Legally Blonde

plasterers are out, painter’s in, one room looks lovely, there’s hope for the rest of the house … but that was just a flying visit this am. i’m still camping out over the hill in inlaw land. but missing home.

leading prayers at housegroup tonight… ah yes, *that’s* why I came to the computer, not for catching up in blogland! yes, i’m an addict

it is *very* cold here these days, but beautifully crisp and clear, lovely alice weather

hours at work keep changing, days off is good but i’d like them to make their minds up so i can plan a week! they’re sending me on a training day tomorrow, which is good (they said they would in april!!) bit apprehensive to be honest, but hey, might be fun.

oh, and 4 months 2 weeks and 6 days left

A big thank you to everyone who has contributed to Michael’s Fund. The target set has been reached. This will enable the land to be purchased in Dharamsala on which the Michael Blakey Centre will be built.

The Michael Blakey Memorial Fund will continue of course. We still need to raise the money to make a start on the first phase of the building programme which will involve the construction of hostels for the children from the homeless camp, thus enabling more children to attend school. The first phase will cost at least £50,000 in addition to the £20,000 needed to buy the land. Updates on progress will be given from time to time at Tong-Len’s website.

All funds raised through the Justgiving page will go towards the Michael Blakey Memorial Fund. As an alternative to online giving, cheques can be made out in favour of Tong-Len UK and sent to Tong-Len UK, 7 Oak Lane, Edinburgh, EH12 6XH. Please also include a note that the money sent is for the Memorial Fund.

Who’d have thought after their uninspiring start in the pool stages, including that awful 36-0 drubbing by South Africa, England would still be in the cup at all let alone winning a place in the final?! It wasn’t beautiful, it was quite a scrappy game, with Jonny missing more than he slotted, but still, in the end, we’re through! Maybe there’ll even be a chance to redress the balance against the Boks next weekend… unless Argentina put in another shock turnup tomorrow night?

Oh, and I caught up with great girly mates too

Slowly but surely making progress, despite the current refugee situation…

I’ve just signed myself away as ASullivan instead of ACrawford for the first time… I’ve applied for a new passport (after the fiasco renewing it this time last year, I feel like driving to Newport to hand-deliver, rather than risk it with current post situation) in married name, as D booked the honeymoon flights in my new name (*beam*). Feels odd, it looks like my writing but not really my signature, something’s different. hmm. Weird but wonderful rite of passage, will have to get used to it soon (well,not that soon, really, my FB countdown says 154 1/2 days to go). Just have to ask the Vicar to sign the post-date confirmation (yes, we have arranged a ceremony, yes he will let the passport office know if it doesn’t go ahead…!) and I can send it off confidently in advance of the recommended 8 week minimum for renewals.

Mum says she’s finished the shirts (see 20th September entry) and waistcoats for Benjamin and Rex. She’s taken pics but I can’t put anything up here, a) because of post strikes (again!), and b) because Certain People might be reading… I’m still overwhelmed by this most special of recyclings

I’m going to England again in November and we’re going to start making invitations to send just after Christmas. I’ve ordered but not yet seen (you guessed it, postbloodystrikeagain) some gorgeous dark red petals and ribbon with which to decorate the “traditional” wording.

We’ve booked and are very much looking forward to a “team meeting” with the bridesmaids, ushers and readers who’re based in Swansea (sorry to Jess, Jean, Jim and Jamie) at Sketty Hall for next Thursday, for the two sides to get to know each other and the venue, and generally chill and gel so that (theoretically) they’re happy working together on the Day.

Current headache is music etc. I’ve been in comms with my organist and pianist about particular pieces for the service, but the reception is a thornier issue, because of the timings and space available if we don’t want the usual sketty hall DJ. We both know exactly what we’d like, and luckily there’s quite a lot of overlap… the problem is that 154 1/2 days left seems to be cutting it fine from the suppliers’ point of view! Our first choice (from word of mouth and web research) is over £3,000 … I don’t THINK so! … I have a couple of demo CDs from similarbutcheaper outfits but they’re in Windsor st, and covered in plaster dust, so not making *quite* so much progress here.

My real plus was finding a pome Dai really likes and relates to, despite his declaration that he doesn’t “do” poetry etc. not only that, but he’s started expressing interest in the other details that had previously been written off as “details, darling, girl’s department.” Which is nice

and last but not least, for now… my (Swansea) bridesmaids are booked in with my lovely friendly church lady who’s making their dresses for Sunday week, for measuring, cutting etc (and then I can also send the London bm her portion of the material to give her dressmaker… same pattern etc but less complicated than many trips down the M4 between now and March) …

I know it seems as though I keep coming back to the “Ooh, girlyness” side of it, but I’m also fully aware of the import of the decision, choice, vows and commitment we’ll be making on the day and for the years to come

Thanks for listening!

England expects every man to do his duty … especially if that man is a certain Jonny Wilkinson.

Memories of 2003 … or 1812 … or 1415 … or 1066!

The funny thing about the relationship between les frogs and les rosbifs, since time immemorial, and about rugby … it’s so much more than a game! there’s a lot of history to be settled in tomorrow night’s match.

I’m looking forward to it!

I really want to post something, to put into words a difficult set of situations/reminders etc, but I want to be very careful about sensitive stuff in such a public domain, because it’s partly work-related, and partly very much not.

I’m doing a lot too much thinking at the moment, and would usually spew it all out for you lovely wib-folk to help with, but this time I’m being a bit more circumspect, which is good, but having to deal with it differently, and alone, which is less so.

but hey. thanks for listening.

a Rugby World Cup without either Australia or New Zealand?

my word. Go the Northern Hemisphere!

Cracking two absolutely cracking matches.

wow. (it almost makes up for wales’s drubbing.. almost, not quite!) even serge betson came back on, only knocked out, not quite dead, fortunately. which is good

roll on next weekend, for an england-france semi final

just to clarify, no i haven’t moved house, or at least only temporarily. Sarah (ramblin’folkie) has moved into my room, benjamin’s is a boxroom, and he and I are camping at Dai’s mum’s.

chaos!

but we’re coping.

the relief is that the insurance has FINALLY pulled their finger out (flood was JUNE!) and given us the go-ahead. the stress is learning to live in someone else’s house again, and being a drive not walk/bike from all my familiar turf.

Still, some things never change… I’m busy watching rugby and sorting wedding planning…

I’m off to a healing service at church, followed by a road run

any surplus energy after that will be spent starting to pack up the study (again!)

we’ve had a couple of weekends away at different family occasions, and I have some lovely pictures, and anecdotes, I keep meaning to share, but I’m about 3 weeks behind with blogging. I will get round to it, but not tonight! Sarah told me to put the Michael/Kate update, but now I’m off to bed.