Posh to Pikey

So when ipandah was round the other night we were talking about how M takes us to pikeyish places and we actually have quite a good time. So we came up with this concept - from posh to pikey. It's where posh people go to places that they wouldn't normally, like netto in a bid to get them a bit 'pikey'.

That's probably not a good thing but it kind of works as a concept. People with manners mingling amongst peasants...or something.

Carrying on this theme, tonight we went to the car auctions. I've not been before and I wasn't sure what to expect. We weren't going for any particular reason, just to smell fumes, listen to the crazy man doing the fast talking and see if there were any bargains to be had. And M likes cars so anything in that respect is a good trip out for him.

We got there and it was a lot smaller than I expected. It was in a kind of warehouse/garage/car park thing, looking a lot like the back of a railway station. We had to walk up some steps. I was sensing danger as there didn't appear to be any girls there...well I say that, there was one - but she looked more like a man. So the actually auction took place in a sort of barn. There was a conveyor belt type process where the men brought the cars through the barn.

As we were walking up one of the cars had a shopping trolley in front of it and M explained that that was because it had broken down and they were charging the battery. Apparently we were there on the night when the cars start off at really low bids, like £50. M said he saw a car go one night for £8, no, really.

There were loads of very scary looking people in there. The actual autioneer was really good, he spoke sooooo quickly, and repeated himself quite a lot, very effective. I noticed that there was a group of men standing near the ladies toilet and it occurred to me that it was probably a very unused toilet. A few cars came in, most vauxhall astras where lots of people crowded round to get a better look, very exciting!

M pointed out that there was a little cafe (it was like a tiny room off the barn bit) and asked if I wanted a drink or anything, I declined. He also mentioned that hadn't they gone to an effort by putting little vases on the tables in the cafe with flowers in, ha!

So all in all it was an 'experience'. I don't like cold feet though, and they became a problem after a while.

Tonight we have mainly just chilled. I'm not feeling too clever so I have a lovely water bottle made for me by M and a cuddly cat to keep me warm.

My puma power car is going for it's yearly test tomorrow. I've told him to behave and not go out tonight. He was most disgruntled, Fridays are his oiling up nights.

More nonsense tomorrow....or the next day....

Toodles,

Pixie the wannabe pikey

Spring clean

So last night we did a spring clean....in January, in winter. Well M hadn't had a good clear out for a while and we needed more space for my things. It's so much better now that it's done - I stress, it wasn't bad before but it's nice to just have a little tidy and shuffle around every now and again. Items of interest found: A pair of glittery socks. I don't think they were M's, well I hope not anyway, but they were nice.

Poppy was having a little wander around whilst we were doing it, I think she was trying to help, only she can't lift much, bless her.

So today at work the regional manager for my department phoned into the office and told me she'd heard good things about me and to keep up the good work! I was chuffed considering I've only been there since last week.

The marvellous ipandah came round tonight for some yummy chinese food and some relaxing.

We discussed all things random and played on singstar for a good few hours. When I say played, we actually only just flicked through the catalogue of music that's on the singstar online thing. We also watched some other people's videos. You can upload yourself using the eye-toy thing. Some of them were very funny and random, some very scary. We decided you'd have to do it properly otherwise there's no point going on there. Some very funny men doing very girlie songs like Toni Braxton.

She also brought cupcakes which are my favourite cakes so.....I heart her.

I've started watching The Hills again after the season break. I love it. It's completely pathetic and totally scripted but I love the fashion and the music and Hollywoodness about it. M tolerates it but he secretly likes it too, well he reads all the gossip sites so he hears about them anyway.

I've just got a new game for my DS. It's called my little baby. I love it, although it is a bit boring at the moment - all I seem to do is change nappies and feed her (my baby is called Mimi - I had a dream once M and I had a baby called Mimi, crazy I know). I do take her in the garden and put some cream on her and stuff so I'm sure she's very content. And the game keeps telling me that I'm a good parent so that's good.

I'm off to bed now.....*yawn*

P>E

Nothing of any interest.....

Why did you look!

Today was literally, just another day. I don't normally mind Mondays but I had a monster headache all day. I was woken up several times during the twilight hours because of a certain little black cat face trampling on my head.

Poppy has developed a new trick of nudging both M and I whilst we're asleep. Not just to get into the bed but to actually move our heads off our pillows to wake us up. I'm not sure whether it's because she wants to have a little play during the night now but we've had a word with her and hopefully she'll stop now.

