The King of Douchebagestan.

The King of Douchebagestan. So the kids I teach performed on Saturday. They were truly amazing! I was so proud! The dances went like a dream, as did the two songs. They looked really confident and they were enjoying it, which is the main thing at the end of the day. However, one man, let’s call him the king of Douchebagestan, decided to mess with the wrong woman. As they were performing their last number, a big choir group were walking past the stage to get back stage ahead of their performance (They were on after us) Not only was it distracting having a big group of singers sneaking past the stage as the kids were singing – but the King of Douchebagestan tought it would be a good idea to shout – Yes shout – instructions to one of his choir members right next to me. Just off stage. Yes. That’s right. Right next to the stage where my 6 -13 year old children were performing. He was obviously trying to shout over their lovely singing. After a little while I turned around and asked them to be quiet. The stage manager and one of his performers (who were also involved in the conversation), said sorry straight away whereas the King of Douchebagestan simply says: “Eeer. It’s not like the audience is going to hear me. I’m standing right to the speaker.” Erm. Exactly. You’re standing next to the speaker – just off stage – shouting. I was actually stunned and slowly turned around, thinking that I didn’t want to create a scene in the middle of the kids’ performance. After they had performed and the kids were safely out of earshot I could see the King of Douchebagestan walking backstage. I was already explaining to Brooks what had happened. I was still fuming and so I approached him. He clearly needed a lesson in stage craft/professional attitude/general lesson on how one should behave in life towards other human beings (And a make-over, the man was over 60 and was wearing a brown leather jacket! Anyway, that’s beside the point). Again he huffs: It’s not like the audience would hear me! At this point, he’s only a few inches away from me. I’m in no way backing off, I felt like I was protecting my children. . I say that he is rude. What he did is disrespectful. The kids could hear him. We were still performing; he had no right to start shouting in the middle of our performance. Again the King of Douchebagestan laughs and says: I think you got your knickers in a bit of a twist. I can’t express my feelings at this remark. It’s so unbelievable rude, sexist, belittling and unprofessional. At this point he was tad too menacing so luckily B was there to push him away saying: okay, that’s enough from you. You’re sexist and rude, you need to go now!! The man laughs and walks away. Soon after one of the stage managers approach me to ask what had happened. I tell her the whole story and she says that he’s been rude and just terrible to all stage staff and that they would not be rebooking them next year. Karma King of Douchebagestan.

Busy busy busy

We got back from Sweden late last night. K and R came to pick us up which was lovely of them. Jackson was so happy to see Granny and Gramps!

The flight went really well part from Jackson fell as we were boarding and hit his head really badly and consequently vomited everywhere! Poor little man!
He was okay though and the flight over was pretty un eventful. It just amazes me how good he is with flying. He just settles in straight away and knows the drill. He never cries or makes a fuss. Just brilliant. Jackson is pretty good at this flying malarkey as well.

Anyway, got back and unpacked somewhat and then we had Jackson's birthday party today at Parents Paradise. It was fantastic and Jackson (and indeed B and I) had a brilliant time! They were very good actually - we got our own "party room" with food, drinks, ice cream and unlimited play. I think all of Jackson's little friends enjoyed themselves too.
(Parents Paradise is a big indoor soft play area - well worth a visit!)
http://www.parentsparadise.eu/

At the moment I should be packing for Spain but I'm sooooooooo tired... Need to get myself motivated. I'm looking forward to going but I'm not looking forward to not seeing my boys for five days!
I'm going to Madrid with work and even though I'm sure it'll be amazing I know it'll be full on with company visits and lectures. I'm very lucky to get to travel with work so shouldn't complain!

Sweden was great. Very busy and stressful, didn't have time to see anyone part from Carin, but it was productive and we got loads done for the wedding. May have to come back in May again. Will have a look on Ryanairs website to see what flights are at the moment.
Basically we're trying to sort stuff on the island to make it more habitable. The old fishing huts are quaint, but are not particularly user friendly at the moment!
It will be awesome though I think.

Have been busy on eBay buying tons of trinkets and whatnots for the wedding... It's exciting times, I can sort of see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Dum, dum di dum...

New Year

We've now been engaged for a whole year - exciting!

I honestly cannot wait to get married. It feels more real now and things are falling into place. Everyone's getting involved in the planning and things are being booked and paid for... Eeeek!

I went to see a florist in Valdemarsvik the other day. I really like her shop and I've seen some of her work on her blog. She's going to send over some more pictures and examples. She seemed enthusiastic which is always nice. You basically want someone who's service minded and nice to be around/talk to. Honestly, sometimes I wonder why some people go into people facing professions when they clearly don't like it!?

