Congratulations!!

A very big congratulations to my wee sis Donna who got engaged to her boyfriend of 7 years, Neil, on Thursday!! The proposal was made on a rock in Glenelg (a lovely west coast village we used to go to as kids). Not sure yet about wedding plans but I am going to be a bridesmaid - hoorah!!! xx

Spa delight!

A lovely weekend was had through at Norton House in Edinburgh. I won a voucher at work (see previous post) for a nights B & B for two at this handpicked hotel. Firstly it was GREAT having a day off work, pity the weather was so rubbish. Ross and I left Glasgow first thing Friday morning and went straight to the Spa for a day of pampering. I had booked the 'Ruby Experience Package' which involved full use of the spa facilities, a massage, lunch and a Rasul Mud Treatment. So, we went to the gym first and had the whole place to ourselves (having a work out first meant we got the hard work out of the way and didn't feel guilty drinking champagne later!). My favourite machine was the power plate which is a vibrating machine (oo-er!) where you tense your muscles and it's meant to be the equivalent of several mins work when you are actually just tensing for 30 seconds! We both loved it so much we checked out how much they cost when we got back home! (£3000 - £10000 - ouch). After sweating it out on the running machine (with my nike+ trainers that talk to you when you are running - it helps to keep me motivated!) we headed for a champagne lunch in our private 'amber dining lounge. Whilst letting lunch settle we popped into the relaxation room (a dark room full of beds and playing soothing music) followed by a sauna, steam room, swim, crystal shower and bubbly hydrotherapy pool. Then it was time for the treatments, firstly the rasul mud treatment. We were shown into our own private room with a table full of different muds and 2 heated seats built into the tiled walls. We were then basically left to it to cover our body, face and hair in mud (more like moisturiser actually) and then we pressed a button which released the steam. When the steam stopped a shower of warm water released from above us to wash all the mud off. What a novelty! To finish off the package we had a joint massage in the ruby suite leaving us exhausted! So we decided to stay in the hotel rather than go out because the hotel is quite far out of Edinburgh and it was still a rotten day. Plus the rooms were lovely (with more free bubbly and fruit) and a plasma TV.
We also ate in the hotel restaurant which was vey tasty.
The next day we had planned to go clay pigeon shooting but it was postponed so we will have to reschedule for later in the year. So, we went shopping instead! I bought some more gym gear and Ross treated himself and me to some under armour for Connect Festival - which is cosy skin tight gear (often worn by footballers and golfers). Not sexy but very warm!
At night we cooked steaks to perfection (rare - medium) and smothered them in A1 sauce which you can only get in USA so please bring us back some if you are ever over there as we are almost out!
This week is a busy one with Ross just back from Switzerland and off again to Nuremburg so I have my pal Reena coming over tomorrow and an opera meeting tonight. It's all go!

Love is in the air!

News this week - We had our first house viewing in weeks - a lovely end terrace only a few streets away from where we currently stay. It had potential but it really was too expensive in this current climate. Plus we are not rushing to buy a house any time soon when we have so little interest in our own place.
Ross is working away SO much at the moment, I hardly ever see him! He was in Coventry last week, Frankfurt and Switzerland this week and is going to Nuremburg next week! However it does mean I have plenty time to catch up with pals. Last week I met my friend Eilidh for dinner - we had a lovely after work meal at Pizza Express. It is great catching up with folks because come September I won't have time to do that because I'll be rehearsing 4 nights a week for my shows! Exciting news this week is that my friend Aileen got engaged!! Yes, her boyfriend Ross proposed on her birthday. I don't know the details yet but I am so chuffed for her.
I just had a lovely relaxing weekend because Ross and I were meant to be going to T in the Park but decided to go to Connect Festival instead so we had no plans whatsoever! On Friday Ross was golfing then we went shopping at the Fort followed by dinner in a wee Italian restaurant in Pollokshields we having been meaning to try for ages. The meal was very good - straighforward linguine in olive oil, pesto and chilli sauce (which we recreated at home on Sunday). It was also a great atmosphere with the Italian chef singing Volare from the kitchen and the Celtic footballer Massimo Donati was at the table next to us. I also had a good day of purchases (I know I don't need more clothes/shoes but the summer sales have started!). I bought 2 pairs of shoes, a black dress/top, 2 jumper tops, a belt and some benefit make up - result!
On Saturday I had a lovely long lie when Ross left to play in a golf competition then spent the morning tidying the flat as it was a disgrace! We had planned the pictures in the afternoon but decided not to rush and instead went for a leisurely cocktail in Merchant Square followed by a curry at Koolba which was great. The cocktail I had was delicious - fresh mint, lime, gin, fresh squashed raspberries topped with champagne! Saturday night we spent watching crappy TV, playing jenga and guitar and laughing out loud at Donna's air guitar playing! Yesterday's rehearsal was good fun, singing songs from Blood Brothers and learning our next dance to Jesus Christ Superstar which involves body popping - don't ask ! ;o)

Working hard but playing a bit too!

Well I've been quiet because I've been working like a dog the past few weeks. Work really is busy and stressful at the moment as I am still working with a team of 2 when I should have 6. Mind you, the 2 I have are fantastic so I probably shouldn't complain - and I have now recruited two more so things should be on the up very soon. Plus, it doesn't help that everyone is talking about their holidays when Ross and I had ours in March!Anyway, what fun things have I been up to? (I'm of the opinion that if I'm working so hard during the week I am going to blooming well enjoy myself at the weekend!). Of course I have been up North to see my new wee nephew who is a real cutie - I almost became maternal for a second :o) It was also Iona's hen night the same weekend so we travelled in style and got a limo to Inverness, followed by my favourite pasta in No 27, a few pubs and lots of dancing in Mr G's!! (Although it's not called Mr G's anymore, it has some new cheesy name which I can't remember!). It was a great girlie night - everyone made a big effort to dress up ganster style - and I'm really looking forward to her wedding in August.

Last weekend we went to a wine and cheese party at our friends Isla and Zain's in the West End. It was a great idea for a party as we had to taste and score all the wines - mind you their house probably smelt pretty bad the next day!

Last Sunday Ross, Donna and I headed to the BBC to watch the filming of the new Lottery show - This Time Tomorrow. Ross only went because Tess Daly was presenting it! It was really good to see how it worked behind the cameras - watch out for us in the audience when it is screened on Sat 16th August.

Last night we went to our friends David and Elaine's for dinner. We got to see their lovely daughter Sophie, played Jenga, and had a delcious beetroot soup, proper stew and a lovely fruit crumble - we definitely got our 5 a day! Pity I drunk so much wine alongside it - my head hurts proper today!

I've also had a few nice meals out including proper pub grub at Clockwork, Thai food at the Thai Orchid and Bar Soba, Cockburns Haggis and best of all, Ross's home cooked Chateaux Briande!

Rehearsals have been going well - we are now learning a dance to Can't Stop the Beat from Hairspray which is really fast and a total workout!

Happy birthday to my friends Lorna and Clare! x