Week 3 & Week 4 in the CAAAAN

Good morning!

I did write a blog last week but due to tech issue's I couldn't post it, so here's the low down on last week....

Last Friday the plan was to head into Clapham but I ended up having a slap up meal with my friend's Kelly, Yaisa and Alice. All 3 of them hardly drink so not touching the wine was easily done and being so snowy last week we called it an evening after a big meal and too much coldness in the air.

Last Saturday: Almost stayed in BUT ended up partying in Kingston's Hippodrome and then onto Bacchus for a new house night that I bloody loved.

Thursday 24th: Went to New Slang, downed a litre of Red Bull and had some Soda & Limes and was rather giddy and hyper. At one point I staggered, actually feeling a tipsy feeling. I believe you can make yourself feel tipsy if you want (it's all in the mind, it's like when you were younger and someone would say there's vodka in your drink when it's purely coke and you'd be acting all drunky.)

Friday 25th: Just went to the Slug & Lettuce with my sister Sara where she enjoyed mojito's and I enjoyed Soda & Limes. After slug we headed to The Kings Tun where we had a dance and spoke to randoms who did offer me some of their pitcher after sneaking a bottle of vodka in... He said nobody would know if I had some but the fact is that I would have known and felt guilty to those who donated money... THANKS AGAIN BTW!!!

Saturday 26th: Probably was the most excited for this as I went to see Professor Green at Musicalize with Corall :D It's been about 5 months since I last saw him and I was really far away from him but this was cool as it was a smaller venue (02 Indigo.) There I was drinking my soda and limes of course and seeing Pro G again has now re- lit the burning flame I used to hold for him. No lie that I've met him 5 times and by the 3rd time he remembered me, so this is why I stay away from the front of the stage so he doesn't think I'm a mad stalker. Alas he spotted me in the crowd and we locked eye's a few times. He looked hot and gave an energetic performance like he always does.

So a tip to people wanting to cut down on drink:

• Head to a concert/ gig where an artist you rate is performing (you'll get a natural buzz.)
• Soda & Lime looks like you're drinking alcohol and after a while tricks the mind into getting that happy state of mind.
• Surround yourself with not so hardcore drinkers
• Go for dinner and indulge your palette with great food, not empty caleries.

I now have 4 days to go until I can enjoy a drinky and I half feel like the end is in sight but then half like NOOOOO I don't ever want to drink again. I've just got to get a balance now, no drinking during the week (deffo not alone at least) and probably no pre- drinking on a night out.

I'm really looking forward to a night out in Essex next Saturday and will continue to rack my brain as to which drink will pass these lips on the 1st February.

Please please please help me raise a little bit more for Cancer Research's Dryathlon by donating just a pound or 2. You can text NESS51 to 70070 or head to https://www.justgiving.com/account/your-pages/dryathlete-vanessa-carby

I'd love to have raised at least £50 for Cancer Research UK, so just need £10 more.

Who wants to help? Thanks ;)

Another one bites the dust... Weekend 2: Friday

So in I get from my night out and I'm happy to announce it was another Alcohol- free evening.

I ventured into Surbiton to catch up with my lovely friend Sarah and my mad sister Sara: It was quite nice that once again I had a non drinking buddy (Sarah) and Sara was left to make a dent in the pubs and bars. We started at The Victoria pub where me and Sarah sipped on soda & limes and Slim Line tonic and lime. Next we headed to Hotel Bosco where I managed another soda & lime but then thought I'd get adventurous and try a Virgin Nana Colada (That's a non alcoholic Pina Colada to you!) It was pretty naff to be fair... alsl along the evening thus far us sober sally's were pretty much the loudest people in Surbiton. That was until we got too The Saucy Kettle (a nice family run sports bar that I happened to frequent as a school girl pretending to be in her 20's, as I hid from school teachers.)

We had finally found her calling as the DJ played garage, club classics, dance and hip hop. Whilst there we got the party started on the dance floor and a nice comment was from a man that couldn't believe how lively I was without having a drink.

This just goes to prove to me that I literally am the same without a drink, as long as I'm in good company and I've got music blaring at me, it's mission accomplished.

We had a really fun night and got bigged up by all the pissed as a pudding punters!

Next 

Tomorrow I'll be heading to the gym nice and early, then going to a dance class before my test at a comedy show that includes a free drink (guess i'll be giving that away) and then heading into Mayfair where the free drinks on table with attempt to lure me.

Wish me luck!!! And remember, although some may think "why am i going to donate you money for not drinking?" This really is a tougher challenge than running a 5k run but I'm looking to run for Race For Life this summer.

In the mean time why not donate a denomination of your choice (between £1-£10) to my Just Giving profile? You can text NESS51 to 70070 with the amount.

Thanks,

Ness x x x x

Dryathlon: Weekend One

So the weekend is in full force and I've nearly completed it in all my glory. 

Thursday 3rd January: 

Celebrated my friend's 25th birthday down the pub with a 
few soda and limes... Strangely enough those drinks made me feel rather hyper.

Friday 4th January:

 I braced myself for a mad Friday night with 2 massive Rock 
Star energy drinks. I went into Brixton where I enjoyed a free soda and lime, 
once inside Plan B I bought myself another soda and lime but after the £2.20 
price tag decided to stick to tap waters. Those energy drinks must have done 
something to me or maybe it was just the amazing music that sent me on a natural 
high as I danced the night away. It was such a nice feeling walking home, 
grabbing some food... You definitely last longer when you don't drink (that 
sounds naughty!)

Had my first 3 donations... Many thanks to Aria, Alice and Yaisa :D

Saturday 5th January:

After rolling in last night at 5am and having an excitable 
day going nandos, visiting the gym (a rare occasion on a Saturday as I'm usually 
nursing a tiny hangover) and then best of all booking my summer holiday to 
Ibiza. Hoping all this no drinking and more gymming will have a great effect on 
my summer bod.

Next week I have a gig, comedy show and dinner/ bar date with my friend Sarah... 
How will I fair?

If you would like to donate to my Just Giving #Dryathlon page for Cancer 
Research UK, you can text NESS51 to 70070 or visit http://www.justgiving.com/dryathlete-vanessa-carby

Thank you for reading x x x

Put the drink down! Dryathlon time!

I told my brother the other day about Dryathlon, an idea thought up by Cancer Research UK to raise money and get you fitter and healthier. In lamens terms, the Dryathlete will not touch a drop of alcohol for the entirety of January in 2013...

I've decided that I would like to take part in this and even if I only raise £50 I'd be happy and proud of myself. Now some of you might think this quite an easy challenge but I'm nevous although I know I can do it, I've never had a reason to not drink. I go out and a friend will buy a round, I go to a club and a guy will offer me a drink, I've had a stressful day and that's a good enough reason to buy a bottle of cider. More worringly I've realised just how much alcohol I can put away, I could literally drink some men under the table and that can't be good for my health.

A night not long ago included- 1 large cobra, 1 small becks, 1 can of JD and Coke, 2 tequila shots and a sambuca, 3 jagerbombs, 2 more JD & Cokes and 4 Red Stripes. This was an evening when I had gone to Winter Wonderland armed with my own alcohol, drinks for tube journey to camden, drinks before a bar, drinks in the bar, drinks in a club and then drinks in another club... disgustingly I think I've missed a drink or 2 from this shocking list. I don't drink to this extent every weekend but I'm no stranger to mixing, drinking doubles and accepting drink because I simply like the taste of alcohol.

If you're worried about how much you're drinking but don't want to go teetotal as I've decided, you might want to head to http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/ wherre they have some useful bits and bobs that show you what's normal, challenges and tips on cutting down. Hopefully I'll keep a diary on here so you can follow my progress and Drink Aware also have a 14 day challenge should you want to crack down.

Now you may be thinking but huh you want me to donate you a few quid for you not drinking for 4 weeks & that just maybe that I should run a fun run like they do for Breast Cancer. The thing is, I would love to do a run for charity because even after the amount I drink, I'm extremely physical, strong and have a lot of stamina, so doing a one off run would be easy. However leading my normal and quite social life where drink is forced into my mouth, well that's the tricky bit.

I respect if you would like to wait into week 2 of 4 to track my progress but if you do want to support me, you can by donating to my personal Just Giving account ::: http://www.justgiving.com/dryathlete-vanessa-carby

New Years Eve will be my final blowout and then it's all about soda and limes ;)

Much love,

Vanessa Carby
@Oi_CARBY

Change... that's just the way it is, things will never be the same

Happy Sunday!! So this morning I'm finally getting round to some Carby ramblings and today this is me evaluating change in people's lives.

Some people change for the good and some change for the bad, only you can determine which category you come under and for me to evaluate my 24 years on earth, I know I've changed dramaticaly for the better. As a teenager I was hard on myself, at times I hated how I looked, felt I didn't have good relationships with my friends but looking back at my 14 year old self, I'm like URGH what a Jafooly. 10 years later, I've changed for the good but some of my friend's don't see that. Many of my friend's have changed and I can't say for the good or bad but things happen in life; some of them have children or long term partners and whilst they have their responsibilties, so do I. As a blogger for www.iammusic.tv I need to dedicate time to reviewing musicians and events, so it means I sometimes have to turn down offers of evenings out, and as a music loving, party hard bitch it's a struggle finding time to meet up with my baby mama's as their body clock is in a completely different zone to mine (they are used to getting up at 5am, when some day's I don't rock up hom until that time... usually sporting a hangover.)

I have a lot of friend's, some that I've known since Primary school, some from Secondary, a handful from places I've worked and then there's just the random friend's I've made on nights out that were too good to let go. As we grow our interests and ambitions differ, so where I was hanging out with my still very good friend Yaisa 24/7, I don't see her half as much as I used tnoo. She's become my gym and cinema buddy, whereas aged 16 and armed with fake I.D, she was my partner in crime and we did everything together. But by our 20's she was being to get bored of the party lifestyle and we both saw less and less of each other. It's not a bad thing that we're not as close but it is funny how things change. My other friend Kirsty think's that I've changed and that I don't make time for her anymore but I still love her as much as I did as that crazy loud 16 year old shoutin BOGIES down the school corridor. I think she has changed too but this isn't to say whe's changed for the bad. Kirsty is now a mummy and a fiance and when I celebrated her daughter's christening I was proud and shocked at how mature she now was, she looked a different person with this air of grace and womanlyness.

So this is just a blog to say that we will all encounter change, whether it's a change in friendship, a change in personality, in interests and careers. At the beginning of 2012 I was doing well, I had a respectable job and took my family for granted. In April my grandfather passed away, a few weeks later my dog also passed away and then a few month's later I lost my job. Things in life are sent to try us and I've got a lot stronger from all these events. I miss my grandad and dog more than anything but all I can do it continue to be grateful for the life that I'm living. I hope that the people I've known for years will continue to come along on my rollercoaster ride that is my life and just hope that all these struggles will soon pay off.

Sorry if none of this make sense but hopefully you will take from it whatever you want.

Bless x

Rihanna shines bright in the video for 'Diamonds.'

Finally the video for Rihanna 'Diamonds' is here. Hip Hip Hooray! Apparently I'm the 303rd person to view it but with 36,007 likes that could be wrong.

What can I say about this video? Whenever I hear a brand new song that is yet to have a video, I mentally shoot my ow video in my mind, so for me I saw lots of diamonds... in the sky of course, lots of sparkle and maybe a sexy co star for her to wrap herself around.

This is yet another beatifully visual and stunning video from Rihanna but then it would be wouldn't it. Rihanna sings in a field with wild horses running around her, walks through riot police with a dirty face and sings huddled in a living room with floating objects. The video reminds me of 'Take Care' which features Drake, with random shots and in 'Diamonds' we witness burning roses, tattooed arms, Rihanna smoking reefa and Ri Ri floating in the sea all by herself.

It's random but I love it, so go and see what the fuss is all about... also she looks hot as always.

Oh Rihanna, can you do no wrong?

Written by Vanessa Carby

Ouch my ears hurt!

This could music video from Tara Palmer Tomkinson could well be the worst video I've seen all year! The video for '5 seconds' seems a bit of a piss take and if you ever watched Smack The Pony back in the 90's you'll get where I'm coming from. The thing is her singing voice isn't that terrible but the faces she pulls and her amateur acting falls short.

For the lady that has everything and probably the longest running British socialite, I wonder what possessed Tara to record this song. Perhaps she is a woman scorned or just felt fit to splash the cash and embark on a music career.

'5 seconds' makes me love 'Gangnam Style' and I quite disliked that. Have no fear because I'm certain this will not make it onto Radio 1, Kiss Fm, Choice Fm or Capital Fm, and it definitely won't make it into the charts... unless she buys every single couple. I feel bad for Tara because she comes across as a nice lady but when you're making Geri Halliwell, Victoria Beckham and Jessica Wright of Towie look like Rihanna, that's telling you something.

Don't give up the day job, whatever that is honey.

Peace. x