Free fun - What is the Word of the day?

Word of the Day

Free website content
provided by The Free Dictionary

This Day in History

Free website content
provided by The Free Dictionary

Quotation of the Day

Free website content
provided by The Free Dictionary

Where's Mr Motivator when you need him?

With just 2 days to go until DS and I have our joint birthday party, the house is still looking like a complete tip. I keep looking around and adding more jobs to my list but still I am sat on my bum at this computer.
As well as the cleaning and tidying, I have a couple of special projects I am supposed to be getting on with and they are just sat looking at me...maybe I can put them off until tomorrow too *Rollseyes*

Ain't it funny how you change your mind again

After the massive entry I wrote last Thursday, I have had a few concerned people asking me what it all means. I have never really been able to be completely straight because when there is ambiguity in your own mind it is hard to make a solid decision and stick to it. Everything I wrote I meant with all my heart...Last Thursday when I wrote it.

Tonight I have been listening to the audio files from the set that Alistair played at that gig. Without even realising what was happening I have been sitting here in floods of tears. Don't get me wrong, these tears aren't because I am sad, I am not upset because I didn't go to the gig - quite the opposite probably . The reason I am sobbing my heart out is because that is what listening to Alistair does to me. I (along with most Griffin fans I would think) can't put my finger on why he can bring out so much emotion in me. Sometimes there are times when I really should cry but just can't. When my mum died it took me days to cry, yet put Griffin on the stereo singing Everything Changes and the waterworks just start flowing.

If this had told me anything it is that you can't turn feelings on and off even if you want to, Emotion is there in all of us and we all have our triggers. Mine it seems is sitting in my front room listening to Alistair Griffin (Who apparently is dead) singing his best work yet, plus, what I have decided to be the best cover he has ever done - Halelujah.

I am not making any assumptions or bringing this entry to a conclusion, just sharing an emotional late night.

Striking madness

It is DS birthday today so I took him into town this morning. The Councils are on strike so the kids' school is closed. Town was mad...It is packed full of youngsters with nothing better to do and Parents who have had to take sickies at work to look after the kids for the day. DS wanted to spend his birthday money so it was trawling round all the gaming shops to find all the games he wanted.

In the first shop we only bumped into my sister (Ange) who is out looking for a game for him and then DD and her friend turned up too. Later on we bumped into sis yet again as she still hadn't found anything decent.

It really was a nightmare getting round town. This is the reason I hate going on a Saturday. There was a big strike rally in the marketplace.
You can read more about the reasons of the strike here. I really don't follow the news so wouldn't want to mislead anyone with false info.

Right back where they belong

It was tremendous hearing JK & Joel back on the radio this morning.
Yes, However ridiculous it is, I did get up at 4am to listen this morning. They didn't talk about The Games as much as I thought they would and JK was a little frustrating when he kept saying "I can't tell you that on air"
He did say that he would do Amanda Lamb...much to my surprise...Watch out Jason, she will be camping out on your doorstep next!

You can listen again to the show here of course.

Oooh it's 8.50am and Chris is still chatting to JK which is cool.

Coming 3rd is certainly not a failure!

In the past when there has been a gig or event that I wanted to go to, I loved to torture myself by looking up train times and ticket prices even though I knew it would be totally impossible.
So when I mentioned to Nik on MSN that I had been looking up train times to Sheffield, I had absolutely no idea that Friday afternoon along with DD & DS, we would be on the way the Sheffield on a very crowded train.

At 7pm we were stood at the end of a very long queue that seemed to be stretched around the whole city, in the pouring rain. Our spirits weren't dampened though...My legs were wobbly and my stomach was in a world of its own. We were hoping that the rain would stop eventually, after all the work that Nik and DS had done on the banners we at least wanted to be able to hold them up so JK could see them. I couldn't believe I was really here and that we were going to see JK in the flesh.

It felt like forever in that queue but by 7.45 we were in the stadium. We were soaked anyway so we went to the front where we were likely to get a lot wetter...I wanted the best view I could possibly get at whatever cost...I don't think I actually voiced that at the time but Boy, I got soaked more times than I could remember in the name of Griffin so I knew I could take it. If I had said Let's stay back here undercover, I know I/We would have regretted it later.

They were still rehearsing the show when we got in there but unfortunately we had just missed the boys bit. We saw the girls come out. They were waving at the crowd and smiling even though they were all getting as soaked as we were. There was a lot of crowd support for Bernie Nolan. She seemed the most receptive and she was waving frantically and smiling and shouting things to the crowd. I think there was a lot of support for Julia Goldsworthy(MP) too.

