You are currently browsing the monthly archive for August 2008.

So, I gave you 20 questions in which to ask me anything you like. It wasn’t as bad as I imagined it would be, I thought you’d ask some more nitty-gritty questions and I’d be squirming trying to answer them honestly. Here’s your answers…
Were you expecting a bigger response than this?
I didn’t really have any expectations, I just hoped people would respond… and harassed them a little with some help from twitter.
What do you do (or like to do) when no-one is looking?
Erm, I wander around naked alot if I have a shower. I just like to drip dry I guess, I’m not really an exhibitionist… At least I don’t think I am. Although I do love people’s bodies. I love Spencer Tunick’s artwork – I could look at it for hours, at all the different shapes and sizes of everyone.
Why do you blog, what do you get out of it?
I started a blog so I could have a journal about my time in Newcastle, documenting all the places I love and experiences I have. But it’s turned into a random mix of ‘blah’ – there’s alot about myself in here so it’s definitely becoming a bit self indulgent. But I like to talk about myself – it’s therapeutic. It’ll become a diary of my emigration as the months go on; a place I can look back to and just reflect on how far I’ve come.
I find reading other people’s blogs really insightful too – I’m a curious person and think people’s lives are incredibly interesting (hence my love for ‘Pick Me Up’ and ‘Love It!’), so hopefully people find mine insightful (or at least entertaining) too…
If you could be invisible for a day and follow a celeb, who would you follow?
I’m actually stumped by this question, I really can’t think! I’ve never been interested in ‘celebrity’. Oh, actually, yes i can. Zezi, the presenter on Big Brother’s Little Brother. I HAVE to know where she buys all her pretty dresses from. So I’d follow her to her favourite shopping haunts.
What would you do with a pair of chocolate shoes?
EAT THEM!!! I wouldn’t put my feet in them, yuk, I couldn’t eat them after that. And I couldn’t just display them as an ornament – it’s a waste of tastilicious chocolate.
If you were going to compete in the Olympics, what event would it be in? Doesn’t have to be an event that’s currently in the Olympics, just whatever you think you’d be one of the best in the world at.
I have never watched the Olympics and I have no idea what sports are involved – I’ve been useless at sports since being the chubby kid at school, and had no interest in it since. Perhaps if there was a ‘Bad Olympics’ I’d come out tops – Slowest Runner, Short Jump, Impaling the Nearest Spectator Accidentally With a Javelin… Yep, I would be gold medalist at being shite at sport. I have no hand-eye coordination so I can’t throw and catch or hit a ball with any type of bat/racket.
Any tattoos? And if not, then where would you like one and what would it be of?
I have two and a half… Funny story. When I was 19, I got a tattoo of a Playboy bunny on my stomach. I regretted it for two reasons, one; because from that point on I started to notice how many teenagers were sporting Playboy bunny branded apparel and I realised how tacky it was, and two; it was badly done, so instead of a rabbit head and bow tie, the head seemed to run into the tie, so it was just a rabbit head and neck. Nothing Playboy about that. Anyway, I had that tattoo covered with a flower – you can’t tell the bunny is there, unless you look for it – it’s like a magic eye picture, so I class it as 1 and a half tattoos.
The second tattoo is a massive red/pink lily on my back (see MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY). I want to extend it, with two birds and some butterflies up my back – I love body art, just thinking about getting another tattoo makes my heart beat faster with excitement. It’s very addictive!
What do you do when people are looking that you don’t do when they are not?
The whole naked thing from above… Erm, maybe picking my nose/squeezing spots. Everybody does it. Don’t lie, you know you do.
How many copywriters does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
One, plus a thesaurus – so they could look up synonyms for ’screw’ and ‘lightbulb’, then write a few thousand words about it.
If you felt compelled to roundhouse kick someone, who would it be and why?
I’m not the violent type. I don’t have anyone I particularly feel the need to roundhouse kick either.
What is your favorite meal to cook, what is your favorite beverage to go along side?
I’m not sure about cooking it, but Indian food is my choice of meal, with a Kingfisher or Cobra alongside.
If you had to name a song which best describes you, what song would it be and why?
At the moment, it’s India Arie’s ‘Video’. I’ve inexplicably begun to feel an inferiority complex and body image issues. It’s ridiculous – I’m not 16, I should have grown out of it. But I had amazing self confidence when I was younger, I can only appreciate what a strength that was now I’ve lost it. I think there’s such increasing pressure from all angles to be beautiful, by the standards of others, that I’ve lost the ability to ‘own’ myself. I feel I should be different to match society’s expectations. So, India Arie is my mantra, to remind me that I am not a supermodel, but I’m ok.
Will you write a post about coffee shops in Newcastle?
Yes I will. Someday this week in fact, but not today.
A Tunnock’s Teacake at the Rendezvous, or a Kaffecino’s choccy muffin? And why?
I never liked Tunnock’s Teacakes – I don’t like the texture or the flavour of the marshmallow, so definitely the Kaffeccino’s double chocolate muffins. Oh, they are sooo good. The top is crusty, there’s white and milk choc chips in, and in the centre is gooey chocolate sauce… Oh I’m drooling…
Toilet paper … facing IN, or facing OUT?
Bizarre question! Not sure what you’d class as facing in or out, but I like my paper to roll from the outside of the roll, not from the ‘wall’ side, that’s just backwards to me.
As in the McCain ad: Daddy or chips?
Depends what mood Daddy is in!
Pork or lamb?
Lamb, I really don’t like Pork. I love lamb though, it’s so melt-in-your-mouth. Especially lamb stew… mmmm…
What was the best thing before sliced bread?
The bread knife. Although now we have sliced bread, I really appreciate non-sliced bread. It tastes so much better when you tear it from a crusty loaf, and it’s all fluffy in the middle – it’s like an authentic bread experience and the sliced stuff is just cheating.
What colour is your favourite shirt/top/t-shirt?
My favourite t-shirt is white, with FRANKIE SAYS RELAX in black type across the front. I love it. I don’t know why, since Frankie Goes To Hollywood was a bit before my time, but the t-shirt makes me feel cool… retro cool… which, ironically, is sad to admit.
Can I be the person who asks the 20th question?
Oh there’s always some smart arse isn’t there…
What was your most regrettable purchase? … i.e. the one that generated the strongest sinking feeling of buyer’s remorse.
There have been so many I don’t know where to start. I used to be such an impulse buyer. Oh, now I can think of one, big (or rather, several little) regrettable purchases. I worked in Barratts shoes on Northumberland Street in Newcastle about 4 years ago. In the time I worked there, for a short and sweet 4 weeks, I earnt about £600. In that 4 weeks, I spent about £1200 on Barratts’ shoes… Hence why I quit.
There you have it. I’m still trying to think of somebody I’d roundhouse kick, because saying ‘nobody’ seems like such a cop-out. But I’m just not a hater…

Cue Tuesday evening, and as if I needed to fill up on another main meal after sharing quiche and jacket potato at Centurion for lunch, Kiwi and I decided to take a trip to Lau’s Buffet King in Stowell Street, part of Newcastle’s small but perfectly formed China Town. But when it’s midsummer and so cold, grey and wet you could be forgiven for thinking it was December, how better to make yourself feel therapeutically warm than with food…
Lau’s Buffet King is unspectacular. It feels like a dining hall rather than a restaurant – with basic wooden tables and chairs, no sense of comfort and their ‘all you can eat,’ help-yourself buffet at which people queue as though having school dinners. The service is blunt, with no niceties – you are told on arrival that you will be charged £8.50 if you are seated at the restaurant, regardless of whether you are eating or not. So whilst being cheap, I wouldn’t call Lau’s ‘cheerful’.
“how better to make yourself feel therapeutically warm than with food…”
Making up for lack of ambiance is the wide choice of food, from salad, chicken soup, duck pancakes, prawn crackers and seaweed to start, to main courses including New Zealand Green Mussels in a seafood dish and the usual sweet and sour pork and chicken, lemon chicken, beef and black bean sauce, Chinese curry and a choice of noodles and rice. Unfortunately the food lets itself down somewhat by being lukewarm when it hits your plate and pretty much cold by the time you return to your table to eat. But again, making up for lack of warmth of your main course is the choice of desserts to sweeten your palate. Banana fritters, gateaux, jelly and ice cream as well as fruit salad for the health conscious. If you can leave room for a little something extra, it’s a nice way to finish off your meal on a good note.
