Obsessed. Strictly Speaking.

I have added yet another addiction to my list.

Joining the ranks of chocolate, Pepsi, Blogging and laminating is my current obsession, Strictly Come Dancing. (That'd be Dancing with the Stars for my US readers. Pretty much the same show even including Len & Bruno but much more traditional in format, you know us Brits we love tradition.)

I got slightly engrossed at the very end of Season 4 back in 2006.

I was an avid viewer of season 5 last year.

This year I admit I am a truly obsessed super fan.

Phew, feels so much better to say that out loud. Well in type anyhow. I watch the show on Saturday, I watch the result show on Sunday and every week day I watch the behind scenes show to see who is dancing what on Saturday and how they're getting along.

See I really wasn't exaggerating when I used the word addicted, was I?

Looking back to how this addiction may have started I can look back no further than my first ever viewing of Dirty Dancing, at the tender age of 11 I got to watch it at the cinema despite being 4 years too young for the age 15 certificate. Lucky for me the light of good fortune favoured me because my mum worked there so I just sneaked in the back and stood completely enthralled watching the whole thing. What girl didn't want to be Baby? And who didn't want to marry Johnny? Patrick Swayze you will always have a special place in my heart (and probably a few billion others).

After the first viewing I was totally hooked. I remember watching it on video over and over and over again. Even attempting to write all the dialogue down in script fashion (though I got bored on about scene 4, I was lazy it would appear even then). I wanted desperately to be a dancer.

But I was missing one particularly vital thing.

Any sense of coordination.

Being somewhat statuesque in build, well maybe that's too generous, a more apt term to describe me would be gangly.

It's true, I admit it. I am gangly. At 5' 10'' I have arms that are longer than most women's legs and hands that truly are bigger than most boys.

I was never gonna be a dancer. Aerobics is too challenging a feat for my level of coordination let alone actual dancing where you're supposed to look refined and elegant while you do it.

But still in my heart I want to wear those divine gowns (even the really immodest ones) and have gorgeous hair and make up and wear those dainty heels.

But in reality even one of those gowns wouldn't distract from my truly hideous varicose vein on my left calf (courtesy of pregnancy number 1), even if I managed to get my pig trotter type feet into dainty heels there is no chance I'd actually manage to walk in them, never mind dance. I don't even remember the last time I wore heels, at least 10 years, I have none in my shoe collection. Victoria Beckham would be utterly appalled.

But that is why Strictly Come Dancing brings me such tremendous joy. Ordinary celebrity people get to fulfil my fantasy. Some are excellent and some are appalling (which entertains me to a completely other degree I have to tell you) but they are dancing and every week I feel a little bit fulfilled just from watching them.

Oh and the eye candy in tight pants and shirts split to the waist really doesn't hurt either.

Why I Love My Job

Tomorrow I am going here....Well not exactly to the Houses Of Parliament and good old Big Ben but to London nevertheless.

Did I mention that I am going alone?

As in without children.

Well, not exactly alone. It is actually a work trip so I am going with 11 other people.

All of which are adults.

All of which (hopefully) will not require me to change their nappies, fill their juice cups, get them dressed and hopefully none of them will insist on sharing my dinner.

No pushchairs (strollers, figured I'd through in a translation there, you're welcome), no face wiping, no mummy bag.

I do have to get up at the horrifically early hour of somewhere around 6am which I could live without I assure you.

But I do get to sit on a train for 2-ish hours and read completely uninterrupted. (I'm certainly hoping these work people aren't gonna be requiring conversation from me, surely the fact that I am there is enough, right?)

Did I mention too that we're going to see this?

Yep, Disney for grown ups!

I have seen it before but who cares?

A day off is a day off and it's all free!

What More Can I Tell You?

BookMomma over at Hot Wheel Hacienda tagged me to do this Meme, apparently I haven't shared enough of my personal business lately so here I am bearing my soul yet again.

1. What is your favourite quotable line from a movie?

I love It's a Wonderful Life.
I adore when Clarence tells George:

'Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends'.

2. Who is the most famous person you've talked to?
Just kidding.

But a girl can wish right?

I hadn't realised until now that I have pitifully never rubbed shoulders with anyone exciting.

I need to get out more clearly.

3. How many bags of potato chips (crisps) are consumed at your house per month?

Far too many, darn delicious fried crispy potato's, how we all love you in the Siswick House.

