Had a really nice weekend, although wished I could have shared more of it with Mark.
Saturday, went for a run and then met Angie for lunch in the City (yummy Pizza Express), and spent the afternoon wandering around swanky clothes shops looking for stuff for her trip to New Zealand next month. Whilst liking some of the stuff in Jigsaw, Hobbs and the like... I personally couldn't bring myself to pay double/triple the price for a t-shirt! I am a bit tight like that! ;-)
Saturday night, Mark and I just stayed in and drank wine, ate yummy dinner and watched the latest Rocky movie, which actually wasn't so bad! He *did* manage to look like a drunken retard throughout (Rocky that is, *not* Mark!), but was really nicely done - and the fight scene was actually quite convincing and had me drawn in and punching at the screen (maybe I have been doing too much boxercise!).
Sunday was lovely... went to Great Bromley (nr Colchester) to see Lisa, Rob and the boys, who (to my shame) I haven't seen for over a year! Its always great to see them - can't believe how much Joe and Oliver have grown up. The last time I saw Oliver he was hardly talking, but this time he was chirping away (he is four), and showing me the den he had built. Joe had still remembered that the last time I was there I put his spare goggles on, and put my head under the water in his bath, so that we could look at each other under water. I don't think he has ever met an adult willing to do something so ridiculous - he was delighted at the time when Lisa came in and we both pretended that I hadn't been doing anything daft, despite having soaking wet hair and a drenched top! :-)
Last night, Mark took me out for curry, and we ploughed through brochures for paving slabs - looks like the garden will be the next project, before the kitchen extension starts! I was also celebrating losing 17lbs or 7.7kg in weight (at the risk of sounding like Bridget Jones!), but obviously not celebrating too much as I have been known to put on all the weight I have lost during one Indian meal! heh...
Tonight I have netball (sigh - its a bit chilly out!)... but am looking forward to the sausage and mash I am cooking afterwards! We still have our Danish lodger, but have hardly seen him really as he is on nights...
Anyway... back to work!
Lots of love
Hayls
xxxxxx
PS. Speaking of old friends, a BIG happy birthday to Carole! Hope Lisa's wedding goes well for you all this year!!!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
All Creatures Great and Small...
I LOVED this story... would have been funnier if it showed Mike eating it with a nice white wine sauce and some french fries though ;-)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/6400389.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/6400389.stm
Friday, February 23, 2007
TFI Friday!!
Am looking forward to finishing work today SO much! Not because work is particularly bad, but can't wait to go home and chill out for a bit. Had a very busy, and quite boozy, week all in all. It seems that Kurt is going to be a bad influence in our house - the amount of beer available in the fridge has sky-rocketed, and we seem to have spent quite a bit of time in the pub (although not all of it is down to Kurt, I have to add).
Tuesday night I played netball, and then scooted over to Robert and Emma's on me bike. Robert cooked a rather delicious chicken curry, along with some gorgeous aubergine and chick-pea curry... we went to their local, and had quite a few beers and some wine on return to his. Was a real laugh, ruined only by Robert's comment that I reminded him of Liza Minnelli!!!! I ask you?! Being compared to Frances De La Tour I can just about take, Kate Beckinsale, Annie Lennox, Kylie Minogue and Liv Tyler are positively welcomed, but Liza-Bloody-Minnelli is just not cricket! Heh....
Wednesday, we ended up down the local here in the evening, along with Kurt - which continued into a bit of a spirit drinking session on return home (never good... particularly as I had to get up at 5:45 the next day to get to London!!). Thursday, I had quite a good day in London (had a nice bonus and pay review letter), and in the evening Kurt decided he was going to take us out for dinner to the swanky Chinese restaurant in the village, and a couple of drinks in one of the other pubs here. Very nice (crispy duck and pineapple, with pepper fried squid to start), but not so good for my diet!!
Tonight, am looking forward to a night in... perhaps even a booze free one with a bit of exercise thrown in... the likelihood of that may be slim ;-)
No big plans for the weekend really... Kurt will be around for some of it, Mark is working (boo), and I might get to see some friends (Angie and Lisa, maybe).
Have a great weekend!
Much love
Much love
Hayls
xxxx
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Rehab
Well... its been a little while since my last blog... what has happened since?!
