Mrs Paddy Pants

Well I have been tootling about in a really good mood for a good few weeks now, we had some friends over this weekend and went to a really great Christening at a neighbours house on Sunday. Our neighbours are sooo lovely, we have a group of them, we are all of a similar age and have kids, and they are really fun and friendly. So all in all the weekend was great.

Yesterday however, the red mist descended for some reason, it started with my gymn induction. As you know I have joined a gym so I had booked in to get a programme started for me. GOD I HATE THE GYM, I plodded up the stairs, the music was blaring as there was a spin class on.

I very slowly and carefully explained to the toned trainer that " I am VERY unfit, I HATE the gym and please take it easy with me" OK so being faced with a blobby unmotivated 41 year old stroppy cow first thing on a Monday morning probably wasn't likely to "float her boat" but god love her she pressed on regardless.

She apologised for the loud music "it's the spin class, which is a great way to lose weight and get fit" I almost said "so is cutting off a limb but I ain't doing that either". I did a spin class a few years back and I almost needed an ambulance! The guy kept telling us to "turn up the resistance" Bog off sonny my resistance is fine at pensioner level thanks and all that!

So then she writes down "rowing machine" on the programme and I for some reason just flipped I said " NO WAY, I am not using the rowing machine, if you make me do it I am not coming back!"

I am actually not even sure why I said that, I think I was just out of my depth in the whole PE environment and I was just being petulant. The torture continued, she's got me doing all sorts of mad rubbish including some stability exercises with a flippin' great big ball.........only time will tell if I ever make it back ha!

So strop number one was over, then later in the day I noticed that some "eejit" had kindly dented Alan's bonnett (his car, not his Easter one LOL) with a sharp object. Honestly I don't understand what makes people do this, it makes my blood boil. Anyway, it's no big deal.... what's the point in getting het up about it.

Strop 3 of the day was during a phone call. On Thursday night on the way home from school a girl bumped into the back of my car on the mound in the centre of Edinburgh. I jumped out and couldn't see any damage, she was only young and was quite upset, so I took her phone number and car reg then drove off because it was in the middle of rush hour. However, on closer inspection when we got home, Alan noticed the top section of the bumper was dislodged and will need fixing. So I call and leave a message that there was some damage and it will need to be checked by a garage and could they call me back. Her mum rang me back last night and practically accused me of making it up!!!! The cheek of it, I was sooooo mad and once I got off the phone, poor unsuspecting Alan got it in the neck too.........................

Thankfully today, I have stayed away from the gym and hopefully from any further car "incidents" so my mood has improved somewhat!

Looking forward to the "official" launch of the new Stampin' Up! Catalogue on-line tomorrow. If you log on and browse the catalogue I am happy to take orders which can be delivered direct to you, email me for details.

Lost in Austen

Gosh there aren't many times when TV hits perfection, with of course Cranford as the great exception, but wasn't Lost in Austen just wonderful?

I will not spoil the last episode for you (just in case) but Alan and I have been glued to this fabulous series. I am now hoping for a second series- please Mr ITV grant my wish.

The other thing is noticing how much our way of speaking has changed, not for the better either. I think we should have a national "Speak in Austen" day. "I would very much like to partake in such a refreshing and novel occupation. Are my wits disorded by opium....................." ha ha ha!

New Stampin' Up ! Catalogue

My supply of SU! Catalogues have arrived!

I can't post any images just yet as I will get into biiiiiiiiiig trouble - be here on October 1st for the "reveal"

However I will be able to start posting them out to anyone who is interested £5.95 (includes P&P) They will arrive in time for you to make your first order on the 1st October.

If you would like a catalogue please email me and I will explain payment options.

ALSO, to celebrate the launch I am holding a workshop at my house in Edinburgh on Saturday 11th October from 2pm-5pm , if you would like to come along, I will be doing a couple of make and takes with you , using the new stamp sets and I hope to make cupcakes too!

Lardy Butt

I joined a gym today..................don't ask me why, I might as well say "here's 500 notes you'll never see me again, I hope you enjoy your Christmas party cos I just paid for the champagne....."

I AM SO UNFIT, I can see the gym from my bedroom window, if I cannot drag my sorry lardy ass down there 2-3 times a week I give my permission for someone to shoot me.

It's got an outdoor pool, and today the sun was blazing down, if that baby comes out tomorrow I am definitely getting my cossie on and going for a swim. The gym is actually in Newhaven, right on the harbour, the view from the running machines is right down the Firth of Forth and looking over to Fife, surely that should spur me on - right?

Wish me luck, I am the girl who was grudgingly picked last for the teams in PE, I was the girl beaten in badminton by a school friend who spent time with her leg in calipers.................and indeed was actually wearing said calipers when she beat me (several times)

Now you know how "pants" I am at sport/exercise/generally moving more than an eyebrow.

I'll keep you posted...........................now where did I put those legwarmers..............?

Noel

I have read a few articles about Noel Edmonds over the past week, he has recently refused to pay his TV licence and claims his parents who are no longer alive follow him around like two melon shaped orbs....

So of course the press are rubbing their hands together in a "he's as mad as a box of frogs or David Ike" this is great!!!

Now, this guy did the best EVER Christmas show . My Dad and I used to watch it on Christmas mornings every year blubbing our hearts out, we watched it religiously I actually got Alan into it too, he is a total softie and also got all choked up most years.

My particular favourite was the little girl who had real health problems, she was such a brave happy kid considering all she had to deal with, and her brother really looked out for her. His bike had been stolen. He must have been about 10 years old and she was about 8 , she got in touch with Noel and they came to his door and gave him a brand new bike.Bless him, he just hugged his little sister and told her how much he loved her and how she was the best sister, he was crying, she was crying ...................................open the floodgates I was sobbing, Dad was crying. Oh Happy Christmas!!

