Ding 31!
One year older, hopefully a little wiser, though probably not.
...
One year older, hopefully a little wiser, though probably not.
...
Current Mood: calm
Current Music: 'Erotica' - Madonna
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Masque's Journal
For when I need not to be quiet...
21 February 2009 @ 12:04 pm
15 years ago I made the mistake of staying in on a saturday evening and discovered the only thing on telly was the Eurovision Song Contest, live from Ireland.
Somewhere in the middle of the mindnumbing songs, the political scoring and Terry Wogan's sarcastic commentary was a traditional, cultural and mystical sequence called Riverdance. It caught my attention and my imagination. It made my pulse race and my heartbeat quicken. Quite frankly it was amazing.
15 years later and I have finally had the full experience. No video, no soundtrack, no documentary can ever compare to watching the live show. My attention and imagination were still fired up, my pulse still raced and my heartbeat still quicken, but when you feel the pounding of the steps rattling through your body and feel the music sending shivers through your spine it magnifies. Quite frankly it was fucking amazing.
And I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried.
The tickets were a birthday present from my sister. I think it was a teat for her too... she cried harder than I did.
...
Somewhere in the middle of the mindnumbing songs, the political scoring and Terry Wogan's sarcastic commentary was a traditional, cultural and mystical sequence called Riverdance. It caught my attention and my imagination. It made my pulse race and my heartbeat quicken. Quite frankly it was amazing.
15 years later and I have finally had the full experience. No video, no soundtrack, no documentary can ever compare to watching the live show. My attention and imagination were still fired up, my pulse still raced and my heartbeat still quicken, but when you feel the pounding of the steps rattling through your body and feel the music sending shivers through your spine it magnifies. Quite frankly it was fucking amazing.
And I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried.
The tickets were a birthday present from my sister. I think it was a teat for her too... she cried harder than I did.
...
Current Mood: ecstatic
Current Music: 'Anastacia' - Anastacia
11 February 2009 @ 07:17 pm
Stolen from![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
trancer21
Fandom Meme: If my TV habits were my dating life:
1.) The one who seduced you and fucked you over and broke your heart in a million pieces and laughed about it:
Bad Girls - I resisted this one for as long as I could but finally succumbed to temptation. I was hooked by the end of the first episode, completely besotted with Helen and Nikki. We were happy together for three series but then Helen and Nikki left me and the rebound girls just couldn't take their places. After that it was all over... SHIT HAPPENS.
2.) The old flame you don't see very often any more but whom you still really enjoy getting together with for a few drinks and maybe a pleasant nostalgic romp in the sheets:
Xena - I fell hard and I fell fast. I devoted myself to this one completely, it nealy took over my life. When it ended I was inconsolable and seven years later I still consider it to be my one true love. Every now and again I'll sit down and watch an episode or two and remember why I loved it so much in the first place.
3.) The mysterious dark gothy one whom you used to sit up with talking until 3 a.m. at weird coffeehouses and with whom you were quite smitten until you realized she really was fucking crazy:
Babylon 5 - There had never been anything like this for me before. There was depth, there was debate and there was a desire to know all the secreats of the story. The first four series were spot on; intriguing and slick and then in the fifth series it totally lost the plot.
4.) The one you spent a whole weekend in bed with and who drank up all your liquor, and whom you'd still really like to fuck again although you're relieved she doesn't actually live in town:
Birds of Prey - I really did spend a weekend with this one and did it twice. After the second time I was still pissed that it was over and wished I could have done something different to save it.
5.) The steady:
Law and Order: Special Victims Unit - Always there when I need a fix and always keeping me interested. Always a little something new... Abbie to Alex to Casey to... Alex apparently. (Haven't watched the new girl yet.)
6.) The alluring stranger whom you've flirted with at parties but have never gotten really serious with:
Battlestar Galactica - Everytime I even think about this one I get a shiver run along my spine. I know it's good, I know it's clever, I know it's like nothing I've ever seen before and maybe that's why it intimidates the hell out of me.
7.) The one you hang out with and have vague fantasies about maybe having a thing with but ultimately you're just good buddies 'cause the friendship is there but the chemistry ain't:
Charmed - It's entertaining, and every and now again I like to kick back and spend the evening with it. But that's where it ends.
8.) The one your friends keep introducing you to and who seems like a hell of a cool chick except it's never really gone anywhere:
Gavin and Stacy - Yeah I watched a few, yeah it's pretty good but I'm not rushing back to watch more.
9.) The one who's slept with all your friends, and you keep looking at him and thinking, "Him? How the hell did he land all these cool babes?":
The L Word - I even went with this one for a bit, but it just couldn't hold my attention. I felt cheated by it and can't understand why my friends don't feel the same.
10.) The one your friend has fallen for like a ton of bricks and whom she keeps babbling to you about on the phone for hours, and you'd be happy for her except you just know it's going to end badly:
Womens Murder Club - Actually I was the one who fell for it, I was the one who talked incessantly about it and I who knew it would end badly because it had been axed (It still didn't stop me from watching it and getting Debs and maureen to watch it and feel my pain aswell).
Current Mood: weird
Current Music: 'Surfacing' - Sarah McLachlan
24 January 2009 @ 10:33 pm
Just over a year since I started at Weight Watchers.
I have been re-educated in food. Knowing all about saturated fats, and carbohydrates, and salts. Which ones are good for me, which ones are bad, how much I can eat of some things.
I severely miss being able to drink regular Coca-Cola. But have discovered a taste for Pepsi Max. At the pub I have to drink Diet Pepsi; I am only allowed two pints of this before Katie cuts me off because I apparently turn into an obnoxious drunk.
I went almost an entire year without eating a KFC, and celebrated by eating a KFC. I faired less well with McDonalds, lasting only four months, but in fairness I did go to a convention and was resorting to my regular diet.
Over the course of the year I have reached my 10% target and have collected five Silver 7's. One for every half stone I have lost, a quick tally up there and I've lost 35 pounds (2 1/2 stone). I did make it to 38 pounds but then we had Christmas.
I'm quite pleased with my progress, and have just over another stone to go in order to reach my target weight before learning how to maintain it. And I know that it's going to be the toughest part.
Now pass me a damn cookie!
I have been re-educated in food. Knowing all about saturated fats, and carbohydrates, and salts. Which ones are good for me, which ones are bad, how much I can eat of some things.
I severely miss being able to drink regular Coca-Cola. But have discovered a taste for Pepsi Max. At the pub I have to drink Diet Pepsi; I am only allowed two pints of this before Katie cuts me off because I apparently turn into an obnoxious drunk.
I went almost an entire year without eating a KFC, and celebrated by eating a KFC. I faired less well with McDonalds, lasting only four months, but in fairness I did go to a convention and was resorting to my regular diet.
Over the course of the year I have reached my 10% target and have collected five Silver 7's. One for every half stone I have lost, a quick tally up there and I've lost 35 pounds (2 1/2 stone). I did make it to 38 pounds but then we had Christmas.
I'm quite pleased with my progress, and have just over another stone to go in order to reach my target weight before learning how to maintain it. And I know that it's going to be the toughest part.
Now pass me a damn cookie!
Current Mood: pleased
Current Music: 'Overloaded' - SugaBabes
14 October 2008 @ 10:12 am
Ganked from ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
zephyr_tempest
Your Debut Album
1 - Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Ra
The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.
2 - Go to Random quotations: http://www.quotationspage.com/random.ph
The last three words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.
If you want to do this again, you'll hit refresh to generate new quotes, because clicking the quotes link again will just give you the same quotes over and over again.
3 - Go to flickr's "explore the last seven days" http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesti
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.
Supernovae In Fiction
'Is In Us'
zephyr_tempest Your Debut Album
1 - Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Ra
The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.
2 - Go to Random quotations: http://www.quotationspage.com/random.ph
The last three words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.
If you want to do this again, you'll hit refresh to generate new quotes, because clicking the quotes link again will just give you the same quotes over and over again.
3 - Go to flickr's "explore the last seven days" http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesti
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.
Supernovae In Fiction
'Is In Us'
Current Mood: contemplative
Current Music: 'Some Girls Wander By Mistake' - Sisters of Mercy
25 August 2008 @ 09:48 pm
The August Bank Holiday – usually it’s just another day off work to lounge around and do nothing. But not this year, this year we have decided to participate in a time honoured tradition of the Bank Holiday – The Fun Fair.
Deciding to make a day of it we headed to Greenwich for brunch, looked around the local markets before seeking shelter from the mild temperature in the nearest pub. We managed to catch the Closing Ceremony of the Bejing Olympics with the sound muted allowing us to incorporate our own witty commentary. ‘He could have at least tucked his shirt in’, ‘I bet that football will be on Ebay by tomorrow’, okay so it wasn’t that witty.
After refreshment we took a slow stroll through Greenwich Park, slow because it’s uphill all the way. We stopped at the Greenwich Observatory to admire the city view from the home of Greenwich Mean Time. All roads may lead to Rome but Greenwich is the centre of the time/space continuum. Out the other side of the park is Blackheath where the bodies of the Black Death victims are supposedly buried in a mass grave, but today it plays host to the Fun Fair.
We made a couple of laps of the fairground, resisting the cries of ‘try your luck’, ‘come and have a go’ and ‘a prize every time’. I eventually caved when somebody brandished a fishing rod before me and I hooked a duck that won me a teddy bear. Katie won a similar prize but I knew where she really wanted to ‘try her luck’… the shooting range. Knock down seven targets with seven shots to win a prize. Taking up her pellet gun Katie took aim. I am equal parts alarmed and in awe that she knocked down all seven in seven on her first attempt. (Note to self: keep Katie away from Daddy’s shot guns.)
Naomi and I decided to take a gentle ride on the Merry Go Round. As a fan of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit I am happy to say I rode a horse named Olivia. Why is it that despite the fact that Naomi is 33 and I’m 30 and we understand the logistics of a Merry Go Round that we still insist on racing? After this I then convince Naomi to up the wild ride feel by going on the big wheel, which was just fine until they stopped us at the top for a few minutes. I enjoyed the view, but Naomi did not enjoy my rocking the seat. By the time we disembarked she was a light shade of green.
