You know the day is not going to go well when the issues start before you have even managed to have your breakfast!
I am very much a creature of habit, and every morning before I have my breakfast I put away the dishes from the night before. So I picked up all the cutlery and headed for the cutlery drawer, no sooner was the drawer opened when I heard a noise from the dish rack behind me. Clearly the dinner plate had decided enough was enough as using all its efforts jumped off the dish rack and shattered on the kitchen floor. I didn't even have a chance to attempt a rescue mission before it went to pieces.
I got all the bits cleared up, and carried on with my morning routine and things seemed to be going well until I got to the motorway and was almost crushed between a car transport lorry and a shell petrol lorry. Thankfully due to my manoeuvring skills I managed to escape death and got to work in one piece.
Now my day generally feels like a struggle due to the people I have to work with. Neither of my team have the ability to think for themselves or the function of common sense so I spend half my day doing their jobs for them as well as having to fit in what I am supposed to be doing myself. A prime example of this is we use City Link to deliver our equipment to customers and every day this needs to be booked by 3pm and all parcels bagged and labelled to go out at 4pm. Well we had 5 parcels to go and by 3.40pm not one of them had been packaged up or registered with City Link, hence a mad rush between me and Trudy to get this done while the driver patiently waited in his van. Yet more stress for me to deal with.
So when a call came in at 5pm from a customer advising his broadband wasn't working and he wouldn't be able to steam the Man U v Chelsea game I kindly picked the ticket out of the queue to help. It turned out that the customer had changed the equipment on site and the information we held did not match what they had. I tried, as politely and professionally as possible to explain to the IT guy at site that this was the case and I would need to investigate what had happened, however by this time he had become both rude and patronising. Now I have the ability to cope with people like this I have been working in customer services for long enough now but sometimes you cant help but get angry. I put the phone down and through nothing more than anger cried at my desk thereby breaking my cardinal rule of never crying in public.
Thankfully the crying wasn't sobbing like a 5 year old with snot bubbles but it was still enough to end up with puffy eyes and a red nose. Certainly not attractive. This was made worse by the fact that all the men in the office started being nice. When I am crying I don't need sympathy I need to be left alone to recover. At this point I decided the best course of action was to head home and write off the day in a hope that today would be better.
The evening went smoothly, I had my dinner watched the footy and went to bed. I got up this morning and everything was on track for a good day until I got to work.
I hadn't even started work and was being bombarded by questions, answers to which were right in front of Natalie had she decided to do what most grown ups do and read. I then when into a meeting for an hour and a half and I am pretty sure that through out this time both Natalie and Trudy just talked. It resorted in my having to tell them to stop chatting and get on with some work because the voices were going straight through me. This then resulted in huffing from both of them. I don't mind having a chat and on some occasions even I will maybe go too far but I do know when enough is enough and I certainly would not huff at being told to be quiet.
Maybe it is the responsibility of being in charge and the fact that they are more used to me being one of the team rather than manager that they feel I am being unfair, however Natalie is really pushing her luck. She asked me yesterday if she could leave at 4 today and work through her lunch to make up for it. I agreed so imagine my surprise when at 12.55 she asks to go for a fag break. We are not allowed fag breaks any smoking is to be done in the lunch hour so if you don't have a lunch you don't have a fag. Now she is stropping about this.
Thankfully on a positive note my job hunting appears to be picking up speed so fingers crossed something will come up sooner rather than later and I can leave this place before it sinks from underneath me!!
Dream job - I don't think so!!
Here's hoping things can only get better!!
xoxo
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Being an adult
I am convinced that between me and my brother I have always been the sensible practical sibling, he is more of a "fly by the seat of your pants" type.
On a number of occasions I have been referred to as having "an old head on young shoulders" this could be interrupted as meaning boring but I choose to look at it as knowing how to be an adult.
Don't get me wrong I love to have fun and I especially love to cause trouble but where is concerned I appear to have a very old fashioned view of what is acceptable and what isn't. For instance I believe the do's and dont's to ber:
1) If you aren't ill go to work (unless you have pre-booked holiday)
2) Don't be late unless you have a valid reason to be
3) Always give 100%
4) Don't take the piss
5) If you don't like your job look for a new one but still put in 100% while doing the current job (unless you are being made redundant in which case screw 'em)
In the last few weeks it has come to my attention that my brother does not think this way.
