We've created a new arrow family!

exclaims Hon. This about sums up the excitement of today... updates to the diagram style guide... fun.

This is my horoscope for today.... Hazel I think we did the right thing this morning...

It may be difficult for you to get out of bed today, because you may not be able to imagine how to face all those boring daily routines. You're strongly inclined to stay home in your cocoon, reading, watching TV, or tidying up the house. Of course, the intense events of the past several days have been a drain on your emotions. As a Pisces, you need time to withdraw and recenter your energies. Be sure to give yourself that time, even if you only have the evenings and weekends to do so!

There is just so little time, I'm just not having enough gaps between the minutes and seconds of the day to write things down.

The weekend was full of rest, sleep, reading and then more sleep.

My office is now running bets on what colour my hair will be next week. I had quite the wrestle with the dark brown colour I bought (called brazilia). Friday night, while rinsing my hair in the sink, Hannah came home... The colour drained out of her face as I retracted my head from the sink.... "uhh Sarah, what colour is it supposed to be?" she asked me cautiously. So I'm thinking dear god... what have I done? It can't be green or anything like that... Turns out that in the world of L'Oreal... brazilla brown turned ebony black... It's rinsing out slowly... I'm sure in a few more days it will be the dark brown colour as promised. I've always loved black hair just never thought I would have it myself. Ah well my mum laughed for 10 minutes when I recounted her the story over the phone.

Nestled into my bed early last night and read my book. Busy day again here at the office but that goes without saying.

Chatted with Annick this PM on pager... she was telling me about her new job in the butcher shop. keul.

there just aren't...

enough hours in the day. Being at the office for 15 hours yesterday has taken it's toll. This weekend is such a good thing!

Got my CD produced and delivered to Salzburg this AM! Yea.

Had a lovely lunch with Tim and Dearbhla today. I had a grilled veggie baguette with chips and a roquet salad and an amazing glass of red wine.

Spoke to KJ briefly last night when I finally got home. She's happy and seems to be settling nicely with her new housemate. However with him in the room it was hard to know what the real story was... spill it seestor!

It's so disappointing not having any Thursday gossip ands scandal, or even philosophical ramblings to report. Soho was just not the same last night without Dan and I!

Cheesy chips, marmite on toast, and invisible bus travel

I'm trying to mix things up today and get a wee blog in, in the morning.

Jo dragged me into town last night... ran into Lou and Kerry. It had been so long since I had seen them! Had a drink, mulled around and then headed home. Experienced Halloween London style. It's a new development here... don't think the concept of dressing up as anything other than a vampire or as something dead has quite come round yet... very interesting. Can't complain really, I was so very not, in a costume. Jo stumbled into the flat closer to two with some cheesy chips... mmmm.

Managed to get up early and have some marmite on toast and chat with Hannah.

So I think I'm going to start a log of my adventures on the #38. My "invisible to the fare collector" theory is alive and kicking again, however I feel that this invisibility only occurs when I travel alone. Hmmm. Quite a cost effective trick really.... Wonder what else I have up my sleeve....

Have you ever seen a stranger's goodness through a passing glance in their eyes? Have you ever seen a little piece of the surreal? This morning on my way into work I had a few glances into that space. Hmmm.

My horoscope today reads:

Like a fish reacting to changes in pressure in the water surrounding you, Pisces, you are usually extraordinarily sensitive to social trends. This means that you are likely to dramatically respond to the seven-month phase that is dawning today. It will be more humanistic, although the means it employs to liberate people are likely to be somewhat abrupt. But you are more aware than most that freedom has a price. Though you will feel the biggest impact in your professional life, your private life will not be immune to these changes, either.

Damn, sounds like fun... Drew, maybe the whole end of doormat theory is accurate!

Swimming last night with Hannah was a success. Poor little petal had to hang around my office while I put out some overseas fires that broke out just as I was leaving at 18h30. Finally at 19h30 we headed towards the pool. The steam room, was indeed more of a success as there were only 3 people in it last night *phew*

Jo and I's adventures into town for a cheeky one weren't so fruitful. With the full moon in our veins... it just wasn't enough to make things exciting on a Tuesday night.

