Went swimming again today - that's six times in 7 days, hope to keep this up so that my gym membership fee ceases to scare me ... gulp!

Was a little pissed off to discover that my lovely Speedo swimming cossie has died today... I shall mourn my purple cossie!

Ho hum.. had to buy a new one - fortunatly the gym has a shop in it and I found a Speedo T back cossie in my size at a reduced price (also had a 10% off voucher to use) However it's not in a colour that I would have willingly chosen - EVER!
It's black (which is cool no problems with black) but it has HOT PINK panels to it.

My hubby actually 'guffawed' when he saw me pull it out of the bag... hmmm...

Sorry - but hot pink is not a colour it's a lifestyle choice - and not for my lifestyle either. I will have to search the internet for another purple cossie. If it means importing it from Australia then that's what I'll have to do - I am ashamed to be seen in hot pink....(says she who got married in Electric Blue)

But needs must and it will have to do for the meantime.

Back to work tomorrow - looking forward to seeing my friends again - unfortunately I've just been told that my 'best mate at work' has just been sacked. So am a little concerned about her.

And I will miss her, hoping that we will keep in touch outside of work but we'll have to wait and see.

All I need do now is decide which end of the day to go swimming - don't start work till 10.30 so could go before or I finish at 9pm so could go after. Decisions ... Decisions ....

Belly dancing lessons start on 12th July - watch this space ....

Is this nightmare weather ever going to stop? No wonder my electricity bill is so high - I'm having to put lights on in the daytime ... grrrr....

Security pass has now been found - I can stop panicking about not having any breakfast tomorrow. phew!

Fortunately we have not yet had a repeat of the foods of two weeks ago - we are still able to get out of our road and around the town, unlike the poor folk of Sheffield, Hull and parts of Worcester.

Our former babysitter in Kent has just recently moved to Hull with her partner and 3 year old. I hope that they are all ok and not too wet and dismal.

New mobile phone is excellent - but it seems that all of the ringtones I wanted to save are locked and we can't bluetooth them across as planned but I found a great bit of software yesterday that gives me the facility to take bits of my own MP3 tracks and turn them into ringtones.

I now have The March of the Sinister Ducks by the Sinister Ducks as my ring tone - RESULT!

I'm a very happy bunny indeed!

Ok - I have a new phone (see pretty pictures in earlier blog).

I have bluetooth capability on both my old phone and my new - have given old phone to Hedgewolf as he buggered up his phone within hours of getting it, so he's a happy chappy.

However I want to bluetooth my ringtones and pics from old phone to new one - HOW IS THIS DONE - I am a technological dinosaur - HELP ME PLEASE ...... One of you lovely blog people must know how it's done. AJ?

Meanwhilst over there in the corner is a new band I really recommend - Hedgewolf went to their gig in Walsall last night and we are going to see them in Dudley next week.

http://www.myspace.com/unitingtheelements

Have a listen - I think they're great!

Due back at work on Sunday - can't find my security pass.... Arse!

I don't mind having to wear a visitors pass - but how the hell am I going to get my coffee and breakfast on Sunday??

Was also hoping to get all the washing done and out of the way before my return to work - well I can do the washing - I ain't got nowhere to dry it all though for it is persisting down again!!

I reckon the minute I step back into work on Sunday the sun will shine and stay that way till my next annual leave!

Bloody weather - you can tell I'm Engerlish cos I'm always moaning about the weather!

Huzzah I have a new toy - it's apparently a phone, camera and can play small mp3 files. oooh goody!

I know a certain young pirate who will have something to say about phones that do everything!

Well Orange offered me a free new phone when I set up my new contract - what's a girl to do eh?

I insisted that it was a flip phone - that's about all I know about mobiles - don't like the slidy things or the ones with the keypad all exposed. Don't think the salesman was too impressed that I wanted to stay with Motorola either - but that's my choice. I've (touch wood) never had a problem with any of the Motorola phones that I've had - and I've had a mobile phone for the last 14 years - since the days of the £10 house brick and 25p per minute.

The nastiest mobile phone I've ever had was an LG flip phone - which took me a year to learn how to use and then I got a Motorola to replace it.

Wahey!!

I've found some plasters that seem to have stopped the blisters hurting!! I've even been in the bath and the swimming pool and they have survived, they are called Fastaid+ and they contain aloe vera.

I've walked to and from the gym in my new trainers and deemed them excellent for three quid! I fair bounce along now.

Unlike my other half who has taken to stilt walking like a duck to water and is now making walking look like snails pace. He made himself a pair of stilts 2 weeks ago (without my knowledge) he taught himself to walk on them - he made our daughter a pair a week ago, she is now as proficient as him.

This morning a pair of plasterers stilts arrive in the post. I was woken up by a man 8 foot tall! Well at least he got the cobwebs down!

Hmm... madness afoot at Sketchweasel Towers.

Now he's added the stilt walking to his fire eating act and is making a complete tit of himself ... which is niceD

I get vertigo from 3inch heels - how can anyone want to wander around 'up' there is beyond me.

Oh and there is the fact that when he is on his stilts my head is just level with his groin - if I hear him say just once more ...'well while you're down there' hmmm... I fear he may get more than he bargained for

Once upon a time I was married to this nice chap who used to go out to work for a living as a High Voltage Test Engineer - pretty funky title - until he got blown up by 80,000.00 volts hand to hand through the heart the week before his 24th birthday. Since then a job can only be interesting to him if it is entertaining and slightly dangerous - so he tends to invent them for himself.

My husband is an adrenaline junkie and I thought I'd seen the back of a scorched Hedgewolf, no more smelling of Coleman Fuel kisses. Ho hum ...

Life is interesting with a Hedgewolf - if somewhat disturbing at times!

Ok - those who know me and have met me know that I have a penchant for purple.

When my black jeans start to fade I dye them purple - so I have 3 pairs of black and 3 pairs of purple jeans that fit me at me moment - or so I thought!

Reached into wardrobe - spotted a purple pair - grabbed them - pulled them on - did them up and then thought, these are slightly tighter than normal - did Hedgewolf shrink them in the wash?

Asked Hedgewolf to check lable on them for me. They are not my usual jeans at all - they are some that I had consigned to the wardrobe 2 years ago because they no longer fitted (they being size 16)

I seem to have lost weight from somewhere and not noticed! I am now wearing a pair of size 16 jeans that I haven't worn for 2 years!!!!! Wahooo - must keep up with the swimming and going to the gym so these jeans are slightly more comfortable than they are now.

And on the subject of Jeans and Trousers - why is it that I want straight leg jeans or trousers and I can only find ridiculous boot cut or flared in the shops??

I am too little to carry off either of these styles without looking like an idiot or worst case scenario being carried of in a howling gale!

Fashion just drives me nuts - it's not about real people it's about teens and young adults who all resemble Barbie dolls who have no waist, no bum and no boobs.

I'm a real WOMAN with legs n breasts and a lovely padded arse! I want clothes that suit me, that fit me and also fit into my budget.

Moan over!

I have an urge for comfort food ...

There is a large (well not so large now) bar of dairy milk in the fridge ...

To eat it or not is the question.

The demon is Dave Grohl - it says so here!!

It's raining - it's raining - it's raining.

Ok - question for you - which of your blog friends is idiotic enough to walk to and from the gym in the precipitation that is our current climate.

Oh yeah that's right - Sketchweasel.

Wisely I wore my old trainers to and from the gym - they are now consigned to the utility room, stuffed with paper and awaiting a dry day. Hmmm....

The water in our road is rising again - by the morning there will no doubt be another flood.

Guess who is still on annual leave - HELLO SUNSHINE WHERE ARE YOU??

On the subject of my blisters - we just won't talk about them ok! They hurt, they are sore and not a fit topic of conversation ... grr.... wet leather trainers not good for blisters....

I've visited the counties in yellow. Which counties have you visited? made by marnanel map reproduced from Ordnance Survey map data by permission of the Ordnance Survey. © Crown copyright 2001.

and I've been here ....

Now I am not the most squeamish of people - I can happily sit through surgery on a TV programme if necessary, I enjoy a good horror film, not too partial to gore but can cope.

There is one thing in the world which turns my stomach, makes me wish to heave my lunch or should I say all of the lunches I HAVE EVER EATEN and that is the common or garden SLUG.

Slugs have invaded my house - last week it was fucking fleas now it is FUCKING SLUGS. I was sitting here randomly watching rock music videos on YouTube and thought 'my toe itches' so I bent down to absentmindedly scratch this itch (and wondering if the fucking fleas were back) and there on my little pudgy toes was a SLUG which was in it's own inimitable slimy fashion - SLIMING IT'S WAY ACROSS MY TOES!!!!

I can deal with most things - this I could not handle - my brain went into meltdown - I shook my foot to dislodge said slug - it did - with the most revolting of sucking sensations .... I FEEL SICK JUST WRITING THIS DOWN. ... need air ......

I ran for the kitchen to see - bollocks - the work top is down which means there is no internal access to the downstairs toilet and Hedgewolf's workshop - I need help - I need it now - plaintivly I called for Hedgewolf in my best girly fashion ..... 'honey - I need a bit of help ...' 'uhu' says the Hedgewolf.
'there's a slug' muttered I, feeling incredibly foolish.
'well clean it up with kitchen roll' he replies ... 'NO YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THERE IS A SLUG - IT SLIMED MY FOOT - IT'S STILL ALIVE AND ... I can't cope'

So he 'hups' up the ladder from workshop - grabs kitchen roll on the way through and relieves me of the slug.

How small do you thing I feel at the prospect of a slug in my office??

Hi All

My hubby Hedgewolf is looking for some gigs which will help him to raise funds to promote a New Music weekender in Wrexham.

Hedgewolf is a street entertainer with some class and distinction, he's a stilt walking fire eating industrial goth!

Give him a look see on my friends list and check out the website too - it's worth it just for a giggle if nothing else and see just how bizarre a man I really live with and as his poor long suffering wife have to put up with - well life would be extremely boring and a lot less fun without him. ( Message to Hedgewolf - don't breath with fire in your mouth x)

Please excuse my shameless pluggery of my husband - but I really feel that there is something in what he is trying to acheive and would like to give him my whole hearted support.

www.hedgewolf.net

That's him on the banner of my page - yes that really is fire!

This is brilliant - I love it!

Two of my favourite filums in one - huzzah!

My blisters have now got blisters on them!

Ho hum - here comes a needle to pop out the pus ....

The day panned out a lot better than I hoped - have joined a local gym and went for a swim.

Blisters on feet still hurting and walking to the gym was a little painful - am now going to have to burst them as they have taken over the whole of the balls of my foot.

Aol is pissing me off and my mouse seems to have a mind of it's own and the pointy finger keeps moving by itself and pressing buttons - am going to have to run the virus checker on pc.

Looking forward to having the Hedgewolf and Daughter home tomorrow. Will take the daughter swimming in the afternoon.

Anyway - all the walking and swimming have now got to me, so am going to go to bed.

Cya all tomorrow xx

Name 15 people in your family (still alive)
Husband, Daughter, Mum & Dad, Father in Law, 4 Uncles, 3 Aunties and numerous cousins.

Name 14 movies you like

Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Mall Rats, Dogma, Clerks I & II, The Lost Boys, The Goonies, Time Bandits, Monty Python's Life of Brian, Monty Python and The Holy Grail, The World's fastest Indian, Hellraiser (all of them), Evil Dead, Cheech & Chong - Up in Smoke

Name 13 things you like to do

Blogging, Swimming, Reading, Cooking, Spend time with hubby & daughter, gardening, breathing, spending time in the bath, Listening to music, Painting in water colours and acrylics, walking, films, visiting places.

Name 12 artist/bands you like
The Jam, Fleetwood Mac, The Beautiful South, Paul Heaton, Van Morrison, Guns n Roses, Gorrilaz, Foo Fighters, Evanescense, Jimi Hendrix, Thin Lizzy, George Thorogood & The Destroyers.

Name 11 friends
Bird, Bloke, Clare, Lisa, Russ, Mick, Billy, Sean, Shaun, Pete & Traci.

Name 10 songs you like:

Fire coming out of the Monkey's head.
It just came to pieces in my hand.
Start!
Sweet Little Mystery.
Sweet Child of Mine
Razor
One Bourbon, One Whiskey, One Beer.
You do Something to me
Tusk
Landslide

Name 9 animals you like
Humans, Dogs, Tigers, Fish, Giraffes, Zebras, Kangaroos, Koalas, Gallah.

Name 8 things you've done this month
Had Australian visitors, been to the pub, met my blog friends, shopped in Birmingham, had driving lessons, seen my Mum, paid some bills, visited the Black Country Museum for the 7th time in 3 years, had annual leave and cleaned the house from top to bottom.

Name 7 shows you like
Don't have a telly

Name 6 ice-cream flavors you like
Cookies and Cream, Vanilla, Mint Choc Chip, Toffee, Cherry Garcia, Strawberry.

Name 5 names you like
Morgana, Cerridwen, Rosalind, Mine & My Daughters!

Name 4 foods you like
Mushrooms, Steak & Chips (with Mushrooms & Onion rings), Mushy Pays, Liver & Bacon.

Name 3 of your favorite colors
Purple, Black & Chocolate

Name your 2 best friends
Bird & Bloke

Name your ..1 lover/crush/boyfriend/husband
Hedgewolf

Thanks Henriettahenpot for that - it's a long one but it gets the old grey matter going - go ahead have fun!

I've had me bath and discovered why my feet hurt so much ... ouch ...argh! Blisters on the balls of my feet .. wince ..

But the bath has made me feel a lot more human and now I'm in my PJ's wondering who will be around to chat to.

I do have Windows Live Messenger if anyone wants to PM me for my MSN name (that's a HINT!!)

Have given my new piercing it's first clean and am pleased to report that there is no swelling and no particular pain from it. Next piercing will be far more adventureous!!

Have done my duty and spoken with parents (had to thank my Dad again for all the lovely money he gave me to spend on things like ... piercings LOL!) and have also phoned the husband and daughter who are currently in Luton - hubby laying a patio for a friend, not the nicest of weather down there either.

There is definitely something up with the weather round here - Birmingham was tropical in temperature and almost monsoon like. What's going on? Well I already know that answer it's global warming.

Have just got back from an afternoon's shopping in Birmingham - blimey! I didn't realise just how many hills there are to climb. Bloody hell I am so knackered!

Still I spent some money and came back with lots of goodies - new piercing to the right ear £22.00 including titanium ball closure.

Really nice lady, thoroughly hygienic etc ... Check out Spike at the Oasis Market and I didn't scream once!
Was very tempted to get another tattoo but decided to wait and seriously consider my own designs.

New trainers - purple - £3.00

Birthday pressies for the Hedgewolf but not saying what they are cos he reads my blog!

And I was dragged into Forbidden Planet - OMG!! I found one of these:

So I just had to buy it!
Planning on wearing it on my first day back to work after the holidays!

Also bought this whilst at Forbidden Planet:

I am now officially a very happy bunny indeed

So that's my day - totally knackered, need a soak in the bath and a big cup of tea.

I'll be back later - cya xx

It's 07.00hours and I am out of bed - what is going on?

I've been awake most of the night tossing and turning (No comments necessary Old Nick! LOL)

Husband and daughter have just left for Luton in the hopes that they will miss the traffic on the M1.

I feel exhausted and have a driving lesson in 3 hours - I plan to return to my pit when I get back and have just realised that the t-shirt I grabbed from the wardrobe is covered in paint stains - but it's one of my fave purple tee's - when did that happen??

The dog is sitting by the back door expectantly - think she is disappointed that the car, Hedgewolf and daughter have gone without her. I can guarantee that when I get in from driving lesson she will be sat in exactly the same place come rain or shine. Strange Mutt ....

Hoping that by the end of today Orange will have reinstated my mobile phone - having now paid the bill. Am looking forward to having my 'proper' mobile back in my hand after 6 months without it.

Anyway - the first cup of tea of the morning beckons so I shall sit and sup and read my copious quantities of emails.

Tara a bit x

Growing up as I did in the Kent countryside - this film was regularly shown in schools - have only blogged part 1 though.