Consumerism and Christmas

Heyy, 

Nine days to go until the big day and I seem to be the only one who is prepped with everything bought pretty much and half of it wrapped already. This year I feel very organized. Last year not so much and next year who effing knows. All I know is that right now I kinda have my shit together. 

I do feel though that whilst my own Christmas list gets longer and longer each and every year with more books, bath bombs or alcohol, I do feel sometimes as though Christmas does become so embroiled in consumerism and material items. 

An article was written back in December 2018 from The Conversation still, I feel, rings true today. The commercialization of the festive period, from column inches about Christmas adverts and who has got what and where, to the appearance of gifts and merchandise on shelves, sometimes more than three months before Santa appears just eats into the spirit of things, and I have to be honest, that for me, it does. Like, is it just me or does Christmas seem to arrive earlier and earlier in the shops and supermarkets these days? 

In 2017, some estimates say that people in the UK spent on average around an extra £500 in December. That is a lot of money on what can only be assumed to be creating an atmosphere. The presents, the joy, the food, the entertainment. It all can add up. I can understand why. As this year will be the first year I am hosting, I can totally feel the pressure to get prepped and ready and organised so that I can relax and enjoy the time we all have with friends and families, especially given the circumstances last year. Now I am not hosting Christmas Day and luckily not Boxing Day either, but the day after (27th) I am due to be hosting a banging buffet. Do I know what I am buying? No. My Plan? Wing it and head to the reduced section in the days that lead up to it and buy what is on offer and what people will like, filling in the remaining bits and bobs as and when I need. 

This is however not what many people do. And rather than save all year round (because it is with no shock that Christmas day is on 25th December the year and will be the same next year and the year after) so really there is no excuse for not saving or being prepared. Because we want to show to people that we care about them and that we love them, and we tend to show this by purchasing gifts, sometimes lavishly and beyond our means. But for the high street and for internet retailers it’s hugely important. Estimates say somewhere between 20% and 40% of annual turnover is done over this period of really just a couple of months. For many retailers, Christmas is the time where they could make it or break it, and in recent years we have seen how broken it can get with the high street giants of Debenhams, Beales, Toys R Us, HMV, and others falling under and failing to keep their head above water. 

However when I think back to Christmas memories of mine, some of the things I remember most were not the presents but the people I was with. Aunties and Uncles, Grandparents and Siblings. To me, that’s the most important part of Christmas, well that and the food and the parties and the outfits and the drinking - And pressies. Does that make me materialistic? Who knows, but what I do know is that I think next year things might change and priorities will change to who needs what and how much. Christmas needs to become a time of memories and fun and happiness rather than who spent what and how many presents are in my stocking. Bring on Christmas 2022!

'Til next time, Love A.Lou x

Remember, if you would like to purchase anything then please feel free to check out my store at: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Wooftys or visit our Instagram @WooftysDogTreats and use "TATOATS21" to get 10% off your first order over £15.00.

Late Nights & Christmas Lights

Hi Everyone, 

Goodbye snotty nose, cough, and dry throat! For once I am sickness-free and finally totally back to little old me again. But that might not stay as I have my COVID booster booked in this week. 

Whilst we discussed last week that many more people have been not only singularly but doubly vacc'd, some people, like yours truly has even been offered a third vaccine to protect them from this disease and all of its variants and mutations. Government figures show that so far, 89% of people aged 12 and over in the UK have had their first vaccine dose, 81% have had their second and 36% have had a booster. The BBC confirms there have been more than half a million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK in the last week, however, the number of dead has not increased since my last blog post.

The British broadcaster's website explains in an article by James Gallagher, a Health and science correspondent, that whilst some scientists have described the new variant of  COVID19 (Omicron) as milder than earlier versions of Coronavirus, such as Delta. Although of course, it would not be fair to only listen and read up on one side of the argument. And so we need to establish that science in its very nature is rather subjective and as such, some academics in the Science industry have claimed that Omicron had such a long list of mutations that it was being described in articles as "horrific" and the worst variant they'd seen. 

Omicron, named by the World Health Organization, following the pattern of Greek code-names like the Alpha and Delta variants has now been detected in more than 30 countries and there are signs it may be able to bypass some of our immunity. Great! But a lot of mutation doesn't automatically mean: bad. It is important to know what those mutations are actually doing explains James Gallagher in the article. 

Whilst there are fears that Omicron could be more infectious and less responsive to vaccines personally feel as though the aforementioned "precautions" are being taken a little too prematurely. At least wait until scientists can properly assess what the new variant's impact could be and then jump into Hands-Face-Space-Repeat. But then I suppose if this did all blow up and went to shit we would all be blaming BoJo and his friends for not acting quickly enough. Like a lot of people I know, I am totally unnerved and somewhat untrusting of the government, especially after the shit show that was last Christmas and the close to years in totality we have now had to spent locked in, locked down, and isolated. 

All we can do is hope and pray and enjoy our freedom as it stands at the moment. And I did such that on Saturday even when, as always, I went for a nice relaxed and quiet catch-up with Miss Hackney and Miss Sugar-Coat. It was the first time since Mr Warehouse and I got married that I had seen Miss Sugar-Coat and I was excited to fill her in and hear all about her life too. But as it always happens (and I don't know why I thought this time would be any different) no sooner had our food arrived on the table at Baja, a casual Mexican restaurant in the heart of Bedford Town, we were already planning to leave. 

Not one to turn down an invite, Miss Hackney and I "joined" Miss Sugar-Coat and basically gate-crashed her work Christmas party. A good few hours of drinking ensued, several shots of Tequila and many bottles of wine and champagne, many we had not put our hand in our pocket for. It wasn't long before we were dancing on the top floor of some nightclub and stealing fresh air and conversing with all sorts of messy characters. As the night progressed, Miss Hackney and I left Miss Sugar-Coat and her colleagues to it and headed to another bar. Although we were refused entry to one, goodness knows why and nearly kicked out of another for smuggling in a bottle of Rose. Within a couple of hours though I was headfirst into a bin and remembering what my Chimichanga tasted like the first time. 

