Wedding Rings - The worlds smallest handcuffs, or not?

Evening, 

Last week I spoke to you in anticipation of returning to work from being on furlough (or signed off sick - whichever it may be) and whilst we are all somewhat either getting back to or getting used to a "New Normal" it suffices to say from my nearly full week being back that not much has changed, and you can take from that what you will. 

Finally, there is not only a light on my laptop (Yes I bought one of those selfie stick YouTuber ring lights) but hopefully at the end of the tunnel. Week number 14 is opening and so is the UK for business and social activities following this crazy madness we all call lockdown. But things do seem to be looking up. Figures from the BBC released today confirm that the death rate has fallen to pre-lockdown records of just 15 recorded in the last 24 hours. Just 15 people have died today from COVID-19 (Monday 22 June 2020) giving us all hope we are over the worst of it. Unlike Germany whose "R" rate of infection has spiked suddenly in recent days, in the UK deaths and new cases seem to be falling from figures in recent weeks and I am pleased to be hoping for this to come to a steady end very soon. 

This weekend just gone however, Mr Warehouse and I decided to brave the shops as I had spoken of last week in the attempt to purchase his wedding ring and scout out some places for suit hire. I expected, rolling into the CentreMK Carpark for it to be rammed, people scrabbling for spaces and for some of those annoying shoppers to be out, standing in parking spaces holding it for the driver. God I hate those people. But no. Mr Warehouse was driving, getting in some practice for his upcoming (3rd) driving test in mid-July, and we were able to park on the ground floor, something unheard of unless you are disabled and even then it is only if some Audi or BMW driver hasn't taken up a space with their non-disability tank. 

Walking into the CentreMK it was dead. I was expecting, as ever (and don't get me started) on queuing to get in, but no. Welcome on in. Hae some sanitizer, enjoy your day. Making our way through it was eerily quiet and still, no one rushing or pandamonium for the last pair of £1 thongs in Primark. No, all very calm and probably one of the most peaceful and pleasant shopping experiences I have ever had. We headed straight for H Samuels, with a short stop off at Greggs for an all-important cuppa joe and sassy sausage roll. The high street jeweller was far from busy and after a brief stop outside the shop, we were invited in. "I could get used to this," I thought, with all this personal shoppers touch malarkey. 

Glancing firstly at the Gold and Platinum wedding bands there were a few Mr Warehouse took a fancy to, however when they store clerk said about getting a cheaper ring as a "work" one to use for every day my fiance seemed intrigued. Heading to the other side of the store, the H Samuels sales assistant pulled out a drawer with a selection of different styled rings. I selected one I thought my future husband might like. A Tungsten Matt & Polished Groove Ring, it was Modern, stylish, and durable, a popular style choice among men. However, on closer inspection, this sleek band featuring groove detailing set in a matt and polished design was not to "Sirs" tastes and instead lay his eyes upon its ring-cousin if you will - The 7mm Tungsten plain band Ring. After trying it on, he gave me that look. The simple and modern men's ring for perfect for everyday use and it's unfussy style made it a perfect choice for my (mostly) unfussy future hubby. Placing our order in the correct size and paying I felt excited to take another step closer to the big day.

Taking a leisurely stroll to Moss Bros. for our 1pm appointment, we chatted nonsense and arrived at the store by 12.30pm, early strangely for me. Again the store assistant welcomed us in and we started our consultation. Easily the sales clerk put Mr. Warehouse's concerns to bed and narrowed down the indecisive hunka-chunka-burning-love to a hired grey morning suit for him and his two best men and my Dad as the father of the bride. The Moss Bros. collection 1851 Grey Twill Tails was perfect. This wool-stretch-blend version offers the natural drape of wool with added flexibility to move, while its classic twill weave is understated but elegant. The clean-cut tailored fit is designed to define shoulders and chests adding a taper slightly through the midsection. 

Originally, tail suits were originally daywear back in times of old, but today they're worn to bring a sense of occasion to formal celebrations and the option to customise the outfit with a wide range of accessories (although we had already purchased the cravats and pocket hankies) to get the right look for the theme of the day was exactly what we were hoping to get a sense of. Coupled with the Ivory Brocade Morning Waistcoat for the groom (the name ‘brocade’ is Italian for ‘embossed cloth’), this luxurious fabric has intricate patterns woven into the surface and this ivory created version is a classic but distinct wedding-party look. The perfect neutral colour means it can be worn with any of our formal suits or accessories. Since it is cut in a regular fit it offers room to move with a smooth fit through the chest, while there’s an adjustable strap for a closer fit at the lower back.

Pairing the light cloud grey suits with an array of different coloured pocket squares and cravats was helpful and gave us some new ideas for how we can dress some of the male members of the wedding party. We walked away from the appointment an hour or so later with much more of an idea on what Mr Warehouse was looking for and what kind of look and style he wanted to achieve. I was proud and happy for him that he had got some confidence from it. I just couldn't wait for our big day now less than 4-months away ... 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Dropping before your Shopping

Afternoon everyone, 

13th week of this madness we all call lockdown in the UK. At this moment in time I write to you as being only a few hours left being on furlough (or signed off sick - whichever it may be). Whilst I spoke last week and in previous weeks that the time off has been helping with my mental well-being and stress levels, although I must say I am looking back to getting back to a "New Normal" as this last week has been difficult to occupy my time since all my projects and errands had been completed, mostly anyway. 

