Why isn’t life like a Disney movie?

Why is dating / trying to date so bloody hard?!? It’s honestly like a full time job that could give you RSS in the process! My views on dating and romance have always been very fairy-tale like, girl meets boy, girl falls in love, girl and boy live happily ever after. Well let me tell you, life is not Disney and parents should tell their little girls (and boys) this when they’re growing up. You won’t find seven little men Hi Ho-ing to help you find your prince (unless perhaps you work in some stables with a bunch of jockeys), you won’t first meet your prince being woken up by him with a kiss (if you are woken up by a complete stranger in this way I suggest testing out all known Body Combat moves, screaming loudly and calling the police) nor will Mr Charming track you down should you lose a shoe on an alcohol fuelled evening. And finally any street rats you come across are likely to remain rats and won’t become princes who ride magic carpets and Mrs Pots is unlikely to prettify any Beasts out there either.

I honestly don’t think I’m asking for the earth, when I’d simply like to find a tall, dark, handsome, chances are foreign (it’s my thing – moth to a flame and all) blokie who has a slight sarcastic arrogance about him, but will treat me like a princess (and have good genes, thinking ahead!)  Oh and a more recent addition to my list of requirements is voice – He needs to have a dreamy voice and accent, please.  It seems apparent following recent dates that my ‘Tall’ requirement is unlikely to be achieved as men these days appear to have stopped growing around the age of 15 and at a push have a height of 5ft8″!  I’m not the tallest of girls, 5ft7″ but I do like to don a sassy pair of heels (although following a visit to the doctors this week and being advised I have the onset of osteoarthritis in my knees flats are becoming my new best friend) and therefore ideally I’d like to meet someone who is at least 5ft9″ plus.

Having said this the last date I went on was perfect (and he’s probably 5ft8/9″ – it’s hard to gage when you’re similar heights I think).  I didn’t once compare him to SkoA, he was the perfect gentleman, he travelled to my town (he lives in East London) and it was a really lovely evening.  But since it went well and I quite like him it’s almost a dead cert that it won’t go any further as the pattern seemingly goes like this – I like them, they don’t like me and then vice versa, the ones I’ve written off adore me (god knows why – complete mystery!)  So as it stands I’m very much on the shelf, a dusty shelf pushed right to the back, likely to go out of date!

So April sucked, I hated that month and I had a feeling that I was going to hate August too.  I’d prepared myself for an answer to a question, I asked the question last month, holding my breath in the process, which I felt I’d been doing since August last year.  I got the answer, ‘No, not yet, not for a while yet’  I felt like I could breathe again; not fully, not full deep breathes but a little, just enough to get some oxygen into my lungs and give me a little more life.  Fast forward to this week and I find out the answer to my question wasn’t the ‘not for a while yet’ and in fact as I had thought whilst I’d held my breath before, the answer is actually ‘Yes!  Right now!’  It now feels like a bullet has been shot through my heart for a third time.  To quote Swifty “Band aids don’t fix bullet holes” so what the hell will?!?!  I’m hoping that I’ll find the answer with my trusty one again, off again love – Gym!  Avoiding games, will also undoubtedly help my heart recover.  A player will tell you not to hate the player, hate the game, and well that’s been my problem; I don’t hate the player (not even now) it’s the game I’m not a fan of.  That’s a bit of a lie, the game is lots of fun initially, it’s just when you start losing it slowly becomes shit and you get burnt!  Lesson learnt – Don’t play with fire (and don’t fall, head must at all times rule heart!!)

My on off love affair with the gym and fitness continues as usual.  I’ve recently started a diet plan (fallen off the wagon a little the past week or so, aching heart and buggered knees are to blame!) and Phil has given me some workouts to follow alongside my weekly PT sessions.  I know I say this in pretty much every post, but it is all about ‘Mission Love Me’.  I’m certain that once I conquer this sodding self-loathing and hatred towards myself and my body that I’ll be happy and in turn good things (beings) will come my way – Fingers and toes crossed.  I have also been told that I need to fish in different ponds!  My response to this remark (from a ‘happily’ married man) was “You find and tell me what pond I should fish in and I shall fish it!”  It’s highly unlikely he’ll be able to find me a pond as I am almost certain the majority are dried up! I will of course be the first to take that back should a recommend pond produce a tall, dark, handsome prince; but lets face it, going on past fishing excursions it’s more likely to produce frogs and toads!

This time last year I was in Italy and the year before that I was sunning myself in Sharm El Sheikh; today I’m stuck at work and it’s grey, wet and miserable (very reflective of my mood) outside.  Get me on a plane – I desperately need some R&R!!  My sister and I did have a lovely little visit to the beach last week.  We went ‘Out Out!’ to see Micky Flangan at the BIC in Bournemouth on his ‘An’ Another Fing’ Tour – It was HILARIOUS!!!  The two of us haven’t laughed that much in a long time and teamed with a stroll along the beach, sea air and a Margarita in Chiquitos it was just what the doctor order and laughter is definitely a marvellous drug.

