The Babylonians knew how to party

The Babylonians were partying 4,000 years ago on New Years eve, then they continued to party for 11 days. But the reason for their grand bash, was to ready themselves for the planting season. And their resolutions were usually to pay back debt and give back farming implements they'd borrowed.
I like the idea of a party for farmers who are about to begin preparing the land and the soil and the seeds to plant.

Janus the god of change and transition and beginnings, looking forward and backwards.
January.
I like the idea we should balance our hopes for tomorrow with a keen awareness of what happened yesterday.
We look forward too much and not backwards enough, if we looked backwards more maybe we wouldn't fall of the resolution bandwagon so easily.

Tonight i am intending on being with a group of friends that I often see, here where I live.
One of us might remember to flick on a TV at 11.58pm for two minutes to hear a few of Big Ben's chimes, then we'll carry on playing a game or dancing or whatever we end up doing.

And if anyone gets serious or maudlin, they are going to get their head dunked in a bowl of leftover turkey soup....

The Year of the Rat is nearly upon us...
(well not quite, the Chinese New Year happens in February)

clock ticking...........

It’s here again. Another end to another year.

I must be getting older as the years seem to fly by now or is it just the fact I try to pack so much in to 365 days?

This year has been no exception. The most marked event was a change in career. A whole new world and culture to come to terms with, I think I am settling in ok now, just getting used to a lot less salary. A new phenomenon budgeting and no more ‘lets go and designer shop’ on a whim. Oh well it is out weighed by the fact I now work 9-5 Monday – Friday, no more 50 plus hour weeks, no more staying away at a moments notice, no more working into the early hours.

I had promised myself a night school course with my new found freedom, which I didn’t do. I couldn’t quite make up my mind what to do. Learning a new language or becoming proficient in French, German or Greek again were the favourites. I guess I have just enjoyed the freedom and being a Mum coming home and cooking tea (a novelty which I must confess is wearing off now)

My ‘er has had a culture shock too, Mum being at home and now at the age where she really would prefer I wasn’t but me as a Mum of a ‘er of that age certainly prefer it!!

I have made a decision about 2008, however, something I want to stick to.

It has come about because I now sit behind a desk all day now (the first time ever in my working career) and that brings with it …. & I hate to say it ……… some extra pounds.

14 to be précis. What a difference those 14 pounds have made and they have to go.

On the 7^th January I am joining a Yogalates class. I do confess I did have to look up what it is exactly and it seems it is a cross-breed evolution of Pilates and Yoga.

I am one of those people that has to join a class otherwise it won’t happen. I have a DVD shelf full of keep fit stuff. Cher, Tracy Shaw's Salsacise, Calanetics, Pump it up (nearly killed me!!!) to name a few and my Mum even found at a car boot sale a Green Goddess video ………….. noooooooo! There is just something so wrong about prancing around in you living room, breaking in to a sweat and being able to quit too easily because Corrie is about to start.

So for one hour a week I will be there in my joggers, focused and determined as long as they don’t interfere with my diet (I am happy with what I eat thank you).
It is a 9 week commitment so by Spring I shall be svelte like again.

That is one 2008 resolution.

The other is to do this (from a text my niece sent me)

Remember life is short, so break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably and never regret anything that makes you smile.

Happy New Year

image from Prettybits.blogspot.com (thank you)

festive cheer

Well I survived the Christmas bash ....... only just. From the list of songs I remember 'Wake me up before you Go Go' , 'Fairy Tale of New York' and I did the mandatory 'New York, New York' arm in arm with many other suitably inebriated folk (like me), kicking my legs out in some sort of sequence. I had a great time it was fabulous catching up with the colleagues I no longer work with (I changed jobs this year to something completely different and I must confess I do miss my old chums. They are like my big brothers and I worked along side them for many years, plus they certainly know how to party)

So it is nearly upon us. I did the festive shop this morning. The supermarket was not as onerous as I thought, but hey they are are open 24/7 so plenty of time to spread the shopping out. The staff were very cheerful, can't say I would be with that never ending flow of trolley loads of food. The shoppers were also happy mostly at my expense though as I had the trolley from hell, wonky when it was full and a squeeky wheel to boot. The exception to the happy shoppers was the woman behind me in the queue who had a face like a slapped bottom as I struggled to pack my shopping (I have a damaged arm at the moment..... don't ask but it involved curtains, a window ledge and not taking care what I was doing .. a week and a half later it is still agony)

For me now the Christmas shop is firmly shut. No more pennies will pass through my fingers.
I need to do the big wrap & house tidy up for the family visiting Christmas day.

