If I carry on eating sensibly, and going to the gym (Boot Camp - hard, but strangely fun) and try not to eat out, then I should do alright. I'm not after losing a whole lot of weight. Just half a stone or so. Mostly I just want to feel a bit fitter.

Some of the local shops and the Museum are interested in selling the CDs that the radio has produced. I love it, especially since I designed the covers for them, and wrote the blurbs. I also do the posters for work. I love designing posters. I have an amazing idea for the breakfast show. I have good ideas for the others too, but they're currently sat in my head waiting on me putting pen to paper.

Here are my CD cover designs. They are great, and I do like to show off.

You Can't Have Rainbows Without the Rain

This weekend I met Phil Vickery. My mum is jealous. It's a good thing :)

From just being nosy, going to see what was happening at the Jetty Centre we not only got to eat burgers, toothfish, salsa and a bean sauce made by Phil, but we got to have a chat with him, get filmed doing so, and got our photo taken with him. So on Monday myself, Scott and Ailie were on the BFBS news. Well, it was pretty much just the back of my head. But it's still cool. He's a nice man. And the food was lovely.

It was a busy weekend. What with the Barn Dance, the Pink Pub Crawl, the party at the FIDF, also with Mr Vickery being in the Islands, the first ever Falkland Islands Tourism Awards and the Run Together Run for Life event on Sunday. And winning a huge amount of wonderful veg from Government House in a raffle. I'm keepin my lovely housemates well looked after by feeding them the veg. By feeding them at all actually since they are both very busy bunnies right now.

And I'll tell you what, it's absolutely brilliant having funky coloured hair again. It's like fire....

Or not. It does look cool though. I'm happy with that. Not so happy that I need my eyes checking again, or that soon I'll be going to get a root extraction...one that may break the thin layer of bone between my tooth root and my sinus. I've been told that rarely happens so I'm hoping that I have my usual luck. I'm not a terrifically lucky person, just flukey. Things always look like they are worse than they are. Like when I had a suspected prolactinoma (non-fatal brain tumour), and it turned out that my hormones are just a bit odd and all I need is to take evening primrose oil to level them out. Like when I had to go to hospital to get my lip stud cut out, but they didn't have to cut a hole in my lip as they expected, they just took a long time to break the stud. See, things look like they may be bad, when they end up just being irritating.

Sometimes, I look at my life and realise that there's very little that could change to make it better. I could complain about the awful winter (and I HATE winter) or I could complain about the slight increase in my migraines, or that the house is a mess because I'm not that great at keeping on top of it. But I like to think I'm a bit of an optomist. Winter sucks, but at least I have a wonderful alarm clock that wakes me slowly and nicely. My migraines might have increased but I still only have one every other month or so, not so many really. The house tends to be a mess, but in a few weeks time Scott and Ailie won't be working quite so much so I'll see them more and they'll help with the house more.

I love my job, I love how I look right now, I love my social life, I love my sewing kit, I love life in the Falklands, and I love knowing the endless possibilities that are out there for me.

And I love showing off how great things are :)

A Normal Saturday Night

Five complaints about me last night:
1 - I got served before some men 'because I have boobs'
2 - I got served before some women 'because I was wearing red lipstick'
3 - I'm short
4 - I have an attitude towards a fella because he's miltiary
5 - I wouldn't let a friend start a fight with said military man

What actually happened:
1 - I got served before the men because I wasn't shouting insults at the bar and behaving obnoxiously
2 - I got served before the women because I was at the bar first, oh and it was pink lipstick dumbass
3 - If you need your friend to pull for you, you can't insult people, and if you think that telling me I'm short is an insult then you're deluded
4 - I didn't have an attitude towards you because you're military, it's because you missed you bus to MPA even though I told you I didn't care whether you went back or not since I wasn't about to sleep with you anyway, oh and you're married and still trying to sleep with me
5 - I wouldn't let a friend start a fight with said miltary man. Not worth it

In Just a Month

My last blog was a whinging, whining affair. You'll be happy to know, this isn't.

It's been an odd month. I've been over-doing it with the drinking, which I am now going to reign in. And we had Jamie and Vern from 51 degrees south down here filming http://www.51degreessouth.com/. That was great. We had a wonderful interview http://soundcloud.com/51-south/51-south-interview-with-firs. I previously met Jamie when he was here with the Hit and Run History guys, so it was nice to see a familiar face.

