Boris Johnson tackle

First Germany, next the world .... we only caught the end of the celebrity England vs Germany match the other day but Boris Johnson's tackle is the funniest thing I've seen in ages!

Champions!!

Woohoo!!!!! *smile*

BBC SPORT | Football | Premiership | Blues revel in title celebrations

The Natural Selection - Products

Following on from our encounter with the crocodile in Zambia, we picked up this postcard while we were away - seems pretty apt!

The Natural Selection - Products

Home again

Well, we're home again, in one piece, and I'll get round to writing up the full report at some point - though it could take a while, as I made notes while we were away and it will probably run to several thousand words!! But to sum up, we had a fantastic few days in Cape Town - Table Mountain was amazing with fantastic views (and I found a BookCrossing book up there!), we spent time at the V&A Waterfront and in the Two Oceans Aquarium, we went on a township tour which was fascinating and depressing and inspiring all at once, and had our trip to Robben Island cancelled because of gale force winds. We also had to miss out on going to the District Six museum, which was really sad as it was one of the things I was really looking forward to, but I made the mistake of booking our trip on Easter Monday and it was shut!!! We did a day's tour of the winelands and another day going down the peninsula, which is really beautiful even at this time of year. Then we rounded off the holiday with a rescheduled trip to Robben Island which was really good, though we didn't have nearly enough time there - in A Section there was an exhibition of memoirs and artefacts left by the ex-political prisioners and we only got ten minutes there but could easily have spent an hour wandering round. But all in all a fantastic holiday all round, crocodile notwithstanding!! And now back to the reality of life ...

Greetings from South Africa!

Hello from Cape Town! We've just arrived here from Zambia and for the first time in ten days we've got internet access ... so guess what Ulen and I have been doing for the last half hour!!! I'm not going to ramble on too much though, the full (and extremely lengthy) reports(s) will follow once we're back home, but here's a quick update on what we've been doing.

We've had a fantastic time so far. Our holiday started just outside Kruger where we stayed at the wonderful Hippo Hollow Hotel (where there really are hippos!) in our own thatched chalet, and we spent a day and a half in Kruger Park where we saw loads of animals including lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, zebras, rhino and the very rare wild dog. Highlight was going in at night and hunting for animals with spotlights, and we had four lions walking alongside our car!!! Also went to the Blyde River Canyon and some ancient caves, and attempted to see the amazing views along the Panorama Route, but the weather was rotten :0(

Then back to Joburg for a night where we hid out in the hotel, and on to Zambia where we had a very, erm, eventful time! First evening was a relaxing cruise down the Zambezi where we saw an elephant that had swum to an island and an enormous crocodile. The next day we went canoeing down the river - completely nuts idea, obviously, but it was really really lovely - until a crocodile attacked our inflatable canoe, puncturing it, deflating it and and sending me half into the water. Ulen saved my life by grabbing me before I fell in completely, and we drifted into a tree which we clung on to till our guide could rescue us. Truly the most terrifiying moment of my life, I really thought my time was up. We were meant to be sleeping overnight on Sekuti Island in the middle of the Zambezi but decided to go back to the hotel (which looked like a giant sandcastle!) as we were both unhurt but really shocked and shaken. Thankkfully we can laugh about it now and it's an tale that we can tell our grandchildren, but it was really unpleasant at the time.

The following morning cheered us up as we went to see the truly AWESOME Victoria Falls ... if you ever get the chance to visit, do. They are unbelievably amazing. That was followed up with an elephant-back safari, a really interesting experience. Another visit to the Falls the next morning, and then today has been spent flying to Cape Town.

Our next few days will involve wine, townships, Table Mountain, a prison island, the meeting of two oceans, some penguins and good food - and probably more wine. Can't wait!!!

Feeling like I'm 17 again

We went to see Depeche Mode at the newly refurbished Wembley Arena last night - my not-so-surprise wedding present from U, as he had to tell me about it also we made sure it didn't clash with our honeymoon! They were really good, did 21 songs including an excellent acoustic version of Shake the Disease, and Dave Gahan can still strut his funky stuff!! Looking a bit wrinkled round the edges now though :0(

I was a bit confused because I thought the new Wembley Stadium was being built on the site of the old one but it's right next to the conference centre and arena and I'm sure the old one was a little distance away. All very confusing. Still there's a square being laid out between the arena and stadium and it's got a pretty fountain thing and lights and the building changes colour - all very lovely.

Tomorrow we are off on our honeymoon, hurray!!! Four nights just outside the Kruger National Park with some safaris booked in; one night hiding in our hotel in Johannesburg ;0) three nights in Zambia where we'll be canoeing down the Zambezi, going on an elephant safari, camping out and visiting Victoria Falls; then we finish with five nights in Cape Town. I'm so excited! I'm just trying to work out what to take ready to pack, I collected the currency and travellers' cheques this morning, U is out having a holiday haircut and this time tomorrow we'll be on our way to Heathrow!!!

Don't know if we'll get any internet access while we're away but if we do, I'll probably post here - so keep an eye on it!!

Industrial food

These are a bit pointless but quite clever at the same time - and provided an interesting diversion for a few minutes!

Justgiving - Morton Up A Mountain: Ben Nevis 2006

One of my best friends is about to start training in preparation to climb Ben Nevis, in aid of Epilepsy Action. Go and sponsor him now, please!
Justgiving - Morton Up A Mountain: Ben Nevis 2006

chelseagirl's moblog

My latest project! I set up an account here ages ago but couldn't get my phone to send the pictures - but I've got a new phone now and it all seems to work okay. Mind you, I haven't worked out how to get text with my photos yet ....

chelseagirl's moblog

Vale Photos Ltd. Alison & Ulen

I married the man of my dreams on Saturday 25th February - here are the photos!

Vale Photos Ltd. Alison & Ulen

One happy hen!

Just had my hen weekend which was absolutely fantastic. The pics are here:
Hen pics

Thanks to everyone who came along, it was wonderful and so are all of you :0)

Escapa!

Cheers to Mum for showing me this ... I think ... as I've just wasted way too much time on it! Best I can manage is about 15 seconds but apparently Mum did 35! Can you beat her?

Escapa!