Yay! The chicks have it.

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I don’t know why I am so ridiculously excited by the news, that Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daley will co-host Strictly Come Dancing next season.

It probably has a lot to do with the fact it’s another small victory for womankind, as in, the first primetime Saturday night show exclusively hosted by women.   Or it could be, that the official news today, serves as a simple reminder of the spangle-littered existence of the campest show on telly; out of our minds a mere four months after Abbey Clancy’s spectacular victory.

I suspect it’s a 70/30 mixture of both…….. 60/40?  55/45?  And as a person with ‘eclectic’ (some might say dubious) taste in light entertainment, you can pretty much bet your granny,  I’ll be there on kick-off night.

Wearing something sequined (maybe also a turban), glass of fizz in hand, cheering on the girls.

International No Diet Day

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What’s that now?  We need a ‘national day’ to remind us to eat food?  Hhmmmmmm………  My response to this on Twitter was, “Every day is no diet day in my house.  Enjoy your food.”  Unless you are that special, weird Barbie woman who claims to subsist on air; we all need to eat to stay alive.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m careful, I go to the gym, and generally I eat well.  By which I mean, fish, lean meat, vegetables, fruit etc. etc. et-(some might say boring)-cetera.  But when and if the mood takes me to eat a pimped pizza, washed down with half a bottle of red wine and followed by something containing illegal amount of delicious, rich creamy chocolate covered in delicious, rich creamy cream, I will.

My brother once said something very profound to me, he said, “Sis, it’s like the most simple sum in the world.  If you put more calories in your face, than you expend in an average day, then you’re going to gain weight.”  Wow.  Watch out Professors Stephen Hawkin and Brian Cox (I’d cover him in delicious, rich creamy cream and chocolate).   But it stuck with me.  Oh yeah – hears sound of penny dropping here.

Now, I know that if Victoria Beckham should just so happen to read this, she would possibly break out in hives and probably have me slammed in the stocks, slap bang in the centre of Placa Catalunya, as quick as you can say, ‘sniff a lettuce’.  Then, encourage passers-by to pelt me to death with endamame beans.

So be it.  I think it’s important to eat healthily, in general, but also to emphasise that the term ‘diet’, comes with all kinds of negative connotations connected to almost starving oneself to look like the ridiculous ideals we see every day in magazines and on our screens.  And that’s bad.

Have what you want (don’t misunderstand me, I’m not advocating eating lumps of lard covered in hundreds and thousands, looks pretty, tastes terrible and your heart……. phew!), but everything in moderation.  We really shouldn’t need a #NationalNoDietDay, as this suggests for 364 days of the year we are denying ourselves.

Take care. eat, enjoy your food.  It really is one of life’s most fantastic pleasures. And most importantly, don’t feel guilty about enjoying it.

 

Three, is not the magic number

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I beg to differ De La Soul……From now on, four is my lucky number!  Where’s my lotto slip?

I couldn’t have even begun to imagine such a wonderful response when I started scribbling nonsense on the 2nd January.  I’m just a woman without children who says, ‘it’s ok to not have children!’  That’s all, ya esta!  Whatever your personal circumstances, life can be fun, full and exciting.  How could I ask for a more fantastic few months?  I couldn’t, it’s not possible.  I love that so many people around the world have checked in, and  I’m delighted to see all your flags pop up every day.  I love writing here, it’s been a fantastic beginning to 2014.  Long may it continue.

  • The Secret Diary of Anne Pank has been online for almost four months
  • Has been read in over 40 countries
  • Is lucky enough to have four hundred and forty four followers
  • And more than 4000 page views.

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Whoever you are – man, woman, coupled up, single, children, no children, special dog with reading abilities (I think you may be in the wrong place, you need Britain’s Got Talent) –  I hope you keep reading, keep enjoying, keep following, keep sharing.  And tell me your stories, I can’t wait to hear them.

Thank you to the bloggy people too, you’re ace!  and I’m learning a lot from you as I bumble along.

Lots of love to everyone!!!

Annie P  xxx

(Seriously, where’s that Lotto slip?!)

Thought for the day

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Borrowed Sant Jordi love!

Borrowed Sant Jordi love!

Feliç Sant Jordi!

Is it OK that we ‘borrowed’ these for a photo opportunity?  Now returned to their rightful owner next door.  It may be the only chance I get to show off with delivered flowers for Dia Sant Jordi.

Sant Jordi is the equivalent of Valentine’s Day here.  Men receive a book and ladies receive a rose (or not).  I like it because it’s not nearly as commercial as the British equivalent.

A very simple exchange of non-expensive gifts.

 

Spreading the Catalan love. Enjoy!!

Annie P xxx

The Ten Commandments, Part II

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So the mating ritual continued, with much posturing, fluffing of feathers and displaying, only I didn’t like his plumage too much (or the idea of being kept as a sex slave in a shoe box – commandment 6 – before my axey/birdy death).  And still a drink didn’t arrive.

Bar etiquette, by Charlton Heston

Bar etiquette, by Charlton Heston

Second installment, lessons six – ten.

Re: commandment five. Thou should not try to show off with the casual mention of one’s property in a salubrious neighbourhood,  if one’s property is not showey offey enough.  “Why don’t you come to my ‘house’ in Sitges?”  “Ah, do tell me about your ‘house’ in Sitges.”  “It’s 30m2″……… about big enough for one of those man-eating seagulls.

Thou shalt only try to impress someone thouest doesn’t know with the offer of a dance, if thou is sure of thou’s dance ability.  Don’t recoil in shock, when that someone turns round and says, “OK, I love to dance!!!”  Cue much shuffling of feet and mutterings of inability from lowly bowed head.

Thou shalt be brave and stray from the path of thou set chat-up/seduction routine.  It doesn’t work for everyone.

“Come to Sitges.”

“No.”

“I’ll cook you dinner with the finest produce.”

“No, take me for dinner.”

“No”

“Buy me a drink.”

“No, you have to come to Sitges”

“What?”

“Well, come to my house in Barcelona then and I’ll cook you dinner THERE with the finest produce.”

“No. You’re so adamant, I think you have a murdery master plan.”

“It’s my way or the high way.”

“What?  I’m very confused.”

 

Thou should not profess to have ‘fallen in love’ with someone and follow it up with, “It’s my way, or the high way.” (See above).  Let’s refresh our memories here, YOU’RE hitting on ME, so actually, it’s MY way………… (and let’s be clear, this is not about love dude)

*Thou shalt never wear weird bright orange hover-trainer type thingies.  With red jeans.

The group of men we met on our night out, were actually incredibly sweet and good fun and we had a nice couple of hours chatting with them all.  But, when your own friends are hanging their heads in mock shame every time you open your mouth and put your strange footwear in there, it’s seriously time to rethink your strategy.

 

*That last one is really just my personal taste. I’m sure that there are some women out there who love that combination. Maybe.