How evil are you?
Monday, May 14, 2007
Thursday, May 03, 2007
It's Official!
Right, now that all the important people have been told, its time to tell the general public... I'm engaged! Yaay!
Reuben proposed to me over a vacuum cleaner. Not the most romantic of situations I have to say. But nonetheless he said it and I had to wait 2 weeks before we could get a ring and tell people properly. I was itching like crazy to yell it out to all. I eventually did yell "I'M ENGAGED!" in a crazy high-pitched squeal down the phone to my brother. All he could say was, "Oh, Clare, wow, oh, wow..." and his g/f was laughing her head off in the background. I rendered him speechless. :)
So we got a ring and it was hot and sticky under all the lights in the jewellers so I thought my ring was a little on the big side but nothing major. By the end of the day it was falling off all the time. So its now sitting in its box waiting till we find a time to go back and get it altered.
Reuben proposed to me over a vacuum cleaner. Not the most romantic of situations I have to say. But nonetheless he said it and I had to wait 2 weeks before we could get a ring and tell people properly. I was itching like crazy to yell it out to all. I eventually did yell "I'M ENGAGED!" in a crazy high-pitched squeal down the phone to my brother. All he could say was, "Oh, Clare, wow, oh, wow..." and his g/f was laughing her head off in the background. I rendered him speechless. :)
So we got a ring and it was hot and sticky under all the lights in the jewellers so I thought my ring was a little on the big side but nothing major. By the end of the day it was falling off all the time. So its now sitting in its box waiting till we find a time to go back and get it altered.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Hurrah!
I haven't been able to post for ages since Google took over. I keep crashing. Will just have to restrict my posts to the comments on mel and Jen's posts. :(
Friday, January 12, 2007
Quasi-celebrity
I went back to work today and felt a bit like a celebrity. Everyone had heard about my ‘incident’ on Tuesday and wanted to know all the gory details and if I was okay now. I didn’t get a scrap of work done because I spent the day chatting to everyone! LOL!!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Sonic Death Monkey
I received a parcel from Mel today (which by shrewd deduction means that it was probably Jenny who sent the chocolate treat maker - thanks guys!!). Inside were some lovely smelly lavender bath cubes and a bottle of Lush shower gel called Sonic Death Monkey. The name made me laugh out loud which hurt my stomach. It apparently smells of chocolate and coffee which sounds scrumptious but I decide against sniffing at the bottle just yet. Just smelling toast this morning was enough to make my stomach turn...
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Stomach bugs and gremlins
I woke up about 6.30am feeling really hot and slightly nauseous. I went to get up but couldn’t; I felt really weak. A few deep breaths and I somehow managed to haul myself up and into the en-suite. I don’t turn on the light because I don’t want to wake up Reuben and I kneel down and await the dreaded moment. Suddenly the light turns on and Reuben is behind me and helping me up. He said he heard a thud and came to see if I was okay. I say I’m fine and need the loo. He leaves me and I’m doing my business. Next thing I know I’m staring at the en-suite ceiling and Reuben is calling an ambulance. I had collapsed and was out for a minute or so. I wasn’t quite sure where I was so I (weakly) ask, “Where am I?” “In the bathroom. You fainted. Sod this, I’m calling an ambulance.”
I can’t move at all. The ambulance crew are there within minutes and bombard me with questions. They help me to my feet and sit me on the bed. One takes a blood sample and the other uses the handheld pump to take my blood pressure after failing to find my pulse anywhere in either of my wrists. I feel like blacking out again. I then throw up and feel marginally better.
Apparently it’s a bad stomach virus going around and I got it bad. Tell me about it! I felt dizzy every time I sit up or stand. Reuben took the day off work just in case I collapsed again and called in to my workplace for me too. By the evening I still felt quite bad so we called NHS Direct who were very helpful and gave us some good advice. They said if I was sick again or had stomach or chest cramps I had to call an ambulance. A rather eventful day in all...