The following day I woke up, remembering how Mr. Warehouse was collecting our nieces and nephews this afternoon so we could have a Christmas craft day whilst their Mom and Dad helped "Santa" out with some last-minute bits. I had hoped that it would be a quiet afternoon in front of the telly, cuddled up with snacks watching The Grinch. I mean it worked for a little bit, and the crafts and colouring allowed me another hour or so but boredom was afoot. However, on noticing we have yet to put up our decorations there was soon "something" to do. Dreading it I was actually pleasantly surprised that the tree wasn't top-heavy being decorated all in one place with little hands. I was quite proud of my youngest Nephew, taking on the role of chief detangler of Christmas tree lights and deputy tree dresser. 

And so as I sit here now, dogs cuddled up around me and Mr Warehouse watching the football, we are sat here in the glow of the Christmas tree, all in the knowledge that had the kids not pestered me to get up from my pit and dress the house in Xmas joy and tinsel, then it would have been another weekend passing without decorations in our home. I don't know why they abolished child labour, they seem to have so much fun, and secretly, so did I. 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou x

Remember, if you would like to purchase anything then please feel free to check out my store at: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Wooftys or visit our Instagram @WooftysDogTreats and use "TATOATS21" to get 10% off your first order over £15.00.

More Sleepless Nights

Evening,  

Going into the new year I was less than positive about 2021. Sat there on New Year's eve, probably for the first time in my adult life, tucked up in bed and watching the fireworks, albeit last years London skyline performance.

So the story goes (yes I know going off on a sideline but trust me this is both worth it just for the laugh and also to confirm that I am still as ditsy as when I first started this blog nearly a decade ago), numb-nuts here figured that since it was quarter to midnight she would watch a couple of nail art compilations and then she would just type into Youtube and find a live stream of the celebrations in the capital. Sure great idea. Only the video I chose to watch was very worrying with people crowding the banks of the River Thames and marshalls and police doing nothing to disperse the gatherings and seemingly enjoying the dancing and celebrating too. Swaths of people lined the streets and amidst my dismay, for lack of social distancing, I felt lucky to have tuned in with just ten-seconds to go. Beckoning our little pup to my chest I sat up in bed as Mr Warehouse slept soundly next to me. The skies suddenly lit up outside in the street with colourful fireworks and loud pops and bangs. Blue laser's flashed through the dark night as I stood at the window, pup in arms watching and telling him to "shh" at every sound. He seemed fascinated. Mr Warehouse on the other hand was unimpressed with being awoken in such an unsavoury manner.

Feeling successfully fulfilled I switched over to some videos about horror stories or Amazon finds before settling down and falling asleep. Waking in the morning I informed my fiance of the farce that was the fireworks in London I had witnessed the night before, and, watching it again on demand this time for his benefit I soon realised that this was not the same thing I had watched last night. Even then I did not notice the error of my ways and instead thought I had watched something maybe from Channel 4 or another live stream randomly on the internet. It was not until I noted looking through my Youtube history showing Mr Warehouse what I had seen that I realised, stupidly that I had been watching the fireworks and celebrations from New Year's Eve - 2019. Apparently, 2020 wasn't that bad and my sub-conscience would like to relive it again, please.

I must admit I felt silly and low and behold it has not improved much in the four-days since then as just hot off the press, Boris Johnson has called a press conference this evening confirming that despite Christmas being cancelled, despite most of the UK going into the most severe of tiers (Tier 4) and despite a vaccine being rolled out with mass inoculating taking place (apparently) we are going into yet another nationwide Lockdown. And there was me complaining several weeks ago that many areas including London, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire amongst other in the South East in basically fucking lockdown number 3 and how it was going to be the first time in my entire life that I would not be spending Christmas with my family. If only I knew then what I do now - Although to be fair another Lockdown was absolutely on the cards and almost inevitable and unavoidable as case numbers and deaths have sored over the festive period because people can't fucking keep it together. 

But the frustrating thing is that I get it. As I mentioned last week, with everything that has happened in the last twelve months and how much has been stolen from not just me but my family as well, missing out on BBQ's, parties, seeing loved ones, birthdays, new babies, holidays and our damned fucking wedding (which I still and almost even more-so now don't feel totally optimistic about going ahead at the moment) would anyone blame anyone else for wanting to act out?

After starting my new job today and soaking up as much as my little brain (and I emphasize little referring you to the earlier mishap with said NYE celebrations) could take, I am extremely on edge now about everything. The rug has well and truly been ripped out from beneath my feet and I am now second-guessing every move I have made. Was this the right decision to move jobs? Was now a great time to start somewhere new? Can I do this? Am I able to learn a job fully remotely and continue working from home for what could potentially be the next quarter? Will I be furloughed? Will I be laid off? And that is what is spinning round in my head right now and that's without the constant grinding thoughts about the wedding or starting a family or just organising the spare room. No wonder I can't sleep at night. I just don't know how much more of this I can take.

* Breathes *

Despite all my hopes and the need to keep at the forefront of my mind that things will get better; That this for it is only a temporary measure, a small blip on what will hopefully be an extensive lifetime of amazing things - I just hope that this is all worth the wait, worth the purging for and worth the sacrifices we have all had to make so that we can all get back to a bit more normality.

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Another year over and done with ...

Afternoon All,  

It goes without saying that last week's blog post was an emotional one and to be honest, the last few weeks have been since Saturday 19th December 2020 when that prat BoJo cancelled Christmas for millions across the Home Counties, despite the Prime Minister saying days beforehand that it would be “inhuman” to do so. 

Following the emergency announcement that our area was going into the most severe of tiers within hours (Tier 4) Mr Warehouse and I had to work out which side of the fence we were going to side with. Were we going to throw caution to the wind, say "fuck you Boris and Corona" and essentially carry on as planned and hope not to get caught out by the law; Or were we going to stick to what Government had advised and simply go without this Christmas in seeing friends and family? We chose the latter however with everything that has happened this year and how much has been stolen from not just me but my family as well, missing out on BBQ's, parties, seeing loved ones, birthdays, new babies, holidays and our damned fucking wedding (which I don't feel totally optimistic about going ahead next year either at the moment) would anyone blame us for wanting to act out?

