All pissed up and nowhere to go

What a jam-packed day Saturday was. First of all I really wanted to be in Scarborough..Oh Yes I did! It was a long awaited return to performing for the Gorgeous Alistair. Beach party on Scarborough south bay beach.....However the weather had other ideas and in hindsight, I am so glad I didn't go all that way.
I was promised a phone call though so I could sit and listen to his set from the warm comfort of my front room.
Also Saturday night was the birthday party of my little sister. Ok she is 25 but she is still my baby sister. So the day was busy with juggling the phone call, following the events from the 2 forums and getting ready for the evening. We were hoping that the local radio would be broadcasting events from the beach on the internet stream so if you can imagine all these eager people huddled round their computers all over the country excited to hear the familiar tones of The Griffin.

Unfortunately the event wasn't broadcast so it was down to me to keep everyone informed as I listened to it over my phone. A couple of years ago I would have thought this a stupid past-time but now I celebrate the Mobile phone and whoever it was that first had the idea of phoning friends from gigs. It was wonderful to hear Alistair's voice over the phone, clear as day. It was a bit of a struggle though, listening and keeping both forums informed of what was happening as well as keeping one ear on the radio stream in case they did play any of it. At the same time I was also texting a friend, who was otherwise engaged, and keeping her up to date with events.

Once Alistair had left the stage after the encore of *Bring it On My very generous caller told me that he may be back later so she would ring me then. OH NO!!!! I was planning to go in the bath...What do I do? Well I have been in this predicament before - It was a James Fox gig. I had gone in the bath thinking the call wasn't coming and so I got to hear him singing Jessie whilst relaxing in the tub. So I decided to take the chance and opt for the tub. My phone did ring but unfortunately it was with news that there was to be no 2nd set. Everyone was soaked through and headed off back to their respected hotels!


Later Saturday night
PARTY PARTY PARTY!!!!! It was my little sister's birthday and I was ready to get pissed. I had a bottle of Strawberry Vodka and a bottle of what I think was Mango or some such exotic fruit and Vodka. I have to admit that by midnight I was feeling slightly queasy and had to switch to water...However for a change it was someone else throwing up So that was a first. I just about survived the screaming toddler although If they hadn't left when they did, who knows what I might have done...There is only so much you can take when it isn't your own kids...Thank God mine always manaaged to behave themselves.
We finally left at 3am as my daughter had to be up for 7. I left the party in full flow so God only knows what state everyone else is in today. I, however, feel great. Not a headache or queasy stomach to be found...RESULT!!!!!

Just thought I should add that my little sis is in fact 25

*In case anyone hasn't heard it you can find several live versions of Bring It On HERE

What time do you call this

Well I went to bed at 2am but I am up again........Part of this Griffining thing.
Alistair is to be appearing on the local Scarborough radio this morning but there is no clue exactly what time. I have promised to record for anyone not able to catch it so I am here waiting for his voice......
It has been a long time since we have heard those oh so familiar tones on the radio so It will definitely be worth it I know that but tell my eyes that as they struggle to stay open
Coffe is the order of the day I think.......

Everything I do

Well first full day without my son and it has been awful, not least because it has been peeing it down all day and all i can think of is those poor kids in their shorts and nowhere to go. I hope they can keep warm. At least I know his brand new sleeping bag is nice and cosy. I certainly wouldn't want to be out there..cosy sleeping bag or not!

Been trying out some new Christmas designs for the store today. Not too sure about them yet, I guess they will grow on me, more experimentation is needed I think. What do people want from a Christmas card? And would people actually want to buy a tee-shirt or sweater with a Christmas design on? ...they make novel gifts for the loved ones....Or maybe your enemies in my case....answers on a postcard please......
If only I could draw, I would love to do a lovely cuddly Santa or maybe a Snowman...or even a gorgeous nativity scene....Now there's an idea.


Before I go, I watched 40 days and 40 nights this evening with my 13 year old daughter. Can't say I enjoyed it. I was looking forward to it but I was very let down....what is the deal with breaking at 10.30 for the news when the film only has 20 minutes left to run? can't they just hold the news an extra half hour?????

PS. It's 2.15am and it has just started throwing it down again really heavy...I hope those boys are getting some sleep :(

Gotta get through this....

OK so it's 4am and I haven't been to bed yet.
I am in the middle of putting together a rather special birthday present for a very special friend and Of course I have left it till the last minute as always........

Babes in the wood....Or a field

I am sat here at a quarter past 11 at night thinking I should go to bed but knowing as soon as I do it will be Tuesday and my son will be off to camp for 10 days. How do American parents cope with their kids going off to camp for the whole of the summer?