And so things do seem to be looking up. Figures from the BBC have confirmed that just 38 people have died today from COVID-19 (Monday 15 June 2020). With the "R" rate and new cases falling in recent weeks I am pleased and hoping for this to come to a steady end very soon. I spoke last week on the comparison to other countries such as New Zealand where they had fully opened up the country due to no new cases, something which I can only hope for soon and not yet experienced an unsettlingly high spike in deaths or new cases. 

In a report from Sky News, today, Monday 15 June 2020 saw demand across England's High Streets surge as some non-essential shops reopened for the first time after a three-month lockdown. The well-known news outlet confirmed that high streets, retail parks and Malls were bustling with shoppers again as the shutters are lifted after months of uncertainty and inactivity. Gone are the posters about Easter and Mothering Sunday and with no use for the spring posters and advertisements with pictures of lambs and chicks. Oh no, we were in Summer now baby! 

Whilst the rules of shopping and etiquette have changed it apparently hadn't put off swarms of shoppers lining the streets and as shops welcomed back customers for the first time in 12 weeks I did have to consider how I would spend my last day in furlough with little responsibilities of the normal 9-5. Sky News confirmed that the footfall on high streets, retail parks and shopping centres in England was up over 40% in comparison with last week, according to a survey by retail experts Springboard this morning. I had considered popping out to the shops today, although I use that term in the loosest of ways as you can never just "pop" somewhere now, its more of a "pooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooop" - and yes with the poop emoji in there for good measure because let's be honest this is all shit. 

Despite all this, however, one customer spoke to outside (oh what a surprise a queue) the Apple Store in London had said that whilst she was happy and pleased about shops reopening, she was not so keen on all the queuing and that it made her think twice about whether she needs something from that shop - something which I think many, many people can relate to. I certainly know I can. 

I think as time goes on, however, I am still irritated with all of this Corona-queueing. I hate queuing at the best of times. I can be (only sometimes) a grumpy and impatient old lady and standing there wasting my precious time and life by queueing. There are plenty of things I want to occupy my last few months of being in my twenties doing such as travelling and enjoying life before kids and bigger mortgages. Queuing outside IKEA for a fucking lampshade in the pissing rain is not one of them and neither is any other queue I might add. Queuing for this and queueing for that. I am done with it all. I am bored with it all. Gone. Gone are the days when you could just walk into a shop and buy your crap and get out. No. Now I have to stand in the rain for 40-minutes just to try and take back some T-shirt's which didn't fit my fat-ass because of COVID eating, a trip in-store which took all of about 5-minutes, if that. So yeah, I suppose you could say I am at the end of my tether with it. It is all just so pointless. 

Regardless of this and my ranting, one of the places I considered and was at the top of my shopping hit list was my local shopping-retail-centre-park-thing in Bletchley near Milton Keynes. But on reading online from the MKCitizen I was dissuaded as it seemed the town (and the rest of the bloody county) had gone crazy as shoppers wait for up to two hours just to get into Primark with a staggering 200 people at least in the queues that stretched the length of the car-park. And Bedford wasn't any better being a smaller town centre the wait there was over the 120-minute mark.

Scrolling through my news feed, I was shocked that people were tweeting and looking down their noses at people queuing for non-essential clothing stores. With meme's popping up all over Insta and Facebook, I thought about how privileged these people must be, the keyboard warriors shaming people of where they shop, or more importantly, where they can maybe only afford to shop. The MKCitizen reported one cynic as saying that Lockdown has been going on for 84-days, which, in the grand scheme of things isn't a long time and in his words "you really have to wonder what people need so desperately that they're willing to queue for hours and hours for." 

A fair and valid comment, this got me thinking to myself and about me and my life during lockdown, but also about others I knew - People with children or who are pregnant and with a growing family. Maybe standing in those queues, should I have found myself in one of those situations, I would have thought it would be worth it. In the space of three-months children have grown out of everything and why spend a fortune in other shops on clothes they will barely get a few wears out of before having to size-up again. I myself have put on the pounds, pretty much returning to the weight I was before doing Slimming World at the back end of last year and earlier this year. For me, some new clothes would be nice. I suppose like most people I am looking for a boost of confidence, especially so and very much needed when there isn't much to be confident about in the media at the moment ...  

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Uncertain Times

Heyy, 

What a different world in which I report to you this afternoon. Since last weeks frolic's in cocktail bars and fancy restaurants things have certainly not been the same. Here in the UK we have just had a public address from our Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, stating a national emergency against what can only be described as Pandemic upon unfathomable proportions. 

Several weeks ago we heard whisperings from the East regarding COVID-19 - A new illness that can affect your lungs and airways caused by a virus called Coronavirus. However, Coronavirus isn't by itself a new thing as MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) which, having killed more than 1,500 people between them since 2002 is slowly being caught up by its new cousin on the block, COVID-19. 

