Life's little wonders

Cue Rocky Theme Tune

2011-07-13T05:37:00.000-07:00

On an "out there" whim I have decided to dedicate the next few weeks into training for the Nike Run To The Beat half marathon with my good pal Susie, or Boozy Soozy as we like to jeer on a good ol fashioned knees up. We have named ourselves Runny Bums (yummy!) and will be dressing up in some kind of ridiculous attire to get people to support us while we sweat it out in Greenwich on the 25th September.

Tonight marks my second significant run and there is only 74 days to go! Will I die, will I succeed? Time willith tell!

If you fancy giving us a quid or two please do through the below link...

SUPPORTUS!!

Alternatively if you fancy coming to a fun pub quiz to help raise money for our worthy charity we will be holding one next Sunday afternoon at 2pm. Venue tbc.

Thank you so much :)

Peace and Running x

Gurls night out

2011-03-18T03:00:00.001-07:00

I'm back!

My creative flare has returned and I'm ready and rearing to blog, boast, booze, blah and blend in with the blogging bonanza crowd (there's a crowd, swear it).

So it's Friday, got that Friday feelin (cue me on a rollercoaster eating a crunchie) I have had 2 cups of tea, a buttered bun and answered approximately 6 emails. Successful? Oh, I think so.

Tonight the Southbank will be graced with 5 girls from a little town called Woking drinking cocktails and talking over each other. I can't wait.

Mmmm wings.

2010-06-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

Day one of freebie June and I have managed to bag myself a free meal at the one, the only... (drum roll pleashe)... peri-peri land - Nandos! Ole!

After being voted 'Best big company to work for' in the Sunday Times list, Nando’s have been spreading their goodwill all over the country with talks on how to be better than the rest and giving out goodie bags with their infamous extra hot sauce and tickets to taste their full platters. I’m taking full advantage! Stay tuned for reviews of the chicken feast...

Sorry.

2010-05-18T08:48:00.000-07:00

Life, work and spending has got in the way with my attempt at doing something free in London every week.

I know, I know... excuses, excuses. But I thought best be honest with you rather than bask in a big fat lie.

So! Moving forward, June is the month. Plus June is so much sunnier! June is full of so much PROMISE! June is... yeah you get the point.

Anyway, cross my heart June will be FREE, feel free to 'poke' me on Facebook if not. Ouch.

Over the next few weeks I'll also be announcing winners for MyVoucherCodes Facebook competitions. I've gotta be honest with you, they started off pretty damn awful, BUT with the bosses permission as the weeks go by they will get bigger and better. Feel free enter these weekly competitions and check out my presenting skills here...

ME & MVC

12 hours to go

2010-04-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

Boy o boy has this been a lonnng month. I think I can speak for a lot of us when I say, bring on PAY DAY!! In just 12 hours time bank accounts all over the country will click back into credit and be active again - hooray!

Needless to say we have had some very interesting meals this week. Being broke certaintly brings out the creative flare. Mini chedders and sausages anyone?

On top of the poorness we've also had to put up with Election madness (fyi we do NOT enjoy being buzzed 'can we rely on your vote' through the intercom) - proactive yes. Annoying and make us want to vote less- hell yes.

Speaking of which am I too late to vote? I don't even know! Gah!

Meaning

2010-04-27T02:51:00.000-07:00

Last night I watched Julie & Julia. Meryl Streep - what a woman. No wonder she has won a gazillion Oscars. It has given me more of an incentive to write a blog with 'eaning' on the end of it rather than just 'me'. Hence forth 5 days til the 'something free to do in London every week' commences, I best get researchin'!

Anyway, it's sunny and I'm inside at work collection bigger, better discounts for Great Britain. Who says the corporate world can't give back?

This is like charity right??

Blah.

2010-04-06T08:52:00.001-07:00

It's Tuesday after Easter Bank holiday. I've been up to my ears in emails and essential bargains.

Seriously Poundland is THE most frightening place on earth. You enter and you literally cannot leave. There's this weird one way system that once you get in it is impossible to back track. Forget it if you want to go browse in the all purpose cleaning section - you've had your chance.

