spurious!

How ridiculous is this list of awards presented at the Q Awards yesterday? Did they just invite all the music luminaries they could think of and then try and fit in awards that kind of suited them?

Q inspiration - A-ha
Q outstanding contribution to music - Smokey Robinson
Q Groundbreaker - Primal Scream
Q Icon - Jeff Lynne
Q Idol - Take That
Q Lifetime Achievement - Peter Gabriel
Q Merit - Manic Street Preachers
Q Legend - The Who
Q Band of bands - U2

Most of the awards seem to be copies of each other - I can understand a Lifetime achievement award and a groundbreaker type award but all the others seem like they're just they're given to ensure the attendance of pop stars. For a lifelong Q reader, this gives me yet another reason to stop buying it, in preference to The Word!

spooky!

Halloween cake
Originally uploaded by MhairiT.

Made this cake to celebrate Halloween - it's just the normal chocolate gingerbread cake, but with a spooky cobweb design on the top. Took me hours!!.

celebratory!

cheers!
Originally uploaded by MhairiT.

First dinner with friends in my new flat last night - I welcomed Li-Ann Andrew and Simon round for dinner (lasagne and chocolate mousse!). Li-Ann kindly donated her magnum of Veuve Cliquot to the proceedings - delicious!

rockin'!

Lit by smoke
Originally uploaded by Mr Ush.

Went to see the very cool and rocking Raconteurs at Brixton last night. Haven't ever been to see the White Stripes, but it was interesting to se this instead. I think if Jack White thought he could be an equal part of a four piece band, he's sorely mistaken - he was definitely the dominant force on stage. I guess if you've got the rock star gene, you can't hide it!

(This isn't one of my photos, I picked it up on Flickr).

historic!

I've just taken part in the 'One Day in History' project tonight - it's been set up by History Matters, a heritage charity, to capture one day in history on a blog. You write up your day and post it on the website, and the details are stored at the British Library. It was quite interesting reflecting on my day and thinking how it would differ from other years. The main difference I guess is the technology - mobiles, wireless broadband, iPods, digital television, instant messaging and the different pieces of kit we use at work as well. All of these are so different from ten years ago and goodness knows what the situation will be in ten years!

'The Kiss' sand sculpture

'The Kiss' sand sculpture
Originally uploaded by MhairiT.

Ernst & Young are sponsoring the Rodin exhibition at the Royal Academy at the moment and so there's lots of activity around to promote this. In our More London building there's a huge sand sculpture of 'The Kiss' - yes it's all sand and water! It's very impressive.

Three Minutes Thru Timaru

Love this youtube video of a speeded up drive through Timaru. I remember every inch of that road, virtually!

relocated!

Well I'm all moved into my new home - I wouldn't quite say I was settled yet as there's a bit of organisation to do yet, but it's fab to be there and have my own space. Had a fantastic tag team of helpers to assist me in the move on Saturday. Many hands really did make light workand it was nowhere near as exhausting as the up and down stairs slog of last weekend. I still haven't quite worked out how the heating works and I have to get the hang of the electricity key! Also, I rang BT to get a phone sorted out and they said they needed to send an engineer out, and the first one isn't available til the end of the month! So, I'll be phoneless and internetless for the new few weeks :(

Will post some photos up on Flickr when I get that organised (and my flat is tidied up!).

recovering!

Fiona and I were meant to stay at the Sweet Olive B&B in New Orleans last year. Our trip was washed away by Hurricane Katrina and we rearranged to have a very enjoyable trip to New England and New York. The Sweet Olive wasn't too badly damaged by the hurricane and has stayed open pretty much throughout. It looks like a lovely place, and Fiona has kept on their mailing list for any possible future visit. The mailing list has just been transformed into a blog - good to read that life is returning to normal in many ways!

limbo!

Am now all moved out of Hartham Road and into my temporary accomodation at Li-Ann's flat in Maida Vale - strange to be back in the old stomping ground again, and back on the number 6 bus!!

After the move, I went out for Cristina's birthday with Li-Ann and Andrew - we went to Ping Pong for dim sum first of all. It was absolutely delicious! All the traditional dim sum dishes but jazzed up a little bit. Also had a gorgeous vanilla, peach and rum cocktail. Following that we went along to Milk & Honey for a couple of drinks. We were up in the Games Room and I chose 'Beyond the Valley of the Dolls' for the plasma screen. It ended up being quite a saucy film and caused much merriment!! I was so exhausted with all the moving that I ended up falling asleep on one of the chairs.

Today, Li-Ann and I went to see 'The Devil Wears Prada'. It was quite enjoyable, if a little predictable and frothy. Made New York look fab!