The source of the COVID-19 coronavirus is believed to be a food market in Wuhan, China which sold both dead and live animals including fish and birds. The risk of viruses and cross-contamination from animals to humans is more likely in places such as this because hygiene standards are difficult to maintain as well as them being typically densely packed. Whilst there is speculation that the original host is thought to be bats who may have infected live chickens or other animals sold there, the animal source of the latest outbreak has not yet been identified. That being said, Bats are host to a wide range of zoonotic viruses including Ebola, HIV and rabies, which seems unfair given how cute they are! 

Quickly spreading across China the first European country to be affected was Italy. Hitting the headlines every day with its mounting death count suddenly it went from a bit of a laugh about how someone should let Ozzy Osbourne know, to now being a little more worried that it was getting closer to our doorstep. Soon enough the UK government announced some advice, although not at all helpful considering that it is typically cold and flu season. The NHS website states that a high temperature whereby you feel hot to touch on your chest or back and a new, continuous cough (coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours). The Italians seemed OK though, they were still out partying (literally), getting their hair done and visiting restaurants and cinemas, everything was fine apart from a few small northern villages. But things got worse ... 

Early last week things started to move and move quickly. On Tuesday 17 March, moneysavingexpert.com explained easily how banks had agreed with the Chancellor that they will offer 'forbearance' (tolerance and help) on mortgages. This means they all should offer those struggling a three-month 'holiday', allowing customers a temporary break from having to make mortgage payments during this time. Something which helped when Mr Warehouse called me from the bus home explaining he was being sent home sick because he coughed when asking about sick-pay during this period of uncertainty. For us, keeping up with bills and putting food on the table was never really a challenge - until my Fiance's salary went from £300 per week to £70. 

Realistically it should help and maybe get us out of what could have been a very tight hole in the next few weeks and months. Although after spending four-and-a-half hours on hold to our mortgage company on Thursday and then a further 3-hours on Friday morning I was finally able to speak with someone. Feeling embarrassed I mumbled my way through the phone call with a lovely women who explained that there was nothing to be embarrassed by and that everyone is in the same boat and to not worry or panic. And so, for the next three months, we won't pay anything, then when our mortgage repayments resume, the total we owe would be spread over the following remain years on our term, realistically seeing a very small uplift in future payments.

Several days later, the UK Government announced a continuity of the COVID-19 Coronavirus package to help people affected by the pandemic which including a sweeping pledge to pay 80% of employees' wages if they are not working due to illness. Boris and the Chancellor said that they will make sure there are measures in place to cover 80% of the wages of 'retained' employees (Retained being those who would otherwise have been laid off due to the knock-on effects of the coronavirus pandemic). Obviously, there is a limit to the amount paid will be capped at a maximum of £2,500 per month / per employee, all to be issued through grants which can be paid out to any employer.  moneysavingexpert.com confirms that the Chancellor says the scheme will be open “before the end of April”, and wages will be paid backdated to 1 March. Hopefully, this will help many people who would have otherwise lost their jobs. 

Although it seems that these measures did not go far enough as soon enough Boris and his Pals in Parliament had announced that as of Friday 20 March, all schools will be closed, though they'll remain open for the children of 'key workers' – for example, NHS staff, police and delivery drivers – as well as the most vulnerable children. Then came the entertainment cull - Tens of thousands of pubs, bars, nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and restaurants across the UK shut their doors for the final time as after Boris Johnson imposed a nationwide lockdown from Friday evening. 

What with all the panic and pandemonium I am hardly surprised that the supermarkets and shop shelves were empty. With a huge surge in demand from shoppers, many of them unnecessarily stocking up on essentials and products such as toilet roll, hand gel and paracetamol, it was becoming increasingly hard to get in some places and find just the normal day to day items to feed your family. it quickly became out of hand, to the point of which normally I would be joining Mr and Mrs Jones in buying out 40+ bog rolls and 80 boxes of pasta shells, but I didn't, because I am not a fucking idiot. Sure enough, the stock became less and less to the point of which Mr Warehouse had become aware we had not seen a fresh loaf of bread or toilet tissue in weeks. 

Going back to basics, we thought like our grandparents would have and headed to the local markets and butchers in search of fresh fruit, veg and meat. But there was nothing. Arriving at a local butcher, calling earlier that day and being promised that shelves would be stocked, there was nothing. A pack of sodding bacon and sausages, by which point, when we came to leave, were snapped up by another desperate customer. Heading to Lidl up the road I thought we would chance our luck. Mr Warehouse and I were able to pick up a few little bits to see us through, mainly some meat for meals and that all-important pasta and bog roll. It is sad to think that as a result of peoples lack of empathy and greed that Supermarkets and shops have been forced to bring in significant restrictions. Limiting shoppers to buying a certain number of the same item, restricting opening times and in some cases stopping accepting online orders altogether. But with shops and stores like ASDA and Iceland introducing the "silver hour", a priority shopping time (usually the first hour of the day) for the elderly or vulnerable it certainly does something to restore your faith in humanity. 

