I was an extra on the station :rolleyes: Got a huge wodge of cash for doing not a lot! Very silly!

I love the books but not the films, and the last book I thought was a little long and draggy...

Nice way to earn a few extra squids. I get the adult version of the books. At least I'm not like a friend of mine who actually goes to get new HP book at WH Smiths in Sheffield at midnight on the day they go on sale. (Now that IS sad!) No... I just pre-order from Amazon and get it at breakfast time on the same day. :rolleyes:

Is there really an adult version of the books? I love them, not a huge fan of the movies, but I always watch them with my niece and nephews over Feb break. We usually make popcorn and put a huge comforter on the floor and eat junk and watch them. The kids get all happy because my sister doesn't allow food in the family room, but I inform them that my sister is at work and that I am making the rules :) My sister knows all this and could care less but they like feeling like they are getting away with something.

It's FREEZING, windchill of 17, I so didn't want to get out of bed.

Frus your toe sounds nasty, soon people are going to think your new husband is knocking you around :)

Helen once again I admire your grown up attitude about your party saying that you will be good with the alcohol since your running tomorrow. I have my work party tonight, and I have an open house at a friends tomorrow and I informed them that I will probably be grossly hungover. I have worked out like a freak this week in preparation for it though.

Sarah glad you're better...have a great day everyone.

Adult version Harry Potter books - the nasty characters tend to be even nastier and the story probably goes in to more gory detail than the children's versions - no sex though!

There will be at least one other person in fancy dress. Sorted.

I'm currently wrestling with a weighty decision. A client sent me a lovely looking box of chocolates from Hotel Chocolat. Do I share them, or do I eat them all myself. I'm the only person who does work for the client who's in the office today, and usually when they send presents at christmas it's stuff that can't be "shared" so the person it's sent to just keeps it. Obviously I could share them, but part of me is stroking them saying "mine, all mine"... I have no problems with the number of calories as I'm sure they'll be worth it...

KEEP THEM! That's a total no-brainer! :p

You could always pop them in the post.... to me! :drool:

.. what chocholate... ???? *if anyone asks* ... while wiping ur face & looking like a hampster. hehe

Oooh yeah I'll "look after them" for you..... :lol:

Morning......

Jen, your toe sounds horrid, but you sound like you had a fab time last night...you really do enjoy that kickboxing don't you. Have a lovely time with the Christmas dinner... yum. And you're a star as well hey? in the HP film? I love the books and the films although I thought the third film wasn't as good as the first two. Hannah is an vid fan, she's even got the glasses which her friend in AZ constantly wore and funnily enough, they actually suited her...

Bloody ****, it's like a blizzard out there, these weather men are crap here. They said we'd have a few little flurries through the morning and it would be windy and extremely cold. I'm not a slow typist, but it was tiny little flakes when I clicked onto this and now it's covering everywhere and big huge flakes again. :snowman:

Sarah, see Ellie knows what a super life she has, living with you, even though she went through the hedge, sne found her way back to you. that must be some sight watching a Great Dane lollop after a deer...

Helen, ummmm, chocs... they sound wonderful, i think I'd have to eat them and be selfish and not share.... :devil: have fun at the party.

Ok, must go and get ready for curves, in the snow.... later girls.

Hi Chris - Ellie lollops when she trots - but when she wants to she can run like a greyhound - MUCH faster that the boys. I googled Great Dane history and apparently they were bred as hunting dogs and she seems to be a natural. I was so scared she'd come back covered in blood but thankfully the deer seems to have been faster. :fr:

I hope that old thing about the UK getting the US's weather two weeks after doesn't hold true - that would give us blizzard conditions just in time for Christmas. :dizzy:

Morning.

Learn something new every day. I didn't know they had adult HP books.

Frus your toe sounds sore.I don't like toenails when things go wrong with them and they have to be removed :fr:

Chocolates one every couple of days indulge yourself. Or eat the lot.

Chris new coat where did you get it?

Off to curves then shopping :)

The adult Harry Potter books are just different covers right? Nothing actually is different inside? I'm gonna have to have a flick through and see Frus in the first film now.

I keep looking on the Hotel Chocolat website for no reason just in the hope one day I may get a £16 Serious Dark Fix box or a All Dark Club Voucher (12 months) £182.00

orrrrrrrrrrr The Ultimate Christmas Hamper £129.95 :p :D

We've just had our Departmental (emphasis on mental) christmas meeting. I was worried there would not be enogh to eat. It looks lie all the cheese went except the big slab of Feta (which is in my fridge!).

