Brought to you by the Letter B and the numbers 3 & 0

I have now been in my 30's for over 2 months now (and its taken me that long to comprise this blog entry as well) I have to say it hasn't been all that bad, it was a little stressful on the day but I managed to cope. I also managed to spread my birthday celebrations over 3 weeks. First I had 3 days in the Isle of Wight, which was very nice but emotional as the main reason we were there was to scatter Nan's ashes, it was a really nice evening but very sad, to celebrate we spent the next day visiting all the places on the isle that she loved.

On the Sunday I got dropped off at heathrow and got my tube to Covent Garden where I was meeting my husband for 3 days in London. It is here where the real birthday celebrations were to begin, starting off with my first present, a visit to the Radley store for my bag, then to Russell and Bromley for the protector spray for the bag. Spraying a bag in the confines of your hotel room, where the window only opens a tiny bit isn't the best plan, having nearly gassed hubby with the spray we went out for tea to Garfunkles where I had a yummy pizza. We like Garfunkles very much their burgers and pizzas are very nice, it's a bit like Frankie and Bennys but down south.

The next day we did a lot of walking, which helped to burn the calories of the previous nights pizza, we started off at Covent Garden the walked the entire length of Oxford St to Marble Arch stopping in shops along the way especially Selfridges to have lunch in the Square Pie Co stand, their mash is amazing and the pies are better than Pukka. Our next journey was going down park lane where all the really nice car dealerships are, unfortunately they are mega expensive but nice to look at. Hubby enjoyed the car window shopping but decided that if we ever won the lottery then he would enjoy taking a trip to the Austin Martin dealership.

We followed the road then along Piccadilly to Waterstones where we stopped for a drink in the swanky lounge area on the top floor, the conversations at this bar are usually quite interesting. Not that I condone listening to other people's conversations, but it does make wonderful entertainment and you can gain a little insight as to what their lives are like. We decided that a Subway was on the cards for tea, but not before stumbling across Foyles book store. I had forgot there were one of these in London, we are Borders fans but since they went into administration we haven't found a good enough book shop for hubby to get really obscure computing books from. That is until now omg Foyles is massive the whole computing section is about as big as Waterstones in m'hall, hubby was in heaven and the staff were really nice too, a bit eccentric but friendly.

The next day we spent on another walking trip, again starting off in Covent Garden but calling in on the new addition to the shops, yes I'm talking about the new Apple store that has opened there. I sort of like it, but prefer the one on Regent St as they have a cinema like bit where you can listen and watch demonstrations on how to use stuff, and pinch their WiFi. After the Apple store we walked down to Jubilee bridge and crossed over the Thames. We walked along passed Blackfriars bridge to the Tate Modern. There wasn't much that took our eye their apart from an exhibition on Surveillance photography so we asked one of the information people where it was and she gave us free entry tickets (worth £10 each) I'm glad we got them free because it wasn't as good as I was expecting.

We then decided that we'd had enough culture and carried on walking back across over the Thames via Millennium bridge and headed towards St Pauls. We stopped for a cup of tea in Cafe Rouge then proceeded to walk along Fleet St and the Strand, back through Theatre Land to Leicester Sq where for tea I decided to treat my husband to an Häagen Dazs ice cream. Now this restaurant is amazing the flavours of ice cream are so nice, I had a Belgian Waffle Dream which comprises of a scoop of Pralines and Cream, a scoop of Dulce De Leche, a warm Belgian Waffle, Sweet Maple Syrup and freshly Whipped Cream. Hubby had his own creation. It was time to go back to the hotel after the ice cream. The next day was home time, but the celebrations didn't stop there. Tune in to my next entry to find out what I did in my actual birthday and my trip to Cadbury World.

Age is just a number

Yes I know I have been the world worse blogger these past few months, and I'm always coming up with excuses but last month I had a bereavement in my family my Nannan Jean passed away so my mind has been elsewhere. She was a remarkable woman, a bit scatty at times but that's what made her the best, she never said a bad word about anyone and she devoted her life to her family. She took all her 3 grandchildren on holiday in the caravan just about every year as we were growing up and every Saturday we went over to visit and she'd play games and put on a buffet tea, never complaining just happy surrounded by all her family. She will be dearly missed by everyone who ever met her but she is looking down on us and making sure we keep out of mischief, she is now free of pain and will be having a good ol chin wag with my other Nan. Love ya Nan xx

In other news my title of my blog will soon be a lie as on the 30th September I will be 30. In a way I'm looking forward to it as I'm spending 3 days in London with my hubby and going out drinking and eating wonderful food, but in another way I'm not looking forward to it as it means I'm not in my twenties anymore, I'm in theory a third through my life (that's if I live to be 90). But I'm planning on having a nice week of work and just enjoying the moment, plus my husband is buying me a Radley bag which I'm very excited about.

