Thin Mint Ice.

In 2005, this happened...

... this Ice Cream was monumental. 

It was THE best Ice Cream I had ever EVER tasted.  I loved it.  I bought it weekly as my Saturday treat.  It was my paradigm shift in the world of Ice Cream, changing my conceptions of cream based, icy food forever.

No less than a few months after Minter Wonderland shone light upon my tastebuds... Ben & Jerrys condemned it to  the Ice Cream graveyard and stopped selling it.  For a few months I checked supermarkets in the vain hope of finding a stray tub- to no avail.  I was never to see or taste this Ice Cream again. 

It took me many years to get over this- in fact I'm not sure I have forgiven Ben & Jerrys yet for their cruelty.  No Mint Ice cream was ever going to compare...

and then, a few weeks ago, by sheer chance, this happened...

... Oh. My God.  Mint Leaves and Chocolate.  The years of Ben & Jerry's heartbreak ended as I slipped that smooth cold spoon of icy, minty goodness into my mouth.  That Ice Cream and my tongue were meant to be together, united, in perfect harmony.  I never thought anything would taste as good as Minter Wonderland... but this, completely surpassed my expectations.  Years of empty, flavourless, dull, boring utterly CRAP mint choc chip Ice Cream melted away and my life felt complete once again.

I consumed two tubs... and then the fear of this amazing happiness-in-a-tub being taken away from me took over.  The next couple of days I visited Sainsbugs AND Tesco and noted they didn't appear to have any of my Ice Cream left- this could be both good and bad.  Maybe stocks are just low because it's new...  "Don't panic" I thought, lets check online.  To my horror, my ice cream was now only being stocked in Waitrose and Ocado.  That's okay... we are fortunate to live near two Waitrose supermarkets.  The larger of these stores, had just three tubs in stock.  I bought all three.  They are safe in my freezer.

However, my love affair is, I fear, to be short lived.  I stopped by a smaller Waitrose this afternoon on my way home from work in the hope of stocking up on a few more tubs.  I scoured the shelves of the Ice Cream freezers- There were none.  There wasn't even a label for them.  That familiar feeling returns... my ice cream is slowly but surely slipping out of my grasp once again. 

There are still supplies... online mainly.  I'm considering whether my addiction is worthy of ordering a few more tubs- potentially having to pay for delivery.  Just how far will I go to get this Ice Cream?  Is there such a thing as black market ice cream dealer where I can fuel my habit? Perhaps the local Mr Whippy van could strike up some sort of deal... Yes, desperate times.

I still have my three tubs...these will now be subject to STRICT rations.  It's going to be a sad, emotionally tough day when I spoon out the last scoop from my last tub.

So fleeting... so passionate... and then it's over... so suddenly. 

The world of Ice Cream is a cruel, cruel place.   

UK not OK.

A few weeks ago, I was going to write a blog post about perceptions of the Police Force in the UK Media.  I put it off- and feel like today is the perfect day to bring it back up again.

Over the last few years, having seen Policing from the inside out, I've taken more notice of media perceptions of the Police in this country.  In the last 18 months there has been an outpouring of anti-police messages from the media ranging from tory-based newspaper articles, to TV programmes.  The papers are quick to pounce on a story highlighting inadequacies, incompetence and the chance to ridicule a police force- but there was little praise for the Police officers who leapt into action when the Riots took off in August 2011.  Not a word from the home secretary or Cameron to thank them for their hard work. 

Specifically, a BBC made programme called Mayday made a mockery of the UK police service showing incompetent police civilian staff and bumbling police officers, not to mention the actual murderer was a police man.  This isn't the first time, but is the freshest in my memory.  An ITV series, about to finish on prime time TV, called Broadchurch also shows a struggling police investigation with staff mostly painted out as demotivated, miserable workers who are feeling around in the dark. 

None of the above is an accurate portrait of UK Policing. None of it is justified or fair and I believe it is a deliberate attempt to rouse a general distrust from the public for British Policing and de-sensitise the public to  the damage being done to the Police Force by the Tory Government.