Things get a little blurry I have to say as there was a lot of waiting around whilst rehearsals finished and cameras were put in place and links were recorded by the Inside track presenters Caroline Flack and JLC. I know that around 8.20pm the 2 radio presenters from Hallam FM came out to warm up the crowd. It was obvious that the female presenter Michelle Dignan fancied JK too because when she was getting the crowd to shout out for their favourite, Jason was the only one she called "The lovely" JK

Finally 9pm and the show began. I didn't really know If I was going to last the distance myself. I was soaked and freezing. My legs ached and my feet had been replaced by blocks of ice. My stomach had been replaced by massive bats that were flapping their wings furiously and my heart was beating so fast that I thought it might even explode. It was so loud that I could hardly hear myself think and having to shout to make myself heard was part of why my throat is so sore now.
I thought I was going to pass out in anticipation of seeing Jason run out..We weren't too far from the tunnel and as the announcer called his name I actually stopped breathing, then I remembered to start clapping and generally go mad. Hyper-ventilation is something that I haven't experienced for quite a while. The celebs stood waving at the crowd and pointing out their banners, I am sure Jason noticed Nik's banner..she said he was pointing at another one but I am sure it was her. Someone in the crowd had a banner that said The person behind me can't see...this is a suggestion he made himself on the Moyles show and he obviously loved that they had taken notice and started bowing towards it.


The competition started with the women's hammer. We were all disappointed with this as it was right at the other side of the stadium which was lit up for the cameras but there were these huge ground lights which were pointed right at the crowd so we were practically blinded. The screen was so small too that we couldn't really see that either. The only result I actually saw for myself was when Amanda Lamb hit the side of the cage resulting in a no-throw. Needless to say that Javine won the event and Julia came second.

Then all the celebs came past us as they walked to the Javelin track. Woo! we would actually get to see JK throw his javelin as it was in good enough range that I didn't have to strain my eyes too much. We shouted and screamed as they went past us then it was an ad break or back to Jamie in the studio as the 2 DJs came out again to keep the crowd occupied. There was a point that was silent and Nik dared me to shout out but I wimped out. Then I felt bad because I really wanted Jason to know that we love him, so at the next opportunity I shouted as loud as I could "We love you JK" MY GOD!!! that really hurt and I felt my whole throat vibrating.

Once it got down to the Javelin comp to start I was so glad that I hadn't actually eaten that day as I suddenly felt very sick. JK had thrown really well in the Heats and only been beaten by Peter Duncan. He had a personal best of 25 and it was really important that he beat that. Jade Jones had failed to score at all in the heats although there was a suspicion that he had done it on purpose. As soon as he threw it was obvious that he had been playing games as he threw a massive 30 metres. Personally I knew inside that Jason could beat him. His technique seemed really strong and although he was having a little trouble with his elbow, He did have a lot of power behind his throw. As JK took his run up, I was struggling to breathe.......then it just flew through the air. It was amazing...I was sure that he had beat Jones' throw...Not quite but he got the PB which is all important as it gets an extra point.
Adam and MacPlatnum threw average throws but Peter was the one to fear...He did throw a great distance ...but he stepped over the line which meant JK came second!!!!!

Blurry -blurry -blurry...raining, wet,cold....fast forward to the sprinting.
As the girls were getting ready to run I am afraid I wasn't taking much notice It was much more interesting to watch JK and Pete warming up. I was trying very hard to get a good picture but this is all i got

Believe me, that is JK in the hat with Pete in the red. My zoom on my camera is really pants and I need to get a new and better camera, although I have been wanting a new camera for ages so I can go on wanting......

I was watching the boys as the Girls were being announced. JK really clapped and cheered as Bernie Nolan was announced. He clapped for the other girls half-heartedly...except for Javine, He didn't show any reaction at all when her name was read out...
Javine won that anyway and Kirty Gallacher announced that she was the Women's champion..blah blah blah Julia Goldsworthy came 2nd over all and Michelle Gayle won 3rd place.
Finally the men's sprint. To be quite honest I didn't think that this would be a good result for JK. Platnum was most likely to literally run away with it and Jade Jones just seemed to be good at everything so with Peter Duncan proving himself throughout I though JK was doomed for 4th. I decided I was going to try and video the race on my camera as it was right in front of us.
As they came out of the blocks, Jason took first place and was really going some as MacPlatnum seemed to struggle to catch him. My little piece of footage
I couldn't bare it I turned the camera off so I could cheer him on. From where we were it looked like he ended 3rd but as we saw on the screen, he was in fact 2nd and not far behind the 6 ft legs of Platnum. So we just went wild...I felt so proud of him. I think it was me and Nik being there that spurred him on. 2nd in both events which means he won the Bronze medal and the chance to stand up on the podium.



