My five minutes with Mr Noel Gallagher! xx

What I am about to tell you happened to me nearly ten years ago but the event delivered a question to me that I couldn't answer and still can't.

One rainy afternoon in November 02, Barbara Horspool - yes offa Channel 4 fame New Look TV Style the Nation, sent me on a mission. She requested that I get her son a copy of the Green Cross Code as he was doing some project in the scouts - and at that time B was a scout leader so wanted Jake to be equipped for his new venture in dodging danger on the roads. So being her design assistant and trustee of all things bonkers in keeping B organised I trotted over to Woolies on Baker Street - yes it was still on the high street map back then and I got on with the task of finding said book.

In my quest to find the book I spotted Mr Noel Gallagher laughing at me chastising the shop assistant for directing me to the highway code which was of no use to me. As I was amusing him I thought it was only fair that he should do something for me so I swiftly picked up the first card off the shelf and asked him if he would sign it for me. He was really nice and said "yeah no problem", to which I replied :" oh! shit I best buy it first - do you mind waiting". Not only did he agree, he waited for five maybe ten minutes while I queued, the till roll ran out and a busy little group of people started to take an interest in him just standing around in Woolies waiting for me.

I felt really sorry I had left him waiting so I bought him a flyte chocolate bar and he told me I was lovely! How nice was that?!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Noel liked me! When presented with this paid for card he asked me who it was for? I couldn't answer, so I just said. "This needs to go to someone special, who I love and would love this.......... to which he wrote the above message.... which I think is genius.

Anyway, I still have this card, which is slightly sad because I haven't found anyone I love enough to give it to but I am hopeful that now that I getting my ship in order that day will come and I will be able to say. I love you and so does Mr Noel Gallagher.

Thanks for tuning in & a special thank you to Noel, if you ever read this.

Peace, Love and Bananas

Stan xxx

Our Dad x

Jimmy Stanley was our dad. A big social man who was always at the centre of the party - which was generally the Windmill pub. He was a sports lover who lived for Liverpool Football Club. On derby day, when we mostly won, he would send us kids out into the street to torment the Jardine kids whose dad was a Evertonion, god bless him RIP, they are both probably having the same old banter upstairs. Dad also loved John Lennon and everything that the Beatles ever did, I can only assume that he is having a chin wag with him too, at least I hope so because I know he would love nothing better & it would be cool, dad was cool.

We lost him over 20 years ago now - the drink got the better of him. There were a lot of bad times because of his drinking but today I just want to tell you about the good times and why I love him today.

Our Dad was the original Jim Royal - he was as funny if not funnier, he had his chair which he invariably fell asleep in, or ordered the channels to be changed from because he was the original lazy get ha ha! He made made the best chips, he always had a strong opinion, he loved a cross word, he also had a uniformal sense of dress, a blue shirt and jeans, his casual look or a red jumper and black trousers, his going out look. He always made us laugh and when we were on the good side of him he was your best friend ever, he would make you feel loved and very wanted. He would skit at me for fancying boney benny - he gave everyone a nickname - it was endearing, he would call me square head and laugh at my many outfits or hairdo's, he used to call me pineapple head when I would wear my hair in a scrunchie. He literally nearly died laughing when a comedian told me I looked like I was wearing a pair of curtains - to which he disclosed to the comedian that indeed I had made the dress I was wearing out of a pair of curtains..... he loved embarrassing us but only he was allowed to do this, he would defend us to the hilt and would even fight for us. Proof of that came one day when he threatened to lamp snazzle the local lout for stealing our bikes while we were out swimming. The bikes came back, but we never went swimming for ages after that because we were punished for leaving the shed open. Loved going swimming with him though, he would throw us in the deep end and teach us all sorts of skills, like bombing and diving or belly flopping in my case.

When I look at my big brother J I see the good times, he has become the best dad ever. He makes his kids giggle, he loves them and he would never let anyone hurt them. I know our dad had a disease that only allowed us to see the best of him in small bursts but for those times I am truly grateful and say thank you to you dad. You are the reason I am loved today, because I have your sense of fun, your ability to fill a room with laughter and your sense of good music and fashion ha ha! Tuck yourself up tight tonight dad, I know you are watching over me and our kids and you deserve the rest.... we are all doing well and you should be proud. Thank you.

Happy Father's day............ I love you and remember the good times.

Your soppy daughter Sarah xx

Can you help be a uniform hero???????

Have I got your attention!!!!!!! Boys thought you might appreciate this image and girls you all know we look like that on our hen nights out.

On a more serious note, I watched a documentary the other night which made me think about my childhood. I had a poor upbringing but I was lucky in that I was rich in alot of other ways. However, I lived on an estate which was very poor and some of the kids in my school were bullied because they had holes in their uniform or they were singled out because they were unkept.

If you watch the BBC documentary(please see the link below) you will see the misfortune these children are living in without any help and often being grouped into that aged old argument that they are living on the state and we are already paying for them. I disagree that all situations are the same and this film clearly shows that.

I am asking you all to watch this film not so that you have a crappy miserable weekend - but so that you realise how lucky you are and how these kids need our help. Can you please send this link to as many people and do me the biggest favour ever by doing the following. Whether you have children or not this summer when you go to buy your uniforms can you please pick up an extra shirt, or skirt or jumper and drop them into your school or an under priviledged school. Teachers if you are reading this can you play your part and help distribute the extra uniforms to the kids that need them.

I am dropping this thought into the interweb ocean and hoping that you will all play your part. Thank you for tuning in as always. Here's keeping my fingers and thumbs crossed.

Love Stan xxxx

BBC - BBC TV blog: Poor Kids: A child's view of growing up in poverty

www.bbc.co.uk

Find out why a group of children who live below the poverty line struggle to believe they'll ever make anything of their lives - and how director Jezza Neumann, got them to open up in BBC One documentary Poor Kids.

Train Hell Begins

I am unfortunate enough to have experienced the speed of the Hangzhou to Shanghai Bullet Train - it topped speeds of 354kmph. It was amazing, taking just an hour forty minutes in a high tech, none smelly, spacious, comfortable environment. Yet, parts of China are still classed as part of the third world and yet they have a super fast rail network that they have invested in which nocks britain into the third world in train transportation.

I am making this point this morning as I am about to make the slow and painful journey back to Leeds via a London weekend. I am dreading it because it took me eight hours to get from Wakefield to the Isle of Wight last Friday and everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. From the rails being too hot from the 22c heat of the day, to changing trains because the air conditioning didn't work - only to change to an ice box carriage in the new train. Yes the whole journey was one long nightmare.

I wish Mr Branson would hurry up and take over the british rail network and rip up all the rail tracks to install the superior rail network we deserve at a price that is justified and not daylight robbery as my journey was the over day. I know I am ranting again.

Well wish me luck, I am better prepared this time, at least I have magazines to read. I was expecting to use my laptop to do some research on the train but oh no - that would mean that the free wifi would have to bloody work.

Thanks for tuning in

Stan xx

I told you so.......

When I was living in Camden I mentioned in my blog that someone was letting themselves in my front door. I used to go home and the barrel locks would be turned open and yet in the morning I would leave and turn the locks shut. I know you all thought I was mad - I had the locks changed, I used to text myself to prove to myself I had locked both locks and I had numerous crying bouts which my friends loved -sorry! Anyway, the door of suspicion that my landlord suggested that the locks maybe unlocking themselves has been removed.

I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that because now I know it must have been that the door was broken or the same was happening to the landlord for him to want to remove it. I hope someone was letting themselves in, scare them as much as it scared me - thats awful but that would be karma.

I have a really safe door now and I even have a neighbourhood watch - bloody brilliant. Death to the green door and hello to a safe secure new home! Peace of mind.

Thanks for tuning in - I just needed to let you know I wasn't going mad!

Stan x

Are you too old for your car?

I am due to leave New Look & start at Republic. This means I have to say goodbye to my 1 series BMW which has been my trusty companion for the last nine months, it is in fact my baby! Well anyway, it means I am now in search of a new car and after a conversation I had with a guy I met last weekend I am also in search of my age identity. I know what you are thinking! Here comes the rant! You're right, I apologise now, so let's begin!

I was chatting to this guy and the topic of cars was brought up! By me - wanting to get some guidance on the search and lads love a bit of a car don't they so I thought I would have a flirt & gleam some top tips.... Well, he asked me which car I was looking at going for, to which he said this to my reply

"You don't want to be going that fast at your age" to which I retorted "why" to which he replied "your reflex's are slowing down and you need to take things slower!" My reflex action should have kicked him in the shins, the cheeky bugger!

I know I am 38 and still act like a big kid but I only said I fancied an Audi TT or a Nissan 350 - not a soft top porsche or a TVR or something mental like that. I was gobsmacked, I didn't know what to say to him so I changed the subject - that old chestnut! It's really handy being as random as I am sometimes.

I don't understand, does he think I should be driving a Volvo with the invisable kids I've got and the non - exsistent dog. I haven't found my Mr Right so I have refused to conform to the age concerns of 2.4 children, owning a house and buying a dog! Why should I drive a five door people carrier because my age statistic says at my age that car should accommodate my needs..... I have the need to speed - away from that pre judging 35 year old like him. Bugger off - I am going to get my fast car so in your face! I know I am not very mature really am I - I will grow up one day but not just yet.

Thanks for tuning in, discuss

Stan xx

Neighbours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why? Why would you purposely ignore your new neighbour? Why would you step back in the house if you saw your neighbour getting into their car? Why would you go into your house and lock the doors while your neighbour was in their own garden? Why would you say hello across your neighbour to another neighbour and purposely blank your neighbour?

Yes! You're damn right it is bothering me! My bloody next door neighbour was enjoying her garden until I came home and started watering my plants in my garden. I heard her say to her sister as they parted "I'm going to go in now and lock my doors" - random....... is it because she thinks I am a scouser? I wasn't even talking - I could understand if I was laughing and joking on my phone, that would piss her off - I can be annoying and I know this but I was minding my own business queitly (I know)- obviously earwigging a little, I just want to try and understand why she doesn't like me! She hasn't even given me a chance.

My first encounter with her was when I was chatting to my nice neighbour on the opposite side, both myself and my nice neighbour turned to aloof neighbour and said hello - but she snidely said hello back using my neighbours name and totally snubbed me! I was gobsmacked - what had I done. My nice neighbour told me she was shocked too, as that was the first time in 24 years she had ever heard her use her name - indeed, she never talks to her either........ turns out me moving in has made my nice neighbour very much more popular. Brilliant - popular by default.

The second encounter was the other morning I decided to paint my nails in the car before I went to the gym - don't ask! far too much time on my hands to do random things at the moment. Anyway, she came out to get into her car and then swiftly turned round as soon as she saw me - weird! I know you might say I'm weird painting my nails in the car but it's not like I could have jump out to talk to her while mid paint! What is she so scared of? Is she scared of the scouse accent?

I don't understand it? All my other neighbour's are lovely and yet I cannot get my head round this one who is completely allergic to me! Please discuss - Why is this bothering me - why do I give a fook about this miserable character who I actually feel a bit sorry for? Shall I kill her with kindness and ply her with a case of wine until she realises I am not going to rob her house or steal her wheels off her car. Or should I just do what she thinks I am going to do - throw a bloody big party and piss her off! Please help!

Thanks for tuning in.

Stan

P.S. Big party to that effect being planned for August bank holiday weekend - she will either love me or hate me! I will keep you posted x