FITV celebrated their first anniversary. That was cool, it was a good party, and I only had to work for about 25 minutes of it.

Seb emailed me. He got to Cape Town safely and had an amazing ride over there. I replied to his email.

I emailed Dad. First off it took me ages to write the email, as I knew what I wanted to say but had to find the best way to say it. I finally did, got an opinion and I sent the email. Only it bounced back. Turns out that I now have no way of getting in contact with dad. Luckily I found another email for him, but after having to ask around. So I've sent it. Just waiting for a reply now.

I brought Aphrodite into work. She's my strawberry plant that I grew from a teensy, tiny seed. She did grow a strawberry at one point. But she's only a baby still.

My best friend met a lovely man, and that's all wonderful. And FIODA put on their best performance yet at the Town Hall. It went so well that they've been invited to MPA to perform out there.

I video-skyped mum and the nieces in Poland. They're all well and it was great actually seeing mum for the first time since I left the UK. She got a touch emotional.

And that's all that's happened this last month...oh except for my week off work when I tried my hand at baking. I made some lovely bread, teaberry buns (with teaberries picked by my own fair hand) and cherry buns. It was lovely.

Craziness will drive me crazy.

I enjoy my job, mostly. It's the same as most people's. I enjoy most of it, and there are things I'd rather not do, but they're part of the job.

When someone at work starts getting at you, over the tiniest, non-important things, then it starts to make going to work quite difficult.
Now I will say, this person hasn't been too, too bad until recently. Unfortunately this is what I expected to happen sooner or later. I knew this would happen when I took on the position. People who worked here previously had warned me. Which is why I've kept my distance. So it won't hurt too much when this person decides to take against me.

I've decided that if this continues for another week or so, then I'm going to make a complaint. As it is i've been marking down everything that's happening, large or small, because I want an accurate record of the craziness that's being aimed towards me. Not just me, the others are getting a touch of it too. But I'm not willing to put up with it. I should't have to justify the things I do in my job. Especially when it's no concern of theirs.

So, I'm feeling rather infuriated. If only it were one big thing, then we could have a bit of a blow out then just get on with things. Little tiny nit-picking, constantly throughout the last three weeks, with the occasional moment of over-the-top niceness, which I don't trust at all.

I have had worse jobs. And hopefully, even if this were to continue I can just get my head down and get on with it as I need the money from this job for my savings.

Wish me luck :/

Introspective Babble.

I've been rather introspective lately.
It started with a phone call from home. UK home, not Falklands home. Again it was mentioned how I was the last one that anyone expected to move so far away. I fully agree. I never expected to do half the things I've experienced in life. I never expected to go to University, I never believed I'd have ended up working abroad, let alone somewhere like Disney World. I wouldn't have ever believe I'd have the courage to move 8000 miles away from the place I grew up and the life I knew.
Sky-diving, watching a rocket launch, whale-watching, fishing, shooting. Camping on the beach in Barcelona. Working at the local radio station reading the news.

All these things that I never thought I would do, that were never even on my radar of possibilities. But here I am, 28 years old and not just believing I can go and have adventures and have experiences, but actually living it.

The thoughts that have mostly been circulating my active brain are mostly about the people that have been in and out of my life. From the boyfriend who had our future planned, before we went on to our own seperate futures, to friends who lives moved quietly on to the next village, on to the next phase, marriage, children, settling into their routine. So many people throughout my life that I am in touch with, have lost touch with. I have friends the world over. I can go anywhere I wish and make connections with more people. All these people who touch my life and leave a mark in some way.

I am a very lucky person. I can anywhere in the world, and always go home. I have many people I care for, who care for me.

By the time I'm thirty I aim to be started on my travelling. Whether it's at the first point of my journey, of popping home for a cuppa and hug for Mum before moving on, or whether I'll be in another country where I know no-one but can get to know anyone. I'm looking forward to it.

How exciting.

The Falklands and I.

Things are really hotting up this year with the dispute over the Falkland Islands. I personally can't see how there is a dispute when the people who inhabit the Islands, and have for many generations, are Falklands Islanders first and foremost, and very British with it.
Of course the media is going crazy with the goings on between the UK and Argentina over the Islands. The Argentine Government say the Islands are theirs and it was the UK who invaded way back in the early 1800s, and the UK say, hang on, that's not what happened, but regardless the Islanders want to be British. Even after the Falklands War in 1982 when many people, on both sides, died fighting for these Islands, after the Brit's won the Islanders back their freedom, after they were invaded by the Argentine military; it seems the Islands are still to be fought over.