However this did nothing to diminish her appetite and we finished off the day with dinner and headed home. All in all a very nice Bank Holiday. Of course it could have been worse, we could have chosen another Bank Holiday tradition of DIY. No wait… Dad’s coming around tomorrow and we’re boarding out the attic.
Current Mood: bouncy
Current Music: 'Reanimation' - Linkin Park
13 August 2008 @ 07:30 pm
Last August, after about four years of 'umming and ahhing', I ordered season one of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit on DVD. I watched it exclusively for two days and immediately ordered season two and season three and season four almost immediately. I had managed to catch the odd episode of Law and Order, Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent when I would stay at Lara and Jane's when Katie was in London but I chose SVU because it was the dynamic of this set of characters that I liked the most. And despite the fact that the main series had the 'lesbian character' it was SVU that had the lesbian following... enter Butchy McFabulous and the Ice Princess. (Well technically only Butchy McFabulous for the first series.)
Usually I would fixate on the brunette of any television series that I watch e.g. BtVS = Faith, Charmed = Piper, Las Vegas = Sam, Stargate = Janet, CSI = Sara Sidle, Bad Girls = Nikki Wade. Olivia Benson has got it all; the brooding pout, the blazing eyes, the killer body, the fiesty attitude, she's just plain sexy. But something very odd happened... the blonde stole my affections.
ADA Alexandra Cabot walked onto the screen and demanded to be noticed, in all her arrogance and tailored suits, in her obsession for her win/loss ratio and her expensive shoes, with her razor sharp wit, disrespect for the rules and those damn glasses of truth and justice. I lived for the episodes when the court case would take up most of the show, loving how Alex would run circles around the defense lawyers and tie the defendant in knots. Then there was the love/hate relationship she had going with Bureau Chief Liz Donelly and her constant battle of wills with Judge Lena Petrovsky; I came to the conclusion at the end of the episode 'Guilt' that Alex has two moms and they are called Liz and Lena, I kept expecting one of them to ground her. And then there's the Alex/Olivia relationship; there's a whole manifesto over at Passion and Perfection but only one moment is needed to prove that the two of them were in love with each other. The final scene of 'Loss'. Believing Alex to be murdered Elliott and Olivia are ordered to a remote location where they discover Alex to be very much alive but about to be ripped from their lives again to keep her that way. Hardly any coherent words are exchanged but the complete devastation in Olivia's eyes and the utter helplessness from Alex said it all.
And then came ADA Casey Novak. She was always going to have big shoes to fill (Stephanie March wears a size nine). Not only did she have to win over the grieving squad, learn how to deal with live victims and maintain Alex's conviction rate but she had to do it with less perfect hair and horrendous taste in clothes. The whole first episode I wanted to throttle her. She just breezed in, ignored her detectives and nearly blew the case. But even I have to admit that by the end of the episode she won me over and by the end of the season I actually liked her. So much so that I was looking forward to season six, and not just because Alex Cabot was going to make an appearance.
It took me months to get hold of season six. Eventually I gave into the inevitable customs charge and ordered it from the States. It cost me an extra £13 but I had it, it was mine at last. First night I watched the first disc, second night I watched the second disc, but on the third night I had time for a whole disc and an extra episode and thus I had my ADA dilemma. In one hand I held disc four with 'Ghost'; the return of Alexandra Cabot, Alex and Olivia alone in a hotel room and an imagination full of possibilities. In the other hand I held disc five with 'Night'; the episode where Casey is attacked in her office, a chance to see Diane Neal act her butt off. 4? 5? 4? 5? 4? 5?
I watched 'Night'. I think I need to put Diane Neal on my list.
Usually I would fixate on the brunette of any television series that I watch e.g. BtVS = Faith, Charmed = Piper, Las Vegas = Sam, Stargate = Janet, CSI = Sara Sidle, Bad Girls = Nikki Wade. Olivia Benson has got it all; the brooding pout, the blazing eyes, the killer body, the fiesty attitude, she's just plain sexy. But something very odd happened... the blonde stole my affections.
ADA Alexandra Cabot walked onto the screen and demanded to be noticed, in all her arrogance and tailored suits, in her obsession for her win/loss ratio and her expensive shoes, with her razor sharp wit, disrespect for the rules and those damn glasses of truth and justice. I lived for the episodes when the court case would take up most of the show, loving how Alex would run circles around the defense lawyers and tie the defendant in knots. Then there was the love/hate relationship she had going with Bureau Chief Liz Donelly and her constant battle of wills with Judge Lena Petrovsky; I came to the conclusion at the end of the episode 'Guilt' that Alex has two moms and they are called Liz and Lena, I kept expecting one of them to ground her. And then there's the Alex/Olivia relationship; there's a whole manifesto over at Passion and Perfection but only one moment is needed to prove that the two of them were in love with each other. The final scene of 'Loss'. Believing Alex to be murdered Elliott and Olivia are ordered to a remote location where they discover Alex to be very much alive but about to be ripped from their lives again to keep her that way. Hardly any coherent words are exchanged but the complete devastation in Olivia's eyes and the utter helplessness from Alex said it all.
And then came ADA Casey Novak. She was always going to have big shoes to fill (Stephanie March wears a size nine). Not only did she have to win over the grieving squad, learn how to deal with live victims and maintain Alex's conviction rate but she had to do it with less perfect hair and horrendous taste in clothes. The whole first episode I wanted to throttle her. She just breezed in, ignored her detectives and nearly blew the case. But even I have to admit that by the end of the episode she won me over and by the end of the season I actually liked her. So much so that I was looking forward to season six, and not just because Alex Cabot was going to make an appearance.
It took me months to get hold of season six. Eventually I gave into the inevitable customs charge and ordered it from the States. It cost me an extra £13 but I had it, it was mine at last. First night I watched the first disc, second night I watched the second disc, but on the third night I had time for a whole disc and an extra episode and thus I had my ADA dilemma. In one hand I held disc four with 'Ghost'; the return of Alexandra Cabot, Alex and Olivia alone in a hotel room and an imagination full of possibilities. In the other hand I held disc five with 'Night'; the episode where Casey is attacked in her office, a chance to see Diane Neal act her butt off. 4? 5? 4? 5? 4? 5?
I watched 'Night'. I think I need to put Diane Neal on my list.
Current Mood: giggly
Current Music: 'True Blue' - Madonna
28 July 2008 @ 08:25 pm
I am not a Doctor Who fan.
I count myself among the many that would hide behind the couch as soon as the dreaded theme tune would start, one of those terrified to tears when the Daleks would speak, but my true fear was reserved for the Cybermen (I think it had something to do with a dream I had as a child where they took over my school.
I repeat: I am not a Doctor Who fan.
But Dean is. And as he has spent many a Saturday night at my place I may have caught the odd episode or two, maybe a handful or so. Okay, so I've seen a few of the Chris Eccleston/Billie Piper/ David Tennant era. I only glanced a couple of the Freema Agyeman. And because I'm not a a fan of The Catherine Tate Show I resolutely refused to watch when she became the new companion. That resolution lasted about 24 hours when I caught the repeat on BBC Three the following day and 50 minutes later had been thoroughly won over by the lovely Ms Tate and Donna Noble from Chiswick.
So maybe I am a smidgen of a fan after all.
A couple of months back Dean informed me that the family orientated Prom this year was going to be Doctor Who related and I immediately handed over my tenner. I had to get up early on a Sunday. I had to travel on public transport on a non work day. I had to queue in the sun. And I suffered a minor panic attack in the full to the brim Royal Albert Hall. But it was worth it.
The show was fantastic. Presented by Freema, with help from Camille Coduri (Jackie Tyler), Noel Clarke (Mickey Smith), a trio of Ood (the tentacle face ones with glowing balls), a couple of Judoon (rhino like bike couriers), two Sontarans (short, squat, looks like they got hammered into their outfits) Davros (meglomanic with a skin problem), a Dalek (pepper pot with a whisk and plunger) and three Cybermen (harbingers of bad dreams!).
Music for the new series has been amazing, from the choir voices of 'Journey's End' to Murray Gold's rockier piece for 'Doomsday', and with clips playing on the overhead screens I found myself quietly sobbing on several occasions. The specially filmed minisode 'Music Of The Spheres' was brilliant, light and funny with a cute little message about looking inside yourself for the song of the universe. But the part that shocked me the most was just how pleased I was when Catherine Tate put in a surprise appearance to introduce the section that included Donna's theme. I all but stood up and started jumping up and down... I clapped, cheered and whistled.
So my question is this: What's the next step up from a smidgen?
I count myself among the many that would hide behind the couch as soon as the dreaded theme tune would start, one of those terrified to tears when the Daleks would speak, but my true fear was reserved for the Cybermen (I think it had something to do with a dream I had as a child where they took over my school.
I repeat: I am not a Doctor Who fan.
But Dean is. And as he has spent many a Saturday night at my place I may have caught the odd episode or two, maybe a handful or so. Okay, so I've seen a few of the Chris Eccleston/Billie Piper/ David Tennant era. I only glanced a couple of the Freema Agyeman. And because I'm not a a fan of The Catherine Tate Show I resolutely refused to watch when she became the new companion. That resolution lasted about 24 hours when I caught the repeat on BBC Three the following day and 50 minutes later had been thoroughly won over by the lovely Ms Tate and Donna Noble from Chiswick.
So maybe I am a smidgen of a fan after all.
A couple of months back Dean informed me that the family orientated Prom this year was going to be Doctor Who related and I immediately handed over my tenner. I had to get up early on a Sunday. I had to travel on public transport on a non work day. I had to queue in the sun. And I suffered a minor panic attack in the full to the brim Royal Albert Hall. But it was worth it.