Anyway the nutter with the melon parents is on the box again doing the good things, random acts of kindness and I love him and I have been blubbing again tonight!

A Little Bit of This and That

Can't think of much to write today, too busy biting my fingernails down to the quick over the whole financial state the world is in. I am a bit of a worrier see?

On the brighter side, I am off to Glasgow on Saturday for Stampin' Up! Field training, We get to see the new catalogue so of course I am sooooo excited about that.

My catalogues should be arriving in the next week or so, if you would like to reserve yourself a copy, please email me and I will ship em out as soon as I get them. Now I am not sure how much they will cost yet, but I have a small order of catalogues arriving soon and as soon as I know I will post the price up here.

Right got to go................got things to worry about.........

A little Bit of Summer

Today we went to the beach - gasp!! The currant bun (sun) came out and so we headed off to Yellowcraig sands with our bucket barbecue and some sausages.

The bucket barbecue took about 3 hours to get slightly warmer than a struck match but we managed to cook our bangers, Alan who was sitting about 3 inches from it kept squirting the damn thing with barbeque lighter gel, he is a total pyromaniac, whereas I am a total stress bunny with regard to fire, so you can imagine it led to a few arguments. I was starving and when my blood sugar drops I can be a total witch (mind you my witchiness can surface pretty much whenever there is a "y" in the day).

The beach was packed, people flying a kite, playing cricket , swimming and therefore no doubt now suffering from hypothermia.....all making the most of probably the final gasps of Summer.

Since I have moved up here, I must admit I am suffering from temperature envy, when the dudes in London are enjoying "slightly below average temperatures of around 24 degrees" I seethe as we shiver through "totally bloody dissappointing temperatures of around 17 degrees". Not to worry, I am still loving it, stuff the weather, this place oozes with culture and architecture - who cares if I need to wear an extra layer to enjoy it?

10 Years Ago Today....

I got married 10 years ago today - with my luck is it any wonder my anniversary is 9/11?

Anyway, I became Mrs Alan Currie and we are still going strong, we've had a few tragic times, but we've got a lovely son and done plenty of fab things...............plus he still seems to like me - bonus!!

So this morning I got Chanel perfume, a lovely card and flowers arrived this morning, what did I get him........................ermmmmm , actually nothing......

Well I did try to get him something nice but buying for Alan is like buying for a hermit - he never WANTS anything

So I went out to Ocean Terminal and did a trolley dash and got him some nice stuff. So champagne and prawns tonight - hic!

OHHH on a different tac all together - have you been watching "Lost in Austen"? oooh it's GOOD, suspend disbelief, but I loved it. Have SKy+'d last nights and watched the first one last night . Pure fab TV in the vein of Life on Mars.

On a more serious note, driving to school this morning I was listening to Radio 2 and Johnny Walker played a song as a tribute to all those affected by 9/11. Don Henley is amazing and "New York Minute" captures the essence of how the world changed in those few hours 7 years ago today , if you have time go and watch this video, the song is amazing.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cA_gIhCcYVk

Harvey Nicks

Last year Alan got me the worst Christmas present ever, a voucher for Harvey Nicks. This place is a mecca for materialism and I had to pluck up courage to walk through it's hallowed doors.

It's the sort of place that makes you feel VERY poor unless of course you have oodles of the folding stuff.

It is frequented by the type of women who are thin (obviously) dressed beautifully (of course) look drop dead gorgeous (arrggh!) and are, of course toting "it" bags that they have paid a couple of grand for. I looked at them with narrowed eyes, hating them on the one hand and wanting to be like them on the other and it brings out the worst in me.

My voucher was of a value that quite honestly was just about enough to buy a quarter of a pair of shoes, or an eighth of a handbag or about 1/20th of a Stella McCartney dress. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse I saw Lesley Garrett going up the escalator....beam me up Scotty I don't belong here.

I had to go and look at the clothes, and I spied a gorgeous sequined top, which I had to touch, well the damn thing was so heavy it fell off the hanger - oh god! whilst I was scrabbling around trying to pick it up a well dressed assistant came to my aid. Apparently the "top" was a dress, (not with my thighs), and as I was trying to help, I knocked a pair of boots over , so causing a kerfuffle I retreated down to the cosmetics hall. The only place I think I could find something I could reasonably afford.

I walked round and round and finally got grabbed by what can only be described as a Spanish transvestite lookalikey who "did" my eyes. She baffled me with about 8 different products - like I have time to do all that crap and the school run and boy did these eyes water when she revealed the price! I didn't like her, she was pushy and I didn't want to buy, so I sneaked to another counter and bought almost the same thing.

So I am now the proud owner of a "cake" eyeliner and a small brush, oh and a larvelly Chanel lip gloss, if you see me, I look like the lead character in Kung Fu Panda......

Stampin' Up!

Last night I held my very first Stampin' Up! Workshop, I really enjoyed it and I hope my guests did too. I had 4 lovely ladies come to my house and make 2 cards and I demo'd lots of the products.

I am hoping to hold another workshop soon, so watch this space - if you live near Edinburgh you are most welcome to attend, the date and "theme" will be published soon!

Stampin' Up! Retired List

The SU! Retired List is out..............for a list of stamps check the link below

http://www2.stampinup.com/gb/documents/UK_Retired_List_07-08_alpha.pdf

These will be available until 30th Sep and for one time only the prices are reduced, grab 'em while you can!

Also, I still have a couple of place left for the workshop on Thursday evening this week at my house in Edinburgh so if you would like to come along, or would like more info, please drop me a line!