Canoodling in Teeny Tiny Tents

Finally!

The start of my well-earned holidays. God, this 40 hour working week is just too much, day in day out, work work work. And it's ruining my social life, I'm pretty sure I would find plenty to keep me busy if I cut down to, say, a couple of hours a month.

Anyway, never mind, I'm now safely ensconced in Annie Rhiannon's lofty princess loft apartment. And it's off to Electric Picnic tomorrow, the car packed with people and tents and toilet paper. I can't wait! We're all going to be tucked into bed at 8pm tonight to get the last bit of enjoyment out of our soft cosy beds and ensure that we won't need any sleep for the whole weekend.

It all takes me back to this time last year when I was going to do my best to avoid The Boy From Another Planet at Electric Picnic but kept bumping into him and in the end just threw my arms around him in a big horsey hug. I'd put a link here to that post for nostalgia's sake but it's probably just too embarrassing. Anyway there'll be no need to avoid him this year. For one thing he won't be there, that's because he'll be down in Cork packing for our holiday to Malta, combing his luxurious facial hair and (probably) worrying about my Electric Picnic behaviour. 'Well, you know what I'm like at festivals, holding hands with strange boys, canoodling in teeny tiny tents, riding on carousels at midnight...'

Famous Five Go To Cape Clear

Cliffs, seabirds, boats, seals,
the wind in your hair,
salt on your lips,
strangers in pubs,
starry night skies.

There's nothing quite like camping on an island for a night.



How was I supposed to know the 'Pink Ladies', the only hen party ever to set foot on the island (according to local knowledge), would be there the same night. You should have seen the look on Mary's face -I'd lured her there with the promise of rugged young men but when 25 women in pink satin jackets tumbled onto the ferry she turned to me aghast and blurted out 'couldn't we go to Sherkin Island instead?' But it was too late.

Despite spending much of Saturday night alternating between the three pubs, on the run from the 'Pink Ladies', we had a brilliant time and all agreed that it was a Great Adventure.



If you haven't been to Cape Clear, then you must go. We'll go again in September.

My New Heart Monitor

There are two things I am vehemently opposed to these days.

1) The Gym
2) Facebook

The first I am opposed to because it is totally soulless (and besides you can exercise for free - it's called 'moving'). The second I am opposed to because I feel faces from the past should just sometimes stay there (I don't want my exes sending me 'friend' invites or even worse, NOT sending me 'friend' invites). Or maybe I am opposed to it because everyone wants me to join so much.

So, predictably enough, I joined The Gym. Just for the pool you understand, but then I thought, well I may as well have my 'free' fitness assessment. Big mistake. Those charts have gotta be wrong! Or maybe I just wasn't trying hard enough, just not stretching or blowing hard enough. Or holding the fat measurer tight enough. My results were as follows.

Blowing into tube: Crap (but very good for 65 year old as I pointed out)
Fat: Too Fat (but there was no obese category which hardly seems fair as I would have been below that)
Flexibility: Below average (but Gym Man kindly pointed out that I might just have short arms)
Blood Pressure: Normal (at least I am good at something)
Heart rate when running on treadmill: Good (Gym Man looked a little disappointed).

Then Gym Man informed me that he'd have my personal program ready for me next week. I and my love handles will be waiting with bated, shallow, breath.

And I must remember to return that heart monitor.