Valentines night was pretty ok. Mark cooked a really lovely meal (chilli and garlic squid, followed by monk fish and char-grilled vegetables) and bought me chocs and lovely flowers, but then kind of ruined it a little bit by spending the whole evening watching out for football results on the computer... I guess you can't have it all! ;-)
London was ok last week... Jarvis (car) let me down, so couldn't drive in the end, but the journey was pretty good, and I managed it in my fastest time ever - 2.5 hours, instead of the usual 3! Had a good walk and chat with John at lunch time, and got takeaway from the most delicious Itsu... I have decided that I might marry their Line Caught Tuna Salad, if such a thing is possible... Managed to get Ronan's review out of the way, so can relax and forget about the whole appraisal business until next year!
Friday night, I can't even remember what we did, so it can't have been very exciting! Saturday, I got up uber early and had a wonderful haircut at Scruffs in Cambridge. Am dead chuffed with it, and didn't even break the bank at £33... Met Nicki in Cambridge, and spent the day wandering around the shops in the city... bought myself a lovely new smock top from Topshop, and we lunched in a Vietnamese restaurant called Thanh Binh (I had delicious steamed sea bass and rice). In the evening we went to see Amy Winehouse play at the Corn Exchange... hmm... not up to her normal standards actually! Her voice and materials are all amazing, but she seemed a bit flat or something? A little distracted, and none of the rapport with the crowd we have seen at her previous gigs (which made us really enjoy them!). I guess she may have been pre-warned about the photos that were splashed all over the Sunday papers showing her with white powder all round her nose... Makes her "Rehab" song a little more poignant!
Sunday, I got up reasonably early and drove over to Lowestoft to see Mum and Dad and Tracy and the boys... we had a really great day. Tracy and I did some running along the seafront, and even Henry joined in for some of it, bless him! Mum and Dad followed with Oscar in the buggy, and we all lunched in Godfrey's in town (sweaty Betties ahoy! Lunching in your gym pants with a big red sweaty face is never a good look!!). In the evening I went home to a slightly fuller house than normal. Mark's Danish friend Kurt has sadly ended his marriage, and is staying with us until he gets himself sorted out. I am considering setting up a lonely hearts style B&B for disaffected middle-aged men... I could make a fortune! ;-) Jokes aside... he is more than welcome in the house, as is anybody in a similar position! We might have to invest in some bunk beds for the spare room though! :-D
Last night, Mark and I had a fun evening drinking at the local pub... a quick "one pint" in the village turned into four pints, and me rather tipsily cooking tuna balti on return home! Tonight I have netball. Mark has Noel over too, so I am fleeing the testosterone laden house, and cycling straight to Robert and Emma's after netters... being cooked for by my superb chef-like cousin... that will make netball drag tonight! ;-)
Hope you are all well...
Love Hayls
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Valentines night was pretty ok. Mark cooked a really lovely meal (chilli and garlic squid, followed by monk fish and char-grilled vegetables) and bought me chocs and lovely flowers, but then kind of ruined it a little bit by spending the whole evening watching out for football results on the computer... I guess you can't have it all! ;-)
London was ok last week... Jarvis (car) let me down, so couldn't drive in the end, but the journey was pretty good, and I managed it in my fastest time ever - 2.5 hours, instead of the usual 3! Had a good walk and chat with John at lunch time, and got takeaway from the most delicious Itsu... I have decided that I might marry their Line Caught Tuna Salad, if such a thing is possible... Managed to get Ronan's review out of the way, so can relax and forget about the whole appraisal business until next year!
Friday night, I can't even remember what we did, so it can't have been very exciting! Saturday, I got up uber early and had a wonderful haircut at Scruffs in Cambridge. Am dead chuffed with it, and didn't even break the bank at £33... Met Nicki in Cambridge, and spent the day wandering around the shops in the city... bought myself a lovely new smock top from Topshop, and we lunched in a Vietnamese restaurant called Thanh Binh (I had delicious steamed sea bass and rice). In the evening we went to see Amy Winehouse play at the Corn Exchange... hmm... not up to her normal standards actually! Her voice and materials are all amazing, but she seemed a bit flat or something? A little distracted, and none of the rapport with the crowd we have seen at her previous gigs (which made us really enjoy them!). I guess she may have been pre-warned about the photos that were splashed all over the Sunday papers showing her with white powder all round her nose... Makes her "Rehab" song a little more poignant!
