Avid Friender

I’ll toot my own trumpet; I have a lot of lovely friends these days, but as a child and teenager I was a bit of a weird kid, I didn’t get my peers at all and I would admittedly do odd things; I would be learning sign language in the playground or setting up lunchtime clubs for younger children and ignoring my own year group – I didn’t help myself really did I?

These days it’s a running joke that I’ll make friends with everyone; I do have my boiler man, electrician, and plumber on Facebook, I text the buyer of our old house and Whatsapp with the owners of my favourite cafe but recently someone asked if I have a need to be popular or where my large social media friends lists more for show?

I suppose a part of me loves being loved, who doesn’t? But I don’t feel the need to be popular per se, to be honest, I have enough family to make up for any shortfall in friends, but I genuinely love people.

I admit I’m a voracious friend requester, Instagram, and Twitter follower but when I meet interesting and new people I am fascinated by their lives, likes and what they get up to. People give me inspiration for writing, new products, places to try and for Mike’s new art business Bored Monkey.

I do hope that when anyone accepts my requests that they’re not only doing it to be polite and find me interesting too. 

I’m naturally very nosey and sometimes do suffer from a bit of FOMO (Fear of Missing out) but you’ll see stories playing out before you, way better than any soap opera or movie;

• After a very serious health scare, watching a couple pack up their entire life, sell their house and go backpacking through South America -  brilliant!

• I used to go clubbing with a guy in a large group of friends, like any small teenage group it became complicated with crushes and heartbreaks but watching this friend become a proper family man and self-employed photographer has been fun seeing the transformation.

• Seeing a friend's Mum being told she would only live for 3 months and is still going strong 12 months later – inspiring!

• I went to school with a girl who I’ve not seen for years, but she has an autistic son but watching the family’s joy when he accomplishes something they thought he wouldn’t do, is wonderful.

• Seeing one of my closest friends who I don’t get to see very often at all; loving life in London and interviewing people like David Attenborough, Twiggy and Joanna Lumley for her job is jealously inducing mixed with genuine pride.

How can you not love social media, people, and all their stories?

Until next Wednesday

L xxx

Being in the Moment

Hey,

How are you all? Good I hope! Don’t worry I’m not skipping my New York blogs (although I have been delaying them as I wish I was still there, but then, who doesn’t? It’s New York!) I wanted to write this as a pre & post New York piece and my changing attitudes to technology and how we use it for big events and holidays.

I have a nickname, Tamagotchi; The Japanese Tourist, this is in reference to my incessant photo taking. Whether it’s on my phone, camera, my nieces Nintendo DS or my DLSR I usually have a camera to hand. I’ve been known to take up to 500 photos in one evening - crazy huh?

Taking photos of my camera with my other camera!

Being the picture taker became my thing and I can pin point exactly when and why this happened. When my Nan died 10 years ago her mind had been stolen by the wretched Dementia; robbing her memories, manners and dignity – it was scary and sad to watch. I suddenly wanted to remember everything; every party, every night out, every gig or coffee date. I now have a 70,000 photo collection, obsessed much!?

Lately though, despite my being a lover of all things technology, I’ve started taking a step back and enjoying the moment instead of constantly trying to get the best shots. This was evident in New York as I only took 300 pictures, in 13 days, compared with Mike’s 1500, a couple of years ago I would have taken 2x or 3x more than that. I was just happy taking in the moment, the sights & smells and soaking up the atmosphere.

I’ve also become disillusioned with portable media like Smartphone’s, Tablets and DS’s. Don’t get me wrong my mobile is by my side but no longer on the table at dinner, it’s on silent in my handbag.

You’ve probably heard of the term Phubbing if you haven’t: “Phubbing is the habit of snubbing someone in favour of a mobile phone/tablet PC in a social setting, which many see as rude habit gone unchecked”. Phubbing drives me absolutely nuts, you’re out with a friend and they spend half the time checking their Facebook, texting other people and worst of all randomly browsing!! I love a good check in, I get a little moment of joy when I see a Twitter notification or the Instagram icon but I’ll only check those if whoever I’m with is in the loo, or at the bar or at best when I’m on my way home! By the way there are exceptions to this rule; New Mums or someone waiting on an important call – I’m not heartless!

Extreme Phubbing

 

In New York we paid to go on a three house boat cruise around Manhattan which included a guided tour, I’m a bit of a history nerd so I loved all the info but about an hour in most of our fellow passengers were no longer listening in favour of texting,  playing Angry Birds and taking Selfies (self portraits – which I love) but without the NY skyline behind them – doh!!

 

 

Don’t get me wrong, I love love LOVE social media, I couldn’t be without my blog, Facebook, Instagram & Twitter, but I’m finally realising that it’s a hobby not central to my whole life. I love chatting to new people and sharing my life with those who don't live close but Our New York holiday really was a dream come true and I hope you’ll love the blogs I’ll write and I can’t thank Mike enough for taking me there. I just hope I don’t bore any of you and you unfriend/unfollow me... please don’t! ;)

2011 A Bad Boyfriend?

Hey,

How are you all? Is January treating you well? I hope so! It’s hard after Christmas, the New Year kicks in so fast it’s almost as if the festive season was mince pie filled dream!

The initial flourish of resolutions, diets and general optimism for the better person in us all, is usually starting to deplete at a rapid rate by now, but this year I feel different.

As I mentioned in my last post 2011 was a hard year for my family and there were events through the twelve months that seemed to keep pulling me down, and I felt like I was teetering on the edge of another depression bout.

Despite the usual pain I’m in, I have been suffering with hip and knee pain that wasn’t in my normal portfolio of ailments. I hit my biggest weight over Christmas and after telling a friend about these problems, she remarked that these were the pains she had whilst pregnant. Now regular readers will remember this (CLICK HERE - to read my shame!) and the remark from my niece and again it’s taken for me to be told that my body in some way relates to that of a Mum to be, before I do anything about – stupid really isn’t?

And although some months ago I declared no more diets I feel if my fat is causing more pain on top of my usual ones I would be stupid to ignore it.

I joined WeightWatchers online two weeks ago, but since Christmas I’ve lost 6lb. I’m in what you would call the honeymoon period of the diet, but that’s just it I don’t feel like I’m dieting at all, I find point counting almost fun, finding as many ways of eat as much as I can without going over my allotted points – yesterday I even had mince pie ice cream with 3 points still left over by bedtime! 

But do you know what I think I’ll succeed this time because unlike last year I only have your average run of the mill problems or worries not court cases and heartbreak. And in hard times I’m your classic comfort eater. My friends are sick of me and my weight issues but so far I cannot say a bad word about WW. 

I almost feel like 2011 was a bad boyfriend who I’ve dumped. I’m in a “New Me” phase and I’ve thrown out half my wardrobe, got a new bed and duvet sets, we’ve started preparing for a new kitchen plus I’ve got 2 hen do’s, 3 weddings, 1 holiday booked (with two more in the pipeline), a family reunion party already booked up for this year – it’s looking fun (and expensive – less money to buy junk food with I suppose!).

I hope this optimism lasts, as well as my will power, I’m sure you’ll hear all about it soon enough. What about you guys? Are we all still feeling positive and fighting off the January blues? Let me know!

Right I’m off to go count weight watchers points, I have a cupcake course on Monday I need to calculate how many points per cake I bring home, I can eat and still enjoy Nando’s tomorrow – simple things!! Will let you know how I get on.

L x

Mmm Pudding

I’m no food critic, despite the fact I’m forever eating and drinking and then talking about it on my Twitter Page . My go to eateries are Frankie and Benny’s, Nando’s and on special occasions that I brave Lakeside – Wagamama for my usual No. 43. But I love love love watching cookery programmes have a vast cookery book collection and at the end of January I’ll be attending a cupcake cookery course with Emma my sister in law at The Gourmet Cupcake Company – possibly the best Christmas gift ever from Mike.