Mark wrote me today to tell me about his new promotion! I'm so excited for him! If anyone sees him, tell him to eat some more kit kat's... it's all good!

Cold, or no cold... it's very dark and it's 18h. Winter is scratching at my heels.

Busy...

Up early... had a good workout... on my way to work I remembered that I was supposed to go swimming with Hannah. Oh my god I'm a gym addict.

Work . no comment.

Meeting up with Jo and might head to first out for a cheeky one this evening after I get back from the pool with Hannah. Think we'll try the steam room again, this time since it's lady's night, we might have a bit more luck. Got a mail from Jeffie today. It's always so good to hear from him. I took it as a sign to catch up on all my correspondence. Wrote to Kim who I haven't spoken with in far too long!

Hazel is jetting off to the Emerald Isle for a few weeks. Lucky bird. Holidays would be well received! Hope we can go and play when she gets back...

Night has fallen. Must be off.

Candle roasted marshmallows, hip hop Jo, and steam room trauma

It's all in a weekend.

Finished work with a great sigh of relief on Friday. Headed home listening to some Kid A from the Radiohead boys. Stopped in at the Wellie on my way home for a quick pint. Went home ate and got ready to go out. Jo Drew and I went to liquid lounge and then popstars. The festivities from the night before coupled with the day I had at the office, did not allow much energy for this outing... Ended up back at home around 1am and tumbled into bed. Sleep was just so very appealing.

Saturday morning crept into my room and I awoke and prepared to head down town to collect Hannah's cake. The bus ride into town squashed my theory that I was invisible to fare collectors. After doing 2 trips in the last two days I finally was asked to pay a fare... Jo smiled at me smugly, knowing my theory was now de-bunked... arrived in town, exchanged Jo's sweater at Muji... then my mini rock garden at American Retro. After a great deal of walking down Oxford st. we finally ended up at Chockywockydoodah. The cake was there and waiting. Quite splendid. It was a solid chocolate covered cake with a towering collection of pink and white marshmallows. Gravity, was not an opponent to this cake. Jumped on the 30, that by some small miracle, circulated around those parts of town...

There we sat, feeling quite pleased with ourselves for having completed all our tasks in the short time that we had before Jo had to be at work. All of a sudden this young guy came and sat in the seat in front of us. He asked us to wake him up when we got to Angel. He proceeded to introduce himself and tell us about his previous evening's exploits. Jo and I couldn't help but smirk at the oddness of the whole situation. He then looked at Jo and asked her "Are you a hip hop girl?" I couldn't help myself, I burst out laughing... now that's a line I've got to remember! After she replied he then asked her if she had a boyfriend. (indeed this girl has the fever!) she's even pulling random young straight boys on the bus! Ah what a laugh.

The party was a success. A little bit of unavoidable drama... but all in all a good time. Esmerelda even stopped in. It was a good laugh, it was nice to see Hannah happy, she's been quite low of late. Drew, Esmerelda and Lynsey were drunk enough to prove that one could indeed roast marshmallows over candles!

Sunday morning Hannah and I hit the oh so exciting Sainsburys for some well needed food. 53£ later we headed home. Lentil soup and baguette for lunch followed by a swim at Highbury Corner. The swim was great, we thought that we would cap it off by a nice little sit in the steam room... well room isn't quite what I would call it. It was more like a steam broom closet. Lets just say it was filled with a lot of very rowdy very muscular black men who were very excited to see us. Feeling panic and claustrophobia setting in, I hesitantly followed Hannah to sit down. Unfortunately we weren't even able to sit down next to one and other. I closed my eyes and tried not to have a panic attack. We bravely lasted about 5 mins before we caught a glimpse of one and other through the steam and communicated the panicked, lets get out of here look to one and other. Perhaps it was the garbled conversation and laughter about cherries that the men were having that put things over the edge. I can't say for sure....I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard... walking out of the steam room, I'm sure they all could hear us.

Went to bed insanely early and was at the gym at 8 again this morning.... I'm on a bit of a swimming kick.... My hair colour isn't liking it too much... but that's another story.

Have you?

