Salami-making for idiots

Step 1) Hygiene matters. Remove all animals from the premises. (Cooper, this means you.)








Step 2) Get yourself a few tonnes of pork.










Step 3) Pig intestines. Clean them.









Step 4) Stuff pork into salami-making machine. Turn handle. Watch salami grow. Marvel at all the rude things you could compare this to.

Step 5) No matter how hungry you are, resist eating raw pork. Go inside and get a biscuit.

Step 6) To avoid air pockets, a tight grip is recommended. See below.

Step 7) Tie the ends with twine and throw in bucket. Hang somewhere cool. You'll know they're ready when the place stinks beyond recognition.

Congratulations. You are now the proud owner of a brand new salami.

A houseguest

As you know, Jo's brother Matthew came to stay for a week not long ago to help celebrate Jo's 25th birthday. Jo is used to us Italians by now (dare i say it - he is practically one of us sometimes, particularly when there's a plate of pasta to be had), but i was curious to see how Matthew would go. Obviously it was hilarious for me and Jo to watch the interaction (especially with my old man), but credit where credit is due - he was very relaxed about the whole thing. He ate and drank with the rest of us and generally did just fine with the whole situation. It deserves a big well done!




On Jo's birthday, we headed out to my parents for a BBQ and some birthday cake (not for Jo's sake of course, but because Jack loves to sing happy birthday and blow out candles. Naturally he's not fussed about whose birthday it actually is, as long as those requirements are met.)

Jo and Jack cut the cake

All eyes focused on one thing and one thing only...




Jo, Matthew and Dad. Why Dad looks like a deer in headlights i do not know.

On Saturday, I met Faatasi in Surry Hills for brunch at the Book Kitchen, an old favourite, where the date and fig pikelets with vanilla ricotta and poached pear never fail to please. What i love about Faats is that like me, he knows no bounds when it comes to food. Can't decide what you want? Feel like trying a few things? No problem, we'll order it all and damn the consequences! A man who knows the way to my heart. Stomach. Heart. Whatever.

We walked back into the city afterwards, and i went down to Circular Quay to meet the boys. We proceeded to shop till we dropped, and then headed home for birthday celebration number 2 - the annual 'Jo's Birthday Bowl Off', which we've been enjoying for about 4 years now. Leah and Chris were missing from our little group this year, being that they're 'living abroad' and all, but it was still a rowdy group of 9 or 10 of us that made the trek down the road to the local pub for dinner, and then onto disco bowling. Note the word disco. Such classics as Madonna's 'Like a Prayer' and Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' made the rounds - two of Matthews most hated artists from his most hated era, mind you, so we enjoyed singing at the top of our lungs to ensure his maximum enjoyment.

David set out from the beginning to take the glory that evening, but in the end, it all came down to the two brothers, fighting for the crown and their honour. Alas, there could only be one winner and that was Matthew, in true big brother form. The funny thing was that Jo got such a high score, his best ever i think, and Matthew STILL beat him! It's psychological, i tell you.

Jo and The Argiro

Daniel, me and Matthew

Me and Jo (David is a fan of the artistic side shot)

Sunday saw us back at my parents for some pasta and vino, in true Italian style, and Matthew even tried my mother's POTENT Italian homemade liqueurs. I was so shocked by this that i had to take a photo, below, as proof for everyone back in New Zealand. I mean that stuff is STRONG, for reals. Not even i can drink it. In fact i flat out refuse to. My Dad looking on with pride as Jo knocked it back like it was a shot of milk (please picture me rolling my eyes.)

Jo having a romp with Cooper

Monday was a lazy day at home, and then Tuesday it was back to work for Jo, so i took Matthew on a little walking tour of all my favourite places in Sydney. We started through Hyde Park, saw the Cathedral, all the old buildings along Macquarie St, through the botanical gardens, around the point to the Opera House, right around Circular Quay to The Rocks, and then back up George St and more shopping. Some would say it was torturous of me to put him through 5 or 6 hours straight of walking, but i call it tough love. You'd never see anything hanging around at home on the couch, which by the way, you can do anywhere. Anyway, it was a beeeeeautiful Sydney winter day! I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted to spend it watching TV...

Local wildlife. I hate these birds with a passion.

