Life According to Marmite Girl....

An Audience with Jeni Barnett

2008-10-04T18:25:00.005Z

I promise I will get back to all the blogs I haven't done, but I had to write this one first.

Last night I was lucky enough to see An Audience with Jeni Barnett. It was absolutely brilliant.

For me the day had started out as a bit of a disaster, my friend couldn't make it so I had to go on my own, I drove almost 200 miles from Wales to Catford where the B&B I had booked had no record of my booking and was full, so of course the lovely outfit I had brought to change in to was still in the case in the back of the car! I almost had heart failure from driving across London....how do people do it? by the time I had found somewhere to park (which was in a red zone....and being from outside London I had no idea what it meant so I kept my fingers crossed all night I wouldn't be towed or clamped) and got to the Theatre my knees were shaking.

At the Theatre I met up with the lovely Wayne Eagles and his partner Allan I had met them both at the Elaine Stritch evening, I will write that one up later. They saw I was on my own so pulled up a chair for me at their table so I didn't look like a saddo. So my very grateful thanks to them both and the lovely people they were sitting with who were all in the business of TV in one form or another.

We took our seats in a very intimate setting which made you feel like you were part of her family, all of whom were in the audience. Jeni came on to the music "I get knocked down but I get up again", and then I almost had heart failure for the second time, when she said "Where's Marmite" I put up my hand thinking she would just say hello, but no she made me go up with her and tell everyone why she calls me Marmite and me in my jeans as my lovely outfit was in the back of the car!

I know I have mentioned the lovely Jeni many times here, and you all know I am a huge fan, but I swear I am not just saying it, the show was bloody brilliant. It was touching, moving, inspiring and very, very funny, by the time I left my cheeks felt like I had been a tour guide at Disney all day they were hurting so much.

After the show The Oosbind, the lovely Jim came over to say hello to me and gave me a big hug,then Jeni came out front so I got another hug, and a chance to tell her how great the show was and I wish it had been longer I could have listened to her all night, I really wish there had been time for me to tell her in person how much she inspires me, how kind she is, how compassionate and how much her support has meant to me over the past year and a half, but there were dozens of other people waiting to see her as well.

I found my car which thankfully had not been clamped, and drove almost 200 miles home, I arrived at 1.15am still smiling. I know she is doing the show again, so drop whatever you are doing to get to see it, I know I will be going again....and again......and again.

Keep smiling
Marmite xx

I KNOW!!

2008-08-06T20:12:00.002Z

OK I know I have been completely rubbish at updating this - no excuses ...busy....working to pay the bills and rehearsing!

I need to tell you about a fantastic weekend in Whitney with the girls for CJ's birthday. A brilliant dinner at Raymond Blancs, and a stop in a yellow field for a photo op. A fabulous trip to London, lunch in Baltic and a Liza Minnelli concert that blew me away! Another trip to London another amazing lunch in Baltic and Elaine Stritch at Liberty that also blew me away.

However I am just of the USA for a whole month play Gwendolen Fairfax in "The Importance of being Earnest" so it will have to wait. I'm all packed, lines and moves are learned and ridiculously excited about opening night..........watch this space, I'll be back on 8th September and will endeavour to write 4 months worth of blogging in a weekend!!!

Keep smiling
Love Marmite xx

Welsh BAFTAS ....faaaabulous!

2008-05-14T13:47:00.011Z

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Welsh BAFTAS this year by my very good friend Teresa, I had my dress designed by Katie Smith a wonderful young designer who runs Ceridwen, it was gorgeous (I know I should have moved the dog basket!).

For the first time it was held at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff, hosted by the gorgeous Gethin (Blue Peter) Jones and it was a wonderful night. It began with a champagne reception, it was there I accidentally touched Ruth (Nessa) Jones bum, she was very gracious and really lovely! then we went in to the beautiful auditorium to watch the award ceremony. Ioan Gruffuth won the Sian Phillips award and the amazing Glyn Houston was awarded the Special Bafta for his outstanding contribution. He joked as an 81 year old "Growing old is really not all that bad. Sometimes you put porridge in the tea pot and you always lose your comb and then find it in your hair. "But you can always do radio."

After the show we made our way downstairs to the tables that had been set out in the foyer below for dinner. I walked down the stairs with Ioan Gruffuth, Joanna Page and her mum, Ruth Jones, Eve Myles and her lovely fiance Brad Freeguard (who I knew from my days a Young Farmer) Mike Leigh and lots of lovely people.

I spoke to Suzanne Packer from Casualty who was a real sweetie, and by this point both of us had removed our shoes and were cooling our feet on the marble floor! We enjoyed a three course meal with lovely wines provided by Ballantynes and then moved to the Tides Bar at St Davids Hotel for a VIP party.

Teresa and I grabbed a drink and I spoke to Eve Myles (who I had never met before) she immediately grabbed my hand told me she was quite spiritual and wanted to know if people always asked me for advice or told me their problems, then she said that I was a very special person who was put here to make other people feel better.......this may have been the wine talking who knows?, but she told me to accept it, use it and not to be frightened of it as it was a gift. Then she asked me to look after her seat while she went to the loo! So I spoke to Rebecca Harris who plays Des in Belonging brilliantly and was a real sweetheart, I spoke to Eve and Rebecca for ages they were two of the loveliest people I have ever met.

I left the house at 3.30pm on Sunday, got home at 4.30am on Monday and a great night was had.

Keep smiling

Marmite xx

Baltic Birthday

2008-04-17T14:18:00.037Z

I know it's late as my birthday was the end of March, but I have been a bit useless at writing lately. So it was my last birthday before the big 40...which I have to say doesn't really bother me as I still feel 20 in my head, it's just a bit of a surprise when I look in the mirror!

Anyway the birthday weekend began when Sarah and I drove up to Oxford on the Friday night to CJ's, we arrived late, grabbed a quick beer and all went to bed after watching American Idol (CJ of course was fast asleep by this time). Saturday morning we got up, had some coffee just in time for Moyna's arrival. We got into the cars and made our way to the Big Smoke. I had found a lovely hotel just by Paddington Station, so we drove there and although it was too early for check in, they let us leave our bags, and off we went into the City.

We got to Trafalgar Square by 11am, I noticed the new "modern" sculpture on the plinth ....I don't get modern art, to me it looked like a CD rack you might have picked up in IKEA. Anyway I digress. We walked into in a pub called the Pitcher and Piano, CJ asked if it was too early for cocktails....the lovely barman said "It's never too early for cocktails" and he was right, so we had a few cosmopolitans, a little light lunch, and then made our way to the Vaudeville Theatre as we had tickets to see The Importance of Being Earnest.....I have been lucky enough to be cast as Gwendolen in a production of the same which will be touring America (Florida and Alabama) in August, so thought it would be good to see, especially as the amazing Penelope Keith was playing Lady Bracknell. We took our seats, CJ promptly fell asleep, and only woke up at the applause for the interval. Penelope Keith was a riot, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing.

After the theatre we went back to the hotel for a quick freshen up, quick it was too by the time we got back it was time to leave again, but we spruced and changed and made our way to Southwark Tube station, as we had a table booked at the fabulous Baltic. As usual the food, the service, the atmosphere, everything was first rate. We drank too much wine, and far too many of the wonderful vodka shots, I have been abstaining from alcohol for a while, and so, the few that I had went straight to my head - Your Honour - I present the following pictures as evidence of a wonderful night.

Before the wine and vodka

During the vodka

After the Vodka! It's all in the eyes! Oh and I'm refusing to add the picture of me and CJ fast asleep on the tube!

Mmm I rest my case!

We did have the most fantastic time and Baltic is a place I can't recommend highly enough.

Keep Smiling

Marmite xx

What happen's in Vegas....stays in Vegas....sort of (3)

2008-04-06T19:14:00.014Z

Tuesday was the best day of the trip, but we still had a great time on Wednesday, we decided to try taking the bus, and managed to get all the way to the outlet mall (we even did a bus change so I was impressed) I love the outlet malls in the US, I got some great clothes for my gorgeous Niece Cara from Ralph Lauren that would have been £70 over here but cost me £14, I got a Guess handbag that I saw in John Lewis for £120 for £30 (well technically I got Sarah to get it for my birthday!) but you get the drift.

After the outlet mall we got off the bus and stopped at the Stratosphere, it is right at the bottom of the strip but you can't miss it, it is almost 1,000 ft high, at the top is a revolving restaurant, and three thrill rides, I had already been on two of them, but I couldn't get Sarah to go on any of them, maybe when you look at the pictures you'll see why, bear in mind you are 1,000 ft high!

We left the Stratosphere, took our shopping back to the hotel and attempted to fit it into our cases...... then got showered and went out for the evening . We had booked a table in a restaurant in Mandalay Bay called Red Square ( you know me and my Eastern European/Russian type food) it was amazing. It was a nod to Imperial Russia with a headless statue of Stalin outside, a huge variety of Vodka at the bar, a fabulous decor of red velvet and antique gold, a wonderful atmosphere.It's where I discovered my new favourite drink the apple martini, to start I had the most amazing goats cheese salad with raspberry vinaigrette, then I had one of the best things I had ever tasted adzhika-spiced pork tenderloin - Georgian pomegranate wine reduction, chrov basmati rice pilaf with apricots, pine nuts & bing cherries, crispy leeks, radicchio & chervil salad. I didn't want to eat the last mouthful because I didn't want it to end. There was no room for dessert but the table next to us had a variety and they looked fantastic, they wouldn't have looked out of place at the Tate Modern. I can't recommend Red Square enough. Thursday was our last day, so we spent the morning at the pool, then went back to all the shops we had decided to buy things in but changed our minds, and in the evening we went to Freemont Street to the old casinos. It was a brilliant atmosphere and a lot cheaper than the the main strip, we watched the light show, had a few more apple martini's and made our way back to the hotel for a nightcap.

We just about managed to fit everything in our cases to get home. Moyna picked us up from the airport in London, and we just got home in time to watch Wales win the Grand Slam....it couldn't have been any better.

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

What happen's in Vegas....stays in Vegas....sort of (2)

2008-04-02T19:23:00.008Z

Now where was I ...oh yes on to Tuesday, quite possibly the best day of the trip, I think I forgot to mention that on the Monday night we did go to a Chinese place and had the most wonderful supper, we each got a fortune cookie ...mine said "You will be lavished with wonderful things tomorrow", Sarah's said " let go and put your trust in others"........ keep that in mind!

Tuesday morning we decided to give Starbucks and the light breakfasts a miss and go straight to the buffet, still forgot the stick everything on one plate thing, and only managed a bit of fruit and some scrambled eggs. We were seeing the Divine Miss M in the evening so we figured we didn't want to wear ourselves out. We did a little shopping after breakfast and then spent the rest of the morning relaxing by the pool. About 3pm we grabbed half a sandwich each and then went to get ready to walk up to Caesar's Palace to see the show. We arrived and grabbed a quick apple martini (my new favourite drink)and then went into the Colosseum. They were selling cocktails inside in "souvenir plastic glasses" of course, all renamed things like "Beaches" or "The Divine Miss M" - I went for Beaches (which was bright blue) Sarah went for the other one which was a baileys creamy concoction, and we took our seats, which were right at the front.

Now the thing with Caesar's is if you take a camera with you to the show, you have to check it in at the front desk and then queue for ages to get it back at the end of the evening, so we didn't bother taking our cameras. I think the reason is that they have photographers in the auditorium that stuck a feather bower around your neck, stuck you in front of the Bette Midler backdrop, took your picture and then charged a ridiculous price for a copy. I said to Sarah just let her take our picture but we won't buy it at the end. With that the three guys next to us heard our Welsh accents so asked where we were from and started chatting (there was still 1/2 hour til showtime at this point - in case you thought we were talking through the show!) anyway they were really nice guys, and they bought us another cocktail, and we carried on chatting and then the show started. Bette Midler was AMAZING although surprisingly tiny, I couldn't believe how little she was, she was funny, she was one of the best singers I have seen live, she was outstanding, and I would highly recommend if you get the chance to go and see her.

During the show, one of the guys we were chatting to, I feel bad calling them guys, it was Jim, Frank and Dave, passed Sarah a bag and in it was two sets of the photographs that had been taken in lovely folders with a picture of Bette on the other side, they gave them to us and said "thanks for being lovely company" they then asked if we wanted a lift back to our hotel in their Limo......Sarah's face was saying " My Mother told me not to go anywhere with strangers" but me, always the reckless one said "Yes that would be lovely" then they asked if we would join them for dinner. Again I said "yes that would be lovely" and Sarah agreed.

We arrived at the Monte Carlo casino and into a gorgeous Italian place, we were given a table and Dave tipped the waitress a $100 and asked if she would look after us, he then gave the wine waiter $100 and ordered wine that was $200 a bottle (it was called Caymus and I've still got the cork) I have always wondered if £100 a bottle wine really tasted that much better than £10 wine, and I have to say IT DOES it was like drinking velvet. Anyway the waitress came over and asked were we ready to order....Dave said " We are not ordering you bring us out what you think we would like" ...I felt like I was in a film. Half an hour later our table looked like Balthazar's feast. I swear the waitress had brought one of everything on the menu, we ate, drank and enjoyed wonderful company and conversation. The guys dropped us back at our hotel, after a tour of the strip in the Limo.....so the fortune cookies were right, Sarah let go and trusted people and I was lavished with wonderful things!

Will do a bit more tomorrow
Keep Smiling
Marmite xx

What happens in Vegas....stays in Vegas...sort of

2008-03-17T20:17:00.009Z

Well what a time, a week in Las Vegas is not a relaxing holiday I have to say, I think this should be the city they say never sleeps not New York!

We arrived on Saturday after a long drive to the airport in London from Wales, then a 10 hour flight, we checked into the hotel (The Luxor) and made the fatal error of pretending to unpack but actually falling asleep for 2 hours! I forced myself to get up, get showered and go out to dinner, small problem we had arrived in Vegas at the same time as 144,000 delegates for the worlds biggest construction Expo! no tables to be had at any restaurant without a reservation, so burger and chips it was. Sarah and I managed to stay awake long enough to eat, have one drink and try our luck on the slots, Sarah obviously had beginners luck and turned $2 into $64, I on the other hand didn't do quite so well!

Sunday we walked the entire length of the strip, it took four hours, I slipped into the Apple shop and spent half my weeks budget on a new IPOD (well you can't take it with you) then we walked all the way back to NewYork NewYork Casino and went to the bar called Nine Fine Irishmen, now I don't know who they were but they run a great bar. We met a lovely man called Bill who was a pilot for a famous Basket Ball Player and chatted for ages, they also had a really good singer there who asked where we were from, when we said Wales I was expected the usual reply of "where? oh England" but no he launched straight into The Green Green grass of Home for us. Five Jameson's and ginger later we weren't good for much else but the buffet table, now I have found out from trial an error that there is a fine art to buffet eating, I made the mistake of going up and getting a small salad, coming back and eating it, then getting up again to get something but by the time I had looked, chosen and got back to the table I was too full to eat anything else, the major league buffeters on the other hand I noticed had at least three plates in their hands, got everything at once, salad, main course, dessert and wolfed them all down before they realised they were full, so there's the trick get everything in one go and then you don't get chance to fill up.

On Monday we did the "Miracle Mile of Shops" again it took us hours, but we did keep stopping to look in shops where we couldn't afford to buy anything, Jimmy Choo, Versace, Gucci, you know the ones with no prices on anything!

We stopped for lunch at the Paris Casino they have a scaled down working version of the Eiffel Tower, and the restaurant is half way up with fabulous views of the Bellagio Hotel as you can see. They call the restaurant "The Eiffel Tower Experience" and you can see why, we were led past the kitchens and given some steak tartare appetisers on arrival, then we were led to our table by the window, the waiter took our order and then gave us a tiny chestnut flan, it tasted divine. Sarah and I both chose the butternut squash soup (gorgeous) and I had chicken Parmesan with cabbage and bacon, while Sarah had an asparagus souffle omelette. Luckily we decided to share a creme brulee, as when it arrived it was enormous. Coffee was served in individual silver coffee pots, and had the fountains gone off at the Bellagio it would have been perfect. We did have a really boring waiter though, and kept listening to the waiter on the table opposite who was charming, witty and helpful, we couldn't help wishing he was our waiter too. After lunch we walked back to the Luxor and spent the afternoon relaxing by the pool. After a few hours we went back to our room showered and walked up to Caesars Palace for a few drinks, we took two nice seats at the bar ordered some drinks and then discussed what we were going to do the next day, just then some loud music started up and two scantily clad girls got up on the bar in front of us, with their feet about two inches from our drinks and started gyrating, I though Sarah was going to choke neither of us knew where to look, we finished our drinks a bit sharpish and left!

Still jet lagged so will finish up tomorrow ....keep smiling

Marmite xx

HOT BOTTLE

2008-03-06T19:37:00.007Z

When it comes to choosing wine I know what I like, and always tend to stick to the same old thing to be safe - Marlborough County Sav Blanc, any Pinot Grigio, Riesling when I’m in a “white mood” or a Pinot Noir, or CabSav if the “red mood” has me. So If like me, you are not that knowledgeable on the wine choosing front ( or you buy whatever is on offer at 3 for £10 at the local supermarket), then I have stumbled across a brilliant way to help you.

It is written by the fabulous Olly Smith, who should be well known to all foodies from his stellar work on the much missed Great Food Live, Richard & Judy’s Wine Club, Taste, Food Uncut and of course Saturday Kitchen. I have to admit I’ve always had a soft spot for him, as his enthusiasm is actually catching.

It is called Hot Bottle, the e-mail newsletter he sends contains vast information about the new and exciting wines of the moment, and the great news is they are often very inexpensive so you won't have any excuses for not giving them a try.

Here is a small excerpt from the January 2008 mailing

The first Hot Bottle of the year comes from a serious winery to watch – Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards in South Africa. Their website http://www.tmv.co.za/ will tell you all you need to know about their approach of minimal intervention, but if you buy a bottle of their TMV Swartland Syrah 2006 from Waitrose for £12.99 you’ll get a glimpse of why it’s sometimes worth tugging open the wallet for a special occasion. This wine is made from 100% Syrah (same grape as Shiraz but usually produced in a less obviously fruity style) with 100% native yeast and no added acids, enzymes or other chemicals. Goodness in a glass. If you’re a fan of smokey bacon or indeed smokey flavours in general, this is the wine for you. It’s also laced with intriguing aromas of violets and a gorgeous long finish that surfs along your tongue like an eco-friendly slick of deep delight. Big wine, big price, big smile."

So you can go out buy the wine and then amaze your friends with your intimate knowledge of the wine you are drinking!

Now for the important bit - how do you get this invaluable information? simply send a blank email to subscribe@hotbottle.co.uk and wait for the marvellous Olly Smith to send you the newsletter.

Thanks to Olly for giving me permission (all the way from South America I might add) to put this on the blog!

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus

2008-03-01T09:07:00.005Z

I'm very proud of being Welsh (as you can probably tell) so Happy St David's Day to you all, I thought seen as it was St David's Day and all, I would stick on my recipe for Welsh Cakes (every one has their own recipe!) and a nice lamb recipe so you could all join in with the celebration of our Saints Day.

Welsh Cakes (puritans look away now!)

1lb self-raising flour.
8oz butter
8oz granulated sugar, and a small amount of caster sugar to serve
8oz sultanas (chopped - you're supposed to use currants but I find them gritty)
1 tsp of mixed spice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
2 large eggs and a drop of milk

Rub the fat and flour together until crumbly and then add all the other ingredients except the eggs and milk and vanilla. Mix thoroughly, and then add the eggs and vanilla. Add the milk slowly while mixing, to get the right consistency. The mix should not be too sticky..
Roll out - to about a quarter of an inch - and cut into rounds about 2" across. Cook on a bakestone (or griddle or hot plate) and turn once when brown. Dust with a little caster sugar mixed with cinnamon while they are still warm to serve.

