JT will do many things that I would consider embarrassing for a man – buying feminine hygiene products, talking to cats in the street, shopping in female clohing stores (with me of course!!), buying me presents at Christmas in Claire’s Accessories etc. However, there is one thing that makes him cringe and hop around awkwardly and that is, holding my handbag. The current model is not even hugely pink and girly, but for whatever reason, if I need to rearrange my shopping in the middle of town and ask him to hold it for a moment, he will mutter and stutter and dangle it at arm’s reach in my face, squirming awkwardly until I take it back!

Imagine my amusement then, when seconds after dropping him at work the other day I receive a phone call with a panic stricken voice at the end of it confessing that upon exiting the vehicle, the offensive handbag (until now delicately balanced on JT’s lap) had somehow been taken absent-mindedly from the vehicle with him and that he was now in fact, walking down Winchcombe Street with my handbag in his hand!! I laughed all the way round the inner ring and arrived back at Winchcombe Street just in time to capture a snapshot on my phone of a sheepish looking husband walking out of Winchcombe House after having to explain to Keith why he was carrying a handbag! Heehee!

We noticed this in a WAL*MART in Florida, but I was reminded of it today when searching for a product to advertise!! BUTT PASTE – for ‘diaper rash’ !! It even has its own web site!! You could call it an imaginative use of branding – it is certainly effective as you wouldn’t forget it in a hurry, but it is also… Well, succinct?!

I was very excited to see some ducklings at uni today!! There is even a sign warning us about them but I am gutted because I have forgotten my phone and cannot photograph them I will post pics as soon as I can coz they are really cute and fluffy!!

Rain is useful, but doesn’t beat sunshine. (I know the ecologically minded among you are now going to leave me a philosophical comment as to why we couldn’t do without rain etc but I am only stating a preference!!) Yesterday I actually had to wear three different outfits – the last incidence of necessary change being the most comical. The first outfit got wet, so I put on a nice white T-shirt and some trousers. Just then Twinkle came running in from the garden looking really cute so I said in a daft kitty kind of voice: “Ello Twinkie!!” *lifts Twinkle high in the air* “Who’s a cute little Twinki…o..ohhhh”….. *voice tails off*

The aforementioned ‘Twinkle’ had deposited brown paw prints in exactly the two places on my nice white T-shirt where, as a woman, you would not generally choose to exhibit such markings. I had to change again. This is why I am praying for sunshine, particularly for our BBQ on Friday, which will be an interesting and cozy affair if it ends up in our small sitting room!!

Launched today! This deceptive product by Nettle & Thornes… The idea is that the brand sounds like a name but also hints at the contents. If you exfoliated with stinging nettles and bramble thorns then you would be in trouble, but this product gives nothing away except a few subtle references through the use of imagery in the promotion campaign and a tiny disclaimer!!

Enjoy…

**Hmmmmm will post a picture when I sort out the colour profiles!!**

Today someone kicked my bike in. I feel sad. I know it is only a thing, but it is a thing I use almost every day!! Most inconvenient and a bit upsetting!

What is it with letting agents? Today we arrived at the flat to carry out some minor repairs (as you do in order to get your deposit back – you hope). I went into the bathroom and realised that the radiator was on. This was strange, as we are not living in the flat and I thought JT had turned the heating off. I asked him and sure enough he reiterated that he had turned the whole thing off. When we opened up the boiler, the heating was on constant and the water was being heated to the max!!

JT is certain is wasn’t him and I definitely haven’t touched it, leaving a few possibilities. The letting agent, a service man (who could only have obtained keys from the agent), a burglar or the owner of the flat. I phoned the letting agents in a rage (of sorts) and of course (as I expected) they denied it flatly. They have been in the property but have not touched the heating. Strange, we haven’t touched it either.

I told them in no uncertain terms that we expected an explanation otherwise we could only assume that there had been an intruder in which case it would be our moral responsibility to phone the police. They replied that we were welcome to call the police and that they wouldn’t be able to do much as nothing had been stolen. nothing that is, except our money for however long that boiler has been on for!!

What can we do? They will never admit it if it was them and therefore will not compensate us. The utility suppliers have already taken loads of money from us that they shouldn’t have, but the money for whatever has been used is rightfully theirs. Who is paying it? Us. SCUM BAGS!

So you sit down at the computer… It is going to be a long day. The sequence is as follows:

1. Focus
2. Remember that you should really check your emails, blogs, facebook etc
3. Wonder how the bank balance is doing
4. Quickly re-focus after the shock of checking the bank balance and swear never to procrastinate ever again!
5. 11am – time for a trip to the refectory for a drink!
6. Focus.
7. Remember lunch far too late
8. Re-focus after lunch but feel grumpy because of working too hard, eating lunch late and listening to some annoying music from across the room
9. Start to get things done
10. It is tea time and you still have loads to do.
11. Get a bit silly
12. Get completely stupid… Here were the results!! I love photo booth! The man in the background is our course leader – I think it cheered him up too!!

… Just discovered “My Name is Earl” wonderfully mindless and amusing – well worth a watch!! Thanks to Luke for lending us series 1!! Still haven’t made it to 24, CSI, NCSI, Lost, West Wing etc.

Well what a great weekend… It was (as is tradition on the Mayday bank holiday weekend) The Noise!! I was again stationed in Hester’s Way but this time at a project decorating a bedroom for three boys and re-doing a garden! It was lots of fun but I am still aching a bit. Learned a few new skills too, such as how to lay turf, how to fend off pet rats, how to discover a bike in a hedge….etc! I thought I’d post this classic picture, I asked the kids to pose nicely for their Mum!! ha!!