A weekend of deliciousness

Posted on April 15, 2012 by thepogblog

Well that was a very lovely, rather food based, weekend.

Friday night was second date with TTB and, despite it being Friday 13th, it went ok.  When I told him of my cold bloodedness (while out on our first date of a ‘hike’ in the rain) he’d mentioned he turns the heating off in February ‘no matter what’.  I therefore went to his prepared with extra jumper and socks in my bag to discover…it was a furnace!  He’d put all the heating on so that I didn’t get cold and turned it into a tropical paradise perfect for Pogs!  Sadly, he was close to melting and the window had to be opened but I didn’t get cold – and didn’t have to get out my fluffy socks, which is probably a very good thing… 

TTB cooked me a rather lovely dinner.  It impresses me when people who live on their own cook as I mostly eat toast and yoghurt.  I guess (if he doesn’t come to his senses and disappear), it will be my turn to provide food next.  I hope he likes toast and yoghurt.  And cookies of course…

Saturday I was taken out by mummy of gorgeous godson for lunch – my birthday present from her.  It was great.  We had delicious food, large dollops of gossip time and huge slabs of cake with tea for two to round it off.  Even better, we’ve decided that this will be our Christmas and birthday presents to each other going forward so we’ll get to do it four times a year.  Time with good friends is soooo much lovelier than ‘things’.  I can highly recommend it :o)

tea for two...and a little bit of cake

And today was the usual dinner at mum and dads. Roast beef, Yorkshire puddings and a 7 stone boxer deciding to fall asleep on your lap.  You just can’t beat it!

Why are weekends so short?  I have a few things to look forward to this week though – it’s just a shame they have to be punctuated with work  :o)

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An unexpected turn of events….

Posted on April 12, 2012 by thepogblog

The other day I told you about the first date I had which turned out to be not all that fantabulous after all.  I obviously hadn’t had very high expectations though, as my first instinct when I received the ‘there will be no second date’ mail was ‘brilliant – I have more time to sew rabbits’.

So I dusted myself down and got out the sewing machine (which, incidently, I promptly broke).

Then last Thursday, Sister Two and I went to hear a couple of our friends play their (brilliant) music in a local pub (sadly, Sister One was otherwise engaged with 3 children, 3 dogs, a lizardy thing and a boyfriend).   Sister Two ran the pub dry of Rose and bacon crisps.  I drowned in lemonade.

Part way through the evening I noticed a smiley man on the other side of the pub.  Unfortunately a drunken Sister Two noticed me noticing him and decided to take matters into her drunken hands.  This was done by much gesticulating to find out if he was vaguely interested.  To cut a long story short, despite Sister Two’s drunken matchmaking and a concerted effort on the part of one of his drunken friends, we got chatting, we swapped numbers and…we went on a date!  Yes, that was the second  first date in a week… 

(I’ll give you a few minutes to recover)

OK?

Right, so to the date.  This time I had nothing to organise.  He – I’m going to call him TTB for now – suggested a walk up the Downs to a real country bumpkin pub for a drink then on to another for lunch.  Lovely.  The weather forecast was not good but not to worry, ‘I don’t rust’ I told him.  That said, on Monday in Bumpkinsville it was tipping it down and I assumed that rust or not, we’d probably give the walk a miss and dressed accordingly.  But no.  TTB was not deterred and I didn’t want to wimp out.  And that was why I ended up with mud up to my knees on my new jeans while donning the only waterproof jacket I had – my hi-vis cycling jacket.  Who could resist this sophisticated look? 

After stopping for a drink in the most amazing pub I’ve ever been in (pitch black, full of smoke and slightly odd looking locals, barking dogs, a cat and a vocal parrot) we went back to Pog Towers to change into dry, warm clothes and drove to the pub for lunch (thank god.)