The last week has been strange, to say the least, especially working from home - Now that was odd! But with a live televised statement from Downing Street from Boris Johnson stating a new strict curb on life in the UK to tackle the spread of coronavirus, things certainly look like they are going to change even more. As the UK death toll has reached 335 (as of Monday 23 March 2020) the prime minister has announced that from this evening people must stay at home except for shopping for basic necessities, once-daily exercise (as if I did any exercise anyway), any medical need and travelling to and from essential work. Announcements include that all shops selling non-essential goods such as clothing and electronics are being told to shut and gatherings in public of more than two people who do not live together are to be prohibited. And what if people do not follow the rules? The UK police will have the powers to enforce them, including fines and dispersing gatherings. Scary measures when I am less than six-months off being a Mrs ... 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

The Green Fingered Goddess

Hello everyone, 

I suppose we have had a rather quiet weekend in comparison to last. No Parties and no worrying over BBQ's and finally no more wondering if Frankenstein is OK in his baby grow or if he would rather the cone. Following his last Vet check on Friday, he was given the all-clear and was ready for some more strenuous exercise, not that he had calmed down mind. With that in hand, I had mentioned to the Vet about possibly enrolling him into agility classes as he has so much energy and is a quick learner. She had agreed and suggested some local groups and classes which I will be sure to hit up, however, I think I will start to show him this year, especially since I will have a few on my doorstep. Who knows we might just win!

What with it being the Bank Holiday here in the UK as well this weekend, the last one before Santa comes, Mr Warehouse and I applied ourselves well and have done the garden. Well, at least some of it. You see most Bank Holidays in the UK are drizzly, wet and grey - If you haven't already noticed. However on the contrary, this one has been blisteringly hot, one of which my future husband and I can enjoy whilst not being as sun burnt as the last time there was a heatwave here.

Saturday Mr Warehouse was working the morning for some extra pennies so I decided to head out for the afternoon, popping by to my seamstress to see if she could work some magic by adding sleeves to my dress for a family event coming up soon. That night we looked after my future niece and nephews whilst their parents were out. Sunday I had reserved for hitting the shops in the hope of finding that elusive rattan garden corner sofa furniture set. And so leaving the pups at home in the coolness of the house Mr Warehouse and I headed out into the 30-something-degree weather and popped by a few stores picking up a much-needed hose for our newly acquired tap, some compost and numerous reduced flowers and bulbs, ready to pot. I was quiet surprised with myself as I sat back and looked at all our hard work for a Sunday afternoon, flowers and plants potted, garden watered and grass cut. Very well done us and as Mr Warehouse said as we settled in for the night that it really is starting to look a bit more like home. I just hope that my green-fingers don't ruin the plants as I am known for not being able to keep most plants in my life alive. Well, apart from that one cactus that looked like a penis and just kept growing?!

I remember thinking as we walked around garden centres and DIY shops as a child that this was the height of boring and that peaking as an adult was when you had been to or had any dealings with a DIY shop and gardening, well, that was just another hell I forced myself through in order to get pocket money. I didn't enjoy it and hated the fact that there were bugs everywhere, it was tough thick clay type mud which was never easy to work with and that it was arduously long work making me ache and hurt by the end of it all. I think it was probably at that point that I vowed, whilst my front garden, and even my back one, in my childhood home looked beautiful and people always commented on it, I would always choose to have my plants in pots, moreso for convenience. 

Today however as Bank Holiday Monday, our extra day out of the office and away from work has been less productive. It started off well, however, with promises of getting the Save the Dates done and ready to post out, however, instead we searched for a suit for Chris, again for the family occasion and scoured several shops in again soaring temperatures only to then buy online as there were limited sizes and styles. It started to lag however when we started the inventory of the wedding items we have purchased in preparation for next year, slowly wilting under the inescapable heat. Finally, I cracked and snoozed for longer than anticipated in the late afternoon. Since then we have set up the printer, and the laptop and printed out what our draft was, however on closer inspection there are some slight changes we probably will need to make before sending out, and that will be left now probably for a couple of weeks as Mr Warehouse will be preoccupied with other, more matrimonial duties and events ... 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Work Hard, Shop Harder!

Heyy, 

"Why am I up so early on a Saturday?!" I thought as I rolled over and tried to turn off my alarms before they woke Mr. Warehouse. Listening to my new addition cry and whine downstairs (and yes the puppy trauma through bedtime routines and trying to keep our little Frankenstein happy in his own company is still an issue) I remembered that today was the day Miss Tweedle-Dee and I visit the worlds biggest Primark in the heart of Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre. 

Primark describes itself on its website as coming a long, long way since they opened back in 1969 under the name Penny's in Dublin (of which in southern Ireland it still operates under that name). Today, Primark operates in more than 330 stores in 11 countries across Europe and America. With the biggest share of the fashion market in the UK, Ireland, Spain and Portugal they are able to stand out from the crowd by offering amazing fashion at an amazing price. Being able to buy in volume from over 700 suppliers in 37 countries gives the store an advantage to bring us all quick and speedy trends in double-time and at rock bottom prices! Primark justifies its low prices with claims it spends nothing on advertising and has tight profit margins thus helping it to improve itself and thrive on an already suffering High Street in Britain. 

