Unemployed

Well technically I am. Until Monday morning I no longer have a job. I'm unemployed. In a period of transition. Between jobs. Unfortunately it doesn't feel as wonderful as it sounds.

Thursday night was my leaving do. Despite my ex-boss F's tyrannical nature making me half an hour late (for my own party) I still had a good time. By the time I arrived at Guanabara D had initiated some rather risky 'out of phase drinking' method involving ordering your next drink the moment your current one arrived. Happy hour had definately spurred him on with that one. Trouble was, that in a very short space of time drinks started piling up and not even he could keep up with the pace, though he definitely tried. As for me, I was rather taken by the flashing ice-cubes you used to attract your waitress' attention. Really should've brought one back with me.

After a while it made sense to me to slow the drinking rate. Sneaky as I am, I switched to guarana. Of course none of them having a clue about anything Brasilian beyond caipirinhas, no-one was any wiser to the fact that I'd stopped drinking alcohol. Still didn't stop me (as well as P & R) attempting to dance samba as a class began.

When F arrived after 9 we moved on to another pub although by that point everyone's pace had definately slowed. Our taxi back to Waterloo took us a very scenic route almost as far as Tottenham Court Road and back to the Aldwych again before depositing us at our destination later than we would've been if we'd walked.

I was glad to see, the next morning, that I wasn't the only one hungover. K had managed to get a train back to Ramsgate instead of Orpington and D very nearly ended up sleeping in J's spare bed instead of making it home. Of course beer and burger at Wetherspoons was the lunchtime hangover cure. Except I couldn't face the beer.

The afternoon was strange. Emptying my desk felt odd, and saying goodbye to people for the last time weird. But it's done now. And, until Monday morning, I'm unemployed.

Leftovers

So, I don't think I was too successful with yesterday's list. Good job I'm off work today. Although, haveing only just gotten up now I'm not sure how much I'll actually get done, or whether I can be motivated enough to do the ironing. I guess the transformation into maid-kept mainsion will have to wait for a few years...

So today I have to ...

• Epilate
• Tidy up the house. Living room, kitchen, bathroom, our bedroom, TB's bedroom.
  Transformation from bomb site to maid-kept mansion would be good.
• Do my Portuguese homework (I haven't had a good look yet, but think it may be quite time consuming).
• Convince Y to start work on my new template so I can move across to Wordpress with a swanky new blog.
• Attempt to eat three (and no more) well balanced, low point meals.
  Breakfast
  Lunch
  Dinner
• Attack the ironing pile.
• Wash and dry more clothes.
• Crawl into a hole to avoid most of the above.

I was sitting reading blogs this morning, and TB came up to me just as I was closing one. He saw the window close and asked me to go back. 'I want the one with G' (his nanny) on.'

It turns out he'd seen this and decided it was G.

Just another day at the office...

P: I think I'm suffering from that ***.
All: Eh?
P: You know, ***, that sleeping disorder.
W: You mean narcolepsy. Necro is from the Latin, it means dead.
J: And you don't want to know what the philia means.
P: (Blushing) What have I said?
J: It means sleeping with dead people.
P: Oh no!

And all the while I'm keeping my head down at my desk trying not to crack up with laughter.

Banana Case

Point taken?

I've been tagged!

Although in the interests of everyone's sanity, I won't be tagging. I watch you all so will know if you've given it a go...

1. Where is your mobile phone?
In my bag I think. Maybe the table or whichever random pocket or surface it might be on.
2. Your significant other?
Has just made me review a 13 page ministry document.
3. Your hair?
Is fake. Blonde, medium length and rather funky now it's been cut.
4. Your skin?
Is spotty, greasy, dry, sensitive and generally an annoyance at best.
5. Your mother?
Is challenging, but her heart's in the right place.
6. Your favourite thing? Is probably a computer.
Music, movies, TV, blogging. What more does a girl want?
7. Your dream last night?
I can't remember. You'll have to ask me first thing in the morning next time.
8. Your favourite drink?
Irn Bru, Diet Coke and Diet Guarana (although not at the same time). If you want to add alcohol into the equation, caipirinha.
9. Your dream / goal?
I am goalless and dreamless. There's things I'd like to do in the future, but I wouldn't put them into either of those categories.
10. The room you’re in?
The living room.
11. Your ex?
They were all arses in their own ways.
12. Your fear?
Heights
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years?
Brasil
14. Where were you last night?
At my Portugues class, in the pub and then at the computer.
15. What you’re not?
Skinny
16. Muffins?
Starbucks Skinny lemon and poppyseed - the Pret imitation just doesn't cut it.
17. One of your wish list items?
Financial security
18. Where did you grow up?
Kent and Hampshire.
19. The last thing you did?
Read blogs
20. What are you wearing?
Pyjama bottoms and a vest top.
21. Your TV?
Is a rather large sized (both screen and depth) hand-me-down. Who says your family's old shit can't be useful!
22. Your pet(s)?
Are non-existant. Even if we could have one we'd probably start WW3 trying to choose between a cat or a dog.
23. Your computer?
Is a desktop and a laptop. Yes, we're a two computer family.
24. Your life?
Can be interesting at times.
25. Your mood?
Is tired right now. But then it is 12:30 at night.
26. Missing someone?
Sabrina. She so has to come to the UK to visit soon.
27. Your car?
Depends who you ask. I know I don't have one, but TB is convinced that mums 20 belongs to me!
28. Something you’re not? Haven't I already done this one?
29. Favourite store?
Gotta be Primark!
30. Your summer?
Is completely unplanned so far.
31. Like someone?
Depends who someone is.
32. Your favourite colour?
Pink.
33. Last time you laughed?
Today. Banana cases.
34. Last time you cried?
That's a good question.

10 Things I Thougth Today

Because I was tagged by LNT.

1. Why does the alarm keep ringing? (This is probably my first thought most mornings)
2. I love the fringe but it's really getting on my nerves.
3. Should I buy the shirt in pink or red?
4. Why does nowhere have the shoes I want in my size?
5. How did I miss that suit yesterday? I must have walked straight past it. And it's perfect!
6. Should I get pao de queijo?
7. Bloody hell that's hot! (While trying to microwave salmon in a sandwich bag).
8. Should I go to OA tonight or should I try and get those shoes (and maybe stop at New Look and Primark whilst I'm down that way)?
9. Please will they stop giving me work - I want to blog!
10. Now who can I get that hasn't already been got?

An in response to number 10, I pick Bunny, Hannah, Town Mouse, Mum of 4 and Kittenhead.

Happy Birthday

To me!

Today was my birthday. My 25th.

Yesterday mum, dad and B came over and we went for rodizio. Assuming that most of you won't have a clue what I'm on about, let me explain. Rodizio is Brasilian for BBQ. There's a place only a few minutes down the road from us that does an all you can eat buffet and BBQ. It's heaven on a plate. Not only is there a variety of hot Brasilian dishes and salads, the meat is brought round to your table and carved from skewers onto your plate. And just when you think you can't eat any more, they bring something else you haven't tried. Needless to say we didn't eat dinner last night.

Today I tried to sleep slightly later than a usual Monday but was thwarted by Y not wanting to get out of bed at 6:30 to take care of TB. I opened the remainder of my presents* (TB insisted I open all of the ones from my family whilst they were with us on Sunday) and managed to get out of the house before lunch time for some shopping.

Despite spending a large proportion of my afternoon wandering around Oxford Street I surprisingly came away having bought nothing. It wasn't that I didn't try, but more that I was too disorganised. You see to start, I wanted to buy another suit. But I didn't particularly want to buy a black one. So, having looked round a number of shops I established that unless I wanted to wear shorts (which I do not) or a 3/4 length sleeved jacket (which I also do not), then my options were limited to things well outside my price range (and does anyone else think it's ridiculous spending £110 on a jacket that you're hoping to slim beyond?).

I also went off to get my hair done. Before Christmas I modelled at the Toni & Guy Academy and left my number with the stylist in case she needed someone again. She didn't, but one of the other students did, so off I went for another free cut. Pictures will follow but it seems that Toni & Guy also train in the extreme application of serum, which does not sit well with my hair. Tomorrow maybe.

After that I had just enough time to try another suit, but of course, between the two I had to choose from, they didn't have both parts of either one in my sizes. By that time I had to head off for my Portugues class so came away with nothing. But tomorrow lunch time I'll be heading out for a suit and a pair of shows I picked, and then some other time will head to Primark to blow the rest of my money on many cheap and cheerful clothes.

So all in all, a good day.

* Note: truffles do not travel well by post.

Seven Songs Meme

Although not technically tagged (or at least not that I've seen yet), I just couldn't resist this.

The rules:-List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring. Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they’re listening to.

1. I Wish I was in New Orleans

Although this is the Tom Waits version I'm absolutely hooked on the Scarlett Johannson version. The album's one that grows on you, but now it has, I just can't stop listening. If you manage to hear my preferred version, you'll see why I love it; the music box feel to it is so delicate and gentle.

2. Boa Sorte/Good Luck (Vanessa da Mata & Ben Harper)

This one grabbed my while we were in Brasil and now her two albums are a rather prominent feature on my iPod.

3. You Know I'm No Good (Amy Winehouse)

It seems a shame to me that Amy Winehouse is such a wreck because she's such a talented singer. This is one of my favourite of her songs.

4. Say It Right (Nelly Furtado)

And this one just gets me grooving! The beat makes me feel like it's a summer evening, filled with heavy heat.

5. Tropa de Elite (Tihuana)

Another Brasilian one. If you haven't seen the film yet, it's a must. It's a great driving song, and driving is best in the summer!

6. Low (Flo Rida feat. T-Pain)

What can I say, it's from a great movie. Song ain't bad either.

7. Ai Ai Ai (Vanessa da Mata)

I really liked the original of this song on her first album, but I absolutely love this version. Of course it reminds me of driving around Salvador in the swealtering heat, which is always something good to think about when the weather turns as bad as it's been this weekend.

Eat Some Lose Some

Go here. Nuff said.

Happy Birthday

Today was the boy's birthday. Of course, the festivities started on Sunday, but took a hold until today. Or would've done if I'd had my way.

When I got home from work yesterday, I took a double take as I saw what I thought was a wrapped present unwrapped and completed on his table.

In a few seconds while G wasn't looking he'd made his way into our room, found the presents I thought I'd hidden and managed to unwrap two before he was found. He'd gotten out a pack of power rangers pants and a clay dinosaur that you paint and also roars when you lift it.

This morning I wanted to see him open his presents before I left, so woke him up after I'd had breakfast. Despite insisting that he still needed 'five more minutes' he was up of his own accord in less time than that. It was all a very civilised affair. He sat on our bed (you try getting Y out of bed before 8:30) and opened all his cards before touching the presents. Of course he was rather happy to see a number of them contained money. Then one by one he opened each present taking the time to look at them and see what they were all about.

This evening I got home to find he'd been out spending his money already, and had bought a Star Wars transformer. He'd eaten from his new Power Rangers plate from B, played in the bath with his bubble gun from nanny & grandad and sat down to open more presents, some great clothes from C. And despite all the excitement, he still went to bed relatively easily, leaving me to blog all about it.

The Replacements

It's strange knowing that those around you are looking for your replacement. It's stranger still to be actively involved in finding your own replacement.

My bosses have seen four people today and whilst I've not interviewed them myself, I've reviewed a number of CVs with a view to deciding who to interview, I've tested various skills and assessed the results and helped all three of the people I work for come to a decision as to who to offer the job to.

All while I'm still working in the job myself.

In terms of assessment, it was fairly easy to take the list of four down to three. Candidate B made such a mess of the first exercise with an inability to follow simple instructions, that she seemed a no-go from the start. Adding into the equation a poor performance on the second exercise and an incredibly slow completion of the third was enough to make it clear that she would not be right for the job.

Candidate D was ruled out in an instant as although she had comparable tests, my bosses just didn't feel they liked her overly much.

Candidates A and C were a different matter. Both A and F had different opinions on them. A really liked candidate A, while F preferred candidate C. But, both come with their problems. There is a strong possibility that candidate C will clash with E, one of the other secretaries. She also has rather high demands in terms of salary. Candidate A has a slightly dubious reason for leaving (being dismissed from) her last job (although the information has come from a contact who doesn't necessarily have the full and complete story).

Although A and F agreed to sleep on it, it looks like tomorrow morning they will be offering a job to candidate C, keeping candidate A as a back up, subject to her references.

I'm pleased that they seem to have found someone so quickly, as it worried me to be leaving them without someone to 'look after' them. I just hope they've picked the right person and it all works out.

Sunday was TB's birthday party in one of these:

Unfortunately when he woke up in the morning, he wasn't feeling to great, but perked up as the morning went on so we decided to go ahead. Of course, the moment his first friends arrived he was as well as can be.

On the downside, the party did seem to finish him off, because although he went to bed right as rain, he's since thrown up, is running a fever and didn't make it into school yesterday. But he had the party and the presents so, as far as he's concerned, it's all ok.

Dawn Chorus

Last night, at about 3, I woke to find TB in the middle of our bed, and downstairs karaokeing to some very loud music, very badly. Not only had they managed to wake Y up (not difficult) and TB (slightly more so), but they'd woken me up (and that's next to impossible).

Y was mad,no other word for it, and was ready to call the police. I dissauded him, and instead made him go downstairs to complain. The response he got was a retort along the lines of "but we've complained about you stepping loudly before". Not at 3 o'bloody'clock in the morning you haven't. Someone in there had the sense to turn the music off at that point, and we thought we'd get back to sleep. No such luck. Within 5 minutes both the music and the singing resumed.

As I was trying to find the number for the local police station, someone from one of the surrounding residences had also taken offence, and was out in the street shouting at them to turn the noise down. Once again a far from perfect response as they shouted out to her "well what song would you like us to play for you?" Again the music went off, but only for a few minutes.

By this point I was calling the police, who helpfully said they didn't deal with such disturbances. They could give me the number for environmental health though, but it took quite some time for them to search for it whilst I was on hold.

So I called environmental health, but by this point environmental health had stopped sending people out to noise-related distubances for the night. Luckily, though, they seemed to lose momentum from that point onwards, and somewhere around the time I fell back to sleep, got bored and stopped singing.

But not before I'd felt I'd missed out on a proper night's sleep.

The hair

Please excuse the face, which is un-made because it's the weekend and our furthest trip was to the shops - Y apparently doesn't have the software to make me beautiful.

A note to Wordpress users

Please note that due to my complete and utter boredom and lack of anything to do whilst at work, I have now taken to reading blogs from my desk. However, whilst blogger and vox and many other blogging tools are not banned by symantec, wordpress is. As such, I kindly request that you move your blogging activities to another platform in order to alleviate my boredom.

Many thanks.

Glowstars

Last night things came to a head and we discussed faith (particularly my current lack of it) and how we're both feeling in our relationship.

My feelings are raw.

A shrink would say the loss of my faith is a reaction to Y putting all his energies into the church at the expense of our relationship, and also putting those energies into other countries instead of focussing on the people in London (of course that's something for another post entirely).

A shrink would also say that my feeling 'friendless' is a result of our going to Brasil, and my subsequent depression. Two issues that may not have had the same impact if endured separately. Of course, that still doesn't change the fact that the people I'm closest to are my colleagues and the people I can really count on are my fellow bloggers. Yes, C may be here, but I've only really known her for a month and in that time it has become clear that we're at two different ends of a very long scale.

So, not only do I feel incredibly isolated in having no friends in the area and no reason aside from work to take me out of the house, when I do go out I'm (unintentionally on Y's part) made to feel that I shouldn't be out.

And now I'm rambling and have no idea where I'm going with this. . .

I'm not sure if I can blog about last night.

It's not that I don't want to, more that I don't think I can put it into words.

Colour Me In

These are this week's nails and I'm undecided.

Does the colour clash with my skin, should it be avoided altogether or is it beautiful?

Clipping

Yesterday I got sick and tired of the boys (well, one boy in particular) not having their hair cut, and bought a set of hair clippers. Previous efforts at cutting Yuri's hair had resulted in his mum finishing the job, and TB, well you're lucky if you can get him near a set of hair clippers or scissors, let alone actually cut his hair.

Yesterday, after TB had his tea, I was ready to attack. We fairly easily convinced him to strip down to his pants (stopping those pesky hairs from getting underneath his t-shirt or down his trousers) and persuaded him that it wasn't going to hurt and off we went. He found it quite amusing and highly scratchy seeing all the hair fall (and lets face it, there was a hell of a lot of it) and ended up with a plastic bag (see, you can re-use them!) on his lap to stop the hair getting on his legs. Even so, he ended up constantly swiping himself with a barber's brush to get rid of all the hair.

Best of all, we only had one difficult moment, when the clippers could no longer do the job around his ears and the only way forward was the scissors. But, with careful ear holding so he knew I couldn't cut his ears off, he just about let me get on with it.

Then, after showering him off, he sat down to watch it all happening to daddy.

Later on he looked in the mirror, and started running his hand over his hair in the manner of someone who is incredibly impressed with their new hair cut, proclaiming that he liked his hair short and we could cut it again another time. He also decided (and me too) that he looked just like daddy now they both had short hair.

And just to prove how much alike they are...

Tagged

I've been tagged by Mrs Kittenhead.

Remove 1 question from below and add in your personal question, make it a total of 20 questions, then tag 8 people in your list, list them out at the end of this post.

1. What do you really really want right now?
To get rid of the taste of that awful chicken and sweetcorn soup.

2. If you can turn into anything, what do you wish you can turn into?
A thin person - no going near size zero, but thinner than now.

3. How are you feeling now?
Sluggish - I should've just gotten up when TB first woke just after six, but instead kept trying to grab those few more minutes. For four hours.

4. Where is the place that you want to go most?
Now? Out to the shops.

5. If you have one dream to come true, what would it be?
To be financially comfortable, no need for a mortgage or worrying about what we can't spend each month. Not enough money to warrant giving up work, but enough not to struggle.

6. Do you want more children?
Yes. Maybe. Practicalities are an issue.

7. Do you think religion is redundant?
Religion, definately. Faith is a different matter.

8. What cheers you up for the rest of the day?
Getting out of work mid-afternoon!

9. If you meet someone you love, would you confess to him/her?
Not really an issue any more.

10. List out three good things of the person who tagged you.
Her kids rock!
She does some seriously groovy face painting.
Oh, and the blog ain't bad either.

11. What are the requirements that you wish of your other half?
Lack of back, nasal and ear hair. Ick! Well there's more, but I could be here for hours and he knows already.

12. What type of person do you hate the most?
The one's who like to think that they're your friend, but never make the effort to stay in contact, or let you down at the last minute. Consistently.

13. What would you do if you won a million dollars?
Change it into £s!

14. What would you wanna be remembered for after you're dead?
By who? The people I know now, or famously remembered in the future? It would be nice to just be remembered once all the friends and family are gone too. Nice, but highly unlikely.

15. If you have a chance, which part of your character would you like to change?
Probably my patience and strength.

16. What would you most want to achieve right now?

16. What do you think if you look out of your window right now?
That maybe summer might be on its way - it looks nice out there.

17. What do you think is the most important thing in your life?
Family, probably in the loosest sense of the word. I'd count friends in that term as well.

18. If there's one thing in your life you wanted to do but yet unable to, what would it be?
Learn Portuguese. There is hope. Starting from next week.

19. What do you see yourself as in the next 10 years?
Thinner? To be honest, I'm really not too sure.

20. If you were an animal, what would you be?
Definately a cat. I mean what could be better than eating, sleeping and mooching around all day.

And I'm going to tag (lets see how often they're reading this) Jeni, Yuri, Little Nut Tree, Tilly, Mum of 4, Midwife Muse, Hannah, Heidi.

Yesterday was both G & L's last day in the office. Having finished the financial year on an amazing 107% high on Thursday, it was more than time for a huge celebration.

Our last large event was a barbeque on the terrace and although we were keen to repeat its success, by Wednesday we were all agreed that the weather would be unlikely to hold out and opted for a humongous variety of bites and nibbles. Cue much time spent on our friendly Ocado delivery site and a rather extensive purchase of food to feed the masses (all 18 of us). Oh, and to get them very drunk. The food went down a storm, and what didn't get eaten was either taken home by people or will keep until next week for lunches, but by 5pm a number of the hardcore drinkers were getting very concerned about the dwindling alcohol supplies.

So we shut up shop and headed of to Bed Bar. Despite being warned that it wasn't the cheapest of places, I found it reasonably priced (especially as I didn't seem to buy any drinks - it's not that I refuse to buy, but that the more senior members of staff insist on looking after (read: getting as drunk as possible) the lesser paid secretaries) and the atmosphere in there was absolutely great.

Then we headed off to Smiths for yet more food (as if any of us really needed to add to what had been a very long and filling lunch. Top marks there to whoever cooked (or didn't, as the case may be) my steak as it was the bluest I have ever seen come out of a restaurant kitchen. By this point D had had more than enough to drink (actually, I think that point may have come an hour or two previously, but was really apparent now) and felt that champagne was necessary to carry on the celebrations. I think for most people it all went rapidly downhill from this point. By the time we'd eaten and left our table for one downstairs, the rest of the girls were flagging, head in hands and ready to drop. Except for the fact they all wanted to go out dancing too.

So next the challenge of finding an empty cab to Guanabara. Not an easy off one of the main roads and in amongst the many pre-booked cabs. But D felt that standing in the middle of the road waving at every full and empty cab would do the job, and in the end he was right. Two cabs found and off we went.

The others thought the place was an authentic Brasilian club but it couldn't be further from the truth. My impression is that Brasilians like it because it's a small reminder of home and everyone else likes it because they feel they're getting an "authentic Brasilian night out" but in truth, it's Brasilianness (yes, I know there's no such word), is more novelty value that authenticity. Somewhat worryingly, my colleagues have gained the belief that I may be able to samba. I'm not quite sure where that one came from, but I can assure you, I can not! They were also in complete awe of the videos from this year's carnival showing on the screen. As for me, I concentrated on dancing my heart out (well, something had to shift all those calories I'd consumed throughout the day) but by 1am I was flagging and called it a night.

Now of course, and as Yuri was I'm sure under the impression, you may expect me to be writing this with a killer hangover. For once after an alcoholic work event I am fine. A little worse for wear on the sleep stakes (Tommy wanted to be up at about 7 which is inhumane on any Saturday morning) but on no accounts hungover. You see, after getting disastrously drunk at the Christmas party, I was determined to come home in a good state, and after a few drinks at lunch, I sneakily stuck a bottle of coke under my chair with which to keep refilling my rum & coke, only without the rum. So, by the time we left the office I was probably the more sober of the bunch. At this point, sneakily sipping iced water (with poor lighting and condensation on the glass who's going to know it's not G&T) was a great help, and if your champagne glass seems surprisingly empty surprisingly quickly no-one will be sober enough to realise it started out that way. So I'm feeling good, and glad to prove to certain people that I can have a large night out and still get up the next morning.

But I may have to go and make coffee.