As I'm writing she is currently sat on both of my arms making it difficult to type. I wish I was still here during the day, she's much better when she's had a little play out.

We had some lovely jacket potatoes for tea, with tuna. Nom nom. Oh and some jelly which was like a terrine with berries and cherries in it, delico.

I hope I don't have any crazy dreams like I did last night. I dreamt that not only was I pregnant M celebrated by buying me a baby plate and cutlery set, because he hadn't realised until one of my friends told him, nice! Also two 'youths' (I describe them as such because they had hoodies on) broke into the house and stabbed M in the back with three miniature knives.

When I came downstairs to phone an ambulance, the front door changed into an office reception desk and the lady was on the phone and wouldn't listen to my cries. Bleghk! Also for some reason the youths had come back to taunt me about the fact that they'd stolen my car keys. Very bizarre.

Don't skid on a kid.

Pix

My throat hurts

We've just spent the best part of two hours playing Singstar. M bought the microphones and the first game for me because he knows how much I love it. So, he did the "oh no, it's ok, I'll just watch" thing for the first five minutes. Then he was as much into it as me. In fact he wouldn't let me turn it off until he'd done Coffee & TVfor the second time.

A triumph.

Bedlam

So today we got into the puma power car and headed to Knaresborough. It's a lovely little town near to Harrogate. I've not been there before but it's very pretty and I think it would be a wonderful place to live. M and I looked in a few estate agents windows while we were wandering and there seemed to be lots of nice places on offer. We walked down passed Knaresborough castle which is more ruin really but lots of slopes and steep steps leading down to the river and some water fall type things. There was a sign for the 'house in the rock' so we walked to that, however I was a little disappointed with it because it looked better from the car than it did close up.




Apparently Guy Fawkes lived in Scotton, just down the road from Knaresborough so there were pictures of him drawn on some of the houses doing gun powder plot things, pretty cool.

We walked down by the river and had a drink and a cream scone - although I didn't have the cream because I hate it so I donated it to M and he told me how they make clotted cream, I should know that really, he's so clever. It was quite romantic sitting by the river. The cafe was playing boyzone's greatest hit though so that was a little off putting. I did however get told off for looking at a rather handsome man that came in to buy a cup of tea. I was looking at him in the mirror but M clocked me and wasn't best pleased, in a jovial way.

There is a place called Mother Shipton's cave (which is where witches used to live in the olden times) near there but M didn't think it would be open so we decided to go there on another day.

On the way home we drove through Bedlam, what a fantastic name for a town! Maybe it's always hectic there.

Then we saw a sign for Brimham Rocks and we went up there.








It's an amazing place. It's loads of rocks formed about 320 million years ago (heck) and then corroded in the ice age to create mad patterns and rocks on rocks but they look as if they're about to fall off at any moment! It was very muddy and stuff so we decided to come back another day and do a proper tour. Apparently climbers go there and climb up the really steep rocks. Rather them than me, crazies!

The sun was setting and it was truly magical, it really does rock.

Work tomorrow, ugg.

Laterz

P

A tribute to teh black

This is Poppy. She is a black cat.

She is currently nestled on M's arm after a hard day of running around the garden, playing the window game (where she goes out the back door and then into the lounge window at the front five minutes later), and repeat.

You can just look at that cute little face and pretty eyes and thoughts of her trampling on your head at 3am disappear.

More Poppy adventures to follow....

Meals on Wheels

I forgot to mention something yesterday.

So, when I was younger and there was any length of time off school, I was sent to my grandma's house with my younger brother (I have two brothers, one five years younger and one ten years younger and it was the five years younger one). My sister (who is 2 years older) used to get to either stay at home or go to this camp place - slightly Americanised and I'm unsure why my parents did it but she got to go on holiday and we had to go to grandma's.

All that there was to do at my grandma's house was source some paper and do drawings and write things and trying on my grandma's clothes (she was very trendy in her day). I used to write my sister letters telling her that the house had burnt down and the firemen had to come and rescue us. I suspect it probably wasn't the nicest letter to receive but it amused me no end when I was 10. We were also allowed into the town to visit the library. My grandma lives in a bungalow in Stanmore - it's a bit like stepping back in time going there, nothing has changed in 20 odd years, except the decor. It's right on a hill so it overlooks the city, we got to see Wembley being taken down and re-built, for what seemed like a thousand years, tis lovely.

Anyway, so we used to wander into town, visit the library and get up to mischief. I think I tried to buy cigarettes once. I think I was about 13. I tried to convince the newsagent that I was 17 and was attending the local college. It was working up until he asked the name of my teacher and my grandma and their telephone numbers. I decided death sticks weren't that important and cool with *that* much hassle.

Where was I going with this....

Oh yes. So, our days were long and boring but we did do well at entertaining ourselves. My grandma had these lovely old neighbours called Nancy and John, they're dead now sadly. My grandma has a large garden which has loads of little paths and steps all leading up to the top of it. At the top left-hand side there is a little orchard and a cut through to next door's garden. The garden was great for playing hide and seek and generally messing about. So, we used to sneak next door and look at the fish in their pond. John and Nancy had lots of really amazingly coloured fish.

John, who was a little doddering old Irish man with a stick used to come out of the house and tell us about the fish. We'd stand there for ages and then he'd invite us inside and Nancy would be in there. We were ALWAYS without fail given a selection of boiled mints and 50p. They were normally foxes glacier mints, it's no wonder they're my favourite now. Ahhh, the simple things.

That still wasn't my point!

Some days grandma used to take us out. Every Monday we'd go shopping, then Fridays we'd go to Betty's house. She was a cousin of my grandma's who did her nails. I swear that's why my grandma is still going strong at nearly 90. She's had such a good routine for years. She even goes to the gym now!

Every Wednesday we'd travel down the road to Bushey, where my uncle lives. I was convinced for years that he lived in a shack on the common at the back of grandma's house, he used to take us over there to play with our boomerang and he told me once that was his house. I always thought Bushey was a ridiculous name for a town, how pointless. So, we'd go to Bushey to the WRVS office where my grandma used to organise the local meals on wheels (finally, the point of this post)! I always used to think she was amazing organising meals for old people when she was old herself.

So we'd spend till about 11 o'clock in the little office sorting out the paperwork, calling people and answering the phone if any old ladies without teeth in called.

Then we'd go to the kitchen of this random pub, have a little chat with the chef and then load up the little tin packets of meals. The reason I suddenly started thinking about this was because I was standing in the kitchen at work the other day, waiting for the kettle to boil and there was a leaflet for meals on wheels stuck to the notice board. It was saying that meals on wheels were delivered twice daily and they now catered for a range of dietary requirements - such as vegetarian, halal and caribbean (not sure how this is a dietary requirement) amongst other things. It said they also catered for allergies to wheat, diabetics etc.

Now, I know I was young and stuff but I never ever remember loads of different meals with different labels. There were lots of tins with meat and potatoes in them and a little one with sponge pudding and custard in and maybe two or three with special stuff in. Why is that not satisfactory anymore? I mean, if it was good enough for oldies in the 80s and 90s why not now? It's no wonder we're in this big financial crisis with all these fancy eating habits!

That's a bit of a snippet of my childhood for you and we're having our haircuts shortly so I'm being harassed to get dressed.

Stay safe...

Pix

Ey-Up

Since I've moved to Yorkshire I'm still trying to get used to the way in which people up here talk. M likes to take me to places where there are very 'local' phrases on shops and things so we can laugh, horrible really as they do actually talk that way, but funny all the same. There is a fish and chip shop called "wi'bits" - which apparently means "with bits". This is because people up here have scraps of batter on top of their chips. Odd.

The one that really makes me laugh is 'think on'. Everyone says it. "You better think on Sharon because you'll end up in trouble", "Think on and slow down" etc etc. It just tickles me. Anyway, today I was moved to another PC (yes, you heard right, an actual PC again) and I was going about my daily business when I saw this label:-



Now, I'm sure I've only heard this saying since I've lived up here and I'm certain it's a northern thing. So do companies design these stickers specifically for certain areas? Like would it say "Ock switch off" in Edinburgh and "Eeesh never leave on" in Middlesbrough? Clearly this theory works better when these phrases are said out loud, I didn't think that through. That amused me greatly anyway. Regional catch phrases on computer equipment, the next big thing.

M and I had a lovely meal last night. He had a huge burger with cheese and bacon and mushrooms in and he liked it because he keeps going on about how much he misses the mushroom double swiss burger. I had a chicken caesar salad which was most pleasant, however I forgot to say, hold the anchovies and they arrived all fresh with little peepers and stuff. I hope they were able to put them back into the tank in the kitchen when I left them on the plate, they looked almost like they were just having a little snooze.

Then we had a little drive around to see if I could familiarise myself with the city, FAIL. I just felt sleepy and got jolted around by bumps on the very badly made roads here.

We've just watched RAMBO, the lastest one which I hadn't seen yet. Lent to us by the gorgeous ipandah. She actually lent us the box set so I need to watch the others before she comes round next week. We are having a tea party which will be ace as ever.

Jonathan Ross is back on tonight. It's on in the background as I'm writing this. I feel a little disgruntled that he's back on, if I'm honest. I don't mind it but I hate that Russell had to resign even though JR actually started the whole quips on the phone at Andrew Sachs. Anyway, that's history now.

Right, waffle over...

Au Revoir

Pixie

Marsh-iety-mallows

So....a while ago I went to this amazing garden centre near my mum's house called Secrets. I'm not sure why they're trying to keep this place a secret because it's quite frankly amazing. There's a lovely little tea shop where they serve tea and cakes on Cath Kidson crockery, kitsch heaven. There is also a whole section dedicated to weird and wonderful chocolates and sweets. Then there is a bit with amazing fruits (see above).




Anyway, they sell this marshmallow fluff stuff. It's the stuff that is inside teacakes and snowballs. On the jar, it says you're supposed to spread it on toast. Sod that, pass me the frackin' jar and a spoon. *throws up*

Today was a generic day really, not much happening although I did finally get a log in for a PC at work so I'm not just writing down messages, I'm doing some other stuff too. The people at work think I talk all posh 'n that which is funny. They all say weird things like "It were opening 'while' 8pm" - which apparently means "It was open until 8pm", madness.

M and I are going out for something to eat shortly. Not sure where but I'm sure it will be a tasty treat that I shall report back on tomorrow. I'm looking forward to the weekend and just spending some quality time together. It's funny now I'm working again I look forward to that much more. M wants another name on here, not sure what to call him, any ideas?

Keep it real

Pix

Wee charts

I forgot to say yesterday that where I'm working is sort of NHS-y so there are all these 'helpful' leaflets lying around and nurses and doctors coming in and out. Anyway, on one of the toilet cubicles is a wee chart, like the one above. It tells you what colour you should be producing. I am slightly alarmed by some of the colours on there, lets hope I never get *that* thirsty. It's a bit off putting anyway. I keep finding myself in that cubicle, looking at that poster, wondering what I will find when I get off the toilet. Enough already.

The other thing that alarms me is the state of the kitchen there. It's absolutely disgusting. I'm quite particular about things like that anyway and I try to avoid going in there. Hang on a minute...I need to start going in there more, I don't want the dehydration colours!!!!

Over and out till next time.

Pixie

Who would go to Bangor...?

The weekend seems like ages ago...



As planned we went to Portmeirion at the weekend, it was as ever, marvellous.

So, we drove down on Saturday during the day and stayed in Bangor for a night. What the frigg is there to do there, and why are there no restaurants? We basically spent all of Saturday night driving around trying to find even a shop. We drove about 30 miles in all. And all we saw were a few pubs with dodgy looking locals in them and a handful of chinese take aways, no where to actually sit and eat something. Bangor is supposed to be a university city, not town, city. Whoever wrote that song about having a lovely time the day they went to Bangor must have got it wrong.

We ended up at a Little Chef, funnily enough, it wasn't good - strange that it's now on channel 4, I'm a bit disgruntled by that programme, why the hell would you employ such a fancy chef as Heston to sort out Little Chef, epic FAIL. Back to the story, I forgot to set the scene of our driving around - cold, wet and gale force.

Drove across to Portmeirion on Sunday, had a lovely walk through the woods when we got there. Then had a bath and went to dinner. Had some fancy food, including - I won't lie to you, deep fried ice-cream, no really. It wasn't so good. I found it too stodgy, however M liked it.

Travelled back through the snow yesterday which was both exciting and scary and involved quite a lot of music turned up loudly to blocked out the worried feelings.

So, today I started a new job. I basically take messages. I don't have a PC or anything, literally a desk and a pad! I swear a monkey could do it but for the money it's better than watching Jeremy Kyle. I don't like getting up so early though, I hate mornings.

I'm too tired to write anything else. I bid you good night.

Pix

Cool Rider

So, M has just been watching Emmerdale (not one of my soaps but I tolerate it) and you'll never guess who's just moved to Emmerdale? Maxwell Caulfield aka Michael Carrington from Grease2! Nostalgia! Apparently he's just bought Home farm or something with Amanda Donohoe. I always get her mixed up with that one from the Kenco coffee ads, Cherie Lunghi I tell you something for nothing (why do people say that - surely it doesn't matter if they're telling you for nothing, they're going to say it anyway)? He hasn't aged well at all. She hasn't aged well either.

The episode ended with them deciding to have a shag in one of the stables and it was like two old people rolling around in the hay. Nothing wrong with that like, just a bit cringey.

But I do love that film, cheesy I know. I didn't really enjoy his performance in it, he was a bit of a wet lettuce, but it does remind me of the songs and stuff. Smerphf bought me the soundtrack a few years ago for Christmas, it was such a cool present because he knew how much I loved it and it was a nice surprise. I'm going to have to dig it out and watch it.

That is all.

Pixie

I am not a number...I am a free man!

So yesterday I heard the sad news that Patrick McGoohan had died. A legend has gone! The timing is very bizarre as M and I are going to 'The Village' at the weekend. In a selfish way, OK very selfish, I'm a little disgruntled that he chose this week to shuffle off this mortal coil, just because I'm sure there'll be lots of die hard fans there - no not die hard, die hard Prisoner fans.

But anyway, I'm sure we shall have a fandabby time as we have done before. M took me there for my birthday last year and it was amazing. We stayed in The Watch house which over looks the estuary, so beautiful - I can't for the life of me remember whether I've mentioned that before so, apologies if I have. I'm hoping it's not going to rain this time. I know, I appreciate that's hoping a lot but I haven't been able to look round the lovely gardens and surrounding forests properly because it's been pouring down before.

In other news I went to see an agency today about some temp work and have an interview tomorrow so hopefully starting some work next week. Not quite on the money I would like but at least it's some money and I will again start to interact with humans during the day.

We went to Costco the other night and M bought some stuff called Noni juice. Apparently it has all these weird voodoo medical properties that cure quite literally every ailment known to man. However, M said it tastes like a mixture of prune juice and strong cheese so I'm not really feeling it. I also got a massive bag of marshmallows because I love them. I haven't opened them yet but when I do, I'm sure I will OD and have to be put to bed after the sugary high.

I'm loving the Fall Out Boy song 'I don't care' from the album Folie a Deux. I think it's the single before the one that's out at the moment. I'm not really a massive fan of their work but they do have some catchy little numbers.

We were going to go and see Twilight last night but the only showing at the nearest cinema was 6pm - how rude?! As if working people would be able to get there so frackin early. Anyway, think we'll go next week. I'm also eagerly awaiting the 3-D film, My Bloody Valentine. It was given an R rating in America so I presume it's full of gore. I'm wondering how good the 3-D glasses will be though, maybe the red and green variety? Will it be full of screaming people too?

Right, there is a cat meowing at the window so I'd better let her and her muddy feet in.

TTFN,

Pix

Castles, pies and christmas cheer - December part two

So....I think I've got my days and dates mixed up but I'm just going to carry on with how it is in my head.



During December at some point we went to the National Media Museum in Bradford. It was wickedly good. It's quite a big place with all sorts of displays and galleries about photography, television and animation. There's seven floors so a very good day out. One of the floors was an exhibition about how TV has changed over the years and behind the scenes at a TV studios it was so cool. You could sit at the seat and read the news! They had a proper link to Huw Edwards reading the headlines and then saying "now we link to our correspondent in Bradford" and then it put your face on screen. That's probably not that great but I thought it was brill. Then there was another bit where you stood in front of a blue screen and you could pick the background so M stood on Coronation Street outside the cafe, that was funny.

There is actually a real radio studio within part of the exhibition, part of BBC Bradford. I think I'd find it a little awkward to work there, there were a number of 'idiot kids' (you know the ones on the school trip that ruin it for everyone else)? that were running around outside the windows, I'd have to get some kind of electric fencing to shock the plebs for me to accept a job.

The best bit for me was the Blue Peter 50th anniversary exhibition. It showed presenters over the years, Christmas decorations made out of coat hangers and Tracy Island from Thunderbirds. Very nostalgic! They also had this really ace bit which was like a 'shame' wall where they'd put newspaper reports and headlines about presenters, like Richard Bacon on smack etc. It was funny to see just how many of the presenters sort of...went wrong. I wonder if it's all that glue?

