Reuben is going to work today but I have a day off. The first thing I do is drive to Hoddesdon and pick up my wedding dress. It is a beautiful full-length Amanda Wyatt strapless ivory dress with beading and ruching to one side. It is stunning! At home I hung it up in the spare room to air and straighten any creases. I then texted Reuben to say that if he came home while I was out he was forbidden to enter the spare room!!
I went out again and went to a small nail place in ‘old’ Cheshunt to have a French manicure. The women in there just spoke to each other in their own Oriental language and didn’t say a word to me other than ‘What you want?’ and ‘£8 please’. It was a good job though and was otherwise a pleasant experience.
I rushed home and was just in time to great Melissa and Jenny back from their rambles in York. We had a chat and went through their photos. Reuben came home and had an armful of stuff people at his office had given him – a banner, cards and vouchers. He then went off to deliver the hired suits to everyone and stay at his parents’ for the night. I gave him a mock-stern warning to turn up the next day and then we all got ready for our girly night in. I had pizza, wine and romantic slush. Anna, Amanda and Tara all arrived and Melissa grabs ‘Slipper and the Rose’ and starts to watch it. I don’t think she realised it was a 3hr musical… Halfway through and after lots of fast forwarding we plumped for ‘Love Actually’ instead!
I insist on an early night – don’t want too many eye bags – so beds were inflated and goodnights were said over Jenny’s singing ‘Get Me To The Church On Time’.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Hen night!
So I survived my hen night!
Jane, Tara and Amanda arrived at mine and we feasted on very strong Cosmos and champagne with Archers! Fired up and raring to go, we all bundled into Pete’s and Reuben’s cars, as they had offered to drive us there and pick us up afterwards. It took ages to get there, to the point where we were still 45 mins away and the others had already arrived!
When we finally got there the salsa lesson was just starting so we rushed down the stairs, did some quick introductions, and let the dancing begin! As an obvious hen, wearing sash and flashing tiara (which hurt my head so I took it off), I was pushed onto the stage with another reluctant hen and we did the basic steps for any salsa dance (and back and forth, and back and forth, and to the bar, and forth, and turn turn turn…).
After the lesson we sat down and had wine/beer and nachos, followed by very bland fajitas. I make mine with lots more spice! We were then offered chocolate cake or tequila shots. What a silly question! So we had tequila shots! Well, when I say ‘we’ I mean that Tara, Amanda and myself had one and then I ended up having another two as other people didn’t want theirs. That was followed by another two. And then we ordered strawberry daiquiris – my favourite! A few daiquiris later we were all twirling around on the dance floor. No chance of dancing alone in this place. The guys edged the dance floor, looking for women to dance with and rapidly twirling round and round to the quick tempo of the live band. I was constantly plagued by men wanting to be ‘my last’ (eww!) and one just didn’t quite get the concept that I was about to get married…
“You have boyfriend?” he yells above the band, in an accent.
“Yes,” I yell back, “I’m getting married in six days.”
“No, I be your boyfriend!”
“No,” I say more slowly, “getting married in six days” and hold up fingers to demonstrate ‘six’.
“No,” he says again, “I be your boyfriend.”
“Naff off!”
I managed to escape eventually! And then I felt a bit drunk. And I was pounced on by another man and twirled around so much I thought I was going to fall over. And then he tried to flip me back over his leg and I tumbled into two chairs and a table. Everyone suddenly rushed over and I inspect a large bruise on my arm. I then decide I’ve had enough and want to go home.
I remember my sisters arriving and some of my friends leaving early. I remember crying though I don’t know what the hell about. I don’t remember much between that and waking up the next morning with still enough alcohol inside me to stop me driving for the rest of the day. Yes, a good night!!
Jane, Tara and Amanda arrived at mine and we feasted on very strong Cosmos and champagne with Archers! Fired up and raring to go, we all bundled into Pete’s and Reuben’s cars, as they had offered to drive us there and pick us up afterwards. It took ages to get there, to the point where we were still 45 mins away and the others had already arrived!
