Nose consultant man: he say ‘yes!’ November 25, 2008

Having had my nose operation cancelled at the 11th hour by Northampton General, I’ve been ringing every day to see when I might be scheduled back in. The poor receptionist is no doubt sick of the sound of my voice, which she knew off by heart when I rang this afternoon…:

Me: “Hello, it’s Kath”

Receptionista: “Yes, hello again. We have a date for you!”

Hoopla! After a week’s worth of the consultant being on leave, or in theatre and being told to call back, today was the lucky day. So, I’m now going in on 10 December, touch wood. This is a Wednesday, and I have the Monday and Tuesday booked off as leave – Monday = Spa day (nice facial), Tuesday = shopping day (nice dress), Wednesday = op day (smashed face!!). What a combination, and it means I’ll be off work until after the Christmas break. Blimey.

Got a humungous to do list with three articles to finish and place, a podcast to edit, and a raft of meetings. Time to start cracking on in earnest…

Top Teas November 24, 2008

Avid readers (if I have any) may have noticed my new ‘Top Teas’ page which I’ve set up on the blog. I didn’t want to crowd the regular blah with these items, so have posted them in a separate section.  Although, this means you don’t get an RSS feed when I update them, so I’m ending up posting a note in here to direct you here, which seems silly.

Maybe in future, I’ll post my review here and then add it into the separate page, so it’s easy for you to find.  Are you really fussed what I’ve eaten on a Sunday avo anyway??!!

I’m bzzing November 18, 2008

Following my sister’s lead, I’ve signed up to become a Bzz Agent. No, this is not a weird cult based on a Toy Story character, it’s actually a word-of-mouth marketing network.  The idea is that you are questioned on your habits and opinions then if you fit the brief you are signed up to a specific campaign.

I’ve only just joined so I did a big preliminary questionnaire about my lifestyle, habits and stuff, and this morning I got my first campaign based questionnaire.  Having filled this in, I’ve been informed that I am now signed up to the Danone Activia Intensely Creamy campaign!! Whoop!

Apparently my campaign pack will arrive in 21 days, which I assume means some freebie yoghurts (this is good, I eat a lorra yog) – I’ve also been given a load of background information on the product.  The idea is I try the yogs then spread the ‘Bzz’ via word of mouth (they must know I’ll be good, I yak on about all sorts).  They get viral marketing via my mouth, and I get freebie stuff and earn ‘honeycomb’ points for filing reports on my Bzzing – honeycombs mean prizes, apparently….

Anyhoo, on spreading the Bzz, they have given me some handy hints on how/where to do this:

“What would be opportune moments to talk about Activia^® ? Consider spreading Bzz when:

• Lamenting about not having enough time to eat properly or worry about digestive comfort
• Talking generally about health, nutrition, eating habits or dieting
• You or someone else is not feeling themselves
• Discussing daily routines or products you eat every day
• Talking about feeling sluggish or bloated
• Lunching with friends, family or colleagues
• You or someone else is eating yogurt or a snack
• Shopping in the supermarket or corner shop
• Seeing Activia^® or another yogurt being advertised
• Waiting for coffee, appointments or at the checkout at the supermarket
• At the gym
• You or someone else has that bloated feeling
• Planning holidays and imagining those holiday feelings you get from irregular eating patterns”

What holiday feelings do people get from irregular eating patterns?  Do they mean Delhi Belly? I’m also looking forward to discussing “that bloated feeling” with my buddies!! Perhaps some people do need tips on initiating conversation, but I’ve never been stuck on chatting away (although I might not talk to people whilst I’m in the checkout queue at the supermarche – that seems a bit freako).

Of course they have failed to mention blogging about it

OK people, the fun’s over: John has to go November 17, 2008

Another strictly fest on Saturday with the girls was muchos fun, I loved it and the highlight for me was Austin’s tango (he rocks!) and Jodie’s quickstep – both fabulous!!

However, Sunday’s results show was not fun in a bun as once again John Sargeant was kept in, meaning that the excellent Cherie got knocked out. John is very witty and funny and yes he’s charming, but he does not deserve to be in the competition at this stage.

He is right that democracy rules and the public have their right to keep in who they like, and the results are proving that the public are getting it wrong, in my view. Strictly is a dance competition, not a popularity contest, although I recognise that, of course, characters and loveability have a part to play.

