Twas the night before Holiday......

Hello Strangers!

I bet you forgot about little old me now didn't you?

Apologises for the lack of posting in the past, erm..... ONE AND HALF MONTHS?!?! (whoops)
Just goes to show that my life has not had that much adventure since then.

So twas the eve of The Marrakech adventure. Indeed it twas. I've managed to get everything together and sorted with even time for a stunning new haircut compliments going the little Colombian girl in the hairdressers. What a legend she was. Even though at some points I was little concerned for the levelling of my hair due to the fact she was having a little trouble with reaching the top of my head. She should really invest in some form of step ladder or at least one of the stools you used to get as a child, that went by the sink, so you could reach your toothbrush in a morning without tearing mother away from her 24 cans of carlsberg to get it for you. (Joking my mother never drank in a morning- well hardly ever......LOVE YOU MOTHER).

Toothbrush. Just remembered I need to pack that, like now before I leave for my expedition. Anyway, we jet off the Marrakech tomorrow morning at 6am. Just myself,  Miss Laura Ann Brown and, the apple of my eye, Lady of the manor, Miss Clare Bethan Washington. So far I've been quite anxious to go because its going something brand new I've ever experienced. In fact, when we hit the Sahara in the next couple of days, its actually the first time EVER I will have gone camping. Like proper camping. Sleeping outside and everything. I remember when I was younger and in The Boy's Brigade (yes you heard correctly. Like a good little Christian Boy), they always used to take us on "camping trips" once a year. I say Camping. This was a lie. It was in fact two nights in some hostel on the outskirts of Blackpool or Fleetwood. What a con. Not a tent or campfire or whatever else you do whilst camping insight. Therefore I chose to discard these attempts of foolery and masquerade. First time camping out and its going to be in one of the driest and desolate places on the planet. YAAAAY.

Although I am excited for that, I'm also really geared up to get some really cheap knock off "souvenirs" from the famous Markets. In fact, yesterday whilst at work, I made a bet with one of the members of management who's off to Turkey today, another market capital of the world. We made the bet of finding something for each other on the market but the item in question has to be the most awful and most cheap thing in the entire world and it has to be haggled for. Good Luck Ania. You may regret that bargain when I come back with your postal order Camel Charmer for the outstanding price of 20p including shipping.

Well then folks I better be off to travel the world. Not forgetting my little partner in crime who, from the picture below, is trying to stow away in the backpack. Keep watching this space for more Marrakech news and I shall chat to you all when I'm back.

Au revoir and thanks for reading once again! xxx

Series 4, Episode 21.

Aloha!

So it's the morning of Monday 19th March 2012. Its my day off and I choose to spend my morning watching my epic Friends boxset. Currently on episode 21 of series 4. The one where Ross is about to get married to Emily and he's contemplating on whether to invite Rachel to the wedding or not. One of those  'flashback' episodes. Cop out episodes I like to call them.

Anywho, one week ago I began my new 'Clean-Eating' diet and I just wanted to fill all my millions and millions of readers in on how that went. If your interested that is? You know what I'm going to tell you any way.

So basically for those who didn't read my last blog (shame on you) just to reiterate, 'Clean-Eating' is basically eating foods that are natural. No synthetic man made rubbish that I usually love to eat. No chocolate or crisps or even m&m's, which is proven quite difficult when they are in your face for the taking on a daily basis. But on the whole, I actually really enjoyed the foods I was eating. Best of all I got to spend a lot of time in the kitchen and experimenting with all kinds of  different flavours and seasonings with different foods. I've actually realised that I'm a bad chef when it comes down to it! And the best part of the whole experience, is the treat at the end of the week. I couldn't help but think about that the whole week long! What could I have? What did fancy? A PATISSERIE VALERIE OF COURSE. All I can say is that it was totally worth the week of eating healthy stuff. AND I even lost 2 pounds whilst doing it so on the whole it was pretty good week.