It was great and:

  • He was playing 80s music in his car (my kind of music)
  • He has a stash of ‘car sweets’ (and didn’t stop and make me walk home when I tried to explain the concept of evil-yellow-sweets to him)
  • He bought me an Easter Egg
  • Norman seems to like him (well, he didn’t draw blood.  That’s almost a declaration of love from him)

And TTB said he wants to meet again and hasn’t disappeared.  In fact, the plan is that I’m seeing him tomorrow.  I am of course now having a panic as 1) it’s been a REALLY long time since I went on a second date and 2) tomorrow is Friday 13th.  And that’s quite an issue when you are the sort of Pog who has to touch her collar three times when seeing a magpie (because once may not be enough)…

Anyway, we’ll see what happens tomorrow I guess… :o)

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The Fantabulous Idea – Next Steps

Posted on April 10, 2012 by thepogblog

A week or so ago I posed a question on face book asking friends their top tips for a first date.  I told them that this was because I was guest blogging on a dating site.  That was true (although it won’t be this version of the copy that goes there for reasons that will become clear), but it was also for my benefit as last Saturday I went on my first date set up by the introduction agency that I joined eons ago.  Remember the fantabulous idea?   And the update?  Well, this was the Next Steps.

I had been sent the profile of someone who, on paper ticked all the boxes.  I agreed to meet him, he agreed to meet me.  Intro Lady sent him my mobile number.  He texted me to ask when would be convenient to call (so polite!)…and I completely missed the text.  When I did see it some hours later I told him to call my land line (my mobile has a mind of it’s own) and promptly sent him the wrong number.  Two hours later I sent another text apologising and with the right number…

After about 12 minutes on the phone I suggested we meet up.  I had a weird feeling if we talked for too long I would talk myself out of meeting him.  He left it to me to set up the time and place which I did and to my surprise, we both turned up.

So, onto the tips that I was helpfully sent.  I thought I’d talk you through how they helped…

1.      Don’t order spaghetti, or any other food that is difficult to eat, that may result in you wearing more of it than eating

Happily, I stayed away from spaghetti and, surprising myself, managed to get all my food in my mouth at all times.

2.      Don’t get sooooo plastered that you can’t hold a conversation

I was driving so this was not an issue.  I was however, very nervous which meant I talked a fair bit of rubbish (yes, I realise that is the normal state of affairs with me)

3.      Appearance wise, go for ‘sultry’ not ‘slutty’

I’m so pleased Sister Two stipulated ‘appearance’ here.  Clearly if you want to act slutty that is absolutely fine (Mum:  I promise I did neither)

 4.      Don’t order  salad, guys love a girl that can eat

Yup, absolutely no problem with that one.  I had a pudding too :o)

5.      Take a tooth-pick and compact mirror to deal with the piece of spinach that will undoubtedly become lodged between your front teeth….

I honestly took floss with me…

6.      Don’t talk about ex’s.

I mentioned an ex’s mum…I don’t think that counts though, does it?

7.       Be yourself, otherwise it won’t last when they find out who you really are

Brilliant tip.  I was myself.  (Only a slightly less chaotic version, to my surprise.  I acted like an adult for the duration.  I know, impressive isn’t it?)

 8.      When arranging to meet, make sure you don’t inadvertently find that you are standing outside the gents loos!

Understood – arranged to meet in the car park instead.  Very classy.

9.      if you don’t have instant chemistry be honest and leave quickly – no point wasting a whole evening !!

This was a little confusing as I also received 10)

10.    Give it a chance – the chemistry may come later

So which one….?

11.    Booking a ticket to fly halfway across Europe the next day for a first date with someone you’ve never even spoken to on the phone works…

I’d love to have the conviction to do this….but I drove 5 miles down the road

12.    When you’re married, treat every anniversary like a first date

Oh we are a looong way from that!

