Monday 29 December 2008

So......How was it then?

How was your Christmas? Okay was it? Eat too much? Off to the gym for the next month? Drink too much? Joining AA? Lots of daft pressies? Off to the charity shop with them tomorrow? Any family rows? Mine was good - really great in fact. Had a ball!!! Parents weren't too much trouble - kids were fine - Nintedo Wii was a big hit. Company was fab. Food was great - I was a helpful elf in the kitchen and didn't get in the way too much (or so I'm told!) Even the dog behaved and only pee-d in the wrong place once! Oh, yes, and by the way I managed to go from last Monday until today without smoking - and still haven't had one !!!! That's what I call a result.

I got a plethora of lovely gifts - including a lovely picture from Dan, a fab driving day experience, a truly lovely piece of jewelry - and loads more stuff - too much to mention - but somebody clearly thinks I have too much time on my hands as I got a jigsaw that it just a huge picture of baked beans on one side, and brussel sprouts on the other!!! (that'll take years!)

Tomorrow I'm being taken to the seaside for the New Year and I'll be back late Friday. I am a very very very lucky girl. xx

Happy New Year :)

Thursday 18 December 2008

Nearly there now!

Now then, Now then, Now then. (Remember Jimmy Saville? ..........random!) Anyway - a few musings on life in general at the moment. Lots to do and not enough time (as usual). Loads of things planned for the next few weeks ...some dull, some fun and some quite new and exciting:) Emergency chairs will be required on Christmas day as our gathering has grown in numbers - the more the merrier I say - and it won't be a problem for me because I'll be on the Champagne!!! So I'll be dozing on the sofa after the dishes are done! There will be a mix of three generations of two different families - so it will be mad, mad, mad and hopefully there will be many funny moments!

I won't get the opportunity to get to Sheffield again before Christmas - which is sad :( but may go up there again just after the New Year to see everybody who means so much to me.

This weekend includes a fabulous 'dressing-up in dinner suits' party on Saturday and a nice dinner out with amusing friends on Friday. Possibly the opportunity to experience new things on Sunday 28th - which I am excited about - but of course the festivities in between. Then a great few days away for New Year. 

I'm usually a bit of a 'bah humbug' person about Christmas - but I have a feeling that this year it's going to be different! Bring it on!

Wednesday 17 December 2008

Well - I wish it could be Christmas every day!!!

Sorry for falling off the edge of the earth like that! A few people will be wondering if I've met with some terrible accident (or hoping?) seeing as it's been over a week since I wrote anything on here. No excuse other than I've been a bit busy! I'm sure January will see a return to relative normality - but December is just mad. I still haven't finished my Xmas shopping and I'm off to Oxford on Monday and will be away for nearly two weeks. 

I've had houseguests since Friday (two of Dan's friends - who are lovely) have been using the house as a base to go and 'do' London - so I've given them my room and have been consigned to one of the spare rooms in the big house. The weekend involved shopping for a Christmas tree and then the putting up and decorating of the said item (lovely!). I knew that my "Yorkie bars aren't for girls" truck would come in handy at some point!!!

I met Oboe Jane the other night for Sushi and she is now a fully fledged member of the Princess Shiny Diamond group of girls (don't ask!) which is growing all the time. If you'd like to join - just drop me a line!!!!

The coming weekend will involve a party, dinner out and lots of carol singing - then a trip to Oxfordshire on Sunday night to do food shopping and get ready for Christmas :) I'm away for New Year in Suffolk (fab!) but if I get the chance I will pop a few notes on here in between.

I've been doing a bit of stuff for a friend which has taken up a fair bit of time - but obviously I can't say too much about that !!!

Happy Christmas Everybody xxxx

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Christmas Shopping

Okay - we're about a third of the way through our Christmas Shopping. I have gifts for important children, daughter - however - there's still MOTHER, Auntie, Uncle, Brothers and many friends to buy for. Usually I am full of ideas. Everyone is 'phoning me and asking what they should buy for other people - and therefore stealing my ideas!! Marry that with the fact that I have lent my credit card to someone I trust (!) today to do their shopping on line (apparently I'll have the cash by Friday?) - and you can see why I'm in a bit of a pickle. Every year I threaten to start in September - but deep down I must enjoy (in a warped perverse kind of way) the last minute rush - as I always get caught up in it. December as a month runs away all too quickly. Luckily I have no food shopping to do - or cooking - or even a tree to decorate this year - which is a very good thing - because if I did I would now be on my third bottle of prozac and be beating a path to the Surgery to get a repeat prescription.

I may do something on-line later - but perhaps I'll just pop to Kingston tomorrow. I don't even have the usual excuse of being too busy working.

I have to say that if I ever turn into one of those dreadful women who have their home-made Christmas cake and mincemeat prepared by the end of August (no offence) please feel free to either shoot me or take me to a big black man for frolicking and fun - just so that I can get my priorities back into some kind of order :)

I love Christmas xx 

Adored

At the moment I am being very spoilt. Today I have received a romantic gift of a beautiful bunch of red roses and have been told that I am to whisked away for four days and three nights to celebrate the New Year in style!!! My Christmas dinner is being cooked for me and my mother and my daughter are welcome too! How absolutely lovely.

Of course - I - like most of us - absolutely deserve to be spoiled and treated like Princess Shiny Diamond, because - as a mature woman of a certain age I am like a fine wine....rounded, intoxicating, and heady!!!

I like being treated nicely and adored - it's fab - and I highly recommend it :)

Scrabble is a board game

In the newspaper on Monday there was a story about a Mum who was horrified when she gave her eight year old son a Nintendo DS Lite to play with - the game was 'Interactive Scrabble'. The words suggested by the computer were choice apparently. T*ts, f*ckers (!), sh*t, and toke were but a few of the offending nouns that so upset Mrs Tonya Carrington of Lincoln. (I confess to guffawing out loud when I read this story!)

Well Mrs Carrington of Lincoln - allow me to help you as  you clamber down from your ridiculously high horse - my suggestion to you would be to throw away the Nintendo DS Lite and spend some quality time with your son playing the real Scrabble board game - or Monopoly, or Mousetrap - or any of the hundreds of other board games that are available. You could teach him to paint, cook, sew, collect conkers, make Christmas decorations, read a book together - not just give him the latest electronic toy and let him amuse himself. Games are meant to be played as a family - in order to teach children how to play fairly and by the rules - and also to enable you to spend 'real' time with your son. You were probably too busy watching Jeremy Kyle :)

(Do I sound like an old fart?)


Wednesday 3 December 2008

Where have you been?

I had a message from Christian this morning asking why I hadn't posted anything on here for a while!!! It's only been three days but I know he is used to me being more prolific - so many apologies to him and to anybody else who wondered where I had gone!

On Saturday I went to Banbury for an overnight stay - dinner was Steak and Kidney pie (home made) with lashings of Henderson's Relish (nothing less would do) - and it was delicious! Sunday morning involved a trip to the Ten pin Bowling - of course I came last - but I did it on purpose so that nobody would guess that I am in fact a world class bowling expert. I was even beaten by a nine year old girl :)

Then on Monday Nicola and I took Millie for a long walk in Richmond Park and then had lunch there. I managed to totally trash the wheel arch of my car whilst attempting a three point turn in a narrow alleyway which had steel barriers (oops) and then scratched all the front end of it whilst turning into her drive. (I am such a tit).

Last night I drove for about an hour and a half to go and have dinner at a lovely japanese restaurant in Swindon followed by an overnight stay there and I have just this minute got home.

In a minute I'm off out to meet someone for lunch and then tonight I'm going to 'Town' for sushi. Tomorrow I'm getting my nails done in Kingston and doing some Christmas shopping - then friday it's lunch with Trish and then a guest staying over until Monday.

Busy busy busy - it's no wonder I don't have time to post anything on here - is it?

Saturday 29 November 2008

Biscuits








Not sure about these - just eaten one and it was a bit weird. Hmmmm - Not sure at all.

London Adventures

I went to town yesterday and had a bit of an adventure which involved a black tall girl - an much older man - a brightly coloured acrylic wig and some leather straps - together with a heart stopping moment when I thought that I was about to end up at  Olympia to witness a Fetish  exhibition (honestly - there's never a dull moment) - and that's all the detail you're going to get about that - (If you want to know more you will need to call me) it also involved red wine on an empty stomach - ( too much red wine in fact - so I was half cut by lunchtime!) a drunken wobble back to the tube station - a Burger King (ugh) - and four hours sleep when I got home. Love it :) 

Friday 28 November 2008

Up Town

Today I'm going back to London Town. That will be four times in two weeks. It's getting a bit serious now. I really like central London and the more time I spend there the more I like it. When I moved here I never really bothered with going up to town but every time I go I find something new to be excited and pleased about. There are so many great places to see and great shops and fab restaurants and bars. I still haven't been to any museums or done any of the things that I set my stall out to do originally - but there's time yet. I have been to the theatre a few times and regular readers will know that I've been twice just in the last few weeks.

Today I'm going to meet a friend for elevenses and do some more Christmas shopping. The general consensus amongst northerners is that London is an unfriendly place - but I have to say that this is simply not true. Everyone is busy and in a hurry - but I have yet to meet someone who is decidedly unfriendly or impolite. I like London :)

Eating like a horse?

Hmmm - how odd things are turning out to be. Yesterday I went to see my lovely cousin and get my hair done up in 'town - then met Jo for coffee and cake (I like a nice bit of cake) - but - (and I hadn't eaten) I couldn't finish the cake!!! That's not like me at all! Then I got home and created a super lovely risotto (well oven-heated one from M&S) and couldn't eat that either - two mouthfuls and that was enough - the rest - as they say - was consigned to the bin. My digestive system has been a bit dodgy this week - and I am on antibiotics for a slight infection of the small intestine (too much info?) but it's not like me to go off my food - really - truly - it isn't! I am well known in all social circles for eating like a horse. (Good job I'm not known for looking like a horse - back end of a bus maybe? but horse ? never!)

I've just made two pieces of toast and they're sitting on the desk waiting to be eaten - and I just can't bring myself to pick them up and start masticating (oo-eer). I think I shall probably turn to dust.

Maybe when I've finished the antibiotics my appetite will come back. Somebody is making a special dinner for tomorrow night - so I hope I'm hungry by then :)

Wednesday 26 November 2008

Quickety quick

The Postman has been and has delivered something that I ordered on-line yesterday afternoon. How speedy is that? Impressed? I'll say.

Tuesday 25 November 2008

Shut your Mouth - Enough is Enough

Years ago somebody said this to me - it was in a public environment - and I was mortified with embarrassment and rendered speechless (really?).  I never really got over it properly and the incident clearly scarred me!! In the years that have passed though I have realised the wisdom of their words, and sometimes feel that it is better to keep quiet and say nothing.  The thing with words is that once you have said them - they can't be un-said - and no matter how hard you try to dilute them by blethering on afterwards, or deny the obvious meaning of what you said - you did say it and the words were heard by the person or persons that you spoke them to.

My brother did the 'saying stupid things' thing on Saturday - but that was okay - I forgive him and we have laughed about it since!

I, however, did the 'saying stupid things' thing last night and now the words have been said there's no way I can get them back. In an ideal world the words would be back in the bottle with the cork pushed firmly in and possibly floating away to a desert island somewhere. But - as we all know - we don't live in an ideal world. Perhaps I would do better by having some deaf friends?

Aren't our students supposed to be the bright ones ?

An intoxicated British college student badly damaged his new Mini Cooper by trying to replicate a stunt from the film The Italian Job. The student, whose parents had given him the car the day before, tried to drive down a set of church steps—unsuccessfully. By the time the Mini reached the bottom of the stairs, its radiator and two front tires had exploded and both front airbags had deployed.
[foxnews.com, 10/29/08 c&e]

Fox Porn - Chapter 3

Regular readers will know that I have had issues with Fox-porn before. If you want to know about these past occurrences of "Debbie does Dallas - (Fox style)" you can read about it here and here.

Last night they were at it again. Our garden is about one and half acres (ie quite large) so I have no clue as to why the cute furry little foxes all done up in their bondage gear, and ready for some 'hot' bedroom action always decide to play out their sordid little fantasies right under my bedroom window. 

Last night - or rather - this morning - they started at about 3am (what - on a school night?). Screeching, wailing, thrashing, flashing, and generally having a fabulous time of it. I'm not jealous (no - right) and it doesn't really upset me that foxes are having an active sex life - but I've looked it up on the 'net and their mating season is in the spring - not in November. This, clearly then, was purely recreational sex (cue the bondage gear). And I have to tell you - there was plenty of recreation going on. They were at it for ages. You would think they could do the decent thing and maybe stuff a towel in her mouth to stop her waking up half the neighbourhood (ie. Moi). It was an absolute cacophony of 3rd rate porn movie screaming and wailing. I was so distressed I very nearly 'phoned the Huntmaster - Oh - mind you - he wouldn't be able to help anymore would he? 

To celebrate their fabulous sex marathon they then took the trouble to overturn my wheelie bins (didn't wake me - I was already fully awake - but it did scare the pants off me) and distribute the contents far and wide over the full one and half acres.

Love you Brer Fox xxxx

I knew there was a reason....


...why I had an empty day in my calendar today...I just hadn't figured out what it was. The answer has now become quite clear. It's so I can do my Christmas Shopping on-line. And that is also the reason why God gave me credit cards - yippee - "smack that plastic beeeeeatch".

I don't know why I haven't always done my Christmas shopping this way!!!!

Onions

People are strange aren't they? A bit like Onions. Made up of lots of layers - lots of things that you don't see at first. You begin with the crispy brown skin and then off you go... peeling layer after layer away.  When you eat onions they taste really good - raw or cooked - soft or crunchy..but then often times you get really bad indigestion, bad breath - and rather wish you hadn't had the onion after all. Hmmm......

Monday 24 November 2008

Remember.....

...there are only so many tomorrows.

A friend told me this today and it really made me think. It made me think about the direction of my life, the people I share my life with and the music still in me. It made me think about what I want to do next and who I want to do it with...our lives are filled with endless opportunities and possibilities  - but limited time.  And the main difficulty is that we have no knowledge of how much of that time is ours. So I have decided to 'set my stall out' to enjoy every moment as much as I can. Carpe Diem.

Weekend report - 10/10

Well - here's something that's really worth writing about - an amazing weekend in Sheffield. I have had a ball. I went up on the train (first class!) on Friday afternoon from the newly refurbished St Pancras Station (which is quite nice actually). I was met from the train and taken to the hotel and then after a quick freshen up - off to meet somebody's parents - yikes! I have to admit I was a bit nervous - but no need as they were absolutely lovely! We had a chinese meal (still love pancakes and crispy duck) and a very pleasant evening - and what's more I didn't drink (antibiotics) and show myself up (result!).

Saturday morning we went to collect Jacqui and off to the Garden Centre for a fry-up (fab fab fab). I love Jacqui and miss her like mad. We had a good old natter and catch up and really not enough time - then a quick whizz down to Thomas Irving Country Store to buy a new Riding hat for Dan as one of her Xmas presents - oops forgot to mention quick shoe shopping in Dronfield and a catch up and hug with fabulous Dot. Two nice new pairs of winter shoes (yaaay!). 

Up the road to Meadowhall to meet La Familia for late lunch - Mum, Mimi, Dan, Jan, Russell and Frazer - much laughter and general approval all round!! Also managed to get some shopping done - another pair of verrrry sexy boots for me and a couple of Christmas presents.

Two Junctions north up to Stocksbridge to Helen and Andrew's house - quick change and the cab back to Sheffield for dinner at Cafe Guru with Christian and Victoria, Fiona and Sean and Helen and Andrew. Great food, some wine (not for me - bloody antibiotics!) and much much much much laughter. Victoria was hilarious ( as usual) and we had the best time!

We had a lovely sleepover at Helen and Andrew's house and then a nice drive back home yesterday afternoon (I slept most of the way), and then pie for tea last night - with Henderson's relish of course!!! I was told that my Sheffield accent had come back with a vengeance - which is absolutely a good thing!!!

I love going home and seeing all the people who mean so very much to me - I always have a great time and this weekend was no exception. I can't wait to do it all again very soon :)

PS - have just had a chat with my Mum and apparently my new friend gets her seal of approval :)




Thursday 20 November 2008

London Fun

Today I am very tired indeed. I have spent the last two days up in London Town and a very nice time was had by all. I caught the train up to town on Tuesday lunchtime - hopped in a cab (I love London cab drivers - they're so chatty!) and dropped my bag off at the hotel - then went shopping and met Jo for coffee and cake - a quick nip to Selfridges (yaay) and the big M&S (double yaay)!
Back to the hotel in Covent Garden to meet my companion - coffee, and a chat - and then a short walk to the theatre to see Jersey Boys - which was absolutely brill. If you are looking to come to London to see a show any time soon - I would strongly recommend this one - it was very very very good indeed. The music was fab and I had a great time.

After the theatre we went here for supper and had a big pot of mussels and some belgian beer. I first went to this restaurant about two years ago with Frazer and Richard and Mum and Mimi - and my Mum got shamelessly plastered!!!

Yesterday I went to meet Liz and off we went shopping in New Bond Street. We had a great time browsing the shop windows and actually went inside Bulgari and Tiffany's (I felt like Audrey Hepburn!). Everything was very sparkly and I could really do with a winning lottery ticket!

After a lovely lunch (salad - fatty!) I finally got in a cab and went to collect my bags - then a forty minute train ride back home. 

Last night I had fish and chips round at Su's and watched the Footie! Today I am yawning but very happy :)

Tuesday 18 November 2008

Just because I feel it.....

Over the last few months I have learned loads. For someone who goes with their inner gut instincts one of the most difficult things I had to learn was to sometimes discount my inner voice. This is because at times of in-balance your inner voice may not be telling the truth. Well - it kind of is - but from a different view point. The phrase that I learned (along with the meaning behind it) is   "..Just because I feel it doesn't mean it's true..."

I learned to take a step back and look at things more dispassionately - through somebody else's eyes - and take a more balanced view. This works fine until you begin to struggle with a new concept - or idea - and absolutely need some guidance from somewhere. Normally this would come from your inner voice. What I should do is get more facts - then test the water in tiny stages - and make small step-like decisions while ever it feels comfortable. That way nothing gets overloaded and you avoid making huge mistakes. It takes a bit longer to reach the end point - but the final decision is much more likely to be the right one. 

So - here we go then - we are testing the water in tiny steps. 

I'll let you know how I get on :)

Monday 17 November 2008

Trampette ?

Everything's going a bit Pete Tong round here today. It doesn't help that I've only just got out of bed - look at the time - how decadent is that?  know, I know, I should be ashamed - but you know what? I'm not - so stick that in your pipe and smoke it :)

I have done no washing for three days as Fergil and Sharkey next door have been monopolising the laundry facilities somewhat...so my dirty linen basket is overflowing - which then means the ironing basket will be overflowing later. My bank account needs  balancing - and I haven't done that for weeks - so that's now grown into a job of epic proportions. I have no food in the fridge again (yesterday I cooked Sea Bass, with spinach and carrots - Go Delia) so that means another trip to PCSH (pre-christmas supermarket hell) - and despite my very best intentions of going to the yard to de-mud phoebe - I just never got round to it - so that has to be done today as well. Let's not even talk about cleaning the car - it's filthy inside and out and quite frankly I'm ashamed!!! 

I think that I have turned into a lazy - good for nothing - slutty - idle - trampette of the worst kind - and you know what? I love it!!!

Chick Flick

Last night we watched this movie. I've seen it before about five times, and I could easily watch it another five times. It's totally a chick flick but I love it and it always makes me cry at the end. The soundtrack from it is fab and I listen to it in my car all the time. If you haven't seen it I recommend that you do - but get the tissues ready for the end. 

Early :)

Yawn yawn yawn...look at the time - for goodness sake. When I was working (ooh - when was that then dear?) I used to get up at 6am every day. Last night I had a guest stay over and have just seen said person off to work - with toast and coffee - lovingly prepared by moi - and now I'm going back to bed. How do the working population manage it? This is an ungodly hour !

Sunday 16 November 2008

Tesco pre-Christmas hell

I have just come home after a brief trot around M&S and Tesco. Christmas is certainly on the way - I know this because I have just endured  'pre-Christmas Supermarket hell'......it's the same every year - and I HATE it.

So I have a few things to say to the general public........ Please leave your Children (screaming toddlers..."I want THAT one") at home if you visit the shops whilst I'm out and about. If you do have child care issues and absolutely must bring your screaming bratty kids with you - then do us all a favour and put them in the toddler seat of the trolley and tie their chubby angelic little arms together with baling twine - and stick their gobs shut with Duck tape. 

Please do not meander down the supermarket aisles willy-nilly with your trolley at an angle and abruptly halt in front of me (grrrr - pensioners please take note) Please do not take up the whole space in front of a particular section (with your entire extended family)  so I can't get in there to grab a quick 2 pint carton of milk. Please do not treat supermarket shopping as a family day out - there are far more fun things to be doing on a Sunday afternoon ...yes I know it's raining - but still. Please don't act like a tw*t with your huge over-flowing trolley at the checkout - if you see a small cross blonde woman behind you with three small items in her basket - be a star and let her in front of you...puleeeeeez! Don't drive around the car park slower than a tortoise and hold everybody up - there is NOT a space closer to the door - so no matter how many times you go round you will eventually have to give up and park a ten minute walk away - just like the rest of us.  Please don't insist on packing your shopping as if your very life depended on how slowly you can perform this particular task - stuff it in the bags quickly and get out of my way...there is no prize for wasting time in Tesco.  Never has been - never will be ...deal with it and move on :) and finally - you should all know that jogging bottoms are NEVER a good look, not for anyone - ever.

Christmas is just around the corner....

Oh Dear - what are we going to do about Christmas? For the last few years we have had Christmas down here in Surrey - well - I have. Dan went up to Sheffield one year and I was here alone - which sounds sad but actually it was great - I had lobster instead of turkey and quite enjoyed the peace and quiet. Last year we had a big family Christmas here at the house (the chefs came and did the cooking and the washing up!) - but what about this year? My two brothers won't be around this Christmas (I'm leaving on a jet plane...) so my Mum will be 'Home alone' in Sheffield - so that's quite a consideration - also I have been invited out to Spain to join the Family for Christmas (and apparently everyone else can come too!!) So - that sounds like about ten people in Caba Pino for the festivities - but - then - I've also had an invite to somewhere else (and this invite also includes my Mum, and Dan and Jan).......it's such a dilemma!!! Crikey Moses....I need to make a plan.

The pressure is building and it's only mid-November - you see why I'm not so keen on Christmas?

This year may be the year when I volunteer to 'help the homeless' for the day :)


Musicals

The new music playlist that I have just added is all about Musicals. That's because I'm off up to 'Town' again this week to see another one. I have included a track from Jersey Boys, two tracks from 'Oliver' (for me and Victoria!) a tune from Grease (oh - that takes me back), the fabulous 'Climb ever Mountain' from 'The Sound of Music' (my favourite shower song!)  and something from 'South Pacific' as that's my brother Frazer's favourite musical. 

Dinner

Well - I like to meet new and interesting people. Last night my dinner was cooked by somebody who turns out to be the tour chef for U2!!! Fancy that! Dinner was great - we had Pate, followed by fillet steak in some kind of fancy garlic sauce with roast vegetables, and then Tiramasu. All created with ingredients from Waitrose and 'thrown together' in our kitchen. It was delicious!!! That particular Irish guy can call round again :) Actually dinner with four Irish guys was nothing if not noisy and fun - and for once I couldn't get a word in!!!

Saturday 15 November 2008

The Irish sure do multiply fast

We have two Irish guys staying here at the big house. They're working for Dan's dad in his company and in an effort to save expensive hotel bills they're kipping down here for the time being. They're okay (can't quite remember their names so I have christened them 'Fergil' and 'Sharkey'). They keep using the washing machine a bit too often - but on the whole tidy up after themselves quite well and aren't too much of a nuisance. 

Earlier today I went to look for them to find out what their plans were - as I have been tasked with making them feel welcome - only to find that two had become three...they were in the dining room eating a huge fry-up (to which I hadn't been invited) and they had a friend with them. I was duly introduced.

When I came home later after my riding lesson I discovered yet anther one of them in the kitchen. So now there are 4 paddies in the big house - cooking a huge meal (to which I have invited myself - it's only fair). I don't really know who these other two are - but apparently one of them is a chef - so that works for me. 

It's a bit disconcerting that when I lay my head on my pillow at night there are now four random guys not thirty feet away from me. Tonight, I think I'll lock the adjoining door :) It feels a bit like we're running a B&B boarding house for those who have kissed the Blarney Stone.

Phoebe goes headlong........

...into a field full of mud. The resulting mess all over her head, mane and neck has to be seen to be believed. I have this with her every single  winter - and tomorrow morning I have to go to the yard nice and early - scrape off the dry mud and then dress her in her 'snuggy hood' pyjamas to prevent it happening again. She's such a minger.

Champagne and Roses

Well - what's been happening then? Lots of stuff actually. Full house for a few days - lots of food - wine - Champagne (4 bottles so far this week and it's only Saturday morning) - and much laughter and merriment - despite the fact that we all have the devil after us  - we're managing to keep cheerful and absolutely see the funny side of everything. Families are great - aren't they?

No better reason to drink Champagne than when the Devil is chasing your tail :)

Yesterday I was the very lucky recipient of a dozen red roses - ooooooh - get her!! Somebody is thinking highly of me at the moment - and it's very nice indeed. Very Very nice. Last night I went out to dinner and had a friend stay over - tonight it's a meal round at a friend's together with back to back episodes of "Sex in the City" and my fortnightly riding lesson this afternoon. Tomorrow it's a nice relaxing Sunday - watching a dvd and dinner at home. 

Next week involves a trip to 'Town' to see this. So I have downloaded the show album from itunes and am currently listening to it - very good and quite upbeat kind of sing along, toe tapping music. 

