Saturday, January 31, 2009

Eurovision, Euroshmision, PFT!

Your Country Needs You!
Your country is stupid!

Despite being a camp old fart, I have no real interest in Eurovision whatsoever. Tonight, however, the TV got switched over just as Your Country Needs You had started so morbid curiosity led to us watching it. The program itself was truly unremarkable other than watching Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber struggle to be comfortable in front of a camera, something that he is clearly not cut out for.

The song that he has written was a pretty good tune that should be well received at Eurovision but the deliveries by the remaining finalists were a bit ..................... um ............ not sure how to describe it. Mark has a good voice but didn't really do anything spectacular. Jade is a Mariah Carey/Leona Lewis wannabe and sang the song exactly as we expected incuding Mariah style warble bang on cue. This is Eurovision on X-Factor!

The Twins on the other hand were perfect Eurovision with the harmonies and dual vocals lifting the song from ordinary to extra-ordinary.

Unfortunately the public are stupid, they have been fed far too much X-Factor tripe and so were drawn to voting Jade into the winning spot. It was a total travesty and I have no doubt that with Jade rather than The Twins in the hot seat, Great Britain will once again fail spectacularly in Moscow.

Chinese luncheon

Mum, Sam, Toni and I made a return visit to the all you can eat Chinese in Chelmsford. Once again it was really nice although we have now made a mental note not to go in there so closed to closing time as they don't replenish all the food trays.

We did have a comic moment though when a woman commented on how lovely the colour of Toni's hair was and then proceeded to stroke it with her hand. Toni was totally surprised and I just thought it was hilarious!

Eddie, Eddie, Eddie

That's three tickets just booked to go and see Eddie Izzard at The O2 in December, YAY!

Still feeling rough

Woke up this morning still feeling rough, although slightly better than last night. Hope this passes quickly as it's horrible. Will be dosing myself up later.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Not well :o(

Went to bed as soon as I got in from work tonight, feeling really crappy (from a cold rather than exercise). Got up for a short period to have a small bit to eat, watched QI and then had an early night.

Wow, I am amazed....

I am amazed. I was expecting to wake up this morning with aches and pains all over but there was nothing at all. Have to admit it was a big relief as I hadn't relished the thought of being in pain as a result of going to the gym.

What a great start to the day and it's Friday too so bring on the weekend!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

It's getting tougher, but exhilarating too!

Sam and I went to the gym for our second induction tonight. We started off warming up on the bike before being shown and put through our pace on all the various weight equipment. 30 minutes of weights is no mean feat when you aren't used to exercise!

It really put us both through our paces but was very positive (and the first time I have ever felt comfortable at a gym amongst all the "real" fitness freaks). Bits of me have now started to ache that I didn't know were possible to ache, have a feeling it's going to be hell in the morning!

I've signed up for an Ab Attack and Steptastic class next week and Sam and I are hoping to try and spend an hour a day at the gym (Monday to Thursday). Diet is going well too, lots of healthy stuff being eaten now and almost cutting out bread completely has really made me feel less bloated (ten points to smart arse Toni for suggesting that I try cutting it out LMFAO)

Oh, and for the record, tonight I did 14 floors in under 4 minutes on the Stepmaster so that's a third of my Tower 42 quest!

FIngers crossed for Toni

Toni went to have a long talk to Nick tonight about the divorce and finances and it sounds like finally they might have made some progress and be able to come to a mutual agreement. Tomorrow will be interesting to see if Nick still has that view but fingers crossed he will and he will abort court proceedings and do things between them.

Sophie update

Well there isn't one really. Despite my texting yesterday to say, "Oi you, where's my granddaughter" I am still waiting to be Grandma Glitz!

Sophie is getting very uncomfortable and is trying to put herslef into weird positions to try and bring things on but so far, nothing! Will keep you all posted!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

I survived the gym

Well I have survived my induction at Club Woodham and done my first workout, 30 minutes of cardio machine based exercises across 6 different machines! Finally exercise was on the stepmaster where I managed to do the equivalent of 9 floors in about 4 minutes. I actually feel quite invigorate and look forward to going back again. Sam and I are booked in for tomorrow evening to do some basic weight training.

