Very end of 2006

Hope that everyone is well and is excited for the New Year revelry that is to come.

Having lived in Scotland now for a LONG time the expectation for a massively fun New Year party has rubbed off on me. Up North Hogmanay is one of the most important times of the year and it should be celebrated accordingly.

As I am down South I have done what any sensible person would: I have searched out the best Scots residing in the Shire, and have purchased tickets for the party that they are holding in their pub.

So we will be spending New Years eve in The Mitre in Buckingham with John and Alison. Wanted to show you how cool the pub is but can only find a tiny picture!

Only other news: I have bought boots.... and shoe/boots. They're lovely of course - I will post pictures when I am home (& when I have my digi camera available).

Venturing into a new city!

Had a lovely evening yesterday - met some old friends from school (who I hadn't seen since school) which was nice.

Today we are braving the sales in Milton Keynes. I'm not excited - dreading it really but I want my Christmas present from Paul. He promised me new boots.

Slightly the worse for wear today as my folks got home around midnight after watching their play, and immediately cracked open the champagne and liqueurs...

Bad day over now

Well it's done - Kandinsky has gone. We took her to the vets this morning and they told us the cancer had spread to her intestine. She had also dropped her weight from 3.5kg on 14th December to 3.2 today - which is quite a big drop really proportionately over two weeks. So there wasn't really a choice.

Many thanks to everyone for helping us. It was the most horrible thing I've done - we loved her and it's very difficult to let go.

This afternoon we just abandoned ship and went down South together - nothing left to hang around in Glasgow for and we needed something to do. So this is me on my Dad's computer. It's the first time I've seen the blog on a different PC and it is strange that it looks so different. I'd never really thought that people would see it differently.

My neighbour then phoned to tell me that our organic vegetable box had been delivered and should she check there were no perishables. I said to her to take anything she could use and she rang off saying she'd leave the box in our house. About 20 seconds later PANIC STRUCK! We have left our house an absolute pig sty. I haven't swept the kitchen floor since Christmas Eve and there are actually star shaped icing sugar remains on the surface from where I made gingerbread cookies the other day. I WAS SO EMBARASSED! I tried to call and ask her just to take all the food and we'd come and collect it from her but she'd already left her house. AAAAGH!!!!!!! At least I'd done the washing up before we left.

I'm off now to have get ready to pop out for a bit. Going to head into the town to see some old friends - not drinking as I suspect it wouldn' t take too much to set me off again!! Mum and Dad are out tonight at the theatre (gone to Stratford to see the Royal Shakespeare Company... how posh!!) so I'll see them when I get back.

Anyway: Thanks again x x

Thursday Thirteen #7

Thirteen things I've found in my Mum's kitchen today. Not a lot of thought into this one - sorry but priorities elsewhere x

1. Tito - their tabby cat 2. Chicken breasts 3. Smoked salmon (yum) 4. Salad 5. WINE (and lots of it!) 6. Swedish Meatballs 7. Pork pie (partial) 8. Ham which looks ready for cooking (and made me excited at the thought) 9. Baileys (more booze) 10. A pig that grunts when you open the fridge. I've only been home a couple of hours - it didn't take me long to find the pig.... 11. TV 12. Stereo thing (wee one) 13. Sherry (you may notice there are a few different types of alcohol here. It's by no means the whole list!!)

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Tax

What could make today even better? I thought to myself this morning.

I know! I could fill in my online tax return.

Then again - I could actually find that because I haven't activated the account within 28 days my logon details have expired so I must re-apply. As the deadline isn't til 31st January I've left myself plenty of time. Or not.

So instead I have reapplied to file my online tax return and then I've played some games and pestered the cat. Fine use of a day!

Off now to channel hop for a bit. Might crack before long and go for a walk as I'm really quite bored now.

Thanks to everyone for their comments about the cat - she's booked in to the vets now for tomorrow. Bit of time for me to check she's not going to miraculously recover (from her terminal cancer)... And give her lots of cuddles and strokes.

No improvement

Hello - well Kandi is still in the drawer.

She's been up this morning (early) for some tuna (about a tablespoonful) and a drink & toilet break. And then she was back in the drawer again.

I've been to say hello and give her a stroke and she barely broke out a purr for me. Perhaps it was partly due to the previous 5 minutes in which I had tried to persuade her to take steroid pills (used ALL the tricks that usually work) and eat a cat treat chew bar thing.

She doesn't seem in pain but this really isn't right. (She's only 7 yrs old. For anyone who doesn't already know she has lymphoma - it's spread from her cheek to her abdomen - lymph nodes and kidney)

Many thanks to all the cat bloggers at who sent her lots of love & good wishes. She needs them.

does anyone know whether you need to make an appointment at the *whispers* "vet" if you're taking a pet to be put to sleep?

Cats on Tuesdays

Cat update (playing this week because she's held on til Tuesday and I'm not sure how many more Tuesdays we'll have her):

Fat Cat has not shifted her bum from my bottom drawer since yesterday. I actually have a suspicion that she's been outside for a toilet trip, but other than that - not moved.

