I'm sure everyone is sick of hearing how dull work is for me. That was the same today. It was really dull. I did not want to be there in any way shape or form! I think everyone has those days but mine really was. Everything was a chore!
To make things more interesting for myself, I created my married email address ready for September! Things really were that dull!
Still, homeward bound I went, with a spring in my step, as it's #Whedonsday! :)
Dinner was a delicious Italian Shepherds Pie (which is a mountain of a dinner but worth every second!) and, of course, no #Whedonsday is complete without some of the foamy goodness we are accustomed to!
It might not be the best beer in the world but we like it! It works for us.
Maia came for a cuddle while we were watching our Whedony wonders, which is always pleasant.
Didn't have a great night's sleep last night. Probably mostly due to the fact that Paul was away. So I opted to lie in bed a little longer than I normally would, and doze to the radio.
Yeah. Wish I hadn't. The first song I heard on the radio was Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline. I HATE THAT SONG.
Anyone who has a song with their name in the lyrics will know my pain. Why are there so many songs about Carolines anyway? This song has haunted me probably more than all the others. Status Quo have a 'Sweet Caroline' as well, but I don't mind that one as much. That one haunted my early childhood but it's not so well known as Mr Diamond's arguable classic.
Got to love the retro hair! That I believe they still all have to date!
My teen years were irritated by a man known as Shaggy with his little ditty 'Oh Carolina'. Now I realise this is not my name. However it doesn't stop people singing it at you when you have a name something similar.
That's painful to willingly listen to.
Then, about 10 years ago, Outkast released a song called Roses. It's not the most complimentary song about a Caroline.
It goes on for a while. It's also a bit naff.
There are many others. These are 3 of the worst as well as Mr Diamond. But Mr Diamond is the worst. The longest running form of torture.
If you read this and sing it to me, I will not be amused. I will most probably give you a 'look' then ignore you. If you're my friend, I will probably not invite you to our wedding. Simple.
Anyway.
It wasn't the worst day ever, which was unexpected. It was a long day though. I don't like those.
Paul dropped our marriage certificates off at the Registry Office in Southport today, so that means it's official. We're getting married! Which we knew anyway, but we now have to think about our actual ceremony and what we want to include and what vows we want to say! It's exciting but another thing on the list of things to do!
When I came home, I needed to relax. Paul had to revise for his exam tomorrow so I put The Hobbit on, with the intention of watching the whole thing! I succeeded. Paul revised good and proper and it was a successful evening!
Revising hard while I relax. Needs must I suppose.
I'm still feeling incredibly sombre after yesterday's news. I guess it's going to take some coming to terms with.
Anyway, to work I went, expecting it to be awful. It wasn't actually that bad. Busy but manageable. It's nice to be surprised in that way!
Another surprise I received was when the post came. People were very curious as to what could come with such a big blue sticker on the outside...
Do not open?! But it's addressed to me! I WANT TO OPEN IT!
So I did!
YAY! It's Hobbit Day! Ordinarily I would have waiting until the extended edition was released...but...well...I couldn't!
It's so pretty! Plus we get a digital edition too so I can watch on my laptop/phone etc! I'll never get any work done at this rate!
This stamp on the packet amused me!
Frustration free?! It was fairly straightforward I suppose! There was no need to let me know!
I bought a special version of the blu-ray. If I'm going to be buying the movie twice, I best have something a bit different to justify it in my collection!
After work I had a little while at home, and then met Chris to go to a free screening of the Evil Dead remake. Security was tight. Seriously, it's never been that tight before. They pretty much insisted on making sure our phones were off and were patrolling the aisles before the movie began! It was intense!
Needless to say, I couldn't take a picture in fear of being ejected from the cinema for life, but here's the trailer for you. Only watch if you're brave!
It was pretty gruesome! It's not the comedy I was expecting! If you do go to see it, wait until the end of the credits. Just because.
Today's post is going to be a little different. I don't apologise.
This morning I found out that on Friday night a lad I went to school with has died. I don't know details, nor will I ask but the news has come at somewhat of a shock to all of us who went to school together, plus countless others who had met Carl.
The fact is that he was 30. That's nothing. He was married to Fay, whom he met at school and had two young children. It is just so cruel that someone so young has been taken away from his family, just as it is beginning.
This is Carl on the last day of school before our A Level exams. He was 18 here. The boys dressed up in female school uniform, just so you know. It wasn't a regular thing. At least not as I recall!
This was taken at our Sixth Form Ball. Only a few months after the other.
I don't have any sensible pictures of Carl. Except maybe our Year 11 photograph as a class but it's really not a great picture as a whole. I guess that probably says something about the type of chap that Carl was. Always having a good time.
I was never a great friend of his, nor did I really keep in touch after school, but social networking etc keeps certain connections alive. You can see family lives and how people's lives change and grow. I was 11 when I first met Carl. He was in my form for 5 years. During those awkward phases when girls really don't like boys. And then when girls start to quite like boys after all!