The aim is to go and do cardio machine work Monday to Thursday and I will also be taking two classes as well, Ab Attack and Steptastic to help boost things.

I'll show 'em!

According to the boss our consultant office, based in London, are all finding it quite amusing that I have agreed to do the Vertical Rush. Funny how none of them volunteered! I am more determined than ever now to make a success of it and then the laugh will be on them!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Now officially a member of a gym

*GULP*
Well Sam and I are now both fully paid up members of Club Woodham, no backing out now!
We both have our first induction sessions tomorrow evening and then the hard work begins. I think this was a good idea LOL.

Sophie update

Sophie had been getting a lot of pain and regular contractions and so made another trip to the hospital. They did send her home again but had said that she is now 1cm dilated and so is in the early stages of labour. Could be really quick or really slow from this point onwards.
WATCH THIS SPACE!

That's not really helpful!

Seems to be a bit of faith lacking on whether I will be able to maintain my new diet and fitness regime (including vile beasties trying to tempt me into bad ways). One of my colleagues has been particularly unhelpful today, offering to buy me Mars bars and then emailing me the following pictures................




Monday, January 26, 2009

Wii Fit and planning to get fit for the Vertical Rush!

OK, I have to be the first to admit that I am NOT a fan of the Wii Fit! Our boss brought his copy of Wii Fit and the Wii Fit Balance Board into the office to test our five intrepid CFUK Vertical Rushers to see how we shaped up!

Whilst I admit that it wasn't really a surprise it was a little depressing to see the results appearing on a huge eff-off widescreen TV in the office in front of most of my colleagues! So here goes, after the first data entry and some tests it determined that through my Body Mass Index I was actually obese, I knew this really but it was quite depressing to see it up in lights (and even more so when my Wii Mii suddenly expanded in size to reflect this!!!!!!). Next up it reported that my Wii Fit age had been worked out as FIFTY! Only 12 years older than it should be! The only saving grace was that one of my CFUK colleagues was ranked as 43 and he is 5 years younger than me and much more active than I am.

So what happens next? Well the reality has hit home that I am very likely to do myself some serious damage if I attempt the Vertical Rush in my current physcial shape. I had decided that I wanted to lose a little weight this year anyway and so knowing that I now have a need to get some serious work done I popped down to Club Woodham (our local fitness centre) with Sam tonight to check out the facilities (and, more importantly, prices).

Have decided that although it isn't cheap I do have to really get some professional help in preparing and training for the Vertical Rush and so will be signing up ASAP (both Sam and I are joining so we can do some stuff together). The plus side is that they run on a month by month basis so if I decided to stop after the Vertical Rush I won't be tied into a 12 month membership contract. Gulp, physical exercise and lots if it! DOUBLE GULP!!!

Along with the exercise and training of course I am also going to have to alter my eating habits. No more crap, take aways and the like, time for a new healthier regime including lots of vegetables and fruit!

It's quite daunting just even thinking about losing weight but with the added incentive of wanting to be successful at the Vertical Rush I know that I can do this!

CFUK: sponsorship required - Tower 42 Vertical Rush!

CFUK are after your money!

Five of us from work (City Financials Shenfield office), Matt, Nick, Arek, David and myself, are doing the Tower 42 Vertical Rush in support of Shelter on 19th March 2009. This involves running/walking/crawling, up 902 steps, 42 floors equating to 600 feet.

We have set up a justgiving website to raise money for Shelter, please consider supporting us: http://www.justgiving.com/cfuk

You can read more about the Vertical Rush here:
http://england.shelter.org.uk/what_you_can_do/events_and_challenges/vertical_rush

Last.FM listening post!

Here's last week's top picks music lovers!

Top weekly tracks:






Top weekly artists:






Overall top tracks:






Overall top artists:




Sunday, January 25, 2009

Happy Birthday Steelnut

Happy Birthday Steelnut (Tracy Kaye)

Hope you have a great day


Lovely relaxing day

Today was a nice slow paced relaxing day. Got up feeling a little squiffy so Toni ran me a bath where I soaked and chilled out.