I have hand fed her a cat treat stick thing... and I've brought food into the room in case the effort of going to the kitchen is too much. But she's turned her nose up after a quick lick of the gravy (while I was holding the food IN the drawer).

To be honest I'm quite worried. She hasn't been for a drink either and she won't take her steroid pills, although there's not much point in them really at this stage.

We had hoped to go home (about 400 miles South) for New Year but we can't leave her like this. My boyfriend also needs to see his family and deliver their presents, so the current plan is that he'll head down tomorrow/Thursday and be back for New Year.

If the cat is this ill though I'm concerned that he'll head off home and I'll have to have her put down by myself. Not keen on this idea as I am a total wimp but think it's quite a strong possibility.

Anyway - no point worrying about 'what if's'. I'll let you know what happens.

Smile for the camera! (she said no... )

Merry Xmas!

never imagined I'd be blogging on Xmas day, but I was given Broken Sword (computer game) by my wee brother for Christmas and I can't get it to work. So while I'm fiddling at midnight on Christmas day I thought I'd stop and wish you all

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tag from Annelisa

Merry Christmas. Hope you all have a great one.



...'Tis The Season (tag from Annelisa. I'm not tagging coz it's too late).

Favorite seasonal movie?
Scrooged (Bill Murray)

Song you most enjoy this time of year?
Stop the Cavalry

Holiday Greeting?
I don't even understand this question... Merry Xmas?

Decorate, inside? outside?
Inside

Do you make a list? If so, how many people are on it?
No

How up to the last minute do you shop?
Christmas eve eve this year. Not doing any shopping today!!

When do you open your gifts?
Christmas morning.

Holiday food you most savor?
Ham that my Mum makes. Trying to copy it this year but I know it won't be up to scratch.

Favorite holiday book?
Eh? Is that just 'favourite book'? Or do people actually have books for Christmas?

New Year Resolutions?
Never - can't stick to them. No point pretending.

Relationships

Annelisa's bald... voluntarily. Nutcase.

A friend of mine has started an affair. Her partner found out yesterday and told me.

AGH! Dumbass.

If you are in a committed relationship is it ok to have an affair?
	Yes - you can't help who you are attracted to.
	No - this would be wrong.
pollcode.com free polls

Thursday Thirteen #6

Thirteen things I'm looking forward to this Christmas in Scotland.

1. Sleeping in my own bed 2. Watching whatever I like on TV 3. Not having to play trivia games with my family, as I hate them (the games - not the family!). 4. Having the option to stay in my PJ's all day long should I want to. 5. Seeing my boyfriend actually ON Christmas day. 6. Being able to keep an eye on Fat Cat & make sure she's ok. 7. The real possibility of snow. 8. Going for a walk. The scenery for walking is so much more spectacular up here. We're really really close to some beautiful hills and lochs. 9. Watching my boyfriend cook his first Christmas dinner. 10. Restraining myself as far as possible from interfering with the cooking processes. What usually happens is I watch and think 'why are you doing it like that, when it's much easier to..' by which time I've dived in and done it myself. (Cheating here- not sure this is a positive) 11. Having some time in the flat to relax with NOTHING to do. 12. Drinking as much booze as I like guilt-free. 13. Being allowed to open presents WHATEVER TIME WE LIKE! (from 0.01am on the 25th)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

always on the run

As ever I'm about to shoot off elsewhere but I thought I'd just try to jot down a few things that we've been up to before I forget them all... (I'm a true believer that my head has a capacity, after which all new memories must push out some old ones.)

So: Saturday - Newcastle Baroque gig - Gabrielli, Bassano, Monteverdi. All Saints Church, Quayside Newcastle
Sunday - Ludus Baroque - Christmas Oratorio (Bach), Canongate Kirk Edinburgh
Monday - rehearsals for Praetorius gig, Sherbrook St Gilberts Church Glasgow
Today - Dunedin Consort - Messiah (Handel) Queens Halls, Edinburgh
Wednesday - Not sure who the choir are - Praetorius stuff Sherbrook St Gilberts Church Glasgow

Thursday - RELAX
Friday - Shop like a maniac
Saturday - Get sorted out food-wise for Christmas (need to buy bread for the sarnies)
Sunday - RELAX (?)
MONDAY - XMAS!!!!!!!!!!

Mum's visit is going well I think - it's nice to see her. I can never actually tell whether she likes the music I play though... she tends to say stuff like 'your dad would have loved that'. Does that then mean it's not really her cup of tea? Fair enough if it isn't - not everyone can like early choral music.

Anyway - many thanks to you all for your comment re: Fat Cat. She's perked up a bit since last week so I think she's pretty comfortable & happy enough. Keeping a close eye on her.

I chatted with my next door neighbour yesterday who is quite upset that Kandi isn't well. They have developed quite a friendship with fat cat following my neigbour loyally around in the hope of attention and possibly some biscuits.