After all the isles of practical stuff you are then thrown into this orgy of confectionary and stuff that does not make sense and oh - dear, whoopsie daisy you are now stuck in an 8 people deep queue.

What happens then? You feel strangely drawn to it all. Bovril milkshakes, lace upon lace of sugar, flat packed army gear for babies, toblerone's in all SORTS of sizes! Gone are the days when you could only purchase these nutty treats at the airport. Poundland is the place! It's like Alice in Wonderland for the Swiss chocolate lover.

Anyway, I managed to get out alive with £7 worth of goods - two big bags full of rubbish that will hopefully help our flat smell better and make my stomach a wee bit rounder. Mmmmm.

Free.

2010-03-19T02:43:00.000-07:00

I've decided as of May 1st every week I will do something fun for free in London. So stay tuned for a more informative, meaningful and hopefully helpful blog! I'll try to post where I'm going a day in advance so if any of you would like to join and review please do!

Hope y'all have a great weekend.

Women who use their buggies like trolleys

2010-03-17T04:32:00.000-07:00

Something rather disturbing has come to my attention over the last few months and I feel it is my duty to highlight this in the hope that a handful or hopefully more will take heed and stop doing this ridiculous and dangerous thing. Women who use their buggies like shopping trolleys.

Now working in East Croydon you see a number of women and young ladies for that matter, pushing around prams. Nothing out of the ordinary.

They stand at a road ready to cross with their baby in front, they do the usual, NORMAL thing of looking left to right to see if traffic may be coming and they begin to cross. But hark! Rather than looking again to the left or perhaps using an actual CROSSING with a green & red man they begin to push their babies out into the treacherous tar to see a car coming, wiggling their BABY back and forth like getting in and out of a boiling hot bath. TESTING the road with their BABY!!!!!!!

This makes me physically SICK! What would motivate you to do such a thing? Convenience? Safety for yourself? Someone, please explain...

Groupola!

2010-03-15T03:48:00.001-07:00

Check out the new site we've been working on at My Voucher Codes...

GROUPOLA!!

Every day a new & exciting deal in your city! Food, dance classes, cooking lessons, wine tasting, adventure days always 50 - 90% off! Yipppeeee!

Banks scare me

2010-03-10T06:31:00.001-08:00

Ever since being a debt ridden student, banks and bankers have frightened me.

I mean, what are they really doing behind that glass? Surely they can't be trusted. Know what else is blocked behind glass? Criminals and scary animals. That's right.

Having said that, my brother is a banker - but he's at the calibre of post glass so we'll let him off.

But seriously now every time I get to that 'cashier number 3 please' post I begin to sweat. What if all of my money has dissapeared? Not only will I look like a damn fool I'll be broke and unable to carry out every day tasks! Even if I have checked my balance the previous day or even that very day I will still doubt the funds are there.

The worst part? The waiting and the expressionless cashier.

Click, clickity click - they tap away on their keyboard of doom. No expression.

'And how much would you like to withdraw today Ma'am?' (Yes we're in the 50s and still no expression).

'Erm... ah... ALL OF IT!!! QUICKKKK!!! Ahem, I mean... £50 please'

Click, click, clickity click click CLICK CLICK (each click gets louder as the sound of my thumping heartbeat deepens)

Sure enough all is well and I get my cash - panic out, relief in. Time to find my pinsentry internet banking thingamajiggy and just stick to online banking.

Items you can't live without

2010-03-05T08:53:00.000-08:00

Our fire alarm went off at work the other day. I'll be honest with you it was a welcome break from the computer screen.

It also seemed to be a perfect opportunity for people to show off. One guy, who I will name 'Slick Rick' decided it was his time to shine. He grabbed the keys to his lamborghini which was parked in the lower unit (probably with a chinchina cover over it) and raced it all 0.4 minutes to the carpark where we were congregating. He skidmarked his way sideways into a space (top down, fag in mouth) and jumped out, smoothing his hair and shooting air guns into the atmosphere.

Rick, Rick, Rick... what ARE you doing? The women communally thought.

Car, Car, Car the men admired, frozen to the spot.

Really though? I mean, what a dick!

Even reminiscing this moment annoys me.

After the shock of Rick's antics we then began to speak of the items we would save if indeed a blaze was to catch our home.

