An Unlikely Friendship

Dec28

After the attempts of the previous post a very unlikely friendship has formed! When Bobby first met Brunch he was most unhappy and took every opportunity possible to attempt to eat him. Who was this tiny little rodent suddenly invading his home and stealing the love of his humans? I’ve never seen such a jealous dog! 

When Bobby started spending all his time staring into Brunch’s cage I was convinced he was once again looking at a potential snack. However I was wrong and he’s actually fascinated by him and Brunch seems to be equally fascinated by Bobby. How a tiny little hamster can let a dog lick his ears without running away or being eaten I have no idea! 

Now I’m rather dreading having to separate such a friendship when I move back home after Christmas! Regardless of when I move Brunch back home I think I will have to bring Brunch back to visit Bobby regularly. 


Not much of a post but I thought this was just far too sweet to share. If two animals of two different species are able to get along and form such a friendship then why is it we as humans are unable to get along? 

We do not eat Family!

Dec25

Merry Christmas all 🙂

Thank you to everyone who has read my blog so far, I’m actually shocked at the amount of people who have actually subscribed to read my ramblings! After a positive start with constructive posts I unfortunately got struck down with some sort of mystery illness which results in regular fainting with minimal warning. Trust me to fail at the basic life skill of remaining conscious! However today has been perfectly faint free which is fabulous! I’ve still got the ingredients and equipment for my next 3 cake tutorials in the kitchen so fingers crossed my brain sorts itself out soon and I actually remain cold-free long enough to bake without infecting people! 

Massive thank you to this lovely lady in the photo below and her family for dealing with my temporary lapse of life skills on our trip to the pub the other night. After two sips of a drink I managed to pass out and dump the entire Jack Daniels and coke into my Ugg Boot and down her leg! True friends forgive you for ruining their jeans though and scoop you up the best they can, I’m a very lucky creature 😍. Still have not decided what was more heartbreaking, the loss of a whole double Jack Daniels and Coke or the filling of a beautiful Ugg Boot with said JD and Coke. It’s a tough one. Thank you however to the door staff and management of The Surrey Arms for being the first bar/club not to treat me like a drunk when I’ve fainted. Also thank you for taking such great care of me after and ensuring I still had a brilliant Christmas Eve Eve! 


Have spent most of the day trying to educate my dog on family etiquette as my hamster Brunch has joined us at my parents for Christmas. (Christmas is for everyone no matter how small!) Bobby the dog however was not too impressed by this and has spent the day squaring up to Brunch and eyeing him up as a post Christmas Dinner snack. After a few talks about how we don’t eat family the two have bonded and spent a lot of time nose to nose through the bars of the cage. I think Bobby’s Crimbo snack has now turned into a bit of a fascination. 



I have been well and truely spoilt today and have gained a lot of furniture and useful things I needed for my new flat which is just so kind and thoughtful as these things really do add up financially. It’s also so nice to have something your loved ones bought you move in with you, especially as I am moving further away from them. 

I honestly think Christmas gets even better as you get older. The feeling of getting something perfect for that person, wrapping it up and eagerly waiting for them to unwrap it on Christmas morning is the best part of Christmas! 

Hope you all had a lovely day with your loved ones. Christmas is definitely not about what is under the tree, it is the people who are around the tree with you that make the day. 

Today’s top 10 Quirky Stocking Fillers under £10

Dec8

I am slacking in terms of Christmas Shopping this year. Normally I am the sort who has done all my shopping before November hits and then by December it’s all wrapped with ribbons and bows waiting to be shipped to the North Pole for Santa to deliver. This year however the only present I have purchased is for the Hamster and even that is still sat in my Amazon basket awaiting check out. I am currently travelling 2 hours for work so definitely going to utilise this time to do some shopping! So here are the 10 Christmas Stocking Fillers (in no particular order as I am too indecisive) located from the middle of the M25.

1) – Batman Egg Cup and Toast Cutter 


Na-Na-Na-Na-Na Batman Breakfast! 

This little set is only £6.99 from the lovely little shopping haven that is iwantoneofthose.com. I don’t even eat egg, or toast, but just looking at this cheers me up. How could anyone’s morning not be brightened with this Batman themed breakfast? Batman’s removable mask will keep the egg warm until you’re ready to quack it open and with the cutters you can have perfect batman symbol toast shapes to dip. Also currently on a 3 for £20 mix and match promo! 

