I do love going away (as you've probably noticed) but there's something wonderful about being in your own space, surrounded by your own things that helps you relax. And relax I did today, after driving us home I watched a bit of TV from the drive then fell asleep on the sofa. I'd fallen prey to a nasty cold on Friday night - so I felt like I deserved it.
Oh, and did I mention the fire alarm at the hotel this morning at 8.30am? I woke in that sort of drunk too much/slept too little state which makes you feel shaky and spacy all at the same time. We spent half an hour on the car-park watching fire engines arrive and longing for clean sheets and hot showers.
Anyway. Most of us more than slightly fragile we headed off for breakfast. Based on this morning's experience I would recommend only going to Meadowhall when it's closed. When we arrived the shops were shut - so all was calm, but by the time we left it was ...heaving.
Anyway. Here's a photo of Jules and Cali from last night on our way out. We did have a grand time, and a lovely weekend.
Next time though, it's jigsaws and early nights :)
- Mood:
tired
We travelled in convoy up the M1 through MILES of roadworks, until the point when they closed the M1 and we sat in a queue for over an hour in the wind and rain and dark, before leaving the motorway and snaking through backroads and sideroads till we reached the hotel.
A quick change into gladrags and off out to the Leadmill for a Tom McRae gig. Fantastic night. Too much champagne and cider for me, sadly, but lots and lots of fun.
Following the gig a rather drunken stop for chips in a brighly-lit shop which allowed us to marvel at the man dressed as a french maid, the girl with an actual bin-bag for a skirt, and lots of bare yorkshire teenage flesh.
Terrific night.
- Mood: exhausted
Lovely evening. Had only decided to cook (rather than to get take-out which would have been the more sensible option given my week!) the night before - but I fed everyone (no-one died) and we had a jolly good time.
- Mood: tired
Thursdate tonight. I was clingy but just so happy to be able to spend some time hanging out with Matt. As we've not had a Thursdate for a while it seemed extra nice.
Last night I was convinced that my feet had been replaced by iceblocks - I just could not warm them, no matter what I did. About 3.30am Matt made me a hot water bottle. What a star.
Busy since I have been home doing dull stuff and chatting with lovely friend Vanessa.
Liz favourite product of the day: Lush's solid perfume in The Olive Branch. I LOVE IT. I can't stop sniffing my wrists :)
- Mood: exhausted
Completely forgot to post last night. It wasn't that I wasn't near the Internet (because I was- answering email, blogging elsewhere and all sorts.)
Can we pretnd this post was last night's?
Anyway.
Been getting a bit more sleep this week, which is good. I mean it could yet all crumble- but slept more than 6 hours for 3 days- which is terrific! I don't remember the last time I could say that.
Husband is, of course, adorable. We put on the David Attenborough tv programme last night when we got into bed- I think I lasted 20 minutes before falling asleep on his chest.
Now all look away and pretend it's Tuesday?
Apart from the obvious Good Things about being away (24/7 time with
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
mrhig and falling asleep face-down on the sofa at every opportunity) there were some other Good Things about being away.1) No TV-Drive
We *never* watch TV 'live' as it is shown. Well - maybe the odd show - but really it's very very rare. Mostly we decide when we're ready for a TV show -and look on the TV drive to see what's available for us. We watch it, skipping the ads, and deleting it if it's dull. There was something about being at the mercy of the schedulers that was relaxing - meant we saw TV which we would never usually see. I'm not sure I need to see a show about Peter Kay singing that Amarillo song, but there we are.
2) Wildlife
We live in suburbia. We have squirrels in the back garden, and listen to the birdsong and we even have the occasional visiting cat - but it's pretty dull as far as animals are concerned. Rats, foxes and even MadJanetFromNextDoor can be spotted from the kitchen window - but really - they're a bit dull.
In Yorkshire in 20 minutes on Sunday morning we saw 15 grouse, cats, dogs, horses, ducks cows, sheep ...and more I'm forgetting. Being animal enthusiasts we were delighted.
3) No MacBooks
I find that sometimes I only half watch TV, half concentrate on conversation, half concentrate on my evening because I have my MBP open to answer email and do all the stuff I do on the internet. Not having the option was good. And besides, it was fine (we took our iPhones!)