Whilst Primark's reputation has not been glittering in recent years with criticism over staff pay as well as the environmental and social impact of so-called "fast fashion" it has stood the test of time as it opens its 187th store in the UK - The biggest one in the world. Set over five floors, the 160,000sq ft space once occupied the entire site of the former Pavilions shopping centre in Birmingham's New Street. The new store features Disney’s first officially licensed cafe located outside of its resorts and cruise ships, a barber shop called Mills x Primark, a beauty studio chain Duck & Dry Xpress, as well as Primark’s standard range of value clothing and accessories. Truly a one-stop-shop for everything to pamper yo'self! 

Store design director Sanjay Dihman had no trouble explaining to retailgazette.co.uk as to why Birmingham was the chosen city for the world’s biggest Primark. With its completion rumouring to have cost around £70 million the store now employs more than 1000 people, 430 of whom were existing employees who have transferred from the former New Street branch. A further 500 brand new jobs were created, plus another 100 for partner-run in-store experiences including chefs, hair stylists and beauticians. 

On arrival, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I headed straight to the top and to the new Disney-themed cafe which is strategically situated on the same level as the cute kidswear range I assume to attract families and keep everyone entertained as they wait in line for their Mickey waffles and pancakes. The cafe features a Mickey-Mouse-shaped entrance and digital tables where children are able to play games while dining in, not to mention TV's with Disney cartoons running all the time!  Although one disappointment was the fact that the tables were jam-packed so tightly together it was very uncomfortable to be sat so close to one another, not to mention getting in and out. I say that our trip to the Disney inspired Cafe was brief, however, it still took well over twenty minutes to get a simple latte for my bestie. Although this was nothing in comparison to the poor lady sat next to us who had been waiting for her Mickey pancakes and waffles for her and her two children for well over 30 minutes before she asked for them a second and even a third time before finally demanding her money back and walking out!

Our experience, as Mr Warehouse put it, was very much like any other Primark shop with all the latest in womenswear, menswear, kidswear, lingerie, beauty and homeware all thrown together with some little added benefits such as free wi-fi and a seating area fitted with phone chargers for men when they get bored! It was massive and after a pit-stop in the Disney cafe to grab some breakfast we headed out to find some bargains. Although the sales and reductions were few and far between it is to be expected when you have just opened a new store with thousands trudging the kiosks and stands each and every day. 

One of the things Miss Tweedle-Dee and I did miss out on and something I certainly missed was the Custom Lab – the bespoke print lab for t-shirts and other items – something which seems to be popping up in an increasing number of its stores which has been growing in popularity. And so it appears I may have to return sometime soon ... 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Denying The Inevitable

Hello, 

As the evening set in and the night took over the sky and shrouded us in darkness I knew it would soon be time. Last weekend when Mrs Tweedle-Dumb's parents threw a goodbye BBQ in her honor I woke up that morning not wanting to get out of bed and only wanting to curl up under my duvet, pretending as I did on the morning of my grandfather's funeral that this day did not exist. Maybe if I fell back to sleep and pretended that this all wasn't happening today then maybe I could keep the reality at bay. Ahh denial is a wonderful thing. In Great British style the bank holiday weekend was a bit of a washout, blowing away the gazebos and generally wreaking havoc on the garden. Miss Tweedle-Dee, Mrs Tweedle-Dumb and I had decided that it would be best if we spent some more quality time together just the three of us and so following a very much enjoyed sushi date together on bank holiday Monday Miss Tweedle-Dee and I endured our weeks at work and looked forward to getting up early and seeing Mrs Tweedle-Dumb for what would genuinely be the very last time. 

Arriving at a slightly later time than we had planned, me and my Tweedles sat on the front porch of Mr Tweedle-Dumb's parents home in the posh Suburbs of Basingstoke, smoking menthols and sipping on Starbucks in the sunshine. I couldn't think of any better way to start a Sunday, even if it was nearly midday. Thoughts soon turned to what we would be doing in our final few hours together, and it just so happened that we were doing the usual - Shopping excursion to the Anbill (otherwise known locally as the Festival Place Shopping Centre) was our normal go to when visiting our friend in Basingstoke and why should this time be any different. We all made jokes about the fact we could not visit Mrs Tweedle-Dumb in Basingstoke without having a trip to the Anbill. Truth be told I think we all really enjoyed going back to the roots of our friendship and simply shopping till we find a restaurant to drop into. And what made this day better was the fact that in their haste to emigrate, Mr & Mrs Tweedle-Dumb and maybe forgotten a little bit that my birthday was coming up soon, and so today was also when I would get to pick out my birthday present. 

Giddy with excitement at all the possibilities that could be we headed to the Anbill - Shopping, laughing and chatting all the way only stopping stopping for the odd cigarette and eventually ending up outside Wagamama, feasting on steamed buns and gyoza! It was starting to get dusky and I realised that time was slowly passing off by. Sat on a bench, denying the inevitable, I looked at the bestest friends I think I could have ever wished for. The last few months have been difficult to say the least, and yet, as normal, Miss Tweedle-Dee and Mrs Tweedle-Dumb have been through it all with me. They always make me feel better, giggling about our inside jokes no one else got, eating fat and naughty food and indulging in the worst kind of sinful behaviour! Unlike all the other times we kidded ourselves that this would be the last time - This really would be the last time! 