The Departmental Frenchman brought in 2 loves cakies from a French patisserie in South Kensington. Gorgeous! A strawberry one - very creamy - almost like an icecream cake. I don't normally like strawberry things but the fresh strawberry went well with the creaminess. Oh and a gorgeous choccy mousse cake!

Plus I borught in a stollen from Lidl - Marks & Spencer put glace cherries in theirs! WHY?????? YUCK.

We are so international and it is interesting seing those from Germany, Greece, Italy and the Chinese guy from New Zealand trying Mince pies for the first time!

Someone whose shall be nameless (think of a bird or a colour!) had TWO slices of the strawberry cake!!!!

I was pleased that people liked the coffee I made as I was used to making coffee for the Greek Cypriot boss I had once who - like me- liked it really strong- and whenever we had visitors they needed a drink of water afterwards!!!

YP1 - I bet your costume won't be as good as our Frenchman's which was an elephant in a tutu. He had the guts to wear it on the tube to the amusement of the children (the adults being British 'did not notice'.....

Originally Posted by veggie:
The adult Harry Potter books are just different covers right? Nothing actually is different inside?

No - they are different. The storyline is the same just differently written with adults in mind. The nasty characters are nastier and she goes in to more guesome detail about the Deatheaters, Voldemort and Azkaban.

Peacock - don't worry about the two slices of strawberry cake - just look on it as providing the strawberries for one of your 5 portions of fruit & veg. ;) ;)

Oh NO! Why did you mention stollen - I'm going to spend the evening lusting after it now. (Lidl's stollen is the nicest I've ever had.)

Sarah Ann - There was also fruit in the bit of booze laden pavlova I had too - some I am well sorted fruit wise!!

Stollen stollen stollen!! Yes I got it from Lidl as it is much better than the Marks one - why spoil anything with blasted glace cherries?

I have some left over and it is in my office!!!!

Stollen :drool: :drool: :drool:

I don't mind glace cherries but they have no place in stollen. Have you tried it toasted????? Yum.

Veggie - I've just looked at the Amazon reviews on the link to the adult HP book I gave earlier and it looks like there might have been some changes to the story in the adult version.

Aaaaaaaaaargh! I'm SO TIRED!!!! I want to EAT! :tantrum: I can get through this! I can! I don't have to eat chocolate to wake me up!!! Those Maltesers didn't do it, so why would anything else :tantrum:

Sarah Ann - I have just had more strawberry gateau - (it doesn't count - it is mainly fruit - yeah right!) Well, I ate it so you would not have to !!!!

Mmm... stollen...

Veggie - the website has been my chocolate porn website of choice for a while now...

Peacock - I still remember the time my parents tried to introduce their Spanish diving instructor to mince pies. 4 years later and he's still not entirely convinced!

I'm all schoolgirled up now, I bunked off work early (getting into character ;) ) and I'm nearly ready to head back into town.

Beyond freezing here, I just got out of the shower and have to get motivated to go to my work party. Hard when it is this cold and the couch looks so inviting.

My cat just threw up, not fun, I think she is eating too fast, she is also on a diet.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

That was fun :D :D :D

There were a decent number of people in fancy dress, although not many people from my part of the firm. They were all impressed by what I was wearing though.

You want photos? I give you photos...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43...arty06002a.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43...arty06001A.jpg

I should point out that I never dressed like that when I was actually at school...

The food was a bit rubbish - there were veggie options but not on the tables and I had to go wandering round to find it, but on the plus side there was a "tuck shop" with free chocolate and sweets, I spent more time there than the bar! Not perfect, as it would be nice to have resisted both, but at least I'll only have a sugar hangover not an alcohol one in the morning. I had a couple of small glasses of wine with the meal, and a smirnoff ice later on, otherwise I stuck to soft drinks (I think - there was one thing I was drinking which tasted like vimto and which I don't think had any alcohol added, but I'm not sure because it was from a table of "surprise" drinks - the milkshakes were definitely alcoholic but I don't think the vimto was. Or if it was, it wasn't very strong as I drank quite a few of them and don't seem to be feeling it...)

Anyway, I have a run in the morning so I'd better get to sleep!

