Oh I do like to be beside the seaside...

Big Booey took me out for the day today (it's getting more like care in the community every day here...) We had a wander along the promenade, strolled down the longest pleasure pier in the whole wide world and had ourselves some fish & chips for our dinner.... the simple pleasures in life.










Tomorrow we are taking ourselves to B&Q. I mean, really, how much more excitement can one person take? The good news, and I mean, proper good news is that we went and got ourselves a new bath tap unit on Sunday - with a shower mixer bit built in - which Boo is going to fit on Friday when I'm back at work. That means that for the first time since I moved into SGR nearly a year ago, I will be able to wash my hair under running clean water instead of rinsing with a plastic measuring jug. You can not believe how much I am looking forward to this. Far more than any New Years Eve celebration fandango nonsense. We've had the "what are we doing tomorrow?" conversation. He said "nothing". I said "oh ok". He said "why, what are YOU doing?". Like I would be doing something that didn't involve him.... I mean, obviously I would love to do something. Something glamorous and fabulous. Something involving fancy wine, fancy food, a touch of dancing maybe, a gorgeous party frock with high heels, glossy hair, glossy lips... a casino maybe, a yacht, fireworks. Oh the possibilities would be endless if I was a different person with a different life. What I will be doing though no doubt involves a ponytail, no makeup, no contact lenses, jimjamjarmapegs, TV, diet coke and something out of the freezer. Shouldn't life in general be more exciting, more colourful, more ... something than this? Don't get me wrong now, I know I have a lot to be happy and content with. I know I'm very lucky blah bloody blah. I've got a roof over my head, food in the cupboards, enough money to pay the electric bill, a job to keep that money rolling in (touch wood, cross fingers etc etc), all my limbs, all my senses, some brain cells rattling around in my noggin... but you know, it's very, you know, blah isn't it? All this sort of same old same old stuff. Am I suffering with post Christmas blues? Do I have New Year stress syndrome? Am I getting myself in a tizzy for nothing, or for something? Answers on a postcard to Discombobulated Mansion, Cross Roads Avenue, Can't Be Arsed Town, Pissed Off and Grumpy.

Happy Christmas

These are my favourite photos so far of the festive season....

I couldn’t quite say what on earth I’ve been up to that’s been so important that it’s meant that yet again 2 weeks have passed since a post… Soz. Luckily the world has gone credit crunch shopping crazy so I am pretty sure no-one has time to read this blog, and therefore hasn't missed it at all... Anyway, for those that do care ...

We had our Work Christmas lunch. Very nice it was. I had goats cheese with peppers. Then some pasta. Then some Tiramisu. And I wore a Christmas hat and pulled a Christmas cracker.

We had the dress fittings with Boo’s Sister and Niece – they looked stunning. In just 131 days they will get to wear them. 131 days...

I made another Key Lime Pie. I left it in the kitchen at Work along with a note that said “Fresh cream key lime pie – must be eaten today – SJP”. The ink on the note was still wet when the last slice was taken…

I had a great evening with two of my favourite author lady friends. We talked about men and books over some Italian food whilst drinking Proseco. Does life get any better than that?

I started and finished Sophie Kinsella’s new one Remember Me?. It’s been nominated on the long list in the Romantic Novelist of the Year Award 2009. I’ve been to the award ceremony a couple of times along with the blue rinse brigade. Its brilliant, slightly silly, and not usually very at home to standard chick lit, so it’s a great nomination…but I fear there are not quite enough clogs and shawls to guarantee it a place on the shortlist.

So, in a couple of hours Chrimbo proper will be upon us, and two weeks of sitting around watching TV and eating my body weight in lard will begin. This year we've got a day with my mum and a day with his mum. Then we've got a bunch of days on our own. Next year we will be Mr and Mrs and I am determined we will bugger off on our own for a romantic get away. But for now its sprouts all round and lots of ITV repeats.

I'm looking forward already to my 2009 New Year Resolutions. Remember the last ones? Oh what fun I've had obeying none of them...

Anyway hope you have a lovely festive season and Santa brings you everything you want. Including the blow job.

It’s been a long old two weeks since I last posted…during that time Boo and I celebrated our anniversary with a lovely day off and an afternoon trip to the flicks to (finally) see Quantum of DooDar. I really enjoyed it, him not so much... and I do agree that a kiss on the back does not a sex scene make.

I met up with two of my bestest gentlemen friends from The Big W for some dirty dog burger dinner treats and some gay cruising observation on Old Compton Street. A good time was had by all – until we all had various degrees of dodgy belly, due to the dog burger…. never again I tell you.

I had my first fitting for The Dress. Cripes what fun. The tailor is actually having to take it in, yes, take it in around the hips and bust… the hips and bust I tell you, cause it’s too big. TOO BIG. Obviously, I never want to be told what size it started off at, but that’s by the by. We’ve gone for about a foot off the train, and a little satin shrug affair to hide the old bingo wing area, but other than that, not too shabby. Although the only comment made by The Mother was “Mmmm, it’s not the same as I remember”. Nice.

With 5 months to go till the Big Day, all the bits and bobs are fitting into place nicely. We’ve had a success on the suit front for Boo and the Brother-In-Law, with a nice three piece in charcoal that makes them both look simply yummy, and we are going to hire the colour coordinated cravats from a shop down in Worthing. I spent 4 hours wrapping up all the gifts we’ve bought for everyone – decorated in sparkles, feathers, ribbon and jewels – and then spent ½ hour checking with Boo that I hadn’t gone over the top… I’ve bought The Nieces dress online – a gorgeous white frufru creation with diamante’s and tulle, which is going to look gorgeous with the wings we got from fairylove for her to wear.

I had a rather teary farewell to my friend who is leaving Blighty for an extended round the world trip before going back home to NZ to live. We knocked back a couple of bottles of Rose, and I made her promise to take care. I will miss her awesome Body Pump strength and hope she gives up all this relocation malarkey, and comes back soon.

I met up with my big wig mate who is now a very large slice of cheese down Fulham Palace Road way for some sushi in Westfield. We had a potter round the shops and I chose my NEXT engagement ring from Tiffany’s. She’s always good value for money, and it was lovely to catch up.

Then this weekend Boo and I went to The Country for the weekend for an early Christmas with The Sister, Brother-in-Law and Niece. Being a smug cow from Smugfordshire, I’ve bought and wrapped all my gifts and written and posted all my cards – so am feeling very relaxed about Christmas this year. We’ve put a serious budget limit on the spending (trust me, this wedding won’t pay for itself let me tell you!), and have bought only things we know our friends and family want – so felt pretty confident exchanging gifts this weekend. We hadn’t banked on such a hefty sack coming our way though – and was a bit overwhelmed by all the great presents we got. None more so than our gorgeous new duvet, pillows and bed linen. We changed our old rubbish for our new stuff when we got back yesterday, and spend the whole night feeling like we were in a hotel! It’s thick and fluffy and cosy and fabulous, and I pity the poor overnight guests who come to Flat 3 and have to make do with our old cast-offs!

On the book front, I finished the manuscript that Big Director Lady gave me of an amazing debut novel we are planning on publishing in a couple of years I should think which is cracking – and am almost finished the brilliant new Adriani Trigiani coming out in May next year. The first person to leave me comment with a recipe for gorgonzola gnocchi can get their mitts on a proof copy….

On the work front. Crickey, we do live in fiscally turbulent times don’t we? Just think, if I’d followed up that job offer to work on an industrial estate in Hayes, I would be facing another Fopp Fiasco. That would be two crashes in two years – and I truly don’t think my nerves (or my bank balance) could take it all over again. That’s not to say of course, that all is quiet on this particular western front…. but only time will tell whether the head count misses my bonce. Cross your fingers for me please.