Clean Out Your Handbags

With Samhain over and the end of the calender year fast approaching I decided to do a little bit of cleaning and tidying this weekend.

I have a cupboard/wardrobe in our spare bedroom where I keep my clothes, bags, shoes etc and have been meaning to clear this out for a while. Carrie Bradshaw's walk-in-closet it is definitely not. You could certainly walk into it but the question is, would you ever get out?

Anyway, I found several handbags which I haven't used for some time but didn't clear them out before throwing them back into the cupboard. I was actually on the prowl for loose change as I am trying to save all I can for my holiday (yes, it really is that bad). I decided that now was the time to clear out the bags whilst looking for the loose change and I could not believe the stuff I found in them. My haul included:

1. 1 x packet of paracetamol capsules
2. 1 x packet of indigestion relief tablets (which I am hoping I won't need again)
3. A bottle of Chanel Coco Mademoiselle with a little bit left in it. (I knew I had this but didn't know where it had gone)
4. 2 x tubes of anti-bacterial hand gel
5. 1 Laura Mercier concealer
6. 1 Yankee Candle loyalty card
7. 1 Christian Dior lip gloss
8. 1 Laura Mercier lipstick
9. 3 Mac lipsticks
10. 1 Laura Mercier lipstick
11. 2 teaspoons (I had wondered recently why my teaspoons were disappearing)
12. 1 Chanel lip liner
13. 1 Christmas bauble (yes, really!)
14. Approx £3.00 in loose change (which has now been added to my holiday fund)
15. A £3.00 discount voucher for my local supermarket (still valid)
16. 1 mirror
17. A New York subway map
18. Approx 10 pens
19. 3 pairs of gloves (which I also knew I had but couldn't find)
20. A notebook

I have to say I am slightly ashamed of myself for leaving some of this stuff in handbags in the cupboard. It's not that I don't appreciate what I have, I am just a bit scatterbrained and disorganised sometimes. From now on though, I am going to make sure that I am more organised with my stuff and that I don't allow so much of it to accumulate in my handbags. The shame!

Website of the day..........

I have a huge interest in mythical creatures (particularly mermaids) and was delighted when I came across this website http://www.cryptozoology.com/

It has lots of stories about alleged sightings etc and I am sure it will provide me with hours of procrastinating time in the future.

Enjoy!

Some Festivity

I had some time on my hands today and decided to get the good old xmas decorations up. I lit my 'Festive Cheer' candle and put on the obligatory cheesy xmas CD (Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses is a particular favourite of mine).

Here is my delightfully tacky tree

and the red fairy who lives at the top.....

here is my Sex and the City bauble which I LOVE..

and my personal favourite, a cocktail glass from Vegas which has 'Las Vegas 2004' painted on the inside...

All this tree decorating has put me in the mood for mulled wine and mince pies. Shame I don't have any and can't be bothered venturing out in the cold to get any either. I do have cranberry and carmelised onion chutney though, hmmm.....what can I do with that I wonder!

A Quiz Thing

Here is a quiz thing stolen from somewhere. The things in bold are the things I have done, the things in italics are the things I want to do and the the things in normal font are ones which I have no intention of doing or am not that fussy for:

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo (hell no!)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightening at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (I would if I could)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked (only crazy people would do that these days)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (Hasn’t everyone???)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb (awww I would love to)
26. Gone skinny dipping (ha ha ha!)
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (I have visited Venice 4 times and would NEVER ride in a gondola. Complete tourist traps)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (I am working on it)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (Oh, the shame)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (thankfully no and I hope if I do it isn't for anything life threatening)
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud (when I was little. Didn't everyone?)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (we don't have these in Scotland unfortunately. Something to do with the weather I suspect)
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia (I would like to but I am scared of those unmarked taxis that you have to get into)
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (ewwwww)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (yeah, I was 14 though so it doesn't really count)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (I am working on it)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (please!)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (ewwww, no but I would if I had to)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (kind of)
90. Sat on a jury (I hope I never have to do that)
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (would like to see it but have seen far too many horror movies to go swimming in a lake)
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant

Feel free to fill in and re-post.

