About two weekends ago my boyfriend wanted to create special memories with his Dad before emigration so they went to Barcelona to see Barcelona play at the Nou Camp. He's just read this and said "or did I want an excuse to see Barcelona?"
I was going to Wales to my family home as I hadn't been since October. We were having a Dad, daughter, son special day too. (Mumsy had already plans so kept herself out of it) I gave a couple of suggestions - going for a meal, going for a pub crawl in Aberystwyth, etc. My brother texted me to say these suggesions weren't selected, Dad had an idea and we HAD to go along with it.
OOhhh.. I couldn't think what it would be.
Made it to Wales on Friday evening, had a chilled evening and indian food and some wine. The wine was El Campo Viejo red that was a £5 at Asda that is a possible favourite of my undeveloped wine palate. Lu-ush!
The big reveal came after dinner - we were going to zipworld! To have a family zipline day! Take a look here
We had nice cake and coffee in Blaenau Ffestiniog before. I had a ten pound note in my hand ready to pay but lo! £15 for 3 coffees and 3 generous slices of cake! Reading this back to myself has reinforced how tight I am. The cake was massive. I take it back Ffestiniog.
The zipline was great, the staff are Gogs (North Walian) and are very friendly and chatty as are the rest of us from our fine nation. We did the titan zipline which was great and I wasn't overwhelmed with fear by the height aspect which did worry me in the journey on the way up.
You go fast and you have fun and feel the wind in your face. Its a rush.
We had a quality tour of North and mid-Wales after leaving zipworld: driving across to Harlech stopping to get a shot of Portmeirion from across the river; down the coast to Barmouth then back up the estuary in land to Dolgellau. such beautiful parts of the world and really free of people. Its all about Mother Nature.
We ate at Cross Foxes pub. They serve Erdinger! Winner! We had some delicious pub food with real chips.
The homeward bound. A wonderful day with family and in the great outdoors.
Nice recap for my memory bank
CHAO Sunny x
Thursday, 18 December 2014
Tuesday, 16 December 2014
living at the in laws + the lurgy
Hello,
I'm so behind. Life has been full-on for the past 2 weeks.
We moved out of our flat finally. I only shed a little tear. At the end of the day it was rented and it wasn't like we knew any of our neighbours (is that always the way when you life in a flat?). Our 2 separate sets of neighbours who we had known had moved out. Booo.
We have done a teeny weeny bit of clearing out of stuff since: probably another binbags worth. That is it.
I've been working the Linked In. A resource that I have overlooked in the past. I have applied for my first Down Under post and already been rejected for it. I thought that was quite professional by the agency. It may have been an automated message, but I was expecting the "due to the high number of applications, you will only be contacted if successful" that I knew in the past, so was pleasantly surprised.
I am having a feeling of being overwhelmed by it today. We still have loads to do and about a month to go. I know its going to creep up on us and I'll just be throwing 50% in a bin bag and 50% in a case and crossing my fingers.
I'm ill because I work with about 7 people who have chest infections and the usual coughs and colds and share air with them for 8 hours a day last week. Then I went to a gig on Thursday and was in close confines with sweaty people and got dehydrated. The cherry on the cake was partying it up at my work Christmas do - having a mojito or 3 and having shouty conversations to be heard over the tunes. Saturday morning was all about the fun of a sore throat and cough and headache combo. Write-off weekend. Sob.
Lets jingle while we mingle.
Sunny x
I'm so behind. Life has been full-on for the past 2 weeks.
We moved out of our flat finally. I only shed a little tear. At the end of the day it was rented and it wasn't like we knew any of our neighbours (is that always the way when you life in a flat?). Our 2 separate sets of neighbours who we had known had moved out. Booo.
We have done a teeny weeny bit of clearing out of stuff since: probably another binbags worth. That is it.
I've been working the Linked In. A resource that I have overlooked in the past. I have applied for my first Down Under post and already been rejected for it. I thought that was quite professional by the agency. It may have been an automated message, but I was expecting the "due to the high number of applications, you will only be contacted if successful" that I knew in the past, so was pleasantly surprised.
I am having a feeling of being overwhelmed by it today. We still have loads to do and about a month to go. I know its going to creep up on us and I'll just be throwing 50% in a bin bag and 50% in a case and crossing my fingers.
I'm ill because I work with about 7 people who have chest infections and the usual coughs and colds and share air with them for 8 hours a day last week. Then I went to a gig on Thursday and was in close confines with sweaty people and got dehydrated. The cherry on the cake was partying it up at my work Christmas do - having a mojito or 3 and having shouty conversations to be heard over the tunes. Saturday morning was all about the fun of a sore throat and cough and headache combo. Write-off weekend. Sob.
Lets jingle while we mingle.
Sunny x
Wednesday, 26 November 2014
the joys of moving, military workouts
So I have finally warmed up from the weekend's car boot.
Woohoo!
I went to yoga on Monday which was very painful for my legs. They so need it though.
Then Tuesday was first day at military workout day in the park. I was very nervous as I cannot do burpees, sit ups, planking or anything that involves strength. It turned out to be a laugh - it reminded me of a games lesson from primary school where you play about and do little team games. The girls did warn that it is normally harder, I wonder if the leader was making it easy for the newbies.
The fitness and increased activity level is of course happening because we will be moving into Summertime = skimpy clothes! I'm sure Christmas feasting will undo all my efforts, but the exercise is apparently good for you anyway.
We've been selling furniture this week on Gumtree. Only 2 bits to go.
I must add that despite all this progress in shifting stuff, a healthy amount of bickering is going on. Moving house is supposed to be one of the most stressful things and we are having the odd rant at one another. Its no big deal but I suppose I'm mentioning it as a record that arguments occurred and were dealt with, we kissed, made up and moved on.
I hope once we move into the inlaws, we can chill out a bit and just sort out bank accounts, mobile phone contracts, other admin bits, and more importantly, building up our networks over there to get employment sorted pronto. It won't really be ideal to argue at their house either, potential awkwardness alert!
Separate to the move I am being super tempted by all these bloody Black Friday offers. I might use the offers not on myself but on my Xmas shopping. I've spent no time thinking about what I might get people though.
Toodle pip, just a little touch-base.
Sunny x
Woohoo!