Sunday, I got up reasonably early and drove over to Lowestoft to see Mum and Dad and Tracy and the boys... we had a really great day. Tracy and I did some running along the seafront, and even Henry joined in for some of it, bless him! Mum and Dad followed with Oscar in the buggy, and we all lunched in Godfrey's in town (sweaty Betties ahoy! Lunching in your gym pants with a big red sweaty face is never a good look!!). In the evening I went home to a slightly fuller house than normal. Mark's Danish friend Kurt has sadly ended his marriage, and is staying with us until he gets himself sorted out. I am considering setting up a lonely hearts style B&B for disaffected middle-aged men... I could make a fortune! ;-) Jokes aside... he is more than welcome in the house, as is anybody in a similar position! We might have to invest in some bunk beds for the spare room though! :-D
Last night, Mark and I had a fun evening drinking at the local pub... a quick "one pint" in the village turned into four pints, and me rather tipsily cooking tuna balti on return home! Tonight I have netball. Mark has Noel over too, so I am fleeing the testosterone laden house, and cycling straight to Robert and Emma's after netters... being cooked for by my superb chef-like cousin... that will make netball drag tonight! ;-)
Hope you are all well...
Love Hayls
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Far From Kansas
A little bit of unapologetic advertising for a choir my friend John sings with... (they do weddings/birthdays... whatever you can imagine!).
http://www.farfromkansas.co.uk/
Also, if you have forgotten your valentines card, you can pick one up here! ;-)
http://www.farfromkansas.co.uk/valentine/
http://www.farfromkansas.co.uk/
Also, if you have forgotten your valentines card, you can pick one up here! ;-)
http://www.farfromkansas.co.uk/valentine/
My Funny Valentine
I just liked this blog title, and it sprang to mind as it is indeed Valentine's day... received no card/gift as yet... but not seen Mark (he was asleep when I left him for work). He *is* planning to cook dinner for me tonight, which is a really lovely treat! Mark is a great, but infrequent, cook, which always makes it extra special when he does... I bought Mark a lovely pewter hip flask, and even Mia bought him a card!
Had a nice evening last night with Emma - we went for a run, performed emergency dye treatment on my hair (to get rid of certain brassy orange tones, stemming from my new year's resolution to go blonde and it not working!), and then Emma cooked gorgeous French onion soup for dinner. I have had to make an emergency hair appointment in Cambridge on Saturday too - for some reason I was tipped over the edge by my orange straggly hair yesterday, and needed it brown and cropped into a nice style ;-) I am consistent in my ever-changing self appearance... I never change in that I *always* change... long/short, fat/thin, red/brown/orange...
I went to the Dentist today, and was a little perturbed when he described my mouth as "bizarre"... apparently I have lots of tiny fillings dotted around my mouth (??) and my decay pattern is very "unusual"... he even snorted out laughing a couple of times. Hmmm.... perhaps I should travel back to see my lovely old dentist in Norwich - at least he didn't laugh out loud when I opened my mouth!! ;-)
Tomorrow am planning to drive to the London office, so wish me luck (and lots of it!). Am slightly wibbly at the prospect, mainly in case I can't park (I hate parking!!!)... but am hoping it will cut my journey time in half!
Anyway... had better get on! Absolute dividends beckon (sigh)... BTW. BIG HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY to Jez in China tomorrow... I hope that tricky little Spanish wife of yours plans to spoil you rotten! ;-)
Happy valentines...
Hayls
xxxxxx
PS. Have just re-read blog... don't I sound lovely? Orange straggly hair with rotten teeth... heh.
Had a nice evening last night with Emma - we went for a run, performed emergency dye treatment on my hair (to get rid of certain brassy orange tones, stemming from my new year's resolution to go blonde and it not working!), and then Emma cooked gorgeous French onion soup for dinner. I have had to make an emergency hair appointment in Cambridge on Saturday too - for some reason I was tipped over the edge by my orange straggly hair yesterday, and needed it brown and cropped into a nice style ;-) I am consistent in my ever-changing self appearance... I never change in that I *always* change... long/short, fat/thin, red/brown/orange...
I went to the Dentist today, and was a little perturbed when he described my mouth as "bizarre"... apparently I have lots of tiny fillings dotted around my mouth (??) and my decay pattern is very "unusual"... he even snorted out laughing a couple of times. Hmmm.... perhaps I should travel back to see my lovely old dentist in Norwich - at least he didn't laugh out loud when I opened my mouth!! ;-)
Tomorrow am planning to drive to the London office, so wish me luck (and lots of it!). Am slightly wibbly at the prospect, mainly in case I can't park (I hate parking!!!)... but am hoping it will cut my journey time in half!