I desperately wished we could have stayed behind and try and get to meet JK...Well many of them really but we didn't have much time until the last train home so we had to disappear pretty quick.
We got back to Derby around midnight. We had been very wet and very cold but I think I speak for all of us when I say we were also very happy. After some hot drinks and cheese on toast, Nik and I settled into some classic streaming clips of the wonderful Mr King in the Athlete's village.

So as my good friend Abby has just said to me on MSN....And so it begins.....

Too distracting

I am supposed to be writing you a report of what I did on my Friday night out. However I am way too distracted so I will just post this pic and come back later, maybe when I can think of a good enough title for what is going to be one mammoth entry!!!

Tottyland

How did I manage to NOT get THESE screenshots??????
I am going back to look at my recordings..........

Tottyland

He will always be the top of my leaderboard

JK was so close to getting his first win on The Games last night. The Cycling trainer had tipped him for the win and we were all very confident.
From the very start we were all screaming and jumping up and down. He had a wobbly start but he made his way through the crowd and was leading for at least half the race..Unfortunately he peaked a bit too soon and that BLOODY Jade (Goody) Jones overtook him right at the end.

We were devastated to say the least...It is like some awful force holding him back from those ultimate 5 points. No one got any PBs either (Personal Best) so poor old Jason is still stuck in 4th.
It could change tonight in the final. A potential 10 points plus 2 points for PBs. The Javelin is a 1 throw competition so it really could be anyones game.

GO JK WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

We all have to come back down to earth with a bump eventually.

Its been a matter of Deja-vu for me this past week.

3 years ago now I got emotionally involved in a Reality TV show. It was most probably because I was in a bad place at the time but I got onto googling and Mr Google sent me here. So from that moment on my next 3 years were all mapped out for me. It has been a matter or ups and downs. The downs were mostly all about sitting waiting for the ups to come around again or maybe the come down from the ups. Its all blather but it makes sense to me.

Today I shouldn't be sitting here, I should be getting on a train traveling up North to the middle of nowhere to see Alistair. The moment the gig was mentioned I knew I wanted to be there. That always happened. A gig would be announced and I would be bouncing off the walls trying to work out how I could go. So I bought my train tickets and I was all set to go except I couldn't work out the final leg of my journey - how to get to the venue itself. After weeks of losing sleep worrying about how I was going to manage it I had to make the decision to not go after all. So my ticket is sold and I am staying home. I sat staring at my train tickets this morning (I meant to take them back for a refund but never made it to the station) I was thinking if I could maybe just take the train trip and then home again. It would be fun I guess but what is the point.

I have known for sometime that the magical world of Griffin is fading for me. Don't get me wrong, I am not going off him, I am still as enthusiastic as I have ever been about him and his music and his career but it doesn't have to include me. I can't see how me running around the country after him or not is going to make any difference and especially if I am not finding it fun anymore. I will still have his pictures all around me to gaze lovingly at when I am feeling low.

I have had a great time and there are some memories that will live on with me forever and I will always smile when I think of them. I found some great friends too and I will never forget them and there is nothing wrong with receiving a phone call or 2 when Griffin is performing somewhere.

I don't think I will embark on the same adventure again. It has been a unique experience that maybe I should have had years ago but didn't. A moment of madness one day that then spiraled out of control.

Back to now and Google isn't helping with my new obsession...I may even have to start up a forum of my own for the hunky Jason King of Radio 1 and The Games. At least if I do want to try a little Stalking of my own I know where to go and how to get there...It is only £12 return to London, Heck, I could do it once a week at that price....Don't worry JK, I won't be doing that but it would be easier and much cheaper than what I have been attempting over the last 3 years.

I am not ruling out never seeing The Griff perform live ever again though..........

It's arrived

It is 1 week since my birthday and today my special birthday pressie to myself arrived.

I designed and created it through Cafepress and ordered it using up the last of my cafecash and the special deduction that I got in the Shopkeeper sale.

