Mystery fruit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Duhhh

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

And then it happened.

I had the epiphany.

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

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

You heard it here first....

I'm losing it.

Ouch!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Communication of all sorts

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

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

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

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

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

Sure it was a lady shaver...

Check out this mad article

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

Dr Pepper!

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

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

The day was long yesterday...

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

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

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

Oui OUi weeee

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ah bon. C’est tout, pour l’instant.

Why yes... it is a...

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

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

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

Impromptu meeting... more later

blogging time is certainly on the rise...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best feign working a bit...

no doubt there will be more later...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tick toc

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

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

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

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

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

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

bitterness, oh how it pleasures me!

Bzzz bzzz

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

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

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

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

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

*flutters home*

A late fifty word fiction submission!

From no other than Miss Hazel! Enjoy!

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

Time slowly curved itself through a new space.

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

She grinned at yet another late night.

It's Friday!

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

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

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

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

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

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

So it's Friday and it's good.

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

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

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

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

tick

tick

clunk

Dolphin games

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

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

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

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

The results!

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


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


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

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

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


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



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

just back!

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

stay tuned!

Since I never did become a teacher...

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

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

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

Go on, I dare you!

I did it!

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

Baggage

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

I just love micro fiction!

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

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

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

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

So I wasn't...

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

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

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

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

2h left

please kill me

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

Life is so strange...

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

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

Happy Blog Birthday to me!

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

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

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

Oh how I love this Haiku...

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

The stars, they shine upon me!

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

Have you been wondering...

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

Warchalking?

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

Brighton and the Pheromone experiment

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

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

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

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

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

Lesson learned?

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

So yea,

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

Sarah's trip to Portugal:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How great is this week's horroscope for me?

Week commencing Saturday, 6th July 2002

PISCES
(Feb 20 - Mar 20)

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

Panic!

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

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

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

(Reuters, London)

who be you Derk Gently ?

you leave me comments but also mystery...

London Pride?

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

Minuses

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

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

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

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

Pluses

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

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

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

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

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

Portugal here I come

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

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

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

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

just because...

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

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

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

Faux celebrity sightings

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

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

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

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

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

I had so much fun this morning

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

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

Recap from SJUK

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


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

-end of letter to Mark-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Here is the review I found:

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

or to hear the song click here

Enjoy miss Hazel!

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

10 things I am

nurturing
silly
observant
adventurous
giving
worrisome
Whiny
bilingual
delicate
dreamer

10 things I am not

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

10 things I strive to be

ambitious
content
confident
fitter
well rounded
companionate
conscientious
strong
inspirational
balanced

BBCi and me...

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

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

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

Can I just mention...


that the sun rose at 3h41 this morning!

Holy canoly!

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

Okay... so I helped myself...

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


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

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

yeah
ye-ah

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

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

yeah
ye-ah
yeah
ye-ah

Somebody please please help me!

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

pretty pretty please!

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

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

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

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

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

Between my Sniffles...


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

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

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

Yea, Yea, so I'm bored....

A - Adventured to: Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, New York, Cuba, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Monaco, Florida, Ireland, England
B - Best Friends: Sean, Noeleen, Yvonne, Esmerelda
C - Cohabitants: Jo, Dan and Hazel
D - Desire(s): To be a presenter for the BBC
E - Eye Color: Grey
F - Favorite Food(s): Bean Dip, Cheese, Tacos,Pasta with Pesto, Garlic Bread
G - Games: Scrabble (very sore loser)
H - Habit(s): Smoking, worrying
I - Interests: Books, Writing, Design,
J - Job: Project Manager for a Print Design Company
K - Kitchen (Wonder or Blunder?): It's a rented flat so, not sure really.
L - Languages: English/French and a bit of Spanish
M - Most Valued Possession(s) (an item, not people/pets): Digital Camera, Books, Photos
N - Not nice things: Indifference, Compliancy,
O - Outfit You Love: Anything with my white pumas and a smile
P - Pizza Toppings: Extra sauce, cheese, tomatoes and garlic
Q - Question Asked To You the Most: "Are you American?" Or "Do you want a PDF of that?"
R - Relationship/Partner: My most lovely Hazel
S - Sport: Gym/swim/tennis
T - Television Show(s): Sopranos, City Confidential (not that I can watch it from this side of the pond), EastEnders (bows head)
U - Unsavory characteristic(s): Over nurturing, worrisome
V - Video (Favorites):Amelie, Tous les matains du Monde, Rushmore, Hamlet,When night is falling
W - Webpage (Favorite--not your own): www.swishcottage.com
X - Xylophone (or other Instrument?): Clarinet for 7 years
Y - Year Born: 1976
Z - Zodiac Sign: Pisces

