DINNER (On return from work at 10pm)
Fish Pie from Spar

A bit lonely, was that fish pie, but after a shift looking after a woman in labour with a large baby, I just put it in the oven and the salad didn't get a look in. I have had some fruit today, a banana, so I should survive the night.

Still thinking on memories of the camp.

I did a belly dance workshop, we were going to perform on the main stage later. The workshop leader went home and left us in the lurch. 2 of us wanted to do it, so we did. No music, no leader to follow for the moves, so we did what we remembered and practiced it. I counted throughout, and it was audible to the audience. We were billed as 'the refugees from the belly dance workshop.' It got a huge laugh, and we managed to dance in time with each other as we camel stepped our way off the stage to raptuous applause....

Bailing out the porch area of my tent for the umpteenth time, whilst trying to dry out my jacket that was in there.

Snug as a bug in a tent cuddling a hot water bottle to go to sleep.

Oooooo wheeeeeee! I'm sitting here listening to one of the 4 cds I bought, swimming in memories so wonderful, you'll have to excuse me if I drift off for a mo.....

WOMEN IN TUNE The only music festival just for women is such a treat, I'm going to do some fund raising to help it continue. It is a small festival, a few hundred maybe, maybe less, it was astoundingly easy to get to know loads of people anyway. If they got 100 more women then they may not be in debt. So, any women interested in music, listening to it, playing it, or learning, then get your arses there! I had a brilliant time. Some memories...

Singing around a camp fire, about 30 women singing together.....

Making a complete eejit of myself in a play, breaking into uncontrollable laughter and having to bury my head in someones shoulder. But it was ok!

Sharing hugs that were nurturing and sweet.

Laughing out loud at a comedienne who was as good as Victoria Wood!

Dancing my socks off to a fabulous band.

Enjoying a girls band, youngest 14, oldest 20 who were absolutely fantastic!

Sharing musical moments with women.

Seeing women perform for the first time and feeling really proud for them, they overcame nerves etc and did it.

Feeling the support for every woman from every woman when someone is giving of themselves to entertain others.

I could go on and on, but I guess you get the picture. I am taking Molly and Eve, my grandaughters next year. I am confident that they will love it. There is a separate space for teens for Molly.

Ok, that's the good bit. The downer was the weather. Bloody rain! My tent is badly designed and the porch kept a puddle most of the time soaking anything I'd left inside. Next year I will be taking a better tent. Oh yes, I can't wait for next year. I remember thinking the same thing last year.

Women of all ages there. I made friends with 2 12 year old girls who were in the play I was in they were delightful and performed so well, even though they were a bit self conscious. At least they didn't break down in giggles like moi.

It is different because it is all women. It feels safe and friendly. Apologies to blokes, but it was good without you. Sometimes men can take over, for whatever reason. The good thing about this festival, everyone was given an opportunity to have a go.

So, I'm back in my wooden house surrounded by trees again after a long soak in the bath and an afternoon nap. I am working for the next 2 days so maybe unable to blog unless it's a late night session. So, for now, I'm still riding on that musical being with just women high.
O yes, one more memory.
A performance of Blind Date. The woman playing Cilla had her down to a T, it was so funny.....

DINNER
Aubergine Curry
Dahl, or dall, or dalh. Anyway, made with continental lentils
Basmati Rice
Garlic and Coriander naans
Salad a la Moi

The aubergines were still a bit tough, they take some cooking to get them really soft. Mr A doesn't like them much anyway, but I do. We both left quite a few uneaten pieces on the side of the plate...

So, tomorrow shall see me off with backpack and sleeping bag and tent, setting off into the sunset to be with the musical women. I just hope that the universe will find me in favour and call the rain off until I am nicely ensconced within tent snug and cosy.

A friend Ive known for a long time, but hadn't seen until recently came for a visit and we had a nice time catching up and I took her to get her bus home. We timed it a bit late though and thought we'd missed the bus as it set off from the bus station. So, I thought I'd drive along the route and drop her further along as I was bound to be faster than the bus. Now, just outside of Carmarthen, it's all windy roads, and we couldn't see a bus stop anywhere! Eventually I pulled in to the side of the road. As it was raining I didn't want to just leave her there. We thought if she leapt out as the bus was coming it would stop for her (or run her over). I looked down the road, and there, lo and behold, hiding behind some trees so it couldn't be seen easily from the road was the bus stop!
So all ended well, I waited with her till her bus came and off she went.

