All you ever wanted to know about me .... and more

Weekend in the Midlands

2012-02-06T08:04:00.001Z

Last weekend I headed "home" to the Midlands (where my surrogate family live). I felt like I saw a lot of friends but didn't get to spend long with anyone!

Friday night I stopped with Sam and Nick. We went to a pub for dinner and Nick finally relented to playing a game on his phone with Sam. I was rubbish so I let them play.

Saturday morning (after my jog to work off the chocolate cake I had Friday night) I had my hair trimmed. I was a bit bored and wanted a change. My hairdresser told me to change something in my life; my hair suited me and he wasn't going to chop it off. Takes a good hair dresser to do that.

After my hair appointment, I headed to visit Ken who's been poorly bless him. Saturday evening I spent with my surrogate parents, Patty and John. We went for an Indian and then stopped by a pub before grabbing a DVD and heading home.

Sunday morning was church and then I headed up to Nottingham to have lunch with Duncan, and old friend. I was everywhere and nowhere! Good to see everyone though!

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The Adams fam-a-lee (duh duh duh dum)

2012-01-07T16:14:00.001Z

A very lovely family that I know from the midlands were visiting London this weekend and invited me to lunch. I often harass them for coming to London and not meeting me, so I was only too happy to hear that they were coming this weekend and free for lunch.

Jake, their oldest son, decoded to try and blow a whole through a piece of ice. Right up my alley - loved it. Loved it even more that he managed to do it!

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Who doesn't love a hand-me-down

2012-01-05T18:34:00.001Z

I've had my eye on my sister's ring for years. I even asked her to buy me one for Christmas a few years ago, she got me the earrings instead of the ring :-(

Since my sister doesn't wear the ring much anymore she decided I could have it for a discounted price ;-) I very much enjoyed wearing it today!

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Wifi on a plane?

2011-12-27T16:10:00.001Z

This is totally weird for me - I'm blogging whilst 10,000 feet in the air. Apparently some planes have free wifi these days - who knew?!

Left my grandparents in Virginia this morning (sad) and headed to Arkansas to visit my sister & family and my parents.

I got up early this morning (a shocker to all that know me) so papa and I could make one final trip to Dunkin Donuts. I have a picture, but it's on my camera, not my phone so I'll have to post later.

The taxi driver took this before I left. I wanted to get a picture with both my grandparents but I didn't give my grandmother enough time to get up before I left.

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Christmas Eve activity

2011-12-26T00:58:00.002Z

My grandfather has been entranced by my work out sessions since I've been visiting. He keeps telling me he's impressed by my workouts. I'm sure my grandfather, being an ex-marine, would have put me to shame when he was my age. Never-the-less he got photographic evidence of my Christmas eve workout (had to work off all those treats!)

A few punches

Press ups

tricep dips - ouch

Love this shot - pain and sweat, the sign of a good work out

Christmas with my grandparetns

2011-12-25T23:54:00.003Z

Today was a quiet start to Christmas - no small children anxiously waking the adults to let them know Santa had been. I cooked sausage biscuits for my grandfather (something I was looking forward to as I can't get them in England, but the biscuits were a bit doughy and over done - rats!)

After breakfast my grandfather headed back to bed (I think he's stolen the cold I'm trying to get over) and I put the turkey in the oven. About an hour before the turkey was done I took it out to remove the foil so the skin would crisp up. Unfortunately I also managed to spill turkey juice all over the kitchen floor.

So I mopped the floor before I got in trouble :-)

Papa snapping the green beans

...while Nana did her nails :-)

Nana got tired of pictures (while I peeled sweet potatoes in the background)

Nana juggling the green beans, potatoes and gravy

Beautiful turkey!

Who said carving was man's work

I was trying to get Papa to smile for a picture - he showed me his dinner instead

empty plates, full tummies

After dinner, me and my grandparents

Opening presents

Papa with Whitman's chocolate assortment - apparently these remind him of his childhood

Papa mentioned earlier this week that Nana needed some kind of buzzer to let him know she'd heard him. SO I got the closest thing I could find - a very loud bike horn :-) It amused her greatly

Papa with pictures of his great granddaughter

Cheryl got me earrings. Papa got a very scary smile from me

...and he had a few issues with the camera. I thought this was a fun shot :-)

My favourite Girl Scout cookies from my parents

Nana cleaned the kitchen, Papa went to take a nap, and I was left alone with a camera and Christmas decorations - what's a girl to do?

Chrismas visit in Virginia

2011-12-24T13:10:00.002Z

I arrived at my grandparents house late Tuesday night tired and full of cold. I don't thunk I lasted more than an hour before I crashed in bed.

Wednesday morning, thanks to jet lag, I was up bright and early (6:30). Papa and I went to Dunkin Donuts for his morning coffee. I was only too happy to accompany him and sample some good American donuts!

After Dunkin donuts we went to the bank and then shoe shopping for some trainers.

I don't think Papa got on to well with my camera...

After shoe shopping was lunch (taco Bell of course)

...all this activity in one morning tuckered Papa out! (napping in front of the fire place with Whisper the cat)

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A little late

2011-12-18T11:39:00.001Z

Yesterday Hayley and I decorated for Christmas. Time got away from me this year and I did think that I just wouldn't bother with decorations (as I leave for the states on Tuesday) but it just seemed wrong not to decorate. So out the decorations came...

Hayley putting presents under the tree

The finished tree

Hayley putting up cards

10k

2011-12-17T22:05:00.001Z

I did it. I ran 10k today. Well I actually ran 10.5k (6.5 miles) in 75 minutes. Wow. Last week I was super proud to making it 5k and this week I've doubled it. Wow.

I've signed up for a 10k competitive run in May. Now I have to keep up this level of fitness.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2011-12-16T22:57:00.001Z

First snow of the season. It didn't settle but it still made it feel like Christmas was coming!!

Walking to my car

Just outside one of our academies

Oh how I love the snow!!

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Office Christmas Parties, got to love 'em

2011-12-16T06:54:00.001Z

Last night was our office party. These things often provide fits of laughter. I was sat next to one of the principals and opposite our CEO -- eek! If it weren't for the fact the CEO was trying to stir up controversy all night, my faux pax might have been worse! I'm pretty sure the CEO was ewe so interested in finding out why I was single and finding a match - any match would do :-)

My table

Carolyn (who I sat next to) and I

I asked after the last photo why so many teeth and she said "I was smiling, what would you prefer, I pout?" this was the resulting photo

Carolyn's Secret Santa gift was amazing! She refused to put it on and told me to. I was more than happy to oblige!

Christmas is coming - yea :-)

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I can't bul-lieve it!

2011-12-10T14:18:00.003Z

I jogged 5k in 34:30 today. I am utterly dumbfounded how I managed to get into jogging, and how I managed to do 5k! 2 months ago jogging 6 minutes was my absolute max and left me out of breath. Where did this come from?! How far can I go?

Now I guess I really need to get some proper running shoes!

PS Every time I jog, I don't think I can do it and it bores me.... until I get to the end and go "wow, did I really just do that?" Got to love how the mind works!

