I return...

weary and tired but glad to be back. awakening at 4 am two mornings in a row followed by an almost luxurious wakening at 6am this morning is just so so not glamorous.

I've seen the likes of the Eningen fashion crimes consisting of numerous offenders spotted wearing white Birkenstocks with black or brown socks... discovered that irony is not at all understood by our German clients and then moved on to explore the finer points of Optical transport technology... Need to know about jitter and wander? I'm your woman!

France was lovely. I was overjoyed to have the chance to return to Lyon. It made my heart jump with glee. It's such a beautiful city. I only wish I could have stayed longer there. I played with some Euros and bought some French novels and some cheese and wine... 70 euros later and I was ushered out of Monoprix as it was closing...I had a fab dinner with Mahrez and retired to a nice hotel room near place des Jacobins (much nicer than the 80's theme that was going in Germany)

It is nice to be home! Drew clapped with glee last night when I said that. He was amused to hear me consider myself at home here in London. Strange indeed, this is my new home:)

Managed to muster up enough energy to go the jazz bar for a few cheeky ones. It was a veritable gay bloggerama! Don't think the "offstream" night is going to work, but we'll see. The owner is dragging his feet on the flyering issue. It was a fun night. David and his friends are most lovely!

I just love the information super highway... *smirks*

but this is pretty cool!

To France with me... and to Germany too!

I'm so excited... from Monday to Thursday morning next week I am going on a business trip to Germany and France. The best pat is, that the Wednesday evening I will be in Lyon. I Haven't been back there since I finished my 3rd year of University there. *rubs hands together*

all things little...

I have a confession to make... Of late I have found myself indulging in several miniature pleasures....It started with Crunchy Nuggets and then just today was wooed by these for the love of god, I think there is no other explanation than that I am the victim of some sort of bizzaro target marketing... one that which targets mad female project managers in their mid 20's who have a propensity to miniature sized chocolate treats!

Please help.

On another unrelated subject thanks to Fabulous David for posting our pending Offstream soiree at the Jazz bar. It will be oodles of fun. See you all there!

Yellow strawberry print bikini top

Had a most lovely weekend in Brighton with Dan, Sally and Miss Hazel. Stayed at a hotel not far from the Sea. It was such a lovely day on Saturday the sun was blazing and it was warm. Had breakfast on the beach and strolled around town and did the standard "Brighton" thing.

On our way back to the Hotel we stopped at H&M and procured some lovely new swim suits so as to take advantage of the pool at the hotel. Hazel is now the proud (I guess that's kind of a subjective comment) of a yellow strawberry print bikini top... Made it back to the sea to see the sun set. Ahhhh, so so beautiful.

Ventured out to town that night... stopped in at the Candy Bar for a quick one... I didn't think it was possible but, it is more dire than the one in London... Skullied down the road to a bar called Pool and giggled the night away drinking vodka and doing strawberry schnapps shooters.

It was really nice to get out of the city, but I am glad to be back... Not sure exactly what one would do if they lived there full time... I'm certain the sea loses it's novelty eventually, just as my friend Ange used to say about the mountains in Vancouver... after about 3 months you don't even know they are there.

Took loads of pics www.geocities.com/sj_chick/Brighton-02-02.zip ... download and unzip if you dare...

ROAR!

So, this morning as I cam into work I milled about my desk and prepared my millions of projects for the day. On my walk by the printers I got quite a surprise. One of my co workers decided to react quite negatively to my suggestion to have another designer work on this urgent project that I had left on his desk the night before. I got a very stern shouting at for something that I had nothing to do with.. ie. the fact that the server was down...

A few hours later, I get an apology and a tube of smarties! yummy... strange, long long ago in a land far away, I used to date this guy who was pretty awful to me and would shout at me and really frazzle me... after cooling down and a few hours later he would always arrive on the doorstep with apologies and food. Needless to say, I got really fat and eventually left him... strange how little things like that come back to visit you.... shouting+cool off time = apology and food...

hmmm.

Spring has sprung!

What a novelty we're mid-February and the flowers are starting to bloom. After living almost my entire lifetime in a snowy country... it's almost silly how happy a mild climate has made me!

