Does anyone else feel that weeks have different lengths? Some of them seem to pass by very quickly because everything runs smoothly. Others seem to last for about 10 days and you breath a sigh of welcome relief as it comes to an end. I've just had one of those and a very strange one indeed. I do actually feel like I've been tossed about on the back of a bus with little or no control over where I'm going or what I'm doing. I haven't done what I'd planned, been where I thought I was going to so all in all I feel I've lost my compass this week.
I feel like I've been preparing for this year's annual trade show for weeks. In fact, it's not been that long but it's been a very long, drawn out affair this year. It's never great when lots of you are doing lots of little bits. Some bits get missed and I know I'm guilty of carrying other people's bits around in my head - as my father would say, "Just in case!" I can't help it but it does drain me. If i had time to fit all of this into my already busy schedule, I would seriously be sitting twiddling my fingers most of the day. But such are the challenges of a busy working girl that I can no longer say no to the challenges. Not that I would have done before but I know when I'm on overload and secretly, I've been on massive, ubba overload for a little while now. It pays to be a great juggler and I'm so glad I can prioritise. But things like trade shows always come to bite you in the end and as those extra jobs bubble to the surface they feel like snapping demons demanding attention even in your sleep.
When Sunday, the first day of the show arrived, it felt as if I had just stepped onto a moving walkway and I waved goodbye to my me-time. Picture me on the biggest moving escalator which sometimes goes slowly and at other times speeds so fast it makes my head spin. There is no end and my feet are stuck to the floor so I can't move. There are doors along the way and behind them are opportunities, new faces, old familiar ones and the odd face from the closet that I'd rather pass on by! I can't say there are other people on here, I think they have their own agendas and their own big escalators. Though it's clear that some are very short so they can just hop on and hop off without leaving much of a trace. That's something I do really well btw... leave a trace - that makes me sound like a giant snail! But no one ever meets me and forgets me.. I'm the 1 in 10,000 rare four-leaf clover of the crafting world!
There were the awards on Sunday evening which are stressful and enjoyable all at the same time. There is always lots to see and lots of talking, organising, planning, meeting and silly air kissing! Trade shows are always a challenge and this one was a mightly beast. I'm looking forward to the little acorns of interest that may, with a little bit of love, grow into big opportunities.
There were some great highlights at the show which always make you forget all the hard work. I met up with some of my lovely friends, Ginger, Sara, Deeps, Stu, Vorray, Tony, Cara, Marie, Lucy, Pat.. too many to mention. I love being with my friends and I'm really lucky to have some very special people in my life right now. The long days were punctuated by lovely dinners and short nights with my new bf though I fear I was talking drivvel most of the time as my brain regurgitated the day's events.
The day after the show, Wednesday brought on a different challenge - another trip to the dentist. I should have been starting back at work but my teeth decided it wasn't to be. I saw sparks fly for the first time which was a bit disconcerting... "Diamond on porcelain" was all part of the running commentary. This was turning out to be just another day in my extraordinary week. Driving home was tiring but all I could think of was getting home. I'm really great at focussing, which I'm really glad about on this particular day. I'm never ill, never sick and it takes one hell of a bug to flatten me. I know there's something not quite right when I do that channel hopping thing with my car radio! I'm the most patient girl on the planet and I never get grumpy or impatient. I remember feeling irritated by the noise my windscreen wipers were making and a little bit sick. I put that down the the sugar rush combo of a picnic, followed by a dime bar. Well, in my defense, I hadn't eaten much that day and garages don't really sell anything else that's not stuck between two slices of stale bread! I started to bring in the zillions of bags I'd managed to pick up over the next few days and began to get that woozy head feeling that means something's up. One trip up my stairs and I was dizzy and suddenly feeling as if an alien had taken over my body. Of soon realised that I had been hit by the mighty BUG. Horrid, nasty little thing that takes over your body, sucks the life out of you and makes you sleepy - though only in 15 minute intervals! I couldn't read, eat or think. I feel like I've been in a different place for 36 hours as I wait for the hands of the clock to turn so I can feel better. Of course, you can imagine how pleased I was yesterday when I woke up and my headache had gone. On a grand scale of 1-10, I felt 11 times better than before. Not completely 100% because I hadn't eaten for 2 days and still can't cope with food so the good news is that I may drop a dress size. Woo hoo, there is a shining light at the end of this week's Ground Hog Day tunnel!