I went to yoga on Monday which was very painful for my legs. They so need it though.
Then Tuesday was first day at military workout day in the park. I was very nervous as I cannot do burpees, sit ups, planking or anything that involves strength. It turned out to be a laugh - it reminded me of a games lesson from primary school where you play about and do little team games. The girls did warn that it is normally harder, I wonder if the leader was making it easy for the newbies.
The fitness and increased activity level is of course happening because we will be moving into Summertime = skimpy clothes! I'm sure Christmas feasting will undo all my efforts, but the exercise is apparently good for you anyway.
We've been selling furniture this week on Gumtree. Only 2 bits to go.
I must add that despite all this progress in shifting stuff, a healthy amount of bickering is going on. Moving house is supposed to be one of the most stressful things and we are having the odd rant at one another. Its no big deal but I suppose I'm mentioning it as a record that arguments occurred and were dealt with, we kissed, made up and moved on.
I hope once we move into the inlaws, we can chill out a bit and just sort out bank accounts, mobile phone contracts, other admin bits, and more importantly, building up our networks over there to get employment sorted pronto. It won't really be ideal to argue at their house either, potential awkwardness alert!
Separate to the move I am being super tempted by all these bloody Black Friday offers. I might use the offers not on myself but on my Xmas shopping. I've spent no time thinking about what I might get people though.
Toodle pip, just a little touch-base.
Sunny x
Sunday, 23 November 2014
Car booty 2 + bone cold
Yo!
7 days left in the flat. It'll be the end of an era, the first home we've shared together. I'll have to get some photos to show the future kids.
Today was car boot sale 2 and was the Real Deal. Up at 4am, queuing outside the empty lot for 1 hour to get a good spot before it opened at 6am. Last week, many people had told us that it was full of foreigners wanting everything for 20p and that stuff gets nicked on you. Plus it was raining at half 4. Potential nightmare!
When we pulled in at 6am, it was dark. The buyers lurking around at 6am ON A SUNDAY had torches. We opened our doors and they were right there "have you got any mens trainers". WOAH. Hold your horses lady. It took us about 10 mins to get to grips with everything and we told the half dozen peeps to leave us alone for 5 mins and everyone was courteous.
3 of us had 2 cars of stuff. Cleverly our tables were on the bottom, so we had to unload everything to get the tables out to put the stuff on. Anyway, we got sorted in the pitch dark and I think our first sale was our tablemats and coasters for £2. £££ woohoo!
I am still freezing cold to my core after 6 hours standing there.
The footfall was great and we sold a real varied load of items. Yes there were migrants there, but plenty of Brits too. Everybody was polite and after different things for different reasons. All types of people tried to haggle - and why not? Its part of the fun and as the seller, you choose if you take the price or not. Just say "no" with a smile. Nobody asked for anything at 20p, I think the lowest we sold was 50p.
Also no-one nicked anything and no-one had particularly noteworthy dodgy behaviour.
We made over £200 across the 2 car boots. WOOP! That will gratefully go towards buying new items in Australia to set us up again. I am not saying "re-buying" because we have had stern words with ourselves that we will not collect so must stuff again. Ever.
Managed to make carrot and lentil soup for tomorrow's lunch. This will counteract lunchtime's KFC that I gobbled down soaked in gravy after finishing the car boot.
Can't wait to eat that soup. I will feel warm again.
Sunny x
7 days left in the flat. It'll be the end of an era, the first home we've shared together. I'll have to get some photos to show the future kids.
Today was car boot sale 2 and was the Real Deal. Up at 4am, queuing outside the empty lot for 1 hour to get a good spot before it opened at 6am. Last week, many people had told us that it was full of foreigners wanting everything for 20p and that stuff gets nicked on you. Plus it was raining at half 4. Potential nightmare!
When we pulled in at 6am, it was dark. The buyers lurking around at 6am ON A SUNDAY had torches. We opened our doors and they were right there "have you got any mens trainers". WOAH. Hold your horses lady. It took us about 10 mins to get to grips with everything and we told the half dozen peeps to leave us alone for 5 mins and everyone was courteous.
3 of us had 2 cars of stuff. Cleverly our tables were on the bottom, so we had to unload everything to get the tables out to put the stuff on. Anyway, we got sorted in the pitch dark and I think our first sale was our tablemats and coasters for £2. £££ woohoo!
I am still freezing cold to my core after 6 hours standing there.
The footfall was great and we sold a real varied load of items. Yes there were migrants there, but plenty of Brits too. Everybody was polite and after different things for different reasons. All types of people tried to haggle - and why not? Its part of the fun and as the seller, you choose if you take the price or not. Just say "no" with a smile. Nobody asked for anything at 20p, I think the lowest we sold was 50p.
Also no-one nicked anything and no-one had particularly noteworthy dodgy behaviour.
We made over £200 across the 2 car boots. WOOP! That will gratefully go towards buying new items in Australia to set us up again. I am not saying "re-buying" because we have had stern words with ourselves that we will not collect so must stuff again. Ever.
Managed to make carrot and lentil soup for tomorrow's lunch. This will counteract lunchtime's KFC that I gobbled down soaked in gravy after finishing the car boot.
 |
| Image from bbcgoodfood.com - my soup did not look like this |
Can't wait to eat that soup. I will feel warm again.
Sunny x
Thursday, 20 November 2014
2 days ago...
I wrote...
Hello!
Well I was totally ready to
write a post today but the WiFi is not playing ball. Lovely boyf is out so I will
have to write the words and post when I can.
Made a tasteless beef &
ale casserole for tea in the slow cooker. It was particularly woeful because I
was also feeding boyfriend’s Dad. I have a 50% hit rate when it comes to meals
being good. This is partly why this is not a food blog!
So we’re moving Down Under in
Jan and my mind is hopping from one issue to another. Get a job, get a flat, close bank accounts, sell our flat contents, move
out, sell 2 cars…
So there are many things that I could concern myself and worry
about on any given day… today I was concerned about what I will be wearing when I'm there and I bought clothes. This makes no sense as we have 80kg luggage limit
for 2 people.
 |
| A bargacious £14.99 from H&M http://www.hm.com/gb/product/73812?article=73812-B |
Nice H&M black dress, and so cheap.
