Dust off your old bikes people
because here in barcelona there is money to be made... It's insane really... back in sept i bought an old bike for 30 euros... it took a lot of searching and a lot of patience but I finally got one... i did have to replace the tyre but after that she runs like a dream.... I just recently bought another old bike in much better contidion and much more suited to cycling to work every day... therefore I put the bike up for sale on a local site for 60 euros... it was sold within 30 mins.
Madness I tell you.
I swear if you have time and a bit of spare cash to invest... collect all the old bikes in your hometown and drive them to central barcelona... you'll make a bundle!
6.2.06
I have been very very naughty
Since I’ve last posted…
I've mostly become gainfully employed… dropped out of my intensive Spanish class (due to the gainful employment) and on top of all of that… I did something so shocking and non frugal I can barely bring myself to admit it… KJ cover your eyes right now! I bought a subscription of Gratzia to be delivered to my flat here in bcn. Lets just say it cost significantly less than it would to have it sent outside of Europe but still… it's quite a luxury… I thought I afforded it since I resolved to end my very short-lived life of leisure and took this job.
The job is uptown… approx 20min cycle uptown if I'm feeling sprite… but with a bike with no gears… it's a challenge! I'm doing some international account management for a big ad agency here… I'm back working on an automotive account… I really don't know quite how I ended up here but I got offered the lead to the job through an ex colleague of mine so I decided to have a quick look to see what the job was about… The next day I had an interview with the company and a job offer to boot. Talk about coming from left field! It's good in one way as my Spanish is coming along now… and I will also have an income (albeit meagre compared to what I’m accustomed to)… the downside is that I'm not painting full-time like I had intended… but I did however manage to finish one more piece last week and am 2/3 of the way through my next one… My goal is to crank out at least 3 more in the next month and try and do an exhibition around the time my sister arrives in March… Just exactly where I would exhibit remains to be confirmed… but hey… you’ve got to start with a dream right?
Culture shock is much more apparent now that I am in an office working side by side with locals… I find it quite a challenge to be at work from 9-7 or 8 as I don’t take the 2h lunch break like the others… I simply live too far away from home to go and have a break… so I sit at my desk and nibble on a sandwich when I have a moment… However things seem to pack up for the weekend here around half three on a Friday so that’s pretty okay for me!
Since I’ve last posted…
I've mostly become gainfully employed… dropped out of my intensive Spanish class (due to the gainful employment) and on top of all of that… I did something so shocking and non frugal I can barely bring myself to admit it… KJ cover your eyes right now! I bought a subscription of Gratzia to be delivered to my flat here in bcn. Lets just say it cost significantly less than it would to have it sent outside of Europe but still… it's quite a luxury… I thought I afforded it since I resolved to end my very short-lived life of leisure and took this job.
The job is uptown… approx 20min cycle uptown if I'm feeling sprite… but with a bike with no gears… it's a challenge! I'm doing some international account management for a big ad agency here… I'm back working on an automotive account… I really don't know quite how I ended up here but I got offered the lead to the job through an ex colleague of mine so I decided to have a quick look to see what the job was about… The next day I had an interview with the company and a job offer to boot. Talk about coming from left field! It's good in one way as my Spanish is coming along now… and I will also have an income (albeit meagre compared to what I’m accustomed to)… the downside is that I'm not painting full-time like I had intended… but I did however manage to finish one more piece last week and am 2/3 of the way through my next one… My goal is to crank out at least 3 more in the next month and try and do an exhibition around the time my sister arrives in March… Just exactly where I would exhibit remains to be confirmed… but hey… you’ve got to start with a dream right?
Culture shock is much more apparent now that I am in an office working side by side with locals… I find it quite a challenge to be at work from 9-7 or 8 as I don’t take the 2h lunch break like the others… I simply live too far away from home to go and have a break… so I sit at my desk and nibble on a sandwich when I have a moment… However things seem to pack up for the weekend here around half three on a Friday so that’s pretty okay for me!
22.1.06
thank you
for all thoughts and prayers and well wishes. My grandfather is on the mend and safely back home from the wilds and snowy bilss that is winnipeg. We are so relived. he is very old but we weren't quite ready to part with him yet and none of us quite wished to have in go so suddently on the airplane... that's for sure. But it was quite the drama... we're just glad it's over and that he's on the mend!
I started back at school here last thursday. it's a different course than to the one I took before I had my side track back to the UK... not as intensive but at least it's something... even though it is only 4 days a week.
