We've had our a house a year

We got the keys for our house a year ago today.

Every thing now seems to be falling apart.

Although saying that - there have been numerous things leaking over the last year, it wasn't just yesterday!

Good luck to Al who is getting her house today.
And happy birthday to GB. See you for drinks in the park later.

I've had some lovely flowers delivered

and I can't stop grinning.

I stood outside at 12 today and thought about all the people who had lost their lives and all those who had been injured. Not just on 7/7 last year but in all the conflicts round the world.

My office is across from New Scotland Yard. There were many policemen standing outside for the 2 minute silence as well. It made me think about how the view of the emergency services was congratulated last year. I saw Billy Elliot last night (which was fab - I'll come to that another time) and that portrays the police at the time of the minors strike in a very different light. I know many of the survivors of 7/7 along with other people are calling for an enquiry. What is important to me is to live in a community where there is openness and people trust and respect each other.

I am so lucky to be alive, have the life I do, and the people round me who love me back.

I'm welling up again.

Feeling very emotional today.

I went to Kings Cross this morning and laid some flowers in memory of those who lost their lives or were injured this time last year. This time two years ago I was getting the final arrangements in place to be married. So this time last year, as I was travelling to work, I was thinking about our first wedding anniversary and where we would be going away. I had my ipod on loudly and was daydreaming so missed the bang but over the next few days and months would certainly see the effects.

I’ve been thinking about last July 7th all morning whilst travelling in to work and now I’m at work and everything seems normal. I guess that is one of the most remarkable and noteworthy points about what happened to London, the fact that everyone was able to pull together and carry on. My heart goes out to the families of those who lost loved ones last year and to the survivors though. We must never forget what happened. What happened at that moment but also how people reacted to it afterwards and the following pride of being a Londoner.

So our wedding anniversary is on Sunday. Last year we were away and this year we’ll be watching the world cup final. One thing I really remember from July 8th last year is once we got to Babington house we went for a walk in a corn field. It all seemed so quiet and peaceful. It felt like all I’d heard was noise and crying and police and ambulance sirens for what had seemed like forever but had only been a day. I wanted to read everything in the newspapers and couldn’t stop watching the telly. But yet I really remember that moment of peace.

We were also in the process of buying a house last year – and moved in on the 14th. So the 2 minutes silence last year was shortly before we picked up our keys. Two of our friends and their baby are moving today – I hope they have a relatively stress free day. Three other friends are moving next week – so good luck to them as well. And this makes me think about all these events that are interconnected and remind me of happy and sad things. Our house has a garden so the flowers I took this morning were from there – North London flowers. More connections.

Make sure you take time out today to think about what you’ve got as well as what you may have lost. To my husband, family and friends – I love you all.

Take That and party

Feast your eyes

I heart Mike Skinner

I know it's wrong with my demographics, but I do.

I was listening to him on my ipod this morning in the sun and I just couldn't help but smile.

He is a lyrical genius. A poet for a generation.

He also blogs

turns out they can't (England beat Portugual that is)

What a disapointing day Saturday was.

We did make up for the disapointment by partying well into the night any way.
Thanks for a great b-b-q without the b-b-q guys!

Tams - thanks for the web tip. I need to look that site up when I have a minute, I've now lost the post edit bar - so I can't spell check or link...

maybe England can beat Portugal

In response to Troy joy's comment: Mrs L says: another day of football
Indeed we did see the England game. On a lovely big telly as well. Very tense. Although we seemed OK for a while after the first goal.

I wasn't hopeful at all for the next match. But after watching Portugal last night, I think if we can get an early goal and defend well - we'll be alright. (that's quite an obvious comment - isn't it?)

troyjoy - have a great holiday.

(I'm not sure I've sussed this linking stuff yet. Permalink, backtracking - still so much to learn)

Another busy week

Well work has certainly been busy. I certainly seem better at taking on things than finishing things.

As I said last Friday I went to my friend's gig at the Vibe bar in Brick Lane. I love going to Brick Lane on warm evenings as there are always so many people about and it has a nice vibe. It was Moefoe's album launch and it all seemed to go well. Managed a celeb spot at the Truman Brewery as well - Dave Gorman.

Saturday was my friend's daughters 5th birthday. A very enjoyable afternoon in the park. Although I have to admit I did arrive after the kids games. I did bring a pink skipping rope that played house music though - so I was down with the kids a bit.

Sunday was spent gardening and watching football. I'm still getting used to this gardening lark. It takes so much time but I do feel proud when I manage anything, even if it is pulling all the strangle weed from one bed.

On Tuesday we went to a friend's to watch the England vs Sweden game. Evidence from his kitchen suggests that he has never cooked before but he assured us he would provide food. We were skeptical and more than one of the girls had emailed him to ask if he needed help. He assured us "no". There certainly was food when we got there and lots of it. Raw. And the cooker didn't work. Our host took no responsibility for cooking so I got busy with the b-b-q. I thought the bonus of b-b-qs was that men did the cooking. Why is it then that I've had to do the cooking at the last three. Maybe it's the men I know.....

Our Swedish friend put up a good fight for her team. She did well defending herself against the tirade of abuse from everyone else. During the second half several people seemed less interested in the football. We escaped before midnight. Many didn't.

We also went to see Carmen this week. I thought it was the opera but actually it was a modern dance adaptation. It wasn't what I had expected but brilliant to watch. We went to see Carmen because we played a song from it at our wedding. I came down the aisle to .... Our wedding anniversary is July 9th. Yep the World cup final. No nice weekend away this year! So a trip to Carmen was negotiated.

Also lots of football watching this week. As you can tell if you read any other posts. I'm not really into football, but I seem to have got sucked in. Maybe it's because I haven't watched Big Brother yet... Mr L and whambam are very into it. I don't really have any choice, but I do like making predictions on the scores. I also love it when an under dog does well.

And then another weekend. Football. Beer. Junk food. Indigestion.

listen to the final comments from the boys on today's football

Mr L: "Normal order of the world is restored by the end of the day. Mexico can, however, go home with their heads held high"

Whambam: "Where are we going next?"

Troyjoy: "Delightful, final goal was reminiscent of the Justin Fashanu goal of the season"

Whambam: "I love the world cup. All those nations together. Having fun. United. I want more. Please don't make me go to bed. Can I have another beer please?"

We're looking at extra time

Whambam Dan believes Mexico are the moral winners.
I'm still cheering for them.

Of course the afternoon hasn't been all football and beer. We've had burgers and discussed books as well. Troyjoy and I are both reading the Tipping Point. We both got it yesterday and have got to about page 40. So we've been talking about who we know who are connectors and mavens in our group.