At last my room has shelves. Mr A got them from that Swedish store whose name mustn'd be mentioned. If I say flat pack, then you know who I mean. So, the shelves are up, it's time to begin the unpacking of the last of the boxes. Blimey, it's years since I've looked at some of this stuff! Old files from when I trained, 11 years ago, which may come in useful, sometime.. Boxes of photographs, slides, bits and pieces that I haven't missed but can't seem to live without.

Unless there is a cyber cafe in the middle of the field, then I shall be offline till next week. So I shall leave you with a poem, just composed especially for this blog.

TURNING
Walking down the road,
I turn my head.
To look from where I have come from,
to see if I have left anything behind.
There are no traces.

I look ahead.
I can see a box marked 'files.'
Somehow, I have left my past into my future.
How did that happen?

DINNER
Oven Chips
Fried Eggs
Scampi
Salad a la Moi

This weekend has seen a lot of rain. As Pontedawe was a weekend festival, I got there for Sunday (today.) Yes, I wimped out and spent a lovely Friday evening and Saturday here at home, chilling out, keeping dry. I did see some good bands. A really good gypsy Jazz band called 'The Les Dawson Trio.' Scarabella seemed to go down really well, though we didn't have monitors in which to hear ourselves, so it was hard to hear what we sounded like from the stage. Feedback was good, but sometimes it could be that people are being polite. The others said they enjoyed it and thought it was good, but I found it hard to tell. Also, I got the dreaded dry throat just before a performance thing. Luckily I had water with me, but I did get a bit croaky at times. When I knew I was getting croaky I just sang really softly! We had worked out some choreographed moves with the songs which were fun to do. Jackson 5 eat your heart out! I met up with some old friends that I hadn't seen for about 20 years! They knew me when I was in a band called '14 Feet,' the band in which Mr A and I met, all those years ago, playing around West Wales. I felt quite proud that I was still out there performing all these years later, when many my age have moved on and put it all behind them.

There were some lovely stalls at the festival. Exotic clothes and accessories, lots of jewellery and interesting things, including crystals and stones. I'm always drawn in to those crystal stalls, mesmorised at the glittering stones sitting there saying to me 'touch me, buy me! Well, I bought as follows:
A handful sized stone of Rose Quartz
A piece of Sugarlite, (a purple stone)
A piece of Bismuth. A metal. The colours are pinks, mauves and pastel shades and the shape is like a piece of sculpture, with weird and wonderful waves. (For Mr A.)
A short dress in black with primary colours shot through it in narrow bands.
A slightly longer dress made from pure wool in different shades of blue.
2 little presents for Molly and Eve.
2 Cushion Covers in coloured patchwork, glittery with small pieces of mirror, sequins, applique etc. These are possibly presents.

I bought a crepe filled with ratatouille. It was the messiest meal I have ever had! There was no knife, just a fork on a paper plate. The consistency was like thin rubber, though it tasted nice. It was the size of a large pizza and was folded over 4 times. The only way to eat it was to pick it up, complete with filling falling out the sides and try and stuff it into my mouth before it emptied out. I ended up with the tomato based sauce smothered over my chin and cheeks. Of course this was just before we were due to go on stage. I managed to wipe it off with copious amounts of serviettes.

There was a stall called 'The Chocolate Fountain.' That's what it was, a fountain with liquid chocolate pouring out of it. They coated fruit, like bananas and strawberries in it for the discerning customer to buy. Rhiannon bought a chocolate banana - twice, then felt a bit sick afterwards.

So our next performance is next Thursday, at the Women in Tune Festival, near Lampeter. The bright lights of the Welsh Hills are beckoning us......

THURSDAY DINNER
Cauliflower Curry - with peppers, onion, garlic and fresh chillies
Basmati Rice
Salad a la Moi

TONIGHTS DINNER
Welsh Spring Lamb Cutlets
Shallots
New Potatoes
Home grown Spinach
Gravy fit for Angels.

