The secret life of me...

... I have done quite a lot of work and also eaten a bagel with (v tasty) smoked salmon and cream cheesey stuff.

That is all.

....and they were tasty!

Let's hope they are a marginally more successful experiment than yesterday's pasta

A little while ago, I bought some lovely presents to put in the kittens' Christmas stocking (toys, not snacks - certain members of the family already becoming too fat for snacks!)
I sealed them up into a cardboard box and left them in the hall to wait for Santa to deal with them when the time came.

Twice in the intervening period, I caught one naughty kitteh breaking her way into the box and stealing one particular toy...

It is a lovely coloured feathery thing like this and she's utterly obsessed with it - it seems to be making her show her true colours!

She likes to keep it in her mouth, and if her sister so much as looks at it, she growls at her in a really scary way (I've heard her make that noise once before, at the vet....) and yesterday I caught her baring her teeth and hissing at her sister!

She's becoming a bitch

Hope everyone had a lovely lovely Christmas and is still enjoying the bank holiday and weekendiness

We've had a pretty good time here in Jennie-land...

On Tuesday, I went out carol singing round the streets, which was pretty good, and LBF went out to play his normal Tuesday night gig (with festive twist...) - when we got home, he showed me the message left on his phone by our favourite wine shop, telling us that we'd won their Christmas raffle, the prize of which was a truly humungous bottle (photo to follow soon) of Aussie shiraz with a breath-taking price label to match - we're going to need to have some kind of wine party, I think - I can't imagine how else we'll manage to drink it...

Wednesday, I had exciting haircut, made lots of Christmas food and was ill...

Yesterday, we went to my parents' house for the day, together with lots and lots of family and stuff and there were many festivities and lots of presents and all things were good!

Today, I stuck LBF on a coach and waved him off to Liverpool, where he is (rather reluctantly) off to see his family, some of whom live there and some others that are staying with them... He should be just about arriving now, actually - I hope he's ok - he's been pretty ill too and neither of us have really resumed any normal kind of eating yet, though I force fed him some crackers before he left....

My parents have just been round to drop off my brother's keys (so that I can go feed his cats), see the kitties, play small amount of Boggle and drop off leftover turkey (am contemplating making pie) and last remaining Christmas presents

Am wondering if it might be safe to eat pasta now - am off to experiment...

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas (and now Boxing Day) and that Santa brought you all everything you wished for

Am wee bit drunk from wine and oysters, but here goes...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper mostly, but I have put the presents in lovingly decorated bags too this year.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real - and oh so beautiful.

3. When do you put up the tree? Probably 10 days or so before.I put mine up last week, in time for my flat Christmas dinner last Sunday.

4. When do you take the tree down? Twelfth night, of course

5. Do you like eggnog? Dunno, but expect so....

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Don't know - I always love Christmas presents My LBF bought me lego a couple of years ago - I was very very happy.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My sister - she doesn't really have any interests... Though she is easily seduced by inflatable Christmas stuffs...

8. Easiest person to buy for? LBF - so many ideas

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Not here,but there is one at my parents' house.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Neither - though I'm stlll on my parents' cards - they (and me, a bit) made about 200 this year - they were beautiful - with candles and acetate.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Don't remember - I always love presents - though I remember one year, when I was about 12, my aunt gave perfume, which I didn't really get.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Nightmare before Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? About October - am v keen

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Don't think so, but am not averse...

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Weirdly - not a massive fan of Christmas food - ooh - maybe trifle

16. Lights on the tree? Oooh yes.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Not sure - I like lots of carols and stuff - I love the Vaughan Williams Ceremony of Carols.

18. Travel at Christmas? Only 20 mins to my parents

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Donder, Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Prancer, Vixen and Rudolph, of course...

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star - covered with silver foil

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? I love all of Christmas - even the annoying stuffs

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? LIghts - man lights.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Lovely trifle.. Oooh - and cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Lovely day - and perhaps unbroken satnav

Is my last day at work today before Christmas (insert many happinesses here)!

Then I shall be off until next Monday

Of course, this means I have a whole wodge of unpleasant things to do today before I leave, but we're booked into a lurvely restaurant for Jennie & LBF pre-Christmas outing at 8pm, so I'll have to make sure I'm all done by then - sometimes is nice to have deadlines

Have purchased (very very very almost) all Christmas presents now, and even wrapped the large majority of them, so am feeling quite well prepared...
I intend to spend a portion of the next couple of days baking some remaining Christmas presents for my extended family and the remainder doing festive things (and battling with the horribleness that is the supermarket - tragic, I know, but the toilet roll situation is becoming increasingly critical).

Had carol service last night, followed by small wine tasting at LBF's favourite shop (and spiritual home) where we picked up our 'wine club' case and they gave us a bonus bottle of tasty champagne which we took home and drank

Actually, am feeling a bit weird today - I seem to have some kind of strange pre-Christmas acid reflux thingy - that's surely not something that's supposed to happen until afterthe pre-Christmas excesses!
Am a bit better than I was earlier though, so hopefully will be in tiptop condition for consumption of many delicious oysters this evening

Hope everyone else is having good pre-Christmas festivities

It's a shiny new day

Presents to be wrapped, carols to be sung, festive fun to be had!

Porridge first though, possibly seasoned with a Hotel Chocolat chilli chocolate penguin

Have been reviewing past posts and see that I haven't done a proper (non-meme) one for aaaaaaages...

Weirdly, though - although lots of moderately interesting things have been happening, I find that I can't quite bring myself to write any of them down - am struck down with lethargy...

Suffice to say that I only have one more working day and at least two carol-singings before Christmas and I am currently wrapping and baking....

Ooh - and LBF's present has arrived

Hope everyone else is having festive fun.

Mark the true statements in BOLD. UNDERLINE the false statements.

1. Physical appearance

I am 5 feet four inches or shorter.

I think I'm ugly.

I have at least five scars on my body.

I tan easily.

I wish my hair was a different color.

I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.

I have a tattoo.

I am self-conscious about my appearance.

I have/had had braces.

I wear glasses. (sometimes....)

I'd get plastic surgery.

I've been told I'm attractive by a complete stranger. (I don't think they were very reliable though)

I have had more than two piercings.

I have no piercings.

I have freckles.

I want to look like my favorite celebrity

2. Family/home life

I've sworn at my parents at some point in my life.

I've run away from home.

I've been kicked out of the house.

My biological parents are together.

I have a sibling less than one year old.

I want children someday.

I have children.

I've lost a child.

I've lost a parent.

I don't get along well with my siblings.

I'm still living with my parents

I'm married

I live alone

I have pets in my home

I live near my job and/or school

I like to decorate my home

I entertain friends and/or family often in my home

I don't like where I live

I love my home

I miss my childhood home

I plan on moving in the next year

3. Embarrassment

I've slipped out an 'lol' in a spoken conversation.

Disney movies still make me cry.

I've snorted while laughing.

I've laughed so hard I've cried.

I've laughed so hard I made myself sick to my stomach.

I've glued my hand to something.

I've laughed 'til some kind of beverage came out of my nose.

I've had my pants rip in public.

I've had a spectactular fall that made people laugh at me

I've farted in public

I've vomited in public

I've belched loudly while speaking on the phone

I've worn a lampshade on my head

I've danced in a conga line.

I've sung out loud in public even though I can't sing

I've had people stare at me while I've sung out loud to songs on my car radio

I've been naked in public.

I've had a fight in public

I've spoken to someone with a bogey hanging out of my nose

I've picked my nose in public

I've called someone by their wrong name

I've made a joke that no one laughed at.

I've walked around with my jeans/trousers zipper undone.

4. Health

I've had stitches.

I've broken or fractured a bone.

I've had my tonsils removed.

I have had a head injury.

I have an inherited medical problem. - Probably...

I've sat in a doctor's office with a friend or family member.

I've had my wisdom teeth removed.

I've had emergency surgery.

I've had chicken pox.

I've had minor surgery.

I've been in the hospital overnight.

I've had an IV put in me.

I have a disability.

I've been taken to hospital by ambulance.

I've been to the ER more than six times in my lifetime.

I've been injured in an auto accident

I've been injured in some other kind of accident

I have been injured by another person.

I have been injured on the job.

I have been injured by an animal.

I have been injured in a weather-related disaster.

5. Travelling

I've driven over 200 miles in a day.

I've been on a plane.

I've been on a train.

I've been on a long bus/coach trip.

I've ridden horses and/or other animals while on vacation.

I've been on a sailboat, cruise ship, or other waterbound vessel.

I've seen natural wonders.

I've explored ancient ruins.

I like to check out points of historical interest.

I like to swim or be by the water on vacation.

I like to participate in sports (golf, tennis) while on vacation.

I like camping vacations.

I like to try new things on vacation.

I prefer extreme sports on vacation.

I've had something scary happen to me while on vacation.

I like to simply lie on the beach.

I like to sit in a quiet cafe in the afternoon.

I like to go out to nightclubs and party all night.

I've gotten drunk while on vacation.

I've made love to someone while on vacation.

I've had traveller's illness.

I always visit museums or other cultural attractions while on vacation.

I prefer package tour vacations.

I prefer to explore on my own.

I do nothing but shop on my vacation.

I prefer to stay at home on my vacations.

I've been to the United States

I've been to Canada.

I've been to Niagara Falls.

I've been to the Grand Canyon.

I've been to Yellowstone National Park.

I've been to New York City.

I've been to London.

I've been to Paris.

I've been to Rome.

I've been to Cairo.

I've vacationed on an island.

I've been to Asia.

I've been to Eastern Europe.

I've been to the British Isles

I've been to central and/or western Europe.

I've been to the Middle East/ North Africa.

I've been to Africa.

I've been stuck in an airport, train or bus station for more than 2 hours.

I've been stuck in an airport, train or bus station for more than a day.

6. Experiences

I've been lost in a city.

I've been lost in the country.

I've seen a shooting star.

I've wished on a shooting star.

I have seen a meteor shower.

I've gone out in public in my pyjamas.

I've pushed all the buttons in an elevator.

I've been to a casino.

I've been skydiving.

I've gone skinny dipping.
I've played spin the bottle.

I've enjoyed bicycle riding.

I've had a car accident.

I've been skiing.

I've been in a play.

I've met someone in person from the internet.

I've caught a snowflake on my tongue.

I've seen the northern lights.

Sat on a roof at night.

I've played chicken.

I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

I've eaten sushi.

I've been kayaking or whitewater rafting.

I've climbed a mountain.

I've been on televison and/or radio.

I've won an award.

I've won first prize in a sporting event.

I've won second or third prize in a sporting event..

I kissed a boy or girl before I was 14.

I've been a bridesmaid or best man at a wedding.

I've sung at a wedding.

I've had to stand up and speak at a funeral.

I've fired a gun.

I've shot an animal.

I've marched in a parade.

I've participated in a war protest.

I've read poetry out loud in front of a crowd of people.

I've been on a roller coaster.

I've been to a baptisim.

I've had to cook for 10 or more people.

I've experimented with illegal drugs.

I've ridden a motorcycle.

I've gone bungee jumping.

I've played tennis.

I've gone rock climbing.

I've been to the top of an extremely tall building and looked down.

7. Random

I like animals.

I've hugged a tree.

I've had a "Big Mac attack." - What does this even mean?

I know all the words to a Burger King or other fast food advertising jingle.

I've stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant.

I've given money to a bum on the street.

I've had to change a baby or adult diaper.

I don't mind getting poked with a needle. - Hee hee - I do this ALLLLLLL the time!

I open up to others too easily.

I watch the news on televison regularly.

I don't kill bugs.

I f-cking swear every f-cking chance I get.

I sing in the shower.

I am a morning person.

I paid for my mobile phone ring tone.

I'm a snob about grammar.

I am a sports fanatic.

I play with my hair.

I've had 'x's in my screen name.

I am obsessively neat.

I love spam.

I've copied more than 30 cds in a day.

I bake well.

I cook well.

I don't know how to drive a car.

I am in love with love.

I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.

I laugh at my own jokes.

I eat fast/junk food weekly.

I believe in ghosts.

I am online 24/7, even as an away message.

I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room.

I have a celebrity crush right now.

I am really ticklish.

I love white chocolate.

I bite my nails.

I play video games.

I'm good at remembering faces.

I'm good at remembering names.

I'm good at remembering dates.

I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.

My answers are totally honest.

Phew - I very much doubt that anyone's still with me, but, if you are, then Congratulations

The Rules:
1. You can only say YES or NO!
2. You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages you and asks!

Taken a picture naked? : Yes
Made out with a member of the same sex? : Yes
Danced in front of your mirror? : No
Told a lie? : Yes
Gotten in a car with people you just met?: Yes
Been in a fist fight? : No
Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back? : No
Been arrested? : No
Left your house without telling your parents? : Yes
Ditched school to do something more fun? : No
Slept in a bed with a member of the same sex? : Yes
Seen someone die? : No
Kissed a picture? : No
Slept in until 3? : Yes
Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by? : Yes
Played dress up? : Yes
Fallen asleep at work/school? : No
Felt an earthquake? : Yes
Touched a snake? : Yes
Ran a red light? : No
Had detention? : No
Been in a car accident? : No
Pole danced? : No
Been lost? : Yes
Sang karaoke? : Yes
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? : Yes
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? : No
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? : Yes
Kissed in the rain? : Yes
Sang in the shower? : Yes
Got your tongue stuck to a pole? : No
Ever gone to school partially naked? : No
Sat on a roof top? : No
Played chicken? : No
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? : Yes
Been told you're hot by a complete stranger? : Yes
Broken a bone? : Yes
Mooned/flashed someone? : No
Forgotten someone's name? : Yes
Slept naked? : Yes
Blacked out from drinking? : No
Played a prank on someone? : Yes
Felt like killing someone? : No
Made a parent cry? : No
Cried over someone? : Yes
Had sex more than 5 times in one day? : Yes
Had/Have a dog? : No
Been in a band? : Yes
Drank 25 sodas in a day? : No
Shot a gun? : Yes

Am extremely excited!
Can't tell you why (although I really really want to) as is relatedto LBF's Christmas present and, even if I make this 'friends only', there's a danger that he might look at the blog on my laptop and hence under my login...
Anyway, suffice to say it is extremely fabulous

In other news - this is fun
Have just tried googling (in UK) 'Christmas Thoughts' and my blog genuinely is about the 5th entry to come up - rather exciting

We had our 'Jennie & LBF' Christmas Dinner last night...
Was good - we made enormous roast beef (have honestly NEVER seen such a vast meat...), champagne jellies and a very very large amount of cheese...
There were ten people (which is max capacity for my flat..)
There was booze.
And also more booze.

Have day off today to deal with the aftermath.

Am surveying washing up mountain (is covering every surface in my kitchen) with dismay

... but have only just located camera.

These are the beautiful choccies that LBF brought me from Brussels last weekend

He also brought a small lake full of beer

Today I plan to cook, cook and cook some more...

And go to ikea to buy more wine glasses.

And hop around on my hopper!

Sorry this is a little bit late - the opportunity didn't really present itself yesterday.....

Am tired...

Am eating pizza though, so is not all bad

Today I was at work for a long time with many meetings, before coming home and making and eating black pudding flavoured pizza...
Haven't decorated tree or made pastry though - am feeling a bit underachieving

On the bright side, I have a giant space hopper He came in my secret santa last night...

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Hmm.... Can't think of anything - not a very auspicious start - must be something - will get back to you...

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes. I actually don't remember whether I made any or not, but I feel like I will have kept them if I did

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that close - a couple of friends from work.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Noone that close - though I found out fairly recently that a friend/colleague of my dad died earlier in the year - I was a bit surprised at how upset I was.

5. What countries did you visit?
Not thatmany - Itlay, France and the Czech Republic as far as I remember.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More time (by which I mean useful non-work time).

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Don't think there's a specific one - maybe it's yet to come

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Don't think I made any significant achievements this year. I don't mean that in a negative way - it's just that I can't think of anything in particular.
I've done a few concerts I was quite pleased with and I was really happy to get onto the opera course that I'm doing now...

9. What was your biggest failure?
To save money.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I still have diabetes, if that counts

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Not sure - I bought our TV and my laptop earlier in the year, which are both pretty cool.
Oooooh - no! I think it might be LBF's Christmas present, the nature of which, for obvious reasons, I can't divulge here

14. Where did most of your money go?
Singing lessons and general frittering.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Chreeeeeeeeeeeeeestmas

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Sounds kind of silly, but I'm not that big on songs...

Compared to this time last year, are you
17. Thinner or fatter?
Thinner - marginally.

18. Richer or poorer?
About the same - though recession should kick in properly pretty soon I guess...

19. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Singing.

20. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Time wastage.

21. How will you be spending Christmas?
Eating turkey with my family

24. What was your favourite TV program?
Hmmm... I like Heroes and the IT Crowd. And I've recently developed a small addiction to Merlin - that's kind of sad, isn't it?

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I never hate anyone for more than about 25 seconds.

26. What was the best book you read?
I've not read as many as sometimes.
I'm enjoying Infinite Jest - hope to have time to finish it over Christmas.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I don't think I've made any...

28. What did you want and get?
To live with my LBF and our lovely kittie family
Oh - and my iPod Touch

29. What did you want and not get?
Lego Death Star

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Hmmm.... Probably Batman.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Waited for LBF to get back from Iceland and 29 (gah!)

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More singing.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Hahahahaha - concept

34. What kept you sane?
LBF

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Don't think there's anyone really.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
There are lots - probably best not to start!

37. Who did you miss?
Friends that I've not managed to see.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Am not that great at meeting new people. There are some new opera people and work people that have potential though, I guess.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008
Don't waste your whole life working - make time for the other, more important things.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
'And I'm tellin' you, them pussy-cats is quick!'

Christmas tree is up
Is not decorated yet - may have time on Friday evening, but is looking very pretty sitting outside on balcony nevertheless...
AND I managed to get it done before the cleaner comes (later today) so flat should be spotless and free of pine needles/sawdust etc in no time

Have also put up festive (free) wreath on the door and wrapped my secret santa presents so am feeling extra Christmassy...

There's a Carol Service near my work this lunchtime too, but I'm afraid that I might not have time to go to it as I have many many works to do today and I was a bit late this morning, due to some badnesses before I left home. Is a little sad - I've not sung any carols yet at all this year...

LBF is doing gig tonight - if anyone is around the Clapton area and fancies some blues and booze, give me a shout and I'll let you have details

My Christmas tree has been picked up from Garden Centre

It's at my parents' house...

Might go get it after work today.

Am very very very excited

On Christmas Eve (or possibly the night before), I would like to go out on a lovely Christmas date with my LBF...

I'm thinking of perhaps some kind of oysters and champagne for dinner, but am a bit stumped for festive yet romantic activity...

In the past, we've done the evening champagne flight on the London Eye (beautiful at Christmas) and the festive Christmas IMAX movies and things, which were lovely, but I don't want to be do repetitive.

Any ideas anyone?

Not only is there a lovely baby hippo, but it's also the lovely Knut's second birthday...

I hope that all our Berliner blog friends (Rampage, Stu - I'm looking at you here) are off to offer their birthday wishes!

He got a big sack of icecream for his birthday - I think I love him even more now that he's grown up

This is an extremely pleasing story...

I'm not always seduced by such things,but this morning, when I read it in Metro, it totally brightened my day

LBF has gone to Brussels (he says for holiday, but I know that it's really to buy mountains of chocolate for meeeeeeeee ) for the weekend and my show is now finished so I'm free to do whatever I want

Am thinking I might go to the farmers' market to buy tasty things and then maybe finish making Chistmas presents...

Is such a beautiful day

I observe that I have been a very naughty blogger recently and not posted anything at all...
So - in order to make it up to you - here is a swift update

1. I have the day off work today - I also had yesterday and the day before - haven't done very much at all - has been great

2. I am in the middle of the first showcase for the opera class that I'm doing at the moment. We've done two nights and have two more shows to do - is going fine and is v popular show with boyfriends etc as is only an hour long...

3. I am going to make my first mince pies of the season this weekend - is exciting even though I don't like mince pies.

4. I have done all my Christmas shopping WE still have to get a couple of things for LBF's family, but that's really more his shopping than mine...

5. We went wine tasting the other day - we tasted thirty wines and I was DRUNK! We bought a lovely case, which we have to pick up some time this weekend, including six bottles for our Jennie&LBF Christmas Dinner, which is next Sunday, and a tasty bottle of oooooooold bordeaux which tastes like smokey bacon

6. Am looking forward to decorating our lovely Christmas tree - will have to pick it up first though.

7. I need to get my skates sharpened - where can I go to do it?

OK - that's the story of me, I think - hope everyone else is festively ok

Words cannot express how much I wish that this job was mine....