Social life

It has been a week of doing stuff and meeting people, and a very nice week it has been.

On Monday I meet my brother and his family in Birmingham, so watch my nephew sing in the Music for youth festival (http://www.mfy.org.uk/coreseason/national). They where very good and so where all the other contestants.

In the evening we had the 'Monday Group' round for games and wine. They were also very patient and supportive as I sort out my insurance claim

Thursday we went to London to hand in are passports. While waiting to go into the embassy a lady approach Wayne and said that she recognised him from the forum so he felt a bit famous. after we handed are passports in and picked up are raffle ticket (high tech!) we went to Islington and met Kevin and Ollie, who used to play a well known online game. Kevin has just that his own business and Ollie is trying to become a sound engineer. They both had different jobs which they didn't really like. I was very impressed with there courage and wish them both good luck.

We had a little walk round Marble Arch and Oxford street before heading home.

Friday we went to Lucy and Paul's for a bbq and met you with lot of people we haven't seen for a while. We left them drinking marshmallow vodka, which smelt sickly.

Saturday and we were in Birmingham again, meeting with Brandi and Tasha. We chilled by the canal and then went for Japanese food. The food was cooked in front of us which was very impressive and it was very yummy.

Today is lunch with the inlaws, which brings us back to Monday again!

Party week

Well it started with a birthday meal, at the new Italian in town for my birthday...it is very nice but the service is very relaxed.

We then went to Wayne's Christmas party , where there were fire eaters, dancers and dodgems!

Wayne really enjoyed it!

Friday was my Christmas party and oops I forgot to take that camera :)

this week is wrapping pressies and getting early nights...at least it is nearly Christmas

Carols at the Priory

Friday evening we went to a carol concert but rather than at a church, this was at the ruins of Grace Dieu Priory (http://www.gracedieupriory.co.uk/). It was a Priory for Augustinian canonesses which was dissolved in 1538 and left for ruin. A few hundred people trundle too sing a range of carols, some of which I new and some that i didn't, We also had some mince pies and a mulled wine.

It was a great start to the Christmas season now all I have to do is the shopping and the wrapping and more partying :)

Party Season

last night we has a girlie night out to catch up and to kick off party season.

It was great to meet up with everyone, giggle about old time and made plans for next year we are having a come dine with me competition and a maybe a 10 year reunion. We his a few bars in Quorn, which was different and ended up in Choas in Lboro...I don't think echos Friday night music is my kind of music...cheesy music is a must :)

Next Friday I am at a RSC party, the week after we are nottingham. Then Birthday drinks and 2 work parties - at least we have some time off at Christmas.

Sugar Craft - half term

So for this week I have tried my hand at making a few more carnations, which a fiddly but I will get there with practice.

I have also made my first Gluten free cake, turned out better than expected.

I've decorated it for Helen's birthday tomorrow , and for a first attempt it is not to bad but I have a list of things I need to improve on for next time.

I will post picture tomorrow or Tuesday as I don't spoil the surprise

There is 7 months until Helen and Stu wedding which should give me to perfect baking, icing and decorating skills.

May Day Free fest and BBQ

On Monday we had a fun day at a free music festival and then had a BBQ afterward here are the highlights:

While wondering round freefest we were looking at the rides and discovered this highly informative sign. We listen to some OK bands and Carlton Cole and Wayne had a very big ice cream !

Back at home James invented a crazy croquet course and much fun was had by all while waiting for the BBQ - apart from Wayne who hurt his foot!

Guinness was a little perplexed with it all...

The camera was hijacked by some tipsy people! Who were then distracted by some juggling, poi and burgers.
Freddie spent a lot of time chasing Guinness and causing Rimmer to act like a 2 year old, much to our amusement. Then we played some fun Wii games and Wayne rested his poorly foot. A great May day and the start of many summer BBQ's

Clockwork Who

On Saturday we went out to a Tutu and/or Trilby party Wayne had a trilby and I had a frilly skirt as i couldn't find a tutu.
However, James decided that his Trilby made him look like the guy from the Clockwork Orange but then decided that he should where a Doctor Who type scarf therefore he was christened as the Clockwork Who -Doctor Who's evil twin (or the clockwork orange man better behaved sibling).

monday night social

Since it it officially British summer time, we had the first BBQ of the season last night.