But alas we did not. After much discussion, deliberation and heated debate (maybe some would call it an argument) Mr Warehouse and I settled on our Christmas 2020 plans. I called the restaurant for our traditional Christmas eve meal and cancelled our booking, something which I have not not done in all my 29 years. I called the venue we were due to visit on and have our Christmas dinner and again cancelled our plans. Boxing day I planned out which places I could still go out and do a spot of retail therapy in preparation for Christmas 2021, hoping it will be better. I booked in at the dentist and planned out "COVID-friendly" things to occupy my time whilst off work between Christmas and New Year - Tidy the spare room, spring clean the house, wallpaper the bedroom and list all those bits on eBay. 

Christmas eve was started watching daytime telly whilst munching on mince pies and a great big mug of coffee, hoping against all hopes that it would fill the hole. It didn't. I wanted nothing more for my morning binge to be interrupted by a news bulletin stating that we got it all wrong or that the PM had a change of heart or something. With Christmas bubbles axed and many areas including London, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire amongst other in the South East in basically fucking lockdown number 3 it was going to be the first time in my entire life that I would not be spending it with my family. I suppose you could even really think of it as the first Christmas I have spent with just my own little family, and maybe the last one as just me and my fiance as next year we anticipate a huge shin-dig and the following year we will hopefully have a little Christmas pudding of our own?

* pukes in mouth for being so sickeningly sweet and wholesome *

That afternoon Mr Warehouse and I went shopping and grabbed some bits for dinner that night and subsequent days in which we should have either been eating out or with others, something I know many other will have experienced in buying in food and bits when they had not expected such expense. Braving the shops and grabbing a few bits I knew we would like for picky-teas and snacking on, I knew that there are many more hundreds of thousands of families that are far worse off than I am and now, like us, they need to try and make the best and scrape together to make Christmas as best as they can. At least we had jobs to pay for the food in our basket. At least we had a roof over our heads. At least Mr Warehouse and I had each other. Rounding off the day with a KFC take-out and a Christmas film we headed to bed and anticipated Santa's arrival in the morning.

Dawn soon broke and after a peaceful sleep, something I have struggled with and still am since the new restrictions were in place, we headed downstairs to start the FaceTimes and WhatsApp video calls. Opening presents and gifts we had received from my Dad and his wife I was delighted with my box of mince pies, Chocolates and Phillip Schofield autobiography (not started it yet and will probably remain on my bookshelf for many months to come until my next holiday). Mr Warehouse also seemed pleased with his beer bread making kit, mint chocolate collection and football memorabilia.

After a long and chilly dog walk with our little one (our older pooch just can't handle long walks anymore and our fear of her hurting herself attempting it just isn't worth the pain of her puppy dog eyes when the leads come out) we stopped by the local village pub and picked up our Christmas dinner takeaway and headed home, gravy daintily positioned on my lap with Mr Warehouse all the while under strict instructions to drive carefully and not spill any of the boiling liquid. Once home we settled in for the afternoon and soon it was time to open my gifts from Mr Warehouse. Copious amounts of gin, a bottle of Baileys, make-up brushes and most of the stock items from LUSH not to mention the much needed and highly anticipated stationary for my new job (which, by this time next week I would have completed my first day in the office - Eeek!) With Christmas dinner done and out the way Mr Warehouse and I cuddled on the sofa with our dogs and binged on Xmas telly.

Truth be told it was a relief to have it all over and done with for another year, just finishing off what a shitty year it has been cannot come fast enough. I cannot begin to tell you how angry and depressed I have felt these last few days. And yes depressed is a strong word however I feel that it is relevant and strong enough for what I and others have and are still feeling. You know I am sure from previous posts and blogs that I do not use the words surrounding depression or mental health lightly and instead hope they add to the gravitas this situation needs. Yes my Christmas was not as bad as I had expected or as worse as I had made out in my head

All this being said however, I need to keep at the forefront of my mind that things will get better than this for it is only a temporary measure. I just hope that this is all worth the wait, worth the purging so that Mr Warehouse and I can finally have the year we were meant to have in 2020.

'Til next year, Love A.Lou xx

A Tale of Sorcery & Spooks

Hello One and All, 

So after smacking my head heavy off the corner of the ice-rink entrance last week, I was dazed a little to say the least. Whilst Mr Warehouse was pissing himself, literally nearly dying from lack of oxygen due to laughing so hard, I was starting to feel the effects of such a crash landing. I had stopped for a little, more so to give my leggies a rest more than anything, although sitting down Mr Warehouse stopped laughing and made a comment about how I didn't look well. The truth was that I didn't feel well. I felt sick. Like as if I was going to vomit. My skin felt weird, like that kind of flu-ey skin you get when you are ill. I couldn't concentrate, my eyes desperately trying to focus on anything. Something wasn't right. Reaching up to my head I felt searing hot pain spread across my skull accompanying a huge lump. At the size of an orange, I began getting irritable, shaking for no reason. 

I decided that after some painkillers, although truth be told I really could have done with going to Accident and Emergency but I didn't want to worry anyone or spoil my Nephew's birthday. Snoozing most of Sunday, I knew that things were not good when on day three you still have symptoms. Returning to work on Monday was like a whole other challenge as for the first time all weekend I had to really focus my attention on something important, like my job. Answering the phone, listening and concentrating on the screens all became harder and nausea didn't help. NHS guidelines state that it's totally normal to have symptoms such as a slight headache, feeling nauseous or dazed and these can last anywhere up to 2 weeks. Where I was normally on the ball I simply couldn't take it in, sometimes taking several attempts to read the simplest of sentences, not good for a busy and fast-paced environment. As the week progressed I felt better but realistically I should have gone to the hospital. The problem is I do not get paid for being off sick, apart from statutory sick pay from the Government (£70 a week - But when I earn more than £70 a day there isn't much point unless I am dying). 