In other news, we went for our little interview with Talkback Thames who will be running the production on Keith Lemon's new TV Show, 'LemonAid'. Overall it went pretty well. Somethings were said that were little cringe on my part. Apologises to those involved. All I can say is that I should NEVER be interviewed in front of camera to save confusion on who or what I should looking at when speaking. And I shouldn't be EVER left to do the talking. "Sorry kids" *wink* at the camera was NEVER EVER a good move. Luckily we had a laugh and made a good impression and that's all that matters and even if we don't get it, at least we know we had damn good game of table tennis. To the point where we were physically sweating. We had to have a five minute break to cool down and brow mop before going in to meet the ITV lady.

So that was my week. Thank you to all my readers so far by the way. I know there's not many of you but its nice to know that people are actually reading this. I really appreciate it. Keep sharing the blog link on Facebook or Twitter, with your friends or family. Thanks once again and I'll write again soon!

I Bought a Fish called Jesus

Hello All!

A few new happenings this week I feel I should share with the percentage of the world that has nothing better to do than read this blog.... yes I'm talking to you.

Anyway moving swiftly on, I began my magical week with an audition. Yes. An audition. It was a bit of a random one but I went along anyway. It was for ITV's new talent show, 'Superstar' and their hunt for someone to play Jesus in an Arena production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. I realise many many MANY of you are probably, at this moment in time, thinking I don't look like your typical Jesus Christ. But I can assure you all, that wasn't the reason why I went. I went for the experience. As many of you may know I haven't been auditioning whilst I have been in London, this past year and a bit and was losing the confidence to get there and audition again. But I chose to bite the bullet and go for it. I sang my songs and did them to the my best ability. But when it came down to it, I didn't have the right look for the role. Simples. I was happy because I knew that before I went. So that was that. I did an audition.

Secondly his week, I having a go at 'Eating Clean'. Basically, 'Eating Clean' is all about eating natural foods and avoiding a majority of man made and not-so-healthy foods. This all came about after a discussion with ClareBear on the tube the other when we started talking about food in general and she basically asked me if I would give it a go. So, in keeping with the new years resolution, I said yes. And in the space of 24 hours, Clare had put together a week long menu of the sort of things I should be eating along side a shopping list with up-teen amount of items that will cover me for the said week. From what I've seen on it, I quite looking forward to a couple of the meals she's set up for. Others will intrigue me. The only problem is that I'm not allowed any sweets or chocolate until Friday, when I am allowed one treat incorporated into one of the 6 small meals I'm supposed to be eating each day. I can see the menu now. 1 Chocolate Fudge Cake. 4 Large Cartons of Custard. 24 pack of Carlsberg.

And finally. All good things happen in threes. I GOT A NEW FISH. If some of you have me on Facebook, you would have seen the new addition to the Colville Road Household. Today, I went out with my dear friend Helen and after having many larks playing pretend next door neighbours in the garden furniture section of Harrods, I decided to buy a new fish who I named Jesus. Don't ask me why I named him Jesus. It was the first name that popped into my head. ANYWAY, I was under strict instructions from ClareBear though, to only get a normal looking fish. Some of you may remember my previous fish, Sushi (RIP) who was commonly known as a Globe Eyed Fish but unfortunately for Sushi, he could only look upwards. Don't worry I did buy him from Harrods for I am not a millionaire. I picked him from a little shop nearby where Helen was trying to persuade me to buy a turtle instead. As much as I would have loved a turtle, I thought it best to just stick to the fish.

So, thats been my week so far and its only Wednesday! Wonder if Thursday or Friday will bring me any more magic? Who knows.

I Bought My First Aubergine

Hello world! 

Yes you read correctly. Today I purchased my first ever aubergine. 

WHAT?!!! I hear many of you say. Well, sadly, it is 100% true. The only problem is, what to do with it. I'm sure I'll think of something. Roast it? That seems to be the answer to all my vegetable related problems at the moment.

Anyway, Hi Again!

Wow! Its been a long time since I last blogged. That just proves how uneventful my life has been. Well it's not been completely uneventful. I have been on holiday to Lanzarote and had a wee phone call from ITV....... got your attention now haven't I?

