Whilst perusing the net I discovered my stars for today! And thought why not share them with you all so here it is! My additions/comments are in Italics!

PISCES - February 20th - March 20th


You want to please your friends and satisfy your boss that you are capable of new responsibilities (yeah right! Surely they know that now don't they, mind you some work would help with the proposed demonstration!) .

This doesn't mean you should allow others to rule your life (not sure that I ever had... oh wait a minute... yep I did!). Someone is taking advantage of your good nature by demanding too much of you (Who? And why haven't I noticed? Let me at 'em, let me at 'em!).

The going will be busy but this should not stop you from thinking about your own needs (now my own needs that's more like it... I reckon some sweets and nuturing will gone down a storm!) and demanding (shhsh... don't say this word it's not very appealing!) others do their fair share (yeah give me more time to rest & play!).

BORED BORED BORED!

I need entertainment and I need it now. I cannot believe even with the Internet at my fingertips how bored I currently am. The reason our work situaiton, yes right now I'm at work at my desk in the office with nothing to do.

The work is truly: sporadic \spuh-RAD-ik\, adjective: Occurring singly, or occasionally, or in scattered instances. (Even dictionary.com's word of the day is refelctive of my current situaiton.

I've been here since 9 am and the work ran out at 11.30! Sigh.... there are only so many games one can entertain themselves with. I even bought a book at lunchtime and I'm half way through it already. It's James Patterson "4th of July", not a bad read so far.

Well I'm going to go exploring again, no doubt I'll be back soon with other inane comments.

The Queen's 80th Birthday!

On Friday it was the Queen's 80th Birthday and my partners son, Alan, had the honour, nay duty to march through London with his school band to lead a procession to deliver a birthday card to her.

However having had this whole thing organised Queenie decided to spend the day at Windsor and so they marched to an empty Buckingham Palace. As you can imagine most of the band were a bit peeved they had to march 4 and a half miles from St Pauls Cathedral to the Palace to deliver an item knowing the person receiving wasn't it. It didn't bode well for an enthusiastic performance!

Irrespective of this, we prepared the lad well and made sure his school uniform was all prim and proper and dropped him off at the school ready for him to join the coach up to London. We then made the dash to the local train station so we could get up to London to watch him. (Note the school did not offer transport to supporting parents).

We arrived about half hour before they were due to set off and as we approached Alan we noticed his pristine Housey Coat (think Neo's coat in Matrix) was sporting a lovely smear! OMG he's been out of our sight for the best part of 2 hours and this??? We discover one of the other lads had unfortunatley suffered with travel sickness and thus thought his friends Housey could do with some additions! We understand copious amounts of bottled water were used to dilute the spill and it was passable. Fortunately for Alan he has to wear a leopard skin thing as he's a Tenor Drummer so this would offer concealment!

Although Queenie was out the band did her proud and marched through London. It was the first time Alan has had to do a performance in public and it certainly dropped him in the deep end as it wasn't a short foray! He was very rosy cheeked and lethargic from twiddling the drum sticks. He has to twirl the Tenor Drum sticks above his head throughout the march. We took a few pictures (understatement) and were rewarded later by spotting him on the 6 0'clock news albeit briefly.

Busy busy busy!

Life's been a bit hectic since the relatives left, we're still in the process of clearing out the other house which has to be done by the end of the month as my partners nephew is due to move into it. OMG when are we ever going to get it all done??

Everything major is out of it now and we've started the brutal cleaning, but it needs a good lick of paint before I'd be happy for him to move in! So it looks like next week is going to be very busy for us, so wont have much chance to blog :-( gloomy gloomy.

Sigh! Wish I could click my fingers and it all be finished... I be clicking real hard and real often but it's not bloody working!

Phew… thank goodness the Easter weekend is over. I am so tired. It seems all I have done the past few days is get to know my cooker intimately. Obviously there are many others things in the world I’d like to know intimately and I’m not sure my cooker is it!

Good Friday was a day off from work, so no attendance at the office however this did not mean I could be a slacker. No, I was very busy preparing the evening meal for Saturday night a task I couldn’t do on the very day as we were off to the Theatre.

Saturday was a last minute manic make sure the house is clean enough for guests, I’m sure my buddy Cher appreciates this particular need as she too does this, before heading off to the train station to get the train up to London.

Whenever I had up to the Capital I am taken over by a bud of excitement as it is no longer associated with work but solely pleasure. A quick cab journey from Victoria brought us to the Lyric Theatre where we watched the play ‘Smaller’. Fantabulous! What a superb play, Dawn French and Alison Moyet were wonderful and it was an extremely moving and funny play.

They synopsis of the show is as follows:

The life and soul of the staff room, Bernice Clulow's selfless devotion to her disabled mother, Maureen, is legend. Yet every evening as she heads home, the smile becomes fixed: Mum will want to talk. She demands dispatches from the human race, but Bernice just wants to kick her shoes off. (And her Mum's head in).

Missing out on these precious mother-daughter moments, Cath Clulow wisely flew the nest straight from school. Now belting out Karaoke classics to vomiting, rollicking hen parties in Puerto Banus, she wonders how a promising career in musical theatre has gone so horribly off key. House bound, honor bound and homeward bound, the Allows pick their way through a minefield of guilt, resentment and fear.

The play has little props and holds a focus upon the relationship between Bernice (Dawn French) and her mother who is disabled. From its very nature it ends up becoming quite a black comedy, sometimes cringe worthy yet it is an honest reflection of some a situation. Alison Moyet playing Cath sung new songs written for the play some of which I found haunting. I laughed loads, gasped in shock at some events and had my heart strings pulled all in the same performance. If any in the UK get a chance to see it you really should!

Having got back from the Theatre I set about putting on dinner for my family guests who arrived early evening.

Easter Sunday was started by our traditional Easter Egg hunt, my partner set it up and I was able to compete well with her son as I got up earlier so could undertake some sly investigations before his appearance. I have no qualms in beating the child at some things! Especially as I can no longer match him at things requiring more co-ordination so it’s good for him to lose occasionally! However I am not truly harsh as at the end of the hunt we pooled our finds together and divvied them out equally!

Then began the prep for Sunday lunch, after which a stroll around the local area was followed by table tennis tournament and later eye toy games (see earlier post on this item).

Monday was much the same, though we did embark upon a more energetic walk along the South Downs Way, beautiful views, where we got to see Swifts and Skylarks amongst over birdlife. Then back home before yet again more cooking etc.

My guests were meant to leave on Monday but were enjoying themselves so much they invited themselves for another night!

This morning (Tuesday) I’ve waved goodbye to the guests, pulled out of the planned golf game (the thought of 18 holes was the last straw on camels back) so I thought I’d stay home and recover. However I ended up scrubbing the oven and given the house the once over as it were, until finally collapsing in reach of my laptop! Hence here I am!

Another mindless game to entertain yourselves!

Tennis Game

See how long you can keep the ball in the air!
I am no good at this game! My highest is 7!
No make that 8... ROFL

HAPPY CHOCOLATE MUNCHING TIME... or alternatively... HAPPY EASTER.

I've got a busy weekend ahead as not only am I'm off to see 'Smaller' at the Lyric Theatre in London, which has Dawn French and Alison Moyet in leading roles, I have relatives coming early Saturday evening and who are staying until Monday.

Best make sure my apron is clean as it looks like a heavy cooking regime over the next few days. Tomorrow I'm planning on preparing my pavlova... (I so love that desert) amongst many other things.

No doubt my entertaining will have an adverse affect upon the time available to pop on here, but I'll do my best.

My Wonderful Garden


I've never been one to profess enjoyment at gardening, and even though we've moved to a new home I still don't have the urge to take the task in hand. Hence I've spoiled myself a bit and taken on a gardener. Actually if the truth be know my garden is beautiful and awash with plants and if I attacked it with the venom only a novice knows, no doubt its beauty will become somewhat diminished. Hence the employment of a local gardener. See not only am I avoiding a task which for me would bring no pleasure, I'm helping keep my local economy going by employing someone!

However, although gardening is not for me, (I do have to admit the previous owner of this house/garden had a superb eye for the subject and the planting around is wonderful) I can appreciate it! It is fantastic and I often find my eye being drawn outside. I'm kind of lucky as we have huge windows at the rear of the property (only kind of... cause someone has to clean em!) and these offer fantastic views of the garden. I so can't wait for the warmer climes (if Britain can ever be perceived as offering such things) when I will be able to sit outside lapping up the garden in full, perhaps lounging in a chair with a glass of wine or two... Now that sounds good.

Now here's a questionnaire I'm happy to do as it is about sweets.. scrummy! Although I have no idea what the sweet I'm classed as actually tastes as! Sigh, that's my fault for being the other side of the big pond.

Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

Very popular, one of you is not enough.

What Kind of Candy Are You?

Missing in Action ~ well sort of not so much action and more of the missing.

Last week I received a long awaited delivery from www.amazon.co.uk and as soon as I nabbed the package from the old postie (yes he was an old man delivering my mail) I rushed into my abode to open it. Ripped packaging moment and there nestled amongst the bubble wrap was my item.

What was it? Was it a book, music…? No it was a new game for my PS2 and my excitement was way up there! Yeah right up there. No higher… keep looking!

It was none other than a copy of the new Lara Croft game; Legend. Fanbloodytastic. I’m a hardened (well soft really) Lara fan and have all the games in my collection, I just can’t bare to part exchanged them so they sit on my shelf, and every now and then I dip back into them although I’ve completed them all. So now I have the newest game to add to my collection and I couldn’t wait to play it. Check out the web site www.tombraider.com

To say I couldn’t wait to get rid of the builder who arrived on Saturday morning accompanied by an electrician to try and finally get the under floor heating in the kitchen fixed is an understatement. Okay so working under floor heating is more beneficial than say my PS2 game, but I didn’t care, I wanted to be a spoilt child and allowed to play and forget the fact that I was an adult and thus should be doing my chores! Sod that!

However it was not until Sunday afternoon that I got a chance to play a bit, and if it wasn’t for the fact that I had to sort out dinner and other mundane stuff I’d still be there now. Monday sadly was a work day and then the hectic preparation for a dinner party. Which went well, it was the first time I’ve cooked a meal for people other than family. It was some of the girls from the stoolball club, and before any of you ask what the hell Stoolball is check out this web site: www.stoolball.co.uk and all your questions should be answered! The season is fast approaching and the first practices are in the next couple of weeks, but I digress… back to Lara!

Yesterday was a true PS2 fest day and although I sadly have to admit I’ve killed Lara a few times, (bless her cotton socks) we are, together managing to get through the game! In fact I can’t believe I’ve taken a break from it to come and post on here. What am I thinking!

I accept that Lara is in essence not real, but I’m sure in my heart she is. Yes I know I sound like a sad geek, but who cares, I don’t. People who watch me play, such as my significant others laugh there heads off, because I become part of Lara so when she peeks round a corner so do I, and I’m sure my bobbing in my seat, gives her extra lift on those tricky jumps! I know I’m disillusioned.

Surely you can see the attraction; her whole persona is hot, with a capital ‘H’! And Angelina Jolie, brought her to life fabulously in my opinion, which evidently is biased as I think Jolie is super too! Sigh!

Well that’s enough for now, she be calling me and I must run, leap, shoot, dive, roll, swim oh no that's not me that's Lara! Hey I can dream.

I found this little gem whilst I was wondering around blog pages.. Well what else do you expect me to do when I'm sitting at work with no work to do? Enjoy! See how much you can annoy it!

I thank Steve for this game.

Crash the Movie

Last night I watched Crash on DVD having missed it when it came to our local cinema and all I can say is “wow!”

What a film for discussion! I found it truly poignant of how society has developed over the years and saddened by the themes inherent within it. For me it reflected a lack of trust between races and how this itself permeates into all aspects of society. It was a clever portrayal from each characters perspective of the inherent paranoia toward other races.

Initially I thought it was very disjointed and wondered if I’d be able to stay with it. I’m so glad I did, it was fabulous and I’d highly recommend it to any who haven’t seen it. I’m not sure I’d call it an entertaining film, more of thought provoking one, and in all honestly I think everyone should see it.

Errr… So I got tagged, which apparently means I have to answer the following questions or?…. Goodness knows! So here goes, as I would ever wish to be abiding by Cher’s request, mind you one day I really must refuse her requests if only to find out what the punishments might well be!

Who was your first prom date? Prom… I presume this is some form of party thing that is popular in the States? As such we were never given the pleasure of such a pastime, although there was the odd school disco now and then (and please note there should really be extra emphasis on the ODD!) Date… ermmm… how do I come to terms with the fact that in my school years dating didn’t come into it? Oh heck, I have and am I emotianally scarred and traumatised? No I don’t think so, though if you whisper as I walk past I may freak out a little, of course I am totally in control.

Who were your first roommate(s)? Some chaps whose names I can’t recall thank goodness, as it was while living in a squat and it was truly a squat. Looking back I can’t believe how unclean the place was, but hey it was a safe haven (ish).

What alcoholic beverage did you drink the first time you got drunk? OMG the trauma of recalling that time, how could you make me answer such a thing??? It was whiskey ewwwwwww… still now I cannot even take a whiff of it without the stomach churning and the dry heaving. I recall at the time I didn’t like the taste and to mask it I mixed it with, of all things, powdered orange drink. Double ewwwwww…. I was so so ill that day, maybe this contributed to my capabilities to control my drinking levels now?

What was your first job? Fruit picking, well actually more fruit eating than picking. Hey I got paid to eat nice scrummy strawberries. Well that’s not strictly true I was meant to be putting them in punnets to sell on, but more found their way into my mouth than the punnets. I so love strawberries!

What was your first car? A VW Polo which I had to start by tapping a hammer (very carefully) on the starter motor thing in the engine else it would turn over and start. It was Silver and I got rid of it to my ex’s sister for a fair price I might add!

When did you go to your first funeral? That would be my grandfathers and I think I was about 8 or 9 but appallingly I couldn’t say for sure.

How old were you when you first moved away from your hometown? That would be between my 14th & 15th Birthday. It was something I had to do as living at home was pure hell then. Hence how I ended up in a wonderous squat.

Who was your first grade teacher? Ermmm can’t think, now if you’d asked me to name a teacher who I admired (okay adored) now that would be a different kettle of fish altogether!

Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane? That would be Spain, when I was about 7 for a summer holiday.

When did you sneak out of your house for the first time, who was it with? From the age of about 12, I mastered the whole climbing out of window upstairs, with a little shimmy across the sloping roof. (Note if you face toward the roof it’s easier). Finally reaching the dividing point between our house and next doors, enabling me to hop down delicately (shush cant make a noise) onto the fencing, before commando crawllng past the patio doors and then away up the drive! I knew watching programmes like the Proffessionals and playing action man with the boys would help! And the reason for my escapte? A Tryst with my then partner.

Who was your first Best Friend and are you still friends with them? That would be a split between Nicola Crofton and Alison Jones. Haven’t heard from the latter since secondary school, but caught up with the former through http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk/ albeit very briefly.

Where did you live the first time you moved out of your parents' house? A glorious squat! After which my sister took pity on me and let me kip in the lounge of her shared house.

Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day? Myself! Did you not realise I had multiple personalities. No honestly, probably my partner, but if not then my buddy Tanya.

Who's wedding were you in the first time you were a bridesmaid/groomsman? Brian and April, Brian was my cousin, I was meant to be joined by my two sisters but April was so tiny they towered over her, so it was down to me and some lad who was the page boy. I had to wear a peach dress with flouncy bits (the trauma is still with me to this day) and small floral pattern. I never ever wear dresses (well obvioulsy some times I do, but I’m just not comfy mumfy in them).

What is the first thing you do in the morning? Stretch, and try to get upright with the least amoutn of pain! Then it’s a bathroom moment for ablutions, afterwhich a nice cup of tea!

What was the first concert you ever went to? Michelle Shocked at some university campus in London, it was when she did her Short Sharped Shocked tour.

First tattoo or piercing? Earrings, one per ear, at age 13. Had a tattoo done when I was about 28.

First celebrity crush? Probably Amanda Donahoe, in fact I still harbour a secret
admiration (oh darn its nto secret anymore)!

Age of first kiss? It coudln't have been that eventful as I’ve blocked it out,
probably was with a guy, hey maybe that’s why I can’t recall it!

First crush? I take it you mean one of those uncontrollable emotional things rather than the other where you squish someone? If the former then it was my PE teacher.

First time you did drugs? I went to some party in the back of beyond around Margate/Ramsgate way and someone put speed in my drink, well I’m manic at the best of time and on speed I’m just plain awful. Never done anything like that again.