In less than a few days Mrs Tweedle-Dumb would be jetting off to start the adventure of a lifetime with her new husband, settling down on the Sunshine Coast. I still feel ashamed and guilty for selfishly thinking that I wish it was me packing my bags and fucking off, but also partly because I would not have stuck around to see who was left behind or what they were feeling - I would have been long gone. Truth be told, I want her to do the same. Miss Tweedle-Dee and I will be OK back here because we have each other and the best times ever together as a threesome can still continue over Skype or FaceTime. 

Saying goodbye for the last time was probably the most difficult things that I have done in quite some time. I know that Mr & Mrs Tweedle-Dumb will have an amazing time and make an incredible life for themselves and if, for whatever reason, nothing goes to plan and it all doesn't work out Miss Tweedle-Dee and I will be there to catch our best friend, pick her up and dust her off. Hugging it out and seeing your best friends cry their heart out was the worst thing in the entire universe because there is nothing that you or anyone else can do to make it better. Driving away, tears filled my eyes and as one of the first ever albums we obsessed over as a trio started to play through the stereo. And all the way home we played the album "Songs About Jane" by Maroon 5, belting out the hits from our youth and letting the emotions, happy, sad, everything wash over us as we tanked it down the M25. 

Honestly that album. I promise you, if you ever do anything, go and listen to that Album - It'll change your life! Hands down categorically the best album that is for any type of emotion! Break-up? Track 4: She Will Be Loved. Love Dilemma? Track 2: This Love. Guilty? Track 5: Tangled. Falling in Love? Track 8: Sunday Morning. Best friend emigrating? Track 12: Sweetest Goodbye (well if it wasn't about sexing after a break-up) 

I mean yeah sure we are a bit weird in our own special way and mine, Miss Tweedle-Dee & Mrs Tweedle-Dumb's humour is completely our own, but somehow we just get each other. For the simple fact that we could easily sit in silence, not saying a single thing to one another and yet still feel at peace and without judgement. Our years of being each others go-to for any advice, problem, issue or dilemma and sometimes not even having to utter a single word to one another just a look to crack out a smile or even better a laugh. All of it made that moment, the moment that we said goodbye one last time all the more harder to bear. And so ... 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Festivities for Two!

Good Morning, 

So it would appear after the fun that I had last week I had forgotten to do a blog post. But surely I can be forgiven for it was Christmas day after all. However with all the last minute planning and preparation that went on it was a bit of a higgledee-piggledee day. I mean to put into contrast up until a fortnight before the big day me and Mr Warehouse had nowhere and no one to spend the big day with apart from our usual Christmas Day brunch at the home of one of Mr Warehouse's Brothers. On a casual chat to my Nanny Pumpkin we had arranged that Mr Warehouse and I would join her and my granddad to celebrate Christmas together. I suppose that some people would say we should have spent the day with our significant others families, however we've both Mr Warehouse's mum living too far away and my dad not making plans until the very last minute we decided to go it alone. 

With Christmas day falling on a Monday, in the days leading up to Santa coming Mr Warehouse and I set about seeing all the family members that we wouldn't normally see on the day itself, going round for tea, cake and seemingly collecting presents like they were Pokemon's. The evening before Mr Warehouse and I joined Miss Tweedle-Dee, Miss Tweedle-Dumb and her fiance to give our presents and enjoy possibly our last meal together since Miss Tweedle-Dumb's and her Hubby-to-be are emigrating to Canada after he bagged a job out there. Miss Tweedle-Dee, Miss Tweedle-Dumb and her fiance treated me to a travel wallet, gel nail manicure set, Bumble-Bee necklace and a few more things for my wish list. After what was a lovely meal at The Fancott near the M1 and Toddington we all parted ways and hoped the other had a wonderful Christmas. 

Waking the following morning it was strange not being met with my dad and his cooking for breakfast. No Eggs benedict or Eggs royale or even a slice of toast. Mr. Warehouse was so kind enough however to wake me up with a fresh cup of coffee. Opening our presents from other people we were pleasantly surprised and delighted with the wonderful gifts that everyone had thought of.Mostly from my aunties and uncles as well as my dad we have a lot of different things to do over the next few months. Lots of vouchers for meals out, cinema date nights and a birds of prey experience. This is in addition to the many boxes of chocolates, biscuits and other sweet treats. Mr. Warehouse spoilt to be with gifts of make-up, make-up brushes, jewelry from Pandora, a driving car experience day and lots, lot more items from my never-ending wish list. 

Heading over to brunch with Mr Warehouse's Brothers and family we were gifted more items of joy including beer, a ball launcher (mainly for the pup I think), yet more chocolate and other lovelies! Joking around with the idea that maybe next year Mr Warehouse and I can host Christmas Brunch in our own home. Bought or rented, well that is a whole other question. Following on from seeing the children open their presents, me and the bae headed to my grandparents house to continue our Christmas day as planned. 