Off to see the Golden Compass on Christmas Eve. It is a bit of a tradition that we either go to the cinema or the theatre on Christmas Eve, then round to friends in the evening.
So.............................................

I would like to wish you all a great Christmas, peace and a healthy, adventurous 2008.

lets party

Well it is upon us the party season. In particular staff parties. That time of year that you let your hair down with the folk you spend more time day to day than you do with your family.
That time when you have to be sociable to those you would not wish to spend any time with at all let alone a time when the drink flows and you may not be able to 'button it' when inhibitions go.

I have read with interest Nurse Myras description of hers with the lesbian speed dating including a chaplain & a Dominican Nun, it is always an education visiting Gimcrack !!

Mr Woppit spent his office party day ducking and diving avoiding enforced Santa hat wearing, vinegar masquerading as wine (love that description) and the randy lady from accounts.

This week I am off on mine to Blackpool
My outfit has been chosen & I must say it is stunning.
It is at one of many hotels in Blackpool that do party nights. Quite a brilliant commercial decision by them as they would lie dormant in the winter months.
It costs £40 for evening meal, cabaret, disco, room and breakfast.

The best factor in this is after numerous glasses of whatever takes your fancy you just have to find your room (or someone else's if your room mate is busy!!) ..... no sitting in the cold waiting for taxis or contemplating the all night bus with other drunken nutters.

So ahead of the party on down I have complied the top 10 records that are compulsory on the dance floor at Blackpool
10. I will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
9. Love Shack - B52s
8. Band of Gold - Freda Payne (& you can guarantee many bands of gold have been removed!!)
7. Fairy tale of New York - The Pogues
6. Wake me up before you Go Go - Wham
5. Mustang sally - the Commitments
4. Disco Inferno - The Trammps
3. Time Warp - Rock Horror Show
2. New York - Frank Sinatra
1. Merry Christmas - Slade

We know how to party up North .... well after copious amounts of alcohol does it matter what they play as long as we have fun

london today......

How gorgeous is that December blue sky???

art, friendship & random get togethers

As I have said on here before Sunny & I have known each other forever. Seldom we get a chance to meet up but when we do the experience is legendary. I have never come across anyone (& I know Sunny says the same of me) who gets me laughing so much. The tears of laughter flow frequently.

One time which is indeed legendary, we met up in Wales for a girlie weekend. We decided to visit King Arthurs Labyrinth in Corris. So wearing our compulsory bright blue crash hats off we went. (yep this caused such hilarity because we looked bloody dreadful, but I challenge anyone to look good wearing one! All photographic evidence has ripped into tiny pieces!)

It is a tour that tells the magical tale of King Arthur. It takes you deep below the old Braich Goch Slate Mines in Wales. Telling the tale of Arthur, his adventures, all exciting yet somber in parts with cast figures displaying the scenes............

The finale is at a point that is in deep darkness and all you hear is this noise ...... I can only describe it, as it struck me that day, as a male doing 'that' scene from 'When Harry met Sally'.
Lots of grunting and deep throated aghhhing, that seemed to go on forever.

That was me gone. My shoulders started going up and down, I did my best to be composed, and Sunny realised what I was laughing at. Then I let out this enormous gfaw which echoed around the cavern way beneath the ground (I just couldn't hold it in any longer).
The lights went on and the narrator carried on to describe that in Athurian legend this was some chap (may have been Arthur but I was corpsing so much I didn't hear) who had been stabbed and the sound was him calling for help............ tears were rolling down my cheeks and I looked at Sunny and she was in the same state of hysterical laughter. Two naughty sniggering school girls surrounded by parents and their off spring....... yes a hasty retreat was called for

So when we hooked up for a 24 hour visit recently where we managed to get our photo done for the Charity Book on FMB it was not much different .. it was so much fun. Dressing up in my 'ers hairpieces and hats, bright lippy, lots of belly laughter and wicked humour (I know we had a rule out at one stage but best not go there!!!).
I for one was so glad we managed to meet up as I had visions of having to do something ever so complicated/clever, stitching images together and adding our avatar. It was so much easier just to take a few photos after a couple of glasses of wine and have loads fun to boot


The book is now published and we will be ordering a couple ... but I urge you all to get one as the ultimate is part of the proceeds to charity