Happy Bloggerversary to Me!

Never thought this blog would still be around here but here it still is!

Struggle to keep it updated all the time but reluctant to let it go completely - let's see how things go.

Here's to another 10 years, lol!

Btw, I nicked the above graphic from Charby.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Gosh, another year older and what have I done?

Not a lot really, except that this year hasn't been too bad for me so far - got a couple of challenging months coming up that are going to stretch me both mentally and financially but I'm confident I'll take it all in my stride, although at the time, I may not feel it! Does that sound like 'corporate speak'? Dear me...

Out tomorrow night with the girls, starting early at 2.30pm and then staying out for the England v Italy 11pm kick-off - I hope I remember to pace myself!

Bit of a Fail...

Well this is a bit rubbish, being my first post on here of 2014 and we're halfway through Feb already! Just had a lot of stuff going on. Or maybe I've just been too busy watching tv and reading!

Anyway, my new year resolution is still intact and I'm starting to feel the benefits. My fitness is getting better and I'm finding I can push myself a harder.

Been on a bit of a budget since Christmas and certainly my bread-maker has come in handy when it's come to eating cheaply.  Have been well impressed with it - my favourite Christmas present of 2013! Another thing to help with my budgeting is the opening of the local Aldi supermarket - whilst I can't do all my food shopping there, I can buy most things there and already, I can see that for basics, eg meat and veg, it's a lot cheaper than Tesco.

Chinese New Year was at the end of the Jan - it's the year of the Horse and apparently, this is supposed to be a good year for me in all aspects of my life- hurray!

It's already started well - my life insurance/endowment plan matured after 15 years and with the stock market crashes of recent years, I was really just expecting (and hoping at least) to break even. However, it actually went to plan so I had an unexpected windfall! I'll not forget about my budgeting though - the windfall won't last otherwise!

Valentine's Day - well, the good news was that I actually had a date! The bad news? That's all it's going to be but it was very pleasant.

Anyway, I've decided to take up the '100 Happy Days" challenge - so perhaps I'll post some pictures on here...

Well, I'm surprised I've rambled on for so much... I guess I do miss blogging. I'll try to keep on top and try to fill in some gaps.

Who 50th Anniversary

As I was out with the girls mooching around the Manchester Christmas markets last night, I had to watch the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary episode on iPlayer.

Thought it was great, though not brilliant. My two favourite Doctors in the guise of Matt Smith and David Tennant, yet I blubbed a bit when Tom Baker appeared at the end - he was the Doctor I knew as a child and I guess for me, he'll always be the first Doctor.

18 Years

Practically a life sentence eh, but today, that's how many years I've been working at the same company.

There have been ups and downs, but I can say mostly ups.

Hmm...I really should take the time to do some proper updates on here - need to sort out my free time!

Another year over...

So...a week into 2013, yet 2012 seems so long ago...

I had a fabulous Christmas, celebrating it in Hong Kong for the first time with the family. It was a very short but sweet trip.

One big difference I noticed was that unlike in the UK, people were not out in shopping centres in their hordes, madly looking for bargains in the sales, because there were no sales.

I also went to a shopping centre the day after Boxing Day and it was...virtually void of people, a first for me!

Another first was nearly missing my connecting transfer back to the UK - running through Zurich airport and being the last one on the plane! Phew!

So what's new for this year? I don't know really. I haven't made any resolutions, but I guess I will 'resolve' to do / not do stuff at some point.  I don't seem to have a lot of motivation at the moment so the year hasn't started with me invigorated - I think I'm suffering from jet lag and lack of exercise has made me feel lethargic!

Looking after the pennies I guess will be a big factor, as I have another trip planned soon so I can see me being in  Skintsville for the first half of the year at least. All my utility bills have gone up, or rather, all the direct debit payments have increased - bummer.

Since I've pretty much been to all the gigs I want to go to over the last few years, I guess I could save there (ie not go to any), although going to Leeds again is still on the cards, depending on who's headlining.

Keeping up this blog? I don't know that I'm ready to definitely call it a day yet but we'll see how inclined I am to update this. Maybe give this another year, dunno.

