I have

coach seat to Leeds...



Looking forward to my day out up north, to sit in the wind and rain... !! At least this spell of wet weather means I can wear my Gills hat in some vain show of solidarity...

Amazing

Rainbow

I have

a ticket to Leeds........ let the anguish begin.

Feel Free

There is a powerfully creative energy at work in your life that is encouraging your natural genius to flow. You are learning that you are capable of far more than you thought possible. Be practical, but dare to challenge yourself as well. Keep moving out of your comfort zone and all will be well. Monday is excellent for taking risks and showing off your natural talents. Tuesday is not so great, as there are confusing elements in the air that may cause you to make a wrong turn. Take care when signing any new deals or important documents. Venus moves into Taurus on Wednesday which adds a special note of sweetness to your social life. Going on a date should be a lot more romantic and tender at this time. Thursday in particular could be very passionate with a touch of obsession in the air. Someone may want to get to know you more than you can imagine. Saturn turns direct on Friday, which will help you make better progress with all travel affairs, especially any major trips you may be contemplating. You will also find that legal issues begin to resolve themselves at last. Saturday is not the best day for talking someone around to your point of view, wait a day or two before you do this.

Feelin

Foxy!

"domus clamantium"

"home of the shouting men"

Feelin

Slinky

Gillingham 1 - Swindon Town 1

A 12.30 kick off meant an early start. Today tho was the warmest thus far this year and I had to have high hopes of a win. The sun helped put a spring in my step. The last home game of the season. Last chance to see the regulars.

The 11.03am from Victoria was seemingly empty of Swindon fans BUT was full of Londoners off to the seaside. Screaming kids and yelling parents did not help my by now stressed mood. Tension. Tense. Nervous. My MP3 was low on juice so it was looking likely I would not be able to drown out the noise the whole way.

As the train met the River Medway I could see a helicopter in the distance - seemingly hovering above Rochester castle. This dear readers was the taster for the sights I would see once at Gillingham station. History decrees that Gillingham and Swindon do not get on. ?? So for our last home game of the season it was Big Brother central. The outside of the station was a police van car park. Horses. Dogs. And yes the police helicopter..

I am not entirely sure why we 'hate' Swindon, but it meant any pre-match routines went out the window. At the end of Balmoral Road I usually turn left. Today I was greeted by a 2 deep line of policeman. 'You going to the football love - then you have to go via Gordon Road.' Had I been quick enough I would have said - erm yes the scarf maybe a clue tied to my bag, or better still, well you wouldn't come to Gillingham to go shopping would you? Instead I about turned and went off towards the Gordon Road. My usual season long routine broken. So I circumnavigate the krbs Priestfield and eventually get to the Rainham End turnstiles. In. Buy programme for Pops. Loo. Change into Gills shirt. And find my seat. Row Q, seat 23. Here I am again. Here we are again. Fighting for survival.

Going to footie without Dad is always strange. However for most of April I travelled to games by myself. It's been a full scorecard for me. And I have to say from the drizzle of Brizzle to the feeling of unity at Millwall and the utter joy on a Tuesday night early in the month its been every reason I love football live so much.

Today though is taking the rough with the smooth. Today though is praying for 3 points and then hoping the 3pm kick offs gift us some chances.

SO as my photo posts confirm we scored 2 minutes in. The object of my end of season lust doing the business. As I chatted to the twins at half time I said I was hoping we didn't repeat the trauma of Bristol and allow them to score a late goal. Me and my big mouth.

88 minutes Swindon score. Their fans go mental. Our go quiet. They singing 'You're going down'. I hold my head in my hands. Once again we had chances but failed to get that 2nd all important goal. Days like these you want a Matt Jarvis or an Iffy Onura back. Days like these you want the police to go away and let you drudge back to the station in peace. Oh no.

Last games of season mean the team and coaching staff do a lap of the pitch. Most 'fans' left in disgust. Scally was not present. I stayed and held scarf aloft as those of us left sang 'The Last Waltz'. Last year I was saying goodbye to key players. This year I have no idea which division we will be in next season or who will be left in the squad.

