Boxing Day Piccies

Christmas 2008

So Christmas is over but I thought I owed it to my page to do a little updating. This years Crimbo was a bit weird as neither of my brothers were around- I felt like an only child :( but Nick and Emily joined us for the morning and the grandparents came along late morning time. I have to say the Christmas grubsy was a masterpeice, I'm not usually a turkey eater but this was pretty delicious. My compliments to the chef.
OOOO I got lots of exciting things, including Dawn French's autobiography 'Dear Fatty', a personal Digital radio which will be mighty handy on the somewhat trechorous bus journey to work every day and a few CD's I was after. My brother in Cambodia posted over a cool bag that will go very well with the dress I got just before Xmas. Adrian got me lots of very cool dog related goodies, and a silver pen with my name and a little message engraved on it. All very kind of everyone.

Of course we must'nt forget its Ralphs first ever Christmas too. As you'll see in the photos he rather enjoyed himself and got stuck right into his rather overside Christmas sack. He even had his own Christmas dinner complete with doggie gravy.

A good amount of Christmas tele was watched, including the new Wallace and Gromit, which is a lot better than 'The Curse of the Wear Rabbit' if you ask me.
Boxing day was filled with the usual activities, my grandad and dad slept in the chair in front of football whilst my nan, Emily and Mum played Scrabble pretty much to the death.


A rather jolly Xmas was had by all. :)

Crimbo Piccies

Christmas Eve - La Buvette

We had a bit of an unusual Christmas Eve this year. Myself and Adrian, Mum and dad, Emily and Nick all went out to La Buvette (A french restaurant in Richmond). It was quite a posh place so evening wear was required. Emily and Nick were kind enough to have bought me a really nice sleevless dress a couple of weeks before in a little one off shop called Luella's Boutique so I was all kitted out for the evening. I couldnt help but splash the cash a bit and buy some bright pink shoes and a handbag to go with my dress.

I think just about everyone ordered the 'steak onglet'. And this was the most amazing steak I have ever eaten in my entire life. It was so rare it was practically mooing at me from the plate but it was absolutely delicious with a garlic sauce on top. We had a really lovely aperatif (sp??!!?) before hand and then got onto the wine. Oh, then an ameretto, oooo and then a few more if memory serves me rightly. Good evening was had by all, a very nice way to see in Christmas:)

Christmas Yipyap!

YO HO HO, Christmas is upon us again. I'm back to work and everyone there is getting well into the festivities. We all got involved in a secret santa so I recieved a mini game of articulate - rather cool I must say. When I eventually end up travelling I might well take that with me to keep the old noggin' occupied on long journeys.
The Christmas shopping was done well in advance this year, well.... started well in advance anyway. But as is usual, it went all awry, the company I bought some of the gifts from went bust with little explanation if any as to how they intended to pay me back. But we wont dwell there. I got some rather cool bits and bobs for people as I finally have a little cash to play with this year which is a nice feeling, this means my nearest and dearest arent limited to a fiver each anymore - about time me thinks!!
The wrapping was completed today, in front of some Christmas trash tele. I'm rather excited to hear that Wallace and Gromit are coming back this year for another bash. But even more excited to see the Gavin and Stacey Crimbo special on Xmas Eve. Set your videos to record people, this is gonna be a good one.

Mums Birthday

I did some forward planning in preparation for mums birthday this year as I had a bit of time off work and so could shop around a bit. Mum had a great night out in 'ReHab' - a swanky Italian that Emily used to work at in Colliers wood. Mum and dad went all out on a pizza and myself and Adrian discovered the wonder that is Calzone... wow - that was a parma ham explosion!! The food was awesome and Emily made a great banoffee pie back at hers, complete with candels so we got to sing happy birthday to mum and they exchanged some gifts (some Molton Brown hand cream - smelt amazing so i may be borrowing some of that!!?!?).
My shopping in advance paid off as I managed to get a really cool hairdryer that mum was after but am still awaiting the CD I ordered for her which is a bit of a bummer. She got loads of cool goodies and spent the afternoon lunching with friends and doing a little shopping - well deserved I say. I spent the day in the kitchen creating an 'alternative' to the standard birthday cake in the form of a giant chocolate chip cookie - recipe courtesy of Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall. I iced it with butter cream and wrote on it with icing. It looked awesome but tasted the sweetest I've ever tasted ever.... and gave me that sickly headache you get when theres a proper sugar rush!! ewww.. perhaps I went overboard on the choc chips afterall. But the cherry cookies were a success I'm pleased to report and people are asking for a bigger christmas delivery... I think my week of baking has finally drawn to a close... the plain flour ran out basically and I'm too broke to buy more ingrediants to the world of cookie lovers will just have to wait until next year...

Christmas Gathering

Christmas gathering again at the Marriott hotel. This time we had Aunts and Uncles, cousins, grandparents and our other halfs there. Much fun was had, a few piccies taken. And far too much wine was consumed (mostly by myself, mum and Emily) but it was very good wine to be fair. I went a little overboard on the ham and accidently drenched it in olive oil - didnt taste great, Adrian happily took on the mantle and downed the lot for me. Good Lad!

Adrian and I finished off the afternoon by walking Ralphie along the sea front as the sun set. It was beautiful, but i'd forgotten my camera which was really annoying. I hadnt been along southsea sea front in many years and it brought back quite a few childhood memories. Ralph also enjoyed his first seaside experience even if he was frozen solid by the end. As a side note, i think its worth mentioning that the dogs down south are far less friendly than the ones up here in the big smoke! They kept growling at Ralph bot, not very nice at all.
The evening ended with nan filling us with home made sausage rolls and cakes of all varieties - she puts on a dam good spread does my nan. We were all exhausted.

