In Memoriam..

On Monday a great lady and wonderful person died. I have known Val Thomas from church, since I was very small, and have many memories of her, her cheerful voice and lovely manner. It's so cruel that she should be taken by illness and I pray that she is now at peace. It's hard to imagine church without her, a great gap has been left in many lives.

S'wonderful, S'Marvelous

Doesn't it feel great when you get a parcel through the post - even if you're expecting it and you paid for it - it's still pretty fantastic! This week I have received....

*STAR TREK : Nemesis - Won off eBay baby - yeah!

*Parts for my car - It was the master cylinder that was making my brakes fail, yet something else I have now learned all about - there's somethig else wrong now - de-compression or something, bit scary and my top speed is only 40miles an hour (Morris Minor going slowly - hmmm I feel road rage coming on...)

*STAR TREK:TNG - Series 4. Yes I finally gave in and bought it myself - mainly because I found them for sale at £39.99 (inc del.) so knew they would keep me amused whilst off me feet. I've been really good and only watched the first 3 DVD's (there's 7!) which were the one's I watched before leaving Pontin's. I've ordered another one along with a LOTR book and Red Dwarf Series4 all for my convalesence (any excuse really!)

Oh and one other small thing which I collected...
...
...
..
My very own, brand spanking new - LAPTOP - *loud cheering*
Thanks to Nic Bridgens and fortune technology (and me saving many monies!) I now have a computer that's up-to-date, runs faster than mine (which could be compared to a tortoise with a hangover) and has exciting things such as a CD burner, a DVD player and USB ports - finally I can actually use my camera to it's full capabilities - wahooooo! Oh and I get to play The Sims properly. There's a new one coming out soon, where the people actually grow older! Have a look here.

DID YOU SEE THE SNOW?!! Wasn't it great. I know it's inconvinient, but wasn't it amazing, I went out and went for a walk during the blizzardy bit - haven't felt so alive in ages!

Maybe this time?

Lets see if this works.....

While I'm here, met a right arrogant g*t in the club last night. He's from London so he thought that meant he was God's gift to anyone living/working outside of there. He asked for my phone no. I was flattered - sort of- so gave it to him - they never ring anyway! This one did though, when I was on my way home. All he wanted was the obvious, txtd that I wasn't interested so he rang when I got home, and spent about 10mins trying to convince me that he was worth breaking the "no sex before marriage" thing.

Yeah right - even in the dark with the light behind him he was no picture! When I answered the phone he said I didn't sound like me, then as if he wanted confirmation of who I was he asked me to descibe him - to be honest the only thing I could remember was the fact he had dark hair and was - how should we put this - exercise-ly challenged! So I said the first description and on he went.
I feel a lesson should be learned from this, although I feel the application of that lesson could be altered depending on the work of art in front of you ;) !

Now...to try something new!

Been looking at other blogs to get ideas etc. As I have no hope of having my own web page at the mo am going to try and do as much as possible with this! At this precise moment in time I'm trying to add a rather spiffy counter somewhere on the page so I can tell if (as usual!) I'm talking to myself or not! Be prepared for some wierd postings!

brake power!

Mark saw to brakes - if it still leaks is master cylinder - a**e

Due to length of time now in hospital will probably miss Abi's (Sirrell - Brett and Clare's little girl) Christening, really hope I don't. I go in on the Thursday, they operate on the Friday, and when I can show them I can walk on my heels and get up and down stairs they let me out. The nurse said it could even take until Monday, I hope not, I think I'll go nuts! Operation will probably take about an hour and a half not including anesthetic etc!

I got my Christmas present off Edd (Vix's fiancee) - a Star Trek book - so have some reading material, Along with Lord Of The Rings book I have ordered. Haven't seen the films yet so thought I'd read it first - give me something to do, eh?

Bored Moments

Meant to update a while ago - got way laid ebaying

Am currently at the club, keep hitting my bloody knee on the cupboard door under the desk and the voice inside my head screams very loudly as I grit my teeth and try to take the pain away by rubbing it - It works - dunno why but it's all good!

Finished the panto on Saturday. Was a good few last shows. Sad to say goodbye to everyone, especially "the ladies". The Get Out took 'til 5:30am on Sunday, included painting the stage! On the Thursday night I was invited out clubbing and actually went! There was most of the girls in the chorus, Matt, Steve (Baron), Alan (The Drummer), James (Dandini), Tom (Prince), Juliet and Emma. We went to Ikon, into the VIP bar and then downstairs (diva) where the 'cheese' was. I had a great evening - mainly thanks to Emma for dragging me up to dance! I don't think I'm a very good dancer and coupled with he fact I get really self conscious on a dance floor, I tend to stick to socialising when out clubbing - unless someone actually drags me up (very rare occuence!)

Had my Pre-Op on Tuesday, more on that tommorow probably. Transpires down to the fact I'm going to be in hospital for at least 2 nights - bit daunted by that prospect!

My car is being a bit scary in the brakes department - ie it barely has any - hopefully getting that fixed before anything runs out in front of me :~

The doorman is perusing my blog so now feeling like I should actually go and do some work..... ;)

And I would just like to point out that Rob is great (he's here too!!!)

My Birthday and other stories...

It was indeed my birthday...last Wednesday - the 7th. And as in years previously only my family and 3 of my friends remembered. It's at such a bloody awkward time. Not close enought to Christmas to make it really obvious and in the week that everyone goes back to work/school/Uni and generally life gets back to normal - so it kind of gets lost in the maelstrom of happenings.

Alwyne and Juliet were great. They were really sorry they'd forgotten and the next day they bought me some lovely presents *warm and fuzzies*:) Caroline had kind of remembered but got the wrong day and a few others knew it was during the run but couldn't remember when. I had mentioned it several times - if someone mentions something like that to me - i remember. Maybe its just me, but its probably that people don't exactly listen to me as I chatter on!

Anyway I had a pretty good day really. Went out for a meal the night before. Got money and DVD's as presents - my mum bought me a video on Massage! Came to Coventry, played on the Gamecube, and then cam to do the panto. They got Mark (Buttons) to sing happy Birthday to me, so I had the joy of a PINK follow spot in my face (thanks to Dave) whilst I was spotting Mark, and then after got lots of hugs and drinks bought for me. Better than last year, spent curled up on the sofa in the throws of a chest infection - copying videos of the spoof!

The reason for the non-apperance of blogs for a bit was that I've been trying to get pictures on it. Then found that couldn't get camera coinnected to the computers here - then discovered that blogger are no longer offering blog*spot PLUS so couldn't anyway .grrrrrrrr. Never mind I shall find a way!

A bit hacked off because the Stagedoor Renion is 2 days after my Op and there's not a chance in hell that I'm going to be in any fit State to get there - NUTS! Boy, my life is just dandy at the minute innit'?

On a better note - I've completed the first bit of Zelda:The Wind Waker - hurray!! :? Also Wythall Theatre Company are planning for their next show (possibly "Memory of Water"- brilliantly written!) and I've decided to have a go reading for it. I'm going to be around for a bit and although I'll be on crutches for some of it I'll off them well before the production (in may). It'll be fun to act again - however the usual problem of being too young may crop up but it'll be a laugh to read anyway!

Oh also, fell over outside the Wing Wah Restaurant on Saturday night - after a great meal(they have a chef there who will cook the raw meat you pick and do the flaming thig with congac - v. cool!) and hurt me knee. I look like I'm about 6 years old again when you fall over and scrape your knee - only I swear this is twice as painful! I actally landed on my left knee and I can't real feel anything on the left side of knee cap. When it happened there were quite a few of the cast about and Mark Rattray went into 'Nurse' mode (He used to be a psychatric nurse before winning opportunity knocks) and helped me up! I felt like a right 'nana!

Anyhoo am on the prowl for a skirt - I know, don't keel over in shock, so must hit the sales - watch out - here I come!!!!

A Continuation of the blog below..

I am actually writing this entry straight after writing the previous one. But the other one is quite long and the day that this is about - Sat 4th of Jan - was a truly crap day. Actually when I think about it (and probably as I'm typing) it won't sound so bad, but everything was getting at me that day.

*I have a really bad dream about the fact I thought I'd killed someone and was trying to hide the non exsitent evidence - so didn't sleep well and woke up early.

*Had to shift my stuff out of Jo's room 'cos she's coming back today so now back to sleeping on futon mattress on floor in living room - hey, at least I have the TV!

*They've moved the date of my operation without any explanation it is now the 5th of Feb which means less time to work after and more time hanging around before - instead of 4 days it's now 3 weeks.

*Got all excited 'cos I found out who was playing the fairy in spoof and then after the matinee Anna tells me they've cancelled it as if she was telling me she was going to the shops to get some milk. I ask how people feel about this and she say " All the cast know - you're the last one to know". Nice. Especially as I was supposed to be Cinders.
Now we are singing the songs at band night.
This sucks for 2 reasons - I was sooo looking forward to doing spoof, it's been one of the few things making having to watch the panto everyday interesting. I was looking forward to performing and having good fun doing it. And also - I now have to sing at band night which I didn't want to do in the first place because I'll get really self conscious - and before you say anything - there is a big difference between being on stage as a character and singing and standing on your own as yourself singing. But I'll do it so I don't let Anna down and it'll hopefully be a laugh.
Tried to be cheery for the rest of the day but my heart just wasn't in it.
[I don't blame Kav or Anna or anyone for it thing being cancelled - they've got good reasons to not want to do it - It was just disappointing after getting my hopes up. Also I had told quite a few people about it at home and everytime I tell people about something I really want to happen - it gets cancelled - like Clever Polly, so was hating the way my life works aswell]

*Dad and Jo came to watch in the evening - the only good thing! But we had major problems along the lines of....
-Sound guy thinking we had a 7o'clock show so being 15mins late
-One of the dimmers (things which control electricity to the lamps)
having a life of it's own and the scrollers (colour changers) deciding
to be on completely the wrong colours
-There was a family in the circle very close to me of which the
mother would continually chastise her children in a very loud voice
and tried to get them to join in but about 1 minute late every time.
It was so loud that it kept throwing my concentration
-Just generally people having weird days and funny vibes going on
backstage

*Get Home - start to relax and Jo comes through the door and starts to have a go at me for leaving the window open. I admit, a mistake, but the widest it opens is 3 inches and she's on the 1st floor with no way of getting to her window. Also about other things which really aren't that important but she can be really anal sometimes! It just wasn't what I needed and I told her so and she relented and brought me a hot chocolate mmmmmm....

Oh, and I tried to ring about 5 friends and they were all unavailable, so all in all it was a pretty crap day.

1st day off has been good though. Went to see me Granny and Aunt with Vix and Edd. (1st time they met Edd) and then saw Jo Gill to say Happy Birthday for the 1st of Jan - 1 day 'til mine - yey! Then went to theatre group this evening and read for a play - sort of. I'll probably not get a part 'cos if I want to be in it they usually have to pick the play specifically because of my age compared to everyone else - also I've just not acted in ages! Still it'll be good to get back in there!

You know its gonna be a bad day when.......

Well, Ladies and Gents I hope you all had a sparkly and spectacular New Year. I had a great time working at the club on New Year's Eve (even if I was in charge!) got asked for my number - he did ring - to invite me to a party - then never heard from again, shame, seemed like a nice bloke!

I realise from the blurb at the top of this page I have failed to complete one of the major aims of this blog - documenting my bizarre life so here goes for the truly worst week of a New Year!

*30th December 11:30am :Driving home to drop Bex (Jo's New Zealand Housemate) off at our house and notice that my fuel pump decides to have a quick cough and splutter. Think nothing more of it - except thinking how ironic it would be if I were to break down on the one day I venture out of Coventry when I have a show.

12:45pm: On way back now fuel pump decides to be an arse and Moffy (my car) slows to a grinding halt on the hard shoulder of the M42 just past junction 3 in front of load of cones

12:48pm: Police pull up behind me - start to get a feeling of dread somewhere in the pit of my stomach about how well this day is going to go- Start car, they escort me in reversing on the hard shoulder to get a run of speed without hitting the cones. - Ever noticed how conscious of your driving you get when the police are escorting you? :{

1pm : Get past junction 3a and police pull off - breathe huge sigh of relief.

1:10pm: Get onto A45 - Moffy has really had enough now, decide to pull over and ring theatre to tell them in all probability that I'm not going to make it for the half (1:25) even though I'm all of 10mins drive away. (small voice in back of head wonders at the possibility of making it at all - and then decides to concentrate on why my life is ruled by the law according to Sod)

1:15pm: Pull over in a bus stop call the RAC and then me Dad for some advice - he suggests checking the float chamber and then the fuel pump - "oh and by the way the chamber will be full of petrol so don't make a spark". Then commence to unscrew float chamber with a metal screw driver on the metal lid and a big prayer.

1:17pm: Cursing my self for not putting my ski jacket on - it's freezing and shaking hands are not helping with the whole "no sparks" scenario! RAC said they'd be an hour - pointed out I was a woman on me own - they said half an hour so I give them 40 mins!

1:20pm: Petrol in Float chamber and no blockages as far as I can see so must be the fuel pump. Glyn rings to see how its going. Tell him I'll ring at half past if the RAC man isn't there so's I can make it for the show (at 2)

1:30pm: Phone Glyn and plead for assistance - have now got the blanket I sit on and am standing with it wrapped round me. See an RAC van drive in the opposite direction - could be a loong wait!

1:45pm: RAC man comes, says it might be my thermostat - don't believe him but smile and nod trying not to sound like I know what the problem is. Then he thinks water's being sprayed onto the electrics - still hasn't checked the fuel pump...hmmmm...

1:48pm: Glyn arrives. RAC man can't stay if I go so decide to stay and get to the theatre by 2:30 come Hell or high water - this is the point at which I predicted that you could no longer get away with one follow spot - Glyn goes off a little worried and make it back just in time for beginners.

1:57pm: Me and RAC man decide to try and drive to the petrol station down the slip road so he can see what my car is doing and it'll be safer for us.

2:20pm: RAC man does his best and fixes the problem which was...all together now....the FUEL PUMP. One side of the contacts wasn't touching so it wasn't opening an shutting to let fuel through. Decide that he should follow me back to the house then give a lift to the theatre 'cos not sure how well Moffy will be. Get half way to home and decide to make a run for it to the theatre 'cos she seems OK. Wave a fond farewell to the RAC angel in blue overalls and head for the theatre.

2:30pm: Slide into the road next to the theatre and into my reserved space outside stage door, get told by several people not to panic - which, truth be told - I actually wasn't! Saw Alwyn and Emma coming offstage, worked out where we were - ran up the stairs towards my box, popped into the loo - which I started needing somewhere back on the hard shoulder of the M42 - walked into my box aimed the lamp and flicked on - PERFECT TIMING!