- Mood:
happy
The cottage was This one and to be honest the site does it no justice. It was really tremendous - and we'll definitely go again.
When I tell you it's remote you may not believe me - but when you look at this photo you may start to believe me. That house in the front is where we were staying. The buildings at the side are just outbuildings.
Anyway. Terrific time. The full set of (shitty iPhone) photos can be seen by following the link from the photos of Matt over there.
Today we went off to Harrogate to meet with Steph, Matt and Georgia for lunch at Betty's at the Royal Horticultural Gardens.
Lovely time. I accidentally bought plants. Ooops.
There's so much to do in North Yorkshire - we'll definitely be going back.
- Mood: cold
Great day out to Whitby today- a drive across the moors which were picturesque...and everything you'd want from moors really.
Whitby is a perfect mix of cobbled streets, charming harbour, faded seaside town and tacky tourist destination. I really enjoyed it.
We walked up the 199 steps to the Abbey, but didn't go in as it shut at 4- gives us a great excuse to go back.
- Location:United Kingdom, England, Greater London
- Mood: exhausted
We're up in North Yorkshire, in the most terrific cottage (it's huge and much better than home) getting our relax on.
I wish we were staying the week: this is exactly what we needed.
We're so remote it's almost scary, but strangely comforting, there's much less temptation to try and do things because of the ten miles or so to any small town.
I wish we had done this months ago.
- Location:54.469233, -1.330251
- Mood: exhausted
I'm the sort of person that can survive on fewer than 6 hours sleep during the week, as long as I catch up a bit at the weekend. Last night it was about 4 hours. Ooof.
This weekend I have to have a proper rest.
Tomorrow we drive up to the North Yorkshire moors to a gorgeous cottage where our main job is to relax. I hope we'll have a wander on the moors, get some fresh air and get some good time to sleep and get refreshed.
Still thinking about some of the performances from last night - was a terrific experience.
I'm fading fast now - but need to stay awake to watch the end of The Apprentice USA. Stupidly addictive.
- Mood: exhausted
Terrific stuff.
I need to be up at 5.45 am tomorrow morning, and out the house at 6.15am, Given that it's nearly midnight I should probably try and get some sleep.
- Mood:
awake
The cottage for the MiniBreak (or Dirty Weekend) is booked. It's gorgeous. It's out on the North Yorkshire Moors. I think Matt fancies himself as Heathcliffe. I'm chuffed because we get to go to Harrogate and Whitby (as we'll be between both places). Mostly I'm just looking forward to packing the car on Friday morning and just going.
I've also booked our other weekend away (for the week after) to Sheffield. This time it's for a road-trip with Cali and Jules to go to a gig. These evenings never end well. That one was this time last year in NYC - am sure there will be MUCH less mischief in Sheffield. Honest.
Right - bed. Am exhausted after all that clicking.
- Mood:
busy
1) Pokerface - Lady Gaga
2) Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) - Beyonce
Perfumes I wear most regularly:
1) Narciso Rodriguez
2) Thierry Mugler - Cologne
Favourite QVC presenters
1) Alison Young
2) Julia Roberts
Two things I ate today
1) Toasted cheese and tomato sandwich
2) M&S sour cream and jalapeno crisps
Last two people I spoke to
1)
mrhig2) Jenny BD
Looooong day. Finished it in the pub with Nick and Jenny. Very nice too. Extroverts unwind by being with people and from being spiky and withdrawn I became relaxed and chatty. Terrific.
Lots to do this week - need to find somewhere to go on our MiniBreak. I will be calling it a MiniBreak because it makes it sound more glam than "dirty weekend".
- Mood: cold
I got two coats and two pairs of shoes, so I suppose that counts as successful.
Saturday afternoon we headed down to Wokingham for Andy and Sally's Halloween party. They went all out and really decorated up their house - it was absolutely terrific! We were in awe of their creativity. Big painted paper lanterns and pretend spiderwebs and props everywhere. We hung out with spooky films on mute in the background and ate dinner from halloween paper plates and listened to their halloween music and ...chilled.
