I'm going to draw a line under my emotions from last week. I can't change anything and obsessing over it doesn't help anyone so I'll do what I can when I can. And hope it's enough.

I had a lovely weekend, which helped to cheer me up a lot. I went out with Mammy and Jemma to see The Dark Knight on Saturday. Heath Ledger is as good as everyone is saying he is; it isn't just being said cos he died. I thought the film was a bit long-winded but it was still very good. I don't understand how it got a 12A certificate, though, cos it was seriously dark and quite a lot disturbing. I wouldn't want my children seeing it. At the end a group of them rejoined their parents and started saying how they'd cried in fright through most of it! Besides that factor, I really don't think young people would really get what was going on. On the top level, sure, but not all the psycological parts. I reccomend the film, anyway :)

Sunday was spent visiting everyone, and doing a little shopping ;) I didn't buy anything too grand. Just a mug-tree. It's not the one I wanted (I wanted a white wooden one) but it was the best I could find:



The kitchen is very fastly coming together. I love the white-with-spots look; it's cute. I'm going to get some round tins next to store some of the junk is so that the worktops aren't bogged down with bowls full of knick-knacks. I prefer clear worktops.

While Ray bought himself a couple of new xbox360 games. He's waited patiently week after week and then this week he gave in and bought two. I could link you to them but I don't actually know what they're both called. I know one is Oblivion because we had fun making up the character's face to look like Ray ;)

That afternoon we went visiting everyone. It was a really lovely visit back to Ray's house. Dale's shaved all his hair off, though! He has such lovely blonde hair, which he grows long and then shaves off. Nicky gave me a mini-gumball from her mini-gumball machine and we all had fun laughing at Mams trying to blow bubbles. Everyone is such fun when it's sunny, aren't they?

Then it was onto my parents' house with the two dogs, where we had a huge BBQ and stuffed ourselves silly. There was lots of silliness, lots of laughing, lots of noise and games with the dogs; and we ended it all by walking all six dogs up the road together, which caused Sweepie such excitement that she had to be carried for most the walk in fear she'd pass out (she doesn't handle heat and excitement well together at all).

SUMMER BBQ

So all in all it was a really nice, fun weekend.

And it ended with the best words I could have heard: "If we weren't skint we could have a baby now." :)

Labels: daddy, films, house stuff, in-laws, life, mammy, martha, motherhood, ray, sweepie

by Ys | COMMENTS? 4 | permalink |

I'm still cranky but I think this is more to do with tiredness than anything else. Tired of being on, hehehe ;)

It was Visiting The Family Day yesterday. Ray's house was filled with people. It often is on a Sunday but I haven't seen it fill up that quick in a long while. We didn't stay long. I don't know what to say about it. It's a weird time. We then went on to see my Old Folk, with the dogs, as well. We like to gatecrash spectacularly ;) Mammy welcomed us with a present: some spotty mugs for the kitchen:



Very cute. She's spoiling us again. I christened them with some wine last night. The wine was disgusting (I just don't like wine no matter how hard I try!) so after a couple of sips I concluded the christening was finished and didn't need to drink anymore.

It's been a weekend of watching films. First: Be Kind Rewind. It was such a lovely, sweet film. Funny, of course, as you'd expect from Jack Black (that man can make me laugh with just a look!), but very sweet, as well, which I wasn't expecting. I liked it :) Then we watched A Cock & Bull Story, which I have loved since I first saw it three years ago. I finally found it to buy! Everyone must see this film: it's so kooky and funny :) And, finally, last night we watched The Crow: Wicked Prayer. I only wanted it cos David Boreanaz is in it (I've been in love with him for an age!). I quite liked Edward Furlong back in my days of youth, as well. Both actors can act, just a shame that what they were acting with was so bad. Awful film, of course, but it had some strangely pretty moments with the flashback/after-death scenes spliced in.

It's back to the real world now, though. Paying bills and writing, and thinking what I'm going to be eating for lunch today... ;)

Labels: daddy, david boreanaz, films, house stuff, in-laws, life, mammy, photos, presents

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |

I had the house to myself yesterday. All day.

Jem and Mammy went to see Kylie Minogue up in Manchester yesterday. So not only did I get some Me Time (oh precious Me Time, I'd forgotten what that time was like), which entailled me cleaning, writing, and reading two-thirds of The Gunslinger. But I also got some Alone Time with Ray. Which meant eating lasagne and Tagliatelle (it seems to be our food of love ;D), watching Grand Designs (have I mentioned how I've commissioned Ray to build me my dream home?) & The Fifth Element (Ray fancies Milla Jovovich, while I've always had a thing for Bruce Willis); and much, much fun in the bedroom.

The house is all mine for another four hours or so, depending on traffic, and then I'll have to give it back to part-ownership again. I'd forgotten just how much I like being by myself. I was even a little put out when Ray came back from work last night, whereas usually I'm buzzing around by the door waiting for him to get back. I used to spend 90% of my time alone so having spent the last two years pretty much glued to Ray's side (don't get me wrong: it's a lovely place to be stuck) I'd forgotten how much of a loner I really am at heart. Don't worry I have no plans of ditching Ray to return to my loner-lifestyle (damn that pesky love thing!); I was just pleasantly reminded these past twenty-four hours that I can and do love my own company. It was still much more fun playing games with Ray in the evening, though ;)

I'm off unwrap some presents I'd ordered for Ray's birthday; some extremely cool (do not click the links Ray!!) presents. There's also this and this. My boy's a nerd. I always wanted a nerd. I prayed for many years and finally I got one ;)

Enjoy your weekends!

Labels: films, jem, life, love, mammy, ray, reading

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |

Usually Saturday is mother/daughter day but this week we brought it forward to a Wednesday. So off we trundled to the cinema (I can't tell you how fun it is to have a cinema within walking distance) to see Hancock.

I'd seen the trailer for it a few times and it looked absolutely hilarious. It didn't disappoint. It was very funny. I always love to hear the entire cinema laughing out loud together. But it soon twisted away from comedy and went to some other place. There was superhero-action scenes, love scenes, sad scenes, more funny scenes. It was a hard one to pin down, which made me love it, of course. You know how I love to mix genres.



Now: tennis. Lleyton Hewitt is out. Federrer kicked his ass. I then hoped the Croation guy might kick Federrer's ass but he didn't. But I was glad to see that Nadal booted Murray out so convincingly. I know I should support Murray cos he's British, and in a way I do, but he's such an arogant git I find it hard to back him completely. I like Nadal. He's the best player at the tournament. And, yes, he does have lovely arms, and, yes, a lovely bum too, but, contrary to popular belief Raymond that is not why I like him; I happen to think he's good at tennis. And I want him to win. But then I wanted that last year and the year before so what I want doesn't really come into it, does it?

