Secret office is the new black
without a home or a fixed internet connnection work of my nature is quite a challenge. I am currently sitting in the latest of what we now call secret office... I have no idea where the term came from but until this tuesday, secret office was faborit a coffee place in the gothic quarter... they no longer exist (such is the fast turn over of properties in bcn) I'm not quite sure what they have turned it into but rumour has it that it isr re-opening today... not sure yet if they have free wi-fi... new secret office is the ex dutch bar now japanese bar/lounge... much cooler and the staff here are so lovely!
We got all the papers in an faxed across to the agency for the offer we put in on the flat we saw on wednesday. I am crossing fingers that we get it. Unfurnished but still big and bright... time will tell. Good news however, one of the other flats we made an offer on came back to us and it's also another option... however it is lowest on my list of the 3 we are wrangling for. I swear to god I could write a book on this whole experience! I guess it's a learning experience... so from it I can only gain right??? tell me yes.
I tracked down my missing passport today... apparently it has been ready for a month! However it was accidently placed in the courrier (to be picked up box) instead of the post back to me by regular post please pile... phew. Now we just have to see if the thing makes it from Madrid to Barcelona before the 15th... May be more of a challenge than you may thing... there is a holiday here next week and no one is working from wed-friday... helli long weekend before xmas! I guess I should be a good expat and find out what the holiday is about... so many here it's hard to keep track!
I am really really going to enjoy once again having a place to live... wherever it ends up being I can assure that there will be lots of nesting!
Anyone know how I can track down woody allen? He's shooting here in the new year and it would be a real coup if we could place him in the accomodation our new partner has... check out how swizz it is! I'll buy you some fab new shoes if you can!
Surely the weekend is starting now... it's nearly 20h... where in goodness did the week go?
28.11.06
Time marches on at a hurried pace
And although we are putting offers in on two flats tomorrow they are polar opposites... One is over furnished and the other is completely not furnished... wrangling about prices is the big thing therfore I see no end in sight quite just yet... I NEVER want to move again... that is of course until I can afford to buy a place (which is probably years away but still)
I did a painting this weekend... it's updated on my painting site... simple but I love the colour combo...
It was the BAC here in Barcelona this week and comme les garcons were giving away free samples... I snickered to myself invisaging the openings that insue in the following weeks... Room full of art lovers wreaking of the same cologne... hilairious... It's a small city here folks... I will purposely not be wearing it for a while to avoid such a fateful event.
My ever naughty British Passport has not yet arrived which makes me VERY nervous about getting home at xmas... I will have to break down tomorrow and ring them on their bloody premium rate number to inquire as to it's whereabouts... why is it that disaster constantly circles all to which i endevour to acheive? Perhaps it's not realism that I subscribe to but moreso pessimism which breeds constant medling in my life....?
And although we are putting offers in on two flats tomorrow they are polar opposites... One is over furnished and the other is completely not furnished... wrangling about prices is the big thing therfore I see no end in sight quite just yet... I NEVER want to move again... that is of course until I can afford to buy a place (which is probably years away but still)
I did a painting this weekend... it's updated on my painting site... simple but I love the colour combo...
It was the BAC here in Barcelona this week and comme les garcons were giving away free samples... I snickered to myself invisaging the openings that insue in the following weeks... Room full of art lovers wreaking of the same cologne... hilairious... It's a small city here folks... I will purposely not be wearing it for a while to avoid such a fateful event.
My ever naughty British Passport has not yet arrived which makes me VERY nervous about getting home at xmas... I will have to break down tomorrow and ring them on their bloody premium rate number to inquire as to it's whereabouts... why is it that disaster constantly circles all to which i endevour to acheive? Perhaps it's not realism that I subscribe to but moreso pessimism which breeds constant medling in my life....?
22.11.06
Ze girlies in London town
It's just about a month left before I jet home for xmas and the days are zipping by faster than I can imagine. I finally have the Spanish version of my company website up and live which is a huge relief!
House hunting continues... will it ever end???
Days (actually more like hours) of summer blond are numbered... Vero is going to sort me out this afternoon so I look partially presentible when returning home in a few weeks.
Evil recruiters are nipping at my heels and I am dreading the temptations of evils that they will dangle in front of me (I will keep the focus on my company I will keep the focus on my company!!!)
As I type the Paris Hilton single plays throughout the internet caf... I still stand by my original opinion that it's not half bad... but I know it will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day... Punishment of sorts surely for liking evil things.
It's just about a month left before I jet home for xmas and the days are zipping by faster than I can imagine. I finally have the Spanish version of my company website up and live which is a huge relief!
House hunting continues... will it ever end???
Days (actually more like hours) of summer blond are numbered... Vero is going to sort me out this afternoon so I look partially presentible when returning home in a few weeks.
Evil recruiters are nipping at my heels and I am dreading the temptations of evils that they will dangle in front of me (I will keep the focus on my company I will keep the focus on my company!!!)
As I type the Paris Hilton single plays throughout the internet caf... I still stand by my original opinion that it's not half bad... but I know it will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day... Punishment of sorts surely for liking evil things.
16.11.06
10.11.06
oh yes...
I own it... the black victor and rolf trenchcoat that whipped London into a frenzy yesterday. I got one and was not 100% sure that I liked it. The shop was like a mad house so I picked it up and decided that I would get KJ's and jojo's opinions when I saw them later. Good idea sarah! Jo jo fell in love with instantly thus it did nto take me long to decide it was for her that I must have bought it! This morning splashed all over Metro was the headline "trench warfare" referring to the crazyness that took place yesterday. They are already retailing on ebay for 150 quid! I'm just happy that giving it to Jo Jo made her happy!
Last night I caught up with lady andrea and lord danny at the pub after work. Lady Andrea proved that eating only soup and bread roll makes you incredibly when mixed with then drinking two large glasses of wine instantly makes one suseptible to Tandori Tourrettes syndrom... which saw her sputtering out various Tandori cuisine elements as we walked to the tube to head home. Utterly hilarious. I think I get so many funny blogging stories in London!
Jo jo was talking to me last night when we got home to her place and showed me the text that she had received from miss woo a few days ago... it was about a dream that she had where I was on a game show and I won 38k! How strange and scary and spooky is that! Secret mission is tomorrow afternoon at 15h30 so we will see how it goes! I bought a euro millions ticket tonight just incase her dream was premintion and that I am going to win 38 million????
If my next post is from somewhere in the maldives you'll know that my ship came in!
I own it... the black victor and rolf trenchcoat that whipped London into a frenzy yesterday. I got one and was not 100% sure that I liked it. The shop was like a mad house so I picked it up and decided that I would get KJ's and jojo's opinions when I saw them later. Good idea sarah! Jo jo fell in love with instantly thus it did nto take me long to decide it was for her that I must have bought it! This morning splashed all over Metro was the headline "trench warfare" referring to the crazyness that took place yesterday. They are already retailing on ebay for 150 quid! I'm just happy that giving it to Jo Jo made her happy!
Last night I caught up with lady andrea and lord danny at the pub after work. Lady Andrea proved that eating only soup and bread roll makes you incredibly when mixed with then drinking two large glasses of wine instantly makes one suseptible to Tandori Tourrettes syndrom... which saw her sputtering out various Tandori cuisine elements as we walked to the tube to head home. Utterly hilarious. I think I get so many funny blogging stories in London!
Jo jo was talking to me last night when we got home to her place and showed me the text that she had received from miss woo a few days ago... it was about a dream that she had where I was on a game show and I won 38k! How strange and scary and spooky is that! Secret mission is tomorrow afternoon at 15h30 so we will see how it goes! I bought a euro millions ticket tonight just incase her dream was premintion and that I am going to win 38 million????
If my next post is from somewhere in the maldives you'll know that my ship came in!
7.11.06
Time is just swirling around me
and the same things keep coming back again and again and nothing is getting resolved! Get me off this merry go round! Speaking of spinning... my annual stress/inner ear infection has resurfaced and I am wobbling around like a drunk person... Vertigo is not a pleasant thing! I hope this clears before I attempt to travel on Thursday. I can see myself now... hauled over at customs not for having a passport that is about to expire but because they suspect that I am intoxicated!!! I love it!
I did a new painting over the weekend. It's a bit of a new direction of sorts for me as it is much more detailled than I usually do... I think it's interesting. It sure photographs really well... but I think I am better suited to more abstract things... check it out here.
Robert the art challenge may just be on again! You ready?
and the same things keep coming back again and again and nothing is getting resolved! Get me off this merry go round! Speaking of spinning... my annual stress/inner ear infection has resurfaced and I am wobbling around like a drunk person... Vertigo is not a pleasant thing! I hope this clears before I attempt to travel on Thursday. I can see myself now... hauled over at customs not for having a passport that is about to expire but because they suspect that I am intoxicated!!! I love it!
I did a new painting over the weekend. It's a bit of a new direction of sorts for me as it is much more detailled than I usually do... I think it's interesting. It sure photographs really well... but I think I am better suited to more abstract things... check it out here.
Robert the art challenge may just be on again! You ready?
2.11.06
I'm not sure if it's the
Detox that I was trying to do... or if it's having quit the detox after only 2 days... but I am feeling a bit more human today at last! I guess it's the two cups of coffee pumping through my system.
The flat situation is still dire but that is no surprise. Lets not kid ourselves...
I'm looking forward to London next week (that is if they let me in). I simply refuse to pay the 1.10 euro fee to ring the madrid embassy only for them to re-confirm that passport processing takes 10 working days and a max of 5 weeks. I know i can not get my new passport back before I travel... there is no use draining my energy fighting a lost cause.
lost causes... something i should be very concious of.
sigh.
bring on the better times please.
Detox that I was trying to do... or if it's having quit the detox after only 2 days... but I am feeling a bit more human today at last! I guess it's the two cups of coffee pumping through my system.
The flat situation is still dire but that is no surprise. Lets not kid ourselves...
I'm looking forward to London next week (that is if they let me in). I simply refuse to pay the 1.10 euro fee to ring the madrid embassy only for them to re-confirm that passport processing takes 10 working days and a max of 5 weeks. I know i can not get my new passport back before I travel... there is no use draining my energy fighting a lost cause.
lost causes... something i should be very concious of.
sigh.
bring on the better times please.
26.10.06
want to play a fun game?
It's called never ending disaster and it's based loosely on the principles of my life! Smart me finally finall finally sends off my UK passport for renewal YESTERDAY. There is almost no chance they will renew it and send it back before i need to leave on the 9th.... No worries I'll travel to London on my Canadian one! Oh look Sarah it's expiring on the 15th of November! You know how they are they don't like you travelling at all with you passport about to expire....
Lets see how quickly the canadian passport office will offer to renew me!!! Thank god they have an office here in BCN... the UK one is only in madrid (for passports). Seestor if you read this do NOT panic. (she has already bought her ticket to come to London with me that weekend) I will sort it out somehow...
disaster thy name is me
It's called never ending disaster and it's based loosely on the principles of my life! Smart me finally finall finally sends off my UK passport for renewal YESTERDAY. There is almost no chance they will renew it and send it back before i need to leave on the 9th.... No worries I'll travel to London on my Canadian one! Oh look Sarah it's expiring on the 15th of November! You know how they are they don't like you travelling at all with you passport about to expire....
Lets see how quickly the canadian passport office will offer to renew me!!! Thank god they have an office here in BCN... the UK one is only in madrid (for passports). Seestor if you read this do NOT panic. (she has already bought her ticket to come to London with me that weekend) I will sort it out somehow...
disaster thy name is me
24.10.06
She came, she saw...
And I managed to forget about all the stress in my house hunting nightmare for a few days. It was a real treat to see my friend Kim she is just so fab! I only wish we did not live on opposite ends of two separate continents!!!
Dispair mounts as the only place I saw that was nice and cheap in the last few months of searching... we did not get. The girl chose a couple closer to her own age! Dear god. Now i am OLD and homeless!
And I managed to forget about all the stress in my house hunting nightmare for a few days. It was a real treat to see my friend Kim she is just so fab! I only wish we did not live on opposite ends of two separate continents!!!
Dispair mounts as the only place I saw that was nice and cheap in the last few months of searching... we did not get. The girl chose a couple closer to her own age! Dear god. Now i am OLD and homeless!
18.10.06
brilliant
simply brilliant it was... the movie 'Match Point' we watched it last night to try and escape a bit from all this stress... I thoroughly enjoyed it although some people got pretty nervous and could't watch the whole thing :) I've never been a big woody allen follower or fan... but this was really entertaining. I'm not sure it's even been properly released here in spain or if it was i who missed it completely... i'm helplessly behind in all things cinema.
Andrea the little sleuth that she is thinks she has cracked the 3 year old mystery of where to find the brown anna friel shoes she had in that 3G commercial way back when... I can't quite remember exactly what they looked like but these puppies are very nice!
simply brilliant it was... the movie 'Match Point' we watched it last night to try and escape a bit from all this stress... I thoroughly enjoyed it although some people got pretty nervous and could't watch the whole thing :) I've never been a big woody allen follower or fan... but this was really entertaining. I'm not sure it's even been properly released here in spain or if it was i who missed it completely... i'm helplessly behind in all things cinema.
Andrea the little sleuth that she is thinks she has cracked the 3 year old mystery of where to find the brown anna friel shoes she had in that 3G commercial way back when... I can't quite remember exactly what they looked like but these puppies are very nice!
17.10.06
oh yes...
just when you think it couldn't get worse... yup it can. We've learned this lesson by now Sarah come on!
the flat we rented for the week... had no running water for the first day...then the owner called and appologied but she had forgotten a booking at the last minute and we have to be out by wednesday which leaves us high and dry... even in low season it is very difficult to find a flat to rent in barcelona...
After many many hours of searching... and many many euros in phone calls I found a place... the same place i stayed with my sister 2 and a half years ago... phew!
this is NOT fun... i do not reccomend this activity in futility to anyone...
and oh yea just for the icing on the cake... the guy who's flat we were supposed to be renting but pulled out after making us wait for over a month... has put his ad back on line... nice! good luck to you asshole!
just when you think it couldn't get worse... yup it can. We've learned this lesson by now Sarah come on!
the flat we rented for the week... had no running water for the first day...then the owner called and appologied but she had forgotten a booking at the last minute and we have to be out by wednesday which leaves us high and dry... even in low season it is very difficult to find a flat to rent in barcelona...
After many many hours of searching... and many many euros in phone calls I found a place... the same place i stayed with my sister 2 and a half years ago... phew!
this is NOT fun... i do not reccomend this activity in futility to anyone...
and oh yea just for the icing on the cake... the guy who's flat we were supposed to be renting but pulled out after making us wait for over a month... has put his ad back on line... nice! good luck to you asshole!
13.10.06
I did...
another painting this weekend... this one for Mele and Nicolas for their wedding present. I tried to be a bit more conservative as I did not want to offend them... I hope they like it... if not they can always re-gift it to someone for xmas :) I won't be offended! Check it out on my paintings site http://sarahjarrettpaintings.blogspot.com
The rain has stopped... and today I am packing up to move... to another temporary place... the flat the girl who's flat we are staying in now is returning tomorrow for a week before leaving again to Vietnam for another two months... Living out of a suitcase part dos!!!