Have you ever been drunk at work? I mean, like the kind that's left over from the previous night's indulgences... very professional indeed *slaps self on hand*

It's official, Jo has "the fever" she pulled this girl last night and then went home and had some action with her friend from out of town! Shocking! Non stop action. When it rains it pours. She really needed that! Yea!

"It's half eleven and not a child in the house is washed!" Exclaims Dearbhla. I don't think she could ever cease to amuse me with her quirky Irish expressions.

Hannah's birthday party tomorrow. Mandy and Kate are out of town for the weekend... should be an interesting night. Lots of organizing to do Saturday morning, going into town with Jo to collect the cake from chockiewockiedoodah (wow that was fun to write). I think I'll take the opportunity to return my rake-less mini Zen rock garden that I bought a few weeks back... not so Zen without the rake... just my luck, I buy tranquility in a box and it's missing a piece. LOL

Spoke with the seestor last night. Got the low down on her and her South African boy toy that she has staying with her. Contrary to what I was lead to believe... she is getting a shag out of the arrangement... she did however mention that she was anxious for him to find a job and his own place so she could have the house to herself. She sounds happy, she's loving all the furniture I left for her... things couldn't have worked out better.

Have I mentioned how fabulous Drew is of late?

Thom Yorke showed me how to disappear completely. He knows the way.

Chaos spins around me and I am weak to the temptations that offer me more than what surrounds me now. It's two minutes to six and my brain went into overload about 2h ago.

Drew has announced himself as my first full pledged blog groupie... Got a message from him this PM reading...

"why haven't you updated your journal? I eagerly logged on with bated breath to discover what was happening in the world of Sarah Jarrett, only to find your life as of yesterday. What happened to Sarah? Is she still a doormat? They can't have killed her off like they do in all the other soaps!

WE WANT SARAH!
WE WANT SARAH!
WE WANT SARAH!"

The guys here at the office, found the coolest site this aft. Check it out. You have to stay watching until it gets to the end and does the Matrix, 3D angle part. Very groovy. All this talent yet he uses AOL???? Ah well, bet this boy is going to be very wealthy some day!

http://members.aol.com/gqwu/fight.swf

Got a letter from my seestor today who is hoping to be able to get some flights to London when she's back at the airline in Dec. She was telling me stories about people I used to go to high school with, who now have babies, and ones who are returning like her to teach at our old school. I can't imagine being further away from any of that...

Doormat no longer

When you're like me and tend to roll out into a doormat when dealing with people, it's very strange to be in a situation where I, for once did not act the way I usually do. It's such a bizarre feeling. Kind of disorienting, sort of like a "new you". I'm thinking I might just have grown up a little bit...

The sun is out today and Leftfield is playing in the studio. After having stayed at the office till 8pm last night followed by a trip to the gym... I stumbled into the flat at 10pm... I am exhausted. Back at the office this morning at 9am... feels like I never left. "No rest for the wicked" my mother would say.

Pay day, as I've discovered is not until next Wednesday... my worst fear. I'm feeling like it's been an eternity since I've been sorted financially and it's starting to take a toll on my mental well being. Without a joke, looks like I'll not be able to go out and play tomorrow night.... :( poo. There are far worse things in this world so there is not use me whining.

will someone show me how to disappear completely?

sj_chick@yahoo.com

So long, and thanks for being a Fish

Her time came. Poor little Pearl. Jo, Dan and I spent last night in her company as the last hours of her life drained out of her. We tried to make light of the situation, then sadly our well wishes turned to us trying to come up with humane ways to put her out of her misery. No suitable ones were devised, so she was left to her natural path.

Jo texted me this morning to break the news that Pearl had indeed crossed over. She spent a while with her before giving her a proper burial (mini crucifix and all), in the flower box on the terrace.

The clouds are moving so quickly today I feel like the studio is being pulled with them. As I look out the large sky lights to my left I think about the so very much work to do, I kind of wish I could fly away with them.

Totally madness...

what a weekend. Busy yet restful. Went out for drinks with the work fellas on Friday. Had some good laughs and cleared the air with the senior designer... Internal communications are a little bit of a problem here so adding in a few glasses of Champaign helped a lot!.