Today I arranged my new room and cleaned and tidied to the best of my ability and got things in a semblance of order. I came to the horrific conclusion that I have well over 500 pounds worth of cosmetics... scary. please remind me of this when i next try and purchase a new lipstick... it would be number 20 or something obscene like that! My painting studio is all organised and I've started working again on my goldfish lady as i have been calling her... she is orange with gold and yellow highlights. She's making slow progress... this week I hope to finish her and start with my new painting on my massive new canvas!!!!
I went to an opening of an exhibit here that was an 'anti fashion week' show that was meant to contrast with the bread and butter festival that was taking place here at the same time. It was a nice evening. The highlight/most humourous part of the night is when one of the art buyers said to me after meeting me... 'ah yes... I know your work' ! how hilarious is that!?! I guess i'm very new to all of this... and yes they had seen my work as fredu had emailed them some pictures before xmas... but it was still giggle worthy in my books.
Seestor has booked her trip to come and visit me here in march. It will be a blast! Miss Andrea is booking in for early april apres her ski holiday and miss b and miss joey are hopefully going to come around the same time as well for a full on girly weekend!
I saw a reportage on the news the other day where they were reporting an increase in sales in chupa chup lollies since the new smoking laws came into effect here jan 1st. They interviewed a bunch of people who were attempting to quit and were using the lollies to help... I love the innocent optimism that some of the spanish exhibit. I wish them all the best. It's soo sweet... now if we could only get the bars to go completely non smoking... we'd be getting somewhere... and my clothes wouldn't smell so bad after going out!
for all thoughts and prayers and well wishes. My grandfather is on the mend and safely back home from the wilds and snowy bilss that is winnipeg. We are so relived. he is very old but we weren't quite ready to part with him yet and none of us quite wished to have in go so suddently on the airplane... that's for sure. But it was quite the drama... we're just glad it's over and that he's on the mend!
I started back at school here last thursday. it's a different course than to the one I took before I had my side track back to the UK... not as intensive but at least it's something... even though it is only 4 days a week.
Today I arranged my new room and cleaned and tidied to the best of my ability and got things in a semblance of order. I came to the horrific conclusion that I have well over 500 pounds worth of cosmetics... scary. please remind me of this when i next try and purchase a new lipstick... it would be number 20 or something obscene like that! My painting studio is all organised and I've started working again on my goldfish lady as i have been calling her... she is orange with gold and yellow highlights. She's making slow progress... this week I hope to finish her and start with my new painting on my massive new canvas!!!!
I went to an opening of an exhibit here that was an 'anti fashion week' show that was meant to contrast with the bread and butter festival that was taking place here at the same time. It was a nice evening. The highlight/most humourous part of the night is when one of the art buyers said to me after meeting me... 'ah yes... I know your work' ! how hilarious is that!?! I guess i'm very new to all of this... and yes they had seen my work as fredu had emailed them some pictures before xmas... but it was still giggle worthy in my books.
Seestor has booked her trip to come and visit me here in march. It will be a blast! Miss Andrea is booking in for early april apres her ski holiday and miss b and miss joey are hopefully going to come around the same time as well for a full on girly weekend!
I saw a reportage on the news the other day where they were reporting an increase in sales in chupa chup lollies since the new smoking laws came into effect here jan 1st. They interviewed a bunch of people who were attempting to quit and were using the lollies to help... I love the innocent optimism that some of the spanish exhibit. I wish them all the best. It's soo sweet... now if we could only get the bars to go completely non smoking... we'd be getting somewhere... and my clothes wouldn't smell so bad after going out!
16.1.06
diversion!
on our way back today... there were 7 of us... trekking back from abbotsford to toronto. Simons wedding was a success and we were all quite tired. Our first leg of the flight from abbotsford to calgary was delayed so we missed our connecting flight. So there we sat and waited to catch the 18h15 flight instead. We boarded and all was well. Not long after take off my grandfather who was sitting in front of me had a bit of a seasure. It was terrifying. There were luckily 3 doctors and one nurse on board who helped out immediately. He then stabalised and they decided that there was no need to divert the plane and land. We were so relived but shaken... then another 15 minutes later he had another episode and then his heart stopped beating for a good 30 seconds. Miraculously they did not need to difibulate him! He came round again but this time they decided that they needed to divert and land in Winnipeg. They had to shut down service at the airport for our emergency landing. They got him off the plane pronto and all 6 of the girlies went off with him to the hospital.
for the time being he appears to be stable and theyre in the process of illiminating all the possiblities that caused the episode. It seems that its looking like it was unlikely that it was his heart. Theyre leaning towards a bladder infection or something like that... so with that news we felt confident enough to head back to the airport and begin the trekk back to Toronto. All my aunties and my mum and my grandma are there with him and its just kj and i heading back. So here we sit in Winnipeg airport in the middle of a heavy snowfall... no sleep... lots of drama and one heck of an end to a family trip for my cousins wedding (which was lovely btw).