The show was fantastic. Presented by Freema, with help from Camille Coduri (Jackie Tyler), Noel Clarke (Mickey Smith), a trio of Ood (the tentacle face ones with glowing balls), a couple of Judoon (rhino like bike couriers), two Sontarans (short, squat, looks like they got hammered into their outfits) Davros (meglomanic with a skin problem), a Dalek (pepper pot with a whisk and plunger) and three Cybermen (harbingers of bad dreams!).
Music for the new series has been amazing, from the choir voices of 'Journey's End' to Murray Gold's rockier piece for 'Doomsday', and with clips playing on the overhead screens I found myself quietly sobbing on several occasions. The specially filmed minisode 'Music Of The Spheres' was brilliant, light and funny with a cute little message about looking inside yourself for the song of the universe. But the part that shocked me the most was just how pleased I was when Catherine Tate put in a surprise appearance to introduce the section that included Donna's theme. I all but stood up and started jumping up and down... I clapped, cheered and whistled.
So my question is this: What's the next step up from a smidgen?
Current Mood: bouncy
Current Music: 'The Best of Belinda' - Belinda Carlisle
17 May 2008 @ 10:47 pm
A week or so ago
sweetnuisance calls me and rambles down the phone at me for about 10 minutes. I eventually manage to ascertain that whilst she's in England for the Chess performance Idina Menzel has a few other things lined up and sweet has just discovered that an album signing at Dress Circle is one of them.I clear my schedule for the day and we meet in the queue around 11ish. She's been there longer than I have and has met Dani, a girl who most definitely has Glinda in her future. Along with Charlotte and Sophie, an Ipod with speakers blaring the Wicked soundtrack, a black marker and a street sign two hours passed in no time and with a sudden surge forward Idina has arrived and the signing has begun.
(For my ego: Just as we reach the door of the shop the question of my age comes up and the three younger girls are pretty shocked to discover that I'm 30, not believing that I was more than 24. I think this more about me acting juvenile than looking juvenile, but I'll take it.)
Halfway down the stairs we catch our first glimpse of The Menzel. She's looking gorgeous and relaxed and I notice that she has a very big signature. No wonder the new album has a gatefold on it!
All the way down the stairs we are informed that due to the numbers queuing we can only get one item signed. Both sweet and I are holding a Grimmerie in one hand for ourselves and an album in the other (mine for Katie and sweet's for Rich. A moment of indecision and we both pack the albums away, afterall we did queue for two hours in sporadic rain for this.
After years of practice both sweet and I step forward with books open on the page for her to sign. Here's how my couple of minutes plays out:
Idina looks up and smiles as I walk over.
IDINA: Hi.
MASQUE: Hi Idina.
I hold out the book opened to the page that says 'A lot happened in Oz before Dorothy dropped in'.
MASQUE: Anywhere on the page would be good.
IDINA: Okay.
One very large signature appears across the top half of the page. (I immediately think 'Oh good, Kristen Chenoweth can sign the bottom half one day'.) She hands the book back to me and I begin to step backwards to allow the next person in.
MASQUE: Thanks.
She's still watching me and smiling.
IDINA: It was nice to meet you.
MASQUE: Er yeah, it was nice to meet you too.
And I'd been so cool up until that moment. D'oh!
Sweet fared only a little better by grinning madly when Idina told her she liked her glasses.
While the adrenline was still buzzing we took a jaunt over to the Ozdust Boutique at the Apollo Theatre for merchandise, and we just couldn't leave without booking tickets for 28th May.
Yep we're going to see Wicked again.
Current Mood: bouncy
Current Music: 'Wicked' - Original Broadway Cast
10 May 2008 @ 02:06 am
It's 2am and I can't sleep.
So it's time for some ramblings.
Dean and I were doing some work at the house this evening. We mowed the lawn, twice. Raked the grass clippings, also twice. Then sanded down the walls in what will eventually be my bedroom and pasted them ready to start with the wallpapering tomorrow. I mean later on today. Anyway, I was so exhausted when we got back to my parents place that I barely stayed up long enough to watch the results show of Dancing With The Stars before crawling into bed. And now I'm awake sitting at the computer with a blanket wrapped around me toga style after replacing the lightbulb because I can't type in the dark.
There was a lull at work today and I was wishing for a distraction. Be careful what you wish for. Just after three a handful of very drunk Australian Xena fans called me, from Australia, they were on a mobile and so was I. It was my buddies Penny and Natalie and friends. They were having a Xena get together and playing my music videos and in their enibriated state thought it was a good idea to call. It was great to hear from them, even though I'm not sure of half of what they said, Penny wanted to make sure I'm going to the convention in Burbank next year so we could catch up (I thought she said touch up at first), Natalie wants a rematch at pool because I kicked her arse last time we met in Vegas and I'm sure it was her babbling about dingoes eating her baby. Eventually realising that this phone bill would most likely be catastrophic they bid me goodbye, but not without first extracting promises from me to make some new Xena music videos... it's on my to do list. It was only a 17 minute call but it absolutely made my day.
Now I'm just randomly browsing the internet.
Went to the IMDB, there's been some rumours that Stephanie March may return to SVU, but they are just rumours, at least for the moment. Bring back Alex before we lose faith completely and realise that Butchy McFabulous Olivia Benson is actually straight!
I've been to Amazon, scary, they've had a redesign and I don't like it. It took me at least 10 seconds to locate my wishlist and that's just not good. Even worse I have to restrain myself from buying things by reminding myself that I need to save money to buy things like a new bed, and a desk, and a washing machine and a new kitchen.
Also been over to Passion and Perfection to look for some new fan fiction. I still have my Special Victims Unit phase going so I'm not in the mood for any of my other obsessions, unfortunately there's nothing new and substantial on that front.
Thankfully, for both myself and anyones f-list, Katie is working tonight and has just giving me permission to phone her. She has promised to bore me to sleep. I love my girly.
Night, night xoxo
So it's time for some ramblings.
Dean and I were doing some work at the house this evening. We mowed the lawn, twice. Raked the grass clippings, also twice. Then sanded down the walls in what will eventually be my bedroom and pasted them ready to start with the wallpapering tomorrow. I mean later on today. Anyway, I was so exhausted when we got back to my parents place that I barely stayed up long enough to watch the results show of Dancing With The Stars before crawling into bed. And now I'm awake sitting at the computer with a blanket wrapped around me toga style after replacing the lightbulb because I can't type in the dark.
There was a lull at work today and I was wishing for a distraction. Be careful what you wish for. Just after three a handful of very drunk Australian Xena fans called me, from Australia, they were on a mobile and so was I. It was my buddies Penny and Natalie and friends. They were having a Xena get together and playing my music videos and in their enibriated state thought it was a good idea to call. It was great to hear from them, even though I'm not sure of half of what they said, Penny wanted to make sure I'm going to the convention in Burbank next year so we could catch up (I thought she said touch up at first), Natalie wants a rematch at pool because I kicked her arse last time we met in Vegas and I'm sure it was her babbling about dingoes eating her baby. Eventually realising that this phone bill would most likely be catastrophic they bid me goodbye, but not without first extracting promises from me to make some new Xena music videos... it's on my to do list. It was only a 17 minute call but it absolutely made my day.
Now I'm just randomly browsing the internet.
Went to the IMDB, there's been some rumours that Stephanie March may return to SVU, but they are just rumours, at least for the moment. Bring back Alex before we lose faith completely and realise that Butchy McFabulous Olivia Benson is actually straight!
I've been to Amazon, scary, they've had a redesign and I don't like it. It took me at least 10 seconds to locate my wishlist and that's just not good. Even worse I have to restrain myself from buying things by reminding myself that I need to save money to buy things like a new bed, and a desk, and a washing machine and a new kitchen.
Also been over to Passion and Perfection to look for some new fan fiction. I still have my Special Victims Unit phase going so I'm not in the mood for any of my other obsessions, unfortunately there's nothing new and substantial on that front.
Thankfully, for both myself and anyones f-list, Katie is working tonight and has just giving me permission to phone her. She has promised to bore me to sleep. I love my girly.
Night, night xoxo
Current Mood: blah
07 May 2008 @ 10:09 pm
As if it hadn't been enough at the weekend, Monday being the first Monday of the month, was Xena Meetup Day. Debs and lara had specially moved the venue to a pub down the road from the Hilton in hopes that we could entice some overseas fans to join our monthly gathering.
The advertising over the weekend paid off as in dribs and drabs various contingents arrived. Unfortunately the Stateside guys arrived 20 minutes before closing, a couple of the Czech guys turned up a little before that but the Scotish and Austrian guys were with us for most of the evening. But the big surprise was the quiet woman who at the end of the evening revealed herself to be none other than Lucia, the Brazilian artist who created the Little Xena and Gabrielle comic strip on the Ausxip website, loved the world over by even the butchest, bravest and cynical of Xena fans.
A little bit different to the usual meet; we had even more sweets and cakes than normal, a bit of a quiz (my team won), a raffle and the music videos that Creation wouldn't show you - MINE.
Although we had a lovely big screen to show them on there wasn't a sound system to go with it. So we made do with the speakers on Debs laptop and listened very carefully. I got some good comments and dished out some website cards. One of the Czech girls handed it back to me and said, 'I know who you are, I'm a huge fan of your videos.' Slowly but surely my plan for world domination is working.
I won absolutely nothing in the raffle, I probably had most of the stuff anyway. I just wish Katie could have got the plaque she wanted, but she got to take home what was left of the Flying Saucers so she was happy. (Flying Saucers: wafer thingies with sherbert inside)
The evening rounded out sitting outside the pub with some of the Americans and some chips they'd got from somewhere. We chatted about our favourite moments of the weekend. This was followed by tearful goodbyes to those I won't see until the next convention and hugs to those I'll see at the meetup next month.
