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It's the first time I've listened to the Chart Show in a long time and I'm so glad RATM got to number one! Intellient people 1 - Simon Cowell 0. We stopped watching an Arnie Christmas film to listen to Radio 1 and found out that RATM ended up selling 50,000 more copies than X-Factor! My five copies obviously came in useful..... You had to feel a bit sorry for for Joe McWhatever as Radio 1 had booked him weeks ago to appear in the studio this afternoon, assuming he was going to get the Christmas Number One - that's gotta be pretty awkward for everyone involved. Not even Cheryl's tears could save him.......
Me and James decided to go on a jaunt to Wimpole Hall to see it in the snow. The roads on the way were pretty terrible in some parts - it was single lane because of the huge snow drifts in some bits between Potton and Wrestlingworth and there was lots of ice. The house and the grounds looked beautiful in the snow and they'd had much more than us. I just wish I'd taken a sledge! There's meant to be more coming tonight but I don't think it's started yet. I'm at James' watching the Strictly final and our dinner was nearly my blog picture for today instead of this. Denis decided to dye the spaghetti red and make it Christmas spaghetti!
Snow, snow, lots of lovely snow! Me and Sarah got up at nine, put on our skiing clothes (well, ski jacket, ski socks, t-shirt, jeans and wellies) and played out in the snow. I used the pretence of having a camera with me to not join in with the snow ball fight that Sarah and Parge had. I like it but not really to touch it. We went for a lovely walk and were going to all go to Danish Camp but Sarah got called into work so only me and Pargey went. Suprisingly, they didn't have much snow in Willington! I want the snow to stay for Christmas now, please.....
I probably should have written something more witty but my inner child made me write my name. We have snow! It's been 'trying' all day but because of yesterday's rain, it hadn't settled. But finally it's covering the garden and everything looks lovely! Ginn, Liz and I were meant to go out in Bedford tonight but we cancelled because of the weather - glad we did now! I can't remember a time where we've had snow this close to Christmas - I know we're not going to have a White Christmas but I can dream! I'm going to get up early tomorrow to play outside - I'll probably make some sort of snow sculpture, also known as a snow man.....
Margey's class in school next term will be doing some work on heroes and storytelling (I think) and today she tried to draw a dragon to go on one of the boards in the classroom. She didn't think it was very good so she got me to create one this afternoon! I'm not quite satisfied with it because there is much more I could do to it but as the Marger said, it's only for a Year Three classroom. I thoroughly enjoyed getting the old poster paints out and might do something else tomorrow..... Although I will probably sit and do nothing as usual.
Either we're old before our time or too young and hip for words.... Everyone, apart from Shep who hates it, brought a cheese: I provided a Brie and an Austrian Smoked, Liz came with a Camembert and Ginn used her last worldly money to get a Stilton with apricots and a Cheddar with garlic and herbs. Now walking into the Yellow Room is like walking into a wall of garlic - fragrant. A bit of wine, some Christmas songs and good conversation made for a lovely evening. Thank you, ladies!
If only I was a rapping master too, I could be as good as Biggie Smalls..... Tonight has been filled with lots of Christmas present wrapping - Sarah and the Marge did some too. I wish I was rich enough to pay someone to do it, all frilly bows and precision folding, but unfortunately, it is always me, covered in sello tape and getting angry that the corners aren't quite right. But at least I'm halfway through now. I can't believe it's nearly Christmas! I cannot wait for the food. I do hope there is an excellent cheese board....... (HINT, HINT, Margey)
We put up our Christmas tree today in the lounge after Sarah got back from work. Here she is putting up one of the many decorations. We take it in turn to put the angel on top of the tree and it was my turn today. Every year, Marge buys a few new decorations and this year, although she says she bought them last year, they are gold angels, playing what look like guitars! Sarah thought they were angels with lawn mowers but I'm pretty sure it's an instrument of sorts..... We're now off for a meal at the Mercer favourite, Pizza Express, and I cannot wait for my bruschetta!
This is James' major project for this term of his Masters and despite Hannah and Katie nearly going cross-eyed because they thought it was boring, it's actually pretty cool. There are pretty LED lights and it makes funny noises - I'm sure he's very glad to have such an intelligent girlfriend who really understands his work...... I'm now home for the Christmas holiday. I spent the day packing and then unpacking, Margey made a lovely shepherd's pie and now I'm round James', beginning our 'Back to The Future' marathon as I've never seen them. Just clicked on to the fact that the Doc is Uncle Fester!
