What a difference a day makes…

The somewhat ominous cloud wafting above me yesterday has mostly passed… Sinead dragged me out to the social to mull over things and make me realise it’s never as bad as you think it is… It’s so funny as I’m the queen of optimism for everyone else, I always try and see the bright side of things… but it takes of ton of bricks to make me swallow the same advice when projected back onto me.

Still waiting to hear about the flatshare I have my heart set on… I’m expecting some major finger crossing from all the parties who happen to stumble upon this entry.


Approximation on:

The amount of days I have left sitting at my desk in the back corner of the studio with my French co-worker (who sits next to me) chit chatting in French until we receive an email from management complaining that we’re being anti-social: 6

I’m not sure...

If it’s something intrinsic about being someone who likes to travel/re-locate… but I now have the fear… the fear that I don’t want to be here… but an even greater fear that I don’t’ want to be anywhere else either… It’s almost like a claustrophobic feeling… I would suffocate if I moved back to Canada… or if stay here a minute longer…Even Spain right now seems too complicated… I guess the cold rainy grey English day isn’t helping much either.

I’m thinking that this is why English people drink so much tea… it’s the only thing that can shake the damp chill out of your bones on days like this.

It’s just a delicate little piece of string on which I balance right now… *teeter totter* don’t startle me, whatever you do… that would be enough.

Today my favourite series returns to BBC1!!!!

It’s been a long wait but tonight Spooks returns… Almost enough, if you will to make me squeal with delight. Sad life you say? Why yes, but when homeless and couch surfing you must be grateful for small mercies…

Off to see another flat this evening… I’m still waiting to hear back from the boys in the mansion block… they’re seeing another few people today and will decide either tomorrow or Wednesday whom they’ll ‘choose’ to rent the room to…

The weekend was spent mostly hanging out with JoJo on Saturday afternoon and working Saturday night… Sunday was spent working and reading the paper and attempting to search for a flat… I’m so rock and roll *not*

Today while walking through M&S at lunch

I squealed with delight at the sight of this really cute soft and squishy toy my friend and colleague, Sinead was not as impressed as I was… She asked me what joy a soft toy could possibly bring to me… to which I quickly retorted… you wouldn’t know… you’re just dead inside! She laughed and laughed and then agreed.

I’ve re-discovered the joys of radio 6. Its been a long while since I worked at Frameworks where we used to listen to it in the studio… it’s been helping prop me up and get through this long long Friday afternoon.

Flat hunting resumes this weekend… it’s nice to be free of the stress of the old landlord but not so nice to be homeless… This will be my fifth flat since I first moved to London only 3 years ago. It’s a bit much really…

Today’s likes:
Zingo taxis
M&S Greek Salad
Friends who let you couch surf

Today’s dislikes:
Missed phonecalls
Uncomfortable bras
Work in general

Updates updates!

Since I’ve last blogged… I’ve…

Still not got around to uploading my holiday pics

Moved house… to avoid the oh so joyous delights of having a dodgy landlord on the run from the cops…

Been given the new Bjork cd by my flatmate J

Fallen horrendously behind at work (due to all the flat stress)

Almost had a nervous breakdown

Met up wit the lovely Dave from Canada who is soon off to India!

Finally re-established contact with the ever elusive Mark U and Sean T!

Wrapped Fredu’s b’day pressie in the girlie wrapping paper in the world

Viewed two potential flats… due to hear on the weekend if either of them are a go...

Developed a lovely head cold

Tonight however despite the head cold and the exhaustion I’m off to Sally B’s b’day party… Doubt I’ll last long but dang I finally get to wear my new top!

Can I please order some less-stressful times please?

Thank you

Yesterday...

I’m sure my hormones were well off the scale… I was so irritable it was nearly unbearable… and that was just for me not any poor sod that happened to have to interact with me…. Today fuelled by a good night’s sleep and some breakfast this morning… all seems to have returned to normal. The only residual effect seems to be that my brain was convinced that today is Wednesday… Oh evil reality, it’s definitely not Wednesday.

Darrell sent me a very comic story about his run in with rogue racoons at his house in Ottawa… Oh how I laughed. Poor sausage he was so traumatised… especially the point at which they broke into his basement for a second time and he thought they had murdered his cat! Bless!

Had a great catch up with Mum this weekend… She’s so cute. I can’t wait to see her at xmas… I think she’s quite intrigued to see me too in light of recent events.

I am so loving the fact that I rolled out of my flat at quarter past nine this morning and still didn’t get here very much past half past… My poor waistline however is going to suffer from the greatly reduced amount of cardio that will result… and my motivation to go to the gym is also faltering… help!

Well I best get on climbing up the massive workload that is festering on my desk… I simply must to a holiday summary soon. I’ll schedule time in this aft to write something… oh yes I’ve got pictures too.

Today we…

Moved into our new offices on Great Titichfield street. It’s a retoune au source of sorts for me as it’s the same street I used to be on when I first started working for chello. It’s almost like the first day of school. Everyone is so excited! The people in Elsley house across the street put signs in their office windows saying ‘welcome to the block’ so sweet!