When we finally got there the salsa lesson was just starting so we rushed down the stairs, did some quick introductions, and let the dancing begin! As an obvious hen, wearing sash and flashing tiara (which hurt my head so I took it off), I was pushed onto the stage with another reluctant hen and we did the basic steps for any salsa dance (and back and forth, and back and forth, and to the bar, and forth, and turn turn turn…).
After the lesson we sat down and had wine/beer and nachos, followed by very bland fajitas. I make mine with lots more spice! We were then offered chocolate cake or tequila shots. What a silly question! So we had tequila shots! Well, when I say ‘we’ I mean that Tara, Amanda and myself had one and then I ended up having another two as other people didn’t want theirs. That was followed by another two. And then we ordered strawberry daiquiris – my favourite! A few daiquiris later we were all twirling around on the dance floor. No chance of dancing alone in this place. The guys edged the dance floor, looking for women to dance with and rapidly twirling round and round to the quick tempo of the live band. I was constantly plagued by men wanting to be ‘my last’ (eww!) and one just didn’t quite get the concept that I was about to get married…
“You have boyfriend?” he yells above the band, in an accent.
“Yes,” I yell back, “I’m getting married in six days.”
“No, I be your boyfriend!”
“No,” I say more slowly, “getting married in six days” and hold up fingers to demonstrate ‘six’.
“No,” he says again, “I be your boyfriend.”
“Naff off!”
I managed to escape eventually! And then I felt a bit drunk. And I was pounced on by another man and twirled around so much I thought I was going to fall over. And then he tried to flip me back over his leg and I tumbled into two chairs and a table. Everyone suddenly rushed over and I inspect a large bruise on my arm. I then decide I’ve had enough and want to go home.
I remember my sisters arriving and some of my friends leaving early. I remember crying though I don’t know what the hell about. I don’t remember much between that and waking up the next morning with still enough alcohol inside me to stop me driving for the rest of the day. Yes, a good night!!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Waiting...
I'm very excited... 10 days to go!!! And only another 2 before my friends are here!! Can't wait...!!
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Hen night
My wonderful maid of honour has booked my hen night and I am so very excited. A trip down the Thames on a boat while chugging down a load of Cosmos sounded so very glitzy and glamourous but unfortunately the event organisers cancelled. So instead we've opted for a cool and sexy Salsa night, together with a dance lesson, tapas and hot Latino waiters. What more could a gal want...?!
Friday, June 06, 2008
Beauty trials
I booked a hair and makeup trial a few weeks back and no-one turned up. I was kinda mad because I'd dragged Amanda and Tara down to my place fairly early in the morning (for a Saturday anyway). Then I found out that the woman who was meant to come was in a car accident; broken arm, broken leg, etc. I felt awful. But I got a nice compensation package worth £210 so it wasn't all a tragedy... Extra on top of what I booked was an airbrush foundation and false lashes. Jammy!
So I rebooked for today at Tara's to make it easier for everyone involved. 10 minutes early a young girl looking no more than 18 arrived and I was happy that it wasn't an older person who would have a fixed idea of how to dress my hair and stuff. We had a good natter between us and we had our make up sprayed on and our hair tonged, back-combed and pinned. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed being fussed over! Then Tara and Amanda changed into their outfits with jewellery and shoes and it all looked so pretty and elegant. I'm so very excited!!!!
Reuben arrived later in the evening to add a bit of male company for Pete (!) and we all went out for an Indian which was very good food. I didn't drink (designated driver) but because we ate late everyone else's beer went straight to their heads!!! It was a fun night and we got home absolutely knackered! It's been a long week...
So I rebooked for today at Tara's to make it easier for everyone involved. 10 minutes early a young girl looking no more than 18 arrived and I was happy that it wasn't an older person who would have a fixed idea of how to dress my hair and stuff. We had a good natter between us and we had our make up sprayed on and our hair tonged, back-combed and pinned. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed being fussed over! Then Tara and Amanda changed into their outfits with jewellery and shoes and it all looked so pretty and elegant. I'm so very excited!!!!
