Happy Hogmanay!

It's been a funny old year. Good and bad times have made up 2009 for me. However that's life, you have to take the rough with the smooth!

I'm looking forward to 2010...new beginnings and new projects to work on. Maybe even Margaret!

I wish you a very, very happy Hogmanay...some may be into 2010 already! Good times!

Happy 2010 xx

Sex and the City 2 Trailer

YIPPEE!!!!!

Sand, Sea and SNOW!!

Brrrr! A cold day at the beach! I must add, not a speedo or bikini in sight! This was taken on the 23rd of December 2009 at Aberdeen beach in Scotland. My friend who now lives in Australia was home on holiday and we went to the beach for the afternoon. We sipped a yummy hot chocolate at one of the cheerful cafes, scoffed delicious chocolate cakes and had a wander along the beach front. Apart from the chill in the air, frost at our feet, it was a lovely time and with it being so close to Christmas, I kind of forgot it was cold and wintry as I was cosy under my warm layers spending quality time with a good chum.

Mistletoe and wine

I think Christmas has to be my favourite time of year. As a kid I remember the build up of excitement, butterflies in my tummy and urge for Christmas Day to arrive. To this day, I am still the same (minus the Santa presents). I love writing and receiving Christmas cards, choosing presents for family and friends, wrapping up the gifts and the colours, the decor, the fun, the hustle and bustle and even an odd sing song or two of Jingle Bells and co.

This year was no different, apart from being organised for Christmas. Into week 2 I had my tree up, presents bought and wrapped. I think this is the only time of this year I have been uber organised.

The big day itself arrived, fabulous it was too. My dad cooked a wonderful Christmas meal, which was eaten over the course of a few hours with delicious wine and silly crackers. Afterwards we didn't all slump in front of the telly watching the usual Christmas TV we had conversation and no snoozing on the sofa, although my mum did have a couple of nodding donkey moments.

Good times!

Seems a shame it's really only for one day, all that hard work and the
day's over so quick. Next year, we have promised when we have our house, we will be doing the family Christmas Dinner, hosting the party at our new house. We'll have Margaret too, who will be the Queen of Christmas minus the tinsel round her neck.

Hope you had a joyful Christmas Day. x

What to do tonight?

Last weekend was the X Factor Final which means we can all get back to the norm of a Saturday night. It's been so long since I don't know what to do with myself tonight!

I personally felt the X Factor Final was a bit of a damp squid - it wasn't as tense or as exciting as one would have hoped. The year before Alexandra Burke bawled her eyes out, crying like a baby with joy and excitement. Snotty nose and tears, nice TV. I don't know, it just didn't seem worthy of the hype this year.

It could be that my favourite to win was knocked into 3rd place, Stacey had my money to win. Her performance with the wonderful Michael Buble did it for me. It was flawless and 'tastic. I was wowed. There was a spark of something between them. You could see it and you could believe it.

The Olly and Robbie performance was pitiful pals doing a karaoke version of Angels...badly. George Michael and Joe, well I got bored. Joe "smashed it" though, leaving the critics to hide behind their cruel jibes about it how was wrong that George and Joe were singing together....you heard, you read, you know what I mean. They sang together, end of.

Back to Stacey. She was enchanting throughout, funny and made me giggle. Dannii befriended her and looked after the Diva from Dagenham doing as much as she could to push Stacey as far into the final as she could go. Stacey was the personality and fun star of the show. She was my winner!

...back to tonight, what am I going to do? Hmmm...

More for sale!

There are more puppies for sale in the paper. I saw the advert on Thursday. They look so cute! It would be the best Christmas ever if we bought one and took her home...but a puppy's not just for Christmas, it's for life! Which would defo be the case for us, but we're still humming and ho-ing about having one living with us in the flat. Until we get a house...my boyfriend says. We don't have a garden here so it couldn't go out and play or dig or run about wild and free. There is a park across the road, but it's not the same as your own garden.

I remember the days of Fudge (our dog) when you would open the back door and she'd run freely, around the garden, in the fields and explore the woods by herself. Like a child she'd always come home when she was hungry. Sometimes she'd come home stinking of goodness knows what, so my mum would bath her and the cutest, softest and whitest Fudge would appear after her bath looking healthy and glowing, pampered and proud.

So with all this in mind, I am away to look properly at the properties for sale...now!

Sponsor a Guide Dog

I don't have any updates on my puppy power search just now. I think the new year will bring a new find on. You know the saying a puppy's not just for Christmas, it's for life. Absolutely.

