All change, please

You know that commonplace announcement that booms across the tannoy when you reach the end of the line on the tube/train/bus/motorway queue/supermarket check-out? Yes, well, I am there. In a manner of speaking, that is.

For those who have missed out on the earth-shattering news, I have resigned from my current job and... (drum roll)... am setting up my own company, venturing (back) into interim management and all that it entails. I say 'back' as this is not foreign territory for me and an idea I have been toying with for a while. Suffice to say that whilst the economic conditions at present might be foreboding for many, the timing for me is right.

So given that I have been asked ever-so-politely to desist from writing about anything vaguely work-related by my incumbent employer, I shall abide by this request and instead entertain the masses with a silly ditty.

Because that is what I do best (here on the blog, not in my working life, let's be clear about that).

I give you, in worldwide première, the LCM sing-a-long reference ode (with a few liberties) to new beginnings:

I was working nine to five (trying hard to make a living),

when the gods up yay on high, gave me thought for a new beginning.

If you're taking care of business, 

why not do it for yourself?

The world can be your oyster,

the sky's the limit (not myself).

'Coz slavery's abolished now,

(though not working for a man),

and the ultimate prize for going it alone

is success of your game plan.

What the Vegemitevixens got up to next

There are a few rules in life. My life, that is.
They are - in no particular order - as follows:

1. do not try to put lipstick on while the car is in motion (whether you are driving or otherwise)
2. be nice to your parents
3. change the sheets on your bed (or if all else fails, pay someone else to do it)
4. remember to collect your kids from after school club, preferably before closing time
5. do not name actual names in blog posts (although this will not stop individuals purposely misinterpreting your sarcasm and taking offence because they believe you are making disparaging remarks, poking fun, or mocking them and/or others, or something along those lines. Confused? Yes, me too. Really guys, get a grip, life is too short)
6. hold the bannister when descending stairs in high heels
7. join in, it's much more fun
8. fresh air, at least once a day
9. always have a good joke you can recall at short notice
10. refrain from writing sponsored posts or reviews wherever possible

Now with regard to the last point, I have made a couple of exceptions over the past year.
One was for the lovely Holly at Vosene (entrance to London Zoo, an unexpected proper croquet set and then shampoo freebies for the kids' school vetoed any reservations I might have had), and the other was for Carte Noir. If you have not watched the ridiculous antics we filmed for the latter, you have probably done your eyes a favour.

The last event I agreed to accept (graciously, as ever) was courtesy of the London Eye. It was originally to have been an 'end-of-summer-event-without-kids' just for me, however, after some haggling negotiating, I blagged multiple tickets for the infamous Vegemitevixens and off we went.

Now bear in mind that the last time we met up for a night on the town we ended up thus:

Pure class, yes?

This time we were far more constrained. Never mind that two of the Vixens had cried off (one citing babysitting failure, the other lurgy - pah! amateurs, I must talk to the President about having them struck off), the remaining four still had a wonderful champagne 'flight' on a most glorious late Indian summer evening on this star attraction of the South Bank. The views were fabulous, the talk non-stop, and the laughs - as always - aplenty. Thank you, London Eye (and my flying companions) for such a wonderful evening!

(c) indulgencecharters.com

As for the post flight events, they have already been beautifully captured here.

All I will add is that we were actually turned away from the nightclub (under the pretext of our names not being on the guest list at the door - pah! another insult), but I allowed the Vegemitevixens to carry their dignity to the lounge bar under the belief that they really were 'not up to clubbing' that night.

And actually, enjoying a bottle of wine and laughing with girlfriends, I must confess, was a far more befitting way to end a fabulous night out.

Another dilemma in the LCM household

Guess what? This is not about work. I just wanted to make that clear. You never know who might get the wrong end of the stick, purposely or otherwise.

This is about that all-consuming passion that is currently causing no end of grief in the LCM household.

Rugby. More precisely the Rugby World Cup

We have a slight dilemma in that there are a few countries we can legitimately support.

1. Wales (OH)
2. England (children, by birth; LCM by length of service)
3. Australia (LCM by birth and parentage; children by nationality)
4. Ireland (OH by ancestry)
5. Italy (LCM by parentage; children by nationality; OH by default and love of fast cars)
6. New Zealand (LCM by ancestry)

Given that nos. 2, 4 and 5 are now out of contention, we are left with 1, 3 and 6.

So far, so good. 

Tomorrow we will all be up at the crack of dawn to watch the Welsh (whose national anthem I can sing but still make a hash of the words, although not as bad as one John Redwood MP when Secretary of State for Wales) slaughter the French.

And then. 

Then it becomes a tad more awkward. If the All Blacks beat the Wallabies, so be it. 

I will swear allegiance to the dragon and cheer for the Welsh lads, if for no other reason than the pleasure of ogling James Hook's thighs.

However, if the reverse is true and the final on October 23rd sees Australia pitted against Wales, I fear there may be some serious repercussions chez maison LCM.With three offspring, there will never be an even distribution in the cheering squad.

I might have to resort to cheap bribery drastic measures.

Okay kids, see this arm height? Yes?
This is how many tubs of ice cream mummy will
give you if you cheer for the right team, okay?

A true act of selflessness

Given the world we live in - you know, all 'me, me, me', greed personified (footballers, anyone?), 'slebs at every turn, and constant attention-seekers hankering after some meagre claim to fame - it is refreshing and inspiring to find someone who is pursuing a fairly unique challenge that only benefits others.

This person is possibly one of the loveliest and most genuine people I have ever come across. He is now into the final days of his amazing challenge - read all about it here. Having been a guest of the LCM household this past week, I feel very privileged to have gotten to know him better. The fact that he also provided entertainment for the children, cleared my fridge of any leftovers, and was extremely neat and tidy was an added bonus.

Jokes aside, I have seen first hand the pain and travails this young man is putting himself through for a cause that is truly, honourably, selfless. If you too are touched by the story behind the challenge, then I urge you to donate something, however small, because gestures like these are all too few and far between nowadays. Details as to how to do this are here.

Sean, I salute you, You are an inspiration and an absolute star. I am very proud to call you a friend.

Sean wears flourescent physio tape courtesy of therapist
LCM wears wetsuit and floral cap courtesy of very bad taste