The Secret Life of Andrew

"You'll never guessed how Michael Jackson has got out of those O2 gigs....he's only gone and died!"

This is how my Friday morning started. I don't really have much to say about about the King of Pop's death really, aside from it being really odd. I just needed to say that I always seem to find out about celebrity deaths in bed! I found out about Princess Diana's death in the same way. I knew it must have affected a lot of people because on the way to work that morning a tramp said that she couldn't believe the news. She may not have been a tramp as she was reading a paper. Maybe she just looked rough?

I forgot to mention in my last entry that we watched 'Treasure Planet'. This is part of my half-arsed effort to watch more Disney films as there are a fair few I've never seen. Despite is being the film blamed for sinking Disney's 2D ventures I was surprised to find that it was really good. We were talking about it afterwards and James rightly said that it's a film that you wouldn't be able to aim at anyone in particular. It's quite a boyish film and there's no sign of a princess (for a change.) anywhere so that leaves Disney out on a limb really. A shame. It's very pretty.

Last Thursday we had a visit from James' Mum and Grandma. James' Grandma hasn't been to a city in years and we were determined to show her that we didn't 'overlook slums' as she said herself. We went for dinner in Marks and Spencer and took her on a 'sight seeing tour' . She's 86 but in good nick, but we didn't want to walk her too far. Before they met us they'd already been shopping. She'd wanted to see this mythical place called Primark and I think it had tired her out somewhat. We also successfully managed to steer her away from the tranny in M+S. Anyway, she thoroughly approved of the flat which was a plus and it was a nice afternoon overall.

There was more family visitage at the weekend, this time from my family. Well, two of them anyway - my Mum and my sister. I was really glad to see them too. I'd been missing my family lately. I'm usually ok but it's nice to see them as I get on with them. James was at a flat warming so I was left to entertain. I did this in between making a cake. It's been ages since I did any baking so I did a lemon cake with a lemon curd filling and lemon icing. It was a Delia recipe and I'm thrilled with how it turned out. God it's tasty. It even had jelly diamonds on the top. So yeah, catching up was mostly done on Friday night. Oh, and a tour of the flat of course, because they'd not visited since the move. They were very impressed with it.

On Saturday we headed to Harewood House. Altough it was overcast for much of the day, it was very warm and it didn't rain at all thankfully. We hadn't been for a year but we had a really lovely day out. The bird garden is still great and we walked around the lake this time. The himilayan gardens are open which are lovely. I even saw some dragonflies which was a nice treat. At the far end there was a bee keeping demonstration at 3pm which was brilliant. Two beekeepers from the Harrogate and Ripon beekeeping association did a talk and guided us through an empty hive, then we all put beekeeping hats and went and watched a real hive being seen to. It was fascinating and really informative. The woman who was there said that she'd lost her bees this year and had no idea why which must be incredibly frustrating. 

On Sunday we went around Clarance Dock where there was dragon boat racing taking place with loads of stalls too. I've given my mum the impression that there's always something going on round here and while that is true to an extent she really did come on a busy weekend! We then did some shopping. I picked up three T-shirts and a pair of trainers which was quite unexpected! So yeah, a great weekend overall.

I've been watching the tennis over the past week which I've been enjoying. I've mostly seen the Murrey matches as I've been out and about but it's good stuff. James doesn't get it at all though so I'm having to watch it around him. It's only for two weeks a year! Whenever Wimbledon's on though I always itch to play a tennis game so I've bought myself one for the Xbox. It beats actually going out to play it I guess.

I've caught some of the Glastonbury footage as well, although I've yet to watch Sunday night's stuff. Little Boots was good and I'm looking forward to seeing her at the end of July. I had to wade through some right rubbish though, especially the presenters. Awful stuff. I guess the best act I saw was Lady Gaga. After seeing her set I have officially been won over. She's clearly unhinged and I don't care how contrived her whole image is, she's brilliant. Now I have to hold out for the album re-release. The La Roux album is very good by the way, I'm listening to it now. It reminds of how I imagine the 80s to be, if that makes sense. I guess that's the idea though. Their success is odd though. I mean, I like this type of stuff anyway but I can't imagine the general public getting behind it, but somehow they have. Bulletproof is also my favourite number 1 for some time. Probably since Robyn's 'With Every Heartbeat' really. PS - I got that Britpop copy of Mojo btw. James bought it for me and it's making for good reason. There's a MIA bit and Rialto are in there! This upset me as I loved Rialto. :(

In other news, I took my bonsais out of the fridge and one of them has a shoot! I'm very pleased with this although it's a long way off being an actual tree. Also newsworthy - rumour has it that work would like me to go back to 5 days a week in September. I have mixed feeling about this but I'm hoping to get another job by then so I don't have to make the decision.

So the big move then. God it seems so far away and thank God it's over now. It started on Friday as the removal men arrived at the house at quarter to 8. As we'd packed everything and we were paying a stupid amount to have it done, we refused to lift a finger, giving us ample time to carry bags to the charity shops, recycling centres and clean the house. Oh, and prepare tea. I was a little worried that I'd packed some of the boxes too heavy but it didn't phase the two lifters at all. I have no idea how they picked up some of the boxes. They even took the bed apart. It couldn't have been easier. It took them about three hours to load up the van so at about 11 we got a train to Leeds to go and get our keys to the new place.

At the other end we signed all of the stuff and I finally felt like I could get properly excited, especially once we got in the flat. Everything is so new and shiny! We had a bit of time before our stuff arrived so we went to get a sandwich around the corner. The shop was playing the Pulp best of. Clearly a sign! Then at around 2 the van arrived with all of our stuff in. So we stayed in the flat while everything came to our door! Wonderful. We're mostly unpacked now. There are just a few more book boxes and then it's just the little bits. It looks great though and it's weird that in a flat we seem to have more space for stuff than we did in the whole house in Skipton. It's all coming together nicely though. No rotting wood, no shitty freezer, no damp. Bliss.

On Saturday we went back to Skipton to give the house a final clean and then give the keys back. Where the bed and sofa had been was fiuarly disgusting but it was an easy job to hoover it up. James' Mum came over so we could use her hoover. Then we gave the keys back and that was that! We stayed in Skipton for a bit though. It's funny seeing it from a tourist view though and I think that I might prefer it that way. I'll probably buy more from the market that way. At 12pm I went for a hiar cut but on the day I'd decided to grow my hair a bit and so didn't have that much taken off in the end. Alison was very kind and didn't charge me even though I begged her to take my money. I haven't got used to it yet. I probably prefer my hair sticking up but I was so bored of it that I thought I'd try something new for a bit. 

I read by the canal for a bit and the met back up with James and his Mum who'd taken some of our house stuff back to Carleton. The we headed to Canalside restaurant which was lovely. Salmon, asparagus and pasta goodness! And panna cotta. Omnomnom! Good weather too so overall a good day.

Once we travelled back to Leeds (goodbye crap commuter trains!) we did a quick shop at Wilkos for stuff and bought a wardrobe from Argos then over the next two days we figured out how everything worked! It's been going ok though. We're very pleased with it, even if it still feels like we're in a hotel on holiday. So I will post some photos when we have the internet at home.

I will miss Skipton though I have to say. In its quaint little way. I'll miss the people who I used to see on the train daily. Legal Lady (I have no idea if she worked in law, we just deicded she did one day), Silly Hat Man, Phone Lady. But hey, I won't miss the trains.

It's all go at work. I've moved house, Eleanor's got married and Liz has got a new job so my boss is leaving! And they're not replacing her until September. I've got to get out! If they try dumping stuff on me I will tell them where they can stick it. Unless they give me some more money of course. I don't really want more work though, I just want to make it to graduation so I can get out of here!

I forgot to mention that I went to my book group before I left Skipton. There were only about ten of us and we read Sebastian Faulkes' 'Engleby'. I wasn't over keen I have to say but I was toally in the minority. Everyone loved it on account of it's unreliable narrator but for some reason that didn't grab me as much as other people. It's interesting when that happens. It really does make you see books in a different light.

Finally I must mention Jade Goody's death. It's a bit of a thorny issue. To put everything aside it is shocking that she's died of cancer and she's three years older than me. And while I'm not entirely convinced that the media stories were to provide her children with money, (the presence of Max Clifford is always worrying) I do forgive her a fair bit as she's inadvertantly raised the awareness of cervical cancer and so screenings have shot up. And that can never be a bad thing.