Nelly! Nelly!

I love Nelly Furtado! Adore her sound and style. I’ve been listening her Loose album over and over again recently. One of those albums you forget you own then while searching for something, you find something else forgetting what you had been originally been looking for...that's what happened when I found the CD. Still can't remember what I had been looking for, anyway, the accidental find is far superior.


Loose is lovely listening. Nelly Says It Right.

Whether the weather...

Wayhey! Scotland's weather over the past few days has been fantastic...well where I live, the sun's been out, shining and despite the slight breeze, I'm loving it! Brings out the best in people. Hmm maybe some males could put their pasty white top half's away, back behind their tee shirts. There has been the odd couple of chaps wandering round showing off their un-manly chests, a sight for any sore eye.

Ahh well! Embrace it and enjoy! Shades on and the future's bright.

I'd just drink the beer too and watch

I'm supposed to be doing some studying tonight, but am skiving. Oops. Instead, been on Twitter to see what's happening. Not much. Still not 100% to grips with it but managed to watch a cool clip about BMXer Mat Hoffman with Johnny Knoxville commentating, so that was nice. This guy was told he wouldn't or shouldn't bike again, but no he's back on his bike. What a pro. I love that kind of thing, wish I had the guts to jump on a skate board or bmx and go for it. Instead I'll sit here and type about how cool it is. Because it is damn cool.

See for yourself - http://www.vbs.tv/sports/mat-hoffman--3

I'm sticking by this quote...

A few months ago, I took a huge step, quit my day job to better me and my life. I let go of stress and misery...since then I moved to a better job, in a happy place. I took time away from where I wanted to be while settling in and now returning back to positive thinking it's amazing how little spurts of inspritation can ease your mind and let you follow the road you're meant to be taking.

Yeh we sometimes take a side step to try something else. Like dipping our toes in cold, fresh water, if it's not for you, don't waste time trying to make it for you. Why should you?

Things like having to do something for someone else when they don't give back to you...up to certain point there's only so much you can take of their wants and their "all about me". Say no the next time they ask you to meet (when and where they want), why should you?

Why should you do something you don't want to? Within reason, let your love flow in the right direction to keep you on the right road to where you're going. Maps don't exist, only intuition and gutt feelings.

Feel good, be good and all good things come to those wait.

I wrote the following earlier this year and I have just bought my new ticket.

...hop on the happy train, buy your ticket and see where life takes you. You never know what delight is round the corner. It is waiting for you, you just have to believe and hold on.

LA BABY!

Quality time with a quality, good friend to me is the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Sharing your hopes and dreams, over a hot chocolate brings a whole new meaning to day dreams. Sometimes it's better to share rather than to keep. You never know who can bring them to the real world. Don't hold back, life's for living not for dreaming.

With that, we're off to LA.

Hope the hot chocolates taste as good.

Weekend!!!!

I've been a bit lame on the old chit chat blog stuff recently. I think Just Jack wrote a song about it, Writer's Block...

As I look out of the window, it's pouring it down! C'mon sun, where are you?! I feel I could be to blame as I spotted a mass of bird crap on my car the other day. I cursed that blooming bird and said to myself I wish it would rain some so it could wash the poop off my beautiful bonnet...now down pour, soggy shoes, make up washed off and hair....ahh don't get me started on my rained on messy doo!

However the weekend is on approach, infact 5pm for me…I’ll rush out of work doors into the world of my own space. Welcoming the friendly time with big open (maybe wet) arms.

Greetings weekend, you have been missed! Welcome back.

Wrinkle, wrinkle, little.....

The odd wrinkle or two appears on my face; perhaps due to growing older or too much sun….of course, it must be the sun’s rays beating down on my face, I live in Scotland! But recently I was slightly jealous of my hairdresser as I noticed that her forehead was perfect and smooth. She's 24.....young and also announced she just had botox!