On a positive note. I think if i manage to stay awake most of today. I run the possibility that I will return to bcn on tuesday afternoon with little or no jet lag... that is of course all depending on if he is indeed okay...
send some prayers please... or even some positive thoughts :)
on our way back today... there were 7 of us... trekking back from abbotsford to toronto. Simons wedding was a success and we were all quite tired. Our first leg of the flight from abbotsford to calgary was delayed so we missed our connecting flight. So there we sat and waited to catch the 18h15 flight instead. We boarded and all was well. Not long after take off my grandfather who was sitting in front of me had a bit of a seasure. It was terrifying. There were luckily 3 doctors and one nurse on board who helped out immediately. He then stabalised and they decided that there was no need to divert the plane and land. We were so relived but shaken... then another 15 minutes later he had another episode and then his heart stopped beating for a good 30 seconds. Miraculously they did not need to difibulate him! He came round again but this time they decided that they needed to divert and land in Winnipeg. They had to shut down service at the airport for our emergency landing. They got him off the plane pronto and all 6 of the girlies went off with him to the hospital.
for the time being he appears to be stable and theyre in the process of illiminating all the possiblities that caused the episode. It seems that its looking like it was unlikely that it was his heart. Theyre leaning towards a bladder infection or something like that... so with that news we felt confident enough to head back to the airport and begin the trekk back to Toronto. All my aunties and my mum and my grandma are there with him and its just kj and i heading back. So here we sit in Winnipeg airport in the middle of a heavy snowfall... no sleep... lots of drama and one heck of an end to a family trip for my cousins wedding (which was lovely btw).
On a positive note. I think if i manage to stay awake most of today. I run the possibility that I will return to bcn on tuesday afternoon with little or no jet lag... that is of course all depending on if he is indeed okay...
send some prayers please... or even some positive thoughts :)
8.1.06
Here i sit
in the great white north on my mums comfy sofa... there is snow outside and im most definately not in kansas anymore... nor Barcelona for that matter. Im sequestered away in the comforts of Brampton and my family. Bliss!
All this of course doesnt come with some discomfort... ive been inscripted into my sisters torturous gymming routine and my body aches everywhere!
I had such a giggle the other day when i was out shopping with my seestor... we went into starbucks to grab some coffees... Thinking that Starbucks employees were trained the same world wide I requested 2 tall wet soya lattes (ie. no foam). The girl very sweetly looked me in the eye and with great confidence and authority informed me that all their lattes were wet. Oh how I had to fight back the giggles... I guess the terminology for wet is not as world wide as I assumed. Iappologied to her for the misunderstanding and told her I simply wanted no foam... next time ill remember to not go down that path again.
off to continuing my visiting duties. im very excited to visit lisa and dave and their kiddies this avro. yea!!!!!!!!!!!
in the great white north on my mums comfy sofa... there is snow outside and im most definately not in kansas anymore... nor Barcelona for that matter. Im sequestered away in the comforts of Brampton and my family. Bliss!
All this of course doesnt come with some discomfort... ive been inscripted into my sisters torturous gymming routine and my body aches everywhere!
I had such a giggle the other day when i was out shopping with my seestor... we went into starbucks to grab some coffees... Thinking that Starbucks employees were trained the same world wide I requested 2 tall wet soya lattes (ie. no foam). The girl very sweetly looked me in the eye and with great confidence and authority informed me that all their lattes were wet. Oh how I had to fight back the giggles... I guess the terminology for wet is not as world wide as I assumed. Iappologied to her for the misunderstanding and told her I simply wanted no foam... next time ill remember to not go down that path again.
off to continuing my visiting duties. im very excited to visit lisa and dave and their kiddies this avro. yea!!!!!!!!!!!
