Busy Half-Week

Busy busy week at the start, thankfully with non-work stuff!

It was musical night on Monday, with a trip to Lord of the Rings. And yes, it was just as long as the movie. I'm glad I went to watch it but I don't think it's one I'll rave on about. Casting was very very poor. Aragorn didn't portray himself as authoritative, Boromir didn't come across as being very courageous, Legolas wasn't a dainty elf (not even blonde as per movie and book!), Frodo seemed old. The sets were very cleverly done, I must say. I expected more singing and dancing in the spirit of musicals. I don't know if it's a good or bad thing that there weren't more of those.

On Tuesday, met up with Jen and Phong on honeymoon:
And it was Best of the Best 2007 gala on Wednesday. For whatever reason, I wasn't looking forward to it but was very pleased I went in the end. We didn't win the big prize, but cliche-d as it sounds, I guess it was good enough to get a nomination. It was certainly an impressive affair. The photos don't do them justice as I took them when the areas weren't occupied:

Group of 8 drummers starting the event

One of the after-dinner areas in Alice-in-Wonderland style

Main hall after the event

Taking to the seas

So year after year, I intended to join our firm's Sailing Challenge. And year after year, I thought-about-joining-then-forgot-to-join. Until this year. And what fun it was! I knew and still know zilch about sailing but thanks to a great team and fantastic skipper, we still placed 10th in the race. Despite messing up on the first race with the wrong strategy. (Something about staying closer to the shore to take advantage of the tide? Beats me!).

Anyway, I had a go at the helm in safer waters (and not during the race or we would have been placed in the 30s!). Otherwise, my tiny contributions were clambering over side to side during tacks (and I have 12 bruises on my knees to show for it), gybes, bear-aways and heels. Oh, and I got to help with the hoist spinnaker during the Fun Race. Big drama there when the spinnaker got caught and twisted (strangely enough, it was not my fault). In the process of 'untwisting' it, a team member was nearly thrown overboard as the wind decided to pick up at that very point (when frustratingly, it was light wind all the way till then!). That was definitely the biggest panic moment. Coming a close second was the unexpected gybe a few mins before when I was underneath the main sail! Never before have I reacted so quickly in my life! So we lost 2nd position to drop out of the race altogether whilst the spinnaker was untangled.

Cramped living quarters for 2 nights... But the sailing experience... Also, just having leisurely breakfasts and drinks onboard whilst basking in the sun (with major SPF30 slapped on before and sunnies perpetually on!) was oh-so-lovely! Such is the life.....

Docking at the pontoon on the first night

Sail up and ready for the race!

Team getting ready for the regatta dinner on the second day

Regatta dinner

Continuing drinks onboard after Regatta dinner

The other Brizzle boat during Fun Race on third day

Spinnaker up! A few minutes before it twisted and panic began!

Still here...

Ok, time for excuses for the long absence. The house move has been exciting but has also meant no Internet connection till now and my needing to lend what lil bit I can to stripping wall paper/painting/moving stuff etc. I'm still trying to find my feet in the current project I'm in, whilst making sure it's not so obvious to others! And in a fit of proactiveness, I also volunteered for all sorts - leading training, managing other engagements, camping etc which has not helped at all!

Anyway, you probably didn't buy any of the excuses, so here are some pics to divert your attention for now... :)

Some pics of the house move:
Idris and Bri moving the sofa....
Our make-shift storage room.
Idris and Bri in front of the dodgy-rollercoaster-type van. Highly recommended to lend some much needed excitement and nail-biting experience to any move.
And here are some pics from my two-day camping trip with Debbie and Helen in mid-Wales.

Setting out our camps before going for our walk.The sheepdogs here have it easy - they get their own chauffeur! (Who was the first person we saw in 3 hours since starting the walk!)
Our sleeping quarters for the night. Surprisingly, the first 8-hour sleep I had in a month!
Part 1 of our two-course breakfast

Bye bye Ted

After a week of uncertainty about whether we were going to move, we've finally moved abode!! A rather dramatic week of will we or won't we. It would have fitted nicely into Location, Location or Property Chain with all the stress, changes in decision etc! Needed to return from London to pack and then head off back to London the next day. A real late night of packing. 2 hours of sleep. But it's now done. Woo-hoo!

So the Ted is no more (well for us anyway). Moved into HRW which is in all sorts of states at the moment. Boxes everywhere - some packed some unpacked. Wallpaper being stripped. A miniature walk-in wardrobe since we're waiting for proper wardrobes. It's great! Hard work (mainly by Bri - haha - I lend moral support now and then) but we'll get there!

Look out for pictures here soon!

2007 Spring Ball

Click here for photos taken at our Spring Ball on 28 April 2007

The last few standing at end of night:

New recipes

Tried out new recipes when Dan and Beth came round for dinner.

Starter: Bri's smoked haddock risotto with poached egg and pancetta

Main: Roasted rack of lamb with asparagus and baked potato

Dessert: Bri's cheesecake

Other comings and goings for March/April

Ok, some over due photos!

A day trip to London - visited Borough Market, went on London Eye (for the 3rd time), met up with some ex-MCers. Photos (mostly Noel's) here.

Snapping away at Oakley Court Hotel, Windsor:

Seeing the wonders of Lego blocks.
Chilling out in Bham, captured on camera by Gaz.

Villa v Wigan

My first football game. Easter Monday. Aston Villa v Wigan. A rather disappointing 1-1 results but a thoroughly enjoyable experience nonetheless. Thanks for organising, Gaz!!!

More photos from the game here...

Another Foodie Post

This time at namesake's restaurant. The Michelin-one-starred restaurant in Birmingham was ok-ish. Food was good. Service not so. A good dinner mainly because of excellent company. :)








Photos of food at Jessica's here...

Last of the Three

A visit to the last 3-Michelin star UK establishment we have yet to try for a belated Valentine's Day. Service at Waterside Inn was exceptional. Started from the moment we arrived at the end of Ferry Road and our car was parked for us. Alain Roux made the effort to speak to every customer during dinner. Don't remember Heston Blumenthal or Gordon Ramsay doing that! The food? Almost flawless - only flaws were due to a pomelo based dessert (I don't like pomelos) and a weird starter B had which seemed like an experiment of snails and raviolis. All in all though, I really enjoyed the meal and the experience. Definitely one to recommend.









More Waterside Inn photos via this link.

Snow in March?

My only chance at breaking a world record...

And we did it!

Ok, so it was for biggest dance class ever but hey, it's the only chance I ever have at even midly breaking a world record. So we vined, hitched, stepped, kicked and clapped to the Comic Relief Line Dancing Song (creative or what?) on Friday 16 March 2007. For 10mins. All in name of Comic Relief Red Nose Day which made it even better.

Click this link for a clip of the news bulletin from BBC Midlands.

Several more Comic Relief photos via this link.

Waiting to start the line dance...

Just in case you were wondering, this isn't my typical office attire - it was "Big Wild West" theme in the office in aid of Comic Relief so I had to do my part (of course!)

Spot difference in the nose?

World record broken!!!!

On the way to rock n roll....

Or maybe just to master the basic chords first....

Ushering in the Year of the Pig with

A feast....
Cranium with some dodgy antics from Bri and Dan...
A fashion show (in an attempt to promote the culture?)...

And more in line with tradition...dragon and lion dances...

Mr Snowman 24 hours later

Still going strong with a fresh blanket of snow piling some on his hat and his nose falling off.

I love snow!!!!

Woke up this morning to a white surroundings! Lovely lovely lovely! And it continued snowing throughout the day! Only downside was having to be in work while watching the snow fall....

View from my wing mirror.

Enjoying a lunchtime snowball fight.

Mr Snowman.

Jo making a snow angel.

27th Bday

Pressies!