I know, I know...but this time I have a really good excuse for not updating!

We may be homeless by the end of next week (due to landlord putting house up for sale, us putting in our notice, a huge fire next door that smoke damaged our house, landlord taking house off market and immediately renting out to other people with a huge rent increase, us not being able to afford anywhere at the moment due to silly students paying well over the odds....blah, blah, blah...).

We've been seeing lots of awful, overpriced properties but the one that topped the cake recently was on where Jess actually put her foot through the rotting floorboards, they wanted £360 a week...

So, before all of this happened I was having a relaxing holiday in Spain. Well, it didn't start as relaxing...I'm terrified of flying so I'd taken some of Lornie's diazepam. My panic was only slightly held under control by the fuzziness of the pills...I was distracted on the plane by a lovely woman who gave me and Jessica scones and sweets. Which made us very happy!

2hrs later we're in the heat of Spain waiting for Lornie and Carla to pick us up...I hastily change into my flip-flops...they arrive, we drive to the Villa. My first time in Spain, I look out of the car at the arid, brown, landscape. The mountains are fantastic. We eat and then swim in the pool at dusk, and to bed to prepare for the following week.

Most memorial things from the holiday:

Geckos join us...wherever we are.

The wild waves at Javier/Xavier beach, we swim out to a slide in sea and dive deep into the water.

I turn a beautiful brown...

The ladies being kicked off the karaoke (Champagne Supernova doesn't only have one chorus!)

Ice-cream shop in Moraira (pine nut ice-cream and fig ice-cream, I LOVE you!)

Saxo's nightclub (note to self: when drunk don't go to nightclubs where English people that you dislike at home are getting drunk and trying to fuck each other, also avoid expensive drinks and the bull fighting video footage...)

Reading Chit Lit (it's really like a drug, you know it's wrong but you can't stop...there should be meetings for this sort of thing!)

Getting to know Ms. Parr better, you fucking rock!

In fact, you all fucking rock - I had a brilliant time! Let's book next year now (well, as soon as we've got a house sorted out anyway..)

I know, I know..it takes me ages to write anything on here but I haven't got internet access at home and work is a bit hectic at the mo!

So since I last wrote I had two weeks off during which I did everything I planned to (see July 14th entry!)

There was a fire in the house next door to us. Quite late at night. Jess, Shaz and I were the only ones up and we had to run around waking everyone else up and getting them out of the house because the smoke was really bad. We had to wait on the pavement nearby for over 4 hours while an huge number of fire engines tried to fight the blaze. A huge panic for us all which we got over by lusting over the firemen...I've never seen the attraction before but y'know when they save your life...

I had a break in Cumbria with work...doing teambuilding exercise, it’s a three-day event of trust work alongside developing new skills. Our time was well spent bonding...actually, mainly I got wet in the rain, wet in the lead mine, wet on the walks, cold in the bed and I almost drowned too. Well, I say almost drowned, what I mean is I was in a small boat with Shelley in the middle of a lake, not able to 'steer', with no tutor and with a large steam boat making its way towards us...I didn't panic though. No, not me - I said in a very loud, posh voice "Shell, I'm really not enjoying this anymore!" What larks! All those childhood games being part of Swallows and Amazons didn't help at all...God knows what will happen if the Famous Five games didn't sink in and I come across smugglers at the seaside or thieves on the moors!

From Cumbria I went straight to V2004 to work on Herbal Highs, Oxygen Bar, etc. Really, really good fun - I only managed to see The Pixies...we managed to drink the alcohol that was meant for the whole weekend on the first night...and have to many herbal highs...and Hels managed to fall off a chair she was dancing on and fall onto a plug...into her heel (it's an inch and a half deep!).

Last weekend I went to Reading Festival Jess and I had got VIP tickets for the Saturday 'cos there was a line up we couldn't miss. Lorna, Hels and Carla were working on the Vodka Jelly stall so we stayed over on the Saturday night. Carla's had a new man there - the lovely Liam, he was lots of fun and we all bonded with him (mainly by throwing things at him and shouting his name to be fair).

From the bands, I saw a bit of Razorlight (Libertines-alike, really good fun), New York Dolls (er, no-one wants to see that...I love the music though), a bit of The Roots (boring jazz stoners), Franz Ferdinard (rocking but very quiet), The Libertines (OH...MY...GOD...I am so in love with Carl!), Morrissey (me alone in a field with lots of other people alone and we all knew all the words...wonderful, wonderful, wonderful), The White Stripes (Jeeesus, Jack White....he even looks good with a goatee). I then went back to the Vodka Jelly stall to find that Jess had started a B-Boy circle and there were loads of people around demanding Dizzee Rascal! So we all went onto drink too much, snort too much (although I managed to say no - I had the worst cold and I wasn't gonna make it any worse) and down to many vodka jellies!

Jess and I slept in the van with one cover between us (which Jess stole and wouldn't give back!) and managed to get up in the morning and open the stall...we were meant to go as soon as everyone else got up but we ended up drinking more whiskey and beer and not leaving until around 6pm...the train home was wonderful until Staines when some horrible little brats got on and were really loud (one laughed like he was weeping - what a little git!).

Got home on Sunday evening where I was joined by the young man, that's all going fantastically too - horribly in love still I'm afraid. We just had our 1 year anniversary for which he got me the biggest bunch of flowers and a bracelet and we went for the nicest meal...

We got the photos back on Monday evening and they are fantastic - literally all the girls hanging from the rafters of the stall!!!

Next Monday we go to Spain to stay in Lornie's parents villa for 10 days - can't wait! Lots of relaxing, swimming and general girly-themed fun! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

So, my 2 weeks off work were fantastic. I will do a bit more of an update soon however, I'm now off to Cumbria. A work-based adventure week in Cumbria...those of you who know me personally will know that this isn't the sort of holiday I should be taking - I should be by the swimming pool relaxing with a cocktail (alright, cocktails) and then going to the nearest city for cultural visits!

From Cumbria I'm going straight to V2004 - which I'm really looking forward to. There's a really cool gang working it...should be lots of fun...

Update soon, honest guv!

You Met The Libertines And . . . . by luvmymets
Your Name/Username
Your birthday
Your favorite color
Location
Peter had to restrain himself from	sticking his tongue down your throat.
Carl reached into his pocket and gave you	a picture of Pete in a compromising position.
John was especially fond of	the junk in your trunk.
Gary asked you to	do the Hustle.
Created with the ORIGINAL MemeGen!

I had an argument with the boy/f on Sunday - our first big, non-drunk argument that is (in 11th months that's pretty good!). Basically we hadn't done anything all weekend and lots of things we're said...about me. The fact I don't want to see his mates, that fact that I don't want to do anything at the weekend, that I don't come over to his house and that I'm always tired. some of these are fair enough comments, I am always knackered at the weekends...'cause I work bloody hard during the week. However, that fact that I don't go around to his is that he has a single bed (and anyone that knows me is aware that I don't fit into a single by myself let alone with someone else too!)..anyway, he's got a single sofa bed now which means that I can start to spend more time there. I then say I'll come over to his on Monday night and he says "nah, I'll come to yours" - bloody men!

Blah, blah, blah.

I have two weeks off work and broadband has been cut off at home so it'll be quite for a bit!

Plans for the next two weeks:

Visit grandparentage
Go to a leaving do for a work colleague
St Martin in the fields concert (if I can wangle freebies)
Go to The Libertines exhibition at Proud Camden
Go to Bournemouth
Go to a posh do at a posh hotel (free drinks and nibbles)
Go to Godskitchen Global Gathering

Lots of fun!

OH. MY. GOD. Philip's new play Moonfleece was amazing...racism, homophobia, right wing political parties, distorted childhood memories, princes, dragons, sparkles...I love his writing so much. Telling 'fairy' stories that reflect the 'real' story...so beautiful.

Big Gay Out was great! We didn't leave the stall all day and I got visited by loads of ex-Ticketmaster people and well as loads of mates - fantastic day!

Richie and I went to see Cruel and Tender at the Young Vic on Tuesday which has been called 'A superb emotion-charged performance' by The Guardian..but I disagree there were some interesting ideas, some okish acting but on the whole it was pretty dire. No energy on stage at all and when Amelia went mental and covers bed, props, etc in blood I didn't even draw in a breath...it was so boring...all actors dropping lines, they also seemed quite lost on stage, as if they hadn't been given any direction at all and didn't know where to stand...perhaps we caught them on an off night but to me it was possibly one of the most boring pieces of theatre that I've seen in a long time (and I've been to WEST END MUSICALS!!!)

