Date: 23 July 2003 Adventures of Gamblegirl - an update from the one you miss :) Greetings all groovers and grovettes. Hope all is well and life's looking all glowy and pretty for you. I hear that the weather has been "ordinary" for you, well all I can say is "nah nah nah nah!". It's been lovely and sunny over here - one may even use the term HOT. Hard to believe hey? England hot!!!!! I mean who would have thought!!! Anyway enough gloating - oh who am I kidding "nah nah nah nah!" - and back on to the update from moi. With the weather being so great, I have been out and about soaking it up as much as I can (and with my fair prone to burning skin - um that's about say 10 mins!!!!). When I came over here, I had a list of things that I wanted to do. One was go the Tower of London, another the London Eye but I also had a list of other things to do. One of them being have a picnic in Hyde Park. I can officially put a bit tick next to that goal. Lisa and I packed ourselves up some biscuits, cheese, cold meats and some fruit and headed down the Hyde Park where Shania Twain was playing. I tell you what - it was all GOOOOOD. Lounging in one of the deck chairs, in the sun, snacking away, so kind of Shania to provide the music for us and EVER SO KIND OF THE VERY GOOD LOOKING BOYS WITH THE KIND OF ABS YOU CAN DO YOUR HAND WASHING ON TO RUN AROUND WEARING NOTHING A LOW SLUNG SHORTS AND KICK A BALL!!! Yes I think that at that point I truly had a zen moment. Another very London thing (and to my pommy friends - I know its naff but...!) is Top of The Pops. For those at home that are going huh? Think Pepsi Live / Countdown. I registered on-line to get FREE tix (this is always good for someone like me because it's FREE!!!). So Nadia, Lisa, Tracey and I headed off down to the BBC (yes kids I have been inside the BBC and no it wasn't me that leaked the mole's name - I just want to make the known straight off!! Nor did I kill him!!) With Party in the Park (it's a royal charity were all big name pop acts - and ones that I haven't got a clue are - such as Atomic Kitten and the biteable Blue) just passed on the Sunday, we were hoping for Miss Beyonce. Oh the agony of waiting and the extra agony of - we were a week too late. We saw instead: S Club 8 :- damn couldn't even see S-Club. S Club 8 are all under the age of "shouldn't you been at home doing your homework?!" Good miming kids, now remember to move your lips in time with the lyrics. Sean Paul :- an English version of Shaggy from what I can tell. Had a few false starts (performance anxiety perhaps? Snigger from me) and then kept on going until production had to boot him off. Ocean Scene Seven:- Seemed okay until I mentioned it to the guys at work who told me that actually they weren't that good and then listened to some tracks and realised that they all sounded the same! Cerys Matthews:- Oh oh oh oh (me excited) the chick from the group Catatonia and someone I know. And oh hello - how preggers are you? Pretty good though Jnr Snr:- A Danish pop group who had a bit of a hit here and is still trying to keep their 15 mins going Oh and we did see Beyonce - well the end of her guest appearance anyway- but it will be us cheering when it went on air!!!! One things for sure, it was soooo hot in there. Uncomfortably so. So I have booked the obligatory Contiki Tour (see link) http://www.contiki.co.uk/Tour.asp?TourID=7. Lisa and I are heading off on Sept 9 and back on Oct 15. I think for my birthday that I will be in Vienna or the Swiss Alps. How cool is that? Am very excited. I get to go to a few places and spend 6 days in the Greek Islands!!!! Okay so some of my usual thoughts before I go: Thanks Auntie Barb for my letter. I loved the envelope as well. Was touched and excited - I have mail!!!!!! To the Hammond boys - I have goss on you now so behaviour or your god sister will come home and kick some boy ass - but still love ya Thanks Marilyn and Ivy for my email. It was good to hear some "community news". Ivy - I hope you get better. Tracy, thanks for all my postcards. It's great to get some post that isn't junk mail. I love getting them. Sure I don't have a pool room (for those that have no idea what I am referring to get The Castle!) but I have a wardrobe door that has my beloveds and special mementos Um news flash for the Poms - um Birkenstocks - yeah well they are just NOW becoming in fashion. A bit slow or wot!! Thank god Tiger Tim Henman didn't win Wimbledon. I think that I would have had to come home because I wouldn't be able to stand the English Press. But to the Scud - did very well to get there. Please pass on to Egg congratulations on her little boy. And also pass on my condolences that he is barracking for Carlton. The poor child has been condemned at birth!!! AND WITH THE POMS STOP WHINGING!!!! Bloody hell!!!! It's too hot, oh it's too cold. For sake of the world's sanity - shut up. Am over the whinging of the state of the weather. And another thing, the English shouldn't be in control of the AC either. I don't think that they they have mastered the art that you use it to cool the room, not chill it to freezing temperature. Rolling eyes as she shivers freezing. Side note - to the portly man that catches my train in the morning, can you perhaps invest in some clothing that COVERS YOUR FAT GUT!!! There is nothing worse in the morning then seeing your hairy belly hanging out between your shorts and your t-shirt. Pls for the sake of others - invest in some extra material Ohhh ohhh have some goss re the train woman who was having an affair!! Apparently she's back on my old train and she's back with the guy she was having an affair with. BUT according to my very reliable sources, my friend has seen her with - wait for it!!!! - ANOTHER MAN. Yep, so the man she was having an affair with whilst married to another man, she is having another affair behind his back. Damn I need to be back on the Epping Line again!!!! I am missing out!!! Cheers Love and kisses from your neighbourhood freak!!!!