4. What foreign dish do you prepare from scratch and serve?

Do Lasagne and Risotto really count?

I do love me some coconut chicken curry too but Rob isn't so keen so it is a rarity.

5. What is your favourite section of the supermarket?

Our local supermarket recently installed those delightful self checkouts and that is now my absolute favourite part of the supermarket ever. There is something truly satisfying about making all of your purchases go beep, beep before you pay for them. I fear there is an unfulfilled checkout girl screaming to escape within me.

6. What was your high school's team mascot and colours?

Sadly we don't indulge in either tradition here in England. It is a sad sad place.

But fortunately we do have High School Musical to give us an insight into what it is really truly like.

Randomly Me

Jennie at Beehive and Bird's Nest tagged me to share six random things about myself.

Oh goodness, only 6?

Then I got to worrying about how random they really needed to be.

Random but informative?

Random but amusing?

Or Random to the point you think (most probably justifiably) that I am a crazy person?

Well I shall have to let you be the judge of that.

Here goes (I am embarrassed already BTW):

1. Christmas.
I LOVE Christmas. I really, really love it. As soon as the temperatures begin to drop (so that is pretty much any day here) and the evenings get gradually darker I start feeling it, the good old Christmas spirit. Rob (aka The Grinch, though he has vastly increased in Christmas enthusiasm since we had kids) has me on a Christmas curfew. I am not allowed to make plans or mention said holiday until after his birthday on October 19th. When October 20th hits I am finally allowed to let the Christmas in. I have been known to eagerly crack out my Bing & Frank CD's that early. But in general I am not a fan of Winter and so Christmas is an incredibly welcome distraction from all the gloom and incessant rain going on outside. Plus gifts and the fact that it is completely acceptable to eat your own body weight in chocolate are rather lovely perks also.

2. I cannot whistle, do handstands or cartwheels, roll my tongue and to top it all off I have horrific balance.

I was simply not assembled correctly. I completely blame my parents. They probably owe me hefty amounts of compensation for the embarrassment my lack of these fundamental life skills has caused me my entire life. Maybe I'll look into that.....

3. I cry when I laugh.

Not just a tear or two either but a full on cascade of tears that would push any waterproof mascara to it's limits. I don't even need to be laughing at anything particularly funny, even mildly amusing set the tears a-flowing. A tear streaked face is not an attractive look, it is a wonder that anyone ever consented to marry me.

4. I like Cricket.

This is something that has come as a surprise even to me. Rob loves cricket (and pretty much every other sport in existence) and so living in the same house and the fact that some of these matches go on for 4 long days I have been exposed to more cricket than most women could bear.

But instead of complaining (which was obviously my first instinct) I figured that I may as well embrace the cricket and at least attempt to understand it. After asking Rob the very same questions at least 40 times I now have a pretty sound general understanding of what is going on. In fact I can be found watching it when Rob isn't even home, but then truly anything is an improvement on Max and Ruby.

Though the fact that cricket players no longer look like this

but instead more like this has really aided my concentration.

5. I have never voted

I haven't 'tis true but now at the grand old age of 32 (will it ever become less painful to type those numbers in reference to myself?) 14 entire years since I have been of age to vote I have had a political awakening. The cause of this awakening you may wonder? Well nothing less than a combination of Robert McAllister from Brothers & Sisters and the current American Presidential Election. So next time the opportunity arises here I shall indeed be voting and hopefully that will be the end of Gordon Brown.

6. Post shower or bath I dry myself with hairdryer

I don't know when I started doing this and it is not a fact I freely share. Well until now when I shared it with the universe. I love baths, the hotter the better. We sadly don't have a bath in our current house but we do have a super whooshy shower. There is nothing worse (maybe that's a little dramatic) than leaving a hot bath or shower. No matter how hot your house is you always feel really cold. I detest being cold. I feel cheated that of all warm places on earth God could have sent me to dwell he sent me here to England where if we have 30 sunny days out of 365 we regard it a pretty good year. Pah! So to rectify the coldness post showering I warm myself thoroughly with my hair dryer.

I highly recommend it, honestly.

So now that I have fully exposed myself you had better comment before I end up in a corner in the foetal position wondering why oh why I had to be so honest!

TAGeriffic!

