I was back at it on Wednesday (12th) morning, and by ‘it’, I of course mean my hectic to-ing and fro-ing life!

Today it was an SSA activity that I’d volunteered to plan, pottery painting, in a little place around the corner, The Glazery.

When the alarm went, I momentarily considered just not going, but I was excited by this activity and I couldn’t wait to go.  I’d originally planned this activity for 15 people (that’s the standard SSA group number for activities), however, due to the overwhelming interest, we increased it and, on the day, 23 ladies arrived to paint things in the Glazery.

Helen picked a plate that she decorated for Santa’s cookies, Magz picked a giraffe, Cindy picked a vase, Lori did a Halloween decoration, Julie did a Mickey Mouse bowl and I, of course, did something relating to hockey!

It’s very cute and I can’t wait to get the fired product back!

When we’d finished, Magz, Lori and I, headed over to the Panda Garden for a yummy Chinese lunch before we parted ways.

Once I got home, I broke out a big pot and started in on another homemade Christmas project, chutney – fresh ingredients, LOTS of them, chopping, slow cooking and canning – it took a while, but I now have a few jars of canned chutney ready to break out over Christmas!

After dinner, Col and I drove to Pearland (for footie) and I decided to try part II of my couch to 5k programme, it started well, though, before long, my calf ‘went’ again, it wasn’t pretty, it hurt like hell and I almost fell on my face on the treadmill.  It wasn’t fun, I had to quit and sit on a bike for a while.  UGH.  There’s only one thing worse than getting an injury and that’s re-injuring it, worse than the first time!

Thursday morning is not our normal board meeting day, however, it was time for our monthly pilgrimage, a merry trip to the Schlumberger office, (where the big wigs up in San Felipe hang out for a change this month, though!)

I’ve decided I want a chair like the ones they have in some of the SLB offices, they may cost over a grand, but they are FAB – seriously comfy! Now how to convince the hubby to hide a couple up his jumper 😉

For lunch, Magz and I went across the road to pick up a breakfast burrito at the Trotter YMCA cafe (that place ROCKS!) and then it was back home to do some online research for a number of events I’m planning.

I also threw the head up at my back hall, it was an utter disaster, baby shower stuff everywhere, canning stuff everywhere, party planning stuff everywhere, stockpiles of food and cleaning stuff everywhere, I could barely get to my washer and dryer, so I blitzed that bad boy! I now have a clear path to the washing machine and dryer – whoohoo!! It’s also pretty tidy to boot!

Friday morning (14th October) continued the cleaning and tidying buzz I’d gotten, I started the day with a cleaning, tidying, laundering (clothes, not money!) binge.  After straining my fruit flavoured vodka (which, I think went to plan!) it was time for some food prep for Heather’s baby shower, chicken pie filling a-go-go!

The busy day continued (I almost wrote ‘busy busy’, but that’s what you tell Magz’s dogs to go to the toilet! LOL!), I headed up to Emily and Luke’s place, to pick up the wonderful, spectacular cake that Emily made for Heather’s baby shower.

That night was another SSA Activity night, that I’d planned, a few of us started out having dinner in Ruggles Green, in Town and Country boulevard.  It was an odd experience, kind of like a posh cafeteria, you get in line, order your food and it’s brought to you by a rather miserable looking server.  My food was ok, the chips were cold (I complained, they took my plate away, brought my plate back, with an extra side of chips – that were also cold) and my grilled chicken sandwich was soggy.  Not the best, and certainly not worth the inflated ‘casual dining’ prices!

After dinner, it was over the road to Comedy Sportz Houston for the SSA comedy night that I’d arranged.  Ok, so the turnout wasn’t quite as good as I’d hoped for, but, that said, the 6 ladies (plus 6 hubbies) seemed to have quite the fun time of it.

It was just as good as I remembered it being and, once again, we came away with sore ribs! I even won a prize for ‘Best Suggestion’ (Duran Duran, for ‘name an 80’s band’!), Ana’s husband Mauricio got picked on all night and Magz volunteered to help out with one of their games! It was a great night and we all came away saying we want to go back!

When the show was over, we took a wee dander through town square, (I wanted ice cream), so we tried another new place, Red Mango a frozen yoghurt place across the square from Ruggles Green.  It was lovely, self serve froyo, guy behinds the counter adds toppings, weighs it, you pay and you eat – simple, relatively quick (the guy in front of me took FOREVER so it was a bit mushier than I like) and yummy!

Magz and Sam were the first to go home, Magz’s back was aching, and standing around in town square wasn’t particularly conducive to making it better.  As for the rest of us, Ana Maria, Mauricio, Heather, Jeff, Col and I, we decided to go to Ihop (around midnight!) as Ana Maria wanted pancakes! LOL!

It was around 1am when we finally got home – it was a great night, kinda old skool, where you sit for ages and ages just talking to your friends…we both really enjoyed the evening and I almost didn’t want it to end (but for the exhaustion and all!)