I report on the news in the Islands. I read so much of the information there is available on the internet. I have researched the history of the Islands, from both sides, as I didn't want to be biased when I moved here. My conclusion is; leave the Islanders alone. Allow them their right to self-determination. They are happy to live in a beautiful but sometimes bleak group of Islands that have produced a hardy and proud people. These people are hard-working. They play hard. They are independant in a way mainlanders can't be. They are optimistic about their future, with a good standard of education, and the opportunities of further education in the UK.

I love living in the Falklands. After moving here on a one-way ticket, giving myself six months to decide if I wanted to stay or to return to the UK, I am still here. Two years and I hope for longer still. Immigration laws meant I had to re-apply for my current job, but I got it and thank the fates for it. I have such a good quality of life here. Even the people I don't like here I respect. They are who they are and make no pretences. I enjoy my work, and I am good at it. I love my friends, who make my time here that much better. I love the wildlife and the opportunites the Islands have given me. I have been fishing, shooting, whale-watching, visited Islands, stayed on the West, eaten numerous food dishes never before contemplated. I garden, I'm more active, and have some of the most amazing photographs. I have lost weight, my skin is clearer, my moods are more level, all in all I feel healthier.

I tried to come to the Islands unbiased, but living here has made me very much a fan of the Falklands and a supporter of the Falkland Islands people.

It's 3 am and All is Well

It's 3:33am and I'm awake. Yeah it's a Friday night and not unusual for me to be awake, except I haven't been out tonight.

I had a job interview for my job today. It's very wierd applying for the position you are currently in. But I applied, I did the interview, and I got the result. Which I can't say right now.

Oh, and Ben's baby was born too! I now have a little nephew to go with my two nieces. William Arthur. And, regardless of what the brothers say, it's not my turn! I'll leave it to them to carry on the family name. I was surprised to hear dad had showed up to see the baby.He never gave Ben any indication that he realises I'm still alive down here, or that I exist at all. But hey ho.

I'm awake in the early hours,
I'm listening to the summer showers,
Wishing I could fall asleep,
Close my eyes and count those sheep,
But here I lay, writing my blog,
When I should be sleeping like a log.

When I was younger I used to write so much poetry in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep. I used to have a real problem sleeping. Luckily these days it's more of a rare occurance. Except for this week.

I Travel? Sam Travels, Here I Go?

I've been thinking more about my travel idea recently. I've passed my first thousand pounds saved for the journey and am excited about raising more. Although how much and how fast depends on my being able to continue to work here at Falklands Radio. I have a job interview on Friday. For my job. It's odd.

Anyhow, the travel thoughts that I've having recently is about the title of my travel diary and a logo to go with it. Since I aim to write a travel diary, maybe record a videoblog, I want to make sure I have a good name. I'm thinking something simple, such as 'Sam Travels'. I've got time to keep thinking about it. And of course I'm open to advice and ideas.


I went for a meal on the Dira last night. Me and Ailie joined Sebastian, Ben and Ken on the yacht. It was a lovely evening. We had a few beers, some lovely cheese crepes, filleted dorado with courgette and peaches and chocolate for dessert. We had some wonderful conversation. The lads have been invited to ours for dinner on Thursday night. We're thinking of cooking mexican style. Chilli, fajita's, potato wedges, salad. I'm looking forward to it.

A Mini Reflection of 2011

A short round-up of my life in 2011.

Started seeing someone.
Got new job.
Moved house.
Stopped seeing someone.
Lots to do with the visiting film crew.
Annoyed by stalker behaviour of ex.
Annoyed by absent father.
Got better and better at my new job.
Was ill, had a week of work.
Moved house again.
Still annoyed by stalker behaviour of ex.
Had a couple of parties.
Enjoyed Christmas (don't tell anyone - I'm the grinch).
Enjoyed my birthday (don't tell anyone - I'm a birthday grinch).
Got to go on a yacht.
Great New Years Eve party.

I'm looking forward to 2012.