In stark contrast, in the US, Police Officers are respected and praised.  They are celebrated in US cop shows- CSI, NCIS, Law and Order, Hawaii 50, NYPD Blue all show clever, dynamic and vibrant policing where the officers are given an almost hero status.  On the day that US police captured their bombing suspect- celebratory tweets, thanks and praise flooded in for the police operation and officers involved. Boston Police's now famous "CAPTURED" tweet was re-tweeted around the world in seconds; Fellow American Facebook users posted "Thanks to our Forces" pictures, words like Justice where being used just for the police arresting a man who is still by all accounts just s a suspect!;  even the anti-police BBC ran a full headline story about the policing operation. 

Whilst I am aware there are changes that should be made to British Policing, our force does NOT deserve the daily onslaught of degrading news articles and TV representation. There is good policing going on, unheard, unseen; it's because of Officer and Staff hard work without fanfare or reward, that communities are kept safe from harm for the most part unaware of some of the dangers they may otherwise face. 
It's not the British way to celebrate and praise- but a bit of pride, respect and recognition from the media would be nice.  I don't think for a minute that the general public has as much disregard for the Police as the Media clearly does, but it still has an impact on community perception, especially when the Police is undergoing such huge financial strain.

Policing needs the backing and support of the communities it protects.  The media would do well to remember that.

The Pits.

Stirling Moss thinks women lack the Mental Aptitude for Formula One.

 



Or should that have read- Stirling Moss proves he's an outdated, old bigot. ?  I might point out that he never won a championship also. 

 

His reasoning is flawed, flimsy and quite frankly comes from an era long gone- one that no longer exists and it's quite sad to hear that he is still living in decades past. 

 

This follows a good documentary aired by the BBC on Sunday, made my David Stoddard about his sister Susie Wolffe and her rise to test driver for the Williams F1 team.  She's a remarkable young woman- I remember seeing her race in lower formulas many years ago and have been pleased to see her success through the formulas, competing in DTM for a number of years before moving to her new testing role in F1 in 2012.  I hope she makes it; I hope she proves Sterling Moss wrong- as she's already surpassed him in sheer determination in a still widely sexist, male dominated motor racing world where grid girls are still seen as compulsory at family orientated events and serious female racing contenders are expected to race in the occasional pink car as a pathetic attempt at a publicity stunt.

 

I hope she, or another female competitor races in Formula One in my lifetime- I will be right behind her all the way.

 



Women in Motor Racing

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gym and Chocolate Bars.

So last week, I was spontaneously bought two chocolate bars- one from an alleged sex pest who bought me a big galaxy bar from the Asda Ooops! section marked down TWICE to 25p then 20p; and one from a new chum of mine who is like an intriguing cross between The Mad Hatter and Christopher Walken.  Day one into the week and I have already been bought a big bag of Cadburys Caramel Nibbles- this time by a nice chap and new chum who was thanking me for the nice, hot cup of tea I had waiting for him following his meeting.  Score!!!

In stark contrast to this increase in chocolate-y goodness, I have been going to the gym now a couple of times a week for the past two and a half weeks.  I have found a new love for Rowing which I really seem  to enjoy as it doesn't tire me out too quickly but gives both my arms, legs and lungs a decent enough work out.  I'm also becoming more confident at using the various weight bearing machines to build up my muscles and strength.  All in all, I am really enjoying it.  I just want my overall fitness to improve so I can really get stuck in- at the moment I have a few concerns with my heart rate which will hopefully get better with time.  I miss punching though and am hoping to enrol on a combat class in the coming weeks. 

This reminds me- Following Friday in the gym, I had a night in watching Silver Linings Playbook on Saturday night.  It was a good film, despite a few concerns to the contrary at the start, but during the first half hour of the film, I noticed my heart rate was racing.  I ignored it at first, but I started to get concerned when I felt really short of breath.  Trying not to worry, I timed my pulse and my heart rate was a whopping 95 beats per minute- RESTING!!!! I was getting worried when an hour into the film, my heart rate hadn't decreased, and I decided that I may need to get on the phone to NHS direct to ask for some advice or seek medical help.... 

....  It then dawned on me- that beneath my skinny jeans, I had on my thickest,winter-iest, super-warm, woolley tights. 

Genius.  I'd been sitting there effectively cooking myself for an hour and a half, panicking that I was having some sort of heart failure, when in fact I was just hot.  Oh god, can you imagine the ambulance men turning up with the defibrillator to find me sat there in a jumper, and woolley tights UNDER my skinny jeans like a loon.  Once, removed, I was thoroughly relieved to find that my heart rate decreased to a far more manageable and less worrying 70 bpm. 

