plans…

wow – I am really worried about raising the K4 for the WOMEN V CANCER cycle ride…I was dreaming about it last night! I only need to raise K2800 to be allowed to go – but half of that is spent on my flight, accommodation etc. So I really want to raise K6 if I can…K4 minimum…aaargh!

BUT, I have a marketing manager! Yay me. Julie is on the case! What a relief – she understands very well about fund raising, having done many Cancer Research Relay for Life thingies. She is going to do a 'Golf Day' for me, and we are apparently going to attack Exeter City Football Club, Torquay Football Club and the Sandy Park Rugby Stadium??  Ok…bring it on…I need money or I get disqualified.

Also, Julie is going to be my trainer – she takes the circuit training class I usually go to twice a week. Now she is going to cycle with me [even though she hates bikes!] and we are going to see if the local gym will allow me to do swimming for free – the best training in my mind – swimming is such a whole body work out. So we'll do that together – although Julie swims about 300 lengths in one hour, where I shall likely simply sink… But I can't afford it right now, so we will see what they say.

Already approached the local football team Chairman, Dave Hitt, today and he thinks that the Committee will do something. yay! Thanks Ju!

My friend Mark goes trail cycling at Haldon Hill, so I am going to see if I can accompany him. I really need to find my limit NOW and improve on it.

Oh, and I need a bloody cycle helmet that fits 'hair'! And I need to learn to use my GEARS! I never use the gears and the FH goes mad…well, I shall have to learn, as the third day is 98km. A steady climb into the Nyeri hills. Reach the equator at 83km [and probably drop down dead immediately]. Uff. NERVOUS!!!

my interesting day

Ok – this is what I'm doing while I look for a design job. And don't get me wrong, cleaning is great [actually I love it!! no stupid persons telling one what to do and how to do  it – result!] – it's just making the beds that transforms me from a sweet little babe to a Demon-Like Raving Lunatic!!

Duvet Covers and Valances are the work of the Devil. That's that. I can't remember when I last SAW a bloody valance, and now I am swamped with the bloody things…look nice, but [really!!] they are a pain in the ass when making beds!! Once one has tucked the sheet away army style, one notices that [oh yes] the bloody valance is stuffed under the mattress too. Hmm. What? Hmm you say? I say F**K!! LOUDLY. In every cabin!

Monday I raced into work and the rest of the day was a total chaos – today I went in and it wasn't so frenzied, and that was rather nice. I had lists. And forms to complete. Ok. It still took me 6 hours to clean 4 chalets – WHY do people have FLAT sheets and VALANCES?? The last time I saw a FLAT sheet was in 1975 before my Mum discovered fitted sheets. After that – well, fitted sheets are the bomb! Duh!!!

This is my new company car; actually I love this thing – it's Hell on Wheels! I can run over golfers with it…cool!

This is the chalet that I am now the Executive Maintenance Manager of:

God my life is funny! And I love it – except for the valances… ;o)

the first WOMEN V CANCER cycle ride

OMG!! I don't believe it – I am actually going to do this. So, first see the web site here. Then read the rest of this. Which is not as interesting! Well. It is – for me anyway!

I really wanted to do this ride – the FH sent me the link while I was in Portugal, I looked at it, and it just seemed a dream come true. Firstly, raising funds for ovarian cancer research. Research is what saved my life. Bring it on!!

Since I have been watching Simon and Ben, I have been thinking how amazing it is that these men are out there on our behalves – generating funds that could literally save our lives. And as much as we support them [they are amazing! follow them on Twitter Simon - Ben ] it would be good if we could do 'something' for ourselves too. Just to follow their example. Oh, and to pull our fingers out too!

Secondly, it's in AFRICA!! I LOVE Africa, and I miss it so much. Kenya is beautiful – I was there. And I loved it.

So. Funds for research. Africa. Made For Me!! BUT the registration fee was £250.00. I can't afford that right now as I am with no work. After I tried to register, I had to cancel. But they have your details anyway and they emailed me.  Amazingly [really amazingly!] they gave me a special dispensation. I paid it  – so I am IN!! Woop! Next October, I shall be cycling 400km [248 miles] in Kenya…

So – how lucky am I???

the Machine that is the airport

My God – I arrived back in the UK to complete chaos [there's a surprise eh?]. Four planes landed at once at Bristol Airport, and the usual irritating B.S ensued. First, no buses. Then, no stairs [I would quite happily have jumped to the tarmac at this point].

