Ladies at Lunch, Living the High Life!

Hello everyone, yep its time again for my update.

So back to work it was last Monday, Dave Aspinall had returned from his 2 week holiday and so we had a lot to catch up on and things to do, so that kept my day nice and busy.

The day flew by and i was soon home. Me and Kieron had our tea and then Kieron played some World of Warcraft and i played My Sims on my Wii.

Tuesday was great as i had the day off, it was great not having to go to work. I had the day off as it was my mum's birthday. I got up, had a shower and got ready as mum and Gareth were picking me up at 9.45am to go over to nan and grandads.

We got there just gone 10am and we took a walk up to Northfield, to Bon Marché. Mum had decided that she would treat herself to some new clothes and because i hadn't got a clue what to get her i would chip in with the clothes.

We spent a good couple of hours in Bon Marché, with mum trying on different things and basically having a mini fashion show. Poor Gaz had been standing still so long just outside of the changing room that one dear old lady thought he worked there and even asked his permission to try a top on! I on the other hand had turned in to Triny & Susannah, i was not only giving my fashion advice to mum but to other women in the changing rooms, not only that i also became the runner. Finding tops to match trousers, getting a different size, reorgainizing the shop, putting thins back etc etc, again i did this for other ladies as well as mum.

So after the marvellous shopping experiance, we talk a small walk further up Northfield so that mum could find a new handbag, which Gareth bought her.

We returned back to nan and grandads house for just gone 1pm and we had some food and a little drinky-pooz! After a good long natter and stuffing our faces, we went back home. I got back to the flat for about 4.30pm and started doing some tea.

In the evening Kieron played on World of Warcraft and i watched some tv.

Wednesday it was back to boring work (boo) but it was quite a pleasant day as there wasn't many people in the office. The day dragged a bit but it wasn't too bad. After coming out of work i decided to go on a mini adventure. I catch the 50 bus which goes from the top of Bells Lane, down to the Maypole, throught Kings Heath, into Moseley and then into town, where it stops at the back of the Pavillions. I then have to walk about 10-15mins past Rackhams, past St Phillips Cathedral, Colmore Row, over the Queensway and into Ludgate Hill.

So i decided to take my mini adventure and go home on the 35! *plays dramatic music* This would cut my walking distance in half as the 35 stops down Corporation Street and it also stops at Parsons Hill, so when i get off the bus i just walk past the shops and then im home.

However the 35 goes on a weird route and is ever so slightly longer route, but i built up the courage and got on it. I normally get home for about 6.35/6.45pm on the 50 depending how long i have to wait for the 50 and how much traffic is about. So i got off the 35 at Parsons Hill walked past the shops got in the flat for........drum roll please....


....... 6.15pm! Amazing! so i think i might give the 35 a go see how i feel.

Thursday aha another day off for me yippee! Mum had taken two weeks off work (which covered her birthday) and i sadi i would take a day off with her so that we go out somewhere or do something. I got to mums for about 9am an we decided to visit some of the best places i had brochures off for my wedding. I said before that Tidbury Golf Club was an excellent place but because it has no licence for the ceremony, and i can't find anwhere that does ceremonies alone (except for the Regisrty Office - hell no! or a church - no way!) it was out of the running!

The 3 three contestants i have then are The Holiday Inn at Solihull, Hillscourt Conference Centre at the Lickey Hills and The Clarendon Suites at Edgbaston.

We started with Solihull and the Holiday Inn. We was introduced to Katie and she showed us round. It doesnt look much from outside, well i mean its not a palace or anything but it is pleasant, however its very luxurious on the inside.

I was very happy and felt very comfortable there and Katie was very friendly and helpful. So i set up a little star rating section to help me make a decision in the future.

So (Out of 5):

Room Size/Facilities: * * * *
Friendly/Helpful Staff: * * * * *
Cost/Value for Money: * * * *
Location/Picturesque: * * *

So 16/20 not bad. So we then went over to the Hillscourt Conference Centre, where we met Jane who was a very lovely lady and very down to earth, obviously not being a hotel (although they do have accommodation) it was a little less formal greeting so i felt we could have a bit more of a laugh and a joke.

