Where it began, I can't begin to knowin' But then I know it's growing strong Was in the spring And spring became the summer Who'd have believed you'd come along (Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond)

I chose this track as my friend Sarah said that she hates Neil Diamond, except this song, which she thinks she can sing after she has been drinking. I do not think she is alone.  So pour yourself a drink and sing Sarah; sing.

Saturday:  Beautiful sunny morning.  However, the rain clouds did pass by but not for long. I waked to the nearest charity shops to take some clothes and then called into new coffee place near to where I live.  I have passed it a couple of times on the bus and it looked good.  It was and so was the coffee.  I then caught a bus up to Elizabeth Street which is near to Victoria Bus Station.  My friend, Hannah has been commissioned by Jo Malone (not the brand by the original Jo Malone) to make paper flowers for a window display at the Jo Loves shop and for the Chelsea Flower Show.  I am so proud of her.  Hannah, you really are so, so talented.  I stood like a proud parent outside of the shop taking photos of her amazing art.  I did want to go into the shop, it smelt absolutely lovely but I knew if I went in I would buy something and I am trying to save at the moment.  But trust me, I am a devil for perfume and I will be going back.

Walked up to Victoria Street and called in to good old M&S and then caught the bus back home to my flat.  Did some chores, but it was so hot.  This is the trouble with living in a penthouse apartment aka a third floor flat.  It gets so hot. Sat down with a beer and watched the FA Cup final.  I can be such a lad at times! Spent the evening watching Shrek, as you do!  I remember taking Meg to see this film at the cinema at Stoke museum and there was a guy sitting in front of me with a small child and him and I were just laughing out loud at the film as there is so much in it that really is not for children.  It was good to watch it again.

Sunday:  Warm day in London but I had some prep work to do.  I have also heard from two 'ghosts from Christmases past' the last couple of days.  I am just wondering who the third one is going to be ............  Prep paperwork done and dusted and feeling quite smug, Andy and I had a walk up the shops to get some 'bits'.  I really cannot be bothered to day and everything is feeling like just too much effort.  But hey that's Bank Holidays for you.  Also, asthma is really off today so that is not helping either. That really should be going now.  It really has outstayed its welcome.

Fell asleep on the sofa this afternoon whilst Andy was killing numerous things on the Playstation.  Typical Bank Holiday weekend as we watched The Spy Who Loved Me which was being shown because of the recent death of Roger Moore. The rain arrived and it looked as if it was going to storm, but it never did.  So a quiet put productive day but all good.

Monday:  Bank Holiday Monday. Where oh where is the time going? Grey, overcast but warm today.  A typical Bank Holiday weekend really.  So I worked through my paperwork again, to get it clear in my head and spent most of the day trying to control my asthma.  Nightmare.  I feel I am just falling apart.  Andy was not up too much either so we played a couple of board games and had a lazy day.  I am not worried.  I have something on every day this week, up until Sunday so it is going to be a busy time.  

As always, with my love x

It's a beautiful noise Made of joy and of strife Like a symphony played By the passing parade It's the music of life (Beautiful Noise - Neil Diamond)

So another week begins. I am anxious about the trip to the dentist and the affect it is going to have on me and my smile.  Thank goodness for my music because at the moment, I am feeling very much alone.  Oh I meant to mention I emailed the dentist I saw on Friday to apologise for crying and to also thank him for the kindness he had shown me.  I may be many things, in many people's eyes, but I am nothing but polite and thankful. As always, enjoy.

Monday:  Nothing ever seems to go to plan for me.  I get to the dentist and she cannot take the tooth out because of the roots being so near to the sinus nerve. When will this end? Two, very painful injections, she removed the crown and filed down the tooth and made another referral to Guy's Hospital.  However, she said that I could go to Guy's early (around 6.30) on Thursday and say that it is giving me pain and hopefully, if I am not too far back in the queue they will remove the roots.  I will be doing this.  At least then the healing can start and then I can start to look at an implant in 3 months time.  It is really going to be a long, dragged out, event.  Not feeling the love and the sun is shining.

Finally, some good news. But I cannot say anymore just yet.  