In this picture it appears that our cat has no eyes... she does in fact have eyes. Just in case there was any confusion.

Away for a bit

Hello - just to let you know I might be away for a few days. Nothing wrong - busy gigging and Mum's visiting.

not so fat cat

Quick update.. Not good news.

Fat cat's tumour has grown and spread to her abdomen. It has also started to affect the nerves in her face, so we've now to keep a close eye on her as she's not got long.

Am sad... glad she doesn't know!

Thursday Thirteen #5

Thirteen things I'll miss this Christmas as we're staying up North this year (in no order before anyone gets offended!!):

My wee sister dressing up as the Christmas fairy to give out the presents. OK, so she hasn't actually dressed up for years but I loved it when she did. Bucks Fizz at breakfast!! Santa bringing my stocking in the night, although last year he was a bit frightening as he'd included a CD called 'bedroom baroque' which had baroque music and massage oils packaged together with a promise to.. um.... well - make you a happier girl! Somehow wrong from the fat man in red. Mum's bread sauce & ham. Obviously Mum & Dad themselves. My folks putting up a dead Christmas tree worthy of Phoebe's tree saving episode in friends. Last year's was particularly noteworthy. My sister colluding with me to persuade Dad to open as much wine in one day as humanly possible. My brother & his games & DVDs. He's a veritable library! Playing trumpet/piano with my family as a group (realise this is geeky & sad). Usually from the books Mum buys us as presents. The Mitre, my old local. (pub) My schoolfriends who are usually around for a pint or two over the holidays. The assortment of festive food! I don't even want to cook xmas dinner for us this year. My boyfriend's generous offer was that we could have sandwiches. Not "I'll make us sandwiches..." so I assume I'd be making them myself. Board Games. Actually - maybe not as they're usually really dull and I am a bad loser.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

rain rain go away. ending it there as I don't want you to come back at all

Stupid Glasgow and its stupid weather!

I was due to be playing trumpet with an equally geeky colleague but we've wimped out due to p'ssing rain and high winds... neither of us can be bothered to leave the house until later on when we have to!

Cornett rehearsals tonight. I've come down with a cold so playing is uncomfortable and I'm feeling sorry for myself.

My boyfriend is at work in a flooded plant area selling Christmas trees in the rain so he's got it worse today. I should think about that & stop moping about here.

On browsing I found Maryam has a meme I want to play... so I've nicked it. This blog thieving is becoming a habit!

The meme is as follows:
1. Grab the book closest to you.
2. Open to page 123, go down to the fifth sentence.
3. Post the text of next 3 sentences on your blog.
4. Name of the book and the author.
5. Tag three people.

Book: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea - Jules Verne

"Certainly not," said Conseil; "but will you tell us now by what means they extract these pearls?"
"They proceed in various ways. When they adhere to the shell the fishermen often pull them off with pincers; but the most common way is to lay the pintadines on mats of the sea-weed which covers the banks....

Tag Annelisa?, Coco?, Dunc?

Didn't post this on time - not sure if I should post anything.

Kandi has a funny eye today. Her lower eyelid (the one that moves sideways that you don't see) has stuck across her eye and her cheek seems more swolen than it has been. She doesn't seem bothered at all - but it worries me. Will call the vets... She has a tumour on her cheek, so I suspect it's grown.

slip one in there...

Received this by e-mail today. Sounds about right!

Off now to finish calendars for my brownies & record all my christmas cd's onto tape so they can dance without the music skipping (party tonight).

Stormy Weather

Gonna just post a quick one as a thunder storm has started so I need to turn the computer off!

Can't believe how bad the weather has been recently - can't remember a day that it hasn't poured.

Senior band gig was OK - and my junior band got to watch, which I was pleased to see. Thought it wasn't going to happen for a while which was ridiculous as they rehearse in the same building.

Busy gig week fast approaching so this is my last week to practise.

Plans for today:
PRACTISE!
Decorate Christmas Cake for my friend
PRACTISE!
Teach piano pupils
Go to friend's house for pre-Christmas dinner!

My boyfriend's working late for the whole of December pretty much and seems incapable of rearranging any late shifts at all, so he will need to come later or just not come, depending on what time he gets home.

click & comment Monday

Cat has been promoting Click and Comment Monday - well to be fair Cat hasn 't really been promoting it lately as far as I can see, but I'll leave this up for a while just in case anyone wants to play.

"I am also posting this to remind you how important it is to comment on other blogs. It truly DOES increase your readership and you most often gain regulars that will visit your blog day after day."

If you'd like to play: click on a link in my sidebar. Then, you comment on the blog and click their renter or someone on their blogroll. Then you comment on that blog and click their renter or someone on their blogroll. Do this for as many blogs as you can. Sometimes they go full circle, and you end up at the originating blog, then just look up a blog in the blogroll and start the cycle again.

So, let’s get started! Comment here & use Mr Linky to add your details.

Cat suggests aiming for 5 blogs & comments.

Thanks and enjoy Click and Comment Day!