usa 2005...

I've been making a few changes.

It's just about a year until we'll be heading off on our American Adventure so over the coming months there'll be lots of planning happening which will all be detailed on my website.

Check out the new look usa2005 page...

L x

bank holiday weekend...

The last bank holiday of 2004.

With an invite to Paul and Sarah's wedding in Derby on Sunday 29th we were going to be spending the bank holiday weekend away from home. However, having not had a weekend at home since around mid July, Dan wanted to slob about at home and only venture up North on the day of the wedding. How could I not agree!

After our Friday night drinking sesh, Saturday was quite a subdued affair. We ventured no further than town and spent the evening in front of the telly after a slap up beef dinner, yum!

The plans for Sunday were thrown out the window when Skene reached Paddington and realised there were no trains to Reading. He could however manage to get a train to Derby so we arranged to meet him there and went off for lunch without him.

Around 2.5 hours in the car from Reading and we find ourselves at Derby train station. Our only problem now is getting out of the city. And we thought Reading was bad! We eventually arrive at our home for the night at the Derby City Centre Travelodge and after a quick change (well, for me anyway) we find ourselves in the pub next door for a "quick one" before heading to the wedding.

Much drinking takes place over the next few hours before it's time to head home to bed.

And now the bank holiday weekend is over. All I want is my bed!

L x

the reading fezstival...

Well, I survived my night at the Reading Fezstival!

The night started out with us meeting at the Sahara Bar, somewhere we've walked past many times and thought we should try. The decor and ambiance was cool, the prices however weren't so great. Two cocktails = £11.00! Oh well!

At 9pm, the queue outside the window for The Fez was beginning to appear so we took our place. Comedy was provided for us by a mad looney man who tried to sing in between telling everyone he was due to be on stage at the festival and almost killing himself by staggering into the road in front of the cars (including a police car!)

After a few drinks downstairs, we ventured up to the main room to check out the bands. One of the bands appearing apparently was fronted by the sacked lead singer of some band who were on at the festival. Lots of the crowd had obviously come to see him but seemed to prefer him singing his old bands hits rather than his new stuff.

It was a bit disappointing. Not too many bands on and where was Vernon Kay? Wasn't too terrible though and we roundeded off the evening with a trip to the kebab shop!

L x

friday night out...

Went on our first "proper" night out for ages last Friday. It was fun! We had lots to drink and did a bit of dancing. Makes me realise we should do it more often!

Staying round the Oracle Riverside we had drinks in Old Orleans, Bar 38, Bar Med and dare I admit it, Brannigans! My only excuse was that the last pub was the choice of the birthday girl! ;o)

So, it's Friday night again and, we're off out again!

This time we're off to The Fez Club for what they have imaginativley called, "The Reading Feztival"! There will be lots of bands on, all of which I have never heard of in my life, and it's all being compared by Vernon Kay! Woooo!

Should be a fun night though. If nothing else, there's always the bar to prop up! :oP

L x

11 years ago today...

I got my GCSE results!

Does that make me old? :oP

L x

bargain....

This is probably a sad post but I am very chuffed with my new purchase!

We are now the proud owners of a Le Creuset casserole dish, or a Cocotte as they are officially called.

On a quick errand to Safeway/Morrisons, I came across the dish for the bargain price of £24.48 which is a fantastic bargain from their original price of £57.99 (and which was already one of the cheapest prices around)

:o)

L x

the long walk, in pictures...

Photographic evidence of Dan and his chums on their long walk for charity is provided here.

L x

pictures added...

I have finally got round to adding the photos from our day at the races to the photo gallery. Just 1 month and 1 day after the event! :o)

Enjoy!

L x

happy birthday daddy...

It's my Daddy's birthday today!

Happy Birthday Daddy! :o)

L x

camping...

This weekend I spent 4 days camping in Devon.

Dan and his fellow chums were away for the week walking the South West Coast Path from Minehead to Bude and I decided to take some time off and head down there for a few days for a little break, and to provide some moral support.

I must point out that I'm not really a camping person. I normally prefer my nice hotel rooms with en-suite bathrooms and full length mirrors but occasionally I don't mind "roughing it" and I have to say that I did actually enjoy myself.

It was my second camping trip and I'm sure it won't be my last (mainly due to the cheapness) although we do need to invest in a bigger tent.

We also need to find ourselves a decent airbed. I bought a brand new one to take with me as the one Dan kept going down during the night and this one did exactly the same thing! Luckily I have my receipt so can take it back. But I mean for £12.00, I'd have expected a lot better! ;o)

Anyway the walk went very well. They completed a total of 126.5 miles, not including the extra miles walked up and down hills! There were lots of blisters, aches and pains but everyone managed it all and they're all very proud. And, as well as having lots of fun (?) they also managed to raise over £1800.00 between them for various charities.

Well done everyone!

L x

the stepford wives...

Just been to see The Stepford Wives.

I did think it was going to be a "chick flick", which is not a bad thing saying as I love chick flicks, but I have to say I think guys would like it too.

Nicola Kidman looked a bit weird in it though, not quite sure why. Maybe it was the short dark hair and she was a bit too skinny in it too. Looked all long and lanky!

Everyone should go and see it :o)

L x

Oh and there's a cool twist at the end...

it's quiet round here...

I'm all alone, Dan has left me! :o(

Dan is off on his long walk this week so I'm home alone. The house is very quiet and there's nothing much on the telly so I'm bored! I must be bored becuase tonight I'm off to the gym!

Well, when I say gym that is technically where I'm going but maybes not for the right reasons. I have a sunbed booked. I am wondering if I should go in the gym, for a bit at least, or maybes just for a swim (or even a jaquzzi, steam and sauna)

I'm off to the flicks tomorrow night with Laura to see The Stepford Wives and then I've got 2 days off work to go down to Cornwall and meet the walkers so there's just tonight I need occupied.

L x

photos from notting hill...

Photos from my trip to Notting Hill...


The door to William Thacker's house


A close up of the door, it's not blue now


Where William first "bumps into" Anna

L x

a day in london...

My Mam and Dad came to visit me this weekend.

After a long debate as to what to do on Saturday, we finally decided to take a trip into London.

My Dad wanted to go to the Tower Bridge Exhibition while me and my Mam went for some retail therapy.

Notting Hill is one of my favorite films and I've always wanted to go to look round the sights used in the film so first stop for us a trip to Portobello Road Market.

Many of the buildings and shops used in the film have changed now and are barely recogniseable. I did however manage to find the famous blue door (which isn't actually blue now) and the shop where William bumps into Anna (and spills orange down her) which has now become a coffee republic!

Pictures coming soon...

L x

the great british beer festival...

Last night myself, Dan, Ron, Jo & Skene went to the The Great British Beer Festival at London Olympia in Kensington.

I've never been to the Olympia before and was amazed to see it was so big inside, and full of beers!

I set Dan a little challenge whereby he had to drink a beer from each of our home counties. They had beers from both his nearest brewery in Southwell and my local brewery in Jarrow! I was very impressed when I saw that one on the list! The challenge went well and he didn't actually hate any of the beers :o) I didn't do as well with my choice of cider. I did try a Perry though and it was actually my favorite one of the night.

It was a good night and I'm now a big fan of beer festivals (for the cider of course!)

L x

jk rowling...

Whislt mouching around I stumbled across JK Rowling's website which to a Harry Potter fan like myself is quite interesting.

Having not finished reading Book 5, The Order of the Phoenix, I felt I had to be careful what I was clicking on in case I spoilt the plot!

The 6th book, which is called "The Truth", has no release date as yet. I have however discovered that the film of The Order of the Phonenix won't be out until June 2007 which has just scared me to realise that I'll be a 30 year old woman (almost) when it comes out!

L x

sunshine filled weekend...

Wow! A whole weekend of sunshine! Could it really be summer?

On saturday we had a bbq which involved lots of eating and drinking. My cool 70's style punch bowl made is debut apperance and was filled with my own special Sangria (made with dregs of alcohol we had left over) It tasted fab and looked fantastic! :o)


Me and my supa dupa punch bowl filled with yummy Sangria


Ron drinks a pint of punch


Dan likes his new hat

The night was finished with a trip to The After Dark Club, somewhere I don't normally go but was lurred by their 80's night and have to admit, even though it's a manky club, the music was good and I had a great time dancing.

Sunday started with a clean up session which didn't actually take too long (thank god for dishwashers) There was a quick trip into town for some Hagan Dazs ice cream, banoffee and strawberry cheesecake to be precise and to purchase some walkie-talkies for Dan's walk. The rest of the day was spent sitting around the garden relaxing and reading my Harry Potter book.

Is amazing how much difference the sun makes! :o)

L x