Christmas In Scotland

I'm back in Wales after spending Christmas Eve - Christmas Sunday (my new for it name as today is still a Christmas Bank Holiday) in Scotland. As my twitter followers will know I used the hashtag christmasinscotland while I was there to highlight some of the experiences that were unique to being in Scotland - or perhaps just unique to me not spending Christmas with my parents. It wasn't really that different to be honest - the biggest thing was the food. Because we went to hubs's brother's for dinner at his parents there were no leftovers to pick at and no jars of pickled onions for me to devour. Also there was a lack of parlour games. I did eventually convince husb to play charades with me once but at my parents we are always playing ridiculous games (I have a reputation for "throwing the board up in the air" when I don't win as I did this once when I was about 6. No one has ever let me forget it. Even though there were no games going on in Scotland I still had a lovely Christmas and now am looking forward to new year in Wales. I may do a hashtag for that. We'll see.

Driving Home for Christmas

In the last 3 days husb and I have driven from London to Llanelli then from Llanelli to Troon. It feels like we've been in the car for days. It was a 6 hour trek to Wales as both the Severn Bridge and the Second Severn Crossing where closed because of falling ice. We had to go via Gloucester and the Heads of the Valleys road. The countryside scenery was beautiful as it was snowy and icy but I couldn't take any pics as we were moving too fast. Then last night we drove from Llanelli up to Troon where we'll stay until Sunday. We left Llanelli at half five yesterday and arrived in an icy Troon at about quarter to two this morning. This journey was like a dream compared to the one from London to Wales. We'd been expecting a nightmare journey but the roads were clearThe car was showing the temperatures got as low as -14c. It was odd driving with the piles of snow next to the motorway but as we were on the M roads for most of the journey the gritters had done a fantastic job. I really would like to be able to thank those who have kept the roads clear. The news is saying that conditions are awful but I think we were really lucky with our journey north. I also got a mention on radio 2 which I was really pleased with. I hope our journey back is as good.

Home Made

Last week Husb told me that his work were going to have a "bake off" at work. He was going to make some shortbread and asked if I could make some Welsh Cakes. So I agreed and bought the ingredients. Now I'm not really what you might call a regular baker (about twice a decade sounds about right) however I really enjoyed making the Welsh Cakes. It did remind me of making them with my mother when I was little and I was really quite pleased that I was actually able to do it without having to phone her for help. So in a fit of "home made baking is ace" and after watching Kirstie's Homemade Christmas I have decided to try and make some more stuff. Going with the Christmas theme I am going to try mince pies and chutney (both using recipes I got from KHMC). I will post a picture of the results. By blogging this I've GOT to do it now. I'm quite capable of buying all the stuff and then not doing anything so I hope this will spur me on.

The Wave

I went on The Wave march for climate justice on Saturday. We walked from Grosvenor Sq to The Houses of Parliament. The march was a lot of fun but it seemed really long. There were people carrying a sound system in a wheelbarrow (which was just mental if you ask me!) but that kept us all entertained as we walked along. I haven't been on a protest march before and wasn't really sure what to expect I had been a bit concerned about the crowds of people and if there would be a crush. It was fun though and seeing as everyone was there for the same reason there was nothing scary about it at all. It was good to be part of something that will raise awareness for this important issue. It is the poorest in the world who are already being affected by climate change and we must act now to stop it.

Hotel Room #473289

I'm not the most prolific business traveller but I seem to be finding myself in a hotel room at least once a week at the moment. The hotel I'm in tonight is a little - well how to put this nicely - it's a little 80s. There is a diamond pattern on the wall paper. The curtains are a random terracotta pattern with MATCHING PELMET. The carpet has a weird diagonal stripe and the telly doesn't work. Thank goodness for my netbook and the 3g usb stick.

