Saturday, June 30, 2007
101 Things In 1001 Days
My new "101 in 1001" challenge blog is up at http://eclecticgirl-101in1001.blogspot.com/ if anyone's interested! 1 down, 100 to go....
Thursday, June 28, 2007
My Week
I'm on holiday from work this week, and while it's been nice not having to go to work each day, the week hasn't been completely stress free. Just like the last time I was off, I'm suffering with a cold and cough, and while I'm *way* better this time around, I still feel rough when I have a coughing fit or get towards the end of the day.
Saturday was just a normal day. I popped into Brighton and bought a couple of pairs of cropped trousers, two T-shirts, and some vest tops, which, apart from shoes, completes my New York clothes shopping. In the afternoon, Mum and I went for a wander down to the Grange Gardens, and I renewed my Network Card at the railway station.
Sunday was a fabulous day. Clare and I went to see Bon Jovi at the O2 Arena in the evening, and spent the afternoon in London first. We started at London Bridge, where we caught the Tube to Waterloo and did the 40 minute River Cruise Experience, then went on the London Eye. It was fabulous, but a clear day instead of a wet grey one would have made it even better!
We then caught the Tube to Piccadilly Circus, ate KFC in Leicester Square, and found Trafalgar Square accidentally, before getting the Tube back from Charing Cross to Waterloo, and going back to the London Eye to get the O2 express catamaran to the O2 Arena. That was a pleasant way to arrive, and we were only following in Bon Jovi's footsteps, as they's arrived in the same fashion an hour or so earlier!
The concert was great, and a full review is due in the next couple of days.
Monday, I spent recovering from the exertions of Saturday, and editing pics. I still have the London ones to do, though I've done the Bon Jovi ones, and am waiting for my prints to arrive.
Tuesday - didn't do much. Shopped at Tesco in the morning, and contemplated my planned clearout the rest of the day!
Wednesday - yesterday Daniel, Clare and I went to Thorpe Park for the day. We met up with one of Clare's oldest friends, Carly, and her fiancé John, and their friend Pete, and spent most of the day with them. It was a really nice day, and I'd forgotten how much I missed the chance to get away, spend time with my friends, and be silly when the moment called for it. I got home around 8pm, and ended the evening having what was nearly an argument, but ended up just being a rather emotional conversation with Daniel, about a few things that both he and I are concerned about. It was much needed, and I'm glad we had that talk, but I can now say that for the first time in our nine year friendship, Daniel made me cry - lots! What was even more annoying was that he was bloody *right* as well!
It was interesting though, because when we started out, I *really* wanted to just sign off and not have that talk. I felt as though I was being put under attack, and in my experience, the conversations that most need to be had, are the ones I'm likely to want to escape from. I'm quite pleased by the fact that not only did I actually stick around, I said what I was really thinking and feeling, even though it wasn't easy sometimes, when normally I'd just do the "I'm *fine*" thing.
It wasn't the best ending to the day, but hey. Things needed to be said, and I think I have a plan to deal with a few things now.
Today, Mum and I just popped down to Waitrose this morning. The posters that I had ordered of my photos from the Milton Keynes Bon Jovi concert last year, and Sunday's O2 Arena concert arrived, with an added surprise. I ordered two 30" x 20" collage prints, each with 25 photos, and they were buy one free - except that I received two of each poster, and was still only charged for one poster in total! I may put the spares on eBay, and see if anyone wants two *very* limited edition posters to remember the concerts by!
That's my week so far ... only two days left before I'm back at work! :-(
Saturday was just a normal day. I popped into Brighton and bought a couple of pairs of cropped trousers, two T-shirts, and some vest tops, which, apart from shoes, completes my New York clothes shopping. In the afternoon, Mum and I went for a wander down to the Grange Gardens, and I renewed my Network Card at the railway station.
Sunday was a fabulous day. Clare and I went to see Bon Jovi at the O2 Arena in the evening, and spent the afternoon in London first. We started at London Bridge, where we caught the Tube to Waterloo and did the 40 minute River Cruise Experience, then went on the London Eye. It was fabulous, but a clear day instead of a wet grey one would have made it even better!
