Bats in the Belfrey!!

Well ... tomorrow is 16th May 2009 - the day of the Moonwalk and I'm sitting here thinking that I must be completely and utterly bonkers!!

I'm going down to London to walk 26.2 miles in a decorated bra in the dark with approximately 15,000 other women!!!!

It will be no lazy wander I can asure you (far from the 'stroll' suggested by this weeks edition of the Pocklington Post!!) 4mph is rather a hasty pace, best described as charging around in a mad rush for - ooh probably 7-8 hours!!!!

In January when I started my training I relished the thought of taking a three mile walk up to Cliffe and back. Even as the walks grew longer they were still enjoyable -- offering an escape from hustle and bustle and a chance to settle my mind to things still needing my attention when I got back...

I must admit that there were times when the walking became rather a chore. It wasn't easy trying to find time to fit in 'a cheeky 8-miler' when you knew that it would take you at least 2 hours and that when you got back you'd be fit for nothing but a hot bath and a cuppa!!

There was a point a couple of months ago when I didn't seem able to find the time or the motivation to get beyond 13 miles ... but I did it!!

Who'd have thought that I would even look back on a very wet 16 mile walk and laugh at the thought of being soaked to the skin, with wet clothing, wet feet and hair in rats tails... especially as the weather forecast for tomorrows big day varies hugely depending on which weather channel you watch...

But here I am ... bats in my belfrey there may be but I am excited and raring to go...wish me luck :-)

...and not a Pina Colada in sight!!

Last Thursday afternoon and I had arranged to do a training walk with my friend, Val. The mid-week walks are only 3-4 miles and the once-a-week long walk is (supposed to be) getting longer but it is also getting harder to fit in as they take longer as the mileage increases...

We are averaging 4mph so the 14 mile walk we had planned for this afternoon was due to take us 3.5hours ... trouble was that we hadn't planned for it to rain!

The walk was good to start with, although pace was a little slower than anticipated we did get into a rhythm and set off.

About half-way through the walk it started to spot with rain but this was soon replaced by a definite shower and then a much heavier rain which certainly qualified as a downpour!

We had no choice but to soldier on ... cars passed us and looked at us as though we were totally mad! The rain persisted and Val found her glasses nigh on impossible to see through!

We strode on with our clothing soaked right through, our joggers were so wet they were plastered to our legs and it made the walk hard going! The rain was stinging our faces and the wind was howling round our soaking wet clothes - good job we were active otherwise it would have been seriously cold!

As we followed our chosen route the rain eventually slowed and stopped. For three miles we had walked in the rain, about 50 minutes! But now the sun was trying to shine and our joggers, although still moulded to the shape of our legs, even started to dry a little!

We walked the final stretch of the walk, alongside the main road, turning away from the big trucks who thundered past with a strong side-draught and showered us in muddy water from the roadside!

Eventually we arrived back at mine where my thoughtful boy found us each a big bath sheet and handed us each a steaming hot drink!

We removed our squelching wet trainers and sat down wrapped in our towels and felt the heat from our drinks as it ran down inside us...

Energy was distinctly lacking and so I was very thankful that I'd had the forethought to buy a pack of pink iced doughnuts that morning - they absolutely hit the spot and gave us the boost we needed!

Training is fabulous on hot sunny days but we needed a day like this one to remind us that it is possible that it may rain for the big event and it was good that we have had the experience - but it also made us add 'spare set of clothes' to our list of stuff to take ... just in case :-)

I have now set up my Justgiving page for donations and so if you would like to sponsor me for this event then please visit www.justgiving.com/dianewass

P.S. Yes I did have a white T-shirt on and yes it was very wet but no - it didn't qualify as a wet t-shirt competition (sorry guys!)!

Just big kids...that's all!

On a Sunday John & I usually go for my long training walk - it's the only day he can come with me and the long ones take too long to be out alone...

But this week we had planned to use Sunday to visit Brimham Rocks - a place I first remember from a primary school trip at a very young age!!

We always seem to pick a grand day and today was no exception. The sun was shining and the wind was pleasant and not too strong! The car park was busy but the queue didn't take long to go down and we found a space and parked up!

Walking boots went on along with fleeces and we took our rucksack with flask and nibbles and of course the camera (always the camera!!)...

As soon as you set off along the path you see the rocks and they just kind of pull you in... you can't help yourself but want to walk on them, jump between them and climb to the topmost level...

Emilys boyfriend had come with us today and he and Isaac were all over the rocks, scrambling and clambering in the race to the top - Jayson is taller than Isaac and like a mountain goat he leapt about and always took the summit first!

