Cluck, Cluck!

Morning Everyone, 

After finishing a busy day at work there wasn't enough time to hang around and chat with colleagues at the end of the week. I was off. I had a Hen weekend to get to. With my bags already packed for night number two in Milton Keynes, complete with toothbrush, Jammies, and my HURR Collective rental, the Ivory SELKIE Puff Ball Dress, I was certainly glad of getting my hair done on my lunch break. Yes a bit bouji, but when I had to get home, changed, make-up done and over to Kempston, all within an hour. Safe to say even with my hair done and outfit ready for the first night out of the weekend I was pushed for time and didn't rock up until gone 6.20pm. What is going on? I have no effing idea. All I know is that it is going to be a weekend of debauchery and naughtiness, and maybe a few willie straws thrown in for good measure!

Friday evening was started with strongly poured drinks, pic's for the gram, and a good catch-up with my old work colleagues. Being handed a huge blow-up doll (with no appendage), a sash, and a veil I was super excited. Taxi booked we soon were taking the party to a posh restaurant within a four-star hotel in Bedford. Pen & Cob, is the Swan Hotel's on-site British Brasserie, offering freshly prepared dishes throughout the day. Serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, the selection of seasonal dishes were superb with most of them locally sourced, where possible. 

On their website, they state "We make sure our dishes are sourced from suppliers which have superb reputations for producing the highest quality meats and products. Such as working closely with Stickleback fish suppliers in Welham Green to ensure Pen & Cob has the pick of the market as soon as the boats come in." Soon enough though we headed to a few bars for cocktails and some more chatting shit about life before hitting the dancefloor's to dance the night away. 

As midnight approached a few of the girls left, dropping off as the night went on. By the time I knew it I was stood in The Standard at like 2am and I had a Jagerbomb in my hand. I knew this was wrong. I knew I shouldn't have done it. If truth be told, I felt a little pressured into it as the tubby man in a waistcoat and pocket watch (Yes I know - He claimed he was a "music producer" but seemingly the only musicians he could produce from his Instagram were a bunch of old drunks trying to relive their youth, his words not mine?!). The moment it rolled over my lips and into my mouth I regretted my decision and my lack of firmness in refusing it. 

Within seconds I looked at my old work colleague and I think she knew. I made my excuses that I needed to "make a call" and desperately tried to contain myself as I could feel the German drink slipping further down my body. I knew I only had mere moments before this bad boy was visiting my mouth for the second time. Just as I pushed my way into the ladies' bathroom, some girls congratulated me on my Hen Do but I couldn't reply. My drink had arrived. Again. Stumbling into one of the stalls it came up entirely and instantly I felt better. 

An hour or so later with just the two of us girls still standing and the blow-up man waining we decided to call it a night, although unbeknownst to me we had already made it mostly the whole night as it was 3am and kicking out time for most places. Heading to where Mr. Warehouse normally picks me up, there he was,, my knight in a shining silver car. After dropping my friend off, the future Hubby drove me over to Milton Keynes where I met a sleepy Miss Hackney at the AirBnB we had booked for my Hen weekend. Falling into bed I was shattered and within hours I would be back at it again. 

Saturday was started with Melon and Mango and a freshen up under the waterfall/rain shower. With mostly Mr. Warehouse's family turning up around 1pm we played some games to get to know one another (maybe a little too well) before heading off to our first activity. Arriving at the school setting, I must say it didn't give off immediate hen party vibes. It was still chucking it down with rain as it had been all morning and after being told that it was an adults sports day organized I was concerned as none of us had come dressed for outdoor weather. We all laughed as we joked that we couldn't possibly be doing it out in that weather, that was until we realized that the poor Uni-Student wasn't laughing. He was deadly serious. 

Marching straight up to the reception Miss Hackney nearly unleashed all her Shoreditch-Shit on this bloke, demanding he either found us somewhere inside to do the games or refund us everything. Suddenly there was a dance studio free. We all piled in and just as we did the rain had knocked out the power, leaving us in a darkened room. But this didn't dampen our spirits as we chugged down our mini bottles of rose and donned sweatbands, twerking and limbo-ing our way through the afternoon before heading back to the apartment to get ready for the night-time fun!

Unbeknownst to me, we were due to be doing cocktail making and then a nice meal before heading off to the clubs of MK but after the cocktail making and meal had fallen through as the venue had an outbreak of COVID, Miss Hackney had a job of finding something to take its place. That is when she stumbled upon Bistro Live. With the entire night taken care of and all under one legendary roof, I can see why. After a tasty meal, our night was jam-packed with fun from 7pm all the way through to the early hours, all accompanied by the attentive team looking after our every need, there was no queuing at the bar for drinks and much more time to party! And because it is the world-famous Bistro Live we were even allowed to dance on tables and chairs, grinding and groaning the night away all in the knowledge that the thighs that hurt from the Adult P.E Session earlier were going to be even worse tomorrow morning.

Waking Sunday morning and checking out of the AirBnB was hard. Not because there was no life and we had tonnes of stuff. Not because Miss Hackney was absolutely hanging out her arse. Not because we had to tidy up the place from the night before. But because I knew it was over. That was it. My Hen Do. All done. Finished. Over. No More. I was sad. I think I have Hen-Do-Blues. Is that a thing? Well, at least I can say I had an incredible weekend and all thanks to some amazing friends who pulled through for me when others hadn't. I enjoyed every moment of it and drank so much I am surprised I could remember where I was let alone who I was getting married to. All in all a great weekend with great company. At least I can still say I can hack two nights out on the Trott, and if anything I could have probably even managed a third! Roll on the wedding!

'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.

Dress Stress & Wedding Bells: Part II

Afternoon All, 

Continued ... 

Frustrated I spoke with someone who had suggested some other dresses however she had clearly not looked into what I had ordered/rented as she was suggesting dresses that were far far too small. I am a UK size 22-24 and the dress suggestions were a UK size 8-10?!?!?! Being still at work I was unable to speak and so she promised me she would contact me after 5pm to sort this out once I had finished work and assured me no one would be going home until this was sorted. She didn’t call. I had to call on the number she had called me on approx. 5.10pm and got through to someone, who tried in vain to help, despite not really having any answers or explanations.  

During the subsequent 2-hour nearly long phone call which was constantly being disconnected, the young woman was able to let me know I would have a pre-10am delivery of a selection of dresses that I could choose from. Whilst appreciated this did not really help as the fascinator, shoes, bag and my manicure were all now pointless and would not have gone with any of the dresses sent through. I explained multiple times that I am a UK size 22-24 and the baby blue Cherry Midi Dress  I knew would fit and so any other dress being delivered would need to also fit. There would be no point in sending a UK size 18 or 20 as they simply wouldn’t fit. This did however happen.  

 

In the meantime my wonderful fiancé had driven to our local post office to check if the dress was there and just hadn’t been sent back yet, to which they claimed it was not. After 90-minute on the phone, I had reluctantly selected 4 dresses to be sent out, despite 2 of them I knew would not fit due to having no choice but ordering a smaller size. I was assured that delivery would happen pre-10am however as I am sure you can imagine this only added to the stress I was already experiencing and distress caused. 

Waking on Saturday morning I had barely slept, panicking I would miss the delivery and have fuck all to wear. Looking out the window the 7am street was foggy and misty, although we prayed for it t clear to blue skies and sunshine. After dropping Mr. Warehouse to his brother's house that morning, I returned home and awaited the dresses. Dress number one, a floor-length, baby-pink SELKIE Ritz dress did not fit, as expected and as told to the call handler the night before. Dress number two, the Fairy Tong dress I tried on also and again, did not fit, as expected. 

The other dresses were simply not appropriate for the English country garden summer wedding I was attending. One was a garish tropical print dress which made me look like some sort of African Tribal Queen (I have nicknamed this the Babatunde dress) and the other was a heavy dark green velvet long-sleeved high neck dress which would have made me look like a victorian nanny from 1824 and much more suited to a winter wedding or cooler time of year event. Even the gesture of goodwill necklace and earrings set was incomplete as the necklace was missing/not included and I only received the earrings which were incorrect to what I chose and sadly looked cheap, despite their nearly £200.00 price tag. 

I was in floods of tears yet again by this point as I was left in an impossible situation. I had no choice but to go into my own wardrobe and pick out a dress that was almost identical in color and style to the bridesmaid dresses which as I am sure you can imagine was highly embarrassing and awkward considering I was meant to be wearing something else entirely. 

Despite the wedding going without a hitch and it was a beautiful day with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky, it was totally marred by this so maybe HURR Collective can redeem themselves with the Ivory SELKIE Puff Ball Dress  I have planned for my Hen-Do this weekend. What is going on? I have no effing idea. All I know is that it is going to be a weekend of debauchery and naughtiness, and maybe a few willie straws thrown in for good measure!

'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.

Dress Stress & Wedding Bells: Part I

Hello, 

Is it even possible to be this tired? After a full week of back-to-back planning and wedding prep, I wish we could have had a weekend to relax. But sleeping is for the dead - Right? With last Monday being bridal drinks for my brother and sister-in-law's upcoming nuptials (Saturday 18th September 2021 - Yes my birthday). Tuesday was nail manicure, Wednesday was eyelashes, Thursday was my final dress fitting for my wedding dress (Eeek) and with Mr. Warehouse out every night too busy with Turkish trim's, Suit fittings and collecting and the church rehursal we were mostly like ships passing in the night, barely seeing each other to share dinner and most nights falling into be totally wacked. 

You see as before, my brother and sister-in-law had just so happened to book their wedding on my birthday and as such I kept forgetting throughout the week that it was actually my special day too. I do wish it hadn't been though as it would have been much easier to focus on one event. Arriving at work on the Friday morning I was shocked and surprised to see a huge bunch of flowers on my desk accompanied by a pricey bottle of champers and a sweet card from the guys in the office. I was so overwhelmed I nearly lost it. I had only been there a matter of weeks and already I had more here to welcome me on my last day as a *insert age* (tehe) than I did on my last day at a job I had worked at for over four-and-a-half years. Lunch consisted of sushi, sashimi and gyoza's closly followed by another colleague of mine coming in from her annual leave just to drop off another bunch of flowers. Honestly so sweet. 

However it wasn't to stay that way. I had decided a while ago that rather than buying a dress for the newly-wed's special day, I would rent one. I found one I fell in love with but after dithering around it was unavailable so I rented a similar one - The LIRIKA MATOSHI Cherry Midi Dress. A baby blue and cherry gown the website decscribes the $490.00 outfit as "The perfect head turner dress featured by a midi dress silhouette covered in glittery cherries. The tie up detail and the puffy sleeves make the dress even more fabulous. The dresses length from waist down is 33 inches. Made of 100% polyamide tulle, pvc glitter, environmental protection glue." 

Renting it seemed easy as I had dne a few weeks earlier just to make sure it fitted and that I knew how it all worked, logistically. Hiring was from the website HURR Collective, specialising in peer-to-peer and direct from the designers clothing and accessories rentals. The beauty was due to arrive on Friday 17^th September 2021 however, come 3.30pm (the day before my brother and sister in laws wedding AND my birthday) it had still not arrived at my fiancé’s work place. Panicking he searched high and low for it and was not able to find it.  

I tried finding a phone number to call, there was none – UNHELPFUL! I went on the chat bot on the website to ask for help only to be met with an automated response – UNHELPFUL! I then attempted to email the last human I spoke to, again with no response – UNHELPFUL!  Finally I decided to head to twitter as a last ditch attempt to try and get ahold of someone although it was another 40-mins nearly before I got a reply of any value or worth. I then received an email stating that “it looked like the item may not have come back after the last rental”. I was now in a state of panic and shock. How can a £400+ dress go MIA for nearly a fortnight with no one checking?!?!  

 

After taking some time away from my desk to cry in the toilets (because I was still working at this point) I was devastated and panic-stricken that I now had nothing to wear to  my BROTHER AND SISTER IN LAWS WEDDING the following day! I had ordered and bought a fascinator to match the Cherry Midi Dress, and planned to wear my wedding shoes plus matching the cherries on the dress to my manicure, designed especially for that dress. All of this was now wasted. All the money I had spent on them and time cultivating my outfit for such an important event that I had told everyone of the service and sang HURR Collective’s praises for were all lost. I was doing a reading in the church and I had been telling everyone about my outfit and the dress and was so excited. Now all gone. What an earth was I going to do?! At this rate I was turning up there tomorrow wearing my fucking birthday suit?! 

To be continued ... 

'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.

As the weeks turn into days ...

Heyy Everyone, 

Back and well-rested, sort of, from our trip to Skeggy last weekend, Mr Warehouse and I have been thrown in at the deep end of full-throttle wedding planning.

First things first - The caterers! As of Thursday of last week, over a fortnight on from our original caterers basically bailing on us and pulling out of our wedding and still, there had been no contact made. After having yet to receive a reply to my countless voicemails or emails or phone calls, I sent a final email. Whilst I have tried to understand the compromising position they must be in, my sympathy and empathy were wading and after absolutely no communication AT ALL Mr. Warehouse and I wanted our money back. 

Multiple discussions with friends and family all scrabbling around to help, I am not alone in believing that this is highly unprofessional. Whilst gratefully we have found other caterers now who have basically matched identically what we were quote from the old company (if you can even call them that), I am still pissed off at their absolute lack of communication and seemingly professional or sympathetic approach to our situation.

With optimism running high, and just over 4-weeks to go I am honestly so freakin' excited. I think that the public knows that Prime Minister Boris Johnson can't really go back on his word yet again U-turning. Most recently COVID has not been at the top of the news bulletins. The troubles and unrest in Afghanistan, wildfires, and commemorations for the September 11th terror attacks have all been higher on the media's agenda than this damned virus. In recent weeks, it has even been reported that we have had many days where there have been zero COVID-related deaths.

However, all is not in the clear as the BBC has confirmed today (on Monday 13 September 2021) that whilst still, low numbers are creeping up. The numbers today are only sixty-one. A huge difference from what we were seeing several months ago and the vaccine roll-out really has been our savior. Despite the new Indian variant labeled the Delta Coronavirus, 89% of people aged 16 and over in the UK have had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine and more than 80% have had their second. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted all legal restrictions in England in July but has urged the public to remain cautious and vigilant in the fight against COVID-19, saying the pandemic was not over. BoJo is due this week, tomorrow I think, to unveil his plans for Autumn/Winter 2021 on how we can survive this winter period "living with Covid" and not overwhelming the NHS. The BBC continuing with their report, all those aged 16 and over can now get a Covid vaccine, as well as children with underlying health conditions who are aged 12 and above. 

Controversially the government's Chief Medical Officers recently recommended that all children aged 12 to 15 should be offered one dose of the Pfizer vaccine, which was in stark contrast to some of the things which were coming from Westminster previously, with the government's vaccine committee had said there was not enough benefit to warrant it on health grounds alone, but that ministers may wish to take other factors into account. I think considering the situation and the roll-out of the flu-jab being given to more and more of the population this year than ever before as well as a COVID top-up, the BBC's article confirming that the Chief Medical Officers suggest that given the virus is set to keep spreading over winter, vaccinations for 12 to 15-year-olds would give the best chance for face-to-face education to continue with the least disruption. I just hope everything stays true and we can finally get hitched!

'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.

Viva la Skeg-Vegas!

Heyy All, 

The last few weekends of stress, not one but two fastly approaching weddings and last weeks catering catastrophe; a weekend away was very much needed.

As yet, it is now over a week on, and still, there has been no contact made regarding the previous caterers. So unfortunately when detailing in last week's blog post that come today I was sure there would be more tea to spill and yet there is not. I have yet to receive a reply to my countless voicemails or emails or phone calls. I have tried to understand where they are coming from and the compromising position they must be in, however, whilst I can appreciate this I really don't think this is good enough and to have had no communication AT ALL since that moment on Bank Holiday Monday. Mr. Warehouse and I had just arrived and seated ourselves at the table ready for the meeting with them, only to then discover that email, and that was only by sheer fucking luck that Mr. Warehouse asked about the bar prices, otherwise I wouldn't have seen the email at all and we would have been sat there like fucking lemon's waiting. 

At no point have we had any phone calls or anything, despite being in contact with them very regularly over the last few months and weeks. After a full week of no contact and being ignored, I am struggling even less now to appreciate their predicament and my sympathy with the situation is slipping. Multiple discussions with friends and family all scrabbling around to help, I am not alone in believing that this is highly unprofessional.Whilst gratefully we have found other caterers now, I am still pissed off at their absolute lack of communication and seemingly professional or sympathetic approach to our situation.

So when few weeks ago it was Mr. Warehouse's birthday I couldn't think of anything more perfect than as part of one of his presents was a romantic weekend away. Paris? Venice? Rome? No, even better according to the future hubby-to-be ... The great British seaside with plenty of arcades, 2p's and a large helping of fish and chips on the beach. However, with places like Paris, Venice, and Rome still under Coronavirus travel restrictions, a lot of people were thinking the same and that a 2021 Staycation was the one!

So finding a reasonably priced hotel in Skeggy was hard, so I needed to search further afield. That's when I stumbled across The Kings Arms in Boston. No, not Massachusetts. Located just over 20-miles from Skegness, The hotel provided us with everything we needed including a restaurant and free WiFi, although we never actually used either. On Booking.com, the description goes on to say that guests can relax in the garden at the property, and with Grantham 31-miles away and Woodhall Spa is less than 15-miles there was plenty to do. The nearest airport is Humberside Airport, 43.5 miles from the accommodation.

But my fiance and I had plenty of things planned. After packing up the car and leaving home (albeit over an hour late due to Mr. Warehouse being essentially forced out on the road due to the lack of drivers in the warehouse) we headed to Momma's house just outside of Huntingdon in the Cambridgeshire countryside. Dropping off the dogs and making a swift departure we continued the two-hour journey to our final destination, The Kings Arms in Boston. FINALLY, I would have a weekend without Mr. Warehouse's damned fan blowing cold air throughout the night. I joked, pulling into the car park of the hotel, both Mr Warehouse and I exhausted from work and travelling that if there was a fan in the room he would be sleeping in another bed. I never thought he would take it literally though!

The bed and breakfast offered comfy rooms all well equipped with large flat-screen TVs capable of Netflix, Youtube, and catch-up. A small and if I am honest, dated en-suite private bathroom also said it came with a hairdryer and free toiletries although I never saw these. The shower was a little limescale-ridden, however, there were plenty of pillows for us only being a couple and sharing a quadruple room. The novelty of not having to share a double bed was appealing though and so we parted ways and headed to our separate beds. 

Waking on Saturday morning without the pitter-patter of tiny paws forcing you out of bed to let them out for a wee at 6am was a relief and I don't think it was until gone 9am when we eventually both rolled out of bed and downstairs for breakfast. Our table looked out over the river, one of the many waterways that peppered these parts of the Fens and directly opposite the hotel and filling our breakfast window was a beautiful windmill. But we couldn't stare at the beauty out the window all day; we had stuff to do. 

Located on North Parade, Skegness's Natureland is a Sanctuary dedicated to treating and returning seals to their natural habitat! On its website, Natureland says that since opening they have dealt with, and returned to the wild whenever possible, many unusual animal visitors including dolphins and whales, a “lost” walrus and pelican, plus numerous oiled seabirds and injured birds of prey! 

On our visit, walking around like it was a romantic date, that every year, particularly during the breeding season, seal pups are washed up on the beaches around Skegness, abandoned or separated from their mothers by the tides! The lucky ones are brought to Natureland’s Seal Hospital where they are cared for by dedicated staff members. However keepers tell tales of the real problem which is persuading the pup to eat, the pup suckles differently from other animals (such as cats and dogs) and they cannot be taught to suck from a bottle. With a little help for a week or two, they can swallow a few whole fish (known as sprats) which are about 3 inches long, something we were lucky to see on our visit in the warm sunshine. If all goes well the pups are moved into the Rearing Pool where they are taught to feed on fish in the water and gain the body weight they need to survive in the wild. Some months after joining us when the pup is fit, fat and healthy, it is returned home to the sea!

Other than that the weekend was eaten up entirely by long hours and many coins frittered away in the arcades, long walks down the beach sharing fish and chips (along with Mr Warehouse's first experience of scraps - Basically all the bits of batter and tiny chips that bubble around in the fat of the chip-shop), a trip to a local market and a very long journey home. We had fun and now with the new caterer sorted plus a few more things ticked off the wedding to-do list, it's onwards and upwards in the final few weeks countdown until I become a wife!!!

'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.

A Catering Crisis

Evening Everyone, 

With the last few weekends either spent relaxing in a spa & dancing the night away or riddled with anxiety that my future husband is out in Birmingham somewhere having lapdance's and who knows what else I was ready to have a more relaxed and laid back approach to wedding planning this weekend. Being a bank holiday in the UK, Mr. Warehouse and I had planned a productive weekend in which we would meet with most if not all of the remaining suppliers and vendors for our big day.

Saturday I treated Mr. Warehouse to breakfast at my favorite place in Bedford, Cibo Deli. Opening earlier this year, Cibo Deli and Kitchen takes a modern and contemporary approach whilst harnessing their passion for food and Italian heritage. Offering a diverse range of freshly made artisan sandwiches and locally sourced produce including quality cheeses, cured meats, dried pasta, and gorgeous wine from the deli, but let's be fair the only reason I'm going it for the Cibo breakfast club on the weekends. Entirely unique to Bedford and offering a range of naughty but nice treats the cinnamon french toast with fresh yogurt and black cherries is my absolute win!

After which we hung out with my future brother and sister-in-law's before heading to see the florist. Again, as before, she made us feel comfortable and at ease with everything, positive that this would be the last and final occasion we would have to postpone. It is always a bitter-sweet feeling when people say that as I feel as though I can't quite believe them as at any point it could and has changed with enforced government lockdowns happening almost on a minute-by-minute basis last year. But she seemed upbeat and was helpful in narrowing down what we wanted and what would be possible within our budget as well as what would be in season.

Sunday was the bar which again made us feel super at ease with their level of professionalism. They came across very well and seemed confident in being able to handle aunties that had too much or uncles that wanted "just another one Jagerbomb". We agreed that Tequila Rose just HAS to be on the menu and that we would come up with some ideas on cocktails and other drinks to include behind the bar. Arrival drinks were decided as well as location and set up requirements. On leaving the meeting at our local Garden Centre yesterday I felt confident and excited about our upcoming nuptials. Nothing was going to get in the way now! Or would it ...?

Waking this morning Mr Warehouse had a lazy morning in bed, playing with the dogs, scrolling through social media and watching telly. Soon enough though we were on the road again to another one of my fave places for brunch, The Cherry Tree at Olney. Overlooking the main high street lined with boutique shops and cute cafes, the stunning Grade II listed building is the heart of the village and directly opposite the famous market square. Named after the Olney Cherry Fair it dating back to the 14th century, a time when the town produced a large, annual, commercial cherry crop from the vast orchards that surrounded the area.

Seating ourselves after following the waiting staff to the table I was excited for my fiance to try this place with me. After placing our food order and awaiting the arrival of our caterers (who should be arriving in less than an hour) Mr. Warehouse asked if the bar had sent through the menu or price list for the drinks since we had requested it yesterday. Pulling up my phone and my emails I began to scroll through to check. To my horror, I found something very unexpected:

Good Morning, I am contacting you regarding your catering for the 16th October 2021. We have this weekend had some devastating news, which will unfortunately not allow us to be able to cater for your event. We are deeply sorry to let you both down, however, one of our team will not be in a well enough position to cater. Her treatment plan has been set out over the coming months and put us in a position we never imagined. We do have your deposit, and we would like to return it to you as soon as possible, if you could kindly send me the details of the account it needs to be made out to, we can arrange for it to be paid. We obviously are heartbroken not to be able to help on your big day, we know you've waited a long time, and got through the pandemic, and had a few date changes. We know it leaves you in a panic, but we can recommend a few caterers that could be available for you, and that will be able to supply the same menu and support. We can understand your disappointment and possible annoyance, but our team's health now becomes my priority, she was up until yesterday adamant she would be well enough to still go ahead, and I have had to overrule her. If you could let me have the details ASAP, I'd be really grateful. Kind regards.

I had barely got to the end of the first sentence before Mr. Warehouse had taken the phone from me and read it for himself. There we were about to meet our caterers and this is what we got. No phone call. No text. No prior warning, considering we were both driving to this place conveniently halfway between the two of us. Nothing. Absolutely sweet Fuck All.

I was pissed. Whilst I could sympathize and emphasize with their situation which must be difficult, if this was the case then plans should not have been made to meet us, which were only set in stone at the beginning of last week. I had been in contact with these people for years and certainly, in recent months, weeks and days, no one had suggested anything other than what we had signed the contract for. Completely unprofessional to not call ahead or speak directly in order to explain the situation and firing off an email less than an hour before we were meant to meet is unacceptable, regardless of the situation.

Fuming I tried to call but, of course, I couldn't get through, more likely than not that they had screened my calls considering I was trying to contact them a mere ten minutes before they were meant to show up. I had no choice but to reply to the cold email:

I have just tried to call you but unfortunately not been able to reach you. Whilst we appreciate the email that has been sent I really don't think this is good enough. We have just arrived and seated ourselves at the table ready for our meeting only to then discover this email. At no point have we had a phone call or anything, despite being in contact with you very regularly over the last few months and weeks. I appreciate your predicament and sympathize with your situation however I really think this is highly professional and I expect a phone call today at some point to discuss this matter further. Regards

Over nine hours later and still no reply either to the email or the voicemail left simply reinforcing their unprofessionalism and inability to unbury their heads in the sand. I may seem like a bitch for being like this and feeling this way but they have not even done the leg work in finding another company to cater for us, just giving us a list of names that are all either unavailable or too pricey. Despite the clear health issues or problems they are facing which I totally understand, I am now left in a position where I have no food, cutlery, plates, evening catering or basic structure for my wedding day. This is not a birthday party or baby shower or some fucking fun day - THIS IS MY WEDDING DAY!!!

Right now I feel completely deflated. I haven't been able to stomach anything since then and even a crisis meeting with my Dad earlier only seemed to make things worse by compounding the fact that with less than seven-FUCKING-weeks to go everywhere is either fully booked and unavailable or are extortionate. What I do now I don't know, but by next week I am sure there will be more tea to spill ...

'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.

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

School is far from out for Summer

Afternoon All, 

As we approach our 11th week in lockdown I am drained. I am done with all of this pussyfooting around, queueing for this and queueing for that. I am done with it all. Not only am I exhausted but I still feel burnt out and whilst have been furloughed or signed off sick (whichever it may be), the last few weeks had been mentally taxing and taking a toll on me workwise.  

I suppose you could say I am at the end of my tether with it. It is all just so pointless. Figures from the BBC this evening state that whilst the confirmed new cases of coronavirus in the UK stand at over a quarter of a million, the death toll has significantly dropped to just 111 today alone (Monday 01 June 2020), down ten on last week. And I know what you are thinking, Ten doesn't seem like a lot to drop by in a week, but it is still a drop as we have not yet experienced an unsettlingly high spike in deaths or new cases as yet. This being said, however, Boris Johnson has yet to make an announcement of further openings. 

Today saw the first few schools open since lockdown began back in March. The BBC reported today that Headteachers are reporting "highly variable" levels of attendance, ranging from 40% to 70%, as primary schools in England bring back more pupils. The article explained the procedure in which the government has deemed it safe for children in Reception (4-5 year olds), Years 1 (5-6 year olds) and Years 6 (10-11 year olds) to be allowed back to school as some of the first groups able to return. But this isn't the case for all children as during the lockdown there have been some schools which have remained open throughout the coronavirus restrictions for the children of key workers and vulnerable children. 

It seems reading through the article further, that locally it appears to be a bit of a mixed bag, with not all schools either open or bringing back pupils as outlined in the government's plans with some local authorities not yet bringing back more pupils due to limited space, training and also that like the rest of us, not all staff are available due to sickness or shielding. But I can sympathise with parents and carers. I am not sure, had the shoe been on the other foot, I would be rushing to send my kids back into an environment which I could not guarantee was 100% safe. The information provided seems obscure and the contradictory information is frustrating - I am allowed to take my child to school and should be encouraged for doing so, however, I am not allowed to take them to get their hair cut or buy new school shoes? It just seems absurd, and that is before you look at the new rules children are forced to follow. 

One post on Facebook from a Headteacher somewhere up further North than Bedfordshire detailed outlines for all desks to be front-facing, dedicated circles or squares in the playground in which to play in alone and pupils only allowed a set time for toilet breaks and no others in-between, despite some of them being only barely out of nappie (although that is another blog post entirely) which would be really difficult for a little person to do. When you got to go, you got to go. 

Also within this letter to parents, the school stated that no lunchboxes, bags or stationery can be brought into school and that all uniforms or clothes must be washed every night to avoid contamination. But the most heartbreaking thing I read (other than the fact that all plush toys and soft furnishing had been band from classrooms) that should a child fall over and hurt themselves, have a toilet accident or be physically sick on themselves then they will be instructed, from afar and by a member of staff, on how to clean themselves up and how to dress a cut or graze.  

If that cannot be achieved then a parent will have to be called, seemingly defeating the whole "get back to work" thing the government has been banging on about all this time. Just disgraceful and honestly this will be harming children more than staying at home. I mean I don't want to downgrade what early-years teachers do as it is an incredible job, but surely this stuff can be taught to kids by their parents and avoid all of this trauma and upset. Besides, what kids will learn now in the next six-weeks weeks will all be long forgotten come September when schools resume properly (fingers crossed). 

I don't know, to me it makes no sense. Sure send back the over-12's. They have SAT's (another thing I don't agree with) and teens who sit exams next year for GCSE and A-Levels, but not little ones. They barely know personal space with mom and dad let alone with their little friend they haven't seen in not just weeks but maybe even months. Teens and Pre-Teens can social distance, something I know for a fact that a toddler will struggle with, not to mention trying to pull themselves together enough to put a plaster on it when all they really want is a cuddle and to be told it is all going to be alright, although right now I think we all need a bit of that. 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Change in the wind says I

Morning, 

Collapsing onto my sofa in my newly turned round living room (one of mine and Mr Warehouse's COVID Jobs to do up the house during lockdown) I was exhausted. As I listened and watched my future husband play on his Xbox I faded in and out of of my surroundings, sometimes falling asleep for mere moments and others just zoning out. I was burnt out and the last few weeks had been mental workwise which had lead to the position I was that Tuesday evening last week. 

You see, I had suffered from mental health issues before and with my depression and anxiety around certain things I was able to curb that and knew when it was coming and how the dark black cloud felt. But this was different and it had been building up and up for several weeks. And so after speaking with my doctors, they signed me off with work-related stress for a fortnight. I was shocked to say the least and as I tried to explain to the HR person I felt incredibly guilty, exhausted, stressed, tired and relieved all at the same time as feeling as though I was letting down customers, engineers and staff alike. And so after a brief discussion with my HR department (lady) the company took the decision to place me on furlough instead. 

Financially this would make me better ff as I would be on basically full pay for the fortnight my doctor has advised and should the worst happen whereby either there is not enough work for me to come back to or I am signed off for longer, as before my pay will be at 80% my normal salary (as paid by the government under the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme) rather than the minimal Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) which is approximately £90 per week. This being said however I made it quite clear that I wanted i noted and on file that the issues were as a direct result of work-related stress, something I had been trying to explain and communicate for weeks.   

Nevertheless, the "Free-Time" I have had, albeit a few hours in the day since I still need to drop Mr Warehouse to and from work every day has been nice. So far I have been able to keep up with some gardening, get into the kitchen to bake many a sweet treat including a monster of a white chocolate cheesecake that we are still trying t work our way through, despite giving a third away to Big Brother Warehouse and his brood. 

I am hoping that my time out of the "workplace" or whatever you want to call it can make for some time to craft and DIY. I have acquired my grandmother's old writing bureau and have plans to revamp it with navy chalk paint and golden metalwork to match the living room's luxe gold and dark blue theme. I plan on finishing off the crafts I started but never finished such as my pebble lamp and once I finish that, I plan on starting a few more including upcycling some white trainers into some 101 Dalmatian inspired sneakers and turning some frumpy looking creps into some bedazzling jewelled kicks to wear on the dancefloor once my feet get tired from the heels on my wedding day. And if I get all of that completed I have a long list of other things I want to either get some or at least get on top of for our upcoming nuptials including welcome signs, decor and even one of those fancy Captin Bride Hats I have seen on Pinterest that I refuse to spend £60+ on when I can just use some materials and gems to achieve the boujee look. 

Ideally, I would like to create some built-in shelves in the living room and even wallpaper the downstairs WC, although I think these are mainly weekend jobs for when I have an extra pair of helping hands. It seems as though we are all going to have many more of these bank-holiday-inspired weekends where everyone either does DIY or gardening. It seems as though "New Normal" and anything relatively life-enhancing is still off the books. With figures from the BBC that state that whilst the confirmed new cases of coronavirus in the UK are over 1,500 today alone, the death toll has significantly dropped to just 121 today alone (Monday 25 May 2020). Boris Johnson's statement to the nation several weeks ago gave us all some hope, and confusion plenty. 

I am just praying that we can get away in July and that the restrictions are lifted before 5th July, enabling our little family in the making to head for the beaches and beauty spots of Cornwall, although I fear that we will wither be amongst the disappointed millions, or the very first lucky few. Things are looking hopeful however, with airlines starting up at the beginning of June and July and promises of places like restaurants and cafe's being open beginning of July, I am hoping for the latter.

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Loch Stress Monster!

Evening, 

So after feeling so helpless last week my emotions are still a little bit all over the place and I think that this will probably be the case until well after the funeral on Friday of this week. I still I still feel as though I'm not in control even though I don't necessarily need to be. I almost get the impression that there is something that I am forgetting to do organised or plan. Something has been missed off my to-do list and I'm terrified that it will be on the day and at that very moment that I need it that I choose to remember. 