We then caught the Tube to Piccadilly Circus, ate KFC in Leicester Square, and found Trafalgar Square accidentally, before getting the Tube back from Charing Cross to Waterloo, and going back to the London Eye to get the O2 express catamaran to the O2 Arena. That was a pleasant way to arrive, and we were only following in Bon Jovi's footsteps, as they's arrived in the same fashion an hour or so earlier!
The concert was great, and a full review is due in the next couple of days.
Monday, I spent recovering from the exertions of Saturday, and editing pics. I still have the London ones to do, though I've done the Bon Jovi ones, and am waiting for my prints to arrive.
Tuesday - didn't do much. Shopped at Tesco in the morning, and contemplated my planned clearout the rest of the day!
Wednesday - yesterday Daniel, Clare and I went to Thorpe Park for the day. We met up with one of Clare's oldest friends, Carly, and her fiancé John, and their friend Pete, and spent most of the day with them. It was a really nice day, and I'd forgotten how much I missed the chance to get away, spend time with my friends, and be silly when the moment called for it. I got home around 8pm, and ended the evening having what was nearly an argument, but ended up just being a rather emotional conversation with Daniel, about a few things that both he and I are concerned about. It was much needed, and I'm glad we had that talk, but I can now say that for the first time in our nine year friendship, Daniel made me cry - lots! What was even more annoying was that he was bloody *right* as well!
It was interesting though, because when we started out, I *really* wanted to just sign off and not have that talk. I felt as though I was being put under attack, and in my experience, the conversations that most need to be had, are the ones I'm likely to want to escape from. I'm quite pleased by the fact that not only did I actually stick around, I said what I was really thinking and feeling, even though it wasn't easy sometimes, when normally I'd just do the "I'm *fine*" thing.
It wasn't the best ending to the day, but hey. Things needed to be said, and I think I have a plan to deal with a few things now.
Today, Mum and I just popped down to Waitrose this morning. The posters that I had ordered of my photos from the Milton Keynes Bon Jovi concert last year, and Sunday's O2 Arena concert arrived, with an added surprise. I ordered two 30" x 20" collage prints, each with 25 photos, and they were buy one free - except that I received two of each poster, and was still only charged for one poster in total! I may put the spares on eBay, and see if anyone wants two *very* limited edition posters to remember the concerts by!
That's my week so far ... only two days left before I'm back at work! :-(
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
My Bon Jovi Pics Are Up
I went to see Bon Jovi at the O2 Arena in London on Sunday. It was a one-off concert to promote their new album "Lost Highway" and to officially open the O2, which used to be the Millennium Dome. A full report will be coming (yes, really, unlike the Bryan Adams one!) when I can formulate my thoughts in a satisfactory manner, but for now, here are my pics.
Bon Jovi O2 Arena Photos
The concert was *amazing*. Better than Milton Keynes last year!
Bon Jovi O2 Arena Photos
The concert was *amazing*. Better than Milton Keynes last year!
Friday, June 22, 2007
School Daze! Stolen from Sarah!
1. Who was your best friend? Sarah. (And Louise. What a disaster *that* was)
2.What sports did you play? Sports? Me? That's funny
3. What kind of car did you drive? None
4. It's Friday night, where were you? At home reading.
5. Were you a party animal? LOL. No.
6. Were you considered a flirt? ROFLMAO. No.
7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? No ..
8. Were you a nerd? Yup! Way above average in the nerdiness stakes!
9. Did you get suspended/expelled? No, but I walked out ten days before I *legally* could.
10. Can you sing the fight song? The what?
11. Who was your favorite teacher? Erm..... I think I hated them all by that point.
12. Where's twelve? Me no understand :-{ *What she said*
13. School mascot? We're in England ....
14. Did you go to Prom? No, they hadn't started Prom at that school then.
15. If you could go back and do it over, would you? Abso-freakin-lutely NOT. No way, no how.
16. What do you remember most about graduation? I don't think there was such an event?!
17. Where were you on senior skip day? We didn't have one
18. Did you have a job your senior year? I made tea and coffee in my friend's taxi office, then started working at Safeway during my GCSEs
19. Where did you go most often for lunch? Convent Field, or into town.
20. Have you gained weight since then? I've lost! I'm about 2 stone lighter than I was in my final year!
21. What did you do after graduation? Gap year - travelled the world and had a blast.
22. When did you graduate? 1992, from school. Didn't do university
23. Who was your Senior prom date? N/A
24. Are you going to your 10 year reunion? I didn't, no.
25. Who was your home room teacher? Mr Stratton for the last 3 years
26. Who will repost this after you? I don't know! Jill? Lins?
2.What sports did you play? Sports? Me? That's funny
3. What kind of car did you drive? None
4. It's Friday night, where were you? At home reading.
5. Were you a party animal? LOL. No.
6. Were you considered a flirt? ROFLMAO. No.
7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? No ..
