Discovered treasure

Well, we got the table cameras from the wedding developed and amongst the plethora of drunken/random/over exposed/under exposed shots was this little gem! Lookee here! Two of my most favouritest peeps dans tout le monde! Cate and Penny! I love you girls!

Each of them has been a huge influence in my life and I pray that they will continue to be. Man I wish I could convey to you what these girls mean to me, but I can't. I hope they know though. Simply whizzo laydeez.

All about me

I had a truly sh!t day. I need attention.

Wen doos and Heddings

is exactly how I feel after two full days of going to bed past 3am and indulging in 'all that blasted salmon and champagne' (for the FWAAF fans amongst you!) I am so tired it's unbelievable, but WHAT A CRACKIN TWO DAYS! It began on Saturday evening with a lingerie shower for the bride-to-be (pictured above left) Izzy, followed by a swift bouteille de cava and venturing into the wilds of none other than Mancland to Tiger Tiger for dinner and then dancing at the Lime Bar. Try as I might I could not for love nor money get hold of any of my mancland gal pals: Penny was visiting rellies with the Wenham entourage, Rikes and Sal were in that London and Cate was nowhere to be found...I did try to text lovely! Anyhoop, much fun was had dancing to cheesy tunes and I am VERY excited indeed for The Birdcage to open in the Autumn....A PROPER OLDE WORLDE CABARET CLUB! WOOT WOOT!! I shall certainly be frequenting that venue, let me tell thee!

Back to the weekend - it was a quick dash through the tunnel on Sunday morning to Skelmersdale (!?) for Kate and Kevin's wedding (pictured above right) - what a glorious occasion. I really think weddings might actually be my most favouritest things ever! The reception was held at the Speke Marriott Hotel - the old Aerodrome. WOWEE Art Deco-tastic! I could seriously live there, sans doute. It was nice to be able to stumble into our hotel room, post-wedding at 3am.

So all in all a great 2 days celebrating with people I love very much.

Also, I had my first KFC ever....it was NOT GOOD. But I'm glad Liverpool won the Community Shield.

Big fat love, me xxxxx

Current reasons to be happy...

Reasons to be happy currently include…

The sun is back - WOOT WOOT!
Life is one big social whirl at the moment what with the usual plethora of summer-time weddings and hen do's.
I found the fabbest necklace in Monsoon and when I got to the till it was half off in the sale. (LOVE it when that happens)
My hubby is ok, despite having broken his little finger in a cricket match
My lovely friend Kate gets married this weekend.
We had big fun with Ali & Alan t'other night @ Yiamas
Normal telly is back up to date with us in Lost so Tuesday evenings are fun again (They went a bit poop when The OC finished)
Nikki might get to back into the BB House tomorrow!
Abbi was a hard ass and stood up for herself @ the Wirral Show! YOU GO GIRL!
I got to spend the whole of Saturday with mummy and my beautiful little sister
When I was in that London I SAW TREV!
We got a postcard from Little Ted who is on his holidays. He is having fun and is especially enjoying sitting up in his buggy.
Mummy and daddy go for their annual pilgrimage to Lake Garda this week to parade around and pretend to be Italian.
I found the BESTEST bday gift for Hanny Heart that I want to give her NOW and not wait till September.
I got to sing last night at church and it was F-U-N!
The hairdye has FINALLY washed off my hand (OOPSIE!)
We are nearly going on our holiday - I CANNOT WAIT TO BE OFF WORK!
Jenson Button won his first Grand Prix and was so humble about it that I felt quite sorry I had written him off as a D-Head.
Season 5 of 24 comes out soon

And the bestest reason of all......
THERE ARE ONLY 20 WEEKS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All creatures, great and small

So, I was walking along the road by my office en route to the post office during lunch yesterday, minding my own business, listening to Sergio Mendes on my trusty ipod, enjoying the searing heat although being slightly annoyed coz I had a black top on (bad fashion choice in such temperatures!), I walked past the lifeguard station and admired the bronzed bodies clad in their yellow t-shirts and tight red shorts...mmmm.... not really, they're all old men! ANYHOOP where was I? Oh yeh, so I walked past the lifeguard station (Very Baywatch - but this IS New Brighton!) and almost trod on the cutest little snail!!! I managed to avoid him and walked on, when I was struck with the thought 'what if someone else treads on him, I should move him' and then I thought 'Ok, if he's still there when I get back I'll move him' and then I thought how bad I would feel if I came back and he's been squashed and I could have done something about it. At this point, I kid you not, my eyes filled with tears at the thought of the snail being squashed, such was my sense of responsibility!

Obviously, by the time I had thought all this (bearing in mind it was so hot and one's brain thinks slower in the heat!!) I'd practically got to the Post Office! Yet, I was sooooooo convicted about this snail and worried about him I turned around and walked all the way back to where he was, picked him up, had a little chat with him and then placed him safely on a garden wall in the shade where there were plants and greenery so he would be ok. Then I had to go all the way back to the blinkin' Post Office. And THEN on the way back, I walked past my snail again and he was still sitting on the wall but had slithered (?) crawled (?) into a more shady bit so he wouldn't cook in the heat!

Clever snail, and a nice little lunch time adventure, allbeit with a slightly unnecessary overly emotional response!!

Right, I'm off to that London for the weekend, ciao bellas xxxxx

Introducing......

ABBI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(she's the one with the luscious locks NOT holding a can of Foster's...other lager brands are available...)

I thought it was high time I blogged about 10 reasons why I love Abbi, simply because she happens to be one of the world's best kept secrets. For those of you lucky enough to know or have met her, you are blessed indeed. And for those of you who haven't...read on. So here it is, 10 reasons why I *heart* Abbi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#1 - She was the chief co-conspirator and author of the now infamous 'Year of Naughtiness'!

#2 - We have been through thick and thin together - climbing mountains, the American summer, JT's chunky legs and death-defying LURVE, puking on planes, being drunk as Lords, arguments, fallings out, petty jealousies, makings up, streaking of hair with bleach, me trashing her room simply because it was too tidy, the list is endless...and yet in spite of all this, and actually now that I think about it because of all of this, we have a tried and tested, truly beautiful friendship that has stood the test of time and will last a lifetime. Like any relationship we have to work at it and sometimes we're pants at it BUT deep down, the love is there.

#3 - Abbi is truly the epitome of 'nice'. Now, some people think that word is crap, but to me it describes Abbi perfectly. Don't think this gal's all wet blanket - no siree. She's NICE. She listens to me and makes me feel super-important. She remembers little details that make you feel a million dollars. She has a way of offering a straight-down-the-line challenge in the nicest possible way that leaves you feeling loved and yet ass-whupped!

#4 - Her alter ego is named Bella. Mine is Liberty, and together with Heidi we've had many adventures. Tenereefee has been a particular favourite of mine...remember the Dog Poo Dessert Abbers??!!

#5 - She is really 'of another time' - specifically Jane Austen times where life was all 'Country Living' Magazine and serene, blissful and perfect. Her romantic soul sometimes gets naffed off in real life, but underneath she truly is all about dresses and ringlets.

#6 - She smoked 'Apple Tea' through a bong in Prague and still insists it was nothing dodgy. 'Nuff said.

#7 - She has a hardcore work ethic. She understands what it means to work your ass off and play damn hard too. All on the same day. Whilst wearing high heels. On cobblestones. Together, she and I single-handedly mounted a 400 strong children's Parade from St. George's Hall in Liverpool through the city to the steps of the Museum. All 400 kids were dressed as creatures made from recycled garbage. It was the 1st Annual GLitter Fesitval whereupon Liverpool sparkled. Straight after that we had a quick change Superman stylee, (not in a phone box, although very nearly almost!), and went straight to a Sugababes gig @ the Royal Court and from there to the post-GLitter wrap party, complete with 10 foot Trannys on stilts. Nice. It was a FABBALUS day and one in which we crammed an entire month's social calendar into 24 hours.

#8 - When she was little she thought when a congregation collectively said 'Thanks be to God' after a reading had been done, that they were actually saying, 'Thanks Peter God'. Now I cannot say those words in church without thinking of mini Abbi thinking God's first name was Peter!

#9 - On holiday we both had a different bikini for each day we were there, hence the now infamous 'bikini of the day' photographs! AND Abbi managed to tan the letter 'S' on her stomach.

#10 - She is destined to go so far in life and be so happy. And sometimes she doesn't know this and it's hard. BUT one day she will look back on the tough times and be all 'OMG all my dreams HAVE come true' and there will be MUCHo rejoicing.

And that's Abbi....I could actually keep going to about 100 things I love about her...but this will suffice for now. She is SIMPLY AMAZING.

Thought it was about time....

...I updated this blog. Don't really have anything to say though which is something of a problem. Would hate to be accused of blogging just for the sake of it. That would, in effect, be tantamount to spamming one's own blog!

I have mostly been a bookworm of late. Over the past 3 weeks I have read:
- Mum's at home - can't remember author
- If I were you - Julia Llewelyn
- Lifeguard - James Patterson
- Psychopath - Keith Ablow
- Fourth of July - James Patterson
- Second Chance - James Patterson
- Blindsighted - Karin Slaughter
- No place like home - Mary Higgins Clarke
- Honeymoon - James Patterson
- The Society - Michael somebody or other
- We need to talk about Kevin - Lionel Shriver

Frankly it's a wonder I get anything done! My most favouritest have been We need to talk about kevin, an epistolary novel about a mother writing to her estranged husband after their son kills 7 of his classmates. Very Clever, won the Orange award. AND No place like home which was a thriller. I seem to be in the missle of a 'murder and mayhem' read-a-thon, but I balance it out with a nice chick-lit easyread.

I like the thrillers but, like my mother, I invariably spot whodunnit very early on and ruin it for myself.

Maybes Lizzie should write a book...hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

GOD BLESS 3 for 2 book offers! WOOT WOOT!

Is blogging over?

Well, is it??!!

Scally chunes

Rant: What is it with kids on their way to school playing the most obNOXIOUS 'music' aloud on their mp3 player phones. Gah, it's AWFUL! It ruins my trip to the seaside each morning where my office is. Boo to scally kids and their chuffing mp3 player phones. Who wants to hear that in the morning? Even in the glorious sunshine I am STILL not a morning person. No siree bob.

Tra luvs xxx

Once Upon a Time....

There was a Canadian called Colin who met a FABBALUS laydee from Norway called Solveig. They moved to Norway and had a little boy called Daniel(pictured with his dad...the guy in the linen on the right is John Linen, pay no attention to him!).....he really is the cutest little boy and Colin and Solveig are some very favourite people of ours. (Plus Colin was pretty pissed off I hadn't blogged about their visit to Bebington at Easter and PLUS we kinda need to keep 'em sweet so we can go stay with them in Norway!) HAHA!!!

SO, lovely Atkinson family - we love you guys and miss you - hope all's well in the land of......what's Norway the land of???

Mrs Paskar!!

Susan and Michael finally tied the knot in a rather luxurious ceremony and 4 day party in Maui, Hawaii! (Well, they DO live in LA!!!!) Here's the happy bride - CONGRATS Paskars, bring on September's luau party!!! Woot woot!

Affairs of the heart

So, did anyone see the new 'Mindshock' programme last night? ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING! It was about heart transplant patients who, after receiving their new hearts, reported profound personality changes, strange dreams where they dream they're another person, changes in food preferences, music, unexplained new talents and a whole host of stuff that has led some big deal heart specialists to become convinced that the heart is way more than just a pump. They've discovered neurons within the heart which means it has the ability to 'remember' how to function, and so, as one Doctor put it, who are we to say that all that we are in terms of memory happens from the neck up. The heart has long been symbolic of love and cherished times - who's to say it can't do a helluva lot more than we know?!

There was one lady who dreamt she was a guy called Tim L and she was riding a motorcycle to get beers and mexican food - because of the strict confidentiality policy surrounding donors and receipients there was no way she could have known that her donor was none other than Tim Leightman, and avid motorcycle fan whose favourite food was Mexican washed down with a coupla beers.

One chap, a British guy, who was essentially barely literate by his own admisison, suddenly pst-transplant began writing stunning prose and poetry and using words he had never heard of before.

Coincidence? Or something more......

Kinda made me think that if my heart were transplanted into someone else, what personality traits would they take on? What memories would they receive? Would the recipient suddenly develop a scouse accent and a penchant for shoes and cocktails? Or would it be something more, something deeper.

When we declare our love for Jesus, the significance of the heart takes on a deeper meaning. The old is gone, the new has come. That's what I'd want someone who got my heart to experience...that unspeakable joy that is knowing the God of the Universe.

Paul (Wenham, not the Bible guy) once prayed that he wanted his heart to be so soft that when God touches it He leaves His fingerprint there. That image has always stayed with me. It captures perfectly how I want my heart to be.

Metaphorically speaking, I suppose we're all working toward the ultimate heart transplant, to love Jesus and one another as we should, as we were intended. What a great day that will be!

Over and out!

Food coma

It may interest you to know that my dear husband, whilst I was out with the gals last night, managed to consume a Bigger Big Mac, Large fries, large sprite, McChicken Sandwich and another large fries, washed down with 2 bags of crisps and a bumper bag of Minstrels.

GOOD LORD!!!!! *shocked*

And this is the guy who when I first met him would only eat chips, mars bars and full fat milk.

Here's to morbid obesity.... (just kidding! )

Fun fun fun with fabbalus gals!

Hier soir I was fortunate enough to dine and wine avec two of the nicest, most funnest, godliest gals that ever lived. They know who they are, but in case you don't their names are Rikes and Sally D! They rock.
We laughed and caught up and reminisced and plotted (Rikes, that's while you were getting the Bailey's lattes - bring on the hen do!! Hee hee) and shared Jesus stories that have happened in our lives recently to inspire us and whip us up. These gals challenge me to the very core of my being, without being pious, without judging, without being up-their-own-bums-special-needs-Christians….PTL!!

It was so good to hang out with the girlies in the sumptuous and classy Alma de Cuba in Liverpool (www.alma-de-cuba.co.uk ) for good food, good vino and GREAT TIMES!
Rikes, Sal, you're so special to me, so awesome to catch up and share in your lives a little bit. Thanks for inspiring me and for coming all the way over here…roll on our July hot date - woot woot! LOVE YOU!!!!

Pinch-a-pic!

I nicked this off of Cazmo's blog (sorry honey pie, hope u don't mind) It is just SUCH a cute picture and features some of the people who made my time in Manchester great. AND the Whitemans were in my dream last night - how weird is that?! It's so awesome to see some of the gang PLUS various offspring - freaks me out slightly but that's the way of the world....look how grown up they all are!!!!!!!

I LOVE YOU (SOME OF THE) MANCLAND POSSE!!!!!! Cate took the photo.....love how Penny has hold of Charis by the t-shirt! SO CUTE!

In other news, we FINALLY have the wedding book back- those of you who don't live near enough to see it just yet can view it here http://www.pictureweddings.co.uk/html/albumpreview14.html

And finally, spare a thought for me tomorrow...I'll be at my first CSMT meeting which is all the big wigs from Children's Services AND I have to do a presentation AND I found out about it at approximately 17:05 ce soir. ROTTERS! So obviously I'm blogging rather than working......ARGH!

I *heart* Hanny

And here's the top 10 reasons why:

#1 She genuinely believes she can do anything she sets her mind to - I too suffer from this syndrome.
#2 She was the first to own pink stilettos.
#3 She's a Disney Classics gal at heart.
#4 She is THE bestest, most animated storyteller I have ever met - where you are actually sucked into the story - living it, loving it and laughing it in the manner of Mary Poppins and the children being sucked into Bert's chalk paintings.
#5 She was a fantabulous bridesmaid and so helpful and lovely and amazingto me on the day and leading up to being married AND planning the hen do!! She'gets' me.
#6 She coined the phrase 'He's being a DICK' and got away with it.
#7 She is particularly adept at getting into adventures and mischief wherever she goes.
#8 We share a love of cocktails, champagne, Albert Dock, living the high life, partying, dancing and what it means to be a true Sex and the City gal!
#9 We have had many crazy adventures and projects together - and will have many more...
#10 She knows the words to EVERY song ever.

And that's Hanny! I *heart* her!