Katie with her presents before we left her house for the Indian restaurant. I bought her a Polaroid book and a curry recipe book and here you can see the chilli plant and other presents that Duncan bought Katie, thinking it was her 21st birthday! We just eaten our food and as usual, the money we put in to pay the bill was short. Just off to The Landsdowne for some lovely cocktails - Happy Birthday, Katie!
As we're going out for Katie's birthday tomorrow, we decided to do Secret Santa today so we didn't steal her thunder. We tried to keep it a secret this year but as always, the truth will out! I got Katie a photograph book of Paris, Katie got Dunc lots of chocolate, Dunc got Han a lovely variety of nail varnishes and Han got me treats from New York: earrings, Hershey's dark chocolate and dark chocolate M&M's - thank you!
There is only one logical way to spend your spare time when you have finished your work and that is playing games and spending even more time on Facebook. The Sims is such a time consuming game that I can't even contemplate playing it when I have work to do. So for the next few days, I am going to eat my advent chocolate, make me and James on The Sims, make us reach the top of our careers so we can buy the biggest house in the neighbourhood, preferably with a pool.
Such a great theme tune. I'm at my Auntie's and Grace is poorly so we're chilling out and watching lots of MTV. These girls are so spoilt and don't deserve these parties! I think I do though..... Haha. My last piece of work was handed in this morning so now I'm free to do nothing!
People say university is all about getting drunk, spending your overdraft and copping off with complete strangers but I know different. Today I have watched most of the Channel Four series on the Queen and rented Harry Potter audio books from my local library. I know how to live the high life - who needs money when you can have free library rentals and internet television? Rock and Roll.
Yet another surprise party for Dad: this time at Nanny's house. We love surprises in our family. That's the fifth of the year! We went round for a lovely buffet and everyone was there - all the Woolveridges, apart from Aleasha and Joel. Everyone was knackered from last night, especially Uncle Barry after his wines, so we were all quite tired. Holly and Grace made this amazing golf cake for Dad but he can't eat it until his actual birthday on Tuesday. It might need a padlock on it!
Here for Dad's 50th Birthday - we managed to keep it a surprise until this evening! It's an interesting place - you wave your table flag for more drinks which is what I'm doing here. The waiting staff are too happy and it's full of hammered work parties but the food was actually rather good. But our little table are having a good time - my godfather has just bought a round of drinks and Parge was on the recieving end of two massive shots of Sambuca - ridiculously, they are the two last people in the world who you'd expect to have shots! The live band will begin soon and the old women in their Christmas clothes will get on the tables to dance. I shall not be joining them......
The instructions make it sound so difficult but once you get into it, it's hard but quite enjoyable! It's been bought by James' nan for his mum so the family can learn it in time for Christmas. We've spent the evening playing it and I began the last game with so many numbers but managed to turn it around and win! It's not a maths game but more based on logic. You really have to pay attention so the wine I'm drinking isn't helping with the process....
Finally finished! It's quite nice that the work has to be in a week before term ends because you have time to relax a bit and go out guilt free! We have to hand in two copies for the first and second markers but I'd forgotten that my printer was broken so Laura very kindly let me use hers. Tonight is going to be great because I can mindlessly sit in front of the television and not have to worry about Plato and Nazi/Soviet art or moralistic Victorian art. Roll on Christmas!
Brooke organised a lovely meal in our local Thai restaurant which was amazingly warm when we arrived! I was by the radiator which warmed me up - I've been freezing all day, sitting by the window writing my essay so it was lovely to actually get warm! Me and Vick shared Set Menu A which included such highlights as Peek Gai Yad Sai, which is chicken wings stuffed with pork and rice, and Gaeng Dang Ped which is duck in a red dried chilli paste. It wasn't my favourite food I've ever had as it's very coconutty with a kick of chilli but it was good to try it. The Marge would love it!
Neil came back from Aberdeen today and with his chef expertise, helped us cook our house Christmas meal of roast chicken, roast potatos with lemon, roasted honey parsnips and carrots, peas and pigs in blankets. We had a starter of butternut squash soup - it was yummy! Now we've got mini port mince pies with brandy cream, followed by a cheese board with a Welsh Brie, Black Bomber cheddar and Welsh Blue with Jacobs crackers. Today has been a very Christmasy day. We started with making a Christmas playlist with such hits as that Darkness one, an obscure Britney number and of course Slade! We then decorated our living room and had our first advent calendar chocolate from Laura's dad - Marks and Spencer's, you know. Brooke's just scared us talking about 'Antichrist' so now we're hoping that the cheese doesn't give us horrific nightmares!