Labels: films, tennis

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |

The xbox360 broke Friday night. I beleive they call it the ring of death. Because it basically means the xbox has fried. But through the despair and worry, we went online and booked it in to get fixed, not really knowing how we'd find the money to get it done, we learnt that because this is a known problem with the xbox360 console, and because we've had it less than three years (not even a year yet actually!), we can get it fixed for free. Which is a big relief. Ray packaged it up and today the man from UPS came to collect it. The only good thing we can take from it is it does mean we've dug out the old xbox console and are now playing the original Lego Star Wars game. Ray is very upset, though. He loves his xbox360. I've spent most of the weekend keeping his hands busy elsewhere...

I went to see the new Narnia film Saturday afternoon with Mammy and Jemma. Such a good film. I highly reccomend it. It's darker and yet funnier than the first one. Jem is suicidal, though, cos Peter has said he won't be returning to Narnia again. We're meant to be seeing Hancock this weekend, which looks so funny. I'm really starting to get used to these girlie afternoons we spend in the cinema. I'm going to be sad if they stop.

At the moment I'm listening/watching live wimbledon because I don't want to miss my favourite player: Lleyton Hewitt. Typically he's up against Federrer, which means this will probably be the last game I see him play this tournament. I'm trying to write Olimpia Valley at the same time but something tells me I'm going to get distracted by a cute Australian in white shorts.

Labels: films, jem, lego star wars, lleyton hewitt, mammy, narnia, ray, tennis, wimbledon, xbox, xbox 360

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |

Wow it's been a busy weekend.

First of all: Joe Absolom finally has a new project. So I was running round (online obviously) trying to find news about that. I love it when he does new projects cos I get to play with my site :)

The weekend was ruled by dog-sitting. Not paid this time, just looking after the dogs, cats, rabbits and birds for my parents while they're away on their holidays. Amber was doing some days and when she was out me and Ray took up the challenge. The first afternoon was awful. The dogs were wound up because we'd brought Sweepie with us and just basically misbehaved the entire time. We went back Saturday for the night and that was much more bearable. We watched Alien Vs Predator - Requiem. It was Ray's choice of film. I didn't really understand what was going on so just before it ended I had to admit my stupidity and ask him what the Predator guy was up to. He explained the history of it (why didn't the film explain he was after the Queen Alien?) and then it made more sense. It was still quite a pants film, though.

In between all the dog-sitting, I suggested we go have a picnic in the water park. That was really nice. The sun was out, it was lovely and warm, the dogs had a great time, and we treated ourselves to some yummy food. Mmm. The coast was covered in mist from the sea so we went for a walk in it. It was quite spooky. And when we came home the second time from my parents house, we decided to eat pizza and chips outside in the garden. It was great to be able to really enjoy our surroundings and make the most of it. The picnic, the walk on the beach, the dinner in the garden: it was great to really appreciate this place, this place that is my home. I'm so lucky :)

You can see pictures from my weekend here, including shots from home, the picnic, the beach and our dinner in the garden.

Not being at home for most of the weekend does mean I have heaps of stuff to catch up on today. Expect multiple comments on missed blog entries, emails answered, my hair freshly dyed and a new book to read because Ray liked the sound of other one I was meant to start and has nicked it to read first.

Labels: amber, beach, daddy, dog-sitting, films, house stuff, joe absolom, life, mammy, photos, ray, reading, websites

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |

It was a bank holiday weekend so naturally it rained.

At least it was dry Saturday when I went out for a girly day with Mammy and Jem. There was a little shopping (I found nothing but have decided that yellow is my favourite colour this summer), a little lunch (Jem had an egg-mayonaise sandwich and has been ill ever since), and, the highlight of the day (and the summer if you're my mother) we went to see Indiana Jones IV.

I was raised on the original trilogy, probably due to my mother's obsessioncrush on Harrison Ford. As a life-long fan, I have to say that the fourth film did not disappoint. I loved how it was alien-based because the great mystery of the fifties (when it was set) was the Roswell alien spaceship crash. It was classic Indie from start to finish. And whoever decided to cast Shai LaBeouf (how do you pronounce his name?) as mini-Indie needs a big gold star. He is just lovely (but I'll save that gushing for another time). So, if you're a fan of the Indiana films then you should love the new one. If you're new to them, as some of the kids were in the audience, then you might want to not go in there expecting it to be like your run-of-the-mill noughties kid's film cos it's not anything like that. A great action film and absolutely hilarious. I hope they make another one!

Apart from that the weekend was literally a wash out. I had picnics and feeding-the-ducks planned but it all had to be scrapped. Sunday was spent trying to get bits and pieces together so Ray could change a tyre on the car (yes that damn car again; thsi time it wasn't the car's fault; there was a nail on the road - pop!). And Monday just never really got started. Although we did watch half of Return of the King (only half cos that film is long - great but long).

It was a nice weekend, though, weather aside. Love, films, sitting around doing not very much, reading, Lord of the Rings - and Banoffee Pie mmmm. The duck's can have their bread later in the week ;)

EDIT @ 5PM: I've updated the projects section, which is all the way down on the right-hand side of the page :)

Labels: car, films, indiana jones, jem, mammy, ray, shia labeouf, shopping, weather

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |

I'm not in the best of moods.

Money always leads to arguments. I always said that was so when I was growing up and now I have a (small) family of my own I find it's more than true. I stand by my first ever statement about money: it's evil. It makes people nasty. Of course I have to go to work all weekend to make that evil money to fill up my bank account for my in case of emergencies fund (which really means birthdays and Christmas). In a way I miss having no money at all. Things were easier then. Of course I was relying on my parents evil money to pay for the house I was living in, but personal money wasn't even a thought for me. I couldn't afford to buy new clothes or go out anywhere expensive. Things were easier then. Now I have to worry about bills being paid, getting enough money to put food on the table, managing the weekly savings so that we have enough when the big bills come through at the end of the month. Which makes me the person to hate when the money isn't as high as it should be. In fact this time the money was as high as it was meant to but because I didn't know that figure off the top off my head (yes, I'm slipping this week: too much sun and not enough slaving over figures) a tantrum was had. The quiet kind that leaves me feeling very lonely and helpless. Of course I love having control over the finances, I wouldn't trust anyone else to do it, but that does mean when things are spent when they shouldn't be and I say, "It's time to tighten the belt," I'm the bad guy. I'm the one who has to say no. Not that I said no last night or that we needed to spend less. In fact we spent a good £20 less on food this week than we usually do (I still don't know how that happened...). But the bank account said a figure that wasn't wanted to be read. So naturally it's my fault. I still can't work out why that was the case either, though...

Basically: money is evil. It makes nice people turn into bastards. We should just go back to trading.

Of course I'll need some of that evil money to fund me a trip to see the new X-Files Movie. When was that made and why did I only find out about it today?