So I followed the tips – well, 1-8.  Number 9 and 10 confused me as there wasn’t much chemistry, but as I said, on paper he seemed perfect.  As we left he asked to see me again.   Two hours later he texted me to say he looked forward to meeting again.  And then nothing in reply to the text he’d requested I send to let him know when I was free.  Nothing for the next few days.   So I contacted Intro Lady who mailed me to let me know ‘there will be no second date’.  He felt there was no chemistry :o(

I was slightly annoyed that he’d suggested meeting up again for no reason but actually it was probably a good thing.  Because thinking about it in retrospect, I now have a few additional tips of my own which you might like to use yourself or  pass on:

  • If your date meets you with the words ‘I’m not feeling great as I’ve had a migraine all day’ and doesn’t crack a smile when you congratulate them on getting in the excuses to leave early already, they either a) have had a very bad migraine and shouldn’t have come out or b) have no sense of humour.
  • If someone quotes poetry at you within 10 minutes of meeting (especially the sort that doesn’t rhyme and is in fact just a string of random words with no discernable meaning), ‘that’s nice’ is apparently not a great response.
  • If you find yourself having a slightly heated argument on whether a child needs to be brought up in a ‘traditional’ family setting, you may not be looking at the most relaxing evening.
  • If you ask your date what he wants to be doing in 5 years time and he says’ exactly the same as I am now’, he may be lacking a little enthusiasm for…anything.
  • If your date mentions that he ‘definitely wants children in the near future’ within the first hour of meeting…well, that’s just scary.

So, it wasn’t the best evening but I was really proud of myself for going.  And you know how they say, when one door closes, another one opens?  Well, you won’t believe what happened next!  I’ll tell you about that next time. :o)

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A lovely break

Posted on April 9, 2012 by thepogblog

I’ve not blogged in ages.  It’s because I have had a whole, luxurious 2 weeks and one day off work and it has been fantabulous.  I’ve done a few bits and pieces…the couple of more interesting bits I’ll tell you about later in the week, but just in case you think I may have had my feet up and been lazing rather than blogging, I have:

  • Cycled 110 miles (in total…not in one go)
  • Played assistant with re-felting the shed roof
  • Made a blanket from old shunken jumpers
  • Bought an embroidery machine 
  • Learned to use the embroidery machine

    tooth fairy pillows embroidered and made by me :o)

  • Taught Sister 2 to use the embroidery machine (!)
  • Made around 50 snoozey bunnies
  • Hand delivered 32 snoozey bunnies
  • Received one complaint that the snoozey bunny fur was ‘not the tone expected’
  • Caught up with friends I’ve not seen in too long
  • Been to a gig (I think it may have been my first!)
  • Had my third farmers market (and forgot one of the crates of stock.  There are only 5)
  • And met mum and dad’s tame robin

And the rest you’ll have to wait for.  But I think you’ll like :o)

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The Singing Cyclist

Posted on March 25, 2012 by thepogblog

In my family, all our pets have personailities and appropriate ‘voices’ to go with them.  It is perfectly normal to over hear Sister 1 having a two sided conversation with Bert the Boxer dog (with a little help from Sister 2).  It’s not just our pets either.  We chat with any animals that look like they might be feeling a little vocal.

Yesterday morning while out on my bike I approached one of my Magical Mystical birds on an isolated private road (readers of this blog from a while back will recognise this species). 

‘Morning Mr Magical Mystical bird’ I called.

I was listening to a mix of songs on my ipod from a few years back (I know, I probably shouldn’t cycle listening to music but we’re not getting into that now).  I thought Mr MM Bird might appreciate a sing song.

‘Hey!  My Magical Mystical bird….don’t cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?’  I sung at the top of my voice. 

And he chuckled.  Then I realised that erm…the chuckle was from behind me.  Was, in fact, from a cyclist right behind me who clearly did not wish his girlfriend was hot like me.  To be fair, I was more ‘sweaty’ than ‘hot’ so any sane person would have probably felt the same.  Even Mr MM Bird disappeared rather rapidly…

I think I need a new playlist….or a new cycle route :o)

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An ALMOST professional Pog…

Posted on March 22, 2012 by thepogblog

It’s been a hectic week. Old age has set in and Sunday night I was ‘enjoying’ Sunday dinner (a sarnie) at Euston station en route to Milton Keynes. Happily, this was because I was on the way to the second part of the course I started a few weeks back. ‘Happily’ because the course was great, the people were all lovely and the food there is amazing. Also, I stay away from home infrequently enough to get a little kick out of the free shampoo and shower gel (I know. I’m sad. You don’t need to say it.)