Tis The Season To Be Dishonest (fa la la la la la la la la)

It's that time of year again so I decided to go to my Mum's house today to pick up my Christmas decorations. She kindly lets me store them there because she has so much more room than I do. My tree is such a giant tack fest, none of this colour co-ordinating stuff with ribbons. It is a complete mish-mash of everything we like. We have lots of little animals, star wars decorations, cocktail glasses, candy canes and gingerbread men.
I have a few new decorations to add this year too which I picked up on my travels. My particular favourite is my sex and the city bauble picked up from the HBO store in New York in February. I LOVE it!
I can't wait to see them on my tree.
I will try and take some decent pictures and post them soon.

In other news, whilst surfing the net recently I came across the blog of an old 'friend'. I use the term 'friend' loosely. I haven't spoken to this person for years and have no desire to either but we were good friends at one time. My curiosity got the better of me and I have been looking over their past entries. I cannot believe how people can be so dishonest and full of such utter crap and how they manage to reel others in to their fake little world.

I knew this person as a 'friend' for years and know that they are manipulative, selfish, conniving, spoilt, completely dishonest and (in my opinion) actually quite evil they really are. Yes, that's right, I said evil and I mean it. It's not a word I would use lightly at least not in a serious way but I would say that it is true in their case. Now, however they appear to be masquerading as the complete opposite and seem to really have a few people fooled judging by the comments their fellow blogger friends are leaving on their entries.

Despite what some people may think about witches/pagans, anyone who knows what it really stands for will know that you should never wish harm or anyone. And I wouldn't (despite the fact that they betrayed me and my family) the latter being worse. However, I believe in karma and I believe that people get back what they give out. Unless this person is putting on a complete front (which is possible) it doesn't look like karma has caught up with them yet. All I can say is, I wouldn't like to be them when it does.

Sad Story Of The Day......

As well as being quite funny I also find this quite sad.

http://plainweird.blogspot.com/2008/05/13-year-old-steals-dads-credit-card-to.html

Another example of money rich, time poor parents who don't know where their kids are or what they are doing half the time.

Website of the day..........

Today's website is........ www.blindgossip.com

This will keep you guessing until the cows come home. Love it!

Hot!

Agent Provocateur have just launched their new ad campaign, this time with a pirate theme(unfortunately no Johnny Depp lookalikes). I was surprised to see Helena Christensen as one of the models as I thought she had given up modelling for good to concentrate full time on photography. However, upon seeing this picture, my question is why?

Why did she give up to go behind the camera full time rather than in front of it?????

This picture proves that Helena is still seriously hot even though I am sure that a fair bit of airbrushing has gone on here. If I looked anywhere near as good as she does, I would go around dressed like that all day long.

Work it girlfriend!

Flower Power

I have received so many lovely flowers from my friends and family over the past couple of weeks.

My friend Denise came to visit me today and brought me another bunch which I have to resort to displaying in a Hobgoblin pint glass as I have run out of vases. I suppose it adds to their charm.

Admiring their lovely bright colours every day as well as the gorgeous smell from the lillies is really helping me on my road to recovery. Every morning when I walk into my living room, they make me smile. The roses (from my mum) looked particularly beautiful this morning with the sun shining on them through the window.

I wanted to post a picture of my lovely flowers here so that you can share them too.

I am considering moving my latest bunch (the ones right in the front) into the kitchen just to even the balance a bit.

Whenever I look at them all, it reminds me how lucky I am to have so many people who care about me.

Hope you like them too.

Dogouflage

Here is my dog Marla trying to camouflage herself in her fur blanket. Usually she does this when she has to go out in the cold or move from a comfortable position. A cunning plan I'd say!

I want these!

I saw these on a website and they reminded me of mittens I used to have when I was wee. I want them. They are so cute!

Blue

Today is not a good day. After feeling so positive post-surgery I have now come down to earth with a bang. I was feeling fine so decided to go shopping on Thursday night. My mum drove me to the shops and I just walked around and got what I needed. By the end of the night I realised that I had totally overdone it and just felt like crap. Even though I am not in any actual pain any more, my right side is still a bit tender from the surgery. I feel a bit like someone has punched me in the side and occasionally the feeling nauseates me.

I was so determined not to let it beat me and have been trying to be so independent but it's horrible when your body lets you down. When you really want to get out there and do stuff but your body just says "NO".

Normally, I would love to sit around the house all day reading books and watching DVDs but psychologically because I know that I can't go out and do stuff, I really want to go out. I feel like a caged animal.

