Wet and Wild Weekend...

No, not quite that sordid, but it was a sordid wet and windy weekend! The heavens opened and the rain sluiced down. Friday’s weather was terrible, as it did not seem to let up until the late afternoon as Pepe and I made a beeline for Ikea…

Yes! Ikea! Pepe and I have a love for all things Ikea! We can not help ourselves, so on a Friday night we bounded over to that ‘superstore’ and went wild!

Well. Maybe not wild, but we really had fun shopping. :) We bought two ‘Daves’ and no, we did not buy two men called Dave, but these fantastic laptop tables in white:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/00120818
Yes! They’re great! :) I put them together on Saturday all by myself proving that I do have an opposable thumb and am not afraid to use it. ;)

However, once we had paid for the furniture and tried to go outside – it was raining cats and dogs. I pelted across the car park to my little blue bug, drove it up to the loading bay, we loaded up Malutkie (my little car) with our haul of goodies, and got wet.

As we drove back to the flat I found that I never want to drive on the A406 in the rain at night time ever again. It was horrendous. I could barely see the road markings, because there was so much water on the road and there were some really idiotic drivers out there that night adding to the horror.

Anyhoo, we made it back safe and sound. Hurrah!

Arthur was away enjoying lovely warm sunny weather this weekend. Lucky man. T-shirt and shorts, he says. Me, shivering in my thick jumper and thick woolly socks.

Anyhoo! I was meant to sort out quite a few important things this weekend. No success there I’m afraid! Do you find that if there is a really cumbersome, tiresome, irritating piece of work, you’ll do anything else to avoid it? So, the flat looks pristine, the laundry was done and the Ikea furniture and other bits and bobs sorted out, crappy films were watched…but not the essential piece of work. Oops!
At least, I am not alone in this. There are other procrastinators out there! Unite, I say!
Hmmm, maybe tomorrow… ;)

And here we go again!

Hello there! I've returned! A year and 9 months later than expected... Oops. Where have I been? What have I been up to? Does anyone care? Never mind, I will just try get you all up to speed whether you like it or not.

2007 was a very hard year. I went through hell to put it mildly. My work was crucifying me and when I would return to the flat in South London in the evenings hell was awaiting me - therefore, I had no rest wherever I was.

Until...

I met my wonderful man, Arthur in December 2006 (who I mentioned had entered stage left in February 2007). I have never ever been so lucky. He came into my life just as everything was about to crush me, and saved me. Yes, he did, hallelujah! ;) Seriously, though. Without his love and support I could not have made it through. We are still happy together and it will be 19 months this September. :)

Arthur helped Pepe and me to find another place to live when we had to leave that 'previous abode' in South London, because we refused to be walked all over by someone who decided that it was their way or the highway - so, because we did not comply, we were told to leave. After we did so much for them, we were treated almost like vermin. Even now, when I think of that person, I am filled with such bitterness. It's getting better now, but I don't know what I would say to them, if I ever saw them again.

Well, luckily for us, we avoided the highway and he (with help from his property savvy mum) found for us a lovely little flat somewhere in a lovely, leafy part of North London. I still can not believe that we escaped from that poisonous person. Someone up there must like me a little bit...
The day Pepe and I were moving out together, the movers (two really big and burly men) parked outside the flat and I found that the division between North and South London is alive and well. Our neighbour came out of his flat looking surprised and said to me, 'Oh! I didn't know you were moving!' Where are you going to?'

I smiled rather tiredly and answered, 'North London.'

He said rather quickly with a grin, 'You traitor!'

Wha...??????!!!!

I stared at him, and asked, 'Why am I a traitor?'

'Because, you're moving across the river.'

Hmmm. Right. Now this animosity between North and South is a funny one. It's the stereotypical view that in the North they're more wealthy, snobby, lovely housing whereas in the South there's a higher crime rate, arty types, and the areas look a bit downtrodden - I mean, I'm sorry but all these words describe the whole of London! For some reason there is this rivalry. There was even a Nike run between the North and South! C'mon, London, give it a rest!

So. We moved in late April. The most stressful thing about it was the packing of 2 years of my little life into boxes. It was quite therapeutic. It felt good to throw away a certain person through the medium of 'downsizing.' I hadn't done that in a long time, since my family upped sticks and left Africa where we had 117 boxes to move across continents!

Arthur had invited me to join him for a visit to Nashville, Tennesse for a week's holiday, and I jumped at the chance. :) It was a fantastic time and it was my first visit to the States. :) Arthur and I have experienced so many wonderful things together and this is because of his curiousity to see and enjoy so many interesting events. :) I can say that I have enjoyed London like never before, because of you, Arthur! XXXX!

