Merry Christmas!!

Hi Everyone...hope you all had a fabulous Christmas. It's 2.20am here in London right now. I'm sitting in bed with my laptop, learning the joys of You Tube and reconnecting myself with the world of the internet and technology. Oh joy. This is what happens when you leave a stressful job that either took up 70 - 80 hours a week of your life or sent you to wonderful surroundings like Slough and Stockley Park. Oh Boy, I do not miss the early morning starts, the 5 interchanges to get to work and then spending the next 8 hrs or so putting up with belittlement from senior managers.

Nup! I quit! Woohoo!. So for the last couple of months, I have been travelling in Australia and New Zealand and starting a new job here in London, and now enjoying my Christmas break.

Well, our travels were over a 5 week period; 2 nights in Dubai, 2 weeks in Melbourne, 1 week in New Zealand, and 10 days in Brisbane. The highlight for me had to be the week we spent in New Zealand on the South Island. Staying in sunny Nelson with my sister and her husband, and then travelling around the Abel Tasman National Park and up to the hot springs that were Hamner Springs.


Take a squiz at this:

Not bad, huh??? And what about this one?

And finally one more:

Yes, it is very much alive. It had just positioned itself in a rather unfortunate spot and was subject to a very cruel battering by the wind and sand. However, we didn't want to get too close. They seemed unhappy as it was and kind of barked at us if we were getting too near. Truly amazing.

Bro Town Trailer

This is probably the Kiwi answer to South Park. Yeah, I know it's been around for a while, but one of the greatest things I discovered on recent travels to New Zealand.

brrr....

Things I like about London:

• pub grub
• the weather
• sleeping
• shopping
• catching the Eurostar to Paris
• multi cultural
• I'm about to start a really ace job in Soho...one of the best addresses in the world
• the purchasing power of the English £
• friends visiting
• fashion
• high brow arts culture
• cockney accents
• street markets
• Eastenders
• easy access to Europe
• Victorian period terrace houses
• parks and gardens

Things I dislike about London:

• lack of daylight
• crowds
• Christmas time
• fake tans
• hair straighteners
• public transport
• public phone boxes
• teenage slappers...errrr....girls....
• it smells like a sewer
• cost of living
• cost of car insurance
• Aussie and Kiwi tourists
• it's too far away from my close friends in Australia
• chavs

karaoke - is bad at all levels

Why is it that people feel the need to make complete dicks of themselves and attempt to sing at Karaoke? It usually involves copious amounts of alcohol being consumed first and then some dodo thinking they just have to do 'American Pie' or 'Twist n Shout'....sheesh!

Anyway, maybe it's just me feeling very bitter and twisted about the world. This was all in conjunction with work promotion drinks....and guess what...I didn't get promoted...no point going into reasons why...just not happy about it...that's all.... But I was there for my friend who did get promoted, so I'm glad for her sake. And for the sweet boy who sits next to me at work. I'm now his official groupie...after his absolutely dreadful attempt at karaoke...The Japanese have a lot to answer for.

But actually, I'm thinking along the lines of taking the route another friend of mine has just started on...quitting my job and going travelling...quit being a desk jockey....spend all my savings and go and see the world...Well, in a few weeks I'll be back in Australia and then New Zealand. Looking forward to seeing Nelson Bay in particular, where my sister now lives with her husband. I hope the weather is good.

Hmm....might not return to work....

Phew!!!

Wow! A long time since I've posted anything here. However, if you've not been in touch with my recent activities then check out the posts on Life in the Slough Lane.

So anyway, back to business of describing the undulating adventures of Fi Fi Abroad.

Yeah umm...tired now, have been sucked into Facebook, the new order for obsessive compulsives...ahem!

But no more promises from me. If I get around to publishing regular posts, then so be it. If I post any photos and even update my Flickr account...then I guess it's whooppeee! all 'round.

I suggest you don't hold your breath, but you can if you like. I generally last about 60 seconds before I need to pass out.

Nighty night!

oooohhh....pretty

A slightly backdated post..but this is how the first snow experience of the year was...

At last. Snow! It was so exciting to peep out the window this morning and see a decent layer of snow on the ground, the rooftops, the cars, the trees etc... It kinda makes putting up with winter over here worthwhile. Sorry, I don't have any of my own pics, as I was running late and had to race out the door to catch the train to work for my 9.00am meeting that I was meant to be hosting.

