That's why! Lucky

Just took this picture from my bedroom window. The shiny patch on top of the roof is usually a puddle. This morning it's ice. And if you look really close you'll see that the puddles on the road are frozen too. By the looks of things it's pretty cold outside! At least the snow didn't last long yesterday - about 5 min. After evaluating the above I've decided to stay in bed a bit longer. Lucky

Appologies for the pause in posts, had quite a good Christams party! Lucky

Today the Christmas tree in the office started to collect presents around the base. At lunch most of the office popped out to the shop to gather their gifts - with much of the afternoon spent wrapping. I've located mine under the tree - I didn't touch it, but gave it a good glare. I still have no idea what it is though, or who my secret Santa is - I just hope it's someone who likes me! All will be revealed tommorow... Lucky

So this evening was spent watching not one, but two films! New Years Eve and My Week With Marilyn . The first, well perhaps with a better script and some of that thing that you just can't quite put your finger on - possibly the soundtrack,sense of humour or better editing - maybe all of those, it would have lived up to Valentines Day and edged towards Love Actually. That is not to say that I didn't shed a tear (although to be fair that isn't too hard)and find myself having a little laugh... I'll say no more. When it came to My Week With Marilyn, even though it was getting very late, especially for a school night, it was well acted and I walked away wondering... If you're choosing between the two - pick this one. Lucky

So you know that super-glue I was telling you about? The one that the trees were using to keep their leaves and fool us all into thinking it was still autumn? Well tonight the wind is laughing at that super-glue, so much so that it's howling. And while it's at it, it's friend - the sky - is busy emptying buckets on us. And by the looks of this image, the buckets contain more than just water! Lucky

I'm lying in bed - coffee long drunk, Propped up by pillows - Sunday paper scattered about, Slowly waking with the world - as the church bells ring, Napping occasionally - or pondering a thing... This moment will pass - they always do - but while I think about it I'll share it with you! Lucky

The Weather! It's one of The go-to subjects that can break an uncomfortable silence, start a conversation or even banish the elephant from the room (well, for a little while). So far this winter we've been pretty lucky - this time last year we were besieged by snow, something extra for the train-tracks to worry about - we all know how scared they get when a leaf looks at them in the wrong way. But this year the seasons seem to have slipped from summer to winter so quickly that there are still leaves on some of the trees - although after today I'm questioning whether someone spent a lot of time super-gluing them all on?!? Winter attempted another decoy today, with it's shining sun and autumnal colours painting the countryside. But I wasn't fooled. I'd checked my weather apps and knew it was going to be cold. Thermal underwear, limited-mobility-because-of-too-many-clothes, loss-of-feeling-in-fingers-despite-ski-gloves, silly hat and frozen puddles type cold. A...

What more can I say - parents keep your kids close this Christmas, there is a Polar Bear on the loose! (un)Lucky

Learnt how to write a card again this evening. A Christmas card to be exact. Am now waiting for Postman Pat to come along and collect them, put stamps on them and send them off... Not holding my breathe for that one! Lucky

Today was the much anticipated Secret Santa Day. Everyone got abnormally excited about who they might pick, hoping for the jackpot. The jackpot could be your office-friend. Or perhaps someone with an easy-to-buy-for hobby. Or maybe even someone who's done something really embarrassing that you can turn into a well thought of gift. But what if you got the dud? And how could you possibly sit there and revel in either your joy / disappointment not saying anything to anyone? Well we certainly couldn't - Skype was never so furiously tapped away at as everyone did some token guessing before the names were slowly revealed. I limited my Skype conversations, but not completely, some things are too good to keep to yourself! Lucky

The Christmas morning miracle: The reality to get there: Wouldn't it be nice if Father Christmas did all our Christmas shopping for us? If that was the case I'd happily spend ages making mince-pies and singing carols. Unfortunately he doesn't specialise in gifting - something to do with budget cuts? So unless you were very clever and did all your Christmas shopping in January at the fabulous sales, then I'm afraid to say that you too will have to learn to swim down your high-street. Breast-stroke is probably the most appropriate, although I have a feeling that if you were to butterfly along, although you wouldn't make many friends, you might get there faster. Lucky

Yesterday we had our Christmas lunch at my house. We put up the tree, cooked up a storm, decorated, ate like demons and watched one of my all-time favourite's, The Snowman . As a child I always dreamed of making a snowman - not so easy in Africa. Last year, with the heaps of snow we received, I made my first attempt at a snowman. There are no pictures of that 'snowman'. Because although it inspired the small-person and their father next door to sculpt a very realistic igloo, a misshapen pyramid with various implements sticking out of it does not count as a snowman! I'd like to say that the garden furniture hindered my rolling ability. Or perhaps the lack of usable snow. But neither of those statements would be correct - I just had no snowman-building skills on the day. This year, if it snows, I will do better. We will have a real snowman that will put any intricately carved igloo to shame - after all, I now know how it's done! Lucky

This afternoon The Tourist and I, along with the whole of London, descended on Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park . We joined the thronging masses heaving along past the rides and deliciously tempting food stores. Stopping at the store where you get to shoot an air-rifle at a star and if you get it in, win a teddy-bear. I had my eye on the large teddies hanging at the top, but some naughty kids had been fiddling with the nobs and the rifle's weren't shooting straight - instead I had to settle for a dark chocolate, conveniently handbag sized, Christmas Reindeer. Far more sensible, especially when The Tourist was going to be carrying Christmas Reindeer and both her and my empty stein glass for the rest of the evening. I like to think of it as practical shooting really! Lucky

I had a brief moment yesterday when I thought that it might actually be Friday. This moment soon passed, along with the rest of the day, bringing me to this moment. Today, Friday afternoon. I didn't quite fall out of bed this morning with excitement about it being Friday, that happened last week. This week I took a more relaxed approach - something to do with wanting to lie-in. Today's challenge is to drink a glass (pint) of water every hour. By the time it's 17:00 we should all be sufficiently over-hydrated that the only possible logical solution would be to have a glass of wine. This sensible strategy has been reinforced by the ordering of sushi etc from Me Love Sushi . Because of all this sensibility we might have to have a glass of wine / G&T earlier, but I'm sure we'll rise to the occasion. Until then we are all very busy and important! Ps. happy to report that Christmas-Penguin is still entertaining and bringing much joy! Lucky

Oxford Street Christmas lights Where a glass of red wine just seems so appropriate. In fact, due to the cold weather, it might be rude not to finish a bottle between two - after all the minute you step out of the pub that same cold weather will have you refreshed in no time. Well that's what we hope for.  Last night brought the festive season in, for me, with much merriment, hilarity and unbundling out of a taxi at 1:30am! So it was a slightly more exhausted me that faced the world today, but there were a few things to look forward to at least. The first was the lighting of the computer screen. Tastefully decorated with blue star-shaped fairy lights, we waited until it was dark outside before plugging in the USB. However, it was by no means dark inside, really minimising that effect.  The second was the deliciousness that is a mince-pie. I've waited until December before allowing myself this delightful treat. They've been tantalisingly, alluring - placed strategically i...

Now that I'm 30 and clearly old, I have taken to doing ever so slightly more mature things... I'm currently having afternoon tea (Earl Grey with a wedge of dry carrot cake) in the members lounge at the Tate Modern. To get here I wondered along the Southbank, perusing the books and antique maps in the market, admiring the wooden sculptures in a small market below the OXO Tower and gazing at the architecture - some of London's famous skyline.  Last night I had two very civilised glasses of red wine at the pub. The one at the other end of the street - the end without the revellous crowd pouring themselves out onto the street. And without giving too much (the location) away I can't wait for a snow-day, to head over there with my Scrabble board - they serve a lovely Syrah. I have my desired sofa in mind, it's situated directly across from the fireplace!  And to cap off my first whole weekend being 30 I spent Friday night (after I'd come home from gym) curled up w...

On a recent little trip up to Scotland, The Tourist and I stopped off in a Tesco's just outside Glasgow to pick up some odd bits and bobs. Our first request for Cos lettuce was met with some fairly blank stares - if we were after lettuce, it would be in the lettuce isle. What Cos was in particular, they could not be too sure. Our need for 120 bread-rolls that would all still be fresh in a few days time proved also to be a bit tricky. Various bread-roll domination tactics were subtly applied - a trolley as first defence while we hastily body-blocked the actual packets, selected the best and piled the trolley full - all while doing the odd sum! I would like to say that when we paid for the vast various items it was the quantity that surprised the teller. However this would be a lie - it was actually this woman: Fresh from a night out on the town Miss Daisy was just stocking up on a few supplies before Mavis and Sybil came over for round two... Miss Daisy was in no rush though,...

A few weeks ago Elton swooped in to the grounds of Hatfield House, splashed about on the keyboard for a good few hours, and then - very intelligently - flew off, into the night, in his crowd attracting helicopter. He's done that before... No way was he going to spend the next 1 1/2 hours waiting to get into the queue of traffic to leave the grounds. And waste precious beauty sleep snacking on sweets to try and stay awake as the tar of the M25 lead us mile after mile towards home! As you can probably tell, the traffic leaving (and coming into) the venue was less than ideal. But I refuse to let that detract from the concert itself, which was fantastic! I'd never seen Elton John before, nor the Lighthouse Family who player beforehand. And despite bursts of torrential rain, it was still fun, the atmosphere friendly and a wonderful excuse to whip out the leopard-print wellies! Lucky rocking a little leopard Ameba giving attitude Clouds and crowds Did someone say ...

It's easy to walk fast, with your head down, ipod blotting out the cacophony of the streets, making snap-second strategies for dodging tourists and focusing only on where you want to be. Sometimes it's worth taking that moment, pausing on the bridge and just admiring what is around you. I love crossing this river, it gets my toes tingling every time I do - the fast running water that has, and will carry history along with the tide (and maybe my phone if I'm not careful and wave it about) and the skyline that stretches for centuries. Lucky

When the alarm clock went off at 6:15 yesterday morning I was severely tempted to burrow my head under the pillow and ignore it. I'll admit to pressing snooze, after all it is a rather rude hour to be awoken on a Sunday morning. However, it was my choice to set it at that hour and as soon as I could process that thought I rolled over the duvet and towards the floor, hoping that my legs would react - face-planting not being my first choice for Sunday activities.  With an almost life-time supply of coffee and two very laden arms I bundled myself into the car. Set the sat-nav and turned up the radio.  An hour and some very dubious singing later I drove past many camping bikers to where the rest of the club were meeting for breakfast, and more coffee.  Eventually it was time to head to the firing point,  unpack the boot (including my new ear defenders - housemates beware :) ) and make the most of the lovely, sunny day. Just before the lunchtime cut-off I headed to the 900 yard fi...

Lucky, The Tourist & PLW The madness began in earnest a few months ago with the purchase of leopard-print wellies. And where one foot leads, the other shall follow: we leopard-printed everything. Well, almost. What wasn’t leopard-print was black so that we could better accessorize with leopard-print. It was going to be fabulous! By the end of the weekend even the car had succumbed to the leopard-print craze – although I’ve heard that a little water can change that? When your wellies come in a bag like this, you are right to have great expectations! From Thursday I started to get truly excited – mainly because I was super keen to wear ridiculous amounts of leopard-print – but also because I had no idea of what to expect. A lot of clock-watching happened that day. Followed by a trip down to Southampton and some more leopard-print ogling in ASDA.   On Friday morning we woke up early. Each of us knew that this would be the last shower we would have until Monday. The last warm w...