One thing in its favour was that it has now added the action of *rubbing shards of cut glass into my hands* during painful moments into our lives...the action of committing hari-kari was a left over from boring uni lectures and it was getting a little dry and over used.

Wednesday was much better - Discontented Winter: House Remix by Bryony Lavery at the National as part of their Shell Connections season ("the world’s leading youth theatre programme producing quality new writing for and about young people"). It was fantasically funny, brilliantly acted and a great night out for only £6!

Yesterdays play, however, Dead End by Letizia Russo was very strange...about a group of young people worshipping a new God, their actions and a fight to be the new God...and souls were bouncy balls...err, ok...so afterwards we needed a drink. We went up to The Vibe Bar on Brick Lane 'cos my mate from work, Bid was DJing (no, sorry, 'playing out'...how cool am I?). Lots of drunken fun!

Tonight, it's the new Philip Ridley play Moonfleece. I'm so excited...and managed to convince the boy/f to come along (had to bribe him with dinner before hand!)

This weekend will be spent cleaning the house. The landlord called and let us know that he was putting the house on the market and that we had two months notice to quit...so anyone know of a 4 bedroom house in the East End near to the N25 bus route do let me know!

So, of course I got too drunk at the meal and had to get up the next day really early...it was worth it though. I got to the festival to be told that I wouldn't be working with Lornie and Carla but with Pat on the temporary tattoo stall. I was a bit disappointed at first but then once I'd been introduced to Pat and shown how to do the spray painting tattoos I adored it! And Pat really knows how to do a festival in style...her own private toilet, an inflatable double bed (!), fridge full of cocktails and food galore! Phillippa (the other person on the stall) and I were treated like Princesses! I am never slumming it at a festival again!!!

Apart from that over the last couple of weeks I've seen The Exception and the Rule by Bertolt Brecht and The New Tenant by Eugène Ionesco as part of the Young Vic's Direct Action season. The Exception and the Rule was pretty dire but The New Tenant was fantastic. Really witty.

Went to see The Soldier's Tale at the Linbury Studios with Damaris which was also fantastic.

I went on a massive girlie night involving quite a few Kir Royals , then into town for FREE jugs of cocktails X2!, and then onto Bedrock...we ended the evening magically aquiring a midnight feast which we ate most of on the night bus home!

The next day I video'd a friends play. I was meant to be getting close ups but I had a stationary tripod so it was an absolute bugger - literally had to shove it about...managed to get a few good cut aways though...I then went on to see Cardboard Citizens New Music Ensemble perform at Shoreditch Church. The Chris' and Richie turned up to watch too. It was a really moving performance. I do like contemporary music - you can almost meditate to it (and during the boring bits think about things like shopping lists etc!). Afterwards we met up with the boy/f and we all went for a nice curry on Brick Lane.

I had a week off work, spent a couple of days in Hasting with parents and grandparents...shopping in Bexhill charity shops...coming back to London, doing boring shopping, spending the day with Courts, Lornie Lucy, and baby Grace.

Weekend plans - maybe trying the new Xfm club tonight and working Big Gay Out on Saturday...Sunday recovering!

Next week - theatre almost every night!

YAY! YAY! YAY!

Whoop! Someone dropped out of doing the Download Festival this weekend on the Vodka Jelly/Herbal High stall so I'm filling in!

Hurrah, my first festival of the summer! Can't wait, should be really fun (although last time I did Download I think I saw about 2 bands!). Although it does mean getting up really early tomorrow and getting in pretty late on Sunday night (I have taken monday morning off because as my boss put it "ok - i presume u will be no use anyway after a weekend on the vodka jellies").

Reminder to self: don't get too drunk this evening having curry with mates...DON'T get too drunk this evening having curry with mates.

Half-inched from Darian





You are Taki -

Admired for your style and fresh approach to life, you are the Japanese femme fatale!
Deceivingly innocent, you are actually a devil in disguise. You love to show off, but behind that
flamboyant and sometimes uncaring personality, you definately care for and stand up for your friends.
Just one flaw, you can be annoyingly hyper and bouncy!! However this can be just what a friend needs
after a boring day.

Which Soul Calibur character are you?


this quiz was made by david park

Bloody hell, I was doing a media deprevation week as part of The Artist's Way thingy that I'm doing and the only thing that I didn't break it with was blogging (telly on day one, radio at work, etc).

One thing that's been a great tool on The Artist's Way is you have to write down 50 things, people, place that make you happy in your life at the moment - really good for assessing what you really enjoy!

Because of the course I have also learnt the sign language alphabet, joined a short Spanish for Holidays course and am enjoying walking to work again (and sometimes without headphones plugged in at full volume!).

It's also pushed me enjoy myself in other ways. There's a thing called artists dates - basically two hours to yourself each week doing something 'creative and fun'. So, I've been to exhibitions by myself instead of waiting for a mate to go with me and then missing them, listened to concerts at St Martin in the Fields, been to see The History Boys at the National Theatre. I've also been seeing friends - outside those at home! Damaris for the Cecil Beaton exhibition and apple crumble at Cafe in the Crypt . Darian for a catch up on his blossoming porn career over Brick Lane Curry. Last night at S&M Chris' for 4 episodes of Angel season 5 and pizza.

Next week I have Tenebris' new play and Lornie's birthday dinner. Should be lots of fun especially as Lornie's been ill. She was in hospital with Kidney Infection and is now recovering at her parents in Bournemouth...

The company I work for is involved with the Ten Feet Away festival. It's the first major week-long festival of arts by homeless and former homeless people, running from April 13th - 18th at the Union Chapel. There's films, theatre, music, free refreshments and internet cafe throughout the festival. Have a look at the art that has been loaded onto the website here. I went to the launch on Tuesday night with Richie and Chris K - really interest some amazing art upstairs and performances downstairs. If you can get down there I would - only £2.50/£5 for an evening full of fun!

And, of course, Jessie and Courtney got kisses from Pete Libertine and they got a pint from Carl Libertine - FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!!!

Had a lovely Good Friday...stayed in my favourite lazy pj's all day (ghost bottoms from Old Navy, New York - YAY!) and watched telly ( The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, the Jungle Book and Mary Poppins) and worked on my artists way stuff. I'm finding the morning pages quite hard work. It's the exercise of writing 3 pages...stream of consciousness when you first get up. I'm very much a non-morning person and find it difficult to talk before that first mug of steaming hot coffee so the thought of writing is very hard. Of course, Julia Cameron would just say that this is my inner critic trying to stop be being creative! Some of the other weekly tasks are interesting though, kinda looking at your life, your past and thinking about how things have effected your approach to your own creativity...

Today I had lots of plans to go and see some art but cleaning and bad weather got in the way and Jessie's mum was visiting and then Lucy, Kev and baby Gracie came around to visit!

I should really be going to see The Libertines tonight at The Coronet in Elephant and Castle for the Don Letts night but instead I checked my bank balance and there is no way I can afford £15 for the ticket and buy drinks in there...I fucking hate being poor...

Although next month I will be making sure I have enough money for the brand spanking new Morrissey album at the moment of release! Am so over excited, the new single is just fantastic...

Well, well, well after many a moon with no serious clubbing (and when I have gone out it's been boring!) I finally managed to go out to Candy Box and have a damn good time. Didn't get home till well gone 5pm and I really should still be bed recovering but, no at work, feeling pretty rough...still no work tomorrow. I plan to stay in bed for the whole day - hurrah!

Saturday was spent tidying Grandparents house as the occupational therapist is coming to view it with Granddad today...it was ok doing it with a big gang of us. Although it was quite depressing there were good bits of the day - finding birth certificates, wedding certificates, Granddad's CV and old photos was really interesting. It was really hard seeing him in the hospital though...he's going a bit loopy in there and we can't wait to get him out (nor can he, he keeps trying to escape!).

Me and girls went for a Turkish (and Russian) Bath the other week up at York Hall. It was amazing. We got taken under the wing of a loud, bossy Turkish women who covered us in this soap that we had to leave on for ages, rinse off and then she scrubbed us into oblivion - undoubtedly removing any dead skin and I'm sure the top layer of fresh skin. The whole day did wonders for all my skin bar my face, which has become a spotty and itchy rash-themed playground (that may have been the heat though).

Whats does your personality rate from 1-10? by morning_prayer
Your first full name
Your personality rates a	12
your best quality is	you dont need friends
your worst quality is	you get depressed sometimes
this is because	Its who you are
Created with quill18's MemeGen 3.0!