'TV', 'Laptop', 'Make up','Chez Lounge' the list continued...

Now this is a pretty standard question and we've all asked it I'm sure - but when you really think about it... and I mean REALLY think about it - not a lot comes to mind.

Funny that.

Stick that in your pipe and smoke it Slick.

(Cue credits to Mo' Money)

Lubstock Festival

2010-02-26T09:11:00.000-08:00

Hear ye, hear ye lovers and followers of life's little wonders (all 1 of you!) This year LUBSTOCK FESTIVAL hits... Lubenham! On the 10th of July we'll be supporting local bands, drinking beer, being jolly and partying on down in our wellies. So join!

This is an opportunity to be part of something truly special. So keep your eyes peeled for the LUB BLOG coming soon with more information, how to get your mitts on tickets and how to prepare yourself for the smallest but prettiest festival of the YEAR!

Paying by card.

2010-02-09T05:43:00.000-08:00

Ahhh the cashless society we live in...

McDonaldisation, Globalisation, Chip'n'pinisation! Now, why is it that we are made to feel bad about all these things?

I recently popped to my new cafe - which to be fair to them is amazing. They sell £1 takeaway lattes, virtually unheard of in London. I realised I didn't have any cash on me post order but spotted their card machine and gleefully handed over my bright blue card after ordering two java's to go.

'It's 2 pounds' she said in her soothing south Italian tones.

'Great thanks' - me, handing over said card.

'It's 2 pounds' - she muttered again (not so soothing this time)

'Brillant' - me, hand stretched - a queue forming behind

'What you don't have 2 POUNDS??' - she quizzed.

'Erm, no... sorry' - a deep shade of crimson

I felt utterly dreadful. Was everyone in the cafe judging me? They all looked scornful, agitated, some even embarrassed for me. Or was I just being paranoid?

After leaving, or should I say scurrying off ducking half my size out the door, I began to re evalue the way that I purchase.

Is it wrong to not carry cash ALL THE TIME? Am I one of those annoying people every time I get to any kind of checkout? Should I commence carrying a 'stash?'

I once read a story about a guy that went cashless for a full year and proceeded to piss off all his friends, family and pub landlords but hey - he saved money as he never had it on him. Now I am most certainly not him but yes, it is rare that I will carry a spare tenner or for that matter twoer.

Why? Well, for that reason. If it's there, I will spend it.

Lacking in self control? Maybe.

Purposefully annoying the rest of the human race? No.

February.

2010-01-28T05:20:00.000-08:00

February is a great month. It's short, it's sweet, it's the first signs of Spring and it's spelt like Jonathan Ross would say it.

I don't know about you but I can't wait for it to come. January has been so long, so many resolutions have been broken and I spent my last £ on a McDonald's cheeseburger yesterday in favour of going to the gym. That just sums it all up really - corporate greed has gobbled up my month.

Aimless thoughts

2010-01-21T09:51:00.000-08:00

Is it sad that I plan my next hair style a week after getting it cut? I'm envisaging a Sophie Dahl tousled mid length lock short after having the chop (currently a more Sadie Frost ensemble)

Do all women do this? Do we all see other women or clothes to stirr a change of mise en scene or weight loss? I.e purty ladies on the commute with thick grey tights which FYI i could never wear as my legs are thick enough... OR! The completely ridiculous & unforgiving return of the crop top? For some unbeknown reason I want a flat stomach just to be able to wear one of these!

On that note I read somewhere that lip liner is back. I mean reeeaaally?!

Here's a bitchy thought... If food is the essence of love, a way to a mans heart is through his stomach, there is no love sincerer than the love of food yada yada is this why so many celebrity relationships break up? Because the women are half starved, miserable and mental?! Think I'm just saying this to make myself feel better really, clearly just bitter it's been 6 years since I've squeezed into a pair of size 10 trousers. Oh my days writing it down makes it all the more real! Arghhh!!!

To starve (or actually get some exercise in) or not to starve... Zat iz zee question...

Belgian Bier - Surrey

2010-01-18T13:19:00.000-08:00

Nestled underneath the hub bub of high street Richmond couture lies Brouge. A Belgian bier outfit with an abundance of character and more hops than a kangaroo on steroids.

In no way have they invented the wheel, you can find many of these Belgian wannabe nooks in and around London. However when you step inside Brouge after clambering down the steep steps you do feel like you are, in fact, in Belgium. It hasn't got the patriotic tat most establishments acquire, looking more like a souvenir shop than a place to warm your cockles. It's clean, honest, modern and yet being underground gives you that earthy European vibe.

It also (much to the punters pleasure) sells platters of meats, cheese and gherkins. An Atkins dream if you will.

Tuesdays are Frites and Moules night. Not the best Moules you'll ever taste I must confess, however washed down with a 14% bottle of Gulden Draak you won't notice, or in fact care about what slippery shellfish you may be sliding down your gullet.

With this in mind and as we are moving to Richmond we have decided to set up a "foodie" website (www.richmondfoodie.co.uk) - yet to be launched but the intestine's are most certainly there. So stay tuned and please do join us in the summer to do a 'Come Dine with Us' experiment in the local area...

Folk

2009-12-12T13:40:00.000-08:00

I've discovered a love for folk music. I don't know where it's been hiding... perhaps in the depths of a dark cupboard of my soul that belongs to the open road of the U.S of A.

My friend and her beau set off for that very road in just 2 weeks time and I couldn't be more envious. Just a pocket fulla cash and a beat up van. The romantic thing is they've had to work really hard for this - and I mean in the 5 jobs sense... real hard. It brings a depth to the adventure, they've earned this and no doubt will savour every moment. Every drive thru purchase, every beautiful sight and eccentric liaison.

But back to folk... I'm delving into the old but the new is most definitely tickling the fancy- Monsters of, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley band, Band of horses, or "band of lovely men" my husband refers to them as. Last but not least our very own Noah and the Whale whom Ive had the pleasure of meeting twice in Pari and our very own fair city.

It's deeply moving, eerie, humorous yet intensely depressing at times then - all of a sudden will pick you up again with a fast plucking beat reminding you life in the deep south or, erm - Twickenham - is bittersweet. There's a sincerity to it, a real struggle with God, life and most of all the ladies.

A girls guide to public transport

2009-11-27T08:41:00.000-08:00

Thankfully I made my way to Waterloo this morning after getting caught in an impromptu parade, rain and hail storm - finally getting a bus to be stuck in traffic and my bag collapsing all over the pavement on departure. Not so bad maybe - but the contents included my partners dirty boxers and masses of video tapes (which, FYI contained footage of our wedding, nothing seedy here)

Hmmm, yet to view said tapes...

Drenched, internally bruised and hurt I clambered on to the train shaking half with rage, the other with the chill of soaking jeans and began clumsily plucking my eyebrows. Whilst doing so I realised there are some things you should not do in public - this being one of them.

I mean, how would I feel if a gent sat next to me and started shaving his beard, stubby follicles catching the wind and sticking to my oh-so- expensive Primarni jacket?

Not good is the answer.

Blushing, I placed the tweezers carefully back in my bag. Now what?

After various taps on the thigh I began rummaging for some make-up and started to re touch the smears that were left. I caught a group of girls watching me. Now, I do it - the olll' spy-a-roo but it still seems to deeply irritate me when people stare when alls you're doing is getting a job done. I just want to have an out of body experience and inappropriately yell "whaat are you looooking at?!"

Ahem. After that I began spraying perfume - obviously forgetting where i was - to which two elderly females in front turned around demanding to know what the scent was. Oh how smug I felt! 'it's Chanel ladies, lovely isn't it? Wot wot? Snort snort'

Fool!! Retrospect is a wonderful thing and my discovery is; boredom leads to rudeness.

On observation it's so easy to be guilty of train faux pas though - drinking beer cans alone (Even classier with a big white label declaring '89p') talking too loud, elbowing, spilling coffee, yawning in peoples faces, standing on toes with hellish heels (guilty of doing this to someone who was on crutches!) and eating a rather fragrant McDonald's - we hate you coz we're jealous.

Time to get a good book I feel... or a car.

Booze Britain

2009-11-25T00:58:00.000-08:00

As a young tot living in the land of the 'Long White Cloud' (or my favourite German pronouncation - Neuseeland - just rolls off the tongue don't it?) I would nestle in front of the tv to watch the news with my parents. After the odd protest of New Zealand changing it's name to the native 'Aotearoa', the global news would follow - and pictures of Grrrreat Britain would appear. Every scene grey, a blanket of thick smog - unhappy revellers, the odd Queen's guard and horse.

Now, after 15 years of living here - 5 of which were pubescent, another "off the rails" and the latter part "finding myself" in Thailand, church and Topshop, I can safely say on this miserable cold day - yes the weather is awful, but amen what a great country.

Let's begin with my current working environment - East Croydon.

Now what is all the fuss about? I heard so many horror stories about this place before i frequented it, yet it caters for all my suburban needs! There's a Boots, Italians to straighten or curl my tresses, an Allders - (I thought they'd gone years ago!) a Barclays bank - which friends, dispenses £5 notes. Now that to me is incredible. Am I the only one who gets excited about these kind of things? Maybe I don't want to get out a whole ten, Croydon is gving me options...

Indeed there are grimy nooks but find me a place which doesn't have restless teens and burnt out burger joints.

At least there's pride in the upsell of cheese and extra meat.

Why yes please kind sir!

The one thing you just have to commend is the comradery of Brits in these dark days. "Booziest country in Europe" - "Ahem, well... (wiping ones dirt off ones shoulder) we don't like to bragggg"

Wherever you are in this fine country - Stella or 'peeno', rose or Guiness think yourself blessed, cheer your fellow commuter and let's get on it!!!

Weekday woe is a no show

2009-11-05T10:30:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 'hump day' has just got a little more bearable. Out of nowhere a kind stranger hands me the new weekly 'Stylist' magazine - the girls version of 'Shortlist'. All you female big smokers (Londoners) get me and it's about bloomin time! I was so sick of pawing through fast cars and men's deoderant. Gone are the days! Superb to see Dawn Porter with a slot in there amongst the shiny girly things - a truly fun read.

www.stylist.co.uk

Now I'm no "cool hunter" (in fact this is probably the polar opposite) but word on the street is New York Cringe Nights are hitting London in the not too distant future. That's right folks, an opportunity to stand up in a crowded room and read excerpts from your teenage diary. I don't know about you but I think this is absolute genius! An opportunity to mourn your pimple full past with other likeminded losers. Now I'm beginning to wonder where my video diary tapes are (yep that's right I said VIDEO - what in the world was I thinking?!) crying to the Romeo and Juliet album 'coz nobody luved me...'

Shameful.

Brrr

2009-11-05T01:03:00.000-08:00

It's officially winter. The spare tyre has carefully crept back on to my body. A combination of pre Christmas chocolate orange, cheese and vino of the rouge variety have contributed to this flurry of fat tissue. Tis the season to be jollly?! Isn't jolly the commonly used adjective for plump "bubbly" girl? A lame attempt to cover up the ongoing fight with the flab with quips and comedic gestures?

Luckilly this is the time to get away with it. Hooray for toight black hold me in tights, sparkly heels and long sleeves! God bless mountains of food, wine and nuts! Why is it that nuts are in such plenty at this time? I have never known or questioned and will continue to devour them like clockwork every Christmas morning - a delightful breakfast entree.

Also, why is it that we can eat prawn cocktails at un unearthly hour on Christmas day and not blink an eye? Surely this is some yuppie tradition boiled up in the late 80s? Is it time to move on?

Bloody Mary anyone?

Far be it for me to ruin the rose Marie sauce though, it's time to let the hair down, feel a little bit better about life, hug a stranger and make glorious punches to warm the cockles. Don't make the mistake I did last year however and concoct a lethal bowl only to be shunned by the rest of the family. The phrase 'waste not want not' doesn't quite work in these situations...

Welcome!

2009-10-30T16:23:00.001-07:00

After the world wide success of 'my big phat wedding blog' here comes a new, unadulterated, live new ramble of life, love, linguistics and lentils. Do sit back and enjoy.

Speaking of which I made the most delicious bacon and lentil soup the other day, there's even more right here:

Winter Warming Soups