I'm baaaack!

I think so anyways. I'm half conscious and sitting at my desk in a semi comatose state. It's quite incredible what sleep depravation can do to your spactial perception. I've been awake now for like forever. I landed in London at half ten and took a cab from Paddington station to my flat. From there I had a cup of tea, a shower then jumped on the bus to head into work. It's all so dream-like... I wonder if I am really here at all?

I slept for about 2h on the plane... it was freaking cold. I was really happy to see that they only played one film and it was the 'bourne identity' lucky in that I had no interest at all in watching it thus wasn't tempted to try and stay awake and watch it.

The rain and the humidity were a joy to me and me alone today. I swear, I'd take it any day over the snow and freaking freezing temperatures in Toronto that I endured over the past few days!

Xmas was great. I had such a fun time with my mum and my sis. Got to see Noeleen, Karm, Mark, Andy, Lisa, Dave, Ashley... and all the family peeps too!

My little 8 year old cousin is such a sweetie. She's so smart. My Grandfather was telling me a story about when she was 5. He had asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up... she responded 'a scientist cause they're the smartest people in the world' my grandfather then asked 'didn't you want to be an artist?' she then quickly replied 'grandpa, I AM an artist!' She's sooo funny. She absorbs everything. She opened her box of animal encyclopaedias from my sister and immediately remarked how she had another set from the same series citing 'the writing is the same on the covers' Woa. Smart or what? Identifying typefaces and fonts at age 8? Man!

I'm feeling mostly woozy now and am not sure just how I'm going to make it home without passing out on the bus and ending up in some part of town I don't know.... think I may need an escort... Miss hazel???? will you come and rescue me?

Signing off...

Well that's pretty much it for me for the year... Heading back to the big bad home land tomorrow afternoon. I'm very excited. I'm dreading flying and missing miss H but I'm sure I'll manage somehow...

Happy holidays...

be back on the 30th eh?

Need a holiday in the sun...?

big up to hazel who is vacationing on my guest map... I laughed out loud when I saw her entry... check it out... sign it too! (right hand column at the bottom)

anyone looking for the number to ring amazon and speak to a real person becaue the gift they ordered on the 3rd of December has not yet arrived... can do so on:

020 8636 9200


an no, of course I'm not bitter.

shh... don't tell anyone...

I'm pretending to be a girl today. I'm wearing very high heels and all. It's all in honour of our office xmas party. I thought I would be brave and wear them to work this morning... Damn things nearly killed me! They're about three inches high with and ankle strap they've got a narrow squared point at the front... And jesus, mary, joseph and the little donkey to they ever make the ball of my foot hurt when I walk! Hazel advises to walk on the back of my foot putting the weight on the heel. I am completely able to do this. I don't know why??? I can however walk half normally in them, it's only the pain of my face that gives it away... Any one else have any tips on how to walk in heels?

Please... someone help me!... I am a casualty of fashion.

Merry Xmas Terhi!

Stuck for a pressie this xmas? Well Hazel and I were proud to present one of our most faithful readers with a brand new blog of her very own! Now I know it's before xmas but still I know she will enjoy it. Plus we'll now have a very important insight into the daily life of a Finnish lass!

Please visit itand send her your well wishes!

And remember, a blog isn't just for Christmas.

Oh yea, Linda, yours it's on it's way... just need your e-mail....

If

my stats are any indication to how many sickos there are out there... my god. what a nightmare! I am now going to go through all my posts and nix the words that are pulling up all these distressing referals to my site. *yuckie*

It's beautiful and sunny here for the first time in nearly 3 weeks. It does such wonders to your mood, when you have a bit of sunshine!

Amazon does indeed suck as there was nothing in my letterbox last night. I'm very cross. This is just a piss take now!

Tonight I think I'm going to take Hazel out on a secret date... won't be secret for long if she reads this... but lets just see how long it takes for her to sus me out...

hmm where to go... any suggestions?

tsk tsk!

Amazon.co.uk it's taken them more than 13 days to dispatch my order... Both items I chose were fully in stock and were supposed to be available immediately. I was just about to throw in the towel and cancel the bloody order when up pops notification that it's been dispatched this morning. How convenient!

I managed to rustle up a new article for mutation spotting over the weekend. It's not an easy feat to summarize something in just 250 words. I really hope that I can get commissioned to write for them. It would be super fab. *crosses fingers*

Only 4 more sleeps now till I fly home. I'm just really hoping they don't declare war between then and now... It would be most inconvenient! Just in time for returning home, I seem to be acquiring my annual xmas ailment. I'm hoping my flu jab helps ward it off!

Had a most lovely lunch with Dearbhla yesterday at Mash. The food was not that great but her company as splendid as always! Lunch today with Jojo and Michelle. Our office xmas party is at some private members club near here... it's on Thursday. It's a dressy uppy thing. Looks like I'll be wobbling about on my heels!

Can I just say that pathetic small minded ex's are so freaking sad. Sometimes situations in life make me smile ear to ear, especially when certain people finally get what they deserve!

knowing my mother will never read this, I can safely note here the list of various white chocolate goodies I got her for xmas... Seestor tells me she's even thinner than the last time I saw her... Grieving is just stripping away the pounds... but there isn't much of her to lose!

1 terry's chocolate orange ball (white)
1 box of after eights (white)
1 packet of white chocolate buttons
1 limited edition white chocolate aero
1 white kit kat

All of these items are NOT available in Canadia, thus adding specialness.

I am safe in the knowledge that it is safe from my chocoholic tendencies as I abhor white chocolate! *phew* This should keep her busy!

There was...

a very unusual amount of sick about town this morning... first someone appeared to have an unfortunate incident on the 30 this morning, followed by an alarmingly high amount on the footpath, through the square I walk through on my way to work... Could it be over indulgence at xmas parties? Could it be an epidemic of the flu? Or could I have just inadvertently followed the path of the poor sod? Very yucky nonetheless!

Popbitch is back up and running again. What a joy it brings to my sad sad existence. I'm supposing they were smartly laying low due to their media trashing a few weeks back about the DB scandal.

Why do people call booze, plonk here? That is one thing I will never understand...

I've just only recently...

seen what David Grey looks like... Now back in Ottawa he was considered terribly uncool. Not that I cared, thus when I was bombarded by his music in the studio around the time of Filament's demise, I do admit to becoming fond of his music. Now that I'm in the UK and he's got a new album out, he seems to be everywhere. To me, his face doesn't match his music at all... I can liken this feeling I have to one that most people experience when they first see their favourite radio dj in person... the voice very rarely matches the face.

Kudos to the guy at the Merc shop on Carnaby st. this lunch time. He was really sweet and helpful when I was trying to find something for my friend Karm for xmas. Not that I have much interest in shopping there, but if I did, I would.

As ever...

Dearbhla is always the finder of all that is cool and trendy... renouncing cat ownership for a single woman as, 'giving up' and a definitive trigger to a 'spinster alert'... Resolving to avoid this possibly precarious situation has opted to become the proud owner of one of these....

I really want one for my desk! Mind you it's so cold in there the damn things would probably freeze!

I dig the colour options!

I would have never thought this would have happened to me...

I'm a self confessed sweet tooth. However, for some odd reason, ever since the weekend I've not been able to manage to drink my regular brew! It seems that it's suddenly become too sweet! How could this be? I usually take 2 sugars in my tea and now I'm cut down to one... What's a girl to do? How could such a thing happen? Is this a symptom of old age? Is it all down hill from here?

Our travellers have departed back to the land of Canadia, lets just hope they take this chilly weather with them! Darrell reports that it's minus 20 Celsius in Ottawa so we shouldn't feel so bad here!

11 more sleeps till I depart for Canadia... feeding extra mouths has severely depleted my bank account so I'm again accepting donations!

My permanent contract is due on my desk in the next few days. So strange in the wake of all the layoffs here in the last two weeks... I almost feel guilty, but not quite. If it was my time to go, I would have gone.

I've got static cling...

in the lining of my new trousers! I'm not really complaining as I got them at this sale on Friday for 20£ they're 100% pure wool with a satiny lining! I'm having a bit of an 80's flashback to when I used to own a skirt made out of the same fabric as this lining and it was a nightmare to control during the winter. Living in London has greatly reduced the amount of static in my life... guess cause it's always so damp but this cold snap in the past few days has wreaked havoc!

I contemplated eating a pear from our Monday basket o' fruit... but went for the mandarin orange instead... It's getting the toss from the first minute I spot a seed. I'm trying to be a better fruit eater... on the whole, I can honestly admit to not liking much fruit, but I'm trying...

Went to spittalfields yesterday and picked up a really groovy pressie for Mark. I hope it fits.... I can't write what it is on the off chance he reads my blog and it spoils the surprise... That market is getting crazy, it used to be way more affordable! Guess cause the area is picking up so are the clientele as well as the prices!

My Amazon order is lost stolen or strayed, I'm most certain. One of Kaffin's xmas presents is in it! HELP!

It's a beautiful clear day!

Which translates to the fact that it's quite brisk. The sunlight and blue skies are indeed a treat! I'm sitting here waiting to have long over due meeting with my boss... after all the redundancies while I was away on holidays, I can't say I'm feeling too stable especially because I'm not yet permanent. tick tick tick

I'm quite pleased with yahoo's photo album, their upload functionality is stellar. Super quick really!