A name is just a name

How many places have details of your name? lots is the answer. You'd think of the obvious ones for example bank, passport, driving licence but I'd forgot about pension, national insurance, medical insurance. So changing your name takes forever. The list is endless and when you think that you have come to the end of the list you think of other things that are in your name and then you have to change them too, I'm sure there are loads that I have forgotten about and some that don't really matter.

Some places require your original marriage certificate, which fills me with dread, I don't trust the post service and I'm always scared that they will lose it, but so far so good, they are gaining back my confidence slowly.

I'm slowly starting to get used to being called a MRS and having a new surname, I'd got quite attached to my last one, well you do having been called one name for 29 years, so to suddenly have a new one it's gonna take time to get used to it. I saw it written down the other day by a work colleague and it took me about 5 minutes for it to register in my brain that it was me, and that it was me she was talking about. When I went to the bank to pay in a cheque she addressed me by my new name and asked me if there was anything else I needed, I just looked at her blank until I realised she was talking to me, then I just mumbled 'no thanks' and walked off.

I think every young girl has practised their signature when they fantasied about marrying a famous pop star or celebrity, me included I was convinced I was going to married Gary Barlow. But what I didn't practice was my new signature so when I had to sign it in the bank I was a little unprepared, thankfully it looked ok and I could remember how to do it for all the rest of my documents and cards.

It's Official Pt 2

I'm sorry that this part of the wedding post has been so long in coming, I could say I was creating suspense but I'd be lying, I just forgot.

So where were we.... oh yes the sun had come out, which was really nice so we could have some photos taking in the Peace Gardens in Sheffield, for those of you who are unfamiliar with Sheffield near the town hall are some fountains in the floor and surrounding them is waterfalls and seating areas, if there happens to be a wedding at the town hall it is customary to have photos taken in the surrounding area which in this case is the Peace Gardens. A nice backdrop for photos were the fountains and also the blossom trees.

We then set off to Tankersley Manor for the Wedding Breakfast and Evening Reception. On arrival we had drinks in the Conservatory and more photos taken in the grounds. The only problem I had was on the grass my heals decided they were going to embed themselves, which in a way was good it meant that everyone had to come to me if they wanted to join in on the photos.

The meal was lovely and the tables set out really nice, I was a little nervous about the speeches and had written my fathers speech for him, I knew he would have done a good job by himself but my dad can go on a bit and thought it best to write it for him. The groom's and best mans speech was nice and really captured our lives.

It was then time for the staff to turn the room round ready for the evening reception, so we all went into the lounge area. I then go the opportunity to change into my flat shoes as the heals I was wearing were starting to hurt.

The evening reception went really well, the DJ played all the music I asked for and more and there were lots of comedy moves going on, on the dance floor. We decided that we weren't having a first dance but just having our music played whilst we were cutting the cake, it ended up with the music being played whilst we were cutting the cake then a mad flashing of everyones cameras it was like being a celebrity being attacked by the paparazzi and me finishing off our first dance with my cousin which was nice also.

The night whizzed by and the only one left dancing at the end of the night with all the balloons he had accumulated was our 6 yr old nephew, I don't know where he got the energy from. So it was time to leave and check out our junior bedroom suite. It was amazing almost as big as our apartment, I'll not go into detail about our first night as a married couple some things are better left alone.

We had a wonderful day and was glad that all our friends and family could spend it with us, It's a day that I will remember forever. I haven't even stopped looking at the photos yet even though it's been a month.

I'm at a bit of a loose end now but I'm sure work and other things will keep me occupied might have to start organising my 30th Birthday which is in September.

It's Official

I'm Married OMG!!!!!

Well it has been on the cards for 5 years so I'm not really that surprised and I did organise it, but it is now real on Thursday 15th April 2010 I got married.

So let me tell you all about it... firstly on the Wednesday my cousin and I had 120 cupcakes to make which was a task, but turned out really well, I did all the measuring and she did all the mixing and we jointly spooned them into the cases, it was a well implemented operation, but don't fear we aren't going into business. I left her late afternoon to frost them as I needed to be at my mums for my nails and eyebrows doing by my chief bridesmaid. After inflicting pain my eyebrows were perfectly shaped and my nails were french manicured. Apart from having a little accident before two of the nails were dry everything was going to plan. I spent the night at my mums whilst Hubby to be was having a Poker and Games night with the lads.