Stressed a bit trying to get my old laptop to talk to the network but eventually succeeded.

Played some Little Big Planet with Sam on the PS3.

Chilled out, watched the Capitals webcast and had lamb shanks for dinner.

Played some more Little Big Planet with Sam.

It was nice to have a weekend with no pressure to do things, just to potter about, spend time with each other and just relax.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Happy Birthday Barry

Happy Birthday Barry Ashmore

Hope you have a good day


Edinburgh Capitals 0 Sheffield Steelers 4!

Makes me wonder why I bother supporting the Edinburgh Capitals sometimes! The wonders of webcast (brought to you via edinburgh-capitals.com) mean that I can watch them every week but tonight was painful! I know Sheffield are the league leaders but the Capitals looked really uninspired which was a damn shame considering it was the debut of Jason Cassells and Brad Bonello tonight. Fortunately Hull lost and Basingstoke got an overtime point so the Capitals 8th place in the league (and play off spot) is safe for now.

Capitals are playing Steelers again tomorrow night so here's hoping that they can at least get some goals, if not a win!

Lunch at Frankie & Benny's

After a late start and listening to an assortment of awesome metal and goth covers of cheesy songs we headed off to the Army & Navy roundabout in Chelmsford to meet Sophie for lunch (we decided to go to Frankie & Benny's).

Was really nice to see her and meet up for some time out (unfortunately Shane couldn't make it)

Mum and Sam:


Mum and Sam being silly!:


Toni and Gemima:


Sam and Sophie:


Toni and I:


It was a really nice meal and a lovely way to spend a few hours.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Restaurant ideas for valentine's day

Restaurant ideas for valentines day must be some special dinner planning away from home.

In the holiday season Most of the restaurants go all out for the Valentine's day, The third most famous day to eat outside. Here are a few ideas to add your self in the list of restaurant party menu entry names. Be a lovebirds and searching for a traditional dinner for two in restaurant so book your seat before the nightmare start. Add charm in you life by making a candle light dinner at home. make a thoughtful ideas to offer a restaurant party invitation as a intimate gift for your loved one on this Valentine's day. Avoid from making dinner for your sweetheart at home, plan for a outdoor dinner.

Restaurant ideas for valentine's day

Ideas for valentines day appetizers

Here we have the list of Ideas for valentines day appetizers and snacks for the party food, so check it out.


Cheesy garlic Breads

French bread slices with butter and garlic paste and topped with a bubbly Cheddar cheese mixture, green chilly sauce, olives and green onions make this deliciously hot appetizers for Valentine's party.


Shrimp Appetizers

Take a peek at some great ways to prepare and serve shrimp in small bites.

Gorgonzola cheese plate and Cheese Primer

Get cheese with crusty bread or crackers and fresh fruit to makes a terrific starter. get ideas about cheeses in our Advice article.

Love Apples

Transliterated to the French as pomme d'amour, "love apple" is another name for tomato. Get Bruschetta recipes for your love apple!


Amazing Shrimp Stuffed Mushrooms
These shrimp-stuffed mushrooms are made ahead of time, chilled, then baked just before serving.

PHILADELPHIA Pesto Crostini
Crisp, toasted baguette slices are topped with cream cheese and a simple homemade pesto.

PHILLY Make-Ahead Spinach Phyllo Roll-Ups
These delicious spinach and cheese appetizers can be made a few days or a few minutes before your guests arrive.

Guacamole
Cilantro and cayenne give this tasty guacamole a kick. Makes four servings.

French fries and potato chips

Fry the long cutted pieces of potato in the oil and add some sault according to taste in it and serve them with green chilly souse.


Avocado, Tomato and Mango Salsa
Looking for a refreshing salsa on Valentine's day for to enjoy warmth of summer evening? Serve it with tortilla chips. This is also fantastic served on white fish. I often use a canned jalapeno instead of fresh.

Avocado Feta Salsa

A chunky, savory summer salsa that tastes great with pita or tortilla chips.

Valentine's day fundraising Ideas

The Valentine's day fundraising Ideas to collect sum good amount by gathering people on the valentine's day events and give the whole earning and money for the charity. Like give the funds to dog houses, old age houses and child homes.

---------Fund raising Purpose--------


he figures below will give you some idea of how valuable even a £10 donation can be.

£1.30 - helps feed a puppy for a day

£5 - buys a dog grooming kit

£10 - supports a working guide dog for one day

£25 - provides two dog beds

£60 - buys a harness, handle, lead, collar and bell

£100 - provides four long canes

£250 - feeds a guide dog for a year

£600 - provides training for one visually-impaired person

£1,000 - co-sponsors a guide dog puppy

£2,500 - co-sponsors a guide dog

£3,650 - supports a working guide

--------------A to Z of fundraising ideas-------------

A Antiques roadshow, Auction of promises

B Balloon races, Barn dances, Bed push, Breakout, BBQ

C Cake bake, Car boot, Craft fair, Caption competition at work, Car washing, Cookery book, Coffee Morning, Children's fun day, Cheese and Wine

D Darts match, dance event

E Equipment hire, Expert talk

F Fancy dress days, Fetes, Film premiere, Fill a sack - £5 into £50, Fun runs

G Guy Fawkes party - but without the fireworks, Garden opening

H Horror fancy dress night

I It's a knockout!

J Jewellery collection & sale, Jumble sales

K Karaoke evenings, Knitting fair

L Lotteries

M Mail shot, Mile of coins

N Nearly new sale

O Open day, Original artwork sale

P Picnic, Plant a tree, Pub games, parachute jump

Q Quiz evenings

R Races, Radio campaign , raffles

S Santa's grotto, Signature board, Shop window display, Supermarket trolley dash, Sponsored events, Seventies disco night, Shades for a Day!

T Theme evenings, Toy appeal, Tombola, Treasure hunt

V Valentines Day

W Wine tasting, Wishing well

Z Zoo quiz

Valentine's Day Bulletin Board

The big list of surprising Valentine's Day Bulletin Board Ideas for everyone.

Have you ever listen about the easiest way to spread you message to a large number mass with written. So here we brought some ultimate valentine's day Bulletin Board Ideas for home, college, offices, Christian School and Church. A variety of tips And, of course, which can distribute the message to every target person. Flowers bucket are always a great Valentines Day hit, Winning a Valentines Day proper Diet Challenge by Take heartful items; however, because there are various ways for cute valentines day bulletin board ideas you can still enjoy this romantic holiday without blowing your diet.You can paste the cute paper greeting cards on the bulletin board or invite your friends or school students to write their message on it.

Valentine's Day Bulletin Board
Valentine's Day Bulletin Board Ideas

Valentine's Day Cupcakes

Valentine's Day Cupcakes

Nothing is sweet than celebrating the Valentine's day party with your friends and soul mate by making cupcakes for yourself and your dear ones? Here you can learn how to prepare and the best ideas related to Valentine's day cupcakes decorating. This Cupcake are decorated to express affection, with accessories such as glittering bolls, rose leaves, cupids shape cream, candy hearts, hugs and kisses. So to make the party healthy you must decide before the last minute about V'Day Recipes like Desserts, Cakes, Treats, tarts, snacks, candy and plenty of hearts! Also have a cake Toppers so these tasty bundles of love are all you need to let the the celebration special in all manner.


Valentine's Day Cupcakes
Valentine's Day Cupcakes
Valentine's Day Cupcakes
Valentine's Day Cupcakes
Valentine's Day Cupcakes

Valentine's Day Table Decorating Ideas

Such a unique Valentine's Day table decorating ideas with candles, ribbons and silk flower decorations.

Decorating for a Valentine's party table is such an easy task but not every have the sense to impress their guest with this decoration. The table decoration theme may be in red, pink, purple and white color but adding a attractive look in a different thing. No matter what style of decorating you like but it must work! Put a little love in your table this year and turn your space into a romantic hot spot!

