I confess...

I watched the Milli Vanilli behind the scenes special on VH1 last night with great interest... in fact I ended up doing more cardio than normal at the gym, just to get the full scoop. I have reached a new level of sadness. Someone please help me!

Happy Birthday to me... almost.

So the day is on Sunday and there is much merriment in the cards. Not quite sure how I'm going to be able to fit it all in (the drink that is)

Heading out for some pints after work tonight and then off to my cousin's in Richmond tomorrow and then to Bricklane on Sat. Night. Sunday afternoon we're going to the Porter House on Maiden Lane in Covent Garden (Chosen by no other than Ireland's official representative here at Frameworks... Dearbhla Clarke)All are welcome... I'm sure many will come, not necessarily for me, but most certainly for old St. Paddy.

Heard from Charlotte today which was most fab. She is as well as ever, which is always good to hear.

I am now officially registered as a British Citizen, my National insurance number is to be delivered within the next 3 months! Whilst on my mission through Dalston to get to the Municipal office I found the most exciting pair of Prada rip off (black ankle boots) a must have for just £25! I was so relieved to remove my soaked through ratty trainers and have pranced around the office all afternoon breaking in the new boots... simple pleasures!

London Falling

"If it's not their bridges falling then the very ground they stand on is sinking. Londoners learned this week that satellite images show parts of central London are sinking by up to five millimeters a year. The two areas are each about 2.5 miles long and up to 250 yards wide -- running from Bermondsey to Waterloo and Westminster, and from Battersea to Putney. The sinking appears to have resulted from excavation in recent years. "The displacement follows exactly the same line as was tunneled for the Jubilee (Underground) Line extension and the electricity tunnel," an NPA Satellite spokesman said. The images show the land has sunk about 25 millimeters in the last five years. " - www.wired.com

My question is... who gives a monkey?

After 6 months of living here in London I have finally closed in on the gap of becoming an actual full pledged member of society... sure I have a British passport and all, but I am soon to become the holder of treasured National Insurance number... I can honestly admit, that I don't have a clue what it actually does... but hey if it took me 6 months for my "interview" then I darn well expect it to be something good! It reminds me a bit of the "Carte de Sejour" business I went through while living in France... but with that you had to purchase a "timbre fiscale" at the local tabac shop... this wee stamp cost 250FF! I almost fainted, imagine handing over 25£ to your local corner shop and getting a little stamp in return? With this piece of paper in hand I had to tromp down to the local police come immigration centre... queue for an hour... get grilled by some woman behind a plastic divider. It was a large production that took over two months and several visits to my friend behind the plastic glass, and finally I was issued my coveted "carte de sejour". I guess a six month for this National Insurance thing isn't so bad after all...

Now, all I have left to do is show up! I was all geared to go today, then I realized that it's not till Friday. I am so dim at times...

Irish/Cuban bar in Prague?

I'm on day nine minus one day of pre arranged amnesty (Sunday) on my non smoking mission. It is not at all an easy feat. One must pack it up eventually... now is as good a time as ever.

The trees are all in bloom and although damp and kind of gray this morning, spring is in the air!

Got a package from my most fabulous seestor yesterday containing birthday goodies... the day fast approaches and I will soon say goodbye to my mid twenties and hello to my late.

Had a good weekend, went to the White Chapel gallery to see the Nan Goldin exhibit. She had some really nice stuff. Our overall impression was that her pictures were quite overtly self indulgent... I guess it's all in the artistic license. Don't get me wrong... it was a nice way to spend a late Sunday afternoon. After the gallery, we headed to brick lane and sat in this bar/cafe across from 93 ft. east and sipped a reasonably priced bottle of red wine... and then another.

Our plans have changed back to Prague for Hazel's b'day... we seem to have missed the deadline to apply and get a visa in time for St. Petersburg... there will be other times. I am so excited to go to Prague... Tim is going theist weekend with his fiancé... while looking at places to go while in Prague, he stumbled upon what could quite possibly be, the word's first Irish/Cuban bar. It is called, get ready for this... O'Che's I say no more... for I think I have, quite possibly seen it all!

"Sarah... there is a definite cadence infection!"...

says Mark. It was really great to catch up with him after nearly two months. Man how time flies. He informs me that I have a cadence infection, followed by gifting me a new title... poverty jet set. That's me! It's a person who travels from country to country, works at decent jobs but just never has any money! I love it!

I don't seem to be able to get enough sleep as of late. Ever since returning from my travels last week, sleep has become this mad, addictive drug that I can't get enough of! Last night I was in the land of the fairies by quarter past ten. What will become of me now?

Got my hair cut at lunch today... going back maybe in a week or so to get the colour done... I saw this picture with these very cool highlights... aqua blue and sea green tips. Looked neat... all that's left is to convince myself that I'm insane to pay 40£ to have it done! *rubs hands together*

Mum is away on her tropical holiday this week. I'm so happy for her, she really deserves a break. KJ is home sick. poor thing! It's her birthday on Friday, so I hope she feels better by then. Jo Jo's b'day is also on Friday. We're having a do for her, should be fun...

Work is finally evening out a bit, after the big tradeshow rush ends next week, it will be nice to have some not so hecticly urgent things to work on. The vibe in the office is so much better... *sigh of relief*

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...