After a restless night, I'm not used to sleeping in a single bed, it was Wedding Day. I had a small breakfast and only 2 cups of coffee, didn't want to drink too much as I wasn't sure how I was going to manage toilet breaks in my dress. My mum went off to the hairdressers and I had a relaxing morning watching Friends on TV. Kelly my Chief Bridesmaid came over to do my hair and makeup then helped me into my dress, flowers had arrived and everyone was ready, we had time to have a few photos taken, then the car arrived to take us into Sheffield.

We arrived outside the registry office in Sheffield with about 30 minutes to spare so we had quite a few photos done outside, including one of me with Spiderman and Batman who were collecting for charity. I had to make sure that I didn't have any photos taken with my hubby to be as it is bad luck.

So at 2pm we were ushered into the Town Hall and me and the hubby were called into see the Registrar were she told us what were going to happen. The ceremony was really nice as I was saying my vows I was trying not to look at K not because I was tearful but I knew if I looked at him too much we would both break into fits of giggles, so we only looked at each other for a little while.

After the ceremony we went out into the Peace Gardens to have more photos taken by the fountains and was blessed that the sun had appeared.

More to follow.......

Hen do

It's been a few weeks now since my hen do, I've been really busy I've not had the time to update my blog. The night started off with getting ready then a tram journey to the local shopping centre where I was meeting family and friends in Frankie and Bennys for a meal. My chief bridesmaid had already been to the restaurant earlier that day to make sure they had all the stuff, there were goodie bags for my guests and I had an extra special bag complete with veil tiara, pink fluffy L plate, pink feather boa, shot glasses and a Disney princesses balloon, which by the way is still inflated now.

After the meal I said bye to some of my family whilst the rest of us went into Sheffield city centre to meet up with other friends to start the drinking. We went to lots of bars and pubs and ended up in the Ledmill. I had a great night out and my chief bridesmaid did me proud, and no sweaty stripper in sight thank god!!

So the wedding is only just over a week away, I can't believe it's come round so quick, but thankfully we are just about sorted. The table plan is done, favour boxes are made just have to put the chocolates in them and tie them up, we have been today to get K's nephew his suit, he looks so cute and a proper little bobby dazler. I went to pick up my dress from Trisha the alterations lady, she has done a brill job with my dress and it fits really well, it is now stored at my mums.

My cousin is making my cupcakes as marks and spencer don't make the vanilla and strawberry ones anymore, which I find odd as you would think that they would be one of the most popular flavours. I'm going to be helping her the day before making sure I've got time to have my nails and eyebrows done.

The flowers, balloons and car have been sorted, so everything is nearly ready, what am I going to organise once the day has been and gone??

I'll keep you posted over what happens in the next few days.

A post a month

It's looking like a post a month on my blog lately, but again I have my excuses - it is only 6 weeks till the big wedding day. I am quite looking forward to it now and I'm not too stressed.

I got the call this week from the bridal shop that my dress has arrived, which is exciting so my mum and I went over for a fitting. It fits really nice apart from on the bust where it is too big so I will have to have alterations and my shoes that I bought the other week match really well, and I got my Tiara which is really pretty.

The woman in the shop asked me if I had booked in with "Tricia" I answered no, I don't even know anything about Tricia, the women looked shocked and said that someone should have explained to you that you would have to have alterations done and to book in with Tricia, oh and that there will be a charge. Well nobody told me this back in November. You would have thought that when you are paying a lot for a dress the alterations would be done in house and for no extra cost. Apparently most dress shops do this, it's all a money making affair, I think I'm in the wrong job!!!

Thankfully I gave Tricia a call the next day and I'm booked in on Monday. I had previously booked the day off work because it is the Oscars the night before and last year I forgot to book the day off and I was dead to the world. But having to get to Tricia's for 10 o'clock having already picked my dress up from my mums it is going to make me more tired, as I'm guessing I will only be having a few hours sleep, unless the Oscars gets boring.

I started making the favour boxes at the weekend which are coming along nicely, apart from it took me just over an hour just to make 20 and I've got a further 40 left to make, plus i need to get a few more boxes of chocolates and the ribbon. I'm going tomorrow to confirm the flowers and go to the party shop to see if they have the balloons I want and that they have helium. So everything is coming together.

I'm having my Hen night in Sheffield a week on Saturday and I'm totally at the mercy of my chief bridesmaid, it's a good job I trust her, but I hate not knowing anything. In our office I'm used to knowing everything that is going on, me being quite a nosey person, so when your chief bridesmaid is e-mailing all your friends, I get very paranoid and scared of what they have planned for me. We are going for a meal first at Frankie & Benny's then into town for cocktails and lots of drinking. I did the sensible thing and have my hen night the same weekend as K is having his stag do, but his is in Newcastle. At least when I come home very drunk I will be able to make as much noise as I want and have the double bed all to myself.