I am so happy with it and can't wait to use it now...maybe it will have it's first outing when I go on my outing this week.
It is a shame that I am not going up North tomorrow now as that would have been the perfect occasion for it but never mind I think Friday is going to be way better than tomorrow anyway ;-)

Sorry they are a bit cock-eyed and pink, I had to use my phone to take the pictures as I am charging up the batteries for my camera

To avoid confusion

JK

JOEL

Just for Nik ;-)

The streaming has just finished so I needed something to do.
Here's the addresses...there is another design too.

http://www.cafepress.com/gojk
http://www.cafepress.com/ilovejk

Oh and yes I have recorded the streaming.......

The alternative Games

OK so apparently there are some other kind of games going on at the moment LOL.
When I have said I am watching The Games, a few people have thought that I meant The CommonWealth games.

I am sorry I should be patriotic and support the English teams but I am not in the least but interested in any kind of Athletics or sport (Unless it is footie) it completely bores me to death.

It is a different story however if it happens to involve any kind of celebrities especially if I might happen to fancy one of them. So as I am incredibly shallow, I am glued to the screen for the entire day.

I would just like to say Congratulations to the 2 lads from Derby who won (I think) Gold in the swimming at the weekend

It's happening all over again

It has only been on for 3 days and already The Games is taking over my life.
I had to get up yesterday morning to get DS up for his Saturday morning thing with school but instead of going back to bed for a nap I ended up going back to bed and watching the the live streaming until it finished at 12. Then I put the TV on whilst I had the match (DCFC) on the radio so that I could watch the live heats.

This morning, I got up at 7.30 to get DD up for her paper-round and then lay in bed watching this mornings live streaming right up until 1.30...Then it was the Kendo heats at 3.30pm which I have to say was fantastic. It really was nail-biting stuff but just like Nik, We are all rooting (And shouting) for JK. He was amazing both this afternoon and this evening and definitely deserved his 2nd place. Of course it would have been even more tremendous had he won but it was never going to happen with Jade Jones in the competition.

I am totally gutted that there is no streaming this evening.....What is worse is what to do tomorrow morning. We are going to have to have the streaming on with the sound down whilst listening to Moyles as you know it is going to be dominating the show this week....Shall I even go down the old road of recording all the streaming????

Celebrities in Pain?

Last night saw the return of The Games to C4 and E4. It wasn't a good start for Radio 1 DJ JK who is this family's favourite this year but as it was probably his weakest event things can only get better.

So the Celebs this year aren't the most exciting bunch but sometimes that fact can make it more interesting,
For the boys we have Ex Damage singer Jade Jones, Blazin' Squad rapper MC Plat'num, Ex Corrie star Adam Rickitt, Ex Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan and Radio 1 DJ JK (Jason King)

And for the Girls we have singer Javine, singer Michelle Gayle, MP Julia Goldsworthy, TV Presenter Amanda Lamb and actress Bernie Nolan.

Last night saw the water sports events. Kayaking for the girls and Water-skiing for the boys. These were probably the hardest events for both groups. JK had back problems during training and missed most of the Water Ski training. He hadn't managed to land 1 jump before last night and unfotunately didn't manage to land in the competition either. Adam Rickitt is a stand-in for the injured Goldie and as he had only managed 3 jumps before-hand in training, wasn't expected to do it but his jump was great and he came in 3rd overall.
The kayaking looked to be extremely cold and dangerous to me and you wouldn't get me in there. Javine was the first to actually finish the course but it was Michelle Gayle that won the event and got top marks as well as 1 bonus point for a personal best. She had been terrified of water before the competition so it was a massive victory for her.

I can't for the live streaming to start as of course this is the best bit of any Celebrity reality show!!

Another year older

As birthdays go, yesterday started quite miserably.
Not even a Happy Birthday from my darling children before they went off to school.
After the kids left, I decided to have a long soak in the bath with the Lush goodies I bought the day before. The Sakura Bath Bomb and the gorgeous Cherry Tree lane soap.

Once I got out the bath I made myself an Egg and Bacon Roll (Or Cob as we call it here in Derby) and sat watching Fight club on DVD....Why was I watching Fight Club?....Well I just borrowed it off my sister and fancied watching it. It really isn't the same when you know about the clever plot twist.
My sister turned up at about 1pm and we got a cab upto the Crematorium.
It may seem like weird thing to do on your birthday but sadly our mother died on my birthday 12 years ago. For a few years I used to try and get up to the Crem every year but it is so far away that after a while I decided that I don't have to go up there to remember my parents. It isn't as if there is a special place or any kind of commemoration there just a big bush where other people have put flowers because their loved ones are there too.
We did have a nice walk around looking at other people's plaques and we went and read the book of Remembrance where it took us a while to find our mum's name but Deb found it eventually.