I'm still playing WoW but not so much these days. Must be starting to lose interest as I started to play another game recently, The Secret World, another MMORPG but which has no subscription fees.

Top voice characterisation (although the 'Londoners' speak like bad extras off 'Eastenders' or from 'Mary Poppins'), fantastic storyline and creepy music means I get kinda scared playing it (and there are zombies to kill), so I'm only playing it for short periods at a time (or during the day at weekends lol - I'm such a scaredy cat!)



Anyway, all the best to all for 2013!

Rabbit Rabbit

Gosh nearly forgot to post - Kung Hei Fat Choi, or Happy Chinese New Year, all!

Seems to have come round extra fast this time round, not had my second wage packet this year yet, so struggling with the usual new year payouts to maman, papa and grandmere!

It's the year of the Rabbit (or Hare) - supposedly not a great year for me...ah well, hopefully my 'dragon' pendants and emblems will help me out here!

Not been organised at all, just plodding away but loads to do, dunno where to start!

Had the great idea of getting the house cavity walls filled and the loft re-insulated (cos the house has always been bloody cold!) - got a good price for it, but was told that I had to get the fireplace checked out. It failed the British Gas inspection as it was unsafe...bugger!

Now, have to get that sorted first, before the other jobs and still not started on my own 'little' project.

And I continue to bury my head in work, WoW, my books, football stuff and the gym. Oh and seeing Boom - spent some time with him on several occasions already this year, so already it's better than this time last year... :-)

So gotta get my arse in gear badly - how to motivate myself though??

Fifteen

On Friday, I arrived at my desk at work (late as usual as the traffic on the M60 seems to be getting worse and worse) to find that it had been decorated with balloons and banners.

Yes, I'd clocked up 15 years service with the company. Doesn't seem that long, time seems to have whizzed by.

It's funny that my colleagues felt the need to celebrate this event more than I did and I'm not sure why I didn't feel like celebrating.

The last couple of years haven't been great for any of us - now that the uncertainty has gone, it's been replaced by a lot of pressure and I'm suffering from lack of concentration and distraction. At times, I feel like I'm not in control and I'm not sure how I can get back into control.

It's the same outside work too, there's so much that I need to do to get my life in some orderly fashion but I'd rather bury my head in WoW, reading or the gym. Maybe this is what keeps me vaguely sane!

Anyway, I have another certificate to clutter my desk and I got some vouchers too, handy this time of year. 

So much to catch up on really, I've got some draft posts that I've not gotten round to posting - might have to do a blog related new year's resolution!

Vuvuzelas

Regardless of England's progress in the 2010 World Cup, this tournament will, I think, be remembered for the noise of the vuvuzela trumpets/horns everyone seems to be blowing in the stadia. The question is....why???

Think of the buzzing of thousands of extremely large angry bees and you won't be far wrong! Bloody annoying to be honest!

Anyway, the usual frustrating England start; a magnificent opening goal from Stevie Gerrard but then, a terrible schoolboy error by our keeper Robert Green, gifting the USA a 1-1 draw. Not quite a disaster but that should have been victory.

I was hoping to celebrate both a win and my birthday but it wasn't to be. Had a most ungirlie football evening at the glamorous C's, with good food, lots of beer and all matters of footie on the tv!

I'm in a couple of the usual fantasy football leagues for the World Cup, even running a small one at work (with a small donation to charity so I don't get done by the rules-geeks for gambling...).

Anyway, come on England - you can do better!

Exceedingly Surprised

"Exceeds expectations - excellent"

I had my performance appraisal with my boss yesterday and this was the grade he awarded me. Gosh, I was surprised.

Although 2009 was not as difficult as 2008, I thought I'd struggled.

Thought I'd struggled with motivation at times, struggled with workload, struggled with stress but by and large, I met my deadlines. I just had my head down most of the time, just trying to get things out of my inboxes (physical and email). I don't think I did as well as I could have to be honest.

Yet the report my boss had compiled had me down as "highly motivated" and "energised" with good time management skills! This must be how he sees me but not how I see myself? During our chat, he gave examples of telephone conversations I'd had with colleagues that demonstrated this (must talk more quietly!) plus strong personality traits.

