It has been a very busy period so I do have lots to update on but does that surprise you?! I was going to make it my New year’s resolution to update my blog more regularly but I know I would 
break it so I have just decided to stay off alcohol for 11 days instead (might also break that too!).
break it so I have just decided to stay off alcohol for 11 days instead (might also break that too!).So let’s start with Halloween. Not only did I become Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) I also took the plunge and dyed my hair dark as well! It was a bold step but I’m pleased to say I quite like it now that I am used to it (although I can see grey hairs now...). It was a fun night with lots of Gourock folk making the trip through and TSP gategrashers turning up for the karaoke at 1.30am!
Talking of TSP I have been busy with rehearsals for our next performance of Kiss Me Kate from 23rd March – 27th March 2010 at Eastwood Park Theatre.
Tickets are priced from £10 - £14 (bargain) so let me know if you would like to go. As a sideline we have also been doing a few smaller performances at local hospitals and at George Square as part of Winterfest.Other musical entertainments over the last couple of months have included Calvin Harris at the o2 (not as neddy as I thought!), The Eastwood Theatre kids panto, The Mikado (great night) and the Clic Sargent Carol Concert (got me in the Christmas spirit until I violently threw up about 3am due to food poisoning!).
We’re finally getting settled in the new house, although there are still constant battles with Ross over how long the heating should run for. Considering the temperatures are -10 at the moment I am a big fan of having the heating ON!! We had a busy house on 5th November after bumping into some pals and their children at the local fireworks display (which we realised is 2 mins down the road – next year I’m going to sell sparklers and hot dogs on the lawn for hugely inflated prices).
I’ve seen a lot of family in the last while with three trips up North and several lodgers at the house (mostly Donna and Neil now that they have sold their pad in Glasgow). Singstar and Guitar Hero have been getting abused!
In November I had my usual weekend away to Crianlarich with my TSP pals to rehearse (aka drink heavily and stay up until 7am the next day). It was a lot of fun but very embarrassing when dodgy photos were uploaded to Facebook the next day involving signs, cages, positions and Shakira (say no more).
My other travels have really only been as far as Newcastle 2 or 3 times with work and of course Donna’s hen weekend in St Andrews which was sooo much fun. I obviously can’t say too much but let’s just say it involved blow up suits, illuminated dancefloors, truth or dares, copious amounts of alcohol, Mr & Mrs, treasure hunts, fat Scotsmen, traffic wardens, policemen and buff Santa turning up to empty his sack. LOL.Just before Christmas I had a lovely catch up with my old mentor Kimberley. I hadn’t seen her for about 5 years since we parted company when I left my last job. She is still an inspiration and real role model to me so it was lovely to hear what she was up to.
Ross and I also had the chance to catch up with pals through in Dunfermline for a huge dinner of soup, steak, banoffee pie and cheese & biscuits. It made us realise that we still have a lot of work to do to get our house looking half as good as theirs!
At work life has been pretty busy. Only a matter of weeks after securing my permanent position as a Programme Manager I was offered a new role as Development Manager (Strategic Development and Organisational Change) – what a mouthful! I now no longer have a team to manage but will be working closely with senior management on change and communications.
On top of all of this I have managed to squeeze in a few nights out with work, Ross, and various girlfriends covering the city from end to end (Merchant City and very dodgy characters in Arta, cultural events in the West End, Christmas parties in town and a Tuesday night of cheap vodkas with Reena at Karbon!). I’m pleased to say we partied with the young and underdressed like we were 18 year olds and even managed to stay til the bitter end before a wee trip to Da Vincis (can’t beat it).
The next day we had a lesson on hair extensions and I almost agreed to spending hundreds of pounds on getting long, thick locks but chickened out at the last minute and bought clip in ones instead!
The big event of December (other than Christmas, birthdays and nights out!) was of course Donna’s wedding. Donna looked stunning and it was great seeing family and friends (some of whom I hadn’t seen since my own wedding). My liver took a beating though! I won the prize for drunkest bridesmaid, my mum slipped and broke her wrist spending the early hours in casualty and my sister-in-law crashed into the back of me when we were leaving because the roads were so slippy. All in all, an exhausting and eventful weekend but memorable. At least my mum made it back from hospital in time for her 60th birthday bash the day after.
After all of that Christmas itself was pretty uneventful. I helped mum cook Christmas dinner as she can’t do much with her arm in a stooky. It didn’t help that we were snowed in and had to walk everywhere although it was very peaceful and pretty. On Boxing Day I caught up with old pals in Dingwall, hip and happening nightlife as always!
