Traffic!

Today both Smiley and I had to work away from home...and we both needed the car. So, great plan, we drive to Bracknell, I go to work, Smiley takes the car and drives to Crawley. When he's done he'll go back to Bracknell, pick me up and we'll go home and I'll go back out for my Committee meeting. Sounds fine on paper...

Smiley left Crawley at 4:30 today. He then picked me up at 6 and dropped me off at my committee meeting at 8:30. I was 3o minutes late!

Apparently it takes an hour and 18 minutes to get home from Bracknell

And 49 minutes to get from Crawley to Bracknell

This obviously wasn't the case. There was an accident on the M40 so traffic for miles round was backed up with traffic trying to get on the M40, traffic trying to go around. It's a nightmare!

Leaving the traffic behind when we move back home is not something I'll miss!

Soggy!

Today could have started better. Yes I got home from Boston late yesterday and I will post about that...but right now I'm too tired to think.

I usually check my work emails first thing in the morning even if I'm heading into work. Mainly as I don't want to get there and find out that I didn't need to go in as the person I was supposed to meet wasn't going to be there.

Usually I'm quite careful and this morning nothing was different. Smiley brought me up a cup of green tea to drink while I check emails, do my banking and of course have a little look round facebook...

This morning I spilt tea all over my work laptop, and I mean ALL OVER. It was a full cup and I hadn't even had a sip. But bumped it and like slow motion it poured all over the keyboard of my work laptop. It turned itself off (or shorted out...) and as I picked it up tea poured out of it. I tipped it on its side and left it to dry for 2 hours but eventually had to go into work so packed it up and away I went.

2 hours later I got to work (traffic was horrible today) and went to the IT department where he had a look...it wasn't good. Still wet and warm (not sure how it stayed warm for so long). As he was taking out the hard drive so I could use it with a loaner laptop, the very friendly technician said "oh dear...I've never seen one this bad!" The hard drive which is pretty much sealed up in its own compartment was dripping. Fortunately the hard drive still worked and I didn't lose any of my work (Whew!)

Now I have to wait 2 weeks to get my laptop back and I have to use the loaner for my emails and such and another one that we use for demo's for my development work. The loaner one is a bit wussy and won't run a VPC (very nerdy stuff...I'm not going to bother explaining). So now I get to lug 2 laptops around with me for 2 weeks all because I figured my laptop fancied a cup of tea!

My Smiley

I'm sitting upstairs, wondering if I should blog...of course I should...but about what...How I'm still not feeling that great...how I've not run in 2 weeks... or not done any exercise in over a week...how I'm going to Boston in 2 sleeps and will have trouble sleeping tomorrow night as I'm so excited...nah...boring...and well, I've said it all already!

But here I sit...chatting away with Yvonne...and I hear Smiley downstairs...He's watching TV. and I hear him Giggle.

This is why I love this man...this is why I want to spend the rest of my life with him. He is so easy going and light hearted that just being around him has made me a better person.

There is an ad (well more than one...but this one comes to mind) on the telly. It is on channel 5 or Five US can't remember which one. But it's in between the breaks for CSI. And it's this American Cop who's a total idiot (it does make fun of Americans...sorry...Funny...and so true!) and there is a whole series of them and they're two part. So the show breaks for ads and the first half of the ad comes on...all the other ads are shown, you know, juice, fence painter, that sort of thing...and then right before the show comes back on it shows the second half of the ad. I have no idea what the ad is for but it's very funny!

Basically this American Cop gets hit on the head with a parking barrier...and Smiley laughs every time he sees it. I can't seem to find it on the web otherwise I'd post it here.

Regardless...I found out the ad he was actually laughing at was the Budweiser ad with the rubber floors.

The fact is this man can laugh! And it's so contagious as well. Sometimes we'll end up laughing so hard about nothing at all...that laugh that you just can't stop and when you do you just burst out laughing just as hard and loud as before. You know what I'm talking about...the laugh that splits your sides and makes you need a wee!

I love my Smiley because he laughs at the stupid commercials on the telly!

