Doing nothing

This is something I specialise in, doing nothing. Such a relaxing weekend, I only had to leave the house once and that was on Saturday afternoon. I headed down to Borough Markets to pick up some game for the pie I was going to make Steve. Unfortunately the farmers told me that game season starts in October!!!! Luckily I managed to source some venison, rabbit, pigeon & goose. So next weekend I will be doing a bit of baking.

Sunday was spent avoiding the kitchen table which is (still) piled high with laundry needing to be folded and hung up - wheres Mum when you need her!!!

Also managed to send the pressie's to the little man! Can't wait till he opens them. The spots is from Grandma & Grandad and the scotty dogs is me.

Cakes, food & softball

So have finally managed to kick the cough to the kerb! It took two weeks but feeling so much better. I even went for a run at lunchtime on monday - horrendous. Its amazing how quick you lose your stamina in running. I had to scale back the run/walk session but I know that I will get it back to where I was.

I embarassingly had to speak to the sports company I bought my treadmill off to tell them it had cracked. I'm sure they got a good laugh out of it, but they have said they are going to replace it. So just waiting for that to turn up.

Last night we went out for dinner to a local Thai place. Since December we have been putting money in a jar - each month it's something different - swearing, inappropriate behaviour, chocolate, cake. And between the 7 of us we had £200! Wicked. So we spent most of last night and have decided to keep going with the jar. Not sure what it will be for July though............

A friend from work is leaving and she asked me to make a cake for her. It's been a very busy week but managed to bake the chocolate cake on Tuesday night and then put it all together on Wednesday night! It's a plain chocolate cake with vanilla icing and raspberries & blueberries in the middle layer. Here it is:

I'm back.......

So it's taken awhile but finally logged back on. Spent a lovely weekend relaxing. I managed to get 2 x 10k walks in which is good. I also went for a massage today, it was pretty good. I also had a manicure which was included but I have to say it's not the best, will have to get the remover out I think. After the massage I went walked thru Kensington Gardens & Hyde Park as the sun has finally come out. Fingers crossed it stays.

Some baking thats been done:

Charlene's rainbow birthday cake

Chicken & asparagus pie

Ian's birthday cake - chocolate cake with white chocolate icing & raspberries:

Ham & spinach omelet

More December activites.......

We had our work Christmas party on Friday 7th Dec. It was nice, not a big one just good fun not having to organise anything, just turn up.

Saturday 8th Indoor softball - we finished the indoor season 2nd which was great. We are going into the Comp level next year so that will be interesting.

Monday 10th Girls Chrissy Dinner - the girls and I had our usual dinner together, crackers popping, secret santas and lots of food & drink. It was great to have Charlene back who arrived back in the country on the Sunday!

Tuesday 11th Murder Mystery Dinner - one of my bosses was leaving to go back to Australia so they organised a farewell dinner and it was a murder mystery night. I was a bathroom designer and by the way not the killer! It was a really fun night but we didnt' get the write answer.


Wednesday 12th Top Hat - 20 of us went to see the musical Top Hat. We had seats 4 rows from the front AMAZING. The music was brilliant and I couldn't stop humming it after. i really wish I could sing (well).

Christmas Wreath making

Managed to convince the Guvnors Club to help fund a Christmas wreath making event here in the office. On Thursday 6th Dec 7 of us got together with a trained professional and made ourselves some wreaths! It was actually a lot of fun for a low cost and we had some  nibbles as well. I have my wreath up on my lounge door inside so I can see everytime I walk past.

The green leaves were already on the wreath, we just had to do the decorating.

International Day for Persons with a Disability

Once the ball was over there was no rest, as we had our event for International Day for Persons with a Disability on the Monday. This was our second year of running this event and it went nice and smooth. We had four charities come:


Be onsite
Deafness Research
Dogs for the Disabled
Action for Blind

  
They set up in their areas and we were ready for the first wave of employees to turn up and experience different types of abilities. Everyone also got a goody bag & lunch which was a winner. I think the main draw were the dogs, especially the puppy who was only 6 months old, so cute. We had a couple of speakers Sgt Allan Jackson and Danny Crates. Both were extemely touching, motivating and very inspirational. Hopefully this event helped raise people awareness or change their perception of disability in the workplace. Not sure what we are going to do next year though.

Charity Ball

Again I organised our Guvnors Charity Ball at the Hilton Park Lane. This year we went with a wild wild west theme. The girls and I got there early to help set up but most of it had already been done so we were ready to head to the complimentary room to get ready. The first room they had for me was on a smoking floor, you know how i feel about smoking (RANK) so then Steve said leave it with me. 10 mins later he said alright I have another room for you. We get in the elevator and he takes me to the top floor! Yep he gave us the Presidential Suite. It was humungous! I couldnt' stop laughing, couldn't believe it. It had an east & west wing. The girls and i were so excited.

So after our thrill of getting ready in the suite it was time to head down to the event. The evening went well, champagne reception, starters then we had the heads & tails game. Basically i had to flip a coin (in front of everyone) and the MC (Dave Sharpe) shouted it out and if I called heads and thats what you had chosen you got to stay standing. It got down to two with the winner gettting £1000. it was all fun and games till I got off the dancefloor and Claire at my table said she could see my knickers thru my dress when the spotlight was on me! Whoops I had worn my new stripey undies. Oh well it was a laugh anyway.

We had three acts, Calamity Jane - the name says it all, she was pants. Bruce Airhead - i missed it as I was in the toilet. And Incognito - AMAZING. they were a surprise act, that came on and sung opera. they pulled the crowd back and had them all up and dancing.

Then my responsibilities ended and it was time to hit the dancefloor. Time seemed to fly by and suddenly it was 2am, we went up to the suite and had a few more drinks then it was time to go to bed. Unfortunately I woke up at 8am after only a few hours sleep and was really pretty rotten so decided to forgo breakfast and headed home to curl up in my own bed with noone kicking me out at 11am.

A great night, everyone enjoyed it and we managed to raise £40,000 for the two charities.