Gigs, Gogs, Specs

Today I got glasses! These aren't them, these belong to Mr Paskar BUT I did get some today. My mummy came with me to help me pick ones that didn't make me look a bugger. I chose 2 pairs - 'shoulda gone to SpecSavers' - and one is black and the other brown so as to coordinate with my outfits - I'm not kidding. Best of all, the Council paid some towards them so I am not totally broke - woot woot!

In other news, no-one blogs anymore (except you Charis!), tomorrow I am going to a wedding (Congrats Mr & Mrs Roberts) at the Lowry, I get to stay at Johnny's and eat at Kro 2 on Sunday morn - mmmmmmmm. And then some of my bestest pals are back from their travels in Africa: Abbi, Hanny, Chrissy, Luce, Gav, Stoff, Rob WELCOME HOME! We missed you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's all my news for today....laters people xxxxx

Feliz Cumpleanos!!

Happy Birthday to me!!!!!!!!! Yesterday I was 28! YIKES!

I can't cope.

Ok, so during the month of September this year, I have thus far had to endure (a) having my first ever filling, (b) the looming prospect of turning 28 and (c) today I found out I need glasses!

I AM OFFICIALLY OLD AND DECREPID! :(

On the up side, I opened the latest edition of Heat Magazine yesterday (whilst at the effing dentist...AGAIN!), turned to the Letters Page and there it is, page 20, Letter of the Week...ME,ME, ME!!!!!!!!!! Woot Woot! I have finally achieved a lifetime ambition of being (a) a published author) and, (b) in HEAT MAGAZINE!

Yes ladies and gents, I am now famous!

PLUS I get a new phone for being Letter of the Week!

And all because I thought I saw a photo of John Travolta snogging Dermot O'Leary. As my dear papa would say, stranger things have happened at sea!

Hanny Heart

Hanny's in lurve! Hanny's in lurve! (I take it the move was made) She'll kill me for this blog but I had to! YAY FOR HANNY AND CHRISTIAN! About ruddy time! I love u Hann xxxx

We're BA-ACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Had a whizzo time in Pwllheli! Now back at work (poop) but hey-de-ho, what can ya do?

Went to the dentist today - was shocked to see that she was younger than me. Felt like one of those old women who questions the validity of a doctor/dentist/other such professional qualifications coz they look too young. haha.

Considering porcelain veneers.....or whitening at the very least. On verra!

Bugger all to report really, so I'll go for now till I have something more thrilling to write.

Tra

PS I am nearly 28 - booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

We're all going on a much needed holiday!

Ok, so here's something I was thinking about the other day. I really like the way Bus Drivers wave to one another when they pass. I've noticed this a lot on my daily commutes. It's like a club or something. But it's very serious, as Arriva drivers only acknowledge fellow Arriva drivers, and Stage Coach their fellow Stage Coachers, and so on. It's all about solidarity. Community. Team. Showin' the love. I think it's great.
We're off to the caravan tomorrow - it'd better be sunny. If not, Turkey next year fo' sho'!!
So I won't be blogging until we're back as the Internet hasn't been invented yet in Pwlhelli or however the heck you spell it. Try not to miss me too much. This is, therefore, my last post of the summer! Wowee how quickly time flies! It'll soon be my birthday…YIKES! 28! Yeesh!
Loads to look forward to in Sept, take heart dear reader! Weddings x 2, another hen do, Hann's bday, my bday, the nights drawing in, 16 weeks till Christmas, red wine and gal pals, winter fashion, the gang to Kenya, the gang back from Kenya (2 weeks guys, it's just for 2 weeks!!), new shoes, new pencil case, ooooh the back to school vibe!!
And to finish…
A quick hello to Mitchell and Povall who are rejoining Blighty soon from a year's travelling! AND a VERY WELL DONE and CONGRATULATIONS to Jenny Holmes on a whopping 2 A's, 3 B's and 5 C's in her GCSE'S!!!! We're so proud of you chicken Holmes!
Ciao bellas, a caravaning we will go!

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!!!!