Diner dinner dates

We have a couple of American diners in MK and as we have a week off work & a few pennies to spend we have had a couple of diner dinner dates.

The newest arrival is Lone star Bar & Grill, this was our 2nd visit after not being very impressed the first visit we thought we'd give it another bash. We were glad we did, the toasted marshmallow milkshake is to die for! I'd go there just for one of these  - I'm now a milkshake covert!

We were also offered some pretzels while we waited for our food.

I had a PoBoy (southern fried king prawn sub) with a side of pulled pork & The Mr had a chilli dog with a huge portion of bacon Mac & Cheese - well what a feast! Steer clear of the sharing platter & go for a burger or sub - they were great (so good I forgot to take a pic before I'd finished half of mine!)

They could do with working on their atmosphere as its a bit flat but the food was good.

2nd up is an old favourite Buddies USA. Buddies has a few local outlets so I guess could be considered a small chain - but independently owned.

We hadn't been to a Buddies for a while and they had introduced a new burger The Juicy Lucy a burger with cheese 'inside' the middle of the beef burger. Buddies if famous for its burger toppings so I went for my favourite The Fat Boy (pulled pork) with the addition of gravy and pastrami one my 'loaded fries'

The Mr had a Schwarzenegger (cheese, mushroom & bacon) with the addition of an egg. He also loaded his fries with pouring cheese and pastrami - please note the token sweet corn on the side - there were not eaten as there was no room left after the mountains of burger and cheese!

The verdict - lone star win on milkshakes, buddies win on atmosphere & crazyness of food selection will defo be visiting both again.

Ghost the stage show

A few weeks ago we had a weekend away at my Aunts in Manchester.

Part of this trip was a visit to the theatre.

They are big theatre goers & recommended this show. I had of course seen the film so knew the story & thought I knew what I was in for.

Well what can I say....

It was amazing!!!

The use of effects, stage trickery & lighting was captivating & allowed them to add a depth of movement not often seen on stage. 

The cast were amazing & it literally has me sobbing in places, I'm a softy anyway but even the most hardened of our group had a lump in their throats.

The highlight of the show was of course the Oda Mae Brown character who had us all laughing out loud & thankfully brought some much needed smiles through the many moments of tears.

Me & the Mr both thought I was THE BEST show we have seen so if its coming to a theatre near you any time give it a watch - but wear waterproof mascara & take some tissues & sunglasses!!!

Enjoy! 

Wimbledon

Wow....

What a match!!

I'm not a tennis fan but started watching half way through and was gripped.

I won't pretend to understand tennis or how it's scored but you could tell by the crowds reaction what was going on & there were some very tense moments.

Well done Andy, you've worked very hard over the years & finally Wimbledon is yours.

I was welling up when he won, felt a huge amounts of pride & achievement for him & may have celebrated with a few ciders & new blackberry pimms ( which is very nice - nicer than original pimms if you ask me)

Did you watch it? Was your heart in your mouth???

  

6 months in......

So..... 6 months in & how have I been getting on???

 Well - the blogging has been a bit of a fail.. Posts dried up pretty quickly - but here is a post so looks like I'm giving it another go. 1/10

 The decluttering is an ongoing mission - lots of clothes & unused items have found their way to charity & new homes - so 5/10 for that one.

 Gardening, now this one is much better :) we regularly sit out in the garden for coffee or more recently just to enjoy the sun, the lawn is lovely and green and regularly mowed. 8/10

 Writing letters - have only written 1 so far this yr, dreddful, have even purchased pretty writing paper, so defo a could do better on this one. 1/10

Get fit & healthy - ahh another one not on top of, I am walking my pooch & have tried to get back on the diet wagon, but am nowhere near losing that stone - 2/10

Go on dates - this one has been ok, dinners to new restaurants, cinema trips, days out to lacal events. Maybe not dress up & taxi dates - but quality time non the less - 7/10

Save/make money - 50:50 on this one. I've given loads to charity that could have been sold, but in the interests of decluttering I just wanted it gone. I do have a few nice items that a friend is going to eBay for me and have curbed my spending. So maybe 6/10

Capture the moment - if taking pictures of food counts then this one us in the bag. Sadly I'm not sure it does. 4/10

Enjoy what I've got - this one has been very good, whilst decluttering I've found lots of forgotten items that are now in regular use. 7/10

 Initiate plans with friends - a few lunches, charity shopping days have been arranged by me - another could do better though - 5/10

 Do it now - I do it now (sometimes) 5/10

 3 weekend breaks - we are staying away for the weekend but at my aunts next weekend - finances has meant that weekends away haven't been top of my agenda - but I've still hot 6 months to see if I can squeeze this one in 2/10

 Ride my bike - not happened, not even once 0/10

 Oh dear - it doesn't look like I'm doing very well does it. How are you getting on??