Part of the problem this year is that apart from John, no other celebs are invoking strong feelings amongst the audience. They are all competent and good (apart from John), they are all decent and nice (Christina especially so), there is no wild competition or stand out leaders. This even surface to the show means that John really does stand out with his wit, charm and disastrous dancing. I think this is what’s behind it – people have really taken to John, and there’s even a Sargeant’s Charming Army formed.

Having said all of this, I have to appeal to all Strictly viewers who have voted for John to stop now. Great people going out makes a mockery of the programme and I for one am not enjoying John any more – I am watching him to see what mistakes and slip ups he’s making, not how much he’s improving or getting into performing the dance. The judges are at the end of their tethers, and so am I. Sargeant, lovely teddy though he is, has to go.

UPDATE – 20 November – yesterday, John bowed out of SCD.  I’m quite cross at him for this – my problem was with the public voting to keep him in, but he’s now gone against his fan base and all those people rooting for him (misguidedly) by exiting in this way.  Louise Bolotin’s blog on it hits the mark…

The great piano smashing event! November 14, 2008

Finally, I’ve managed to sort out the video footage from last Friday night’s inaugural piano smashing competition!  It was a wicked night and none of my health and safety concerns bore fruit, so that’s good.   We do have chips of wood all over the lawn, scorch marks on the patio and a melted gutter but heck was it worth it! Some people wondered if I was emotional at seeing my past piano going down with sledgehammer blows but I just think, if I was a piano I’d love it – what a way to go!! Enjoy…

who knows when my nose job will be? November 14, 2008

Following yesterday’s optimistic post about my nose job, I’ve just been told by Northampton General Hospital that Monday’s operation is cancelled as there’s no beds.

It’s good they’ve contacted me today rather than Monday but I am still mightily pissed off.  For one, I was psyched up to go under.  For two, I’ve been doing a big handover document for work. I’ve also held off meetings and booked them in my diary for when I was to be due back at work.  Now all this might change.

They have no idea when it might be rescheduled in for, but said they “hope it will be before Christmas”.  Nice! Thanks! So now, my op might be the day before my Christmas do, say, or a couple of days before I’m due to go to Gloucester to watch the rugby. It’s just Soooooooooooooooo inconvenient!!

Still, can’t do anything about it, so I can’t worry about it I guess.

Looking forward to going under the knife November 13, 2008

This coming Monday, I’m going under the knife for my long awaited nose surgery.  I’ve never had an op before, so I am a bit nervous, but mostly I’m really looking forward to it – not least because:

- I get 2 weeks off work, hoopla!  I know, I’ll be in pain and probably sneezing blood, but work has been ridiculously busy and having a break will do me the world of good.

- I might be able to breathe properly out of two nostrils for the first time since…well, I can’t remember.  Not sounding like I’ve got a cold all the time will be fabulous.

- I will actually have a bit of time (see 2 weeks off) to catch up with stuff. There’s plenty to do for the rugby club at the moment with our fundraising effort and I need to clean out our website content.  Also plan to do some piano playing and painting.

- I’m intrigued as to how my body will cope. I’m good with pain (when I broke my leg I whimpered a bit tho) and I’m not fussed by blood. I know everyone will have different recoveries but I’m hoping mine will be speedy and I can soon be up and about, albeit bruised!

Anyhoo, Monday at noon is show time.  The Boy is going to pick me up from hospital after my face has been sorted, and thankfully he decided my nervous whimpering in the build up is legitimate and he’s taking Tuesday off to look after me.  That will probably amount to him being in the garage all day tinkering, but making me cups of tea every so often.

New game discovered November 4, 2008

Rugby social on Saturday night was muchos fun, not least because of the discovery of a brand new game: human skittles.

We started our drinking circle in a nice old-man’s local type pub, the Gardiner’s Arms in Northampton, which has an alcove we always sit in and very receptive staff who love the comedy value we bring. There was a new addition to the alcove this time round: a proper old English pub style skittles game, the one with the cheeses that you throw.

Anyhoo, after a few beers and a go with the cheeses, we invented a new game which was ‘Human Skittles’. The concept is simple – instead of throwing a cheese, you throw yourself. A good run up was required and with speed on my side, I threw myself into it. I failed to get all the skittles down though, but 8 out of 9 ain’t bad.

I think it’s my new favourite game, alongside kick dancing…