Like our friend Jimmy Two Puds, Vick loves to eat. Today I cooked the Ellison tuna pasta bake which was yummy, despite the fact that I had a pasta bake for lunch too! As usual, I made too much so the portions were huge and me and Laur only managed just over half of ours. But Vick the Eating Machine was at the rescue. She polished off our left-overs as well as hers. And we have just made up a post dinner song, involving news readers' names, including John Snow and Krishnan Guru-Murthy. We are so cool.
Lizzie bought me afternoon tea for two at Harrods for my 21st so we decided to take the time out from our busy work schedules and pop into London. It was so lovely - we were in the Georgian Restaurant by the window with a view over Knightsbridge. Our waiter took a shine to Liz and keep complimenting her top! We had some lovely tea with crustless sandwiches of ham, egg, salmon, cheese and cucumber - in seperate sandwiches, obviously. They were followed by scones with cream and jam and then mini pastries. Very lovely! It was so nice to get away from work and have some luxury treatment. Brilliant day!
Went for a lovely dinner with the Ginn and Shep at Frankie and Benny's - now I'm too full up for words! I had potato skins with goat's cheese and bruschetta mix, followed by a 'Philly Steak Bake' which is a fancy term for penne, vegetables, steak and lots of cheese. Lovely but a bit ridiculously pretentious for what it is. We had a good catch-up and managed to find our way home in the horrendous rain and mini floods!
Just been out to celebrate Debbie's (James' mum) birthday and we had some lovely tapas at The Old Maltings. Here are her presents from me and James that were opened earlier. As there were six of us eating, there are too many dishes to list but it was lovely. Instead of having desert and coffees there, we popped into Asda and bought Terry's Chocolate Orange microwave puddings, a Rocky Road-type number, mince pies, coke (as in cola, not the popular 90s drug) and double cream for floater coffees - my waitressing experience will finally become useful!
Here's today's reading and there is one that definately doesn't quite fit it! Alan Carr's autobiography is hilarious and actually made me laugh out loud which I don't normally do with books. On a darker note, as you can probably tell, this essay involves Nazi and Soviet art of the 1930s which is actually quite interesting if you block out the genocide and mass purges. Mix in a bit of Plato's ancient philosophy and you have my essay! I can't wait until all this work is handed in and I can actually look forward to Christmas without feeling guilty. The guilt of doing something that isn't work is life consuming. I even felt guilty when trying to go to sleep the other night. Anyway, interesting but horrid fact for you: Himmler visited one particular art gallery more than he visited Auschwitz. What a git.
There is nothing better than a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea after a night out. Note my favourite Peter Kay mug and my blue Ikea plate! I had this for breakfast and then me and Laura met Vick and Billy for lunch. Instead of a sandwich, I opted for a berry ice-cream sundae. YUM. Far too tired now to do work though. Oh well, back to Soviet state art and an orange KitKat.....
Blakfish popped into Leicester on their British tour. They're a big Birmingham band and they have big links to Laura and Vick. The band before were called 'Gay for Johnny Depp' - brilliant name. It was in the Firebug where drinks are pricey but now we're in Varsity with some horrific Rose on our way to Mosh..... More drink is needed all round!
Tonight's mean spaghetti bolognaise with lots of cheese. We take it in turns each night to cook and today it was my turn. I managed to cobble it together from ingredients in my cupboard and it turned out rather well. My secret tip: add a pepper and some gravy to really thicken the tomato sauce. YUM. And follow with a Orange KitKat or Club. And preferably drink with milk.
Such a great film! Went to see it today and it was brilliant - Jacob should keep the long hair though! And for people who hate it, just read the books. I tried to avoid it for ages but gave in and absolutely loved them! You can't have an opinion about something if you haven't read the books! Now, which is best? Make James grow his hair like Edward or bulk up like Jacob? Decisions, decisions......
Everyone has come up and we've just been to see Holly and Grace's dance show, 'The Sound of Music', but for legal reasons had to be renamed 'Do-Ray-Me'. The girls were very good but tired because it was their second show of the day. Vanilla coffee and a fresh layer of make-up was in order earlier between shows and a very yummy vegetable lasagna to keep them going. My favourite part of the show was when 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight?' featured as a song. Now there's a remake I'd like to see: 'The Sound of the Lion King' - Simba and Julie Andrews sharing centre stage.....