I was shocked, felt a bit of a fuddy duddy when she told me as she tried to move her forehead. I acted all prim, you're only 24, I frowned - see I can still do it. But as nearly ten years older than her I couldn't justify doing it now. Not yet anyway. Maybe in my forties?

The younger ones are growing up faster than us, trying to improve their looks before their time. Sad in way. But then that must make us in our thirties more fortunate than them as we're joining the poker faces, years later - if we do decide to amend the natural look.

In my twenties, all we cared about was our best chums, getting drunk, dancing to the favourite house music and having fun. Clothes and fashion were part of this clone but never would we look to needles to amend our looks. I often wonder how we straightened our hair before GHDs burst onto the scene. Was the bouffant look in the 90s acceptable?! Perhaps back then split ends and thinning hair didn’t exist – it was only the hair dresser who used straighteners on our hair after a cut and blow dry. I do remember buying my 1st set of GHDs after trying out useless cheap straightening tongs. I saw them as an investment; this was probably the only “investment” I had ever made in my life (apart form buying my flat), how proud I must have felt.

Nowadays, if you buy something like that, it’s an essential part of the day to day hair wear. Although I do tell the odd fib to my hairdresser “I don’t use my tongs every day” as she checks my hair for damage. The lie just falls out my mouth, no idea why. Fear of getting told off by the youngsters? I don’t know. Is it me or are they one step ahead of my generation, growing up too quick? I’m still having fun, hanging out with good friends and dancing to house music (from the 90s) with the odd bad hair day and my new wrinkles joining me on my daily routine of growing older.

Five tips for a woman....

1. It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.

2. It is important that a man makes you laugh.

3. It is important to find a man you can count on! And doesn't lie to you.

4. It is important that a man loves you and spoils you.

5. It is important that these four men don't know each other.

Beauty Tips

Here is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote when asked to share her 'beauty tips.'

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone..

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

Puff...

I have just signed up to run a 10k.

I have 6 weeks to train and am sticking to my Granny's saying....there's no such word as can't...

The phone call...

Nearly 6 months ago I called up a local Daschund breeder about her advert in the paper - mini daschund pups for sale....Obviously I didn't purchase one, but I asked if she would call me when the next litter arrives.

She did just that.

The lovely lady called the other day to say she had mini D's and was I interested.

ARGH! Not yet, we're still living in our flat and have agreed we will find Margaret once we're in a house with a garden.

I can't believe 7 months have flown by....time flies when you're having fun or is it just life? 24 hours in a day, 7 days a week...day to day life passes us by when you least expect it. So once again I back my post below, if it's not right for you just now don't do it.

One day, maybe sooner than I think it'll be Margaret time. Yippee!

Happy Sunday x

You is all about you.

Is it right or wrong to take a step out, believe in yourself and do something for you? Well, I think it's right. I decided that my current day job is not for me.

So I quit.

After 3 months of trying to get into it, trying to focus - it will get better - I gave in and said, this isn’t for me. Rather than becoming doomy and gloomy, I took a positive step and a chance to better myself than to crumble into moans and groans of disliking my job and facing another day of unwanted boredom.

As a result, I have over night developed higher self confidence and a very positive outlook, just by taking a step and changing the bad to good. I do have a month or so left but it's taken the pressure off and turned the heat down at a decent level.

Life's too short to be stuck, stuck doing what you don't want. Instead of worrying what if, I have taken on the attitude of freedom and ditched negativity that was surrounding me to feel alive and will grow into a new job when it happens. It will be the right job for me when I find it and it finds me.

Some may disagree with my decision – but that’s your choice. I made my choice. It’s freedom of belief.

The saying you work to live is true - you don't live to work. Money may be tight for me for a while, but budget and opt out of the £8.99 shampoo and the Top Shop top for £30 (when really it's a bit of thin cloth that the next girl in the changing room is trying on). It doesn’t have to be all about clothes, fashion, money and extravagance - it's about you. You is all about you. If you dream of riches and know you're all about that, that's your choice. Work hard and wear the cloth. If you believe in the happy you, appreciating what you have got, then that's what you're all about. We're all different. I just happen to choose my positive step, handing my notice in as I wasn’t happy and believing in me.