Doom and Gloom

Now then, is it just me or does there seem to be more than the usual amount of utterly heartbreaking tragically bad news around at the moment? It seems as if the sunshine and summery vibes we're experiencing are inversely proportionate to the darkness of occurrences and people in this world.
I can't fathom it. 'Dismay' describes what I'm feeling. It's as if nothing bad can happen when it's so magically sunny outside. I realise that's such a Disney attitude but somehow the contrast seems all the more pronounced.
Now that The Metro has reached these far-flung shores, I'm reading it daily on the commute to and from work - maybe that's why I'm more aware, but in amidst all the Rooney foot hoo haa there are some awful, shocking, depraved and tragic things happening in the world.
Sorry to be on a downer on a Friday!

bugger

The inevitable has happened. And after I made such a song and dance about not getting into it this year too. Dammit! Yes people, I am now hooked on the curse that is Big Brother's house of freaks! OH-MY-GAH what's WRONG with these people?! Out and out fave is Nikki - absolutely fascinated by her. On Sunday whilst nursing the Hangover from Hades AND Hell, I sat in front of the telly ALL DAY. Not only a shocking waste of time, but it also meant that I got a TV headache! I haven't splodged in front of the goggle box for a marathon sit-in like that for YEARS! Even though my head hurt (Curse of the Cocktail, I blame Chris Murphy) I really rather enjoyed myself.....but never again. I am not drinking any alcohol for a week now, since clearly I cannot be trusted with it. Hurrah for Peppermint tea!

Right, time for pilates...laters xxxx

Phases

Ok, so I dunno whether it's the summer approaching or a hankering for yesteryear but I have found myself travelling down the road of reminiscence lately, and particularly watching the early seasons of Sex and the City. Please don't laugh. It represents a time in my life where I was so carefree and self-indulgent - a fact which I quite freely admit! I've re-watched Seasons 1 and 2 to date and every so often I catch a glimpse of how my life has been shaped by this show - this may sound mad, but the spirit behind the lives of these fictional 4 women I find awesome and fascinating and utterly desirable. Yes I know it's rude and full of things 'people don't talk about' but OMG how refreshing! Desperate Housewives doesn't even come close. I recall the nights in with the gals @ the granny flat - Abs, Hann & Anna, sucked into a world of glamourous New York where you can wear dresses all the time and go out for cocktails - thus began our love affair with cocktails at the Dock! We saw the show as educational, an easy way we could find out answers to the questions we were all afraid to ask! Those were the months of Rose wine and cosy girl times. Now we're all married I kinda miss that. It's not the same!

I also find myself giggling at how Carrie Bradshaw has shaped my fashion sense over the years...every so often there is a scene where she'll be wearing an outfit or toting a bag or accessory that I scoured shops all over Liverpool to find lookee-likees - from the horseshoe necklace to full circular skirts, to high high heels, to a big white Fulton umbrella, to 50's tea length dresses and ballet dancer buns, to clutch purses, to ponchos and so much more. Funny how we (or maybe just me??) are shaped by popular culture. I won't ever forget those days and how much fun it was to dress up and go drink champagne. Right, that's it, I'm invoking the days of yore, rallying the gals and getting our asses out on the town. Pronto!

Have a Cosmopolitan on me!!

Jamie Oliver triumphs again!

So, last night the Kennaughs & Stoff and Sarah ventured to the Walls for good food, good wine and GREAT company (even if we do say so ourselves)!! Luce kicked off the proceedings with a fabulous Bruschetta and a bouteille de Beringer (pink and fizzy - YUM!) and I followed it with a 5-hour slow roast beef with veggies, red wine gravy and crusty bread for dunking. I was very nervous for it to work and be tasty, not least because Lucy's nickname is 'Gordo' after Gordon Ramsay!! She is such a talented chef I was worried the main course wouldn't work. But work it did - Praise the Lord for Jamie Oliver! We all agreed it was yummy. Then after a long rest and trying not to slip into a food coma, we partook of Sarah's AWESOME chocolate/blueberry Pavlova - WOWEE it was gorgeous! After dinner it was coffee and sophisticated conversation (for the girls - the boys practiced their WWE moves on one another) (*rolls eyes*) A really great night with wonderful friends and one that we need to repeat more often - thanks guys for coming over, you're fabulous!

And so to today, relaxing, looking for holidays on t'internet, watching the Monaco Grand Prix (Please God can we go there one day!) possibly venturing over to the Barnes' later on - Bank Holidays are where it's at!

Over and out xxx

PS - Happy Birthday Wen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hallelujah!

Today I handed in my Portfolio. Come July I will be an officially qualified counsellor. OH-MY-GAH! That thought is simultaneously enthralling and frightening! Seems like I've been working for sooooooooooooo long for this, and it's finally within sight. YAY! Not entirely sure how it'll pan out in terms of usage...I'm thinkin' maybe a Masters, part time obviously, whilst I am still working for the Local Authority.

Had my first impassioned work-rant at a rather high up dude t'other day. What I find so utterly frustrating is the lip-service that is paid to Children's Rights. People are all so 'Yes yes we're all about the kids' when really what they mean is 'Yes yes we're all about the kids up to a point but at the end of the day we don't really give a stuff about the rights of young people in the Care system and we don't care about communicating openly and honestly with them when decisions are being made about them that will affect their lives. Yes we recognise that BY LAW they have a right to be involved in decisions about their lives, but actually it gets in the way of us doing our job as the professionals we are' It's such bullshit.

My entire role revolves around a need to be transparent and to be able to openly communicate with and on behalf of the young people I represent. If 'professionals' are going to begin censoring what they say to young people via me then the role is obsolete and actually we haven't progressed at all in terms of how we involve young people and encourage them to engage in their own lives. The statistics for 'Looked After children' SUCK - in terms of achievement, mental health, education, employment, drugs, alcohol, crime, teenage pregnancy. At almost every turn they are a vulnerable demographic. So, why aren't we doing more?

Sometimes things just get my goat.

(Paulo is that enough about my 'real life' for ya??!! :)

The Maeve Binchy Code

Have been to see it. Quite good I thought, though it has been subjected to the 'great' and time-honoured American cinematic treatment of grossly over-explaining anything and everything that is significant and central to the plot. I appreciate that it's a difficult novel to dramatise (which may, peut-etre, beg the question why bother trying to at all!!), but Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon was tremendous in his over-enunciation of 'Fleur de Lise' and "'Neath ancient Roslin lies...' etc etc - just in case the Yanks didn't get it! Haha.

All in all a good film though, don't really see what the big Christian hoo-haa has been about, I reckon it's a well plausible theory! Not saying I think it's true or my faith has been shaken to the core or anything, just that it's a fantastic theory. (AND a GREAT book!!)

LOVED the Disney movie/Post-Modern-approach-to-faith ending 'What it comes down to Sophie is what you believe. Why couldn't Jesus have been a good man and a father?...' (I paraphrase but it was sommat like that, all soft focus and violins...) And as for the 'Nope, maybe I'll do better with the wine' bit, all I have to say is 'Gawd Bleyss Ameryica'!

BUT Paul Bettany was whoop-de-do brillo, dead evil and his eyes were especially good. Thought Audrey Tatou aka Amelie (GREAT film!) was great, and Tom Hanks was ok but not massively believable as Robert Langdon. Gandalf as Lee Teabing was ace.

Et voila my review!

My verdict: READ THE NOVEL!

When I grow up.....

....I wanna be just like Dr. Tanya Byron. Wowee, whatta gal! She is a true genius and spends her days sorting out problem parents who reckon that their KIDS are the ones with the issues! PAH!Thanks to Dr. T terms such as 'rapid return' and 'sliding in' have become commonplace. Parents around the globe are having their lives revolutionised by her interventions and I am hopelessly addicted to seeing what happens. I often find myself agreeing smugly with Dr. T and her expert observations, and then yelling at kids when I'm at work. Oopsie, my bad! But what I am so riveted by is how it's actually all common sense, and often all we need is someone who is impartial, independent and unconditional, who provides us with the right conditions for us to explore our behaviour and idiosyncrasies and ultimately to grow and change. Now, I know she's not God, but she's kind of like God in that we, as human beans, respond well to boundaries and being allowed to change when someone unconditional lets us....bit of a spacky analogy but hopefully you get what I mean. Dr. T is cool, God is cool. I've developed an addiction to 'House of Tiny Tearaways' and I'm supposed to be doing an essay.

See God? I need boundaries!

Over and out.

Little Ted being dead cute!!!

'Nuff said!!

CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here she is! The bride-to-be, Ms. Ulrike Hirsch! Yep indeedy, Rikes has gone and got herself all engaged! Hearty congrats to Craig and Ulrike, I love you guys and I'm so happy for you! Bring on the wedding! Masses of love, me xxxx

What a game!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice one Liverpool - you ROCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sucks to be West Ham!

Tonight, tonight.....

Ladies and Gentleman, Mr Dave Matthews!!!!

*thunderous applause*

Yep indeedy people, tonight's the night we shall sojourn to fair Mancland to the Academy to witness the musical marvel, nay, miracle, that is this wondrous and talented chap! Needless to say there is MUCH excitement in the house of Wall...

Can't think of anything deep and meaningful to say so this'll have to do...

Love y'all...

PS - CATE! I would LOVE it if you came to Port Sunshine - just say the word and we can arrange it!

Issues

If people don't get commenting soon, I ain't gon' post no more.....

And finally....

Three posts in one day! Look at me 'doin a Tim'!! Anyways, couldn't blog sans mentioning that at long last WE HAVE TICKETS TO SEE DAVE MATTHEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Live, in the flesh, in Manchester, in 2 weeks.....ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHH! (I may pee my pants with excitement!) Granted, Mr Matthews will be without the rest of the band, Carter et. al, however he himself will be here and we CANNOT WAIT!

Ahhhhhhhhh, Dave.................. *sighs with happiness*

Oh Happy Day!

Sunday April 30th, 2006 was our first wedding anniversary - a whole year appears to have flown by without us really noticing! We celebrated in style with a weekend in Pwlhelli (or however you spell it) and dinner at The Mariner (yummy Welsh steak restaurant). REALLY good to get away, AND a convenient Bank Holiday too which makes future anniversaries tres bon. Hard to believe this time last year we were swanning around Barcelona, with all the smugness of just-marrieds! Thanks to all of you who were with us for the Big Day and who have supported and loved us through our first year! And most of all HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my lovely hubby! I love you...

The littlest Heywood...

Well here he is folks! No longer going by the moniker 'Vincent', Edward 'Little Ted' Heywood is home from the hospikal and settling into life chez Heywood! He is soooooooo cute and teeny tiny he freaks me out ever so slightly - but I am pleased and proud to report that K & A are ever-so natural parents - ducks to water and all that jazz. I quickly got over my 'I might break him' fear and he happily let me feed him his bottle which was really rather cool! The most splendid news of all is that Rich and I have been asked to be god parents - signalling significant goings-on in the spiritual lives of my family! - and naturally we have accepted with glee and are bursting with pride!

See you soon Little Ted, maybe we need to get you a blog??!!

Hmmm, I have been somewhat blog tardy in recent days. I humbly apologise and shall attempt to rectify said situation immediately! (Thanks for the gentle reminder Wenhams!!)

Been a fabulous week - job is really starting to take off and more and more young people are seeking out the service and exposing all sorts of holes and gaps in the 'Care' system - obviously I can't write about specific cases but I'm finding the challenge of mediating between a mightily- pissed-off-and-not-without-good-reason young person and a Social Worker with a HUUUUUUUGE ego ....interesting to say the least!

I also love that my office is by the seaside so I can go and look at the sea and walk along the prom at lunchtime. Makes me feel very free and not at work at all! Good God times. I love that there's a road called 'Smuggler's Way' and I have taken to providing my dad with a daily text service as to the state of the river and whether there are any Neptune's White Horses! (like in the Rupert books)

Thursday brought the super-exciting news that Baby Heywood has at long last graced us with his presence. No longer dubbed 'Vincent', Little Ted weighed in at 8lb 13 (That's nearly 9 bags of sugar GOOD LORD!) Mum and I went to see him and his proud padres last evening. CONGRATS Kathy and Andy! Edward is so beautiful that I cried all over him as he snuggled in my arms and went to sleep. Entirely unprepared for the emotion he provoked in me...what the..?! But he ROCKS and I managed to smuggle champagne for K&A past the nurse...mwah hahaha.

Rich has been away this weekend at the usual post-Easter Lake Bala Youth Camp where he is speaking and leading a group and doing programme and seemingly everything else. So, Friday night I settled down with Party of Five Season One (CATE! Come home already!!) and watched it till my eyes went all gozzy! No cries of 'Turn it off', just pure, unadulterated, ME time! Woot woot!

Saturday was almost summer-like so I met the mother figure for 'cawfee' and we shopped our asses off! LOVE IT when I make her buy things - this week's offering was a pair of chocolate brown leather open toe wedges, but of course she plumped for the black ones...still needs working on that woman! ;)

I, however, spent y0nks being a super sleuth to find an Alexander McQueen Pirate print scarf - a rip off one, naturally. And figured the best place to begin would be 'lovely' St. John's Precinct....questioned about 5 classic Liverpool lasses and they suggested Primark (nope, know their stock inside out, defo not there), The Market (so trawled round there but to no avail) and finally one suggestion....TOPSHOP! Blinkin' TopShop! MAN ALIVE! So needless to say we zoomed to aforementioned establishment and FOUND IT! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!! Not only did I find the scarf, I also made the hilarious discovery that TopShop now do a line in....wait for it....can you guess?.....DOG FASHIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG! I couldn't BELIEVE IT (in Victor Meldrew stylee) -yup, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie and Coleen McLoughlin types can now purchase fashions for their 'Itsby bitsy doggies' (quote P!nk) from my beloved Top of the Shops! What is the world coming to?....

Saturday night was spent in the most awesome company of my dear Abigail watching HILARIOUS 'Dr 90210' on Sky and talking about our new fave subject of giving birth - no, we're not 'with child' but man alive it's a whole new world of conversations...Abbi thought 'cervix' was a bone and I was HUGELY misinformed on the matter of 'dilation' PENNY! I think we need a seminar from you! hahaha!

So that's a brief catch up.....this week's fun include reminiscing about how mental I was this time last year and looking forward to our first wedding anniversary on Sunday 30th April - yikes, where has that year gone!!!??? Rich also starts his new job tomorrow AND I think the Dunnett/West nuptials are happening soon if not this weekend?! CONGRATS to you! AND as if all that were not enough, there's yet another Bank Holiday coming up- WOOT WOOT!

Right, I'm off to tidy and clean and try to fit in the gym AND 'Shipwrecked'!

BIG LOVE Y'ALL! xxxxx

What ho, old chaps!

Been a while.......here's the 411...

- my back hurts
- my legs hurt
- my triceps hurt
- my biceps hurt
- my lats hurt (and I don't even know what they are)
- my butt hurts
- my knees hurt


I WANNA QUIT THE GYM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To cheer myself up I purchased the staple product to herald the coming of summer! BODY SHOP FAKE TAN BABY! As I type I am bronzed and fabulous, dahling! Woot woot bring on the sun! AND I'm having 'me hair done' on Saturday - these sure are girlie times!

Happiness is four day weekends. Thanks Jesus for the Friday off AND Monday too - you rock!
I sent Easter cards for the first time ever this year (only 8 - don't get your hopes up) mostly to what Wez would call 'nonnies' - spread the love, the ultimate love hey...

Have a wonderful Easter time, whatever you get up to...just think how mad it is that the most goodest man that ever lived died the most awfulest death imaginable...just for you, yes you. And me. And everyone. No matter what. Amen.

Mind-blowing stuff that.

bonafide barfarama

Currently I am engaged in a puke-a-thon. Not very nice. I've thrown up 6 times since 4am this morning. What the bleep is going on?

In other news, I am very much looking forward to the return of Ms. Cate Thornton & also to the arrival of my Party of Five Season 1 box set. The two are sure to go well together (what say you Cate?!)

It's Abbi's bday tomorrow - happy birthday Mrs Murph!

Also I have FINALLY finished Season 4 of 24 - woot woot! Bring on 5!!!

Big love to all the homies, soz for the randomness of this entry. (not really, my blog, I can be as weird as I like, so there.)

Gym jams

Today I cunningly created a playlist on my ipod just for the gym, a series of up tempo numbers to run to....can't believe it's never occurred to me to do that before. So today I tested myself on running 5k...think I wanna do that 'Race for Life' thing in honour of my lecturer, Audrey, who has breast cancer. Good news is that I managed to run the 5k, bad news is now I'm cream-crackered.

Still, things could be worse.

It baffles me how come some people just look soooooooooooooo good in their gym gear, whilst I end up looking a bugger. Why is that?

