bad jokes and oven chips

WARNING! Proud Brown-Owl Moment Coming...

2012-02-03T08:51:00.005+01:00

This weekend my Brownies held a Jumble Sale to raise money for a Rainbow called Karis (who's cousin Rachael is in my pack) as she needs to go to America for surgery to help her walk.

http://www.sdr4karis.org/

We collected jumble for a week, then held the sale (with LOTS) of baking in the Church Hall.

Despite the sub-zero temperatures (the church did not put the heating on for us), the kids had good humour throughout and had fun outside singing and dancing and keeping warm whilst drumming up some more trade, selling cakes from the car park!

We raised..... £300!! And I have been fund-matched at the office for another £250.

SO proud. We had support from people from miles away after a wee article in the local paper too.

(In other news: This week 1st Aid Badge went well. I have done my tax... Yeah! Fuss free this year!! I go away to see friends and family this weekend. Was offered a terrifying but exciting badly paid gig this week... not sure if I can do it yet. Enjoyed the Blues Radio Show of Mr Vinnie Marini this morning before work. It's all good.)

stupid weather stupid roof stupid factors (stupid GHA)

2012-01-21T14:55:00.002+01:00

We have a leak. In the roof.

I reported damp prior to the storms and asked someone to check the roof. I would be concerned that this would affect our building insurance claims, but the man from GHA who came to check told me there was no damp, so I guess we go with that and put the claim in secure in the knowledge that we checked it out recently.

The fact that he refused to go into the loft is immaterial for the claim, but could well explain why we now have water damage to our flat, and to next door's flat. Who knows what damage might have been saved with new blooming nails in those loose tiles.

They really are useless.

rubbish diets

2012-01-20T08:44:00.002+01:00

feel like I'm getting nowhere this week.. Will persevere but it's easier when the weight's coming off. I have exercised a lot this week... but drank and eaten to balance it out I think. Oh well.

In other news: We are trying to organise a jumble sale for a week Sat - how can I get people to come?

I went to watch rugby on Sunday (where I drank & ate) and we were charged rather a lot for beer. I fired off an email to the club to complain - following it up with another when I found out that the beer was Carlsberg - a dreadful CHEAP brand that they were selling for over £6 per pint. I have just received an email from the club MD asking me to call him on a mobile number. Exciting... and I'm a TOUCH embarassed by my impulsiveness!

Brownies is back!

2012-01-10T22:14:00.003+01:00

We took it easy tonight:

Started with a pow-wow where we took suggestions for what the girls would like to do this term. One of the helpers had told me that her kids had got so many presents they had games they hadn't even opened yet... so we discussed this and the Brownies are going to bring in any new board games next week so we can have a games night. (we'll also need to make posters for the jumble sale we're planning).

Spring cleaned the Brownie cupboards.

Played Tunnel Tig & The Princess & the Serving Girls.

Finished with a reminder to bring the games, Brownie Bells & HOME TIME!

ID

2012-01-08T22:19:00.001+01:00

I have just been ID'd in a pub we've been drinking in for 14 years.

I am delighted as I had been concerned that weight-loss was aging me!

Weightwatchers

2012-01-08T10:56:00.001+01:00

Is it bad, when on a diet, to scrape out the nutella jar with a spoon?

Happy New Year!

2011-12-30T04:11:00.001+01:00

This year I went to my in-laws house for Xmas.

My boyfriend's mum lives in England in my home town - 400+ miles South of Glasgow.

My parents live in Wales - 300+ miles SW, having moved from our home town a year and a half ago.

Last year we went to see both families. It was too much travel for me.

This year I was apprehensive. I had agreed to spend Xmas at HIS mum's but wondered how I'd find it and whether I'd miss my family.

It turned out to be ok actually. It was odd not having a home in my home town, but Xmas at his wasn't so different.

We drove on Xmas morning, leaving at 6am with clear roads down.

We arrived & shared gifts around lunchtime.

The dinner (4pm) was turkey & ham with trimmings (delicious) followed by fruit pudding & cream.

By evening-time his sister was drunk so games were off but tv-watching was in order: Dr Who special, Eastenders special... Then bed.

On Boxing Day we met old friends and played games with various family/friends' offspring.

It was VERY nice catching up with people I had not seen for some time.

I would do it again.

Hope you had a great holiday. Happy New Year (when it comes)!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T22:55:00.002+01:00

apologies - bottle of champagne down....

Checked In....

2011-12-19T08:57:00.001+01:00

Am in the airport with cereal and coffee. Full fat milk tastes GOOD!

This Xmas I am not going home, but I have now seen my sister and mother and all present exchanges are complete.

It was a great weekend - thanks dudes.

On Saturday night we went to the cinema to see the Strictly Come Dancing final in 3D. It was s brilliant atmosphere & watching dancing in 3D really does work.

Anyway - concert tonight. Xmas soon!!

Love my job

2011-12-11T22:10:00.001+01:00

Trumpet one I mean. It's Messiah season.

The office job's in trouble - think we're all for redundancy in the next 12 months.

Insomnia

2011-12-11T05:04:00.001+01:00

OK - this is MY blog... so it is really all about me.

I cannot sleep. I can't decide whether it's the chinese take-away or the cold temperatures... whatever the reason, I am awake at 4am. What to do at this hour? Read my blogging friends' updates of course!

Expect me anytime soon.

Windy City!

2011-12-08T18:46:00.001+01:00

We have gale force winds. I am scheduled for a rehearsal 60 miles away. Police have advised us not to travel. Train company said trains likely to stop at 9.30pm.

My conductor has not cancelled the reheasal. He has not given me the OK not to attend.

I am therefore stressed to the max with a splitting headache having made the decision not to attend (after avoiding several flying objects whilst awaiting bus outside bus shelter as inside shelter was even more frightening - creaking & bending!).

I feel guilty. Or lazy. Or cowardly. That should read AND rather than OR.

First snow this winter

2011-12-05T04:33:00.001+01:00

Yesterday my Brownies and I went to see a pantomime: Peter Pan at the Pavilion.

We met at the church hall to get the train into the city centre.

The show was great fun - they loved it. They also enjoyed the train journey (although they tried to shut the doors while the last 4 of us were still disembarking which would not have been funny. My assistant held onto the train on the outside til they let us off!).

This morning I woke up to the scene below. It's 3am but look how bright it is with the reflected light.

I now feel ready for Xmas! Shame there's 2 wks of school & work to go yet....

Anyone else in the festive spirit just a BIT too early?

Adam Ant Tour 2011.

2011-11-27T18:52:00.001+01:00

Tonight we are going to see Adam Ant! See - something actually exciting (and a bit weird) to tell you.

This is to remind me really that I'd like to update the blog afterwards - I expect it will be funny. I HOPE there will be audience members dressed appropriately.

To avoid any confusion from the uneducated please see the weird and wonderful Mr Adam Ant....

UPDATE:

It was amazing. I really liked it. He looked pretty good and the venue was huge so felt a bit empty but when I tried a rough headcount it was maybe 1000.

He has still got it - he can sing well and the double drum-kit set-up means you feel the vibrations through your body as soon as the gig starts. The songs are better than I'd remembered and the show overall was excellent. He had 2 kits, 2 guitarists, 2 hot singing/dancing ladies, plus the great Mr Adam Ant with his pirate outfit in the centre. I found I could sing along to more songs than I realised I knew.

Admittedly Adam Ant is physically a bit awkward - other than his Adam Ant dance moves his other dancing is as awkward as your dancing Grandpa. Looking back at old videos I think that may have always been the case!

On a few occasions I was reminded of the film Music And Lyrics, in which Hugh Grant plays an 80's pop star still singing the same songs making the the moves the fans still want to see to make some cash after his career stalled. Adam Ant has a new album out next year but he's definitely had a few career lows (and mental health issues). I found I really did want to see the moves... my favourite moments were when they did Prince Charming and Puss in Boots.