The advertising over the weekend paid off as in dribs and drabs various contingents arrived. Unfortunately the Stateside guys arrived 20 minutes before closing, a couple of the Czech guys turned up a little before that but the Scotish and Austrian guys were with us for most of the evening. But the big surprise was the quiet woman who at the end of the evening revealed herself to be none other than Lucia, the Brazilian artist who created the Little Xena and Gabrielle comic strip on the Ausxip website, loved the world over by even the butchest, bravest and cynical of Xena fans.
A little bit different to the usual meet; we had even more sweets and cakes than normal, a bit of a quiz (my team won), a raffle and the music videos that Creation wouldn't show you - MINE.
Although we had a lovely big screen to show them on there wasn't a sound system to go with it. So we made do with the speakers on Debs laptop and listened very carefully. I got some good comments and dished out some website cards. One of the Czech girls handed it back to me and said, 'I know who you are, I'm a huge fan of your videos.' Slowly but surely my plan for world domination is working.
I won absolutely nothing in the raffle, I probably had most of the stuff anyway. I just wish Katie could have got the plaque she wanted, but she got to take home what was left of the Flying Saucers so she was happy. (Flying Saucers: wafer thingies with sherbert inside)
The evening rounded out sitting outside the pub with some of the Americans and some chips they'd got from somewhere. We chatted about our favourite moments of the weekend. This was followed by tearful goodbyes to those I won't see until the next convention and hugs to those I'll see at the meetup next month.
Current Mood: creative
Current Music: 'Dive In' - Darius
06 May 2008 @ 10:32 pm
Friday 2nd May 2008
To be honest I wasn't really looking forward tothis. It was kind of like because it was in England I was obligated to go; that because it was Xena it had become a habit that I hadn't broken; that I was using it more of a social networking thing. But to be really honest I had a bloody fantastic time.
I was tired by the time I got to the Hilton Metropole, having got up early and caught the train from Bournemouth, then lugged my bags across London to the hotel only to find out my room wasn't ready and when it was it turned out to be a twin and not the double that we had booked. Katie was amazing, getting us changed to a double that turned out to be a disabled access, (big bed, big shower, plenty of space and buttons that got us into trouble a time or too - read on). In the midst of all that was registering for the convention itself which took forever in a lobby that appeared to have no air conditioning and we also managed to miss Adrienne Wilkinson's Q&A because of the aforementioned room difficulties. But with all that behind us the fun could begin.
Firstly greeting friends I've not seen in ages: Leigh and Mary, my lesbian parents - every lesbian has to have them, who despite living just the other side of London to me I only seem to see when we're in the States for a convention or somewhere north of the Watford Gap at a Midlands Fest. Then there's Laura from Oklahoma, an amzing 79 year old woman who has led this incredible life of travel and adventure and adores Xena and The L Word and reminds me a little of my Nan. (The travel and adventure bit, not the Xena and L Word part!) There's the other Americans: Nora, Laurie and Sandy and when they've arrived you know the party has started, very loudly and very enthusiastically. And of course there's my Xena meetup buddies: Lara, Debs, Steph, Sammy, Sofia, Emma, Sarah and Dani. We don't need an excuse to get together but Xena is always a good one.
Friday evening was the Celebrity Cabaret so those with their Gold Passes swanned off to that and then to the meet and greet. While those of us from the Riff Raff (General Admission) could be found lounging in the bar until exhaustion finally claimed us and we crawled to our respective rooms.
Saturday 3rd May 2008
Roll on Saturday morning and it's time to figure out what all the mysterious buttons do. In timing that can only be attained in an animated cartoon I discover the button that opens the curtains just as Katie gets out of bed... naked. Our full panoramic window looks out over the Edgeware Road area and right across the street is a Police Station House with a residential tower as tall as the hotel we're staying in. Strangely Katie did not find this as funny as I did. But Karma is a wonderful thing. Not 10 minutes later I decide it's time to use the bathroom and as I walk towards it I notice a red button next to the door that reads: 'Push to open door', thinking that was quite helpful I pushed the button and watched in horror as the door to our hotel room opens. Completely naked I dash to the door, trying to conceal my modesty as I struggle to close a door hell bent on staying open. Heed my warning people: 'NEVER PUSH THE RED BUTTON.'
Showered and suitably attired we head downstairs for the days events. Q&A with Paris Jefferson. Paris is always lovely, her responses are always honest and thoughtful - No, I'd never heard of the show before, Yes I've done work that I've wished I hadn't. When asked about the relationship between Athena and her right hand girl Ilainus Paris responded that if she were ever to have a girlfriend it would be Musetta.
After the auction it was the Brittany Powell Q&A. She first appeared at the Burbank 2007 convention, I missed her and really wished I hadn't. Made sure that I saw her at Burbank 2008 and was ready for more in London. This woman is as engaging as she is gorgeous; she adores her son, loves her work and revels in the fact that as Brunnhilda she straight up fancied the pants off Gabrielle. Her talk revealed so much more about her than I'd heard before, here I thought she was an ex playboy playmate who got lucky, but she is so much more. I loved listening to her talk about growing up and the different places she lived and how she got into acting and the things she has studied and practiced with it.
But Brittany is famous on the convention circuit - she auctions her bra for charity and the winner gets to remove it. There was a bidding war between the head of Brittany's fan club and the London Xena Meet. We may not have raised as much money as Brittany has got in the States but we provided more entertainment. We had both her and the audience in stitches as we pooled our money and emptied the change from our pockets. We lost. But second place had it's benefits when Brittany called us up to the stage for a personal thank you and hug. I had to get us a group photo op with her as a consolation prize. That lady rocks.
With the evening drawing closwer thoughts turned towards getting over to the Carling Academy for 'Lucy Lawless in Concert'. Now usually I don't go to these things, it's more money than I can afford on top of trans atlantic flights and hotel bills, and Katie isn't all that struck on Lucy's singing voice. But when Maureen presents Katie with two tickets for her birthday... well it seems rude not to. We cab, we queue, we crush to the front. Well I crushed and then sidled off to the side by the bar where there was less of the crowd. I hate crowds and so does sweet nuisance, we chatted and joked and passed water to those brave souls in the fray.
The gig was incredible. Lucy 'can' sing, and hit the ocassional bad note and sometimes get her words mixed up but I don't care she is an incredible entertainer and looks incredible in chaps. She knows her audience and they know her and I think that made the whole experience just... WOW!
The songlist is perfect for her; some Patti Smith, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Tyler, Meredith Brooks favourites and even a rendition of Prince's 'When Doves Cry' which was beautiful. And Katie only had one thing to say at the end, 'This is the best birthday'. (That's right my girly is another year older, closing it to only a four year gap between our ages which is so much better than the three months a year when it's five years.)
Sunday 4th May 2008
Sunday morning meant it was time to check out of our room and sling our bags into Maureen's room until it's time to head home. Except that Maureen tells us that two of their number are leaving that day and did we want to stay the extra night. That took all of two minutes to think about and another two minutes to buy concert tickets for the gig that night.
1pm gets closer we all take our seats as the reason we are all here has arrived. Lucy Lawless. She was tired but riding a buzz from the night before and ready to answer questions. Warned not to prefix our questions with 'I love you Lucy' because we already know that and 'No hugs because your stick insect named Xena died and you're upset' we get underway. The questions at this event turned out to be quite interesting and thought provoking. One fan said that this was a 'Shazam' moment for her and did Lucy still get those. Did she keep a journal while she was filming Xena? (No, because it would have been really boring.) Was there anything she was afraid to do? (Not really, because she doesn't have the urge to throw herself out of an plane, but has bungeed from a helicopter.)
As usual she leaves the stage far too soon for our liking, but she has another gig to get ready for.
This time when we arrive at the venue we get to cut in a little as we've had people waiting there for hours. We end up in a similar place to the previous night but the section just in front of us is roped off for our buddy Sarah and her chair. This provided plenty of space and a great view of Lucy when she hits the stage in her chaps. What more could a girl ask for? Perhaps a more comfortable place to sleep than a single blow up bed with my girlfriend, but I'm telling you the sacrifice was more than worth it. (And maybe Renee O'Connor, in chaps.)
Before bed we spect a good couple of hours just chilling and unwinding with Maureen, Nora, Laurie, Sandy and Pam. A nice end to a great weekend.
And finally, no matter what, XWP still rules. (Yes I'm still a geek.)
To be honest I wasn't really looking forward tothis. It was kind of like because it was in England I was obligated to go; that because it was Xena it had become a habit that I hadn't broken; that I was using it more of a social networking thing. But to be really honest I had a bloody fantastic time.
I was tired by the time I got to the Hilton Metropole, having got up early and caught the train from Bournemouth, then lugged my bags across London to the hotel only to find out my room wasn't ready and when it was it turned out to be a twin and not the double that we had booked. Katie was amazing, getting us changed to a double that turned out to be a disabled access, (big bed, big shower, plenty of space and buttons that got us into trouble a time or too - read on). In the midst of all that was registering for the convention itself which took forever in a lobby that appeared to have no air conditioning and we also managed to miss Adrienne Wilkinson's Q&A because of the aforementioned room difficulties. But with all that behind us the fun could begin.
Firstly greeting friends I've not seen in ages: Leigh and Mary, my lesbian parents - every lesbian has to have them, who despite living just the other side of London to me I only seem to see when we're in the States for a convention or somewhere north of the Watford Gap at a Midlands Fest. Then there's Laura from Oklahoma, an amzing 79 year old woman who has led this incredible life of travel and adventure and adores Xena and The L Word and reminds me a little of my Nan. (The travel and adventure bit, not the Xena and L Word part!) There's the other Americans: Nora, Laurie and Sandy and when they've arrived you know the party has started, very loudly and very enthusiastically. And of course there's my Xena meetup buddies: Lara, Debs, Steph, Sammy, Sofia, Emma, Sarah and Dani. We don't need an excuse to get together but Xena is always a good one.
Friday evening was the Celebrity Cabaret so those with their Gold Passes swanned off to that and then to the meet and greet. While those of us from the Riff Raff (General Admission) could be found lounging in the bar until exhaustion finally claimed us and we crawled to our respective rooms.
