Eurovision...

As Jonny and Mandy had to be away when Eurovision was on, we came up with the plan that we'd record it and have our Eurovision party a week late. Now the only problem with this plan was that it was rather tricky to ensure that none of us found out the results in the mean time.Luckily only 1 of us heard the result - and then when they heard that song concluded that as it was so rubbish they must have been lied to!

We had a really funny night - aided by the fact we played this drinking game. Although it'll come as no surprise to anyone that both Mark and Jonny spent much time chuckling to themselves but saying things like "He's bound to wink in a minute - he looks like a bit if a winker if ever I saw one...", and I've never known a group of people get so excited about a ky change in a Eurovision song before... Anyway, it was highly entertaining and I'd recommend it to anyone.

Instead of the traditional party food I made 2 huge lasagnes - here's what Jonny looks like after consuming his own weight of baked pasta! :)


The organised fun for this year was bug rocks - here are our works of art...


I think we could take on the decorated rocks at the Otley Show any day...

How posh am I?

This afternoon I had an appointment with Sarah, the personal shopper / fashion adviser at John Lewis. My wardrode desperately needed a make over, and I generally hate shopping so thought I'd give it a try.

Well, I can honestly say it's fantastic. It's a free service (Debenhams and Selfridges also offer a similar service), and you can go just for help with one outfit, or as in my case, when you need lots of things.

After a 10 min consultation to discuss type of clothes I was looking for, the colours and styles I like / dislike etc, she set off round the store with a rail to select things for me to try whilst I was left to relax with a coffee and some maazines. If you prefer you can go round the store at the same time to pick out things you'd like to try, but I thought that if I was there I'd be less open to trying styles I'd not normally go for so it'd best just to get her to pick stuff out.

She came back with the rail filled up, and then based on seeing how the things she'd chosen fitted and styles that suited me, she then went back with a second rail. Sarah was so friendly and helpful, and based on what I was trying would pop back into the store to get something in a different size or colour, or to get some beads to accessorize, or some shoes etc.

I have come away with so much stuff (although it's not obligatory to buy anything), and you even pay in her suite area so no queueing or having to mix with the 'common' shopper at all! Fab! And hopefully I won't need to go shopping again for months. Hurrah!

Stupid travel agent of doom...

I got to Madrid airport all ready to check in to come home. I queue up. I get to the check in desk. The man scratches his head in a perturbed fashion. When did I book the flight he asks? What is my booking reference? These are questions one doesn't normally get asked at an Easyjet desk.

I fish out my reference, and only then notice that the date of my return flight was Wednesday. Today is Thursday. I curse the travel agent that booked my flights using a vast array of swear words. I then think I did ought to just check my emails that I asked them to book the right day before I get toooooo cross with them. I boot up my computer, and go back to cursing the travel agent.

As my laptop takes 3 years to boot I'd in the meantime gone to the sales desk to buy a ticket for today. "Oh dear" says the man, "today's flight is full..."

They won't know if there's a no show until the check in desk closes in 40 minutes, and being Easyjet there's no standby list to get your name on. I also phone to the (retarded) travel agent and see how else I can get from Madrid to Manchester at 5pm on a Thursday evening.

The check in for the Liverpool flight closes and (apparently) everyone turned up. But there is a flight to Gatwick leaving in 40 minutes and I can buy a seat on that. I check that I can get on the BA Gatwick - Manchester shuttle, and buy my new ticket, which being a last minute Easyjet purchase is about the same cost as a flight to the moon.

I go to check in, and there is a group 4 of irate people wanting to know why there wasn't an announcement that the Liverpool flight check in was closing as they were in the line. Grrr I think - thieving Esayjet and their lying ways of doom - why couldn't I have had one of their seats?

So, I get through security etc, the flight is due to leave in 15 mins. The incoming flight is yet to arrive so we've no plane. I start to panic as I have a relatively short connection in Gatwick, especially as my bag isn't checked right through and I have to change terminal... We eventually depart for Gatwick an hour late. Marvellous I think, I'll be in an airport hotel for the night.

As it happens we made up a lot of time on the flight, and my bag is one of the first off, so I get checked in for the next flight with enough time to grab some dinner, and keep one eye on the screen for my gate number. That's weird I think - we are due to take off in 30 mins and still no gate... Hmmm. Eventually a notice comes up - delayed by 90 mins. Nice.

Again we make up some time on the flight. The pilot announces this as we get to the gate at Manchester in a very chuffed fashion. Then 2 mins later announces that any time we gained we will now lose as they can't find steps to fit the plane...

It's only taken 10 hours to get home. I'm really looking forward to my trip to Barcelona next week. (Although I have already double checked I'm booked on the right flights!)

Pringles gone...

I lasted until 20:05, which I thought was quite impressive.

Miserable in Madrid :(

So, I flew over here on Easyjet today - which wasn't too bad other than I was amongst the last group to be called to board so ended up in a really rubbish seat. Speedy boarding is going to be purchased before my next trip in a couple of weeks.

Then I get to my hotel, which is nice enough, but right in the middle of a business park so nowhere nearby to go to. So I'll have to eat in the hotel restaurant - which is ok except it doesn't open until 20:30! Grrrr... And I'm starving - that teeny tiny sandwich I had in Liverpool airport is soooo long ago now.

I thought I could pass the time until the restaurant opens by playing a bit of WOW to distract me from my hunger. But then remembered I only have my rubbishy work laptop here which isn't up to the job, and not Mark's lovely shiny spare laptop which is a gzillion times better and is now my official WOW machine. :(

I'm trying to ignore the temptation to eat the pringles in the mini bar...

Busy Bank Holiday

For once we actually had plans! Blimey!

First off Chris and Liz came to babysit for us on Friday evening so we could go out for curry with Jonny and Mandy, plus a few of friends and family around for her party BBQ on Saturday.

Then on Saturday we were at the Hills for the afore mentioned BBQ. All 3 of us went round early doors, and then Mark and Tully came home around her bedtime and I stayed on and partied.

On Sunday we drove to Yeadon to stay with Chris and Chrissy. It was really lovely to see them, particularly after Tully went to bed. We used to see them for overnighters regularly before Tully, but only seen them in the day accompanied by small child since so it was really nice to be able to just catch up in a 'grown up' way later.

On Monday Chrissy's family and friends arrived for a BBQ to celebrate her birthday and a bit of a bash.

Lots of fun but I'm exhausted now. I need another bank holiday weekend to recover. Sadly I'm off to Madrid tomorrow for the first part of my 3 week Spanish tour. No rest for the wicked. :(