Nom Nom

Last night K and I want to Tankersley Manor where we are holding our wedding for a tasting session. I assumed that we would get to taste small bits of our pre-selected menu; we could taste 3 starters, 3 mains and 3 desserts. We had made the decision to have the duo of Melon as starter already, but the wedding planner had said, "Well you might as well taste it". We were undecided on the main course so we chose to taste Chicken wrapped in bacon, Turkey and Lincolnshire Sausage and Mash. Then for dessert we chose Strawberry Cheesecake and Crème Brulee.

I was so sure we would only get small taster bites I keep on saying that I would have a Happy Meal from Maccy D's on the way home, how I was wrong.

Once announcing our arrival at the reception desk we were told to go through to the restaurant area, we were seated and offered drinks, water and a bread roll, which has just come out of the oven and was very yummy, I even had half of K's bread. I love hot bread with loads of butter.

The waiter then brought our choice of starter, the melon. First off it was a full potion, thankfully we were sharing, it was very nice, watermelon and honeydew melon with raspberry coulis and melon sorbet.

I said then to K, it's all right they won't be full potions of the main course, oh yes they were, and they were equally as nice, but after much deliberation, we made the decision to go with the Chicken in bacon with roast potatoes and seasonable veg. I had already made the decision that I wasn't having Sausage and Mash at my wedding but thought what the hell I’m going to taste it anyway, I was quite surprised on how nice the Sausages were, I’m not one for fancy food and sausages with bits in are not my preferred choice but I really enjoyed them. But mash shouldn't be served with cabbage in it unless it is in a fry up, left from Sunday dinner.

So I was pretty full by this point and I had to tell the waiter to give us a few extra minutes before he brought us our desserts. K and I had sort of pre selected our dessert, as for the evening buffet I wanted Chocolate Éclairs but he wanted Lemon Torte, and for the sit down meal I wanted Crème Brulee and he wanted Strawberry Cheesecake, so we came to an agreement that if I could have Chocolate Éclairs then he could have the Strawberry Cheesecake, but we would taste both the cheesecake and brulee.

They didn't have the Vanilla Crème Brulee as advertised on the menu but a Baileys Crème Brulee, well I wasn’t sure where the Baileys were in the dessert but it tasted lovely all the same, but the Strawberry Cheesecake blew it out of the water, put it this way I only had 2 small mouthfuls as K had claimed it.

So after coffee's we were pretty full, fit to burst and content, having both really enjoyed our free evening out. No need for a Happy Meal. I am now satisfied with our choices and I am looking forward to the food at our wedding. I will just have to have a bib so I don’t get gravy down my lovely dress.

January snow

I know it's the last day of January and that I've not really stuck to my new year resolution of keeping my blog updated, but in my defence January has been a very busy month and it's flown by in a bit of a blur. It seems like Christmas was ages ago.

The whole of the UK was covered in the white stuff, yes SNOW!! and we had loads. I know the UK is notorious for lack of preparation and prediction, but the weathermen said snow is coming and it did, was we prepared? NO - there was a salt shortage and as a country we were running short on grit. But that's ok we can all get stuck or go sledging.

I quite like snow, but I only like it when it has been undisturbed and it makes the trees look like a fairy tale. What I don't like is when it is mucky and makes everything look dirty, that's not a nice fairy tale scene. On the day that the world stopped, (well it seemed like it at the time) I managed to get into work but as more and more snow fell the buses stopped running and people started to try and make it home, where was I? I was still at work. You see I work for a University and the only time they shut is never. I wouldn't mind but the students hadn't started back yet. I have to give them some credit they did say we could go home at 2:30pm which was nice of them. Thankfully the Supertram was still running (it runs in all weather, apart from flooding and even then it tries) so I could get home.

So wedding preparations are going well, I bought a 5 tier cupcake stand which is acrylic, and it turns out we don't have to make too many evening reception invites now, as I can put one up in the office and send out an e-mail and get them to reply on the website. It's amazing how many things we now can do with the capabilities of e-mail and the Internet, but it does take away a little of the traditionalism. Cupcakes need to be ordered in March and flowers are in hand, I'm having Cream/Ivory Gerberas and Roses with diamonties in the bouquet to match my dress. I had one florist quote but need another few in the town where my mum lives rather than where I live. I've still got to sort out my bridesmaids which hopefully I'll get chance to do soon. Well I'm going to have to make myself get it sorted as it's only about 11 weeks to the wedding and it's getting a bit scary now.

We are going for a tasting in a couple of weeks to decide on what we are having for the wedding breakfast, I think we have decided on the starter and main but the dessert is the hard part they have so many nice choices.

I'll let you know what we choose.