I am glad for the feeling of "normal" to return because Friday was Bestie time! Miss Tweedle-Dee and I headed for a day out, checking into a hotel for a cheeky sleepover and hanging out in the City until nightfall! My dinner date was at The Alchemist on Bevis Mark. Describing itself as a new home for The Alchemist’s unique brand of cocktail bars & restaurants in Aldgate, Bevis Marks naturally attracted curiosity and with a unique location, it was a natural choice - Standing out as a glint of pure gold amidst the charcoal & black suits of the London’s business district. Suffice to say that The Alchemist does its business in a decidedly different way. Walking in the impressive golden bar gave way to a quieter restaurant area and a beautiful outdoor terrace, a perfect place for glorious sun and warm summer nights. However, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I had to settle with the fading winter sun to sample a selection of exquisite cocktails and stunning food, all accompanied by a theatrical experience. 

Starting our evening early I entered a world of theatre as my "Sailors Punch" Cocktail told its own story. Inspired by the spirits & flavours within, the molecular madness in an augmented reality started when Sailor Jerry Rum, Banana liquor, Pineapple & Coconut Bristol Syrup, and a dash of Citrus all turned up on a weird lined coaster. But using the App I downloaded it turned my drink into a far-flung Desert Islands where Pirates poached and Mermaids Merried. Miss Tweedle-Dee made a great decision - The Banoffee Manhattan! Espresso sloshed with a good helping of Monkey Shoulder Whisky, a few squirts of Monin Banana, tickled with Briottet Banana and brought alive by the dreamy Banoffee Foam! 

To. Die. For. 

Not feeling hungry I opted for a sharing starter platter consisting of BBQ Wings, Nachos, Pork Bon Bons, Mac ‘N’ Cheese Bites, Halloumi Sticks and Veg Sticks & Houmous. Finishing up before making a dash to our evening entertainment I chose my final cocktail of the night - The Colour Changing One! Grey Goose Vodka twisted with Briottet Apple, splashed with Soda, sparkled with Citrus and a little sprinkle of Magic. had this dry-ice drink changing colours from deep navies into vibrant pinks and mysterious purples. Watching the time we fast-walked to Aldgate Station to meet a man. Sounds creepy by we were actually about to encounter something much, much spookier as we dove into 1888. 

A Christmas present to my future Maid Of Honour, the Jack the Ripper walk offered a truly atmospheric route.  Miss Tweedle-Dee and I were guided (along with others, that would just be weird) into the old, narrow alleyways where we most certainly felt like we had been transported back to the mean streets of the Victorian East End. Along the tour, our guide, an ex-MI5 police investigator and anti-terror detective accompanied us to the murder sites and locations related to the Jack the Ripper murders. Learning more than just about the murders, I must say after doing so many different versions of the Jack The Ripper tours over my years of fascination, the guide - Who had served not only in the police force but undertaken military exercises including Afghanistan, Belfast and the Falklands - an almost exact background to my father, was incredible. Hosting several investigations into who the Ripper was and having detailed documentaries under his belt diving into the possibilities and struggles the forces had in catching him I was enthralled. By the end of the walk, not only was I exhausted and in need of my bed, but I also wanted to take this guy out for a pint and listen to all his fascinating stories and tales.

By the following morning, I was refreshed after a wonderful sleep in the hotel and after a light breakfast, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I departed, but not before commenting on how we should do something like that again. I mentioned a weekend in Edinburgh - Castles, Instgram-worthy photoshoots and Haunted tours galore. But the long journey and costly expense of it all wasn't something that was within reach at the moment, especially since Miss Tweedle-Dee is only a few months off being a fully-fledged adult like moi and having a mortgage. Maybe we will have to park that on the shelf that requires bigger bank balances along with sleepover's in deranged Liverpool mental asylums and hunting down a UK Horror Convention. 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

London - Practically perfect in every way ...

Heyy, 

With many wedding plannings afoot, Mr Warehouse and I decided to take a break and head to London for the day, partly to celebrate Valentines Day, our last as a Fiancee and Fiance, but also as a Merry Christmas Pressie to our Beau. I had promised him that I would take him to go and see his favourite Disney film in theatres - Mary Poppins! As the website suggests Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s have collaborated in order to create a multi-award-winning musical. Playing at the Prince Edward Theatre, this is the timeless and magical story of the world’s favourite Nanny. Being triumphantly and spectacularly brought to the stage with dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs. MaryPoppinsOnStage.co.uk goes into detail about the cast, starring Zizi Strallen, returning to play the title role following great acclaim on the recent sell-out international tour along with co-stars Charlie Stemp as Bert, Joseph Millson as Mr Banks, Amy Griffiths as Mrs Banks and the legendary Petula Clark as The Bird Woman. "The stage production of Mary Poppins is brilliantly adapted from the wonderful stories by PL Travers and the original film.  It is co-created by Cameron Mackintosh and has a book by Oscar-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes. With a timeless score by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman including the classic songs; Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Feed the Birds with new songs and additional music and lyrics, including Practically Perfect, by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe."

However, as we attended the third ticket office we were met with the same response, and unless we were willing to pay over £150.00 PER TICKET then we were in no way going to be able to afford such an affair. Unfortunately the combination of booking slightly last minute and more so the fact of it being half-term holidays for kids, Londoners or otherwise, it was going to be damned impossible to get any sort of supposed discounted or cheap tickets. Disappointingly I accepted that it was not meant to be, but promised Mr Warehouse I would take him to see it again soon, maybe a weekday evening, before the play shuts for good in June 2020. 

Instead, we decided to grab Costa Coffee (well I did). Indulging in the new Valentines Day inspired drink, made with Ruby cocoa that gives the drink a stunning natural rose pink colour - The new Ruby Hot Chocolate. Infused with sweet berry flavours, crowned with a swirl of cream and finished with red shimmer chocolate curls it certainly was not Slimming World friendly. 

Following our little pitstop, I decided to take my future Husband to the wondrous world of Borough Market with all its tidbits and nibbles. As its website reveals, Borough Market is rich with history, but it remains as relevant now as it has ever been. As London’s oldest food market, it has been serving the people of Southwark for 1,000 years, and that extraordinary heritage is an important part of its appeal. However, despite the array and variety of the food on offer, it was far, far too busy for Mr Warehouse to even entertain eating something overpriced and Hipster and so we left, empty-handed and slightly hungry. 