I'm so happy it's Thursday as the weekend approachith. It's always a long week when you first get back from time off. Only 16 more sleeps till I fly home.

Is this it? nuhhuhhh.... (ff)
they're too many stars and not enough sky (ta)
give me an hour, and I'll give your your dream(ff)
too bad the burial was premature she said and smiled (ta)

Psst...

Wanna see all our pictures from France? I know you do Miss Hazel...

Very Handy tool

thanks to http://www.nicelytoasted.net/burnt/for this ever so handy reference of the difference between words in the UK and Canadia. Sean, you can now follow what I'm writing about??? *poke*

I have this...

really unnatural desire to consume some of my mum's cream cheese icing....

it's a sickly coloured sky today and it sure is a raining!

xmas shopping this year has brought me no pleasure whatsoever... being on a budget never helps. I keep seeing loads of stuff I want to buy for my dad... he always gets so spoiled every year... it's so strange that he's gone... guess it will never feel normal again.

Jeff and annick are back from their travels! They're heading home on the 10th and are with us here in London till then. Sounds like they had a great adventure, but do indeed seem anxious to go home!

I had this dream last night where I was looking in the mirror and I had finally achieved perfectly shaped abs! dream indeed! I've been gyming it pretty good of late but no such luck just yet...

It's been so many years since I've said this... I can't wait to go home.

so i'm lacking...

a bit of inspiration, having enjoyed my week away from blogging... in this state of laziness I'm inclined to pirate Sarah's style of summarizing events of the recent past...

highlights include:

-witnessing a near mugging in the street while waiting for the bus to take us to the airport
-arriving at the airport in perfect time (this is very novel for me)
-Ryan air flight departing and arriving on time!
-Stanstead airport being a complete ghost town
-paying 19£ each for a return ticket on the Stanstead express...
-having an awkward misunderstanding with a friend who thought we were staying with them instead of in the hotel we already booked
-feeling kind of special in that some of the familiar faces in town still remembered me after all those years
-drinking loads of great Guinness
-feeling really old being surrounded buy 21 year old students (both at jo's student union here in London and in the smoking dog in Lyon)
-immeasurable amounts of love and kisses
-dirt cheap fags
-surprisingly bad food
-a nice feeling of catharsis (can't help but feel a little bit Dawson's Creek writing that...)
-rain rain and more sodding rain
-silence, beautiful calm silence
-very desolate gay bars
-amazingly friendly and nice locals
-air traffic control strike
-the usual Sarah pre-departure anxiety panic
-CNN
-the movie Pecker
-just how rude Londoners are compared to people in Lyon
-the joy of sleeping in our own bed again
-a hair raising visit to Vidal Sassoon for free hair cuts
-a terribly large piss up with the Frameworks gang
-a new house plant (nice big palm)
-practicaly biting through the inside of my mouth during a really strange dream, ouch!
-big layoffs at my job (i'm spared for now)

I can and may expand on some of these points at a later date...

It's good to be back.

oh yea...

So i'm standing at the bus stop this morning with no idea what time it is... I'm lost without my Hazel, she's at home relaxing enjoying her time off...

across the road parked on the footpath (UK) sidewalk (CDN) was a British Telecom service van. All who were stood at the bus stop stared blankly at the man as he sat in his van. Suddenly as if by magic, he started up the ignition and revved the engine and prepared to depart, which meant dismounting the curb and merging with the traffic on the other side of the road... He did the manoeuvre with great stealth... and the split second he pulled into the traffic stream, he poked his tongue out at all of us a the bus stop, and sped off...

?

the pumpkins that smashith

the other day at work I was bored... so while doing my normal tasks I stumbled upon this dusty page deep within the Austrian portal that was no longer live... it was a volume of 5 video segments than ran in total for about 30mins. It was a trip from the rise to the fall of the smashing pumpkins. It starts out in a car with Billy speaking about the beginning of the band, he's driving while being interviewed... The story continues and details their rise to fame, stories about meeting band members... sex, drugs, music... heroin overdoses, death. What struck me the most was the music. I've never been a big fan, I can indeed admit to loving some of their songs and even surprisingly own the Ave Adore album, which I can not for the life of me remember buying... anyhoo... It's absolutely incredible what great musicians they are. I'm not at all in the know about these things but the parts of the documentary that covered their creative process, hard work and absolute obsession with perfection was really commendable. Certainly not your flippant rock star scenario, these kids worked hard. They're certainly not for everyone but the drumming and the vocals synch it for me.

One more sleep till ve go to ze countree of france, c'est vachement cool ou quoi?

hmmm, maybe I should enlist a guest blogger while I'm away... anyone interested?

sometimes...

I kind of get the feeling that keeping a blog is like keeping a sticker book. Back when I was wee, it was all the rage to collect stickers, trade them and so on. It was a good time. So is this. At least this way, I'm not competing for the ever ellusive 'garbage pail kids' sticker!

just why is it...

that so many people are attracted to soaps and candles that look and smell like food? do we want to eat fire and bubbles?

perhaps some things are best left unknown.

for some odd reason...

I managed to leave the house this morning without my jacket... I think it's because I'm wearing a suit jacket and shirt today. I thought I would try something new... but, yea... I'm still wearing jeans and trainers along with it... I'm fashionable challenged... I know.

It's very damp today, not so much cold but wet wet wet... hey, wasn't that the name of a terrible boy band. God, maybe I should delete the three wets as I'm sure I'm going to end up with some unsuspecting porn searchers at my site, god knows I already get enough hits from pervs looking for pictures of ...

Hazel asked me the most bizarre question on the way to the bus this morning... 'if you could come up with a new name for a colour, what would it be?' I responded ' ickle' it would be a grey/black/brown colour.... 'honey, have you seen my ickle coloured jumper?' I love it already! A while back I came up with this idea with this designer I worked with at Mitel... it was to invent a line of clothing for the discriminating designer... it was a line of t-shirts or tops made to match their exactly CMYK colour reference... geeky indeed... but we talked of having the numbers somewhere small across the chest or on the arm band... of course the silliness spawned into RGB jeans etc... I'm quite thankful that never happened... mind you, now after I've written it, someone is going to stumble upon my site, rip the idea and make millions... well, if you do... please remember the little people. *snivels*

As of late I've been pondering a bunch of things... my grieving is subsiding a bit so it's allowed for a bit more room to move about. I've been wondering, just what sort of catalyst one would require to fully come into their own... I know time is the best way to become one with yourself and such... I've got evidence of this as now in winter I wear a hat and don't care how silly I look, because I'm warm... I want to transfer some of that self assurance into all elements of my life... Some might say I need to embark on a challenge of sorts and push myself to the utter limits of my soul in order to see my true self... I don't think it's that easy. I think I have to rely on time and patience and just absorb things in until there is no more room for uncertainty. How long will that take... will it take as long as it takes that woman in that poem 'when i'm old I'll wear purple'?

Only 3 more sleeps till...

Our holiday! I'm getting quite excited! I know not everyone is a fan, but the Beaujolais nouveau is released tomorrow (too bad we're not there for the free samples they give out on the street) The French mostly hate it it's just us silly foreigners who consume it... I wish we could stay long enough to catch the festival de lumieres which is on the 8th... It's so lovely!

We watched the movie 'The others' last night. I can quite confidently say that it was 2h of my life that I'll never get back... I can't imagine it was a surprise to anyone watching the film as not but 10 minutes in, it was clear as day that they were all dead... dear god, what a terrible film...

My big work project is pretty much finished, so there isn't much to do... wonder how I'm going to manage to fill up the rest of the week...

Ah yes, all the tenants in our block received a letter threatening anyone playing loud music at unacceptable times of the day will be evicted with 1 months notice, no argument. Strange, for some odd reason the bratty University kids didn't pump their stereo last night... aww such a shame!

so...

yea, the shitty kids three doors down, thought they would be clever and do the loud music late at night thing just to spite all their neighbours whom already want to murder them. Pumping bass from 11pm -12pm again last night...just to make a point to let us all know that daddy's money will protect them from anyone's nasty interfering with their lives?... god help us.

KJ and Simon rang me last night. What a treat to hear from them. I feel kind of bad as I was so knackered after I got home last night... my unusually poisonous hormones aren't helping either... I'm just no fun to be around right now, so I suppose this bad hair day I'm having isn't helping either...

time for holiday... only 4 more sleeps

What a beautiful misty morning

Didn't feel that exciting when I first hauled ass out of bed... could have something to do with our little spoiled brat student neighbours who live 3 doors down and two floors above us, who decided to throw a party and play super loud music, starting at midnight... it was Sunday night for goodness sake... After nearly all the tenants were standing outside screaming up to their flat asking for the music to be turned down, all that was responded was the two finger salute and a lot of stomping on the floor. So we called the police... who don't deal with this anymore... so we called the noise pollution 24h hotline... guess what, due to budget cutbacks, it's only open 9-5... why bother? so we ring the cops again, and go back inside... 30 mins later, the brats had caught wind that the cops were on the way and turned off the music and kicked everyone out... Cops arrived, and were really sweet, terribly young, they couldn't have been older than 20! They told us to let them know if it kicked off again, then left...So near to 2am we finally fell asleep. *sends evil vibes to ignorant rich students who's parents may be bankrolling them*.... but as my mother always said... 'money can not buy class'

Too funny...