Tuesday:  No beautiful noise. Just tragic news.  I spent most of the night awake watching, helpless, the events rolling out in Manchester. I remember the bomb happening in June 1996.  It was a beautiful, sunny day and Meg was splashing around in her paddling pool.  Again, tonight, a city very dear to me has been subjected to terrorism.  Words fail me.  I am a dreamer.  Why can't we all just get on?  I cannot find the words but I will let Guy Garvey, a Manhcurian, sum it up.  So, so sad.

Good and productive day work wise. I called into get a quiche and some salad for my dinner and very nice it was too.  London is warm at the moment and it is lovely but because I did not sleep well last night it was an early night for me and something you will not hear very often ......... I slept like a baby. Not that my baby ever slept lol why do we say that?

Wednesday:  Such a beautiful warm summer morning in London this morning. At last, it looks as if summer is on her way.  Interesting evening as I went to find out about my voluntary work and they seemed really, really pleased to have me on board and I will be creating and delivering some training for them.  So happy with this and something I will really enjoy.  Things are on the change ......


Thursday:  If I did not have a fear of dentists; I soon will have.  I did not sleep at all well and was awake at 5.00. Showered for 5.30 and at Guy's for 6.30. 

Yes, you did read that right.  Normally, it is busy. Of course, today it was not. I guess it was because the sun was shining.  I saw a lovely dentist called

Can just about see my lovely flat

Christopher but my dentist, once again, let me down.  I will be looking for a new dentist.  I have to go back next Wednesday to have the remainder of the tooth and roots removed. I did pick Christopher's lovely brains on sinus lifts and bone implants around the implant (see I told you I like research) and he seems to think I will be fine.  We shall see.

Beautiful, warm day in London, but I have not seen much of it.  It will be an early night tonight.  Oh I have included a photo from the 23rd floor of Guy's tower.  Ironic isn't it, this is where my Dad used to go for his dentistry needs.  See, no such thing as coincidence.



Friday:  Such a beautiful summers day today. It was so warm.  I was in the office today training volunteers on our new computer system.  It was challenging, but they did so well.  I walked partially home.  I did want to sit by the river for half an hour but there were no seats. So called in the supermarket and got some tonic water, lemon and lime and poured myself a bit gin and tonic and kicked back.  It was so good, I had another one and then felt a tad squiffy.  Alcohol takes away all the aches and pains.

It has been a very odd week this week. The terrible news, the tooth saga and then the beautiful sunshine.  It looks as if summer has arrived; which means it will be raining tomorrow.

As always, with my love x

I knew a man, Bojangles and he danced for you In worn out shoes Silver hair, a ragged shirt and baggy pants The old soft shoe He jumped so high, jumped so high Then he'd lightly touch down (Mr Bojangles - Neil Diamond)

I needed to find a track today to lift my mood.  This song makes me smile and so many people have sung it and added their charm to it.  But for me, this is still the best.  As always, enjoy.

Saturday:  I fell asleep, on my bed and Andy woke me up at 10.00 when he was going to his room. I slept until 3.33, yes my time with a horrendous headache. Two paracetamols and I slept until 7.00.  Obviously, this is the answer to a good night's sleep: financial worry, stress and crying all day.

Quite start to the morning. I intended doing nothing today.  My heart is not in anything.  I am going to be so self conscious of this gap in my teeth and the thought of smiling just makes me cry. Caught up on chores and sat and worked out my finances.  Feeling slightly more positive but still anxious about the tooth being removed and the gap.  Actually fell asleep again on the sofa for over an hour.  All rock and roll it certainly is not at the moment. Mind you, if it was rock and roll, like Liam Gallagher or Shaun Ryder I could afford not have my teeth knocked out in a fight or not even bother to look after them as money would be no object and they could all be replaced.  Let's face it, Liam Gallagher never smiles either!

I spent the rest of the day researching (something I do best).  As I am now a 'customer' I can choose where to spend my money.  So now I know all about the types of implants and crowns, what to ask and what to expect.  By the end of the day I was feeling slightly more at ease about things.

