Ideal Home Show

Today was our annual trip to the Ideal Home Exhibition at Earls Court. But this wear be bought enforcements. Firstly Mikey, Baron of Basingtoke, next Marcus, Chops of Hoxton and finally Mark, Lord Lavern, my dear friend from Disney.

We started the day meeting up at Earls Court station and then made our way down to Nando's so we could start the day without an empty stomach. You cant beat it, up market, Chicken and Chips. :-)

We walked down the street and made to Earls Court and found our way in with our easily bought advanced tickets which not only saved us £3 each but got us a complimentary copy of the Guide Book, 100 Years of Ideal home. Thats right it was 100 Years ago in 1908 that the Daily Mail, the first tabloid took to starting an exhibition that its readers could understand and mesh with.

One of the themes, naturallly, was 100 Years of Ideal Home Show. What would be the Idealistic, Top 10 Things invented of the last generation. Now you will test my memory to remember them all but I do recall, A Personal Computer, Microwave Oven, Refrigerator, Hoover Cleaner, Washing Machine, Telephone, Television, and can you believe it I cant remember the last three. But its astonshing to us, people of today. To try and even imagine what it was like in Blighty 100 years ago. Without the aid of a fridge Freezer. You know electricity was not available on the national grid until after 1939, even that said it wasnt until 1944 that 25% of the population had electricty. Of course in 1908 the average cost of buying ones home was £1000. We have to think back to the time of Mary Poppins. When women did not have the right to vote. Its hard to belive in this politically correct world that we live.

But it does make me wonder. No matter the achivements we have seen of this Island so great and yet so small. The Dyson (Bagless Vacume), The personal Computer, even thinsg from Pop Tarts to Calculaters. all born in my own generation. Its weird to think how we lived without them all those years. But survive we did. I guess thats al we willl do. Survive. Until at least the next Virus, Astoroid, Tidlewave, Earthquake or whatever comes along.

In truth, Mankind has lasted this long and so why shouldnt we last another Millenium. We just have learn to adapt to our environment more and well, respect nature as it respects us.

Ships in the Night

Ships in the night they say pass without even seeing each other.  I sometimes swear that is what its like for Dusan and I when our shifts don’t work out so great. I was away From Monday to Thursday at the NEC and Dusan was off on Wednesday and Thursday. Then he had to do a double Friday and Saturday. Plus with the clock change it was almost 430AM before he got in last night.

 

When the alarm went off at 9AM I was not too happy, especially as I waited up for him.  It felt like we had just gotten into bed.  The alarm was ringing to me like a huge claxon,  but to Dusan it was nothing. Zzzz Zzzz.  I will allow one time of alarm ringing off.

 

Beep Beep, Beep Beep, it sounded out again.  Dusan was dead the world. Infact he was still dead to the earth at 0910, 0915 and 0920.  Finally I got up (Yes on my day off ) and made him some coffee.  I think the poor love is worn out.  Thankfully we are both off tomorrow. 

Home sweet Home

Having spent 3 days in Birmingham with work and then stuck in traffic for four hours coming home its actually quite nice to spend some time at home again.

Friday afternoon I had arranged to meet my old flat mate and dear friend from Disney, Mark. I have known him as Lavern for nearly 13 years now but despite the fact that we both live in the same city, we dont see each other that often at all. Infact I had not seen him since our Wedding day back in July.

We met up in Soho for a coffee on Compton Street and started to catch up. Then decided that around 3PM it was time for something a little stronger so made our way down to the Duke of Wellington for a glass of Wine. We were litterally about to open the door when Warren came bounding out and told us that Dave the Best would be arriving shortly. So we went on in, bought a bottle of Pinot Grigio and found a table. Pinot Grigio is clearly very similar to Dairy Milk. They used to say that One Chunk leads to another and such was the case with our bottles of wine. 2 Bottles of wine in the pub and all on an empty stomach that by 6PM we decided we needed something to eat.

The little Thai Restaurant near to my office off Soho Square does a fabulous set meal menu before 7PM so we headed there for 3 courses. I settled for the Chicken Sate, Clear Soup and Thai Green Curry. Yummy.

By 8:00PM and a combination of lack of sleep and wine I was exhausted. I still dont know how Mark managed to go on to another bar after that. I am clearly a light weight these days.

Today I had to wait in for my Waitrose Delivery from Ocado. I'm always so impressed with the service and the quality and the fact that they delivered it to my door meant I didnt have to venture to a super market today. I did have to go to B&Q though and buy some more masking Tape, some more paint and some small brushed.

My evening was spent with TV, cooking dinner and chatting online. Dusan is working lates again so staying in and relaxing. The poor love has to work again tomorrow morning and wont be home until 3AM. But dont forget the clocks changed today, so it will be an hour later when he gets in.

For now all thats left is for me to say Goonight from me and Goodnight from him. :-) X

Back in Brum

It would seem that the powers that be think I belong in Birmingham as I have been assigned back here this week. I dont mind, its quite nice to get away once in a while. I dont really think that the NEC really counts as Birmingham either but its still close enough.

Arrived last night and we all had a welcome drink in the bar. Then Dinner followed but was way too late. Somehow it ended up being 3AM when I got to bed.

This morning I was up at 7AM and had to be in the conference centre by 745 to pain stakingly put together our exhibition stalls and set up computers. Then it was be on hand whenever people took a break to demonstrate. I felt much like working at the ideal home exhibition show.

We had a debriefing again in the bar which always makes me laugh. It sounds like I took off my Calvin Klein underwear in the bar :-) I wish! LOL.

My team all went into Birmingham for dinner, but after only 3 hours sleep I decided I would stay at the hotel and get dinner and an early night. Have had a really good day even if it was quite exhausting. Have you ever noticed how the bank holiday weeks, albeit shorter feel like one of the longest weeks of the year? Roll on summer I say. TTFN Neil x

Happy Easter

Dusan had to work loads in the week before Easter so we decided to have a fairly quiet one. After going to Jaspers Party at Profile on Thursday we spent Friday and Saturday at both B&Q (What does B&Q stand for anyway?) and painting in the flat.

Saturday evening we knew David N was in town and didnt want him to spend all of Easter alone so invited him over for an Easter Roast dinner and we all spent the evening just chilling with dinner, a few drinks and chatting.

We had talked about going to XXL but after all the DIY it was really nice to spend an evening just in with dear friends and my lovely husband. Plus with the weather barely above freezing it was not really the weather that makes you want to go.

DUsan is now back at work and I have just one more day off before I go back. Will be pleased to get back to work and even more pleased when the spring like weather arrives. Happy Easter one and all. X

Project Catwalk

To celebrate Jasper (Neil Sexton's Boyfriend) winning Project Catwalk we were invited along to help celebrate. Well when ones on the list off you go right? Destination: Profile Bar, Frith Street, Soho. We sidestracked to the opening day of Banana Republic on Regent street and arrived fashionably on time at around 645PM.#


Up one set of stairs, then two, we found ourselves being grilled by the Door Duchess. Bless, she could not find our names and we were on the list but the #lighting were so dim poor love couldnt see anyones name and knowing us in person that was all one needed to get in to the venue.

We spotted Robin on the door, then once inside Neil, who offered us a drink from the complimentary bar and we started to smoooze. It was so lovely to see big Ben and Amanda again. Robin was looking fabulous and how nice to share and celebrate in Jaspers Glory at winning Project Catwalk 2008.

Such lovely peoople its a shame we dont get to see them more often and I must say, Jamie Crisp, I'm not one that usually likes long hair but the look works love and you rock.

The after party was Jaspers way of saying Thank You to the crew of Project Catwalk. Having watched it avidly, it was nice to see him Celebrate in Glory and Congratulation Jasper.

So we sipped on our drinks as more people arrrived. The News of the World Papparazzzi arrived and were welcomed and we were stood thinking, oh I love that Dress, I loved that Jacket you created as familiar faces passed us by.


Jasper has promised he will get me a Mackintosh suitable for me! How marvelous, Project Catwalk Winner Jasper Garvinder will get me a mackintosh suitable for moi.

Was so nice to see all the old friends again and enjoy some time in their good company. We even met Neily Wheely's Brothers, which would be Marky Parky and Johnie Bull. Thank you for a fabulous evening, you really did make us feel like "Lucky Bitches" xxx

45 Days till Mayoral Elections

Well the countdown has now commenced. In forty five days the Polls will open and Londoners will get their say. I have to confess, after the cancelled election back in the Autumn I had thought that we were due a general election this spring, but it would appear I was mistaken and we will have to wait until next year at the earliest before the big voting day. Was it really only May 5th 2005 that we last voted and Labour won their third session in power.