Also I nearly tripped tonight as I saw Sally W on the treadmill in front of me! I was concentrating so hard on trying to see if, indeed, it was her or merely a doppleganger (yes I know there's no reason she would be in the Oval, Bebington, on the Leisure Peninsula, but I was having runner's hallucinations, clearly.) that when she abruptly jumped off the treadmill and went onto the next thing, I went all giddy as a kipper and nearly came a cropper. Thankfully I righted myself pretty sharpish! Phew! Anyhoo, Sal, you have a scally twin!

In other news, I spent a splendido evening hier soir avec Mrs Lucy Kennaugh drinking a bottle of faux champagne (on a Monday night I hear you gasp! Well so what!) Let me explain what led us to such a state: We were WWE widows for the evening, on account of Rich and Gary being obsessed with Wrestlemania 22 that they recorded on Sunday night. I know, how sad. Still, it was awesome to hang out with Luce and set the world to rights. Thank Luce, you rock!

Managed to impress the fam on Sat night - Mexican food, Lazy Daisy cake and coffee and malteser cake to polish off the evening. Dave + guitar+ trollied family members made for a fabby event. Yay me!

Right, that's quite enough blogging from me, I can hear Heat magazine and the OC calling me - gah I LOVE Tuesdays!

Ciao Bellas xxx

power to the PEOPLE!

And the fridge is fixed! They're replacing it for free! Free I tell you!!

AND LIZZIE WINS!!!!!!!!!!!


I thank you.

Could this family BE any cuter???!!!

Ladies and gentlemen......I give you.....THE WENHAMS!

(who - or is it 'whom'? - I love to the moon and back, several times)

old

I'm concerned I'm old before my time. Haven't been out for ages....simply ages I tell you. Not, like, on an all nighter-get-a-taxi-home-dance-until-you-drop-visit-the-lobster-pot-after-Walkabout kinda vibe. I miss those days (good grief Liz they were only a year ago, stop being so melodramatic) HANNAH! We need to get our party frocks on the go! Either that or we need to get our asses off to Tenereefee for some fun in the sun sans boys.....ooooh, is that allowed when you're married? Should I even WANT to go on holidays with just the girls now I am a wife?? I don't personally see why the heck not, but maybe there are, like, rules or something?!

I hate being old.

I am annoyed today because the freaking fridge/freezer is knackered. It's only 14 effing months old and quite frankly ought not to be on the blink, but it very much is. And what's the answer from the halfwits at Zanussi? "It's not under warantee" SO FREAKING WHAT!? If it were a toaster I could pick it up, put it in the car and take it to Comet (who are PANTS btw) and demand an exchange. So why are fridges different? The rule is, if it's damaged goods then you get a replacement right? So how come it applies to Topshop and not Comet.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR and GAH at the injustice of it all. Plus, it cost £450 smackeroonies and is going to cost an estimated £357.56 to repair, which is obv. not worth it, so we should replace it, right? Only trouble is.......WITH WHAT!?

Don't forget the clocks tonight!

Well, that was the week that was! Busy doesn't even come close. However, here I am. Too tired to be D&M but a thought occurred to me this evening which made me feel powerful! For one hour tonight I am in charge of time! I can put my clocks forward whenever I like & by morning the rest of the world will have caught up! Get what I mean?? To test this feeling I have already changed the clocks in my house. Hence I am writing to you from the future. WHOA! HOW WEIRD IS THAT! Am I on drugs?!

Anyhoop - quick list of 'good stuff' to round off the week.....love y'all.....me xxx (PS divent forget ya mammas tomoz)

- Havin lunch with Abs, Hann, Keri and Anna today - good girly catch up and hilarious/over-loud conversation about Snuff movies and mucus plugs. Learn something new every day is all I'll say!

- Being in town today with the Derby buzz (Nice one Liverpool, slap on the wrist Gerrard!)

- Waking up at long last to birds singing!

- The sunshine

- Not wearing a coat for the first time this year

- Getting to the bottom of the washing basket

- Cutting my toenails

- Costa with my mama...and then Per Una and making her buy a GORG mac!

- Giving dad a lesson on ebay

- Making it through my first new work week - WOOT WOOT!!!!!

Ho hum...it's the little things in life!

For the Wenhams & Rikes!

Really I was just testin' to see if you were reading my blog! haha! Not really - have just been super-busy with the whole new job thang! Left NYAS on Thursday, shopped for new grown up work clothes on Friday and then spent the evening with 'me ma' and Jen (who has mermaid hair), Saturday was all about trying to recce out where my new office is with my lovely hubby, Sunday was all about the gym, Grand Prix & church and then here we are at Monday! First day over with - it went great - in the inimitable words of Annie, "I think I'm gonna like it here". Busy busy busy! Hence no time to blog, coupled with strict internet policy @ work!! Missin' the NYAS peeps but feel certain have made right decision. Woot Woot!

On a slightly more somber note, on Saturday night I managed to let down a very dear friend of mine. I feel gutted. It was a mixture of bad time keeping, being a bit dizzy and leaving my phone on silent and not hearing messages. I feel SO rubbish - got no idea how to resolve it. Funny how my 'professional' life is full of confrontation & problem solving and yet I am sometimes utterly devoid of either skill in my personal life. C&D - all I can say is I'm sorry and I love you.

Over & out xxxx

"The times they are a-changin'"

Wow I managed to not blog for a whole entire day! Wonders will never cease!

Nothing much to say really. The countdown has begun to the NEW JOB and I am bricking it slightly less than I was. Just hating the being 'in limbo' vibe.

One of my clients with whom I had worked for 12 weeks rather unexpectedly sent me a card. There is something so powerful in seeing yourself through someone else's eyes and grasping a little of how they see you. It's heartening and actually scary to think 'Wow, i helped you do all that?!' Kind of paradoxical to be pleased that someone doesn't need you anymore, at least in the world's eyes and this culture we perpetuate of needing people, but actually I guess that's what releasing someone is all about!

I'm off....time for peppermint tea. Oh, and if you haven't read Cate's latest blog entry I highly recommend that you do. Moving and challenging stuff. http://cate.my-expressions.com/

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland!

We awoke yesterday to the marvel that is a proper snowfall - y'know, the kind we used to get in the 80's when Winter was Winter and you could scamper into the garden with wellies over your PJ's and hurl snow at your siblings until your hands were so cold they might fall off!!Well it snowed like that here yesterday! I was so excited at the prospect of wearing my wellies!Woo hoo!

The troops were rallied and in the manner of the Famous Five Rich, myself, Lucy and Gary and Johnny went on an adventure. We walked the Barnston to Thingwall trail and it seriously was like being in Narnia! Halfway there we paused to slide down the hill! Rich & Gary made friends with some young people and thus ended up having a go on their sledge. I say 'sledge', it appeared to be more like the spare tyre cover off of a Range Rover (??!!) Anyhoop, it made for an excellent sledge. The boys (all in their mid twenties I might add) made like Jack Ass and ended up eating a lot of snow! Luce & I recorded the moment for posterity.

After our walk we decamped to the pub for a hearty lunch and the Liverpool game - we lost GUTTED but excellent time was had by all. I think I've dicovered that that is the secret of Sundays. Usually I meander aimlessly through the day waiting for the inevitability of Monday morning and work to arrive. However, the secret appears to be actually getting out and doing stuff - puts you in a good mood and makes the day seem worthwhile!

In other news, happy 21st birthday little brother! Nice one Rupert!

Big love y'all,

me xxxxxxxxxxx

Jessica Mary Wall

Here she is! JMW, what a gal! Pictured here playing at Aunty Liz's and Uncle Rich's house holding Elvis the monkey and wearing Aunty Liz's wig! (She's a natural blonde)

Jessica loves animals, reading boooks, Disney films, playing in snow, and finger painting. Needless to say we get on great!

Just wanted you to meet her. She is part of why life is so amazing.

Hilarity!

Apparently a 30 year old woman was awarded an ASBO yesterday for playing 'Is this the way to Amarillo?' continually at inordinately high levels! Her neighbours are reported to be traumatised, whereas the culprit herself claimed that she did not think it was too loud! This in spite of the fact that she was given a Noise Abatement Order 3 years ago!

Needless to say her stereo has been duly confiscated.

This news snippet made my day yesterday. I wonder if Peter Kay knows?!

(If you haven't got hold of a copy of 'The Little Book of ASBOS' and find the rate at which they are awarded a phenomenon, not to mention the weird and wacky reasons for which they are given, then I suggest you get it! £2.99, WHSmiths!)

Musings

Ok, so here's what I'm currently pondering...Change is a big theme. Also endings. For both Rich and I, our current jobs will end soon - which means the end of familiarity and comfortableness (sp?) job-wise for a little while. I can't really remember how I felt when I moved from Capital of Culture to NYAS, but I'm certain the feelings of trepidation were just as profound! I'm also certain I'll feel at home in no time - we both will, in our respective new positions - it's just that initial few weeks. For me, I get so concerned with 'first impresisons' - I feel like there's a loud hailer in my mind yelling 'FIRST IMPRESSIONS LAST' I can't decide who I want to be in this new job. Think about it: the possibilities are endless! I can be whoever I want to be! Play any role. (Though there's a lot to be said for 'being yourself' - this is too important to play about with characters....or are they characters or simply just different expresisons of 'self'!? That's a whole other thought process!)

But I digress...So, I've decided I think change is good. I used to HATE, LOATHE and DETEST it but now I feel like I NEED it. I need something to shift! I've noticed myself of late being so lacksadaisical about life: no motivation to get off my backside and do anything! Be it exercise, going out, church stuff, even going to work. I feel as if I am living in a dreamworld where the only rules I have to follow are those I set myself and societal rules do not apply. I can't really explain it. I need something to shake me up and alter my routine so that I am forced to engage and bloomin well make some changes! I feel as if there's a whole new me on the horizon - kind of a caterpillar to butterfly moment. The drive and discipline I had last this time last year were amazing, and unlike anything else I've experienced before. Where did that go? How is it so temporary?! I remember so vividly the morning after our wedding (for obvious reasons but that's not what I mean), we had breakfast and I recall heading toward the fruit and yogurt health section and then thinking 'Hold on, the wedding's over, I can eat like a normal person again!' and headed to the 'Full English' section. Pretty much have not stopped since. I was moaning at the nurse who administered my pill injection the other day that it was making me fat. She explained - rather curtly I might add - that it was because I was happy. 'You'll be fat for the first year because you're happy, then you lose it in the second year and then you'll have your children'

She ACTUALLY said that, as if getting married is some sort of foregone conclusion! I nearly threw up on the spot! So happiness, according to the NHS, is equated with gluttony! NO NO NO!
I will NOT be that girl! In my mind's eye I saw myself getting older in that computer generated way like on 'Honey we're killing the kids'!!!!!!

Isn't the mind a funny thing! About once a year when I feel like this, I read Anna Maxted's 'Running in Heels' - a chick lit novel by anyone else's standards, but I absolutely love it. I identify with it so much and I love that it's full of hope. I finished it last night and suddenly I feel so much more hopeful about life and taking control of my own, myself. No-one else can do that, it's NOT a foregone conclusion.

Maybe it's something to do with Spring being on the way- I'm coming out of the sleepy, hibernation stage....who knows, but anyways, change is most certainly on the way and I for one cannot wait to embrace it with open arms and all the new beginnings and 'life shifts' it'll bring.

Gosh that was a long rant....

Rich

Congratulations Rich!

My clever hubby got a new job!! Woo hoo! This has been the subject of much prayer and seems like it's been a long time in coming, but yeehaw it's happened! How cool is that!?

Happy New Job, Mr. Hilbre High School! Boy are they lucky to have you!! ;)

Smug

Oh yes I am! Last night. Dinner party. 5 hour slow roast beef a la Jamie Oliver. Boy am I ever pleased with myself! Not that it was hard to cook, au contraire, but it looked fancy schmancy and tasted gorg even if I do say so myself!

Buying the 'beef topside' was funny - I went to a real butcher's and everything. Cue headless bigs hanging by their trotters. Scuse me while I puke.

Oh and we FINALLY got curtains in the living room - thanks pa!!

All in all quite a good weekend....despite being too ill to go to the launch of 'Mwah, Mwah' @ Blu Bar on Friday on account of the delightful Jessica Wall, aged 2 and a half, headbutting me in the mouth so that my teeth bled and my lip swell on one side to collagenic (sp?) implant proportions. Nice look for me. Not. She did at least have the decency to look shocked, little kids sure have hard heads!!!! I felt like I'd been beaten up! So instead I spent Friday watching American Idol. Welcome to my latest addiction. Kellie Picjler to win! Why are Americans so much funner to watch than Brits???????

I'll leave you with that thought.

A bientot.

Rich goes wild in Narnia

And finally, here is the lovely Mr Wall in all his Tumnus finery! Notice the attention to detail if you will, particularly the pointy beard vibe! Oh what fun we had! There's not really too much I can write - I think the pictures speak for themselves!

Further Adventures of Narnia

Here we have myself and Aunt Susan both as the White Witch. I am the White Witch when she first meets Edmund, and Sue is the White Witch in the Battle - hence the aforementioned Polar Bear Chariot!

The next pic is of my beautiful sister Jen who is the ORIGINAL Lucy, all dressed up in her evacuee clothes, ready to head to the country to stay with Professor Diggory Kirke and discover Narnia!

What fun!

The World of Narnia!

Here they are at last! Narnia pics for you to enjoy!! This first one is (from left to right) my wonderful husband Mr Tumnus, then Chris as Aslan, who is married to Abbi aka the lampost and then Hann, who is very fond of the band KISS!! Just joking, she was a fairy out of the book 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' which, it may surprise some of you to learn, came before movies!

How good do they look! More to follow....

EN-GER-LAND!

In preparation for the World Cup I have been trying to make a serious effort to understand this whole football malarkey. Came across this, and I have been reliably informed by one of my most knowledgable about football friends, Mr Gary Kennaugh, that it is a pretty accurate description of the concept that often eludes most women: The Offside Rule.

He says "Now translate shop assistant for goalie, person in the queue as a defender and purse for ball and there you have it." Now read the following:

You're in a shoe shop, second in the queue for the till. Behind the shop assistant on the till is a pair of shoes which you have seen and which you must have. The female shopper in front of you has seen them also and is eyeing them with desire. Both of you have forgotten your purses. It would be totally rude to push in front of the first woman if you had no money to pay for the shoes. The shop assistant remains at the till waiting. Wait for it.
Your friend is trying on another pair of shoes at the back of the shop and sees your dilemma. She prepares to throw her purse to you. If she does so, you can catch the purse, then walk round the other shopper and buy the shoes. At a pinch she could throw the purse ahead of the other shopper and, *whilst it is in flight* you could nip around the other shopper, catch the purse and buy the shoes. Always remembering that until the purse had *actually been thrown* it would be plain wrong to be forward of the other shopper.

Good hey! Do you totally get it now?! In he words of Gary Kennaugh with acknowledegement to Rik Flair, "WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Gah, I soooooooo need to learn to trust the Lord more! EVERYTHING I am currently stressing about seems to have been or on its way to being utterly resolved. Hallelujah. I find it a bit crazy that God cares about mad stuff like Stamp Duty refunds or wedding pictures, but apparently He does! (or maybe, says a little voice inside my head, He cares about ME! hence the things that are important to me are important to HIM!) Well anyways, I totally don't get how it works but all I know is I have absolute peace and rejoicing in my heart right now and wanted to spread the love a little!

Peace out homies xxxxx

Johnny Two-Times

Whilst I'm waiting for pics of Narnia to come back, I thought I would introduce you to one of my most favourite people ever in the whole wide world amen.

This is Johnny. He likes flowers, as you can see, and Dog Eggs, and snooker, and intelligent conversations, and beers, and cd's and winning, and chemical engineering, which is good because he is one.

He's available for Bar Mitzvahs, Weddings, Horse racing events, and general dates.

Call Toll Free on 1-800-oneofthem to book him. Oh, and he does very good wedding speeches (but be warned, he is not above taking the p*ss out of the Bride..!!)

Narnia

Well the party, quite simply, rocked! Very well done indeed to Mr & Mrs Beaver for hosting such a delightful event! In the end, I went as the White Witch and actually sewed, yes SEWED, my own costume! Was a tad rushed as I didn't start it until about 2pm on the Saturday - the party was @ 7:30pm. But the result was fab (even if I do say so myself!) Thank God for tacking stitch! And Rich looked fabulous as Mr Tumnus - pics to follow, PROMISE!

Highlights included: Aunt Susan's polar bear chariot, Jen being there as Lucy, mum winning 'Pin the Tail on the Centaur', Hanny's 'KISS' makeup and fairy costume, Jack making the perfect Edmund, haz's amAZING Aslan mane, Abs as the lamp post, Murph as Aslan, my dad as the Wardrobe maker, having a 'Monica' episode during the Narnia Quiz, the costume parade in the kitchen and the requisite family sing-song after midnight - cue the 7 part harmonies of 'You are my Sunshine'!! Much fun had by all!

Happy 30th Birthday Kath...your prezzie is on the way!

"Little children just don't know when to stop pretending"

So says Edmund of Lucy in the awesome movie that is Narnia! In preparation for tomorrow's Narnia Party Extravaganza, chez Heywood, Rich and I journeyed to Hollyoaks' cinema to see The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe today. The purpose was not to only to see the movie but to get ourselves suitably whipped up to appear at the party in full costume! Oh yes, Mr Richard Wall shall go to the ball....as the one, the only...Mr Tumnus! And he is very happy about it, as you might imagine!

I myself am finding it difficult to decide between the white witch and Lucy Pevensie. Tough call hey!

Anyhoop - I'm certain you will have all seen the film by now so I shan't go into details but suffice to say I adored it. My only criticisms were (i) the slightly American dialogue "We'll bring mother home a dress" Er...no, you'll 'take a dress home for mother', "Pretty please" and "hey, hey, hey" which I'm fairly certain didn't enter the average British vocabulary until the onset of Chandler Bing circa 1995 and also (ii) the fact that Maugrim spoke with a cheesy American accent. Apart from that TOP DRAWER FILM!

Can't wait for the next one!

"For Narnia....and for Aslan!"

Ooh PS - Manchester posse - HOW MUCH does Susan Pevensie look like our own Ulrike Hirsch!

Thought of something!

Can't believe I didn't think of this straightaway to blog about. Hmmm, is 'to blog' an actual verb now? Hmm, note to self, ponder further on that later!

Anyhoop...last night I went on an adventure with the Heywoods: Kathy, Andy & Alf (also known as Dougie) plus a Ballinger, (Aunt Hilary) and 3/4 of Barnes': Sue plus Jack and Haz, (also known as Brett & Dexter ??!!)

We ventured to Salford Quays, to The Lowry more specifically, to feast our eyes and ears upon the true delight that is Matthew Bourne's production of Edward Scissorhands. Nothing I could write could really do it justice, it was tres magnifique, super-cool and formidable all at once. The set, the costumes, the choreography, the score, the guy who danced Edward (YUM!), the lighting, the cheerleaders that came to life from posters, the Christmas party scene, the BBQ scene, the girl's santy outfit, the theatre itself, the fact that there's a costa al dentro, hanging out with the fam, Harry's comment of 'Bob Marley, is he out of Scrooge?', the cousins changing their names, Jack's ghost stories, Alf's one liners, Aunt Susan's theatre coat, the fact that Vincent was there, chocolate limes as a tribute to Nanny Ballinger and a whole host of other remarkable things made for a truly fabulous night out.

IF YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE EDWARD SCISSORHANDS: DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Blogging Rage

People need to update their blogs more often.
Me included, but currently cannot think of anything I want to write about.
Over and out.

Secrets and Lies

This is a freakin' awesome website.

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

When the cat's away.....

...the mice will play! And play I certainly did! Last night. Till 1:30am. On t'internet. On message boards. On 'messenger'. On pacman. Gah, I need help. I'm addicted! I've always known myself to have an addictive personality (I don't just want one handbag, I want the same bag in each colour, I don't just want one packet of Doritos, I want an entire 6 pack, I don't just want one glass of White Grenache, I want the entire bottle, I don't just want one pair of boots, I want them in black and brown.....I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture!) but it would appear that having unlimited access to the world wide web has taken my addictivity (no it's not a word, but it should be) to a whole new and unprecedented level. And with no Ricardo to distract me (he's in Wales, with teenagers, gorge walking or similar...total nightmare) I was unstoppable.

Spare time is a funny thing, isn't it? When I'm at work, I fantasize about how if I had spare time, I would spend all day cleaning and washing and ironing and tidying and go to the gym and spend house browsing the soft furnishings department in John Lewis. I'd eat healthily and read mind-broadening books.

And yet, when I have spare time, such as today, I manage to accomplish bugger all. (That said, I have managed to purchase a lovely curtain pole for the living room (yes, from John Lewis) and have coffee with my mama, so it's not a total waste of the day. However, it's 15:02 now, I could certainly fit in a visit to the gym before the evening's festivities kick in. Think how much better I'll feel once I've been, think how virtuous and righteous I shall feel.

But you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll still be sat here in an hour, ensconsed (sp?) in cyber-space. I'm concerned I'm becoming a fully-fledged nerd, and perhaps more alarmingly, damaging my eyesight! Specsavers here I come for those cute little Red or Dead numbers, in brown, and - given my aforementioned addictive personality/ addictivity - most probably black as well!

Help!

Tom Baker

I suppose it's a bit ''old hat'' now, ('old hat'! How's that for a Malory Towers expression!!??) but I have found the changeover from BT Lady to Tom Baker (ex Doctor Who, and voiceover man from Little Britain') on the BT Voice Text service absolutely, utterly, splendiferously highly amusing. Am now annoying family on a daily basis with lines from Little Britain. The 2 most hilarious reactions were from Jen - dear sister that she is - got VERY annoyed with me, wanting to know how I was making it Tom Baker's voice and 'can you make it other people because that would be truly splunkers' - and my dear mama who was rather confused (now we know where I get it from) and asked whether you had to type everything in the 3rd person because every message began with 'hello, this is Tom Baker here...' I tried (in vain) to explain that it just reads out what you type, and I was actually typing 'hello this is Tom Baker here..' but did she get it? Did she fudge.

Anyhoo, it's lots of fun, so I highly recommend it. Especially when you type Little Britain lines...'Anyway, I must go now, as I have a poo coming out - Good Tie' hahahahahahahaha makes me laugh my head off.

The only bummer is when people don't have BT phone lines, so they don't get the message.

I don't know, with all this technological advancement in my life, I'll end up never speaking to people again - issue needs addressing methinks.

Good tie!

The Others are coming....

Sucked in doesn't even begin to cover it! In an attempt to fend off the temptation to watch Season 5 of 24 before I've watched Season 4, I've come across the first 10 episodes of Season 2 of Lost! Yes, (smiles smugly) I know what happens after they blow open the hatch! OH-MY-GAH! Quite simply, it rocks. You will be sooooooooo shocked! (Don't worry, I won't reveal the plot)

I can't explain my passion/obsession with all things American, but this defo comes into that category. Can't wait for 5pm so I can go home and watch more!

PS. How cool is it that it doesn't have, nay, even need a theme tune!

Wishin' and hopin' and prayin' and dreamin'...

This is North Vancouver, taken from downtown Vancouver 'yesterday at lunch' by my good friend Mr Huot, who is lucky enough to live and lunch in that fair city.(Ian the IT man reliably informs me that Vancouver is, indeed, a city - I wasn't sure, got a bit confused!)

Anyhoop, here it is.....how pretty...I hope to spend August here!

In other news, every single one of the anonymous Valentine's I sent got guessed. Poop. Most amusing response was my brother's sarky text of 'Good one Liz' not even pretending to be surprised. BOOO to him I say. Ah well, next year I shall perfect my plan! mwaa hah hah hah. I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog too!

Love is in the air....

Not that we're massively doing anything for Valentine's, because frankly, every day is filled with love, but I thought I'd post a pic of my beloved. Now, before you puke all over my blog, think about it. When you marry someone, isn't that what you promise? To love each and every day no matter what? So, we're not celebrating on principle, but I might bake heart shaped biscuits, just because I can! Happy first married Valentine's day Rich - I love you! And to everyone else, I love you too - and I mean it!

Gripe du jour

...Pervy old men who insist on wearing goggles in the pool to look at girls' legs etc. PERVS! Don't think we don't know either! You're so obvious - at least TRY to hide the fact!

Grrrrrrrrrrr...

Endings

What ho old chaps!

