Project Life Tuesday: April 4th - April 10th

Monday, April 4th: The first day of Easter break proper. Where I spent a good deal of time trying to fix my iPhone after a total software meltdown....what a way to start the holiday! Nevermind, at least I had these beautiful flowers to cheer me up - a gift from one of my students.

Tuesday, April 5th: Girldate with Eileen - dinner and a movie. The cinema close to us brings wine and cupcakes to your seat. Your seat which is a laz-ee-boy style chair. The Odeon just can't compare anymore, ha!

Wednesday, April 6th: I decided as I was on break I should actually, y'know, do some tidying around the house! I was proud to final get our bookshelves under control, but kind of terrified when I realised I now have 64 books to read...and that's just in the house!

Thursday, April 7th: I went for a big 12-mile walk around London. Green Park looked beautiful in the sunshine, but alas, I had walking to do!

Friday, April 8th: I journeyed out of town to visit lovely Cheryl and beautiful Evey! Such a fun day of ice lollies, sunshine and catching up!

Saturday, April 9th: I had such a fun day! Matthew and I went to Kate and Jason's for a BBQ (above is Kate with her special cheese and wiiiine), then I headed off solo to go to Kaz's birthday party. She choose a children's party theme, which was ace and brilliantly hosted by sweet Vixie. I won the musical statues!

Sunday, April 10th: Was all about Roller Derby! Kate, Jason, Rory, Eileen, Matthew and I all headed down to the ExCel to a big skate event called 'Anarchy In The UK'. Really fun, and it was awesome to see my friend Jamie skate too (she was over for the festivities from Pittsburgh). Good day!

As ever, I'm linking up with Jessica's 'Project Life Tuesdays'.


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Project Life (plus) Tuesday: March 14th - March 20th

I'm still sticking with it - woo!

Once again I'm linking up with Jessica's Project Life Tuesdays - thanks as always, sweetie, for bringing us all together!


Monday March 14th

Also known as 14.3.11. Or 3.14, in the US fashion. Therefore....Pi day! Matthew and I enjoyed pie and veggies followed by pie and custard in honour of the occasion!

Tuesday March 15th

After the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, my class and I did lots of research and discussion on the events of March 11th and beyond. A lot for little minds to take in. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.

Wednesday March 16th

These flowers were in the entrance hall at school - I thought they were super pretty!


Thursday March 17th

Happy St Patrick's Day! I made Matthew a treat bundle of Guinness and chocolate raisins - happy boy!


Friday March 18th

Late on the seventeenth Miss Christy arrived from her adventures in Spain. It was *so* good to chat and catch up. She is such a cool girl and I loved having her visit me at school on Friday (and very winningly being 'interviewed' by 4T!), before Starbucks, pub, fish'n'chips and hat rage!

The aforementioned hat?

Saturday March 19th

Saturday was nice and chilled. Matthew, Christy and I headed out for brunch before she left us for fun in city. Then Rory, Eileen, Siobhán, Christy, Matthew and I all headed out for food. The food was okay, the company lovely.

How cute is this shot of Christy?

Sunday March 20th

On Sunday I planned a girls' afternoon, and I had the best time with the three girls who could make it. Eileen popped in, and beautiful Katie Boo and Miss Ems helped me polish off some bubbles, some crudités and some naughties! Katie Boo (above) is getting married in September, so the girls and I were *loving* hearing all her wedding chat!

Cute Emily goofing around!


Mmmmm, goodies. Labelled goodies.

I had to include this - this pile was Christy's cookie and confectionery stash to take back to Canada! Mostly gifts, but comedy gold nonetheless!


Another week done - can you believe April is nearly here? I can almost taste it!

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Christmas busy-ness

The week before Christmas is always full of bits and bobs - dropping off gifts, planning menus, shopping for food, sending the last few cards, catching up with friends. I'm also trying to shake the chesty cough I've had since the weekend - the cold has gone (praise heaven), but the eleven hour journey home on Sunday combined with some waiting around in the cold has meant that I'm still feeling a little wheezy here and there. Nothing major, but it's slowing me up a little.

Yesternight we had a few friends over for Christmas drinks and it was great fun. I really like to have people over, and we had a happy handful join us for mulled wine and snacks and chat (and really, really awful Christmas music). It was so lovely to see Ben, Cheryl, Kate, Jason, Elliot, Dan and Brigitte, and little Miss Evey, who will be enjoying her first Christmas this weekend! Evey is *such* a poppet - I had a lovely snuggle with her. Yay for babies!

Today is a day of tidying and internetting and reading. I'm halfway through Andre Agassi's 'Open' and it's really compelling stuff. I love my new Kindle and am sure I'll spend far too much on new books for it in the months to come. I also had a few regular books on my Christmas list, so January is shaping up to be a month of walking (as Moonwalk training begins in earnest!) and reading (soup, blanket, book = bliss).

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve Eve, all!

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PS Thank you for the sweet messages after the last post. Sam was an awesome kitteh and will be much missed.

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(Sort of) Singalong Saturday, October 3rd

I like to walk around London as much as I can. I often walk the three miles from school to Bond Street after work, past the leisure centre and the library, heading south watching as the multimillion pound houses give way to the Outer Circle of Regent's Park (a.k.a. jogger central!), then striding down Baker Street, with all the shiny windows and bijou eateries, before hitting Oxford Street (always having a good peer in the windows of Selfridges as I go past).

As I do this, I listen to my iPod. And lately, two or three songs keep sticking in my head and making me listen over and over again. So, here are the lyrics and videos (just the vid for the last one)...I hope you like them!

"Laughing With", by Regina Spektor.


No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God when the doctor calls
After some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God
when it’s gotten real late
And their kid’s not back from that party yet

No one laughs at God when their airplane
Starts to uncontrollably shake
No one’s laughing at God
When they see the one they love hand in hand
with someone else and they hope that they’re mistaken
No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door
And they say “We’ve got some bad new, sir,”
No one’s laughing at God
When there’s a famine, fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
When the crazies say he hates us
and they get so red in the head
You think that they’re about to choke
God can be funny
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious
Ha ha, ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
when they’ve lost all they got
And they don’t know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize
that the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re saying their goodbyes

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
When the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head
you think that they’re about to choke
God can be funny
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
(repeat)
No one’s laughing at God in a hospital
No one’s laughing at God in a war

No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

No one’s laughing at God
(repeat)
We’re all “laughing with God”

"Busby Berkeley Dreams" by The Magnetic Fields.



"I should have forgotten you long ago
But you're in every song I know
Whining and pining is wrong and so
On and so forth, of course of course,
But no, you can't have a divorce

I haven't seen you in ages
But it's not as bleak as it seems
We still dance on whirling stages
In my Busby Berkeley dreams
The tears have stained all the pages
Of my True Romance magazines
We still dance in my outrageously beautiful
Busby Berkeley dreams

And now you want to leave me for good
I refuse to believe you could
You forget we're not made of wood
Well darling you may do your worst
Because you'll have to kill me first

I haven't seen you in ages
But it's not as bleak as it seems
We still dance on whirling stages
In my Busby Berkeley dreams
The tears have stained all the pages
Of my True Romance magazines
We still dance in my outrageously beautiful
Busby Berkeley dreams

Do you think it's dangerous
To have Busby Berkeley dreams?"


And a silly one to finish.... "Robots" by Flight of the Conchords.



Well, now it's time to go get on with the weekend - a haircut in a wee bit (if I can get a slot). Then off to see 'Fame' with Katie Boo (we have legwarmers!). This evening Matthew returns from the north, and then tomorrow is chilling before another busy week....hope you have a lovely one!

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I know it's late...

...I know you're weary...

Well, I am.

Which is why I'm doing a meme as I wind down for the night, stolen from wigsf. Who stole it from JLee. Life gets a little calmer (ish) in the next few weeks though (you know, with the roadtrip north and the whole going back to school thing....) so blogging should resume a fairly even keel...

Hey, you never know!

1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth?
A chicken mayo sandwhich. It was good.

2. Have you ever kissed anyone named Matthew?
Yes. Lots. And I try to as often as I can (one particular Matthew, naturally. I don't just jump on Matthews sporadically!).

3. Where was your profile picture taken?
On my blog it's an old pic I snapped late at night in my flat...on facebook it's me at K6 with Team North Bear.

4. Can you play Guitar Hero?
Richard's teaching me. I should have a song down by, oooh, 2011?

5. Name someone that made you laugh today.
Matthew.

6. How late did you stay up last night and why?

2.30 am. Comedy show, and then packing.

7. If you could move somewhere else, would you?
One day.

8. Ever been kissed under fireworks?
Nope.

9. Which of your friends lives closest to you?
Matthew and Dave.

10. Do you believe ex’s can be friends?
Yes.

11. How do you feel about Dr Pepper?
If you can't find Irn Bru, it'll give you a sugar fix.

12. When was the last time you cried really hard?
'The Time Traveler's Wife', last Saturday. Good heavens, I WEPT!

13. Where are you right now?
The little study at home.

14. What bed did you sleep in last night?
A bottom bunk bed.

Glamour!

15. What was the last thing someone bought for you?
A beer on the train.

More glamour!

16. Who took your profile picture?
Myself/Goldy.

17. Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Christy.

18. Was yesterday better than today?
My days are all pretty awesome, really.

19. Can you live a day without TV?
Without a single problem.

20. Are you mad about anything?
No.

21. Are you upset about anything?
No. I'm quite a chilled bear, really.

22. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?
Yes. Whatever "it" is!

23. Are you a bad influence?
Sometimes (shopping, kareoke, baked goods....)

24. Night out or night in?
Both are great, but you need a mix. Too many nights out = overtiredness and burnout. Too many in = a wee bit stagnant.

25. What items could you not go without during the day?
Water.

26. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?
I genuinely don't know. I've taken people, but can't remember who I last visited.

27. What does the last text message in your inbox say?
Something about badgers.

28. How do you feel about your life right now?
Definite room for me to improve myself, but I kind of love my life. I'm a blessed young lady!

29. Do you hate anyone?
Not a soul.

30. If we were to look in your facebook inbox, what would we find?
Emails planning japery and silly in-jokes.

31. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass?
With flying colours.

32. Has anyone ever called you perfect before?
Nope. In fact, I think I may be the polar opposite of perfect!

33. What song is stuck in your head
None. Because I'm listening to music right now no other songs can get in!

34. Someone knocks on your window at 2am, who do you want it to be?
Matthew. Or George Clooney.

35. Wanna have grandkids before you’re 50?
No thank you. Before 60, sure, but 50 would require some pretty drastic changes and life choices!

36. Name something you have to do tomorrow?
LAUNDRY! So...much...laundry.

37. Do you think too much or too little?
A little too much sometimes.

38. Do you smile a lot?
Oh heavens yes!

39. Who was your last missed call on your Mobile phone?
Katie Boo.

40. Is there something you always wear?
Underwear!

41. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Chatting with the boys.

42. Did you have an exciting last weekend?

Yes, thank you. You?

43. Have you ever crawled through a window?
Yep.

44. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Yes.

45. Are you wearing a necklace?
No.

46. Are you an emotional person?
I think so, yes.

47. What’s something that can always make you feel better?
Singing.

48. Will this weekend be a good one?
It already is.

49. What do you want right now?
A snack, a book, a cuddle, and bed.

50. Have you ever worn the opposite sex’s clothing?
Yep.

51. Have you ever worked in a food place?
Yes.

52. Whats on your schedule for tomorrow?
Groceries arrive, make fry up, do laundry, sort diary, cook roast, clean house. But all in a very lazy way!

53. Does anyone know your facebook password?
Nope. Sometimes not even me.

Good night lovelies!


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My weekend, in short phrases

Transporting goldfish to and through London via tube and train (they made it, yay!).

Not really understanding what was happening in the cricket!

Making a fry/grill up for hungry boys.

Meeting new people, and remeeting lots of Matthew's friends, chatting and chilling and being silly.

Chatting with a boy called Billy about music, books, and Scotland.

Dancing like a crazy person in the aptly named 'Club de Fromage'.

Reading 'Stephen Fry in America' and planning roadtrips and visits.

Gorgeous homecooked roast dinner of nom, cooked by Jason, with tender delicious roast beef and tonnes of veggies.

Sunday afternoon drinking wine and chatting with some of my favourite folk!

Doing my impression of a dog on the tube, letting the wind ruffle my hair and sticking my tongue out like a loon.

Cuddles with my boy.

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PS And now, the move is nigh! Back to the flat tomorrow and lots and lots of packing and sorting... Wish me luck, please.

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Lately...

I've been trying to eat right and sleep right and exercise right. I've been putting as much effort in as possible at work, helping each kid in whatever way they might need (be it reading, rounders coaching, a listening ear, or advice to yank their socks up). I've been counting down the days till I'm curled up and cosy with my boy.

I've been emailing and writing notes, trying to catch the phone when it rings (and failing far too often) and read up my favourite blogs (and succeeding most of the time). I've been thinking good thoughts and praying for all sorts of people and marvelling at the wonder and beauty strewn across my life and the lives of those around me. I've been spending more time outdoors.

I've been planning my move to London, the primary stuff (the wheres, the hows, the whens...) and the secondaries (when do I sell my car? What choir should I join?). I've been watching TV again, and finding a soft spot for teen dramas ('Gossip Girl' and '90210'), comedy-news ('Newswipe' and 'The Daily Show') and a good old fashioned cardie-drama ('All The Small Things'). I've been keeping up with my chores. I've been planning visits. I've been reading and researching more.

No wonder I'm a little sleepy....

What I really need is a long weekend.

Which is, as luck would have it, exactly what kicks off tomorrow!

Three and a half days off, filled with friends and cuddles and fun (and sunshine, hopefully, if the British weather co-operates!). Loads and loads and loads of time with Matthew (:D); Friday lunch with some colleagues, always a nice way to kick off; dinner with Cheryl and Ben; brunch with Kathryn, Isaac, Xander and Tom; a picnic in the park; lunch with Emily and Katie and Siobhán; and time for napping and relaxing and reading too....bring it on.

I hope you all have equally awesome weekends on the horizon!

Love,
Cxx
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Photos from a jolly December....

Because a picture can tell a thousand words...


A selection of pictures from a silly, funfilled, and packed December.

Goldy and I at K6, getting ready to bid up a storm on the auction.

Gossip Boy and I hit the Singstar at my fake birthday party.


Steeeeeve, Spanner and I walk about London RAoKing at K6.


Kate Boo and I at K6 - what are we plotting?



The GPB at the start of the RAoK march.


Christmas Day sunshine.

Minimus at Christmas dinner.


Midimus as we took her dog for a Christmas Day stroll.

Love,
Cxx
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