So with the focus now on the London Mayoral election on May 1st 2008. The nominees have until the 28th March to get registered to be elected so at this stage its too early to call, but looking at the headlines over the past few weeks the top three seem to be; Current Mayor and twice winner Ken Livingston (Labour). Boris Johnston, (Conservative) and formally chief of Police, standing for Liberal Democrats is Brian Paddick.

Looking back the world has changed so much for the better with all of the things that the labour government has done since it took power from the strengthold of the Tories in a landslide win back in 1997. Section 28 has been over turned, we have an equal age of consent and most important of all we have an equality bill that enables Civil Partnerships and equality for Gay and Lesbian citizens. Furthermore the United Kingdom seems to be one of the most happening and trendy places to be in the world right now. Albeit the most expensive also. Much of the credit for this could be put down to the strength of our then Chancellor Gordon Brown. The Country was stable and the economy was booming. But now the tide has turned, Gordon Brown has taken over by stealth and many of the citizens feel its wrong that he should be in charge of the country without ever winning an election.

With the credit crunch seemingly getting worse by the day and more and more of the big banks starting to feel the squeeze, has the government started to loose their winning streak? With Boris in the lead in the polls presently with 43 percent of the vote and our current Mayor Ken Livingston lacking at around 33 percent. Is the Labour era coming to a close. Will Boris take the top job in London and lead us for the next four or five years? My personal faveourite was always Brian Paddick. After all, his a fello gay, but seemingly lacking in the polls with around 13%. Still its early days and it could still be anyones crown.

All I ask is that if you can vote, you do vote. Too many people in the world dont get a chance to have there say. So much rides on who wins the keys of the city. The forthcoming Olympics, the future of London Transport. 45 Days and we will know who will be the man with the crown. If you are not registered to vote you can find out how at http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/your-vote/registering.cfm

Heather Vs Paul

With the outcome of the divorce court yesterday and then Heather Mills tried to stop the full disclosion of the courts from being made public knowledge it was with relief I listened to the news today to hear that the Judge had over turned her request and the full details of the case would be made available to the hungry press.

I am all for justice and whats fair but the way that Heather paraded in front of the Cameras yesterday as though she was so bitter at only having recieved 24 Million from Paul. I know she had seeked 125 Million but when does greed not become greed? Surely, as one of Britains richest women she could be happy and content with 24 Million. But no, not Heather. She had to shout out in front of the Media for a full 12 minutes yesterday practically bad mouthing her ex husband of 4 years. It was really horrible television watching her ranting on national news. Now if I had 24 Million I would not be ranting to the media. I would be booking a fabulous around the world trip or doing something even more fabulous. :-)

More Disney Pics from 1995-1996

New Toys and New Pictures

Having had a major fault with my Laptop back in November and then suddenly the blue screen of death, I called up the Tech Guys (part of PC World) and my not so cheap insurance policy on the laptop. Still in the three years of owning the laptop they did have to take it in three times and the policy does cover for replacement of a broken computer even if it is accidental damage.

So in December 2007 they came and took the PC away and while they offered me a loan machine in the interim, I unfortunately declined, as usually the machine is back in my posession within a couple of weeks.

By February, having heard nothing I called them and asked if they had any news on my broken PC. I was told "We tried to deliver it back to you on January 31st".

I then spent every other day in February calling them and chasing the location of my laptop. Often being told it was at their workshop in Macclesfield or that they didnt know where it was. Clearly this was a lie as after at least 12 phone calls I finally recieved in the post vouchers for a new laptop. Clearly they had lost it all along. If only they could have told me this a month ago.

Still armed with my vouchers I headed off to the out of town shopping centre and found myself a new model with double the memory of my old machine. In addition I decided I needed a new printer / scanner / fax and the new wireless ones were reduced. Plus an upgrade to Office 2007. The new laptop runs Windows Vista. I feel so out of touch with Microsoft products, having been caught up with the CRM market at work for the past 3 years. So now I not only have a couple of new toys, I have new software to find my way around so I may teach this in the future too.

I came home last night after we finally ordered our new sofa. It could of course take up to 8 weeks to arrive, but at least we have found one that we like. Sitting on the floor gets a little uncompfortable at times.

I then installed the Scanner/Printer and have spent the evening going through all of my Disney Albums and uploading pictures from my Disney Days. It seems mad that even though it it was only 12 years ago this was a time when all photos were on Kodak Paper and this is the first chance I have had to get them in a Digital format.