Our lovely harbour

Some more Sydney icons

Botanical Gardens, and the tower in the background

Throw in a few world cup matches and dinners out, and before you knew it, the week was over! Time to say goodbye and see you soon we hope, and back to our normal lives, which mainly include work and more work. It's too bad. I love having an excuse to have a day off.

Its lucky for me, then, that i have just that excuse coming up this week - Yvonne is in town on Wednesday, so we're off to do some wedding stuff like dress fittings and seeing the florist and finding shoes, amongst other adventures, and then Jo's cousin Christina is here for 4 days from Friday, so that'll be more dress fittings and general fun times.

Which proves there really is no rest for the wicked.

I'm baaaaaaack (suckers)

I know, it's been ages. Its not you, its me. I've just been too busy to spend time with you. I'm sorry. I did miss you. No really, i did. Can you ever forgive me?




But moving on. So the Internet was re-connected last Friday, awesome, but I've been too busy to post anything because we've had an international guest to entertain! Jo's brother Matthew has been staying with us for the last week, and we've been busy busy doing all manner of fun things (without you). More on that as the regular posts keep-a-comin'.




While i was 'offline' (*snigger*), we had a little par-tay to celebrate the June birthday boys - Jo, DT and Ash. Even though we'd literally just finished moving in and getting tidy, we thought aw hell, lets just have a party and dirty it all up again.

New living room in party mode - note: wine, coke and chip bowls are not normally present for regular television viewing.

It was quite the crazy night, and even thought some of us spent the whole next day in bed (not naming names Jo) while some of us spent the whole next day cleaning, i think a good time was had by all, and that's the main thing.

Me, Jo and DT looking like some sort of small-town serial killer

The birthday boys (why yes, Jo is wearing a wig that makes him look like a Backstreet Boy)

Me, Ash, and Jo (perfecting aforementioned small-town serial killer look)

We've also been into town to check out some of the Vivid Sydney lights. For the last 2 or 3 years, Sydney has held this cool event where they use various light installations and projections to light up a ton of buildings across the city, like the Opera House (see below), the Cathedral, the State Library and NSW Parliament....some of the older buildings look really great, and i just like the pretty lights. Its on for the next month or two, if you have time to check it out. Macquarie St is particularly good.

And then, of course, there's the World Cup. I'm one of those bandwagon people that get right behind soccer when the World Cup is on, and then forget all about it when its not. But I've been enjoying all the games and the general excitement over the whole thing, even if Australia did get completely annihilated by Germany (4-0 if you missed it. Yeah. That's a 4.) Badly as they played, i am willing to forgive and forget if they win against Ghana and Serbia and make it through to the next round. HOW they can possibly pull themselves back together after that shocker i don't know. And i don't care. Just make it happen Verbeek.

Great game last night by the Kiwi's against Slovakia though, i was so happy to see them score in the dying seconds of the game! That last 2 minutes was intense! 1-1, but a draw is better than a loss, and no one expected them to score at all. However, can someone please explain to me what the deal is with those stupid hooters everyone keeps blowing at the games? It sounds like a swarm of bees descending on the stadiums. I mean is anyone taking a breath at all? Those things are SO annoying. Who is the person responsible for these horrible 'instruments'? I want a face that i can throw an egg at.

We visited the FIFA fan fest down at Darling Harbour a couple of nights ago. Apparently it's one of only 7 FIFA approved places to watch the games in the world or something, other than sites in South Africa of course. I liked the soccer ball lights the best!

Fan fest at Darling Harbour



Jo and Matthew checking out 3D TVs. Those goggles are sweet as.

Lastly, another riveting edition of Nell's Book Club. The last book i read was called The Girls, by Lori Lansens, and it was excellent. Its about sisters Rose and Ruby Darlen, who aren't like everyone else, because they're joined at the head. They are 29 year old, and are about to become the oldest surviving craniopagus twins in history. There has never been a possibility of them being separated. Despite being twins, and despite being joined at the head, the girls have very different personalities, and they are narrating their story for you, the reader, to know what their life has been like. Its fiction, and yet completely believable. You really grow to love these two - honestly, i couldn't stop reading. And the writing is really beautiful - authentic and heartfelt and almost like poetry in some parts. Give it a go peeps.

More of Matthew's visit coming up soon!

Gah. I'm still here.