This is fun - although you kinda see how little I've seen the UK (bearing in mind I've ignored the places I've toured to 'cos you only really see the venue itself! So it's places I've lived and visited for a longish holidays).

I've visited the counties in yellow. Which counties have you visited? made by marnanel map reproduced from Ordnance Survey map data by permission of the Ordnance Survey. © Crown copyright 2001.

Spent today doing accounting catch ups for work - boring you'd think but it's actually been really fulfilling!!! Can't wait for tomorrow to finish the whole accounting year!

Once again, I leave it ages to write in this blog - I don't seem to be doing as much as I used to! Clubbing is pretty much down to a bare minimum, family is a bit hectic at the moment - Granddad in hospital (and been trying to break out!), we've decided to start getting rid of the business (which both Grandparentage have been working in full time...Granddad was 80 last year...Nana's been ill on and off for the last few years - crazy Maloney stubbornness methinks!). Things with the young man have been going very well - he's even invited me to meet his parents over (*vomits*).

Work as always is pretty hectic...

Otherwise recently I've decided to start swimming twice a week - but of course have only managed once a week...I do feel much better for it though (although I walk to and back from work - 90mins solid walking it doesn't seem to have made a jot of difference to my health!). Started doing the Artist's Way at Work. I started the Artist's Wayages ago and never quite got into it but hopefully this time I'll complete the 12 week programme. It's very much about clearing your 'blocks' replacing them creative productivity. A bit of a head spring clean!

Went to see The Pillowmanat the National Theatre on Saturday night - really fantastic bit of theatre. I love dark, brooding plays with a lot of humour in them! Literally laughing out loud during some bits and then suppressing the urge to leave in disgust at others.

There's so many plays that I want to see at National at the moment but you really have to trawl through and find those £10 tickets!

I LOVE the Libertines!!!!

Bugger, bugger, bugger...you know when you do something that you really regret...I really shouldn't be allowed a phone when I'm drunk. The boyf hinted that my housemates may have got me something for my birthday that I'd told one of them I didn't want (so after a very short amount of time I came up with tickets to the Libertines...).

So, being terribly rational way (yay, whatever) texted them in Madrid (on a holiday that I couldn't afford or take time of work to go on - so feeling a bit left out anyway). Pretty much been a bitch...I LOVE the Libertines, I do want to see them again, but I also want to see all my friends and my boyf on my birthday...but I got into a majorly weepy moment about the fact my housemates never listen to me...etc.

Also a very busy week at work, I feel over at the beginning of week and have sprained my ankle, loads of people have cancelled for birthday drinks on Sunday (one or two I can understand but loads - that means that no-one likes me, right?) and as you may be able to tell by my totally rational and un-psychotic behaviour, I having the worst period of my life.

Blah, blah, blah...fuck it. When I fuck up, I tend to do it spectacully!

Well, as Darian (Hey, Mr. Porn Star) says in true Boudicca fashion, I have written nothing for ages and now I'm going to list endlessly the things I've been doing!

Rocky Horror was ok, managed to get up and sing/dance along without too much embarrassment...it actually fact, it was quite good fun (and bumped into Darian - YAY!)

Errrr, haven't actually done too much else...invited boy/fs mates to The Museum of Everything at the Drill Hall, a comedy evening (which involved an old school mate of mine, Danny Robins - have a look at their website for more info- they really are very funny indeed!). I invited them because the last time we met (at boy/f birthday meal) things didn't go so well...in that, one of my best friends used to go out with boy/fs best friend and they were both there...and the other friend just didn't seem to like (as we know I'm fantastic and adorable, so fuck knows what their problem was). Anyway, making the effort, I invite them out to something I know that they'll like. Do they turn up? Nope. Bastards (I can feel the bile rising as I type).

Ooohhh, there was a 31st birthday which went well until boy/f got too drunk and almost started a fight with an ex-marine...he really did suffer badly the next day though!

A major girly day on Sunday 8th. Up to Ruislip (see how far we are willing to travel for food) with Carla, Lornie and Jessie for a major slap-up lunch.

Valentines went very well indeed...spent most of the weekend in bed only to rise for food and lager.

Oh, god, yes the major news of the recent times - Lucy and Kev have had baby girl. Grace Arthurs born around 7am on 15th February with lots of reddy brown hair, bluey green eyes and 6lbs something. Welcome to world, little one xxx

Went for a quiet drink last night with boy/f ended up at a Shoreditch art exhibition with a free bar...*vomits* *drinks 3 pints of water* *cries* "why, why, why???"

Suddenly, I have nothing much to do this afternoon...work "to do" list depends on other people getting back to me.

I wrote up a project timetable for all our training courses and then added everything to my task list in outlook express - booked till mid-march! I'm gonna start helping with applications to trusts/foundations and general marketing for the next few months because our fundraiser is leaving next week.

Actually went out on my bike last night - rode around for 45 mins or so - really good fun but the bike does need sorting (it kept making crunching noises!)

Have got SINGALONGA ROCKY HORROR at the Prince Charles Cinema tomorrow (which I'm still not sure I'm going to enjoy but it is free and I'm going with Richie and S&M Chris, so might be ok - I'll let you know)

Got on the guest list for 'Scope this Saturday with boyf and the house rats are coming too. Should be fun!

I hate the January blues...must get myself out of this hole, can't get out of bed, can't be arsed to walk to work, can't be arsed to go out clubbing, "I'm knackered", can't arsed to read any books (I have many currently by my bed...waiting...), I was so tired last night I was horrible to one of my housemates (just because I was being over sensitive!), can't revise...

Trying everything to get out of it - decided to start a new course - but everything that I want to do is during the day or on evenings where I have other things planned already. Invited an old school friend around for dinner last night - who I haven't seen for ages - but we spent the night yawning and curled up on my sofa (very enjoyable but when you think that we used to drink cheap, white cider together and dance for hours and hours!).

Tonight I wanted an early night...say 7pm? but Child of Our Time is on (which is fantastically interesting) and Shameless (which is a fantasic flashback to my childhood...that's a joke, daddy, as me and baby bro always woke you up before taking money from your pockets!!!)

Although, of course as a feminist I do agree with him but as a post-modern feminist, I feel that although I have the right to be an independent, self sufficient women with no need for love or a man; I can still demand the right to be a proper girly girl and I need to be told that my man loves and adores me!

So this year I decide - no resolutions 'cos they never work but instead I try to think about aims for the whole of the year but..*yawn*...they end up pretty much the same as those resolutions that I break every year...loose weight...stop biting nails...work harder...spend more time with friends...etc.

January blues are on me with a vengeance...

Plus my boy/f (who is wonderful in every way except one) -refuses to tell me he's in love with me...he agrees that yes, he has all the feelings that suggest he is in love with me but no, he won't say it because it doesn't really mean anything - love isn't a real concept apparently! Fuckwit...

Well xmas and new year have been and gone...very enjoyable time indeed but with no internet access sorted at the new place I haven't been able to update.

An advance from work made it a little easier to buy presents since I found out that pom-poms are great but don't suit all tastes!

My family were staying at mine - mum, dad, little bro and Jess and her boy/f Shaz were staying in London due to work commitments (note to self: never work in a Church over xmas!)

We had xmas dinner on xmas eve to reduce stress on the day - halal meat and loads of veg - really fantastic meal. My first, may I add...

Xmas day was very lazy...present opening didn't start until past 2pm..I got a few interesting books, some smellies, etc - no big present as I've been promised an creative zen jukebox MP3 player for my birthday in March (YAY!).

Jessie's mum and step-dad arrived in the evening for more presents and a buffet - um, more food.

The family were meant to be going to friends for boxing day lunch but they have, in true xmas fashion, split up...

So, we stayed in a watched the selection of DVDs that had been bought over (the house got a DVD player for xmas from Miss Carla Parr - hurrah!) and my present to the house was joining an online DVD club.

New year was quite a quite one for us - just a gang of us at the local pub - very enjoyable...but I had my first proper argument with the boy/f which seemed horrific until the morning when I found out that Jess and Shaz had actually split up (back together now - giving it another go).

Jess stayed in bed for two days with a major bout of vomiting and tummy bugness but got up for her birthday on 2nd - we had a lovely dinner for her and I made yummy cakes!

Since new years eve, our friend Courtney had been staying at our house...uninvited...he walked into my room without knocking on numerous occasions...leading to some embarrassment...told everyone he thought that he was schizophrenic (Attention Deficit Disorder more like) and then he came into my room (after 4 days and nights with us) when he'd been in the bathroom for over an hour, when I needed a shower...and told me he wanted labels for put on all his stuff so we wouldn't use it 'cos he was gonna leave it all at our house...I flipped...to say the least...but of course, he thinks that I'm in the wrong - nightmare!

January 7th - boy/f birthday - first chance for me to meet his friends (I know his best friend already 'cos he went out with house rat Lorna). We all went for beer, tapas and then more beer. Guess what, one of his friends? hates me! She sat saying nothing and glaring (or at least that's what it felt like!)

Back to work with a vengeance...but I did get to go to the premier of Cirque Du Soleil's Dralion last night - good show, best I've seen from them so far...much more comedy based and taking the piss out of themselves...we then went to the aftershow party at the Natural History Museum. Too busy really, but quite fun and I managed to get in a few glasses of champagne! Did a bit of C-list celeb watching...oohh, Michelle Collins! Also bumped into too many Ticketmaster people! (I am ex-Ticketmaster (mistress?); see I have done my time in hellish call centres!)

Failed to keep so many resolutions already - I've been late for work, bitten my nails, eaten fatty foods, drunk too much...not managed to save any money...blurg...yay, 2004!

I have no money for xmas therefore I'm making friends xmas pom-poms!

I'm sure they will love 'em with all their hearts

"Libertines, I love you...Libertines, I do".

Taken from Darian

Instructions:
1. Copy this whole list into your journal.
2. Bold the things that you have in common with me.
3. Whatever you don't bold, replace with things about you.


01. I like to travel but the waiting in-between getting there is a chore I could live without.
02. I love long, warm autumn days
03. I'd like to write fiction.
04. I think vegetables are ever so yummy
05. I like writing in coloured pens.
06. I don't like the current US Administration
07. I love where I live but I wish I owned my own place.
08. I want to learn a language (not French though).
09. I love wandering around the old back streets in Soho.
10. I love dancing in the kitchen living room on my own.
11. I want to meet Peter Jackson.
12. I want to go to everywhere in the world from my armchair!
13. I have a great interest in my bicycle but I don't have the willpower or motivation to get on it.
14. I don't want people to hate me.
15. Some music makes me sad
16. I have a preference for British guitar music over American.
17. I wish I were more social
18. I LOVE warm socks.
19. I'm a total geek
20. I like getting things in the mail.
21. I'd like to think that I'd weaned myself off of my shite women's magazine addiction but I can't pass a copy of Glamour/Marie Claire/etc without having a peek.
22. I love the idea of being in love but the actual feeling is weird and almost unbearable sometimes...it takes my breathe away how much I'm in love with that certain someone.
23. I love sunshine and breeze.
24. I love to smell nice - my greatest weakness is bath potions and lotions.
25. I'm obsessive about checking my email
26. I like different kinds of music
27. I have one brother
28. I wear silver, not gold
29. I do like a bit of bling bling however.
30. I get stressed a lot
31. I like being alone
32. I like the idea of driving a fast convertible car with the roof down, knowing that I can't and may never drive (the world does not need a scatty Boo on the road!)
33. I hate loosing; this has led to my family and close friends refusing to place any board game with me at all (except Backgammon which I rock at and win anyway!)
34. I love my friends.
35. I take showers and baths (umm, power shower and long, hot, nice smelling baths)
36. I'm only now just realising I'm a grammar Nazi! (as I correct all the i's to I's etc)
37. I love being surrounded by those who genuinely care
38. I am selfish, to a degree.
39. I have a few friends who I am closest to.
40. I love sleeping
41. I spend too much money
42. I'm addicted to the net
43. I really shouldn't spend so much time filling out these things while I have a massive 'TO DO' list at work!
44. I love a tall, skinny latte with a cinnamon or hazelnut shot but can't buy due to my hatred of St****cks and Co***e Re*****c).
45. I want to leave a mark (I want a trust or foundation named after me when I die to support people wishing to get into arts administration - aiming low, I say)
46. I love Missy Elliott's music.
47. My place is usually spick and span! (although I have just moved so everything is still in boxes or flung across my floor)
48. I love the city
49. I used to play the flute/bass/recorder but my laziness stopped me from ever learning properly (although my dad shouting upstairs "shut that fucking racket up" may have also have an effect!!!).
50. I have a love hate relationship with vertigo. I love the thrill but I hate the fear (which is the same thing)
51. I don't think enough.
52. I love Indian food.
53. I love storms.
54. I have more than one best friend, if only because I don't know what other word to use than 'best friend'.
55. I love cooking.
56. I can't seem to get away sometimes
57. I hate jealousy (but it is one of my worst traits)
58. People very often mistake my patience for boredom.
59. I like when my friends write me letters, it makes me feel special.
60. I'm shy with big groups but very extrovert one on one.
61. I love hugs
62. I love kissing
63. I'm looking forward to pottering around in my garden.
64. I am lazy
65. I like being sarcastic
66. Only my lover or very close friends can touch my hair, I get freaked out if others do (and they do quite often - strangers like to 'ping' my curls)
67. I don't like organised religion.
68. I think belief should be personal and private.
69. Sometimes I don't know why my friends like me
70. I believe in therapy to certain degree...shopping and chatting to friends can be counted a therapy in my books.
71. I dream in paranoia...
72. People who don't know me think I'm reserved
73. I love reading
74. My computer is slowly dying on me but it saw me through uni, a break up and many a move so bless it.
75. I wish I were thinner.
76. I laugh a lot
77. I like peanut butter and jam on toast.
78. I have faith in myself and others (most of the time)
79. I'm an ass woman.
80. I have friends that I love but don't trust.
81. I have a fetish for twin sets and pearls.
82. I like functional clothing that is a bit different from normal.
83. I no that I cannnttt sppel + it annoeis me cos my mum + dad r englise teechers + lik to do srbble games and kroswordes...
84. I don't idolise anyone, even my heroes.
85. I like being a child in an adult’s body.
86. I hate to sing, because I sound awful (I went to drama college as well surrounded by singers who sat around pianos and did west end tunes!)
87. I wish I knew what I wanted to do.
88. I haven't told everyone the whole truth about a lot of things.
89. I do get lonely but sometimes I like it.
90. There are people I trust more than others
91. I wish…(secret or it won’t come true)
92. I like making things, just for the joy of making things.
93. I like things that make me feel emotions
94. In hindsight I didn't like university much although I enjoyed it whilst I was there.
95. I lack motivation
96. I am extremely stubborn sometimes, just for the hell of it.
97. I really need to get with the technical jargon.
98. I want to see the aurora borealis
99. I'm very sentimental indeed, I have those notes/letters etc that you pass to each other in class...most people are happy to leave that sort of thing behind.
100. I want someone else to be the better person for once.

Crikey what a busy couple of weeks!

I've moved (with the whole gang) - absolute madness, moving everything is the house...packing during the weekend and getting a van from work for a few hours on the Monday - with the help of mine and Jessie's boy/fs (the sweethearts!)

Work hectic as always..tour's ending, rehearsals starting, endless meetings!

Majorly worrying 'bout xmas - lack of funds, lack of present ideas etc...

Sure it will all be fine...

Anyway, Suede gig tonight - hurrah!

General Update:

Friday 21st - went to see 'The Trouble With Richard'. It's a Shape and Graeae co-production for schools (Key Stage 3 so 11 -14 yr olds). It focuses on 13 yr old disabled student Richard and his move to mainstream school. It was a Forum Theatre piece (which is what the company I work for does) but they worked it in a different way to us...it was quite set and ridged, with not much room for experiementation...it was ok but not enough 'freedom' to make changes in Richard's life.

In the evening I went to Photoforum at Four Corners (part of Photomonth) with my young man. There wasn't particularly one photographer that stood out...at all...quite boring.

Raining all weekend, so I stayed in.

Currently, the house are all going to move (hopefully staying together and staying in the area) so I'm majorly scatty and unsettled. I find moving really difficult because I spent most of my childhood moving every couple of years or so and now like to be settled - I'm it'll all be ok though (hopefully)

Just reading through the website for the Virtual March info linked through from Little Miss Bitch's website and found the great resource Ask Aristotle - very useful and interesting indeedy...

This is a great article! I particulary like the bit about "I thought that he'd got a hobby"!!! Nutters, you gotta love 'um or they might bite.

Once again, it's been ages since I wrote anything (you can always tell when I'm busy at work!)

Training week went well, although massively knackered the next day, post-Manchester.