So I put the trainers on and scooted out the door..hit the ice...and...almost went for a spill..great.. the vision of being splattered on the pavement went through my mind. Not more damage to my already badly sprained wrist...yikes!

Of course, any sign of deviation in weather patterns in this country means the transport system goes haywire. A business man arriving at Luton airport from Slovenia pointed out that other European countries have several feet of snow and their transport system manages to run ok...why is that everything crumbles to a halt in the UK? It's not like it's the first time they've experienced these weather conditions...Go figure.

twas the mayhem before christmas...

Happy New Year... and all that business. Like most of you I'm back at work now and feels like an eternity since I had a Christmas/ New Year break.

To back track a little bit prior to Christmas, I was sooooo looking forward to my break. Work was unbelievably hectic and I think it's about 10 times worse since I came back in 2007. I was coming down with every 'flu under the sun...errrr...grey gloomy skies of London....Dirty, filthy travellers...should be banned...Plus my sprained wrist which was adding to my misery...awwww....poor me....

Anyway! I had to take an enforced holiday prior to Christmas or I'd lose my hols. They don't roll them over. Boo....!!!! So I dragged my friend from Oz out the door (her first English Christmas, just after she'd been travelling in Spain), prepared for battle and we braved the marauding crowds on Oxford Street....

A couple of times we were forced to retreat (at the nearest pub with mulled wine and mince pies) before we reconsidered our plan of attack and ventured out boldly once more.

Victory was ours! Hommage to the Dodi and Di shrine at Harrods paid off. The gods of consumerism were on our side and 6 hours later, battle weary but triumphant, we marched in the front door laden down with our spoils of battle (shopping bags full of Christmas pressies).

But that was not the end of it....oh no!...as we settled in for the evening, intoxicated by our success (and a couple more bottles of wine) we knew another day and a greater battle loomed ahead of us...Getting up early, with a hangover, going to the physio, picking up the hire car and then...Yes. The greatest battle field of them all.... the supermarket carpark and the armies of trolleys. Rolling around like tanks, crushing anyone in their paths. Mothers. Fearsome and crazed warriors..and more terrifying..their offspring...the embodiment of hell...Orks!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrggggggghhhh!

Gnashing of teeth, clashing of trollies
It's Christmas time...they're getting their jollies..
Scratching, biting
clawing, fighting
More greenhouse emissions with Christmas lighting.

(I made that up myself!)

And then...trapped in aisle 9 amongst the tinned food as the hordes stock up for the seige...when no shops are open on Christmas Day and the five tins of Heinz tomato soup will obviously be required for survival....a blood curdling scream rips through the supermarket...

'Jason Bluebell Petal Schnuckylumps! Don't you bleedin' give me no more o your lip or you get it. Init? I've 'ad it up to 'ere I 'ave...an' I'm sick o' yer moanin'...init...'

A final check of our trolley. Roasting potatoes. check. Vegies. check. More than enough food to feed all the armies in this supermarket. Check. And more food in case we run out! Check.

Right-y-o! Troops! Reform your battle lines...we're making a break for it. To the checkout! Charge!...ramble down aisle ten, hard turn at the end, avoid the 'spilt liquids' sign, minor collision with the store packer, and hurtle down towards the checkout.Crash! Thud! Ow! ..We've come to an abrupt stop...smashed straight into another tank..err..trolley..Loaded up and up and up into the sky...A shake of the head...an inspection of my body for broken bones and admiration of the bruise on my shin for battle scars incurred.

I look up and ahead to see, to my despair, a long line of trolleys, miles and miles, queuing for the checkout. Lines backed right down to the frozen goods section. The bakery, the deli...sigh...

A half hour later we finally reach the checkout...now licking our wounds and feeling rather sorry for ourselves. But we know the end is in sight... Shit, they don't accept AMEX. Ummm... can I remember the PIN for my Mastercard? A few attempts. Heart thumping. We're almost there. Don't surrender now....and...We've won! We pack the shopping bags and rush to the car...but just one more hurdle.

The carpark...beep beep...'get outta the way you f'in so and so. Where'd you learn to drive...blah blah blah...go back to your own country...Merry F'in Christmas'

At long last we got back home. Trudged upstairs to the safety of our barracks. And popped open the champas....Shit! I think we forgot something....

...Hope you all had a Merry F'in Christmas too...