Posy

At the moment..

::loving::

my new cheap as chips dress(£5 from Primark). Just customised it by changing the buttons for some vintage ones and adding a ribbon and voila a little dress that looks like it could have graced the 50's. Well sort of!

::anticipating::
Coldplay's new single coming out tomorrow - though I'm bracing myself for disappointment as I don't think they have really ever improved on Parachutes and Rush of Blood To The Head years ago. 

::still laughing about::

The other week at school we were practising SATs papers before the end of term assessment. I had to take 4 six/seven year old children out of class to read the paper for them. When I came to Question 3, I paused...smiled.. and had to quietly sing the question..."Look at the stars,....and then added... look how they shine for you...!"
The children burst out laughing. Chris Martin. He gets everywhere doesn't he? 

::desiring::

this wonderful cushion at church. It must have taken ages to knit. Does anyone have any idea how to knit those segments? Any help would be gratefully appreciated!

::enjoying::

finally being able to drive the lanes in sunshine.

::finding::

a thrifted bracelet almost identical to my new Cath dress. Can you even spot it?!

::finished::

yes, another! 
I just can't stop... 

In Sunday's papers

 Mmm...I thought.... I wonder if the very best could have a place in this list?

Where would he be placed?

At seventeenth place I found him.

Only seventeenth! What's the world coming to? 

 
  I read with interest...yes... Piers got his facts correct...

                 .....yes, even down to the 'hottest girl'....
                         ....good.

Chasing Chris Martin

 Yesterday was a bad day. One of the worst I've had in the last few weeks if I'm honest. My aches had returned and so did the tears. 

"I'm feeling no better, there must be something seriously wrong with me, how can this be taking so long..." I wailed to the family yesterday evening. "If Chris Martin came into our garden I could not chase after him and he would get away..."
More tears.

This morning I reflected on my conversation and chuckled to myself. I had to make the family realise just how yucky I was feeling and the only thing I could measure my weakness on was if Chris Martin was in our garden I would be unable to get to him. Anth thought I would somehow conjure up the energy to get to him but I tearfully told him that I couldn't and he would get away. Forever.

"Mmm, maybe that's a good thing," said Lucy.

It was a strange day yesterday. Alice started a week of work experience at my school (where I work). She was in my class and came back with shining eyes and wide smiles and wonderful stories of the children. My children. My favourite was how she and the teacher noticed a wet patch on the carpet after the children had got up and they had to discreetly look at 30 bottoms as they filed out of the classroom to see if there was a matching wet patch on someone's uniform. I miss that.
Today, I'm not so tearful. I feel stupid and selfish when I cry but I just wish my arms and legs would go back to normal. Normal, but a little skinnier would be fine by me and strong enough to sprint after Chris if he ever wandered into our garden by mistake. Any time soon will do. Please.

  I'm waiting..

Emergency Family Meeting

 Can you guess what has got us all in a stew? What has caused such HUGE stress, panic and hysteria that Matthew came down from Winchester for the weekend to attend the Emergency Family Meeting? You can't?? Well, who has the power to turn my life upside down and inside out at the very thought of seeing and hearing him? Who is coming back to his home town of Exeter, less than 30 miles from our home for a one-off intimate (an intimate ahhhh!!!) concert(with 2 other acts) of 500 (only 500...sigh) people? 

Yes, my best beloved Chris Martin. Coldplay are playing in a winter wonderland marque in the grounds of Exeter Castle on the 19th December. The tickets are being sold on 3 different days a 100 or so at a time.
Oh my. The. Stress. Of. It.
 Yesterday at 4pm Lucy on her laptop, me on mine and Matthew in Hampshire in his surgery (between patients) counted out the seconds ...Lucy and I feeling so sick with nerves..clicked on to buy tickets with the rest of the world and of course didn't get any. ABSOLUTELY GUTTED. 