Went to see Madame Bovary on Friday 7th at Lyric, Hammersmith with my young man and Chris K and his young man. Interesting production, some wonderful visuals (esp. during Opera infidelity scene!) but all in all a bit boring as you don't really feel for any of the characters (yes, Emma's oppressed but she really does treat he husband like shit...).

Went to Hastings for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Sunday, the train only went as far as Battle so I had to be picked up by post-clubbing/xtc parents. Monday morning I did my mother's filing (having forced her to buy a filing cabinet some weeks ago). The afternoon was spent watching the open dress rehearsal of her new production. Really good fun, they are trying to move towards a Forum Theatre piece so the audience had a very interesting discussion at the end of the show about alcohol, support coming off the streets, post-prison information.

In the evening I attended a 'magical gathering'. I went along with Jan, Lee (Mum and Dad) and Fiona (family friend). The gathering was due to the lunar eclipse and a Grand Sextile in the sky. I'll be honest; I went in with a pretty closed mind. I've done plenty of spells, meditation etc. but have preferred to do things along on the whole. However, getting past the major crystal overload (felt seasick for a lot of the first 20 mins or so) I really got quite into it...and when Paddy started drumming I got all sorts of visuals. A wonderful kestrel at first standing on a fence and then hovering in the sky. I then started to go deep into the earth - actually feeling and smelling that dark, dusky, earthiness. Amazing.

On Tuesday my young man came down for the day...we pottered around the old town, ate fish and chips at the Mermaid, wandered by the sea, drank some beer in the FILO and then came home and collapsed.

Since then I have been relaxing at home!

Clubbing tomorrow night (After Skool methinks). Should be fun.

Went to see Hot Hot Heat last night - very rare to find a band that sound better live than on their records...very good fun (although couldn't go clubbing due to lack of funds and my newly found "old lady" syndrome*)

And also *breathe* *breathe* managed to get tickets for the Libertines Forum date in December (when there was only 30 something left for the upstairs bit!). Hurrah, hurrah!

Work side, gotta go to Manchester on Monday for the start of our training courses...wasn't expecting to go...don't want to go...have to go...blurg, means I won't get a full weekends worth full of lovin'...not bloody fair.

*Mustn't go out due to work, I'll feel tired tomorrow...busy, busy, busy...gotta get home to bed, mustn't drink too much - I'll feel awful etc, etc..

Plus, YAY blogger is back to normal!!!

So who saw that programme last night 'Does Prayer Work?'. It was about the Mantra Study in the US held over 3 years in 9 hospitals. The study took 750 people undergoing major heart surgery and 12 prayer groups prayed for 50% of them (double blinded the participants and the doctors didn't know who was being prayer for). Their health was monitored 6mths after their surgery.

The 12 prayer groups chosen included Christian mothers, a Buddhist group, an Islamic group (Sufi's in fact), Jews and a lone Christian.

The resulting stats on 5th September 2003, measured no significant difference between the health of the group prayed for and the group that were not BUT during the experiment another level of prayers were added in that another 12 prayer groups prayed for the original groups...this made a difference to the health of the participant 'double' prayed for!

Another finding of the study was that the use of MIT (music, imagery and touch therapy) reduced patient distress significantly but gave no long-term medical benefit (and in fact may have reduced the patients chance of survival).

The most interesting thing about the study was the reaction of the groups to each other and also the effect of September 11th.

The Christian Mother's and a Christian preacher were the most bigoted bunch of bastards! The preacher wanted religions assessed as to their effectiveness and the mother's disregarded any prayers but the Christian ones.

One man however said, "prayer is prayer - it's not the words, it is the intention and sincerity of the person reciting the prayers" and that prayer was "connecting to and using the divine energy, the life force". A wonderful, positive person.

After September 11th enrolment for study dropped dramatically...people didn't want Muslims praying for them...

Then I watched 'Lock Up Your Sons'. Teenage boys fighting...upsetting and also very funny...twats.

I'd just got used to the change in blogger and then they damn well go and change it again...but this time, it's a little less high tech and seems like I'm a kid again: Create new post? "PRESS THE NEW LARGE BRIGHT BUTTONS", "I'VE GOT WHAT I DO IN A LARGE, CLEAR FONT SO YOU CAN SEE ME".

Oh my oh my, I *heart* Carl and Pete

HA HA!

Weekend went well (although didn't quite manage to get to My Own Private Idaho due to lack of ability to move from sofa!). Reflecting Skin was horrifically beautiful, lots of Gus Van Sant type shots of wide open sky...wonderful story, scary, interesting comment on how children take everything to heart and make up their own reality to the weirdness that goes on around them.

Pollock was very interesting too, although I ended up disliking the man (monstrous alcholic, evil to wife that supported him and in fact made him everything he was...).

Tuesday I went for some training on Practical Project Management - very enjoyable and in good time as I have now been given the task of writing schedules for the tour that is out at the min (of Woyzeck have a look at our website to see if you can get to any of the gigs, as it's an amazing show).


Tonight, I'm going to see Thoroughly Modern Millie @ Shaftesbury Theatre with Richie and Chris. Tomorrow the TATE Modern with the young man and Sunday Basquiat at NFT with Damaris. So much for a quiet weekend!!!

Last night in bed by 8pm!

Still tired though and, of course, come Friday afternoon...major mailout sprung at last min, computer doesn't want to open any files for me AND have you ever tried to book a Liverpool hotel for 7 people over a home game weekend. Don't. Bastard.

Plans for this weekend:

1. Eat
2. Sleep
3. Watch telly
4. Go to movies (My Own Private Idaho and Pollock at NFT)
5. Watch videos (for example, Reflecting Skin - I adore Philip Ridley, so really looking forward to seeing the film).

There that made me feel better...

Overhung like mad. We went to see Dodger's band Smart Dogs at Metro's on Oxford Street. Dodger being one of Lorna's (many, many, many) young men. The band were technically good, nice riffs, looked pretty hot etc but no soul whatsoever. No content to them, nothing to make them stand out from the crowd of wannabe Oasis shite.

Post-gig, we walked along to Candy Box with Lorna, Carla, Jess and boy/f in tow. Tagging along was another young man of Lornie's. He who is known as 'Thuggy Beast'. Mainly due to him being a THUG and a BEAST. He was in amazing form, throwing Carla against a car, then a shop window, trying to hit me a number of times. Lornie of course thinks that all of this is cute...good start to the evening.

I end up in a corner with boy/f having a rather odd, deep conversation. I'm so fucking crazy about this man and he's downright refusing to fall in love with me...(or at least refusing to tell me he loves me).

Went to join the others later on (Hels had turned up meanwhile). Lorna and Jess had a screaming, shouting, crying match at the bar about various friendship/work/living together stuff. Jess went home early. My young man and me went home a little later. Jess still up and still very unhappy. We all go to beds after a chat. I am woken by Lornie and Hels throwing stones and shouting abuse at my window in the very early hours 'cos they'd lost their keys.

Bah, tonight I intend to be in bed by 10pm!

What the fuck???

ARNIE??? The Terminator?

Who's next, Freddie from Nightmare on Elm Street???

Libertines, Libertines, Libertines!!!! YAY!

Just got back from the holiday. These are a few of the things that I did:

Saturday 20th September

Stopped off in Sheffield to visit my old babysitter, husband and kids. I used to look after the kids when they were younger and it was very strange to see them all ‘teenage’ (14 and 17 yrs old)…they also revealed that I am responsible for getting them addicted to cheese and tomato sauce sandwiches!

The parentage and I went for a walk around Sheffield’s botanical gardens. Really beautiful and babysitters husband told us about the arsonist that is currently at work in Sheffield – he only sets fire to conifer trees…(cue many jokes about incidents with xmas trees as a child “daddy, not the baubles” etc)

Sunday 21st September

Drove to Newcastle. Got my first really good look at the Angel of the North I have seen it from the train but you only get a glimpse. From the motorway you can see it for ages. It’s wonderful, striking, beautiful, etc..

Monday 22nd September

Spent today walking around Newcastle. Went to the Baltic and the Millennium Bridge – both amazing to look at…unfortunately the Baltic have forgotten to put enough art in there (but the Jane and Louise Wilson video piece was pretty good). Much TOO minimal.

Spent the afternoon watching Whalerider at the Tyneside Cinema. Erh, I suggest that you wait for the video. Not the best film of the year by a long shot.

