In the vein of Adrian and his squirrel monkeys, this story about Ikea’s new store opening in Cardiff.

The store opens next week, on the same day that the Rally of GB comes to Wales. Add to this that the roadworks mentioned in this story, which I have to negotiate on my way to and from work each day, are a complete mess and all the road speeeds have been reduced as a result and I foresee chaos.

As with most local councils, Cardiff County Council are squirrel monkeys!

The observant amongst you may have noticed a new album on the gallery. It has pictures of half-naked men on it and revolves around the idea of stripping for charity. Now that should send the page stats flying!

However, before you all start getting very over-excited, it isn’t stripping in the conventional sense of lets take our clothes off. Rather it is body hair stripping. You know, guys, the waxing stuff that you always tell your girlfriend/partner “can’t” hurt that much. Well, my Other Half and his mate are going to put this to the test, by having as near to a full body wax as a trained professional is prepared to go. And, it’s all in aid of Children in Need.

More than that, however, they’ve agreed to be waxed, in public, on the stage in the function room of our local pub!! I must admit, I never thought things would go quite that far, but good on them!!

We’ve reached nearly £200 in sponsorship in the first couple of days, and between all our mates, we are hoping to raise well over £1,000. If anybody out there in cyber land fancies chipping in, email me and I’ll send you details. Regardless, I’ll keep you up to date with progress - and put the pictures of the finished “product” up.

Just watched the excellent Threads on BBC4 (link now inserted). I now realise what got to me so badly in 1984. I’m as horrified today as I was then. Perhaps doing something with CND has made a difference.

Off to have nightmares!

So the Other Half and I went Christmas shopping to the local Designer Outlet on Friday after work. When you have 16 children, assorted OAP’s and a mother-in-law to buy for, it pays to start earlyish on the shopping, I’ve found. As a reward for three hours of shopping for other people, we took ourselves off to see Kill Bill at the adjoining Odean “multi-screen” cinema. As an extra treat, not only did the Other Half buy the expensive (OK, 50p more) superior seats but also a small container of my favourite salted popcorn. Marvellous.

So, to the film. Perhaps I was just in a chilled out, good mood, but I thought it was superb. I thought all of it was fab - from the music, the fight scenes, the anime, the casting - I mean, really, all of it. However, I’ve been surprised at the lack of interest in one particular part of the movie.

Is it just me, or has Uma Thurman got the oddest looking feet ever? I was fascinated. I mean - those toes - eugh!! I don’t know about wiggle them - shrink them, surely. I feel safe in saying this, as I have equally ugly feet - although mine are sort of short and fat (a bit like the rest of me, really). I try my best to look after them, but my little toe is still WAY too little, and likes to hide under the toe next to it. My mother puts it down to the terrible shoes I wore as a teenager. Whilst I agree silently with her, I point out that her feet ain’t all that and that it must be a congenital abnormality. Anyway…

Back to Uma’s feet. If you haven’t seen Kill Bill yet - or you’re about to go back for another viewing, I URGE you to take particular notice of this bit of the film, which takes place in the back of the Pussy Wagon, which Mr Tarantino is apparently now driving around Hollywood. I mean, how cool is this guy? It might just be me - but those feet are freaky!

So, go see Kill Bill. The anime is one of the most touching 10 minutes of film I’ve ever seen, the fight scenes are so over the top, they border on ridiculous (particularly the spurting blood, which the Other Half tells me is scientifically appropriate), the dialogue is sparse and dry - with the subtitles not getting in the way one bit, and the music! Ah, the music. Not quite Pulp Fiction, perhaps, but I wouldn’t rule it out, until I’ve had the chance to listen to it a few times.

Wherever his genius comes from, I bow at QT’s feet (as long as they don’t look like Uma’s!)

I’ve got so much to write about - most importantly the all over body wax that the Other Half and his mate are undertaking for Children In Need. I promised to have some photos on the gallery today, but I went to sleep last night.. Sorry!!

I finally get my test results from the doctors tomorrow evening. I don’t know whether I’ve got something that they’ll be able to define, but I think a 6 month virus is kind of pushing his luck. I do expect to come out with some ideas about how I can improve my health. After all, I always eat my 5 pieces of fruit/vegetables every day (being vegetarian helps, I suppose), am taking various herbal rememdies that are supposed to boost my immune system, am trying to get as much sleep and rest as is possible and am hardly going out. The only other thing I can do is get more exercise - and I’m really going back to the gym next week. I’ve promised my friend, so now I have to do it!

