The summer and beyond

Summer 2008 was wonderful, in too many ways to try to recap. But now the fresh memories are fading and its time to have some more wonderful layers added.

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In four weeks I'm heading to one of my favourite cities in one of my favourite countries to spend some time with my all time favourite friend. And oh I'm excited. There will be sunshine and laughter and love. And visits to Lush

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This last week I've been surprised by the kindness of colleagues and overwhelmed by the care of friends. And parental issues have been raised to the foreground again. Mostly because friends can't believe the levels of effort I'm going through organising a surprise 70th birthday party for my father in January. Just because some of my family are rubbish doesn't mean that the rest are.

I've booked 5 rooms for family at a lovely little Coaching Inn for all, put down a deposit for a Saturday night dinner for 9 of us. And thanks to the wonders of facebook have been able to track down my fathers cousins who along with friends, in laws and siblings are going to turn up for a surprise Sunday lunch. I've got a flight back to the UK thats not going to cost more than a months salary and booked time of work. The ONLY thing my sibling has to do is to tell my parents she is taking them to dinner at the Inn on his birthday so they don't make other plans.

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Thanks to the best geek hero in my life I have also been able to catch the latest episodes of Emmerdale - clearly life is good!

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And I'm weighing up the options of downsizing all my worldly belongings to leave me free to just jump freely to a new country in the next six months. Which raises the questions, even if I scan in all my old photos from pre digital era what to do with the originals?

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Quick list

Knee still sore and stiff, but not slowing me down anymore.

Tummy reallllly sore due to this.

Think I might be getting addicted to Night Nurse cough syrup, I'm sleeping very well on it!

Today I had NO spam in my inbox at all.



All in all things are going well.

A few things I don’t economise on . . .

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Dentist
Lingerie
Ice cream
Moving companies
Egyptian cotton bed sheets

Spinning

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Going through a bit of a blank at the moment, have so much to do my wheels are spinning. Am shuffling plans around from A to B trying to come up with an answer.

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Sorting through drawers yesterday I came across a photo of someone which made me flinch, I thought I'd got rid of such reminders some time ago - but this one, this just somehow just laid there in wait for me. I only flinched for a moment before tossing it in the rubbish pile.

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Today I'm meeting 4 different men for 4 different reasons.

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I'm getting used to using my macbook, although I probably never realised how many shortcuts I used which I now have to relearn.

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I'm craving ginger.

Good things

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So Monday is almost over.
A horrible day at work turned into a great day.
I've just been promised a bar of English Dairy Milk chocolate tomorrow morning.
I've got a cold glass of Pimms at my side.
A jasmine scented bubble bath running.
Latest Ian Rankin novel.
And my father is hopefully coming out of hospital tomorrow.

It's all good.

Did you know?

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British women have the biggest breasts in Europe.

The average breast size in the UK is between 36C to 34E compared to 10 years ago when it was 34B.

Nearly 80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size.

Breast reduction operations were up 19% in 2006.

Half of women in the UK would consider plastic surgery; 36% would consider a breast operation.

It is estimated that 26,000 women had a breast enlargement in 2006.

My big breasts

Signs that he is not 'the one'

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On the first date when he asks what's your favourite part of your job, (good question) he hears your reply then says "well that's a waste of time isn't it"

At the sight of a simple silk scarf he says (in a panicky tone) "You're not putting anything up my arse"

When given the choice of sci fi and foreign language film he chooses the subtitles!

When watching Lost for the first time, he whines on about the laws of physics and how the plane engine couldn't possibly still be running - again and again and again.

Visitors

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I've got a Justin Timberlake lookalike coming to visit me this weekend. I do so love having visitors, for oddles of reasons

# It's an excuse to bake cupcakes.



# It's an excuse to go to some of my favourite tourist spots.



# It's an excuse to go out for a few drinks.



# That really high light bulb might actually get changed*



But most of all, its good to be able to giggle at a funny accent


* This of course is only likely when tall visitors come to town! Not so likely when my sister visits, given that she is 4ft 11,

Average

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The average person will eat over 10,000 bars of chocolate, shed 121 pints of tears and have sex more than 4,200 times

Well I guess 2 out of 3 isn't so bad!