Reuben arrived later in the evening to add a bit of male company for Pete (!) and we all went out for an Indian which was very good food. I didn't drink (designated driver) but because we ate late everyone else's beer went straight to their heads!!! It was a fun night and we got home absolutely knackered! It's been a long week...
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Indy 4
Anna emailed me at work today and asked if I wanted to go see the new Indy film. Sure, why not? So 7.30pm Reuben and I arrive at the cinema in the hope that we didn't need pre-booked tickets. Not a soul! We are like the first people there! By the time the film started the cinema was still only half-full. Maybe its just been too long since the last Indy film was made...
Anyway, the film storyline is a bit silly and the ending was a bit cop-out but it was cool nonetheless and I enjoyed it. Harrison Ford hasn't lost any of his charisma and they tackle the age issue fairly early on in the film. And there were blink-and-you-miss-it references to the earlier films which was really cool. I have to admit its kinda helped having all the films repeated on TV in the run-up to the film's release. It was a nice little reminder of how good the films are.
Reuben wants to go again. When he goes I'll go see Sex and the City. :)
Anyway, the film storyline is a bit silly and the ending was a bit cop-out but it was cool nonetheless and I enjoyed it. Harrison Ford hasn't lost any of his charisma and they tackle the age issue fairly early on in the film. And there were blink-and-you-miss-it references to the earlier films which was really cool. I have to admit its kinda helped having all the films repeated on TV in the run-up to the film's release. It was a nice little reminder of how good the films are.
Reuben wants to go again. When he goes I'll go see Sex and the City. :)
Monday, April 21, 2008
Drip, drip, drop little April shower...
Yeah, I know April is notorious for rain (yesterday's thunderstorm was awesome) but please! A bit of warmth for 2008 wouldn't go amiss. I'm still wearing my winter 3/4 length coat to work. I even got my boots resoled the other day just because its still too cold to wear my shoes. With all the hype surrounding global warming I would expect temperatures to exceed 15C by now...
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Mice for lunch
So apparently we have mice in the office and it’s a result of people eating at their desks. So could we please eat elsewhere? Sure, just tell me and I’ll go. Let me just give you a few pointers first:
1. Work is inside an industrial depot in east of Tottenham with no canteen
2. The park at the front is notorious for mugging, pervs and drug dealing
3. The nearest eateries are a 10min walk and have a Burger King, Pizza Hut and KFC (not good for the calorie conscious… or any type of conscious if you eat junk for lunch every working day)
4. The high street is 10min walk in the other direction, notorious for mugging, stabbings, shootings and drug dealing
5. … Well, other than my car there isn’t anywhere else to eat. Guess I’m staying at my desk.
1. Work is inside an industrial depot in east of Tottenham with no canteen
2. The park at the front is notorious for mugging, pervs and drug dealing
3. The nearest eateries are a 10min walk and have a Burger King, Pizza Hut and KFC (not good for the calorie conscious… or any type of conscious if you eat junk for lunch every working day)
4. The high street is 10min walk in the other direction, notorious for mugging, stabbings, shootings and drug dealing
5. … Well, other than my car there isn’t anywhere else to eat. Guess I’m staying at my desk.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Crafts by Clare
I have just spent the last 2 days making wedding invitations. I never want to make another card again! At least they’re pretty. And everything is done and dusted now so all we have to do is wait for the reply cards to come flooding in and we can do a table plan. Then we just wait for the big day!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
British Summer Time...?
The clocks went forward at 2am this morning for the start of British Summer Time. Summer is officially here! And outside it is snowing. Yep, you read correctly, it is snowing.
Reuben is in Manchester watching Liverpool v Man Utd. My cousin got free tickets for an executive box, someone dropped out, and would Reuben like a 3-course meal and a chance to watch his fave team for free? Well, there’s a no-brainer!
Reuben said, “Man Utd won 3-0. At least the food was good…”
Reuben is in Manchester watching Liverpool v Man Utd. My cousin got free tickets for an executive box, someone dropped out, and would Reuben like a 3-course meal and a chance to watch his fave team for free? Well, there’s a no-brainer!
Reuben said, “Man Utd won 3-0. At least the food was good…”
Friday, March 07, 2008
Wanna V?
