Happy birthday to me!

Today is my 35th birthday. Yes....35th! I still can't quite believe it myself given that I still feel like an 18 year old! My body has kindly been reminding me I'm not though: hangovers are worse, tiredness is more apparent, stress is more apparent with my aching and knotty back and staying in on a Saturday night in my PJ's with a cuppa is so much more appealing than putting on my heels and heading to town for a few drinks!

I know, I know, I'm ONLY 35 and should get a grip but there's a part of me that feels a little bit scared that I am this age now. My 'to-do' list isn't getting any shorter and I'm beginning to think I need to fast forward a few things so I can tick them off.

Despite the age anxiety, I can't deny I had an amazing day with my friends and family. A lovely lunch, lots of presents, birthday cake, prosecco, vodka, cuddles with my nephews and a cheeky Jagerbomb thrown in for good measure!

Evening bubble bath done, I am now curled up on the sofa watching the BAFTA'S enjoying a lovely cup of tea and another slice of cake!

If it's your birthday today too then I wish you a very happy one. I hope you have been as blessed as I have with a great day and lots of love from those close to you!

Howard's Way

L-R: Me, Chelsey and Suzy

Last night I headed over to Alexandra Palace with my sister Suzy and friend Chelsey to see Ben Howard on tour. After buying the tickets at the beginning of December, of which my sister's was a Christmas present, the three of us have been patiently waiting for this gig and I can honestly say nothing about the evening disappointed us.

Ben Howard on stage

 Not really knowing what to expect, we hopped onto the W3 bus at Wood Green and turned up at the venue and I was initially taken aback by the incredible views of London. Why I've never been to Ally Pally before, I don't know, but the setting and surrounding was a pleasant surprise and welcome.

Despite the mahoosive queue of people waiting to get in, we didn't hang around in it for long, and we were soon inside soaking up the atmosphere, enjoying rounds of vodka and cider with a few cheeky jager bombs thrown in for good measure!



It really was like no other gig I've experienced. Everyone was so laid back and relaxed. The organisers are obviously absolute pros at what they do. From the prompt food and bar service to the busses transporting us all back to the tube station at the end of the night, it really was a hassle free experience. Even the toilet situation was incredible with hardly any queuing time what so ever...and we all know what a nightmare that can be, don't we girls!


I don't know what the capacity is at the venue, but given it was a sold out gig, there was a lot of people there, however there was plenty of space around us to enjoy it and still be in good viewing of Mr Howard himself. Standing at the side near the front, we happily enjoyed his music along with everyone else there.

Ally Pally is an incredible venue, and I really can't understand why I've never been there before, but I'm definitely going to stay in the loop with future events. As for the gig itself, Ben Howard is an incredible singer and performer. I melt just listening to his album, but hearing him sing live is amazing and such an experience. He didn't disappoint and we were a very happy trio! Suzy, who is the biggest fan out of the three of us, relished in it and seeing how much she enjoyed it and how happy she was to be seeing him live, made my day. I think it's fair to say, I did well with that present!

 

 

Run Forest Run!

For anyone out there who thinks they're not good enough, talented enough, fit enough or whatever-enough to do something, STOP! On Sunday I took part in my not good enough and completed my very first half marathon at the Milton Keynes festival of running.

You may be forgiven for being a little bit confused here, especially as I have previously written about completing a marathon walk, but let me tell you, the half marathon was SO much harder!

Confused? Well let me explain.

Despite the marathon walk being twice the distance, the challenge this time wasn't so much the number of miles, but more the running. Ironic, don't you think? I've said this before, and I'll say it again, when it comes to sport I'm no athlete, but you can't knock me for trying my best. Running, however was always something I've always told myself I'm not good at despite taking part in the Race for Life - twice!

I took the plunge though after much persuading from some friends and signed up before I gave myself too much time to think about it. Training began, and I'll admit, I could have put more effort into it, but up until the day of the race, I think I was very much in denial. Despite two of my friends dropping out, I decided I was still going to go ahead with it, mainly because I was fundraising for Macmillan and for anyone who knows someone that has suffered with cancer, in the big scheme of things, a 13.1 mile run is nothing in comparison.

On the day I set myself 4 hours to complete it but I said it would be amazing if I complete it in 3.5 hours. The first 4 miles were done in record time at only 57 minutes but by the time I reached mile 7 tears were building up knowing I still had another 6 to go. From then on I struggled despite the support from the marshals, onlookers and my fellow runners. I persevered though, even if I did have to walked a part of the route and I am really pleased to say I completed it in 3 hours, 35 minutes and 7 seconds! I was unbelievably proud of myself. I wasn't the fastest, but I did it and that's what matters.

I wouldn't have been able to do it without the copious amount of support that I received from my friends and family. From all of the lovely messages and generous donations, I really feel blessed and overwhelmed and it's made this experience so much easier to get through. Despite the difficulties I faced during the run, I have proven to myself that you really can do anything you put your mind to, so if you're reading this with doubt in your mind, no matter how big or small, believe and have trust in yourself, because if I can do it, anyone can!


Click here to see how much I have managed to raise!

A Brit of an incident....

Whether you watched the Brit Awards or not last night, you will have no doubt heard all the gossip by now after an unfortunate error of judgement that caused quite an incident on stage...and no, I'm not talking about Kim Kardashian's inability to take a selfie! 

Yes, that's right, I am infact referring to 'that' incident which saw Pop sensation Madonna tumble off stage in a way a child would throw their barbie or action man over their shoulder when having a tantrum!

Despite being in shock at what I saw, I could see it all unravelling before my eyes when I noticed her struggling to untie her cape but I never imagined that it really would happen. Oh and when the music stopped I thought it was all over.

As if I hadn't been cringing enough already what with awful interaction with the celebs presenting awards and Taylor Swift head banging to Kanye's not so family-friendly performance of...hang on, what was it called again? I didn't catch it amongst all the muting!

Madonna handled it in such admirable style though and went on to do a great performance.

I took to Facebook last night and updated my status with a little dedication to her myself. Ive been a fan of hers ever since I was given 'True Blue' on cassette tape so despite a few giggles (sorry!) I think I redeemed myself.

I hadn't planned to put it on here but I've had some great feedback from it so I thought, why not!

In honour of Madonna: (look, I'm a poet and I don't know it! #FacePalm)

Madonna, you weren't such a lucky Star tonight after falling thanks to wearing too much material girl, but it's ok Pappa, don't preach, she lived to tell the secret! I think it's safe to say it's going to be Borderline whether that dancer keeps his job after that error. My theory is he'll be Hung Up for causing all that Commotion in such a Spotlight, but in true style, Madonna, you still went on to Express Yourself. I can't imagine What it feels like for a girl to come back after 20 years for a Celebration only for you to nearly Die another Day. You carried on though and the Music was delivered to all us Beautiful Stangers and that's the Ray of Light we all love about you!

Doof-doof-doof.....

This week the nation came together in unison to find out the answer to the one question we have all been waiting so long to find out: Who killed Lucy?

That's right, BBC1 have enriched our lives with a weeks worth of partially live Eastenders episodes leading up to that fateful moment where Lucy's time of earth came to a tragic end, finally revealing who her murderer was.

It's been the talk of the last 10 months which has seen no end of conspiracy theories come to light, bets and public debates taking place, but on Thursday night, the truth came out and we were all witness to find not only did half of Walford attack Lucy on that fateful night, but the person responsible for ending it all was infact, her half brother, Bobby.

Initially, I was a little bit disappointed when it was revealed, mainly because I literally had money on it being Abi, (imagine my excitement at the end of Monday's episode when Max told her that Lauren knows!) but I think it was more because I didn't want to believe that an innocent 10 year old could do something like that...to his sister. I know, I know, kids do bad things too!

My next thought was how on earth did they get the body from the lounge to the common? Now that is where my brain started ticking over. I knew we'd find out, but all of yesterday I was thinking how gruesome it must have been and even concocted the scene myself which saw Jane putting Lucy's body into bin bags, wrapping her in an old carpet; rushing over to the car lot to steal one of Max's cars while devil child Bobby threatened her to hurry up and keep 'er maaaath shu'! Followed by the struggle to dump her body in the boot of the car, screech off out of the square, look shady as they drive past a few random police cars, then turn off the car lights and slowly roll into the common dumping the body before finding an incinerator to burn the evidence. Finally leaving Jane and Bobby breaking down in each others arms as she and tells him she'll protect 'im and deal with Ian!

It didn't exactly go that way though, however, there were elements to it as we found out on the full live show on Friday (the body in the boot and Jane telling Bobby not to worry!) but I have to admit, of all episodes this week, I was completely taken with Friday's.

Watching the truth unravel was always going to be compelling, but seeing it happen live made it all the more real, and what an episode it was. I sat in utter silence and was in floods of tears by the time the credits came up. Even this morning as I write this, my heart feels sad as I think of Ian's face when he realises the truth. Oh, and that note. Those heart breaking words "I want to tell you how much you mean to me and I want to tell you how much I love you. Don't forget Dad, wake me up". Such cruel irony.

I have to hand it to them though, they pulled it off and I can't wait to see what's going to happen next. Well done Eastenders...you got me!

Happy Valentines Day

I'm writing this post with a lot of love inside me because today is Valentines Day. The day where we can acknowledge how much we love the people in our lives, and also the day where people moan about how annoying it is to be single and how over commercialised it is...something I always get a little bit annoyed with.

I'm single, yet think Valentines Day should be about telling people how much you love them. I know there's the argument that you can do that any day of the year blah blah blah, but when you look at how much evil there is in the world these days, it's nice that for one day we can all publically unite and show that, actually, there can be love too.

So whether you are celebrating with a quiet night in front of the TV, partying in town, a romantic weekend away, doing some DIY, or maybe you're exceeding it all and getting married, I hope you have a lovely Valentines Day.

Have fun, enjoy it, don't be negative, don't get depressed; it's Saturday after all! Oh, and for those who do think it's over commercialised, I have one word for you....Christmas!

Out and About

It seems my last blog went down really well as I've been receiving some great feedback on my story idea. Lots of comments on both Facebook and Twitter encouraging me to write it in full so have decided I'm going to give it a go. Not sure if it will end up as a short story or a full on novel, but watch this space....

I'm also back on the running now since my virus has finally decided to rid itself from me! I can't tell you what a relief it's been to feel 'normal' again! I'm not sure my legs will agree though as they are feeling very heavy and achy but I'm determined to power through it. They'll thank me when they're looking toned! If anyone has any tips for novice runners I'd really appreciate it. I'm still very much trying to battle through the fear of 'I can't do it' at the moment and although I'm doing it, that thought is very much lingering at the back of my mind.

I guess focus and determination are key...