Next stop, throughout the horrendous weather storm Dennis was inflicting on us and the rest of the country was the Tower of London. Included in the ticket price (which we used a 2-for-1 offer, I ain't made of money) are captivating stories of pain and passion, treachery and torture on the Yeoman Warder tour, a chance to meet the famous ravens and discover why they are known as the guardians of the Tower and a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the breathtakingly world-famous collection of 23,578 gemstones and crowns of the state. 

The weather truth be told was horrid, that frustrating combination of spitting rain and high-speed winds that made for a pretty miserable day out in the City. And so, following our visit we headed to the tube in search of Absurd Bird in London's Soho District, something I have been begging to take Mr Warehouse to ever since I first tried in in Bath with Miss Tweedle-Dee during our trip to HMP Shepton Mallet (Haunted Happenings at Her Majesty's Pleasure). Advertising itself as "Deep South Fried Chicken, Wings, Waffles & Cocktails", Absurd Bird hit the spot, even for a weary Mr Warehouse who selected a Chicken burger and onion rings. For me, I was yet again met with disappointment as the waiter informed me that there was no deep-fried Babybel on the menu and that this was taken off several months ago, much to my dismay. Instead, I drowned my sorrows with an ABBuffalo Chicken Burger with spicy buffalo sauce, garlic mayo, lettuce, tomato, blue cheese served in a brioche bun with a tangy carrot & celery slaw. This was all washed down with a BOGOF cocktail, The Green Jubel: Vodka, melon Midori, kiwi syrup & apple juice. Shaken hard with lemon juice & fresh apples - Simply Delish! 

Heading home I was glad to be back in the 'Shire. Despite the darkness and black of the now night sky, I was glad to be out of the rat-race-mentality of the Big Smoke. Now don't get me wrong, I would never admit it, but I am glad I didn't follow my earlier dream of working in the city as a 20-something. I very much doubt it would be all Bridget Jones and Notting Hill, more likely than not I would have been stuck out along the ends of the tube, ages from the hustle and bustle. I would have grown tired of the corporate events, meetings and high-powered nature of business. Now whilst I imagine the money being good, maybe very good, I eventually would have grown frustrated with the price of everything including socialising and eating out, not to mention the fact I would have never been able to afford my own home. Granted the dating scene would have been plentiful, but I would soon have eaten through the Tinder profiles and POF dates, only adding to my city-frustrations.

Yes, certainly glad to watch from afar and enjoy city living for a few hours, maybe even a few days, but I am always glad to return to the greenery of home and the peaceful surrounds of Cranfield. Yes, I could have gone to the City, earned my money and come out again, possibly even man in toe; But I know I would have gotten far too used to the pennies and would have ended up living out the rest of my days in the smog of London, miserable and bitter not looking at people or making eye contact with whilst on the tube, all after I have raged on Instagram about having to wait 2 minutes for the next tube.

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

The Best Christmas Gift of All is Family

Evening one and all, 

2020! Here. It. Is. Finally, the countdown can really begin to our wedding day! Eeek! But first I feel I need to explain as this is not only my first writing of the new decade, but also that it has been some time. Apologies as Christmas and New Years really did take over a little and I went from manic at my desk to my day job being catching up on crap telly and being Mr Warehouse's chauffeur to and from work (Unfortunately he had to work between the Christmas/New Year slump whilst I got it off). That being said I was glad of the break. 

Christmas went well. Or at least as well as to be expected. The evening before, Christmas Eve, was spent with Miss Tweedle-Dee eating fine food and drinking over-priced red wine. I had hoped that maybe Mr and Mrs Tweedle-Dumb would have been over before this point that they could have shared however this was not the case and at that precise moment were probably boarding said plane from L.A. to make the long journey back home. Nevertheless, Mr Warehouse and I were spoilt with gifts of chocolate and smellies and other treats, but the best thing was the experience vouchers she bought for us; Mr Warehouse's was an "Escape Room" experience to test our teamwork and nerves, and mine was a "Pig Petting Day". Looking on the website, Kew Little Pigs, I can tell already this is right up my street and I am ecstatic Miss Tweedle-Dee bought it for me! 

The website describes the Piggy Pet and Playday as a chance to meet a bunch of lovable new friends at Kew Little Pigs. "Discover a piggy paradise inside the petting pen for an hour and a half of fun, where you’ll meet the pigs by name, pet and play with them, and give them a good groom. The miniature pigs come in all shapes and sizes, each with their own unique personality, so guaranteed you’ll meet some real characters. Selfie seekers are always welcome, as the pigs love the spotlight and know exactly how to strike a pose!" Heading home I slipped into some new Pyjama's and desperately tried to stay awake to watch Elf - Our family Christmas movie, but with everyone cuddled up on the sofa, I could barely keep my eyes open. Heading to bed I snuggled into my plush Teddy Bear duvet set and drifted off to sleep. 

Christmas Day started well, gifts and presents from Mr Warehouse and I to our beloved animals, Frankenstein not quite understanding what was going on and our older one knowing exactly what was happening and where all the treats were! Mr Warehouse had bought some beautiful jewellery sets, earrings and necklaces as well as many a bath bomb (forever on my Christmas and Birthday Wish lists) as well as some more practical items such as salt and pepper shakers and make-up removal pads. Although I cannot be surprised when we did the Poundland Christmas Challenge. You take £10.00, visit your local Poundland (or discount retailer) and attempt to fill a stocking, in this instance for our better halves. It was such fun when doing it the weekend before Christmas, running around and hiding from each other whilst trying to sneakily hide so as not to get caught. What did I get Mr Warehouse you ask? Well, I thought that the replacement Stanley knife blades (mainly for his work), giant gummy cola bottle and water bottle all went down well as odd but appreciated presents. I think even when we have children, a big house and money is tight, I would like to always have this as our little thing we do every year. 

Following our fun, we packed up the car and headed over to my (future) brother-and-sister-in-laws house for presents with the kids, one niece and two nephews! Just as we finished unwrapping their generous gifts of more chocolate, alcohol and smellies Mr Warehouse's older brother and his wife arrived with their son and we continued the festivities until lunch. making a move we promised to see them again tomorrow and made our way to Nanny Pumpkins where the whole family was waiting for us. My Uncle from Ireland was over and so was my other uncle which was nice and my cousins were hyper full of chocolate and sugar no doubt being Christmas. Dad was on Dinner duties and Nanny was relaxing with my Auntie and a glass (or two) nattering away. Coming into the chaos I was glad to have made the decision I had to be involved this year as I was not in the best place last year. 