I also bought a gorgeous Forever 21 Burnout Floral Circle Skirt that was £17.50. Also so cheap and I can't wait to wear it!
I'm buying because I've read the shopping is rubbish there and expensive but I can't be the judge of that myself until January.
It's 2 days later and I'm feeling overwhelmed as we also have the landlord bringing his next tenants for a viewing so we'll need to empty the flat further and have organised almost everything into boxes.
We'll get there.
Been to your local Christmas market yet? Seems too mild to go really.
x Sunny x
Sunday, 16 November 2014
Moving + a car booty
Hiya!
Hope everyone has had a wicked weekend.
I've been at a car boot sale today - we're trying to condense 5 years of living together and 60+ joint years of life into 40kg as we're moving to Australia!
AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
We set the ball rolling in 2013 when my boyfriend did his IELTS English exam. Despite being British born and bred, he needed to prove his English level in order to get his skills assessed as being kosher for an Accountant. He tested as having superior English, which is hilarious to me.
We then did nothing further to progress our Australia idea until this year, that's for another time.
The car boot was ok. We went to an indoor car boot and we were one of about 11 tables. As we are emptying our house, we had a load of various categories of quality second-hand goods. I thought it might have been taboo to call stuff "crap" at the car boot but I needn't have worried, all the other sellers were openly telling us they were clearing out their own "crap".
We estimate we got rid of about £70 worth of stuff, taking the £10 out for the pitch and £1.40 for coffees, we had £58.60 for our troubles. The only problemilla was that footfall was non-existent after the first hour. All the old pros doing their buying rounds told us there was another boot sale 2 streets away that was heaving. We did a drive-by of that booty sale on the way home and lo-and-behold it was chocca.
Shouldawouldacoulda.
We are doing another car boot next Sunday anyway. Anything that doesn't go then will be charity shopped or tipped. We are either going to the heaving outdoor booty or the indoor one if it rains. We have been reliably informed the indoor site is heaving when its raining.
Some of the highlights we sold:
Xmas tree £3
2 x cushions + covers £3
Helly Hansen jacket £5
Metal fruit bowl 50p
Bikini (never worn with the hygiene strip still on it) 50p
photo frame + ornament £2
Books do not sell
Jigsaws do not sell - not even a Downton Abbey one!
Neither type of items got a whiff so they're being charity shopped
Can't believe the weekend is almost over.
Reduce your clutter people, it makes you feel like you've lost half a stone overnight.
x Sunny x
Hope everyone has had a wicked weekend.
I've been at a car boot sale today - we're trying to condense 5 years of living together and 60+ joint years of life into 40kg as we're moving to Australia!
AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
We set the ball rolling in 2013 when my boyfriend did his IELTS English exam. Despite being British born and bred, he needed to prove his English level in order to get his skills assessed as being kosher for an Accountant. He tested as having superior English, which is hilarious to me.
We then did nothing further to progress our Australia idea until this year, that's for another time.
The car boot was ok. We went to an indoor car boot and we were one of about 11 tables. As we are emptying our house, we had a load of various categories of quality second-hand goods. I thought it might have been taboo to call stuff "crap" at the car boot but I needn't have worried, all the other sellers were openly telling us they were clearing out their own "crap".
We estimate we got rid of about £70 worth of stuff, taking the £10 out for the pitch and £1.40 for coffees, we had £58.60 for our troubles. The only problemilla was that footfall was non-existent after the first hour. All the old pros doing their buying rounds told us there was another boot sale 2 streets away that was heaving. We did a drive-by of that booty sale on the way home and lo-and-behold it was chocca.
Shouldawouldacoulda.
We are doing another car boot next Sunday anyway. Anything that doesn't go then will be charity shopped or tipped. We are either going to the heaving outdoor booty or the indoor one if it rains. We have been reliably informed the indoor site is heaving when its raining.
Some of the highlights we sold:
Xmas tree £3
2 x cushions + covers £3
Helly Hansen jacket £5
Metal fruit bowl 50p
Bikini (never worn with the hygiene strip still on it) 50p
photo frame + ornament £2
 |
| image from stonehengetours.com |
Books do not sell
Jigsaws do not sell - not even a Downton Abbey one!
Neither type of items got a whiff so they're being charity shopped
Can't believe the weekend is almost over.
Reduce your clutter people, it makes you feel like you've lost half a stone overnight.
x Sunny x
Sunday, 12 October 2014
Wonderful weekend with family
Hi!
Happy Sunday!
I never normally say that. Friday is THE Happy day but I've had a brilliant weekend with family and friends so Sunday deserves the adjective too.
Thursday night - had friends round for dinner. Made yummy pulled pork. Recipe from 100daysofrealfood.com Its the second time I've made it and its ideal for mid week entertaining. Especially when the night before, when you are preparing your baked ricotta cheescake, it ends up too dry, boyfriend hates the taste and it takes you 4 attempts to make your caramel at 10.40pm at night. We wrote off the cheescake and confidence plummeted for the cooking of the main course. That awesome slow cooker recipe saved me. Especially when I served the pulled pork with baked beans (yes from a tin) and roast potatoes and sweet potatoes. Easy.
Friday- drove back to my family home, this is a nice tune in the driving theme:.I drove all night Cyndi Lauper version
Had a lush Mouts lime and kiwi cider on arrival. Very nice but my favourite is still Kopparberg brand.
Saturday - Had a breakfast meeting with the girls. Catch up on our lives at el cheapo Wetherspoons. Was mock-shocked at the people on a hen do in full-on fancy dress necking the blue wkds at 10.30am. Wethas is a magnet for us all.
I ate a breakfast wrap with free refill coffee and had a smoothie. I needed the smoothie as I am among the 40% of the population that have had an autumnal sore throat/cold this week. Still got to hammer the vit D so make sure I am back at 100%.
In the afternoon, watched my baby bro playing rugby (they won WOOP!). Mum and I can never keep track of the score -we always have to ask some person. It was particularly embarrassing to ask on Sat as we both had a cider (Kopparberg) at half time, so we must have looked like two lushes too half cut to know what the frig was going on.
In the evening, caught up with cousins and aunts and uncles. Was such a laugh and we had a 5 year old doing charades for us that always were 1 word and had only 1 action with them.
