2009: MY ANNUS HORRIBLIS!

The Queen had hers in 1992, and 2009 has been my, annus horribilis!  It has been a year that started with heart break and tears, that led to wild and bad behaviour, of foolishness, dissapointment, more tears, letting people down, but most of all letting myself down.  It would be quite easy to say that I would like to erase this year from memory, but that would never be wise, for we must learn from mistakes and hurt for they make us stronger in the end.  Besides there were good things about the year, I can't say it was all doom and gloom!  Here are the Highlights:


THE HOUSE MATES
When the shit hits the fan, you really realise who your real friends are.  My house mates have proved to me they are more than friends: they are more like family to me.  God!  I have not been easy to live with this year, but they have put up with the moods, the anger, the selfishness, the crying and mad behaviour.  They are always there to pick up the pieces and pull me back together even though I have thrown it in their faces time after time.  Without them I feel I would never have got through this year.  For that I thank and salute them.  I love the house of Unit 24, Oslo house. x

Sadly Ssam lost her visa battle to stay in this country because the Home Office are bastards, so she had to go back home to Korea.  I miss her very much.  Luckily we have a brilliant new housemate, Rowan who I'm sure you will hear lots about in the coming year.


TRAVELS
It just wouldn't be me if I didn't get to go on some sort of travels in the year.  First up I got to go back to my favourite city, Paris with my friend Ali as a cheer me up.  

The highlight of the summer for me was not having to work the whole of it for the first time in 7 years and getting to go on my first trip to Italy, for a whole month.  Me and Liz did the whole trip together but we were joined on the way by different members of the girls for one big adventure like old times.  A trip to remember.

I finished the year off in style with a relaxing little break to the Maldives with my sister for a week.  Paradise on earth.

TURNING 30
I don't believe there are many women out there that would say turning 30 was one of the highlights of their year, but for me I honestly can say it was. I think other people have a bigger problem with it than I do.  I have grown more comfortable with myself as I have got older.  Age is but a number and your as old as you want to feel, which was something I have always lagged behind with.  I had the best party with all my friends, which was themed of course (This time the Blitz and the 1940's).  Also my parents came down to stay with me in london for the first time, since I have been here.   It was the best weekend of my life.  I hope the 30's started as they mean to go on? Besides 30 is the new 21!  

WORK
Not the best year of my working life.  The industry has been hit hard by the financial crisis, and work has been thin on the ground.  I got by like I usually do, and maybe though I wasn't working back to back, I definitely have had more of a life this year.  I started the year working on Red Dwarf, which was fun, mad and very tiring!

Next I went into help on Material Girl, a new BBC drama about the Fashion Industry which should be screened next month.  Again very hard work, but I think the costumes and hair and make up looked amazing.  Its just a shame that the scripts were so shit!

Murderland for ITV was not my favourite job, as it was all split days and night shoots!  I was totally exhausted! It was quite boring costume wise, as well.  Thank God it had the most amazing lovely crew and the beautiful and brilliant actress, Bel powley.

Finally, I got to do some dream work this year by doing the crowd on Cranford, for this years Christmas special.  I love doing period clothing.  Its the whole reason why I got into costume in the first place.  Its just a shame I don't get to do more!  I also got to hover around Dame Judi Dench (She is so tiny) and perve at Greg wise a lot (God he is so beautiful)!  

LEO
This year saw my little Nephew Leo enter this world.  My first time at being an Aunty!  I love it! He's just so beautiful (He would be, he's half Japanese).  I just wish I got to see him a bit more often, as he's up in Manchester.  Does this make me want to have kids now you ask?  Well I love him lots, but I'm quite glad to give him back at the end of the day, is my answer.

AND FINALLY....
How could I forget Hank and Cassius, the newest and biggest auditions to the house.  They have brought a new lease of life to the place.  Even when they have been naughty (Which is a lot!) they can still bring a smile to your face and you can't stay angry at them for long when there as cute as that.  Happy 2010 everyone. xxx

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

Totally spoilt again! Can't understand why because, santa I have not been a good girl this year by far!

First up a new camera.  Yeah!  I have been saving all my 30th money and the christmas money for one and finally I've got it!  Yes the new Canon G11!  I was thinking of getting a SLR but I didn't think it would be good for my bad neck lugging a big camera around with me, and besides the G11 is just as good.  Its just so good to be able to take good pictures again, as my other camera broke months ago and I have just been taking crap pictures on my phone for to long!

I got a new Agent Provocateur 3 piece set.  I already had a beautiful set from years ago that an old boyfriend brought me, but like him, I have out grown it.  Yes people: the breasts are getting bigger (Its only taken 30 years!)  I got the love set, which is so lovely.  I'm sad to say this is not a picture of me wearing it, though I wish to god it was!  No, its Rosie Huntingon Whitely, who is stunning.  I wouldn't want to scare you all with me wearing it, especially after all I've eaten over Christmas!

When I was in India last year I got totally addicted to Himalaya skin products.  They are mostly herbal; smell amazing; and buying them in India; they were totally dirt cheap.  Also, most importantly their really good!   Unfortunately I ran out of the stuff I brought in India ages ago, and haven't managed to get this year.  Luckily my sister had a few trips there this year and low and behold she brought me what seemed like the entire range for my Christmas present!  Hopefully this means my skin will be better next year?

I don't care what people say about Top shop!  I love it!  I'm a total Whore for it.  Good job my brother and his wife remembered how much I love it:  He got a load of  Top Shop vouchers.  I've already my eyes on a few items.  Oxford Circus here I come!

CHRISTMAS DAY: WARRINGTON STYLE!

No brother and sister this year.  My Brother is in Japan taking my Nephew to see his Grandparents for the first time and my sister was working doing a flight to India.  Not like it mattered, I had a great day all the same, like I always do.  It was just a little quieter opening my presents with Mum and Paul in the morning without the siblings, but then we went to my Aunts, Joanne's for Christmas dinner like we do every year and believe me, that is never a quiet affair.  There was 24 for dinner this year, which is what is usually is, give or take one or two!  They don't do anything by halves either: Excess is their middle names. We eat, drink and laugh until no one can keep their eyes open anymore and only then do we think it might be time to go home.  We don't look at the time!  That's why you just can't beat a Warrington Christmas.

Boxing Day was a quieter affair with just me, Dad and my grandparents.  We were very Grandparent friendly and watched An american in Paris, but they left early as they always do because there old and have to be in bed at about 7.pm, so me and my Dad got drunk and watched Kill Bill.  I even stayed over at his for the first time in over 10 years as he finally cleared out his spare room (Well that isn't actually true.  He has just pilled the junk high in one corner of the room instead so you can reach the bed!)  Well its the thought that counts!

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

After 7 hours of sheer motorway traffic hell, I finally arrived back in Warrington from London, for the Christmas break.  I'm so glad to be home, which is not a thing I say often about Warrington, but for Christmas I would not want to be anywhere else.  Actually Warrington looks quite pretty under the sheet of snow that covers it.  I have spent two Christmas's away from my family, in Kenya and fiji and they have the only time I have ever felt homesick, as I'm not a home bird at heart.  It just feels wrong to be away from them at Christmas, and they do know how to do a good celebration.  I'm also feeling a little London tired at the moment, so it will be good to have a week away from the bright lights of the city.  Anyway:  HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. XXXX