We have no Internet at home yet, so I'm writing a quick update from my parents place. I feel as though all I've done in the past two weeks is MOVE. We're pretty much settled in now though, with foxtel safely installed (as Jo said - 'What's the point of having a TV without foxtel?' Elitist, but true, if only for the Lifestyle channel, which i love.) Hopefully the Internet will be back soon too, next week, fingers crossed.



Since we've been busy little moving bees, we really haven't done all that much else, which has actually been refreshing. I've powered through so many good books - I'm going to tell you about two crackers in particular though.




Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin, is the set post-war, in the 50s. It starts off in a small Irish town, where we are introduced to our heroine, Eilis. Like many, she can't find decent work in her small town, the only place she knows. When the offer of a job comes up in America, a million miles away, she knows she has to go. She sets sail for Brooklyn, New York City, and she slowly starts to build a new life. But tragedy strikes back home, and she is forced to return and make some tough decisions. This is a quiet, understated, but beautifully written book, which i really enjoyed. It had an old fashioned quality to it, and even though there's this undercurrent of sadness the whole way through, i was pretty well hooked to the end. I think i read it in like, 4 days.




The second book will appeal to more people i think. Its called One Day, by David Nicholls. I loved this book so much i don't even know where to begin. With the premise, i suppose, which is this: a boy and a girl share a moment, one day, at the end of their time at university. Each chapter of the book follows where they are on the same day, every year, for twenty years. Do they still know each other? Are they friends? Will they ever be anything more? You are seriously rooting for them from the beginning, and i couldn't wait to see, with each passing chapter, where they'd be the next year, and the next. It was such an emotional book, funny and sad, and the great thing is that so much of it leaves you guessing - you're never quite sure what happened from one year to the next, except for the hints you get through the chapters. There were some moments where i was actually holding my breath, thinking ah! Are they about to get together? Is it about to happen? And then no, and you're racing through to the next chapter, the next year, to see if they've figured it out yet. The ending - GAH. I won't say more. But GAH! Seriously. And don't bother skipping ahead - the last few pages won't give away a single thing. Anyway. READ THIS BOOK! It's such an easy read, and so worth it.




OK, that's my book club over for now. I've sort of run out of stuff to read at the moment, so I'm re-reading Eat, Pray, Love, cause i really did enjoy it the first time around.




Wedding news - not much, except that we've booked out honeymoon! We're going to Tahiti for 10 nights, 8 of which are in an over-water bungalow, thank you very much - so romantic, and perfect for relaxing after the wedding is all over. Plus 5 nights in New Zealand, the North Island, because we haven't seen all that much of it. We'll have a night in Auckland, then 2 nights in the Bay of Islands and 2 nights on the Coromandel Peninsula. Cannot wait. We've also all but locked in the video peeps. And we get some concepts back this coming Thursday for our invitations - did i tell you, we've decided on a great little up and coming business called Zed and Bee to do them for us. Its run by two very creative ladies who i think will really try and capture our personalities in the stationary we have. They seemed very enthusiastic at our meeting with them, and we've given them a whole heap of information about 'us', so i think they'll do something lovely and personal, and fun too.




June is going to be the busiest month, starting from tomorrow - we are babysitting Jack most of the day, so we'll see how that goes, especially in this rainy weather. Tomorrow night, a party at our place to celebrate not just Jo's birthday, but DT and Ash's as well. Then we have Jo's brother coming to stay next week for a week, more birthday celebrations for Jo, Yvonne back in Sydney for a wedding marathon - dress fittings for both of us, shoe shopping, consulting with the florist, and debating the age-old question - to veil or not to veil? We end the month with Jo's cousin Christina coming to stay, for her dress fittings too. Maria and I have to find time between all that to go see Sex and the City 2 - hopefully next weekend - and then before you know it she is OFF to Italy for 5 weeks, and i shall miss her, and the pest. (5 weeks! JEALOUS MUCH?)




I'd better go, before i fall off my chair just thinking about all this. Thank God for my day planner.

Yawn. For reals.

I can't even remember the last time i had a satisfactory nights sleep. It feels like weeks ago, but surely that can't be right. We've had the busiest week - maybe that's why.




So. Robin Hood.




I had such high hopes. And i did enjoy it! I did. But it wasn't the sweeping medieval epic i hoped it would be. Braveheart still sets the standard for me, and i didn't think this measured up at all. I did think Cate and Russel were totally hot together. Good chemistry. And the whole 'how did Robin Hood become Robin Hood' angle was interesting enough - they've cleverly left room for a franchise, naturally. But Russel's accent confused me. Was he English? Irish? Australian? Cate was marvellous, of course. I can't say enough good things about her, as you know.