My lovely Canadian guest ventured home yesterday. It was really nice to see a familiar face from home! I can't wait till Sean comes to visit in another month!

So if this is not one of the strangest things I've seen in a long time... I don't know what is... if you find it as entertaining as I did you will most likely enjoy the sequel that you can view after viewing the entirety of the first one..

Kung Hei Fat Choi every one... I wish I had an audio clip to put up as Hon has most masterfully instructed me how to properly pronounce, happy new year in Chinese. Today marks the beginning of the year of the horse! What Chinese sign are you? I'm a dragon!


*breathes fire*

So...

that's about enough of the doom a gloom. It's all a matter of perspective, and yes as my mother would say, you could be dead tomorrow.

In town last night Hazel and I stumbled upon a great little sushi restaurant. I had the best avocado rolls ever. mmm. Funny how so many nights we've looked for a good sushi restaurant and found none... then when you're not looking they appear as if by magic.

Ventured to the Y bar to meet up with Jo on our way home. Why lesbian bars are always such tragedies is beyond me. *shakes head*

Getting excited about planning our April holiday to St. Petersburg! Also excited about heading to St. Thomas to Yvonne and Benoit's wedding at the end of November... I know it's a ways away but I will be such a fun trip! Must save pennies... must save pennies.

I think that I have finally broken my shop o holic tendencies, ironic as it may seem... living in a city like London offers so much in the line of lovely wares but when the monies aren't there it's easy to cut back.

It's Friday and the minutes are slipping trough my fingers... there are clients to call and fires to put out...

*flutters away*

Have you ever been?

So disapointed and so fucked off about something that you laugh so hard you cry? So frustrated with something that you just want to pack it all in, because in the end of the day a job should not evoke such emotion. Commitment and hard work seem to bring dissallusionment. *sigh*

Some one, please remind me why?

When do you think they will realise we're drowning not waving ......?

Every good movie needs a caputcian monkey!

Or perhaps not... I was thinking so when we started watching The Kids in the Hall movie called "Brain Candy"...

It rained sideways here today. The blustery burst of wind actually caused it to rain sideways. I cut away to a clip of Forest Gump in my head... the part in the film where he goes on about the types of rain he experienced in Vietnam. It's all new and exciting.... bet you a fiver I won't be saying the same thing 3 years from now!

Caught up on some delinquent e-mails today... all of the Irish nature, wrote Aisling, Denise and Blaise. I've been so very naughty as of late, letting work take over my life. *scoff*

Had a most leisurely weekend... Met up with Dan and Sally on Saturday night. Ended up in the Jazz bar till very late. It is indeed good fun. We're due to start off our Thursday night hosting our "off stream" night this week, we'll see how it goes. Might be a bit of a struggle to lure people who've never been there to Dalston... keeps life interesting.

I am officially in love with Mr. Hell The cartoon is pure genius. I don't know if I can stand waiting another 2 weeks until the next episode. Bless Serge the psychopathic seal... my favorite piece from last night had to be the "exor-sister" tres drole indeed!

sleepover party syndrome

so as it happens, after a hectic day at work and a 70£ trip to the grocery store, I met up with Hazel, Tam, Jo, Nat and Amanda at the Wellington... the whole gaggle of girlies ended up back at our flat...

Hazel and I hid under the covers and giggled madly and tried to avoid listening the various bumps that went thump in the night... nous sommes les petites cupidons!

With all sleepover parties there comes the inevitable lack of sleep... feeling a wee bit slow today but did manage to laugh till I cried when I saw this site that Dearbhla sent to me... I think we just must purchase something to compliment Tim's upcoming nuptials...

As i walked to work today the sky was blue blue blue, the big white fluffy clouds drifted by above. Just as I was about five minutes from the office a gray cloud passed over and sputtered down a few hundred drops of rain all around me. Two tiny rain drops fell on my face, one directly under the other. Funny thing was, that they both fell onto that delicate skin right under my left eye.

very strange.

Addendum to the Hail!

In response to my recent posting about hailing behaviours, Drew has been so kind as to provide me with an addendum of sort, the following details Drew's personal hailing activites, bless him:

Well that's a tricky one...you see, if there's alot of people around, I'm a "no hailer" - why bother when someone else can do it for you. If I'm on my own, I do the "point" and expect it to stop in the exact location where my finger is pointing to. But then there is one other hail that I have been known to use, yet it was not detailed on your blog.

For some time know I've seen those posters of an old lady picking up and holding out her hubbies to get the drivers attention. "MAKE A CLEAR SIGNAL TO YOUR DRIVER!" I think it said. So I decided to adopt the "lower body hail". Similar to all of the arm hails, but instead of using your arm, you throw out your leg

do you have a bus hailing speciality? write me! sj_chick@yahoo.com

poor poor poor...

Three words to describe our performance last night at the retro bar's pub quiz. A meager 4 out of 21 is such a disgrace... on our way home Hazel and I decided that we should take this as a hint to not so gracefully retire from this Tuesday night activity.

Yellow tulip in hand Hazel pranced off to work and later will be boarding a plane to Berlin... what a beautiful sight the contrast of bright yellow and green against her black jacket...

Hail!

If NYC is the city for hailing cabs, London is the Mecca for all those whom love to hail busses. I've been watching over the past few weeks and noticed a remarkable phenomenon of how Londoners hail busses. It's a veritable sport in it's self!

Tall arm hail:
Subject extends arm above head as if the bus conductor was driving seated on the upper deck, fearing that if it is not raised quite high enough, the conductor will not see them. Alternately this maneuver can be seen as the subject anxiously raising their hand as in to ask a really important question to the approaching London transport vehicle.

The Sly hail:
Subject slyly extends the bare minimum of hand necessary in order to hail bus. Generally it is only the palm that is put forth as if there was a secret drug transaction about to occur.

The Standard straight arm hail:
Subject extends arm in a stiff outward manor at about a 45 degree angle, various finger positioning has been noted but on the most part, this is a text book hail.

The Point hail:
Subject extends arm at standard straight arm height then accentuates the hail with a very marked point of the finger as in a very confident attempt to get the bus to stop at the exact position in which their finger is pointing. This can also be coupled with the subject making direct eye contact with the driver, this variation of the point hail can sometimes be quite effective some conductors have actually been spotting taking heed to the subject's instructions and stopping at the exact point where the subject is pointing.

The extenda-hail:
Subject extends arm as if frozen in time, long after it's quite obvious that the conductor has spotted his request and is clearly pulling over to stop. From what I can tell it seems like the subject is very untrusting and had a bad experience with a rogue conductor who once foxed them into thinking that they were stopping and then pulled away again suddenly because the hail was not long enough. (please note: this is one of the most common hails)

The group hail:
As if all players on separate teams multiple subjects standing at the same stop have been spotted throwing out all sorts of various hails. Oblivious to one and other's motions, it seems as if each party feels that their hail is the one that is going to stop the bus.

The no hail:
Subject is generally foreign (or too busy noting bizarre hailing behavior) no arm movement is noted. Bus stops without a problem, sometimes right in front of the no hailer to generally the amazement of the rest of the parties at the stop. Some aggression can be noted as the hailers feel a sense of deceit as if all their hailing efforts were in vain.

What a sight!

I took my time on my way to work this morning. left the house at 10am... the bus came so I got on it. I sat behind this gentle looking man who was furious reading his book in brail. Looking around and out the window, I tried to absorb everything I saw, the perfectly trimmed hedges, the vines that crept up the side of the house with the green front door, the colour of the sun as it reflected off the cars traveling in the opposite direction. Every colour and every hue, I soaked them all in.

Sometimes you forget to look, this morning I saw it all.

does it count...

when you show up late for work but you're at home sleeping off a hangover and in your state of guilty, half conscious sleep, you're dreaming that you are at work and you are getting things done?

After attempting to go somewhere new for a bevvie Hazel and I were strangely drawn towards the Retro bar. Can't help it, it's too easy. Then walks in David. Now, I don't know David, but I have kind have been reading his blog for the past few months... I stumbled upon one day while updating mine, and found his blog very sharp! So there we sat with our acquired pub quiz team. Laughing at myself, I continued to mention to Hazel, how much I felt like a voyeur, and that is was so strange to see this person that I read about everyday in person. As she motioned to get up and go talk to him, I held her arm and swore that I would die of humiliation if she talked to him... by the end of the night and 3 pints later, while leaving I went up and talked to him. Now, to be quite honest I've never felt so much like a geek in my whole life. Poor thing, looked mildly terrified... perhaps it was the part where I was telling him about this pic I took in Dublin about this crazy Kebab shop with a sign that read "Homos- £2.50" that I thought he might find funny... Oh man, in writing this down, I am thinking that yes, I am mad.

What have I learned from all this? Don't be weird to nice boys that you don't really know... and more interestingly, that reading someone's blog that you don't know really does give you a great new perspective on life, because you have no personal relationship to them, everything you read about them is very honest and raw... not much in life that can give you that sort of perspective, how refreshing indeed.

Chinese lessons, Bliss, Sausages, Cherries, Jazz bar and a whole lot of time in bed...

The end of the week was just such a good thing. Slid out of the office at 6:20 and went for a drinkie across the road with Hon and Steph from the office. After giving way to my hunger pains I headed home brining Hon with me. He is teaching me Chinese... okay, so all I can say thus far is "sing darn fie lork" which means "Merry Christmas" so I figured we could catch up on my lessons. He's such a fun guy... he even ate the veggie pasta I made before we head to the Wellington to keep Jo's new "friend" company whilst she worked. Even Hannah ended up coming to the pub with us. Later that evening Miss Hazel joined us after her night at the retro bar.

Saturday was full of lethargy and breakfast at cafe Bliss. Not sure if I written about cafe bliss before, but it's this strange dive cafe where you can get 24h a day breakfast, but be warned if you don't ask, your eggs will not be soft poached. Later on... much later on H and Jo and I ventured out to go to Bar Med for their Cherries night. We met Miss Dan and Miss Sally sat awaiting our arrival. I can't quite do justice in trying to explain the collection of women in this place. There was copious amounts of double vodkas going on so soon things were on their way. After leaving Dan and Sal, Jo and Hazel and I head back towards home and to Jo's new find... The Jazz bar in Dalston. What a neat place. Open till god knows when. It was a good time. Very chill atmosphere! What fun!

Sunday... yes, this is the part where the rest of the laying in bed thing comes in.... When finally driven by hunger I ventured out of bed to Sofra to purchase some much needed nourishment. Hazel had a craving for sausages... Note to self... vegetarians are crap at buying meat. I thought I was so butch finding what I thought were sausages.. turned out they were more like wieners... ah well... god, I make myself laugh sometimes!

I am so happy that Sean is blogging! I had several laughs out loud today while reading of his weekend's exploits! God, I miss that boy!

Oh yea, Dearbhla's ex-coworker announced today that he is marrying his first cousin... hmmm isn't that illegal? Man, the world just never ceases to amaze me.

Garlic lunches

That's the best way to start things off. Today I'm on the major garlic pasta lunch... a true test of how much my co-workers can put up with. The past few weeks have brought many many stories... let me see if I can harness them...

Magic Champagne bottle count= 4

Thursday December 20th
Pre Xmas chaos built up to a crescendo as the hours grew closer to the holidays my poor back muscles grew tighter and tighter. I am now a converted Shiatsu Massage woman! One visit with the lovely Bev Breeze (no joke that's her name) and there was a vast improvement.

Friday December 21st
Oh yes, it was... It was the last day at the office for most people who were not heading of town for the holidays... On the other end of the lolli pop... there were Rob (the developer) and I held up here with a Deliverable that had us here till 22h30! When finally all was complete... I staggered home. Jo had the night off work and was pacing around the flat-bored... With a small whine and a grunt, I signaled her towards one of the bottles of Champagne in the fridge... Not but a few minutes later all was well and the bottle was on this side of empty... Ahhh. bring on the holidays!