Trainers and Jeans

I love wearing trainers. Not the proper running type (though they have their place once in a while) but casual trainers are my thing. I also love wearing jeans - I am a dress down kinda girl. However my recent shopping trips have led me to draw the conclusion that the world has decided that women don't get to wear jeans and trainers at the same time. When I went to my trainer shops of choice at the weekend they had nothing suitable and when I attempt to purchase jeans they are always too long. Even so called "short leg" seem to be designed with a heel in mind. So what am I going to do? I can't grow and I can't walk in heels for any proper length of time so I'll just have to live with rips on the hems of my jeans. Perhaps it's a cunning ploy by the fashion industry to get us to have to buy new jeans more often.

Drawing Attention

I’ve decided after 4 months of blogging that I am going link to my blog via my twitter account. I’m not sure how this will work out but I’m going to give it a go. I’m still relatively new to this and I’m a bit apprehensive about drawing attention to it from people other than my close friends and family. Still I’ve decided to bite the bullet and have signed up with twitterfeed. After a shaky start (working out the RSS feed address took way longer than it should have) I think I’ve got it working. So here goes...

Early Christmas

It's still November but we are in the midst of the Christmas season whether we like it or not. I know exactly when the season of Christmas starts and how long it lasts -from Christmas Day until Epiphany - (hence the 12 days of Christmas -but that's a whole other story) however the secular world tries to make Christmas start in early November. Most shops move out the Halloween pumpkins and replace them with Brussels Sprouts, Crackers and lots of fake snow on November 1st. I've never been a fan of making Christmas come too early - perhaps a symptom of my Dad's birthday being mid-December so we never ever put the tree up in our house until after he'd had his many happy returns of the day- but after husb became an uncle 3 years ago things changed. Santa (I've always called him Father Christmas but know I must move with the times) arrives in husb's home town in an RAF Sea King Helicopter every year on the weekend after his nephew's birthday. He then whizzes through the town on a lifeboat and takes part in a parade with marching bands, carnival queens, cheerleaders, baton twirlers and police horses where he waves from the cab of a "big rig" lorry (I've no idea why). The excitement and volume level from the children in the town is just amazing and makes the whole experince magical. I remember the Christmas Carnival of my childhood - I was always scared by the man in the marching band who was dressed as a gorilla and always lead the parade and that traumatised me. Also my Dad was in the Round Table who organised it and my over riding memory is of the year he and one his mates dressed as Margaret and Dennis Thatcher to collect money along the route (when Dennis was in a wheelchair - I have no idea when that was). As a result I really can't remember being as excited as the children were about seeing Santa today (though I'm sure I probably was). It was really good fun even though it was freezing and on the coast in Scotland where if the rain is horizontal that is a good day. So now Santa has landed Christmas can begin. The tinsel can come out, the tree can go up, the presents can be wrapped, the booze can be bought and, best of all, the apple tv can start to play "Greatest Christmas Hits" on repeat until Jan 6th.

Remembering

Originally uploaded by mrs_od

Last week I went to see the field of rememberence at Westminster Abbey. I didn't take my proper camera with me and took this using my work blackberry. I was trying to find the poppy for a soldier who was killed in Afghanistan earlier this year and comes from my home village of Dafen. It was however too dark and I couldn't find the one with his name on. This is a pic of some of the poppies from the Afghanistan section and behind you can see hundreds of crosses from the First World War. It is truely mind blowing when you are confronted with physical representaions of every solider that has died for this country.

london glasgow

i know i'm on the train a lot but tonight london euston to glasgow central has been an experience.

Sushi

I've got a bit of a sushi obsession at the moment. I used to be convinced that I didn't like it. But I think I was just being ridiculous and not liking the thought of it. I have however been eating it about once a week for a couple of months and I wish I could eat it more but it is ridiculously expensive. The best I've had is from ITSU (I am talking lunchtime during work sushi here) but mostly I get it from Pret as that is nearer to my office. I always eat it in the same order (I eat the bits I like the least first and keep the best till last - I do that with everything actually not just sushi) and with chopsticks so I can pretend to myself that I am being authentic. The best part about it is that it is super good for slimming world so is an ace "treat". I only wish I could make it at home but I think it will be a long while before I am able to do that.