Just before we sat down to the feast we handed out our gifts and took receipt of mine and Mr Warehouse's appreciatively including a Chocolate Afternoon Tea experience, a meal out voucher, books, gaming gear (For the fiance) and other goodies. I noted though that Dad was quiet. After a difficult year for both of us and without going into too much detail, I wondered if I would have ever spent a Christmas with him again. I saw he was getting emotional and I knew what gift had put him there. I had thought many weeks ago about what final present I could get him when I came up with a good idea for a photo book containing as many pictures and photos of myself and my brother as possible. I knew it would cause some emotion to stir up and assumed that he would know what it was as soon as he opened it and just shuffle it away, but he didn't. He opened it and with that opened himself and started to weep in front of the family, something he was not able to do easily. I knew it was a good gift and wiping away the tears, his look told me that too.

Following dinner and pudding and games, people started to drift home, although not wanting to Mary Celeste my Nanny completely Mr Warehouse, the doggo's and I stayed for a little, chatting softly to my Nan as my Uncle dozed in the next room. It was at that point that I completely forgot about our present from our Wedding Photographer - Sophie Ann! A few days ago we had received a really sweet Christmas card from her, explaining that this was indeed my last Christmas as a Miss and that she looked forward to working with us in the new year. In there also was a raffle ticket that won a special Christmas present! We were number 37. But wait where was the raffle ticket. I panicked. Did it get thrown our with the wrapping paper rubbish? Was it tossed away? Oh god no! Searching I found it in the bottom of a gift bag and proceeded to Social Media to hunt for the big reveal. There it was for all to see. Selected number? 37! WE WON! Mr Warehouse had won a free engagement photo shoot and a chance to meet our photographer and chat before the big day. Uhhh what a weight off our mind! This truly had been one of the best Christmases in a while. No one argued, No one fought, No one drank too much. A classy Christmas all round. 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Buy Cheap, Buy Twice ... As Many!

Heyy, 

So wedding planning has been put on hold for a while, considering Halloween, Christmas and all those wintery, autumnal activities. However with Christmas fast approaching I have word from Santa and his Elves that our Tweedle is coming home for the Holidays! After a brief phone-call a moment ago with Mrs Tweedle-Dumb, I am pleased to announce that she will be coming back to the UK with her husband for Christmas, flying in on the big day and staying until New Years. Plenty of time for catch-ups, chats, sleepovers and wedding stuff. 

One of the things I really need to hammer down on and get arranged when Mrs Tweedle-Dumb is back will be the bridesmaid's dresses. Now it is all good and well-going shopping and trying on dresses, however, I know that I will never buy them from a shop and more likely to buy online, almost certainly shipping them in from China or Asia as far cheaper and generally of acceptable quality.

Now initially, back in the day, I was suspicious of the pricing and the quality of goods from Asian countries, however, whilst looking for a cheap bargain on dresses for other peoples weddings or events I was going to, I began to trust and even become pro in ordering stuff online from cheap websites such as AliExpress, Wish.com and eBay. Our culture tells us that things are priced at specific points for a reason and to question anything that is below or higher than this. 

Sizing is a big deal and I can honestly say it has been the one bugbear I have with ordering from Asian countries. There is no fat size? Now it is common knowledge that Chinese sizings often run small but some sellers are getting better and along with the bog-standard small, medium, large and extra-large, very often they will now post measurements in centimetres or inches to check against so that you order something that fits you right. This being said however they also they jump from country to country for dress sizes so be sure you are looking at the right one as a US, Australian, EU and UK dress size are not the same. Scour the listing very carefully to check which they're using, although on the other hand, if they're a Chinese designer/manufacturer and are making things for you themselves rather than a wholesaler, they will sometimes do made-to-order custom stuff, something I will definitely be keeping an eye out for when purchasing the real deal.  

Now, this is not to say everything I have ordered from the East has been a success with multiple failures, returns and refunds made along the way the last few years, nevertheless I find a lot of the time you are buying the same goods but directly from the wholesaler or manufacturer, effectively cutting out the middle man. This can mean you get the exact same product for less than you would pay in the high street or online retailers and whilst sometimes it means the product is better, sometimes it means the product is worse because of that annoying middleman would order a sample before deciding which items are worth investing in fully. You win some and you lose some but if you're happy with a gamble it could be worthwhile. 

On the subject of returns and refunds, be prepared that trying to return broken/damaged items to China are difficult at the best of times and sellers will make every effort not to accept returns, even if their listing says it does. Truth is, the return postage costs more than the original item itself so if you are going down this route, be prepared to save yourself the effort and either buy something you know you definitely want or be ready to make a decision to write off the cost.

Getting your item in the first place can always be a bit of an ordeal too and you will not have to search long or hard in order to find horror stories of dresses, wedding, bridesmaid or otherwise as well as many, many other things that are ordered and never show up. Sometimes they can take the expected four-weeks to a month to turn up, but other times they take well over that to arrive. Then again, other times, they amaze you by turning up in a week. The reasons for such a difference in postal timings is entirely dependant on the seller and their choice of the postal carrier. When it's free postage, you can't really complain though and ticking the "gift" column on customs declaration card can help smooth things along the way of providing faster delivery. Sometimes they say "commercial sample" in which case you may or may not get hit by customs charges but to avoid customs charges on personal purchases, make sure you put multiple purchases through separately and ask for separate shipping as it will save you many moula's and is completely legal in the UK - as long as you're not a business. 

And so as I placed my order through eBay (all £600.00+ of dresses) I excitedly listened to my phone ping with notifications of the orders being accepted and shipped. Initially, my thought process is to order several types of different dresses and styles to check out quality, shape, fit, sizing and colour. Then I will send them all back, get a refund and then purchase similar or even better with the middleman cut out the same dress via a China-based store/seller, thus saving in the long run. 