V festival tickets went on sale today. I had 3 browsers all set up ready to buy and when 10am came around, whichever opened first would be the place I bought from. 10.01am and the whole thing crashed. Panicking I open them up again to find two have busy servers and cannot access the page. Nargh! Gigs and Tours has miraculously stayed open but tickets are selling fast. It’s now 10.06 and all weekend and red camping tickets are sold out. I email Anna and ask her if she wants to buy yellow camping tickets (don’t necessarily have to camp!). They sell out before she gets back to me.
I phone Reuben. “How do you fancy Staffordshire?”
Pause. “You really want to go?” Pause. “Yeah it sounds alright...”
I immediately book 3 tickets for Weston Park.
So we’re off to Staffordshire this summer!! Should be good, possibly less crowded and full of nicer people than the Essex chavs we always come across in Hylands Park. Chelmsford is the venue all the radio stations mass book so they can give out tickets during the weeks leading up to the festival. No-one mass books Staffordshire.
Lineup for now: Muse, The Prodigy, Squeeze, Kaiser Chiefs, Kings of Leon, Chemical Brothers, Scouting for Girls, Amy Macdonald, Newton Faulkner, The Hoosiers, Amy Winehouse, The Pigeons, Girls Aloud, Duffy, The Verve…
I phone Reuben. “How do you fancy Staffordshire?”
Pause. “You really want to go?” Pause. “Yeah it sounds alright...”
I immediately book 3 tickets for Weston Park.
So we’re off to Staffordshire this summer!! Should be good, possibly less crowded and full of nicer people than the Essex chavs we always come across in Hylands Park. Chelmsford is the venue all the radio stations mass book so they can give out tickets during the weeks leading up to the festival. No-one mass books Staffordshire.
Lineup for now: Muse, The Prodigy, Squeeze, Kaiser Chiefs, Kings of Leon, Chemical Brothers, Scouting for Girls, Amy Macdonald, Newton Faulkner, The Hoosiers, Amy Winehouse, The Pigeons, Girls Aloud, Duffy, The Verve…
Monday, March 03, 2008
Florist
The florist flunked out. We went to get a quote 3 weeks ago and she still hasn’t sent us the quote. I phoned a few times and we went into the shop twice but she keeps fobbing us off with excuses…“We close early so we’re busy at the moment”… “It’s Mothers Day weekend so we’re on a tight schedule”… I don’t care. I told her so. Details have repeatedly been left. We’ve decided not to go with her. If she’s like this over a simple quotation who knows what she might be like on the day…?
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Jaysen
So Reuben is in Mauritius suddenly because his cousin died over there. Actually his cousin died in The Seychelles but he is from Mauritius and was working in La Digue for a year. Anyways he drowned while swimming in the sea (it is cyclone season so it was maybe a bit foolish to be there in the first place) and Reuben is going over for the funeral.
I feel lonely at home. Everything is too quiet. It is nice to be able to watch the TV without him yakking on the phone though…!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Green Street
Reuben’s mum, dad, sister, aunt and I went to East Ham today to go sari shopping. Amanda needs a sari for her wedding in August and I need one as a pressie from my future in-laws. Green St in East Ham is amazing. Every shop is a sari shop, a jewellery shop or a shoe/accessory shop. The colours, embroidery, beading, fabrics… It was dazzling and gorgeous!
Anyway Amanda got a gorgeous cream one with gold embroidery and gold and red beading and I got a baby blue one with silver beads and crystals.
Then we went browsing for shoes. The shoes were far more elegant than regular shoes and have crystals on the straps and engraving on the heels. They are all mostly either flat ballerina shoes or skyscraper high heels. I’m waiting till my sari has been made before I go crazy and buy every shoe in my size…!!
PS Reuben said I couldn’t have any more shoes. Surely another 3-4 pairs wouldn’t hurt…?
Anyway Amanda got a gorgeous cream one with gold embroidery and gold and red beading and I got a baby blue one with silver beads and crystals.
Then we went browsing for shoes. The shoes were far more elegant than regular shoes and have crystals on the straps and engraving on the heels. They are all mostly either flat ballerina shoes or skyscraper high heels. I’m waiting till my sari has been made before I go crazy and buy every shoe in my size…!!
