TV Reactions...

OK, apart from getting myself all worked up over the Season 3 finale of Lost and the fantastic 'Heroes' on scifi, I yesterday took the time out to watch the cretins go into this years Big Brother house.

As usual, I had pretty strong reactions to some of the characters, (there are a couple of identical twins that finish each others sentences, I would NOT be able to handle that!!) and I found myself really warming to a couple of them. Notably, the Welsh nanny and the 27 year old bank worker. Don't ask me the names. But just as I was warming to them I realised that they do all have agendas to be on the show which means that I can't really like them. It's a Catch 22. The only person who genuinely seems to not have any agenda is the crazy female version of last years Pete. She seems quite unable to be anything other than herself which is quite nice.

Anyway I have watched them all go in, I know enough to be able to understand who the papers are talking about when they inevitably start the bitching. I can now revert back to pondering over Lost.

I have just come back from a very wholesome lunch at 'Piece of Cake' with Rachel. We both had homemade steak and mushroom pies with peas and cravy. YUM! It is an excellent place, all their pies/pasties/cakes are homemade and the prices are really reasonable. Their tea is good too. I am a good advert eh!!

Some photos from the wedding

Penny & Isla were having trouble with heels sinking into grass!

On the return ferry journey, singing Jerusalem

Cutting the cake

I loved my new shoes but they were a bit sore by the end...

Champers & Pimms on the lawn..

What an attractive bunch.

Meh. This didn't work really.

Da crew.

The lovely Chris & Sonia Swift!

Two happy couples! Awww.

I'm Spitting Teeth

Sorry, that is a horrible expression that I think I just made up. I watched the Season 3 finale of Lost last night and it was SUCH a big huge awful cliffhanger that I cannot get it out of my head today. Of course, that is exactly what the writers wanted and I am a big sucker. But still!! Anyone out there also reeling? Just me? I have been frantically addng comments on Myspace Lost sites (when I have not been working hard of course) this morning to try and get to the bottom of it.

Aside from that trauma, since I last posted I have been up to all sorts. And if you have a facebook and are a friend of Islas and Nicks you will see the photographic evidence. We all went to a wedding on Saturday over in Herm which was very nice. The couple, Chris & Sonia, had the same Church & reception as we did last year and it was just lovely to go to a wedding without actually having to DO anything and enjoy the loveliness of Herm etc etc. They had fireworks, and lobster which we didn't, but then we had live Jazz and fizzy UFO sweets so I think they were on a par!

My in-laws have just returned to the UK after staying with us for a week. I always feel so guilty after as they didn't really let me cook or do anything. Nick's Mum did all my washing while I was out at work which was lovely of her but a bit weird cos I never have had anyone to do my washing and it freaks me out a bit in all honesty although I am grateful. I must just relax about other people handling my pants.

Nick is off work and getting rid of some stuff today at a Charity shop. Its stuff left over from a long-ago car boot sale that didn't get sold so I hope the charity shop will take it and not be too offended at the crapness of it.

Anyway, all in all I had a good bank holiday weekend. Lots of eating out, cliff walks and relaxing. While I remember, I was listening to the Goonies on radio 4 the other day and this really made me laugh.... it was a clip from an interrogation between a Nazi officer and a village person set I suppose during the Second World War. It went like this:

Nazi: "Admit it! You're a spy!!"

Villager: "I'm not a spy. I'm just a shepherd."

Nazi: "Alright then.... you're a shepherd's spy!"

That is all for now. xxx

Hungry

Hmm, tis nearly lunchtime and my stomach is growling like a disturbed Rottweiler.

I need to pop into town and buy some nail polish and possibly a nice quiche lorraine or similar for the inlaws that I can pretend I created with my own fair hands. Terrible, shopping when you are hungry. I better eat my sandwich before I go or else I will fill the trolley with a load of stuff I don't need.