Handwriting

This week there has been a lot in the media about Gordon Brown's handwriting. This has provoked sympathy for Mr Brown and deservedly so I'd say. You may not agree with his policies or think he's v good at running the country but to have a go at him for his writing is I think going too far. Leaving aside the fact that he's got eye problems handwriting causes all sorts of problems. It's unique to everyone and what one person thinks is neat another could say is a mess. It's especially hard in this day and age when we're all typing at least 90% of what we would perhaps at one time have hand written. My writing has never been that good. When I was at junior school I had to do extra joined up writing homework because it was such a mess. I used to get good marks for my work, but more often than not I'd get the "untidy" comment. I remember once I was incensed because I got a piece of work back that was marked "careless and untidy". Now I'll let the teacher off with the "careless" comment - in that particular piece of work my spelling was horrendous however it was really really neat. And I don't just mean "neater than my usual effort" I mean "neat when compared with everyone else". Nowadays my writing isn't that bad - sometimes I can't understand it myself (usually when I've written something down in a meeting that I think someone else can see and I don't want them to know what it says which then totally backfires on me because I can't read it 2 days later) but most of the time and especially when it's for public viewing I think it passes the neatness test.

The Berlin Wall

It's 20 years since the wall came down. I can't quite comprehend that we are looking back as History at something that I lived through and remember. I was 12 when the wall came down. I was always interested in the "Iron Curtain" and the communists who were hiding behind it. I wasn't scared about the nuclear threat - I was interested in how they lived and how (as I saw it through my young eyes) they could be all equal when there were presidents and spies and the like.
Seeing the footage and pictures of all the people crossing the wall is just amazing even from 20 years in the future. At the time I remember thinking "What if I was one of them?". Would I have been there at the front trying to get through, running the risk of being shot or arrested by the guards? I was still at school so probably wouldn't have but if I'd been older would I have spoken out about the regime made my face one of many in the crowd.
Looking back at the pictures of the people crossing the wall makes me emotional about what they achieved but I also can't help a little chuckle at the late 80s haircuts and denims - this wasn't something I remember noticing at the time. Even at momentous occasions in history I get distracted by hair and clothes.

Karaoke

I love singing and I love Karaoke. I'm so pleased I live in an age where technology allows you to "perform" with no hassle. You don't need to buy music or learn the piano or guitar -it's just get up and sing. Ace. Last night I went to a fab Karaoke bar in Bromley called "Metropolis". I got to sing 3 times which is nowhere near enough in my view...though I'm not sure everyone else would agree with that. It was fab to be in a place where everyone just wanted to join in. The last time I was at Karaoke it was in a "do" and not many people wanted to do it. Being in a bar where the whole point is Karaoke is a much better experience. Though there are wildly differing abilities the one thing that connects every Karaoke singer is their enthusiasm and general love of the song they are singing. Everyone on stage last night gave maximum effort and the whole room joined in for most songs.I will definitely be going back!

Boffoonery

On Tuesday night we went to see an evening of comedy in aid of Bletchley Park called Bofoonery.
We arrived at the Bloomsbury Theatre and were immediately accosted by a man selling raffle tickets. The first prize was a ZX Spectrun that had been signed by Sir Clive Sinclair. As he sold us the tickets he said to me "I think you'll be more interested in 2nd prize" (a first class trip on Eurostar). Now I'm not saying the audience was completely made up of geeks - but there were a lot of slogan t-shirts around - and I was in my work attire - but I did think it was rather presuming of him to assume I would rather go to France or Belgium that win such an iconic piece of computer history. Anyway the tickets cost £10 and we didn't win!
So in t the theatre we went (after 2 glasses of wine) and the fun started.
The evening's loose theme was code breaking (for obvious reasons) and it kicked off with Simon Singh giving a short talk about codes and showing us an actual enigma machine - which met with gasps from the audience. It was a complex piece of machinery and now that I "fully understand" it the achievement of breaking the code seems even more amazing.
Next there were various stand up routines and sketches performed by some of my favourite comedians.
I was super happy to see Punt and Dennis together on stage. I wanted to go and see them in about 1992 (OK maybe a little later than that but when they were at the height of Mary Whitehouse Experience and "milky milky" was the catchphrase of the day) but couldn't get tickets. I do listen to them on the "Now Show" when I remember about it but other than that I haven't seen them at the same time for years.
Also I was pleasantly surprised by Robin Ince and Dave Gorman - neither of whom I have seen doing stand up before. Also involved were Robert Llewellyn, Johnny Ball and Maggie Philbin who took part in a quiz with Richard Herring and Robin Ince. It was so weird to see Johnny Ball and Maggie Philbin on stage right in front of me - they were on the telly throughout my childhood and my interest in science has got to have been down to "think of a number" or "tomorrow's world" at least in some small way.
Richard Herring was the last stand up to perform and he was excellent as usual. I think I laughed too loud - kept getting funny looks - but by that time I'd had 3 wines so was past caring.
It really was a lovely evening and I hope that I can see all these performers again soon and that Bletchely Park raised as much if not more cash than it expected.

