Il Divo

We went to the Trafford Centre today. I haven't been there with Eileen for years as it gets very crowded on a weekend. But hey, this was Friday, it wasn't that busy and we wandered around the various shops, bought some fabulous wood and ceramic spice drawers and distressed cream metal birdcages from The Pier, had lunch in Selfridges, coffee in Starbucks and altogether a lovely day. After picking Josh up from school, we relaxed at home until it was time to head into the centre for the concert. It is even longer since I have been into Manchester itself...well as long as you don't count the train station! I hardly recognised it, the last time I was there was before the bomb. I was really surprised to see a big wheel, similar but smaller than the London Eye, just in the streets. We were a little early so I dragged Eileen into Primark; a very new experience for my sister. By the time we had finished (and the store was far nicer than the one in Watford) we were just a little late for the concert. So loaded down with a very large bag filled with tee-shirts, we pretty much ran the rest of the way to the Arena.



It was so funny when we arrived; we were up in the Gods, maybe six rows from the top. I had to hang onto the staircase bars as we made our way to our seats. I felt like I was going to fall over it was so steep, but I was amused to see that others coming in after us were doing just the same. So we sat there with our lukewarm wine in plastic beakers and salt and vinegar crisps, looking the height of sophistication waiting for Il Divo to come on. Il Divo were just fab. I am just amazed that four guys can sing like they do, they filled the Arena with song after song from their albums and at least one brand new one. Their backing band and orchestra were fab as well. An amazing night that ended all to quickly.

Manchester

My boss retired today and invited our team out for lunch. We went to a local Tapas bar just south of the river and all shared a mixture of dishes. It is the second time that I have been to this place and the meal was wonderful, spicy chorizo, garlic prawns, chilli spiced fried potatoes just to name a few dishes. We walked out into the hot sunshine afterwards and I just wanted to go to sleep!

After finishing work, I went straight to Victoria to catch my coach to Manchester. I was going up there for the weekend as we had tickets to see Il Divo on the Friday. So after 4 1/2 hours on the coach, a 1/2 hour wait at Manchester for the train to Cheadle Hulme and a short walk the other end, I finally get there for about 10.30pm!
Fortunately there was a very large, very cold glass of wine waiting for me....

Holly's 17th birthday!

I can't believe that my little baby has turned 17! We woke her up this morning with smoked salmon and cram cheese bagels and present opening in bed. I had bought her lots of surf style clothes; a gamble because I haven't bought her clothes for a few years now. Far better to go shopping with her her ...oh and MY credit card of course!

Then we had this amazing day at a new spa in Watford; Presence. It is an independent gift shop with an internet cafe at the back and now a spa on the first floor. This spa is fab; it looks gorgeous, wood floors, white walls, dark wood furniture, huge fabric and leather sofas, driftwood sculptures and seascape paintings on the walls. The treatments are to die for. We started with an infra red sauna, not my favourite but I am not a sauna person. Then Holly had a stone massage and I had a Tibetan massage. Mine invloved warm, perfumed oils and then a deep (read hard!) massage with little linen bags filled with salts and hot pebbles. She spent ages working on my back which always feels knotted from poor posture when working. It felt so good afterwards. Then I had a luxury pedicure, a 'workout' facial, lunch, a go in the floatation tank and then relaxing in the dusk room. Holly had similar treatments and loved them all. I can't wait to go again! We followed up with a spot of shopping and back to the coffee shop.



So for the evening, Holly chose to go to Ask for pizzas. Her boyfriend Sean came as well and we had a fun night followed by a pirate birthday cake!

Happy Birthday Banana Frog!

So Banana Frog is a year old today. Congratulations Bev! You have achieved so much over the last year. You have worked so hard to make BF the success it is and I just hope that you continue to go from strength to strength. If you haven't seen Bev's amazing stamps, just go check them out here http://www.bananafrog.co.uk/catalog/index.php

Potting flowers

Another beautiful day. I love to wake up early in the morning, well maybe not at 6am if I am off, but I love the way the sun streams in through the window and I can just open my eyes to blue skies and a day full of possibilities.

So I don't get a lot done in the morning. just housework and general tidying up. Oh, I caught up some more on the computer, filing emails, transfering more stuff from the old one. I now have Photoshop and other similar software installed, I finally got the card reader to work, have downloaded some photos, and installed the printer and just generally updated drivers. I think that I am getting there. It is just all the stuff on the external drive now. My 40,000 odd photos. I need to back them up on here. It will take forever I think. Another day though.

So, I went to Ickenham to meet Sam for lunch. Amy was there along with Ali and Julie a bit later on. I wasn't going to eat but that didn't last long! So we chatted over coffee and sandwiches and then I headed back via the garden centre. I just wanted to look at sheds, sand, pebbles etc but ended up with two large bags of compost and about 60 plants. Mostly summer bedding, trailing plants. For the hanging baskets and pots out front and all the pots at the back. I also picked up some large plastic planters from Poundland, I don't like the shop but it is great value for certain items.

So the afternoon and all evening, until it got too dark to see, was spent planting up all my pots. And arranging them around the steps and tiny paved bit next to the conservatory. It looks really pretty now. I can't wait for the plants to start growing as I love the effect of tiny flowers tumbling down the steps. I am really enthusiastic about finishing the garden this year. Or should that be starting it? I want to get the playshed replaced with a smaller shed and deck out the bottom of the garden. Or just fill it with pebbles and paving. And a table and chairs so that I can eat out during the hot summer evenings. And have a garden that looks like it has been made over by one of those gardening makeover programmes. Dream on!

My little oasis...



And these aren't really my flowers. Just borrowed from my neighbour. But they look so beautiful this time of the year. And we get to see them!



And a close up....

Whippendell Woods

After a lazy morning...yep still in my jammies at midday...I met up with Laura and family and went to Whippendell Woods, North Watford. It was a nice sunny day, perfect for bluebell photos. Unfortunately it was the tail end of bluebell season, so close up they weren't at their best, but from a distance they were fabulous, a carpet of blue. What I love most about these woods are that they are wide open, lots of spaces, so when you look through the trees you just see pockets of blue in the distance amongst the trees. And of course it is spring so the leaves have that fresh, light green glow to them; they just look so new and so beautiful. See here...





We then went onto Langley Farm, a petting farm for kids. Perfect for Emma and Andrew as they could see the rabbits and owls, feed the pigs, play on the slide and other toys and we got to drink coffee!




Andrew and Emma both had their first horse ride. Andrew managed 20 yards before he wanted off, Emma got as far as the saddle. But some cute photos later, both kids were off playing and Gemma the pony got a well deserved rest.





Then it was back home where we went next door for an impromptu BBQ, the first of the year. I love food this way. It may not be good for you but I just love my food cooked out in the open. There is something quite special about the smell of grilled meat. A bit like the smell of frying bacon; it makes me instantly hungrey. I love that the weather has been hot enough in April for shorts and tee shirts, eating al fresco and just pretending that it is actually summer.

The People's Quiz

So how many times can you visit a scrapbook shop in one day and NOT buy anything?

Three it seems lol.

I took Holly to work at Willow Tree Crafts this morning as usual. As usual she was late getting up and forgot about her lunch. So I ended up going back with her sandwiches at 1pm then back at 5pm to collect her. And bought nothing! Well I did buy lots of stuff on Thursday....Amy had a delivery of Autumn Leaves stamps and I like them almost as much as my Banana Frog stamps. So I bought three. And some cardstock. And a book. All very nice though.

So did anyone watch the People's Quiz tonight? Holly's friend Danni was on, their youngest contestant. Unfortunately she didn't get a look in with the eventual winner Mark. (So arrogant). But we saw Holly in the audience, cheering Danni on plenty of times. How cool is that? And she was so excited to be on TV as the last time was on the Disney Channel when she was 6 or 7 and we never got to see it. Well done Danni and well done Hoz!