Ugh, again with the too much funess

I'm sick again. Damn snow. Well, probably damn the too much fun in the snow part but let's not dwell on the details and throw a little sympathy my way for I cannot swallow or breathe and I really need to go to sleep because a. I didn't get enough sleep last night and had to be up at 515am to catch a plane which would end up being delayed by 3 hours and b. it's NYE tomorrow night and I have some partying to do. Oh, and I also want to go shopping. Airborne germs are really messing with my social life and capacity for tolerating phlegm.

Ok, so being the ski bunny I am, I have just got back from the snow. Oooh, it sounds sooo European. If only I was as graceful at skiing as I am at, um, eating ice cream? Stepping over cracks in the pavement? Hmm, so point is, I am probably the most unco skier in the world. Pascal, my ski instructor, said I looked like an aeroplane taking off for Sydney whilst going down the slopes. That's what you get for trying to put technique into practice. Ridicule.

So let's go back to the first day at the snow. Megan and I are there, primed in our ski gear, minds like sponges ready to be turned into pro skiers by a preferably hot French ski instructor (note to self, next time try snowboarding)to be told our lesson isn't til the afternoon. So being the proactive person she is, Megan decides that we should play around on our skis for a bit. I agree thinking we'll put them on and do some gliding around on the flat bits. So we do that for oh, all of 5 seconds before she suggests we should catch one of the chairlifts to the 'beginner' slopes. Yes, great idea to do that when you were too scared to slide down the slight bump in the flat bit earlier. So Vanessa decides the slope doesn't look too high from the bottom and really, how hard can a bit of skiing be, so she agrees to go up there. By the way, I don't know why I am now referring to myself in the 3rd person but let's go with it. So we go up the chairlifts (I am on one by myself) when I realise I don't know how to get off the bloody thing. The dude next to me senses this, and pushes me off it. I don't know how to stop, so I lose my balance, cross my skis and stop by falling flat on my back and hitting my head. Great start.

So after this minor blip, I make my way to the edge of the slope. The very steep edge that didn't look steep because I couldn't bloody see it from the bottom. So I take a deep breath, watch Megan stack it and hope that some of the Winter Olympic watching I've done in the past will pay off. It doesn't. I stack in about 5 seconds after take off. I try to get up. I fall over. I try again. Fall over once more, this time so my skis are all twisted. I lie back in the snow wondering how I am going to untwist my skis and if a helicopter will have to come and get me down. While I am debating how long I can lay in the middle of the slope, a snowboarder comes and asks if I want a hand. Ummmm, duh. So I managed to pull him over three times while trying to get up, then he slides me down the mountain onto a flatter bit. In the process he tells me it's his first day snowboarding. Ha, don't I feel like a dickhead. So anyway, he leaves me standing closer to the bottom and as soon as he leaves, I fall again. This time I manage to get up on my own and make my way to the bottom and tell Megan I am never doing that again and we are waiting until our lesson.

I won't bore you so I will give you some dot points until another interesting story:

- the weather was fantastic, blue skies everyday, not too cold
- food was great, I became obsessed with ham
- my ski instructor thought I spoke fantastic French, ok, so he said very good, but I think they are the same. He even spoke to me in French when I kept on falling down one day during my lesson. I didn't really get what he was saying, something about falling on purpose but I was flattered he thought I did.
- xmas day was great. There was about 700 of us up there and we all went to the top of one of the mountains for a santa run down the slopes in our santa hats (note I didn't participate due to having only 1 lesson and hadn't learned how to turn at that point)
- got up on stage and did air guitar in a matching red wig with Megan at the retro party
- made the most hideous looking snowman, we didn't realise there was a technique to making these things
- lost control during a lesson and accidentally groped one of the girls while trying to stop
- did snow angels in the snow with Megan (may have been the turning point in the catching of illness)

Final story is of my final day skiing where I had a spectacular stack. Yes, the skis fell off, snow went in my mouth, skis hit the thigh, there was skidding, turning and wincing on Megan's behalf who was watching. I had previously been congratulating myself on my beautiful turns (Pascal said skiing is all in the mind so I was building up my mind power cause that's what sports people do) when I went too fast, thought I was going to go over the mountain so I decided I would take one for the team. Smart yet bruisy decision.

So now I am back in London trying to get better so I can go out tomorrow night. I can almost breathe through my nose so that's a good indicator I should try and sleep.

Night and see you in 2008!

So obviously I've been having a little too much fun

Ok, it's been way too long since I last updated. And you know what? I can't remember what I've ben doing. Of course it's going to come rushing back to me once I've logged off and shut down my computer, so I'll do my best in my post flu state. Seeing as though I am getting old I must do some complaining about the flu I just had. It was the worst flu I've ever had. Ummm, that's about it because I've just been distracted remembering what I've been doing lately.

So, I went away to Winchester and stayed in the most beautiful country manor. Yes, la di da to me. I finally got to enjoy a perk as a creative and was taken away for a day and night (during work) with Sony for some quad biking, rope swinging and night of drinking and sleeping in the English countryside. The manor was a 5 star hotel and was sooooo grand. Breakfast was held in the most exquisite library with huge bay windows and dark wooden bookshelves. It was amazing. The buffet breakfast also helped with my extremely high impression of the place. I also had a team lunch overlooking the Thames at a rather fancy restaurant. Entree and main were nothing to rate a claim of 'best ever' in the Vanessa food stakes but the dessert was probably the best crumble I've ever had. It was delectable.

I also went very festive and went to some Christmas Markets in Lincoln. Now, the thought was there to be all festive and whatever, but seriously, when it's pissing down with rain and you've never been so cold in your life, the cheer dies and you look for the closest pub. Lincoln was beautiful, despite the rain and hoards of old people. I left wondering why I had gotten up at 5am on a Saturday morning but somewhat pleased with my yule tide efforts.

Friday I had another team day out which involved a flotation tank. Yes, it's a little 90's. No, it's not my idea of relaxation, but I was happy to try it. So imagine me naked (well, actually, don't), in a egg shaped pod listen to some whales mate with a porn red light on. Got it? Ok, so after trying to 'float and relax' I hit my head on the tap realising I was floating the wrong way around. Having messed up my 'free mind state' I get tank (salt) water in my eyes and find myself desperately grabbing around for the emergency water bottle. In the process of using the jet function in my eyes (I'm not sure which hurt more) I get more salt water in my eyes. I realise I didn't bring any make up with me and I now look like a panda and have to face my team (5 blokes) for the rest of the team night out. So I get out of the pod and look for a mirror to try and wipe my eyes. Can't find one. Get back in the pod - right way round. Decide to try and relax. Change mind and decide to open pod door again to see what the time is. Bump head on stupid pod door. Have only wasted ten minutes. Have 40 minutes left. Get back in pod. Close pod door. Lay down and start pushing myself from side to side in the pod. This is fun. Do this for about 15-20 minutes. Then decide to try flipping over onto stomach without getting salt water in eyes again. Not the best idea. Decide to try and relax. Start thinking head is very heavy in supposedly easy to float nil gravity water. Must have a lot of brains. Try to relax again. Find relaxing position of legs crossed and arms folded above head. Almost alseep when wales start mating again and it's time to get out.

So I don't think I'll do that again.

Ok, gotta go to bed, if I don't get to write again before next year, pray I don't break any bones skiing in France and I don't get hypothermia.

Wind chill -40. I'd just like to remind everyone that I sit at work which is heated with a blanket around me. I may not leave my room.

Why thy loves himself a little too much

Let's face it. I work in a really wanky industry. Up until now I've been pretty lucky with tosser levels registering low. Extremely low in fact. Now, let's not get confused with maroon jumper dude and yes, he still bugs me. Let's just recap why. Rather than him being a wanker as such, he's just a knob. It's the fact he stares at me blankly when I fake smile at him and say 'hey' when crossing paths (I now just stare him out - soooooo much more satisfying), his gross maroon cable knit jumper, his Bevis-like snigger and his pondering into the air (puh-lease). Even his purchases of Doritos every lunch bugs me. Ok, ok, that one is a bit petty, but I think it's the combination of too many red colours (head, jumper and chip packet) that messes with my senses.

So, back to the real tosser. He can't go five minutes without some kind of self gratification. For example, and I'm not exaggerating, well, he might be, and I quote word for word; 'I can't not do brilliant work'. He even described himself as being 'the radar' in advertising. If he's the radar, I'm definitely the perforated paper (the bit you throw away)when you get a stats print out. I don't quite know what that means, but I liked the analogy. It's hanging out with people like him that make me realise I'm never going to go far doing this job. Well, my lack of enthusiasm may be a good indication, but I know I'm certainly never work at one of the grand dame agencies. I think I'd probably have to start wearing a beret, change my name just V and maybe up my perforated paper analogy to at least blip on the radar status. The dude isn't that bad, but I work in a fairly egoless place, and when you get exposed to one, it's like staring at the water when it's a sunny day and you've forgotten your sunglasses.

Ugh, I need some direction. No, I need to be paid to faff.

Also, I put together my list of future travel places today. It's rather extensive. It means a lot of zigzagging around countries. It also means finding a lot more money. I like how I use the word 'find' like I have a chest full of money under my bed. Perhaps 'earn' would be better. Or 'win the lottery'. I'll share my list when it's more complete.

It's nice having a blog but...

where do you draw the line in regards to who you tell about it? For example, I had one of those scary big brother moments today at work. Hypothetically speaking I wanted to download a certain music program onto my work computer. Now, working in a slightly more strict/professional organisation than my last place, such 'illegal' (and I use that term loosely) aren't allowed. So I decided to be tricky and pretended I wanted to know my admin password for updating software. Yea, that backfired and now I have 50 new programs I don't want, but the point of this story is that IT logged onto my computer and started fiddling around this stuff, that also included spotting the music program I had tried to download. In true Vanessa 'I can't lie' style, I started stumbling over my words when he questioned me. His line of questioning, by the way, was using my cursor to circle it in a disapproving matter while we were on the phone. He couldn't even bring himself to say the name of the program aloud. Plus, I had written my entry about mental health day on one of my work word docs and realised that was on my desktop. Whoops. Now, this story is slightly long winded, but the point of it is, when you want to do tricky things, or in my blogs instance talks about chucking sickies or talking about people who you work with who tend to wear maroon jumpers and 'ponder' a lot, it kind of limits who you give it to. Especially when people ask.

Maybe I've just answered my question, don't let people I work with see my blog.

Now, that I've solved my own dilemma, I should really get my own talk show.