So on the way back to the station it was the long route. More dogs. Horses and the helicopter arrived 10 mins before the final whistle. I got to the station via the baying Gillingham fans who were hoping to grab a Swine fan.

The police were wise and only those of us actually on the platform got to savour more jeering from the strangely non Swindon shirt wearing fans.

Not an ideal way to sign off the season here in Kent. But now the trip home would be prolonged as police looked after those fans above who all got my train back to London. We stopped at Rochester while certain were arrested and hauled off the train. Victoria to home was peaceful. Too many excited Chelsea fans about for anyone to notice a Pikey Princess.
Get home at 4.15pm. En route I had checked internet on mobbie and we were looking sunk, until Radio 5 announced our lifeline Oldham had taken the lead....

Final score means the table looks like this:
19 Crewe 45 -15 50
20 Cheltenham 45 -23 48
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21 Bournemouth 45 -10 47
22 Gillingham 45 -28 46
23 Port Vale 45 -34 37
24 Luton 45 -19 33

SO we stay in Division One for another week and its all down to next weekend. We HAVE to win. Everyone else has to lose for us to stay up. I predict we will draw. Bournemouth will win and Cheltenham will lose. Either way it's not going to be a very relaxing Saturday...and probably not a very relaxing week. I will be pacing and the game will occupy the back of my mind without thinking.... sorry guys it's going to be a long week... until..
Saturday, 03 May 2008
Carlisle v Bournemouth, 15:00
Cheltenham v Doncaster, 15:00
Crewe v Oldham, 15:00
Leeds v Gillingham, 15:00

Keeping the faith. UTG.

Riot

Anyone?

1 up

Too soon?!

Well

More cops outside than needed. Wots needed is 3 points

Happy Birthday!

Planet Face!! (tho I preferred a known admirer to be honest - made me sound admirable)

Been

slightly elusive in cyber space since last week.

Call it some reality checking.

I actually managed to chill out whilst in Bristol and the subsequent week at work has provided ample space and opportunity to gain a sense of achievement and worth. Some really good project sessions have confirmed my resolve and the foundations I put in place some months ago. It helps that the sun has been out since I got back from my Brizzle Drizzle and I have been walking and feeling social with my colleagues. Needless to say that can all change in a jiffy!

The only real woes I have are failure to sleep properly and the constant concern over whether or not the Gills are going to pull through. My heart is in knots. Tomorrow is an early KO as we are known to have 'issues' with Swindon Town and tensions will be high. We have to win. We have to.

About

To drop its water drops..

Hooray!!

The road I used to live on in Bristol, also home to the Rover ground.
The Docks

Wide

Fun with mirrors! EXPLORE!

Thin

Me n my Gills hat - risking it in Bristol City Centre!

Blogger Image upload

still out.. sorry. We all gonna have to wait for my latest installment...

Bristol post Placeholder....

NOW Blogger photo uploads are working....
Bridge

Beer

Bristol Rovers

Bleak

Balls.....

Impulsivity

You are not usually an impulsive person, KAREN. In fact, as the most cautious Sun sign in the Zodiac, you are the very opposite of haste and rarely make rash decisions. Until this week, that is. On Thursday, Mars, the action planet, opposes Jupiter in Capricorn in your sector of self, and you may just outdo the most flighty and capricious soul you know. You will not stop, look, or listen, but instead rush to conclusions, especially regarding a certain situation you are dealing with. Luckily for you, on Friday the Moon enters trustworthy and dependable Capricorn, and your emotions will settle down considerably, as will your judgment. At that point, your common sense will kick in, and you will be able to make a much better determination as to the right course of action for yourself. Over the weekend, you will get a lucky boost from the Universe, when the Moon conjuncts Jupiter in your sign of Capricorn. You may decide to try your luck and spin the wheel of fortune, and see where that action lands you. You are being very adventurous, but remember that the best wager is one that you can comfortably afford to lose, and that philosophy applies to every area of your life.

Bristol Rovers 1 - Gillingham 1

We led until the 84th minute. A great goal by Nutter in the 38th minute (which did seem to shoo the rain away, well at least until the second half). But it was a soggy afternoon, with many moaning ill dressed fans stood behind me, on an uncovered terrace. The Memorial is being rebuilt so should I go again it will be different in the future.