Today is Saturday and it's the start of yet another year of birthday celebrations and I can't wait!
There's always a chance for 'a first' even at my age! I took Ginger to Loch Fyne in Knowle so we decided we'd have the seafood platter for two. Guess what, I had my first oyster. The big question people always ask is 'What does it taste like?" Ginger said "The Sea".. I would say "Not a lot - well, apart from the big squirt of lemon juice I'd squeezed over it!"
Tonight I fulfilled a long term ambition to get to see what is affectionately known as Les Mis. It's 25 years old and it shows the sad state of my social life over the past couple of decades that I have never seen this musical. It is billed as the longest running musical with an epic tale of passion and destruction. To celebrate Les Miserables 25th anniversary, this award winning musical has had a makeover. This new production, based on Victor Hugo's classic novel features Earl Carpenter, Gareth Gates as Marius and John-Owen Jones as Jean Valjean. His performance alone was extraordinary and his take on the famous song, 'Bring him home' was breathtaking.
The entire evening was so enjoyable. Nick invited me as his guest for the Champagne Gala Dinner which they sponsor and was intended to launch the theatre's new campaign to raise money for a new stage. We had drinks, dinner in the St Patrick's Centre followed by seats front row of the circle with an amazing view of the stage. This brand new performance, presented by the legendary Cameron Mackintosh, included brand new staging and spectacular effects. The pace was fast and the musicality just brilliant. 
Not that I was a fish... I spent the day wondering what I wanted to eat and then it came to me. I was flicking through Good Food on my desk and came across a picture of a stuffed fish. Magazines are such a great source of inspiration! Immediately, I knew I wanted to cook a stuffed fish for dinner tonight. Of course, by the time I got to the supermarket after work the choice of whole fish was limited to a trout, 3 herrings and a headless mackerel. I think it was the bubble-like eyed trout staring at me that made me pick up the trout fillets! I flashed forward to the bit where there's only bones, a head and a tail left and knew I'd made the right choice!
Being a Domestic Goddess Extraordinaire means I prefer to work with just inspiration and instinct - no recipe required. As I looked up the difference between intuition and instinct this morning, I can tell you that one is experience from birth and one is learnt over centuries of other people's experiences - hence the first is governed by our emotions and the second being the higher form of knowledge, coming from intellect. Hey.. !! back to the fish ;) old trout face took a smidgen to cook, tasted delicious and although I had intended to only eat some, it was so delicious it would have been rude to leave a single flake. I am now a bonafide fish stuffing, string tying, trout-loving girly x
Not both at the same time! Homemade soup.. what more can I say..? Mom made pea soup for my tea tonight, it was just like home from home. Then myself, Mom and Marie went off to my old high school - not the buggie Bilston one but the nice friendly Codsall one - so we could be entertained by Nell Gwynn, Mistress to King Charles II of England. Lesley Smith, Curator of Tutbury Castle and Elizabethan Historian, was absolutely amazing as the alluring, cheeky Nell. She outwitted us with her cheeky humour, dazzled us with her sparkly eyes and engaged us with stories of Nell's relationship with the King of England. I bought mom a lovely basket of small grape hyacinths, now she's back from her weekend away, that me & Nick bought from the Highgrove store in Tetbury on Sunday afternoon. Nothing like their grown-up family members, these delicate blooms don't give you a headache with their pungent aroma, they are far more gentle and sweet.
This little birdie was a lovely surprise from the lovely Ginger Pie! She made it on her scrapping weekend and as she put it.. she saw the kit and knew she had to make it especially for me! I'll just have to wait for her to return from her crazy birthday skiing trip so she can let me into the secret of how it's made ;)
Look what my Mommy made me.. ! I love canvas embroidery but just don't have the time to do it myself right now. My mother is so crafty and has lovingly stitched every one of these tiny stitch patterns. I bought mom another wonderful kit from West End Embroideries when I went to Alex Palace in the Autumn. They can't create the patterns fast enough for my Mom! They're so generous with their threads that Mom was able to stitch not one, but two of 'Hot Stuff' and I love it.. Thank you Mom ;))
I am such a lucky girl! I've had this beautiful gift from the lovely Kati in Hungary. She's the best and most accomplished beading and jewellery expert that I know. Mind you, she's an expert at anything she turns her hand to. I love my wonderful bracelet. It has a magnetic catch so I don't have to spend hours fiddling trying to secure it around my wrist - it's just gorgeous. Thanks Kati! x
What you might have in common with a storybook character..? Are you a Superman hero? Do you have Domestic Goddess tendencies or perhaps you're like Elizabeth from Pride & Prejudice? I am a reincarnation of Pollyanna, the girl who was taught to play the "glad game" by her father who taught her to appreciate what she has - rather than pine and be sad about what she hasn't got. It's an essential part of a single girl's life! It's been a constant thought this week whilst I've been off work ill.. ;) 
I love surprises. I admit, not the noro virus kind of surprises for my birthday but surprise parcels. My sister knows me so well.. ;) the nice postman smiled as he handed over this lovely brown paper parcel all tied up with string. I smiled even more when I opened it to find my heroine inside. More reflections of the person I am happy to be. That would be the smiley, well one - not the icky, sick one! Thank you lickle sib - you have made me very glad indeed ;))))))))))
Where did the last 25 years go..?! Happy birthday Rich - you never really did that birthday cake thing even when you were two! Candles are much more fun stuck in half a crumpet or in your pannini on your 25th birthday! I forgot to take photographs of the lovely mini book I made for you but here's one of my fav photos.. ;) you were a great kid! Here's to the next 25... ! LuvUloads, Mom xxx
When Sunday, the first day of the show arrived, it felt as if I had just stepped onto a moving walkway and I waved goodbye to my me-time. Picture me on the biggest moving escalator which sometimes goes slowly and at other times speeds so fast it makes my head spin. There is no end and my feet are stuck to the floor so I can't move. There are doors along the way and behind them are opportunities, new faces, old familiar ones and the odd face from the closet that I'd rather pass on by! I can't say there are other people on here, I think they have their own agendas and their own big escalators. Though it's clear that some are very short so they can just hop on and hop off without leaving much of a trace. That's something I do really well btw... leave a trace - that makes me sound like a giant snail! But no one ever meets me and forgets me.. I'm the 1 in 10,000 rare four-leaf clover of the crafting world!
There were the awards on Sunday evening which are stressful and enjoyable all at the same time. There is always lots to see and lots of talking, organising, planning, meeting and silly air kissing! Trade shows are always a challenge and this one was a mightly beast. I'm looking forward to the little acorns of interest that may, with a little bit of love, grow into big opportunities.
There were some great highlights at the show which always make you forget all the hard work. I met up with some of my lovely friends, Ginger, Sara, Deeps, Stu, Vorray, Tony, Cara, Marie, Lucy, Pat.. too many to mention. I love being with my friends and I'm really lucky to have some very special people in my life right now. The long days were punctuated by lovely dinners and short nights with my new bf though I fear I was talking drivvel most of the time as my brain regurgitated the day's events.
I wonder, are mussels like olives? Never liked them much because they just seemed rubbery, salty and uninteresting - a bit like my first experience of eating olives. I now love olives and have learned that there are so many different varieties, it's like choosing wine - some bottles are fantastic and others are just like vinegar! My new bf hadn't remembered that I wasn't a fan of mussels so when he rocked up from Sainsbury's with stuff for dinner with the words.. 'I've got a surprise'... a great big boil-in-the-bag box of mussels in white wine sauce with 'erbs'.. I too was surprised! I like people who are passionate about great food because I am too. Their enthusiasm is infectious and food that I may have tried once and dismissed, is given a second chance. I'm constantly surprised at how many different varieties of olives there are and have to say, my mussel experience was similar. These were soft, a bit like having salmon in a shell, and the sauce was delicious. So much so that I was offered more, I liked them so much. I am now a mussel convert after my tussel with a mussel, or two!
How saintly did I feel?! On a scale of one to ten... 153! Eating food and feeling fat is about scale. I don't have a guilt complex about it really but there's something satisfying about being the one with the smaller portion!