I think part of missing my son is the fact that it is just me and my daughter here. She is bored with no one to argue and fight with and I have to make an effort to keep her company LOL Maybe we can find a few good DVDs to watch together. Or maybe find somewhere cheap to visit...'spose I should make use of my Family railcard

Truly Madly Deeply

Sat here listening to the radio not really taking much notice when Truly Madly Deeply comes on. It is a 90s hit by Savage Garden. Not too spectacular I know, not even a favourite song of mine but I perked up my ears. I carried on working and next song came on...Wherever you will go by The Calling. So now I sit up and listen. Thing is, It isn't the same....You are wondering what it is all about well it is a Griffin thing you see.
These 2 songs are 2 covers that Alistair did on the FA show. I never liked TMD but fact is it is now a song I will eternally link with him. Wherever you go on the other hand is a totally different thing altogether. It has almost become the Athem of Griffin fans all over the world (Ali's Army as they were christened in the early days) It isn't until you hear The Calling version that you actually remember that it is a cover as he has taken it and made it his own. He sings it at every gig and even dedicated it to his fans back in November in York. I think it has to be the only Rock song that can bring me to tears yet I am still not entirely sure why I cry when I hear it..too much emotion attached to a song can't be good.

This has been a bit of a ramble really but just had to get it down LOL

Where did my little baby go?

Today was a very sad day for me and many others. My son left his primary school behind.
It was very emotional as me and my neighbour took our last trip up to school to fetch our babies. There were a mix of emotions from the children themselves. Some were hopping and skipping about happy to have finally left and others were sobbing their hearts out.
Our Babies aren't babies anymore. We are getting old and our children are growing up.....

Oh well time to move on to the next phase of motherhood. A house with 2 hormonal teenagers

Who is Alistair Griffin?

Well Not even I have worked that one out yet. If you look down the left hand side of the page there are a couple of links you could try. The 3rd link down is Alistair's Official fan-site. I have been a member since it's first week and it has been a life-line to me. The 2nd link however is my own rather controversial forum. Its not that they don't support or have faith in him it is just that they want the best for him so badly.

Alistair Griffin was a student of the BBC show Fame Academy in 2003. The first time I saw him singing Back for Good on the first show, I knew there was something special about him. It wasn't really until he sang the Seal song Kiss from a Rose though that I was hooked.

Over the last 2 years I have been on real highs with Alistair & his career and some real lows too. I have met a load of new friends and been to places I never dreamed I would ever go (Bristol, Swindon, Middlesbrough x3)

Alistair is a very talented singer/songwriter, not to mention the fact that he is -in my opinion- one of the most gorgeous men I have ever seen. I never thought a man could be beautiful but he most certainly is. Have you ever heard a song on the radio and you just had to put down what you were doing and listen? Have you ever sat and heard a song and the hairs on the back of your neck stood on end or you got goosepimples? Have you ever heard a voice that just moved you to tears? Alistair can do all of this to me at one time. I am so lucky that I have been able to see him sing live on over 30 occasions and everytime he can just transform me to mush. I become a puddle on the floor (not to mention on my chair)
Alistair has renewed my love of music...Live music in particular...and when I thought that my life had nowhere to go, everything changed and now I am a very different person.
If you haven't been Griffined then have a look at Steve & Dawn's page and download some video and audio...I would love you come back and leave comments, tell me what you thought.

Never dreamed I'd meet someone like you

Sorry for not posting yesterday. Had so much on my mind, I just couldn't collect my thoughts enough to put it down.

Why is it so hard to be a good friend? I have a really good friend who I care very deeply about. She is the most unselfish person I have ever met and always seems to put those around her before herself. She has been going through a very hard time recently and I have tried really hard to be the best friend I can be. She has given me so much and I just wanted to give something back but whatever I do, I just keep putting my foot in it. You would think that all the crap I have been through I would be able to show some sensitivity but however hard I try I just keep screwing up.
It is tearing me apart to think that she thinks I don't care but I don't know what I can do repair the damage I have done already. There are so many nut-jobs out there that it seems however much I try, I make myself sound more like just another loony.

My hardest decision now is whether to bow out gracefully and stay away or whether to plead for forgiveness and make it up to my friend for being such a class A idiot.


In this life we all search for something
Something good and something oh so pure
Well I believe that if you find that one thing
You must fight, for then you will be sure

Could it be that I have found an angel
I can see heaven in your eyes
In my soul I never will be lonely
For there will be an angel by my side

There were times I never thought I'd make it
Never dreamed I'd meet someone like you
Who'd be there when days were at their darkest
Watching over everything I do

Could it be that I have found an angel
I can see heaven in your eyes
In my soul I never will be lonely
For there will be an angel by my side,by my side
There's an angel by my side

Could it be that I have found an angel
Cos I can see heaven in your eyes
In my soul I never will be lonely
There will be an angel by my side

In my soul I never will be lonely
For there will be an angel by my side
An angel by my side

Alistair Griffin

It's a long way to tipperary...Well, Iceland anyway

Decided to break my shopping habits today and take a trip to a different branch of Iceland to the one i usually go to. OK so it meant i had to walk instead of take the bus but i thought there might be a variation of choice.
After a half hour walk (all up hill) I was starting to think i wasn't actually getting anywhere, also not actually sure exactly where the place was I just hoped i would find it at some point.
After finally reaching my destination, I was surprised that such a small store could hold such a huge choice of goods. I may have to go back next month.