We couldn't argue about the Rovers goal it was a screamer. But it doesn't help our predicament. On the plus side a cup of chocolate was only a quid and my new water proof trousers did the job perfectly. They needed too!

Can I also express my delight at seeing the Pie family on the terraces. Goes to prove tho Rainham End Block 1 may be quieter than the middle blocks some of us care just as much...

My stars for the day....

Capricorn (Dec22-Jan20) Your magnetic personality attracts romance at every turn. Although it's flattering to have so many admirers, you're only interested in an earthy intellectual. You're especially charmed by their sexy voice. If you're already in a relationship, this would be a good time to go on a romantic trip with your beloved. Visit a city that captivates both of your imaginations. If you play your cards right, you could get your employer to pay for this jolly jaunt. Call my advice line to hear why involvements with large organisations will be more testing and challenging than you thought but will be ultimately successful.

There are some hints of truth in that - but only a few!!

Bristol .....

here I come!!! Coach and Hotel booked... sadly the weather forecast looks AWFUL!
Drizzle in Brizzle I fear.

Today

I am wearing my neutral stitch suit.

I think I look ok in it...

Several things to note..

I have got ticket to go to Bristol Rovers at the weekend. (They won last night so we are looking more adrift than ever before.)

The Vulcan is due to fly at 2pm this afternoon (that cheered me up this morning.) Such a stirring noise. Aah. (note she has now landed safely after her test flight)

My friend Zig sent me this rather upsetting story about one of my childhood heroes. Not a pleasant sight.

Leeds are trying to get their 15 points back today. Boo. The Carlisle boss agrees with me.

Ma & Pa after an unforeseen day in Zurich are safely in Chile.

I still cannot find my webcam.

More news as and when.

Useful tool!

Someone forwarded this link to me whilst I was on leave - very useful I fear! Especially for us speed walking types!!!

How many miles have I walked?!

Party Time

You have been having a ball at home, KAREN, entertaining and enjoying time with friends and family. You have more chances early in the week to get together with those you love and to enjoy a movie or simply catch up on old times. But from Thursday, your focus changes, and you may find yourself in a much more creative mood. You seem ready to gather together all of your passion, energy, and resources to attempt to make a dream come true. You are seeking stability and security rather than any fly-by-night idea. You don't even mind having to put up with delays, obstacles, or inconvenience. You know what you want, and this is all that matters. There is a Full Moon in your social zone on Sunday, which brings you a chance to organize a party or to attend events that will boost your profile. There is going to be a lot of emotion flying around, so take care, and don't do anything on the spur of the moment that you might regret. Your love life looks especially positive if you are seeking new relationships but may be awkward for long-term partnerships. However, clearing the air will work wonders.

Who needs

Say more?

Gillingham 1 - Swansea City 2

I have waited a day before writing this. I was so angry last night. So sore from watching us play some of our best football all season and yet STILL lose. Two very weak goals from a top of the table side, who were far from impressive, sealed their automatic promotion to the Championship and made our fight to avoid Division Two even more precarious. Our misfortune was compounded by Millwall and Crewe winning. Our hopes and life lines are fast shrivelling.

Last three games now all more than ever do or die. Bristol Rovers (a), Swindon (h) and Leeds (a). One can hope that Leeds are secure in their play off quest and happy to let us win. Let's face it if their arbitration hearing goes well they will be very much in contention for play-offs with their 15 points being restored. If it does happen I will be slightly perturbed as to why on earth the points were ever deducted in the first place?! And what an impact that makes on the rest of the promotion chasers. Not a good thang IMO.

Watch out Carlisle, Donny, Forest & Southend.

