Meeting an Idol

Last night I finally got to see someone who I have admired since 10 years of age and wasn't disaappointed in the slightest!

TOYAH ROCKED!!!!

She made an appearance at The New Forresters in Nottingham to an intimate yet very responsive crowd. She came on at 12.30am and did an hours set, performing her hits both new and old... she brought down the house. She was very funny and extremely down to earth!

My mate Tim and I even got to tell her how brill she was an gave her a kiss in appreciation!

After a 30 year career Toyah Wilcox was as lively and energetic as she has always been, Long may she continue.... I for one, would love to see her perform again.

An Alter of Peace





I have just created an alter of peace in the corner of my home. I was reading about this in the Psychic's Bible and thought I would give it a try. Whilst creating my alter I also invoked my guardian angel and spirit guide in my home. Hoping my life may take a new direction now.



I wear a coat of angels' breath and warm myself with His love. ~Emme Woodhull-Bäche

Parents Silver Wedding Anniversary

On Tuesday my parents have been married for 25 years! I can't believe it, it just seems like yesterday since I was a young innocent 13 year old attending there wedding? How can 1984 be a quarter of a century ago? Ed - in case you were wondering, Malc is my step dad!

Anyway, last night was their Silver Anniversary celebration and being as they enjoy live entertainment, they chose Bistro Live! as the venue. As I mentioned in my last blog Mum has been feeling quite unwell (it started last week with her back and leg), during the week she had been to see the nurse, her GP and an osteopath. The GP had perscribed for her a course of co-codamol, but she had been struggling on these tablets and they really took their toll on her during the journey to the club and she was poorly on a couple of occasions. Poor Mum!

I had arrived there at around 7.05pm and the street was already filled with various hen parties all in fancy dress. The club didn't open its door till 7.15pm so I stood outside as more and more mini busses dropped off more hen parties. I got into the club at about 7.20pm and was immediatley shown to our table, I explained that the rest of my party would be arriving shortly and ordered a pint whilst I waited. As I sat there at our large empty table I noticed that so far I was the only man in there, other than the staff of course, so I was relieved when the family arrived at 7.45pm! That made 5 males in total out of 400!

We had a really great night and once Mum had something to eat and drink started to feel a lot better. The meal was lovely and the entertainment was fab, the only downside was the fact that it was extremly noisy in there (well in would be with 400 hens) and so no one could talk to each other. I couldn't even her what was being said to me by the person opposite or next to me.

Once the meal is over, the staff come and clear the tables completely and then they attach some metal bins to the ends of the tables for you to pit your drinks into, as you are encouraged to dance on the tables!!! There is no dancee floor at all, as everyone is packed in so tightly. Needless to say a couple of my sisters were straight up on the table!

We finally left at around 11.30pm and I said my goodbyes and headed home through the packed town! When I got in I wasn't a bit tired and so I popped on the BGT final. Great show... was a little sad for Susan but Diversity were outstanding and very deserving winners! I'm sure Susan will do well out of it all anyway.

A welcome break!

On Friday I broke up from work for two whole weeks! It was a great start to the holiday as the sun was shining and an action packed weekend loomed!

I went to work for 8.00am, but didn't have to do too much as it was Lisa's wedding shower, so most of the morning was taken up with setting up the room and laying out the food etc. At 10.00am Lisa walked into the room and we all applauded loudly, it was a lovely couple of hours. Before we knew it it was almost 12noon and we all said our goodbyes and went home. I did a bit of shopping in town before Jen arrived at 4.00pm.

Jen and I had a couple of hours before we were due at Tim's house, so we sat and had a cuppa and a catch up. Jen told me all about here new job, that she had just been told she has got at Job Centre Plus - well done Jen!

We talk a walk up to the tram stop for 7.00pm and caught the tram over to Tim's. I really have started to dislike the tram, as every time I catch it these days it is rammed and I have to stand up for the entire journey. Why can't the Net lay on more trams? Why do they naturally allow for people standing? Surely everyone has the right to a seat, as they charge everyone the same price.

We had a lovely evenings at Tim's. It was Jen's first time there, so he gave her the guided tour around. Actually it was the first time I had been there since he had fully furnished the place, so it was nice to see it all completed.

Tim cooked us a gorgeous spag bol with garlic dough balls and for dessert we had fresh strawberries and ice cream.

The rest of the evening was spent listening to music, chatting and polishing of three bottles of white zinfandel and a couple of walnut liqueurs. By midnight the early start to the day and the grog was starting to take effect and we were all nodding off and so we headed to bed.