Full story here

Education

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It has come to my attention in the last few weeks that there are a number of cultural references that I make that fly past the heads of those who come from the Colonies*.

#1. 'Bob' Yes when you make me say the name 'Bob', it has to be said with a pop to it in the style of Blackadder - (NOT to be confused with Mr Bean). Blackadder is the best of British comedy

Blackadder is the generic name that encompasses four series of an acclaimed BBC One historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments. The shows were produced by John Lloyd, and starred Rowan Atkinson as the eponymous anti-hero, Edmund Blackadder, and Tony Robinson as his sidekick/ dogsbody, Baldrick.

In 2000, Blackadder Goes Forth ranked at 16 in the " 100 Greatest British Television Programmes", a list created by the British Film Institute. Also in the 2004 TV poll to find " Britain's Best Sitcom", Blackadder was voted the second best British sitcom of all time, beaten by Only Fools and Horses .

Although each series is set in a different time era, all follow the fortunes (or rather, misfortunes) of Edmund Blackadder (played by Atkinson), who in each is a member of an English family dynasty present at many significant periods and places in British history. Although his intelligence levels rise over the course of the series (the character starts as being quite unintelligent in the first and gradually becomes smarter and more perceptive through each passing generation while ironically decreasing in social status), each Blackadder is similar in that they are all cynical cowardly opportunists concerned with maintaining and increasing their own status and fortunes in life, regardless of their surroundings. In each series, however, Blackadder is usually a cynical (almost modern) voice puncturing the pretensions and stupidity of those around him, and what might - through modern eyes - be seen as the more ludicrous and insane follies of history (from the cruel and unjust medieval religious witch-hunts and the petty whims and insanities of various British monarchs to the pointless bloodshed of World War I).

The lives of the four Blackadders are also entwined with their servants, all called Baldrick (played by Tony Robinson), who in each generation acts as Blackadder's dogsbody/punching bag and who decreases in intelligence (and in personal hygiene standards) just as his master's intellect increases. Each Blackadder and Baldrick are also saddled with the company of a dim-witted aristocrat (who is even dimmer than even the dimmest Baldrick) whose presence Blackadder must somehow tolerate. In the first two seasons, this role was taken by Lord Percy Percy (Tim McInnerny), whereas this position was assumed in the third season by Prince George ( Hugh Laurie) and in the fourth by Lieutenant George, again played by Laurie.

Each series was set in a different period of English history, beginning in 1485 and ending in 1917 (with one special set on New Year's Eve 1999) In addition to these, three specials were also made: " Blackadder: The Cavalier Years" appeared as a 15-minute insert during the 1988 Comic Relief telethon; Blackadder's Christmas Carol was a 45-minute Christmas instalment, broadcast the same year; and Blackadder: Back & Forth was a 30-minute film originally shown in a special cinema at the Millennium Dome throughout 2000.

#2 Curly Wurlys

Curly Wurly is a type of chocolate bar manufactured by Cadbury and sold in the UK and Australia. It was launched in the UK in 1971 and relaunched in 1976. Its shape resembles two flattened, intertwined serpentine strings. The bar is made of chocolate-coated caramel. Also available are "Curly Wurly Squirlies," which come in a bag and are just the cross beams of the ladder.

A 2004 online poll found that the Curly Wurly was the most popular chocolate bar still in production.


And these people made themselves a giant one!



#3 Richmond Park is one of my favourite places in London. At almost 1000 hectares (2500 acres), it is the largest Royal Park in London and is home to around 650 free roaming deer.

Especially of note is the Isabella Plantation.
Many many happy hours spent there and one of my top 4 places to have a picnic.

* Colonies - It seems that most if not all of my favourite people (outside of family) come from the former colonies, so you know that was meant in fun right! ~grin~

Picnic time

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So, I've got our picnic basket ready (scroll to the bottom of the page)

1 bottle of champagne (with cooler pack from the freezer)
Soft loaf of fresh bread
Tub of humus
Sliced red, orange and yellow peppers
Sausages rolls
Chunk of Cheshire cheese
Chicken drumsticks and thighs, slow roasted with theme, garlic and rosemary
Cherry tomatoes
Olives

Green grapes
Raspberries
Blueberries

'Glasses' for the champagne and paper plates
Wet wipes and napkins, because its all finger food
Soft large picnic rug

Are you ready to join me?