Time and again I’ve returned to Lau’s, despite it being a consistent disappointment, but there’s something to say about easy dining, no frills or fuss – you know what you’re getting and you get your money’s worth – no more, no less.

I’ve been positively treated like a Queen by Kiwi this week. A fat, overindulged, gluttunous Queen, but a Queen nonetheless. On Tuesday he treated me to lunch, on Tuesday night to dinner, then on Wednesday just as I was about ready to commit to some form of extreme diet from sheer guilt at the amount of food I’d consumed, he took me out to lunch again too. And since I’m supposed to be documenting all the things I’ll remember of Newcastle, where better to start than where the heart is. In my stomach.
Episode 1 takes us to Tuesday lunchtime, at Centurion. Centurion sits next to Newcastle’s Central Station. Well, it sits inside the station too if you want to be facetious – with an entrance both on the station’s main platform, and facing onto Neville Street. Centurion is both a pub and cafe. The public house area is popular after work with its ease of transport access, once you have had a couple of drinks to blur the edges of a stressful day at the office; you can practically step out of the door into your respective train, metro, taxi or bus home.
“the kind of chairs that bring to mind the Count from Sesame Street – one ceramic tile ‘uh’… two ceramic tile ‘uh, uh, uh…”
The decor is incredible inside, with every inch of the walls ceramic tiled majestically. You have to see it to appreciate the epicness of it; with tiled columns towering from floor to high ceiling. Rumour has it that the pub was once the Royal waiting room, where members of the Windsor family and all their numerous inbred inlaws would wait for their train. The walls were then covered in plasterboard for the room to take on another role – storage of some sort, before many decades later some unknowing soul rediscovered the tiles and restored them to their former glory. It’s a tall tale admittedly, but everyone likes a bit of history so I’ll keep believing it until proven otherwise. It is advisable to get to Centurion before the mad dash comes post 5 o’clock, as there’s some cosy chairs next to the fire place where you could while away the hours comfortably. They are the kind of chairs that bring to mind the Count from Sesame Street – one ceramic tile ‘uh’… two ceramic tile ‘uh, uh, uh’… three ceramic tile… You get the picture. All the chairs need are a smoking jacket, cord slippers and cigar and you’d be somewhere in the 1800s.
A far cry from the pub is the cafe that has seemingly been pritt-sticked to the side of it. Reminiscent of a conservatory, the walls are glass and the furniture would look at home in your garden. It lacks a complete sense of character, but it’s the only place I know to go when I feel like some ‘garden furniture’ food – quiche and salad to be more specific. Along with quiche, they serve gigantic jacket potatoes with fillings which are uninspiring but plentiful, plus, as with all station outlets, overpriced and underfilled sandwiches, drinks and snacks.
Go in with low expectations and you won’t be disappointed, nor ecstatic. The coffee is nice enough and the hot food fills a hole.
Happy Birthday to my big brother. This is a soppy dedication to you ’cause living 300 miles apart for five years has meant we’ve not seen each other quite as much as we used to when we lived in adjacent rooms. Now, with me moving to the other side of the world, I feel it’s time to say however far apart I am from you and your amazing little family unit, however many birthday cards we may forget to send and however few times we’ll see each other, you will all always be in my thoughts.
Growing up, I really looked up to you and I still do now. You are unbelievably talented – unlike me who gives up anything I start out of impatience for needing to be perfect at it straight away – if I’m not Mariah Carey within one singing lesson, or Steve Vai in one guitar practice, then it’s not for me. But you have dedicated yourself to drumming since playing the pots and pans when you were 3. You have striven to go far and you deserve to take on the world with your band. More than that, you’re dedicated to your wonderful partner and the most beautiful boy I have ever seen. I’m not just saying that because I’m biased – he looks just like his dad – I just wish I knew him more. Life gets in the way sometimes, but I hope that when he’s older, if he wants to travel the world, he’ll know he has a home away from home with me.
So, happy birthday big bro’. I love you.
Turns out that a few people are actually reading my blog, hurrah, and thanks for dropping by to decipher my inane ramblings. There is no particular theme to this blog, and I’m not sure I want one. I’m a fickle person, and very scatty, so I imagine that I’ll have posts about everything and nothing. But here’s a post for y’all, so you’re at least reading one thing of personal interest to you.
I’d like you to use the comments section below to ask me anything you like. I am explicitly honest – I have no sense of privacy or shame, so ask anything you like (now I’m asking for trouble). I’d like just one question per person, so I can get more people involved. Once I have twenty questions, I’ll answer them all.
It would be great if those with their own blog do the same – think of it as a reciprocal game. Tit for tat, if you like.
And just for good measure, another video of The Lion King – I am more excited about seeing this again than I am about going on holiday to Ibiza next month. I’ve got chills watching this, I can feel myself welling up already – I will be a blubbering mess, I can tell.
I have to apologise to Kiwi but I have spent every spare moment since yesterday drooling over Jason Raize (see above video, specifically 3 minutes and 5 seconds in). My growing obsession came about since youtubing the stage version of The Lion King, as Kiwi and I have tickets to see it in London’s West End the day before we jet off to New Zealand. I saw it for real about ten years ago and it was utterly overwhelming. No exaggeration, it is something you must see before you die – all other musicals pale in comparison.
Jason Raize played the older Simba in the clip above, and he looks incredible. Tragically he committed suicide in 2004. It is beyond me why a man that talented and absolutely beautiful to see could have been in such despair to take his life. It truly is devastating; he has an immense voice, I’m passionate about vocals and his send shivers down my spine.
If you like my blog you may be interested in the nitty gritty details about me. Not the epic overview of where I am in life and where I’m going (like Save it for a rainy day, July 2008), but the little things that make me, me, and not just another 24 year old female with nothing better to do on a Saturday morning than spend time blogging in some selfobsessed manner… And so, I am going to give you the lowdown on ME, lovingly copied and pasted from my info page on Facebook. Because I’ve spent a while now adding to those details, and I think they pretty much sum me up, in a metaphorical nutshell. Here goes (read while listening to Alphabeat above. If I had a theme tune, that would be it):
- Activities:
- trying to squeeeeeze in as much time with my friends as i can before i go downunder *sobs* / excessive amounts of barbequeing / jogging / poetry writing since i discovered i could potentially win money / chilling with my Kiwi fruit, he’s truly beautiful inside and out / salsa – cucarachaing, mamboing and generally gyrating latino style / new experiences of any kind / fun and frolics / writing THE official guide to what’s on in newcastle / learning about all things Kiwi / zipwiring across the tyne / topless modelling (ooh fruity) / singing loudly / dancing / swimming / going to beaches, up mountains, around lakes, through forests and countryside / being outdoors in nature
) - Interests:
- being a complete tightarse / being teetotal(ish) / looking at but never purchasing pretty boho tea dresses / drinking from the cup of lindsay lohan (that’s redbush tea to those who are thinking otherwise… FILTH!) / bargainous eBay purchases / flea markets, antique markets, general crap and shite markets / jumble sales, car boot sales / the rendezvous cafe at whitley bay – think tunnock’s tea cakes and old people / side cinema! – it’s a back room with a few seats that plays movies off a dvd player over a projector and has a cool old man to introduce the film / travelling / world culture / bagging jammy freebies, competitions, vouchers, cheeky blags – anything goes… / music!!! / kaffeccinos muffins / shakeaholic dime bar milkshakes / art galleries / northern stage / dance city / independent cafes, coffeehouses, shops / view of the quayside on a sunny day / talking / laughing / smiling / sun shining / blue skies / pretty flowers / singing / drawing, sketching, painting / reading / learning new things / having blonde moments / being loved-up / being cheeky / eating lush food / body art / naked art – seem to be building myself up a collection…
- Favorite Music:
- ooh the lists is extensive and organic… jodie sparks ‘no air’ / tamia ‘you put a move on my heart’ / candy apple ’step 2 me’ / bangra!!! / hillbilly country and western style (the Dixie Chicks and the like) / duffy / alphabeat ‘fascination’ / sunloverz, ’shine on’ / jody wisternoff, ’starstrings’ / anything my Kiwi puts on the decks / mika, ‘happy ending’ (makes me feel all gooey inside…) / robyn, ‘every heartbeat, ‘ ‘handle me’ and ‘be mine’ / mylo / daft punk / stevie wonder / lionel ritchie – it’s all about ‘all night long’ / luther vandross ‘never too much’ / massive attack / groove armada after amazing gig in may 2007 / pete tong, maximo park, the view, haunts, the modes after further fab gigs involving dancing like a loon / cansei se der sexy / colbie cailat ‘everytime I see your bubbly face, I get the tingles in a silly place’
) / missy higgins, ’steer’ / kings of leon ‘fans’ and ‘ragoo’ / the killers / razorlight, ‘america’ / gnarls barkley ’smiling faces’ / india arie, ‘video’ / lol hammond / deline bass / ferry corsten / the libertines, ‘don’t look back into the sun’ / reef ‘consideration, ‘ ‘lullaby’ / sublime – all perfect tunes for summer / sting / tracey chapman / and oddly enough, sean paul…booyah! anything dancey and uplifting generally… - Favorite TV Shows:
- skins / DRAWN TOGETHER!!!! if you’ve not seen it, try to, it’s hilarious / family guy / american dad / south park – generally anything cartoon and american goes down well / phoenix nights / peep show / green wing / teachers – anything dry and slightly bizarre also goes down a treat / HOLLYOAKS and I have absolutely no time for anyone who deems themselves above watching the oaks-get down off your high horse and make with the loving of all things tom, max (RIP *sigh*) and steph related! / spongebob squarepants. can i hear a whoop whoop for weekend kids tv… anyone?? It’s not unusual to find me sat in front of CITV or CBBC… Hello to you fairly odd parents and my parents are aliens. Yes, yes, I know I’m a geek…
- Favorite Movies:
- horror and comedy are the genres of choice. it’s difficult to find a movie that scares me, but the exorcism of emily rose FREAKED me out for about a week! / Horton hears a who!!! hilariously funny!!! / ratatouille / anchorman (still not watched the ending yet but the lines are class) / recently films of the chinese genre / the orphanage, pans labyrinth, amelie, the science of sleep and other bizarre foreign films / whalerider – i cried a little
( / it’s all gone pete tong / fear and loathing in las vegas, what’s eating gilbert grape, anything involving jonny… (new years resolution to buy every film jonny depp has ever been in!) / empire records / anything involving a trip to tyneside cinema! / my collection of bizarre musicals – rocky horror show, little shop of horrors, jerry springer the opera…ho hum. - Favorite Books:
- a suitable boy. it’s taking me about a year to read it and only halfway through (it contains a billion pages) / partial to books I read as a kid – am loving giving them a read again, it’s a comfort thing – kids book, duvet and cup of tea, definite sunday activity. been through the Magic Faraway Tree, Anastacia Krupnik series, the Judy Blume books (Are You there God It’s Me Margaret, and all that lot) it’s sad but true, I love kids books / When I’m reading for my age I like anything biographical set in another culture or period… wild swan, falling leaves, mao, startling moon / peter kay’s autobiography – “EVERYBODY INSIDE, ITS SPITTIIIIIIING!!! “cheese-cake, cheeese-CAKE??? i’ve seen the future and it’s garlic bread…” /
Pick Me Up (not a book, but due to discovering it’s not such a dirty secret, thought I’d stand proud and admit I LOVE ‘REAL’ LIFE SHITE!!!!) It’s a weekly anthology of Jeremy Kyle’s guests, can’t get more educational and explicitly biographical than that…
And so, there it is. That’s me. You can follow me on Twitter, here, if you’d like the day by day commentary on my life. It doesn’t get very exciting, but I am who I am, and I kind of like me.




He said, then she said...