So where did it go wrong for us? (Well to be really frank it went wrong for us when we were beaten 0-3 by Crewe and since then our season has been a spiralling downer.) Goalkeeping faux pas for the first. We were sure he had got it safely held. But no. Their second - another of our defensive slow motions. Up until that point we had played the better football and were a goal up - thanks to Mr Oli. In a rare moment for this season the place felt packed. We were 1 up and looked strong. I was singing and dancing. My pre match hot chocolate and Dad's Bovril bound to secure us the points. But no, a few moments lack of concentration and we are well and truly on the back foot. Half time. The Pie family eats chips n burgers. Dad and I console ourselves with milky bar mini eggs. The lone twin looks as bereft as we feel. No larking about today. Arfur and Colin look lost too. Can we possibly get back into the second half and beat this lot? The half time over the tannoy score service is not working. I check my Internet Mobile Phone. The worst news of all. Millwall are 1 up. Crewe are 1 up. I share bad news with lone twin. More quiet contemplation.

If they lose we stand a chance, if we can draw. If they win and we win its still honours even. If they win and we lose. Well then I have to prepare for a very depressing and grey end to the season.

We come out early. Keen and eager. But the Swans lacking spirit or ideas just keep falling to the floor and demanding free kicks. It stops. It starts. Our lads can't get back into the groove. We are trying so desperately to make it back into the game. We want it more. But they are accomplished at swaying the ref. Surprisingly they end up with more yellow cards - time wasting, decent and quite few play acting moments no doubt the reasons.

The 4 minutes added time do not save us. Jackson has come close. Crofts has given it his best. Truth be told that's the problem - our best still appears not to be enough. Final whistle blows. 1500 Welsh fans go loopy at the other end of the pitch - they are going up. We are shell shocked. Listening to their singing and jubilation cuts so deep. Millwall and Crewe have kept their victories. We have again been the kicked in the ribs underdogs.

Next stop Bristol. I suspect a visit to my old Bar course city is in order. A trip up Filton Ave to check the old abode and then a yell and a scream to get the lads through the first 90 mins of their final 270 minutes of this season.

UTG.

The teams at the bottom:
15 Swindon 42 -1 51
16 Bristol Rovers 41 -4 49
17 Millwall 43 -15 49
18 Yeovil 43 -20 49
19 Cheltenham 43 -20 48
20 Crewe 43 -16 47

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

21 Gillingham 43 -28 44
22 Bournemouth 43 -13 41
23 Port Vale 43 -28 36 (R)
24 Luton 43 -16 33 (R)

All baked out

1.45pm

The moment I switched my BB on.
67 new messages.

I wish I hadn't.

Last Sunday

It snowed. And the snow lay on the ground. The trees were laden with snow - blossom and flakes all weighing down the boughs.

This Sunday - well at 7.30am it was very clear and bright. Warm in the sun. At 11am it was dark and raining.

Now the rain has passed by and it's damp on the ground but the sun is trying to shine again.

My walk was early, made the most of the London Marathon to enjoy quietened streets! I did see several keen runners en route to the tube station as I left my road. All the best to them! I was home in time for 9am and my first ever Skype trip! I connected with Australia and watched my brother speak to me from my computer screen. Sadly I could not find my web cam - so he did not have the pleasure of my reddened walking face!

The afternoon ahead? Catch up on the The Archers and then well I think some baking is it order...meanwhile Ma & Pa are packing and off to South America this evening. Looks amazing! Safe travels folks.

Who needs

A lie in?

Swans go up

We remain in a downward spot.

Come on

Gills - beat the Swans! Pls!

Leave: Day Five - Friday

Ah the week has come to close far too quickly. So in a bid to recover as much sleep as possible I forgo my morning walk and instead try and organise lunch with a known admirer and then a quick stop over visit to Kent. Lunch is splendid despite the utter down pour at 1pm. Hail and wind. Nice. 1pm on a Friday lunchtime is packed. Luckily a little known former haunt had table and a hearty menu. We ate like kings and I was able to get to Victoria in time for a 3.06 train to deepest Kent. The sunshine and showers freshening and re-colouring the views. Blossom and buds. Ah.

Home. Macaroni cheese and excited parents! Their trip draws closer. Mazza goes off to swimming and Pops & I bond over Eastenders - a prog he hasn't seen since 2004. So having Bianca and Ricky back is a bonus!!

Miles walked: 2.64
5235 steps (OOPS!)