We had a really lovely walk through Markeaton Park. Deb took some great pictures with her phone too.

And these pictures that for some reason came out all weird



It was bitterly cold but We did enjoy our walk through the park. There were lots of people with their children and dogs. There were lots of squirrels and ducks wandering around too. Sometimes it was very scary when they came right up to us but they are so used to humans that they didn't bother about us.

We walked up to McDonald's and had a coffee and a choc muffin. The plan was to catch the bus into town then get a bus from town to home but as we were sat there, schoolkids started pouring in so I decided that we had better phone a cab, I didn't want the children to get home before me as I knew DD forgot her keys.

I had an enormous surprise when we got home. There was an interflora card through the door which said it had left a delivery next door for me. Deb went and got it for me.
One lovely friend had sent me a bunch of Birthday balloons

Another lovely friend sent me some gorgeous luxury chocolates and a Happy Birthday balloon. I was so overcome...It so frustrating never being able to see my friends because they are so far away and when I get gifts like this out of the blue I feel like I am the luckiest person alive to have people that really do still care about me, even if we can never get together.

In the evening we went for a family meal at Brewsters which is at Pride Park. I was able to download a voucher which gave us £5 off the meal and they also give Nectar points.
We got a taxi up there and met my other sis with hubby and nephew and niece. The great thing about Brewsters is they have this great big kiddies play area. It is too small for my 2 now but the little ones could have a good play and tire themselves out.

As to the food. I had the Scampi and Chips, DD had Bacon & Cheeseburger, Deb has the Roast half Chicken and DS had the Roast Beef and all the trimmings. I was too full up for desert but DD and DS had their gorgeous Chocolate indulgence which is Layers of Maltesers, chocolate and vanilla flavour ice-creams and marshmallow topped with chocolate brownie, a chocolate flake and chocolate sauce. I really would have considered it had I not been too full from the main meal. I knew though that I had my Ben & Jerry's in the Freezer!
After we had eaten, We all went into the play area. My gorgeous little niece was having a whale of a time. I have to say that it is the only time that she doesn't mind if mum disappears as she is in her element at play. She had all the toddler area to herself too (Until DD & DS invaded)

When we got back home about 8.30pm there was a huge bouquet of flowers on the doorstep from another friend who I haven't seen for ages even though she lives in Derby - I guess as we are both busy with different things our paths just don't cross anymore.



Presents

Well I got a watch from my sister Deb...I haven't actually worn a watch for years but I asked for one as I need to get out of the habit of relying on my phone for the time.
Deb also bought mea presentation type coin with the sign of Pisces on and this cute little handbag as she knows I love them. I already have a pink one but I have to say I like this one so much more.I got a gift bag of toiletries from my other sis (Ange) which contained the Mascara that I have wanted for so long. You know the Lash extender one that has the white primer that you put on first........
My darling children bought me a box of Dairy Milk Chocs which I started on while I watched Invasion on TV last night.

So there you go. Another year older but not necessarily Wiser LOL!!!

Who ate all the Pi's

Today is Pi day.

I am not a mathematician in any way shape or form but I thought it was quite funny that they have actually given today it's title because of the date.
It is the 14th of March. Here in the UK we write it like this 14/3 but if you are in the states you write it like this 3.14 hence the relation to the mathematical.
From Wikipedia.....

Pi Day

March 14, written 3-14 in the USA date format, is an unofficial celebration for Pi Day derived from the common three-digit approximation for the number π: 3.14. It is usually celebrated at 1:59 PM (in recognition of the six-digit approximation: 3.14159). Some, using a twenty-four-hour clock rather than a twelve hour clock, say that 1:59 PM is actually 13:59 and celebrate it at 1:59 AM or 3:09 PM (15:09) instead. Parties have been held by the mathematics departments of various schools around the world.

This day has been celebrated in a variety of ways. Groups of people, such as math or science based clubs, might gather to consider the role that the number π has played in their lives and imagine the world without π. During such an event, pi celebrants may devise alternative values for π, eat pi (pie), play pi (piñata), drink pi (Piña Colada), eat pi (Pineapple) or watch π (Pi (film)). Enthusiasts also note that the day happens to be Albert Einstein's birthday. It's also curious to note that the renowned science and technology university MIT, known as widely for its unconventional, quirky take on math as for its extremely high academic standards and low acceptance rates, often mails out its acceptance letters to be delivered to prospective freshmen on Pi Day.

