''Couples night''

It’s becoming increasingly hard to remain patient with friends who overlook me because I am not 1 half of a couple anymore.

Yes, I am single again.

My dearest friends repeatedly have dinner parties where I am not invited as it’s a ‘couples night’.

Umm, what the fuck?!?

And how very dare someone judge you on your god damn ‘relationship status’ in life, I think it’s a fucking outrage.

So, because I do not have someone’s hand to hold at a dinner gathering, that somehow now handicaps me?

Does being single mean somehow you are changed and can no longer converse with friends or eat and drink in an enclosed space now?

When did single-dom become some new form of disability?
Where you have to be excluded from things?

Did I miss that chapter of the book?

It’s pathetic and narrow minded and I think that when I am in a relationship(again)I shall not exclude any friend of mine because of their relationship status.

“Oh, you’re STILL single are you? Fuck you, you’re not coming to my dinner party”

ARE YOU KIDDING ME.

A meal with friends is a meal with friends and a good night out with friends is a good night out with friends.. Whether they are single or have a partner.

Anyway, balls were royally busted today over this latest debacle…

And I was promptly invited to my friends for dinner this Saturday.

*Snigger*

A good moan can sometimes be very successful. Don't accept any shit.
Get moaning people!!

Free lunch - just be nice

There was a BIG fire the other day in London.

I was sat in the office and as I gazed in that 'day dreaming' sort of way over my right shoulder and out of the window... instead of my normal sight of the canary wharf tall skyline... I saw a strong, big, black cloud spiralling over the big tower.

My first thought was 'Oh Fuck'.

My second thought was 'Tell someone'.

So I ran to the studio next door, who has no windows facing the fire and grabbed Jacopo, the resident Italian photographer.

He came rushing to look and also said 'Oh fuck'.

He ran and got his camera.


He took some pictures, uploaded them, and guess what, 'Reuters', loved it so much they offered money there and then for the pictures.

This in a 1hr time frame.

So he's been promising me a drink for drawing his attention to it.

Then today - he calls me into the office and gives me a big hug and say's 'Guess what'.

'Reuters rang me up and booked me to take pictures at a reuters conference'.

It was a big job, which he done yesterday and was showing me his amazing conference pictures today on his computer.

Isn't it funny how 1 small thing leads on to other bigger things?

Anyway - he's so delighted he's buying me lunch.
Good shit.

Dear Lorna

Hi honey,

I know you read this blog.
So here goes.

I MISS YOU!

Like THISSSSSSS MUUUUCCCCCH!

You know how 2 days before you left, it hit you that you were 'actually' leaving even though you knew for months you would be?

Well my moment has hit me too.

I keep going to my phone to text you an update you on the latest developments.. Or i go to call you for a quick chat.... And I can't.

That's mightly sad, I have to tell ya.

We all take friendship for granted sometimes I think and we don't always know what we have till it's gone.

Miss you loads babe.
I wish you well, you know that, but I wish you were here.
Honestly.

I wish I could've lied and told you all the worst case scenario's about going to live abroad.

But then i'd just be a terrible friend.

So i'm gonna pop a cork now, and blub some more at the TV.

Talk to you soon, hopefully x

London Photographer I met today

I'm not sure if i'm buzzing off the course I attended this morning...
Or if their coffee they provided was stonkingly good...
Perhaps its a little of both.

However, i'm racing in 5th gear at the moment.. totally excited, inspired, buuzzzinnnnggggggg..

I'll write more on the course later... Women in Business.. trust me..Inspiring

However, 1 woman I met - I have now dubbed her as my favouritest favourite photographer...
Like ever...

Ok, well maybe for now :-)

There's something simplistic yet beautiful about how she captures her photos.
The was something special about her too.
She had amazing natural yet contained energy.

Her name is Laura Mtungwazi and her photography can be found here:
http://www.lkmphotography.com

Karma, Gym, pics - weekend update

Friday Day:

The day could not have started any better: I got a bank payment from Lloyds for my reclaimed bank charges. Just under £1500.00 – It took 6 months, a court date.. but I hung in there!!
Time to book that well needed holiday me thinks :)
Previous blog on this here>>

GOOD DEED OF THE DAY – NUMERO UNO

As I was driving to my mate’s house... I drove past a women with 3 dogs. 1 of them was lying in the shade… Like he had collapsed from the heat (it was hot on friday). I thought about my sis and her 3 dogs and knew I had to stop and help. I was already thinking I have 12 bottles of water in the boot – I can give her those for the dog. As I stopped to stare at this lady and her dogs the traffic started to build up behind me… and they started tooting at me to move on. So I whizzed around the corner and parked up… Ran down the road to see if she was ok.

She was fine.

The dog was a lazy bugger who just liked to have random lay downs the owner told me.

Anyway, she was delighted to have me run up and offer her water for the 3 dogs. She accepted. So I went to give her some bottles of water and realised that I was stood right outside of my friend’s house. So I went in and asked him for a bowl of water for the dogs. Thanks fully he said yes!Good deed done.. Ended up playing with dogs for about 10/15 mins.They were totally cute.

