Last week found me stuck in a studio rehearsing like a wild person, hour after hour. But what was I rehearsing for?... Something that I never thought I would be rehearsing for again since the days of entering talent shows at school - a dance routine!...

When I got a call asking me if I wanted to be dressed as a skeleton at this year's Glastonbury & dance behind Kate Nash during the skeleton song I squealed with delight, having been good friends with Kate for a couple of years I thought it was a genius plan of hers to ensure all her chums got to come to Glasto with her & had visions of us all jumping up  & down, skipping around the stage having the best fun, similar to what we do when we're at her gigs or dancing in her living room! BUT, I realised when I got to the rehearsal studio last week that I was in fact quite wrong and that we were expected to produce a seriously impressive dance routine!??? I quite frankly, shat myself.... At the end of the day, I don't mind shaking my thang at a disco, but not so hot on the whole structured '5,6,7,8' type of routine.

"Don't you dare back out, just focus and learn it" Said Kate when I rang and expressed my concerns.

So there I was Friday morning, one of my best friend's was getting ready to open the pyramid stage at Glastonbury. It felt like her wedding and we were the weird skeleton bridesmaids... The sense of fear had left me & was replaced with pride. I will admit I had a little tear when I saw the thousands of people that had got up to come to sing along at 10.30am (ish). By the time it was time for my skeleton dancing debut, I was thoroughly in the swing of things & giggled my way through a whole '5,6,7,8' routine, dressed in a white afro wig, top hat and skeleton jumpsuit. I'm so glad I didn't back out, it was sooooo much fun!

Xx

P.S I then got on the train back to London, did my Big Ears show, where I was astonished to be discussing Dennis spitting in Mo's face....& John McCririck was in the studio.... then I went home for some sleep & got back on the train to Glasto the next morning, to watch Amy Winehouse and Jay Z!!!!!!! - I've had an amazing weekend, my body is aching though.

Something took hold of my bowels this week and, with ominous authority, banished me to the small universe of bed and toilet basin. Needless to say this came as quite an unwelcome surprise. Since I was 'struck down', I have been dividing my time equally between the low-energy pastimes of sleeping, groaning, and Googling for a cure. I have it on good authority from some traveler's blog that there's an acupuncturist in India who swears by the healing effect of filling your belly button with salt, covering it in a few strips of fresh ginger and then setting it on fire. I'm becoming so bored with my own bottom that this belly bonfire might actually happen- I wonder if powdered ginger will do the trick?

So, I'm racking my brains to think of what kind of pictures I can use to spice up the rather dry subject matter. Google images had this to offer for belly bonfire:

Apparently locals were quite moved by what can clearly only be described as a bona fide sighting of the Virgin Mary in Mississippi last year- excluding the three people in the picture who are just wondering where the beer is.

Further googles on ‘belly button’ came up with this blog

Annoyingly he calls his blog a web-log as if he didn't get the message some how. As I suppose should be obvious mynavel.co.uk is about as interesting as a guy contemplating his navel can be.

His most recent entry is quite amusing, however, and details the some of the google searches that directed people to his page such as 'my son loves my belly button' amongst others. On the blog- sorry- Log, you will find a photo diary of each day's belly button fluff with a discussion on the effects of his attire and the tucking in of his top. Now I'm quite familiar with this belly fluff phenomenon after living with my fluff producing beloved husband to be for over 6 years now- and I’ve always found it rather charming- one of the great wonders of the world blah, blah, blah, swoon, swoon…

Mr mynavel.co.uk has unfortunately put a whole different (hairier) slant on the whole thing.

Oh my god- is that what love does to you?!- you get competitive over belly button fluff!!!!!

Ami x

WOW! If you do one thing this week make sure you go and see "Gone Baby Gone" at the cinema. It's absolutely amazing and Casey Affleck is very good indeed (in more ways then one!)

So have a go yourself...it's a lot of fun and very very very easy...and very tasty! I do admire anyone who makes their own Ice Ceam by hand - I'm just not very paitent.

LMxxx

I had the most unexpectedly posh festival experience of my life last weekend at the Isle of Wight Festival. This was due to two factors, one being that I was doing a, fairly minimal, amount of camera work for two of the performing bands and was subsequently granted an Access All Areas pass, but also because I had the great pleasure of being accommodated in a camper van.

The ‘Freedom Van’ was borrowed from my lovely soon-to-be mother-in-law and driven with a great deal of pride down to portsmouth and over the water to the island. The van chugged jollily along like a bus with the soul of a gracefully ageing hippy, and very good-naturedly permitted various admiring young folk to take pictures of her as she passed.

The merciful, and mostly undeserved, AAA pass saved me from the dark green cubic cavities of the dreaded festival toilets and I am still shocked to observe that every one of my toilet experiences involved a real flush, actual tissue paper, four permanent walls and a ceiling. At one point I actually had access to a shower, but felt that that would be missing the point somewhat.

Do not worry, my hair was determinedly rocking the festival hag look by the Sunday with several people claiming a Slash sighting what with my matted hair, permanent sunglasses and crumpled cardboard top hat.

Needless to say that at the end of the weekend, both myself, and the inside of the van, were looking rather jaded, but somehow we all managed to tootle back to London with some dignity intact, and a big smile on our faces.

Ami x

LMx

Oh Yes - it looks like the summer days are well and truly on their way (or maybe Zena did actually bring the sun back from Miami) and it's that time of year for picnic's in the park - check out the tree in this photo - WOW!

However, it wouldn't be summer without that new pair of sunglasses now would it? If you are like me and it takes you forever to decide on the perfect pair then RELAX...I am going to give you some very important information that means you can try on loads of stylish sunnies from the comfort of your own sofa! WOO HOO! Yes yes yes, i know...too good to be true? NOPE!

InEyeWear.com is an amazing website selling the latest in designer sunglasses online. All you need to do is upload a photograph of your face and try them on! It is such a great way to see if you suit certain styles, without having to spend hours in shops annoying the lady with the keys to the glass cabinets! The InEyeWear website is unique as it offers users the opportunity to 'try before they buy'...there is not many like that around. Plus...it's great fun...the only problem is deciding which pair to purchase.
I am a massive Ray Ban fan and couldn't resist this pair...now I'm just hoping the postman is careful with them!

LMx

Like it or not, everyone knows what Big Brother is! Nearly all of those people have an opinion & it is just now that I'm realising just how prominent it is in our culture.

'Big Brother, that means summer, that means having fun & fancying girls!' Said a friend of mine, whilst discussing what BB signifies after such a long standing run of 9 years. It's absolutely true, the minute that eye appears on our TV screens even if it's hailing outside you feel of sense of British summer time nostalgia. This summer I'm co-presenting Ch4's first ever live radio show called 'Big Ears' with the legend that is Iain Lee. We launched last Thurs an hour before the house mates of BB9 entered. It was an awesome experience, standing on the steps outside the house with Davina was like an unknown fantasy coming true. I cannot wait to get stuck in. Big Brother is as HILARIOUS (get it?) as it is interesting. In tribute to the summer and trying something new I've hunted down the best bits from BB1 (Davina looks pretty much the same!)! Enjoy...

10 Things I'm looking forward to this summer (in no particular order):

1. I've been asked to be a skeleton & dance on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury! I'm not 100% sure that I'll be able to do it, but watch this space & I'll let you know!!!

2. Putting together a proper picnic in a basket with smoked salmon and fancy cheese.

3. Boys with their tops off.

4. Bite, Bite, Bite - this includes capturing my trends & watching what the other's get up too!

5. One of my goddesses is a singer from Dallas called Erykah Badu who performs in the UK only about once a year is playing in London at the end of June, can't wait!

6. Another one of my goddesses is a friend of mine called Bri, she is taking a one woman show to Edinburgh festival this year called Aphrojamm, I love, love Edinburgh festival and will pop up in between 'Big Brother's Big Ears' shows.

7. Wearing flimsy clothing, that I hardly think about.

8. Jerk chicken on the BBQ!

9. BIG BROTHER'S BIG EAR'S! This includes interviewing the latest evictee at Elstree studios every Friday night.

10. Enjoying getting out of bed in the morning!!!

Gemma xX

Zena xx

I am a great believer of accessorising to fit your personality and not spending a fortune on jewellery. This site is perfect! Everything bright, funky and personalised can be purchased at one click of a button…at a VERY reasonable price. They specialise in the sought after personalised name necklaces – chunky, double layered, with various fonts and colours. They will also do Carrie Bradshaw inspired metallic sexy city girl necklaces that can say whatever you like. I am definitely going to get one saying “Miss Marks” – is that sad???

Ha ha

Enjoy browsing and buying.

LMx

One of my bestest friend's lives in the old town part of Hastings in a small and perfectly placed flat above the town's most popular restaurant, Lathams Brasserie. Lucky for us, this meant mattressed accommodation was provided for free in her lounge and also that we had the most exquisite tour guide.

This resulted in a fascinating couple of days...

Giddyness of sea air mixed with Cava on our late arrival on Fri ended up in all night chit chat and cheer before leisurely strolling up the West Hill to watch the sunrise. On Saturday we were really in the spirit of things and ate fish, chips and mushy peas for breakfast (well, it was 2 o' clock in the afternoon after all!). We then manically hunted out some seriously fantasy worthy furniture in the many fantastic antique shops. My boyfriend found a brass nutcracker in the shape of a dog as gift for his dog-loving previous boss, (he was probably the most chuffed I've ever seen him), and I created an entire imaginary period home filled with antique trinkets, an Art Deco desk, an Edwardian four poster bed and giant golden frames adorning the walls..... Ahhhh one day....

After some whelk eating on the seafront and a siesta, our exquisite tour guide set about gently convincing us to go to an amazing party.

Hastings is one of those places, that is not in yer face, but a definate underground and bohemiam lifestyle is easily accessible to those 'in the know' (e.g my friend that we were staying with)! So like two lost scruffy London foxes we got into taxi with her to a nearby area called St. Leonards to a 'surrealism' themed party taking place in a masonic hall. We arrived in a mind bogglingly quiet street where some giant white pillars marked the entrance to the hall, looming on outside steps were some visually extreme party goers dressed in a array of very thought out costumes that included a human red curtain, a sexy purple octopus complete with purple stockings to match, a naked 'Adam' (of Adam & Eve fame) wrapped in ivy and sporting a Chinese style parasol to shield his dangly bits from the non-existant sun and a very distant looking vintage bride. It was completely random to say the least and world's away from any kind of tacky costume shop attire, everything seemed to have a deeper artistic meaning and slightly eerier undertones to match. Inside, live poets performed amongst art instillations and people of all ages chatted in corners. In honesty, it took a while to 'get into the groove' yet it was compelling at the same time, just when I was feeling like Alice in Wonderland, I looked up to see a familiar face chuggin' on a fag on the steps outside. It was none other than Tom Chaplin (lead singer of Keane)??!! Fancy that? In a party so secret that that I wasn't allowed to take any pictures or film (trust me I tried my hardest to share this experience with you!). He then proceeded to play Oasis classics on the piano whilst everyone, including the purple octopus & red curtain sang along until the bar closed at 2am? Surreal to say the least. We retreated back home startled by our evening but glad to have experienced something utterly out of the ordinary.

Hastings is a wonderful place.

Oh and talking of new jobs.. Please check out mine...

www.channel4.com/bigbrother/news

Gemma xX