Here's Friday again and it's been a busy week.  I've been doing lots of gardening: mowed the lawn Tuesday; did the edges, moved some shrubs and tidied up a bit Wednesday; and yesterday Steve's son-in-law came round to help me clear a rather overgrown section of the garden.  He did well, but lots of roots to clear out so he's coming back during his next rest days (rest!). 

The bathroom is progressing slowly, but I shall be glad to get back to normal.  In fact, I'm looking forward to cleaning!  The hall, stairs & landing are covered with a thin layer of dust and it's getting me down.  Houseproud?!  Me?!  Who knew! lol 

A couple of unexpected dramas this week: on Wednesday night, after John the builder had gone home, I noticed water dripping from the ceiling in the utility room!  It seemed to be just a water spill from his bucket of grouting tools leaking through from upstairs so I mopped it up and, fortunately, it stopped dripping.  Mind you, it did throw me into a tizzy!

Then yesterday afternoon, there was a ring on the doorbell and a loud knocking.  When I opened the door, there was a postman and flames from a fire by my front door!  John the builder is a smoker and had tossed his dog-end into a rubble sack full of rubbish.  The sack was was leaning up against the house next to my lavender in a pot.  Behind the pot were some dry autumn leaves that had blown up against the house.  And it was all burning furiously!  Arrgh!  I dashed indoors to grab a bowl of water, John came running downstairs (he'd smelt it through the open bathroom window but thought I was having a bonfire!), then he dashed back upstairs for more water.  The bowl full made no impression, so I ran round the house to grab the garden hose and the postman grabbed the bowl and ran into the kitchen for more water.  Of course, I'd undone the hose & moved it earlier in the day, to get the garden rubbish down the side passage to take to the tip.  I jammed the hose on the tap, turned it on, it popped off again.  Twice!  So by the time I emerged through the back gate clutching the hose, the builder & the postman had managed to put out the fire.  Phew.  Poor Steve, the smoke alarm on the stairs was going, smoke was drifting into the back of the house, and I couldn't stop to tell him what was happening until the fire was out.  Thank goodness that postman had been driving past, noticed the fire and stopped to bang on the door!  I felt quite frazzled yesterday evening.  Still, not as frazzled as my poor lavender!

Strictly update week 7:

The pre-dance VTs were better this week, more training based rather than the strange staged "funny" ones they've been doing - Alex & James in a playground, Russell & Flavia playing rugby.  Training room ones are much better especially for those that don't bother with the daily It Takes Two fanzine programme.

Alex & James did a jive to River Deep, Mountain High.  A high energy, cheerleader-type routine, she did well but the kicks & flicks could have been sharper. (score 31)
Robbie & Ola did an American Smooth to Sway (I love that song!).  He had great arms & hands, much improved.  (score 31)
Audley & Natalie did a chacha, he has good rhythm but his arms looked odd, not his best dance. (score 20)
Harry & Aliona did an Argentine Tango to a proper tango tune.  It looked superb, very precise.  Len didn't like it, he thought it lacked passion. He had a bit of a handbag moment with Craig, calling him a "silly sod", because he disagreed with him.  Both Alesha & Bruno gave the routine a "10". (score 37)
Jason & Kristina did a Viennese Waltz - lovely & sway-y!  And he did a proper fleckerl, but his arms & hands are still a bit strange sometimes.  Much better than last week though. (score 35)
Chelsee & Pasha did a Foxtrot.  It was beautiful & very elegant although she was hopping a bit on one of the turns.  Alesha gave it a "10". (score 36)
Anita & Robin also did an Argentine Tango, it was superb, great intensity, great chemistry and a great performance!  I was mesmerised.  Her legs could have been a bit stronger & straighter in the lifts but.....hey, I'm being picky!
(score 33)
Holly & Brendan (stepping in for Artem who has a back injury) did a Rumba and beautiful it was too.  Must've been difficult to suddenly change partners but Holly took it all in her stride, she's so cool & laid-back.  That's what I like about her but it does mean she doesn't give away much emotion. (score 34)
Russell & Flavia did an American Smooth to I Am What I Am.  It was glorious!  With a costume change!  And star jumps!  Superb!  But always plenty of dance content which he does really well. (score 26)

Harry and Aliona – 37
Chelsee and Pasha – 36
Jason and Kristina – 35
Holly and Brendan – 34
Anita and Robin – 33
Alex and James – 31
Robbie and Ola – 31
Russell and Flavia – 26
Audley and Natalie – 20

Audley & Natalie were in the bottom two along with Anita & Robin!  Shock!  I was dreading another Lulu moment but Audley & Natalie were the ones to go.  Well, it's been coming, four times they've been in the bottom two. 

Oh, Robin & Kristina did a wonderful rumba whilst Sunday's guest singer was performing, just wonderful.