Anyway - she clearly is in the right profession, hurrah, and so I was very happy with our first meeting.

Here's her website: http://www.frokenflora.org/

We also met our photographer, Matilda. We both really like her and absolutely love her photos! She is lovely - she's easy to be around, seems chilled yet obviously knows what she's doing and just has a very nice, warm aura if you like. Most pleased!

She's a really busy lady, and I'm really not surprised - her photos are fab! Have a look at her website - http://fotografmatilda.nu/blogg/

I've been working on my scrapbook as well. It's coming along nicely and can't wait to show my mum - she's going to love the level of organisation. I think she's a bit worried that I'm not organised enough?! Er... I run a degree programme, a business with B as well as being a mother... I think I can handle a wedding!

But I do see why people get stressed out. There is a lot of organising to do! Especially when getting married abroad for that matter and having a wedding blessing at home.

My lovely friend CPK made my day the other day. As a wedding gift she's going to sort out our wedding music... I honestly couldn't be happier!! I LOVE that I have such amazing and talanted friends! I knew there must have been a reason to why I studied Performing Arts...

We're off to Southampton this weekend to visit some friends and then it's B's birthday next week. B's actually off filming in Milan (lucky bugger!) so I'll be holding down the fort on my own.
I've got him tickets to see La Soiree for his birthday. I loved the show when I went before Christmas so I'm hoping he'll feel the same. We're going to stay over in a hotel on the Saturday night, making it even more special. Yay!

I'm feeling very positive about 2012 so far. It's going to be a great year.

Wedding Weekend

It was our dear friends R & R’s wedding this weekend.
We travelled up early on the Friday as we wanted to get there with plenty of time to spare and you just never know what the traffic is going to be on a Friday...
Anyway, the wedding was in Lancashire, not far from Lancaster, so it was about a four hour drive. Funnily enough, it’s a drive we’ve done several times, as some of B's family live up there.

R and R had kindly invited us to the rehearsal dinner on the Friday evening so we were lucky enough to have a first look at their venue.
They had chosen the Midland hotel in Morecambe, and it was a stunning venue! The Midland is a fully restored Art Deco hotel, with an absolutely amazing spiral staircase, beautifully situated right on the seafront.
Rachel’s father mentioned Poirot as an inspiration for the wedding, and I really did feel like I had been magically transported to that era!
The food was just gorgeous! Just absolutely delicious - one of the best meals I’ve had for a while, and the drink and company equally enjoyable!

They (R and R) went through the schedule for the following day, talking through the timings of things and who was doing what etc…
I think personally that this is a brilliant idea. We could really see the advantage of having everything in place, and this way everyone knows exactly what they’re doing and when. I guess you look at it as a show or any event, the same amount of planning to into a show and with the same precision!
You avoid confusion and you can be certain that (hopefully!) everyone is on the ball.

The actual wedding was beautiful and she looked like a film star – just absolutely stunning!
I loved all the little details; especially the through running theme of their logo on all stationery, the penguin books and the vintage high tea theme which is a personal favourite of mine! It’s all in the details really and more so if you’re going for a particular theme. (Theirs being Art Deco of course.) They had done an amazing job, and the venue looked amazing!
The ceremony was emotional and jolly at the same time. It felt relaxed and joyous – what a brilliant mix!
R & R had asked me to sing and the nerves kicked in with full strength the moment I grabbed the microphone. I think it went well though and I was very honoured to have been a part of their ceremony. It felt very special!

After the ceremony there was a drinks and canapé reception which got massive thumbs up from us! We loved the classical cocktail hour (you could chose from a Cosmo or Long Island!) and the canapés where very tasty!

I also liked the unusual wedding cake – it suited them and it was very classy. I also loved the Lindy hop lesson, very different and fun for all.

Many congratulations to the happy couple – May this next chapter in your lives be a long and happy one!

Some pics from the day...

Celebrating Life

I hate funerals.

Even if I wasn't even that close to the person who has passed I cry buckets. It's the whole concept of it all, the coffin, the somber men carrying the coffin, the family and friends grieving, the beautiful flowers, the prayers, the anecdotes from his/her childhood, the music....

I somehow feel silly to be crying if I didn't know the person that well... Like I'm not allowed to shed tears... I don't know... Maybe I'm just a sensitive person. Or maybe it's just a Swedish/English polite thing.

But they are often also beautiful.

