Liz Going On

I’ve got my car back and its all shiny and like new.  Did I say that it’d gone away?  Well, on Monday it did.  A nice man from work does a sideline in car bodywork and did a deal with me for cash.  The massive baseball bat inflicted dent in the wing is no more and the other little scrapes have been painted too.  Happy Liz.

Although I did feel a little like I’d had my left arm amputated when I was without motor, but I was driven around by nice people. Thankful Liz.

I’ve just told my mother that I had my nipple pierced.  That’s the thing I had done in town last week and wouldn’t blog about.  It went surprisingly well actually, but I did start the conversation with ‘Mum, its not a tattoo…’, she seemed quite intreagued and not at all horrified. I was expecting a lot more horror.  Why did I feel the need to tell her?  Hmm, I dunno.  I did a quick straw poll of my friends who have children at choir (’if your 26 year old daughter had had a nipple pierced would you want to know?’) and I got a resounding ‘yes’ back, and quite a lot of questions about it too! And I quite often go on holiday with mum and didn’t really want her to fly off the handle at me if she saw it, forewarned is forearmed in my opinion. Relieved Liz. 

I’ve got to go outside even though its dark and clean out Beryl.  I’ve negelected her recently, probably cos I never seem to be in my house for any lenght of time.  I ensure she has food and water and she seems quite content, but I do feel a little sorry for her getting lonely all alone. Maybe I should invest in some Bunny Toys (or a second bunny?!?!).  Neglectful Liz. 

I’m blogging again cos I can!

Andrew and I were going to play tennis today.  But it rained.  We were going to brave the rain, but it rained a lot and for a long time.  So when we were at his parents house (stealing rackets and balls and things) we decided that we’d play badminton instead.

So we booked a court for 3pm.  It was about 12.30 at this point.  And that’s lunchtime.  So we went to a rather nice country pub, but not surprisingly there was an hour wait for food, so we left.

We did a few other errands (including buying lavender smelling sawdust for my neglected Beryl and a sat nav system for Andrew) then headed to the leisure centre.

When we got there we realised that Andrew had forgotten his kit.  All of it.  I laughed, particularly as during the previous three days he’d checked with me about 6 times that I had suitable clothes and shoes for tennis playing.  So, I laughed a lot, we didn’t play badminton and we went and had lunch instead.

Ooh its Monday already, and a bank holiday too therefore its raining. Have lots planned to do today, but will save then for when they’re done.

Lets go back a few days….

Thursday.  Stayed in (as no one told me they wanted to quiz) and watched ‘Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang’ that has been much raved about in certain goonie blogs in recent weeks.  Thought it was ok.  Beautifully filmed and rather clever but didn’t stir me that much at the time.

On friday it was Alsion’s leaving do.  We (Alsion, Charlotte, Dan and ME!) went for a stealth curry first and it was ace!  Then we went to Hardy’s well.  It was full of Alsion’s friends and was great.  She liked the T-shirt we all signed but as it was her night I’ll let her tell you all about the rest…

I was the proud guardian of a transit van for Saturday and yesterday.  I’d never driven anything so big before, but I became rather attached to it by the end of 500 miles. Although I was a little upset it wasn’t a red one. Why are vehicle hire places always in busy traffic areas?  I had to drive my ven through the city centre as soon as I collected it, which was a bit scary.  

Drove van to Alsion’s old house.  Packed it with help of Mummy and Daddy Alsion.  Linden arrived.  Got in van.  Drove to Edinburgh.  Didn’t get lost or kill and cyclists.  Parked van with help of Alsion and Linden (and the end product was rather impressive!) Met Flatmates.  Unpacked van with help of flatmates and randoms (beyond the call of duty in my opinion, yay for them!).  Then we drank wine and I made shelves while flatmates juggled and Alsion unpacked.  Then we went for dinner. More curry!  Hurrah!  Then Adam arrived and we drank more and chatted.  It was lovely to see Adam.  And Edinburgh Rocks!!! Especially as the pubs are now non smoking. That is the way forward.