UPDATE (11 December)
Today I made it to 7k (4.4 miles) in 45 minutes. I seriously don't understand how I'm doing it! Especially as when I get to 10 minutes, I don't think I can go any further. But regardless - wa'hoo!

UPDATE (14 December) made it to an hour jogging today. Yippee! 5.6 miles / 9k. Also signed up for a 10k run in May. I think I might have lost my marbles!! What was I thinking?!

What's bugging you?

2011-12-03T14:59:00.001Z

There was extra "live" protein in my salad at TGIs today. Caterpillar with you meal anyone?

I noticed it just as I put a bite of salad in my mouth which I very unceremoniously spit out of my mouth. Never done that before, but I reckon the situation justified it. Yuck!

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Pet therapy

2011-11-30T12:35:00.001Z

Saturday evening I had e pleasure of Ronny-sitting. Isn't he adorable?!

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No freakin' way

2011-11-29T00:30:00.002Z

I was debating on posting about my second uni assignment being submitted today (12 hours before the deadline) but as I had to get it done tonight because the cut off is noon and I've only just finished, I wasn't feeling as smug as I did with my first piece of work. Then I realised that both pieces of work I submitted at exactly 00:27 the night before they were due - how freaky is that?!!!

More updates

2011-11-24T16:38:00.001Z

4:30 - sweet potatoes casserole ready for the oven

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Thanksgiving Kitchen update

2011-11-24T16:27:00.001Z

3:30 kitchen update
From left to right:
Macaroni cooked
Sweet potatoes peeled and on stove (but peeling still on counter top waiting for bin).

3:45 - call to mom. Another question. This time about mac and cheese

4:20 kitchen update
From left to right:
Mac & cheese almost ready for the oven, but I need to grate more cheese.
Cutting marshmallows
Carrots waiting to be peeled and chopped
Sweet potatoes on stove, mashed and ready for dish. Just need marshmallows.

We don't have "mini" marshmallows, so I'm cutting big ones up to make my own :-)

Hands up who thinks I'm related to Jean :-)

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

2011-11-24T15:10:00.001Z

The shirt makes another appearance! I think I've had this shirt sine I was 14? It's gotten a fair share of wear and it's been tradition for several years now (no matter how tacky it is ;-)

Thanksgiving is not complete without eggnog! So I stopped by Starbucks and got an eggnog latte (minus the coffee part). Only way I can get eggnog in England. It works!

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University

2011-11-24T00:29:00.004Z

I just submitted my first piece of work for uni - 12 whole hours early. You might not be impressed by this, but I am! I'm even more impressed that I finished it last night and made a couple changes this morning but it was done 24 hours before the deadline (I just haven't been online to submit it before now ... too busy making a pumpkin pie :)

Proof that's it's been submitted. So you can't see that it was 12 hours early, you just have to take my word for it. It's due at noon on 24th and I submitted at 00:27. Yea me :)

Pie's done

2011-11-24T00:01:00.001Z

Smells yummy! Looks pretty. Tomorrow will be the true test - fingers crossed it tastes good too!

Thanksgiving is near

2011-11-23T23:25:00.001Z

Tonight sees my first venture into pumpkin pie making.

Too must crust...

The pie after redoing the crust (and all the mess in the background)

Just before it went into the oven

Here's hoping I'm still smiling once the pie is cooked and it's eatable!

LOVE this time of year!

2011-11-19T16:43:00.001Z

Eggnog latte is back, yea! A good accompaniment to a day at uni!

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Fireworks night & Mark's birthday

2011-11-17T23:10:00.002Z

My friend (and former neighbour), Mark, had his birthday celebrations on firework night this year - fun stuff! It was a challenge getting a group of 20ish people to and from a big fireworks site together - we made it together but then got broken up while watching the fireworks. All was ok because everyone ended back at his place for some pizza and a few drinks. Lovely eve!

The fireworks weren't cooperating with photographs, grr

Mark and I ... an the tail end of a firework

ooh ... ahhh...

Beautiful view

2011-11-17T23:03:00.002Z

A couple weeks ago I was walking home from and realised how beautiful the view from my window is - look at all the beautiful trees and the colours. Just gorgeous!!!

(For those of you who know my mother - this sounds just like her, eh?!! There's no denying my genes!)

New Boots!

2011-11-17T22:51:00.001Z

These are my new boots. I love them for many reasons. The obvious - they're really lovely looking boots. But more than that, I love them because I was able to by them off the shelf at a normal store, I've never been able to fit in boots at "normal" stores before. LOVE IT!

It's the little things...

2011-10-25T23:07:00.003+01:00

At long last we have a kitchen tap that not only works but, get this, has water pressure as well! A brand new, shinny tap. AND it's a mixer tap (instead or having one tap for cold and one for hot). It's a great day indeed - hooray!!

We jumped...

2011-09-17T20:51:00.003+01:00

we survived! AMAZING!! TERRIFYING!!!

Paul (Caroline's instructor), Caroline, me, and Brian (my instructor) about to get into the airplane

On the way up (surprisingly I wasn't nervous ... at this point)

I know I pull funny faces for photos ... this was a gen-u-ine face. I was about to be hurled out of an airplane and I was petrified!

See my pink shoes - and the belly of the airplane, that I'm NO longer in?! Eeek!

Free fall

I spent a lot of the 60 seconds of free fall screaming

I tried to smile for the camera ... quite hard when you want to scream and you're struggling to breath because of the force of the wind!

The weather was dodgey and the wind was up and my harness was SUPER tight. We came in for a pretty quick landing and it hurt to get my legs up in the harness. Can't tell if this face is pain from the harness or fear of the fast landing.

On the ground

yea

Caroline and I just after the jump

Hair one day, gone the next

2011-09-05T00:06:00.002+01:00

From rather long hair to a slightly dramatic loss of about 5 inches. I was in the bath and my hair was annoying me - dry, damaged, tangled and coming out, so I grabbed a pair of scissors and started chopping. Perhaps I should get my flatmate to see if it's even...

More news

2011-09-03T15:44:00.001+01:00

This time the federation I work for was praised by the Secretary of Statein a speech about the recent riots in London:

...And we have to make sure that the future for our young people is shaped by
the values which make the Harris Academies such a success, not the values which
ran riot on our streets this summer...

To check out the rest of his speech, click here.

In the news

2011-08-25T14:39:00.003+01:00

The group of academies (schools) I work for, Harris, was in an online publication today.

Of course, we will not see the Harris effect in all Academies; the vast majority
of which are not changing management, simply their status. But Harris is a good
example of the benefits of creating a 'school chain'. Its name is
synonymous with quality. I imagine similar chains (ARK etc) will
expand, competing for pupils on ethos and pedagogical style, as they do in
Sweden .

Good stuff, click here to check it out the rest of the article.

Estonia

2011-08-22T22:27:00.001+01:00

Last weekend I was fortunately enough to get to go to Tallinn, Estonia to visit an old friend of mine, Jamie Banks. Great weekend - I'll tell you more later.

Until then, here's a picture from Saturday night on the beach (there was a lantern lighting thing going on that night at the beach - hundreds of people gathered, sending up lanterns. Really cool sight!)