I was chatting to my friend Dearbhla today... I said to her...

sj_chick: I see the light at the end of the tunnel

and she replies in her ever so witty way...

swervla: as long as its not the oncoming train

sleep is the enemy...

such as it seems on the weekend... weekdays I just can't get enough. Miss H and I were jolted awake at half two in the morning thinking the alarm went off... of course it hadn't but sure did manage to disturb the rest of the night's slumber... all well doo lally as we left the house- late of course...

It was so funny! ... On our way out, I dropped my glove in the empty rubbish bin outside the loft while trying to chuck in the bin bag... I had a skirt on so miss hazel, fag in hand, climbed up (me holding her by the back of her slacks) trying to fish out my glove using my umbrella... Seriously I was laughing so hard I was crying... you know that uncontrollable laugh/cry thing? Feck, I even have tears in my eyes writing this down... it's amazing how a good laugh first thing in the morning can really make a difference in your mood for the rest of the day!

How super is it that it's Friday?

proof that we were indeed the most ordinary people at the ICA sat. night!

not that we're featured in these pics but you can get an idea of what it was like...

I've dropped around a few sprinklings of letters to people I haven't spoken to in ages. It's so much fun to get little sparks of life from friends a far. give it a try, I dare you.

The sun has broken through the clouds and the white building across the road from my desk looks a bit like a Greek palace because the sky is that blue. but trust me, it's not a palace but a terrible counsel flat with the worst possible netting in the windows I think I've ever seen.

I've noticed how my narrative in this blog has gradually changed here in the last year, I've gone from almost entirely self reflective to outward facing... hmm. I guess it narrows down to the thrill of response, human interaction... guess that's why we humans have stuck around for so long.

Strange things...

Why is it the mere image of Garfield the cartoon cat, evokes the my memory of the taste of zoodles? must be my braincells dying... for those of you who don't know what zoodles are... they were animal shaped pasta figures that came in a tin with tomato sauce.

if visiting...

please sign my guestmap...

le weekend, un reportage de sarah jarrett...

I spent approximately 4-5h on my own in the flat yesterday... not doing much but some laundry, some lounging and some snoozing. It was so fabulous. I spend so much time running around, working, commuting, working out, socializing... I'm just never home alone. It was really chill.

went to the electroLaB party at the ICA on Saturday night. What an interesting event. It was the culmination of everyone from st. martens and goldsmiths, the bigger and whiter and shinier the stilettos were, the better! Couple them with some pink or bright coloured fishnets and you were FABulous! All joking aside, it was a very interesting crowd. Micha and Keith joined us, which proved to be a good laugh. The rain at the end of the evening was not the highlight... I didn't think it was humanly possible to get that soaked! However, the gods were smiling upon us as we all managed to secure seats on the 38 on the way home... nothing to scoff at folks.

It's beautiful and sunny here today. All the office is sick and sniffling. *covers mouth and nose* I'm really not wanting to play that game! only 12 more days till our holiday! Funds are running terribly low. Donations will be accepted.

Can I just mention....

that in Norwegian, the word chat is pratt *giggles*

A letch at the bus stop- the tale of a sad city...


This blog is officially one of my favourite new blogs that I've stumbled across!

Hauling ass to the bus this morning... we got off at Angel to change onto the 30... had a wee chat with our new found French friends who sell coffee and pain au chocolate outside the station. Nice guys. So there we stand in the crowds of people in the gloomy rain... out of the corner of my eye I spot this man who makes kissy kissy actions in my direction... Hazel and I laughed it off and ponder what on earth he could possibly be thinking he could gain by doing this. We thought nothing of it... not but a minute later, he's bumbled through the people and planted himself right next to us and continues his suggestive antics. We were like... hello? you freaking nutter! So we make a loud statement something to the lines of 'it's rather unfortunate that some people are just so rude and intrusive' and walked to the other side of the bus shelter.... Yea, you guessed it. Not but a few moments later he was there again, right in our faces. At that point the bus arrived which was a pretty good thing because at that point I was ready to throttle him. Sicko!

The thing that disheartens me more than his unacceptable letching over two women at a bus stop in the early morning, is the fact that there were so many people around and no one did anything. I mean, if some guy was doing that to another woman and I was there I would certainly pipe up and make it very clear that his actions were not acceptable and that he should sod off... not a man or a woman said a thing... no one wanted to interfere...that is the saddest of all.

Sainsbury's

The sainsbury's at Angel is now open 24h a day. The joy and turmoil, it's hard to recount... Miss H and I stopped in on our way home after meeting up with Theo for a drink... We were by no means, drunk but I believe we were only there to buy fixings to make tacos but ended up spending like 40£ between the two of us... items of note on our shopping lists were...

- 1 joint of beef (hello?) what's that about? I'll have to take pictures as to how Hazel plans to consume this monstrosity...
- 3 yoghurts of various variety (including peach crumble and chocolate banana crunch... no nutritional value in sight)
- taco fixings... including cheese, salsa, avocados, yellow pepper, and taco shells
- Now magazine
- 1 beautiful stainless steel olive oil decanter filled with extra fine virgin olive oil (Hazel couldn't resist, we HAD to own it)

How it amounted to that much... I'll never know... I think they saw us coming a mile away... either that or they've added on a night time service charge... or think we're drunk and stupid... which we weren't but still... why am I so confused?

However, to their credit, Sainsbury's has come up with some great gift ideas for xmas... my favourite being, the chocolate fondue pot. Hmm, someone on my list is going to get that for sure!

today I walked to the bus stop and my socks and trousers got wet from the lashing rain

yesterday I had a great Japanese meal with a friend

the day before I went to the gym and when I was finished, had a nice steam sauna

the day before that I had a terrible hangover

the day before that I walked around town in the rain and got my socks wet

the day before that I rented a bad movie

the day before that, I can't remember a thing

Again the ball of fire has risen in the skies above London

much has transpired over the weekend... hopefully all will settle. The rain and gloomy weather sure did add in it's fair share of pathetic fallacy... lighter notes include being on the 38 on the way home on saturday night after 5 too many martinis taking the role of the bus asshole and dodging anti-Canadian - south park - fueled insults by Keith and Hazel and a screeming queen who was more than delighted to take part...

Busy week ahead... meeting with hon tomorrow night and Therese on Thursday... gym in-between, oh yes and if I'm lucky I might just make it home sometime in between all of that.

Can I just say... do I look like a freaking prossie? I think not. I went across the road last night out into the big bad world outside my loft compound *scoff* and some freaking punter honks his horn at me and tries to follow along beside me... I mean come on now. I'm walking across the road to the shop... so I exit the shop and he's circled around the green and come back and honks again just on the off chance that I am indeed a hooker and I'm just playing hard to get... now I've seen some of the ladies who occasionally work the corners around my street and I can tell you for damn sure they look rough as hell. I really felt like going over to the guys car and asking him if he was having a laugh? Eww eww.

I never thought it was humanly possible for time to pass by so slowly. It's only 14h28 and the minutes are dragging by. I've been clock watching since 13h40 could that be the reason. I think the fact that it started getting dark at quarter past three doesn't help matters much either. Gosh darn it, If had only gotten in on time this morning I could duck out of here early. damn me.

I'm checking though our newest Norwegian site boy does it ever make life exciting...

Please someone... entertain me, or sign me out?

*hides under desk*

I have this really annoying habit...

I can't even imagine how mad it must drive the guy who sits next to me...

I'm a mouth breather. I've just become conscious that I have this habit (for no reason whatsoever) of sharply inhaling from only the corners of my mouth. Why? dunno...

Happy Hallowe'en!

Am i the only person who spells it this way? I remember it being drilled into me while I was at school. Even spell check doesn't like it. Well too, bad... it's one of the VERY few words I spell correctly, so gosh darn it, I'm taking advantage.

There is nothing good on radio 6 today... seriously my ears are bleeding... someone help me.

How much to I love liam lynch's song 'The united states of whatever'? lots :)

I wonder if I can forego my healthy eating attempts and indulge in some chockies in celebration of the day of ghoulishness?

Only 23 more days till our holiday to France!

I'm certainly no developer... but man oh man...

I was working in our CMS (content management system) today and just my luck... while changing a sub-channel name from upper to lower case the whole freaking primary channel wiped. PANIC is too mild to describe this occurrence. Luckily it turns out that I didn't do it, in fact the CMS had been having glitches for the past couple days. PHEW. My god. Deleting an entire content section on a live site that includes live feeds! How fired would I have been?

*heart still racing at 1000 bpm*

I think I'm going to go and work in a shop... less potential for terror in the workplace... hmm less money... yea, scrap that.

I can't seem to maintain any sort of posture or even remotely eat healthily...

no amount of tea can warm my tooties as I sit here at my desk...

Beth from Portishead has a new album out and they're sampling it on radio 6... it's pretty disappointing... man, just shows how much beats did for her... sorry Beth.

I have no idea what to buy mum for her b'day...

perhaps the steam room will provide some solace... aren't I just the ray of sunshine today?

time has overlapped people and places and memories. reality is just that.

I'm overlapped and detatched.

like a custom-made versace couture piece that doesn't fit.