We gradually made our way to the shop to buy a cornish pastie for lunch and munched it hot, perched on an obliging rock :-)

A cuppa and a biscuit later and we were off again - remembering the rocks we had climbed on our last visit and laughing when we found the one that rocked when we stood on it!

The afternoon was happily spent in this carefree manner - persuading Emily to do a little climbing even though she had refused to don her walking boots convinced that ballerina pumps would suffice ...

The afternoon passed by and the sun sank lower and so we decided to take our leave and head home ...

Not being inclined to start thinking about cooking, I took an executive decision and announced that we would be going to Pizza Express for tea! Tesco Clubcard vouchers are valid for Pizza Express so I was using my head really :-)

Sure enough we stopped in York and the five of us had pizza/pasta for tea followed by a pudding for two of us ;-) With Tesco vouchers we only had to pay for drinks and so the whole meal cost us the princely sum of £7.20 BARGAIN!

And so another weekend over ... facebook has been updated with the photos and suitable comments made, blog entry done, and so now I shall allow myself to snuggle in the corner of the sofa with a hot cuppa and think about making my way up the dancers...

To walk or to bike that is the question!

I can't believe it's been 6 weeks since my last blog entry! That's really poor! I wouldn't blame you if you stopped reading ... oh - you have!

Well I promise to try and do more posts and try to keep your interest up!

It's now only 10 weeks until I set off for Amsterdam with 60 other ladies (well actually there are still a few places left - any takers??). 250 miles round trip with a day off in the middle to see the sights...

Cycle training should be foremost in my mind but the trouble is... the Moonwalk is looming even closer and is only 6 weeks away!

I am keen to walk and to cycle but in truth am feeling a little past my best!

My mid-week walks of 3-4 miles are supposed to 'keep my pecker up' in between my ever-increasing weekend wanders but so far my busy diary is not doing much to help me find time to fit them in!

I managed a 12 mile walk the week before last and did it with my friend and fellow Moonwalker, Val. We managed it in 3hrs 20 minutes which isn't too bad but it was hard work! At least the weather was on our side and I think I even caught the sun a little :-)

This weekend just gone was a bit hectic though and I only had time to squeeze in an 8-miler before going over to Manchester ... better 8 miles than none at all I told myself!

On top of training I'm trying to keep a close eye on Emily - she leaves schoool on 8th May (nooooo!!!) and will have exams coming at her from all angles... I need to make sure that she does herself justice by doing plenty of revision in between shopping trips with friends and days out with her boyfriend!

On top of that the house is still cluttered up and STILL in need of a serious sort-out and I'm doing that whenever I have a spare hour or two (ha!)...

On top of that the gallery is coming up to its year end and I have all sorts of stuff to do for the accountant! John, bless him, is busy on with the stock-take and is being a real gem in the house so I'm hoping that if I just keep walking, cycling, revising, Phoenixing... that eventually it will be summer and I can take a break :-)

So, why Manchester I hear you ask? Well I went to collect my naked photos which have now been beautifully framed by my good friend Ian (great job Ian - thankyou so much xx). He has used a white triple mount and a stunning high gloss black frame - they look amazing!

All I have to do now is redecorate the bedroom and hang them (say it quick - it doesn't sound as much!!).

In fact they look so good that I'm thinking if getting another couple done ... I hope I'm not being vain but they are for my bedroom and they do make me feel damn good!

So here I am ... walking, cycling, phoenixing, revising... and looking forward to summer :-)

The Purple People Eater!!

Mid-Life Crisis?
You What?
Oh Boy did mine start today!

You see my daughter has, from time to time, had these coloured extensions in her hair - they look great and everyone admires them!

So I thought, Hey I fancy a go at that!

So I did it! I dared myself and now I have two purple hair extensions!!

They sit along the left side and I keep glancing in the mirror to check that they are sitting nicely and when they do they look great but if I dare to move - or even worse, go outside, then it looks like something strange and completely alien is poking out from the side of my head!!

I am assured that once washed, dried and styled then it will be fab - but I'm reserving my judgement! (I'll let you know later!)

Ah - so much for the mid-life crisis I hear you call...

But NO! That wasn't even it!

Even having purple streaks in my previously-unbleached-uncoloured hair cannot compare with the crisis which blew up in my house today!

But what could it possibly be??

My Son! My adorable, huggable so-polite-to-strangers son... who has overnight turned into a HORRID TEENAGER!!!

AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

He screamed at me...so I screamed at him...he screamed back louder...and so did I...there was no choice...when a calm voice had tried and failed the only thing I could do was resort to neolithic instinct ... and so I stood firm, took a deep breath and screamed my loudest and longest...and continued to do so until he gave in!!!!!

...and then I turned down my volume...and told him my position in no uncertain terms! Which made him very angry but at least it pushed him to do as I had asked!

But what could have caused this huge explosion?

What could possibly have brought about such volumatic disruption to the calm of a half-term holiday?

I simply asked him to tidy his room! (I see you nodding with total understanding)!

He'd been given notice last week that one day of the holidays would be a room-tidying day, I had reminded him at the weekend and today was the day!

It wasn't even a big request because to be fair, his room doesn't usually get REALLY bad - but the smallish room had a jumble of clean and dirty clothing going on as well as a cardboard massacre ... on top of that it looked like someone had eaten the contents of a selection box and left the wrappers on the floor in amongst said jumbled massacre...

...I'm sure your imagination can assist with the rest!

All I asked him to do was put away clean clothes, put dirty stuff in the wash basket and put the rubbish in the bin.

He could have focused his attention and had it done inside 10 minutes - in fact I could have done it myself in 5!!

But instead he had to push my patience and start shouting ... what is a girl to do?

Anyway, it's done now. Not brilliantly. Not as good as I would have done it. But still done. Passable.

And peace reigns once more...

Hott! Hott! Hott!

Is it cool when a girl says you look hott?
Does 'hott' mean 'sexy'?
Is it OK for a girl to think you look sexy?

Today I saw a friend I hadn't seen in a while! She commented on my new look and the way my hair was different, she told me I looked hott ... this is something a guy would usually say about girls ... it felt wierd!

But when I thought about it, I liked it!

Does this mean that I am comfortable in myself?
Am I allowed to feel good when a girl says I look hott?
Am I strange? (On second thoughts - don't answer that!!)

Anyway, I shall allow myself a secret smile when I think of it and hold my head a little higher too :-)

Lose yourself...

Wow! I had a really good night out with friends last Saturday!

It was the Riccall Wine Tasting Evening which I had never been to before but it was a fab night! John was working late at the shop so I went alone, everyone else was in couples but I didn't feel left out at all and everyone made a real effort to include me - it was great!

In a former life I would never have dared to go to something like that without John by my side - but having such good friends there made such a difference :-)

The wine tasting was done blind and we had to listen to a description given by three judges and choose which person was describing the wine we were tasting... it was really entertaining - they wrote some good descriptions!! Points were allocated and there was a prize for the person who got the most points - not me I hasten to add - although I did guess four out of six :-)

After the tasting there was a disco with DJ Gary ... I love music, any music and I love to dance... the music was brilliant - really good base and loud anthems and loads of people danced including the friends I was with (there's nothing worse than wanting to get up and dance and finding an empty dance floor and nobody willing to get up with you!!).

Well I took Eminem at his word and I totally had a fab time...

'Lose yourself in the music, the moment...'

So I did - I danced more than I have danced in ages and I LOVED it :-)
LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT!!

I'm now expecting some incriminating photos to be going up on FaceBook... unless my friends decide to allow me to keep my dignity and not publish ;-)

Either way, thanks guys for a brilliant night xx

Shakin' that Ass!

Well, January came quick and I now find myself in the middle of the biggest training schedule my life has ever seen!

I have downloaded a marathon-walking-for-beginners training schedule and faithfully begun my programme.

On Tuesdays I do 3 miles, then 2 miles on a Wednesday, then 3 miles again on Thursday. On Friday I need to do just 30 minutes cross-training or similar and then Saturday is a big walk - increasing in distance and getting longer every couple of weeks.

The longer walks are done at regular pace whilst the shorter distances are walked at a quicker pace - like power walking! (Thankfully there are rest-days too otherwise I would be done for!).

At the weekend I dutifully sat down and wrote on my dates, starting with week 1 of the programme and the date I started it... and continued until the date of my event drew nearer ... and to my horror I realised that my event was only 19 weeks away - making my 24 week training plan somewhat ambitious!!

I have therefore had to amend my schedule, step-up the training and skip a few weeks (well, 5 weeks actually!).

So here I am - week 8 in my schedule and doing pretty well I think, although I am annoyed at the Wii fit machine - this new-fangled piece of kit was very impressive when I started out but this over-egoed creation is now insisting that despite doing more exercise I have ever done in my life I am gaining weight rapidly and aging faster than Benjamin Button in reverse!

I reassure myself by the firm knowledge that muscle weighs more than fat and what do machines know anyway??

As for my cycle training - well this has to fit in around my walking - yes I know - it will get harder to fit it all in, I need that time-spinning thing that Hermione had in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban...

Well the biggest part of my training for Amsterdam is to get my bottom in the saddle for as many hours as possible! The exercise bike is useful as this means that I can get some practise in an evening, leaving daylight hours for walking!