I shall begin with my jaunt to Lanzarote and yes, of course, Yellow did indeed stow away in the depths of my suitcase. Had a really nice time with the family. Just time to chill out with them and have a few early morning Gins with the mother. Can't grumble with that one now, can you?

The only problem was getting there mainly. As we were delayed an hour or six. Maybe seven. Due to fly at 1:30pm. Didn't actually get up in the air til gone past seven. Anyway since we had been at the airport since from 11 in the morning so we had to do something to entertain ourselves. OBVIOUSLY we did the usual shop round terminal two but, lets face it, it ain't no shopping mall now is it. So, as in typical Green family fashion, we ended up in the bar for a couple of hours. After hours of playing cards for Rowntree's Randoms and helping mother decipher the first puzzle in her Arrow-Word (not an easy task), we descended on Frankie & Benny's with our £5 vouchers. All I can say is that I'm glad we got money off. Eventually we were on the plane and on our way. Minus the snow on the wings of the plane.  

When we arrived, the weather was a little, well, freezing. And the breeze was slightly, erm, forceful. But after a day or so, we could lose the duffle coats and exchange them for a our swim stuff so good times all round. Even Yellow had a brilliant time. See:

 

Oh and they had cake which was really an added bonus :)

So onto my bigger news regarding the little meeting myself and the gang will be having with ITV in the next few weeks. Yes KEITH LEMON'S LEMONAID were interested in my application for the show.

Basically, for those of you who aren't aware of what the TV Show's about, it's basically a fresh and new take on the classic 'Jim Will Fix It' TV Show hosted by the very late and great Sir Jimmy Saville. The application had to state a certain wish I may have that I would like Keith to make come true (if that makes sense?) 

So now I bet you're wondering what my wish is...

I don't know if many of you remember my first blog when I talked about our New Years Resolutions? Well I wrote to the show discussing our situation when it comes to breaking our world record attempt for the longest marathon bouncing on a bouncy castle. The current record stands at 26 hours (I think) with a team of 5 people. We have a team of 8 and are aiming for around 48-50 hours. But we need Keith's help to fulfil our little wish and possibly get Keith involved as well. Another one of our resolutions is to get on a TV Game Show. So you can imagine that when I saw the advert for the TV Show, I immediately thought two birds one stone. BOOM. Hopefully, the people at ITV will pick us to go on the show and fulfil our wish. 

Keep your fingers crossed for us, people!

Never Eat Food that Resembles Belly-Button Fluff.

So, as most evening's are at the Colville Road household, housemates gather in the kitchen at around 8/9pm to cater up some of the finest cuisine to ever bless this household. I was catering up some of Asda's finest 'Chosen By You' range, Cod Fishcakes with steamed fresh vegetables. My dark haired Fearne Cotton looking chum from yonder way, who goes by the name of Clare, was making some kind of vegetable thing along with a substance she claimed to be called 'Quinoa'.


Now for those of you who are not sure what 'Quinoa' is, here is a little insight to what it is. 'Quinoa', pronounced kinwa, is a grain-like crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. Not to be confused with the hit 1992 album, 'Quinoa' by the German band Tangerine Dream.


Pre-cooked, it looked reasonably edible. Sort of bird-seed looking, of you're into that kind of thing. But after it has been cooked is another kettle of fish. Now, I'm not going to beat about the bush, but it looked like something I would have found deep in the darkest depths of my belly button. Then I was proposed with trying some of it and I thought, "Oh well, in for a penny, in for  pound" and dug in for a try of the questionably healthy belly fluff.


It was, in a word, awful. Like a sour mush. Sorry, not something I will be trying again. I don't care how healthy it is for you. Nothing that healthy should make you want die inside. End of. But I tried it. It was sort of something new. Something new that I will never eat again.


So, healthy sour belly fluff aside. THE FIRST ADVENTURE IS OFFICIALLY BOOKED.


Yes, on the 15th May 2012, myself and two other of my buddies will be jetting off the Marrakesh, Morocco for a couple of days where we plan to explore the city, sleep on the roof of a hostel and trek into the Sahara Desert with the help of Camels. The trek does have the potential to start with an 8 hour bus ride into the Atlas Mountains with one toilet stop, but we are considering going with Omar and his Land Rover/Jeep style transport so that we can stop as often as we want to take photos etc. 