Where do you like to eat?

I've been tagged by Yvonne (Evey) to share with you our favorite places to eat. Now this is quite a difficult task as Smiley and I don't eat out very often...I could very easily list my five favorite eateries in Victoria as I used to eat all the time there...but here goes nothing.

List your top five favourite locations to eat, locally

1. The Tamarind Tree: This has got to be my favorite spot for an Indian. It does cost a couple of quid more than the other Indian's in town. When I first moved to England I didn't like (east) Indian food very much but over the past four years I've grown to love it! My favorite dish is the Lamb Xacute. It's so garlicky and I stink for the whole next day but it's sooooooooo good! We always like to start with poppadoms and they come with yummy dips. Even though it's super hot I love lime pickle and often get cravings for it.

2. Caffe Uno: I know that this is a chain but they've put up with a lot of crap from me. Smiley's Sister-in-law and I used to frequent this restaurant on our lunch dates when I used to work in the town. We used to get 2 for 1 specials and they often have lunch for a fiver which was a bargain! The food is good, Italian style, so Pastas and Pizza...that sort of thing. When I left my job in town I had my leaving party there. They kept telling us to keep the noise down...fair enough...we were quite loud and in the middle of the restaurant. I don't remember much from that night but I do remember nearly falling down the stairs on my way to the loo...Thank goodness David was there to take care of me! There is a waiter there who regularly serves us at lunch and he was unfortunate enough to get the short straw to serve me and my rowdy work mates. Smiley and I took some friends there the other week when they were visiting from New Zealand, good food, good wine and good friends!

3. Choi Tang: This Chinese restaurant opened in the past year. My future sister-in-law switched from Caffe Uno to Choi Tang. We get a 3 course meal, appetisers, soup and main with rice or noddles for £7. Not bad and there is tons of food there! The noodles are my favorite bit...they're fried not too crispy and nice and thin...super, super yummy! My favorite thing out of everything at this restaurant is the company I keep.

4. The Anchor: I was really beginning to get stuck...and as I was trying to think of another "local" place and going through the pubs which I have eaten at and then remembered the Anchor. When Smiley and I lived in Ware we went here a couple of times and even elected to take my brother there when he was visiting. The portions are big and the food is great. It has a lovely atmosphere as well and a great beer garden. The ceilings can be low so if you're tall...make sure you duck!

5. FISH 'n' CHICKn': Ok. I'm hoping that you're all expecting this...but it's my local Chippy. I like fish and chips but I love the southern fried chicken and chips from this place. Even before we moved and this wasn't our local chippy we used to drive up and get our grease fix. It's a small chain as there is another one in Ware and probably some others else where. So when I feel like a nice greasy dinner this is where we go and then sit in front of the telly eating it.



Ok...I know that wasn't very exciting but now for my 5 tagee's

Tanis - As we'll be spending a few days in Calgary in February it would be nice to know of some restaurants to eat in that you recommend.

Matt - I'm sure you and your lovely wife have some haunts in Roseburg.

Julia - Now that you're a new lovely married couple I'm hoping you and Jody will be spending some time together at some of Victoria's lovely restaurants. Tell me what they are so I can live vicariously through you!

Kirsten - With two little kiddies it would be interesting to see what your favorite places to eat would be with or with out the kiddies and to compare that with Tanis's selection.

Bethany - this is a horrible and sly way of getting you to start blogging! I would love another way of keeping up with what you are up to these days!

Once the five of you have completed your post can you please let Nicole know. She started this and is keeping track of it all...very cool!

I know it wasn't as good as Yvonne's post...but like I said...it was difficult for me as we don't eat out very often (and I don't have pictures for you either)!

weigh-in day...and Happy housework!

Well, For those of you who don't know I'm trying to lose a couple of pounds by the wedding...actually, I'm always trying to lose a couple of pounds...but that's besides the point. I joined Tesco diets...which is affiliated with ediets...I've always been curious about them but never joined until I got an email from Tesco's saying I would get 1000 points if I joined. Since I'm a club card junky...I jumped at the chance!