Leave: Day Four - Thursday

Today was shopping mark 2. After yesterday's burst at Bromley - today became about beating the crowds in Wimbledon and making hay whilst the sun shone. No real joy - except for 1000 EPO tablets fro half price - so moderated moods are on order for at least 333 days. My quickened walk meant I was in no fit state to try shoes on. Oh well. Another day maybe.

Home. Wash. Lunch date. Down by the River Wandle watching the ducks float by. Startled as I see my upstairs neighbour go cycling past on the opposite bank. Oh save me! Later in the afternoon I see the weird neighbour from my earlier years in CW. The mad man with a very dodgy 2 CV held together with gaffer tape. Thankfully he does not recognise me!

Spend evening sorting out PC and transferring music to MP3.

Miles walked: 7.73
15325 steps

Who needs

Museums?

Leave: Day Three - Wednesday

Just completed watching 'The Apprentice'. I am growing fond of some of the male contestants. This is not a good thing - is it? Eye candy? Well we can't all be Madonna's latest album - 'Hard Candy'! Though I have now checked the savvy details of each contestant on the Internet and I am less impressed. Leicester Uni gets a few mentions tho and one hails from Tooting! There is a distinct lack of common sense among them all at this stage - proving that BSc's MA's and qualifications can actually count for diddly squat!

Today? A more frantic start as I was due to meet my Mazza in Bromley for some pre hols shopping. She and Pops are off to Argentina/Chile and Brazil on Sunday... you see my family are capable of booking proper holidays - it's just me that fails.

I linger longer in shower and getting ready generally just in case the post man arrives with my parcel of nostalgic Cd's. He does not and by 10.30 I am straightened haired and ready to stomp the streets of Bromley. Between us we purchase very little - a latte in Nero's was much improved by scoffing a slice of my homemade banana cake (we hid upstairs!). We repeated this later on when we had afternoon tea!!

Home for a bowl of soup and the utter joy that my Cd's have arrived and my 'kindly' neighbour has put them in the hall way. They have though drained their pond and the back yard looks a tip. Feel very sorry for the fish which were in there and indeed the frogs...Relieved though that I was out and therefore missed their performance.

Spend too much time in evening listening to new acquisitions and just about manage to watch some TV. As above!

Miles walked: 6.67

13214 steps

Evicted?

Where are the frogs gonna go?

Leave: Day Two - Tuesday

Despite my alarm going off early I manage to stay tucked up in bed until 10am. So much for Carpe Diem and being up with the lark.

In a freak of coincidence Sparky is off work too. (OK he has thrown his job in. Oh to be so free spirited. Oh what am I going to do with him?) We decide to make the most of the weather and trot off on the tube. Balham. Overland train to Clapham Jct. From here we catch a No 49 (Shepherds Bush-Wandsworth) bus and begin a magical mystery tour of the streets of London.

We alight the bus at South Kensington and follow our noses to Exhibition Road and along it towards the parks. Can I confirm at this point that all the children on holiday are piling into the Museums. There are queues outside each one and the bins are over flowing. So you won't be finding me in any of them this week! We pootle round the Royal Albert Hall. Sparky is not very chatty. So I find myself talking to myself and taking pictures instead.

The Albert Memorial. Victoria must really have loved him. A Memorial and a Hall. And the gold shining in the sunlight. A true monument to her feelings for him.
We foray further into the Royal Park, Kensington Gardens. Magnificent trees and the pink blossom immediately induce you to forget you are even in London. I want to retrace some steps from many years hence. In 2000 Matthew and I had spent the day in Bayswater - he taking pictures of the Whiteleys shopping centre - me in awe of the architecture. He certainly gave me that awareness. Afterwards we went for a walk round the gardens. The Italian fountains and indeed Peter Pan (no pic sorry - some rather rotund kid was swinging off of it and I prefer my statues unhindered by people). It's been a while since I have been back so I was curious to see how my memory fit the today.
The Long Water - the Kensington Garden side of the Serpentine Bridge - cross the Bridge for Hyde Park. Continue along Long Water for trees, ducks, and the restful fountains....