The "ultimate" pi day^[1] occurred on March 14th, 1592, at 6:53 AM and 59 seconds. When written in American-style date format, this is 3/14/1592 6:53.59, which corresponds to the first twelve digits of pi: 3.14159265359 (rounded of course). However, considering this was well before any kind of standardized world time had been established, and the general public had no concept of π, the occurrence likely went unnoticed^[2].

To celebrate this unique day Why not get yourself a special momento.

Lil' Goodies Pi doodles

Lil' Goodies Ode to Einstein

Lil' Goodies Geeks

Rotem Gear Luscious Pi

Lots of Pi

Or how about some Pi day Games
Or some Pi day songs

Everything to make March 14th a fun Maths day!!!
Have a great time!!

Say NO to Gritish Bas

Well I have just switched my Electricity and Gas supplier.
What prompted me to do this was the fact that I came down this morning to find that the Gas had run out. After just enabling the Emergency Gas on Saturday night which means it cost me £5 in one day...I find this absolutely ludicrous and I really can't afford to keep this up as I will end up giving most of my money each week to the fuel company.

So I came online went to The energy Helpline and found something a lot cheaper...in this case I have switched to NPower.....If it turns out to be just as bad, I will find another one to switch to.

I know that come Summer then my Gas bill is just a fraction as I don't need the heating on but at the moment when the weather is at it's coldest, I can't cope with living in the icebox that is my house (Yes there are actual icicles hanging from the windows!)

Play-away-away-play-playaway

What a fantastic evening of TV viewing last night. Not only did I finally get the chance to watch the new series of CSI NY but we were treated to the 100 greatest kids shows. What a wonderful Nostalgic evening that became very emotional and mustered up lots of old childhood memories for me.
From Bill & Ben; Fingerbobs and Andy Pandy to Grange Hill; Biker Grove and Press Gang. The shows of my childhood like Trumpton and Pipkins I used to come home from school at lunchtime and sit and watch with my parents who would also be on their lunch breaks. Then there was the Banana Splits and Why Don't you that were always on in the Summer Holidays. I couldn't understand why they would make a TV show telling you to turn off the TV set....I wondered how many people actually did. I even tried some of the things on the show when I was really REALLY bored. I wonder now where all the little kids are that appeared on the show. I remember that Ant McPartlin did it for a bit.

The Adventure game was a particularly emotional memory for me. I used to sit and watch it with my dad on a Thursday night while my mum was doing the late shift in the shop. I think it must be one of the only times that my dad would allow kids shows on while he was at home...Oh apart from Grange Hill. I remember I watched the first ever episode with my dad. I was 7 and it was a Wednesday afternoon. It's amazing how such insignificant events can stick with you and be quite significant memories. I stuck with Grange Hill from Tucker and the Gang right through Zammo and Roland but I started to get a bit bored of it.....It seemed to be a seen it done kind of feeling towards the end...Not the end of the show as it is still going (Albeit in a different location these days) I have to accept that I am now 35 and these shows aren't made for me anymore.

What about the other classics I haven't mentioned
The Wombles - I loved them and even had the Wombles album with such classic tracks as Remember you're a Womble; Invitation to a Ping Pong Ball; Wombling White tie and tails and Minuetto Allegretto.

Rentaghost - I so think that they should make a modern day remake of this. Todays kids would love it. Who couldn't love characters such as Timothy Claypole and Madam Popov and of course Dobbin the Pantomime horse.

Playaway - I still remember all the words to the theme tune.
t really doesn't matter if it's raining or if it's
fine
just as long as you've got time
to p-l-a-y playaway way playawayaway play playaway
away play playaway

Others (And I could go on and on about this all day) that I have loved Chorlton and the Wheelies; Jamie and the magic torch; Black Beauty; Metal Mickey; Swap shop; Blue Peter and finally the biggest classic kid's TV show in my opinion....Mr Benn - Suddenly the shop keeper appeared....

(By the way I agree with everything I have read about this show. The winner most certainly shouldn't be The Simpsons...It isn't a kids show and it isn't a classic!!)

It could be you!

I don't play the lottery very often. Most of the time it is because I don't have a spare pound or because I just forget to go and get a ticket. I do usually try to remember when there is a rollover though. It is a bit of a silly idea really to think you have more of a chance when it is a rollover as surely more people think this and so there are more players than on a normal prize night.