"Basically weenie*, " he said, "You're not afraid to say no and you're prepared to push back even if it isn't the most popular decision." Which, in my line of work where sales people often try to slide things past me is a good thing!

This year (3 months in already!), I've been tasked with two projects and I'll need to complete one of them in between doing my normal job by the end of the year, if not before. Gawwwd.

I hadn't been looking forward to the appraisal - guess I was worrying over nothing. I'll not celebrate too much though - let's see if I still feel like celebrating when/if they announce whether I get a pay rise.

*used my real name of course

They Get Worse with Age...

…hangovers that is and I swear I am still suffering from the prolonged after effects from the weekend!

My theory is that when I was younger, since I drank more and also more often, my body was coping with perpetual hangovers all the time so was used to it.

Now, drinking a lot doesn't happen as often so when I do over-indulge, my body is totally rebelling - not good!

So, I waved goodbye to my thirties with lots of wine, cocktails and gin, good food and laughs. Actually, too much wine, cocktails and gin.

On Friday, Boom took me out to Bem Brasil, a Brazilian steakhouse - it was fab. Everyone has these little discs on their tables, red on one side, green on the other. The waiters walk around with big skewers of all types of meat and if your disc is on the green side, they will give you a cut of the meat; if on red, then they know you don't want a slice. I ate a lot that night!

Saturday, met up with the girls at 3pm in Atlas Bar for some wine. The weather was sunny so we were sitting outside, it was very pleasant. We moved onto another bar (apparently…I don’t remember!) and then had a meal in Albert's Shed- I do remember having a lovely tuna salad and also that the glass of red wine that JH spilt did not end up thankfully on my white jeans but ended up over the couple sitting on the table next to us! Amazingly, they were ok about it, but JH was mortified and left them her telephone number in case they wanted to contact her with cleaning bills…

We ended up in Manchester 235 casino and by this point, I'd had so much to drink that I was totally oblivious to the fact that AM and HW had had an argument and were not speaking to each other… Hence I didn't understand why AM left early. But why was I drinking White Russians? Hardly brilliant for the waistline!

Anyway, stayed in the casino with HW, we didn't know what we were doing - at one point thinking we were playing Blackjack when it was actually poker - but we were winning and in the end, we broke even so that's a good night of gambling!

Got a taxi home, crashed out at around 1.30am, all lights left on in the house.

Sunday was a complete washout - I really couldn't get out of bed and all day, all I could stomach was one cup of tea, a bit of water and a couple of slices of toast! My head was banging, even when I was lying down! It's been tough at work this week as I don't think I've quite recovered but well, it was something that had to be done!

Jewellery featured high on the list for presents - I got a lovely bracelet from Boom (which I wore on Saturday and which I checked every 5 mins to make sure it was still on my wrist!), a necklace from the girls, plus some Euros for my hols, a necklace from my mate in Wales, BSG Season 4 boxed set from the boss (wooohoo!) , some flowers from an ex-colleague.

Have got a busy few days coming up - hope I get the time to update!

Lamb Dressed as Lamb

Well I've no idea how it's happened so quickly but this weekend, I shall be the grand old age of forty. FORTY!!!!

Yep, that's right - the big four-oh, no longer 30-something, an old bird, old fogie, past it, time to dress and act sensibly, listen to Radio 4, start knitting and all that…

As if!

Reaching this milestone (and it is a milestone since I'm still in one piece) has been plaguing my mind for a while now. I'd not been looking forward to it even though many of my friends (including the glamorous C) have already joined this club.

Why, when most people tell me I don't look my age, is it such a big issue for me? I really don't know, except that I knew that once my daft mind had gotten used to the idea, then I'd be ok.

I came into work on Friday to find my desk - horrors - festooned with banners and 40th birthday balloons - so much for skulking in and out discreetly without the whole company knowing! AM, when she turns 40 in two years time will suffer major payback!

Anyway, I think I'm ok about it now, especially as there were many shocked faces from colleagues who thought I was a lot younger (some thinking I was almost 10 years younger, yep they're deffo on my Christmas list, lol!) so it's been like a bit of an ego boost really.

