Mat's scissor hands doing their salad harvesting thing
Whilst getting ready to go home earlier, a work colleague asked me if I fancied joining him for a drink. Can you believe that I actually said that I would love to but I couldn't tonight as...... I was harvesting salad.
I must have sounded such a loser but as you can see from the above photo, I was indeed harvesting salad with Mat. It wasn't a euphemism for anything! Our first row of salad leaves was absolutely delicious. One of the leaves was an odd but good flavour combination of pepper and mustard. It tasted like rocket but it wasn't. We had the leaves with a home made vegetable bake so talk about healthy. Well, apart from the cheese!
It is quite satisfying all this growing and gardening lark. I just wish it would stop bloody raining. Oh my life! It feels like November in July. Where did all the sunshine go? It is supposed to be summer! It's getting quite depressing. Almost as much as all this hacking and News International malarkey. Yesterday a showbiz journalist's dead body is found. Today an idiot throws a custard pie to the face of a billionaire media mogul and his wife gets to show off her impressive right hook. Tomorrow? How about David Cameron resigning?! I really hope not. It could mean another general election. I don't think I could take any more of this in the news.
There are other things going on in the world! Like the fact that there is some nut-nut going around tampering with saline solutions in a hospital in Stockport potentially killing wards full of people; the Euro is imploding; the NHS is getting privatised up to its eyeballs and Cheryl has left Ashley. Again. And my hair is still really curly. I'm going to end up looking like one of those 118 blokes.
Swaying in the kitchen at half past one It was after the last glass of "Ten" when you came undone Falling asleep sideways Off the stool a good indicator A day of partying and drinking Your hangover precursor
Now, sloth like and fuzzy and a little bit smelly Watching the Tour de France like it's the best on telly! Finally arisen after hugs and teasing Crisps, cakes and pies please My, how appealing...
Hangovers are good for teaching sobriety Until the next round comes... Along with the party!
I wrote the above as I thought it summed up most of today!
Having had a good day of partying celebrating Caroline's 40th birthday yesterday afternoon and yet more conviviality later on at Portal Restaurant with Mike, Sylvie, James, Bex, our waif and stray for the evening Sarah and of course, Mat - we were feeling, shall we say, delicate. A good time was had by all and it's weekends like this that make me so appreciative of all the fun experiences I get to have.
It's all about enjoying the ride - drinking and eating crisps, cakes and pie ;-)
Recent press reports say that Princess Charlene tried to escape Monaco prior to her wedding but she was thwarted by mysterious henchmen loyal to her Prince Albert.
Rumours are that after two illegitimate children, Prince Albert has a third possibly a fourth in the pipeline and that Princess Charlene's 'contract of marriage' is to produce a legitimate heir and a spare. Apparently, they spent their honeymoon apart in South Africa and they had to cut their honeymoon short because of these paternity claims.
Apparently, these are tears of joy....!?!
And the press release 'from Charlene' surrounding these vicious rumours is;
“It is a shame that those rumours came at such a bad time, but I think they were timed to sabotage such a happy occasion. They are categorical lies. I won't dignify them with any response other than to say that the photographs of me and Albert in love and getting married will speak louder than any vicious gossip and empty rumours.”
Somebody send the A-Team to rescue her. Or Shrek. Or Rambo. Or Jason Bourne. Navy SEALs. The Milk Tray Man. Anyone! That's full on sobbing if you ask me, not tears of joy. Compare her demeanour to Princess Catherine marrying Prince William. To any bride marrying her groom that you may have witnessed lately. There is no comparison.
Somebody please rescue the Princess quick! I can't bear the thought of her locked in her ivory Monaco tower like some latter day Rapunzel waiting to be rescued. She just looks so very sad it's heartbreaking.
Emerald cut diamond with step baguette diamonds Art Deco style
BLING!!
Just in case you are reading this blog from the bottom up, yes you read that correctly from my previous post. I finally now have an engagement ring I absolutely love.
I think we have informed most people but apologies if we have not got around to telling you. We will be celebrating it in some way, but to confirm, Mat and I are engaged. It happened during our Indonesia trip. Specifically, on Friday 13th May whilst watching an electrical storm on Pemuteran beach at Taman Sari resort, northern Bali. It's a good job we're not superstitious!
Unfortunately, the gesture ring Mat bought for the occassion wasn't really 'me' so I got him to swap it for a lovely watch instead :-) To mark the passage of time and one year since my cancer diagnosis.
He knows I am a fussy cow so was kind of expecting this. Anyway, above is my engagement ring. I am very lucky. I have a beautiful ring that I have always wanted but most of all, a most generous and amazing husband-to-be :-)
No date set or even plans made so don't get too excited. We've been together nearly nine years now so you can't really hurry these things...
Since my last post, almost 3 weeks ago, quite a few things have happened and because of either busy-ness, laziness, tiredness, headaches, hot weather, hangovers or a combination of all six, I haven't had a chance to post on here in great detail.
So, in no particular order, she with a capital V;
Got given her 6-month complete remission The 24th June saw me be told that 6 months on since my stem-cell transplant back in December, I'm still in complete remission. Given that the 6-month mark is usually the earliest when this cancer flares up again (if it does flare up again), I was a little worried and nervous. It was one test I really wanted to pass and I did. My consultant was very matter of fact about it as they all have to be I suppose in case it is not good news. I just sat there stupefied. Mat just kept stroking my knee! I am by no means in the all clear as I still have to undergo regular check-ups and monitoring and my body is still settling down to how it was. But it's a start and I will take it. We celebrated by finally buying me an engagement ring that I actually liked, in fact, love.
