As the leaves fall

Tomorrow is the beginning of the fourth quarter of the year. That's right, in just three months we'll be welcoming in yet another new year. I still cherish my memories of my last New Year's Eve - probably the best I've ever had. Standing on that London rooftop garden all wrapped up as tiny snowflakes blew in the air almost unseen, with fireworks and the London Eye adorning the background and P in front of me holding me close. Truly magical.

The changing seasons affect most people and it's evident as they blog about the changes in the air, the changes in fashion, the changes in feeling and the need for change!

So I'm also jumping on the Autumn bandwagon and welcoming it in for all the above mentioned reasons... thought especially the fashion one just a little bit.

eat.pray.love

I love reading. Always have. It's always been top of my list when asked 'what are your hobbies?' and because of that I've got loads of books. And I always buy more. Because books are fun to buy, to have and to keep. There's a certain excitement and trepidation when starting a new book because you immerse yourself in another 'world' that's already been drafted out but only by reading line after line and page after page will you explore and discover it. And even once you've read the last line and closed the book the world and the story still live on inside your head.

I still have books unread on my shelves, some which I bought from the UK in January! It's ok though, I'll get round to reading them, especially now that winter's approaching.

Having said that there is another book that I want to get my hands on and am planning on buying this weekend, because I want to read it before I watch the film.

eat.pray.love

I know that the film has definitely helped in promoting it; however, having read the excerpt I don't think that I'll be disappointed. What do you think?

Contently Updating

I know that I've mentioned my site Content for Success before; however, I just wanted to let you know that it's now being updated regularly with my latest writing gig which is all about Home & Design, as well as book reviews, technology articles and the occasional social media/blogging/copywriting piece. So go check it out and add the RSS feed to your reader.

Come on, Patrick!

This weekend held the annual MADC One Act Play Festival - a festival of plays for newbie actors and directors. I did my first One Act in 2005 where I played the role of Joyce in The Fat Lady sings in Little Grimley - she was a lot of fun to play. Since then I've participated every year, bar 2008, where I was ASM (assistant stage manager) rather than an actor.

This year I was cast in Group Therapy where I played Susan, a ditzy woman-child with an imaginary friend named Patrick. Great fun though quite difficult to play because I had to converse with Patrick so I was essentially talking to no one. The play is an original script written by the director so we had a lot of fun with it.

The Festival ends with adjudications and awards from three judges. Group Therapy took three of the six awards being Best Director, Most Promising Actor and Most Promising Actress. The other awards are Best Production and Best Actor/Actress.

The only pity is that we only get to perform twice. And this year the judges didn't include the nominations for the awards before announcing the winner - after all it's nice to be nominated :)

Home Decor Wants

These are just a few of the items that I'd like to have in the house.

Cushions - because they're colourful and full and bouncy and fun

A square glass vase - simply because I love the shape and simplicity of it

Bouquet of flowers - to go in the aforementioned vase and add life and colour to a room

Grey towels - Again to add some 'colour' of sorts. And because they'd look so chic in the bathroom.

What are you looking to get for your next home purchase?

Arthur Guinness Day

Yesterday we celebrated Arthur Guiness' Day at The Dubliner. This celebration first took place last year and because it was so successful they decided to keep going at it.

I can't really imagine a day that celebrate Guinness not being successful, can you?!

Arthur's Day explanation: "Established in 2009 during our 250-year anniversary, Arthur's Day is a series of events and celebrations taking place around the world to celebrate the life and legacy of Arthur Guinness and the much-loved Guinness® beer which Arthur brought to the world."

I personally don't drink the Black Stuff but a celebration is always welcome. Plus you get more big hats - St. Patrick's Day-style :)

A curious thing about this particular day is that last year it rained rather heavily and I know this because on that day P and I had a 'talk' in a bus stop in the rain. On Wednesday it also rained heavily, which marks an exact year (day-to-day) from the previous Arthur Guinness Day!

Random facts intrigue me.

