Peoples of the internet… Hey man… Alright…

Yep we are back to that time again, a time to reflect on everything that happened in 2019, which lets just say wasnt quiet. Alot when down, an awful lot went down. So lets get reviewing shall we, i mean after all that is what my blog does. I’m also starting with me, we can get to everyone else in good time…

So my big news this year was i turned 30… oh god… actually not that bad. Okay its only been a month so far, but ive not fallen apart or had a midlife crisis yet. I’ve had the most amazing time celebrating, work still have yet to take me to the pub tho… But various birthday meals with family & friends & days of activities, bowling, golf, casino etc is always good. I’m always so thankful for everyone in my life. Even though im a moody bitch sometime & can get stroppy, i love you all dearly & seriously have no idea where id be without any you.

Part of my 30th birthday gift was that my parents paid for some of a Norwegian cruise for me, to go Fjording. Seriously some of the most beautiful places i’ve even been to. To touch the clouds, in the rain, before you have even had breakfast at 7am is something stunning. If you get a chance do it people, you will not regret it.

I also went with the family for a mini break in Milton Keynes to watch Lincoln (we will get to sport properly latter) & go to Bletchley which was so inspiring. Me & 4 of my girls went back to Crete again this year, to do absolutely nothing for a week, which was truly needed.

Okay i’ve put it off a while now, time for the best day of the year, my sisters wedding. Yes Littleun Popcorn married her fiance in April & it was the best day ever. Seriously nothing went wrong, she looked stunning, he looked good, we all scrubbed up well. There was a quiz, there was halloumi, there was lots of rum, i had a good old dance, i saw people id not seen in ages. It was genuinely one of the best days ever, so chill, just perfect. The Hen was pretty epic too, i think Jo is still hungover from it now, she did not look good. I just remember one bit of the hen where me & my sister were singing coldplay every teardrop with a huge glass of pre mixed cocktail, passing it & the microphone between us after each line & everyone else looking at us going yeah thats standard. Again amazing day.

& not to out do the rest of us, Pops Popcorn turned 60… more celebrating. We had an amazing day down in brighton, doing escape rooms, playing on the pier, golf, cocktails, dinner oh it was good, it was very good. Far too many bellines that day. Im beginning to think all i’ve done this year is drink. As apart of Pops birthday gift me & my sister are treating him to Lincoln games across the season which he chooses, hes got one more left to go i believe but milton keynes was on us.

Sport wise, i finally got to live my dream, well nearly. When i was little i watched the FA cup final which was Liverpool Vs Manchester Untied on TV, & loved it until united scored & from that moment i have wanted to go to the FA cup final. This year, Brighton got to the FA Cup Semi final, so as season ticket holders mama & i went, & Granddad treated us to tickets as he said if he could he would of come with us too. Okay we lost to Man City, but i still got to live my dream of going to the FA Cup at wembley, we played well too.

Man City did scupper another dream of Liverpool lifting the premiership last season. That was won at the amex as well, again as much as it was nice to see the trophy be presented, it was hollow. However Liverpool did go on to win the champions league for a 6th time, which made me go fuck it, if you dont do it now girl you never will. So i got my first ever tattoo of 6 stars just above my wrist, one for each european victory. Why did i put off getting a tattoo for so long? The pain was like stpping on the back of your earing constantly for 20mins, why did no one tell me that. I love my stars.

Other sport well, i freaked out when i basically could touch Christian Eriksen, completely lost my cool, Brighton destroyed spurs too. I also went back to the o2 to see the tennis, Sacha was epic.Im so sad its leaving soon for Italy. Didnt go to any cricket this year, lots on tv though.

Me & my girls went to see Hugh Jackman in the summer at the O2 which was one of the best nights out ever & a once in a lifetime moment. The man was just on fire. Mama Littleun & i also went to see Will Young & Tim Minchin this year. Very random set of live shows i know, but all legends & all worth every single penny.

