Fly Me To The Moon
...was Sara and Stashers first dance at their wedding. We're flying to Glasgow with them tomorrow for Craig and Nina's wedding at the rather splendid Ardanaiseig Hotel on Loch Awe. Whilst I'm viewing the flight as just a quick bus ride north, Vicster's fear of flying started to kick in last night, and she asked me if 10 o'clock in the morning was too early for a gin and tonic. It will be interesting to see if her summer visit into the cockpit - secured with tears - on our way back from Portugal has any positive effect.
A Windy Miller Moment
Last night before bedtime I checked myself in the bathroom mirror for blackheads, pimples, grey hairs and in-growing beard hairs. I also had a pluck at my nasal hairs and bushy eyebrows. All preparation for the wedding.
Whilst extracting a particularly wiry specimen, I had a dizzying "Windy Miller Moment": I was overcome with a fear of what presents might await me on Christmas morning. The fear comes from genuine trauma suffered two years ago:
Mum had gone on and on about how she had found the "perfect gift" for me. As we left for Vic's mum & dad's, she presented me with the gift-wrapped package and the words "and this is your main present... it's very special... I think you'll love it!". She was really excited at the thought of her son opening it, and was disappointed that she wouldn't see my face as the gift was unwrapped. She kept going on and on about it.
I left the box until last on Christmas morning, in the anticipation that it was going to be a special and treasured gift.
It was a "collectable" ceramic Windy Miller figure on his tricycle.
I was gutted.
Not because it was a) crap and b) clutter and c) had no meaning for me. But because it showed how out of touch my mum had become from me.
I'm an ungrateful sod.
Thursday, December 12, 2002
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
Suits You Sir!
Julian was wearing his favourite tie yesterday: the one with the pink and blue flowers that was trendy in 1986. As tradition now dictates, I pointed the fact that he was wearing his favourite tie out to him, in order to extract a comedy response.
He surpassed himself.
Julian spent the next ten minutes detailing his favourite attire from his business wardrobe. Turns out he once wore a purple suit to an interview at John Lewis.
He didn't get the job.
And he used to wear, until quite recently, a red suit with a matching red shirt, red tie and, to complete the outfit, red shoes.
But his confessional didn't end there. He used to wear, until quite recently, a bright green suit with a matching green shirt, green tie and, to complete the outfit, green shoes.
A living, breathing, Joker look-a-like.
Oh Christmas Tree
Trevor the tree went up on Sunday afternoon. He was bought from the wonderfully festive tree barn at Christmas Common, and is a no-drop Nordic Fir. We always buy from Cristmas Common, as due to it being the best tree farm in the country, you are guaranteed a good fresh premium tree that has been looked after and renewed. There's something magically about dressing the tree and this year was no expection. A glass of wine, Bing Crosby's White Christmas playing on the stereo, and the scent of pine as you decorate. All of a sudden I feel Christmasy!
Only thing is, it takes up a quarter of the room. There seems to be a universal X File factor with Christmas trees that mean they look small in the shop but spontaneously grow to epic proportions in the car on the way home. Our 'small' Trevor - now that he's settled himself into the living room - looks rather like a giant redwood with tinsel on...
Julian was wearing his favourite tie yesterday: the one with the pink and blue flowers that was trendy in 1986. As tradition now dictates, I pointed the fact that he was wearing his favourite tie out to him, in order to extract a comedy response.
He surpassed himself.
Julian spent the next ten minutes detailing his favourite attire from his business wardrobe. Turns out he once wore a purple suit to an interview at John Lewis.
He didn't get the job.
And he used to wear, until quite recently, a red suit with a matching red shirt, red tie and, to complete the outfit, red shoes.
But his confessional didn't end there. He used to wear, until quite recently, a bright green suit with a matching green shirt, green tie and, to complete the outfit, green shoes.
A living, breathing, Joker look-a-like.
Oh Christmas Tree
Trevor the tree went up on Sunday afternoon. He was bought from the wonderfully festive tree barn at Christmas Common, and is a no-drop Nordic Fir. We always buy from Cristmas Common, as due to it being the best tree farm in the country, you are guaranteed a good fresh premium tree that has been looked after and renewed. There's something magically about dressing the tree and this year was no expection. A glass of wine, Bing Crosby's White Christmas playing on the stereo, and the scent of pine as you decorate. All of a sudden I feel Christmasy!