I drove home in the dark up the motorway. Spooky and misty and dark and tired until 1.45am.
Today we've had a mix of lazy and busy. We lay in this morning and read the paper, then I tidied out the coat cupboard (about time!) and divided coats in to 'keep' 'eBay' and 'charity shop'. We also headed to Wickes for some more pea shingle and some wood for garden surrounds.
We headed to the charity shop to drop off the bags, and accidentally ended up having lunch in town. This afternoon we've been making a mess in our tidy home, mainly. I think I should head to bed really, which means the weekend and this post ends here.
- Mood: tired
So then. A post here every day during November, that's what I'm committing to.
Brace yourself for complaining about long hours and tiredness, for reviews of random 'beauty' products and song lyrics. Always the song lyrics.
It'll be like 2002 all over again. Yay (!)
- Location:United Kingdom, England, Greater London
- Mood: optimistic
1)The love and support of my husband
2) Pop In The Bath (bath thing from Lush)
3) Being in Birmingham
4) Chocolate chip cookies
5) Emailed photo from Michelle who just got to Venice.
- Mood: tired
We were due to go and buy me a coat and some shoes, but by the time we surfaced I decided that I'd rather stay home until we left for Brentwood at 4.30 or 5. You may recall that the plan was to rest this weekend...and after a bit of breakfast and some time with my lovely husband I dropped off again.
Woke later feeling out of sorts. Matt held me close and bought me ibuprofen and made me feel a whole lot better.
We headed down to Brentwood to spend time with the lovely
dmdmp. After a drink and chat we headed out to Lot75 for a cocktail. It was really quite Essex - lots of high-heeled women and men with complicated haircuts. We had some good cocktails and a chat - and enjoyed the singer (the incomparable Tony Kay) There was much hilarity. I spotted someone at the next table who looked like a young Barry Manilow - and Michelle revealed she had taught him for seven years and never noticed.Lovely night out. Shenfield Tandoori for dinner. Very good to spend time with dear friends. Friends who don't mind when I fall asleep on the sofa around 1am.
Today more hanging out and some coffee and wandering in Brentwood and then home to some tidying and a roast dinner. Now though, bed.
- Mood: tired
It was an amazing evening - a big orchestra - with some unusual instruments, some wonderful performances and the music of Brel.
I'd decided to go because Momus was performing, and I'm a longtime fan - but also because of Diamanda Galas, who is terrific.
I can't tell you how much we enjoyed it - each performer did 3 songs, and each of the performers was different, yet united in the fact that they gave superb emotional performances - we laughed and cried and were genuinely moved.
A few highlights: Momus doing his own translation of Ne Me Quittes Pas - genuinely heartbreaking, Camille O'Sullivan doing En Suivant (Next) and Marc Almond, Momus and Camille doing Jacky - the first Brel song I ever heard - and the song that led me into my love of all things Belgian and passionate.
Marc was himself a surprise - he had performed the night before at the Barbican but we didn't know he'd be performing on Friday. When he was led out we gasped - and couldn't believe our luck that we were getting to see him. It was a bit of a 'full circle' moment for me - the man who had introduced me to Brel was finishing the show.
The next morning I resolved to give up my current life and become a dark-lipsticked french chanteuse.
- Mood: cheerful
Some cooked brunch. Some early-afternoon cuddling. A trip to Wickes to buy twenty bags of pea-shingle.
Some singing. Some TTR. Now some ironing and a bath and then bed.
I'm doing what I normally do on Sundays though - and ignoring the ironing for as long as possible. Oh dear.
- Mood: busy
Nice quiet day today. We both slept in 'till gone 9am which is very late for us, but I'd not had much sleep during the week again. Nice relaxed start to the day - coffee and papers. A few errands - I bought shampoo, (again with the glam) and we did a small food shop in M&S.
M&S now do orange and cinammon scented loo-roll. This blows my mind.
- Mood: calm
Of course I now have to decide that I am a beret wearer and rock that beret around town. Well, Solihull. I think the last time I had a beret it was fuschia and I was 14. It was a disaster. I'm not sure I ever wore it out. Mind you, it covered the perm, so it had something going for it!