Yesterday, Sunday, the family took a cycle ride to Skipwith Common - not too far but with kids along it was far enough believe me! The pace was somewhat slower than I prefer and poor Emily was in some discomfort - in fact at one point on the way back I had to ride in front of her as following made me laugh so much that I almost fell off my bike!!

Her poor bottom was so uncomfortable that she had a little rhythm going all of her own ... rise, wiggle, down and pedal... rise, wiggle, down and pedal...

Talk about shakin' that ass!

Anyway, more training this week so let's see how I get on...anyone fancy a walk? :-)

He's Behind You!

It's a long time since I've been to the panto but when Mum and Dad were both ill and offered me their tickets I couldn't refuse!

I took Emily along to see Berwick Kalers annual performance at York Theatre Royal - it was his 30th year starring in the production which he also writes!

This year the story was Dick Turpin and it was fantastic!

It had so much in it and was jam-packed full of quips and anecdotes, references to local places and of course hilarious ad-libbing which made even the hardened cast (the baddie has been the baddie for the last 21 years!!) chortle a little too much at times! It was brilliant!

We had the Dr. Who theme music complete with Tardis, 'Bucks Fizz' singing 'Making Your Mind Up', Britains Got Talent as Yorks Got Talent, Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne, fantastic Irish Dancing, Scooch - Flying the Flag, water tanks with people falling in, water flights, slapstick with a huge ball of dough, a pipe which blew air with such force that the actors faces were distorted like something from a Wallace and Gromit sketch!

There was the Rocky Horror song 'Timewarp' dance, fire-eating, ballet, flying on wires, blacked out stage with cast in fluorescent costumes doing the Ghostbuster song, quick change scene where Berwick Kaler had two characters who had to be on stage at the same time - incredibly quick!!

There was also real video footage of Dick Turpin in costume in London outside Buckingham Palace, riding Black Bess up The Mall and along the Embankment. Not to mention them both (Dick and Black Bess) getting on a train from Kings Cross to York Station - have you ever seen a pantomime horse refusing to get on a train and having to be pushed - what a sight!

All of this and all with the usual wagon wheel throwing, references to previous productions, booing and hissing the baddie - he did play a superb baddie! Whistling at the guy playing Dick - well he did look flipping fantastic in those leotard/tighty things!

Wow! What a night!

It was such fun and it really does make me want to go again - next year! Tickets go on sale in March ... watch this space :-)

Haircut 100

I had a right panic today!

I rang the hairdresser to make an appointment and was told that Lauren hadn't showed up yesterday and nobody knew why - she also had not showed up again today!

Now this may not seem like much of a problem but I only found Lauren in the summer and I have been used to her regularly cutting my hair AND doing a great job too! I hadn't been happy with a hairdresser for a long time - over a year - and after so many bad cuts and changes of salon Lauren has become a very important part of my routine!

So, I came off the phone with no appointment (Lauren or nobody - I had decided!).

Later today I was in Goole with the kids and had a sneaky glance in the salon window as I drove past ... and there she was!

Well, after parking up I marched along to see if she could fit me in - phew, luckily she had time to do both me and Emily :-)

I didn't tell her how panic stricken I was at the thought that we may have lost contact - I really should have her mobile number but the salons new owner may have something to say about that!!

Poor Lauren explained the reason for her absence yesterday and lateness today ... she had been beaten up on New Years Eve!!!!! She had a black eye, cuts and bruises behind her ear, bruises on her arms, back and stomache! Her boyfriends ex-girlfriend had taken on a fit of jealousy!!

Not only that but poor Lauren had to drive herself home (the attack had occurred mid-way through the evening and she had not had anything to drink as she had to drive home later)...

BUT ... the story doesn't end there!

Poor Lauren was involved in a car accident on the way home! Not too badly hurt but very shaken on top of the evenings prior events!

Poor kid!

... and there was me worried about the loss of a decent hairdresser!!

Adrenaline Junkie...

Hi Folks! Hope you had a good Christmas?
Did Santa bring you something special??

Well he brought me a fabulous gift from my hubbie John... a triple whammy adrenaline day out!

Starting with a 250ft zip wire which will have me travelling at 30mph ... followed by an abseil down a 150ft drop ... and finished off with a parachute jump from 150ft!

I can't wait!

It is all indoors so no jumping out of aeroplanes or anything but still enough to give me a real adrenaline rush and cross off three things from my 'to do' list :-)

The zip wire will be fab - I think I'll have a harness too - just in case my hands slip off whilst travelling at 30mph!

The abseil will be a challenge - I chickened out of a much smaller one when I was younger and have regretted it ever since and so I am really looking forward to pushing myself into doing it...

The parachute jump is indoors and so doesn't have the dangers associated with jumping from a plane ... but 150ft is still very high and still a big rush :-)

It'll all be happening at the Magna Centre in Rotherham - date to be booked by me and so I shall keep you posted when I get a booking!

I am hoping that it's OK to bring spectators - I'll have the kids and John watching with cameras and camcorders!

Should be Fab!
I can't wait :-)

Leg or Breast?

Christmas is about the only time you can ask this question without a funny look or a clout over the head with someones handbag ...

... so, vote now in my seasonal quiz - do you prefer Leg or Breast?

There might be another saucy photo in it for you ;-)

Sons ... and Daughters!

As I write this I am wrestling with my conscience - dare I admit that I have a problem with my son?

I have been reassured that most lads go through this 'phase' (thanks buddy - you know who you are!) and so I know that I must persist but sometimes it's just so hard...

As a parent you want to give your child every opportunity but sometimes you know that they just don't deserve it - so what do you do?

Well today I denied my son the chance to go on a skating trip - skateboarding is his passion and he loves it - he has improved immensely since the summer when he started and he would have loved to go today but...

He has just been such a selfish, stubborn lad this last few weeks and I have had enough of giving and not receiving!

He gets his meals cooked without even having to wash pots afterwards, his clothes are washed and pressed and he can't be bothered to put them away, I asked him to wash the car but he refused, even saying that no amount of money would make him say yes! I asked him to sweep the leaves in the back garden but again he refused! He also gets regular lifts to skating trips... need I go on?

There is a new movie on at the cinema which we would all like to see and we agreed to go this afternoon - except that his refusal to help at home made me feel that he should not go. So we have all missed out!

My daughter has cottoned on to the 'just do it - you get less hassle' way of thinking and she is great - she even does stuff without being asked!!

Why don't boys work the same way??

So, when the skating invitation came I refused it and said he couldn't go!

I did feel bad - I hate depriving them of such oportunities - but he really has to start pulling his weight! Keeping a family home running is alot of work and it is not fair that he should have such high expectations without putting something back!

Anyway...

... tonight he came to me and said that he had thought about what I had said earlier and was sorry - he hugged me! I melted and then thanked him for his apology (quietly wondering how long it would last!).

10 minutes later he asked if we could all go to the cinema now?

Where's that wall...I may as well bang my head!!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Today is officially the start of Christmas in our house :-)

I love putting up Christmas decorations and my favourite is my Christmas Tree! It's a beauty and its branches are all fitted singly into it's trunk so that I can leave out the few lower branches at the back and push it closer to the window.


The baubles are all sorts of shapes and sizes and colours. Some are handmade from when the children were small!

I try to buy at least a couple of new decorations each year and usually look for them whilst on holiday - you'd be surprised what you can find in Scotland in August - I have a beautiful pair of miniature bagpipes which came from Cawdor Castle.

I also have a Guardsman from the Tower of London and two wooden, jointed millenium teddy bears! The list is endless and each year my daughter tells me that we have no more room - but each year we find space for just a few more...

I love Christmas!

Happy Christmas Everyone x

Request for more photos ...

I have received an anonymous request for 'more photos' following the 'OMG They've Arrived!' post in November.

The problem is that I do like to know who is asking ...

...should I insist on a name...?
...or perhaps a clue...?

Or should I just be a complete flirt and put up another photo anyway :-)

Flirty at Forty...

Woah - what happened??

I just joined Facebook and suddenly I've lost three days out of my life!!

I've been exchanging photos, had a snowball fight, been given e-hugs and now I'm finding myself involved in wall-to-wall flirting sessions ... it's all good fun, I'm loving it (can I still say that or do MacDonalds have carte blanche?) :-)

But seriously - (sorry folks, just for a moment - promise!)

Flirting has to be a dying art hasn't it? I've been with John since I was 17 and so didn't get as much 'activity' on the singles scene as some may have had - am I at a disadvantage??

Facebook here I come - any excuse :-)

MySpace? My Face? Oh ... Facebook!!

Well everyone keeps going on about it and so I thought I had better see what all the fuss is about!

MySpace or Facebook? Well I have decided on Facebook because it seems to be the one which comes up the most!

I have done the important bits - now all I have to do is learn how to use it!!!!

If you find me there and know me then do invite me to be your friend - I have sent out some invites already but I do like a big party don't you :-)

Silly & Soft!

It was sooo cold last night!
We did have the heating on but I just couldn't get warm!

I was sitting at the computer stiffly typing in my search requests when John came up behind me and draped my shoulders with a hot duvet cover, straight from the tumble dryer!

It was gorgeous!

I just pulled it tightly round me and absorbed all the warmth and softness and it was just the best feeling!!

I haven't done that in years and heaven knows I have told off the kids before today for doing the very same thing but never again!

Try it yourself!
It's fab!

OMG They've Arrived!!

Oh My God!
My 'Naked Photo Album' has arrived!
It was delivered by courier this morning!

Aaaahhh! I can't believe it!!

It feels so good looking through the album - I can't believe it's me!

Leigh you did a great job!
The photos are stunning!
I am sooo pleased!
Thank you so much xx

...and now I just want to run around and show everyone!!! Arrrggghhh!

I feel like a kid with the best toy in the world!

Hey Karen - you said you wanted a look - ring me - we got a date to make :-)

Fantastic Sex!!

Ah-Ha! I thought that would get your attention!

Abba Night was fab, Abb-Fab in fact :-)

Since I got even votes on the wear it or not question I decided to 'wear it'. I felt fantastic! My Gorgeous 4 inch heel, white Go-Go boots were amazing and made me feel like a million dollars!

Friends were dressed up too and their outfits were superb - Lisa looked brilliant as Agneatha with a sequined, long, burgundy kaftan and her long blond wig! Lian looked great as Annifrid and really suited her wild dark hair! Russ came as Bjorn but unfortunately his moustache just wouldn't stay in place and so after trying it in different places - eyebrows worked pretty well I thought! - he finally gave in and it laid abandoned for most of the evening!

Everyone looked really good and had put careful thought into what to wear but Gary, however, deserves a special mention!

He was dressed as an Abba girl with tight trousers, a crop top and a long black wig! He had make-up too but the bright red nails were the finishing touch!

What I should explain at this point is that Gary was responsible for doing the disco - now, imagine wearing that costume whilst keeping the music going AND maintaining a chatty banter with the audience AND at the same time, trying to control a statically charged black nylon wig which was clinging wildly to his face ... well now you know why I think he should get a medal!

... and on top of that he was dancing - giving it rock all I'd say!

The disco was fab - everyone having a good time and dancing the night away! Lisa was in there - go girl! She had a go at the karaoke too - but then again we all would if we had her voice :-)

I danced loads! I don't get to dance very often and the last time I did was May 2007!! I had a whale of a time! I do dance pretty much the same to every song though - except the Macarena - but everyone knows that don't they?!

It was great - I loved it!

Unfortunately babysitting curfew kicked in and we had to go about 11.30pm. The disco was still going strong and so was the party! We went back to Lisa's and after a quick cuppa we finally made our way home...

I loved my outfit - I had a few nice comments too which was a real boost :-) When I went to the loo I was quizzed about my 'fabulous' boots - Did I buy or hire them? Where from? How much? Aren't they amazing!

Well - yes they are - not only do they have the power to make the wearer feel fantastic but they have an incredible effect on those around too - John loved them so much that once we got home he wouldn't let me take them off for ages ... ;-)

I soooo need a reason to wear them again :-)

Abb-Fab (or not?)

Well - I suppose every girl has a time in her life when she gets invited to an Abba party - and so my time has come!

The trouble is that they had such awful taste in clothes in the 70's and I'm not exactly cut to show off clingy lycra flares!!

And so I have scoured the charity shops and found this little number - so what do you think?

You may ADMIRE the Fabulous Go-Go Boots which are brand new and all mine - I love them - and they are surprisingly comfy!! You may OVERLOOK the really bad hair (been trying different things with gel, hairspray etc but it didn't work - as you can tell!)

As usual I have opened myself up to your opinion and need you to vote on whether to wear the black cardi - or not?

Comments will be moderated and so anything about tree trunk legs will not make it to the blog - sorry folks but I have to draw the line somewhere!

Deadline is Saturday night so ... ready ... steady... VOTE!

Silly Buggar!

I have recently told another friend about my blog - I'm ashamed to say that not everyone knows about it yet! I've been asking myself what is stopping me from telling everyone - and the answer came to light as I was emailing my friend ... everything just came pouring out!

I thought I'd share the contents of my email......

Hiya :-)

So glad you're still speaking to me! I never know how people will react when they find out what I've done! I must say though that the people who know have all been brilliant - really pleased for me (and some have even been jealous!).

I'm a really insecure soul at heart and I am still scared that there are people who will refuse to speak to me after finding out what I did!

I didn't tell anyone that I was going for the shoot - not until afterwards - and even then it was the 'face to face' bit that was hardest - hence the blog - somehow it seems much easier to say things in the blog than in person!

Once I'd had the photos done I felt absolutely amazing! I got alot of male attention at the service station we stopped at on the way home so perhaps I was giving out 'vibes' - John thought this was quite amusing but I felt like I had a huge Neon sign saying 'I JUST DID A NAKED PHOTO SHOOT' - I did enjoy the attention though!!

Once I got back to 'real life' I still felt fab and I wanted to tell everyone about my naked photo shoot but I was never one to shout for the limelight!! I found the blog the easiest way to tell people!

It's really strange because I am really proud of the photos and it is by far the bravest thing I have EVER done - remember John is - or was - the only man to have ever seen me naked!

There are a few people who I think know about my blog but who haven't mentioned anything about it - I'm afraid to talk about it with them in case they DO know and think me rude ... or alternatively in case they DON'T know in which case I'm afraid that they will disown me!!

I haven't even dared to tell Mum or Dad!!!!!

Am I a silly buggar or what?

Anyway, I should be getting the photos back soon in an album and so if you would like to see them (in an artistic way of course!) then I would be really proud to show you :-)

With Love,
Diane :-)

And so to my PoshPinkArmy... if you know me and you read my blog then you will find out when my photos arrive. If YOU would like to see the album then I would be most proud to show it to you :-)

Crisis of Confidence!!

Well I did say that this would be a record of my 'trials and tribulations' so you can't expect only the good stuff!!

Today we were invited to go swimming with friends. Two families in the pool, swimming, splashing, having fun ... all the usual stuff!

'Yes' I said 'that would be great!' ... and then I had this flippin' great wobbler over what would I look like in my cossie!!!!! How MAD is that?????

Now I know I did the photo shoot but somehow that wasn't as bad as I suddenly felt at being seen in public in my swimsuit!

Now it's pretty horny having this guy spray your naked, oiled body with cold water (to get the right effect for the camera of course!) but that is a million miles away from feeling self-conscious on a 'fat-day' at the local pool!

What a twit!

Anyway, I gave myself a pep talk, put on my best, most confident smile and got in the water as quick as I could :-)

I love swimming - and we had a great time - and now I can't help wondering what all the fuss was about!!

As Promised!

I am a woman of my word and so for those of you who said 'yes please' to another 'Mighty' photo - here you are! (As nobody said 'no' then I can hardley deny you can I?)

As for the choice of photo - well you have Gumbo to thank for that! I've heard he is a 'hip' man and so in thanks for his sponsorship for Amsterdam - here you go!

Boo Hoo! Wingwalking is a no-no!!

Wingwalking is something which has always had a huge appeal to me! It has been on TV so many times and I would love to try it!!

At one point in my life I even considered joining the Utterly Butterly wingwalking display team for a summer - but as usual I shied away ...

So, as this is obviously my 'now' time - I emailed the only wingwalking team in the country - Team Guinot!

They have replied to say that it is possible (yippee!) and that after training I would be expected to perform a 12 minute aerobatic display in front of friends and family!!

WOW! Thinks me! Let's do it!

So - I download the application form, compare height, weight, waist measurement(!!) to the required standards ... and read the T's and C's - where I find the price ... £550 ...

Oh - I knew it wouldn't be cheap but I'm all disappointed now!

I reckon I'll have to put wingwalking to the bottom of my list and treat myself to an extra lottery ticket instead!!

Triple Congratulations!!!

This is a special entry for three very good friends who have each had their very own success this week! Good News comes very rarely and this week I have had three doses of it!

The first is for LISA - a huge CONGRATULATIONS for landing the job which you so deserve! The students of York College don't know how lucky they are!

The second is for SHARON - who has had a really awful summer and who so needed a break! CONGRATULATIONS on landing the perfect job for you at this time!!

The third is for KAREN - who also turned 40 this year and really needed a boost! CONGRATULATIONS on your fab new job in fundraising! I knew you could do it :-)

To my three good friends - well done!
You are all fantastic!

Hip-Hip-Hurrah!
Hip-Hip-Hurrah!
Hip-Hip-Hurrah!

Fumbling Around in the Dark!

It's a long time since I last fumbled around in the dark I can tell you - I tend to know where I'm going these days ;-) but anyway - here we are on a Sunday night fumbling...

So how did I end up here? Well it could be a long story but I'll try to be concise cos I know you're all dying to get to the juicy bits!!!

Well, I got a text from Lisa first thing this morning (Sunday) saying ...'how do you fancy doing a geo cache this afternoon?'. Well I didn't know what one was and not being one to accept an invitation without having at least an inkling what I was letting myself in for I thought I'd better find out!

So, Geocaching is a series of 'treasure' boxes hidden around the country. The idea is that you follow directions and find the treasure box, taking something from it and leaving something of your own in its place! Completely free and great fun!

We first did one on Skipwith Common which was a good introduction as Gary, Lisa and the boys had done it before so we knew what to do and where to look. The second one we went for was near Elvington Airfield and was entitled 'Bombs Away' - it was a bit tricky but we found it in the end!

We decided to do one last geocache on the way home and picked another close to our last location. The trouble was that it wasn't as easy as it seemed! We spent ages looking and in the end we had to split into two cars and Lisa took Emily, Isaac and her youngest boy home and Gary and Aaron came with John & I in our car and we continued looking...

Time was getting on and it was 5.30pm by the time we parked up as close as we could get. We had picked up a Travel Bug from the last cache and needed to stash it safely...

A travel bug is a token of varying description (they are all different) which carry a 'dog tag' with a registration number for you to track on the geocache website as to its travels. Many have come from foreign parts (geocache is a worldwide phenomenon) and many have already travelled around the world! The travel bug we left at Fulford came originally from Switzerland, the one we had found earlier in the day had started its journey in Ohio!

The bugs are registered on the website and you can track where they started and where they've stayed and where they are now, even who has handled them and helped them along their way :-)

Well, anyway, this walk was a bendy one and took us along unlit paths and towards Fulford Golf Course, what a route! It kept on getting darker and we found ourselves walking along an unlit footpath through a wooded area with pheasants or grouse or something flying overhead as we startled them from their roosting place!

We went over a field and passed by a huge electricity pylon... along the side of a field and onto the open golf course... we saw a shape of a man out on the course - he shouted something to us but we couldn't understand him so kept heads down, changed direction and kept walking...!

We carried on over fields and past bunkers, treading in puddles and squishing through mud until Gary's GPS device eventually had us within a few feet of the hidden cache...!

Well, all credit to Gary cos we would have given up ages ago - he was determined to find it! We read and re-read the clues and eventually decided that there was only one real location - Gary took his mobile phone in hand and used it's light to search the area!

It was pitch black and the only noise was from the nearby A64 - close enough to hear but completely useless if we had needed help!!!!!

Eventually he found it - I sha'n't say where cos it will take away the fun of anyone looking for it another time who happens across this blog as a clue!

Anyway, we filled in the log book (a record of who has visited the cache, when and what their thoughts were), left the travel bug along with a gift of our own and started back... the journey back was more straightforward (good job really - I was needing the loo and couldn't just nip behind a bush like the boys did!!).

...and so this is how I came to be fumbling around in the dark on Fulford Golf Course - with my main man and a buddy ... and his young son who was almost wishing he had never been brave enough to join us!

When was the last time you fumbled around in the dark?

Three Cheers for Wills and Harry!

What a fantastic journey Princes William and Harry will have on their latest adventure and what better way to raise awareness of Prince Harry's Charity 'Sentebale'.

If I could ride a motorbike I'd fancy having a go myself - did you see Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman on their 'Long Way Down' trip? What a superb way to travel!

Go Boys - your Mum would be so proud, I know your Dad will too :-)

They're ready!

Email from Leigh! My photos are ready for my final, final decision! (I know I already made my choices but this time I need to choose whether to have colour, black and white or sepia effect on the finished item!)

Decisions, decisions! (a sense of 'deja vu' here me thinks!)

The colour ones make me look quite tanned which is nice cos I never look that way usually but the black and white ones are really classy (am I allowed to say that about my own photos??). I quite like the sepia effect but that always make me think of old photographs and I'm trying to reverse the aging process here not the other way around!!!!!

I thought about putting up another photo here to illustrate the different styles but I'm hanging on because I've got a 'friend of a friend' thinking over whether to sponsor me or not and he's keen to see another piccie as 'encouragement' - If I do show another it should be as a reward - don't you think :-)

Anyway, I'm off now cos lots do do... busy, busy, busy!!

Looks like a few of you are keeping up with me and my antics - I'm always interested to know what you're thinking - don't be afraid to make a comment :-)

Sponsor Me?

Well folks! It's time for me to formally request your sponsorship!

PLEASE CLICK THE LINK TO THE RIGHT - just above the hit counter!

A JustGiving Page has been set up for the Amsterdam cycling trip and so I must humbly ask if you would donate something towards the total?

We are hoping to raise a total of £30,000 between 60 of us - that's about £500 each! If I get 500 people to sponsor me £1 then I should be OK :-)... or 50 people at a tenner each would be good too:-)

The link will let you donate now using plastic and you can even leave me a Good Luck message at the same time:)

But seriously ... every penny helps! Marie Curie received a donation of £37,000 from last years trip - it would be great if we could raise something close to that amount again!

Alternatively just email me and I can add you onto the paper sponsor form and I'll come and collect after the event in June next year!

a BIG THANKYOU to Matthew and Lisa who have got me off to a great start with £20.00 - Thanks folks x

Thankyou in advance - please be generous!