2.1.06
I´m...
slowly getting adjusted to my new flat... the noise level outside is very different... a little less traffic and a lot more pedestrian noise... i just have to train myself to sleep through the 3am crowd going home every night and i´ll be just fine!
I´ve been working my little socks of writing test scripts till all hours of the morning. I´m so tired but all this stress going on i can´t sleep. I´m going to have to buy somethign to knock me out during my flight back to canadia on thursday. i can´t wait to see my family and Noeleen´s little brand new baby girl named Saoirse!
Seestor tells me that the ever missing Mr McCann may be coming down to TO this weekend to see me! That would be so amazing as i´ve not seen him in 3 years now!
Seestor also tells me that James was contacting her the other day. How odd I was telling someone about him the other day. I love it when things connect like that!
slowly getting adjusted to my new flat... the noise level outside is very different... a little less traffic and a lot more pedestrian noise... i just have to train myself to sleep through the 3am crowd going home every night and i´ll be just fine!
I´ve been working my little socks of writing test scripts till all hours of the morning. I´m so tired but all this stress going on i can´t sleep. I´m going to have to buy somethign to knock me out during my flight back to canadia on thursday. i can´t wait to see my family and Noeleen´s little brand new baby girl named Saoirse!
Seestor tells me that the ever missing Mr McCann may be coming down to TO this weekend to see me! That would be so amazing as i´ve not seen him in 3 years now!
Seestor also tells me that James was contacting her the other day. How odd I was telling someone about him the other day. I love it when things connect like that!
30.12.05
but then
as you always do... you come out the other side... I´m moving into my new flat today. I´ve found a nice place with an argentienean art director named diego. I´ve got a really big room in the part of town where I wanted to live. Things are looking up. I think initially when things don´t work out the way you want them to you feel like the world is out to get you... and in some cases it could be somewhat true... but i´m a fighter and I¨ll get through this if not stronger than before.
My spanish is coming along slowly and once i return from my anxiously antcipated trip to canada i´ll be back in school and back to painting! Speaking of painting I´m so excited to report that I sold my first painting to a colleague of mine that I met in kent. I´m so thrilled!
as you always do... you come out the other side... I´m moving into my new flat today. I´ve found a nice place with an argentienean art director named diego. I´ve got a really big room in the part of town where I wanted to live. Things are looking up. I think initially when things don´t work out the way you want them to you feel like the world is out to get you... and in some cases it could be somewhat true... but i´m a fighter and I¨ll get through this if not stronger than before.
My spanish is coming along slowly and once i return from my anxiously antcipated trip to canada i´ll be back in school and back to painting! Speaking of painting I´m so excited to report that I sold my first painting to a colleague of mine that I met in kent. I´m so thrilled!
21.12.05
and then..
your xmas cold kicks in... and you leave your xmas party early as you can't tilt your head back far enough to keep the tears in...
but at least being at work is a bit of solice as it keeps me busy and if I can just manage to work work work I won't fall apart at the seams... perhaps my lost appetite will assist in shifting all the unruly pounds I've put on since starting this contract.
xmas will be spent by myself and new years too but i've done my best to line up working remotely for then and there will be lots of time for painting and gymming... a little reprive. I just hope I can find a new flat as soon and get settled.
i am the only constant in my life and you know what.... i'll get through this. that is one thing i'm certain of. Something to laugh about this time next year i suppose :)
your xmas cold kicks in... and you leave your xmas party early as you can't tilt your head back far enough to keep the tears in...
but at least being at work is a bit of solice as it keeps me busy and if I can just manage to work work work I won't fall apart at the seams... perhaps my lost appetite will assist in shifting all the unruly pounds I've put on since starting this contract.
xmas will be spent by myself and new years too but i've done my best to line up working remotely for then and there will be lots of time for painting and gymming... a little reprive. I just hope I can find a new flat as soon and get settled.
i am the only constant in my life and you know what.... i'll get through this. that is one thing i'm certain of. Something to laugh about this time next year i suppose :)
20.12.05
and then...
you wake up the next day and realise that your nightmare is reality and it's confirmed that even if good things are not excluded from you... this is not one of those times... and this is one of those times that the bad things are waaaaaaaaaaaay worse than you could ever expect and you wonder why no matter how hard you try in life you always find the ones with broken wings... sometimes however they managed to shit on you even before they fly off...
anyone got any stain remover?
you wake up the next day and realise that your nightmare is reality and it's confirmed that even if good things are not excluded from you... this is not one of those times... and this is one of those times that the bad things are waaaaaaaaaaaay worse than you could ever expect and you wonder why no matter how hard you try in life you always find the ones with broken wings... sometimes however they managed to shit on you even before they fly off...
anyone got any stain remover?