We were back in Glasgow for Hogmanay with Ross’s mum and dad. Lots of champagne drunk and chocs eaten. Well isn’t that what it’s all about?!
Places I’ve eaten at this quarter include a lovely curry in Newcastle, pricey but tasty Italian in Andiamo, a fab curry in our local curryhouse the Turban Tandoori, good ol’ pub grub in our local boozer the Orchard Park, a very posh and expensive 5 course meal at Hogmanay in L’Ariosto, the worst Iceland buffet I have ever paid £15 for at Mark’s Hotel for our work Xmas party (and I was sober), probably the best Chinese in Glasgow (Ho Wong), terrible service but nice food in Fifi and Ally, delicious food but dodgy prawn make me vomit at Rumours, much fun and good value at The Doll’s House and Greyfriars in St Andrews, a tasty and healthy lunch with the girls at Bar10, a diabolic dinner at November (apart from the company of course!) and a slightly overcooked medium steak in Fusion in Gourock.
There were lots of birthdays so apologies if I miss anyone. Happy 30th to Landa, 60th to my mum , 40th to my bro Richard, 90th to my Gran on 12th Jan and non significant birthdays to my sis Carrie, new bro-in-law Neil, mother-in-law Irma and TSP pal Nicola. Also congratulations to Paul and Eilidh Mellon who had their first baby (Evie) in early January.
Thank you to everyone who made 2009 such a special and memorable year for me. 2010 will be hard to beat. x
On top of all of this I have managed to squeeze in a few nights out with work, Ross, and various girlfriends covering the city from end to end (Merchant City and very dodgy characters in Arta, cultural events in the West End, Christmas parties in town and a Tuesday night of cheap vodkas with Reena at Karbon!). I’m pleased to say we partied with the young and underdressed like we were 18 year olds and even managed to stay til the bitter end before a wee trip to Da Vincis (can’t beat it).
The next day we had a lesson on hair extensions and I almost agreed to spending hundreds of pounds on getting long, thick locks but chickened out at the last minute and bought clip in ones instead!
The big event of December (other than Christmas, birthdays and nights out!) was of course Donna’s wedding. Donna looked stunning and it was great seeing family and friends (some of whom I hadn’t seen since my own wedding). My liver took a beating though! I won the prize for drunkest bridesmaid, my mum slipped and broke her wrist spending the early hours in casualty and my sister-in-law crashed into the back of me when we were leaving because the roads were so slippy. All in all, an exhausting and eventful weekend but memorable. At least my mum made it back from hospital in time for her 60th birthday bash the day after.
After all of that Christmas itself was pretty uneventful. I helped mum cook Christmas dinner as she can’t do much with her arm in a stooky. It didn’t help that we were snowed in and had to walk everywhere although it was very peaceful and pretty. On Boxing Day I caught up with old pals in Dingwall, hip and happening nightlife as always!We were back in Glasgow for Hogmanay with Ross’s mum and dad. Lots of champagne drunk and chocs eaten. Well isn’t that what it’s all about?!
Places I’ve eaten at this quarter include a lovely curry in Newcastle, pricey but tasty Italian in Andiamo, a fab curry in our local curryhouse the Turban Tandoori, good ol’ pub grub in our local boozer the Orchard Park, a very posh and expensive 5 course meal at Hogmanay in L’Ariosto, the worst Iceland buffet I have ever paid £15 for at Mark’s Hotel for our work Xmas party (and I was sober), probably the best Chinese in Glasgow (Ho Wong), terrible service but nice food in Fifi and Ally, delicious food but dodgy prawn make me vomit at Rumours, much fun and good value at The Doll’s House and Greyfriars in St Andrews, a tasty and healthy lunch with the girls at Bar10, a diabolic dinner at November (apart from the company of course!) and a slightly overcooked medium steak in Fusion in Gourock.
There were lots of birthdays so apologies if I miss anyone. Happy 30th to Landa, 60th to my mum , 40th to my bro Richard, 90th to my Gran on 12th Jan and non significant birthdays to my sis Carrie, new bro-in-law Neil, mother-in-law Irma and TSP pal Nicola. Also congratulations to Paul and Eilidh Mellon who had their first baby (Evie) in early January.
Thank you to everyone who made 2009 such a special and memorable year for me. 2010 will be hard to beat. x