I didn't go to Uni, I left college at 18 not really sure what I wanted to do with my life, but found a job and aside from 8 weeks of unemployment due to my first redundancy I have worked hard for the last 9 years. Alan went to Uni, did 3 years studying economics and left with a huge amount of debt and a 2:1 to his name. Not bad some might say. The problem was as he was leaving Uni the economy was going through the down turn but after a lot of perseverance he managed to get a job on the graduate scheme for Zurich dealing with Car Insurance, sure not the fast past high flying life of an economist or investment banker but a job (by this time I am facing my second redundancy but battling through none the less).
After doing the job for a while he decided that he didn't want to do it any more as he didn't like the sales side of it and he didn't like his new boss so while looking for a new job started to skive off work. Big no no as far as I am concerned. If you want a good reference when you leave a job you need to give the employer a reason to write one. But eventually he got a new job as a Customer Advisor at the Natwest and by all accounts really enjoyed. So much so he got arrested at Christmas after his works do, anyway I digress. We moved house and everything seemed to be going well until last month........
He got ill, nothing serious, just ear ache so he took a week off sick. This I don't have a problem with, then came the Monday he was due to go back to work, he decided he still wasn't well so went to the Doctors and they signed him off for two weeks with Vertigo as he kept losing his balance. OK so this didn't fill me with joy, especially as he wouldn't send his sick note in, and my worry being he would get sacked.
The sick note expired on the 28th March but again he didn't go back, now he had decided he didn't like the job, it was too sales based so he was going to quit. He spoke to his boss who arranged a meeting and it was decided that he would go back, even if just for three months and during this time could look for a new job. So yesterday was his first day back.
Well, imagine my surprise on returning from London to find the door bolted because he didn't go it, apparently he just couldn't face it and the update today is he has officially resigned and will not be going back.
I am not saying that I disapprove of his choice, if you are not happy then change is the best solution but my understanding of being an adult is when you have responsibilities you need to take these into account before making rash decision.
I am sure everything will work out for the best as it seems he always lands on his feet but only time will tell. He has until the end of June to have found a job other wise he is facing having run out of savings and we wont be able to afford our rent. I now have everything crossed, tight!!
xoxo
On a number of occasions I have been referred to as having "an old head on young shoulders" this could be interrupted as meaning boring but I choose to look at it as knowing how to be an adult.
Don't get me wrong I love to have fun and I especially love to cause trouble but where is concerned I appear to have a very old fashioned view of what is acceptable and what isn't. For instance I believe the do's and dont's to ber:
1) If you aren't ill go to work (unless you have pre-booked holiday)
2) Don't be late unless you have a valid reason to be
3) Always give 100%
4) Don't take the piss
5) If you don't like your job look for a new one but still put in 100% while doing the current job (unless you are being made redundant in which case screw 'em)
In the last few weeks it has come to my attention that my brother does not think this way.
I didn't go to Uni, I left college at 18 not really sure what I wanted to do with my life, but found a job and aside from 8 weeks of unemployment due to my first redundancy I have worked hard for the last 9 years. Alan went to Uni, did 3 years studying economics and left with a huge amount of debt and a 2:1 to his name. Not bad some might say. The problem was as he was leaving Uni the economy was going through the down turn but after a lot of perseverance he managed to get a job on the graduate scheme for Zurich dealing with Car Insurance, sure not the fast past high flying life of an economist or investment banker but a job (by this time I am facing my second redundancy but battling through none the less).
After doing the job for a while he decided that he didn't want to do it any more as he didn't like the sales side of it and he didn't like his new boss so while looking for a new job started to skive off work. Big no no as far as I am concerned. If you want a good reference when you leave a job you need to give the employer a reason to write one. But eventually he got a new job as a Customer Advisor at the Natwest and by all accounts really enjoyed. So much so he got arrested at Christmas after his works do, anyway I digress. We moved house and everything seemed to be going well until last month........