Saturday 3rd May 2008
Roll on Saturday morning and it's time to figure out what all the mysterious buttons do. In timing that can only be attained in an animated cartoon I discover the button that opens the curtains just as Katie gets out of bed... naked. Our full panoramic window looks out over the Edgeware Road area and right across the street is a Police Station House with a residential tower as tall as the hotel we're staying in. Strangely Katie did not find this as funny as I did. But Karma is a wonderful thing. Not 10 minutes later I decide it's time to use the bathroom and as I walk towards it I notice a red button next to the door that reads: 'Push to open door', thinking that was quite helpful I pushed the button and watched in horror as the door to our hotel room opens. Completely naked I dash to the door, trying to conceal my modesty as I struggle to close a door hell bent on staying open. Heed my warning people: 'NEVER PUSH THE RED BUTTON.'
Showered and suitably attired we head downstairs for the days events. Q&A with Paris Jefferson. Paris is always lovely, her responses are always honest and thoughtful - No, I'd never heard of the show before, Yes I've done work that I've wished I hadn't. When asked about the relationship between Athena and her right hand girl Ilainus Paris responded that if she were ever to have a girlfriend it would be Musetta.
After the auction it was the Brittany Powell Q&A. She first appeared at the Burbank 2007 convention, I missed her and really wished I hadn't. Made sure that I saw her at Burbank 2008 and was ready for more in London. This woman is as engaging as she is gorgeous; she adores her son, loves her work and revels in the fact that as Brunnhilda she straight up fancied the pants off Gabrielle. Her talk revealed so much more about her than I'd heard before, here I thought she was an ex playboy playmate who got lucky, but she is so much more. I loved listening to her talk about growing up and the different places she lived and how she got into acting and the things she has studied and practiced with it.
But Brittany is famous on the convention circuit - she auctions her bra for charity and the winner gets to remove it. There was a bidding war between the head of Brittany's fan club and the London Xena Meet. We may not have raised as much money as Brittany has got in the States but we provided more entertainment. We had both her and the audience in stitches as we pooled our money and emptied the change from our pockets. We lost. But second place had it's benefits when Brittany called us up to the stage for a personal thank you and hug. I had to get us a group photo op with her as a consolation prize. That lady rocks.
With the evening drawing closwer thoughts turned towards getting over to the Carling Academy for 'Lucy Lawless in Concert'. Now usually I don't go to these things, it's more money than I can afford on top of trans atlantic flights and hotel bills, and Katie isn't all that struck on Lucy's singing voice. But when Maureen presents Katie with two tickets for her birthday... well it seems rude not to. We cab, we queue, we crush to the front. Well I crushed and then sidled off to the side by the bar where there was less of the crowd. I hate crowds and so does sweet nuisance, we chatted and joked and passed water to those brave souls in the fray.
The gig was incredible. Lucy 'can' sing, and hit the ocassional bad note and sometimes get her words mixed up but I don't care she is an incredible entertainer and looks incredible in chaps. She knows her audience and they know her and I think that made the whole experience just... WOW!
The songlist is perfect for her; some Patti Smith, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Tyler, Meredith Brooks favourites and even a rendition of Prince's 'When Doves Cry' which was beautiful. And Katie only had one thing to say at the end, 'This is the best birthday'. (That's right my girly is another year older, closing it to only a four year gap between our ages which is so much better than the three months a year when it's five years.)
Sunday 4th May 2008
Sunday morning meant it was time to check out of our room and sling our bags into Maureen's room until it's time to head home. Except that Maureen tells us that two of their number are leaving that day and did we want to stay the extra night. That took all of two minutes to think about and another two minutes to buy concert tickets for the gig that night.
1pm gets closer we all take our seats as the reason we are all here has arrived. Lucy Lawless. She was tired but riding a buzz from the night before and ready to answer questions. Warned not to prefix our questions with 'I love you Lucy' because we already know that and 'No hugs because your stick insect named Xena died and you're upset' we get underway. The questions at this event turned out to be quite interesting and thought provoking. One fan said that this was a 'Shazam' moment for her and did Lucy still get those. Did she keep a journal while she was filming Xena? (No, because it would have been really boring.) Was there anything she was afraid to do? (Not really, because she doesn't have the urge to throw herself out of an plane, but has bungeed from a helicopter.)
As usual she leaves the stage far too soon for our liking, but she has another gig to get ready for.
This time when we arrive at the venue we get to cut in a little as we've had people waiting there for hours. We end up in a similar place to the previous night but the section just in front of us is roped off for our buddy Sarah and her chair. This provided plenty of space and a great view of Lucy when she hits the stage in her chaps. What more could a girl ask for? Perhaps a more comfortable place to sleep than a single blow up bed with my girlfriend, but I'm telling you the sacrifice was more than worth it. (And maybe Renee O'Connor, in chaps.)
Before bed we spect a good couple of hours just chilling and unwinding with Maureen, Nora, Laurie, Sandy and Pam. A nice end to a great weekend.
And finally, no matter what, XWP still rules. (Yes I'm still a geek.)
Current Mood: exhausted
Current Music: 'Everything Changes' - Take That
05 May 2008 @ 02:31 pm
Saturday, 26th April 2008
It's that time of year again when we pack two cars with people, clothes and food and head off to the South Coast. A town called Swanage, on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset to be exact. We make this trip every year as a way to celebrate and remember my granparents who loved the area and to just be together as a family.
Just a couple of weeks before we lost another of our number when Auntie Joyce, my Nan's younger sister, died from respitory problems after suffering a heart attack. She'll be remembered in our thoughts this year also. Since my Grandfather died we had encouraged Nan to spend more time with Joyce and thus Joyce had spent more time with our family, becoming one of the gang as Nan would have called it. She was a cheeky mare who gave as good as she got and proved that many good things do come in small packages. I hope that in their final years, when both were lonely having lost their soul mates that they had some laughs and some adventures with us.
It was our usual early Saturday drive to make sure we got to Wimbourne in time for the market. We wandered around the various stalls, got some earthernware pots for the kitchen and a mole ornament for the garden (Dean named him Arthur), and then we had to get the unusual cheeses that only seem to be sold here: Cheddar Marmite and Afterburn, I intend never to try either. It's then onto Wareham for the Local Produce Market, it still puzzles me that they sell Duracell batteries, bleach and knock off sunglasses... local my arse!
Finally we arrive in Swanage at the house, our rented home for the week. We've stayed in a number of holiday homes in the town and have often passed this particular house and we were all under the impression that it was a Nursing Home. With it's full length, panoramic windows that look out over the bay we were sure it was inhabited by retired Brigaderes playing Backgammon and elderly Woman's Institute ladies making jam. But no, it is owned by a gentleman currently working in Australian and making a little money in his absense. It still looks like a nursing home but now that we've been inside it's a nursing home crossed with an Austrian ski lodge and a Spanish villa, with a green roof. And the view is amazing.
Spent the rest of the afternoon making sure everything was still where we left it. The cafe with the best cream tea, the pub with the 23 ciders, the ice cream parlour that has the best chocolate ice cream, and the shop that girls spend hours in and boys spend hours outside of propping up the wall. I don't know whether it's the early morning or the fresh air but by nine I'm ready to sleep. So I do.
Sunday, 27th April 2008
I don't know how this happens but when I'm on holiday with my parents I always end up getting up earlier than I do on a normal work day. I don't get it.
Sunday is always the day that we head to Studland Bay, where my Grandparents ashes are scattered. They never wanted us to have graves to visit. We pack some sandwiches and a flask, or should I say that Nan and Joyce used to pack sandwiches and a flask because left to Mum she forgot to pack the milk and sugar and completely forgot to bring a drink for me. Tut tut. Their ashes are scattered in the dunes, near a tree that only shows it's top most branches through the build up of sand. I gathered some stones for Grandad and some shells for Nan and placed them by a heather bush. I told them I missed them and what I was doing with the house since Dean and I have decided to move in.
Back at the house we're having some quiet time, well everyone is except Mum. Dad is reading, Naomi is reading, I'm doing a crossword and Dean is putting stickers in his sticker album. Mum has found a book about the local area and keeps piping up with all sorts of facts. We ocassionally mumble at her but largely ignore her. After a bit to eat we pack ourselves into the car to drive back to London for Joyce's funeral tomorrow. From the middle of the backseat Mum is still chattering away; Naomi has turned on her Ipod, soon after I do the same and in the front of the car Dad and Dean discreetly turn up the volume on the radio. I'd never noticed before that my Mum doesn't like silence but I'm pretty sure it's only been since Nan died that it's been this way. I always joked that when I turned 30 I would start channeling my mother, just didn't realise that in order for that to happen she would have to start channeling hers. Spooky.
Monday, 28th April 2008
Maureen arrives at the house before I'm even out of bed. It means the world to my family that she wanted to attend Joyce's funeral. Katie had wanted to be there too but had to work. A card from Kirsty and Tidds also conveys their apologies that they can't be there. Ralph will be joining us at the Crematorium. It's incredible that both my Nan and Joyce meant so much to my friends, that they were thought of and cared for.
I'd not cried for Joyce since she had died. My feelings too confused with guilt and anger and all mixed up with the grief that still lingers so closely at the mere thought of my Nan. The ceremony was in the same chapel but we sat the opposite side. I couldn't look at the coffin; my cousin Emma had placed her flower arrangement at the head of it, the word Nan was spelled out in silver letters against a pink heart pillow. Too much memory of the last time I was there took over and I sobbed. Remembering how we had listened to 'Catch A Falling Star', how Naomi had held me when I wanted to race to the coffin before they took her away from me, and how we had sang along to 'Que Sera Sera'. For Joyce the song was 'You're Beautiful', Joyce always said he was singing it to her.
Piling back into the car we head back to Swanage. With both Naomi and I listening to our Ipods Mum falls asleep within minutes. Why didn't we think of that that last night?