Each year a member of my family sponsors Guide Dogs for the blind.

I was sponsoring a puppy one year as well but half way through the year I got a call telling me that said pup wasn't going to make it as a Guide Dog, she wasn't quite right - a little bit naughty! Hehe! So she found a new home. However I carried on sponsoring another pup.

http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/

A fabulous charity.

Fur coats

Just heard a fabulous quote,

Dogs are not little humans in fur coats!

Too true!

Not a penny...

I quickly checked my lottery numbers online last night and didn't recognise any of them actually being my lucky numbers. Then this morning I logged onto my emails to check again incase my eyes had scanned too quickly over the numbers. The lovely lottery people send you nice emails if you ever win lucky (a tenner before you ask).

So as I entered my email world with my fingers, legs, eyes, nose and ears crossed (making it a tad difficult to type my password) I saw nothing. Nada. Sweet f.a. Not a peep from Lottery HQ. No welcoming email saying, news about your ticket. Oh well back to work next week it is!

Christmas is coming!

A must see movie! It's out now. Am excited....Alan Carr's in it!

YIPPEEE!!

Chocolate

Joy to the weekend! Am so glad it's here! Even better, I am now on holiday for 5 days! Not jetting off anywhere hot, not packing everything I think possible may be worn on holiday, not over doing it in the sun (dream...a tan)....just staying at home! Yippee. I can't wait!

The holiday has started with a scrumptious mug of hot chocolate, lashings of syrup spread over a few toasted pancakes and a couple of warm scones dipped in chocolate spread. Slurrrrrp! Everyday should be like this....jammies on till noon, chocolate and pancakes.

It could be....if my lucky lottery numbers popped up tonight on the telly, all 6 in a row, shining brightly - you're a winnnnnnnnerrrrr....chhhhing chiing!

Happy weekend y'all and happy lottery if you play tonight!

C'mon the Stace!

For someone who has avoided X Factor all weekend, I am writing enough about it! Just quickly though...what did I say before, if you don't have anything to say, don't say anything!

As I am very much TEAM MINOGUE all the way, show your appreciation of Stacey Solomon - so lovely, so funny and blossoms each week, really championing herself...C'mon the Stace! I really hope she makes the final three. Then wins - yay!

Love this link....it's true what they say, we don't get enough of her!

Have a look - http://www.heatworld.com/Article/Channel/X-Factor/13019/Stacey-Soloman/Stacey-Soloman-is-utterly-bonkers-in-this-video!

Pineapple

Stayed away from X Factor this weekend (sorry Dannii) but the chat among work mates today allowed me to catch up with with who was good, who was bad and who's been booted out. Strangely and sadly, it was the Twins turn to head off through the exit door. I like them, silly fun perhaps not talent but they got the country talking. The boys won't stay quiet for long.

Now with the final contenders, the contest really begins....

My biggest gripe of X Factor this year (apart from Cheryl's performance, c'mon it wasn't good) was Calvin Harris jumping on stage last week trying to make a mock of the show. He's the mock (correction, replace m with a c) - why did he think he had the right to do it? Boring! He then proceeded to slag off the likes of Leona and Alexandra who can sing, who are real talent compared to Mr Harris and his samey beats and bops. If the country didn't like them, their singles wouldn't sell, their albums wouldn't top the charts and people wouldn't watch the show. Bored of even writing about it. Weirdly tho, I do like Calvin Harris, but anyone could produce his kind of music with a keyboard and a beat stick. Just wait for Jedward - they'll be onto your sound Harris!

Ruby!

After the excitement of my last posting, I seemed to have been really busy doing nothing. Therefore, not written for a while. I suppose everyday life gets in the way of doing what you really want to do.

I was round for dinner at my good friend Ruby's at the weekend and noticed on her PC, she had my blog as one of her online favourites. She pointed out I hadn't blogged for a bit. More like nagged, only joking...! A golden rule in radio if you're on air, if you have nothing to say, don't say anything. Not every DJ pays attention to this and babbles on relentlessly for what seems like an hour...

I've not had much to say of late. But I am sure, I'll get back to the typing fast and furiously...don't want to keep Ruby waiting!

It nearly happened!!

Yes! It nearly did. My chum Nicky emailed me saying that there was an ad in the local paper for a Dachshund for sale, male smooth haired....immediately I checked the ad and called up.
But not for the reason you think, all this chat about Margaret and a little girl pup and I have changed my mind so quickly...no! I called up to chat to the breeder about the pups and when did she expect to have another litter.

The reason for this is that from I have heard she's the only Dachshund breeder in our neck of the woods. The lovely lady took my name and number and said she would call in the future with good news. I think she will as her daughter's called Jennifer too, you know that same name thing?!

However the lovely lady has a male, 2 year old red smooth haired dog for sale too. How could she do this to me! He's called Lucky. House trained and he nearly, nearly made his way to my heart. But I couldn't, I decided I didn't want to go against my dream of finding Margaret and starting from the beginning of puppy life with her and enjoying the adventures.

After the call, I called my partner telling him what I had done. I think he was relieved that I hadn't softened into agreeing to buy the dog! My partner wants a pup like me, but not until we have a house as at the mo, we're in a flat. It's his flat too, so I have to abide by house rules.

So, nearly, so close....but not yet. Soon!

Love a bit of excitment!

Oooh speaking of excitment, X Factor tonight!

C'mon TEAM MINOGUE!!

Have a fab weekend x

Is Halloween the new spend of Christmas?

There's one thing I won't be doing and that's dressing my dog up for Halloween in some crumby outfit for the amusement of others. Decided this a long time ago. Maybe a pair of silly antlers for a Christmas pose for a photo but nothing else!

Poor wee things, you do giggle when you're sent a forward email of hounds dressed up. The look on their faces! Like, "oh what next?!"

A dog is for life, not just for Halloween!

Don't know if it's just me but for some reason this year, the shops are really pushing sales for Halloween. I haven't seen so many pumpkins and Halloween toys on display in the supermarkets. It's like the new Christmas. Queues of people lining up to buy their costumes and accessories at the fancy dress shops and shoppers overloading their supermarket trolleys with random bits of Halloween type stuff.

Perhaps more and more people are having house parties than going out and are discovering the joys again of staying home rather than an outing to a bar or club. One good thing about having a house party is no more annoyances of standing at the bar and the bar man taking a fancy to the person next to you who has just that second arrived at the bar, while you on the other hand have been flashing your tenner at him as he blatantly ignores your "I would love to be served now please" plea....

You can also be DJ, select your tunes and not have some wanna be DJ playing the latest remixes of some guff chart tune and Hed Kandi album track nobody knows trying to look way to cool to be out on a Saturday night. Get some Madonna on...you know it makes sense! I'm joking, I have DJed on weekend nights and I know it's hard to play music to suit everyone. Some DJs get it right and some just dont. What does Gok say? It's all about the confidence!

Anyway, you can also decide who can come to your party, who's on your golden guestlist. Spend quality time with your mates and enjoy the banter as you all relax and have a giggle.

Maybe I am getting too old to be hanging out in bars but perhaps the cold nights are drawing in and I'd rather not be standing for ages in the chilly early hours at a taxi rank once my night's over, boozy with my Halloween outfit squashed by my winter coat and my make up smudged, half on my face and half somewhere else. (My boyfriend's shoulder, "I'm tired" as I lay my head to rest on his shoulder...)

Socialising at home is much more fun, it's perhaps better on the purse strings and even better this year as we can watch X Factor as well as celebrate Halloween on a Saturday night!

Already?!

It baffles me big time. I have heard an avdert on the radio for Christmas. Yep, a furniture store is giving it jingle bells already and it's only December. Ouch, it hurts my ears!!!

It's far too rainy!

Having been on holiday where the weather was rather dreadful (5 days out of 7, cold, stormy, rain and thunder....in Zante!!) we arrive back home to rain and even more crap weather!

I fear I may drown or see Noah float by on his ark.

Got me wondering, what would a dachshund do in the rain, dislike it as much me? Or perhaps find a walk in the rain therapeutic? We may need to buy a mac for my doggy. Is it cool for dogs to wear clothes?

You don't see cats dressing up to go outside. Well I haven't ever seen a cat outside in a duffel coat. Now there's a thought.

Wooosh!

It was sooooo windy yesterday, when I stepped out my front door I left my hair do on the door step. More like hair don't than hair do after the wind attempted to style my hair.

When I was driving saw a couple of dogs out for a walk in the wind with their owners. Don't know who was more in control of the walk, the owner or the dogs. All seemed to be hanging on for fear of lift off. It was quite funny. But having a giggle at other's expense is naughty as it'll come back to haunt you....well me anyway! I would be the person with the hair flying all over the place, zig zagging all about, my coat flapping in the wind and my poor dog looking at me as if I was the embarrassing Auntie trying to dance like the cool kids at the cousin's wedding. But out of time to the beats and cringe worthy moves to the DJs tunes. Yup that'd be me!

Pip

My friend's lovely children are almost excited as me about finding Margaret! I think it's the closest to having a pet as they'll get. Not even allowed a hamster in their household. Yesterday I was given this fetching pencil case in the shape of a Dachshund! It's called Pip. A slightly different take on pencil cases to my day, I seem to remember having this ghastly green furry thing that had bits of pencil sharpenings in it and smelt funny. However Pip will not be used as a pencil case, I don't think my bag is big enough to carry it! But thank you Joe and Molly for Pip, very much!

Chuffed!

Chuffed to find my new Madonna album lying on the door mat today. I ordered it online thinking I'd receive it asap from the release date but noooooooo! It arrived this morning! Yippeee! A Celebration is defo going on. Just need to find my cone bra and leotard.

Hmmm, Dachshunds are known to be spunky, fearless creatures. They're very entertaining and tend to be interactive with the people they love. They love to be the star of the show and can keep a room entertained with their antics. Just like Madonna.

Comfort Zone

I visited my friends last night who have a 14 day old baby. So tiny and adorable but so scary! How can something so little and precious scare me?! I held baby Michael in my arms for a mere 30 seconds and had to hand him back as he screwed his face up and blasted out this almighty scream. His daddy came to the rescue and cuddled him back into his comfort zone!

Got me thinking about my search for Margaret. The day we meet and we leave together for home, I will be taking a tiny pup away from her mum and into my life. It does seem quite daunting and for sure, something you as the owner have to deal with in your own way. I have been reading up about Dachshunds, taking them into your home and what it involves. Quiet rightly the book is for "dummies"....My dad called me a dummy for wanting a puppy, "it's so much work Jennifer..." I know, but I am ready for it! This is my comfort zone.

Too cute!

I have "borrowed" these photos, but they are too cute not to share!

Margaret

So Fudge's memory lives on. She passed away about 10 years ago. I know the family still miss her, but we have good memories and fun photos!

So back today...at this stage in my life, I want....a puppy....yes I do! I am ready!

When I was very little, my Grannie's next door neighbour had a dachshund called Dare. I was always intrigued by this creature so I guess that's why now I would love my own little Dachshund. Too cute and adorable, I would love one.

My partner and I are agreed on a Dachshund (I think he had no choice). A mini, smooth haired one, we'd like a red one. I can't wait! How many videos on youtube can one watch, oohing and ahhin over mini dachshund puppies? Well, I can never tire! There are hundreds of them! Fabulous.

Now where is our future pup?

The search is on....I have a name, I've got the love, now I just need to find Margaret.

Fudge

Ever since I was born, I have wanted a dog.

Ok perhaps not quite since that very moment I came into contact with the big wide world but as far back as I can remember I have always wanted a dog. I used to skulk around our back lane waiting to pounce on unsuspecting dog walkers. “Can I walk your dog?” I’d ask as they proudly walked past me with their mongrel.

Usually I was lucky and walked along the street with the owner keeping a close eye on this strange child as she held tightly onto their beloved dog’s lead.

My parents and I lived in the city; I had a great group of friends. We’d play out on the streets and head home when we were hungry. Everything was going swimmingly until one evening my mum, dad and I drove out to a cottage in the middle of the country.

From this moment on, my life changed and I was no longer a city kid - my folks bought this gorgeous cottage and I became a country kid. (Not through choice I may add.) However, with the promise of a dog if we moved to the country it felt like all my birthdays had come at once....we got a pup, a CUTE fab pup and we named her Fudge.

Fudge was a Jack Russell, full of life and loved the outdoors. She had the craziest personality, not sure if this was due to her spending most of her life every day with my mother but she was just ace.Fudge led a wonderful life in the country and was part of my family and my years growing up in the country however having a dog wasn't quite the same as I thought or dreamt it to be.

It was like having a sister who craved attention over ME! I am an only child, I may add! Also Fudge needed walking, fed and had her favourites. Mum during the week, Dad at the weekend and me when she felt like it.

A little put out I may have been but Fudge and I had many adventures and she was my companion when I pitched my tent in the field beside out house during the summer nights. We'd sleep there together, quivering at the spooky noises, anything that moved outside our eyes would open and peer....who was it or what was it? I think she'd been hoping it would be my mum telling us to come back inside.

When I was ill, Fudge would be my side and making sure I was ok.Fudge was part of my family for years, she sadly passed away when she 15 years old. Grey, worn out but she had had a wonderful life!