It really is a wonder how I've lasted 30 years. 

The Eraser.

Slate wiped clean.

A clear out is always good for the soul. 

I'm sentimental- and as such I hang on to little things that mean a lot to me.  I had a clear out of messages, little images and drawings from people who are no longer in my life.  The last few months have taught me a lot about who are friends and who are mere acquantainces.  I no longer need attachments to acquantainces, particularly those who so easily forget me and don't even so much as send a card for my 30th.  I hang on to too many things, both good and bad.  My phone was full of photos, little drawings and things that once made me smile- yet they meant less to the sender than they did to me, and there's little point hanging on to those things when the sender is long gone. 

I feel better for it.  I feel stronger.  Knowledge, even the harshest lessons, are always worthwhile. 

I'm ready and smiling again.

Untitled.

“And when at last you find someone to whom you feel you can pour out your soul, you stop in shock at the words you utter— they are so rusty, so ugly, so meaningless and feeble from being kept in the small cramped dark inside you so long.”
― Sylvia Plath

 

 

Semi-Charmed Kinda Life.

One of my earliest memories is of me spending hours looking at my Mum's charm bracelet. I remember it as a big, chunky, treasure of silver which used to jangle a lot.  I would love looking at all the tiny details on each individual charm and hearing my Mum tell me the story behind it- where the charm was bought and for what occasion.  Some of the charms opened- she was bought a little church one when she got married, which opened to reveal a tiny little silver bride and groom inside.  I loved it- and it still sits in my Mum's jewellery box.  It's full of stories and memories, and paints a picture of my Mum's personality and life in tiny little silver pendants.

 

I was bought a charm bracelet for my 20th birthday and it was soon filled with little charms that summed me up perfectly.  It's a beautiful thing and whilst I don't wear it often in fear of losing some of them, I would be devastated if I ever lost it.  I love that it is unique to me, the places I've been, the things I love and find funny.  There's a little camera, artist pallet and handcuffs (bought before I joined the Police I might add!); there's also a spider on a web to mark my insane fear of spiders and a pumpkin containing a tiny mouse, because of my love for Halloween and Tim Burton.  There's a squirrel (Uni chums will get this), a graduation charm, a pirate flag, a chequered flag for my love of motor racing and a little Shakespeare as people who know me well know I love Stratford Upon Avon on a sunny day in Summer.  There are charms from the Peaks, Lakes and Cornwall denoting some of my favourite places in the UK. There is also a butterfly- a symbol for something that only about three people in my life know about.  My old bracelet is shown below in the first two pictures.

 

 

My charm bracelet has been full up for about five years.  While my Mum's was filled slowly over many years, mine was filled in about five, such is my love for completing things I've started!

However, this year for my thirtieth, my work colleagues clubbed together to get me a new charm bracelet- one of the new Pandora charm bracelets, shown in contrast in the last picture. 
The style of these bracelets are far more commercial and slightly less unique; Pandora shops are all the same, carrying the same stock and there's no little pirate ships or pumpkins- the old style charms you can pick up from quirky little jewellers and you can always find ones you've never seen before, even now, if you know where to look. I actually love that I've been bought a new one to start a new chapter.  Perhaps this one will be filled more steadily, and while the charms may be slightly less unique, each one will have a meaning as to when they were bought, by whom etc.  More subtle maybe, more understated as I guess my thirties may be- and that's no bad thing either!

Here's to a new chapter of charms.  :)

Little Muscles.

Yesterday I went for my first proper gym session.  I didn't want to over do it so I took things relatively gently for my first evening, especially considering I've barely done any exercise for nearly a year!

I started with 15 minutes on the exercise bike covering a steadily paced 6km.  I then got introduced to some of the weights machines and did some work on arms and shoulders, but it was mainly walking round testing out different machines.  I managed a measly 25 sit-ups after using the stomach crunchy machine which BURNED... and then I went back to some cycling for 20 minutes this time working lower legs instead of upper.  I finished up with some triceps work but my right shoulder started to really hurt as it's extremely weak.  I also got very hungry very quickly and with my history of dodgy blood sugar issues and fainting bouts, I decided I should go and rehydrate.  I was craving bread/crackers and ice cream so I had some when I got back.  Probably not the best thing to do after a work out but what my body wants- it gets!

I feel good about it.  It's going to be good for me. :-)

Little Voice.

I'm getting increasingly frustrated with being under rated at work. 

Yes I'm a female.  Yes I'm 30.  Yes I'm a staff member rather than an Officer- but I work damn hard with efficiency and diligence and I'm getting annoyed at my considered ideas being ignored or credited by someone else.  It's not even that I haven't spoken out and suggested things; I've done so for them to be overlooked, then had to sit back and watch it all go wrong only for someone else to suggest MY idea a month down the line and claim the credit!

I have a sound understanding of the systems I use, the processes needed to make things efficient and I'm not afraid to sound ideas and push for things to be done differently to benefit the department and support it's work- however, without the respect from my colleagues, this is often falling on deaf ears.

I'm frustrated- but I'm channelling this into something constructive.  It's making me hungry for greater responsibility, the power to actually make decisions and implement change. 

Home is where the money is.

Today marks the first day of the housing benefit reforms imposed by the Government.  I already received one phonecall to my department today from a vulnerable person - who will no doubt be in custody by the morning due to the big change.

On this day, two articles caught my attention:

This article by Ricky Tomlinson:
"10 Lies We're Told About Welfare"

and in stark contrast:
"Queen receives a £5m payrise from the taxpayer"

Think about it.

What A Week.

What a week.  Allow me to recap:

On Wednesday I had my third meal out with three work colleagues, one of whom was also celebrating a birthday this week.  We started out at Bar Epernay in the Mailbox, moving on to Cote Brasserie for a lovely meal.  We drank fizzy wine drinks and chatted away, then after our meal we went up to Marco Pierre Whites for champagne cocktails.  It's a lovely place to go at night as it's located on top of a building called The Cube, where you are surrounded by full length glass windows and able to admire all the twinkly lights of Birmingham City.  It's probably a much nicer view at night than during the day, where sunlight will reveal the greyness of the city and surrounding roads. Following this, we opted for a quick stop at Malmaison for a final drink before getting the last train home. 

On Thursday I popped back into Brum to attempt to find an outfit for Saturday night.  I had ZERO luck and was starting to panic considerably at having nothing to wear.  I got back in time for a few quick drinks with my friend Hannah at our favourite local Sutton pub.

Friday saw a final, now desperate, attempt at outfit shopping in nearby Tamworth- again with no such luck.  Though  I did manage to find a nice shirt/top to wear for the evening which I was really looking forward to: A meal at Jamie's Italian, followed by a trip to The Electric Cinema to see Danny Boyle's new film Trance.  Jamie's Italian was a nice dining experience- with a nice relaxed atmosphere inside- not too stuffy or pretentious.  I had bread and oil to start along with some cured meats and fresh baby mozzarella, followed by a beautiful crab risotto and side salad. It was delicious- but as most risotto's are, it was very filling and I couldn't manage a dessert too.  Gutted, as this is usually the best part of any meal! I would opt for the introduction of a dessert starter so I can get the best of both worlds! 
The cinema is the UK's oldest working cinema and has a truly nostalgic feel complete with old style tickets.  I had booked a sofa, called Keaton, which came with  a text waiter service.  It was lovely to be able to watch  a film from the comfort of a sofa.  The whole cinema felt homely and familiar, warm and friendly with it's deep red walls and cosy sofa's.  It is a MUST if you're in Birmingham and there's a decent film showing you want to catch. 

And so to Saturday, the morning of which I spent trying on clothes for my night out.  I had booked a small side room in Bacchus in Birmingham for my pre-club drinks to celebrate my birthday.  Getting there early to order food, my family and I were closely joined by colleagues and most of my closest friends.  We whiled away a few hours here, laughing and drinking, with a few compliments on my chosen outfit on the way. :-)  It was lovely having everyone I cared about in one room, and whilst I was disappointed with a few cancellations and no-shows, it became clear that the people who really mattered to me were all in one room.  It was heart warming.  At about 11pm a few people peeled off to go home or to other venues, while a small hardcore crowd of us headed to my favourite rock club in Brum.  It was heaving when we arrived- good to see it so busy as the last few times we've been, albeit a few months ago, it's been fairly quiet.  The dance floor was packed for most of the night, with some perfect song choices for our Uni Rock night reunion.  It was such  a good night.  The club was still in full swing when we left at about 3.15am, they were obviously staying open an hour later than usual due to the clocks going forward.  We sleepily arrived home between 4.30 and 5 am at our prospective homes and lodgings. 

This brings me onto today which has been spent feeling incredibly sleepy and nursing our sore dancing feet. I noticed a small spikey-shoe-related injury to my left foot where I've obviously spiked myself at some point.  Despite our wrecked bodies, we opted for a bracing walk into Lichfield for a mid-afternoon coffee or hot chocolate, before heading home to say our goodbyes.  

It's been a truly awesome week off work, much-needed and welcomed.  I've been spoiled, treated and blessed with some wonderful nights out with truly awesome people.  I have one more day off tomorrow before I return back to the daily grind.  Tomorrow I'll be off to Nottingham to see family and relax a bit before the working week begins again.  I'm sad it's all over to be honest- but at least I really made the most of it.  And my bank balance proves it. :-)

Grr...

My Dad picked up his new car today.  It's a rather swanky Jaguar XF Sportbreak.  It's the size of a plane, but a plane filled with cream leather and wood grain inside.  It is ... the bees knees.  I've been reliably informed that I will be put on the insurance for this absolute (pricey) beast of a car.  The very thought of being in control of a car the size of a small cruise ship frankly terrifies me.  Especially when you consider the fact that my current choice of vehicle, little Franko, is probably the smallest cars you can find on the market!

 

 

 

It is a very well equipped with about the same amount of dashboard functions and gadgets as a Spaceship.  A very beautiful spaceship.  It's automatic, 8 gear, 2.2 litre engine. I've never driven an auto before and can't quite imagine what it will feel like having a left arm and left foot.  It must be a very strange feeling.  I'm not entirely sure I'll ever pluck up the courage to find out!

Both my Dad and the Jaguar dealership men were unimpressed with my name choice for the car - Barbara.  All I can say in my defence is that these names come to me.  The vehicle chooses it's own name, I am but the receiver of their will.  This car looks like a Barbara. 

Welcome, Barbara.  :-)

Hello Thirties!

Well, here I am blogging from the ripe old age of 30 and two days! Whilst I'm struggling to come to terms with the fact I've already used up half my time off work, my two days of being thirty haven't been too shabby!

I received this wonderful little beast for my birthday. He's an HP Envy X2 which is a convertible tablet/laptop.  He comes with Windows 8 and so far I'm loving it! The little compartments are perfect for my organised brain; everything is easy to hand and in the right place.  It doesn't come with a great deal of storage as it's only a mini PC by all accounts, however considering I only really use my laptop for internet access anyway, I'm pretty happy this is going to replace it nicely.

 

In addition to this, I have been given money to spend on the obligatory accessories for the above! I bought Windows Office for it and finally managed to download it successfully after Microsoft managed to block three separate bank cards and screw up three transactions.  Idiots. Still, he's all up and running and I'm using him now to blog this very post! Looking forward to getting his case through the post so that he can be fully mobile!

 

I have also been treated to a years Gym membership at Virgin Health club, which I am both chuffed and slightly nervous about! It's perfect for me in order to complete my Resolution to be more active.  Come the first of April, there'll be no more excuses not to get there and get fit.  It couldn't have come at a better time.  I also received two tickets to see Derren Brown in May! Woot!

 

I was treated to a beautiful meal at Malmaison in Birmingham which started with Mal Lollipops (Tempura Prawn, Marinated Chicken, Tai Fishcake, Tai Pork and Crab Spring Roll- all on handy sticks!) with dipping sauces; followed by Coq au Vin with potato and turnip gratin and purple broccoli; finishing with Mal-athon bar slices with Milk Ice Cream completed with a truly delectable Black Forest Cocktail.  It was simply devine... with some truly lovely company to boot; I couldn't have had a better thirtieth birthday evening. :-)

 

I have a busy week lined up- with more birthday celebrations tomorrow when I meet some work colleagues in town for cocktails, champagne and another slap up meal on Wednesday; and then drinks on Thursday with a friend;  a haircut, visit to Jamies Italian and the Electric on Friday and the finale is on Saturday night for drinks with chums in Brum and then onto Eddies which will conclude my week long birthday celebrations.

 

BOOM. :-)

Goodbye Twenties!!!

Today marks the last day of my twenties. 

It's a big deal actually- and since most of my plans have been wrecked by the Snow Storms I'll be opting to celebrate the start of a new era, rather than mourn the loss of the last one by enjoying all my birthday celebrations over my week off, culminating in a big night out next Saturday.

My twenties have been eventful from the get go.  I entered my twenties in complete uncertainty having just finished a brilliant year studying my Art BTEC Diploma at college.  This is the year that I think cemented who I am, what I'm about and defined me.  Following this, I started my first year at University in my twentieth year. I started blogging shortly after starting uni, my first post being in 2004, in my second year- so much of this blog has seen my through some of the toughest, and also the most awesome times of my life.

I think I've managed to stave off any huge fears about turning 30.  It is, afterall, just a number and most of the time people don't believe that I'm anywhere near that age anyway so hopefully I don't have to be reaching for the wrinkle cream just yet!  It's more the fact that I still feel very unsettled and aren't all that sure where I am going.  I think this may be something I always feel, and so this too, doesn't scare me as much as it used to.  Friends and family are settling down, getting married and boring the fuck out of me on facebook with countless photographs and updates about their babies... so times are definitely changing.  It does feel different, but I don't think my expectations of myself have changed.  I've spoken to a number of women who say that their thirties became a time for knowing exactly who they were, what they believed in and what they wanted.  Well, I already have the first two nailed but I certainly and hopefully welcome a time of greater scecurity in myself, my believes and perhaps more importantly my body.  This is an issue I've struggled with long before my twenties started- however the idea that my thirties could be the age that I finally feel comfortable in my skin is a welcome one.

Goodbye to my twenties, goodbye youth!
I've opened the door... the big 3 0 is on it's way in.

I'm dreaming of a White Easter...

This snow is doing my nut.  All but one of my weekend plans has been ruined by this freakin' snow.  We've had about 4 inches over the last two days and it's showing no signs of stopping.  AND it's officially Spring!

Numbers.

Just half a day left until I get a WHOPPING ELEVEN days off work. 

I have been having half days all this week, finishing work at ONE pm to try and use up some flexi leave I've built up.  But after tomorrow- I get a whole week and two days off work.  My birthday on Monday which I will spend with my best friend.  Then I have the whole week to enjoy, culminating in a birthday weekend on the 30th March where I'm hoping my bessie mates and work colleagues will join me in celebrating me becoming old. 

Sadly I have to spend part of it looking up insurance quotes- major bad timing having to renew your car insurance round your birthday, however, on the upside my birthday is also PAYDAY! WOOP.

I can NOT believe I'm 30 on Monday.  It feels BIG.  Important.  And right now, I'm ready for it.  :-)

Boreas.

Your silence replaces empty words.
Your honesty hangs in doubt.
Your laughter and kind heartedness I can now do fine without.

Your claims all now unfounded,
unjustified and lost.
Your integrity, hung out in cold air, a covering of frost.

Your etchings in my memory
I've tried to scratch away.
Your friendship in the distance, blurred and edges frayed.

Your message clear, caustic yet cold.
Your warmth now shards of ice.
A cut, A lie, A shrug. You're gone.
A goodbye would have been nice.









L is for... Lie.

Some Songs.

One of my favorite times to listen to music is in the dark.  As a passenger in a car, travelling in the dark, it's an ideal space to shut myself away into an imaginary musical closet for a while. I was listening to this on the way home tonight...



It used to remind me of someone, used to mean something... it still does, but now for the right time, right person and for the right reasons.

Cue Bon Iver. Perfect song for my mood.

Skinny Love. Bon Iver.

Come on skinny love just last the year. 
Pour a little salt, we were never here. 
... Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer,

Tell my love to wreck it all,
Cut out all the ropes and let me fall.
... Right in this moment this order's tall.

And now all your love is wasted
And then who the hell was I?
And I'm breaking at the britches
And at the end of all your lines.

(Can you fill the silence?)

 

Bastille 09.03.13

It's been a while since I walked through Digbeth; a place of potholed streets and shabby chic, where the indie scene breathes through vintage shops and traditional crumbly brick pubs.  It was here I joined a queue of inappropriately dresssed young people to see Bastille.  I'd like to point out that although I am close enough to my disappearing youth to remember being 16, I am now old enough to appreciate an adequate number of layers when it's freezing outside.  I don't, therefore, consider wearing a coat to a gig at which I have to queue outside for about 40minutes to be too much of a hardship even if I do have to carry it while I'm in there. 

