White Lion of Whipsnade

Learnt something new at The Travellers Rest Pub near Whipsnade Zoo last Saturday. The White Lion, which we can see from our house and for miles around the downs, was originally for advertising the Zoo, and also to warn low flying pilots from scaring the animals. (Photo by George Mahoney).

We like the pub, although the food is expensive and microwaved.

Sodding Mayor of London and Congestion Charge

Arghghgh! Have just received a congestion charge penalty for £50 - when I have the receipt to prove I paid online. I don't even live in bloody London anymore, don't clog up the roads there, escaped as soon as we possibly could. The ONE time Paul drives into London for a meeting since the CC charge was introduced and the bastards fine me. And can I ring up and complain and get it sorted? NO I have to put a formal submission in writing. Like I have the time to enjoy doing that kind of stuff. Makes me SO cross. Admin takes up most of your free time these days in this country.

arghhgh - I hate Neff

I hate Neff. Been without an oven since last October (including Christmas lunch, try it) and finally bought a Neff oven. Did some research at Homebase and then bought it from Jewsons. None of the fuckers tell you that you have to have an expert installer, that they cannot recommend anyone. Neff's head office treated me like an idiot - they only repair them not install them. WHAT? How does that work? And finding an IEE registered electrician (about the only thing Jewsons would pass on) is TOO HARD! I just want a bloody oven! Why didn't Homebase or Jewsons say that you couldn't fit it yourself? Bastards.

Blues' Penguin Shirt is Back

Birmingham City has just revealed its new season in the premiership kit - modelled on the 1970's famed penguin shirts at last the Blues have a decent strip.

bank holiday stormy weather

Typical - a bank holiday that's stormy and cold. A tree fell down on Mentmore Road by our house and they spent ages sawing and clearing it. It is SO cold! Last Sunday we had lunch outside (for 8 hours...) and just this Thursday I caught the sun when sitting in the shade, it was about 25 degrees.

ARGGH always the way - I've bumped my car again - this time it is my fault

Why does it always happen? Two weeks ago someone reversed into my car, so with all the fiddadling with their insurance, Zurich, see previous, it is now in to be fixed next Tuesday. So this morning, running late taking Paul to the station, I reversed and completely did not see the van that the man who has come to put in a new boiler (how cheap it that?) parked not in the parking space but in front of it (we live in a mews so their is practically no traffic and no-one ever parks there) so I just didn't even see it because I wasn't looking.

BAH!

We're Blogging Addicts

GLOBAL ‘EARLY ADOPTERS’ ARE BLOGGING AND SOCIAL NETWORKING PORTAL ADDICTS

May 2007

Global citizens are rapidly becoming blogging and online social networking addicts, according to Continental/KNOTS Research’s International Convergence 2007 Report, a poll of ‘early adopters’ habits and a snapshot into the world’s technological future.

Early adopters of technology were polled in the UK, Germany, Japan and the United States. Between them, these countries account for a huge proportion of the world’s technological innovation and consumers in these countries are some of the most sophisticated in the world.

Across all countries an average of 19% of early adopters have their own blog, with the Japanese leading the way at 28%.

James Myring, associate director at Continental Research, said: “Blogs are particularly popular amongst younger early adopters; with 25% of 16-34’s (across all countries) having their own blog compared to 14% aged over 35. Early adopters clearly see these as a forum to voice their opinions and share their views with a significant number. In years to come it will be interesting to see if an increasing number attach as much importance to their online personality as they do their real life version?”

Generally involving less maintenance than a blog are personal websites. Results are remarkably similar in each country with around 30% having their own personal website hosted on online social networking and fileshare sites such as myspace, facebook, youtube, jaiku and flickr.

Personal websites are especially popular amongst the young. 44% of 16-34’s (across all countries) have their own personal website compared to 19% aged over 35.

Myring added: “Could we reach a point where for young people having their own website is almost standard, and instead of sending CVs, people may just provide prospective employers with a link to their website? Already there have been instances of employers checking potential employees ‘personal website’ to see if this matches their submitted CV. It is now possible to live a virtual, online life (distinct from ‘real’ life) complete with a wide circle of friends & even lovers. How this will impact on people’s social skills and real life experiences is yet to be understood.”

Also in the report:

Broadband, mobile phones and television as convergence platforms, including downloading TV programmes, bundling and forecasts.

For further information:

James Myring, associate director, Continental Research, 020 7490 5944

www.continentalresearch.com

still hating Zurich...

So I get into a live webchat with a Zurich person via the website, who politely tells me to give them my claim number and they would get a representive to call me.

Have they hell.

ARGHGHGHGHGHGHGHG

I still hate Zurich car insurance

And CAN I get through to the claims line (different from the original one once you have lodged a claim and have a reference number) - we apologise for the delay and are currently experiencing a high volume of calls you might want to call back later. It has been saying this all day. It doesn't even tell me what position in the queue I am so I can make a judgement call whether to hang on or not.

arghghghg

arrghhh! I hate Zurich Insurance!

I have just spent an agonising 20 minutes registering my claim against the driver who reversed his Merc into my car in a car park yesterday (seemed like a nice man, really shaken up by it, said his reverse beeper didn't go off). His insurers - Zurich - arghghgh. How not to be all Daily Mail about call centres in India? The conversations are agonising when neither side can understand the other and you have to spell every word out.

I just want my car fixed!

birthday present

So what to get for Paul's birthday? He is impossible to buy for, he's very particular about what he likes and doesn't. So a few months back, when we were at the Greyhound pub (as seen here on the left) in the village of Aldbury, we again discussed the display of art on the walls (up for sale) by local artist Brian Robinson. We always have a look at them all, and always had said we should maybe buy one. So I suggested I contacted him to see if he does commissions, and lo! he does. But only if he is inspired by the subject, he doesn't paint to order.

So, lucky us, he was willing to do a painting of our house. Very pleased, and Paul loves his birthday present.

ooh the drama - took injured Great Tit to hospital

George the serial killer caught a Great Tit this afternoon. I pull up from an errand picking up him indoor's commissioned picture of our house (more later) and he's rescued the bird, so we get the sat nav to take us the 45 minutes drive to Mrs Tiggywinkles, apparently the world's largest wildlife hospital.

Said bird makes a recovery in the car, biting him indoors, and pooping on his trousers. We hand him over, and are told we can call back in 10 days to see how it is doing. Smashing place.

Stopped off to eat some lunch at the Bugle Horn pub down the road from Mrs Tiggywinkles, and was very impressed. I had very decent duck with watercress, orange and chargrilled potatoes, and him had fishermans' pie. Would recommend, but I bet it is a 'mare on Sunday lunchtimes.

Then, a man came in to tell us he'd reversed his Mercedes into my car. So much for karma... but at least he did let us know. So one light is smashed and paintwork damaged. Hmm.

Duran Duran - Andy Taylor has resurfaced

Good for Andy. Sad the split from Duran was acrimonious (again), but glad to hear he is making music again. Free downloads of some dirty tracks this weekend on his myspace profile.

Pub Guide - We love The Bull, Wooten Wawen

Visit to the folks in Henley-in-Arden at the weekend, a great place for restaurants and pubs, so many, such little time!

We walked from HIA through various picture postcard villages down the canal to reach our final destination for lunch with my parents, The Old Bull, Wooten Wawen. We were tempted to stop in at the Fleur de Lys at Lowsenford, but it was only 11am and we had about five miles to go...

I'd been there years ago for a family Christmas lunch, and then again a couple of years back. Distinctly average. But it has been taken over, and the food is wonderful - most impressed. I had a pea mint and lemon risotto in roasted butternut squast - just lovely. Everyone's food was great, and the salads well dressed and perky rather than hunked down on the plate with loads of raw onion and trembling naked.

OK one vid link for the drive up the motorway this afternoon

East 17 "Gold". No, we do need it. Really.

but I did succumb to...

buying a fab fairtrade green wrap dress for £45 from People Tree, (seen here in the coral version) and a silk Coast slinky gerlinky top from ebay for a happy £8.00.

Wish list - Toast's "Camilla" dress

Umming and ahhing but can't justify the cost of this on the button Toast summer work dress - £135 - when I have a stack of work clothes that I never wear already...

This is possibly something to do with working from home, try as I might I can't put on a suit and Louboutin heels to sit at my laptop in my living room. I might scare the neighbours anyway.

But I can lust after it and hope it goes on sale for a pittance before I go catch some SA sun in October.

HayMax organic hayfever balm

Trying a new hayfever remedy, having ruined my nostrils a couple of years ago with Beconase; zombied out on prescribed Xyzal, and various over the counter Piriton, Clarityn blah blah.

So, caught the trusty Dr. Chris on This Morning telly (well, what' a girl to have on the telly when she's working away on her laptop, you want background but not a distraction!) who showed a product I'd not heard of, HayMax.

The concept is the same as using Vaseline to line your nostrils, but apparently the organic beeswax (from Namibian rainforest bees, natch) doesn't melt at body temperature the same way Vaseline does.

The packaging and pot are quite cute, and the use of comic sans is pretty retro!

You have a choice of lavender or frankinsense essential oils smells or pure. I chose frankinsense as the lavender would have me succumbing to embarrassing narcoleptic tendencies. Will let you know how I get on...

Magazine freebies

I'm a sucker for magazine cover mounted freebies, love 'em. Even if I don't like the magazine that much I'll buy them for the gift. Particularly if they are groovy handbag sized notebooks - the recent pink faux skin one from Woman & Home looks expensive and I really do keep it in my handbag.

This month I got an umbrella (can't recall the mag), two silk Hobbs scarves from Marie Claire and two beauty bags from Elle, neither of which I read otherwise.

But, I do get miffed if the freebie is useless. I tried fitting into the smaller bag a small Vaseline pot, lip palette, Haymax, and a Lancome juicy tube and could barely do the zip up! The bigger bag is just as bad, I mean, what on earth can you put in it apart from your expenses receipts? Ah, actually, now that's a good idea...

Bank interest rates rise

Interest rise yet again - thanks GBUK. And when are you going to sort out pensions? I pay £500 a month into a pension which tells me at the current rate I will get £7,500 a year when I am 60. Thanks for nothing.

ooh go on then another vid link

Ferry Corsten "Fire" feat. Simon Le Bon.

Vid - Justin Timberlake "What goes Around" - Directors Cut

Justin and Scarlett doing what Justin and Scarlett do...

click here: what goes around director's cut video

mixed review for www.gardeningexpress.co.uk

Website's pretty easy to manoeuvre, but the delivery time was rubbish, claiming standard delivery of 3-5 days but up to 10 days. I placed my order well over a month ago. The customer phone line said due to lines being busy please raise a support order on the website, which I did, over the past two weeks, about 5 times asking could someone contact me to tell me where the hell my delivery was.

Got an email yesterday saying it was on its way via Amtrack, and it duly arrived today. The three standard trees (olive, fig, and eucalyptus), lavender and thyme plants plus the bird of paradise are all good quality, but I'd never use the website again unless I was in no hurry.

Watching "Pal Joey"

Enjoying Pal Joey, I love Frank Sinatra's movies, but Kim Novak is hopelessly miscast as a sensitive nightclub dancer. Rita Hayworth, on the other hand is marvellous. Sinatra, as Joey, treats the "dame like a lady and the lady like a dame"...

Camille Jones Vs Fedde Le Grand - The Creeps

This week mostly listening to this....

grown ups with proper crystal glasses...

Finally we are grown ups, and have decent crystal glasses. I bought a set of champagne glasses at Christmas (just too embarrassing serving champagne in random assortment of wine glasses); and him indoor's mother clocked the design (Royal Doulton "Chelsea") and gave him the set of large (of course) wine glasses and tumblers, so finally we can have a G&T in a decent glass..

herbal tea winners

Having had a glass or two of champagne yesterday to celebrate him indoor's birthday, am back on herbal tea today, my two current favourites being Celetial Seasonings' Sleepytime, which has: Chamomile, spearmint, lemon grass, tilia flowers, blackberry leaves, orange blossoms, hawthorn berries, rosebuds. Has me nodding off in moments.

Also, Birt and Tang's Detox tea.

pubs with fires

Pubs with fires, how lovely. When the weather is still like it is, it is a joy to be able warm up... well done The Red Lion in Long Marsden, Bucks. Not so well done to pubs with empty, cold grates...

not that anyone reads this but you might want to know who gorgeporgefurrytrousers is

how to alienate male readers.. here is a picture of himself, George, aka georgeporgefurrytrousersharibolonghurst, seen here on the right, hangin' out on the birdtable (also known as George's Kebab Shop).We love him very much.

We also love Lulu, aka Louise, Pooloo Bagpipes, Sticks, seen here in the left doing her favourite occupation, sleeping on a cushion outside.

best things in life are free...

Well, not quite, there's 2 for 1 at wagamama at handbag.com; plus a free sample of Rimmel Maxx nail polish.

I randomly enter their competitions, and have won several things - Jane Packer bouquet of white roses, £100 worth of Estee Lauder Pure White Linen smellies (which made me sneeze so gave them to my mum), books, CDs, mascara etc.

Nice.

Lost afternoon

Having given myself yesterday off... met the girls at Carluccios in South Ken (where the French restaurant used to be, next door to where the Moroccan restaurant used to be, now Pret a Manger) for an early mint tea and bruschetta (which deliaonline has just told me to pronounce brusketta) and then off to the Soho Hotel, to meet him indoors for a lost afternoon rendezvous, to "celebrate" the ending of our three week detox.

Gorgeous bottle of chablis later, a magners cider in the bar which used to be Del'Ugo (venue of our first ever meeting) now the drinks base of Gaydar, then a dribblingly good early (5.45... like the Yanks...) curry at The Red Fort. I haven't been there for at least 10 years. Stunning food.

And no hangover this morning! Well, did go to bed at half eight...

Anyway, looking forward to bank holiday weekend and him indoors' birthday on Monday.

antidote to skyscraper wedges

Have found a solution. When I want to wear these... I also carry these...

Dallas is back!

On UK Gold... yay.

They drink CONSTANTLY!

(Do I have nothing else better to do than blog today? Er, I need to clear up and then we're ditching work to go to go to the Stag at Mentmore, to celebrate the bank holiday coming up...

Breakfast On Pluto

What a film. I am going to put money on Cillian Murphy winning an oscar. Also just seen him in 28 Days Later, and the Wind That Shakes The Barley. 28 was really good (if you like that kind of thing) and WTSTB superb.

Clap for Nomads Clothing

Just got a fabulous skirt from Nomads Clothing - its a free size with a drawstring waist (although I don't think it would fit more than a 14 maybe 16. Just beautiful. Nomads' clothes are streetwear, ethnic, hippy, gothic, festival. Some great long skirts too if you can't go the full maxidress hog.

Join the WWF Tiger photo mosaic campaign

Here's me third photo from bottom... enter at

http://www.panda.org/how_you_can_help/campaign/endtigertrade/viewer.cfm?imgid=3195

Can someone put Jenny Bond out of her misery

Does Jenny Bond realise the chefs are falling over themselves laughing at her on the Great British Menu?

She's a moron. A big plate of wild salmon before her she says something like: "please tell me you are cooking fish with this". She tries to flirt with them all, bounces and elbows around like a crap pier-end farce actor. And makes judgement on the dishes - what the hell does she know? "John Dory? I don't know John Dory very well." It's a friggin fish, Jen.

And PURLEASE can someone mess with the format, it is repetitive, and very tedious. And the judges, well... Matthew Fort is reasonable but Prue Leith and Oliver Peyton are excrutiating in their arrogance.

Try www.localsbest.co.uk veg delivery box scheme

A new find I really like, www.localsbest.co.uk which works with very local producers and delivers for free within a 10 mile radius of Woburn. What I've found weird with other veg box schemes is that they get their food from big companies in London. So why have a carrot produced in Bedfordshire sent to London to get sent to Milton Keynes and then back out to Bedfordshire again?

Each week the lovely Sarah pops in a note saying where the veg are from, so I know my carrots, radishes, rocket, asparagus, etc are from Bucks, Beds, Herts and Cambs. And you can get local eggs, honey and biscuits too. All very reasonable, and all very fresh ( a problem I've had before with box schemes is the wilt factor...) Anyway, good for Sarah for giving up her career in public health to follow her provenance dream.

at last - the perfect travelling LBD

I've been searching for simply ages to find the perfect travelling dress - something that can be scrunched up and then have the creases fall out within minutes, perfect with flipflops for the beach/daywear and with strappy shoes for the evening/restaurants/bars. That wouldn't look out of place on safari or in a London cocktail bar.

And I've found it at last! Hooray for Marks and Spencer - and, even better, this marvellous number comes in turquoise and hot pink too, and is just £15 a pop. Needless to say I bought all three and have my holiday wardrobe sorted. Almost there to just pack a carry on bag and no suitcase, but hell, I'm not that good...