It's cold tonight. I'm sort of wired but tiredy. We've been having our traditional Friday night in, but I've been doing some sorting and tidying, though not enough to make a difference really. I tackled my desk in the study - which had bills to be filed and things to be sent off and bits to be put away. It's currently in that 'more messy than when I started' phase, though I am confident that with a bit more effort we can get it back to merely 'untidy'.
This weekend is all about being at home. Quiet. Rest. Husband. Baths. Sleep. (and laundry)
- Mood: drained
Nottingham is one of those places that takes a disproportionate amount of time to get to by train. I have no idea why. It's like someone thought that people wouldn't do the journey.
Compare Birmingham International to Euston (111 miles). On the fast train it now takes 1 hour 10 minutes.
Birmingham New Street to Nottingham (51 miles) It takes 1 hour 16 minutes.
See?
Um yeah. This has been my week. Work and trains.
Tonight to Thursdate as usual. Tonight Matt and Chris. Very nice too. Now - early night and telly. Lovely.
- Mood: tired
Work 2 - evenings at home 0
In other news I need more sleep. Hold on and wait for the weekend. Hold on and wait for the weekend.
- Location:United Kingdom, Slough
- Mood:
okay
I certainly won't be burning the candle at both ends and trying to do loads of stuff in the evenings this week. I shall permit myself a couple of hours out after work on Thursday (it's Thursdate, after all!) and that will be all. For the rest of the week (read Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday) I shall be housewife when I get in.
Tonight I made the exception for a Photospace meeting - which was fine, because I was home before 9pm.
I already do stuff for too many hours in the day -this week is about spending the few hours I have left at home.
This post prompted by an empty wardrobe and a huge pile of laundry, and empty fridge and two mouths to feed, untidy cupboards and a need to buy gravel before Monday. Yes, I need to buy gravel. Or shingle. You know, those little pebbles.
(I broke my new favourite necklace today. I will have to take it to be restrung).
- Mood: tired
We'd meant to go down to Westonbirt yesterday for the day - but Matt had a sore foot so we waited until today.
We took a drive down the motorway, stopping along the route for a coffee in the service station. How thoughtful of them to have installed Costa coffee - and suitably fortified by caffeine we headed south through the drizzle. At some points during the journey we wondered whether in fact it would *ever* stop raining...but luckily when we found Westonbirt, nestled in the Gloucestershire hills the rain eased up.
We picked up a leaflet and set out on the Seasonal trail. It was a bit wet but just lovely. You can just stick to the trails if you want, but we went off-piste from the beginning and saw lots of wonderful things.
It's an amazing place, and in 2.5 hours walking (or maybe more) we only saw half of it.
Lots of fresh air and handholding and some photos and conversation. Hugely fun. Even when Matt did his best to distract me when I tried to take photos.
From there off to Tetbury for some late lunch. We came across a lovely hotel/restaurant called The Close where we collapsed on the sofas and ordered food. The food was really really good. The waiters were really really good looking. The sofas were really really comfy. I could happily have stayed all week.
A long drive home (there was trouble on the M5 so we took a detour) and we've spent tonight catching up on Flash Forward and other telly.
Another lovely day out. We're planning to go back to Westonbirt again to see the Christmas lights :)
- Mood: cheerful
One of the things I have reignited my interest in is nail polish. This is due to spending time with
cali369 and seeing her collection of different coloured polishes. Cali has a huuuuge collection of polishes - which is nice, and she's even started a blog about it! here. All of my polishes were in the dusky pink colourway - but inspired by Cali I've broadened my range - and the nail of the day today is dark dark brown. Lousy iPhone photo - but there we are.Today we've been out and about. I got my flu jab this morning, and the nurse gave me a sticker for being brave - which was a result.
We headed into Solihull for coffee, and some light shopping. We made a visit to the lovely St Alphege's church for a look round. It's a lovely church, and was being decorated for the harvest festival service.
We spent some time looking at the stained glass and in the chapels and speaking to the ladies decorating the church - it was a lovely time.