Wildflowers near to London Bridge

Sunday:  Easy start to the day and then I walked along to Hay's Galleria by London Bridge to take an item back to Next.  I then met my friend Sarah and we spent the day catching up on all our news.  I would like to say it was all good news; unfortunately, it was not. However, the sun was shining and we managed a smile and a laugh between us and I was pleased that I had made the effort to go out and enjoy some of the sunshine and it was good to see Sarah again.

Back home and it was quite night, but that is fine.  Tomorrow is going to be 'eventful' in more ways than one and I think even the sun shining is not going to help.  

As always, with my love x

You'd think I could learn How to tell you goodbye 'Cause you don't bring me flowers Anymore (You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Neil Diamond)

Such a haunting song of lost love. It has not been the best of weeks for me and I really could do with a rest now. It has been almost six years of struggling. I think I will go out tomorrow and spend my last few pounds of this month on some beautiful flowers. I love flowers.  As always, enjoy.

Monday:  Again.  Terrible news today.  Trust me when I say there is no longer any NHS dental care.  I need to have some root canal work redone.  There is no provision for this on the NHS and you have to go private.  I have researched this, speaking to people across the country and the story is very much the same. Since the government renewed dentist's NHS contracts a few years ago they do not do this work on the NHS but send it out to specialists in this field. I had my last RCT done ten years go in the North and my dentist, at the time, was the head dentist in the practice.  I guess I was lucky then as I had it done on the NHS.  This time it is different. I have been referred to a dental practice in Harley Street. Yes you did read that right and this treatment is going to cost me more than my friend's new boiler for her home. It is going to cost my the entire budget for next year's travel plans, it is going to cost me a hell of a lot, and I mean a hell of a lot of money.  The alternatives: just have the tooth removed and have a gap there. Not an option. Have the tooth removed and have a plate for six months and then hopefully, hopefully, they will be able to fit a bridge. Not an option. Go to Harley Street and spend so much money and get it fixed. I have no choice.  Needless to say I am hacked off and that is polite.  I need to earn more money. Not feeling the love.

Tuesday:  In the office today and had lunch with a colleague which was rather lovely and then back home to catch up on a great deal of work.  The weather is rather strange again and I feel very tired.  So it was an early night as I have a busy day tomorrow.

Wednesday:  Early start today as I was on the 8.00 train from Kings Cross to York for work.  York has bitter sweet memories for me as in past life, I used to go there a great deal.  I even attended a very prestigious event at the Minster. One that involved a dress and hat.  York, like London was very wet.  I caught the bus outside the station and it was so strange as people queued for the bus. This does not happen in London.  In London, the bus arrives and it is a 'free for all' to get on it.  Not in York.  People, who were all white, formed an polite queue and were all welcomed by the driver.  It was also strange buying a paper ticket with cash.  The friendly bus driver even told me when it was my stop.  It was like stepping back in time.

Really good day with my peers and then it was time for the journey home.  The weather was absolutely awful and I was trying to cross the busy main road to catch the bus when it arrived. I could not cross the road but the bus driver looked at me and said 'did I want this bus?', I replied yes and he waited for me. Amazing. I thanked him so much and said that this would never happen in London and he said it was fine and it was such a lousy day.  It seemed really strange.

I did not get back home to my flat until 8.15pm as the traffic in London was horrendous because of the weather. It had been a long day but a very good one and York, I guess, now holds new memories.

Thursday:  Today is my Friday.  Thank goodness. I was working at a hospital this morning and it was good, I really enjoyed it.  Back home and it was full on as I wanted to get everything I could done as I am not working tomorrow.  The rain returned and London was wet and grey again.  It is May isn't it?

Friday:  Forget what you read on Monday. That was nothing. TOIL today and I got up and dressed and on the bus.  This has happened a couple of times to me since I have been in London.  I was religiously attacked by a highway man. This bloke got on the bus and started preaching to us all how God loves me. No! I do not need this at any time and especially not today.  Do not get me wrong, I would fight to my last breath for someone to have the freedom of speech; but where is my freedom of not having to listen to it? If looks could kill, he would be dead and be with his 'God'.  I stuck Amy singing Rehab on, very loud and told myself that if he did not shut up soon I will stand up and 'speak' to the whole bus about the joys of sex, gin and vibrators.  He really picked the wrong day to piss me off.

