I just passed my CBT!!! I have a certificate and everything. How happy am I?! :D :D :D

I was a little shaky on the roundabouts, but my riding was pretty good overall. Didn't fall off this time either, progress. Nor did I make any unscheduled stops and dismounts. I went 30 miles an hour and everything. Bloody exciting, I can tell you! Now I just need to get Beatrix taxed up and get out there for more practice before I take my block of lessons and test.

Yesterday I went to see The Penny Dreadfuls at the Greenwich theatre with a big bunch of people, including Natbat, Tara, Shaz, Sarah, and even Gail, who I hadn't seen for about 7 years or something stupid like that. We had a big picnic in the park and then got dressed up in Victoriana. I just had a lacy shirt to change into, but Tara and her husband Mike, Shaz and a few others had full on Victorian get-up. They got loads of compliments, and people asking if it was for a wedding, or if they were in a show (Mike said, yes, they were in a show and he could get them free tickets, LOL). Will probably post some pics if they surface on Facespace.

The PDs were magic. It was a little different from last time, they've added more plot and it all flows very nicely, and have a few genius shadow puppet scenes. It is full of those perfect comedy moments that make you proud to be in the audience. They work so well together and everything is so spot on (apart from a few moustache mishaps, but that just made it funnier, to be honest). I really can't recommend them highly enough, so you should all check out their show - Aeneas Faversham Forever at the first opportunity you get.



On Thursday me and Naff went to see Bishi again :D She was performing Nights at the Circus with the London Symphony Orchestra Strings! Patrick Wolf was there was well, providing backing vocals to 'Namaste' and 'On My Own Again'. It was all very very good. Bishi is fantastic enough when it's just her and her sitar playing along to backing music from her iPod, so to have her on stage with violins, cellos, double bass, electric double bass, jews harps, as well as keyboards, programming, acoustic guitar and drums (Bishi: "Look at him in his perspex playpen!") was just... wow. She played a couple of new songs, one called 'Indian Skin', which was amazing. She also boggled my mind by reading a translation of a piece by a Bengali poet from the sixteenth century called Mirabai. I'm going to have to get her stuff because it was beautiful. She then performed it in the original Bengali, with programmed backing music. So good!!

OK, it took me a while, but I found the poem Bishi read out:

The Clouds
When I saw the dark clouds, I wept, O Dark One,
I wept at the dark clouds.
Black clouds soared up, and took some yellow along; rain did fall, some rain fell long.
There was water east of the house, west of the house; fields all green.
The one I love lives past those fields; rain has fallen on my body, on my hair, as I wait, as I wait in the open door for him.
The Energy that holds up mountains is the energy Mirabai bows down to.
He lives century after century, and the test I set for him he has passed.

I love it!

When you see this meme, quote something from Doctor Who.


Nobbly bum nobbly bum nobbly bum nobbly bum nobbly bum nobbly bum nobbly bum nobbly bum... WEEE OOOOOOOO WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.


I'm done.

Haven't seen any of the latest series, oops.

Here's the proof -



So I got all kitted out today. Got me lid, jacket, trousers and gloves. Got DMs so will be wearing those but may get proper biker boots in the future.

I tried on the textile gear but I really wasn't happy with the fit and the weight. So I went for leather. Doesn't really help my vegan cause whatsoever, so I'm feeling pretty guilty right now. Will have to say a good few hail bovines. But, leather is a LOT safer than textile and it looks bloody good so that's my excuse.

Been wearing my helmet around the house. Already crashed into a wall and a cupboard door so... hmmm... LOL. The field of vision isn't *that* bad really, I'm sure I'll be fine once I'm used to the size of it.

People who have learned/are learning to drive - how did you quell the nerves before your first lesson? Need some tips on keeping calm here, gahhh. Mind you, it is only the CBT, just an assessment to see how many lessons I may need, and to introduce me to the controls of the bike properly. Can't help panicking though! :O

My story is finally up on the WeightWatchers website! It's been ages since the actual shoot.



Clicky for the story, you know you want to...

Please remember that they're not my own words, but someone else's interpretation after two phone interviews.

And YES!!!! I got SID EFFING VICIOUS ONTO THE WEIGHTWATCHERS WEBSITE! Hahahaha I rock.


Beatrix is being delivered tonight, she should get home at the same time I do :D :D :D

I have a few new Cure related icons. This makes me happy. To make this post a *little* more valid - I sent off my provisional driving licence form yesterday!

*panics and runs off to swot up on the Highway Code and motorcycle maintenance again*

NATBAT NATBAT NATBAT!!!! (and everyone else who needs to be tutored in the ways of righteousness)

YOU MUST WATCH THIS IMMEDIATELY!

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I'M SPAZZING RIGHT NOW!!!



Back when A Forest was At Night. Look at the huge grin Simon gives Robert at 3:59. And and and OMG the even faster version of Killing An Arab!

*iz ded*

Who wants to know a random fact about Richard Hammond? I know there are a few weirdos fans of his on my flist. Anyone? No? Dust? He had his appendix out at my hospital the other week. FAMOUS MAN IN A HOSPITAL oooooooh.

It's The Real Daniel O'Donnell Show tonight, yay :D

And I'm STILL going to see Sue and the Unicorn tomorrow! I have a new outfit especially, lol.

ETA: Just remembered, whilst looking for the above new outfit, I went into Uni Qlo and found, much to my utter delight, that they were selling JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT t-shirts. I had a flail attack right there in the shop. On my own. I got a black one, they didn't have a white one in XS (hehehe I is an XS).

A meme, stolen from medland

( blah blah blah blah blah )

Wow. Just... wow. I'm so happy at the moment as this week not only am I going to see lots of comedy, but on Thursday I'm going to see SUE AND THE UNICORN.

I keep forgetting then remembering again and hyperventilating. Wow.

Had a great weekend, stayed over at Natbat's on Friday night and watched lots of random films and ate hummous. Got my feet bitten by Yorkie the cat but I forgave him cos I'm nice like that.

Yesterday me, Naff and Gemma went to the park. I took Basil and we lazed about, ate crisps and celery, played cards, played frisbee, tried and failed to learn how to play chess, Naff climbed a tree, Basil chased squirrels and ate mud (?!) and I caught the sun like WOAH. At least I put suncream on my tattoo, lol.

I'm wearing a skirt to work. I have LEGS :O

SUE AND THE UNICORN!!!!!

YAY.

This is making me all kinds of happy on this Tuesday morn.

The weekend was a bit of a win in terms of vegan food. On Friday I bought a book from my Amazon wishlist - Vegan with a Vengeance by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. I actually read it from cover to cover, which I haven't done with any other recipe book. Not even the 'How It All Vegan' books, which are a bit annoyingly perky after a while. There are so many yumsk sounding recipes in this book, tips and funny stories from the woman who thought up The Post Punk Kitchen, which is just my kind of thing.

OH WAIT. HOW MUCH DO I NEED THIS BOOK?!?! I am full of the LOLs at the idea. I bet that instead of being made out of human skin it is made out of soya beans! Hehehehe...

Helped mum make an absolutely delish aubergine and chickpea stew on Saturday, and for brunch on Sunday I made scrambled tofu which was lovely. Also got plenty of Swedish Glace ice cream, and more fake!cheese (so Margs and Marie, chuck away the stuff I left at yours, if you haven't already!)

I got some photos done for my provisional driving license. I think they might get refused though because of my fringe and glasses. I don't understand why they say take off your glasses. I wear mine all the time and I've had a fringe forever, so if I have to show my license I'd have to take em off and sweep my hair back to look like my picture. All seems a bit pointless to me. Anyway, will be posting that off soon! *excitement*

Will use my lunch break constructively today by going for a walk in the ZOMG SUNSHINE and go down to Denmark Street to look at what acoustic guitar I want :D

Also, I have spicy, herbal tea that tastes like liquid cake... om nom nom.

These got emailed round at work. They are quite LOL-worthy in a lame kind of way...



( MOAR )

That is all.

Congratulations to Sarah and Adi on the birth of Scarlett Rose!!


Can't wait to meet her :D ♥ ♥ ♥


To celebrate the occasion, have a turtle macro wot I just maded...

OMG y'all!


Just had a call from Weight Watchers. I've been invited to a photoshoot on 2nd April for the website! How exciting :D


Gonna get my hair and make up done by a stylist, and I get to choose shoes and outfits and I get a copy of one of the pics to take home.


Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I love being a skinny bitch, hahaha!

The looooong awaited tattoo has been bloody DONE!!!!

Got to Camden on Saturday and went straight to Chioko's, by the Electric Ballroom. I was so, so nervous but everyone was lovely and friendly, and mum was saying "You'll be alright" every five seconds. The tattooist, Lauren, spent a good while checking what I wanted, doing a few sketches and making sure the size and positioning was right. Once I'd sat down in the chair I knew there was no backing out... Lauren made sure I was utterly OK before she started, warning me that the outline is usually the worst bit...

It was fine though! I'm not just saying that out of bravado. It was just like being scratched by a cat. The buzzing noise of the needle is possibly worse than the feel of it. Also, the vibrations from the needle were going straight through my spine and into my ribcage - it felt quite funny, like the shuddering of a bass line in a club.

The most painful thing during the whole experience was having my neck craned forwards, it really ached!!

( TATTOO PICTURES OMG )

Lauren bandaged it all up, gave me an aftercare sheet and made sure I knew to wash it gently with unperfumed soap twice a day, and apply nappy rash cream to it two, three or four times a day - whenever the skin feels a little dry or tight.

When me and mum left Chioko's, I was musing on the fact that you always see the same people in Camden, when I pretty much bumped straight into chris_coltrane! :D Hadn't seen him for months so we had a quick chat - lovely to see you! Pretty soon after that I got the most brilliant endorphin high. I was grinning my face off and bouncing around, it was genius.

When I'd calmed down a bit me and mum wandered round Camden for HOURS. It was brilliant. I'd somehow forgotten just how marvelous that place is! I bought a Vive Le Rock t-shirt (like the one that Sid used to wear) and an X-Ray Spex t-shirt from an extremely beautiful man who looked quite a lot like Chris Corner. I got a fabulous green spotty dress for a tenner, a piano keys belt, loads of incense and a scarf with shiny stripes and stars on it. We went for lunch in a terribly cool little veggie/vegan cafe by the Lock called InSpiral or summat, the butternut squash and celeriac soup was utterly delish. The fire damage in the area didn't look too horrendous, so I was glad. Gotta go back there for a big girlie spend up when I have more money.

When we'd thoroughly knackered ourselves, I put mum on a train back to Billericay and made my own way to Naff's flat for The Film Night. Despite the late start we did pretty well, getting through Run Fatboy Run, Chung King Express, Adaption, The Princess Bride, The Devil's Backbone (I fell asleep, boo!), Clue and Evil Dead 1. I loved Adaption. I would never have watched it otherwise as it starred Nic Cage who I dislike with quite a passion, but he was very good in it, and the story was just fabulously mental. Stayed up til 5am and ate so much junk food I felt sick, but I'm really looking forward to the next one :D

Right now my tattoo feels a bit like a patch of sunburn, or a slightly healed graze, it stings a bit but that's about it. And unbelievably, my dad likes it. Is it wrong that I'm already thinking about my next one? :)

Ladies and gentlemen, the unthinkable has just happened. I bought a slice of carrot cake earlier and couldn't finish it. O. M. G. That's when you know the diet's working. Still, 9 stone 13 lbs, can't complain. Recently I've started jogging again, tried out pilates and joined a gym. Pilates was pretty good. At first I thought it was a load of rubbish - all finding your "neutral spine", and wiggling your fingers, and deep breathing in a freshly painted room (mmmm solventy). Then the real stretching started and it was bloody difficult. That was Tuesday and my arms still ache. But hey - hello nicely defined muscles!

I saw Ian McKellan's willy last night, HOW ABOUT THAT FOR A NON SEQUITOR?!*

Argh I want to to hooooome. Avoided catching the departmental lurgy, touch wood, and I've done all my Christmas shopping. Most of it was online as I couldn't face going up and down Oxford Street. I only hope iwantoneofthosedotcom delivers my stuff in time... fingers crossed it's all waiting for me when I get home tonight. And thank the baby Jaysus I'm getting another bonus this month, and one next month! Just need to wrap all the bastard presents now. And do all my cards. Hmmm. I'm really looking forward to the meal that all us old school friends (the UCAS Crew) are going to tomorrow night, there's going to be about 10 of us and it will be lovely. I'm still not quite in the Christmas mood. Kind of just want to hibernate this year, I've been sleeping way more than usual lately anyway, so it won't be too vast a leap!

Oh my heavens BOOSH TICKETS. WTF is up with all that? I just about managed to get two seats for one of the Brixton shows, and two for the Birmingham show. I never, ever thought they'd go that quick. Keep missing episodes this series though, I always seem to be out on a Thursday night. I've managed to stay reasonably spoiler free so I'll catch repeats at some point.

I'm completely in love with Elizabeth Gaskell's North & South. And I mean the actual *book* this time. I'm getting a little obsessed, to the point that, on the way to John Lewis the other day, I walked down Harley Street and squeed to myself the whole time. Margaret and Mr Thornton FTW. I want to make a fanvid of them to the tune of Goldfrapp's Strict Machine...

I saw The Golden Compass last weekend, I was really, really hoping that it'd be good, and I'm very pleased to say I enjoyed it immensely! Nothing will ever touch the power of those books, but if the films continue along the same lines as this first one, I will be chuffed. Iorek was AMAZING, and even my misgivings about my favourite Texan aeronaut proved unfounded, as he was brilliant, kind of reminded me of Tony Law a bit! Fancied Daniel Craig a bit, that hasn't happened before!

I've got a few of those Christmas/New Year memes things to go, I'll post em later perhaps.

I'm sure there's lots of stuff I need to write about, but I can't remember what they all are. Need another dose of prozac cake in a bit I think. Or maybe not, as I feel a little flurpy all of a sudden...







*In an amazing production of King Lear, directed by Trevor Nunn, tickets courtesy of blueblue_onlyou. Sir Ian was a marvel, as was Sylvester McCoy as the Fool - the songs were brilliant. It was fast-paced and just superb. THANK YOU GEMMA!! ♥

*squeeeeeee!*

I REACHED MY GOAL WEIGHT!!!!!

I'm currently 9 st 13.5 lbs!!

I wanted to be 10 st 2 lb today, but what with all the stress at the flat I lost a little extra. My Goal Weight has been set at 10 st and that's where I intend to stay :D

In total, I've lost 34 lbs, or 2 st 6 lbs.

I got a certificate, a gold key and lots of rounds of applause. I'm now a size 10-12 and I need loads of new clothes. I got a bonus this month so clothes shops here I come!

Thanks to everyone who has encouraged and supported me. It's taken me exactly 5 months (31st May to 31st Oct) and I couldn't have done it without my family, friends and the guys at WW.

And I'm seeing lovely Rufus Wainwright tonight, so all in all I'm in a bloody good mood!

Hello boys and girls! It's Robots in Disguise at Islington Academy tonight, w00t! I am feeling a little ropey though, so it might be a stand-near-the-back-and-sway-slightly affair rather than my usual jumping up and down at the front. Gah. Robots twice in a fortnight though! I rule. In a gig attending capacity.

Weight Watchers was SO good yesterday. There was free Zero Point soup! And I lost 2 pounds! I was hoping for half or one at a push, so I completely surpassed myself. It's because I've been jogging four times a week for the past couple of weeks, I'm just getting out there and bloody doing it. The leader Janet is going to bring in the format for writing my "Success Story" next week so I know what to do for mine. I can't believe it. If I'm really good this week and til next Tuesday, come Wednesday I may have lost the last 1.5 lbs and will be at my Goal Weight of 10 st 2 lb. And that will mean I will be *precisely* on target, as at my very first meeting on 31st May Janet told me I could potentially be at Goal by the end of October, exactly 5 months later. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much, as it can take people a whole extra month to lose that last tiny bit, but I'm thinking that considering I've stepped up my exercise so much (30 mins brisk-ish walking 5 days a week to that *plus* 20 mins jogging 3-4 times a week), then I'm in with a chance. I'm wearing size 12 jeans comfortably (they're a bit loose but I'm not quite a size 10 yet) and I don't feel like I'm dying when I run for the bus any more. Now, at 10 st 3.5 lbs, I'm lighter than I have been for about 7 or 8 years. Result.

I was also incredibly surprised that I'd lost 2 pounds as I spent most of the weekend stuffing my face, quite a lot like this:



Good old Sid.

Anyway, me, red_scully and natbat3 went to Norfolk to visit blueblue_onlyou at Norwich university. It was a really lovely train journey, the scenery was brilliant at times, lovely wide open East Anglian skies and marshy ground. I'd been to UEA before for an open day (it was my first choice for uni, didn't get in, dammit) so some bits were familiar. Gemma met us from the bus stop after a moderate amount of confusion and then showed us around. We walked around the lovely grounds (swans on the lake - and rabbits! So many rabbits!), the union, and her accomodation. It was really nice! I took some piccies but I haven't downloaded them from my camera yet, will do so soon. After all that, Nat's dad picked us up and drove us to their massive house in the middle of freaking nowhere. Wot - no downsizing? :P We made a nuisance of ourselves, and had a lovely dinner, beat Nat's parents at Trivial Pursuit (it was four against two, but we're clueless and I had never played the game before), and then we watched The X-Files and Due South (as tradition dictates) and ate loads of rubbish, including biscuits dipped in chocolate and banana fondue... So good. When we went to bed, Nat and Gemma got their own rooms and me and Marie shared a bed, which also seems to have become something of a tradition (OMG GHEY).

The journey was a bit buggered on the way back, had to get a rail replacement bus for a bit but it wasn't too horrendous. Got back at about 6pm on Sunday, feeling pretty chipper. It's been absolutely ages since I've done what me and Nat used to call 'gallivanting' - we were here there and everywhere at uni! Preston to London and back in a day? Bring it on! It also reinforced my need for a holiday. Iz it r can b Senter Parkz tiem nao?

What else can I tell you? Ummm... Katie is coming to visit next Thursday (YAYAYAYAYAY) and then we are going back to Essex together on Sunday, and I am staying til Tuesday night as my gran and aunt and uncle are coming down to visit from Yorkshire. Time off work is good.



Ooh yes, I've been meaning to do this for ages. The highly anticipated "Proof" picspam...




( What follows may strike people as excessive, stupid and wrong. I don't care. )



Finally, I give you a short passage from The Late Hector Kipling. I love this book. I love David Thewlis.

My belly's a snowball, my heart's filled with cabbage and my bowels are burning up on re-entry. I should have thought about all this. I did think about all this, I think. I thought I did. But then maybe it wasn't this; maybe it was something else. Yes, in fact now I think about it, I think I was thinking about something else. (pg 124)

OMFG it's like he's totes describing me. I think.

Hallo, I hope you are all well! I haven't been bothered posting for a while but I'm here now! Excitement!

Recent Weight Watchers news: Lost 0.5 lb week before last, 1 lb last week and 1 lb this week! I'm still jogging and doing crunches pretty much every other day, and I really think it's helping a lot. I now weigh 10 st 5.5 lbs which means...

I've lost over TWO stone!! And I have 3.5 lbs left to lose until I'm at Goal Weight. For the last two weeks I've been getting rounds of applause and two pretty blonde ladies telling me well done and how great I look! Even my dad is proud of me for losing this weight and that's saying something! I tried on a pair of size 12 jeans in New Look the other day and I didn't even have to breathe in to do them up. I was so effing happy I did the Little Miss Sunshine dance to the Rick James remix that was playing over the PA system.

On the 8th I went to see Client with chris_coltrane. I really wish I'd taken piccies, the ladies were so fab - all in sleeveless leather dresses. Sarah kept alternating between looking all moody and sexy to just grinning her face off, so bless! They played a great set and I'm so glad I finally got to see them after about three years! The headliners were Covenant, and I'm glad I stayed to see them because they were really, really good. Very dark and sparse - remember to upload some for me Christopher!! ;)

Chris and Rachel's wedding on 13th was a sweet, low-key affair. I last went to a wedding 23 years ago so I didn't really know what to expect but it was cute and funny and there was loads of lovely food.


( The happy couple - look at the little Lego bride and groom on the cake! )


And because no one would believe I was going to wear a dress I took a pic. This dress is lovely, but had some drawbacks. Me and Lauren went to the pub after the wedding and the fact that I have actual legs seemed to attract attention. There was the man who stops the local gangsters burning the pub down, a man who looked freakishly like my eldest cousin, and Neil the barman from Birkenhead. Who knew my meaty jogger calves and diminished cleev were interesting?


( OMG look it's me! )


I went to see Robots in Disguise do a six song set and a signing at Virgin on Oxford Street yesterday! Check them out!! It got pretty packed (mostly with 15 year olds covered in glitter, bless em) and it was really fun. They had new hair and looked very lovely :) They made up for some sound issues by playing an extra couple of songs, which was a bonus! About halfway through the set I realised that Noel was standing to the side of the stage taking pictures with his phone. I hadn't seen him for ages, he looked very well and I'm glad he's stopped being plastered all over London Lite now. Queueing up to get the single signed was strange to say the least, but so worth it as I arrived at the table and Sue said, without really looking up, "Who's it to?" and when I said Fiona she looked up with a massive grin and said "Heeeyyyy! I haven't seen you since New York... erm...!" and pulled a face which was LOL-worthy, and I just agreed that we best not mention it, while Dee looked on confused!! Incidentally, I've seen Robots since NYC, I just haven't spoken to Sue since THAT NIGHT.

I has teh picshures! They didn't turn out very well though, Virgin has odd lighting... yeah... it's not that I'm rubbish at taking photos...


( Everybody put your hands in the air and get down on the floor! Get down on the floor! Get down on the flooooooor )


LOVE THEM.

Also also also, I just bought tix for RiD at Islington Academy next week, and IAMX for 26th Nov. Wheeeeeeeeee!

I lost 1.5 lbs today, woot! Back on track, the jogging must've helped. I'm going to do more tonight after I meet the girls for milkshakes :) I think one night on, one night off is acceptable!

Check out my (mostly) downward trajectory! The silver star means the first 7 pounds, the gold star was when I lost 10% of my body weight, and the subsequent pink stars stand for each additional half stone I've lost. I've got 7.5 lbs to lose now!



I've signed up, wisely or unwisely, for both the String challenge *and* the Lose A Stone For Christmas challenge.

Thanks, as always, to dear Simon Ritchie.