My fave lamb recipe is this one

Oen Cymreig a Mel (Welsh Lamb with cider and honey)

4lb leg of Welsh Lamb
2 sprigs of rosemary
6-tbsp. Welsh honey (the clover honey is the best)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
½ pint cider

Set oven to 400 F. Place the leg of lamb on foil in a roasting pan (or the honey will ruin your pan!) . Brush with 4 tbsp. of warm honey and season with salt and pepper. Place the sprigs of rosemary on top of the joint. Draw up the foil to form a tent and roast for l5 minutes. Lower the heat to 350 F and continue roasting for l ½ hrs. until the juice just runs pink or longer if preferred well done (I hope not!!!!). Open the foil to crisp and brown the skin for the last 20 minutes of cooking time. Remove the lamb from the oven and keep warm. 2.Pour off the fat from the pan and make the gravy from the meat residue, adding half a pint of cider and 2 TBS of honey. Reduce to two thirds volume by boiling. Serve with roast potatoes, vegetables of your choice and mint jelly.

Enjoy, and if you can put a vase of gorgeous daffodils on the table, all the better.

Love
Marmite xx

I Love Bryn Terfel

2008-02-28T19:21:00.009Z

There I said it, I have always protested that I didn't much care for Bryn's voice as I find a bit dark for me (this is not a good thing to say if you are a Welsh person, and especially not a good thing to say to another Welsh person) but that was my humble opinion. However I spent the day watching the WNO dress rehearsal of Falstaff and my humble opinion has now been quashed and stamped on , Bryn Terfel was BRILLIANT, as was the rest of the cast (including my mate Emma). I know they are touring so click on the link and if you like Opera go and see it when it comes to a town near you!

Well as you know I'm never in the Country for long, so I have planned a little trip to Las Vegas, only for a week, but remember on my list of things to do before 40 there was the small matter of seeing The Divine Miss M, well I'm off to do that, Bette Midler has taken over from Celine in Caesars Palace so I have a ticket to go and see her. So that will be my top five seen, at least I can cross that one off my list eh?

Keep Smiling
Marmite xx

Friday night....Saturday all day...suffering Sunday!

2008-02-24T18:06:00.014Z

What a brilliant weekend, my Mum's party went really well, she had a nice time, we all did, Cara (my 2 year old Niece) stayed up until 9pm and danced for ages, until she slipped and cut her lip on the dance floor so we all had to go and smack the floor for hurting her! She had a new party dress and kept telling me she was going to be a ballerina.

My Dad really enjoyed himself so that was good, we stayed over at the hotel for the night and all had breakfast in the morning as a family so it was lovely.

I drove home just in time to catch Saturday Kitchen, as the wonderful and lovely Silvena Rowe was on, and as you know she's my favourite TV Chef, it was hysterical, Sweet Baby James couldn't get a word in, I'm keeping it on Sky Plus to watch any time I need cheering up!

I left then to go into Cardiff to meet CJ for the rugby, however CJ was having her hair done first and although she thought she would be finished by 12pm, she sent me a text (after I had arrived in the City) saying she would be another hour! I was, at the time, opposite a cosmetic shop, so I thought I would go and have a look as I need a lot more help these days, anyway I asked about some foundation and before I knew it, all my make up was off and one of the girls was completely re-doing it ( I hadn't thought it was that bad!) She did a really good job, it wasted half an hour but cost me £30 as I felt like I had to buy something!

I finally met CJ, we had a couple of drinks and took our seats, I had the best day, it was just what I needed, Wales played a blinder against Italy (Wales 47 Italy 8), I shouted (well screamed) far too much, sang Bread of Heaven and Calon Lan at least 8 times and now have no voice, and to top a great match we met a few nice boys on the way out as you can see!

After the game we came back to my house, then met up with another couple of friends and walked to the local pub to watch the England v France game. We got home at 11pm, Ok I admit slightly the worse for wear.... (I'm sure the Vodka was off!) I'm exhausted now after all that enjoying myself, it's hard work having fun isn't it?

Keep Smiling
Marmite xx

A busy weekend ahead.

2008-02-21T23:40:00.004Z

It's going to be a busy weekend, Friday night we are having a 60th birthday party for my Mum, six years ago she had two brain hemorrhages, we didn't think she would survive, but she has, however she has no short term memory at all, she can remember things from a long time ago but not things from two minutes ago. My Dad is amazing, a lesser man would not be able to cope and I can't tell you how proud of him I am, as Mum needs a lot of care and my Dad does it all and never complains. It has been a tough six years. I go to see them every Sunday to make a roast dinner, and my Dad goes to the local pub for a couple of hours for a break. So the party is as much for him as my Mum, I've got the cake, the balloons and the decorations, so I'll be spending the day decorationg the room, and the evening celebrating my Mother.

Saturday my very good friend CJ (her of the safari trip) has got me a ticket so I can go and watch Wales play Italy in the Rugby at the Millenium Stadium, I am ridiculously excited about that, Rugby is the only sport I watch and then only the six nations. We are meeting in Cardiff for lunch and then going to the stadium, I think that we may manage a bottle of champagne as well. The last game I was babysitting my gorgeous Niece Cara, so I got her a matching rugby shirt and we cheered Wales together.

Then Sunday I'll travel back up to the parents to make the Sunday roast as usual. So it looks like my pile of ironing (that is starting to resemble the leaning tower of Pisa) will have to wait until next week!
Hope you all have a great weekend

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Russian Opera...surprisingly good!

2008-02-15T20:56:00.003Z

Isn't it strange how sometimes you think you won't enjoy something but you go anyway and then you do?

My dear friend Emma is an Opera singer, she used to sing in Covent Garden, but like me felt the hireath (longing) and came back to Wales, she now sings with Welsh National Opera. Anyway she very kindly offered me a free ticket to her dress rehearsal of Eugine Onegin (or One Gin) as it's affectionately called. Now for me the jury is still out on Opera I'm not a huge fan, but can't say I don't like it, I love the spectacle, the scenery, the costumes, the staging, and the arias but I think it's the recit that I'm not keen on.

I said yes to the ticket, and looked up the story of Mr Onegin on the tinternet....not a happy tale, (love, jealousy, flirting, a duel, a death, heartbreak) but then I didn't really expect it to be, I did nearly fall off my chair when I read that the Opera was three and a half hours long! I met Emma beforehand and we had a light lunch, I took my seat, she went off to get ready to be Russian Peasant.

The soprano Nuccia Focile was outstanding, as was the rest of the cast (particularly the man in the eye patch), and I really did have a wonderful time, we finished the evening by having a nice meal and a glass of wine. It was just what I needed, and she gave me another ticket for next week to see Falstaff with Bryn Terfel, aren't friends brilliant?

Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Audrey Hepburn

2008-02-04T20:39:00.000Z

I came across a quote by the fabulous Audrey Hepburn – and it was this “I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it”.

In my case, the first part, not so much, but the second part well yep that’s me, it has got me into all sorts of bother. Growing up in Wales everyone is really friendly, if you walk down the street you smile, or say good morning ..... yes even to strangers! As a naïve 18 year old I moved to London, Frognal Lane, to be precise, and everyday as I walked down Finchley road to the tube station I would smile at people or nod my head or say good morning, the reaction was slightly different I can tell you! After a while I stopped doing it, and turned into a City girl, head down, no eye contact, quick walk, just get where you’re going, and I didn’t like how that felt, so I went back to Wales.

I’m one of those people that folks talk to, strangers on a train tell me their woes, my friends say I have some semi-invisible tattoo on my head that says .....go on tell me your problems and you know what, I really don’t mind. I do think people are put on this earth for different reasons, and if mine is to have a sympathetic ear, or to make people laugh, or cheer them up, or just be friendly, then I can think of far worse things.

Sorry about that ....a bit philisophical today, must have been something I ate!
Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Blue Monday....

2008-01-21T16:56:00.000Z

So today it was "Blue Monday" I woke up feeling better than I have all week, I came downstairs and put the radio on, then turned it off, then put the TV on, then turned it off.....Why? you may ask, because all they were harping on about was Blue Monday....I started to think, yes it's a long time til payday, yes I'm fed up of the weather, yes I overspent at Christmas, yes I have already broken two of my three resolutions, that coupled with the fact I have been really poorly this week and stuck in the house meant that by eleven O clock I felt like Eeyore with a big grey cloud over my head!

I made some coffee and miserably sat on the sofa where I have spent most of last week, Ruby (who has had to be content with me half heartedly throwing the ball around the living room for a week cause I wasn't up to taking her for a walk) jumped on my lap, she has this amazing knack of knowing if you are miserable, which thankfully (as I do tend to be a really positive person) isn't very often. Anyway I thought "get off your lard arse and take this pup for a walk". So despite the weather I donned my wellies and big Jack Murphy (other wax type coats are available) outdoor coat and trundled off on our usual route.

The usual route takes us past the cemetery and I found myself thinking, any one of those people in there would gladly swap places with you right now so get a grip, and you know what that grey cloud lifted, it's very easy to forget just how lucky you are sometimes even if things are not going your way.

I came home, washed the dog, washed me, made a cup of earl grey and put Hairspray (the DVD not the product) on the DVD player and laughed and sang along.

So you see Blue Monday.......not so blue after all !!!

12 Things to do before 40

2008-01-09T12:58:00.000Z

So here's the thing, I am in my now 39th year and recently while I was having a sort out I found an old notebook, it had a really badly written children's story in it, and then at the back a list of things that I was going to before I was 40 (I think I wrote it when I was about 32!)

The list was as follows - now I know it wasn't that exciting like Climb Kilimanjaro or find a cure for a dreadful disease but I am a realist ( an unfit, useless at science realist) so I knew there was no point writing things like that on it!

1. Find a roller coaster that actually scares me ..............Nope!
2. Learn how to play the piano or guitar (Well I've bought a piano and a guitar but still can't play either)
3. See a show on Broadway ......phew that one I have done 3 times
4. Actually do a songs from the shows concert for Cancer research instead of just talking about it .......not yet, but still talking about it maybe in the summer!
5. Have a singing lesson from Zoe Tyler........Nope!
6. Pay off my mortgage ......yeh you guessed it Nope!
7. Travel more ....OK I've aced that one
8. See my top five favourite singers live, Barbra S, Liza with a Z, Dolly P, Alison Krauss and Bette Midler ...... 4 out of five done and working on the Bette Midler one!
9. Become a restaurant critic.......Um nope!
10. Buy a house or flat abroad......Nope!
11. Make an album.......Nope got a really bad video of me playing Cinderella and singing does that count??
12. BE in a show on Broadway......... well you can guess that one, since I still work in Insurance!

When you look at it I wasn't that ambitious was I? and there isn't a cat in hells chance I will do any of the ones I haven't done in the next 12 months, well maybe the concert!
Now you know why I haven't made any resolutions this year!!!

Keep smiling
Marmite Girl

The best weekend ever!

2008-01-01T19:07:00.002Z

I know I have been a little sporadic at this lately, but it took so long to do the African bits I can't remember what the heck has been happening , work has been busy, I have been busy. I did have a lovely Christmas, and this weekend has been BRILLIANT. My good friend CJ bought us all surprise tickets to see Cinderella at the Old Vic in London, it was written by the genius that is Stephen Fry (why didn't he get a Knighthood???), by the time we left my sides hurt from laughing so much, Sandy Toksvig was amazing, it was very near the knuckle and far funnier than any Panto I have seen or been in.

After the Panto we had a wander around Selfridges but it was too hot and too busy, I must admit to being the kind of person that would rather pay full price and go shopping when it is quiet! After Selfridges we went back towards the Old Vic to eat at Baltic - Silvena Rowe has long been my favourite TV Chef and we are facebook buddies, so I chose Baltic where she is Executive Chef . We had travelled all the way from Wales to go, and by heck we weren't disappointed, the vodka, especially the cherry was awesome, the atmosphere was buzzing but not overbearing, the staff were all friendly, helpful and professional, and the food.....wow, it was exquisite, there wasn't a drizzle of daft dots of sauce to be seen, it was good, honest, extremely tasty food and there was certainly none of the ridiculous "London" prices you see elsewhere, I would highly recommend it (especially the pierogi) but I warn you go hungry! there are no "chefy" portions here. I can't wait to back and try something else.

To top off an already brilliant day I actually got to meet the wonderful and lovely Silvena herself, she was sitting on the table next to us with her cousin. I can't begin to tell you how wonderful and lovely she is, we spoke for ages, and then she sent over a vodka for us all. Then when she was leaving came back over to our table to say goodbye, can't see Gordon Ramsey doing that myself! I'm still reeling from the excitement.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2008
Love
Marmite Girl xx

Zanzibar

2007-12-30T16:24:00.000Z

So the safari was over, we flew back to Nairobi and then on to Zanzibar, now I have to admit I love flying and I'm not a nervous passenger (unlike Cath) but even I was a scared landing in Zanzibar, I kept thinking any minute now the pilot is going to slow down, but he didn't, we hit the runway full pelt, the plane swerved all over the runway, then I kept thinking again..... any minute now he's going to put on the brakes......but no we seemed to be going full speed for ages and I seemed to remember that the island of Zanzibar wasn't THAT big so the runway couldn't be very long. However we did eventually come to a stop, when I left the aircraft I was tempted to kiss the ground like the Pope but did stop myself. We left the airport, found a taxi and went to our Hotel in Stonetown, the greeting was wonderful, another hot towel, another cocktail, and as we had been delayed for four hours in Nairobi an apology that all the places to eat were closed. Still we were tired and it was almost 11pm so we went to our room, grabbed a quick shower and went to bed. The next morning we got up and went down to breakfast, the hotel was beautiful, very Moroccan in style, the breakfast room overlooked a lovely white, icing sugar, sandy beach, and we were given champagne and a wonderful breakfast, while we were eating we watched the boats as they went past.

It was extremely humid in Zanzibar and I suppose doing a walking tour at midday was a stupid idea but unfortunately we were only in Stonetown for one day, I have never sweated so much in my life ( I know women are supposed to "slightly glow" but trust me I was sweating like a glassblower!) the architecture was beautiful if a little run down, the people amazingly friendly, we walked through the town, went into a small museum, and then got to the Anglican Church which was on the sight of the slave market.

We were showed the room where the slaves were kept, and told stories of how badly they were treated, so many were put into the rooms that many of them suffocated, we went into the church and saw the location of the whipping post, there the slaves were whipped and if they cried out their price would drop as they were classed as weak, if they didn't cry the price would go up as they would be strong slaves. It made me sad, and I was glad to get outside, we were then shown the monument to the slaves.

We left the slave market, and then our guide said he would be taking us to the local food market, now being a "foodie" I as quite excited by this, however we were over half a mile away from the market when you first caught the smell, mostly very bad fish, we got to the market, I told Cath to breath through her mouth, we saw fish being gutted, the blood running down onto the floor we were walking on, there were flies everywhere on the fish, I was hoping our hotel didn't use that market as it's preferred supplier! After the fish, we moved onto the meat, exactly the same hanging meat covered in flies, blood everywhere, it was like a scene from the Texas chainsaw massacre, I was VERY glad when we moved onto the spice, fruit and vegetable section. The spices were wonderful and extremely cheap, cinnamon, saffron, nutmeg, mace everything you could think of.

The tour was over, we returned to our hotel had a very welcome drink and then got our guide, who was also our taxi driver to take us on to the Breezes Resort for 5 days of sun, sand, sea and relaxation.

There isn't much to write about Breezes because that's all we did, spent the mornings on the beach, walked out over the reef to watch the fish, had lunch, spent the afternoons by the pool, listened to Ipods, had dinner and relaxed. We met some lovely people, had some lovely food, some great entertainment, far too much wine, and an awful lot of sleep. It was the perfect end to a perfect holiday.

Out of Africa...part four

2007-12-28T11:06:00.000Z

The following morning, after breakfast we met Kavishe, he asked if we enjoyed our dinner – he had known all about it the tour Company had arranged it for us as a surprise, apparently as we had booked through Trailfinders and they give Ranger Safari’s a lot of business they like to do something a bit special for their guests.

So we left Serengeti for the three (which of course meant at least five) hour drive to Lake Manyara, as we drove out of the Serengeti the number of zebra and gazelle seemed to have multiplied overnight, a giraffe popped his head out from behind a tree as if to say goodbye, we saw another blue monkey darting up a tree, and a beautiful flame headed lizard then we left the park.

On the way to the lake we stopped at a Masai village, the whole village came out and performed a welcome dance for us, their leader explained that the men and women actually sing different songs but at the same time, the men sing about becoming strong and the jump amazingly high, the women sing about how important the cow is to the Masai people, it really was a wonderful sight.

We entered the gates of the village and were told all about the life of the Masai – for the boys from the ages 0 to 5 they do nothing but play and occasionally sing songs to “make rain” , from 5 to 12 they must take care of the animals from the village, they take the animals into the bush to find food and water, between 12 and 15 they are circumcised, presented with the traditional spear, shield and red cloak, then they must go into the bush to prove themselves as worthy warriors. It used to be that they had to hunt and kill a lion, using only the spear and shield, and had to return to the village with the lions tail, however all forms of hunting wild animals thankfully is now illegal, and so it is now birds. From 17 to 30 they must protect the village, and then at 30 they become Elders of the village and make the laws. After 60 they do nothing, they are looked after by the rest of the village.

The women on the other hand are kept busy looking after the children and the Elders, helping to build huts, getting water (often from many miles away), milking the cows, making the food, and also to supplement their income they make jewellery to sell to the tourists. Although traditionally the Masai only consumed cattle blood and milk, we were told they are now getting grains and other supplies from the towns. I watched the children playing and one beautiful little girl captured my heart, I asked if I could take her picture, when you see her you will know why.

The Leader took us inside a traditional Masai hut, they are still made the same way, from sticks, and then straw and cow dung on the roof, there was a living area with a small fire in the middle and then two “bedrooms” which were small areas raised off the floor, one for the adults and one for the children, it was dark and smoky and surprisingly warm inside. They allowed us to take pictures, as long as you asked, the Masai believe if you take their photo without asking permission you take away their sole. For a moment I felt bad for the children, sleeping in huts, no electricity or running water, no toys, but then you saw them running around the camp hitting an old bicycle tyre with a stick like a hoop, laughing and happy and you realise they have never known anything else. Kavishe told us that the Masai do now send their children to school and that they are naturally bright children and are always at the top of the class. We did buy a couple of bracelets from the women that were beautifully made from porcupine spines, said goodbye, then got into the jeep for our onward trek to Lake Manyara.

Somehow despite the ridiculously bumpy (and by bumpy I mean three times I actually twonked my head on the roof of the jeep!) roads, Cathryn managed to sleep all the way to the Lake. As we drove there were zebra, giraffe and wildebeest sometimes mixed in with a herd of Masai cows, it totally amazed me. We arrived at the Serena Lodge in Manyara and a reasonably early time, which meant for the first time we could actually go for a swim in the pool, it was an infinity pool that was built into the side of the mountain, it was the most beautiful pool I have ever been in.

We jumped out of the pool, got a couple of beers in and watched the most amazing display of African acrobats around the pool, then went back to our hobbit hut to get ready for dinner, and an early night, ready for yet another game drive, but this time around Lake Manyara.

Lake Manyara was very different, it was lush and cool, an inscription on the way into the park caught my eye, it said "Remove nothing from the park except nourishment for the soul, consolation for the heart and inspiration for the mind" The park was apparently the home to thousands of baboons, we soon found a few, it reminded of trips to the local safari park when I was a child, the baboons climbed onto the jeep, one little one started licking the window, it was so cute.

Then we saw the baboons cleaning the babies, they stayed with us for ages before getting a bit bored of having their pictures taken and toddled off into the forest.

We saw so many giraffe, gazelle and elephant, some lovely pelicans that were tinged with pink, flamingos in the distance, it was another wonderful day. In thee afternoon we stopped at some tourist stalls that were on the side of the road they were filled with beautiful paintings and jewellery and the most wonderful ebony and mahogany carvings.