I wonder if Adam Ant is going bald? I think he must be. His pirate hat was never removed, even when the jacket and shirt were (revealling his own gig t-shirt cut down to a vest then ripped down the front - Love that he wore his own current tour t-shirt onstage. If the aim was to sell it succeeded, as he had a queue at the merchandise stand at the end).

Life & Routine

2011-11-22T00:10:00.001+01:00

I'm getting old!

Lately I have felt I am losing the fun I previously found in my daily routine. I suppose this is inevitable. I have worked I'm the same part time job for 6+yrs, worked in another for 2 yrs, a third for 3/4 yrs...

I have become lazy and complacent. I know what I'm doing and I find much of it easy. I enjoy it well enough and I know I can maintain a decent standard of living doing what I do.

I feel dissatisfied because I do nothing to push myself. I have several ideas that I should follow up but am not sure where to start and so do nothing. On the flip side I am not stressed and have enough time to relax.

I fill my time with crafts and cooking. What happened to my career drive?
Is this what prompts people to start families? Boredom, the feeling of getting stuck in a rut? Or is it the natural development of a person, part of the aging process? Is it the realisation that you are now experienced, and the desire to recapture some excitement of seeing things for the first time?

I need to get out and learn some new skills. Take some evening classes or find a new job. I'm only 32 and might well have a good few years yet!

P.s.made chutneys - want to see?

Stravaigin

2011-11-20T23:55:00.001+01:00

Bloody Mary & mount gay rum. Not at the same time. Fun.

Catch up

2011-11-02T09:36:00.001+01:00

Last time I posted, I was about to go in Brownie pack holiday as QM.

Well there were challenges: making 26 rounds of toast to go out as close to all at once as possible. I found there was a 4 slice toaster which was great.... Only on the last day as I packed up I found another 4 slice toaster. Eight at once would have made life easier. Oh well!

Of the 4 Brownie packs I had the only 2 homesick kids, but it turned out they were really just upset as they had been put in separate groups. Easily fixed.

The kids enjoyed it - reviewers last night liked watching a movie best (101 Dalmations - Disney classic of Brownies' choosing!).

Netherurd is a lively facility but too expensive for us really. Even without any of the cool outdoor sports activities and with almost free crafts (pine cone bird feeders) it cost £65 each. Given that we have a closer site with similar facilities costing £35 where we probably have money to pay for crafts too it's not worth the difference.

QM on pack Hol.

2011-10-13T12:27:00.001+01:00

Why do I agree to these things?

Magic Magic Train.

2011-10-04T07:52:00.001+01:00

Still loving the train although I had to run today to catch it!

Friends

2011-10-02T13:38:00.001+01:00

I have had an amusing week spent out with friends. I am now completely broke, but that's ok when I spent all my cash having a good time.

On Thursday I went to Jamie Oliver's restaurant, which I really enjoyed. I met an old friend from work and it was great to catch up with her.

Friday brought an impromptu night out with my college buddy, ending with a curry.

Saturday I caught a train to Dundee to play oompah music in a beer festival. It was awesome.

Today... Well I'm on a train right now, have a parents' meeting at 4 for Brownies. Hopefully there will be time for a shower first... Beer festival smells are lingering.

Day Trip

2011-09-24T18:03:00.001+01:00

Today my Brownies have taken a trip to the Royal Concert Hall. We went to see an introduction to an orchestra concert for kids.

We caught the train at 10am then went to the concert.

That took us to lunchtime so a quick Happy Meal macky d's was had before we got the train home.

Arriving at the hall 30 mins early left time for toilet trips and then a game of Down On One Knee outside in the sunshine.

Everything went well and the kids all enjoyed themselves.

Success!

Commuters

2011-09-20T08:53:00.001+01:00

How irritating do you find it when the train arrives at your destination on time but is held outside the station for 5 mins or so?

Trains!

2011-09-14T07:47:00.003+01:00

I am a train convert. I love trains!

I have been getting trains to Edinburgh for school, rather than driving. There were pros and cons for this:
Pros
1/2 hr walk from the train station to school (good for diet).
No parking concerns.
I found a train for £9 return (so it's cheaper than the drive)
Sitting on train more relaxing than driving through heavy traffic.

Cons
1/2 hr walk from the train to school (long way in bad weather)
Longer commute (from home - 2.5hrs so 1 hr extra each way).
£9 return train requires a long wait after school as it's only on Crosscountry trains.
£9 train not ideal due to Brownies on a Tuesday - any delay on trains would make me late.

Since my cons had a few solutions: I can get a cheap ticket on the way TO school SINGLE, and a less cheap off-peak single home - for less than the peak rate fare. It would then cost £18.00 rather than £19.30. Not a huge difference but I like it.

OR - I can get the cheap ticket TO school and a BUS home - £12.00.

Essentially - I am now public transporting on Tuesdays but still driving on Wednesdays. Today I'm leaving it as late as possible because I really don't want to do the drive.

LOVE the trains!

Glasgow Rugby

2011-09-10T01:08:00.002+01:00

Went to see the Glasgow Warriors tonight. This is the first time I've been to see them since they moved to a proper stadium. I liked the old rugby field.... and I have a bit of a turnstile phobia.

I decided enough was enough (possibly boosted by the 2 stone weight loss) so decided to brave the turnstiles again.

And I LOVED it. I missed rugby. Very much fun.

Brownies - New Game Under Development

2011-09-03T14:40:00.005+01:00

I have had an idea for a game - we are doing a WW2 bit this term (for Remembrance Sunday mostly but trying to make it personal & fun). *note - just checked and Remembrance Sunday is meant to be about WW1 which is fine - means we do WW1 for a wk then WW2.

We are going to ask the vicar who knows a lot about how the hall we meet in survived bombing in the war. The church has a stained glass window commemorating this.

We are then going to make poppies and lay a wreath.

The following week we have a granny coming in to tell the girls about being their age during WW2.

She has ration books and a diary from the war.

I think that ration books would make a great game for the kids:

Currently in the planning stages but I think.... Set up tables of goods - they are your shops. Have a bakery, a butchers and a grocers.

Split the girls into groups. Should this be sixes, or into age groups so the older ones get to take it further than the younger ones?

Give the kids ration books & a shopping list - Perhaps they have senarios:

You are shopping for a family of 4. Buy ingredients to make one day's food for your family.

Family favourites:

Mum - Loves porridge

Sister - Loves cheese sandwiches

Brother - Loves fish

Granny - Loves cake

You are shopping for a family of 3. Buy ingredients to make one day's food for your family.

Mum - Loves potatoes

Dad - Loves beef

Big sister - Loves apples (rare)

Little sister - Loves milk

You are shopping for a family of 2. Buy ingredients to make one day's food for your family.

Mum - Loves cake

Sister - Loves carrots

Points to be awarded for teams buying ingredients for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Bonus points for buying the favourite foods.

There would be an opportunity for the girls to be inventive - family that loves cake and sandwiches could buy flour, butter, sugar, eggs, yeast... which would be cheaper than a loaf and a cake.

Bartering would be allowed - a family who had bought six cakes but only wanted 2 could sell them back perhaps if they then found they would need bread..........

I still have thinking to do on this but it looks as though it would work to me.

What do you think? Any helpful suggestions welcomed.

Tart!

2011-08-26T22:09:00.001+01:00

I am such an ignoramus! Or naive... Take your pick.

On the train I sat next to a man because he had a plug socket I could use for my phone charger.

As I had to ask to use the socket (as it was in front of him) conversation was sparked by me.

He was very interesting - from New Delhi working in Glasgow.....

We exchange phone numbers and facebooks, because he sees me using Facebook and I assume he wants more local friends having moved recently to Scotland.

2hrs later he asks "so are you married, have a boyfriend...?".

THEN the penny drops!

It's quite nice to think someone would be interested. Perhaps this dieting think has made some difference... Been a long time since I've been chatted up. So long I no longer recognise it.

Note to self: drop in boyfriend reference earlier in the somewhat unlikely case that the situation might occur in future. Not sure I used "we" very often either in my stories now I think about it. That'd be a good idea too.