We had all agreed that we would eat out at the Italian that night. We'd never been before, not sure Nan or Joyce would find something on the menu, we certainly did. Sod the diet, I had chicken and pancetta in a carbonara sauce, garlic bread and chips, and for dessert I had some of that amazing chocolate ice cream (the owner of the restaurant and the ice cream parlour are cousins).
Full up we head for home, taking a nice stroll along the darkened beach to start burning off all those calories.
Tuesday, 29th April 2008
We always have an away day. A few years ago I chose Longleat Safari Park where I fed a deer and got drawl all over my hand and in my sisters handbag. Naomi chose a trip on the steam train to Corfe Castle last year. So this year the choice was down to Dean and he chose Portsmouth Dockyard and it was a bloody good day out. They have three ships permanently on display: Warrior, Victory and Mary Rose. Warrior and Victory are pretty much museums themselves. You can roam the decks and touch guns and hammocks and plates and cannons.
Onboard Warrior you can have yourself locked in the brig, so Dean shoved me in and closed the door! It was dark, made me shudder at the thought of actually being locked in. On the lowers decks were the engine rooms, the furnaces that were stoked by the 'Walking Dead'. I had to explain that term to my sister; that the sailors who worked the furnaces were the first to be sacrificed if the ship started taking on water. The doors were sealed and the men left to die. Though it was many, many years later my Grandfather was in the Navy during WWII and he was an engine stoker. I saw the moment that my sister put it all together and it was her turn to shudder.
Victory is incredible. It is still a commissioned vessel and as such ships coming into port still have to salute this piece of history. Out on the top deck there is a plaque to show where Nelson fell in battle and where he died later below decks. I really hope that people were shorter back then because I had to bow my head on the lowest decks, Dean was practically bent double.
Mary Rose was the ship that I was most interested in before the day. Some of my earliest memories include the day that the remains of the wreck were lifted from the depths. Though my four year old mind convinced me that it was made from yellow metal I later learned that this was the cradle that held. The ship is kept in a protected environment and is sprayed with a liquid wax to protect the wood. This preservation will continue until 2011 when it will be moved to a new interactive display. We're already planning our return trip.
Wednesday, 30th April and Thursday, 1st May 2008
The last couple of days were spent just chilling for Dean and I. Whilst Mum, Dad and Naomi had to see agents about the house they're planning to buy down there we went to the arcades and played the Bingo machines, we went to the pub and played the quiz machine, we went to the cafe and had cream tea and sandwiches and we went to the beack to scavenge for rocks. Okay I went to the beach to scavenge for rocks, while Dean ridiculed me from the Broadwalk, I'm still not entirely sure what I plan to do with all those rocks... I'm sure I'll think of something.
It's that time of year again when we pack two cars with people, clothes and food and head off to the South Coast. A town called Swanage, on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset to be exact. We make this trip every year as a way to celebrate and remember my granparents who loved the area and to just be together as a family.
Just a couple of weeks before we lost another of our number when Auntie Joyce, my Nan's younger sister, died from respitory problems after suffering a heart attack. She'll be remembered in our thoughts this year also. Since my Grandfather died we had encouraged Nan to spend more time with Joyce and thus Joyce had spent more time with our family, becoming one of the gang as Nan would have called it. She was a cheeky mare who gave as good as she got and proved that many good things do come in small packages. I hope that in their final years, when both were lonely having lost their soul mates that they had some laughs and some adventures with us.
It was our usual early Saturday drive to make sure we got to Wimbourne in time for the market. We wandered around the various stalls, got some earthernware pots for the kitchen and a mole ornament for the garden (Dean named him Arthur), and then we had to get the unusual cheeses that only seem to be sold here: Cheddar Marmite and Afterburn, I intend never to try either. It's then onto Wareham for the Local Produce Market, it still puzzles me that they sell Duracell batteries, bleach and knock off sunglasses... local my arse!
Finally we arrive in Swanage at the house, our rented home for the week. We've stayed in a number of holiday homes in the town and have often passed this particular house and we were all under the impression that it was a Nursing Home. With it's full length, panoramic windows that look out over the bay we were sure it was inhabited by retired Brigaderes playing Backgammon and elderly Woman's Institute ladies making jam. But no, it is owned by a gentleman currently working in Australian and making a little money in his absense. It still looks like a nursing home but now that we've been inside it's a nursing home crossed with an Austrian ski lodge and a Spanish villa, with a green roof. And the view is amazing.
Spent the rest of the afternoon making sure everything was still where we left it. The cafe with the best cream tea, the pub with the 23 ciders, the ice cream parlour that has the best chocolate ice cream, and the shop that girls spend hours in and boys spend hours outside of propping up the wall. I don't know whether it's the early morning or the fresh air but by nine I'm ready to sleep. So I do.
Sunday, 27th April 2008
I don't know how this happens but when I'm on holiday with my parents I always end up getting up earlier than I do on a normal work day. I don't get it.
Sunday is always the day that we head to Studland Bay, where my Grandparents ashes are scattered. They never wanted us to have graves to visit. We pack some sandwiches and a flask, or should I say that Nan and Joyce used to pack sandwiches and a flask because left to Mum she forgot to pack the milk and sugar and completely forgot to bring a drink for me. Tut tut. Their ashes are scattered in the dunes, near a tree that only shows it's top most branches through the build up of sand. I gathered some stones for Grandad and some shells for Nan and placed them by a heather bush. I told them I missed them and what I was doing with the house since Dean and I have decided to move in.
Back at the house we're having some quiet time, well everyone is except Mum. Dad is reading, Naomi is reading, I'm doing a crossword and Dean is putting stickers in his sticker album. Mum has found a book about the local area and keeps piping up with all sorts of facts. We ocassionally mumble at her but largely ignore her. After a bit to eat we pack ourselves into the car to drive back to London for Joyce's funeral tomorrow. From the middle of the backseat Mum is still chattering away; Naomi has turned on her Ipod, soon after I do the same and in the front of the car Dad and Dean discreetly turn up the volume on the radio. I'd never noticed before that my Mum doesn't like silence but I'm pretty sure it's only been since Nan died that it's been this way. I always joked that when I turned 30 I would start channeling my mother, just didn't realise that in order for that to happen she would have to start channeling hers. Spooky.
Monday, 28th April 2008
Maureen arrives at the house before I'm even out of bed. It means the world to my family that she wanted to attend Joyce's funeral. Katie had wanted to be there too but had to work. A card from Kirsty and Tidds also conveys their apologies that they can't be there. Ralph will be joining us at the Crematorium. It's incredible that both my Nan and Joyce meant so much to my friends, that they were thought of and cared for.
I'd not cried for Joyce since she had died. My feelings too confused with guilt and anger and all mixed up with the grief that still lingers so closely at the mere thought of my Nan. The ceremony was in the same chapel but we sat the opposite side. I couldn't look at the coffin; my cousin Emma had placed her flower arrangement at the head of it, the word Nan was spelled out in silver letters against a pink heart pillow. Too much memory of the last time I was there took over and I sobbed. Remembering how we had listened to 'Catch A Falling Star', how Naomi had held me when I wanted to race to the coffin before they took her away from me, and how we had sang along to 'Que Sera Sera'. For Joyce the song was 'You're Beautiful', Joyce always said he was singing it to her.
Piling back into the car we head back to Swanage. With both Naomi and I listening to our Ipods Mum falls asleep within minutes. Why didn't we think of that that last night?
We had all agreed that we would eat out at the Italian that night. We'd never been before, not sure Nan or Joyce would find something on the menu, we certainly did. Sod the diet, I had chicken and pancetta in a carbonara sauce, garlic bread and chips, and for dessert I had some of that amazing chocolate ice cream (the owner of the restaurant and the ice cream parlour are cousins).
Full up we head for home, taking a nice stroll along the darkened beach to start burning off all those calories.
Tuesday, 29th April 2008
We always have an away day. A few years ago I chose Longleat Safari Park where I fed a deer and got drawl all over my hand and in my sisters handbag. Naomi chose a trip on the steam train to Corfe Castle last year. So this year the choice was down to Dean and he chose Portsmouth Dockyard and it was a bloody good day out. They have three ships permanently on display: Warrior, Victory and Mary Rose. Warrior and Victory are pretty much museums themselves. You can roam the decks and touch guns and hammocks and plates and cannons.
Onboard Warrior you can have yourself locked in the brig, so Dean shoved me in and closed the door! It was dark, made me shudder at the thought of actually being locked in. On the lowers decks were the engine rooms, the furnaces that were stoked by the 'Walking Dead'. I had to explain that term to my sister; that the sailors who worked the furnaces were the first to be sacrificed if the ship started taking on water. The doors were sealed and the men left to die. Though it was many, many years later my Grandfather was in the Navy during WWII and he was an engine stoker. I saw the moment that my sister put it all together and it was her turn to shudder.
Victory is incredible. It is still a commissioned vessel and as such ships coming into port still have to salute this piece of history. Out on the top deck there is a plaque to show where Nelson fell in battle and where he died later below decks. I really hope that people were shorter back then because I had to bow my head on the lowest decks, Dean was practically bent double.
Mary Rose was the ship that I was most interested in before the day. Some of my earliest memories include the day that the remains of the wreck were lifted from the depths. Though my four year old mind convinced me that it was made from yellow metal I later learned that this was the cradle that held. The ship is kept in a protected environment and is sprayed with a liquid wax to protect the wood. This preservation will continue until 2011 when it will be moved to a new interactive display. We're already planning our return trip.
Wednesday, 30th April and Thursday, 1st May 2008
The last couple of days were spent just chilling for Dean and I. Whilst Mum, Dad and Naomi had to see agents about the house they're planning to buy down there we went to the arcades and played the Bingo machines, we went to the pub and played the quiz machine, we went to the cafe and had cream tea and sandwiches and we went to the beack to scavenge for rocks. Okay I went to the beach to scavenge for rocks, while Dean ridiculed me from the Broadwalk, I'm still not entirely sure what I plan to do with all those rocks... I'm sure I'll think of something.
