Autumn

So 90's

Am off sick today with a...shall I say... upset stomach. No, let me rephrase that to a very upset stomach. I must say though that an indoor water closet must be the best invention ever! It must have been one of the very important inventions that allowed us to "evolve" further. No more running outside in freezing conditions, waiting your turn to sit in a smelly outdoor building. On the other hand, I bet they were happier when it was cold rather than a hot summer's day....

Anyway, being at home during the day is an opportunity to see what is on the telly during daytime. I like Buffy so that's a bonus, but imagine my surprise when the "next" program was announced ... "Theeeee Glaaaadiatoooooors!" Wtf? I thought that was something for the 90's and 90's only. And imagine my expression when I realised that it was not old re-runs but newly filmed programs!! Strange, very strange indeed. Whoever comes up the names of the Gladiators should be shot. I mean, Battleaxe! Battleaxe!! For a girl? Fair enough, she is as butch as ?? - can't think of anything equally butch but believe me, Mike Tyson would run shrieking the other way if ever he met this Battleaxe and I may not know Tyson personally but he does seem to be a bit of a twat and crazy enough to find an encounter like that "exciting".

What's next? A re-make of Beverly Hills 90210? Oh wait...right, they're doing that. If only they'd bring Dallas or something similarly classy back (Falcon Crest, Dynasty - take your pick!) but nooooo, we're stuck with some seriously crap entertainment. Imagine if they decided to do a Melrose Place -2o years later! Marcia Cross (she was in M.P, right?) would actually look a lot younger now than way back when. And what about all the so called "hunks"? Hmmm - would we find them as good looking now as we did then? I'm sorry but I don't think so. There was a distict look about the 90's and to be fair, it really did not do anyone any favours, least of all me...

Anyway, enough ranting about the 90's- gotta get back to the Gladiators. If only I could remember where I'd put that foam-finger.

Nature Cracks Me Up

If anyone went to the Botanical Gardens today and heard a proper "belly laugh" - chances are that it was me. I was minding my own business when all of a sudden I saw something that made me burst out laughing and had me giggle for a good 30 minutes. Isn't nature awesome?

Or perhaps you had to be there...

Bitten by Love or a Squirrel

While Boyfriend was out earning money last weekend, I brought my camera to the Botanical Gardens to see if I could figure out some of all the features on it. I was there for ages and luckily I'd decided to wear my sailing-jacket (not that I sail but you'll never know). There are lots of squirrels and they're not particular shy. You may remember that last year when I was sunbathing in the Gardens I was slightly worried about one coming up and bite my toes....

Anyway, squirrels are quick little creatures and are not particular obedient to the command "stay!" but I tried my best and on my way out of the Gardens I ran into another little fella' and he was a little bit more mellow than the others. I made little "kissing" sounds to get his attention and all of a sudden he'd climbed halfway up my left leg. "eeehhh....no no no! get down!" and of course I didn't want to make any hasty movements that might have caused him to dig in with his claws or worse - his teeth. But after a little bit of shaking he got the message and scuttered off.

Next time I'll bring some nuts to throw on the ground and I will not make any "kissing" noises. Clearly he was up for some cuddles and had it been a squirrel that I knew, who knows but I'm not the kind of girl who will let just anyone hump my leg or any other body part.

Here's Mr Cuddly Squirrel

Feel The Burn

Boyfriend and I have signed up for 12 months at Ponds Forge's Fitness Unlimited. We signed up for 12 months to make sure a 3 month contract wouldn't just stay a "3 month contract". This is something we decided to sign up for in October, after summer and after our holiday, and we did! The fact that I'd just been forced to weigh myself at the doctors' 30 minutes before signing on the dotted line had nothing whatsoever to do with it. Nothing at all. But I will say this - I was close to throwing myself on the floor clutching the nurse's legs, refusing to let go until she'd get me a prescription for a gastric bypass/mega strong diet pills. And as if she knew what was about to happen she quickly said -"you've lost 2 kg since last time". Yeay! That makes me soooo happy! I replied - not.

So, I went to SheRunsHeRuns and got on the treadmill and had my running style analysed and got a suitable pair of trainers. They're not only comfy but also pretty which will help. But something that really cheered me up was that on that I felt good on that treadmill, I could sense a tiny bit of the joy I used to feel when I was younger and went for regular runs. It's hidden deep inside me below a thick layer of fat but if I can stick to it and not give up when I ache all over and when I'd rather stay at home snuggled up under a blanket with a good book or a film, then I know I'll be proud of myself and not feel like I do now.

+ Boyfriend promised to come with me to yoga and spinning classes...

Springbokkie

I don't know why but for some reason I wouldn't mind one of these...

... or 10 in a row

3cl Amarula Cream
3cl peppermint liqueur

Boyfriend vs Mr Cicada

I'll write about Tuscany in any order I like and I'll start with our very last night at the hotel. So gather ye around and I'll tell you how I almost peed my pants.

Boyfriend and I had finished packing - me swearing quite a bit as I had to get all my new purchases - Oh my new shoes! My new shoes! - to fit in my suitcase along with all the "old" stuff. Once done we went to bed, Boyfriend thought about something I probably don't want to know and I was thinking of my new shoes and jumpers... God, they're nice.

Anyway. All of a sudden there was this really, really loud noise that sounded exactly like the Cicada that apparently lived on the balcony and made it impossible to have the door open at night. But. This time the sound was soooo much louder - shrilling. At first I wanted to ignore it but after 2 more minutes I realised it'd drive me crazy if we didn't find out what it was. So up I got.

The Bathroom! The shrilling, loud volume made me suspect that it came from our bathroom. I checked it. Nothing there. Sound stopped. I got into bed. Sound started. I got up, again, went into the bathroom and sure enough the sound was coming from in there but where?! I called for Boyfriend as I wanted to fix whatever the hell it was as I now also needed the loo...desperately.

Boyfriend told me to move the bin and - ta ta taaaam - there it was. A fuggin' Cicada. Huge! 2 inches long and just ... big. Resourceful as always I decided that we could get it out by placing a plastic cup over it and slide a piece of paper underneath it. When I held the cup I started thinking of my Cicada knowledge. Not a lot of knowledge there and it dawned on me that they might be able to fly!

What if this huge, noisy thing would fly at me when I got close to it with the plastic cup? In my state of needing the loo so badly?! I knew I'd freak and probably wet myself right there and then. Not a very appealing thing to do right in from of your Boyfriend. What to do?

I knew exactly what to do. I handed the cup over to Boyfriend. I mean, that's the reason we have boyfriends, right? Anyway, Boyfriend scooped the darned thing and proceeded to move across the room towards the balcony [to drop it at the neighbours balcony]. He stepped out and shot back in again hissing " the neighbours are out there, they just saw me in my boxers!"

As I already was in a giddy, pee-needy state, this was almost too much and I had to RUN to the bathroom cross-legged and I managed to get there just in time... (must remember to do more pelvic floor exercises!) I was knackered after all the commotion and as I was just about to fall asleep Boyfriend whispered; "I was scared it'd fly at me and I'd shriek like a girl and wet myself in front of you..."

Whadd'ya know? here's the big monster...