Category: friends

The Botanist,Sheffield

10 Comments

Picture the scene if you will from the film ‘The Secret  Garden’ the one where the little girl makes her way through the bramble,  through the rusty old gate and finally steps into the secret garden for the first time…

You got it yes…

Last night as Liz and I made our way up the stairs to the third floor of The Botanist (situated in Leopold Square) and entered into the restaurant our faces where more or less the same.

One’s of pure awe and admiration (or as we say around these parts ‘gob-smacked’) as we beheld the sight in front of us.

“If you look the right way, you can see the whole world is a garden” Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

img_7228

bot10.jpg

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Continue reading →

Masquerade Ball …#Sheffield

14 Comments

On Saturday I got to have my hair ‘done’ ,dress up to the nines and party with some of my favourite ladies. (Miss O Malley over in Spain you were missed!)

The occasion a Charity 1950’s Masquerade Ball, raising money for Sheffield’s Children Hospital.

Myself and Sue decided to treat ourselves and had booked  into Purdys Hair salon on Abbeydale Road Saturday morning. As I didn’t have a mask I thought I’d better do something special with my hair. Just who goes to a masquerade ball without a mask??

It’s a fab little salon with a lot of character. I felt like I was sat on the set of Grease! (always longed to be a Pink Lady)

For £25.00 you get a set and up-do.

I took a selection of  images featuring  1950’s beauties hoping that something would be achievable on my scraggy mid-length hair. I half expected to walk out looking like Kevin Keegan, but I needn’t have worried!

Sue opted for victory rolls ; I just told Victoria to go for it, do what ever. Continue reading →

The end … Marbella Diaries 

4 Comments

So as with most good things they come and go far too quickly for my liking.

I had been looking forward to my weekend in Marbella with the ladies for what seemed like forever and it was over in a flash … just like that !

So how did we spend our last day?

Having not really left the villa during the day to explore , we decided today was the day we would venture out to Orange Square in Marbella’s Old Town.

I had heard reports it was amazing and very beautiful.

Having only had a few hours sleep, hung over but feeling surprisingly chirpy , 6 of the 10 booked taxis for 11.00am.

We had strict instructions from Leigh ( who decided to have a lazy day around the pool) that we had to be back at 5.00pm.

We had no idea why but promised we would be.

Old Town Marbella was approximately a 20 minute taxi drive from the villa and cost €24 (about £20.00) which between a few of you doesn’t break the bank.

By golly was it worth it  … when we eventually found her.

Head upwards towards the mountains , not towards the sea like we did initially !

Continue reading →

Marbella Diaries – Day 2

4 Comments

One by one we  started re-surfacing from our beds. We made our way down to the terrace in various states of ‘bed-head’ to enjoy our breakfast alfresco.

Isn’t that one of the best things you can do …eat and drink in the sunshine, without fear of sudden rain?

I love England but the weather … crikey it’s enough to make you want to pack your bags and never come back. Could do better!

Oh and I officially make THE best coffee ( if I say so myself)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

coffee and THAT view

Continue reading →

Marbella Diary Day 1 – the villa and first night out.

6 Comments

Hola,

Somebody once said that “the best therapy is time spent laughing with great friends” I’ve just had 4 days ‘therapy’ and it’s done me the world of good.

By golly have we laughed…

and then some.

We’ve partied (a lot) and for want of a better word I’m back home and I’m bloody knackered. Rolling in at 6 in the morning was bad enough in my twenties,  at 45 it’s a killer but worth the tired, fuzzy head.

As my mum often says …”your a long time dead. Why sleep when you can dance?”

Why not indeed mum….

So what was the occasion?

We flew out to Spain  to join Leigh in celebrating her 50th . This was actually back in May (little details – long story)

We booked a plush villa in the hills above Marbella for the weekend so we could all be together.

Let me introduce you to our home for 4 luxurious days … Continue reading →

Tracey gets fit …an introduction to why?

Leave a comment

Today I thought I’d update you on a few things… mainly my health and fitness.

Do you remember a few months ago ( Nov -flipping-ember to be precise!) I had some sleep tests undertaken for my cataplexy?

cataplexy // ˈkatəˌplɛksi/

a medical condition in which strong emotion or laughter causes a person to suffer sudden physical collapse though remaining conscious.

It’s been 10 years since I was initially diagnosed with the condition.

I currently manage it quite ok but I was wondering whether there had been any progress in medical science so to speak. Continue reading →

Tracey at BAFTA 

6 Comments

On Monday evening the Mr and I donned our finest and made our way to BAFTA in the heart of London for a charity ‘do’ to raise funds for The Variety Club.

An evening spent in the company of Sir Roger Moore KBE and Monty Norman who was celebrating his 88th birthday. Monty Norman singer, composer and writer,  who amongst many other things wrote the James Bond theme tune.

Your probably thinking (like me) how the bloody hell did she get an invite! I’d be thinking the same …. Common little strumpet from Sheffield mixing with the higher-archy.

Ha ha I jest , Mikes lovely friends Penny and Alan Invited us . They both do a hell of a lot of work for Variety raising money to buy Sunshine Buses… And Penny thought I’d love to meet a real life James Bond.

Of bloody course I would!! Continue reading →

This weeks favourites…lippy, music 1980 style, Mr Malik and is he really going out with her?

3 Comments

I’ve spent the day with the Mr.

We are in the mid-throws of decorating our living room. There’s been lot’s of chat … mainly of the is “Cheryl really dating Liam” variety (and so far not much painting!). It’s Sunday we don’t do taxing conversation.

Coffee and pastries have featured highly and I’ve insisted we have MTV on so I can catch up on the Top Ten. I’ve been obsessed with the Top Ten since the early 1980’s when I used to sit in my bedroom with my cassette player and tape it…

Yes kids this is what we used to do on a Sunday night. It was a highly skilled job I can tell you. Recording as much of the song as possible but cutting out the DJ crap. Rewinding to within a millimetre of your life. We’d listen to our tapes until the following weekend when we’d repeat the whole ritual all over again… Continue reading →