Flashback Friday - 21st Strip-O-Gram Shame

I went looking for some old marketing books in the loft the other week as I promised I would look for a friend who's currently doing her CIM.  I ended up being up there about 40 minutes rummaging around.  I found 'Tessy' my old Teddy bear that I've had since I was born.  My husband wants me to throw it out as it looks disgusting.  How dare he!

Anyway, in amongst the boxes I found some photos that made me actually laugh out loud - however, they also made me cringe.

This week I'm taking you back to 1995.

I was working at a company called Redrow (the housebuilders) and I actually got on with a lot of the blokes there.  It should have been a usual working Thursday but this particular day was my 21st birthday. A few of the blokes kept winding me up that they'd chipped in for a strip-o-gram for me.  I spent the day totally on edge.

Reception kept calling me up and asking me to go downstairs.  Thankfully there was a balcony I could peer over before I made the trip down the stairs.  I'd see flowers and gifts sat on reception and I'd breathe a sigh of relief.

As the day drew to a close I began to relax.  Reception called me at 4.30pm..."Heather, can you come downstairs please, there's something in reception for you".

Oooh who could these flowers be for I wonder?  I glanced over the balcony.  There was a Policeman standing there - a very young Policeman with an earring.

Alarm bells start ringing.

I ran as quick as my legs could carry me out of the back door and into the car park but it was too late. Two of my work colleagues, Steve and Dave grabbed me and dragged me back in the building and into the canteen where practically the whole office (probably about 70 people at the time) and this 'Policeman' were waiting for me.

I won't tell you what happened...I think the series of Polaroids that my 'friend' Dave supplied me with afterwards speak for themselves.

For someone who hates to be the centre of attention, this was a truly awful experience for me.  I was SO embarrassed.

Added to the fact the stripper had dirty finger nails.

Hello hello hello! Who's been a naughty girl then?

I think I must be laughing at the fact the menu says baked potatoes are 65p!

Yes, I was handcuffed and the bugger kept pulling the balloon back - gross!

Yes, blindfolded. And handcuffed. In a canteen. With a stranger. And 70 work colleagues. Nightmare.

He's clearly clenching and look how grubby his feet are

It may be a 'sweet' note from the blokes but I'm going to bloody kill them!

I'd just like to add that 'hair scrunchies' were still in fashion then.

I did check with Karin at Cafebebe if it was okay for me to post a photo of a naked backside for Flashback Friday but obviously I didn't check if it was okay for me to post a photo of me trying to pop a balloon between a strippers legs.  Karin, please feel free to unlink me if you wish - I won't be offended at all.  I don't want the good name of Flashback Friday tainted with my filth!


Now head over to Cafebebe and check out the other, not so filthy, entries...

Going Grey

Yes, it's official.  I'm getting old.

*sobs lightly into my Horlicks*

I used to have my hair highlighted (see my blog banner pic for proof) but at the beginning of December last year I decided to go back to my natural brown colour.  It was mainly a financial reason - being a stay at home mum means less cash to splash on non-essentials and although my husband said he would gladly pay for me to go blonde every 6 weeks, I decided to see if brunettes actually ended up having more fun after all.

Well, as Bertorelli used to say in 'Allo 'Allo...what a mistakea to makea!

The thing is, with recent events I let my hair appointment in January/February go and thought I'd hang on as long as possible.  This morning, as I stood at the bathroom mirror, trying my best to conceal the panda eyes that I developed having bog all sleep at the hospital this weekend, I'm horrified to see so many spindly horrible grey hairs. Where the hell did they come from?

Yes, I'm going grey.  I'm only 36.  Balls!

Maybe they've been there a while?  Maybe the blonde has been concealing them all this time? Maybe recent events with my husband and my daughter are to blame...perhaps the worry and stress has effected me more than I thought?

Hmm.  Maybe I just need to face the fact I'm no spring chicken any more.  Surely the fact I'd prefer to sit in snuggled up on the sofa in my PJ's rather than go out on a wild night should tell me that.

It's time to face facts, I'm going grey and there's nothing I can do about it.  Time to order an electric fire and a shopping bag with wheels me thinks.

Thank f*** I'm going to the hairdressers tomorrow though!

Oh and at least I don't have a moustache.  Yet.