I can’t move at all. The ambulance crew are there within minutes and bombard me with questions. They help me to my feet and sit me on the bed. One takes a blood sample and the other uses the handheld pump to take my blood pressure after failing to find my pulse anywhere in either of my wrists. I feel like blacking out again. I then throw up and feel marginally better.
Apparently it’s a bad stomach virus going around and I got it bad. Tell me about it! I felt dizzy every time I sit up or stand. Reuben took the day off work just in case I collapsed again and called in to my workplace for me too. By the evening I still felt quite bad so we called NHS Direct who were very helpful and gave us some good advice. They said if I was sick again or had stomach or chest cramps I had to call an ambulance. A rather eventful day in all...
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Back to normal
I went back to work today and made the classic mistake of signing a works order with 04/01/06. Oh well, at least its done now! And I know I’m missed from the office though I’m not sure it’s for the right reasons. I walked in and my colleague said, “Oh I’m so glad you’re here! The photocopier hasn’t been working for a week!”
I put my bag down on my desk and said, “And a very happy new year to you too!”
It turns out that three of the four drum cartridges went out and nobody knew what to do. It’s a big thing when the drums go because no-one can print, photocopy, email or fax from the machine. Anyhow it turns out I only have two spares so I phoned the company and ordered some more supplies. I then had to sort out three problems with emailing and one problem with spreadsheet page margins. By 10.30am I actually managed to have time to make a cup of coffee. Considering I start work at 8:30am that was a long time to function without caffeine!!
I put my bag down on my desk and said, “And a very happy new year to you too!”
It turns out that three of the four drum cartridges went out and nobody knew what to do. It’s a big thing when the drums go because no-one can print, photocopy, email or fax from the machine. Anyhow it turns out I only have two spares so I phoned the company and ordered some more supplies. I then had to sort out three problems with emailing and one problem with spreadsheet page margins. By 10.30am I actually managed to have time to make a cup of coffee. Considering I start work at 8:30am that was a long time to function without caffeine!!
Monday, January 01, 2007
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Sunday, November 26, 2006
"Not for now..."
Reuben asks me if I want any biscuits.
"Yeah, go on," I said, "I like the butter crunch."
"We finished the butter crunch!"
"How come? I only had one!"
"Out of the whole packet? No..."
This is the thing. I can't eat lots of biscuits (or anything) at once. I have to take my time. Reuben is the opposite. He also doesn't understand the phrase, "Not for now." When asked if I want another biscuit and I answer, "Not for now", this obviously means that I don't want another now but may have one later. He thinks it means I don't want another ever and gives him free reign to eat all of the packet.
So now I'm munching shortbread, kind of annoyed that I only got to eat one biscuit out of the packet I picked out and bought myself...
"Yeah, go on," I said, "I like the butter crunch."
"We finished the butter crunch!"
"How come? I only had one!"
"Out of the whole packet? No..."
This is the thing. I can't eat lots of biscuits (or anything) at once. I have to take my time. Reuben is the opposite. He also doesn't understand the phrase, "Not for now." When asked if I want another biscuit and I answer, "Not for now", this obviously means that I don't want another now but may have one later. He thinks it means I don't want another ever and gives him free reign to eat all of the packet.
So now I'm munching shortbread, kind of annoyed that I only got to eat one biscuit out of the packet I picked out and bought myself...
Saturday, November 25, 2006
"Please, see my film..."
“Or I will be execute.” Borat has spoken so we obey his call and go see the latest film by Sasha Baron Cohen. It was incredibly offensive and hysterically funny. I will have that unpleasant image of male nakedness in my mind for days to come…
Friday, November 17, 2006
Bond... 21
Reuben and I took his parents to see Casino Royale today with his cousin in tow. His cousin’s sister and mum went to an Indian film instead. Strange people… How can you pass up the opportunity of seeing a Bond film?!
Anyhow the film was brilliant, the way James Bond should be. Everyone is saying Daniel Craig is the best since Sean Connery (of course) but everyone always conveniently forgets that Timothy Dalton approached Bond in the exact same way. Must be a Welsh thing… It was a fantastic film!! See it!!