He got ill, nothing serious, just ear ache so he took a week off sick. This I don't have a problem with, then came the Monday he was due to go back to work, he decided he still wasn't well so went to the Doctors and they signed him off for two weeks with Vertigo as he kept losing his balance. OK so this didn't fill me with joy, especially as he wouldn't send his sick note in, and my worry being he would get sacked.
The sick note expired on the 28th March but again he didn't go back, now he had decided he didn't like the job, it was too sales based so he was going to quit. He spoke to his boss who arranged a meeting and it was decided that he would go back, even if just for three months and during this time could look for a new job. So yesterday was his first day back.
Well, imagine my surprise on returning from London to find the door bolted because he didn't go it, apparently he just couldn't face it and the update today is he has officially resigned and will not be going back.
I am not saying that I disapprove of his choice, if you are not happy then change is the best solution but my understanding of being an adult is when you have responsibilities you need to take these into account before making rash decision.
I am sure everything will work out for the best as it seems he always lands on his feet but only time will tell. He has until the end of June to have found a job other wise he is facing having run out of savings and we wont be able to afford our rent. I now have everything crossed, tight!!
xoxo
LonDon & Laughing
Sunday was the day, London was the place and Laughing was on the menu!!
I must in part thank Lynne for without her I would not have had the opportunity to go to London to see the one and only Peter Kay.
I met Emily at the ferry just after 12o'clock on Sunday afternoon and after a lift from Jay we boarded the train from Havant station London bound for Waterloo. The journey was very smooth and the time past just as quickly as the view outside. Thankfully the shock from the cost of the ticket subsided rather swiftly and did not ruin the trip, but I must say train companies these days certainly know how to mug you off!!!
We arrived at Waterloo just after 2pm and headed for the underground. I will admit I was a little apprehensive as I have only ever once been on the London Underground but having conquered the Subway in New York this was going to be easy. Plus to aid our quest Emily was armed with an app of the lines on her Iphone, we therefore had to be on to a winner. So we purchased our all day rail cards and headed confidently(ish) to the Northern Line. We hadn't travelled more than two stops when were notified by the tannoy that the Northern Line was closed. God Damn it planned scuppered at the first. So after consulting the map we headed off in search of the next best option to get us from Charring Cross to Kings Cross. Eventually after multiple changes we made it. However to add further confusion to the issue the entrance that Emily knew was closed and we ended up on the other side of the station feeling rather bemused and slightly lost, not helped by my Iphone who was trying to make us go the wrong way. Finally we managed to get round to the front of the station and things started to become familiar to Emily.
It didn't take too long to get to the hotel, which I will admit certainly wasn't the Ritz but was a step or two up from the hostel in New York, we go checked in and headed to the room for a fast change and refresh before heading back to train station to get to Covent Garden as we had arranged to meet Emily's friends Paul and Jack.
After meeting them we plotted a course to Nandos and once again my Iphone tried to get us lost, but with some quick thinking we managed to work out where we needed to be. Nandos Covent Garden is far nicer than Nandos Gunwharf Quays, and while I don't want to dis my regular eating establishment the truth must be heard. The food was good, the service was fast and the company was very funny. After consuming scrummy Nandos we headed back through Covent Garden to the Porterhouse for a drink.
I have to say this pub was great. It was all dark and mysterious. It is the type of place you could lose a day in. We chatted for an hour of so about all kinds of things and had a good laugh. Then sadly it was time to say goodbye and we left the boys to walk down to Leicester Square to again hop on the tube to the O2.
The journey didn't take long at all when we got there it was packed (not surprisingly). We decided to have another cider and nearly fainted to find that a small bottle of brothers cost over £4. You can get 3 pint bottles for £5 in adsa!! What a rip off!! We found out seats which were level 4 row R seats 890 and 891, needless to say very high up indeed but thankfully were right over the stage we had a pretty good view. The highlights of the show for me were Mums cooking roast dinners, the thick table (let the thick see the table), Sky Plus and the double shovel at the end.
Due to the high volume of people in the O2 queueing for the tube was a little longer than normal but it wasn't too bad and we were still able to swing by Maccy D's on the way back to the hotel for supper. We did almost get lost on the way back as we missed the turning but managed to get back on track. By this point though due to all the working my feet were killing me and I now have a number of blisters to show for me weekend in the big smoke.
