wagwaan?

It's Spring! It's Spring!

I thought I'd jinxed it but the very next day this is what I saw when I looked out the bedroom window

It's still freezing, but there are signs of life in the garden too - see?

And it's spring indoors too...

That's a cute chick my colleague gave me. I bit off its head. 

So yesterday, on a whim, Claire and I decided to go to the cinema. For the first time in so long, I seriously can't remember when we last went! The plan was to go Harrow on the Met line but of course it was suspended due to engineering work. In the end we got a taxi (eeek) to Vue Watford, bought our tickets (more eek!) and, as it was lunchtime, went to the concession to get some, um, "food". Triple eek!  Boy was it an expensive outing, but oh so worth it. We saw Danny Boyle's "Trance" and it blew our minds.  I can't even tell you the plot, really, and I'm glad I didn't read the Guardian's review before I went because, honestly? I don't think they saw the same film we did. 

Epiphany

No I haven't had an ephiphany - today is the Feast of Epiphany. So I have made a galette des rois and it smells delicious and all is right with the world. Claire brought me a pack of puff pastry back from the shops, but it wasn't till she handed it to me that I realised I hadn't told her how much was needed. While she went off ostensibly to tidy her room, I pulled on my coat and went back out into the cold. It's a 15 minute walk to Sainsbury's - downhill on the way there, uphill on the way back. That's a nice little walk for someone who has decided to get out and W.A.L.K. every day regardless of the weather. It's a good job, too, because I've had a look at the calories contained just in the "lighter" puff pastry and daren't think about the calories in the frangipane! Oh well, it's once a year, right?

I didn't take a picture of the big Galette but there were some off-cuts of pastry left after making it, as well as a bit of filling, so I made some odd shaped parcels to use it all up.

Of course, I had to taste one, for quality control purposes you understand. Mmmm!  Do you see that little red pot there? It says "Joyeuses Fêtes" on it and is a French yoghurt pot that I got when we met up with Alex and his parents before Christmas. So sweet!

We've I've also taken down the decorations and they've been packed in their boxes and taken down to the garage which I am so happy to have because I can leave stuff down there until it's needed. One day I will have a car and then I'll have to find another solution for the flotsam and jetsam, but until then, it's a godsend. 

 

We have three boxes like this. I think that's quite restrained for two people who luuurve Christmas, don't you? So that's it, all packed up and put away for another year. 

The hoovering has been done, so has the washing. Now all I need to do is decide which box-set I'm going to break into first: 

       or 

Decisions, decisions...

Carpe punctum*

*seize the moment

After seeing excerpts from the movie "Peaceful Warrior" with Nick Nolte, I found myself looking at videos of author Dan Millman on Youtube. This series of 5 (of which more later) from a radio show was another serendipitous moment: just the other day I was telling Claire I had decided that sticking to a healthy diet was easier if I just dieted for one moment at a time, i.e. if I chose a healthy snack instead of chocolate THIS TIME, and if I ate a balanced meal for dinner instead of a take-away THIS TIME. Does that make sense?  I am only human, I don't manage to do this all the time, but instead of beating myself up when I slip up I've decided to just get back on the wagon. Or as Dan Millman says, use the tool that we can learn from St Nike: JUST DO IT.... Turns out, "St Nike" is a philosopher in the same vein as Socrates or Confucius!!

Anyway, it was such a timely reminder to seize the moment (as opposed to seizing the day) that I thought I'd post a link to the first Youtube video out of the 5, and you can go on to listen to the others from there. Just a heads up: there is something like a 4.5 minute intro on that first video which you'll probably want to skip.

So, remember people: SEIZE THE MOMENT.  Happy Sunday to you all. 

Fun day

Well, the most interesting thing happened the other day: I got a letter from the Jobcentre saying I no longer needed to go to a Tribunal to have my appeal heard because they have revised their decision in my favour, and decided that my doctors are right - I am not ready to go back to work yet (you may remember a previous post about it here).  This is one of the most wonderful things that's happened to me since my aneurysm!

It's a sad state of affairs that successive Governments have targeted sick and disabled people, and are trying to force people back into work who aren't ready for it. The resulting mess is that 75% of people claiming ESA are told they are fit for work, and a large proportion of those are appealing against the decision.... and WINNING.  Much is made in the press of how many people are fraudulently claiming benefits, but a debt advisor from the Council told me that 11 times that many people are not claiming benefits they are legitimately entitled to!  And don't get me started on how much is owed by tax evaders....

I won't get political on this blog: suffice to say I had a nice lump sum payment of the arrears that the DWP owed me (when you get put in the "limited capability for work" category your money goes up, but during the appeal it doesn't....) and one of the first things I wanted to do was treat Claire to a little outing. We haven't been anywhere or done anything since I came out of hospital (if you don't count going to the shopping centre!) and my wonderful daughter has not complained once. She has put her hand in her pocket and helped with the bills, and she has foregone outings and fun because of the situation we have found ourselves in.  

That's how we found ourselves trecking over to Harrow to see "The King's Speech", an absolutely marvellous film with Colin Firth and Helena Bonham-Carter about how King George VI (our present Queen's father) overcame his terrible stammer and managed to broadcast speeches on the "wireless".  It is beautifully made and the casting is wonderful. I couldn't believe how perfect each actor/actress was in his/her role. The cinematography was superb, and the sets were a veritable feast for the eyes.  Can you tell I loved it? 

I was in no state to do any shopping, bar a minute or two of window shopping, and we made our way home just as the rush hour was beginning. 