I've been on the diet for 4 weeks now and it's been really, really good. I have chosen the Healthy Eating diet as that way once I'm used to it I can eat like this forever! I've never been one for fad diets as there isn't much point if you just go back to the way you used to eat once you've lost the weight...turns out it just piles on so much quicker...or so I've heard...

I lost 3lbs this past week...which is great! They do say 1-2 lbs a week is perfect...and I would be very happy with that. Over 4 weeks I've now lost 5lbs so the 1-2 lbs a week rule is working just fine. I'm unsure if the reason I've had such a good result this week is because I've stuck to the plan (almost perfectly) or because I've not been very well.

Technically I should be down to my goal weight by July. Which would be great! I'm hoping that I'll feel well sometime this week so I can get a run in and a swim.

I love swimming...it just takes a lot of effort to go and do it. I always feel slimmer after I've had a swim. I usually only swim for 20 minutes and I do about 40 lengths...that's 800 meters. I have in the past got right up to 46 lengths which is 920 meters...but I'm not sure what it is about swimming...possibly its the fact that as you drag yourself through the water you are stretched just a tiny bit and end up being a bit taller...so that means that the weight is distributed differently...lol! Ok...I know I'm talking out of my A$$ but I do feel trimmer after a good swim!

Today is supposed to be Happy Housework day...well, technically yesterday was but there wasn't a chance that I was going to manage it yesterday. I'm feeling better...not great still, but better than before...but I still don't think I'm up for Happy housework...or any housework for that fact. I may just crawl back into bed. The only thing that may change my mind is the fact that it's a lovely day out and I love hanging the washing out to dry...I guess I could do the washing...Bathroom will have to wait till later in the week.

I'm also very excited about going to Boston...a little nervous in fact...but very excited. Only 5 more sleeps! yipee!

Stupid Cold!

Ok...so last Monday night I posted saying I felt not great...and I went off to let the sleep fairies do their work. Well, it turns out they forgot to visit me on Monday night as Tuesday I was worse...and Wednesday when I travelled to Bracknell even worse. Thursday would have been the day I would have stayed home from work as I felt terrible...but I couldn't as I had to go to London to do a presentation for a client...2 hours of talking did not make my throat feel any better. I got home about 3:30 on Thursday and crashed...I slept for about 3 hours and stayed in bed all night. Friday I didn't go to work but stayed in bed all day watching tv and movies...Today...still not well enough to go anywhere so again I'm in my jim-jams watching movies and surfing the internet every so often...



I hate being ill. Especially this time as I feel it's drained me so much! I've not even been able to sleep very well as my sore throat has been killing me. I'm glad that I didn't have much planned for this weekend as it meant that I don't have to feel too bad about not doing anything this weekend.



I'm definitely on the mend so I will be much better for our trip to Boston on Friday! For those of you who stop by, Thanks...feel free to leave a comment as it's nice to know I'm not just talking to myself. :)

9 Sleeps!!!!

OK! For those of you who don't know...Smiley and I are going to Boston for the long weekend (the 25th). Yvonne and I haven't seen each other in something like 11 or 12 years. We lost contact after I moved to Victoria, these things happen. But we are now in contact again and it's great. I'm so excited to see her and give her a great big hug! We're going to have so much fun together!

I'm completely addicted to Facebook and I've recently added an ex from High School in Victoria. He wrote on my wall and said the following:

"It's weird I haven't seen you in 10 years yet you still mange to pop into my brain every time I smell strawberries or hear the name Yvonne (did she really exist or was she an imaginary friend I cannot remember)"

The thing is...I don't remember talking about Yvonne that much...but I must have if I made that sort of impression.

Yvonne and I had some great times and even though I don't remember all of them I do remember the time we spent on the phone talking about everything under the sun! Since February we've been back in contact...Thank you Amanda! We now talk nearly every day again via MSN Messenger (We'd be poor if we called on the phone every day!)

We're both looking forward to seeing each other again and we have lots planned. Will be great fun! Stay posted for "The Adventures of Evey and Evey!"