SNOW – SNOW – SNOW

This is my obligatory snow post.

I don’t know about you but I don’t mind a bit of snow as long as I can stay in the warm and look at it from the safety of my sofa.

Driving in it, walking in it, shoveling it, no thank you, I think I'm just not a fan of being cold & wet.

I would though like to give a HUGE hats off to the gritting team in Milton Keynes @Twit4GritMK, the roads have been amazingly clear due to their tireless efforts of repeated gritting and ploughing away of snow throughout the nights. I can't thank them enough for keeping MK moving and making it much safer for everyone to get around.

Are you a snow lover? Whats the snow been like in your area?

One week in.

Here we are, a week into my 13 in 13 - How am I getting on?

Appreciate what you’ve got…

We had our company Annual Conference this week and as usual I had ‘nothing’ to wear and had planned to go shopping for new work outfit. Then I remembered my ‘Stop spending money’ and ‘appreciate what you’ve got’ aims so I shopped my closet instead…

And I came up Trumps.

I found a lovely LBD – still with the tags on (naughty) : Moda/Asda from Jan sales 2012

Jacket: Vintage fair

This is the dress....

Just do it…

On Sunday I did something I have thought about doing for a couple of years but just never gotten around to.

I went to the cinema on my own.

I thought it would be weird, or that people would be looking at me (especially as I went to see an animated film), but I didn’t get any of that. I got my ticket, found my seat and enjoyed the film.

Solo cinema will definitely be something that I shall do again in the future.

Ticket for one...

Get healthy…. Initiating contact with friends…

I contacted a neighbour and we went for a 45 min dog walk, yes it was grey and a bit cold, but we had a great catch up and the dog loved getting out and about.

I also weighed myself and was not happy with what I saw on the scales, so this is extra motivation to keep up the ‘getting healthy’ regime, to this end I have started back on the Cambridge diet

Feeling very positive about my progress so far (I know it’s only week 1 but you’ve got to start somewhere)

How are you getting on with yours?

13 in 2013

So here it is, my 13 in 13, it took some thinking about but I'm pretty happy with the list and have tried to make sure there's a balance of things to do & not to do, and some practical boring things mixed with some fun as well.

13 in 13

1. Start a blog & comment on the blogs I read - this is underway - so far so good!

2. Get more organised/de-clutter - this will be an ongoing chore which I will keep you posted on.

3. Garden - I'm thinking the little & often approach will help a lot in keeping a tidy usable garden (weather permitting)

4. Write letters / keep in touch - I am dreadful at this and have so many relatives abroad who aren't on line, MUST do this one!

5. Get fit & healthy (and lose a stone) - I am that person who joined a gym & never went (I am disgusted with myself) no more, I have a dog to walk consoles with fitness games etc... No excuse really

6. Go on dates - always good to organise quality time with the Mr.

7. Save money/make money/stop wasting money - eBay, music magpie, stop buying things I don't need.

8. Capture the moment (take more pictures) - we have recently realised that we haven't had a lot of snaps from some important events, memories are only so good so pictures will be better.

9. Appreciate & Enjoy what I've already got - I've got so many lovely things that I will use, enjoy & as above stop buying new things when I've already got so much.

10. Initiate plans with friends - as with keeping in touch, I'm not great at this one, but did arrange dinner with a friend I haven't seen in literally years last night, so far so good again!

11. Do it now - what ever it is - stop procrastinating

12. Book 3 weekend breaks - to places I've never been, make new memories & spend quality time with the Mr

13. Ride my bike - I have a bike that I have never ridden - I know - I know, awful. Just do it eh!

Right - so there you have it, my public deceleration of intent for the next 12 months.

Have you got any aims for the year??

Here we go....

So....

I've finally gone and done it!

A blog of my very own.

I've toyed with the idea of blogging for a few years now and have finally decided to take the plunge.

I'm not sure what type it will be yet, I guess I'll find my feet as I go.

Sorry if my pictures are too big & my writing all over the place.

I'm going to track my 13 in 13 (once I've decided on them all I'll list them) but No. 1 is underway:

1. Start a blog

So there is is my first short & sweet post.

Happy new year everyone x