trainer tragedy continues

all I want is black monochrome all stars... apparently unavailable in London... guess i'm going to just have to settle for the black and white pair. I've been through this all before, first with the black Velcro pumas... then with the black nike rifts... all so elusive... all discontinued or not available... It could be a lot worse *zips lips*

Had a nice Italian supper last night with Miss H. Dating is fun!

I'm probably not the only person in town excited by the fact that I get paid at midnight! woo woo. God love employers who pay you on the 28th and not the last day of the month.

Wrote the longest e-mail I've written in a long time to my friend Mark in Toronto. It's been just ages since I last spoke with him... If this entry is short it is simply because I've drained it all out in the email to him.

I need, a mirror for my room, film for my dad's camera that I've not used yet... fuse for my lamp... frame for my beautiful poster from Mark... all things I will do this weekend *god willing*

I think I've lost an inch off my belly from all my gymming and endless crunches with the medicine ball. Yea me! I can wear this skirt KJ and mum bought me a year ago... god it used to look simply awful! now all I need to do is maintain this physique until it comes back into style again! d'oh!

May everyone catch their very own ray of sunshine today.

les evenements du weekend (ou la manque de...)

I had a quiet weekend to myself. Marr the loud neighbours of course... I chatted with them on Friday night to try and find a level of music that we were both comfortable with but it's elusive. They like it loud and see that compromise involves us putting up with their music at all times at a level that is just barely tolerable. I Keep saying to myself that if it was my parents living in my flat that the noise would not be tolerated at all. Ah well, we'll see how the compromise goes but I am beginning to appreciate the values of silence.

Being in the flat all alone spawned a cleaning frenzy. I missed the beautiful day on Sunday it was 18 degrees! Ah well, Cleaning does strangely make me agoraphobic. I wonder why?

I had a terrible fright on Sunday while watching a news bulletin... A Finnish student wit the same name as Hazel's ex living in the same area of town was murdered on her way home at 18h last week. My heart stopped. I was going to faint... I rang up Hazel in a flurry and sputtered out what I had just seen on the news. After a few anxious minutes it was determined that it wasn't her as this girl who was murdered was only 23. The poor girl. Her mum was on the phone with her when it happened! Oh the terror. Such depressing news of late... On top of this war malarkey.

Any happy positive news would be greatly appreciated :)

As the saying goes...

Everything happens for a reason. I was finding it impossible to get home last night after leaving the gym. There were no busses. People were getting aggravated. I pulled away from the 38 bus stops and walked down Tottenham court road. I finally caught a 73 that took me as far as Kings Cross (it wasn't going any further?) There I stood. I had taken me double the time of my normal journey to get half way home. Ho hum, such is life. I stood and waited... Tap tap on my shoulder and who was it? The lovely miss Hannah. I hadn't seen her in ages! See sometimes bad journeys can take you to meeting good people.

We chat chat chatted and caught up on the goings on her life over the past couple of months... her continual job search and such. Then she told me a story that shook me to the core. A co-worker of her's just went through and unimaginable tragedy. It's coming close to the time when my dad passed away last year so I'm particularly sensitive to stories that involve death. This one could not be worse. It involved an unexpected divorce of a couple who were together for over 25 years with 2 children in their 20's one of them being Hannah's friend. The mother had and affair and left the father. The father had a nervous breakdown and killed himself and his wife. I shook with horror when she told me. I can't imagine what her poor friend is going through... all this is compounded by the fact that it was a 'normal' upper middle class family. Such things don't discriminate as most people think they do. It doesn't make it any more palatable. It's a tragedy and no doubtable the beginnings of an unimaginably difficult re-build of life for H's friend and the other child that are left behind. Heavy stuff. Provides some harsh perspective to when people say their lives are tough.

am I ?

the only one mildly alarmed at this site It was mentioned by those lovely folks at popbitch over in farringdon. Is it for real? God, who would have thought that the American beef people would be targeting young girls trying to steer them clear from the terrible evils of vegetarianism? Why is this only female oriented? Why? God, this is clearly one site that I will never understand. Oh wait, it's American... *runs away*

as no doubt most people whom blog will be mentioning the fact that it's beautiful and warm here today in London. I'm wearing my denim jacket and was surprisingly too warm! I shall run and play today at lunch... I will I will... I've only been saying that all week so far.