Book 2

Today I finished reading The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. I have read the previous two Robert Langdon books and enjoyed them both. I think I preferred Angels and Demons but the Da Vinci Code was entertaining enough. The Lost Symbol though, it just didn't do it for me. I don't know if this is because I'd read such a well written book immediately before hand but there was just something that didn't click. The chapters were too short. The cliff hangers at the end of each chapter (which worked well in Angels and Demons and Da Vinci Code) just seemed cliched. There were about two that actually made me want to turn the page. I'm sure that it will make an OK film - the action goes along nicely - but it just didn't do it for me.

Book 1

Last week I read "For Richer For Poorer a Love Affair with Poker" by Victoria Coren. I would not call myself a poker fan - in fact I've never even tried to play it or watch it - however I was aware of Victoria Coren having won the EPT in 2006 and like her column in The Observer so I wanted to read the book.
I was not disappointed. It's well written and flows so well it's easy to forget it's real life. Some of the poker stuff was a bit over my head - however there is a glossary at the back (which i only discovered at the end of the book!) but it didn't really matter as the story is entertaining and all the better for being real.

The Front Row

We went to see Jersey Boys last night at the Prince Edward Theatre in Soho. It was really good. We were in the front row but because there we were so close there was a restricted view so the tickets were only £20. Bargain. I've never got restricted view seats before and was a bit apprehensive but it was really really good. We couldn't see a few things that happened in the back of the stage and a couple of times some of the company actors blocked the view of the main actors but it wasn't enough to spoil the show.

Knole Park

Upturned trunk
Originally uploaded by mrs_od

I went to Knole Park in Sevenoaks on Monday afternoon. It was an unexpected pleasure. Husb and I just went for an afternoon drive and ended up there. We were sort of looking for the actual seven oaks - but instead we came accross Knole Park. We saw lots of fallen trees (maybe some from the 1987 storm!?) and some deer. It was really lovely. This pic of is one of the trunks. I loved how you can see the roots and how it also looks like a pine cone :-)

DVLA

On Monday husb and I went to the DVLA to get a new numberplate. I bought him the number for our anniversary. I thought for a long time about whether I wanted to have a personalised number on my car - have always thought it's a bit chavvy or flashy - however we don't have a chavvy or flashy car - so I think it's OK. It was actually quite an easy thing to do. I don't have to deal with govt departments too often, so was apprehensive about getting this done - but I have to hand it to the DVLA staff in Wimbledon - they really impressed me. I have filled in a feedback form which I will post to them - however I filled it in after loads of red wine so not sure if it's legible. So if you're reading DVLA well done - your staff at Wimbledon are great (your queue time estimates are rubbish).

Slimming World on the move

I'm doing Slimming World. Have been since beginning of August. Have lost nearly a stone so am quite pleased with it. I have done WeightWatchers a few times in the past and been able to stick to it and loose weight, however I have found myself slipping back in to the old ways. I always thought Slimming World was complex - but it isn't - it just sounds really hard to understand when you try to explain it to people. I stayed the same last week due to it being my birthday and anniversary the week before - so have been trying to be really good this week. I am however in Manchester for work. It's really hard to be good when you're away from home and have less control over how the food you eat is cooked. I think I have solved it today - bought some salads in Sainsburys and had one for lunch and one for dinner.Instead of going down to the hotel bar / restaurant for the evening I am sitting in my room, watching telly, blogging and thinking about starting to read a book. I hope that this pays off. I'll find out on Saturday at class.