Slept.  Got up.  Met Adam again for brekkie, mmmm, then got into van and drove back to Manchester, all alone.  So I sang very loudly.  And an empty transit van has quite good acoustics!! Took van back to Strangeways then went to Fiona’s 30th Birthday do (An AndrewFriend). It was a scoff all you can chinese buffet in Bolton. Mmmmm. I seem to have done a lot of eating in this post, glad there wasn’t fat club this week, as it would have been a total disaster, must try harder or I’ll never get there.  Sigh. 

And today is today.  Time to get dressed.  Was meant to speak to my brother on skype but he’s not appeared.  He did phone me yesterday but I was doing 80mph down the M6 in Cumbria at the time so couldn’t speak.   

Last night was choir. I spent a lot of time giggling at the back with Lisa.  I don’t think anything was actually that funny, but we were both a bit giggly.  We’re singing some belting tunes at the moment, for a Choral favourites concert on sunday 18th June.  Come watch me, it’ll be great!

Jocelyn wasn’t there as she needed sleep.  She’d had job interviews Tuesday and Wednesday and they sounded a nightmare!  She had to teach a lesson in it, which as she’s a teacher and that’s what the job is then I guess its not really surprising but it must have been very scary.  Anyway, she didn’t get the tuesday one, but did get the Wednesday one!  Hurrah for Jocelyn. She’s ace. 

Mum is back from China.  She’d left her car at my house for safe keeping.  And I kept it safe.  However she got me a bit worried.  I got a call from her at work to let me know that she was back safe.  She also told me that she didn’t quite feel like driving home straight away, so had tidied and cleaned my house!  Now I do appreciate nice things, and kind gestures, but I have to admit that I was rather quite concerned whether I had any secrets, or things that wouldn’t be a secret to you or any of my friends, but are to my mother, on display! However I think it was all ok, or seemed that way when I got home after work.

Last night I went to visit Cass.  We ate, drank loads of wine and failed to watch a DVD cos we were gossiping so much.  It was fantastic. We spent a while trying to define what sexual deviance is, and came to the conculsion that it’s probably different things for different people

Today I’ve been to the hair dresser.  I appear to have a fringe, but its not as alarming as I thought it might be.  

I went to town and did something that most of you’ll find rather alarming.  So I won’t tell you.  Then I went to Fopp and bought some music.  I love that shop (but today I didn’t love it quite as much as I normally do as their till didn’t like my switch card.  Many times.  In the end it liked my credit card, but it took a while).

So I’m now listening to new tunes while typing this. 

I feel the need for some fresh air, but yet again it is raining.  I know that I shouldn’t be surprised by this fact as I do live in Manchester, and have suffered the weather for 8 years now, but as far as I remember, the weather in May is normally quite nice.

So instead I’m going to be a domestic goddess.  I’m going to make a lasagna and clean the house, including the bathroom.  I may even do the ironing.

Most of you may note, this is very unlike me.  Fear not, I’m not ill in the head (well, no more so that usual) I have a presentation to write (and some spreadsheet stuff to do to the data first) and possibly an exam to revise for.  Hence the cleaning. 

That’s what a blog is about really, isn’t it? Airing your dirty washing in public.  But I try to be careful to try to only air my washing and not somebody else’s!  Anyway, enough crypticness.  I used my washing line today.  For about 2 hours.  And then it rained.  Despite living in my little palace for over two years now I’ve only successfully managed to use my washing line about five times.  Now, before you all start, its not that I’m incapable of pegging wet clean clothes on the line (I have a mental image of myself being entangled in the washing line, almost being strangled to death) its the fact that it always rains in Manchester. Or if its dry and sunny then I’m much more likely to be out having an adventure.

Something I’ve been pondering this week.  I don’t think there’s that many people reading my blog, only about half a dozen (and one of them is me!).   Loads of people used to read my old blog (before it had to disappear into the ether PDQ).  Which leads me to conculde that either a) my blog is now boring or b) I’ve not told enough people where it is or c) I don’t blog as much therefore people don’t check as regularly.  So, what am I going to do about it?  1) Blog more regularly 2) Try to write more interesting posts 3) Tell more people about my blog.