But what will you do in the desert? I hear you ask. We do have plans to do such activities such as Sand boarding and such but the most exciting thing I'm looking forward to is watching the sun go down and see the stars come out. Some people say it's as if someone has thrown silver glitter onto the sky. People just camp out all night just counting the shooting stars. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. I've already planned to nickname my camel Barry. Quite a Camelly name really, isn't it?


Of course, Yellow will be coming with me, all the way. When I told him, he went straight upstairs and started packing! Don't believe me? See for yourself:

Shake your whammin Fanny FUH-UNKY SONG

10 points goes to the person that can guess correctly where this lyric, in the title, comes from?!


Not much of a blog this time, but I just thought I'd let you all know that, on this very evening, I went out and tried something new. Nothing too drastic or adventurous, but something that in a sense, gets the ball rolling on this whole New Years Resolution malarky.


So this evening I attended my first ever Zumba class. Yes, indeed I did! And you know what, I loved it. It was so much fun! And didn't think I would actually sweat that much but from the state I was in, you would thought I would have been drowned. Multiples times.


For those of you who don't know about Zumba, basically its a new form of fitness combined with various types of Latin dance. But unlike any other dance class, you don't feel pressured to get every step or gesture spot on. In the words of our fitty instructor, Miss Laura Brown, as long as your having fun, getting the basics down and sweating lots, thats all that matters. Just to mention that this was her first EVER class since she qualified as an Instructor and she did amazingly well to say the crowd she was teaching was of various backgrounds and natures. One lady in particular.


I'm not going to go into any detail, but basically this one lady who was there was a little bit, lets say, snooty. Now we all knew that this was a brand new class being taught to us by a trained dancer. Now if we were doing something, like a certain stretch or whatnot, that wasn't good for us, we would expect the EXPERT to tell us what we are doing wrong and how we could correct it to make it better and easier for us to do. Oh no! Not this woman. Laura tried to help her out and she instantly gave up and muttered something, probably insulting, under breath. She just snatched up her water bottle, and from the looks of things, just gave up on the spot. Hopefully she won't turn up next week to lower the tone.


Anyway, rude middle-aged women aside, surprisingly, I got really into the whole thing. Gave everything a go, wholeheartedly and just basically had fun. No point doing things half arsed. In for a penny, in for a pound as I always say. I walked out of that studio feeling really good about myself. So, thank you Laura Brown for a fantastic class and I WILL be joining you again, hopefully, in the near future for some more Zumba fun.


And for those of you wondering if I took Yellow with me, then I'm sorry to disappoint. I had to check out the class to see if was safe for a Yellow Peanut M&M's to bound around in. Luckily I came to the verdict that it was completely M&M friendly, and if you are lucky I may even get you all a quick picture of him in Zumba action next time!


Thats all for now I'm afraid. Until next time!








OH! and the answer to the question at the start is:


SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH! 


What a golden oldie that was!

The Kindness and Love of Little People

So as you all know my New Years resolution is to say Yes to more stuff this year including going on more worldly adventures. Since my last blog to you all, I have already begun to plan my first few ventures of 2012. Some at home and some away.


But before I go into a bit more about those various adventures, I have a new friend for you all to meet. Yellow.

Yellow is one of five characters at M&M's World. For those who don't know me (if any), just to clarify that my current occupation at the present time is the Yellow M&M at the M&M's World Store in London's Leicester Square. For those who don't know Yellow, he's clumsy and dimwitted whilst the same time, loveable and cuddly. He always knows how to see the good in things and no matter how bad a situation can get, he will no doubt be always, and I mean ALWAYS, be sporting a warm smile. 