So this is basically where I’m at right now: holey damaged heart, knackered knees, drinking a hideous concoction (it’s certainly not GIN!) in the mornings as per Phil and the diet, trying to again increase my gym visits and get some sass back!  I’m definitely still a work in progress, but i’m getting there, slowly.

L x

The Moans

So perhaps there is something to say for endorphins – I’ve always pooh poohed the concept that there is such a thing as happy hormones, but having been totally and utterly shit for pretty much a whole year with regards to gym visits my moody miserable bitchy hormones (I simple call them The Moans) have been spiralling out of control and have taken me to a whole never level of Mizzog. So I think those little ‘Dolphins’ (dolphins always seem so happy don’t they) aka endorphins have in the past helped counter balance ‘The Moans’.  So I 100% need to get my lardy Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian combined sized arse back in the gym – I need some happy in my life and I’m certain my on again off again love, Gym can help me; so tonight I have got back on the wagon (or bike in this case) to start my quest to find some happiness (mission love me recommences for the hundredth time!)


So the reason for the lack of posts is plain and simple there’s been No Gym, some Gin (thanks to Craft Gin Club and my birthday) and No Games what so ever have been played (certainly no scrabble!!).

Although I’ve had the odd burst of gym enthusiasm over the past year, my visits have dwindled so much that I’m shocked every time I do manage to walk through the door and my card allows me through the barrier. I’m very much back to square one! Fitness levels are non existent right now, I managed 20.5km on the bike tonight in 65 minutes – Pathetic! And following my recent trips (oh yeah they’ve happened in the time since my last post, along with my birthday and my sisters) evidence of everything I’ve eaten and drunk over the past few months has taken residence on my stomach! Joy!  

My holiday in Barcelona was lush – Had the best time. It was relatively lazy, I’m really not sure how Mum and I managed to get some much of the touristy bits done last time we went, but because we had seen so much already we just enjoyed the city and the gorgeous Spanish sun. Race day on the Sunday was particularly hot especially being sat on a stand with no cover what so ever; my freckles definitely got topped up! We spent a day at the beach, I managed to have a little swim in the sea, and just enjoyed some much needed R&R. Following on from our last visit where I took my Mum to Uma (an alternative restaurant, think Heston wacky) I booked us into a more suitable restaurant this time around – Accès (www.acces-bcn.com/en) it was amazing! Staff were a delight and the food was outstanding; my Mum actually said that it’s the best meal she’s ever had. Throughout the holiday I also enjoyed numerous gin and tonics and sangria – It would have been too rude not to – Me gusta gin y tónicos y sangría.


Me and Sissy also spent a lovely weekend in Edinburgh (pre birthday girlie getaway). We flew up from Southampton on a little noddy plane (terrifying). Checked into the hotel and then had a little look around before heading back to the room to get ready for dinner. We had booked into Forage and Chatter (www.forageandchatter.com) and had the most amazing steak, it was delicious, so yummy. It would appear that Forage and Chatter is the place to go as Justin Trudeau visited a few days later whilst staying in the city. My sister then found an absolute hidden gem of a bar called Panda & Sons (www.pandaandsons.com) Such a cool place, from the outside it looks like a barber shop, you walk downstairs and through the bookcase door into the bar. Table service so no pushing and queuing, cocktails delivered right to you – Amazing!  We spent the next day exploring the Castle and the sights and then as we were in Scotland thought it was only fitting to try some Whiskey, so we went on the Whiskey Experience (which following on from the Bananaman cocktail my sister had had in Panda the night before we weren’t so sure how much of a good idea this was). All went well and we both found whiskeys that we like – It will obviously never be my tipple of choice, no spirit can replace my love for gin.


Although I’ve been feeling completely low and out of sorts of late, I have shared some really lovely fun family days with my Mum and Sister namely at stately homes and palaces. On my birthday we spent the day at Blenheim Palace and then a few weeks later we took a day off work and visited Hampton Court. Our family days have had a rather regal grand theme to them. Last Monday was my sisters birthday, she wanted to visit The Tate Modern so that’s exactly what we did. I was very sceptical about this, however I found myself appreciating some (you can’t appreciate all of it, a yellow Perspex triangle stuck on the wall and varying filled levels of Coca-Cola bottles are not art in my opinion, but what do I know?!?) We ended our visit with a scrummy afternoon tea at The Swan at The Globe (www.swanlondon.co.uk/afternoon-tea) complete with a Love Potion cocktail (I’m still awaiting the effects however)


To summarise, I’ve not been to the gym (and my tummy proves this) I have enjoyed some rather scrummy food (gin and sangria) in Barcelona, Edinburgh, Newbury (www.lussokitchen.co.uk = Best gelato and http://www.arigatodining.co.uk) and London (again my overindulgence is clearly visible).  

This time last year I was shattered and instead of turning a negative into a positive I’ve allowed this feeling to make me feel shit. Well enough’s enough and I need to take control again and to quote the gorgeous Bradley Simmonds I need to “Get it done” 

So watch this space 
L x

A 1/4 of mardiness

How is March already? Where the heck did January and February vanish to? After my first post of 2017, just hours after Big Ben had chimed and I bid farewell to 2016, my aim was to get back on track with everything and to keep my blog up to date. Hmmm given that it’s now the 22nd March and this is my second post, it’s safe to say I’ve not got off to the best start!

I started January off with the best intentions only for them to get scuppered with me catching a sodding cold! My first gym visit of 2017 was as I had mentioned in my 1st January post on the New Year’s Day Bank Holiday Monday – I was sat outside waiting for the gym to open, such a keen bean. I think I managed one other visit that week and that was it until I felt well enough to hit the gym again on the 23rd January! Since I’ve recovered from my inconsiderate cough and cold I’ve really been trying to get my derriere back in the gym. Phil is pushing me in my PT sessions (I’m trying to be less moany – I told Phil it was my new years resolution, to be less of a moany bitch in our sessions and that was the real reason why I’d been poorly and not hitting the gym; meaning I got through a whole month of keeping this resolution haha). Phil made me do box jump thingies holding a weight a few weeks back – I can’t jump so this was the most hideous thing EVER! Plus he knows I’m single and he’s making me look fricking idiot! I think it’s pay back for all my past (and future) moaniness!!

9C5A024E-FC5D-4778-8A20-A08D6E20AF26

I felt rather sorry for myself in January with girl flu (the lesser strain of man flu) and then February came along and I was over the month before it had even begun! The shortest month of the year seemed to go on and on and on. At the start of the year I had high hopes that 2017 was going to be a good year, but now almost a quarter in I’m not really feeling it (what exactly ‘It’ is, I’m not entirely sure, but I’ve definitely not got the good vibes). One part of the year so far I have been a fan of however is my gin delivery from Craft Gin Club www.craftginclub.co.uk – In January I received the most delicious botanical gin distilled by Glendalough, Irelands first craft distillery (www.glendaloughdistillery.com) It’s sooooo good (a trip to the Emerald Isle is definitely on the cards to replenish supplies) My next bottle is due to land on my doorstep early April, I can’t wait!! #treatsforme

2017 finds me still very much single and living in hope that my Mr Right (I’ll settle for Mr Right Now) is waiting for me just around the corner (I obviously will not be holding my breath and do expect to see pigs fly before I happen to stumble across said Mr) I really wish I would stop falling for complete and utter arseholes and start seeing and liking some of the ‘Nice’ blokies that are out there – Why do us girls like the arrogant shits out there?!? Why do we rip our own hearts outs?!? Answers on a postcard please. I saw a post on Instagram the other week that I reposted, it said this: Email 12 years ago: ‘If you don’t forward this, you’ll be unlucky and single forever’ – Me 12 years ago: ‘LMAO, yeah right, OK’ – Me now: ‘Very much single and very unlucky. Shit’ I think Elite Daily could be onto something here, I shall be searching through my old emails for any chain mails so do expect to receive spam from me in your inbox; in the hope that I can rectify my singleton status! My sister told me that I might have to kiss a few more frogs before I find my Prince (frogs, more like pond scum) Depressing isn’t even the word!

IMG_0610

The new MotoGP season starts tomorrow – So perhaps my fave men (and their leathers) will pick my mood up a little; I’m certain my little trip to Barcelona in June for the Catalunya race will put a smile on my face (for a week at least) I loved mine and Mum’s trip there a few years ago, bikes, sights, beach, food and drinks – What’s not to love about that?!? Me and Sis had a fab weekend in Camden a few weeks back, we saw The Chainsmokers at The Roundhouse, which was amazing and had a lush meal at Gordon Ramsay’s York & Albany.  We’re also booked to go to Edinburgh for a weekend in July too, so I’ll be clocking up a few more Airmiles over the coming months and taking in some new scenery, so I’m looking forward to that.