Which basically means a very fancy cinema! It's got seats everywhere and the chairs in the screen room are very comfortable rocking chairs! How modern. We've just been to Nandos and now we're here to see 'The Men Who Stare At Goats'. I tried to get in the 'New Moon' queue but James was having none of it. But what more could a girl want from an evening than chicken and George Clooney?
Yes, this is how exciting my life has got. Pen selection. Work is literally taking over my life but like anything, it can be jazzed up with Crayola metallic pens and girl-coloured highlighters. I'm not actually using the Crayola pens for actual work but they are good for doodling (not 'fondling' which is what the predictive text wanted to put!). Tonight's choice is some vintage Arctic Monkey's. Not really vintage but if Snow Patrol can have a greatest hits after three albums, then Arctic Monkeys, circa 2006, can be vintage!
Another day of hard studying with the M-G on our favourite floor of the library. I've made an essay plan and I'm going to crack on any minute now..... I made me and Laura a fabulous casserole for tea that we had with lovely bread and I'm now so full that I don't even want a satsuma. Wow. This is boring. Third year sucks the life out of you.
Today's texts are all for my essay about moralistic Victorian art. Woop-te-doo. It's actually really interesting but made dull by an enforced essay on the subject. I wish third year was as easy as last year. I haven't even got a trip to Italy to look forward to, unlike last year. Bad times. Feeling better today so have managed to do some notes on the topic but not as much as I would liked to have done. I wish the modules were entirely exam-based. Now, back to the work but the question is, Abba or Jurassic 5? I think the Swedes win......
I'm poorly again. I've spent the whole day in bed, sleeping and finishing the latest Dan Brown book and I'm still not feeling great. Tried to get up early for uni and not even a satsuma made me feel better. I've been half dressed, half in my pajamas all day and now I'm tucked up on the sofa in a blanket and my slippers watching 'Flashforward' with Laura. Maybe a confusing but brilliant television programme will make me well!
Here is Liz, blowing out the candles on her many cakes! Angela had a beautiful chocolate cake made, Dan had made a Family Guy one and last night, James made a Little Miss Sunshine cake. I think the Batchelor family will be eating cake for a long time! We had a lovely day celebrating Liz's birthday with fireworks and Beatles Rock Band. The drinks flowed all day long (I stuck to the water as I'm still not feeling top notch) and you know the food is good when there is TWO bits of pineapple on a cheese-and-pineapple-on-a-stick. I enjoyed the cheese board personally, gotta love a bit of Applewood, but Shep, the ultimate cheese hater, was appalled when she found out the grapes she had been eating all day had been next to it, bless her.
Having a lovely evening with Shep, Em and the Ginn - haven't seen Em for ages! We're watching X-Factor and have been discussing a new show: 'The Ginn Factor' - two solid hours of Hannah singing songs, possibly dressed as some sort of angel? Maybe just in her head then..... I'm feeling much better today and have managed to eat the rice and the meat part of a biriyani. So far, so good so hopefully my tummy can keep it all down.
I hate being ill. Woke up in the night last night with tummy pains and then that turned into sickness. These are the only things that you need when you're poorly. A bucket (unused as yet), the remotes, lots of water and the remnants of a satsuma as they're the only things that I can keep down, let alone want to eat. I HATE BEING ILL.
This is how we roll in this town. From Dylan Moran yesterday to three to a sofa today. Sarah is looking really cool behind the cushion with her green 'I love Topshop' socks and James is looking thrilled at the fact that he's having to watch 'Peter Andre: The Next Chapter'. There are also a few staples of my home life in this photo - milk in my Sterephonics mug, my post and Sarah's nail varnish that I sometimes have to borrow!
This picture is good but not as good as the picture that I should have taken WHEN I MET DYLAN MORAN! I'm still shaking and it happened over two hours ago! Me and James met Laura and Steve outside the restaurant (three courses and a Bellini for £15 - bargain) and who happened to be outside, making notes, smoking and drinking a beer, but DYLAN MORAN, albeit with a moustache! Still reeling from the shock, I decided it would be a good idea to go over and say hello. In hindsight, it would have been a perfect opportunity for one of my legendary embarrassing one-liners but thankfully I kept my cool. We had a brief chat where I wished him luck for the show and he asked for my name. I like to think that he's going to get me up on stage to propose but James thinks it's more likely that he's going to make a mockery of me. Or perhaps he was just being polite?! We're now sitting in the Apollo Theatre, waiting for the stand-up to begin. I'm getting my proposal acceptance speech ready......
