Who’s got the Abs Factor?

Marcus Collins, that’s who!

Today’s post is dedicated to Marcus Collins’ abs. No words needed really apart from EPIC!

Marcus to win!

Bouche x x x

Bah humbug!

This time last year I was half way through my christmas shopping. New decorations for my tree had been bought, I was busy making menu decisions for christmas day and had even made my own mince pies.

Now, don’t start thinking I am one of those Kirsty Allsopp types who start their christmas shopping in June, pickle their own onions and make fantastic personalised gifts. I am not! I don’t even really like christmas!

Mr Bouche and I have a mutual dislike for christmas and would happily stay indoors from December 24th to December 28th and not see a soul! We always shun family christmas dinner and instead choose to eat christmas lunch together and enjoy the day, just the two of us. We do visit Daddy Bouche on christmas morning but we always decline invitations.

You see, Christmas is not the same as we both feel a little lost. I have never enjoyed christmas since my Dad was diagnosed with HD. Christmas has never been the same. I don’t get along with my step dad and cannot think of anything worse than spending christmas day with him, over my dad.

Mr Bouche always feels a little sad. Little J usually spends christmas day and boxing day with his Mum and her family. It is hard for him to spend christmas day without little J and even harder to spend it with other children.

Last year, however, was the most perfect christmas. Little J had decided to spend christmas eve with us and woke up with us on christmas morning, the first time in 8 years. Even if it was 4.30am, it was just perfect. We had a family breakfast and we got to see Little J’s christmas morning face! I went into overdrive to make it the perfect day. It was the first christmas as a married couple and the first christmas in our house. The tree was up, on the first week of December and all the presents were wrapped weeks in advance.

This year could not be more different. I have bought three christmas presents. Every time that bloody coca cola advert comes on, I turn the tv over. Whilst in the supermarket this week, when I heard the christmas songs being played I put my iPod on and listened through the head phones and don’t even get me started on the John Lewis ad. Has christmas started early this year?

We have no definite answers from Little J as to whether he wants to stay on christmas eve, but I guess we are both expecting it to be a no. I can’t even start to get organised. I have zero interest this year. I don’t think being made redundant has helped and I am hoping the whole christmas period will pass whilst I am asleep.

I know it will be different when we have a baby. Maybe Little J will want to be with us all christmas, maybe we will embrace all family gatherings and not feel like something is missing, maybe I will buy presents in June and pickle my own onions!

Bah Humbug Bouche x x x

End of an era

Bouche in the city has never been a space where I write about my work. I have always wanted to keep my job segregated from my views and opinions that I post on here. I won’t go into much detail but work wise the past few weeks have been hell.

This time last year my role at a top tier investment bank was moved to Glasgow and I was made redundant. This wasn’t the first time that I had been made redundant and was starting to think I was a little cursed. All I want in life is to do the job I know and love, get paid a reasonable amount of money and have a work life balance.

When I was asked to go for an interview, for a job I could do,do well, get paid well (even with a pay cut) and have a 8.30am – 5.30pm working day, I jumped at the chance. The interviews were tough but I could hold my own and I was offered the role. I was over the moon and I joined the firm on the 8th November 2010. I saw this as my last career move. This was the job I wanted to do for the next ten years at least. I had room to stretch my wings and I thought I could grow roots and spread those wings.

I passed my probation and had an excellent appraisal. I wanted to show off my skills and on occasions show boated when I needed to.

A couple of weeks ago, our parent company in the US filed for bankruptcy. The past few weeks have been tough not really knowing my fate and when I was asked for information I provided this to management and the administrators.

Us staff were advised a few days ago that we would know whether we would be required for another couple of months by the end of the week. I had been praying that I might have been kept on till new year. I was thinking about christmas and all the things little J wanted in his stocking. I just prayed I could coast it out till january.

Today, was D-day. There is no coasting, little J might not get everything he wants, and my career dreams have come crashing down. Mr Bouche and I had discussed trying for a baby early in 2012. Those plans have now been put on hold.

I walked into my senior manager’s office. I could see the tears pricking her eyes and I sat down. I am not being kept on for a couple more months. I am redundant at the end of november. 50% of all staff were being made redundant at the end of November and the remaining 50% would be coasting. I am not a coaster. After many tears in that office I left, I packed up my desk and have left the office for the last time. I am on gardening leave for the next two and a half weeks. In that time I am hoping I will find the job I dream of, the one which was doing two weeks ago.

I loved my job, but I loved my colleagues more. They are amazing people and I do believe I will be friends with some of them for years to come. I am going to be sad starting a new job (when I find one) and not seeing their faces.

Goodbye beloved job and goodbye beloved work colleagues.

Bouche had a blast x

Now then , Now then Guys and Gals

I was really sad to hear of the passing of Jimmy Savile last week and even sadder to hear that he passed away alone. The man was an absolute legend and one of my heroes!

This said Sir Jim, you brought much disappointment in my childhood. I wrote to Jim twice hoping he would fix it for me. The first letter was sent around 1985. I wanted to be beefeater for the day at the tower of London. The second letter to Jim was sent in 1989. I wanted to be a backing dancer for brother beyond!

Needless to say Jimmy didn’t reply and he never fixed it for me. I can’t tell you how much I hated those scouts eating their lunch on a rollercoaster! Smug little sods!

Since his passing I have been reading up on Sir Jimmy and am astounded by the man’s achievements not to mention the amount of jingle jangle that man owned.

Here are some of the most interesting facts about Sir Jim

He worked in the coal mines during World War II

He worked as a porter in Broad moor hospital and would have tea with Peter Sutcliffe

Jim was a professional wrestler

He has run 26 of the 31 Great north runs and ran the London marathon aged 79

He is a member of Mensa with an iq of 149

Jimmy referred to his mother as the duchess and after her death had her clothes dry cleaned annually

Jimmy didn’t actually like children and hence why he never had any!

Jimmy guest starred on Big brother in 2006

He was a peacemaker during the Charles and Diana split! He was one of Charles’ good friends

Jimmy created the first disco in 1948

How’s about that then?

RIP Sir Jimmy

Bouche x x x

I’m out!

I love a bit of dragon’s den. I love watching the inventors and their pitches, and then one by one the dragons declare they’re out.

I am often surprised by the offers that are made and by the offers that are not. My favourite products which were rejected are the trunki and the tangle teezer. Both of which have been hugely successful without the backing of a dragon.

During a conversation with a female colleague today about styles of jeans and jeggings the subject of ‘camel toe’ came up and a male colleague piped up that someone had invented something to prevent ‘camel toe’. I decided to investigate after getting over the shock and was surprised to discover the smooth groove! The smooth groove is what can only be described as an oversized shoe horn to wear in your under crackers! I am still laughing two hours after discovery!

However, giving this some thought. I have decided this is a wonderful product for the den of dragons. If I was a dragon I would definitely be backing this! £50,000 for 10% of the company. I’m in!

Whilst, I am not a sufferer of the dreaded camel toe that regularly, I have seen an influx of the problem amongst women who wear jeggings! (Not a good look ladies)

Each pair of jeggings should be sold with one of the babies. Theo Paphitis could launch them in his boux avenue lingerie stores. I think these Dragon’s have missed a trick here.

I am actually considering purchasing one. I am intrigued.

Smooth groove me up!

http://www.smoothgroovedesigns.com/

Bouche x x x

A plan that works

My baby plans are not going quite to plan. After our last appointment at Guys, Mr Bouche and I decided that we would try and get pregnant naturally, and go for the CVS testing at 12 weeks once we are pregnant. We discussed when we would start trying and we agreed that we would start early 2012.

I am already 32 and aware that time is a factor, bearing in mind that we need to have these CVS tests and we may not have a HD embryo on our first attempt. So as far as we were concerned the sooner the better.

This past week has been pretty rotten and our quest to start making babies could be postponed as my job is now at risk and I am likely to be unemployed come the end of November.

I know I should be more sad that all my hard work and career progression is coming to a close and that I will need to start again but I am more sad that Mr Bouche and I cannot start a family as we had hoped in the new year.

I can’t seem to go onto facebook without seeing another pregnancy announcement. It seems even girls that I least expected to be announcing a pregnancy, are at the moment and I feel like the last one to do so. Yes, I am jealous. I want a baby! I want to show off a scan picture and tell people that the weight around my middle is not caused by my love of wine and crisps but a little human being.

Nothing ever seems to go to plan with me and starting a family is definitely not following the plan I had envisaged! I guess I will just have to create a new plan. Maybe a plan that will actually come to fruition!

A plan that works!

Bouche x x x