Monday morning arrived with a bit of a bang, I dont understand why hotels say check out is at 12 and then cleaners start banging on your door at 9.30. If you know the room is occupied wait until after 12 before you start knocking, this interruption did not go down well and I think they might have realised when I snapped "WHAT" as I answered the door. She beat a hasty retreat and then at 11.30 someone else came back with the same agenda, by this time we were up and ready so decided to depart and head back to Waterloo to go for lunch.
We walked from Waterloo Station round to the Embankment and went to Giraffe for lunch. The food was lush and once again we remarked how much nice the establishment was to the one in Gunwharf. We had lunch and caught the train back to Portsmouth. By the time I walked home from the ferry I was shattered and god did my legs hurt.
I am now truly convinced that when Muller did the adverts for their yogurts and explained the pleasure / pain theory they may have been on to something because for all the pleasure I got from the laughing and the company I suffered with the pain from the walking.
So that is the second comedian of the year now, bring on John Bishop and Lee Evans if they are anywhere near as funny as Peter Kay 2011 is going to be an absolute scream!!
xoxo
I must in part thank Lynne for without her I would not have had the opportunity to go to London to see the one and only Peter Kay.
I met Emily at the ferry just after 12o'clock on Sunday afternoon and after a lift from Jay we boarded the train from Havant station London bound for Waterloo. The journey was very smooth and the time past just as quickly as the view outside. Thankfully the shock from the cost of the ticket subsided rather swiftly and did not ruin the trip, but I must say train companies these days certainly know how to mug you off!!!
We arrived at Waterloo just after 2pm and headed for the underground. I will admit I was a little apprehensive as I have only ever once been on the London Underground but having conquered the Subway in New York this was going to be easy. Plus to aid our quest Emily was armed with an app of the lines on her Iphone, we therefore had to be on to a winner. So we purchased our all day rail cards and headed confidently(ish) to the Northern Line. We hadn't travelled more than two stops when were notified by the tannoy that the Northern Line was closed. God Damn it planned scuppered at the first. So after consulting the map we headed off in search of the next best option to get us from Charring Cross to Kings Cross. Eventually after multiple changes we made it. However to add further confusion to the issue the entrance that Emily knew was closed and we ended up on the other side of the station feeling rather bemused and slightly lost, not helped by my Iphone who was trying to make us go the wrong way. Finally we managed to get round to the front of the station and things started to become familiar to Emily.
It didn't take too long to get to the hotel, which I will admit certainly wasn't the Ritz but was a step or two up from the hostel in New York, we go checked in and headed to the room for a fast change and refresh before heading back to train station to get to Covent Garden as we had arranged to meet Emily's friends Paul and Jack.
After meeting them we plotted a course to Nandos and once again my Iphone tried to get us lost, but with some quick thinking we managed to work out where we needed to be. Nandos Covent Garden is far nicer than Nandos Gunwharf Quays, and while I don't want to dis my regular eating establishment the truth must be heard. The food was good, the service was fast and the company was very funny. After consuming scrummy Nandos we headed back through Covent Garden to the Porterhouse for a drink.
I have to say this pub was great. It was all dark and mysterious. It is the type of place you could lose a day in. We chatted for an hour of so about all kinds of things and had a good laugh. Then sadly it was time to say goodbye and we left the boys to walk down to Leicester Square to again hop on the tube to the O2.
The journey didn't take long at all when we got there it was packed (not surprisingly). We decided to have another cider and nearly fainted to find that a small bottle of brothers cost over £4. You can get 3 pint bottles for £5 in adsa!! What a rip off!! We found out seats which were level 4 row R seats 890 and 891, needless to say very high up indeed but thankfully were right over the stage we had a pretty good view. The highlights of the show for me were Mums cooking roast dinners, the thick table (let the thick see the table), Sky Plus and the double shovel at the end.
Due to the high volume of people in the O2 queueing for the tube was a little longer than normal but it wasn't too bad and we were still able to swing by Maccy D's on the way back to the hotel for supper. We did almost get lost on the way back as we missed the turning but managed to get back on track. By this point though due to all the working my feet were killing me and I now have a number of blisters to show for me weekend in the big smoke.