  • Silky and fluffy flower arrangements on the dinner table
  • Colorful ribbons must be decorated near the table.
  • Use some attractive cutelary and plate to serve the food.
  • Red utensils, teacups, hang near the dinner table
  • Get the ingredients in heart-shaped paper pockets
  • Float some candles on the water in a glass bowl on the table
  • Place some Paper Napkins on side of dinner table
  • Place Fresh flowers with colors and massive bouquets of silk around the sitting area

So by using these Set tips you will be able to create the mood for your party by decorating the dinner table with these creative and beautiful Valentine's Day Table Decorating Ideas.



Valentine's Day Table Decorating Ideas
Valentine's Day Table Decorating Ideas
Valentine's Day Table Decorating Ideas
Valentine's Day Table Decorating

Prize for most silly band name goes to...............

...................................... Californian doom metal band GOBLIN COCK!

I mean, what's that all about? LOL I nearly wet myself when I saw the name on Play.com

Band members are:
Lord Phallus - Guitar and Vocals
Bane Ass-Pounder - Guitar
King Sith - Bass Guitar
Braindeath - Drums
Loki Sinjuggler - Keyboards

If morbid curiosity now has the better of you then check them out here: www.myspace.com/goblincock

Here is the cover of their Bagged And Boarded CD:

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Happy Birthday Antony

Happy Birthday to Antony Hopker

Hope you have a great day mate


I want one of these!

Toni sent me this picture as she was shopping in Makro with Jade.

How big is that bottle of JD!

I WANT I WANT I WANT!

Shame it's not pay day until next Friday, a snip at £60 +VAT


River Cruises Vs. Ocean Cruises by Anthony Nicholas



Ok, say you’re older now, and your idea of ‘messing about on the river’ has graduated from sticking frogs in your sister’s satchel to the idea of playing Huckleberry Finn on one of the great rivers of the world, rolling through a raft of different countries at a civilised speed, with a hefty dollop of adventure and wonder for company. Fine, come on down.



So, where to then? As it happens, the world is yours to choose from. Not so much on a plate as just around the next river bend. Imagine watching the glorious confection of old world spires and cobbled squares of Prague emerging from the midst of the steel grey Danube, or sassy, sophisticated Paris on the Seine, blinking herself awake as the sun hauls itself slowly into the sky. Tres bien, oui?



Meander along the ancient, magnificent Nile and see the greatest theme park on earth, as the matchless treasures of Egypt unfurl each day like a series of staggering drum rolls. Karnak. Esna. Aswan… Feluccas on the river at sunset, palm trees on the river banks. A journey back through five thousand spellbinding years.



Take a slow boat to China with a meandering passage up the mighty Yangtze, or drink wine on the Rhine as cathedral cities like Cologne come and go. Often as not, overnight stops enable you to really get into the heart and soul of a place. Board, unpack once, settle in and, wherever your sense of wonder takes you, well- just go with the flow. Easy, really.



But if the big old ocean’s more your thing, there’s more choice than you can shake a really big stick at. Dress up or down, formal with all the glamour or free and easy, there’s a style and ship for you wherever you want to go. Ride a carousel in the Caribbean on the biggest cruise ship the world has ever seen. Wave goodbye to winter on a festive swing round the island paradise they call Hawaii.



See the dreamy spires and cobbled squares of old Europe in the Baltic, and experience just how ‘wonderful’ Copenhagen really is.



More? Meander round the sunny, alluring Med, and indulge your inner Onassis in the playgrounds of the French and Italian Riviera, then top up with a healthy dose of platinum chip excitement in Rome, Florence or even Pisa. Play at Zorba in the Greek islands, and feel more like Zeus as you take in the awesome panorama from atop Santorini’s spectacular heights.



Get far out in the Far East, or saunter into Sydney’s incredible harbour for a spot of life down under. Or indulge your inner Jack and Rose on a black tie and ball gown breeze across the Atlantic to New York. Oh, and Bermuda is just, well, blissful really.



So, it’s wherever whenever. Unpack once and watch the world roll out between all the feasting and partying. Champagne at sunset, casinos at midnight or just curling up with a good book or good friend. Both even. Or neither. Your ship’s come in- all that’s missing is you.




