TGIF :-) Alex Recital - wear lilac my arse!

Hi Friday peops
Well I've packed it in again this week - so sort of glad to be spending tonight in writing to you all....hope you are all springing into spring?

Had another lovely chilled weekend with my boy, and then Monday was a whirl - Alex invited me to a 'recital' which turned out was her A' level exam recital!! - she told me by text to 'wear purple' so I duly obliged - piling it on - knickers, bra, top, earrings, bracelet - and finally my bright rambling fleece - only to turn up and everyone is in purple evening wear - doh! ...including Alex - who looked stunning! She has sent me some photos so herethey are. She turned it into a mini concert - playing Vivaldi, Bruch, Brahms, Scott Skinner and then on her electric violin a couple more pieces - "The Devil went to Georgia" backed by the Teachers rock band - fab!! ...and a Croatian creation called "Explosive" - truly breathtaking - laugh though - the headmistress introduced an unsuspecting Rob who ended up making an excellent unrehearsed tribute speech - quite emotional - wouldn't have missed it for the world....then I bombed across Brum to see another budding starlet - Petey boy - and his Drama class put on their final playlettes - which was great fun too - I'm so cultured :-).

Tuesday - me and Sarah managed our first Earlswood lakes bimble (of the year) - which mellowed us both out until we rounded the last corner and Sarah made the mistake of asking two men what they were planning to do with their land - as they had flattened the bushes and trees - well - talk about Mr Grumpy..... all I can say is I'm glad there was a brook between him and us!!

Yesterday me and Peter went into Stratford to see Russell Howard, supported by James Dowdeswell - at Cox's Yard - hilarious - in the row behind was a fellow ex-officer from the TA - Fiona and her hubby - so in the intervals we had one of those whirlwind girlie conversations reminiscing about our balmy army days - brilliant - she reminded me how naughty I'd been - and how I was always on guard duty - me? never!! She has joined the TGIF crowd - so that's two TA buddies in our midst - with Nessa too..

Today, we mooched around Stratford - the Butterfly farm and had them landing all over us - especially liked Peter - see him here on the left - looks like he's eating one for lunch!....and there's a lovely lizardy thing who took a shine to me...and then we met up with Waseem who generously treated us to a 'posh cake lunch' and gave me a copy of his book 'Good Morning Afghanistan' - and get this... not only does he thank me in the 'Author's notes for my 'valuable input' he signed it "To Kim, Your writings every week are what kept me sane in Kabul. Thank you. Waseem" Me!! My writings!!!.... being fluffed up by Mr 'Author' OBE!! As usual, he kept us entertained for a couple of hours with his stories - and at one point he asked me whether today was a holiday or day off - so I explained it was ' leave' but that sometimes I worked over half an hour here or more if I was stuck in a meeting - and would claim it back as 'time owing' - so he then explains how he accrued time owing in his last job - managing to get accrue two months ... turns out he got stuck in Oman because of the bombings, then there was a war here, a war there, more terrorist activity here ... and so on... made me feel quite silly being stuck in a meeting!!

Will leave you with a couple of jokes - first is a tribute(ish) to Alex - and the latter was from Peter today walking through Stratford - thinks he's funny.... actually he is :-)
Kimmie x
A composer walks into a bar - and the barman says "Get out! - and don't come Bach....."
William Shakespeare walks into his local, and the barman says "Get out! You're bard....."