I have so much stuff in the house to be sorted out, cupboards to be tidied and cleaning to be done but I can't even bend and stretch too much to do that. It is so annoying. Mentally, I just feel so beaten down I can't even concentrate on a book or anything. I have just been flicking through cook books and magazines because they have a lot of pictures and make easy reading. I don't know what is wrong with me.

I feel somewhat bad for being like this because I know that my surgery was minor compared to what some people have to go through. Having gall stones is hardly life threatening but this experience has made me realise just how important health is. I know that I will get better in time but it has made me think about all those who won't get better, who can't get better. I find it terrifying that I might end up like that one day. It is so horrible having to rely on others to do things for you and having some of your choices taken away from you, even if it is only for a short period of time.

Anyway, I will struggle on. I know that I have many, many things to be thankful for.

Website of the day..............

I came across this whilst looking for tasty vegetarian recipes...................

http://www.vegsoc.org/index.html

I am not vegetarian, I eat birds and fish but not that often so this is great. The recipe section contains all sorts of tasty things to cook and the best thing is, it's completely free. Enjoy!

Gall Stones No More

It has been ages since I have written anything on this blog. I just haven't felt like of late. I think I kind of lost my mojo a bit (so to speak).

After months of suffering, I finally had my gall bladder removed last Thursday. Amazingly, the nearer to my surgery date it got, the calmer I was. By the time Thursday came I was elated and couldn't wait to get it over and done with.

I was admitted at noon and my surgery was scheduled for 3pm. I had to wear a horrendous gown which looked like someone had splashed food colouring all over it. Quite frightening for someone who normally wears black. In addition to this, every scrap of make up had to be removed. Now, anyone who knows me will tell you that I would have to be literally dying before being seen without make up on so I wasn't happy.

I was wheeled to theatre at 2.40pm and was asleep by 3pm. I remember waking up groaning in pain at 4.10pm and a very nice man came and gave me morphine before wheeling me back up to my room. At 5pm I decided it would be a good idea to call my mum and Mr B to let them know I was alive and well. I managed to somehow get my mobile phone out of the bedside cabinet and press the couple of buttons required to call my mum's mobile number. She answered the phone, completely stunned as I explained (whilst sounding like a complete space cadet) that my surgery was over and I was fine. I then called Mr B who found my slurred speech completely hilarious. I was mostly fine as the drugs wore off except being as sick as a dog. What made it more interesting is that my sick was green, exorcist style, green sick. It was great fun. Even the nurse said it was impressive.

Anyhow, I was released back to the wild the next day and am currently recouperating at home being cared for by Mr 'Nurse' B. I still can't drive or lift anything heavy but the wounds are healing nicely and I am feeling much better.

I hope to be blogging more regularly from now on.

Banned books pt2

Whilst looking up some of these books on Amazon (because I obviously have nothing better to do today) I noticed this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wrinkle-Time-Madeleine-LEngle/dp/0312367546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222610814&sr=1-1

Click the link and read CJ from Edinburgh's review on A Wrinkle in Time......hmmmmm, I don't know who CJ is but I think they have some serious issues they need to be deal with.

Banned Books

After seeing this on mrsb's blog I thought I would re-post it. I can't believe some of these books are banned in the USA. Harry Potter????
I would also urge people to re-post this on their blog and mark the ones you have read in bold.

1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
8. Forever by Judy Blume
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
16. Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine (I have read most of them)
17. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
19. Sex by Madonna
20. Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
21. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
23. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
24. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
26. The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl
28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
29. Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
30. The Goats by Brock Cole
31. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
32. Blubber by Judy Blume
33. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
34. Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
35. We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
36. Final Exit by Derek Humphry
37. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
39. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
40. What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
42. Beloved by Toni Morrison
43. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
44. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
45. Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
46. Deenie by Judy Blume
47. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
48. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
49. The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
50. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
52. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
53. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice) (sort of, I have read the first one)
54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
55. Cujo by Stephen King
56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
57. The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
59. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
60. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
61. What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
62. Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
63. Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
64. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
65. Fade by Robert Cormier
66. Guess What? by Mem Fox
67. The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
68. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
69. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71. Native Son by Richard Wright
72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies by Nancy Friday
73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
74. Jack by A.M. Homes
75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
77. Carrie by Stephen King
78. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
79. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
80. Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
81. Family Secrets by Norma Klein
82. Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
83. The Dead Zone by Stephen King
84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
85. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
86. Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
87. Private Parts by Howard Stern
88. Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford
89. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
90. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
91. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
92. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis
94. The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
96. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
97. View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
98. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
99. The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
100. Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

I don't seem to have read very many of these actually but I might make a point of doing so now.