Teetotal, clean living and early to bed - that's not me so it must be the late nights, alcohol and fast food that's been keeping me young, lol! Ok, the gym probably helps a bit and a younger man ;-)!

I was hoping to be away this weekend but that fell through, so I shall be out with Boom tonight and then out on the lash with the girls in Manchester and shall have a horrible hangover on Sunday and deffo not feeling young then.

Well, I shan't be changing my ways, will still be the same me, the same daft me, only a bit older.

Still, I don't look old, don't feel old so why should I be old? One step closer to retirement though- yay!

Fabulous and forty, that's me now (except first thing in the morning!)

Anyway, as I've done for the occasional previous birthday, for a short time only, here's a wee picture of me, which shall be taken down the next time I log in - blink and you shall miss it!

Edit - pic removed - phew!

To Get Or Not To Get...

...that is the question.

Pondering.

Anyway, this blog is 4 years old now.

I'd like to say it's gotten better over the years but I probably can't! Ok, maybe a bit better.

Big Sis and little nephew are up for the next few days so will be nice to spend more time with them.

First football match of the season for me too this weekend - looking forward to it.

Friday 13th

Ominous?



But hey, it's not all doom and gloom cos it's my BIRTHDAY today! Go me! :-)



Hoping for a quiet weekend actually to contemplate being another year older - out on the sesh next weekend though!

How will my older liver and kidneys cope??

Imminent

Well it seems part-ownership of a football club is within touching distance!

In just 3 months, over 53,000 people signed up to MyFootballClub.

The lively forum has amassed over 80,000 posts.

Over £700,000 has been collected from members in 70 countries.

Nine football clubs came forward with a view to being purchased.

After numerous meetings, it's finally been narrowed down to ONE CLUB ....

The MFC team believe that this football club offers members the best chance of success,
have agreed terms in principle for the purchase of the football club and will do all they can to ensure an agreement is signed ahead of the January transfer window.

Before the acquisition of the football club, its identity will be revealed....

Exciting stuff!

On a lesser note, today would normally be an anniversary date, but no more.

Relating with Teenagers

I don't think I've ever really posted about my godson, EB. Maybe it's cos I've never really had a chance to spend much time with him and to get to know him, since his mum MR always hogs all of my attention when I go to visit them in Wales! Still, I've never forgotten his birthdays and have always seen him at Christmas - can't really say the same for his other godparents.

I'd suggested a while ago that if he wanted, he could spend some time with me for his next birthday. To be honest, I didn't think he'd want to, that a 14 year old would rather spend time with his friends but surprisingly, he agreed.

So, I drove down to Wales and we had a big Harvester meal with his family. I was hoping to shoot back up to Manchester with EB, maybe catch a movie or take him to the arcades but by the time we set off back to Manchester, it was nearly 9pm - not a lot of time left to do anything! :-(

Anyway, I let EB be in charge of my ipod during the journey back and he was impressed that we both liked the same music (apart from my dance/chart stuff!). I found him to be very polite, intelligent, though a bit of a smart Alec, but that's not necessarily a bad thing!

He's also a very good kid, MR is pretty hard on him and has some tough house rules but they obviously work. When we got back, I just let him loose on my laptop to play Runescape, an online game which I haven't played for nearly 3 years (screenshot above). Hmm...might be something to distract me when my social life isn't so active!

EB's not allowed on the internet at home - in fact, not even MR's husband is, only MR herself (which I find strange but I'm not likely to ask why...) so he only gets to go on it at his friend's house or at his grandparents.

I let him play the game for a few hours, allowing him to stay up until 12.30am - hey, it was his birthday AND it's school holidays! I hope he didn't tell his mum...

Next day, drove into Manchester city centre and we wandered around Forbidden Planet and some game shops in the Arndale and had a spot of lunch in Starbucks. Then, it was time to take him home.

It hadn't even occurred to me that I'd parked down Sackville Street, which is where I usually park on Sundays. As we walked back to the car, his eyes widened as he noticed the rainbow flags on the pubs. It's funny that for the first time that weekend, he started to act his age!