IMG_0724

I did my first good deed for the year last week and gave blood (www.blood.co.uk) I’m O Negative so my blood is like liquid gold and in high demand following the winter months. Only 7% of the population are O -, people of other blood groups can be given O -, however we can only receive our blood group so I’m really chuffed that I was able to donate again (I’m booked in again for July, so fingers crossed the NHS Vampires will be able to find another vein to draw off another pint then)

To summarise the first three months of the year, I’ve been a proper mizzog (partly due to a horrible cold) I’m still single (I did go on a date a few weeks ago, but he’s not for me, doesn’t tick all the boxes on my check list) I’m trying to trim down my bum, tum and thighs at the gym (although it appears only boobage is disappearing much to my dismay) No games have been started or resumed (much to my disappointment) I’ve given blood, booked holidays and very much still love gin!

I promise I shall try and be less tardy and will write another post again soon (Warning – I have written April off already – SkoA reasons)

As always thanks for reading my rather dull, uneventful blog – Mwah

L x

No more tears, my tiara is falling

It’s such a gorgeous day today, the sun has been warm and shining. I’ve been up since just after 7am and have been to Body Combat and then spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon around my sisters house. Despite the lush weather and the endorphins from my morning workout I’m in the mopiest of moods. My hearts been a little broken by someone who doesn’t deserve it nor did he even know he had a piece of it to break. Tears have been cried, conversations re-run through my mind and messages re-read which conclude he’s an utter arse; yet I still care about him and can’t stop thinking about him! I’m certain that many women wouldn’t give a toss and wouldn’t shed a single tear for something they never had, but I’m such emotional one (I swear its being born under the sign of Cancer – Hard shell, soft centre) and I can’t help but feel shit; I’m a bitch with a heart after all. All good games come to an end at some point, I just prefer it when I’ve won, feeling like the loser completely sucks.

image.jpeg

 

So I need to start a new game, the game that prompted this blog – Mission Love Me!! As I’ve already mentioned I went to my second Body Combat class this morning, I worked up a real sweat (it helps when you’ve got someone to envisage punching the living daylights out of – Thank you Special Kind of Arse). I need to turn this deflated upsetting feeling around and use it as my drive to love myself (I can’t really blame SKoA for not loving me when I don’t even love myself).

My love hate relationship with good old Gym needs to be re-established, I need to get my Kim K down there as often as possible and make this body of mine as fabulous as possible – Fabulous body, gorgeous mind will equal a happy me (plus it will be nice to show certain A-holes what they’ve passed up on) I’m certain Phil and Charlotte will both help; Phil will kick me into shape at PT and Charlotte will be her lush self and will motivate me because she’s one of the nicest most gorgeous friends I have and she inspires me with everything she’s achieved (I need to bottle her up!)

I think I’m still massively in need of holiday. I’m in need of a break from everything and I think this has had an impact on my emotions over the past few weeks. I’ve got Florence (Part II) to look forward to and I’m going to Silverstone on the 1st September for 4 days (Day of Champion tickets have been booked – Fingers crossed I’ll bump into Valentino and he’ll fall in love with me). What else have I got to look forward to….Oh yes I’m seeing Alex Horne – The Horne Section next month and in October there’s Friends Fest and Valencia for the final MotoGP race of the season.

I had a really lovely catch up with two of my girlies last night – Prosecco can make things feel a little better and can also be entertaining when you’re taking pictures of the glasses filled with the sparkling bubbles, rearranging the table and annoying people surrounding us in the process – Oh well. I need to arrange more catch ups with my friends, I just don’t know where this year is vanishing to. I love having a busy diary not that my purse would necessarily agree. Being able to share the hilarity of my shambolic life with my friends and to have a giggle puts a smile on my face (I’m looking like a sad dog at the moment so I definitely need to get some dates arranged, I need to turn this frown upside down haha)

image

This was just a short post, thought it might help to lessen my Mizzogness, I’m not convinced that it has, however I’ve not had weepy eyes for a while so that’s a bit of a positive.   My next post will probably be back to me moaning about how much I hate the gym (poor gym he’s always there for me and all I do is moan) but please feel free to remind me that my the blood sweat and tears will all be worth it! MISSION LOVE ME!

Thanks my lovelies.

L x

Hello…it’s Me! Tardy Mizzog!

I’ve been a complete Mizzog and extremely tardy of late with updating my blog, so I figured given I’ve got a spare few minutes I’d try and write a post.

So what updates do I have since I last wrote; there’s holidays (or lack of) I’ve had a birthday (that’s right 21 again!) as has my sister, games are continually being played, there have been engagements (No not me, sadly my ring finger is still very much bare and lacking a sparkly diamond) babies and weddings, party planning, PT sessions and fun with friends.

Well my last post was leading up to my much anticipated holiday to Florence, and for those of you who haven’t seen me in a while, you may perhaps have thought I’d been wooed by some gorgeous Italian and had re-located (believe me I’m not adverse to such scenario) but unfortunately that’s not the case as for such a thing to have happened I would actually have had to of made it to Italy! Let me, in brief, fill you all in…..

