100

I was officially weary yesterday by 5pm.   I'd completed lots of house and garden chores including a bit of decluttering, well, a lot actually.  It was really warm and I was just about ready to fall down by 5.  The decluttering occurred when I decided to look for a belt that I may need for next weekend.  I started bagging up old magazines that I was supposed to be sifting through to pull out articles on decor, recipes, travel, anything that interested me, prior to passing on to J.  This plan has been years not happening so I decided to forgo the sifting and just bag up and ship off.  Haven't found the belt yet.

You know I'm away next weekend but, as usual, I'll have my pen and journal to hand at all times, ready to recount for your delectation.

You might be surprised to know that you're currently pouring over our 100th entry.  You have ploughed through 100 entries of pure drivel my friend.  I bet you're wishing  I'd just sent smellies for your birthday instead of subjecting you to weekly torment?  Well, that's what you get for leaving me ;) x

30th July

So, I survived the week, each day was a bit of a slog and I worked extra hours every day except Friday so just long in general really but it wasn't too bad.  I've been eating really light all week but it won't do me any harm ;)  Arms are looking toned for summer... should one ever arrive, and someone motivated, (guilted) me into going for a run on Friday but they were actually right and I did feel glad that I'd done it, or at least glad when it was over.

I was up late last night and still woke at my usual Monday - Friday time, so annoying on a Saturday.  I snuggled in bed for a while then gave up all hope of drifting off again so got up and ran for an hour instead.

Enjoyed our lovely catch up chat this morning, as usual, you are my voice of reason.

I'd only been here, (at my haunt,) for five minutes when one of the girls came over with her tea to chat before her shift started.  Corrine Bailey Rae has just started playing in the background and it always reminds me of you and NZ, I can picture C singing her head off in the back of the car now.

I'm having a jeans situation at the moment, my all time favourites are "holey" and I don't mean that they have been blessed.  They are worn and torn and ripped but I'm not ready to give them up yet.  I think all of the others are enormous, what's a girl to do?

Finally watched the end of Mildred Pierce, brilliantly acted and classy to watch but it didn't blow me away.

A manager at work has taken to asking for weekly updates on how my escape plan is coming along.  As I am the queen of procrastination, I'm happy to have, "someone on my case," because it does actually make me do something so that I have an update to give him when he next asks so, it is actually working.  I have something on my to-do list today.

Yes, I do remember Furnace, I have a picture in my head as we speak and the meal was indeed lovely.  We'll be back there before you know it.

24/7

It was great to speak to you yesterday although you are mad.  I think you said it was around midnight with you and just so you know, I wouldn't be able to hold a conversation at that time of night, well, I could but it would be devoid of sense, humour, and any useful contribution and you would probably hear heavy breathing at some point.

I didn't get much done yesterday afternoon after all. Time seemed to evaporate after our conversation, so I have some blitzing to do today.

Jogged for an hour again this morning, back and knee are complaining but they'd better get used to it as I plan on upping the exercise a bit.

It's been an enlightening week, I learned that everyone has a running commentary in their heads, thank heavens, I thought it was just me and was starting to worry.  I had a conversation in work with a friend about pants, the undergarment kind.  We discussed categories and I told her mine were "work", "matching" and "best" although the "best" category is probably redundant as I never actually go anywhere.  K said she had the same categories, what a relief.  You see, if you never discuss these fascinating facts, you walk around thinking you're abnormal.

My team in work are a lovely bunch but some of the men read sub text into everything, it's honestly like working in a Carry On film most of the time.  Quite innocent remarks get analysed and rehashed into something you wouldn't repeat.  I had a day of being called "smutty" this week, one of the other blokes lept to my defence thinking they'd said I was being; "slutty."  He seemed fine that they only said "smutty".  See what I have to put up with? 

I have another five day week looming but, this is the last one until September... can you believe it?  Then, I'll really be in trouble so you'd better brace yourself, I'll be so depressed.

I've got carried away here today, this is what happens when you don't have a watch and you lose track of time.  I've done some other writing today as well as writing to you and I've just read about "manity," male vanity in Grazia magazine.  Refreshing to hear that men are starting to worry about their appearance as much as women.  My vote is with brow shaping but only to get rid of the uni-brow and a chest wax.  What gets your vote? x

http://youtu.be/GfC6CCtZjxk

Amelie Sophia

So, Monday didn't start great, got up and the milk was off , (you just knew it was going to be bad from the start didn't you?  I did.)  So, black coffee only, (I need a proper coffee... with milk first thing,) and I had to resort to banana and yogurt for breakfast, not great but thank heavens for the banana mountain in my fridge.

I had to give B a wake up call at 5.30 but she was already up, (bless her,) not sure she'd actually been to bed but she arrived, on time, at 6am sharp.  It was a pleasant journey, I only had to shout, "stop" twice when she almost careered through stop lights.  It was early and she isn't usually up until around 10am so I can totally understand.  My nerves weren't too bad by the time I got out of the car.

I got to work successfully and phoned B an hour later to check that she'd got home safely and without being stopped by the police.  She did and as she'd arrived home, she saw a neighbour setting out for work and so, ran her down to the village.  If there is anyone to expect wings on her departure from planet earth, it should be my sister B.

The day in work wasn't bad at all.  It was always going to be long but I think because I knew it was going to be long, my brain was already pre-programmed to expect it.  A colleague called round to me at 2ish to say that the bridge was closed in both directions as someone wanted to throw themselves off it.  Despite me hoping to be in the counselling profession in the next five years, I doubted that the troubled soul really wanted to fling themselves into the river or why would they have chosen the middle of the day on a rather busy Monday to do so?  Hopefully they'll get the help they need. 

Anyway, a few hours later at 4.30pm, I checked the web cams and the traffic appeared to be moving again.  Phoned J to check on progress and the good news was that all should be well in the next 30 minutes. Decided to leave work at 5.10 and head for the bus. 

I was aiming to catch the 5.25 or 5.28, depending on which website you looked at.  Left work promptly at 5.10 and legged it to the bus station.  I didn't realise how far away it was but if I'd gone any faster, I would have broken into a jog.  I got to to the bus station just in time to see my bus pulling away.  I waved at the driver, but he gave me an emphatic "no" signal as he'd already left the stand.  I was hot and sweaty at this point and so thirsty.  As the driver waved no and my eyes closed in defeat, I felt like crying but gave myself a swift talking to instead... in my head... just to clarify.

I'm back at the stand having wandered back a bit to  buy a bottle of water, and I'm desperately trying to regulate my sipping because I have no idea how long it'll be before I get home and if I drink it all at once, I may need to spend a penny.  The bus station was...colourful shall we say?  If ever I run out of things to write about... I should take the bus.  Anyway, within seconds of me arriving back at the stand, a woman arrives in a bizarre outfit, talking on her mobile.  She's talking really loudly, I can hear the whole conversation, as can the rest of the stand.  I'm standing there, can't help but hear the conversation and I'm imagining what the person on the end of the line is doing as she can't possibly get a word in.  If it was me on the end of the line, I'd probably lay the phone down, go and make a coffee and come back... I would not have been missed.  Not only is she loud, but she spells everything phonetically, "it's De, Ah, Neh, Ah not De, Ah, Neh, Neh, Ah." 

Thankfully, about 20 minutes later, the bus arrived.  I had forgotten how to ask for a ticket and so I dribbled out... "how much is it for a single... one way... I don't want to come back, please?"  I went on to explain that it was about 20 years since I'd got the bus, (my bus journey in NZ doesn't count,) the driver laughed.

Naturally, phonetic woman got on my bus but I narrowly avoided sitting just in front of her.  Thankfully, I'd remembered my iPod so I took my seat and plugged in and what was the first song queued up?  Daniel Powter's "Bad Day."  http://youtu.be/gH476CxJxfg    The irony made me laugh and I'm sure phonetic woman thought I was crackers but I didn't care.

My eyes closed a few times on the bus journey home, but it really wasn't bad.  It was actually quite nice to be driven home,or at least in the direction of home, to switch off the brain and just listen to some music.  Apart from the weired smell about 5 minutes before I got off, no matter though, I was going to boil all of my clothes when I got in anyway.

I got off an hour or so after I'd got on.  The terminal was totally deserted and I stood there for around 10 minutes trying to decipher the timetables.  I had no idea what time it was as my watch has died and I now can't remember if my phone is 5 minutes out or an hour and 5 minutes out.  I'm staring at the bus timetables but all the times seem to stop at 6 and it's at least 6.45.  I know it must say somewhere... "and thereafter," but I just can't see it.


I didn't really want J to come out but I'd given up by this time, standing in the rain, I phoned, she picked up and asked where I was, I replied; "I'm..." and my phone died.

Luckily, my phone came back to life and I sent a text to say where I was.  10 minutes later, I'd been picked up and 20 minutes after that, I was home, with a fully functioning car.

I was totally wiped out after such a long day.  I put my clothes in the wash and me in the shower.  I was cold when I'd showered and so put on the gown that you got me one Christmas, it's like wearing a hug when you're cold.  I was really too tired to eat anything but I made myself have a tiny amount of muesli and a coffee then went to bed.... such a long day.

I've got into a really annoying habit of waking at 2am every morning.  Some mornings, that's it, I'm awake from 2, others, I can doze until the alarm goes off, but it's really not great.

Much excitement yesterday.  My new baby cousin arrived at 2.22am, 22/7/11, weighing in at a healthy 7lb 1oz.  I saw a photo last night and, she is of course... beautiful.  Baby Amelie Sophia arrived the day after her great grandmother's birthday and, as if to herald the arrival, I witnessed the most beautiful sunrise over the river on the drive to work, it was as if everything had been set out most beautifully to welcome baby Amelie into the world.  Such a special day x

Climbing the Walls

So, I catch up on the phone with my cousin last night and we round off the conversation with her telling me that "Marley & Me" is on later.  Just what I need to draw a close to a crappy day... a sob fest.  At least I'll know to bring tissues, not like when I watched "Step Mom" for the first time and thought it was going to be a comedy.

There are a few things that are mine, well, my go to things.  Candles.  I'm lit by the glow of a tiny forest of candles in the fireplace, probably over indulged... it's a little warm, but it'll cheer me up. 

Going out for coffee, to perch on my stool at my welcoming place... and to write.  Let's not talk about that today.

And...

I'm thinking, what else?

So, after giving myself a headache... from all the dog related sobbing.  I started to get ready for bed.  As I was hanging out of the patio, brushing my teeth, doesn't everyone do that?  It was cool, very breezy and overcast but the very tops of the bustling trees were tinged with gold from the setting sun.  Beautiful.

I woke late for a Sunday.  Lazed around for a while, had breakfast, jogged for 90 minutes, blitzed the bathroom, showered then had a scone.  Then  had another scone.

B called and asked if I'd been out, I tried not to growl too loudly.  Bathroom is done, kitchen is half done.  Seems like a really long day.

I was faced with a not pleasant walk to catch the bus in the morning.  I haven't even contemplated that walk for probably 20 years, (it's the type you get mugged on these days.)  Still, while I probably wouldn't attempt it if it was dark, I was ready for the challenge, and had a couple of strategic items ready to stuff into my pockets before I left.  That was, until B phoned back this afternoon to insist she give me a lift as she'd feel better. (We'd already had a long conversation about this earlier, and I thought I'd won.)  I must admit that if this weather keeps up, I would have been soaked even before I'd have got to work.  I will however have my bus adventure on the way home and yes I know... try not to sit next to any crazy people.  It would give me something to write about next week though.

Speaking of which.  Depending on how the week goes, I may treat myself to a coffee one evening in my usual haunt, I feel most deprived today.

Time to light some candles.

Could Have Been Worse

So, on the journey to Manchester on Friday, I asked J if she thought the car engine sounded noisy, she said she thought it was okay but would ask hubby to take a look.  I arrived at B's as planned on Saturday and discovered I'd missed a call on my mobile and they'd called B's too.  G wanted me to go straight round with the car as it was dangerous to drive and one of the wheels could seize up at any minute.  Three hours later and I'm car less until Tuesday.  G was a star and did his very best to change the wheel, baring, thingummy, but in the end he ran out of tools and time, he was due in work and he needed to borrow from a friend's garage, so I'm car less and confined to barracks.  Don't expect any laughs tomorrow, I'll be like a really grumpy caged lion, with a sore paw... and no car.

Waistcoats

I've just been flicking through an old mag and came across the Vivienne Westwood interview, I think I told you about it.  She wrote; "buy less and choose well."  I'm glad I put back the work pants I carried around for ten minutes in the Next sale, they were only in my want-to-be size anyway rather than my actual size.  The one thing I really would like to indulge in eventually, is a fitted waistcoat.  I've been looking for months now.  I saw one I loved a few years back, it was from Ted Baker and had a slightly fancy back, I still regret not buying it and I've even scoured eBay in the hope that someone who had purchased was now sick of it and wanted it to go to a new home.  I'm always freezing in winter but I remember how much warmer I was in work, the year we had the uniform with the waistcoat!

I'm calling in at B's on the way home then I need to blitz the kitchen and the bathroom and investigate a mysterious suitcase in the garage.  I spotted it earlier in the week and it's bugging me that I can't remember what's inside so I need to take a peek.  The fun just never stops around here!

16th July

I had a nice time with J in Manchester, I enjoy our time together but I think she really enjoys it, she said it's just not the same dragging hubby around the shops, bless him for trying though.  So, it was good but I was so tired on the drive home and I could feel my eyes closing... not good when you're behind the wheel.  I had a good sleep last night and braved the Next summer sale this morning, just to make you feel better, I didn't actually buy anything!

Mr Regular has just arrived, "his" seat is free and he's chuffed.  He's just told me this is the barometer his measures his day by and it's going to be a good day!  What a positive idea!  Of course, had someone been sitting in his chair, we would have had a different outcome ;)  I usually get the blame for not saving it for him.

Is there a banana shortage with you?  If there is, it may well be my fault.  Since I found out that bananas keep much longer if you store them in the fridge, I've been bulk buying green bananas really cheaply and stock piling them in the fridge.  I literally have a months worth of bananas at the moment as I only eat one a day at breakfast.  I may have to up it to two a day.  I never really got the point of bananas unless you were a tennis player.  Other than the potassium, I don't think they do much however they really help the "All Bran" go down and I've grown to enjoy my breakfast... it took a while.

I jogged for 35 minutes this morning and now it's chucking it down.

Weird Week

Remember last Sunday I told you I'd had some dodgy pizza and was not feeling my best?  Turned out I had falsely accused said pizza and while the late night pesto pizza probably didn't help the situation, I realised that I had actually overdosed on evening primrose oil supplements.  Can I just take a moment to advise you not to do that?

So, I had a late night... for me, on Sunday but felt surprisingly sprightly by morning, something I wasn't expecting as I hate Mondays and always feel like death.  Every Monday, I set off to work with shoulder bag, 2 litre bottle of water in another bag and my "lunch" bag which contains woolly hat and umbrella, as you would expect in summer, x2 mugs which have had a trip home since Friday for a good scrub and my coffee.  I left around 10 minutes later than usual but still got a decent parking space so, still okay.  I walked at my usual "power walk" speed for the 10 minute hike to the office and discovered 9 minutes in that I had forgotten my lunch bag.  Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't be bothered to hike back to the car for the bag but we keep getting flyer's left under our wipers from the police to warn against leaving anything on show in the car as people keep getting their windows smashed.  So... 10 minutes later and now hot and a little bit sweaty, I'm back at the car but the bag is apparently still on the dining room table.

Monday evening I was shattered, (must have been the extra walking.)  Went to bed extra early and fell straight to sleep.  Woke in a lather of sweat and checked my alarm clock.  It was 9.15.  It was cloudy but light, was it 9.15a.m. or p.m.?  I dashed to the kitchen but still no clue.  Somehow deduced that there was no way in the world I'd sleep until 9.15 a.m. and took myself back to bed.

I am always awake before my alarm goes off... or I was until Tuesday.  Not only did I sleep right through but my alarm failed to go off!  I had to whizz around like a lunatic to get ready on time, I much prefer to slowly come around to consciousness and have a leisurely breakfast but at least I actually remembered the lunch bag today.

Wednesday was, "try to avoid the pigeon" day, they do seem to love the very early mornings.  The drive to work was punctuated with kamikaze pigeons littering the roads.  I've decided that they are the dumbest birds on the planet, either that or they all have a death wish.  If it wasn't for a serious amount of avoidance on my part, at least 5 pigeons would not have made it home to their families on that day.

Thursday was thankfully, relatively uneventful and I'm happily off today... Friday.

I'm not even going to tell you about the weird dreams I've been having.

I contemplated phoning you this morning around 2am as I lay there wide awake.  I couldn't decide if you may be having a siesta with the house to yourself, so in the end, I decided against it.  Been thinking of you all week though so I hope you've been getting the vibes!

I abandoned trying to fall back to sleep and got up around 4am for lots of coffee followed by a 40 minute jog followed by Tracy Anderson B &T webisode.  I didn't feel too bad to begin with but by the time I'd done that, put washing in, showered and had breakfast, I started to feel significantly sleep deprived.  Manged to rouse myself to do some ironing before I left for here.

I was looking forward to getting stuck into pouring my week out to you but one of the girls came over to check on my coffee as she'd given me the wrong one, (it was fine,) then she proceeded to spend a good few minutes telling me her recent life history, (the past 9 years.)  I suppose it's nice that relative strangers like to confide in me!  Anyway, I put a positive spin on as much as I could and wrote two website addresses she should check out on a napkin for her.

I'm supposed to be taking J to Manchester for another trip to the bead shop.  I'm looking forward to getting my imagination going and my designers hat on... if I can stay awake.

Sunday Roast

I worked extra hours this week, which means that I got home later, which means that I'm falling asleep, shortly after I get home!  Not good. 

I finally found out why I couldn't update the slide show by the way, and this time, it turns out that it's not actually me that's being technologically backward.  There is apparently, a known problem with the program that runs the slide show.  While it's merrily revolving on here, it's actually disappeared on my account page so it's impossible for me to update.  I may have a play with photobucket or some other such marvel.

Be still my heart, one of my favourite programmes is Grand Designs.  What's on tonight I hear you ask.... Grand Designs Australia.  Does it get any better? 

I very briefly glimpsed the most beautiful dresses in the world this week.  I glimpsed the pictures when  I was either a) half asleep or b) not paying attention or, most probably... both, either way, it was extremely early in the day.  And now that I come to investigate the blurry, gossamer, most beautiful vision that is entrenched forever in my head... I can't find, re-create or locate it.  I'm sure the vision will once again come to light in the days or weeks ahead.

Some hours have passed and with a gundog like tenacity, I've located the designer and article.  It was Elie Saab... feast your eyes on this... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2011939/Paris-Couture-Week-Elie-Saab-unveils-new-collection-gowns-fit-red-carpet.html

Called in at B's on the way home yesterday and had carrot cake and coffee and told the NZ's all about you, were your ears burning?  They knew all of the beaches we went to and were even familiar with your home town too!

It's cool and rainy here today, thankfully, about 2 minutes after I arrived, they turned the air con down as it was positively freezing.  I'm off to my eldest sister's again for another roast and a final lunch with the NZ's before they head off to London on the next leg of their trip.

I'm heading into four days of long hours but I'm off on Friday so at least I have a long weekend to look forward to.  I'm hoping it's going to fly... the four days, not next weekend.

I jogged for 35 this morning.  No Tracy Anderson today but I'm happy to report that I can actually move okay today, no where near as bad as I was after last weeks attempt!

Hmm, my horoscope for the coming week is a teensy bit bothering; "The approaching full moon warns in no uncertain terms that you must take better care of your health... if you take on too much over the next few days, you will regret it."  I read Sally Brompton daily, let's hope she has this one wrong eh?  I'll let you know next week.

Poppies

Not exactly sure what time it is.  I'm literally losing time by the second on my wrist watch.  I may or may not have committed a misdemeanor this week but I'll start with a quick recap of the week, prior to the misdemeanor.

Saturday, the weather was good, Sunday, it was positively hot.  Too hot really for those of us unaccustomed to the heat, (i.e. most of the country.)  Not the best weather to sit down to a roast dinner to but that's what I did at my eldest sister's with the rellies from NZ, and it was lovely.  I departed early and was glad to get home and have a cool shower and get ready for work on Monday, it was great to see them though and get to know them a little and lunch was delicious!

Monday was still scorching and the general consensus in work was that it was too hot to sleep at night.  We need not have worried though as by Tuesday, heavy rain had arrived and it continued to pour down intermittently for the rest of the week, including last night.

So, back to the misdemeanor, I'm not sure I did, I prefer to look upon it as helping nature to multiply and grow!  I park about 10 minutes from work on a very long, grey road which houses mostly warehouses and rough car parks.  I've noticed for the past few weeks that growing along this road, sprouting out, somehow, of the concrete pavement are half a dozen bright red, tall and beautiful poppies!  They bloomed and the petals fell away leaving the seed pods.

Now, we have to rewind a few weeks to when I was gardening one weekend and I noticed that for now and for most of the spring and summer actually, while my garden looks pretty healthy, it's main feature is that it's very green.  Lots of shades of green but all green, very little colour... other than green.  You can probably guess where this is going.

So, with green-ness in mind, I decided that it would be a shame for the seed pods to burst in their concrete jungle and for the tiny, ping pong type seeds to bounce onto the pavement and into the gutter and so I "liberated" some of the seed pods to bring home.

I realise the seed pods probably, technically belong to the council, however, they weren't planted there, the wind blew them so I'm just helping them to "blow," (by way of giving them a lift, in the car,) in another direction to another road... kind of.

I never sleep great Monday - Friday, but I was awake early this morning too, around 4.30am actually.  It was really annoying.  Anyway, after trying to doze and failing and doing a few stretches, I decided to get up and get stuck into the day ahead as lots to do.  So far, I've jogged for 30 minutes, did Tracy Anderson Butt and Thigh webisode, but only 3 of the 4 moves as it took me most of the week to regain full use of all of my limbs again after the last time, showered, stripped my bed and put that wash load in, completed half of my ironing, hit Boot's to pick up some essentials, and I had arrived here, in my lovely Starbucks by around 9.15am, but I'm guessing due to the watch situation.  I could happily go back to bed now, eyes are smarting.

Still have lots to do.  I have a few more stops around here before recycling and heading to B's to catch up with her and the NZ's, then home to cut grass, (if it's not bucketing down,) finish ironing, vacuum, shower again and by that time, I think a cold glass of wine will be called for ;)

3rd July

I'm running late this morning and it's entirely self inflicted.  I stumbled upon the film, "Heaven Can Wait" this morning, I'd forgotten what a sweet film it is, I haven't seen it for absolutely ages, it doesn't seem to be shown here much and so I quite happily, got sucked in.  So, I was running late anyway and then just as I was about to leave, I answered the phone and it was telesales people so I ran even later!  Anyway, I'm here now, coffee is delicious and I've had a chat with the girls so all is right with the world again.

You can probably tell by the fact I had the time to watch an entire film, that I didn't work out this morning.  Not quite as stiff and as sore as yesterday but decided to give it a miss today even though a jog may have loosened me up a bit!

Finally worked out what's been wrong with me for weeks.  I've felt like a petulant child not wanting to go to school, (work,) for weeks now.  I realised this morning that I've felt like this before, when we worked at our old haunt and I think I'm just ready for my "summer" break.  Admittedly, it started very early this year but the odd days off I've been having have been no more than a sticking plaster, they've hardly made a dent in the problem and my half dead batteries remain on the whole, half dead.  I'm sure by the time August rolls around, I'll feel much better, ready to face the world and able to get a grip again... I hope.

Well, none of the other regulars, (actually, the only other Sunday morning regular,) is here today so it's pretty quiet, still, air con is working full pelt so I'm as cool as a cucumber while I write and ponder!

Lots of family stuff to build into my day today which reminds me... pick up wine for later.

2nd July

You're dying to know if I'm in agony right?  Agony, no.  Sore and achy pretty much everywhere, oh yes and that goes for places I wasn't xpecting too, back, neck, stomach, back of thighs, shoulders, arms.  I think that just about covers it. 

I did nothing more energetic this morning than shower and throw some washing in, it was great.

Well, all credit to Djokovic but I was actually rooting for Tsonga. You know, us Brit's may have a stiff upper lip, hostile exteria to the outside world but if we take a shine to someone... like Jo Wilfried Tsonga, we are absolute push-overs. But don't tell anyone. Anyway, Tsonga was two sets down at one point but still... my hopes were pinned on the back of his racket. Mr John McEnroe was commentating, what more could you wish for? Well, a win would have been good but Mr T certainly went down fighting. Better luck next year Jo.

Watched the most amazing infomercial yesterday morning about the most hideous bra in the world. I could be wrong but it was basically a vest. You remember vests? They paraded women in the most ill fitting bras they could find and then slotted them into the vest instead. Of course it looked comfortable, if you're wearing the wrong sized bra, coconut shells would look more comfortable. If you're eighty, buy one, until then... save your £60.00.  Really, £60.00? Do they not know there is a credit crunch going on?

1st July

It's July 1st, can you believe it?  I took J to Manchester yesterday and had a really nice time.  We haven't seen each other much for weeks, possibly a couple of months so it was nice to spend most of the day together.  We headed straight for Starbucks and had a cappuccino and shared a lemon and poppy seed, skinny muffin, (which I didn't really want but someone made me...) then we hit the bead shop and of course J is like a kid in a candy store.  We were in there for... 90 minutes and it was baking.  It was good though, chose lots of  new bits and bobs to play with.  After that, we had a bit of a browse then ventured into Mango to check out the sale, (I know... I'm sorry.)  After much umming and ahhing, I purchased some khaki, cotton pants for, wait for it... £8.97.  They're gorgeous and really long although one pair had been turned up so I guess I could wear them either way.  I realise you're probably as green as my pants now chick.  I tried them on when I got home, loved them even more and instantly thought I should have brought a second pair and maybe I should have got a smaller size as they're a little big, however, they're mostly cotton so may shrink a little? 

After the Mango adventure, we browsed a little longer before heading for Wagamama's for dinner.  It was gorgeous as ever and I could eat Yaki Soba every night if someone would make it for me!  I didn't get home until around 8pm so we had quite a day. 

This morning, I felt like I'd walked to Manchester and not just walked around it.  So, once I'd talked myself out of bed, can I have a drum roll please?.... I did the Tracy Anderson Butt and Thigh webisode!  Remember I told you that it wasn't that bad?  Well, apparently I was lying.  You only do about four moves, (I think,) but 30 reps each move.  Before I hit the floor, I'd causally thought, shower after this but head won't need to be washed as I did it in the shower last night.  Not a chance, I was dripping and one seriously sweaty Betty by the time I'd finished.  I can't remember if I've shared the link with you but in case you're ever feeling brave, I'll attach the link below!  Go on, I dare you ;)

http://youtu.be/X7RDfw0NuZ8