So I was going to Harley Street.  Yes you did hear that right, to see a dentist regarding root canal work on my tooth.  Beautiful, of course, offices and a lovely dentist who was so nice. We went through the paperwork and I told him that since I brushed my teeth this morning the crown has become really loose. He said this is not good as he suspected that the tooth had now cracked, which meant he could not do anything.  This was confirmed when he examined it.  I cried. I keep crying in dentists. Here I am, in Harley Street, crying as I have to loose a tooth.  Then what.  He explained to me that he could remove the tooth today but suggested I went back to my dentist to discuss the options. I asked him what where the options and basically, without going into too many details, there are no options except a tooth implant.  Think of a number of say your mortgage or rent then multiply it by around 20 (I am not exaggerating, well unless your rent is in London) and you will have how much this is going to cost. He explained that he does not specialise in that type of dentistry.  I apologised for crying and explained it was a shock as I was worrying about paying £850 (yes you did read that right) for the RCT and now I need to find at least 3.5 times that for an implant.  He asked me what charity I worked for and what I did and I explained that I supported people and he said that I needed my smile. That made me cry again as everyone tells me I have a lovely smile and now I will have a gap.

I finally composed myself and made my way to leave asking him where did I need to pay (it would have been a consultation fee of around £250 - I know, where is the NHS when you need it). He took my hand and said that there would be no fee. He said that I have spent my life supporting other people when they needed it the most and he would waiver his fee and that he was so sorry that he could not do anything for me. I cried. He said it was fine. Kindness can be found you know in the most unusual places.  Only I could go to Harley Street and not pay a penny.

I left and rang my dentist and arranged to have the tooth extracted on Monday. I walked along to the tube, crying.  I have said it before, no one cares in London what you do or what you look like as they are too busy dealing with their own shit. I got home and just cried and cried. So I now need to find a huge sum of money. The tooth will have to be extracted and the gum heal.  That will be around three months. My dentist does implants but I am going to shop around and see what and who is out there.  So if any of you can help with advise or suggestions I would love to hear from you.  But please remember, I am really not in the mood for jokes at the moment and just wish I could stop crying.

As always, with my love (and tears) x

Humbled and awed by everything I'd found Beauty and love surround me Freed me from what I feared (Pretty Amazing Grace - Neil Diamond)

Perhaps a track you are not familiar with but I have had it as an ear-worm all week.  Why does that happen? Round and round. So hopefully, now I have used it, it will go and leave me in peace.  As always, enjoy.

Saturday:  Strange thing happened last night. I will not go into great details, but once again a 'strange coincidence' happened to show me once again, that it really is a small world. Sigh.  I had no intention of going out today. London was grey and I had work to do.  I had a piece of work I needed to get started and to work on during the weekend.  Needless to say, I tackled it in my usual methodical way.  Mind-maps, notes all over the place. But hey, it felt good. I do miss studying.

Portugal the winners

So tonight is a big event in 'Gay World'. Tonight is Eurovision.  So it was pizza and gin cocktails and losing the will to live.  This will be 3.5 hours of my life I will not get back.  The perils of living with your best gay friend!

The gin helped.  It helped a great deal. I liked Portugal's song and it won. I have no idea what he is singing about and I will have to ask my Portuguese friend to translate it for me.  But I am pleased they won.  I went to bed feeling a bit squiffy and fully stuffed from the quattro fromaggi pizza.


Sunday:  The sun is shinning but today I will not be going out. I am having a resting weekend as I have felt so lousy all week. Also, I still had a huge piece of important work to complete so spent the morning finalising this. More to follow. Andy went to have his haircut and today they were closed (they are normally open on a Sunday). So he come back home and I played hairdressers.  It is funny, it took me right back to me being a child and to the time when I used to get Megan's hair done ready for school.  Needless to say, his hair is not long enough for a french plait, but I put a lovely headband in for him. I do not think there will be any photos of this. But he does have a rather large, funny shape head! Mr Potato Head springs to mind.