So (out of 5):

Room Size/Facilities: * *
Friendly/Helpful Staff: * * * * *
Cost/Value for Money: * *
Location/Picturesque: * * * * *

SO 14/20 still not bad howeverthe other thing to note was that Hillscourt can not promise that we would have sole use of the rooms so we could have random people gate crashing our party whereas Holiday Inn the room is completely separate and they only allow one wedding a day.

We couldn't go to The Clarendon Suites as they were in use, so we would have to save them for another day. Me and mum stopped by Earlswood craft centre for a little mooch round and mum treated me to a cup of tea and some cake. I really was enjoying living the highlife!

We went back home as we hadn't much to do, so i suggested we go to Broadway as we haven't been there for years. Gareth said he would come to and he kindly drove. We had a look round the shops and then we had a nice cold pint before getting back home.

When we got back to mums, i said my goodbyes and went back home. When i got back, i decided to mow the front lawn as it started getting long again. I managed to get it done just before i felt like collapsing and dying in the boiling heat.

I decided to have a cool shower as i had been sweating like crazy mowing the lawn and Kieron arrived home from work. In the evening Kieron decided that he wanted to see the new Batman film, so we checked the times and agred to go for the 8.00pm showing. Now usually everytime we've been to the opening night of a film at Rubery there has been a lot of people but we've always managed to get in. Well decided to get there an hour early so that we deffinately got in, however when we arrived and finally managed to park the car (that was our first warning) , the queue was coming out of the doors. We went and checked just incase there was a glimour of hope but the film was (obviously) sold out!

Kieron was a bit disheartened but we agreed we would go on Sunday to see it when the hype had worn off. We got back home and we watched the tv before going to bed.

Friday and sadly it was back to work for me. Again it was another farily quiet day as most people were out and about, and gladly 5.00pm came and i was on my way home (on the 50 though because the 35 queue was terrible, due to the buses being stuck in traffic on route).

Friday evening Kieron played on World of Warcraft and i sat and watched the Big Brother Eviction. The evening was very pleasant and relaxing.

Satuday was a great day, due to the weather being gorgeous me and Kieron wanted to do something so we rang Steve and Natalie to see what they were doing, they too were bored adn didn't know what to do with the kids, so we eventually decided to go to the Washford Mill pub in Redditch which is a nice little country pub and yes you've guessed (due to the name) it used to be a mill!

We then had to figure out how to do transport as there was six of us yet i could only get 5 in the car! Just before Kieron agreed to sitting in the boot, Tony and Maria called in to see us for a bit and very kind Tony offered to take Kieron and Steve in his car and me, Natalie, and the girls in the fiesta. So off we set and we got to the pub for just turned 12.00pm. The pub had a littel play area, lots of peacocks walking around (which little Phoebe was obsessed with) and some cows just over the fence.

We had some food and a couple of drinks and really lapped up the sunshine. We were there for a good few hours before everyone was getting a bit tired. Tony and Maria had been shopping in Redditch and called in to the pub for a quick drink with us and Tony (saved the day) as he gave Kieron and Steve a lift back.

We went back to the flat for a bit and chilled out before i dropped Steve, Nat and the kids home. When i got back to the flat me and Kieron were a bit bored and so was Steve and Nat so they invited us round theirs! We picked up some munchies before going round and had a very pleasant evening.

Sunday was a relaxing day, as Saturday was so hectic we decided to take a chill pill. We went and did the shopping to get it out of the way, came back and had some food. Kieron played on World of Warcraft whilst i caught up with some tv, Played on my Wii and then watched Evan Almighty on DVD.

A bit later we decided to check the times again for Batman, again we agred on the 8.oopm showing. Its a brilliant, dark and exciting film and Heath Ledger makes a really fantastic Joker. The film really captivates the darkness and in a way the evilness of Batman, so i recomend you all see it. Its also a real shame that Heath Ledger passsed away earlier this year as i think he's irreplacable, and i think that this would have been his big break in film.

Well i think that just about does it for me so cheerio!