Another year older and none the wiser

Yey! Today is my 26th birthday (and also the first National Veterans Day in the UK apparently). Big love to my birthday brother Phil Culf, looking forward to some insane Derby-style nonsense on our 4-day weekend!

Decided to shun the "getting older" feeling - even though I now won't qualify for youth discounts anymore - and instead embrace a "look how far you've come" point of view. Although I did rush to the train station last night to renew my Young Persons railcard while I could! ; )

Have already received several cards & presents - including an excellent new underwater digital camera! Be prepared for the onslaught of photos as I get over enthusiastic with all its special functions. Used it camping last weekend at Pimms '06 and am taking it to Derby this weekend for skate jam madness...watch this space!

Although I am in work today (boo hiss!) I am going down to London tonight to meet up with friends and family for a comedy night out (huzzah!). More details to follow tomorrow...

Mwah! Annabelle xxx

My favourite dolls

As a very sweet surprise got pampered silly yesterday by my far-too-good-for-me husband. *blush*

Spent a very twee afternoon in the English countryside, cycling through fields of wildflowers alongside a steam train and picnicing by the river with swans flying overhead. Watched a boat go through a lock which was kinda cool..in a geeky work related sort of way.

And then, very unexpectedly, got whisked off to see the Goo Goo Dolls at the Brixtonian in the evening. Although I had motioned for us to buy tickets ages ago I had no idea when the gig was (well, thought it was around my birthday) so it was as good as a surprise!

Got home very late / very early and very drunk...I had started to regret my choice of a skirt and flip flops!

Strawberry Fair 2006

Sun, booze, dancing and hippies. What more could you want for weekend madness!

Had an ace time at Strawberry Fair again this year. This time we didn't have our bikes with us so it was easier to kick back and chill out to the max, man.

I had fun slinking to the band "Little Dog", bad name but great music; think of a cool UB40, with a little more ska spice! We ate cherries and nectarines chilling to a band who sounded just like Primus, completely as weird and off the wall (including the melodic sounds of an air raid siren)!

As the sun set we sat & chuckled at a bloke sleeping beside us as his family (and very naughty little girl) piled grass onto his paunch so high that you almost couldn't see him anymore. People stopped to take photos, including one very drunk topless guy who laid down beside him and spooned the grass covered man. How can you sleep through that?! Tee hee!

After some beer, cheap BBQ-d corn, Jerk chicken and rice'n'peas (I say rice...) we sang along to "Hey Jude" with a band whose lead singer didn't know the words!!

Made it home around midnight feeling very festivally...i.e straw in my hair and mix of beer and mud on my legs!
belle xxx

Londoninium encore

Tues 30th May
During a last minute, mad, why-the-hell-not kind of mood went to see The Editors in at Brixton Academy with Al and his old friend Jenny.

Ace night but due to drunken night bus shenanigans missed the last train home. Oops.

Fortunately had time off in lieu due so took Weds off work and spent time mooching round Tate Modern instead. Al, whom everyone loves persuaded the guard to let me go into Anish Kapoor’s sculptural installation Ishi’s Light - even though you're not allowed to and there is a small rope to stop you doing so!
It was amazing - when you step into the dark interior of the sculpture, you become part of a column of light generated at its centre. Also the sound is like being at the centre of a giant conch shell. Very cool!

Again pottered back to Peterborough tired but happy & kind of wishing I lived in the city whilst secretly knowing I'd hate it too. I miss the beach; I need to be by the sea!