Start of Term and feeling GOOD!

2011-08-24T12:20:00.001+01:00

Nearly 2 stone lighter, and fairly organised already, I am looking forward to the start of term!

Brownie planning is on the way, and I am enjoying my last weekday off until October... by sitting here on the computer watching telly.

This may sound sad, but I am very happy. We were away twice this week for camping trips, and have done a load of walking in the highlands through some STUNNING scenery.

Tonight I am teaching a couple of pupils, before meeting some friends for a few drinks.

Don't think it gets much better.

I love free champagne

2011-08-18T22:55:00.001+01:00

Even when it's found in a drawer belonging to an ex-colleague where we suspect it has resided since 2006 if not earlier.

Yum...... (actually is good. I do like free stuff but it's made me happy this evening on a school/work night).

it all went a bit pete tong

2011-07-29T00:35:00.002+01:00

Fake Cockney rhyming slang for Wrong.

I drank too much last night. I embarrassed myself. I told my friend's Mum on the phone that I was 'wankered' and then fell over whilst on the phone and said the F word.

Still - today has been fun. Went swimming and then to a pal's house for tea. Enjoyed it....

Lazy Day

2011-07-27T14:45:00.001+01:00

I'm loving this sunshine.

Bbq today and we won't need a fire to stand by for warmth or an umbrella to cook under.

I also like the Blogger phone app.

So Shallow! The band: Crow Road

2011-07-26T21:42:00.001+01:00

There is a band on at the gig I'm at who all have bad hair. I am automatically offside.

I am not so shallow that this would actually be sufficient to dislike them, but I am shallow enough that if they will have to be amazing musically to gain favour.

I am not proud of it. I just discovered a character flaw I was unaware of.... I'm not exactly perfection in a woman!

Regardless, it seems I prefer pretty boys!

In my absence

2011-07-26T12:04:00.002+01:00

blogger has changed! Where's the navy blue border etc?

Oh well. It's not as easy to see right now, as I'm sitting with the sun shining in behind me through the living room window.

That's right people! SUNSHINE in Glasgow! I am delighted but have tidying up to do today which is disappointing.

My reaction... blog. (Bad plan, TC. Get on with it! Then get out and have some fun).

The plan:
Sort out the clothing mountain on the floor of our bedroom.
Do some gardening? Or some shopping for food.
Walk to the city centre (5miles) for a gig tonight.
Tomorrow: Tidy more because people are coming round for bbq.

Recent activity:
Been to see looots of gigs. We saw a Saturday gig, headliners: Bwani Junction at King Tuts - loved them.
We saw Otherpeople and The Kings Hats, and Song of Return at King Tuts and liked the first 2 of the three (who were actually the 2nd and 3rd of four but the first band were not worthy of mention).
We then went to see Trombone Shorty in Edinburgh Queen's Hall and LOVED him. I saw him in New Orleans last year so was very excited to hear he was coming here. The crowd was disappointing. I was surprised to find a hall half full and was a bit annoyed that only one of my brass playing friends happened along. Ignoramuses. Watched the gig sipping iced water to get through. Agony in the car on the way home but totally worth it. (He's hot - check out the link). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/8594717/Trombone-Shorty-Pied-piper-of-Treme.html
Had root canal treatment yesterday.

Holiday was good!

2011-07-18T01:12:00.002+01:00

Had a blast. Love France.
Went to Francofolies festival... mademoiselle k (pictured) was outstanding.

i love it here!

2011-07-08T23:03:00.000+01:00

Since we arrived weather has been changeable. I decided to begin with weather because it's what we Brits tend to discuss often.

We have been to Les Minimes and Ile de Re where we had enough sun to swim and dry off mostly!

We have climbed 2 of the 3 towers in the harbour. We have taken a boat to Fort Boyard. It is imposing and so remote it's difficult to imagine being imprisoned there. Amazing.

We have eaten a variety of delicious food, worthy of a separate post.

This is only day 4!

HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-07-04T21:11:00.002+01:00

Tomorrow we go to La Rochelle. Excited....

Knackered!

2011-06-13T14:33:00.002+01:00

This weekend I have been in Dundee with my mum.

She has just left on the train.

I want to sleep! She's the oldie and I'm the one who's knackered..... dear me!

Last night with some of my older Brownies... boo hoo!

2011-06-02T08:00:00.000+01:00

11 of my Brownies are old enough to go to Guides in September.

As I was writing their Adventure certificates this week I felt quite sad, as it feels like no time ago since I was writing their Promise certificates (they get these when they join)!

Still I am pleased to be sending the Guides a great bunch of girls, and am sure they'll love taking over the Guide unit (as I think there might be more of them coming in than the Guides has already).

The Guide leader is very happy to be getting them back, as she took the Rainbows which many of them were part of when they were littler!

Which reminds me - I need to email her their details.

Pack Holiday is over - phew - I'm TIRED!!

2011-05-24T07:12:00.000+01:00

We got back yesterday afternoon after a wet weekend at Loch Lomond.

This was our pack's first ever (since I've been involved at least) solo pack holiday. No test for the Guiders, and 16 Brownies from our unit.

Friday night went quite smoothly. They arrived, unpacked, we ran through some rules, then they made a huge poster with stars and colouring sheet aliens, planets etc.

The Guiders marked out constellations in chalk on a huge black piece of paper, then the girls stuck stars on the chalk dots to make the constellations. We then filled in the gaps before trying to work out where the constellations were.

Saturday began well with the usual breakfast, inspection, points etc then a walk to Loch Lomond. The afternoon, however, was a wash-out. On the campsite there were 14 tents full of Guides who were set for a very wet and windy weekend. I think one camp went home early.

As I said in my last post, I'd brought HUNDREDS of space-themed craft ideas. I hadn't thought we could possibly run out, but we were right down to the emergency plans by the end of Saturday!

This craft worked really well - Alien party hats. One of the girls added her own twist, and put the eye on the back of her head. It made me laugh! (can't get the picture to rotate & save - sorry).

Bedtime was funny - they all asked to go to bed early! That'll be because they didn't sleep much on Friday night and were up at 5.30am on Saturday (they weren't out of bed - but I had to go in to tell them to go back to sleep at 5.30).

Sunday was a bit better, because the rain was lighter and we could get the girls in their waterproofs, wellies for some outdoor play. We even had the odd 20 minute burst of sunshine!

Brownie Pack Holiday!

2011-05-18T22:54:00.002+01:00

This weekend we are off on pack holiday (Thankfully I'm feeling so much better!!!).

Our theme is Space, and so far we have done some alien pictures (chalk on black card) which a very helpful Mum laminated this week. It took her an hour! We will use these as placemats on the holiday.

We are going to Loch Lomond. It's beautiful, but we've predicted bad weather. The kids'll be fine - they'll all have wellies and waterproofs and we will still go out and about. I have lots of indoor activities on standby too: fimo magnets, alien headdresses, masks, flying saucers, meteorites... loads of stuff.

I'll tell you about it when we get home.

Health

2011-05-13T20:40:00.002+01:00

For several months I've been concerned, because (how to put this delicately so as not to embarrass anyone) I've been 'up on the blocks' (thanks to Mrs S's December son for that analogy) for 4 months without much of a break. A few days off at most.

After 3 months I went to the docs. Of course it should have been sooner. Really I should have gone years ago when I became aware that my cycle was a bit weird.

Anyway, with the Royal Wedding and the other bank holidays it was weeks til I got the results.

The result is that my hormones are wrong (probably due to polycystic ovaries) and I am now on a medically-required diet. They won't treat the symptom until I lose a lot of weight.

SO... life is now about counting points and checking calories/fat.

On one hand I know I should have done this anyway (and had started half-heartedly dieting weeks ago), but on the other hand I am angry that I don't have a choice and angry that the treatment is witheld.

Thus far it has been quite fun, but when it comes to the next 69hr working week it might be less enjoyable to plan and prepare healthy meals.

I will just have to work it out when it comes.