Once I got in I put a couple of things on ebay, and then when the boyf got in we had a quick dinner. Since the others have now gone to bed, I've spent a little while on my party invitation... do you like it?

It's tongue in cheek, but I sincerely intend to celebrate this second chance that I've been given.  

Right, well, that's me done for the day.  I hope you are having a happy, fun day where you are, too!

Rocky Horror :)

Well, I will make this quick because, goodness me, it's midnight already. Which means it's really 1am because the clocks went back last night!  And I was so exhausted earlier I thought I wouldn't make it past dinner, but yet here I am, late on the PC again.

Earlier I went into town to go to the 99p shop to pick up some Halloween goodies - I got a sign and a gorgeous spider's web to put in the window and on the door so that the kids knew where to knock. And I got a bunch of gruesome sweets like jelly eyeballs and stuff, just because.   The kids started knocking around 5pm and kept on coming!  As the hall light is broken I kept answering the door with a torch lighting up my face and saying "mwahahaha". Um, I think there were some kids that were rather nonplussed by it all.  We live in a very mixed neighbourhood and we had Filipinos, Indian, Sri Lankan, Black and Polish kids come by, it was great fun. Some of the kids from the Arts & Crafts class came and said from behind their masks "I know you!!", and I impressed them by knowing their names before they showed their faces. That might have something to do with them being the loudest in the group so it was pretty hard NOT to know who they were. I'm just sayin'....

My friends B and S arrived for a pot luck supper around 6pm with baby A in a gorgeous pumpkin outfit. What a poppet.  I don't want to appear all stalkerish or anything, but I do enjoy baby cuddles with him. Although I have to admit it's nice to hand him back afterwards lol.  

Anyway, they brought with them the Rocky Horror Picture Show DVD and were stunned that neither Claire nor I had ever seen it. It was... interesting shall we say.  I can see why it has a cult following, but if I'd been on my own I probably wouldn't have watched it all the way through. Having said that, it was fun because B and S know all the heckling bits and told us all the props that people take to showings.

Anyway, I'm now pooped but I'll just leave you with this excellent ad for the Early Learning Centre that has me giggling every time I see it.  Nite nite!

 

Movie night

Last night Claire persuaded us to watch a film she'd bought recently, Reign over Me with Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle. Now, I know we are supposed to have watched it on cable before, but I didn't remember a THING about it apart from it being depressing. The box says it's an "uplifting" story so I agreed to watch it again.  Oh my!  I must have been in the wrong frame of mind the first time around!!  It IS sad but it is indeed uplifting. And if you thought Adam Sandler only did funny, check this scene out - he makes me and Claire cry. Strong stuff!

Christmas is a-coming

Yep, it's official: Bonfire night is out of the way, so is Halloween. The next celebration on our calendar is Christmas.  Today we went to the shopping centre and it was really beginning to bustle. First I had to post some letters for Dr O, and our nearest Post Office is actually inside W.H. Smiths, which is rather strange, but still... Right next to the PO is a new Jessops in-store shop. The boyf got chatting with one of the sales assistants while I was sorting out the post, and Claire was with him too.  OH was discussing cameras with the sales guy as he wants to sell his, and it turned out the youngster didn't really know much about cameras at all. Then it was mentioned that Claire used to work at the other Jessops in town, and one thing led to another and she was told to pop back with her CV as they are hiring at the moment!  Claire went out again later and had an impromptu interview with the Manager who said he'd be "happy to have her on board". Result! She just has to wait until next week but it looks as if she has landed herself a part-time position.

 

Meanwhile, "the red cups are here" - when Starbucks bring out the red cups you know Christmas is around the corner. Claire and I couldn't NOT have one, right?

 

 

('scuse the loon all in red - she's high on a tall-skinny-toffee-nut-latte....)

You can see I wear my poppy* with pride. This is my second one this year as they tend to fall off/get crumpled easily, but I don't like being without one in November.  (*see link for more info).

Talking of Christmas, we've just watched the Disney Christmas Carol premiere preview on TV. Funnily enough we were just round the corner from the festivities when we were in London on Tuesday, but I don't like crowds, so I'm glad we were able to catch some of it from the comfort of my own sofa...

Now I'm off to see what I can rustle up for dinner and then it's X Factor at 8pm, and tomorrow I want to try and get some scrapping in. Enjoy your weekend!
ETA: How could I forget?  I have joined a Christmas Swap via the blog Florence & Mary. It's so much fun!! I can't wait to start shopping for it...

Pop went the bubble...

Trust Jane (Brods) to burst my bubble!! (see her comment on the previous entry). Cheeky!

Changing the subject totally, I haven't watched a film for ages and today I saw Will Smith on Oprah talking about his latest film, Seven Pounds. Although I'd seen several reviews that were less than kind, Will and Oprah were so mysterious about it that I thought I'd give it a go, and watched it this afternoon. Oh my gosh!  It was wonderful. Beautifully shot, it's a film you can't really talk about without completely giving the plot away. I thought I wouldn't cry, but at the end the tears were streaming down my cheeks. If you haven't seen it, do give it a go!

I'm off to bed shortly as I have to be up early to get to the airport in time to meet Claire off her flight. I've very extravagantly booked a car back to the house so we don't have to carry all her luggage. I am very friendly with the people who did all the driving for my ex-boss, and I get a good rate with them, so we'll be riding in style in a Merc. Ah, I could definitely get used to that!  The owner of the company always enquires after Claire, because his son Sacha is a photographer and he's offered to help Claire in the past. So far she hasn't taken him up on the offer, but she can contact him if she changes her mind.

Nite all!