I’ve been lucky to eat at some wonderful restaurants here in the UK, in Spain and Australia (regular readers can you believe my Oz trip was a year ago this month?!?) but last night I think I ate, my so far, favourite meal ever.

Our Christmas doesn’t end until January 4^th – Mike’s Mum Andrea’s Birthday. It was decided that we would take Andrea to The Rainbow Inn in Cooksbridge, East Sussex. I called after finding their website and booked a table for the 6 of us plus our half pint Beth. The distinctly French menu was a nice surprise, I’d never been to the restaurant before but Emma recommended it highly.

When we arrived, after Emma and her little family she was a tad confused as the place she remembered was not the one we were standing in lol! The restaurant had been bought out by celebrity chef Marco Pierre White last September and there had been a subsequent makeover of the premises and menu. The dark yet unbelievably warm, welcoming and cosy dining room was so inviting and yet so chic.

The staff at the Rainbow Inn were helpful, attentive and not overbearing. I get nervous in more upmarket places that I’ll use the wrong cutlery, pronounce the wine list with the accent of Del Boy and the biggest faux pas of them all; drop food down the front of me! But the Maitre D was a funny French gent who made us all relax, laugh and charmed 17 month old Beth so much she was blowing him kisses by the end of the night!

The food was exquisite, Mike’s parents and I had potted shrimp to start, something I’ve never tried before, it was so delicious that I will be seeking it out in Old Leigh this coming Summer, whether it’ll match that of The Rainbow Inn I don’t know! Mike and Andrew had baked St Marcellin cheese with sour dough bread – Mike loved it so much he’ll be making special trips to Waitrose to “invest” lol!

Our mains came to the table like little works of art; I had Spatchcock of poussin à la chipolatas pomme fondant and rosemary roasting juice – just sound wonderful doesn’t it? It’s a small/baby chicken stuffed and roasted with a selection of herbs and garlic with beautiful roast potatos and chipolatas sausages.  The bird was flavoursome, juicy and rich.

Now the finale was my desert; bread and butter pudding. Nothing like the pudding you had as a child lovingly baked by Nan. Sorry but this was a little piece of heaven on a plate. Light, fluffy, delicate and perfect. As much as I loved the first two courses I couldn’t have eaten the bread and butter pudding three times over and still want more. Can’t believe how excited I am over a dessert!! *and Breathe*

Guy’s if you want brownie points take your ladies to the Rainbow Inn a romantic stylish venue that welcomes you even with children (always a worry – some places are so funny about children passing their pretentious threshold) wonderful service amazing food and a brilliant night out!

L x

Stick together!

If you haven’t heard about the London riots/looting drama, you must be living under a rock, buried under a ton of cement - in Outer Mongolia!

My Facebook and Twitter (Lynseybee) feeds have been dominated by the urban war and quite rightly so. I’m proud of our capital and country we are such a tiny island with such influence and history. I love London and not just because I’m Hackney born and bred or that my entire maternal family live in the East/West sides of the borough.

I’ve been upset to see such disregard towards other people and property but I was angered that close family and friends were left frightened and lost in their own homes. One of my cousin’s fiancé’s has been so scared, her Facebook status has been constantly asking friends advice as to whether she’s safe to take her babies out to get some shopping – sickening!

Many charities have asked people to check on the elderly/disabled neighbours. A lot of people in online forums/twitter have expressed their sadness and anger that they cannot go out or feel they are easy targets for these thugs, it’s not as if we as disabled people can run away from trouble or defend ourselves fully in an attack.

If you have an elderly neighbour or a disabled friend, please take the time to check in with them, ask them if they need any help or simply pop your phone number and a note through their letter box saying that you’re there for them – and not just if you live in London.

With all this trouble going on we’re all scared and outraged by these mindless attacks, but the better side of our society will prevail and until then we need to stick together.

L x