i fall in love

each time i walk through london i fall in love with the discoveries just waiting to be made.
i went for an explore at lunch today. i have walked up and down the streets of soho so many times but today it felt all new again.
popped into fernandez and wells on Lexington, delicious...then up to broadwick past the delicious wonders in Yautacha (I have to go there sometime) and round to berwick street. The market is fantastic. I am going to make a concerted effort to buy ALL fruit and veg from the sellers on Berwick street. I was overwhelmed by the range, and excellent quality....they even sell lemon grass and fresh herbs.

yes. I am in love. All over again.

Run for your life

So I have not done any exercise in a week and a bit.
I can feel it.
I am exhausted, maxed out, finished, drained, and energyless.

And this just makes me think about the people around me who don't move their bodies. Which is probably half the city.

People. It is time to MOVE.

Oh, get real.

This is apparently the "best purchase" someone ever made in their whole life.

I was scanning the gumtree.com looking at sofa's - second hand - on the off chance that I might find a 50's retro, restored and original beaut - possibly of Danish decent, please.

And I came across this!
"I consider this Edwardian set to be the best purchase I have ever made as they are the most elegant and confortable furniture in my lounge. Now you are probably asking yourself why they are on Gumtree and no longer in my lounge? Well they are being sold because we are remodernising and decided to sell them... gutted"

You have to laugh, right.

Ahem. Apology.

Just read over my last blog.
Feel I must apologise for my reference to the Indian Call Center.

On my way back from India a few months ago I watched a fascinating documentary on the ever boom call center industry in India.

Indeed, this explosion has opened the doors for many highly SKILLED Indians. Doctors, and other professional people are trading in their jobs to work at call centers. THe avg call center wage per year is approx $9000. This is a lot higher than the average Indian wage of $900. So working in a call center is highly desireable and the job is taken seriously.

The programme compared the work ethic of call center workers in countries like Australia and the UK to those in India. It's a completely different ball game. In the developed world, this type of job is typically filled by students, or those who are just passing through looking to make an extra buck. In India, this type of work is taken very seriously. It's a highly respectable profession and people work hard.

I think the most hitting part of the programme was watching how badly the Indian call center staff are treated. Usual comments like "I don't want to talk to an Indian, I want to talk to an English speaking person...." and "I want to speak to someone who understands me"....And they just take it. Swallow it down and continue to be so polite.

So back to my apology. I did not mean to be rude about the call center. I was frustrated by the situation - lost/stollen bag/wallet/phone/etc.

why'd they make it so hard.

what is it with customer service in this country?
I lose my phone, bag, life on saturday nite and do you think I can get stuff replaced? it took me 2 phone calls and 1 hour on the phone to barclays to cancel my cards. Oh and a lot of shitty phone music - you have to go through that as they pass you from department to department. To department. It took about an extra 10 minutes for all the call delays - a call to Mumbai (my guess) or Bangalore from Reading ain't gonna connect that well.

Try explain to someone in a call center in India that
1. you are in the middle of a field
2. you don't know your acc number and sort code off by heart
3. and no you don't have the 16 digit card number because the card was in THE BAG???!!!


I have just tried to claim insurance for my phone.
The phone I bought a year ago. And no, I don't have proof of purchase of that item. Is that not why I registered the phone with all the serial numbers etc when I bought it and insured it??????

Just an observation.
Surely there must be a way to right this?

Music that will make you cry

The Arcade Fire made me want to cry on Saturday night. They were just so good. So into what they were doing and really going for it. The instruments - violins, trumpet, harpsichord, organ....wow. It was absolutely amazing.

Bloc party also rocked....a lot! they were good.

RHCP - somewhat dissapointing. I think the boys are no longer boys and are starting to feel their age perhaps? seriously. I think some bands are best left in their prime.


Went into the Dance tent for a bit which was also great...
It was just good to jump around on a field, great music and D A N C E!**!**!*

Reading is not my festival of choice. ANd I will never go back. It is filled with 17-24 year olds all on a mission to get blind drunk and pass out...or score.
It was interesting just to observe from a distance and remember that I was once too awkward, gangly and silly.


We camped for 3 nites - me and the Old Friends. It actually worked out well. I guess we are all so comfortable we're OK with just mooching around.

Feel so alive now, I am going to take a hot shower and have a sleep!

Done and dusted

After much debate we (or rather, I) have decided that we (or I) are (am) going to pack our (my) bags and head to the dreaded Reading festival.

G just sent me this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6956629.stm


My friend C persuaded the "old friends" that this would be a good idea. We'll be working on Thurs + Fri afternoon (read: conducting market research questionnaires). And then the idea is that we have the rest of the fest to spend time together, hang out, reminisce, jump around to some music, and just take that time we never seem to have.

I am dreading it because I am not really up for being surrounded by spotty teens who will most likely be wasted. I am over that.

After writing the previous post I decided this would be a good idea. Sometimes its about making an effort. It's about getting out of your comfort zone and just doing it damnit. It's all to easy to say no and just miss out (I find the older I get the less I feel like being at THE party - I just don't care anymore).

Anyway.
I also have the feeling that this might be the last old friends event.

Or am I just hanging on?

Hey, it could ROCCCKKK. It really could. The line up looks OK and at least I am at the stage where I can be selective in what I see.
So I want to see
- Peter Bjorn and John
- Unkle
- Bloc party
- Smashing pumpkins and NIN (for old time's sake!)
- pull tiger tail (they were great at Fieldday)
- THe shins
- Arcade Fire
- RHCP

The rest I don't know....but could be an opportunity to discover something HOT!

Okay...getting a little excited now...

And then there's the good thing about letting go...

Lying in bed last night I struggled to sleep. I am still feeling rotten and bunged up.
It's funny how much real thinking one manages to achieve in bed when you're supposed to be sleeping. The mind flutters between that subconscious state that has all the answers you've been looking for...and suddenly there's a sense of clarity that washes over you.

I was just thinking about work (as always)...and came up with a few good ideas...(well, let's see how good they are today when I try them out of the workfolk)
And then I was thinking about the sadness I've been feeling at the "loss" of close friends.

They are still here. We still see eachother. Things have moved on though. It's not the same as it used to be. Even though I think we try it will never be the same. We live in the same city but still manage to miss out on the nuances that make a good friendship a real friendship.
And then I was thinking about the new people. The new people that start off being aquaintances...who you struggle to find time for ...but then something happens. THe new people start to appear more than the old people.
I suppose up till now I've been worried about this. Should you hold onto the past and continue to nuture what was once so important? Or do you adjust and move on and start to embrace what is new and exciting...

This is getting too deep.

Perhaps I should leave this for bedtime.

The best thing about a friend

Is how easily you slip into conversation.
How normal it feels and how you don't have to start from the beginning.

I met Sarah in San Francisco randomly 2 years ago. I had 10 days in the city and by the end of that time, that random arrangement made me a friend. Strangely we have managed to stay in contact for the past two years, so our weekend in Amsterdam felt natural and normal. Talking as if we had known eachother for years.

Highlights...
Tapas bar along canal
Delicious wine ....long chat
Walking around with someone who is OK to just walk around and soak up the energy of the city...
Exploring shops - not only clothes....
Having real girlie time
Watching the Holiday a second time around and actually enjoying it - in the company of a girlfriend, not a boyfriend (duh)
Mooching and eating and not caring
Delicious sushi dinner and cocktails
Not so delicious chi - chi dinner but at very cool Hackemar Brasserie....
More chatting
Not so good experience on Saturday evening/Sunday morning...but still feeling safe...

Got back on Sunday feelign rotten and tired. I am sick today...
Discovered an amazing drug called Contac which helps alleviate symptoms of colds...
Work people seem a little sympathetic which is kind of nice...

Need to decide if we are going to mission to Reading Fest. Not too sure I am up for it.

Not so dammaged after all/

Must be getting older.
sarah and I debated whether or not to get loco porcini last nite and opted for Trip -E. But have not taken it and probably won't Just not interested.
Were having fun.
x

Amsterdam

The interview yesterday went OK.
Except the guy - the big boss - was meant to meet me at 8.45 and he never pitched up. The people that I did interview with (about 4 people) seemed really concerned. His wife is pregnant. So perhaps she was giving birth? I really hope it was nothing serious. I might call to check it's all ok.

So yes, I met 4 people. One of the snr directors - a lovely woman who just seemed really personable. A younger guy who and then a Malay woman who told me her husband lives in Munich. I told her my fears of leaving G behind and she said it's hard, but definately do-able. I mean London is only an hour away right? well...actually when I add up the door to door trip it's around 5-6 hours. Not pretty.

Next stage (i know, ANOTHER stage???) is in a few weeks. Am given a case study which I have to present back to team. Nervous.

But I get the feeling it is hte right fit. I would be doing what I am familliar with...and it sounds like an exciting challenge.
Amazing client list and the projects sound varied....bring it on. Awesome office space right in the funky part of time...it's good.
But do I really want to move? again?

Walking around yesterday was pretty amazing. Sarah and I were just loving the higgledypiggldey road....and then the skinny houses almost toppling over. It's got a progressive feel about it. But it is SLOW. SLOW compared to my London.
MY london - I feel like I am beginning to know the city so well...the little turns and twists that you can only familiarise yourself with having spent a good lenght of time there.....

Not going to worry about anything yet, until the opportunity presents itself.
that is, if it does.

I am back.

It's been about 6 months since I dropped a line in this blog.
I am feeling inspired to write again.
I have found my voice and want to be heard damnit.

Number of reasons for this
- inspired by fellow bloggers and their tales
- not really that busy at work so have had enough headspace to think...and need to get this thinking down
- a lot going on...good to document this.
- something exciting is about to happen...well actually a couple of things
1. i am going to amsterdam tonite to meet with my friend Sarah ...I also have an interview lined up at Clear which I am totally nervous and excited about.
I want to take a lot of good pics this weekend. I want to get into that again....
2. graeme and I move into our new house in two weeks time. our OWN place. crikey I am scared but glad.

YAY! I AM BACK!!!!