I bought a couple of dvd's while in london because they were cheap... and because I have no cable... I got some gems... and some personal favourites...
- wedding crashers (had not previous seen it... I really liked it)
- the cable guy (dark dark funny funny)
- who put the M in Manchester (for ze boi who was dying to buy it... cost me a fiver in the UK and it's on sale here for 35 euros!)
- drop dead fred! (classic!)
- cruel intentions (yea yea yea but I love it!)
I'm still recovering after the disapointment a few weeks back after having seen 'the breakup' what a sad ending... I shall say no more!
another painting this weekend... this one for Mele and Nicolas for their wedding present. I tried to be a bit more conservative as I did not want to offend them... I hope they like it... if not they can always re-gift it to someone for xmas :) I won't be offended! Check it out on my paintings site http://sarahjarrettpaintings.blogspot.com
The rain has stopped... and today I am packing up to move... to another temporary place... the flat the girl who's flat we are staying in now is returning tomorrow for a week before leaving again to Vietnam for another two months... Living out of a suitcase part dos!!!
I bought a couple of dvd's while in london because they were cheap... and because I have no cable... I got some gems... and some personal favourites...
- wedding crashers (had not previous seen it... I really liked it)
- the cable guy (dark dark funny funny)
- who put the M in Manchester (for ze boi who was dying to buy it... cost me a fiver in the UK and it's on sale here for 35 euros!)
- drop dead fred! (classic!)
- cruel intentions (yea yea yea but I love it!)
I'm still recovering after the disapointment a few weeks back after having seen 'the breakup' what a sad ending... I shall say no more!
12.10.06
sucess!
Well the housing situation is still grim... but on a positive note my new business site is coming up on the first page of google search! I am well pleased about that... now I just need to convert it to some more business!!!
I seem to have brought the rain with me back from London... Being back there at the begining of the week was nice but I was VERY happy to leave... the airport security measures are just insane now... I'll take a pass on returning there for the near future.
We have a four day weekend here... it's spain day or something like that... whatever it is it means that we don't work today or tomorrow. Time to catch up on some zzzzzzzzzz's and oh yea... find somewhere to live!
Well the housing situation is still grim... but on a positive note my new business site is coming up on the first page of google search! I am well pleased about that... now I just need to convert it to some more business!!!
I seem to have brought the rain with me back from London... Being back there at the begining of the week was nice but I was VERY happy to leave... the airport security measures are just insane now... I'll take a pass on returning there for the near future.
We have a four day weekend here... it's spain day or something like that... whatever it is it means that we don't work today or tomorrow. Time to catch up on some zzzzzzzzzz's and oh yea... find somewhere to live!
6.10.06
No big surprise really
But the flat we have been waiting for for the last month... just fell through. The guy renting it gave us the run around and was still confirming with us last week... yesterday they pulled out citing their continual problems with their current tennants... it´s such a pain really... the house hunt has to start all over again and the only things I can see on the market now are horrible and small and yuckie oh and yea did I mention expensive!!!!!
went to see a locale space last night for Vero... the guy showing the space was telling us about this flat he saw for sale for 60k imagine! Dear lord it must be falling to pieces... you damn near pay close to that in rent in a few years... I'm going to hunt it down as it's always worth having a look... ring ring... hey mum wanna buy me a rotted flat in bcn for 60k? Cheers!
sigh... I´m gonna buy a tent and go live on the beach.
But the flat we have been waiting for for the last month... just fell through. The guy renting it gave us the run around and was still confirming with us last week... yesterday they pulled out citing their continual problems with their current tennants... it´s such a pain really... the house hunt has to start all over again and the only things I can see on the market now are horrible and small and yuckie oh and yea did I mention expensive!!!!!
went to see a locale space last night for Vero... the guy showing the space was telling us about this flat he saw for sale for 60k imagine! Dear lord it must be falling to pieces... you damn near pay close to that in rent in a few years... I'm going to hunt it down as it's always worth having a look... ring ring... hey mum wanna buy me a rotted flat in bcn for 60k? Cheers!
sigh... I´m gonna buy a tent and go live on the beach.
5.10.06
Soooooo much to report
Time is spinning by quicky and although moving into my new flat is delayed until possibly the end of the month the temporary accomodation is a great stroke of luck... albeit very much on the damp smelling side I am greatful!
I've been busy working on this part time contact and trying to hustle things with barcelona luxury... all quite a challenge with no internet in my temporary accomodation. Of course today I have run into a mail server challenge... the form on the site is being delivered but the rest of my accounts are not cooperating and not working at all. I am at a loss... I guess I will wait to see if it's a hosting problem or something from my side.
I am off to London for two days early next week for the project kick off meeting for the contract job... It will be so fab to see everyone! Then as an added bonus Kim is coming to visit from Edmonton the following week! I've not seen her in eons! I am so excited. She is holidaying in London and is jetting over to spend 4 days with me while she's on this side of the pond!
Mele's long awaited wedding is this saturday and it should be great fun. I am so happy for her and nicolas. I just need to decide on which outfit to wear. KJ would be pleased as I finally have an event to which I can wear the YSL shoes she bought me for xmas last year!!! Ze boi will be absent which is disapointing as it's never fun to go dateless to a wedding but hey ho... work is more important...
Time is spinning by quicky and although moving into my new flat is delayed until possibly the end of the month the temporary accomodation is a great stroke of luck... albeit very much on the damp smelling side I am greatful!
I've been busy working on this part time contact and trying to hustle things with barcelona luxury... all quite a challenge with no internet in my temporary accomodation. Of course today I have run into a mail server challenge... the form on the site is being delivered but the rest of my accounts are not cooperating and not working at all. I am at a loss... I guess I will wait to see if it's a hosting problem or something from my side.
I am off to London for two days early next week for the project kick off meeting for the contract job... It will be so fab to see everyone! Then as an added bonus Kim is coming to visit from Edmonton the following week! I've not seen her in eons! I am so excited. She is holidaying in London and is jetting over to spend 4 days with me while she's on this side of the pond!
Mele's long awaited wedding is this saturday and it should be great fun. I am so happy for her and nicolas. I just need to decide on which outfit to wear. KJ would be pleased as I finally have an event to which I can wear the YSL shoes she bought me for xmas last year!!! Ze boi will be absent which is disapointing as it's never fun to go dateless to a wedding but hey ho... work is more important...
26.9.06
It's alive!
My new venture's website! www.barcelonaluxury.com check it out and tell your friends about it!!!
My new venture's website! www.barcelonaluxury.com check it out and tell your friends about it!!!
I never knew it...
However I have a new mum and dad... they live in australia and they have a new pet! They sent me a bunch of pictures to my gmail account... what a cute animal... I have no idea what it is! I did drop them a line to let them know they had the wrong addy :) I wonder if we are related? I looked at the pics of the 'dad' and couldn't spot any major resemblance to mine...
I am such a clever girl i managed to send Fredu's b'day present to joey's old house in london... thus why it did not arrive to her before she left to fly to barcelona on friday... i have such a terrible history of him and shoes for his birthday... one time i bought them from ebay and they fell victim to a fire in a post truck... thus they never arrived... then the next time they arrived and then got left in the back of a taxi... now this year i buy them and send them to the wrong bloody address!! I have no luck at all! Note to self do not buy this man shoes via ebay!
My new venture's site will be up today I am having problems with the contact form but I will simply publish the site with the email contact address and the contact phone numbers for now... The business cards will be ready to collect this afternoon so all engines are go! I will post the URL here once it's all up and pretty!
Happy B'day Fredu and Joey!!!
However I have a new mum and dad... they live in australia and they have a new pet! They sent me a bunch of pictures to my gmail account... what a cute animal... I have no idea what it is! I did drop them a line to let them know they had the wrong addy :) I wonder if we are related? I looked at the pics of the 'dad' and couldn't spot any major resemblance to mine...
I am such a clever girl i managed to send Fredu's b'day present to joey's old house in london... thus why it did not arrive to her before she left to fly to barcelona on friday... i have such a terrible history of him and shoes for his birthday... one time i bought them from ebay and they fell victim to a fire in a post truck... thus they never arrived... then the next time they arrived and then got left in the back of a taxi... now this year i buy them and send them to the wrong bloody address!! I have no luck at all! Note to self do not buy this man shoes via ebay!
My new venture's site will be up today I am having problems with the contact form but I will simply publish the site with the email contact address and the contact phone numbers for now... The business cards will be ready to collect this afternoon so all engines are go! I will post the URL here once it's all up and pretty!
Happy B'day Fredu and Joey!!!
19.9.06
last night
I had this really vivid dream. I was learning how to kite surf. I was so happy I wasn't half bad at it which really surprised me. I have no idea why but for some reason in my dream I was dating the ex of jessica simpson... Nick lachey or something like that and he was with me kite surfing. When I woke up I felt so buzzed like I had actually been kite surfing... just where the bloke came from I have no idea... When I was down at the beach this afternoon on my way to the gym I looked out for the kite surfers but today there were none... I guess there was only enough wind in my dream!
Back to business now... I've got business cards to get printed and a website that won't finish designing it's self....
I had this really vivid dream. I was learning how to kite surf. I was so happy I wasn't half bad at it which really surprised me. I have no idea why but for some reason in my dream I was dating the ex of jessica simpson... Nick lachey or something like that and he was with me kite surfing. When I woke up I felt so buzzed like I had actually been kite surfing... just where the bloke came from I have no idea... When I was down at the beach this afternoon on my way to the gym I looked out for the kite surfers but today there were none... I guess there was only enough wind in my dream!
Back to business now... I've got business cards to get printed and a website that won't finish designing it's self....
17.9.06
Muy divertido
Last night while talking to andrea via skype she sent me this it is just so funny!
Then she sent me this morning a picture of her fab new shoes with the following caption>
Hide your pet zebr
Andrea is very very funny... if you did not view the first link then it will make no sense to you...
I think my day is complete now and it's only 13h!
Last night while talking to andrea via skype she sent me this it is just so funny!
Then she sent me this morning a picture of her fab new shoes with the following caption>
Hide your pet zebr
Andrea is very very funny... if you did not view the first link then it will make no sense to you...
I think my day is complete now and it's only 13h!
13.9.06
Clearly
No one was up for my challenge... I sure was but have run into a few problems... Today has been a total wash out... both figuratively and literally. The rain and thunderstorms here have been opressive. When it rains it pours !!! I have managed to develop a nice illness which has kept me in bed all day with a burning fever and tonsils the size of golf balls. Not at all what I wanted to be doing when my to do list has reached epic proportions... I read somewhere that when your to do list has more than 20 items on it, it is no longer a to do list but a bigger thing entirely.
However on a positive note that contract came through and I will be working on a pretty interesting project for the next 3 months for approx 2 days per week. The cash will be a nice thing to keep me a bit more comfortable while I start the business... Dreamweaver permitting my site will be live within the next few days...
You know that there is never a dull moment in my life and yesterday I found out that my moving plans have been slightly altered... we are now not going to be able to move into the new flat until november... A huge pain but luckily a friend of Fredu's is off travelling for 3 months and we can kip at hers... As I said to Andrea yesterday... I'm sure not in notting hill anymore!! Patience my mother says... So I will take a deep breath and try not to swallow (to avoid the tonsil pain)
I've been doing a lot of reflection this week as have most people in the western world I can but suppose. The 11th was horrible, undescribable and haunting. I hate that it happened and I sympathize dearly with all the people who died and for all the families who lost their loved ones... but there are a few very big unanswered questions..... why does no one mention the other planes... there is the flight 93 movie but what about the one that crashed into the pentagon? There is a very eerie silence when it comes to details on that. Does no one find it alarming??? Does no one question how the hundreds of thousands of women men and children have died in iraq and afganistan at the hands of american forces? How can people turn a blind eye to it? Is it easier because all the casualties there are not dying all on the same day? Is it easier to swallow and deny? I just don't see sence. All parties involved are guilty. All need to take responsibilites for their actions and be clear and transparent with their countries... I fear this will never be a reality for the americans... as for the Iraqi's and the Afgans... I am not sure. I think it's hard to face but all parties must accept responsibilty and stop this insanity.
Back I shall crawl to my sick bed... rest assured that the above paragraph will most likely be my one and only political rant of this year.
No one was up for my challenge... I sure was but have run into a few problems... Today has been a total wash out... both figuratively and literally. The rain and thunderstorms here have been opressive. When it rains it pours !!! I have managed to develop a nice illness which has kept me in bed all day with a burning fever and tonsils the size of golf balls. Not at all what I wanted to be doing when my to do list has reached epic proportions... I read somewhere that when your to do list has more than 20 items on it, it is no longer a to do list but a bigger thing entirely.
However on a positive note that contract came through and I will be working on a pretty interesting project for the next 3 months for approx 2 days per week. The cash will be a nice thing to keep me a bit more comfortable while I start the business... Dreamweaver permitting my site will be live within the next few days...
You know that there is never a dull moment in my life and yesterday I found out that my moving plans have been slightly altered... we are now not going to be able to move into the new flat until november... A huge pain but luckily a friend of Fredu's is off travelling for 3 months and we can kip at hers... As I said to Andrea yesterday... I'm sure not in notting hill anymore!! Patience my mother says... So I will take a deep breath and try not to swallow (to avoid the tonsil pain)
I've been doing a lot of reflection this week as have most people in the western world I can but suppose. The 11th was horrible, undescribable and haunting. I hate that it happened and I sympathize dearly with all the people who died and for all the families who lost their loved ones... but there are a few very big unanswered questions..... why does no one mention the other planes... there is the flight 93 movie but what about the one that crashed into the pentagon? There is a very eerie silence when it comes to details on that. Does no one find it alarming??? Does no one question how the hundreds of thousands of women men and children have died in iraq and afganistan at the hands of american forces? How can people turn a blind eye to it? Is it easier because all the casualties there are not dying all on the same day? Is it easier to swallow and deny? I just don't see sence. All parties involved are guilty. All need to take responsibilites for their actions and be clear and transparent with their countries... I fear this will never be a reality for the americans... as for the Iraqi's and the Afgans... I am not sure. I think it's hard to face but all parties must accept responsibilty and stop this insanity.
Back I shall crawl to my sick bed... rest assured that the above paragraph will most likely be my one and only political rant of this year.
6.9.06
Anyone up for a challenge???
Well the work on my business has not been very focused lately... it's funny how for the past 8 years or so I have worked in the digital media business... here I sit with very little money in my pocket and the challenge to develop my corporate identity on my own... I am rubbish! It's quite funny really as I am always the head of the team... trying to learn how to run with body parts you can readily identify but very badly operate is tricky!!! To everyone I have worked with in the past... you know I always say that 'you are the expert' well I really really really mean it now!
I think we have found a flat... in the same neighborhood. Sharing with a nice guy from Madrid who is very rarely around. It's going to need some TLC as it is quite neglected... but for the price it's a bargain and who's afraid of a little hard work and some interior decorating???? umm if my webdesign stills are anything to go by... we may need some help!!! LOL While searching for a place I met an extrodanarily lovely couple whom have a gorgeous flat uptown. Although due to the location we decided against asking them if they would have us... they are a truely kindred spirits. You never know, things in life happen for a reason... That I am certain of!
I have challenged one of my lovely blog readers to an art project. I have ventured to try and produce two peices in the next week on the premise that he creates one. Will he accept? Anyone else up for the challenge? I shall post the results of course... go on get out your creative hat... produce something... anything... nothing is a better pick me up that completing a task! I swear to god I was meant to be a teacher... just listen to me!!!
Well the work on my business has not been very focused lately... it's funny how for the past 8 years or so I have worked in the digital media business... here I sit with very little money in my pocket and the challenge to develop my corporate identity on my own... I am rubbish! It's quite funny really as I am always the head of the team... trying to learn how to run with body parts you can readily identify but very badly operate is tricky!!! To everyone I have worked with in the past... you know I always say that 'you are the expert' well I really really really mean it now!
I think we have found a flat... in the same neighborhood. Sharing with a nice guy from Madrid who is very rarely around. It's going to need some TLC as it is quite neglected... but for the price it's a bargain and who's afraid of a little hard work and some interior decorating???? umm if my webdesign stills are anything to go by... we may need some help!!! LOL While searching for a place I met an extrodanarily lovely couple whom have a gorgeous flat uptown. Although due to the location we decided against asking them if they would have us... they are a truely kindred spirits. You never know, things in life happen for a reason... That I am certain of!
I have challenged one of my lovely blog readers to an art project. I have ventured to try and produce two peices in the next week on the premise that he creates one. Will he accept? Anyone else up for the challenge? I shall post the results of course... go on get out your creative hat... produce something... anything... nothing is a better pick me up that completing a task! I swear to god I was meant to be a teacher... just listen to me!!!
1.9.06
Since I have last...
Written much has happened…all of which is quite scary but exciting too!
1) I sliced my left hand open quite fiercely while trying to make more room in my rubbish bin… silly me managed to get the tin of tuna I had just opened to go straight through me. I almost fainted when I saw how big and deep it was…but I survived and now 4 days later I still hunt and peck on my keyboard to type this out for fear of tearing open the delicate wound between my thumb and my forefinger. Not fun!!! People at the gym have been nice to me and help me adjust the equipment when it requires two hands.
2) Gymmed lots! Mar a two day absence due to hand slicing activities…I have been 8 out of the last 10 days J It feels so good to get those endorphins back! My bellies are happy too as they are reducing!!!
3) Worked on my new business idea…albeit difficult to type I am making progress…even if it is slow…I liken the feeling at times to something like how you feel when you are at school and you have a project you know you should be working on… but you keep procrastinating!?!? I will get there! I have to!!!
4) Given notice on my flat…I love it here however it is time to be economical and that means reducing the rent I pay per month. I have not found a place yet which makes me VERY nervous…but I have 29 days more to do so, so no panic yet!!!
5) Been offered a chance to do some sweet part time PM work for a client of the last agency I worked for... I am well excited about that one!!!
Busy times…but I still managed to enjoy lunch on the beach this afternoon after the gym with a lovely handsome man…
I hope the sunshine finds you wherever you are this weekend!
Written much has happened…all of which is quite scary but exciting too!
1) I sliced my left hand open quite fiercely while trying to make more room in my rubbish bin… silly me managed to get the tin of tuna I had just opened to go straight through me. I almost fainted when I saw how big and deep it was…but I survived and now 4 days later I still hunt and peck on my keyboard to type this out for fear of tearing open the delicate wound between my thumb and my forefinger. Not fun!!! People at the gym have been nice to me and help me adjust the equipment when it requires two hands.
2) Gymmed lots! Mar a two day absence due to hand slicing activities…I have been 8 out of the last 10 days J It feels so good to get those endorphins back! My bellies are happy too as they are reducing!!!
3) Worked on my new business idea…albeit difficult to type I am making progress…even if it is slow…I liken the feeling at times to something like how you feel when you are at school and you have a project you know you should be working on… but you keep procrastinating!?!? I will get there! I have to!!!
4) Given notice on my flat…I love it here however it is time to be economical and that means reducing the rent I pay per month. I have not found a place yet which makes me VERY nervous…but I have 29 days more to do so, so no panic yet!!!
5) Been offered a chance to do some sweet part time PM work for a client of the last agency I worked for... I am well excited about that one!!!
Busy times…but I still managed to enjoy lunch on the beach this afternoon after the gym with a lovely handsome man…
I hope the sunshine finds you wherever you are this weekend!
26.8.06
Good me!
I have finally set up a site for all my paintings... I needed to for a possible exhibition at the budah bar... a great motivator. It feels really good to have finally done it! Check it out here sarahjarrettpaintings.blogspot.com now go and fish out your piggie bank and buy one then I can say, good you!
I am hoping that my recent productivity will also reach to my actual painting. It has been a while but I think I am ready to finish this piece I have been working on for the last few months... *kicks self up the butt*
Have a good weekend enjoy the long weekend all yee brits I will send you some sunshine!
I have finally set up a site for all my paintings... I needed to for a possible exhibition at the budah bar... a great motivator. It feels really good to have finally done it! Check it out here sarahjarrettpaintings.blogspot.com now go and fish out your piggie bank and buy one then I can say, good you!
I am hoping that my recent productivity will also reach to my actual painting. It has been a while but I think I am ready to finish this piece I have been working on for the last few months... *kicks self up the butt*
Have a good weekend enjoy the long weekend all yee brits I will send you some sunshine!
24.8.06
If there is one thing...
That I have learned in these last few months… that is stress is the root of all evil. Having these last few weeks off has been really really good for me. Don’t get me wrong I was quite stressed at time during my holidays… trying to make sure everyone was happy and such… but I mean more in general. I think the biggest evidence is my lack of total intolerance to the sound of the street vendors outside my bedroom window who rattle those silly magnets together for hours and hours on end… I am not sure if you know what I am talking about… but they are two strongly magnetic rocks that make a hell of a racket when you throw them in the air and the tumble back down hitting against one and other. Now, before I left my job, the noise these things make would fly me in to a terrible rage, at times I even really really wanted to go downstairs and physically harm the vendor… However now here I sit after a successful day working on my new business, setting up a potential exhibition and having just returned from a good workout at the gym… my window is open and I can hear the maddening ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip sound and my blood pressure is only now slightly raised… I can feel a definitive change in the weather here in the last few days, autumn will move in quickly this year me thinks… I have so many pictures that were taken on the holiday I do not know which to post… I’ll start with these.
seestor on her first night here! God we look alike now!
Seestor and her new beau Brian
Brian & Joey / Cadaques
Sharky! (and KJ said i did not need to buy him from Ikea)
See! Sharky proved to be very useful... he went to pick up jo jo!
But it did not help us being board as we waited forever for jo jo to come out while the baggage handlers finshed their lunch break!
London crew on board!
The brave swimmers on board! Tiny Mummy included!
That I have learned in these last few months… that is stress is the root of all evil. Having these last few weeks off has been really really good for me. Don’t get me wrong I was quite stressed at time during my holidays… trying to make sure everyone was happy and such… but I mean more in general. I think the biggest evidence is my lack of total intolerance to the sound of the street vendors outside my bedroom window who rattle those silly magnets together for hours and hours on end… I am not sure if you know what I am talking about… but they are two strongly magnetic rocks that make a hell of a racket when you throw them in the air and the tumble back down hitting against one and other. Now, before I left my job, the noise these things make would fly me in to a terrible rage, at times I even really really wanted to go downstairs and physically harm the vendor… However now here I sit after a successful day working on my new business, setting up a potential exhibition and having just returned from a good workout at the gym… my window is open and I can hear the maddening ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip sound and my blood pressure is only now slightly raised… I can feel a definitive change in the weather here in the last few days, autumn will move in quickly this year me thinks… I have so many pictures that were taken on the holiday I do not know which to post… I’ll start with these.
seestor on her first night here! God we look alike now!
Seestor and her new beau Brian
Brian & Joey / Cadaques
Sharky! (and KJ said i did not need to buy him from Ikea)
See! Sharky proved to be very useful... he went to pick up jo jo!
But it did not help us being board as we waited forever for jo jo to come out while the baggage handlers finshed their lunch break!
London crew on board!
The brave swimmers on board! Tiny Mummy included!
27.7.06
It’s speeding up and slowing down
Time is playing tricks these days… sometimes fast sometimes so slow… Like the people waiting on Park Bench and other times like I am gasping for air as I am running so fast to catch up.
I have been brewing ideas for my new business idea… the other one I was working on earlier in the year is still in progress but I hope now that I have some time off on the horizon I will have time to develop them both at the same time!
Work tells me that they have found someone to replace me… which translates to they found a girl who is English who will come for an interview. I wish her the best of luck. Anyone really… if you are in Barcelona and you are a native English speaker and you are being courted by an agency for international coordination for a large automotive account… be warned!!!! Ah well maybe some fresh blood will be good. This race horse is ready to be put out to pasture that’s for sure!
Time is playing tricks these days… sometimes fast sometimes so slow… Like the people waiting on Park Bench and other times like I am gasping for air as I am running so fast to catch up.
I have been brewing ideas for my new business idea… the other one I was working on earlier in the year is still in progress but I hope now that I have some time off on the horizon I will have time to develop them both at the same time!
Work tells me that they have found someone to replace me… which translates to they found a girl who is English who will come for an interview. I wish her the best of luck. Anyone really… if you are in Barcelona and you are a native English speaker and you are being courted by an agency for international coordination for a large automotive account… be warned!!!! Ah well maybe some fresh blood will be good. This race horse is ready to be put out to pasture that’s for sure!
26.7.06
Last night
I was strolling around the neighbourhood and I stopped by Vero’s shop where she was just finishing with her last client. We sipped some cava and then decided to head off down to the beach for a dip in the darkness. It has been so very hot here even well into the evenings that a night time swim was a welcome treat. We plunged in and splashed around. Moments like this I sometimes feel like pinching myself as it’s such a new experience for me, living by the sea that is… It was nice to spend a bit of time with her before she jets back to Marseille for the month of August.
This morning… as per usual the client arrived… the eeeeeevil one… Keep in mind that since my last posting my boss has quit the new account manager (who has only been here a few weeks) have all resigned. She arrived and spoke to the big boss who informed her that everyone was leaving because no one wanted to work with her. I do feel sorry for her what a shock this must have been to her… She then stormed out and cancelled the meeting. I tell you, it was a priceless moment in history here at this sweat shop agency… We can only assume that she has marched back to her boss and demanded that our agency be fired immediately. I can not wait to her what the repercussions are. Tuesday next week is my last day, I can only image that something major will happen between then and now.
Seestor has confirmed that she is arriving on the 31st at 17h which is very cool. I get to spend a couple of days with them around the city here before the rest of the Canadian crew arrives. Positive things on the horizon at last! There is light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not an oncoming train
I was strolling around the neighbourhood and I stopped by Vero’s shop where she was just finishing with her last client. We sipped some cava and then decided to head off down to the beach for a dip in the darkness. It has been so very hot here even well into the evenings that a night time swim was a welcome treat. We plunged in and splashed around. Moments like this I sometimes feel like pinching myself as it’s such a new experience for me, living by the sea that is… It was nice to spend a bit of time with her before she jets back to Marseille for the month of August.
This morning… as per usual the client arrived… the eeeeeevil one… Keep in mind that since my last posting my boss has quit the new account manager (who has only been here a few weeks) have all resigned. She arrived and spoke to the big boss who informed her that everyone was leaving because no one wanted to work with her. I do feel sorry for her what a shock this must have been to her… She then stormed out and cancelled the meeting. I tell you, it was a priceless moment in history here at this sweat shop agency… We can only assume that she has marched back to her boss and demanded that our agency be fired immediately. I can not wait to her what the repercussions are. Tuesday next week is my last day, I can only image that something major will happen between then and now.
Seestor has confirmed that she is arriving on the 31st at 17h which is very cool. I get to spend a couple of days with them around the city here before the rest of the Canadian crew arrives. Positive things on the horizon at last! There is light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not an oncoming train
20.7.06
I am so restless today
I am nearly vibrating… this week has been tough but I have finally officially resigned. They have asked me to stay here as a “favour” until the end of Sept. I don’t know how favours are supposed to work… but the anguish that would be involved in staying that long is too much to even calculate… generally when people quit their jobs it’s because they no longer want to work there… I do not see how this is not a clear concept to them. I really wish I felt relieved… but I have two weeks left to work here and time runs sticky slow like molasses in January here. My focus right now is getting though today and then to the safe harbour of the weekend.
Last weekend I ventured inland with my friend eric and his girlfriend deb for a lovely repose in the countryside. His father owns a house in a small village called Huesca. We picked up the lovely deb from the train station in lleida (she was coming from Madrid) and then ventured off… after pilling our shopping cart full of more booze than would be required for a small wedding… we head off for the house. We arrived Friday night and had a quiet supper and a few drinks. Saturday we spent the day lazing about the beautiful river that runs through the town. True relaxation…. Something that was not going to last long… We had supper and since we were all feeling quite spent, retired to bed very early at 23h30. At around 1am in the morning that’s when it all started… the town erupted with the sound of a massive stereo system… Music pumped and pounded out into the once tranquil landscape… there was nowhere to hide… This of course went on for hours… 6 hours to be precise. No sleep was had by anyone. ¡Que mal suerte! On Monday when I returned I had a good chuckle when I heard that my new colleague was at the very party in Huesca on Saturday… however he was smarter… he participated in it!
Possibly back out of the city the weekend to see fredu who is working for his friend Martin up in the Mountain in a small town called Sort… He rang this morning with bad news that his mobile was stolen from the hotel… bad indeed as it was my mobile. Ah well what can you do once it’s gone??? If I don’t venture there I may finally go out to razzamatazz with Chiara on Saturday night as they are going “early” as she has a flight home on Sunday morning at 8am! We will see how that goes. I never end up going as I find it too hard to comprehend going clubbing so late at night. Dear lord I am truly old. I remember how when I lived in France I used to set my alarm for 3am to get up to go to Sergeant Pop to go dancing!
Seestor did not get her mini block off from work as she had hoped however she intends to come to Spain come hell or high water… I can’t wait to see her and meet her new boyfriend… There are so many people coming I can’t wait it will be so much fun!!! If anyone else decides to join they will need to bring a tent to pitch in the garden!
I am nearly vibrating… this week has been tough but I have finally officially resigned. They have asked me to stay here as a “favour” until the end of Sept. I don’t know how favours are supposed to work… but the anguish that would be involved in staying that long is too much to even calculate… generally when people quit their jobs it’s because they no longer want to work there… I do not see how this is not a clear concept to them. I really wish I felt relieved… but I have two weeks left to work here and time runs sticky slow like molasses in January here. My focus right now is getting though today and then to the safe harbour of the weekend.
Last weekend I ventured inland with my friend eric and his girlfriend deb for a lovely repose in the countryside. His father owns a house in a small village called Huesca. We picked up the lovely deb from the train station in lleida (she was coming from Madrid) and then ventured off… after pilling our shopping cart full of more booze than would be required for a small wedding… we head off for the house. We arrived Friday night and had a quiet supper and a few drinks. Saturday we spent the day lazing about the beautiful river that runs through the town. True relaxation…. Something that was not going to last long… We had supper and since we were all feeling quite spent, retired to bed very early at 23h30. At around 1am in the morning that’s when it all started… the town erupted with the sound of a massive stereo system… Music pumped and pounded out into the once tranquil landscape… there was nowhere to hide… This of course went on for hours… 6 hours to be precise. No sleep was had by anyone. ¡Que mal suerte! On Monday when I returned I had a good chuckle when I heard that my new colleague was at the very party in Huesca on Saturday… however he was smarter… he participated in it!
Possibly back out of the city the weekend to see fredu who is working for his friend Martin up in the Mountain in a small town called Sort… He rang this morning with bad news that his mobile was stolen from the hotel… bad indeed as it was my mobile. Ah well what can you do once it’s gone??? If I don’t venture there I may finally go out to razzamatazz with Chiara on Saturday night as they are going “early” as she has a flight home on Sunday morning at 8am! We will see how that goes. I never end up going as I find it too hard to comprehend going clubbing so late at night. Dear lord I am truly old. I remember how when I lived in France I used to set my alarm for 3am to get up to go to Sergeant Pop to go dancing!
Seestor did not get her mini block off from work as she had hoped however she intends to come to Spain come hell or high water… I can’t wait to see her and meet her new boyfriend… There are so many people coming I can’t wait it will be so much fun!!! If anyone else decides to join they will need to bring a tent to pitch in the garden!
7.7.06
Lets face it…
5.7.06
New arrivals
My cousin and his wife have given birth to a lovely baby boy named Owen. He arrived last week and marks the first great grandchild for my grandparents and the first new addition to my family in nearly 12 years! Clever lad... he managed to win the first grandchild to marry and the first to produce a great grandchild in one foul swoop! The pressure if off the rest of us now!
In his honour I have tracked down one of my favorite clip from a mike myers film that my cousin often quotes from... enjoy it here.
Summer hours have started here which means in theory we work from 8h to 15h... we will try and see if that trick works today... with a fussy client who refuses to acknowledge the timetable I am sure it will be a bit of a push...
I got started on my newest painting this weekend and monday/tuesday as I was at home trying to calm down my lateset onset of athsma... watch this space... no more animals this time around... looks like I have skirted back to naked ladies once again... this is a large 90x90 canvas...thus this lady is nearly life sized... I did cut myself quite a challenge as this piece includes hands... lets just say that even if I can paint teeth... hands are a VERY different story. Odds are 10-1 that they end up looking like lobster claws... (trust me you should see them now)... note to self... hide hands in pieces!
My cousin and his wife have given birth to a lovely baby boy named Owen. He arrived last week and marks the first great grandchild for my grandparents and the first new addition to my family in nearly 12 years! Clever lad... he managed to win the first grandchild to marry and the first to produce a great grandchild in one foul swoop! The pressure if off the rest of us now!
In his honour I have tracked down one of my favorite clip from a mike myers film that my cousin often quotes from... enjoy it here.
Summer hours have started here which means in theory we work from 8h to 15h... we will try and see if that trick works today... with a fussy client who refuses to acknowledge the timetable I am sure it will be a bit of a push...
I got started on my newest painting this weekend and monday/tuesday as I was at home trying to calm down my lateset onset of athsma... watch this space... no more animals this time around... looks like I have skirted back to naked ladies once again... this is a large 90x90 canvas...thus this lady is nearly life sized... I did cut myself quite a challenge as this piece includes hands... lets just say that even if I can paint teeth... hands are a VERY different story. Odds are 10-1 that they end up looking like lobster claws... (trust me you should see them now)... note to self... hide hands in pieces!
27.6.06
26.6.06
Quite the achiever… so sporty! I can’t believe that she is off to university already… I must definitely be getting old!
It was really interesting to see the other kids listed in this section of their local newspaper… they all play so many sports! All of them so young and full of so much ambition… Could it be that 10 years on they will be jaded and burnt out like me? Perhaps I just chose the wrong career… who knows… maybe the best it yet to come… its so strange as it feels just like yesterday that I was going off to Uni… then finding a job… now I am here in Barcelona… I just would have never been able to guess it. Life does spin some interesting webs sometimes.
I had a really nice relaxing weekend… spent lots of time on the beach. I do not know what it is but something about lying down there soaking up the sun, really give you the impression that you are having a break.
The days are spinning by so quickly now… and next week we switch to summer hours. 8h-15h should be nice… that’s if I can stand working here much longer...
13.6.06
Full is not heavy as empty… not nearly my love
Miss manzana or apple as you may have it… is a very talented lyricist… oh to have been wise as that at 18… I think that’s about how old she was when she wrote those lyrics…
Oh for even just a pintch of wisdom… I think it be worth it’s weight in gold…
The villa is sorted which is such a releif… now it’s just a case of counting the days until all the fun starts. Oh yea the car too… not bad 260 euros for 15 days!!!!
The winds of change from the northerly direction… drifted past very quickly and the fates have decided that at this moment… all they have brought me is chilly breezes and unseasonably cold weather. Oh well maybe the next time around. Sigh.
The london girlie crew (minus andrea and jojo) arrive this weekend for Sonar… not that they are much for electronic music however there will be plenty of festivities going on this weekend to keep us in trouble.
Life just gets that tiny bit better when you arrive at the gym on Monday night and realise that there are new spinning classes… and that there is one starting in the next 10 minutes…. And that it’s your favourite instructor… then you also reaslise that there is also spinning on Tuesday at 20h too… My bikini may just have a fighting chance this year after all!
Miss manzana or apple as you may have it… is a very talented lyricist… oh to have been wise as that at 18… I think that’s about how old she was when she wrote those lyrics…
Oh for even just a pintch of wisdom… I think it be worth it’s weight in gold…
The villa is sorted which is such a releif… now it’s just a case of counting the days until all the fun starts. Oh yea the car too… not bad 260 euros for 15 days!!!!
The winds of change from the northerly direction… drifted past very quickly and the fates have decided that at this moment… all they have brought me is chilly breezes and unseasonably cold weather. Oh well maybe the next time around. Sigh.
The london girlie crew (minus andrea and jojo) arrive this weekend for Sonar… not that they are much for electronic music however there will be plenty of festivities going on this weekend to keep us in trouble.
Life just gets that tiny bit better when you arrive at the gym on Monday night and realise that there are new spinning classes… and that there is one starting in the next 10 minutes…. And that it’s your favourite instructor… then you also reaslise that there is also spinning on Tuesday at 20h too… My bikini may just have a fighting chance this year after all!
7.6.06
Villa hunting
I think is almost as exhausting as treasure hunting… There have been so many options flying around and just nothing has seemed just right yet… time is ticking and I am feeling really stressed as I have got to get this organised! I have found a place near girona that is a tad expensive but not as much as some of the other places I have found… I am hoping that the committee will like it and we can seal the deal.
Work is all about avoiding doing it… and the stupid sunburn I have from Sunday just will not relent… Too little time between application and swimming and re-application turned into a bit of a disaster…
The winds of change are blowing into Barcelona from a northerly direction and there are new beginnings on the horizons for some… could it be me? We’ll wait and see… lets hope so!
The girlies from London are arriving next Friday… just in time for Sonar and a weekend full of fun. Just have to convince miss andrea to come and join and then we will be set!
Three day week for me… spinning tonight… if I can make it…. Trying to find the positive in things where I can….
I think is almost as exhausting as treasure hunting… There have been so many options flying around and just nothing has seemed just right yet… time is ticking and I am feeling really stressed as I have got to get this organised! I have found a place near girona that is a tad expensive but not as much as some of the other places I have found… I am hoping that the committee will like it and we can seal the deal.
Work is all about avoiding doing it… and the stupid sunburn I have from Sunday just will not relent… Too little time between application and swimming and re-application turned into a bit of a disaster…
The winds of change are blowing into Barcelona from a northerly direction and there are new beginnings on the horizons for some… could it be me? We’ll wait and see… lets hope so!
The girlies from London are arriving next Friday… just in time for Sonar and a weekend full of fun. Just have to convince miss andrea to come and join and then we will be set!
Three day week for me… spinning tonight… if I can make it…. Trying to find the positive in things where I can….
25.5.06
I woke up this morning
Exhausted… as has been the norm as of late. I think it is due to all the stress around me. At Work, at Home… At work one of my very lovely colleagues had a breakdown and is now on medical leave for the next 90 days… The poor thing he was so sweet… I can not believe the range of effect this nasty client has had on us… incredible… The other stress is a bit harder because I want so badly to help and make things right… but this time more than ever I need to stand back, its so important but its so hard. I feel like I am holding my breath walking on a tightrope… but it is not me… I am simply watching. I have faith… that is a good safety net I hope.
In my haze this morning I found a picture of my hippo painting that I took mid-way through… I was gutted to realise that what I have done now is a step backwards… I was so heartbroken. All of my heart and soul ached to stay home today and work on it to fix it. I felt so helpless… so low. It sounds so pathetic… but its how I felt… Riding to work I looked around, and I said to myself… regardless of work… stress in my personal life… damn it… there are things to be greatful for… I live in an absolutely gorgeous city where the sun shines every day… I have money enough to feed myself and I am working towards starting my own business in the next few weeks. I have a lot to be positive about… and every second I waste on feeling blue or being a big wussy about some silly painting or some stupid job will not get me anywhere…
Thus I have tasked myself to write a list of resolves and do my damnest to stick to them… here it goes in random order
- Wake up and smile… even thought I feel like death in the morning
- Paint at least twice a week... new things and finishing old incomplete pieces
- Go to the gym on the weekend as this during the week thing simply does not work
- Find somewhere to take tennis lessons
- Really put some hard core effort into getting my business off the ground and stop being so scared of the idea
- Ring my mum more
- Set more goals and complete more tasks
- Go back to Spanish lessons
- Take more photos for my blog
23.5.06
WET WET WET...
No I am not going to post about some bad boy band... add a bit of COLD COLD COLD to the equation and that about sums up the weather in London this weekend . But that was no deterrant as I had a fab weekend with all my lovely friends. We feasted and chatted and mostly caught up on the goings on durning the last few months that we have not seen each other... The pictures of the dinner party tell the tale...
No I am not going to post about some bad boy band... add a bit of COLD COLD COLD to the equation and that about sums up the weather in London this weekend . But that was no deterrant as I had a fab weekend with all my lovely friends. We feasted and chatted and mostly caught up on the goings on durning the last few months that we have not seen each other... The pictures of the dinner party tell the tale...
18.5.06
Just how beautiful...
Is miss Tatoo in this white dress? Check out picture number 8 for the best view… perhaps having the figure to go with it sure helps too I suppose… but it is lovely as is she!!!
I watched my honorary one football match per year last night… I could mostly be heard cheering for Barcenal… only fair way really as I suppose I have divided alliances. I remember that not long after I moved to London I was informed that I had an obligation to support Arsenal as I lived in Arsenal stomping ground… I didn’t see much wrong with the argument so I took up the cause (albeit a very small one to be honest). The match was interesting to watch. Great action from both sides…
I am mostly EXCTATIC that after nearly 8 months of being held in storage I will once again be re-united with the last few things of mine that I had left in London when I moved to Barcelona. I am of course very excited to see all my friends but also VERY pleased to finally have closure… I hate having things scattered! I can't wait to see what shoes I have been missing!
Only one more sleep now… best trapse off to catch some sun today… I think that my palor may cast doubts on whether I actually do live in a hot country or not!
Is miss Tatoo in this white dress? Check out picture number 8 for the best view… perhaps having the figure to go with it sure helps too I suppose… but it is lovely as is she!!!
I watched my honorary one football match per year last night… I could mostly be heard cheering for Barcenal… only fair way really as I suppose I have divided alliances. I remember that not long after I moved to London I was informed that I had an obligation to support Arsenal as I lived in Arsenal stomping ground… I didn’t see much wrong with the argument so I took up the cause (albeit a very small one to be honest). The match was interesting to watch. Great action from both sides…
I am mostly EXCTATIC that after nearly 8 months of being held in storage I will once again be re-united with the last few things of mine that I had left in London when I moved to Barcelona. I am of course very excited to see all my friends but also VERY pleased to finally have closure… I hate having things scattered! I can't wait to see what shoes I have been missing!
Only one more sleep now… best trapse off to catch some sun today… I think that my palor may cast doubts on whether I actually do live in a hot country or not!
17.5.06
Pedro Almodovar and Helen Hunt are here!!! …
Now that’s sure a pull to get me to go to a party all the way across town at 4am… or is it? What a strange combo of celebs. I thought it was so funny as a few weeks back Bertrendy was trying to convince us to go to Elephant for this Moet Chandon sponsored party… “ Helen Hunt and Pedro Almodovar are both here he exclaimed”. The strange thing is that, normally you can’t keep me away from the champers but this time… it was simply too late. I am not yet 100% adjusted yet to the late late night life here.
Two more sleeps then I am off to London town… tres exciting indeed!!! I have checked the forecast and rain is on the cards… quelle surprise!
I am really struggling with one question as of late… why is it that you are forced to treat people who are horrible and nasty to you, nicely and with even more grace than the ones that are lovely to you? I struggle with this every day as I have a client who is so unprofessional and whom insists that screaming at you is the only way to communicate… I mean why is this allowed in this day and age? Why does this person’s boss not step in and say hey you… this is simply not acceptable? It just perpetuates and perpetuates… I really wonder how someone with such a foul temperament can function as a normal citizen??? I guess it’s nothing but sad that someone can have so little regard for neither their own professionalism nor the effect their temperament has on everyone around them. This is the part where Karma comes into play doesn’t it? Is there any way to speed up Karma?
Now that’s sure a pull to get me to go to a party all the way across town at 4am… or is it? What a strange combo of celebs. I thought it was so funny as a few weeks back Bertrendy was trying to convince us to go to Elephant for this Moet Chandon sponsored party… “ Helen Hunt and Pedro Almodovar are both here he exclaimed”. The strange thing is that, normally you can’t keep me away from the champers but this time… it was simply too late. I am not yet 100% adjusted yet to the late late night life here.
Two more sleeps then I am off to London town… tres exciting indeed!!! I have checked the forecast and rain is on the cards… quelle surprise!
I am really struggling with one question as of late… why is it that you are forced to treat people who are horrible and nasty to you, nicely and with even more grace than the ones that are lovely to you? I struggle with this every day as I have a client who is so unprofessional and whom insists that screaming at you is the only way to communicate… I mean why is this allowed in this day and age? Why does this person’s boss not step in and say hey you… this is simply not acceptable? It just perpetuates and perpetuates… I really wonder how someone with such a foul temperament can function as a normal citizen??? I guess it’s nothing but sad that someone can have so little regard for neither their own professionalism nor the effect their temperament has on everyone around them. This is the part where Karma comes into play doesn’t it? Is there any way to speed up Karma?