The flowers, the prayers, the anecdotes, the poems, music... Although sad, it's very beautiful.
It's also about the people in their life; their parents, children, lovers and friends.
It's a celebration of Life and the legacy they leave behind.
It's about Love and compassion. Friendship.

It does make you think. Life is so, so precious... It's the people in your life that matters - all the other worldy things really don't matter at the end of the day.

Your job, car, tax returns, public transport... We spend so many hours of the day worrying about all these silly things. Such a waste.

A young person recently passed. She was only 32 so she was taken away much too soon...
Her funeral was so beautiful, however sad. I cried buckets.
There were no flowers, no black clothes, no somber music but rather people were wearing bright colours and we listened to Take That.
She had so many family and friends there to pay their respects/say their final goodbyes. The whole place was packed, people were even standing at the far end of the room and around the sides.
She was clearly a person who cared for her friends and someone who was much liked. An outgoing, bright and loving person.

Take care of yourselves and your loved ones.
And live Life to the fullest, you never know when it may be your turn to go.

Worth thinking about

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the
'Peanuts' comic strip.
You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them.
Just read it straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

4 Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and
actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.


The point is, none of us remembers the headliners of yesterday.

These are no second-rate achievers.

They are the best in their fields.

But the applause dies..

Awards tarnish.

Achievements are forgotten.

Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another few. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and
special!!

5 Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the
most credentials....the most money...or the most awards.
They simply are the ones who care the most.

'Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already
tomorrow in Australia…

''Be Yourself. Everyone Else Is Taken!"

Centreparcs

I had heard of Centreparcs before but somehow I have never really cared about looking into it. I just assumed that I wouldn't like it.
How wrong I was.

Centreparcs rocks!! I absolutely loved it! It has everything you would like, and if you like to be out in the nature, doing "sporty" (but not too sporty) things, then this is the place for you!
Also - it's perfect for children. I mean, they really do cater for children families and the facilities are fantastic.

http://www.centerparcs.co.uk/

We drove down on the Monday and after a short stop we got there for about 3pm. The cabin/house in itself, (we shared the accommodation with B's mum and stepdad) was okay. It's quite dated but perfectly clean and had everything you'd need. (Part from wifi!!) Lovely little kitchen, bathroom, two toilets and big rooms. Outside there were a table and chairs overlooking a little lake with cute little ducks swimming happily around. So cute! We had a deer and a squirrel visit us a few times - you certainly don't get that in London! The trees surrounding the cabin where massive, so impressive! They seemed to go on forever! I felt like I was in the States or Canada somewhere... You know when you watch films and they are in those woods, with the massive trees? Can't for the life of me remember the name...

Anyway, we had brought our bikes and truth be told – I was a bit rusty. I have ridden my bike once in about three years. Shocking I know. But it’s not like in Sweden where you have separate bike lanes and it’s all safe. Here you feel like you’ll die as soon as you touch the tarmac! But hey, once you've learned to ride the bike right?
Centreparcs is very bike friendly with lanes and specific bike parking etc. Just amazing! There was also a land train going around the whole resort, should you be too tired of riding the bike/walking. (Though we didn't try it out, too busy speeding on our bikes!)
We had booked a table at Strada at the Plaza and so set off at about 5.30pm. Jackson had his own seat and he love riding behind dad on the bike.
It’s the first time he’s been on B’s bike and I wasn’t sure if he was going to like it or not but he LOVED it!

The next following days we spent riding our bikes around the resort and the beautiful lakes, shopping, feeding the ducks (who kept trying to get into the house!!). B and I played Badminton in Jardin de Sports (why it was French I do not know), which was this massive sports complex in the middle of the resort. Loved it though I can still feel it in my legs! And I lost. Bad times.
But there was SO much to chose from – Archery, Tennis, Golf, Horse riding, Climbing etc, etc…
On the Tuesday we went to the Spa which was just glorious. Three hours of pure relaxation – what more can you ask for really?! I really recommend booking in for a Spa day at Longleat if you're planning a holiday.
There is a Swimming Dome and this was probably my favourite. We all went on the slides and Jackson was so brave! He seemed terrified at the beginning, looking down at me standing there with my arms out, but then his little face just lit up to this amazing smile as he swooshed down the slide. I was so proud of him!
I particularly liked the Rapids – a slide that goes around the whole Dome, on the outside. How cool is that!? There were hot Jacuzzi style pools, paddling pools, mud and sand pits, slides for adults, teens and tots, food and a shop… Just brilliant!!

We where very lucky with the weather actually. Being England, I was surprised that it only rained once and then we had glorious sunshine for the rest of the week!

I’m most definitely going back to Longleat. Who’s coming with?