Labels: films, house stuff, life, love, money, x-files

by Ys | COMMENTS? 4 | permalink |

I've been watching The Matrix Trilogy this week. I'd forgotten just how much that film(s) blows me away. It was weird for me to like something so much and yet not get obsessed with it. I watched the first film pretty much two times a day for about a week after I got it. When I was bought the 10-disc box set for Christmas I was pretty much in heaven. It's those discs I'm introducing Ray to now. It took me over six months to watch them all so I think he'll have his work cut out.



We've started watching The Animatrix disc that came with the box set every night when we're in bed. So far we've taken it in turns to fall asleep. Which works out quite well cos the episodes I missed the first night I got to watch the second night when Ray was asleep. I adore the Animatrix stuff. I'm not into the whole online community of it and know very little about the whole thing - what I do know is it is very pretty and I love watching the stories.



I think I'll need to make myself a couple of Matrix wallpapers for my laptop. And I suppose once I've exhausted the discs I'll start nagging for the Matrix games. If they're any good.

Labels: films, ray, the matrix, xbox 360

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |

Sorry for not posting earlier. I was feeling really ill last week and by the time Thursday rolled by I just kind of gave up and moped on the sofa playing Halo. I'm on the mend now, though, and am hoping I will fully recover very soon. I should really have worked on the new layout but I have so many ideas that I just don't know where to start yet. I'll hopefully get one up within the week but don't hold me to that deadline cos I find I'm on the computer a lot less since I've moved. It's the sudden warm weather's fault. I've spent the entire weekend sitting out the back, enjoying the sun, pretending it's summer. It's been amazingly lovely and warm this weekend here in Wales. I love the sun.

This is the poster for the new Narnia film:



It looks very pretty. I have no idea who the boy is, though. Anyone know what's meant to happen in this one? It says it's not out 'til May so that leaves plenty of time to save up. Hehehe. I'm not kidding, though. We have to save for everything now. Because we went out to the gig and the pub last week we weren't able to go out this week. Then it's Valentines Day this week so we won't be able to afford to go out again. Hehehe. It's all totally worth it, though. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I'd gladly never go out pubbing again if it meant I got to keep this house and this wonderful new lifestyle I have here. I really can't wait 'til summer: it's going to be beautiful here.

This has been a bit of a pointless entry, hasn't it? Nothing has happened cos I've just been ill and moping. This week will be better. I hope ;)

Labels: blogging, films, halo, house stuff, illness, layout, life, money, narnia, photos

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |

Have you seen the trailer for the new Narnia film? See It Here. It looks great. I have to admit I only ever knew the story of "The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe" so I have no idea what will happen in this new one. Will it make me want to sit in the back of wardrobes wishing myself into another world?

It's Valentines Day soon. I'm trying to think of a cute present for Ray. It can't cost too much - we are on a tight budget - but has to be something he'll adore. I was thinking of topping up his Red Dwarf collection. No, doesn't sound very romantic but if you knew how much he's watched the other DVD's I got him you'd understand that it would be a present he'd cherish. The only problem is I can't find the one he needs on sale anywhere. So I'm wondering what kind of sappy present can I get a guy? It's easy for him - he can get me flowers and he'll know I'll be extremely impressed (I love getting flowers). But what can I get him?

We're off spending money we can't afford tomorrow. It's our last gig for a long while. The tickets were bought before we'd found the house. We're seeing Coheed & Cambria, with Fightstar supporting. It'll be good but also expensive. I hate being on a budget hehe.

There's some trouble with the estate agent who's renting us the house. Luckily we've been in contact with the landlord seperately because of a toilet malfunction (note to all potential landlord: do not fit Saniflo systems cos when they break your tenents will have no toilet, bath, shower or water of any kind in the bathroom). He called last night to ask if we'd had any confirmation letters from the agent because he hadn't heard anything from them. He wasn't even told we'd moved in 'til a week after! He's worried the agent has pocketed our money. So we trundled down to see the agent last night and asked for photocopies and receipts and he gave them to us happily enough. Couldn't really argue, could he? The landlord has told us if the agent doesn't show him some proof - and money - by the time the rent's due (which is next week) he's going to get us to cancel our direct debit mandate and we'll sign a new deal directly with him. Phew! What a mess! But the landlord is a nice guy and he's assured us we're perfectly safe, he isn't going to kick us out, and we won't lose out on any money; he says the person who'll be out of pocket will be him. He'd just wanted to warn us that things weren't going well with the agent.

Why do these things always happen to me?

Labels: coheed and cambria, estate agent, fightstar, films, gigs, house stuff, landlord, presents, ray, renting, valentines day

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |

The problems I thought I'd be having my parents didn't actually materialise. Sometimes I think I wrongly expect the worst from them. I know I can't be blamed for thinking that way but it does make me feel bad when I'm proved wrong (except it makes me feel good at the same time, as well, obviously). They've been great this weekend - both of them. I think, as a lot of us do, especially when we're young and wrapped up in our own lives, I forgot to look at it from their perspective. From some things that they've said this weekend I think they're a little worried about what it'll be like for them when me and Jem move out next year. They'll still have Amber at home but two of their pups will have gone and that's a big section of the pack to lose. I think their recent behaviour has been a knee-jerk reaction to our plans to move out (not exclusively, obviously, I am well aware their lives do not solely revolve around me). It's sort of like their preparing little obstacles to keep themselves busy during the transition. And I think as an adult I need to let them have those obstacles. They didn't do it to make me feel like crap, didn't do it to prove that my problems were nothing and were allowed to be ridiculed whereas my other siblings are not; they did it because they needed to. And they've made a big show this weekend of making sure I didn't feel abandoned or over-looked, and that what I went through (and continue to go through) is not being ignored. We've had our problems through the years and when my parents act so caringly, so considerate of my feelings (regardless of my other two sisters, who they look after in which ever way they need) I am always surprised into silence and bemusement. It's been a good weekend with them. I feel very blessed.

Last night Ray, Jem and I went down the pub to watch the England V France match. It was very boring. Some of the younger boys kept stripping and jumping around the room in all their glory. While the older boys gave us some dirty looks and ignored us for the rest of the night. Ahh the rugby club, how I love it.

I had a take-out pizza last night, as well, mmm. Then Ray and I watched Moulin Rouge, which is such a bad film but the ending always makes me cry. Ray distracted me from my upset, though. I slept like a log last night. Best sleep I've had all week.

Now I've upset Sweepie by telling her off for jumping on the laptop. She's pouting at the end of the bed. Oh dear... Best go give her some attention...

Labels: daddy, family, films, jem, life, mammy, moving out, ray, rugby, sweepie

by Ys | COMMENTS? 1 | permalink |

Wales lost to Australia on Saturday. The second-half was good - not quite so much shouting at the TV. But Stephen Jones needs to go!