From there we went off to see Zombieland at the cinema. No less fun, even though the opening 10 minutes are too violent gory and puerile for my taste.
Tonight we've been at home. Really lovely evening. Leftovers and telly, which sounds dull, but is in fact blissful.
- Mood: calm
Thursday was fun though - a crochet workshop for beginners in the custard factory. I had to go with my friend Jenny (who is good at craft) for moral support. We had lots of fun - and it turns out crochet is HARD! Like, much harder than knitting. Eight times as hard. At times I couldn't believe you only need two hands. I made a cute little bit of coral though.
Afterwards Jenny drove me home and we chatted and ate bacon sandwiches. It was lovely - and we may even go again next week!
Last night we had J&J for dinner. I legged it home from work - had an hour to cook dinner *and* clean and tidy the house - but we've got it down to such a fine art now between it we made it!
Nice dinner, but because of the looong week by the time it got to 10.30 I was ready for my bed!
- Mood:
bouncy
It's a truly amazing place, not least because it seems to be run by a bunch of enthusiasts and is utterly English and utterly unpolished. It took checking in with 3 people to guide us to a parking spot (on a grass verge) and to get us an entry sticker (including a visit to Jacob and a hut - which I wanted to be a cabin...and chortled to myself - (LOST fans, you'll get the reference). We had no real proof we'd paid (save an email on my iphone, but the folks were happy enough to give us stickers and tell us about the place.
One of the attractions for us was the National Museum of Computing, given that we are both a bit sad and like that sort of thing. We'd read an article recently about the Witch, which is on loan from our own fair city of Birmingham, so we were really looking forward to seeing her...but really, she was the least of the joys.
To see Colossus was amazing. A real labour of love for the restoration team (who were on hand to answer questions).
We spent a lot of time in the NMOC, but eventually headed out for a tour of the site by a guide.
The tour (which they claimed lasted an hour) lasted 90 minutes or so, and took us round the site. It's an amazing place - all the wartime huts are still in place and now house galleries. It's completely unpolished and just...English. See it now before they get their lottery money and turn it into a slick tourist attraction!
- Mood: cheerful
Tonight I feel better. Normal. Relaxed. Sunny, even. As I walked to the tube station I saw someone I hadn't seen for ages - we trotted towards each other and embraced - genuinely pleased to see each other.
I got back to brum around 6.45 so was able to go on a Thursdate with the beloved. Thursdate is always lovely - and tonight we discussed options for the weekend. We were planning maybe to go to Whitby for the weekend - but we've decided on a different option. This one involves old computers and a nice afternoon out. Triffic.
- Mood: cheerful
Weekend round-up
Friday - coffee after work with Grumpy and Matt. Catching up. Fun. Then to J&J's for dinner. Overwhelming tiredness at 10.30 - it had clearly been a long week.
Saturday - After a slow site to the Wonderland exhibition then to a lovely Craft Fair to buy a little present for Grumpy's birthday. Oh god. Just noticed I'm mentioned on the blog. Last time I ever admit my 'craft anxiety' in public!
We dashed home to welcome
atticus_frog and the boy in for chat and food and a game of Betrayal. Lovely afternoon - though too much talking to get a lot of game playing going - we'll have to try Agricola next time.Sunday - To Solihull for coffee and newspapers - and to buy more presents for Grumpy. A lovely invite to Jenny and Nick's for late Sunday lunch - and gossip and mini-golf plotting. A web meeting at 7pm for Photospace at Mike's and lots of coffee.
Yeah - I could have summed up the whole post with:
"Lovely weekend; saw lots of friends and drank coffee".
- Mood: cheerful
Saturday morning we lounged in bed and ate the fruit salad and pain aux raisins I had picked up at the M&S on the way down. Very nice start to the weekend.
We headed into Oxford, and after successfully parking (no mean feat!) we wandered up and spent a couple of hours having lunch in Jamies' Italian, where the food was nice but the conversation even better. We talked for hours about holidays and travel and plans and stuff. We wished each other happy anniversary - it was really fab.
Saturday afternoon we tidied the house, briefly, and spent Saturday night watching TV and lying on the sofa. Lovely.
Today we've been out running errands (buying photo frames, getting matt's hair cut and drinking coffee) and subsequently down to The Navigation at Lapworth for lunch - but you'll know all about that from this post.
Tonight promises ironing and maybe some relaxing. If I can prise Matt off his batman game, that is.
- Mood: calm
In a bit of a life roundup:
1)Asthma is not great, but under control. Bronchitis is gone.
2) Was disappointed that Tom Mcrae postponed tour as we had lots of fun planned. Turns out plans will carry on - without Tom, so pleased about that.
3) Work is good. Ish. Too many hours.
4) Preparations for artsfest have been consuming but good. Had a drink tonight after work with photospace chums which was lovely.
5) Very little time for other stuff at the moment. Had a lovely bath with my favourite Lush bath thing last night which was lovely lovely. Following Sunday there'll be more time (when I'm not working).
6) Could do with a few days away, really.
- Mood: busy
( for those of you who don't care )
If you'd like to just play it - and have spotify - have a listen here.
- Mood: calm
I just thought I'd crosspost this post which I wrote in the other place.
( love/hate )
- Mood: busy
It's coming to point where we will be putting the barbecue and the garden furniture away for the winter without really having used them. I think we've barbecued *twice*. Disappointing.
September is the month for new beginnings, though, and every year I scan the 'Adult Education' brochures that pop through the door in the hope of finding an interesting course at a time of day when I could get to the centre. Like last year, nothing doing for 2009/10.
I'm pretty busy though at the moment, Birmingham Photospace is taking up a lot of my time - which is enormously positive -but this will be the case at least until December - so it's just as well I don't have lots of other demands for attention. We've got a few things plan for the autumn too - a long weekend (Fri-Tues) away, some gigs, some friends, some fun. All in all, not a bad autumn, so I guess I'll just have to live without that new beginnings feeling for another year.
- Mood: chipper
Tonight booked for some stuff at the Warwick Arts Centre, some stuff at the Academy, and made a plan for some things at the Town Hall. With the tickets already booked (for Tom McRae and Josh Ritter) it looks to be a happy autumn.
Not the day we expected today - after an early mani/pedi appointment we had planned to go down to see the Rankin thing with a couple of pals. Sadly our visit wasn't possible as one of said pals is in post-broken-ankle-recovery. Not going worked for us, though and we made the most of the day by going off to see 500 days of Summer and the the new exhibitions at the Ikon gallery.
We also made the most of the recently opened Ikon Gallery cafe, and munched on tapas for early dinner/late lunch. All very lovely.
- Mood: cheerful
Today I woke with a sore tonsil. I had a bit of a headache. Things went downhill a bit. I coughed. My lungs got sore. I got tired.
You know those people who don't seem sick when you meet them but really are? I feel like one of them. It's sort of an invisible thing. I mean, I have a cough (though it's not overwhelming any more) and I look like shit (I am pale and dark-circled) but you can't really tell I'm poorly. Even I forget that I'm not well when I'm sitting or lying on the sofa.
The new extra-strength horse pills should kick in tomorrow, I hope. In the meantime it's just rest rest rest.
My boss sent me an email this morning telling me not to come back to work this week. They are very good, my employers. (I want to try going back on Thurs when I finish the antibiotics)
There are loads of things I want to do and places I want to go but I just shouldn't be. I think I miss people the most. I mean, it's not though there are any shortages of people (we are very lucky that people do drop by a lot) ...but it's not what I need right now.
Ah. I'll rest tomorrow.
- Mood: tired
Yes, last year we fasted for a day for Ramadan. We're talking about doing the same this year. You can read about last year here and here.
It was a tremendous experience.
Problem is, Ramadan is really early this year. It means that mornings are earlier and evenings are later. For amateurs like us, this is hard! We'll wait till September and see where we get to :)
- Mood: cheerful
Yesterday didn't work out as restful - but I made up for it today - have been asleep most of the day - and actually feel I could sleep again now.
I've not taken a sick day from work for about 8 years - so I am just hoping that this time off has the desired effect.
- Mood: tired
Due to been more poorly than a poorly person at the moment I didn't get to walk up the mountain on Saturday -if you'd like to read a beautiful post you can do that here.
I must say I have been a whiny old cow. In my defence, I have been feeling pretty shite, but really, there's no excuse.
Today we've been relaxing. Second Sunday in a row. We watched two great documentaries - Afghan Star and Man On Wire. I highly recommend both of them.
Tonight I cooked steak. It's a rare treat in this house - because we buy good steak - and that means expensive. Given that Challenge Of The Week is restarting tomorrow (and this week it's to eat veggie all week) it seemed a good way to end a meat-eating week.
Don't quote me -but I think the antibiotics have kicked in a bit and I am a little better tonight. Hooray for this.
Oh - and the photo? It's a sample of the portraits we'll be doing at Artsfest this year. It was taken by the very talented Matt Murtagh - who I wholeheartedly recommend for all your photographic needs.
- Mood: calm
Very frustrated still not to be better. Thursday took me to the doctor before work, and despite my telling her to the contrary, she diagnosed a chest infection.
Antibiotics and a steroidal nasal spray. Instructions for plenty of rest. Oh dear. I am not good at resting. At all.
Matt is frustrated with me. He would rather see me take recovery seriously and would rather I took some days off work to do so. He also doesn't think I should do my after-work activities (Birmingham Photospace, coffees with pals or pub quizzes) until I am better.
Truth is that I don't do convalescence well at all. I go bananas with no social contact or stimulation. I think that as recovery is at least in part, mental - so if I am happy and cheery I will get better faster.
It's a balance I haven't got right yet.
Today we're off to North Wales to scatter Matt's dad's ashes on top of a mountain.
I can't really write any more about that at the moment.
- Location:United Kingdom, England, Borough of St. Helens
- Mood: blah
- Tunes:Radio 1 in the car
When we do the *really* long roadtrips (like from California to Washington state, for example) we tend to play CDs rather than make a mix.
For little roadtrips which we do often (like Solihull to Brentwood, Essex) I make little iPod playlists. For some reason they often include some of the following:
I Know Him So Well - Elaine Page and Barbara Dixon
Harrisburg (live) - Josh Ritter
Islands In The Stream - Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
No Time Flat - Kevin Devine
The Only Thing I Know - Tom McRae
Peach Plum Pear - Joanna Newsom
- Mood: cheerful
- Mood:
curious
I got a bit miserable a couple of times - I think I don't make a good patient. I kept wanting to feel better (and after a week, really, I have every *right* to feel better) but I didn't.
To pass the time we had a minor John Hughes retrospective: Some Kind Of Wonderful/Sixteen Candles/The Breakfast Club, and watched four episodes of Being Human which we had taped but never watched. All very satisfactory.
Today I was supposed to be in the Trafford Centre with girlfriends, but was judged 'not well enough to go' so I have been WFH. This means that if I fancy a nap later I can do so without sprawling on my desk.
Can normal service be restored shortly please?
- Mood: sick
Today was my work lunch for my birthday. Lovely time in Asha's with lovely colleaguefriends. MORE pressies and fun. It's the birthday that never ends!
Tonight home to have my photo taken by Matt Murtagh, a very talented man indeed. He was charming and lots of fun - and took the best photo of Matt I have ever seen. Really.
We roped
emma_emily in as well, and following Matt's departure, Emma and I talked MS Project and I inducted her into the dark arts of using it to manage a film she is producing. I have to say she took to it like a duck to water - either she's very bright, or she's a PM in the making....(scary stuff!)- Mood: cheerful
I turned 41 on Thursday. We took the day off and had a fantastic time.
I woke to Matt bringing me the first of my cards and presents to me to open in bed. What a lovely start to the day. We went out to Solihull for coffee and to run a few errands -collecting another present from the post office, going to Wedges to order a cake for Saturday.
Coincidentally the lady who I paid my cheque into in the bank was our next-door-but-one neighbour who I had never met. Very interesting. She says mad-janet-from-next-door says that they are the neighbours from hell. (They're not)
After some lovely driving through the countryside we ended up in Stratford upon Avon for a late lunch and a good old chat. We dashed to lunch through rain - but came out to lovely sunshine.
We dropped in on Matt's mum (who was out) and then headed into town for a cocktail at The Victoria prior to going to see 35 Rhums at The Electric. Matt had booked us a sofa, and we ate cake and loved the film.
Really good day. Really wonderful birthday.
- Mood: cheerful
Anyway. I have no end of things I should be doing - not least of which are some tidying duties that need doing - our shoe/coat cupboard is a disgrace. I don't want to do any of them though - I just want to chill watching mindless TV, playing DS and reading.
Busy couple of days on our return from London - ironically a return to London on Thursday and Friday for work, and a Photospace meeting on Thursday night. We're planning another couple of events at the moment - so it's pretty exciting.
Last night I was tired as tired as tired. I ended up going to bed at 9.30 but being miserable about it. I slept and slept though - which was good.
Right - time to do ...something.
- Mood: calm
We breakfasted in Balans, which is always good - read the papers, talked some nonsense. We made a magical mystery tour to the Baker Street lost property office to collect my 'lost' driving licence (I had lost it a couple of months before but didn't realise 'till they sent me a card).
We came back to the hotel and got our glad rags on (see left) and headed out in a taxi (see left) to Buckingham Palace for a garden party.
Surreal. Sandwiches and cakes with her Maj. A wander round the gardens. A wander into the palace to look at the portraits. Some military bands playing pop numbers. Lots of clergy - Bishops and Archbishops and Cardinals. Commanders from police forces. People from the Royal AIr Force - lots of uniforms - even the sea scouts. People from the Prince's Trust, trustees of charities...and two randoms down from Solihull.
Yes, we got rained on, or rather our brollies did. Matt saw Michael Howard and claimed I didn't because of 'the swirling black smoke surrounding him'.
We had our photos taken (along with the other guests) by lots of confused tourists as we went into and came out of the palace. They'll be very disappointed to know I had chipped toenail polish.
Following the excitement of the day -more excitement at night - to the Friendly Society for a cocktail, then to Bocca Di Lupo for dinner with Noel.
Fab time, and as ever, fantastic food and prosecco.
I could feel myself fading out after dinner - so when the waiter asked if we were going out or just to "Club Duvet" I knew which one I wanted.
Back on the bus to the hotel for some well-earned rest, our minds still buzzing with the excitement of the day.
- Mood: awake
Train to London, this time for fun. Check into hotel. Wandering out around town. Jamaican lunch. More wandering. Fopp (oh dear). Wandering. New Magma *things* shop. I wanted everything in it.
Moon at the Curzon Soho. We both really enjoyed it. Hotel for chilling.
Ravi Shankar for dinner. Walking back as London got dark. More chilling. Lovely.
- Mood: cheerful
Matt collected me from work on Friday, which was lovely. I think we were both really weary - not sure why -but we were glad to come home and shut the door on the week.
Saturday I had my roots done at 8.30am (I don't lie in on a weekend, so might as well make the most of it! We then tidied and cleaned round the house for the arrival of
cali369 and Jules. I have no idea why, but our house never manages to look clean or tidy. It's a trial.Cali and Jules appeared, we lunched, we hung out, we played Rockband... and we got jiggy with it. On the dining room table. Matt and I had started a jigsaw on Thursday night, and as soon as the girls saw it they were straight in there.
Some champagne, then off to see Kevin Devine at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath. A great show. Hot! Hot hot! Steamy hot room. It was a sell-out as Kevin was supporting Manchester Orchestra.
Terrific show- and he played my request - Write Your Story Now. Bless him.
Today some more jigsaw, some more conversation, some breakfast.
Once our guests left we headed into town to buy Matt a new shirt and shoes for our event this week. I also needed to get a jacket to wear over my dress.
Shopping went rather too well. Oh dear. I bought two dresses, two tops, two pairs of sandals and two jackets. In my defence, the sales were on. Matt got 3 pairs of shoes (all half price!) and a shirt (and a tie). In his new suit he looks gorgeous!
Tonight we've been having a try-on of the finished outfits. We look lovely :) Will be fun to wear them.
Did I mention I have 3 days off work? Wahoooo!
- Mood: excited
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