What a Weekend!

Okay, I'm hooked. I was really enjoying watching the Six Nations on the telly, but now that I've actually been to a match ... You just can't beat seeing something live! And I'm thrilled to have been at a match where Italy had their first away win in the Six Nations. That first eight minutes of play is something I'll never forget!

I also made my first ever trip to Scotland. You'd think that having been in Britain for over nine years I'd have been there, but better late than never! I did get to see a few sites, though I didn't go for the sightseeing. I went for the rugby. But I'll never stop being a history nut, so it was great having a look around Linlithgow Palace and to catch a glimpse (albeit through drunken eyes) at Edinburgh Castle.

One very interesting experience was being in an Irish pub in Edinburgh watching England play Ireland. Needless to say there weren't very many England supporters in there! It was packed to the point of not being able to move, but I loved every minute of it.

On the way back to England we managed to catch up with my mate Pauline, which was wonderful! We chat online and text each other a lot, but you can't beat meeting up with some one face to face.

I didn't take my proper digital camera because, like I said, I didn't go for the sightseeing, I went for the rugby and didn't want to be out drinking with a big ol' camera around my neck. I did get a few pics with my camera phone though.


Linlithgow Palace - birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots


David at Linlithgow Palace


The church at Linlithgow Palace


Linlithgow Palace


The Pipes and Drums at Murray Field


Scotland and Italy

Rugby Weekend!

I'm making my first trip to Scotland this weekend! David and I are going to watch Scotland play Italy in the rugby Six Nations. I've only recently started following rugby, and I think it's fantastic. He says it's even better live where you get all the atmosphere, something that definitely is lacking when you watch on television. I'll also get my first taste of Edinburgh, somewhere I've always wanted to go, though I'll have to go back if I want to do all the touristy stuff like visit castles! I'm sure some pictures will follow after I sober up ...

On the Threshold of a Milestone ...

My last day as a "thirty-something". The last few hours of the last day. And far from feeling apprehensive, depressed or worried that when I wake up tomorrow I will be 40, I feel content. In fact I feel better about myself and my life than I did when I turned 20 or 30.

A few people have commented to me that it's all downhill after turning 40. Why is that? It's just a number at the end of the day. I will be the same person tomorrow that I am today, the only difference being that I move up an age bracket. Life is what you make of it, and I've finally learned to make the most of it!

I was pleasantly surprised tonight to get a very nice birthday present from my ex-husband, his wife and the boys. The ex tends to be a bit practical where presents are concerned. For Christmas they got me a toasted sandwich maker, and for my birthday they gave me a coffee maker. How cool is that?

My best friend Michelle popped round this evening, too, and she brought me chocolates and flowers. Always a great present to give a woman, and entirely acceptable from one female to another (I can't see it going down very well if it were a man giving them to another man somehow, but then again I hate to stereotype).

I'm taking tomorrow of work as a holiday, which it is in a fashion. It's the anniversary of my entrance into the world, and I'm going to spend it just chilling out. Originally I'd planned to sleep late, do a lot of reading, maybe do some shopping and have a massage at the gym. Now I have to fork out for a new clutch for the Barbie Jeep, so the shopping and massage are out the window, but that's okay. Plans change. I can still go to the gym for the jacuzzi, sauna and aromatherapy room. And I can window shop instead of splashing out.

What I won't be surprised by is the phone call I will get from my parents and my father's comment that I'm old now that I've turned 40. And, giving my traditional response honed from past milestones, I will say "At least I don't have a 40 year old daughter".