We then moved onto Plan B which was to camp out over night tonight outside the Exeter HMV store as this is where the next batch are being sold tomorrow. Lucy texted me at lunchtime to say that some people had been there since yesterday morning already and there will be more people than tickets by the time we can get there. 
So that just leaves Plan C - Friday morning on line our last chance but I'm not holding out any hope in that. I don't want to bleat on about how upset we are - but we are. Very. Very. Very much.
As we're talking whinging -I haven't been good company this week. Oh no. And the reason I have not been able to blog is because I have been given some extra work at school and it has to be all finished by next week before we break up. So all my free time has been taken up with that. I whinged all day on Monday when I went into school (on my day off) to do some of it. That's not really like me as I am usually a positive person but all I could think of was everything I still have to do at home for Christmas. Yeah, those presents are still not finished!! Some things never change.....
But hey-ho, I do have some wonderful things to look forward to like painting our bed ready for my new Christmas Eve pillowcase tradition which will actually be a CK duvet cover as well this year; and some doily/other cushion making. I just need to get passed all my deadlines, oh yes and my disappointment. I will soon. It's just obviously not our time this time to be at a small Coldplay concert in our corner of Devon. 
But it will be one day. I just know it.

Who's that girl?

Thank you one and all for your kind words about our 'new' floor. I haven't had much time this week to spend sitting in it and enjoying the changes. It has been back to school for me and on the very first day came down with another migraine so all my blogging plans went out of the window. Sorry. But enough of the horrible things and let's move onto something that makes me smile and laugh out loud every time I see it.

You will recognise our fridge door - my little space for a little Chris love and my collection of flowery fridge magnets. Cath is there of course; a picture taken from the new book on my Christmas list 'The Perfect English Cottage' by Ros Byam Shaw; a postcard of my favourite painting 'The Presence'; a small picture torn out of a magazine of the most wonderful christmas pudding hamster bed (if I had a hamster I would so want one, though I am assuming it can be washed right?)  A postcard of Justin Leigh (who used to present my much loved BBC Radio Devon lunchtime phone-in) sent to me by my lovely friend Justine (who thinks I'm totally mad.) But wait...who is that with Chris?
Let's look a little bit closer.

 
Mmm..she looks faintly familiar..

WAIT A MINUTE.....IT'S ME!!!!!  Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a hoot. This picture is my iphone's wallpaper and it has been shown around the staff room and to anyone else who has come near me in the last 2 days. It takes my breath away. 
Lucy found a website called www.faceinhole.com which allows sad people like me to paste their own picture next to the celebrity of their choice or a piece of art work etc. As well as 'being with' Chris I'm also loving the fact that I look skinny (thank you Gwyneth).
So this picture will definitely be staying on the fridge for a while - walking with Chris and being skinny - what more can a girl wish for!?   

The concert

Well - if I was exhausted by school & life last week, that was a walk in the park compared to our weekend. If nothing else, I am now officially the 'coolest mother' amongst Lucy's friends for having to sit through (read endure...) Jayz for an hour or more. I alternated between covering my eyes from the strobe lighting every 8 seconds for 6 seconds (can produce a migraine in a flash) and sticking my fingers in my ears every 12 seconds as the sound was so loud and faintly distorted. It was all pointless because I had got myself so excited at the prospect of seeing Chris that I already had a migraine anyway...

"Why, on earth did you not come out and get a drink with Anth and me?" asked Matthew, absolutely astounded at me sitting through it all.

Well there was a perfect explanation to that. You see our seats were just 5 or 6 rows from the roof of Wembley Stadium. Yes the actual roof, and upon climbing the eeenormous mountain of steps I knew that there would be no popping out to go to the loo or to get drinks as I would never make it back up again. So there I waited for my beloved Chris - whilst trying to work out who was who as everyone on stage looked like tiny worker ants! And what about Coldplay?
They were fantastic and even though it was heartbreaking being so far away it did help me to focus on the music as we couldn't really see anything anyway. I did at one point think of yelling of my love for him but it would have been a lost cause so I'll save it for next time. We finally got back to Matthew's house at 2am and then I couldn't sleep until after 3am and I was woken at 6am....
So I start the week even more tired than I ended the last one - but at least I'm now known as the coolest mum in Devon! For now, at least..

 

Lists :: The things I love about my family ::

Apologies for not writing a post yesterday - the last 2 days at school have somehow depleted all of my energy. But the weekend is nearly upon us and we are going to see Coldplay on Saturday..yay..but we will be in Wembley Stadium at the back..so the chance of my beloved Chris actually hearing me shout about my total love for him is zilch. Well at least I will be breathing the same air as him for a couple of hours anyway! But enough about Chris and more about lists and today it's my sweet family's turn.

Tom

• I adore his sense of humour and our connection through it.
• I love his Goble sweet snub nose.
• I love the memory of the very first time I really 'saw' him. It was 2am and he was 14 hours old. The midwife was helping me breast feed and lifted him up out of his crib. I looked at his face and saw Anthony. It took my breath away.
• I love his gentleness but I understand that might not sound very cool!
• And in the same breath I love his strength which sounds a bit more manly.
• I'm still smiling at the conversation we had on Tuesday. I was driving home from school at 5.15 (stayed for Art Club) when my mobile went off (T's ring tone is Sick Puppies 'What are you looking for?' incidentally.) I pulled over to speak as we had only had a couple of brief texts since leaving him at Uni on Sat and I had been fretting like only a mother can. Said hello but then the signal wasn't good so I asked him where he was...he said "On top of a cliff...." WHAT???????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! was my reply. Not what I wanted to hear.  He wasn't there for any sinister reason thank goodness, just out with his friends. He is doing OK and has even found a part time job.
• I love the way his sisters fuss around him trying to give him fashion tips which he never takes any notice of.
• I love the fact he thought of me on Monday when he heard a busker in the street singing 'Coldplay's Warning Sign' (which is one of my favourites.)
• I love his relationship with Robin, my step-father's, father. They go and watch the local football team together and really enjoy each other's company. A few years ago Tom would have been too embarrassed to be seen out with anyone who wasn't his friend or over the age of 17!
• He answers to all of his crazy nicknames that have evolved over the years but he will kill me if I tell you them. 

Lucy

{the photo is of Lucy (left) with 2 of her closest friends taken late August when they arrived with a surprise birthday cake they had spent the whole day making. I think this was the 2 attempt! I don't know who was more thrilled, Anth and I, or Lucy herself. I promised the girls I would put the photo on the blog. They certainly are beauties.}

• I love her cleverness and her drive which puzzles me everyday as to where she got it.
• She is kind, gentle and thoughtful to others.
• I love watching TV with her and that includes all the rubbishy reality shows. We laugh at Anth who complains in his NZ accent that.."ahh you two just dominate the TV..."
• She talks to our cats (like her mother and uncle) in stupid high pitch way, calling Alfie her 'ginger darling'. This back-fired a few months back when we had a red haired man in fixing our oven. She came down the stairs not realising anyone was there and saw Alfie - very loudly she said in the highest, most craziest voice (sort of manic baby talk!) .."HELLO MY GINGER DARLIN'..OOH YES.." She then turned the corner and saw the red haired young man who just looked at her in a stunned silence. Perhaps that's why they won't come back and fix our oven again..
• She organises me.
• She's braver than me.
• She is ever-so-slowly coming around to liking the whole vintage scene, though this is more to do with clothes than home furnishings. Her room is a total tip!
• I'm so loving the growing closeness of her and her sister.
• She will cook for me and I don't really need to plead that much.
• She, too, will answer to her nickname, eg Doodle.

Alice

 

• I'm constantly surprised about how much Alice is like me.  That in itself worries me but she is much more self-assured than I was and worries less. She is like her father there. Phew..but it's spooky though!
• She sticks up for the underdog and is quite bossy (mm..like her mother again there, but I am only bossy with my family - she is bossy on the school bus!)
• I just adore watching her trying to emulate her older sister by doing and liking the same things.
• She, too, is kind and thoughtful and is excellent at tidying up very quickly. Later you then realise that everything has been shoved under the sofa...
• She's charming.
• She has her father wrapped around her little finger (well all the Goble girls do)
• She taught herself the piano.
• I love the fact she just enjoys life - the little things and big things.
• She laughs easily.
• She, also answers to a number of crazy nicknames mainly Tiny (Tyn for short).

Anthony

• Oh, I just love this man.
• I love the fact that he wears hearing aids in both ears (he has worn hearing aids since childhood) and now he has to wear reading glasses. He still is super hot in either.
• He cheerfully puts up with my obsessions and gets quite offended on my behalf if people walk into our home and think it's OK to make derogatory comments about it without even being asked for their opinion!
• He is my rock and rocks my world.
• He can go for weeks without buying anything.
• He is honest, true and conscientious.
• He does the breakfast shift.
• He is an excellent kisser.
• He puts his family above all else..well, after God that is.
• He also answers to my crazy nicknames.

In case you think that my family is in danger of being too damn perfect, let me also mention that I could rustle up 10 things that drive me crazy about them in no time.. but I like to dwell on the good and I certainly count my blessings.......

Kitchen dancing

 

What do you get when you mix an empty house, some dirty dishes, and my favourite playlist on my ipod?

Yes, some dancing. Kitchen dancing and some very  loud singing.

 

What's on 'My Favourites' Playlist this week:

• Run - Snow Patrol
• Prospekts March - Coldplay
• God, If I saw her now - Anthony Phillips
• Amsterdam - Coldplay
• Rainy Day - Coldplay (I'm loving this at the moment and did some serious moving to it!)
• All the Same - Sick Puppies
• This Woman's Work - Kate Bush
• Clocks - Coldplay
• All I Need To Know - Emma Bunton
• Good Life - Francis Dunnery
• I Bloom Blaum - Coldplay
• Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
• Glass of Water - Coldplay
• My World - Sick Puppies
• Speed of Sound  - Coldplay
• Miss You Now - Stereophonics
• Wounderous Stories - Yes
• Sleeping Sun - Coldplay
• Aubrey - Bread
• Mr Blue - Catherine Feeney
• Help is Just Around the Corner - Coldplay
• Bargain - Who
• Which Way the Wind Blows - Anthony Phillips
• Monday Morning - Fleetwood Mac 

So there we have it, my 'this week list of favourites'  and I have to say that by the time the family got home only 5 mugs had been washed.

"What have you been doing all this time?" they asked me.

"Oh just doing the dishes and a spot of kitchen dancing."

They left me to it. Do tell me what's on your favourite playlist and where do you do most of your 'secret' dancing when the mood strikes?'

Lunch with Chris

 I wasn't going to do it. I really wasn't. Especially as I had spent the last week on tender hooks (gosh that looks such an odd saying when one actually types it!) due to 2 competitions, yes 2, to be in an audience of just 30 people with Chris Martin. An acoustic set with just him. Oh my. Now I don't need to explain that next to him sitting on my sofa and playing, an intimate 30 people acoustic set would be the next best thing. Lucy, Matthew and I entered but I went one better, so I thought, and added extra clout..I prayed. One of the radio stations involved would ring you whilst on air and you had to answer a Coldplay question. I was terrified I maybe chosen and then get the question wrong.  Heavens above, I still go into a cold sweat when I think of that scenario. Also I was worried that they may ring whilst I was in class and the children would be scared by my screaming because scream I would! Anyway, as you guessed it, the children were fine as screaming wasn't called for...my phone stayed quiet. Too quiet.

So the next best thing was to watch a live feed of Chris's performance on Friday lunch time. I wasn't going to as I thought it would upset me as I wasn't there..(me a poor loser. Never!)..but come the actual time I couldn't resist, relented and logged on.

     

And waited and waited. I got more and more excited. There were only a certain number of feeds available to watch it and I managed to get one thus sending my excitement levels into orbit. And still I waited. The crochet came out. Then we were told Chris was running late. Then Chris's car had just pulled up. Chris was in the building. Chris was now next door. An whole hour later, his sweet face filled my screen.

 

Notice Alfie by the fire? Poor Alfie had been sleeping quite peacefully next to me all that time; was rudely awakened by my squealing and was sulking on the rug.

