For MY Phin (well... okay.. I do share her with Fin but....)

Today is a special day for a very special gal and I hope that everyone will join me in wishing Phin

So grab a drink

Some cake

and now!! some background:

How I Met Phin:

I had seen Phin's comments in Joey's and Fin's blogs and had thought "she sounds intriguing... kind scary... but intriguing" but I had never plucked up courage to make contact... Then Joey's Serial had me as Fin's sister and we were staying at Phin's (that's how I remember it anyway )... this led to lots of silly comments between Fin and I (and the start of another great friendship ). Through Fin's blogs and Phin's comments in them I became aware of Phin's sense of humour but still I was a lil scared about speaking directly to her (silly!! I know that now!!) but it took a blog by Nhubi about books of all things and the formation of the BAA to get out friendship off the ground. I suggested that she read To Kill a Mockingbird and Phin took up the challenge - this led to pm's, msn convos and here we are ....

Why Phin Means So Much To Me:

Well.. I wasn't going to put this section in after finding out in my birthday blog that she was "against" me at the start... I mean... WTF!! ... I was trying to work out how long we have known each other and time wise its actually not that long (only 9 months!!) and I cant imagine my life without her now!! I can't believe how much we have in common. We have had similar life experiences and have discovered that our outlook on life (and now re-incarnation!!) is pretty much the same, we have many shared views and opinions on a wide range of subjects and virtually the same sense of humour. We have spent hours having the best convos about life, love, music, men, women, TV (of course), books and absolutely nothing at all. Its funny how long those convos about nothing go on for and it's always best to have a glass of something next to you. I think what I love (and I do mean love ) is that she is always there for me, never judgemental, always supportive, she makes me think, she never minds my inane questions or comments, she makes me laugh and roll my eyes when she goes off on a DW or TW train of thought!! But most of all... I love her because she is Phin - my friend

Why Phin Is Strange To Me:

Now!! We all know about Phin's lil obsessions but I'm gonna mention a few here...

3 Days Grace - I had never heard of this band before Phin seduced me with this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO8kSFFBFQ4

but ya know what?? I get it... I totally do... so watch the vid and enjoy... go look 'em up on You Tube... u won't be sorry

John Barrowman - okay... I was totally WTF about this one... see I remember JB from waaaay back when (Live and Kicking) and was MEH about him but due to Phin's relentlessly subtle (NOT!! ) brainwashing technique about ending every blog with him and talking him up big ****I decided to go check out some interviews with him... U know what?? I get it... I totally do (have I been here before? .. .he's smart, funny, risqué and very handsome... so GO Phin... woohoooo another JB fan over here

Torchwood - of course it stars none other than the above but I had never bothered watching it... again Phin tried to brainwash me ... I resisted for a while but what can I say.. she broke me!!! I downloaded the whole of the 2nd series... watched the first one... OOOHHHH James Marsters .. but then I rebelled and didn't watch any more of it.. but I still have it and I'll go back to it I think...

Doctor Who - errrmmm... what can I say... I don't get it!!! I just don't!! I am beginning to understand the splendour of David Tennent (again with the brainwashing but not only by Phin but also Fin too) but it still leaves me cold... Sorry DW fans... maybe one day....

Men - She doesn't get why Dave Grohl and Adam Baldwin are hot!!!! - *shakes head*... now granted .. there may be a few of you strange women out there that don't get it either.. but then.. u are not 1/3 of me so that's okay (mind u.. I don't think Fin gets Dave either but she does get Adam!!)

Gift (s) for Phin:

I posted it last week and I hope that u like it... or should I say them... they are a bit naff but... but here are some virtual pressies for ya hunni....