Work completed and feeling very smug and actually a bit better. I decided, for my sins, to sort out all my winter/summer clothes and to be totally ruthless. The problem with this is I now have a huge sack of clothes I no longer feel the love for that need to go to a charity shop. This will mean physically carrying them along and whilst I am finding it difficult at the moment to actually breath coming up the 48 stairs to my flat, I do not think I will be rushing to do this.  Finally sorted out Andy's birthday present (his birthday was in February but there was nothing he needed). We are going to see Young Frankenstein at the theatre in November. In fact, it is the day before I go to NZ so it will kick-start my holiday. We both love this film. 

As always, with my love x

I think about you ev'ry night, when I'm here alone (Hello Again - Neil Diamond)

I don't know why I choose this song because it makes me cry.  I guess that is why I chose it.   Beautiful lyrics and like the title says, 'I think about you every night when I am here alone' and always wish you goodnight.  As always, enjoy.

Monday:  I really wish the weather would sort itself out.  In six weeks time the evenings will start to get dark again! Another grey, cold day down south.  Busy day work wise and spent the evening catching up on stuff.  I can't tell you how happy I am sharing with Andy. We laugh so much over stupid, silly stuff. Tonight we laughed until we cried.  Now that really has to be good.

Tuesday:  Working from home until lunchtime and then I ventured out to the darkest depths of Zone 4.  Not much really happened today.  But hey, I survived.

Wednesday:  Tonight I met my friend Christine.  She was to be a volunteer where I used to work and we met once and both knew we would get on like a house on fire, and we do.  I was thinking how many people I have met and know and how blessed I feel. Friends both old and new.  Oh Meg if only you knew.  We met at Piccadilly and and went to Picture House Central for a drink.  We had so much to catch up on as we have not been able to see each other since Christmas. We then went to Wahaca (your favourite Ian) in Soho and had a lovely meal.  We talked and laughed and it was so lovely to see her. We have both said that we must do it again soon and as soon as she has her work schedule (she has a very interesting and envious job) we will fix a date.  I went home feeling really blessed with the diverse and lovely people who are in my life.

Thursday:  I did not feel well again today (really fed up with it now), this bloody allergy grrrr.  However, tonight I was off to The Globe with the first Meet Up group I joined when I arrived in London.  Unfortunately, tonight was the last time we would be meeting as the organiser has had to close the group due to personal reasons.  Very sad as I have been to some wonderful events with this group.  So tonight I was going to see Romeo and Juliet.  I had done no research on it and I just thought it would be Romeo and Juliet. Well it was, but what a huge twist.  This classic tale was a mix between steam punk, Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Tim Burton and Helen Bonham Carter in Harry Potter. The music was hip hop, drum and bass oh and YMCA, yes you did read that right. Romeo was a moody, hormone driven young person and was very easy on the eye. I was totally blown away by the performance. The final scene was so moving and I could feel my chin start to wobble and my eyes fill up.  I really want to see this again and cannot recommend it enough. Such an amazing performance.

Friday:  I did not feel well at all today and can only manage to get a GP appointment (cyber hacking aside) on Monday ...... sigh.  It is going to be slow, boring weekend me thinks.  Finished work and went for a manicure to cheer myself up then to be honest, I could not wait to get home. Home for 4.30 and went to bed until 6.00 then back in bed at 10.00 as I felt that rough.  Oh well, there are plenty in the Crem who would like to feel like this.

As always, with my love x

Me and you are subject to The blues now and then But when you take the blues And make a song You sing 'em out again (Song, Sung, Blue - Neil Diamond)

I bet when you read the title of this song you started to sing it! Such a happy song that just moves along. As always, enjoy.

Saturday:  Lazy start to the day with breakfast in bed.  Andy will make such a lovely wife. It was delicious all washed down with tea and orange juice.  What

more can a girl ask for.  He is a little gem, but I won't tell him that as he will expect it all the time.

Spent most of the day doing 'life laundry'.  I had quite a bit to do and had to spend quite a bit of time on one thing in particular.  But more about that (maybe) later. 