Next week will be a bit of a trial run at that, as it's Brownie pack holiday next weekend and I can't get any time off work to prepare for it... late night shopping trips and a mid-week dash to Loch Lomond will test my willpower.

Royal Wedding Party

2011-04-28T18:13:00.002+01:00

My friend Suzy asked if she could have a Royal Wedding party in our back garden.

We are therefore v excited - as plenty of folk are coming and we have loads of food!

However in Glasgow it is really NOT cool to be pro-royals so we'll just keep it a secret and call it a 'day off' party instead.

Easter eggs all gone!

2011-04-24T16:07:00.000+01:00

This is where they went!

My friend Suzy is having a bbq for the Royal Wedding and there are to be cakes. A lovely lady is bringing a 3 tier cake stand so we must fill it. Suzy is making fairy cakes (cupcakes). I am making scones (when I have butter).

Mum bought me a Green & Blacks dark choc egg. I love dark chocolate, but that was too much for me to face. So I melted it down and made triple-chocolate-easter-egg brownies.

They are GOOD. Saving the rest til Friday will be a real effort.

p.s. Can you see my New Orleans Hornets basketball cup? We keep our tea bags in it - can't bear to throw it away.

still alive but not blogging

2011-04-10T19:44:00.000+01:00

I'm not really into the blog thing at the moment. I don't have time to read blogs or to write mine.

I'm not 'closing down' because I like having my blog. I like updating when I feel like it and I enjoy checking out my friends' blogs when I do have time.

I will be back when I have something I want to say, but until then - best wishes from Glasgow.

blogger crashing

2011-03-22T00:57:00.000+01:00

I seem to have fixed the browser problem by going into New Post through Edit rather than selecting it on the dashboard... but I have been having blogger issues.

Selecting 'new post' has caused my browser to crash repeatedly.

Exciting News! (to me)

Our Brownie pack won the local annual competition to win a trophy!

Last year I think there was an art competition of some sort. A few years prior to that we had a trip with the division to the bowling alley and the pack with the highest lane score won the trophy.

This year we organised a Basketball Tournament, with pom-pom making craft and cheerleading (taught by a dance instructor) plus some music and hot dogs.

It sounded fun, but I had to work! My gig was good fun and in a place I love with people I like, but I'd been excited about the game - we'd discussed it at a meeting and it sounded like fun to me - and I felt guilty that I wasn't there as I'd been one of the people most keen on the idea.

My assistant guider took them with our YL and unit helper so we were well covered for numbers and I knew the girls were safe.

I helped a bit by doing a timetable (actually by tweaking a timetable our commissioner (boss Brownie leader) had done so it worked with the number of teams who had signed up). It went like this...

BROWNIE BASKETBALL FUN DAY - GOOD LUCK!

BASKETBALL - LARGE HALL, DANCING - STAGE, CRAFT - SESSION ROOM UPSTAIRS, SNACK - FROM KITCHEN.
DURING EACH MATCH THE OTHER TEAMS PLAYING THE ROUND SHOULD GO ON STAGE TO LEARN CHEERLEADING
IF YOU ARE NOT PLAYING IN A ROUND, YOU WILL BE DOING CRAFT & MAY GET SNACK

13:00	MEET & GET ORGANISED - LARGE HALL
13:15	SHOP OPEN IN SMALL HALL
13:30	IMPORTANT! ALL TEAMS TO LARGE HALL (TO HEAR RULES OF BASKETBALL COMPETITION)
13:40	ROUND 1 - LARGE HALL
		V	CRAFT - SESSION ROOM
		V	SNACK - KITCHEN
14:00	ROUND 2
		V	CRAFT - SESSION ROOM
		V	SNACK - KITCHEN
14:20	BREAK - LARGE HALL
14:30	ROUND 3
		V	CRAFT - SESSION ROOM
		V	SNACK - KITCHEN
14:50	ROUND 4
		V	SNACK - KITCHEN
		V	CRAFT - SESSION ROOM
15:10	ROUND 5
		V	SNACK - KITCHEN
		V	CRAFT - SESSION ROOM
15:30	TEAMS MAY VISIT SHOP OR TAKE A BREAK
15:45	ALL TEAMS PRIZEGIVING CEREMONY IN LARGE HALL

IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS A TIE BETWEEN TEAMS (ONCE POINTS FOR ALL ACTIVITIES ARE ADDED UP) A TIE-BREAK SHOOT OUT WILL BE PLAYED I'm looking forward to hearing about it tomorrow night at our meeting. We will get our trophy once our unit name has been engraved on it.

Pancake Day

2011-03-08T23:05:00.002+01:00

Tonight my Brownies made pancakes on tin cans with candles underneath.

They were tiny little pancakes, and it was great fun making them.

Don't think it's an activity I'll be repeating though.... too much mess!

Nice People

2011-03-04T08:47:00.000+01:00

I have that Friday feeling! I know I'm working tomorrow as well, but I'll have a morning off and I am quite excited about that.

The week has perked up. Yesterday I met my pit-partner (trumpeter) and his Mum during my lunch break, which was lovely. We then met his mum after the show with my boyfriend (they had watched it together as you got 2 for 1 tickets), went to the pub... and met his Dad too. We had some drinks (diet coke!) and chatted for a few hours after the show, and the wind down was lovely! We laughed, joked, regaled each other with stories.

A lovely end to another busy day.

This week is Half A Sixpence

2011-03-02T06:59:00.000+01:00

Working nights again this week.

I enjoy the playing part of work very much, but am very tired this morning. My normal working week is the same on a gigging week, only you add gigs to it.

This means that last night I finished work at 10pm, then had to go and find a colleague to pay him for doing the Brownie night of the show last week (so I could go to the Science Centre with my pack).

Bed time was midnight, and I leave for work at 6.30am today.

I woke up this morning and felt like I'd been out on the piss last night. I didn't have a drop. Actually I had about 2 mouthfuls of wine when I got into the house before deciding I didn't really like the taste (Chardonnay Pinot Grigio) and discarding the rest of the glass.

This morning I feel horrible.

Hopefully I will be home by 4.30pm which will give me 1hr in the house before I teach then go back out to do a show. I will use the hour to SLEEP!

I hope that my friends are well. I will see them soon!

WORKING

2011-02-26T00:34:00.000+01:00

This week is Singing in the Rain, which is fun... but means I'm busy. Nothing new there then!

Remainder of holiday

2011-02-21T11:45:00.001+01:00

On Wednesday we tried to visit the distillery in Tobermory, but it was shut. We had a drink in the Mishnish pub to cheer ourselves up and ended up staying there for most of the afternoon. In the evening we had dinner out - which was really highly rated (using my sister's Quantify game - marking everything out of 10).

Thursday: We went on a wildlife tour - and it was fab. The tour guides were knowledgeable and friendly and they took us to areas we would never have visited alone. Mull Magic they are called and they have a blog!

And the wildlife - stunning! We saw white tailed eagles, golden eagles, seals, an otter, herons, buzzards, red deer, another deer that I have forgotten the name of temporarily... should I go on?

They have been kind enough to provide us with some photos - so I will pass one onto you.

Our otter:

This was our last day on Mull as we had to be back as early as possible on Friday for my sister to get to a hen weekend.

Mull Continued

2011-02-19T18:56:00.000+01:00

I got as far as Tuesday in the Mull story.

Our next outing was a trip to Iona. Iona is a small island off the South-West of Mull. It is small enough that you can walk around it on a day trip, and is made up of grey stone with sandy beaches and green grassy rolling slopes.

Iona has religious links, with a monastery still existing on the island. It was the home of St Columba and the monks here may well have made the beautiful pages of the Book of Kells. I've Wikipedia linked to save me providing a less accurate account of the history... (or getting myself in trouble for copying my beautiful Iona book onto the Internet!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Kells

I first visited Iona for a gig about 10 yrs ago. It was the 50th anniversary of the old minister's ordination, and they held a celebration with his family (his daughter was one of my lecturers at college). The minister returned to his church and held a service at which I played, then later in the day a party was held and as he had been in the navy I was asked to play some fanfares at midnight. It was a really good shindig with some very friendly people. I wished I could join with the wine and celebrations myself and have wanted to return ever since!

Iona is a truly stunning place with an amazing atmosphere and the journey to Fionnphort to catch the ferry takes you through some uniquely dramatic landscape. Well worth the trip.

The Isle of Mull

2011-02-18T18:57:00.001+01:00

Today I returned from a week away on the Hebridean island, Mull with my boyfriend and my sister.

We left on Saturday catching midday ferry from Oban to Craignure, then on to Tobermory with me driving so my boyf could have a ferry-pint (something he considers a real treat). We spent the afternoon exploring Tobermory, watching Wales beat Scotland in the rugby and relaxing in our holiday home. This is the view we had from our front windows (with finger for added effect...).

On Sunday my boyfriend got his first taste of driving on the Island with a trip to Calgary Bay. This beach is a large white sandy bay but it looked as though there have been some recent storms, as there was a lot of seaweed quite high along the shoreline.

We drove around the North-West of Mull looking at Ulva, Gometra, and the Treshnish Isles. It was a lovely clear day though chilly (with an icy sea - temperature verified by a toe test).

Monday morning we had a lie in then headed out on the extremely bumpy single-track roads to Salen, wandering along the road by the old pier and exploring Aros Castle. We saw a herd of red deer in the fields around the castle, and some birds along the coast.

We visited the bookshop and bought ourselves Highlands and Islands Monopoly to while away an evening in then settled down with some chicken chasseur in the cozy warmth of the cottage.

To be continued.....

A week in the life of... TC

2011-02-05T15:46:00.000+01:00

Sunday - Tax return deadline loomed.
We made pizzas with a friend whilst watching Dancing on Ice as she marked her school books and I completed my tax return! (yeah! 1 whole day early!)

Monday - Dentist. Had a horrible filling that really hurts still - they did something to the nerve to protect it from decay and as it didn't really hurt before, it now is worse for the treatment. In the long run I realise I'll be glad they did it. I worked during the evening.

Tuesday - School & Brownies
Leave the house at 07.30 to start work at 09.30. After school I do a wind sectional for orchestra til 16.15 (no lunch break this week due to extra lesson a pupil needed).Drive home hitting rush hr traffic for the entire journey arriving home at 18.30 if I'm lucky. Brownies starts at 19.00 and as we have 2 trips coming up there was a load of admin to do when I got home. (working out how much cash we'd actually received and how much is due, plus doing emergency contact lists and a bus list - I won't be there for the 1st trip as I'm working, so it all needs to be done early).

Wednesday - early start
I leave at 6.30. I run a group at 8.30, another at 10.50 and a final one at 1pm. I do a couple more individual lessons then it's HOME TIME - early. I'm back in Glasgow before 5pm.And relax!

I had booked a restaurant for the evening, to encourage us to go out. We went to Cail Bruich - which is a Scottish food restaurant - and it was delicious. During dinner a friend texted to invite us for a drink at a pub which would be on our way home anyway so we met him. It was fun. His girlfriend gave us a lift home too- bonus!

Thursday - Office job day.
I felt a bit rubbish this week which I can probably put down to the drinks I had on Wednesday night. Nothing fun to report.

Friday - Office day then office party!

It had been 3.5 yrs since we had a departmental night out. When we have brought it up with our manager she has said that the Boss was not interested, or that they could never pick a date. One of my colleagues decided that we should just pick a date, see how many people could make it, then go for it. So she picked yesterday. And all but 3 people said they would come! Theoretically.

Of course there were a few last minute cancellations, but we ended up with 15 attendees.

It also ended up that our Boss picked up the bill! Awesome. Although I mucked up the credit card thing and he actually had to pay for it rather than putting it on the company card as they don't accept American Express.

It was fun.

adele

2011-01-27T20:39:00.000+01:00

I would not have considered myself a fan of Adele although I have liked her work to date.

I have just watched her Live Lounge session for Radio 1 today and it is AMAZING. I would have to say she has to be the best pop act we have in the UK currently - certainly the best singer by a country mile!

If you're in America I don't know if you'll be able to watch but I'll put the link up for anyone who stumbles along and wants to watch.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/sessions/2011-01-27_adeleliveloungespecial

Tax Month

2011-01-24T13:08:00.000+01:00

hahaha... I can tell I'm getting close to doing my tax return now - I'm back on my blog! As procrastinating goes this is usually one of the last things I do before cracking on with the work... so WOO HOO - Tax here I come.

Happy Very Belated New Year!

2011-01-16T01:22:00.001+01:00

Well the year started very well with a lovely long weekend in Crianlarich in a rented house shared with 4 good friends.

Crianlarich is beautiful.

Holiday highlights: Food was wonderful and company excellent. We won a pub quiz! Then found out it was meant to be for the coach party only, and we weren't supposed to have entered. They let us keep the prize (see photo!)

We walked approx 10k from Crianlarich to Tyndrum over the hills through lots of ice. It was really hard! And fun. Many sections of the path were thickly coated in a sheet of ice. The ice was very slippery. We also had to cross 4 frozen rivers (would have been fords had they been running so you could step over the shallow stoney ground! Instead they were ice rinks which one of our friends crossed on her bum!).

So now it's back into the grind, and as ever it's tax-return month so I'm avoiding doing it by pretending to be far too busy... which means I can't blog.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-22T20:07:00.001+01:00

I'm going to head over to your blogs soon to see how you have been getting on. It's been the typical Christmas build-up here with concerts, shopping, making stuff. Busy enough to keep me offline.

I probably won't be round much til after the New Year so would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year a bit early.... (that's it done!)

snow experiment

2010-12-10T00:20:00.000+01:00

It's a bit hard to see... but the experiment was excecuted perfectly, however in my amazement I poured the remaining boiling water down my arm. What a doofus!

Still - it was worth it. Made my day.

It's s s s s so c c c cold... brr.

2010-12-08T19:05:00.001+01:00

I tried chucking a kettle of water into the air today not thinking it would really do anything.

It made snow!

It's THAT cold here!!

Sad! And Happy.

2010-12-08T14:02:00.000+01:00

Well Brownies has been snowed off for 2 weeks in a row.

Last week my DC (also halls boss-lady for church) texted me to cancel Brownies. One of those times when I think a phone call would be better as I'd have had better explanations for my kids when I rang them all if I'd know WHY exactly - Icy? Slippery? Heating problems?

This week we were to have the division christmas concert, but the snow here on Monday closed the entire city - shops closed, trains stopped, buses were cancelled... I haven't been to school for a fortnight. I'll be skint - now glad I bought so many presents on my credit card this year!.

Anyway - my house must be pristine I hear you remark, with all this time off. Haha... or not.

I am going to do some work now - practise I mean. Yippee.

UK Weather-Watch

2010-12-03T06:10:00.001+01:00

Well it has all gone a bit Wintery in the UK!

We have had a lot of snow here lately and I feel as though I am on permanent weather-watch. At the moment it's 5am-ish and I am awake for two reasons: My boyfriend snort-snored suddenly extremely loudly scaring me out of my slumber, and I've got to get to Anstruther on Sat for work and don't fancy my chances much.

However the weather forecast is changing every time I check. It is also not correct - the current weather on the BBC website (generally more reliable than elsewhere) is wrong. Visibility here is excellent - says v poor - and we have no snow and have had none all night.

I would like to book a train for this weekend but don't know if they'll run. There also is no train station in the village I'm playing.

I would book a bus but none run in the evening so I'd be stuck there overnight. Car it is!

On Sat when the snow started we were so excited that we grabbed the nearest clothes (I was in PJ's - it was midnight) and headed out. I had just done a xmas gig - so the Santa hat and heeled shoes were out... I also have on 3 jumpers, a coat and a scarf. Looking good, eh?!

Gleneagles - Saturday day

A tree. I like it - snowy and crisp against beautifully clear blue sky.