I also have an afternoon out planned with a new friend and then the week ends with a fabulous weekend in Sheffield (thermal vest required) when I am going to spend time with all my favourite people and see family, and meet somebody else's family!!! (Best be on my best behaviour then!) . I'm also going shoe shopping (yaaaay!).

I will be seeing Jacqui on Saturday morning for breakfast. Dan is coming to Sheffield too and we're having a family get-together on Saturday afternoon followed by dinner out with favourite people on Saturday night!!! I'm travelling to Sheffield on the train - First Class - no less - how posh!!!

I am really looking forward to the coming week :)


Friday 14 November 2008

Singalong

At this moment in time - well not actually just this moment - but in general..at the present time...overall..... (get the drift?) things are going remarkably well. I don't know why I would need to tell you this apart from the fact that I am happy as a sandboy right now and I think my readers will be pleased by that? (I hope so anyway - however if any of you are busily sticking pins in a wax effigy of me and plotting my downfall...I would say "It's not working - try something else?") 

Maybe my planets are all in alignment - I have no clue really - but right now - everything is fab. So to celebrate I feel a song coming on.  Everybody sing along to this. It's a great song - and it sums up perfectly how I'm feeling :)

Crap Staff

Yesterday I went into Lloyds Tsb at Esher to change my Euros back into pounds. The woman who served me was really miserable and snappy. She was helping a younger colleague to do something on her computer and spoke to this girl as if she were thick, then she refused to look me in the eye whilst serving me, and shoved a piece of paper and a pen my way - clearly expecting me to sign something? 

I tried to feel sorry for her and understand that whatever it was that was bothering her - was bothering her - and therefore it wasn't my problem. I also tried to feel some compassion for her because she was clearly having a bad day - perhaps she'd had bad news (yeah - like maybe her Husband had run off with somebody cheerful?)...but I have to report that in all honesty she just irritated the cr*p out of me and I wanted to slap her!!! I really really wanted to tell her that I was the "Customer" and therefore entitled to a few pleasantries, a smile, and a cheery hello. These things are obviously very thin on the ground at Lloyds Tsb in Esher. 

Hangover?

This morning I have been reminded - as if THAT were necessary - that late nights and copious amounts of alcohol of the bubbly variety are NOT GOOD for me. I have a headache and my eyelids are stuck together in a not very attractive way. I have actually known for years that alcohol doesn't really work for me - and for a very long period abstained altogether from imbibing any kind of evil brew. Last night I popped out to fetch a Curry for them next door (Master lives in t'big house) and called at the wine shop - to pick up a couple of bottles of Pinot. Note I say a COUPLE. So please explain why I then felt the overwhelming desire to pick up a cardboard 6-bottle wine carrier and fill it? .....and whatsmore - popped a bottle of Champagne in there?.....(celebrating? what? exactly? still being alive?) so now I am moaning, groaning and saying very loudly..."NEVER AGAIN"....that is until next time - besides I still have three bottles left:) I also have the feeling - along with some cloudy memories - that I had a long telephone conversation with someone - after consuming the alcohol - so goodness knows what I said during that! 
(Note to self - you are not eighteen - you are forty-five)

Wednesday 12 November 2008

Lidl is NOT the way forward

I have just been chatting to a friend. The last time I spoke to her she told me that she had reliably been informed that Lidl may be the way forward! Apparently it's cheap - and we all love a bargain. My friend is quite delightfully middle class (she rides horses and grows her own organic veg!, and like me she is an afficianado of John Lewis) and she tells me that the Lidl store was a horrific experience never to be repeated. 

It was chock full of 'chav' food (being purchased by Chav ladies - wearing velour track suits - ugh!)- ie a huge array of fizzy pop, a myriad of brands and flavours of crisps, and generally lots of food packed full of e numbers and preservatives - all the things that you want to feed your children - NOT. Because she had a trolley she felt she had to buy something - so she purchased a packet of biscuits - which were incidentally NO CHEAPER than in Waitrose - and a six pack of mineral water.

She is now traumatised and will never be going to Lidl again. I think it was the pikey bird trying to teach her how to put her pound coin in the trolley that put the final nail in the coffin!!!

Bucket List

Last night I went out for a Curry (I know that you already know this) with a small select group of people who had been working hard all evening. One of the people asked me to recount some stories from the past that involved both of us (Validation?).  Anyway I dutifully did as I was asked and have to say quite enjoyed doing so - seeing as my past is quite varied and checkered - there's nothing like a good story is there? Anyway it left me thinking - I'm probably more than half way through my life (who knows?) - that's if the Great Grim Reaper doesn't come along and claim me early ..."No - don't take me yet - I haven't been to bed with George Clooney"....

That's quite a profound realisation I have to say. Inside I am still twelve years old and have forever left to do everything. But on the outside I am definitely not twelve anymore - mind you I find it very hard to act my age :) 

I still have my list of things to do (Have you seen the movie 'Bucket List'?) and there's still loads of things on there that I still haven't done. If anybody would like to do any of these things with me - please apply in writing!!!   So here's a few of the things from my list...

1. Gallop my horse on the beach
2. Learn to tap dance - and not fall in the sink!
3. Learn to ballroom dance - properly
4. Read and understand a Shakespeare play (doh!)
5. Act in a play.....what fun!!
6. Work in a homeless shelter on Christmas day
7. Take my Mother shopping in Harrods and buy her anything that she wants
8. Swim in the warm ocean at midnight - (naked)
9. Climb a (small) mountain and then sit at the top for the rest of the day
10. Fly a plane
11. Do a parachute jump
12. Buy Dan's Wedding Dress and see her wear it
13. Really explore Paris and Rome
14. Say all the things that mean something to all the people that mean something 
15. Hug my Dad one more time
16. Dress up as a Fairy and go shopping
17. Sing 'Jerusalem' in a big Cathedral as part of a massive choir
18. Drive a racing car - very fast
19. Learn another language
20. Learn to play the Piano

A phsycologist would have a field day with that list!!!



What matters is how you finish

I do not know how lucky I am

Humpa Lumpa

Well...here we are starting to think about our weight / size (see previous posts about 'Muffin Top") so what's the very worst thing you can do? Eat dinner and then go out for a Curry!! - Just because a friend phones and asks you to !!! So along you toddle to the local Indian (ours is called 'The Gaylord' - and we are on first name terms with the staff) at 10.45 pm (eating late dear?) - and should just watch everybody else eat whilst sipping a glass of mineral water - but NOOOOOOOO - Tracy orders food - eats it and then helps everybody else finish theirs too!!! Oh yes - she also nicks all the After Eight mints too!! You see, the thing is, my friend needs my support at the moment :) That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Tuesday 11 November 2008

Food Sensations

Black Stump Pinot Grigio (any crisp dry white will do) and Green and Black's Organic Black Cherry Chocolate (only this particular Chocolate will do!)

Place a square of the chocolate into your mouth until it reaches body temperatures (about 90 seconds) - it should be just about to melt- (resist all urges to chew). 
Lift glass to lips and sip wine through the chocolate.
I defy you not to enjoy this taste sensation.

The bar of chocolate should last for the entire bottle of wine (Tip - buy the large bar)

Result - half a stone fatter and pleasantly pissed :)  That'll work !!!

Were we drunk?



Looking at these pictures you would say that we were quite a bit tiddly - wouldn't you? By this stage I had drunk about 3 glasses of champagne - which - anyone who knows me will tell you is quite a lot for me!!! The camera was clearly out of focus (which is a good thing!). I also appear to be in some slight state of undress!!!  But obviously I wasn't drunk - or in any state of undress as we were in a nice restaurant and I simply don't behave like that!!!! Yeah Right - Since when?...........

You will recognise Mikey (who doesn't like having his picture taken) in the top picture from previous posts - but the lovely gentleman whose knee I am sitting on in the second picture (brazen hussy) is Chris. Everybody wave hello to Chris!

Now I'd better get on with the laundry that I've brought home.

Monday 10 November 2008

Another post from Spain

Today has been fab (yesterday actually - check out the time of this post). Got up late - ate toast and drank coffee - eventually went for a walk down to the port at Caba Pino and had a lovely late lunch - sat outside - in November!!! How amazing!! Great food - we had Cod, Chicken, bread, pork and meatballs - food was lovely. Then we went for a walk round the port and looked at / lusted after the boats. Walked back along the beach and meandered back to the house - where we stayed for the rest of the day / evening. Am having a great time and don't want to come back to Surrey later today :(

Saturday 8 November 2008

Post from Espana

Greetings from sunny Spain. You will be pleased to know that I have successfully managed to drive the Range Rover on the wrong side of the road and not even come close to having an accident (I have surprised myself with that one!) It's actually much easier than I thought it was going to be. I also managed to find the house with no problem. Today I have been to the supermarket and to Caba Pino port for lunch at 'Alberts' where I had an all day breakfast which was huge!!! It's warm enough to sunbathe during the afternoon and we're having a lovely time. Only one more full day and then back home late Monday. Yesterday I dipped my toe in the sea - brrrrr - and today I thought about swimming in the pool - but the heater isn't on so I soon changed my mind! Last night we went out to dinner with Mikey, but tonight we have cooked dinner here at the house. Having a lovely time and wish you were here!!!

Thursday 6 November 2008

Graham Norton - Speed dating - Very, Very Funny!

Look out for the tongue...almost at the end of the clip - hilarious

Tracy and Sharon have a Chat over a cup of tea and a fag in a dark dingy kitchen somewhere near Wath Upon Dearne

Alright duck?
Aye - you?
Sugar?
Two and a bit - ta...
Christ - you're up early? 
Aye - I am. Packing.
Oh - where you off to?
Spain.
Oooh lovely. 
When are you off?
Tomorrow - first thing - Dawn's Crack.
Warrabout dog?
She's stoppin' at Barbara's
When are you back?
Monday.
On yer own?
No, as it happens. Taking a friend.
Female friend? 
Errrr, actually... No - it's a chap!
Flippin' eck!! You kept that quiet!!
Well, early days - don't want to tempt fate., do you?
Nice - is he? - this chap?
Yeah - he's okay as it turns out.
OOOh - how did you meet him then?
 - well, funnily enough ...on t'internet. (Peter Kay would be impressed).
So, what's he like then...this chap? 
Well, he's quite nice. Very nice actually.
How long you been seeing 'im then?
Hmmm, just over a month.
Bloody 'ell - you've kept that quiet. So.... like him then?
Wouldn't be going to Spain with him if I didn't - now would I?
What does he do then, this chap?
Oh - he works for t'leccy. He's a meter reader - he's got his own van and everything. 
Crikey - classy! Shagged him yet?

Wednesday 5 November 2008

Bathing Millie


Millie came back from a long walk today - with an accompanying smell that was pretty indescribable. Therefore she has just had a bath in the kitchen sink. Now she's not talking to me :(

"Oh this year I'm off to..........."

In two days time (that's 2 more sleeps) I'm off to Sunny Spain for four days (and 3 nights) ...flying out first thing Friday and flying back last thing Monday. (Weather forecast is 23 degrees and sunny - read it and weep!).

I am really looking forward to it. While I am there I will have to drive on the wrong side of the road - mind you- in Spain it's the right side of the road!!! There is a car waiting for me at the airport - and then I have to find my way from the Airport to the house. I've been about six times before - but have always been collected so am not too sure of the route (mainly because Mike has been driving - very fast - so I've spent most journeys with my eyes closed wimpering in a corner - ie NOT paying attention to the way home). When I get to the house I then have to work out how to use all the 'stuff' that's there - Electric gates, coffee machine (certainly) TV, pool cover, sun shades, cooker etc etc - the list goes on. Most of the stuff is hi-tech - and normally that would preclude me - but unless I want to live on sandwiches for four days and not swim - I will need to work it out!!!! It's going to be a steep learning curve!!! Fortunately I am not going alone - and my companion is rather brainy - so I think we'll be okay :)

Dinner with Jo

Last night I added to the Muffin Top. I went out for dinner with Jo. I had a great roast from the carvery - but stopped before pudding (cannot have chumpa wumpa in bikini in two days time - just can't do it!). It was great to see her again - after a break of a few weeks - and we had a lovely chat and caught up on all the latest gossip. 

I am extremely blessed to have a cacophony of great friends - and the coming weeks are full of lovely opportunities to see some of them again. Yippee x

Cigars

Well - that's decided then....Barrack Obama is the new president of the USA. I don't really follow American politics (or UK politics for that matter) because I kind of think that there's little integrity involved in the process and nobody is really speaking the truth - so why would I want to listen to it all when all you get is smoke and mirrors!

But he seems to have an inner dignity and a sense of 'goodness' about him - so who knows - perhaps he will be the first one to actually come good and deliver what he promises in a good way.

Let's hope that he doesn't like female interns and smoking cigars...."I did not have sexual relations with that woman" (no sh*t Clinton?...what do you call it then? Let's not go into detail here but doing 'stuff' like that with a member of the opposite sex comes pretty close to sex in my book - it's not exactly Origami is it?) 

I have had the debate many many times that Clinton was / is a tw*t who lies as easily as breathing with a friend of mine who admires the guy (???).  This friend has a photograph of the two of them standing together shaking hands - if it were me I would rather have a picture of me shaking hands with Ken Dodd.  My point being that if he allowed his power to go to his head, shagged a staff member (just the one was it?) and then bare faced lied about it - is he really the man we would want running the USA and by default then most of the rest of the world? Self- serving and dishonest. If he can do that to his wife - what chance do the rest of us stand.  Speaks volumes to me about his core values..........no? I was told that I was being naive and I must separate his personal life from his ability to do the job. No can do I'm afraid, as we are all a sum of all our parts. So my opinion still stands - Clinton was / is a w**ker who shouldn't / couldn't be trusted. Let's hope Barrack Obama is better / different. Good Luck to him as he starts his new job today.

Tuesday 4 November 2008

When you're chewing on Life's gristle.......

Leaps and Bounds

Today I went to see someone. I have been seeing this person for about ten weeks and started the process because I needed to gain some insight, understanding and more knowledge about myself and my place in the world - what makes me happy - what distresses me - what to embrace and what to avoid - past patterns and future possibilities - what really matters and what is of no matter - and I have learned loads and loads - and although the journey has been painful in parts - on the whole it has been extremely enlightening and truly great. Learning about anything - but especially ourselves - is really beneficial.

Anyway - cause for huge and joyous celebration (Champagne anyone?) - this stage of my life journey is now complete, with the realisation that I am my own diamond. 

Where on earth am I going next?

...and talking of life pleasures....

Here's a few more to be thinking about....sun, sea, sand, bucket and spade, lotions, potions, commotions, flights, dinner, lunch, breakfast, laughter, friends, hugs, snogs, holding hands, wine, gin, good Brandy, fruit, double cream, lobster, fresh warm bread, taxi cabs, airports, shopping, family, friends, buns, cakes, pasta bakes, champagne, sheets (clean and crisp) showers, towels (fluffy) dogs, cats, coats, hats, Chocolate (green and Black's), Log fires, comfy sofas, Daughters, Sons, Brothers, Mums and Dads, horses, courses, new people, old steeples, new places, old faces, visits, arrivals, departures, births, marriages, celebrations, smiles, laughter, some tears, facing and beating fears, Chopin, Paganini, T.Rex, great sex,  shiny diamonds, deep and meaningful chats with people who 'get it',  drinking glasses, reading glasses, Peter Kay, cheescake, sunshine, moonshine, wind, rain, snow, hail, grass, hay, trees, flowers, sleeping, waking, dreaming, thinking, reading, writing, flying, running, skipping, walking, sliding, meeting, greeting and eating :)

Scientific breakthrough (or not)

A couple of years ago I asked this question. I was still not entirely sure of the answer so I figured that a scientific  experiment was in order to try and ascertain the true answer once and for all. I made a mistake in that I purchased the required subjects for the experiment from Waitrose instead of M&S and the chocolate fondant is a bit more 'runny'. This then necessitated adding another element to the procedure - ie - scooping gooey chocolate from the packaging with fourth digit - right hand - and then licking the same. 

Anyway I am sorry to report that the results are inconclusive this time. I think we may have to move forward and accept that this could perhaps be a long running scientific project and we may be looking for 'mean' values rather than a single conclusion. Oh well...the life of a scientist is never without its pleasures....sigh!

Nelson Mandela Inaugural Speech - 1994

..."Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves "who am I to be be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and famous?" Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God and your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others".....

Monday 3 November 2008

Proud

Everybody makes mistakes. Some tiny ones that go almost un-noticed and some great big massive ones that shake the very foundation of our lives. When we're in 'Mistake-zone' we often can't see how destructive our behaviour is. It takes a brave person to recognise their mistakes, and then take the required action to put them right. I know someone who has done that this year - and the mistakes that they made were quite big in the scheme of things. However - they have faced them and rectified them and taken all the steps they can to make things right and create a better life for themselves. I spent time with this person today and am really very proud of them for all they have done.  Effort in the right direction rarely goes unnoticed and this is no exception. 

New Friends

Tonight I have been to London Town to meet up with Jane. I have never met Jane before but kind of 'know her' because of her blog. We arranged to meet via Facebook and tonight was the night. We met up in the bar here, and she said she would recognise me because of my blonde hair and the gin and tonic I would be drinking!!

It's really quite odd to meet a fellow blogger (as I said when I met David and Chris at Amelia's christening) because you feel that you already know quite a lot about the person by what they write - little windows into their lives.

Anyway I wasn't disappointed. I knew Jane would be my kind of person because what she writes makes me think - and often makes me laugh out loud. And she was - my kind of person - I mean. We chatted as if we'd known each other for ages and got on like a house on fire. It's really great when a new person comes into your life, and becomes a friend.

We'll be meeting up again soon for Sushi:)

Diamonds are a girl's best friend

Every now and again we unearth a diamond. We go through life digging around in the dirt and not getting very far for our trouble and strife. Day to day - week to week, month to month it goes on and on and on - we get by - including a few nice times to keep our 'pecker' up - constantly searching and hoping that one day - just by chance - we may get somewhere - something - that makes it all a bit brighter!!! Our reward - so to speak - for the efforts that we make and the work that we do - all the love we give out and the smiles and the hugs that are outgoing - the people we help - the work that we do and the improvements we make. We keep going because work is work and people are people and love is love - and it's the daily stuff that makes the world go round. Sometimes we find something that we think is a diamond - we polish it - have it cut - have it mounted - then we find it's actually worthless - and that leaves us questioning the validity and point of the whole daft performance.

Then  - just as we're about to give up digging - and take up some other pursuit - by some random chance - we dig one day and out pops a real gem - a true sparkler - a shiny bright lovely many-faceted sparkling diamond.  How lucky we are!!! Ours to enjoy and look at and value and cherish, and hold up to the light to see it shine.  Who would have thought it?

Ab Fab

Diary - Diary - where's my Diary? Talk about Bridget Jones - what about me? My diary is choked at the moment - it's all going on around here. Just been busy planning more stuff to do - train tickets - hotel bookings - nights and afternoons out with lovely people...can't stop ...busy planning...phone calls, text messages, fun, frolicks, fabulous xx Absolutely fabulous darling !!!


A Knight's Tale

Watch this and laugh. Classic - truly fabulous!! Ni...No Shrubbery - never .....

Weekend review

Fab weekend - super dooper fab. Friday night - broomstick big night out - Saturday morning - late sleep, big bath and recovery period - Saturday afternoon riding lesson - followed by shower and change (quick) then 2hr drive to Banbury - must meet important people.  Saturday evening - great people - lovely food - too much wine and Champagne - broken glass! - bit drunk - much much laugher. Saturday night - Great sleepover - Sunday morning - Cooked Breakfast - Watching DVD - playing cards - quick nip to Tesco with lovely new little friend Ollie.  Sunday afternoon drive back to Surrey - Sunday Evening - Movies - Quantum of Solace - Daniel Craig (yum yum) - good film - 8/10 - Italian Supper - Back home - great sleep (!) - Monday morning - new underwear - very tired - very happy. 

Saturday 1 November 2008

First impressions count

Later today I have to go and meet some new people. Very important people. It really matters that I make a good first impression. After all you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Best Bib and Tucker and Best Behaviour then!!! Crikey - I'm scared!!

Halloween Report

Well - here I am - very tired after a fab night out on my broomstick which culminated in a rather super do down at Highgate Cemetery - everyone was there - seriously - Warlocks, Wizards and Witches a plenty - mind you I have to comment on the outfit that Wicked Wendy of Westminster was wearing - I know she's from the city - but please - Prada seconds? Honestly - what was she thinking? Hermoine and Harry were there too - and still seem happy together - bless.

Bumpy Boris of Banbury (Babbling and bewitching a speciality) had made the effort to turn up and spent the whole evening chasing after and mooning at Wanton Wanda of Weybridge,  (Apparently his main claim to fame is that he has eaten dinner in the Great Hall at Hogwarts!!) - but she soon put him straight - apparently he wasn't wearing the correct underwear - and we all know Wanda of Weybridge - she likes her wizards and warlocks chained up and ready for action in nothing but the very best from La Senza. She's such a wanton harlot. (Remember that time a few years ago when she abandoned poor old Pointy Hat Peter from Pulborough chained to Tower Bridge in nothing but some pink split crotch panties from Rigby & Peller - honestly the shame - the poor guy never recovered - apparently he now works as a shelf stacker in a potions cash and carry warehouse near Leeds somewhere and only ever utters the odd mumble - and as for the River Police - well the photographs are still pinned on the main notice board at Scotland Yard)!!! 

Supper was lovely - we had eye of newt, frogs spawn soup with creme fraiche, pumpkin bread, and a rather lovely pate made with gizzard of lizard - and then some lovely kebabs of indeterminate meat - although the whisper was that it was the thigh meat of one Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand (I would have thought that RB would have had a better use for his deliciously lithe thighs than to sell them for Wizardly consumption - but I understand he's a bit skint right now - so maybe it's a case of needs must).

We danced until dawn and the party culminated with a rather splendid group effort of the age old classic - Jackson's Thriller - which I have to say was the best fun ever. The dead really made their mark this year. 

Got a bit pissed off on the way to be honest at all the human offspring clogging the street in their rubbish outfits - pretending to be like us - honestly - they do it every year and it's so predictable. Kidnapped a couple of chubby cherubs from Islington on the way and sold them to the child-catcher for fifteen guineas and a brace of mice for the cat. Their parents will be stunned when they return later today with pink rimmed eyes and a new habit of twitching and going off into a trance like state every time Buffy comes on the TV. But hey-ho - can't be helped.

Much love to you all - until next year .................

Friday 31 October 2008

Ready to rock and roll

Black cape - Check
Pointy hat - check
Black cat - check
Wart on nose - check
Cackle - check
Cauldron - check
Eye of Newt - check
Gizzard of Lizard - check
Broomstick - check

Woop - di -doo!!!

Natter

Now then - let's have a think about communication. We have so many different ways of communicating with people in our hi-tech computer driven world. We have e mail, sms, mms, blackberrys, e mail on the move, wi-fi, sat phones, and probably many many more - but in my little ignorant bubble I can't think of the others. Somebody smart and technology 'au fait' like Christian will be able to tell me loads more. Oh yes - we also have the good old 'dog and bone'. 

However - when I was a company trainer and training sales people to 'sell',  one thing I used to teach was that a large percentage of understanding in communication comes from the visual side of things. Body language - eye contact and all of that malarkey. It's extremely important - really. So that's why it's important to make the effort and actually get in front of people and engage with them in proper conversation. People need to be able to see your face when you are talking to them - so much can be misunderstood with the written word, and if you can see a person's face - one look, one smile, one frown, one expression, one raise of an eyebrow can speak volumes!

Perhaps is those who are in 'Charge' of us all realised this a bit more we may have more understanding and therefore less problems in the world today? I don't know what do you think? 

For me personally you can't beat a good old natter across a table with someone. So today I'm off to have a good old natter with Trish. 

Music Playlists

I have just had to remove the music playlist. It was a nice idea while it lasted but unfortunately it never worked properly - streaming issues? And what's more it slowed everything right down...drove me bonkers to be honest. So for now silence while reading this is the way forward. I may explore alternatives or spend more time searching for tracks without streaming issues so that it becomes less frustrating - but for now it is no more. If you like music while you read - you could just hum along to a tune that plays in your head - or switch on your i tunes - at least that way you get to listen to what you like and not something that I choose. 

Tunes I am listening to on today's i tunes playlist are......Highway Blues - Ernie Watts (Saxaphone), Place to Crash - Robbie Williams, Amazing - Aerosmith, Big City Life - ?, Burning down the house - Talking Heads, Dirty little secret - Bon Jovi, Little Bird - Annie Lennox, and Something's Got a Hold of My Heart - Gene Pitney.

Talking of i tunes (were we? ) I need to update and synch my ipod with the latest playlists as I will be taking it to Spain next Friday - did I tell you I'm going to Spain next week for four days? I did? - well no harm in hearing it again - is there? Green? Envious? 

It's a good job our music choices aren't analysed by a shrink - they would have a field day with me :)

Non-stop

It's all going on around here! Firstly we have two house guests - very nice too if you like that sort of thing!!! They're not too bad - 2 irish chaps from goodness knows where, who are doing some work for 'The Company' and due to the credit crunch and ensuing tightening of belts - they are kipping down in the big house to save on hotel bills. This is all fine - but they have the gift of the blarney, and I can hear them blethering through my bedroom wall - at 7.30am if you please!!! This has necessitated me going through there and 'glaring' at them in a scarey way to get the message across that this a peaceful haven of tranquility and not some kind of Dublin fairground. Point taken. Anyway it's all forgiven as they have cooked my breakfast this morning - I was quite excited thinking it was going to be a fry up - but no the cupboard is bare - so it was spaghetti hoops on toast - ugh!! Still it's the thought that counts!!! 

Busy weekend to come - riding lesson tomorrow - and more domestic goddess stuff. (Woop di doo - I love ironing!) Something nice planned for Sunday afternoon / evening, and then the start to a very busy week. Monday is lunch with Cressie, drinks in the evening with Oboe Jane up in London, Tuesday is a possible night out with Jo, Wednesday it's back to Heathrow to fetch a globetrotting friend back from her travels and then feed her (long haul flight - poor thing!) Thursday is packing and shopping - and the Friday I'm getting an early flight from Gatwick for four days of frolicking in the sunshine (please let there be sunshine) in Caba Pino. 

I have no clue how I ever found the time to go to work!!!

Thursday 30 October 2008

She-wee


I've just been talking to Russell on the 'phone (big brother) and how we have laughed about recent developments in our family. We do laugh an awful lot when we chat - he's very funny and I love him - lots!!

I told him about my horrible journey yesterday and how the lack of toilet and refreshment facilities are such a problem for a woman of my age when stuck in traffic!!!

He suggested I get a "Shewee" - (which is NEVER going to happen) so I decided to research the said article on the WWW (women's wee wonders). This product allows women to ...and I quote....."Urinate when standing, camping, walking, skiing, climbing, travelling and excellent for use in unhygenic public toilets...."

Well - I'm sorry - but that's why Mother Nature gave me an expanding bladder. There is no way on God's earth that I could envisage myself attempting to use one of these devices at any time - ever. I have been known to do a 'countryside wee' and as regular readers will recall suffered a bad bout of nettle rash as a result (ouch - how that stung) - I have pee'd in fields, hedgerows, stables, trailers and horse lorries (shavings are extremely absorbent). But I couldn't use one of these things. First of all I wear trousers or jeans most of the time - so please explain how - when stuck in traffic - with Dennis the lorry driver looking down into my drivers seat from the cab of his articulated lorry - I am going to remove my trousers, knickers, have a pee, empty the device and get dressed again - all the while maintaining my dignity? Dennis would be out of his cab faster than you can say 'Dennis - get out of your cab".

When you look at the device on the picture above it doesn't look to me like it would hold much volume - does it? So what happens when it is full and it starts to overflow? OH NO!!! Then there is the problem of storage...imagine - you're in your car stuck on the M40 and you need a pee. Where do you empty it? Open the door and just chuck it onto the carriageway? Charming! Or, use an empty coke / water bottle that you happen to have knocking around in the map pocket of your car? You see - the problems that one of these things creates are horrific. I have been stuck in traffic many many times over the years and have never once wee'd myself - so I just don't feel that a device to prevent this happening is necessary. 

Can you just imagine going hill walking with a group of other like minded middle aged people and then saying "Just a minute folks, I need a wee-wee" and then whipping out a 'she-wee' and using it in front of everybody!!! Of course not - you would have to go behind a tree to maintain any semblance of dignity - and that then negates the use for the device altogether - we can all do pee-squats behind a tree!!! You see - the device is pointless.

They come in three different colours - as if colour co-ordination is important !!!  Phone a friend to see what they're going to be wearing for a day out and casually mention which colour 'she-wee' are you bringing also - I would hate for us to clash!!! They are available in clear, blue and pink.

So - there will be no 'she-wee' on my Christmas present list this year but I have a feeling that for £3.99 I may just get one as a stocking filler from our Russell - and woe betide him if I do!!! Oh yes - for and extra £1.40 you can order an extension pipe!!! Ha ha ha xx

Great Great Website

I love this website. Some people (who incidentally are allowed to vote - yea Gods!!) are very dense and send  e mails to the BBC  "Have your Say"  website - expressing their dumb opinions in an even dumber way.  Many, many examples of this phenomenon are to be found there. Take the time to browse it and read some of the nonsensical sh*te that some members of our fabulous UK television watching population express - fantastic!!! Better still are the website editor's comments :) Love it!! I challenge you to not be laughing out loud within a couple of minutes.

Wednesday 29 October 2008

Great Things and Good People

A very good friend of mine has a life 'Mantra'. They believe in it and it seems to work for them. Their life mantra is "Great things and good people come into my life". They repeat this mantra often throughout the day - and guess what? It's working!  They must say it quite loudly because it's working for me too!!! Yippee :)

Adventures on the M40 - well off the M40 actually !

Last night I stayed away from home - ooo 'er - get her - dirty stop out (and a very nice time was had by all!).  This morning I set off home in very good time to get back to this neck of the woods in time for a lunch date with a pal. However - there was an accident on the M40 and they closed it - b**stards!! How thoughtless of someone to have an accident when I wanted to get home - honestly. So the resulting 6 hour (should have been 90 minutes) journey was a bit of a 'mare. I was dying for a pee, hungry, thirsty and quite frustrated (to say the least). I did however get to visit many Oxfordshire Villages on my re-routed journey home - myself and half the population of Southern England !

So places I have seen today include Thame, Sydenham, Tetsworth, Postcombe, Stokenchurch, Beacons Bottom, Cadmore End, Lane End, and Handy Cross. Hopefully next time I visit these places I will be feeling much better about the experience. 

Would I do it again? What? Get stuck in a 6 hour traffic jam in exchange for an evening in Banbury? Absolutely I would.

When I got home -  finally - I had a nice nap!

Tuesday 28 October 2008

"Gosh Charles - I love the way you handle your sword" thinks Camilla

Never underestimate the underdog

See why here!!

Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeeen

Recently somebody said to me that I can be a bit scarey - they weren't the first person to tell me this - (imagine how much bravery they would have had to find to impart this observation to me- yikes!) but maybe they'll be the last! I do actually have my own broomstick - and a very good friend often calls me "Witch" as a term of endearment (I think it's a term of endearment anyway!) I even wrote a short story for this person a couple of years ago and the theme was ....? Yes - you've guessed it - Witches and Wizards!!  I can definitely see a pattern here can't you? All quite apt really as in 3 days it's the witching hour. I wonder where I shall fly to on Friday night? 

This led me to wake up a bit and think perhaps maybe I am a bit scarey sometimes - and why that might be. I do have a kind of 'Don't f**k with me attitude' which is probably some kind of defense device - well no, not probably - it's a definite...and then I got to thinking how badly that may come across sometimes. So today I have explored this - and come to the conclusion that it's probably based around fear - isn't all negative stuff? We all have deep-rooted internal fears - usually created in childhood and teenage years - but how they manifest themselves in our behaviour patterns and how we allow them to do damage is a whole other story - the trick is to recognise them, understand what creates them and how they affect other people (who is that running away?) and change the behaviour patterns.

So if I've scared you in the past I unreservedly apologise - it wasn't about anything you did - it was all about me!!! Hopefully with my new level of understanding I can resist this pattern in the future!!...and allow my 'softer' side to be more apparent for more of the time - after all -what is there to be afraid of?

I'm off out to look for a pink fluffy 'Fairy' outfit for halloween - there'll be no more scarey witches around here :)

Seriously

Aren't there more important things to get all het up about than this?

I just don't really get what all the fuss is about. Every day there are homeless people walking the streets, children dying of starvation across the world, people being oppressed, mutilated and murdered by bombs, war, famine, desease. Do we really give one about what these two said or didn't say on the answerphone? Can't quite understand the column inches dedicated to it to be honest.

Jack's been

Jack Frost has been and tiptoed all over our garden. It looks fantastic. I went to take a photograph but my  camera battery is flat (doh). There is quite a covering and Millie clearly can't remember frost from last year as she has snuffled and growled at the grass this morning. Everything is white over and it it truly lovely. I adore mornings like this.

Monday 27 October 2008

More Muffin top news

Well - eating out twice in one day isn't going to help - now is it? I had a Pasta Lunch with Nicola at Zizzi's in Kingston  - where two hours flashed past in the blink of an eye - very enjoyable - much laughter - discussing mothers (yea gods) families (nooooooooo) and other girlie things - including recent 'life' updates (fantastic) - and then tonight I have taken a house guest out for a curry. Because of the muffin top worries I only ordered Indian starters - but made the mistake of ordering enough to feed six people - and then had to try and eat them all!!! As a result I am feeling even more podgy, and have my top button undone as I sit and type this.  Tomorrow night I'm having Thai Curry (or so I'm told by a friendly lumberjack) and then after that I'm going to have to go on a diet of dust and fresh air for a few weeks. I cannot bear to grow a winter warmer layer - I really cannot bear it. I don't ever want to be called 'fatty'.

Muffin Top

It's true - I am putting weight on.  I have two pairs of jeans that were Dan's and when she gave them to me I could pull them off without undoing the zips. Now I am struggling to fasten them. I have been able to see my hip bones for at least the last three years - now they are buried to the point where I am no longer sure that I have them (are my legs held on to my pelvis with string then now?) It's all this decadent living - and since Phoebe moved yards I don't have to go down each day and muck her out anymore so that daily exercise has disappeared from my 'fitness regime' (fitness regime? what bloody fitness regime? does that include the 'glass to lips' exercise with 1,000 reps?). I am going to have to do something and quite fast as I'm off to Spain at the end of next week and hopefully it will be warm enough to get out my bikini. Perhaps I need to stop food shopping in M&S for a while and start shopping in Salads 'R' Us or somewhere similar? I really don't want to go on a diet as it's sooooo boring - but neither do I want to be a chumpa wumpa :) The other contributory factor is my happiness. When I am miserable I lose weight, and when I am content I put weight on. So that tells you that right now I am very happy!!!