All was going well. This time I didn’t suggest any Irish people were from Argentina and no Brummies were unintentionally relocated to Australia. No, this time was worse.

We finished the first day, had a three course meal together and, realising I may have over indulged a little on the Sauvingnon Blanc, I went to my room at a very reasonable time. Just as I climbed into bed, the fire alarm went off. I did that weird thing that fire alarms make you do – standing still with your head on one side waiting for it to stop. It didn’t. I pulled my jeans and a jumper over my nightie and left my room. Then I went back for the Blackberry of Evil (I really can’t manage without it now) then I left.

As I stood outside with a few hundred other people (who all seemed to be fully dressed and made up) I felt a bit daft with no make up, scary hair and my nightie escaping from my jumper. At least we were in the dark though. But no, that would have been too easy.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, the fire service have cleared the bar area so please wait in there until the rest of the centre has been checked’.

Lovely bright lights highlighted my terrible bedtime look…so much for appearing professional!

Still, it could have been worse – one lady appeared in her nightie and coat….carrying a jug of milk. As you do. Hooray that it wasn’t me! :o)

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Oldness

Posted on March 16, 2012 by thepogblog

When I was born my dad bought my mum a small rhododendron.   

It’s 36 years old today – well actually, I suppose it’s not…as it was already ‘small’ rather than ‘newborn’ when Dad bought it, but hopefully you get the idea.

It blooms every year on my birthday (weather permitting).  Pretty isn’t it?  :o)

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Wheels and Feathers

Posted on March 13, 2012 by thepogblog

I did another bike ride this morning and it didn’t make me feel sick (yay me!).  I was faster than the last few rides too so either I’m getting fitter or I should have removed the ‘protective’ layer of mud, oiled the chain and pumped the tyres up a while back…

It was quite early when I left this morning (7am ish) so why I decided I needed the Blackberry of Evil with me I don’t know.  I don’t seem to be able to go very far without it at all these days.  Anyway, I didn’t do any e-mails on the way round but I was pleased I took it as I finally got a picture of him:

well you can just about see him!

He’s a pheasant that seems to spend his time in the same spot, often playing ‘I’m the king of the castle’ from what I now view as his tree stump.  I saw a friend of his too, but he was looking scared and hiding at the edge of the farmers field and I could almost hear him say ‘please don’t stop and draw attention to me’.  Then I heard a loud BANG and realised why he looked a bit panicked (ok, this may be a bit fanciful but it is possible.  Kind of).  Yes, the pheasant hunters were out and suddenly I felt a bit grumpy about it.

There are some woods opposite where my parents live and they hunt in there.  Dad was telling me the other day that it’s not exactly a fair match as beaters go ahead of those with guns to scare the birds out of the undergrowth.  They are so close to my parents that some shells fell in their kitchen roof a few weeks back.  So dad has adopted a strategy.  Every so often when they shoot he stands outside and makes an ‘ARRRRRGH!  I’ve been shot’ sort of a shout.  It seemed quite a good idea this morning, so as I came closer to where the shots were I did the same :o)

I think I will do this each time I hear them from now (as long as nobody else is around, obviously).  Those pheasants are a bit daft and need a few of us humans on their side.

Besides, it distracts me from the effort involved in cycling and it is a slightly different way to start the day :o)

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Market Trader Pog: round two

Posted on March 12, 2012 by thepogblog

My alarm went off at 5.30am on Sunday.  It wasn’t an accident this time – it was informing me that it was time to get up and get organized for my second farmers market.  It was very different this month (thank you Pog Fairy*).  There was no snow storm, no ice and my thermometer was giving a positive rather than a below zero reading.  Last month apparently the temperature at the market was clocked at -7…  It still wasn’t quite tropical, but I did manage to take off my cardigan at one point, which left me rather scantily clad in a jumper, long sleeved top, scarf and thermal vest (scantily clad for me then).

