TGIF :-) Kim emerges from the cake zone...........

Yo Friday peops

I have been in the cake zone for the last three weeks – so my little flours, “oh crumbs” I hear you all say – what a half baked excuse for not keeping you up to dates with the latest fruity and eggciting news from St. Irchley?!...... but truth be told, I’ve been really ‘upside down’ and pretty much stuck to my kitchen floor…. quite literally – Nigella manages to make baking look sexy but...ter.. all I manage is to look like Mrs Overall in my ‘pinnie’ – that icing sugar gets everywhere…..and I mean everywhere :-?

It has been so manic that it has been touch and go whether the right cakes went to the right people….. these brides who want ‘something different’ - the wedding cake was 32 mini cakes topped with a surprise dragon….

and was being made at the same time as a ‘Peppa Pig’ for a 4 year old… they both managed to get the right cakes – but not before some late night otoplasty (posh for ear surgery) when Peppa’s ear fell off…… then there was Alex’s archery target for her 19th birthday which was around the same time as a ‘Tardis’ to feed 80 – for a 40th birthday party – well, I got confused and thought it was for an 80th to feed 40 …. fortunately double checked and the guy who was ordering the cake on behalf of his friend thought this was very amusing and corrected me…..yeah right….plonker – I get a text later on – thanking me for the cake – but his friend is 30…. so the Tardis is transported back to me – in the boot of a car rather than flying through St. Irchley’s time and relative dimension air space and some running repairs were hastily made.

Meanwhile….Stella asks me to help out with Tracey’s 40th birthday cake – and since she is spoiling Dennis rotten and a fab neighbour, I duly oblige and Tracey is chuffed…………. then finally a Sooty birthday cake for Sean’s surprise 40th – however it turned out no longer to be a surprise and Sean had man flu so couldn’t swallow – so cake went uncut……but was great to see some old faces – and the light is finally showing at the end of the tunnel…. a cake that I am rather enjoying at the moment is an ‘Alan Shearer’ shirt – I am doing it so his back is facing upwards and putting the marzipan on last night was wonderful – I felt much more like Nigella massaging Shearer’s shoulders…. Heaven!!

Here is my Facebook link.... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=45995&l=1c43d&id=648607651

I managed to get some ‘me time’ last weekend and got a couple of great bimbles in – Gary leading – two ten milers – with Sunday’s lavender fields tour ending up in a girlie hot tub moment with Gail and Rachel – and sending the boys photos of us on our mobiles gloat gloat…. thankfully the pics would me small enough not to see my double chins and rosy nosy! Look carefully at the one bottom right - see the UFO reflected in the window floating across taking shots of us :-)

Attacking the garden this weekend – so some garden shearer and maybe a few more Alan Shearer moments…….have a good un folks

Kimmie x

TGIM :-) It's my birthday - and I'm flying... with my waterwings....

Hi folks

How are you all doing?

Thanks for all your ‘dad’ stuff – I’ve passed your helpful suggestions and kind wishes on – his hole is healing up – which is good cos he was out in the rain this week and it became a lake! It’s more of a puddle size now – he’s grateful for your sound advice about not picking his nose in case his finger popped out, and he’s taken in good part some of the suggestions about how to turn him into a carrier bag with handles :-)….. we could have used him as a ten-pin bowling ball I guess too?

So, it’s my birthday today and the guys at work think I’m wonderful cos I took them a huge tiramisu in – and my neighbours have had some, Numpty and mom and dad have all had some –they were really meant for Gail’s Bar-B-Q – but cos her dad is poorly they were donated nearer to home. So let’s all get our positive vibe hats on and think about Gail and her dad (and mom).

I’ve had some tasteful birthday presents – like a pink ‘Princess’ car seat cover (thanks mom) and a frog which turns into a prince when you dunk him under water and some red baff gel which I shall use to bathe in tonight, and ‘beer goggles’ (thanks Numpts) which I’m sure will come in useful :-) I’ve also had some amazing jewellery and other wonderful stuff too – so all in all been spoilt again – thanks peops x

Weekend was spent with girlie sleepover at Numpts (she was only after some of the Tiramisu when she heard Gail had baled). She’s dead posh now and was having their hot tub delivered – so I went suitably attired in my water wings, carrying my inflatable beach ball! Sunday morning we were having our usual hungover Wii tournament and Numpts wasn’t quick enough to stop me when the delivery arrived and I ran to the door in my waterwings and shouted “I’m ready!!”

Poor soul was speechless :-O and so was the delivery boy :-D

Me and Numpts in the posh tub...............

See ya folks

Kimmie x

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TGIS :-) The Good, Bad and Ugly......

Hi Friday peops

It’s a mixed week, with the good, bad and the ugly… and wedgies are ugly……….

The bad….It didn’t start well – in the kitchen – Monday night – washing up – and the drainer had a mind of it’s own and was flipping the crocks as I put them on – like one of those tennis balls machines…. “Let’s see if she can catch this one… “ type thing!

Anyway I didn’t and smashed a tumbler to smithereens and then promptly trod on it and danced round for the rest of the week with a glass splinter between my toes, managing to squeeze it out at work – not easy on a castered chair…. I can still get my legs into an interesting position though - you’re getting the picture…

Tuesday morning went to put Dennis’ breakfast down and he beat me to it with my tip toe glass splintered manoeuvres so I ended up throwing it up the wall….late for work excuse number one ….

Wednesday morning, neighbour – lost her tongue a while back – was up for sale - seems now to be staying put cos of credit crunch or the fact that she’s probably had to declare that she’s living next to nut case is staying put and has employed team of ‘builders bum’ guys to landscape back garden - block my hummer in with their truck – late for work excuse number two….

Finally - I learned that one of the nicest smiliest lance corporals - Richard Larkin - from my ol’ TA days got blown up in Afghanistan and then dad’s scabby bonce has turned out to be basal cell carcinoma… bugger!! He's had one before tho' so we're quite philosophical.

The good…. I have baked 4 cakes and the house smells lovely – but it’s a nightmare being surrounded by cake and not (allegedly your honour) eating any of it! I’m in the middle of a wedding cake and Peppa Pig – Peppa Pig – honestly – I only keep up with the sproglets latest dudes through my cake making! There are highlights on my Facebook profile – BB house – ‘Big Baking House – breaking news and everything! How exciting!!

The ugly – is that today I went on the high ropes in Streetly – well, I laughed so much – but not half as much as when I got home and downloaded the photos……see the pics – oh dear – talk about wedgies!! For full effect zoom in on the last one :-)

And on that note…

Have a great week folks.

Kimmie x

Friends are like wedgies…..they know your inner self. They’re intimately close… and it feels great when you pick out a good one…. :-)

Night Night Pop Larkin – save me a place ;'-/

TGIF :-) Hearts and Heads Rule!

Hi Friday peops

Did you miss me?

I was up in Patterdale again – gorgeous little village near Ullswater Lake. Had a fab long weekend with the SPICE gang – strode across striding edge - first time I've done Helvellyn since I was a kid! Enjoyed several romantic ‘Ken & Dawn’ moments as they celebrated their engagement – with an amazing special ring – it’s amazing – it’s invisible - see pic :-) Apparently he keeps blowing the ring budget on flasks to make his new fiancée hot drinks for the hills, fleece tops to keep his new fiancée warm and………… :-)

aaaah....

There were bottles of champers hidden in tarns, ‘Last Rolo’ moments on the hills, pre dinner drinkies, and I made them a cake – from the heart – shaped like a heart. I do enjoy my cake making tho it does get a bit sticky in the kitchen! In fact tonight I’ve just steamed my kitchen floor – as I had to have the plumber in today – big leak in the kitchen – and after his ‘head stuck under my sink’ moment he peeled himself off the floor with this sort of slurping cum ripping sound looking to see where the noise was coming from – so I knew I had to do something!

In the week dad had a biopsy taken of his bonce after the hole he’d dug in it didn’t heal very well – it’s the gardener in him I reckon – he will keep digging! Anyway they forgot to stop his warfarin and on Wednesday morning he got up and like a scene from ‘Carrie’ had developed his very own bright red water feature on his bonce – again it’s the gardener in him… and was once again decorating the house – he’s getting quite good at this now!! Naturally by the time we arrived at A & E it had stopped – phew!! I think they were in two minds whether to call in social services as I don’t think mom hid the axe quick enough and her cover story to the paramedics was quite amateur considering she’s such a fan of ‘NCIS’ !:-D Hopefully the mobile phone photos will diminish now it has slowed up – it’s very off putting when you’re in a meeting and a picture of a scab is sent through!! Yes honestly! (Thanbks mom!) Mind you I have to admit I took this shot of him in A & E!

Weds night the ‘Phil Palmer’ groupies went to see him ‘Singin in the Rain’ at the Crescent preceded by rather a lot of pasta and pizza – was great to see the kids - new teacher Nicole again – and catch up with Jenny – the kids actually arrived on time – it’s sort of sad when they grow up and start being grown up isn’t it ;-) …and last night I met up with an old friend from student nurse training days - accompanied by a rather large burger moment in Moseley first! So bit of a bloater tonight…Planning on doing the John Williams night out at Symphony Hall in October if anyone wants to join us?

This weekend I mostly be sleeping!

Have a great weekend folks

Me x

TGIF :-) Morris Minor moment in Sedgley

Hi TGIFers,

I’ve just tripped up the stairs - clonked my elbow and twisted my ankle - running to answer the phone – marvellous!! Doesn’t bode well for a weekend in Derby doing a 14 and 11 miler… AND it was before my first glass of wine - oops :-/

Last Saturday I drove mom and dad to the farmers market – only to find (for the second time….) that it wasn’t there – we’ll get it right one of the days!! I think they just wanted a drive out in Mattie - and a bit of my excellent company, so as not to disappoint them I drove them back to my house and put them to work in the garden! Dad excavated a tiger grass which had become triffid like in nature – kept him out of trouble for a bit – with his hammer and chisel (yes honestly) – and mom set to with her secateurs for a spot of topiary – the poor Yew indeed does look like a ‘poor me’. I ended up with about 12 bags of green stuff for recycling – and for those of you who know how big my garden is – that IS my garden!!

Last night I went for my annual Morris dancing ‘fix’ with Nessa’s Dave (aka ‘Morris’).

Following last year’s initiation I wore my sports bra this time :-)……

As usual my sense of direction failed me – and I was skipping off in the wrong direction – so much so that I completely lost my group as I careered off to the other side of the hall waving my sticks around oblivious to the fact that they had gone round the other way! I was all alone in my own little Morris world – brilliant – a ‘kind’ Morris dancer said “I don’t think anyone noticed…..” Yeah right….

I did ask the Morris Dancer taking the shots to try and make sure my nose didn't look too big - think you'll agree he did a grand job!! Make sure you check out the video clips at the end.

Me & Linda

It’s birthday week this week – wee Sam down under and right a bit is four now – happy birthday Sammy, and dad is 77 today! Bless – I know how to irritate him – I got him a birthday card which was a puzzle he had to put together – with no picture - kept him quiet – see pic! Funny how his cards all seem to have an ‘old fart’ theme :-)

Anyway I’m going to limp off to my bath now and hope this ankle doesn’t let me down in Derby and that I manage to have a Ding Dong of a weekend :-)

Have a good un folks x

TGIF ;-) Shamoan......

Yo TGIFers

Whit a week that was – get it?

Last Bank Hol weekend I did a couple of ten milers – with the lovely Gary – and SPICE - round some lovely parts of the English Countryside – Compton Verney on Saturday and Winchcombe on Monday. Saturday was gorgeous – we found a village fayre - Caroline nearly demolished the Hoopla stand in a concerted effort to hoop the whiskey – see the pohotos.....while Gary, Godfrey and I cunningly liaised to share matching tickets to win a Winnie the Pooh for his sproglets – Monday was a different kettle of fish – we could have been anywhere – and probably was – the mist and the rain wet bits of me that I forgot I had!!

In between these walks on the Sunday I had the old uns round for a Kangaroo casserole – and afterwards, challenged dad to a game of chess – using the Chess set he carved on the cross-stitch board that I finally got framed this year.

Well, what a cheat he was…. Just cos I was winning (White) he kept swapping from his Black set to move my bits – we were taking so long between moves we both kept forgetting which side we were on…..I noticed he kept scratching his head – deep in thought? No - it was a tactical manoeuvre - I discovered the bugger has scratched a small hole in his head – only dad!! Completely put me off my game – my King thought he was a Knight and my poor Queen was beside herself when his pawn tried to take her from behind – so I declared stale mate – and plonked a plaster on his head, trimmed his finger nails to stop him digging any deeper – but no – up they kept going– so he ended up spending the rest of the weekend looking like Michael Jackson – one glove - Shamoan!!!! Didn’t see him moon walking though ;-)

Have a fab weekend...
Kimmie x


Big chess tournament
The big chess tournament was taking place at the Plaza in New York. After the first day's competition, many of the winners were sitting around in the foyer of the hotel talking about their matches and bragging about their wonderful play. After a few drinks they started getting louder and louder until finally, the desk clerk couldn't take any more and kicked them out.

The next morning the Manager called the clerk into his office and told him there had been many complaints about his being so rude to the hotel guests....instead of kicking them out, he should have just asked them to be less noisy. The clerk responded, "I'm sorry, but if there's one thing I can't stand, it's chess nuts boasting in an open foyer."

TGIF :-) 230508 Materia girl

Yo Friday peops

Mixed week off – most of the odd jobs ticked off – but still some hanging round – you know how it is – the best laid plans - but with my OCD it’ll get on me wick!

Monday – me and mom went to say goodbye to a neighbour from Hubert Road – affectionately known (by me) as ‘Daddy Wickles’ – apparently I used to call everyone mom and dad when I was little – nuff said……why is it though you have to wait till funerals to catch up – and there’s so much to say – like “Where did you buy your spray tan – it’s so even….” and “Is that a perm?” Well – you know me – mom cut it short before I could let the real family side down ;-)

Monday night put a new bigger flap in for Dennis – by Wednesday night he’s wearing it on the way out! Few longer screws and hopefully all will be well….

Tuesday I decide to cheer mom and dad up and take them to Bridgemere – I’ve never been to the garden centre – and after all it was only an hour up the M6…..anyway two loooooong hours after getting on at Spaghetti – with dad commenting on the Czech lorries and white van men and spelling the word ‘T-R-A’N-S-I-T’ for the fiftieth time we get off having only reached the other side of Brum and drive back to Becketts farm 3 miles up the road for lunch – dad by this time has fallen asleep and mom is getting bored with the Sudoku on her mobile phone! Still…. we managed to find two garden centres and spend lots of money!!

Not half as much as mom and dad spent on me on Wednesday though….. what with mom complaining that the seat belts in my pink thing strangled her… (I’d had them specially made... ;-), and dad getting bruised every time I changed gear… I decided to go for a fatter funkier car -which doesn’t strangle mom and the seats are too hard for dad to fall asleep :-)

So mater and pater got me something none of you will have heard of – a Daihatsu Materia – get googling….. here's a with a link to the Car pages review website which described it as a contender for the ugliest car plus they called it a ‘Marmite’ car – you either love it or hate it….. and Jeremy Clarkson likes it??!!!

When I asked the salesman about security features he said "Who'd want to nick it?" How fab is that!!!! :-D

The neighbours love it – Stella has been for a blat – and likes it because of the elevation…..Pat sat in it and liked the blue speaker lights – tho they only really come into their own in the dark….Easton sat in it and liked the big dash - and Alan loved the engine – said it looked clean??? and then helped me get it in the garage – and – laid some carpet (up the wall) so that when I open the door I wont dent it….. how posh is that for St. Irchley – wall to wall carpeted garage!

So have spent today hacking the garden back – 5 bags full later – after borrowing Easton’s humungous hedge trimmer – I accidentally lopped off half of my Acer tree – so it sort of ends abruptly – hard to describe – but fascinating to look at if you want to pop round….

Hope your bank holiday weekend isn’t too much of a wash out – James at work gets married to Rachel tomorrow – so hopefully the sun will shine on them in Shropshire. I’m bimbling in Pershore tomorrow and Gloucester on Monday and feeding mater and pater on Sunday with a Kangaroo casserole – to give them a bit of a jump start to the week!!

Have a good un
Kimmie x