Monday morning arrived with a bit of a bang, I dont understand why hotels say check out is at 12 and then cleaners start banging on your door at 9.30. If you know the room is occupied wait until after 12 before you start knocking, this interruption did not go down well and I think they might have realised when I snapped "WHAT" as I answered the door. She beat a hasty retreat and then at 11.30 someone else came back with the same agenda, by this time we were up and ready so decided to depart and head back to Waterloo to go for lunch.
We walked from Waterloo Station round to the Embankment and went to Giraffe for lunch. The food was lush and once again we remarked how much nice the establishment was to the one in Gunwharf. We had lunch and caught the train back to Portsmouth. By the time I walked home from the ferry I was shattered and god did my legs hurt.
I am now truly convinced that when Muller did the adverts for their yogurts and explained the pleasure / pain theory they may have been on to something because for all the pleasure I got from the laughing and the company I suffered with the pain from the walking.
So that is the second comedian of the year now, bring on John Bishop and Lee Evans if they are anywhere near as funny as Peter Kay 2011 is going to be an absolute scream!!
xoxo
Friday, 18 March 2011
Twickenham - Home of the Gods
Everyone has a list of things they want to do in their life and I am no exception.
When you leave school its generally things like get a job, learn to drive. These items have been crossed off my list for quite some time.
The last item I crossed off my list was huge, it was my trip to the Big Apple last year with Miss Emily Green.
On Friday last week I was having a typically bad Friday this is solely due to work and I was very much looking forward to the weekend and being able to chill out and on Sunday watch England take on Scotland in the rugby.
At about 16:30 the sales manager came over to my desk armed with what was to be a question to completely change my weekend.
Chris: Dawn we have a spare ticket to the rugby at Twickenham on Sunday, would you be interested in coming along?"
Me: OMG! Yes totally I would love to.
All the details were then exchanged and I agreed to meet him and the others at work on Sunday for a lift to the game.
At this point I have a question, why is it when you are so excited about something and have somewhere to be that things start to go slightly wrong. Now I had to be at work for 11:30 to meet everyone. I left my house at 10:30 as I had to get some petrol and being as it was a Sunday I figured it wouldnt take me long at all to get there. How wrong I was.
I got to the pertol station, there was a delay here as they were having issues with card payments declining, eventually I paid and was on my way..........only to get stuck behind every sodding Sunday driver in Gosport. A journey that should have taken 25 mins took nearly 45. I got to work bang on 11.30.
We got to the pub in Kingston about 1pm and all had Hog Roast rolls for lunch, there were lush but so big I had serious trouble eating it, there was certainly no elegance involved. At around 14:30 we started walking to the ground ready for 15:00 kick off. I could not believe how many people there were they seems to be streaming out of every side road.
We got through the gates and bag check pretty quickly and up the stairs to the entrance to the terraces. I did think at this point that I might cry with joy as the anticipation was over whelming. We got to our seats which were fab, on the corner behind the try line. An amazing view (I was later to find out that Matthew and James had tickets right next to the pitch, so close that they could hear the guys talking).
The first half of the game was not the best England have ever played but being there was amazing. In a game of rugby the half time break is only 10 mins. By this point I was desperate for the loo, part of my brain said dont worry about it, go later it will take ages if you go now. The other part of my brain said if you dont go now you wont need to go later as you will have an accident in your seat. So I decided to brave it and headed for the ladies, I was right the queue was huge. I rang mum to let her know I was having a great time and rub it in that I was there. Then the 10 mins were up and I was still queueing as they welcomed the teams back on the pitch. I was just about to get a cubicle when there was a roar from the crowd as England nearly scored a try. I can honestly say I think it is the only time I have been glad that they didnt.
The second half was much better than the first, I was shouting and singing at the top of my voice. Thankfully we managed to beat the Scots and this took us 1 game away from winning the Grand Slam. I can now cross off watching England at Twickenham from my list.
It certainly was one of the best Sundays I have had in a while. Now on to this Saturday when England play Ireland in our final 6 nations game! Come on England, we can do it!!
xoxo
When you leave school its generally things like get a job, learn to drive. These items have been crossed off my list for quite some time.
The last item I crossed off my list was huge, it was my trip to the Big Apple last year with Miss Emily Green.