Green and Blacks Organic Dark Chocolate..mmm...mmmmmmmmm

Used the potato water for the gravy, poured it into the baking tray the cutlets were baked in and boiled it up with stock, and it was drool makingly lovely.

What with working these days, I've less time to blog, but truth be told, I've felt less motivation. Also these days it so nice to be outside.

July was a fantastic month, really hot, as if it was pulling up its sleeves to get down and to it for August, to really make us sweat. What's happened? The clouds have appeared, the evenings are chillier and I'm due to go camping next week for the week at the fabulous Women in Tune Camp. Ah well, I'll just have to take enough jumpers etc and hot water bottle to keep warm.

Got the local free ads paper and found the number for the local cats protection league who have baskets full of cats and kittens needing homes. When the holidaying is all done then it'll be kitten finding time.Reading a book by Neil Gaimen, called Anansi Boys. He is a really good writer, having written graphic novels previously and is well known in the fantasy fiction world. If anyone out there has read his fantastic 'Sandman' series in graphic novel form they will enjoy this.

Asking Mr A why he gave such a big sigh just now, he said 'the state of the world.'
He had just been watching the news on the t.v.
At the moment it would take a determined optimist having a good day to find some light relief in all the conflict that is going on between people. As someone recently wrote, 'organised religion should be banned. Having a one to one relationship with your god should be enough.' More power to your elbow that perceptive person!

I can tell the mood Mr A is in by the music he chooses to play. It's Johnny Cash at the moment, so, he is feeling quite content. Saw the film recently about Johnny Cash with Joaquin Phoenix, who I thought played him really well. He was a bit of a berk at times but managed to overcome his personal demons, at least that's what we are led to believe.

So I am off to Pontedawe festival tomorrow, I may or may not camp, depending on the weather. It is about an hour and a half away, so within driving home distance. There's a good Bangra band called Kismet on later so I'll be there jiggling around with the rest of them. It would be nice to sit outside on a clear starry night, singing with guitar around a camp fire (smelling of wood smoke till the next bath.)

Since Molly and Eve have got their own mobile phones we have been texting most days. It's a great way to keep in touch. The usual opening is 'what are you doing?' I refrain from saying 'reading your text' and it's rare that I'm not doing anything.
Life seems to be moving from one set of activity to the next. The flow, when seamless, helps the series of actions pleasing. I am fortunate in that I am not often bored, when I am, then those actions become tedious and demanding. Not a recipe for harmonious living.

DINNER
Chilli Con Carne with mushrooms - and a dash or 2 of Worcestershire sauce to flavour
Basmati Rice
Salad a la Moi, with a balsamic vinegar dressing

Mr A kindly bought me some shelves from Ikea. I have a pile of boxes to sort out from the corner of the room, so I have no excuse now! In fact the local charity shop should be coming into some new merchandise quite soon! From me!!

A slow day at work and after a very early start found it hard to keep my eyes open when using the computer at work. It was a day of study and training, so no one was in danger of giving birth with me catching 40 winks in the corner.

I was very touched by such kind comments on my story, written 2 posts ago. There may not have been very many comments, but the ones I got were top class. I'd rather go for quality every time, and I'm so pleased that I've found such great blog friends who know how to make a gal feel special!

The search for a kitten is on! Looking on the internet just didn't do it for me, I reckon a card in a local shop will be the way to get one. Mr A prefers a tabby, female, who will live mostly outside and be more like a 'farm' cat than a lap cat. I'm not fussed, as long as she doesn't pee on the carpet. There were some lovely 'Bengal' cats on the internet, with the markings of a leopard. As they cost 200 smackers, they were definitely off the menu.

I hope the weather gets warmer and sunnier soon as I am off camping for the Women in Tune festival next week. Blimey! It's next week! It's just hit me how soon it is. I'll have to get the warm jumpers out and take a heavy duvet. Might even get some fingerless gloves for playing the guitar outside, round the camp fire at night. In fact, I could just cut off the fingers of a pair I already have. So I'd better get prepared to 'loiter within tent' as they say..........

I was daydreaming, sitting at my desk staring into space when the phone rang.
"Hello, Tyalskye and Pacy, can I help you?" I said clicking into office mode.