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Great friends, interesting and unplanned evening

2011-08-22T22:12:00.001+01:00

My car went into the shop for the third time in the last week today: first a service, then to have the wheel bearing fixed (which I should have done last November) then today to fix the ac. Too long of a story about my car today but it ended up with me not having my car back tonight and as the car garage didn't answer the phone. Not ideal, but no biggy... Until I got home (thanks to a lift from a colleague and friend) and realised my house keys were on the key ring with my car keys at the car garage - NO keys to get in. Poop!
My friend Paul was due to come over tonight but I had to change that plan obviously. Luckily my old neighbour, Alex, had a spare key for my new flat...but Alex wasn't home. I ended up going to Paul's work and we changed our plans to go out for dinner, just about the time Alex got home and called. I picked up my keys, went out to the Dulwich Wood pub (which was lovely and on my doorstep, but I'd never been before) and had a fantastic evening! Paul came back to mine for a cuppa and a game of Sequence. He's as competitive as I am, and I'm happy to report that I beat him 2 games to 1 :-)

(I'm a bit behind in uploading this blog... I write it in May!)

Rip off Britian

2011-08-22T22:08:00.001+01:00

You've got to be kidding me! Now creeping over £80 for a tank of fuel?!! That's $135 for 15 gallons of fuel for you Americans. Internet says 15 gallons in States would be roughly $50 at the moment. Can you say ridiculous?

Is this thing working?!

2011-08-04T22:22:00.001+01:00

Trying to blog from my phone and it's giving me error messages about the photos - grr! Just checking this works.

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Camp Shamrock 2011 - I've arrived!

2011-07-20T00:19:00.005+01:00

I arrived at camp Shamrock Saturday afternoon (after a mere 1 & 1/2 hours' sleep on Friday eve) and within the day was SO unwound and calmed. It was worth the stress of last week just to get here!

Camp begun on Monday so it was well on its way when I arrived Saturday. The group was just about to leave for a hike when I arrived, so I dumped my stuff in a tent, quickly changed into hiking gear and within 10 minutes of arrival, joined the 5 & 1/2 hour trek through the Mourne Mountains.

Why did I go on the hike instead of take a nap you ask? This:

Such beautiful scenery!

Mom won't approve of me sharing this part of the story, but I thought it was funny enough to share (and remember).... I was on a hike with boys (as it was Boys camp) and mother nature called (very loudly). When the boys stopped for a break I ran in front and answered mother nature.... as well as snapped this gorgeous photo :-)

The hike up to the half-way point, Hare's Gap

The view from Hare's Gap

Ever so slightly windy at the top!

Wind made taking photos a bit difficult!

At Hare's Gap (in a brief respite from the wind)

The obligatory, yearly photo with Fintan, our hike leader at the half way point

Hare's Gap with Adrian

I SO love this place!!

It's timetabling season again!

2011-07-15T11:04:00.005+01:00

Saturday to Wednesday is 5 days, or 120 hours. During this time,

I had about 20.5 hours of sleep.
Did roughly 98 hours work.
Managed around 2 hours of dressing, showering and eating.

1 completed timetable - done. One overly exhausted girl - that's me.

Happy 4th!

2011-07-04T22:48:00.001+01:00

The normal over-the-top, loud, unmissable 4th of July shirt that I've had since I was 15 didn't come out this year: I had a business meeting so I opted for a less in your face, but still overtly American proud outfit this year. Got to love those braces (or suspenders for you American readers). My mother lovingly posted this decoration to me a few weeks ago and I hung it in my kitchen window for all the neighbours to enjoy :-)

Mom also sent these rather glittery flip-flops that I sported this evening when my flatmate and I went out for a drink and a burger - American style!

Thanks Mom - loved my care package!!!

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Who ever said themed parties were for kids?!

2011-06-27T23:19:00.001+01:00

Saturday night I went to an "animal" themed party - a harder theme than I would have thought for adults (really easy for kids - there's millions of adorable costumes for them!). Cameron and I went to a party / costume shop on Saturday afternoon (I do love my last minute shopping) and hit the jack pot of easy ways to dress like an animal - buy a face mask! I went as a peacock in the end (Cameron opted for a less extravagant, but classic bat for his costume).

Cameron, me and Mylene (it was Mylene's house warming party)

Mylene was very in character while he was trying to devour Thomas here. She had done a fantastic lioness costume!

Thomas and I... somehow Thomas got away without being an animal.

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2009 New Year's Resolution accomplished!

2011-06-27T23:10:00.001+01:00

I can do it!!! In 2008 I learned I was quite flexible... random thing to discover at age 28, but there you go. One of my New Year's resolutions for 2009 was to be able to put my foot behind my head, and by the en of the year I could almost do it.

Here's one of my attempts

It might be a year and a half late, but I've finally managed to properly put my foot behind my head - wa'hoo!!

And to keep with the craziness of this blog post (proving I do have quite a few screws loose in my head), another weird photo of my flexibility / hard core abs (**she says with a laugh**). I look slightly insane in my facial expression here!

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Louise and Neil got married!!

2011-06-12T02:04:00.001+01:00

Some friends of mine, lovely, lovely couple, got married today. Couldn't be happier for them! If was a brilliant day and the bride looked stunning!

The gorgeous bride and I

Clare and I. So glad Clare was able to come back fro
Aus for the wedding!

Don't mess with the bride... she has a bouquet and knows how to use it!

Sophie, Clare and I (Clare has now moved to Australia, but before she moved I got to know Louise and Sophie though Clare.)

Speeches will inevitably get the groom in trouble! This one is in thanks to the groom's brother (and best man).

I got my hands on another bouquet!

Because of a mix up with the taxis, I got the privilege to drive the bridal couple home!

The newly weds going home!

Enjoying the table decorations that I got sent home with!!

Ice Skating

2011-06-05T19:46:00.003+01:00

In January I took up ice skating - I never pick a "safe" hobby like swimming? Safety aside, I have now learned how to skate backwards, do a 2 footed spin and I can do a two footed turn ... none of them very well, but I can do them.

This is Cameron ... a fearless dare devil on the ice. As bad of an influence as he is a good one on the ice!

This is right before the first picture (just after I nearly fell on my rear and took Cameron down with me)

Clare was with me at the start of my ice skating on that fateful evening in January. She's back for a brief visit and I coerced her to join me on the ice.

In January Clare wouldn't take her hand off the rail and she was "walking" on the ice and now she's off the rails, gliding - so much improvement. Well done Clare!!

On his second pass, Cameron does a circle, which I am attempting, but too scared to do without assistance.

What have I gotten myself into this time?

2011-06-03T00:12:00.002+01:00

Another hare-brained, crazy plan of mine ... I'm going to jump out of a plane - EEEEK! But as it's raising money for a good cause, this acceptable, right?

16 July in Maidstone (southeast of London), myself and 3 others will be skydiving to raise money for The Prostate Cancer Charity. I'm already scared about it but I’m sure the day will be a very interesting and memorable (hopefully that we survive unscathed!). I need to raise at least £400 and I've only got 6 weeks to raise the money. Help!