On Friday last week I was having a typically bad Friday this is solely due to work and I was very much looking forward to the weekend and being able to chill out and on Sunday watch England take on Scotland in the rugby.
At about 16:30 the sales manager came over to my desk armed with what was to be a question to completely change my weekend.
Chris: Dawn we have a spare ticket to the rugby at Twickenham on Sunday, would you be interested in coming along?"
Me: OMG! Yes totally I would love to.
All the details were then exchanged and I agreed to meet him and the others at work on Sunday for a lift to the game.
At this point I have a question, why is it when you are so excited about something and have somewhere to be that things start to go slightly wrong. Now I had to be at work for 11:30 to meet everyone. I left my house at 10:30 as I had to get some petrol and being as it was a Sunday I figured it wouldnt take me long at all to get there. How wrong I was.
I got to the pertol station, there was a delay here as they were having issues with card payments declining, eventually I paid and was on my way..........only to get stuck behind every sodding Sunday driver in Gosport. A journey that should have taken 25 mins took nearly 45. I got to work bang on 11.30.
We got to the pub in Kingston about 1pm and all had Hog Roast rolls for lunch, there were lush but so big I had serious trouble eating it, there was certainly no elegance involved. At around 14:30 we started walking to the ground ready for 15:00 kick off. I could not believe how many people there were they seems to be streaming out of every side road.
We got through the gates and bag check pretty quickly and up the stairs to the entrance to the terraces. I did think at this point that I might cry with joy as the anticipation was over whelming. We got to our seats which were fab, on the corner behind the try line. An amazing view (I was later to find out that Matthew and James had tickets right next to the pitch, so close that they could hear the guys talking).
The first half of the game was not the best England have ever played but being there was amazing. In a game of rugby the half time break is only 10 mins. By this point I was desperate for the loo, part of my brain said dont worry about it, go later it will take ages if you go now. The other part of my brain said if you dont go now you wont need to go later as you will have an accident in your seat. So I decided to brave it and headed for the ladies, I was right the queue was huge. I rang mum to let her know I was having a great time and rub it in that I was there. Then the 10 mins were up and I was still queueing as they welcomed the teams back on the pitch. I was just about to get a cubicle when there was a roar from the crowd as England nearly scored a try. I can honestly say I think it is the only time I have been glad that they didnt.
The second half was much better than the first, I was shouting and singing at the top of my voice. Thankfully we managed to beat the Scots and this took us 1 game away from winning the Grand Slam. I can now cross off watching England at Twickenham from my list.
It certainly was one of the best Sundays I have had in a while. Now on to this Saturday when England play Ireland in our final 6 nations game! Come on England, we can do it!!
xoxo
Thursday, 3 March 2011
Nandos Madness
In my humble opinion Wednesdays have always been the best day of the week. I appreciate that some people will disagree with me and say that actually Friday is the best day as that means the weekend has arrived but I am afraid they are quite wrong.
Wednesday is the best day for a number of reasons, such as:
1) It is the middle of the week so that means Monday and Tuesday are out of the way
2) It is the middle of the week so it is down hill until the weekend
3) It is far enough away from next Monday
4) Gossip Girl is on ITV2 and I love Chuck Bass
5) Castle is on Alibi Whoop
More recently this list has been expanded to include:
1) Nandos, everyone loves a bit of cheap chicken
2) Orange Wednesdays, everyone loves a half price cinema experience
3) Ben and Jerries Ice Cream Sundaes - speaks for itself I feel.
Up until the move of house myself and Emily had been frequenting Nandos and Vue in Gunwharf for regular mid week entertainment. But over the last few weeks this seems to have slipped away from being so regular.
So last night we planned a trip to see No Strings Attached with a bit of Nandos dinner first. We got to Nandos at about 7pm and it was absolutely packed, we had to queue for a table and put our name on a list. I was shocked at the demand for cheap chicken. This was made up for when we were seated and my usual food of Medium Chicken Pitta, Chips, Coleslaw and sauce arrived. I was merrily tucking into mine while Emily sat there and watched eagerly awaiting the arrival of her food. She decided after about 5 mins and me getting half way through mine that she would go and locate her meal, the next thing I know she comes running back round the corner going "hes just picked it up, hes bringing it now". Eventually we both completed our meals and headed to the cinema.