Saturday was busy, Faye's BF came to collect all the furniture that she had left in the flat when she moved out... Our living room is now quite sparse. We have but 1 futon now and no stand or Ariel for the TV. Had breakie with Jo and Then headed to the gym early afternoon... Stayed there for a good 2h and then walked back home. Finally got to venture into the really cool little park near my house... lots of exploring... it's really quite quaint. Don't think I would want to venture through it after dark really... Ended up back at the flat, relaxed ate supper and just read my book. Jo and I met up with the girls downtown at around 9. Left first out... Hazel was there... I think Jo scared her to death. LOL she blew kisses as I walked out the door. Hmmm. Then we all headed to this torrid night at this bistro. Kerry was so set on trying new things. We went, it was very similar to any Ottawa lesbo night... sort of reminiscent of the Coral Reef.... We had a laugh and danced like idiots. Kat and I went over to some girls who were standing on their own to try and invite them over to talk to Jo and Kerry... it all went swiftly downhill into the realm of the surreal when the one blond girl announced that she was Luxembourg and that her hair was the colour of cow piss. Taken back, thinking that we had just misunderstood what the woman said... she repeated it... sure enough again she continued on about "cow piss hair" Kat and I slowly backed away scratching our heads... strange strange girl. We were very afraid.

Walked back to ours... arrived about an hour later.. I think I had enough exercise to make up for an entire week! Fell into bed and slept like a baby till 13h the next day. When I finally got up I prepared to head to my cousins for Tea... It was a nice quite journey on the tube that afforded me time to read my new book... ahhh... got back home around 9h30 and decided going straight to bed would be the most desirable option... mmm sleep!

Work is another week of bedlam... Dearbhla leaves in a week for her holidays so I have to look forward to even more work! Goodness!

Finally put up some pics check out the links I think they'll work better than imbedding the images like last time...

1) www.geocities.com/sj_chick/Angel.JPG - Islington Angel... my neighbourhood
2 www.geocities.com/sj_chick/Camden.jPG - Camden Market... great shopping
3) www.geocities.com/sj_chick/Lucy_Chris_Garden.jpg - Lucy and Chris's Garden
4) www.geocities.com/sj_chick/Lucy_chris_drive.jpg - Lucy and Chris's front drive
5) www.geocities.com/sj_chick/lucy_chris.jpg - Lucy and Chris
6) www.geocities.com/sj_chick/Mary.JPG - My mum arriving!
7) www.geocities.com/sj_chick/me_mum.JPG - Me and Mum 1
8) www.geocities.com/sj_chick/me_mum2.JPG - Me and Mum 2
8) www.geocities.com/sj_chick/myroom.JPG - My room
9) www.geocities.com/sj_chick/newhair.JPG - My new Hair

I feel the need to write. just like I seem to always feel the need to be so philosophical on my Thursday bus rides home. I need to reduce the space of the distance between wanting and doing. There are just so many opportunities, so much to do.

I am going to get commissioned to do that article. I'm going to focus on finding and doing something interesting to write about.

Morcheba is playing in the studio today (lying in bath music says Dearbhla). It's quite an interesting Friday. It's nice to finally have some tunes in the studio. For a while it was feeling like a bit of a morgue... The projects keep pouring in and I'm really noticing how much room there is for creative direction... projects where in the past Mark would have come in with fabulous ideas, are now left open. Its' up to me to find the Mark ideas. So little time, however, so much can be learned too! I'm liking my job more and more. I'm doing 2 CD's, a photo shoot and a video... plus about 30 print jobs. It's getting more diverse. I like that.

Had a long chat with both Jo and Dan last night. I guess I had something about me yesterday that inspired people to spill it on me. Sometimes I think I would have been alright to splinter off into a career of counseling. It's all good... I think it would have drained my emotional energy too much.

My desk is a ravaged island of paper. Organized chaos. My mind, is light and free.

It's still warm!

I'm really enjoying the fact that it's still quite warm here 17 degrees... Darrell wrote me this morning telling me that it snowed in Ottawa the other day. Man, I'm wearing a tank top and a denim jacket! I love it!

There is a really great special on flights from Air Canada, offering flights to London for 249$ return! Imagine! I'm not accepting any excuse for people not coming to visit! *tee hee*

Work is running late into the evenings... no mind really, it helps fill time and not spend money. Only another week and a bit before we get paid and life gets back to normal!

Enjoyed a quiet evening at home along last night. Watched a really interesting documentary on the BBC about skinny women. It's so amazing what people do! Now I know I'll never be thin but I'll be damned if I'm not healthy. The non smoking thing is going well... I don't think it will ever be easy... The jury is still out.

I saw stars...

idol computer stars that would be. But still stars nonetheless. Quite the eventful weekend. Had a smashing good night on Friday. Her name was Hazel and she had jet black hair and crystal blue eyes. Mmmm. Oh the adventures. Jo Kerri and Esmerelda and I hit the town. It was such a novelty to go out like a normal person on a Friday night. What fun. Had a few funny e-mails from the light eyed vixen this morning. Technology adds a really odd dimension to these sorts of things....

Saturday morning although a wee bit painful (hangover) was fun. Spoke briefly with mum in the early aft. then headed to Soho to help Kerry do some shopping. I now know why people make so much money here. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that there is just an endless amount of nice things to buy here... you need money! Had this really strange thing in the Diesel style lab shop... we were waiting for Kerry to try on the 300th pair of jeans and Jo, Esmerelda and I were sprawled on the sofa at the back of the shop. The three of us sat mesmerized by this angelic sales guy. Now it was the strangest thing because we all sat and stared at him for about 15 mins before we all realized that we were all absolutely captivated by is beauty. Now it was really odd... because no one was thinking "my god I fancy him" it was more like he was a piece of art. His face was like porcelain and his style so unique and his spirit so gentle. It was really neat. I know we were in the shop for almost an hour and the three of us sat there slack jawed not knowing quite what to think of the situation. We chose to sit and absorb.

Sunday was spent at Camden with Jo and Kerry... as Kerry's marathon shopping spree continued. It was the ultimate test of my fortitude... I have 0 money till the end of the month so I could not shop... I was feeling healthy for the first time in over a week and jonesing for a cigarette more than I would like to admit. I managed to not smoke....

Spent a few hours at the gym on Sunday night. It was one of those workouts where you could run on the treadmill forever. A wee bit of Roni Size can get you a long way. By the time I got home it was 10pm and I was so full of endorphins that I couldn't sleep. So I cleaned my room. Sorted out my washing. Cleaned the sitting room... did a budget...rang my mum... texted Dan... then finally just before midnight, fell asleep.

Morning came quickly today and with things going wrong all around me I managed to bumble my way to the launderette and drop off my washing and then finally made it to the gym at about 8h10... had a quick workout... and then dragged my butt to the office. The mountains of paperwork didn't disappear over the weekend. Dan has just written to tell me that she's taken to violently biting off the chocolate bunny's heads that she's eating in a fit of depression due to my financial distress... she's not liking me not being able to play this Thursday coming up. I think she's suffering from a bit of withdrawal from having missed last Thursday... she makes me laugh.

My new book and CD that my boss bought me arrived this morning. He's the best! I can't wait to get home to give a proper listen to the new lamb album. I'll have to let Jeffie know that I haven't missed the show... it's on the 19th and 20th but that brings me sadly back to the lack of funds issue... ah such is life I suppose. No bads, only goods. Chins up as my mother would say.

Got a really interesting e-mail from a friend today. It's quite comforting sometimes when you hear that someone else has come to the same realization that you did a while back... kind of a smug/comforting feeling. I'm so totally with you J!

Life here is hectic! I'm still fighting this uber-cough.... no relief in sight! I had a great day at the office yesterday. My really swell boss gave my co-worker and I 20£ gift certificates for Amazon.co.uk in appreciation of our hard work. It was so sweet. Dearbhla and I spend our brief lunch break shopping for books and CD's. I bought the new Lamb and a John Irving novel! I'm so excited to receive them next week.

I'm willing myself well so that I can go out and play this weekend. Went out for a bit last night with Kerry, but the smoky Candy Bar was too much for me to handle... I was so congested I could barely breathe! We left and went to this new pub in Soho called the Wellington (same name as the pub the jo jo and han work at in Islington) it was really nice and it had funky leopard print carpeting! Kitsch but really nice! Got home around 11h30 and went to bed.

Putting out fires left right and centre today. I was hoping to head home at noon to get some rest but it doesn't look like that will happen... I'm such a work-a-holic endorphin junky....

Although I'm not well, and have very little money, I can't remember the last time I was this happy!

Back...

Back at the office. Feeling a bit better than yesterday... sleep has been a challenge with my tickly cough... there could be far worse things...

Not quite sure that I'll be in any state for my Thursday night gallivanting... time will tell. Got a letter from snazzy Christine who was also at home feeling under the weather. I feel for you sister!

A little bit of tension in the flat. Hannah is upset with Jo not taking responsibilities for any of the bills or issues with the landlord. It's been almost a month since they've started construction on the addition to the back of the flat to put in the washing machine and still it's not even remotely finished. Hannah feels that Jo should take action and sort things out with the landlord since she's home all day... Fair enough. Hannah seems to be going through a bit of an emotional dip... she's over worked and underpaid and feels that Jo is running out and about and never worrying about bills etc. Hannah feels that she's constantly running after her for money and feeling like a bad guy... Pretty standard scenario... I've advised her to be pro-active and talk it out with Jo. I hope she does... I don't know how much more of Hannah's moody-broodiness I can handle. It's quite trying being around someone who is drowning in their miseries and who is not being pro-active about it...

Work is crazy insane... there is no end in sight. Good news really, the more work that comes in the more job security I have.... in light of all the shit going on in the world right now, who knows what to expect next.

...Staying positive!

The Sickie continues.

I had a long hot bath last night when I got home from work. My mum always said, have a log hot bath and go to bed. That just didn't do the trick.

Going home now. *sniffle*

s

A sickie on the weekend

Leave it to me to pull a sickie on the weekend. I finally succumbed to the nice little virus that my mum had when she came to visit me. I stayed in Sat. and Sunday night. I felt like poo. I did however manage to use this sickness to my advantage. I cleaned the flat and finally made my room, a room. It no longer looks like I'm just staying for a few weeks. I've settled. This is my new home.

I also took the opportunity during my many hours spent at home this weekend, to change. I've changed something drastically. I don't think most people would recognize me now! It's really fun. I quite like it. I leave it up to some guessing. Write me if you think know what I've done... and I'll send you a pic.

Well my wee scratchy voice and I best get back to work. Thanksgiving back in Canada today... no holiday here, that's for sure.

sj_chick@yahoo.com

nearing the end of day here... it's been a long one. Dearbhla and I have just recovered from a little bit of a silly-fit. We've been giggling and making monkey voices from this really funny advert that they show here. Go to www.itv.com and view the monkey ads. You'll see what I mean.

Heading to Jo and Kat's new flat tonight for some takeaway and chats. I was just going to stay home and recover from last night but I figured that I only live once and that it would be a shame not to go.

There was some very serious misbehaving last night. LOL. However a true lady never kisses and tells. In my case, I'll just skirt the details.

I ended up back at home eating jam toast with Jo Jo.

No interesting bus journey this time... quite frankly simply due to the fact that I do not recall my bus ride home.

Heard from Mark today. I'm so thrilled to hear that he's making waves in his big fancy job! Yea! I love it when things work out for people!

Speaking of Mark, I've been reading Spiral girl's journal as of late. It's strange because now that she has a voice so to speak... she seems so much harsher than I imagined when I was just looking at the pretty pictures on her site. She's less curved around the edges she's more crass than I had imagined. I'm kind of disappointed, but such is life. Kind of like when you see a radio personality and they look nothing like you think they would.

KJ's boy has arrived from South Africa... Mum reports that he is far too old for her and that KJ has decided that he is definitely not boyfriend materiel. I know he's in his 40's I can't imagine the look on my mum's face when she met him. I know age doesn't mean much but it sure would have been interesting. Ah well, it's nice for her to have some adventure.

Spoke with my friend Kathie that I haven't seen properly for years. She might be coming to visit me when she finishes her degree. It would be really great to see her again!

I'm very impressed, my mission to blog everyday this week was almost a success. it is not easy to keep up!

Ah yes, it's B-rad's B'day today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

sj_chick@yahoo.com