19.12.05
you know...
sometimes i go though phases where i say to myself... 'sarah, you deserve good things to happen to you' and the rest of the time i say... ' ha dont' think for a second you deserve anything to come to you easily' I'm very much thinking that my life has just flashed a big notice board confirming the latter. I'm almost certain now that I did something pretty awful in a past life as if this is karma then, man... I fear I may just be served with a hefty invoice. I really don't want to believe... I'm not here... this isn't happening.
cheque please
sometimes i go though phases where i say to myself... 'sarah, you deserve good things to happen to you' and the rest of the time i say... ' ha dont' think for a second you deserve anything to come to you easily' I'm very much thinking that my life has just flashed a big notice board confirming the latter. I'm almost certain now that I did something pretty awful in a past life as if this is karma then, man... I fear I may just be served with a hefty invoice. I really don't want to believe... I'm not here... this isn't happening.
cheque please
14.12.05
Rage!!!!!!!!
There are a few things that make me VERY angry... and a few things that make me laugh really hard.
The first of these two aforementioned emotions was excised this morning when I realised that Easy Jet had lowered the fare on the flight that I booked for the 23rd. The reason why this angered me so was because I bought it during their 'Massive Sale' what a farce. So I followed their instructions to get the difference refunded (obviously this happens often)... I rang their number 10p a min and it took me approx 12 mins to get to an operator who was very unhelpful and did not offer any explanation or apology for the price discrepancy... They then proceeded to issue me with a 'credit file'. Armed with this number I asked the operator a parting question... 'can I use this code when I book online?' to which he responded 'no, I'm sorry this is only for telephone bookings... simply call this number that charges you £1 a minute and make your booking'. Now I'm no genius but It's sure as heck going to take longer than 10 minutes to book a flight and the prices for telephone bookings are 10% higher than online bookings... which means that I still would not get my money back!!!!!!!!! Why Why Why they couldn't just issue me with a total refund and then have me re-book online is beyond me... Don't worry, In true Canadian fashion I've written them a very stern letter....
The laughing part comes in when Monday when I came into work there was an email from my bf's not so friendly ex in my inbox. Yes folks... Apparently I'm destined to connect with this woman every time I look for a flat in BCN!!! LOL! This time I managed to contact her directly... but she clearly had forgotten my name... Ah life can be so amusing.
Face it with a smile
Only 9 more sleeps!!!!!!!!
There are a few things that make me VERY angry... and a few things that make me laugh really hard.
The first of these two aforementioned emotions was excised this morning when I realised that Easy Jet had lowered the fare on the flight that I booked for the 23rd. The reason why this angered me so was because I bought it during their 'Massive Sale' what a farce. So I followed their instructions to get the difference refunded (obviously this happens often)... I rang their number 10p a min and it took me approx 12 mins to get to an operator who was very unhelpful and did not offer any explanation or apology for the price discrepancy... They then proceeded to issue me with a 'credit file'. Armed with this number I asked the operator a parting question... 'can I use this code when I book online?' to which he responded 'no, I'm sorry this is only for telephone bookings... simply call this number that charges you £1 a minute and make your booking'. Now I'm no genius but It's sure as heck going to take longer than 10 minutes to book a flight and the prices for telephone bookings are 10% higher than online bookings... which means that I still would not get my money back!!!!!!!!! Why Why Why they couldn't just issue me with a total refund and then have me re-book online is beyond me... Don't worry, In true Canadian fashion I've written them a very stern letter....
The laughing part comes in when Monday when I came into work there was an email from my bf's not so friendly ex in my inbox. Yes folks... Apparently I'm destined to connect with this woman every time I look for a flat in BCN!!! LOL! This time I managed to contact her directly... but she clearly had forgotten my name... Ah life can be so amusing.
Face it with a smile
Only 9 more sleeps!!!!!!!!
9.12.05
like a bad rash
my ebay addiction has resurrected and between the gaps in time during the day I can't help but browsing around... it doesn't help that eveyone in this office is just as bad if not worse than I am... Even if you're trying to put it out of your mind you can't help but catch a glimpse of it on someone's monitor. I tell you it's like working in a lab and we're all just a bunch of mice spinning our wheels so that that magic of ebay will dispense the cheese...