And so with the big day over and the next few days off I settled in for a little R&R. The day after Boxing Day was spent by jumping straight back into the swing of things with getting my personal training sessions. Snow falling heavily Britain has definitely missed out on a White Christmas this year by a smidgin. Nevertheless I had plans to go into town hitting the shops in order to find a few bargains in the January sales that as usual had started earlier than January. But I left my TV and sofa called and so I spent the rest of that first day on my bottom. Unfortunately the following few games I was in too much aches and pains from my gym session with my Personal Trainer to do much. The remaining games off for me was spent on the couch, although I was able to get out on Friday and Sunday to hit the shops for a spot of retail therapy. 

As the days melted away I started to plan and look forward to spending New Year's Eve with Mr Warehouse's family welcoming in 2018. Disappointingly this turned out to not be the case as the establishment we were planning to spend the last few hours of 2017 was closed with very little warning. Pissed, I desperately began trying to ring around and talk to other venues in the local area that may be able to accommodate a large party consisting of both adults and children. A few were available but after all the effort Mr. Warehouse and I had decided to don the Jim-Jams and welcome in the New Year alone. 

The festive season for me has not entirely gone to plan and with my Granddad now in hospital recovering from a Thoracentesis procedure to drain the fluid from his lungs it has not been the best start to the year. I am hoping that 2018 will be good to me with a nice luxe beach holiday with Mr. Warehouse, more travelling and most importantly, lots of saving to be had in order to reach the goal of eventually Mr. Warehouse and I owning our own home, hopefully before the festivities of next year again. Better to start sooner rather than later! 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

New Life, New Swag!

Heyy Heyy, 

Following on from last week's cheese Saga, Mr. Warehouse and I have since binned the smelly, perfumed cheese and instead bought a stronger variety and something a lot more palatable. And to think that the next shop I will be doing for our monthly food will be after our holidays. Speaking of which, with exactly a month to go today, me and Mr. Warehouse I'm nearly fit to bursting with looking forward to our first beach holiday together. After nearly three-and-a-half-years together I can hardly believe that we have never had a beach holiob. 

In preparation for such event it would only be fair that we would hit the shops for some new clobber. Now despite having a wardrobe fit to burst I still have the absolute urgency to buy holiday clothes. I have tops and skirts, and along with my myriad of kimonos, dresses and bikinis, all of them virtually worn a handful of times, all in all I know in my heart of Hearts that I really do not need any more clothes. However a unicorn pool float and a towel with pockets is still on my shopping list. Normally I don't care too much about what I look like or how I will look in photo's as there is a common understanding in the female world that we will just simply edit our way to perfection. Mr Warehouse is a boy and to put it bluntly does not understand it. Whilst I am told almost everyday that I am beautiful without all of the make-up and hair by my wonderful boyfriend, I still want to make sure I look good on holiday, and even more so when we will be spending so much time together. 

You might hazard a guess that Mr Warehouse was much more of a simple person, buying something only if he needs it and not because it's on sale. And for the most part you would be right in thinking this, as throughout the week he wears a uniform (lucky bugger) and as a result never wears normal clothes unless it is a date night or it is the weekend. However, this weekend after just been paid, both of us decided to head off to Bovingdon Market, which was originally Miss Tweedle-Dee's idea just to have a mooch around the 'designer brands'.From household goods such as knife blocks, pillows and carpets right down to the knock-off-nigel Timberland boots, Ralph Lauren T-shirts and Michael Kors handbags. You name it and Bovvy had it. And all for a fairly reasonable price. Well most of it anyway. Arriving to pick Miss Tweedle-Dee up for once I was earlier than expected. I even had to stop so someone (AKA Mr. Warehouse) could feel his face with a McDonald's breakfast, complete with extra hash brown. Nevertheless I chose the healthier life and opted for Latte with a Banana and Yogurt from home which I never actually got to eat as I was driving. As I explained to Miss Tweedle-Dee as she got into my newly MOT'd Vivienne; I am not on a diet  - I am just simply healthy eating. 

With less than four weeks to go until I am on a beach in Tenerife I certainly feel more pressure on this holiday with Mr Warehouse then I do with the girls. I don't know maybe it is the environment that I now find myself in on a daily basis. Verses my old office where I spent my days with a ragingly posh lesbian, a hackney city girl and an old man verging on retirement. Now I am in an office full of beautiful girls and women (As well as you men - You know who you are) who make an effort every day with their appearance. Applying make-up and doing their hair nice and pretty, a part of me honestly wonders why they bother. I am not single and there is no hot men to flirt with at work so what is the point. Equally I feel it is nice that we collectively all seem to make an effort maybe not necessarily for our co-workers but more-so for ourselves as women. 

I also get the feeling that life in my new(ish) office is to be constantly looking your best at face value is not the end of it. There is the Instagram's, Facebook updates and selfies to contend with. I feel like such a typical 'twenty-something-girl' by being desperate to get an invite to a fitness class or invited out for dinner or for a quiet night in with a bottle or two. It is a more sophisticated way of socialising that I am not sure I am accustomed to yet, although I am sure than in time the constant conversation about Love Island or what is at the top of my Spotify playlist will make a difference. A little part of me wonders whether I can ever go back to feeling my absolute self at work, discussing every little niggle in life and talking through all my problems with girlie work colleagues, both inside and outside of the office - But on the other hand, maybe I am not meant to be my full self at work, just the professional version of me. Maybe its just time to move on ... 