Films… well you can see whats happened cant you. But what you may not know is we are now a force to be reckoned with after i won us the roll over jackpot at our monthly film quiz. £60 for knowing Michael Sheens dad was a Jack Nicholson impersonator. Cheers for that. We also get the link round now quite a bit, still havent actually won the quiz but we will do one day. Have also got some good movie freebies this year too.

& thats basically it i think… except for what im now going to type. If this gets too depressing im sorry…

So the real reason for this post is to tell you that again this year, i’m not sending out Christmas cards. I haven’t sent Christmas Cards for about the last 11 years now, mainly because its quite expensive, especially with postage, we’re all online & i try to see most people to wish them a Merry Christmas as well & if i cant i usually text or call them.(disclaimer yes this has been entirely copied & pasted this next paragraph from last year except for the year, so well done for noticing yay next paragraph isn’t though{& i always love the fact i can get away with that}) But this year this is with a difference…

You may have noticed that in previous year i’ve mentioned Grandparents being well & helping & supporting them in anyway we can. So lets start with the good bit. Grandmas on fine form, shes looking well, is really chilled & while our new kitchens been done has provided us meals & washing facilities. What a legend.

Last Christmas my Grandpa took a turn with a cold as a result of his Alzheimer’s, which meant that his body, immune system & brain couldnt keep him going & fight off the winter colds that came his way. He died just a few days before christmas.

& then in the spring, just before my sister wedding ,my Granddad took a turn for the worse & decided not to attend my sister wedding. He’d had known heart issues which the doctors had basically said, congrats Phil you’ve passed your expiry date, good on you. He then just slowly over the next 8 weeks slipped away & died in June.

So normally i would sit here & go the following charity is getting the money which would be spent on the christmas cards. But no. I was writing a list of people i had to buy for this christmas & automatically put the two of them on the list & then cried for a bit as i removed them from it. So i am going to include the money i would of spent on some long bread (shortbread it was a Granddad ism) & Werthers Originals & include that in my donation & split it between two charities.

First one is for Grandpa David Sherwin, & his money will be going to The Henfield Haven http://impact-initiatives.org.uk/services/adults-and-older-people/henfield-haven/ where he would go every friday to be with other people to just be himself & have no one judge him, & it also gave Grandma a chance to have a few hours of me time to relax & recharge. It was as much respite for her as it was him & you could always tell when he had been, as they were both more relaxed. Just a small part in something that made him comfortable in the end, that & telling us about the people in Hawaii being so nice. I plan to go to Hawaii one day just to say that to someone & then leave.

Next is for Granddad Phil Godfray, & his money will be going to St Barnabas Hospice https://www.stbarnabas-hospice.org.uk/ who made his passing more comfortable. They also did the same for Grannie, his wife Vera, when it came to her passing a few years ago & Granddad would always buy his christmas card from St Barnabas in her memory. So if i can donate this, then they will both be happy. Although my Granddad would put all the money through the door to pay for them in £1 notes (yea they were a thing apparently). The FA cup is going to be very hard to watch this year.

So sorry for ending it on a downer people, but i thought you should know about these two wonderful men who helped to shape my life. I’m sure wherever they are now they are at peace & no longer in pain or struggling & i love them both to the moon & back.

Right you can all return back to your normal lives now. Im going to go back to my Jojo Rabbit countdown (34 days to go but seriously whos counting, apart from me, i may as well be its uk press operator if im honest) & you can all watch im a celeb or catch up on stranger things or that new podcast youve downloaded & forgotten about. Thanks for reading peoples, it is always appreciated that you take 10mins of your time to look at this. While your here, why not see what else tickles your fancy. You never know, you may find a film review at random, which makes you want to watch that film & change your life.

I wish you, your family & everyone you know an amazing christmas & all the best for 2020. I remember being little & saying to a friend omg we will be like old when its 2020, turns out we are…

Just going to leave you with this quote, a response to everything thats going on in the world right now & i hope it resonates with some of you.

Here’s to putting an end to ignorance and replacing it with love.

Thanks peoples
Love you
E
xxxxxx