Troubled Times.....

I know I have to put a mega update on here! But things for me are really shit at the moment, I'm currently at my desk desperate for inspiration to fill in my application form for my own job. I am failing miserably! I should know just before Christmas if I have been made redundant or not.... if I am then I'll have all the time in the world to do the update you all deserve!

Generally everything else is ticking along just nicely... an update withh happen soon... promise!

Currently Listening Requiem & Magnificat/Rutter, Cambridge Singers see related

I have absolutely no idea where to start with this update! I've been putting it off and putting it off and now I 've been hassled I dunno what to say!

Band: Its been a roller coaster, I cant pretend its my perfect choice of show and I have found it hard to get into. I've also found it hard not being show co-ordinator... when youve been in charge for that long its hard to step down! I have however enjoyed writing the drill and I know I will be confident enough to do it next year on my own. The flagband have been more trouble to me than all my money... and I dont have any money! That sounds bad but I love them dearly and I know I try so hard for them, sometimes I get a little disappointed that I dont seem to get anything back. I think anyone who is an instructor has at some point gone through the 'what the fek do I do this for?' phase. I had that last weekend, it just seemed everything was caving in and it was all down to me. I'm not ashamed to say that I have cried on several occasions this week. All I've ever wanted is the best for our guard and I know I have done my best. I feel like we have turned a corner this week and I know we have some great help coming this weekend and I am actually looking forward to band again!

We've had our first show at Colchester. Our sexy new uniforms were well received and I have to say I had my best show... yes I am back field DM.... I was shitting it! Its the first time I remembered everything LOL (for a change)!I seem to be 'marching in 8 year cycles... my next season is due in 2016 when I will be 45! I DONT THINK SO!!! Anyway we won the show, much to our surprise... we know we have a long long way to go, we just wanted to get through the performance! DT have stepped up their game this year which is great, Phil & I rocked out to BK... we love their show, really refreshing and so great clever arrangments... that show on paper looked great and in reality could have been so gash BUT it isnt, they've really pulled it off! Unbeknown to anyone Phil & I havd put forward an Iron Maiden Show (our fave band for us this year... how strange would that have been if we'd gone for it! next weekend we have Barnsley, we've done some tweaking, drill rewrites and the flagband should have a full show by then. That should be enough to see us into the 2nd half. We're also at Warrington so would be nice to see a few people and of course the corps.

Gabrielle: Well what can I say, she's still beautiful and a total genius! She's walking only just, took her first steps unaided last week, she has a mouth full of teeth and shes starting to commuinicate brilliantly. She is addicted to cherry tomatoes and she loves baby belles! She is now Mon - Thurs with my mum, we chucked in nursery (not sure if I've explained before the reasons why) it was the best thing we've done! Mum and gabby are right little gang! We've had her christened aswell a couple of weeks back, the ceremony went well all the god parents behaved and did their bit (thanks xxx). We went for a meal afterwards at Harrys in Hove... we'd kept the gathering for the christening very small as we only did it in the normal church service, the meal went aswell as can be expected when your in a confined space with 18 people that dont really talk to eachother! Phil & I were stressed and vowed that if we could avoid it we would never do that again! Nuff said about that I think!

Gabrielle will be 1 next week... how quick has that gone! She already loves handbags and shoes and is mesmerised by flags!... I see a proper princess in the making here... even though she has perfect rhythm with a set of drum sticks in her hand!

Other Stuff: Well Colins been to China and back for 2 weeks and is off again for 5 weeks on Saturday, apparently he was a super star out there, so thats great for him! All the scout camps have started and will continue now til the end of August when Phil & I go off on our camping hol... do you see a theme emerging here? I got Gabby a Fifi and the Flowertots ready bed... hehehe its awesome! And she'l have her own room in the tent! We've had a few nights out in town or just down the local all drunken and mad as usual. Phil & I have rocked out a few times in the Engine Room a rock club under BN1 in Brighton and we've also hit Walkabout hard a few times too.

Gav & I have been planning the 2009 SK season, we've been talking about it now since about mid February LOL, we're so excited. I've been making a few purchases and the floors been designed and hopefully ordered, we were even finalising the costume designs this week too! we've had some welcome additions to the staff team and my role has been a bit more defined and I'me very excited about that!

I'm sure theres shit loads of other stuff I've left out, but you'll have to ask me or jog my memory... I'm getting old! In 3 years time I will be 40! What the fek is all that about!!!!

Anyway enough for now and if this doesnt appease you nosey bar stewards then move along please... theres nothing to see here!

OAO

TO THE MAN IN THE SILVER PEUGEOT ON THE A45 LAST NIGHT....

I'M NOT A F***IN MIND READER, YOU PLUM!!!

Ok so, where to start....

Had a scare last week with Munchkin, she came up all spotty so thought she might have chicken pox... fortunately or unfortunately (depending on which way you look at it!) it was a false alarm! generally she's doing great, constantly chatting, even in her sleep and bouncing! She's pulling herself up all the time now and trying to walk round the furniture, thing is she gets too excited and trys to bounce and then falls over... the frustration in her face is a picture!

Anyway Friday night Gabby and I went down to Brighton, we dont usually on a Friday. We set out about 6pm and the m25 was empty.... until we got to about 4 miles from the tunnel. So because it was so hot I decided we'd pull off at Lakeside have a wander and have something to eat. I bought 2 pairs of fabulous shoes which Gabby helped me pick LOL One pair of flats/pumps and a fab pair of wedges... always wanted a pair but never found the ones I loved... until I saw these! I just need somewhere to wear them now LOL

So Gabby and I didnt get to Brighton til around 10pm, I knew Phil was going after scouts to have a drink with Colin, as Colin goes off to China this week for 6 weeks. I thought I'd join them and before I could get round the pub Phil called to say we were gonna hit The Engine Rooms in town! EXCELLENT! So it was a bit of a rush job getting ready, but because its a rock club in a basement and it was VERY hot there isnt much point in getting too dressed up. Got into town about 10.45pm had a quick drink upstairs and in the club for 11pm after the first gig had kicked out. Vodka was the preferred refreshment of the night and I had plenty of those inbetween rocking out and checking out a few air guitars. Colin got absolutely spannered and ended up pole dancing and I think that was the moment when Vicky decided he should go home LOL We caved in at about 3am, headed for kebabs and a taxi! Phil ate his enroute but I like to have mine with a plate and a knife and fork... get me all posh! Anyway got back to the vicarage but I think we were too loud and woke Gabby up. I went up to settle her and never came back down and therefore didnt get to eat my kebab! Phil fell asleep downstairs and that was that!

Did family stuff Saturday, washed the car, went down the sea front for an icecream. Picked up the hire truck for corps in the morning then in the evening we walked up to Vickys for a curry. We watched American Gangster but we all kept falling asleep at different times and having to fill eachother in on the story! I thought it was an ok film but it did go on and on! Got home to the vicarge at not long after midnight and we were up at 9 to sort the truck out and get going to corps. Breakfast in the park as always before rehearsal, double egg on toast YUM!

Corps started at 11am, but we were delayed starting as part of the Brighton Festival had been putting on a fireworks displayed and half our field was roped off, however after some negotiaions the field was ours again for the day. For one day only I was back on the tower of power, it was strange as I dont feel that this show is 'mine'. Its hard to explain and I felt like I was interfering in a way. In all tho we had a good day and I worked to a schedule in my head of finishing at 5pm instead of 6pm. We got Parts 1&2 on the field to a reasonable standard which I think is good considering how much Gangshow put us back. We're just gonna enjoy it and kick back a bit, everyone seems to be too serious these days and tbh it doesnt matter what you do someone somewhere is always gonna slag you off for it! I had some lovely helpers with the guard yesterday, the girls really reacted well to having people spend time with them and they worked hard too. I am so grateful XXX

As for the weather... WOW! Hottest day and it was just aswell we finished early! Gabby was very irritable bless her all day... cant blame her really. Even tho she had plenty of shade it was just too much. I am my usual shade of lobster and I was wearing factor 50! In fact it was Gabbys cream I used!

Dont think I have much else to report! I have a mentally busy week this week. I have cooking and shopping to do for Corps camp this weekend aswell as get ready for the BYBA judges training this weekend too. I'm having to take Gabby with me as Phil will be flitting between corps camp and the group scout camp. Talk about triple booked. TBH the only reason why I am going to the judges training is because someone said to me that as chairman I should at least show my face! Well this now means that as a family we wont see eachother, Phil wont see Gabby from Friday morning until Tuesday night and I'm gonna have to sit outside the training anyway because Gabby will not stay quiet for me to sit in the room... and nor should she. So I'm travelling all the way to Warwick to sit outside a room and stay in a hotel over night to do the same again Sunday... at least there will be a band there Sunday! *SIGH* I really am struggling!

Anyway I dont want to carry on writing and end up in a pit of despair! I've just roped my mum into helping me cook so thats at least something. Chicken Curry for 50 people doesnt grow on trees ya know!

Peace & love!

OAO

Currently Listening Raising Sand see related

Sitting here thinking what I have to say... or more to the point where I left off on my last update!

Anyway new this week... Gabbys top front teeth have finally broken through, she's suffered poor love for those teeth! I hope they see her in good stead in the future! She's also managed to get a huge bump on her head... the first of many I dont doubt, where she pulled herself up and then fell over.

I gave notice at the nursery today that this will be Gabbys last month (we have to give 4 weeks notice), my mum has decided she can now look after Gabby 4 days a week which is an absolute godsend to us. The nursery was great but there have been a few issues that havnt sat well with me lately so with this proposal from mum it all kinda made things slot into place.

Flag band went well at the weekend... well as good as it could have in the torrential rain! We basically just put together the poles and silks etc and had our picnic...indoors! This weekend we are rehearsing Sun & Mon so we should be able to catch up easily! We have the rest of the opener and part 2 to learn!

We picked up our new car Monday night and it is GREAT! It goes like shit off a stick... well tbh anything would after my little 106! Its so liberating have 5 doors, let alone the extra space. We also bought Gabby a new car seat last night so she can now face forwards and a new buggy, she's now grown out of the pram.

I guess I should post some more pics sometime soon!

Cant think of anything else at the mo...

OAO