Barking Mad

I completed my latest driving challenge yesterday with a trip out to Barking to see my Great Aunt for lunch, what I didn’t realise was that the big Norwich City game was on at Wembley so it was pretty busy out and there was a sea of yellow  and green when I stopped at the service station (looks a bit like a Where’s Wally book doesn’t it?). For once in my life the line for the men’s toilet was longer than the women’s.  I did however like how all the fans that weren’t going to the game lined up on the bridges over the roads to wave and cheers the fans driving with flags and banners and scarves.

When I got to my Aunt’s I had a nice surprise when my Uncle and my Mum’s Cousin Elaine were coming to dinner so that was lovely because I don’t have a big family and we’re all spread out so we don’t get to see each other often. Also because we had dinner a bit later than I anticipated I drove in the dark for the first time and everything went quite well I think? I start my last placement this week so I’m enjoying a few much appreciated days off before the grind starts of work and placement and in the mean time will be working out to burn a CD to play in my car (it can’t be that hard can it?).

Day Off Errands

I had a day off yesterday so I decided to take a trip into the city, I got a Groupon voucher for a pedicure at Le-La Beautique. I love browsing my Groupon App but I haven’t actually bought anything on there before. It was so easy to do. I got gold to match little goldie my car. Please excuse my stubby baby toes.

I have really ticklish feet but luckily the beautician was a pro at not tickling, also this weekend she might be doing Snoop Dogg’s nails (did you know he wore false nails??). I also took a trip to Aleks the Jewellers, they put a new stone in an old ring I had a while back and cleaned it up lovely. I recently acquired 3 rings that were my grandmothers and have been meaning to take them in.

As you can see this one needs a good clean up and a bit of a reshape!

    

Hopefully when I collect it it’ll look good as new and I can wear it. Today I worked a half day (lushhh) and took goldie to get cleaned, I would do it myself but I don’t have a driveway or a hose so… Just pay someone else, also the nice men at Sainsburys fixed my back windscreen wiper where it had seized up (although it took 3 of them to do it!) how sweet is that? I do love Sainsburys and ours is HUGE. It may cost a little more sometimes but it isn’t a lot more, it’s near my house and I’ve noticed there are a lot less screaming children in the aisles which can only be a good thing.

Road Trip To Great Yarmouth

I took the little car out for a spin to Gorleston and Great Yarmouth yesterday (I’m slowly building up to drive to London to visit my Great Aunt!). I had to drop my background check at the hospital.

Then I took a little wander to the beach and had some Earl Grey tea from my flask and watched all the doggies go on their walks.

So that was nice but then I had to stop by the bank so I drove into Yarmouth and I got some fish and chips and had a wander. I had to get scampi though because I’m not grown up enough to eat fish that has the bones or scales on yet… you guys, I don’t want to touch a bone or scales with my mouth?! I don’t get why you do?? That’s just gross.

The seasons just starting out in Yarmouth so the shops were all open but not busy, I do love browsing tat.

Also, just look who I found! Did you know the Norwich Puppet Man moved to Yarmouth?? He was here jamming out. Only at one point his tape machine got stuck and he had to give it a whack.

And this sand sculpture was right outside the bank – genuinely thought it was a dog for a good 2 seconds before I did a double take. I wish I was more artistic, I love looking at stuff like that.

           

Anyways I made it back home safe after my jolly little jaunt out and Mr Barclay cat was pleased cuz he got some time to play with his birthday present (he was 7 the other day) a little ball that dispenses treats when you bat it around.

What a good little chap.

Monument Valley

Every now and then there’s an app that I absolutely fall in love with, and so readers, welcome to Monument Valley.

It’s for the iPhone (although I’m not sure if it’s available on Anderoid) and it was on sale so it cost me 79p.

It’s all about helping a princess through crazy mazes so she can eventually get her crown and she collects crazy jewels on the way and I… didn’t really pay attention to the story line. Look how pretty it is!

And challenging (OK maybe not for you but for me I definitely got stuck a few times!).

Just look at the beautiful mazes would you?

It’s so effing artistic I can’t even handle it.

In no time at all you’ll have played out all the levels and you’ll be wishing for more… which you can find in the expansion pack for more money.

