Lent

It is beginning of Lent today and I still haven't decided what to abstain from. Sex maybe? That would, sadly, be too easy these days. Booze? No f@£*ing way. TV? Possibly. Writing this blog rather than doing some good in the world? Hmmmm....
My lovely friend Rachael has taken the eco advice from the Church of England, and, rather than give up carbon, she's chosen to give up plastic (plus, like me, there is no way she will give up the drink for 40 days so she had to think of something to get her boyf off her back). She will starting a blog about her anti-packaging regime shortly so I will let you know the address. Good luck to you me dear.
I grew up Catholic so Lent was a very important time in my family. I remember having to give up telly once as a kid and it not really bothering me. I remember giving up sweeties too, which again, wasn't too hard. We were only allowed these things in moderation anyhow so the transition from measly doses to nowt wasn't too painful.
I know what I should give up is watching 'Mistresses' on a Tuesday evening as it's naff, but I probably couldn't manage it. A woman needs her fix of trash. And oh my god- can you believe Paul is back from the dead??
No- looks like I'll have to think of something more realistic....

Later: Still don't know what I'm going to try and live without, but Rachael's lent blog is here! have a look: http://rachaelunwrapped.wordpress.com/
It's ace...

Well I never....

Things are going fairly well for me on the job front at the moment I must say. There was I, now having a child at school full time and in need of something to do apart from the housework, the shopping, oh and trying to sell article ideas, and I've already bagged myself two jobs in a month! The proofreading people want me back, plus I got the PA job yesterday, having gone along thinking it would be good to know what kind of jobs I could get, and have a bit of practise at formal interviews again and they picked me! And over four others too! Me who hasn't officially worked as a PA since 2002! But I must say, despite my lack of practise I was pretty hot in that interview. So I am re-entering the world of office work, albeit part time, as of next month. Not sure how I feel about it yet, but my boss said the word 'matron' in a Kenneth Williams voice so I think I might rather get on with him. I love a bit of camp in the workplace. And as long as it doesn't take over My Creative Life After Childrearing it can't harm.

Soundtrack: Nancy Sinatra- How does that grab you darlin?

Chimney House

Yay! After living in Brighton (and Hove) for four years we have finally found a decent gastropub. When you live in London for a while you get used to decent bistros and so are a bit shocked to find that in this city- somewhere that is supposedly "hip" and with the times- they are seemingly nowhere to be found. Thanks to Alistair Sawday's Pubs and Inn guide we found the lovely Chimney House Inn near Seven Dials to have our Sunday lunch and it's great- open kitchen, clean tables, yummy, organic food and friendly, helpful (and quite good looking) bar staff. It was like a little bit of London life but without the high prices and uber-cool intimidating clientele. We are now looking for a house around the corner!
See www.chimneyhouse.co.uk
Last night, after a Scrabble match pub crawl (by the last pub I was seeing double and getting well under 100 points) we also ended up in another great venue- the bar at the Oriental Hotel just off the seafront. It was a private party so the drinks were half price and the crowd very friendly. One young lady got very friendly with Andy in fact- she liked him so much she allowed him to talk about his snack packet collection for half an hour. Well- it saved me the job. I met Nat's mate Nick who is great- it's always nice to meet new people especially when they are smiley and funny! Thanks for the gin Nick and hope to see you again when I'm less soporific. And hello Nat I know you are reading this... thanks for inviting us last night and see you thursday for a veggie feast! Do you like shittake mushrooms?
Job interview tomorrow so wish me luck- I'm off to rummage in the back of my wardrobe for some moth-eaten smart clothes. It's been a while since I needed them....