Sunday - nice lunch( pork), nice cake (Guinness), nice pudding (blackberry + apple crumble) read Game of Thrones - breakthrough on the GoT slogathon btw, now on book 4 AHEAD of the TV series.
And here we are. Not letting camera issues and lack of photos stop me babbling on.
Hope your weekends were wonderful
Sunny x
Happy Sunday!
I never normally say that. Friday is THE Happy day but I've had a brilliant weekend with family and friends so Sunday deserves the adjective too.
Thursday night - had friends round for dinner. Made yummy pulled pork. Recipe from 100daysofrealfood.com Its the second time I've made it and its ideal for mid week entertaining. Especially when the night before, when you are preparing your baked ricotta cheescake, it ends up too dry, boyfriend hates the taste and it takes you 4 attempts to make your caramel at 10.40pm at night. We wrote off the cheescake and confidence plummeted for the cooking of the main course. That awesome slow cooker recipe saved me. Especially when I served the pulled pork with baked beans (yes from a tin) and roast potatoes and sweet potatoes. Easy.
Friday- drove back to my family home, this is a nice tune in the driving theme:.I drove all night Cyndi Lauper version
Had a lush Mouts lime and kiwi cider on arrival. Very nice but my favourite is still Kopparberg brand.
 |
| Image from tesco.com. I bought mine from Asda |
Saturday - Had a breakfast meeting with the girls. Catch up on our lives at el cheapo Wetherspoons. Was mock-shocked at the people on a hen do in full-on fancy dress necking the blue wkds at 10.30am. Wethas is a magnet for us all.
I ate a breakfast wrap with free refill coffee and had a smoothie. I needed the smoothie as I am among the 40% of the population that have had an autumnal sore throat/cold this week. Still got to hammer the vit D so make sure I am back at 100%.
In the afternoon, watched my baby bro playing rugby (they won WOOP!). Mum and I can never keep track of the score -we always have to ask some person. It was particularly embarrassing to ask on Sat as we both had a cider (Kopparberg) at half time, so we must have looked like two lushes too half cut to know what the frig was going on.
In the evening, caught up with cousins and aunts and uncles. Was such a laugh and we had a 5 year old doing charades for us that always were 1 word and had only 1 action with them.
Sunday - nice lunch( pork), nice cake (Guinness), nice pudding (blackberry + apple crumble) read Game of Thrones - breakthrough on the GoT slogathon btw, now on book 4 AHEAD of the TV series.
And here we are. Not letting camera issues and lack of photos stop me babbling on.
Hope your weekends were wonderful
Sunny x
Wednesday, 24 September 2014
Wow I've been away a long time.
I'm been gallivanting and I've been preoccupied with a possible life-changing move.
It's something I -we- am excited about and anxious about at the same time. But it's an opportunity that's been bouncing about in my brain and the only way to put the thought to rest is by taking the opportunity and dealing with the consequences.
I'll stop being cryptic, I don't want to tempt fate by saying more now.
I'm still reading Game of Thrones. Am now on A Storm of Swords Part 2 and I am finally at a stage in the story where there are BIG differences between TV and book so its exciting to read once more.
So Kit Harington aka John Snow. Unless he's being all brave with his sword (no Carry On type pun intended) in the show, I am not interested. The girls in the office beg to differ so clearly Jimmy Choo made the right decision.
I am going to read some more. I'm so near the RED WEDDING...
xx Sunny Ness
I'm been gallivanting and I've been preoccupied with a possible life-changing move.
It's something I -we- am excited about and anxious about at the same time. But it's an opportunity that's been bouncing about in my brain and the only way to put the thought to rest is by taking the opportunity and dealing with the consequences.
I'll stop being cryptic, I don't want to tempt fate by saying more now.
I'm still reading Game of Thrones. Am now on A Storm of Swords Part 2 and I am finally at a stage in the story where there are BIG differences between TV and book so its exciting to read once more.
 | |||
| Kit Harrington Jimmy Choo ad |
I am going to read some more. I'm so near the RED WEDDING...
xx Sunny Ness
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Where I've been
My last week of precious holiday was spent adding to the European capitals. We loved Athens in June and now we went first to here:
We then travelled with Pegasus to our next EU capital...we had leftover euros from Athens that we thought we could spend with wild abandon in this place. Schoolgirl error and clue: it is in the EU but like us is not actually part of the euro.Pink sunset photo - I discovered the exposure button on my camera. Such fun! How did I not know about it before? I found myself thinking about getting an SLR camera, but it was so painful for everyone around me waiting for me to wiggle the button plus 3 then minus a bit then plus 1 more then take the first shot. Then take a second one with a slightly different exposure incase I'd judged wrong the first time, some times I even took a third.
I'll go into detail on the first location tomorrow.
Til then Sunny x
Monday, 21 July 2014
I'm back
Hello,
I am back and a happier bunny. I hated to leave the blog on a downer but I went on holiday!
I was going to put some "guess where I've been photos" but my camera has died.
Frustrating...
I'll charge tonight and divulge tomorrow - the places are amazing and you'll either relive some cracking memories or want to put them on your holiday bucket list.
(I did not go to the beach).
How wonderful is this summer in good old Blighty?
See you tomorrow SUNNY x
I am back and a happier bunny. I hated to leave the blog on a downer but I went on holiday!
I was going to put some "guess where I've been photos" but my camera has died.
Frustrating...
I'll charge tonight and divulge tomorrow - the places are amazing and you'll either relive some cracking memories or want to put them on your holiday bucket list.
 |
| image from acaloans.com.au |
(I did not go to the beach).
How wonderful is this summer in good old Blighty?
See you tomorrow SUNNY x
Saturday, 12 July 2014
can't get no satisfaction
I hope my weird sad and restless mood will do one right about now, plaguing my Saturday with melancholy.
The weather has oppressed me, Game of Thrones reading is still hanging over me, I have chores to do, I should be happy I've had a day doing my favourite things. I think I'm just tired. Then yesterday two of my acquaintances received poor health news which knocked me sideways. Having poor health scares me. Hearing of others misfortunes so close to home makes you want to seize every moment: be active or be productive or be constructive. I was none of those things today, and I feel guilty for it....sweating the small stuff...again I should feel bad for feeling guilty.
I feel guilty for having a £4.50 Starbucks brekkie yesterday. It was to take the edge off my third very looonng working day in a row.
I only had a frigging frappuccino: soo refreshing. But £4.50 for that and a blueberry muffin, I'm a mug. I at least bought my lunch in from home.
Will reading my words in black and white convince myself to chill and be content with how I've spent my day?
Walked to the butchers for real meat for our barbecue.
Drank my current favourite raspberry cider.
Read about 100 pages of GoT.
Had my lovely boyf cook the bbq.
Ate sweet strawberries.
Did some laundry.
Going to the cinema in a bit.
I'm still in no happy mood but I'm sure if I re-read this post in 2 days or 2 months or 2 years time, I'll read about my day and think it sounded pretty hunkydory.
Sunny in the rain x
The weather has oppressed me, Game of Thrones reading is still hanging over me, I have chores to do, I should be happy I've had a day doing my favourite things. I think I'm just tired. Then yesterday two of my acquaintances received poor health news which knocked me sideways. Having poor health scares me. Hearing of others misfortunes so close to home makes you want to seize every moment: be active or be productive or be constructive. I was none of those things today, and I feel guilty for it....sweating the small stuff...again I should feel bad for feeling guilty.
I feel guilty for having a £4.50 Starbucks brekkie yesterday. It was to take the edge off my third very looonng working day in a row.
Will reading my words in black and white convince myself to chill and be content with how I've spent my day?
Walked to the butchers for real meat for our barbecue.
Drank my current favourite raspberry cider.
Read about 100 pages of GoT.
Had my lovely boyf cook the bbq.
Ate sweet strawberries.
Did some laundry.
Going to the cinema in a bit.
I'm still in no happy mood but I'm sure if I re-read this post in 2 days or 2 months or 2 years time, I'll read about my day and think it sounded pretty hunkydory.
Sunny in the rain x
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
Fake positivity
I'm embracing positivity today.
Fake it til you make it/a positive mind attracts positive outcomes.
The John Travolta Hairspray film is on TV and is very cheery and is helping.
I'm aware I'm over the hump and sliding downhill to the weekend.
Lets list 3 happy things today:
1. I've made mashed potato and cabbage ready to eat for tea tomorrow. There will be sausages with it, this is not the workhouse.
2. I've written this blog.
3. The sun shone
I feel better already - achievement in the sun!
I'm plodding my way through Game of Thrones.
I set myself a goal to read the series as part of my day zero project. I wish I could just skip to the fourth book which is approx where the series is up to but no, I haven't even got to the bit where that first big character dies (surely the whole world has watched it by now and it won't harm to say his name?)
I have a couple of adventures going on in the few weeks. Will update as I finish them.
Be positive!.... and buy a little something in the sales. I got this. Very rubbish photo os gorgeous shirt WITH BUTTERFLIES ON! Pretty pretty and nice and baggy for even those pesky bloaty belly days.
See you later alligators
Sunny x
Fake it til you make it/a positive mind attracts positive outcomes.
The John Travolta Hairspray film is on TV and is very cheery and is helping.
I'm aware I'm over the hump and sliding downhill to the weekend.
Lets list 3 happy things today:
1. I've made mashed potato and cabbage ready to eat for tea tomorrow. There will be sausages with it, this is not the workhouse.
2. I've written this blog.
3. The sun shone
I feel better already - achievement in the sun!
I'm plodding my way through Game of Thrones.
I set myself a goal to read the series as part of my day zero project. I wish I could just skip to the fourth book which is approx where the series is up to but no, I haven't even got to the bit where that first big character dies (surely the whole world has watched it by now and it won't harm to say his name?)
I have a couple of adventures going on in the few weeks. Will update as I finish them.
Be positive!.... and buy a little something in the sales. I got this. Very rubbish photo os gorgeous shirt WITH BUTTERFLIES ON! Pretty pretty and nice and baggy for even those pesky bloaty belly days.
Sunny x
Saturday, 5 July 2014
Athens food and graffiti
I've been absent from the blog. I feel like I'm on a summer holiday from routine. No yoga, zumba, or blogging. Part of the problem is my addiction to My Kitchen Rules Australia. Its on the Living Channel for an hour every weeknight. I love the format, its such a change to the snoresville that is Normal person/celebrity/professional/*insert type of person Masterchef. BUT its eating into my blogging time.
Anyway, I still have loads of Athens photos that I have been looking at to prepare my commentary of them for the benefit of boyf's parents tomorrow.
I absolutely loved Greek food. It is very budget friendly and the fruit and veg were amazing - I miss their tomatoes.
Hello Greek beer. Having the World Cup invade my holiday is made acceptable by outdoor TVs, beers on the patio and other nationalities getting patriotic for 90 minutes.
Hello Greek wine. Its very sweet. 1 glass was enough for me. Please note the generous slab of feta in the greek salad. This meal was at a restaurant called Kotili that is on the pedestrian walkway called Adrianou Street, its near the end of Monastiraki metro station and Hadrian's library. We ate there twice it was so good and I recommend it as they have live Greek music, which I found both soothing and romantic and the garden has beautiful lighting.
This meze selection was more than enough for two people after having our veg quotient via the greek salad. It had chicken, cheese, pork, spicy pork sausage, chicken wings and some nice dips: potato salad, tzatziki . The meat was cooked perfectly. You can see its not fine dining but it was succulent.
So this is alpha beer and some hydrating water enjoyed at a bar on the promenade on the island of Aegina. Its the closest island to Athens and an hour away by ferry. Our intention was to swim on this day but you can see the sky was overcast so we chilled in the bar instead after having a wander around the Aegina ruins and small museum. They like their pottery in that museum.
Aegina pistachio nuts. They are apparently particularly good from this island. That bag cost me 3euro which must be only half the price of the UK supermarkets? And I didn't have to share them cause boyf doesn't like them. Little piggy here stuffed herself to the point of sickness on the ferry back to Athens.
I love ice-cream but normally avoid it like the plague as I have some kind of IBS-type reaction to it and I regret eating it. It was worth running the risk of pain for a scoop of rose ice-cream. Yes, turkish delight flavour ice cream. Heaven in a bowl. The other pot contains cookie ice cream which was only half as good.