2) – Charity Candy Canes


These will cost you £3.99 from findmeagift.co.uk. A candy cane is a traditional little touch to a Christmas stocking and by choosing these ones you are also helping Happy Days Children’s Charity. Every box sold means £1 for the charity and considering they are only £3.99 to begin with it is nice to know that we are giving something to help others who need it as well as giving gifts to family and friends. 

3) – Slush Cuppy

The Slushy Cuppy turns any drink into a Slush Puppy! Reminds me of school holidays when Nan used to take me and the Brother for a Slush Puppy and we’d compete to see who’s tongue would turn the bluest. £9.99 from firebox.com so maybe pushing the limit for a stocking filler or Secret Santa but looks like a really good product with good reviews.


4) – Whisky Rockers

These clever little glasses can be rocked and spun and still won’t spill a drop! Currently only £6.99 from IWOOT and also part of the 3 for £20 offer. I am a Whisky lover… hint hint.


5) – Chocolate Sprouts 

There are two types of people at Christmas, Sprout Lovers and Sprout haters. Either way these little chocolate sprouts make a cute little stocking filler. They are available in either milk chocolate or dark chocolate and mint and are £6 for a small bag or £9.95 for the box shown below ft rom notonthehighstreet.com. 


6) – Allergy to Idiots Mints

Findmeagift.co.uk for only £1.99 makes a good secret Santa present for colleagues or friends. Also available in Anti-Snoring Mints, Allergy to Housework and Allergy to Mondays. Success rate is currently unknown. 

7) – Half a Wine Glass or a Bottle? 

How this wine glass stands up I’m not too sure but it is great for those times when you ask for “just half a glass” and some bugger fills it all the way up. Now that is impossible due to this half a glass. £5.99 from Menkind. Good quirky little present for a wine lover. 

For when those times when half a glass is not needed, on the opposite end of the spectrum is this glass for £9.99 which can hold over a bottle. Sounds like my kind of glass.


8) – Choc-o-lait Hot Chocolate on a Stick

These make a lovely little stocking filler for just about anyone! They are availabile in so many different flavours ranging from Milk Chocolate, Mint and White Chocolate to Caramel, Coconut and Cointrau. You can buy them at Choco-o-lait.co.uk for £15.75 for 24 sticks (79p a stick!!) or you can buy them individually from other retailers (google is your friend, prices vary so shop around!)


9) – Animal Toothbrush Holders

One for the kids. This stocking filler is both quirky, useful and hygienic! Avliable in 4 different animals from totally-funky.co.uk for £7.99. Choose from Bella Bird, Diego Dinosaur, Grace Giraffe and Sid Snake. More aimed at kids I agree but I thought they were pretty cool!


Check out Larry the Lizard Also! 

These can stick on the wall! 
10) – The Procrastinator Timewaster

I love this and I’m a frequent procrastinator. It is a doodle pad with 100’s of activities for an avid procrastinator and can be easily hidden in the case so no one will ever be aware of your procrastination! Sneaky Much. This is £9.95 from Prezzybox.com

I am that good of a procrastinator that I have successfully wasted most of my journey round the M25. However I have still done no shopping for the lovely people in my life, fear not I’m sure Santa will surprise you Christmas morning, if you’ve been good that is! 

Black Friday Bargains

Nov25

Black Friday is not something which I have ever taken part in as I normally work every Friday. I ventured out to the Black Friday Sales in search of a microwave I saw advertised in the Daily Mail Online this morning. I don’t have much furniture yet for the flat, but as things seem to be moving along rather quickly it seemed like a good idea to go grab this microwave. 

The microwave in question is a De’Longhi 800 Watt Stainless Steel Microwave, looks very shiny!!


A sneaky trip into Robert Dyas resulted in the sneaky purchase of a 12 piece kitchen utensil set. 

So thank you Black Friday for nearly completing the furnishing of the kitchen! First experience of bargain shopping went quite well I think. It nice to know that when I get a moving date I won’t be searching around franticly for anything to furnish the flat.
I’ve seen a lot of people complaining about Black Friday today but is it really doing any harm? So what if it has come from America or caused more traffic on the roads today? Some people really will complain about anything and everything. For people like me who have just bought their first home it was a much welcomed saving on something I needed anyway. A lot of things I have bought second hand, but when it comes to electrics I want these to be new so I know they are covered by warrenty and I won’t be encountering any hidden surprises which might blow my flat up!

 I didn’t find myself wrestling bargain microwaves out of the clutches of other shoppers so what is the drama? If you don’t like it don’t partake, no ones forcing you! 

‘Tis the Season to Give Blood

Nov22

Anyone who knows me will know that when I’m scared I have this unfortunate habit of breaking out into Christmas Songs as my coping mechanism. Unfortunately for those around me I am not gifted in the vocal department and resemble a poor little ally cat who has trod on a drawing pin when I attempt to sing. I also neglect to take into account the time of year. 

Back in June a few years ago two of my friends were subjected to this torture while they each had a hand crushed by me as a rather brash doctor stitched my head back together. Apparently I was the highlight of the nurses night that night, well I do aim to please. 

Luckily for me due to my amazing rendition of Deck the Halls with the lyrics ever so subtly changed to “Give the Blood” I managed to sacrifice a few tubes of blood to an amazing nurse tonight who actually managed to find a vein! Makes a lovely change to having every vein in my arm prodded and still refusing to cooperate! 

So thank you lovely nurse at the doctors’ surgery this evening who did a quacking job, I apologise for your ears, and thank you for my sticker. 


I do apologise for the pretty boring blog post tonight, but that was sadly my whole day!

Here is a photo of my beautiful boy thinking he is a human in an attempt to make up for it. The absolute sweetheart has stayed with me all day to make sure I was ok. Never underestimate the love of a pet! 

Today’s Crappy Product Award & Birthday Biscuits 

Nov21

I decided to bake some cookies today.

Unfortunately I also decided to try ProCook’s Christmas 3D Stainless Steel Cookie Cutters. 


Big Mistake. 

400g Butter – 400g Caster Sugar – 2 Eggs – 800g Plain Flour – 2 tsp Vanilla Extract 

Beat together the butter and sugar until creamy and add the Vanilla Extract. Beat in the eggs and then stir in the flour until you get a dough. Kneed the dough and put into the fridge wrapped in clingfilm and leave for an hour. Roll out the dough and cut out the shapes needed, put on the baking tray and leave to chill for 30 mins in the fridge. Cook for 10 mins at 180 degrees. 



Easy right? Yes, Biscuits taste fabulous, but don’t slot together as the edges arnt long enough 😦 

So that design was scrapped luckily before all the dough was used!

Plan Number 2 

You can’t beat classic round glace iced biscuits. I’m still at my parents and had none of my Cookie Cutters here so had to make do with a yorkshire pudding tin, pallet knife and a (clean) ruler.

Still worked out better than ProCook! 

Why send a birthday card when you can send an edible one? 

Happy Birthday Noodles

The Annual Chocolate Debate

Nov20

Obviously being at my parents house sick and feeling sorry for myself means that those chocolate cravings are bound to crawl out at some point. Chocolate is the ultimate comfort food. 

Unfortunately for me all there was in the house in the way of chocolate was a tub of Cadbury’s Roses which had been stashed away for Christmas. Initially I thought I’d hit the jackpot, but apparently Roses are not what I remember! Definitely got smaller and do not compete with the Heros and Celebrations or even the Quality Streets! 

However if I could take the Hazlenut Whirl out of the Roses and put it with the Malteaser and Galaxy from the Celebrations. Add the Twirl, Dairy Milk, Wispa and Creme Egg Twisted from the Heros and the Purple One and Green One from the Quality Street I think that would make a really decent box of chocolates. Also if they’d bring back the Truffle and Topic in the celebrations my childhood Christmas would really be complete.

How do people make that annual difficult decision which box to go with? Does anyone ever just get them all to eradicate the need to make that decision? Little box of each then put them all together? 


Now that has given me an idea. Instead of everyone going to the supermarket and purchasing their yearly tub of chocolates for Christmas there should be a Christmas Chocolate Tub/Tin Shop. A bit like M&M world, each of these sweets should be available in giant tubes and you can fill your Christmas Tub of Chocolates however you please. Of course this would involve all three confectionary companies getting on and collaborating in this but surly it’s worth it to prevent all those poor lonely unwanted chocolates (*cough* Toffees *cough*) lurking away in the bottom of the tin well into the next year as no one likes those ones?
Now please excuse me while I go fill my tub up with the malteasers. 