The one good thing is that my buzzooms are bigger, and quite a bit firmer (oh how lovely, how truly truly lovely)  - but getting bigger boobs is not enough of an incentive to make me relaxed about becoming a podge. 

At the moment I am a size ten / twelve - but previously I was a size eight / ten, and I have actually been a size six / eight in the dim and distant past. If I carry on with the weight gain thing inside a year I'm going to be a size 16/18 - and that would never ever do!!!

So we need to think of a plan which will enable us to say goodbye to the muffin top but  keep the boobies. Any ideas gratefully received - but please don't anybody suggest anything stupid like running.

Read any good books lately?

I like to meet and find out about new people. I love to learn and discover about folks and what makes them tick - their motivations - their quirks and nuances - their main drives - their ambitions - their goals - their foibles - their successes - their faults - their failings - their joys and all the component parts that make up a person. Learning about people is always full of interesting surprises, and a great person is like a great book - always something new to discover with every turn of the page. The main style of the book is mostly the same - but the story changes as it develops and there are often things that you don't expect - to keep your interest going!!! The difference between a book and a person is with a person you never really get to the end of the story and there is always another chapter.

Go Amelia, Go

Precious beautiful delightful cute Amelia has crawled for the first time. In no time at all she'll be running rings round everybody! Love her x

My friend

I have a special friend who has been a large part of my life for almost the entirety of my adulthood. We share many precious things.  We have experienced a great deal and have come through a lot together. There has been the odd break in our friendship, a few misunderstandings, bits of anger, recriminations, trials and some tribulations. However - we have weathered all of these storms and our friendship is now strong and true. I trust this person implicitly and cannot imagine my life without them. Over the last few years this friend has supported me, laughed with me, held me while I cried, cheered me on when I've succeeded, helped me, comforted me (when needed) and taught me an enormous amount about myself, and has helped me to understand and find my place in the world, and (too many times to mention) they have helped me to reach for and find a bigger and better understanding of that same world. 

This person is extremely bright, forward thinking, accomplished and extremely successful. Like all successful people - sometimes they are attacked and vilified. I suppose that's just the way of the world. Sad, but true. 

The thing is - I don't like that - when somebody that I care about is misunderstood, their motives questioned, their integrity put on trial for all and sundry to judge. It's not fair and it's not right. That must sound quite naive - expecting things to be fair and right - but I still do expect things to be fair and right and get royally pissed off when they're blatantly not.

What matters to me is the truth about this person, and I see that truth all the time. I see the good things - and only the good things (that's because there isn't really anything else to see) - and they far outweigh and outnumber the fictitious bad characteristics that some people who have no true knowledge have imagined and then reported. So, if they would like to know the truth about this person - they need to come and talk to me. I'll put them straight.


Sunday 26 October 2008

Weekend review

On Friday night I went out to dinner with the crew from the yard - and we had a really great time. I laughed and laughed all evening - photo's on facebook:) Yesterday I went up to 'town' to see 'Les Mis' - affectionately known as "the Glums" - and I have to say - it was fab!!! I cried about four times all in all and according to my Mum that wasn't too bad because when she went she cried all the way through!!! After the theatre we went here  for dinner (that was fab too) - the taxi driver was threatening to fall asleep on the way home - yikes - and then today I have spent most of the day in bed - (lazy and decadent) apart from a quick run to M&S to get food for dinner. I was going to go and ride Phoebe - but it's been lamping it down with rain all day - and being a bit of a fair weather rider - that idea soon went out of the window.

I have had a really great time this weekend:) All weekends should be like this one. Oh yes - yesterday I got a gift from someone - I can't tell you what it is - but I was highly amused and rather surprised - and I quite liked it :)

Saturday 25 October 2008

Love this .......

Warning - When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple


By Jenny Joseph


When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple

with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired

and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

and run my stick along the public railings

and make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

and pick the flowers in other people's gardens

and learn to spit.

 

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

and eat three pounds of sausages at a go

or only bread and pickles for a week

and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.

 

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

and pay our rent and not swear in the street

and set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Did you know?

Interesting facts....

1. The Average Briton spends 3 years of their life sitting on the toilet - but only 2 weeks kissing!

2. Paris Hilton wears size 11 shoes

3. Every year 1,000,000 gallons of pee is deposited by dogs in London Parks

4. It takes an average of 130 telephone calls to arrange for a A-List celebrity to attend a Bafta Award ceremony

5. One Third of British women are blonde - but only 3% are naturally so (Matching collar and cuffs!)

6. The annual collective pre-tax pay packet for the UK is £860 Billion

Now, don't say you never learn anything !

Friday 24 October 2008

Food from the 1970's

I've just arrived home after a night out for dinner - about 30 of us in one huge room in a nice pub in Shepperton. I had Prawn Cocktail, Steak and chips, and apple pie and custard - good old fashioned food (I would have had black forest gateau - but alas it wasn't on the menu). We haven't stopped laughing all evening - it was a very good night out indeed :)

Cake in the Middle of the day - and other decadence

I have just been on the 'phone to my friend Nicola. Oh - how we laughed ! She told me she was just eating cake in the middle of the day and we decided that this was incredibly decadent - albeit forgiveable, and understandable. Then she tells me that she has an M&S Pain au Chocolait dessert thing in her fridge that she's soon going to scoff. I wouldn't mind but Nicola is tiny - a mere size eight - and whatever she eats has no future bearing on the size of her - it's a good job I really like her. We then discussed new dishcloths and tea towels - which is a "women of a certain age" discussion. Actually we decided that is it okay to throw out old dishcloths and tea towels whenever they are starting to look less than shiny white - because at Lidl they're as cheap as chips. It's a northern thing (Nicola is another one from up North) - and northern women don't discard cloths just because they're looking grubby - we save them for cleaning shoes or such nonsense. Anyway Nicola has had a good day because she has treated herself to a new white dish cloth. I totally understand the joy that will have brought her. I then told her about my good day - which is for entirely more substantial reasons than a new dishcloth!!! Like a true friend she was delighted to hear my news. I'm meeting her for lunch on Monday - can't wait!!!

Friday Night

Tonight we're going here for dinner. There's about twenty of us from the yard all going out together - I predict a riot:)

Jordan castrates her horse !

Jordan - aka Katie Price has been at it again. In her 'reality' tv show (whose reality is that please?) she has now assisted a veterinary surgeon to geld her horse. Gelding a horse is a tricky operation and it is done on male horses to lower their testosterone levels so that they are more amenable to being ridden. A Stallion is a fine animal and has more presence than a Gelding - flashier paces - a more complete and stunning movement - however they can be very tricky to ride and to handle - so most male horses are gelded. It's usually a job for the vet and is mainly done when the horse is young. I can't think of a single horse owner who would want to assist at that operation - so why would she? Apart from anything else you would require a modicum of intelligence to assist a vet so that would normally preclude her - wouldn't it? 

I don't get Jordan - I can't work out if she's very very dumb or very very smart. Mind you saying that - she's done a pretty good job of totally castrating Peter Andre.

Dinner and wine

There is a new branch of the Bengal Clipper here in Weybridge and I have been twice in one week. I went earlier in the week with Dan's Dad and the boys - and we had a really great meal. So last night I went again - and again - I wasn't disappointed. I did have rather too much wine early on last night - but then calmed down a bit during dinner - it was necessary as I was running the risk of appearing to be that dreadful middle aged lush. When I drink I get to the point where I am thinking "oh  dear - I should stop now before I go too far and make a complete tit of myself!" Sometimes I go straight past that point without heeding the warning and do indeed make a complete tit of myself -(Chaise Longue - Justin's wedding!)  but then at other times common sense reigns and I go onto soft drinks. Making a tit of yourself after too much alcohol is okay when you're in your teens, also it can be easily overlooked when you're in your twenties, at a push it's forgiveable when you're in your thirties (as long as you have understanding friends)  but it's never okay when you're in your forties - when you're in your forties it's just incredibly sad and ridiculous!!! I did have one moment at The Belfry a couple of years ago which resulted in a two day hangover - but that wasn't really my fault as the events team plied me with WKD which tastes like Tizer - one moment I was okay - the next I was acting like a paraplegic on speed :)

Last night I did the coke thing for a while and then had some more wine when I got home - thinking some dutch courage may be required!!!

As it turned out no dutch courage was required at all and I had a perfectly lovely evening:) 

Beautiful New life