Then, herded like cattle through the passport control, where there were only FOUR controllers. What?! Do they not know all these planes are arriving at once? Uh, patently not.  None of the automatic passport machines were turned on [grr] so there were lots of delays. Some jumped-up lard ass was shouting at people in the queue to not use their mobiles – what? They delay us through their incompetence and we can't call people to tell them? Pah. Get a life Mr I Am So Important…not. I have seen this same man a few times passing though this airport – would rather like to beat him about the head with my [not allowed] handbag…

Eventually emerged from The Machine that is the airport to be greeted by the much missed FH. We got home at 2.00 in the morning…ugh. I started work [more about that later] at 9.30 on Easter Monday. So, no unpacking, simply go to bed. Jump up the next day and into mayhem.

Get home, unpack and complain a lot about valances…ah, such is life.

La Vie en rose!

Well, the rest of my stay in Portugal was fantastic. Wednesday I had my hair done [yay – thank you Clarinha!!], so look rather more civilised again. Thursday we had the very last dinner we shall have as a group at the Barco Boador. Our beloved Bella is moving on to a new restaurant, and although I am sure we will go there and have entertaining evenings in the future, that was the last 'Barco'  gathering. Good luck Bella! We will miss the sea view, but we all have to move on eventually.

Here she is with Clarita and I, the first time I had to go over to Portugal for work in September 08. No hair at all – but we still partied like crazy people! Amazing woman.

All week I stayed with Clara and Alvaro [and Luna] in Espinho. I walked into the town every day [dodging rain storms] to spend time at the beach and with Bella. We all landed back at theirs after our dinner and Alvarito and I ended up shopping for novels in English and Portuguese on the internet until 3.00 in the morning! The sage and sensible behaviour of people who have had rather a lot of wine heh heh. Good fun. It was like being at home I felt so welcome.Then I went to Vila Nova de Gaia. To stay with Marina – we had a pyjama party in front of her fire [no – no photos!!] – delicious! Wine and cheese and bread and us. On the weekend we went to the beach cafe for brunch – chilled rosé wine and more cheese and meat and bread [aaargh – hello 1 more kilo!] and SUNSHINE! I got a sunburn on my forehead.

Saturday night we went with Paulito to a fabulous traditional Portuguese restaurant – amazing food, perfect service – it was great. Sunday, well…Sunday was something else. I was welcomed into Marina's sister's home for Easter lunch. Clara invited me to hers too, but as Mari was taking me back to the airport it seemed more sensible. If only I could have been at both!

In the UK we don't really make much fuss over Easter, other than to eat quite a lot of chocolate. In Portugal it's totally different [not much chocolate - phew], and I felt quite honoured to be there. The sisters cooked a HUGE [and I mean seriously huge] lunch, of leitão assado, pork on the bone, salad and bread and wine…you must know the score by now. There were about 20 of us! And in the sitting room, the furniture was covered in cakes and desserts – and more cheese…oh my word! It was amazing. All the kids were there, delightful, and we ended up sprawled on the front lawn, having a few beers and enjoying the sunshine.

But that was after we were visited by the Priests. It's hard for me to explain this, as it was quite moving, and although I am not a particularly religious person, it made Easter seem like 'Easter'. If you know what I mean. I don't quite! Anyway – the Priests in Portugal all walk from house to house [all day!], giving blessing to the people and their homes. We were lucky, as Mari's Mum lives down the road from her sister, so we had the first blessing at Toninha's home, then we all zoomed down the street to her Mum's and did it all again. Double blessings – good! They carry an ornate Cross, which each person kisses, a prayer is intoned, and everyone shakes hands with the Priests. Then off they go. It was an experience I shan't forget.

We spent the rest of the day just pretending we lived in a commune – so many people came by to visit, it was so relaxed – there was enough food for an army…so sad to leave. Apparently the doors [and there are a lot of them!] to Toninha's home are always open to me. That's so nice. Leaving Marina at the airport was horrible – I felt like jumping back into her car – if the FH had been there, I might have!

What a delightful week. And this was just a part of my and the FH's Christmas present from Mum and Dad. We still haven't spent all the money they gave us for holiday yet - and we are going to Spain at the end of the moth! What a great life eh?? Thanks everyone – it was GREAT!!