After finishing my shop and walking back home (down hill is always best, only took 20 minutes) I spent the afternoon working on my online stores. Could I really do this for a living? How tedious, working with the same image for 4 hours just getting different sizes and dimensions. I think i am going to dream about huge Orange flowers tonight!!

We go together like shoo-bop showaddy waddy yippity boom de-boom

Today was one of those days in the life of a mum that you love but you hate all at the same time. My son's year 6 leavers' assembly.
I forgot the tissues which was a mistake cos i certainly needed them. I got the camera though...for what use it was!!
What made this more emotional is that I was familiar with almost every child in the year. Some of them my son had been with since Nursery and I have seen them grow from little 3 yr olds to, well, taller than me.
The saddest part of today i fear was the fact that one of the girls lost her mum last year. It was a sudden death and everyone was very shocked about it at the time. She looks so like her mum and i felt so sad that she couldn't be there, she would have been so proud of her.

So ends another era in our lives as my son moves onto the final stretch of his educational career. 3 more days and no more primary school...I think It is going to take some getting used to for me.

It's too late when you die!

Spent a blissful day in Rhyl yesterday seeing the very lovely Mr James Fox. It is so great that the kids are old enough now so we can all go out for the day and go off and do our own thing.
We went with my sister Ange and her 4 year old son (my nephew) Joe.
I spent 4 hours stood out in the open air for the few odd 10 minute sightings of the gorgeous welshman....Don't get me wrong. The acts that were served up were great and I enjoyed it tremendously , but i am wondering if it means i have gone completely bonkers. I mean, this isn't even Alistair Griffin!!! (OK so you will no doubt get to hear a lot about him in the coming months) Added to my slight fear of madness, I have been completely sunburnt on only 1 side of my body. The left side of my face and neck and the left arm are very sore today! as are my feet, Have you ever tried standing for 4 hours in one spot in flip-flops? I think I need a pedicure.

So the artists that I saw....First of all Lisa Scott-Lee. I never understand how an artist can go up on stage in front of hundreds of people and just mime. She is a great performer but I would have loved to actually hear her sing.
Next there was a band called Wired Daisies. They were great a real good live band which is what the music industry should be all about but of course we know it isn't these days.
Next Lisa's brother Andy Scott-Lee. Well I have never taken any notice of him before but boy is he gorgeous PHWOOAAARRR!!!!! He also has a mighty fine voice. He sang a cover of Del Amitri's Roll to me and also his new single which is called Saturday on Mars.
The next offering were total load of shite. A band called Alabamha 3. Only there were more like about 8 of them. The lead singer wore a black suede cowboy style jacket covered in tassles with Black jeans and a huge black cowboy hat. He was jumping about all over the stage and out in the audience. Apparently their song was used in the Sopranos TV show but that just went over my head. I used their performance to go off and find my sister and the kids on the beach. A well-earned ice-creamed was then consumed before i went back for more.

Rowetta was on-stage by the time i got back, I had lost my place at the front so the plan was to try and get back near the front again. I didn't watch the X-factor so I had no idea what she was going to be like. She has a very powerful voice and i was very surprised...She did an excellent rendition of Oasis' Stop crying your heart out. I was very impressed!

Most of the audience must have been there to see the next act. It was Tony Christie who is re-visiting fame thanks to Peter Kay bringing back his hit Way to Amarillo. I was most disappointed. It took them a while to get the band on and assembled then he just sang to a backing track. Now what on earth was the point of having a full on band there if they weren't going to play?? It is beyond me. Tony also did his other hits Avenues & Alleyways and I did what I did.
The last act of the day was Paul Carrack of Squeeze and Mike & the mechanics fame. I didn't really know much about him but there were hoards around me who were obviously there just for this moment. He did a 1hour set including old and new hits. Of course I knew all the oldies. The Living years, Tempted, Looking back, When you walk in the room. I felt quite invigorated as i sung along and swayed and clapped with the fans.

As the music ended and James and his lovely assistant said goodbyes I left to find my family. I could feel my face burning and my arm and just knew i was in for some pain. I couldn't resist a little go in the arcades so i wondered into one to use up the last of my 2ps. Wahoo! I won a little keyring - Sully from Monster's inc. I was dead proud of myself and had something to take home as a souveneir of my trip. Happy days!!!!