Anyhow the film was brilliant, the way James Bond should be. Everyone is saying Daniel Craig is the best since Sean Connery (of course) but everyone always conveniently forgets that Timothy Dalton approached Bond in the exact same way. Must be a Welsh thing… It was a fantastic film!! See it!!
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Cadbury's
Anne arranged a trip to Cadbury's World in Birmingham for a tour around the chocolate factory there. As the minibus pick-up was at 8am, we decided to skip the bus and travel there ourselves, being faster and obviously more sleep-loving than minibus travellers!
The factory was enormous and smelt of warm chocolate all the way through. There was a little history on the start of Cadbury's and how Quaker Mr Cadbury founded his shop next to his father's drapery. As he made money out of his chocolate business, he and his sons built the village of Bournville as a community for its factory workers and their families. We then saw how chocolate is made and I particularly liked the way they make Creme Eggs. Mmm... yummy!!
We had free chocolate given out during the tour and I ate most of it on the move. The activity room didn't work very well so we had fun in the shop instead, buying some gifts for people and purchasing the new product, Purple Planet. I was in chocolate heaven all day. Funnily enough though, by the time we got to Amanda's, I couldn't face any more and I'll probably stay off chocolate for about a week!!
The factory was enormous and smelt of warm chocolate all the way through. There was a little history on the start of Cadbury's and how Quaker Mr Cadbury founded his shop next to his father's drapery. As he made money out of his chocolate business, he and his sons built the village of Bournville as a community for its factory workers and their families. We then saw how chocolate is made and I particularly liked the way they make Creme Eggs. Mmm... yummy!!
We had free chocolate given out during the tour and I ate most of it on the move. The activity room didn't work very well so we had fun in the shop instead, buying some gifts for people and purchasing the new product, Purple Planet. I was in chocolate heaven all day. Funnily enough though, by the time we got to Amanda's, I couldn't face any more and I'll probably stay off chocolate for about a week!!
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Moving in
Reuben and I moved into our new flat about 6 weeks ago and we've spent the time between then and now buying stuff for the flat and generally trying to make it look as homely as a new build can be!
We painted before we moved in so that was okay. Not too many discrepancies about colours thank goodness. I think Reuben really just wanted to avoid any tantrums from me and I used my "I have an A level in art" argument to generally win anything decorating-related. :)
First we wanted to get curtains for the patio doors. It took all of our day off work to find any that would have fitted. I measured (correctly!) from the holes left by the previous owners to the ground nad it seems the doors are just not the standard size for drop-curtains. Everything was too short or too long. In the end we bought the longest pair we could find and refitted the curtain pole almost against the ceiling. The curtains slightly brush the floor now. And we have to fill the holes left by the previous tenants because they are just unsightly!
The blinds were another hassle. Our parents gave us money so we decided to buy 'designer' and get them fitted. The guy came round with a tape measure and a catalogue of slats in different widths, fabrics and colours. He casually quoted us £350 for two blinds. Reuben and I smiled politely and said we'd call him. We then drove to IKEA and bought the same blinds for £30.
So its been fun...!
We painted before we moved in so that was okay. Not too many discrepancies about colours thank goodness. I think Reuben really just wanted to avoid any tantrums from me and I used my "I have an A level in art" argument to generally win anything decorating-related. :)
First we wanted to get curtains for the patio doors. It took all of our day off work to find any that would have fitted. I measured (correctly!) from the holes left by the previous owners to the ground nad it seems the doors are just not the standard size for drop-curtains. Everything was too short or too long. In the end we bought the longest pair we could find and refitted the curtain pole almost against the ceiling. The curtains slightly brush the floor now. And we have to fill the holes left by the previous tenants because they are just unsightly!
The blinds were another hassle. Our parents gave us money so we decided to buy 'designer' and get them fitted. The guy came round with a tape measure and a catalogue of slats in different widths, fabrics and colours. He casually quoted us £350 for two blinds. Reuben and I smiled politely and said we'd call him. We then drove to IKEA and bought the same blinds for £30.
So its been fun...!