Just get it ok? You’ll love it if you even have half a brain cell, it’s beautifully designed and makes you feel all accomplished when you figure stuff out.

Joy’s BBQ & A Walk In The Woods

 Joy had a BBQ last night, by which I mean two mini BBQs, and my sausages would just not cook. They’re bottom left in the photo, they were the first things on and the last things off! Very unjust. Also, in case you’re wondering, the BBQs are set on top of professional barbecuing roof tiles we found in Joy’s garden.

But it was still a fun night with so much food and loads of animals, Joy’s house is like a mini farm. I petted a chicken! And just look at this little guy Harry. He had a good evening of frisbee throwing, sausage eating and petting.

And we played charades… well I suppose more articulate but with no board.

And then we watched some of the election, which Nancy was stressed by because her beloved labour lost (viva the conservatives, w00t!). So that was niiiiice, then today I took the next of my driving missions to take a stroll down Marriott’s Way.

I don’t think I mentioned about my driving missions but I don’t actually need to drive at the moment but I definitely need practice so I’ve been setting myself little missions like getting petrol and going to the supermarket. Today was country roads and using the sat nav. I think it went well, only one person swore at me.

      

Marriott’s Way is so beautiful, I saw 33 animals out today (yesssss I counted). I walked Lenwade to Whitwell and back which was 5 miles. You guys, Whitwell Station was weird, they’re obviously renovating it…

But when I went inside to investigate slash have an ice cream, the old station cafe bit was full up with retired people dressed like they’d been to Downton Abbey (why do they always want to pretend to be the rich people?? No one ever wants to dress up as the poor people that their relatives most likely were). I decided I wouldn’t stay, also would hate to ruin the ambiance with my polka dot wellies.

      

So I had a pretty good night/day, and my lovely Great Aunt (my only Aunt left now!) rang to say she was sending a cheque to put towards my car funds so that was really kind of her and made the day extra good. Tomorrow I’m off to London (not to buy a Heat magazine).

I Made It Home!

You will all be pleased to know that I made it home with my new little car unscathed. Phew.

I do not like driving… it’s stressful… it makes my hands sweat with anxiety…but I’m pleased with my new car. Also I learnt I am not good with directions. I may have lived in Norwich for 12 years but I know how to navigate as a pedestrian, all the no right turns and one way stuff?? I wimped out and bought a satnav. It will be on at all times now for the foreseeable future because I cannot be trusted with directions!

So yeah now I’m parked up and I think I’m going to wait until its dark so I can practice parking in an empty car park near by because I do not remember any of that stuff. I don’t feel bad though because the car has a few dints in it, and one duct tape repaired corner, see exhibit C below.

Dude, Where’s My Car?

Sooo the other day I was doing a bank shift at the hospital and I was talking to another girl that works there, Kelly, about how I was working loads of shifts lately to save up for my non-existent car. And she asked what kind of car I wanted, I said just a little old lady car, something small like a Nissan Micra. And she said well have you seen there’s one advertised on the staff intranet?

Umm… whaaaattttt? I have been trawling through the intranet ads for aaaaages! I have been obsessively checking every shift! Then suddenly it creeps up on me… it’s gotta be fate right? So I call, it’s still available… and it’s way cheaper than the ones advertised by dealers…

I cajoled my lovely friend Sarah into coming to look at it with me as I know eff all about cars and assume my father is off hunting for his 5th wife (it’s only a matter of time, trust) and so will be unlikely to be around to carry out his fatherly duty of car buying. And bonus – Sarah brings along her dear boyfriend Matt and they were both very helpful in snooping round the car. Have you ever seen that hashtag #firstworldproblems? I have #lesbianproblems when car buying and have to borrow a man. Now I’m not saying there aren’t lesbians who are car buffs, but I am not one of them. You guys, it’s gold. A gold car… like a pimp.

So, long story short, I’ve bought it and I pick it up tomorrow afternoon… Eeeeeee, exciting. I just spent ages making sure it’s taxed and insured (which cost more than the actual car… depressing) and got breakdown cover and all that excitement. Only now I have to drive it home alone, I haven’t driven since I passed my test 2 years ago. Sarah did offer to come but think it’d probably be worse as I would be nervous having someone watch me. If I die please make sure someone feeds my cat, also I want to be cremated not buried.