I suppose we must start with a bit of a catch up. Old news, but still very relevant.

We will start with the end of last November (2007 for those that have forgotten we have now entered 2008).

Pete and I acquired a new cat. Before you panic, Boo is still with us and doing fine. But we couldn’t resist when we were asked to help re-home a tortie called Tallulah.

I love the name Tallulah (reminds me of the film ‘Bugsy Malone’). And we decided to give her a trial period to see how Boo would cope with her. Boo had been fine when we had temporarily looked after Gucci early autumn time, but Gucci was a quite cat who would hide away and not say Boo to well, Boo!

Anyway, long story short - Boo is completely fine with her. Apart from times when she is running around like a demented thing and jumping in the air and he wonders, ‘what the flip!’

She is adorable, and being a young thing of a kitty, she is completely fascinated by EVERYTHING. Water trickling down the shower cubicle, a leaf that she has bitten off my plant and especially our laptops! She will spend hours watching us type, read or watching anything on t’interweb.

Luckily she also enjoys using the scratching post and platform I bought her so our carpets will be saved.

The only thing we decided to change was her name. Despite loving the name itself, she just didn’t look like or respond to Tallulah. So in my infinite wisdom I decided to call her Molly (it does suit her) and the shorter name means she has started to respond to it too.

Well, before I go I shall leave you with a picture of her watching the iPhone demo that Pete has on his screen.

Oh and don’t forget to check her out on Catbook!

Molly watching t’internet

Hello everyone,

Long time no post. As it is now the start of a brand new year, I have decided to really try and keep up to date with my blog. My aim is to try and update it once a week with a selection of stuff and things I have done over the past few days.

Wish me luck and come back soon for the first post!

Kim

During Xmas break we were only 2 hours from Keswick, so we decided to venture up and visit my friend Jenny who had moved there with her boyfriend a few months earlier.

Jenny and I

It really is a beautiful part of the world - even in winter.

The lake

Pete and I

Christmas 2007 was spent with Pete’s family in Silsden, Yorkshire.

We had a family meal whilst wearing home made party hats

Played games - of which us muggles won everytime

and following with the Mason family tradition - drank lots!

My brother, Dan and his long-term girlfriend surprised us in August 2007 when they announced they were getting married in December.

Amazingly, they had kept it secret for 6 months, and organised everything themselves in that time.

19th December, the big day, came. It was cold but clear, dry and sunny. A perfect winters day.

The Clarke family had stayed at Dan and Jemma’s house whilst Jemma had stayed overnight at her parents along with her 2 bridesmaids.

The morning was a very relaxed affair and the clock dragged but by 12pm as we began to get ready, time began to fly.

Leaving the house, Me, Dan and Alfie

As we got dressed their wasn’t a dry eye in the house. I started to cry after seeing Dad and Alfie in their suits, and then Dan came out in his uniform and medals - he looked a perfect dashing gentleman - which set Mum and Dad off too!! Mum looked fantastic in her new dress, shawl and fascinator (no hat). We were actually pretty well colour co-ordinated!

3 generations

Anyway, taxis came, tears dried and off we all set to Nuneaton Registry Office. Jemma entered looking like Snow White in her white and red wedding dress and shawl - a beautiful bride. She walked down the aisle with her Dad to Lionel Richie’s ‘Stuck on You’. The service was very sweet and succinct followed more by tears, confetti and photos.

The happy couple

Afterwards we headed to the Axe and Compass for a sit down meal with the most delicious horseradish (but potent) sauce I have ever had. We all had a scratchcard, but Pete was the only one to win anything - a £1! - unfortunately on leaving I picked up the wrong one, so we lost it anyway.

The evening reception was at Weston Hall Hotel. A beautiful cake, chocolate fountains with marshmallows and strawberries. A delicious spread, DJ, guest books, disposable cameras and a first dance (Queen’s, ‘You’re My Best Friend’) completed Dan and Jemma’s Day.

Alfie had a great time and was very well behaved and enjoyed a boogie until 10pm. Nan wowed us all with her line dancing prowess, just 2 weeks after having a pacemaker fitted and Dad showed us up with some ‘dad dancing’.

The evening ended in the hotel residents bar, by a wooden fire sipping Baileys and Whiskey until the early wee hours.

What a cracking day! And welcome to the Clarke family Jemma.

It’s a friday and Pete and I are feeling a bit giddy. We have just been giggling over a few terrible photos of us in various drunken poses and we thought we would share a couple with our friends.

Go on, have a laugh!

The Glasto gang, 2007

Trent and the gals

Our friend, Emma, recently tagged Pete and I with a ‘quest’.

Write five little known facts about yourself and then nominate five people to pass the meme onto.

I found it a bit tough because most of my friends tend to know most things about me. Here is what I have come up with. Don’t hold your breath waiting for Petes contribution though!

1. I qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 1995 and worked at a veterinary teaching hospital in London for 3 years. That gave me the opportunity to be on TV a few times. My most memorable time was going along to be on Channel 4’s ‘Big Breakfast’ with my cat Big. I got to meet All Saints, Richard Bacon (Johnny Vaughn was on holiday - boo!) and had a free Breakfast with Peter Powell (ex DJ and ex hubby of Anthea Turner)

2. When i was 12 I decided to become veggie for moral reasons but had the worst diet ever! I didn’t really research it fully. My diet consisted of Beanfeasts, cheese and tomato pizza, pot noodles and crisps. I started eating meat again (well seafood) during a trip to Australia 7 years later and still eat meat and fish now.

3. I secretly fancy ‘Niles’ from the US comedy show ‘Frasier’ after a very raunchy dream I had about him one night several years ago. I still get goosebumps whenever i see the actor David Hyde Pierce on TV!

4. I love activities that get your adrenaline going. Over the past few years I have done 2 solo skydives, a tandem skydive, a bungee jump, abseiling, zorbing and scuba diving. I haven’t done anything to ‘scare’ me in the past 2 years though - maybe soon.

5. I have a love of tattoos and body piercings. I already have 2 tattoos (a gecko on my thigh and a fire design on my lower back) and a pierced belly button. There are plans for one or two more. I am careful with choosing my tattoo designs though so it may be a while before I find my next tattoo although i know i want it on my foot.

I shall have to decide who to tag now.

Kim, August 2007

The annual Oyster Festival at Whitstable was an event not to be missed considering my good friend Jill was taking part in the procession.

She is now a fully fledged member of the local Samba band Pelo de Mer (translates: beside the sea) and she did an excellent job jiggling her shakers despite the showers.

The day started at midday with an introduction by the samba band before the first oysters we brought onto the beach to be blessed by the Bishop of Canterbury. At this point it was raining so Pete and I took shelter in the new Whitstable Brewery Bar on the beach for something to warm us up.

The day got warmer, drier and sunnier. We ate oysters deep fried in guiness batter from Wheelers Oyster Bar, which were delicious as well as washing it all down with some real ale and an ice cream to finish it all off.

Yum Yum.

We sold our car last week.

Wasn’t half as sad as when we sold our caravan!

Yogi Blue

Our friends came down south this weekend to escape the terrible floods up north.

We had a lovely time visiting the castle, pedaling around Swan Lake and the obligatory game of Adventure golf.

We also enjoyed fish and chips on the beach, a night at The Crypt as well as fitting in a lovely meal at St Clements restaurant in St Leonards.