Wedding no 3
Dad and Pam got married today. All the family were involved in one way of another except for me. I guess this is what comes of trying to be independent. Anyway, Reuben and I had to sit separately for the ceremony which lasted about 10 minutes. My mother’s parents and sister were invited and looked as if they’d rather be somewhere else. I know the feeling…
After the ceremony everyone gathered for drinks in the bar. I however had to go and have my photo taken but the photographer didn’t seem particularly interested in having the family in the picture. He took loads of time getting bridesmaids Rosemary and Lynne into place and taking pictures of Dad and Pam on their own. When it came to all of us the shots were rushed. He took three with me almost completely obscured by my dad’s shoulder and Anna’s elaborate hairdo. Ho hum…
Dinner was weird too. It was a buffet table so everyone had a plate and went and helped themselves. However, being on the head table (away from Reuben) (again) we had our plates given to us with everything from the buffet in a big pile. It looked very unappetising and I don’t think anyone on the table ate much of it at all.
As people started to move around after coffee had been served the party started… If that’s what you could call it. It was a so-so pub band singing 80’s songs and they only performed for 15mins before going off for an hour’s break! Some finger food arrived onto the tables and we ate a bit and chatted to Chris and Cem but it wasn’t all that. We decided to call it a day and left about 10pm.
After the ceremony everyone gathered for drinks in the bar. I however had to go and have my photo taken but the photographer didn’t seem particularly interested in having the family in the picture. He took loads of time getting bridesmaids Rosemary and Lynne into place and taking pictures of Dad and Pam on their own. When it came to all of us the shots were rushed. He took three with me almost completely obscured by my dad’s shoulder and Anna’s elaborate hairdo. Ho hum…
Dinner was weird too. It was a buffet table so everyone had a plate and went and helped themselves. However, being on the head table (away from Reuben) (again) we had our plates given to us with everything from the buffet in a big pile. It looked very unappetising and I don’t think anyone on the table ate much of it at all.
As people started to move around after coffee had been served the party started… If that’s what you could call it. It was a so-so pub band singing 80’s songs and they only performed for 15mins before going off for an hour’s break! Some finger food arrived onto the tables and we ate a bit and chatted to Chris and Cem but it wasn’t all that. We decided to call it a day and left about 10pm.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Hoorah!
I know its taken a while but I have been busy - honest! Reuben and I have been looking for places to buy and we finally found a flat we love. It's just like the one we live in now, except the lounge and bedrooms are bigger, its on the top floor instead of the ground floor, we have v nice large patio doors and we have loft space. Yeah! We just have the little matter of paying a large deposit and solicitors fees before we get our completion date...
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Turning 30...
A mate of mine emailed me to tell me that he couldn’t bear the thought of turning 30 in the UK so spent a week in Havana and Cancun instead. It would appear that, despite trying to run away from the truth, the fact is that it catches up with you wherever you run off to. Home sweet home and reality sets in… having to tick the next box over on a form asking for your age is when the truth really hits you. Heheheh!!
I told you it would have been cheaper and more fun to have a bash! :)
I told you it would have been cheaper and more fun to have a bash! :)
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Superman Returns
Superman Returns is a great film! Bryan Singer kept the original music without jazzing it up and the original titles, although they were admittedly altered to have cleaner lines for more effectiveness. They even found an actor who looked and spoke like Christopher Reeve! It was all pretty fantasmagorical. Not a fan of Margot Kidder, I found Lois Lane was more likable in this film and a bit more feisty; none of this “Superman, save me!” crap. She helped herself thank you very much! My only complaint was Kevin Spacey, usually a brilliant actor I rarely fault. He was just too nasty as Lex Luthor. Luthor had a bit of class to his nastiness - Gene Hackman would have never ordered his henchmen to beat a Kryptonite-weakened Superman to a pulp. He would have just left him to suffer and die a slow death.
