Slightly calmer than yesterday...but not much.

Love my job at the minute.  Had quite a good day of getting those little odds and ends done, coupled with some idle gossip with colleagues.  Got a good plan for the next few days.

Rage

I've never in my life been a violent person, but...

I just really need to slam my fist into a wall, really hard, until I make a mark (and probably break my hand).  Either that or someone's face.

I am furious.

What on earth, ever, EVER possessed me to think I was doing the right thing by reuniting with my dodgy ex last year???

What conceivable happiness could ever have come from that relationship???

Fool.  Take my word for it people.  If there is EVER, EVER, the teeniest tiniest little iota of doubt in your mind...DON'T BLOODY DO IT.

And just when I think, Emma you stupid fool, he was a wrong'un, that'll teach you to listen to your head and not your heart...never mind eh, close that box and move on with your life, you've had a lucky escape by getting out when you did...

The ******* ******* gets back in touch.  To pee on me once again from a great height.

Enrolled on my writing course today!  I am so excited.  Should have done it years ago.  Got my first assignments:  why I want to write, in 300 words, and a description of a place or event, in 300-500 words.  I can't wait to get started, but apparently I'm not allowed until I have read modules 1-3 (when they arrive in the post).

What to write about?  Tynemouth market, or the Tyneside Cinema spring to mind.  The Angel of the North?  Might write a few and then pick the best one.  Or a favourite cafe or restaurant.  Ooh can't wait!

Well, I'm already several hours later for work than planned as a result, so I suppose I had better drag myself away.

Fact of the day:  On average, 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year.  Yikes.

Highlight of my day today - I went to a place called Pierogi in town and had these for my lunch:

They're Eastern European stuffed dumplings.  Also called pierogi, the assistant who served me (who definitely deserves the employee of the month award for the amount of dumpling knowledge and advice he imparted) seemed surprised I hadn't heard of them.  Anyway, I must return on Burns' day, as the speciality of the day will be haggis, neaps and tatties flavour pierogi.
After the world's most boring managers' meeting (why say in five minutes what you can say in three hours...do these people not have other things to do?!!!)  off I went to a spinning class. 
And that about sums up Monday.  I'm currently snuggled up with my little Toby-tastic and a glass of the Sunday Times wine club's finest.  Yum.

Fact of the day:  Chinese dumplings are called "wontons".  The word "wonton", when literally translated, means "swallowing clouds".  Apparently.

It's back!

Not happy.

I thoroughly enjoyed the snow when it was here in December, but enough is enough.  I can't wear my lovely new furry winter boots now, in case they get ruined!

Anyway, as a result of all this winter, the holiday plans are well underway.  I'm thinking, a week in a cottage in Northumberland when the weather is warm and sunny, walking with the dog and frequenting alehouses, followed by a week in the Big Apple.  I've started researching hotels.  Somewhere beside Central Park would be ideal.  Just can't decide between summer, when it's warm enough to sit on the sidewalk outside cafes, and wander through the park, or November, for Thanksgiving / Christmas shopping.  Anyway, plenty of time yet to decide.

Been to work anyway, to support H.  Today we did paperwork and then played tennis on the Wii.  H said she won, but in fact I did.  Never mind, good fun was to be had all round.

How come right, according to the Wii, my weight is in the ideal bracket (just) and my bmi is ok, and yet my wii fit age is 56?  In what context??!!  Harrumph.

Fact of the day:  Wallis Simpson's ancestors include the actor Robert Duvall, and two American presidents, Harry S Truman and Barack Obama.

New Day

Saturday...my favourite day of the week.  Being my first day off work in 2011, I decided it would also be the first day I will keep this diary.  Days off always bring an enthusiasm for new things, so here we go.

Started off the day as always, walking my dog, Toby, around the Angel of the North.  Sun came out and I made plans in my head for the day.  This diary / blog thingy being the first one.  Toby is my six year old Lakeland/Patterdale terrier, my best little pal.  He's good at: catching balls, understanding English, cocking his head to one side and looking wistful, and barking at postmen.  I got Toby from a farm up the coast when he was a tiny puppy.  I couldn't choose between him and his brother so got someone to choose for me.  We got in the car to take him home, and he was asleep on my lap within two minutes.  Toby hates fuss, can be grumpy at times, but a bit of cheese and he's anybody's.

Anyway, eight days late, I decided on my resolutions for 2011.

1.  Learn a new skill

2.  Stop wasting time watching crap telly and educate myself instead

3.  Be more appreciative of people

4.  Be nine stone something, instead of ten stone something

5.  Go back to New York...yeah!

That'll do for now. 

So with that decided upon, and the dog walked, off I went into town.  First port of call was the Grainger Market to pick up shopping.  Love the Grainger Market.

Next, off to the Tyneside Cinema to see the latest big film, The King's Speech.   I love the Tyneside Cinema, and paid the extra to sit in the circle, where I could buy myself a beer and stand it on the little ledge beside my comfy leather chair, and stretch out my legs in the abundance of space in front of it.  Wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon .
                                               

The film itself was fantastic, the hype was definitely to be believed.  It was basically

 a good comfort film for a cold January afternoon.  Colin Firth was his usual wonderful self and the best actor oscar should be in the bag. 

Back home, I made the first of (hopefully) many recipes from my new Jamie Oliver book, 30 minute meals.  It took an hour and a half.  Spinach and feta pie, with a tomato salad and a cucumber salad.    It looks decidedly dodgy, but I must say, it did taste good, and I will make it again.  In 30 minutes next time.

Spent the rest of the evening having my hair arranged in bunches, chignons and beehives, by my seven-year old niece, Nicole.  She's going to be a hairdresser when she grows up (how did you guess?)
Nicole is good at:  laughing, speaking her mind, doing bunches (needs work on the beehive), all sports, and being happy. 

So there we are.  A rundown of events of my first day.
I don't know how often I'll do this.  Knowing me, I'll be mad keen at first, then tail off after a while.  We'll see.  I'm not doing this for anyone else, just for me.  But hopefully it'll be good to look back on pictures and memories in time to come.
Fact of the day:  New York's Central Park is bigger than the principality of Monaco.