I spent the Saturday ironing all my holiday outfits, matching up shoes, handbag and jewellery and packed my suitcase. I picked up a new mini camera to capture all our exciting holiday memories and got my passport, tickets, euros, numerous pairs of sunglasses, magazines and clear plastic bag full of lipsticks, perfumes and anything else that is 50ml and may or may not be perceived as a liquid (after all these years and numerous flights I’m still clueless with regards to what is and isn’t allowed in hand luggage!) together and packed my large handbag for the cabin.  In the evening I got my nail kit out, its standard practice to have gorgeous nails when you go away – I opted for Pink Hibis-Kiss, vibrant and bright which I thought the Italians would appreciate.  Sunday morning, was like Christmas, I was soooooo excited. I love my holidays and this was going to be my first holiday with just my sister since we went away to New York in 2007. Around lunchtime we made our way to Gatwick. The journey was stress free and we were parked and in the terminal building a little earlier that anticipated. We checked in and were told there was a slight delay, only an hour and 15 minutes, not a big deal but a little annoying. Security was a breeze, so we had plenty of time to have a leisurely meal and mooch around duty-free. I always find time flies when you’re at the airport, the excitement of the adventures to come probably has something to do with it. Time was getting on so we thought we should check to see if our gate had been announced; you know that it will be a gate that’s at least a 30 minute walk away, it always is, well not this time! We looked at the board and instead of a gate number we saw “Go to Information Desk” Now I’m not a frequent flyer, but I do go on at least a couple of flights a year and I have never seen a gate called ‘Information Desk’! I didn’t even know where the sodding desk was! Well along with 228 fellow passengers we found the Information Desk and after watching the lady sat behind said desk actually run (she could give Usain Bolt a run for his money) we waited for 30 minutes to be officially told our BA flight being operated by Mickey Mouse Airlines Aka Vueling had been cancelled. The bosses opted to send a child into be slaughtered, shaking holding an email printed off in landscape format (this angered me from the get go) read out the ‘Not Option’ options; these included flights to Barcelona (yep last time I was there Barca was definitely in Spain, not Italy) or taking a flight free of charge at any point over the next 7days! I’m not sure how airlines operate with regards to annual leave, but in general people don’t just wake up one morning, drive to the airport, jump on a plane and go on holiday for a week! Idiots! Before any of these ‘Not Options’ could (not) be considered, we had to be ‘decommissioned’ which entailed queuing at passport control, then making our way to luggage reclaim, through arrivals and then back to Departures – If nothing else we had a lovely tour of Gatwick North Terminal. After hours getting nowhere, quite literally, we left the airport upset and deflated (the closest we got to Italy was the Florence Fizz we had in Jamie’s Italian!)

Since arriving back from our Non-Holiday, I have had to endure the most shocking customer service from British Airways – It’s been appalling and after being told on countless occasions I am still awaiting my refund! The hotel was non-refundable, however again after numerous emails they agreed to let us transfer our dates so we are now re-booked to go to Florence in September!! I’m really not sure I’ll last another 7 weeks without a holiday so I’m seriously considering a last minute deal (my suitcase is still packed after all as it my hand luggage bag) I imagine a holiday to Turkey would cost next to nothing and I’ve always had an amazing time when I’ve stayed in Kalkan; in fact i’ve got a photo of Kaputaş beach pinned up at my desk that I often look at when I want to zone out for a few minutes and go to a peaceful, tranquil, happy place.

image.jpeg

So that’s my holiday debacle in short, I’d like to add that non-holiday blues are twice as bad as my usual holiday blues so I was rather intolerable.

It was my birthday at the beginning of July and I had a lovely day with my sister in sunny Portsmouth. We arrived at lunch time so our first stop was Giraffe for a bite to eat (and a cheeky G&T of course) we then went up the Spinnaker Tower to see the views across the Solent and saw Sir Ben Ainsley out practicing for the Americas Cup. This was followed by a little look around Gunwharf. We made our way back to Newbury and went for dinner with Mother at Mio Fiore – Amazing food, however I wasn’t impressed with the full glass of Prosecco being thrown all over me, drenching my top and making my arm smell like a vineyard! I’ve been 33 for a few weeks now, I’m not sure I’m really loving it if I’m honest, I don’t think its a number a particularly like, but I’m hoping I can make it a good year.