This was Gleneagles too - I have lots of photos as I was playing the Girlguiding Centenary Fanfare for the last time (fingers crossed) this year and got a lift up with one of the event organisers so arrived 2hrs early with nothing much to do. I played for a while in the hotel til someone came in to prepare the room for the do, then went for a walk in the snow. New snow is fun - I can't help myself messing it up!

Got an East Coast train on Sunday morning - view from the train of the coast South of Edinburgh.

OUR SNOWMEN!

2010-11-17T01:29:00.002+01:00

Jen pointed out (in comments) that there are dietary requirements for many of her Brownies. There are a few in mine, but no vegetarians.

For my Halal req Brownie we used profiteroles (without the cream filling) - I tried it and it tasted nice. Just like you'd imagine dry profiteroles covered in white choc might taste. It also looked quite good but was much more difficult to do as she had to dip each profiterole in the choc and roll it around, then skewer it and stick the 3 lumps together at the top of the stick.

As to our milk and egg allergies - they can have the things IN stuff... and there actually wasn't anything in the marshmallows other than the gelatine (which clearly would rule out veggies).

For the nut allergy I checked EVERYTHING but there was no 'trace nut' warning on any of the items.

The Marshmallow Snowmen came out like this:

I ate most of mine... it was so sweet it made me feel sick! I binned the bottom marshmallow.

This week we are making these: Chocolate marshmallow snowmen

2010-11-15T19:48:00.000+01:00

Not my photo - this was from the blog below. I only hopeours can look this cool!

http://susanbanderson.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-little-corner.html

I NEED A HOLIDAY!

2010-11-15T16:17:00.001+01:00

I really really really want to go away somewhere to do fun things in the days. Roll on New Year!

Brownies - Winging it again!

2010-11-09T19:29:00.001+01:00

I started re-planning tonight this morning.

We have a board game thing that my assistant started in my absence and has a bit of work left to finish off... so what to fill the rest of the evening when we have use of the big hall?

Board game-themed party games!

We will play: human noughts and crosses, plus game-themed fishes or any other group games that use names I can think of. We might do charades or Who am I/20 questions... will be fun!

Photo - for no reason other than to make me happy.

2010-11-07T17:49:00.001+01:00

It's FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!

2010-11-05T01:06:00.002+01:00

And I already have that Friday feeling! It's going to be a good one - I can tell.

In order to maintain this optimism I am now heading to bed. See you in the morning... evening? Tomorrow perhaps.

Peace Globe 2010 & link for Travis

2010-11-04T00:01:00.006+01:00

If you're baffled by the Peace Globe thing (why have they appeared all over the internet again?) go here http://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/ to find the answer.

Personally I'm not sure about the peace globes.... I don't know if they make a difference, but I'd like tolerance and understanding to be more widespread, as that's the basis for peace, right? So I'm posting this year after a 1yr absence, as a reminder to myself as much as anyone else - if someone does something you don't understand, if someone has an opinion you don't share - think twice before you condemn it. What makes it right? What makes it wrong? Are you qualified to make that judgement?

Hey Travis - check out our dancing show.. this was good I think.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/vt0kc/

Meaney

2010-11-03T23:55:00.000+01:00

I am horrible.

My considerate boyfriend asked when I was on the phone to him today what he should get from the shops as he would pass them on his way home (in a 'what would you like' way).

My response went something like this: "I don't care what you buy. This is my only 2 hrs in the house now until Sunday between 8am and 11pm - when am I going to need anything?!!"

What a horror! In my defense I had already explained I was really tired and was going to try to grab an hour of sleep before going back out to work tonight... But I was still a bitch.

bwah ha ha

2010-10-31T02:27:00.000+01:00

Halloween... night out... started badly! Finished well!!!!!!!

Earlier I did a gig - I forgot my trumpet mouthpiece. A trumpet is made up of only 2 parts: trumpet & mouthpiece... so it's a very stupid mistake.

I did the gig - it was ok.

As I left the church my shoe caught and the heel broke.

I was then pulled over by the coppers after making a mistake at an amber light (def amber) - and was charged. That's £60 fine and 3 points. For goin through on orange with a taxi on my right getting in my way distracting me........

However I then attended the end of a gig by funk band Fnuk.... and it was great! A good 3 hrs of boogying later and I'm happy.

Incidentally: the police told me to go out. I was just following their advice..... ha!

As I plan to fascinate all...

2010-10-29T20:29:00.000+01:00

I wish to inform you that I did have cheese tonight - in left over red pepper & tomato soup (that I made on Weds for a friend) with bread.

It was delicious.

Flying Solo

2010-10-28T19:16:00.000+01:00

I'm on my own for 5 nights as my boyfriend has gone away for a birthday present treat trip to London (that I declined for financial reasons).

What shall I do? I'd do all the things he hates but he's so easy going there isn't really much... I can eat cheese and tuna. I think I will do that tomorrow. I can practise the trumpet lots as I'll have the house to myself....

Fun fun fun... Or not so much.

VISION 2010 - GIRLGUIDING GLASGOW

2010-10-21T21:14:00.002+01:00

For me it took up the afternoon & evening of Wednesday 20/10/2010.

My Brownies caught the train at a little after 5pm.
We had a change at Partick but arrived safely in Queen Street before heading off to Pizza Hut for some tea.

While the girls (and Guiders) tucked into their mini-pizzas and salad (Hahahahahaha... nachos... that's about the only salad bar option I spotted them eating!) I had to go for a sound check at the venue. I returned to pay for food then had to leave again as I was booked to play the Centenary Fanfare to open our event.

The gig started at 7pm with approx 2000 members in attendance I believe. My Guiders/Helpers/Mum got the kids into their seats with their goody bags in time for us to start.

The background music faded, the light dimmed, a microphone was put in the centre of the stage at the Royal Concert Hall and I was on. By myself. In a spotlight! Performing the Centenary Fanfare composed by Claire Griffin.

2 mins later the fanfare was finished, and the real entertainment started. Clyde 1 fm hosted the concert and after a little chat from the beautiful blonde compere Pearl and The Puppets were introduced.

Pearl and her Puppets were great! I snuck into the auditorium and found my unit - who were loving it too.

I hung around for a bit. 20million toilet trips later I had to leave to head back backstage to prepare to close the event.

The making of the promise bit at 20:10 20/10/2010 didn't quite go according to plan I presume... it was a little strange. Still - everyone did it - we joined the rest of the uk in making/renewing our promise.

We then saw dance group The Fusion who were also brilliant - and very popular if the screaming and shouting was an indicator!

Following a few thank yous I had to head back to my very scary spotlight to play Taps - then off home we shot on the 20:53 train. This is a shot from the stage (snuck on in the corner partly to distract myself partly to have a look at what was going on!).

I was very proud of my pack - they were very well behaved and had a great time - well done 310th Brownies and well done Girlguiding Glasgow!!!

VIP PASSES

2010-10-18T09:39:00.002+01:00

Think it's ok to have this up here? It says division etc...

Brownies Centenary Finale

2010-10-16T02:09:00.000+01:00

This year we have been celebrating 100 years of Guiding.

Our year-long party culminates next week with a nationwide make or re-affirmation of our Promise. In Glasgow we are going to the Royal Concert Hall where we have a big concert with pop acts and radio hosting as well as other exciting stuff.

I am nervous about this because I have to open and close the event with a solo fanfare. In front of 1700-plus people I kind of know or have a link to. It's strange - playing to strangers is dead easy but performing to friends and family is horrible. So I am sh'tting it.

I am also a little nervous as we have all our Brownies going (except 1 who says she doesn't want to go and that her mum is making her come to Brownies.... I only discovered this when it was too late to get another ticket anyway, so I am leaving it be for now.)
I was quoted 75p for return tickets by Scotrail but when I phoned back to buy them the price had somehow doubled. Still - we have to get there.

To try to make the whole thing a bit less stressful I have elected to add dinner to the mix. We are all going to Pizza Hut first... Sometimes I wonder where I get these ideas from!!!