Yes it is a faff and yes it is a hassle, however with Mrs Tweedle-Dumb back for only a couple of short weeks, I need to make sure that what I am ordering is something that both her and Miss Tweedle-Dee will both wear and be happy in come my wedding day. The problem is that there are so many variations and even with these ones I get the girls to try on there are so many things that could change or be different about the ones ordered from China. UK ordered dresses may fit better and vice-versa or measurements might be out slightly. Don't even get me started on colours either - Is red a dark red or bright red? Is Burgandy the same colour as Wine? Are two Wines the same colour tone? Is Blush and Pink identical? Is plum actually just a lilac or a deep cherry? And what the fuck is a dusty peach? 

Calm. Stressing aside, as long as I follow all the simple guidelines I have used for years I will be fine. Remember ladies (and maybe gents too) if you are buying from far-flung destinations make sure the seller has at least 98% positive feedback, be patient and size correctly and you should be fine. She says until all twenty-odd dresses turn up either late, way too small or damaged from being thrown over the fence. 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Stuck in the Mud!

Evening one and all,

Following on from the festivities I have quite some to share with you all. Apologies for the absent nature, unfortunately with writing once a week, there would have come a time when the dates would have lay on a Christmas and New Years eve, both of which were spent drinking alcohol and eating copious amounts of chocolate and calorific foods that will probably lead me to death sooner or later. Nevertheless I have had a wonderful new years and Christmas, hope that yours also was pleasant? Mine was eventful, as it always is, lots of presents and gifts, family and friends to see and mingle with. Oh and my Dad got engaged to his girlfriend of eight years. How I feel about it? Lets just say I am taking a rain check and will be back with you soon ... 

The first few days of the New Year and my Christmas break from work have been heavily occupied with Wedding Planning (and not of my Dads'). Finally we have booked a venue, a beautiful 'T-shaped' converted old school
in a small village (smaller than the one I live in now) near to the Church we plan to marry, Mr. Warehouse's family church that everyone in his family all bar a handful have declared they're vows. In all fairness it would have been nice to have it in my family church, you know since I am the one christened and all, however with Mr. Warehouse referring to it as "The Asylum" and its less than perfect track record of my parents divorce, I struggled to find its importance to have it there, especially with the 1970's styled outside - See here! 

Now we have booked the venue the most important things come next. The Bar - Booked and we have even been able to book a free drink for everyone on arrival and even better; No charge for hiring! I suppose Mr. Warehouse and I now need to clothe ourselves, feed our guests and give them something to dance too! 

With still so much left to plan and organise, Mr. Warehouse thought we would kick off the New Year in style and after meeting with old family friend Miss Bride about her hopefully securing us a beautiful and tasty wedding cake, my fiance and I hopped in the car and headed for a wedding fair we were given free tickets too at the very grand and beautiful Knebworth House. However with the invites and tickets being about as clear as mud (we'll get onto that later) Mr. Warehouse and I drove around for ages trying to look for this place. Gate after gate after gate after frigging access gate we got too was all shut up and closed off. Searching in vain for an alternative route just lead us to another closed off access through road and with one final go of it I was determined to find this fucking place! 

However what I did not realised was that the postal code Mr. Warehouse had taken down from a sign nearby to the venue was literally in the middle of fucking no-where! going from a tarmac road with markings to a concrete  with potholes for days. Following this and our "trusted" technology lead us to a a gravelly farm track with lumps and digs I thought the car would fall into. Poor Viv had more to contend with though as soon dirt lanes turned to barely-able-to-squeeze-through boggy tracks. With the middle of the road (if you can even call it that at this stage) high enough for me to feel the car scrapping its insides as we slowly pushed through the grassy mud, I could feel the car slipping and sliding, barely able to keep a grip on the boggy track. I thought at one stage we will be sat in the car, middle of feckin' no-where, teetering on a tractor made verge in the middle of the road. 

After making a forty-point turn and scratching the paintwork no end, we ignored the blasted GoogleMaps Shite and headed towards civilisation, not before passing walkers with strange looks as we continued and squeezed down lumpy mud tracks with dips and ducks aplenty. 

Arriving at the posh concreted road, winding through the beautiful countryside estate we had just been fucking around in for the last two hours we were certainly glad to arrive and was looking forward to the free champagne and cake tasting on offer. However on arrival there was barely enough time to even look at suppliers let alone get some much needed information from them before the fashion show started. 

Sitting down and enjoying the show was lovely and with a Fanta in hand and Mr. Warehouse by my side I couldn't be happier and realised that this would soon just turn into another anecdote about that time we nearly got stuck in a field. Lots of white dresses and formal wear later we left the show to be greeted by most of the suppliers shutting up shop or stall and going home. Ha Ha gutted and disappointed were not even the words. And because of all of the fiasco earlier both Mr. Warehouse and my phones had died and so we had to try and navigate our way home and cancel the plans to pick up some much needed wedding essentials. Oh the drama, but maybe something to add to the grooms speech. 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx 

Things Will Be A Little Different This Year!

Hello,

I always knew that this Christmas would probably be the hardest that I had in a long time. Not only will Christmas Day be spent with the family missing one important member in particular, my grandfather, but also that I am without my best friend who is over five-thousand miles away in LA. 

On Friday, before of debauchery of our Christmas parties with our work colleagues, Mr Warehouse, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I met at a local restaurant for dinner. You see our normal tradition of going out on Christmas Eve to celebrate the final few hours before the big day was not possible this year as Miss Tweedle-Dee was flying out to LA to spend Christmas with the American newlyweds Mr and Mrs Tweedle-Dumb. As such our normal Christmas Eve meal had to be brought forward as she flew out today and so we now found ourselves in a quiet corner of a gorgeous fine dining restaurant in a posh end of "The Shire". Exchanging gifts felt as though we were missing someone out of the loop. Obviously this was not the case as I had already wrapped and packaged Mr and Mrs Tweedle-Dumb's package to post out the following day as Miss Tweedle-Dee was not able to take with her. 