In the middle of handing in my notice from this current job, to move onto the next thing...I'm finding myself speaking in nostalgic terms of 'Oh that's the last time I'll....' - I even paused, somewhat misty-eyed, in the doorway to my office at 8am this morning, thinking 'oh I shall miss this office' when on an ordinary day I hate it with a passion. What's that about hey? Why are humans so resistant to change anyway? Or maybes it's just me?! I dunno. I think it's about the familiar, knowing what I'm doing, knowing where I stand with employers and colleagues, being 'at the top of my game' so to speak, whereas in five short weeks I shall be 'the new girl' OH HOW I HATE BEING THE NEW GIRL! YES it's a pride thing! YES it's a security thing! YES it's a worrying-about-what-other-people-will-think-of-me thing!

I know it's right to move on, I know it'a a good position to be in, I know it's good progression-wise and financially speaking it kicks butt BUT there's still alittle part of me that whines' Oh but why can't I just stay here where it's nice and safe and I know what I'm doing and when I don't know I can blag it!?'

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...?!

I have issues (clearly), and I'm proud of it!

perplexing........

Q: Why is it when you bake cakes, the cake cases don't burn?

In other news, This is Emma - also known as Beevers, also known as Ho Lo.

We look a bit manic on account of attending the Annual Scooby Gang Pre-Christmas Secret Santy Balti at the illustrious Alam Balti, Bebington.

Scooby gang, more pics to follow...!!

Word.

"Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes - God takes pleasure in your pleasure!Dress festively every morning.Don't skimp on colors and scarves.Relish life with the spouse you love each and every day of your precarious life.Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive.Make the most of each one!Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!This is your last and only chance at it..."Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 (MSG)

How cool is that?! I found it whilst blog surfing and loved it, so I nicked it (oops!) - aha the marvel of cutting and pasting! That's defo how I wanna live my life, as if each day is a gift...kinda hard to get your head around, well for me anyways, but I find that the more I watch the news, the more I work with people with the most difficult issues and challenges to face each day, the more I get to know people and my friends and family, the more I am challenged to the very tips of my fingers and ends of my toes to live in the freedom of loving life and grabbing each day as if it's my last....hmmmm, I'm making some headway but I ain't there yet!

Right, I'm off to drink some wine with a robust heart! That might well be my very favourite Bible verse! =)

Ooooh!!!

Many things to be happy about:

The weather feels like spring today!
I discovered I can swim a length in 37 seconds (which I thought was good?)
I finished a box of peppermint tea!
The sky is very blue and clouds are white and fluffy!
Shredded Wheat comes in mini verisons.
We're having steak for dinner!
Ron & Elizabeth are joining our cell!
I still have a bottle of red wine left and i thought i didn't (save it for ya Na!)
I baked cakes last night
My exam is over
People have blogs and I love looking at them
I have shiny hair (that is a joke)

I love life.

From the sublime.......

....to Mrs Abigail Murphy with her lovely husband, Neville! Only joking, that's just a poster. But I promised I'd post it for Abs! Taken on her 'Hen Do' surprise, we took her to the Liverpool Philharmonic to see/hear a swing orchestra. Top banana. And Claire Sweeney was there.

Here you go Abbers, good memories hey?! Love ya XxXxXx

Musings

Isn't t'internet a funny thang? You can be whoever (whomever?) you want to be and spin any old yarn. Who's gonna know?? Also this blogging thing, how open can I be? How real? How freaky to think that anyone can access it or happen upon it randomly and know my thoughts and stuff. Those of you who read this know me and so the conversation's we'd have face to face would be frank and honest, so why not here?! It's an interesting experiment with self really. I'm all about the self these days....training as a counsellor is a journey and a half let me tell you. So how honest am I willing to be? Can I talk about my life with God here? Can I reveal where I'm at with life? Who has the answer?

Maybe I'm suffering from blog insecurity? Everyone else's seems so much more deep and meaningful (Sal!), or insightful and poignant (Anna!), or downright forthright (Rike)!

Must do better...

We had our exam today - it was hard, not at all what I would have expected but hey de ho it's O-V-E-R and I'm still alive. In other news, I got the HR pack for my new job - it's really happening - woot woot! So now I'm skiving off pilates and updating my client records...yes they let me loose on real clients these days! (not in pilates, you understand, in counselling!)

Over and out

OOOH!! PS - downloaded Season 5 prequel of 24 coz we don't have Sky - you can really do that! genius status at computers restored - woo hoo!

Confused...and not in a good way!

Hey,
So, I logged onto my blog today after having 'fixed' the problem with y'all not being able to comment, expecting to see all the comments from everyone fully restored to their rightful place...but noooooooo...they're gone!

Yesterday the issue appeared to have been that I had inadvertently clicked the 'comment moderation' button, so all your comments were being emailed to me for careful consideration before allowing them on my blog. Which is funny, because why on earth would I bother doing that!? So I 'published' them all from my email and they appeared fine, but now they're all gone when I checked today. I AM SO CONFUSED and my 'I am a computer genius' parade has been utterly and categorically rained on. I am now going to sulk.

Can anyone help??!! Anna? Tim? Joshua? Charis? (Look at me asking for computer help from ninos...?!!)

Yours rather disgruntledly (sp?!)

me x

For Jen & Adam

Further to a telephone conversation with my little sister this evening, I promised to post this delightful masterpiece of a picture (Cate Thornton ain't got nuffin' on me!!??!! )

And here it is! WHAT a beauty! Adam is my sister's partner in crime, a wonderful and talented chap pictured wearing my luverly gold boots that Santy brought me. He didn't even need that much coaxing to put them on, so he fits into the family super-well! Lookin' good Gorman, you can bet your ass this'll come back to haunt you once you're rich and famous!!!!!

http://www.thebrotherswithdifferentmothers.com/

Grammatical Issues

My favourite news correspondent on Channel 4 news is 'Damien Grammaticus' - what a cool name, that should have been my name. (Not the 'Damien' part, you understand, but the Grammaticus part)

Anyhoo, to get back to the point of this post, I have always been troubled by people who say 'I must of' instead of 'I must HAVE'

It's HAVE, you planks, I want to shout!

So much so, that I have just corrected someone's post on a message board to read 'must have' instead of 'must of'....I'm a bit worried about myself, but then again, Lynne Truss would be proud of me!

delusions of grandeur...

....but just to redress the balance, here I am with Flavio Briatore!! heh heh heh!

He who must be obeyed

Rich was rather concerned that there was only one photograph of him on my blog. So, to that end, here is another of the chap himself. Once again at the Barcelona 2005 Grand Prix, he maintains he is being asked for his autograph by the legendary Jacques Villeneuve & DC. (deluded?!)

Aw, bless.

Back to the faves...

Got some pictures developed at lunchtime (yes I still haven't quite got onto the whole digital revolution - plus the child in me LOVES not knowing what the film is of when you hand it in for developing - it's like a surprise when you get them back!!) and they are of some favourite people of mine, so I thought I'd share them with you.

This is Colin and Julie, they are fabulous and also jammy beggars as they are currently hobnobbing around the globe. In addition to this, they recently got engaged!! CONGRATULATIONS Mr & Mrs Povall to be! I can't wait till they move back to blighty, it'll be super-fun, as they say in the OC.

Anyhoo, so that's Col & Jules!

More later xxx

Sweeeeeeeet!

We have Broadband. Life is good.....I'm so excited I might puke!

Question.

What's the difference between a raisin and a sultana? This has been puzzling me for some time now, please help.

This is Cate!

Voila the lovely Cate Thornton!

Here we are at Liverpool's illustrious Albert Dock, and YES, I am wearing clothes!

Cate is magnificent. She, too, resides in a far flung place, saving the world with her joy, laugh, peacefullness, grace, awesome sense of humour, camera and penchant for suntans.

Cate loves sunsets, Dawson's Creek and PEOPLE! I miss her...

'These are a few of my favourite things....'

Not so much raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, but PEOPLE! Here are a few of my favourite people...now, I am limited currently as I am at work and don't have all my pics uploaded here, so don't be sad if there's not a picture of you ...it's just a matter of time and my technological wizardry! Besides, you know who you are!


This dude is Daniel Brearley - better known as Brezlington. A fan of eating, Dan was the forefather of the phenomenon which came to be known as 'Second Breakfast' . He also enjoys trips to Pizza Hut. He is currently in some far flung land, wearing, as you can see from this picture, his grandma's 'leisure suit' hoody by Dash at House of Fraser. He is simply 'a good'un'