You can read more of Anthony Nicholas's work in the UK's premier cruising magazine, World Of Cruising.



New day, new focus, thank you

It's a new day and I have a new focus.

Yesterday was hard, not just for me but for others as well for a variety of different reasons, and it is quite difficult sometimes trying to balance two worlds so unfortunately there is sometimes a dramatic swing away from the norm. Sadly, every now and then I need to reflect on things and I hate that other people get caught up in it all. Blogs are great but can also be a two-edged sword when people close to you read them regularly.

I am back now though, focussed, looking forward once again and life is good.

I have a wonderful family, I am going to be Grandma Glitz VERY soon, I have some really great friends and I have a fantastic girlfriend who tries to hang in there when I drift off and despite the effect it has on her still holds on tight until I drift back again.

Thank you one and all and especially Toni


Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Valentine's day wedding ideas

Top valentines day wedding ideas for couples

There is no better time to unleash your inner feeling of love for someone special other than Valentine's day. And if you are already engaged and going to become married couple in month of February then just fly without wings with full of ultra-romantic Valentine's day wedding ideas on our website. As we know that the Valentine's Day is the absolute synonymous with love and romance. The symbols of Valentine's Day are red roses, hearts, white doves and plump little cupids with their bows and arrows! Make the plan to be double this romantic season, If you have already chosen 14 Feb to marry, so get the ideas for Heart Shaped Wedding Favors and Treats for your loved ones.

Initiate a very romantic year ahead for your unmarried friends and this string Quartet can give a perfect backdrop to perfect wedding ceremony. Many couples often look for some enjoying moments and fun time with their partner during the romantic wedding day before getting married to add splash of drama. There all these spicy and cool ideas are here to pick from the list below.

Find unique love struck advice and fully romantic ideas to enjoy full spirit of valentines day wedding party from the heart winning wedding theme and venue guide. In these days couples are searching for proper space and calm environment to plan for their future life like sweet honeymoon, anniversary, parties and fun making sensual activities. Here we also have the best holiday travel deal and honeymoon package ideas with ideal wedding present to suit every budget.

Gift Ideas for the New Year’s Celebration and Blessing

With the year of the Ox and the traditional Spring festival in China fast approaching, it’s time to prepare your special New Year gifts, New Year Gifts can be anything and everything New that indicates the spirit of well being and the renewal of love, peace, humanity and good relations.


New Year Gifts for Women

New Year is a very special event when all people should show how much they love their family and friends, for example, New Year gift for women should be something that she will appreciate and should not be something needed yourself, and a personalized picture handbag or purse is one of the best New Year gifts you can ever give to your wife, your mother, your old sister or your girlfriend. Also you can add another surprise by buying and putting an expensive jewelry she is bound to enjoyed with inside the bag or purse. I believe she will remember this New Year gift forever.





New Year Gifts for Men

I always think that the best New Year Gift for men is one kind of sporting gifts, men and sports always go together. It doesn’t matter how old men are, how fit they are or if they actually can play or not. Sport is a male obsession which for many of us we can’t understand and the sporting obsessed will never change, so choose one of the sporting gifts as the New Year gift for your husband, your father or your old brother, your boyfriend brother will be appreciated much.





New Year Gifts for Children

Gifts for children always are full of funny, happy and love, same as the gifts for New Year. Children are naïve, lovely and they are so important in your life although sometimes they had been too mischievous to trouble you…The New Year gift choices for children is various, and a novel or educational toy maybe is the first also the last idea, but sometimes your children don’t want to get a toy this year, maybe she/he has been eager for a cartoon book, a pet dog/cat, a beautiful dress, a sports watch, a bicycle, a baseball/football, or a digital products that newly launched in the market, you’d best list all things you could think of and give the right of choice to your kids, maybe at last the gift idea she/he offered is something that you never thought of and amazing you much, what’s matter? That’s kind of unique fun that only shared with you and your children and it’s a good chance for you to walk closer to your children and make you more intimate with them.