Home made burgers are the way forward! all we needed was for it to stay light for a little longer.

Next planned BBQ is in May. I can't wait

next week we are going back to the pub and hopefully the quiz will begin again after Easter.

Monday Night

Cheese, wine and good company ... need I say more :)

Badders

We decide it would be a good idea to book some badminton court with four friend yesterday, however the club was playing to the court time were staggered which wasn't a good start, but we all a chance to play each other and have a shot at playing singles.

Singles is too much hard work at at 9.30 at night !

we decided to try a game of 3V3 badminton , which was amusing for a few minutes then it became clear that there wasn't really enough room on the court. It also reminded me of volleyball.

I think badders is better as single or doubles, however these things have to be tried.

This weekend i am going to get a lighter badminton racket which should help me play better ( I hope)

Monday Night Dinner party

Well it was our turn to host this week, so we tidied up and found the posh china

We started the with a quick Rayman Raving Rabbid's 2 game entitled 'burp' in which you have to shake a bottle of pop as fast as you can got 5 seconds, drink and burp - the louder the burp the more of the city you destroy, the boys did better than the girls and Stu got the top score -a new record.

After dinner we played Big Brain Academy, which is alright but I think we need to revise the rules a little when we play.

We then played flux which is rather hard when you had a lot of wine, and Helen has beginners luck at it.

Lessons learnt from the tonight event:

1.Tune Harp before guest arrive
2.Lock cat in Kitchen so he doesn't annoy people -he is cute though :)
3.Don't sit on the piano stall without having good balance (especially when you are teasing your partner)

Next week we are having a cheese and wine night ... all I have to do is pick a cheese :)

Monday Curry and Pigeon

Last night we were entertained by Helen and Stu.
We finally got there, after as short delay talking to the neighbours (sorry!) and we had a lovely meal of home made onion bhajis, Turkey balti (or rogan josh, not a good curry identifier) and a cheese (Paneer) and peas curry. All of which were really yummy.

We then played Yahtzee Poker and Pass the bomb (I am rubbish), I invented an ear necklace to much hilarity and embarrassment of me.

We then played with various Rubik cubes before leaving with 3 empty wine bottles ( thank you) so that I could bottle bottle my rhubarb wine.

So a great evening entertainment and off we went to bed, only to be woken up at 12.30 by Guinness making a low growling sound which means he caught some kind of animal we usually lock him in the kitchen when he does that until takes it back outside.

At half past midnight we were chasing the cat round the house as he refused go in the kitchen and would realise the furry thing he was carrying. When he finally let it go we chucked the cat in the kitchen and disposed of the Pigeon ... (poor bird) and we finally went to bed.

We are hoping for a better nights sleep tonight...

Dinner party

James and Hannah hosted a dinner party last night

We had an extra thick veggie soup and Fresh bread, with ice cream for dessert

After that we played Cranium and we played truth to myth and found out crazy things like you nails don't keep growing when you dye and whales sleep vertically

An excellent evening with much merriment all round :)

Beer Art

Whilst at the pub last night, after going for a Birthday curry with Stu, we noticed that the beermats had a list of beer on them, thinking that this was the bottom side of the mat and that advert was on the other side we turn them over to find they were the same on the other side. After much discussion we decided that we should animate them ourselves, here is the first one drawn by Stu:







he has more at home, we were getting quite artistic, by the end of it. We didn't get the complete as the pen ran out :(

Pub quiz

Every Monday night we go to the Swan in the Rushes for the bar v lounge (that the best side)
pub quiz

There is a match each week, first to 10 wins then there is a break for a few weeks and then it starts all over again

Well any way last night the score was 9:9 so it was a critical match, the tension was high and the pub was packed, the questions were hard

the result....

the bar won by two questions :(

Never mind though because we area round up 4 to the lounge and 3 to the bar and we will bet them next time

Until then it is dinner party season :)