One thing that does make me chuckle and very much annoy Emily is the fact that you can buy your tickets from the counter inside the cinema where you get the food so there is no need to queue up for ages outside at the box office but you can guarantee that every Wednesday the queue will be practically down the stairs with people waiting just to get tickets - its just silly. So as we had already bought the tickets we skipped past the fools and off to the ice cream counter.
Thankfully this time the ice cream was purchased with no incident, mainly helped by the fact that Emily paid on her card for hers so there was no temptation to rip a £5 note in half. She handed the tickets to the ticket monitor by the screen, we were pointed in the right direction and headed towards the door when all of a sudden I heard "SPLAT" and yes you guessed it Emily's Ice Cream Sundea was laying on the floor. I was instructed to get a seat in the screen while she hurried off to get a replacement.
I got into the screen to find it was packed, I ended up having to get a seat at the front of the upper tier of seats. The down side to these seats is people come in looking for seats and stand right in front of you with no regard for the fact you are trying to watch the screen. The up side being the leg room is great and no one is trying to push past when they need to go to the loo mid way through.
What surprises me is how annoyed people get when they arrive to the screen 15/20 mins after the picture has started and complain they cannot get a seat.
We watched No Strings Attached and in my opinion it was very good, I have no idea what makes the critics slate a film when it is funny and can clearly draw plenty of money from the box office. Plus Ashton Kutcher getting his kit off helps - phwooor!!!
And this is why I believe Wednesdays to be the best day of the week!!
xoxo
Wednesday is the best day for a number of reasons, such as:
1) It is the middle of the week so that means Monday and Tuesday are out of the way
2) It is the middle of the week so it is down hill until the weekend
3) It is far enough away from next Monday
4) Gossip Girl is on ITV2 and I love Chuck Bass
5) Castle is on Alibi Whoop
More recently this list has been expanded to include:
1) Nandos, everyone loves a bit of cheap chicken
2) Orange Wednesdays, everyone loves a half price cinema experience
3) Ben and Jerries Ice Cream Sundaes - speaks for itself I feel.
Up until the move of house myself and Emily had been frequenting Nandos and Vue in Gunwharf for regular mid week entertainment. But over the last few weeks this seems to have slipped away from being so regular.
So last night we planned a trip to see No Strings Attached with a bit of Nandos dinner first. We got to Nandos at about 7pm and it was absolutely packed, we had to queue for a table and put our name on a list. I was shocked at the demand for cheap chicken. This was made up for when we were seated and my usual food of Medium Chicken Pitta, Chips, Coleslaw and sauce arrived. I was merrily tucking into mine while Emily sat there and watched eagerly awaiting the arrival of her food. She decided after about 5 mins and me getting half way through mine that she would go and locate her meal, the next thing I know she comes running back round the corner going "hes just picked it up, hes bringing it now". Eventually we both completed our meals and headed to the cinema.
One thing that does make me chuckle and very much annoy Emily is the fact that you can buy your tickets from the counter inside the cinema where you get the food so there is no need to queue up for ages outside at the box office but you can guarantee that every Wednesday the queue will be practically down the stairs with people waiting just to get tickets - its just silly. So as we had already bought the tickets we skipped past the fools and off to the ice cream counter.
Thankfully this time the ice cream was purchased with no incident, mainly helped by the fact that Emily paid on her card for hers so there was no temptation to rip a £5 note in half. She handed the tickets to the ticket monitor by the screen, we were pointed in the right direction and headed towards the door when all of a sudden I heard "SPLAT" and yes you guessed it Emily's Ice Cream Sundea was laying on the floor. I was instructed to get a seat in the screen while she hurried off to get a replacement.
I got into the screen to find it was packed, I ended up having to get a seat at the front of the upper tier of seats. The down side to these seats is people come in looking for seats and stand right in front of you with no regard for the fact you are trying to watch the screen. The up side being the leg room is great and no one is trying to push past when they need to go to the loo mid way through.
What surprises me is how annoyed people get when they arrive to the screen 15/20 mins after the picture has started and complain they cannot get a seat.
