Choices

06 September 2012 12:00AM

Someone in the office just asked me what happened to the car and mentioned that it was over a week since I blogged. Oh my gosh! I blinked and another week gone by. AND, may be just may be they have more free time than me. In fact, I don’t have any free time! How do these people blog every day?

Well, the car cost an absolute fortune. A burnt out clutch and more! The garage puzzled as to how I had managed to drive from Lincoln to Leeds with it in such a dreadful condition. ‘Someone was looking over you luv,’ exclaimed the mechanic.  

S-o-o- a few days without a car – no problem – friends and family to the rescue, then  a couple of days with my little granddaughter and some hectic days in the office. With so much to do, not to mention finalising the plans for the Chavos Ball, it’s been a crazy busy week. If you’re in Leeds Yorkshire on the 6^th October you have to be there.  A tequila cocktail reception sponsored by Amathus Drinks, special guests, mariachis and folkloric dancers.  Whoop! Whoop! A night not to be missed.  About 100 guests have confirmed so far, but with a few weeks to go numbers are increasing everyday.

I have managed to watch some of the Paralympic Games this week which actually are due to end on the 9^th September. As far as inspiring a generation I can’t give enough credit to all those participants who have achieved so much and overcome such incredible odds. I’m certainly inspired.

Meanwhile, anyone who knows me by now is aware that I am more of a performing arts fan myself and, did I tell you that last weekend I went to the Theatre Royal Wakefield, youth production of Flashdance? It was awesome and I am looking forward to the next production performed by these kids. I’m told that their previous production – Les Miserables  – was spectacular. Well done kids. Seems I’m always quoting my little granddaughter but isn’t that what a proud nanny would do? Prior to the performance we went out for a meal – her favourite, chicken tikka masala, then ice-cream and sweets at the theatre, as you do. Quote –‘Nanny I have tummy ache.’
‘Do you darling. Perhaps you have eaten too much. When we get home I will give you some medicine and a warm drink.’
‘Nanny, I didn’t eat too many sweets,’ she says showing me the empty packet and then proceeding to raise her t-shirt. ‘Look is it because I have dirt in my tummy button.’
Awh! Don’t you just love children? We are now looking forward to a quick hike to London in a few weeks to see Matilda.

As far as work goes it has been one of those irritating weeks when nothing seems to go right and you feel as though you are going around in circles. Lots of decisions to make, possible opportunities and untold choices, but some confusion and doubt bring to mind that old Yorkshire saying. ‘If in dowt, do nowt.’ It always works. Sometimes it’s the right decision but at the wrong time, so I figure it’s time to step back, get away from the crowd and have some peace and quiet.  Maybe Spain is calling. What, again? I can’t help it. That’s where I seem to get all my inspiration and refreshing. It’s just annoying that those cheap air fares don’t seem to exist anymore. Better check out my Jet 2 points and see if I can get a free flight. If so, I’m off for a long weekend. Sounds good eh?

AND Leeds City Council are doing my head in. One parking fine, a couple of minutes over and another for fleetingly crossing a bus lane.  Argh!!!!!!

Chat soon

Yorkshire, Lincoln and back again!

29 August 2012 09:30AM

Well what a nightmare Saturday night was. Stuck in a field for a couple of hours waiting to be rescued and my prince never came!

Dream on!

Not a bad week actually and I did seem to plough through lots of work, to end the week wearing my nanny hat and playing with Barbie and friends. Ever counted how many hats you wear? Well, pretend play is always good for the soul and there’s nothing like creative craft -namely glitter pictures – and a Disney movie to help a girl unwind on a Friday night. Saturday, the house went quiet for a few hours and, I was home-alone with Butler and Gracie which turned out to be even more therapeutic – a few ball games and a couple of walks, in between planning another book. By Saturday night I was s-o-o-o chilled – just what the doctor ordered. Then I was persuaded to take a drive on Sunday morning to an event at the Lincolnshire Show Ground which I thought may not be my thing but, I was prepared to give it a try anyway as a few of my mates had gone.

Uhm! Do I say BIG Mistake? No ‘cos that would sound mean to my travelling companion who I invited to come with me and I have to say, he was good company and we did have some great conversation, not to mention plenty of laughs. Did I have to go all the way to Lincoln to do that? No! Then to get stuck in a field….. I’ll explain.

The event was an annual conference lasting a few days and hundreds of people in attendance seemed to be either camping there or had taken small caravans. Neither of which appeal to me, hence I joined the many dozens of day visitors who parked in the large car park provided – Field – which was slightly boggy in parts due to the weather but generally, not bad considering.

Now the sun shone intermittently and I suppose I couldn’t complain feeling sorry for all those poor souls who stayed overnight, as it chucked it down for hours after I left.

Whilst there, it was good to bump into a few old friends…not literally bump of course and they are not really OLD if you get my meaning, but most of the day was then taken up with a couple of seminars, one of which was interesting, the other quite frankly boring. But I’m not a complainer and I was determined to make the most of the day. It’s always good to have new experiences, don’t you think? Trying to be POSITIVE, but cold and damp in a gigantic marque , it was good to be with like-minded people all sharing a common interest – our faith, but I was looking forward to getting home and climbing into my warm PJ’s and cosy bed, thanking God that I was not one of the happy campers! So what happened? Quite frankly I don’t know. Queuing to get out of the field like you do at these sorts of events, I was not aware of any wheel spin or problems. Trekking through the grass at a steady 5 miles per hour I became aware of a fowl burning smell and joked with my travelling companion as to how horrible it was and where could it be coming from? I hoped it wasn’t my car. Ha! Ha!

Then smoke began to puther from below the bonnet and the words, ‘it is my car. Get out quick it’s on fire,’ could be heard, as I turned off the ignition and thought I was the first to jump out when I realised he was gone!  W-h-a-t?  I can’t be bothered to tell you the whole story and I’m no mechanic but I suppose you can imagine the rest. What a fiasco. Where is the number for your breakdown when you need it and why will they be a couple of hours getting to you and it is cold and damp and going to rain and suddenly you need the loo and… and…. and what are the options if the car has to be rescued to the local garage. Oh no. It doesn’t bare thinking about. Will I be squeezing into someone’s sleeping bag after all and waiting till daylight to sort the problem. What were the other options? Find a travel lodge or to phone a friend?????????? Or just wait and see what our friendly recovery man has to say.

Four hours later I arrived home and now waiting to see what my local garage have to say. We checked all the obvious things, well he did not me! Convinced it was the clutch but after a couple of hours of going nowhere it seemed to be fine. Uhm!  Explain that one. An escort to the motorway and a steady drive home, trying not to change gear. What was all that about?

Sunday, a lovely chilling out day, going nowhere and this morning up bright and early for the office and the car still smells burnt out.

We will see!

Chat soon.

Anna