'It's the most wonderful time...of the year'! I ruddy love Xmas. And now I've just finished watching 'It's A Wonderful Life' for the 2nd time and 'Elf' is about to get its 3rd viewing, I am officially in full festive mode. It's been a busy couple of months at work...sooo much going on, but I didn't actually get in the mood until I did several of the following....so if you're not quite there yet try some of the below...here's whats been happening...
1) Xmas Light Switch Ons:
Loughborough...
West Bridgford...
2) Attend Festive Ball:
Angel Charity Ball:
3) Buy a Tree and SNOW SPRAY. (Not full length tree shot as embarrassingly small...)
4) Xmas Jumpers at any possible opportunity. Ideally combined with Ice Skating. And mulled wine.
Ice Skating-Natural History Museum, London
5) Sit by log fire.
6) Take picture of Reindeer. Living or not.
7) Receive crap secret santa....
8) Give crap secret santa....
9) Get massively irritated by one particular Xmas Song. Sorry Sir Paul.
You know the drill....you go through a break up...you want a new look...you dye your hair. It's the law. In a way. Soooo, my wonderful work colleagues, well namely my co-presenter Sam decided going Red would be my ideal new look. I hastily agreed, after pining for the red head look for some years now but never quite daring to. I get bored very easily with my hair...like my physical height, my hair follicles also seem to be vertically challenged. So growing long lustrous locks has always been far too tedious. It just seems to get to a point...and stop. Or go straggly. So in other ways of experimenting it's been bobbed, short, blue, black, mid way, pobbed, blonde, brunette (natural-rare), caramel, cropped and now....RED. The cropped look was a low point. At 23 I did NOT want to look like an 8 year old boy.
So off to the hairdressers I popped, all anxious and fearful, much like the dentists. This could be disastrous. Recently my hair was at it's longest, most natural and I was generally at peace with it...should I be mixing it up? This happened....
As you can see....disappointment all round. So, just before turning 29, I decided to take action. I LOVED being a bit red, but I'd had a taste and now wanted to really go for it. So I just picked up the brightest permanent red Boots had to offer, went home and applied. The first 5 minutes when it started tingling and a burning sensation crept across my scalp was a tad worrying...but stuck with it...and when washed off the result almost ended in tears. Which is actually a good thing as it was a shock....which means it made a difference!
Anyhoo...I now LOVE it and can't imagine being brunette again...it just seems a bit...boring (no offence-its my natural) but being red feels a little naughtier, more adventurous and as soon as my scalp calms down...the only way is redder!!!
One of my most exciting ventures over the last few weeks has been hosting the first ever Red Bull Rapids at Holme Pierrepont!
I was very excited about this as, no doubt you've seen previous Red Bull events. The Air Races-where pilots, who can only be described as complete lunatics, fly low level, flat out through obstacles, narrowly avoiding various landmarks...and peoples heads. Then of course, the Red Bull Flugtag...which looks far more up my street. You design, build and pilot a 'flying machine' which you then run off a jetway in the hope of flying, yet inevitably nosedive into the water. What I love about Flugtag is the brilliant designs people come up with. Like a flying taco. Or Snoopy. Or a Dragon. It's basically whatever comes into your brain. And I find it very, very funny.
So the Red Bull Rapids is basically the same concept. Except you are building a raft. And navigating your way down 500m rapids....you know this is not going to end well for most.
And it really did not disappoint. Before the event started, having a look at the designs and ideas the teams had come up with was utterly brilliant...
Bubble
The Captain Plaice
Personal favourite....H.M.S Rubber Ducky
The Start...
England cricketeer Stuart Broad was amongst the judges, who were looking for creativity, showmanship and of course....speed. (if they made it down)
I was at the starting jetty where the boats were launched and they performed their 'ritual'. A 30 second dance routine which would also contribute towards their score. At times I was struggling to pull it together, when several teams capsized the moment their vessel hit the water. Hilarious! Sorry teams...was just too funny.
Desert Island Risks...
RAPIDS
Congratulations to local Nottingham team, 'Water Wars' who smashed it and took home the Red Bull Rapids crown!!
I go through phases with my girl crushes. The first I remember was Dannii Monigue when I was about 10. I preferred her to Kylie because everyone loved Kylie and Dannii was a bit less 'obvious'. Plus she had dark hair and so did I. Ridiculous.
Just to clear this up...mainly incase you are male and don't quite understand the 'Girl Crush' concept. Sadly it isn't who I'd like to spend a night with. It is who I'd like to either look like/dress like/act like/perform like/be like/want their hair or boyfriend. Basically admire in some way.
Brief Britney-Slave era only....shaved head-not so much. Abs.
Went downhill with the pretty embarrassing Spice Girl crush. Geri Halliwell. Mainly when she became 'Trixie Firecracker'. Lets try and forget about this one shall we....
Teenage angst lead to Avril Lavigne...you know when she kicks that door in 'I'm With You'. I like...totally got that.
Then the Gwen Stefani stage....(still ongoing tbf)
Katy Perry....
Moss (also ongoing) Still want this exact dress (not the Topshop crappy copy)
And now, introducing my new latest addition....Lana Del Ray. She is like...so hot right now...
Oh the lovely Olly Murs. A load of my friends are IN LOVE with him, which I never really got (sorry Olly) but after interviewing him a couple of times I am starting to see why, he is a good old flirt and loads of fun to interview which always helps! There were hoards of fans outside which he spent ages with, signing autographs and making an effort. Was refreshing to see a celebrity genuinely enjoy all that adoration!
He just got to number one so hats off to Olly Murs...ooh....scuse the pun! (that'll make sense if you watch the video....)
Being a Leicestershire girl born and bred it was ruddy exciting when I first started going to Summer Sundae two years ago. A mini festival right on my doorstep, with the line up of artists getting bigger and better year by year. But in all honesty, the music is just a small part of it. The whole atmosphere of the festival is awesome, so friendly, chilled out and great fun. I mean...when there's giant cereal bowls and noodle discos on offer, what's not to love? I like to think it's like a teeny weeny piece of Glastonbury. Except I don't have to sleep in a wet/sweaty tent. Who needs Bono or Beyonce?!
Oh hi...
And I was all limbered up.
Friday night we smashed straight into some reggae from 'Toots and the Maytals', then topped it off with a Wagamamas, which coincidently had a dj spinning some 90's hip hop. Noodles and hip hop? Yeah that happened. I didn't see him but I imagine Jay Z was there somewhere...
Want chandelier.
I love campervans. This Airstream was so cool. Bought a drink from it purely on that basis.
With the band....
Pals in a big cereal bowl ala 'Honey I shrunk the Kids'
My new compact camera.
Saturday was all about mojitos in the sun, watching Amy Winehouses god daughter-Dionne bromfield, incredible voice! Then Newton Faulkner at sunset...straight onto our personal fave...the silent disco...
Teens leave such profound messages on the free writing wall. We drew a pair of tits. WE.ARE.28.YEARS.OLD.
Sunday was a bit of a struggle after a couple of debaucherous days (getting old) but managed to squeeze in a spot of McFly. Saw them backstage briefly, they seemed lovely. Watched about 20 minutes of them before realising I wasn't a 13 year old girl...and I only knew 2 of their songs. However they were putting on a great show for the screaming teens!
I am still very tired...all in all great result once again for Summer Sundae. It just gets better every year. Fingers are firmly crossed for Coldplay, Kings of Leon and U2 next year....come on Bono-you and The Edge can stay at mine?! Bring a sleeping bag though.
