Festive

Today was the team Christmas lunch and very tasty it was too. Led to some rowdy moments in the afternoon but all good clean fun.

It also spurred me on to purchase cards and stamps and just generally get into the spirit (of Christmas - not vodka!) after work. Yes it's true I had a quiet Friday night. I came straight home! All I have to hope now is that the good old post office can do something special for my postal package to Australia - oops!

Not so festive is the news in Suffolk at the moment. All very disturbing. The cycle of drugs is indeed a very slippy slope and the lifestyles the news is sharing with us is so far removed from my day to day existence that I am beginning to feel naive. But for five parents to lose their daughters in this way and learn the realities behind the facades they knew is truly devestating. I was beginning to wonder if I had become de-sensitised to news stories - everyday is a litany of murders, bombs, death and tragedy - but this story is horrifying on so many levels. How did we let society get like this? The one thing that Christmas won't change sadly is the poverty, depravity and desparation that so many of the planets inhabitants suffer. It makes me grateful for small mercies and wish those I know and love a genuinely peaceful season and indeed, year ahead.

This time last week..!

I was supping wine on a boat!!!

Me - Mr Gee and The Prof

Me n Swansea Jack!

Me n Big Ben's tower!

Me n Swansea Jack (again!)

This time 5 years ago I was in a Chinese restaurant drinking beer!

(l-r) Simon Morley (back of the head!) me, Cam, Victor, Swansea Jack, Doug and Metin.... oh how times and people have changed!!!

Tubes

Here's something you don't see too often!! Good service on all lines! Amazing!

Let's hope by the time I get to the tube it is still the same? I spent Tuesday evening sat in the tunnel between Waterloo and Kennington for 20 minutes (technical failure) the lights all dimmed while station staff walked to the train. every other day this week a passenger incident has meant a delay/stoppage. I suspect too many late nights!!

Noise Abatement Part 1

So much for that theory - sewing machine drilling its way into my head at midnight.... !?! WHY!?!?!?! WHY?!?!

Noise Abatement

This evening I bit the bullet and plucked up the courage to say something to my upstairs neighbours. Perhaps spurred on by a restless night's sleep caused in no small part by 'changing room' noises at 2am. Why do they have to scrape furniture across the floorboards at all hours? They have no carpets you see.

So when I found myself in the hallway with Mr Upstairs I was polite and asked if he was ok and then asked if perhaps they'd consider that actually my bed room is underneath their lounge and perhaps possibly their constant noise was keeping me awake/waking me up. The essence being you seem to have forgotten I do actually live downstairs and your antics are upsetting my sleep patterns. I tried not to lose my temper and maybe my words could have been better - but what else can I do? Bang on my ceiling everytime they do it? Say nothing and hope it stops (it hasn't over the last couple of months)? I guess now all I have to do is wait and see. They will either make a slight effort or go all out to p*ss me off.. well more so then.

Why does putting across a well reasoned point of view make you feel as if you are in the wrong? I would understand it if I had loud parties every night or played my music at full volume til all hours. But I don't. And I think its somehow harder to disturb upwards... there's only 1 of me - there's 3 of them. And frankly I am also sick of being woken up by Mr Upstairs snoring over my head (he's on the couch for some reason but I thought it best not to mention that)... if I wanted to be woken up by snoring I'd move a snorey boyfriend in.

I feel slightly better but also a tad nervous... certainly one aspect that has changed over the last 12 months - I do find myself standing up for myself.. the wisdom of age perchance? Or blissful stubbornness?

I'll let you know how I go... oh yeah and they'll be getting a Merry Christmas and a PEACEFUL New Year card...

Sunny Sunday

Well it did come out for a spell this morning. So I tackled my washing - bedclothes etc etc and tidied up and got a flash of festive ness through my bones.. so the lights were put on and my few decorations came out... unfortunately my hectic week means that no cards have yet been purchased or written or sent - so apologies to those people down under - they may well get a card in January.. in the meantime here is a message live from my kitchen!!

So yes not had time to sit and blog properly for weeks - tonight I have put a few hurried piccies up and filled in some of last week's exploits - it was a good week! Next week is quieter so I may try and re-write the bits I feel unhappy with.

Finished 'State of the Union' by Douglas Kennedy last night on the tube back. I cried... what am I gonna do without Hannah and Dan now?!

And Louisa was voted off Strictly Come Dancing... boo. And Zara Phillips won 'Sports Personality of the Year'... what a strange world we are in...oh well at least this weekend there is no cricket woe to face and Spurs did win 5-1 so my dad and bro must be partially happy!?!

On a course tomorrow so best think about hitting the hay... ta ra for now and cheers everyone for making last week such fun and worthy of 4 consecutive late nights! Brilliant!

NUMAN!

Are Friends Electric? Or should I have gone to see Placebo instead this evening?! What would you have done?!

I haven't seen our Gary for at least 4 years - Shepherds Bush Empire - 6th April 2002 is my last known entry in any diary I have with me and before that Brixton Academy 20th October 2000. You were right Ziggy I was there!! And whilst searching I also discovered I have been to The Forum - 14th Jan 2000 with Lisa to see Gene.... so there we go!

Not the best photo - but proof if it were necessary that I was there!!!