We left after a bit of haggling and a few souvenirs and went on to the local village which was called something like Mosquito creek....oh great I thought, but apparently all the mosquito's had gone! I wasn't convinced. We were given a lovely outdoor lunch with beer in a beautiful garden with lemon trees all around. After lunch we were taken on a tour of the local hospital where the doctor there (who was a Masai that had been lucky enough to go to school) told us of the work they were doing to try and combat AIDS, he showed us the wards, and then the kitchen where they patients have to cook their own food. They were building a maternity ward also and were also doing sterling work with immunisation. It was an eye opener and I will NEVER complain about the National Health Service here. After that we were taken to see a banana plantation, but were very surprised by a fierce hailstorm....who would have thought it? The hailstones were like golf balls, we took shelter under little hut where a family were carving the animals that go to the tourist shops, they explained that their father had come from Ethiopia (he had walked!) and he was a carver and he had taught all the boys to carve also, they were lovely, generous people and even offered to take us inside the house to shelter. The hailstorm passed and we carried on through the plantation, but the hailstones had caused devastation to all the banana plants it was a sad sight. My doubt about the mosquito's was confirmed as the dampness had brought them out in force! As we walked on we saw the local school the children ran to the fence to ask us for pens, I only had one left so popped it through the fence. I loved the fact all the children had little plastic cups and were collecting the hailstones and eating them, they had also removed their shoes and were splashing about in the water.

Our guide then took us to the local pub, which unfortunately was completely flooded, not deterred the "landlord" brought some benches over to a dry patch for us to sit on, and then told us how they made the banana beer, by boiling bananas for hours and then adding millet and waiting for it ferment, he then brought over a cup of the beer, which still has all the millet floating in it, and passed it around for us to taste. Now this beer looked like the muddy water we were surrounded by, but not to offend I took the cup and put it to my mouth, however I did chicken out and only smelled it, I like my beer with no lumps in! The landlord said it was traditional for a group to buy one beer and pass it around, then once empty the next person in the group of friends buy one, he said if you bough a beer just for yourself you were showing off how much money you have.

We left the pub and went back to our hotel for our final night, it had been an amazing (sorry) safari and while the safari was now at an end the holiday wasn't we had five days in Zanzibar to look forward to. Five days of relaxing, swimming and sunbathing.........no dust, no bumpy jeep rides, no more animals......I wondered how long it would take for me to get bored.

Out of Africa ....part three

2007-12-02T15:41:00.000Z

We arrived at the Serengeti after a long, dusty, bumpy ride, it was completely different to the other parks, vast planes studded with remnants of volcanic rock, as soon as we entered I was blown away by the sheer number of animals, there were hundreds of gazelle, hartbeast, zebra, buffalo. Within ten minutes we had struck gold, right by the side of the road a family of lions, male sleeping fast on his back with his legs in the air, one female and two cubs, we were so close it was brilliant, we watched the cubs for ages getting some great photo's.

Not long after we came across a tree that was covered in storks, there were over 20 of them, what amazed me was the fact that the tree branches held their weight, we had arrived late at Serengeti and before long the sun began to set so we proceeded through the reserve to our lodge, but not before we saw the most beautiful giraffe, he was an adolescent male with the most gorgeous markings.

We arrived at our Serena lodge, as with the other lodges this one was wonderful, another amazing view and little hobbit huts to sleep in, again we were greeted with a white damp towel, again after I had wiped my face I was ashamed to hand it back due to the fact it was covered in red dust. We went to our room, watched the sun set set from our balcony, showered and went to dinner. We met a lovely Australian couple who were on their honeymoon, so after dinner we chatted and had a couple of drinks, but we didn't stay up too late as the next morning we were going on the hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti and we had to be up at 4am.

The one thing about the Serengeti lodge was after 7.30pm you were not allowed to walk outside alone in case of an animal attack, so you had to call reception to be escorted by a nice person with a large torch and a gun. We set the alarm for 4am, got ready, called for our escort and got taken to the breakfast room for coffee and cookies to get us going. We got into the jeep and began our trip, the drive itself was fabulous, because it was so dark (as we were in the middle of nowhere and of course there was no artificial light) the stars were unbelievable, there were so many and they were so bright. We saw eyes catching the headlights, one was the most beautiful leopard who walked right past the jeep, so at last we had made it to the famous big five, next a mother and baby hippo the first time we had seen one out of the water it was too dark for photo's but that sight is etched in my memory. All of a sudden the stars started to fade and a pink tinge hit the sky, only the very brightest stars and the moon remained we arrived at the "take off" site just as the sun began to rise.

There were two huge balloons, green and white stripes, half inflated each with a huge basket underneath lying on the side, each basket held 16 people plus the pilot so you can imagine just how big they were. We watched while the balloons were inflated, and while they were we had a briefing from the pilot, telling us how to get in and out of the basket, and which section we should get into, there were 8 little cubby holes each held 2 people, so you had to climb in feet first while the basket was on the side hold onto the ropes and then they would pull the basket upright by using a jeep, we all managed to do this apart from Esther who managed to climb in head first, so had they pulled the basket up she would have been standing on her head. Although the balloon was inflated it had only been filled with cold air from fans, so once we were all in it was time to light the burners, as the pilot hit the burner it felt like a winter night in front of a log fire, your face got that warm rosy glow, and then with a small bump we were up, as we took off a hundred or so gazelles ran underneath us, but as far as the animals go that was all we saw, they must of been hiding that day.

Although we didn't see any more animals (other than gazelle) it didn't spoil the flight at all, as there was nothing to see we went higher and further than a usual flight so it was fabulous. Then it just got better, after a very smooth landing we were presented with a champagne glass and a story from the pilot of how the first ever balloon flight had taken place over some farm land in France, the farmers had never seen anything in the sky other than birds, so in fright they tried to shoot it down but the pilot held a bottle of champagne over the side so the farmers knew they were friendly. Now bear in mind it was still only 8am, and they kept topping up our glasses, by 8.30am I had drank three glasses of champagne! We were then loaded back into the jeep and driven a short way to a clearing where there was a long table with a crisp white cloth, silver cutlery and more champagne glasses, we were treated to a full breakfast cooked in the open, more champagne, orange juice, coffee etc. As we sat eating and drinking a beautiful giraffe walked past us, I can't describe how wonderful it was. We had done so much already and it was only 9.30am (and five glasses of champers!)

We met back up with our guide Kavishe, we saw a hyrax, a flame headed lizard, some dwarf mongoose all while we were waiting to get back into the jeep, we then set off for another drive around the Serengeti. The morning started off quite poorly on the animal spotting front, we saw the odd gazelle, waterbuck, a blue crane but finally in the distance a sitting under a tree, enjoying the shade a beautiful cheetah.

We stopped for lunch, as it happened it was the same spot we had eaten breakfast, the giraffe had long gone, but we saw lots of wild mice, and golden crested starling. We finished our packed lunch and drove on, more lions under a tree, another herd of elephants more than 10 walking across the planes. We stopped by a watering hole, and found another family of lions, this time one male, two female and two cubs, they had put themselves under a tree right by the water, in the distance a line of Zebra waiting for a drink, but not coming any closer, what a clever idea any animal that comes for a drink is dinner for the lions. We watched the lions for over half an hour before continuing our drive up towards the hippo pool. We saw more buffalo on the way with tiny birds all over them picking off the insects. Then a few more giraffe, then for a long time we saw nothing, well I say nothing, of course the scenery was wonderful. The drive was long and very bumpy and I was starting to think if these hippo didn't get out of the water I would be really miffed! Then a fabulous sight, another jeep had stopped in front of us and pointed to a tree in the distance there was the most gorgeous leopard asleep in the tree. We took a couple of pictures and drove on, not two minutes later and this time right by the side of the road another leopard asleep in the tree.

His tail was wrapped around a branch and legs hanging down, we watched as it changed position. We finally arrived at the hippo pool, they did what hippos do best, snorted, rolled over in the mud and flicked water over their backs, none of them got out but I didn't mind, the sight of the leopard had appeased me. On the way back to the hotel we saw the arrival of the migration, animals that had walked up from Kenya to escape the dry season, row upon row of zebra hundreds of them all walking in lines into the Serengeti, next hundreds of wildebeest, then giraffe 10 in a row, then elephant, like they were taking it in turns, I could hardly believe my eyes.

Another game drive over, another wonderful day, you would think that we would have been tired seen as we have been up since 4am, but we were too excited. We got back to the hotel, Larry & Esther went back to their room, but Cath and I fancied a Kilimanjaro (lager) so walked over to the pool and patio area for a beer, we found an amazing patio area built into the side of the mountain, so we sat watching the sun set over the Serengeti drinking our beer. We went back to our hobbit hut to shower and get ready for dinner. As we arrived at the restaurant the waiter said to us "oh you have a bush dinner tonight" Now I had visions of I'm a celebrity get me out of here, but it was amazing we were led out into the bush, there was a big fire, a Masai group playing drums and singing, we were greeted with yet another glass of champagne and led to seats by the fire, we enjoyed the music and champagne for a while, and were taken to a table just the four of us, across the way a chef cooking BBQ for us, the food tasted better eaten under the stars, it was a perfect end to a wonderful day. ..........more to come but you'll have to wait.

Out of Africa ....part two

2007-11-28T19:14:00.000Z

After we watched the sun come up which incidentally was amazing (there's that word again ...sorry) we went to breakfast, while we were eating there were elephants just outside as the lodge was actually in part of the park. We finished eating and the much needed and fabulous Tanzanian coffee and joined Kavishe and Larry & Esther at the jeep. We began the decent into the Ngorogoro crater, now if you are of a nervous disposition you would be advised to close your eyes. The road was VERY primitive, the drop over the side enormous, the width of the road was narrow and the bumps and potholes very large. It was like being on a roller coaster ride, exhilarating, a little scary, and again if you are a girl, murder on the boobs!

Once we got to the flat of the crater my breath was taken away, it was the sheer number of animals, Kavishe told us there were over seven thousand wildebeest, four thousand zebra and four thousand antelope of one variety or another,they all stood or walked in lines, so you saw row after row of them, as far as the eye could see there were animals and birds, we saw crested crane, fish eagles, egret and a huge number of flamingos by the lake.

We saw the Masai children bringing their cows down the side of the crater to allow them to drink at the lake. The Masai are no longer allowed to live within the crater but they are allowed to use it for grazing and watering their animals during the day.

We drove slowly (pole pole in Swahili) through the crater and came across a golden jackal, and then a three hyena's eating a freshly killed zebra with at least twenty vultures close by waiting for their turn at the carcass. We saw more zebra, some warthogs, and then a large pond filled with hippos, snorting and flicking water over themselves to keep cool, it was then I decided I would quite like to come back as a hippo, they spend all day lying in cool water and mud, and then at night they come out eat their own body weight in food, and then slip back into the water....not bad eh?

Then in the distance and only with binoculars we saw a black rhino, Kavishe told us there were now only about 70 in the whole of Africa and to see one was rare as they were very shy, although we couldn't get close enough to get photo we had now seen four of the big five, but I did feel sad at the demise of this beautiful creature. We carried on driving and came across two more warthogs this time with 5 tiny babies, the funny thing is ALL baby animals are extremely cute, even though you know when they are fully grown they could probably tear you limb from limb.

We stopped at a lovely spot by a pond (I never know when a pond becomes a lake so it could have been a lake) for a packed lunch, while we ate we saw two hippo cooling themselves and lots of birds trying to get any crumbs they could. The guides were telling everyone not to feed the birds as when the tourists go they don't know how to find their own food. After lunch and a toilet break (now here I will mention that the toilets in the game reserves and a lot of the places you stop are actually holes in the floor and not very pleasant but when you gotta go you gotta go, and really speaking you don't want to go crouching behind a bush in a place that is filled with things that could kill you in seconds so you have to grin and bear it and breath through your mouth!)

We got back in the jeep and carried on with our tour of the crater, our guide Kavishe spotted a lion snoozing in the grass just next to the road, he explained it was up to the females to do the hunting, and sure enough the female crossed the road right in front of us, the second lot of lions we had seen up close, we watched until they disappeared and carried on driving.

We carried on driving and saw a hartbeast which was a type of antelope that looked like it had 4 ears, then lying in the sun another hyena. Kavishe told us there were no giraffe in the crater as they can't get up and down the sides, but there were elephant, buffalo and various other animals all of which we lucky enough to see. Just like that 4 hours were over and it was time to leave Ngorogoro crater and all it's inhabitants. Kavishe pointed to a red dirt road at an almost 90 degree angle on the side of the crater, and said "see that - we're going up there", apparently the crater has a one way system! Now if I thought the drive down was a little scary the drive back up was terrifying, again the road was narrow the drop a long way down, several times the jeep skidded and I thought that's it, I resisted the urge to ask if any jeeps had ever gone over the side! we held on for dear life and laughed nervously, one particular wheel spin that took us extremely close to the edge found me praying to God, and eventually we made it to the top. Just as we got to the top the heavens opened, torrential rain, thunder and lightening, I thanked God again that we weren't trying to drive up from the crater now the road was muddy! So it was on to our next stop the Serengeti.....to be continued again......

Out of Africa....part one

2007-11-20T20:45:00.000Z

I am going to have to do this in parts or it will take longer to read than the last Harry Potter!

It began on November 1st, we flew from Heathrow to Nairobi, lovely flight, Nairobi airport mind you was a bit stressful, we were told to go to gate 6, then after queuing they told us to go to gate 11, after queuing there they told us to go back to gate 6... we finally picked up the connecting flight to Kilimanjaro, we didn't catch sight of the great mountain as it was shrouded in white clouds. We were met at the airport and drove towards The Mountain Village Hotel in Arusha for our first night, I had a Meryl Streep moment as soon as I saw the flat acacia trees, as we were driving, the warm air was comforting and the roads bumpy We arrived at our hotel, it was lovely, we had our own little hobbit hut with an amazing view, we overlooked a beautiful lake, with Kilimanjaro on one side and Mount Meru on the other.

We didn't unpack we went for lunch and then went canoeing on the lake which we learned was called Lake Deluti. Cath and I each had our own canoe, with a guide helping us paddle (they were doing the steering which was just as well if you saw us I kept paddling into the side, and Cath wasn't keen on paddling much at all. We spent over two hours canoeing around the lake while our guides pointed out birds and monitor lizards, and beautiful trees and flowers. We got out of the canoes and walked back up the hill to the hotel, sat on the lawn, drank a beer which was named Kilimanjaro and was surprisingly good, the sun warmed my face and I felt relaxed and happy. We made our way back to our little hobbit hut to get showered and ready for dinner, five courses of lovely food with a lot of wine made for a great nights sleep!

Day two began with a lovely breakfast and what was billed as a "nature walk" around Lake Deluti, by now we had met up with our travelling companions for the Safari, a lovely older couple from New York State, Larry & Esther, both retired and (as they put it) spending their kids inheritance! Anyway the "nature walk" turned into a three hour hike around the lake, climbing over tree stumps, up hills, across very narrow walkways, health and safety had not arrived in Arusha and I for one was very glad it hadn't we had such a good time clambering over trees and through bushes and the three hours went by in a flash. Larry & Esther went off to look at the local market, while I recovered at the top of the hill with another cold Kilimanjaro beer (you'll see a pattern emerging here!) After lunch we met our safari guide Kavishe and got into our lovely green landcruiser and began the trip to Tarangerie National Park where we would be spending the night, the drive itself was fabulous, we drove through coffee plantations, past banana plantations, through lovely villages, then finally drove through the gates of Tarangerie. Kavishe put the top of the landcrusiser up so we could stand up, and within two minutes we came face to face with a beautiful giraffe.

For a moment it felt like something you would see at a Disney Park, but then you realised this was their natural habitat. The jeep picked up speed, we stood looking out of the top and the amazing scenery, the warm air hit my face and all of a sudden all was well with the world.

It wasn't long before we came across a herd of elephants that were right in the road in front of us Kavishe pulled up the jeep, switched off the engine and we just watched them, I can't begin to describe how amazing it was, they really are beautiful creatures. We carried on through the park, saw antelope, zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, and not just antelopes we saw the most beautiful trees, acacia (umbrella) trees, candelabra trees and my favourite baobab trees (called the tree of life as they can live up to 2,000 years also called the upside down tree)

We saw monkeys, more giraffe, more elephants, so many types of antelope and gazelle I forget the names. Then all too soon we arrived at the Sopa lodge where we were staying for the night, I could have gone on all night watching the animals. The hotel was lovely, as we arrived, sweaty, hot, dusty and tired we were greeted with hot towels and a glass of fresh pineapple juice. We got to our room, showered off the dust, went for dinner and of course a couple of night caps,I went to bed the happiest girl in the world!

We got up early, had breakfast and set off for a morning drive through Tarangerie, it was a day of amazing spots ( I think I will apologise now as the word amazing may be seriously over used) First we saw the cutest, smallest deer called a Dik Dik, they are always found in twos as they mate for life. We saw more zebra including an albino zebra, our guide told us he would be an easy target and without his properly formed stripes he would be easy to spot I tried not to think about it! Next we saw a family of warthogs, they were so ugly you just have to love them, then we came cross a huge herd of wildebeest and another herd of elephants including a few babies. We crossed a dried up river and saw a hyrax sunbathing on a rock, more dik dik, some blue monkeys and more Thompson and Grants gazelle it was brilliant.

Then the funniest thing happened, we saw a lone male ostrich right next to the side of the jeep, we took some pictures of him, and I don't know whether it was Larry's aftershave or my perfume but he took a shine to us and started following us, he followed for miles, even when we got up to 40 mph, eventually we lost him or so we thought, we stopped at a picnic site for a toilet break, and there he was again, this time though he had got between us and the jeep, and started hissing and sticking his wings up so our guide Kavishe had to try and scare him off while we ran for the jeep.

We started driving again and finally lost the ostrich, we knew why a few minutes later, the most wonderful site two lionesses lying in the grass right by the side of the road, we stopped and took some amazing close up photo's.

Then more wildebeest another beautiful candelabra tree, and some secretary birds that made me feel like I was in Jurassic park, they looked so prehistoric. Next we saw another huge herd of elephants, we stopped and watched them for ages. We saw a flame headed lizard basking in the sunshine, more elephant, more gazelle and then in the distance sitting under a tree the most beautiful cheetah we watched her as she scoured the horizon. As we drove out of the park we saw more elephant, giraffe and zebra, it had been an amazing day but it wasn't over. We left Tarangerie and began the long drive to Ngorogoro Crater,we drove through a small village and had to stop as our guide had to get a permit to go to the crater. A lot of children came up to the jeep and were waving at us so we thought, and we waved back, but they were actually writing in the air, all they wanted was a pen, I wound down the window and passed the only pen I had to a beautiful little girl, her face will stay with me always it lit up, you would swear I had given her the crown jewels.

It would be a good point to mention here that any girls out there who are thinking of going on safari and who are on the large side chest wise to bring a sports bra! Some, actually most of the roads are just dirt and stone and very bumpy and the lads get shook up pretty bad, I spent a lot of the trip with my arms folded across my chest I can tell you! We drove up the side of a mountain, bumping all the way and then Kavishe stopped the jeep, we got out at a lookout point, it overlooked the Ngorogor crater, it was one of the most beautiful sights I think I have ever seen, you try and capture it on camera, but it didn't do it justice, you just couldn't capture the vastness, or the beauty, we stood for almost twenty minutes taking in that view and knowing that each tiny black dot you could see was an animal and that in the morning we would be driving down into the crater to see them. The drive to the Serena lodge was wonderful, the scenery breathtaking to top it off we saw a herd of buffalo on the side of the road, so we had seen three of the big five already and it was only day three.

We arrived at the lodge, and were again greeted with a warm towel, and a glass of juice, it's hard to tell you how much dust you get covered with on the drives but you kind of get embarrassed to give the towels back after you have wiped your hands and face with them!