Ray bought himself an xbox 360, after much debate - him saying maybe, us saying do it! He doesn't spend heaps on himself often - pre-me he didn't spend any money on himself - so he needs persuassion. He's got a couple of boy-games to play, but also got me Lego Star Wars II cos he knows how much I love it, aww. I'm sticking with the xbox for now to finish off my Halo 2 campaign. You lose all your old games when you move to xbox 360, you see. I'm in the middle of completeing Halo 2 on Legendary so I'm not moving anywhere 'til it's done!

Sweepie also has some presents - a new Nyla bone cos I lost her other one. And her father also got her a dino-baby toy. She keeps trying to blind the dino-baby but seems to be falling in love with it. Martha destroyed her new toy within twenty-four hours and left the remains all over the bedroom floor.

New films I watched this weekend were: Lady in the Water - nice film, I don't understand why everyone hated it so much cos it was, you know, just nice. None of us could work out how it had been made into a big blockbuster film when it would have worked much better as an indie-flick, and even better than that just as a book. Superman Returns - we tried with that one but the beginning was all over the place. We gave up soon after Clarke met Lois's X-Men husband. I'm sure I'll try it again later in the week. The Queen, which was very, very good; it made me laugh a lot. And a film that didn't villainise Tony Blair! We ended the weekend with The Two Towers. Sure, I've seen it heaps of times before but Ray hasn't seen the un-edited versions so it's an excuse to watch them all again :)

Ray bought me a pretty new top, which is like the orange one I got before but a purple and pink colour instead. I told him not to buy me anything, we had a mini-argument in the middle of the shop, where I told him off for buying me things and making me feel uncomfortable, and he told me off for being so weird about money and accepting gifts from him. The top was pretty and he has a pretty face, so I relented. It's weird: if I have money I don't mind him buying me stuff. But if I don't have much money (like now) I get weird when he gets me stuff. I'm just a weirdo when it comes to money.

Time to get back to dog-walking again then...

Labels: clothes, films, martha, money, ray, rugby, sweepie, tony blair, wales, xbox, xbox 360

by Ys | COMMENTS? 1 | permalink |

Yoda has left the cage!

Yesterday morning after walking all the dogs (two trips: three naughty Pugs: two irate girls) I dismantled his recuperation cage. I washed it and put it back in the shed for when it's next needed (if Madge is pregnant then that will be the end of next month). The living-room was cleaned and Yoda was left to wander the house for the rest of the day. The cat-flap had to be locked, of course, and if anyone tried to come in or out of the backdoor I ran at them, shouting, "Yoda's out! Yoda's out! Don't open the door!" He only complained a little about the house-arrest. He hit the cat-flap, shouted at me a bit, then curled up on the sofa and went to sleep.

Yesterday, Jem and I also tried to save one of the sofa-cushions. Falls had pee'd on it, cos he's a stinking, naughty boy-dog, the night before. We didn't know how to go about cleaning a sofa-cushion so we decided a hose-pipe and some bleach might get the job done. It was clean but then it was drenched. Insane or not, once the thing had dried out a little we put it in the tumble-dryer. If the machine is broken neither one of us is going to admit to anything.

I tried lighting a fire in the garden (Mammy requested I burn some stuff). I got it to flame for all of two minutes before I put it out by shoving something on top of the flames, believing this would make it burn brighter not put it out! I was trying to prove to myself that I didn't need Ray to help me build a fire - a woman can make fire, I thought. I was wrong, it seems. It did smoke a lot, though.

When Ray got home from work we watched Notes on a Scandal. We said Jem was Barbara, only she'd be seducing young school boys ;) It was a really good film. I liked it. Only problem was the boy Cate Blanchette was having an affair with looked so very, very young that it just made you feel a bit sick. Good film, though.

Now this morning I let Yoda back out into the real world. He went skipping out happily enough. He walked up and down the drive then disappeared into the hedge. Five minutes later I saw him following his sister around the garden. Soon after that he disappeared. I haven't seen him since. Obviously I'm playing the worried-mother role right now and won't relax until he comes back in for dinner later tonight. Knowing him, though, he'll stay out for about two nights and really scare me half to death. He's so not a house-cat. These last few weeks have been awful for him. Poor bugger.

Time to walk the dogs again now then. There's so much work to do! My old folk are away in South Africa so Jem and I are running the house. The house part is easy enough; it's all the animals that are hardwork. I've got the cats - we have two housebound moggies, one being blind so there's lots of litter boxes to clean, not forgetting I had Yoda in his cage up until this morning. Jem feeds the dogs and the two rabbits. We then do the task of walking the dogs together. Falls is scared of everything and his answer to that fear is to go completely insane - cars are the worst. Then we have to take Areau and Madge on the second leg because Areau has really bad legs so can only go so far, and Madge has her breathing difficulties. What with the cleaning, as well, we're both exhausted. How the hell my mother runs around after these animals so much I'll never know - she must be nuts! I'll stick with my one dog and two cats - they're more than enough work for me.

Labels: falls, films, life, mammy, yoda

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |

We've gone a bit obsessed with renting DVD's this last week.

We started with Sunshine. I saw it when it was in the cinema but wanted to see it again now it was on DVD. It does work better on a big screen - on a TV it just loses its colour and sound. I think I enjoyed it even more this time round than the last. I know, I know, you're not going to survive long if you're not white aboard the Icarus, but racism aside it is a very good film. And I love how slutty Icarus is. Yes, there was another round of "Yes, Cappa" before and after the film was watched. Pathetic really, aren't I? My original review pretty much covered it.

Also in that review was the mention of the 28 Weeks Later. I never got round to seeing that in the cinema. So I got it out on DVD instead. It was as pants as I thought it would be. Why oh why was the American film industry allowed to get their hands on this story? It was a great little British film - it was one of those films that everyone just has to see/own. This second installment is just... lacking a soul - and a heart. The gore was good, but it was last time as well so that wasn't anything new. The only thing was is that if you're a woman during 28 Weeks Later you're going to have your violent death up there on the big screen in glorious detail - not so much if you're a man. Another film trying to subtly keep us women in our place in society? Don't even get me started on that rant! Avoid this film and just keep watching the original.

Hollywoodland was really good. It was made much like the films were back in the day. It was very, very good. I often struggled understanding The Pianists' accent but I loved it for the not-understanding. The sound was really crisp and clear. And don't worry about the fact that Ben Affleck is in it - he's actually quite good. And I liked the fact that it was never solved. All the time-jumping was good, too; it was nice to find a film that didn't assume the audience was too thick to follow. Go see it now.