Met my mate Ziggy at Kentish Town tube at 5pm for once the Northern Line was doing the biz!! Went for beers in a dimly lit north London pub called I believe the Oxford. A couple of hours later two other Numanoids jined us - Matt and Phil - who I know I haven't seen for yonks!! There was a phase back in 1994/5/6 when Gary Numan was a rather large slice of my life. I helped write a fanzine with Ziggy, Matt, Phil and Andy who seems to have dropped off the face of the planet - (there are several stories about Andy I could share but will save - especially the time he visited Leicester and thought I could turn him!). Heady days - including V96 at Chelmsford to the see the great man at a 'festival'. Ziggy and I went to see him at Nottingham Rock City and with my Germany winning sweepstake money we got a cab from Nottingham to Leicester. Other Numan trips included the disco's and staying at Matt's house and watching his interesting video's - well he was on Jim'll Fix It meeting the man! Such a young innocent boy made to sit in a go-kart and circle Gary while he sang Cars... Matt had very big feet then too. Heady days indeed. Fun days. After this particular disco evening we ended up on Clapham Common for a free gig and saw the Spice Girls... history can be so rich and varied! My article in the fanzine was a review of that self same gig. I guess this is a testimony to that evening, those great memories and the little man Gary Numan who drew all these threads together.

So The Forum - 8.30pm beer in hand we near the front on the left as Gary looked at us. The gig was to replay the album Telekon, which includes most of my favourite Gary tracks which he duly played! I was naive I have to confess to the huge 'T' that was on stage. Apparently it used during the original gig days of this album. So with T lit and the smoke rising bright lights and action...This Wreckage and a stroll down memory lane. We Are Glass, I Dream of Wires, Remember I was Vapour, Please Push No More (made more entertaining by Eddie Large's Billy Idol looking brother standing in front of us with his very tiny lady friend. It may have been love or he may have been hungry - who can say - but with the rings he was sporting I was saying nothing.) I die you die I enjoyed and the encore - my favourite song Down In the Park, and my old Karaoke favourite Are Friends Electric?!

As I have posted once already this week - chums - lives all move at such at a hefty pace we tend to neglect the good parts. It was great to see old chums and catch up. See how we are all aging gracefully! And Gary for his part seemed to enjoy the reunion of his fans - he smiling lots and exchanging comments with the audience... much the way he did when I saw him at Nottingham. So thanks Gary and thanks fellow Numanoids! Remind me to Smile - when I think of this evening - I feel it will happen without the reminder! Plus I have already seen Placebo this year! :-)

Yeovil 2 Gillingham 0

Clearly away from home we are less than great...roll on Bournemouth at home on Saturday!

Christmas Party

Unlike previous Christmas parties I have been too from work this was actually not held in a marquee! We were on the Silver Sturgeon at Tower Hill Pier. And very pleasant it was too - a few drinks helped get the sea legs in gear! Drinks and views. It was a pukka sit down 3 course meal - goats cheese tart to start, steak and veg followed by a choccie mousse. So much for my Weightwatchers this week huh! There was a moment tho when we thought all we were getting were bread rolls! They came round 4 times with fresh bread!!!!


My table of six - Swansea Jack, Andrew H, mother of Maya Manisha, Mikey Gee and Dan 'the Prof' Higgins. After coffee and mints the Silver S set sail along the Thames - and despite the chilly wind it was great to see the city I love from the river for a change. Somehow fitting bearing in mind I begun 2006 on the London Eye!

The trees on the South Bank.

The London Eye

Tower Bridge
The Eye and the Moon!
Wandered to the tube at 11.30 pm and had yet another annoying Northern Line ride home - hey ho!

Chums

Met Lisa at London Bridge for a drink and a much needed catch up.. time goes by so fast and people's lives alter at such rapid rates. It was good to see her and to share our news good, bad and indifferent. As I caught the tube home I felt for the first time like one of those players in a TV London based drama. I just had a real sense of my mortality and those around me.. so I fear I sent some emotional text messages when I got home cos its important to tell the people you care about how much they matter... my brother guessed I was a bit drunk but I'd have said what I said to all sober....

We did spend quite a bit of time being grumpy old women too... people have no manners, neighbours no consideration, commuters selfish etc etc etc.... its either our age or the city we live in!

Blackrock Masters

You cannot be serious!

Took my mum to the Royal Albert hall to see the tennis today - it's become something of a pre Christmas day out! We had a good afternoon people watching and enjoying the skill of the tennis pro's who are not 'young' enough to do the Grand Slams anymore.

Met Pops in the Porterhouse then took a turn around Covent Garden and ended up in Navajo Joes for tea - a bit loud but tops food and a good waitress meant we had an unexpected good evening. And the Hunter Valley Pinot Noir was divine!!!

A good day despite being alighted of 75 quid at the dentist for a tooth clean and a my second filling ever... it only took him 2 minutes and didn't hurt a bit - phew! Feels like my year is ending with some of the same notes that it started!

Port Vale 2 Gills 0

For travelling pikies we don't seem to enjoy it very much away from our caravan parks...

6 years

I have been in my job 6 years - the anniversary was yesterday - 4th December 2000 was when I joined a mere 27 years old and finally landed my first proper job in London. Gone were the paralegal days. Gone were the temping hours and lack of permanent desk.. here I was. And here I still am. Gosh how many faces and projects have I witnessed come and go? How many different buildings/desks have I sat at..

Is it time to move on I ask myself? How long is too long?

Astrobabble

Capricorn Today: You may be seeing the flaws in your life rather than the benefits. It may not be easy to open up to other people because you fear they may not be supportive, but try all the same. With Mercury now in the sign after your mid heaven you are very open to new ideas, especially ones likely to upset others. You have a slightly rebellious streak about you at the moment. You have the courage of your convictions and won't be swayed by criticism.

sadly I think this may be rather too close to the bone...

Aarrrghhhh

I endeavoured to get to work early so I could blog. I achieved that much wandering in at 8.30am to a blissful sunny sky and peaceful office. Its since taken me 45 mins to get my PC up and running and now I am in what can only be described as a bad mood. Thankfully no-one much around today so I can plod through my work. Mmm.

Bristol City 4 - Gillingham 3 (FAC2)

Well I sat and listened to it on the iNTERWEB. I had to listen to Radio Bristol's version as the Radio Kent link was playing the Sunday Slot - you know what Mariah Carey and plant talk is not what a girl needs when her team are fighting for a 3rd round FA Cup slot. I even paced the house in hat and shirt yelling when we scored. Come On! Get in! All in vain.

We fought back in the second half and until the final whistle went we were on course to draw... oh well. Better than a 4-0 loss and shows the lads have spirit - which is heartening. Who wants Coventry City at home anyway? Still a bit miffed as to the extent of Jack's injury. How can a goalie play on if he has had a really bad head injury? And with Swansea getting through my away day to the Liberty Stadium is once more scuppered. Unless I take a day off and go for the Tuesday pm re-arrangement, which it is bound to be. The joys of football. Oh well more iNTERWEB listening Tuesday night and Sat pm... til then Gills fan - keep the faith. Play offs here we come!

The Prestige

Went to the cinema this afternoon... and apart from the kids running amok around the cinema complex it was a pretty good film... well it had a rather dishy cast!!





Aaaahhhhhhhhh! Mmmmm!!!
The film wasn't as complex as some of the reviews had suggested... it was fairly obvious by the end what was what - but the chance to see Christain Bale, Hugh Jackman and Bowie were enough of a sway!! :-)

Frustration..

I am soo fed up that I haven't had the time to sit and blog - there's been so much happening, so many observations I have wanted to share. I love being busy at work but by the same token it means my brain is working over load and always thinking and composing.. I will endeavour to catch up over the weekend .. my first full weekend in London since later September... and in case I forget - Jaffa Cakes, Bush, rubbish, tubes, weather, Thai, and tings!!

Well done Collingwood by the way! Finally a glimmer of hope...!!

Until whenever - laters!

December

Delightful..

Wet

and grey. Washing, cleaning and sleeping. My Sunday.

You know I haven't had a whole weekend to myself yet since I returned from Australia. I must slow down - then again!!

As for the 1st Test - its ploy - I hope.

And now its Planet Earth. Night

Gillingham 1 - Rotherham 0

Good game, despite the beeb quoting it as 'scrappy'. Matty J and Twiglet flying. In the final minutes as the sky turned black and the clouds rolled in lightning was in the sky.

1 Nottm Forest 19 14 41
2 Scunthorpe19 15 35
3 Tranmere 19 10 34
4 Bristol City 19 7 33
5 Oldham 19 12 32
6 Swansea 19 6 31
7 Yeovil 19 5 31
8 Carlisle 19 3 30
9 Crewe 19 3 27
10 Gillingham 19 -3 27

But we are 10th and that feels rather good!

Paris

Paris for another project meeting and a serious lesson in how the Parisian's drink!

Core project Anchovy team - Dan 'the Prof' Higgins, moi, Tony V and Dan the Mad-den at The Beaver before hitting the cocktail bar off the Champs-Élysées... I think I have told most people about the interesting fish pie incident in first class on the way back on Eurostar... not one of my better free dinners!
The Eiffel Tower from my hotel window.. just to prove it rains and is miserable in this beautiful city too... see the lights sparkle though!

This Life...

I should be in bed by rights but another hectic day makes it hard to wind down! The Vinopolis do was very good - very tempting to stay til wee hours and sample more wine and food - however at 8pm bailed out and got packing! Learnt a lot from Oz trip - so my wheelie case is packed with all necessary items - suitable for work, after hours and a cocktail champers do! Sometimes it feels great to be here now... Won't be saying that when the alarm goes at 5.30am!!

Now I must avoid my usual trick of watching This Life til 1am!! I had forgotten how brilliant that was as a programme, the music, London, the profession etc, and I look back at my legal career and wonder... what if? Hey still close to the law but actually feel I am achieving more where I am - especially in the last 12 months... a partner tonight said I was wonderful! Smirk! With witnesses! So come on Anna, come on Miles - where are you now!! Can't wait for the ten year catch up!

Right defo off to bed now! Ta ra and bon soir!

The Ashes..

Not the Archers - the chickens have all come home to roost in that little storyline. The COWMAN!! Great lines on Sunday! Poor old David... He even said 'bloody' - controversial for such a prestigious programme!

But the purpose of the post - I won't be able to tune into the start of the Ashes tomorrow so here is my public show of good wishes to the England team. I will be listening to my DAB radio at odd hours of the day and wishing I was at various venues with the Barmy Army!! Come On England - lets show those Aussie what the Poms are really made of... I will shortly be following this up with my snaps of the G - MCG that is!! Although if the Aussies do badly a blubbing G may yet appear!

Good luck England - and make sure you stay away from that Aussie lager! Stick with the dark stuff - Toohey's Old, James Squires Amber Ale, Dogbolter, Carlton Black and Cascade Stout to name a few of my high recommended tipples!!! We bring Bat and Ball!!

1 year old!

Where's the cake Mazza!! :-0

Hair dye

Oh yes the one weekend I DO dye my hair and NO-ONE comments. Typical!!

The eve of assume nothing's birthday

Well its a been a year! Well it will be tomorrow but I can't see me getting anywhere near this tomorrow! So Happy Birthday to my Blog!!

Today has been spent manically beavering away over work items, stored procedures, methods & classes and aspx.cs pages... that's Project Management. Honest! After an early-ish start (not helped by tube network being totally up the spout) I managed to produce my PLAN!!! Leaving office at 7.30pm. Effort in equals, well, we'll see! The pressure of a deadline helps, half the office being on manoeuvres also helped! Peace and quiet!! It reminded me of my youth and doing my homework. Music and method. Yes I am off to the Paris office Wednesday morning for 3 days. Looking forward to it - but just want everything sorted before I go. Got a work event at Vinopolis tomorrow pm and then Thursday pm the Anchovy project is being celebrated - would feel a fraud if my end of the bargain was half cocked.

Spent the weekend here and in Kent - a flying visit home. Seconded the official wedding photos - there are some really good ones in the set! Aah happy days - all seems so long ago.

So what have I learnt over the last year? Like so many aspects of my character, that I have acquired, the blog started prompted by somebody I fancied. He and I were short lived. We are still in touch but I suspect it has no mileage - I haven't seen him in over a year despite the fact he is now in London. Shame really. Meow!! :-) I have a tattoo which was partly cos of someone I fancied and those amongst you who know my past may say my long hair was heavily influenced by a love interest. Hee hee! The rest unfortunately is fairly and squarely me! Cynical. Downbeat. Bubbly. Slightly mad. Slightly sad. Overly emotional and totally misunderstood. Still determined mind you and loving my current climbs. Just loving being me at the moment. Rollercoaster. It's a new ride every day.

Whilst looking for some ear phones in my cupboard in my old bedroom I stumbled across my journals - wow! I shuddered when I read some of the tings I wrote about. All the crushes I had - usually on people I had not even spoken too. Oh I wonder if the poor sods realised! The letters, printed emails and things I wrote - not much seems to have changed and yet everything has changed! Were have those people gone? Suzanne S, Jenny S, Rob Jones, Andy, Jo F, Nicola S, Gillian, Gill, Sarah Thomas, Bina Bagga, Sonia W, Sam Pick, Kevin Mansell, Dave 'lead bollocks' Ferra, Pete, Hitain, Darren G, Chrissy D, David L, Adam E?? All names from the past. Wonder who they are now? And the recurring names! Baggy, Ziggy, Dr Marc, Konrad, Sean and Lisa. Friends for life despite the ups and downs! AND of course all the new names harvested over the last (almost) 6 years here in London in this job, Swansea Jack, Maccer 40p, Camilla, Vaughany, Simon Morley, Lord RDM, Mikey Gee, John Dicko, Furry, etc etc. So I have learnt that life is always a tapestry - a never ending weave of threads. The circular nature of certain relationships - they ebb and flow but I am truly content - fit to bursting in fact - with the knowledge that for every dark time there has been a lighter time!

So thank you readers - thanks for the contributions all of you who do - always a pleasure! Thanks everyone for the memories, learning curves, love, angst, influences and laughter!

And now for a footie score I think!!! Saturday's result - Bristol City 3 - Gillingham 0 - does not bode well for cup game. Question is should I go?!

Right I need SLEEP!!!!
SO Assume Nothing!
Question and attempt everything - you never know where it may take you.... :-)

CHEERS!

Alive!

Long time no posting. Been very busy, socially and work wise... today is a rare non football day and i have spent the morning cleaning and trying locate source of rather strange smell... after sorting all washing up and sink issues the smell remained. Removal of fridge and freezer gave me a clearer indication. Mice. So not only do I have to battle with moths I am now fighting against mice. Joy.

Anyway hair been re-dyed so now it looks blonder than ever! ha ha.

Had a good week all in all. Folks back in UK in one piece and Stu shared his Pearl Jam concert with me - ace!

At least the sun is out today... anyway gotta dash! Laters!

Me at...

various places around Melbourne....

Outside the Melbourne Exhibition Centre - October 6th

St Kilda Pier - October 17th

Williamstown - October 18th

Melbourne's Bridge of Sounds - October 19th

The Melbourne Cricket Club - October 19th

Been updating Unbelievable! too if you want to catch some more pictures!

FAC 2

We have been drawn away at Bristol City.

I think my moans of 'Nooo!' were heard all the way down the street. Can't quite the memories of last time we (I) went there out of my head!

Full draw

Farsley Celtic/Milton Keynes Dons v Blackpool
Cheltenham/Scunthorpe v Wrexham
Brighton v Stafford/Maidenhead
Bristol City v Gillingham
Shrewsbury/Hereford v Port Vale
Macclesfield/Walsall v Rochdale/Hartlepool
Stockport v Wycombe
Weymouth/Bury v Chester
Barnet v Northampton/Grimsby
Tranmere v Peterborough
King's Lynn v Oldham
Darlington v Swansea
Salisbury City v Nottingham Forest
Torquay v Leyton Orient
Bristol Rovers v Bournemouth
Bradford v Havant & W/Millwall
Swindon v Morecambe
Mansfield v Doncaster
Chelmsford/Aldershot v Basingstoke Town
Rushden & Diamonds v Tamworth
Ties to be played on the weekend of 2 December

Gillingham 4 - Bromley 1 (FAC 1)

We won. But the score flatters to deceive us. We were fairly poor first half. No passing - all in the air and lacking control. Good to get the win but as soon as we meet a decent team we will be undone. I strongly hope we can start to raise out overall play - proper ball to feet and considered first touches. We then stand a chance.

Draw is tomorrow ... can't wait!!

15,000th Episode

What a damp SQUIB!!!!
Ruth bottled it. Like a firework left in the rain she lit the fuse - drove to Oxford and once there decided not to explode... oh well the Devonian goblin will take this badly and probably let slip to David... so the story will smoulder on for a wee bit longer...all in all a huge build up for a slightly disappointing finale. Top be expected bearin gin mind the characters and how of character they have been for the last three weeks... watch this space for more gossip!

League Cup

Without wishing to ruin my team's chances on Saturday with bad karma I feel I must congratulate Southend for their magnificent win last night over Man U. Well done lads. The less than half a million pound side beat the big side with their 7 internationals. Which proves that the romance of the game does exist... in small grounds with atmosphere and heart. Nice one!

Someone..

just asked what the colour of my hair is at the moment... as if I had changed it over night?!?!? Is it looking THAT blonde?!

Exclusive!!

Me - in a dress!!!

Tonight

is the 15,000th episode of The Archers... the plot has been thickening up rather spew provokingly. So the big question is - will Ruth and Sam do the biz at 7pm this evening?! And can the listening public bear to listen to the noises if they do?!?!