On a more positive note... it's almost the weekend and I'm very excited to be able to listen to some music I brought back with me from home... as i absconded sally's cd player...
I was having a conversation with a taxi driver the other day on my way home and I was recalling the story my grandmother told me about my little cousin asking her if she could play one of her big cd's... (records) how cute. I also remember another little cousin of mine who was puzzled by the old rotary phone we had in the basement...it wasn't immediately clear to her how it would work. Dang I'm getting old... but not as old as this lady... imagine living 113 years? She saw so much. What a fantastic privilege.
my ebay addiction has resurrected and between the gaps in time during the day I can't help but browsing around... it doesn't help that eveyone in this office is just as bad if not worse than I am... Even if you're trying to put it out of your mind you can't help but catch a glimpse of it on someone's monitor. I tell you it's like working in a lab and we're all just a bunch of mice spinning our wheels so that that magic of ebay will dispense the cheese...
On a more positive note... it's almost the weekend and I'm very excited to be able to listen to some music I brought back with me from home... as i absconded sally's cd player...
I was having a conversation with a taxi driver the other day on my way home and I was recalling the story my grandmother told me about my little cousin asking her if she could play one of her big cd's... (records) how cute. I also remember another little cousin of mine who was puzzled by the old rotary phone we had in the basement...it wasn't immediately clear to her how it would work. Dang I'm getting old... but not as old as this lady... imagine living 113 years? She saw so much. What a fantastic privilege.
8.12.05
72 day work sentence
well mine is almost up... as of the 23rd of December I shall be free. Then off I return to my tiny bed and the manzana of my eye... I'm counting the hours. Then but two weeks after I shall mostly be skipping off to the wilds of the great white north to visit the family and celebrate my cousin's nuptuals. I was joking with mum the other day that I would just pop into vegas quickly on my way to Vancover to tie the knot and beat him to it... making me the first of the grandchildren to get married and not him! Alas... Fredu is shooting in Jan and can't come... dang... my sabotage is foiled!
The never ending flat hunt continues... watch this space as I move from my prison in the wilds of the east english countryside to the tent on the beach on barcelona... lol
Miss Hannah gets married next Saturday and miss jo jo and I will be attending with bells on. I'm so happy and excited for them. Now it's just the small detail of sorting out the wedding present.... nothing interesting is left on the registry... I'll have to come up with something clever. Too bad easyjet doesn't sell gift certificates...
well mine is almost up... as of the 23rd of December I shall be free. Then off I return to my tiny bed and the manzana of my eye... I'm counting the hours. Then but two weeks after I shall mostly be skipping off to the wilds of the great white north to visit the family and celebrate my cousin's nuptuals. I was joking with mum the other day that I would just pop into vegas quickly on my way to Vancover to tie the knot and beat him to it... making me the first of the grandchildren to get married and not him! Alas... Fredu is shooting in Jan and can't come... dang... my sabotage is foiled!
The never ending flat hunt continues... watch this space as I move from my prison in the wilds of the east english countryside to the tent on the beach on barcelona... lol
Miss Hannah gets married next Saturday and miss jo jo and I will be attending with bells on. I'm so happy and excited for them. Now it's just the small detail of sorting out the wedding present.... nothing interesting is left on the registry... I'll have to come up with something clever. Too bad easyjet doesn't sell gift certificates...
22.11.05
although i'm very sad
that after all the toing and froing... and thinking that maybe just offering the girls more money for the flat we wanted... it turns out that it was not meant to be. They asked Fredu to meet them last night to chat... however they did not bring with them the news that we were looking for... They simply explained that they had promised the flat to the family and although the extra money would have been nice they had to stick by their word. Disapointing but very honorable on their behalf. There are some good people out there... can't say I don't feel a wee bit evil after having trying to gazump a family. Bad me.
So yes, flat hunting is officially back to sqare one...
The lovely miss andrea is celebrating her day of birth this saturday. I hope very much that it will be my last saturday in the UK. Bring on the 1st of December... or if you're the lovely miss Joey (owner of a red galaxy dress) the 2nd of December when she is again united with her army boy who completes his special secret hardcore training. Bless, she's so sweet.
Visit this weekend was fabulous we caught up with theo and alonzo who was in town for the weekend... miss andrea and senor Danny too! We stayed at a very cool b&b in islington... it's called The luxury inn it's in my old neighborhood in angel and it's quite a cool idea... and the best part about it, is that it's so inexpensive!!!! Go book in now.
that after all the toing and froing... and thinking that maybe just offering the girls more money for the flat we wanted... it turns out that it was not meant to be. They asked Fredu to meet them last night to chat... however they did not bring with them the news that we were looking for... They simply explained that they had promised the flat to the family and although the extra money would have been nice they had to stick by their word. Disapointing but very honorable on their behalf. There are some good people out there... can't say I don't feel a wee bit evil after having trying to gazump a family. Bad me.
So yes, flat hunting is officially back to sqare one...
The lovely miss andrea is celebrating her day of birth this saturday. I hope very much that it will be my last saturday in the UK. Bring on the 1st of December... or if you're the lovely miss Joey (owner of a red galaxy dress) the 2nd of December when she is again united with her army boy who completes his special secret hardcore training. Bless, she's so sweet.
Visit this weekend was fabulous we caught up with theo and alonzo who was in town for the weekend... miss andrea and senor Danny too! We stayed at a very cool b&b in islington... it's called The luxury inn it's in my old neighborhood in angel and it's quite a cool idea... and the best part about it, is that it's so inexpensive!!!! Go book in now.
18.11.05
much ado about nothing...
after much a flat hunting and not having anywhere to live other than the local b&b here in maidstone
I finally suffered a bit of a lodging nervous breakdown. Brough about by a long sequence of events but it all erupted in a flood of tears when we found out that we didn't get the flat we both fell in love with down the street from our current place... In a stroke of trickiness we proposed to offer them more money for the flat than they were asking if they would choose us over the first couple who saw the place that wanted it... we were the second. It's been a few days now and they're milling over the offer. In my heart of hearts I dont' think they'll go for it but you just never know... if we achieve no sucess then we will just stay put in our tiny place until the right option comes along... Very stressful all around... made me realise how i would just love to buy somewhere and put some roots down for once! I guess it's just me being so transient of late that is making me crave some lodging stability.
The days are ticking away and I'm gleefuly approaching the end of my contract here with the counsil. I could stay till mid -dec but I've not yet decided if it's worth it (mentally) I think financially it's always a good idea.
Seestor arrives tomorrow. Xmas shopping in london town will be our mission... nothing unusual about that one... us predictable? Never.
I came up with a brilliant idea whil chatting to a cabbie when I was in london for a brief spell last night for Ceciles 'i'm free from working at GT' party. I'm going to open a pram shop in Maidstone. I can smell the money and the chav's...
after much a flat hunting and not having anywhere to live other than the local b&b here in maidstone
I finally suffered a bit of a lodging nervous breakdown. Brough about by a long sequence of events but it all erupted in a flood of tears when we found out that we didn't get the flat we both fell in love with down the street from our current place... In a stroke of trickiness we proposed to offer them more money for the flat than they were asking if they would choose us over the first couple who saw the place that wanted it... we were the second. It's been a few days now and they're milling over the offer. In my heart of hearts I dont' think they'll go for it but you just never know... if we achieve no sucess then we will just stay put in our tiny place until the right option comes along... Very stressful all around... made me realise how i would just love to buy somewhere and put some roots down for once! I guess it's just me being so transient of late that is making me crave some lodging stability.
The days are ticking away and I'm gleefuly approaching the end of my contract here with the counsil. I could stay till mid -dec but I've not yet decided if it's worth it (mentally) I think financially it's always a good idea.
Seestor arrives tomorrow. Xmas shopping in london town will be our mission... nothing unusual about that one... us predictable? Never.
I came up with a brilliant idea whil chatting to a cabbie when I was in london for a brief spell last night for Ceciles 'i'm free from working at GT' party. I'm going to open a pram shop in Maidstone. I can smell the money and the chav's...
9.11.05
i have this thought... in that
playing the lotto has a direct connection to my discontent... guess it's not surprising really... winning would allow you a quick ticket out of this game... of course with it, would come an equal amount of problems ... but I'll keep my lucky dip for tonights draw thank you very much. It's funny as I've not played the lotto for quite some time... and when I start again I seem more convinced that I will win... I can even invision myself explaining how i just bought the ticket on the spur of the moment... so cheezy. I am guilty.
Two more sleeps and I get to go home. I'm counting down the minutes. I miss painting... I miss having a house... and of course Fredu.
Yesterday we worked for 13h and most of them i spent listening to a local Kent radio station... perhaps that is the source of my discontent... it's not a healthy choice for any human... on a brighter note... Theo sent this to me today... I thought it was cute. I want to be the man with the fish. Read on....
A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village.
An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.
"Not very long," answered the Mexican.
"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.
The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.
The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life."
The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you!
You should start by fishing longer every day.
You can then sell the extra fish you catch.
With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."
And after that?" asked the Mexican.
With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."
"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.
"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.
"And after that?"
"Afterwards? Well my Friend, That's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"
"Millions? Really? And after that?" said the Mexican.
"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."
And the moral is: Know where you're going in life... you may already be there.
playing the lotto has a direct connection to my discontent... guess it's not surprising really... winning would allow you a quick ticket out of this game... of course with it, would come an equal amount of problems ... but I'll keep my lucky dip for tonights draw thank you very much. It's funny as I've not played the lotto for quite some time... and when I start again I seem more convinced that I will win... I can even invision myself explaining how i just bought the ticket on the spur of the moment... so cheezy. I am guilty.
Two more sleeps and I get to go home. I'm counting down the minutes. I miss painting... I miss having a house... and of course Fredu.
Yesterday we worked for 13h and most of them i spent listening to a local Kent radio station... perhaps that is the source of my discontent... it's not a healthy choice for any human... on a brighter note... Theo sent this to me today... I thought it was cute. I want to be the man with the fish. Read on....
A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village.
An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.
"Not very long," answered the Mexican.
"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.
The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.
The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life."
The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you!
You should start by fishing longer every day.
You can then sell the extra fish you catch.
With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."
And after that?" asked the Mexican.
With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."
"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.
"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.
"And after that?"
"Afterwards? Well my Friend, That's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"
"Millions? Really? And after that?" said the Mexican.
"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."
And the moral is: Know where you're going in life... you may already be there.
4.11.05
Silly
Getting paid silly money doesn't of course come without working silly hours... not anything as bad as design agency hours but taxing nonetheless!
Did I mentioned that my old dodgy landlord got 9 years in the end... they finally caught him at the beginning of the year... the officer in charge of the case dropped me a line a few days ago to let me know. Sweet of her to remember :)
Busy weekend lined up... not as hectic as last weekend... but how good was it to go home and sleep in my own bed next to ze boi... I miss him! The tardy arrival back in London on the Monday night was nothing to envy... I finally made it to Maidstone at 1h30 in the morning... I left out flat in BCN at 18h... now that's an evil commute. Next weekend when I go home I'll be sure to stay the night with Jo Jo and come into work in the morning instead...
The mission is back on... flat hunting again... we're moving flats at the beginning of Dec. Somewhere bigger and somewhere less noisy. Bijou is okay but we've got no room left for anything now! Time to move. I love looking but I hate the actual moving... Still have 3 bags left here in London... will probably take the next few trips to manage to get it all over...
Did I mention my project manager (note my joy in that I'm not the project manager for once) bought us boxes of chocolates as a thank you for working so late for the past few weeks. She's such a sweetie.
The weekend starts in T minus 8h
Oh yea almost forgot... congrats to senor Danny for his new fab job with Yahoo :)
Getting paid silly money doesn't of course come without working silly hours... not anything as bad as design agency hours but taxing nonetheless!
Did I mentioned that my old dodgy landlord got 9 years in the end... they finally caught him at the beginning of the year... the officer in charge of the case dropped me a line a few days ago to let me know. Sweet of her to remember :)
Busy weekend lined up... not as hectic as last weekend... but how good was it to go home and sleep in my own bed next to ze boi... I miss him! The tardy arrival back in London on the Monday night was nothing to envy... I finally made it to Maidstone at 1h30 in the morning... I left out flat in BCN at 18h... now that's an evil commute. Next weekend when I go home I'll be sure to stay the night with Jo Jo and come into work in the morning instead...
The mission is back on... flat hunting again... we're moving flats at the beginning of Dec. Somewhere bigger and somewhere less noisy. Bijou is okay but we've got no room left for anything now! Time to move. I love looking but I hate the actual moving... Still have 3 bags left here in London... will probably take the next few trips to manage to get it all over...
Did I mention my project manager (note my joy in that I'm not the project manager for once) bought us boxes of chocolates as a thank you for working so late for the past few weeks. She's such a sweetie.
The weekend starts in T minus 8h
Oh yea almost forgot... congrats to senor Danny for his new fab job with Yahoo :)
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