We woke up around 8.00am and after some breakfast headed back into town. After a bit of shopping in Tescos Tim and Jen came back to mine for some lunch and then in the afternoon Larry came and joined us for a little celebration (Jen and Larry both getting the jobs they wanted).

We had a lovely afternoon of just chilling out and chatting..... Four bottles later Larry and Tim left, leaving Jen and I to get ready for our night out.

We had arranged after the last AA reunion, to meet up with Tony at a later date as Jen couldn't make the last reunion and Tim had arrived after Tony had left. We all met up in Nottingham and had a few drinks in some bars around town. It was really nice just to sit and relax and enjoy the company. We found a lovely little bistro to finish the night off in and found that four hours three and half hours just flew by. Before we new it we were saying our goodbye's to Tony and heading home for a good nights sleep!

On Sunday, we had to be up early as was spending the day with my parents, so I said my goodbyes to Jen and headed off to my parents in Long Eaton. It was a red hot day, and so after our lunch out at the Newdigate we headed over to Highfields for a walk. Mum had been suffering with a bad back for a few weeks and it seemed that yesterday it was worse then ever and so she hoped the walk might do her some good. We took a very gentle walk around the lake and stopped every 5 or 10 minutes so Mum could have a rest.

It was so hot and before I knew it I could feel that my forehead was starting to burn and so we headed back home and sat under the umbrella in the back garden supping some cold beers... bliss!

After tea, I caught he bus home and spent the rest of the evening catching up on Britain's Got Talent - Go Susan!!!!

A Smashing Time

This weekend my old friend Paul came to stay. It's been a couple of years since his last visit so it was really nice to see him and catch up.

On Saturday we had a walk around town. Paul, although he has been here many times, had never done the 'touristy' things and so we set off with cameras etc and had a walk around the city.

We stopped for some lunch at the Red Hot Buffet Shack which was really nice. In the day it's £6.50 and you get just as much choice as you do during the evening at this particular restaurant.

In the market square we passed some Native American Indians who were performing an incredibly moving song, and so I just had to buy their CD. (It turned out that the track I wanted wasn't on the CD but they kindly swapped it for me the next day).

In the evening we went to the Eviva Taverna (a favourite haunt of ours) and had a really lovely meal and as usual they provided live entertainment for the diners as well. The owner recognised me and I mentioned that I had been going there since 1987 and he gave us free drinks... how kind!

On the Sunday we had some lunch and then went over to Cineworld to see 'Is Anybody There?' The film was okay, but very depressing! Not sure if it's one I would buy on DVD.

I had to work on Bank Holiday Monday. It's the only BH that we have to work as it doesn't fall during a college closure. I told Paul to let himself out when he was ready to head off home, as I left for work that morning. When I returned in the evening I returned to a nightmare!!! For some unknown reason my key was unable to turn the lock. I tried and tried and tried, but it was no use. I was really beginning to panic as it was Bank Holiday Monday and I just didn't know what to do or who to call. In the end I decided to nip down to the basement to Data Control and ask them to contact the Woodlands Security, both of which were really helpful.... NOT!

I managed to get a number for the 24 hour hour emergency repair team, who said they would send a joiner out in the next 4 hours! I contact my mate Daren who lives in the same building and he kindly let me sit there until the joiner arrived an hour or so later.

The joiner tried for 30 minutes unsuccessfully to bust the lock, breaking 3 drill bits along the way, in the end he resulted to using a crow bar which took him a further 15 minutes and leaving this mess...

but at least I was in!

Went with Helen over to see Tim in his new house during the evening. He's got it looking really nice and homely. We all had a good natter and Tim did me some pizza, as I had missed my tea. He also did cakes and biscuits. It was a really nice relaxing evening after a day of stress.

Had to take today off work and after a few failed attempts to get a repair man here I finally got a new lock and the door leg looks a little better. Unfortunately I have to take more time off work as it is a temporary fix until a new door leg can be replaced.

Oh joy!

A Great Weekend

I thought it was high time that I posted a blog entry! AND being as I have had such a good weekend, why not now?

Yesterday (Saturday) I woke up pretty early and so decided to go and visit the barber when he opened at 8.00am. Whilst I was sat in the chair having my head shaved Larry called to say that he was in the Vicky Centre as so after I Left the barbers I met up with him and we went back to mine for a cuppa and a catch up.