PS Reuben said I couldn’t have any more shoes. Surely another 3-4 pairs wouldn’t hurt…?
Sunday, August 19, 2007
V Festival - Day 2
Kinda tired from yesterday but nothing too major. Really glad I bought those wellies. The grass was a bit squelchy on the way out last night. And my coat was soaked with drizzle and the hood kept the wind out so I was nice and toasty warm!!
I cooked brekkie for everyone this morning and we left around the same time but, alas, too late to see the Goo Goo Dolls. We heard ‘Iris’ playing as we queued to get in – bother! I was kinda mad for at least an hour. Today we saw Sophie Ellis Bextor then McFly… over most of KT Tunstall which I was also mad about but Anna guilt-tripped us into seeing them – she said we made her see Sophie E-B. “Er, no, I said you should see James Morrison instead,” I reminded her. But she conveniently forgot I said that. And then we needed the loos. So I saw KT Tunstall on the big screen and a glimpse of her on the stage but that was about it. The Fratellis rocked the place and everyone sang every word of ‘Chelsea Dagger’ and ‘Whistle for the Choir’. James sang ‘Sit Down’ and it was electric! Then Kasabian came on. I watched for 20mins and didn’t know one song. I went off to the other stage and watched the Manic Street Preachers who were totally fab and even sang some new stuff. Then I went back to the main stage to see The Killers. Oh my God. They were fan-fucking-tastic! Totally worth my backache and the rain!
Unfortunately our plans to go as soon as the encore started were scuppered. They sang one song as an encore. Everyone left at the same time and it took 1 hr 45 to leave the field! We got home about 1am and I went to bed at 1.30am… Only to wake up the next day at 8am for work! Yippee (!). I’m totally shattered…
Saturday, August 18, 2007
V Festival – Day 1
Yay! V Fest! I haven’t been since 2005 so hopefully it’ll be a good year. Rain has been promised all weekend so we head off to Harlow town centre first to find raincoats or ponchos of some description. Every Argos in North London is out of £4 ponchos so we hunt around Milletts… which turns out to be very expensive - £35 for a kag. Anna hunts around for a sports shop and we end up buying large boys coats with hoods in the sale at JJBs. £13 each – bargain!! Reuben is content with a fleece and his Indy hat.
So armed with new coats and wellies we head off to Chelmsford. We wait around for Lynne and Ian to find us – we have their camping cooker and some food. Eventually we head into the park and see the The Proclaimers. Of course ‘500 Miles’ was very popular! The Thrills were a cool band and Paolo Nutini was too, but he sang more covers than his own stuff. Kanye West was pretty rubbish – he just yelled over samples of other songs. Everyone thinks he’s great but I was not impressed! ‘Stronger’ was his only decent song. Pink was easily the best performance of the day. She had a brilliant band and a really cool stage set-up. Snow Patrol was excellent and had a cool light show. The Foos played brilliantly in the face of wind and drizzle! Was a bit miffed that I missed their ‘secret’ acoustic gig under the pseudonym 606 on the C4 stage earlier…
We left after the encore started and was out of the park in 10 minutes. We arrived home really tired and suddenly quite peckish. So 11.30pm and we were ordering pizza! It was cool. And I slept like a log. My back hurts from standing up all day. Reuben keeps calling me an old woman…
Sunday, June 10, 2007
UKC 2007
Oh yeah! This time we're all on our merry way to New England for Road Trip II. I'm already looking forward to going into Boston and retracing the footsteps walked by Ally McBeal who I totally identified with during most of my twenties. The problem is that, other than Boston, I really don't know what else I want to see and do up there so I'm looking at a bit of research between now and then!
I just realised. This year marks a decade since we all met at UKC!! It feels longer... ;) LOL!!
I just realised. This year marks a decade since we all met at UKC!! It feels longer... ;) LOL!!
Friday, May 25, 2007
What the Dickens...?
A theme park dedicated to Charles Dickens? What a fantasmagorical idea! Take me there!!
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.
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