Kinda like a diary of sorts for a gal who refuses to grow up, likes her beer, gin, music, working out, reading, footie and nerdy, geeky sci-fi stuff...
It's gonna be a really expensive month and my wages are not going to go very far.
Coming up over the next few weeks I have a couple of trips to London (flights mostly, since train is even more expensive), three birthdays (my mum's, the glamorous C's and EB my godson, so three outings and three presents), one wedding and one wedding evening reception.
And then I've got to save up for my holiday spending money.
So as I've been forced to see how I can raise some extra cash (no, selling my body isn't on the agenda!) I'm going to sell my Coldplay tickets. If I break even or get just a little less, well it's money in my pocket - if I get more, then bonus!
Hopefully, I also can claim some money back from the scammed Leeds festival tickets.
I do have a money-making scheme on my mind - it's whether I can get it to work or not - more news if I get it up and running!
16 Gold medals for Great Britain so far, third in the medal table - what on earth is going on? We're actually pretty good! Go Team GB!
What with the crap that's going on at work and me being scammed over the Leeds Festival tickets, I'm glad to say it's not all doom and gloom in my life.
I have a mad (and expensive) few weeks coming up with big sister's wedding, my family coming over, the saga of work churning on relentlessly, plus another wedding reception and throw in a couple of birthday celebrations.
But I'm glad I have the glamorous C around me to keep me vaguely sane.
Anyway, we've finally booked our next holiday - we shall be off to Thailand - eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Sun, sand, sea, snorkelling, dodgy go-go bars....brill!
Bought tickets for next week's Leeds Festival via xclusivetickets.com back in April. Website looked legit, was even linked to various festival websites.
Received an email from them a fortnight ago saying that tickets would be despatched shortly. So no need to worry.
However, a week to go and still nothing so I thought I'd try to contact them today.
The website has disappeared and when you Google the name, you see lots of posts from other 'victims' of these scammers!
When I phoned my credit card company, they were aware of the scam as they've been receiving calls from people who were supposed to be going to the V Festival this weekend but whose tickets haven't arrived from xclusivetickets....
I hope I will get a full or at least partial refund via my credit card company...but I'm gutted that I won't be going.
EDIT - and in another scamming atrocity, the Cheeky Scouser found out that his bank card has been cloned and a wodge of cash withdrawn from his account!
I did have good stuff to post about but now, I'm soooooo pissed off! :-(
So I was dozing on and off on the sofa, sleeping off last night's excesses and watching some of the olympics, when it sounded like something was thrown hard at the patio window.
A little shocked, I jumped up to have a look, saw no one and was about to settle back on the sofa when my eye caught something on the ground.
What looked like some kind of falcon/bird of prey was lying there, just blinking at me. It was probably really stunned from the impact with the window but what was it doing here? There are normally only magpies, starlings, sparrows, pigeons and other common garden birds around here! Maybe it was trying to catch one of the above birds.
Anyway, it didn't move as I took a picture of it and I sat there watching it for a few minutes, in case one of the neighbour's cats decided to have a sniff around.
Its beak looked really sharp, I had no idea if it was hurt as it only moved its head but not its body, so I thought about putting some gloves on and picking it up and maybe contacting the RSPCA (RSPB?). However, when I stood up, it seemed to suddenly notice me, staggered to its feet and flew a short distance away. After a few seconds, it recovered and flew away into the distance.
Anyway, yesterday I spent a fab day with the glamorous C - she came round just in time to be introduced to the Cheeky Scouser (thumbs up from both!)
I then took her into Chinatown - have really missed my dim sum since my gran went away, so I ordered some old favourites and they all went down well!
We then went shopping for shoes and accessories for me for big Sister's wedding and I managed to get everything, including a nice new interview suit - I knew the glamorous C would keep me focussed when it came to shopping!
Went back to mine and we had a great evening of chat, laughs , gin and wine. Eeee, we need to get our holiday sorted soon!
Last Tuesday, there was a little reunion with a crowd of friends I used hang around with. Many I hadn't seen in nearly eight years.
This was the bunch I used to go ten pin bowling with and clubbing in Warrington and Manchester - those were the days! Most are now married with kids (or just with kids), others still single, a few are looking, others happy being on their own.
One guy I don't remember him being so camp, others haven't aged, still looking ten years younger.
Funnily enough, all are practically teetotal unlike me and one recalled the nickname they had for me when they first met me...ahem!
It was nice to catch up on what's gone on over the years but I think I've moved on now - not sure I'd like to make this meeting up with everyone a regular thing as was suggested, although some I know I will deffo keep in touch with and see again.
After the announcement of mass redundancy last month at work, it seems as if my poor affected colleagues are in one real life Big Brother house. Morale is terrible, many people are off sick due to stress and those that are in are just performing to some macabre tune (the death knell...), much like the Big Brother housemates, awaiting their eviction, awaiting the boos or the cheers as they leave the house.
The powers that be have already set their strategy in stone, despite the liberal use of the word 'proposals', they already know who they want to stay and in which roles.
Redundancy has been capped at 12 years - many people who are in the 'at risk' category have been at the company 15 years plus so no good to them at all.
Whilst my role hasn't been classed as at risk, I really don't understand why not, since if there is no team left in Manchester, what happens to me - am I then in a little team of my own up here?
So, this week, I've been sorting out my CV. There's an internal vacancy that I've been asked to apply for - stay on the same sinking ship or leave with the rest of the rats...?