Guests of Honour

kinda casual here but also he's gonna get a lil dressed up later:

(well.. Jon is .. in spirit anyways)

(told ya : )

Music from these guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoSTEMmDDMM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdu0-SX1EPc&feature=user

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0XknwXqLDo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tdF6ziim7E&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-QpaFBD6nE&feature=related

And an extra special gift just for you:

Just a wee blog to say that im back at work and *sigh.. my desk really does look like that... but i've come back to quite a few messages from the families and volunteers that I work with expressing their concern so that has been really sweet

Well.. the saga is still continuing with the other party still refusing to take any responsibility for her part in the incident. We had word from her insurance company to say that they are going to hold us liable but it also confirmed at the bottom of the letter that she was driving one of her father's company cars which is insured (under fleet cars) and that it has a £500 excess... so now we know why she (and her father) dont want to admit any liability. I rang my insurance company to let them know and they said that it has gone to their split claims dept... so now we wait... We have a hire car but Big J is driving that... and i've got our lil 2nd car. I havent been out much in it.. i took Lil J to his Out Of School Club 3 times last week and this morning im back at work but im at my desk all day... i had quite a few visits planned today but my boss just cancelled em saying that I should just take it easy for a couple of days (so here I am taking it easy by blogging )...

Being off this week has allowed me to do some serious TV watching.... The day after the crash Lil J and I sat and watched the last 3 Harry Potter films.. and this has really whetted my appetite for the next film which I think is due for release this November....

I have also finished watching Dark Angel (I know.. im a latecomer to this show too) and I have to say that I enjoyed it... Jessica Alba was pretty good (once she hit her stride), Michael Weatherly is a new discovery... but my fave person (after Joshua) was Ben/Alec played by some guy called Jensen Ackles...

This means now that I can start watching Veronica Mars (again a latecomer to this show)... Ive heard so many good things about this show that I am really looking forward to it and it has one of my fave actors in it

Jason Dohring

Again all this time off has allowed me to keep upto date with my study. Im totally upto date and will be a little ahead by the time the next workshop comes around... I cant believe that I only have 2 assignments left for this year... my next course starts in October so theres not much of a break but....

I also listened to Celia Imrie reading Terry Pratchett's Equal Rites...

Its normally Tony Robinson that I listen to for Pratchett but I have to say.. she is a great a narrator as she is an actress... I like the book anyway but she made it come alive and that's no mean feet... if you have never tried Terry then give him a go... he's a great writer, funny and incisive... and no stranger to some peoples dreams i hear!! LOL...

I dont really have anything else to add so I just wanted to say

for all your concern, best wishes and advice last week... u guys truly are the best "internet buddies" anyone could have

I am not a happy bunny this week!! in fact im in a foul mood!!

I was on my way to work (normally an uneventful journey) on Tuesday morning. I'd just turned onto the main road and was going through a 30mph zone (im pretty good.. i dont tend to speed down this bit cos there's a school.. so....) when

This mini comes out from a junction to my right and slams right into my drivers side and hit me with so much force that my car ended up facing the other way.

So... being okay... i get out of the car and thankfully the other girl driving is okay... so we make our phone calls... Big J sets off to come get me and her parents turn up... her mum takes her home and her father and I exchange the necessary details. Big J called our friend (he has a break down service) and the car is undriveable and we head off to the hospital... I bumped my head really hard on the metal strut between the windscreen and the drivers window!!

So after 3 hours we leave the hospital

and head home. I report the incident to my insurers who say to leave it to them. Big J rings my work who (are great btw) and tell me they dont wanna see me this week!! I have a raging headache (the hospital gave me mega drugs ) and so I go to bed.. Sleep like a log... had a lazy day yesterday and then today... I get a phone call from my insurers saying that the other driver is alleging that I'm at fault!!

How can this be??? Im driving along the main road... just minding my own business!! My insurers tell me not to worry bout it.. they just are keeping me informed and it wont be an issue.

So im just about calmed down when I get a phone call from her dad telling me that she doesnt want to drive again and its all my fault!!! Again, relatively calmly, i tell him that she was at fault ... she pulled into my lane and hit me... but then he says that they are gonna take me all the way... so i tell him... "Bring it On" and that if he contacts me again Im gonna report him to the police. So by now im....

I havent told Big J yet cos I know he's gonna go ballistic and want to ring the girls father!! *sigh...

I am so angry!!!

and this is on top of the near fatal crash we had in January this year (again not our fault - an articulated lorry hit us from behind)... I just dont wanna get behind the wheel again....