Saw 'Take That' at Wembley Stadium
Take That Progress Tour June 2011 at Wembley Stadium
Yes I was there. On the first night of their 8 night stint at Wembley - myself, Kira, Debs and Fran along with around 77,000 other people (mostly women of a certain age) sang, danced and generally had a fantastic time to the fab four and Robbie.
I have been to a few gigs in my life but this is probably the only one where before the start, I was quaffing champagne at the top of Wembley stadium where the sun was shining and laughter and chat was flowing. How civilised! And very, very cool. Equally, I haven't really been to many gigs where you get to hear people say; "Mind how you go down those steps, they are ever so steep" or "The toilets are really good, they are ever so clean" or "Look at all that rubbish down there! Some poor person has got to clear that up" or "Another bottle of your house champagne please". How terribly middle-class! Grown-up even!
But I suppose that's what you get when you go to see everyone's favourite man-band. They were amazing and the show was superb. What a class act. Robbie did his thing and at times it did feel a little bit like Robbie Williams and Take That but it was still a great evening.
I was quite emotional throughout most of it. When Sean managed to organise the tickets for Kira's surprise birthday present it was way back in December - when I was literally on my death-bed and although appreciative, not even thinking beyond the next day let alone a Take That concert in June. Six months on, I am listening to Gary, Howard, Mark, Jason and Robbie singing Rule the World and seeing a sea of hands and listening to a stadium of cheers. Back for Good indeed.
Said au revoir to two friends (Sam and Marc) One to a new job. The other to a new life abroad with his beloved. For both, bigger and better things. I'm really happy for them but a little heavyhearted too as I will miss them both in different ways. It made me think of this quote;
"And I hate when things are over when so much is left undone"
And this very cheesy 90s classic it came from. Love this song! Whatever happened to Deep Blue Something?
Deep Blue Something - Breakfast at Tiffanys
Finally, got told how to 'solve' a maze after all these years
Unfortunately, it took about 20 minutes of copious laughter at my expense whilst I drove myself demented trying to get out of the maze at Tatton Park.
Mat, Amy and Fraser - thanks! Some photos of the Japanese garden at Tatton Park below which was beautiful.
Has watched our garden grow even more
I know it's only salad leaves, pak choi and ping pong courgettes amongst others but Mat and I are ever so proud. Freshly weeded by my own fair hand, our vegetable patch is looking luscious n'est ce pas? Can't wait to eat it!
Copy of my confirmation email below from the London 2012 Ticketing Team for 2 tickets to watch Judo at next year's Olympics. Relevant info deleted and no, not interested in selling, swapping etc.
We are very pleased!
Dear VANESSA
Congratulations! You have been allocated some of the greatest tickets on earth!
This email is from the London 2012 Ticketing team, confirming that your Olympic Games ticket application has now been processed. Your new Olympic Games ticket reference number is
We are delighted to confirm that you have been allocated the following tickets to the London 2012 Olympic Games:
Sport: Judo
Session code: JU001
Venue: EXCEL
Date/Time: 28 JULY 2012
Price category: C
Quantity: 2
Total number of tickets: 2
Total cost of tickets: £70
Total cost of merchandise: £0
Delivery charge: £6
Total amount charged: £76
To plan your travel to your Games event, please read Travel
If you have any questions regarding your Olympic Games ticket application, please use our Frequently asked questions
Please include your Olympic Games ticket reference number, which can be found at the top of this email, in all communications.
We will give full details of your seat location when we send your tickets in summer 2012. For security purposes, your tickets will be billed and delivered to the address you provided in your ticket application. This must be the same address at which your Visa card is registered. If you need to update your address, please contact the London 2012 Ticketing team.
You will be able to apply for remaining tickets on the London 2012 ticketing website from 6:00am on 8 July to 6:00pm on 17 July 2011.
There are still lots of great sports available in the second chance sales window, including Volleyball, Wrestling, Football, Handball and Hockey. Please read Availability for a full list.
The application process for second chance sales has important differences to the application phase which ran from 15 March to 26 April 2011. Please read How to apply for full information.
Thomas Cook Games Breaks
As the official provider of short breaks to the Games, Thomas Cook still have a limited number of Games Breaks available. Thomas Cook Games Breaks start at £99 per person and include official tickets, accommodation in London hotels and a range of other services. Find out more at the Thomas Cook website
Don't be fooled by bogus websites and organisations claiming to sell tickets to the Games. London 2012 will never contact you directly to ask for personal or financial details in relation to your ticketing account, or ask you to reveal your ticketing account password. To check whether a website is an official sales channel use our website checker.
This email is generated automatically, please do not reply.
Best wishes and congratulations again,
London 2012 Ticketing team
Our vegetable patch - waiting for the first shoots!
How rubbish has the weather been this weekend? On the positive side, you could say it has been tropical - really hot one minute and then showers the next. Except the showers are not the lukewarm kind you get in say Indonesia. It has felt like October at times! Wimbledon starts tomorrow so the weather is just about right I guess.
After the action packed events of Portland last weekend, Mat and I have spent most of this weekend working on the saga that is our Japanese garden. Weeding, cutting, trimming, mowing and sawing. There is still loads to do but we are slowly denting the mammoth task of prettifying it all and we also managed to get some planting done. Woop!
I'm very excited about our vegetable patch. As it is so late in the planting season, we have gone for a variety of salad leaves, green beans, mangetout, purple sprouting broccoli, pak choi and 'ping pong ball' courgettes. I got very 'Good Life' writing on the label sticks and very much looking forward to seeing and eating the fruits of our labour. Just call me Barbara Good! Thank you very much to Marc for lending his strength and helping shift our granite bench over to its rightful position. And as for the pick-axe wielding - I'm impressed!
Highly recommend the Fiskars Weed Puller for a bit of weed pulling action. I saw the advert and fell for the hype but this product really works so go and get one if you want to 'pull' next weekend :-)