Our walk from here takes in many parts of London I have not really explored before. We head to Victoria Gate and the Tyburn tree (Tyburn being the place of the gallows - from Newgate to Tyburn meant the end was nigh.) By now a pint and a pee are in order so we cut across the Bayswater Road and head for Edgware Road. On the corner a Wetherspoons - The Tyburn no less. Half a pint of Brain's Rev James. A peachy number, very tasty.

We ramble down Seymour Street, towards Portman Sq. Its the ward of squares this part of town. George Street to Marylebone High Street via Manchester Square to feast our eyes on the Wallace Museum. Then onto Weymouth Street crossing Harley Street and Portland Place to Great Portland Street. Going north would take us to The Regents Park. Instead we hit the Green Man for another pint opposite Great Portland Street Underground. This time Bombardier. We then walk along the Euston Road to St Pancras and Kings Cross. In the International terminus we find Sparky's initials forever scratched into the brickwork. Ah the idle doings of a night shift huh.

We then walk down Grays Inn Road. Straying far too close to 'w' I decide that dinner will be back in town - at a haunt we have not been to for ages. We stop in The Lucas Arms for a pint and pee. Half a Greene King. Then we walk along Theobald Road and see who can get to Wardour Street first. In the O'Neills (which pains me as when it was the Wag it was far better) and then up the road for a Won Kei's special.

If you have never been to Won Kei then try it - it will be an experience. Even now I am unsure if the meat in either of our dishes was really either beef or chicken. Either way the aromatic duck was splendid as always and we were fortunate to be sent upstairs - so we got a table cloth. Rare indeed. Leave via Leicester Square and the premier of 'Leatherheads' is taking place at the Odeon - many screams and flashing light bulbs. Tube. Home. Champions League football. Bed. Tired but strangely content.

Miles walked: 9.94

19685 steps

Who needs

Paris?

Leave: Day One - Monday

Not a great start. Not good at all.

Wake up with a pseudo headache. The crossed words of the night before haunting me. The weather is grey and the upstairs protagonists are in. That's what happens when you have leave at the same time as the schools...remind me not to do that again folks.Eventually talk myself into doing my walk. The Wimbledon Wander. I have no purchases to make, so can bomb round at break neck speed. The aim is to get 4 miles in under the hour.

I leave the house at 9.30am and that already beats being moaned at for plonking down at my desk in an angry and apparently aggressive manner.

Wimbledon is fairly quiet but I pass through quickly regardless. I realise I do have a mission - new trousers for walking in. So CW Mall is the perfect place to end the morning. I potter round Sports Direct and find a brilliant pink sweatshirt, some trackie bottoms and a rather pleasant pale blue trackie top. Cool. 4 items for 20 quid. Then I venture into TKMaxx. TKMaxx is full of the usual tat and as a matter of fact they no longer seem to stock Size 8 shoes. Joy. I go upstairs. Pick up a chopping board and finally replace it. My only purchase. A new mug for work. Oh dear I used that 'W' word again. Truth is I am not worried about my job or my ability to do it. Projects have not entered my head. I am though crushing my brain thinking about me and where I fit, in that world now.

Still convinced I will go to Paris for 3 days I go to WHSmiths and buy... books. A French phrase book. A Top 10 book about the city and some Satre. 'Nausea'. It's how I feel. My head is bursting with self doubt and fear.

All this walking and purchasing has almost talked me out of booking any 3 day trips to Paris as I had thought at one stage I might do. Then I decide to wash net curtains and clean my windows. The witch upstairs re-stained her outside stairs before Christmas and my back window still has the drips of wood stain down it to prove it. It's cold outside but the sun and labour help focus my mind. I return inside. I eat crab sticks and mayo whilst surfing the Internet looking at city break deals. I can still go I tell myself. What will people think of me if I don't go? Why is it all so expensive?

The radio news tells of a suspect package at St Pancras and delays to Eurostar. My head hurts even more. I admit defeat. I am staying put. I then tell myself I have to DO something. Out come the walking books. Then I return to the Internet.

I go to Zavvi and look at the music section. Class - I can replace some of my vinyl LPs with Cd's. But a tenner each? So I pootle to Amazon. Ah that's better a fiver each. My total haul means 5 new Cd's are winging their way to me. Another reason to stay - so I can be in for the post man. What a pathetic excuse.

Monday evening. I force myself to stop thinking. Force.

I finish the remainder of my rather scrumptious veggie lasagna. With sprouts and peas for added ballast.

Settle down to 'Enders'. I am still wondering if I want Ricky and Bianca back on the Square. It's all too painful to watch. So 'Delia' should be respite. To be fair - it is. Delia introduces us to her personal trainer - Henry. Delia is not exactly pushing it when they take a stroll round her acred garden. But she is huffing and puffing. Mum & I text each other amusing phrases. 'Puffy tart', 'fat clove', 'stick these in my chopper', 'fun chilli for friends'. Watching as Marco Pierre White (a man she has never met before) open the new 'restaurant' at NCFC is also quite excruciating. Sure Zig would have done it for free!

I turn to ITV for my rare weekly visit. Monday nights are 'The Fixer' - a gripping watch and Andrew Buchan is fast becoming an addition to the FB swoon list.

I watch some of 'Coogan's Bluff' and decide bed is the best option.

Forget the day and awake to a fresh start... at least I didn't have to get the tube today!

Miles walked: 5.11

10127 steps

So what were they?

My Eurythmics collection is mainly proper plastic - vinyl, and because of that largely sits in my old bedroom waiting for me to come home and choose it as part of my jukebox choices for the brief time I am home and in my room long enough to check out the stylus on my midi stereo system. (Which still belts out a good record even now! Loud and bassy!). I do have 2 albums ('Sweet Dreams' & 'Revenge') on cassette but for some reason they got played less even when I was home. Recently 'The Miracle of Love' had popped up on a random play. It sent me back to my Eurythmics compilation album. Then I had tunes in my head from the proper LP days.
Below are the records I wanted to have with me, these are the vinyl records at home. My cassette players here are all broken so my recorded versions gathers dust....and Amazon duly obliged at a fraction of the price of Zavvi...

'Touch' (1983)

'Here Comes The Rain Again'. Probably the song that got me into Annie and Dave. I always admired Ms Lennox and her red/ginger short hair and fiercely wanted to look like that. Strong, individual and yet still stunningly beautiful. I never reached Annie's effortless beauty but I would go on to have short black, and later still, quite red hair in later years.

'The language of love
Has left me stony grey
Tongue tied and twisted
At the price I've had to pay'

'Savage' (1987)

Ah that wig! That make up! This was my favourite for a long while until 'We Too Are One' came out. That said they are both so different that rank equal fav's now. 'Shame' and 'Savage' were the most played tracks. Followed closely by 'Put The Blame On Me'; 'Wide Eyed Girl' and 'I Need You'.

Oh and a true belter which fits my ideals perfectly! 'I Need A Man'

Lyrics? Tune? Atmosphere? I think a combination of all three kept me hooked. By now I was 14 and hormones and 'boys' were becoming a theme. Sunday afternoon football, tea making at half time. Oh dearie me. All girl schools really do accentuate such issues and I was at an all girl school from 11 to 18! I had an inner sense I was somehow sophisticated and an individual. I was certainly an individual - freak they probably thought! I had such a great imagination and believed if I wrote the right words in a letter I would succeed in finding true love. I didn't. Haven't. But do retain friends from those days, and to be fair I have aged far better than they. This then suggests I was swayed to the lyrics.

A part of me still thinks it's the way forward too - but age and experience suggests otherwise.

'Take me to a dark room
And hug me to bits
I just wanna be kissed so badly
Right there
On my lips...'

We Too Are One (1989)

I listened to this album when I last went home, Easter Weekend. As I have grown I have identified with Ms Lennox and her lyrics, especially her solo efforts. 'Bare' being totally raw and emotion charged. This was the Eurythmics album, for me at least, which started to take emotion a little deeper in the songs. '[My My] Baby's Gonna Cry...'; 'Angel', 'Don't Ask Me Why' and 'We Two Are One'. I sang my heart out - something no doubt my parents cringed at and something I certainly haven't done for a long long time.