Talking of birthdays, it was my little sisters 30th yesterday – Eek!! Mum and I treated her to a girlie weekend in London – We took the train to Paddington Saturday morning and arrived at The Sanderson around 1pm and fortunately our room was ready so we checked in, dropped our luggage in the gorgeous room and then headed out to grab some lunch. We enjoyed a leisurely lunch, before heading back to the hotel to drink Champagne and get ready for our evening in the West End. We’d booked tickets to see Disney’s Aladdin – It was amazing, loved it! The show finished around 10:15pm and we made our way back to the hotel bar. The Long Bar at The Sanderson is really popular so it was packed when we arrived back, so we opted to go up to our room for a bit and ordered some room service as although we weren’t starving we thought we ought to have a bite to eat before heading down to the bar for cocktails. After we’d munched our food my sister wasn’t really up for going to the bar, she was ready for bed (turning 30 takes it out of you!) but Mum was up for a drink or two, so we went back down to the bar and had a couple of amazing cocktails! We stayed in the bar until 1:15am before retiring back to the room. Before hitting my pillow I put some banners up and sprinkled ’30’ confetti all ready for my Sis to wake up to. Yesterday morning, I was the one faffing around taking an age to get ready, once I had sorted myself out we found this cute coffee shop called TAP Coffee and had a late breakfast and then we went for a little look around the shops on Oxford St before heading back to the hotel for afternoon tea. I’d booked us in for The Mad Hatters Tea Party afternoon tea (at The Sanderson) and it was AMAZING!! I’ve never eaten so much and felt so full in all my life! I don’t think my photo’s can even do the cakes justice – They were stunning and utterly delicious. With full tummies we made our way back to Paddington and caught the train to Newbury and to my Dads. We had yet more Champagne and my sister opened up her present, which annoyingly she loves (I was hoping she’d hate it and I’d keep it!) We then ate more food as Dad treated us to dinner, I felt like I was going to pop, it was like an endless day of food and cups of tea!! All in all I had a fab weekend, and I hope my not so little sister loved it too!

Image-1 (2)

Not only have I been busy organising my sisters birthday to make it as special as possible, I have also got my party planner head on ready for this years work Christmas Party (I know you’re all groaning at the mention of Christmas, but venues get booked up in January/February for parties so really and truly I’m late with my planning). Venues have been provisionally booked, entertainment have been contacted and room and table dressing has been discussed – It’s all very exciting!

My tardiness hasn’t been exclusive to my blog writing, I’ve also been royally rubbish with my gym visits over the past month or so too! I have been, and a few weeks ago now my friend and I actually joined each other for our PT sessions; Phil tried to kill us on the Monday and Sam tried to finish the job Wednesday. Neither succeeded and I even managed to do my first Body Combat class on the Saturday! I found the joint PT sessions to be really motivating, working alongside Charlotte gave a slight competitive edge to the workouts but also we worked as a team to help motivate each other. I need motivating, I’ve really lost my love for the gym of late, my non-holiday blues hasn’t helped. I need to find my A game as Phil is always telling me – If anyone happens to find it before me, please let me know! I’ve done a couple more Spin classes, I feel like I’m dying after each one. The last one I went to I was sat next to an old work colleague from my days at Hitachi, so it was nice to have a bit of a catch up (not so nice that after years she had to see me looking a sweating disgusting mess!)

In summary over the past month or so, I’m a year older (as is my sister) I haven’t been to Italy (I have however been to a few Italian Restaurants and I have spent time with The Italian) I’ve drunk lots of Gin, Champagne, Prosecco and fancy cocktails; I’ve been to the gym but not as often as I should have (Bad Laura)…… and I’m debating whether or not I should start a new game or press play to resume one that has been on pause!

I think I’ve typed enough nonsense for now and I’ll try not to leave it months again before posting again, unless of course I treat myself to a Turkish delight and a last minute holiday in the next few days, I will write a post again next week.

Until then

L x

RIP Winston

Oh Hi! Yes, I am still alive! Apologies for the complete lack of GGGoL posts over the past few weeks, last night was the first time I’ve had really to write my blog (now I’ll struggle to remember what I’ve been up to – Old age and all)

Now do you recall I mentioned my car failed its MOT and was booked in at the garage? Well sadly Winston didn’t make it, his life support was switched off on Saturday 14th May, aged 10 years. We had some good times together, lots of fun journeys, my first trip to Cornwall, numerous drives to airports for my many holidays, lots of visits to Silverstone for the Motogp (my parking permit was still stuck on the windscreen). As one life ends another begins and I’m pleased to announce the safe arrival of my shinny Night Blue new Golf. He (yes my car is male) hasn’t officially been named yet, but I’m leaning towards Boris.

IMG_5165.JPG

What else have I been up to over the past few weeks. Well I’ve been rather naughty and I’ve been shopping (more than once) buying new outfits for my holibobs and I think I’m just about kitted out, I’ve got some new pairs of shorts, playsuit, shirt, vest top, dresses. I like to look stylish when I’m on holiday – Look good, feel good, and I am going away with my gorgeous little sister so I need all the help I can get from my outfits.  I’ve also bought a few new pieces for work (I’m telling you this gym malarkey is costing me a blimin’ fortune). Last Monday I debuted a gorgeous new H&M dress to co-inside with my first drive to the office in my new brum. I love new things.

So Florence is less than 4 weeks away now and I’m sooooo excited!! I’m usually really good at planning and organising holiday things (I’ve been on quite a few solo vacations over the past couple of years) but I think I’m almost too excited that I just haven’t been able to plan – Anything! So my usually not so organised sister has taken control and we have a vintage Fiat 500 self drive Tuscan wine experience booked – Perfect! We have a rough idea of what we want to see and do so things are coming together. I have also been informed that we will be eating at least one gelato a day, and will be eating the Italian way with our antipasto followed by primo, then secondo finished with dolce, all washed down with copious amounts of Prosecco and Chianti – I seriously can not wait; although I’m not looking forward to coming back the size of a casa.

Now, gym. I have been going, perhaps not as often as I should or I planned to this month and I do seem to have lost my gym mojo a bit; which is actually really sodding annoying! I’ve been having my usual PT’s with Phil and I’ve been working out with my fellow Moany Bitch, we’ve been to a couple more Spin classes, and I’ve been attending the Healthy Weight Programme (we did a core workout session last week – I feel like I should have abs like old school Peter Andre). At the moment I feel like I’m actually becoming less fit and fatter, although I know this isn’t the case when the clothes I’ve been buying are smaller than I used to wear (I even had to treat myself to a new pink VS Sports Bra on Saturday due to my shrinking bust!) It was lush shopping with my friend Saturday and being able to pick up smaller clothes off the rails, try them on in the changing room and for them to fit my body perfectly and flatter my ever changing shape. I think I might need to channel those feelings when I’m having my fat days at the gym, to encourage me to work my Kim K that bit harder – Bring the A game as Phil is forever telling me to do.

Dates! Now the cute Italian went home for a week at the beginning of the month, he’s back but we haven’t had a chance to see each other yet, we’ve been messaging and I might be seeing him Sunday.  I had been hoping I’d have another date lined up with someone else, but I’m obviously not in favour at moment – silence speaks volumes right!

It’s bank holiday weekend approaching and so far the only date I have set in in stone is catching up with one of my closest friends on Friday with her new bubba; well she’s five months old, but I haven’t met her yet. I’m so looking forward to snatching some cuddles. Other than that, I will naturally spend time with my mum and sister; we’ll probably go on another afternoon stroll ( we went to Snelsmore again weekend before last – No bog issues this time!).

image.jpeg

I think that’s me done for another week. Who knows when I’ll type again, I’m just so shoddy at the moment aren’t I? Shocking!

Enjoy the rest of your week and the bank holiday weekend (I do appreciate those few Mondays that I actually don’t hate and kinda love).

L x

Tea and I’m Toast

So the Easter bunny has now been and gone and although I didn’t actually receive any eggs I have consumed the odd Malteaser Bunny or two I’m feeling rather mahoosive. The lack of dates with Gym probably hasn’t helped matters. I caught a hideous cold last week and so over the bank holiday weekend I felt pretty grotty. I had PT last Monday and I honestly lost count of the number of times I told Phil I couldn’t do one of the tasks he set me; I’m shocked he didn’t clout me around the head with a nearby kettlebell in truth. My legs were feeling dead throughout Tuesday but I still detoured to the gym for my evenings bike session – Jeez was that tough. Seriously had I been on an actual bike I would have fallen off it because I was pedalling soooo slowly. The plan was to go for a lunch time walk on Wednesday, but when I woke up my legs felt like lead and moving was such a challenge the walk was replaced with a trip to the pub (sadly no gin, just a diet coke). As Wednesday progressed so did the poxy cold someone had so kindly decided to share with me. I’d booked Thursday off work to extend the Easter break and had intended to go to the gym and spend a good few hours there – No, that did not happen as I woke up feeling like death! Friday and Saturday I pretty much felt the same so again there were no dates with gym.

For an Easter Sunday treat my sister treated Mum and I to afternoon tea at The Vineyard (one of my absolute favourite places) We had full afternoon tea with matching Lalani teas – So we had three different teas to complement the three courses, sandwiches, scones and cakes. It was all very delicious and naughty and again is another factor to me having a fat week.

IMG_4522

This weeks PT has been moved to Friday as Phil went away for the long weekend. I had planned to go and do my own workout but then I woke up and saw Joe Wicks, The Bodycoach, was doing a Live HIIT workout on Facebook at 9:30am so I decided I’d give that a go instead of my solo gym visit. So around 9am I changed into my gym clothes, turned my laptop on and along with 18,000 others around the world jump up and down around my living room working up a sweat.   Although it was hard going at times, Joe does make it fun and I stuck with it for the whole workout (which lasted around 35 mins including warm-up, workout and stretches) I’ll definitely do more of his workouts especially if he does them at weekends, when I really can’t be arsed going to the gym.

Ooh so I’ve booked another holiday – Eek!! Betty aka Mum and I will be jetting off to Valencia in November for the last MotoGP race of the season and some last minute winter sun. So i’ve not got Florence and Valencia to look forward to and although my Italian hollibobs is only 12 weeks away I do still feel like I need to fly to warmer sunnier climes before June (perhaps I can get a last minute deal in April?!?)

I’ve been having a little fun playing on good old Tinder (yes yes that tragic comical dating app) Being single is tough, I feel like the search for eligible men is a full time job. Where are they all? Where are all the ‘normal’ decent, tall, dark, handsome, available* (key word, I am often attracted to those currently attached, which isn’t ideal) My sister / dating competitor shared some of the tragic, pass the sick bowl chat-up lines she’s been subjected to recently, I thought i’d share them with you for a giggle.

“I hear you’re good at algebra, could you replace my X without asking Y” and “Wow – Your name should be Google because you’ve got everything i’ve been searching for”

Do you see and appreciate what us single girls have to deal with? Honestly its stressful – thank goodness for gin and wine that’s all I can say.

Ok well that’s be done for tonight I think – Providing Phil doesn’t kill me off Friday I shall try and write another piece over the weekend.

Until then sweet dreams.

L x

 

MOT Pass – Advisories – Body work requires some work

So Friday evening I had another date with gym; as I said last week things are getting quite serious, and these dates are certainly helping with mission ‘Love Me’

Before my hot and sweaty session this week I had an MOT, yep like a car, I was checked and tested to see if I’m in good condition and working order. Good news is I passed, it would appear that both my PT and solo workouts are paying off – Yay! Internally I am apparently in tip top shape, fantastic, however there was an advisory, boo, which basically says my body work needs some work (tell me something I didn’t already know) So there’s obviously only one thing for it, I’m going to have to seriously up my game and as Nike preach “Just Do It”

With advisories for your car you’ve got a year to fix any issues, I’m giving myself 20 weeks to panel beat my exterior. In 20 weeks time my sister and I will been sunning ourselves, enjoying pizza, pasta, fine wine, gelato and that wonky tower in Pisa, on a girly holiday in Florence. Although no flights or hotels have been booked yet I am very excited!! Those who know me will know that for me to have to wait 5 months before jetting off somewhere will be tough – I love a holiday. I usually have at least two a year; last year me and one of my best friends had a girly weekend in Paris, then Mum and I had a 6 day break in Barcelona, primarily for the Catalunya MotoGP, but we also saw lots of the iconic sights and ate some amazing food (anyone going to Barca has to visit Uma http://www.thefork.com/restaurant/uma/48497 it’s fab) and then my final holiday of 2015 (yes sadly I only jetted out of the country 3 times, well twice actually plus 1 Eurostar journey) I went to Sharm El Sheikh in September.

On one hand September seems forever ago, on the other it seems like last week. I can honestly say that my week in Sharm was one of the best weeks I’ve had. I went on my own (the price a holiday loving singleton has to pay when all her friends are married or attached) well I say alone, I went back to a hotel my friend and I had stayed in a few years ago, a friend we met there in 2013 was working at the hotel so I knew I wouldn’t be completely on my own (although I hadn’t banked on his girlfriend, Polly Pocket, being there so that did change the dynamics somewhat)

With Polly kiboshing the holiday I thought I was going to have, I did what I love doing and I networked. I mingled and made friends and had a fantastic time. My new friends adopted me, we’d meet by the pool after breakfast, have some giggles into between swimming and sunbathing and then we’d have dinner together and drinks in the bar. They even managed to get me on the stage doing karaoke with them, taking me so far out of my comfort zone! Monday evening was Pool Party night – So much fun. We drank cocktails with every spirit known to man in, and topped it off with giant measures of Ouzo. I somehow managed to walk back to my room (after announcing to my new friends that I was going to the bar because I felt the party had finished too early, only to change my mind and zigzag my way across the complex to my room) which was freezing because I’d foolishly left the aircon on, doh! I dropped the towel that was wrapped around me and crawled into my bed, damp bikini still on, contact lenses still in and the next thing I knew the sun was shining and its Tuesday morning – Come on, that’s a good night and sums up the weeks shenanigans. Thank you The Greens & The Kenleys for my holiday memories.

I’m not sure I’ll be able to wait until June for my next holiday, and with the emails from Secret Escapes, Voyage, BA and Monarch (email subject “Fancy a little city break”) sitting in my inbox I’m certain my passport will see the light of day in the next few months! Anyone fancy a little trip with me?

L xSharmParisImage-1