I got tagged to do this again by Kelli at Writing the waves of Motherhood this is a slightly different variation of the tag I had previously completed so I figured I'd just merge the two of them together. I am resourceful like that, or just plain lazy. I'll let you decide.

So my favourite native of Utah, Alisha, tagged me, considering she was forced to live with me 24/7 for two months 11 years ago (as LDS Missionary companions) and put up with oh SO much I guess it's only good and polite to fulfill her request especially considering I spent the majority of our time together saying 'Amen' half way through her prayers. (Hey, I was tired and her prayers were long!)

Here goes,

4 Places I go over and over
1. To work
2. To the park. I'm not complaining, it's summer. I LOVE Summer.
3. To church
4. To Tesco (I love the supermarket, what's not to like? That's where all the food comes from and they never run out of chocolate unlike my fridge.)

4 People who email me the most (email? So 90's! I do all my corresponding via Facebook thank you very much.)
1. Slightly insane lady from church
2. Ironic considering above comment but Facebook telling me I have a message to read
3. Amazon (I love online shopping, or any shopping)
4. Some random Spanish company offering me both Viagra and Penis enlargement. (I'm assuming that combination of words will increase undesired traffic to my blog no end!)

4 of my favourite foods
1. Anything with chocolate
2. Anything with sour cream
3. Anything with butter
4. Anything with meat

4 Places I'd rather be
1. Some place hot
2. Some place quiet
3. Some place alone
4. In bed

4 movies I can watch over and over
1. It's a wonderful life
2. Any of the Oceans films, 11,12 or 13, heck I don't even need the sound on to enjoy those!
3. Anchorman, totally courtesy of Rob, I hated it on first viewing but having watched it 2539 times it has grown on me.
4. Pretty Woman

4 Places I have worked
1. Burger King (I know, you're envious!!)
2. When saving for my mission and living at home I worked in a textiles factory (for 3 months)putting PJ's on hangers before they go to stores. Seriously. That really is a job.
3. At a bakers, where I got 50% discount and put it to really good use. I am pretty sure that my arteries are well clogged up with pastry and cream courtesy of that discount.
4. In a hospital

4 Places I have lived
1. London, England
2. Mansfield, England (That is where Robin Hood hails from you know.)
3. Huddersfield, England
4. Coventry, England

4 TV Shows I love
1. Friends, we have every single episode.
2. Lost, have you seen Sawyer?
3. Brothers & Sisters
4. Scrubs

4 Places I have Vacationed/Holidayed
1. Florida
2. Spain
3. Holland
4. I guess Wales considering we were just there.

4 of my favourite dishes
1. Lasagne (yes that's how we spell it in England)
2. Anything Mexican
3. Rice Pudding
4. Brownies

4 sites I visit daily
1. Facebook
2.Yahoo Mail
3. Blogger.....obviously!
4. Online banking. In the vain hope someone will accidentally deposit a few million in my account and not notice.

4 People I Tag
1. Dana @ Supernanny Where are you?
2. Shannon @ Simply Shannon
3. Rach @ Mommy learns to blog
4. Melissa @ Wollman's blogspot

Tagged Again (May must be international tag month or something!)

So, I got tagged again, this time by my friend Allison. So here I go...................

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
Ten years ago I was coming to the end of my 18 month mission for my Church, based in of all the incredibly lovely places on Earth...... Birmingham, England. My assigned companion/co-worker at the time was Amy Knight, we were living in one of the three (yes, three!) houses we had in the 4.5 months we worked together. Life was far from dull and despite the incredible fatigue from working 12 hour days, 6 days a week for going on 16 months it was one of the happiest times of my life.

Amy (affectionately named AJ, short for Amy-Jo even though her middle name is Dawn) was a joy to work with, one of the most patient and sweetest people I have ever come across. She hailed from Thatcher, Arizona (if you're thinking, WHERE??? That is the correct response!) She was incredibly easy to tease/mock being that she was a) from a small town, b) she was a cheerleader in high school (Go Eagles!) and c) she had dated her own cousin but I guess that goes hand in hand with point a. (OK so she didn't realise he was her cousin at the time I'll give her that). Also she introduced me to Mexican food before it ever took off here and for that I'll be eternally thankful!

