Hello world!

I've decided to change my blog name and ' about me' to something a bit more interesting:

1. You know about 'The Domestic Goddess'... well I am definately not one of those. However, I am torn between wanting to spend my every waking moment on stage and erm... spending my time at home, nice and comfortable, pottering around the house and/or watching tv with hubby and cats. I was never into 'home things' when I lived at my parent's house, but the moment I started living alone nearly 10 years ago (oh my!), I turned into this person who actually enjoys curtain and bedspread shopping. God help me! Anyway, I love my house and take a lot of pride in making it look nice. On the other hand, I love acting and singing and being on stage so very much. So, do I stay home and bask in the glow of domesticity? Or do I drag my ass off the sofa and go to rehearsals/performances? Hence the dilemma. Oh, and the capital letters spell 'cats' which as you all know, equals my favourite animal. Purrrrrrfect!

2. I shall still be reesa to all of you, but my full blog name is actually princess reesabuttercup for various reasons. First of all, Sha came up with the name Princess Buttercup for various odd and vaguely complicated reasons which I have forgotten but I think have to do with Reese's peanut butter cups or something. Secondly, Buttercup is the name of the female protagonist of one my favourite and one of the best films in the world ever - 'The Princess Bride' (with, as my friend Simone recently reminded me, the best quote - "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!"). And last but not least, it is the name of one of the Powerpuff Girls which I used to, and still, think is one of the best and funniest cartoons I've ever seen. I can even sing the theme tune on demand tra la la!

buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Had a rather eventful day last Sunday. Eventful for all the wrong reasons. Let me explain. At 9 am, I was still blissfully asleep (it's not often that I get to sleep in so late). At 9.01 am, one of my cats decided he had had enough and sat on my head miaowing. At 9.04 am, I was up feeding them when I realised that it was really windy and that half the clothes I had put on the roof on Saturday evening had probably been blown away.

So up I ran, finding, as I feared, a couple of shirts on the floor. Imma insomma... As I went inside to the washroom, I felt a little sting. And there on my left palm, was erm... a sting, presumably from a bee or wasp.

As people who read my article in the 'Weekender' the day before, which dealt with bee and wasp stings amongst other things, (ironic, eh?!) now know, I am allergic to bites and stings. Oh dear... I tried to get the sting out with a disinfected needle but no luck. So the hubbie took me to the polyclinic (closed) and then dropped me off at St Luke's as he had to go in to work. By this time, my palm was really swollen and my arm was almost completely numb.

Now, the last time I had got stung, was in Florida - outside one of the entrances to Disneyworld of all places! The first aid people there had been brilliant. They took the sting out, gave me cream and ice to put on it and really took care of me. So hubby and I presumed that the same would happen at the hospital. They'd take the sting out, pat me on the head and I could get a bus home.

But alas, as soon as I told them I was allergic to stings and bites, they sent me in to 'door 3' where I met one of my lovely cousins who is a doctor there and who took me under his figurative wing. Then, I was stuck with a needle-like thing (venflon?) in my right arm. They took blood just in case. Then I had, not one, but two injections... and after those, I was put on a DRIP! And those of you who know me know that I have a big childhood trauma/phobia of DRIPS! But I must say I was very brave. By that time, my dad was there too because he was supposed to come over to my house to put up a trellis, so he came to pick me up.

They wanted to keep me there until 2 pm, but at 1 pm, I had had enough. I got up (still with needly thing in arm) and announced that I wanted to leave! They told me I could if I could walk about without feeling dizzy or fainting, so I did. Hurrah! Actually, even though I was there for over 3 hours, I have nothing but praise for the hospital staff. They were really professional, nice, polite and informative when I asked them my 101 questions (just nerves you see!)

Now I'm onanti-histamine pills just in case for the rest of the week. And the sting is still in my palm as it was too small to get out. But it should dissolve on its own I guess. And I'm alive, alive I tell you! Sorry...

In other news... hubby and I are busy painting walls and such all day. So, happy public holiday to you and think of me covered in paint *sigh*.

Viva Les Bloggers!

The bloggers meeting last Thursday at Balzan Band Club was a great success. I won't go on about it too much as it has already been blogged brilliantly by Maltagirl and Coemgen. Suffice to say that we all had a great time (although I may have blabbed on a little too much - wow, I do let my tongue run free when I am in company I enjoy hehehe!) and it was nice seeing people such as Toni whom I didn't know was still on the island and Hsejjes who is an absolute hoot and definately not related to anyone famous (in-joke)! Add the regal presence of Queen P (get thee to a blog, woman!), as well as Kenneth and his other half, and my other half too, and you've got yourself a really fun evening.

Athena and Witchie, you'd better be here for the next one coz you're missing out. And we missed you hehehe!

Go go go Gozo!

Hubby and I finally enjoyed a long-awaited - and well-deserved - break in Gozo last weekend... oh how wonderful it was to stay in a place where I didn't have to worry about domestic things, were I wasn't woken up by pussycats sitting on my head miaowing for food, where I had no access to a computer so I couldn't do any work even if I had wanted to, where I didn't have to think about cooking or cleaning or, best of all, going to rehearsals hehehe!

All in all, it was 3 days of bliss. Highlights included:

1. The service. I tell you, most Maltese tourism industry workers have something to learn from their Gozitan counterparts. Everywhere we went (with one exception), we were met with a smile and treated courteuosly. There was one waiter at Churchill Pizzeria in Xlendi and one waitress at D-Bar in Qala (more on that place later) who were so nice that they made us feel really special even though these are far from 5-star restaurants. And almost every restaurant and bar menu has a page giving the history of the place which I thought was a nice touch.
2. The food. One of hubby's Gozitan friends had suggested D-Bar as a place to eat, mainly for their fabulous rack of ribs (hubby's favourite). So we went there on the Friday as we were told that it would be packed on Saturdays. Now, D-Bar is erm.. a bar, found on the side of the Qala Church! However seven or eight tables have been put outside, literally on the pavement. So let me just say from the outset that if you are looking for a restaurant with amazing views (aaaaaaand, more on that even later!) and silver service, your search will not end here. In fact, from our table, I could feed the occupants whizzing by in their cars just by stretching my arm out had I wanted to! But the food... ah, the food was something else! The ribs were excellent and the 'secret sauce' they use was just yummy. My chicken in cognac sauce was perfect and the consistency of the sauce was just right. And, although the menu warned that the food might take a while, not even 20 minutes passed between our ordering and the food arriving on the table. Will definately be going back there again!
3. The shopping. I know, I know... it's Gozo not London. But I felt like I was on holiday abroad! I found a few bargains at Arkadia and am now the proud owner of a beige pair of casual linen trousers, 2 t-shirts, new make up and some lovely smelly stuff from the Body Shop.
4. The swimming. I don't swim very often. Or rather, I don't go in the sun without tons of sun cream and loads of covering-up clothes because I burn really easily. So it was wonderful to find a small pebbled cove below cliffs which gave natural shade and were I could swim to my hearts content without actually venturing into the sun. And, best of all there were only three other people there!

Oh, and we also got to meet Scottish comedian Billy Connelly outside our hotel!

When we came back on Sunday afternoon, we were totally ignored by the cats - who had had a wonderful time being spoilt by my parents - until we gave them some tuna of course. Can't wait to go back. After we save up again. And lose some weight (we both put on a bit!)

Yesterday was my mum's birthday so we went to the Blue Creek restaurant in Ghar Lapsi. Another success (except that it started raining half way through the meal and we had to go inside!) with absolutely amazing views, good service, great food and real value-for-money. I really want to go back there one time for lunch. I think May would be the best so I have decided that we shall go there for the Pea's next birthday - ok, Pea?!