Spring-tastic

Hello blog readers! Long time no speak eh?

Well, its about time I put that right isn't it? Where are we? 27th April already??

Ok so obviously I'm still working at Argos, hours are subject to change each week, but yeah that is still a constant.
Still going to the JobCentre regularly (all the cool kids go there)! Another constant, but not quite so fun as Argos...

Over Easter weekend Mum and I got DIY-tastic and went shopping in Eastbourne. We went to Homebase, where they had 20% off and I got a further 20% off on top of that staff discount! We got new tiles for the kitchen floor and all the guff you need to put them down and some paint for my bedroom walls, with a Dulux Paint Pod that basically paints the wall for you so long as you hold it and wave it in a vaguely up-and-down motion. Bonus!

At Argos I got myself some wall art, including the really cool "Keep Calm and Carry On" one that I've wanted for ages. I also got a new duvet cover set. Later, back at my home Argos, I also bought myself a new bookcase and bedside cabinet and I'll be adding to it (bed, smaller bookcase, desk etc) as finances permit.

Add to that the fact that we're having a good old clear out on eBay, giving us cash to fund the DIY and valuable house room, then we're all set to have a nice shiny, presentable house soon. Tis rather exciting, especially since summer is coming!

In recent events, I went to visit Ellie for what I call a weekend, but is actually Monday-Wednesday. The first night I was there we rented a film and cooked fajitas and had an afternoon chat-a-thon to catch up.
On the Tuesday, we visited Cambridge for the whole day. I got to see some of the awesome colleges and take some pictures of them. Then we went to watch the punting! Yep, we watched groups of tourists, especially the Japanese, attempting to master the art of punting and having varying degrees of success...
Later on, it was time for major shopping. I can't list all of the places we went to but it was epic and I got a lovely, summery top in H&M and a great pair of sandals in Gap - I wore them out to town the other day and they were way comfy!

It was so great to see Ellie, because we hadn't seen each other since Graduation Day! That's why I'm quite excited about upcoming events this weekend... So much happening in one weekend! So, its Ruth's birthday on Bank Holiday Monday (as well as my Dad's) and she asked me if I wanted to spend the weekend in London with her for the occasion - of course I do! Tom is also getting baptised that weekend, so Ruth and I can zoom across from London to be there too. It'll be cool to see the others that are coming up/down/along for the occasion, including - I hope - Sarah!!

Then after that we're in May and I can't believe we'll be in the 5th month of the year. Gosh. Then it'll be June and my Mum's bday and then Izzie and Chris' wedding at ABC in Soton. I bought selected items from their gift list this morning, which was exciting indeed! After a great deal of consultation with my Mum on what constitutes a good present, I decided on a worktop saver and two measuring jugs...

I've also applied to Helenswood (the local girls secondary school) to invigilate with them this summer. I don't know if I'll get it or not, but the JobCentre can't fault me for trying, can they? At least its something I know and can look forward to! What will be better/worse though...Cantell or an all girls school? Will I ever find out? I'll let you know!!

Ummmm what else? There are other things in the pipeline, but I need to leave something for my next blog!! Special mentions go to Stu who arrived in South Africa this week to do gap year stuff, doing children's work and sporty stuff and to all of the peeps doing PGCEs this year, who are currently in their last ever weeks of lectures and then will do their final placements before qualifying! Gooood luck.
Other than that I'm just generally excited that summer is on the way (I actually wore sandals for the first time this week!) and I hope you are too!

Thoughts on being Proactive

Well Good Morning readers of my blog, I hope you had a pleasent Monday and a nice weekend to go with it!

This week, well starting on Wednesday that is, me and the maternal figure started what we understood to be a computer course with a company called Real Time Training here in foggy old Hastings.
The first 3 days were spent on "employability" - doing CVs, mock application and thinking about all of the goals and aspirations that we have for ourselves. I might add on some of the thing I came up with for things like Ideal House, Ideal Relationships, Ideal Career etc. That was quite fun seeing as how I've been cutting up the Argos catalogue for the last couple of weeks and making collages of how I would have the different rooms in my house done, from all of the items in the Argos catalogue.

Course wise:
Yesterday we completed the IT Applications, Risk Assessment and Health and Safety Courses; so should get a little certificate for each of those. Today we are doing Manual Handling, Fire Safety and tomorrow we should do the food Hygiene Certificate. The big point is that it has inspired me to get an NVQ in Customer Service!! What do you reckon? Do you think I can do it? Course I can (I hope!)!
So that is where the proactive part comes in to play!! Of course there is a possibility that it'll never happen, but it would never have happened in the fist place unless I had the inspiration!

