end of an era

My last trip to Sheffield on Sunday to pick Kate up as she came to the end of her three years with a more than respectable law degree in her little hand. Usual dawn start for me to get there early and despite various matrix flashing warnings of junctions closed and coming on a RTA barely 10 minutes after it happened I was pulling up outside her door at 10am. A clash of emotions as for me happy to have Kate home for the brief two months before she starts her barrister training, but for her the end of an era. Three years that have seen her grow and form friendships that I know will last her for life.

Seems like only yesterday I was driving her up managing to fall out on the way as I was wrapped up in my loss at’ losing’ her and following the text book reaction of sobbing all the way home. For Kate the first day of true adulthood – for me what felt like the end of the only thing I have ever felt confident I have got right. I never imagined it would be so hard to let her go. But I have never had any doubts in her abilities and moreover marvelled at her total lack of fear at independence – something it took me years (if at all) to acquire.

the girl done good!

My first born got a 2:1* in law from Sheffield. Fair bursting wi' pride. A year of barrister training looms and then she'll be the littlest redhead on the circuit striking fear into criminals across the land.

* out of 300 graduates 3 got 1sts and 30 2:1s

another day another breakfast

Not content with fairly regular Sunday brunches, this morning I met Ros and Mandy for breakfast at Granny Mo's on the canal in Bradford-on-Avon. I suppose I should feel guilty that their





mighty nosh-up followed an energetic bike ride along the canal but life's too short for guilt. And it certainly didn't put me off ordering the full English.


With the sun shining an hour of people watching followed. Toddlers dicing with death at the canal-edge while their over-protective parents had mini seizures - often wonder how Kate and Pete made it to their teenage years. A canal boat of reasonably well behaved stags with one who seemed to think that being in the great outdoors meant brushing your teeth in full view of one and all and for an unfeasibly long time.






As Ros and Mandy continued their exercise fest, I headed off to the garden centre to indulge my latest obsession. Never thought I would get the gardening bug as to me gardens exist for one purpose only to lie prone in the sun with the only exercise page turning or lifting a gin. But having got someone to gravel the erstwhile weed jungle in the corner, seemed only right to add some colour which I have duly done. In the grand scheme of gardening it is probably akin to microwave ready meals as opposed to a hollandaise sauce from scratch but a girls got to start somewhere and I do feel quite worthy while I am doing it.



I actually started in Aldi where plants had been cheap the previous week. It may now be fashionable for ABC1 shoppers to frequent the stack 'em high, sell 'em cheap store but the Trowbridge branch is an extremely depressing experience. Nevertheless I did a completely pointless shop full of things you might want but would never need; the kind of stuff a stoned Chelsea girl might buy, when suffering a severe case of the munchies - chocolate chip brioche bread, smoked salmon and cheese.

Then it was off the to the more middle class experience of B&Q to stock up on plants which looked purty - again probably not the criteria a real gardener uses. All planted up - so now having done a modicum of exercise I will revert to my more usual garden past-time - soaking up the rays.

ladies what brunch

There is no better way of spending a sunny Sunday morning than breakfast at The Castle in Bradford-on-Avon. A guardian readers dream.

Having convinced ourselves that we weren’t that hungry, Bella and I made short work of the full breakfast, nattered non-stop, covered every topic under the sun which shone down on us the righteous.

oasis 12th june 2009 cardiff

So I can now strike it off my list of things to do before I die. it was all there - the posturing, the manc drawl, the simian swaggers - and every crowd-pleasing anthem. In fact maybe it was the familiarity that stopped it being an out of this world experience. The fact that you know every song word perfectly and you have seen the 'act' so many times before. But dont get me wrong - I was beside myself with excitement. We were in a perfect position - in the stands but close enough to the testosterone-fuelled pitch to absorb the atmosphere - but not the lobbed urine-filled (so I was informed) pint pots - and with a perfect view of the stage.

Support was good - leaving out the pitiful Peth (Rhys Ifans band) which was like watching a bunch of middle-aged saddos acting like stadium rock-gods when they'd have been booed out of every town's run down Nags Head. Another actors vanity project indulged by their rock star mate. But The Enemy (surprisingly) and Kasabian proved their credentials.

Then it was time for the Burnage boys and they churned out the hits with consummate ease. Very little banter with the crowd - but then again it was Cardiff so I can forgive them that. About halfway through the night, Liam took a break as Noel took over lead vocals for a fantastic mini-set. This included the acoustic Half the World Away, which turned into a mass sing-along, made all the more memorable by the open-air setting as the sun went down. Once the sun set the atmosphere really kicked in. And two hours flew by finishing with the now customary I am a Walrus. Derivative certainly and not too sure admitting to liking them in 2009 is a bit of a social faux pas and not cool. Judging from the packed stadium they are not about to fade away just yet. Besides Noel is my ideal man and always will be.

Those Gallagher Boys

This time tomorrow

The beginning

Spurred on by my friend Bella and her post, decided to give this blogging malarkey a go - another time wasting exercise at work to replace social not-working. Not too sure what will develop - sharp witty observations on life, heart-felt confessionals, tedious trivia. Watch this space.