Here's the link to donate.
http://www.justgiving.com/karenskydiving

Last year I climbed 2 mountains in 2 days, this year I'm jumping out of a plane, I'm worried what will come next!

I've moved!

2011-05-22T18:52:00.008+01:00

After 4 and 1/2 years in my lovely flat on Central Hill, my landlord decided to boot me out. Perhaps it was the loud music, the wild parties, all the drug raids from the police, or that the landlord needed the money from the sale of the flat - who really knows. Whatever the reason I was forced to find a new place to call home, which I wasn't really happy with! I liked the location of my flat, I loved my flat, I loved my low maintenance garden space, I loved my neighbours and I was happy and settled - I loved my home. Mid-January (when I got the noticed to leave my flat) to mid-March (when I moved) was not a happy time... to be honest neither was April while I was unpacking and getting used to being somewhere new. By May I was unpacked and starting to enjoy my new flat. Now I really am enjoying my new flat - especially since I FINALLY got the Internet installed (with the added luxury of having a phone line and tv installed too!) Happy times!

So here it is - the new place (less than a mile away from my old flat)....

The lounge / dinning room (photo taken from the front door / entrance way)

Notice the Paris tiles about the kitchen doorway? I can't remember if they're from my mother or sister, but they've been in the box I got them in for the past 4 ish years.... they finally have a home (and are just a small start to all the Paris / Texas stuff in the flat from my family)

Looking from the lounge to the dining room (my bedroom door is to the right)

My bedroom (a little disjointed from trying to combine a few pictures, but you get the idea)

My built in wardrobe - a luxury in England, especially in London!

My flatmate's, Hayley, bedroom (she has an identical built in wardrobe)

Bathroom

Kitchen (another disjointed photo)

Now begins a highlight of some of the memorabilia from Paris thanks to my mother and sister ....

Photo frame in back right has "Paris" carved into top, but sun reflection is hiding it from this photo.

(Note for Mom: these are the 2 family phots I was mentioning to you next to my tv. The Gilbert family when I was aged 5 and you were 30 and the Gilbert family from December when I was aged 30 - eek!)

Check out the bottom shelf - Hello Paris! (Also my neat collection of Hard rock Cafe glasses from the cities I've visited :-)

More Paris!

Apparently I have a book shelf dedicated to the Savages. I realised that most of my printed photos are family photos, and mostly from Cheryl. I no longer print photos, thanks to the digital age and Cheryl sends me lots of photos it would seem :-)

A video for you ... but you'll have to tilt your head.

A chilled Saturday with Paul

2011-05-02T23:36:00.001+01:00

Saturday I managed an illusive lie in until 9:30 am, oh so nice! I had no plans for the day (well that's not strictly true... I planned on doing chores, finish unpacking the last few boxes and had some work to do) so a lunch offer from Paul was a welcome invitation. Paul and I ended up having a lazy afternoon at Bluewater (a massive mall near Paul's house). A spot of lunch and a stroll through the mall with a few impulse purchases and bargains, what more could you ask for?!

There was a random band playing in one of the shop windows that we stopped to enjoy for a few minutes

And enjoyed a bit of the sunshine outside by the lake before leaving

I love spending time with Paul - no matter what we do, I always leave his company with a smile on my face having had a great time!

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The Clear Pill

2011-03-04T22:54:00.001Z

... this has to be a piss take! I saw tgis as on the underground. Check out the side effects: brain damage, sudden death, extreme sexual appetite, psychosis.... This can't be a real ad!

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Too cold!!!!

2011-03-03T23:25:00.002Z

I'm going skiing for the first time this weekend (Saturday through Wednesday)... check out these temperatures! Highest Max temperature is 4C. Lowest temperature is -12C. I'm going to freeze to death!

Les Arcs Snow Forecast Snow Report by E-mail

....I also am battling a cold. Fresh mountain air is one thing ... freezing mountain air is another. Oh dear! Say a prayer ... or 5 for me!

Lovely mom, lucky girl

2011-02-17T18:25:00.001Z

I have said it many times, I am very lucky to have my mom as a mother. She is lovely... and she spoils me! I got 2 care packages in January from Mom: a home made friendship loaf (it was a bit hard as it seemed to have been stuck in out mail system and took a month to get to me - 10 seconds in the microwave and it was good as just out of the oven) and girl scout cookies. My mouth thanks her, although my hips have grown a bit with all the goodies :-)

Yum yum!!

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Hot stuff

2011-02-17T18:18:00.001Z

A couple of weeks ago I had some candles burning, oddly enough on my medal kitchen draining board. Lucky I did have them burning there as one of the candle holders shattered. So weird.

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Navajo Joes

2011-02-16T22:24:00.002Z

Friday night I went into London to meet up with a group of new friends (that I have met ice skating) and strangers ... my live is so weird sometimes. Gio who I met through ice skating knows Cristina who had some friends getting together Friday night (for what I thought was drinks but ended up being dinner and drinks). Gio invited me to join... so I did. We went to a Mexican place called Navajo Joes. Made me miss proper Tex-Mex restaurants, but it was a fun evening never the less.

I'm at the end on the left, Gio is 2 down from me.

Cristina had a pink feather boa which I was happy to don for a picture

Cristina went a bit click happy with her new camera and must have taken a dozen shots of this in 60 seconds.

Banannagram mania

2011-02-07T22:54:00.001Z

Andrea got me a GREAT Christmas present, banannagrams (which she made me open before she left for America a few days before Christmas). It's kind of like scrabble but you make your title connect to make your own "board".

My first ever game with Andrea

My second board...some small words but they did the trick. I was impressed!

Christmas Night with Hayley and Andrew. Andrew was a whiz at this game, but Hayley and I both maannged to beat him at least once.

I managed to woo Paul into a game on Thursday when he came by

New Year's Day with Ed

More New Years fun with Adam and Lindsay

Claire and Lachie came to visit (SO happy to see them! I've missed Claire since she migrated down under!!) and found themseles playing banannagrams too.

I was well proud of this board... all those v's and w's and u's and last minute draw of y and g ... and spellig mountain - I impressed myself (can you tell?)!

Louise and Sophie (scrabble queens) induldged me in a game when they came over mid-Jan

Another moment where my brain impressed me... come on - who doesn't love a fat fun nerd?!

Be warned: if you visit me, you might be lured into a game of banannagrams!

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Ronny-sitting

2011-02-07T22:26:00.001Z

How cute is that face?!

My neighbours were out tonight so I got to Ronnysit. Cutest labradoddle ever ... but he could do with a breathe mint :-)

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Christmas eve "with the family"

2010-12-24T20:42:00.002Z

This year I'm in London while my family are in Arkansas. Sad, I agree, but with modern technology, I can still be there. Mom and Dad called me earlier this eve, and then I had a Skype call with Mom, Madi and Cheryl.

Madi singing Jingle Bells:

Madi sneezing on Mom during "We wishhhhhhh you a Merry Christmas"

Home made Christmas cookies - tis the season!

2010-12-23T00:23:00.001Z

Last night I made chocolate mud cookies and sugar cookies that I decorated with green Christmas trees (I don't have any Christmas cookie cutters or I would have dug them out too) to share with my neighbours and work colleagues. How domestic am I?!

Last night my kitchen was bursting at the brim with cookies!

This evening I plated them all up for the neighbours

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Christmas tree trimming

2010-12-15T00:53:00.008Z

It's been my tradition since arriving in England to get a tree and put it up the weekend of Thanksgiving, and I've always managed to. Some years I just buy the tree and it gets put in the stand for days or sometimes a week or so before it's decorated but I always get my tree up Thanksgiving weekend. With the exception of the year I came to England (1999) and 2004 (when I was away for 1/2 of December) I've always (even as a child) had a real Christmas tree. So this year didn't quite go to tradition. As I only got back from a visit to the States the second week of December, my tree was late going up. And since I'm broke and I was late, the fake tree of 1999 (I keep everything!) came out of storage this year.

Andrea putting up the lights

This picture is for my seester ... recognise the ornament I'm putting up? (It's a Sister ornament you gave me in 2002.)

The tree angel was a bit to big for this 3 footer, so she's sitting on the table, but all in all I think it's a might fine tree.

Our flat, in Christmas glory (take note of the ornaments recorded...)

Great fun. Great neighbours.

2010-11-22T00:25:00.011Z

It all started with a little air guitar and "air singing" to Use Somebody by Kings of Leon after dinner...

"uuuuuuse somebody" can you hear it?

And once the paparazzi, eg Alex, started, there was no stopping him!

Andrea

More Andrea (although, I had stolen the camera at this point in the evening)

An attempt to get away from the paparazzi after some crazy dancing

At one point late in the evening it all got too much and Andrea rested her eyes on the couch. Alex has a interesting game that he plays when people fall asleep - putting hats on them and taking photos. I wa happy to join in on the fun. (Mom, do you recognise the hat?)

Yes, Andrea is in the cusions somewhere!

The photographer wasn't too keen on the camera being turned on him....

Andrea tried to get him out of hiding in the kitchen

"I hate my photo being taken" Can you see the word hate being said with passion here?

Alex spent a large portion of time hiding from the camera

So Andrea and I spent a large portion of time trying to get him in front of the camera.

So he decided to be goofy instead

Arnie's got nothing on me

Bond, James Bond

Andrea's efforts finally paid off...

Alex smiling on camera. Good times!

Andrea and I had a great time Friday night with Alex. Alex cooked us a fabulous roast chicken dinner with an asparagus wrapped in prosciutto starter. Quite the dab hand in the kitchen - who knew! Lots of fun was had. Lots of photos were taken. Lots of music, loud music. Lots of silliness and dancing. Lots of laughter.

I've got some great neighbours!!

Sushi time!!!!

2010-11-05T00:13:00.001Z

After a very hard start to the week (working some ridiculous hours at work), Andrea suggested we got out for sushi last night. Happy days! I love this japense restaraunt just down the road from us - scrummy! And it was such a welcome break from my long hours (worked until 20:30 Monday, 20:30 Tuesday plus 3 hours once I got home home, 18:00 Wednesday plus I started at 07:15, and a whopping 23:30 tonight - killer stuff!), and good to spend time with Andrea. We might live together, but I've barely seen her in the last fortnight!

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I am flabbergasted!

2010-11-04T00:06:00.001Z

Once in the last five years (probably longer) have I forgotten my phone at home. My phone is an attachment of my body. In fact, I think the only time I'm without it is while I'm in the shower or swimming. If you call me, regardless of the time or what I'm doing, I will generally answer (with a few exceptions like I won't answer if I'm in church).
Today however I not only forgot my phone at home, I didn't realise I was without my phone until 6pm!!! The last time I forgot my phone at home I realised I had forgotten it within 10 minutes of leaving home. I can't bull-eeve I went an entire day without my phone!!!

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Fun Fairs aren't just for kids

2010-10-31T23:48:00.001Z

Last night Matt and I went to his old stomping ground to for the bonfire and to watch fireworks. There was also a fun fair on and we embrassed our youthful side and enjoyed...

There was dodge 'ems (bumper cars for the American readers)

We also tres our hand at rock climbing. Neither of us had tried it before, but thouroughly enjoyed it (well I did at least). My arms were quite shakey after I came off that I couldn't manage to hold my arm steady for a photo:

To finish off the evening, there was a ma-who-sive bonfire

And fireworks, but those photos are on my other camera

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A long awaited evening out

2010-10-31T23:46:00.001Z

Reena is a good friend who lives in London. Reena and I often make plans to meet up in the city and if we managed to keep to our plans, then we'd probably see each other once a month at least. Reena and I have trouble sticking to our arrangements and one of us usually cancels which means we see each other once every 6 months. We always vow to be better at no cancelling, but we never are better. Anywho, we finally manage to keep our date and met up last night. It was a fun night with lots of laughter I recall and lots of catching up!

We tried to get a good-ish backdrop for our self portrait, but we ended up with the huddle and bustle of London. That's Billy Elliot in the background amongst other busy-ness.

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A facelift for the lounge

2010-10-27T18:18:00.001+01:00

Last night when I got home, I was greeted by a re-arranged lounge:

My washing machine is not plumbed in so you have to put te drainage pipe out the window when washing clothes (I plumbed in the dishwasher instead...priorities!). Last night while doing laundry, Andrea forgot to put the drainage pipe out the window and slightly flooded upstairs - whoops! It was bound to happen one day, yesterday was the day.

Andrea "hiding" from the camera:

Andrea commeted when I took the camera out to take pictures of the new lounge look. I simply replied, "if this isn't blog worthy, I don't know what is!" :-)

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An afternoon of wanting to heave!

2010-10-11T22:00:00.001+01:00

While eating my pear tht I packed for lunch I bit into this:

...which made me instantly wretch and put me off eating. It also made me feel like vomitting all afternoon. Ewwww!

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My beautiful new blue handbag!

2010-10-05T22:35:00.000+01:00

I've been wanting a blue handbag for 2 years. I have found blue bags where I love te colour, but I never like the style. A month ago I found the colour of the bag and the style...but not they were different bags. Luckily the cute handbag shop guy ordered me the style I liked in the colour I liked - yea! I finally picked it up today. Love it!

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Sam and Nick got married - yea!!

2010-10-03T00:54:00.000+01:00

I'm SO oober happy for my good friends Samrinder and Nick as they got married today!

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An adventurous day with Roxy

2010-09-30T20:23:00.000+01:00

It all started this morning with a bad hair day. I had a big meeting this morning at work that I intended to be early to as I was co-chairing the meeting. Because I spent too long trying to make my hair presentable I was running late, which meant I would only be a few minutes early (if the traffic was nice to me) or I'd be just on time to my meeting. As I was rushing to work in my car, Roxy (my car) started making an unusual noise. Said unusual noise ended up being a flat tyre. This meant I wasn't going to make it to my important work meeting on time, let alone early. As I was only a mile and a half away from work, I ditched Roxy on the side of the road and high-tailed it to my meeting. I arrived a mere 15 minutes late.

After the meeting an extremely kind colleague of mine not only gave me a lift back to Roxy, but he also put the spare tyre on for me. What a hero!

Adam putting on the spare

I made a few phone calls from work and managed to find a tyre place that had a tyre that would fit Roxy in stock. The tyres Roxy uses are not the most common size and thus hard to find and expensive. After work I headed to the tyre place. My tyres have a special nut that requires a special bolt thingy to get off (some kind of security feature so my tyres are harder to steal). I could not find it when I got to tyre plae. I emptied out my boot and my hand bag and glove box and and and. I called the colelague who changed the tyre, he couldn't find it in his car or jacket. 30 minutes minutes after the search began I found the bit hiding on the side of the parcel shelf. Excelent. Mister tyre man began fixing tyre. I tres to restore my car to the state it was in before I tore it apart looking for the bolt.

Because I wasn't in the safest of areas, I locked the car while I reassembled the boot. As I needed both hands to tidy the boot, I put my keys on the parcel shelf (you see where this is going, don't you?). After boot was tidy, I closed the boot. About a milisecond after the boot closed, I realised that my keys were in the boot. My boot was locked. Seriously?! A flat tyre and locked keys in the car ON THE SAME DAY?!!

The man at the tyre place tried to get in my car.

He made a valant effort and even managed to flick the door unlocked and open the handle from the inside. This is when he asked me if I deadbolted the car. "Deadbolt the car, how do you do that?" I asked. "Click the lock button twice", said he. "Oh. Quite possibly", groaned I just before I dialed the car recorvery service.

30 minutes after they said they'd be there and 2 hours after I arrived at the tyre place and 30 minutes after the tyre place closed, the recovery man turned up.

15 minutes later after a few attempts, the recovery guy pulled my keys out of a very securely locked Roxy. I drove home starving (I missed breakfast and lunch, my only nurishment for the day had been a yoghurt), frusterated and sad that I was now running too late and had to cancel my evening plans (I was due to go into north London and pick up a hand bag that I have been waiting 3 weeks to pick up!). **Sigh**

Silver lining for the day:
*it wasn't raining today while I walked to work or when I changed the tyre or while I waited for the recovery man.
*the tyre man waited behind to make sure I got in my car safely.
*my flat tyre happened close enough to work that i could walk.
*the flat happened today and not tomorrow (tomorrow I'm driving 4 hours north for a wedding).
*the recovery man was able to get my keys out of my locked car (my spare key was also in my car so if he wasn't successful I would have had to break (and pay for a replacement) window).
*I learned how to deadbolt my car door.
*my car is very secure from potential thiefs

Andrea's back!!!

2010-09-25T10:11:00.000+01:00

My friend, Andrea, has come back to London - yea! I met Andrea in 2005 when I lived in the midlands and she was working with the church for a couple of years. She's come back to visit for a couple days and then a week last year, this is trip number 3 and she's staying for 3 months - super yea! My hope is that she falls in love with London and decides she needs to get a job and stay and be my roommate!

Andrea has claimed the chair by the window as her spot. I often find her playing Suduko or reading here.

Last Friday (the day after she arrived) we went out to one of my favourite Japanese restaraunts in the Palace. I couldn't help snap a picture at the fun way Andrea attacked her noodle soup!

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Work goodness

2010-09-12T19:49:00.000+01:00

A couple weeks ago I was at one of the academies I support to help them out for a few days. They decided to buy me a bunch of flowers to say thank you for my help. How sweet is that?!!

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It's hard for me to keep up with myself!

2010-09-08T22:20:00.001+01:00

Where does time go?! I'm enjoying my social life, but it's so hard to keep track of where I'm going! Last week: Tuesday I was out with Claude (enjoying desert!)

Wednesday I went out with my neighbour Alex. It was actually the first time we'd ever gone out (we've been neighbours for 4 years!), and I had a great time! Thursday morning was slightly hard as I didn't get in bed till 2am on Wednesday night. Although I still managed to go out with my friend PC Paul. Friday I had a few drinks after work and then home for an early night, but I was back to socialising Saturday when I went up to visor Hayley in London.

Sunday Mary Hennelly and I went to see Vernon Kay's All Star Family Fortunes recorded (for those Americans, Family Fortunes = Family Fued). Lots of fun catching up with Mary! During the 3 hour queue wait, Mary posed for a picture with Alan Carr's (a comedian) hands:

Monday night was my night in before I was off socialising again (otherwise known as laundry night). Yesterday Tracy and I went for some Sushi in Crystal Palace. Tonight I met a former colleague from my days at Serco, now good friend, Reena. Tomorrow I'm due to meet my friend Jess... sheesh! You think it's hard to keep up with me - now you know why: I can't keep up with myself!

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My very first London friend

2010-08-19T23:25:00.001+01:00

Claude was my very first friend in London. If it weren't for our weekly Monday trips to the Harvestor, I wouldn't have had a social life at all. For several months we would make our weekly trips to Harester until they became every other week and then once a month until life took over and our trips were no more. Harvestor Mondays with claude are such good memories for me. Tuesday Claude and I met up again at te Harvestor for old times sake and it was another great night. I'm so lucky to have Claude as a friend!

I never knew how much Claude loves apple crumble with custard!

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Cat sitting

2010-08-19T00:29:00.000+01:00

For the last two weeks I've been cat sitting for some friends of mine. I have cat-sat for my neighbours quite a few times so thought nothing of saying "yes" whn my friends asked this time. Let me tell you, this is a different experience to my neighbours cats. My neighbours have indoor cats that never leave the flat and are right next door to me, so no travel is required to cat-sit. My friends live 30 minutes away so I've been staying at their house, and their cats are outdoor cats so I never know when I'll see them. Pauline is the black cat and she's older and is usually around. Rocky has given me much to worry about as I don't see him much. I didn't see him for 3 full days when my friends first left: I was so nervous something had happened to him and I was going to have to explain that I had lost him! Luckily I've seen more of him in recent days and my friends are due back Saturday. I'm almost there... just have to make it through 2 more days of keeping the little darlings alive :-)

Rocky got very affectionate tonight and decided to make himself at home on me.

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You can take the girl out of Texas but not the Texas out of the Girl

2010-08-05T18:23:00.000+01:00

I received a belated birthday gift from my sister yesterday. When I moved to England, my mother sent me lots of Texas and Paris Texas gifts, I think so I didn't forget where I came from. Since my mother moved to Kansas I get American gifts rather than Texas ones (I guess Texas nik naks aren't readily available in Kansas - go figure). My sister ha joined in to the themes gift giving with Paris memorivilia (sp?). This year a Paris pillow. I think it accents my chair very well! (unfortunately it cost her twice as much to post it than it cost to purchase... it's one special pillow!) Thanks Seester.

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RIP my twenties!

2010-07-21T02:42:00.004+01:00

That's right, I have officially entered the next decade of my life ... my 30s. It's odd - when I was entering the last decade of my life (eg when I was turning 20) I was engaged to be married and had my life all planned out, now I'm entering my 30s single with no idea what tomorrow will bring let alone having my "life planned"! How life changes in a decade!!!

Apparently life doesn't start until my 30s,
My 30s are for rectifying the mistakes of my 30s,
and although growing older is inevitable, growing up is optional (we all know I'll opt out of that for many more years to come!!)
...all great stuff I've been told today!

I went out (on a "school night" - I must be made) with a few friends.... it turned out to be great night out! A great start to my thirties! Thanks all who made it out tonight, you helped make the start of my 30s brilliant!

Claude and Hayley

Claude and Mary H

Lindsay being a bit silly! Love her!!

Hayley, Lindsay and I

Lots of people came and went but I was too busy talking (surprise surprise) to remember to take pictures!

....This is the end of the eveing hard core people left (and late comers :-)

Neighbour Alex pulling a fantastic face, me and Lindsay

Andrew (Hayley's other half), Adam, neighbours mark, Neil, and Alex, me and Hayley

Same group, but Adam's taking picture instead of Lindsay this time!

How far would you travel to eat at Taco Bell?

2010-07-19T01:21:00.001+01:00

... would you spend an hour and a half driving there and 2 hours getting back home for the yummy goodness of Taco Bell? I certainly would!!!

Matt enjoying his first few bites of taco Bell yumminess (I don't think he enjoyed his first experience at Taco Bell as much as I enjoy it, but he was certainly a good sport!)

Many times I've posted pictures of me eating Taco Bell, but this particular picture of me eating bean burrito at Taco Bell might be the best ... It's me eating a bean burritto from Taco Bell in England!

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I'm at Taco Bell!!

2010-07-17T12:58:00.001+01:00

It's Taco Bell... in England!!!!

Matt ordering

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Good day to come!

2010-07-16T23:56:00.002+01:00

Yep... Taco Bell is back in England! I am SO super excited. Even more super excited because Matt and I are going to Taco Bell tomorrow! Yep, I'm easy. What do I want as a birthday present ... to visit Taco Bell! Whoop whoop, Taco Bell here I come. SO excited :-)

What a goon!

2010-07-15T01:34:00.001+01:00

My friend, Paul, came over last night and afte. A drink and some destressing work talk (sometimes you just need to get it out!) we went out for a japanese dinner. Yum yum! As Paul lives a fair way out but work across the road from my flat he stayed the night.

I left him to fend for himself this morning as he had a late start today. I came home to find he had left little "surpises" for me dotted about the flat: there was a bear ornament in a drinking glass in the cupboard, an angle figurine (sp?) in the refrigerator and a picture of me as a 19 yr old in my bowls (I have no idea where he found that!). What a goon he is. SO much fun though!

Somehow after we got back from dinner, Paul managed to rearrange my lounge furnichure... how dis my chairs end up in the middle of the lounge?! Neither one of us could recall!

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Girls' night in

2010-07-06T23:11:00.001+01:00

Two weeks ago Claire and Mary H came over for a girly night of pamering, gassing and movie watching. A great night in! Lots of laughter and silliness!

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Happy 4th of July!!

2010-07-04T23:55:00.001+01:00

This weekend I went to the Midlands to celebrate the 4th of July with my second family. Jenny, John & Patty's eldest daughter, and her family have moved back from the States to live in England. So this trip was extra special to get to catch up with them too!

As it was the 4th, I donned my American flag shirt (and American flag flip flops that my motet gave me for Christmas). I thought I should get a picture in this get up while eatig a slice of watermelon (can't get much more 4th of July, right?). Patty took a couple pictures of me eating the watermelon, but this one amused me the most (and it's the only one where you can see the American shirt :-)

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First BBQ of the year

2010-07-01T02:02:00.001+01:00

Paul and I have been friends for a few years now but I've never been round to his place, which I often harrass him about. He works across the road from where I live so we often go out somewhere around my flat. I also harrass him about the fact that he's had several (last minute) BBQs but never invited me. So he found himselflf with a free Sunday during our lovely 2 weeks of summer (England generally has only 2 weeks of good summer weather) and invited me round to his for a BBQ.

He has a lovely house in a "suburban" area on the outskirts of London. It was very surreal for meo be in the quiet burbs rather than the traffic congested, every bustling and noise infested London.

We had a great BBQ lunch, watched England loose spectacularly in the World cup game, then chatted for a few hours and took a stroll around the area. A great Sunday afternoon by my account (well it was afternoon and evening as I didn't leave til about 9)!

Paul at the BBQ... he dropped the same burger through to the coals twice - SO funny! For me at least.

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Challenge: 2 mountains, 2 days

2010-06-14T01:11:00.000+01:00

More to come, but I couldn't resist a quick blog entry. I was crazy enough to comit to a Twin Peaks challenge about a month ago ... Hike 2 mountains in 2 days and get people to donate money to sponsor you to do this. I said, "That sounds like fun!!" Oh how silly I am.

I did it though, and lived to tell the tale.

Day 1, mountain 1. On the sumit of Mount Snowdon in Wales (1085 meters - tallest mountain in Wales)

Even found energy for some jumping jacks!!

Day 2, mountain 2. The Glyders (999 meters high).

My legs are telling me that they climbed 2 mountains! I hear them loud & clear!!

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Trash Day

2010-06-10T22:44:00.003+01:00

Wednesday morning is apparently trash day here, so I took out the trash bags tonight. As I grabbed one of the bags I was greeted by a started creature living in the trash...

(it's a frog)

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Happy Hour

2010-06-10T22:44:00.001+01:00

Monday night my grandfather to me that 10pm was happy hour at the McFarlands. Apparently the doctors had advised him that 2 alcoholic beverages a day is good for the body (I think the heart?). He asked if this health benefit was extended to a third beverage; it is not. Anyway, thus began the tradition of Happy hour. I think it's a good yradition for my grandparents, and it is certainly fun to enjoy it with them :-)

This picture is from Tuesday's happy hour. Whisper, the cat, joined in this evening.

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Hel-hen's night

2010-06-10T22:43:00.003+01:00

Last night I went to my friend (and former flatmate's hen night). Such a good night out!!! There were 8 of us in total; we met for a drink and then headed for tapas. Really good tapas I might add! Such a good night! I headed home after the meal as I had a flight to catch today. (I'm currently writting this blog in Newark, NJ airport waiting for my next flight.)

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A small taste of Canada

2010-06-10T22:43:00.001+01:00

My route to visit my grandparents in Virginia included 3 flights: London to Ottawa, Canada; Ottowa to Newark, New Jersey; Newark to Norfolk, Virginia. In Canada I had to clear Canadian customs then go outside and check in to clear US customs (very paculiar I thought), but that's what I had to do. On my brief (5 minute) trip on Canadian soil i got to see a half dozen Mounties still past. I thought it was pretty cool, and very blog worthy!

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The old gang

2010-05-29T11:15:00.001+01:00

Thursday night I went down to my old local for an ex-colleage's leaving do. It was really good to see everyone again, I miss them! A good night!

Jo (who's leaving) on the left, Ed on the right

A spot of impromtu dancing fun while singing Abba.

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A walk in the country

2010-05-23T23:02:00.002+01:00

Today Matt and I went out to Surrey (just outside of London) for a walk in the country. Such a beautiful country we live in!! My feet held up nicely today on the flatlands and Matt plastered me with sunscreen so all good on that front! Very warm and sweaty 6 miles but good to practice towards my mountain climbs in a few weeks!!

One bridge that we came to, we played "Pooh Sticks". My stick won :-) can you see the sticks?

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Stupid Karen, tomatoe is not a good look!

2010-05-23T10:08:00.001+01:00

I put on factor 50 suncream in the morning and topped up my arms with factor 15 midday ... but failed to reach my back. Sigh. The tomatoe look doesn't suit me!

You can (kind of) see my arms aren't red, nor is my chest, but my back an neck were certainly in need of sun screen yesterday :-(

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A 10.5 mile "leg stretch"

2010-05-22T21:50:00.001+01:00

Some of you know I'm doing a hike up 2 mountains in a couple of weeks to raise money for charity. (a 7.5 mile hike up Snowdon on Saturday and a steeper 5.5 mile hike up one of Snowdon's neighbours on Sunday.). Today I met the group I'm going with for a practice walk. Andy, who hill walks as a regular leisure activity, kept referring to this as a leg stech - my legs are well and truly streched thank you! I must admit it wasn't a hard walk today, although there were a few steep bits to get up that took my breath away. Ift weren't for trying to break in a new pair of hiking shoes (I've actually had the for 3 years, just never worn them) I think I would have been fine. As is I came home with a slightly sore bum from the steep bits and 2 blisters. It was a beautiful day for a hill walk around the coast though!!!

View in front of me still to walk, about an hour in.

View behind me that we'd already done.

Andy and Sean looking over the cliff edge. Apparently it was scarier on your belly but I thought it was far more daunting standing up, looking over the edge.

A light house we walked pass

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A Hot Rock Dinner

2010-05-21T03:56:00.001+01:00

Last week I went out to dinner after work with two colleagues. Sandra suggested a "hot rock" place nearby. "What's a hot rock place?" I asked. Her reply was that they served raw meat on a hot rock and you cooked the meal as you wanted. It sounded unique and something everyone should experience at least once.

What fun it was! This is my plate. It's in 3 portions, on the left was raw veg, middle was the (extremely) hit rock and on the right chips. I ordered a steak and it came on the rock raw, but sizzling away. Sandra said the best way to eat it was to take the steak off the rock, cut into little pieces and cook. Very entertaining!!

After I finished, I had fun with the peppers :-)

PS I got a new iPhone application today for blogging. Apparently this allows me to post more than one picture in a post. And hopefully it will size the pics better. Let me know what you think!

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I've been robbed!

2010-05-12T00:40:00.001+01:00

... by the government! I'm sure I've blogged before about high petrol prices - an average tank of fuel around £60, but it's been creaping up and up and up. I was gob-smacked when my total broke £70 today. Can you beleive it?!!

(For those American blog readers, that's over $100!!! I remember my first car, a little 81 Toyota that I could fill up for like $12!!! P.S. I feel old for saying that!)

On top of Oxford Castle

2010-05-01T14:39:00.002+01:00

How you dooin!

2010-05-01T13:48:00.002+01:00

Star struck I AM! My friend Tesca and took a trip away this weekend and decided Thursday night on Oxford - it was the cheapest hotel we could find last minute in a bank holiday weekend. What a good choice it was! On a tour through Oxford Castle I turned around a did a four take (more than a double take was needed!) on a guy ... Who happened to be Matt Le Blanc. I met Joey from friends!! OH. MY. WORD!

Luckily Tesca stepped in in my moment of girl-ness and asked of he would take a picture with me. He laughed at her request (as she said we might be stalking him all day if she didn't ask as I was too sheepish to ask for a photo with him) and happily obligued.

I MET MATT LE BLANC! oh wow!! How great Oxford is!

I love my friends!

2010-04-28T23:20:00.002+01:00

I went into the city tonight an met up with my friends Clare and Mary. Oh how they make me laugh. I needed to get my iPhone fixed so we started at the Apple store then headed down the road and had Italian for dinner. Good catch up session. Lots of laughter. And a bit of playing with iPhone apps and photos. Good times!!
We arranged a dye next month to go to Mary's and have cupcakes. Looking forward to what will surely be another great night with these girls!!

Life's to short for regrets.

2010-04-27T23:10:00.003+01:00

Got this is a forward and I liked it. So I thought I'd share.
Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right.
Love the ones who don't just because you can.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.
If it changes your life, let it.
Kiss slowly.
Forgive quickly.
God never said life would be easy.
He just promised it'd be worth it.

Old friends are good friends

2010-04-24T01:07:00.002+01:00

I came to Derby this weekend to visit "family" and friends. Tonight I met up with two good friends (and former colleagues). Nick (right) has a new phone and he and James had some fun going through aimed of the cool features. Boys and their toys eh :-)
I had a good time swapping war stories and work woes and reminiscing about times past. Time flew by and we found ourselves the last to leave the restaurant!

Silly Neighbours

2010-04-24T01:04:00.004+01:00

I came home today to find my neighbour locked out of his flat. He ended up removing a pane of glass so he could unlock his window and climb inside. Oh dear!

Sounds like something I would have done (the locking myself out bit, nit the clever removal of the glass!)

Stupid volcanoe!!!

2010-04-17T01:12:00.002+01:00

Thanks to the stupid volcanoe errupting in Iceland my flight to visit my grandfather has been cancelled. Stupid volcanoe :-(

One day I'll be able to say I knew him when...

2010-04-17T00:24:00.002+01:00

My neighbour, Mark, is in a band (The Fabulous Lounger Swingers*) an they played at the 100 club (a famous jazz club in London) this evening. They were absolutely brilliant and I had a great evening!

Mark is the sax player on the far right in the picture. Also notice my great photography skills, capturing the 100 in the background (great photography skills, rubbish camera = semi ok picture).

*they are really good. Good enough, in fact, to have been the house band for Big Brother's Little brother last year! They're practically famous!

Crazy Clare

2010-04-15T21:46:00.002+01:00

Clare, who I used to work with, and I went to see The Graham Norton Show (comedian who has a talk show) recorded this evening. Oh what fun!! The show was funny and the company was brilliant. (I've already forgotten the names of the guests, erm... there was Billie Piper and Toni Collette from Muriel's Wedding, and an Iranian comedian and the band Scouting for Girls.) We got told off for trying to take a self portrait inside the studio, but we had oh so much fun taking a self portrait on the train home!!

Skiing is dangerous

2010-04-08T22:00:00.002+01:00

I met up with my friend, Matt, tonight for a tapas dinner and a catch up. We were suppose to met up several weeks ago but Matt had to postpone due to an injury he got on his holiday ... He had a pretty spectacular fall while skiing and broke his shoulder! Eek! I felt very bad for him as he was obviously still in pain, but I could help giggling at his hand popping out from his shirt. Does that make me a bad friend?

Laughter is a great medicine, the tv said so!

2010-04-06T22:39:00.002+01:00

Tonight Becky and I went to see a comedian, Frank Skinner record a pilot for a new panel show called Opinionated. A whole evening of laughter, very good for the spirit after a long day!

One of the segments they did was on laughter yoga, apparently it's a real thing that people pay to attend classes just to laugh. They say it's a good stress relief.