**New Thought** Maybe I'll get an NVQ in Childcare or another qualification in childcare... Maybe I won't. But you know how it goes, if you don't take the first step, you'll never start the journey - you'll definately never get to your destination!!
The other thing this course has highlighted to me, is that I need to work on my people skills, so who knows... Watch this space for any other crazy ideas I may have.

My No1 thought?
NEVER LET THE FEAR OF STRIKING OUT KEEP YOU FROM PLAYING THE GAME

Gold and Gloom for GB!!

20th Feb 10

Yes, yes, yes! GB have won thier first individual gold medal at the Winter Olympic games since Robin Cousins in 1980!! Hooray! I stayed up until about 2am to see it live on TV and it wasn't disappointing!
Shelly Rudman came 6th for GB too and the men did really well to have two of them in the final and be 8th and 20th I think...

So, medals eh? Pretty awesome for us to have one! I'm also hopeful for the Kerrs in the Figure Skating and for the men and women's Curling teams to do us proud.

That's not to say that the likes of Chemmy Alcott, Ed Drake, Lesley McKenna, Zoe Gillings and the others who have competed for GB haven't. Chemmy Alcott did really well I thought, coming 11th(?) in the downhill.

I just think its so great that we have such a big team, representing a variety of sports competing in 2010 in these Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Watch this space for more Olympic style joy!!

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24th Feb 10

So this is not really Olympic joy, but that is part and parcel of being British - losing at stuff but still having maximum optimism. So...

The Kerrs came 8th in the Ice Dance and Penny Coombes/Nick Buckland came 19th (in their first Olympics!) so it was really good for us to have 2 couples in the finals and watching all of the different dances was grrrreat. My favourite dance has to be the original dance by the Kerrs, I thought it was really creative and fun - the crowd certainly loved it big time.
However, big time love from the crowd and the judges went to Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir (who are Canadian obviously) who won gold in the end. I have to admit they were pretty breath-taking!

Curling has to be the most disappointing at the mo though. The women's team went out doubly when Switzerland beat Germany and when we lost to Canada. So their Olympic hopes are out of the window and they are out of the competition.
The men lost to Norway last night so now we MUST beat Sweden in a tie-breaker game if we are to advance to the semi-finals.

So there is hope there, and there is also hope for us in the women's 2 man bobsleigh, which starts today, so I'll be keeping a special eye on that after the men's team crashed out in qualifying. Apparently, they've made efforts to make the course a little less dangerous - as they did when the Georgian luger died.

So some stuff to hope for and other exciting stuff just to watch: snowboarding and ski cross for example.

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25th Feb 10

Pretty much all gloom today as Nicola Minichielo and Gillian Cooke crashed out of the women's 2 man bobsliegh yesterday. It was a pretty spectacular crash and it's so lucky that they were both ok!

The men's curling team took their tie-breaker match with Sweden right to the 11th end and were tied 6-6. Then Sweden got 1 in the last end to take the match and the 4th and final place in the quarter final. Darn.

It's not all about winning though, its the taking part and its so great, literally, to see so many GB athletes in so many different events. GB2 for example (the second 2 man team in the women's bob) finished 11th and its only their first Olympics, so we have great hope for them to improve for 4 years time.

Hmmm, and still the Games go on! So watch this space for my final thoughts as they wind down to a close and as we see the final medals decided - the ice hockey for example!!!

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1st Mar 10

So, the Games are over and all that's left are the litterpickers (I made that up, but it sounds good!). Canada, have gone from being the only Olympic host nation in history to have never won a gold on home soil, to being the most successful Olympic host nation in history, having won 14 golds at these games. So well done to Canada.

On the subject of Canada, my heart was in my mouth as I watched - live - the Gold medal match in the men's hockey. Excitement! Canada lead going in tot he last period and then with roughly 20secs to go, the USA equalised - oh my word! So then they went to a 20min golden goal period and Canada scored. And won the gold. And celebrated.

Hopefully though, they didn't celebrate like the Canadian women's team (who also won Gold). They were show, celebrating on the ice that evening; smoking cigars, drinking champagne etc. That is no the way I (or the IOC for that matter) would expect world class athletes to behave, it could have even put their medal in jeopardy!! Silly.

All in all though, the Games have been good. Canada did us proud as hosts and Team Canada did themselves proud. Team GB did our sceptred isle proud too, roll on Russia in 4 years time! Also roll on London 2012, please do not let us cack it up and show ourselves up to the whole world. I just hope I can get some tickets!!!