In the evening I cracked and had to go out. I rang Stu and asked him to take me to the ‘new gay triangle’. There are 3 bars and 1 club in the genetics area – leading to the question, is Newcastle the new centre for ‘gay’ experimentation??? Met his boyfriend, worked out that I hadn’t been in Newcastle for over 3 years. We got suitably drunk as fuck and ended up clubbing! Hurrah, it was wonderful to catch up with Stu (minus dreads!). Can’t wait to get him down to London again…

Tuesday 23rd September

Hungover as fuck!

Meet Paul at the Monument at 4pm. Went to the ‘gay triangle’ again. I’m so hungover I drink shandy for the first time in my life! Dan (Paul’s boyfriend) and Gina come to meet us. Then we go back to Paul and Dan’s for my first fondue…ummm, melted cheese…It was really good to catch up with Paul especially to see him settled (this is a man that I spent a lot of time with, drinking cheap cider and getting morbidly depressed to MSP and Suede and vomiting and dancing – not particularly in that order!!!)

My other mates Emma and Sarah were also meant to turn up but they didn’t…I texted them to ask if we could meet up another time but they didn’t get in touch, so y’know…“whatever”

Wednesday 24th September

Watched Spirited Away – beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Thursday 25th September

Went to a new gallery Biscuit Factory. Very interesting – discovered a wonderful artist Jacqueline Boyd. Lots of fun indeed.

Payday, so I went shopping – sensible shopping. 2 new pairs of shoes (£6.99 and £14.99!), M&S knickers (10 pairs, black, sensible), socks (poundstretcher, 10 pairs, £5.00).

In the evening the family went to see Underworld. Good fun, vamp and werewolf romp. Lots of lovely overacting, ended with the biggest “there’s a sequel y’know” ending!

Friday 26th September

Dad, Dash (baby bro) and mate were getting stoned so Jan and I went to see Young Adam. Dark, slow, empty shots of Scottish canals, power filled sex scenes, brooding Ewan McGregor. Flashback scenes throughout the movie as the plot unfurled were stunning (apart from the unnecessary (but disturbingly horny) sex scene halfway through).

Thoughts about Newcastle – very odd being back, I spent most of my teenage years here and there are memories jumping out at me from everywhere…emotionally heavy moments. The corner where I had my first ‘proper snog’, the street where I had the biggest fight with my best friend when we were 16 (she had shagged my other (male) best friend…), the first flat that I got with my boyfriend (who I ended up moving down to London with and who broke my fucking heart a couple of years later), the pubs and clubs I used to go to, the replacement window in the door that I smashed during the argument with my mother that ended up with me moving in with my father…, the 24hrs garage where we all promised to meet up in the year 2000!, major emotional rollercoaster moments.

Saturday 27th September

We drove back to London via the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Romping through fields, looking at art, eating lovely food in the restaurant.

Got home to Lornie, Hels (who is staying on our sofa for a while) and Ali G being hungover. It’s so good to be back!!!

After a week away and a mad week at work I haven't really been keeping up to date...updates will be happening soon, I promise...

I have major illness setting in...blocked nose, headache, sore throat, vomitus feeling - blurg, not good (esp. as going on holiday on Saturday - wild holiday too, Sheffield to visit my old babysitter and her children that I babysat for, Newcastle for little bro and as many old friends as I can find that will talk to me (!), and then maybe Sheffield again or Hebden Bridge, where I spent my childhood...all in the back of a car with the parentage).

Aggghh...aarrggghhh...CHHOOOO *head explodes*, *wipes computer screen with sleeve* blurg...

Today went to the local library in Whitechapel to get some books. Most of which came from the non-fiction section, it's been over a year since I left uni and I am on a major "I'm not learning anything anymore" vibe therefore I needed an injection of knowledge...this recent information overload did lead to me annoying Lornie in the library by explaining who funded the building of the library, gallery next door and the hall around the corner (Rev Samuel Barnett who claimed that "the principle of our work is that we aim at decreasing not suffering but sin"!). I also informed her that the mosque on Brick Lane was orginally a Huguenot (the first 'refugees' in the UK...from France) church in 1743, then a Wesleyan chapel in 1809, a synagogue in 1809 and has only been a mosque since 1976...interesting...way to bore your friends Boudicca...

Been off work during this last week and did I go mad and party?...oh no, not me...we spent Monday in Brighton but that's as mad as it got! It was a very fun day, sleeping on the pebbles, eating seafood and chips, going on the pier, etc with Hels, Lornie, Jess and Shazzer was much fun. The gang had all gone down the day before for party time but I got a little distracted by the lovely young man in my bed so had to join them on Monday.

Tuesday...stayed on the sofa with Lornie who is ill at the moment.

Wednesday...Jess stayed off work so she could join me and Lornie on the sofa. But cabin fever of magnificant levels had hit by midday that we totally lost control and spend the rest of the day laughing at anything and everything. Richie came home to us collapsed on the floor when he had a "date" coming over...he kept frantically asking if we were drunk! We did all disappear to rooms when the date appeared!

Today, I cracked and had to go and do some art! Cruel and Tender at the Tate Modern. This is an exhibition of the real in C20th photography and the stand outs for me were Robert Frank ("You can photography anything now" - he had one wonderful photograph of a road, which made you feel you were standing there waiting for the next car to pick you up), Stephen Shore (street corners, diners, etc) and Martin Parr (bright, closeups of tacky consumerism). The show ends this Sunday, do try and catch it before it finishes. I then had to decide whether to go onto Tate Britain or go on the Globe Theatre tour...I opted for a bit of theatre...

The main guided tour itself doesn't really tell you anything you don't know already (actually that maybe because I'm a theatre bod, maybe other people don't know boring facts about the Globe and Shakespeare!)
The exhibition is very interesting though - from descriptions from diaries and letters from the time re: the area and the theatre, to the building itself, to other writers from Shakespeares time (I can never get over what a pretty boy Marlow was - that painting of him is like a pre-teen boy band photo!), to the costumes and there's a really interesting interactive authors space. This gives you the chance to "publish" editions of Shakespeare but you get the options to change the edition, use modern or period spelling, use modern or period punctuation, use cut or extended stage directions, use or not use scene divisions and change the typeface - fantastic ccomparing the difference between the texts you create (oh, maybe another boring Boudicca moment?).

One moment I particularly enjoyed on the guided tour was many of the flagstones have people's names engraved into them as a celebration of donated money. I took particular pleasure in seeking out people I don't like and grinding my heal into their names...oh, power mad I tell you, power mad!!

I also spent the rest of the day reading a really good book - The Cheese Monkeys by Chip Kidd. Very funny indeed esp. I think for you bods who have experienced art/drama school!

Apart from that I haven't really been doing much over the last few weeks (well nothing that should be put on here anyway!) Lornie, Hels, Carla, Jess and I are going to Limp Bizkit on Saturday (not for the band you understand - free tickets plus it should be fun!) and then it's back to work on Monday...mind you, only two weeks there and then I have another holiday lined up. This one is a little more organised (rather than just relaxing at home!) and the family are going up north to visit my brother (plus I should be able to catch up with some old mates I haven't seen in ages...)

Also I see that 'Spirited Away' is being released here soon, everyone must go and see as it is the most amazing film - beautiful, strange, enchanting. Reminds me of Darian and New York!

Plus the clubbing withdrawal vibes are still in full flow but I can't seem to get it together to go out and get ratarsed and party (maybe something to do with lack of funds or maybe something to do with the young man in my life???)

Visiting friend was fine, atmosphere (and smell) in the mental "health" unit was odd but there were lots of us there so the party atmosphere was good. Great to meet other mates of hers too (some I had met out clubbing before).

eerrrhhhmm apart from that, I'm bored...you see I've spent the last month thinking "I'm sooo busy, please I just want to do nothing...etc". Now that I have "nothing" to do (in the loosest terms, I do actually have a lot to do but it's either not too pressing or I have to wait for other people to get back to me before I can get on with things), I'm bored...and the thing is, I have no money so I can't just go out and do things (or eat...nevermind) And I have major clubbing withdrawal vibes going on, managed to get drunk on 1/2 a bottle of wine last night - what's all that about? Plus, we can't go out until next weekend (due to lack of funds and the fact that Lornie is away in Reading this weekend).

I need a hefty dose of cheap vodka, shite indie music (scrap that, I wanna go somewhere new - Stay Beautiful has reopened, I used to love it there...can't go to Slimelight due to ex-boyf - not that it would be a problem just awkward...maybe we could try something in Camden???) and dressing up (I've bought a few ebay treats that I'd like to wear outside the house).

Oh, I could also do with some sleep - I only got 3 hrs last night therefore feeling pretty shitty - just in time for my "date" tonight. Who, by the way, is coming around and cooking me dinner...(that man knows the way to my heart!)