In other news, I had a work thing last night that involved me being wrestled over a sofa by a 45 kilo chav chick from Essex and then beer poured all over me. The thing about London is, you go hard and then you go home. You had to make that vital decision, do I catch the last tube home or do I keep going and hope to make it home. With my sense of direction and tendency to walk with my keys in my hand ready to stab (I have recently found out this is not an effective form of self defense) I choose the tube option.

In food news a really good restaurant thingy has opened up near work:

www.leonrestaurants.co.uk

I had it for lunch yesterday and today. Reasons why? Good food - tick and it appealed to by Asian 'I seek any good bargain' side as the food was all half price. Yesterday chili con carne (people here do not know how to pronounce this dish) and today, Leon Gobi followed by a Twix. Then I had a brownie explosion and then hot chips before going to see one of my favourite movies of all time. Yes, I have something to contribute to my stark/non existent favourite movies list; The Darjeeling Limited.

Ok, I'm tired. Bye.

Friggin domestic goddess

I would just you all to know that I made an amazing curry thing the other night. Flatties even said it 'smelt good'. Yea, go me. I even put fresh coriander in it. Did you hear that? Fresh. Oh, and garemasala or however you spell it. Perhaps a little too much though as someone at work today said whatever was in the microwave (my lunch) smelt like a mince pie. However, I'm sure it was probably the best non mince pie they had ever smelt.

That's it.

I do not earn enough money

So today was mental health day. Well, my mental health day. It's amazing what people get up to while you're at work. Like do lunch. Go shopping. Not get told that a line in your copy sounds too much like a song? What the? And you do you know what the greatest thing is about living in London? When you take a sickie, you'd be pretty unlucky to bump into someone you work with.

So today I had a bit of a sleep in, did my washing, took it to the laundromat (hello new soft Primark sheets), met Skinner for lunch....have I mentioned my favourite lunch place in London? Food for Thought. Best bread EVER. Seriously, it's so good. Soft on the inside and so crunchy on the outside. It's almost the equivalent of the satisfying taste of the crunchy outer of a freshly baked brownie, mmmm, brownie. Anyway, so today's flavour was onion, not as good as walnut and sage, but still, oh so satisfying. Where was I? Oh yes, lunch. So then after debating whether we should get a brownie we decided we would wait for afternoon tea, but then I realised that Ben's Cookies was just near where we were, and seriously, who can resist a biscuit with melted chocolate on the inside? Not me, that's for sure. So we made a pit stop there on the way to the British Museum where we were going to check out the Terracotta Warriors. Despite having the conversation as to whether we should book, we didn't and discovered that following through on conversations about booking for exhibitions in London is smart. We unfortunately were not. So we settled for mummies and what not, and then decided the V&A would be a better bet.

On the way we stopped at Harrods for what should have been the best hot chocolate ever, especially seeing as though it was £5, but it was, unfortunately, crap. We got over this slight blip in an otherwise good food day by walking through Harrods food court, and then headed to the V&A. After looking around there for a bit and seeing a really old and big Persian rug (yes, this is the only thing which really stands out from the visit) I went to the gym and then off to Kate and Jonathon’s for a roast dinner and biscuits (provided by yours truly). Why work?

New house, frozen nose. We can't have it all.

Stubborness is a curse. It causes you to do stupid things like decide it’s a good idea to move house in London on your own. Actually, moving house on your own is a stupid idea no matter what the location. Especially when it doesn’t involve a car. So instead of accepting the help of others, I moved myself, dragging the masses of crap I’ve accumulated over the last 7 months down the street to my new abode (which is awesome by the way).

Do you know what is also a curse? The cold. The kind of cold that freezes your nose at night and causes you to lie there with your duvet over your head, but with a little peep hole so you have fresh air. This whole process is difficult to perfect and uncomfortable. I know this won’t make a lot of sense to some of you, but the cold here chills your bones. And it’s not even winter. Prepare yourself for more complaining. On the upside, my new mattress is a lot more comfortable. So much so, I can roll over and not have springs stab me in the back. Woohoo! I’m liking my new housemates. I feel I can talk about midgets freely without feeling like I am going to be judged. Especially seeing as though there is a blow up doll in our kitchen.

In other news, I’ve bit the bullet and bought a zone 3 travelcard. I’ve been fooling myself for the last 7 months that I live in zone 2, when in fact, I don’t. And it’s too cold to be playing ‘I live in zone 2’ games i.e walking 20minutes. So now, it’s more of a 5 minute walk, which I think is worth the extra £5 a week.

This weekend is going to be jam packed again. Ok, so when is it not. But I may even get to squeeze in some tv!! Yay! Hello mind numbing goodness. I’m worried I’m going to have to start cooking at my new house. The guys were cooking something with prawns last night which looked really good. It was making me feel inadequate and I am more of an ‘eater’ than a ‘creator’. I may have to bring out the culinary skills. Wa-cha! (that was culinary karate).

The feet have touchdown

So when it rains, it pours, and this is definitely the case with the house situation.

During the week there were various developments starting with:

- me having a record breaking week in flat visitation
- a guy from work offering me a room at his flat
- me meeting a potential new houseshare group and being successfully 'chosen'
- seeing more houses for backup

So as a result, I accepted the new flatshare after being labeled a chosen one. However, there were a few problems. Firstly, it wasn't furnished, I couldn't move in for a month and I didn't really like the girl. Yes, slightly big problems, but I was desperate and said yes anyway. So last night I went and saw the house with these people. It was nice, in Angel (beautiful area in North London) and it would have ended up being reasonably cheap because one of the guys' partner was going to move down next year. However, it still left the problem of it being unfurnished and me being homeless for a month. So, I arranged back up flat visits later that night. The first was a house just down the road from where I live now. I went and met the flatties and we all hit it off immediately. The house was nice, fully furnished, I could move in straight away and it even comes with a TV!! I stayed for a cup of tea - they are all english so my tea consumption is going to rise even more. I didn't even go to the other place I had arranged to visit after because by the time I walked in my front door I had a message asking me to move in! So today I let the other people know I wasn't going to move in, which was incidentally lucky because now one of the housemates is hitting on me. Plus, adding to the rain count I got a message from another backup asking me to move in too! Ah, I love it when things work out.

So now I am de stressed and rather peppy. I am looking forward to cleaning the mould off all the walls in my old house this weekend before moving in somewhere with carpet and hopefully a flushing toilet. I am so moving up in the world. Although, my room is next to the toilet again. Is there a pattern here?

Today I said goodbye to Cassie by way of high tea at Shipps Tearoom. This place is so cute with tea cups hanging down from the ceiling, 40's style chairs and table cloths and the most delicious range of cakes, tarts and slices. We feasted on scones with clotted cream and home made jams, cucumber, cheese, smoked salmon and ham sandwiches as well as orange pekoe tea, a slice of pear tart as well as lemon drizzle cake. It was very grand. However, I now want to vomit.

This weekend is the last for Weir Road which will be a bit sad as it's kind of the end of a chapter. We are celebrating with a massive cleaning session on Sunday followed by takeaway curry. By the way, I just want to say I haven't eaten chocolate all week, despite many temptations along the way. I'm like a machine of strong will, but mostly just stubborn as I didn't want Skinner to beat me as I failed miserably last week after day 2.

Homeless in 8 days

So I’m in the middle of house hunting hell. Yes, it’s seriously hell. You’d think it would be easy. I’m in a city where there are so many transient people, surely I’d be able to find a room. Well, no I can’t. I’m a loser. Looking for a room in a houseshare is seriously like having to audition for Big Brother. Well, it’s how I imagine auditioning for Big Brother would be like. You get about 5 minutes with your potential housemates to woo them and make them remember you out of the 200 applicants they get for the room. So far, I haven’t mad much of an impression. Well, I have, but not in the right way. Last week I looked at a place that had a 30 year old female living there. She didn’t quite believe that I was 26, but after insisting I was, she seemed to believe me. We then proceeded to bond about Sex and the City and other various girly things. I thought I was kind of a shoe in, because a) she said I was looking really good and b) well, there is no b and although it was way out of my budget, I was going to take it. So the next day I got a text message from her saying she was really sorry, she had given the room to someone else, but if I wanted, we could go out for a drink sometime. A drink? I don’t want a drink, I want a freakin’ bedroom! Ugh. I also saw another potentially good place which was just down the road from where I am living now. I made the mistake though of telling the guys that I really liked watching this show about midgets on tv. The delivery of the story was atrocious, which I acknowledged and they did too, we all laughed, but now I am thinking they where laughing but thinking this girl is a freak. I got an email saying they really liked me but they had given the room to someone else. It's not you, it's me. That old chestnut! Last night I got asked if I stole and then if I screamed in the middle of the night. I mean seriously.

Now, I am truly getting desperate. I am like one of those 35 year old women who go out on the prowl at every available night out sporting a black leather mini skirt and their black backpacks that were kind of cool in the 90’s but are now the equivalent of happy pants. It’s like going speed dating. I’m meeting someone (or sometimes 5 people), thinking we get along and maybe we have a future together, imaging what it would be like to live with them, and then BAM, they don’t call. Why don’t they call? Why don’t they want to live with me? I’m normal(ish), clean, don’t have any weird habits. I know I tell pointless stories and sometimes, ok, most of the time deliver them really poorly, but they don’t know that. Ok, enough whining. Oh crap. I just realised to add to my failings in life, I can’t count either, I thought I had 14 days left. This particular point calls for more than just a ‘crap’, hmmm, ok, SHIT! Sorry mum, but it was called for.

Other than house hunting, I’ve been, ummm, ok, house hunting is all I’ve been doing. I did manage to squeeze in my first proper restaurant meal in London on Saturday night. Apparently it’s Gwen and Chris’ favourite restaurant, well, that’ according to Vic, and I’ll believe anything. It was amazing. As usual I picked the crappiest thing on the menu, but it was still good, but not as good as everyone else’s. I really need to address my order envy problem. I’ve tried copying others, but then I convinced myself that my meal is better, but it never is. Why try and be different? When it comes to ordering out, individuality over way overrated. Speaking of food I am undergoing a challenge this week. I am not going to eat chocolate for 7 days. I tried going without for 3 days last week but failed miserably. It was embarrassing. I know where I went wrong, it was the caramel Mc Vitties. Damn that caramel biscuit that so cleverly holds the biscuit together when you dip it in your tea. But now there is pride and money at stake. I will overcome my weaknesses and show those non-believers that I can do it.

Wish me luck.

Brain and foot freeze

My brain hurts. I’ve been working and having to think way too much of late. I mean, seriously, I need a good 2-3 hours per day of faffing to survive. Plus, I need to be surfing the net instead of working. I mean, I’ve got important things to do like look for somewhere to live and also look for winter holiday spots for my trip with Megan.

Looking for somewhere to live is so painful. Because we haven’t been paying our bills properly, like not paying council tax and not owning a tv means that my bills haven’t been that accurate. So now, when I’m looking for a place to live that has a tv, occupants that actually pay the bills they’re suppose to and maybe a house that doesn’t have mould growing everywhere, it’s a lot more expensive. Plus, it’s so competitive. You have to firstly email the person who is advertising and try to sound normal and considerate, yet fun at the same time. Then, you have to go see them and the room, then, if you’re not a complete nutter, meet the rest of the housemates for a drilling session.

At the beginning of the week I went for my 2nd round interview at this 6 person share house near where I am living now. One girl was really hostile for reasons I don’t understand. She started talking about how the 21st of February was the day when most suicides occurred because it has the least amount of daylight. Then she told me we would be losing 4 minutes of sunshine this weekend with the end of daylight savings. Needless to say, she was charming. I got absolutely drilled on why I was moving out, why I wasn’t wanting to live with my current housemates and when I made the mistake of saying my current house was kind of crap, I got drilled as to why that was. Umm, maybe cause the heating hasn’t been working, the house is infested with mould, the toilet doesn’t flush and the letting agents keep allowing potential tenants into the house without asking. It wasn’t for me anyway cause the bills ended being £100 per month instead of £70 as advertised. This was on top of rent being £575 per month. Don’t convert. Don’t convert!

Another fun part of house hunting is going to never been seen areas of London. Like ending up in ghettoville when you catch the wrong bus going the wrong way. Then you don’t want to get your a-z map out cause it’s just not 'street enough' when you’re in da hood. Let’s just say I didn’t see East 17 when I was wandering around Walthamstow….

Um, onto other things, last night I went and saw The Vegemite Tales. It was actually really funny and resonated well with me and most of the Aussie audience. Some of the small things about living in London rang so true, like drinking wine out of mugs cause you have no glasses and the fact that so many Aussies adopt a strange affection for all things Cold Chisel as soon as they land here. Plus I heard the word ‘boofhead’ that I hadn’t heard in a while!

This weekend I am off to Manchester with Cassie. It will be fun to catch up with Vic and Nick and hopefully the chocolate place we visited last time I was there!!

Other than the house hunting and the manic workload everything is going really well. Oh, and also apart from the fact it is freezing here and it’s only autumn! It’s getting a lot darker in the afternoon now, so I can imagine winter is going to be rather depressing. I am also waking up with a cold nose and freezing feet every morning despite wrapping myself up in a blanket and wearing thermal pj’s. I think a hot water bottle may be needed, or and electric blanket.

SAAAT, sausage and goulash

I have returned from the lands of sausage and goulash and am all the fatter for it. I ate possibly the best sausage ever in Zakopane in Poland. Although, that means it would come up against the best hotdog ever in Hamburg. My Lady and the Tramp moment with Skinner is kind of hard to beat….

So I had a rather cultural holiday which was both pleasant and long overdue. My brain feels all the more enriched. Well, kind of. I was all for feeding my brain until I got to the Salt Mines in Krakow (admittedly, this was on the 2nd day) and had to eat my lunch and all associated snacks halfway through cause I was bored. But apart from that, I am now a walking culture machine!!

You know when people really piss you off and you want to give them a piece of your mind and never do? Especially annoying American tourists?

Ok, let me paint the picture.

Characters:
Stupid and annoying American Tourist (SAAAT)
VM (yes, that’s me)

Setting:
Auschwitz – English tour 5th October 2007. SAAAT is going nuts taking photos. So much so that she is totally disregarding what the tour guide is saying while trying to get the best angle of the death camp, gas chambers and torture areas.

Tour group enters a building that has a sign saying “Please do not take any photos inside this area”.

[SAAAT proceeds to take photos all through this area. VM does a lot of glaring at her. VM stands next to her while she takes a photo through glass. SAAAT does not turn the flash off and does a tut when she looks through the viewfinder and sees nothing but flash].

SAAAT ‘Tut’

VM ‘I guess that’s what happens when you take photos when you shouldn’t’

SAAAT ‘Mmmmmmppphh’ (but more like Mmmmmmmppphh, you got no game kind of way)


[VM walks outside and SAAAT follows]

SAAAT ‘I was only taking photos because everyone else was’

VM ‘Just because everyone else is doesn’t mean you should to. It’s extremely disrespectful to do it when there are signs saying not to’

SAAAT ‘Mmmmmppphh’

[SAAAT then walks off to take more photos of the death railway]

[VM does more glaring]

I actually should have known that this is what would happen. I guess I was hoping that people would have more respect. Places like that bring out the worst in people. I guess I can understand why people take photos, but seriously, what are they going to do with them after? Instead of absorbing things through their lenses, they should have just listened, took in the travesty of what happened and learnt a lesson about humanity. There was one guy who answered two phone calls while we were in one of the sheds that housed men in Dauchau (this was probably one of the most depressing moments in the tour) and another handful of people who took photos in the gas chambers. Why? I just don’t get what is wrong with people.

Anyway, besides that, we also visited the Salt Mines before heading off to Zakopane in the Polish Tatra mountains. This place was beautiful but freakin cold. We hiked up to the Morskie Lake which was stunning and then had a picnic by the lake. I had kind of forgotten the good ole backpacking tricks/tight arseness of stealing breakfast items for lunch, but quickly got back into the swing of things! Then, the next day, we headed to Budapest through the Slovakian Donovally area. Budapest was pretty, but there was something slightly seedy about it. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but it didn’t have the charm and beauty of Krakow.

And now I’m back. With no more holidays til December……

Wrong but oh so right

It’s funny when you’re in a foreign country and you’re suddenly overcome with a wave of nostalgia for home. Usually I feel it in my stomach. What I wouldn’t give for a pack of BBQ Shapes or Twisties. Or, even better, a Farmers Union Ice Coffee. Oh, and Fru Chocs. And Lift. OK, I’ll stop. But the reason why I’m talking of all things home is from watching the grand final on the weekend. Yes, I got up at 4am to cram myself into the Slug at Fulham to watch it live with a hundred other Aussies. Don’t ask me why. Well, I do know, it was fun. But, it’s wrong to start drinking at 5am. Ok, what am I saying? It's fun but snakebites? What have I turned into? Beer just should not be mixed with raspberry. Crawling out of the pub at 11am is also wrong. Especially when everyone else is going about doing their food shopping outside and you’ve been dancing to Barnsy in the pub. It was a good day and long night, filled with completely random fun including bumping into some people I had met in Croatia, stumbling into a dim sum themed pub and eating the best chicken kebab on the way home.

I can’t begin to describe how different my life is over here. Not that life at home was bad, just different. I feel like I haven’t taken a breath since I got here. Standing still is now alien. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way. There are always so many new things to discover and my list of 'want to do' is endless. Of course I miss you all (and of course BBQ City) but I’m so happy here. Perhaps I’m in a hurry to do it all because I know it’s not my home and there's an end point at some stage, but if there had to be a temporary place to call home, I couldn't ask for a better one. Well, maybe take the tube and the bad weather out of the picture. Perhaps it's not even London itself, just the fact that I wanted more and now I have it.

This week I am off to Krakow and Budapest with Jen. I can't wait, although it's proof of how quickly time has flown, as I remember spontaneously booking it back in June. I'm looking forward, although this is not quite the right word, to visiting Auschwitz. Being able to go to a place such as this, that played such an important, albeit tragic, part in history is part of what living over here is all about.

The important things in life

There are moments in my job that I stop and think about how I can possibly continue to do this without shooting myself in the head. Don’t get me wrong, most of the time when I get told to think of headlines that can only contain 5 words, be emotive and use the word cow, I say “sure”. Then there are days like today where I get phone calls saying “the client doesn’t like the word ‘commemorative’”. I say “how about celebration?” The account service person says “mmmm, ummm, yes, I guess that would do, but can you think of more?” I put the phone down and then smack myself in the head with my hand. Then I begin to recall other professionally fulfilling days at work. Like the time I had an argument with an account service person about whether you say “via email” or “by email”. I mean, seriously, this is important stuff. Am I actually having these conversations? Do I really get paid to do this? Can I possibly live with myself doing this completely bullshit job?

Sorry. I’m grumpy cause I haven’t had enough sleep and at 2:55pm my shoes are still drenched from this morning.

Waaaaales

Let’s take a moment. I want to share my weekend with you. Shut your eyes. Think of me. She who recently had to Google ‘rugby words’ so she could sound like she knew what she was talking about on a job at work, draped in an Aussie flag, face painted with yellow and green wallabies and even drinking a beer (not Fosters, eeww) at a World Cup match. Yes, I was patriotic, sporty-like and in Cardiff on the weekend supporting the boys (ha!) for the Wales vs Australia World Cup game. It was awesome. Cardiff has arguably (because I’m an expert) the best stadium in the world. And, as told to us by our taxi driver, who could have talked underwater with rocks in his mouth, the only stadium in the world on the city’s High Street. The atmosphere was electric. When the Welsh sang their national anthem the hairs on my arms stood up. Of course, that was nothing compared to my singing of the Australian anthem which went something like ‘for we are young and free mumble mumble’. I do actually know all the words, but I had the Crows song in my head for some reason, so some remixing/confusion was occurring while trying to sing with due pride and patriotism.

However, I almost didn't get a chance to sing or see the game. Being the clever person I am, I left my £86 ticket on the ground outside the stadium. It was only after having my face painted and posing for a few photos that I realised, freaked out and ran back to where I thought I had left it. Luckily it was still lying on the ground, untouched.

Now, I’ve come to discover that when you start drinking at 11am, by the time it’s 7pm and you’ve already started a dancefloor at the bar, it feels like at least 1am. But I managed to pull through and get some free buffet in the process. Skinner and I were eyeing it off for at least half an hour before deciding to give it a crack. We couldn’t see any staff supervision, so we decided to risk it and help ourselves. Unfortunately, I was caught with plate in hand and the other on the handle of the spoon to the pasta bake when we got asked for a ticket. Luckily, I’m great at thinking on my feet, and stood there looking dumb and finally said ‘oh, do you need a ticket’? Skinner was no help whatsoever and thought of a comeback line about an hour later. However, we persevered and went in again with another game plan. To make other people without tickets go in front so they would get caught first. It paid off, and we ended up getting a plate full of food and sat in a dark corner stuffing our faces before feeling very satisfied.

It’s also a little depressing when the caravan park cabin you stay in is actually nicer than your house, so I have decided on a few prerequisites for my next house in London:

1) a toilet than flushes first go and seat not broken
2) hot water that works
3) a bit of carpet

Anyway, so the weekend was finished off with wasting time til the bus left with thinking of different food to eat:

1) Cajun chicken burger
2) Icecream
3) Twix
4) Cheese platter (mmm cheese)

I was also provided with a great source of amusement on the bus home. In fact, I’m still laughing as I type. The girl I was sitting next to was a heavy head nodder. So as she dozed on the bus, her head would fall to the side and she would continually donk her head on the window. Every time I heard the thud I started shaking with laughter. Silent laughter of course, I wouldn’t want to wake her up and then not have anything to laugh as it was a reasonably long ride home.

Croatia

Slackness is a terrible thing. It’s like putting jam in your cup of tea because it’s the closest thing around you can’t be bothered getting up for sugar. Erm, not that I’ve done that before…

Anyway, I am freshly back from Croatia, relaxed, slightly tanned no thanks to the crap weather and vowing to cut down on my food intake for at least a week (so far it hasn’t happened). My favourite place was Split. There was something kind of magical about it. The clincher for number one spot was on our last night there. When Anna and I were walking back to our hostel we wandered into an old square where an acoustic set was playing with couples doing impromptu tango. It was one of those wow moments in life that simply make you feel good and happy to the core.

Back to sailing. The cruise was fun. Our boat was probably the crappiest one in the line, but the people were great, food fantastic and really, that’s all that counts. Our captain was this 70 year old Croatian dude who got into the homemade liquor on one too many occasions and ended up partying with us up on deck. I think he got told off after one particularly big night where he insisted on me riding on his back and asking Anna to meet him in his room. It was funny though. After 3 days of stunning weather it ended up pissing down for the rest of the trip. The weather was so bad that we couldn’t port in the planned destinations and on a few days the rocking was so bad no one left their beds. With the exception of breakfast and lunch of course. Well, for me anyway.

In breaking drinking news I have switched to vodka quite successfully which is great for the availability and cost factors. Drinking, as it is in most European countries is quite cheap, as the cost of soft drink is almost the same as alcohol.

I’m quite proud of myself in the fact that I’ve waited 5 paragraphs to talk about the food I ate! Progress! Let’s just say I’ve never eaten so much bread in my life. It was so tasty with a beautiful crusty outer and soft inner. Mmmm, I’m getting hungry thinking about it. Ok, I got so hungry reliving the bread I had to go and get my lunch.

The excitement is not over though. I'm off to Wales this weekend for the Australia vs Wale World Cup match. Ok, I know, I know nothing about rugby, but I definitely do atmosphere. I feel my patriotism at an all time high.

Excitement is reaching an all new high

I have numerous things that I am excited about. I like doing lists, so the fact that I am listing what I am excited about is, in itself, very exciting. Maybe I also need to think of another word for exciting.

1. I'm excited about Megan coming over here to Xmas and New Years. HEAPS EXCITED!
2. I'm excited about my South Australia: It's heaps good t-shirt arriving - thanks Teresa!!
3. I'm excited about going to Croatia tomorrow. I'm jiggling with excitement about this one.
4. I'm super excited about seeing Kate tonight! Foie!
5. I got paid today!!

So at the moment I am doing a whole lot of nothing and trying to stop myself from jiggling at my desk. And also spontaneous smiling. I told a story at work this morning of how I couldn't be bothered cleaning the knife I was using to scrape my burnt toast this morning, so I wiped it on my palm and now I have toast ingrained into my hand. Perhaps it was a crap story, or perhaps (and this is probably more likely) they were wowed by my cleaning genius, so all in all, I'm trying to tone down the blabber, smiling and movement as I am going on my 4th holiday for the year and no one on my team has had one yet. Suckers!

I'm also trying not to check Croatia's weather every 5 seconds. I've recently worked out that BBC weather is extremely unreliable so now I am a dedicated follower of weather.com. It not only tells you the temperature, but what it also actually feels like and I find this a more accurate and well rounded weather source.

The weekend just gone was fantastic. Not only did I get a half day on Friday, but I ended up at the same pub that I went to for my birthday the week before. Then on Saturday I went to SW4 and had a brilliant time - I love The Shapeshifters!! Then on Sunday I headed up to Saffron Walden to spend time with the family and then Monday was Notting Hill Carnival which was crazy, fun crazy that is. The amount of booty grinding that was going on put my new found booty shaking abilities to shame! The worst thing was the raw chicken Anna and I almost ate at the Jerk Chicken tent. You would think that a piece of bird that was chargrilled to the point of total blackness would be cooked, but no. And what do they do when you show them your partly eaten bit of £8 chicken? Put it back on the BBQ to be given to another person! So wrong! I also tried some curried goat which so tender, but despite my newly found spice palate, I still had to shake my tongue in the wind to cool it down. Maybe I'm still slightly spiced challenged.

Oh, I also went to my 2nd West End show and saw Chicago with Cass. It was absolutely brilliant. I did some broadway moves after on the way to the tube. I think there was also some singing. Needless to say I was inspired to unleash my talents to the public.

Ok, gotta go and eat lunch. I've held out til 1, but then again, I have had a rice pudding and piece of bread. I guess some stomaches never change.

Ahhh, this time tomorrow I'll be on the plane!!!!! Wooooooooohooooooooo xx

Edinburrrrrgghhhhhhhh

So, you've been out for dinner (which was awesome by the way), have gotten to the train station in pretty good time to find out that the train is full and even though you bought tickets for £65, they won't let you on the train. So, you run for the Virgin train that's about to leave and is going to Glasgow via Birmingham and hope for the best. You meet a ticket chick who has the biggest front bum you've ever seen but love her cause she doesn't charge you extra for the tickets to hop on an entirely different train or for the extra journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh. Then you arrive in Birmingham at 2am, become a member of the Gala Casino so you can sit somewhere warm (couldn't find a bar), then hop on the train to Glasgow at 5:30am. Then, after no sleep cause you have a sleeping in public transport impediment, the train stops in a place called Motherwall cause there is a major signalling problem in Glasgow so you get off and then find a bus to get on that's going to Edinburgh. So, 12 hours later, you arrive in a freezing Edinburgh, thanking Meg's profusely because she gave you her jacket because you are an idiot who thought it would be hot there. That last point was based on nothing other than the fact that it was hot there last year despite the fact it was cold in London and going north = even colder weather.

So, Edinburgh welcomed us with gale force winds, heavy rain and a freezing temperature which was kind of good because the wind slapping my face kept me awake. We went and sat in a pub and ate then wandered around and found our hostel. The hostel ended up being a converted church and all the rooms had partisans with no roofs. So essentially, it was a really big sleep over in a church. We then headed back into the old town and sat in a pub with lots of old people for about 5 hours. I actually fell asleep sitting up which was the source of amusement for all at the table. We saw a funny show but had trouble staying awake, then tried to stay out (made it til 1:30 ish on no sleep) and then piked but ended up waiting in the rain for 1.5 hours trying to get a cab.

After having a good 5 hours sleep, we got up, had breakfast and went to a free show in the basement of some pub. It was funny, but my eyes kept on drooping and I was afraid he'd pick on me, so I spend the most part of it in terror that I was going to fall asleep in my seat.

Then we went to the Spiegltent/gardens which were really disappointing. They were completely different to Adelaide's Garden of Unearthly Delights, which is, in my opinion, waaaay better than Edinburgh's. There was no grass, no trapeze, no fairy lights. No doof doof food. Nothing. Just some plastic chairs and astro turf. So then we went and saw some street performers and then headed back to London.

26

Yep. I can't believe it. And I was just feeling ok with 25. Then BOOM. I'm 26. Another year older and kind of closer to 30 than I'd like. Surely I'd be a little more mature by now? Like some kind of overnight transformation. Mmm, overnight maturity. Like cheese. I could really do with a cheese platter. With fig jam. Oh, and a slice of pear. Camembert of course. Wait, no I couldn't. I am so full. This morning I woke up to an awesome breakfast surprise thanks to Skinner and Anna. We had pain du chocolat and croissants with cheese. Oh and grapes. And passion fruit juice, and if course, tea. Hell, it's England and it was kind of cold this morning. Then I got to work and had a piece of chcoclate mud cake on my desk with an oversized hobnob birthday card (it's so cool)and £50 worth of itunes vouchers! Then I ate some hobnobs (left over from being photographed for the card) with my tea. Then Kerry and Frances stopped past for lunch with me and my team at the bbq nazi place. Unfortunately I've had to do some work today which has totally ruined my otherwise fantastic birthday.

Yesterday I had the day off and spend it with mum. Actually, rewind that. It started on Wednesday night when mum and I went and got half price tickets to Les Miserables. It was my first time and it was really good. Oh and we had strawberry Haagen Daaz. Mum agreed that it was one of the best ice creams. Ok, maybe I have added some creative licence to that sentence, but she did say it was good. Then back to yesterday. I was hoping for a lie in, but mum was up and dressed at 8 and peering over at me, so I figured I should get up. We headed to Richmond for a coffee. There was a slight problem in the fact that no coffee shops were open, but we managed to find one and the coffee wasn't too rank (it's kind of hit and miss here).

Then we headed to Hamstead Heath (so we've gone from West London to North London) to find the famous view of London's cityscape. We found it, it was unimpressive, so we looked for somewhere to have lunch. We had the most amazing bread at this cute little pub. First off we had this beautiful ciabatta with pieces of olives and then, as I was feeling greedy, asked for seconds and got a basket full of sundried tomato bread. A total bonus.

Then mum and I headed to the National Gallery for some culture. It was good, but as usual when I am exposed to religious art, got extremely tired. Mum acted as guide and told me lots of interesting stuff which I tried really hard to retain, but forgot by the time we left.

After the influx of intellect and culture my brain needed a rest, so we went to Oxford Street. I didn't buy anything interesting (I am trying SO HARD to go shopping but I can't seem to find anything I like). Then we went to Busapa which is my favourite restaurant here. Everyone will be surprised to learn I ordered a curry (a real one - Muslim beef and had visible chili thank you very much). Mum tried some and said it was too hot for her. I think I may be hard core.

So tonight I'm heading to Islington for drinks and dinner, then Skinner, Anna, Cassie and I are heading to Euston to catch the train to Edinburgh at 11:25pm. Ewwww, night train. I found out it's going to be 15 degrees there and I didn't bring a jacket. Ugh. Oh well.

Biggest joke for today. Mum received my postcard from Hamburg which apparently had about 5 spelling mistakes and sentences (spelt that word wrong on it)that didn't make sense. I checked that it wasn't my atrocious handwriting. But mum double checked and realised it was just cause I'm a dumb ass. Yes, I am a fantastic hire as a writer. This is why I want to laugh when people ask me whether certain words need apostrophes etc. As if I bloody know!

Ok, gotta go down the pub. It's birthday drink time.

The weekend wrap up

I had an interesting weekend. A couple of things happened.

I played Frisbee for the first time (although this may be like ‘I’ve never been to Hamburg’ when indeed, I was there in 1988 and forgot)

I met three people in one night that I didn’t like

I quite obviously acted like I didn’t like these people because they picked it up straight away.

Now, I know in regards to the last two points, some of you are going, nooooooo, you being subtle about not liking someone? Never! But seriously, it was in the first sentence with each of them that they made this claim that I didn’t like them. At the time it wasn’t true. But then this got me thinking. Do I not like them? Damn straight.

Let me set the scene. We had a house party. People came – phew, but a few mistakes were made:

1. Inviting the neighbours
2. Having my mum arrive the next day at 10am
3. Irish people meeting chicks at tube stations and then bringing them to a party of people they don’t know and then getting her to pose as his girlfriend

Now, for the most part, the house party was fun. The décor was excellent, even if I do say so myself. Tea lights were placed inside stolen lolly bags from Woolworths, the garden flooded because our drains suck and half of the garden was tramped into our house and we even had a dancefloor. Oh, and a token Sainbury’s trolley in the living room. Just for decoration of course.

Now, onto the tools.

Tool 1: Is one of our neighbours. He pissed all over our toilet floor. I don’t need to say any more do I? Oh wait, I do, he claimed the party sucked because there was no hip hop playing. I told him to go upstairs if he didn’t like the music. This was after he said I didn’t like him. I figured I had nothing to loose.

Tool 2: was highly offended when I asked who he was. I know, it’s very controversial asking random guests at your house party who they are. He consoled himself with some other random girl on our futon. It was romantic.

Tool 3: friend of neighbours and probably number one in the toolbox. In a nutshell; ‘I’m the biggest f*ckin’boxer in London man – yea’ (this was on repeat), throwing his drink again the wall (twice), jogging around the house punching the air Rocky style and bitching about how the party sucked. Plus he was the last to leave. At 5am he was still there punching the bloody air in the living room.

Oh, but in other news I’ve learned how to sleep with my ipod in my ears.

I also caught up with mum yesterday after furiously mopping and cleaning up 15 minutes before I was suppose to meet her. It was like the 90’s spray and wipe ad, but with waaay more dirt, no bad lipstick and Superman boxers.

I’m heading into dangerous territory (i.e the next age tick box) this week. I think I may cry. Plus, this time last year I was in Lake Como about to head to the Greek Islands. And now, I’m at work…looking up where I can go for high tea for my birthday day off – woo!

Orbing/Zorbing....whatever

Orbing. Was so much fun!!!

Ok, here’s the Orb 411.

Firstly, you have to do a run up and dive through a hole into the ball. I planned on being rather graceful, but my legs didn’t go all the way through, and they kind of bounced back up and hit the top of the hole. Then you get strapped in, facing your partner. Mine was Mimi, a designer in my team. Because we were two girls and it was fairly windy, we were airborne for parts. It wasn’t scary, hilarious would probably be a better description. I was crying from laughter because the g-force was distorting Mimi’s face. Plus, she said she was going to vomit (probably wouldn’t have been as funny if she had actually spewed because it would have landed on me) and her head was bouncing all over the place.

Anyway, it was a lot of fun. Today is absolutely beautiful and I’m stuck at work making a playlist for the party – ha!

Uh oh, it's after 5 and I haven't done work for a meeting first thing Monday morning!!! Ok, 30 minutes of thinking starting NOW.

Correction

It's shining. Can you believe I get paid to write? HA!

Encounters of the famous kind. Oh, and the arrival of summer. Finally.

Finally, summer arrived in London. It was short, but boy, was it good. The sun was shinning, get this, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And then this morning it was raining. It was glorious. London when it’s sunny is one of the best places to be. Well, apart from the Greek Islands, or Australia for that matter. Ok, anywhere is beautiful when the sun is shinning. The word shinning is looking wrong, perhaps I’m spelling it wrong, but then again it would be shining and that just wouldn’t be right. Hmmm, now I’ve spent way too long debating that completely useless point and I’ll never get that time back in my life. I could have been doing something way more productive, like eating my morning snack.

BREAKING NEWS! I just went to the chemist to buy some drugs for my snotty nose and saw Jamie Oliver!!!! So exciting. He’s a little porky and not very tall. But he was wearing purple and I love a man who wears the colour of sexual frustration. It was my first famous person sighting. Anna saw Matt Shirvington the other week and I was very jealous.

I had such a nice weekend despite feeling like I was going to pass out and also having weird temperature changes (and I wasn’t even on the tube!). Saturday I went to Notting Hill with Skinner. We walked past where Kirsten Dunst and Jake Gy(can’t sell the rest of his name) used to live. We also managed to stuff our faces with some lunch – the food there is fantastic. I had a baguette and managed to cut the sides and top of my mouth from eating it too quickly. Luckily, there was an icecream stand near by and I alleviated the pain with strawberry movenpick (cone not cup). Then we headed to Hyde Park where we lay on the grass, read magazines and laughed at a miniature French pug get humped on the head by a massive dog. And no, we did not get our kit off like everyone else making the most of the sunshine.

Then we went shopping, I finally bought a black bag to replace the free one I got with a magazine that I had been using (this info is no doubt fascinating to everyone) and then went home to get ready for roller disco!

Roller disco was so much fun. After we missed the train stop and spent about ½ an hour wandering around trying to find the place we finally got there and boy, was it worth it. Every gets really dressed up old skool style and they play 70’s disco tracks. There are some pretty awesome skaters there who even dance on their skates. Think funky black dudes NYC style wearing crazy lycra outfits. The hardcore skaters even have flashing wheels. I got all enthusiastic about roller skating after and even contemplated buying some to roll around the house in.

Sunday was spent lazing in Tooting Common eating M&S fruit salad and chips, listening to the pod and reading my book. We bought a Frisbee at the shop but decided we should practice in the backyard first before we let ourselves loose in public.

And now it’s another week at work, but it’s a short one cause we are heading to Brighton to go Zorbing for a team building thing. Should be fun! If I don’t crap myself doing it!

The Hamburger

Ok, so I am just going to get the food accounts out of the way first.

Filed under the best ever food category:

- Hot dog with this special tomato sauce
- Peanut butter flavoured chips (2 large packets inhaled)
- Mr Kebab - oh, I love you Mr Kebab. Best Kebab place in the world. I'm going to claim it right now. It's so much more than a kebab, it's more like a mecca of Turkish food. Mmmm, Turkish mecca.
- Pastries- I don't need to say anymore
- Hot chips - tomato sauce and mayo, again, surely no explanation is needed
- Snickers icecream that's like a Magnum
- Bar nuts (yes, I am aware of the germ statistics) so crunchy and better yet, free and endless.

Hamburg was nice. It was a little like Amsterdam, but not as good. It was cute and the area we were staying in was littered with little bars, pubs and places to eat. Unfortunately the rain from London followed us, so with much reluctance, we had to dedicate quite a bit of time to eating. It was hard, but someone had to do it.

Coming from London it was really strange to be in such a quiet city. We couldn't work out where all the people were! It made me realise how hard it will be to go home after London. Especially seeing as though Hamburg is bigger than little old Adelaide!

I tapped into my year 8 German lessons and surprisingly, I didn't do too badly. I must have been ok cause people would talk to me in German and I'd whip out a 'ja, ja' and nod my head. However, when they expected more of an answer, like other than 'yes' or 'no' I got into trouble. Or when they say 'do you know where x is' and I'd say 'ja'and then they'd expect me to elaborate. Hmmm. Mum, I even did a spontaneous 'sehr gut' after a meal!! There was no occasion to do my usual phase 'I don't have any pets but my neighbour has a dog which was unfortunate.

As for sights, we saw some really big stature of some dude who we named Dave, went into the city, hung around the student area which had some cute places to eat and funky bars, went to the red light district (Reeperbahn) and went to the art gallery. There is this section of the Repperbahn which is sectioned off, and if you walk through it (you'd have to be a complete dummy to do it cause there is a massive metal sliding door across the street) the pros throw stuff out the window. We saw neither pro nor a throw but we heard about this from a reliable source i.e a German person and my sister.

I think that's probably it. Oh, and I had to put my hand down a toilet to retrieve my favourite hair clip from Tokyo. It was a liberating experience.

Back to another week of work, next trip in 3 weeks when I will be celebrating my entry into the next tick box category. Ugh.

Mmmm, I have eaten so many naked men gummy lollies that I brought back for the team from Hamburg. Is it wrong to pig out on presents you bring back from other people? Ha, yea probably!

Hamburger

I'm going to Hamburg tomorrow!! Yay. That's all really.

Why, oh why is there no BBQ City for I?

I just wanted to share that I had the WORST Chinese in Covent Garden last Friday night. It was gross, and usually I like to see the best in food. It was even in China Town. Agh, so disappointing, but before you all start worrying about this life threatening disaster in my life, fear not, Cassie is bringing me a BBQ City menu when she comes in August. I plan to stick it on the wall and maybe lick it from time to time. Umm, too much information?

In other news, Anna, Megs and I went to Loughborough or Loogabooga as it is apprently referred to by some Aussies. We went for numberous reasons:

1. It was totally random
2. TV Rock were playing
3. Can't think of a 3rd reason

So word got around that there were 3 Aussie chicks around so that got us free entry (ok, so it was only £10 - or maybe less to get in but still, VIP baby!)into the club. We must have been hanging out in London too long (or maybe just way uncool) but we left this pre club bar at 11 to go to Rapture (yea, I know, dodgy name) and asked for directions. We got told that no one goes there til 1 and we'd be the only people there. So when went back inside and then decided that the security guy was wrong and headed off there anyway. He even shook his head at us as we walked away! So, we got there and yes, we were the only losers who got there before 12. But soon enough the cooler people of Loogabooga came and joined us and it started to get busier. TV Rock rocked and I think we boogied for about 5 hours straight. So Anna, Megs and I limped back to our hotel room which consisted of one smaller than average double bed. We decided sleeping across the bed was the better option and it was ok until the church bells went off every hour (not good when you get home at 5). So anyway we ended up checking out and having the best breakfast at a local cafe and then heading home. All in all a very good night.

This week has been pretty uneventful. The following things have happened:

- I learnt that you shouldn't always go for the cheapest Indian takeaway (not deterred though)

- My team leader has figured out I love food (well, duh)

- I saw our stupid real estate agent outside the tube stop. I couldn't work out who he was, then it clicked so I looked back and so was he so I gave him a mega glare and swore at him (yes, so I had turned around at this stage and I kind of muttered it under my breath but still, it was very street fighterish). Agh, stupid weasly idiot

- Tweens of today have no hope when a) they are called tweens b) read magazines called Go Girl and c) watch brain destroying Disney things like Hannah Montana, High School Musical and the Suite Life of Zack and Cody. The only trouble is, I am contributing in this descruction of positive self image and domination of American crap on the screens by writing ads for it. I think I need to go and build an orphanage or something...

- I used the word 'fab' in copy this week. It's sooooooooo English. Argh, I need to go srub my brain out

- I got paid out for saying yooooogurt not yogot. I'm just adding it to the list of stuff I am going to refuse to say such as 'hiya, trousers, you right and fella.

Tonight I am up in the country for my nephews party which is tomorrow. So I will no doubt be gorging on party food as well as two servings of cake as Anna and I have been talking up Cou Cou to Skinner so another round of cake will be had. Lucky we are heading to Shoreditch on Saturday night.

Hamburg this Thursday - yay, although none of us can remember why we are going.

I'm having trouble using my brain

I had a latish night last night and trying to form words is a little difficult. Oh, and I probably should have settled with one style of drink last night instead of changing each time I went to the bar. Ugh.

Yesterday arvo/night we had the summer forum for work. The place I am working for are seriously such a great company. They hold a forum twice a year to let everyone know what's been going on in the agency. They also show some work that the agency has done and show some stuff from around the world to inspire everyone (ok it sounds naff but it's cool). Then they put on dinner and drinks, oh, and there were carnival sideshows to match the theme of the day. What's better was this morning they put on a hangover bar for everyone with pastries, chocolate, red bulls, fruit and smoothies. I stuffed myself. Yea, yea, I know, it's a given. I'm dangerous around any kind of buffet. It was a wrong move though to eat two lots of kit kats.

This weekend Megs, Anna and I are going to Loughborough. I'm not exactly sure where it is other than it's in the Midlands and we have to get there by train and it's a college town. We're off to see TV Rock at a club, I think it's called Rapture. Ok, that sounds a little dodgy, but it's so random and it's going to be so much fun!!!!

Tonight I'm heading to Covent Garden for a drink after work, ohhhhhhhhhhh and guess what! I'm going to Edinburgh for my birthday!!

Ummm, news. Well, last Saturday we went to Brighton which was really cool. There was a bit of sun, and although it was very windy, we managed to lay on the beach which was more like someone's driveway with the amount of rocks (not pebbles)but was enjoyable nonetheless. We got the magical milkshakes - I went the apple pie with custard and cinnamon and seriously had the best chips ever!! They were so perfectly deep fried.

Oh, and Friday night I got to watch a bit of tv at Megs' house. It's too bad there was nothing on. Obviously only losers watch tv on a Friday night. I still got a fix though, and managed to stuff a double coated caramel magnum in my mouth as well as a frozen dinner. Yum.

Sunday Megs joined us for our Sunday night Party of Five dinner. We had chili con carne. It was really, really good.

Ok, gotta go, heading out to Convent Garden.

xx

Cultural confusion

Ok, this country is messing with my mind.

Chicken chip packets are pink. I couldn't believe. I was all ready to go and get a packet of chips from Cafe Choice (our building cafe) and I asked what flavour chips they had. First I was accosted for saying 'chips' instead of 'crisps, then I saw that instead of a chicken flavour chip coming from the green packet they were indeed salt and vinegar! I am shocked and dismayed at the backwardness of this country. However, to make up for it they do have micro chips that you heat up in the mircowave. That's brilliant. Oh, and you can go to this milkshake place that make milkshakes with flavours such as:

Apple cruble with custard and cinnamon
Crunchy nut cornflakes
Strawberry cheesecake
KitKat chunky
Spotted dick (hehe)

I could go on. I am hoping that an excursion to Brighton will be happening so I can drink the goodness that only a milk drink with some kind of cake can bring.

Mmm, we had strawberries with cream and chocolate sauce for Wimbledon which was great. Plus I ate someone else's too cause I am a pig. Plus I had strawberries on my museli this morning so I kind of have a stomach ache. I also had a massive roll and cookie at the markets so I need to lie down BIG TIME!

I found this food porn site which is now one of my favourite web sites. This chick just takes photos of her food. I love it. We may be kindred spirits.

Yay, it's Friday. The weeks are going so quickly I can hardly believe it.

Mmm, cheese wheel

I just wanted to share that I ate the most amazing thing at the Borough Markets on Saturday. Imagine a huge cheese wheel that was being burnt over a fire. Then the melted cheese is dripped onto a pate of baby potatoes and gerkins. Mmmm, well, that was my lunch on Saturday. Yes, I suffered from massive cheese related stomach cramps that night and afternoon. But it was worth it.

The weekend was action packed. Went to the Punch and Judy pub at Covent Garden (minus the punch and judy, then ended up at a pub called the Porterhouse. I don't think I've ever seen such a big pub in my life. I think there were about 4 levels and a million beers to choose from. Then on Saturday, cheese goodness, watched AFL in Clapham Common and then headed out for a night at the various locals. As always in this bloosy country, Bon Jovi was danced to. Sunday was spent with my friend Sarah who I met travelling last year. She was in London for about 8 hours so we managed to meet halfway between my house and the airport for a whirlwind catch up.

Last night I cooked dinner for our usual Sunday night Party of Five dinner. My Asian roots were out in full force with my stir fry concoction and my homemade 'asian fusion' sauce. It was followed up with flapjack appple crumble and custard. Go me. I'm going to make some man a great lil' wifey one day.

I can't believe it's July already. It's scary how quickly time is flying. Hamburg in a couple of weeks!! Yay!!!!!!

Weather report: pissed down all weekend.
Current weather: cold but not raining

Arghhhh!

I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to Poland and Budapest in October!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I'm in minus holiday mode at work. I had to buy half a day teehee.

SO EXCITED. I love spontaneous travel.

Woohoo!!!!!!

Stuff

Well, it's been at least a week since my last confession so it's about time I give you some juicy details about my high flying London life.

To begin with I branched out in my biscuit eating and have tried a new type called Boasters. They have choc chips and hazelnuts in them. I like them a lot but there aren't as many in a packet and while I like quality, quantity is very important too.

Ascot was cool. I saw the Queen in her Queenmobile wave to everyone while going around the course (I waved back).I bumped into a guy I apparently used to hang around with when I was 14 and got drenched. Oh, the Brits do great port-a-loos. They have kind of green carpet in them and pictures on the wall. It was tres posh.

Despite it being 'summer' it has rained EVERY freakin' day for the past month. On Wednesday night it was especially nice when we were going to the supermarket, didn't bring an umbrella and ended up running to Waitrose in hail like rain. It was torrential.

Work has been crazy busy. Except for today when I am obviously faffing. Yesterday arvo all of the writers went to this talk in a cellar of one of the oldest pubs in London to hear this writer speak. It was just us and it was really cool. The dude had written a book about the history of words like 'arse' which I of course found fascinating.

Update, it's raining again. Sheesh.

Last night I went and saw Fat Freddy's Drop. They were awesome but the location wasn't as good as last year. I was patted down on entry, that should give you some idea of what the venue was like! Then on the way home there were severe delays on the tube and it took about an hour and a half to get home. Sucky tube.

Tonight I am spose to go to Covent Garden but there's been a bomb scare and the Picadilly line has been shut. Honestly, these bombers are so inconsiderate of my social life.

Tomorrow I may try and attempt going shopping again. I've been trying really hard to go shopping but it's just so draining. There are way too many people around, but I'll give it another crack. Wish me luck.

Ok, my team leader (who I sit next to by the way) keeps on looking at my computer. Must go!

xx

Photos

Hey all - photo update on Ringo. Check check it out...

I have a tummy ache

Cause I ate a whole packet of milk chocolate hobnobs last night. Let's just say they really are digestives. Man am I paying for my piggery. Ugh. But seriously, I was being sympathetic to Skinner cause she got knocked off her bike yesterday. Um, you may ask how I was being sympathetic. Well, she had chocolate (which I also ate) and I bought hobnobs to make her feel better. It just so happened that she only helped me eat two (boo to that effort) and I was feeling shaky (in sympathy) and eating helps shaky people (i.e me).

Anyway, so I know you are all DYING for an update on my exciting London life. Well, here it is. Apart from swearing off hobnobs for at least a couple of days I have decided that I really don't like the maroon jumper dude at work. I've said hi (not hiya) to him twice and he just gives me this smug look back. Once he just raised his eyebrows. I want to smack him up. So now I've totally shown him by raising MY eyebrows to HIM. Yeah.

Hmmm, what else. I'm going to the Ascot Races this weekend. I'd never heard of it, but apparently it's a big deal and the Queen goes. But paying £15 to get into the Silver Ring I doubt I'll be rubbing shoulders with anyone other than drunk Pommie yobbos.

I've finally got a security pass at work. Since May 8th I've been waiting outside the many doors in this building until someone walks past to let me in. It's not quite that security pass on the string thing that I've always wanted, but it'll do. Plus I get my own lanyard - ooooer.

I've also totally decided that I have a body temperature issue. Walking to and on the tube I sweat like a pig (like droplets of sweat and it's not even that hot) and then at work I freeze. As I type I have purple nails I am so cold. Maybe it's because I'm Asian. Yea, probably, when two climates collide in the midst of DNA there can only be trouble.

Oh, and I promise to take some pictures this weekend of the house etc!

OK, this is a really quick one

I went to the best class last night - and it wasn't pole dancing! Well, I did that too, but this one was way funnier. It was called kangaroo something and you wear these crazy boot things (kind of like roller blades) and bounce up and down. It's so London. I love it!!! It was so cool!! Pole dancing was good. I was waaay worse at it than I thought I would be. I think I may have pole burn. Perhaps bouncing like a kangaroo is more me..

Yay, I'm going to see Angus and Julia Stone tonight!!!!

BBQ expert

I just thought you would all like to know that I am officially known as the BBQ expert at Iris. I'll tell you why:

1. I'm Australian (duh it's in-built)
2. There was a pic of a weber on a piece of artwork with copy next to it saying 'gas bbq'. I had a look and said 'that's a weber' and suddenly I was the Ghandi of bbq's.

Someone actually said they needed to 'pick my brains about bbqing techniques later' - seriously!! How funny is that!!

In other news, I know nothing can really compete with my bbq queen newsflash, but I got a pair of red boxing gloves as part of my gym membership (they are SO hardcore), I had the BEST Hagen Daas strawberry cheesecake icecream last night, I'm finally digging spicy food (ok lamb korma isn't exactly hot hot, but still, it's a start) and I'm going to see Angus and Julia Stone tomorrow night in Camden - yay!!

Dancin' in Convent Garden

Man, I was sooooo like Jessica Alba in Honey last night. Gettin' down with tha street vibes. Obviously I was no where near as hot as her and despite being an orange number 23 (that should give me a bit of street cred), I was dancing like a white chick. They were doing that booty thing and there were quite a few good authentic bootiers so I felt a little inadequate, but nevertheless the class totally rocked and I am SO joining this gym. Megs and I are trying Pole Dancing on Thursday night. I may have to pay special attention to the moves cause I STILL haven't been paid yet (JOKE Mum!!). Apparently I'm not getting paid until the end of June for work since the beginning of May.

I'm hungry.

Germs, buffet and Madge Magic

So I've developed this kind of disturbing habit from frequent tube use. I only like to use one hand to hold onto the poles so only one gets infested with germs. Then, when I get to work, I have to go straight into the bathroom and wash my hands. I think I may end up turning into one of those freaky people who don't like walking over cracks either.

Mmmmmm, I just ate a Crispy Creme. I think it was coffee flavoured and it was glazed on both sides. I licked my fingers but it's ok, they were clean.

I'm meeting Megs tonight as we are going to this crazy gym called Gymbox where they have classes like 'Look better naked' and 'Madge Magic' where they only play Madonna songs while you exercise. Tonight we are trying out a less crazy class called Street Vibe (I'm surprised it's not spelt Vybe).

Back to food, I went to the best indoor market thing in Kensington on the weekend. It was similar to one that I went to in New York where you get a container and you pay for the food by the weight. Somehow Megs and I both didn't realise how expensive it would be. Luckily I ate a majority of my food while waiting in the line (hey that's what happens when you make me wait), but I think it was the bok choy that tipped me over the £7 mark. It was worth changing tube 5 times to get there (damn tube closures).

I am now a permanent fulltimer and have the hottest mac book. I am so in love with it. It's so white, shiny and little. I'd marry it if it was legally recognised.

Ok, I'm off now, I am going to stop at Oxford Street on the way to the gym.

Ta ta

Thoughts

There is a guy who just started this week as a copywriter in the team I have been freelancing in. He has worn this maroon knitted jumper everyday this week but that's not the problem, it's just an observation of a poor choice in colour when you're a ginger nut with curly hair. Anyway, my problem with him is more the fact that he spends a lot of the day with his chair pushed back with a 'thinking' face on. I bet he's thinking about his pet hamster (if he had one) or what he's having for lunch. He looks like that guy who always appears in movies as 'the ugly friend'. There's just something about him that bugs me. Oh, and he sighs a lot. Like A LOT. Usually when he's 'thinking'. Oh, and he keeps on opening the window. Meanwhile my cuticles have gone purple cause I'm so cold.

In other news there is a toilet at work that really is just too small to be a cubicle. When you sit or hover you bang into the toilet paper dispenser. It's seriously uncomfortable and you end up having to do some kind of shoulder droop in order to fit.

Still on work, there is guy whose team I am going to be in and while he's probably been the most friendly to me out of everyone here I have no idea what his name is. I'm thinking it's a bit rude to ask seeing as though I've been talking to him for almost a month now. HA - whoops.

In equally uninteresting news, I was in a briefing session the other day and the girl who was talking kept on drawing up the spit in her mouth after every sentence. Bloody English, if I was at home we would have all taken the piss after, but no one else seemed to notice.

OOOOOOh, did I tell you all that I say a guy on the tube with the biggest ears EVER? They were so big, like think of the biggest ears you've ever seen and then triple it. Oh, and Skinner and I bought rice pudding in a can for 19p - what a bargain!!!

Finally, what is with the English and their greetings? They are totally confusing me. For example, instead of saying 'hello' or 'how are you going' it is:

'Hiya' - this is ok, but if I start saying this I am going to have to wash my mouth out with soap
'Alright' - good thanks? Yes? Yes and you? This is a tough one..
'You alright' - you can't say good thanks, it just doesn't work..
'Hi youright' - even with the 'hi' it makes my response too long...'hi, good thanks and you?'

Hmmm this post has been stimulating.

Decision made

Well, it's been decided. I'm taking the role as a copywriter. I feel like this is my only shot at giving it a go here in London and if I didn't take this opportunity that would be it. So I'm giving it a crack - who would have thought this time last year this is where I would end up. Life works in strange but very cool ways.

Mmmm, hello to Fridays at Borough Markets. The road to obesity will continue in full force.

Thanks to those of you who sent me emails with career advice.

Other news, it was actually sunny on the weekend. It was soooooo exciting. I had a great day on Saturday and went to Richmond which is a beautiful area south of the river. There are various eateries located on the banks and with the greenery and the row boats it feels so very dainty and english. I felt a bit Picnic at Hanging Rock - minus the rock, the fact I wasn't in Australia, I wasn't a school girl and there was no mysterious disappearances. So all in all, it was really the fact that I should have been wearing a white dress with a straw hat.

I also got told I had orange skin by some dude riding a bike. Between that and being a number 23 I may also soon be having some kind of identity crisis.

Food wise I have been trying really hard to like Wagamama's (Asian fast food chain located in Oz's eatern states) but I just don't dig it.

I am also trying to wean myself off of hobnobs. It's becoming a problem with all this tea drinking. I need dipping accompaniments!

I also discovered Argos on Sunday. What a great place. Catalogue shopping, then box ticking and then product collecting. I love it! The Rebecca Room is coming together nicely indeed.

I am currently planning trips for this year which will hopefully include sailing in Croatia, Oktoberfest and some unidentified location for a long weekend.

Ok, lunchtime!

Career crisis

So I'm having a crisis...

I don't know what to do with my life. I have two career paths to choose from and neither I'm sure I want to do.They are both paying the same so that doesn't really help. Both are in creative environments (tick) but then both kind of lead to different things.

Let's go through my options (I wish I had butcher paper)

COPYWRITER

THE UGHS:

Yea, it's ok most of the time but I don't love it. Sometimes I do though. Well, love is a strong word when describing work, let's say enjoy.

I feel like a massive fraud doing it. I feel like someone is going to tap me on the shoulder at any moment and say 'umm, what are you doing? You suck, can you leave?'

I can't imagine doing it for the rest of my life. Ok, that's dramatic, for the next couple of years lets say.

THE YEAS:

The place I am working at is near the Borough Markets (lots of ticks to that)

The place I am working at is 'going places'

I'd like to give copywriting more of a go as my previous experience was slightly warped

I am given free reign (that's really scary) and no one checks my work.

There's a bonus scheme

It's closer to home


PROJECT MANAGER

THE UGHS:

I would have to deal with clients again

I wouldn't be writing anymore

I would have to do job bags and organise stuff instead of just being told what to do

It's further from home

Pay is less (no bonus)

THE YEAS:

I would be the project manager for Nike

The workplace is smaller and has a better vibe and friendlier people

There's the opportunity to move into a tv project manager role

They produce really cool work

This would open up more doors to other jobs here rather than just limiting myself to copywriting

HELP! I don't know what to do and I have to decide over the weekend.....I'd really just rather faff...

Can't think of a title

Last night I had enjoyed all that London has to offer. Well, obviously only a small part of it in one go, but still, it was a great part.

They have set up huge screens in Trafalgar Square and last night was the first screening for 'summer'. They are showcasing various ballet and opera performances and I got to watch the Royal Ballet perform Swan Lake. It was beamed from Covent Garden and it was amazing. Yes, my arse hurt from sitting on concrete for 3 hours and yes, I was freezing but it was worth it.

Tonight we are going to Brick Lane to try one of their famous curries. My taste buds have slightly hardened from my time in Thailand so I ready and willing! I'm not sure if I will go past a korma, but hey, I've totally evolved from sweet chili sauce at least.

I've got another week of freelancing and was offered a full time writing position this morning. Thing is, I've basically been offered this other job too, so I kind of have a decision to make. This is of course once the ££ (that looks so wrong) are confirmed. Will let you know which career path I decide to take. Is it wrong that I am leaning towards the job I think I would least like just because it's close to really good food??

'Summer' in London

Yes, I was aware when making the decision to move over here that it was cold and rained a lot. But honestly, I thought my timings would permit me to ease into it a bit i.e move over in 'Summer'. But no, it's cold and it's raining and I spend an entire tube ride trying to put my umbrella cover back on my umbrella and well it's black and kinda big so use your imagination. It provided great amusement to the guys I was sitting opposite to. Of course I was really engrossed in the whole process and didn't realise what it looked like until I was giving it a massive tug! HA!

I've caught up with a few people from home which has been good. I caught up with Caitlin who I haven't seen in years and can't manage to catch up with her in Adelaide but can in London! I am having MAJOR BBQ City withdrawlas. I went to a place called Ping Pong the other night and basically could have eaten the ENTIRE BBQ City menu for the price of a dumpling. A very bad dumping at that. And you all know how much I love my dumplings.

Other news, we have a mouse/mice in the house. We named it Jeffery. Jeffery was ok until he ate some bread on our kitchen counter and pooed in the kitchen. Jeffery now must die. I think out of the three of us living in the house it will be my responsibility to kill him as I found it fun picking up the massive worms on the ground while the others thought it was gross. The next debate is trap verus high tech mouse catcher. We'll see. I'll keep you posted.

I'm still freelancing at the moment. I'm not sure about the other job, I've been told they won't make a decision until the end of this week/beginning of next. I'm happy to see what happens. I think I have more freelance work here/potentially a permanent position. It hit me this morning that I am working on some massive campaigns and how lucky I am to be doing it. Stuff that I am the sole copywriter on will be shown in Trafalgur Square. Anyway, it just really dawned on me this morning. Perhaps I am a little slow. Yes, that could probably be the case. I should probably stop being so blase about the job...

I have a really cool laundrette. The lady who mans it helped me fold my Rebecca bedspread. Rebecca found that lovely. So did Vanessa. We even did the shake and bring together thing. It was so 80's.

Um, what else? The girls and I decided (acutally I just went along with it) to walk from our house to Oxford Street (this is a really long way and no one in their right mind would do it). Anna also got us lost, so that added 45mins to our journey. Overall it took 2.5 hours. We did stop in Chelsea (really posh suburb and we were wearing our trackies true Aussie style) for a pasty. I had a steak and guiness one and it rocked. Could have been hotter, but it was still great.

I've got a few quiet moments at work but I am trying to type quietly which is really hard. Why? Because nothing I type would be this long nor would it require this much typing in a row. I have great faffing technique by the way. For example, I stop and look up every few minutes and pretend I'm thinking about something. And then I draw something on my pad. Genius.

Ok, gotta go, I am heading to a 'Creative Summit' this afternoon.

Life in London - that title is gay but it's all I got (actually, I got told I can't use 'gay' anymore as it's sooooo Adelaide)

Well, after gorging myself at lunch on Friday. I can't remember whether I wrote about that or not? Well, I'll tell you all again anyway. Ok, let's pause from the original story and go with this one.

Lunch time - went to this fantastic bbq place at Borough Markets. It's an actual bbq place and they cook the biggest hamburgers on the grill (like they are bigger than your face). The guy who cooks it is like Seinfield's soup nazi. He's very scary but the burgers are amazing. They are put in fresh baguettes with grilled peppers, rocket, mayo and salsa. Mmmm, I am salivating as I type. I went with some of the guys in my team and after about 5 mins one announced that I really love food. Yep, nothing has changed. So after lunch I walked around the markets and decided after eating my mega burger I still had room to go around to the varous stalls and eat all the trial brownies and then decided I wanted some home made icecream made with CLOTTED CREAM. Surprisingly I was full after.

After creating more genius at work I went shopping on Oxford Street. No, I still haven't been paid yet but I really needed a sheet, oh and maybe a dress but it was only £10! Then I met the girls at our local which is a pub called The Clarence. We ended up having a massive night and walked back from a club at Clapham called Infernos at about 5am. The name says it all. It was a lot of fun though.

On Saturday Skinner and Anna's friends came to stay and we went back to the Borough Markets for more burger action. Then we went back to Oxford Street and maybe did other stuff which I can't remember cause I was so tired. Oh, I think some cake was eaten too. Sunday we went to Notting Hill and looked around the market. Well, the full market wasn't open but we found the best cupcake place EVER. I also bought the best earring holder which I have named Rebecca. Rebecca, by the way, is the name of my new alter ego. My new room is actually named Rebecca after my bedspread and I talk about her in the 3rd person. Rebecca is a very mature room (she is almost 26) and is cream, brown and latte. Rebecca has a throw on her bed which has colour coordinating polka dots. Rebecca sometimes wears ribbons in her hair - ok, maybe that's taking it too far! See, I could go on all day being Rebecca. I wonder when it's going to get old....

We also went to the Tate on Sunday which reaffirmed my hate of some types of modern art. For example people painting a canvas in all red and claiming it's their 'interpretation of their trapped subconscious'. Plus, I had been holding Rebecca al day and I was tired.

Ok, I better go cause I need to write something in the form of a weird monster thing for the Wireless Festival.

More sneakiness

Ok, I seriously have been working hard, but I wanted to give you all a quick update.

Freelancing: going really well. I think they want me back next week which will be good while I sus out the other job situation. I am really hoping I get paid soon. Like yesterday wouldn't have been soon enough. I'm not sure if I love it though. It's cool, but I am not sure if I can imagine myself doing this long term.....I wish someone could just tell me what I should do with my life. Ohhh, update as I type, they want me back next week.

Other job interview: had a job interview on moving day which was pretty hellish timing. It went really well though. It's a really cool place that predominately does music videos. They are looking for a project manager for their print side of things. Yes, I hate print, but the clients are cool, and more importantly, it pays really well. I actually have no idea what to do about it. She pretty much offered me the job on the spot but I am holding out for another job that I really want that I am suppose to be having an interview for in the next week. It's organising fashion shoots which I would totally love doing. Anyway, we'll see.

House: ummmm, biggest joke in the world. Ok, so our moving in date was pushed back 3 times. We were supposed to move in on Tuesday which we did. The reason why it was pushed back was cause the landlord needed time to re paint and clean the place because the previous tennants had trashed it. Yea, um, that didn't happen. When we got there it was still trashed just minus the tennants' belongings. So to cut a long story short, it's still unpainted and dirty. I let angry Vanessa loose on the land agent whose problem it is apparently not anymore. Having maxed out all my credit cards to pay for 14 weeks rent in advance because I don't have a permanent job, needless to say, I am pretty pissed off. Plus the landlord is avoiding us. But the house is cool, once there is a roof on the bathroom (even longer story) and maybe there isn't dirt on the floor, it will feel more like home.

Ok gotta go, I have to go brainstorm stuff. Yea, go me.

Hope everyone is well xx

Sneaky

Shhhhhh! I'm spose to be 'working' at the moment. But the life of a freelance copywriter is one of 'thinking' and 'brainstorming'. Ok, ok, I have nothing to do until my 4pm meeting about a Rexona (Sure for the UK market) campaign. Freelancing here is ok. But I guess like anywhere you're not really part of a team which feels a bit weird. The pay is freakin awesome though. I'm not really sure of my next steps. I have a job interview tonight for a totally different job to copywriting. I am feeling a bit 'ugh' about the lack of pay creativity at a junior level brings (this is moving from freelance to a perm position, so I am working on plan B options. I've got to work on some pretty cool things here though; from pitch work to Sony Ericsson to T-Mobile - it's good experience.....ok, gotta go!

PS: finally moving in today after it being put off at least 50 times. Let me just say, trying to move things on the tube in peak hour really sucks.

Update

Ok, about time for an update. Since my last post I have eaten yet more crap...mmmmm eton mess and spend even more money on freakin public transport. Oh, and I've also been working. Yes, it's strange to start using my brain again. Unless I've gotten considerably more talented/smarter (I highly doubt this is the case), the standard of copywriting here isn't that high. I wrote a million page document on Shell diesel fuel and they didn't change anything. I find that weird when I rewrote the same thing and had to double check what writing in the 3rd person was. See, I haven't got smarter. I also re wrote a press release on some WAG reality tv show that I had no idea about, yet they thought it was great. Oh, I also got to work on an Impulse pitch this week which was cool. I totally like got in touch with my 14 year old self again. Like yeah.

Stupid stupid real estate agents here. We were suppose to move into our place tomorrow but no, it's not ready. This is the 3rd time they have changed it. So now the big day is Tuesday. Plus they have sprung on us that we need to pay 8 weeks rent in advance as well as 6 weeks bond. Needless to say I had to get a money transfer from my OZ savings account because my funds are totally wiped out.

Hmmm, going to bed now. The 4 hours of travelling a day is kind of tiring. Boota and I are going for a walk in the fields tomorrow morning to attempt to walk off the burger, chips, brownie, banana caramel pie and eton mess we consumed tonight. We may or may not stop in for cake in the village afterwards....

The road to obesity

Well, you will all be pleased (for those who are betting)/not surprised to know that I am working my way towards obesity. And I was doing pretty well in Thailand. Ugh. It was a mistake to try scones with jam and clotted cream. So so wrong.

For example,

Thursday: Lisa's friend came over and brought a sponge cake. Because we were sitting in front of it Anna and I ate over half of it. Then we went out to this beautiful orchard garden that was serving scones with jam and clotted cream (we also had this for afternoon tea the day before). The garden, by the way, was so very English. And so very charming. Rupert Brooke and Virginia Woolf used to go there when they were at Cambridge and have picnics under the big trees and no doubt have very witty arguments about literature and politics. Then we had a potato bake for dinner. Anna and I thought it was a waste to throw half of it out, so we ate the rest (this, by the way has turned into a pattern).

Friday: Anna and I went and had a local pub lunch. Then we went and had afternoon tea. Then we had a massive dinner where we proceeded to eat the leftovers again instead of throwing them out. Or even putting them in the fridge.

Saturday: Pub lunch again. Afternoon tea. Again. Dinner + leftovers again. Oh, and 2 chocolate bars cause they were on special. Mmmm, snickers.

Sunday: Pub lunch (hello, sunday roast). Then a party at my sisters house that had nibblies. See, that's where I go wrong. I feel that I have to try everything. And then try it again just to make sure. We ate half a carrot cake. Actually, maybe more than half. Then had cupcakes. The little girl whose mother had made them looked like she was going to cry because there were none left. Uh, whoops. I washed the tin though. I was Christmas full after that.

Monday: Pub lunch (we were in Cambridge - does it make a difference if we are in a different location?) and then afternoon tea. Mmmm, I had a Ploughman's Lunch just because I liked the word.

Cambridge, by the way, is the most beautiful little(ish) village. I don't think I could ever get sick of the English countryside with the canola fields and the rolling green hills. It makes me want to frolick in a white dress with an apron and maybe ride a horse. Oh, and have a daisy chain in my hair too.

Mmm, start freelancing on Wednesday. Must work out a way to feel smarter by then. Think Vanessa. Think. I wonder if I could Google it.....

Ok. I have written A LOT about food but I just want to make it clear there are A LOT of pubs and cakes to eat here and I believe in embracing culture wholeheartedly.

Number 23

The funniest/saddest/most plain stupid thing happened today. I signed up to the local library so I could use the internet. And, as part of the sign up, I had to choose from a laminated A4 sheet what ethnic group I was. Let me tell you, there was quite a choice. Even for a chongbonger like myself. So as someone who is part white part asian (I kid you not, this is how I was catergorised) I can now consider myself a number 23. It's so clear now. Identity crisis over. Bloody hell.

Progress report

Well, things are coming together nicely - yes, I'm saying this in a way where I'm rubbing my hands together. Mmm ok, that sounds reeeally dumb.

Anyway, so we've got a house. Funnily enough it's in Balham where my sister has just moved from. It's pretty close to Clapham where there is a really nice park and shops and bars. We move in on Wednesday and I'm kind of shitting myself because the girls haven't seen the place. You've gotta snap places up here and this one was in a pretty good location and was cheap compared to the other ones we had seen. And not as scungy. So yea, I made the executive decision. Hmmmm I hope they like it. Ha, sucked in if they don't!!

Ooooohh, we have the coolest shower. It's in a closet. They really know how to make use of space here. I'll take a photo. It's SO FUNNY!!!! Like really funny. Like as funny as I find the tube stop 'cockfosters' everytime I read it.

I've also started drinking tea. Well, I've only had one cup and that was tonight. But still, it's a start. I also have a credit card which is scary. By the time I pay bond and rent in advance I will have about £100 in my account. How funny is that? Well, not funny haha, more like, ha, I can't afford to eat. I have a week of freelance work next week which I am shitting myself about. I feel like I lost some brain cells across the equator. I also find the 'international dateline' funny too. Not as funny as 'Cockfosters' though.

Bum report - it still hurts.

Food report - I had scones with clotted cream and jam yesterday. It was soooooooo good.