Larry kindly offered to take me out to PC World to help me by a laptop. (I'm hopeless with these things!) As we set off he said that we should have a look in John Lewis... I thought this was a waste of time as they are usually very expensive, but actually it turned out that after doing a few price comparisons they had some really good deals. So after driving to PC world and having a look at a few other places in town, we went back to John Lewis and and I got myself a new Laptop...

However I didn't stop there... I've always wanted an iPod and so ended buying an iPod touch and a docking station too...

Larry helped me set everything up back at mine (I say helped.. he did everything, whilst I went to Gregs to get us some lunch).

In the afternoon I went over to Tim's new house to offer some help with the move. By the time I got there they were on the last run, so I helped unload the van and I also put together a clothes stand for him (get me Mister DIY!). Tim's house is lovely and I have a feeling that he would be very happy there. I can't wait to see it when he has everything sorted. I left about 4.30pm and caught a tram back into town, listening to my new iPod ;0)

Last night was the American Adventure reunion. We had had one 2 years ago to mark the 20 year anniversary and decided then that we should meet up again every couple of years. Tim was running a bit behind with the move, so I decided to catch a bus out to Ilkeston and meet up with him there. However, as I was leaving for the bus I got a text from Tony to see if I wanted a lift, so we ended up traveling there together.

We arrived around 7.45pm and as soon as we walked in we were greeted by everyone. It was great, everyone was hugging each other and saying things like "Do you remember me?" and "Oh My God" there were even some faces this time that were unable to come to the 20 year reunion and it was so nice to catch up with them too. The drinks were coming fast and furious and for the next few hours we all sat around looking at old photos and laughing histerically at the old stories and memories that the various people had. Not to mention the fact that we were all getting extremley drunk. It was a really good turn out, but just like last time people seem to split into groups. Before we knew it people were starting to leave and a realised that Tim hadn't even arrived yet. Daryl had waited to see Tim but had to leave about 10.15pm as he had to pick his kids up and drive back to Leeds. Tim arrived at around 10.30pm and there was still a fairly small number of us left... we stayed till about 11.30pm. It was such a lovely evening, but like all reunions it was also bitter-sweet one as you start to think about where the time has gone and you also see people getting older.

Gill, Maegaret and Jayne

Darryl

Tony & Andy

Jayne, Gill and Darryl

Alison, Adrian and Andy

Margaret, Gill and Jayne

Today I played some more with my new laptop and iPod and then met up with Tim in town for a spot of lunch and a couple of beers. Then I headed over to Larry's to help him with an application form for work. Why he asked for my help I'll never know, as it was absolutley brilliant!

The rest of the evening was spent donloading all my CD's onto my iPod.

All in all a very enjoyable weekend. Must have an early night tonight as me and Larry are off to
London in the morning to attend a conference on disability in FE so another long day lies ahead ;0)

Light Night

On Friday I should've been going to a local spiritual development group, but had been suffering with an upset stomach in the afternoon, so decided it was best not to risk it. At about 6.30pm I decided to go out to the nearest late night chemist to stock up on supplies.

As I left Victoria Centre I could hear a lot of music and singing and the sky over the Market Place was illuminated in a beutiful pinky purple colour, so I headed off to see what was taking place.

It never ceases to amaze me that altough I live in the city centre I never tend to find out what is happening in town until after the event.

As I approached the Market Place I noticed that it was jam packed full of people singing and dancing along to a band that was performing on a stage... This I later found out was the second night of Light Night.

I had a walk around and soaked up some of the atmosphere. It was great to see all these people gathered togeather enjoying the event and having fun. I would've stayed a lot longer but I did need the chemist and it was bittertly cold... even Brian was wearing a pullover...


I don't know how they managed to get that onto him????

The fab steel band outside St Mary's

Thought

When ego is out of the way it is very important to create an atmosphere of harmony

Where have I been???

Nowhere! I've just been incredibly lazy if I am honest! I probably wouldn't be writing now, if it wasn't for the fact that I have been awake since 6.00am on a Sunday morning, with nothing to do. ;0)

I had a great Christmas, hectic and noisy, but still great!

My new job is going really well, and both my bosses say that they are really pleased with me, do that's good. I now feel like I know what I am doing!

You may have noticed that I have stopped doing a film blog? Well, I just thought it would be easier to mention them through here, as and when I had seen one worth recommending. The only one I would recommend so far this year would be 'Milk' it's an incredible film, that's both deeply moving and inspirational... check it out..

Trailer - click HERE

Okay, well I promise to post more... I guess I have to get more of a life, so that I actually have something to blog about!

Thought

The history of the world is created from individual actions, as is the future of the world.