Finally ventured out and wished I had not bothered.  The trouble of living where I do is, whilst it is very convenient it means that all my local amenities are infested with tourists.  Today was no exception.  I had to go and collect a parcel from Next which meant battling with half the world.  Mind you, I moan about it but probably would not have it any other way to be honest.  Quiet night watching a film called the Fifth Element. I had never seen it before but it was really good.

Sunday:  I had such a lovely day today; a proper making new memories day. I met with my dear friend PPLP, my French friend.  We met at St Dunstan's in the East which is slap bang right in the City of London.  It is the remains of a church built around 900 AD and it was bombed in the blitz and the church lost it's roof. It was never repaired.  It now sits as a little oasis with the most beautiful garden in and around it.  I had never heard of it before and was so pleased that PPLP suggested meeting there.  Both of us said our hellos and then started to take photos.

We then walked over Tower Bridge laughing and chatting all the way.  Today I actually practiced my French on him, the first time ever. He was so sweet with me. We walked along the river towards London Bridge and then stopped to get some lovely food in Wagamama. We both had Pad Thai.  Delicious.  I actually managed to eat the whole meal with chopsticks ........ finally.  We did not stop talking.  He was telling me all about the French election as he had to go and vote before he met up with me. It was so interesting to hear how other countries vote.  We finally left the restaurant and went to a pub I know by the ITV studios for a drink and more chatting and laughter.  We finally said our goodbyes.  It got me thinking about all the new people who have come into my life since my world was turned upside down.  They really are a completely diverse and eclectic tribe.  I feel so blessed.

Finally got home around 18:00 declaring to Andy that I had Tad Pie for my dinner.  I think the two pints of lager may have played a part in that! But it had been such a lovely day.  I guess that is what it is all about; making new memories.

St Dunstan's in the East

As always, with my love x

L.A.'s fine, the sun shines most the time And the feeling is "lay back" Palm trees grow and rents are low But you know I keep thinkin' about Making my way back Well I'm New York City born and raised But nowadays I'm lost between two shores L.A.'s fine, but it ain't home New York's home But it ain't mine no more (I am I said - Neil Diamond)

So being the contradiction that I am, only I could go from Oasis to Neil Diamond. I have always been partial to a bit of old Neil.  I wanted to kick off with this song as many moons ago, in a past life, I heard Robbie Williams, who as many of you know, I am not a fan of, choose this as one of his songs on BBC Radio Two's Tracks of my Years.  He said that these lines that I have quoted sum up how he feels. I totally got it.  He went on to say that whilst living in LA is great he misses his old life of living in Stoke, but when he goes back he does not feel that he belongs there either.  When I was in exile in the North I felt the same.  On the rare occasions I would return 'down home' to see my Nan, I would also feel that I did not belong.  I guess life is for moving on, not staying in one place and anywhere can be or feel like home, if you want it too. London feels very much like home.  As always, enjoy.

Tuesday:  Well it maybe Tuesday but it still felt like a Monday morning. Busy as usual but there was huge excitement during the day.  All I will say is 'finger's crossed'.  I rang and got a private appointment, as you do when you can pay for it, well I can't the insurance is but you get my drift.  I could not believe where the consultant rooms are but again, more about that later.

Quiet night in and Andy and I had the giggles.  I swear, I have never laughed so much as I do living with him.  We are just as bad as each other.  We see something, or hear something on the TV or radio and then are just in fits of giggles.  

Wednesday:  I am a premium bond winner (again). But before you send me all your begging letters, it was only for £25 but all good.

Wednesday:  I am a premium bond winner (again). But before you send me all your begging letters, it was only for £25 but all good. Working from home today and I went into the kitchen and there were two pigeons sitting on the window ledge, enjoying the sunshine.  They did not move; just sat there looking at me. Hard faced swines!

Thursday: Busy, but interesting day at work.  London is very busy at the moment. The tourist season has started and no one has a clue how to use their Oyster Card or where they are going.  This means, things take a bit longer for me as I weave my way in and out of them walking six abreast along the road! Very tired this week so it was an early night.

