I'm tired

It's been more than a month since my last post. I've been working my butt off since I started work. There are a lot of things that need fixing in the office. It's tiring but I'm still ok. No day off yet since I started. I'm starting to feel the strain. My back is starting to hurt (I feel old). Hopefully I'll be able to take a day off soon. I won't be able to stay long in this job if I don't get some rest.

My husband has been so understanding for the past month. We haven't seen each other in quite a while. It's been so bad that whenever I want to call home I mistakenly dial the office number. The other week, when Mike and I were talking, I told him that I was going to go to the office early next day, but I told him *I'll be going to the house early tomorrow.* Dang. Not a good sign.

I like my job though. It's challenging....cleaning up the mess of other people. Hopefully it'll be rewarding too.

What are you saying ba?

Today was my first day in the office. It was a bit overwhelming but I think I made it through the day. My head didn't start thumping until about 4pm. It was a combination of all the stuff I needed to learn and the problems I needed to fix plus the fact that all day I was hearing *Why like that ba?* Hmmm...I've forgotten about that kind of taglish. The way *posh* people try to speak when they come from one of the exclusive schools back in Manila. Why nga ba? Are your english lessons a combination of english and tagalog formed into one sentence? *Paki pulot naman thiiiis* (Emphasis on the thiiis...you have to drag it a little bit and curl your voice when you say it haaaa...) No, I'm not making patawa you...naman eh...would I do that baaa? It was a bit tiring when we got to the part where I was being endorsed 2 mobile phones...

Her: Oh yah by the way, we have 2 cellphones here in the office...
Me: Ok. What are they currently being used for? Are they for incoming or outgoing calls?
Her: Well...to call the clients...kasi sometimes when there's too many calls then we have to make tawag the clients. Or else they get mad...as in galeeeet talaga.
Me: Ok.
Her: Oh yah...so this one (pointing to the phone) we call her Britney.
Me: You what...
Her: Yaaah...kase it's like this. A lot of times like I have to ask them when I want to hiram it. So I'll tell them can I borrow the cellphone? Then they'll say which one. So it's nakakalito diba?
Me: No, not really but go ahead...
Her: So I gave the cellphone names nalang...
Me: (At this point my headache gets worse) Ok...
Her: So you've met Britney na....
Me: And what...pray tell...is the name of the other one?
Her: Paris

Cute diba? The kind of cute that you just want to squeeeeeeze until it pops out cute.

Oh joy oh joy oh joy

I start my new job today! In another ten hours. Hoooray!!! Si mi amigos (ok that's as far as my spanish goes) I have a job! Like they say on Perfect Strangers...Let's do the dance of joy! (dadaaadaaadadadadaaaa)

Thanks to you who prayed for me (sana magkatrabaho na si robs para di na ko kinukulit sa chat). Yes thank you to you too (sana magkatrabaho na si robs nababaliw na sya sa bahay). And to my mom (what? hindi ka pwede umuwi! papakainin nanaman kita???) Hehehehe.

Bored bored bored

Have you ever felt like there was something missing in your life? Like everything's here but not quite? I've been feeling like this for a few days. Maybe it's the nicotine patch or I'm just bored out of my wits staying at home.

Never leave your laundry to pile up

I finally moved my ass today and did the tons of ironing left from over 3 weeks ago. I always do this until the last minute, I don't really like ironing. Geez...I feel so domesticated. So I've finally finished all the clothes. Yipee. Well, at least it kept me busy and stopped me going nuts from not having a cigarette.

How can 2 people have so much clothes????

Newcastle v. Tottenham Part II

The train trip on the way to Newcastle, even the aisles were packed full of people.

We finally arrived at Newcastle and Professor Astronomer kindly gave us directions to the stadium. One thing on my mind was what Ray told me as soon as he handed me the tickets. *Remember, Newcastle fans are a bit hardcore, so be careful.* We stopped at a pub, we had an hour to kill plus I needed to use the loo (the train was too packed to do anything). The pub was full of Newcastle fans in their customary black and white jerseys. Michael whispered *Whatever you do, don't let them know we're going to the stadium to watch the game* Right. I wanted to take a picture of the pub full of fans but my paranoia kicked in. What if they suddenly run amuck because of the flash? What if they notice the camera? Heheheh...I know it was a bit farfetched.




We headed off to the stadium. When we got to the room (I forgot the name) there were tables laid out for the companies that sponsor the tickets. We had our meal (normal buffet, with really good gravy) and then it was time for us to go. I had 3 cups of coffee and a gooey desert to keep me awake during the game. I was already woozy from lack of sleep, maybe the coffee will help. I shouldn't have worried. As soon as the game started Michael went bananas. He started cheering (loudly, ignoring Ray's insightful reminder about Newcastle fans) and I thought we were going to get bottled by the fans above us. I was wired up from the coffee and the whole time kept on going *shhh! You're going to get us killed!*



Kickoff!