The people of Tanzania are warm, welcoming and friendly, they love it if you at least try to speak Swahili, so a Jambo (hello) or asante sana (thank you very much) is welcomed. We were taken to our room, each of the lodges merge in with it's surroundings, so you can hardly see them off the road, I couldn't help thinking that if this was the UK or USA they would have built a huge ten storey monstrosity on the side of the crater, but this lodge was made from natural wood and stone and you would never know it was there. We entered our room, and went straight out onto the balcony, we had the most outstanding view of the crater, we didn't want to waste a minute so we showered and went over to the bar area to watch the sunset, the colours were vivid, and as we were in the park there were elephants just outside the window. We ate dinner and went back to our room, on the balcony door was a huge spider eating a moth, since neither Cath nor I are the most at ease with 8 legged friends I switched off the balcony light so we couldn't see it. We decided to set our alarm early and sleep with curtains open so we could watch the sunrise........to be continued

TTFN....again

2007-10-27T11:39:00.000Z

Well readers (I am assuming I have one or two even if it is mostly family!!!) I am off to Africa for a bit, as I have said previously bit of a year for me healthwise so I am blowing my savings and I am going to Tanzania and Zanzibar with my mate CJ. We are spending 8 days doing a Safari starting in Arusha, and driving through the Serengetti, doing a hot air balloon flight, then flying to Zanzibar spending some time in Stone Town, and then a nice relaxing 5 days at Breezes on the beach - We went all out five star, suites, what the heck it's a once in a lifetime trip and as my Dad always says "There's no pockets in a shroud!!!". While I am away my lovely Brother (helped by my Dad) is fitting my new kitchen.

So I'll be gone for three weeks, but look forward to some long blogs when I get back and hopefully some great pictures & experiences.
Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Aaaahhhhhhh

2007-10-24T12:27:00.000Z

Bit of a nightmare week last week, really busy at work, which culminated in a visit to a customer in Ipswich, the visit went very well and it is always a pleasure to visit Customers and Brokers, but it happened to be on Black Friday and it took me over nine hours to drive back! Never mind I thought Saturday will be great, as I will be away for my Sister-in-Laws birthday I had bought her tickets to see Ray Quinn in Cardiff and we were staying over in a hotel (my Brother was babysitting) so we got up Saturday, got ready, went into Cardiff, had a lovely lunch, bit of a shop, checked into the hotel, met a couple of mates for dinner, and then went over to the Cardiff International Arena ready for the concert......that’s where it started.

We had really good seats, and got settled there were quite a lot of young girls obviously and quite a few elderly also, so it was a real family atmosphere, so we settled down for a lovely evening. The support acts finished and Ray Quinn came on. In front of us however was a girl and her friend probably in their 20’s, this girl was absolutely plastered, as soon as he came on she stood up and was flailing about, tipping her drink over the poor lady next to her. The people behind me asked me to tell her to sit down as their children couldn’t see. I reached over and tapped her friend and passed the message on, that’s when the tirade of “F” words started. She then left the concert hall to go to the bar ….mid song!!!.....and returned with a triple Bacardi – now there is no way this girl should have been served she was paralytic. She returned to her seat and tried to grab the lady next to her to sway her back and fore. Then she grabbed hold of two little girls in front of her, until their mother pulled her off, more “F” words. No sign of a security guard anywhere! My Sister –in-law (Amanda) said very politely “look we have come to listen to Ray not you, and you are spoiling this for a lot of people” more “F” words. By this time her friend was so embarrassed she had left her and gone to sit up the back! She dropped her bag over the back of the seat so I leaned over to pick it up ….get off my “F” bag – I said I’m just passing it to you! More “F” words – so my Sister-in-Law said look just sit down and enjoy the show, she then tried to fight us, slapping Amanda. The gentleman sitting next to this drunken idiot wet to get a security guard who didn’t want to know – so in the end the man said if you don’t remove her I will, Finally a security guard came and took her out, and everyone in the surrounding area cheered. Just as Ray Quinn said “now it’s time for my last song” – so we only heard that and his encore, he was excellent, but the birthday treat I had been planning since June for Amanda was ruined. Why on earth would you pay for a ticket for a concert that you didn’t want to see?

Still we finished the evening off with a few drinks in the bar and watched Parky and laughed, and I know Amanda still enjoyed the weekend but you can’t help feeling bad that a really nice weekend had been spoiled by one drunken fool.

Other than that I’m still trying to empty my kitchen.....and only 8 more sleeps until I go to Africa......
Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl

p.s. Jeni B’s new show (albeit her voice only) Food Poker starts on Monday so tune in.

Like living in Tupperware

2007-10-16T21:00:00.000Z

How rubbish is the weather at the moment I feel like I'm living in a piece of tupperware! Never mind only two weeks before I go off to Africa on safari, I have just started on the Malaria pills and I have to say the side affects are horrible, my mouth tastes like mothballs and I feel sick and headachy, I think Malaria wouldn't be so bad (well apart from the possible death bit!) Still after spending half the year in hospital/off work I'm in a live for today type mood, so Africa is always somewhere I have wanted to go, and I am and buggar the expense.

While I'm away as I mentioned my lovely Brother is fitting a new kitchen for me, so I am attempting to box everything up, it's a nightmare, I have bought the paint and tiles and it's all systems go, he and my Dad have already taken out a few cupboards and a huge bit of work surface so cooking is out of the question, but at least I'm losing weight......always a silver lining eh?

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Don't make friends with salad !

2007-10-12T13:28:00.000Z

Hooray it’s Friday which means although we are all still working hard, we do have that almost the weekend feeling about us. Hence the fact we have been singing the Homer Simpson conga song “you don’t make friends with salad” interspersed with Gina Gee all day. Oh Ok we are not working particularly that hard, me and Hitch (see below) have checked into the land of can't be arsed - we have nicknamed our desks CBA Towers!

I sit next to a lovely girl in work, but she is one of those extremely thin people who doesn’t stop eating and I know I shouldn’t be jealous, but hell on wheels I am!! – I usually have an alpen light bar for breakfast while she tucks into a full cooked breakfast in a box from the canteen upstairs. Lunch time for me is usually a jacket potato or soup and a yogurt, while Hitch (as she is affectionately know for trying to fix everyone up) tucks into something and chips, and between meals she is constantly eating chocolate and cakes. Today she munched her way through faggots, chips and gravy, and has now spent the afternoon suffering from faggot backlash (which isn’t a form of homophobia but a form of indigestion).

By the way COMPLETELY hooked on Facebook now, am spending hours doing random quizzes people keep sending me I think I have lost days!

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Down with the kids

2007-10-07T21:12:00.000Z

Well I thought I was quite computer literate by being a blogger, but apparently you are nothing if you are not a "facebooker" so one of the youngsters in work signed me up about a month ago, but I have to confess I haven't touched it since. That was until I went to a party last night, my friend Sarah's Mum & Dad had been married for fifty years, they had a party in exactly the same room in the same hotel they held their wedding. Anyway everyone I spoke to (under 40)said they were on facebook so I figured I had better get on with it. It's flippin addictive I can tell you!

I had an e-mail from the wonderful Silvena Rowe yesterday which was very un-expected, and very lovely, She also said to stop by facebook so you see it's everywhere. I'm still not sure how the heck it works though, but I have up-loaded photos, I seem to be playing an endless movie quiz, I've done a 10 second interview and don't ask me how but one of my friends has sent me a drink.....and I think I sent one back but who knows. I have 3 friends now and feel ever so popular.

Did the usual Sunday roast today which was lovely, Cara was a joy as always, I'm babysitting again next Friday and I can't wait.

Got loads to do this week, working the whole week and also need to empty my kitchen cupboards ready for the new one to be installed, you wouldn't believe how much junk (and by junk I mean Tupperware/addis/empty Chinese containers/tubits kind of junk) how many containers can one person use I live on my own!!! Need to go to Ikea to order the kitchen, find tiles and paint. My Brother is going to fit the new kitchen while I go off to Africa on my safari, so hopefully when I get back it will all be done.

Ruby has had her hair cut by the lovely Maria this week, she does such a great job, Ruby is white and gorgeous and smells like baby powder.

Oh well bed calls
Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

The height of "Chavness"

2007-10-02T18:33:00.000Z

OK so I have always thought personalised number plates are a bit Chav, but driving to work this morning I was obviously stuck in a jam behind someone called "Bev" firstly I didn't really care what her name was and secondly the personalised number plate was on a flamin Nissan Micra!!!!! I mean come on!!

Did a bit of baking last week for the Macmillan Worlds largest coffee morning, made some muffins and jam thumbprints, took them into work along with several other masterbakers and £636 was raised for this fab cause. I felt a bit bad really, I hadn't made jam thumbprints before but found a recipe (thanks Barefoot Contessa) anyway I made them, they looked lovely but as I am still slimming worlding :( I couldn't' actually taste one to see what it was like, so I called my friend Sarah who lives a few doors down and asked her to come over and taste one for me, luckily she said they were lovely and tried a muffin as well, that's when I said right now hand over a couple of quid as it's for a good cause!

Had Cara for the weekend, she was a joy as always, Saturday I found her trying to pour juice from her beaker down poor Ruby's throat, I asked her what she was doing and she turned around looked at me as if I was stupid and said "I'M SHARING" she makes me laugh so much.

Well that's about it
Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

The long & winding road

2007-09-23T19:12:00.000Z

Well Ruby had a much longer walk than usual on Friday, I had just taken her around our usual route, past the graveyard (which she will only walk past in the daytime incidentally) and up to Arthur Llewellyn Jenkins furniture store, then back down past the stream (where I have seen a real life kingfisher and a woodpecker this year) and made my way back towards my house after filling my gob with blackberries, when I saw some Jehovah's Witnesses walking towards my house, I can never say no to anyone, so end up listening for ages, or if I get chance I turn the lights out and hide behind the door, it's not that I want to offend, and I have nothing against any religion, but I have a hard time with people pushing their religion on me. Anyway as I had spotted them I turned around and took Ruby on another hike, I've never seen her drink so much water when we got back!

Saturday was very productive, I managed to sort out the shed ready for winter, dead headed all my plants, cleaned my house (for shames sake) and caught up on a pile of Sky+ things I had recorded. Just the ever growing ironing pile left.

Sunday was the usual Sunday Roast at my folks, it was my Dad's birthday last Tuesday but as my Brother et al were away, we had his birthday today, so it was full roast beef with all the trimmings (except for me as I am slimming worlding) and a huge Happy Birthday chocolate cake with cream (except for me as I am slimming worlding....boohoo)

Came home and decided to make some more raspberry and white chocolate muffins, but this time put a teaspoon of jam mid muffin, I'm baking some stuff for the Macmillan Worlds largest coffee morning on Thursday so will test my new recipe on my work colleagues (I can't because I'm slimming worlding.....I'm beginning to hate slimming worlding!!!) Off to weigh tomorrow and if I don't lose weight tomorrow after being this good all week you will hear the scream from wherever you are! Before I go to SW though I have to go and have a yellow fever jab ready for my safari, what a great day eh?

Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Sun, Sand, Sea and Slides

2007-09-20T11:18:00.001Z

I have to say I had the most wonderful time in Tenby, my Brother, Sister-in-law and gorgeous Niece had booked a house for 2 weeks in Penally which is a lovely village outside Tenby, so I got a couple of days off work and drove down to join them. They had a lovely house and it was wonderful to see my Niece Cara, we took her to Folly Farm, she loved that, not so much the animals (I actually loved the fact you could feed a bottle of milk to a little baby goat - Cara not so much) but the soft play area (until she got stuck in the ball pit, and my poor 6ft odd Brother had to climb through a hole the size of a watermelon to drag her out), the swings and of course the slides (which I also loved, of course I only went on the slide to help Cara) She did fall over in one of the tubes and bit through her lip, it bled like you wouldn't believe, but it didn't put her off. To cheer her up I bought her a little stuffed toy rabbit we called Stu (as in rabbit Stu)

The next day we went to Pembroke, again to a park so she could go on the swings (I also went on the big girl swings haven't done that since I was 12 it was amazing but I couldn't believe how out of breath I was, I don't remember that when I was a kid! me and my 35 year old Brother were racing to see who could go higher he won but I reckon it's because he's almost a foot taller than me) Then we got some bread and went to feed the Swans, well we fed the swans, Cara was stuffing the bread in her mouth!. We went to a lovely place for lunch and on the menu was Ham, peas, mash and parsley sauce which is my condemned man's meal, and to top it off I had dandelion and burdock pop, it was like going back in time, absolutely loved it.

Saturday the weather was amazing and we spent the whole day on the beach, even went in the sea, Cara loved the sea until a monster got her, it was actually a bit of seaweed that got stuck round her foot, but she didn't like it at all.

What was really cute was that every day when we came back from whatever we were doing Cara would pick up rabbit Stu and you could hear her saying "Hiya Stu, What you been doing? I've been splashing and making sandcastles etc, and she would rattle off everything she had done during the day, she has an amazing vocabulary for a 21 month old.

We went to a lovely pub for Sunday lunch then I drove home and left them in Penally for their second week. So after a very bad weekend, I gave Slimming World a miss on Monday, but to compensate I have been exceptionally good this week, not even a drink ......which is amazing for me as I am a bottle of wine a night girl.

Loving Dexter - hope you are all watching it, no-one on my section at work does so it's annoying when you want to talk about what happened in last nights episode!
Well as I am not going out so I can't cheat, there's not much else to report so I'll close now, but ...
Keep Smiling
love Marmite Girl xx

Ok I'm Rubbish!

2007-09-10T12:36:00.000Z

I know it's been three weeks since my last blog, and I don't even have any excuses, I haven't been that busy, I have had things to write about, but I appear to have checked myself into a private suite in the hotel of "can't be arsed".

So what has been happening, well I had a party for the drama group, our Director was going back to Florida for the winter so it was a kind of Bon Voyage party, it took me 2 days to clean the house and make the food and it was all over in 5 hours but it was a really good night, the weather held off, and we spent most of the night in the garden, lots of people got drunk and we sang old songs into the early hours it was lovely.

The weekend after I had Cara which is always a joy, I put her to bed at 7pm and around 4am she woke and shouted for me, I went into her room and she informed me that she needed a drink of beer! not bad for a 21 month old.

Friday was our Company sports day, I didn't partake, Dawn and I were in charge of the soft drinks stand, we dressed up in aprons and hairnets and had badges that said Marge & Beryl complete with our MacDonalds type gold stars, we looked ridiculous as you can see from the picture, but we did have a laugh.

This weekend the girls and I did a pot luck supper, we put starter, main, dessert and wine onto bits of paper and then all drew one out of a hat, I was on dessert so I made a chocolate mousse and a lime tart (don't tell slimming world!) we had a really nice evening although I did drink a little too much wine and woke up with a bit of a head! There will be six of us next time so we added chocolates and cheese and biscuits, so that should be a huge meal.

I have finally booked my holiday after much deliberation, my mate CJ and I are going on safari, we go on 29th October to Tanzania then fly to Arusha for a 7 day safari, then spend a week in Zanzibar relaxing by the beach, it was ridiculously expensive, I have to have a zillion injections, but I can't wait.

This week I am going to Tenby for a long weekend, my Brother, Sister-in-law and Cara have gone for 2 weeks, so I am driving dowon wednesday and coming back sunday, should be brillinat can't wait to take Cara to Folly Farm and the beach.

So there we are I'm sure lots of other stuff has gone on but I've forgotten.
Will try and be better at keeping this up faithful readers.

Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

No excuses...

2007-08-18T09:34:00.000Z

So I have been a bit rubbish at keeping this up, in my defence it has been incredibly busy at work, and by the time I get home, walk the dog, feed the dog, make myself some dinner, I only want to introduce my butt to the sofa and stay there until it's time to go to bed!

Last weekend I had Cara and we had a brilliant time, she was dropped off on Wednesday night, and I took her back Sunday. She is such a cutie, I was tucking her in on Thursday night, and I said "I love you" - she said in her gorgeous baby voice " I love you too" and I could feel my heart in my throat,and my eyes well up that usually only happens when Bambi's mother dies or I watch the WSPA advert. Friday I took her into the office to meet everyone, Moyna met us for lunch and then I took Cara on a boat trip around the bay (£5 and she fell asleep within two seconds) I had Sky plused loose women and a repeat of Great Food Live, and sat down with Cara to watch them (by now I had had enough of Lazytown and Balamory and don't get me started on "In the night garden") anyway we watched GFL, when there was a close up of Jeni Barnett Cara piped up "pretty lady cooking" I was really impressed, then we watched loose women Jane Macdonald was doing a number and Cara said "pretty lady singing" she is so smart, although she has never called me "pretty lady" so we'll have to have words. Moyna came over on Saturday and we went to the beach and took a picnic of course I hadn't checked and the tide was in so there was no sand, Cara wasn't keen on the pebbles so after making a picnic and specially buying a bucket and spade and driving all the way there...we didn't stay long!

I'm supposed to be cleaning right now, got out the Mr Sheen and the Dyson but so far all I have done is drink two cups of espresso, watch all the Stephen Fry stuff I recorded from BBC 4 last night and type this.......have to clean the girls are coming over later, we are going to the Barley Mow tonight for dinner, and a walk down memory lane, it was an old haunt back when we were all Young Farmers eons ago......I have a feeling it won't be the same.

So that's it I am warming up my polishing arm....damn Barefoot Contessa is on I'll just get another cuppa and watch that first.........

Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

The day I was Frank Spencer!!!

2007-08-06T18:20:00.000Z

It started yesterday when I thought....Oooo the sun is out I'll wear my sandals, got to my Mum & Dad's ready to make the dinner, and they were sitting outside so I went to go up the step, the front of my sandal caught the lip of the step and down I went like a wounded gazelle.....or a stunned hippopotamus as my Brother said nice huh?? Cut hand and knee! Then I made a drink with ice for everyone, didn't notice that I had dropped an ice cube, so when I went back into the kitchen with it's tiled floor slipped over on the ice cube! Bugger this I though and took off said sandals and walked around bare foot, then as I closed the fridge door, managed to get my toe under the door and scraped off all the skin......"For God's sake" I said to my Sister-in-Law, "don't let me pick up Cara today". I thought oh well it all happens in threes I'll be fine now..........famous last words, Dad and Steve came back from the pub, I dished up a delicious dinner, and then my Dad said that looks nice - what happened to the starter, it was in the oven I had forgotten about it! Anyway we had the main for starter and the starter for main course, I had taken up some of the muffins I cooked on Saturday for dessert, my Brother reckoned it wasn't a real dessert, that muffins were for a cup of coffee and a snack at 4pm, so I chucked two muffins in a bowl and poured cream over them and said "They are now!"

Got home and decided to dye my hair....see I know I should have stopped myself after the day so far, but I though what else can go wrong, well I had half dyed my hair when the dye bottle jumped out of my hand, hit the basin, bounced off the toilet lid and splattered all down the lemon wall (which now needs re-painting) After this incident I moulded my backside to the sofa and refused to move until bed-time.

I think I slept it off, today has been OK, the muffins were extremely well received by my work buddies (note to self next time make double raspberry and white chocolate to banana nut) Greg has now taken to requests, next time can you make old fashioned butterfly cakes or anything with hundreds and thousands, muffins apparently are too healthy!

Right I'm off to water the plants.
Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Essay, schmessay - muffins rule!!!

2007-08-04T16:19:00.000Z

OK so I was too excited to do my NVQ assignment, I got my magic bullet through the post yesterday so I had to try it out didn't I? So popped off shopping this morning and by lunch had whipped up 20 banana & walnut muffins and 20 white chocolate & raspberry. That should please my work mates who keep moaning at me because I'm always on a diet (I know usually failed) I haven't been taking in goodies. I used to bake all the time, shortbread, muffins, cakes etc and take the stuff into work, but the thing is if it's there I eat it, so I kind of stopped. This time though I feel so sick from licking out the bowls, I don't think I'll fancy the muffins! I did however remember just how much I really love baking. Have washed it all out now so I can make pesto for tea later.

Right now I really am going to my essay on mentoring! Want to finish it before I listen to Jeni on LBC! Well maybe a cup of coffee and one of those white chocolate and raspberry muffins first.....oh come on I had better test them to make sure they are OK!!!

Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Why put off til tomorrow ...bla bla bla

2007-08-03T11:54:00.000Z

Had a great weekend, had a cleaning frenzy, I was like a woman possessed did the whole house, changed all the beds...OK it was only because my Brother, Sister-in-Law and Cara were coming over, but I still did it. Had a lovely evening Saturday, my Brother (who is a bit "chefy") made a fabulous dinner which included a whole wheel of Camembert cooked until melted, ripped open and then we just dunked in crusty bread. We had a perfect rare steak, with asparagus drizzled in lemon oil (well drowned in lemon oil - the same lemon oil that cost me £8 from the food fair that I've since seen it in Tesco for £1.99) and a potato gratin which would have been potato and celeriac if the guy in Tesco knew what celeriac was!! Sunday as the weather was lovely we took the Cara and Ruby to the beach and I'm not sure which one of them had the best time, but they both ended up soaking wet and covered in sand. We ended a lovely weekend with the traditional family roast at my folks house, where I stood in the glass lean to, over 4 gas rings and the oven on full sweating like a glass blowers ass! Sorry but it was WAY passed "slightly glowing" still the dinner was lovely.

Well the diet didn't start Monday ....well it did and it was over by Wednesday, I can't help it I'm a foodie! The NVQ assignment still isn't done, the grass isn't cut, the ironing pile looks like the leaning tower of Pisa and all the dust I cleaned up on Saturday is back but to be honest it has been incredibly busy at work and I haven't been getting home until 7pm most nights, by the time I've walked the dog, and made something for tea it's almost bed time.

I did decide to have a really early night on Tuesday so went to bed, went straight to sleep, then was woken at 1am by the dog making heaving noises, I dived out of bed but too late she had been sick all over the bed covers, I picked her up and started to run downstairs to put her out, and wouldn't you know it, another heave and it was all down the stairs, I know I shouldn't let the dog sleep on the bed, but she always has, and I love it. Anyway upshot of my early night was I went to bed at 2.30am after stripping the bed, and cleaning the stairs!

Looking forward to a relaxing weekend but I really do have to do my NVQ assignment on mentoring if nothing else.

Have fun, you deserve it!
Marmite Girl xx

p.s Apols to Jeni B for mentioning Tesco but we don't have any local shops left!

Big, Blonde and Beautiful..

2007-07-26T21:27:00.001Z

Well OK, not blonde, and not beautiful, but big......Just been to see Hairspray and have to say it was fabulous. I saw it on Broadway for my birthday a couple of years ago and was amazed,I had never seen the original film, and after seeing the show on Broadway had rushed onto EBay and bought it, and was sorely disappointed as it wasn't a musical, and honestly if I had seen the original film before I got to Broadway I would never have picked that show to go and see, so if you were less than impressed by the original film I urge you to go and see the new one. The casting was brilliant, the songs catchy to say the least and by the time I left the cinema my cheeks hurt from smiling...well that and biting my tongue so I wouldn't sing along to all the songs (well I was under threat of severe and painful death from Sarah and Moyna if I did!)Anyway Big, Blonde and Beautiful has one of my favourite song lyrics of all time....being a little buxom myself....and it is (I may be paraphrasing here) " Who wants a twig when you can have the whole damn tree?"

Other than that just been extremely busy at work, and playing with Sky +, Drama group did get together last night for a end of season meal, and a discussion over what to do next, not sure anything was decided.

My Brother, Sister-in-Law and Cara are down this weekend so I can't wait....The Dora the Explorer quilt has been washed and ironed ready, I have petit filous in the fridge to make her bones grow strongerer, and the fact that I get the sofa to sleep on is a small price to pay for a family weekend.

So just to reiterate, if the weather is getting you down....(I swear I could grow rice in my front lawn now it's under water) then go and see Hairspray, you'll come out smiling I bet ya!

OOOoo and all you Jeni Barnett fans don't forget her new slot on LBC Radio on Saturday six til eight (pm)

Lots of love
Marmite Girl xx

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Rubeeeee

2007-07-22T16:20:00.000Z

It's funny, I'm fine leaving Ruby if I am on holidays or away from home, but I hate being in the house without her. Ruby however has been having a great time at my Mum & Dad's, she gets ruined, she gets twice as many treats. I had left her at my Mum & Dad's as I away seeing Barbra Streisand, then I stayed with my friend Emma and her Mum & Dad on the Friday night (and I remembered to give Emma the keys to her flat back), and as I was doing Canterbury Tales on the Saturday it wouldn't have been fair to have her at home on her own, so it meant Thursday and Saturday night at home without Ruby, it was weird. I have her back now so normal service has resumed.

Canterbury Tales went well, thankfully Julie had booked a hall rather than us doing it in her garden which was the original plan, and over £1,200 was raised for Helen House in Oxford which is a hospice for children, so I was glad about that.

I now have so much housework, and ironing to catch up with I am ashamed to let anyone in, my house looks like Miss Haversham's! I blame Sky plus I always seem to have something to watch now, so spend less time doing the jobs I should, not that I am a telly addict, but I can now squeeze about five days worth of recorded stuff, into the three spare evenings I have.

I'm just watching the Victoria Beckham thingy (I know I recorded it) and she is surprisingly funny, I loved it when she dressed a blow up doll as herself to fool the paparazzi so she could go shopping, faabulous idea dahling.

Well that's it from me, I'm off to sort out out the recycling.
Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Memories, like the corners of my mind....

2007-07-19T13:44:00.000Z

Well, I know the press will probably giver her a hard time over the autocue (but to be fair she is 65, and a lot of 65 years olds can't remember where they left their glasses let alone an hour and a half of songs and talk - so give her a break), and the choice of songs, but when you have been recording for over 40 years there are a lot of songs to choose from and you'll never please everyone! Personally I thought Barbra Streisand was worth every penny, sure some of the talk was scripted, and she did sound a little hoarse in places (probably two months of singing would do that you) but the magic was there, the hairs on my arms and neck spent the night standing to attention, she was brilliant and I had the best time. If I could, I would have bought another ticket to see the Sunday show, but I do have to work for a living! Although I swear I have something written on my head that says "Idiots come and sit next to me" - it happened at the Dolly Parton concert someone was actually having a full blown conversation on the phone, it happened last night two idiots with a bag of chips sat next to me talked through half the concert, I did tell them to shut up, as did the man in front, but they were three sheets to the wind and it fell on deaf ears, until Barbra sang "Smile though your heart is aching" and then the woman started that drunk I love everyone crying, by then I wanted to poke them in the eyes with hot needles! It didn't spoil my night though, I was in awe the whole time, and the memory of that night will stay with me always. I did find out Lord Lloyd Webber was in the audience but couldn't get close enough to give him a quick blast of "Think of Me" so it's back to the day job.

Stayed at my friends flat in London and drove back today, thankfully the sun is out so I am dead heading the flowers and catching up on the washing. Got rehearsal later, we are doing a version of Canterbury Tales on Saturday for charity, it's to raise money for Helen House in Oxford, so it's a great cause, it was to be held in my friend Julie's garden but as the weather has been so bad she has booked a hall now instead.

Well gotta shoot off, I need to cut out a chicken mask for the "Nun's Priests Tale" if ever I did get famous and someone asked me the strangest thing I have ever done, it would be this..... doing the "Macarena" in a chicken costume ......told you it was a "VERSION" of Canterbury Tales!

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Remember I said....

2007-07-15T09:46:00.000Z

Remember back in one of my blogs on my trip to Bruges I said if ever I saw the Hairy Bikers I was going to kiss them for recommending Den Dyvers restaurant? well look what happened yesterday! I did see the Hairy Bikers and I did kiss them, and I have to say they are genuinely the nicest, most down to earth guys you could ever wish to meet, we chatted for ages.

We had a lovely time at the Food Festival in Cardiff, Moyna, Sarah, CJ and me went, I was so glad the weather was better yesterday, we had glorious sunshine all day, the food tents were amazing, the live music was great, there was a really great atmosphere and a heck of a lot of people which is great for the small producers. By the time I made it over to the Farmers Market everything had sold out much to my disappointment, but I did get some rather gorgeous lemon infused olive oil which is fantastic over a salad. We met up with my Brother, Sister-in-Law and gorgeous Niece who was completely unfazed by all crowds and had a whale of a time, we took her on the Ferris wheel, but she wasn't too sure about that, but she loved running around and being in the park.

So today the weather is back to being lousy, I'm sitting at home sweltering, as I need the radiators on to dry my clothes for work tomorrow. Just off to the folks now to do the Sunday Roast for the family, still not salad weather. I swear I'm eating more because the weather is so bad, I don't know how Jeni Barnett is still sticking to her raw food diet in this, I can't get enough mashed potato and comfort food at the moment.

Then I need to keep everything crossed that my Barbra Streisand tickets turn up, as the concert is wednesday and still no sign........flamin postal strikes.

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

I'll never get to used to......

2007-07-12T12:18:00.000Z

Eating in restaurants on my own, just did a business trip to Hull, which was a heck of a drive, six hours! and I don't mind the driving, I love the meetings, staying away from home is fine, but the eating on your own is awful, you keep getting " awww bless" looks, I kept my suit on so people knew I was on business but still the sympathetic eyes! Not sure the best corporate gift to give to my Customer in Hull (where all the awful floods are) was an umbrella!

Ruby goes to the groomer today and then to V.E.T. for her booster so I have had to get choccie drops in, so by the end of the day she will still love me!

I am now the proud new owner of an LCD TV and Sky+ which I love, how did I ever manage without it? those annoying phone calls in the middle of your favourite programme, not a problem anymore, trying to find a five year old child to programme my video, not needed, it's brilliant!

I don't know about everyone else, but this weather is starting to get me down, I noticed today that sunscreen is all half price in our local supermarket, I wonder why! I wanted to do much in the garden, but it never stops, the plants I do have look all soggy and sorry for themselves. I'm also fed up of having to put the radiators on to dry the washing!

Looking forward to the weekend though being a foodie, there is a huge food and drink festival this weekend in Cardiff, so me and all the girls are going for a look (and hopefully a taste) I spent a fortune last year, mostly on things I will never use, although the black cherry liquer I got is amazing for making black forest trifle.

Oh well best get Ruby to the V.E.T.
Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Accidental Road Rage....

2007-07-07T16:19:00.000Z

So I was driving home from work yesterday, going around a roundabout when some idiot beeped me, so without thinking I held up my fingers to show there were TWO lanes ....of course then he flipped me the bird, in retrospect I guess holding up two fingers and shouting TWO lanes probably did look like road rage but it wasn't honestly.........

One of my friends this week asked me if I could choose only one book, one DVD and one CD to have which would they be, and I have to say I have had real trouble choosing. I suppose you are expected to say things like War & Peace or Catch 22 or some documentary type film that made a huge differrence but hey I'm going for pure entertainment! I had trouble deciding between a "real" book and a cookery book as I love reading recipes, but I guess the book would be The Final Confession of Mabel Stark, the DVD gave me a bit of trouble, but there is one film I always watch if it's on, even though I have seen it many times and that is Divine secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, the CD gave me the most trouble, I love a bit of Rachmaninoff, and a bit of snow patrol, and then there's Barbra Streisand (I'm off to see her on the 18th I'm excited my bank account isn't!) but in the end I picked a compilation of Broadway songs so I could sing a long, not sure what it says about me, but it's really tough to just choose one of each!

I have my Niece this weekend and as the sun is finally out took a trip to Cardiff Bay to see the boats, and we met my friend Teresa for coffee, can't remember if I had a cappuccino or mochaccino or al paccino but it was lovely, Cara was the entertainment though, her Mum & Dad teach her all the clever things like numbers and colours, so far I have taught her "take a bow", "jazz hands" "work it" (she puts her hands up to her cheeks and looks so cute!) and if you say "what do you think of the show" she shouts RUBBISH! There were some builders doing a bit of drilling next to the coffee shop as we were sitting outside, so Cara said to me "they are noisy" I said yes, so at the top of her voice she shouted "QUIET" everyone laughed, I told you she was smart for 17 months!! She is busy terrorising Ruby who gives me a do I have to put up with this? look.

Well best get on I actually need to water my plants this evening....who would have thought it????

Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Boo......

2007-07-02T12:00:00.000Z

Well we didn't win, England did, but we had the best weekend!

We turned up Friday and did have quite a few technical problems, but going on about that will sound like sour grapes so there's no point. We gave a great performance, and didn't let Wales down, the Adjudicator didn't like the set, but did like the acting and direction. After the play we went back to the party that had been arranged at the hotel, it wasn't bad they had arranged for a "barn dance" type thing, but few people danced, that finished at 1am, and that's were the party really started we drank lots and sang even more, mostly the old Welsh Favourites and whatever we could think of, a couple of the organisers of the festival stayed up too, I got to bed at 3.30am.

The next morning we had to meet the Mayor at 11am, I was so hungover I had to get ready in stages, I washed then had a lie down, I put my make up on....then had a lie down....I got dressed ...then had a lie down, I didn't make breakfast at all, and proclaimed that if anyone saw me drinking ANYTHING other than coke, they could shoot me! We got to the arts complex where the meeting was to take place, it was hotter than the Serengeti, and of course we were all dressed up, they offered us coffee (which helped enormously with the sweating NOT!) The Mayor arrived and we had to exchange gifts that had been given to us by our respective local councils. This is where it got embarrassing, our local Council had given us a crystal clock for the Mayor.....which didn't work, and these awful flag type pennant things for the other three teams, we were ashamed to give them out, especially when we had huge boxes of stuff from the other teams, Irish whiskey, Scottish whiskey with glasses and a water jug, and lovely things that all came from Tamworth from the English team. In fact we were SO ashamed we went out and bought each team a bottle of champagne and gave it to them in the evening. After all my no more drinking, after meeting the Mayor we went to the pub and I tried a hair of the dog, well half a lager anyway which did cure me, in fact it cured me enough to have a bottle of champagne ourselves at lunch. We did a bit of shopping and I must say Solihull is a really nice town with really good shopping.

At 5.30pm we were invited to Jon's parents room (Jon's parents are Players Theatres biggest groupies)for drinks and nibbles before going to the theatre for the remaining two plays. We went to the theatre watched the entries from Ireland and Scotland listened to the adjudicator, who made me laugh when one thing he criticised was the fact that Ireland had a dripping tap in their play as a sound effect, and he said the drips were too close together!!! As I said England won, and while we were disappointed the thing about the festival is that it didn't last long. We went back to the hotel and partied hard, tonights entertainment was a folk group, it wasn't good, it just wasn't the kind of music to get a party going, but it was one of those situations that turned out to be really funny, especially as the one lady (who looked like Morticia Adams) put some wooden thing with a dancing man on it between her legs, and slapped it back and forth in time to the music!!! Moyna reckoned you couldn't get those in Ann Summers!!!!! England went home and the Celts started singing, Wales first, then Scotland would do a number then Ireland, slowly Ireland left then Scotland and by 3am it was just Wales.....there's stamina in Welsh Wales! I think we got to bed at around 5am, but as I stuck to vodka all night, no hangover the next day and I made it to breakfast!

All in all it was a brilliant weekend, I still get a bit fed up that it's not televised, if it was a British Final of anything sporty it would have coverage, but Amateur Theatre....no chance, not even a newspaper article.

Here's to next year, the finals are being hosted by Wales and will be held in Swansea.

Bit tired this week mind you!!
Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Fingers, Toes and Eyes Crossed!

2007-06-29T06:04:00.000Z

And so I am off to the British One Act Drama Finals, in a bit of a dilemma, is it worth spending an hour this morning drying and straightening my hair, when, for the purposes of the play we are doing, I have to be soaked to the skin before I go on (been running through a heavy storm see!) On one hand we do have to meet the other teams, organisers etc. and have a technical rehearsal (you can only have half the lights in a competition as there isn't enough time to re-rig in between plays) but on the other hand I could just tie it back....I think the lazy part of me might go for that one, especially seen as it is pouring with rain again and one ounce of dampness and an hour with the straightening irons is wasted anyway as I look like Leo Sayer!

We had a reasonably good dress rehearsal last night, but I do have a lot of trouble with and forgive me for this ....snot - I spend the majority of this play crying, and I can't cry without snot, I don't know how they do it in the films, but by the time I finally get a hug from the Gabe (who plays my husband) his coat looks like a slug has crawled across it.

See while I have been typing this and throwing things in a case, the rain has stopped, perhaps it's a sign I should get the irons out......keep everything crossed for us, we keep being reminded Wales hasn't won since 1992 but no pressure!!!

Lots of love
Marmite Girl xx

Einstein Hair and spilled coffee

2007-06-27T17:01:00.000Z

After I wrote my Sunday evening blog I decided to have a nice soak in a bath full of bubbles, also decided not to wash my hair but leave that for Monday mornings shower before work. So had a soak, got into my PJ's, hair had got wet and I now looked like Einstein, made a cup of coffee which I managed to tip all down my PJ's so I just mopped it up with kitchen roll and settled down to watch The Chase.....what did it matter I thought I'm off to bed after that. Unfortunately half way through The Chase the flamin doorbell went, it was (thankfully) my mate CJ who lives in Oxford, she had stopped in for a cuppa on her way home, and to tell me all about her trip to Barcelona. She was dressed to kill, and sun tanned and looked wonderful, while I sat there with my Einstein hair and coffee smelling PJ's! Lesson learned then, you never know when someone is going to call, so try and stay reasonably tidy!

Monday was uneventful, work was busy and by the time I got home I was too tired to do anything. Tuesday I was off work, so made sure I watched the repeat of Great Food Live on UKTV Bright Ideas, then listened to Jeni on LBC radio, e-mailed in and it got read out by Jeni herself I felt really chuffed. Oh and I finally managed to cut my grass, yes it stopped raining long enough for me to trim my Kansas Plains, of course it was SO wet I looked like the jolly green giant when I had finished. Went to rehearsal and dropped Ruby off and my parents, they are looking after her as I will be away for the weekend (at the British Finals....I may have mentioned that somewhere!)

So there we are it's Wednesday already and it's back to being busy at work, I am going for a swift half later to celebrate my mate Teresa's birthday so looking forward to that (as you can see the diet hasn't lasted again)

Will let you all know how we get on at the British Finals
Keep smiling
Marmite Girl

The week nothing happened!

2007-06-24T15:57:00.000Z

Why no blog for almost a week? Well truthfully it was one of those weeks where nothing happened, work was extremely busy and by the time I got home if I wasn't at rehearsal I was flopped in a prostrate position on the sofa watching TV, drinking a glass of chilled Pino, have to say did enjoy that new series Brothers and Sisters though, cracking telly.

Had a great weekend mind you, had my gorgeous Niece Cara for the weekend, she is growing SO quickly, 18 months now and just a joy, she just makes me laugh all the time, on Saturday we went shopping and I bought her a plastic microphone so she could follow in her Auntie's footsteps, she was holding it right up to her mouth singing "twinkle twinkle little star" the words are not quite there but the tune sure was. My friend Moyna brought her the Ricky Gervais Flanimals book, which kept her amused for hours she just sat in her favourite place, (oh no not the very expensive Dora the Explorer chair.....the dog basket)and kept turning the pages and chuckling at the monsters, it was so cute.

Did the Sunday Roast ritual, weather is so awful we are back to the roast dinner, not the salad. Also had to take my washing up to my Dad's as my machine not working, un-repairable, new one needed, no money!!!

Was hoping for some dry weather to cut my grass, it is actually shameful now, it's like the plains in Kansas, I think I could hide wild animals in it, no luck though it hasn't stopped raining all weekend. Next weekend I will be in Solihull for the British Finals, so no grass cutting then either, I wonder if it's like dust and when it gets to a certain stage it just stops? I'm thinking of borrowing a goat!

Diet went well until Wednesday, then went steadily downhill, culminating in some delicious lemon cheesecake on Saturday ...oh and the leftover slices of said cheesecake today. Start again tomorrow! Of course it won't last, as I said British Finals this weekend, England and Wales (us) are on the Friday night, then Ireland and Scotland on the Saturday, buffet both nights, and win or lose copious amounts of alcohol and singing I should imagine. Did get excited as I have been allowed to bring home the trophy from the Welsh Finals which has pride of place and has been polished to within an inch of it's life!

Oh well better go, there's a walnut whip in the fridge with my name on!......WHAT???

Lots of love
Marmite Girlxx

Rainy days and Mondays........