Our hotel was in the neighbourhood called Exarchia. On arrival, we walked uphill along a long single lane traffic road. There was litter everywhere, dirty cars (not that I can talk), a lot of shuttered shops (it was Sunday so can't really make anything of that), a mixture of buildings and a lot of graffiti or murals. I was wondering where I had brought us...I needn't have worried.
We only ended up staying in Exarchia because we booked our hotels so last minute.
I am very glad that we did stay there, despite initial impressions. It has a high student population and according to the guidebook and the web its home to the Left which perhaps accounts for the creative outpouring on the streets.
Its better because its not a tourist focussed area with guys trying to hustle you into their restos like in the Plaka area. There were loads of small bars and cafes, restaurants. It particularly came alive after 10pm. Platia Exarchion is a real hub of the area and we enjoyed eating and drinking there. Everyone was very friendly too, the hotel workers, the people in the supermarket, the bar and cafe workers.
And this was the view from the hotel rooftop. Impressive.
Exarchia is not so leftfield really, the Lonely Planet have a chapter on the neighbourhood. For us, it was the perfect base from which to explore Athens.
Sunny x
Thursday, 26 June 2014
Monday, 23 June 2014
A British barbie
Hi,
I wish we had barbecue tonight, instead we had paprika chicken from the slow cooker.
It was ok, but it didn't look as good as this:
Barbecue a deux:
Its a Noah's ark of barbeuces...and the meats were grilled by two by two by two by two by two by twooooo.
The gorgeous meat was bought at our local butcher. 2 beefburgers, 2 lambburgers, 2 original recipe pork sausages, 2 spanish sausages, 2 brazilian chicken kebabs (marinaded by our amaze butcher) and some veg kebabs. The veg did NOT cook. I ate the onion and pepper raw, and I hate raw onions....>ming alert< Repeats on me like nobody's business.
I had to take the car to the supermarket for a £3 carwash because it had been attacked by seagulls or pigeons while I was away.
It just about took the muck off, I'll need to to the the manual car wash next week.
The car temperature said 27 degrees. I had to sit in the carwash with the windows up and a/c off for at least 5 mins. I texted my bro to send the ambulance in case he hadn't heard from by the time 8 mins had gone incase I passed out with heatstroke.
But here I am! Made it back to the office. woohoo!
Ciao all,
Sunny L x
I wish we had barbecue tonight, instead we had paprika chicken from the slow cooker.
It was ok, but it didn't look as good as this:
Barbecue a deux:
The gorgeous meat was bought at our local butcher. 2 beefburgers, 2 lambburgers, 2 original recipe pork sausages, 2 spanish sausages, 2 brazilian chicken kebabs (marinaded by our amaze butcher) and some veg kebabs. The veg did NOT cook. I ate the onion and pepper raw, and I hate raw onions....>ming alert< Repeats on me like nobody's business.
I had to take the car to the supermarket for a £3 carwash because it had been attacked by seagulls or pigeons while I was away.
It just about took the muck off, I'll need to to the the manual car wash next week.
The car temperature said 27 degrees. I had to sit in the carwash with the windows up and a/c off for at least 5 mins. I texted my bro to send the ambulance in case he hadn't heard from by the time 8 mins had gone incase I passed out with heatstroke.
But here I am! Made it back to the office. woohoo!
Ciao all,
Sunny L x
Sunday, 22 June 2014
back from holiday
Hey!
I've been in Athens getting my fix on sun, culture, history and lush food.
I've actually been back a couple of days but I've spent them sitting in my sun lounger on the balcony.
We've had 2 barbecues and I've read a book, drank a couple of beers.
I am holding on to that holiday feeling with my fingertips, trying to drain the last drop of chilled-out happiness before I re-enter reality tomorrow.
I haven't yet updated you on the play I went to at the Lowry in early June: The Things we do for Love. It's an Alan Ayckbourn play, I've heard of him but I've never watched anything by him.
Those who watched Neighbours back in the day when it was on BBC1, will all know Natalie Imbruglia. Here she is, she was in the play.
Also in the play is Claire Price, who had the main role, Barbara, who I didn't recognise but was in Rebus. Natalie Imbruglia's character was not as likeable to me as Barbara.
The first act was a conversation between the 2 women, they are old school friends and the conversation was very high-pitched, talking without pause and sounded exactly like me and my school friends when we have a catch-up....but it was boring when it was listening to someone else's mates and their history (the boyf has told me this several times and who'd think he was right?).
The play picked up greatly after that, especially as the effects of drink kicked in at a dinner party that the four characters all attended. Acting being drunk was quality.
I think I liked the end of the play although it left one character alone (although perhaps that character needed it); a second character was unable to leave their loneliness and two characters, their lives changed in way that one hopes will bring long-term happiness but we'll never know..
The set of the play was also original. Its a three-storey house and they have built the set so we can see all three flats in the building. Its clever.
Should think about getting my head in the game for the "w" word tomorrow.
Sunny x
I've been in Athens getting my fix on sun, culture, history and lush food.
I've actually been back a couple of days but I've spent them sitting in my sun lounger on the balcony.
We've had 2 barbecues and I've read a book, drank a couple of beers.
I am holding on to that holiday feeling with my fingertips, trying to drain the last drop of chilled-out happiness before I re-enter reality tomorrow.
I haven't yet updated you on the play I went to at the Lowry in early June: The Things we do for Love. It's an Alan Ayckbourn play, I've heard of him but I've never watched anything by him.
Also in the play is Claire Price, who had the main role, Barbara, who I didn't recognise but was in Rebus. Natalie Imbruglia's character was not as likeable to me as Barbara.
The first act was a conversation between the 2 women, they are old school friends and the conversation was very high-pitched, talking without pause and sounded exactly like me and my school friends when we have a catch-up....but it was boring when it was listening to someone else's mates and their history (the boyf has told me this several times and who'd think he was right?).
The play picked up greatly after that, especially as the effects of drink kicked in at a dinner party that the four characters all attended. Acting being drunk was quality.
I think I liked the end of the play although it left one character alone (although perhaps that character needed it); a second character was unable to leave their loneliness and two characters, their lives changed in way that one hopes will bring long-term happiness but we'll never know..
The set of the play was also original. Its a three-storey house and they have built the set so we can see all three flats in the building. Its clever.