Anyway... had better get on! Absolute dividends beckon (sigh)... BTW. BIG HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY to Jez in China tomorrow... I hope that tricky little Spanish wife of yours plans to spoil you rotten! ;-)
Happy valentines...
Hayls
xxxxxx
PS. Have just re-read blog... don't I sound lovely? Orange straggly hair with rotten teeth... heh.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Viral Infections and Weekend Perfections
Well... last week at work was a bit of a disaster. A huge influx of viruses on my work PC seem to have rendered it unusable, and finding an alternative PC to use has been an interesting endeavour... anyway... I have something vaguely useful to work on (an ancient laptop), which is better than a poke in the eye with a rusty nail (just about!).
In contrast, the weekend was very nice. Friday night we didn't do alot, but on Saturday I awoke full of energy, and spent several hours cleaning the house - even doing jobs, like rotating mattresses, that normally wouldn't even occur to me! Perhaps spring is in the air early?! ;-) At lunch time, Emma rescued me from my domestic 'godessdom' (??), and we went for a run around the village in the rain... a fairly knackering, but uplifting experience! In the afternoon we went for a little mooch around St. Ives (NOT the one in Cornwall!), and I spent some happy time drooling over the goodies on offer in Waitrose... sigh. A shop to be avoided at all costs really - I would be reduced to bankruptcy within the month if I did my shopping there, and would weigh 20 stone... its not that it is excessively pricey (it is a little dearer than most supermarkets), but that they have SO much yummy stuff... Saturday night with Mark was a quiet walk into the village (he had worked, so was tired).
Sunday, we went to Mark's parents for a yummy lunch (lasagne and then apple crumble and custard - not very diety!), and played with Caroline's little girls... In the evening we met up with Chris and Francesca in the village for a really nice drink, and to chat over plans for their new house in the village (they want DIY advice from Marky). We are off there tonight after dinner to actually see the place, which should be good! I like a good nosy, and it sounds like a HUGE place (5 bedrooms!).
Have been running at lunch today, so feeling fairly virtuous, although ruined it by eating welsh cakes (baked by a colleague's mum... she does it periodically, and man are they good!).
Hope you are all well,
Hayls
xxx
In contrast, the weekend was very nice. Friday night we didn't do alot, but on Saturday I awoke full of energy, and spent several hours cleaning the house - even doing jobs, like rotating mattresses, that normally wouldn't even occur to me! Perhaps spring is in the air early?! ;-) At lunch time, Emma rescued me from my domestic 'godessdom' (??), and we went for a run around the village in the rain... a fairly knackering, but uplifting experience! In the afternoon we went for a little mooch around St. Ives (NOT the one in Cornwall!), and I spent some happy time drooling over the goodies on offer in Waitrose... sigh. A shop to be avoided at all costs really - I would be reduced to bankruptcy within the month if I did my shopping there, and would weigh 20 stone... its not that it is excessively pricey (it is a little dearer than most supermarkets), but that they have SO much yummy stuff... Saturday night with Mark was a quiet walk into the village (he had worked, so was tired).
Sunday, we went to Mark's parents for a yummy lunch (lasagne and then apple crumble and custard - not very diety!), and played with Caroline's little girls... In the evening we met up with Chris and Francesca in the village for a really nice drink, and to chat over plans for their new house in the village (they want DIY advice from Marky). We are off there tonight after dinner to actually see the place, which should be good! I like a good nosy, and it sounds like a HUGE place (5 bedrooms!).
Have been running at lunch today, so feeling fairly virtuous, although ruined it by eating welsh cakes (baked by a colleague's mum... she does it periodically, and man are they good!).
Hope you are all well,
Hayls
xxx
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Ladurée
Tracy is thinking of stocking some of this place's product line in her shop (The Black Olive, Southwold)... we dream of high tea in Ladurée, stuffing our lipsticked mouths full of brightly coloured macaroons and cakes, wearing pastel coloured shift dresses and terribly high heels...
We get a little carried away at times! ;-)
Salmo Trutta
Not alot to report really this week... the weekend was pretty uneventful. Went to watch the football on Saturday, and went to see Jamie and Adele and then Mark's parents on Sunday afternoon, and not alot in between really (aside from too much wine drinking from me, and much sleeping for Mark).
Had a lovely evening with Robert and Emma last night - have decided that Robert should open a restaurant. He cooked the most delicious trout and salad dish - the salad incorporated pine nuts, rocket, lardons of bacon and green beans, with a most delicious dressing made with Mellow Yellow rapeseed oil (the new super food apparently)... with a potato cake made of thinly sliced potato, Parmesan and garlic... the way he even fillets the trout makes it feel that you are in a fancy restaurant - it was sublime!
Tonight am vaguely considering netball. It is sunny outside, but absolutely freezing (was -6 overnight, and hasn't warmed up much all day). I guess it would do me good (not sure how!), and yesterday's lunch-time run went quite well, in that my ankle didn't play up.
Better get on with work... am still munching the lettuce leaves, and have managed to lost a stone since 1st January! (6.35 kg for you Aussies/Europeans)...
Much love
Hayls
xxx
PS. Helena, please tell Mummy and Daddy that they have not consulted me on their intended move... will be sending them some local property pages directly! In fact, I know a lovely little house in Norfolk that they could try out for a bit... ;-)
Had a lovely evening with Robert and Emma last night - have decided that Robert should open a restaurant. He cooked the most delicious trout and salad dish - the salad incorporated pine nuts, rocket, lardons of bacon and green beans, with a most delicious dressing made with Mellow Yellow rapeseed oil (the new super food apparently)... with a potato cake made of thinly sliced potato, Parmesan and garlic... the way he even fillets the trout makes it feel that you are in a fancy restaurant - it was sublime!
Tonight am vaguely considering netball. It is sunny outside, but absolutely freezing (was -6 overnight, and hasn't warmed up much all day). I guess it would do me good (not sure how!), and yesterday's lunch-time run went quite well, in that my ankle didn't play up.
Better get on with work... am still munching the lettuce leaves, and have managed to lost a stone since 1st January! (6.35 kg for you Aussies/Europeans)...
Much love
Hayls
xxx
PS. Helena, please tell Mummy and Daddy that they have not consulted me on their intended move... will be sending them some local property pages directly! In fact, I know a lovely little house in Norfolk that they could try out for a bit... ;-)
Friday, February 02, 2007
The Frog Princess
Well, its been a mixed week. Had a crappy old day in work Wednesday, and am generally feeling a little under-appreciated at work this week - am sure it will pass (it normally does), but sometimes I can feel the enthusiasm being pummeled out of me. As usual, my review pointed towards me 'meeting expectations', and as usual I am fobbed off with the claim that my company has 'high expectations' that I am expected to meet.... this always makes it difficult for me to give high ratings to my staff too, as I have to take the company definition of these ratings into account. It sucks! Would be nice if some of my ideas, and my ability to work with others, were noticed a little more. Anyway... that's my usual rant of the year over with!
Haven't done an awful lot outside of work. Last night, I cooked our fave meal at the moment - Lentil and Aubergine curry, which I have to say is bloody delicious. Its more of a tarka dhal than anything else, but man is it tasty! I will print the recipe here some time....
Got no real plans for the weekend... probably watching football tomorrow, and hoping to do something nice and 'couply' on Sunday, as this will be Mark's last full weekend off for a while (boo). Am planning to cook a malt loaf over the weekend (gosh - how exciting!)... I WILL be a domestic goddess one day! ;-)
Much love - have a great weekend
Hayley
xxxx
PS. A HUGE Happy Birthday to my Dad for Sunday. He will be a staggering 58 this year! Bless him... still as young as ever (he still thinks he is 20!).
Haven't done an awful lot outside of work. Last night, I cooked our fave meal at the moment - Lentil and Aubergine curry, which I have to say is bloody delicious. Its more of a tarka dhal than anything else, but man is it tasty! I will print the recipe here some time....
Got no real plans for the weekend... probably watching football tomorrow, and hoping to do something nice and 'couply' on Sunday, as this will be Mark's last full weekend off for a while (boo). Am planning to cook a malt loaf over the weekend (gosh - how exciting!)... I WILL be a domestic goddess one day! ;-)
Much love - have a great weekend
Hayley
xxxx
PS. A HUGE Happy Birthday to my Dad for Sunday. He will be a staggering 58 this year! Bless him... still as young as ever (he still thinks he is 20!).
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