'How long
Will your love
Hold on
To stay strong'

Madonna - 'Bedtime Stories' (1994)

Ah Madonna. 'Bedtime Stories'. Vincent. Whenever I hear songs from this I think of walking across Victoria Park in the sunshine, Mosquito Coast, mini travellers, April Fool's Day, Leicester City vs Palace, the best student house I had ever lived in and the telephone table by the front door. When would that phone ring? 1994-95, tho mainly 1995, the year of extra University - paid for. The year I discovered who I was. The year I fell in love with a real person. The year I bounced around with inner joy and hormones raged with fulfilled lust. This album back lit it all.

I changed the record when it all went slightly less sunny or joyous. Not sure I have bounced around quite so freely like that since. Dis-trusting and the seeds of cynicism planted.

Seal - 'Human Beings' (1998)

This album was borrowed from Wimbledon Library when I was squatting at No 56! I wore the tape thin from over playing it. 'It's destined....'

Let Loose

Don't be any one's scapegoat this week, KAREN. Keep in mind that you are a proud Mountain Goat, able to navigate the loftiest hilltop. You don't need to be the butt of a joke, or a drudge, or get stuck doing all the cleanup work at a party or social event. At times you can be a bit too self-effacing, which is not always in your best interest. On Tuesday, the Moon in Taurus trines positive Jupiter in Capricorn in your sector of self, and you will find that your self-esteem is reawakened and kicked up a notch. Several notches in fact. You will be able to feel so good about yourself that you realize how valuable your time really is, and how valuable you are as a person. On Thursday and Friday your emotions may be all over the map, as the Moon in Cancer opposes intense Pluto in Capricorn. You are usually a rather cool customer, and you keep a tight lid on how you really feel. That's part of why you present such a polished persona in public, but now you deviate. It's okay to be stoic and staid, but you may find that you enjoy letting loose more than you thought you would.

Leave

I am on it. Nada 'work'.

I am writing full Blog entries as I go - but in the main will only be publishing photos.

My full week of 'blissful' solitude can be viewed Mon 14th...

...in the meantime enjoy the odd picture here and there....

...ta ra.

New Colour

'Capri' - Natural Light Brown. Though it looks dark.

Held in

Held to a draw

One up @ HT

Made it in!

Can the

Trusty flares bring the Gills luck today? UTG

OAPS on ASBOS

Class!

Ticket...

to go to Millwall - purchased...

I suspect by Saturday I will be ready for a good old sing song and blowing away of the cob webs so that I can start my week of respite free of angst!! Let's hope Gills win!!

Seeing out

End of game. Good end to a good day. UTG! It was the scones wot did it:)

Gills 2 Luton 1

Scenes of mental joy!

Happy 90th

Today for a change there was something to do at lunch! So a quick stroll to Waterloo Bridge to see the Red Arrows and 4 Typhoons fly up the Thames - well not really cos the Thames has a bend - but certainly along the river and across the London Eye.

The RAF - we salute you.

Compare and contrast with those on the beeb - here John Thompson's picture of the jets above Parliament from Lambeth Bridge is my winner cos he managed to get the markings of all the planes!! Well done mate!!

1,001

For that is this posts number!!

Creating A Beautiful Home

As Pluto turns retrograde in your sign on Wednesday, KAREN, it encourages you to think more deeply about any issues associated with power and control that you have had to deal with. You get a chance to do a double-take and mull over how well you are doing in this area. You have until September to come to a few useful conclusions. Mars continues to move through your relationship zone, which is going to help you get a few issues sorted out. Don't underestimate the power of heart-to-heart conversation for making changes. Keep this uppermost in your mind, and you won't go wrong. There is a New Moon in your home zone Saturday, which brings endless possibilities for starting new projects. This is a great time to put your property on the market, to purchase another one, or to move. If you are moving to a new area, you should fit in well and find that everything flows beautifully. Mercury and Venus also move into your home zone this week, which is great for decorating, making your home beautiful, and also entertaining. Make the most of this to get every aspect of your home and family life in order. Be as creative as possible, and don't be afraid to use your initiative.