Anyway, during our brief time together, I found out that he's a super fast reader (reads two or three books a week, many are the fantasy books that I read), that he enjoys learning German at school, that he admires Thierry Henry, goes to watch Wrexham FC with his granddad, enjoys painting Warhammer 40k models and that he hopes to become a marine biologist. Sounds quite promising, considering all the bad press about the 'youth of today'.

So the question is - did he enjoy himself? I'm not sure, as he doesn't really show a lot of emotion right now, happy or unhappy. I guess I'll find out from his mum.

After I'd dropped him off, went to the David Lloyd club in Cheshire Oaks and met up with the glamorous C. We had a workout in the gym, a good chinwag in the sauna and then we had a little celebratory meal as it was her birthday too. We will celebrate properly in around two weeks time - can't wait!

Right, next post will probably be of JH's wedding....woohoo!

Another Year Older

YAY! It's my birthday today! Happy Birthday to me!

Gosh, another year added to my age. Was that another grey hair I saw this morning? Eek!

Anyway, nothing really planned today (though will probably have a liquid lunch today), except spending some time with family this evening.

Off out with the girlies on Saturday though! Wahey!

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Happy Chinese New Year!

It's the year of the pig or the boar, a symbol of prosperity, so I hope this rubs off on all of us! (Pleeeeease!) In fact, not just any pig year, it's the year of the Golden Pig, which only occurs every 60 years....

After a pretty tough week, had a great weekend, eating loads of yummy food, catching up with family and relaxing.

Some nice winter sunshine meant that Chinatown in Manchester was absolutely packed but it was a nice occasion; despite all the people, there was still a very good, safe atmosphere. I still wondered at the people buying stuff off the burger/hotdog vans when they were passing stalls selling yummy noodles!

Anyway, another week, another dollar. The glamorous C is off for another week, but while she's away, I've challenged a male colleague to a badminton match...maybe I shouldn't have opened my big mouth as I could get well and truly whitewashed here...

Hearts and stuff

Valentine's Day - hope everyone had a good one.

The day started off quite well, made a lot of progress at work and then at lunchtime, I was teaching J some basic origami as she was thinking of using little paper flowers and stuff to brighten things up at her forthcoming wedding. It was like being back at junior school again...ie learning fun stuff with coloured bits of paper!

Then the rest of the afternoon descended into one of those nightmare days - I kept my cool as someone ranted at me down the phone and when he realised I wasn't going to back down and do as he said, he got his boss to call me. Good job his boss was more understanding and actually listened to what I said but the damage was done and my brain and temper was fried.

Got home to find a card and Forever Friends teddy/photoframe from the bf - I treated him to McDonalds and to the 'Hannibal Rising' movie - this must have all measured like minus something on the Romantic Richter Scale but it was better than staying in and being miserable.

What's next on the calendar? Must be Easter...

www - Work, Worry, Weekend

Friday - usually a happy day as it's the last day of the week, is often a pub-lunch day (for me) and we get to wear 'casual' clothes, eg jeans and stuff to work.

Unfortunately, the Friday just gone wasn't such a happy one. My mate A went for a job which was tailor-made for her but didn't get it. Looks like fat-boy-teacher's-pet excelled himself with his bullshitting and after two years of sitting on his lard arse, has gotten himself a promotion - what a bad call - we're all so gutted (apart from him of course).

That was the first bit of bad news.

The company I work for is undergoing yet another 're-organisation' - this has resulted in there being too many directors creaming the cash off the top.

The second piece of bad news is that my boss' boss didn't get the director role that was up for grabs, which means he's on his way out. As for what that means for us, we don't know yet. Relocation from Manchester to Surrey or Bristol? Maybe, though after 11 years, I think I'll take the redundancy package thank you very much.

Crap - but we could end up unscathed. Anyway, we still had a pub lunch but it wasn't the usual jolly affair.

Saturday cheered me up as we went down to Wales to meet up with MR for her husband's surprise 40th birthday party. Strange how we travelled all the way there yet some of his friends who lived within walking distance down the road couldn't make it...

Anyway, we didn't get home til 2am - it was enjoyable and nice to catch up.

Oh and Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-0. Had to mention that!

Another long week ahead!