Once in the warmth of The (HMV) Institute, I joined the small crowd gathering near the stage.  It was only when the first distinctly average, but not overly offensive support act started to play that I realised I was stuck standing behind the worlds tallest man.  By the time the second act had started- a carbon copy of Florence and The Machine- again, not rubbish but entirely forgettable because it had all been done before, I realised I was standing next to a woman whose posterior seemed to have a circumference of saturns rings. At one point, she started dancing and if I hadn't been wedged in, I'm pretty sure I'd have been bounced out of the venue and back to the Bullring. 

The Tall Giant man kindly moved aside and I squeezed in to see the stage for the first time for Bastille's hour long set.  I've been a fan of theirs since I heard Flaws just over a year ago on Alex Baker's Kerrang show.  I have him to thank for Maybshewill and Awolnation also.  I think I have all their music, two albums being released for free by the band despite the sound quality being poor.  I'm always appreciative of originality in music wether I like it or not, especially these days because it's so rare.  I remember being struck by Bastille because I couldn't lable them, I couldn't fit them to a genre, and still can't really.  Their love of rythmn really speaks to me and as such I've been a fan of theirs from the get go.  I had been worried that Bastille wouldn't live up to my expectations live since they rely on a lot of digital layers but my concerns were proved wrong immediately.  On the contrary, they sounded fantastic and didn't disappoint.  They played an absolutely blinding set and I was glad to have caught them at a time when they were still humbled and dumbfounded by their newfound fame and success.  They struck me as down to earth and genuine.  It was even nice to see Dan's amazingly upright hair gradually flatten throughout the night.  A truly great night... with each song played met with mass enthusiasm from a young crowd.  I was just really pleased for them and happy to see truly fresh, creativity in the heart of Birmingham. 

 

"It is not enough to be dumbstruck"

Crawl!

My neice has finally started crawling! Here she is showing off her skills- both forwards AND backwards! She is now 9 months and absorbing so much, copying actions like clapping, exploring surfaces and textures.  It looks like she's really pleased with her newly acomplished mobility.  She always puts a smile on my face. :-)

I have just finished a particularly manic week at work.  The weeks just seem to get busier and busier, and the nature of it can be stressful at times.  I realised today that I've not taken any big chunks of annual leave for about a year- choosing to have odd days here and there rather than a week at a time; I think I've suffered for it.  Whilst it's been important for me to be at work while my home life has been unstable, I wouldn't be surprised if my lack of leave has been one of the reasons for my general fatigue and many illnesses over the last few months.  To quote Bilbo Baggins " I feel thin... sort of stretched... like butter scraped over too much bread".  I always loved that quote; Tolkien was a master of similies and I think thats the only way you can use language properly to describe.  Words don't fit many things, but a similie or metaphor will paint the perfect picture.  Anyway, I digress.  I now have FOUR days off work.  Count 'em, Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon.. that's FOUR whole days.  FOUR.  Four days not having to get up at six o'clock.  FOUR days. I will sleep.

Tomorrow I plan to spend the afternoon catching up with my good mate Markuuuus as it was his birthday today- Happy Birthday Dude! We will chat and laugh, have a good grumble, eat food and have a few bevvies in a bar in Brum. The perfect way to spend a day off! Saturday I will be going to see Bastille (omgomgomg can't wait) and then Sunday is Mothers Day so I'll be off to Nottingham to see family.  Happy times!

Did I mention I have FOUR WHOLE DAYS OFF!!!!

(Not so) Baby Sister

So, this weekend was spent moving my sister up to her first rented house up in Newcastle.  No matter how old she gets this she's my lickle baby sister and it's both happy and sad that she's finally flown the nest. 

She has a lovely little house up there in Newcastle and I really wish her the best of happiness. My little sister is all grown up!!

Whilst Saturday was mainly spent travelling there, a trip to IKEA and unpacking many boxes, we spent a little time this morning having a walk round Newcastle city centre.  I picked out a pretty cool pub for her to try out before I next come to visit- I think it was called Brew Dog, and it had a giant Octopus hanging from one of the walls. 