Ralph and Jo (The lab puppy) and Jo (girl human Jo)

Ralphie met an awesome labrador puppy who ploughed me over while he was running after Ralph. He actually wore Ralph out which is pretty tough to do. I took some pics anywho.
He also got the chance to spend an afternooon with my friend (also named Jo) where he licked her to death.

Discovering Dogs cont,,,,,

Discovering Dogs

I cant believe that I completely forgot to mention that before lots of this I went to Discovering Dogs at Earls court with mum and dad. I had soooooooooo much fun and saw all the different breeds. I even met a friendly ChowChow which is really rare. Oh and i ticked a sausage dogs tummy for 10p, Ralphie got lots of new treats and a new harnass to stop him pulling on the lead and choking himself on walkies when he gets over excited. I learnt that grey hounds come in 5 different variations and one has ridiculously long hair. I think its called a Borsiois or something but they use them for racing too. They take 3 hours a week to groom - so couldnt be bothered with all that. Met a lovely, very mellow husky dog and one of my faves - the Alaskan Malamute which I want to get when im rich a live on a massive peice of land. It will keep Ralph bot company. Thats if i dont get a St Bernard of course!

Football dog

Not much to report on the Ralphie front I don't think. He's very well and has been doing a little less chewing thankfully. Him and Corky seem to have become quite good mates during the past few weeks. Though Ralphie definately thinks Corky is just a small dog - nuff said there! I need not explain. He's also discovered his 'bark' and has become very vocal especially when there's a game of footy in the offing. He gets quite irrate if you don't tackle him.

The Regent

Myself and Adrian went for a lovely chinese at the Regent to celebrate his graduation from Southampton uni on the 5th November. Adrian got a job offer but we were trying to keep it cool by memorising the blokes email address .... we didnt remember it at all so we've been trying to guess at what it might have been ever since. A job offers not what you'd expect when your mid way through you greasy battered prawn in sweet and sour so we cant be blamed really. Lovely dinner though.... very filling.

X FACTOR

Nick and Emily got to go to the X Factor Live show and were in the front row which I was ridiculously jealous of! It was the 'big band' week which is one of the best I reckon. I got to see them both dancing like lunatics live on ITV which my brother is still getting stick about at work. He was getting his groove on to Austin. Who was my personal fave! Anyway they had a fantastic night and took some awesome photos, see attached! p.s. Emily was sat right next to Louis :O

Adios Adam

Adam left work for good to continue his travels around Europe and North America so we had a 'adios Adam' gathering in a pub in Putney. All good fun, far too much drinking was involved though! Adrian got to meet my colleagues which I think was interesting for hi!m to say the least. oooo and we got to eat great tapas beforehand, the best tapas I've tasted to date! Sp get yourselves down to La Manche in Putney folks, and make sure you take out a second mortgage at the same time.

Happy 80th Birthday Pop

My grandad was 80 this year. We wanted to all get together and the final location was decided as a Marriott hotel where we had a four course meal, this gathering was on the same day as my dads 53rd birthday so it was a bit of a double celebration. It was nice to catch up and my grandad really enjoyed having us all there to share his birthday. Plus there was a posh cake at the end which never goes down badly :)

Zoo and Sultans

Also forgot to the mention my most recent visit to yet ANOTHER zoo. This time with Adrian. Got to see lots of fun animals, avoid masses of swarming children and dress up as giraffes and tigers in the gift shop. All this after navigating our way around the underground for a good hour and a half. Arriving at London zoo is a relief like you wouldnt imagine when you've been round the northern line twice.
I avoided the butterfly house, Adrian was brave enough to venture and risk his life in there. Though I think even unafraid Adrian spent longer in there than he'd intended to when butterfly keeper man cornered him for 10 mins or so! This was not our only encounter with winged creatures. The bird house had a surprise in store when I noticed a few of those hellish creatures had escaped from their enclosures.
Prior to this we'd accidently wondered upon Camden where I certainly had a lesson in 'fashion'. I didnt feel like I fitted in entirely, without having green hair and metal wedged boots but nevertheless had a very cool hour or so there. And best of all we got to eat burrito/wrap/meaty things from a place called Sultans. The chef there wasn't stingey on the humous which left my tum rather satisfied. I shall return again :)

Corfu Oct 08

I've been reminded by a few people now that its about time I updated my little blog page here. Sso here I am.

I've been rather busy in my new job so I've not had a lot of time to devote to telling you my little tales of events etc. But I shall attempt to update you of my goings-on in the past couple of months.

I've been away on holiday to corfu which was delightful as ever. I went to a 5* on the beach so plenty of sunshine and sea side. Not a lot of activities to keep you busy during your stay and a food poisoning bug that attacked just about everyone but my dad in the resort put a downer on things for 48 hours or so. But not to distract from the holiday itself which was relaxing and a nice way to wind down before heading back to the rat race in the big smoke.

Lots of stray dogs about, and im not one to discriminate so there was lots of patting them on heads and giving them cuddles. It definately made me miss Ralphie a lot though. He seemed to be having a little holiday of his own though at his Auntie Annes whose old grumpy dog Henry taught little Ralphie a thing or two in doggy ettiquette. Ralph came back a different beast, all patient and restrained. Calm didnt last long which goes to show I'm a bit of a push over as far as hes concerned. He was soon back to chasing the cats who also seemed to have rather enjoyed their break away from their canine companion. But were rather pleased to see us.
It was rather a hellish treck from the airport in Corfu to the hotel complex itself which wasnt much appreciated at 4am.... and neither was waiting for our room to be ready for a good hour.

We planned to take a day trip over to Albania, which never materialised for one reason or another, but did make it into Corfu town. Brilliant for shopping - some good jewellrey there people. It was a pretty little town with lots of little hidden gems.