The caller sounded worried. He told me that a case of wine, a very expensive wine, had been stolen from his cellar. His name was Mr Fortesque-Smyth and his clipped tones told me that he was used to giving orders, but really, he was just bossy.

As I put the phone down I looked up to see Macy returning after a cosmetic repairing trip to the bathroom. Her eyelashes were freshly mascared, looking like spiders had dived into her eyes and left their legs behind.

"More business?" She asked, as she sat down and crossed her legs in a Kenny Everett manner.
"A Mr Fortesque-Smyth has had a case of wine stolen, so we'd better go and check it out," I said as I reached for a pad to put in my handbag.
"Ok, but I need to put some lipstick on first" Macy said as she drew out a mirror and lipstick.
"Didn't you just do that in the bathroom?" I asked.
"For sure, but I didn't know we were going out, so I need another layer." She said this as her lips were pursed as if to blow a kiss and it came out;
"phew shu, bu ah dn no phwee phwer goin aht sah ah nee anova lerr."
Luckily I was fluent in pursed lip.

I tied my Doris Day scarf under my chin as I unlocked the car door. None of that fancy pressing a pad to bleep the car open with the lights flashing. No, my sports car was much too classical to pull that stunt. Macy put on her sunglasses, a la Thelma and Louise.

The address proved to be in a select area of the city, with security gates and a wall all around the property. Why they called it 'Rainbow Cottage' was not obvious. I pressed the button on the intercom.

"Celeste Tyalskye to see Mr Fortesque-Smyth" I said in a slightly put on posh accent.
"Come in." The disembodied voice opened the gates and we drove in, parked and walked to the front door. To my surprise, a young lad stood there, teenage in years, toddler in petulant look.
"The old man's in the study, it's that door there." So saying, he pointed down a hallway to a door as he walked away.

"Do you live here?" I asked. I wanted to find out where he fitted in, as he couldn't have been the 'help.'
"Yeh, the old man's my uncle. I'm gonna go to uni next month, but it's cool to stay here till I leave." He said adopting a Nirvana pose.
"What's your name?" I asked, untying my Doris Day scarf and swirling it through my hands.
"Kevin." He said over his shoulder as he walked away.
"It figures," I said, with Harry Enfield in mind.

As we were greeted in the study, I had to desist from calling this man 'Colonel.' He gave the impression of being a military man, his manner one of brusqueness and old fashioned manners. The manners became more apparent when he turned to Macy.
"Hello my dear. You must be Miss Pacy. How refreshing to meet such lovely young ladies engaged in such erm..demanding work." With a leer, he indicated for us to sit on green leather chairs. The study was a study in studiness. Right down to the wall lined shelves stuffed with books, the subdued lighting and smell of stale cigar smoke.

He explained that he had many bottles of wine in the cellar, being a connoisseur of fine wines. He had gone down to the cellar to fetch a bottle of wine for dinner last night and discovered a case of the finest Chateux De Soixante Neuf, 1869, was missing.
"This was a very rare wine, only a few bottles exist, it was worth $25,000 a case." He said whilst cutting a fresh cigar with silver cigar cutters.

"Right, let's go down to your cellar and take a look, shall we?" I said, pulling out my notebook with pen ready to take down details.
The cellar was huge like a cavern, filled with racks containing bottles of wine, and cases of wine on the floor.
"This is where the case was." He said indicating a case sized space which was dust free.

I bent down and looked around, suddenly noticing something on the floor that certainly shouldn't be there. I slipped it in my pocket, to look at and think about later on. I made notes, asked who was in the house over the last few days.
"It must have been taken on Saturday, the night Kevin went out to a party, as I saw it there earlier in the day." He said, puffing on his foul smelling cigar. I had to get out of there, the smoke was filling the cellar and the smell would linger on my hair and clothes.
As it was now Monday, we had the when, I just need the who and the how.

"After you." Mr Fortesque-Smyth said to Macy as she climbed the steps in her short skirt. He let her ascend until he was within viewing distance and proceeded to follow her, with his chin up.
"Bit chilly down there" said Macy, shivering. Horrors! She was actually fluttering those spiders legs at Mr F.S. Ooo Macy, I thought, you are a one.
Maybe she couldn't help it and had inherited a flirt gene from her ancestors. It was something she did almost unconsciously I had noticed, and not with just men either. Still, it had worked to our advantage in the past, it was surprising how quickly the truth will come out when a pretty woman starts smiling in a seductive way.

