out with the old and in with the new November 2, 2009

Doing a life laundry at Ma’s house the other week, which involved a 9-5 day of convincing Mother that she no longer needed the broken shelving in the garage, or the natty 80’s woolly jumper or indeed the very tatty ‘churches in bedfordshire’ book,  inspired me to do some of the same.  So yesterday whilst it was blowy and ‘orrid outside, I sat down with a box of folders from my university days at Warwickana.

 

It was quite indulgent going through these files of seminar notes, lecture doodles and essays (one tutor consistently gave me 63 for everything I ever produced in her module..grrr). I was actually quite neat and methodical, looking back, and very good at drawing tiny weeny stars over all my notes in duller seminars by the looks of it.  The old names of Dr Whitehead, Grainne Walshe and Paulina Palmer also brought back some lovely memories of intense literary discussions and I remembered that I actually used to use my brain….lots!

 

My notes on the Epic module and Mediaeval literature conveyed that this wasn’t my fave subject at all (Mediaeval to be fair was on a Thursday morning at 9am – after the Wednesday night of sports socials…you can imagine), and I clearly put more effort into furiously writing about modern women’s literature and American poetry.  Idle daydreaming over, anyways, I chucked most of my stuff, keeping just essays (I put lots into them, they are worth saving aren’t they) and my poetry module notes. Poetry specifically is being kept as I’ve just started a writing poetry course with the OU, and you never know, my dusty 10 year old notes might just help…

 

Head and shoulders above the rest October 22, 2009

Been meaning to blog about my cousin’s new website for ages…it is soooo pretty!

Julie-ann is an amazing talent and you may find her familiar from her star turn on Project Catwalk – her first design was incredible, right down to the pot of jam – love it! I’ve no idea how people get an eye for fashion – I like all girls digest my fair share of tat women’s glossy mags with outfits emblazoned throughout, but I still barely manage to get matching socks on me or steer far from my regulation jeans/top/hoody or cardy option.  Gah!  My resolution on turning 30 to wear more accessories has waned too, particularly on days where I’m gymming before work – I’m lucky if I remember to pack up my work clothes let alone embellishments.

Anyhoo, enough of my fashion woes – Julie-ann has moved away from designing clothes to  turning her hand to millinery and I think has found her perfect niche  – it’s fab to have someone so creative related to you and at every family wedding there’s a new design on display.  She is one clever gal – and yup, she’s related to me!

My week in an online media wilderness October 20, 2009

oof! I can’t believe it’s a month since I last posted here!

I had a week of enforced IT-slacking last week as we travelled up to Scotland in Trevor the camper – no Twitter, no FB, no email…what’s a gal to do?

Reading

In a way it’s good to go cold turkey from the online news sources I love, (usually I’m logged into The Guardian, BBC, Times, Twitter  and Google reader right through thru the day) but I still needed my news fix so The Times was purchased each day and for once, I had time to forage through the whole paper, including reading features from start to end, doing the crossie (with help from The Hub) and even reading sports articles on cricket. What a total treat!!

Fiction wise I got through The Reader - not seen the film but the book was really compelling. Meanwhile the Hub tucked into two Famous Five stories (having rediscovering these on honeymoon) and we discovered that actually the famous five mostly spend their time eating and drinking ginger beer.  In years to come, I reckon Julian and Ann will grow into the obese, slightly sweaty and red-wine drinking detectives that we’re all so much more used to.

I also got a copy of Easy Living for some light amusement but did no more than flick through it as we were chatting away to mates we stayed with over the week rather than getting stuck into reading.

Watching

From Scotland we made it to Carlisle where my sis has the very ace wine store Corkscrew Wines.  Apart from some indulging in some Sky Plus viewing the highlight of which was Takeshi’s Castle – Sis and her Boy had NEVER SEEN this TV wonder – that was pretty much it for TV viewing for the week.   Actually I also recall we watched the unbelievably good Leicester v Osprey’s Heineken Cup game which our lovely Scottish hosts had recorded for us – absolutely brilliant, and I’m not even a Leicester fan.

Listening

With all that time in the van (seriously, it takes a loooong time to get to Scotland in Trevor), we took in a lot of Radio Two and disappointingly it was Mayo filling in for Chris Evans, so drivetime was lacklustre for me.  Aside from the rad, we also got through the Noisette’s album, the Phar Cyde cd belonging to the Hub and some Led Zepplin just to balance it all out.

Our final destination in the van was to friends in Birmingham and we had some ace retro music going on (ok, not that retro) – Inspiral Carpets, The Cardigans and other random brit pop stuff. Brill accompaniment to our hosts’ baking efforts in cookies…cakes..breads…mmmm.  This week I’m aiming to get the MP3 on with some serious work-out podcasts from Dr Bob!!

And online?

Chas Minus Dave – it still adds up September 28, 2009

What random fans Chas and His Band have!  We went to the Chicken Shed theatre on Saturday to watch Chas in concert, the first one since Dave announced he was calling time on touring.  Despite Dave’s absence we still had high hopes and they were borne out –   It was ACE!

In the first half Chas paid tribute to his early piano mentor Jerry Lee Lewis who he toured with in the 60s. There were some great anecdotes and top quality rock n roll type music.  It was mesmerising to watch Chas playing piano – as a classically trained pianist, his technique was bizarre at best! But, it did the job and in the second half it was all the old faves – London Girls, Gertcha, Snooker Loopy, Rabbit.  The fans were the best bit – a real mix from 70 year olds to people in their 30s shouting “Oi” at every opportunity.

By the end of the gig everyone was on their feet clapping along and singing at the top of their voices.  Chas was brilliant, so lovely and personable – brilliant.  A top top top night out well done Chas!!

Chas N Dave split – but the gig goes on September 22, 2009

Being organised for Husband’s birthday this year, I knew for a while what to get him.

Although I play classical piano to a relatively high standard, he’d still rather I played Chas N Dave – so I booked him tickets for a gig this coming Saturday in London.

Yet what do I find today? Chas N Dave are calling it quits after Dave’s wife very sadly passed away.  It’s a great shame,

but I’m hoping Chas will still do the biz on Saturday and make it a good birthday gig for The Boy.  It’s got to be better than my Debussy and Albeniz anyway!!

Worst week of the week award? September 18, 2009

Anyone remember the Worst Week of the Week award, awarded weekly, on a week by week basis? It was part of an ace Radio Two comedy prog. Well, I reckon this week I am a contender.

It all started Sunday, with a hangover…

Strike One.

A quarter of the way into a rugby game on Sunday, I got an almighty blow to the head and immediately hit the floor, with an egg sized lump rapidly growing on my bonce. Whoever hit me, did it pretty hard but I have a concrete skull so after 10mins of ice packing, I felt bullish and fine, so went back on to play. I later realised I had concussion when I got nausea and pins and needles in my face whilst at work the next day!

Strike Two.

When I went back on the pitch on Sunday, no sooner had I got the ball than I went on a little dash on the attack. It was going well, I’d beaten one defender and just had the full back to get round. My sidestep was planned but on execution – crunch! The old familiar battered knee re-emerged. Two years on from my grade 2 ACL tear, I am still getting gip. It was sore beyond belief and I had to hobble off, whilst cursing quite loudly in anger. That was the end of that game, and my knee’s not a great deal improved five days on, worst luck.

Strike Three.

Yesterday lunchtime whilst driving back to work, I had the misfortune of meeting Neanderthal man. Whilst going along a dual carriageway, a white van driver decided to cross the road over to an opposite slip road, and basically chuntered straight into my lane. I somehow managed to swerve round him but the back end of the car got scuffed. On exiting my car, in order to exchange details, the driver emerged as an angry Scotsman, fervently gesturing and shouting obscenities. I didn’t understand the offensive language until I’d asked him to repeat it, as he really had a broad accent.

Anyhoo, after trying to blame me, Neanderthal man got back in his van and drove off without giving me his details. I managed to get the license plate and when he parked up just a bit away from me I drove up again, stayed in my car (wasn’t sure if he’d get physically aggressive – yikes) and asked him again for his contact details. He begrudgingly gave me a name and business, but claimed he didn’t have a phone. So now we’re going through police, insurance and all sorts to try and get it sorted.

On the upside, I’ve had my three bad things happen now so surely my luck must be turning. But in the meantime, can anyone beat this for a rubbish week?

best butcher in the world on telly! September 15, 2009

currently watching Come Dine with Me, which is in Northampton this week. Unfortunately tonight’s host is a bit irritating; but on the plus side he’s just selected his meat from Arthur Longland butcher in Northampton.  I can verify, this is the best butcher ever with great proper job service and banter.

Good choice!

Poetry please September 4, 2009

Just signed up for this start writing poetry course with the OU – and by chance, there’s a competition at work today to write a poem about school children. So here’s my 5 minute wonder:

T’was the night before school

I’ll always be a little geek

And now it’s school again

My briefcase and culottes were never chic

But now it’s nearly 10pm

There’s no time for a fashion sweep

It’s all been left last minute

Mum is cutting my fringe right now

There’s no chance of me being ‘with it’ (innit)

I haven’t yet made the it-girl world

And now it’s school again

But then again Bill Gates is a nerd

And he’s one of the richest men…

So open the gates and bring it on

My wonky fringe is good to go

This bespectacled girl will give it a whirl

Who knows how far I’ll go?

(not very far under the weight of this briefcase)

(Remember, this was literally a 5 minute wonder.  And yes, I used to have a briefcase, get over it!!)

I’ve got a fair bit of work to do, I reckon…

Good news now that I’m off Bootcamp! September 4, 2009

Now that Bridal Bootcamp is over, this is excellent news:

Forget aspirin – big thighs could be key to beating heart disease

Study shows those with thinner legs are more likely to suffer cardiac problems

Big thighs might confer a health benefit according to a study showing that people with small thighs run a higher-than-average risk of developing heart disease and an early demise.

Scientists have found that men and women whose thighs are less than 60cm (23.6ins) in circumference are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, and die prematurely, compared to people with thicker thighs.

Latest taste-tastic-sensations! August 24, 2009

Was my turn to do cricket teas the other week and I found good inspiration in Good Food magazine which had a recipe for Scotch Egg Pasties in it. Well easy, and really nice – but take heed, they are extremely filling indeed!

Here’s one of the beauties:

ready roll shortcrust pastry

8 good quality sausages

6 spring onions

9 eggs

Roll out pastry and make 8 circles (around 13cm diameter).  Squidge out sausage meat and mix in chopped spring onions.  Spread over pastry circles leaving a gap at the edge. Boil 8 eggs for around 6 mins, then peel and cool. Place egg in centre of pastry sausage thing, wet edges and pull together to crimp into pasty shape. Beat final egg, brush pasties and chill for 30 mins. Wang in medium hot oven for 25 mins, eat warm with a bit of Brown sauce. Nomity Nom.

The other thing I’ve tried recently was a layered salad for the proms at Althorp on Saturday.  Into a tupperware dish, scoop in 2×200g tubs of hummus, sprinkle on some chick peas, then put on some home-made tabbouleh (bulgar wheat, red onion, tomato, parsley, mint, dressed with lemon zest, juice and olive oil), followed by crumbled feta, black olives and ripped up romaine lettuce. Chill.

This was really lovely and am eating the left overs for lunch this week – it’s really tasty even a couple of days on. Yum-tastic!