Here we are on a rare day off in Stratford-Upon-Avon dressed up in clothes at the Shakespeare Museum. (If you're wondering what I am doing, this is when the Spice Girls were at their peak and I am not ashamed to say I loved to imitate them in almost every photo opportunity. Ten years ago that didn't seem so pathetic I promise!)

Oh and lastly ten years ago I was excitedly looking forward to the beginning of the World Cup in France (I even owned France 98 Monopoly) as usual the excitement quickly turned to disappointment thanks to Argentina and David Beckham, but alas who could stay mad with David for long though? Definitely not me!

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?

It is a holiday weekend so I wish I could say nothing,

Sadly I have to go to work just for two hours,

I have to do laundry (which is on my to-do list every day)

I have to eat chocolate (also on my list everyday)

I have to shower (I am not fit to go out in public otherwise)

I have to have a nap (I wish!)

3. Snacks I enjoy

Anything containing sugar or fat pretty much without exception.

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire

Travel lots,

Pay someone to do my laundry,ironing and cleaning,

Take care of my family,

Contribute to charity.

5. Places I have lived

London, Essex, Coventry, Nottingham, Bedford, Birmingham, Boston, Leicester, York and Huddersfield. All in England.

I was supposed to tag a bunch of people but instead I am gonna say if you wanna do this, consider yourself tagged and go for it!

Anniversary Tag

It seems very fitting indeed that my lovely friends The Limburgs would tag me to do this post on our 5th wedding anniversary. I'm grateful as I glance out of the window that we got married five years ago and not today, five years ago it was a sunny Spring day, today it is just another rainy day like every other day around here. I wish I could say that five years on I still look that rested and serene, but sadly I can't say that thanks to my two very delightful little terrors combined with five years of ageing. (Yes, I admit to having to pluck out the occasional grey hair at the very youthful age of 32!) Rob on the other hand looks pretty much the same just usually far less clean shaven.

Anyhow here it is:

Our names: Carol and Rob

1.How long have we been married? 5 years to the very day!

2.How long did we date? Overall 2 years and 4 months including a brief respite while Rob had to come to the realisation how lucky he was to have me.

3. How old are we? We all know I robbed the cradle, let's not do the numbers.

4. Where does he work? He works as an Area Account Manager for Velux (the roof window people) which he loves (and I do too except when he has to take the laptop with him while he is away and I have no way to update my blog!) but claims I don't really understand, but how much is there really to understand about windows?

5. Who is taller? Me by an inch, well at least until the osteoporosis kicks in anyhow.

6. Who eats more? Definitely Rob unless I am pregnant and then I could probably eat Rob I am so famished!

7. Who said I love you first? Definitely Rob.

8. Who mows the lawn? We have no grass in our garden but if we did it would definitely be Rob's job, sounds far too strenuous for me to even attempt.

9. Who sings better? I'd say we were about even, he would probably say me.

10. Who does the laundry? 99.5% me, he will put his muddy football kit in from time to time though so he definitely is capable. But if he did more then what would I do on Tuesdays with all the time I generally dedicate to my laundry mountain!

11. Who does the dishes? I wish I could say the dishwasher but we don't have one anymore. So I do the dishes in the daytime and he does them after dinner.

12. Who pays the bills? Mostly Rob, but then he earns most of the money so it's just out of convenience.

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Currently Rob but we have swapped from time to time. He jokes at the mo that he sleeps on the right because it's furthest from the door and if anyone broke in they'd steal me first. That's comforting!

14. Who cooks dinner? Me, Rob's interpretation of cooking dinner involves calling out for Chinese or Indian food or a speedy trip to KFC.

15. Who is more stubborn? 100% Rob (which sadly Eli inherited).

16. Whose parents do we see most? Without doubt Rob's parents, they live only 5 minutes away and my parents live 75 minutes away.

17. Who proposed? Rob again......he seems to be monopolising all the good answers, so far I just get the bonus of being tall and doing the laundry! Lucky me!

18. Who has more siblings? That would be Rob again....he's one of 6. I am one of 1 but I do have a couple of half-siblings. But that doesn't count really.

19. Who has most friends? That's a tricky one. I'd say it was too close to call we're probably just about even.

20. Who wears the pants? We're both far too laid back to really ever care.


So there you have it! I tag Amy, Erica, Allison and Shannon (not Shannon Limburg that would be just daft because she tagged me!) to answer these questions on their blogs right away!