I’ve mostly been up in Crewe visiting Bentley (yesterday) and mainly running around like a mad woman. It doesn’t take long for things to pick back up to a metal pace.

This weekend is going to be a biggie… Out tonight with Andrea and her wine friends… and tomorrow another packed day…

Did I mention the fab pressies my seestor sent to me that were waiting for me upon my return from my hols? Two lovely t’shirts. One that says ‘I need holidays now’ and the other says ‘bella’ (her nickname for me). Very fab indeed!

I returned to London last night

Had the speediest luggage reclaim in history… when I got off the coach at Victoria and boarded the N73 to make my way home I noticed a body lying across the isle. I Looked at the driver whom promptly told me that the man who was standing next to him searching for answers was “quite upset about the situation” I furrowed my forehead in confusion as an unconscious person strewn across the floor on any form of public transit should surely be of some immediate concern to not just myself and the man who I looked over at who was indeed looking distressed about the unconcious man. I then looked to the driver and asked if he could call for some help for the man… The driver responded

“Okay then love, if that’s what you want me to do, then I’ll do it. But just you know that, that will mean that this bus is out of service and it will be another 20 mins before the next one comes along and the people who sort this stuff out don’t respond quickly… stupid drunks they waste everyone’s time!”

I looked at him again and responded “But sir, the man is not in a good state, what if he dies? Have you no concern?”

The driver then sighed, turned off the lights and started the process of getting help for the man. Not but a few seconds later, all the people on the upper deck came down and complained as they wanted to leave… due to the bus consensus the driver then put the lights back on, closed the door and then drove off. I stood there, absolutely incredulous of what had just happened.

Nice welcome home! Can I please return to my holidays?

On a more positive note… I had a fabulous holiday which ended with a brilliant afternoon stopover in Barcelona yesterday afternoon…

Work beckons… more to be recounted soon…

work is ...

making me mental. so much so i managed to pull this expression out of a hat in response to an email from a co worker...

" Oh my god, I'm stressing... I'm having kittens. And then, once they're born, I'm going to drown myself in the river with them!"

Classic Jarriot fatalistic phrase

So...

Today may be the first of September

And the mere thought of that convinces me that winter is just a day away… that was of course until I checked the BBC weather site … which announces 29 degrees and sunny as the forecast for this weekend…

Tomorrow after work all the Project managers are going to venture out on the annual narrow boat adventure. Our director of PM owns one and is going to set us off down the canal after work. It’s quite exciting as I’ve never been on one before J I shall make sure to take pictures

I learned a very important life lesson yesterday… cycling while wearing lip gloss is like cycling with fly paper on your lips… both catch them… both would be as effective as one and other… yuck

KJ is in Brighton this evening. I’m so sad I can’t see her. She arrives at 6 and leaves tomorrow morning at 7 so there is really no time to see her. It’s quite disappointing really as this is her one and only trip to the London area this year… and she starts back at school next week so that’s it! I’m toying with the idea of going down there on the train after work… but I’m on my bike and by the time I get home and get on the train and get there it will be 10pm at the earliest… then I would have to slug it back up to London first thing with all the crazy commuters… argh. Life is so not fair sometimes…

picture Karm unearthed of me taken in Ottawa ten years ago! Just how long was my hair!!!!! 

Today I am mostly feeling...

Extraordinarily angry towards miss woo… whom after a spout of rudeness towards my friend who was in town visiting a few weeks back… defended her actions as being fuelled by her residual anger towards me for having broken up with her… and thusly decided that she no longer wanted to see me. I’ve been nothing more than patient with her and accommodating to her every whim of wanting to be my friend and then not cycles… I’ve had enough. I can’t believe that at 28 I’m still dealing with this sort of rubbish. The more I think about it… the more I’m inclined to think that telling the truth never seems to be the best policy… I guess people are just more comfortable ending a relationship in a dramatic fashion rather than in a logical adult manor. I don’t’ get it. You’re damned if you do, you’re dammed if you don’t.

The long weekend was a well needed treat. Should be just enough to keep me going until the big launch next week and my flight out of here on the 10th!

Note to self… going to the gym at half six on a Tuesday morning is sheer insanity… and if attempted, will leave you feeling mostly drowsy in the early afternoon. However it does act as a good way of actually getting one’s arse to the gym when you’re generally too busy working late.

I’m in a really weird place right now..

I bit here a bit there and a bit scattered from all the changes that I’ve been through in the past couple of months… I know at the beginning of the year that I felt that this would be a year of change… little did I know that it would be the year of unending change. Stop the world I want to get off.

Do you think white magic works?… I think the power of pig tails is highly under rated… not the ones that are attached to pigs of course… the ones you wear in your hair… ha even writing about them works. I rest my case *mutters to self*

The long weekend is upon us and no plans have been made – bar shopping on Saturday morning… but with pay day landing on Tuesday next week it’s just a bit cruel if you ask me… but that’s what overdrafts are for right?

I’m sitting on a knife edge waiting for my client to decide on a launch date for all the projects that we have launching the week of the 10th. If they choose mid week then I may be granted permission to take a half day off on Friday and leave on my holiday *shock horror- I know I finally booked* I’m heading to Portugal and Maybe Spain! Sio is in Portugal again now... Poor thing… I rang her last night and she told me the most upsetting news… the beloved Oscar (her dog) died… she was in Lisbon for the weekend and she came back to find him dead… She thinks he may have eaten poison or something like that. Poor little oskie… He was such a cool guy.

Hey Oscar we'll miss you big! 

Can you decipher…

Which of the following things have not happened to me in the past few days?

1. Met a 21 year old astrophysicist that can’t ride a bicycle
2. Drank white wine in a poncy wine bar in Parson’s Green
3. Got offered Coke by a 6’5 black drag queen
4. Was invited to the Polish ambassador’s garden party
5. Ate strawberry cheesecake while drinking corona
6. Sat in a hot tub naked in the GE club
7. Flooded my Kitchen
8. Tried on tapered jeans
9. Went to the gym at 6h30 am
10. Listen to 2 massive attack albums back to back

And oh yea... Happy London anniversary to me... no suggestions were made thus no celebrations will be either :(

Ha!

Ladies and Gentlemen...

May I please introduce the chyk rock band that’s storming the nation - > “ Not yet set Jelly! ” singing the first single from their album ‘knock her up in the back of nowhere’ *crowd goes wild*

We so totally invented the best band last night at the pub… It will feature Andrea, Tasha and I … It will mostly be loud noisey-esq music… and Tasha will also be the only person who can play an instrument… because really, she’s the only one who can… We’ve not told her yet but I’m sure she’ll be keen. I think we need a drummer… but the details are yet to be confirmed.

Bloody hell what a laugh we had last night!

Bring on the weekend, Thursday night was a good warm up. Good thing It’s all cycle lanes home from soho to mine… eek!

Seven days and counting...

Till my 3 year anniversary of moving across the big ol' pond that we call the Altantic and setting up camp here in Jolly London town. I've clearly missed my 3 year bloguversary but I'm sure me arriving here should be more significant... no?

I shall be accepting suggestions on how I should celebrate this most joyous of days... please do contribute... I do accepts coppers if you've got any spare ones in your pockets while you're at it!

*sigh* 3 years... well at least I now can say there is an anniversary that aptly matches my mental age!

The fates simply do not allow…

Me to manage to stay up until 11pm and chose the correct channel out of all five that are on offer in my house… to allow me the pleasure of watching the entire first episode of the new series of the Sopranos last night… no no… I managed to doze off on the wrong channel and then wake up 15 mins before the show ended… then just as my luck would have it, manage to not fall asleep again for another 30 mins after!!! However I can attest that is this was my only drama last night I’m ahead of the game.

The world travelling miss B returns to the UK this evening after her whirlwind trip to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. No doubt she’ll be bronzed and chilled out and slim as ever… meanwhile back in the bat cave… Sarah scurries about to camouflage her newly acquired kilos and pasty white flesh… I think she’ll be most impressed that I managed to keep the flat in a good state of affairs and even managed to sort out the garden a bit (not that she’ll ever go out there) she sites her Ailurophobia tee hee hee…

Yes, but today is Tuesday.

the Beach party I went to a couple weeks back at the GE hotel... was good fun... 

Yesterday

When I was getting ready for work I was sploshing about in the bath and realised I had run out of shampoo… So I reached for the baby shampoo that KJ and I bought when we were in Barcelona back in March (ever cute that it is it came with a little Symba bath plug)… that stuff does wonders for the hair let me tell you… but I think there is a much more sinister side to this bottle… I believe it was the catalyst to other things that transpired later on during my day… so strong were the abilities that it made my phone ring in the afternoon… I really thought that shampoo was supposed to wash men out of your hair… not wash them back in!

On a different note… Darrell is jetting into London from Ottawa for a 26 hour whirlwind trip. His mate works for a Canadian airline and he’s nabbed a buddy pass to come over for a quick visit. I’ve not seen him in 3 years (since I left) will be great to see him! Also on the arrivals list are Michi and Jutta who are arriving from Vienna Tomorrow. Michi is in town for her handover before she leaves chello to work for the Austrian Foreign Service… so she decided to come over a bit early and enjoy London. *pulls out big gay ‘what to do in London book’* I’m so out of practise I’m sure all the places that I once went to are no longer cool… *giggles* not been that long, just thought it sounded funny.

My mission between now and tomorrow is to keep it low-fi and make it to the gym again tonight. How much weight can one woman gain in 1.5 weeks of not going to the gym due to illness? The answer would be 2.5 kilos to be exact. Clearly I ate all the pies! *shh don’t tell anyone that I’ve got a cherry pie in my fridge and the most delicious Belgian chocolates courtesy of Mr. S*