Brighton Rocks..

We've just returned from our almost annual trip to Brighton. it was definitely a weekend of two halfs. We had some very unseasonal sunny and warm weather (warm enough to have breakfast at a cafe on the beach) and then we had some very seasonal storms.

Brighton is a great place to find interesting places to sit and watch and eat and drink. One of our favourite places is a little cafe near Roedean. They do great english breakfasts and other traditonal english caff fare, with a fantastic view out over the marina. And with the winter storms battering the south coast. The classic English weekend by the sea...sheltering from the rain gazing out to sea.

Bessie's First Play School Trip

Bessie and I went on her first school trip to Westonbirt Arboretum last week. We went on a bus and everything.

We collected leaves, listened to the rain on the leaves, smelled the leaves, listened to the rain on the leaves, stroked the trees, listened to the rain on the leaves, made a Leaf Crown, listened to the rain on the leaves and had a picnic lunch while listening to the rain on the leaves.

We had a lovely, soggy morning out.

If that was a pudding . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . it was an Angel Delight. Well, thats how Len described our performance on Saturday (Week 10). Umm, Butterscotch flavour I think.

Some other quotes for you - "Ali, you have some moments of sheer bliss. Lovely to look at and your arms are some of the best I have ever seen."

"you stood on Brian's left toe. Overall, a very polished routine and a gorgeous routine."

"Ali. You are a dream couple."

"It was a magical dance, and for me, you are the frontrunners."

Frontrunners, blimey - no pressure then!

Midweek Disaster!

Well, there was a case of deja-vous in the Bastian/Fortuna camp last week. (Ali damaged her foot, again! She is just so clumsy and I'm not sure not wether it was an accident or if she's doing it on purpose, to get us a few sympathy votes). Thanks for that Bri!



Anyway, a quick trip to casualty resulted in a 'possible tiny fracture' to the toe and a nasty bout of swelling - I'm going to avoid kicking that high chair again if at all possible!

(Sorry, hope This picture hasn't put you off of your tea)

UPDATE - 5 days on and the swelling and bruising are much improved and it didn't seem to hamper our performance on Saturday night.

Here we are . . . . at last

Big Big appologies to all our watchers for the delay in getting our Week 9 performance upoladed. I bet you thought we had just given up? But no, we're back.

Anyway, 35 points, second on the leader board, not bad. Obviously its not another 40, but you know, we've got to give the others a chance too!

Movember - half way

An update on my moustache growing. After sporting a rather dubious goatee beard for the past week I've finally fashioned a 'mo', as per the requirements of 'Movember'. I am feeling particularly self-concious sporting my hybrid Charley Boorman/Rufus Hound/finest swordsman in all spain 'tache.

Still its for a good cause and I have collected a few quid so far...so I think I can put up with the embarrassmenmt for another couple of weeks. (Theres a link to encourage you to donate on the panel on the right.......)

The worrying thing is I am getting to look more and more like Daddy Pig (off of Peppa Pig)

Happy Families x

So, are these people related? You decide!

Oh what a night!

We are so sorry that it has taken us until Wednesday to update our blog, but we have been riding high from our 'Perfect 40' on Saturday night and have been out celebrating every night!

Well, what about that, it was a perfect night and even though we do say so ourselves, it was a perfect performance.

I mean, just look at what the judges said -

Len : Last week, I thought Ricky's dance was the dance of the series. I've now changed my mind - that was.

Bruno : A magic venue, an enchanting dance. Dance has the power to lift our hearts, to make us dream. You did that tonight.

Craig : I'm very disappointed. I could not find a single thing wrong with that.

Alesha : I felt the emotional connection between you both tonight. That was very romantic and beautifully danced, Ali. There's nothing more I want from a Viennese waltz.

What more is there to say?

We would like to dedicate our 'Perfect 40' to 'Auntie Sue' our loyal and passionate fan. If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have got through the last 8 weeks, thank you x

The Sun Always Shines on TV

What a fantastic time I had on Monday evening.

Twenty Two years after seeing them last, my lovely little brother took me to see the heavenly A-ha as part of my 40th birthday treats. It was pure magic.

They looked and sounded as good as they did back in 1987 - I wish I could say the same! They played the old classics, they played their new stuff, they played old stuff in a new way and their 3rd encore was, of course, Take on Me. We were just waiting to be pulled into the video (see here!).

I shouted my way through the 1¾ hours and threw in a couple of screams for good measure (I'm sorry, but Morten Harket was on stage and it had to be done).

What will the world do without A-ha?

Thank you Spuddie (I got a t-shirt and bag too - hey, I was re-living being 17 all over again!) I had such a lovely time x

That was close!

We thought we were safe (being third in the table) with 33 points. How wrong were we?

For goodness sake, I did the splits and everything. But you, the British public, had other ideas! Thanks for that.

However, lovely Len saved us and we will dance another day.

See you Saturday in Blackpool.

Movember

With all that's going on in the world I thought I ought to do my bit for the benefit of my fellow man. I thought about all those hearty souls who walk from John O' Groats to Landsend, or climb Kilimanjaro with Girls Aloud or run the Great North Run (well done Paul Maylunn by the way!) and felt decidedly daunted. I then came across a cause that required the sort of effort that I could easily commit to.

I am growing a moustache this year for 'Movember'. I have decided to put down my razor for one month (November) and help raise awareness and funds for Movember a prostate cancer charity.

Initially it started out as a bit of a laugh when everyone at work donned false moustaches to bid farewell to my friend John who was retiring. Then I came across this charity, which looked like a laugh and but now I appear to be committed to having an itchy face for the rest of the month. Currently I have a full face of scruffy stubble, with the aim of creating some sort of exotic shaped facial hair over the weekend. I thought I'd aim for a straightforward George Clooney (" O Brother Where Art Thou" (above) rather than "Syriana") but will probably end up looking more like Mackenzie Crook.....

If you want to find out more follow these links http://uk.movember.com/mospace/254920/ or http://uk.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs or http://uk.movember.com/

I know its lazy and not quite as admirable as or adventurous as sailing around the British Isles in bathtub, but, by way of justification, I am going to look like a scruffy oik for a whole month (who said 'no change there then'?)