Step back in time - go to the isle of wight!

While still suffering for a red wine hangover, we nipped over to the isle of wight to see some of steve's other relatives.

It's like going back in time about fifty years, it's all a bit slow and old fashioned and they speak a bit weird too!

While steve was meeting up with some of his clan, i was dragged by one of his aunties friends to this really weird shop in the middle of nowhere. all it sold was garlic and anything and everything with garlic in.

Aparently this shop has an annual garlic festival when you can sample the delights of garlic ice cream. garlic beer or garlic face moisturiser??!!??!

Steve was underwhelmed when i bought him some banana and garlic chutney. No sure why???

Nightmare journey to portsmouth

We went down to portsmouth for the weekend to visit steve's aunt and uncle, Nikki and Howard who live just outside portsmouth.

I picked steve up from work in huddersfield friday lunchtime with the aim to be darn sarf by rush hour. but all plans went out of the window as we were delayed around nottingham on the M1 followed by our usual route via oxford being closed off due to an accident. So we had the worse case scenario.... we hit the M25 at 5.00pm AARRGGGH! It was a nightmare it took us 2 1/2 hours to travel 20 miles. We eventually arrived at the rellies after 7 1/2 hours!!! bloody mare!

Steve's aunt and uncle are real welcoming and friendly we always go down to see them once a year and they were hospitable and nothing is too much trouble. That night we had far too much curry, red wine and fun! Next day was a trip back in time to the isle of wight with a hang over....

Saltaire Wildlife

The garden is now looking more like a tropical rainforest at the moment with palm trees and tree ferns a plenty. Since we've remodelled the garden there's been a noticeable increase in the wildlife staying with us.

Recent contributions includes Frogs, Dragon Flies and a Family of Mapies living in the hedge. The new find this afternoon was a baby starling living in the bamboo next to the pond.

I was gardening and pulled up a weed next to our feathered friend and didn't notice her until she opened her mouth for food and chirped. I screamed like a girl and fell over thinking (for some strange reason) that it was a rat!!???. I have issues....

Happy Birthday Dad!

Time's flown since dad died in Sept 2003.

But he'll be keeping his beedy eye on me from somewhere up there.

If he's checking up on me, here's a little birthday hello from son number one!

Rich x

Cheeky Sod!

I went over to the marketing suite of some new luxury apartments that are being built in bradford (yes i no luxury and bradford don't really go together)

Anyway, had a chat with the guy about some apartments and the usual stuff and after being plied with extra strength coffee i gave my details over so that i could read the brochure and watch the dvd presentation at my own leisure.

A few hours later when i was leaving work i checked my phone and i'd received a text a few hours earlier and it was the bloke from the apartment asking me out for a drink that night!!!

Cheeky Git!!!!

He knew about steve as i'd told him where he work but some people have no respect for peoples relationships??!!!! Grrrrrowl!

So i sent him a thanks but no thanks message and promptly received another message that he'd be free monday, wednesday, thursday, friday or saturday for a drink! Do people ever take no for an answer!!!

La Rue Restaurant - Saltaire

I decided to treat steve by taking him over to La Rue's on Sunday night

We haven't been over to the french restaurant for a fair while as the food is quite pricey. But during their quiet periods they've offered a two course set meal for £14 each. Which ain't bad at all.

We got there about 7.30pm to find that we should have booked aas it was chocca, luckily they had a no show so were squeezed in. I plonked steve by the window so he could beedy out at everyone passing by. Including Steph and Lawrence who were almost licking the window when they passed us.

There were choices of seven starters and about seven mains to choose from. I choose the Haddock Fishcakes with a poached egg followed by Salmon Rossini (a big chunk of salmon on some ciabatta)

I can't remember what steve had for starters but his main was also delish! Tuna Steak and Mussels in a creamy white wine sauce. yum yum!

We've made a pact now that we'll take each other out for a meal every fortnight and take it in turns to pay. I won't always be a flash as this one.

Next time its the Brown Cow in Bingley for their fab chicken, ham and mushroom pie!

Eurovision 8 Days and Counting

Yes it's camp as tits and yes the UK never wins anymore and yes everyone always votes for their old eastern block neighbours and yes they also vote for the fat maltese singer who always enters.. But it's eurovision and that's allowed really.

I was chatting with some of the spanish bar staff tonight who are mortified when i told them las ketchup are representing their fabulous country.

Anyway, we're planning a cheesy eurovision party next saturday. Trying to get ideas at the mo of what to do... The usual foundation of our parties are wine, nachos, hummus and frank sinatra.

We need to euro it up a bit, any ideas anyone??

I like this picture

Just another holiday shot i found (so i thought i'd rub it in again for all those who haven't been on holiday yet)

The picture is of me at Pier No1 at Sydney's Darling Harbour waiting for our boat to pick us up for our dinner cruise of sydney harbour.

Mum took it and it's not bad is it??!!!

The dinner cruise around the harbour was good it was a bit weird though as it was overrun by japanese tourist who were friendly but they danced very weird...

It was amazing sat on the top deck supping vino as the opera house and the bridge glided by with all the twinkly lights of sydney's skyline.. aah sigh getting depressed myself now thinking about my hols....

Pimp My Snack

I think a lot of these people on this website have "issues"

The website is a bit like MTV's Pimp my Ride (where they tart up clapped out cars into ugly blingy things). But this website shows people who have pimped their cakes / sweets / snacks to supersizes.

My favourites are the Burberry Curly Wurly, Jaffzilla and a Giant Creme Egg!!!

http://www.pimpmysnack.com/gallery.php

Joan Collins - The "Bitch" is quite nice actually!!

At work we were a bit aprehensive about what Joan Collins would be like when she came to St G's on monday night.

The catering rider was like a shopping list from fortnum and masons (ie 2 bottles of Krug Grand Cuvee Champagne - £85+ each!!!) Was she going to be a diva with attitude and brush us aside as she glided into her dressing room?

Well actually she was really nice, she looked great for her age (not telling you!!) and she did'nt want the expensive champagnes and fine foods the company had requested for her. She was quiet happy with a bottle of Chardonnay and some cheese and biscuits!!

The evening went really well and after a brief chat with her i managed to blag an autograph for steve! He's a very giddy kipper now!!!

My next mission is to get a Shirley Bassey autograph.... pleeeeasse?!!??!

Margaret is Found Alive!

After months of upset and trauma. Princess Margaret was found alive and kicking in the pond yesterday.

Aparently Gin (the next door neighbours cat had'nt murdered her!) She's looking a bit fat though... is she a greedy bugger or is she pregnant!!!!

Watch this space

Nichole

Here's my pal nichole's blog, she's very special and her cartoon character looks more like a pyscho sister mary clarence from sister act.

http://myegoandme.blogspot.com/

no i did'nt...

bugger

01:02:03 on 04:05:06...

did i manage to get it.....

01.02.03.04.05.06????

we shall see

The Trampshed Saltaire

Every so often, me steve and a few of the Saltaire set go along to the tramshed on a sunday night for a bit of a laugh.

Sunday night is most definitely a special night for "very special" people as it's singles night for the over 70's. Lawrence and I were on winge mode last sunday as it was the same old same old music and the same old same old clientele. Mainly old blokes with beer bellies circling around bev callard look a likes writhing on the dance floor...

The tramshed is bit of weird place on a sunday night as i think there are more gay men there than anyone else?? Go figure.

The previous time we were there i ended up counselling two women who'd tried asking me out until i broke the pink news. They both ended up pouring their hearts out about their gay sons and why was it all good looking men were gay...

Celeb Teaser

Talking of windtunnel faces, which comedian who appeared at the hall in the past year had a tour manager, two pa's, a stylist, a lawyer, a hairdresser and a beautician who allegedly gave this person almost daily botox injections...

Sydney Opera House

On the Saturday of our hols i took mum to a concert at the Sydney Opera House. We went to see Olivia Newton John and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The gig was camp as hell, there was a lot of mothers with their gay sons in tow that night!

It was quite a laugh really, the highlights were the Hopelessly Devoted to you and a Grease Singalong!

The concert hall was'nt as big as i expected, it was only a bit bigger than barbican (if that was still open!) I tried to blag an upgrade to the house seats but no luck!

Miss Olivia is looking good for her age (50's??) and she does'nt look like she's been nipped and tucked too much (if at all). I've met a fair few celebs and some have just looked as if they've been in a windtunnel... (not mentiong any names sorry)