Soundtrack: The Song of the Happy Chinese Biscuit Maker- by Andy

She's Like the Wind

A woman came up today as I was just leaving Woolworths and told me I have an incredible aura (snigger... that'll be last night's gin session love...), stroked my hand with a flower and walked away. Do you think I've been cursed? Having said that our heating and hot water(which has been broken for 3 days during the coldest days EVER) has been fixed today by a nice chap with a tool box so maybe she's given me good fortune. I can't wait to have a long, hot soak. Had a cold, wet soaking earlier by the wintery storms when I wandered into town to meet the lovely Sarka for peppermint tea and a chat. It's HIDEOUS this weather. I nearly got blown over on Western Road and had to hold onto a lamp post. Right in front of the cute bloke from the sign shop too. He always sees me looking my flappiest!

Hiccups and Hairclips

Gosh I haven't been writing enough in here lately- anyone would think I was busy spending my days wasting my time destroying my self confidence by sending off endless emails to prospective employers for freelance work. Why is it that people don't respond - even to reject you? It's very rude. Mind you, judging by my reaction to 'Alison Blunt' the other month maybe a simple blanking is better than a turn down.
Sadie turned 5 on Sunday. We took her horseriding as a surprise which was so cute! She had a Shetland pony so she looked like one of those Thelwell cartoon characters. I led her horse (I wouldn't normally dare as I find horses quite scary, but leading a Shetland is a bit like leading a very old and fat golden retriever) up onto the downs- it was a beautiful day. And then, after her perfect birthday morning, a stupid, incompetently-run "restaurant" called Barneys on Western Road in Hove (please don't go there) decided to ruin everything by making a complete hash up of her birthday tea party. It wasn't hard- we booked a table a week before and ordered a cake (I decided to have year off as I normally go mad in the catering department and nearly give myself a nervous 'bakedown'...?...) but they managed to forget about us completely. We arrived and there were 6 drunk people sitting at "our" table so we had to find a shit one at the back, they didn't come to serve us all night so we had to find them when we needed something (like food maybe?), and they forgot the cake so put together a pile of old brownies with some orange slices around it instead! Disaster. Although Sadie was oblivious and enjoyed herself regardless. I shall be writing to the management to get a free night out there. The whole point was to give myself a break this year but it was the most stressed I've ever been at Sadie's party, and last year we had 30 kids and decided to do the food and entertainment ourselves. Just goes to show, if you want a job done.....etc....

Kale

I love kale. It rocks. It's in season and it's delicious and super dooper for your body. Made it last night in my favourite way- it's really,really easy, yummy AND healthy- I like to eat this before I go tut pub so I feel like I'm not just putting poison in my body for the night... recipe below:

Tuna steak with garlicky greens
(serves 2)
2 tuna steaks
sesame oil
sea salt

2 generous handfuls of curly kale, chopped
2 generous handfuls of baby spinach
1 generous handful of savoy cabbage, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped small
big knob of butter/ 2 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
1/2 lime

Sear tuna steaks in sesame oil and a pinch of rock salt until both sides browning, but middle of fish pink. Melt butter in seperate pan, add garlic and saute, then throw in greens and stir until just wilted. Place on plate with tuna on top. Squeeze 1/4 lime over dish, season and serve. Yummy and fairly guilt free too!
(also very nice served with boiled waxy potatoes if you are hungrier, but not needed for a light, healthy dinner)
Em- kale is one for you as it's packed with calcium so v good if you're off the old cows milk produce....

The Cynical Secretary in me

I have just been asked to come for an interview for a part time PA job at the hospital kidney unit. As much as I know this job will pay well (I was once PA to the editor of the Guardian don't you know-until I got up the duff that is), will be easy and enjoyable in an anally retentive kind of way (remember how much I love lists?) it's not exactly what I had planned for My Creative Life After Childrearing. Ok- so a part time job won't take up all my time to write, but it will certainly take up half of it- that's half my writing life gone. Mind you- here I am in my 'writing life' writing my self-absorbed blog and listening to the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack ('Hungry Eyes' gets me every time) so perhaps I should get a job where I get out more and actually make some money. Although knowing my luck, I'll end up wth MRSA.