This is ...

The best site ever! All search engines require a search prompt that calls for a "key ingredient" mmmmm!

And I'm sitting in the kitchen sink...

Have you- Ever closed your eyes so tightly and whisked your consciousness away into a deep corner of your mind? I've been doing this lately at the gym. My treadmill/elliptical/bike cardio combo has slowly been reduced to a mega bike only work out. It been giving me a supa fly insight into my muddy cerebellum. I flutter away and let the tunes in my walkman float in and the millions of droplets of perspiration slip out.

"And I'm sitting in the kitchen sink, and I watch the tap drip- drip drip drip drip drip"- Cure

ZZZZZZZZZ

This is possibly the most banal entry ever... that is of course, in comparison to my last entry.... kind of hard to top the excitement of last Thursday.

Four days off in a row sure make me realize that I would like to have a holiday. H and I are supposed to go to Finland at the end of the summer to visit with Tierry and Linda, but it's just so far away! I'm sure I'll manage to hang in there.

Popped into the pub to watch the first half of the Ireland vs. Germany game. Good one! Glad to see that Ireland equalized in the last few seconds. Wonder how many people will be in the studio on Friday afternoon when the next England match is on...

Purple in the Park was really good fun on Saturday. The weather held up really well, I only wish we could have been there longer! Ah well, all good really! Caught a quick glimpse of Grace Jones on my way out. Not quite sure what to make of her...

So happy to see both Dom and Denise are both blogging again! It's been a long while for both of them but I'm glad they're back at it!

Looks like my tennis lesson this evening will be cancelled, gosh darn you, you pesky rain!

Siobhan arrives in London tomorrow. It will be so good to see her! I can't believe that it's been almost 10 months since we saw each other back in Ottawa. Time really flies!

Poncy Hotel, Media Bar, Aged Punk Band and don't forget to...
"RESPECT MY AUTHOROTAY!"

So as it goes... we started off our evening practically forgetting to get off at Oxford Circus... we then hot footed it to the oh so foreboding Sanderson Hotel to do our footballer's wives spotting. The public bar is called the long bar... Dearbhla ordered me a chocolate martini and herself a raspberry Collins. Grand total, wait for this ... £19.80 I shudder to think how much that is in Canadian dollars! 10 minutes later the drinks were served and we took two seats at the bar. Now you have to understand that the bar was an island so we were in a prime spying location! Fascinating that people actually go there! Wasn't long before we noticed that we were not alone in our plight... the place was dotted with sets of two girlies, scoping for rich men... not that we were, but still it seemed quite blatant why most of those girls were there. We downed another martini and then took a quick venture to the loos to see just what sort of swish this place had to offer. The walls are lime green and the interiors quite nouveau... down to the loo roll that was folded into a neat smooth fold for best esthetic representation. And before you knew it we were back out in the rumble of soho... not before of course a minor celebrity spotting... we watched her as she was whisked away by her driver in a white Mercedes.

From there we headed to The Social and ran into some of Dearbhla's friends from one of her past jobs. Nice group of people. Very media/designer crowd... a great relief from the ponciness of our previous venue! Stayed for 3 drinks £6 each (not bad!) We had to hurry though, we had a concert to go to!

