It's Oh So Quiet....

.... Or at least it will be if my room mate Eleanore Robinson doesn't snore...I've just booked my first holiday away just for ME and I'm off to Iceland in a fortnight with three friends to celebrate Eleanore and Su's 31st birthdays!! How exciting.. And rather ironic to be travelling somewhere so freezing now that Spring seems to be here.. I'm also planning on writing an article about my trip...along the lines of 'Ok so now I've got the parenting thing done, it's time to do some things for me. I'm off to Iceland...' type thing. Can't wait. But apparentely it's advisable to bring your own things to consume or you end up with an empty bank account within an hour. It's very expensive but we plan to try and do Iceland on a budget. See- that's why mums go to Iceland! (Sorry- couldn't resist...)
Oh my god- I seem to have had a week or so of losing it witticism wise. Or was I always this unfunny? (Comments please)

Soundtrack: Sugarcubes-Hit

Starshaped

It seems that if you want to meet any of the few "celebrities" that are dotted about Brighton and Hove, you just need to be an active parent, and frequent child-orientated places. Some friends and I once sat next to Nick Cave at a children's indoor play centre (although didn't dare speak to him- the fact that he was in such a place was surreal enough without speaking to him and finding out that he might just be very ordinary indeed),Sadie's best mate is in the same class as the Fast Show's Mark Williams so we always see him drunk at kids' parties, and then today I met one of my teenage heroines at Spring Barn Farm while our kids were feeding carrot sticks to a hamster. The lady in question was Louise Wener from Sleeper, who is now a fairly well known author and Guardian journalist. I know many people thought she was not much to shout about (yes Patrick I know you will not be impressed), but I really loved Sleeper, I sang along to their filthy female lyrics at home whilst plucking at my bass guitar(I was 15 by the way) and liked what this woman had to say rather a lot- as did most of my friends. So as you can imagine, chatting away to her today whilst she cradled her 4 month old son Frankie (yes- we talked mainly about the kids) in her arms and told me she'd just moved to Brighton was very surreal. I hope I shall see her again- she was very nice and we had a lot in common. In fact, if she weren't Louise Wener I would have asked to swap numbers but that would be too weird. Can you really build up a friendship with someone when you once subscribed to their fanclub?


Soundtrack: Sleeper-Delicious

Becoming a Bore

Oh shit I have finally given in and joined Facebook. So now , before I settle down to a day's creative writing (pah), not only will I have to check my yahoo emails, write my blog and read my friends' blogs but I now have that irresistable urge to check this ego-massaging (or crushing) cyber world too.
I still haven't decided what to give up for Lent. I was thinking of part giving up the booze, but then talked myself out of that one very swiftly. It's amazing how many excuses you can give yourself when you really don't want to do something. It's like I will liturally be at the catheter stage of my life before I think that stopping drinking is a brilliant idea. Am supposed to be running right now so maybe if I got off my facebook-addicted arse and did that I might get some inspiration.
I might go vegetarian actually. Although that too, like giving up nookie, is an easy option. Like my semi-vegetarianism, I slip into habits of celebacy without even noticing something's missing. Having kids does this to you. It's very sad indeed.
Nat is coming over for dinner tonight which will be splendid. She's a veggie so that's a good start. She also loves her wine like me so it promises to be a great evening. I'm going to also make a crumble, so what with facebook, jogging and baking, there is little time, again, to write. Bugger. I might have to become one of those very disciplined writers who gets up at dawn and writes before the day begins. Life can be very distracting. Dorothea wotsit who wrote 'Becoming a Writer' swears by the early morning scribble ritual. Apparantely your brain is at it's most creative at this time, as you've just exited the subconscious world of sleep and dreams. I'll try this out and let you know if it works.

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!