Sunday 29 April 2012

It's raining men....

or actually, just raining rain.  I wish I could add a "hallelujah" at the end of that but it just isn't appropriate.  It's rained for at least 3 years now and I've had enough.  My one "waterproof" coat isn't actually waterproof at all and my beloved dome umbrella has blown inside out, past repair.  I pray for a day when the sun shines and all is well with the world again.

Another short blog from me again this time round.  I've been working and trying not to spend money on things I don't really need to spend money on.  It's going to be an expensive month for various reasons so staying in has become the new going out....slightly.

I've been plugging away on the freelance front and have got some more clients.  Marketing is part of my daily routine still though until I have enough work to fill my week, every week, and I'm making enough to keep me in the manner to which I am accustomed!

In celebration of getting some new clients, I treated myself to a massage last weekend.  If I could, I'd go every week but that sort of thing is a long way off yet.  I go to a salon called Oxygene just down the road and they're great.  I sometimes feel for them having to work on my knotted shoulders (from years of bad posture).  They probably have to have a massage themselves afterwards!  Not sure if it's a sign of a good massage or not but this time round, I felt particularly light-headed when I left and couldn't find the exit!

All I've done apart from work I think is go out to eat a bit.  Since I wrote last, Hot Pepper Jelly and The Railway Tavern have been on the list.  I love Hot Pepper Jelly and it's obvious that the rest of Crouch End do too.  I havn't had a bad lunch there yet and I'm happy to say that the afters (particularly chocolate & guinness cake) are as good as the sandwiches.  And as for the Railway Tavern, gone are Jimi Mistry and Max & OB from Hollyoaks but the Sunday Roasts are a winner - todays pork, followed by Sticky Toffee Pudding and a side order of vicious cloudy cider went down a treat.

And with this episode of Cath -v- Food, I'm off.  Next time I will have more of interest to write about, with a trip to Brighton and a Bank Holiday Weekend.

Sunday 15 April 2012

Mid-month ramblings....

I've realised that no blogging has occurred since the beginning of April.  Were you concerned Frock Fans?  My silence is probably due to "not doing very much of interest" and "mostly doing work this weekend".  Boo I hear you say.

Was expecting great things from a soul night advertised at the 100 Club the other day.  Gary Crowley and Ady Croasdell down as djs?  A couple of mod bands?  Couldn't go wrong surely?  If a room packed full of drunk annoying students was your thing, you'd have loved it.  We, however, didn't.  Perhaps I was drunk and annoying once too but that's just no excuse.  Kids - I have personal space issues and a hatred for rucksacks. Please stay at home next time.  Shame about the audience as the music was good and I'd have quite liked to have a dance.  As my fellow 100 clubber that night commented "Thank god I didn't open a new pair of tights"!!!!!!

Easter weekend continued with a visit from a Brighton friend.  We had a quick look round Barboot in Crouch End and ended up in Kiss the Sky for a couple of cheeky Espresso Martinis.  The music in Kiss the Sky was pretty good - Two Tone and Soul, but the Martinis were better.  Note for self - must go during happy hour the next time.

It turned out to be a pretty quiet Easter due to the weather being rubbish, not having much money and there not being much on.  In consolation, we went to check out a new restaurant in Crouch End for a well-deserved lunch - The Blue Legume.  We were pretty impressed with the place - the food was delicious (they had halloumi on the menu - nuff said) and they gave me a discount card for the next time we visit.  The next time we visit, dessert!

Back to the Society Club Shop this week for yet another excellent exhibition/book launch.  This time round - "Punks Dead".  Gorgeous, gorgeous pics of Siouxsie etc.  Siouxsie apparently made an appearance, as did Mark Moore - I didn't see either but wish I had as it would have made my latest "Celebrity Spot of the Day" top quality.  The Society Club Shop & Film Club have been quite a big part of my social life in the past year - thanks Babette, Carrie & Robert!  Long may it continue.

....and maybe next time I write this waffle, it might be half interesting.

Sunday 1 April 2012

Happy April.....

It's gone mid-day so I can't even make up an "ever so hilarious" April Fools blog for you.  Instead, a few rambling paragraphs about nothing in particular.

Since I last rambled, the clocks have changed, I've lost more weight, gained some more (work) clients and not done much else.

I went for a casting to be a Cilla Black looky likey for a Simian Mobile Disco video.  (Nope, I'm not 100% sure who they are either!).  I knew straight away that I wasn't in with a chance when they asked me to do acting type things and talk about religion on camera.  As my entire "acting" experience consists of standing around in bad wigs, generally with "husbands" that are 30 years older than me, I didn't really have a hope in hell.  What I'm looking for, dear casting agencies, is a part where I can keep my hair as it is and wear something resembling normality.  Thanks.

Mother and a friend came to visit for a few hours the other day and we went to Highgate Village to partake in a spot of lunch.  Spotted:  One Mr Diggle, plus a few North London posh folk. 

Society Film Club on Monday showed one of my favourites - Absolute Beginners.  Watching the film when it came out in the early 80s made me want to move to London.  Not that I really considered living in something resembling a squat off the Portobello Road and keeping my clothes in the fridge, but the overall feeling of the film definitely had something to do with me wanting to escape the countryside back then.  The soundtrack is fantastic and includes one of the best Style Council tracks made - Have You Ever Had it Blue?  I seem to remember the film wasn't everyones' cup of tea but it was mine!  Well done lovely Eve Ferret for her part as Big Jill.

And bringing me back up-to-date - I'm here in deepest, darkest, Wiltshire at the moment, for my Gran's 89th birthday.  The said Gran has just cooked a top notch Sunday lunch and refuses to let me do the same until she's lost the use of all four of her limbs.  I'll let her carry on as her Sunday lunches would always be better than mine.  Happy Birthday Gran!

The trip to Grans was the usual eventful affair - having to use the local community bus service which makes me feel positively posh and urban.  Every passenger a character out of League of Gentlemen.  Two mad men commented on my hair colour and no doubt continued to comment after I'd got off.  I'm a sight in these 'ere parts you know.

Wiltshire this time has basically consisted of eating out.  A Lee family meal to celebrate Rays' birthday in Marlborough on Friday, and an English family meal yesterday to celebrate Grans.  I will now live off dust for the rest of the week, to make room for Easter Weekend shenanigans.

Is it cocktail time yet?