I just wanted to vent and now I feel

Work Life:

What can I say?? I think that this is something that Fin and I have in common at the moment. One of my colleagues is being a difficult, lazy and unprofessional... whats the word? *thinks for a while*... oh yeah... cow!! She is really two-faced and promising things to people and then not delivering... as we shared a couple of "clients" this has made it really difficult.. I'm left picking up the pieces... arrrggghhh!! I have spent most of the week delivering training, taking part in training and while I know it will come in useful (well... probably) I just feel:

Study Life:

My last assignment proved to be really difficult... I had to choose 2 personal experiences that have enabled me to understand better the service users I work with and relate them back to the Social Work theories of Biography and Community and write 5,000 words on this subject. I just didnt know where to start, I wrote, threw away, re-wrote, threw that away etc.. and after 3 weeks of procrastinating I finally rang my tutor and asked for an extension (my first in 3 years of study) which was granted, tried again and submitted it 1min before the extension deadline!!! I got my mark back on my birthday and got 75% and my tutor wrote in my comments that I got the highest mark in my group by far!!! What a great birthday pressie!! Lil J was calliing me this all weekend:

I was sooooo pleased.. I can't describe how much... LOL...

Home Life:

The big news I guess was my birthday. I had a great day.... Big J and Lil J gave me breakfast in bed and a lazy morning, we went for a run along the coast and took in a couple of walks:

The first pic is of the harbour at Crail - its so pretty there and is one of my favourite places - and the others are of St. Andrews. The weather was "fresh" to say the least but it did clear all the cobwebs away.

Then we went to the cinema and saw:

We enjoyed it... well.. not the ant part but.... and then we went to the local mexican restaurant and had loads of food and tequila:

We got home and then some friends dropped round and we had a fabby time!! Have you any idea how much more fun the Wii is when you are all totally smashed?? LOL...

But do you know who/what made my birthday really special? You guys!!! I had a visit from the postie on my birthday morning with a:

and it was from Phin!!! Awwwww hunni... u couldnt have timed it better... LOL... im not gonna divulge what was inside cos its between us but I loved all of them... and your card rocked

Phin: this is for you.. i hope that it makes sense!!! Merci beaucoup. Il signifie tellement que vous avez pris le temps de penser à chaque point et leur faire moi à temps pour ma journée. Comme vous je suis surpris (et plus joyed) à notre amitié. J'ai vraiment pas pu vivre sans vous non plus et j'estime béni et honoré de vous connaître. Vous êtes trop loin mais un jour... Vous êtes très spécial pour moi et je trésor notre amitié chaque jour même si nous n'avons pas été capable de parler à chaque autre beaucoup dernièrement et j'ai aimé votre dernière blog et je suis si heureux que vous avez eu un grand moment!! Ne pas attendre encore 18 ans avant votre prochaine concert!!

Also that day I got a telephone call from one of my favouritest people ever!!! I was sitting here talking to Pix when:

and guess who it was?? It was PIX herself!!! OMG!! i was sooo nervous talking to her... I probably just didnt make any sense at all!! LOL... but she was sooo sweet (well I knew that already ) and we had a fun conversation about all sorts of things and she even spoke to Lil J!! (sorry hunni but he so wanted to hear your voice). All too soon her battery on her mobile ran out and she was gone!!! But what a treat....I was smiling like a loonie all day

Then logging on the next day and seeing the bloggys from Phyn, Pix, Fin, Twin (Puma Cat), Jon (vendbien) and everyone's comments (especially Mark's lil pm) and well wishes and today Joey (noahcrash) has made this year so special so....

Conspiracy - The Return:

I havent had this for a while but while I was looking for the pics for this blog these kept coming up:

You DW and DT fans have to got stop trying to lure me over to the dark side... i've told you guys once.. I'm not for turning!! LOL... u are an insistent bunch tho!!!

Music News:

I got Darren Hayes' entire back catalogue for my birthday so I have been listening to this constantly (are you suprised Jon??) and here's two of my fave tracks... if you don't know him go check him out.. he has the most amazing voice!!!

Affirmation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpvwxK7F2BI

Insatiable: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiXWoWtLex4

So, once again, thanx to everyone for making my birthday so great... U guys rock

Much Love xxxx

oh and Twin: