Dom's journey: November 2005

A gorgeous Ferrari 250 Spyder Calfornia - the first I've ever seen in real life

Theresa and I went to a car show at the week-end. Her first and my first for a while. there were cars on display (see above) including some exceptionally rare stuff. the main part of the afternoon was a live indoor car show with stuntmen, exotic cars and some British TV presenters (Clarkson and Hammond from Top Gear for those who know). The show lasted about 80 minutes and was pretty spectacular. I've been to things like this before, but I thought this was still pretty good value.

An extract from the show

There was also the first publis unveling of the new Jaguar XK sportscar. I can't stand Jaguars but this did look alright and sounded OK! (see above)

Keeping it real at the show

The day rounded off in at Harrods

We then finished the day off with tea at Harrods. Very Christmas and very British. And it tasted alright as well!! Is ayone else starting to get excited about Christmas yet?

Harrods with their Christmas lights on. London is looking beautiful now and very bright!

Emily (centre right) doing some dancing (sorry Em can't remember song). Was definitely one of the highlights in an otherwise very strange evening.

Apologie for the extended absences at the moment. I can't believe it has been nearly two weeks since a last post. How time flies wen you're busy unfortunately. I am finding it harder to make the time to post properly at the moment. I'm not really sure why, but I am sure it is just a phase and it will get better. For a while we had no internet at work which didn't help, but that is a bit of a crap excuse as well. And I'm finding when I get home that I have lots of jobs to do so by the time I get round to thinking about doing blogging or anything similar it is far too late and I need sleep. Personally I blame the rapidly approaching Christmas, but maybe I'm wrong. Lol!

So what's new? Theresa and I are decorating the house at the moment which is taking up plenty of her time. It is looking a lot better though, and I didn't fully appreciate how dreadful the wallpaper was until I now compare it to the new 'dawn mist' colour on the walls. It's a great neutral colour which means our pictures really stand out on the walls.

Other than work (too dull and time consuming to want to even think about), a highlight has been going to a theatre production on Hayling Island near Portsmouth, to see my 8 year-old niece performing. Hayling is a very small community on an island attached to mainland Britain. It's a bit League of Gentlemen at times, although lovely. And a huge contrast to Surrey where I live!! But I digress. This theatre was very small and the production was put on by the local dance society as far as I can make out. It comprised a mixture of adults and kids of all ages singing and dancing. For three hours.
Everyone was 'warning' me before not to laugh, but I didn't really take in what I was being told. The kids dancing were cute and for the most part pretty good. For a small community they had been taught well. The odd child that sang though was absolute torture. I have never in my life heard songs being dismembered so completely as during those 'performances'. It was like soeone scraping their nails down a blackboard, but worse! And then there were the adults. I thought it was the parents who were going on stage to have a go and join in. Which wuld have been forgiveable. But I later learnt that this lots practice regularly and this is their hobby. I wasn't expecting Broadway, but it was truly awful. In fact awful doesn't even come close! Eating my own feet would have been a more pleasurable experience in retrospect I think!!
What made the evening better/worse was that virtually the whole audience were sitting there in raptures. The only ones cringeing and trying not to giggle were my group. Fair enough for the parents supporting their kids, but not everyone else!! And luckily for the 'production' it was only friends and family there because I think there would have been a mass walk out or a stoning had anyone without a vested interest been there.

Now this all may seem a little harsh, but believe me when I say it was a truly exhausting experience. Watching the kids getting into it and having fun was cool. And I would completely encourage kids to try acting and dancing. But I think someone should regulate letting truly talentless adults out in public.

Can anyone empathise?

On a lighter note it's cool hanging out with family sometimes and being abale to go out with Theresa's nan, sister and the kids was wonderful. An average lunch was made hugely better by us all having a laugh and relaxing. Especially with nan who is the elder stateswoman of the family and a great person to be around. and she eats even more than me which I scarcely believe possible!