Friday: I was in the office this afternoon for a meeting. Who books a Friday

One of my favourite Hockney's

afternoon meeting with out arranging for drinks afterwards? Mind you, it did me a favour as the office is only a few hundred yards up the road from The Tate where I needed to be.  I joined a new Meet Up group tonight:  Woman and Art. Basically, you go to exhibitions with other women.  I do not mind rocking around a gallery on my own but sometimes it is nice just to say 'oh look at that'. It went well actually.  I called in to see 'my girls', the Pre-Raphaelite art that I just love.  I still cannot believe I can do this anytime I want.  The group I met up with were OK and there were a couple of interesting women.  We went to see the Hockney exhibition (again, I have seen it three times now but that is the luxury of being a member of The Tate).  I have got to be putting myself out there.  Nothing happens by doing nothing.

As always, with my love x

So here I go Still scratching around in the same old hole My body feels young but my mind is very old So what do you say? You can't give me the dreams that are mine anyway You're half the world away (Half The Word Away - Noel Gallagher)

Another band, another month.  I will be sad to see the back of Oasis as there are so many songs that I wanted to use.  So, technically, this is not an Oasis song but a song by the lovely Noel.  Many of you will recognise it from the the theme tune to the Royale Family.  Beautiful song.  As always, enjoy.

Saturday:  I love my lazy weekend mornings. Something that I never thought I would ever get back.  Breakfast in bed as provided by Andy. It was a Danish. Unfortunately, just a pastry and not a 6'6" blond hunk but hey.  I spent the morning deep cleaning my bedroom. The trouble with living in London is, it is dirty. The thick dust I wiped away this morning was pretty disgusting.  But that is what it is.  I am not going to spend every weekend cleaning.

This afternoon it was more pampering as it was hair time.  I am so pleased with it and the colour is brilliant.  I wish I could have it done more often, but like most things in London, it is expensive. But it looks lovely at the moment, so very happy.  By the time my hairdresser had left the flat and the black clouds started to move in, I couldn't be bothered to get changed and go out.  So I caught up on 'life laundry' as someone once called it.


Sunday:  Terrible night's sleep, awful.  Needless to say, I was up early to get out and about.  The sun is shining.  It is going to be a good day.  So today, with I friend, I was off to the Wellbeing Festival at Olympia.  I got the tickets on Groupon at a very reasonable price. It was very good.  I had a tarot card reading which, I have to admit, she was spot on. In fact, she ended up crying and so did I because of the emotion and pain she could fee.  No surprises there then.  My friend and I joined the Hare Krishnas and chanted and meditated.  I just love the positive energy they bring, loved it.  We spent most of the day there mouching around then I went up to St Pancras to see my friend on her train and then I caught the bus home.  I was very relaxed to be honest.  

So tonight it was the last episode of Line of Duty and I was not let down.  In fact, at one point, I was literally at the edge of my seat.  Brilliant programme and so well acted.  I will miss this on a Sunday night.  So all in all, it has been a very good day.  I drunk my bedtime tea that I purchased from the Yogi Tea stall and slept like a baby.  All is well.

Monday:  Bank holiday Monday and the weather was grim.  Grey and overcast. A typical day off.  Andy and I looked at our bills and changed energy supplier. This is something that I have always done, but got out of the habit when moving to London.  Not today Satan. Duly swapped and saving us £250 a year.  Thank you very much I will have some of that.  

Ironing done, well the bed sheets as this is all I iron these days and the vegetables chopped and roasting for the lasagne and it was only noon.  I think it is going to be a long day but I do not want to go out as I spent too much yesterday.  So I ended up doing that great British Bank Holiday thing, shopping on line ........ sigh.Thank you Next for taking some money off me.  Lasagne consumed and I was so tired.  In fact, I have been tired all day.  I think it is the coming off the meds thing again.  But hey, it was a free day off work, so I am not complaining.

Oh before I go, I saw an article today saying it is the ten year anniversary of Madeleine McCann going missing.  The ironing of this is about two years after her disappearance 'we' were in Luz and were actually sitting by the complex where she went missing.  In fact, we did not realise that was where we were. So there we were, eating cheese and bread and we started talking about her going missing and it was said, by all present, that we could not imagine what it must be like to have a child that you have no idea where she is or what she is doing or if she is safe.  I think I will just park that memory there.

As always, with my love x