Anyhoo, arriving at the market it bought all the fun of it back when Miss Tweedle-Dee, Miss Tweedle-Dumb and I would all come down with one of our parents and I would look at all the handbags and shoes, hoping that one day I can afford to buy whatever I wanted and not just what the pocket money in my purse would get me. After scouting round from top to bottom of the market, perusing all the goods that everyone had to offer and working out which places we were going to buy what from we walked away with some supposedly John Lewis plush pillows, some pretty ballerina pumps with pom-poms on them, RayBan Sunnies, some T-shirts for Mr. Warehouse holiday wardrobe and some gorgeous smelling bath-bombs for me. A successful weekend I would say ... 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Eau De La Fromage

Hi Ya'll, 

So another week and yet again another fail from yours truly. Last week when I made the sorry mistake to not book a flight when it was on sale via Ryanair, and now I have screwed up again. I think I just need to go to bed and rewind to the beginning ... 

There are some people in life that are under the unfortunate affliction of being intolerant to substances used in food production including gluten, most commonly found in bread and other carbohydrates, nuts and lactose, the sugar found in milk and other dairy product. It would appear that for years even decades, but these sort of intolerance's and allergies were overlooked by food manufacturers and supermarkets in general with alternatives for these sort of products to be sourced in local and rather expensive health food stores that outside of London would be very hard to find on the High Street. 

In some circumstances babies and young children would be prescribed be advised alternative such as baby milk and or celiac specified food items. However with the NHS in the UK under crisis and getting worse every winter these luxuries soon stopped and now people with food allergies have to try and find out alternatives elsewhere. This is where the largest supermarkets came into play. Realising that there was a massive hole in the market the supermarkets soon plugged it with all of there versions of safe, free-from products. Everything from the simple and everyday things such as milk, cheese and bread all the way down to more complicated items including biscuits, juice and sauces. Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and others have coined a sweet penny cashing in on peoples allergies and intolerance's. 

But it was not just the immune-sensitive people that had were not able to eat the normal versions of stocked produce. No. Here came the wave of people that will state that eating gluten-free and lactose-free products will help with weight-loss, sleep and all round healthier lifestyle. The health benefits, I feel anyway, just simply don't stand up and by eating a healthy and balanced diet including both meat, vegetables, carbohydrates and all other manner of tasty treats we can live a happy and fulfilled life. Vegetarians and Vegans seem to be the main culprits in this argument for they are always the ones that will state that there is no need to involve animals in the 21st Century way of eating. But I wholly disagree and in actual fact would go as far as to say that they also would be living an unhealthy lifestyle not eating meat, fish and other products that come from animals. The fact that most of these health fanatics that claim eating animals and animal products are barbaric and not necessary are the exact ones who walk around with leather handbags, belts and shoes all manufactured and made using ground up animal cartilage to make the glue. How do they sleep at night? Well probably on an ethically sourced duck feather pillow with matching duvet. But that is for another blog post ... 

Now don't get me wrong this isn't a stab at people that would like to live their life as certain way. Live your life, I don't care and in all fairness there are worse things you could be doing in the world with your time than munching on greenery. I just feel that the supermarkets target those on the other end of the spectrum who are not able to eat the normal products that you or I may consume. In all fairness I actually feel sorry for the fact that those intolerant to wheat, dairy and other food-stuffs, are forced to pay quite a high premium in order to eat what would some consider would be a normal diet. Some of the items for sale in the shop shelves at the moment don't even really tastes like the real thing and as a result the people with intolerance's and allergies will never get a chance to taste exactly what cheese, milk or bread really taste like. Obviously I have focused on dairy and wheat but there are many other alternatives that are simply nowhere near what the original would look, smell or taste like. 

My prime example of this is when I went to Tesco's a few days ago in order to pick up a few bits for home and lunches in the coming days. Heading round to my favourite area of a supermarket, the reduced section, I found some goodies and bargains including bread and ham for sandwiches, Chicken Sushi and 'Free-From' Cheddar Cheese. Now admittedly for 84p I should should not have held my hopes up high for it being the tastiest piece of cheese I had ever eaten, however what it was labelled as gluten-free and dairy-free cheese I assumed that it would taste very similar if not the same as all the other cheeses I had tasted in my life, which to be fair was a lot of cheese. Besides, over the last few years of living by myself and indeed with other people I had tried lots of different products I would not have normally tasted and even discovered products that I like such as milk alternatives such as almond, soya and oat.

However getting it home and laying out for Mr Warehouse to see all the wonderful goodies I had found in the woopsies aisle, my hench boyfriend soon discovered my cheesy secret and explained that he would not be eating or trying any of the 'Free-From' Cheddar. I didn't care though it meant that there was more for me, however, I may have spoken too soon as after Mr. Warehouse had grated some for my dinner of fajita chicken wraps this evening my taste-buds turned against me. Floral, perfumed and pungent fragrances came from both smelling and tasting the cheese. This was not cheese. I'm not entirely sure that there was any cheese flavouring in there at all. I have smelled feet that are cheesier than that cheese in my fridge. Unfortunately I think I will have to put this down to experience and in the end will never, ever buy 'Free-From' Cheddar Cheese again ...

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx