Amsterdam in August fantastic, stayed at the Lloyd hotel again, a suprising 2* room which turned out to have a shower in the middle of the oblong room - the room being a wet room with bed at one end, shower in the middle and wardrobe at the other end - toilet in a cupboard (thank god).
Ate at Brasserie Harkima and Cafe Proust, great weather, walked around parks and visited the Bols museum, recently opened and very fab - amazing bar at the end of the visit, your favourite cocktail made to order and as many bols as you like.
We crammed so much into the 4 days, good job we had a week in Greece to recover at the end of September.
On our return we saw Erasure in concert, not once but twice, York and Sheffield, fantastic nights them both - the new album really stands up, pity it's not had any airplay ;o(
Also managed to see Richard Hawley at Sheffield City Hall, a hometome gig and very special it was too.
Kephalonia was such a recharge of batteries for us both, bed - breakfast - beach - taverna - wine - dinner and the same again - met a really whacky London couple Neil and Sergio - had such a great time were all planning another holiday next year - we want to be together.
Currently listening : Iparhi Logos By HELENA PAPARIZOU

Currently listening : Until Death Comes By Frida Hyvönen Release date: 24 October, 2006

Another nightshift and another blog entry! The meal at Ask was fine and dandy - must remember not to splash so much chilli oil on my pizza in future!

A and I wandered off to Bar Propaganda - free stew on a boiling night to accompany the quiz!
Brother P and wife G and grandaughter G here for a few days - taking ma to Mr Moos icecream parlor tomorrow and to look at the cows that made the ice cream - then off to a new tea shop in Bridlington 'Tea at Tyme'.

This time next week we'll be in Amsterdam celebrating our third Anniversary together ;o) Love is the drug x

new ipod 8gb nano playing kylie 'Come into my world'.

A, dropped a bottle off the shelf and killed my old 4gb nanos screen - couldn't resist ordering the new matt black finished still scratchable ipod nano. Toyed with the idea of going over to the new Sony usb with new new drag n drop but decided itunes is ok for now.

On the night shift again so updating - the CCB is going from strength to strength with the new main meals, table of 8 booked for tomorrow night and a hen party in at 6 for warm buffet and drinks before moving on to the Princes Avenue.

Last night was a late one - worked 7-7pm, walked dog A. and then worked at CCB until midnight, a long day but fun. Don't seem to have enough time in 24hrs. The man living in the office which is a shed with a bed has moved out. Someone left keys with A at the CCB, A. not knowing whose or whom they belonged to soon foundout when A the landlady collected them - had to leave all windows and doors open as the place hummed so much, almost deafening. So sad someone had to live that way, he needed someone to look after him he needed a cleaner.

Nokia 73 playing 'Tarantula' by The Smashing Pumpkins

Night shift again, only seem to have time to update during night shifts...the bits in between the last post are as follows :-...

Saw Marc Almond in Manchester at the wonderful venue that was once a glorious ballroom. Marc fitted the surroundings very well. He was on top form, by the end of the gig he had won us all over. The covers and torch songs worked fantastic, the early solo stuff was a bit hard to handle, the guitarist was so annoying I wanted to get on stage and run off with the bloody thing, talk about cack handed. Everyone sang along to the first 2 encores and I mean everyone - an 80s love in. Marcs so much more than that though.

Drove home on the Sunday - it started to rain and rain - and rain and rain some more and never stopped until late the following Tuesday - needless to say Hull sank under the deluge and a sizable proportion of the community are still camping out in caravans on the driveway as a result.

Attended a renewing of vows for Uncle Douglas and Auntie Joan - Uncle Douglas diagnosed with the same prognosis as my father - lung cancer - only received a postcard from Whitby a few weeks previous - both having a great time - such a shock - even at 82. Ma coped very well and only cried once. Have to say I nearly joined her. Pictures of the wedding day in the 50s projected onto the wall above the alter at the newly build church - married for 57 years - what an achievement. Not having seen cousins since their wedding days, all in good form and pulling together.

Continental Cafe Bar Project doing very well on the Newland Avenue - recent introductions include Champagne Coctails and Classic Cocktails as well as main meals - most of which are vegetarian. The locals love us - and so do the Police - now conducting briefings and plugging their laptops in whist drinking coffee. A local councillor managed to get through half a dozen cocktails on Sunday afternoon with his lady friend - completely trollied.

Booked a trip with A to Amsterdam in August and also a holiday back to Cephalonia for a week in late September - hope it stops burning by then!

Monday night is Gala Bingo night - A and I went on a works night out to the Bingo - A was so excited he lost all sniffing inhibitions and sniffed snot up his nose all night - so engrossed was he in the proceedings he forgot to blow his nose and I hadn't the heart to tell him - god knows what my work colleagues thought. A pigpen for a bf...;o). Collectively we did well however G managed to win the first line of the first game and M managed to win the last full house of the last game - £250 whoa - A is hooked. Monday night is Gala Bingo night....Elvis dabbers at the ready c/o ebay!

Dragged A to Asda on Friday night to queue up at midnight in yet more rain for the last Harry Potter book. What fun, the queue once inside meandered up and down the post office isles and around the shop to much hilarity - B who helps out at the Continental Cafe Wine Bar (CCWB)had left the Westwood Bar and Grill (her evening job) and managed to get in the queue before us.

Hairspray at the flicks on Tuesday night - haven't laughed so much in ages - need to go back and see it again for the opening sequence - 'Baltiamore'!

pc playing 'turnin' on the screw' Queens of the Stonage from Era Vulgaris

Another busy day, worked night shift finishing at 7am, home to walk dog and then bed until midday. Walked dog again and then baked, baked again and then somemore. Made it to Newland Avenue by 3pm (after dropping Ma off at cousin Anns) - A and B had been hammered today due to a quite nice article in 'The Guide' section of Hull Daily Rag. Managed to finish at 5pm after regulars had departed - four weeks and we have regulars!

On to pick Ma up and then drop A off in Cottingham then dinner at the Fair Maid with Ma. Ma almost left prior to order as the place had a funny 'smell' and the menus 'greasy', she had a point - but 2 for the price of 1 - you can't complain - or should you?!

Booked tickets at the weekend for A and I to see Marc Almond at he Ritz Ballroom in Manchester this coming Sunday. Can't wait and didn't realise he had a new cd out? Full of interesting covers and Antony of Antony and the Johnsons guesting etc.

Nokia N73 playing 'Hey Eugene' by Pink Martini

18th of June already, can't believe it's been 5 months and no bloggin! The last 6 months have been really busy. Today was the final written exam for the City and Cuilds in Professional Cookery. Mondays will not be the same again. Met some really interesting people on the course, which was fantastic.

The continental cafe - wine bar is now open on the Newland Avenue - number 12. Open now for 4 weeks, much to A and Is relief. Lots of mishaps along the way which I will expand on in coming days along with:- before, during and after pics...

The place is fab, fabber than we ever imagined, lots of support from the fantastic people of Ella Street and the local business traders. Ella Street Carnival this coming Saturday 23rd of June well worth a visit for the bunting alone.

Watching Memoirs of a Geisha

Monday in Manchester, The Place, Kylie cancelled but seemed a shame to waste a nite already booked. Wagamamas, and Canal Street, the DJ at Churchills never fails to disappoint. A 20 minute mix of Kylie with new order backing drum track!

Tuesday found fresh rhubarb at the indoor market Arndale centre. Shopped for the new venture at Ilva, onto habitat for bargins gallore and then onto Ikea. Met all the workmen involved at the new venture, and the prospective chef N, very impressed, all looking v good.

Big Brother is so disappointing this year, even with the Jade furore, I have said from the very begining Shilpa should win, feel so smug and vindicated...hehe