8. Were you a nerd? Yup! Way above average in the nerdiness stakes!
9. Did you get suspended/expelled? No, but I walked out ten days before I *legally* could.
10. Can you sing the fight song? The what?
11. Who was your favorite teacher? Erm..... I think I hated them all by that point.
12. Where's twelve? Me no understand :-{ *What she said*
13. School mascot? We're in England ....
14. Did you go to Prom? No, they hadn't started Prom at that school then.
15. If you could go back and do it over, would you? Abso-freakin-lutely NOT. No way, no how.
16. What do you remember most about graduation? I don't think there was such an event?!
17. Where were you on senior skip day? We didn't have one
18. Did you have a job your senior year? I made tea and coffee in my friend's taxi office, then started working at Safeway during my GCSEs
19. Where did you go most often for lunch? Convent Field, or into town.
20. Have you gained weight since then? I've lost! I'm about 2 stone lighter than I was in my final year!
21. What did you do after graduation? Gap year - travelled the world and had a blast.
22. When did you graduate? 1992, from school. Didn't do university
23. Who was your Senior prom date? N/A
24. Are you going to your 10 year reunion? I didn't, no.
25. Who was your home room teacher? Mr Stratton for the last 3 years
26. Who will repost this after you? I don't know! Jill? Lins?
Deleted Blog
No, not this one! Duh!
I've deleted my diet blog, for several reasons, not least that getting healthy should be part of my everyday life, not something isolated, thus I shall post future health entries on my regular 'ol blog!
If you've linked to me, can you delete the links to that blog, please?
Thank you very muchly!
I've deleted my diet blog, for several reasons, not least that getting healthy should be part of my everyday life, not something isolated, thus I shall post future health entries on my regular 'ol blog!
If you've linked to me, can you delete the links to that blog, please?
Thank you very muchly!
Sunday, June 17, 2007
This week in a nutshell
This week sucked because
- I found out Elsie is out of the neurological ward and back at the hospital in Lewes - but they'd found a second tumour.
- I walked into a brick wall, scraped my hand and wrist, and now it's septic and sore.
- Yesterday I developed a sore throat, by last night it felt like my throat was stuffed with razor blades, and now I have *another* full blown cold. Does my body *wait* for me to have holiday coming up, before it gets ill?!
- I have a lump on my lower calf that's been there for a few years, which I thought was a cyst. Now it's painful and my whole lower leg hurts when I walk more than a few minutes.
- I just droped a fork on my foot which hit my toes tines down, and now I have sore, bruised toes.
- Last week at work I fell up the stairs carrying the scratchcards dispenser, and my foot was swollen and bruised. It *still* hurts.
- The new Bon Jovi album, "Lost Highway" was released on Monday. It's a bit different, and definitely country-influences, and I *love* it.
- My tickets for Bon Jovi at the O2 Arena next Sunday arrived!
- Richie Sambora is out of rehab and should definitely be playing at the O2! Yay!
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Mixed Week
Work has been a nightmare this week. We're very short staffed again, and our store manager only allows a maximum of one customer being served and one queuing, before he wants more tills open. That's fine in theory, but when you only have three cashiers, it's an hour and a half to closing time, and they and you all still have tea breaks, what exactly am I supposed to do?! Just general stress at work this week, compounded by new starters, sickness, and the damn customers!
Last week my great-uncle Harry died. He was 89, and I'd never met him, but it was sad anyway. Another piece of the family history lost.
This week i discovered that a former colleague, Elsie, suffered a heart attack a couple of months ago, and (the day I found out actually) was in hospital undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour. I haven't heard any more yet, but I so hope she pulls through. She's an absolute sweetheart, always ready with a smile, would do anything for anyone, and never had a bad word to say about anyone.
Finally, my fortnightly weekend off has come around again, and I have all day today and tomorrow off. I doubt I'll be doing much, but it's nice to be able to do what I want with no worries about being up early for work, or the like. Mum and I just popped down to the shops, and though it was a pretty mundane trip, it was nice today for several reasons. On the way out of our yard we noticed the young rooks chattering a lot, and stopped to watch them, when we realised they're having flying practice! There are four of them altogether, plus adults, and the youngsters were flying between the trees, a TV aerial on the house at the end of our flats, and the balcony wall on the top floor of the flats. I had my camera with me, but not the zoom lens, so I couldn't get any pics, but it was nice to see, especially as rooks, crows and the whole corvidae family are some of my favourite birds.
We dropped into WHSmiths for Mum, and then the pet shop, where I needed bird seed and millet, and we spent ten minutes or so talking to Henry, the Umbrella Cockatoo, and Ozzy, the African Grey. Ozzy is only a youngster himself - about three or four now, and has a bit of a rebellious attitude, hence his name - yes, he's named after Ozzy Osbourne! He usually wants a scratch and some head rubs, but can be a bit nippy, though today he was completely docile, and when i scratched his neck i realised why - with lots of new feathers coming through, he was really itchy, and the scratches rub off some of the hard coating from the new feather shaft, making it more comfortable for him.
Henry is the old man of the pet shop, and like Ozzy, very much a family pet, and not for sale. He's competely soppy, and just loves people stopping by his cage and giving him scratches and attention, usually closing his eyes and cooing to you while you do it! I *want* Henry .... :-) He's only there during the summer, as he's getting on a bit now, and actually spends the winter months with a foster family in an apartment overlooking Brighton Marina!
After the pet shop it was back to shop at Waitrose, for a few bits, though I think we're doing a proper shop at Tesco later today. We may go for a walk as well, though it's overcast and horribly humid, so I shall have lunch and then see how I feel.
I have email to catch up on, and my photos from the beginning of the week to upload today or tomorrow, as well as washing and all the usual chores to do, but at least I have the time to do it all this weekend!
As for the Bon Jovi concert, I guess I'll still go if Richie isn't there, but it won't be the same. If I had to guess, I'd say that he won't be out of rehab in time for the concert, as I would imagine he'd do a 30 day programme, but I guess we'll have to see. If him missing a few promo concerts for the new album means he has the time to get himself together and be well again for the next proper tour, then that's really a small price to pay for any genuine fan.
Last week my great-uncle Harry died. He was 89, and I'd never met him, but it was sad anyway. Another piece of the family history lost.
This week i discovered that a former colleague, Elsie, suffered a heart attack a couple of months ago, and (the day I found out actually) was in hospital undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour. I haven't heard any more yet, but I so hope she pulls through. She's an absolute sweetheart, always ready with a smile, would do anything for anyone, and never had a bad word to say about anyone.
Finally, my fortnightly weekend off has come around again, and I have all day today and tomorrow off. I doubt I'll be doing much, but it's nice to be able to do what I want with no worries about being up early for work, or the like. Mum and I just popped down to the shops, and though it was a pretty mundane trip, it was nice today for several reasons. On the way out of our yard we noticed the young rooks chattering a lot, and stopped to watch them, when we realised they're having flying practice! There are four of them altogether, plus adults, and the youngsters were flying between the trees, a TV aerial on the house at the end of our flats, and the balcony wall on the top floor of the flats. I had my camera with me, but not the zoom lens, so I couldn't get any pics, but it was nice to see, especially as rooks, crows and the whole corvidae family are some of my favourite birds.
We dropped into WHSmiths for Mum, and then the pet shop, where I needed bird seed and millet, and we spent ten minutes or so talking to Henry, the Umbrella Cockatoo, and Ozzy, the African Grey. Ozzy is only a youngster himself - about three or four now, and has a bit of a rebellious attitude, hence his name - yes, he's named after Ozzy Osbourne! He usually wants a scratch and some head rubs, but can be a bit nippy, though today he was completely docile, and when i scratched his neck i realised why - with lots of new feathers coming through, he was really itchy, and the scratches rub off some of the hard coating from the new feather shaft, making it more comfortable for him.
Henry is the old man of the pet shop, and like Ozzy, very much a family pet, and not for sale. He's competely soppy, and just loves people stopping by his cage and giving him scratches and attention, usually closing his eyes and cooing to you while you do it! I *want* Henry .... :-) He's only there during the summer, as he's getting on a bit now, and actually spends the winter months with a foster family in an apartment overlooking Brighton Marina!
After the pet shop it was back to shop at Waitrose, for a few bits, though I think we're doing a proper shop at Tesco later today. We may go for a walk as well, though it's overcast and horribly humid, so I shall have lunch and then see how I feel.
I have email to catch up on, and my photos from the beginning of the week to upload today or tomorrow, as well as washing and all the usual chores to do, but at least I have the time to do it all this weekend!
As for the Bon Jovi concert, I guess I'll still go if Richie isn't there, but it won't be the same. If I had to guess, I'd say that he won't be out of rehab in time for the concert, as I would imagine he'd do a 30 day programme, but I guess we'll have to see. If him missing a few promo concerts for the new album means he has the time to get himself together and be well again for the next proper tour, then that's really a small price to pay for any genuine fan.
Friday, June 08, 2007
no, No, NO!!!
Richie Sambora is in rehab. For undisclosed problems. Wonder what the chances of the Bon Jovi concert on 24th June going ahead are? If he's not playing, they should cancel and reschedule, 'cos I sure as heck am not going to enjoy the concert if Bobby Bandiera replaces him.
On the other hand, Richie's had a shit couple of years, with his divorce, then his dad's terminal cancer and recent death, and if rehab's what he needs right now then so be it. Good luck to him, I'm sure he'll be back, better than ever in due course.
Still sucks though :-(
On the other hand, Richie's had a shit couple of years, with his divorce, then his dad's terminal cancer and recent death, and if rehab's what he needs right now then so be it. Good luck to him, I'm sure he'll be back, better than ever in due course.
Still sucks though :-(
Monday, June 04, 2007
A day off
After working all weekend (6am - 3:30pm Saturday and 9am-4:30pm yesterday) I have a well deserved day off today, and am feeling much brighter than I did a few days ago.
I slept in until around 10am, then spent a while online, before Mum and I went for a walk and shopping at 11am. We started off walking around the lake, where we saw almost newborn ducklings (so *tiny*!) as well as slightly bigger ducklings, a moorhen chick, a couple of squirrels, and all the usual ducks, then walked along the river path towards the town centre, where we went to the nature reserve. The swans and their cygnets were on the river, and it was nice to see they still have all four cygnets - let's hope they all make it to adulthood. We roamed the reserve for a while, and found an area that we haven't come across before, before shopping at Waitrose. By the time we got home it was 2pm, so we've just had a late lunch, and now I have about 60 pics to trawl through, edit and upload!
Other good things about today:
I slept in until around 10am, then spent a while online, before Mum and I went for a walk and shopping at 11am. We started off walking around the lake, where we saw almost newborn ducklings (so *tiny*!) as well as slightly bigger ducklings, a moorhen chick, a couple of squirrels, and all the usual ducks, then walked along the river path towards the town centre, where we went to the nature reserve. The swans and their cygnets were on the river, and it was nice to see they still have all four cygnets - let's hope they all make it to adulthood. We roamed the reserve for a while, and found an area that we haven't come across before, before shopping at Waitrose. By the time we got home it was 2pm, so we've just had a late lunch, and now I have about 60 pics to trawl through, edit and upload!
Other good things about today:
- It's dry and sunny, but cloudy enough to make it comfortably warm rather than horribly hot
- It's only 77 days (and one hour!) until our holiday to New York
- I won £20 on a scratchcard this afternoon
- One of my colleagues who I find difficult to work with is off this week.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Checking In
Just a quick post to make my readers (yes, all three of you!) aware that I'm going through a *very* unsociable period at the moment. I'm OK. not particularly depressed or aything like that, just extremely tired, both physically and mentally, and prone to overly emotional spells!
I have a day off on Monday, and will try and post a proper entry then, as well as catching up with everyone's blogs/MySpace/emails/photos etc. For now I'm off to bed, as I start work at 6am tomorrow.
Have a good weekend, y'all!
I have a day off on Monday, and will try and post a proper entry then, as well as catching up with everyone's blogs/MySpace/emails/photos etc. For now I'm off to bed, as I start work at 6am tomorrow.
Have a good weekend, y'all!