Peps and I settled quickly in the North, and I then decided to go through the next phase of my life - changing jobs. Oh my word... I had a big surprise awaiting me - you have to prepare for job hunting as though you are preparing for an exam - and I HATE exams! Anyhoo, my 1st job interview was a good one, as it gave me a really good kick up the derrière. I had not prepared as well as I should have done and this showed, which embarrassed me. I managed to get a job, and I made the switch at the beginning of October - it's nearly been a year! My word. Time does fly.

I work outside of London now , but the job is not 'me.' A job should never define who you are, but it should somehow be in tune with you... At the moment, I don't feel as though this is right, but! I am not in the most stressful place. It is fustrating, but at least I am not going home feeling as though I went 10 rounds with Mike Tyson and then got run over by a massive truck.

During 2007 I was pathetic in keeping in contact with friends. I think that I may have lost some along the way, and for that I am truly sorry. Things got the better of me.
I found myself being busy, stressed, inundated, unhappy, very happy, fustrated, angry, bitter, and becoming tired of trying to be there for anyone, even myself. There are times when I just want to leave the ring, and say 'Time out!' I just want some time to think without being immediately worried about something that I have not completed, something that I have overlooked, that I have upset someone by forgetting to call, by forgetting to write, by simply forgetting.
I am rather human, and there are those who have been too used to me being super quick, super efficient, super there for them all the time that when I fail in this respect - it's as though I am the worst of the worst.
Christ almighty. I am ONLY human. I am VERY tired. I need a super long holiday to completely recharge my batteries and rethink my little life's direction - no can do. I am on call, 24/7.

Ruth, I admire you so much, because you had the balls (only figurative ones!) to be brave and go and do what you wanted. You've been experiecing life and met so many interesting people. I wish I was even a little bit as brave. Kudos to you!

2008. Hmm.

Not sure about this year. We are into September now. Mum has not been well in late 2007 and in 2008. I am very worried about her. I missed two weddings in August, because I needed to go and see her. I feel so guilty living and working in London, whilst she lives alone in North Wales. Dark, wet and dreary North Wales. Where the locals still call us the 'Incomers'...even after we've been there for almost over 13 years... No further comment here; that statement just says it all.

Mum has currently popped over to Poland for treatment she knows she can trust and also that she can get! As in now, and not waiting 2 years or something ridiculous like that. I drove to and from Wales at the end of August during the weekend - 13 hours of driving, though not continuous, it absolutely drained me.
I will be attending a wedding on the 13th September in Warsaw, and I am looking forward to it, but also not. I've put on a bit of porkiness and my Polish is not up to scratch. Oops. Oh well. At least, I shall provide the Aunties something to cluck over and disapprove. You can't say that I don't give...
Arthur will be coming with me, so I will be interested to see his reaction to the Poles and their partying! ;) Haha! Should be fun - lots of wokda will be flowing and good food abounding. ;)

I know it sounds as though I have been negative and moaning throughout this post - you'd be right! However, it has been hard, emotionally. I would like to thank my close friend Pepe, Arthur and his amazing mum for being there for me. My mum has been patient, kind and understanding when it has been much needed. I will hopefully be much better at keeping in contact and will try to tackle life and be a better person.

Ciao for now, and I promise not to leave it until next year. :)

Yowza! Or some such exclamation...

Gomenasai Mina-san! I beg forgiveness for my tardy updating of mon blog. C'est unforgivable. (Give me a break, I don't have my French dictionary to hand. ;p Haha!)

It is unbelievable, how quickly time has just slipped by...dammit, February is nearly over! Argh!

These past two months have been...how shall I put it? A rollercoaster ride. Filled with ups and downs - sad news, bad news, good news, fantastic news - all of these. These past two months have been so full, that it feels as though life itself was trying sumo wrestle me into submission. I'd like to think that I have not been pushed out of the ring...just yet.

My social life over the weekends has trippled. I'm flabbergasted at just how much. Me? In demand?! Oh, darlink! I thought you'd never ask.... Sugoy! ;) Yes, but by the same token -->Work has trippled since last year. Not good! However, I can bear it, and with a smile no less. Gasp! How can this be? Well, it's partly due to, 'I don't give a c**p anymore' ;), but mainly, it's due to someone who has appeared stage left. Yes, you know who you are. ;)

2007 is looking to be a tough year, but I feel ready to face it head on. Don't ask me why, but I have this great positive feeling inside.

Now, it's time for another of my special rants....

What the hell....?! That was my thought, after my encounter with this woman one morning. Yes, I am still a bit piqued and puzzled about it! ;p I was trotting (as you do...or rather as I do) to the station (and no, I was good - I did not forget my handbag this time! Hurrah!), when this woman walking on the opposite side of the street and going in the opposite direction, called out to me.

I stopped, greeted her and asked what could I help her with? She strolled over with a card in her hand, and asked me the directions to a road, which I had not heard of. So, I thought a bit and asked, 'Did the lady you spoke to give you any landmarks?'

She told me about a roundabout, so I looked away further down the road trying to think about where I had seen said roundabout when I turned my head back to her to finish saying something (literally, this took only a few seconds)...she had walked off! Without saying a word!

I mean...what the hell?! What can you say to a retreating back?! 'Errrr...You're welcome...?....HAG!'

And then run like the dickens.

People are strange. I should know. I belong to said race of strangeness, but there are those who go beyond this and into...God only knows what. I think she was just scooting into this category. Unbelievable.

Then there's Molly. Wonderful smelly Molly. I had to give her a bath last night, because Pepe looked at me with 'that look' and said, 'Molly feels gross and greasy.'

Ok...dammit. It is not my favourite thing to do, to wash this pooch. She loves to shake herself whilst in the bath...

So, I lured Molly into the bathroom with the promise of a treat and then the door was shut firmly behind her. Thus began the saga of bathtime.

'Molly! Good doggie! Very good doggie! Yes, you're very good! ARGH NO MOLLY NO STOP ARGH!' issued from the bathroom. My poor flatmates. ;p

I emerged after having dried the pooch; drenched, yet again, in icky dirty doggie bath water. It's like...I don't know...wrestling for 20 minutes. Well, that shattered me for the evening, I can tell you!

In any case, life is, at the moment, full, full, full. Work is taking up too much time, so that has to be addressed sharpish. Boss was nice to me this evening. GASP! Yes, I know I nearly fell off my chair. Checked his eyes, noooo, don't think he's taken drugs... Can you believe he let me off?! I still did quite a bit of work, but...I didn't have to meet one of my targets! Hurrah! However, I must tread carefully. He might be plotting something. Yup. He's that kind of boss.

So, chin up, face forward, be positive and march! But watch out for any doggie business underfoot... Such is life, eh? :)

Zut Alors!

Yesterday, I did something which I have never done before whilst living in London...I forgot my handbag.

Gasp!

Yes, I'm afraid 't's too true. I walked out the front door, down the hill, through the station and then it hit me on the platform. No, it wasn't a train, but the figurative bolt of lightning. No handbag! There was the backpack, but the absolute essential was missing!

So, I had to trot double-time back up the hill, and knock on the front door hoping that the girls would be up to let me back in! Thank goodness for Pepe, who opened the door and looked at me in astonishment. I thanked her profusely, scooted inside, grabbed the offending article (not its fault, but dammit!) and hurried to catch the train.

I made in on time...on the dot! Phew....what a great way to start the day! I didn't need a coffee in the morning; the adrenalin pumping through my veins was enough to make me zoom!

Akemashte Omedeto Gozaimasu!

Lazy, lazy, lazy girl! I am referring, of course to myself. I want to wish all and sundry a very Happy New Year and a great start to it. I guess better late than never, eh?! I am having to get used to dragging my carcass out of bed at 6:30 again...ooooh, no rest for the wicked!

In any case, as I told a mate o' mine, my 'New Year's Resolution' is to misbehave. I think it's high time for some fun. ;)

Last year ended on some high notes and a few low notes. The highs were singing in a gospel choir with my friend Pepe (after only 2 rehearsals!) - where as amateur singers we all sounded great together - I had forgotten how much I enjoyed singing in a choir - the feeling of being a part of a bigger sound...it's inspiring; my mate T's Christmas party - so much fun! T really knows how to bring people together for a great shindig; meeting up with friends to hand out gifts, or to take them to see a film (a gift idea of mine). I have to say that at the end of that week, I was about to collapse! I was so GRATEFUL that I was granted those 3 days of unpaid leave from work. I really needed the zzzz.

There were lows of course. One of which was the result of misunderstandings and overly high expectations.
The other was the passing of our cat Elsa, who had to be put down on the 23rd of December. Mum and I were in tears when we took her to the vet. The poor thing was dying in front of us, and she was beyond the point of no return. Mum was devastated, because that feline was the craziest, most psychotic, talkative, adorable stray you could ever hope to meet. As my mate Nicky once described her, 'A fine figure of a cat.' She was left by the previous owners of the house, and so Mum in her infinite kindness decided to feed and make friends with the furry black terror. It was a friendship that lasted for nearly 10 years. Hard to believe that so much time has passed and that we will no more see those 2 little black ears through the glass door, waiting to be fed, or hear the strange gutteral cry heralding a present in the shape of a dead mouse. Rest in Peace Elsa, there is no cat like you, and you are much missed.

Mina-san (everybody), do your best this year. Be bold, be brave, and most of all - be adventurous! If not now...when? I will try to do my best too; after all, practise what you preach, eh?

