A CHAMPAGNE LIFESTYLE ON A GUINESS WAGE

A Normal Life?  So, What is Normal? 
That may seem like a strange question, but come on.. what IS a normal life?  Each and every one of us live completely different lives to that of the person sitting next to us. I was told recently that my life was “mad, crazy, drama filled, exciting” then asked… “don’t you ever crave a ‘normal’ life?” . My reply was “my life IS normal – I am normal”…  but then I wondered.. WHAT ISNORMAL! I suppose, after sitting back and thinking about things, I am very lucky at times! Take last week for example! Every day, just like many of us, my alarm buzzes at 6:15am… I hit snooze till the last and then jump out of bed…  My first port of call is the bathroom, every day, no matter what time.. that’s quite normal!! …  I do the normal ablutions, then go downstairs.. feed the cat, let her out, put the kettle on and make a cuppa.. see… that’s normal… not too strong with one sweetener!  I go back upstairs with my tea and sit at my dressing table, I cant say that I carefully apply my make-up.. I slap it on.. it’s far too early to fuss too much.. I then sometimes straighten, but always brush my hair, spray deodorant and smellies, get dressed then go downstairs for breakfast.  Normally (see.. normal) .. I have cereal of some kind. From Monday to Friday I go to work in an office… I do a job that I can do back to front, upside down and hanging from a chandelier if necessary.. although that isn’t one of the requirements in my contract!  I believe, as most people do, that I am extremely underpaid… but in todays climate.. isn’t thatnormal?? Is ANYONE paid their worth!! Depending on whether or not my son is home, when I get in, I may, may not cook a dinner, money is tight right now, so if it’s just me, then I tend to have something quick and very cheap, and save the good stuff for when we are both together and we can have a proper meal. After dinner I tidy round, go upstairs make my bed if I haven’t made it in the morning, and then pop on the lycra leggings and vest… I either hula hoop for a while (still learning that one), do a workout video, go for a run (OK.. I run like a dinosaur so am more likely to walk fast) or a go to Zumba or training.  (Normal see) Now.. this is where I’ve kind of hit a wall.. because normally, I would have a bath, check my emails and watch a bit of telly until bed time… THAT is what is normal to me.. but of course.. last week, that wasn’t happening as such.. I was having late into the night discussions with a certain photographer that I will be working with in a weeks time (just a bit excited) about weird and wonderful ideas… hmmmmm… no… certainly NOT normal! All will be revealed AFTER the day! Any way, getting back on the “normal” track…Normal for me nowadays is coming home on a Friday night after work and preparing for my shoot on a Saturday… because I work - most of the shoots I do are arranged around the weekends… THIS week.. wasn’t normal.. I gave my self a shoot free weekend.  It would have been heaven, if it weren’t for the migraine that I got… Twas not good!!!  I spent the day feeling rather sorry for myself… but then again.. years ago.. for me THAT was normal.  A friend came over and we watched a couple of movies and then… after more discussions with the photographer re props and outfits.. I went to my bed.. and slept very well Now.. Sunday it got REALLY quite ABNORMAL for me to be honest…  as usual, the S.A.S. Who Dares Spins radio show on Solar Radio was going ahead.  I don’t get to go every week but when I do .. I always enjoy myself… I, along with the lovely TC, take the phone calls and run the Facebook and email etc.. while the just as lovely, Mr Flip, interviews guests… Since being a part of the team I’ve met some amazing talents, The Womacks, Junior Giscombe, Kenny Thomas.. I’m not going to go on coz I don’t want to be accused of being a name dropper… but seriously, some very interesting and nice people.  I don’t normally get too excited though as the way I see it.. these people are NORMAL.. just like me and you.. they just happen to have amazing talents and bring joy to so many people, in their voices, their writing, their skills as musicians… 9/10 times you meet them and they’re as down to earth as you…. but this week.. this week I was getting excited… I was told on Friday.. Mr. Eric Benet would be the guest on the show… OH MY GOD!!! The man who has sung so many love songs (to me)  that I have listened to at various meaningful moments in my life… one of my favourite tracks to dance to “Why you Follow Me”… and not only does he have a most beautiful voice.. he’s rather easy on the eye too. I tried to convince myself.. “he’s just a normal guy, he’s no one special, he’s probably up he’s own back side” and “you’re not excited Debi … why would you be”… but if I’m totally honest.. the adrenaline was pumping on Sunday morning.. I couldn’t wait for Flip, TC and I to get to that studio… I was posting all over Face Book that Eric Benet was guesting in the hot seat of Flips show and please come listen  - I thought if I kept saying it.. I might believe it. We got to the studio and everything was quite relaxed… although TC and I kept giving each other secret little smiles lol….we knew what we were thinking!! HOW LUCKY WERE WE!!!! Then I heard our guest(s) come in.. I was in the room tinkering with the computer just outside the studio and I heard Flip introducing himself and TC and Lloyd and Mark.. and I stayed frozen to my seat.. what should I do?.. run out there like a silly little girl.. or compose myself and behave like a professional?… a professional what though? I don’t know? But I stayed put until in he walked – I stood up and said hello as Flip introduced me and we shook hands…. Now.. at this point.. I imagine you’re expecting me to say that I swooned… NO.. I didn’t…  I conducted myself accordingly and carried on saying hello to the people that were with him… he’s Manager I presume and then this other guy!!! Now THIS man was a personality… he came bounding in “Hello girl” peck peck on the side of the cheek and off into the studio.. for some reason.. I liked him immediately a very vibrant air about him – a cheeky s*d too…. If I remember rightly “My ‘rack’ was mentioned - lol!!!  There were no airs nor graces about him – just “I’m here I’m me”… I like people like that.  I imagine getting on the wrong side of him wouldn’t be too much fun for me though.. very quick with the wit and I imagine a great user of words – actually.. really funny  –.. we had a little chat outside for a brief time and he had me in stitches!!! – He was one of those people that you may only meet for 5 minutes in your lifetime but has an impact on you!! Yep.. definitely one of those people!!... What was his name again.. Oh yea.. Steve ;-) lol  (as if I could forget). Anyway, the show went without a hitch… TC and I were up to our neck with people calling in and wanting to have Eric Benet mention their names… Eric sang happy birthday to one listener (I think I swooned around that point)… and I had female friends on my Facebook and Twitter telling me they “hated” me…  lol.. all in good fun though.. I hope!!! It was a lovely two hours… Eric Benet’s selection of tunes was perfect for a sunny Sunday afternoon… When the show was over, it was time for our guests to leave as Eric (see how I did that.. 1stname terms now) was performing at the Jazz Café…  (Steve had shot off  a bit earlier). As per usual, it was time for our photo call – each week we get the poor unsuspecting guest to have their picture taken with us all…. For some reason I felt weird having my photo taken with Eric Benet – I’m so used to seeing him standing next to Hollywoods beautiful people.. but he was so nice and polite, a gentleman to the max.. he smiled and obliged and after having his picture with us all, he and his manager disappeared off into the evening and we cleared up the studio and made our way home!!!  Later on that night…  whilst I was sitting eating my Kentucky Fried chicken in my little semi in my little town watching some rubbish on TV… It hit me… how surreal… I have just spent the afternoon… doing something quite amazing really, with lovely friends, meeting some amazingly interesting people who live completely different worlds to me… is THAT normal!!!! So… getting back to my original question… WHAT IS A NORMAL LIFE… there is no such thing is there?  We all have our ups and downs, highs and lows… and we deal with the hand we are given…. I don’t think I will ever be rich in monetary means but I’m rich in love and life experiences.. sometimes we’re down on our backsides… and I’ve been there as you know, sometimes we’re flying high (prefereably avoiding illegal substances to do it).. in my case normally when I’m on the dance floor – but when is a life normal… Life is about living and enjoying it to the max and that’s what we all try and do in our own individual ways…. I remember my nan say to me once… “Deborah… (cringe)… you will live a champagne lifestyle on a Guiness wage ….. enjoy it and make the most of it!”  and do you know what… SHE WAS RIGHT and I am!!!!    

WELL... THAT'S MY NORMAL!