Things I have not bought

I haven't bought many clothes this year. In fact apart from a dress for a wedding and 2 t-shirts before we went to France I can't actually think of anything that I've bought. I really should have bought some new black work trousers, a new work suit and some nice work style tops. I need some new shoes and some ankle boots but I'm still flogging shoes and boots I bought in 2005. It's probably good from an environmentally friendly point of view. I think I have got to the stage however where I need to buy new stuff. I think there might be a shopping trip in the offing.

Scrabble

Husb downloaded the scrabble app for our iphones at the weekend. I was a bit ambivalent to begin with. I know how to play but it's not a game I've played a lot of. I could probably count on my fingers the number of actual games I've played but I thought if he's bought it I may as well have a go. I've got a few other word based games on my iphone which i enjoy playing but I wasn't expecting to get addicted to scrabble like I am! I play on the train, whilst watching the telly, between chapters in books. I'm not brilliant at it - but I beat the computer more often that it beats me so that keeps me happy.

Trains and Rain

In the Autumn, in the UK what type of weather do you get? Yes that's right - rain. It rains a lot. More in some places than others - but it always rains. So why is it that at the first of the damp days the trains seem to struggle. TRAINs are 4/5 RAIN so they should be compatible in my view :-)
Leaves on the line, the wrong kind of snow - OK I can understand those excuses (leaves more than snow) but rain on the line - I can't actually believe that it is a problem. Surely the one type of weather that the UK is ready for is rain and the railways were invented here (I think!) - with our inclement weather - so they should be prepared - they've had years to get it right.
I'm not talking monsoon like downpours lasting for days and causing flash floods - I just mean normal Autumnal rain. We've all got our rain coats out and our umbrellas in our bags in preparation so I don't see why the train and rail companies can't do the same

Cycling 53 miles in one day

Me and my Dad Crossing the Line
Originally uploaded by mrs_od

Last Friday I took part in a 53 mile sponsored cycle ride round Carmarthenshire. It started and finished in my home town of Llanelli and it was brilliant. I fell over my bike at the first checkpoint and cut me knee (you can just about see the graze in the pic) but I kept on going. There were over 150 cyclists (though the ride was split in to 5 stages so no everyone did every stage) and it was wonderful to be part of something so big and for so many good causes. It may not be as big as the London to Brighton ride but I think i'm right in saying that it gave everyone who took part a lovely warm glow (as well as some sore legs ;0))

The Gherkin

30 St Mary Axe reflected in St Helens
Originally uploaded by mrs_od

"The Gherkin" (or 30 St Mary Axe to give it it's proper name) kinda feels like it's always been there (though I remember it getting built), and I worked within 15 mins of it for years but this weekend I got up really close and had a proper look. I think I love it. This is a picture of it reflected in the building next door.

Oveheard on the train

The things you hear on the train sometimes mundane, but sometimes unbelievible. I commute every day from Croydon to Central London on Southern or FCC trains and for the most time people are travelling on thier own as they have left the comfort of family and friends at home and haven't got into work yet to continue chat with collegues. The coaches are usually quiet with only the sound of the train on the tracks, the odd mobile phone tone and leakage from people's earphones intruding on your thoughts. Sometimes however there are groups of friends or collegues or just people who know each other and they act like no one else can hear them. This week I have over heard the ins and outs of some people's relationships - which was really (in my view scandalous) - people with new babies going out and getting off with married people (!) and I've discovered that some people are just stupid. "is that west ham or chelsea?" as we passed Millwall's stadium.
It's fun for me to listen but I bet they don't realise that they can be overheard and that people (ie me!) are actually listening

Haircut

2009-09-06 20:05:54 +0100
Originally uploaded by mrs_od

I had my haircut yesterday. I now have a fringe. I haven't had a fringe since I was about 13 and I'm finding it a tad odd but I like it. I hadn't planned to get it done but when my hairdresser suggested it I thought "why not?". I like spur of the moment decisions.

