A hard days work?!!!

Just spent the morning scouring the job market and applied for loads of job on-line and some the old fashioned way - actually speaking to a person - one of whom said they had been overwhelmed with applications and couldn't accept any more and that was only for a part-time job advertised 2 days ago!

Then I switched on the news to hear the latest on the Jacqui Smith porngate scandal - it turns out the errant husband is her 'personal assistant' on 40K a year ! I think I will apply for that position - I would imagine it is most people's dream job ...... 40k a year to watch porn!!!! form an orderley queue please.

It also looks as if her own job at 120k plus excesses I mean expenses may also becoming vacant shortly - You would think on those vast salaries that they could afford to buy their own porn!!!

Sunday Sunshine

Had a lovely taste of Spring sunshine on Sunday - suitably wrapped up in a strange combo of body-warmer, hat and shades we enjoyed an invigorating top-down journey to Sunny Southport and back - via all the quiet back roads and enjoyed Kates rally driving skills. Took some lovely photos of the very brave and beautiful early Spring flowers interestingly we noticed the pink ones were struggling to bloom - whilst the purple ones (we regard it as a T colour - being a perfect mix of pink and blue) were in full and glorious bloom!!

Excess Baggage!

Stop Press - Just found some more bags in my spare bedroom/office. I think they have been secretly breeding!

3 - blue, 1 - turquoise, 2 more pink ones and 2 cream !! Total now 48 and climbing!! I am sure some of you girls can match this???

I think E-bay may be an option in these credit crunch times!! Thanks Di!x

Baggage

Di asked me a few days ago how many bags I have and apart from replying loads I wasn't really sure so I thought I would try and round up all my bags that are currently slumbering around the house.

I have a bit of a weakness for nice bags and Kate calls me the 'bag lady' (in a nice way) as I have that many. The stock list reads: (In all shapes and sizes )

Black bags (work/everyday) 8,

Brown bags 4 plus one fur and one leopard skin ,

Pink bags 6 (for outings/ special days out),

White bags 4 (weddings/holidays),

Silver 1 , gold 2 ,

Beach bags 3 , Shopping bags 4 ,

Assorted colour bags 6 . = 40 + (there must be others in hiding!)

Whilst that may sound excessive I have used every single one of them , several times .- to me they are like old friends with special memories of days out and places attached to each one of them. The funny thing is - and this must go back to my girl guide days -that in each one of them I found tissues, a pen, paracetamol tablets and some mints and chocolate (a girls survival pack)!.

Matchmaker

I think I must have some unknown Jewish blood in my background as I always want to match up single friends - to me love is the most important thing in the world. So I have been delighted that a couple of my special friends seem to have found love recently. As they say money makes the world go around - but love makes it worthwhile.

Credit crunch shopping

Feeling a bit depressed this week about the state of the economy and lack of job opportunities around. I have discovered a new way of shopping - it isn't entirely guilt free but it does help save the pennies. I had some items to return to M&S and Debenhams and decided that the Trafford Centre would do nicely as it has both stores. So off I went using a new route (through Eccles)which was not only easier than the motorway but used less petrol. So I headed to M&S to return a number of items one of which was a matching silk bra and knicker set - (pictured left) which had been a resonable £20 at the time but I didnt really like the colour . I was really shocked when the assistant informed me that they had now been reduced to £2 each!! How can that be possible - for silk?? So I decided to hang on to them after all!! Anyway after returning some other items (some tops). I was £50 up on the old credit card so that felt good and I resisted the urge to buy more items - to be honest nothing caught my eye so I moved on to Debenhams where I returned a dress that was too big so I was in credit again by another £30. I had a quick browse and saw some nice dresses in Wallis and Julian McDonalds Star range which Kate and I love but because she wasnt there to egg me on I resisted.

I was feeling rather hungry by now so I decided to get a bite to eat - now normally when I shop with either Bob or Kate (but especially Bob) we usually eat at Ego as a treat. As I was on my own I couldn't really go there so I had a Happy meal for £1.99! which was alot cheaper than our usual £30 bill!! So I figured that I was about £100 in credit on our usual shopping trip - not including Kates usual splurge on clothes etc. Feeling better about the whole thing I allowed myself to wander in to "Guess" where I found the perfect dress for Saturday's meal and late night dancing- in a lovely shade of blue just the thing to cheer a girl up and a bargain at £20 so given all the money I had saved today I figured I deserved it as a reward- sounds like an extract from "Diary of a Shopaholic" I loved the clip when her friend is horrified that she spent £500 on lingerie and she replied that it was not just a necessity but a human right!

Jaded

Although it was sad to hear of Jade Goody's untimely death I have to admit she was not my favourite person probably 1 step down from the horrendous Jordan! It is very sad that she lived and died in the glare of media publicity but given the circumstances she was born into - drug addicted and mentally unstable parents - she actually made the best of her life.

It seems alot longer than 7 years since she first appeared on Big Brother - where she came across as an ignorant bully even then and became famous for doing nothing - I remember Graham Norton referring to her as 'Miss Piggy' which was very apt at the time.

However I do respect her for ensuring her sons will be financially secure (I read somewhere that she has paid their school fees until they are 16) and for highlighting the need for regular medical check-ups.

Lets hope that the circus of Big Brother will be buried with her.