And there I sat, overcome for 4 minutes and then the screen suddenly went blank and a notice came up saying that was all for today. I was speechless. An hours wait and then they cut the feed. They didn't say they were going to do that.

So, what is a girl to do when she had got herself ready for some Chris-love only for it to be cruelly snatched from her? Yup, she watches some video footage and puckers up for a big smackerooney.

   

 

See, he's blowing one back to me!

(Ha, I would love to say that I waited for that part in the video but alas it is all a fluke. An rather sad fluke at that!)

P.S Doh! I've been blonde..it should have been 'tenterhooks' not tender hooks. Thank you Cath for pointing it out. It's not the first time I've got sayings wrong, much to my family's mirth, and it probably won't be the last!

Things I'm loving this week

New magazines:   

                                          

that plop onto your door mat catching you by surprise. Also when checking the 'What's coming next month' part (usually the first thing I do!) noticing that there is a wonderful picture of my beloved Caroline Zoob in her sewing room. Oh the joy to come.

 

Hot chocolate:

 

Not very chocolatey mind you, as chocolate can sometimes trigger a bad head; but a perfect after school treat.

Lavender scented washing up liquid:

 

I get teased at school about my love of this. But a girl can't help her love of fragrance. Never mind how it works - it's got to smell good. Grocery shopping takes so much longer when one has to smell every liquid cleaner; and as for the fabric conditioners? Well...let's say it takes a little time to get round every bottle.

Kissing my gorgeous husband:

 

Sometimes we forget in the business of our day, to make time for kissing. There should always be time for kissing.

Being back at school:

 

(bottoms provided by the above gorgeous husband and the gorgeous, orange boy-cat) I've had a lovely week at work. I actually felt a little nervous about going back after Christmas (don't know why) but it was so lovely seeing all the children again. It is such a rewarding job and I have gone on for hours this week to various family members about what a privilege it is to have such input into ripe minds. I have to mark all these books about their New Year Resolutions (we are learning about setting goals and how we learn, this half term) and I can't wait to read each one.

Our family of Blackbirds:

 

I just love blackbirds. I love their sweet orange beaks and fat black bodies. But most of all their sweet song on a long summers evening.

My Blog Ladies books:

  

My bedside collection of books is growing by my blog ladies. I'm so pleased for their success. I got Niki Fretwell's new blurb book for Christmas and have been blown away by the pictures in it. It is so rich and velvety you can only take small bites at a time. I also have Alicia's new one but that resides downstairs as it is larger. (Did you notice the Christmas Eve pillowcases are still in use..well I couldn't add to that enormous pile of laundry could I?)

My crochet:

 

This is my first cushion side with the proper instructions. I'm on my last round and then it's onto the second side. And then it's the lace edging and flowers. Can't wait for those parts.

 

Checking my Chris out:

 

Can you see how close we were? This is slightly zoomed in. I still can't look at Matthew's photos without feeling giddy; they're a bit like Niki's book - a little bit at a time. Aww, I do hope with all my heart he heard me shout. Sigh.

My new birds:

 

Bought before Christmas. Only put up today. 

And lastly, something I'm not loving that happened this week..

Burnt carpet and rugs:

 

 

That's what you get when logs fall out of the fire..

Mmm.

Do share with me what you are loving this week. 

Cath and Chris - in the same evening!

 

Hello down there, it's me - I'm up here on the ceiling..still...and it's been a week! Oh my goodness what a day; well what an evening last Sunday's turned out to be when we went up to London to see Coldplay- and I still haven't recovered. And where do I start? Oh yeah, I'll start with the first 'C' which is Cath Kidston and wait for it...I stood outside her house and touched the handle of her front gate! Yes, I really did! It was about 6pm and pitch black,  we were visiting my brother's friends (who are her neighbours) before we caught the tube into London to see Chris. They offered us a cup of tea which we accepted but as the kettle boiled I could hardly sit still as I was itching to go outside and lurk! So Anth, sensing my anticipation, went outside with me to take a photograph of me standing by her gate in the dark. Honestly, what a sight we were. I was worried someone might think we were casing the joint and call the police, as we stood under the street lamp gazing up at her dark house. Every car that went by I thought it could be them returning home and how would I explain myself..."umm yes, well, I just wanted to touch your gate so I could say on my blog that I have touched something you have touched...no..er..I'm not a crazy lady..no, um..just an admirer..oh but not in a creepy/stalker way. Honestly." It was a wonderful experience I have to say even though it was so dark, but I'm not sure the neighbours really 'got it' as we returned for our tea. Much later on after the concert the neighbours sent a text to my brother saying that they had found a puddle in their lavatory and they had thought it was me..until they discovered a leak! I know I was excited but I did manage to get on to the toilet. Truly.

We then went to see Coldplay and the second thrill of the night was that we discovered that our seats were much, much better than we thought and were on the side of the stage  about 20 metres away. I nearly blew a gasket with excitement- as we waited I didn't think my legs would let me stand they were shaking so much. But stand I did. Stand, jump, scream and I was also visited by that strange urge that Matthew had way back then and when the music died down after their first song I found myself yelling,

"I LOVE YOU, CHRIS!"

People's heads spun around to look at me. Anth, Lucy and Matthew turned and stared but I just mumbled, "Do you think he heard me?" The woman in front turned and said, "I'm sure he did." It was truly wonderful. I was the only person in our seating area that was standing and behaving most unlike a 45 year old mother of three should do. I just threw myself heart and soul into enjoying every minute of being in the same room as him. At one point I nearly toppled forward, so desperate I was for Chris to see me as he turned our way! My voice hasn't quite been the same since. Matthew took some photos so when he sends them to me I will post them on here.

So what an evening eh? Chris and Cath all in the space of 3 hours! And that other C word, yes the one that I'm not nearly ready for, is approaching fast. I'm putting up our decorations as I type so must get back to it. Back tomorrow with some unfestive sewing and hopefully a trimmed tree.

 

I'm going!

 

I've just had to stop my feverish Christmas crafting to tell you this, which incidentally is going badly. So badly. And it's the 13th December already (I never learn about starting early but then it usually does have a happy ending but the panic before you get there ..well!)

But, tomorrow night I will find myself without a needle in my hand but staring at 'my Chris' ..yes my brother Matthew finally managed to get us some tickets to see Coldplay after our blip a few months ago. This week's song I love is the song called Poppy fields from their new CD. What I'll do if they play it I don't know as it makes me cry every time. In fact in a strange way I'm a little reticent about going because I know I will feel rather overwhelmed about the whole thing. That is to put it mildly - but, as Matthew regularly tells me and his patients, I'll try to act as normal as possible.

Hmm.

 

Love Gifts

There are many ways to win my heart; goodness knows I have more than enough obsessions - ahem..or delights of the heart as I would rather call them..mmm.  But today I received 2 gifts which were welcomed with equal pleasure.

 

The first gift was a gift of kindling just placed at our back door with no note. It made me smile as many, many years ago I used to find flowers/cards and perfume left on our doorstep by various teenage admirers. Now I'm a middle-age, married woman, it's kindling by an anonymous 'un-admirer!' Ha! But I felt really touched by the thoughtful gesture, especially as we are in need of some good kindling and whoever left it must know my passion for our fire.

My second love gift was from my gorgeous husband - Coldplay's new EP.

 

Gosh, what a day, kindling and Chris. I've only played Prospekts March/Poppyfields and I just love that song..sigh.

Too much sweetness for one day..

Viva La Vida

I FOUND IT!  I FOUND IT! The lost ipod, which has been lost for nearly a fortnight, was found 4 hours ago and you'll never guess where I found it? Nope, not in a million years will you guess the top shelf in the fridge door!  I have been so upset about it, so upset, especially as I have had a new Coldplay album to devour.  We had looked everywhere, including the last fortnight's mouldy rubbish and I even found it entering my dreams.  But today I decided to rearrange the jars on the shelves in the fridge door and there it was nestled behind the Cloud Berry Jam, still ironically, paused on Shiver by Coldplay!  It must have fallen from our Bose Dock which lives on top of the fridge.  It still works too.  What a versatile little thing.

One of the worst things, as I said, was not being able to conveniently listen to Viva La Vida, Coldplay's new album. This long awaited album was greeted by Matthew, Lucy and I  with some trepidation. What if we hated it? I couldn't bear the disappointment. I have never really warmed to X & Y (their last album) prefering their older stuff.  When they brought out the singles Violet Hill and Viva La Viva I wasn't overly impressed so worried even more. Then the release day arrived and in my skittish, exhilararation I bought it 3 times. Mmm, yeah 3 times. One hard copy and 2 from iTunes as I over-exerted my right clicking finger in my flurry of excitement.  And was it worth the wait, I wasn't sure.  Matthew actually waited 3 or 4 days before he even listened to it and then a few days later I received a text whilst shopping in Sainsburys to say he had finally 'got it' and loved it.  I now have 'got it' and for the moment really love -  Death & All His Friends including the hidden track, The Escapist; Lost; and 42.  So there you have it, I don't think it's as good as Paracutes, Rush of Blood and their early EPs but there's more to love on it than X & Y. Oh it's good to have my ipod back..

Quest to meet Chris!

As I've been doing my painting over these last few days I've had had my CD player on constantly (I just can't work without music, can you?) and have had my most loved songs playing. This of course means Coldplay and I thought I would tell you about the position 'Chris' holds in our family! Firstly, I want to stress that I am perfectly sane in most aspects of my life, but I find my admiration for Coldplay (particularly lovely Chris) leads me to do things that a 42 year old woman/mother should maybe think twice about. Take last Boxing Day..

A few days before Christmas I had noticed this billboard go up in our town...I told my brother Matthew , who is another Coldplay fan, and we had decided that on our annual Boxing Day walk along the beach we would stop and have our photo taken with our heros. Well, this is the nearest we would ever get to them!  It wasn't quite as simple as we had thought and it took a lot of climbing over rather dubious piles of dumped rubbish! We got some rather funny looks too. But hey, what a photo opportunity! I had thought about making my own calender and taking 12 changes of clothes for each month!

Matthew, is my youngest brother and he is a doctor (should know better too!) He and I are very close and share the same sense of humour..and spend our time laughing. He lives in Winchester so we speak on the phone regularly and recently he told me about another quest to meet our hero. This time I wasn't able to join him but this story really makes me laugh! Coldplay were playing at Abbey Road Studios and Matthew & I had entered a competition - numerous times - to win tickets. We didn't. Matthew decided to go and wait outside, you know like a 35 year old doctor usually does! He spent hours in the cold being jostled by the press and slowly the band arrived separately. He was able to get 2 autographs but still wasn't sure if Chris had arrived.

Suddenly a huge black car drew up and out got Chris...Matthew says that he had an overwhelming urge and he found himself shouting as loudly as he could..CHRIS..CHRIS!!   He didn't even turn around.. he probably thought that it was the press shouting. "Still," I said to Matthew trying to be positive "at least he had heard your voice!" What makes me laugh is him yelling "Chris!" He doesn't know what came over him. We laugh together and think up ways that we might get to meet him - the latest is in Matthew's clinic in his hospital he might put up a notice saying, 'If anyone knows Chris Martin could they report to a member of staff!' or ask everyone of his patients! Seriously, I hope you know that we are only joking. But - if you happen to know Chris...!!

Yes, Chris is a positive feature in our lives..and if I did ever get to meet him I would thank him mostly for encouraging Lucy to learn to play the piano but also for singing and writing songs that make me have to sing and sometimes move me to tears like this (it's the intro where he sings ' your skin' over again..kills me!) and this (his voice is so wonderful) and this(the ending..) and this ('nothing else compares'..'home, home where I wanted to go'...perfect because I do want to go home most of the time!)

I could go on and on and you have been very patient with me. It's funny to get to the grand old age of 42 and feel so passionately about certain music. And yes, last December at their concert in Earls Court, it was me who found myself suddenly shouting, "Chris! Chris!"

I just couldn't help it!