I can't write a lot about what he was like after the age of 18 as I don't know. He was a great friend to people that I am still friends with. A caring husband and a loving father.
The news took me by surprise as previously stated. It has shocked me to the core. It's a reminder that things like this can happen to anyone at any time. I know it's not the way to think, but it really puts things into perspective in my own life. I complain about work all the time. We're not going through a great time in our lives at present for a few reasons I won't go into here. Yet we're happy and healthy. We're planning our wedding and the rest of our lives together. I really can't complain any more as we don't have it as bad as some.
I should leave this post here as it's very sombre and not my usual tone. One thing I will be taking from today is that I will tell the people that mean a lot to me exactly that. I know it's not the way to live your life, fearing what is around the corner, but telling loved ones that you care about them is important any day. There is never any harm in making sure that they know that. Telling them one more time is no bad thing.
Sleeping Maia. Just so there is some happiness in this post.
It's Aintree weekend here in Liverpool, home of the Grand National which was today. I don't pay attention to horse racing. I'm not really bothered about going. Plus it's full of mental people. I'm happy where I am, thanks!
My parents came to visit today. I haven't seen Mum since she came dress shopping with me back in January. I haven't seen my Dad since Boxing Day. So it was good to see them.
We were going to go out for lunch, but first Mum wanted to go and look in a shop down the road for her outfit for our wedding.
She found one. It's very nice. I was going to post a spoiler but then decided not to! I think people will be surprised by her outfit! She looks lovely though. It was expensive...almost the same price as my dress! Which I actually think is hysterical!
We then went for lunch at Bistro Noir, which was rather quaint and the menu looked ace...apart from when we got inside we realised that it was the evening menu we were looking at, and we wanted lunch. The lunch menu wasn't bad, so we stayed. Dad had a Jerk Chicken salad, Paul and Mum had Mexican burgers, and I had a Jerk Chicken sandwich.
The result - we were all jealous of Dad's salad! It was enormous! The sandwich was delicious as well! So all in all it was a good choice!
We then went for a drink in 'Bier' and introduced Dad to Brooklyn Beer. He liked it a lot.
We then went home and popped open some Cava that Mum and Dad had brought up as they had bulk-bought some for our wedding and we had to try it to make sure it was suitable! Spoiler - it was suitable.
After Mum and Dad left, we had a taste for fizz, so we went to get a bottle of prosecco, then settled in for the evening, finishing off our Harry Potter marathon.
Why is it that a 4 day week actually feels longer than a usual week?! I don't like it! I was ready for the weekend days ago!
Disliked work for many reasons today. I won't bore you with them. To the extent I came home at lunchtime to escape!
It was nice to get home after work. To know I don't have to go back to that place for a few days!
We decided to watch some more Harry Potter, so watched movie 6 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It is a good 'un.
Whilst watching, I decided to take a 'selfie' with Maia who was giving me a lovely cuddle. I'm glad she's closer to the camera than me!
Dinner consisted of Gumbo, made at the hand of my lovely Paul.
It doesn't look particularly pleasant here, but it is! It's delicious! Especially with a bit of tabasco added to it to give it a kick!
I was sad there was no pudding afterwards. I do like a good cheesecake. Alas, it was not meant to be.
I had this for piidding onstead. Probably for the best. It's healthier. If it had crumble with it, it would have been extra awesome, but it didn't. Cameo apples - actually quite nice!
We watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 as well but was almost asleep towards the end of it. I just can't hack it any more!
It's my lovely Dad's birthday today! :) I won't see him until Saturday but yay! Happy birthday Daddy Hartley!
This was Dad on Christmas Day last year, finishing off the custard from the Christmas pudding. To be honest, the custard was amazing, so I don't blame him... :) Like father like daughter I guess! :)
Anyway, as I was getting ready for work, my mind was wandering and I was thinking about our holiday which is slowly approaching in a few months time. Then I realised that I have no idea where my passport is.
**insert expletive here**
This is not good news. It's usually in my bag, as it's the only form of photographic ID I have. The joys of my youthful good looks (hah) usually mean that if I'm in the mood for a bottle of wine or something, we have a 'Challenge 25' policy in most supermarkets, and I'll get asked to prove my age. Which is a little more than 25.
Anyway, my frustration at myself kept going well into work. Passports are not cheap, and it's even more of an annoyance as I'll be changing my name after the wedding so will have to pay the passport fee again! I don't want to be paying it twice.
I need to find my damn passport.
Luckily for me, when I got home, I did find it! It was in a handbag I hadn't used for ages! I have no idea why it would be in there! But at least today's drama has a happy ending!
Proof that I did, in fact, find the blighter. It's now in a safe place with Paul's. Fingers crossed I remember where that safe place is when we need it for holiday!
So you all can giggle, he's my picture. It's only a few years old. I don't half look like a photo-fit though, huh? I really was skinnier than. And blonde. Ah well. At least I have an excuse to update my picture in a few months!