And I am up now because I want to get this stuff done - sorted - finished - organised - before Ma & Pa arrive. I have counted the promise badges (special limited edition ones for the Centenary).

I have written the Promise Certificates for our 4 new Brownies who will be making their promise for the first time.
I have packed the cloth badges from the division.
I have packed the name badges we made in wks 1 & 2 in anticipation of this trip (and to help the new ones learn names of the others). They are fake VIP passes and they look amazing - I might blog them for any Guiders out there. Amusingly the kids all think they can actually use them for the gig... they'll be too busy to remember when it comes to the night.
I have printed spare consent forms as I'm missing a few.
I have written a letter to go to the ones who missed the last meeting where we provided final details of the trip.
I have sorted out the emergency contacts - updating mobile numbers wherever poss as we're using public transport for this one and I'd like to be able to text them if there is any delay getting home.

I think that may be it. Phew! Night all.

DIY

2010-10-14T21:08:00.000+01:00

We are still doing up our house - we have today steam cleaned our carpets. Before the descent (ascent? Wales - Scotland) of my parents we need to tidy our bedroom and steam clean the tiled floors.

DIY-ing

2010-10-09T11:48:00.000+01:00

I was woken up v. early again, this time by my boyfriend getting up to climb a hill. A trip with his friend taken on the only day off that we have shared several wks (and for at least a couple of weeks to come). A trip on which I was not invited - this is a munro-climbing day for him - ouch. I have work today - but not til 7.30pm.

So this morning I've done a bit more DIY/decorating (adjusting a sheet for our new bed). Would you like to see?

I've also read a book (finished a chick-lit book my friend left after her recent visit). However I am meeting a friend at 1pm (- no plans to sit around the house waiting for him to come home!! -) and I am concerned I might be knackered come gig time tonight. It affects your concentration - tiredness.

Maybe a quick nap would be in order.

happy again!

2010-10-06T07:39:00.000+01:00

I'm a bit tired and am wondering WHY I'm awake at 7am when I don't need to be at work til 2.30pm, and have had 2 long days in a row that I expected to sleep well after.

However I didn't want to leave the impression that I'm a big grump-ball so decided to let you know all is well.

Which it is.

Screaming Internally with frustration

2010-10-04T13:34:00.000+01:00

This is why still having a blog's a bonus.

I am frustrated by a friend who annoyed me this morning.

He is hassling me for phone numbers but on my blackberry I can't send them as text business cards. So it's a pain. And I don't see why I should help. I've had 3 texts so far and have been working since 8.50. I now have 30 mins break then am working til 8.30 tonight.

I don't want to fall out with that friend but I do want to shout 'Piss Off' at him.

Actually I want to say 'I couldn't care less who plays 2nd trumpet in the matinee on weds, and I don't see why I should be involved fixing someone for it on the Monday when I am a dep myself'. I don't care if the other player isn't my friend - I'll be there for 2 hrs! I am a professional... Its work!'

But instead I have left an answerphone message reading out a number - which is revenge because I know it'll piss him off not just being able to click the link to phone.

I am quite petty!
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Music and nice people

2010-09-11T01:12:00.000+01:00

This is a list of random mp3 plays I listened to on the way to Wales tonight.

Beck - Broken Drum
Murray The Hump - Colouring Book

(At this point I am tired as it's midnight - but I will persevere)

The Dears - Missiles. Skipped (dull)
Kasabian - Swarfiger
The Futureheads - hounds of love
FFS! Me singing. Ridiculously.
The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
Adam & the Ants - whip in my valise

Game interrupted!! Left wallet at Crewe train station. Spent 30 mins panicking then had it returned by staff in Chester station. I LOVE the train staff. Thank you!!!!

Back to music:
Stephen malkmus & the Jicks - sheets
Kasabian - butcher blues
The XX - Islands
Ed harcourt - Birds fly backwards

End of game - going to doze for the last hour of my journey.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

break

2010-08-31T20:32:00.000+01:00

Hello - there's too much going on to blog at the moment so I suppose I'm following Travis' lead and taking a wee break.

Since my last post I've been working, had visits from family, been to visit family, had sad things happen to close friends and finally term has begun so I'm back at school. I am happy, sad, happy, sad, busy, chilled, stressed. High, low, high, low..

The combination of these things has left me uninclined to blog, so I will remove the guilt I feel when this pops up each time I log onto the internet, and will admit to suspending this for the time being.

I hope my friends are doing well, and I will keep up with what you're up to on the reader. That will suffice for now.

The return journey

2010-08-04T16:27:00.001+01:00

When I embarked on this trip it was fun.

I left on a whim at 2am to drive 350 miles south with the incentive of an amusing 'wind-up my parents' surprise arrival.

Now I have to drive back. My boyfriend has told me he may possibly be working til 9pm but he may not.... So if I arrive as planned I will probably have to hang around for 2 hrs before coming out again to collect him.

Not a good carrot on a much less pleasant drive around rush hour.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

It was the ratio I had wrong

2010-08-03T09:53:00.000+01:00

Mum and Dad turned the mattress yesterday, and I tried a puffy pillow in addition to the flat one I prefer to sleep on usually.

This had the result of making my head higher than my feet. I suspect that without the big pillow the bed would have been just as bad as before (shh... don't tell the Olds), but with the correct pillow:mattress-squidge ratio a good night's sleep was had.

Yey!

I am going to London to look at the Queen... ok actually it's to see my little brother who lives there. Mum's coming too, and we're going to see the 39 Steps http://www.love39steps.com/ this evening.

This trip home has been a bit of a nostalgia tour for me, in that my parents are moving to Wales after 30+ years in the Shire and this will be my last visit to their old(current) house.

Over the last two days I have driven round for a look at the area and today's trip into London, something we did fairly often as I grew up, will be the last one I make from Milton Keynes train station. To be honest that's not something I'll miss!

After today I need to head back to Glasgow, for the remainder of the school holidays are all filled up with a variety of enjoyable activities. My boyfriend's family still live down here, so we'll have to come back down at some point.

It's not a goodbye to the town - but it will be strange coming here to visit someone else's family.

A Good Sleep

2010-08-02T06:46:00.000+01:00

How important is it for you to have a good night's sleep?

Generally it isn't something I worry about overly.

However yesterday I drove 400 miles to my parents' house overnight as a surprise, and had hoped for a decent sleep tonight.

I had not forseen that my parents had binned all of our beds (they're moving house).

They have bought a new bed and have kept their old bed - a double - which would be better than our old single beds in theory.

In practise, it feels as though your head is lower than your feet and you're lying downhill. I just couldn't get to sleep!

I ended up folding the duvet up on the floor and sleeping on that instead of in the bed under the covers.

So at 6am I'm wide awake and wondering whether to get up to begin a very long day with nothing to do, or to try the squidgy mattress again for a few hours.
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mammoth task

2010-07-31T22:47:00.002+01:00

Some months ago I decided to make a king size blanket... crocheted.

I can do a max of 1 inch per day.

By my calculations of 1 day per month - which is a little generous - it will take me the next 20 years to finish the blanket.

On a separate point: Think I'm gonnae heid haim tomorrow. Back down South.

Dixie cat

2010-07-29T06:35:00.000+01:00

Our cat is a bit weird. He loves people - and tends to be wherever we are.

In the morning he wants to be fed, so he tries to get into our room to wake us up. To prevent this we generally baracade our door.

After eating he either comes back into our room (if we have gone back to bed) or he follows us into the living room where he tries to sit on one of us.

If we are in the house during the day he curls up to snooze in the room we are in. If we leave the room to spend an extended period in another room (for example when I practise in the spare room) he will tentatively sit and hope for some attention. He is unlikely to get any.

Around 4pm he starts to demand food again, but we try to hold off to 6ish as this is when we would be in on a working day. We don't always manage to wait that long as he can be very annoying tripping us up at every turn.

Following his evening meal he will curl up on one of us until we go to bed - this may be interrupted by periods where we are not sitting... but he'll just wait til we do sit again to leap onto a lap at a moment's notice.

If we go out, Dixie goes out.

He'll meet us at the gates on our return.

Cleaning

2010-07-25T13:19:00.001+01:00

Since the school hols started I have cleaned 5 days a week. And STILL there's cleaning to do.

It seems being in the house more means I make mess more!!
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Motivation

2010-07-21T15:09:00.003+01:00

I have just walked to the bank. It felt a long way.

Last week I walked to the pub. It's a little further on from the bank. It felt no distance at all.

Motivation!

Update: As I left the bank the heavens opened. Torrential rain - and I went out in shirt and sandals. I had taken photos of grotty scenery on my way to the bank, and was planning to post pictures of the pretty things on my walk home.... just wait to see how they turned out!

On the way : a bit dreary and drizzly.

On the way home! (view through the bus window)

allergies

2010-07-20T21:50:00.001+01:00

I have a rash on my face, itchy eyes and a scratchy throat - and all the symptoms are worse when the cat is nearby.

I hope he's just been rolling in something nasty. In which case it'll wash off as soon as I shut him out in the rain.... hahaha...evil plans afoot.

Update: I think it must have been cupboard dust, or dust mites. I feel much better today.

storage - why boys are a problem

2010-07-19T17:35:00.000+01:00

With a cupboard full of games, cards, starwars lego, tools and wood offcuts where, oh where can I put all our shoes?

(I'm ignoring the spare room which contains 13 trumpets, a piano, wool, needles, 2 sewing machines... all taking up space, all belonging to me.)

Recycling.

2010-07-18T18:12:00.000+01:00

In times of boredom I can't help myself - I start making stuff. I have practised too - in case you wondered about music.

This is the latest - it's a work in progress, and will be beautiful. It's dark denim on the back (old jeans) and Rowan Biggy Print wool on the front (donated) - love it.

summer break

2010-07-13T16:44:00.000+01:00

This summer is very quiet for me. Summer is always quieter but this year it is very quiet, and I don't know what to do with myself!

I have budgeted badly - so am skint. I feel house-bound although I know there are many things I can do that cost nothing.

I have tons of back-log work to catch up on and plenty of time to practise- which I definitely need to do, yet motivation is at an all-time low.

And blogging I have just avoided along with everything else.

Today I started a few jobs - so hopefully this is it: back to work time.

hahahah... it's pouring.

2010-07-04T08:30:00.001+01:00

changed my mind

2010-07-03T17:13:00.001+01:00

Just gonna go through the CD collection and pull out anything by an American or about America.

That'll do!

Happy 4th July!

4th July Party

2010-07-03T13:05:00.000+01:00

What music should we play? Please don't be offended, but I really want the cheesiest American themed stuff you can think of. I have got Sousa and we have plenty of film music.

blahs

2010-07-02T19:58:00.002+01:00

I have the End of Term blues.

Need to buck up. Hopefully the holidays will become fun soon.

Brownie Camp

2010-06-30T06:41:00.001+01:00

Hello,

Well the first thing I haven't told you about was Brownie camp. It was great! We had sunshine all weekend - not a drop of rain. That's a rarity round these parts.

On Friday night we arrived, did safety stuff, set up bedding (tents had been put up Thurs night by Guiders), had soup and roll, made pretty bags for crockery & cutlery (wish I had a photo) then wound down for bed.

They did not sleep.

On Sat we had a fun day with loads of Brownies, which I was co-ordinating, so I had some work to do for that. I went to the tent at around 1am. They were not sleeping but didn't spend too long making noise. Then at 3am they got cold. They hadn't brought the kit they were told to bring, so they were cold.

Now what I didn't know was that there were blankets in the Guide hut. It seems this was mentioned by other Guiders but I think it must have been when I was having a meeting in Brownie House.

Oh well. I just donated out all my kit and then shivered outside as I was sleeping in the porch.

Saturday - gave up trying to sleep at 6am. Found another Guider setting up the shop in the Guide huts so popped round for a chat. Went back to tents around 7.30am and left Brownies sleeping til they started to make noise of their own accord....at a fairly late 8am.

Had breakfast, tent inspections, then fun day. Was great - deserves it's own post!

After the fun day we had rest hour. I tried to get them to rest, as we had a campfire that night. They did not.

Campfire came and our girls were knackered. Gave them minor lecture about gratitude for efforts Guiders running campfire had put in.... oops. Wasn't feeling sympathetic as they'd not slept and had had opportunity to!!

Sat night they went down MUCH more easily, though our Unit Helper who was trying to have an early night was still not impressed with the getting to sleep routine. Both nights they had a story but night 2 I did it, and sat there til noise stopped (after making them repeat Brownie Promise and Law and pointing out that they had to sleep to keep that promise & law. Swear you can make it fit ANY situation!!).

Sunday - I woke up feeling midges biting my face. We were up, dressed, breakfassed and then down to Loch Lomond for some fishing before we returned, made some kites (REALLY good) then packed up properly and left them to play while we cleaned out our solid shelter before HOME time (not a moment too soon).

They had a great time. We had one minor incident of home-sickness (which was from the youngest Brownie only) and no incidents of sickness sickness.

One girl told me it was her best camp EVER. I stupidly asked how many camps she had attended... This was her first. Still it was really nice to hear them saying they'd all had fun.

Forgot...

2010-06-26T13:20:00.003+01:00

I have been mega-busy but that's not really why I went quiet here.

I forgot to blog.

I clicked off my blog many times without really registering what website I was leaving.

Doh.

Updates to follow.

Scottish Annual Event

2010-06-07T00:28:00.000+01:00

This weekend I played Girlguiding's Centenary Fanfare at the Scottish Annual Event.

It was a beautiful setting - I'll post a photo, though I didn't take many. They made me pose for a whole load though, so I expect there'll be an official one somewhere.

Anyway it was a lovely day. I felt a bit bad claiming expenses, but with a 150mile round trip I couldn't afford not to really. They were getting my playing for free, and I arranged for the composer to write GG the fanfare... think I just talked myself out of feeling bad here! Ha.

Why I went back to volunteering.

2010-06-04T07:20:00.000+01:00

Simply - I missed it.

When I graduated college and had free time that wasn't in the pub I missed doing something for fun... for someone else... for free.

I played the last post one remembrance sunday and they had Brownies in their parade. I got chatting to their Brown Owl and she took my phone number to pass on. I then contacted Girlguiding through their website, but it was 2 years before anyone actually contacted me and I was put in touch with Guiders in my locality. I hope they have improved this part of the recruitment of adults since then!

That was around 2004/5 I think. .

I had looked around at other options too. I considered helping with old people - there's a charity in Glasgow that organises monthly tea parties for the elderly. They look for volunteers to host a party and volunteers to transport the elderly to and from the parties, as well as talk to them of course. I quite like this idea.

So now I run a thriving Brownie unit in Glasgow. This year we had a few issues as we were too big for our small hall, and we didn't have enough VOLUNTEERS to run a lot of the activities we would have liked to.

Don't imagine that we didn't still have a fun year. We did... and we have achieved a lot this year despite these limitations.

However I have sent out an SOS asking for regular unit helpers. Worth a try, right? I also plan to speak to my Brownie boss to ask for more help.

I know in our division there are several units who still run with just 1 Guider so they'll get priority though whenever the next new leader happens along.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

2010-06-03T19:14:00.002+01:00

I am organising a fun day on the 19th June for our division.

The only thing I am not responsible for is the buses and the numbers. I am keeping out of it - I've provided my numbers to the people who volunteered to co-ordinate this bit.

However I have received about 400 emails over the last few days from the fundraising committee, chasing numbers and worrying about the numbers going.

Now I have no idea whether the concerns are justified. I have 18 kids signed up, which I think is pretty good out of what is now a unit of 23.

However our DC has now called an emergency meeting next Weds night at 8pm. I am working from 8-10pm and don't see why I should try to get out of work... surely they can be flexible with the meeting.

Usually I would let it go and send apologies, but I am co-ordinating this bloody thing... so SURELY I should be there??