So as some of you know, I like going to bingo and yes I know some of you think it’s an old woman’s game (yes Scotty, I’m talking about you!! ), but it’s really not and is really good fun. I won’t ramble too much on about it - made a blog entry last year for it , so no need for another

Anyway, last Friday, myself and Matt decided we should go. Got there and paid our money our tickets and headed in to find a seat. Got some food and waited around until the early session started. Like always, I always wish it could be my turn to win, after all, I had been there many times before and never won anything, where as Matt had! Someone must have been listening to me or something as finally on the second game into the evening I actually won!! All the numbers were being called out when I suddenly realised that I only needed one more number! And in the time it took me to realise this, my number was called!! I won £50!! Pretty happy with that!!

The games carried on into the evening, with prize money now up to £100. It was getting close to the end of the evening and was time to play the final late session. Numbers started coming out and again I soon realised I only needed one more number!! Luck was with me that night as it came out and I won £100!! Twice in one evening!! I was shaking loads cause of the adrenilin rush from it Matt wasn’t pleased with me though.. the first 4 numbers called he had all on one line and only needed one more to get a line He was a bit surprised when I shouted out!! Tee hee!!

Not spent my winnings yet, in a weird way I don’t want to, think it’s cause I’ve won it and I don’t want it to disappear! It’s nice having extra cash you’re not expecting!! Might go again this week, see if I can win any more!!

Back in December, a thread appeared on MINI2 about going to the Top Gear track. Having enjoyed it the previous year, I decided to stick mine and Matts names down. I was quite excited about it as last year when I went, I hadn’t been allowed to drive due to that fact Matt had just got his MINI and didn’t want anyone else to drive it.. so I though this year would be pay back and I would drive my lovely car instead! tee hee

With the year going as quick as ever, it didn’t take long for the day to get here! The day before, when I finished work I spent the rest of the afternoon/early evening cleaning the car and making it look really nice and shiny! Decided not to drive it anywhere that evening in case it got little speck of dirt on it :O That even I had a message from my friend Sam who I had invited to come along to Top Gear as she owns a MINI (through working at the MINI factory) and wanted to come along on some of the runs. Unfortunately, she said she couldn’t go any more as she was too tired! Lame excuse I think! Shame really as I hadn’t seen her in over 4 years!

Saturday morning soon arrived and I was up at the stupid hour of 6:30!! Far to early for a weekend but hey I was off to Top Gear! My nice shiny MINI was now dirty when I went out to it! It had rained the night before and had left lovely dirty rain marks all over it rubbish!! I had asked Becky to come with me and Matt on the day so we went to go and pick her up on the way. Met a few friends at the MINI Factory before convoying off to another meet point at Chievely Services. When we got there we were greeted by the site of 4 MINI transporters! So it seemed only right that we park near them! Nicky J, her husband and kids were there when we got there too! I had never met Nicky before so it was nice to finally say hello in person! We chatted for a while before heading into the services to grab drinks and munch! Pics from the meet point..

When we came back out, many more people had gathered with our MINIs ready to head off to the Track. I was getting more and more excited!! Paul led us there, though we ended up losing everyone as we got into Guildford! Also got very lost when we got to Top Gear as we kept missing the turning!

Finally at 10:30, we arrived at the track! We had to join a queue of MINIs from SCNM so we could hand over our money for the day and pick up some forms and information sheets. After that was done, we all headed over to the rest of the MINIs parked up by the big jumbo jet! Many MINIs had already been on the track (we could tell by the way they were facing ) so we went and joined the queue facing towards the track ready to get on and have a go! Had to wait ages to get onto the track as there were so many cars waiting, but soon it was my turn!

We were led out onto the track by the pace car and slowly made our way along the first stretch so everyone was onto the track. Then we were off, zooming away, god it was fun!! I know they said that we weren’t meant to go fast but the pace car and the car in front of me were going pretty fast, and I was going at 80mph at one point to stay with them!! Becky had come round with me while Matt stayed by the side of the track and took pics! I think most of the time we were going round we were both going ‘eeeeeeeeeeeeee’ with big grins on our faces! We were allowed to go round 3 times, I wished we had longer though. 3 laps for me wasn’t enough Unfortunately we had to come off and park up with all the other MINIs who had already been on. Pics of the MINIs going round the track..

Pics of me going round the track

     

I got out the car and started talking to Karl, who I had been following round the track. We were both pretty excited about having been around but disappointed we didn’t get a longer go out there or get a chance to go back on.. In the middle of our conversation, a car alarm starting going off, was looking around to find where it was coming from and then realised it was coming from my car! Stupid me, I had locked the car before Becky had had a chance to get out! :O She was trying to get my attention as she couldn’t get out and in the process setting off my alarm! Ah well, at least I know it works!

After I let Becky out the car ( ) we wondered around for a bit, trying to find people and also to find Phil at MINI Pirate. I was meant to be getting some side stripes fitted while I was there but with the weather being so bad, we both decided it would be better to leave them until another day! Was disappointed, but I haven’t got long to wait until they get fitted again

It got too cold and wet so we went and sat in the car. We were also joined by Matt. Sat there eating our snacks and having a chat We decided we should go as there wasn’t much else to do now and with the weather being how it was, we kinda felt a little miserable and just wanted to get home! Over all I had a great day round the track, just disappointed with the weather, not being able to catch up with many people or get my stripes. Still, I’m up for it next year!

Final few pics off the majority of the MINIs, from right up by the jumbo!

Not that long ago, myself and Becky decided we wanted to go and see a show. We had a look at this last minute website and found the Lion King was on in London. With us both being Disney fans we decided we wanted to go and see it! Booked the tickets and only had to wait 2 weeks until we were off to see it!

After work last week on Wednesday, I rushed to meet Becky at the park and ride in Oxford, ready to get our bus to London. The bus was packed full of kids just out of school, so we both had to sit with randomers who obviously didn’t want anyone sat next to them! The journey there took quite a while as we were heading into London in rush hour - not a very good thing! We had planned on getting there with plenty of time to spare so we could grab some food before hand, but this was starting to look very unlikely! We arrived just after 6 by Victoria Station and began our search for the theatre! We had both never been there before and had no idea where we were going! Me, thinking a head, had printed out some directions and a map to help us find it. But with us being girls, and not being able to read a map properly ( ) we got very lost!! We were heading in what we thought was the right direction but when looking at the map we soon found we clearly were going in the wrong direction! With time running out we quickly decided to get a taxi (if we could find one!!) as they would hopefully know where to take us! Luckily we found one who had just dropped some people off so we grabbed it and told him where to go! We didn’t go very far, but the journey cost us £10!! The money was going up and up even though we were in traffic for most of it! Quite rude I think to charge more when you’re not moving any where!!

When we got there we had to go and pick up our tickets before we were allowed in. We made it just in time! We grabbed some snacky things before finding our seats as there really was no time to go and find somewhere to get hot food from! We had some pretty good seats, could see the stage very clearly.. until a group of French students turned up!! There were loads of them, taking up 3 rows of seats in front of us! They were getting in the way and shouting loads too! Thankfully this was all before the show started, so we asked if we could move - a few other people had been able to as they didn’t want to sit near the French people! We were able to and actually got even better seats then the ones we were previously in! Though I was now stuck behind and man who blocked off part of the stage with his big head and he smelt really bad!!

Any way, the show soon started and everyone went silent! It was amazing!! I had goosebumps the entire way through watching it! Even sang along to the songs in it with Becky! Pretty sure most of the audience where singing along too! The costumes were fab!! It’s a shame you can’t take pics to show how great they really were!! Particularly liked Timone and Pumba! They looked exactly how they did in the film (well except for the fact they were really people dressed up as them ) It really was fab being there and seeing it all! Becky really enjoyed it too! I would go again if I could!!

It lasted quite a while and ended after around 2 hours!! We then had the task of having to find our way back to the bus stop!! Becky didn’t think getting another taxi was a good idea and instead, decided we should walk the way the taxi had taken us.. Thinking back to it, it really wasn’t a good idea!! It took us ages!! We ended up walking along the Thames, past the London Eye and Big Ben and then eventually ended up at Victoria Station. Though this wasn’t where we were getting or bus. The sheet I printed out from the website said it was down a street very near to the station, which was true.. but we couldn’t find it!! We must have spent around 20 minutes wondering around all these different streets trying to find the bus stop!! My feet were killing me as I was wearing heels and had been walking around for ages in them! (must remember that next time I go to London, I must wear sensible shoes!! ) Eventually we found our bus stop, and just in time too, as not long after we get there a bus turned up to take us back to Oxford!! We didn’t get back home until 1:30, which wouldn’t have bothered me so much if it had been the weekend! Staying up that late on a work night is not a good idea!!

So despite the randomness of getting lost around London, I actually had a pretty good evening seeing the Lion King, and I would definitely go and see it again! :D