Yes, it has sunk to that. I'm already wearing my Marks and Spencers jazzy purple thermals under my amazing tartan pajamas but I've sunk to a new low. Primark Thermals. Who knew that they'd branched out into this new genre of clothing? I haven't bought any yet but I am debating as to which colour to choose. I believe there are blue, black and white but possibly red too. Which shall I go for? Answers to PO BOX Emma21, please.
I have spent pretty much all day with Han today. We went into uni at ten, then had a break for a Piazza lunch. Han had the carrot and leek soup and I had an Italian vegetable pasta with 'rustic bread' - excellent value and quality for a university meal! Another lecture in the afternoon and then we went to the public lecture this evening on something like the art and national identity during the Napoleonic Wars - it was very enjoyable!
Haven't really done much today apart from sleep and eat and watch tv, mainly at James' house so this is the lovely view of part of their garden. The big oak tree is constantly shedding something all year, whether it's branches, leaves or acorns. James and Laura used to earn 50p a bucket of acorns that they'd collected from the lawn which was a cunning idea from Debbie and Denis! But today, there were no acorns collected as we sat in the lounge all day and watched the EMA's - gotta love that Dave Grohl!
I was furious when me, James and Parge got down to the Sandy Scout's annual display in the Sand Hills because they didn't have toffee apples! What sort of bonfire night celebration doesn't have toffee apples?! So I treated me and Parge to a 99 with sauce from the ice-cream man. James thought we were literally mad. The display was the same as normal: tanks and boats firing at each other, parts of fireworks landing in the crowd and little nasty chavs shouting stuff, although this year they went for the more original 'Green Army' everytime a green fire work went off. I'm glad to see Sandy Upper is still the same classy establishment!
Went for a lovely lunch at The Old Maltings in Biggleswade with Ginn (wearing my lovely leopard print coat here) and Sarah. I had the spiced apple tea and a cheese omelette, Ginn had the butternut squash soup and Sarah had a selection of tapas, including mixed breads with dips, prawns and wild mushrooms, although me and Han ended up eating most of it! There was one big mushroom that Ginn ate and then instantly regretted because it was too big and rubbery!
So I don't have lots and lots of things to bring home at Christmas, I've been ordering things to home. Marger has got to know the post lady well with all of my parcels arriving! I've ordered so many things that I can't actually remember what I've bought. It's almost too early for Christmas shopping but if I get it out of the way now, I'll more time for work at the end of term. That's the theory anyway!
Vick loves to make pies but this is the first time we've had one as Mel only brought her pie dishes up at the weekend. Billy and Brooke have come round to sample the pie, then we're watching the Liverpool match and hoping they win otherwise Vick will cry! We're going to play some sort of football drinking game and then head out to the Union for a lovely dance! Just about to eat the pie now........
I'm sure you're all seeing a common theme in my blog: FOOD. 'Hello, my name is Emma Mercer and I'm addicted to food'. Instead of cooking, me and Laura decided to take full advantage of Dominos' Tuesday offer of two pizzas for the price of one. Unfortunately, we ended up with three because they took forever to deliver and then gave us an extra one for free after I complained! Me and Laur sat on my bedroom floor (which I've only just noticed from this picture is far too colourful), ate our yummy pizzas and watched last night's 'Flashforward'. We only managed two so the last one is waiting in the kitchen for Vick when she gets back tomorrow!
One of Holly and Grace's lovely cats lying on the floor looking very cute with his mouse toy! Although Alfie and Esmie are still quite young, they have grown so quickly. I also seem to be over my allergy to them or maybe that was just the strong allergy tablet I took earlier!
Vick's mum took me, James, Vick, Laura and Brooke out for a Sunday roast. I meant to take a picture of the actual roast but I was far too hungry and only remembered when I'd eaten the whole thing. Such a yummy dinner - roast beef, roast potatos, carrots, peas, green beans and stuffing all in one massive yorkshire pudding! All for the bargain price of £6.95. It's in a lovely building which is one of the oldest school buildings in the country and was built in 1573, as per the name. I would highly recommend it!