Happy 'here in my car' Birthday

Mr Ziggy!

Gillingham 2 - Chesterfield 1

Amazing!
Unexpected!
Unforeseen!
Impossible?!

Nah - just another reminder why I love the game.

We were 1 nil down for 89 minutes!

WE SNATCHED VICTORY FROM THE JAWS OF DEFEAT!!!!! A first! Twiglet and MacDonald. Joy joy joy!

Lots of other weird things happened today too. People talking to me, solely because I was wearing a Gills shirt. All rather strange - I obviously had the 'its safe to talk to her' face on today - not that I was aware of any difference. Odd. Odd.

Who cares - 3 points and untold joy on a chilly afternoon. Plus the sunset over the Brian Moore Stand was totally awesome.

Welcome to November!

Nice

The Archers..

....Please post comments - observations here....!

thank you!

Starter for ten... it's a simple tale of everyday country folk.. (who at the moment seem preoccupied with having affairs with other people. That's the onset of winter for you and of course the threat of lessening EU subsidy)

For those of you not in the know check it out here!

Tube journeys

this morning was not a good one.

Our train became defective - dodgy doors. Not shutting so all off at Clapham North and wait for the next train. Miraculously it was not full so we all piled on. But as we trailed towards Bank it got busier. At Bank I lost my cool. WHY WHY OH WHY can't people step off the train to let those of us who want to get out, get out? Oh no - instead two rather large people stayed standing in the doorway. As my scarf got caught in someone's bag and still no-one was moving I seethed outloud - 'It may help if you actually let us off the train'. I nearly swore,. But didn't. But really - I have lived in this city long enough to know - let people off the tube and then we all stand a chance of getting where we want to go....

Anyway today started angrily and seemed to bottom out to be ok. My cold is still getting me down. My brother texted to say he had got back from Sabah in one piece. Ma and Pa are at Fraser Island (minding the dingo's I hope) and I seem to be excelling in corporate eyes...

I have a few other things on my mind at the moment. But they are best kept under wraps for the time being. I also have not had the drive or time to sort out my 'Unbelievable!' blog... but I promise I will! (I lied - I have now made a start! - first up Bucks do!)

It dawned on me this evening as I crossed Blackfriars Bridge that the wheel of time has almost turned full circle again. The darkness so early in the afternoon. Seeing the Wheel all lit reminding me of Gill's hen night. I had forgotten over the summer how I coped with walks and gettinghome in the dark winter months. So far I am walking to Waterloo but not getting the train, but the tube. This is my sticking point. I should just carry on with my stomp regardless of the weather or the light. But it doesn't feel so uplifting. Must try harder perhaps?

FA Cup Round One

Gills will face Bromley. Nothing like a local derby to get the comp off with a swing!!

Means I can wear my Gills shirt, scarf and hat on the tube n train again and get stared at by blokes who can't get their heads round the fact its a bird on her own with an interest in football... grr. Get out more lads.... and don't stare - if you have a question just ASK!!! We won!! :-)

BST

is nearing an end. Which means an extrahour in bed tomorrow - which means having to wait another hour before the Archers. It also means that the time difference between me and the rest of my family will be 11 hours. Ouch! It also means that for the next 4 months it will feel like being a mole- dark in the mornings and dark in the evenings. Any daylight will be seen from the 'haven' of my desk at work. What a joyful prospect.

Gillingham 2 - Carlisle United 0

Normal service resumed! a) me posting about my TEAM and b) a WIN!!!

Mark Bentley and Gary Mulligan scored at either end of the game to settle what in truth was a pretty mediocre display of football. I couldn't get excited about the score line until we were 2 up with 3 minutes to go! Too many last minute opposition wins! The crowd didn't quite reach the 6,000 total. Hey. We'll take the 3 points. The pie family werein as were the twins and I had the dubious pleasure of a manic bouncing bean sat in the seat next to my Dad's empty one (I did have 2 offers for his ticket but sadly he kept his Season Ticket safely locked up at home so I was unable to charge full whack for his pew!), some bloke, who when the first goal went in, jumped up and down like an extra auditioning for the part of Zebedee in the Magic Roundabout. I wondered at his verve. Had he not seen us be 3 up and still lose games?! His glee seemed far too premature for me. But then I am a pessimist!

Oh well. As the afternoon drew to a close the skies got greyer and the weather took a turn for the cool. Not quite the 34 degree heat I was used to down under. Good to see Jarvis back and fit - even if it did look as though he was wearing a clip in his hair! Good to see Twiglet on the score sheet and with Jack in goal we looked fairly solid. Crikey!

My other observation - we are no longer Gillingham ootball Club. At no extra expense in stead of buying a replacement F - one has been painted on the Gordon Road Stand. Triffic...

Port Phillip Bay

The view of Port Phillip Bay (the expanse of water directly near the CBD of Melbourne.

From St Kilda...

From Williamstown Beaches.

Amazing

I have sorted my PC out and back online.. firewall settings and a processor that is running like a fat dog at the mo... hey ho. At least now I can spend the weekend productively and sort out my piccies and share some sunshine with you all!!

That's if I can shake off this sore throat... Grr.... !!!

Gloom...

Gloomy out the window.
Gloomy at 6.30am
Gloomy at 6.30pm
Gloomy in my brain.

The post holiday blues has hit. Or maybe its S.A.D. Dived right into that one I fear.

Gloomy @ home cos Internet access temporarily suspended while I get a new modem... very unhappy about this.

Oh and I was advised today that it takes a day to recover for each hour you were out of your time zone... so that's about 13+7hours = 20 days then!! Joy! See you properly in November!!