2007-06-18T11:34:00.000Z

OK what is it about a Sunday night that prevents you from sleeping.....is it an
in-built worry that you will sleep late for work after a weekend of lie-ins? Anyway didn't sleep last night, found getting up really difficult this morning, then between the rain and the traffic jam....speaking of which don't you just love those electronic signs, you are stuck in a five mail tailback and you see on of the signs, does it say why you are stuck? Oh no it just says "Delays Ahead" I felt like shouting no Sh*t Sherlock, then to add insult to injury there was a speed camera and a temporary 50 mph sign, when my car hadn't gone over 6 mph for over an hour!!!! Got to work late and wet and it went steadily downhill from there.

Just as well I had a great weekend, I had gone to visit my friend in London on a mercy mission, she was down in the dumps due to a lack of work, (she's "in the business we call show" well Opera) that and there isn't any temporary work due to the influx of Eastern Europeans. The journey up was a bit of a nightmare took me an hour and a half to go 20 miles! but I got there in plenty of time she lives just over the Hammersmith Bridge, this is where I realised I was singing my head off in the car while stuck on the bridge with the windows open and wondered why people walking over the bridge were staring at me!. Anyway we started on Friday eve with a nice bottle of red, Saturday had a lovely lunch and a jug of white sangria at La Tasca (now I'm not usually into chain type food but to be fair the tapas was good) Then we toddled off to see Spamalot now I must admit to going with pre-conceived ideas as I have never been a fan of Monty Python (do you get shot or something for being British and saying that???) but I had listened to the soundtrack and enjoyed it, anyway I have to say I was amazed, it was hilarious, we were still laughing hours later. We walked over to a favourite dinner haunt the Boulevard Brasserie in Covent Garden and had cocktails, wine and the most wonderful dinner, did try to be good but I'm a sucker for baked brie, and also for creme brulee so that's kind of where the diet ended! Got back to Barnes and tried to watch Doctor Who that we had taped but the tape ran out before the end (how annoying is that) then went to bed slightly tiddly and happy. Got up late, watched Music & Lyrics which was also hysterical went out to lunch and then I drove home. I think I accomplished the cheering up friend mission, but it must be so hard, a lot of people over the years have asked me why I haven't turned professional and I think it's that fear of not knowing where your next pay check is coming from, doing it this way I get the best of both worlds, a regular salary and all the smell of the greasepaint in my spare time. Not that I wouldn't say yes if Lord Lloyd Webber did knock my door!

Have now got a pile of washing to do but my lovely 15 year old Ariston has finally given up and has stopped working, so it's a visit to the laundrette for me this evening and a quick look at price runner on tinternet for a new machine!

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

General prattling......oh and Big Brother!

2007-06-13T18:44:00.000Z

How exciting, I got home from work yesterday and found a large envelope, with a lovely picture of Debra Monk inscribed with "Thank you for your kind letter, Best Wishes Debra Monk" on it, I thought that was SO nice, she really is Broadway Royalty.

Went to rehearsal, still going through the One Act to keep it ready for the British Finals, but we were also rehearsing Canterbury Tales, very confusing doing two at once!

Back on the diet we are doing The Importance of being Earnest next and I saw the size of my costume! In fact was making tea this evening(Quorn Sausages) and sat down at the computer to read Jeni Barnett's blog for today, she mentioned that one of the actors in the Globe had walked out just before press night because he had stage fright! I know stage nerves are the worst, but does he know how many of us poor amateurs would have loved the chance to be on that stage! anyway I got into reading it and burned the flamin sausages ....they probably tasted better though! It's not going to last though, I'm off to London for the weekend to visit a friend, so I know there will be fattening food, and copious amounts of pino grigio! I figured if I was good in between indiscretions it wouldn't be as bad as eating and drinking all the time, here's hoping!

Still haven't got around to cutting the grass at the front of the house, blamed the four drops of rain we had on Monday, I'll have to do it soon, it wasn't that bad but next door have cut theirs now so mine looks even worse! Seriously thinking of getting of it covered over in patio slabs or something. With working and rehearsing the only time to do chores is at the weekend, and in my eyes that's playtime.

Tried my best to watch Big Brother as that seems to be the ENTIRE conversation at work right now, and also I was using it for research, as we are making an internal video at the moment about what our job is, so we (the three of us in our team) are doing a Big Brother skit. Like I said I really tried to watch but I really don't get, I don't get how it is entertaining, I don't get how people get addicted to watching it, and I don't get why anyone would give up an hour of their precious lives to watch people arguing over food, and crying over straightening irons. So this is another thing I will remain blissfully ignorant over.

Well I'm off to take Ruby for a walk now before it gets dark, she's such a pansy she won't walk past the graveyard after dark, which is a tad worrying as they do say dogs are really sensitive, she's fine in the day but if it's dark, she digs in her feet and won't move....weird huh?

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Here's to the weekend & the sunshine!

2007-06-10T07:28:00.000Z

Isn't it lovely to have the nice weather back?, especially when it lasts through the weekend. Last week was a tough one, going back to work and all, but I have had a such nice relaxing weekend. Saturday I got up late, and really did nothing, pottered in the garden, did stick the hoover over and cleaned the bathroom for shames sake, took Ruby for a nice long walk down by the river while listening to Spamalot on my ipod, but that was about it.

My Brother and Sister in Law called over with Cara who was a joy as always, they had been on holiday and had bought Ruby a ball, but Cara wasn't that keen on giving it to Ruby when she arrived so they were chasing each other around the garden. Amanda was telling me about one night while they were away, in the clubhouse on the caravan site they had a game of bingo, the lady was calling out the numbers and said "2 little ducks" so the crowd shouted "quack quack" and Cara sang out "ee i ee i o" (we've been teaching her Old Macdonald)

Diet has been going OK on the food front, but still having trouble giving up the ice cold sauvignon blanc especially in this weather! Drank a bottle last night while watching TV (I think I'm one of the binge drinking statistics!!! although personally 4 glasses over a whole evening ....doesn't seem that much to me!)

Sunday decided to get up early, sun was shining, birds were singing, sheep were bleating (although I have no idea where the sheep bleating was coming from I haven't seen any nearby) No sign of Jeni Barnett popping over so needed to cut my grass myself!!! Went up to visit my folks for the Sunday lunch ritual, now when I mentioned before about having salad when it was hot for Sunday lunch, there were gasps of dismay like I had said something illegal, but Dad called this morning and said "shall we have salad"?? I arrived read the paper, had another rant about what's the world coming to? (note to self STOP reading the papers and remain blissfully ignorant) had another personal sauna doing the cooking in the glass roofed kitchen (even though it was only potatoes and eggs this week). Lunch was fab, we sat outside and had our nice cool salad and caught up.

Came back from the folks, put up my hammock in the garden, grabbed a book (reading the new Jonathan Kellerman ....very good) and lazed for the rest of the day. Did manage to make my slimming world quiche (well they call it quiche but it has no pastry so I reckon it's a big omelette!) so I have lunch tomorrow. Sunday night for me is TV night where I watch all the second chance things I missed in the week as I am out at rehearsal(why is all good telly on a Thursday night?),and getting stuff ready for work. Didn't win the lottery again, so no piano bar! and OK I never did get around to doing the grass!

Hope you all had wonderful weekends too.
Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Diet Schmiet!!!!

2007-06-07T18:34:00.000Z

OK I only lasted one day........started it Tuesday, ended Wednesday it evening, but I did have a lovely meal in The Baileys Arms with everyone from Drama, we celebrated our win in style. The owners of the Pub Tina and John gave us three bottles of Champagne, we had fantastic food....oh alright and dessert!!! and told more old tales about the places we’ve acted. The South Korea stories seem to come up most, we were asked to represent Britain in the International Drama Festival in South Korea, we obviously started off in a nice hotel in Seoul, and then got transported to ChunChong for the festival. It was in the middle of the jungle right by the ninth parallel – we were then shown to our accommodation which was an old army barracks with a lino floor and a very thin rolled up mattress, not quite what we were used to, there was no air conditioning despite the 100 degree heat and 100% humidity (you came out of the shower and couldn't dry!), and the only entertainment was an old flip chart we found and we used to play win, loose or draw on! The food certainly took some getting used too (I think someone had told them British people like chips, so we had cold chips for breakfast in the mornings and most other things had eyes!), as did the holes in the floor for toilets. We did have a great time though, and the Korean people were lovely, and it’s not as weird as the time we actually stayed in a convent in Alabama!! One night we brought back a pile of cans of beer and a bottle of tequila, stayed up in the “group room” playing the piano, singing and drinking, we left all the empty cans and bottles in the rubbish bin, only to come downstairs the next morning to find an AA meeting being held in the same room! When we asked if we could stay on the way back from our tour, the reply came back that it was full!!! We had stories of who snored the loudest, who forgot what lines, and just had a really good laugh.

So back on the straight and narrow today...green day! So far so good but I am dreaming of the ice cold Magners I have in the fridge.....how many syns in that I wonder? I knew work and diet all in the same week was a mistake, it's too much for any sane girl.

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Working for a living!

2007-06-05T20:41:00.001Z

I forgot how hard this working for a living is. OK I know it was my first day back, but I can't believe how busy it already, no breaking me in gently then I said!!! It was great to see everyone though, and I'm sure I'll get use to it again.

Did spend half an hour at the window in the office watching Her Majesty open the Welsh Parliament today, she looked lovely as did Camilla.

Ruby seemed unscathed by me working all day, mind you she does get TWO walks on the days I work, so I should imagine she's glad to see the back of me.

Started the Slimming world stuff......they wonder why people don't eat healthy food, it's because it's twice the flamin price of the fattening stuff!! My shopping bill is usually about £35 a week, I go on diet all of a sudden £59!!!!!

Watching QI while typing this - I love Stephen Fry! The boss gave us tonight off from rehearsing and tomorrow we are doing our celebratory meal, then it's back to the grindstone, whipping us into shape for the British Finals.

Just spent a fortune on Amazon, went on to buy the "Curtains" soundtrack as it has been released and also bought another two CD's and a Barefoot Contessa book, I really shouldn't browse!!!!

Well I'm off for a mini babybel now.

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Well back to work......

2007-06-04T21:00:00.000Z

Just about got everything ready for my first day back at work for four months! I still get tired really easily, and still a bit sore, but it is time to go back. It's like my first day at school all over again. Caught up with all the ironing, and cleaning and shopping today before getting back into the work thing, also caught up on my taped episodes of Grey's Anatomy....wow already! It will be nice to see everyone in work though, I guess the first week will be catching up and seeing what has changed. Ruby will have to get used to being home alone again, although she sleeps most of the day anyway. To make it harder went back to Slimming World as well, might be a mistake I may need chocolate and wine to get me through the first week! that and we are all going out for a " We won the Welsh Final celebratory meal" on Wednesday. Well that's it for today, off for an early night, got an early start see.

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

WE ONLY BLINKIN WON !!!

2007-06-03T15:53:00.000Z

Just a short one today as I am suffering from a hangover of gigantic proportion. It was the Welsh Finals of the One Act Play Competition this weekend at Theatre Hafren, Newtown. Six of the highest scoring plays from previous local rounds, go to the Welsh Final, three plays a night. We were on the Saturday in the middle sandwiched between two comedies which was good, as ours wasn't a comedy. There were three of us in the cast, Gabe (who also wrote the play) Jon and myself. We started feeling nervous by about 2pm and went on stage at 8pm......at approx 10.30 we heard our adjudication by Sally Noble (GODA) it was amazing she actually said she didn't write much, she put her pen down as she didn't want to miss any of the acting, she applauded our Director Gareth for being a genius, she loved the set, the lighting, the mood, the music, everything. It was about half an hour later Sally announced that we had won. We will be representing Wales in the British Finals at the end of this month. After the awards were presented we went back to the Elephant & Castle for a buffet, and I remember the bar there closed at 1am, our accommodation was 2 doors down in The Black Boy ( I was amazed to find it was called this but apparently it was to do with chimney sweeps!)so we went back where the bar was still open for residents (and a few guests of the residents).....lucky eh? This is where it gets hazy but it did culminate is us getting to bed at 5.30am this morning, after drinking copious amounts and, if I recall, singing a lot, starting with all the old Welsh favourites and ending in requests from the very patient bar staff. We had to check out by 10am, I didn't manage the full cooked breakfast, just dry toast and coffee, and I had to get Gabe to drive my car back from Newtown, it's now 5pm and I am still suffering. So forgive me but I think a banana, lots of water and an early night is called for........it was worth it though, Solihull here we come!

Keep Smiling - I am
Marmite Girl xx

So good they named it twice ......part two AGAIN!!

2007-06-01T16:28:00.000Z

for those of you who read the blog this morning this may seem a little different - that's because I went to add in a picture of Central Park and accidentally deleted the whole day's blog!!! So lets start again.

Saturday we had arranged to meet my American Family at the Jekyll & Hyde Club at 4pm, so we decided to not do much in the morning. I had seen an advert for a new show called "Curtains" with Debra Monk, now I am a LONG time fan of Debra Monk, she is Broadway Royalty, it was also by Kander & Ebb also a favourite of mine, so Sarah offered to buy me a ticket for my birthday, we walked over to the theatre and ....you guessed it....waited in line, we managed to get the last two tickets for the Sunday show. I was chuffed!!

We did a little window shopping and having learned our lesson about portion sizes called into a deli and got a sandwich between us, they were still huge, think stacking five M & S sandwiches on top of one another only less bread more filling and you've got it!

Next we went into a store (see got the lingo now) called American Girl ...only in America, it was about three stories, on the first were dolls, dolls outfits, children's outfits to match the dolls, each doll had it's own book and DVD, on the second floor was a theatre where they did live shows and you could take your doll, there was also a cafe that had special seats for you, your offspring and the dolls, finally the third floor had a salon so your child and her doll could get their hair done. Now I know this seems a little over the top but if you saw the faces of those little girls clutching their Molly or Nikki or whoever, it was just priceless. I decided Cara was a bit young for these though, they were almost as big as her.

We called into Tiffany's, walked past all the diamonds with no prices, to the elevator, one elevator was an "express" to the third floor, this is where the silver/costume jewellery lived. I guess they thought that's where most people would go and they were right. We both purchased a little something so we could walk around with the little blue bag. I resisted the urge to ask where we could get breakfast and to hum moon river!!!

Next to FAO Schwartz another huge toy store, there you could make your own doll, thanks to Madame Alexander, you could choose the skin colour, eye colour, hair colour and style, while the assistant zapped the parts in a microwave (or Salon as she told the little girls) and put her together. I decided this option was better for Cara as the dolls were much smaller for her little hands. Alas time was against us so I had to save my creation for another day.

We walked over to the Jekyll & Hyde Club and waited in the bar Adam, Steph & Little Jacob arrived and there were hugs & kisses abound, Mom & Dad had gone through the scary entrance but soon arrived to more hugs & kisses. Adam had chosen Jekyll & Hyde's as Mom's favourite time of year is Halloween and it was really fun, there were Mummy's and Monsters everywhere, things jumping out at you, but Jacob being only three was terrified, so in the end we finished our drinks and went to a baseball themed place, it was much lighter, much quieter, and Jacob was much happier, it worked out well as the food was better, and we could all catch up. After dinner we took a walk to Central Park and went on a carriage ride it was lovely, all too soon it was time for them to leave, saying goodbye as hard, but I knew I would see them again soon.

Foolishly as the night was still young, we walked back to see the lovely Svetlana at the Russian Vodka Room, for a couple more of her lethal Cosmopolitans, this time we managed four, Svetlana then gave us a strawberry infused vodka to finish us off, and finish us off it did..I have NO recollection of how we got back to the Hotel, and poor Sarah spent the night in the bathroom saying goodbye to the Cosmopolitans.

All of a sudden it was Sunday and after a few aspirins and a lot of coffee we decided to walk up to Central Park, we went to Bethesda Fountain, and sat on the edge, it was lovely. One guy had a boom box which I dreaded him turning on, but when he did it played Edith Piaf, which somehow matched the mood and the park. We went back to FAO Schwartz so I could make my creation, pale skin, blue eyes, brown bob, just like Cara. We grabbed lunch took our shopping back to the hotel and went to see "Curtains" now here is where you will have to indulge me a little while I go on about how amazing it was! It was AMAZING, the whole cast were brilliant, as a bonus I saw Karen Ziemba another of my faves also Broadway Royalty, and David Hyde Pierce, fabulous, but Debra Monk was phenomenal, so good in fact it prompted me to write my first ever fan letter at the age of 38, I felt like a teenager when I posted it. It was so good to see an old fashioned, toe tapping, extremely funny, laugh out loud show with fantastic songs, characters and story, so many new musicals are dark and miserable. If there had been an evening show I would have handed over my credit card and watched it again. I hope it comes to London so I can see it again. If you are reading this in USA I urge you to go and see it. After the show we went to The View for a drink, which is a revolving bar/restaurant at the top of the Marriott Marquis, it was lovely, we sat at the window with a cold glass of Sav Blanc and watched the skyline of NYC revolve around us. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

Monday alas was a bit of a disaster, Sarah had wanted to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art but as it was Memorial day it (and the other museums) were closed. We decided to go Bloomingdale's for a look, personally I hated it, it was a bit like Harrods, it was so big you couldn't find anything, we wandered through floors and floors of stuff, finally got cheesed off and left without buying anything! We took a taxi to Greenwich Village, as everyone had told us how lovely it was, and we arrived at the park which was indeed lovely, but as we walked, maybe in the wrong places, it turned from lovely to seedy. I think maybe you needed to know your way around, we did pay homage to Dylan Thomas in The White Horse, but then swiftly got a taxi up to Little Italy. There was a cheese festival on, so the roads were closed, there were stalls and music and it felt good. We got dinner at Vincents where, judging by all the signed pictures on the wall, so had a lot of famous people. The food was excellent, the banner proudly mentioned they had been in business for 100 years, and I think our waiter was there at the start, as he kept falling asleep at the back, but it only added to the charm, we had a lovely dinner and made our way back to the Hotel. We did call into the "Brewery" couple of doors up for a beer I chose a wheat beer, Sarah said " I would send that back if I were you it's cloudy" I spat beer all over the bar and explained it was supposed to be! We went back to the hotel and began packing ready for the trip home.......hang in there I'm almost done!

Tuesday we grabbed breakfast, finished packing and checked out at 10am our flight wasn't until 9pm so we left our bags and went to check out Grand Central Station, it was beautiful, we would have looked around a little more only both of us needed a restroom, one was out of order and the other had a line that wouldn't have looked out of place in Alton Towers. So we left quickly, and walked very quickly to the Rockefeller Centre where we found relief. It worked out well, where the ice rink is in the winter, they put outdoor dining in the summer, so we sat right by the gold statued fountain, had the most delicious Thai Fish thingy, and, well we had to didn't we a piece of New York Cheesecake. We shopped a little and then stopped in Bryant Park, it was a small park in front of the library, with hundreds of chairs, and in the middle they had newspapers and books you could borrow and sit in the park and read, it was so peaceful, and in the midst of the City. We eventually went back to the Hotel to pick up our bags....and repack all the extra shopping, and made our way home, I know at some point we went to Macy's but I forget when and there are other things I will have forgotten, I am home now exhausted but very happy, it's not the place to go if you want a relaxing time, but I can honestly see why they named it twice, New York really is that good!

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

So good they named it twice......part one!

2007-05-31T13:26:00.000Z

I knew I should have taken a notepad to New York, I'll never remember it all, but here goes. I had a brilliant time, I have returned completely knackered but it was worth it

The flight was good, the train connection from Newark to New York easy, well it would have been easy had I not had a very large purple suitcase, we took a taxi from Penn Station to our Hotel. The Casablanca Hotel had the best reviews on Tripadvisor I always use that site before I go anywhere. The reviews were right, we couldn't have wished for a better location, it was a stones throw from Times Square, the staff were exceptional, it provided complimentary snacks, coffee, tea throughout the day and between 5pm and 8pm every night complimentary wine and cheese. Of course when you're in New York you don't really spend that much time in your hotel!

