I LOVE those weeks where you're so busy you blink and find yourself staring good old Thursday in the eyeballs knowing fun time Friday is only a day away, patiently waiting to take over and cruise you straight into the weekend.

I'm most definitely having one of those weeks and I'm loving it.

Monday was our technical rehearsal day at the East Kilbride Arts Centre before opening night for the Vagina Monologues on Tuesday.

This is my fourth time performing in the show and it is most definitely my favourite so far.

Thank you to all our wonderful audiences who have come to see the show this week.

Your kind words and standing ovations have been truly overwhelming and I couldn't be prouder to share the stage with May Miller and Cat Harvey, two of the most fantastic women I know and more importantly my friends.

We couldn't have done it though, without the help and guidance of our insanely talented director Liam Dolan and of course Raymond Anderson and his team in East Kilbride for making it all happen.

Also this week I had the pleasure of being involved [see video by Mark Gibson] in this year's launch of the SCIAF Wee Box Lent Appeal alongside Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross and Scottish actress Libby McArthur.

This is my second time supporting the appeal and I'm thrilled to have been asked again.

Glasgow Times:

SCIAF works tirelessly with vulnerable people in some of the poorest countries in the world – giving emergency aid and long term help to people affected by hunger, poverty, war, disease and natural disasters.

They believe in giving people a hand up, not a handout which I think is fantastic.

The Wee Box Lent appeal is one of Scotland’s largest annual charity appeals and raised £1.8million in 2015.

This was almost doubled to £3.4million thanks the UK Aid Match funding from the UK government who I'm delighted to say will be doubling the amount raised again this year.

If, like me, each year you attempt to give up something for Lent then the Wee Box Appeal is a great way of donating the money you would have spent straight to a wonderful cause.

In the past I've tried to give up all sorts like alcohol, sweets, crisps and even social media during the six weeks of Lent with not much success but this year I've decided to give up chocolate.

Now I'll be honest I really don't have a sweet tooth at all as I'm much more of a savoury girl.

I've still got a selection box in the house from Christmas that I wouldn't think of opening but if I buy a multi-pack of crisps at the supermarket you're about to see something really special as I make the whole pack disappear in a flash.

So surely I should be giving up crisps instead of chocolate right?

Well you see in the last year I've just discovered red wine and more importantly I've discovered how utterly sensational a slab of dark chocolate is with a lovely bottle of Argentinian Malbec of an evening. The thought of giving up my new found love is too much to bear and that's why I'm throwing red wine in there too.

I'm not going to lie, it's only been 24 hours and already everyone around me is turning into a giant bar of dark chocolate or a big beautiful goblet of rich red loveliness right in front of my eyes but I'm confident I can do this for the charity and just think of the money I'll have saved to give to the appeal although I fear my abstinence from red wine may sadly put my local off licence out of business.

Best of luck to all of those giving up something for Lent this year and if you'd like to donate to SCIAF, find out more about the charity and how you can make a donation or get your own Wee Box just log onto www.theweebox.org or calling SCIAF on 0141 354 5555.

 

Welcome to the world little James Liam Christopher Fivey.

Born on Tuesday February 9 and weighing a whopping 8lbs 2oz.

Carrie and Paul I'm so happy for you both and I can't wait to meet your little darling.

Auntie Michelle will be on hand for lots of cuddles for wee James and his big brother Michael.

Carrie you've been my best friend since I was 19 years old.

We've partied together, been on holiday together and lived together and now you're this wonderful wife and you've become a mother making these beautiful babies, I'm so very proud of you.

Love to all the Fivey family and many congratulations to you xxx