On Wednesday, we headed out to see the gorgeous Zara, who has developed the most enormously fat cheeks I've ever seen. Obviously this would look hideous on, say, me, but on her, they are delicious. Super cute. Here she is wearing a little hat that Jo's mum made her...












This weekend, we had to move. You'll note i still have Internet access, and am thus writing this post - which sadly means the move is not complete. BLAH. So annoying, i hate having stuff all over the place. The lounge and kitchen is done, and i would say we're 80% there - but it just took so much longer on the weekend than we expected, and we were supposed to do more on Sunday evening, but ended up staying at Maria's for pizza and Jack-time instead. Maria got him this new bathrobe, which he claims to be scared of. He will literally run in the other direction screaming when she pulls it out. He has to be coaxed into touching it, and refuses altogether to wear it, which i just don't get. Whoever heard of anyone being scared of a bathrobe?




I was in the mood for tormenting him, so i played one of my favourite 'make-Jack-cry' games, which goes like this: first, i tell him that its time to go to bed. He will predictably protest straight away, so i back off for a few seconds until he feels safe again. Then i say, 'no, i really do think its time for bed Jack'. His panic is clearly visible by this point, and he shakes his head repeatedly, and will probably start to fake-cry. This is something he does to trick you into feeling sorry for him, but it doesn't fool me. 'Come on', i say, 'I'll take you.' He pulls out the ace card and runs to his mother for safety. She'll roll her eyes and tell me what a horrible Godmother i am, but won't actually rescue him, which means she secretly thinks its funny too. By this point, he's crying real tears and has wrapped himself around her legs, assuming i will not be able to pry him away, but alas, i can and do. Up in my arms, we march towards the bedroom and he begins to beg. 'No! No bed! Please!' I almost feel sorry for him. Almost.




For the grand finale, I dump him in the cot and watch for just a few...seconds...as he wails and carries on and is generally at my mercy. 'Why don't you want to go to bed? Aren't you tired?' I ask. 'I'm not tired! I'm not tired!' he sobs. I feel kinda bad now, so its time to turn myself into the hero. 'Should i get you out and we'll go see what Jo's watching on TV?' 'YES!' His arms outstretch. 'Are you suuuuure?' 'Yes, yes!' I reach in and get him out. He throws his arms around me in relief. In approximately 1.5 seconds the tears have stopped. By the time we get to the lounge, he's beaming and I'm his favourite person again. If you think I'm a bitch for doing this, it means you haven't met my friend Kat - she torments her niece by putting on scary masks and chasing her around in the dark. That's genuine scarring. And hey. I'm not the one that bought him a bathrobe so hideous that he's too scared to go near it.




That's me for the week kids! Wish me luck for the rest of the move!

On the move

We've known for a little while that we would need to move in the next month or so, so we've been busily looking for a new apartment and this week - we found one! Even more exciting - it's right across the road from where we live now! Which makes it easy to move, and means we can say in an area we like. So that's that problem solved. Hopefully we'll be settled in by next weekend, so I'll be MIA until the Internet connection is back up and running.



In other news, we saw Iron Man 2 on Tuesday. It was OK. I mean i enjoyed it, it was just totally too over the top for me. There were times when i was actually rolling my eyes. I know it's a super hero movie and all, but I've seen plenty of those - in fact I've seen plenty of fantasy/sci-fi movies in general - and it's a rare thing for me to think yeah, this really is a stretch, even for my imagination. It just felt like everything came to him too easily. Discovering a new element? No problem. Give me ten. Fighting off the ultimate bad dude (after kicking the butts of an army of droids just moments before)? Easy peasy. He was polished off in under two minutes. These are two of about 50 highly improbable plot lines, which wouldn't bother me if there was at least some attempt to convince me that any of it was plausible.




The rest of our group really enjoyed it though, so maybe its just me. There were lots of things to like about the film - Robert Downey Jr was fabulous as always, and the supporting cast was good. Even Scarlett Johansson, whom i normally find very bland. The best thing about Iron Man for me is the dialogue, and i got plenty of laughs, same as the first one. And i do like the little Iron Man/Pepper love story thingy, they seem to have good chemistry. I just couldn't quite get behind the storyline, right from the start.




On Thursday we went to see a video company called Soda Films, which we'll potentially use for our wedding. They seem more reasonably priced than some of the others we've seen (maybe because they are one of the most popular), and you get a lot from the package. Plus, they seemed like very nice people, and you are allowed to be very involved in the end result, which i like. They are the top contender so far. In other wedding news, I'm really into lanterns right now. I'm having a vision of the reception room being filled with them. We'll see.




Our weekend was filled with rugby games (go Waratah's!!!), running around picking up keys for our new place, a very rowdy housewarming, and moving. And reading. I'm reading an excellent book called The Secret History, by Donna Tartt (i know, unfortunate last name). I can't believe i haven't read this before now actually, since it's been out for years. It's about a group of college friends who get mixed up in a way of thinking and living that begins to break the boundaries of morality. Great writing and a tense plot line - enjoying it so far.




Coming up this week - moving, moving and more moving. And Robin Hood on Tuesday night, cause i love epic movies, and Cate Blanchett's in this one. Hello, what more could you want.

Into the Batcave

One of Jack's favourite things to wear is his Batman outfit. And like Bruce Wayne, when he puts the suit on, a new personality takes over.




I call it Psycho Jack (not to be confused with Tantrum Thrower Jack or As-Stubborn-As-His-Mother Jack).




When Psycho Jack takes over, you can run, but you can't hide. His lung capacity increases to super-hero size, to accommodate the bellowing screeches that erupt from his body. His energy level multiplies, as does his appreciation for the word 'batman', which he likes to scream over and over again, just to make sure you get who he's supposed to be. He is overcome with the need to kung foo chop things, or breakdance (yes, breakdance), or run madly around the house. I have to say, it's hilarious. Here's some pics of the Bat on the weekend...

Karate chop


The boys enjoy their ice cream before bed

Sunday was Mothers Day, so we went over to my parents for a BBQ and cake and presents and a dash of Cooper-love. I will say this quickly about my mother - she is a very cool lady. Even other people comment that she seems very hip, and it's true. I mean, she loves Glee and Lady GaGa. Need i say more?

Me, mum and Jo

We managed to squeeze in some Cooper-love while we were there, cause he's just so gorgeous. You may think it's amazing that he's sitting still for these pictures, but it's not, because someones standing in the background holding a biscuit over the camera. It's the only way to get his attention, otherwise he'd go all crazy-dawg on you.




In other news, I'm trying to tick some more stuff off the wedding list. We're going to see a videographer on Thursday (we went to one a couple of weeks ago, but eeek, too expensive!), and a couple of girls who run a cool looking stationary company next weekend. Tomorrow I'm going to see an event stylist just for fun (I'm curious to see what they do, and what idea's she'll have - hopefully i can just steal them without her having to do anything...), and my dressmaker is sending me a bunch of fabric samples this week for my wedding dress (which means i have to make a decision soon about what i want...which sucks because i can't make decisions.)




And. IRON MAN 2 TOMORROW! YEAH!

Irony

Highlights of the week

Ahhh the week that was. And what a week! I've been M.I.A for a while because there's been so much happening, and work is so busy, and i haven't been sleeping properly...but here we are and I'm pleased to report that I've finally settled on a bridesmaids dress colour. Hurrah. One that i think will suit all the girls nicely. AND, I've found an invitation place that i like too, who will custom design the invites to suit our wedding, at a very reasonable cost. So that was exciting too, because all the invitations I've seen so far are just...not for me. Too much lace and ribbon and feathers (oh my). But this place seems to have very simple and colourful designs which are much more to my taste.



OK, onto the rest. On Tuesday, Faats and I did this...............



*drumroll*




.................ate a McDonald's Family Feast box. Like, just the two of us. Because we could. BAM. Yeah, you read that. It didn't trouble us that the box is intended to feed four people and then some. In fact, Faatasi rose to the challenge admirably. I was lucky i got to taste one burger, let alone my fries. (Just kidding.) (No I'm not.)




Anyway, we figured it was OK, because its not like we do this every day or anything. And we've never been into these fancy establishments. Our motto is - you make the fresh-off-the-grill cheesy McCheeseburger, and we'll eat it. It's that simple.

Ta Da!

McDonald's - a heart attack in every box.

And if you thought McDonald's was the only good thing to happen to me this week, think again. Because on Thursday, we welcomed baby Luca into the world! After what felt like forever in waiting, my cousins Daniel and Romina finally got to meet their son, and lo, yet another new cousin was born unto me. He is healthy and happy (and hungry) and pretty darn cute if you ask me. Rom's doing well too, and doesn't look at all troubled by the fact that she is now responsible for another human life. So. That's good.

Baby Luca

"Duuuuuude. Get outta my face man, I'm trying to crash."

We couldn't wait to meet him, obvs, so we got ourselves over to the hospital on Saturday to say hi to the kid. (I don't think he cared. "Do you have milk? No? Then move along sister.")

That night, there was another kid to contend with - The Pest. The name Jack is a thing of the past, my friends. "Are you the naughtiest boy in the World, or just the Southern Hemisphere?" I barked in frustration, to no avail. What can i say, the kid wants what he wants. And come hell or high water, he will find a way to get it. We tried a new place out on Saturday night, an Italian wine bar in Surry Hills called La Tana. The owners are Venetian, and I thought the food was delicious. They also specialise in spritzes! What's a spritz, you say? It’s a refreshing mix of Aperol or Campari with white wine and a splash of soda. Light and refreshing! We had soft shell crab, salt cod, prawns wrapped in prosciutto, salt and pepper squid, pork and polenta...the food just kept coming. A good night, apart from The Pest and his pesky ways. (Who am i kidding. I love that kid.)

Don't let this innocent face fool you. Underneath the cute demeanor lies a stubborn and insubordinate child. Yes. I am using the word insubordinate. For a two year old.

That smile is a front. He's only like that maybe 2% of the time. I swear.

After dinner, Jo and I decided we weren't quite ready to call it a night, so we gave the Argiro a call to see if he wanted to redeem his poor bowling performance on the Gold Coast with a rematch. It took him about two seconds to decide HELL YES, so we met at the local bowling alley for a game (What? We have a local bowling alley. So what's you point?) After a slow start, he came back for a victory, finally, and thank goodness. I'm not sure how long Jo will let him hold the title though. I have a feeling we'll be back there soon enough.

And Sunday? Mum and I rounded off the week by going to see....

...Wicked! God i love that show. Jo and I saw it in L.A a couple of years ago, and we both thought it was fantastic. I wanted mum to see it too, so when it finally came to Sydney i nabbed a couple of tickets and away we went. She loved it too, obvs. If you're only going to see ONE SHOW this year - THIS has to be it. If you haven't heard about it, you've been living under a rock. It's one of the most popular musicals in recent years, not just because of the great songs and sets and costumes, but also because of the all-important question it asks: how DID the Wicked Witch of the West become Wicked? It's genius.

Actually, its based on a book by the same name, and has been adapted for the stage. The tagline for the musical is "SO much happened before Dorothy dropped in." Which gives you an idea of what it's all about - you meet the characters from the Wizard of Oz, and learn their history and how they got to be who they are - before the whole "I'll get you my pretty, and you're little dog too" thing. Anyway. I'll stop raving. It's fantastic. Go see it. Take the kids. You'll be humming Defying Gravity all the way home.

Mum, outside the theatre




Me, sipping on my Ozmopolitan during intermission.

OK. That was one hell of a post. Now I'm going to bed.

"I have just one little egg. OK?"

Those were Jack's words to us at the dinner table on Sunday night. His plate was piled with corn and meat and mushrooms, but no. The kid had his sights set higher.



Because this year, he's old enough to appreciate the real meaning of Easter - to hoard chocolate eggs, and guzzle them in private. Which is exactly what he's been doing all week.

This weekend was pretty lazy. I finally enjoyed a few movies I've had on the back burner - like (500) Days of Summer, which i LOVED! All of the kookiness really appealed to me, and i loved that it looked at relationships from a more honest perspective that a lot of movies do. Great soundtrack too!

And then there was the big goodbye - we farewelled Leah and Chris, who left for their huge UK adventure on Friday. They are settling in London for the next year - and even though i feel TOTALLY abandoned by my MAID OF HONOUR in my TIME OF NEED....i will forgive her (this time) and wish her well. I've already had an email update that's made me super jealous - alas, I'm pretty sure there'll be more of those to come.

YAWN! Going to bed. (Abrupt endings. Are awesome.)