PS:

I MET JEDWARD!!!!

So, grandma action is in place...

I am off to Nice on Saturday for 2 weeks (any 'would be' burglars reading this can bugger off, as we will still have 2 beefed up men living in the flat. Well, two men at least) so I wont be blogging as I'll be having a romantic french time with my BF! 15 whole days together... bliss.

Anyway, happiness in that form is not the reason for my blog. After moaning last time that I have infact become an old woman, I have decided to actually be one! I am getting a puppy!

Before any of you moan about how hard they are bla bla bla... this isn't a decision I have come about lightly. I have wanted a pug puppy for years now, and now my situation is the most steady and it seems the ideal time to get one. We have four loving friends who will look after him, Nick works from home so he will never be left alone, and I no longer drink or have a life besides my trips to Nice - so I have the time, dedication and money to raise a puppy into the perfect pet!

I have spent months literally looking for a good breeder. I figured it is not worth risking any random breeding pugs, especially as they are a special breed, but I have found the ideal woman and will be going to see the pug in January! If all is good, I will bring him home!

This is perfect, as now I don't drink, and my friends don't eat, I will have a little man to always hang out with! My friend Deano who runs Project Models has got two small dogs too, so we are going to have 'Dog Outings'.... also, I work for a very well known Dog Lover too of course!


So, now I need name suggestions ? Feel free to leave some on here or my twitter page www.twitter.com/ginalyons

Righteo Blogging fans, Merry Christmas, have a great new year!!

Love Gina xx

I am still a grumpy old woman...

and now I am seriously considering getting a small dog, take up knitting and hang up my heels...

So, last night, was the local quiz. And my flatmate James, is the quizmaster. A ridiculous title if I ever heard one, as throughout the evening he gets more drunk, hense more aggresive and by the end is innappropriately yelling random, backward questions that barely sound audible...

But anyway, it was a great night. Two of my best mates Jemma and Gay Dave popped in, with their partners, we had the new chosen flatmate down (the raver, and yes, she hadnt slept from her works xmas party on the Wednesday night...!) and my mate Jamie and Hugh popped in. So, a packed place, a good quiz (exercising the brain and all that) and cheap gourmet burgers. I slurped on OJ (am now trying to quit the Redbull also now...) and my mates necked red wine or beer, and we all took a lot of silly photos and played dismally at the quiz.


A great night, wrapped up by 10.30pm in time for a Horlicks and bed...??

No No No No

What I forget is, being sober, I automatically think logically. "Up at 8am, big ideas to have at work... lunch meeting etc." But my drunken ass flatmates, and the newbie (who is really nice BTW) would like to continue drinking and smoking, until....6am!

I swear to God I wanted to rip off their arms just to punch them with them!!

So, little sleep, dead bodies all over the flat combined with empty cans, bottles and ashtrays (BTW I normally dont let them smoke in the flat!) and general shit everywhere, and the thought crossed me. I have gained the wonder of waking up without a hangover, but I have also lost the inability to drunkenly ignore the best the pre hangover party creates!

Pissing flatmates!!

Cinderella at the OK! party

So yesterday I was buzzing all day. I had to write up a pitch, and was convincing myself this was the program that would make us millions!! (My naivity is sweet no?) After a busy day at work, only popping out for a bite of some thai food (which I'll be doing again today, me luuuurve some thai food), I was going to the filming of the show my company makes at London TV studios.

Now, if you have known me for the past few months, you will know I am a fully fledged 'Jedward Supporter'. And last night, they were on the show, so I got to chat and hang with them for a bit!! They are as lovely and as funny as I imagined! I've asked them if I can be a tripplet with them? We'll see what they say.

After all that, what can only be called as DRAMA.... I was shooting off to attend the OK! Christmas Party that my lovely friends from Jonathan Lipman's Agency, as they do it each year! I had a load of friends attending, some actors I want to work with and my hairdresser (of course) - so I thought I would pop in.

The party was great, really nice buzz and the complimentary drinks were flowing all night. Now, a few months ago, I would have found a nice tall stall, propped myself at the bar, drank until I was seeing double, and then grabbed a goodie bag and staggered home.

But no... This is the 'New Gina.' So I drank one redbull (Crazy, I know), and one orange juice... (remarkably when its not alcohol you are necking, you need to pee more?! Weird that hey?).. and then after seeing all my friends I knew there, showing my face and doing what us media knobheads like to call 'networking', I left for home. At 10.45pm.

10.45? That is just pathetic isn't it? My nan stays up later than that!

I am ashamed with myself.

Ah well, quiz night tonight that should be fun, although I will probably go home early to get into bed with a Horlicks! And start knitting... (actually, that sounds like fun, maybe I could round it off with a game of scrabble??!)


Anyway, thanks for reading.

Your grumpy, sober, boring blogger - Gina x

One push up, two push up, three push up more...

Hello fair people,

A few of you have messaged me saying you are enjoying my blog, I do wish you would all comment more. Don't be shy!!

Anyhoo... so Super Healthy Gina was out in force again last night, and this blog is actually not about needing a drink at all, but the oppositive of 'drunk'. (Which is 'sober')

So last night I booked a PT session at the gym, as I've hit a lull and seem to be not losing anymore weight. Quite possibly because sitting on the weights talking, suprisingly doesn't lose you weight, (shocking!) So, I decided I needed to learn more about weight loss, and what that giant balloon is for, etc etc.
I had to rush my session a bit though, 'cos all these things are talking talking talking, and I wanted to build up a sweat as I had to be home for 8.30pm. It turns out anyway, that I just had to change the tempo, making my gym sessions what they call 'interval training.' It actually makes it easier, which is good.

So, I had to rush home at 8.30pm, 'cos we had 4 girls coming to look at the flat. Now, I thought being in TV and all, my organisation skills were tip top, best in the field... I soon changed my mind when all 4 girls arrived at the same time. Oops.

Tad awkward, being as there is only one room for rent, so it was almost a BGT moment, all I needed was the red buzzer.

Turns out, they are all great - so I am hoping one of them wants the room, or we can decide which one we like the most if they all want it!

Anyway, so I had a great night, albeit a bit random, and I didn't even think about drink.

Saying that... it was only Monday?!

G x

It's nice in Nice....

Well, I am in a cheery mcneery mood, so I don't think this will be the usual blog posting. Maybe my body is being fit and healthy from no alcohol, and this is what contentment feels like? Who knows.

So this weekend, I went to Nice. My boyfriend lives there, and I visit once every 3 weeks or so... Not a bad way to spend the cash I would have previously drunk away.

We had planned to meet some of his British friends on the Saturday night, lovely people they were. Despite my air of what seems to be confidence, I am quite a nervous person, and get a bit panicky when I meet new people. (Well, it depends on what situation, if its a shoot I'm running or a party, I am in my element, but if it's not, I'm not.) So after spending the day panicking what to wear, and complaining to the boy that he doesnt own a hairdryer (or hair for that matter!) we went to meet them.

They were wonderfully sweet people, but it really showed me how different these circumstances are when you don't drink... Usually, after the second red wine, I would be at ease, and everyone would be on their way to 'Drunken Land' in that chatty, comfortable way people seem to share while all drinking. But obviously, I wasn't drinking, so my nervousness stayed with me, until I decided I was confident. I should add at this point, that my BF also doesn't drink, I know some of you may think this is cheating, or possibly the reason for me quitting the drink, and I must admit, it does help him also not drinking, when I am with him. Annoyingly though, that's around 3 days out of 30 - so I don't think its my reason for, or cheating at all.

The same pluses to not drinking occured though. We had a great night, I did'nt trip on my way home or wake up with any moments of regret 'I said what?', 'I danced where?'... I still had the 30e in my wallet, and my head wasn't pounding when I woke up at 9am on the Sunday.

Given up drinking is not neccessary, or even a good idea for most people, but I can safely say its proven a good idea for me.

Especially when SleazyJet flights are going to set me back £220 this xmas! Scrooges...

G x

Theatre Daaaaarling again....

Hello fellow followers...

Had a busy week. Been hitting the gym quite hard, and then munching chocolate every night while watching films, I am aware that cancels each other out, but I am never going to quit stoffing chocolate down my face, so at least I'm hitting the gym first! Positive.

Last night Nathan my mate, called me up and offered me tickets to Sister Act. I had to pop to a meeting and the docs first and I ran in the rain to meet him at 7.30pm for the show.

The production was amazing! Danni Minogue sat behind us and the crowd were screaming her name, crazy. As most people, Nathan had a drink and told me how impressed he was that I am still not drinking. It's only been just over a month, but I guess if you knew me before, you would know that I would always have a drink on occasions like these. Afterwards, we had a couple of invites. A party was near that we popped into, these celeb bashes really don't have the same effect when you are not charging towards the bar to neck the free drinks, and parties barely give goodie bags out anymore, so I find myself talking to an over egotistical D Lister as they talk about wanting their own chat show, "never gonna happen...". Trust me, in these circumstances, nothing is more appealing that leaning over the bar and asking for a double.

Then it was either Freedom Bar or Soho House with some mates. Now, I love my mates, and I hate myself for seeming boring (personally, I don't think me not drinking is boring, but I am aware that other people do!), so I decided to leave it all, and get the tube home.

I don't want to make the mistake of stopping living my life because I no longer drink, but I am also aware me not drinking makes some people feel bad, it either points out there inadaquecy to not be able to stop - or, maybe I just am a bit more boring without a glass of wine. But until it becomes the norm, for me and everyone else around me, I will have to stay away from certain bashes.

Which is a shame, as there is a great launch party on tonight... :-(

I thought flat hunting was bad in London...

But it turns out, flat advertising is worse... (is that a thing?!)

So, Martin our wonderful but stupidly messy flatmate is moving back home, as he needs to save for his wonderful hippy adventures, so I decided to take his big room, and rent mine out.

Now, we have a pretty good deal with our flat. An awesome landlord, 30 sec from the tube, well priced with some bills inclusive, and a roof terrace. (Wonderful for the 1 month of good weather we get a year!)

So, I figured I'd pop an advert on Gumtree.com and the well thought out emails would come pouring in...

Shocking what some people find acceptable, it really is.
One woman listed off a series of questions, to which I politely replied that it was HER that was in fact homeless, and not me, so it will be me doing the questions.... (cough cough, I thank you!), one woman said she would arrive for 8.30pm, so I cut my gym session short, ran home stinking (I also missed the shower bit) only to see she texted me asking to change days, on the time she was meant to be there! I work in TV people, I am never late, and it really is one sure way to make sure I punch you.
And now, all I'm getting is weirdos and freaks as my great advert slides down the lists...

But, it is 1st December, I have no idea what that means, but I will try and keep optimistic. At least for Facebook I can actually see how weird they look before I book them in a visit. (If that is a breach of human rights/ Facebook etiquette, please keep that bit to yourselves - taa!)


Anyway, Im off to NOT have a glass of wine as I grumble that its ONLY FRICKEN TUESDAY... and I WILL find a great new female flatmate to even out the male madhouse.

Good night Y'all (please read in a south american twang)

G Spot
x

Anger Management...?

Yesterday was a great day, but I still had a couple of bad moments, I am going to share with you. (Mainly because I've sort of established by persona as a grumpy old woman now!)

So, Friday night I left work after a great meeting with my boss and some talent, and I had to take the Z1 camera kit back home with me for a shoot on Saturday. (My own doing, cannae blame no one!)

Rush hour, on a Friday night at 6pm, is not pleasant when you are carrying a massive camera back on one arm, and a massive tripod bag on the other. I thought my innocent face would mean grown men would stop and help me down the stairs, silly thought that was as everyone just tutted and huffed past me constantly knocking the bags off my shoulders. Ironically, I get pissed at people carrying bags or babies during rush hour, now I have sympathy towards them.

I went to the gym with my mate Emilee and had some dinner, and ended up venting my built up anger from my trecherous tube journey out on the treadmill instead. Although why I'm not a size 6 yet is baffling me...

Then on Saturday morning, I had to make a similar journey with the kit to the shoot. As I got near Arts Ed in Chiswick, I thought 'mmm, I'll stop and pick up a nice cheese and chicken baguette'... As I walked into the cafe, I laid my tripod bag down and it lightly tapped the woman next to me. Horrified it had knocked her (not knocked, tapped) I apologised immensley, to which she just shrugged. Rude? Much?

On my way out she gave me a shitty look, to which I replied with my equally disgusted 'yeah, fucking what?' look.(Once a council estate kid, always a council estate kid). Then she said, now get this... "What? You want me to apologise for YOU hitting ME with your bag...?" To which I replied, quite quickly as well may I add... "No, I want you to ACCEPT my apology for accidently hitting you with my bag." (Not hitting, tapping). Then, this grown woman, this stuck up, Posh Chiswick, DICKHEAD of a woman replied "but it really hurt!" Astonished, I just mumbled something like "like bugger it did" and walked out.

A normal person would leave and be thinking "mmm, chicken and cheese baguette in ones hand" but not me. I then spent the next hour wishing I had replied with something better than my useless mumble, and feeling so bad a woman had been so snotty with me, for something I had so genuinely apologised for.

This ladies and gentleman, is the time most people would be thinking of that Jack Daniel's they were going to neck later that day. (Honestly, sub consiously, you do.)

So, we do the 5 hour shoot. Went amazingly well, but it is exhausting to produce.

I returned back the way I came at 5pm, camera bags gallore still, and an hour and a bit back to Kentish Town, I'm shattered, and still peaved at that damn woman.

But I couldn't sit and moan, as I had tickets to see my favourite comedy act, 'Late Night Gimp Fight' (if you havent heard, google then go watch.)

10 mins into the show and I realised it wasn't Jack Daniels who would brighten by night up, but the 5 boys from Gimp Fight.

Who said the answer is at the end of the bottle? Its not... it's at the PLEASANCE.

Thanks lads

Gx

Grumpy Bollocks and attending the theatre

Hello People,

Nice to see I have a couple of followers and most people are enjoying the blog. Apparently I have some grammar mistakes, I apologise now, but I didn't have the best schooling. It wasn't until I hit 18 that my reading age was the same as my age.... My IQ isn’t much brighter.

Anyhoo, so yesterday I had a bit of a shitty day. The annoying thing is, I haven’t made this blog anonymous, so I can't actually tell you all everything in case those people I am talking about read it...

But, i had a shitty day. I was a grumpy bollocks all day, even though I was meeting my friend in the West End as we had comp tickets for Hairspray - the Musical.

So, I left work and met Nathan. He is still a drinker, and offered me a glass of wine, forgetting about my drastic life change. I am not going to lie to you, I was tempted. You know when you have that mid week moment, where for a split second you think "Fuck It?”. I can imagine it’s that wild little rock chic in me that likes to think I am Sarah Harding, and I can wake up and still look gorgeous after going out on one... But, I am a tee total-er now. So I had to settle for diet coke (slowly weaning myself off the Redbull – it was causing me problems! Mainly wee-ing issues)

Nathan was in a buzzing mood... singing in the streets (a habit I seemed to have picked up on by 11pm) and we headed over to Hairspray, feeling a little more uplifted. Although his Vodka Diet cokes might have perked him up, it was purely his personality that cheered me up.
The show was AMAZING! I am big Phill Jupitus fan anyway, working in comedy and all… but he was just OUTSTANDING! He looked like a mates mum I grew up with though, you know those large,loud, boisterous mums that stood around in the council estate? He was that woman! (Still mentioning no names, although I’m sure she still wouldn’t be able to work a computer!)…

But his singing was ok, his acting was top notch, and the whole production completely wowed me!
So I left the theatre, and imagined Nathan meeting some of his mates in the cast, and all heading back to his bar in Soho and having a few drinks, and you know what, because of the day I had, I couldn’t tempt myself. I thought, if there was one day I would break, this could be it.

So I came home, and called my boyfriend in France for two hours instead.

Willpower is being tested a bit; I won’t lie to you, but so far, so good.

BTW some of you keep asking me questions on Twitter or FB, feel free to ask away.

G x

Comedy Night, the night one is usually a wee bit tipsy...

So, last night, was my Noostar Comedy night for work. I really do love doing these nights. I book the acts, arrange the whole night, promote it, and it all culminates in one show in Soho, once a month.

This one, was a mahhhusive one! I booked a whopping 10 acts! I do the booking the acts myself, the first time without the aid of our old researcher Jason, who had a real eye for comedy. So after a month of online badgering everyone to come, and getting it online and in the press (we were Time Out recommended dont you know??)... the night came.

It's a big deal for me, as I want to be a comedy producer, and my boss comes down to the gig every month, which great as he is a busy man. So I get to Freedom in Soho for around 5pm to sound check, set up the tables and programms etc, and by 7pm, the doors open and were getting photoshoots done with the comedians, and we're smoozing the media types who come down.

Now normally, by 7pm, I would have rewarded my hard work with a glass of wine. A red if I may... but last night, I couldn't. So Im running around, worried about breaking even on the door, worried my acts are all happy and have actually arrived (its so hard doing a comedy night without comedians) and making sure the door is ok, the event manager is ok (he was fine, HE was pissed!) bla bla bla... and doing that all, without the relaxing warmth of a red wine in ones body, was... new...

But it was another challenge, and another hurdle. And I passed like a virgins sti check.

Tonight im off to see Phill Jupitus in Hairspray, lets hope he is any good or I'll be wanting to hit the bottle like Jim Davidson when I leave! (Overdramatic? Much)

Anyway, once again, if you like the blog, give me a shout out. (Holler like a DJ you get me??!)

Mucho Love
G x

What a difference, a shitty day makes...

24 little hours...

Shouldn't complain, but you know I will...

Today, was an example, of how EASY it would be, to come home, open a bottle of red and U.N.W.I.N.D...

I was so grumpy by about 3pm at work. God knows why? Bit of pressure, too much thinking, little low with the miserable weather - you know the thing.

Had a row with my flatmate and best mate James too. It was stupid aswell, I owe him some bill money, and he wanted ME to go to the cashpoint, and i wanted HIM to go to the cashpoint... you can see how it started?? So, really, I sort of wanted, to come home, and have a drink.

I tweeted my anger too, and I will mention EVERMORE FILMS are naughty.... they actually encouraged me to drink? The swines.

But I did'nt. YAY TO WILLPOWER!

I went to the gym again. I know? The fucking gym?? Seriously, if anyone reading this knew me a year ago, they would be convinced I had been abducted my healthy aliens and had my brain cells changed to those of athletes...

I went to the gym, and people watched. You know that thing when you look like your working out, but really you are watching the fatties on the treadmills??

So, to conclude this crap blog of rambling, I didnt drink. But I do seem to be replacing alcohol with food.

That reminds me, I bought 4 x chocolate muffins for £1 in Sainsburys today, so on that note, Im off..

Do comment if you feel like it, you dont have to login or anything. If you are too mean though, I will hunt you down and force you to attend the gym with me.

Peace out, Westlife
G x

Recent anti drinking scenarios...

After my initial blog, I remembered a couple of other vital occasions, where I have fought the need to drink. Yay me!

The first one, the night before my party, was ... and I kid you not, VIP tickets for MUSE at the o2! A very cool friend of mine, a TV presenter is friends with the drummer, and 5 of us went to the o2! Now, guys, this is FREE DRINK all night, this is partying with the coolest band on the planet right now (Its twilight month afterall!).... After the gig, we troddled down the weird halls into the family room. A few women breast feeding in a stuffy office looking room, and we figured we were hanging in the wrong room... so we went to the VIP - VIP room. Whilst everyone was necking the complimentary vodka, wine and beer, I drank... redbull. And unfortunately, lots of it. I went back to a mates flat with the girls (and Dom) and we put MTV on the flat screen and had a boogie... by this point, I was off my trolley on redbull. That drink DOES NOT give you 'wings', its gives you 'wee'... and a lot of it. By the time I got home around 5am, I had around 18 pees on the loo, and couldnt sleep for anything! So, I changed one vise for another... not a good idea.

Another occasion when I could have easily caved, had I not had the sheer willpower, was my recent trip back home. NORTHAMPTON. Now, as Alan Carr will tell you, we are not ones to deny where we come from. BUT.MY.FUCKING.GOD. That place is hideous. I have the best family and friends ever, but going out in that town, sober - was a huge challenge for me. No wonder why my mate Soph was knocking back the wine, I almost praised her.
We walked our way from bar to bar, a tad boring when sober and you can actually feel your feet hurting, with the DJ in each place deciding it WAS still in fact 1999, and the women in some of the bars? They are either wear nothing, and in fact spend the evening 'bossom pounting' (thats my new term for pouting with your tits out) or they look like men in drag. Seriously, at one stage I thought Wayne Rooney was woddling about in drag... (shudder).

So... two nights, and two very different reasons for wanting to knock back the booze, and I witheld... can I keep it up? Lets hope so..

If you like this blog, tell your friends, and leave a comment. I have frigging no experience with using blogger...

G x

Ok, so I'm blogging, this should be fun.

Wowzers, blogging hey? How 21st Century of my ass….

OK! I will give you all a wee update, but I won’t go on about my past in some 'This is your life' fashion, ‘cos frankly, no one gives a monkeys !
So, its Oct 31st - Halloween, I am running around Soho House with some friends (mainly TV people, TV presenters, music industry types) and I've probably spent £100, and I’m pissed. The theme is ‘Dead Famous’, so I went as Keith Floyd. I look more like a murdering butcher with random blood splattered all over me, but I don’t look the silliest person there. My mate Monkey has gone as ‘Dead Madonna.’ (Cheating, but a great costume none the less).

On the Sunday, I wake up, and once again, feel like crap. I am dehydrated, self loathing, feeling fat and glum, and then depression kicks in.
Every week thousands… no millions of us do this to our self. I am not alone feeling this way, as I stuff my face on a Sunday with my third packet of Wotsits as I watch the Saturdays X Factor on Sky Plus.
Most people drink because they think it loosens them, makes them more courageous and fun loving… and hey, if its only once a week, whats the harm right?
Well for me, it doesn’t ADD anything. I am not louder, more confident. I am still the same me, only hobbling, more scint, and slowly aging quicker in the process. So on that Sunday, I figured I had gulped my last glass of white wine… I had downed my last Tequilla, and I was quitting the booze.

Bit drastic? Possibly. But I don’t do things by halves.

So, I quit the booze. Bit tricky as it was only 2 weeks before my mahhussive 25th Birthday Party at PUNK, SOHO and I was laying on champagne galore…
I had friends from Northampton, all my London mates, work mates – everyone who would usually associate me with a drink – having 200 people each individually asking me “why im not drinking” can get tiresome, so at about 10pm, I just rolled around drinking redbull out of a glass with ice PRETENDING I was drunk. “If you cant beat them….”

So, I decided to give myself an aid. A focus. Something to aspire with.

So I have decided to set up a site called www.iwouldratherhavethecash.com with my good friend David Gatt. A gimmick almost, but dead serious, and a vocal distraction for when people ask that dreading question….

I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE CASH will keep a tally, with HOW many drinks I get offered, and HOW MUCH money I would have raised had I asked for the cash instead (and got it!)
So, the next time I am out in Soho, and someone offers me a drink, and I WOULD have ordered a large white wine, I will type down £4.20 into the tally instead…. Be interesting to see how much I get.

But for now, my sober ass is going to get back to work.

Speak soon
G x