The Credit Crunch

In light the whole credit crunch which is sweeping Britain and the USA at the moment, I have decided to start economising. Not that I live a particularly extravagant lifestyle anyway but every bit helps.

After a good rummage through my stuff, I have found a few things I am never likely to use any more PS2 games, PC games and books and have decided to list them on ebay in an attempt to earn some money.

I have booked a holiday for February and I am beginning to seriously worry about my finances with Christmas coming up before then. To make matters worse, I am going to London this weekend with my mum which will be great but not easy to refrain from spending money. I fear I may have to be physically restrained.

I am also spending time thinking of other ways to earn some extra cash. If I got off my lazy ass and put my mind to it I could probably work on some writing projects I have had on the go for a while but haven't quite finished. Maybe I could sell those.........hmmmmmm!

We shall see. Anyway, it's back to ebay in the meantime.

Website of the day!

For some pre-halloween fun and frolics go to http://www.elvira.com/games/eltrivia.html

It's great fun. Enjoy!

Back in the land of the living

I am pleased to say that I am back in the land of the living after a bout of illness. More gall bladder problems. This has been the worst yet and I have now decided to have surgery to remove my gall bladder completely. I am told that this is pretty routine but for someone who is overweight, terrified of anesthetic and doesn't particularly want to die yet, this isn't very reassuring.

I went to meet with the surgeon last week and he explained all the things that could possibly go wrong in great detail, even though it is rare. I am finding all pretty scary but have decided that I need to go ahead with it.

I will be keeping my fingers firmly crossed that everything is ok.

Loving: That the Sex and the City film is out this week.
Hating: Gall Stones.

18lbs now magically disappeared!

I am delighted to report that I have now lost a total of 18lbs. Hurrah!

I am still attending my Slimming World class one evening per week and and despite giving into pre-menstrual chocolate cravings last week (on more than one occasion) I am getting on fine with the plan. It's pretty easy to follow and I am pleased that I can now fit into my gorgeous fur coat (fake of course) that I bought last Christmas but then got too fat to wear. Hurrah hurrah!

Tonight, I celebrated by dying my hair red. Not London bus red or anything but a nice deep red shade. Despite my efforts at waving my hair around in front of Mr B like a shampoo ad girl on speed, he didn't notice at all. In typical Mr B fashion he had a whole conversation with me blissfully unaware that I was now Little Red Hair Hood. For fear of dislodging a vertebrae in my neck I decided it would just be easier to point out that I had in fact dyed my hair rather than wait for him to notice. After closer inspection and some prodding he did redeem himself by telling me he liked it and commenting on the shinyness (is that even a word?) so all is now forgiven.

Loving: Red hair
Loathing: Seafood (I am aware that, that is a random thing to say but it's true)

Website of the day!

Today's offering will be of particular interest to any pagan readers.

http://www.greenwitch.co.uk/

I am delighted to say that Chris a.k.a The Greenwitch has a shop about 10 mins drive from my house which is excellent. She is extremely knowledgeable about paganism and herbal medicine and makes the most splendid lotions (Isis morning dew is fab), potions and candles. All of which are 100% natural.

This website contains a variety of interesting information and is updated regularly. With really useful sections on health matters and tarot I am sure you won't be disappointed. You can also subscribe to her newsletter if you would like regular updates sent to you directly.

Happy reading!

Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink part 2

Well I am still without bathroom and still relying on the kindness of others in order to remain clean. This whole episode did give me the perfect excuse to use my mum's bath though. She has one of these huge corner baths that you could practically swim, it's great fun. Mind you I think any bath would be great fun when you don't have a bath of your own.

Attended my second Slimming World class this evening and found that I had lost 1.5lbs. This is a great achievement considering the weekend of excess I had. On Saturday, I went to visit my cousin (no, not for a bath) who makes the most sinful caramel shortbread and truffles. She gave me a whole box of each to take home :-(

This is not good for a recovering chocoholic. I indulged probably a bit more than I should have then washed it down with some red wine. On Sunday, Mr B's parents came back from three weeks in the US. We went to visit them at night (taking the caramel shortbread & truffles with us in the hope that someone would take them off our hands). They ordered in Chinese takeaway (with prawn crackers) and then we had more caramel shortbread for dessert. This was not a good idea.