Puddings are a Way of Life

Why is it fine dining comes with desserts but not puddings?
Desserts can be ok. They're all right. But I like a proper pudding. Now maybe it's the Yorkshire in me, but there's nothing better than a good rhubarb crumble, or apple pie. A decent bread and butter pudding satisfies wonderfully. As does rice pudding. Good thick rice pudding, with that layer of skin that few people like, so I get it all to myself.

I made a lovely apple and rhubarb pudding just the other week. I'm no Delia Smith or Jamie Oliver. I make a decent ham sandwich and an edible chilli. But I do make some damn good puddings, if I do say so myself. It's Christmas and as usual I'm going to be stuck with fruit cake (that I don't like) and fancy desserts.

Time to pick some more rhubarb and make some more crumble I reckon.

Scrumptious.

Christmas Time. Bah-bleedin'-Humbug!

Christmas isn't a time I particularly enjoy. Lots of false happiness, being extra friendly to random people. Expectations of cards, feeling guilty if you don't send cards to the right people.

The horror of receiving a card or a gift from someone and not having got them something in return.

I'm not a fan of the festive period.
There is always a day or two where I do get caught up in all that extra joyfulness that hovers around people. And I love giving presents and seeing the happiness on people's faces when they get something that they didn't even know they wanted. Presents can be given at any time of the year. Why save up for months for one day?

I spent Christmas by myself one year. I loved it. There was no-one to please but myself. I chose what to watch on the TV, made myself a lovely pizza for lunch. Had a few beers, had a nap. Phoned the important people.

Every Christmas since I get the same questions.
'Why'd you want to be by yourself?'
'You can come to us if you have nowhere else to go'
'Don't be miserable. It's not fair on anybody else'

Why should I let guilt and other people stop me spending the Christmas season as I wish? Because I care about them, I suppose. And I do usually end up enjoying the day, for the most part.

Christmas is coming. Time for the enforced jollity.

Ho ho ho.

A Novel Idea

It always seems to me that the world and his dog believes that they have a novel inside of them, waiting to be put to paper.

Of course, so do I. Only, with my short attention span and my very low level of patience I don’t think I’d ever manage that novel. What I do think I could manage, and manage quite well, is a book of short stories.

And of course, like any aspiring writer and dreamer, I have my book started. I’ve had it started for about seven years now. One day I may finish it. I like to believe so. As for having my words published…

...wouldn't that be amazing!

I Think of My Ink

Look at me, look and see, see the marks on my skin, see the ink going in, marking me for all to see, marking me eternally.

The pain of the ink going in, the constant burning of the skin, this is a physical memory, it takes time to be a part of me.

I love tattoos. I really do. My first two tattoos, I wouldn't get now, but at 18/19 years old, they were what I wanted. They were my statement pieces for that moment in time.

My newest tattoo however, I absolutely adore it! And even if I feel like this as I do about my first two, well, there's nothing wrong with that. There is no regret. Just a change in mindset and a change on how I view myself.

Once I saw myself as an unfeminine tomboy, unsexy and a bit funky. Hence the snake and the spider.
Now I view myself rather differently. My first flower tattoo. A secret red little flower, hidden on my hip, showing the emerging acceptance of my femininity. Oh, this does sound trite. But it is also how I actually felt at the time. My large shoulder piece tattoo, my unique almost tribal flower design, inked in the faintest pink with a darker pink overtone. This is me now. I love how is puts me in mind of a piece of armour. A beautiful, intricate, strong piece of amour, designed for me alone.

And I already have two ideas for more tattoos. One idea that I've been playing with for years. One just recently come to mind. If in a year or two I have a more defined idea...well, that is a future project.

For now...my newest tattoo is a thing of beauty and I have now buy more clothes suitable to showing it off.

Ebay here I come.

My Sunday

Things I have done today:

Get up early (for a Sunday),
Went to work, learning how to report on the Remembrance Day Parade,
Had a nap,
Read a few more chapters of I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett,
Chatted to Bonnie,
Watched Labrynth, then Hairspray,
Made some new ear-rings,
Made pancakes (not as nice as normal though),

And that's where I'm at right now.
I've done some of my favourite things today, but all day I've had that unsettled feeling. So I'm trying to keep myself busy.
The next thing on my list of things to do this Sunday, is put a zip into my skirt, and make a bag using the button idea that I had a while ago.

Feeling unsettled makes me productive. Who'd've thought it?