There.  A list and a plan.  That’s made me happy.

So what have I done since I last wrote?  (Apart from hanging out my washing, and then fetching it back in when the sky fell).  The concert last night was ace!  The hall was full (that’s 2500 people!) and we got a standing ovation.  I slept a lot (was lazy and stayed in bed till lunchtime).  I’ve been to tesco and bought clothes for not much money and I’ve been stained by the hairdresser.  Sadly not my hair (that’s tuesday) but my skin, to check I’m not allergic to any of their paint stripper like chemicals.   

I’m on the radio tonight.  Not just me, but I’ll ba part of it.  Radio 3, 7.30pm if any of you are interested.  We’re performing Mahler’s third symphony.  Its got 8 timpani, 9 french horns and 3 babdoons* and a bass clarinet plus a massive string section in it so it must be good.  Well, it’ll certainly be loud.

*It would be great if there were babboons actually in the performance, but I’ll have to make do with bassoons instead. 

The almighty Eurovision song contest is on saturday night.  I am sad as I can’t watch it and listen to Sir Terry’s quips cos I’ve got to work. Humph.  But if I wasn’t working then I’d be in Sheffield with choir, so I’d probably miss it whatever.

I’ve not been to the gym for three weeks.  Cos I’ve been so busy. But the diet is going ok, so its not all bad.

Time for a list.  

• I don’t want Alsion to leave.  But I know she is going to. And its getting mighty close.
• I want my mum back.  I miss her and have a big decision to make (exam related) and I want to talk to her about it
• I don’t want to miss the new housemates going into the BB house but have choir
• I want to pay for my TV license on line but the stupid site keeps crashing.  Actually I might not bother, as I’m hardly ever home at the moment.

Again its been almost a week since my last post.  I think I’ve been doing loads, but not sure whether I’ve got that much to write*. But I shall try.

I’m currently babysitting my Mum’s car and a bunch of flowers**. She’s gone on holiday to China to visit my brother and his wife.  I’m really missing her, which is odd as I probably wouldn’t have spoken to her that much.  Maybe its cos I’d like to be there too for family time….  Mum’s car is behaving.  It is where she left it and hasn’t made any trouble or noise.

I went to a James Bond Charity Casino night on Saturday.  It was ace! I was able to wear my very glam long navy blue velvet frock.  And I did well!  When I started playing I lost my chips rather fast, but towards the end I managed to over quadruple my ‘money’ and ended up with £100, 000!  I won a set of acrylic nails on the raffle and a framed orignal print on the auction. 

I’ve moved the furniture around in my room.  So I now appear to fall out of bed.  Hopefully I’ll get used to it soon as I could really do with a good night’s sleep. But maybe going to bed at a reasonable time would be a good start.

Enough waffling from me.  And I can’t even think of a title so there’s not going to be one.  And please comment! I know some of you do, but I want MORE!!!! Go on!  You’ll make me happy!!! 

*hmmm, maybe its work that’s filling my time.  And I’m *not* allowed to write about that.  Sulk.  Or maybe its Andrew, but I *don’t* want to write about that, cos I know who reads this. Or maybe its the things that are un-bloggable……

** I don’t think she wants the flowers back.  But they may still be alive on her return as they appear to be superflowers that don’t wilt. 

I’ve had to defend my self quite a lot over the past few days about swimming in the sea.  EVERYONE thinks I’m crazy.  But I’m not.  And I’ll tell you for why.

The sea temprature in the UK (especially around Wales, where the gulf stream doesn’t have that much effect) the sea temp stays between 12 and 16 degrees Celcius most of the year.  Ok, this is cold when you compare it to places like Thialand where the temp can get up to 30C but it’s not that cold.

So if its May and the weather is about 20C and the sea is only 14C then in my opinion getting down to your togs is the biggest hurdle as there’s only 6C between that and the sea temp.

In August its a different kettle of fish.  If the temp reaches 28C or perhaps even 32C and the sea is only 16C then the difference is massive and the sea feels really really really cold.

So it makes sense to go in the sea in Wales in May. 

QED