On the way home, we also stopped by The Angel of the North.  I'm a big Gormley fan, and although it's an iconic image already seen by most of the UK popiulation, it's always worth seeing something like that with your own eyes. 

A nice weekend, which went far too quickly! Roll on this Friday for my four day weekend! Woop!

Take Me To The Edge.

Last night I finally got to experience one of my Christmas presents- tickets to see The Deftones in Birmingham.

 

Despite my cold and infected lungs, we weren't out in the cold too long queuing up for our balcony seats.  Annoyingly you can't join the O2 priority queue for balcony seats- it would see O2 only think you're worth prioritising if you're willing to stand up and at my old age of nearly-30, these days I opt for a safe corner room or seats instead of the mosh pit.  We had good seats directly facing the stage and the nice size of the O2 arena made it feel close yet a safe distance from the crowd. 

Not all that far away from us was sat a little old lady with white hair and glasses.  On noticing this lovely, open-minded old lady, I'd already used the words "youngsters", "coats" and "what language is he singing in?" for the support act, 27 year old nutbags Let Live, so I was feeling like a right granny.  And yet, sitting just down the aisle from us, was this wonderful lady.  I want to be like her when I'm her age.  I have no doubt she is the Gran of one of the support acts or something, but still, for her to be open-minded enough to even enter a venue like that is incredible. 

The gig itself was superb.  Highlights being, Change, Passenger and My Own Summer (obviously).  Looking down onto the crowd it's always hard not to miss the pit- each silhouetted little head halo'd by the stage lighting, arms raised, waves of movement as people got lost in the sounds and energy.  Still, I got to enjoy the music without overheating, losing anything, being paranoid about getting robbed and without any injuries. :)

I had one of those moments during Riviere... you know what I mean seasoned gig-goers... just one of those moments where you just feel... awe.  And memories.  And peace. And loads of emotions all at once... like everything is perfect within one song.  Like you're surrendering your soul to the music completely.  Words are never quite fitting for moments like those; it's almost impossible to describe.

There were some songs that I wished they'd played- Back to School, You've Seen The Butcher, Digital Bath, Knife Party.  The latter however, spark intense emotion in me on record let alone live. All in all though, an incredibly energetic setlist which packed a heavy punch.  Just AWESOME. 

Dream.

It's been a long time since I blogged about a dream I've had... I don't think I sleep well enough to remember most dreams I have these days... or should that be nights.

Last night I dreamt that Abu Hamza got moved to Walsall and this meant I had to do loads of work around him to pass on to my team.  Then during my lunch break I went out and bought loads of hair bobbles and earrings with pirate symbols on them.  It wasn't clear if the fact that Abu Hamza has a hook for one hand was the link between the two events, though I suspect it might have been.

Wierd.

No Title.

I've managed to avoid the tummy bugs so far... but I've managed to pick up the beginnings of a nasty cold over the weekend.  Probably something to do with my alcohol consumption which was nothing short of toxic this week.  I will NEVER drink three large glasses of wine ever ever again- I've since discovered this is over a bottle.  Needless to say I was embarrassingly smashed and very very poorly the following day.

I'm not eating well.  I've lost weight and I feel weak a lot.  I've been aware of this for some time and I'm not sure if it's down to a bit of stress or something... however, my poor appetite coupled with a lack of exercise is leaving me feeling particularly out of shape and shabby lately.  Its on my resolutions list but I think I need to sort out my appetite before I take on any dramatic exercise, otherwise I'll be fainting off.

On my agenda for the next couple of weeks:

• Sorting out my birthday weekend plans.
• Taking days off where possible to use up the flexi leave I keep accumulating.
• Keeping warm.
• Going to the cinema to make the most of decent films being released.

 

Unite.

MP's back Gay Marriage Bill

A small step forward and FINALLY something positive from our dictatorshi... sorry, Government.

Today, 400 MPs voted for fairness and equality, while 175 (a staggering but not unsuprising 140 of these were Tories) voted against it. 

Some of the arguments (if they can be called that) against this are nothing short of laughable. Some blatant homophobia. Some stemming from the dark ages. Some just spineless nonsense.  Anyone who has a problem with a member of my family doing something that I'm able to do, better have a damn good reason.

I'm glad and reassured that common sense has prevailed on this particular occasion, and while there's still a long road ahead, a small positive step has been taken.

Good news :-)