This dog made me pull over!

FRIDAY night:

I went to buy a bottle of Baileys in Tesco’s. Not sure what I had on my mind… But I turned onto a new aisle, and this woman nearly walked into me…I nearly screamed out loud! (thank the lord I screamed internally) – it was a woman in a BURKA. The only thing on view was her eyes. Which were behind glasses. The type of glasses that magnifies your eye’s, like 5 times bigger than they are.

So picture this: A TALL woman, completely covered head to toe in black, with magnified eyes, nearly colliding with me, whilst my head was already in cloud cuckoo land.
Properly freaked!

I can deal with the hijab – where the whole face is on show… But the Burka, wow! That's fierce!
Kinda understand the uproar it caused in france and teaching kids wearing it!
If it scared me....

It genuinely freaked me out. But I think it was more the big eyes. Big eyes in or out of a burka are fucking weird! I proceeded to walk around the store saying inside my head ‘what the fuck? What the fuck?’

SATURDAY MORNING

GYM UPDATE: Running wk 4 – Day 3

So here’s what I did today:
Run 3mins, Walk 3 mins
Run 4 mins, walk 4 mins
Run 3mins, Walk 3 mins
Run 3mins, Walk 3 mins

Covered 3k today – woohoo!
I done 31mins on the tread mill.
Done loads of push ups and sit ups today!

GOOD DEED OF THE DAY – YEP ANOTHER ONE.. KARMA HOOK ME UP ALREADY

After leaving the gym and passing my local fire station I was nabbed by a black fireman.I noticed there was a lot of black Staff about and no fire engines. There was a black DJ, Black nurses and black doctors all onsite.

It was a massive recruitment drive to get more black people to donate and get on the register for the Anthony Nolan trust. There are not enough black people on the bone marrow register and it being on it could help so many black people with leukaemia – so I thought sod it Rem, take 30 mins out of your day and do it!

So I did.

Fact: if you are white and have leukaemia there is a massive register and a 1 in 3 chance of finding a donor.

If you are black however, there is a 1 in 100,000 chance of finding a donor.
They be some sucky statistics.
So I gave a sample of blood and added myself to the register.

Knowing my luck – I’ll get called up straight away!
http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk/

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

An impromptu picnic, wine drinking and hanging out in Greenwich park…
What a glorious day it was. I hung out with some of the bball girls and our 2 coaches.

Sunbathed and took lots of pics, had a good laugh and catched up with the guys.
The weather was amazingly hot.
Drank too much wine!







< Me being creative

SATURDAY NIGHT


There was a gathering at my mate Jimbob’s house (on the left).

Old school mates congregating.
Drinking, smoking and playing poker.

I’m officially an old woman!

After eating a kebab and chips (you know it’s a must have after boozing all day)..

I think I fell asleep about 11.45pm on jimbob’s sofa.

I’m rubbish and I know it.




< Colin fell asleep before me teehee...





SUNDAY MORNING
Popped around to see my mum real quick this morning.
Kelly popped around to fix the leak on my radiator this morning.
Lovely to see him as always. Forgot to ask him to try and open my stuck kitchen drawer thought. Doh!

Went for a quick run today…

GYM UPDATE:
Warm up:
Ran 5 mins, Walk 3 mins, Sprint 1 min.
Covered 1k

Did 11mins on the machine.

I was supposed to do a timed mile today… could not be arsed.

Got on the bike and cycled for 10mins,
Got on the cross trainer and did 10 mins.
Push ups… Sit ups.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Met Richard for Lunch in Greenwich.
Ate a delicious roastie at the North pole.
Drank some pimms… yum.

Went to the Novotel and watched a Jazz act.
Was all very serene and civilised this avo!

SUNDAY EVENING

Went and saw my mate Ian in the Greenwich market. I nearly brought a picture for £120 off his mate… for my front room. Bottled it! That’s the equivalent of a short flight somewhere!




Took some pics of the burnt down cutty sark :-(







I met Lorna for a drink or two at the Trafalgar tavern.
We sat along the river front, drinking pimms by the jug (it’s the only way), discussing men and people watching. Man, we do that so well. Lol.



We’ve established: Size does matter!
If you’re short… No way Jose. Jog along.
A wee man is not a good look…. Unless of course you are wee yourself.
I however am not wee.



It’s really nice to have a girlfriend - who isn’t mental…
And whom I don’t have to phone, like everyday…
to validate a friendship.

They are few and hard to find!

Blogging worldwide - blog visitors! Part 1

Ok, so this is a little self indulgent...
Well, actually.. It's very self indulgent and self loving too yadda yadda yadda.

However I think it's really cool... So I'm gonna share it!

I've been looking at where my visitors to this blog page have been coming from over the last 24 hours.. There are quite a few regular visitors to this page.

There are some tres bon destinations in there too.. Thailand? Poland?

There was me thinking it was just my little circle of friends in London, England....

The power of the blog:

Texas, Dallas, United States
United Kingdom,England,
London, England, Luton
Canada,
Minnesota, Pequot Lakes, United States
Virginia, Herndon, United States
Thailand
Belgium
New South Wales, Sydney, Australia,
Victoria, Melbourne, Australia,
Podlaskie, Bialystok, Poland,
California, Mountain View, United States,
Sweden,
Delhi, Delhi, India,
Texas, Dallas, United States,

Love it!

Hello friends xx

I Love BASKETBALL

Basketball is the one thing that allows me a true and complete escape from life.

I go there and I play hard for 2 or 3 hours and the only thing I think about - is BASKETBALL!

Me, my game, beating others and working hard!

No worries about bills.

No worries about fellas.
No worries about scabby girlfriends.

No worries about ANYTHING.

It all gets vanquished away.

The great thing about it is you don't realise whilst you are doing it that its reducing your stress and worries without you even knowing it.

I got home tonight - after an impromptu scrimmage - and I feel GREAT.

My sadness and disappointment of yesterday - GONE!

Onwards and upwards...

I Love BASKETBALL and all its uncertified healing properties!!!

I don't care how cool Michael thinks he looks..
He still looks a bit gay to me.

I laughed so hard when he bust this one out.
I was bent over in stitches.

Had to make him strike a pose!

http://www.shootaballnotagun.com

Saturday - BBQ at Mike Mum's 50th

Mike and His Ma..
She looks great for 50.
Bless her... It was a great party.
Superb food!














Me, Mike and Laura.
(Bball crew)

Me and Mike

Eric

Friday night - Brown Sugar Bar

I'm proper photo happy at the moment

This is my friend Larry Jazz... Mixing it up @ Brown Sugar on Friday night. I love his tunes!

He's a bballer - veteran stylee hehe x

Trying out my black and white shots...
Just cos.

A Weekend of nothing but FUN!!

Saturday Day: I took a day trip out and visited Leeds Castle (not in Leeds, but kent) with Jitka and Laura (Girlies on my bball team) - we got to speak to Parrots (Seriously, birds talking to you - is totally fricking cool!! - Like BIRDS!!!!! Actually talking - One asked us: 'Would you like a Hot dog?' AND then he had a bit of an argument with himself as well - that was funny) Oh how we laughed!




The Parrots were my highlight - they would fly over to the cage and get up close and look at you with their head turned sideways (cos their eyes on the sides of their heads)....

One was definitely checking me out!



We touched & Stroked baby Owls!
Fed the roaming peacocks.





We saw falcons Swoop over our heads and chase the seagulls!
& 3 girls... Naturally, we got lost in the adorable maze.





Oh yeah - The castle was alright too... Set in the most beautiful grounds!

Saturday night - My Friend Leafy had a BBQ at his place.

< Leaf and the Remstar

<-- Leaf and his Beyatches!

I took with me: Jitka and Laura and then invited my 2 basketball coaches (Mike and Eric) to come too - and they brought another friend as well. So the BBall squad represented! It was a good giggle! Lovely people, plenty of good food (including the home made cheesy burgers laura and I made) and AMPLE booze... I went home very merry indeed.

Sunday Day: Photoshoot: Avitclothing.
I spent the day helping out my friend Hannah at her photoshoot today (Hannah is my new office buddy - we share an office together, but both run our seperate business indepentdantly).

Got to meet some cool people: kick boxers, skaters, dancers, MC's, producers all sporting hannah's garments - they loooked SO hot! I was really impressed with her clothing products!

It was a great little networking thing for me too.

The photographer is going to take pics of my whole team too... Twas all very exciting indeed!

Sunday eve: Met up with Lorna in the evening, for a bite of dinner and our girly chats....
That's always a good thing!!

All in all - a lovely lovely weekend!!!

... And NO rain!!

More Pics to follow..... When i can be arsed uploading them....

Quotes: Friendship

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Beach on Good Friday

Happy Easter!

I went on a thelma and louise style road trip yesterday with my friend Lorna...
It was a gloriously hot day on Friday, Good friday none the less...

Sat on the beach.
Ate fish and chips.
Drank a few jars of the good stuff.
All was lush indeed!!!!!



Us just remembering that we had camera's on us, for the first time.











Me and the Lornstar (self portrait)







Found a little sweetie shop window (whilst in the biggest queue i've ever seen for fish and chips), it was just like in the old days, with sweeties in big jars on really high shelves..
Just like when I was little.

There was so much choice that I spun around in circles; and then I became a little overwhelmed and walked out not purchasing anything.





L didn't get any sweeties either (and she's a proper sweetie monster).
Too much choice is bad!








The town high st of Whistable.
Boring pic... I know....






I love this pic...
This is me discovering the self timer function on my phone. Wayhey!

Lovely blue skies.. It was a gorgeous day.
Can you spot the polka dot bikini...?





Looking out to sea from our beach blanket...

Some random kid playing about in the pebbles...
and a boat floats gently on the horizon...






Pebbles that we collected for Lorna's Fish tank...
Don't ask..

I think we'd been in the sun too long.

It was a lovely day out of the city and away from my computer.