11.5.06
I am on a roll
I have managed to make it to the 8pm spinning class two weeks in a row now. It always reminds me of when my sister was here and we went to an afternoon class and the instructor kept yelping… arriba, abajo… kj quickly decided that she did not like the arriba. As I mentioned before… last week we had this muscle mary who really put us through the paces… this week he was replaced by this very queenie guy wearing the staff uniform (I don’t think I have ever seen anyone wear it before) He played a mix of really poppy dancy techno and then some powerballad-esq songs which he actively sang along to… he desperately tried to motivate the class to respond enthusiastically… but the muscle mary hard boy spinners that pack the class were not having it! Poor instructor! He did however redeem himself with the second last song as it was a good euphoric tempo techno classic… the whistling and whooping that was evident in the last class resurrected it's self on that one. Bless, I am sure he will get the hint in the weeks to come… no ceilne dion for spinning please!
After a week of many threats of rain and lashings of cold northerly winds… the path to summer seems to have returned… I am hoping so as I want to catch some rays this weekend… I’m thinking that when I see them next week, that none of my friends in London will actually believe that I have moved to Spain as I am pretty pale!
Plans for the business idea that I am working on have taken another turn… this time for the positive. I have had three meetings this week and they have all been so encouraging. There is just so much work to be done to start a business of this sort its rather insane but there are a lot of very good resources here… one in specific is Barcelona Activ... which is a massive complex that gives you a wealth of information as to how to start a business, write a business plan, write a financial plan… get funding… they even provide you with office space while you get everything together. The part that I am very interested in is that they give extra help for women who want to start new businesses… tres cool indeed!
Seestor has gone incommunicado… oh seester where art thou?
I have managed to make it to the 8pm spinning class two weeks in a row now. It always reminds me of when my sister was here and we went to an afternoon class and the instructor kept yelping… arriba, abajo… kj quickly decided that she did not like the arriba. As I mentioned before… last week we had this muscle mary who really put us through the paces… this week he was replaced by this very queenie guy wearing the staff uniform (I don’t think I have ever seen anyone wear it before) He played a mix of really poppy dancy techno and then some powerballad-esq songs which he actively sang along to… he desperately tried to motivate the class to respond enthusiastically… but the muscle mary hard boy spinners that pack the class were not having it! Poor instructor! He did however redeem himself with the second last song as it was a good euphoric tempo techno classic… the whistling and whooping that was evident in the last class resurrected it's self on that one. Bless, I am sure he will get the hint in the weeks to come… no ceilne dion for spinning please!
After a week of many threats of rain and lashings of cold northerly winds… the path to summer seems to have returned… I am hoping so as I want to catch some rays this weekend… I’m thinking that when I see them next week, that none of my friends in London will actually believe that I have moved to Spain as I am pretty pale!
Plans for the business idea that I am working on have taken another turn… this time for the positive. I have had three meetings this week and they have all been so encouraging. There is just so much work to be done to start a business of this sort its rather insane but there are a lot of very good resources here… one in specific is Barcelona Activ... which is a massive complex that gives you a wealth of information as to how to start a business, write a business plan, write a financial plan… get funding… they even provide you with office space while you get everything together. The part that I am very interested in is that they give extra help for women who want to start new businesses… tres cool indeed!
Seestor has gone incommunicado… oh seester where art thou?
4.5.06
The cutest puppy
came to visit my house this weekend. It was a baby Jack Russell. He belonged to my flatmate’s brother. He was 3 months old and so cute!
The head first hurdle into spring has somewhat desisted and its cold and windy here since the last few days… not quite time to put away the winter woollies just yet… How chuffed am I that after hunting this fab winter jacket for the past 3 months that last week I finally got it in the sales for 50% off!?!?!? It will be put to good use I suppose as I am going back to London at the end of the month for a visit! How excited am I? AND! There is also the chance that seestor may fly over at the same time and meet me there!!! Muy bien!
Work continues to be all mannors of evil… my business plans are running amuck due to permission problems… adding to the fact that things here work so slowly… I am left feeling that it is not looking too optimistic to get off the ground this year… what I am however becoming very good at very quickly is running up bills for consultations with evil lawyers…
On a positive note I finally made it to my first post-work spinning class last night at 20h (yes I actually left the office before 21h!!!) It was lead by this mad muscle mary… talk about the workout of your life!!!!!
If you are looking for me you can mostly find me pushing this day as fast as I can to get it over and done with… is it Friday yet?
came to visit my house this weekend. It was a baby Jack Russell. He belonged to my flatmate’s brother. He was 3 months old and so cute!
The head first hurdle into spring has somewhat desisted and its cold and windy here since the last few days… not quite time to put away the winter woollies just yet… How chuffed am I that after hunting this fab winter jacket for the past 3 months that last week I finally got it in the sales for 50% off!?!?!? It will be put to good use I suppose as I am going back to London at the end of the month for a visit! How excited am I? AND! There is also the chance that seestor may fly over at the same time and meet me there!!! Muy bien!
Work continues to be all mannors of evil… my business plans are running amuck due to permission problems… adding to the fact that things here work so slowly… I am left feeling that it is not looking too optimistic to get off the ground this year… what I am however becoming very good at very quickly is running up bills for consultations with evil lawyers…
On a positive note I finally made it to my first post-work spinning class last night at 20h (yes I actually left the office before 21h!!!) It was lead by this mad muscle mary… talk about the workout of your life!!!!!
If you are looking for me you can mostly find me pushing this day as fast as I can to get it over and done with… is it Friday yet?
24.4.06
Yo tengo Algouteas
I think that is how you spell it… Which is quite funny as I don’t think there is a work in english for the same thing… It basically means that you have muscle pain. The good thing about it is that I have finally made it back to the gym… I have been almost as bad at getting there as I have been writing this blog.
Semana santa came and went like a flash… strange how having a week off of work can be so fleeting. I did however have a fab time with miss andrea and miss sally when they came to visit at the beginning of the month. While out shopping with them it really hit home how much I have lost my shopping mojo… its crazy… I don’t seem able to find a single thing to buy… I have shopping blockage! My bank account is of course very thankful!
During the week off I did however manage to accomplish a few vital things into starting my business idea here… it’s all very much a waiting game right now… as I need the permissions secured before getting everything up and running… oh yea there is that slight capital problem but we’ll see what happens.
My lovely friends have bought me a ticket to London as a pressie for my 30th so I can go back for a visit. I will go somtime in may… which is a good thing as marmite is starting to run dangerously low!!! Of course I also am very excited to see all my friends…
Painting is slowly starting back up… Im just desperate for some more b&w pics to use for inspiration… the hippo is on hold for know… hit a wall I guess you could say. I have a massive new canvas which I have started on… its varying shades of yellow… do send through some suggestions if you have any J I would love the extra inspiration.
I think that is how you spell it… Which is quite funny as I don’t think there is a work in english for the same thing… It basically means that you have muscle pain. The good thing about it is that I have finally made it back to the gym… I have been almost as bad at getting there as I have been writing this blog.
Semana santa came and went like a flash… strange how having a week off of work can be so fleeting. I did however have a fab time with miss andrea and miss sally when they came to visit at the beginning of the month. While out shopping with them it really hit home how much I have lost my shopping mojo… its crazy… I don’t seem able to find a single thing to buy… I have shopping blockage! My bank account is of course very thankful!
During the week off I did however manage to accomplish a few vital things into starting my business idea here… it’s all very much a waiting game right now… as I need the permissions secured before getting everything up and running… oh yea there is that slight capital problem but we’ll see what happens.
My lovely friends have bought me a ticket to London as a pressie for my 30th so I can go back for a visit. I will go somtime in may… which is a good thing as marmite is starting to run dangerously low!!! Of course I also am very excited to see all my friends…
Painting is slowly starting back up… Im just desperate for some more b&w pics to use for inspiration… the hippo is on hold for know… hit a wall I guess you could say. I have a massive new canvas which I have started on… its varying shades of yellow… do send through some suggestions if you have any J I would love the extra inspiration.
3.4.06
Summer is...
mostly arriving at a very hurried pace here... spring has sprung and we are hurdling at an incredible pace toward the warmth of summer... yesterday the beach was absolutely heaving... there was not a spare inch of sand available... madness I tell you! I don't quite know what is going on but it feels like the city is bursting at the seams... on Thursday night my local (I can't be bothered to cook - Mexican restaurant) had a waiting time of 40 mins!!!
Positive news on my Grandfather... he finally had the operation he needed and it seems to have done the trick... he is now fully on the mend. It was a tense few months while they hummed and haaaed over what the problem was… but all is well now and we are very pleased!
Miss Andrea and possibly little miss trouble are arriving on Friday for a girlie weekend. It should be so much fun! Only one small hitch… its that 5 days of work that separate me from Friday… dang… it gets you ever time!
mostly arriving at a very hurried pace here... spring has sprung and we are hurdling at an incredible pace toward the warmth of summer... yesterday the beach was absolutely heaving... there was not a spare inch of sand available... madness I tell you! I don't quite know what is going on but it feels like the city is bursting at the seams... on Thursday night my local (I can't be bothered to cook - Mexican restaurant) had a waiting time of 40 mins!!!
Positive news on my Grandfather... he finally had the operation he needed and it seems to have done the trick... he is now fully on the mend. It was a tense few months while they hummed and haaaed over what the problem was… but all is well now and we are very pleased!
Miss Andrea and possibly little miss trouble are arriving on Friday for a girlie weekend. It should be so much fun! Only one small hitch… its that 5 days of work that separate me from Friday… dang… it gets you ever time!
23.3.06
I have just had the joy
Of working the entire morning in my goldfish bowl all glass office by myself in total peace! What a joy! I know that I where I work is pretty terrible… but man I never noticed how loud it was. As it stands we have three people sharing an office… As of Monday my assistant starts and we will be 4 people. It is anything but a large space… I don’t understand how a creative company can opt to work in such a restricting and not at all creative inspiring environment… but that is simply one of many many questions about this place…
We are about to be told that we are not allowed to have semana santa off… this is a week of holidays that generally everyone takes… Easer here is almost more important than xmas you see… but rumblings from our client to the likes of the fact that the have opted to work through the holiday… lead to the sinking knowledge that they will soon inform us that we are too, to be working… we will see what fall out that announcement will have on the team who have been working 12-16 h per day for the last two months… the joys never stop.
On a positive note… the sun is shinning and summer is most definitely on its way. I shall wave to it when it arrives… from my goldfish bowl… what to you think the odds are of a cosmically large cat coming along and scooping me out of here? Slim I suppose but amusing to think about.
Of working the entire morning in my goldfish bowl all glass office by myself in total peace! What a joy! I know that I where I work is pretty terrible… but man I never noticed how loud it was. As it stands we have three people sharing an office… As of Monday my assistant starts and we will be 4 people. It is anything but a large space… I don’t understand how a creative company can opt to work in such a restricting and not at all creative inspiring environment… but that is simply one of many many questions about this place…
We are about to be told that we are not allowed to have semana santa off… this is a week of holidays that generally everyone takes… Easer here is almost more important than xmas you see… but rumblings from our client to the likes of the fact that the have opted to work through the holiday… lead to the sinking knowledge that they will soon inform us that we are too, to be working… we will see what fall out that announcement will have on the team who have been working 12-16 h per day for the last two months… the joys never stop.
On a positive note… the sun is shinning and summer is most definitely on its way. I shall wave to it when it arrives… from my goldfish bowl… what to you think the odds are of a cosmically large cat coming along and scooping me out of here? Slim I suppose but amusing to think about.
21.3.06
Much fun has
transpired since my last posting. I had a week reprive from my office duties... My sister came to visit for a week and the lovely Joey arrived to spend the weekend and help celebrate my 30th b'day. What a treat to have them here with me. They both managed to catch a bit of sun but there wasn't much around last week... but this week it's out in full force and I think my days of cycling to to office will be much more shortlived than first thought... I can imagine that in only a month or two more it will be skortchio... the trend of offering showers in the office has not yet caught on here...
pictures of the jollies we had will be up shortly.
Not that I over indulged or anything (seriously I didn't) but I am going to try and go tee total for one month. A detox of sort I guess... to start off my journey into the mysterious thirties... plus save some dosh... and maybe loose a few kilos... and save the world... now look the delium has started already!
transpired since my last posting. I had a week reprive from my office duties... My sister came to visit for a week and the lovely Joey arrived to spend the weekend and help celebrate my 30th b'day. What a treat to have them here with me. They both managed to catch a bit of sun but there wasn't much around last week... but this week it's out in full force and I think my days of cycling to to office will be much more shortlived than first thought... I can imagine that in only a month or two more it will be skortchio... the trend of offering showers in the office has not yet caught on here...
pictures of the jollies we had will be up shortly.
Not that I over indulged or anything (seriously I didn't) but I am going to try and go tee total for one month. A detox of sort I guess... to start off my journey into the mysterious thirties... plus save some dosh... and maybe loose a few kilos... and save the world... now look the delium has started already!
8.3.06
7.3.06
I…
Was speaking with a colleague of mine today about cinema and what was good that was out right now… we then changed to discussing theatre and a Robert Lepage play that he had seen in Madrid a few years back… it had subtitles (I am assuming he was watching a video of the production) but he said he was fascinated by how different the French Canadian accent was compared to the French that is spoken in France. Oddly at lunch time I was in the kitchen and spoke to another colleague who was asking me about nearly the very same thing… why is French Canadian so different? I explained to him the tiny specks of history that I was able to recall (I am very nearly 30 so my memory is starting to go)… it is something along the lines of the King of France sending ‘les filles du roi’ which were basically orphans from the suburbs of Paris to go and marry the colonials over in Upper Canada (or was it lower?)… thus the French spoken is very much of the origin of their dialects as they were the ones who raised the children…
Strange that last night before any of these conversations took place I rode my bike past a gaggle of French Canadian Tourists on my way to the gym… I was so surprised to hear the Quebequois French I almost fell off my bike! It is not often you hear the twang... especially over here in Spain!
Strange how these things ebb in like they do…
Tomorrow is the seestor’s 32nd b’day… and then so very soon afterwards she will be here with me gallivanting around the city having fun! I can’t but hardly wait!
Was speaking with a colleague of mine today about cinema and what was good that was out right now… we then changed to discussing theatre and a Robert Lepage play that he had seen in Madrid a few years back… it had subtitles (I am assuming he was watching a video of the production) but he said he was fascinated by how different the French Canadian accent was compared to the French that is spoken in France. Oddly at lunch time I was in the kitchen and spoke to another colleague who was asking me about nearly the very same thing… why is French Canadian so different? I explained to him the tiny specks of history that I was able to recall (I am very nearly 30 so my memory is starting to go)… it is something along the lines of the King of France sending ‘les filles du roi’ which were basically orphans from the suburbs of Paris to go and marry the colonials over in Upper Canada (or was it lower?)… thus the French spoken is very much of the origin of their dialects as they were the ones who raised the children…
Strange that last night before any of these conversations took place I rode my bike past a gaggle of French Canadian Tourists on my way to the gym… I was so surprised to hear the Quebequois French I almost fell off my bike! It is not often you hear the twang... especially over here in Spain!
Strange how these things ebb in like they do…
Tomorrow is the seestor’s 32nd b’day… and then so very soon afterwards she will be here with me gallivanting around the city having fun! I can’t but hardly wait!
27.2.06
Strange days... es realmente muy extraño
It is a very strange experience working in an office with people who speak both Catalan and Castellan. As you know I speak neither anywhere near fluently… the latter is my primary goal but it’s difficult to keep up with taking Spanish Classes when I am here 12h per day… Immersion is however an unavoidable side effect here which is a very big bonus. Not many people are brave- stupid enough to stumble into a situation like this… the other day I was in a meeting with 12 people and it was all in Spanish… I had to pinch myself as I couldn’t quite believe I was there… felt like a dream (one of those anxiety ones where you are somewhere and everyone is speaking a foreign language except for you) however in my case it was reality… makes me smile really as I keep waiting for them to figure it out… they of course know I can’t speak yet but to be honest I don’t think it’s much of an option to go on for months like this. I must learn quickly! Luckily my daily duties are nearly 100% in English… so that at least helps me accomplish most things….
However the other day in a meeting they were discussing preparing some assets (and of course the meeting was in Spanish) and someone mentioned a “hota peg” (spelled phonetically) I couldn’t hold the giggles in… it was just too much to hear the word jpeg referred to as a “hotapeg”. They have a good sense of humour and weren’t too annoyed by my giggles… the all muttered the word “guiri” (which means someone who is very obviously foreign) and continued. Guiri is a word I have come to embrace as it describes nearly everything about me… since I have been here I have been informed that I have:
A guiri hat (it’s a really cute aviator hat by killah)
A guiri bike (because it’s old and has no gears)
A guiri flat (because I live in El borne with all the other guiris)
Guiri shoes… (Trainers in specific)
Guiri suit (because my suit and heels caused great interest in my client meeting with France the other day)
Don’t get me wrong… it’s the little things like this that make living in a foreign country exciting and interesting… I can’t wait to start speaking more so that I can enjoy making all the embarrassing mistakes… they will make for entertaining blog entries. In the meantime I am off to collect some hotapegs from my designers…
23.2.06
This just in...
msn from my friend karm
karmparker@something.com dice:
Dear internet.
I hate you
-Karm
P.S. f$*k you
priceless
* exact email address changed and expletives edited to protect the guilty... and oh yea... dice in spanish means 'says'
msn from my friend karm
karmparker@something.com dice:
Dear internet.
I hate you
-Karm
P.S. f$*k you
priceless
* exact email address changed and expletives edited to protect the guilty... and oh yea... dice in spanish means 'says'
21.2.06
Total mosquito bite count…
Is up to 3… there is one on my shoulder now that could be mistaken for some sort of snake bite its so large… maybe I have bedbugs!
Work here is quickly becoming a sweat shop with account managers and designers working until 3am… I escaped last night at 8 but its getting pretty evil… how is it that I manage to find places like this to work??? I guess its just the industry. I’m thinking that it’s mighty time that I win the lotto as this work thing is a drag.
I was so exhausted after last week’s marathon of working working working late that I mostly slept the entire weekend… didn’t do a thing. Just slept and watched Carnivale. I am almost at the end of the series now… I’m not quite sure what I will do when I get to the end of the second season as I hear that it was cancelled (or finished)…
I am a genius… I so carefully shipped off the painting I sold… had a special shipping box made to keep it safe and all… it arrived safely… but I sent the wrong painting. I am soooooooooooo smart. The gentleman I sold it to is being very nice about it… sheesh. How did I mistake his direction for piece 210 for 201?
Summer surely should be arriving soon… its not cold here but its not too warm in the morning or the nights (the only time I am ever outside) I can’t wait till I can leave the office and get down to the beach for a swim before the sun goes down… its that thought that keeps me going…
Is up to 3… there is one on my shoulder now that could be mistaken for some sort of snake bite its so large… maybe I have bedbugs!
Work here is quickly becoming a sweat shop with account managers and designers working until 3am… I escaped last night at 8 but its getting pretty evil… how is it that I manage to find places like this to work??? I guess its just the industry. I’m thinking that it’s mighty time that I win the lotto as this work thing is a drag.
I was so exhausted after last week’s marathon of working working working late that I mostly slept the entire weekend… didn’t do a thing. Just slept and watched Carnivale. I am almost at the end of the series now… I’m not quite sure what I will do when I get to the end of the second season as I hear that it was cancelled (or finished)…
I am a genius… I so carefully shipped off the painting I sold… had a special shipping box made to keep it safe and all… it arrived safely… but I sent the wrong painting. I am soooooooooooo smart. The gentleman I sold it to is being very nice about it… sheesh. How did I mistake his direction for piece 210 for 201?
Summer surely should be arriving soon… its not cold here but its not too warm in the morning or the nights (the only time I am ever outside) I can’t wait till I can leave the office and get down to the beach for a swim before the sun goes down… its that thought that keeps me going…
13.2.06
All I can say is
That you know you have culture shock when you buy a drink from the shop across the road from your office… you buy a juice with the intent to attempt to ingest something that is healthy… its called bio frutas Pacífico… you take a big sip… and realise that there is MILK in it! Yup that´s right… juice mixed with milk! EWWWWWW
Then you look down at your left arm and realise that no… it's not a rash from the horrific juice that has made it itchy… it's a mosquito bite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In mid-feb? How?????
Oh yea… and one more thing… wearing skinny jeans on a Monday… not such a good idea either… especially when they've just been washed. I´ll be mostly practising pilates today in an attempt to keep ze gut inside the jeans and not spilling over top.
Note to self…
Good luck with that
That you know you have culture shock when you buy a drink from the shop across the road from your office… you buy a juice with the intent to attempt to ingest something that is healthy… its called bio frutas Pacífico… you take a big sip… and realise that there is MILK in it! Yup that´s right… juice mixed with milk! EWWWWWW
Then you look down at your left arm and realise that no… it's not a rash from the horrific juice that has made it itchy… it's a mosquito bite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In mid-feb? How?????
Oh yea… and one more thing… wearing skinny jeans on a Monday… not such a good idea either… especially when they've just been washed. I´ll be mostly practising pilates today in an attempt to keep ze gut inside the jeans and not spilling over top.
Note to self…
Good luck with that
7.2.06
Dust off your old bikes people
because here in barcelona there is money to be made... It's insane really... back in sept i bought an old bike for 30 euros... it took a lot of searching and a lot of patience but I finally got one... i did have to replace the tyre but after that she runs like a dream.... I just recently bought another old bike in much better contidion and much more suited to cycling to work every day... therefore I put the bike up for sale on a local site for 60 euros... it was sold within 30 mins.
Madness I tell you.
I swear if you have time and a bit of spare cash to invest... collect all the old bikes in your hometown and drive them to central barcelona... you'll make a bundle!
because here in barcelona there is money to be made... It's insane really... back in sept i bought an old bike for 30 euros... it took a lot of searching and a lot of patience but I finally got one... i did have to replace the tyre but after that she runs like a dream.... I just recently bought another old bike in much better contidion and much more suited to cycling to work every day... therefore I put the bike up for sale on a local site for 60 euros... it was sold within 30 mins.
Madness I tell you.
I swear if you have time and a bit of spare cash to invest... collect all the old bikes in your hometown and drive them to central barcelona... you'll make a bundle!
6.2.06
I have been very very naughty
Since I’ve last posted…
I've mostly become gainfully employed… dropped out of my intensive Spanish class (due to the gainful employment) and on top of all of that… I did something so shocking and non frugal I can barely bring myself to admit it… KJ cover your eyes right now! I bought a subscription of Gratzia to be delivered to my flat here in bcn. Lets just say it cost significantly less than it would to have it sent outside of Europe but still… it's quite a luxury… I thought I afforded it since I resolved to end my very short-lived life of leisure and took this job.
The job is uptown… approx 20min cycle uptown if I'm feeling sprite… but with a bike with no gears… it's a challenge! I'm doing some international account management for a big ad agency here… I'm back working on an automotive account… I really don't know quite how I ended up here but I got offered the lead to the job through an ex colleague of mine so I decided to have a quick look to see what the job was about… The next day I had an interview with the company and a job offer to boot. Talk about coming from left field! It's good in one way as my Spanish is coming along now… and I will also have an income (albeit meagre compared to what I’m accustomed to)… the downside is that I'm not painting full-time like I had intended… but I did however manage to finish one more piece last week and am 2/3 of the way through my next one… My goal is to crank out at least 3 more in the next month and try and do an exhibition around the time my sister arrives in March… Just exactly where I would exhibit remains to be confirmed… but hey… you’ve got to start with a dream right?
Culture shock is much more apparent now that I am in an office working side by side with locals… I find it quite a challenge to be at work from 9-7 or 8 as I don’t take the 2h lunch break like the others… I simply live too far away from home to go and have a break… so I sit at my desk and nibble on a sandwich when I have a moment… However things seem to pack up for the weekend here around half three on a Friday so that’s pretty okay for me!
Since I’ve last posted…
I've mostly become gainfully employed… dropped out of my intensive Spanish class (due to the gainful employment) and on top of all of that… I did something so shocking and non frugal I can barely bring myself to admit it… KJ cover your eyes right now! I bought a subscription of Gratzia to be delivered to my flat here in bcn. Lets just say it cost significantly less than it would to have it sent outside of Europe but still… it's quite a luxury… I thought I afforded it since I resolved to end my very short-lived life of leisure and took this job.
The job is uptown… approx 20min cycle uptown if I'm feeling sprite… but with a bike with no gears… it's a challenge! I'm doing some international account management for a big ad agency here… I'm back working on an automotive account… I really don't know quite how I ended up here but I got offered the lead to the job through an ex colleague of mine so I decided to have a quick look to see what the job was about… The next day I had an interview with the company and a job offer to boot. Talk about coming from left field! It's good in one way as my Spanish is coming along now… and I will also have an income (albeit meagre compared to what I’m accustomed to)… the downside is that I'm not painting full-time like I had intended… but I did however manage to finish one more piece last week and am 2/3 of the way through my next one… My goal is to crank out at least 3 more in the next month and try and do an exhibition around the time my sister arrives in March… Just exactly where I would exhibit remains to be confirmed… but hey… you’ve got to start with a dream right?
Culture shock is much more apparent now that I am in an office working side by side with locals… I find it quite a challenge to be at work from 9-7 or 8 as I don’t take the 2h lunch break like the others… I simply live too far away from home to go and have a break… so I sit at my desk and nibble on a sandwich when I have a moment… However things seem to pack up for the weekend here around half three on a Friday so that’s pretty okay for me!
22.1.06
thank you
for all thoughts and prayers and well wishes. My grandfather is on the mend and safely back home from the wilds and snowy bilss that is winnipeg. We are so relived. he is very old but we weren't quite ready to part with him yet and none of us quite wished to have in go so suddently on the airplane... that's for sure. But it was quite the drama... we're just glad it's over and that he's on the mend!
I started back at school here last thursday. it's a different course than to the one I took before I had my side track back to the UK... not as intensive but at least it's something... even though it is only 4 days a week.
Today I arranged my new room and cleaned and tidied to the best of my ability and got things in a semblance of order. I came to the horrific conclusion that I have well over 500 pounds worth of cosmetics... scary. please remind me of this when i next try and purchase a new lipstick... it would be number 20 or something obscene like that! My painting studio is all organised and I've started working again on my goldfish lady as i have been calling her... she is orange with gold and yellow highlights. She's making slow progress... this week I hope to finish her and start with my new painting on my massive new canvas!!!!
I went to an opening of an exhibit here that was an 'anti fashion week' show that was meant to contrast with the bread and butter festival that was taking place here at the same time. It was a nice evening. The highlight/most humourous part of the night is when one of the art buyers said to me after meeting me... 'ah yes... I know your work' ! how hilarious is that!?! I guess i'm very new to all of this... and yes they had seen my work as fredu had emailed them some pictures before xmas... but it was still giggle worthy in my books.
Seestor has booked her trip to come and visit me here in march. It will be a blast! Miss Andrea is booking in for early april apres her ski holiday and miss b and miss joey are hopefully going to come around the same time as well for a full on girly weekend!
I saw a reportage on the news the other day where they were reporting an increase in sales in chupa chup lollies since the new smoking laws came into effect here jan 1st. They interviewed a bunch of people who were attempting to quit and were using the lollies to help... I love the innocent optimism that some of the spanish exhibit. I wish them all the best. It's soo sweet... now if we could only get the bars to go completely non smoking... we'd be getting somewhere... and my clothes wouldn't smell so bad after going out!
for all thoughts and prayers and well wishes. My grandfather is on the mend and safely back home from the wilds and snowy bilss that is winnipeg. We are so relived. he is very old but we weren't quite ready to part with him yet and none of us quite wished to have in go so suddently on the airplane... that's for sure. But it was quite the drama... we're just glad it's over and that he's on the mend!
I started back at school here last thursday. it's a different course than to the one I took before I had my side track back to the UK... not as intensive but at least it's something... even though it is only 4 days a week.
Today I arranged my new room and cleaned and tidied to the best of my ability and got things in a semblance of order. I came to the horrific conclusion that I have well over 500 pounds worth of cosmetics... scary. please remind me of this when i next try and purchase a new lipstick... it would be number 20 or something obscene like that! My painting studio is all organised and I've started working again on my goldfish lady as i have been calling her... she is orange with gold and yellow highlights. She's making slow progress... this week I hope to finish her and start with my new painting on my massive new canvas!!!!
I went to an opening of an exhibit here that was an 'anti fashion week' show that was meant to contrast with the bread and butter festival that was taking place here at the same time. It was a nice evening. The highlight/most humourous part of the night is when one of the art buyers said to me after meeting me... 'ah yes... I know your work' ! how hilarious is that!?! I guess i'm very new to all of this... and yes they had seen my work as fredu had emailed them some pictures before xmas... but it was still giggle worthy in my books.
Seestor has booked her trip to come and visit me here in march. It will be a blast! Miss Andrea is booking in for early april apres her ski holiday and miss b and miss joey are hopefully going to come around the same time as well for a full on girly weekend!
I saw a reportage on the news the other day where they were reporting an increase in sales in chupa chup lollies since the new smoking laws came into effect here jan 1st. They interviewed a bunch of people who were attempting to quit and were using the lollies to help... I love the innocent optimism that some of the spanish exhibit. I wish them all the best. It's soo sweet... now if we could only get the bars to go completely non smoking... we'd be getting somewhere... and my clothes wouldn't smell so bad after going out!
16.1.06
diversion!
on our way back today... there were 7 of us... trekking back from abbotsford to toronto. Simons wedding was a success and we were all quite tired. Our first leg of the flight from abbotsford to calgary was delayed so we missed our connecting flight. So there we sat and waited to catch the 18h15 flight instead. We boarded and all was well. Not long after take off my grandfather who was sitting in front of me had a bit of a seasure. It was terrifying. There were luckily 3 doctors and one nurse on board who helped out immediately. He then stabalised and they decided that there was no need to divert the plane and land. We were so relived but shaken... then another 15 minutes later he had another episode and then his heart stopped beating for a good 30 seconds. Miraculously they did not need to difibulate him! He came round again but this time they decided that they needed to divert and land in Winnipeg. They had to shut down service at the airport for our emergency landing. They got him off the plane pronto and all 6 of the girlies went off with him to the hospital.
for the time being he appears to be stable and theyre in the process of illiminating all the possiblities that caused the episode. It seems that its looking like it was unlikely that it was his heart. Theyre leaning towards a bladder infection or something like that... so with that news we felt confident enough to head back to the airport and begin the trekk back to Toronto. All my aunties and my mum and my grandma are there with him and its just kj and i heading back. So here we sit in Winnipeg airport in the middle of a heavy snowfall... no sleep... lots of drama and one heck of an end to a family trip for my cousins wedding (which was lovely btw).
On a positive note. I think if i manage to stay awake most of today. I run the possibility that I will return to bcn on tuesday afternoon with little or no jet lag... that is of course all depending on if he is indeed okay...
send some prayers please... or even some positive thoughts :)
on our way back today... there were 7 of us... trekking back from abbotsford to toronto. Simons wedding was a success and we were all quite tired. Our first leg of the flight from abbotsford to calgary was delayed so we missed our connecting flight. So there we sat and waited to catch the 18h15 flight instead. We boarded and all was well. Not long after take off my grandfather who was sitting in front of me had a bit of a seasure. It was terrifying. There were luckily 3 doctors and one nurse on board who helped out immediately. He then stabalised and they decided that there was no need to divert the plane and land. We were so relived but shaken... then another 15 minutes later he had another episode and then his heart stopped beating for a good 30 seconds. Miraculously they did not need to difibulate him! He came round again but this time they decided that they needed to divert and land in Winnipeg. They had to shut down service at the airport for our emergency landing. They got him off the plane pronto and all 6 of the girlies went off with him to the hospital.
for the time being he appears to be stable and theyre in the process of illiminating all the possiblities that caused the episode. It seems that its looking like it was unlikely that it was his heart. Theyre leaning towards a bladder infection or something like that... so with that news we felt confident enough to head back to the airport and begin the trekk back to Toronto. All my aunties and my mum and my grandma are there with him and its just kj and i heading back. So here we sit in Winnipeg airport in the middle of a heavy snowfall... no sleep... lots of drama and one heck of an end to a family trip for my cousins wedding (which was lovely btw).
On a positive note. I think if i manage to stay awake most of today. I run the possibility that I will return to bcn on tuesday afternoon with little or no jet lag... that is of course all depending on if he is indeed okay...
send some prayers please... or even some positive thoughts :)
8.1.06
Here i sit
in the great white north on my mums comfy sofa... there is snow outside and im most definately not in kansas anymore... nor Barcelona for that matter. Im sequestered away in the comforts of Brampton and my family. Bliss!
All this of course doesnt come with some discomfort... ive been inscripted into my sisters torturous gymming routine and my body aches everywhere!
I had such a giggle the other day when i was out shopping with my seestor... we went into starbucks to grab some coffees... Thinking that Starbucks employees were trained the same world wide I requested 2 tall wet soya lattes (ie. no foam). The girl very sweetly looked me in the eye and with great confidence and authority informed me that all their lattes were wet. Oh how I had to fight back the giggles... I guess the terminology for wet is not as world wide as I assumed. Iappologied to her for the misunderstanding and told her I simply wanted no foam... next time ill remember to not go down that path again.
off to continuing my visiting duties. im very excited to visit lisa and dave and their kiddies this avro. yea!!!!!!!!!!!
in the great white north on my mums comfy sofa... there is snow outside and im most definately not in kansas anymore... nor Barcelona for that matter. Im sequestered away in the comforts of Brampton and my family. Bliss!
All this of course doesnt come with some discomfort... ive been inscripted into my sisters torturous gymming routine and my body aches everywhere!
I had such a giggle the other day when i was out shopping with my seestor... we went into starbucks to grab some coffees... Thinking that Starbucks employees were trained the same world wide I requested 2 tall wet soya lattes (ie. no foam). The girl very sweetly looked me in the eye and with great confidence and authority informed me that all their lattes were wet. Oh how I had to fight back the giggles... I guess the terminology for wet is not as world wide as I assumed. Iappologied to her for the misunderstanding and told her I simply wanted no foam... next time ill remember to not go down that path again.
off to continuing my visiting duties. im very excited to visit lisa and dave and their kiddies this avro. yea!!!!!!!!!!!
2.1.06
I´m...
slowly getting adjusted to my new flat... the noise level outside is very different... a little less traffic and a lot more pedestrian noise... i just have to train myself to sleep through the 3am crowd going home every night and i´ll be just fine!
I´ve been working my little socks of writing test scripts till all hours of the morning. I´m so tired but all this stress going on i can´t sleep. I´m going to have to buy somethign to knock me out during my flight back to canadia on thursday. i can´t wait to see my family and Noeleen´s little brand new baby girl named Saoirse!
Seestor tells me that the ever missing Mr McCann may be coming down to TO this weekend to see me! That would be so amazing as i´ve not seen him in 3 years now!
Seestor also tells me that James was contacting her the other day. How odd I was telling someone about him the other day. I love it when things connect like that!
slowly getting adjusted to my new flat... the noise level outside is very different... a little less traffic and a lot more pedestrian noise... i just have to train myself to sleep through the 3am crowd going home every night and i´ll be just fine!
I´ve been working my little socks of writing test scripts till all hours of the morning. I´m so tired but all this stress going on i can´t sleep. I´m going to have to buy somethign to knock me out during my flight back to canadia on thursday. i can´t wait to see my family and Noeleen´s little brand new baby girl named Saoirse!
Seestor tells me that the ever missing Mr McCann may be coming down to TO this weekend to see me! That would be so amazing as i´ve not seen him in 3 years now!
Seestor also tells me that James was contacting her the other day. How odd I was telling someone about him the other day. I love it when things connect like that!
30.12.05
but then
as you always do... you come out the other side... I´m moving into my new flat today. I´ve found a nice place with an argentienean art director named diego. I´ve got a really big room in the part of town where I wanted to live. Things are looking up. I think initially when things don´t work out the way you want them to you feel like the world is out to get you... and in some cases it could be somewhat true... but i´m a fighter and I¨ll get through this if not stronger than before.
My spanish is coming along slowly and once i return from my anxiously antcipated trip to canada i´ll be back in school and back to painting! Speaking of painting I´m so excited to report that I sold my first painting to a colleague of mine that I met in kent. I´m so thrilled!
as you always do... you come out the other side... I´m moving into my new flat today. I´ve found a nice place with an argentienean art director named diego. I´ve got a really big room in the part of town where I wanted to live. Things are looking up. I think initially when things don´t work out the way you want them to you feel like the world is out to get you... and in some cases it could be somewhat true... but i´m a fighter and I¨ll get through this if not stronger than before.
My spanish is coming along slowly and once i return from my anxiously antcipated trip to canada i´ll be back in school and back to painting! Speaking of painting I´m so excited to report that I sold my first painting to a colleague of mine that I met in kent. I´m so thrilled!
21.12.05
and then..
your xmas cold kicks in... and you leave your xmas party early as you can't tilt your head back far enough to keep the tears in...
but at least being at work is a bit of solice as it keeps me busy and if I can just manage to work work work I won't fall apart at the seams... perhaps my lost appetite will assist in shifting all the unruly pounds I've put on since starting this contract.
xmas will be spent by myself and new years too but i've done my best to line up working remotely for then and there will be lots of time for painting and gymming... a little reprive. I just hope I can find a new flat as soon and get settled.
i am the only constant in my life and you know what.... i'll get through this. that is one thing i'm certain of. Something to laugh about this time next year i suppose :)
your xmas cold kicks in... and you leave your xmas party early as you can't tilt your head back far enough to keep the tears in...
but at least being at work is a bit of solice as it keeps me busy and if I can just manage to work work work I won't fall apart at the seams... perhaps my lost appetite will assist in shifting all the unruly pounds I've put on since starting this contract.
xmas will be spent by myself and new years too but i've done my best to line up working remotely for then and there will be lots of time for painting and gymming... a little reprive. I just hope I can find a new flat as soon and get settled.
i am the only constant in my life and you know what.... i'll get through this. that is one thing i'm certain of. Something to laugh about this time next year i suppose :)
20.12.05
and then...
you wake up the next day and realise that your nightmare is reality and it's confirmed that even if good things are not excluded from you... this is not one of those times... and this is one of those times that the bad things are waaaaaaaaaaaay worse than you could ever expect and you wonder why no matter how hard you try in life you always find the ones with broken wings... sometimes however they managed to shit on you even before they fly off...
anyone got any stain remover?
you wake up the next day and realise that your nightmare is reality and it's confirmed that even if good things are not excluded from you... this is not one of those times... and this is one of those times that the bad things are waaaaaaaaaaaay worse than you could ever expect and you wonder why no matter how hard you try in life you always find the ones with broken wings... sometimes however they managed to shit on you even before they fly off...
anyone got any stain remover?
19.12.05
you know...
sometimes i go though phases where i say to myself... 'sarah, you deserve good things to happen to you' and the rest of the time i say... ' ha dont' think for a second you deserve anything to come to you easily' I'm very much thinking that my life has just flashed a big notice board confirming the latter. I'm almost certain now that I did something pretty awful in a past life as if this is karma then, man... I fear I may just be served with a hefty invoice. I really don't want to believe... I'm not here... this isn't happening.
cheque please
sometimes i go though phases where i say to myself... 'sarah, you deserve good things to happen to you' and the rest of the time i say... ' ha dont' think for a second you deserve anything to come to you easily' I'm very much thinking that my life has just flashed a big notice board confirming the latter. I'm almost certain now that I did something pretty awful in a past life as if this is karma then, man... I fear I may just be served with a hefty invoice. I really don't want to believe... I'm not here... this isn't happening.
cheque please
14.12.05
Rage!!!!!!!!
There are a few things that make me VERY angry... and a few things that make me laugh really hard.
The first of these two aforementioned emotions was excised this morning when I realised that Easy Jet had lowered the fare on the flight that I booked for the 23rd. The reason why this angered me so was because I bought it during their 'Massive Sale' what a farce. So I followed their instructions to get the difference refunded (obviously this happens often)... I rang their number 10p a min and it took me approx 12 mins to get to an operator who was very unhelpful and did not offer any explanation or apology for the price discrepancy... They then proceeded to issue me with a 'credit file'. Armed with this number I asked the operator a parting question... 'can I use this code when I book online?' to which he responded 'no, I'm sorry this is only for telephone bookings... simply call this number that charges you £1 a minute and make your booking'. Now I'm no genius but It's sure as heck going to take longer than 10 minutes to book a flight and the prices for telephone bookings are 10% higher than online bookings... which means that I still would not get my money back!!!!!!!!! Why Why Why they couldn't just issue me with a total refund and then have me re-book online is beyond me... Don't worry, In true Canadian fashion I've written them a very stern letter....
The laughing part comes in when Monday when I came into work there was an email from my bf's not so friendly ex in my inbox. Yes folks... Apparently I'm destined to connect with this woman every time I look for a flat in BCN!!! LOL! This time I managed to contact her directly... but she clearly had forgotten my name... Ah life can be so amusing.
Face it with a smile
Only 9 more sleeps!!!!!!!!
There are a few things that make me VERY angry... and a few things that make me laugh really hard.
The first of these two aforementioned emotions was excised this morning when I realised that Easy Jet had lowered the fare on the flight that I booked for the 23rd. The reason why this angered me so was because I bought it during their 'Massive Sale' what a farce. So I followed their instructions to get the difference refunded (obviously this happens often)... I rang their number 10p a min and it took me approx 12 mins to get to an operator who was very unhelpful and did not offer any explanation or apology for the price discrepancy... They then proceeded to issue me with a 'credit file'. Armed with this number I asked the operator a parting question... 'can I use this code when I book online?' to which he responded 'no, I'm sorry this is only for telephone bookings... simply call this number that charges you £1 a minute and make your booking'. Now I'm no genius but It's sure as heck going to take longer than 10 minutes to book a flight and the prices for telephone bookings are 10% higher than online bookings... which means that I still would not get my money back!!!!!!!!! Why Why Why they couldn't just issue me with a total refund and then have me re-book online is beyond me... Don't worry, In true Canadian fashion I've written them a very stern letter....
The laughing part comes in when Monday when I came into work there was an email from my bf's not so friendly ex in my inbox. Yes folks... Apparently I'm destined to connect with this woman every time I look for a flat in BCN!!! LOL! This time I managed to contact her directly... but she clearly had forgotten my name... Ah life can be so amusing.
Face it with a smile
Only 9 more sleeps!!!!!!!!
9.12.05
like a bad rash
my ebay addiction has resurrected and between the gaps in time during the day I can't help but browsing around... it doesn't help that eveyone in this office is just as bad if not worse than I am... Even if you're trying to put it out of your mind you can't help but catch a glimpse of it on someone's monitor. I tell you it's like working in a lab and we're all just a bunch of mice spinning our wheels so that that magic of ebay will dispense the cheese...
On a more positive note... it's almost the weekend and I'm very excited to be able to listen to some music I brought back with me from home... as i absconded sally's cd player...
I was having a conversation with a taxi driver the other day on my way home and I was recalling the story my grandmother told me about my little cousin asking her if she could play one of her big cd's... (records) how cute. I also remember another little cousin of mine who was puzzled by the old rotary phone we had in the basement...it wasn't immediately clear to her how it would work. Dang I'm getting old... but not as old as this lady... imagine living 113 years? She saw so much. What a fantastic privilege.
my ebay addiction has resurrected and between the gaps in time during the day I can't help but browsing around... it doesn't help that eveyone in this office is just as bad if not worse than I am... Even if you're trying to put it out of your mind you can't help but catch a glimpse of it on someone's monitor. I tell you it's like working in a lab and we're all just a bunch of mice spinning our wheels so that that magic of ebay will dispense the cheese...
On a more positive note... it's almost the weekend and I'm very excited to be able to listen to some music I brought back with me from home... as i absconded sally's cd player...
I was having a conversation with a taxi driver the other day on my way home and I was recalling the story my grandmother told me about my little cousin asking her if she could play one of her big cd's... (records) how cute. I also remember another little cousin of mine who was puzzled by the old rotary phone we had in the basement...it wasn't immediately clear to her how it would work. Dang I'm getting old... but not as old as this lady... imagine living 113 years? She saw so much. What a fantastic privilege.
8.12.05
72 day work sentence
well mine is almost up... as of the 23rd of December I shall be free. Then off I return to my tiny bed and the manzana of my eye... I'm counting the hours. Then but two weeks after I shall mostly be skipping off to the wilds of the great white north to visit the family and celebrate my cousin's nuptuals. I was joking with mum the other day that I would just pop into vegas quickly on my way to Vancover to tie the knot and beat him to it... making me the first of the grandchildren to get married and not him! Alas... Fredu is shooting in Jan and can't come... dang... my sabotage is foiled!
The never ending flat hunt continues... watch this space as I move from my prison in the wilds of the east english countryside to the tent on the beach on barcelona... lol
Miss Hannah gets married next Saturday and miss jo jo and I will be attending with bells on. I'm so happy and excited for them. Now it's just the small detail of sorting out the wedding present.... nothing interesting is left on the registry... I'll have to come up with something clever. Too bad easyjet doesn't sell gift certificates...
well mine is almost up... as of the 23rd of December I shall be free. Then off I return to my tiny bed and the manzana of my eye... I'm counting the hours. Then but two weeks after I shall mostly be skipping off to the wilds of the great white north to visit the family and celebrate my cousin's nuptuals. I was joking with mum the other day that I would just pop into vegas quickly on my way to Vancover to tie the knot and beat him to it... making me the first of the grandchildren to get married and not him! Alas... Fredu is shooting in Jan and can't come... dang... my sabotage is foiled!
The never ending flat hunt continues... watch this space as I move from my prison in the wilds of the east english countryside to the tent on the beach on barcelona... lol
Miss Hannah gets married next Saturday and miss jo jo and I will be attending with bells on. I'm so happy and excited for them. Now it's just the small detail of sorting out the wedding present.... nothing interesting is left on the registry... I'll have to come up with something clever. Too bad easyjet doesn't sell gift certificates...
22.11.05
although i'm very sad
that after all the toing and froing... and thinking that maybe just offering the girls more money for the flat we wanted... it turns out that it was not meant to be. They asked Fredu to meet them last night to chat... however they did not bring with them the news that we were looking for... They simply explained that they had promised the flat to the family and although the extra money would have been nice they had to stick by their word. Disapointing but very honorable on their behalf. There are some good people out there... can't say I don't feel a wee bit evil after having trying to gazump a family. Bad me.
So yes, flat hunting is officially back to sqare one...
The lovely miss andrea is celebrating her day of birth this saturday. I hope very much that it will be my last saturday in the UK. Bring on the 1st of December... or if you're the lovely miss Joey (owner of a red galaxy dress) the 2nd of December when she is again united with her army boy who completes his special secret hardcore training. Bless, she's so sweet.
Visit this weekend was fabulous we caught up with theo and alonzo who was in town for the weekend... miss andrea and senor Danny too! We stayed at a very cool b&b in islington... it's called The luxury inn it's in my old neighborhood in angel and it's quite a cool idea... and the best part about it, is that it's so inexpensive!!!! Go book in now.
that after all the toing and froing... and thinking that maybe just offering the girls more money for the flat we wanted... it turns out that it was not meant to be. They asked Fredu to meet them last night to chat... however they did not bring with them the news that we were looking for... They simply explained that they had promised the flat to the family and although the extra money would have been nice they had to stick by their word. Disapointing but very honorable on their behalf. There are some good people out there... can't say I don't feel a wee bit evil after having trying to gazump a family. Bad me.
So yes, flat hunting is officially back to sqare one...
The lovely miss andrea is celebrating her day of birth this saturday. I hope very much that it will be my last saturday in the UK. Bring on the 1st of December... or if you're the lovely miss Joey (owner of a red galaxy dress) the 2nd of December when she is again united with her army boy who completes his special secret hardcore training. Bless, she's so sweet.
Visit this weekend was fabulous we caught up with theo and alonzo who was in town for the weekend... miss andrea and senor Danny too! We stayed at a very cool b&b in islington... it's called The luxury inn it's in my old neighborhood in angel and it's quite a cool idea... and the best part about it, is that it's so inexpensive!!!! Go book in now.
18.11.05
much ado about nothing...
after much a flat hunting and not having anywhere to live other than the local b&b here in maidstone
I finally suffered a bit of a lodging nervous breakdown. Brough about by a long sequence of events but it all erupted in a flood of tears when we found out that we didn't get the flat we both fell in love with down the street from our current place... In a stroke of trickiness we proposed to offer them more money for the flat than they were asking if they would choose us over the first couple who saw the place that wanted it... we were the second. It's been a few days now and they're milling over the offer. In my heart of hearts I dont' think they'll go for it but you just never know... if we achieve no sucess then we will just stay put in our tiny place until the right option comes along... Very stressful all around... made me realise how i would just love to buy somewhere and put some roots down for once! I guess it's just me being so transient of late that is making me crave some lodging stability.
The days are ticking away and I'm gleefuly approaching the end of my contract here with the counsil. I could stay till mid -dec but I've not yet decided if it's worth it (mentally) I think financially it's always a good idea.
Seestor arrives tomorrow. Xmas shopping in london town will be our mission... nothing unusual about that one... us predictable? Never.
I came up with a brilliant idea whil chatting to a cabbie when I was in london for a brief spell last night for Ceciles 'i'm free from working at GT' party. I'm going to open a pram shop in Maidstone. I can smell the money and the chav's...
after much a flat hunting and not having anywhere to live other than the local b&b here in maidstone
I finally suffered a bit of a lodging nervous breakdown. Brough about by a long sequence of events but it all erupted in a flood of tears when we found out that we didn't get the flat we both fell in love with down the street from our current place... In a stroke of trickiness we proposed to offer them more money for the flat than they were asking if they would choose us over the first couple who saw the place that wanted it... we were the second. It's been a few days now and they're milling over the offer. In my heart of hearts I dont' think they'll go for it but you just never know... if we achieve no sucess then we will just stay put in our tiny place until the right option comes along... Very stressful all around... made me realise how i would just love to buy somewhere and put some roots down for once! I guess it's just me being so transient of late that is making me crave some lodging stability.
The days are ticking away and I'm gleefuly approaching the end of my contract here with the counsil. I could stay till mid -dec but I've not yet decided if it's worth it (mentally) I think financially it's always a good idea.
Seestor arrives tomorrow. Xmas shopping in london town will be our mission... nothing unusual about that one... us predictable? Never.
I came up with a brilliant idea whil chatting to a cabbie when I was in london for a brief spell last night for Ceciles 'i'm free from working at GT' party. I'm going to open a pram shop in Maidstone. I can smell the money and the chav's...
9.11.05
i have this thought... in that
playing the lotto has a direct connection to my discontent... guess it's not surprising really... winning would allow you a quick ticket out of this game... of course with it, would come an equal amount of problems ... but I'll keep my lucky dip for tonights draw thank you very much. It's funny as I've not played the lotto for quite some time... and when I start again I seem more convinced that I will win... I can even invision myself explaining how i just bought the ticket on the spur of the moment... so cheezy. I am guilty.
Two more sleeps and I get to go home. I'm counting down the minutes. I miss painting... I miss having a house... and of course Fredu.
Yesterday we worked for 13h and most of them i spent listening to a local Kent radio station... perhaps that is the source of my discontent... it's not a healthy choice for any human... on a brighter note... Theo sent this to me today... I thought it was cute. I want to be the man with the fish. Read on....
A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village.
An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.
"Not very long," answered the Mexican.
"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.
The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.
The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life."
The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you!
You should start by fishing longer every day.
You can then sell the extra fish you catch.
With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."
And after that?" asked the Mexican.
With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."
"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.
"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.
"And after that?"
"Afterwards? Well my Friend, That's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"
"Millions? Really? And after that?" said the Mexican.
"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."
And the moral is: Know where you're going in life... you may already be there.
playing the lotto has a direct connection to my discontent... guess it's not surprising really... winning would allow you a quick ticket out of this game... of course with it, would come an equal amount of problems ... but I'll keep my lucky dip for tonights draw thank you very much. It's funny as I've not played the lotto for quite some time... and when I start again I seem more convinced that I will win... I can even invision myself explaining how i just bought the ticket on the spur of the moment... so cheezy. I am guilty.
Two more sleeps and I get to go home. I'm counting down the minutes. I miss painting... I miss having a house... and of course Fredu.
Yesterday we worked for 13h and most of them i spent listening to a local Kent radio station... perhaps that is the source of my discontent... it's not a healthy choice for any human... on a brighter note... Theo sent this to me today... I thought it was cute. I want to be the man with the fish. Read on....
A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village.
An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.
"Not very long," answered the Mexican.
"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.
The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.
The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life."
The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you!
You should start by fishing longer every day.
You can then sell the extra fish you catch.
With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."
And after that?" asked the Mexican.
With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."
"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.
"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.
"And after that?"
"Afterwards? Well my Friend, That's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"
"Millions? Really? And after that?" said the Mexican.
"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."
And the moral is: Know where you're going in life... you may already be there.
4.11.05
Silly
Getting paid silly money doesn't of course come without working silly hours... not anything as bad as design agency hours but taxing nonetheless!
Did I mentioned that my old dodgy landlord got 9 years in the end... they finally caught him at the beginning of the year... the officer in charge of the case dropped me a line a few days ago to let me know. Sweet of her to remember :)
Busy weekend lined up... not as hectic as last weekend... but how good was it to go home and sleep in my own bed next to ze boi... I miss him! The tardy arrival back in London on the Monday night was nothing to envy... I finally made it to Maidstone at 1h30 in the morning... I left out flat in BCN at 18h... now that's an evil commute. Next weekend when I go home I'll be sure to stay the night with Jo Jo and come into work in the morning instead...
The mission is back on... flat hunting again... we're moving flats at the beginning of Dec. Somewhere bigger and somewhere less noisy. Bijou is okay but we've got no room left for anything now! Time to move. I love looking but I hate the actual moving... Still have 3 bags left here in London... will probably take the next few trips to manage to get it all over...
Did I mention my project manager (note my joy in that I'm not the project manager for once) bought us boxes of chocolates as a thank you for working so late for the past few weeks. She's such a sweetie.
The weekend starts in T minus 8h
Oh yea almost forgot... congrats to senor Danny for his new fab job with Yahoo :)
Getting paid silly money doesn't of course come without working silly hours... not anything as bad as design agency hours but taxing nonetheless!
Did I mentioned that my old dodgy landlord got 9 years in the end... they finally caught him at the beginning of the year... the officer in charge of the case dropped me a line a few days ago to let me know. Sweet of her to remember :)
Busy weekend lined up... not as hectic as last weekend... but how good was it to go home and sleep in my own bed next to ze boi... I miss him! The tardy arrival back in London on the Monday night was nothing to envy... I finally made it to Maidstone at 1h30 in the morning... I left out flat in BCN at 18h... now that's an evil commute. Next weekend when I go home I'll be sure to stay the night with Jo Jo and come into work in the morning instead...
The mission is back on... flat hunting again... we're moving flats at the beginning of Dec. Somewhere bigger and somewhere less noisy. Bijou is okay but we've got no room left for anything now! Time to move. I love looking but I hate the actual moving... Still have 3 bags left here in London... will probably take the next few trips to manage to get it all over...
Did I mention my project manager (note my joy in that I'm not the project manager for once) bought us boxes of chocolates as a thank you for working so late for the past few weeks. She's such a sweetie.
The weekend starts in T minus 8h
Oh yea almost forgot... congrats to senor Danny for his new fab job with Yahoo :)
25.10.05
Blind blogging continues
Not being able to see my blog from work is a bit frustrating as I can't kill time like I used to... I have no idea why any company would see the need to block all URL's with underscores in them... maybe they equate them to porn peddling sites... HA.
The days have been co-operating and sure enough I'm getting closer to Friday and going home! I'm so excited. I know I've only been here 3 weeks but it feels like I've stepped back in time... kind of like moving to BCN was just a time blip. Pinch me someone...
I'm sitting in death row as I've deemed it... this florescent lighting and recycled air office is breeding sickness as fast a battery hen... there is a chorus of coughing and sneezing all the way up and down my seating area. Not one to ever miss out on something, I too am brewing a nice sort of sickness... It cant' quite decide if it wants to go to my sinuses or my lungs... or perhaps a bit of both. Joy.
Ivy and Mel arrive in BCN this weekend for a bit of a Jolly. We're out to some fancy foody restaurant on Saturday night. Should be interesting to see how much one will end up paying for a posh salad. Good thing really as all the comfort eating that I've been doing since my return has had a very rapid effect on my waist line... is this why I've suddenly acquired an avid interest in all clothes that offer an elasticised waistband? Seriously I've got three pairs now that would easily be confused with maternity wear... It's my own trend maternity-chic for non maternity people... it's so the new Deralique!
Not being able to see my blog from work is a bit frustrating as I can't kill time like I used to... I have no idea why any company would see the need to block all URL's with underscores in them... maybe they equate them to porn peddling sites... HA.
The days have been co-operating and sure enough I'm getting closer to Friday and going home! I'm so excited. I know I've only been here 3 weeks but it feels like I've stepped back in time... kind of like moving to BCN was just a time blip. Pinch me someone...
I'm sitting in death row as I've deemed it... this florescent lighting and recycled air office is breeding sickness as fast a battery hen... there is a chorus of coughing and sneezing all the way up and down my seating area. Not one to ever miss out on something, I too am brewing a nice sort of sickness... It cant' quite decide if it wants to go to my sinuses or my lungs... or perhaps a bit of both. Joy.
Ivy and Mel arrive in BCN this weekend for a bit of a Jolly. We're out to some fancy foody restaurant on Saturday night. Should be interesting to see how much one will end up paying for a posh salad. Good thing really as all the comfort eating that I've been doing since my return has had a very rapid effect on my waist line... is this why I've suddenly acquired an avid interest in all clothes that offer an elasticised waistband? Seriously I've got three pairs now that would easily be confused with maternity wear... It's my own trend maternity-chic for non maternity people... it's so the new Deralique!
19.10.05
My heart is so sad
My poor Fredu was mugged last night on his way home from the production office. He got surrounded by three guys while he was unlocking his bike and they swarmed in on him and kicked and punched him and grabbed his bag. The worst part of it beyond the cuts and bruising is the fact that they got his laptop, cables... CD's containing all the work he'd done in the last week and 5 sheets of negs which are obviously irreplaceable. They didn't take his wallet or his agenda as he had those on his person... They clearly must have planned the attack as it wasn't at all obvious what was in the bag they must have been casing the cafe where he often works with his colleagues... they must have known he had some expensive equipment... It's just terrible. I'm gutted that I'm not there right now. I can't concentrate on work. I wish terrible things on the people who did this to him... but then again I guess they are already experiencing terrible things that would make them attack someone and then steal from them.
Boo to them. Boo to all the horrible people like them out there.
My poor Fredu was mugged last night on his way home from the production office. He got surrounded by three guys while he was unlocking his bike and they swarmed in on him and kicked and punched him and grabbed his bag. The worst part of it beyond the cuts and bruising is the fact that they got his laptop, cables... CD's containing all the work he'd done in the last week and 5 sheets of negs which are obviously irreplaceable. They didn't take his wallet or his agenda as he had those on his person... They clearly must have planned the attack as it wasn't at all obvious what was in the bag they must have been casing the cafe where he often works with his colleagues... they must have known he had some expensive equipment... It's just terrible. I'm gutted that I'm not there right now. I can't concentrate on work. I wish terrible things on the people who did this to him... but then again I guess they are already experiencing terrible things that would make them attack someone and then steal from them.
Boo to them. Boo to all the horrible people like them out there.
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