Home

On time. To cool weather and rain. Even my cab was waiting at Heathrow. My luggage took an age to come through but I was out of terminal 4 by 6.30am and home by 7.15am. Flat in one piece - damp and cold. So whacked the heating on. Now fully settled back in!

The first part of the flight was ok - 3 seats to myself and the upgraded plane so it was videos on demand! So I watched The Castle, Muriels Wedding, My Family and Rabbit Proof Fence, Chinatown and The Birds. The system ceased to work at one point - well an opportune moment really - we were over the interior of Australia and being on the right side of the plane when the pilot tipped us slightly we got a perfect aerial view of Uluru - so I have seen it now - it looked amazing from above - the colour and size of the rock, there in the middle of the desert.

Singapore was its usual sticky humid self especially in the cactus garden where the smokers are free to roam. I did not enjoy the 12 hour flight back to London - far too long and the plane was packed.

Oh well back in one piece and already it feels as if my holiday was all a dream. Feels odd getting back and there's no-one here to greet me. Ma and Pa are in Cairns and Stu and Emma in Sabah. Oh yes and I think because I was waiting at the Melbourne Airport from 8am until my 12.30 check in (long story!) they decided to randomly pick me out after immigration for an explosives check. A bit nerve wracking and all in all slightly perturning. Needless to say I passed. Plenty of duty free and then plenty more loo stops pre boarding. Various signs as I waited - a prog about Orangutans, mum texting me so by the time we took off I was quite emotional. Leaving behind my family, once again on my own.

Never mind work tomorrow and no doubt more ups and downs. Can't say I am overly looking forward to it.

Did get to hear The Archers this morning. Oooh dearie me.

Pre post holiday blues?!

Not sure why but part of me wishes I was coming home sooner - you know, I have had a great time with my brother, enjoyed his wedding and now with a couple of days to kick about Melbourne I think maybe It would have been better to head back to the UK sooner - less time to think about it whilst on the soil of the Aussies. We said our goodbyes Monday am on Hobart's Elizabeth street. He and Emma walking off hand in hand to their future. Me? Left to find things to do until Fri pm!

So I will endeavour to get to Williamstown, have proper time in St Kilda and do an MCG tour... !! Yes cursing of the turf to take place so that the Poms do the biz over Xmas!!

Until then chaps/chappesses I am missing people, London and my radio!! ;-) Take care and catch ya all in few days... x

Honeymoons

As I sit here back in my chosen Melbourne Internet cafe for my trip doon under I understand that the honeymoon period is over for Steve Mclaren. Meanwhile my brother and his missus are living it up in Dover, Tasmania before jetting off to Saba in Indonesia to see the Orangutans. I am trying to sort out the next 3 days so I see a bit more of Melbourne and get sorted ready for flight back Saturday pm.

But I am guessing you are all dying to know how the wedding went!?! Well I think as a family we cracked it - our dresses were repeatedly commented on for being stunning and my Mum did look a million dollars. We had gone for a professional make up job that morning - it took a wee while but was defo worth it. Dad had his DJ on and stormed the floor with his speech. I did my reading without a faulter and all in all we held our heads high and smiled broadly as Stuart and Emma made their love official.

The rehearsal on the Friday was perhaps more emotional than the actual day.

The wording, music everything had been written and agreed by Stu and Em - so the vows were non-traditional but summed their relationship up perfectly. The venue meant the back drop was beautiful - sun over the vine yard and lakes. The guests were all well behaved. And the bride and groom looked a picture! I nearly cried when Stu mentioned me specifically in his speech - but I fought back hard and kept vaguely composed. I'll stick up some photos when I get home so you can see fully how well my brother scrubs up and how gorgeous his wife to be looked.

On the whole the time spent in Hobart veered from relaxing and fun to uptight and stressy. When Martin and I got off the plane at Hobart it was 32 degrees and the wind had a life of its own - it was strong! There were also bush fires raging across the ranges in the vicinity of the vineyard were the wedding was to be held and the highways were being shut at intervals because it was so dangerous. The wind and the heat did not paint a great picture. Thursday pm started at Customs House with Carlton Black on tap then the group of us all met up for dinner - I had steak.

Friday we pottered - and helped with moving of luggage and general nerve calming of my brother. The afternoon was the rehearsal and wine tasting at Meadowbank. I took a liking to the Cabernet, very very tasty. At 4pm we were ushered outside for the rehearsal. Various people doing readings - well in turned out just 2 of us! My poem, Love's Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelley was to appear directly after they were married and had been able to kiss! During rehearsal with the sun and the view and all these key people as I read the words I got quite a lump in my throat. I think there were several others who felt the same way. The pause and aahs before the applause.

We continued drinking there and then tottered back into town - watching the smoke rising! Dinner was to be at 42degrees, a nice joint on the front in Hobart centre. We were all struggling by t8pm though - it had been a long day and the Saturday was going to be even longer... we struggled through! More beers! And on the way back the groom's party such as it was - me, Ma and Pa, Stu n Martin n Steve - piled into The Little Sydney Hotel opposite our hotel for a last beer... Moo Brew dark! And there was a live band playing good stuff - covers of Duran Duran numbers and it was just great to be altogehter and spending Stu's last single hours with smiles on our faces!!

Saturday morning - get up wash and sort hair so that by 5pm it would be settled and shiny! Big breakfast in a place called Dukkah's - it was very very lovely! Then at midday a make over and the count down... strange how these important days always go so fast. No sonner had we had our make up done we were dressed, putting button holes onto groom and grooms men and gettign a cab down to the pier to pick up the double decker bus that would seem to take forever to get us tot he venue...!! Some hours later we were all on the bus back to Hobart - singing and smiling. Stuart and Emma now Mr and Mrs... F!

Congratulations to them both!

The Archers

Thank you Known Admirer for the updates... hoping that I can listen to the last omnibus edition online Sunday am before the 10am one!! Well I land at 5.30am so in theory I should be home in time to do so!!

Gills 0 - Forest 1

Aaargh....

Viva la Tas

Chaps/Chappesses - its Wednesday evening here - or at least I think it is! It's been 31 degrees today and totally lovely. Stu's bruises have faded and I think they can now wash the glue out of his head. Mum and Dad flew to Hobart this morning and reckon the lady in the suit shop predicted snow for Hobart on Saturday - oh joy!! Mum's bruises are now coming through and Dad looks like he has been in a fight - so a real pikey feel to the wedding photos I fear!

Best man turned up in one piece and we have dragged him across many miles of the city - St Kilda for cakes on Akland St, Carlton to view the Uni village - and various foodie joints. You will never starve in Melbourne. Just left Stu's house and bride and groom seem fairly relaxed - all just praying for good weather and their guests to pick up the bus at 3.45pm!! We'll be there. In our all weather dresses!!

Spent the rest of Sunday walking the Yarra passed the Olympic Park and Collingwood's home ground. Monday picked up best man aftera long walk round the circle of the city taking in Flagstaff Gardens, Carlton Gardens and the Fitzroy. Looking forward to sharing the photos with you all. Days are all merging into one at the moment. I guess the true reality will hit when we are all gathered in Hobart and fretting about weather/tights/spandex pants etc etc. Oh yeah and reading outloud to the masses! oops!

Not really much to say except my sunburn has merged into a nice tone and all spots have disappeared! ha ha! Just a word of caution - scented loo paper is the pits! As is Aussie night time TV. My saving grace Sport 927 on the radio not quite Five Live but moderately ok! This evening Martin and I are going for food and a beer - then tomorrow the Sky bus picks us up at 9.25am for the airport. So I when I next write my brother will be a husband and I will officially have a sister-in-law! Oh and hopefully GFC will have beaten Forest 3-0! Take care all x

G'day

Well its Sunday afternoon - 2.30pm Melbourne time. Of my family I am the only on still standing following my brother's buck's party... Good day - but as ever the quantity of beer and wine consumed proved too much in the long run. Well we did start at 9.15am while on the mini bus to the Yarra Valley wineries. I have to say the weather so far has been beautiful - I have yes got a sun burnt nose... oops! Will no doubt make wedding pictures more interesting!

Hotel really nice - the actual view from my 6th floor window affords me tops views of the Yarra River and the Southbank. Today the breeze is slightly chilled but in the sun and out of the wind it is very nice - have been scoffing food n cakes before settling here for some blog time...!

Just checked the footie scores - so much for the England rebirth huh! Did manage to see some of the Aus v Paraguay game whilst in The Royal in Footscray - by which time I think my bro had had enough but the night was young!?

I rather regretted checking my texts this morning - to find the Gills were 3-1 up away at Crewe only to lose it 4-3. TYPICAL! There is no escape chaps - the game is still in my bones!

So what can I say so far - well this is my first dry day (so far at least!) - but I suspect that as my family are confined to their beds I may try and hook up with a tour guide I met when I came out first time and that will no doubt mean yet more beer consumption.

My journey seemed to start well - the cab turned up ahead of time but we had got no more than 5 mins down the road and he had a shunt with another car. A very angry and pregnant lady heaved out and hurled abuse. Somehow through the crawling stop-start of Tuesday am traffic I got to Terminal 4 - only took 2 hours. ARGH! The check in was fine and several ciggies and a pint of Guinness later I was boarding. Seated and ready to go. Which is where we sat for an hour and a half, while various problems delayed our take off. Somehow we made up time but the Heathrow experience was poor in comparison with the quick turn around at HK. And even the quick through put at Melbourne. The Skybus shuttle got me into Spencer Street in time to see my family wandering towards me!

Checked into hotel, changed and went for a Dogbolter at the Young & Jacksons. Thursday I slept in - til 10am. Sleeping on planes is impossible! And our plane hadn't yet been fully upgraded so it was the same choice of films and entertainment for the entire trip! There is only so much I can take! I ended up watching Poseidon - well when on a plane watch a disaster movie (it was pants btw) then The LAke House (pure cheese) and on the 2nd leg Wah-Wah which was by far the best film. The rest of the flight I interspersed with the quite good comedy channel and some classic music. But flights are more than films - they are weird menu options and the extremes of too friendly passengers or totally rude ones. I had an ok mix. Though my shoe removal may not have helped enhance certain relations!

So I return to Thursday morning. I laid in nicely, had a morning shower and got the train out to my bro's place - he was going to do a BBQ for us all. Except being a Pom the weather prevented him! Too windy - kept blowing out the flame - so it was left to Em and Mum to 'improvise' using the oven. Stu and I drank and chatted. We sat down for 'lunch' at 3.30pm and there we stayed til left at 10pm - a hugely entertaining afternoon and more relaxed than ever before. Got the bus back to town and slept like a log after 2 episodes of Sex in the City. Friday - I woke up at 6am and decided to seize the day - so had an early breakfast in the hotel, wash and scrub and a good early morning stomp to the Yarra Edge Marina - it was lovely - peaceful, sunny, warm and total contrast to the city centre. I sat and wrote my memoirs! At 11.15 I met the family and we had several missions to accomplish - cuff links and hand bags! A spot of lunch - 3 massive sushi rolls for $5! And then I met up with Emma for our afternoon of chat and beer - it seemed to have the desired effect. We had a mini pub crawl and got more relaxed and able to chat about all sorts of things. The beer mixing didn't seem to matter - though I felt a bit merry and also emotional by the time I put her on a bus and made my way back to bed!

The place (Melbourne) hasn't changed that much since I was last here. The streets are all linear and you walk in blocks. Crossing roads is a pain - and people here have less idea about pavement etiquette than they do in London. It is also spring here - so if sit in the parks/green spots you will no doubt be made to suffer pigeon sex. Great! It's just a laid back kinda of place - no stress or hassles. Just people wandering around in their own upside down world!

Not sure of plans for rest of week until at least Thursday morning when I fly out to Hobart. Sure there should be something I must do - but to be honest I am enjoying the convenience of the hotel room, the sun shine and the fact I can explore at my own pace and my own interests. So nothing planned - I need to to head east along the Yarra out towards the MCG, having already done the West option. And of course Stu's best man turns up tomorrow!

Anyway - gonna shoot now - got some other web sites to check and I guess some calls to make! Check my bruised and bashed brother is ok (yes he did end up in hospital last night - BUT he is ok - just a bump to the head and no doubt a very very dented pride) and generally keep my laid back Sunday chilled!

Up the Gills!

GONE FISHING...!!

or should it be weeding?!?!

If you want to leave any messages or pass on important news you think I should know about please do comment - I'll be checking in when I can, to do my version of Neighbours for a few weeks!

UP THE GILLS!!!

12 hours..

and counting. Then I will be in the departure lounge and everything will be in the hands of fate. Except my cigarettes no doubt!

Nearly packed - just odds and bobs now like toothbrush and bl00dy chargers! Got dress, shoes and tights and spandex pants all in there. Trainers and trackie so I can use the facilities in my hotel - yeah right!!! Well according to that its nearly 8am in Melbourne - which would explain the texts from my mum and my bro - think they are checking I am still coming. Seems odd them saying seeing ya tomorrow - which it isn't for me - cos tomorrow is the day I board the plane - but see they have already started their Tuesday... all very confusing!!

Left work at 6pm - no surprises there, then! I suppose I have been quite overwhelmed since I got home with the good wishes I got - colleagues coming over and actually sitting down for a couple of minutes to wish me a great time - it felt as if I was leaving for good!? Anyway - cheers all - thank you for your kind words and if I failed to do a piece of work - well you can hang me for it when I get back!!

As for my other chums - cheers Lisa for your VM, and to my other chums for various MSN/texts and emails and phonecall messages. Sure the wedding will be fine and the flight ok once I am on it!! :-)
Baggy - sorry I have failed to email you as promised - hope your mum comes good - be thinking of you. Take care of yourself. To anyone else I have failed to say cheerio too - sorry dudes - time seemed to slip by me rather rapidly than I anticipated - methinks too many footie excursions are too blame - oh well, you know me!

So thoughts for the day - well we seemed to have 4 seasons in one day today - very Melbourne. The heavens opened and washed away the last traces of summer. The wind has started to get a small nip. I walked across Blackfriars Bridge... the sun was going down - all golden orange and reflecting brightly off the Thames. The sky clearing with some dramatic dark clouds framing the sun. The scene I shall return too. Aah, my city, my home. Autumn draws in here - down under spring is just getting going. So cobbers my Tooheys Old and Cascade brews are beckoning. My expectant brother is waiting and I am going to wish him well on this his biggest step since leaving the UK. Its going to be very emotional, cos I miss him lots but I know he is happy - so we can all drink, dance and be merry!

Take care everyone... x

Harpy Burfday

40p man! Sorry your team lost yesterday..!!

It did..

dry, my washing that is. All ironed and airing as we speak! Lovely!

By the way this time 5 years ago I was on the Great Ocean Road! Watched the Grand Final in a pub and saw Paramatta lose... ah the things you remember! Bottoms up!

Gillingham 2 - Cheltenham 1

Crikey only knows how we managed that.

The hero of the month Jarvis scored yet another accomplished goal. But he has scant support up front and cannot be expected to do it all himself. And so when Cheltenham equalised I was convinced it had come off one of our men (not Jarvis I hasten to add!) - the Beeb is saying it was a straight forward Chelts goal - but I'm not so sure. With 2 minutes added time at the end of the half we pulled off a Leyton Orient moment and scored to go in 2 - 1 up at h-t.

Super Matty Jarvis cf Gillsconnect

Half time - people watching. Why is it that most over weight people eat crisps? Or pies? Or chips? Or hot dogs? Well they were doing that while I sucked on my WW cereal bar. Half time scores read out. Nowt too amazing. Ooh Liverpool losing 2-0.

The interval entertainment over (under '4's' penalty but not quite shoot out) the team re-emerged.

I was dreading the second half, could we hold on to it? Could we manage in any shape or form to score another? Would we crumble? Was it raining in London? Was my washing dry? Had I remembered to lock the back door? Had I forgotten to purchase anything this morning? How heavy is 20kg in terms of clothes? Shoes? Essentials? Ooh the goal at the other end was getting peppered. We were going to gift them a goal. I'd seen us at Oldham and sat through the indignation of being 3-0 up on Tuesday night. This sudden fear snapped me from my day dreams. The clouds over the Brian Moore Stand were drifting and the sun getting lower. And the opposition was getting far too much of the ball and too many corner kicks...

3 minutes added time.

Everyone around me was screaming for the ref to blow. We gave away another corner. The keeper Calamity Flinders was earning his match fee. The ref was toying with us. I suspected he might. If we were going to have a victory we'd have to prove it. Somehow we survived.

Now my Dad wasn't at the game - he is safely ensconced in Footscray, Melbourne - but if he had been, we would have looked at each other and said - 'Crikey only knows how we managed that'. Grateful for the 3 points but only too acutely aware we are not looking any stronger.

As for Bas Savage our 'new' signing - erm he couldn't get hold of the ball during his half time subs warm up and by all accounts on the MB every other club in the league and the ones below have rejected him. He for the half he was played - all arms and legs and not a stunning smell of talent. Hurry up and get back on the pitch Twiglet!! And why oh why does Ronnie keep taking Easton off?!?!