With one thing or another taking over as life normally does I had found myself at the post office this evening and after being rather disorganised making myself several days late for posting the precious Christmas parcel, I was then informed that the parcel itself was quite heavy and large therefore would cost quite a bit to post out to the states! Devastated I asked for the damage and nearly fell over when I was informed by the post office clerk that it would be nearly £80.00! Deflated I returned home to Mr Warehouse only for him to ask why I was still carrying around the Christmas parcel. After explaining my difficulties to him he suggested that we should open it up again and split it down into smaller and lighter packages that would be much cheaper to transport. 

This was certainly not what I wanted. I already had visions of my parcel that I had been hugging since I had finished wrapping it being delivered to the sunny Los Angeles apartment that she and her new hubby occupied, opening it with glee and excitement, probably not even anticipating any presents that were not being handed through Miss Tweedle-Dee. I had already imagined what the Skype or WhatsApp video call would have been like whilst Mrs Tweedle-Dumb read out the clues and jokes that accompanied each and every little present. Disappointed I decided to have a look into other courier companies that may be able to ship for a little less, however after a short search online using the trusted Google homepage I was unable to get any quote less than £50.00. 

Almost bordering on giving up I started to search on Amazon and eBay for more Christmas presents I could purchase for Mr Warehouse, maybe even hoping for a last minute deal on a game he has been after for months. But that is when it suddenly occurred to me that Amazon is a worldwide company and whilst eBay may have difficulty in delivering a parcel to the US when the billing address and card are registered to the UK, I was certain that I would not encounter the same problems with Amazon. And so I gave it a go and low and behold it worked, at least I think so anyway?! Fingers crossed it actually arrives with the recipient! 

Whilst I was sad to see my best friend off to a whole new world and life in sunny L.A, I do sometimes feel upset that she isnt here. I am sure that Mrs Tweedle-Dumb feels the same and when I bought my first home and gave house tours and threw my first house party and got engaged and all of that she wishes she was back here as much as I would be to be out there. Nothing will ever replace my first ever best friend. I felt ashamed and guilty of my selfish thoughts before when I thought about Mrs Tweedle-Dumb moving away with her new hubby, partly because I would not have given a flying fuck about who was left behind or what they were feeling - I would have been long gone, but partly because I wanted her to do the same. 

Since Mrs Tweedle-Dumb left, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I have been just fine back here because we know that despite how hard it will be finding a good connection for WhatsApp Video calls or messaging at odd hours of the day and night; Our friendship will be OK. As much as it makes me feel devastated to think of my life here in England without her, I need to remember that it is not all bad and I am sure Mrs Tweedle-Dumb will be home soon, in the flesh rather than the fun that we will all have trying to successfully achieve a (three-way) Skype session or FaceTime . 

But this year is different. I suppose that this past year there has been quite a few changes in my life which has made Christmas a little different. Granddad will not be here and neither will my Tweedles, off living their best lives in sunny L.A. But this year has brought many good things too - I have a new Fiance and a New Job as Marketing Coordinator but most of all, I have a swanky new home to hang my stocking and hope Santa fills it with all that resides on my ever growing wish list! 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx 

Turning off the Christmas Lights

Heyy,

So let me start this week's blog post about telling you exactly how much I love my fiance Mr Warehouse, however as much as I loved spending every waking moment with him I would also like to have some time by myself on the sofa watching some sort of crappy episodes of back to back Teen Mom OG or Homes Under the Hammer.

Finally though after what has seems like months, at last I last got a lovely long Saturday morning lay-in and a good binge of TV all washed down with a huge mug of coffee and maybe a mince pies or two. OK OK maybe it was the whole box, but in my defence they were going out of date and oh my goodness they were so crumbly and sweet. Besides, if one is not allowed to binge TV and eat copious amounts of food over the Christmas period then quite frankly what are you doing with your life?

During the run up to this time of year I either spend it out and about most evenings catching up with friends, on holidays or mini breaks away to somewhere more christmassy than Bedfordshire or just simply in a salon somewhere trying to make myself look beautiful for the party season whilst searching for a sequin sparkly plus-size dress that does not exist anywhere in any size other than anorexic or dead-for-a-week. But this year is different. I suppose that this past year there has been quite a few changes in my life which has made Christmas a little different. Granddad will not be feeding the dog from his bed, Mr and Mrs Tweedle-Dumb are off living their best lives in sunny L.A, I have a new Fiance and a New Job as Marketing Coordinator but most of all, I have a swanky new home! 

Ahh yes the dynamics of Christmas has changed. But that is not to say that anything will be overtly out of the ordinary this year compared with last. Yes obviously my grandfather wont be there which in many ways will be sad for all of us as a family, however that being said, Christmas was a time for all the family to get around his bedside and take the piss, tell jokes, laugh and enjoy each others company - Or put up with it, depending on which members of the family you asked. Christmas is a day for celebrating and despite his absence, I plan to do just that. I plan to enjoy the company of my loved ones on Christmas day and will start it as normal with Mr. Warehouse and pooch in our new abode, opening the presents we have been hiding from each other for the last few months and eating chocolate for breakfast as any normal twenty-six/seven year-olds would do. 

Next will be bundling ourselves into the car for a trip round to My future families, Big Brother Warehouses, to have a spot of brunch (usually pigs in blankets although I am not sure why) and to watch our nieces and nephews open their presents from "Santa". You would have thought after generations he would remember to drop them at the right house! Nevertheless off we go again, on the move for the final time, back home to the other end of the 'Shire to spend Christmas dinner with my family, hopefully staying well into the evening and making use of Nanny Pumpkins glorious Cheese-board and over-indulgent Buffet. 

My Grandpa loved this time of year, good TV, family around cracking jokes and any excuse to have the house and garden filled with lights that went off any time you breathed a little to heavily, setting the whole Bungalow into a Vegas styled, all singing all dancing light show. My favourite part of being their grandchild was to sneak round the lounge when someone was sleeping and clap so that the singing Santa came alive, blaring out another nauseating Christmas hit! My brother and I used to laugh and giggle when "someone" would activate the Christmas lights and music, sending Nanny Pumpkin into a spin about why they were all going off again and waking Granddad from his afternoon snooze. 

I think it will be odd this year for sure but that is not to say it will be bad, he is in a better place and to an extent the family can relax a little as we won't have to wait on him hand and foot. Nanny will be sad I am sure but even she will probably find solace in the silence and normal lighting. 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx