Exhaustion has taken over
Too much to too in such a short time has really taken it's toll. NYE this year will involve a bubble bath in a human size tub (unlike our mini Barcelona tub which is literally half the size of a normal one). But before then I've got to pack and finish Luca's painting which is nearly there... Don't read this Luca as I can't really be admitting that it's taken me that long to finish your b'day gift! But it's worth the wait as it's a nice one (I hope).
Blogging for me this year has been the most infrequent since I started this blog nearly 9 years ago. It's funny to write that... even funnier still to sift through some of the old entries as it was truly a lifetime ago. If you've got time to kill there are some really humourous entries in the vault... my life use to be way more exciting than it is now... although the time here home this year has been quite amusing. Mostly so during our girlie trips to moxies with my new bestie the waitress with the bosom jewels... serious she's bedazzled her cleavage. You can't help but look! Ha ha.
There are very few hours left to this year so on that note I must make haste and get everything done so we can leave all of 2009's yukies behind and move onto more positive ventures.
All the best my 5 blog readers!!!
29.12.09
Inspiration and stability...
Are two kind words sent in an xmas card from one of my Greek clients. I couldn't think of anything more fitting for this year. It's been a really tough one on all sides. It could of course have been worse so I'm thankful that it hasn't been but man will be be happy for some new positive events.
Are two kind words sent in an xmas card from one of my Greek clients. I couldn't think of anything more fitting for this year. It's been a really tough one on all sides. It could of course have been worse so I'm thankful that it hasn't been but man will be be happy for some new positive events.
28.12.09
It's been a pretty positive day...
... and because there are quite few of these lately I'm going to peg it down here to remember it. I found a camera for a really reasonable price for Fredu today on Toronto's craig's list. The lovely guys from http://www.akaphoto.ca/ sold it to me. I feel so happy to finally be getting back to square one for Fredu so once work come in he'll be able to do it! Seestor kindly drove me to collect it and the guys that sold it were so lovely! Send them work please Canadian or US readers!
Work is piled up and sifting through it makes me feel that I've been off work for more like a million years rather than just two weeks. I'm trying to get focused to get moving with it but it's so hard to do it working from home when I can hear the wee one playing downstairs with my mum. Don't get me wrong... I'm indeed greatful for the ability to work remotely.
Time is ticking by at lightening speed and before I know it the week will be over and we'll be on a plane back to slightly warmer climes. Will be such a treat to be all back together again. A month can be an eternity especially with the wee one learning more and more language skills every day. Going back to school will be strange for her as she's been so anglosized for the past few weeks we can but hope she remembers her Catalan and Spanish! Same goes for me actually. I've got some spanish work emails to write but I've got to dust off that area of my brain to see if the words still come out.
Off to the oh so hip Moxies of Brampton tonight with miss Noeleen and miss Jemma who is in town from London for the next few days and the lovely Heather that I don't often get to see either. Best behave myself as I've got too much work to do to be dealing with a hangover! Behave Sarah... Behave!
... and because there are quite few of these lately I'm going to peg it down here to remember it. I found a camera for a really reasonable price for Fredu today on Toronto's craig's list. The lovely guys from http://www.akaphoto.ca/ sold it to me. I feel so happy to finally be getting back to square one for Fredu so once work come in he'll be able to do it! Seestor kindly drove me to collect it and the guys that sold it were so lovely! Send them work please Canadian or US readers!
Work is piled up and sifting through it makes me feel that I've been off work for more like a million years rather than just two weeks. I'm trying to get focused to get moving with it but it's so hard to do it working from home when I can hear the wee one playing downstairs with my mum. Don't get me wrong... I'm indeed greatful for the ability to work remotely.
Time is ticking by at lightening speed and before I know it the week will be over and we'll be on a plane back to slightly warmer climes. Will be such a treat to be all back together again. A month can be an eternity especially with the wee one learning more and more language skills every day. Going back to school will be strange for her as she's been so anglosized for the past few weeks we can but hope she remembers her Catalan and Spanish! Same goes for me actually. I've got some spanish work emails to write but I've got to dust off that area of my brain to see if the words still come out.
Off to the oh so hip Moxies of Brampton tonight with miss Noeleen and miss Jemma who is in town from London for the next few days and the lovely Heather that I don't often get to see either. Best behave myself as I've got too much work to do to be dealing with a hangover! Behave Sarah... Behave!
27.12.09
When you're too worried your blog entry will sound like one long big winge... do a Meme... (correction... thanks to http://synapsesonshuffle.blogspot.com/ for the meme)
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Fly across the Atlantic with a not quite yet 2 year old on my own.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn't make any but next year apathy is the enemy.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Seestor! Miss Charlotte Reielle Heaney
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My friend eric's grandmother.
5. What countries did you visit?
England, Holland, Canada
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A job for Fredu (and a camera for him to do said job)
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 8th - My appendix removal date
Sept. (?) when Alfredo's camera was stolen
Nov 25th when miss Charlotte was born
Dec 5th- when i flew home to Canada for xmas
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
surviving it
9. What was your biggest failure?
Apathy (with a capital A)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Appendicitis
11. What was the best thing you bought?
pink suede shoes
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Vero's for her baby making triumphs
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The wicked person who stole Alfredo's camera. It truly ravaged an already challenging year for us. I hope they really needed it more than we did!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent (sigh)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Coming home for xmas
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Black eyed peas... that one that goes... 'Tonight's going to be a good night..."
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? sadder
b) thinner or fatter? fatter (thanks to xmas in Canada)
c) richer or poorer? way poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Enjoying life instead of drowning in sorrows (but there was just so many)
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
working
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Without Fredu in Canada :(
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Still in love
23. How many one-night stands?
None
24. What was your favorite TV program?
American Dad
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
the camera thief! oh and yea Apple. Feck you itunes I hate you.
26. What was the best book you read?
Beach Music
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Martina Topley Bird's new album (I had no idea it had come out) not that I have it yet
28. What did you want and get?
More support at work (new project managers!)
29. What did you want and not get?
a job for fredu and a new camera oh yea and the passport!!
Resolution for any of my fights with the tax office
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Only saw one (slumdog millionaire) in the cinema... it was okay..but I'm hoping to see it's complicated before I leave Canada (with my mum) looks nice and pinky!
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
my 33rd birthday I was still recovering from the appendectomy the week before but had low key fun with the lovely miss joey and andrea who flew in to celebrate with me.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Work for fredu
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
black and mysterious
34. What kept you sane?
My Mum
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Perez Hilton
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Any stupid American Mallarky
37. Who did you miss?
The old me
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Jacob and Millie!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Apathy is very very difficult to shake
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I'm not here... this isn't happening.. (Radiohead)
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Fly across the Atlantic with a not quite yet 2 year old on my own.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn't make any but next year apathy is the enemy.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Seestor! Miss Charlotte Reielle Heaney
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My friend eric's grandmother.
5. What countries did you visit?
England, Holland, Canada
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A job for Fredu (and a camera for him to do said job)
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 8th - My appendix removal date
Sept. (?) when Alfredo's camera was stolen
Nov 25th when miss Charlotte was born
Dec 5th- when i flew home to Canada for xmas
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
surviving it
9. What was your biggest failure?
Apathy (with a capital A)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Appendicitis
11. What was the best thing you bought?
pink suede shoes
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Vero's for her baby making triumphs
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The wicked person who stole Alfredo's camera. It truly ravaged an already challenging year for us. I hope they really needed it more than we did!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent (sigh)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Coming home for xmas
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Black eyed peas... that one that goes... 'Tonight's going to be a good night..."
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? sadder
b) thinner or fatter? fatter (thanks to xmas in Canada)
c) richer or poorer? way poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Enjoying life instead of drowning in sorrows (but there was just so many)
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
working
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Without Fredu in Canada :(
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Still in love
23. How many one-night stands?
None
24. What was your favorite TV program?
American Dad
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
the camera thief! oh and yea Apple. Feck you itunes I hate you.
26. What was the best book you read?
Beach Music
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Martina Topley Bird's new album (I had no idea it had come out) not that I have it yet
28. What did you want and get?
More support at work (new project managers!)
29. What did you want and not get?
a job for fredu and a new camera oh yea and the passport!!
Resolution for any of my fights with the tax office
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Only saw one (slumdog millionaire) in the cinema... it was okay..but I'm hoping to see it's complicated before I leave Canada (with my mum) looks nice and pinky!
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
my 33rd birthday I was still recovering from the appendectomy the week before but had low key fun with the lovely miss joey and andrea who flew in to celebrate with me.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Work for fredu
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
black and mysterious
34. What kept you sane?
My Mum
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Perez Hilton
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Any stupid American Mallarky
37. Who did you miss?
The old me
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Jacob and Millie!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Apathy is very very difficult to shake
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I'm not here... this isn't happening.. (Radiohead)
12.12.09
It's bitter sweet and kind of vexing...
Being home for xmas that is. It's a delight to have a load of time off from work and a bit of time to relax and unwind... but it's also a kind of struggle. Reverse culture shock is sometimes so difficult to explain. What should be familiar feels oddly foreign and what sounds totally foreign here sounds more normal to me... quite a strange place to be.... with all the struggles we're facing in Barca I sometimes dream of packing it all in and moving back 'home' but the stark reality is... there is no way that would be possible. The mere idea of moving back here with nothing and starting from scratch again with no house no car no money no job seems insane. It quite simply will not happen. Life is indeed what you make it and at some points in life you simply cannot change it. Finacial freedom would of course be a grand facilitator but since that is very much not the situation for us we'll have to resolve to continue on schmucking our meagre Barcelona existence for the foreseeable future. I think it's all part and parcel of these dark days... sometimes you want to dream of an escape but the thing you don't count on is that your escape would just be a path into more problems... sigh
Perhaps it's the added vunerability I feel being home again with the wee one without Fredu who sadly can still not travel. Being fragmented from your immediate family at xmas is not something that is much fun for me... of course i know others would delight in such an arrangement but it's really for Sienna as it's her first xmas that she will really understand what's going on and he's not going to be here with us to enjoy it... but life just keeps lobbing lemons... and my hands are full of paper cuts but I'm still catching them.
Being home for xmas that is. It's a delight to have a load of time off from work and a bit of time to relax and unwind... but it's also a kind of struggle. Reverse culture shock is sometimes so difficult to explain. What should be familiar feels oddly foreign and what sounds totally foreign here sounds more normal to me... quite a strange place to be.... with all the struggles we're facing in Barca I sometimes dream of packing it all in and moving back 'home' but the stark reality is... there is no way that would be possible. The mere idea of moving back here with nothing and starting from scratch again with no house no car no money no job seems insane. It quite simply will not happen. Life is indeed what you make it and at some points in life you simply cannot change it. Finacial freedom would of course be a grand facilitator but since that is very much not the situation for us we'll have to resolve to continue on schmucking our meagre Barcelona existence for the foreseeable future. I think it's all part and parcel of these dark days... sometimes you want to dream of an escape but the thing you don't count on is that your escape would just be a path into more problems... sigh
Perhaps it's the added vunerability I feel being home again with the wee one without Fredu who sadly can still not travel. Being fragmented from your immediate family at xmas is not something that is much fun for me... of course i know others would delight in such an arrangement but it's really for Sienna as it's her first xmas that she will really understand what's going on and he's not going to be here with us to enjoy it... but life just keeps lobbing lemons... and my hands are full of paper cuts but I'm still catching them.
10.12.09
26.11.09
And then there were Four!
Delightful news for once! My seestor and her Hubby have just yesterday welcomed their newest wee one into their family. The wee one is a girl! A seestor of her very own for Isabella. No name yet... I'm pushing them to call her Viva but for some strange reason they're not complying!
In true family fashion she was a super speedy and natural birth. You go seestor!
We are over the moon. Now we've just got to wait another week and two days to meet her! Ooh hurry up time, I want to hold her :)
Delightful news for once! My seestor and her Hubby have just yesterday welcomed their newest wee one into their family. The wee one is a girl! A seestor of her very own for Isabella. No name yet... I'm pushing them to call her Viva but for some strange reason they're not complying!
In true family fashion she was a super speedy and natural birth. You go seestor!
We are over the moon. Now we've just got to wait another week and two days to meet her! Ooh hurry up time, I want to hold her :)
22.11.09
Now that my brain
Is now fizzled out... and the extra hours translation project that I was working on is successful completed... I can return instead to my normal after work work which is also never ending... We fly out to the great white north on the 5th and I can tell you, that I am most certainly looking forward to it. Two weeks away from work will be golden... KJ's new baby arriving soon... even more.
On a completely different note... am I the only one that thinks that American Dad is way more funny than family guy? Sorry Yankees but I can't help but feel that Family Guy is like a dumbed down version of American dad... sort of washed down for American consumption? I know I know but I can't help it, that's how I feel. My mother however, was forced into watching an episode with us while she was here... and she did not like it one bit... perhaps it was due the fact that it was the episode when Stan wanted to join the gay republicans... I'm just sayin... my poor mother... the things we put her through.
The Jimmy Choo sale came and went and nothing was purchased... when your bank says 000000 you have no choice but to be frugal. *cries slient tears of shoes lost*...
And just for giggles here is a grim glimpse into the world of renting a flat in Barcelona... don't worry you can feel free to scream. We'll be screaming along with you. Dear Lord I can only pray that I NEVER need to live in this place.
Is now fizzled out... and the extra hours translation project that I was working on is successful completed... I can return instead to my normal after work work which is also never ending... We fly out to the great white north on the 5th and I can tell you, that I am most certainly looking forward to it. Two weeks away from work will be golden... KJ's new baby arriving soon... even more.
On a completely different note... am I the only one that thinks that American Dad is way more funny than family guy? Sorry Yankees but I can't help but feel that Family Guy is like a dumbed down version of American dad... sort of washed down for American consumption? I know I know but I can't help it, that's how I feel. My mother however, was forced into watching an episode with us while she was here... and she did not like it one bit... perhaps it was due the fact that it was the episode when Stan wanted to join the gay republicans... I'm just sayin... my poor mother... the things we put her through.
The Jimmy Choo sale came and went and nothing was purchased... when your bank says 000000 you have no choice but to be frugal. *cries slient tears of shoes lost*...
And just for giggles here is a grim glimpse into the world of renting a flat in Barcelona... don't worry you can feel free to scream. We'll be screaming along with you. Dear Lord I can only pray that I NEVER need to live in this place.
1.11.09
So it's getting better right?
The answer is well you guessed it... No. More bad news. Oh yea... well we'll keep that for the new blog that I've not yet started but will... and damn it maybe that blog will make my millions as dear lord so much misfortune is just comical... comedy sells yea? It somehow just doesn't feel that funny. Funny tragic I guess more than Funny Ha ha
Positive things.... *deep breath* okay... Well in a few short weeks, at least some of us will be flying to Canada for a well deserved break.
In an attempt to paint a brighter future we've started flat hunting... with what money do you have to move you may ask... well that's another question entirely... HA! Humour me okay?
So we've seen a couple of places and my word, Barcelona certainly offers you up a large variety of "interesting" options. We found one with the main part of the flat on the principal floor and then with the master bedroom downstairs on the entrasuelo level. It was like a dungeon. For all ye who don't get this whole floor thing here in Spain... The entrasuelo exists in old buildings and I'm sure in the past was used for servents or just tiny tiny people as it's between the street level and the first floor. Principal flats are mostly the biggest in the building and I can only suppose where the rich people used to live. Mostly now they are split into wierd distributions in an effort to make the most money possible from the spaces... I really never though it was possible to re-create a 'basement' feeling here but oh yes.. it's possible. That one is defo a no go.
The next flat of fancy we went to see was a 'para renovar' job. Yes, another BCN concept all into it's self. You see the premise is that they bestow you the favour of renting you a flat and then you are expected to invest your own money into renovating it while you live there... It really defies logic, I mean if there were a few things to polish up or re-paint or something that's fine... but I'm talking flats that are hundreds of years old people! This one was big and the agency's initial proposal was to rent it for 950 a month for a 7 year contract with the premise that you will invest 30k in the flat during that time. I thought they must be insane. Plus they want you to pay 4k damage deposit on the flat (which is a ruin!). So we went to see it.... Turns out rotting and decrepid would be too kind to describe it. The place was straigth out of a horror movie. Fitting that it was Saturday and it was Hallowe'en when we saw it! I would estimate needing to invest at least 90k in that place to get it to a point where it was livable. I really want to know how they will find someone to rent it... maybe if you bought it for a song and then put in the hard graft then yes sure why not... but to rent it... when the shower room was put in somewhere around the time that indoor plumbing became possible (and hasn't been replaced since). I think people on the street could hear my slient scream of ... "oh my god no, not ever in my life would I take on a project like that"... even if they gave me 7 years of free rent. Barcelona... seriously what the bejaysuz is going on?
On the other hand there are lovely looking flats like this one... which we're I think we're going to see on Wednesday... if it's not already gone by then.. That's the other thing... the good ones are snapped up in a heart beat so it's not really condusive to 'window shoppers' like us...
The answer is well you guessed it... No. More bad news. Oh yea... well we'll keep that for the new blog that I've not yet started but will... and damn it maybe that blog will make my millions as dear lord so much misfortune is just comical... comedy sells yea? It somehow just doesn't feel that funny. Funny tragic I guess more than Funny Ha ha
Positive things.... *deep breath* okay... Well in a few short weeks, at least some of us will be flying to Canada for a well deserved break.
In an attempt to paint a brighter future we've started flat hunting... with what money do you have to move you may ask... well that's another question entirely... HA! Humour me okay?
So we've seen a couple of places and my word, Barcelona certainly offers you up a large variety of "interesting" options. We found one with the main part of the flat on the principal floor and then with the master bedroom downstairs on the entrasuelo level. It was like a dungeon. For all ye who don't get this whole floor thing here in Spain... The entrasuelo exists in old buildings and I'm sure in the past was used for servents or just tiny tiny people as it's between the street level and the first floor. Principal flats are mostly the biggest in the building and I can only suppose where the rich people used to live. Mostly now they are split into wierd distributions in an effort to make the most money possible from the spaces... I really never though it was possible to re-create a 'basement' feeling here but oh yes.. it's possible. That one is defo a no go.
The next flat of fancy we went to see was a 'para renovar' job. Yes, another BCN concept all into it's self. You see the premise is that they bestow you the favour of renting you a flat and then you are expected to invest your own money into renovating it while you live there... It really defies logic, I mean if there were a few things to polish up or re-paint or something that's fine... but I'm talking flats that are hundreds of years old people! This one was big and the agency's initial proposal was to rent it for 950 a month for a 7 year contract with the premise that you will invest 30k in the flat during that time. I thought they must be insane. Plus they want you to pay 4k damage deposit on the flat (which is a ruin!). So we went to see it.... Turns out rotting and decrepid would be too kind to describe it. The place was straigth out of a horror movie. Fitting that it was Saturday and it was Hallowe'en when we saw it! I would estimate needing to invest at least 90k in that place to get it to a point where it was livable. I really want to know how they will find someone to rent it... maybe if you bought it for a song and then put in the hard graft then yes sure why not... but to rent it... when the shower room was put in somewhere around the time that indoor plumbing became possible (and hasn't been replaced since). I think people on the street could hear my slient scream of ... "oh my god no, not ever in my life would I take on a project like that"... even if they gave me 7 years of free rent. Barcelona... seriously what the bejaysuz is going on?
On the other hand there are lovely looking flats like this one... which we're I think we're going to see on Wednesday... if it's not already gone by then.. That's the other thing... the good ones are snapped up in a heart beat so it's not really condusive to 'window shoppers' like us...
18.10.09
I'm going to start a new blog
It's going to be called "where the bad things go" Then I'll have place to put them all. I'm thinking i may take off... everyone can stop by and drop off their bad things... bad luck, bad karma, bad thoughts, bad actions... then we'll keep them all safely there so this blog can perhaps re-join the realm of not-so-grim-all-the-bleeding-time.
Shoes help, so the fact that in less than a month the Jimy Choo collection will be released at H&M should certainly be a good thing. Another positive thing is that in just a few short weeks I'll pretty much be done work for the year and I"ll be heading home to Canada to welcome my seestor's new wee one into the world.
That's two positive things... see I am still capable....
We'll round it off at 3 good things... how sweet is the wee miss these days?
This is me holding my breath until all the bad passes us by... I might be going blue soon.
It's going to be called "where the bad things go" Then I'll have place to put them all. I'm thinking i may take off... everyone can stop by and drop off their bad things... bad luck, bad karma, bad thoughts, bad actions... then we'll keep them all safely there so this blog can perhaps re-join the realm of not-so-grim-all-the-bleeding-time.
Shoes help, so the fact that in less than a month the Jimy Choo collection will be released at H&M should certainly be a good thing. Another positive thing is that in just a few short weeks I'll pretty much be done work for the year and I"ll be heading home to Canada to welcome my seestor's new wee one into the world.
That's two positive things... see I am still capable....
We'll round it off at 3 good things... how sweet is the wee miss these days?
This is me holding my breath until all the bad passes us by... I might be going blue soon.
24.9.09
And again... Only in Spain...
Does your bike get stolen and a few weeks later your boyfriend's professional camera worth more than 2k with a lens you just bought and have not finished paying for worth 700 euros on it... from right under your nose while sat in a completely empty fast food restaurant with your mum and your baby (and boyfriend of course)... I swear the theif was a magician or there was a trap door as there was not a soul in the place. It's absolutely baffling and really really heartbreaking that it happened. It's all part and parcel of living in the petty crime capital of the world I suppose. Bad Barcelona... we don't like you much these days.
And of course for us it simply means that life just got worse... just when things were slowly starting to move forward and unstick... there is a very remote chance that the dregs of insurance we have may help cover it but it's very unlikely. How is one supposed to make money without the equipment needed to make it?
There have been many many tears... and an imessurable amount of nashing of teeth. But nothing will bring it back....
Before it was stolen one of the last jobs Fredu did was for Al jazeera (sports) they were here doing an interview with Thierry Henry and the President of the Barca club Joan Laporta. Alfredo was hired to do the still shots. The camera man who was recording the interview sweetly offered to take two shots of Fredu with the Thierry and Joan. Pretty lucky guy (that day at least)... he even got a lift in Thierry's car with him as they moved from one venue in the staduim to another...
Does your bike get stolen and a few weeks later your boyfriend's professional camera worth more than 2k with a lens you just bought and have not finished paying for worth 700 euros on it... from right under your nose while sat in a completely empty fast food restaurant with your mum and your baby (and boyfriend of course)... I swear the theif was a magician or there was a trap door as there was not a soul in the place. It's absolutely baffling and really really heartbreaking that it happened. It's all part and parcel of living in the petty crime capital of the world I suppose. Bad Barcelona... we don't like you much these days.
And of course for us it simply means that life just got worse... just when things were slowly starting to move forward and unstick... there is a very remote chance that the dregs of insurance we have may help cover it but it's very unlikely. How is one supposed to make money without the equipment needed to make it?
There have been many many tears... and an imessurable amount of nashing of teeth. But nothing will bring it back....
Before it was stolen one of the last jobs Fredu did was for Al jazeera (sports) they were here doing an interview with Thierry Henry and the President of the Barca club Joan Laporta. Alfredo was hired to do the still shots. The camera man who was recording the interview sweetly offered to take two shots of Fredu with the Thierry and Joan. Pretty lucky guy (that day at least)... he even got a lift in Thierry's car with him as they moved from one venue in the staduim to another...
7.9.09
We are mostly very very proud of Sureshee!
He's been working hard while finishing his masters at RCA! Selling at Bonhams that is!
Amazing amazing amazing!
He's been working hard while finishing his masters at RCA! Selling at Bonhams that is!
Amazing amazing amazing!
5.9.09
4.9.09
The lock-off continues...
The person who "stole" the bike finally got the note we left for them on the bike... I told Fredu to leave his mobile number on the note... Low and behold the 'new owner' of the bike rang yesterday... in a hail of expletives he screamed down the phone that he had found the bike in the street and that it was his... all in English of course. Because we live in Spain yea? The note we left in Spanish... the guy didn't speak it. Lucky him that Fredu does speak English.... Now we have a complete impasse. The guy won't remove his lock and Fredu won't either... Eric, the actual owner of the bike (who had been lending it to Fredu long term) is now involved... he's searching now for documentation that proves the bike is his! The police are going to be involved soon but who are they going to believe???? I think they should play the trump card that the theif guy doesn't speak spanish and get the cops invovled and if he can't speak, he can't tell his "i found it on the street story"... Seriously do we need this sort of insanity?
Clearly there is no point in even asking that question. It is my life after all... the answer is always a resounding YES.
The person who "stole" the bike finally got the note we left for them on the bike... I told Fredu to leave his mobile number on the note... Low and behold the 'new owner' of the bike rang yesterday... in a hail of expletives he screamed down the phone that he had found the bike in the street and that it was his... all in English of course. Because we live in Spain yea? The note we left in Spanish... the guy didn't speak it. Lucky him that Fredu does speak English.... Now we have a complete impasse. The guy won't remove his lock and Fredu won't either... Eric, the actual owner of the bike (who had been lending it to Fredu long term) is now involved... he's searching now for documentation that proves the bike is his! The police are going to be involved soon but who are they going to believe???? I think they should play the trump card that the theif guy doesn't speak spanish and get the cops invovled and if he can't speak, he can't tell his "i found it on the street story"... Seriously do we need this sort of insanity?
Clearly there is no point in even asking that question. It is my life after all... the answer is always a resounding YES.
3.9.09
Only in Spain...
Would someone steal your bike.. then lock it up at another bike rack 200m away with another lock... So in response, Alfredo bought two new locks and locked them to the bike and left a note for the person who had stolen his bike to please remove their lock and give him back the bike... it's a lock off baby! No movement yet. The bike still sits there with 3 locks on it (2 alfredo's and 1 of the theif)... One more day and he's just going to saw off the other lock... it's funny this, not only because it's absurd... but because this is the second time this has happened.
Last year Alfredo's bike had a broken peddle. He noticed one day that the bike was gone. He was sad but hey ho such is life in this mad city... Sunday morning rolls around and we're all walking to the park and low and behold there is the stolen bike broken peddle and all... locked to a rack approx 100m away from where it was taken from... new lock of course. So we promptly went to our local bike renting shop which was a few metres away and asked if we could borrow some lock cutters. Remember we are in full family mode... pram, baby dog in toe... they gave us the cutters and right there in the street we stole the bike back. Theiving family unit baby!
It's the madness that makes you just that little bit crazy when you live here... It's kind of a banana republic in many ways... but I suppose in the end it's the recklessness that adds to the charm.
Would someone steal your bike.. then lock it up at another bike rack 200m away with another lock... So in response, Alfredo bought two new locks and locked them to the bike and left a note for the person who had stolen his bike to please remove their lock and give him back the bike... it's a lock off baby! No movement yet. The bike still sits there with 3 locks on it (2 alfredo's and 1 of the theif)... One more day and he's just going to saw off the other lock... it's funny this, not only because it's absurd... but because this is the second time this has happened.
Last year Alfredo's bike had a broken peddle. He noticed one day that the bike was gone. He was sad but hey ho such is life in this mad city... Sunday morning rolls around and we're all walking to the park and low and behold there is the stolen bike broken peddle and all... locked to a rack approx 100m away from where it was taken from... new lock of course. So we promptly went to our local bike renting shop which was a few metres away and asked if we could borrow some lock cutters. Remember we are in full family mode... pram, baby dog in toe... they gave us the cutters and right there in the street we stole the bike back. Theiving family unit baby!
It's the madness that makes you just that little bit crazy when you live here... It's kind of a banana republic in many ways... but I suppose in the end it's the recklessness that adds to the charm.
30.8.09
There is a secret time here in Barcelona
It's usually near the end of August when most people are smart enough to leave the smoldering heat of the inner city and head for the beach and enjoy summer... The streets are significantly more empty than normally especially up town. It's quite the peculiar thing as many shops simply just close down for 4 weeks and happy announce they'll be back after their holidays. It's funny because in one way the city empties out and then in another way the floods of French tourists arrive. This year because of the delicate economic climate there are lots of Frenchies, a few Italians but very few northern Europeans and even less Americans... But the beautiful thing about remaining in Barcelona during the summer is that for a small few moments you feel the city is just a little bit more 'yours' than it normally is. I suppose that because all of the locals are gone (or it feels like they are) that you are the closest thing to being a local... makes you feel kind of like for once you maybe fit in.
The morning bus rides to work will soon return to normal... the darkness is slowly creeping back into my morning routine. The alarm goes off at half six but my brain is not quite ready to compute the fact that it's starting to still be dark then. Work is sufficiently manic to make the hours in the day zoom by. In fact last week I felt like I looked up from my desk and it was Thursday already!
The impending baby rush is a pink one. Miss Vero and Miss Karen are both having little girls. To say I'm thrilled for them both is an understatement. Now if we can just bear the wait until seestor and bryan have theirs in Dec we can try for a hattrick... but they like the surprise and are thus going to wait to see if they too have a girl.
We ventured out very early yesterday morning with the ever enthusiastic Chiara and Nacho egging us on to be brave and actually atempt a day at the beach out of town. We were at the train at 8am to head off to the costa brava. We trained and bused it and then bused it some more and we arrived to Cala de Sant Francesc at around half ten. What a lovely place. It boggles the brain as to how much money you would need to have one of the massive houses that shroud the cala. It's really lovely and we had a fabulous day. Bravo to them for helping us make it possible with all the baby acutraments that we need to have with us to allow us to be away from home. It's not a trip for the faint hearted... and the transportation system isn't too sympathetic to people with baby prams but with 4 people we did it! And for the record... all those locals that are missing from Barcelona... they were all in Blanes. I think we were the only foreigners there!
Cala de San Francesc - trust me there were many more people there!
It's usually near the end of August when most people are smart enough to leave the smoldering heat of the inner city and head for the beach and enjoy summer... The streets are significantly more empty than normally especially up town. It's quite the peculiar thing as many shops simply just close down for 4 weeks and happy announce they'll be back after their holidays. It's funny because in one way the city empties out and then in another way the floods of French tourists arrive. This year because of the delicate economic climate there are lots of Frenchies, a few Italians but very few northern Europeans and even less Americans... But the beautiful thing about remaining in Barcelona during the summer is that for a small few moments you feel the city is just a little bit more 'yours' than it normally is. I suppose that because all of the locals are gone (or it feels like they are) that you are the closest thing to being a local... makes you feel kind of like for once you maybe fit in.
The morning bus rides to work will soon return to normal... the darkness is slowly creeping back into my morning routine. The alarm goes off at half six but my brain is not quite ready to compute the fact that it's starting to still be dark then. Work is sufficiently manic to make the hours in the day zoom by. In fact last week I felt like I looked up from my desk and it was Thursday already!
The impending baby rush is a pink one. Miss Vero and Miss Karen are both having little girls. To say I'm thrilled for them both is an understatement. Now if we can just bear the wait until seestor and bryan have theirs in Dec we can try for a hattrick... but they like the surprise and are thus going to wait to see if they too have a girl.
We ventured out very early yesterday morning with the ever enthusiastic Chiara and Nacho egging us on to be brave and actually atempt a day at the beach out of town. We were at the train at 8am to head off to the costa brava. We trained and bused it and then bused it some more and we arrived to Cala de Sant Francesc at around half ten. What a lovely place. It boggles the brain as to how much money you would need to have one of the massive houses that shroud the cala. It's really lovely and we had a fabulous day. Bravo to them for helping us make it possible with all the baby acutraments that we need to have with us to allow us to be away from home. It's not a trip for the faint hearted... and the transportation system isn't too sympathetic to people with baby prams but with 4 people we did it! And for the record... all those locals that are missing from Barcelona... they were all in Blanes. I think we were the only foreigners there!
Cala de San Francesc - trust me there were many more people there!
3.8.09
We're still here...
but summer and work seem to have zapped time away faster than money though our account.
It's not been the easiest times for us for the past little while but summer sun and the wee one sure do help get through until the next day.
Now we've the added bonus of a visit from my mum in mid-sept to look forward to.
Not quite sure if using a beach ball to keep your chins up is a viable life flotation device... but it will have to do for now.
Styling at the Villa
At the beach during the day with daddy...
Cuddles at the beach
Cuddles with mum when she finally gets home from work.
but summer and work seem to have zapped time away faster than money though our account.
It's not been the easiest times for us for the past little while but summer sun and the wee one sure do help get through until the next day.
Now we've the added bonus of a visit from my mum in mid-sept to look forward to.
Not quite sure if using a beach ball to keep your chins up is a viable life flotation device... but it will have to do for now.
Styling at the Villa
At the beach during the day with daddy...
Cuddles at the beach
Cuddles with mum when she finally gets home from work.
6.7.09
To say that I was gutted…
Would be a huge understatement.
Devastated is a bit closer… my beautiful present from the lovely and wonderfully talented Suresh Dutt met a terrible terrible end. We were all sat relaxing in our living room when completely un-provoked his piece tumbled off the top shelf above the television where it lived. I think my high pitch scream of NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO could be heard even before it bounced on the TV table (not yet breaking) it wasn’t until it shattered on the hard tile floors into about one zillion pieces did my scream stop. We were damn lucky as the wee one was about a metre away from us Fredu instantly grabbed her to keep her from the shards of glass. With dog and baby in arms the tears fell. I loved it so much. I am so very sad. At least if I had of dropped it while cleaning it or something like that it could resolve it… but it literally slid from the shelf with no reason. I guess the gods decided we weren’t to have anything nice.
What I had was the prototype to this piece...
We should have taken a picture as the way in which it shattered was most spectacular… could have been art in it’s self… but I was too upset and Fredu was too busy trying to make sure no one cut themselves…
Why do all the nice things we have break? Or do we only notice they break because they’re nice?
*sobs*
Would be a huge understatement.
Devastated is a bit closer… my beautiful present from the lovely and wonderfully talented Suresh Dutt met a terrible terrible end. We were all sat relaxing in our living room when completely un-provoked his piece tumbled off the top shelf above the television where it lived. I think my high pitch scream of NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO could be heard even before it bounced on the TV table (not yet breaking) it wasn’t until it shattered on the hard tile floors into about one zillion pieces did my scream stop. We were damn lucky as the wee one was about a metre away from us Fredu instantly grabbed her to keep her from the shards of glass. With dog and baby in arms the tears fell. I loved it so much. I am so very sad. At least if I had of dropped it while cleaning it or something like that it could resolve it… but it literally slid from the shelf with no reason. I guess the gods decided we weren’t to have anything nice.
What I had was the prototype to this piece...
We should have taken a picture as the way in which it shattered was most spectacular… could have been art in it’s self… but I was too upset and Fredu was too busy trying to make sure no one cut themselves…
Why do all the nice things we have break? Or do we only notice they break because they’re nice?
*sobs*
30.6.09
Life has been
Pretty darn trying these days... for a plethora of reasons. The is now clear and surefire way though times like this. It takes patience and perseverance of course but it's never easy when literally every step you take lands you deeper in quick sand. Bear Grylls would say the best chance you have of staying alive is to keep moving... so that we do and whether it will simply aid the quicker sinking down into the quicksand or actually get us out is not yet certain but there are simply no other alternatives to consider so on we press.
I had a lovely and amazingly helpful evening with the lovely Jacob tonight who really helped me push throught this dead spot I had in one of my paintings. I'm so greatful for his coaching and motivation as I really needed it. It's really hard to do much of anything constructive when you're exhausted and just want to collapse.
Living far away from your immediate family is always a challenge especially when you are close to them... it is becoming more poingant every day just how much having their physical presence would be such a great help. Getting away for even two days with just the two of us would b simply golden... neither of us would actually really want to go and leave the wee one but at certain times you have to start to realise that without you as a couple you will quickly cease to exist as the parents she needs and wants and you can so very easily become exes and coparents and nothing more. It's a bleak way to think of things but if you don't have balance things can go really really wrong. We're all thinking about joining the circus. I hear they've got an opening for a family tightrope act...
Pretty darn trying these days... for a plethora of reasons. The is now clear and surefire way though times like this. It takes patience and perseverance of course but it's never easy when literally every step you take lands you deeper in quick sand. Bear Grylls would say the best chance you have of staying alive is to keep moving... so that we do and whether it will simply aid the quicker sinking down into the quicksand or actually get us out is not yet certain but there are simply no other alternatives to consider so on we press.
I had a lovely and amazingly helpful evening with the lovely Jacob tonight who really helped me push throught this dead spot I had in one of my paintings. I'm so greatful for his coaching and motivation as I really needed it. It's really hard to do much of anything constructive when you're exhausted and just want to collapse.
Living far away from your immediate family is always a challenge especially when you are close to them... it is becoming more poingant every day just how much having their physical presence would be such a great help. Getting away for even two days with just the two of us would b simply golden... neither of us would actually really want to go and leave the wee one but at certain times you have to start to realise that without you as a couple you will quickly cease to exist as the parents she needs and wants and you can so very easily become exes and coparents and nothing more. It's a bleak way to think of things but if you don't have balance things can go really really wrong. We're all thinking about joining the circus. I hear they've got an opening for a family tightrope act...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