So we rounded off the trip with a visit to the IMAX cinema which is connected to the museum. I was a virgin of the 3D cinema experience, except having seen the Michael Jackson 3D film at the Epcot Centre at Disney world when I was 8. I think they were showing the Dark Knight there when that was on but I think to be honest a whole film would have given me a headache. We saw a film called Fly me to the moon, which was about 3 bees which managed to smuggle themselves onto the first moon flight in Apollo 13. It was an amazing effect, the film didn't really have much content, but it was very clever. At first I got caught by the 3Dness of it all and the bees flying passed my ear was a little too much for me to take which M found highly amusing. When you've finished watching the film you have to give your 3D glasses to a lady at the exit, but as I went to hand them to her she signaled for me to put them into the bin next to her. I presume this was to wash them and not to throw them away? A very enjoyable day all in all.

Then there was the obligatory Christmas festivities. I have to admit I was most un-festive this year which is practically unheard of for me. We didn't even had a tree! I think this was mainly because of the move being so close to the festive season and deciding amongst my family and friends that I wasn't going to do the present thing this year, that for me is part of the enjoyment. I love going to an effort for people I love, seeing their faces when they get something they like and not only that, thinking about what they would like. I only made one various Christmas CD and that didn't even had a hidden Christmas track on it! Pah.

Anyway, so for Christmas day M and I decided to have a very low key affair but also that we didn't want to cook for ourselves so we went to The Box Tree in Ilkley. It's a two Michelin star restaurant which I took M to for his birthday - so not at all low key but much nicer than any old pub if you're not having a meal at home. It's not at all pretentious though just a little intimate restaurant. And they have the best thing - when you've finished your meal you can go and have coffee and they get out this big chest which is full of hand-made chocolates, amazing! The meal was fantastic, proper turkey dinner, however we had 3 starters before hand, a fish one, a gamey thing and a mushroom soup thing. I don't think I'm doing it much justice but it was fab. I also had two glasses of champagne (we had a complimentary glass of champagne but M was driving so I had his too).

The only criticism I have is that it was all a little bit early. When I'm at home - I mean at home at my mum's for Christmas it's always much more leisurely and we don't have dinner till about 3pm or something, however we're all normally drunk by 10am when we're opening our stockings...ooo that's another thing, I didn't get my annual stocking. My mum always puts it on our doors even though we *kind* of know Father C is not quite real. In conclusion, a very nice, quiet Christmas. I missed my crazy family hit though, definitely next year.



I'm going to end this very long Christmas chapter to say that during Christmas and New Year at some point (notice how I'm not talking about New Year because I don't like it at all) M and I took a trip to Skipton to visit the castle. Well, I went to visit the castle and M went to buy pies from Stanforths Old Pork Pie Shop. I was going to link to their website but they don't appear to have one. They make very good pies apparently, they looked too meaty for me. I did get some sausage rolls (rowls) but they were like a sausage in a roll. OK, I know that's how it should be but there is such a thing as a meat overload, I like the chopped up version.

So the castle was a veritable treat. It's all very much well kept and there are lots of rooms to explore - including a toilet where they had a 'long drop' which was soooo friggin high, scary. Also in the courtyard bit, there is a massive tree, I'm not even going to try and guess how tall, I'm rubbish with measurements but apparently when Treasure Hunt came to the castle there was an arrow buried at the bottom of it that Anneka had to find, how cool? Oh and incidentally apparently part of the castle belongs to some mafia family that still live there now, it's good to know someone that comes from an area to get all then insider knowledge!

So I think I'll end this now, I've waffled on enough!

I have some news from today but I'll add that later in the week.

Bye for now

P to the E

Edit:- Ummm think I might get in trouble for my mafia claims. Apparently they're not mafia they are a family of jewellers very well known in the area...I have no idea why my brain thought lots of money, an italian sounding surname and rolls Royce cars equal the mafia. Ermm Sorry about that.

Jackets and opera singers - December part one

Hello again!

Oooo so quick after the last time but I thought I'd better get something down before I forget everything.

December...ahhh it seems so long ago now. I've always quite liked that as a name for a girl maybe, if I ever have any children. So, I moved up to Yorkshire on 6th December. Packed up my little flat and did two days of hard graft to get everything in boxes, tidied everything and loaded everything into the van that M hired. It all went rather smoothly looking back, although it was massively tiring.

I've had a few weeks to get used to my surroundings but if I'm completely honest being in a new place scares me a bit. It's a lot bigger here than my last location (I used to in a small town on the South coast). It's not that 'new' scares me, just getting lost mainly! There are so many way of getting into Leeds and all the roads look the same. M has been fantastic, taking me out on daily drives and stuff - however my brain seems to shut down when I'm in the passenger seat of the car!

That didn't sound like it was describing December! Right interesting December occurrences of note:-



Finally met up with the wonderful ipandah who is a very good friend of M's that I have kind of stolen, but he's ok with it. She came round and M and I put on a jacket potato feast and we watched the film [REC] which I have seen before but still found equally as scary. IP and I are trying to launch a magazine called 'Jacket Monthly' which was the reasoning behind the spud fest. We were thinking about parties where the 'host' provides blank potatoes and everyone brings a filling of their choice. Then it could be implemented at places of work, birthday parties, barmizphas, christenings etc. Then there could be reviews of the best potatoes...ermmm and other such concepts but it's all still in very early brain storming stages ahem. We went to her house the following week and watch Day of the Dead? I think that's what it was called, which was utter rubbish! We all agreed the only good bit of the film was a deaf guy called Samuel who wrote on cards and held them up, even though they only had seconds till the baddy zombies came, funny.

Met Ozzy the wonderdog too, he's soooo cute, I think he likes us. We baby-sat for him the following week whilst ma IP and dad IP went to a funeral. We took him for a little walk and he spent most of the day chilling out, he was cool.


My step-papa was 60 during the month of December. M and I were cordially invited to attend the birthday bash at my mum's house (daan sarf). My mum had been making preparations for weeks. They even extended the house to add a really cool glass building to the back (my step-dad is an arcitect so he designed and had built their mansion). Ok, so they didn't do that just for the party but it sounded good. There were absolutely heaps of people there, there were supposed to be 100 but I think less people came at the last minute.

So, the musical surprise on the night (although my mum told me weeks before to spoil the surprise) was that there was an opera singer coming for the evening from Harrods. Apparently she stands at the top of one of the escalators and sings daily...OK. Also my brother, he's 17 and pretty cool, is like a super genius with all things musical. He plays the clarinet, grade zillion, the piano, again top grade, the organ (although he thinks that one spoils his street cred so talks about that less) and sings. He was doing a solo on the night too. When we got there my mum had made the house look beautiful, I wish I'd taken some pictures, but I got roped into doing my beautician job and immediately put to work on my mum's nails! I sometimes think I should start charging people that ask me to do their nails....I mean, I don't mind it but I could be earning some moolah, I am good at it, so I'm told, but I'm not sure that's something to be proud of.

Where was I? Oh yes the house. There were twinkly white lights everywhere, very tasteful. My mum had hired a catering firm to 'serve' for the evening and they provided these tables that were like cocktail bar height for people to lean on, good idea I thought, although I don't think I actually got to test even one out because as soon as people started arriving I kind of did my best to hide with my brothers and sister out of the way! I like some of my mum's friends, don't get me wrong. It's just there were lots of people that I haven't seen for years there and I didn't want to do the whole 'sooooo darling....what's going on with you' interview all night.

M and I spent most of the time with the other siblings. The musicial interlude went down a storm, although it was hard to hear some of it and my dad got annoyed 'cos people were talking and not listening! I got very drunk, on only one glass of wine. The food (from what I saw) looked amazing. They did these bowls of all sorts like beef and mash, fish and chips, and chicken and cous cous, all cooked on stoves in our garage, really wonderful. M proceeded to spend the night/early morning passed out on the bathroom floor after my brother decided to give everyone 'tabacco' vodka shots at about 1am. I've never seen so many people take such a turn for the worst! Lethal shots. Right, part two of this thrilling December installment tomorrow!

Don't get too excited until then....

Laterz

P

I'll take myself to an east coast city...and walk about

Hey!

Oh my good god, it's been sooooo long. Can't believe I have been so slack. Actually that's totally not true, I can believe it - I have lots of excuses at this point but I'll spare you them.

I've just heard something really funny M is looking up phobias of stuff, not sure why and the fear of long words is apparently called 'sesquipedalophobia' which seems to be the longest word so far! Imagine trying to look up your illness..."I'll just try and see what my condition is called....arghhhhhhhhHHH". Hilarious. I know I shouldn't laugh at other people's 'things' but that is quite funny.

So this is only really a very short post to say, I am back and I will do a proper review of Christmas tomorrow.

Don't have nightmares....

Pix