Thursday, February 26, 2009

Another picture post

This is the picture of the snowdrops that I was going to post a few days ago. I will post it in the original too. Ahh! Feels like spring.
In case you were wondering, and I KNOW you all were, this is what is left of my Terry's Chocolate Orange:
(that was made in Poland incidentally)

Two Sundays ago I took the church flowers home with me. Beautiful, deep red roses. I took this picture which I love, although it doesn't really capture their colour. Here they look a vivid pink.I liked this effect that I found on Flickr. Not sure what I did. It looks really gothic though..........and a little like an ornamental cabbage the more I look at it!
And I like this version. It is very subdued and elegant.

A Dark Day

Today was a dark, dark day.
My beloved football club, Darlington, went into administration.

It was so shocking. I felt like I was going to throw up when I read the headline on the BBC website. In fact, I think maybe I did a little. All I needed to read was the headline 'Darlington Enter Administration'. That says it all.

For me, it really came out of the blue. I know that we had to get rid of a lot of players in the close season last year and that Dave Penney really didn't have a lot of money to spend but still! The team are doing reasonably well too consistently holding down a playoff or automatic promotion spot (so basically always in the top 7) and when the team is doing well everything must be ok behind the scenes, right? Guess not.

So we are 5 million pounds (I have only just realised that this keyboard doesn't have a pound sign!) in debt with 54,000 a week losses. We need to find a buyer or we go out of business and we have been deducted 10 points so have dropped from 7th to 11th in the league table. No rose tinted spectacles here.

We previously went into administration in 2003 when George Reynolds was chairman. He was pretty infamous and ridiculous and has an interesting story that I wish was in no way connected to Darlington Football Club. There is an article in today's Northern Echo where the headline is George Reynolds: Don't Blame Me. George, I blame you for EVERYTHING.

Incidentally, our 27,500 seater stadium has been renamed The Northern Echo Darlington Arena. Catchy, I know. The stadium was built by George Reynolds because, naturally, a struggling, small, north east club NEEDS a stadium THAT big. Believe me, attendances haven't increased with the rise of available seats. The stadium has had quite a few names in its short history:
Williamson Motors Stadium,
96.6 TFM Darlington Arena,
Balfour Webnet Darlington Arena
and now,
The Northern Echo Darlington Arena.
It has also been known as The Darlington Arena when it hasn't had a sponsor.
Actually my favourite of the names it has had is Reynolds Arena (because no self respecting chairman who builds such a mammoth - or white elephant - isn't not going to name it after himself). I don't know why because I have no liking for the man himself at all. It is probably because it is the shortest name that the stadium has ever had.

The long and the short of it is that I am not a happy bunny today. I wasn't so worried the last time we went into administration and I think I should have been. Well, I'm making up for it now!
Is it wrong to pray for a football club??

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Carrie Oakey

I came across an article on the Yahoo! website today that made me weep with laughter... well, almost. It was about Britain's most unfortunate names (click on the link above for full article). There are some rather good ones. They are all basically a play on words and you've got to wonder if the parents really realised or it is just coincidence.

Here are a few: Stan Still, Tim Burr, Rose Bush, Will Power, Teresa Green, Justin Case, Lee King.

There are more names in the article so check it out!

Beautiful day

I laughed all the way to the bank today.

Not really. I don't have a large amount of money, nor did I laugh. Laughing all that way would be a little creepy and probably very tiring. But I did smile.
It was such a glorious day. The sun was shining, which I was very thankful for, which gave a tiny bit of heat when the wind wasn't whipping. In fact, I think the only time that my smile drooped slightly was when my ears started to feel like they were going to fall off. In fact, I almost began to wish that they would fall off just to stop them from hurting.

But the freezing cold wind aside, the sunshine made me smile. The sky too. It was such a full blue. It wasn't that watery, wishy washy, winter type blue sky. It was a deep, cloudless blue. Wonderful.

I took a picture of these snowdrops. I feel like the weather should be warming up now. Why is it still cold?


