Countdown to holidays (thankfully!)

I know that I called my last blog pre-holiday stress but double that by about 10 and that's how burnt out I feel at the moment. I haven't stopped all week and if I wasn't going on holiday in 4 days I think I would cry! Ross was away again last week - this time to Cologne so that meant I was left to do everything round the house at usual. I had a opera meeting in my house so had to get organised for that (I made sandwiches and everything!). We have so much preparation to do for our show but it's an interesting experience dealing with big theatres and trying to publicise a local amateur show when we are competing against all the big professional touring companies. On Wednesday I dragged my wee sis out to see a house with me. I was really impressed with it - 5 bedrooms(!), dining room and study on top of the usual public rooms. It really has an awful lot of potential - if I can persuade Ross because it is at the very top of our budget. The owner has a rottweiler and it was such a big cuddly friendly thing, it reminded me of my old dog Corrie, who was also a rottweiler. Afterwards we watched the Brits but I couldn't stop thinking about the house. I then started to think my mouth was getting sore so Donna had a look (she used to be a dental assistant) and said I had a wisdom tooth growing in. Perfect, I didn't want to be stuck with a sore mouth for my holidays so I got an emergency dental appointment the next morning and just said to them get the tooth out! 6 jags later the tooth was extracted (thankfully I didn't feel a thing) but I got laughed at something terrible when I went in to work afterwards as my face was all lopsided (I haven't had 1 day off sick since at started at BIG so I wasn't going to take a day off for a tooth!). Mind you, when it started wearing off I went rapidly downhill and my mouth still hurts today, 4 days later!
On Friday we went to the comedy club with my mum, dad, Donna and Neil - it was a good laugh. The best bit of the night though was catching up with my old school pal Juliet who was in town. Juliet was my best friend in primary school and I seemingly cried for days when she left in primary 3 to move to England! I hadn't seen her for several years so it was lovely catching up. To top it off, she announced she was 5 months pregnant! Really delighted for her.
On Saturday we went back to view the house, this time bringing Ross, my mum and my dad. My dad knows his stuff about houses as he is a painter and decorator (and general odd-jobber) and he was pretty impressed with the house. It does need a fair bit of cosmetic upgrading but it would be a great project for us. Ross was also taken aback at the size of it, but I'm still not sure what he thinks! Later I went to the hairdresser and got 5 inches taken off! I'm quite pleased with it because my hair looks a lot healthier but I miss my long hair! At night Ross went out with the boys and I had the girls over for cocktails before heading to the Buff Club for a boogie. My friend Reena brought round her cocktail fountain which was fantastic! It was great seeing the girls again, they are all a fab bunch!
On Sunday I caught up with my mum taking her for lunch as my dad is away to Portugal on a golfing trip and my wee sis is unwell (plus I will be away for Mothers Day next week). I took her round Xscape, she was all up for having a go on the robotic arm that throws you about the room! We then went shopping and bought a new PC as her computer is on it's last legs. She uses it mainly for her side job - running a genealogy company. See her website at http://www.heather-roots.com/. OK time to perk myself up, holidays are a-coming!

Getting pre-holiday stress now...

It's only 10 days until we fly to the States and I'm getting the usual "too much to do, too little time" syndrome when I feel that I don't have space to breathe let only get anything done. Work is majorly busy, opera meetings are happening all the time, housework isn't getting done, visitors are arriving, houses need to be viewed and every night is taken up. When am I going to pack/prepare for my holidays?? Plus Ross is away again so I'm left to do everything, ggrrrr. OK rant over.

Have viewed 3 houses since I last blogged - all of which had negative points which means we have struck them off the list. One was a lovely sandstone house in Shawlands but it was expensive for a terraced house. The second was a 70's semi in Giffnock which had a lovely big garden but didn't set the heather alight and it's location wasn't great for transport links. The third place was a beautiful upper conversion of a 1900's sandstone villa but it felt like a glorified flat and we really want a house with our own private garden. Oh well.

I spent all day Wednesday interviewing at work so was emotionally drained by 5pm however I was cheered up by having dinner with Donna and going to see the Wizard of Oz at the Kings Theatre. I love the Wizard of Oz and they had a real Toto on stage which was hilarious! A couple of my friends were performing in it so it was nice to see them on stage (and be on the other side for once!).

Thursday was Valentine's Day and Ross and I decided not to get each other presents so we could spend the money in USA instead. However we did swap husband/wife cards (weird!) and went for a lovely meal at Roma Mia. We probably drunk too much wine and champagne but I still insist the bubbly was dodgy as I felt terrible the next day!!

On Friday I caught up with my friend John who now works for Children in Need at the BBC and we had a lovely curry at India Quay. Then Ross and I headed up North in the wee sports car as it was a lovely day. Friday night was a quiet one catching up with my folks.