Wake up in the morning, thank for you have and believe in you. Life continues no matter how much you grumble or how many times you cry, I love me - time doesn't stop for no one. You have to make the best out of each situation simply because you have to. We sometimes don’t appreciate what we have or what we believe in. We get caught up in the every day life of life, but by taking a little step out just to self check, be grateful for what we have can be a daily or weekly gratitude magnet to attract goodness to you.

I have had email chats with the author Erin Quinn recently and she told me to picture the end - see you in the end result. I have and am concentrating on that happy vision. For sure, life's not perfect, ups and downs get in our way and it makes you the bigger person. But hop on the happy train, buy your ticket and see where life takes you. You never know what delight is round the corner. It is waiting for you, you just have to believe and hold on.

An absolute delight

www.pregoaberdeen.co.uk

Good Friends

I Can...continued

There are many self help books with daily positive phrases and how the law of attraction works; you think good thoughts to attract good vibes.

It’s true in a sense but it’s up to you as the individual to believe in your good thoughts.

By using the word can’t, it’s as if you’re defeating yourself before you actually attempt. My partner recently said, “If you use the word can’t in a sentence – there is just no point in even trying. Doesn’t exactly exude confidence does it?”

Happy Mother's Day!

My mum was delighted with her Cliff Richard Mother's Day card today! When you open the card Cliff wishes her a Happy Mother's Day - what more can a Mother want on Mother's Day?!!

My mum's ace.

I can

My Granny, a wonderful, bubbly Scots woman shared her long standing belief with me during my younger years and I have held onto it tightly like a prized procession.

Granny or Mrs Margaret Laing to you, told me - “There’s no such word as can’t”.

Such a positive, simple saying that can trigger off positive freedom for you during your daily deeds.

You can.

Stalking...

I wouldn't necessary call it stalking but I did kind of stalk a Daschund the other day. The dog in question is the one that lives in my neighbourhood, the one that Jude called a jobby on a lead.

The other day I was driving into our cul de sac and saw the proud pup with it's owner on the road just beside my house. I didn't have the courage to stop and ask the owner about the pup, name, how old, how cute etc...but when I drove into my drive I reversed back out to go forth and speak. Except when I was nearing the dog and owner, I bottled it. No idea why? I think the British in me (good excuse for being shy) held me back. So my journey out of the cul de sac continued left and I had to turn to head back home past the pair.

This time I thought, I will speak. I saw the dog and it's owner, the dog, so lovely, skipping about not knowing that some random woman has driven past it 3 times in the space of 2 minutes...I slowed down as I approached them and the owner looked up and instead of rolling down the window, (OK it's 2010 I pressed the button and my electric window slid down) I mouthed "your dog's so adorable" which resulted in the owner nodding confused at me and I carried on driving thinking you idiot! I should have got out the car, said hi and asked a couple of questions.....

You see it goes back to my early years of walking other people's dogs, the fixation of holding the lead and pretending the dog was mine as I walked down the road with the owner keeping a close eye on me, thinking odd kid.I guess after the time I let go of a dog's lead and it scootled off, I decided in my innocence it was better not to annoy the owners any more.

I just want my own Daschund, my own mini Margaret.

Jobby on a lead.

Well.

Jude, my friend since we were 2 years old, my sister....laughed out loud said a cute, little happy Dachshund (we saw walking past my house with its owner) looked like a jobby with four legs.

Oh haha.

Driving Dog?!

After a delightful afternoon cuppa with my lovely chum Jude, I returned back to my car in the car pack and saw an interesting site. Put a smile on my face as it wasn't what I expected to see in the car next to mine! Hope he has a license.