Thoughts and Opinions on the yearly struggle between the Roses, Celebrations, Quality Streets and Heros? 

– Chocolate Fiend

Not My Shoes

Nov19

After the doom and gloom of the previous post I felt it was also fair to share one of the better parts of the day.

My favourite pair of boots are my Black Bailey Bow Ugg Boots. We were in our car on the way to Children In Need and I went to pull my boots up. Suddenly I was very confused as there were no bows on my shoes but then I realised that I wasn’t wearing my shoes! I had shoes on but they were not Bailey Bows and they definitely were not mine!

“These are not my shoes?!” 


At this point my friend is trying to drive while dissolving into hysterical laughter 

I’m now panicking about who’s shoes I am wearing. I normally leave my boots out in the hallway as I hate wearing shoes indoors. My neighbours opposite also do the same so all of a sudden I am convinced I have stolen my neighbours shoes and am currently halfway round the M25 with them on my feet. 

I decide to ring my flatmate because by some coincidence she could have also left a pair of black boots outside the door? Surly it’s a million times better to be wearing my flatmate’s shoes than my neighbour’s? I would hate to have a reputation as a shoe thief! 

Luckily she answers and I franticly explain the predicament and am met with more hysterical laughter. Luckily for me she does own a pair of black Ugg-Style Boots without Bows which have somehow found themselves on my feet and I am no longer a shoe thief, just a shoe borrower! 

An Apology and a Thank You – BBC Children In Need & Busted

Nov19

So I was so lucky to be able to go to BBC Children In Need’s Appeal Night last night. 

I was 7 years old when I went to a Harvester restaurant with my parents and they had a colouring competition to keep the kids entertained while waiting for orders to arrive. I sat there for half an hour colouring in this picture of Pudsey bear. I have always been a bit of a perfectionist, that bear was coloured in as accurately as possible using perfect colour selection. Yellow for his body, black for his eyes and a white and red spotty eyepatch. There would be no purple and green spotted bear submitted from me! As we left the restaurant Dad pinned my bear up with all the other enteries and we went home. Mum and Dad got a phone call from the Harvester a week later and turns out I had won! I won a meal for four at the restaurant but most importantly I won a cuddly Pudsey Bear. Me and my Pudsey Bear have sat and watched Children In Need from start to finish together ever since even though I am now 24.

This is how I fell in love with this charity and I have fundraised for Children In Need for the past 8 years. 

Anyway back to the purpose of this post

Last night I was at the Elstree Studio watching the filming for Children In Need and I didn’t feel well. I poked my friend who was sat next to me and fainted/collapsed. 

The team at the studio and the paramedic (your name was Brian, but I apologise I cannot remember anyone else’s name, sadly I do not remember much from the evening!) were all absolutely brilliant and really looked after me. Thank you so much for everything you did, I had no idea I was ill, I thought I was just a bit under the weather. I will go to the doctors first thing Monday morning as promised and will not be going to work until the doctor says I can. I apologise for being a really stubborn and difficult patient, I’m not myself after a fainting episode and I promise you I’m a lot nicer and a lot less difficult normally! 

Unfortunately the second time I collapsed they helped me stumble my way out of the studio door. I got just outside the studio door and I am told that I hit the floor in front of Busted who just got off stage. I have camped out for McBusted and Busted several times and really wanted to see you guys perform, I’m gutted I missed you. (I came back in after the first fainting episode after your performance had already ended and the second one occurred shortly after!). I’m a 90’s baby and a massive Busted fan, so I cannot express how embarrassed I am that this happened, and I’m very sorry! I’m told you guys said you wished you could help me, which is so kind so thank you so much. I have always wanted to meet you I just wish I remembered it!!! 

So just a big thank you and sorry to the team at BBC, Brian and Busted. 

I really hope I get to see the show live again some time. It has always been a dream of mine, I just wish I could have actually seen it! Until then it’s time for another cracking year raising money for such a good cause, it’s going to be a busy one!! 

Thank You

– The Girl in the Pudsey Onesie that you spent half your night scooping up off the floor