I am so so good. I got up early this morning, (for me anyway) and gave the table its final coat of brown liquidy stuff to protect it against the weather. I am soooo so good. I also did a lot of housework last night, but finally stopped to watch the latest Ugly Betty which I had recorded, and read some of my book. Without Nick I can revel in the wanton pleasures of telly that I like, and can read in peace and quiet without being excused of being boring and old. I AM boring and old, he just doesn't know it yet.

OK well lunch awaits, as does M&S.

Lovely Sunny Day

I have had lots of viewings today, plus managed to pop home at lunchtime to put a second coat of Cuprinol protector stuff on our outside table. Aren't I good. And it is gooooooooorgeous out there. Everyone I see today has a little spring in their step.

I went to Christies last night for a brief catch up with Seonaid who was over, we were all a bit lame and sloped off our seperate ways by 9:30, which was OK because I then watched two episodes of Lost to get myself up to speed. Nick got up early this morning and flew to Jersey, booo, for two days. He's back tomorrow evening with his parents in tow. They are here for a week or so.

We chilled out over the weekend, I have had my hair done which is very pleasing indeed. I also spent a lot of Sunday with Nick in the garden doing gardeny stuff. I have some hostas, buzy lizzies and applemint, good eh! I'm impressed with myself for being so God damn Charlie-Dimmocky. I wear a bra though, don't get excited.

Gah.

Thirsty, working far too hard. Working far too hard AND don't have internet at home as Nick has been away and he took the laptop with him. Selfish or what.

So, have been working, watching Firefly episodes, reading Terry Goodkind books & Neil Gaiman comics, sleeping, eating, feeling crappy about my weight (am officially a stone heavier than this time last year and it SHOWS) and generally socialising and trying not to spend too much money.

Thank God though - I'm getting my 2 inch roots sorted out tomorrow. Although I can't afford it, it is a NECESSITY. Alright???

Oh, and I got a fucking parking ticket just now, and just because I hadn't set my clock right cos I was in a rush cos I was working too hard. WHERE'S THE JUSTICE???

I really shouldn't blog when I am in a bad mood.

Air Hellair

Tits. It has been over a week since my last post. I have been mightily distracted by work, play and other stuff. It has been a good week-and-a-bit, and today it is Sunday and I am currently stretched out on the lounge carpet alongside Molly, who is licking herself.

So from when I last posted, I went and watched Pan's Labyrinth with Fran last Saturday at the new Arts Centre, which was AWESOME. What a great film, very dark fantasy and right up my street.

And uh oh Molly is trying to sit on my keyboard. Get off Mols. She's only happy when she's right in my bloody way!!

So that was last Saturday, now last Sunday we saw Sue & Laurie in the afternoon, or that could have been Monday. See, my brain doesn't hold information that long! Tuesday, I had to work, we were quite short staffed and it was REALLY busy so I finished late, but that was OK cos Wednesday was Liberation Day so another Bank Holiday. Nick had to work so Rachel & I went into town for a couple of hours to see all the stuff going on. It was a bit different from previous years as no funfair, instead, there was stunt BMX and skate boarding on North Beach. Oh, I've just remembered what happened last Sunday, we spent the whole day spring-cleaning Jeannie, out boat, which Nick & I are buying Bens share of, so it will belong to just us! She looks ship-shape, all shiny and new.

So back to last Wed, in the late afty we went around to Sue & Lauries, as it was Lauries birthday. They had a BBQ going on and it was cool, lots of people, very good. Thurs & Fri were normal working days, blah blah. Now we're nearly up to speed you see! So then we're up to yesterday, which was a house work day. I cleaned the windows and the front steps, Nick bought some vicious looking hedge cutters and assasinated our fuschia and other bushes in the garden. He turend my fuschia into a big pom pom!! It looks really gay!! Although looking gay isn't a bad thing, it just looks a bit crazy. Went for a curry last night then came home and watched Terry Wogan taking the absolute piss out of the Eurovision Song Contest, the man is a genius.

And now it is Sunday and I have just cut Nicks hair for him and need to now persuade him to come for a walk with me. I need exercise! Weighed myself this morning, not good. Less said about that the better. Haven't been to the gym this week at all, went twice last week though. I need to start going more regularly.

Well thats all for now, I need to go and give Molly some love, her tummy needs a good tickle. Do excuse me for now.

Whoop Whoop

I am at work. As soon as I get out of here I am off to Herm on our boat. First time this year!! Hopefully Rachel will come too. Just need to pick up a crusty baguette and some cheese and I will be off. Nick's out on it at the moment and he's going to collect us from a jetty somewhere. I think a pint in the Mermaid could be in order!

Tonight, hopefully, I will be going to see Pan's Labyrinth at the new Arts Centre.

I can't think of a better plan, first a trip on the boat then a trip to the cinema. Bring on the afternoon!

And check THIS out, it's our new website for our summer party. All Nick's work but I don't mind taking the credit.

I had a lovely night last night, we had a bunch of people around for drinks then went to Christies. We met the tallest man in Guernsey! He was SERIOUSLY tall and I kept asking him his height which I think was a bit rude and people must ask him all the time. Sometimes I should shush my drunk mouth. Anyway, we saw Sue & Laurie, their friend Bjorn, Chris & Sonia, Toki, Fran & Candice.

There are lots of tourists around at the moment, I think they are from Cruise boats. I hope there is a cruise boat parked out there so we can circle it and wave at them.

Narf!

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary

10:30am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat's Diary

Day 983 of my captivity. My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.A lthough I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Bastards! There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now...

Lookie Lookie

On the left front to back we have Laurie, Lou, Sid, Westy and Simon F.

On the right front to back we have Rachel, Sue, Nick, Me & Chris.

I think this was in Spice? It was quite a while ago anyway. This picture is brought to you via the power of facebook, it is one of Islas photos that I stole.

I went to the Swan pub last night when I should have been cutting Nick's hair. Four glasses of wine later on an empty stomach I decided it wasn't such a great idea to be handling scissors. Got to catch up with Penny & Candice though, which was lovely. I think we need to organise something for this Friday night, if anyone is reading this in Gsy...




I just won a pair of ugg boots on ebay.

A Good Week so far

... You will be thrilled to know that this week is turning out very nicley indeed, so far.

Work wise, it is fairly quiet but with the odd flurry of activity. I have a second viewing lined up next week on a VERY expensive house and if I can sell it it would be amazing. I am looking after the sales progression which I haven't done for a while, its good to keep my oar in and do some of that.

I managed to go to the gym last night, but only for half an hour because I had to rush home for Nick's report. He did a story on pets getting hot in the summer and used Molly as an example! She sat on his lap with her bum in the air and her long tooth hanging out while he spoke to the camera. Click here then click on Tuesday's report. Its nearly at the very end.

Coo Coo Ca Choo

I spent Saturday afternoon wandering around town with Nick, and I spent all of Sunday gardening. Pottering around and gardening, I really am getting old my dearie.

I was quite pleased with the results of spending all of Sunday in the garden, my flowerbeds look all neat and tidy, plus you can actually see the blossom on the apple tree now that I have taken the honeysuckle back. It was growing like crazy. I pruned my lavenders, as this apparentely makes them flower for longer (oh yes, I listen to Gardeners Question Time) and Maggie gave us three baby palm trees to plant. The palm trees look quite cool and dinky at the moment, I have slight reservations that they will eventually grow and become proper sized trees but that will make my garden look funky and tropical, so this is OK.

I also did something a bit naughty this morning while on a viewing. In the garden of this house there was a beautiful 'Jurrasic Park' style palm thing with these big wide leaves, and it had lots of little babies around its base so I dug one up and popped home and potted it on my way back to work! A little incognitio daytime gardening. I don't feel guilty though because I have an after-hours viewing tonight. And no one lives at the house so I can't see anyone minding.

I managed to not spend any money last week, you will be impressed to note. Staying in and eating packed lunches was the key. Although, I have a couple of friends birthdays over the next few weeks so I may be foiled. If I can keep this up for a few more weeks I should be sorted.

In Den Haag!

Look! We really did cycle with no brakes on our handlebars. Isn't it pretty in Holland. The city parks in The Hague are full of trees with lots of gorgeous rambling cycle paths.

Handbags falling from the Sky

OK. So I know that I am showing off. But I can't help being excited by the fact that Nick managed to find these three bags while he was in China and somehow fit them into his luggage and bring them back for me. I fucking love the Chloe Betty ( the middle one). He got me two of these because he knows of my handbag affliction: one in the dark brown and one in a greyish greeny colour. The Chloe Pad is dark brown and the Louis Vuitton one is in canvas and blue, as above.

I am now faced with the dilemma: Do I keep all four??? Or should I have the good sense to ebay them now/sell them somehow before I resist the tempation to use them all and mess them up? The brown betty & LV are keepers but I could handle ridding myself of the second Betty or even the Paddington. Decisions decisions. They are like my babies! Maybe this is my body going mad because I'm 27 and haven't had babies yet so my mind is thinking handbags are a substitution? Freud would definitely have something to say.

I should really say how lucky I am to have a husband who find the time to seek out fake handbags in a hectic foreign city and bring them half way around the world back home for me. Sorry if that it smug, I don't mean to be, but I can't think of how to write that and have it not sound smug. Oh fuck it, I'll just be smug then.

Anal love beads...

I have NO IDEA what is going on here. Truly.

UFO Coolness

So, a UFO was spotted off the coast of Guernsey on Monday and my husband Nick did a story on it for local telly.

The cool part is that it made the front page of the Fortean Times! Click on the link, but it might only be there for a day or two.

You can also Click here to watch his report. He said the pilot had proper goosebumps up his arm!!

Picture of me & Toki

My friend Fran loaded up some pictures on her facebook. I think I look particularly psychotic in this one. Nicely brown though, it must have been the Summer!

I am fine, at work as usual! For some reason I have an itchy forehead. I'm utterly skint at the moment so am trying to not spend money at all this month. It is going to be a challenge.

Over the last couple of nights we have been catching up on all the telly from the past 4/5 weeks that we've missed. Its great! I have about 6 episodes of Lost to watch and about 4 of Heroes, which I have managed to get Nick addicted to as well! Hurray. We watched 4 episodes back to back on Tuesday night and he was hooked. Rachel came around last night and we looked at Nicks China photos. They are really cool! There are some on his myspace and also some of the wedding in Durham we went to on Easter weekend.

Bonjour Mesdames et Messieurs!

J'ai returned. A la Guernsais. C'est bon. C'est toute bon.

Over the last two and a bit weeks I have been to the following:

Southampton, Durham, East London, Clapham, Bath, Bristol, Swansea, back to Southampton, Amsterdam and the Hague. Phew.

We started in Durham, after flying over to Southampton for one night. Nick was all jet laggy from the China expedition so I was the designated driver for the Durham run. Well, after months of Guernsey roads and crippling speed limits I didn't mind at all and we made the trip in just under 7 hours. Bob & Miles had their wedding in Durham castle, which was a truly epic location. Epic. A lovely wedding. We saw a lot of Nick's mates from Uni and Southampton. Durham is really gorgeous, in a sort of Winchester/Salisbury type of way. Lots of cobbled streets and beautiful old buildings and Cathedral type stuff.

After a couple of days there we headed back down the motorway to London, to stay with James & Donna in Snaresbrook, Essex. We went shopping in Covent Garden, to the Bristish Museum and rowing on Regents Park lake. It was all lovely. Donna makes a mean risotto. After two days we drove across London to Clapham to stay with Arantxa & David at their flat. We only had one night there so had a few beers at their local and a great takeaway pizza.

The next day we drove to Bath, but not before we stopped off at Kew Gardens for some serious plant action. Verdict: Kew is a lovely place to stroll around and have a picnic but unless you're very into botany then I wouldn't bother - at £5 to park and £12,50 entrance it is a bit of a rip off!

Bath was very cool, a lovely city and our lovely friends Alex & Jess cooked us a brilliant meal. We stayed there one night and the next day found a beautiful hilltop and stopped for a picnic that ended up lasting all afternoon. In the evening, we rocked up at Clifton, Bristol to meet up with Gabi, Marc, Kate H-D, Rew, Ben Laidlow & James Richmond. We all went out for a pizza and partied in Clifton into the wee hours. Gabs & Marc put us up at their amazing flat which was very comfortable!

After one night there we headed over the Severn Bridge to Dunvant, Swansea to stay in a holiday cottage in the grounds of a farm close to my sister and Simon. We explored the Gower Peninsula and the Mumbles, which is all very picturesque. It is a bit of a cross between Cornwall and the New Forest, the beaches are stunning. We had a tour of the New House, and had a meal out with Si's Mum & Dad which was lovely. I tried laverbread which is basically seaweed but it's very tasty with cheese and cockles. And Joe's icecream, which is made with condensed milk - yummmmm!

Anyhoo, that was our last stop in the UK so we headed back to Souhtampton to catch out flight to Schipol. We spent two nights in Amsterdam, walking, eating, smoking, sleeping (that was because of the smoking) and generally taking it easy. Spent far too much time in the Bulldog Lounge and other coffee shops, but did manage to make it to the Van Gogh museum for some culture. We then got on a train down to the Hague, which I discovered is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. I completely fell in love with the place, with its wide, tree lined roads, fantastic beaches and fairyland Castles and architecture. I would happily move there tomorrow. We hired bikes which didn't have brakes on the handlebars - you had to back-pedal which was quite tricky!! I fell off many times. We stayed with Katy G & Jan, her fiance, in their flat. I love love loved the Hague.

So that was my fortnight. We got back to the rock last night and are both back in work today. I fetched Molly in my lunch hour just now. She is molting like crazy. And now I'm back at work, which is OK as I am having a nice, catch-up sort of day.

I'm off

Raaah - hectic busy - flying off tonight for 2 weeks so probably no blogging.

I will return.........

Vodka and Whisky and Gin - Oh My

(I imagined that said like in the Wizard of Oz, lions and tigers and bears...)

So as usual I am spending a Saturday morning feeling a bit wan and pasty, sat at work with a twitchy eye caused by a hangover. My right temple is gently pulsing and if I'm honest I probably shouldn't be staring at a computer screen. I will make a conscious effort to sit back in my chair like a lady rather than hunch over it like Quasimodo, and keep my tired little eyes further away from the monitor.

We were in the Swan last night, Rachel & I, then Sue, Laurie, Tinny, Fiona and Toki turned up so that was good. I hadn't been out since Nick left really, unless you count the cinema the other night. It was nice, quite a chilled out night, not too busy as the weather was a bit windy and crappy so most sensible folk stayed in I'm sure. As people left and the bar thinned out the barman was just giving us top-ups and I ended up drinking more whisky than was probably good for me. But it was Jamesons so how I could I say no? It really is the best whisky in the world.

I am very happy because Nick just phoned me from his hotel room in Shanghai. I am seeing him in 5 days! It was lovely to have a proper conversation and catch up, we hadn't really had a chance beforehand. He is fine, I think it is all quite tiring for him, he's done about 6 internal flights in China and has such a hectic itinery. He will probably sleep for a whole day when he gets back.

Well I have a lot to do today and I'm off bowling this evening for Tinny's birthday. I must find the time to watch a bit of the Big Lebowski before I go, for inspiration!!

I also have to make a card for Bob & Miles, who are getting married next weekend in Durham. I have great plans with glitter and glue. I also have several chores which are boring so I won't list them here. You will fall asleep!