Workin' 9 to 5

Had a very productive day at work today.  Making a couple of people happy + getting a compliment + achieving something + good office gossip = job done.

Best part was a huge hazelnut latte and a chat in Costa with one of the people I support, which is always a bonus.  Is there anything better on a chilly windy day, when a person is full of cold, than sitting in a comfy chair drinking hot coffee?  Apart from a hot toddy?  I don't think so.

Plans for the weekend have sadly been shelved, due to unforeseen circumstances.  I need to come up with some ideas, and fast!  The cheaper the better.  If anyone out there has any suggestions, please throw them this way.  If, indeed, there is anyone out there.  Is anyone reading this?!  Not that it matters I suppose.  Ideas, I need ideas!

Anyhoo, so far this weekend I plan to:

- meet a friend for coffee Saturday morning

- go for a run without stopping for longer than five minutes

- have a long walk or two with the hound
- finish of my current assignment for my writing course (must, must, must)

- take my library books back and replace
- do a bit of work with someone I support on Sunday afternoon (might cycle there and back, if the weather is good.  Then again, it's easy to say that now, on Thursday evening, with a glass of red wine in hand).

But I need something different and exciting.  Something I've never done before.



Don't be silly!  Not that!  I'm not doing that!  I've applied to join the Northumbrian Wildlife Trust as a volunteer, imagining myself carefully cradling abandoned baby puffins and all that, but sadly I'm yet to hear anything.  I suppose I should go and join a flamenco class, really.  But how scary is that to do on your own?!?!

Fact of the day:  although it's a very corny 80's song, it's very difficult to listen to "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News without losing yourself in song.

I've also given up bread for lent.  I'm not that mad on chocolate, so the choices were:

- crisps

- alcohol

- bread

Bread it was then.  I'd sooner give up alcohol than crisps, and I've got a cold so need hot toddies at present (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it).

I must be honest, I thought bread would be easy.  But blimey!  Garlic bread served with my pasta this evening...aaargh.  I turned my face away, wearing a big pet lip and a huffy demeanour.

Never Forget

Just wanted to take a wee moment to recommend a link.  All about a wonderful man I was very lucky to know and call my brother-in-law.  And keeping his memory alive.



http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/sarahmarshall2506/1

Rollin', rollin', rollin'...

Roller disco was fab.  Managed the hour without falling over.  Good exercise too, and for £3.95 with a free hot dog and carton of juice thrown in, I for one felt it was a bargain!  As I whizzed (okay then, teetered) around, I lost myself in a world of disco music and naff 1980's films.  I do recall, a few years ago, throwing away a couple of hours watching one terrible roller disco film, which starred Linda Blair of the Exorcist fame.  As happy as she was on her wheels, I'm afraid she'll always terrify the living daylights out of me.  Sorry pet.

   

Rewarded ourselves with a pint or three at the lovely Cumberland Arms pub in Ouseburn afterwards.  I love how one of the rooms is a cosy drinking library; everyone looked very content with their pints and their books, the fire crackling in the corner.  One man was sitting on his own, happily chortling away, with a pint of ale in one hand and a book called "Balderdash and Piffle" in the other.  He was in kinks.  I must read that book.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/pubs/5940034/Newcastle-Pub-Guide-The-Cumberland-Arms-Byker.html

Fact of the day:  Roller skating burns 350-600 calories per hour!

Sniff...

Sniff...cough...sniff...achoo....blurgh.

In case you haven't noticed, I've got a cold.  Sniff.

But on the bright side, I'm going to the roller rink tomorrow!

Fact of the day:  Cold germs can survive for up to three hours outside of the nasal passage.  Yuck.

Tell me it's not true....

After a successful day's work and a quick bite to eat in Pizza Express, I went with H to see Blood Brothers at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle.  It was just wonderful, brilliant acting, very good singing, and a standing ovation at the end.  I'm impressed.  It was a weepie, but also funny in parts.  If you haven't been to see it, GO.  GO NOW!!!!  I'm not that into musicals but I make an exception with this one. 

The female lead was played by a woman who reached the semi finals of the X factor.  And I have to say, she was excellent.  Makes you wonder how many talented people out there remain undiscovered or never achieve their dreams.  She was born to be on stage, and yet if it weren't for a tv talent show she'd be working in Sainsburys or Lloyds TSB or somewhere like that.

I'm going to try and get tickets and go back with my mother on Tuesday.



When the lights went on at the end, a girl sitting near me had black mascara running in torrents down her face, she was covered.  A sign of a good play if ever I saw one.

Fact of the day:  the first actor appeared on stage in 534 BC.  He was called Thespis.



Day off

Love it!  Am currently in bed with my lovely strong coffee.  Going to go for a run with the mutt and then shopping, and hopefully a bit of writing too. 

Got a ticket for Evolution on Newcastle Quayside last night, for 29th May.  Amongst others Tinie Tempah, Example and Plan B!  Should be good.

Fact of the day:  coffee beans are not really beans at all.  They're berries.

Keep on runnin'...

Got confirmation of my place on the Great North Run for MacMillan today - woo!

To celebrate, I took Toby on another mini-jog around the fields.  He wasn't impressed.  Booster injections this morning, and running this afternoon.  Poor sausage.

I then bought a magazine called "Women's Running".  A whole bloomin' magazine just about women running!  I'm only up to page 12 and already wondering how they're going to eke it out for...(let me check)...122 pages.

One of the articles tells you how to have a firmer bust in only five steps.  Presumably by running?

Fact of the day:  Great North Run participants have clocked up more that nine and a half million miles between them.  Every postcode in the UK is represented in the starting line up.