That's my husband's hand...

The stadium was packed! No empty seats in sight. 57,600 fans were there, a small number up in the corner (waaaay up) were the Tottenham fans. They were flanked by police wearing reflector tops. What could they do if a riot started? I didn't want to know. At halftime we went back to the room to get our drinks and curiously (or predictably) the other people sitting beside us stayed away. Probably cause they didn't like us for cheering on Tottenham or because they didn't want to be associated with us and get killed. After our drinks we went back to the game. The men sitting in front kept on looking at Michael (menacingly) and one of them uttered something that we both didn't understand. It sounded like he wanted to get a piece of Michael after the game *Gulp*.





Tottenham lost. Darn. They were crap. Newcastle definitely deserved to win. After the last whistle, some of the Newcastle fans shook hands with my husband (he did have the guts to cheer his team on afterall, with the threat of getting maimed).


Mike at the start of the game (Hi Ray!)



and after we lost...

The trip home was uneventful. I sat beside a guy on his way home to Thailand. He got bumped off his flight, had a whole day to go before his replacement flight left for Thailand. I got into a conversation with him (he was a bit drunk and I was scared to say no) and he proceeded to show me pictures of his wife and kid. I also found out that he worked in an oil rig (Wow, I've never met someone who worked in an oil rig) Interesting! Apparently it's very hard work. His face registered it when I asked what he did at work. *It's just pure hard work...you can't imagine how hard it is.*

Afterwards I transferred seats (there was one free beside Mike, finally) and fell asleep. ZZZZZ.

It was a great day. I can't wait to see my next football match.

Resolutions...

Turning 30 has to have it's milestones...mine is growing up...and growing old-er. It's time to quit smoking *cough cough cough* before it's too late. I'll be posting at robs-is-quitting.blogspot.com. I'm sure there'll be a lot of funny moments involving the patches.

I wish, I dream, I hope, I pray

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Happy Winter Holidays!

EU has come up with a rule ordering all religious content in holiday greetings to be removed. All holiday greetings must be generic. Hmm...ok...here goes...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

*grin*

Newcastle v. Tottenham Part 1

I watched my first ever live football game today. I don't think I've had so many things happen to me in one single day. I didn't get any sleep the night before and at 7am I dragged myself to the shower. We took a cab to the train station as it was too cold to take the tube. The whole place was packed by the time we got there. Everyone who couldn't get a flight out went to the station to take the trains home. I was still hoping we could get seats until I saw the reserved seating tickets. All seats were reserved and there were lines at every entrance. We walked along the platform towards the end of the train and back. All entrances already had a group of people huddled together with the minimum amount of space possible before you get the urge to say *Please stop breathing my oxygen...* After getting on the train we made our way to find somewhere to stand. We ended up in the buffet cart (I don't think they knew what "buffet" meant. At least there was still a bit of space there to stand and hold on sor some sort of support.

I was standing beside the buffet cart. It stayed there the entire journey, the server didn't attempt to serve drinks. The whole place was just crammed with people those without seats blocking places where the cart could go. The couple who got the best standing only room were deep in coversation (I confess, I did listen in to the converstaion). In my weak attempt at my defense they were talking loud enough for me to be distracted from reading the paper. Right. Anyway, the guy was an astronomer on his last year at PHD. Amazing, professors really do look like the way they get described in books. Another couple from Edinburgh settled in our tiny but not yet cramped space. They joined in the conversation. Professor Astronomer just got off the plane from South Africa. He was there for work fixing a telescope in an observatory. That is amazing...a totally different world for me.

Professor Astronomer: It took us 10 days to figure out the problem and it was a simple one that we overlooked.
Edinburgh lady: What do you do exactly when you say *fix the telescope*?
Professor Astronomer: Well, we check that the coordinates are correct, program settings, magnification...
Edinburgh lady: Oh ok. I thought you guys were just like plumbers and technicians.
Professor Astronomer: What do you mean?
Edinburgh lady: I thought you just had a spanner with you and tightened some bolts.

This is going to be an interesting trip. Cool, at least I have entertainment.

The lady with Professor Astronomer worked as a tax researcher (whatchamacallit) for a bank. Basically they find loopholes in tax rules and use them to lower their tax payments. She's been with them for 6 years eversince she came to England. She is also a gemologist, mainly as a hobby but she hopes to make it full time in the future. It takes two years to complete a gemology course and she did this while working full time at the bank. By this time couple from Edinburgh had already moved on and were replaced by a couple from North Carolina. It's always interesting when you mix Brits with Americans. They typically don't get each other. Brits find Americans a bit dim. The lady and the professor were talking about their funny (another word for idiotic) experiences with Americans just before North Carolina couple came. After introductions, all four made conversation.

North Carolina lady: Wow you're an astronomer (pointing to Professor Astronomer) and you're a gemologist (to Lady Gemologist)???
PA and Lady Gemologist: Yeah
North Carolina lady: That's amazing cause back home we have this gem that actually uses the two principles!
Lady Gemologist: What's it called?
North Carolina lady: It's g something I forgot. But anyway, it goes like this. Meteor showers pass through the galaxy and the universe and as they pass through it they go through the stars. Particles in the stars stick to the meteors then the meteors fall in a crater on Earth. The people mine the crater then they use these particles to grow the gems!

At this point I had to look away when I saw Professor Astronomer's face...This is getting so good that I can actually forget about my aching feet.

Creature of habit

I can't sleep. It's been going on for 2 weeks now. Since I don't have a routine I can pretty much laze around the whole day and when it's time to sleep I just can't shut off. Tsk. I realize that there has to be structure in my days before I can get a good night's sleep. Why is it that?

On another note...Mike and I are going to watch a live football game. We're going up north to Newcastle to watch Tottenham v Newcastle. I can't wait! Thanks for the christmas present Winnie and Ray. Well it's really Mike's present but I get to tag along! Whoopee!

Happy Birthday to me!!!

Had our advanced christmas dinner with Winnie, Ray and Cindy last Saturday. We had a blast. Went to the gaucho grill and had the most amazing dinner with the best service I've ever had in a restaurant for a long time (probably because I haven't really been going out that much). I loved my presents (is that too childish?) from Winnie and Ray. I got a year's subscription to Vanity Fair and Molecular Gastronomy by Herve This. HOray!!! By the end of the evening Winnie and I were a bit inebriated from all the wine topped off with brandy ice cream (or was it whiskey? I forget...slarp)



Merry Christmas!

I just realized that a year on I'm jobless again. Geez...I hope this won't be a yearly thing.

A celebration for Meh

We had a grand time when Melissa was in town for business. (She ended up at the police station giving statements...typical troublemaker...) And she's recently posted her photos online.

I just had to make dinner for her. Something I like to do when friends are around. Of course Ray graciously lent his flat for the evening.








Our first meal in London in a Korean restaurant (labo I know)

My name is Bond

Mike and I went to watch Casino Royale today. It was great. The opening credits were amazing. Whoever did the artwork did a spectacular job. It was wow. This is definitely one of the best Bond films I've seen in a long time. It puts a new perspective especially since Daniel Craig doesn't really look the part. He does a really good job of it though. All that hype about him not being the typical James Bond look is so unfounded. Sure there are times in the movie where I actually thought *ugh...he's trying too hard to look good* but that's just me. He's actually made this role more three dimensional, not just about looks and gadgets. Bond actually has a bit of personality in this movie, which is good and bad at the same time. There are some lovey dovey scenes that made me *whathefu$*%?!* It's James Bond, I'm not used to emotional.

The movie is devoid of gadgets and it stuck to pure physical grit so all the action packed scenes were actually done by Bond himself. His scenes were just with guns and fists (and a lot of grunting) The chase scene was the best part. No...I can't name the best part. All the action scenes in this movie were really amazing. This movie is cool. I think I squeezed my husband's hand too hard a few times. The storyline is great too, a bit predictable in the end but it didn't take away the enjoyment for me.

The only thing a bit disconcerting about the movie was the mega branding. Sony...sony....sony. He shouldv'e just had a tatoo of sony on his ass (he had nice ass...) Range rover probably didn't pay as much as sony, only half of their logo on the screen at a time. Jaguar probably paid less, it was in a blurred shot...still recognizable though. Ford mondeo...that was a bit of an *eh?* moment. James Bond drives a FORD MONDEO??? Riiiiggghhhhht. Omega probably paid the most. It was actually in one of his lines. *Omeeega*. Pffft. Another weird thing...Richard Branson was in the movie. He was one of the extras going through airport security. Virgin branding to the max!

All in all it was a great movie. A must see definitely.

It's all blank

I've been staring at this for hours trying to jumpstart my fingers to put into words how I'm feeling. It's blank although my mind's swirling with a lot of things that I can't really seem to resolve right now. Things are all up in the air right now. I don't know where I'm going to end up. It's scary to be me at this moment.

Hic...hic...hic...

I'm at home...on a Friday...it's noon. Why you ask? I got sacked (f£*$!)...no I was given the option to go. I was let go. Is that a better term? Well it makes me feel better than sacked. This has been hell to go through. I've never been sacked (who has???) And this has really zapped my confidence level (level...zero). Ok it might be the beer talking here. No not really.

I'm turning 30 this month and I'm jobless. Wow...that scares me. I didn't think I'd be jobless at 30. True, I did relocate to the UK less than 3 years ago. I went back to school to pursue a hobby and become a chef. I can make a mean 3 course meal (heh...you'd die for it I promise). Still, no income really puts things into perspective.

I've been scared a lot lately. My future is up in the air. I don't know how life is going to turn out but I also know it's in my hands. I just didn't think I'd still be dependent on my mom (mommy!) in my 30's (ok not officially yet...and the guy at the supermarket didn't want to sell me beer cause he thought I was 19...ahhhh....vanity) Makes me think it would have been better for me to have continued med school. At least I'd have a good reason to cling on financially to my mom if I were a doctor. Heheh.

On the bright side of things...I keep on thinking...if I hadn't come here, I wouldn't have met my wonderfully kooky husband. I wouldn't have gotten married, and we wouldn't be sharing a life together right now. So that erases the bad stuff that's been happening lately (he lost his wedding ring...again...but that's another story)

Hmm...this has been highly therapeutic. Log on to see how it goes for me...oh yea...pray for me will yah? I need all the strength I can get.

Back from the land of...

Mike and I are back from trip to Tunisia (oh my...I've been married for one whole year!) I had fun but when somebody asked me if I would go back there...uhm... hmm...I'll think about it. Don't get me wrong, it was beautiful...but I can't help feel that it was a bit of a letdown. Armed with the guidebook that Ray lent us I knew which places we were going to see.

Let me digress...when we got to the airport I had to wee really bad so I went to the toilet (of course where else). Now there was a cleaning lady standing by the door shaking her hand full of one pound coins (ominous no?) Then when I was about to wash my hands she started pointing to my bead bracelets. *She (pointing to another cleaning lady who came out of nowhere) likes your bracelet...give give* Then started tugging at them. OK! Welcome to our country! So I gave her a couple since I made them anyway...what's a couple of bracelets. BIG mistake...*I want one too give give* Well, I didn't give so she blocked my way until I gave her a coin. 20p to be exact and she got upset and started pointing at the one pound coins. I walked out. Hmmm...I hoped it wasn't a sign of things to come.

We didn't book a cab to the hotel so...*excuse me...* NO ENGLISH! *pardon moi* Oh my my husband speaks french! So fast forward a few minutes later I found ourselves following this stranger leading us to a cab and negotiating a price. Not the way I wanted but it got us to the hotel. *What if they just drop us off somewhere and leave us for dead?* Yes...my paranoia was really starting to kick in. Anyway we got to the hotel in one piece.

The three days we had to roam around was well spent. I saw everything that I wanted to see in the book. Everytime we saw a place in the book I'd whip it out and point *see see? it's in the book!* Annoying I know. We went to the Bardo museum (a must for roman history buffs). The oldest medina in Tunis. The Roman bath and amphitheater. We were surprised at how rich the culture and history was in Tunisia. You could spend days in one place and find something to explore everyday.

Tunis medina


Carthage ruins


Roman amphitheater


Sidi Bou Said - The town of blue


Pottery...loads of them!


Roman baths


On our last full day, we went to a mosque (my first time obviously). It was interesting, only dampened by the annoying souvenier guy who kept on stuffing my hands with *a gift for the nice lady* and proceeding to charge Mike for whatever gift it was he gave me. So now we're stuck with 2 wooden flutes. Darn. Well at least my husband is enjoying the flute...he feels like peter pan I think.

My husband trying so hard to understand french. And the garb? We thought it was mandatory for tourists but as we walked in whatdya know everyone else wasn't wearing one.


The mosque with it's amazingly beautiful interior.


On our last night we decided to take a stroll in the nice part of Yasmine Hammamet. We ended up having a few drinks in a hotel. I was too drunk to pack my bags when we got back the hotel. *Naaah I'll do it tomorrow.* Next morning...we were woken up by the phone ringing *The taxi is waiting* AAAAAAAA we're late! We were out in 30 minutes. Our cab driver did his best to get us to the airport in time, and we did.

AND... your obligatory tourist pose lambasting the ancient ruins

I'm back!

I just came home from a trip to Tunisia for our 1 year (!) wedding anniversary. Pictures and stories to follow (oh I have a lot of them believe me)

Wake up and smell the...

Last night I did the first adult thing in a long long time. I calculated my budget and spending for the last six months. It was a real shocker. I've been spending so much that I've only been about to save an eighth of my salary every month. Not good. Taking out utilities and food for the month that's 1/3 of my monthly paycheck gone. So that leaves me with....nuninuninu...if I want so save 1/3 of my money each month then I must survive on...200 a month. Hmmm...sounds like a lot....ok...it's doable...that's...oh ok...40 a week. Not so bad...lemme seeeee....5 a day? Things are not looking so bright. I'm taking off my shades. *Sigh*