Only thing is, it takes up a quarter of the room. There seems to be a universal X File factor with Christmas trees that mean they look small in the shop but spontaneously grow to epic proportions in the car on the way home. Our 'small' Trevor - now that he's settled himself into the living room - looks rather like a giant redwood with tinsel on...
Monday, December 09, 2002
Gran’s Out Of Theatre
She came out at about 2 p.m., is “comfortable”, so it’s now wait and see. I think we’ll go and see her tomorrow evening.
Oxford United 1 – 0 Swindon Town
Scumdon Town were crushed by the Mighty U’s live on BBC1. It was a great day for the club.
Nobby was seen adjusting his scarf, grinning like a Cheshire cat, clapping, and bobbing up and down like a small child, live on BBC1. As the players ran out of the tunnel, the TV cameras panned around the ground, picking out fans from the crowd. And there I was, sat slightly forward of everyone else, on the edge of my seat, clearly excited by the prospect of the match. I looked like a retard.
And you couldn’t miss me: My Gramp phoned me immediately I got home to tell me he’d seen me. Scott said the same. A number of guys here at work – who I don’t even know the names of – have pointed at me this morning and exclaimed “Hey! Saw you on the telly yesterday!”
It gets worse. If you missed it on the BBC, but live in the Meridian TV region, you get the chance to see me again tonight! Our friend at Meridian, sports reporter Enda, has apparently included me in his edited report on the match, scheduled to go out this evening.
Set your videos!
If you missed me on telly, there was always the chance that you heard me on the radio. I was interviewed at half time by Radio Oxford on the touch-line (most people shirked away from the microphone, but not bashful me) - I actually made a number of excellent points – and then managed to get on the phone-in straight after the game. In high spirits, my “point” was complete tosh – the crux of it was “we looked really sharp today, especially Peter Rhodes-Brown [Oxford United Community Officer], whose suit was very dapper and gave David Dickinson a run for his money…”
I probably sounded like a complete twit, but Scott said it was actually quite funny. You probably had to be there.
Anyway, I’m going to add “TV’s” to my name – as in “TV’s Nobby Dobscrub” – and I am now available for football programme punditry, local radio commentary and children’s parties.
The Jefferson Louis Era II
Even if you can’t stand football, have a look at Jefferson “King” Louis celebrating the news Oxford United are playing Arsenal in the next round…
She came out at about 2 p.m., is “comfortable”, so it’s now wait and see. I think we’ll go and see her tomorrow evening.
Oxford United 1 – 0 Swindon Town
Scumdon Town were crushed by the Mighty U’s live on BBC1. It was a great day for the club.
Nobby was seen adjusting his scarf, grinning like a Cheshire cat, clapping, and bobbing up and down like a small child, live on BBC1. As the players ran out of the tunnel, the TV cameras panned around the ground, picking out fans from the crowd. And there I was, sat slightly forward of everyone else, on the edge of my seat, clearly excited by the prospect of the match. I looked like a retard.
And you couldn’t miss me: My Gramp phoned me immediately I got home to tell me he’d seen me. Scott said the same. A number of guys here at work – who I don’t even know the names of – have pointed at me this morning and exclaimed “Hey! Saw you on the telly yesterday!”
It gets worse. If you missed it on the BBC, but live in the Meridian TV region, you get the chance to see me again tonight! Our friend at Meridian, sports reporter Enda, has apparently included me in his edited report on the match, scheduled to go out this evening.
Set your videos!
If you missed me on telly, there was always the chance that you heard me on the radio. I was interviewed at half time by Radio Oxford on the touch-line (most people shirked away from the microphone, but not bashful me) - I actually made a number of excellent points – and then managed to get on the phone-in straight after the game. In high spirits, my “point” was complete tosh – the crux of it was “we looked really sharp today, especially Peter Rhodes-Brown [Oxford United Community Officer], whose suit was very dapper and gave David Dickinson a run for his money…”
I probably sounded like a complete twit, but Scott said it was actually quite funny. You probably had to be there.
Anyway, I’m going to add “TV’s” to my name – as in “TV’s Nobby Dobscrub” – and I am now available for football programme punditry, local radio commentary and children’s parties.
The Jefferson Louis Era II
Even if you can’t stand football, have a look at Jefferson “King” Louis celebrating the news Oxford United are playing Arsenal in the next round…