Should think about getting my head in the game for the "w" word tomorrow.
Sunny x
Thursday, 12 June 2014
World Cup + a James Patterson book
Hi!
Happy World Cup all!... but I am already finding it irritating.
I will, of course, watch England but do I have to watch every match and listen to the frigging cliches from the commentators?
Anyway, I read a book on the weekend: James Patterson The 12th of Never. Its twelfth in the Women's Murder Club series. The main characters are women: copper; journalist; prosecutor; coroner. They were quite likeable.
I hope that a different character in the club would have a lead story in each book to allow the characters to fill out and keep it fresh. Based on the book I've read though, it could be that Detective Lindsay Boxer is the big cheese character and the others are always secondary providing support to her cases
I have not read the earlier books so am proof that they can be read stand-alone and enjoyed. There was a twist at the end that I did not see coming and I will not give away here. I am interested enough to add them on to my "to-read" list...so 7.5 out of 10 from me.
I would give more than 7.5 out of 10 to my strawberry cornetto I had at lunch time. Half strawberry ice/half vanilla ice with some hidden strawberry sauce. Fit. Fit. Fit ice-cream.
9/10.
Enjoy the rest of Friday eve.
Sunny xx
Happy World Cup all!... but I am already finding it irritating.
I will, of course, watch England but do I have to watch every match and listen to the frigging cliches from the commentators?
Anyway, I read a book on the weekend: James Patterson The 12th of Never. Its twelfth in the Women's Murder Club series. The main characters are women: copper; journalist; prosecutor; coroner. They were quite likeable.
I hope that a different character in the club would have a lead story in each book to allow the characters to fill out and keep it fresh. Based on the book I've read though, it could be that Detective Lindsay Boxer is the big cheese character and the others are always secondary providing support to her cases
I have not read the earlier books so am proof that they can be read stand-alone and enjoyed. There was a twist at the end that I did not see coming and I will not give away here. I am interested enough to add them on to my "to-read" list...so 7.5 out of 10 from me.
I would give more than 7.5 out of 10 to my strawberry cornetto I had at lunch time. Half strawberry ice/half vanilla ice with some hidden strawberry sauce. Fit. Fit. Fit ice-cream.
9/10.
Enjoy the rest of Friday eve.
Sunny xx
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
red red wine
Fancied some vino tonight.
I bought an individual bottle of red wine from Asda. I chose it as it was £1.
It's a new Blossom Hill collection of low calorie and lower alcohol plonk..well I didn't want to get pissed as its only a Wednesday (but it feels like a Thursday) and the calorie damage is only 55 cals per 125ml.
I actually queried whether it was wine or if Black Tower had branched out into Shloer-type fizzy fruit drinks. The pretty pink flowers on the lid confused me.
Anyway, had the first sip and I wasn't sure.
I gave the boyf - the man who doesn't even like red wine - the second sip. It was a gulp in truth followed by a second mouthful. If he likes it, it's not wine enough for me.
It tastes watered down/like a really dark rose wine.
I drank it anyway as I'm tight and didn't want to waste my quid but it was not what I was craving.
Tonight I'm mostly pondering if I could cope with an expat life...how to know without trying (again)?
xx Sunny
I bought an individual bottle of red wine from Asda. I chose it as it was £1.
It's a new Blossom Hill collection of low calorie and lower alcohol plonk..well I didn't want to get pissed as its only a Wednesday (but it feels like a Thursday) and the calorie damage is only 55 cals per 125ml.
I actually queried whether it was wine or if Black Tower had branched out into Shloer-type fizzy fruit drinks. The pretty pink flowers on the lid confused me.
Anyway, had the first sip and I wasn't sure.
I gave the boyf - the man who doesn't even like red wine - the second sip. It was a gulp in truth followed by a second mouthful. If he likes it, it's not wine enough for me.
It tastes watered down/like a really dark rose wine.
I drank it anyway as I'm tight and didn't want to waste my quid but it was not what I was craving.
Tonight I'm mostly pondering if I could cope with an expat life...how to know without trying (again)?
xx Sunny
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Dolly Parton Blue Smoke Tour
So Dolly in depth....
It was my first time seeing her in concert and I now don't know who could beat her.
Her instruments: Here is the diminutive Dolly playing one of her blinged-up white and rhinestone encrusted instruments: the banjo. She played many instruments throughout the show: banjo; guitar; harmonica; recorder-type-thing; autoharp; piano. Talented lady.
Her clothes: I could not wait to see Dolly's outfits. I have been you tubing her in the days up to the event and she always wears the most borderline cringe outfits ever. The first outfit was the pink dress with silver sequinned waistcoat. It was great except for the fact that it was a nightmare to photograph.
In the second half, she wore a brilliant turquoise culotte and waistcoat outfit. The culottes were covered in loads of silver glitter tassels that shook as she strutted on the stage. She looked like a glittery fairy faun.
Her singing: Dolly sang a good number of the sad songs including Coat of Many Colours and Little Sparrow. When she sang alone with the accompaniment of the 2 backing singers, it is beautiful. Her voice is strong and true at an incredible 68 years young.
Her dancing: Dolly shimmied along to Baby I'm Burning and 2 Doors Down and of course 9 to 5 which we and the rest of the cowboy hat-wearing crowd belted out along with her. Everyone there adores Dolly, she inspires a loyal following. Loads of people interrupted the quiet moment to let her know "I Love you Dolly".
Her cover songs: She sang three awesome cover songs including a Bon Jovi classic. Yes! Hitting 2 birds with 1 song. It was Lay Your Hands On Me gospel style.
She did a Bob Dylan song and the Fine Young Cannibals She Drives Me Crazy, of all things. A random selection that was all the better for being a surprise. I believe that she does covers all the time on albums and at shows, but I had no idea.
I love Dolly and she is an inspiration to me: the longevity of her career; commitment to her career (her investment in her look and appearance); her charitable work with the Imagination Library; her commitment to her dreams; her work ethic.
Lucky me to have seen both Julie Andrews and Dolly Parton in the past month. Fingers crossed some crumbs of their talent rub off on me.
Sunny x
It was my first time seeing her in concert and I now don't know who could beat her.
Her instruments: Here is the diminutive Dolly playing one of her blinged-up white and rhinestone encrusted instruments: the banjo. She played many instruments throughout the show: banjo; guitar; harmonica; recorder-type-thing; autoharp; piano. Talented lady.
Her clothes: I could not wait to see Dolly's outfits. I have been you tubing her in the days up to the event and she always wears the most borderline cringe outfits ever. The first outfit was the pink dress with silver sequinned waistcoat. It was great except for the fact that it was a nightmare to photograph.
Her singing: Dolly sang a good number of the sad songs including Coat of Many Colours and Little Sparrow. When she sang alone with the accompaniment of the 2 backing singers, it is beautiful. Her voice is strong and true at an incredible 68 years young.She did a Bob Dylan song and the Fine Young Cannibals She Drives Me Crazy, of all things. A random selection that was all the better for being a surprise. I believe that she does covers all the time on albums and at shows, but I had no idea.
I love Dolly and she is an inspiration to me: the longevity of her career; commitment to her career (her investment in her look and appearance); her charitable work with the Imagination Library; her commitment to her dreams; her work ethic. Lucky me to have seen both Julie Andrews and Dolly Parton in the past month. Fingers crossed some crumbs of their talent rub off on me.
Sunny x
Monday, 9 June 2014
Yesterday
Hello!
Sorry for not getting on yesterday. Time ran away with me, spent an hour decluttering my jewellery box. Untying necklaces and binning some odd earrings...why do you always lose the ones that you love? So disappointing.
Then I was trying to enhance my amazing girlfriend rating my making a lasagne for the boyfriend as I was out. Made with love and an almost lump-free bechamel sauce.
Yesterday - went to see Dolly Parton in concert! Her first gig in the UK on this tour. What a pocket rocket of energy AND she does sweet and melancholy too.
I will enthuse about this tomorrow.
Some quick piccies of our meal at las iguanas in Liverpool before the concert.
Nachos, self-explanatory
Mocktail
It was happy hour - buy 1 get 1 free on cocktails and mocktails. Guess who had the friggin car again?
My citrus cooler. Very refreshing. My fellow Dollette had the Pisco sours. I had a sip and it was goood.
My main was a Brazilian chicken curry. The "roast potatoes" are actually plantains which I wolfed up for the first time.
Dessert was a packet of wine gums at the Echo arena.
Ciao - GOT is calling
xx Sunny
Sorry for not getting on yesterday. Time ran away with me, spent an hour decluttering my jewellery box. Untying necklaces and binning some odd earrings...why do you always lose the ones that you love? So disappointing.
Then I was trying to enhance my amazing girlfriend rating my making a lasagne for the boyfriend as I was out. Made with love and an almost lump-free bechamel sauce.
Yesterday - went to see Dolly Parton in concert! Her first gig in the UK on this tour. What a pocket rocket of energy AND she does sweet and melancholy too.
I will enthuse about this tomorrow.
Some quick piccies of our meal at las iguanas in Liverpool before the concert.
Nachos, self-explanatory
Mocktail
It was happy hour - buy 1 get 1 free on cocktails and mocktails. Guess who had the friggin car again?
My citrus cooler. Very refreshing. My fellow Dollette had the Pisco sours. I had a sip and it was goood.
Dessert was a packet of wine gums at the Echo arena.
Ciao - GOT is calling
xx Sunny
Saturday, 7 June 2014
Friday champagne
This week has seen a big work/life imbalance in favour of work that I let happen again.
Prior to this January I had got to the stage where I put work first.
I'd been doing it for 3 years. It meant I had no hobbies in the week. If I arranged to meet a friend I'd always be 30 minutes late. This was my own doing as I allowed myself to prioritise work and just got stuck in the rut.
I feel bitter about it now especially as one of those friends is now in Dubai so no mid-week drinkies for us anytime soon.
Since Jan, I've got my yoga and zumba. On those days, I have to leave at a certain time to make the classes.
This week I missed both and I'm annoyed with myself about it. Next week I'll get back with the programme.
On Friday, I was planning on meeting a friend at San Carlo Cicchetti, which is their Italian "tapas" branch. I was so looking forward to it - I was going to go for the seafood options and try and resist the melanzana parmigiana.
My girl was at a boozy work lunch that lingered on so I met her on the terrace at Epernay. They'd been enjoying the porn star martinis. I had the car so allowed myself one glass of the house champagne.
I had a sip of the porn start martini but its passion fruit and I'm not keen on fruit cocktails. The rest of the menu looked immense and I am so going to get a cocktail next time I'm on the razz in town.
I ducked out early as being a sober gatecrasher of someone else's works do is pointless.
Instead of my tapas, I had a mozzarella pizza and a honey yoghurt from tesco.
Tonight - to the teatro! SOOO pleased all weekend activities involve nocturnal indoor fun - me and Mr Rain think as one. A review for you tomorrow.
Speak then, Sunny x
PS - The D Day memorials have been tremendous. We continue to remember them.
Prior to this January I had got to the stage where I put work first.
I'd been doing it for 3 years. It meant I had no hobbies in the week. If I arranged to meet a friend I'd always be 30 minutes late. This was my own doing as I allowed myself to prioritise work and just got stuck in the rut.
I feel bitter about it now especially as one of those friends is now in Dubai so no mid-week drinkies for us anytime soon.
Since Jan, I've got my yoga and zumba. On those days, I have to leave at a certain time to make the classes.
This week I missed both and I'm annoyed with myself about it. Next week I'll get back with the programme.
My girl was at a boozy work lunch that lingered on so I met her on the terrace at Epernay. They'd been enjoying the porn star martinis. I had the car so allowed myself one glass of the house champagne.
I had a sip of the porn start martini but its passion fruit and I'm not keen on fruit cocktails. The rest of the menu looked immense and I am so going to get a cocktail next time I'm on the razz in town.
I ducked out early as being a sober gatecrasher of someone else's works do is pointless.
Instead of my tapas, I had a mozzarella pizza and a honey yoghurt from tesco.
Tonight - to the teatro! SOOO pleased all weekend activities involve nocturnal indoor fun - me and Mr Rain think as one. A review for you tomorrow.
Speak then, Sunny x
PS - The D Day memorials have been tremendous. We continue to remember them.
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