Gordon Brown and Piers Morgan - the PMs

I was fortunate enough to be in the audience for the recording of the much hyped interview with The Prime Minister and Piers Morgan. The interview was not about to be about political views, taxes, Iraq... but more a deeper invasion into the life of the real Gordon Brown, the man who, like it or lump it leads our country - chosen by the British Public.

The ever so enchanting Piers Morgan took to the stage first, receiving a very warm welcome from the audience and he greeted us, asking if we could put our political views to the side and see the interview more as entertainment as he delved into the inside private life of Gordon Brown.

When Mr Brown entered the show he was received with an open mind from the audience who cheered and clapped enthusiastically.

From the beginning, Piers probed question after question, we soon found the somewhat guarded PM let his barriers down and relax into chat and closeness of his real life outside. He is a family man, loving, kind and adores his children and his wife, Sarah.

Mrs Sarah Brown was also in the audience with (I think) her mother, father and a couple more relatives. The camera man did his best to capture her during certain revealing stories.

Mr Brown admitted he does not take the full PM pay, there are no major perks and needs about 6 hours sleep to function the next day. As a family man he confessed the best parts of his job is the openness of his family, who can run into any meeting and ask daddy if they can "do a treasure hunt" after tea. He can see his family as and when during the working day.

In the papers today, the headlines are PM weeps on TV. Well, any loving father with deep love for his family would while discussing the tragic death of his 1st child. He definitely welled up, showed very passionate and sad emotion and you could feel his pain. Sarah was weeping. Silence as he spoke and you could feel it was difficult to speak about it. I looked around the audience at this point to capture their emotion, there were people were sniffing into their hankies, tears welling up at this heart breaking story, human tragedy strikes a cord when a child is involved and as Gordon spoke softly we could feel his pain and sadness. Nobody deserves this kind of human pain. On a happier note their 2nd child was born bringing much joy to the proud parents and their 3rd son joined the family only to find out he has Cystic fibrosis. Another cruel and painful experience for the Brown's, but taking a positive and occasional, why us feeling the pair carry on to do their utter most best to bring their boys up in a private and beautiful family lifestyle. They even enjoyed an outing to Nativity at the movies at Christmas time.

Gordon had the support of the audience in the studio as we were touched with his emotional love for his family, his slight awkwardness of being in the public eye; we giggled, laughed and encouraged him to tell us more of his intriguing life.

I won't spoil the 2 and half hour interview as it's shown on TV on Sunday 14th, but from a non political point of view, the interview was intriguing, fascinating and heart warming to watch.

There are so many people who believe they know what's right and wrong, how they should run the country but Gordon Brown is doing the job just now, not us and as he said it's the people who let him know if it’s a good decision or wrong.

At the end of the day the interview didn't sway my voting decision, but I now like and warmed to the PM or just the man in the public eye, known as Gordon Brown.

My secret confession is my favourite part of the whole show was at the end when my friend Marti managed to grab Piers as he was walking out of the studio to sign my book. He did that and I made sure he saw me, saying thank you with full eye contact, I'm easily pleased!

You know when you've been....

Tango's sales will be up now that Alex Reid has won Celebrity Big Brother....Who would have thought? The man walked cautiously into the Big Brother House a month ago to boos and dislikes and suddenly he’s crowned the winner!

A complete turn-around for Katie Price’s (under the thumb) boyfriend. A cage fighter, pretend actor who has been slashed by the media for his cross-dressing antics and the man we loved to hate because he’s not Peter Andre.

We only knew him as Jordon’s boyfriend, the guy who suddenly appeared on the scene after Peter with their love lives splashed across the daily tabloids. But she publically dumped on National TV however with a change of heart, took him back. Aww!

Love him or loathe him, Alex Reid won. The British public made the decision and we’re now destined to read endless Hello! articles about his life changing experience and what “work” he has coming up.

To be fair, he’s a nice guy, simple and a gentleman. I read a comment on a forum, “orange idiot” which made me laugh out loud. He’s harmless despite his past dodgy movies, defo not a fan of his work.