WHOA Helen. sexy school girl outfit! You look great luvey, glad you had a wonderful time...a tuck shop eh? I remember at our promary school tuck shop when a packet of Golden Wonder crisps wer two pence and you got four black jacks for one penny :)

It is pigging cold here RSG. Hope you cleaned up the cat sick and headed to your do. Hope you're enjoying. I've been tucked up in front of the fire all evening with The Polar Express on and I'm writing Christmas cards. There's still snow on the ground, but it's supposed to be 40 tomorrow, so should all disappear.

I hate my car :( It's frosty out so I decided to go to the supermarket before running so at least I can do my shopping when it's a bit quieter, but the car wouldn't start. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't only 150 miles since the last time it wouldn't start - when I picked it up from the garage where it had had its MOT and a full service! Admittedly that was 2 months ago and it would probably prefer to be driven a bit more, but still :( :( Fingers crossed a jump start will get it going and a long drive over to Blackpool tomorrow to see my grandparents will sort it out, but I really didn't want to be spending the morning waiting for the breakdown people to come.

still, at least I'm not hungover ;)

off to cats protection today... to have a look for a um.. cat

and jen still has to get my xmas pressies.. i however have been ready since september lol.... just a few bits or wrapping to do...

will prob put up teh decorations today as there has been no more meeces

got a call yesterday from personell... and because the job is a grade above the one i am now. i cantbe re-deployed so have to wait unti the 15th for closing date.. but they can get me in for interview quick if im sort listed.. and as i dont have any reserach experiance... I migtbe payed at teh same grade i am now.. and then have certain things to achieve to get the proper grade...

i dont care on that front as at least we will have money coming in....

so just waiting.. again ..... grrrr

Great outfit Helen - I bet that got a few male pulses racing!! Hope you get the car sorted and have a nice time at your grandparents tomorrow.

RSG - I hope your cat feels better and I hope you managed to resist the sofa and had a good time last night.

Lou - Good luck on finding a nice cat and I've got my :crossed: about that research job for you.

Hi Chris :wave: did everything go okay with your DH and his travelling??

I've bought (and wrapped) several chocolate fountains as gifts for people and on my master list I've got a note to buy the chocolate to go with them - has anyone got a chocolate fountain and can let me know how much chocolate does each fountain need to get it started? And can it be any kind of chocolate or does it have to be something special - like chocolate buttons or something????

Well - I walked the dogs separately this morning. First I walked Fred and Ellie together and then I walked George. We still aren't allowed on the nearest part of the Moor so I'm having to walk them on leads until we get almost to the next village and then get on the Moor there. The ground was very slippery after a hard frost so I knew that if George and Ellie pulled together I didn't stand a chance of staying on my feet - and it turned out to be a much more enjoyable walk than has been normal since Ellie arrived. Fred and Ellie raced around playing tag and roll-Fred-over-in-the-mud together far more than they normally do and came back exhausted, then George had a good sniffy walk which he doesn't normally get the time for because the other two disturb him - so it worked out better all round, except for me. I walked for over 3 hours and I'm :dizzy:

Morning all,

Helen, hope you got the car started. And do have a lovely time visiting your Grandparents tomorrow... I miss my Nan.... she's been gone a long time, but I still miss her.

Lou, good luck with the new job. I'm sure you'll do fine and get it if you're applying from the inside, it's supposed to work better that way isn't it? Enjoy hanging your deccies, have you got some Christmas music on?

Sarah :wave: hi, hubs and J are in NM. They drove for about eight hours yesterday from AZ, they have a trailer attatched so can only go about 60mph, and getting to north AZ is very mountainous, so Dave said it was rather fun, getting up some of the hills and down the other side. There's a particuarly nasty down slope on the way to Flagstaff, it has runaway brake lanes...basically long tracks dug into the side of the mountain, that if your brakes aren't slowing you down enough, you turn a bit to go into one and going up steeply should stop you...I've seen a few trucks up them when passing through, and it's scary to see... so my nerves were a bbit frazzled waiting on them to call. They have a long drive today, attempting to head to Tennesee for the night....they should be back here by Tuesday :)

My new coat came :) I'm very pleaed with it, although it's very snug fitting. I thought ab out sending it back and getting a larger one, but that would defeat the purpose of my losing weight, so I've kept it. I walked the dogs wearing it yesterday and didn't feel cold at all, although the wind chill had it at about 18 degrees and I suffered with waterey eyes for about an hour after getting back inside. It's a very dark choc brown colour and that faux sheepskin...and is really warm... even Hannah tried it on and liked it!!! Yes, she did :)

Well I'm up to K in the address book with Christmas cards... will have to go to the PO and get some more stamps later...and hopefully finish writing them all and getting them out.

Ok, must finish coffee and get to curves....although I don't want to gt out in the cold car....oooooooo, I could start Dave's up from in here and drive his.... :rofl:

Later all.........

Good morning all, party was OK, sort of boring, not something I will attend next year.

I'm feeling the need for a day off of the gym today so I think I'm going to take one, may go for a little walk but just don't want to be strenuous.

Chris I think it's supposed to be in the 50's tomorrow?????? This weather is crazy.

Sarah be careful on those moors please.

Lou hope you get a fun cat, my cat and I have an understanding, she ignores me a lot, then comes over for me to pat her, then usually bites me when she doesn't want to be patted anymore. If I try and leave the house and she doesnt want me to she attacks my legs from behind. If she gets hungry at 4 am she knocks things off of my dresser or bangs on the blinds to wake me up. She's a witch and I love her. She is all black with green eyes.

Room For One More?!
 

Hi all!
Found this site last night and it made me smile so much!
Thanks for your reply Sarah Ann and thank you BritinNJ for directing me here! I'm on day 4 of the Lighter Life diet-struggling a wee bit -it's so cold here in Scotland you just want to curl up in a blanket in front of the TV with lots of stodgey food!!-but NO NO NO!
Anyway it's been so great reading all your posts, would be great if I could get in on the action!
Jx

Welcome J, glad you joined us here. Day 4 hey? Keep it up, well done. Just pop in anytime you need a kick up the bum or a :hug: We're all very friendly here and we all have adventures to talk about.

As for sitting on the couch with a blanket and stodgy food, I don't think anyone would say no to that...but you'll get over that struggle, it all happens one day at a time :) Where abouts in Scotland are you?

I haven't got to curves yet, talking to my Mummy....she'll be here Weds evening... I'm getting very excited.

Have a rubbish run to do today and am going out shopping for more Christmas shopping as well...have a good one everyone.

Morning all.

Welcome Jo where are you in Scotland?

New coat Chris sounds nice. Shoud be a nice drive through Tennessee for the boys. Lovely state reminds me of home.

Schoolgirl pics very Britney Spears ;)

Christmas cards haven't started yet. When is the latest posting date for the UK Chris? I must try and get them done this weekend.

We're off to the mall. My youngest wants to do her Christmas shopping, should be fun.

Enjoy the day.

Hello J, nice to see you. It gets easier.

The car is "fixed". Or at least it's running. The battery's on its last legs and if it sits for too long it won't start (or during winter at least). The problem is that I barely use it during winter (I put petrol in it today for the first time since early October), so it tends to sit on the drive then when I need it the battery is dead. It just needs a jump start, but I have to wait for the breakdown people to come and do it because I don't know anyone round here with jump leads. anyway, I'm taking it on a longish run (or at least further than it's done in total in the last 2 months) tomorrow, so hopefully that will recharge it a bit.

I'm very proud of myself. I so nearly didn't run, with frost and a bit of tiredness this morning from a late night, then the car, then by the time I got back from the supermarket it was nearly lunch time, then I had to digest my lunch, then I was worried that I wouldn't have enough time to run before it got dark. Excuses excuses excuses - I was just trying to skive because it's cold outside! Anyway, I dragged myself out and told myself I could just do about 6 miles if it was really horrible, but ended up doing 9.7 which was actually a bit further than I intended. It wasn't too bad once I got going, and at least I feel like I've burned some of the chocolate and sweets off from the tuck shop last night! I just got in as it went dark, so I'm glad I didn't leave it any longer before dragging myself out of the door.

I wrapped most of my presents earlier, I had some christmas music playing and almost felt vaguely festive. I'm going to have a nice snuggly evening in tonight (might even get the wood burning stove thing going) and an early night I think. Oh, and the box of chocolates I got yesterday might be involved somewhere ;)

clydegirl - someone said that last night, I should point out that unlike Britney I was wearing pants though ;)

Oooh I didn't realise Britney didn't have any knickers on!

Hi Jo - glad you made your way here. :hug: Hmmmm I'm having something fairly stodgy for dinner - I've de-fatted Nigella's Italian Lamb Stew (its got macaroni in it) and it smells delicious. Just hope it tastes the same!

Helen - hope the car goes okay tomorrow.

RSG - I'm okay on the Moor - when its a bit worrying I usually just stick to bits I know well and I always carry a mobile (cell) phone. :)

Do you remember me mentioning a week or so ago that our nice neighbours had split up? Well... he didn't waste much time - the new girlfriend moved in today!!!!!! She's about 6 foot tall with masses of waist length blonde hair and a chest like Jordan's! Every man in the road has been out washing their cars just to get a glimpse of her and all the women have been having a ***** about how quickly she's moved in. :rofl: He brought her round to meet me and she seems nice enough.

The ***** is that female dog word again! :rolleyes:

Helen I don't drive much either and my car guy gave me a bunch of winter tips, never let the gas (petrol I guess) go below 1/4 tank or it could freeze. Always do the oil change every 3 months even if you are nowhere near the mileage. I just got new tires and he has me convinced he needs to rotate them at some point (I verified this with my friends husband who said yes they should be especially if you don't drive a lot). Oh and try and get it out on the highway about once a week or so, I guess it cleans the exhaust. I have no idea how much of this is true but I know that my Dad used to always yell at me about the gas thing when I was a kid.

Welcome J, I'm an American (Boston) who just barged in here and now I feel comfortable with this group :)

I have not bought one Christmas gift, but I did go to the clinique counter this morning and buy myself some presents.....

Lazy night here tonight also, but this afternoon I get to go meet my friends 9 month old daughter who was just adopted from Guatemala, she has a 2 year old who is not very pleased with this new development. My friend is also pregnant and due in January....house will be crazy.

:) Sarah has been asterisked....has she? Or did you do it yourself? You do live in an interesting neighbourhood...so you have an amazon living next door hey? Maybe once she gets to met more neighbours, they'll see she is quite nice... where did the wife go?

RSG, that family sounds interesting...sounds like they'll be busy come January.

Helen, glad you got the car sorted, there's a new Black & Decker self starter thingy over here now for flat batteries, can fit in your glove compartment and you just stick it in your cig lighter and can start your car. I wouldn't know anyone here to ask for a jump...although wouldn't help, Dave seems to think the jumper cables are in the boot of Hannah's car, and they're not! Well done on your run... especially in the cold, it's to cold here for my liking anad I don't even want to go out and shop, but I need to, so I will drag myself out in my new coat.

CG, have fun shopping....

Ooh, I need to see whether i can get one of those. I have jump leads, but no other car to run them off. Even though my grandparents don't live too far away, my grandfather's disabled so it would be a real job to get them out to come and get me started. so I just made sure that my breakdown cover includes home start...

I'm feeling well fed now. I picked up a cheap copy of the anthony worrall thompson GI book and I've just made the spicy braised aubergines with chickpeas and prunes - highly recommended. I had the garlic soup with white beans for lunch too (that made for some interesting stomach sensations during the run because i didn't leave it long enough!).

RSG - I can't imagine adopting while having a 2 year old and being pregnant! It will be an interesting experience for them that's for sure!

Just got back from the mall. The traffic was :fr: Backed up on the interstate at the exit for the mall.
I sent hubby off to "Bath And Body Works" with instructions to get me some stuff for christmas and H and I went looking for her things. She got books for everyone bargains too. Then we left for home as she wasn't feeling well. We got to the first set of lights and I knew she wouldn't make it home. We then had to get to the nearest loo as quickly as possible. Just as well we did as she had explosive diarrhoea. That was a major achievement for her as she has never gone to the toilet outside the house. Her tummy still feels bad and she looks like death warmed up. We made it home though.
I still have more shopping to do, oh well maybe tomorrow.

oooooooooo we found a cat.... he was one we saw on the website ... and there was a BIG (small dog size!.. i think i would have felt i should have taken him out!) fluffy ginger cat VVV friendly... but was a bit spiky with his room mates.. n nrly had a fight

so we decided on the one on the website... we pick him up 2morrow ... he was V shy.. but once we sat with him for a bit he came out of his bed... pruurd lots & dribbled all over jen haha.. think im going to have to get some muzzlins like for babies lol...

he is called Softie.... but were defo going to change that!.... lol,,, poor boy

http://www.northlondoncats.org.uk/ad...rrent_cats.htm