10:10

I've signed up to cut my carbon emissions by 10% in 2010 at http://www.1010uk.org/

Edinburgh Festival

I spent Saturday in Edinburgh at the festival (I know there are really about 13 festivals). I saw 4 shows, 3 pre planned and 1 on the spur of the moment. The first was an audience with Clarke Peters who plays Lester Freeman in "The Wire". He is a really cool guy who has worked on one of the best shows to hit our TV screens. It was great to see his relaxed interaction with the audience (who lets face it at 11am on a Saturday morning were probably die hard fans) and his thoughts on the war on drugs and the state of TV writing were interesting and thought provoking. The Clark Peters show finished at 12.15 and the next show we'd booked for was at 6pm so we had plenty of time to kill. Over a beer in the udderbelly pasture we listened to many pluggers for shows, most from the actual performers themselves. This is something that really strikes me about Edinburgh, the performers are really out there asking for your time. We decided to go and see a one man show called "Francis the Holy Jester". It was a monologue translated from Italian in to English on various stories from the life of Francis of Assisi. Not the sort of thing I was expecting to see when I got on the train that morning, but it was uplifting.
After a quick beer in the Pleaseance Courtyard where we saw Peter Duncan and 1 of the "4 poofs and a piano" (on his own with no piano) it was time for Newsrevue.
This was an excellent well polished show. The songs and sketches were just right and captured the art of satire perfectly. I really like hearing alternative lyrics to well known songs. The highlight for me was the version of "popular" from Wicked with David Cameron as the Glinda character and Gordon Brown as the Elphaba character.
Our last show was the main reason I'd arranged to go to Edinburgh - Richard Herring's stand up show. I always really liked Fist of Fun and the stuff he did in the 90s with Stewart Lee and the stuff he wrote for Al Murray. I've also been listening to the Collings and Herrin pod casts for a while as well as reading his blog and following him on twitter (I hope I don't sound like a stalker!) . So I've been aware of his latest project for stand up for a while and was really looking forward to seeing it in person. It didn't disappoint and really made my day at Edinburgh complete.

The Airport

I love to travel. Seeing new places, experiencing new cultures, looking at ancient or not so ancient things I love it. But I hate the Airport. I get stressed. A red mist descends and I am insanely paranoid about missing the flight, being stuck in Security, not being allowed to check in, being found with 105ml of something in my bag... the list is endless. Until I'm on the plane I'm a nightmare. I have no fear of flying (well I don't like turbulence, but who does?), and once we're airborne I'm happy. I just don't like the Airport. I don't know what it is. I get the ferry and the train with minimal fuss - there is just something about the Airport that drives me to distraction.

Keeping in Touch

What's the best way to keep in touch and how do you decide who to keep in touch with?
We have 100s of friends on facebook, follow people on twitter and even have 100+ numbers in our mobile phone memories. But even so I find myself interacting with the same group of people all of whom I was in regular contact with before social networking took over my life. There may be the odd flurry of tweets or wall posts when someone "new" is discovered (and by new I mean from infants school) but generally after a while you settle in to seeing the odd status update and that's it. Not even that in some cases if they don't post their status (or they post their status too much so you hide them from your feed).
Then there are people you meet in person. You might give them your number and they give you their number, but you can't quite work out when/why either of you would ever call. Yes you can have my number but we know we won't be speaking till the next time we happen to be in the same place. However human interaction beats internet interaction (she says as she is typing a blog on a train avoiding eye contact with the people around me) we have after all be interacting one to one in person for thousands of years.
So I've decided to make the effort. The next time I see someone and we swap numbers I am going to text them or the next time someone adds me on FB I will send them a message. Maybe it will lead to a new member of my small group or maybe they will ignore me, but at least I'll know I've made the effort.