With all of this and more on my mind I felt that it would be an ample time to use some of the vouchers we got for Christmas on a spa day for Mr Warehouse and I. Well needed I think definitely I was looking forward to having some time relaxing and not thinking or worrying about anything. Including access to the swimming pool, sauna and steam room facilities plus a short treatment as well as a luscious afternoon tea with champagne was definitely what I needed. Arriving on on the day at the hotels reception, Mr Warehouse and I were welcomed into the premises with a nice cup of tea and coffee. Relaxing into the soft and comfy chairs of the Holiday Inn Corby lounge area we talked for a few moments and I wondered the last time we had had an opportunity to do such a thing together just the two of us. Truth we told that we hadn't actually probably since we had been to Bath back in late November. I think what with Christmas, New Year's, saving for the house and the more recent events of the last few months I will be the first one to admit that we probably have not spent that much quality time together just the two of us. Maybe I need to make some time for that. Hmmm ... 

After chilling out on the lounges by the pool it was time for my treatment. Heading down to the spa and Treatment Rooms I was excited and glad to be massaged for the next 25 minutes. That was until I met the masseuse. Taking me into the treatment room everything was going swimmingly and I was describing exactly how I would like to feel after my massage and what areas I would like her to concentrate on. On leaving the room I took off my bikini top and lay down as instructed beneath the towel blanket. Coming back into the room the masseuse soon whipped off the towel only to reveal my bikini bottoms still on. 

"Oh well those will need to be removed as they will make my blanket and bed wet. I'll leave the room again!" the masseuse said with a attitude problem. Feeling on edge and certainly far from relaxed I did as she asked and resumed my position on the bed. On coming back into the room she yet again tugged down the towel only this time, revealing my bare bum.  Trying to think nothing else of it I tried to relax. This was especially difficult when I was told that I was not in the best position for right angle. At one point I obviously was not relaxed enough for her liking to which she grabbed my arm and flopped it back and forth in an effort to 'loosen it up'. I can only assume at that both my arms are pretty tense and knotted since the angry Scottish lady had to do this several times with each arm which only seemed to aggravate her even more. When it came to working up to my neck and shoulder area I wasn't even given the chance to be told what I needed to do or how to relax as best as possible as the masseuse just grabbed my head and pushed it into whatever position she needed. 

Harping back to the days of my 2015 Blog post 'No Pain No Gain' of Mr. Masseuse, well I think I found his wife! I sometimes wonder to myself am I ever able to have a moment where life doesn't throw me a curve-ball or something as hilarious as this in order to be worthy of blog material. On finishing the massage I didn't think too much else of it and left the room feeling in a way on edge and not at all as though I had just had a relaxing massage. I was polite as ever and thanked the masseuse before exiting the spa only to see Mr Warehouse sat waiting for his treatment. I briefly explain to him that more likely than not he would have the same lady as I had and if this was the case then he should just relax, relax, relax! To be honest I would have just Shrugged it off as her attitude and something that may be had pissed her off earlier in the day had maybe put her in a foul mood, but when Mr Warehouse met me by poolside ready to go down for our afternoon tea, he too had explained how she had attempted the floppy arm manoeuvre on him also. Unfortunately the apparent desired effect have not had any workings on Mr Warehouse and therefore had been abruptly huffed at that if he was unable to relax his arms then there would be no point in her trying to massage them. We tried not to let it spoil the rest of our day however we would be lying to say that it didn't put a damper on it. Afternoon tea however was lovely and as ever very filling. 

Sitting here now thinking about it and after talking to work colleagues today in the office about how my weekend went, I suppose in a way I do kind of feel a little bit let down and disappointed generally with the experience that Mr. Warehouse and I had. Especially since this was meant to be a relaxing Sunday afternoon before what was going to be a very busy, hectic and emotional week 4 not just me but also Mr Warehouse also as he tries to support me through a difficult time. The pressure to look, talk, act and be a certain way is still immense and the whole idea that things will just go as they are on the day is simply not sitting right with me, causing me to be highly anxious and constantly worrying about everything and anything that could go wrong. 

It's becoming a bit stressful and overwhelming so truth be told I will be happy when I have said my part at the crematorium and event can relax with a drink or two, once I drive home of course. I worry constantly and feel like I am on a permanent wobble. I have even worried that this might be the beginning of that god awful cloud feeling.Sometimes I feel like I have to put on such an act for everyone, pretending to be happy-go-lucky and enjoying and loving life, Its long. I feel like I am forever walking on eggshells and scared of not upsetting someone or being inconsiderate or not saying or doing the right thing that its leaving me felling that whatever I do is never going to be good enough. 

All I can hope is that what everybody is telling me is the truth and that going forward everything will be OK. I think maybe I just need to slow down, calm down and collect myself and my thoughts. Everything will be Okay. I'm sure of it. 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx