Wagamama

I didn't tell you about my snood did I?  I'm saying "snood."  That's what they used to call them and I have no idea if that's what they still call them but, think of a polo necked jumper, with the polo neck cut off... and over sized, and I think that's a snood.  Anyway, last week, I nipped into Warehouse and it was bedlam, people everywhere, bargains to be had, and I'm not good in situations like that, I can't scrabble no matter how good the bargain, still, there, on the rail were snoods hanging off hangers,  looking terribly warm and inviting in these chilled temperatures, they had rose pink and grey and while I loved the grey, I'm not sure my complexion loves the colour so much so I opted for the rose pink.  The reason I opted... £2 reduced from £18 so major bargain, I really couldn't leave it on the rail for that now could I?

It's now Friday 27th April and it's been an odd week.  It looks and feels like autumn.  It's chilled and wet and windy and drags you down a bit.  Seems silly that parts of the country have declared drought, yet we've had torrential rain every day this week.  I've got soaked everyday, getting to, and or from work, every day, there is no let up. 

My cold has almost gone and is just lingering to annoy me I think.  I've slept well every night this week, yet every morning, I've hit the snooze button at least three times and have had to peel myself from the mattress just in the nick of time, every day.  Not quite sure what is going on.

Work has been boring beyond belief, everyday you go in to a different, mind numbing task, still... "needs of the business," and at least we still have jobs, which is about the most positive thing you can think of saying.

Anyway, now for something fun, you know how much I love dining at Wagamama's?  Well, just around the corner from my usual coffee haunt, is about to open the newest Wagamama's.  Could I be any luckier????  

So, I got J to register us for preview tickets, sure enough, we got lucky and booked in for a free meal on one of the preview nights.  I've worked in a brand spanking hotel and the same goes for new restaurants, these are important times where the staff get to practise and iron out any crinkles before they go live...  how exciting.  And, can I just say, I am the worlds greatest mystery shopper.  I always fill in the comment cards wherever I go, I have a keen eye for detail, I always look for the "gone wells" and I point out areas in which they could do better... no one has thanked me so far, but that doesn't put me off ;)   So, J and I were booked in for 6pm, we started the night by chatting to the area manager.  Took me way back to when I worked in hotels and I was so excited for them.  These preview nights were the chance for them to get their feet wet with real, live customers, and I was so excited for them.

J and I could have a starter between us, a main each and a desert to share, plus two drinks each, all for free, with the one request, that we complete a comment card... as if they need ask. 

Our waiter, Thom, recognised me from Starbucks!  What are the odds?  Anyway, he was great, friendly, professional and efficient, what more could you ask for?  My wine arrived via someone else, and it was a red instead of white, so that went back.  (I do like red but didn't want to accept it when it wasn't what I'd asked for on a practice night.)  J and I decided to go wild and opt for a starter we'd never tried before; Negima Yakitori, (chicken and spring onion skewers,) absolutely delicious, we each had Yaki Soba, our favourite dish for main, in hind site, we should have shared one and tried something new, then we had cheesecake for desert, J's favourite, White chocolate and ginger, I had a fork full and stuck to my wine, but J thoroughly enjoyed it.

The area manager came over once we were up to coffee, I told him that while delicious, my main could have been hotter, J's had steam coming off it but mine was look warm at best on arrival, but, that is what preview nights are for and it certainly wouldn't put me off going back.

The restaurant is in a lovely setting, it has a great feel, and I think I will be there often.  I think they officially open today, so good luck, I wish them the best and I will be back in there very soon.

Today is Saturday.  I worked out for an hour, as I did yesterday, sweat was dripping from me after the hour, surely that counts for something?  I had my coffee in peace and read a little more of Eat Pray Love, I'm almost at the end, believe it or not.  I stopped in many shops, just to have a look around, recycled then headed home to email and do housework.  Yep, the housework whirlwind continues.  I've now become obsessed with skirting boards and pipes.  Not that I go around looking at anyone else's but my own... I do... big time, so that's what I've done today, and that's another Saturday over with.

Where am I?

Well, I feel like I'm typing in the Tardis.   Not quite sure where I'll end up or what will happen.  Blogger has had a major re-vamp.  I feel a little hijacked and haven't a clue what's going on.  Won't tell you how long it took me to even work out how to find my way back in here.  Anyway, I'm sure it's just me... being a major technophobe, plus I hate change... and I liked it the old way. 

Where were we?  Well, Saturday, after my usual  coffee, I called in at B's for an hour, vetoed a few possible wedding guest outfits, extensively explained that she could not, under any circumstances wear a patterned jacket with a different patterned dress, then, I headed home for several hours of housework, yep, the abnormality continues.

I eventually showered, ate, made the usual phone calls, then watched a little of The Voice UK.  It's newish on TV and I confess that I haven't watched a lot of it but I have now seen a 19 year old woman named Ruth perform twice, and she is astonishing.  She has the type  of voice that burns through your bones, soulful, effortlessly powerful, warm, and I am convinced she doesn't even know how good she is.  She is truly gifted.  If this woman doesn't end up with a phenomenal music career, there will be something seriously wrong with the universe.

Sunday, I woke around 6ish, to yet more rain.  Jogged for 45 minutes, coffee'd out, it was freezing in Starbucks, I didn't even take my jacket off.  Picked up a paper and headed home for more cleaning.  Think of it as a belated major Spring clean.  I'm shattered and achy but really proud of myself, this place looks great, oh, and I wore one of the new Airtex tops to clean in, bargain.

Thor

I was off today but was woken by an almighty thunder, lightening and hail storm, we haven't had one like that for quite a while.  Stayed in bed for half an hour then decided to get up, it was almost time anyway.  Had a coffee then jogged for 45 minutes.  No idea how I managed it, after 45 seconds I could feel my thighs complaining, but I had already told myself the exercise would help shift the cold, so I ploughed on with the most upbeat music I could find on my iPod. 

I'd asked J if she wanted to go to the next town over for a coffee and a few bits and pieces, she's not been 100% lately and has had a rough week, thought it would give her the chance to talk if she wanted to or to take her mind off things.  Anyway, I picked her up as planned, (we now had a beautiful blue sky and sunshine after the storm,) and we headed for the first stop... coffee.

J is voucher Queen, I think we.... J, would have spent £51.00 in total but got £15 off in free vouchers!  Told you she was good.

In one shop, J insisted on buying me an Airtex top.  Remember Airtex?  It's the type we had to have in school for P.E.  Funny, airated material, short sleeves, collar, three buttons?  Kind of like a Polo Shirt.  Anyway, aged 14-15 were reduced from £7.00 to £1.00 and after J decided it would fit me, J decided I should have it... only she always buys in bulk, so I ended up with two.  She's right, they do fit but when I'm going to wear them, I have no idea.  Maybe for gardening?  By the way... were they that see through in school?

I stopped off on the way home for milk, fruit and cottage cheese, then arrived home to iron.  Forgot to tell you, the rain hammered down as we were on our way back to the car, would have been a shame not to get wet today as I've got soaked every other day this week.

I know that I'm not on the subject, but can I just take a moment to tell you that Marks & Spencers Low Fat Cottage Cheese, is disgusting.  It takes a lot for me to use that word but trust me... it's warrented.

Rudolph

So, my cold was bad, think of your nose, then think of a constantly dripping tap.  Yep, that was me for all of Sunday evening, all of Sunday night, (I hardly slept a wink,) and most of all of Monday.  The thing is, with colds that come on this heavy and this quickly, I always hope that they'll go just as quickly, rather than linger for 3 weeks or more like my usual ones.  I dragged myself in to work on Monday, even though it took me a while to actually get out of bed, and I must have looked bad as people who don't even usually speak to me, asked me if I had a cold... yep... I looked that bad.

By Tuesday, even though I still felt terrible, (and looked worse,) I actually felt better than I did on Monday, so I was looking at the positive.  Same people that don't usually talk to me asked me how I was feeling... still must have looked really bad, but you know when you feel so bad that you don't care how you look?  Well, that was me... for all of this week.

Anyway, the good news is that drunken woman hasn't returned, she must have either; a) sobered up, b) remembered where Dave lives, c) remembered that his name isn't Dave or d) none of the above.

I haven't had much appetite this week, just couldn't face breakfast this week, even after decades of me not having breakfast, I was totally converted... it really IS the most important meal of the day... but I just couldn't do it.  Anyway, what I have eaten this week, has been quality like potatoes, chicken, lentil soup... see?  I am trying.

It's now Thursday, and I've taken Friday off because I probably shouldn't even have been in work on Monday or Tuesday, but the sickness absence rules are so strict... plus, you never know when you'll be worse... anyway, the cold is on the move, it's just moved to my chest and apparently my legs, but at least it's on the move.

So Blue, So Cold

It's Sunday and it is such a beautiful day, but it is still so cold.  I slept soundly and long, over 10 hours again, surely this isn't normal?  Good to get a catch up via email from you, glad C liked her birthday present. 

It's been a usual Sunday for me, I do love routine, which isn't necessarily always a good thing, but it's good so far.  Up and jogged for 25 minutes, toast, a little butter and marmalade for breakfast, out for my filter coffee at Starbucks, the girls made it to perfection.  Indulged in one chapter of Eat , Pray, Love then dived into the latest InStyle magazine which is talking about summer and toning and fake tans, oh yes... you can tell that summer is on it's way. 

I now have more new and sweet potatoes roasting in the oven with sea salt, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil and sprigs of rosemary, (yep... I bought way too many carbs for the weekend.) 

Well, the day turned out to be anything but routine, when, at 7pm, I had a drunken woman knocking on my door and hollering "Dave!" through the letterbox.  I tried shooing her away via the kitchen window but she was too drunk to get it, that she was at the wrong house.  Then, in a moment of stupidity, I opened the door on the chain to ask her, what number she was looking for.  Dave apparently lives at my number, or ten doors down.  Having reassured her that "Dave" didn't live here, she toddled off and I closed the door.  A minute later, she was back hollering for Dave again, this time, I opened the door again, with phone in hand, doing a good impression of someone phoning the police, "Police please, yes... I'll hold... what's your name?"  I asked the woman her name and she stared at me incredulously and promptly scarpered.  This used to be such a quiet place to live.

Sunday lunchtime, while I was crying through a TV show about adoption reunions, I did wonder why I was excessively watery.  A pretty heavy head cold descended in a matter of hours following that, I've been trying to fend it off for a few weeks but this time, there was no holding back.

Friday 13th

Last weekend was a long one and I was really grateful for it, it's been a funny few weeks and I was glad of the time and of the space. 

It's now Friday 13th April, can you believe it?  We're almost half way through April already?  It's been another funny, but thankfully short week, my cold returned on the first day back to work and also on Tuesday morning, I woke with a pinprick, red rash covering my torso.  The online NHS symptoms checker basically told me, and I'm paraphrasing here; it's nothing, don't worry, it'll be gone in a day or two.  On Wednesday, when the rash was more pronounced and felt warm to the touch, I ran through the checker again and was told; probably nothing, and no need to panic, but we're going to call you back. 

Call me back they did, within 40 minutes, I was very impressed, got to speak to Nurse Rachael who advised me to see a pharmacist.  Lovely pharmacist advised I'd had an allergic reaction to something... could be anything, and to take antihistamine tablets for 14 days.  Anyway, rash is very slowly, (very slowly,) starting to fade and cold is nothing more than a sniffle.  I'm making light of this but I couldn't help but think of someone I know who has been struck down, and I cannot think of a better phrase than that... by meningitis.  The life that she knew is over, her family are devastated.  I trust and believe in God and always will, but sometimes, most of the time, I do not understand. 

Recently, I've had a couple of very extreme and raw examples of how life can change in the blink of an eye.  I know that's a cliché or at the very least, an over used, over-sentimental and off the cuff remark.  But, it's true, it's literal, and it happens all the time.  These examples have been upsetting, heart wrenching and huge, huge reminders.

I got a rebate on my AOL membership, only a tiny one, but I used it to buy a couple of prints from Next that I fell in love with a few weeks ago, one is of an old telephone, (one with a dial,) and the other is of an old typewriter  baring the script; "live the life you love."  I thought they both represented me, quite well, well, the living part... I'm working on, but the writer part...

Maybe because it's relatively new to me but I find adding anything to my home, a bit traumatic, have I made the right choice?  Have I wasted money?  Will it go with everything else?  I realise I probably over analyse, as I do with everything else, but, that's just the way I am.  I loved these prints instantly and they fit, perfectly.

I also bought a couple of cheap frames from the supermarket, (they don't look cheap,) they're for my "New Yorker" prints that I picked up at Bryant Christmas Market... you know where, they look fabulous.  I feel like I'm morphing into something or someone else and I want my home and surroundings to evolve with me, I really like it so far.

So, I'm off work as you can probably gather, I'm sitting here with my filter coffee, and everywhere I look, there are young members of some kind of Aussie sports team wandering around, their proud green and gold garb is hard to miss, they certainly brighten up the place and are impeccably behaved.

After a few weeks of living off rubbish, (bad food choices,) this sunshine, and the fact that my jeans feel a little tighter, have inspired me to boycott the usual weekend "treats" that I have and to insist on only healthy food options, I'm sure by Monday I'll feel more like normal.

I have recycling to do and food shopping, then it's home to yep... continue the tidy up and transform project.

Spring Fever

I'm still gripped with Spring Fever and some of my rooms are positively transformed.  I've recently been possessed with images and thoughts of what "tidy" friends do and so I've continued to, well, tidy and I have to say... it's looking good.  It's as if I've been in a depressive and untidy fog for years on end and I can now see how attractive tidy actually is.  I know... I don't understand it either, I always believed that there were naturally tidy people and inherently untidy people, and that I was the latter, maybe there is hope after all?

For the past few days, I've caught up with friends, friends from across the seas, friends from down south, you madam, well, we're in touch all the time.  It really made me think, I have been so blessed in the friend department, whether near or far. 