So, that’s why the posts have been thin on the ground. I really do feel quite crap and I hate feeling crappy! It also worries me that my new boss - well, he’s known me for 4 months - thinks I’m perpetually ill! I haven’t taken time off, but I’m always sniffling, blowing my nose and sneezing. To be fair, he’s been great about it all - but I still don’t want to push my luck!

So, what with all the illness, life in the gene puddle has been fairly dull! However, looking at my diary last night, I was shocked to discover I now have only two weekends between now and Christmas when I don’t have something on, either on the Friday or Saturday night. And, the first of those is this weekend. I’ve got a “school disco” theme party being hosted by the Manc Scum next weekend, a meal for 15 people at a local restaurant for the Other Half’s birthday the weekend after that, the great wax off on Children in Need night (21st November). And that’s just the next four weeks! I could go on, but I’ll get more depressed.

Next entry, I will talk about Kill Bill - honest!

Why is it that when you open a pot of Muller Light Cherry yogurt it explodes all over your desk and top? Why, with all the breakthroughs in scientific invention, couldn’t someone come up with another way to package yogurt?

Well, they’re over. Exams finished, and the first sweet vodka was consumed at 8.15 last night. Somewhere after 11 it all became a bit of a blur. This morning is hazy - and I’m supposed to be out drinking again later. More black coffee, I think. That might help.

So, the exam was OK. It’s that heart-stopping moment as you turn over the paper, followed by the long exhale as you realise you can answer at least two of the three questions you need too - and you can blag the rest! Luckily the first question was something I had revised - so it was a bit of a relief. After that - it seemed to go OK.

Only problem was the severe cramping of my right hand. Who knew writing could be so painful? I probably only write for a long period during exams - and every time I walk out gripping my hand and burbling about the pain. I think the computer literate amongst us should be able to type our answers - although, three hours of straight typing might be painful in itself, I suppose.

So, let me get through this weekend and I’ll be back and updating regularly. Promise!!

However, before I do disappear, a little something to amuse you at the office.

Thanks to Chasing Daisy for this.

Yes, I know I had a birthday just over a month ago. This is the sites birthday! Yep, contrary to my initial thoughts, “It Always Rains in Wales” has hit its first birthday, with only this entry as celebration. No cake, no party, no presents, not even a card!

As you have probably noticed, it’s had the expected first year problems - dribbling, long periods of sleep, tantrums, gurgling - the usual things. However, as I wipe a tear from my eye, like all new parents seem to do on a first birthday, I thought it might be time to look back over the last year.

Things that have been mentioned a lot: Vodka, Cigarettes, Friars Nightclub (RIP), Football, The Iraq War, CND, Cocktails, The Manc Scum, Glastonbury, Music, New York, Pubs, Getting Drunk, Work, The Other Half, Welsh Weather, Food and Friends Parties.

People I have to thank: There really are too many to mention. In the list on the right-hand side, I now have several friends (whether cyber or real-life) and other people whose writing I really admire. However, if one person has to be thanked (apart from the Other Half, who is really rather glad that he now has control over the TV remote more often than he used to), it has to be My Dear Friend, who not only talked me into doing this, but also set up the site, hosts it for nothing more than beer, provides technical advice and has improved it by now adding my photo gallery. Thanks honey - next time out in London, you are going to have a stonking hangover to thank me for!!

Things I have learned: How to change the colour of the site - what an achievement! MSN Instant Messenger (what a fab invention - even if it does owe everything to Mr Gates). Not to worry about friends’ reactions to what I was doing. Not to worry about strangers’ reactions via comment boxes. Not to get over-addicted (which was looking likely at some points). And finally, to enjoy writing about the day-to-day life of a wee Welsh woman living in a Gene Puddle!

So, the sitemeter continues to tick over, I meet people who tell me they read the site, I enjoy reading my contributors’ comments - and still get a thrill when I find a new one. “It Always Rains in Wales” continues to bring a smile to my face - and is sure as hell cheaper than a therapist!

So, thanks to you for reading. I’m off to continue my revision. Just think - I might even be a University Graduate by the end of the year and will have less excuse for not writing!

And in the immortal words of Tony Hart, “..and now, The Gallery..”!

Psst - over there, on the right! No down a bit. Yep, you’ve got it!!

Thanks, as always, to my Technical God - and all round nice guy for sorting this out. The drinks, Dear Boy, as they say - are ALL on me!!