If you ever happen to look at my sidebar you will see my updates on Twitter. I have discovered that I can text updates from my phone which is obviously very exciting as I can update without having to go near the computer! Hurrah!
You may have noticed an update about a text message sent from my Mum. I was rather excited to get this text and here is what it said:


I have WON a sensor bin! Shall i have to go on a diet to stop my bum setting it off?

Maybe she won't totally appreciate me blogging the exact words of the text but that is what happens when your daughter has a blog! Sorry, Mum!

So she WON a sensor bin. As you may know, if you have read my blog that far back, we already have one of those here (you can read about it by clicking on this link).

Here is my advice (well, not advice per se but telling what WILL happen) to my Mum about her sensor bin:

1: You WILL open it with your bottom, arm, leg, laundry basket, tray of tea etc etc, even when you don't want it to open. You WILL get annoyed.
2: You WILL get annoyed when it doesn't open quick enough.
3: You WILL get annoyed when it doesn't stay open for long enough, even though (if it is like ours) there is a button that you can press to keep it open.
4: You WILL stand in front of other people's bins and wonder why it won't open for you. Why is this bin giving me attitude??

I'm just thankful that I won't have to adjust back to a 'normal' bin when I go home!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.


I did NOT cry (and I do mean - or do NOT mean - CRY!) in the middle of Barnes & Nobles when I saw this display.
I was NOT tempted to buy any number of Doctor Who series that were $99.99 each! OOFA!
And I did NOT buy the Vicar of Dibley final episodes featuring Richard Armitage just to make me feel better!! They were not $99.99.It did NOT make me cry again. No, it didn't.

I did NOT mention this just so I had an excuse to post a Richard Armitage picture on my blog.

NO, I will NOT post another one 'just because'......

And these are NOT from the week before last because I did NOT have a horrible week last week and do NOT not want to talk about it.

Confused? Me neither.


Crossbar challenge

This was the video that I posted on Saturday night/Sunday morning.
Darlington's crossbar challenge. Wouldn't want to ruin it for you but thank goodness goals aren't scored by hitting the crossbar.

But like I say, I have a hard time recognising any of the players any more. I know Ryan Valentine and that is about it. That makes me sad.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

I'm a little ashamed

1) because I am on the internet at 12.25am and I should be fast asleep in bed and
2) because I know so few of the faces in this video. Well, I guess that is what being 3000-ish miles from home does to you!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

The More Complicated The Better

I don't know what it is, but 'place and bake' cookies thwart me every time, and I do mean EVERY time! I can cook a mean pavlova, lemon or chocolate meringue pie or even a chicken pot pie but 'place and bake' cookies defeat me.
Appetising, no? These particular ones are Aunt Chrissie's 'Best Oatmeal Choc Chip Cookies Ever' Cookies. Well, the board is out on that one but I don't think I tried them at their best. I ended up throwing more than half the batch away. Boo Hoo!


If you don't understand what I mean by place and bake, it is pretty simple. It is ready made cookie dough which is already cut up for you. You place it on a cookie sheet and bake it in the oven until they are ready. In theory it is a cinch but I just can't do it. I burn them every time! EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Not ONCE have I been successful at them. Give me a pavlova any day!




Michella said this to me yesterday:


'You look like George Washington.'


I don't think it was a compliment.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

I'm A Bad Daughter

Did you know that? Well, Mum and Dad, you probably worked that one out a LOOOONG time ago.

My Dad sent me an email with an article attached on February 4th. I didn't even open the attachment until today. Sorry, Daddy! Actually it is a very interesting article (click here to read it) from The Times on December 27th, 2008 by Matthew Parris. He calls himself an atheist and yet can recognise the transformation caused by Jesus entering someone's life and the positive effects that Christianity has had on the people that it has touched in Africa. He talks in this article about his experiences both recent and past in Africa. Take a look and see what you think. Personally, it is so strange to me that cannot quite seem to connect the dots in his thinking.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

You should know this about me.

I am a Valentine's Day cynic. Maybe you would like to call me bitter or think I have sour grapes. I'm not and I don't. I find it a little ridiculous and the fact that people need a day set out for them where they are OBLIGATED to be loving to their loved ones is so bizarre. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the concept of Valentine's Day. In fact, I think it is rather wonderful. Every day should be Valentine's Day. But whatever...

You should also know that I meant to post this on or before Valentine's Day itself but I didn't so you are getting it now!


*steps off soapbox*

On a completely different note, I was extremely excited when I went into A&P (a grocery store) the other day and found THIS:

So I just had to take a TON of photos
(I think it is funny that my walls look blue in this pic - they are actually white. Yes, that is me wearing horizontal stripes. I NEVER wear horizontal stripes. That is a jar of Marshmallow Fluff on my dresser and my TV IS turned towards the mirror!)
I even have some of the chocolate orange left still! Now THAT is a miracle!

Also, I did my hair like this on Sunday. I liked it.


Finally, I did have a Not Me! Monday post to publish but because the girls are off school this week and Blogger was being a pain about loading photos this morning, I didn't get a chance to post it. I'll save it (and most likely add to it!) for next week!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Not The First Time

Sarah made a comment on my Not Me! Monday post about Daniel Radcliffe that made me laugh hysterically (which is NEVER a good thing when you are on the computer really late and you don't live in your own house. There is a rather big possibility that you could awaken a number of people, even if you are in the basement!).

I had COMPLETELY forgotten but this wasn't the first time that I had (or had not!!) waited beside a stage door to attempt meeting somebody who I admired. The previous man in question was, of course....................................


ALED JONES

Sarah and I were very excited when we discovered that Aled Jones was doing a concert in Darlington at the Civic Theatre. Talk about a dream come true! Sarah and I actually didn't go to the concert together. She went with Clair Hacker and I went with my Mum, Anne, Meg and I'm sure there was someone else. The concert was actually AMAZING. Sarah even got mentioned by Aled because her dad had sweetly gone to the theatre earlier in the day to request that she was mentioned. I think we both nearly had a heart attack at that! Lucky lady!

So, to cut a long story short we decided to wait outside the stage door after the concert. We managed to persuade Clair to wait with us too. There were a few other people too but no police, barriers or black SUVs! We waited, and waited, and waited............ and waited.......................................... and waited! We even waited some more........ Every time the stage door opened we got excited but every time we were disappointed. Lots of people left and still no sign of Aled.... then the lights in the theatre went out. Oh! Well, unless he waited in the dark for us to leave (which is actually a valid suggestion because we are a little wild!), he had gone already. Snuck out. Without seeing anyone. G.U.T.T.E.D! I'll just have to wait a little longer before meeting him.

So that time I wasn't successful! But I thought I was doing something crazy by waiting for Daniel Radcliffe but I'd forgotten that it wasn't so crazy for me. I have a history with star stalking. Maybe I should be a little ashamed of that! But I had totally forgotten about that incident. Thank you for reminding me of it, Sarah! May we stalk stars together very soon in the future! Richard Armitage perhaps? Marat Safin?

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Just a few.....

.....more Daniel Radcliffe pics. These were ones that Amanda took and are FAR better than my ONE in focus photo that I got!

Enjoy!

Thank you for letting me use these, Amanda! They really are brilliant!

Monday, February 09, 2009

Not Me! Monday


Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week

This weekend I totally did NOT do something a little insane and it most certainly did NOT involve an actor from certain popular wizarding school movies. Nope. NO WAY!!

There is NOT a chance that I stood outside a stage door for almost 4 hours (until 11pm!) whilst my friend actually watched the play that this certain actor was in. THAT would be crazy so I certainly did NOT do that! I actually did not see the play at all (really!)


I did NOT knit while I was waiting. I did NOT finish my hat and I was in NO WAY tempted to get him to sign it. NOR was I tempted to get him to sign the knitting pattern for the hat when I had decided that getting him to sign the hat wouldn't be a good idea. It will NOT now forever be known or referred to as my Harry Potter hat.


I was totally NOT over excited by the idea of seeing movie star who is actually a real person (a very short, real person) and is only particularly special because he has been in some movies (and an old version of David Copperfield when he was much younger and only a little shorter than he is now - just kidding!). So what? I would NEVER do that! I'm not that affected by celebrity. Nope, NOT me!
I did NOT get his autograph and then give it to my friend. THAT would be ridiculous. I am NOT tempted to somehow procure said autograph from her without her noticing because I did NOT get one for me (actually I really didn't.... bummer!) I did NOT try and persuade her to stand outside the theatre last night to get me an autograph. I am a much better friend than that!

I am definitely NOT going to frame the one good photo that I got of him. I am just NOT that girl.

I DID, however, meet some really sweet girls who had been waiting outside a stage door since 2pm and 5pm but were obviously NOT waiting for the same movie star that was NOT mentioned above. (I did NOT think that they were even crazier than me!) And I will NOT be pinching some of their photos from Facebook because I am NOT jealous that they did NOT get better pictures than me!


There is NO WAY that I couldn't sleep that night after I had NOT done something so weird, something that I would definitely NOT do if I was back home in the UK. I'm just too cool!


Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Set Apart Girl

The February issue of the magazine is up on Leslie Ludy's website. It is just wonderful. Each of the articles really hit home this time. I met each of the lovely ladies involved in writing this - Annie, Melody and Jolene (and, of course, Leslie) - at the conference I was at in Colorado last month. They all live what they have written in this online magazine and really are an inspiration. Check them out by clicking the link above!

Wonderland

Chen Li and I went to Alice's Tea Cup (Chapter II) on Saturday. It was great fun!
We had to wait an hour before we got seated so we just wandered down Lex.... stopped at a pet store........ wanted to buy lots of puppies.......

Then we went to Dylan's Candy Bar (where else??) for a while before we headed back to the little tea room.

I love Alice's Tea Cup. From the scones to the tea, from the mismatched china to the fairy wings hanging all over the place, I just LOVE it!I was introduced to it by Julie from church last Memorial Day (which seems a LONG time ago now) and have been waiting for an opportunity to go back. Poor, unsuspecting LiLi! We both ordered tea (duh!). Chen Li got a plain green tea and got some random fruity concoction. We also got two scones each (try explaining a scone to someone who doesn't know what they are!) which were MASSIVE and way too much for one person to eat alone but they make you order two so who am I to argue? Chen Li got a ham and cheese and a pumpkin and I ordered a buttermilk and a mixed berry. I played it safe. The scones were delicious and the tea was refreshing. What more could a girl wish for in Wonderland?!

Here's the pics!


We finished off the day by going to a Yarn Store! BEST DAY EVER (apart from the fact that my UK bank card was blocked by the bank..... disappointing! But sorted now! Hurray!)

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

A long and random post that I can't think of a name for!

This post is going to be a looooooooooong one. I think.

First of all, I'm not able to interview for Teesside Uni. They won't allow a video conference interview and there is no way that I can go home to take it. I'm sad but at least I tried. What really hurt was when my UCAS status was changed to unsuccessful. I actually felt like I'd failed after that, even though there was nothing that could have been done about it. I'm not giving up on it though. I'm going to try with clearing and, if I am not successful there, then I will apply again next year. It is just so frustrating when I know what I want to do but I have to wait.

I have a few random pics that I am going to share:
I was intrigued by this onion. It was almost like it was double. Weird.
I saw this set of tracks in the snow the other day. No idea what kind of animal made them!



Here are the pics of where I was sitting for both The Little Mermaid and Wicked.
The first is The Little Mermaid. The second, Wicked. Bit of a difference I think you'll agree!

We went out for dinner on Friday night.... to TGI Fridays. How ironic. Great meal. Michella ate A TON! Appetizers (including onion rings, chips and dip and potato skins), all her ribs and fries, one of Julianna's ribs and dessert. She regretted it afterwards.

I made two pavlovas last week. One with the girls (basically a test run!) and one for the church lunch on Sunday. So much fun! The girls enjoyed making the first one. They enjoyed eating it more though. I've gotta tell you, it did taste AMAZING! Church people seemed to like it too. I was sad though, cos Carolyn didn't get to taste it. I wanted her opinion most! So, here are some more pics. Half are from the first pavlova and the other half from the second (fairly obviously I imagine).Meringue is ready when you can hold it over your head and it stays where it is!





I have more to blog but my eyes hurt so I will do the rest another time!!