I can imagine it will take me a lot of nights home to get them all finally scanned and onto my computer. Once I do, I shall be sure to post more.

Now the gym calls. I am meeting Mikey for Luncheon today and have to get to the gym for a bit first. Have a fabulous Day :-)

Utopia

We spent the afternoon rushing around shops to get the dimmer swicthes and paint we wanted plus the light for the bedroom to finish one of the rooms in our new appartment.

We didnt count into the equasion the fact that Saturday is football day and the roads were gridlocked. I asked my Tom Tom to direct me an alternate way after sitting 30 mins in trafic to find that the side roads were worse than the main. It took us over 2 hours 25 minutes to get about 2 miles up the road.

By the time I cooked a Chicken and we decorated the feature wall of the appartment we were too exhausted to unfortunately consider going out. But in these rare monents when the the best of plans dont come home to roost do you realise how actually it may have been the right thing. After all, here am I enjoying a loving evening in my beautifull new appartment with my loving dear husband and we both love each other to the end of the world. We both never thought we would ever have found this peace love and calming in our lives and here we both are. Happy and loving it and proud to say we really are "Lucky Bitches". Sweet dreams.

5 to 1o days

Finally we have our order for broadband sorted though the powers that be tell me it could be between five and ten days now. Thankfully we are now in a higher speed area and should benefit from double the speed we had before :-) Met and old work mate tonight in covent garden for a few drinks. Plus had a few messages from the lovely trish who'm i miss loads. Stopped for a paroge on the way home and ready for a nice early night. Tomorrow David is coming down from NOTTS and we are planning a night out on the town. Poor Dusan has to work again. A nice bath and Shiraz and i'll be sorted. Oh and a very happy Birthday to our dear friend Mark.

Broadband Update

I had a phone call this morning back from my ISP to tell me they were unable to implement Broadband on the line as anothe provider, AOL, already had the line tagged. So I firstly called BT who only gave me the new telephone number last week who informed me that I would need to call my Internet Provider and have them call BT Wholesale who would remove the block from the line.

So I call back Sky who tell me that I have to contact AOL to do this. I purposely left AOL after their appauling customer service in 2005 and vowed never to go back. Not only do they charge you a premium rate for the service but if you need help you are charged on an 0870 number which transfers you to Delhi where you have to repeat yourself three times just to be told "So what you are telling me is that this is not your account".

No, I do not use AOL (Always Off Line) and Never would again I tell him. He insisted that the reason they have the tag on the line is that a previous owner of my landline was with AOL. Due to "Technical Problems" they can not remove the tag until Wednesday at the earliest. I asked what time Wednesday and was told "Sometime before 12:00 Midnight" Are they taking the piss or what?

So Sky cant help me, AOL are useless and BT just pass the buck. At least Sky have set it all up so that once the Tag clears on Wednesday the broadband can be connected.

Do they not realise that Broadband is not a basic commodity but an essential that we can not live without. I have to check email for jobs on a daily basis and communicate with the outside world. It really is driving me crazy.

Meanwhile, my second computer, my laptop, which the tech guys at PC World seem to have lost since January 31st have finally found my computer and it should be delivered back to us on Wednesday. Proof that Computers like buses are never there when you need them and then 2 come alone at the same time.

I am sitting in an Internet cafe that stinks of fish and chips and will be so pleased to be able to surf once more in the compfort of my own home. Sigh.

Dusan is on a week of working late so I need my internet for entertainment when I am not unpacking boxes.

More soon. Much love

Neil

Mothers Day

I had planned to go visit the family today for mothers day only part way there my stearing went on my car and i had to give up going. I was gutted as it had been planned for ages and i've not seen them all in ages. Will try and go in the week to make up for it. Back at the flat we are still living out of boxes. Once we have bought the kitchen island we should have space for the last bits to have a home. I also need to sort through all our clothes and send some to Charity. Do we really need 100 tee shirts and twelve pairs of shorts. But all of this sorting takes time. yesterday i bought some sample paints and we have made a decision on the colour. Dusan won't let me do the painting saying he does a far better job. Blooming cheek. We are going to do it together later this week. Meanwhile almost two weeks since we moved in and i am still waiting on the broadband connection. We may be at 2008 but it would seem nothing rushes the service providers. We miss not having internet at home. Be sure to wrap up warm. Its supposed to snow tomorrow!