I can only try my best though. I don't claim to be perfect but I am still pleased that I managed to lose a bit of weight.

A girl can dream...................

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magician's_assistant

Website of the day

Here we go................

This is an oldie but goodie. I love it, it's not politically correct but it is down right hilarious. The drawings on some of the celeb pics are just so amusing as well as their use of word 'sperminated'.

To get your fill of celeb gossip all the nastiest possible taste check out http://www.perezhilton.com/

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink

The new bathroom saga continues..........

The plumber came on Monday night and ripped out my bath/shower and sink in order for the joiner to come in on Tuesday morning to start work on the floors.

Unfortunately about an hour after the plumber left with my old bathroom suite in the back of his van, the joiner got in touch to say that sadly his mother-in-law is about to die and he could no longer come along on Tuesday morning to start work. I have no idea when this work will be completed now but our problems are small in comparison to his at the moment and my thoughts are with him and his family.

However, every cloud has a silver lining as they say. The toilet is still there so we can be thankful for that and more importantly, I went to the gym yesterday in order to use their showers and did 45 mins or exercise whilst I was there (well, I thought it a bit cheeky to just walk in, use the shower and leave).

I also thought that it might be a good idea to join Slimming World last night in order to keep up with the weight loss. I went along to my local class and was pleased that everyone was so friendly. The class leader was really nice and seems to love food which is always important. You can eat quite a lot on the SW plan, it's all about the combination of food you are eating and making sure that you eat healthy as opposed to following fad diets. I am optimistic.
By the time the new bathroom is installed I will be a shadow of my former self.

Loving: My blog.

Loathing: Gym showers.

Website of the day

Hello lovlies,

Today's website is............................................. www.agentprovocateur.com

I love it!

There is a 50% off sale on just now as well as great pics of Catherine Bailey, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Daisy Lowe and the new White Wedding video of Kate Moss (whose shrine I worship at). If you go to the World of AP link on the left hand side and click on Peep Game, you can play Peep in Paris. It's all good fun.

Britney's new diet

Britney Spears has revealed to US OK! Magazine that she is following a healthy new diet programme consisting of no sugar (that includes fruit which contains natural sugar) but lots of chicken, salmon, rice and avocados. Britney is now eating 1,200 calories per day and working out at the gym five times a week claiming that she is healthiest she has ever been.

I hope that Britney continues to keep on track and maintain a sensible weight rather than falling into the size zero trap.

Good luck to her!

Website of the day

Drum roll.......................

Today Miss H recommends the wonderful www.condomcondom.org where you can download your very own safe sex ringtone.

Have fun folks and stay safe

Mwah x

Condom or Cascada - You decide!

I was rather amused to read today that a safe sex ringtone entitled 'Condom Condom' has been launched in India where it is estimated that around 2.5 million people are living with HIV.

I hope that it takes off in the UK too, it will make a change from the usual Cascada and Scooter ringtones we are subjected to on a daily basis.

Click the link below to read the article
http://tech.uk.msn.com/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=9273447

Or, if you are really keen you can download your very own at http://www.condomcondom.org/

Loving: The safe sex message

Loathing: Big Brother (I don't even watch it but can't through a day without hearing, reading or seeing someting about it. When will this hell end?)

Website of the day

http://www.magicalillusions.org/

It's pretty interesting in a weird sort of way. This story is my particular favourite: http://magicalillusions.org/new-case-of-pareidolia-man-sees-jesus-in-his-shower/

Goodbye Percy, Norman, Edna and Gertrude

According to research commissioned by mother and baby social networking site gurgle.com, old fashioned baby names are on their way out.

Unpopular names include:

1) Norman and Gertrude
2) Walter and Edna
3) Percy and Ethel
4) Harold and Irene
5) Ernest and Ada
6) Herbert and Norah
7) Clifford and Olive
8) Frank and Agnes
9) Arnold and Elsie
10) Leonard and Mabel

Personally, I quite like Frank and Agnes but obviously I am in the minority.

Loving: MSN news stories

Loathing: The fact that Mr B has been given a box of Baci chocolates and I can't have any.