Who says that politicians don't have a sense of humour - read this!

Bosses both away for one day (not even one day...) and I'm bored, bored I tell you! There are things that I could be getting on with but who at this time of the working week wants a phone call from me asking for data, money, photos etc from them (what a wonderful insight to my working life).

Stayed in last night with Richie - drinking wine, eating crisps for dinner and watching Chicago from the local video store. Jess came home and we drank fizzy wine (a classier version of what me and my clubbing mates used to call 'Bingo Pop', as Emma got it from her Nana, who won it from the local bingo in Heaton in Newcastle!!!). We all rang Lornie as she has gone to V2003 to work on the old vodka jelly bar...we're all missing her loads already.

Booked tickets for Three Sisters at the National for next week (yay, Jan-Jan (mummy) is up for a meeting so we're going out and having fun - well if you can call Chekhov fun!). I also have a "date" pencilled in for Tuesday which I'm dreading already - good god, my stomach turned just thinking about it!

Monday will be the worst though - going to visit a friend that is being held in a mental ward. She's been sectioned for 6 mths. Now, I've always know that she has problems in that area but this will be the first time that I'll be visiting her when she's "off on one" - not the first time that I have been to a place like that but I remember very clearly not liking it the first time (just left home at 16, living in squat like circumstances, taking too many drugs, drinking too much, one housemate literally stabbed her boyfriend in the back...not a nice way to be woken up one morning I tell you! Anyway we visited that flatmate - hospitals are horrible, mental wards are worse).

Fuck it, it's her birthday on Monday, I am her mate - I'd want people to visit me if I was there...I'm going with another friend, so it's not like I'll be on my own in that place...we'll take her some cool pressies and see how she's doing...

Things Boudicca has done over the last couple of weeks:

1) Not slept well at all - none ofthis helps!
2) Worked in a dirty warehouse and got covered in muck, dirt, sweat etc - (YAY, Pericles is over!!!)
3) Worked until 11pm each bloody night...
4) Had a lovely BBQ with lovely maties (and I got quite drunk indeed)
5) Hardly been clubbing at all (but when we have somehow we've been very naughty!)
6) Been to see Brokenville by Philip Ridley at the Riverside - which was wonderful..I worked on a version of this play just before I started uni on behalf of Kosova Aid. It was an amazing time, working with refugees some of whom, months before had hardly been able to talk a work of English. But they got up on stage and made people weep each night with this amazing piece of work. I have really happy memories of this time...
7) Had a picnic with work mates post a long meeting - on a lovely sunny day!
8) Went to see On Your Toes at the RFH. Adam Cooper was wonderful but the highlight for me was Irek Mukhamedov - I have never seen a more amazing dancer - literally took my breathe away...
9) Ummm, had a date (something which I have never done before...). Ummm, it also went quite well...*vomitus maximus* - I won't be able to take the piss out of Jessica and "her" Shazzer so much anymore!
10) Spent an evening with Richie last night, nice dinner and then Pirates of the Caribbean. Which wasn't actually that good - apart from the very witty (and sexy) Johnny Depp.

This weekend, I plan to be doing - in the words of Bros "nothing, nothing at all" - actually, it was "I owe you...nothing" but y'know a bit of poetic license never went amiss.

YAY! Pericles is over! Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!!! Finally back in the world!

Extreme invisible theatre here we come - FLASH MOBBING

I like this game . Stolen from lovely Darran
Y'know what it may seem like I'm having nothing but fun but I am actually really busy and I have cut down to 20 mins max online (that is online without a work theme to it!). Am so bored, need an ebay fix!

BATTLE

I am so scared of moths that I actually scream like a little girl but it turns out that I am one:

Boudicca is a Human-Sized Moth that is Extremely Hydrophobic and Covered in Spines, has Very Sharp Fangs, and picks up Cars and Throws Them. Strength: 5 Agility: 6 Intelligence: 4 To see if your Giant Battle Monster can defeat Boudicca, enter your name and choose an attack: fights Boudicca using Strength Agility Intelligence

From the lovely Darian

Smart but angsty....now ask me another question


What JTHM moment are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I really don't know whether to laugh or cry - have a look a judge for yourself!

p.s. I will do a proper update later - tres busy at work with new show starting this week.

5 Bizarre things that Boudicca has done this week:

1. Had to turn down a date with a friend to tidy the house due to letting agent coming aroung to 'check' (boring!)
2. Went to see Bombay Dreams(which I actually really enjoyed - costumes, fit men...what more do you want from a musical?)
3. Introduced to a lovely gay bar around the corner from us (not weird in itself but the evening was an odd one)
4. Joined Dating Direct (??? - this did lead to me having my photo taken by Richard with him shouting "pout" "look sexy" etc!!!)
5. Went to see Roots Manuva at Plastic People - the rudest crowd ever. We actually got elbowed and kicked by the queue going in...and then Roots Manuva did the shortest set. Boring. But we (Jess, Dave and I) got to walk home via the Beigel shop at 155 Brick Lane - hurrah!!!

This weekend will be full of fun too: Ten and Iain's tonight, Grandad's 80th birthday on Saturday, Michael's for dinner on Sunday - all of which must be done on less than £20 (GO BOO, GO BOO, GO BOO).

The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to the First Level of Hell - Limbo!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Very High
Level 2 (Lustful)	Low
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Low
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	High
Level 7 (Violent)	Low
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Low
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Moderate

Take the Dante's Inferno Test

But...I thought I was evil, you said I was evil!!!

Just checked bank balance...can't stop hyperventilating *breathe*, *breathe*. How the buggeration did that happen? I haven't even paid all my bills this month yet and I have 4 weeks until I get paid again...

Oh well, I'll just go out with a tenner to spend tonight (wild times here I come!) and go to visit the parentage for the weekend and spend what little I have left...aarrrrggghhhh!!! No more fun for me this month...

Well, well, well it has been a strange week...very end of an era/beginning of something big feeling (perhaps related to the solstice???). Very busy at work, board meeting on Wednesday that I literally had to run out of to get to The Libs gig at the Forum. It was a good gig, but you could feel Pete missing from the stage...). We (Lorna, Carla, Jess and Courtney) left early to get to Candy Box before they charge loads to get in. We got to Propaganda on Wardor Street to find that due to a throat slashing 'incident' the previous night Candy Box would be taking place upstairs...it was all going quite well until Courtney had to buy 10 drinks to be able to use his card...madness ensued. The sort of madness that leads to mates having shouting matches, ignoring each other, almost 'proper' fighting, a 'proper' fight happening between one of you and someone else in the club, Courtney getting kicked out, making a fucking fool of himself outside by shouting at anyone who would listen and me (as per fucking usual) being the one to pull him off and take him home.

Jess was cool though and brought me back Brick Lane bagels to cheer me up!

Thursday was really busy at work (5pm deadline for copy for a programme...). Lots of rushing about, get home to a bomb site mess, get in a bad mood, get in a good mood, go out to meet Jess from work. We end up talking Shaz and FuFu into coming out to the last Smash and Grab (for a while). Lorna turns up when we're already in there getting very drunk...

While at Smash and Grab, odd things happened...one of the IR London board members almost smiled at me (for a moment - it didn't last long), we annoyed lots of people by playing with our 'hand creatures'...y'know when your hand has a personality of its own - it's perfectly normal mate, try it, really good fun ;)

Lots of other odd things happened too but a little too weird to go into today...

Tonight my cunning plan is to stay on my 'sofa' (I use the term very loosely - those of you who have been to the squat will know why!) with Richie-poos and surf the net looking for hot men to date (Dating Direct is a new passion in our house!), eating nice dinner and watching shit telly.

Tomorrow, Chris K is having a house party with camping in his garden so we should really test the tents too (our Glasto replacement). Parties with all the gang tend to be wild so I'm really looking forward to it! Hurrah, hurrah!!!

And as I won't be online tomorrow - Happy Summer Solstice for tomorrow, Blessed Be!

Bouxxxx

Y'know when you're so excited about going out that you have a fizzy tummy? Well, I've got that today...I did go out clubbing on Wednesday but I had to leave early due to a) tiredness b) lack of funds to buy £1 whiskey(!) and c) not being able to bring myself to fancy any of the 'feathercut boys' (who are all tres ugly and rude and who would want a man like that? - even for one night). So I'm gonna go mental tonight.

I gotta celebrate too - I am now a PA to my Excutive Director and Artistic Director! Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah.