We went back into the study.
"Can you ask Kevin to come in here please?" I asked withdrawing the item I had retrieved from the floor in the cellar and showing it to Macy.
He left the room and I turned to Macy with a raised eyebrow. She returned the look with raised corners to her freshly painted mouth. We gave each other a silent nod. We knew what we had to do.

"Ah, Kevin, these ladies want to ask you some questions. I expect they want to know who else was about on the night in question." He said to Kevin. Trust, glimmering like fairy dust showed in his eyes.

"Good party was it Kevin?" I asked, turning my head to face him at the last moment.
"Er..yeh." He said, non commitally.
"Take any booze with you did you?" Asked Macy, doing the fluttering eyelash thing. Taken aback by the outrageous flirting, he looked nervous as he answered.
"Well, a bottle of cider from the offie." He said, gulping in air as his discomfort became more apparent.

"What's going on?" Asked his uncle. "You can't think my own flesh and blood would have anything to do with this, Surely not?"
"Surely, 'fraid so." Said the mistress of the battered eyelashes.
I pulled out the card I had found on the floor of the cellar and showed it to Mr F.S.
He looked aghast as he unsuccessfully puffed away at his cigar, which had gone out. He looked at Kevin, his eyes turning angry now.

"This is an invite to a party." He said, lowering his voice.
"Porcia and Tobias Rumpton-Bailey have the pleasure of inviting Kevin Fortesque-Smyth to their bring a bottle party." His voice now sounding dangerously snake-like.
"Well did you?" He started to shout, "did you bring a bloody bottle, or was it a case of bottles! My bloody Chateux de Soixante Neuf, 1869, to be precise!"

As I took my Doris Day headscarf out of my bag to put on, I managed to tell Mr F.S., in between the shouting, that we would be sending our bill the following day.
"I'm not sure he heard you" said Macy as she went down the hallway to the front door. "He was a bit, er, preoccupied."
"Ay, he was that, lass, he was that." I said, for some unknown reason, in a broad Yorkshire accent.

With the top down, the car wended its way back. The fresh air, devoid of stale cigar smoke, assailed my nostrils. The wind in my scarf lent a feeling of freedom.
Freedom to know another day of expurging crime from the nooks and crannies it inhabited within our lives. Freedom to catch those ratbags who were motivated by greed and selfishness.
O yes, life was looking good.

DINNER
Morrisons Best Pork and Leek Sausages (71% pork)
Mashed Potatoes with big dollop of butter
Sauteed Leeks with squeeze of lemon juice

When you buy sausages, check the meat content in the ingredients. You may be surprised that some cheaper ones have only a small percentage of actual meat. Even if they are a bit cheaper, it's always worth spending that bit extra and getting better ones. That's my anally retentive contribution to the great food debate. (Spend more, eat better.)

Mr A will be returning shortly from working away all week, so I shall make this a quick post, so that I can actually produce the menu I've posted.

Had Molly and Eve staying again last night. We watched Eve's dvd, 'Hocus Pocus.' Bette Midler is a great actress. She's got the evil witch character down so well she's almost a parody of the role.

We played cards for money (spare change kept in a saucer.) The game is where everybody is dealt one card facedown. On a count of 1..2..3 everyone picks up their card without looking at it and holds it face out on their forehead. So everyone else can see your card except you. As you can see the other cards, you bet on yours. So if the other cards are low, you can gamble that you will win with a higher card. If you can see 2 aces, then you'd better fold. I think the name of the game is 'dickhead' but I didn't tell the girls that.

Me and Red had a nice afternoon chopping kindling. I used the long handled axe which has had a new handle and paint job on the axehead which is red, hence the nickname. Some of the red paint comes off onto the wood and it looks like someone's bled all over it.

Composed a pleasant little instrumental piece on the guitar, a bit whimsical with a hint a classical melody. My fingertips have grooves down them, time for new strings I think.

Looking forward to Pontedawe festival next weekend. We are performing on Sunday. We've got 2 new songs which are cracking! I've finished my library books and am down to rereading Terry Pratchett. I never get tired of his style of writing. Anyone with a sense of humour that hasn't read any of his Discworld books, treat yourself. You won't regret it, and you'll thank me. Maybe even leave me something in your will. They are that good.

My grandaughters are staying for a week, sharing time between my son who lives in another wooden house just above ours, and our house.
In my bathroom there has been an uninvited visitor. A HUGE spider in the bath! It is one of those really big ones, the size of a lemon. It's been there from yesterday, and because I really don't like big spiders, I've been avoiding looking at it.
Eve came down to say they would be coming down later to sleep here when I told her about the spider. She was quite nonchalant about it and asked if I'd like her to take it outside. Would I! Yes, actually, I would. So, with the aid of a large plastic bowl and a wooden plate she herded it into the bowl and deposited it outside. It scuttled away, making the plants move in its wake.

As my previous post didn't mention Menu of the Day, I shall let you know that it has started to slide down the slippery slope of neglect and is making a fair turn of speed into the water chute of pleasureable memorabilia.
As Mr A is away, I have been working and entertaining visitors under the age of 14, which hasn't included cooking for them. I have reacquainted myself with the aptly named 'ready meals.'
Were they tasty?
Not much.
Were they part of a balanced diet?
Not much.
Were there artificial and fat sodden ingredients?
Yes.
Was it a symptom of badly managed time schedule and lack of enthusiasm?
Why ay man.

So there you are, while the Menu's away, the Meal's gone astray. I shall boil some beetroot picked from the garden henceforth, or hencebortsch as they say in Eastern Europe.

Work has been very busy, these women keep appearing and insist on giving birth, fortunately I work in a maternity unit.
The new short (to jawline) haircut has the thumbs up from anyone who notices it, so it was money well spent, 22 squid for wash, condition, cut and blowdry. Still, compared to some hairdressers, that's a reasonable rate.
What's the most anyone has spent on their hair?
(Crafty move there, it may mean a few more comments, heh heh.)

Finally, Congratulations to Top of the Stairs on her recent nuptials. It was a long time in the making, but I, and I'm sure, her other blog friends will wish her all the happiness it's possible to squeeze out of another person.

It was a wet, windy day and the furtive figure, slight bent over trying to dodge the raindrops inserted the key to the door of the Bloghouse. She turned it and entered the hallway. Relief! She had made it back without having to....

"What time do you call this!" A voice called out, there was the sound of a collected shuffling of feet.

"I only....." Avrilo's words were cut off by a warm friendly voice interrupting.

"Now, now folks, lets welcome the lady back, she doesn't need us messing up with her head. Let's be positive and keep it nice. We's missed her is all."

"Well," said a slightly petulant voice, "I've been waiting for Menu of the Day, I'm back down to Weightwatcher's easy meals."

"You know, I've been......" Avrilo's words were cut off again.

"Well, some amazing things have been happening to me, I've been posting about them but getting no comments from her. I expect she's been too busy having housewarmings and suchlike." This voice grew louder, then seemed to cave in on itself as it continued.
"I'm sorry, I get a little stressed, didn't mean to nag."

"That's ok" said Avrilo, "in fact I..........."

"Did you know one of us got married while you were away?" Asked a voice that sounded quite eager to share the news.

"Well, yes, and I was going to....."

"Photos were posted and everything." She said.

"Of course she knew! I'm sure she was going to post about it and visit your site to congratulate you." The warm friendly voice said bringing the tone down to a friendly level.

"I had meant to........" Avrilo started again to give voice.

"Now, now, you don't have to explain. You just carry on with your post, we'll read and catch up with your goings on. I guess we all just wanted to say hi and glad you're back." This voice turned to the others and they nodded and reached an agreement. Yes, the stray one had returned to the cyber flock.

The tinkle of glasses sounded through the wooden walls of the house in the forest as the cyber friends chatted on and shared their lives, thoughts and feelings. It was going to be a long night.

Here I am enjoying Marmite on toast before going to work trying to fit in a quick post, as I've been neglectful over the weekend.
It was a truely fabulous party. My worries disappeared with the pizzas, good company and loads of playing music. 11 people stayed over with 5 staying till Sunday evening. Tell you more later, also, I'm off work tomorrow, so it's time I wrote another story....

I had a really, really strong dream last night, or rather early hours. In it, I realised I was dreaming but thought it was too real to be a dream, then I felt my body in bed and realised I was dreaming! Briefly, the dream was about a disaster in a town. There was something like an explosion, so services were shut, no food etc. Bit like areas of the middle east. I didn't feel too anxious about it though, strangely enough. Maybe it was the full moon that made the dreaming so strong. I'll try and see if it happens next month.

For a quickie, this is turning into a bit of a whatsit, I'd better go. I feel better for having kept in touch and will update later when back from work. Haven't had time to read others comments so will do then. Blimey, this sounds like a postcard!

3 kinds of Pizza
Curried Potato Salad
Green Salad
Courgette Salad
Home made Coleslaw
Cooked meats, Ham, Salami
Smoked Salmon
Barbequed Chicken and Sausages
Various Dips
Crackers
A mountain of Crisps
Finger Nibbles

There's probably more but I can't remember it.
O yes.
A Mountain of Beer (including homebrew) and Lager
White Wine
Fruit Juices

The first guests (excluding Yash who came yesterday) have arrived. They are all sitting outside on a bench knocked up by Mr A in the last hour. The majority will be arriving in the evening. There are candles, nightlights in jars (some in the trees), tall bamboo lights and a gas light so it should be nice when the sun goes down. There are fairy lights going up the stairs to the garden where we will have a fire.

That's about it. I should go and 1)Get changed 2)Be sociable

Y'all have lovely evenings and remember:

.....................................................
(Insert your own wise saying that will make you sigh and say to yourself 'that's sooo true.'

I forgot that when the immersion heater is on that if the kettle gets turned on then it blows a circuit and cuts out all the power to anything that is switched on - like the computer. So, I lost a post that I had very nearly finished. Just why I'm bothering to tell you all this, and write another post when the hoover is sitting on the floor waiting to come to life, I don't know. Is it a delaying tactic? Or maybe I really want to blog right now when I should be doing housework. Anyhoo, I simply can't remember what I wrote before so I'll start again.

The lethargy is lifting a bit, helped by the new haircut, skirt and top. It's a flouncy number in olive green, the skirt, not the haircut. The top is short sleeved and fits really nicely, so nice I got one in maroon and one in black. They were only 4quid each.

I'm really pleased with the haircut, despite it feeling like a helmet on my head with at least 3 'products' (the term hairdressers use for anything going on the hair) being used to fix it in place. I never use hair spray at home, but I gave it a go at the hairdressers, as well as 'curl fix' so you can imagine why it feels like a helmet of curls on my head. I had it cut so it is in line with my jaw, rather than coming down to my shoulders as it was before.

Other fascinating news......a return visit to M @ S food hall. The words I meant to use but couldn't remember yesterday in my blog were 'chilled cabinets'. They still reminded me of a futuristic scene from a sci-fi film, all that was missing was some dry ice to come swirling out of them. I bought some pear drops, even the sweets are in posh packets!

It's about time that those who can, make decisions about ending the fighting and killing of innocents in the Middle East. They would pull their fingers out if any of their families could be hurt or killed, but I guess they feel they can take their time because they are removed from the actual dirt and noise of the bloodiness of war.
I come from a long line of conscientious objectors. We stand in a queue saying 'I don't think you should do that.'

These pear drops are rather nice. Myself and Mr A have recently embarked on a sweet purchasing spree. He bought some Opal Fruits, only they aren't called that now, for some chewing companionship during the long drive to and from the job he is working on. I am still faithfull to my all time favourites, licorice sweets from Panda, made from natural ingredients, using molasses instead of sugar. That is the end of the Sweet News.

On other fronts, I found some dog shite in the garden, near the tomatoes. I know the culprit and if I catch her, she'll get a right telling off.
There are little green tomatoes on the plants, so my mind has turned to chutney (just call me Branston brain.) Yes, that's right, all mushy, and good with cheese. Parsnips are lush, the beetroots nearly ready, and the sweetcorn is doing well, which is one of my favourite veg. However, the cabbages have turned into slug city. Like fishnet tights, they are full of holes.
The Montbreecia's (long leaves, orange and yellow trumpet shape flowers) are in bloom at long last. They have been regarded as weeds up to this point because they were everywhere, those long leaves sprouting up between the 'official' flowers. Well, they have earned their keep by providing a wonderful show of bright orange flowers, looking like luminescent bells.

Well, my life in a blog doesn't amount to a hill of beans in this world. The same world in which people voluntarily go into a MacDonalds to buy 'food,' then moan about getting fat. Those who are a mite more perceptive may recognise that I am, in fact, prevaricating. That's a really nice word. I've just looked it up, it says 'speak evasively or misleadingly' which isn't really what I'm about. I thought it meant to go on about something just for the sake of going on about something. Possibly a delaying tactic, which I hold my hand up to. Mind you, if I held my hand up to it I wouldn't be able to type any more...........

HOOVER ON DUDE!!!!!!

DINNER
M and S Aubergine Bake
Basmati Rice

A new shopping experience for me today, Marks and Spencers Food Dept. Blimey! Those brightly lit chill cabinets, like machines out of an old sci fi movie. So much yummy choice, and no, I am not being sponsored by them. Makes Morrisons seem like an old fashioned grocery store. I actually went into the clothes dept to look for a dress, saw the prices 40 quid and wandered off into the food hall, drawn by the lights like a moth to a candle. It was so modern I felt like a time traveller sent into the future and strolled in wonder at all the choices there were, including a whole lobster in a see through box.

Other news...I've been very lethargic this week after finishing my shifts on Monday and Tuesday. I know I've got preparations for this party and have done bugger all about it. Mr A away till Friday so it's been up to me. Gulp. Really, I've just got to hoover, haven't I? Surely they don't expect balloons? O god, at least there's tomorrow, my mantra for the week.

Horror Channel news... Saw the crappiest film I've ever seen called 'Frostbiter, curse of the Wendego.' The 'special effects' were so bad, like plastic toys dangling on strings etc it was almost a parody, but they soldiered on to try and make a proper film. I won't even tell the plot, it was so lame, and the soundtrack were songs that were recorded by mates of the director, they must have been mates as they were so awful. At the end, yes, I had to watch it, in the credits there were many sponsors including various food outlets, who obviously had fed them during the making of the film. I use the word film loosely. As one of the sponsors was a company making chilli, it explains the sequence with the 'chilli monster' where a monster comes out of a bowl of chilli. The song that went with it went something like 'chilli, chilli, chilli.' It was truely awful. The acting was so wooden, I'm surprised they weren't made into furniture.

Went shopping hoping to buy a summer dress in a Doris Day style but got overwhelmed with choice and ended up in Millets. You know where you are with Millets, it's all about camping. The dress shops I tried were full of women pawing over the sales racks with queues for the fitting rooms. Tried on a couple of dresses, couldn't decide so bought a skirt and top instead from a less trendy shop. At least it wasn't packed. Bought presents for Eve's birthday, she will be 11. One of them was a kite. Which, on reflection may be a bit lame and too young for her. Bought a single gas cooker and kettle so Molly can make her own hot choc and have her friends around in her caravan. They are with the home education tribe at the Big Green Gathering, a festival for a week. We get texts from Molly and letters from Eve, it's so good to keep in touch in the summer when they are away.

I still expect Dusky to come in for her dinner. She became a routine and routines are hard to just drop. Funnily enough, my son's cat, Apricot (a ginger tom) keeps appearing.

Well, I must leave my blog footprints on some friends' posts as I neglected you all in my week of flagging enthusiasm.

DINNER
Chorizo in Tomato Sauce - leftover from last night
pasta
Salad a la Moi

I'm at work, this is the first time I've blogged from work! I am supposed to be using a web site for training purposes but couldn't get on, so thought I'd nip here.

Mr A away again this week, back Friday late, in time to panic about getting ready for housewarming party saturday. Loads to do, or rather, loads to put off till later.....

One hour until going home time, it's been relatively quiet here, well, I wouldn't be blogging if it was. So, don't tell anyone...........