2010 Meme

One of my LinkWithin links at the bottom of each blog post showed me a meme from 2008! And then I found one from 2009. So I just had to do one for 2010. Things do change from one year to the next.

So for 2010... here's my Q&;A.

1. What is your first name? Giselle

2. Were you named after anyone? No – I’m uniquely original :P

3. Do you wish on stars? Star light, star bright... sometimes.

4. When did you last cry? Sometime last week

5. Do you like your handwriting? Yeah when I don’t write like I’m being chased like a herd of elephants

6. What is your favorite lunch meat? There’s a difference between lunch and dinner meat?

7. What is your most embarrassing CD? Hehe, I think I’d go with Spice Girls

8. If you were another person, would you be friends with you? If I was opposite to who I am now, then I’d think no. Does that make sense?

9. Do you have a journal? Like the written kind? Yes, un-updated by a couple of years.

10. Do you use sarcasm a lot? I’m getting better...

11. What are your nicknames? Gi, Giz, duda, baba

12. Would you bungee jump? Yeah!!!

13. Do you untie your shoes before you take them off? Not usually, depends on the shoes though

14. Do you think that you are strong? Not particularly

15. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Hmmm, this is difficult. I do like hazelnut. And rum n’ raisin. And chocolate with chocolate bits in it. I just like ice cream really.

16. Shoe size? UK 4, Europe 37 (sometimes 36)

17. Red or pink? Totally undecided

18. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? My paranoia

19. What do you miss most? I can’t think of anything in particular

20. Do you want everyone you send this to, to send it back? It’s not being sent to anyone

21. What color pants/shoes are you wearing? Blue jeans and brown wooden heels

22. What are you listening to right now? Carolina Liar – When you are near

23. Last thing you ate? A packet of Skips

24. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Purple!

25. What is the weather like right now? Sunny with a slight breeze... from what I can tell by looking out of the window

26. Last person you talked to on the phone? Paul

27. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Smile, height, eyes. Fairly common things.

28. Do you like the person who sent this to you? I found it via Google. I like Google.

29. Favorite drink? Sparkling water

30. Favorite sport? I like watching football, tennis and snooker. I also like watching Gaelic football – newly discovered :)

31. Hair color? Brown

32. Eye color? Hazel-ish

33. Do you wear contacts? Yes

34. Favorite food? Rice, pasta, salmon

35. Last movie you watched? I think it was Mamma Mia (for the third or fourth time!)

36. Favorite day of the year? My birthday :)

37. Scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings. No question.

38. Winter or summer? Summer for the most part. Until it gets way too hot and I have to go get a hollywood bikini wax!

39. Hugs or kisses? Hugs

40. What is your favorite dessert? Creme caramel, creme brulee, tiramisu.

41. Who is most likely to do this meme? I’m sure a couple of people will comply

42. Who is the least likely to do this meme and comment? It doesn’t matter

43. What books are you reading? I Heart New York, and 3 books on Maltese history that I’m reviewing

44. What's on your mouse pad? The gel wrist pad

45. What did you watch on TV last night? I didn't

46. Favorite smells? Good food, fresh mint, man’s aftershave/perfume, my perfume, clean sea

47. Favorite sound? I don’t know this one... possibly laughter

48. Rolling Stones or Beatles? The Beatles.

49. What's the furthest you've been from your home? Scotland, or Ireland. I’m not sure which is further. Or would that be Germany?

50. Do you have a special talent? I have yet to discover it

51. What is your ring tone? My general one is called Answer the Thing; however, Paul and my mother have their own one.

LOL Ads

Curiously Cinnamon currently have an ad campaign showing on television and I saw this advert over the weekend and I just found it terribly amusing. I laughed out loud, the guffaw, heartfelt, from the stomach kind of laugh. And the second time I saw it I did the very same thing.

I discovered that there's a whole series of them which you can find on YouTube and they're all very amusing but this is my original one!

They tied the knot

We had a friend's wedding last night - the first wedding in Malta that we've actually attended together! The others have all been abroad.

It was a lovely party and we ended up being one of the last people to leave. Here are a couple of photos from the reception (they're taken with my iPhone so excuse the quality).

Traditional almond sweets known as Perlini. Sadly no longer found that often at weddings.

The three-tier wedding cake

Congrats Paul & Rachel!

Wall Art

Writing about interior decorating always gets my creative processes salivating and wanting to do more than just write. So I browse. This time it was Etsy where I came across these incredible wall decals. I didn't think that this would normally be my thing however I love the quirkiness of them and the originality that they'll give to a room.

Having said that, I tend to suffer from what-if-I-get-bored-of-it-itis or worse still, what-if-I-don't-like-it-after-all-itis! The pain would be intense. I get very excited about things I like and have yet to master the art of controlling (and eliminating) expectations. So if it didn't look as I wanted it to I'd be terribly upset.

But don't you think that this would look absolutely delightful in a girl's bedroom?

And these in any other room?

I just might have to have them... somewhere.

Inspiration Alert

My friend Philip, whose wedding we went over to Holland for in June, said that I write about the weather a lot. Which obviously led to a Hmmm... (that being the sound of thoughts rotating in my brain in visuals) shall I write about girly things like clothes, jewellery* and bikini waxing? Or possibly hobbies like crafts, cooking and gardening? (which wouldn't last too long considering I do none of these things.) The closest I get is watering my plant - which I need to re-pot and have been procrastinating about.

So I regrouped and thought that since this blog is entitled All About G - I really should write something about G. And she would be me. But what to write...?

So this is where you come in. Anything you want to know or want me to write about? Leave a comment (but you knew that already)

* Speaking about jewellery, I'm gravitating towards wanting a Pandora charm bracelet.

Isn't it great when

... you wake up in the morning and think 'I have to get ready for work' and then realise that it's Sunday and you actually don't have to?! That's what happened to me this morning. Set the right mood for a lovely day.

And how was your Sunday?

Electricity in the Sky

There was a large, wonderful thunderstorm yesterday night. It was loud, it was sharp and it was intense. Thankfully I will sleep through anything so whilst thunder was rolling through the skies sounding like an angry orchestra, I lay my head down and was asleep before you could even count to 10.

The best thing about a night storm though is the following day (assuming it's not still stormy) and today is a perfect example. Bright blue skies, warm sunshine, strong breeze - it's beautiful and I hope that it will last throughout the weekend.

How's the weather in your area of the world?

08-09-09

Yesterday was our one year (dating) anniversary
08-09-09 is when it all began

Thursday Wind Down

The weather is finally cooling down and it makes for a very welcome change, especially at this time when I am extremely busy running from work to rehearsals to other engagements. It's all fun and I enjoy it - but everyone needs a break in the midst of all the madness.

And I'm getting mine tonight!

There are no rehearsals so I get to spend the evening at home with the man. There are plenty of things that need to be done in the house (they're always the first to be discarded when busy times come around) however I'm actually keen to get some order back in the house. Throw a load into the machine, wash the dishes, give a general tidy up - it makes me feel good. And once that is done maybe we'll settle down and watch a DVD.

What have you got planned for your Thursday evening?

The Stig - Revealed

I'm not a car fanatic (although I do like nice cars!) I am, however, a humour fanatic and have been a fan of Top Gear for many years.

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have such great chemistry as a team; their humour (being British) is actually funny and the stunts that they perform are pretty darn good too I guess!

There's a fourth character to the show though, known only as... The Stig.

The Stig's identity has, for a long time, been under intense scrutiny and many upon many guesses have been made as to who is inside the white suit and helmet. Well, now we know.

Despite the BBC attempting to get a court injunction banning the release of the book that revealed the identity of The Stig, the British courts allowed that it is published. So, for your viewing pleasure, here is The Stig (and mighty fine he is too!)

This is British racing car driver, Ben Collins aka The Stig, and I think he looks better without the helmet ;)