My hair is growing like weeds. Don't think the recent lapse of any new imagery is an oversight... At times like hair growing times... a lady needs some privacy. It's dire let me tell you!

Finished my good book this morning. I almost cried on the bus... that would have been tragic. Now go, go and read it

Circus school

I've been reading Faustus' blog for quite some time now and keeping abreast of his cheerleading adventures. My curiosity was peaked the other day when I read that he was doing tumbling classes. Last night I was speaking to my flatmate about the fun she had learning trapeze....

This morning I found this site I am very excited. What a great place what a fun thing to do! Oh oh I can hardly contain myself. I know I'm no longer a spring chicken but I just adored doing gymnastics when I was younger.

As my mum and sister can attest, I spent literally hundreds of hours on the front lawn practising front and back flips and trying to master the ever elusive ariel cartwheel. I did in the end, what fun! I do believe I am still able to do all these flips that I once could, though I know they evoke great deals of pain from angry muscles that have been neglected over the passing years. But hey... I'll always remember my next door neighbours whom are approx 10 years younger than me, coming over to our house and knocking on the front door... asking if I could come outside and do an ariel for them. I was 21 at the time. I laughed heartily then preformed one. It hurt, oh yes did it ever... once completed, I reminded them that when they reached 21 I would ring their doorbell and demand that they perform a similar trick... and then and only then would they appreciate just how hard it was for me to pull off. Can I still do it at 27? probably. I think I'll save my pennies and go to circus school in hoxton. They also do corporate things too... how fun would that be? Erm... boss, can we take the team to circus school?

today...

I've chosen a white mug with blue vertical stripes. In it is my morning cup of tea, one scoop of sugar, short of builders tea.

I had a nice b'day. The people at work bought me chocolate cake... met Hazel for a pint after work... the girls made me a lovely supper at home. My mum rang too to wish me well. Very nice indeed!

Turns out that KJ didn't just get bumped to business class on her flight back home, she got bumped again to 1st class and scored herself one of those snazzy sleepers! She said she felt like pretty woman. She also reports that it does make all the difference and that she feels no jet lag at all. I'm so pleased for her, what a treat. She so deserved a boost like that!

I've booked a holiday for the week before Easter. Strangely no one here booked it off. I'm taking 4 work days but end up with 10 days off straight! I'm not sure what's on the cards yet somewhere warm hopefully!

I'm reading a very brilliant book right now. The type of book that really moulds well with some issues and questions I have in my life right now. A simply brilliant author. She makes me want to seriously take up the craft of writing. The book is called 'unless' and it's by Carol Shields. I'm only half way through, but it's the type of read that has you anxious to get out of bed in the morning so that you can read more. Perhaps the fact that it's a Canadian author and that she writes in English and French and that it's based near my home town, adds to it's charm....

It's my second day now as a twenty seven year old... I wonder what new tricks I will learn today?

so yea, it's official...

I made it to 27. I had a wonderful breakfast in bed c/o miss H, opened the fab presents brought to me by my mum and seestor. It's sunny and lovely out and Tasha my co-worker just launched a bag of mini eggs for my b'day to much on throughout the day!

It did take me 2 times to fire up my ol' PC this morning but I'm okay with that as perhaps it's aging like me and needs that tiny bit more time to get going in the morning.

I had a nice weekend with my sister and saw her off at the Paddington on Sunday morning. Lucky thing got an upgrade to business class! On our day out on Saturday I got pick pocketed at kings cross and they nicked my bus pass. That will teach me not to buy a monthly pass. I could get it replace but the 10£ charge that would go along with it would make my refund come in at approximately 1£. Wooo weee wyclef! Well on an up note, at least they didn't get my wallet.

Trekked down to Dearbhla's party yesterday afternoon for her St. Patrick's day party. The Irish sure know how to celebrate, they also know how to prepare for a night of drunkenness. Dearbhla prepared a feast of lovely potatoes products from mash, to chips to tatoes crisps and potatoes soup! It was very yummy and works wonders for preventing a hangover. She was the hostess with the mostess!

Sad to be back at work and Kaffin back in ccccold Canadia... but a visit is a visit and I knew that she had to leave at some point. I am very fortunate to have a great sis like her and a super fab mum that sent her over to me to play.

Oh yea, and Mark, the final episode ever of cold feet aired last night and holy moly was it ever sad! I shan't spoil it for you but man o man...

ode to all things crunchy

there is nothing in the world like all things crunchy: baguettes, crisps, nuts, pieces of toast, popcorn... you can see where I'm going here. I've isolated my adoration for all that is crunchy.

on a completely different note... this week as mentioned in my last posting is just flying by. Managed to squeeze and afternoon off to spend with my sister yesterday... we did the prescribed shopping that sisters do... Bought KJ this really cool necklace from her favourite shop. It's white and has a tiny battery at the back and it glows softly. Very neat! Didn't find anything to tickle my fancy... makes me feel kind of good as I'm skint and would be so sad if I saw a million things I wanted.

T minus 2 days till my birthday. I can't believe I'm going to be 27! That just sounds so old... 30 sounds younger... I know it's mad but I just can't explain. I think it's too late to do the 27 things to do before you're 27... don't even have a list... suggestions anyone?

Sally got her visa yesterday and is thrilled that she isn't going to be deported, good thing really! Hazel is still job hunting away like a trooper, she's just returned from an interview with an agency that has her in line for some really good positions. Things are looking up for the job searching peeps.

My mum is the best! Having my sister here for the week is the best present ever!

this week is just flying by

-kj arrived sunday!!!!!!!!!!1
-party next door lasted 41h and almost made me and everyone in my house mentally unstable. Incessant pounding bass for that long is enough to make the most sound person go mental. No sleep is freaking terrible. Cops can't do anything as they've no authority and the political body that did... is bankrupt in my counsel. God help us... landlord says they get evicted on their next offence... I think this is the beginning of a nightmare.
-went to spittalfields and then drank pints outside the vibe bar on Sunday aft in the sun
-sleep for hazel Sarah and kj at 7pm Sunday... slept right through till Monday morning
-kj's been shopping up a storm but seems to have lost her shop o' holic mojo (we think it's because she has so much time and isn't rushed like usual)
-work is mental i'm so swamped but we're all getting lots done. Just hoping i squeeze a few hours off so I can at least spend a few daylight hours with my sister while she's here. It's criminal that she's only here for a week and I can't even get a day off with her!
-my birthday is approaching quickly. I don't' think anything is on the cards this year however.... Dearbhla's invited me to her st. paddy's day party at her's on Sunday!!!!!!! Monday birthdays are no fun! Dearbhla's party should be a blast!
-KJ is off getting her hair done and this fancy salon... I hope she's having fun.
-life is proving very stressful and challenging.
-is it time for a holiday yet?
-off to the Alphabet bar this evening with the lovely miss Dearbhla and Kaffin. Not been there before so shall report if it's worth the time...

I officially need re-programming...

my lexicon has been brainwash to produce nonsense marketing speak. I just hung up from a call with a co-worker but before I did I managed to pull this one out of the had "hmm well if it's just a corporate opinion on the alignment of the banner then we're going to fight them on it as we're in charge of look... so i'm going to get this stirred back round the pot again and see if we can't win this battle."

I need serious help.

Have I a customer service curse upon me?

lately I've been questioning weather my stars are ill-aligned or if it's just a case of me over re-acting, or if I'm just down right unlucky... In the past 3 months I've
had a flurry of annoying customer service problems that have left me exhausted.

1- aeoroplan not issuing my points for my purchases and flights taken (and offering no solution...ie. their fuck up= my loss)
2- my gym fucking up my direct debit and only me noticing (now how often do you have to beg your gym to let you pay them)
3- my visitor's tax refund being rejected as my future shop receipt came up in my deceased father's name (I wrote them back telling them that I swear that it was I and not him purchasing goods in January at the future shop... Now they tell me it takes 6-8 weeks to process and then another 2 weeks for a refund to be issued if they deem you deserve one doubt it)
4- our continual leaky pipes in the flat ( the landlord will not return our calls unless harassed daily... it's taken 3 repairs in the past 3 weeks to fix one problem.. and no re-plastering of our ceiling as promised by them post the first leek)
5- my dental claim going missing in action (It's taken more than a month for my claim to be processed... can't wait to see what comes of that one)
6- my personal loan application being rejected via e-mail with promise of written clarification as to why I was turned down... has never arrived (I know it's probably because I've not lived here for 3 years yet but still... some sort of explanation would be appreciated!!!)
7- my recruitment company completely ignoring an e-mail I sent to two of their staff members inquiring about a position they had posted that sounded perfect ( I mean like a simple nahh it's not right for you would have sufficed)

Could it be that everything I touch gets sent to customer service hell or am I just trying too hard and expecting too much?

Some one sedate me please!

I woke up this morning...

but just before I did I remember dreaming about scraping out the insides of a large pumpkin... I could recall the smell and the sticky feeling... very odd. I really wonder what it could mean?

The weekend was nice a restful. Miss Hazel finally had a well needed haircut and is looking tres dapper! We went for drinks Saturday night with Sally and her friend who was visiting from Dublin. Good fun. The wooziness is finally subsiding and I'm going to make an attempt to return to the gym this evening... I just hope I don't spill off the treadmill in some terrible re-lapse.

I'm convinced that the Aero plan division of Air Canada is pure evil. They have the WORST customer service humanly possible. They try and charge you for everything and are very inaccurate with their crediting system. In the past 3 months I've flown with them and one of their star alliance partners... made purchases at the future shop from them (when I was home in January) and not one of those transactions have been credited to my account. The best part is, that they aren't in the least bit helpful! They tell you that you must contact the shop within 30 days if there are any air miles not credited... if it's after that, then too damn bad. And if you have a flight for which they have not credited you, you must provide them with your boarding cards for the flight in order to be credited. Like as if I keep my boarding cards FFS! How it's the consumer's fault that their system doesn't work properly, is totally beyond me... I lobby a boycott from aero plan! They stink.

the troubles with porn...

can be sometimes highly amusing...while tossing about solutions today as how to address the problem we're having with our content management system and scheduling... we came to the conclusion to keep the soft porn ads up all weekend long... My contact who had then just avoided having to get up at god's hour and pull down the banners wrote to me... with the most classic line ever....

'Fantastic. We all win...I can sleep in, commercial make more money and Dutch children get to see animated legs ;-)'

god, that was funny!

kaffin is coming!

what a perfect b'day treat! my mum is sending me the best present ever! My seestor cometh! She arrives on the 9th at 7am and stays till mid day on the 16th! I've got her booked in at the hair salon already! I doubt I'll be able to get any time off as my boss is on holidays that week but may be able to swindle some time to spend with her. Wonder if I can get her a one week membership to my gym for her while she's here!? Oooh I'm so excited!

The sofas have arrived and look fab! On of them arrived without the little silver legs so we're now waiting as they ship them to me here at work straight from the factory. The flat is finally looking more like a loft and less like a student flop!

The head is still spinning but the lovely nurse at the soho clinic re-assured me that it was probably just a viral ear infection. If I'm not better by tomorrow she told me to go back and see her and there would be a doctor on call whom could prescribe me something less zonking than the motion sickness tablets she told me to take last night. Jessus did they ever knock me out! In the mean time I'm slowly adjusting to life without balance... yea, that's me the drunk looking girl wobbling her way down the street.

The rain approacheth for the weekend and I'm scraping around to find something to cheer up my lovely hazel who is still trekking away like a champ on her relentless job search. She has a few more interviews booked for next week so hopefuly she'll land something soon. Anyone who knows anyone who wants a really great HR person/recruiter here in London please let me know as we would be so so grateful and offer a big shower of kisses to anyone who helps out this job hunt!

Can I just mention how badly Sean is kicking my ass at this blogging regularly thing? Dang!

blog is on a mini break

I've got a bit of a wobble/spins due to inner ear troubles... the world is kind of like a bad acid trip from back when I was 16. I thought I could manage work today but I think I was over estimating the need for balance... bus travel is very not condusive to this condition.

We've now an internet connection at home so perhaps I can blog from the sick bed...

The new sofas arrive tomorrow....

Hazel scored 2 more job interviews on top of the one she has tomorrow... Sally landed a job that she wanted and starts tomorrow... things are looking up for empolyment searchers!

*wobbles away*

I blame coldplay (posted yesterday but blogger was ill)

and the bad mozzarella and sun dried tomato cibatta I had for lunch yesterday. I felt so awful... I even went straight to be when I got home and was asleep by half nine!

It's absolutely freezing today, beautiful and sunny but dang cold! Where is summer? Probably the same place our sofas are... lost in space... I'm thinking that the possible 14 day delivery thing is more like a definite 14 day delivery.

My gym nightmare continues I sent them off a letter letting them just how bad it is that they messed up my direct debit and I wound up having to pay for 3 months all at once and made to feel like a criminal... In recompense they're giving me a month free... fair play I guess but it doesn't help the devastation on my bank balance of 200£ coming out of your account all at once... sometimes I wish I could just let things like this slide... but then everyone and anyone would just come along and take my money... Is this what other people do? Just sigh and mutter when things like this happen?

It's Wednesday again already. The week is flying by...

i should be working

i worked so dang hard yesterday that post gym i came home, ate a lovely supper and then passed out much to the chagrin of miss H.

perhaps listening to coldplay isn't helping my mood and the fact that our electricity bill came in at 450£ yesterday... regardless of what anyone says... you can't get ahead in London. unless you're uber rich... there is so little chance. Money is truly starting to be my albatross. I hate it. I'm so sick of it. The more disillusioned you feel the more you just want to pack it all in... then when you realize you can't it's even more depressing... and oh yea, don't forget about that student loan. I know that my values lie not in owning a big screen TV or the latest video game or mobile phone. I enjoy shopping but only rarely buy anything over 40£... I guess I need a holiday... however that too... costs. *hides under quilt*

I like my life, I like my routine, I am fortunate to have had the chance to get an education, move to a different country, have someone who loves me, have a great family... all those things are not at all forgotten... I just think sometimes the world is cruel and unpredictable... As my mum always says in her pessimistic wisdom... 98% of life is hard and unfair the remain 2% is amazing... Expect the 98, and rejoice when the 2% pays a visit. Is this why people turn to religion?

so it's kind of official

on this day of the little fat naked guy with the quiver full of arrows. It's looking up. Miss Hazel had a job interview this morning. And! We bought 2 sofas! Yes folks the impossible is possible today. We are to be the proud owners of two ghetto tastic sofas from the ever so exclusive Argos! Don't be fooled Argos is the new Habitat. Single handedly my flatmates and I will turn Dalston into the new Notting Hill mark my word. Change is a coming!

Okay back in the real world.

Had the funniest experience while getting a manicure on Wednesday at lunch. Highlights included....

* hearing all about the lady who was doing my nail's plans for valentine's day (taking her bf to the spearmint rhino )
* hearing about the other staff member impending labour... and life and relationship with said father of child to be...
* freaking the manicurist out by guessing her second name accurately... come of folks, she was a Sarah... most of us Sarah's are Sarah Elizabeth's

Last night I caught up with the lovely dearbhla and had a great night chit chatting about life and important thinks like fashion and footwear. We quickly left the 'dog house' this pub that's way too smoky in a cavernous basement type of set up... The people were too loud and obnoxious and the smoke was terrible... God what an intolerant non smoker I am! We moved on through the freezing temperatures and ended up at cafe med on dean st. It was so nice and warm (freezing cold loo) but nice, spacious, warm, good menu, good food, good prices! I highly recommend it! Met up with Hazel and her friend Dez and then swiftly shuffled off home!

Just in... Miss H just scored a second interview for monday! *claps hands*

URGENT!

for all you peeps going to the massive anti-war demonstration on Saturday here in London or elsewhere... Please see my friend Dom's artistic contribution that you can take with you on the march....

It's an exercise in social geometrics people. Listen and listen loud.

http://www.fotoplus.org


as Always, Dom, you're brilliant... Please give credit to my friend

Anyone having job leads in Amsterdam (graphic designer type stuff) please feel free to also contact Dom as he's a lookin!

Maybe it's just the February blah's...

but I feel like my blog is slowly turning into a big whinny-fest.

for the second day in a row having left home at half eight it took me till ten to arrive here at work. Not fun. I guess I'm resolved to turn up here at 9am like I have always... if I don't' get on the bus by eight I'm not here till ten, get on it before eight and I arrive here at quarter to nine. There is no justice. Bring on the congestion charge, bring it on!... Get everyone off my god damn road so my bus can go! -end rant-

I'm meeting my cousin who is coming up from Sussex this Saturday for lunch. I'm getting a little concerned as the big anti war march is going to be kicking off around noon and I know the city will just be flooded with people! Wonder what part of town would be go to go to? She's arriving at Charring Cross... any suggestions would be appreciated.

On that note... if anyone wishes to bless me with the winning lotto numbers for tonight's draw, please feel free to do so in my comments feature below.

If I'm not blogging tomorrow, you know I've won... go on, I dare you!