Magic Champagne bottle count= 3

Saturday December 22nd
Roni Size Heroes and Villains Theme here we come. After much pondering and confusion it was established the Roni Size was indeed spinning... Dragging my body out of bed late afternoon, I ventured into Angel to sus out 3 costumes for the event. The costume gods were smiling on me as I quickly picked out a Zorro mask for Jo and a Gangster hat for myself... A little bit further down the road (dodging xmas shoppers left and right) I made the bargain find of a most fabulous dress for hazel... tiny in size and very perfect for her Bonnie costume... all for the low low price of £7! Soon after I met up with Hazel and procured the last few items for our costumes then ducked into the Welly for a pint to warm the cockles. The show was at 93 ft. east in Brick lane... T'was a bit odd as not that many people were in costume... However, we were in fine form having consumed the bottle of Bolli pre-departure. Bring on the big beats. There are things I suppose I should write down... like falling off the stage while trying to help Jo up onto it... and then both of us falling into a bin full of empty beer bottles... but I shall spare the embarrassment... Uh oh, yea.. I think I forgot to mention the consumption of another bottle of champers... any ways... you get the picture...

Magic Champagne bottle count= 1

Sunday December 23rd
Sleep... sleep... the sniffles begin.

Magic Champagne bottle count= 1

Monday December 24th
Full on head cold is brewing... head into work hoping to clear up the desk and prepare for a fresh start in the new year... Problems arise when Rob and Hon begin watching the Movie very loudly on Rob's machine... Too much noise... too many distractions... 4pm rolls around and I disappear into the darkness, finally free! H and I lounge at the Welly on the big brown leather sofa... consume a few bevvies and welcome in Christmas Day with Jo and Holly.

Magic Champagne bottle count= 1

Tuesday December 25th
Jo's dad arrives around Mid day to take us to theirs for the day's festivities... we drop Hazel to Hampstead to play with Nat and continue along up North to Baldock (sp?) Spend a lovely quiet day feasting and relaxing (and sniffling and coughing if you're me) Watched the movie Annie on TV for the first time in well over 15 years... Look mum, I still know all the words to all the songs!

Magic Champagne bottle count= 1

Wednesday December 26th
repeat of previous day, add in a walk in the woods and failed attempt to visit the pub at the end of the road... it was closed.

Magic Champagne bottle count= 1

Thursday December 27th
Return home to London and hook up for Hazel for a Dinner that is being paid for by my boss in penance for making me work so late the previous Friday... We have a mediocre Moroccan meal in Hampstead... the highlight being the bottle of champagne and the yummy apricot tobacco they served Hookah (sp?) and all!


Magic Champagne bottle count= 1+1 purchased with meal - 1 consumed with meal = 1

Friday December 28th
Visions of matchmaking brought Hazel, Jo, Nat and Tam to the Wellington in Soho... How nice it was to go out and have a laugh! Although we all promised that we were NOT GOING TO THE CANDY BAR... 12h30 rolled around and it was really our only choice for more drinks... so we ventured in...

Saturday-Monday December 31st
Sniffles, more coughs, and a quick trip to Habitat to buy a Duvet cover... rubs and other goings on... mmm. Rest!
Boycotted New Years completely... bought nine tins of bud 2 pizzas and christened it the "wife beater new years" sat back and laughed my ass off at Hazel's fast expanding belly... rang in the New Years on the couch... Hazel with beer stain on shirt by this point LOL! Oh yes, there was that final bottle of Moet... drank that.

Magic Champagne bottle count= 0 *sniffle* *wipes tear*

Tuesday January 1st.

Late afternoon found us in Nat's pub with Jo, Kat, Kerri, Lou, and Jo... watching "Weakest Link- Drag Queen edition" What a riot!... all was well till but seconds after some dodgy guys with dog in toe who were sitting in the far corner of the pub decided that they needed to lunge at the bar staff and lob a chair at them behind the bar! Being her bar, Nat fired out of her seat and dove behind the bar and with her supa fly Israeli army style moves pins one of the culprits to the ground... not a minute later the cops arrive and the bad guys are removed... a few million shards of glass littered the ground... and it was calm yet again... Very strange indeed... what a way to spend new years day!

Ahh, the fun!