Last night, we watched A Scanner Darkly. Now that was a good film. It was funny and a little bit clever and very pretty; it was dark and depressing and confusing. I really enjoyed it. I loved all the paranoia, and the twist at the end, although a little obvious, was good for the story. If you like indie-type flicks then watch it; if you find all that stuff a bit weird then give it a miss.

Next we have Lady in the Water, which several people have said isn't very good... And Notes on a Scandal, which I'm sure will be very good.

Labels: 28 Weeks Later, a scanner darkly, films, hollywoodland, Sunshine

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |

I'm having a lazy day today. I slept in 'til gone eleven, didn't eat 'til after twelve and now plan on switching on the xbox and playing Halo 2 all afternoon. Sometimes you've just got to give in to your inner slob.

I almost went to see Knocked Up last night but Ray had left his bank card at home, and my money was back in the house. So we scrapped that idea and went down the pub instead.

We got some DVD's out at the weekend, though. I've watched two out of three of them so far. The first was The Quiet. Going by the cover we were all hoping for a little girl-on-girl, you know, the mild teen-American type, but it turned out their special friendship wasn't in any way sexual. It turned out it was about a daughter being abused by her father. It was an okay film. I quite liked the dark, in-your-own-head stuff. Because the lead character was not the girl being abused it wasn't as heavy as it could have been. I always seem to end up watching those type of films. Thankfully we'd got a funny one, as well, and so popped that one on. Epic Movie. Some bits were very funny but overall it was a bit of a disappointment. The last one I have to watch is Hollywoodland. Anyone seen that one? Any good?

Martha's poorly so please can you give her some love? Poor Marf.

Labels: films, life, martha

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |

It's Ray's birthday on Sunday. Although I'm skint (I spent a lot of money on one present for him, which I think is gorgeous and am sure he will love; plus I'm really smug about it cos he's completely forgotten that he kept saying he wanted one), I bought him two more presents yesterday. Well, I've got him his main present, another small present, a silly one, then suddenly realised I didn't have any kinky presents for him, and we always buy kinky presents. I found a new creation from Durex I just had to get: click here. Yummy. I also got him something else but that's a secret just for us two. Much fun :D We're getting the weekend to ourselves, as well, which is such a treat, cos I can't tell you often that doesn't happen. (Ray, if you happen to read this do not click on the links, unless it's after your birthday then click away.)

And been as we're in a sexual conversation: TMI Tuesday:

1. Define "infidelity" as it relates to a relationship. Have you ever been guilty of infidelity? Have you ever been the victim of infidelity? Have you ever been a participant in someone else's infidelity?

Infidelity for me is when a person in a relationship seriously pursues someone else, and/or kisses them, touches them, has sex with them. Fantasies are not infidelity, nor are crushes. Action makes infidelity.

I have never been unfaithful, no. I have been kind of cheated on by a guy. In that he didn't tell me he had a girlfriend until a month into it and then just announced I'd better shag him that night or else "miss out" because his girlfriend was coming back from Ibiza. Hmm. I got rid of him pretty quick. I have participated in someone else's infidelity. I didn't know the girl he was dating but I knew the guy very well, from school, we'd been flirting outrageously for a few months and then on a night out we hooked up. I don't consider the unnatached person to be in the wrong in those situations. It'd be the same if my boyfriend cheated on me - I'd blame him because he's the one who's meant to love me. I don't agree with girls sleeping with their friend's boyfriends, though; in that instance I think both would have to be tortured.

2. What is the last thing you stole?

Hmm... I've honestly never been a stealer of things. I think I pocketed some chewing gum once when I was about eight years old.

3. Name one place in your country that you have never been but would like to visit and why.

I'd like to visit Snowdonia. Because it's the biggest mountain we have here in Wales. And I bet the view is spectacular.

4. What movies can you watch over and over again?

I have watched "Lord of the Rings" over and over again. I know the script! I'm a little bit obsessed with them. But I have also watched "The Matrix" from start to finish, rewound the tape (yes, this was in the days of VHS) and watched it all over again - three times!

5. Who is the last person you saw naked?

That would be Ray. Sunday night. Oh I wish it could have been last night...

Bonus (as in optional): In honor of the 237 reasons we have sex study. Tell us at least five but not more than ten reason you have had sex.

1. To lose my virginity (of course); 2. To try out a new condom; 3. To prove he fancied me; 4. Because Tajar had turned me on; 5. Because I was horny goddamn it!

And to end on some more sex news: Madge (my mother's Pug) is in season. And this time she's going to meet up with her boyfriend and have a weekend of Pug sex. Then a couple of months later we should hopefully have a litter of tiny little Pugs puppies for me to take care of :)

Labels: birthday, condoms, films, meme, ray, sex

by Ys | COMMENTS? 1 | permalink |

Yoda's doing really well - thanks for the messages :) I've calmed down a lot now after seeing how quickly he's recovering. He's eating on his own (to start with you had to sit with him and fuss him to make him eat) and he's off the really strong morphine-style painkillers; he's on the more normal ones now. He's sleeping a lot, which is good because it means he's using all his energy to heal himself. I still can't bring myself to take a photo of him in his cage. He just looks so sad and sore. Maybe when he's a bit better I'll get a picture.

My parents went away for the night this weekend. We all went down the pub - baby sister, as well, which was very nice. I don't think me and Amber have spoken to each other properly in about a month! I know it sounds awful but I think it's just that yo-yo effect thing, where we were beyond close a few years ago (as in mother/daughter type relationship) and then she grew up and didn't need me in the same way and so pulled very far away to make sure I knew that. It hurt at the time, and there were many tears, but now I can see that subconsciously she needed to do that; and I was probably doing something subconsciously to her as well. Anyway, she came down the pub with us for a little while, stopping for a drink before catching her bus into town to see her friends. She called me a pervert for taking pictures of Ray's bum. Pervert? Me? Never! She gave me a hug when she left, as well, which made me feel all warm inside. I do love my cuddles, especially ones I'm not expecting.

That night the three of us came home after many games of pool (I won, I won!), and watched Jaws 3. I've never seen the third Jaws film before. It was made the year I was born, apparently. It was pants. It was beyond pants. It was just... no, not good at all. And the bit at the end, where the CGI-shark just floats into the window without swimming, just floating forward... oh dear, I did laugh. I wonder what Jaws 4 will be like next week. And what series of films will be played after that?

This morning I was meant to be going with Jemma when she gets a filling in her wisdom tooth. But, after waking early and getting down to the bus stop, we received a phone call from Mammy saying that the dentist had called. The x-ray has been re-studied by a new dentist (this one private not NHS) and it's been decided the tooth will be taken out instead. So we came home. Early morning for nothing. I even put mascara on to mask my tired eyes! She'll be having her tooth-ectomy some time next month under sedation, which she is much happier about.

Please visit Martha's blog. She's adorable, you know ;)

Labels: amber, dentist, films, jaws, jem, martha, pub, yoda

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |

I got a few DVD's out to watch this weekend. The first one was Children of Men, which was very much like the books I write - dark, apocalyptic tales. I liked that one; it was good, and sad. And it involved rescuing a baby from harm, which I've always enjoyed ever since watching The Labyrinth repeatedly as a child thanks to Mammy's love for David Bowie.

The second film was Pans Labyrinth which was much more fantasy - and much more violent. I really enjoyed it. I love the proper fantasy tales, especially when they're interwoven with such brutal reality. Plus the fantasy characters looked creepy as hell and very, very pretty as well.

I also ended up watching Jaws 2. I watched Jaws the week before just by chance; and just by chance this week the film finished in time for me to watch the second installment. Now the first "Jaws" film is still scary - silly but scary. The second one isn't scary at all. And why are there so many screaming girls?

I burnt my shoulders and arms in the rare sunshine on Sunday morning. I never ever burn so this was quite a surprise, especially considering I was often going to sit in the shade of the stable so I wasn't in direct sun that much. Plus, like I said, I never burn. In the afternoon Ray took me for an ice-cream, but we ended up in Pizza Hut eating bonoffi pie instead ;)

Burns aside, the sun is fun. And it's made my plants in the shed shoot up! I'll have to get some pictures of them soon.

Labels: films, veg, weather

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |

*SPOILER FREE*

I finished reading the final Harry Potter book yesterday afternoon. It took me about four days to complete it - four luxurious days in my sunny back garden, I might add.

To be honest, after reading the sixth book I wasn't expecting much. I really didn't enjoy book six. I thought it was boring and sloppily-written and just too predictable. So, although I was hyped about reading the final book (nagging Mammy to go pick up the copy she reserved pretty much every other day), I wasn't expecting the ending to be amazing.

Somehow I kept away from all spoilers. Someone did mention a happy ending for those who survived and, well, that was hardly a spoiler, was it? After everything that happened to the characters you pretty much need them to have a happy ending of a sort other wise life is totally unbearable in fantasy world as well as in reality! ;) (Yeah, sure, I love dark books with bad endings as well but this is a kid's book and you don't want to stunt their hopes just yet, do you?)

So, did I enjoy the Deathly Hallows? Yes, I did - very, very much. Although not my favourite, it has probably put itself in second place. I just adored it. I can see that maybe the children might find it difficult at times but she's written it - as well as the others - a little bit more grown-up as each book as gone along, assuming her audience are growing up with Harry, so I think it's probably all right. I really did enjoy the book, and I liked that it still had heaps of stuff to work out (which I never have in the past, and didn't again until Harry did and then I slapped my forehead and said, "Yeah, of course - idiot!"), and that everything was revealed at the end. I already knew bits of the end, because even idiot me had worked out what was awful lie and what was not in the last book, but that didn't spoilt it. I quite liked being able to be smug for a couple of minutes.

My conclusion is: great book. Definitely an eight-out-of-ten'er for me. I was actually quite sad when I'd finished it. Mind you, that probably had something to do with the awful, pointless, unimaginative epilogue she slapped on the end, which left me going, "Huh?" Why not just have a big wizard party instead? Would have brought more relief to the readers, I think. I thought so anyway. I needed all the survivors together one last time - smiling ;) I hated the epilogue. I'll just skip that bit any time I read it in the future.

I haven't heard of a bad review of the book yet. I think everyone's enjoyed it. I don't see how she could write another one; the epilogue pretty much killed those ideas off. I'd rather she didn't anyway. We've got the films to keep us happy for another few years and the books will always be there to read. It's like the end of an era. Wonder what new fad will sweep the nation once "The Deathly Hallows" has been made into a film, made heaps of money and gone into the DVD heaven of the bargain bin?

Labels: books, films, harry potter, review

by Ys | COMMENTS? 1 | permalink |

So, the big announcement...

I'm not pregnant. I'm not moving out (yet), and, no, I'm not engaged. It's something no one will have thought of...

MARTHA'S BLOG HAS RE-OPENED

Please, please, please go and read all about her life. She's such a vain Old English Sheepdog and will be very upset if she doesn't get heaps of visitors. For those who don't know, Martha is my sister's very outspoken dog. So instead of her talking to me non-stop, I gave her blog back so she could talk to everyone else as well!

I had a lovely time down the pub Saturday afternoon. It was lovely and warm for once so we took advantage and walked the dogs down the pub. Sweepie got very over-excited by the traffic and nearly passed out with her frantic Pug breathing. And then when we got to the pub, she jumped on my lap and left a bit of poo on my top - lovely. This could only happen to me! I have to admit it did make me laugh, especially when I was stood in the pub's toilets trying to wash it off with wet, cheap toilet roll that kept disintigrating.

After that excitement, I got the new photo album out and finished adding the photos that we got printed (a 200-pager wasn't enough so we had to get another photo album this weekend):



Sweepie didn't want to sit on the floor because she couldn't see what was going on from there, so she sat on the bench with us. But because I was working on the photo album she had to sit on her father's lap... As you can see she wasn't so keen on that arrangement:



If you go to Martha's blog you can read her account of the day, as well. Really shows how people see events differently, doesn't it? Makes you think.

Yesterday I went to see The Simpsons movie. That was a letdown. It just wasn't as good as you'd expect it to be, considering they waited so long to make a film version. I wasn't impressed.

Last night I started the new Harry Potter book. Yes, I know it's a week late but Mammy didn't pick up the pre-ordered copy until this weekend. She knew how excited I was to read it so she's let me read it first (thanks, Mammy). I'm going to dedicate the rest of my day to it. A spoiler-free review will be added to the site in the next couple of days I'm sure...

Go and read MARTHA'S BLOG - now!

Labels: films, martha, photos, pub, ray, sweepie, the simpsons, websites

by Ys | COMMENTS? 1 | permalink |

I'm feeling a lot better today. Someone who needed to talk talked to me last night. I sometimes wish people found it as easy to talk as I do. The truth just comes spilling out whether I want it to or not. I think the only time I become tight-lipped is if something is really wrong or if I believe I'm having an hysteria attack over something I've just made into a big deal in my own head. Talking is good: everyone should do it more.

So hopefully this should be a good weekend. It's going to be the first one where no one's been ill or injured or tired I've experienced in about a month now. My weekend's have gone very weird. It feels like I have two Sunday's; Saturday's disappeared. This weekend we're going back to the cinema. To see The Simpsons's movie this time. I wish cinema trips were cheaper cos I'd love to every week. It costs about £7 per ticket, though. I remember the days when you could see a film for under a fiver! Ahh, I'm getting old... ;)

It's still not decided whether or not I'm seeing Amy Winehouse. I'm skint so Ray would be buying the tickets, but he's finally buying Little Red (a car) off his boss so isn't feeling very flushed at the moment. I'd rather move out than see Amy so I don't mind waiting 'til the next tour. Watch this space.

I just checked my site stats and, totally copying Fink Angel, I had to share what searches have brought people here. A lot about bruised feet (nice to see I'm not the only one who suffered a bizzare foot injury); picture of tonsilitis - I've never seen a picture of tonsillitis but I want to! The weirdest and most disturbing was: llyn llech owain pussy... What can I say? I didn't know there was any of that business going on down there, and especially not posted online. What kind of filth is going on down in that woodland park? Hmm makes me want to google it to find out... No, just did it and there was no porn there. Very strange. Aww and one person just googled my name: Ys. For the record that search wasn't related to the pussy search.

There might be some minor site interruptions over the weekend. I'm meant to be moving to a new server tomorrow. There isn't supposed to be any downtime but when do these things ever pan out? Next week there's going to be an announcement...

Labels: amy winehouse, cinema, films, gigs, life, the simpsons, websites

by Ys | COMMENTS? 0 | permalink |

As a last-minute night out idea, I went to the midnight showing of The Transformers on Friday. And it was so very, very good.



I'm very into my special effects - they have to be done correctly. This film just had it nailed! I think I squeezed the blood out of Ray's hand during every fight scene. I like pretty things and pretty things that go bang! are even more exciting.

It was a great story, as well as all the pretty Transformers. I love, love, love the films made for nerds. Where there is a very pretty girl and very geeky guy and you know from the first scene that the nerdy guy is going to somehow win over the pretty popular girl. Always makes me smile :)



And the nerd was a bit of a honey himself. I think he's the new "it" boy of the moment. Shia LaBeouf. That's one pretty name. I was sure my crush on him must be illegal in some way and Ray assured me the boy was just that: a boy. He'd seen him in one of the kid's films his nieces/nephews watch all the time. But I googled Shia and he is actually twenty-one. Two months older than Ray himself. So I suspect Raymond was just telling me he was young so he didn't have another young man to contend with in my lusty thoughts (he is still recovering from my barage of Harry Potter groans and moans) ;)

So, if you've got a night free: go and see The Transformers. The only bad thing about the whole film was that they didn't play the original theme song, which I remember from my childhood. But you do get a song from The Used so all is not lost ;)

Labels: films, photos, shia labeouf, transformers

by Ys | COMMENTS? 4 | permalink |

Last night I saw Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix. I was so stupidly excited. This is me pre-leaving with my HP scarf on:



There was a bit of a drama getting to the cinema - there was a huge traffic jam. So we cut around it, parked at the bottom of multistory carpark and then walked to the cinema. We were early so that was good :)

Saw a couple of good trailers. I want to take Ray to see The Transformers. It's usually difficult to get him to the cinema but I think this is a film he'll enjoy - cars that turn into robots - if that's not a boy film then I don't know what is!

At last the film started. It was one of those times when I wanted to peel back my scalp so I could just put the whole film straight into my head. The opening scene was so, so good. Someone next to me screamed. Me, I sat there open-mouthed and then went, "Woah." Very, very cool.



It was probably the best film so far - especially when you look at the book and then the film - there's pretty much everything in it. The only thing I noticed was missing was more of the Harry/Cho love affair but it was still in there. And the end - wow! Fuck me, that's what I call a wizard fight! It was as dark and depressing and disturbing as the book as well. I thought it might be too scary for the children but I didn't hear any crying.



There was such homo-erotic stuff in this film. I mean, way more than just the Harry/Ron glances and touches that we usually get. The Harry/Sirius relationship could so have been taken as an older man dating a much younger boy and them not being able to be together because of the age difference. And when Snape threw Harry into the chair and suddenly unravelled all these knickknacks I did wonder what the heck was going to happen next - even Mammy nudged me and asked if that bit was in the book, hehehe.

I loved Luna as much as I liked her in the book, as well. Great casting!



All in all I'd say it was a great, great film. I have to go and see it again now. I'm going to have to bribe Ray with some kind of sexual favour, I think...

(I LOVED this story. The BBC finally getting some comeupance for their We Rule The World attitude. Off with their heads!)

Go and see the film! Now!

Labels: films, harry potter, photos, ray

by Ys | COMMENTS? 4 | permalink |

I have officially dumped Ray.

No, not really. I've just sent him packing for the night tonight because I've replaced him with a much younger model.



Yep, tonight I go and see Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix for the first time. I can't tell you how excited I am. And not just in a pervy way. I adore the HP films. This book was one of my favourites as well. Books 4 and 5 have been my favourites so far. Last film was great. This film better had be, too ;)



If that picture's anything to go by it looks like it's going to be a lot of fun. How kinky does that look? You just know they've got paddles hidden behind their backs, don't you? ;)

(Pictures are from this gallery)

You should probably feel sorry for Ray, though. He has tonsilitis coming on. I drugged him up last night, gave him my Lockets and massaged his aching shoulders/back but I still told him he couldn't come over tonight cos of my date with Harry Potter. He's promised to stay in tonight and try and sleep off the illness (sleep is about the only cure). Don't worry: I'm not a completely evil girlfriend. I've promised to call him up and nag at him to go to bed as soon as I get back from the film ;) I'm nearly completely better, thank goodness. Still got my voice. And my tonsil isn't too painful anymore. Sweepie's sneezing, too. We've got our first Family Illness, I think.

Expect Harry Potter squee tomorrow :D

Labels: books, films, harry potter, illness, ray

by Ys | COMMENTS? 0 | permalink |

I'm dog-sitting again. This was a last-minute booking. Well, I only found out at the beginning of the weekend, and I was so busy arguing with Ray I didn't really remember until Monday. I think Ray and I are going through that almost-our-one-year-anniversary thing. Where we're both feeling stifled one minute and then worried it's all going to end the next. Stupid really. But when you get two people who over-think it's bound to bring up some bad shit. We're okay again now, anyway.

We went out for a McDonalds on Monday. We only ate there cos we wanted to get more houses and maybe win something. But turns out they only put stickers on our sandwiches and we already had all the houses. We only needed Fenchurch Station and we'd have won a TV. Ahh bloody McDonalds! The competitions ended now. The food tasted awful as well. The chips were rubbery and my veggi cheese melt had a piece of meat in it! Ray had extra mayo in his ;) Hehehehe.

To amuse ourselves after that disappointment we watched eight rabbits running around the hillside next to the car. Of course when I took a (about a dozen) picture they stood still and so were camaflouged. But believe me they were there:



Here's a picture of the bin with our crappy McDonalds rubbish in:



Ray then went to read the information board while I took heaps of photos. I told him to make it look like he was really interested:



While he read, I decided to wave at myself via my shadow:



Then we went into the little round hut and posed for some pictures:





We also watched Green Street, which Jem had bought me for my birthday cos I fancy Elijah Wood. The film was so bad it's not even worth rating. Needless to say, Elijah had so fallen in love with the UK during his time with his British LOTR friends that he thought he'd do any film based in the UK. Well, I hope that's his excuse cos, man... And who'd have thought little Nathan would turn out quite so bad? This film isn't even funnily bad - it's just bad.

It was a fun Bank Holiday :)

I was sent the link to Suicide Girls today (if you have myspace check out their pictures here). The concept is "different" looking girls half-naked/naked instead of run-of-the-mill girls half-naked/naked. I like the dark-hair-dark-make-up look so I really like the pictures. I think having a boyfriend has really brought out my lesbian tendencies. Maybe cos my straight ones are being satisfied?

Better go check on the dog then. He's very moody this time. Pouting in his bed all the time. Poor Zeb.

Labels: dog-sitting, films, lesbian, photos, ray

by Ys | COMMENTS? 0 | permalink |

I was strangely excited about the dog-sitting this time. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it was just the thought of some peace and quiet - my house is a little on the crazy side, what with five adults living there all coming and going at all times of the day and night, and a heap of animals who are not quiet and certainly like to make their presence known. Hey, I'm not complaining; I'm just saying it how it is. So some time away is always nice.

I think I've spent most of time reading - at crazy person speed. I finished "Idelwild" yesterday and got straight onto "Edenborn". So far I'm disappointed with the sequel. All the reviews went on how about amazing it was but... I'm not so sure yet. I think the problem is I fell in love with the characters in the first book and in this sequel they're all middle-aged, and when I say "all" there's actually only four of them that you hear about - and only one who you get to read about. I like Halloween. He was dark and moody and typically teenage-angst. He's now nowhere to be found. Unless he's the nutter who wants everyone dead. I guess I just loved the first book so much - it was really, really clever - that the sequel was always going to be a bit of an anti-climax. I hope it saves its own ass by the end. edit: Please don't think I'm dissing Nick Sagan cos I'm not. Proof? I bought the third in the series to read hehehe. Everfree by Nick Sagan. If I'd have known it was a trilogy I wouldn't have got so down on "Edenborn". The second installment of a trilogy is always the weakest of the three. Just the way the world works.

I've managed to squeeze in some TV watching. Of course. I don't have Sky at home so when I come here I make the most of trashy TV. Strangely, I've seen four episodes of "The Simpsons" I've never seen before, which never happens. So that was nice. I also managed to catch some lovely spine-tingling brotherly love between Nick and Arron Carter on the insane "House of Carters". Yes, they're a pair of dopes and, no, I don't really fancy them, and, of course, they are brothers so it makes my thoughts very wrong, but I can't help it. Declarations of love left right and centre, hugs and kisses and all that blonde hair - it always turns my head.

Tonight I'm going to watch Final Fantasy VII. I saw some of it at Ray's before getting distracted so nicked it to watch while I'm here cos it looked quite good. Pretty, if nothing else. I never really got the whole anime thing but I do like pretty things and this film looks very pretty.

The Deftones are playing right now. Jem compiled two CD's for me, which make up the set-list for their future gig in Bristol, which I am attending with her. I like the Deftones in that way where when she plays the albums I don't have to leave the room or start nagging her to turn them off. Chino has a lovely voice. I saw him for the first time the other week - what a cutie, too. Honestly, I'm a little apprehensive about the gig. Cos they're not one of my bands so I don't them that well. Hence why Jem has made me the CD's. She even printed out the words for me cos she knows how sadly I'm into lyrics.

Talking of live shows - I spent two hours yesterday morning trying to buy tickets to see Take That on their new tour in December. Of course, they are quote-unquote "cool" now so every one in Britain wants tickets to see them. The websites crashed, phone lines permanently engaged. It was looking hopeless when they released six new dates - split equally between London and Manchester. So we got tickets for Manchester. Cos we love it up there. And we didn't want to miss out on seeing the boys - men - cos we haven't missed a tour yet. So it should be good. I have to wait 'til next week to find out where my seats are, though. Damn, Seetickets. They're a bit shoddy. But what can you do when Ticketmaster crashes under the strain of it? You'd think they'd be more properly prepared; it's not like anyone is surprised by the demand for the tickets.

There's something in that, you know? I could invent a ticket website that doesn't crash when it's hit on my millions of people. Hmm... I wonder if that could be done...

Labels: books, deftones, dog-sitting, films, gigs, take that, tv

by Ys | COMMENTS? 0 | permalink |

I've found a way to occupy both Jemma and Ray so I can get some work done! They're both highly competitive so a game of Scrabble between them lasts about three hours. So I got some work done, swapped some files between the computer and laptop and even had time to curl up next to Ray and read while he finished the game.



The final score was... close, that's for sure. Jem won by 4 points. Well done, Jem. Which means they have to have a re-match. Of course.

I've taken some more blurry night photos from the car. I'm growing a little bit obsessed by them. The first one is off the stereo (very pretty) and the second is my absolute favourite and I may have to add it to my photo site.





My delightful daughter, Cordi, jumped in the box that Mammy and Daddy's presents arrived in. She has a thing for boxes. It's strange cos my boy, Yoda, has a thing for plastic bags as well. I must have warped them as kids some how...



Then, something awful happened. Sweepie got a bad eye. That's not uncommon in Pugs. They have big bulgy eyes that often get irritated. We put the eye ointment in it but I woke the next morning to the news that Mammy had taken her to the vets. She has a hole in her eye - probably a scratch from the cat (who she loves and he loves her, and they play for hours together, but the playing usually involves Sweepie's head being in his mouth!). It's ulcerated now and is shiny and blue. She may lose the eye and if she does I've promised to buy her a gorgeous red eye patch.

As you can imagine, should you know anything about Pugs, she milked it for all it was worth. She spent the whole day sleeping in my lap and flatly refused to wake up or acknowledge anyone until it was dinner time.





I'll keep you posted on how that turns out. Right now all we can do is wait. To cheer her up I bought her another Christmas present. She already has one - Katherine Jenkins's album; what can I say? The pug loves classical music! Well today I also got her a new lead. It's red (to match her harness) and has little reflective bones on it. It's for when she's well enough to go walking again.

I've turned into a sad, scary dog owner, haven't I?

Well, I also have an adorable cat! Two in fact but Yoda won't pose for the camera at all.



Ray finished work yesterday so we went out to celebrate that. I would say we were celebrating Christmas but neither of us have got the Christmas bug this year, which is very annoying cos I usually love Christmas. I had very many vodka and lemonades, which were very, very lovely. I played a game of pool and, of course, lost. In the end we slipped