On Saturday I went shopping with my mum and then went to see my nephew Xander in Golspie. Unfortunately he took a tumble and had his first ever bleeding nose! However a bottle of beer filled with juice soon calmed him down! Afterwards we went to Tain Golf Club for dinner which was lovely. After a Sunday morning jog (only managed 6.5k- out of practice) and a visit to my granny (whose arm is almost better now) we drove back to Glasgow. This week is going to be so hectic as I have more meetings after work, mum and dad visiting, a girls night out, Ross's mum and dad visiting, as well as getting organised for my hols and watching the Brits - well I couldn't miss that could I?!

There isn't a lot to update you on this week. When Ross was working away last week I went to the cinema with my wee sis to see Sweeney Todd. I actually really enjoyed it although some parts were pretty gory. Johnny Depp reminded me too much of his Edward Scissorhands character, probably due to the Tim Burton white face-black eyes effect. We munched our way through Pret sandwiches during the film. If you like Pret then you really must try their new falafel sandwiches - amazing!
On Tuesday it was the AGM of my opera club Glasgow Light. I was voted back on to the committee so I will be very busy this year helping to raise money and promote Oklahoma! which we are performing in October.
On Wednesday I went to circuits for the first time in ages which was good but I did hurt the next day. I am enjoying varying my gym sessions mixing up spin, circuits, rowing, cross training, stepping, running and swiss ball. Ross has signed up to run the men's 10k on Fathers Day and the Glasgow half marathon in Sept - brave boy!
On Thursday we went to view two houses, both in Giffnock. Neither set the heather alight and both were too expensive for what was on offer. I preferred the first place as it had a huge garden and with a bit of cosmetic upgrading, could have been quite nice. Ross preferred the second place which had recently been done up to a very high standard - all LED lights, chrome fittings and a lovely conservatory with electric blinds. The problem is the house was tiny and not close to any transport links! Back to the drawing board...
The weekend was a very quiet one. Ross had bought me a facial, massage and reiki session for my Christmas so I had a fantastic pampering day. I had never had a facial before so it was a great experience. Seemingly I am a 'sun' persona which is probably true as I am a Leo (and I didn't tell her my D.O.B), I am outgoing but also nurturing! I am going to have regular facials from now on (or resort to Botox!). Seemingly we should be using an eye cream from the age of 25 - I only started at the age of 27, better than not at all I guess. My reiki session was strange but pleasant. She said she could feel/see red/hot colours around my head and my stomach - probably due to the fact my mind is always really busy and I can't switch off. My massage was lovely, she used hot stones which were very soothing. Afterwards she said she was dying to work out my knots in my shoulders but didn't want to hurt me - but I know my shoulders are bad so I'm going to go back soon for a proper swedish massage! On Sunday our friends Trevor and Steph came round. Poor wee Lacie their daughter has chicken pox so she wasn't herself. I am hoping I've already had chickenpox, have I mum?

Snow in Glasgow!

It has been a fairly low key week although that has been great for me. On Wednesday I got a rare day out of the office to visit some customers which was really good. I drove through Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway visiting projects that we have funded and monitoring how the money is being spent. I visited an arts community centre built in a disused primary school and a group who judge the best kept gardens in Dumfries. I also got to make my final 'yes' call to a successful applicant which made their day! I drove through Dalmellington where my dad was born and was surprised by how much rural Galloway reminds me of the Highlands. Ross and I have decided to go up North mid Feb to see my folks. We weren't planning to as our weekends are now very busy before we go on holiday but we want to try and cheer them up as I'm sure they are finding the house pretty empty now. I was mighty glad to get paid on Thursday - Jan is such a long month with no money! I went straight to the shops at lunchtime with the girls and we reated ourselves to a purchase to celebrate payday! I also went via a bureau de change and got some dollars in preparation for the end of the month. My sister sent me through a link to the shopping outlet we will go to - WOW - I think I might go mad buying Gucci, Prada, Nine West and Aldo shoes, heaven! I'm starting to get very excited about our trip although it will be a lot of travelling in 13 days (Glasgow - Amsterdam - Boston - Rhode Island - Boston - L.A - South California - New York - Providence - Rhode Island - Boston - Amsterdam - Glasgow!) We plan to stay in an amazing hotel in NY overlooking Times Square and go to the Rockefeller Centre and eat in the boathouse in Central Park.
On Friday night I went for a couple of drinks after work followed by dinner with Ross in the Thai Orchid. It was nice, but not as special as the Thai Fountain (they do the best sea bass ever). We were amazed to wake up on Saturday morning to find Glasgow covered in a white blanket of snow! Immediately I pulled on my waterproof trousers and dragged Ross to the park to watch the sledgers. The added bonus was that the Farmers Market was on so I had soup and Ross had an ostrich burger to heat us up and we bought some venison sausages for our tea, yum. The snow quickly turned to slush so we cranked the heating up and didn't leave the house for the rest of the day. Sunday's weather was much and such the same so all we did was drive to Gourock for lunch and home again for a night on the couch. I watched Million Dollar Baby for the first time which was surprisingly good. Ross stayed up to watch the Superbowl but I fell asleep on the couch and missed everything! My boy is away this week so yet again I will have to find things to do - what a pity!!