Happy Birthday Helen

I've just got back from Stocksbridge - look at the time! Today was my lovely friend Helen's birthday so I popped over at tea-time with a bottle of Champoo for her - and ended up stopping long enough for the Champoo to be chilled and the Indian Takeaway to arrive! Nothing finer than Onion Bhajis with bubbles! As always at her house we laughed and then laughed some more. I can't tell you what birthday it was for Helen - but it was a bigger number than 49 and a smaller number than 51. Happy Birthday dear friend xx

Gypsy Rose Lee

Last night I went and had supper with Helen and Ernie (the dog). We had a lovely time - nice chat - some vino - good food....

...then we got out the Tarot Cards. Suprisingly, they were scarily accurate! I didn't know I had 'Gypsy Rose Lee' genes - but I clearly have some kind of gift for the weird (that will explain your man choices.....)

I might have to get a head scarf and big earrings and set up a stall :)

Music - and a night out with Bill

Last night I went out with my lovely lovely pal Bill. We had so much fun as he's very funny. He's also very attuned to his feminine side so he can chat away about almost anything - he was telling me all about his new girlfriend - and we were creased up laughing as I recounted all my dating disasters. Later, after dinner - we went to a local venue to see one of his pals playing guitar in a band - and that was good too. The guitarist's girlfriend was Jarvis Cocker's sister - (Oh you name dropper) and I met her and she was lovely - if a tad eccentric.

Today I've been for lunch with Jacqui, coffee with Fiona - and tonight I'm having dinner with Helen. (I will be getting fat).

This afternoon I have been playing some good old fashioned T Rex in my car - playing it very loud - with the windows down and bopping. A chap in the car next to me at a junction even joined in!!!. You can keep your Lady Gagas, and your weird modern shite - I love the stuff from the 70's. It never dates (unlike me)....(ha ha - that's actually quite funny..)

My favourite T Rex track of the day is this one. It's great for driving to :)

Is that our Dan?

My Mum and I have been watching Badminton Horse Trials on the TV this afternoon. It was very exciting - thrills, spills and a few fallings off. It's Cross Country day today and it's a bit hairy to say the least. Dan is there watching it in person, and supporting Bruce Haskell and Kiwi Smog who she groomed for for two summers. Bruce had a good round - he was live on the BBC - it was quite exciting.

My mum is glued to the set and keeps imagining she can see Dan in the crowd. She's a bit obsessed to be honest and keeps saying...."Is that our Dan........is that her....look there she is....what's she wearing?".

I've had to tell her that Dan has left now to go home because she's driving me nuts x

Great day

Yesterday was a brilliant day. I had a ball. My pal of pals Liz came to spend some time with me and brought her new boyfriend. He's very nice - and she's fab. They were on a road trip to Newcastle and back from Essex in one day - and they called to have a late lunch with me on the way back. We had so much fun - she makes me laugh ...a lot...an awful lot indeed.

Matt, Stewart and Bruce

Then..... last night I met up with these three boys in the pub. I say 'boys' even though they're all in their late forties and all very proper. (I don't think they look their age - to me they're still about 15) Matt and Stewart were at school with me and Bruce became a pal in the 90's. We used to go out as a group every Friday night....and had much much fun!

We spent the evening laughing and talking and laughing some more. I haven't seen them for quite a few years - but it was just like I'd been with them last week. They are such nice chaps. Really nice chaps indeed.

A most amazing book

In recent weeks I have had to change many aspects of my life - where I live, who I spend time with, what I do for a living. Change is always challenging - and it has been - at some points - extremely challenging (that's modern positive speak for bloody difficult!). I've had many obstacles to overcome - and been given much support, kindness and encouragement from the people who love me. I am blessed :)

I like books and love to learn - and yesterday - because of my thirst for knowledge and understanding - I read this book. From cover to cover....all in one day. It's amazing. If you are ever in a place where you're not sure what to do - or why you're in that place - or you simply want to understand yourself more - or you're simply asking 'why'.... I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I'm not going to explain it to you - just get hold of a copy - and read it....twice. It's absolutely excellent.

I want one of these........

Today - whilst browsing the free magazine that came with the newspaper I saw an advert for this. I want one (kidding). I have always been a bit puzzled about 'Limited Edition' collector's things - even though I have a very nice teapot collection. The things that are available are often weird and you just know that they're aimed at funny middle aged people who probably still have flock wallpaper and a dralon suite. There's some very odd stuff out there for collectors. Dolls, coins, little pottery birds, thimbles, all manner of commemorative plates and mugs and lots of other tacky items. But 'Little Umi' is the best I have ever seen. Imagine if you went round to somebody's home and they had this proudly on display.....you would just turn round, walk out and never ever return! Wouldn't you? There would have to be something seriously wrong with you at some kind of base cerebral level for you to find this even remotely attractive. Please tell me you don't like it! Please........