Another bonus is that mummyW stayed .  mummyW is not known for her ‘sitting around’ skills and did much wandering.  It still must have been insufficient to entertain her though – I even persuaded her to sing to me to give her something to do (if tra la la ing ‘Deck the Halls with boughs of holly’ at me constitutes singing)…

So, observations of this markets month:

Ahhh moment: My youngest customer to date (5 week old Matilda) asking her daddy to buy her the hat she’d decided to model.  SUCH a cutie!

Beautiful Matilda in a Lovely Hat

Oooh moment: Realising that people look very, very different when not wearing their entire wardrobe and exposing only their eyes (as was the case with just about everyone there in February)

Lovely moment: My aunt arriving with even MORE cookies than she bought last time (with strict instructions to ‘share’ ;o))

Lovely moment 2: Having people visit who might not have gone if I’d not been there – my aunt, my cousin, a series of 2nd cousins, a sister 2,  sister 1’s boyfriend and sister 1’s dog, a friend from my school days and her daughter (wow, that’s a lot of lovely people!)

Lovely Moment 3:  A little girl (and her toy cat, Ginger) choosing one of my new line – Sitting Ducks – and wandering off squealing with excitement ‘I’m going to call him STRIIIPEY.  I love STRIIIIIPEY’

STRIIIPEY!

Dog moment:  There were lots, but the one that sticks in my head was the huge mass of black fur that wandered past with what looked like a saddle on his back.  Well it could have been.  I’ve seen bigger Shetland ponies…

Hilarious moment:  Sister 1’s boyfriend thinking a little girl was pointing at his dog wanting to stroke her and realizing she was pointing at him, trying to work out why she had bare arms (he’s covered in tattoos)

Weird moment: Realising there is clearly a shortage of snoozy bunnies in Kent  – while making them on the stall I was selling them almost as fast as I was finishing them!  (Should you want a snoozy bunny of your own, they have been breeding and are once again available.  A perfect alternative to chocolate for a little person at Easter and only £3.50! – mail me at hello@poggyw.co.uk to get a better deal on postage than on the website ;o))

Happy moment : Taking more money than last month :o)

I could get used to this market malarkey (as long as it’s only sun that falls out of the sky).  The other bods there – stall holders and customers are lovely, and it’s the best people watching mum and I have done in ages.  I got to eat amazing food (well you have to try a selection at these places) and I even got makingness done while I was there.  What more could a girl want on a Sunday? (apart from maybe a slightly later alarm!)

:o)

*A Pog fairy is a little known creature that looks after Pogs.  (When it has nothing better to do).  You probably have one too.  A fairy, not a Pog.  Luckily for most there are very few Pogs around…

setting up...

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Any regrets?

Posted on March 8, 2012 by thepogblog

Well, I was going to tell you in this post about my long day yesterday that started at 4.30am with the alarm and (almost) finished as I got in as 12.30am.  I was going to mention how I managed to introduce myself to some colleagues who were in London from the US with scrambled egg congealing in my hair. And how I did that thing where I put my tights on with one leg slightly twisted which made me feel like my leg had been put on at the wrong angle all day…

But actually I’m going to be relatively sensible.  Last night I went to the leaving do of a really, really lovely colleague.  In her leaving speech she mentioned a weird conversation she’d had the night before (with the colleagues I’d met with breakfast congealing in my hair…I may not have seemed quite as odd to them as I originally thought).  They’d discussed the findings of a study of the top five regrets of the dying.

They were these:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

They’re a pretty good guide in life whether you are a really, really lovely colleague, a drunken minion (as I was last night) or if you are a….Norman cat. (ok, maybe Norman would only be bothered about the amount of food he may have missed out on over time,  but you get my drift…)

Worth thinking about maybe?

:o)

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