So yea, Dearbhla won tickets to see GLEN MATLOCK & THE PHILISTINES as part of the Jubilee Punk fest at the 100 club ... I had no idea who he was... just that he was once a member of the Sex Pistols. She won them by answering a trivia question on BBC radio 6 which we listen to in the studio all day long. So we arrive and it turns out that some guys has already claimed her tickets (sneaky bastards) and there is a bit of confusion. To Dearbhla's total horror, they bring Glen himself over to resolve the situation. Still not knowing who this Glen was I was not quite understanding her horror. Once safely inside D explained that that was the man we came to see... We ordered more drinks 6£ for two including a packet of nuts! Okay, I know I'm sad... but I think it's pretty funny how the drink prices kept lowering with each new location we entered. The opening band was just wrapping up and D and I grab front row seats to the right hand side of the stage. We were then treated to a most shocking display of the sweaty shirtless guitarist's pelvic thrusting in our exact direction. I kid you not, I had to ask D if we had accidentally walked into a strip joint. The act ended and was followed by a man standing on stage who mumbled incoherently, poems about Glen. D and I sat with mouths gaping open... it was too bad for words! Poetry at a punk show??? What follows here will be a list of the very interesting characters/actions spotted during the performance.

-so many air guitarists I can't even do them justice in describing their performances as there were literally too many!
-air drummers
-air guitarist/drummers (yes folks, both at the same time)
-pogo punk in a box boy... if you got a kit of how to be punk, this guy would be what you'd look like
-glam rock super afro curly haired man with bandana who thrashed is head up and down and side to side when he like a song... His hair kept getting bigger and bigger, Dearbhla spotted him tying to tame the hair at one point but then when they did an old sex pistols song he was spotted actually fluffing his hair in an effort to make it bigger!
-accompanying glam rock man was staring girl... no joke she was punked out with the ripped tights and all... but all she did was stare... then was later seen snogging mr. glam rock guy!
-way way too drunk Indy boys thrashing about
-numerous unimpressed Indy and punk guy's girlfriends shaking head in disapproval as their beaus thrashed about like wankers
-two women sat front row in their PIB outfits FREAKS! (oh wait, that was us)

After the show we headed to Mash for a night cap as it wasn't yet midnight. I promptly lobbed my drink across the floor while I was attempting to put it there... At that point I realized that it was perhaps time to go home... However the night was not yet over, as I was gone getting another drink Dearbhla was approached by the most lovely Italian man, very sweet guy... he proudly announced to us that he cleaned kitchens and toilets for a living... No really, he was lovely, bless!

Then while exiting the bar, Dearbhla and I were offering a great display of our intoxication by repeating over and over in out best south park voices "RESPECT MY AUTHOROTAY!"

What a great night

Only in America...

Can a man sell his soul on e-bay... and people actually bid on it!

as seen on this blog

Purple parks, lesbian beauty contests and footballers wives

So here's the deal... I generally don't do the gay thing too well (i.e I tend not to be terribly active in the community). This weekend myself, Hazel, Dan and Sally and anyone else who is willing to join us... are going to purple in the park... the next day Sally has requested to go the lesbian beauty contest well I'm sure it will be a good laugh, go get 'em ladies! What is to become of me?

In stark contrast to my upcoming weekend of tappetterie* I am going out with Dearbhla and Caroline to the Long Bar at the Sanderson hotel... we're going to giggle at the footballer's wives crowd. Dearbhla and I are in full on PIB** mode it's so sad, but I just love it!

*tapeeterie is a French neologism invented by me, deriving from the French word for fag - tapette
** PIB - Sean introduced me to this one, it means, Person In Black

http://www.airlinemeals.net/

The BBC needs YOU!

Don't ask me how I stumbled upon this site ... I'm in awe... Too bad I'm not an Asian with strong views on the Monarchy!

I think David and his friends should apply for the quiz shows, they're constantly putting people to shame with their retro bar trivia skills!

I wonder what other sites list such goodies? ... there goes my day...

I am in love with new wave retail!

This is a new shop that opened at Angel... Thank you Germany for such a neat place! I bought a beautiful summer down duvet for 30£ bagain! Why do I work so close to these sorts of places... lunch time brings many shopping tempations!

*sensing a return of my shop-o holic tendancies*

someone please help me!

*cha ching*

I'm baking!

in the sunshine through the massive sky light to the right of my desk... too bad you can't tan through windows!

only another few minutes and I'm free... one, two, three, four....

Time wasting- Jubilee weekend- Musical excitement and all that is related to events that have not occured in the past few days...


So I'm surfing around aimlessly, trying to kill time. It's been so slow at work all week long, I'm beginning to think that this could be likened to some sort of ancient Chinese boredom torture!

So I'm reading all my regular blogs and am craving for more, until I realize that I hadn't blogged for ages either!

Nothing much to report really... work, gym, home, sleep, repeat. Very soon it is the Jubilee weekend, meaning we get a super long weekend, Monday and Tuesday off! What a treat. I wish I could say that I was going somewhere exciting, but I think the highlight may just be going to purple in the park with the gurlies. I'm not committing to it quite just yet as it may pour down with rain...

I am a geek... I pre ordered the new Tricky album... but did find out that Coldplay are going to release their new album at the end of Aug. and that Morrissey's first single in 5 years will be called "Mario's Dance" (thank you pop bitch)and and and that the cure will be playing in Green Park sometime in July! It just can't get more exciting than this!

Okay, well yea, maybe it can...

Comments, Lunar cycles and the Child of Prague?

I'm rather pleased with the new comments feature I now have on my blog... no comments as of yet, but, ho hum.

Off to the hospital later to collect miss Hazel. We had the strangest conversation with the nurse last night. She was explaining to us how things like abscesses and entopic pregnancies ebb in and out of the hospital in waves... She says she has no idea why, as there is no medical explanation... is it the lunar cycle? Environmental variance? Alien interference? Not quite sure but it was the most surreal medical explanation I've ever heard. I want to believe!

It is day two of British summer... hope this isn't it for the year... but if it is I'm sure going to do my darndest to make the best of it.

Dearbhla has championed the Child of Prague representation for Tim's wedding tomorrow. Apparently if you put the Child of Prague in your window or out in your front garden the night before your wedding it will keep away the rain. We'll see about that... Buxton is calling for showers tomorrow.... Best of lucky Timmy!

NHS give me back my Hazel

So this week has been filled with more hours in the hospital than ever believed possible. Hazel and I spent all afternoon on Sunday at Homerton... waste of time? Oh yes. Incompetence? quite surely. Large huge painful bump in delicate area= go home you're fine... hmm..

So Tuesday comes around and we head to UCL instead and try again there. 9 hours later they send her home to rest and book her in for surgery the next morning.... Wednesday evening at 5pm she is finally treated. Then must spend the night... This morning they tell us that she has to stay another night for observation all without telling us what on earth is going on. Nice. My poor little petal. Call me crazy but I hardly think it's unreasonable to be a little concerned with the level of care considering her dressings haven't been changed in nearly 24h and when questioned they don't even seem to know their arse from their elbow!

On an aside note it's is, a beautiful day here... 25 degrees not a cloud in the sky.... *sharing sunshine*

I feel so very liberated

In an effort to rid myself of the ever nagging ball and chain that was my hotmail account... it is now gone! I've cleared everything out and have opened a brand spanking new one! I will be SPAM free for at least a little while! I am now the owner of both:

sj_chick@hotmail.com

and

sj_chick@yahoo.com

I feel like I've just burnt my bra. How sad is this? Debatable indeed, but oh so very very satisfying!

Analysis

So my fab friend Jeffie was so kind as to do an analysis of my weirdo dream:

LIZARD - denotes a lack of scruples. symbolizes death followed by resurrection. It also symbolizes safety and welfare because it can lose it's tail and regenerate it.

BIRD - Birds in dreams are associated with freedom, and with hopes, dreams, and plans for the future “taking flight.” If a bird is caged it suggests a
desire for freedom that is constrained or feels trapped. Dead birds falling from the sky can symbolize the end of a hope or dream, or the passing
of an illusion.

SNAKE - a poisonous snake can relate to a person who will attack or retaliate with vengeance, can relate to temptation or evil, though as in India, it can also represent wisdom, it can represent sneakiness or treachery such as a 'snake in the grass', being bitten by a snake can represent dangerous emotions or situations where one holds or expresses poisonous thoughts or emotions. The serpent denotes the right or wrong thoughts, the wisdom of knowing the difference.

TREES - Tall and magnificent trees in dreams often hold associations to god, spirituality, and the “tree of life.” Trees with elaborate connecting
branches may be metaphors for family lineage, and may reflect desires for children, to begin a family of one’s own.

---------------------------------

My analysis? You are all three - The bird is your caring, loving, happy side. The chameleon is your business, work, do-what-it-takes side.
The snake represents your fears - something you are hiding from the bird-side of your personality, so the chameleon eats it to prevent these feelings
from coming to the surface. Maybe you feel guilty about something you have done to make yourself happy? Plus trees represent families, so there may be
some connection there.

Hehe... or you had some bad tofu and should really lay off the David Lynch movies.

Strange dreams

So... I had this strange dream last night or sometime this morning. I was looking out the window and there before my eyes was a budgie and a chameleon purched on the branch of a very large leafy tree. I watched as the camouflaged chameleon slowly and skillfully opened it's mouth and tried to fit it around the budgie's head. I watched in awe... then before the chameleon snapped it's mouth shut, the budgie turned into a green garden snake. I then switched over to wondering why the chameleon would try and eat the snake and if it was part of the food chain... I woke up really puzzled.

What on earth could this mean?

Parker Lewis... what happened to you?

Why is it that such a large amount of actors become scientologists? It makes me really wonder.

Dearbhla and I hade such fond memories of the show that graced the Fox airwaves back in the early 90's.


ahhh. Parker Lewis... I think you have lost. However I do agree that that show was ahead of it's time I can't remember how accurate my memory is, of the show but it's kind of like Saved by the bell meets Malcom in the middle. Bring it back?

Orange crush colored sky

last night as I lay in bed... I stared out the window... I haven't put up my curtains yet... bet my neighbors have had some interesting flashes from me... but anyways. The sky, the sky was the colour of orange crush (fanta to some) it was quite surreal. I lay there wondering if it really was that colour or if it was the three double vodkas that I had had previously.

It was really beautiful.

The sun is shining and I skipped lunch today...

About to break out and head off to the gym... Diner tonight with lovely miss Binee and Jo jo isn't working so she's be joining in.

David has added the most interesting picture on his site... If you refresh the page a couple times you'll come to it... it appears from the banner... it's a pic of a broken handcuff on a fence, goodness knows he found this in London! I'm interested to know the story behind how it got there!

26 years 1 month and 14 days

That's how old I be...

It's kind of strange when you write it out like that... The reason why I've written it down is because I remember noting that on my father's death certificate it has his exact life span

61 years 8 months 21 days

Funny just how mortal you feel when you write out your life like that... Try it. I feel somewhat younger after having written it.

Hmmm

Dress up Jesus, Jarvis Cocker and all that free experimental music

This was sent to me this morning by Dearbhla. Highly amusing!

It was indeed nice to be back in London this weekend. Went to Mantos on Friday night for Jo's b'day. Didn't stay that late but it was sure nice to see Kerri and Suresh... bundled home and caught some zzz's.

Ventured of to Camden to procure the skirt the KJ was lusting over while I was in Toronto. It's a very interesting place to go... kind of nice when you want to just disappear into the crowd. Had a quiet night at home Sat. mar the screaming eastern European neighbors who where having a BBQ outside in the pouring rain...

Sunday Hazel and I met up with Esmerelda for a free concert at Southwark tube station. It was an experimental piece 30mins in length. Can't say I thought much of it but it's always nice to do something different. After the performance we headed to a few watering holes and chit chatted till night fell. Oh yea,... on the way to meet Esmerelda we sat on the 38 next to Jarvis Cocker from Pulp. Tee hee. Can't help but feel like a bit of a wanker for writing these things sometimes...

Siobhan wrote to tell me that she will be coming for a visit at the end of the month! I can't wait to see her, it should be a lot of fun! Dom also wrote and spoke of the possibility of stopping in London whist visiting his friend Dom in Amsterdam... he arrives on this side of the pond on the 8th!

Mum and KJ seem to be doing well, everyday sans da seems to be getting easier...

Back in London town

Life is slowly re-gaining normality... Still in a bit of a daze but I'm sure that will pass. Work is really slow but the weather is nice so it's a nice balance.

I've been a good little gym bunny this week, managing to go twice already... A good work out sure helps get out some residual stress.

Saw the Royal Tenambaums (sp?) and Gosford park on my flights... nothing to write home about, perhaps it was just my mood, but I was quite disappointed in Air Canada for Blurring out the offensive parts of The Royals... Funny thing is, that they deemed a lesbian embrace as offensive as a close up of the other character's suicide slashes on his wrist. Hmmm Discuss?

I breathe it all in. Inhale. hold it till it hurts. Ahh that's life.

After winter, must come spring

I've just returned from the grocery store... or should I say emporium... I was like wading through the cast of the supranos... woa... life here is very different. I puttered around to collect the few items on my list... I was there to collect all that was needed to make my grandfather some poutine... having had his request the day before I am honored to make it for him.

I have no concept of cost here any more. I managed to spend 33$ on purchasing no more than 6 items. I was so dumbfounded when I got to the cash and realised that I didn't have enough money to pay as my mum only gave me 30$ I feel like a stranger in a place that is supposed to be my home. I guess with the grief and such everything is compounded. Seeing Hazel tomorrow will be such a happy thing... it will be a connection between what I have here and the new chapter of my life back in London.

I promised myself that I would make an effort to do something pro active today other than staring out into the back yard... I'm supposed to go for drinks at falicte (sp?) tonight with Noeleen when she finishes work.

There were so many people at my dad's visitation last night he would have just loved it. I can't even begin to explain how emotionally draining it was to stand there in a sort of receiving line and console all those people. I was honored by Yvonne's most generous and beautiful flower arrangement and by Mark and Cathy and Andy's visit as well by seeing Audrey and Griff. My friends are most wonderful. I have had nothing but support and well wishes from all the people at my office and Hazel is just a dream.

Lauren Hill is so very right.... After winter, must come spring.

A Passing

As a bizarre irony my previous blog was a lot closer to the mark then I could have ever imagined. Seeing that my dad passed away suddendly Monday morning. I've managed to live 26 entire years without losing a soul that was near and dear to me. I have seen my friends through losses but this time, this time it's my time.

I think that my head is still in a dream like place. I woke up in London and went to bed in Toronto. I never knew that an 8h flight could last an eternity. It's so strange to be home, and even stranger to be sitting her on my dad's computer writing this blog, knowing that he's gone. He didn't suffer and wasn't even sick so for that I am thankful. Tomorrow is the service and the visitation for friends. Its going to be a tough one.

My friends are most amazing and have been so supportive, I just find it really hard to adjust to let other people take care of me as I am much more in my element when I take care of others. It's an intersting experience. The photographs we've collected for the visitation had memories pouring out of places I didn't even know I had. Nostagia is a powerful thing. I sat on my front patio almost all day long with my mum and sister and aunt and grandfather... at one point my sister had found my old sticker album and my youngest cousing sacha leafed through it with great enthusiasm. God how I used to treasure those stickers. It's almost a lifetime ago. I amd sun burnt like you can't imagine... whoever says global warming is a hoax must spend a day in the Toronto april sun and then come and talk to me!

Running some errands this evening with my sis in the shopping centre I was acosted with questions by shop clerks asking me where I was from citing that my accent was not from here. They didn't belive me when I swore I was born and raised here. Canadians have an eternal reverence for all that is foreign. It was kind of disconcerting and didn't help my reverse culture shock much... but when social energy is low like it is it doesn't take much to drain you.

I'm not sure what I'm going to say at the service tomorrow. I don't want to connect to reality by organizing... I wihch I was confident enough to be able to come up with something nice off the cuff... don't trust the water works too much and so I think I have to bite the bullet and write some things down.

Man, it's so unfair... how my father would have loved the beautiful sunshine we had here today. But who knows... maybe it's sunny everyday where he is now:)

Famous Last Words...

"Pardonnez-moi, Monsieur" (Marie Antoinette, after treading upon her executioner's foot).

I think it could be...

the sunshine marring my ability to blog as of late... perhaps the soy latte at lunch? Who can tell?

I've been having a fab time with Mr.. Sean McCann visiting me! It's been so nice to have a familiar face from the great white north. We went to Carl Cox last Sunday. And although I was still sickly we managed to last till almost 4am. It was a fun night. I couldn't get over the scores of people queuing outside the venue. God love Sean for making us buy tickets in advance. It was a Carl Cox branding extravaganza... they were even selling freaking Carl Cox balloons. What is the world coming to?

The Friday before... we were in town meeting up with Sean's cousin... don't quite know how it happened but we ended up at G.A.Y at the... wait for this... Atomic Kitten concert! They were distributing glow in the dark whistles and everything. I was thoroughly horrified. The night was good fun however... Sean's cousin's friends were having the best time! Bless. This was the first time they were ever in a large club in London... Unfortunately fatigue from our visit to Pop stars the previous evening coupled with my failing health I ended up having to leave before the kitties even came on!

This week has been gloriously warm and sunny. It certainly does put a spring in your step. it's been really nice to break out the skirts again!

Dan and Sally and Sally's best friend from Oz are coming to town tomorrow night... goodness knows what we'll get up to. I'm sure it will be fun. They'll be the first to try out this new futon I picked up from this kind guy in the LOOT paper. Only cost 50£ and he delivered it! Much more comfy than the piece of press wood we have now!

Off to Verona next weekend with my lovely Hazel. We were looking at places to stay last night whilst skimming through travel books at Waterstone's... found a convent that only accepts women guests. Their curfew is 11pm unless you have tickets to the opera. Imagine! I think my residual catholic guilt would get the better of me if we stayed there! Looks like we'll be staying here instead looks fab!

From Pop stars to Phish dumplings...


Headed to pop stars on Friday night fueled with after work martinis... danced and danced and then ventured home on the oh so handy N73.

Saturday morning I was six shades of green and Hazel trotted off to work while Jo jingled around the flat getting ready to go boxing with Matt... oh yea, I'm supposed to go too. Martinis- thy name is evil. So I drag my ass out of bed and prepare to head down to Canary Wharf to the boxing club... 2h later my hang over is gone and I'm on a post work out high. It was good fun. The following two days of pain that I've been going through, are however- another story.

Saturday afternoon post boxing picked up a cheapie TV to go with my new DVD player that lovely miss Hazel bought me for my b'day. Rented some films and collapsed in bed. Sleep is so so wonderful!

Sunday we headed down to the south bank to the national theatre to meet the most lovely Esmerelda. It was South Pacific day and the place was throbbing with yuppie children. We ate some sugar cane... drank a latte and then nosed around the book market... oh yea... and Esmerelda ate fish dumplings while Hazel ate an entire fried fish of sorts... head and all! I ran away yelping in fear of what they were eating while nibbling my veggie frittata. We ended up at the retro bar where miss Jo J o my most fabulous flat mate, made a rare appearance... she didn't show up until 7pm so she missed the ever so stimulating game of operation that we played with some Hebrew speaking guy with whom we shared a table. I love the retro bar! All they need is tidily winks and their board game collection will be complete!

The scratchy throat caught up with me with morning and I wrestled with the idea of calling in sick. I braved it and stumbled in to work at around 10am. *sigh* only 3 more days of work and 4 more sleeps till Sean arrives!

Oh yes, and Hazel's B'day trip is now booked. We are heading to Verona on the 11th instead of Prague or St. Petersburg. It will be so nice to have a break!

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...