So my Olympic post is over, hope you've enjoyed the Games as much as I did. Adios!

Hmmm, I really must blog some more

...and I will, just not now!

I also have philosophical longings in me, so I may have to blog and investigate the meaning of life.

In the meantime, you will find me glued to the Winter Olympics, go Team GB!
RIP of course to the Georgian luger who died.

*WE* *WILL*, *WE* *WILL* *ROCK* *YOU*

So, this has to be my favourite musical of all time...so what better way to celebrate turning the grand old age of 22 than by spending a weekend with my dear friends Sarah and Tom and seeing the best musical of all time: We Will Rock You, based of course, on the music of the awesome Queen.

I took the train to London, it was seriously touch-and-go though. I missed work because of the weather the previous 2 days but did finally manage to get to the train station. Lots of trains were cancelled, but eventually I reached Clapham Junction where I met up with Tom and we journeyed together to New Malden (Sarah very kindly put Tom and I up!).

The first thing we did was Christmas!! Yes, I know, Christmas in January!! So we passed around pressies. After Christmas, we did my birthday - and all of the pressies were coming my way that time! So, I recieved 2 tops from Tom (one evening-y and one summery) and from Sarah I got a personalised mug that she had decorated with a picture of the 3 Muskateers and which was a very unique present indeed! I also got an umbrella that lights with LED lights that change colour - and that's so cool! I did have a bit of a job taking it home with me though!!

Around 4pm, we went to change in to our theatrical attire. I gave a little advice/persuasion to Sarah over clothes so she was wearing a little jewellery and a cute pink jumper. I think it was nice to dress up and Sarah - especially - looked lovely.

We ate ouut on The Strand, at an Italian-run restaurant called Salieri. We opted ultimately for all 3 courses and that must speak volumes as to the quality of the food! I certainly enjoyed each course from the starter which was a salmon roulade, my main which was a lovely steak in red wine sauce and the tiramisu dessert. I was stuffed by the end, but would definately recommend the restaurant - not only for the food; but for the atmosphere, the staff, the location and the value-for-money.

Ultimately though, we bid the Salieri goodbye, hopped on the tube to Tottenham Court Eoad and emerged right outside of the Dominion Theatre, which has been home to We Will Rock You for a good many years, and where I had seen it once before. I was really, really, really excited! Just to be back in a London theatre, seeing a musical, with my friends, for my birthday was amazing. To see my favourite musical of all-time was the total icing on the cake!!

So, from start to finish, I was hooked. I sung along to every song, anticipated some of my favourite bits, was amazingly suprised by bits I'd forgotten and had a thoroughly grrrreat time, clapping, cheering, singing and laughing. Gosh it was a very happy day indeed. I'd wanted to see it again for years after I first saw it, and then I had. Awesome.

Naturally, we all had a little lie-in the following morning, but then we drove over to Richmond Park around lunchtime and took Archie for a walk. The park was as much a winter wonderland as you could ever expect and we had a substantial walk, seeing the deer (and keeping Archie away from them!) and playing in the snow. It was lovely just to walk, talk, have fun and be together. The afternoon, saw us comsume a large amount of my birthday cake (a giant pink French fancy!!!), make a chocolate puzzle, make a start on the puzzle ball Tom had given Sarah and play some games.

Tom departed that night as he had to work on the Sunday. I overnighted again with Sarah, and then departed on Sunday. Since central London is on my journey route home, I had made plans to do a little shopping at some shops that we don't have down here in rural Hastings: Primark, Disney store, Jane Norman etc. So after my little jaunt I headed over to Waterloo East to catch my train home.

I'm still rankled by the fact that the man at the info desk who laughed at me when I asked for trains to Hastings. Eventually it transpired that everyone had to pop on the train to Cannon Street (no explanation offered!) and get the train from there, which ran fine, if a little late due to us being stuck behind the stopping service in front of us. Nonetheless, I was home by around 3.30pm and had plenty of time on the way to listen to my new iPod (which I had done all weekend) on the way.


So all-in-all, a fantabulous weekend all round, and the best way I could have celebrated my birthday by far, since I'm not in to partying, and do lurve a bit of Queen. Not to mention the characters in the musical: Scarramoushe, Galilleo Figaro, Killer Queen and the GaGa girls/boys!

So, I leave you with some words from them:
"All we hear is radio Ga Ga
Video Goo Goo
Internet Ga Ga
All we hear is cyberspace Ga Ga
Marketing Blah Blah

Always something new
Globalsoft, all your world loves you"!

From "No Snow" to "No More Snow"!