Current Mood: busy
Current Music: 'Hybrid Theory' - Linkin Park
21 April 2008 @ 09:06 pm
My lungs are clear. Unfortunately all the coughing has left its toll and something in my ribs hurts. If I cough, sneeze or breathe it hurts. If I turn over in bed, or god forbid, try to sleep it hurts.
So it was back to the doctors to be poked and proded, sent to hospital for the threatened chest x-rays and recommended to take painkillers until it stops hurting while I wait for the results of the chest x-rays. Joy.
So it was back to the doctors to be poked and proded, sent to hospital for the threatened chest x-rays and recommended to take painkillers until it stops hurting while I wait for the results of the chest x-rays. Joy.
Current Mood: worried
03 April 2008 @ 12:13 pm
Finally conceded that the wheezing and rattling in my chest needed a professional opinion.
The Practice Nurse listened to my lungs and pronounced them clear but decided to prescribe some antibiotics to be on the safe side. However if the coughing persists I have to go back for chest x-rays and blood work.
Now that doesn't sound scary.
On a happier note it means I get to watch 30 Rock while I'm off work. I've had the series since January and only just getting around to it. Tina Fey rocks and Stephanie March guest stars as a lesbian. WHOO HOO!
The Practice Nurse listened to my lungs and pronounced them clear but decided to prescribe some antibiotics to be on the safe side. However if the coughing persists I have to go back for chest x-rays and blood work.
Now that doesn't sound scary.
On a happier note it means I get to watch 30 Rock while I'm off work. I've had the series since January and only just getting around to it. Tina Fey rocks and Stephanie March guest stars as a lesbian. WHOO HOO!
Current Mood: anxious
26 March 2008 @ 06:27 pm
It appears that MASQUE 3.0 is not without it's teething problems. CPU is not functioning correctly and the hardware is prone to malfunction.
Translation:
A week after my birthday I got what I thought was a cold. Itchy ears and sore throat gave way to sneezing and runny nose, general all round crappiness. But as we hit the easter weekend I managed 1 day of stripping wallpaper in the spare room before being consigned to the couch with lots of layers, coughing fits and an elevated level of crappiness.
Resolution:
There will be a patch available for download shortly.
Translation:
A week after my birthday I got what I thought was a cold. Itchy ears and sore throat gave way to sneezing and runny nose, general all round crappiness. But as we hit the easter weekend I managed 1 day of stripping wallpaper in the spare room before being consigned to the couch with lots of layers, coughing fits and an elevated level of crappiness.
Resolution:
There will be a patch available for download shortly.
Current Mood: crappy
06 March 2008 @ 04:04 pm
Someone reminded recently that I have a live journal and that I really should prove that I am live and journal about it!
Current Mood: hungry
Current Music: 'Rumbling' - My Stomach
24 February 2008 @ 07:29 pm
Being as I wasn't fond of the idea of turning 30 I left it until the last minute to arrange any kind of festivities to mark the occasion. Ultimately I invited a few friends and family, had some food, played some music and just chatted. The perfect type of party for me.
I finally decided that it was time to introduce some of the memebers of the London Xena Meetup Group to my family. they are a huge and important part of my life and I think my family were ready for them. So Lara, Jane, Lou, Huma, Debs and Alex joined the party along with the usual suspects of Katie, Dean, Maureen and Ravurian and the rest of my family.
Ravurian decided to get me a 60th card and tear it in half... I love you too Bro. Lara and Jane got me some book tokens and 'Aslan' a toy lion that means I can adopt a real one. When I was 8 I wrote in to Jim'll Fix It because I wanted to adopt a lion. 22 years later Lara and Jane fixed it for me... ROAR. Debs and Alex presented me with the complete boxset of adult Harry Potter books. The box had to be pried out of my hands so that I could blow out the candles on my birthday cake... I love my books.
For some reason, that escapes me now, Dean thought it would be a great idea to have modelling balloons at the party so I picked up a pack. When we eventually managed to get the things blown up the results were varied; Alex made an orange long necked, lop sided dog, Lou managed a green bee, Katie follwed the instructions and made a purple dinosaur and I inflated a dark green balloon, stuck a pair of eyes on it and called it a snake. Modelling balloons... who said 30 was grown up?
When Katie and I found ourselves the only ones left the Wii was opned and we finally got to bed some time after 5am.
30 is not so bad after all.
I finally decided that it was time to introduce some of the memebers of the London Xena Meetup Group to my family. they are a huge and important part of my life and I think my family were ready for them. So Lara, Jane, Lou, Huma, Debs and Alex joined the party along with the usual suspects of Katie, Dean, Maureen and Ravurian and the rest of my family.
Ravurian decided to get me a 60th card and tear it in half... I love you too Bro. Lara and Jane got me some book tokens and 'Aslan' a toy lion that means I can adopt a real one. When I was 8 I wrote in to Jim'll Fix It because I wanted to adopt a lion. 22 years later Lara and Jane fixed it for me... ROAR. Debs and Alex presented me with the complete boxset of adult Harry Potter books. The box had to be pried out of my hands so that I could blow out the candles on my birthday cake... I love my books.
For some reason, that escapes me now, Dean thought it would be a great idea to have modelling balloons at the party so I picked up a pack. When we eventually managed to get the things blown up the results were varied; Alex made an orange long necked, lop sided dog, Lou managed a green bee, Katie follwed the instructions and made a purple dinosaur and I inflated a dark green balloon, stuck a pair of eyes on it and called it a snake. Modelling balloons... who said 30 was grown up?
When Katie and I found ourselves the only ones left the Wii was opned and we finally got to bed some time after 5am.
30 is not so bad after all.
Current Mood: crazy
Current Music: 'Fallen' - Evanescence
22 February 2008 @ 11:46 pm
Well it's here. The day that I've been dreading for the last three years... My 30th Birthday.
And now it's here, it's not so bad.
My agonising over turning 30 is based firmly in the 'what exactly have I done with my life' category. I still live with my parents, with a joke of a job and no real idea of what I want to do with myself for the time that I have left on this planet. If being a professional dreamer was a career opportunity then to date I would have 2 television series, 2 mini series, 1 movie, a merchandise empire, 3 Baftas, 2 Golden Globes and an Emmy on my mantelpiece and would have appeared on Mtv Cribs, twice. (My London mansion and Los Angeles villa.) Alas reality is much more real and I'm the only person who can change what I've got. So I'm working on it, I have some tentative plans, some ideas and the realisation that I have to get out of the place I have worked for since university and known all my life. Time to cast aside the safety net.
But back to today. My girl is with me, on my actual birthday and she took me out for dinner. My diet is either forgotten for the evening or birthday calories don't count, especially when there is crispy coated mushrooms and lemon and herb chicken to be had. I'll only turn 30 once and shouldn't have to suffer the whole day.
Although a milesone birthday should be marked with a appropriate present, according to my parents, they had no clue what to buy me. I'm not a girly girl and so jewelery and clothes don't excite me. Nor do ornaments, pottery and plates like it does my sister. But they found the perfect gift: A Nintendo Wii, with extra controller and sports package. WHOO YEAH. It seemed that I had dropped enough hints.
It may well have been late by this time but we decided to do the shopping for my party. You should have seen the look on my sisters face when she saw the chocolate cake I was planning on buying. It would seem that the diet is forgotten for the whole weekend.
So Happy Birthday to me.
And now it's here, it's not so bad.
My agonising over turning 30 is based firmly in the 'what exactly have I done with my life' category. I still live with my parents, with a joke of a job and no real idea of what I want to do with myself for the time that I have left on this planet. If being a professional dreamer was a career opportunity then to date I would have 2 television series, 2 mini series, 1 movie, a merchandise empire, 3 Baftas, 2 Golden Globes and an Emmy on my mantelpiece and would have appeared on Mtv Cribs, twice. (My London mansion and Los Angeles villa.) Alas reality is much more real and I'm the only person who can change what I've got. So I'm working on it, I have some tentative plans, some ideas and the realisation that I have to get out of the place I have worked for since university and known all my life. Time to cast aside the safety net.
But back to today. My girl is with me, on my actual birthday and she took me out for dinner. My diet is either forgotten for the evening or birthday calories don't count, especially when there is crispy coated mushrooms and lemon and herb chicken to be had. I'll only turn 30 once and shouldn't have to suffer the whole day.
Although a milesone birthday should be marked with a appropriate present, according to my parents, they had no clue what to buy me. I'm not a girly girl and so jewelery and clothes don't excite me. Nor do ornaments, pottery and plates like it does my sister. But they found the perfect gift: A Nintendo Wii, with extra controller and sports package. WHOO YEAH. It seemed that I had dropped enough hints.
It may well have been late by this time but we decided to do the shopping for my party. You should have seen the look on my sisters face when she saw the chocolate cake I was planning on buying. It would seem that the diet is forgotten for the whole weekend.
So Happy Birthday to me.
Current Mood: bouncy
Current Music: 'Nobody Else' - Take That
02 February 2008 @ 07:24 pm
Monday 25th January 2008
I hate the Monday after the convention. It’s all over for another year and I have to say goodbye to all my American friends who I probably won’t see for another year, and goodbye to all my British friends who are flying back to Good Ol’ Blighty at some point. But hey, I’m going to Las Vegas so I’m not too tearful!
We get to hang out at Bob Hope airport for most of the morning and invariably we bump into someone from the convention, eeking out the buzz for as long as we can.
Going on South West Airlines is like going on a bus that flies. For a lot of people it’s simply a commute, just like the one I take to work everyday, but with better views, better seats and no overcrowding. I love that the cabin crew wear shorts and tee-shirts and that I barely get my in flight drink to my lips before it’s time to stow my trade table and return my seat to it’s upright position.
A quick ride to the Excalibur Hotel and I feel like I’m home. I miss the sound of the casino; mechanic voices chanting ‘Wheel of Fortune’, the ‘ping, ping, ping’ of the slot machine reels. I even miss the smell of the casino, I have no idea what it is, probably a higher level of oxygen being pumped into the air to keep the gamblers awake. Whatever it is I already have a bounce in my step. The bed is as big as the one we had at the Marriott even if the room isn’t, but I don’t plan to spend a lot of time there.
We’ve scarcely unpacked and I’m dragging Katie out of the room and through the labyrinth of Black Jack, Texas Hold ‘em, Roulette Wheels and out for some exploring. The Luxor, The Mandalay Bay, New York New York and The MGM Grand are in easy reach before we need to meet Maureen and Virginia for dinner, so it’s time to go play on the moving walkways. If it’s not busy I like to do a little song and dance number from ‘Singing In The Rain’ called ‘Broadway Rhythm’; running against the walkway, going with the walkway and singing at the top of my lungs. I can’t seem to help myself. Nor can I seem to quash the desire to run around the inside of The Luxor as though I’m in an episode of Stargate; this, however, I manage not to act out.
We spend a couple of hours looking around the different casinos and shopping arcades, just letting Katie take in the sheer madness that is Las Vegas. Then it’s time to head back to the room and meet up with Maureen and meet Virginia for the first time. Virginia is Maureen’s oldest sister and I’ve heard a lot about her over the years, a lot that Maureen begs me not to reveal that I know. Two hours later I know all the stories again, from Virginia’s point of view; mostly the same story, but with a lot more swearing!
There was no real doubt about where we were going to be eating on our first night in Las Vegas. Maureen and I have waxed lyrical over the Mandalay Bay Buffet for years, Virginia has been once before and was ready to return and Katie had been waiting for this experience since the beginning of the trip. We were too late for the dessert section but who cares when there’s salmon and crab claws, noodle soup that has pasta bows, creamy mashed potato and omelettes made to order.
With our appetites nicely satisfied we wander back through The Mandalay Bay and The Luxor and into The Excalibur. Las Vegas in a big city and we’ve got a lot of ground to cover tomorrow.
Tuesday 26th January 2008
Dropped by the Sherwood Café for breakfast, headed through New York New York (browsed the tee-shirt counter at Coyote Ugly), into the MGM Grand (stopped by the Lion habitat where a couple of cubs were entertaining the audience) and finally arrived in Heaven. Heaven being a three storey tall Coca-Cola bottle; where the famous brand logo is stamped on anything from a key ring to a classic chest refrigerator. I have a pair of pajamas.
No trip to Coca-Cola World would be complete without having at least one drink at the café conveniently located on the top floor. So Katie and I ordered a medium coke and medium diet coke and proceeded to give ourselves brain freeze as we drank them too quickly.
From there we began our whirlwind around the world trip, or at least the Las Vegas version of it. A slow stroll down to Paris, where because we hadn’t finished our Cokes we got ourselves some Pepsi and sat for a few minutes to admire the 1:8 replica of the Eiffel Tower. On the way we passed Morte Carlo, currently closed because it had suffered some fire damage at the weekend. Then we were crossing the Rialto Bridge as we made it to Venice, making a beeline for St Mark’s Piazza, buying ice cream and watching the Gondolas bob past. I’ve never really spent much time in the Venetian and now I know why. Lots of lovely little shops with beautiful masks and amazing hand made leather journals; I could spend a fortune and not even care, so Katie dragged me out and promised to buy me a mask for an early birthday present.
Across the road and we begin the journey back to Arthurian England. We’re a little too early for the Siren’s at Treasure Island so we’ll have to come back for that. We bypass the Forum Shops because I have no desire to spend $300 on a handbag. Spare a brief glance for the Coliseum, well we were sightseeing. We did stop at the Bellagio Lake, but after 15 minutes with no dancing water we moved on because it was starting to get a bit chilly. We ducked into New York New York for a bit of warmth and walked through the pretend streets and into the pretend park. And then we were back to our castle.
We did indeed cover a lot of ground, miles when you take in the endless corridors of the Aladdin’s Passage at Planet Hollywood and the numerous floors of the Fashion Show Mall. And we walked all day, no buses, no cabs, no wonder I only want to go as far as the Round Table Buffet for dinner.
Wednesday 27th January 2008
It’s Annual Best Buy and Barnes and Noble day in Las Vegas. The rest of Las Vegas doesn’t actually celebrate this holiday, just myself and those on the trip with me. It’s a day dedicated to going off Strip to one of the numerous little shopping arcades, what we here in England would call a retail park, and spending a vast amount of dollars on DVDs, CDs, electronics and books.
Last year we discovered after a healthy spend in Best Buy that Barnes and Noble had a 2 for 1 on most of the DVD box sets we’d just got. This year we heeded our mistake and went to Barnes and Noble first; and they’re still having a 2 for 1 deal. After browsing the shelves of television series for a few minutes I realise I have all my Angel and Buffy and Xena box sets. There’s no new release for Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. And every other series I like gets cancelled after 13 episodes and rarely makes it to DVD release. In short I can’t find anything to buy. But then a little gem appears before me: 30 Rock season one. Mine. Tina Fey is my goddess; she writes, she acts, she creates, she produces, why would I not worship her? And Stephanie March as a lesbian… GO GAY FOR GRETCHEN.
Over at Best Buy I pick up Studio 60 and The Shield for Dean, neither of them were available in the 2 for 1 next door. I get close to pulling the Complete Alias box set from the shelf but Katie stops me with a gentle reminder that I’m trying to be careful with money during this trip. I hate it when she makes me sensible.
We manage to get a cab back to the hotel and arrange to reconvene with The Sisters later on for an excursion. In the mean time Katie and I decide that having pictures taken in front of various landmarks would be a fun way to pass the time. So we posed before the Statue of Liberty, The Sphinx, The Eiffel Tower, The Coliseum and the castle – America, Europe, Africa and time travel all in the one day, how wonderful.
Our excursion for the evening is a trip to Fremont Street. I’ve been meaning to do this for six years but never quite got around to it, this year I was determined. The four of us got 24 hour bus passes and boarded The Deuce at Tropicana and sat in traffic for an hour, there was an accident somewhere along the Strip. Finally we get to Fremont Street and I feel a bit of a shiver as I see some of the first casinos to be built in this town: 4 Queens, Golden Nugget, Binion’s Horseshoe, The Golden Gate and The Plaza. Not to mention the Marlborough Man waving away at everyone. I couldn’t resist the chance to pump a few dollars into a slot machine at The 4 Queens just so I could say I did.
We watched the light show on the canopy above us, but I wasn’t really held captive by it. I was more interested by everyone else looking up at it and by the street performers and finding somewhere that was a little bit warmer.
The return bus ride was even more of an adventure than the first. We get as far as the junction of Treasure Island to find the whole thing blocked off by police. No traffic is moving in either direction and foot traffic is forbidden to cross as well. Thankfully sitting just across from us is the daughter of a taxi driver and after a few phone calls she reveals that President Bush is in town. This gets everybody talking to one another, and on discovering that our group is British begin apologising profusely for their leader. Considering he won two elections I have never met anyone who has voted for him.
Unfortunately the delay this caused meant that we would not be in time for The Mandalay Bay buffet and so we opted for the MGM café instead. For some reason unknown to anyone, including myself, at this particular restaurant I always order my starter from the breakfast menu and my main from the starter menu. Not so this year, I took a gamble and had the starter for a starter and a main for a main; chicken noodle soup followed by a cheese and bacon burger. I didn’t manage to finish the burger but at least I know I tried.
Back in the hotel room we decided to actually switch on the rather large television that graced our wall. We tuned into an episode of Sex And The City. I’ve only ever seen one episode of Sex And The City and it was the same one. I fell asleep in no time.
Thursday 28th January 2008
Our last full day in Las Vegas; we decide to skip breakfast at the Sherwood Café in favour of an early lunch in a little place I know. Head to Coca-Cola World, take the escalator to the basement, go past the climbing wall and the aqua massagers, walk through the video game arcade and up a ramp is a little diner that serves the best burgers I’ve ever had in my life.
Katie and I ordered something called ‘Sliders’ as a starter; six mini burgers with various condiments so you can flavour them to your own taste. I followed this with a chicken burger and Katie had a turkey wrap. With enough energy in our system we prepare to tackle the Strip for the final time.
Usually I would spend a couple of hours just playing in the arcade but today we have other plans. We head straight to the Venetian and after walking around the faux alleys and waterways we finally find the little shop selling the carnival masks and Katie lets me pick out my birthday present. It’s a gorgeous half face with silvers and blues and sparkles. She then quickly ushers me from the store before I can be distracted by the leather journals again.
Next we decide to visit The Secret Garden at The Mirage. We watch the Dolphins playing with Frisbees and take plenty of photographs so that we can guarantee that at least a couple will turn out okay. Then it’s onto my favourite part: the big cats, Lions, White Lions, Bengal Tigers, White Tigers, a Black Panther and a Snow Leopard. On my first trip to The Secret Garden I was relieved that these animals are only on show here for opening times and that they live on a big ranch with Siegfried and Roy and that they rotate which cats are on show every few days. And then there’s the Elephant; why does he share his space with a turkey? I ask myself this question every year and I still don’t have the answer. It’s a combination I just don’t understand, clearly.
It was starting to get a little darker out and so we decide to take in The Sirens show at Treasure Island. I’ve never seen the show before; it was fun to watch, some dancing, some acrobatics, some girls in very skimpy clothing who must have been freezing in that water. After the show we wander back along the Strip and as we reach The Bellagio they’re gearing up for a show, how very fortuitous for us. I think the song was ‘It’s Great To Be An American’ but it could have been ‘Singing In The Rain’ I just love watching those fountains dance, and they keep very good time.
Back at The Excalibur I try to spend some of the money I have left because I really don’t want to exchange it when I get home. I put $20 dollars into a slot machine and get $60 out, typical.
Current Mood: exhausted
Current Music: 'Dive In' - Darius