National TV Awards

On a school night, Hachie Gal, Budman and Paulster and I ventured off to the O2 arena in East London. Paulster had secured tickets to the National TV Awards. Essentially, like a small version of the People's Choice Awards in the US. There are only 11 awards given--so it wasn't a long programme--but it was fun. Everyone votes for their favourite shows and viola...award given.


The show opened with a song from the XFactor [think American Idol] winner. It's the resurrected "Don't Stop Believing" from Journey.


And a truly hideous performance "Under Pressure" from the doofus twins, John and Edward (Jedward) with a special guest appearance by Vanilla Ice. Jedward "failed out" of XFactor...but they were kept in far longer than their talent warranted. Those two look like Pee Wee Herman's love children. Wherever did they dig up Robert Van Winkle, that mug. A couple of years ago, he was on the UK "reality" show Big Brother. I guess they just keep dredging him up for the freak show value.


The outgoing Dr. Who (David Tennant) won a Best Actor award and the show won as well. He's a personal favourite of mine, so I tried to get a snapshot of him from the Big Screen. Turns out, I managed to get every contorted, terrible shot of his handsomeness...






I was not gifted with the timing that night on the photos...

One of our favourite shows, Gavin & Stacy, won, so we were happy from the start.

Most of the people were dressed like they were going to a cocktail party with tiny dresses, tuxes and LOTS of sequins. Not all age-appropriate or body-shape appropriate--so the people watching was at least half of the night's entertainment.

Another fun night out in London!

Makeovers!

On Friday, it was time for Drama and Blondie to shed their locks and take on new looks for 2010! My hairdresser, Miss D comes to the house and we turn the dining room into the beauty parlor. I just got a trim, but Drama and Blondie went for much more dramatic new styles!

Here are the before pictures:
Drama


Blondie


And After!


The locks that are now history!




Lovely!!!

Happy New Year

Well, better late than never, I guess...but I wanted to wish all my blog readers a Happy New Year. I know you're out there, even if you're just lurking and never post a comment (although I'd love to hear from more of you!)
It's hard to believe that 2009 is over and 2010 is in full swing.
I'm sure it will be an eventful year!

Paulster and I celebrated in our traditional way (except last year when we went to a party)--which was make our way to a pub on the Southbank of the river Thames in London, claw our way to the bar a couple of times--wow, it's crowded--and then wander out into the street to watch the fireworks from just below the London Eye.

It's always a spectacular show (the fireworks, I mean)--and people watching in the pub is always a hoot...one of my favourite past times.

Here are a few photos of the evening:




Something new for the blog this year...a video!


And the happy revellers ringing in the new year with a self-portrait! [Special Note for AC: Note the hat...just like yours!!! Surely did keep my head warm on that cold, cold night!]


Wishing you and yours a very healthy and happy 2010!!!

Cabin Fever

So...it's not really a cabin as much as a house in a London suburb...but, it's real. Cabin Fever.
I'm so sick of being in the house that a trip to do mundane errands like go to the Post Office, the pharmacy and photo shop were quite a treat this afternoon.

Since before Christmas--when we had the lovely snowfall that made me full of the joys of Christmas, we've had off and on, more of the same weather.
So much for being joyful after weeks of it.

I have to admit that the first 2 weeks of lounging was nice, catching up on a series and a half of House that we had recorded on our TIVO-type device, cooking and sleeping was great. Also, that was around the Christmas/New Year celebrations...so always something to do.
But this week, I've had a cold and between that and the weather, I'm feeling a bit grouchy.

A welcome respite has been a really excellent Christmas present. It was something that I didn't even know that I wanted--but Paulster used his brain and came up with a good one. The Sookie Stackhouse series of books by Charlaine Harris. This is the group of books that the new TV series TrueBlood is based on.
So, there are 8 books in the boxed set that I got for Christmas, a 9th one that is out and a 10th one due out in May.
Some of you may not be interested--it's a bit graphic and is about vampires and other "supernatural" creatures--but I was thoroughly captivated by the first TV series. We're anxiously awaiting the second series--that has apparently already started (and may be finished by now) in the US.

I always get a kick out of reading the books that a TV series or movie is based on and then trying to pick out the threads that are similar. With Dexter, the first book and the first series were nearly identical, except at the end. Then, the TV series took a hard right turn and kept going. Not necessarily a bad turn, just different than the books. And Bones was the same.

I've just now finished the last of the 8 books in my little set and am logging on to Amazon to get the 9th one ordered and the 10th one on pre-order for May.

I have to warn you that, in my experience, if you mix high powered Sudafed with these books for several days, you're likely to have some odd dreams.
On the other hand, they're quick reads and creative storytelling--so well worth waking every hour to make sure there's not a vampire breathing down on you--that turns out to just be your cat sharing your pillow.

They definitely get my endorsement!

Christmas Catchup

The last post was about the snow and how that managed to get me in the Christmas mood. By now, we've had lots of snow now and it's frankly getting a bit old!
But let's look at Christmas...
We get to have two Christmases. One, adult only and low key. The second, when the girls get here on Boxing Day and we get the full assault of child-like excitement at Christmas--it's contagious!

So, on Christmas Day, Hachie Gal and Budman came over for a leisurely lunch.
The humans in the house were not the only ones lounging around. After having set the table with the crystal, silver and antique china, Sulley made himself at home.


Cat (and most of the cat hair) safely removed from the table and the humans sat down for lunch.
It's hard not to act and look a bit silly when you open a Christmas craker and put on the paper hat. But it's mandatory for celebrating a UK Christmas.






And for the second Christmas--even I got into the photos with my hat...


After Santa's arrival...


Note the big red card on the tree...Santa brought something that couldn't be opened until the 29th of December. That turned out to be tickets to the Miley Cyrus concert in London that night. Wow! ...and that'll have to be the subject of another post.

Here's Blondie, showing off the trash bin that Santa brought for her room. Practical Santa...


And here's Drama, showing off her Hannah Montana calendar.


And here's Kenny, contemplating the Remote Control Tarantula that Emilie got...


Hachie Gal & Budman gave the girls some "snow". A test tube with some magic stuff in it, that once you add water, it turns into snow. Very fun.
Here's Blondie making her snow. Thanks HG & B for the hours of activity. Will post what the "snow" eventually morphed into later--once the girls applied their creativity.


And my friend Melissa hooked me up with some Shrinky Dinks when I was in Texas. They presented hours of fun and lots of homemade jewelry and fridge magnets.
Here's Blondie with her finished product that is her version of the Gruffalo.


All around, two great Christmas celebrations.