Let Go

drink up, baby down
mmm, are you in or are you out
leave your things behind
'cause it's all going off without you
excuse me, too busy you¡¯re writing your tragedy
these mishaps
you bubble wrap
when you've no idea what you're like

so let go, jump in
oh well, whatcha waiting for
it's alright
'cause there's beauty in the breakdown
so let go, just get in
oh, it's so amazing here
it's alright
'cause there's beauty in the breakdown

it gains the more it gives
and then it rises with the fall
so hand me that remote
can't you see that all that stuff's a sideshow

such boundless pleasure
we've no time for later now
you can't await your own arrival
you've 20 seconds to comply

so let go, jump in
oh well, whatcha waiting for
it's alright
'cause there's beauty in the breakdown
so let go, just get in
oh, it's so amazing here
it's alright
'cause there's beauty in the breakdown

-Frou Frou

I just had a gleeful visit to the stationary bunker downstairs...

the fruits of my newly collected bounty include:

-a gummy wrist protector to cushion my wrists as I type
-blue staples! *wicked*
-a pencil sharpener (I haven't had one of those in years)

My day is officially complete. I'm in stationary heaven!

Just had my flu jab...

Didn't hurt but I feel kind of woozy... and there's a lump in my throat... I'm sure I'll live. Much better than getting the flu let me tell you. Did you know that they use egg in the flu shot... or some dirititive of sorts... guess if you're vegan, you have to just suffer with the flu.

Work is much less stressful to day, infact I dare to state that I've been borderline unproductive this morning... naughty me.

Tori Amos is playing in London in January to support her new album. Miss H and I are going to go, should be quite good! I figure she's such a great musician I should take the chance to see her before chance decides to not align things like this again.... god I sound like such a drip!

Hoping that my flu shot doesn't slow me down too much, I think I may just do a quick stop over at the gym this lunch... I figure if I do half my workout at lunch and half after work I'll have more time to myself at home in the evenings and reduce the frequency of arriving home at nearly 10pm

How badly do I need a hair cut? desperately... I'm the person walking down the st. who hasn't seen my hairdresser since The beginning of Aug! Trying to maintain a fashion cut after it's grown out is not an easy feat... It's sad. just very sad.

Can I just say, thank god for internet radio... it's my lifeline while at work.

I have worked here for just over a month now...

I've noticed for the first time today that I have two large desk lamps on my desk. Previous to this, I had not noted... Why are they there? Why did I take so long to notice? Why is there a rainbow coloured laye (flower thingie) around the neck of one of them?

Why? for the love of god, why did I now notice till now?

I think it could have something to do with being back at the gym again almost everyday... but I have this insatiable hunger... I could literally eat anything at anytime of the day....

it's grey and uber rainy here in the grand ol' city of London today.

Can I just say how surprisingly warm fishnet stockings are? I'm mighty impressed.

It's like a ghost town here this morning... my boss is off sick, one person out on holidays and someone else just hasn't bothered to show up (yet)... not very motivating but hey, someone's got to work.

speaking of work... duty calls...

Jolt

Thanks to Sarah who had a reference in her blog to this site... which reminded me of this excellent comercial I remember only seeing it on showcase during the GLB film festival but it was a good-un!

For all those who have not lived in Canada before... Jolt is a cola with twice the amount of caffine as any other cola beverage...

Sunbeam, stop tugging me! We don't have time for this...

Hi my name is Sarah...

and I'm a Frou Frou addict... more specifically my weakness has been exposed as track 1 and 7.

Phew, now I've got that off my chest, I think I can get on with my day... oh yes, that doesn't mean that I'm going to stop listening.

The sun is so big and yellow today, the sky so blue, it's dang gorgeous.

I tried taking the tube this morning in a trial run to see if it was better than taking the bus... Not a chance... what a nightmare.... I honestly don't know how people do it... It's like a mob scene and I only went three stops. Never again. I shall weather the climate and the clogged roads rather than be part of the underground human sausage factory.

I'm supposed to be going to this drinks thing tonight with the recruitment company who connected me with this job... I'm not terribly interested but they rang and e-mailed so many times that I felt obliged to say yes. I shall then forego my gym-tivities this pm and trundle off to Faringdon to mill around with people I don't know... Perhaps the hob knobbing will come in handy a couple years from now (or a few months if my contract isn't renewed) when I'm looking for work again. I always feel like such a little kid at things like this...

want to know what the winning lotto numbers are going to be on Saturday? I'm thinking 5, 34, 19, 8, 17, 1

Mystery fruit

so yes, as so it goes, I've noticed a strange phenomenon here in ze office... At the beginning of every week, provisions of various fruits arrive in the second floor kitchen... it's the special kitchen that dispenses yummy dr. pepper sodie pops for free. So anyways, back to the fruit. It arrives there and somehow, a portion of it arrives upstairs to the third floor where I work in the lounge/plasma screen tele area. There is a fair quantity and a good selection of various types of fruitful fancy... Then, as if by magic... within a day it's all gone... nothing left but a stray bruised banana. I've never seen anyone eat any of it, nor have I been brave enough to try it myself... but yes indeedy it goes. I'm thinking perhaps it's the TV production team that is responsible for the consumption. Be that as it may, I'm still puzzled as I've never before witnessed fruit provisions from an employer before... super strange. Maybe someone's family owns a fruit stand... I don't know. Gee, the things I waste my time pondering about.

what's the difference between provision and ration? is the only difference is that a ration is limited? But provisions can be limited too, when does a provision become a ration or visa versa?

I love my new gym. I did a tae bo class last night for the first time in over a year. Man, I did we ever look like a bunch of twats. But all the right parts are experiencing a dull ache today so it's all good. I don't' think I'll ever find a class that is as good as the one Eldon ran at Mitel... he knew his stuff, and made you work hard till you thought you were going to die... ahh the joys of exercise.

I've booked my flight home for xmas, finally found a direct one, it cost about 60£ more but it was much more attractive than transferring in Frankfurt and adding an extra 8h total flying time...

Can't wait to go home and see everyone, I really wish I had the money to bring miss Hazel with me...

Yesterday morning I dreamt that I was getting ready to have tea with my dad. I was so excited, sadly I was awoken by the alarm clock before he actually arrived. That would have been so nice....

Aie Aie Frou Frou, Can I have a sample please?

The Story of FrouFrou
"Music can be like perfume," suggests a Frou Frou. "It's almost a scent, you know, where the right smell changes an environment and makes life more bearable. "If the challenge for a pair of skilled musical parfumiers is to connect up all five senses and create a sixth realm of heightened emotion, rediscovered memory and awakened dreaming, the debut album by Frou Frou is an olfactory breakthrough.

Duhhh

You, know sometimes I'm relatively vacant upstairs... I ,know I'm a creature of habit, but never before have I come so face to face with my own neurosis... I take the bus every morning to work... I catch it just down the road from my house and it takes me right to my office in about an hour. I always do this, unless miss hazel is with me, then I sometimes take a bus with her half way and then change to my normal bus at Angel.

And then it happened.

I had the epiphany.

This morning I took the 56 with H to Angel... then after much deliberation, lived on the wild side and got on a different bus (73) and took it to Euston... From there I jumped another bus which took me straight to Gt. Portland street! My god. why? Why have I never done this before? Total shut down of lateral thinking? Me thinks so... I think back to all those days I stood at the bus stop idly waiting for my specific number 30... shuddering in the cold, boiling with frustration when the bus didn't come and it took me an hour and a half to get to work... There is something very gravely wrong with my brain in the morning.

To make things even stranger, I realized that in the evening, I jump on any bus that is going in remotely the right direction.

You heard it here first....

I'm losing it.

Ouch!

So I managed to scald the inside of my arm last night... just at the bend, you know, where they usually draw blood for blood tests? How you ask? Quite simple I reply...
Items required...

one hot glass kettle
two and a half pints of Guinness (ingested)
one reach around Hazel as she's trying to poor her tea...

the result is one, really really sore arm... all pink and hurting.

one hundred things I want to do before I die (in no particular order)

*note there are only 77 things for now more to come as life progresses*

1. pay off student loan
2. get married
3. perform in a west end play
4. learn Spanish
5. live by the sea
6. meet bjork
7. have a baby
8. do a masters degree
9. work in television
10. go to Capri
11. invent clear chewing gum
12. make my own clothes
13. write a book
14. own a car
15. visit Cornwall
16. own and bed and breakfast
17. learn photography
18. sing karaoke
19. see the cure live
20. paraglide
21. live in New York
22. learn Chinese
23. sail on a yacht
24. buy my mum a jag (or something super fab)
25. run 10K
26. paint a huge tableau
27. take a life drawing class
28. write my memoirs
29. grow a garden
30. come out to my family
31. learn to waltz
32. do a triathlon
33. learn to snowboard
34. win the lotto
35. design jewellery
36. own a swimming pool
37. visit Iceland
38. lose 10lbs
39. make a sculpture
40. see my sister get married
41. fly a kite
42. visit New Caledonia
45. learn how to pole vault
46. act in a movie
47. climb a tree
48. own a shop
49. go on a road trip without a map
50. have a show in a gallery
51. see without my glasses at night
52. buy a chiwawa
53. live somewhere in Scandinavia
54. learn a Scandinavian language
55. make a cherry pie
56. drive a vespa
57. write a screenplay
58. learn to skate board
59. grow wise
60. teach (something)
61. own a home
63. get a promotion
64. learn how to play guitar
65. learn how to play the cello
66. visit Scotland
67. stay at the ice hotel in Sweden
68. go deep sea fishing
69. go to Oktoberfest in Munich
70. own a pet hedgehog
71. hug a baby harp seal
72. visit Mauritius
73. buy a mini pincer
74. dye my eyebrows pink or blue
75. study at St. Martens
76. own a goat
77. learn to meditate

Communication of all sorts

back in the days of Filament, much of the office communication was carried out through instant messaging. The studio would be absolutely silent (apart from what was playing on the Stereo). All of a sudden you would see a group of two or three people, get up at the same time, grab their coats and leave for lunch. For anybody new in the office, the whole thing would seem pretty creepy. Psychic connection? Nahh. We all know it's just messaging.

Here in my new uber quiet office, I sit... still the new girl... still not speaking to anyone. We've kicked off this localization project and one of the coders sends me an instant message. Well hallelujah, as if from nowhere springs this portal of communication. It was so enlightening to know that there is life at other desks here. It's amazing how much more frank you can be.

The other day Hazel and I were discussing visual thinking, and the strange thing is, I believe that about 90% the time I think visually, about work, emotions, food, anger, joy, stress etc... they are all mostly processed in my head in a visual manor. Now, I generally go mad when people say that they're visual thinkers because all too often it's someone in the design world who is up their own arse and trying to impress by saying that; the actual fact is, that they're too lazy or too stupid to problem solve in any way other than they are accustomed... but I digress. The strange thing I realized after discussing this, was, that although I think very visually (not in the poncy artist way, cause an artist, I am not) I rarely write visually. Hazel proposes that most people don't because it comes out sounding insane. Indeed it would I suppose. I guess it's best to keep the descriptions of our visual thoughts a bit private... heaven forbid, the world discover that I was a nutter? Perhaps I'll write my next project brief in a visual manor... wonder how long I could keep my job?

I booked my flight home for xmas yesterday... It's still to fresh to discuss, just how much it's costing... and it's not even a direct flight! It's a 12h flight in total with a stop over in Frankfurt... joy.

Kim is moving back to London! I'm so excited. We met up with her after work last night. It will be nice to see her back here! Won't be for a few months yet as she has to re-new her papers and such.

Sure it was a lady shaver...

Check out this mad article

Crazy Fins! (Theri, Linda) I'm sure you can let us all know what the cause of this fluster really was!

Dr Pepper!

Did you know that Dr. Pepper is a 'Sparkling fruit flavour soft drink' ? Well, that's what my can says... I swear, it's right in front of me!

Wow, now all i need to do is discover the fruit it is supposed to be desgined after, and I'm set!

The day was long yesterday...

Tube strike this morning and the city was a sea of pedestrians and angry people trying to push their way onto buses.

Is anyone else in the world having problems getting their bookings to work on Ryan air? I'm trying to book our mini holiday to France in November but all I get is JavaScript errors on the last page... Dan tells me I can ring their tech support line and pay 1£ per minute. What monkeys, no way. I'd rather not, thank you very much.

Jeffie and Annick are here and seems like they're having fun. They've decided to stay in today and avoid the madness of London with no tube. Smart!

Oui OUi weeee

Aujourd'hui je ne peux pas suprimer mon désire de parler en Français... j'ai aucune idée pourquoi, mais, j'ai que des mots Français sur la langue et dans ma tête.

Tout tranquillement je prends l'habitude de mon trajet en autobus le matain. C'est facinant comment ça me prends une heure au complet pour me rendre ici ce n'est pas si loin que ça! C'est que le fait que c'est l'heure du point, c'est tout. Peu importe, je'n profiterias du temps pour reprendre a lire. Ahhh Il me faut des romans, peut être j'irias pendant mon lunch pour en achèter des nouvelles!

Mon Français écrit est vraiment pittoyable, je m'en sers presque jamais… Avec ma nouvelle poste ici, je suis repsonsable pour deux sites Françaises, ansi que des sites Bèlgues, Autrichien,Hongarien, Suèois, Norvègien, Hollandais et Polongeais.

Le reseau est en panne et pour un compagnie internet, ça veux dire qu’il a absolument rien a faire! Comme prevue l’autre jour, j’ai bien plus de temps a écrire maintenant…

Hier soir je suis allée souper avec Kim et sa copine Charlotte. Hazel et venue aussi, et nous étions alleés à notre resteau préferé Don Zoko près de la rue Carnaby. C’etait tellement bien de la voir. Elle était en bonne forme et plien d’esprit, elle avait meme chanter deux chansons Kareoke au Candy Bar. En éstit que j’étais saoule! Mon dieu, je ne me rends même pas compte comment on c’est rendu chez nous, ni comment j’ai monté les marches pour aller me coucher!

Ce soir c’est ma petite fête de depart pour mon ancien poste… un peu tard, je sais mais c’est la vie des fois. Je ne sais pas exatement comment je serais capable de boire même une verre… j’ai toujours la gueule de bois!

Ah bon. C’est tout, pour l’instant.

Why yes... it is a...

So apart from wearing my favourite trousers under the fleeting hope that they still fit me and clearly, do not... This day has gone alright so far. Note to self... never buy clothes after spending the 3 months previous, going to the gym for an hour every day... this does not allow room for lapse in fitness regime and the corresponding extra inches... Who am I fooling, It's a mystery still how I ever managed to slim down to the equivalent of a Canadian size 6! I shall resolve to pack them away without any hesitation, in wait for the next fitness blitz before ever trying to wear them again.

I had a really nice soup for lunch today from Mash (I'm always surprised how the place is actually a chain) We had one in Ottawa for goodness sake! Anyhoo, they served me up a great sweet potato, red pepper/ tomato soup today for lunch. It came with toasted cibatta too, all for the low low price of, 2£! Well I never! Mmm!

All our sites are currently down, so my afternoon site maintenance is now on hold (thus the reason for having time to blog)... Jeffie and Annick arrive on Friday, did I mention that? Will be nice to see them... although we have no furniture in our new flat, at least we have a futon for them to sleep on!

Impromptu meeting... more later

blogging time is certainly on the rise...

the bus took over and hour and a half this morning. it's unreal. I think I could have seriously walked faster.

I'm waiting for software installs so I can get started on working... it's all about waiting today.

It's really kind of neat here. I'm fascinated by the TV production area of this company and think that maybe if I'm a good girl one day I could be a TV producer instead of an Internet one. Who knows, I'm sure I'll probably learn about it and then run away screaming!

So, yea I just had the HR meeting that I was supposed to have yesterday but was cancelled due to an overflow interview thingie... Turns out that there is apparently a bar here on the ground floor that is being renovated. I jokingly asked the HR lady if people sing like on Ally McBeal.. To my shock horror, she said yes! Hello? I sincerely hope she was taking the piss! Regardless, it's quite funny really.

So my clackity keyboard is also a repository of filth. I can't imagine what's on it, but lets just say it's not pretty. I think I might just be the crazy new lady and wipe it down using some strong anti-bacterial wipe of sorts... trust me, it needs it!

So happy to hear that Jeffie and Annick are booked and due to arrive in London on Friday morning. Will be so nice to see them!

Best feign working a bit...

no doubt there will be more later...

well it seems like it's drawing closer and closer to the end of the first day here. My keyboard is indeed getting louder and I can't remember a day, where I've spoken so little, I think I've said about

15 ' excellents'
25 'sures'
20 'that's a good idea'
29 'greats'
3 'thank yous'
1 'I'm the silly new girl, how do you get out of here?'

beyond that it has been total silence... apart from at lunch when I went to buy a one month bus pass and the silly man was unable to listen to me as all requested a bus pass and he then proceeded to try and give me a 74£ tube pass... when he finally finished huffing and puffing he managed to forget that I needed it issued for tomorrow not today... dang you mr. ticket man!

so I'm wondering if it's possible for my keyboard to make louder clicking sounds when I type... or if I can stand this first day at new job feeling... My chronic yawning disorder has reared it's ugly head again... I think It must be all the silence that generally goes with corporate environments... I'm the quiet girl today, can't imagine that lasting for long.

My new desk is right next to the window which is nice. It looks right out onto Great Titchfield st. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't exhausted. Moving sure does take a lot out of you. Change is good but I've not experienced change this big since I moved to London a year ago. I'm sure by the end of the week I'll be so tired I'll just sleep all weekend long... Oh wait, Kim's in town so I guess that won't work!

Everyone here seems very nice, can't say I remember anyone's name yet... but I've always been lousy at that.... Mum and KJ sent me a lovely first day of work parcel. It was so sweet of them, they are truly too good to me!

Tick toc

The hours are drawing to an end for a lot of things in my life right now, all positive things of course. I've but one day and four hours or so left at this job, followed up swiftly by our move on the weekend. I'm so excited!

The weather has taken a big turn and it's bright, sunny and hot here! I zipped down to oxford circus today at lunch and bough a few bits for miss H and I... it's already proving a challenge to H to find clothes to wear to work to make her look smart every day... My new dress code is smart casual... I'm hoping that trainers with trousers will just scrape under the radar... I'm going the distance.

Dearbhla informed me that I bought an obi... I saw it as a cool belt thing but apparently they are the in thing this season at Gucci... Let me tell you, what I bought, was certainly not from Gucci! It's black on one side and denim on the other... obviously the black side is what I'm going to go for but it's just too cool (yes I am an old lady still excited by fashion)

I've been speaking to a lot of lost friends in the past two days as I've send out my change of address e-mail. It's so great to chat with everyone. Funny how you seem to forget just how many people you know sometimes because you see so few of them on a regular basis. I feel special... and yes speciale like in French.

God I'm going to miss Dearbhla when I leave here... it's such a joy working with her and the team here. What ever will I do?

Some yea the fatalist in me is thinking... great. I find a new job and a fab new flat and what's gonna happen? The world is going to end, that's all! Politics, shmolitics our PM is a wanker and as dim as the yippy lap dog that which the media addresses him as... Gosh darn it. How selfish could I be? well I'm obviously more concerned about this Iraq situation beyond my freaking job and flat but goodness me, in this day and age I can believe that democratic society allows for such tyranny from the leaders... no one asks the low prolies what we want... Guess all I get to help choose is the mayor of Hackney... Now that's going to change the world! *scoff*

bitterness, oh how it pleasures me!

Bzzz bzzz

So much has happened this week... I think mar getting married, or having children I've almost squeezed in life's stressful events!

We've found a new flat. I'm really excited about this one... it's a beautiful loft with two double bedrooms, huge fully fitted kitchen security gates parking and a tiny private garden! We're moving next weekend I just can't wait! It's not far from where we live right now but much quieter so it will be nice to have some peace and some space!

Adding to the excitement I've found a new job! How excited am I? I'm quite saddened to leave this job as I love the people I work with and the office and the fun but it's time for me to move on. More money will certainly help too! weee!

Spoke with the lovely Sean today, oh how I miss him. I just wish that the ocean didn't keep my family and friends so far away... but such is life!

Looking forward to a quiet weekend doing the best to keep a wrap on the finances so that I can afford to move!

*flutters home*

A late fifty word fiction submission!

From no other than Miss Hazel! Enjoy!

" Look past the aesthetic and more at the structure".

Time slowly curved itself through a new space.

Sari drifted in and out of yet another lecture.
Her yawn grasped at passing mouthfuls of rhetoric, expelling them into a room
full of grazing sleepers.

She grinned at yet another late night.

It's Friday!

And I'm wrestling with the dilemma of what to do as soon as I escape from the reigns of the office. I know I'm heading to town, but when is the question... I fear I may just need to fulfill some of my shopping urges. If I get on the tube right after work I may just have enough time to spin to Oxford circus and pick up those new trainers I've been lusting over... but do I really need them? Of course not... but need is so subjective... Like for instance, today at lunch while in the second hand designer clothes shop... I found this gorge pair of Helmut Lang jeans for 35£!!!!!!! But did I buy them? No, no... so they were a smidgen too tight... but I gracefully passed them over to my slimmer co-worker in the next changing room. They fit her like Cinderella's slipper. Of course she bought them... so with that in mind, I'm convinced... I shall accept the fact that I need to go to town... and if I happen to fall victim to my retail need, I deserve it! I did do a good deed after all... sure I did!

Since my last blog work has been really busy. Good really, Dearbhla is away in Rome on her holiday and hopefully getting some rest. I think finally after two holidays but a month apart from one and other I'm feeling renewed and somewhat de-stressed.

Perhaps I've just reached that stage in my grieving process or perhaps the rest has done me some good. I'm quite frankly not terribly phased about the prospect of looking for new work. I've got some stuff in the pipeline already and I'm speaking to a recruitment company... all at the same time I'm not writing off this job just yet, I'm just trying to be realistic.

Miss Hazel's new job seems to be going well. She's now sleeping better at night and everything! I know she's not too thrilled about the hands on portion of the job that she's had to do this week, but I can understand that...

Just had a lunch on the company to celebrate the launch of this image repository tool that we built. It's quite good really, It's a great team here, I'm going to miss them if I have to leave.

Kj might be coming to visit this weekend if she manages to get a flight. I hope she does as it will most likely be the last time until xmas that I see her. Speaking of Xmas, I must start saving for my flight home! Donations are readily accepted!

So it's Friday and it's good.

Miss Hazel has landed a brilliant new job, made the local footie team and all in one day! How most excellent for her!

Yesterday I gave my notice on my flat and am equally excited to report that I shall be moving at the end of Sept. I can't wait, I'm already counting the days till we move, it will be nice to live somewhere with a little less noise and a little less mess and stress from the land lord.

Now it's time to turn my energy to job hunting... anyone knowing of a place in the city that is looking for a fab multi media project manager please let me know, times they are a changing and I must move along from this job.

Radiohead sings the bends and time is still ticking by as slowly as it usually does on a Friday of a long weekend.

tick

tick

clunk

Dolphin games

when I was younger before the dawn of game boy and such, yes there were the wind up car racing games but my favorite was always the water toys.

I remember one in specific, it was dolphin contained in a cylinder of water with a round plunger push button at the base. You would push the button hundreds of times and watch the tiny plastic rings swirl around the inside and sometimes if you were lucky you would have one successfully hoop around the dolphin's upturned snout.

*squish* *squish* was the noise it made.

It was so much fun. I sure wish I had one of those again.

The results!

So the Holiday was great fun marr the last two days of the bug that I managed to pick up... but now i'm back and pleased to showcase the micro fiction pieces that I collected. Thanks to everyone for playing along!


Stephen boarded the train with nothing but thoughts of snowboarding and Adam on his mind. The thought of a week in the alps with nothing but sun and snow filled him with joy and glee. The only thing better would be to have his best lesbian friend come with him.
seantmccann@hotmail.com


She doesn't understand why kids today are so depressed. She's unhappy sometimes now, but she was happy in her youth.

I started to present my view of youth versus age as it relates to quality of life. But, it was too involved.

The short story? My belief: life gets better.
SunlightThruRain@aol.com


Gold Star
I love gold stars! At my previous place of employ, for a short period of time, I refused to complete any project unless there was the possibility of a star-shaped sticker in my future. They make me feel special, like a third grader who has finally learned his times tables.
http://blog.sterilized.ca/



once upon a time, a cat went out to catch some mice. Slinking through the bushes, he heard a little squeaking noise and he delicately prepared to pounce, wiggling his ass like cats do, leapt through the air, and found a cat-trap set by snickering rodents and died. the end.
http://nytoo.rumandmonkey.com

just back!

got a couple of great micro stories! can't wait to post them all!

stay tuned!

Since I never did become a teacher...

So I studied four years to become one, but so what...

In the spirit of the career that never was, I'm leaving an open challenge to all ye who venture to my blog while I'm away next week. The challenge is, to write your own 50 word fiction piece and send it to me at this address. When I get back I'll post them all. And if you do it I'll give you a gold star!

Okay, I'll give you a handshake if you find the gold star too demeaning.

Go on, I dare you!

I did it!

I wrote a micro story... 50 words... *claps hands*

Baggage

You get tired of drinking mojitos after a while. Too much mint, not good. This holiday has lagged on 4 days; I'm ready to go home. Ella left me a month ago. She was like a 7-day holiday, too long. Wish I could lose her on the baggage claim.

I just love micro fiction!

Thanks to David for this link to some fly micro fiction , as always he brings in the goods. I think the first time everyone reads micro fiction, they think it's so easy to write and that they too could do it. Just cause it's small doesn't mean it's easy. Try growing a bonsai tree and you'll see what I mean.

Speaking of Bonsai trees... the one Hazel bought for me after my dad died is trucking along like a champ. My new sunflower is also brightening the windowsill at the top of the stairs... so so pretty.

Just had my hair cut by my favorite hairdresser Louise. Bought her a plant on behalf of Hazel and I as a token of sympathy. After losing her mum and dad she's now just lost her step father. Poor thing. Hope the plant helps cheer her up. She sure looked happy to receive it.

So, after much toil and much missed work this morning, I managed to book a last minute holiday for mum and I to this place. The flight times could be better but after two hours of searching with the travel agent, I was ready to explode. We leave on Sunday at 23h45 and arrive there at 5am local time. Here's to hoping they don't lose my tan on the baggage reclaim like they did when I arrived back from Portugal...

So I wasn't...

going to write at all today.. .but filling in the gaps between the remaining minutes of my day is becoming more and more of a desperate panic. It's been such a strange weather day here. I am suffering from major cabin fever. Just as I was about to get up and make my way out into the world to forage something to eat for lunch... the heavens opened and it decided to start chucking down with rain.

I settled in for an instant cup of soup and some marmite on toast (lunch of champions, I know!)

Only a few more days till my mum arrives and we depart on our mother daughter holiday adventure... one slight problem. I haven't booked it yet and quite frankly I'm starting to panic. I just can't find anything that doesn't seem hyper cheesy or super isolated. Isn't there a place with a nice happy medium and a white sand beach (not a shingle one)? Is that so much to ask for? I'm thinking that yes, is the answer to my question.

Plans to move house in the next month or so are taking shape... I found this really cool site that lets out loft apt.'s how cool would that be? tres!

2h left

please kill me

no seriously, I don't know how I'm going to manage to last that long.

Life is so strange...

So in between the minutes of the day I found myself writing to my friend Jackie whom I lost contact with since my moved to London. It felt good to find her e-mail address and hopefully re-connect with her as she was a great friend!

On the google is a great search tool vibe, I decided to punch in a few names of people I used to know, all the way back to elementary school... Now a few years back I remember someone mentioning to me that this kid who was in our class back in grade 6 French immersion whom everyone bullied, had died in a train accident. Seeing as I seem to believe that the information had come from one of the prime bullies, I thought it no more than an urban legend of sorts. You see the guy in question left our school at the end of that year and was approximately 12 years old... but sure enough I found today, that it was the truth, and that he did die at age 17... so strange and so sad. Being run over by a VIA rail train is just not good! I'm kind of extra saddened because I always hope in that talk show type of vein that people who are done wrong buy during their youth should grow up to have amasing fabulous lives. Ho hum.

Happy Blog Birthday to me!

Yes folks it's official, it's my one year bloggaversary. In honour of the occasion I have unleashed all my archives so that you can read the entire years exploits and ramblings in one go!

When I first started writing I endevoured to "Write some thoughts, keep track of time, give proper acknowledgement to the things and people that interact with on a daily basis. Make sure that things flow smoothly... unclog the blocks."

I feel that my mission has been a success, yea me!

Oh how I love this Haiku...

It was just the other day I was thinking about this e-mail that I received over a year ago with all these comical computing haikus... and as if by magic... guess what landed in my inbox this afternoon?

The stars, they shine upon me!

Windows NT crashed.
I am the Blue Screen of Death.
No one hears your screams.

Have you been wondering...

Just how stressed you really are? We'll do I have the site for you! It's the Hello Kitty Psychological Test! (taken from the plasticcat)


Work is really slow right now so there is a lot of time to fill... sometimes I don't think there are enough websites...

Just met Miss Hazel for lunch... she made us cottage cheese and spinach bagels and we ate them in this beautiful park near my work. It's a nice day, could be hotter but anything other than grey skies here is a treat.

Heard from Travis yesterday, who is doing well and keeping fly back in Ottawa. What a treat! Dom wrote today as well asking if I could host his MTL friend who will be coming here for an art expo... He's part of an art collective.. Sure, why not?

Mum is coming hopefully on the 9th from there we're hoping to skip off to somewhere warm and Mediterranean... nothing confirmed yet but it should be nice.

Tried to buy a good drum and base CD to listen to at the gym... failed miserably... what do you expect for a fiver?

The weekend is nigh... sun is on the menu! Miss H and I are heading off to the women's pond on Hampstead Heath... is the world quite ready for our ivory coloured breasts? Doubt it... but what the hey!

Warchalking?

How cool is this? I guess all I need is a wireless device and I too can join in...

Brighton and the Pheromone experiment

After being home one brief evening... The lovely Hazel and I zipped down to Brighton to visit with my sister who was there on a 20 hour stop over. It was great to see her and we had a blast! To make a long story short...

Hazel and KJ try out the boots pheromone wipe...

Hazel swears she never attracts men so she applies the pheromone and so does KJ...

Hazel and KJ get lots of male attention! it works by God!

Hazel Sarah and KJ stop in for a pint at a gay bar... Hazel gets physically shoved by this aggressive man who was drunk and called her a whole load of expletives for being a dyke in a fag bar...

Lesson learned?

Never go into a gay bar during a pheromone experiment... the mix it poisonous... think we'll have to write to boots and get them to put the warning on the packet!

So yea,

after you haven't blogged in a week or so you start to feel like you can never quite attribute the right amount of detail to all the things that have happened during that time. So in true project manager fashion I'm going to make a list as it feels less daunting of a task. (please forgive my phonetic spelling of all Portuguese locations as I haven't a clue)

Sarah's trip to Portugal:

-departed the 11th in the afternoon arriving in Faro at 7pm. Siobhan was waiting for me with a big grin.

-5h later we're lost in mountains having taken the wrong road to Beja... no worries really we had lots to chat about!

-Arrived to Annouk (sio's gf's) house in the lovely village of Mont Seraz was greeted by her three dogs and goat named Margeheita how cool is that!? Annouk has a most beautiful home!

-Went to work with Sio on Friday morning and helped her water plants with her as she was helping her friend out who was away on holidays

-Fridays evening Sio arranged a BBQ with all the ex pat's that live in the town and we had a good old laugh. Whoever said that life in a small town was uneventful hasn't met these people. There is seriously enough gossip and scandal streaming through the place it would make a most brilliant novel. No disrespect of course the people are all great it's just the naive city girl in me that thought that country living meant less gossip and scandal... I now know better!

-Saturday we ventured off to Spain to a place called Badajoz (sp?) to visit with Siobhan's new friends who run a horse complex. They were truly an amasing family! 6 Kids who all live with their parent's still and all work together to run the horse complex. Sio's contact was a girl named Oopie (for any Canadian out there her name instantly reminds you of an inflatable beach ball that was much sought after in the early 90's) I love her name! We had a lovely night and their hospitality was incredible! And oh yea... the part where I think I can speak Spanish... well lets just say that that was not at all the case... curses to my Peurto Rican Spanish professor back at Uni... I was useless!

-Sunday morning Annouk Sio and I went to a market in Spain and then joined Sio's mum back home where she was visiting from Lisbon. Her charming friend bought us all lunch! Ah yes, at this point Sio's sister arrived. I had met Pippa last year back in Ottawa. What a sound girl!

_ The rest of the week was spent chilling out going for swim's in Annouk's mum's pool and the pool in Reganesh (sp?)and sipping beer and reading this really terrible French novel that I bought back in April... Sio was at work and Pippa was busy making the most amasing purses to sell at this upcoming cultural festival in the town.

- Got to visit Siobhan's work and see her train the horses and visited the exotic birds that her boss breeds too!

- Was lucky enough to get offered a lift back to Faro on Thursday aft. with Sio's boss who were going there to clean their condo that they were renting... so I had an hour to trapse along the beach and collect some beautiful shells before catching my flight back to London.

It was so nice to have a break! Thanks so much Siobhan!

How great is this week's horroscope for me?

Week commencing Saturday, 6th July 2002

PISCES
(Feb 20 - Mar 20)

Once, long ago, you were a different person. You were small. You went to school. You played with your friends. You knew nothing about the big wide world. But you were still you. How much though, of your current situation would that old you have recognised and understood? Even to this very day, your inner child is baffled and bemused by some of the things that are so important in your daily life. A part of you just wants to be simple, happy, playful. Is that really too much to ask? The sky, this week, offers you the opportunity to put down the cares and woes that have taken up so much of your time and energy and to pick up something wonderful.

Panic!

Panic gripped the streets of London this afternoon when patches of sky took on an unusual blue colour and a ball of fire appeared above the city. The phenomenon, known as ‘The Sun’ and commonly found in Mediterranean countries, unleashed a terrifying heat and brightness upon the capital, causing many pedestrians to take off their hats and scarves, while motorists were able to turn both their headlights and wipers off.

Tony Blair urged people to be calm and return to work as normal stating: "We've seen this sort of thing before", he said,"but it never lasts."

There are forecasts that ‘The Sun’ could be seen throughout the weekend but a spokesman for No.10 said, "I wouldn't hold my breath".

(Reuters, London)

who be you Derk Gently ?

you leave me comments but also mystery...

London Pride?

So call me bitter, call me old, whatever, but Pride this weekend here in London was so disappointing. Don't get me wrong I had a fun time seeing my friends and spending the day outside and all but there were a few fundamental flaws that marred the event.

Minuses

- Location location location... It was at Hackney Marsh... it took ages to get to the remote location and the 45 min trek to the train station at the end of the day was soooo dull!

-Over commercialized... I shit you not I was given a toothpaste sample and several offers to try out a mini bowl of chocolate frosties... I'm still trying to figure that one out...

-Space... There was so much space and all the tents were so far away from one and other that it was really impersonal

-Carnival rides? Was it just me or were there more carnival rides and such than actual things to do?

Pluses

- It didn't rain! And it was actually sunny for a wee while!

- Got some great pics with my digital camera of my friends

- Met a really nice old straight man at this strange little pub that we ended up at after the 45 min exit march to the train station... since he was a regular at this place he helped Hazel get served at the overcrowded bar.

-Met a lovely boy from Newcastle who was lovely and we had a nice old friendly chat with him. The best part about this was meeting him and just chatting was exactly what I think the spirit of pride should be about... meeting interesting people and having a fun day embracing our diversity.

So I guess all in all it wasn't so bad but it makes me think back to pride in Ottawa where we did nothing but complain about how few people there were. But I can now confirm that there is much more of a sense of community and spirit in Ottawa than I found here in the mega city of London (even if the ottawa pride parade only lasts 20 mins)... so I guess that proves that more people don't necessarily mean more fun.

Portugal here I come

So it's been a long time coming. I've been promising to take a holiday for some time now. So now folks, it's official. I'm heading off to the sunny shores of Portugal to visit with Siobhan for 7 days leaving next Thursday. I've purchased my sun tan lotion today at lunch and all I need now is my bikini and my toothbrush.

This week has felt like it went on for eternity. It's pride this weekend but I don't do outdoor things in the rain and it is London after all so I'm not holding my breath... I'm sure I'll have something interesting to write about come Monday...

Hazel is still job hunting like a trooper *sending positive job finding energies* click here to send them to her yourself!

I Nicked this from David... but It's a good read and I think this guys brings up some valid points... read on...

just because...

I swear that people love lists... Rupal's web site inspired me to write this list...

Favorite films of all time (in some sort of semblance of order)

1) Tous les Matins du Monde
2) When Night is Falling
3) Antonia's line
4) Indochine
5) Rushmore
6) Amelie
7) Hamlet (Ethan Hawke version)
8) Ace Ventura Pet Detective (both part 1 and 2)
9) Lost Boys
10) Annie

Faux celebrity sightings

My weekend was riddled with celeb- mis-sightings...

mis-sighting #1 (Shirley Manson from Garbage)- seen shopping in Covent Garden?

Why, no, no Dan and I were terribly mistaken... didn't figure it out till we went into the diesel shop and realized that the person we saw was only the cahier that works there... mind you the resemblance was uncanny!

mis-sighting #1 (Boy George)- seen drinking at the King William in Hampstead?

Why, no, no I was mistaken but if Boy G was 2 stone lighter this would have been him... he had the signature hat and makeup and all... who knows, maybe it was him... but I kind of don't think he's lost that much weight... But I think he does live near by...

I had so much fun this morning

...writing to my friend Mark today that I thought I would post some excerpts from the letter I wrote into the blog...

Saw a really poor film last night (only my 2nd since I moved here) it was called " Kissing Jessica Stein" it was so bad... story line was quite simple... straight copy editor Jewish girl down and out with her luck in love and ends up meeting the sex crazed art gallery bi- girl... they have a terribly awkward unbelievable romance of sorts... move in together after 9 months.. break up 3 months later because they decide that they are just best friend... then Jessica ends up with her college sweetheart (male) and the other lady falls in love with another woman and the movie ends with the two exes giggling and having lunch together. IT was SO bad I wanted to spit. I didn't think it was possible to make such a bad film, and the acting... argh it was terrible!

Recap from SJUK

-this whole country is damp, even the cinema last night wreaked of mould and mildew
-my flat is always a mess because my one flat mates has no concept of cleanliness at ALL!
-I wish I was out of school and going to camp
-I'm praying this company doesn't get dumped by our major client today at the agency review
-had a kissing ambush planted on me this morning by Hazel that made me late for work *giggles*
-I have red hair (fire engine) at the front and it's all faded to a pinky orange colour at the back. I have a mullet and my hair dresser Louise can't see me till next Tuesday! woe is me! I'm having a hair-tastrophe
-I live in hackney... there are piles of ripped open garbage bags- every day they keep growing in a pile up outside my front door. My local counsel is bankrupt and I can't file a complaint because there is JavaScript error on the counsel site and no one will take my call when I ring... and all e-mail I've sent has bounced back... I live in hell... I live in a rubbish pile that is like hell.
-Pride here is near my house, it's next weekend it's 17£ and I'm having a hard time convincing myself to go because I'll be tempted to indulge in some illegal substance that will allow me to have a fabulous day but then suffer the most almighty come down for the rest of the week....
-I'm wearing my long black ninja skirt (sarong style) black on the outside and red on the inside... black t-shirt, red patent wrist band with silver eye holes... tiny black socks and Hazel's pumas...and the best lip gloss in the world care of square one MAC counter.


ps. did I tell you that they don't sell spicy eggplant in the country... what I wouldn't do for a sandwich from that Italian shop in the Market... overflowing with eggplant! mmmmmmmmm oh wait it's aubergine here, maybe that's why I can't find it! LOL

-end of letter to Mark-

Friday is such a wonderful day. I have an afternoon filled with whiny clients to contend with then bring on the weekend... Me thinks mama needs a new pair of shoes.

would someone please re-supply me with my social energy?

Yesterday was so strange I woke up feeling fine and then as the day progressed I slipped further and further into feeling void of any social energy. I know it's part of the whole grieving thing but I am not liking this ride... I want to get off.

I've always had this over-nurturing trait... the one that causes me to worry about everyone else's well being regardless if it compromises my own. I often wish I could be a little more self centered or perhaps not so easily affected but other people's moods or actions. I always find myself trying to please everyone to no end. I know it's not healthy, and I know I just can't do it all the time- everything in moderation... especially now that I have this grief to process. My friends are wonderful they recognize this in me and are so swell to help me get over this. I am so fortunate but sometimes times the clock ticks so very very slowly.

the work atmosphere seems to be straining at the seams... so many people are showing the tell tale signs of jumping ship... it's so unsettling, ah well at least it's been beautiful weather all week so far.

Tennis lessons tonight. I'm happy to have that to look forward to.... I will one day fly I will I will

So I'm not the only one who's been intrigued by music in adverts as of late...

Hazel has been wondering what the music is in the new Lexus ad?

I've done some searching and yes folks... I have the answer it's Martin Grech. His album comes out the 8th of July... I'll be queuing to purchase that's for sure...


Here is the review I found:

The music soundtrack used on the commercial is from young talented singer/songwriter Martin Grech. The song is called Open Heart Zoo and comes from his debut album by the same name due for release in the UK on Island Records early July 2002. For updated information on Martin, his record releases and performances checkout www.martingrech.co.uk

or to hear the song click here

Enjoy miss Hazel!

3 lists of 10 things about me
(because we all like lists don't we?)

10 things I am

nurturing
silly
observant
adventurous
giving
worrisome
Whiny
bilingual
delicate
dreamer

10 things I am not

indifferent
jealous
aggressive
prissy
a meat eater
short tempered
careless
cut throat
complacent
small minded

10 things I strive to be

ambitious
content
confident
fitter
well rounded
companionate
conscientious
strong
inspirational
balanced

BBCi and me...

I went to Oxford on Sunday to audition to become a BBCi presenter. Hazel and I arose on our one sleep in day of the week to board the train and go the distance. She was such a doll staying in Saturday night helping me prepare my audition. The event was so well organized and it was good fun BBC sure knows their stuff. Just wish I wasn't so nervous, it's strange because it's so unlike me to be nervous... I think it would have been so much easier for me if I was speaking to a real person than just a camera... ahh well , I tried so that's what matters! We'll have to wait till the fall to see if the fates smile on me...

On Friday I skipped work and headed to Brighton to meet up with my seestor. We had a nice day together and the weather was really nice. It's the first time I've seen her or anyone in my family since my dad died so it was kind of comforting! The hardest part was leaving her the next morning when she had to get back to the airport for her next flight. *sniffles*

Having the added day to the weekend made me realise that I did indeed need a holiday, I know I've been going on about it for days now but it's now official, now it's just getting my ducks in a row and getting something planned and finding the moola to do so...

Can I just mention...


that the sun rose at 3h41 this morning!

Holy canoly!

I thought I would be past the whole culture shock thing by now... but it only rose at 5h14 this morning in Ottawa. This early sun thing is sure helping my sleep patterns- seeing as it's light most of the morning my body feels like I'm having a treat and sleeping in!

Okay... so I helped myself...

It's by "Aqualung", and the song is called "Strange And Beautiful (I'll Put A Spell On You)".


I've been watching your world from afar
I've been trying to be where you are
and I've been secretly falling apart
I see
To me you're strange and you're beautiful
You'd be so perfect with me but you just
can't see. You turn every head but you don't
see me.

I'll put a spell on you
you fall asleep
when I put a spell on you
and when I wake you I'll be the first thing you see,
and you'll realise that you love me

yeah
ye-ah

Sometimes the last thing you want comes in first
Sometimes the first thing you want never comes
But I know, that waiting is all you can do
Sometimes

I'll put a spell on you
you fall asleep
I'll put a spell on you
and when I wake you I'll be the first thing you see,
and you'll realise that you love me
I'll put a spell on you
you fall asleep
cause I put a spell on you
and when I wake you I'll be the first thing you see,
and you'll realise that you love me
yeah

yeah
ye-ah
yeah
ye-ah

Somebody please please help me!

I neeeed to know who sings the song that they feature in the new VW Beetle ad here in the UK.

pretty pretty please!

yea, so it's the most beautiful day of the year thus far.. the sun is shining and the temperature is 27 degrees!

Wouldn't you know that I feel about as deflated as a balloon at a kids' b'day party. Social energy is non existent and my hair is way too red and bright that it clashes with my overly introverted mood. I want to disappear... just till this mood passes.

Being away from my family since my father died is feeling quite taxing today. So strange to write something so glum. My journal is always filled with pep. Ah well, I'm human after all. Shhh don't tell anyone!

KJ might be working a flight to London on Thursday. What a treat it would be to see her. I hope no one more senior bids on the flight so she can come... Mind you I think it's just a day turn around so she won't be here very long.

Oh yea... saw Graham Norton at the Yard in Soho on Sunday afternoon. As you can imagine he's much shorter in person and has very large feet. Poor guy had friends huddled around him while he seemed to recite an unending monolog... It was really strange. Oh yea, then I lost my wallet with EVERYTHING in it. If you think canceling and replacing cards is a pain, just think about having to do if for two countries at once... I haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate losing my wallet, perhaps this is adding to my deflated feeling. Ho hum.

Between my Sniffles...


I had a dream this morning. Jeffie, what on earth does it mean?

I was in the forest somewhere and I was there with people I didn't know or recognize. I was swimming in a pool that was in a valley surrounded by trees. I've never seen a place like this before. While I was swimming, I noticed a VERY large brown bear immerge from between the trees. I was terrified. I treaded water in the middle of the pool as the people I was with judged the bear's temperament as if they were familiar with this sort of visit. When the bear got to my sandals and sniffed them it began to appear agitated. My friends told me to quickly get out of the pool and head for the house. They all stayed put as I jumped out of the pool and clambered up the hill in my bare feet, watching the earth crumble under my feet. I reached the house and it was a sort of log cabin and entered inside and waited for further instruction. I've no idea what this means... it was odd because it was as vivid, if not more that my budgie chameleon dream.

Strange... perhaps it's the cold medication taking over my brain...?