We arrived tuesday evening, dumped our bags and headed out to Times Square, had a look around and then headed up to the Russian Vodka Room, I had been there previously and actually remembered where it was, I also remembered that they made the best Cosmoplitans in New York, so we had a couple and felt very "Sex in the City" then we had a couple more, and then the lovely Svetlana said in a beautiful Russian accent "Only five minutes of happy hour left - one more?" Oh go on then ...now Svetlana's Cosmopolitans are VERY strong, so we left feeling more "Sick in the City" but did sleep like logs.

The guys at the front desk in the Hotel suggested we do the open top bus tour, and get a 2 day pass as it was only $10 extra, we got on the bus an firstly did the Downtown Loop, it was a hop on/off thing so we got off a Ground Zero there were a lot of people taking pictures and video which made me a little uneasy, but what made me feel even more uneasy were the people making money out of all this sufferering with "souvenior brouchures" containing pictures of that terrible, terrible day. I couldn't stay long, we did go to the church next to the sight, they had removed all the tributes and had stored them for people to see, it also showed how the many volunteers has worked, how they set up kitchens to feed people, cot beds for them to rest in, each bed had a stuffed animal placed on it, it was touching, and heartbreaking and I left feeling humble and emotional. I wasn't ready to get back on the bus so we walked over the Brooklyn Bridge it was an amazing feet of engineering, and the views of Manhatten were breathtaking.

We got on the next bus and carried on with the tour, we stopped for lunch at an amazing if touristy place called Ellen's Stardust Diner where all the waiters and waitresses sing while serving, they were amazing none of them would have been out of place in the West End. We then did the Uptown loop which went through Harlem, and past the famous Apollo Theatre where many stars started out at their talent nights, including Ella Fitzgerald who according to our tour guide actually went to enter as a tap dancer, but four excellent dancers had gone on before and she didn't think she could follow them so sang instead....and history was made. We finished the tour, walked back up to Times Square went for dinner and ended our first full day in NYC. We sat in the lounge in the Hotel and planned our next day....it was time for Lady Liberty.

Thursday we used our bus ticket to go to Battery Park where you can get the ferry for Ellis Island, we arrived and got greeted by an enormous queue or line (if I am to use the local lingo). However it did move very quickly, we got on the ferry and went first to Liberty Island, the thing that struck me was how small she was - I don't mean small in that way but small to how I imagined her. Nevertheless she is a beautiful thing. We left Liberty Island after a hotdog and went on to Ellis Island, it was so intersesting they really have done a great job in trying to put across what it must have been like for the people who arrived there, some as young as nine had travelled alone from their original countries looking for a better life. Some stayed, some were sent straight back, children were separated from families, some of the stories heartbreaking. It was another day that had touched us.

We returned to Battery Park and walked, looking at the Memorials to the fallen, then walked up to Southside Seaport for a well deserved beer and a look at the tall ships. We got back on the bus got off at The Rockefeller Centre and went to the "Top of the Rock", the views were spectacular, you had beautiful views of Central park, the Empire State, and the whole of Manhatten, seperated not by railings but thick sheet glass, they had kindly left small gaps between each sheet so you could stick your camera through. We used our bus ticket for the final time to go on the night tour, what was great was the time we picked, it was about seven so on the drive out of Manhatten we saw the sunset over the skyline, we drove into Brooklyn and when we drove back it was dark so we saw the skyline lit up. They had lit the Empire State in red, white and blue in honour of Memorial day......did I mention it was fleet week when we arrived so there were thousands of Marines and Sailors walking around the city in those gorgeous Richard Gere uniforms .....I had been very excited by this until our tour guide said they were all between 18 and 24!!!!! Our tour guide also told us the best place to get Pizza in NY was John's he was right, we went on the way back to the hotel Sarah and I agreed it was the best pizza we had EVER had.

And so to Friday ....what a day, we started off at the Empire State Builiding, now a little tip is buy your tickets on-line for a start, if you don't want to wait in "line" for a long time, pay a little extra for the skyride as well, it's an awful "flight simulator" type ride thing as if you're in a Helicopter flying over NY driven badly by Kevin Bacon, but on the plus side you do miss all the "lines" Now while the view was exceptional and the building outstanding, I think I had been spoiled by the views from "Top of the Rock" it was less crowded, the views were better, but I suppose you can't not go it would be like going to Egypt and not seeing the pyramids! After Empire state we went to the TKTS booth to get tickets for the evening, the booth is great you can up to 50% of the tickets for some of the plays/shows on/off Broadway the only thing is of course you have to wait in line! The line for the "shows" was enormous (my fault I thought you had to line up at 3pm, but it was 2pm) so we chose a play instead..... and what a play, we saw Vanessa Redgrave in The Year of Magical Thinking. It was based on the book of the same name, the memoir of Joan Didion. I can't tell you how good it was, I know one thing I will never complain about learning lines again!!!! Vanessa was on stage alone for 90 minutes, no interval, and for 90 minutes she talked, I was spellbound. I have heard various directors over the years saying you can't just sit still, you can't have your hands by your side, but she did, it was the stillness that grabbed you, brought you in to her world, believe in it. What a performance, what an actress, what an evening. We crossed the road to Juniors, we sat in the window where I could see the stage door, I was secretly hoping to catch a glimse of her leaving but didn't. Several people did wait outside the stage door for almost an hour (I watched them while we ate every time the stage door opened their faces lit and then fell when they realised it wasn't her) eventually a stage hand popped out her head and said she had left already......I guess if you don't want to be bothered by fans the stage door is the last door you would leave by. We ate dinner it was not particulary good I think the size of the portion put us off it could have fed at least four people, walked back to the Hotel and so ended another day.................to be continued (or you'll never read it all!!!!)

TTFN......

2007-05-20T20:29:00.000Z

Went shopping on Friday to get some new stuff for hols, and the usual thing happens....you know if you haven't got any cash you see a ton of things you like, if you have got a bit of cash you never see anything!!! And am I the ONLY person who can't wait for these Grandmas old curtain patterns to be out of fashion???

Had a wonderful weekend with my gorgeous Niece Cara, she is such a character, when she was touching the TV screen(which she is not allowed to do), she actually told herself off, which made me giggle so I couldn't tell her off! She terrorised poor Ruby by stealing her toys and shouting "MINE" but Ruby takes it in her stride and lets her do anything.

I am off to New York shortly, for a bit of R & R after my hospital visit and before I go back to work. Also it's my American Mom's 60th Birthday ( I hope she won't mind me printing that) so I get to meet up with everyone in the family and I can't wait. It was meant to be a surprise, but she was planning a trip to Minnesota so I had to confess. Anyway I decided to start packing this evening ready to go, and don't ask me how but I managed to get my left nipple caught in the handle of the suitcase.......smarts a bit I can tell you! As much as I love travelling all the ironing, packing, hanging around in airports for 3 hours, long flights, then all the unpacking, washing more ironing....you wonder if it is worth it, I really wish someone would invent Star Trek Travel, where you could just beam places.

Well I can't stay here all evening blogging I have stuff to do, sorry it's a short one, but with all this rain I haven't been up to much, so I'll say TTFN and will fill you in on my trip to NYC as soon as I get back.

Oh and Jeni if you are back before me my lawn needs doing again!

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Barbra, BAFTA and a Brilliant day!

2007-05-17T09:32:00.000Z

Yikes......you know I said I was lucky enough to be going to see Barbra, I asked my mate who is very good at getting tickets to get me a couple, I said I can only afford the £100 ones, well he sent me a text saying got your tickets, so I went into excitement overdrive. Tuesday I sent him a mail saying "how much do I owe you with the booking fee" he sent a mail back saying " well the £100 tickets were all gone so I got you the £250 ones" I haven't had the guts to tell my friend Sarah yet, she wasn't that happy about paying £100......well I reckon she'll be worth it, upshot is I was going to M&S to get new underwear for my upcoming visit to New York, but now I think I will have to go to Poundland!!!

Spent Tuesday evening rehearsing the play, it wasn't good, we all forgot lines and got told off by the director for being complacent! Of course the Welsh Final is on June 1st, and one of the cast is going to Ireland today until Tuesday so there's no point rehearsing, and then I'm going to New York, next week so really we will only now have one more rehearsal together before the final....it's only a 3 hander.

Had a BRILLIANT day yesterday, my friend Teresa organised it, we went to London on the train, to see The Glass Menagerie with Jessica Lange. Teresa is a member of BAFTA so we went to the BAFTA place in Piccadilly for lunch, me being an amateur actress and extremely star struck felt like a child in a candy store, we ordered a drink and a sandwich and sat down, and Gina McKee was on the table next to us.......I did tell Teresa to kick me under the table if I was staring too much. I daydreamed of some director coming up to me saying "you are exactly what we need for my next picture" but no luck, and every time I went to the bathroom I couldn't stop myself walking like a model on a catwalk, in my head I was saying "work it, work it", I think this is the reason you have to be a member to get in, they take it all in their stride.

After our lunch we walked over to the Apollo to see the play, brilliant seats, the set, the lighting, the production, the acting, all outstanding, but Tennessee Williams left me a little cold, I kept thinking it needed another thread in the story, and couldn't help wondering if it came across a publishers desk today and didn't have Tennessee Williams on it would it have been published? It didn't spoil my enjoyment of the play though, the acting really was excellent.

After the play we went back to BAFTA and got a bottle of champagne, (I was hoping Stephen Fry would drop in, but alas he must have been busy) the staff are so nice there, so we stayed right up until our train was due to go, now there's a story there but it comes under "what happens on tour stays on tour" but the upshot was we missed our train, and had to wait almost 2 hours for another.....you guessed it, we went to the bar. Had an absolutely fantastic day, evening, night.

Got a list of things to do today......OK I never did get around to the ironing Monday, so that's first. Having Cara at the weekend, so childproofing the house is second, and then picking up Ruby from my Dad's, he was dog sitting as I was out yesterday.

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

That's it...Never Again!!!

2007-05-15T08:01:00.000Z

See I usually write nice light, frothy rubbish in my blog but today is a bit of a rant day!

I'm not reading the newspapers anymore, they just wind me up, I don't usually buy a paper (I look at BBC news website) but I do read my Dad's on a Sunday morning, after this Sunday I think he is going to start hiding them!

It started off with Paul Burrell, now even the newspaper called him a snake, and yet they STILL published all the rubbish he had written (and probably paid him), don't publish it, it won't be worth him writing it then!

Then there was a bit about Andrew Lloyd Webber, who wanted to find a new Jesus next for the musical Jesus Christ Superstar - now I admit I am getting a bit Greased, Josephed out, but the program makers said they were nervous of looking for a "Jesus" in these troubled times......wasn't Joseph in the Bible??? and who exactly is making them nervous? I can't imagine for a minute anyone from any race or religion would say anything, it's a musical for goodness sake, it's just this unfortunate fear everyone seems to have in case they would. Where does it end?

There were numerous other things as well, but due to this unfortunate fear I am "nervous" about mentioning them.

Anyway rant over, needless to say no more newspaper reading for me!!!

Not much else going on, spent yesterday afternoon helping my friends daughter, she is doing a "stars in your eyes" type competition on Saturday with Young Farmers, so I was helping her be Dolly Parton, it was funny, she has had singing lessons where you are taught DICTION, DICTION, DICTION, and how to pronounce every T and D and G, so I had to say forget all that, Americans don't use T's and we undid all those singing lessons from before. My final piece of advice? just remember Eyes, Tits and Teeth - it goes a long way!

Decided to get rid of the grey yesterday evening and dye my hair, of course no sooner had I put the dye on and a shower cap (acquired from some hotel or other) but the doorbell went! luckily it was only my mate Sarah having returned from her golf game wanting to tell me she had a blinder was something under par??? (it's like a whole other language) but had lost it on the 18th. So we had a glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc and chatted and I left the dye on too long and now look like Morticia Adams .........

Oooo and how excited am I, I am one of the lucky ones who managed to get tickets to see Barbra Streisand at the Dome, and I don't care how much they get up to on Ebay I aint selling, I've waited years for this!!!

Well back to more mundane things now, have a pile of ironing to do!

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

PANIC.....

2007-05-13T09:06:00.000Z

So this morning I woke up and had a mild panic OK so it wasn't mild, I couldn't move my head, for a fleeting moment I thought Oh my God I've had a stroke, then I realised Ruby (who has become extremely cuddly since her pockets have been stitched up) out of the whole four foot six bed had decided to sleep ON my head!!! - now this is not the most flattering picture but please bear in mind:

a) I had just woken up
b) I thought I'd had a stroke, and
c) I had to be a contortionist to reach my mobile from the side of the bed to take the picture!!!

Actually I'm quite brave to publish it I think!

Well what's been happening?, not a lot really I did finally take the bull by the horns and cleaned out the cupboard of death, embarrassing it was, I think there was food in there from before the war, I found packets of jelly (2000) teabags (2002) breadcrumbs (1999) I could go on...... anyway it is now all sparkly and in order (AND EMPTY).

My Sister-in-Law wanted to go to Ikea to buy a mini table & chairs for Cara, I didn't need anything, but never pass up the chance to have those Swedish meatballs and jam! so we all went on Friday. Cara was a darling in the trolley, and we wandered around looking for the table & chairs. We stopped then for lunch, now the thing about Ikea is that they really do cater for families and children, so we found the little play area where Cara could play and we could sit and watch, we got the meatballs, of course then Cara didn't want to eat because she wanted to play! but we did anyway. Cara was trying to get on this little rocking thingy but was having a bit of trouble, I was on my way in to give her a hand, but this gorgeous little boy decided to help, so put his hand on the rocking thingy to steady it for her, the thing was Cara thought he was trying to take it from her, so she lamped him one!!!! I jumped in and told her she was naughty and the boy was only trying to help her and to say sorry to the little boy...."excuse me" said the little boy " but I am FIVE" I think this was his way of pointing out he wasn't a "little" boy. I took Cara out of the play area and confined her to the highchair, the "big" boy then came round the corner and said to us " you know she is a very naughty girl" I tried not to laugh but sprayed diet coke everywhere! We left the cafe shamed and being stared at by the parents of the other children, and carried on to the bit downstairs which has loads of cool kitchen stuff you will never use, but buy anyway!

I did my bit for the environment by getting those energy saving light bulbs, of course when I got them home they were the wrong ones! but I figured my carbon footprint would be more if I took them all the way back and swapped them, and they were only £3.

Went out for a curry with the girls last night, it was a kind of joint birthday do for Sarah and CJ, and we couldn't bear to watch Eurovision, although we did get back in time to watch a bit, it's not the singing it's the voting, it's all gone so political, I reckon the entries should just have numbers and no-one should know where they are from!!! Terry was a charm though as usual.

I am resisting the urge to mention Tony Blair......but did he have to give so much notice, I'm fed up already and now we have to wait until the end of June for all this hoo-hah to end. Enough I say ENOUGH!!

See this is what happens when you start typing, you think there's nothing to say but you keep going, upshot of this I've just made myself a bowl of porridge thinking it was 9.45am, but I've been at this so long I just realised it's 10.45am!!! I'll never eat my Sunday roast now! Oh well better scoff the porridge and get up to my folks to make the dinner, I can't believe it's Sunday again....time flies eh??

So there we are not much going on at all........mmm maybe I should take that photo off?????

Keep smiling

Marmite Girl xx

One of those days....

2007-05-10T08:31:00.000Z

Not much happened yesterday, I ran a few errands mostly for my Dad and watched TV, has to be Loose Women now GFL is gone, but it makes me laugh. One of the errands was to go to the framers and pick up my Dad's newly framed pictures, which I did, they were beautifully done as usual, the only thing was, as it was raining heavily in my rush to get the pictures out of the car and into the house ready for Dad to pick up I caught one of the shiny new frames on the door and took a big chunk out of it!!! That was the start of "one of those days"

The second errand (again for my Dad) was to pick up a voucher as it was my friend Sarah's birthday, we are going to New York together in a couple of weeks, so I suggested a Boots voucher as she would probably want to get new "smelly" stuff. Well I went to Boots and picked up a card, and then when I got home noticed it said, "the new male design - keep yourself looking sharp" on it. Oh well perhaps she wouldn't notice.

I broke 2 mugs, by whacking them on the tap as I was washing them.....and that bottle of tarragon from the cupboard of death (I know it's my fault I haven't sorted it yet) fell out and broke my lovely spoon rest that I had brought back from some foreign holiday. It as at this point I decided to do nothing else but watch TV.

I did send Sarah a text to say Happy Birthday and what was she doing later, and got a pathetic text back saying, I'll be in the house I have ironing to do......I figured she needed rescuing from that, so told her I would be over at six to cook dinner! Sarah only lives 4 doors away so I trundled down in the rain, with her gifts and 2 bags of shopping and announced we were having a Mexican night - Sol and lime in the fridge, and enough fajitas for 8 people (I'm not good with portion control). Apart from one instance where I got her salt and pepper pots mixed up (they look the same apart from one hole difference!) which made the fajitas a little spicier than normal, the evening went well, we ate, watched Grand Designs where some poor couple took seven years and more money than I have ever heard of to renovate an old Tuscan Castle, and drank the Sol and lime. We then spent half an hour trying to get the lime wedges out of the Sol bottles so we could recycle them!!!

I came home, watched Desperate Housewives and toddled off to bed, so despite a rocky start, it didn't turn out too bad after all.

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

p.s. Good news Ruby has stopped hiding upstairs.....phew!

Bruges Part Deux.......

2007-05-08T21:09:00.000Z

So where was I ?...on the Eurostar sipping champagne, they gave us a wonderful menu with two choices hot or cold, we all chose hot, of course they only had one hot left and the cold was basically veal, ham & egg pie, but Moyna won paper, rock, scissors and got the hot one, as it happened the cold pie was very nice, and the hot pie wasn't, but we had more champagne so no-one really cared. It was a lovely journey and we arrived in Brussels on time, and finding the train to Bruges was really easy, we got a taxi to our hotel (Martin's great hotel right next to the Belfry) and it was happy hour when we arrived bliss.

I had watched Great Food Live (oh the good old days) when the Hairy Bikers mentioned a restaurant called Den Dyvers, so I had booked a table for us on the Saturday night, we dumped our stuff had a quick freshen up and met downstairs (where else but the bar) we sampled our first taste of Belgian Beer, the lovely man behind the bar gave us three to try one of which was a cherry beer which was lovely. We walked to Den Dyvers and if ever I see the Hairy Bikers I am going to kiss them, it was amazing, it wasn't a meal it was an eating experience. We were given a taster plate with a tiny bowl of asparagus soup, a little bit of sushi, some lovely feta salad, and some olive tapenade, and we were also given a beer to "match". Then we were given the menu's there was a "special" on to celebrate the asparagus season. The food was outstanding, each course arrived with a different beer to match the food and we were told which part of Belgium it was from, nothing was rushed, although as much as I love asparagus, when dessert came and it was asparagus panacotta with rhubarb puree it was a little strange for me. We were there for almost three hours and had a wonderful time.

We only had one full day in Bruges so had to make the most of it, we got up early, had a lovely breakfast at the hotel, and set off. Moyna is our international traveller, she is always in some European City or another with her job, however Moyna didn't have any Euros.....us normal travellers of course had been excited and queued at the post office for our "foreign money" so we looked for a cashpoint for her and found one, of course it had a queue longer than anything I had seen at Disney!!! CJ even had enough time to go back to the hotel and get her jacket! Eventually we started with a canal trip, "lets sit at the back of the boat" came the cry, which took me back to school trips on a coach! While the sights were lovely the smell of diesel wasn't, that coupled with the boat wobbling made for some queasy passengers! The narration by the Captain was in three languages but we couldn't understand a word of the English bits as the noise of the engine drowned it out, although as Moyna pointed out his voice did rise to an extremely audible level when he mentioned us all leaving him a tip at the end! I left him a tip alright....never eat yellow snow!!!

We got off the boat and had a wander through all the shops, mostly lace, chocolate and beer glasses, which was expected, although my Sister-in-Law did take me into a sex shop (now I usually wait outside if any of my friends go into Anne Summers!!) and that was an eye opener especially as the shop was joined on (separated by a small net curtain thing) to a children's toy shop which is where I was originally buying something for my Niece!