New Year Gifts for Your Parents or Grandparents

Below gift items you can consider:

* If there is a personal item you could create, that they would enjoy having.
* If there is a magazine they would love to receive as a gift. Yearly subscription?
* If there is an event, theater, etc... they would like to go;
* If you can help them purchase something that they need.
* If they have been asked to recommend gifts that they need or want? If no, ask.
* If they would like to visit or see something else e.g. the nature park, the local zoo, the museum
* If they are some good health products that which is helpful for their chronic disease…

New Year Gift Basket Ideas

New Year Gift Baskets of appreciation filled with Gourmet Food, snacks, chocolates, desserts, cookies, fruits are always a delight to give and receive on New Year. A New Year Gift Basket can contain a lot many things in different price ranges. The best thing about New Year Gift Baskets is they can never look inexpensive and dull.



Other common choices: A New Year Gift may be as simple as a bunch of nice flowers, or a bottle of red wine; a box of cookies or a pack of chocolates; an item of novel kitchen gadgets or utilities or, luxurious appliances. The list can go on and on.

Last, New Year is the moment when revelers say good bye to the passing year and welcome the new one with great pomp and show. It is the time when they celebrate the day with their loved ones and cherish the old sweet memories, created in the journey called 'life'. It is the perfect time to renew the love bonding and sending the warm wishes for merry time with the adorable New Year Gifts. The gift should be selected carefully and should be the true mirage of the feelings.

* Original address of this China gift post: China Gift and Fine Arts & Crafts in China

Three years today

I knew today might throw up a mixture of memories and emotions. Today it is 3 years since I met Sharon.

And now for some splinters in time:
21st January 2006 was the day the I went to a London club with Robin and my whole life changed. I can still remember it like it was yesterday almost deciding not to go, spotting Sharon and thinking she was with someone, the delight in realising she wasn't, her staring into my eyes and touching my soul, the kiss, the club having to shut early due to a fight, walking around Old Street for hours as we wanted to talk and not listen to her mates getting it on, waking them all up when we went back and turned the lights on and made tea at stupid o clock, my alarm going off at silly hour......... *GRIN*

Today is actually the day I have been dreading more than anything as it marks an anniversary where Sharon has now been taken from me for longer than we were together. That sucks. That really sucks.

Despite all the good things going on in my life I still feel a Sharon shaped hole and emptiness that can never be filled. My wonderful memories of our time together do help to soften things and of course I have a wonderful network of family and friends to get me through.

Sharon Gloria Ashmore, I bloody miss you! Gone but certainly NEVER forgotten!

Gone away from me
Gone away from me
Life is long, my love has gone away from me

- Gone Away From Me (Ray Lamontagne)

Sophie update

Sophie went to see her midwife today. She had a scan and some tests on Monday and it seems as though Scarlett is about the size of 42 week old when Sophie is only 38 weeks! Methinks that perhaps the dates have been messed up somewhere if that is the case.

Sophie called to say that Scarlett's is absolutely fine and that her head is one fifth engaged but she could be too big to engage properly. She has been told to see her consultant again on Friday to see what he thinks but they might look at inducing early or doing a caesarian depending on how things go.

Sophie doesn't care either way, she's at that fed up stage now and just wants it over with, bless her.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Good luck with your interview Toni

Good luck with your interview today Toni.

Hope it goes well

Chinese tea.......ahhhhhhhhhhhh, healthy living on its way

Have been drinking Chinese green tea pretty much constantly since Sunday and feel much better for it, feel much more awake and am sleeping better too. Am trying to lose a bit of weight so it means I get to cut out milk and sugar with my tea now which should help a bit. Have also stopped taking sugar in my coffee.

Next stop is sorting out a more sensible diet and to stop eating crap, throw in a bit of exercise and should be able to get rid of a bit of my belly. I am not heading for drastic measure but its expanded a bit too much since Xmas and work trousers are a bit snug now and so its time to take action!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Faster Pussycat at Underworld

Went out on the gig patrol tonight to see Faster Pussycat, Bang Tango and Beautiful Creatures. Unfortunately my old band Sticky Sweet had cancelled as their drummer was injured so they were replaced by Torn Asunder.