Ashes

Hurrah that England have regained the Ashes. It has been fab to watch the cricket over the summer and the series has been so entertaining. From that fantastic slog by Collingwood and last wicket stand from Monty and Anderson in Cardiff all the way through to the last tests excitement it has just been amazing. I have been following Aggers, Bumble, and bbctms on Twitter and this has made the experience so much better. Even though I may not interact with them reading their tweets has given so much extra insight to what is going on. I've totally loved it.

Spelling Errors

OK OK so my spelling sucks. Sorry. I've become lazy through using so many electronic forms of communication where they auto correct you, or predict what you want to say that I didn't even think about it. I have my email set up to auto spell check, my blackberry and i-phone do auto text so mis-spelling is rare (mis-typing however is frequent - but that usually involves a whole different word rather than just a spelling error). I do try to use correct forms of words and punctuation but the last blog post I was not successful. I have now corrected it (I hope) and I promise to pay more attention to my language use in the future

The Cat

The Cat
Originally uploaded by mrs_od

After writing yesterday's blog about Lavinia I thought she deserved a picture! So here she is. prrr

Mice

I've got a cat called Lavinia. She is a lovely cat and I know it's in her nature, but she keeps on bringing me mice. It distresses me. It's bad enough when she's killed them outside and brings them in dead, but recently she's taken to bringing in live mice.
Last night she brought one in and dropped it on floor in front of me. It just sat there cowering, but because I shouted at Lavinia it ran between two bags. Husb then got the two bags and opened the back door and dropped the mouse outside. Lavinia proceeded to sniff around looking for the mouse. I really hope she didn't find it and get it later on. Even if she did I'm glad she hasn't brought it in as a present.

4weddings

I have been watching 4Weddings on living tv. I'm not really a fan of reality tv any more. Back in the day I was all over big brother etc but as the years have passed I've gone off seeing people who just want to be famous for no reason. I like things like location location location and property ladder where you have interesting experts but stuff like the X factor, Cash in the Attic, Come Dine with me just make me want to switch off. And I do. But there is something about 4 weddings that I can't resist it. I don't know why. I would have hated having a film crew and 3 other brides hanging around at my wedding passing comment. I just like seeing the weddings and hearing the other bride's opinions. Since being "the bride" I can't help but compare the weddings to my own. I realise this is pointless as I'm always going to prefer mine. And ultimately that's the issue of this show. All the brides prefer their own. So it seems to me that its often the nicest bride that wins no matter what her wedding was like. It seems to me that in weddings and in life, personality goes a long way.

Manchester Monday

Yesterday I went to Manchester and back for work. I'm not that good at getting up early so the 5am alarm really was a rude awakening. I got to Euston in time for the 7.20 train and was pleased to find I'd been booked on a super advance ticket in first class. I like travelling on trains long distance (not such a big fan of the daily commute) but have to be at the station at least 15 mins before my train is due to leave so I can get in to my (usually booked in advance seat).
When you book a seat you are told your seat number and each seat is clearly marked. It always amazes me that so many people either don't understand how seat numbers work or are too stupid to notice the coach letter and seat numbers. And these people are always the loudest. They unashamedly show off their "i can't find my seat" stupidness to everyone on the train. I have to sit on my hands to stop myself from getting up and showing them to their seats like some sort of train usherette.
I got to Manchester to find that the whole of the tram system had been closed so had to get taxis to and from my destination. Was so paranoid that I wouldn't have enough cash and that the taxi drive would shout at me I got £100 out of the cash machine but it was only £12 each way. I resisted temptation to spend the extra cash t in any of the shops in Manchester Piccadilly.
My meeting was shorter than expected so I got a train 2 hours earlier than I had planned and went straight for the unreserved carriage so was not disturbed by anyone looking for their reservation.

How to start a blog...

I wanted to blog but didn't know where to start. Well obviously I worked out that I need a blogger account but it was the what to say rather than the how to say it. Then I joined twitter. Then I got addicted to twitter (and am now on over 1000 posts) and realised that I could say what I liked - people will follow me if they want to or they'll think my posts are inane and won't. So I got over my fear and here I am. I don't know where I'm going with this in the long run. I'll just let it develop over time. I'm enjoying it so far.