However, reading in the press, Alex had to sign an agreement not to discuss Jordon/Katie while in the house and what a good idea! Instead we found out about the real man who we really know nothing about. He craves fitness, fake tan and his naked body. He was down to earth and according to the lady of house, Stephanie, he was a gentleman.

The REAL Alex stepped out of the house and now into the big wide world with hundreds (maybe an exaggeration) of opportunities lying ahead of him and I don’t just mean lusting loving ladies.

I am disappointed Vinnie Jones lost out, his manners and antics didn’t appeal to some, but Vinnie said it was good changing room banter. Take it with a pinch of salt and you’re on. Give Dane a chef’s hat and a chance to win Celebrity Masterchef, Stephanie an Oscar for being posh and fab. Basshunter can carry on with Euro pap beats and Alex….over to you.

Fake tan sales will go up; Alex could be the face of fake tan except he’s not fake. Give him a good PR agent and his future’s bright, his future’s orange.

Ace!

After a spell of hibernation, I ventured out last night for dinner, drinks and a little gamble. Not the usual night out for me, but as I seem to be overly into the National Lottery just now (how many tickets can one buy in a week?!) I welcomed a bit of a flutter. Good times and fun.
I don't think I played as a real gambler, Lady Luck was on my side for few times which was a giggle. I watched closely as the others played, sussing out the croupier's deal using their Black Jack's mind to deal another card or not. Fascinated by it, I stayed on the table placing my £5 chip down each hand and sometimes increasing my amount to at least £20...

I went home with more than I went out with in my wallet but at one point I should have stopped and converted (is that the correct terminology?) my chips to pounds rather than encouraging my gambling hand to win higher.

Sensible fun and intriguing observing all night. More men than women playing, a lot of blokes had their "girls", glammed up by their side, gulping down more vodka as the game became more serious.

It felt like I had come home from a holiday and was exchanging my euros at the travel agent when I went to the cashier's desk with my chips. Greed was also on my side too but I stuck to my limit and went home happy with a few extra bucks.

Checked my lottery results today. Nada. Nothing. Nowt. You'd think I would learn by now. It's part of the fun, you just never know! Harmless fun that's costing me money.

Who's losing now?!!

Tom Rush - Remember Song

Read all about it!

I'm not one for Facebook 24/7 as some of my friends are, but I do nip on now and again perhaps adding the odd comment or photo.

I have a friend or two who live their lives through Facebook. Every minute of their day their life is documented on the social network site. I won't be surprised the day we read they have gone for a wee. I don't really care for such info though...

I like to see my friends in other country's photos and posts as this is as close as we can get to their lives abroad unless we visit. It's fun seeing the kids and their antics with mum or dad posting photos of them in random outfits, poses and what not...much to the child's embarrassment in 10 years from now.

Today is the 1st day back to work for many. I on the other hand am off all week....brilliant. However the amount of people on Facebook just now is mad! So many comments and postings of hatred towards starting the regular working life again. The festive season is over and now some are perhaps regretting too much turkey, tinsel and trimmings...booze I mean. It'll be a long week, but as soon as today is over you're one step closer to the weekend. But two steps closer to the start of next week though....I think we can cope. It'll be something to read on that inevitable social network site.

Oh well...

No Pamela....but Vinnie's in!

This is Davina!

No!!

Stop Me!

I am now sitting watching Celebrity Big Brother....why oh why?! Its just started and we're up to the 8 house mate entering the house. I am intrigued, hoping that the rumours are true that Pamela Anderson's going in.

We shall see, maybe they are saving the best till last!

Is this intriguing telly or just utter rubbish about (some) wanna be celebs making a pound or two for the next short while as we stay home this cold January, keeping cosy and glued to our TV sets?

I am yet to comment. I think this means I am going to be watching Celebrity Big Brother 2010...

Must say Davina's looking fab as usual. Must buy her latest workout DVD...