I done painted me a picture for my momma

This seems to be turning into a picture blog... but I had to post these pics. How gorgeous?

It is Neil's 40th today

Happy birthday Neil!

Just a few more...

Would you like to see my holiday photos?

I won't bore you with all of them, but here is a selection:

This news just in.

I might be moving house in June. More on that story later.

Well, it's done.

I have spent two days moving large items of furniture out of Stanton St John and into a van and then out of a van and into the Bakehouse. My muscles are aching and I could hardly cycle to work this morning. But all the main bits of furniture are now out of the house and I've said goodbye to it because it's being sold early next week and I'm going to be in Rome then. There were six of us moving everything - me, Neil, Rachel, Hal, Daddy and his new girlfriend Carole. Who is a tiny bit of boho chic hippy floaty French stuff who can't heave up one end of a wardrobe and manouvere it round a spiral staircase (over the handrail, brace, turn it through 180 degrees, hold it steady, watch out for the stairlift, down slowly, etc,) to save her life. She did try, bless her, but she wasn't much use, and she nearly broke her wrist. And Daddy was in a foul temper of course because it was a bit depressing, and by the end of the day she was not very happy. So that was an added complication. But it's done now and I'm off to Rome on Thursday! I am going to buy a hot pink suitcase today.

Lilly

Interested?

Shopping

I went shopping yesterday lunchtime at the fag-end of the January sales. Everything is so cheap! I bought a black top, three quarter length, buttons on the sleeves. And some boots, knee high, brown leather, small heel. And a jacket, brown, tailored, waist-length. And a pair of black leather gloves. And some makeup (face powder). And an ankle length brown cordouroy skirt. And some octopus.

Why, yes, actually. I did have a little haircut.

How kind of you to notice!

I babysat for Leo last night

She is the snuggliset bunny in the whole world. We played 'rip rip tear the paper', and then we played 'don't want no dam' baby rice' (the trick is not to feed her ear by mistake when she turns her head at the last minute), and then we had a little jamming session, me on guitar and her on Fimbles electronics gizmo. Jess was really worried that she might cry when she left her but she was perfectly happy, which makes me feel exquisitely smug.

Ooh it works! Lots of random loveliness including a pseudoarty photo of Iffley

Back from my holidays

and raring to post again. I have a new digital camera Ems so you will soon be able to see pics of Leo if I can figure out how to post them, and also arty pictures of Iffley Lock on New Year's day. Won't that be fun!

La la la I have bought plane tickets and am going off to all sorts of exciting places this year. Rome at the end of February? Oh yes. berlin in April? Why not. And perhaps I will spend June in Venice and round it off with a little trip to Prague in September. What larks!

A quick game of Conflicting Signifiers this morning

I am wearing Neil's high vis jacket to cycle to work lately because it is warm and cuts down on my chances of becoming roadkill. It's fun to cycle past workmen and watch their faces as they think, 'Woman. Cor. But wait! Yellow jacket means workman. Leering wrong. Not poof or workman-fancier. But wait! Woman. Leer. No! Erk.'
Perhaps I am being too mean.

Mr Johnson is delectable

Lovely lovely Boris

I am a good person

I have not been drinking during the week, which has left me all bright eyed and whatnot. I may well go for a healthy cycle ride later. La via e bella! (Yes, I'm in the manic phase of my cycle.) Emily, when do you want me and Lilly to come and visit you? Otherwise we will spend all our money on weekends in Prague.

I am getting really stressed and upset

Rachel has a friend that she's known all of two months or so, from work, who is going to have a kid. So Rachel said to this friend that she could go through my Grandmother's house and pick out any stuff she wanted. Is it just me or would that be really upsetting to you too? I don't want some stranger poking through my grandmother's attic and taking all my family's children's books and toys. I am really wound up about this. Plus the house is now on the market Stanton and apparently there's been lots of interest. I have to go over there this weekend and pack up all her books.

Houses. Again.

Hay guys. I know it's really sad to get excited about a kitchen but... well, look at this.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-4571941.rsp?pa_n=false&tr_t=buy&ep=via_sl#skip

Mmm, sloping windows.

Book launch

Frday's book launch was successful - we all went back to Bardwell Road afterwards for supper and your parents were there Emily. Lilly, do you want to go to see Serenity at some point? Cheapo supper at Fishers and then a film? Let me know - I know you're busy most of this week but maybe after work one day next week?

Spain was...

28 degrees everyday. There was sun and sand and if you say "Buenos tardes! Una copa de vino rosado de la casa per favor!" they bring you lifegiving booze! The house was in an English enclave with several Indian restaurants and a pub called the Royal Oak, which was funny. I came back with a suntan - in the middle of October!