Now on this day, whilst waddling around the store in the suit, making everyone laugh and smile, I managed to make a friend in form of a 6-7 year old little girl who fell completely in love with Yellow. No matter where he went in store, she followed but was polite and well mannered enough to stand back and let other people have a photograph or have a quick cuddle, which is quite rare when it comes to dealing with kids under the influence of various E numbers. A bit like dealing with Frankie Cocozza on a more daily basis. Not that I've had to deal with him at all, but you catch my drift. Kids are daft. Anyway, as soon as she was able to grab the opportunity, she was straight back in there, holding Yellow's hand and drowning him with cuddles once again.


Around 5 minutes before my buddy, Emma, had to take Yellow from the shop floor and return him to the comfortable cupboard where the rest of his friends peacefully reside, she and her mum came dashing towards us, clutching a horde of M&M's bags. The little girl reached inside one of them and presented Yellow with a mini version of himself as a present. Straight away, I assumed that she was just showing him what she had bought but had actually physically bought it as a present for Yellow. Emma, by this point overwhelmed with emotion and on the brink of tears due to this random act of pure kindness and love, tried to get the little girl to keep it as a way of remembering Yellow by trying to say that wherever she went he would go with her. It wasn't until the mother told us that if Yellow didn't take the gift, she would probably cry therefore Yellow had no option but to happily accept it. This made that little girl the happiest person in the world at that moment in time, which, I must admit, made me feel slightly over emotional. Its amazing how much love such a small person like that can give.


I bet you're wondering how all this has got to do with the New Years Resolution. Well, basically over the past few days myself and young(ish) ClareBear have been discussing our first adventure:


Marrakech and a Trek into The Sahara Desert.


Its an idea that has really grown on me and I can't wait to get the ball rolling on it. I've also been approached about another adventure, which is climbing Mount Snowdonia in Wales, with a few people at work in aid of Charity. A difficult one, I know, but it'll be a challenge I'm willing to face head on.


But wherever I go and whatever adventure it may be, Yellow will be there. Facing it with me. Sort of a confidence booster in a way. Something, that in a few years to a couple of decades time, I'll be able to look back at him and remember all the adventures we went on together and all the challenges we faced head on. Also, he'll be a bit of a conversation starter as well. And just prove that he's been on adventures, at each place I'll take a photo of him in action.


So, here's to the first adventure. Scott and Yellow. Bring it on.

Always Start with a Joke....

Why do bees hum?




-Because they don't know the words


Sorry. I apologise. That was a terrible joke. But if you are chuckling as much as I did when I first heard this, then I know I'm heading in the right direction.


So. I bet you are wondering why on earth I have jumped on the band wagon and started to write a blog. I am also wondering why I have jumped on the band wagon and begun to write a blog but yet here I am, so, here goes.


New Years Eve 2011. Myself and several of my friends write down various resolutions on a simple scrap of paper, fold it up and place it into a bag. The bag is then passed round, person to person and we each pick out a scrap of paper and keep it folded until after midnight. The countdown to midnight is always the best and the fact that you always spend it with the people you love, whether it be your closest friends or your family. So, as midnight strikes, we pop the corks on the champers, sing Auld Land Syne and exchange new year kisses, hugs, molestations, etc. We even attempt to let off some Chinese Lanterns into the night sky hoping it would resemble something magical but instead resembled something out of the film Armageddon. 


The time finally comes to each open our scraps of paper. We get such resolutions such as:


1) Learnt to Tap Dance
2) Be a Contestant on a TV Game Show
3) Break a World Record
4) Stop Being a Dick


and, the reason for me starting this blog,


5) Start a blog or a YouTube channel.


So there we go, ONE RESOLUTION DOWN. Well not completely. 


I made a personal resolution of my own, just before Midnight. I came to the decision that no matter how good 2011 was to me, I couldn't help feel a little held back in a way. I don't know what or whom held me back, but I just felt as if I'd missed out on things, in a way. To ensure that 2012 doesn't do the same, I have decided that this year, no matter what the task, adventure or challenge, I have to say YES to it.


This way, hopefully, when 2013 comes around, instead of saying I didn't do this or I missed out on that, I can turn around and I can say YES! I DID do that. And this blog is going to something to show for it. Over the next few months, whatever adventures I'm proposed with, I can talk about how I found the whole experience and hopefully share my experiences with the rest of the world.


Wish me luck!