So for the first time since it started doing mid-week draws, I bought a ticket on Wednesday night with a lucky dip line and my normal numbers line. I forgot about checking it on the night though and only remembered last night when DD was on the computer and I was waiting for the tea to cook.

Well I actually did a little dance when I saw I had 3 numbers...I really thought my luck was in.....until I checked again.......and found I actually had 4 numbers!!! It is the first time I have ever won more than a tenner...I couldn't get to the shop quick enough - only to be told I have to go to town and claim it at the post office as he can only pay out on the £10 prize. So why am I still sitting here when I should be on my way to town????

Love Machine

This morning Chris Moyles had a little text vote because he wanted to play Girls Aloud. If he got 30,000 texts he could play the record.
I am a little shocked that the total amount was 37,000 and he did get to play it.

My point about it is that as I lay listening to it I couldn't get over the fact that I now consider it as a bad cover of an Arctic Monkeys song. I have listened to the Arctics version of it so many times that I forgot that the Girls did it originally and when I hear their version it is just sooo wrong.

I guess it is almost in the same category as Wherever you will go

Who is the mystery woman?

The Streets (AKA Mike Skinner) new single is called When you wasn't famous. In the lyrics, Mike seems to be referring to an affair he may have had with a celebrity lady.....

"Ahhh se… Right see the thing that’s got it all f*cked up now is camera-phones.
How the hell am I supposed to be able to do a line in front of complete strangers, when I know they've all got cameras?

When you're a famous boy, it gets really easy to get girls,
it's all so easy you get a bit spoilt.
So, when you try to pull a girl, who is also famous too,
it feels just like when you wasn’t famous.

The celebrity pages in papers don’t tell tales that are always to the line of the truth.
It’s ‘til a line at which most likely you’ll have the time, or enough finance to sue.
Which is why it’s so frightening buying papers in the morning fearing the next Mike Skinner scoop.
‘Cos I used to believe what I read, so now I know that others will believe that it’s true.

But I realised, with you the truth could be, a whole lot worse than the flack.
My whole life I never thought I'd see, a pop star smoke crack.
And I must admit I was quite shocked, with that thing you did with me on my back.
But, outside in the lobby, I shouldn't have laughed when you slapped that man.

When you're a famous boy, it gets really easy to get girls,
it's all so easy you get a bit spoilt.
So, when you try to pull a girl, who is also famous too,
it feels just like when you wasn’t famous.

You were so much fun, I really got to like you more than you liked me,
I really hoped that you'd stay.
Considering the amount of prang you'd done, you looked amazing on cd:uk.
You learn dances, do promo, cameras flashing, get in the van, zoom away (reeeoow).
I wake up high, (unknown) feel hung over and sorry for my doomed day.

But I know I got a bit close to you, and that you found it f*cking boring.
You taught me so much about how to deal with the (unknown).
And what version of a rumour would be next day everyone's story of me.
You taught me all the realities and “turn the page & ignore ‘em”.

When you're a famous boy, it gets really easy to get girls,
it's all so easy you get a bit spoilt.
So, when you try to pull a girl, who is also famous too,
it feels just like when you wasn’t famous.

Anyway, I had to rest my beer hat, delete my dealer’s number and unroll my bank notes.
And we were on borrowed time anyway, what with the daily toilet papers not knowin’.
And I knew that when the people who thought they knew you, when they found out, I would’ve been mocked.
Which is ironic, ‘cos in reality, standing next to you I look f*cking soft.

Whenever I see you on MTV, I can’t stop my big wide smile.
And past the “children’s appeal”, I see the darkness behind.
We both know the scratches on my back, much better than the alludes and lies.
I miss the bitchin’ and shoutin’, but I'm glad I got out in time.

When you're a famous boy, it gets really easy to get girls,
it's all so easy you get a bit spoilt.
So, when you try to pull a girl, who is also famous too,
it feels just like when you wasn’t famous.

“You can't keep f*cking popstars, we’ve got a f*cking business to run. There are industry repercussions, Michael!”

I know."

So, who is this mystery lady??
I have it down as either 1 of the girls from S Club; 1 of Girls aloud or maybe the blonde 1 (Heidi?) from the Sugarbabes.

Chris Moyles was messing about on his show last week saying that he knew who it was but whether he does know or not, he could never even speculate on air and that is what irritates me so much.

The video, however, is all about Mike checking into a celebrity re-hab clinic and you can watch it here The Streets - When you wasn't famous

Anyone for Hangman?

Okay I am being incredibly Boring and have absolutely nothing original to post tonight.
So why not amuse yourselves with a game of Hangman instead :p

Hangman

Daily content
provided by The Free Dictionary

Excuse me, Is your name Jennifer?

It is absolutely months since I went out with my sisters. November I think it was. They have been out together without me last month when I had no money but I was desperate to get out so We had a night out Saturday.
It was to be nothing special so we just went to a couple of local pubs.
The night started off well in the first pub, I spilt my pint all over the place before I even sat down.
In the second pub I had a bizarre experience. Me and A were having this conversation about websites and HTML coding amongst other things (Which was going over D's head) This woman came up to me and said "Excuse me, is your name Jennifer?" I recognised her straight away (Although I couldn't remember her last name) She had been in my year at school...This meant that it was actually 20 years since the last time we saw each other. I couldn't believe it. She hadn't changed at all - except for maybe looking a lot older and obviously as she remembered me I can't have changed much either. We chatted a while about what we have been doing since school but then she got a phone call so I nipped off to the loo and when I came back she had gone. It's shame as I would have liked to have swapped numbers with her.

We moved on then to our final pub. I was quite surprised as usually it is packed to the rafters but it was very quiet. We were able to sit at a good table near the bar. My second bizarre experience of the night happened as A&D went to the bar. A party of people dressed in fancy dress came in. I thought it was a hen party but they were raising money for the Baby unit. One of the party came over and said to me "Is your name Jennifer *******" Can you believe it, yet again someone from my year at school who I haven't seen for 20 years and even more odd is that she has the same first name as the woman from the other pub. We chatted for a few minutes and she told me that earlier that night she had seen a bunch of lads also from our year. I shuddered as she mentioned 1 name. My old secondary school crush.....OMG!! What would I do if he walked in? Would he recognise me? Would he come over and chat? Would I recognise him?
Unfortunately I never got to find out as they never did walk in. I was partly relieved and partly disappointed.

We left there about 1.30am. D had had enough alcohol about an hour before and was in need of food.
We stepped out the pub to find huge falling snow flakes and a carpet of white on the ground. In the chip shop we ordered our food which seemed to take forever - perhaps because they seem to take your orders but don't actually do anything about it, so after 10 minutes we reminded them that they actually have to cook the food for us.....A said that there was no way she wanted to walk home in the snow so D phoned a taxi.....Maybe I should let her post a comment and explain what happened but needless to say we won't be using that taxi firm again.
When our food was eventually all ready, we managed to flag down a Yellow cab to take us back to A's house where we all tucked in and the kids were grateful for the chips I had brought them.

Which way NOW?!

I remember when I was in the 3rd year and about to take my Options at school. Back then Radio 1 used to have this great feature called Which Way Now?! There were lots special ads about it and you could send off for the Which Way Now pack. I can see the cover now with a youthful Peter Powell and Bruno Brooks on the front. Inside it was packed with great advice about choosing your options and how to choose wisely, advice on the best choices to make for certain career paths and then lists of where to get more advice and info. They even had a special hotline number you could ring for info. I don't know why Radio 1 don't do this anymore as it was a great help to me. Back then you never had any time for what your teachers or your parents said but when Bruno Brooks spoke you listened LOL

I can't believe that DD is taking her options now. I have been up to school this morning for the interview with the co-ordinator of the program at school.
Luckily DD has a clear idea of where she wants to go after school and the GCSE's that she will need are covered in the main curriculum so this leaves her open to pick options that she wants to do rather than what she has to do.

It is all so different nowadays though, there are so many different subjects to choose from and each of them is worth a different percentage of her GCSE's. This bit all confuses me a bit so I am not even going to attempt to understand it at this moment in time.

She has chosen 2 of her options already...well they are 2 subjects which more or less chose themselves. She is stuck on a third subject though. I think she should go for subjects she is good at and more likely to get a good grade but she doesn't like the subjects she is really good at so I am not going to push this point. It will be she that has to do all the work in the end, I will just be here to support whatever decision she makes.

Ash Wednesday - New Month - New plan

Well I got some mix in the end and although the Pancakes weren't perfect - we ate them and they were yummy. Going to have to do a lot of walking today to make up for it!!!

I have had to do a lot of thinking in the past couple of weeks and I have come to a decision today. Can't say much now but I will blog it eventually.

On a brighter note....Only 2 weeks to my birthday!!!!!! ;-)