Playing favourites

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I've been doing a fair bit of blurfing recently and have been lucky enough to blurf across some excellent new (to me) blogs.
The one that wins my 'consistently thought provoking' and 'oh my goodness that makes perfect sense' award so far is

Adventures in Delicious Dating After 40

Very close runner in the same category is

Smart At Love

The winner of the 'crikey do those things really go on behind the scenes, must check back and see what he writes next week' award goes to

Back of House in DXB

I still love Helen the most though.

The 10 Real Reasons Why Geeks Make Better Lovers

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Geeks build it so you will come

Geeks get personal with tech

Geeks dig consensual role playing

Geeks interact

Geeks get things done

Geeks are hot …

Geeks don't shock easily

Geeks know kinky people

Geeks understand multi-dimensional relationships

Geeks aren't threatened by new tech or "the future of sex"

Article in full here

A few reasons why . . . . .

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Kisses, chocolate, blogs, cats, curls, gorgeous eyes, high heels, perfume, smiles, support, pirates, Robbie, oceans, views, sleep, bath, love, family, work, chances, opportunities, silver linings, green, purple, passion, curly wurlys, health, giggles, champagne, whisky kisses, tipsy chats, www, mushrooms, steak, pavolva, crème brulee, raspberries, lemon, mango, mint, beaches, rosemary, coriander, brownies, baking, roasts, custard, water, massages, pedicures, hair cuts, M*A*S*H, Lingerie, Lost, Battlestar Galactica, mobile phones, email, GChat, sunsets, dawn, men, trust, hope, gadgets, gingerbread, blurfing, Thanksgiving, bubbles, Christmas, Easter, holidays, celebrations, travel, adventures, sand, coconut, love bucket, Autumn, attention, Spring, Summer, bed, Winter, babies, batteries, books, films, music, sharing, jelly babies, dressing up, lovers, uniforms, flowers, comments, readers, You Tube, nape of my neck, whispers, dove, quotes, monogamy, lips, balcony, skin, soldiers, sailors, karma, links, emotions, past, friends, present, future, help, affection, cuddles, attention, support, green fields, care, actions, sweet words, birthdays, cupcakes, smarties, roller-coaster, fast rides, erections, stamina, stroking, laughing, chuckles, toys, sunshine, lunch, breakfast, dinner, brunch, snack, midnight feast, afternoon delight, turkish delight, voices, telephones, texts, kittens, koalas, imagination, suspense, delight, anticipation, quiet, parties, solitude, company, crush, sci-fi, serenity, firefly, home, interest, questions, answers, lavender, lace, silk, cotton, leather, knee high boots, sparkles, humour, waves, weddings, births, nice, egg nog, sqwiffy, puddles, letters, postcards, parcels, gifts, camera, photos, slideshows, sharing, thunderstorms, shelter, safety, tactileness, dragon slaying, Geeks, skills, touch, eloquence, expressions, skills, dedication, swings, yoga, weight loss, cute, sex, making love, please, thank you, manners, gentleman, honour, integrity, showers, lemon curd, pool, swimming, walking, roads, white magnum, steps, nice, decisions, distractions, focus, dreams, hair, blushes, positions, freckles, games, dancing, whirlwind, rain, ice-cream, sorbet, gelato, Google Earth, Sydney, London, Hong Kong, Yorkshire, Wales, Scotland, lakes, rivers, ponds, puddles, cartwheels, toast, lamb chops, shorts, acceptance, desire, lessons, visitors, rugby, orgasm, Pimms, plums, sleep, senses, priorities, support, reliability, heart, soul, sharing, pouts, honesty, challenges, shoulders, back, arms, muscles, flirting, teasing, touching, words.

I've never:

I've never*:

taken salsa dancing lessons

had cocaine

eaten oysters

been to Canada

drunk beer

said no to a massage

seen a moose in real life

been to the gym as often as I have in the last 2 months

got dressed up in evening wear specifically for the purpose of staying in and eating curly-wurlys




*Not to be confused with the drinking game of 'I have never'