Reuben complained that the older series was better. Yeah, I know, I thought so too. You can never beat the originals, although the first Mission:Impossible film was an exception. He then went on to complain about how he could see where the film had been cut up and edited. (sigh) Never content with just saying that original is best, he always has to deconstruct the film. And yet he complains to me when I say anything negative about his gung-ho films, like when I was just commenting that Rambo II was stupid, story-less and just an excuse for muscle-flexing…
Reuben complained that the older series was better. Yeah, I know, I thought so too. You can never beat the originals, although the first Mission:Impossible film was an exception. He then went on to complain about how he could see where the film had been cut up and edited. (sigh) Never content with just saying that original is best, he always has to deconstruct the film. And yet he complains to me when I say anything negative about his gung-ho films, like when I was just commenting that Rambo II was stupid, story-less and just an excuse for muscle-flexing…
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Go Button baby!
Jenson came pole position!!
I couldn't believe it! I even had to watch the highlights just to make sure!! I thought I'd never see the day. Only took him 113 races... Maybe he took Jeremy Clarkson's advice and got rid of the bendy windscreen...?
I couldn't believe it! I even had to watch the highlights just to make sure!! I thought I'd never see the day. Only took him 113 races... Maybe he took Jeremy Clarkson's advice and got rid of the bendy windscreen...?
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Wedding no 2
Reuben's mate Vish married Anupa today.
We turn up at Vish's place to follow his car to the temple in a convoy. We eat a small dish which was pretty much rice and semolina and drink almonds in milk, both of which are taken for good luck. We drive to the temple in Potters Bar and hang about in the car park for everyone to arrive. After a while, the men followed Vish's car down to the entrance and I walked with the women afterwards. We entered the temple through different doors but we sat together with Reuben's mates from Bolton and Vish's cousin.
It turns out its a Hindu wedding but not a religious ceremony (which would take about 3 hours). Instead a registrar performed the ceremony which lasted 10mins tops. Indian music played and the audience was a sea of colours with women decked out in some really gorgeous saris and eleaborate hairdos. Afterwards the lengthy ordeal of photo taking started and Reuben and I slipped out to pick up his parents for the evening 'do'.
An hour later we arrived and dinner had started. We picked up platters and ate a number of small Indian delicaces including samosas, spicy potatoes and yogurt cake. The nut crush was the best although really sweet and I could feel my teeth loosening from my gums...!!!
Sometime later the bride and groom were back upstairs having photos taken with everyone and guests congratulating them. There were about 100 people at the ceremony but about 400 afterwards! Everytime I looked towards the door more and more people were coming in. It was amazing!! At 9pm they were still coming in and it was a case of queuing to see the bride and groom and then leaving for home! Reuben managed to slip off to the pub with his mates sometime during the 2nd photo session... I was a bit miffed I wasn't invited!
The wedding was super. Now I just have to wait for wedding no 3...
We turn up at Vish's place to follow his car to the temple in a convoy. We eat a small dish which was pretty much rice and semolina and drink almonds in milk, both of which are taken for good luck. We drive to the temple in Potters Bar and hang about in the car park for everyone to arrive. After a while, the men followed Vish's car down to the entrance and I walked with the women afterwards. We entered the temple through different doors but we sat together with Reuben's mates from Bolton and Vish's cousin.
It turns out its a Hindu wedding but not a religious ceremony (which would take about 3 hours). Instead a registrar performed the ceremony which lasted 10mins tops. Indian music played and the audience was a sea of colours with women decked out in some really gorgeous saris and eleaborate hairdos. Afterwards the lengthy ordeal of photo taking started and Reuben and I slipped out to pick up his parents for the evening 'do'.
An hour later we arrived and dinner had started. We picked up platters and ate a number of small Indian delicaces including samosas, spicy potatoes and yogurt cake. The nut crush was the best although really sweet and I could feel my teeth loosening from my gums...!!!
Sometime later the bride and groom were back upstairs having photos taken with everyone and guests congratulating them. There were about 100 people at the ceremony but about 400 afterwards! Everytime I looked towards the door more and more people were coming in. It was amazing!! At 9pm they were still coming in and it was a case of queuing to see the bride and groom and then leaving for home! Reuben managed to slip off to the pub with his mates sometime during the 2nd photo session... I was a bit miffed I wasn't invited!
The wedding was super. Now I just have to wait for wedding no 3...
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