The · soap · opera · of · my · life

I thought I'd do a bit of catching up and am going to start with my week off work. Had a really super time. I got so much done and going back to the office today has really made me appreciate how nice and relaxing it was to have a break.

Starting off all that way back in time with Saturday, we had a day at the sea side :o) I'm not a big one for the beach - sand just generally pisses me off, but we managed to have a great time, in that I laid on a blanket and slept for 2 hours whilst the kids went in the sea. We had chips for tea, followed by £1 each in the arcades ( I really must watch my generosity ;oP), a yummy ice cream - sugar cones rule supreme - finishing with another £1 in the arcades. I know, mad aren't I?! Can you believe DS & DD actually won more statistically with £2 than they did on £10 at Easter on holiday.


 Sunday - we went to the University Botanical Gardens in Cambridge, cos it was cheap. We had a picnic and then once again, I slept on a blanket and DD & DS ran about and generally terrorised everyone. At one point, they were across a lawn by a fountain and I could see them balancing on the ledge round a fountain. Next thing I know I think I can see them in the fountain, and I can see several people sitting on benches round the fountain and can just imagine them thinking what little yobs, I wonder who's irresponsibly in charge of them? but as I have all the bags and shoes, I cannot run across and yell so I make motions not dissimilar to Ricky Gervais' infamous dance, signalling them to get out and come here. When they finally do, I tell them off, but as I'm doing so I see they have money in their hands. Where did you get that from? I ask. Of course the little tinkers have picked it out of the fountain!! Cue me dying a thousand deaths of embarrassment.


The rest of the week, we spent: going to the dentists (where I wimped out of having a scale and polish - honestly!), went to see the Simpsons Movie, went swimming, had a major (just call me Vicky B) clean of the house, and went to buy the school uniform - just a quick £110 then. DS has size 4 shoes - agghh he's only 9!

Thus ends part 1, tune in to see me at V in part 2!

Skippy xx

So the V festival in Chelmsford. Weather forecast in the week leading up to it hadn't looked too bad considering the summer we'd had. Oh what a gullible soul.
I went with my two superstar friends Maz & Kath, Maz no longer being the festival virgin she was last year and Kath a veteran of Glastonbury. We set off early to get there at 12 noon when the camp site opened to nab a good spot. Or at least that was the plan. We queued in the car for an hour and a half and by the time we got in, it was already packed. We headed off the beaten track and ended up with a pretty good spot, up against a fence (leaving the obligatory 3 meters for fire safety as measured with an official man whose stick was really getting him above himself). Perfect, away from the path and everyone walking past we thought. What we hadn't banked on was the steady stream of men (excuse the pun) shamelessly peeing up against said barrier blatantly a few feet from us sat outside our tents because they couldn't be arsed to queue for the loos.
Talking of queues I have never spent so much time standing in line [with Maz, whose new hobby is complaining about queuing] in my life. 2 hours to get a wrist band so we could get back to the car to get the rest of out stuff once our tents were pitched. - that's a new one. This was valuable time of my life which I could've spent drinking wine. 
I also managed to get a little artyness done, just background watercolours, but I was very happy with them.
We had a little luck upon entering the arena on Saturday. We were camped near the [Channel] 4music stage which is the 2nd stage. So the first thing we do after using the loos, as they haven't been used as much inside the gates, is have a browse round the stalls then get something to eat. The first people on stage are the winners of a new band competition. Kath asked me who was on after them and I saw it was someone I'd never heard of and wondered why so many people were cheering them coming on. Then I think, why are they playing Foo Fighters songs, can they not do their own material? Then I look at the big screens and think, their drummer even looks like the Foo Fighters drummer. THEN it dawns on me that it IS the Foo Fighters. They were playing a short set as Amy Winehouse had pulled out, and everyone else was bumped up the bill. So we sat and ate our lunch and listened to them, sitting really close. Amazing!!!!!!
So, here is a list of bands I saw:-
Foo Fighters * Editors * Paolo Nutini * Kanye West * Pink * Snow Patrol * Foo Fighters * Goo Goo Dolls * James Morrison * Cherry Ghost * KT Tunstall * The Fratellis* Mika * Lily Allen * Manic Street Preachers * The Killers * Basement Jaxx*
Now, I don't think that's bad for £120 considering it costs £25 to go and see a band these days.
And yes, it did rain. Overnight we had quite a bit of rain. It hammered it down on both mornings before we went out into the arena. Watching the Foo Fighters, you could see the mist of drizzle in the light show, but it was really rather pretty. Then the worst bit we got caught in was for the Killers. I had by hood pulled tight round my face and I had water dripping off my nose very attractively, but I just took the mindset that it was only water and I was gonna bloody enjoy myself as when was I likely to see the Killers live again?! It was particularly muddy on Sunday, but I had my superbly sexy waterproof trousers to protect me, so I was well away ;o)

Oh dear, now I am in my time honoured post festival slump! but good news - today I managed to buy tickets for next year. Only 360 days to go then...
Skippy xx