~Trifledreamz~

The series concludes tonight but from day one, i had two personal favourites, Jessie Buckley and Niamh Perry, both from the Emerald Isle and both obviously very talented girls with great futures ahead of them...which could also be said of many of the other contestants because they have all been fantastic.

Sadly, Niamh has already departed leaving my hopes firmly pinned on Jessie although it will be an amazing victory for whoever wins, (the other finalists being Jodie and Samantha)...but i'm quite sure that many of the losers in this show will go on to make big names for themselves in showbiz circles.

Jessie has been a somewhat erratic performer suffering the odd dip in confidence but when she truly believes in herself, she's exceptional, as we saw in her storming rendition of Judy Garland's The Man That Got Away, a few weeks ago.

With her beaming, lopsided smile, tumbling curls and gorgeous Irish lilt it amazes me how some of the judges have described her as being unfeminine! Like i say, she caught my attention immediately from the beginning and, over the ensuing weeks, i've been willing her to victory.

Good luck to all the girls tonight, but particularly Jessie, i'll enjoy watching tonight but will miss the show when it's all over...you all have such bright futures ahead...so may the best Nancy win!

All little girls indulge in fantastic dreams of fairytale adventure but this particular girl was destined to become known throughout kingdoms far and wide, for she became The Impossible Princess...also known globally as Kylie.

In the brightness of youth, she was an energetic, pretty creature but as the years rolled by, her beauty blossomed like an exotic orchid and, year by year, she becomes ever more captivating and desirable to her loving followers and admirers, both male and female.

Her beauty, elegance and warmth are never anything less than a wonder to behold, her eyes are dazzling, her smile radiant and her bottom a magnificent gift from the Gods.

We admire her strength and independance, her vitality and her endless charms, especially the manner in which she battled with cancer and not only won, but also became a beacon of hope and inspiration to so many other sufferers.

This magical, elfin-like Princess will always remain as true a star as any that ever twinkled in the heavens, and today is her 40th birthday and i am here as only one amongst millions who genuinely wish her the happiest of days, the best of health and all that she could ever wish for herself.

My attention drifted and my thoughts wandered, as they often tend to do until i beheld a vision so compulsive and interesting that i was unable to tear my gaze from the screen, holding my breath and suddenly, deeply fascinated by what i saw.

I'm certainly no afficionado of antiques but i was held in sheer raptures of delight by the well-groomed woman from Bristol and her magnificently displayed pair of ornamental jugs, which stood proudly for examination by the experts and invited my keenest attention and indulgence.

They boasted the perfect shape and weight, so wonderfully sculptured were they, the curves so delightful and perfect to the eye that my hand reached out as if to caress their heavenly beauty.

Who could ever name a fitting price for these superb adornments?

They were truly exquisite creations and i could see that the curious onlookers in the background were admiring them just as keenly as myself, one spritely old gentleman even leaning over her shoulder to gain the perfect view.

It seems no time at all since this happiest of occasions, the time having flown by so swiftly, bringing us both further shared, fond memories...and i swear, the rolling-pin has thus far remained quietly in the kitchen drawer, not once being employed to test the durability of my skull.

The plain truth is that we've hardly exchanged a cross word in all our time as a couple and, despite life being far from plain sailing at times, our mutual love and affection continues to grow with each passing day.

There is a beautifully simple and deep satisfaction to be found in sharing one's days with someone who gives such comfort and joy merely by their very presence. Words can seldom match the experience of just being together.

We are living proof that cat and dog may live together in perfect peace and contentment providing that the cat gets her way more often than not and that the dog comes swiftly to heel whenever required.

In fact, it's still sinking in that we're a Premier League team after 5 years, so conditioned had i become to struggling in the lower divisions with only the occasional glimpse of success to brighten the almost endless gloom.

The age old motto, Pompey Til I Die, remains true in times of failure and adversity but is sweeter when success returns, as they have since the arrival of Harry Redknapp on the south coast, a football club is for life and one's devotion is unshakeable and almost sacred.

And so, the dream has become reality and our name is back on the cup again after a 69 year absence, we will cherish our moment of glory and relish the limelight that is so often denied us.

I'm definately neither racist nor xenophobic, i'm simply proud of my Englishness because that's where i was born and have lived all my life, happy times and sad, cheery and downright miserable, it's all compounded deep inside me to make me that rare creature, an English Bloke.

Wherever we hail from, we should all be proud of our own individual roots and heritage, it's simply a happy statement that we love our England.

The Cross of St.George, cricket, Lord Nelson's flagship HMS Victory, Henry VIII, the FA Cup, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, York Minster, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, London's red buses, a cup of tea, Stonehenge, Jerusalem and the Spitfire.

Dwelling in our green and pleasant land, often enshrouded in gloomy rainclouds or drizzle, it's nice to pause and think of all that is good in our eccentric but historic nationality, we are a unique breed and i certainly wouldn't swap it for all the tea in china.

Only last week i planted dozens of mixed bulbs along the back wall but have already forgotten what they were...i do recall that the picture on the packet looked highly impressive so i continue to live in hope and quiet expectation of a wonderfully dazzling display, later in the summer.

Once upon a time, i bought a packet of sunflower seeds with dreams of sitting to admire their impressive blooms as they towered in the blazing sunshine some fifteen or sixteen feet above the ground, bringing a burst of pride to the heart of the man who had planted them.

Time passed and something did indeed grow from the very places where those seeds had been so lovingly sown, but my sunflowers were only leafy, stumpy, green foliage...seemingly healthy and happy but without the anticpipated beanstalk proportions nor the eye-catching bright yellow blooms.

Eventually, the summer drew to an end and my half-forgotten dreams gradually dissolved...i became resigned to the prospect that either i'd been sold a duff packet of sunflower seeds or had failed in some way to faithfully nurture them as they truly deserved.

Here are the most worthy recipients of my heartfelt commendations; given to the men with a firm shake of the hand and the ladies with a warm smile, a peck on each cheek and a transparent pretence that i'm not merely present to gaze down their cleavage.

Sad To See You Go.....Vera Duckworth.
Glad To See You Go.....Max Branning.
Best Bitch.....Nicola De Souza.
Most Fanciable Female*.....Roxy Mitchell.
Best Newcomers.....Ronnie & Roxy Mitchell.
Gobbiest Cow.....Bianca Jackson.
Loveable Rogue.....Eli Dingle.
Smug Prat.....Jack Branning.
Scariest Woman.....Shirley Carter.
Funniest Character.....Eileen Grimshaw.
Best Nutter.....Sean Slater.
Best Old Bag.....Edna Birch.
Most Endearing Character.....Becky Grainger.
Soapland Wouldn't Be The Same Without.....Stacey Slater.
I Would.....Liz McDonald.

It's wonderful to have them popping-in or coming for dinner but what a rare treat it is to return at the end of a busy day to find a home that's not only clutter-free but also so serene and tranquil; just me and the missus, alone together in peace at long last for the first time since we met a decade ago.

The bathroom floor is no longer adorned with half-a-dozen wet towels or sopping great puddles of water, the toothpaste stays in the tube and not all over the basin, the toilet-roll is ~and here's a novelty~ actually on the toilet-roll holder.

The kitchen no longer resembles a bomb site, the crockery is all neatly stacked away in its rightful place rather than precariously balanced on top of itself as if it were a loving tribute to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The food doesn't mysteriously vanish the moment we turn our backs as if our house were infested by ravenous poltergeists...when we want bread, lo and behold, there it is in the cupboard where we left it!