Well as I sit here on a freezing Tuesday night, we are expecting 20cm of snow!

Let this self-confessed snow freak now declare that I really do not want a snow day on Thursday or Friday as I won't be able to go to London. That would be disasterous!!

Now, we were all excited/in anticipation when, at work today, it started snowing - and it looked great. Buuut, I hope it doesn't stop play on my very carefully laid weekend plans.

So do you hear me? No More *Serious* Snow Please!! I'll report back on further news relating to the weather situation as and when it breaks.

Just spoken to Tom to confirm, co-ordinate etc all of our plans and it all seems to be smooth sailing from here on in. Roll on Friday.

<<2 days left>>

UPDATE: Less than 24 hours til departure

Well I couldn't go to work today (Thurs) or yesterday, and we had more snow this afternoon. Police have been stationed on our road most of the day, helping cars and lorries that were getting stuck. So hmmmm, what are the chances of me getting to Surrey tomorrow? Well, I'll let you know what happens. Nowt I can actually do about it.

A Christmas Tale...

Hope you had a great Christmas and have a happy New Year people!

So, I've just got back from a sales shopping spree in Tunbridge Wells. My good friend Mr Mastercard was nice and bought me some stuff there! However, there is the small matter that what should have taken us 45 mins door-to-door, took us 2 hours. We got stuck in a major traffic jam on the outskirts of the town, that was the queue to get in to Royal Victoria Place. One hour and 15 later we got to the shops!!!

It was a very good spree overall, apart from the fact that the Disney Store has closed down since the last time I was there. Major :-(

So I worked pretty much all the time in the run-up to Christmas, including Christmas Eve and then Boxing Day, Bank Holiday Monday and I'm back in New Year's Eve and on my birthday too! Hoooray. Then I'll be 22... Hmmmm.

Sooo, Christmas....

Weeel, we did our big food shop on the 23rd - having pre-ordered the turkey! Then the parents did quite a lot of the cooking on Christmas Eve when I was at work dealing with all of the genuinely miserable last-minute shoppers. When I got home I wrapped my presents and then we were all ready for the big day! It panned out like this...

9am I'm roused from my slumber by Tom texting me, so I suppose there was little else for it - time to get up.

By 10am I was all ready and downstairs. On go the Christmas lights. The first argument of the day broke out over how many parawns we need. Food prep begins - the dogs look on in anticipation of what is to come - out comes the sprout tree, swede and carrot, roaties, prawns and parsnips.

Come 11am kitchen activity is going on in earnest. Out comes the custard, cranberry sauce, seafood sauce, caramellised onion etc. Veg makes its was in to saucepans and on to baking trays. Plates are laid out for the first course, the prawn cocktail.

Half an hour later sees me grappling with the sprout tree. Mum rejoices that the annual hunt for the cake forks ahs been rendered uneccessary - she found then in October and had left them out specially!

12 midday Rejoicing cut short as an argument erupts over the location of the corkscrew. Swearing joins cacaphony of arguing as Mum trips over the dog. Dad opens the wine with a multi-tool, when he turns to get a glass, the dogs lick the bottle top. The wine is tipped away as its off and we open Cava (disgusting) and a Rosé Lambrusco to have with dinner.
It is also suspected that the seafood sauce is off, but we add it liberally to the prawns anyway.

By 12.30pm Mum is ready to dish up the dinner and also does the dogs version at the same time. We open a third bottle of wine - all without a corkscrew. Heated debate arises over which way to point a cork when pulling out of a bottle.

1pm We have an argument over who should clean up the swede/carrot mash Mum has just dropped on the floor. The dog eats it off the floor, so all is well.

The dogs dinner is put down and we sit down to our Prawn Cocktail at 1.30pm and, finally, at 1.45pm we eat dinner. We're done by 2.30pm and agree to postpone dessert until later. The dogs gleefully finish off the leftovers. Present opening begins, only pausing for the Queen's Speech.

5pm We all agree on the fact that Christmas TV is shockingly bad and put on a DVD - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

On the present front, I got my lovely red DS and four games for it, which has kept me unequivocally occupied ever since. That was my main present and then I got some face cream, fluffy socks, a book about Christmas and money from parential friends.

So under the tree now are my birthday presents - I know what they are, but I'm not gonna say, because that would spoil all the suprise!! Let's just say that its all looking very pink!

So I had today off and I 'm off tomorrow, before a couple more days of work. Then the great occasion on the horizon is my birthday trip to London with my dear friends Sarah and Tom, for the weekend. More when I have birthday-age to report.

**HAPPY 2010**