I started with a cold on Tuesday, typical with the long weekend coming up, it's not terrible, just could have done without it.

Where Everyone Knows Your Name

One of the Barista's, who I don't see that often, knows my name.  I was very impressed, told her how my memory is not that good, she, Livvy, replied that hers isn't either but it helps if you have a quirk... bear with me.  If Livvy drew a picture of the store, (this is what she told me,) then I would be sitting at the window.  I would indeed. 

No workout for me this morn, really think a visit to a chiropractor is pretty much unavoidable. 

Saturday, it's my friend from the newspaper's 30th Birthday party today and I need to be ready early to head into town.  I meet up with another friend I used to work with, and head across town, (in my high heels and borrowed frock and jacket,) with friend's boyfriend, who is lovely... to the venue.  Birthday girl has just arrived in a white Cadillac, perfect for the 1950's theme.  Birthday girl looks stunning, oh to be 30 again, long dark hair, small leopard print dress, and bow in hair, red belt, shoes and lips, she looked gorgeous.

The night was great, live music, (all of the musicians were amazing,) dozens of small glitter balls hung from the high ceiling, tea lights lit on every table, complete with tiny glass jars of mint imperials and confetti stars, just perfect.

I had a wonderful night, I only actually knew my friend S and the hostess, who was of course busy socialising for most of the night and my friend S could not stay glued to me, but I had a lovely time chatting, some of my former work colleagues, (from different departments,) remembered me, which is something, as I left a good... three years ago.  Everyone was lovely and entertaining and everyone had made an effort for the '50's theme whether it be slicked back hair or an eBay prom dress, it was a really special night.

So, after much chat and entertainment, I thanked the hostess and headed to the corner of the street to be picked up by B.  What neither of us knew, was that, the street we'd driven down earlier, was pedestrianised at night, complete with bollards so cars couldn't access, and so, I stood on a street corner for 20 minutes.  There's something I never thought I'd say.  Haven't quite worked out yet if I was more upset at being stranded on a street corner for 20 minutes or being stranded on a street corner and not being propositioned for 20 minutes.

Anyway, B finally found a way through, (she's a better woman than I, I would have had to have parked up on the outskirts and taken a taxi in... darn one way system.)  Amidst a sea of revellers, I suddenly see an arm waving from across the road, any other time, you'd be embarrassed and pretend they didn't belong to you, but I was freezing by this point.  So, I cross the road and we head around the corner to the car and on the passenger seat... is a hot water bottle.  I know... you don't need to tell me, some of my sisters may be a pain in the backside but they do have their moments, and this was one of them.

B dropped me safely at home, I had a shower and a quick de-caff coffee and went to bed... I went out, like a light.

Sunday... the sun was shining and yes... it's April Fool's Day, it's also freezing cold by the way.  After here, I'm heading home to seriously tidy up as I did nothing yesterday, the day just evaporated before my eyes and then it was time to get ready, so I really need to make up for it today.

I've barely exercised this week, my back is bad and I think I'll need to see someone about it before long.

Well, just after I wrote the above, I was quite happily sitting in Starbucks with my iPod in when I heard raised voices but didn't think anything of it, a few seconds later, I turned around to see a queue of people for the door, I pulled out my ear plugs for my friend to tell me they were evacuating because of fire, 5 seconds later, the alarm sounded.  It was all very calm.  We congregate outside with the doors firmly locked behind us.  I have all of my belongings, (my precious iPod and journal,) and I stand with Mr Regular who has sauntered outside, leaving all of his stuff behind. 

We chat and then I bid my farewells, Mr Regular states a case of , "I'm alright Jack," which is technically true, but it's not my fault if people have no fore thought is it?  They will at least have to wait for the fire brigade to give the all clear... such is life ;)  I leave to get on with my day.

Thinking Cap

I jogged for 20 minutes on Thursday but by Friday, my back is hurting so much, I struggle to put on my socks.  I head for the supermarket and the cashier comments on my celery purchase, "someone likes celery in your house!"  I smile sweetly, comment that summer is coming, I want to be healthy, and I'm pretty darn sure she's the same one that commented on my salad dressing purchase last year.  I know... I can't remember what I ate yesterday but for some things... I have the memory of an elephant.  After that, I queue for petrol.

I've had my thinking cap on the past couple of days.  I'm out on Saturday night and I've had a few nights out recently, and while this is highly unusual, and I've had a lovely time, it's time for a reality check and I really need to re-focus. 

The economic climate dictates that I need to find a new, second job, or a totally new main job, to cut down on the early mornings, (4am starts,) and costly fuel consumption.  I'm going to have to be super organised and have the housework and sleep, regimentally factored in, that will leave little, to no time, for socialising.  Still, needs must.