Gambatte!

Flash Mob Dance Baby!

Konnichiwa Mina-san!

The time: 19:08 GMT

The Date: 30th November 2006

The Place: Paddington Station, London, UK

The Situation: Mobile Clubbing or as I'd like to call it, 'Flash Mob Dance Baby!'

Yes, T sent an e-mail and in it held the key to the phenomenon that I had read about before & definitely wanted to try...

Unfortunately, T couldn't make it, so I thought to myself, 'Why the hell not go on my own?' They who dare win!

So, I brought along Madonna's new album 'Confessions' as it's really the only 'dance' album I have at the moment.

As I was sitting on the tube, I looked at the people sitting around me and I wondered who amongst them would be joining me for this dance-a-thon. Arriving at Paddington Station, I decided to check out the 'venue.' I surveyed the area, and what did I espy?

COPS!

Yes! You read me right!

Plus some employees from the station standing, watching and waiting. One chap walked past me and there in big black bold letters on his high-vis vest was 'Incident Management.' You wot?! C'mon! Ahahahaha! As though they were expecting a riot... If it was that serious, then there would be many more policemen and policewomen swarming around the station. ;p

I watched the clock. 19:00. People began to gather in small groups. I noticed this chap with a video camera who had his iPod earphones in. We looked at one another. He winked. We had understood one another. He too was a mobile clubber!

19:15, and the area was dense with people smiling cheekily at one another, feeling slightly self conscious but with an air of determination to do the deed - to dance!

19:18, a ROAR went up and...

What was this feeling? I saw happy smiling funny cheeky funky cheesy dancing people. I felt warm inside, I felt my body suffused with this wonderful feeling of feeling part of something bigger, brighter, better.

I saw people become exhibitionists, with crazy moves, gyrating, jumping, twirling, with hands pumping the air. I saw HAPPY people.

What a difference a dance makes...

I'm pleased to say that I kept up with everyone and danced for an hour non stop; now and again I would yell out, nay SCREAM out and a roar would go up all round, joining me.

20:18, an hour and this brought an 'official end' to the dancing. However, there were those who still kept going. I had to depart, as my bed was calling out my name. I moved away from the jiving bodies and I removed my headphones....

What a different viewpoint. I could hear my music so clearly with my headphones on, and felt the beat, yet without it, all I could hear was the scuffling of feet, and few 'yeahs.' I felt a little bereft, as though I'd lost something somewhere. Everyone who was still dancing could hear their own music, had their own rythym, their own beat.

However. I had just had a great time with complete strangers in a train station. All good clean fun. There was no violence, no lewd or improper behaviour. The police who were watching were smiling at us, and sometimes laughing at us. People would stop and stare, some would join in. Apparently, nearly 3000 people came to this event...3000! The largest gathering of mobile clubbers in the UK, ever. And...it was peaceful. Just for fun. Just to let out your anger, your fustration, your weariness through the medium of dance without worrying about looking like a prat, because well...there were 3000 others just like you!

I went away feeling chilled out, and feeling as though I'd stumbled upon (with the fabulous help of T - bless your cotton socks!) a secret club and was initiated in a bizarre ritual.

I felt great. Liberated even. Go on, try it out! Website address:www.mobile-clubbing.com.

Thank you to my mates who were checking out my blog and reported to me that I have been lax in updating my blog. BAD ME! I apologise mes amies!

It's been a little hectic of late, things have been a-happenin', and my mind is worn to a frazzle unfortunately. I need my Christmas holiday, BADLY.

Good news, I have taken a step closer to realising a 'dream.' It's not a 'complete' dream, but I had to make something up, so that I could work towards something rather than float aimlessly through existence being no help to myself or to anyone else for that matter.

So, thanks to you for being my mate, whoever you are, reading this blog. Thanks for everything, and remember....

'Dance in the streets, not in your room'

Although, it does help, if you're not on your own, say with about 3000 others... ;)

Brrrrr...

At lunchtime today, it was rather crisp and chilly. Everyone was walking huddled in their coats and scarves trying to keep all the warmth in and the cold out.

At Liverpool Street station I noticed on the floor these grey coloured tiles arranged in a straight line across the bridge, which then followed the stairs in a curve. I walked on those tiles, when an analogy suddenly struck me.

A life path? Bear with me here. Walking along a set life path that has been preordained for you, and not deviating from it. Although, soon after 'setting out' on this path I saw something horrid on a few of these grey tiles, so I sidestepped onto the cream coloured tiles...if I had not sidestepped to avoid this 'unmentionable' and continued to blindly follow the grey tiles, I would have had to walk into the wall.

Food for thought. Something akin to the situation I find myself in right now?

At work, something happened that was similar to the straw breaking the camel's back. Perhaps, this is the moment to make the deviation from grey tiles to cream tiles.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Fibble wibble fibble wibble fibble wibble fibble wibble...

I have had 10 phone calls today. Only 2 were legit...If another bloody sales call comes through, I am going to go to work tomorrow!

And yes! I KNOW that it's Saturday tomorrow!!!!!

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.

On a happy note, I'm going out to a concert and shall be shopping for some SWEET eye-candy. God knows that I have been a good girl and will allow me to have some fun tomorrow. Please.

By the way, I have had 3 coffees this evening, so I am running up and down the walls a bit.

Calm waters

Have read the good bollocking from Ruth. Always good to have, as she knows what she's on about and I believe that she gives good kicks up backsides. Thanks Ruth! :)

October has been a strange month. Full of ups and downs, but not too bad.

Things seem to have settled a bit. I completed an exam 2 days ago and passed with a reasonable 80%. Hence, I was pleased to get out of the office, because I have taken 4 days off and am now at the flat. Sorting through the mess of my little (but meaningful!) life. Of course, I'm not doing that right this minute, as I am updating mon blog...hee!

On a bright and VERY HAPPY note, I am most pleased to report that T got a new job! Go T! Congratulations! You deserve it mate!

Muria came back to London last week for a few days from the middle of the jungle on the other side of the world, and I think that she was pleased to be back, to see Molly (and only Molly - we were definitely secondary), and of course to paint the floor in the flat...the latter is fast becoming a tradition and not a necessity! ;p

Day 2 of being at the flat, I am getting somewhere...I think. Still LOADS to do, but I think that I have made some headway, which is always good.

Hmmm...there is the office Xmas party coming up...I do not want to go on my own. I might ask someone to come with me, but not sure if I'll go in the 1st place. Might be good politically speaking but I am, as Mark so eloquently put it, a nightmare to take out anywhere to eat. My diet is so strict that it becomes really very difficult to find something on the menu to chew.

Sigh. Never mind! At least, I hope that my Xmas leave will be approved and I can have a nice long break over the festive period. Here's hoping!

What a surprise

OK. It's official.

Boss does not like me in the slightest.

I was under that impression already, however, it solidified after the little incident this morning.

Boss asked me to produce a list of 10 of the most frequently asked questions that staff ask of me, and provide answers to these questions.

Once I completed this list, I gave it to him, and he began to read through it and make his amendments.

When he'd finished, he rolled over in his chair saying, 'OK, this is really good.' Which surprised me, because Boss does not compliment or praise me very much. In fact, a snowball has a better chance in the fiery depths of Hades than moiself receiving positive feedback from him. Other people in the company do so in their droves (including clients), but not him.

So, because I am rather self-deprecating, I said, 'Really, are you sure? I thought that it might be a bit rubbish.'

What he did next almost floored me.

He looked at me, and proceded to tear the sheets of paper in front of me.

!!!

He only managed to tear about 10 cm into them, when he stopped after seeing the expression on my face. I was aghast.

"So they're rubbish then? Why did you bother sending them to me then? Do they need a rewrite?"

I stated that no, but that I was not sure if it was good enough, because it was the first time I had ever compiled anything like this.

He asked again, if they needed a rewrite, to which I replied, "No, they're fine." He was sarcastic and aggressive (like a pissed off duck) during this whole episode.

Later, I thought about this incident and it occurred to me that his ego (that most sacred thing to all) might have taken my comment against his ability to judge a piece of writing as being good or not.

OK, however. Let me make a point here. Doing what he did, was incredibly poor management of the situation. Not just that, it was a COMPLETELY inappropriate and irrational reaction to my statement which was aimed at myself and NOT at him.

He didn't bother finding out what I meant by that, and just by the by, I have been working with this man for nearly 2 years now. I have displayed similar behavioural patterns before, because I am not too confident in my work (not surprising, considering I don't know where my work stands because he doesn't let me know where my work stands) and will deprecate it first before anyone else because I feel that it does not measure up. Not right, I know, but I'm working on it, dammit!

You may well ask, why the hell didn't I say all this to his face? I HATE confrontation, and I am sure that he knows that well enough, and uses that to his advantage.

Well. I was a little on the upset side, so I went and paid a visit to Big Cheese's sprog. We had a chat and she suggested that I document all the things that he does, so when it comes to it - if it does come to it - I have more than just a leg to stand on.

However. Boss is a wiley fox. He's Teflon Man. No shit will stick to this man. I have witnessed people try their damndest, but he emerges pristine without a trace of any stain. The debate: do I try to take on my Boss, or do I leave it and go on, as though it has not touched me at all, and it's of no consequence to me?

Plus, I was reminded today, of another thing that happened earlier this year. It was not an incident, so never fear.

He was getting married to his 2nd wife, so as his 2nd in line, I thought it my duty to get a wedding card, get all the consultants to sign it (including the CEO) and get money from all of them to get them a wedding present from the whole company. I bought a big card, which was filled to bursting point with the best wishes from all the other consultants and I managed to collect around £150. So with this money, I bought vouchers from the House of Frazer, and I presented them to him on the day he was going on his long holiday to have his wedding and honeymoon.

He blushed a tomato red, when I presented him with the card and the vouchers. I made sure that no one was gathered (this was also the advice of a couple of the directors), because I know that he hates a ceremony with lots of people.

I said cheerfully, that it was tough to get everyone's signatures (it's an open plan office) without him possibly guessing what I was up to.

His reply?

"Actually, I thought you were skiving off your work."

No comment here, apart from one word, which I feel is entirely appropriate under these circumstances and all others I have put up with.

Arsehole.

Decisions...

Sigh. Everyone listen to Tori Amos' song 'Seaside.' Love it. I have it thanks to Mark! Thanks hun! You get an honorary mention 'ere. ;)

I'm doing that a lot right now. Sighing deeply. There's a big decision for me to make. T will probably slice 'n dice me, because I'm considering this job opportunity at work that Big Spex has intimated that he'd like me to apply for. Could I deal with the inevitably increased stress for at least a year? Could I sacrifice that much to make it to Japan?

Hang on!

I haven't even got the job yet, let alone applied for it!

Hmm. I think that I'll give it a try, because it will be working with a different set of people & ultimately, I am in this job at the moment simply because of the money, so nothing new there. Others have put up with far greater pains in their lives, so really...give this silly mare a slap!

I will speak to Big Spex tomorrow though. I want to really be sure of what I might be getting into. I do not want to walk willy-nilly into the lion's mouth without knowing where the plank of wood is hidden to jam open the jaws...

And if you think that's cryptic, you should have seen me today...I kept telling Sylvia that her tea was in the white mug when in my head my voice was shouting that it was in the other mug...and this happened 3 times before I could get it out.

Exit left before the men in white coats see me...

Manly yet Prudish

Christ. When the receptionist is away, I absolutely LOATHE booking travel for the consultants. Today, I was asked to book their rooms online at this hotel. I couldn't find 3 single rooms for them on the website, so I opted for one single room and one twin room, which turned out to be cheaper anyway, and that's what this company loves - cheap as chips. Plus, I might add that I was deep in work with plenty of deadlines.

Dear me, if this did not raise a stink! Oh my word it was laughable. The response I received from one of the 3 was as follows:

"We've just rung the Hotel and there are rooms available. Don't know why you've been told there aren't any but I'm certainly not sharing a room, sorry. If you wanted to call and book with the hotel you can call them directly on xxxxx. They have rooms available for £89 or £119 each. If you can't arrange in time then do let me know - maybe I can conference in on the telephone for sections I need to be involved with."

This is coming from the same bloke who asked me to book it online, because 'you can save more.'
Yes! Save more, and bring out the prudish side to your personality! For crying out loud. It's only sharing a room, not sleeping in the same bed! You'd think I was asking them to be 'bed mates!'

So, of course, this travels round the office, and I'm getting comments like, 'So, you asked A and D to share a room? Why? There were single rooms available, you know.'
Lord, give me strength...

Now, Big Spex has told me that the job in the other department has been advertised, so this is my opportunity to apply for it. He had sent me the Job Specification for this role and you know what? It seems awfully similar to what I'm doing at the moment. That is, cleaning up after other people at work and taking orders from stressed out people. Be it the documentation, the system, or the men's toilets (don't ask, it was the lowest point of working there), this is something I think that I need to get out of.

Please Universe! Show me the way!

Doing the Wasabi Blush..

An ordinary day, an ordinary lunchtime...

Yowza! I couldn't believe it! Standing in the queue, already ordered my Tofu Jahang (which is yummy, by the way), a man behind me, queuing with his 2 mates, taps me on the shoulder.

And asks, 'Have you been done already?'

To which his 2 mates, in unison, gasped in horror.

To which I replied, rather indignantly, 'Not lately, no, not that I'm aware of.'

The 2 mates roared with laughter, the man had the grace to look sheepish, but he did not apologise...

One of his friends then said to me, 'You're allowed to hit him.'

I stated, 'I don't hit anything lower than myself.'

Sigh. The sexual harrassment never seems to stop. Keep going, I say! ;)

A trip home

After a long and difficult week, a trip home seemed like the perfect remedy. On Friday, I dashed for the train and once seated I felt myself begin to relax. Nothing was going to spoil this for me. No one, not a thing!

Apart from myself, of course...

I arrived home to a spookily quiet house. Mum is still in Poland, having herself a good rest - very much deserved. However, that did not stop me from wishing for teleportation to exist, so that she could pop in for the weekend. I am a little afraid of being in that house by myself during the night. I hear things go 'bump.' My heart starts to pound, adrenalin pumps in my veins - & then I cannot fall asleep until 3 am. SO much for a restful weekend.

Saturday was spent on the couch nursing my irritating headache/migraine. My meninges couldn't decide on what the pain threshold was to be, which made me even more irritated.

Sunday, however, was a lovely day. I felt an urge to visit the mountains, so I jumped in my little runaround and sped towards them.

It was a rather strange little journey. I was going back to places where my father and I had trudged up before. God, how I miss those days. When I saw the village of Rowan, I just had to turn right and wind my way through a narrow road to reach it. Once there, bittersweet memories came back. Suddenly, I saw a road leading upwards, so I thought, 'Why not?' There should have been a LARGE sign stating why not! The so-called road narrowed down to a one-car-width lane, so there was no going back, only forward. When I came upon a small gulley, whereupon my beloved little samochod began to lose power...not good! Thankfully, I had had a fantastic driving teacher in my late teens, so I only felt a tinge of mild panic. Made it over, only to find my way blocked by a gate!

Crap, was the first thought that popped into the springing blackness in my head. However! I am a woman who goes forth even when blocked by bars of steel! Hehe, all I had to do was to open it and close it behind me. My malutkie trudged forward over a worn through road (by this stage I am quite far up). A road appears before me. Time to flip a coin on this decision! Heads it was, and the choice was to crawl further up the mountain path (it had really ceased to be a road - too narrow by half!) What I came to, was wonderful.

A small carpark was etched into the side of the mountain, so I parked and got out to fully appreciate what I had arrived to...

What beauty.

Before me lay the mountain's glory. The bushes of amber hue, dusted all around amongst the green grass where multitudes of sheep were quietly munching away. All that could be heard was the sound of a running stream. The quietness I experienced is something I cannot forget. The sun shone over the landscape stretching away from me, bathing all in its warmth and golden light. From a small rock , I watched this vision feeling as though I had merged with a painting.

Leaving this Eden, my little blue bug and I went on a rollacoaster ride down, down, down until I hit the main road and then found myself in Llanrwst. This was really turning out to be a journey with my father. I went to the Church called St Grwst, which was erected around 1170, and is where my great-grandparents (from my father's side) were married. One of my ancestors, Robert Williams (who was a harpist and is famous for writing Englynion) resides there amongst the trees and the flowing river.

Monday, and I disembarked from the train at Crewe to catch my connection to London. However, there was time to moosh around before it came, so I trotted to the W H Smith on platform 5 to buy an Innocent Smoothie. What a fantastic piece of luck that turned out to be!

As I came round one of the shelves, I saw James from my A-Level class! Gosh, 7-8 had passed since we last saw one another! I knew that it was him, but I couldn't work up the nerve to go up to him and say, 'Hi, remember me?' Cringeworthy stuff!

So, like a chicken, I left the shop and went to wait on the platform. James is, of course, made of braver, tougher stuff than me, and he came out of the shop towards me saying, 'Kasia, right?!' A lovely reunion. :) James is an army man now, he's been to Afghanistan, and he told me that in a week's time he is going to be shipped there again. I felt rather alarmed and sad to hear this. However, my joker side raised herself and said to him, 'James, I have one piece of advice for you.' He grinned and asked, 'What?'

'Duck.'

We all know I did not mean the feathered variety.

Ouch and Yuck

Yes, as I predicted my French teacher not only smacked me over the head again, but it was a thicker book...You can say one thing for him. He makes good on his promises!

Trotting to the station this morning, I espied an old gentleman standing on the corner. He is there nearly every morning. Why, I am not sure. Is it because he is involved in some social experiment; watching people rushing to work, watching their body language, seeing the earnest determined looks on their faces as they rush to catch their preferred mode of transportation. Could it be that he is an anthropologist?

Or could he be lonely? By watching the people rushing past allows him to somehow remained connected?

Or is he just crazy drug dealer and waiting there for the next batch of crack?

I can make hundreds of assumptions, as to why that old chap stands there in the mornings, and not arrive to the truth. At the end of the day, does it really matter why he stands there and does what he does? I suppose it is just because I'm a nosy so-and-so

On another note...

In this instance, I could not assume, it was a damn fact! After I popped down on my seat on the train, a couple came and sat in the seats in front of me. No objection there. However! It became quickly apparent that he had a stinker of a cold. He was blowing his nose into an already threadbare tissue, but that was not my main objection...

He wiped his nose on the back of his hand, on the front of his hand, including his other hand. My stomach turned. I am not a fan of excretions of mucus, especially spread around in that manner. His girlfriend (I am assuming here...) said something like, 'You're sick!' I thought, good for you! Tell him that he is being disgusting! Until I realised that she was being sympathetic about his cold and not the revolting habit he was displaying to the rest of us.

Hmm...

I think that the old man was indulging in a hobby similar to mine - watching and observing people.

A worthy pastime or just a waste of time?

Going Zatoichi!

*sigh*

Am feeling better now, although I would have loved to have stayed in bed to sleep my head off.

Having watched the graceful lightning moves of Beat Takeshi's character made me want to hire myself a ronin to dispose of life's little irritating mosquitoes.

I'm seeing my French teacher today and I have not done my homework, again. I'm not looking forward to being hit by a thicker book over my head. Tough as they come...! He's a laugh though. We have good lessons with a few jokes thrown in for good measure. I'm just so sorry that my job and my fustrations are draining me of any creative energy, so much so that I am unable to find the motivation to soak up all the languages I am trying to learn. Or am I letting Life's irritations drain me? It's the latter, me thinks.

If I was more relaxed about things, not so easily riled, irritated, 'going-off-on-one', then perhaps I would be sailing through my existence with a love for everyone and everything.

Even walking Molly (the pooch extraordinaire) is not a simple affair. I have to avoid the Dirty Old Man (just the DOM for short) in the park. He was pissed as a fart (it's not polite, but dammit! It's the best description for just how inebriated he was!) and he molested me...now, it does not do wonders for a Gal's self esteem when it seems that only DOMs are interested in her that way.

*sigh*

Next time, should he even come within 5 metres of me, I'm going to go Zatoichi on him...

Urgh..

Was so ill last night...I was curled up on the couch in the living room feeling as though I was going to pass out.

I worried my flatmates who could hear my 'dying aria' and melodious sounds of retching in the bathroom.

Nice.

Japanese on the way to work - a pleasure!

I have discovered something really wonderful about learning Japanese on my way into work...

Whilst reading my 'Beginner's Japanese' and listening to the CD (with my big head-muffins), I found to my delight that this activity was attracting some attention. I think that I should take the head-muffins off, so I can converse about the merits of learning a new language, and then talk about where one can have a good cup of coffee, so our conversation could continue further... ;)

However, I'm feeling a little worse for wear today. I am meeting T for lunch, so that's somethng to look forward to. We're are more or less in the same boat - not sure about the direction our lives should take.

Whenever anyone asks me what I want to do with my existence, it pains me to answer (as much as it pains them to hear) the inevitable, 'I don't know.' I think my feelings of fustration have reached levels that have soared through the upper most level and are now heading for the stratosphere.

I thought about doing voice-overs, however, that plan is on hold at the moment. I think I could do it, but as a living, hmmm. That part I am not so sure about. As a 'Voiceover Artist' one has to be firmly established to make a good living from it, and I am not in a position to start from the bottom to work my way up. I would need to be available at times when I am currently working and my current workplace is not sympathetic to my cause (whatever it may be).

Why did I think that I would be a voice-over artist? A great number of people (whose names I have recorded and I will 'visit' them one day...that is no idle threat...) have commented on the timbre of my tones. So. I thought, 'Yes! I will leave my job, and I will talk into a mic and they will pay me money to do this!' How naive. The industry is highly competitive, and those who have been 'tried & tested' are the ones who are contacted first, and the job usually will go to them. I am not using this as an excuse not to pursue this avenue, just that I am being realistic and not wanting to jump into something willy-nilly.

The current avenue, which I am currently thinking of exploring is teaching English as a foreign language.

A world away from the previous option!

Yes. I am certifiable, but first you'll have to catch me...

Learning 3 languages...

Good Day, Bonjour, Dzien dobry, Konnichiwa!

A spectacularly long and international set greeting for my very first blog! Who inspired me to start this? I believe that I can happily blame Ruth! :)

In any case, I'm such a nutter for taking on 3 languages. Why?! What hath possessed me to do this? A love of learning new languages? Or a 'healthy' masochistic streak? The jury is still out on that one, as far as I am concerned.

As I messaged Ruth, I have been trying to pronounce the letter 'r' in Japanese. I felt my friend Ayako's pain when I kept valiantly missing the mark...more practice is very much required, but I am enjoying it immensely. Learning the language, not torturing poor Ayako!

Writing in Japanese is going to be a hoot. Literally. That will be the sound I will make interred in my little white padded room...

However! All is not lost! I have already memorised quite a few Kanji (Chinese characters), but I have yet to begin learning Hiragana and Katakana. Maybe I am being a bit too ambitious?! No! I will be resolute! My ultimate goal? To be fluent in all 3 languages. Now, that's ambitious...