Possibly Hamstead Heath tomorrow too (hangovers permitting!)

All in all I had a fun weekend, although not all of it went to plan!

Richie and I met Harriette in the Retro Bar (and it turns out that Harriette and I have been friends for over 4 years, which is odd seeing as we met at a poetry gig - Patrick Jones (he of the famous Nick Wire MSP bro fame) and kinda just clicked, now we email and meet up ever so often esp. at Manics themed events!). We had a few bevies and then went onto Popstarz. Now, I haven't been to Popstarz in ages (I used to go a lot when I was just 18/19 - 7/8 years ago!!!) but I always enjoy it. People there are literally there for a good time but for some reason (possibly the Skin PA???) it seemed full of twats (this is an ongoing theme of mine - maybe it's just me getting old?). Anyway, we met Darian who I haven't seen in ages...Courtney and his/her crowd were there (and that last time I saw them it was at a second world was murder mystery dinner party - David looked tres different without his Nazi gear on!). So, we had lots of fun anyhow!

Lazy weekend was maximised by Courtney popping around for an hour or two (and staying for two days!). We watched The Others and drank wine and iced coffee and played trivia games on Saturday, and then Damaris came around on Sunday and joined in! Damaris and I tried to go to a mates gig on Sunday evening but missed the train and ended up staying in and watching MonkeyBone (with Brendan Frazer - ummmm!).

Monday at work was the first day of rehearsals for our new prod of Pericles so lots of back and forth from office to rehearsal space!

Tuesday morning I awoke to my ladies coming back from Turkey - hurrah! They had a lovely time and have come back very brown indeed (however, mine and Richies presents were left in Turkey - whoops!). There are no good clubs in Turkey so we're out tonight, possibly tomorrow and defiantly Friday (finances are tight but I'm we can get in free/tres cheap to the nights and vodka will only be a £1/£1.50 each...).

Here's to noisy housemates! The house feels extra lovely now the ladies are home!!!

Your magical style is Witch.

What type of Magic do you work?. Take the Magical Style Quiz by Paradox

Had the lovely, divine Chris K around for dinner last night (pasta with roasted garlic, thyme, goats cheese and vegan pesto plus salad with basil tofu and roasted pine nuts - uummmhhh yummy!). It was really wonderful evening, we ate in the garden and chatted about live, love and close friends. We also agreed that our circle of friends really needs to start working damn hard at keeping in touch (so hopefully bbqs and the such will manifest tres soon!).

Apart from that, my life is very work based at the moment (rehearsal for our new production start on Monday) but I did see the film Secretary last week and ever since I have literally been obsessed with James Spader, be still my beating heart!

one good thing though, the Jack White being at our club was an evil lie (which, on the negative, means I will no longer trust anything that Chris says again but that's his loss)

So, this weekend was fucking stupid. It started ok, Saturday morning telly, nice bath, getting ready to go out, when I suddenly realise that I don't have Darian's house details on me as I'd left them at work...so, I go to ring him but my phone still isn't working, therefore no numbers are forthcoming...*thinks* must have Darian's number somewhere. Proceed to place everything I own into the middle of my room looking for my telephone book. *thinks* fuck this, I'll ring Virgin and find out what's wrong with my phone. Turns out that although they do have equipment down in my area, it is my fault for having an old phone that is not automatically looking elsewhere for a reception (to be fair I would love a new phone but I barely have enough money for bills/food/life let alone £100 plus for a new bastard phone!!!). So it is now 5pm and I am in a very, very bad mood...all dressed up with nowhere to go...so I stay in and rearrange furniture....(always a good anti-stress tool!).

My best mate from school is also in London but what with my phone not working and me not having found my goddamn address book, I don't get to see her either...

Then on Sunday Jess falls through the door in the morning to find me cooking apple crumble (at 10am). She proceeds to call me "mum" for the rest of the day!

So we watch Candyman 2 and drink too much beer and have dinner cooked by the lovely Lorna (which Jess throws on the floor - oooppps!). Jess and I watch the Up In Smoke tour video (Eminem, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Snoop Doggy Dog) and surprisingly the other housemates leave the room...

To make my life worse - Jess, Lorna, Carla and Hels are going to Turkey this afternoon. For a week. Without me (due to lack of funds and the fact we have rehearsals starting next Monday...).

Aaarrrggghhhhh.

*sobs*

AND THEN a bill comes this morning threatening to cut off the electric. I ring to check that the payments had gone through. Mine hadn't. I thought that I was doing really well on the money front but now it turns out that I have £90 more than I should have in my account. Which means I have minus, minus, minus to live on till next pay day (which is only 2 1/2 weeks away). It's fine *hyperventilating* no, it's fine.

For some reason I woke up this morning in the worst mood, it maybe because I have a bad sinus cold and sore throat...maybe because we've all lost our deposit on the house...maybe because we have to all move as soon as possible. Fuckin' hell I'm sick of being skint and scraping by (well last month it wasn't so much scraping by as being very, very hungry too!)...my life does have its positives - I have great mates, we always have a good time when we go out but it's soooo boring not being able to buy cds, new clothes, um food. I really thought that when I started a "real" job (after, it has to be said fucking about for years...but I finally knuckled down and went to uni - just as my school friends were graduating!) that things might get easier...that I wouldn't have to eat those cheap flavoured noodles for lunch anymore...that pasta and rice wouldn't be the main stay of my diet...that I might be able to go to a pub and buy a few rounds for my mates.

Actually, shut up, you self indulgent bitch - you have an amazing life which you manage to do on the cheap....jesus...blah...blah...blah.

Having thought about this, I think the mood is to do with the supremely crap, cop out ending to Angel Season 4 that I saw last night. What a pile of shite.

Whoop! - go sign this petition to keep the tubes open later (courtesy of Darian)

His Girl Friday was really good fun last night. I love the film, so seeing the stage show was a treat. I went with Cardboard Citizens Young Actors Company as part of the Playmates promotion. It was an amazing chance for our young people to actually get to talk to cast and crew after the show - very inspirational for them (plus free beer!).

Update on awful Thursday night last week - this has been made ever the more awful by the fact that Jack White from The glorious White Stripes went to our regular club 'Smash and Grab'...so upset...and I had to tell Lorna and Jess this morning...don't ever want to talk about it ever again...bad, bad, bad.

So, after a shit Thursday night (and upsetting Chris by not going to Smash and Grab) we had to miss Bedrock on Friday too 'cos Lorna and I had to get up at 7am to get to the Download Festival. We were working on the Vodka Jelly and Herbal High tents. It was the hottest weekend ever...and I have actually, wait for it friends and neighbours GOT A TAN!!!!

I only went to see a few of the bands (through choice!). Amen were fun, their music isn't great but I happen to be in love with Casey Chaos and he didn't let me down at all - throwing himself around the floor, hitting himself with the mic, climbing the rig and throwing himself off...fuck I LOVE HIM SO MUCH...then we went to see Marilyn Manson, who I love too but the show was odd, actually no scrap that, the audience was odd. Iron Maiden were on afterwards which might have explained some of the atmosphere (they don't exactly have the same fan base now do they?). The new look is amazing, and some brilliant costumes - the opening song with two drummers with Marilyn masks on looked fantastic, two dancers who came on later...but no reaction from the crowd at all...I was the only one excited in any way.

We had a fun evening in the stalls taking Poke (coke substitute) and drinking copious amounts of vodka (a birthday pressie for Lorna from Rich the lovely guy who runs the stalls), the next day was pretty uneventful music wise and stall wise but I kinda had fun anyway. Most of the group working was pretty cool and good fun and we had the chance to chat to people buying from us (mainly about getting wankered!). All in all a lovely weekend, until Lorna and I went to get a train. We left early, managed to get the coach to the train station pretty sharpish but wanted something to eat. Loughborough doesn't have anything like a restaurant or a cafe to sit down in (being fair it was Sunday evening). We did find an Indian Take Away (who wouldn't let us eat there even though it had started raining really badly) so we walked back up to the station. We sat in the station eating away (mind you, when you live near Brick Lane nothing outside London seems to compare - except Bradford). Then it turns out that lightening had struck...so we were delayed...and tired...and hot...and thirsty. Lorna even saw my grouchy, tired boo self (poor Lornie!).

Got home eventually though. Then I had to get up early for work...(a new Forum training week and a meeting at the RSC about our joint production of Pericles - all very exciting). Am now about to go out to the National for 'His Girl Friday' with our youth theatre and home to bed. But then of course up again early and then to Chris' for an Angel session - very excited about that one!