Now and again we had a text from my Brother (he was left holding the baby) saying things like "I've dyed all the washing pink" or Cara tripped in the park and now looks like Joe Bugner, all taken in my Sister-in-Law's stride, she reckoned he was doing it on purpose so she would never go away without him again.......he has just returned from a 5 day golf trip with the lads so it was only fair she come with us.

Next we had a nice lunch, I tested the frites and mayonnaise, while the other three had waffles, cream and strawberries, and of course more beer (there's a pattern emerging here methinks!).

Then we decided to go on one of the horse drawn carriage rides around the town, well there was a bit of a queue but we joined. We had waited about 20 minutes and were almost at the front when a horse pulled up and 2 people who had not been in the queue walked over and tried to get in the carriage, bit of a mistake as my Sister-in-Law marched over and told them in typical English man abroad .......shouting and arm waving....that there was a queue thank you very much which they eventually joined. The carriage ride was fun, and we went back to the Hotel to the bar and the beer.

Several raspberry,cherry, and wheat beers later a very nice courier told us where to go for dinner (both of which were full) so we used our judgement, now after all that beer our judgement probably wasn't very good, sort of like the place we chose. The food was average, the service terrible, and my Sister-in-Law spent the entire night expelling the meatballs she ate.

We had a very early start, but the thing about European trains is that they are on time, so our train from Bruges was on time, the Eurostar was on time, and then we got to Paddington and to wait two hours for a train back to Hanborough.........ah good old Blighty.

All in all we had a brilliant time, it was a lot of travelling for one full day in Bruges, but it was nice to spend time with friends, although honestly any bar/restaurant with good drink and a nice menu would do for us.

Of course I can't mention everything, there are certain things that come under the "what happens on tour, stays on tour " category, but at least I have given you a taste of the trip.

Got home and NONE of the self assembly was done, he didn't have time!!!

Oh well back to reality and the washing and unpacking.......

Oooo by the way we did get through to the One Act Drama Welsh Finals ........

and Ruby's stitches came out without a problem, the hiding thing is normal apparently......

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

p.s. to my Friends and Sister-in-Law thanks for a brilliant weekend......and Eurostar called they want their champagne glasses back!!!!

Bruges.....not quite

2007-05-08T09:14:00.000Z

OK, so where should I start....lets start on the Friday when the three of us, my friend Moyna, my Sister-in-Law and myself , drove from Wales to the lovely village of Whitney Oxfordshire to meet my other friend CJ who was joining us in Bruges, the plan was to arrive in time for a little light luncheon, stay over at her flat, so we were half way to London by Saturday to get the Eurostar to Brussels........well that was the plan!

This is what happend, we arrived at CJ's flat at 1pm, with a birthday cake and a nice bottle of Veuve Cliquot as it was her birthday, so the Veuve went in the fridge, the cake (after we had sung Happy Birthday) went back in the box, and we went up the road to The New Inn for the "light luncheon" - well by 7pm we asked for the bill, £182......of which £49.50 was food, and Moyna wasn't drinking as she was the driver. CJ then mentioned that she had booked a table for us at 8pm in the new Thai in the village and it would be rude to cancel, I seem to remember eating something with coconut rice, then we went back to the flat, drank the now cold Veuve, watched a bit of American Idol, and went to bed, well three of us went to bed, poor Moyna got to freeze on the Sofa all night.

Saturday I woke up surprisingly without a hangover, and we all got ready to get on the first of many trains, we started in Hanborough (this was CJ's idea as she said if we went to Oxford we wouldn't get a seat and would have to stand all the way to London, plus the car park was free!). About an hour later we arrive in Paddington and then have to get to Waterloo, now I am a fan of the tube, but not when you are carrying a large bag and a suitcase, but anyway we get on the tube. There we are, 4 of us with 4 bags and 4 cases, but we are blocking the door, so I decided to sit........this was a mistake, the person sitting next to me had an enormous body odour issue (of course by now there were people standing in front of me, so there was no way I could move) , I was amused to note the person in question had an Ipod and not one but two mobile phones, and was busy putting make up on, but NO deodorant, I thought of suggesting she trade in one of her phones for some Soft & Gentle but she was bigger than me!, I did ponder the merits of actually getting my Soft & Gentle out and spraying it in the carriage, but like I said, bigger than me! The final straw was when she decided to change her necklace, so I had the full force of an armpit which almost made me sick, the other three girls looking at my face found this hysterical! I was just hoping the girl sitting the other side didn't think it was me!!!

We get to Waterloo and pick up our tickets, and eventually get on the Eurostar, look forward to our first glass of champagne, which arrives and all is well.

Now why did I say Bruges not quite, well I don't want to put you off by writing a huge blog so I'm doing it in two parts, that and I have to take Ruby to the vet to have her stitches out.......so we are on the train sipping champagne..........to be contd.

Lists....

2007-05-03T08:35:00.000Z

I've decided writing a "today's list of things to do" is useless, I inevitably end up moving most of today's list onto tomorrows list, so I don't know why I bother. Yesterdays list comprised of, take pictures to the framers, which I did, post my friends birthday present, which I did, pack ready for my weekend in Bruges, which I didn't, do the ironing, OK you guessed it I didn't, and clean the house, nope! Nowhere on my list was go on a wild goose chase to find replacement bulbs for the garden lights, which I did, buy 12 geraniums, which I did, and spend the rest of the day planting my patio tubs, I also decided after several attempts of finding something to cover it, to fill in my pond with pebbles so my Niece can't drown, it is a small pond, and I had considered (naughty I know) going to the beach and "acquiring" the pebbles from there, but while I was at the garden centre AGAIN! a wave of honesty made me buy 5 bags of pebbles and the pond is now filled, it still has a little fountain so I can have the sound of water.

So then I thought I would do the ironing in the evening instead, but no something cropped up, a very nice something, but still I haven't done the ironing. The very nice something was this......I was putting the remnants of last years patio tubs in the bin, when I saw my friend who lives 4 doors away cutting her lawn, now I'm not keen on lawn cutting and as the lovely Jeni Barnett (http://www.jenibarnett.com) is out of the Country for three weeks ( I was saving my lawn for her she likes to meditate while cutting) I jokingly called over, "you can do mine next" anyway I went back to my tubs, and a while later I heard the mower on my front garden, my friend had come over and cut my grass, so as a reward we sat on my lovely decking with lots of Magners and ice, some nice music playing and a pepperoni pizza. I figured after 3 Magners it would not be a good idea to iron. So there we are now today's list is huge and all has to be completed as I am going to Bruges tomorrow for the weekend.

My lovely Brother is moving in to my house with Cara so he can look after Ruby (who is still hiding upstairs all day) and my Sister-in-Law is coming to Bruges with us. How great is this, on the Eurostar if you upgrade which costs an extra £27 you get a three course meal and all the wine/champagne you can drink, I would try and go this weekend if I were you, because once they find out how much champagne me and my friends can drink I fear the prices may go up considerably.

Of course if my Brother wasn't moving in here, I wouldn't have had clean the house and change the beds on my list, but hey, I have left him a pile of self assembly stuff to be getting along with while he is here, so it evens out.

This evening I have a rehearsal, we are still keeping the One Act going just in case we get through to the Welsh Finals, and also we are reviving our Canterbury Tales for a charity do in July.

So the upshot is I can't stay here blogging all day, I have a list to complete, will blog some more when I get back from Bruges.

Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Gravy.......

2007-04-30T14:41:00.000Z

Gravy.....weird I know, but I firmly believe the ability to make gravy is genetic, a gene that has sadly not been passed to my brother, now he is an amazing cook, but the art of making gravy eludes him. Every Sunday during our family lunch he asks me to show him how to do it, and I do (the old fashioned way not the posh "jus" way - you know flour in with the meat juices, yes AND THE FAT, topped up with the vegetable water and a splash of gravy browning) but alas it doesn't sink in. The thing about Welsh people is that they like gravy, it's like a food group of its own, I remember visiting a relative in England for a Sunday lunch, they proudly put the gravy boat on the table, and my Dad poured the whole lot over his plate and said "can you top this up"...but of course, there was no more and everyone else had to eat dry lunch.

Oh and note to self......must change family tradition of Sunday Lunch, my Parents house has a tiny kitchen ( two people in it is too many), basically they live in a terraced house, the kitchen is a "lean to" with a glass roof, yesterday it must have been 110 in the shade, and this coupled with the glass roof, the oven, 4 gas rings, and the kettle boiling, meant I had my own personal sauna......think I will suggest salad for any temperature over 65 degrees.

After lunch I had to drop all the baby stuff to my Brothers (they come with a lot of stuff!) he had walked back to his house with Cara, I had driven with all the stuff and my Sister-in-Law, she made the coffee while I let Ruby out into their garden, now while I was in the garden I noticed a particularly lovely clematis, and as I have a pergola in my garden thought it would be lovely growing over it. I'm not sure if it is my Brother's plant or their neighbours that has grown over, but I couldn't stop myself pinching a couple of shoots off. So today I went to the garden centre bought a lovely pot and a huge bag of compost, and of course I had left the pinched cuttings behind......serve my right eh?

While at the garden centre I stopped for a coffee in the cafe, my table was near the corner where they put the toys for the little ones to play.......I was quietly sipping my "americano" ...that's black coffee to normal people, when I overheard this little girl playing with Barbie and Ken ......Barbie was saying to Ken " Between golf, rugby and the office you are never home and I've had enough" I nearly spat my "americano" over the table, and couldn't resist the urge to stay long enough to see which parents were hers.

Had a rotten nights sleep, mostly due to small white dog taking up most of the bed, so at 3am I gave up, came downstairs, made some tea and read a couple of chapters of my book, and what a great book it is. I love a bargain, and there is a wonderful place called Hay-on-Wye, where there are many bookshops, but one in particular, sells every book on it's shelf for £1, so it means you can pick up books just because you like the cover or the title, in this case it was the title " The Final Confession of Mabel Stark" by Robert Hough, based on a true story of a female tiger trainer at Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, anyway it's fabulous and unputdownable (if that's a word) and I urge anyone to give it a go.

Had planned to do a lot today but all of a sudden it's 3.30pm and I have done very little, I will have to go back to work soon (currently on sick leave after a nasty stomach op) so the opportunity for doing all those "little jobs" around the house will be lost, but it's not worth starting anything now eh??????

Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Ok it had to happen....

2007-04-29T07:41:00.000Z

So I swore to myself never to mention Market Kitchen as I have made my thoughts known elsewhere, but I can't help it, now you all know I am a huge GFL fan and a huge JB fan, and like everyone else I gave the new show a go, well I tried twice, and just couldn't do it, it's actually painful to watch, the cameraman is left over from the Blair Witch Project, the presenters are wooden, and look this is what I learned from GFL ...... I learned beautiful goulash and eastern european dishes from the fabulous Silvena Rowe , I learned gorgeous desserts from Andrew Nutter (my cheesecake is famous), I learned what wine went with what, so I looked like I knew what I was talking about from Ollie and the nice thin lady (I'm rubbish with names) I could go on, but what I am trying to say is that I did LEARN. What do we get on MK? fish pie, cottage pie, how to chop chives etc...things the average person learned in school. Anyway what caused this rant? (you can tell it's a rant by the lack of punctuation!) well, I was watching Barefoot Contessa ....the only thing worth watching on that channel now, and then I turned off the TV while I bathed, gave supper, and put to bed my gorgeous niece, anyway when I sat back down and put the TV back on, Market Kitchen was on, they spent half the programme showing two people selling ice cream and how to set up a market stall......well forgive me but if I want to watch market stalls, I can a) go to a market or b) watch Eastenders!

OK rant over.

So what else has been going on, well I have spent the weekend looking after said niece which has been a joy, we have been to the beach, the park, we have sung songs and had a great time ( I have to stop for a sec as gorgeous niece has tipped a bowl of cheerios over her head....dry ones fortunately) Now I am quite good at entertaining children seen as I am still one myself....I am a firm believer of the saying "Growing old is inevitable...growing up is optional" but to all the people who say not to let your kids watch TV, I would like to say this .....if it wasn't for Lazytown, The Shiny Show and Balamory I wouldn't have washed my hair for three days!!! Other moments have included me asking Cara to put her babygrow in the wash basket, she put it in the toilet! then while I was washing dishes, she had hold of my mobile phone, it was pressed to her ear, while she went "yep, yep, yep, yep ok bye (I wonder who she has been listening to?) I know I'm biased but I think that's quite smart for 16 months, and then of course there has been the continuous nose wiping, bless her.

As for Ruby, well her behaviour has become a little erratic, she seems to be living upstairs at the moment and taking all her little stuffed toys up there one by one, maybe she knows she will never have puppies. when she is downstairs she seems to be constantly whining......that's one for the Vet I think.

And (yes I know I can't start a sentence with and) the fence, well that is finished my friend did a fantastic job and my garden is now open for parties.

I'm off now to make the Sunday roast for the family....that's one tradition we keep , everyone has Sunday lunch at my parents including Ruby and Cara.

Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Eventually..... thanks to B & Q

2007-04-27T09:14:00.000Z

Well just to update you, the cupboard....still not done, the paint.... finally managed to find the right colour in the big smoke branch, so I won't be having a "feature wall" after all.

Actually didn't do much at all yesterday, gave Ruby the attention she deserved after having her engine out, she's doing fine, not keen on the big collar thing, but I do take it off her, if I'm watching. She made it half way down the stairs this morning then decided to whine, so I could carry her down the rest of the way.

Spent the evening with my drama group buddies, I've been in Players Theatre for 21 years (wow that's scary) it's a small group and we are like a family. We have just been doing a One Act play written by one of our members, hopefully we will make the Welsh Final in June so fingers crossed! Anyway in typical Welsh Valley's style, the hall we used to rehearse in got knocked down, as did the store where we kept all our scenery and costumes, we have no theatre so we are a sort of roaming group, that is we go wherever anyone asks us. Now I admit it is sad we don't have our own theatre, but not having one has meant we have been to the most wonderful places, Florida, Monte Carlo, Alabama, South Korea, Ireland, Scotland, as well as various church halls, fields, marquees etc., we have done charity performances, competitions, festivals, even someones wedding! like I said whoever asks. Now where was I, oh yes, faced with nowhere to rehearse we have had a bit of a lull over the past two years, then one of our members found the most wonderful local pub with a room upstairs, they let us use it for rehearsal and we drink lots of their beer and eat their fantastic food. Last night we didn't rehearse just drank the beer and ate the food and told old drama tales, now they could be a blog all of their own.......

Well better go childproof the living room before my little bundle of fun arrives.

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

p.s. If ever you are in Mountain Ash, South Wales visit The Bailey's Arms, fantastic food, cold beer and a very warm welcome.

Best Laid Plans eh???

2007-04-26T07:36:00.000Z

OK - I admit it I never got the cupboard of death sorted, my Brother and Sister-in-law came down with the baby seat as I am babysitting my gorgeous niece Cara this weekend, so more coffee, more chat, a couple of slices of carrot cake, and me saying "seen as you are here please can you fix my gate, the latch is broken". Gotta love my brother....the babysitting conversation goes something like this:

HIM " Can you babysit this weekend"
ME: " yes when"
HIM: "we'll drop her off Friday morning you can bring her back Sunday" then he puts the phone down muttering something about thank God we can have a lie in, and I realise I won't.

Not that I mind in the least, I love having her, she is 16 months old and an absolute doll, one smile from her is like someone giving you a million quid, although I do draw the line when he walks in looks at my calender on the kitchen wall, sees I have nothing on and pencils in when I'm looking after her without telling me.

Then I got a mail from my American Mom Emilie, and read and answered that, and by then it was already 2pm and time to call the V.E.T to see what time I could pick up Ruby (sans engine).

The vet confirmed she was fine...of course I knew that all along, and I could pick her up after 4pm.

So instead of starting on the cupboard, as by my calculations it was far more than a 2 hour job, I went off in search of cuprinol and the correct brown. I came back with Hello Magazine, and a chicken Balti from M& S (OK so I was swayed by the free balti dish enclosed) and still no flamin Harvest Brown 5 year ducksback stuff, every colour but that was in stock of course.

So 4pm had arrived , didn't want to seem ridiculous so waited until 10 past! Out comes my little white girl with a huge collar on giving me a "how could you?" look, the money I spent on the lovely babypowder smelling groom she had yesterday had been wasted as she now smells of TCP! The vet broke the news that it was £107! after I got up off the floor, I managed to enter my pin number, I lifted her into the car, and brought her home. She spent the rest of the evening in her basket (where she only usually goes if she has been naughty) staring at me and trying to get the collar off, while I was trying to feed her the special roast chicken breast........ which she managed no problem. I had the chicken balti, (and now have another dish I won't use to add to my cupboard of death) a couple of glasses of vino, watched Desperate Housewives and went to bed.

So plan for today.......still in search of harvest brown cuprinol, going to have to go into the big smoke (that's Cardiff not London) branch of the store where they all wear orange outfits, if they don't have it, then one side of my fence is going to be a different flamin colour, I think designers call it a "feature wall"

Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Oh the guilt!

2007-04-25T10:53:00.000Z

OK so after a couple of cuddles and me spraying her stuffed monkey with my perfume I dropped Ruby off at the V.E.T, I then cried all the way home....HOW DO THEY KNOW?......we go in the car almost every day and she is fine, today I put her in the car and she is shaking like a leaf.....now unless she read yesterday's blog she can't possibly know we were going to the Vet!!!, the Vet asked me for a number to use in an emergency which really put me at ease, but I am telling myself they do this procedure every day so don't be a drama queen! I did stop at the local shop and composed myself enough to go in and buy her a roast chicken breast as a treat. Now of course every time the phone rings I have to swallow my heart back down into my chest. Roll on three when I can call to pick her up. You have to understand that this is the dog that when I got her wasn't allowed on the sofa or upstairs, and for whom now I have had to buy a double bed so there is room for us both, this small white dog who insists on sleeping sideways still has more of the bed than me.

My friend called over as she is painting my fence for me, but I had bought the wrong darn colour, I would just like to say to Cuprinol (other brands bla bla) what is it with all these colours, it always used to be brown, that horrible ceder red colour and then later the green and blue, now we have Rustic Brown, Harvest Brown, Forest Brown anyway all I remembered was the something brown bit, and came back with the wrong one, much to my friends dismay as she was all dressed in paint splattered clothes ready to start and I'm not leaving the house to change the paint in case the Vet calls. Anyway a couple of coffees and a bit of girlie talk later she has gone and will return at the weekend when hopefully I have the right brown!.

Decided to keep myself busy now by sorting out my food cupboard (or the cupboard of death as it is known), as right now if you open it you can guarantee, either the jar of tarragon, a pot noodle from before the war, or the nutmeg grater will fall on your head. Oooo that jar of tarragon says best before July 2000........

Keep smiling
Marmite Girl xx

Ok this is how it started....

2007-04-24T19:28:00.000Z

Not life...the Marmite girl thing.

Seething from the cancellation of Great Food Live, I stumbled across the wonderful website of the fabulous Jeni Barnett anyway after a couple of posts, Jeni mentioned she had a nasty bout of ulcers, I said the best thing for ulcers was Marmite swished around in your mouth (even if you don't like it, which incidentally I don't) hence I have since been affectionately labelled Marmite Girl......now I hope I don't get into trouble for using the Marmite word without permission....other black yeasty type spreads are available, maybe that will help.

Life on the other hand started in a small town in Wales in 1969, and is now in a different small town but still in Wales, just me and one gorgeous Westie called Ruby , who is currently sulking as she has been to the groomer, but doesn't realise she'll be sulking even more tomorrow as she goes to the V.E.T to have her engine out if you know what I mean.

I work in insurance to pay the bills.....but act and sing in my spare time, just waiting for that call from Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Well I'm sure no-one will read this but I kind of find putting all this down cathartic. I have a simple philosophy to enjoy life whatever it throws at you, live every day (and your credit card limit) to the max, keep yourself surrounded by family and friends that love you.

Keep Smiling
Marmite Girl xx

p.s. Thanks Jeni for inspiring me to write this twaddle!!!!