Amy Winehouse & Faux Bacon

Last night, I watched some footage of Amy Winehouse's performance at the V Festival. I am a fan of Amy and have to say that I found it incredibly sad that she was in such a state on stage. She looked emaciated and under the influence of some drug (prescribed or otherwise). She is so talented but looked as though it was an effort to stand up never mind sing. What were her management thinking sending her out to do that performance? She should be recuperating somewhere, getting looked after by people who genuinely care for her instead of being made a spectacle of on stage in front of thousands of people. It was car crash television. For more on this see http://www.nme.com/news/amy-winehouse/38996

On a lighter note, since giving up eating pork some months ago I have on occasion missed a bacon sarnie. I decided to purchase some pretend bacon whilst doing my weekly shop the other day. I bought the Quorn variety. I must admit I was a bit dubious at first. Upon opening the packet, it certainly smelled like bacon but looked a bit precarious with several strips all exactly the same colour and size which didn't look anything like proper bacon. Anyway, I fried the strips lightly on each side and gingerly took a bite. I was pleasantly surprised. It tasted like real bacon. Great!
I would highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't eat pork or to anyone who is thinking of giving up pork but doesn't want to ditch the bacon & eggs or bacon sandwiches. Yum!

Loving: Faux bacon

Loathing: My bathroom

About

A few weeks ago I decided that I no longer liked the way I looked any more. Actually, I had decided that long before then but despite various attempts at improvement I hadn't actually managed to succeed in doing something about it.

With thirty fast approaching (in six months to be precise), I have decided to embark on a life changing healthy eating (dare I say diet) and exercise programme. This started about four weeks ago and I am pleased to say I am now 16lbs lighter than I was then. I plan to continue with this without killing myself in the process although I have indulged in a couple of large white wines this evening.

One of the things that I find particularly interesting is the way the media constantly berates the obese in our society, particularly women. According to them we cannot do any of the following:

• Have a successful career or a good job (because we are either 1. too lazy to work or 2. completely undesirable to a prospective employer)
• Be in a happy, loving relationship (well....a bloke doesn't want to be seen with a fat girl on his arm does he?)
• Have sex (we are clearly too fat to be able to manoeuvre into any position successfully)
• Have children (obese women apparently find it more difficult to conceive and carry a child successfully)
• Be a good mother (apparently being obese also means that we are unfit roll models for our children. Hmmm........it seems that drug addicted, alcoholics are making better mothers these days. Well, they are thin after all)

For the record, I have a good job and am in a happy, loving relationship with a man who adores me. We do have sex and enjoy it although I admit that it is not as uninhibited as I would like to be. I know plenty of obese women who have managed to conceive and have given birth to healthy babies and went on to become great mothers however, this is one of the reasons I have decided to lose weight permanently and become healthier. With the aforementioned 30th birthday looming, I am scared of the effects my weight is having on my health. Admittedly, when I was younger I was more concerned that I didn't look as good as my friends or that I couldn't get the latest fashions because I just looked like a sack of potatoes in them. As I get older I do worry more about the health implications. I would like children and I don't want people judging them because their mother is overweight. Sadly, people do and other children can be so cruel as I often found out when I was growing up. Anyway, more about that another time when I feel more able to talk about it.

While I am on this subject I noticed this article in the newspaper (I use that term loosely) today entitled 'Triplets Joy of 40st Mum: World's fattest mother of three tells her story'

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/article14491.ece

The article talks about how "A enormous 68-strong team of medics weighed in to deliver 40-stone Leanne's three healthy babies.
And the total bill to the NHS added up to a hefty £200,000—four times the normal cost of a triplets pregnancy"........

Yes, I realise that 40st is a lot of weight to carry and it does mean serious health risks but what about the hundreds of babies that are born each year to drug addicted mothers. The babies who are born addicts themselves and have to be treated for heroin withdrawal. What about their cost to the NHS and then ultimately, the cost to Social Services when their parents are too drugged up to care for them.

I mean no disrespect to anyone who has substance abuse problems, I know that everyone has different circumstances to deal with in their life but come on! Isn't it better to have a baby born to an obese mother who loves and cares for it than born into the unhappy, chaotic world of substance abuse and all the implications that go along with it?

Loving: Gwyneth Paltrow's legs

Loathing: Tabloid trashpapers