Met Sam at Shenfield and then Toni at Stratford and headed off to Tottenham Court Road to have dinner at Pizza Hut. Have to say it was childish but someone had drawn a penis on the table we were sitting at and I just couldn't resist, apologies in advance...............



Following the refuelling we headed off to Camden Underworld.

We arrived during the first band Torn Asunder's set. Had never heard them before but they were really good. It was also nice to see a non.skinny curvy girl fronting the band. She had a great set if pipes on her.




More photos of Torn Asunder here: 190109TornAsunderUnderworld

Armitage turned up so I introduced him to Toni and had a chat before he went off to record the rest of the gig for thr Paranoid Squirrel podcast.

Toni & I:


Sam not wanting a picture taken:


Armitage and I caught unawares:



Next up was Beautiful Creatures, fronted by Joe Leste (of Bang Tango - it's important you know this). I have a couple of their CDs and quite like them. They put on a pretty good show and although Joe is looking a little rough round the edges but still has a geat voice. Beautiful Creatures finished off their set with AC/DC's Whole Lotta Rosie which was some woman's excuse to flash her not insignificant boobs at the band.







More photos of Beautiful Creatures here: 190109BeautifulCreaturesUnderworld

After a short break the Beautiful Creatures musicians took to the stage accompanied by Joe Leste only this time they were Bang Tango! I knew this was coming but i bet it confused some people though (although a couple of the band changed clothes LOL). Great way to keep costs down though, 2 bands, 2 sets, same set of musicians. They did a great set including a cover of 20th Century Boy (with incorrect lyrics which annoyed Toni LMFAO) and the wonderful Love Injection.







More photos of Bang Tango here: 190109BangTangoUnderworld

£6.90 down and 3 small bottles of water later we eagerly awaited Faster Pussycat. Saw Mike (of Sticky Sweet) standing backstage so gave him a wave.

There was a guy near the front who is one of these new fangled "just got into it but have the power of google glam gurus" who wasn't old enough to remember most of the classic stuff. I saw him at a Hanoi gig bitching about Vince Neil of Motley Crue being responsible for the death of Razzle (even though the kid proabaly wasn't even alive when it happened!). He started whining to the flashing woman that this wasn't really Faster Pussycat when she started talking to him about their new stuff. Throughout the gig he would stand there looking bored when any song that wasn't on the first two albums was played, it was really odd to watch as a lot of the material isn't that different to the early days. Oh well, gave me something to laugh at!

As for Faster Pussycat, what we saw was really good. Despite Taime now starting to look like a cross between Boy George and Marilyn Manson, the dude still has to voice and I really enjoyed hearing the new material alongside the classic stuff. We were treated to The Power & The Glory Hole, Cathouse, Slip Of The Tongue, House Of Pain, Number 1 With A Bullet and Sex Drugs & Rock & Roll. I was surprised to see Taime come onstage smoking a cigarette and even more so when he continued to light up throughout their performance. I guess it was a cig too far when he sat at the front of the stage for House Of Pain and lit up again as Underworld management appeared by the side of the stage and starting gesticulating at the band. It was then announced that they were doing one more song, Porn Star, (at which point the bass player invited everyone in the audience to light up) so I guess the Underworld either told them they were done or Taime copped a strop cos he couldn't smoke and ended the gig. It was a damn shame and a very sour way to end the gig, I just hope that it was the Underworld who stopped it and not Taime as that would really taint things for me if that was the case. I felt robbed as they were the best band on the night and to see such a short set was criminal. The really sad part was the drummer then coming onstage and bitching about being in "gay England" and then went into a rant about not even being able to get Jager shots over here (and then shutting up very quickly when it was pointed out that you could!). We left during the rant so I have no idea if the band came back on or not but I suspect that was the lot.







More photos of Faster Pussycat here: 190109FasterPussycatUnderworld

Toni and I on the way home:


**** UPDATE **** (Have since found out from Armitage that the band went off for about 10 minutes and then came on and finished with Babylon and Bathroom Wall, bloody typical as they are my favourite songs!)