We watched No Strings Attached and in my opinion it was very good, I have no idea what makes the critics slate a film when it is funny and can clearly draw plenty of money from the box office. Plus Ashton Kutcher getting his kit off helps - phwooor!!!
And this is why I believe Wednesdays to be the best day of the week!!
xoxo
Saturday, 19 February 2011
So the movies say.....
I can honestly say I have been single for a while now, don't get me wrong there have been boys just not long term ones. It appears I have developed the ability to be attracted to the ones who come with a warning notice which generally reads "Its not you its me, I'm just not looking for a relationship". I should make it clear I don't go looking for these ones they some how find me, lead me on for a couple of weeks then break out the immortal saying "I think we need to talk".
Now don't get me wrong I am not saying that being single is a bad thing, I have a lot of amazing things in my life right now. I have recently moved house into an amazing apartment, I have an amazing job which may be offering the prospect of promotion, I have amazing friends and a totally amazing family. There is nothing in my life that I have to complain about. I am not looking for love, a relationship or even the no strings attached but should the opportunity present itself I would not be running in the wrong direction from the right guy. I am assured by friends and Hollywood that he is out there, it seems to me that he is either hiding or he just hasn't realised he is looking for me!
So imagine my joy and possibly even delight when after returning home last Friday night after a fab evening with Miss Emily Green and her wonderful family and friends I discover a brief private facebook message from a boy!! Now this message certainly wasn't a long love note or even the proposition of a date it was one word but it made me smile. As I was under the influence I decided, as I am sure every girl would, to reply in just as much a cheeky manner. I then preceded to turn my phone to silent and hit the hay thinking no more about it.
Saturday morning arrived and on awaking suddenly remembered the message from the previous night. I grabbed my phone with mild anticipation and wariness to find there was a reply. How I refrained from whooping I will never know, but I did. Again the message was brief but the message was there none the less. A reply was sent from me and I went about my business of arranging breakfast, no mean feat with a hangover on the go. To cut what could be a rather long and predictable story short these messages continued for the morning and into the afternoon.
Then they stopped..............I had by this time thought, wow maybe out of the blue and totally unexpectedly this boy likes me, is interested may even ask me out. I will admit the following thoughts had by this point crossed my mind:
1) He messaged me after the gig
2) He would have had to look me up
3) That would mean he was thinking of me after the gig
4) He replied to my message on Saturday
Typical girly thoughts which if I am honest I am not a fan of, but as it is not often a boy goes out of their way to contact me it was kind of inevitable it would happen.
Well after about 2pm (I think) on Saturday there was no further communication all weekend, or Monday or Tuesday. So against my usual philosophy on Wednesday I sent him a quick but again brief private message on Fb, on the basis that if he didn't reply I could put the whole thing behind me. To my shock and surprise 5 mins later I got a reply, there were a few exchanged back and forth until I felt bad that he was only replying because he didn't want to be rude (he seems to be a genuinely nice guy you see) so I said good night.
Needless to say I have not heard from him again and I really don't want to push it. My general theory to all this (and I am no expert I can assure you) is just play it cool, there is no point crying or nagging or worse both it will never get you what you want. This may be the wrong approach, not going after your goals is a sure way to watch them slip away unattained, but why put him off before he even gets a chance to know you.
So over this weekend I have been giving it some thought and have come to this conclusion, Hollywood is right!! If he isn't contacting you, HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU!!
Which means I am back to the drawing board and putting all of this behind me once again and going back to being single and not thinking about boys. But just so we are clear I am not without love in my life, as previously stated I have amazing family and friends by my side every day!!
So I say:
Dance like no one is watching
Laugh at least once everyday
Love like there is no tomorrow
And Live life to the full as you never know what is waiting round that next corner (in my case it may even be a boy!!
xoxo
Now don't get me wrong I am not saying that being single is a bad thing, I have a lot of amazing things in my life right now. I have recently moved house into an amazing apartment, I have an amazing job which may be offering the prospect of promotion, I have amazing friends and a totally amazing family. There is nothing in my life that I have to complain about. I am not looking for love, a relationship or even the no strings attached but should the opportunity present itself I would not be running in the wrong direction from the right guy. I am assured by friends and Hollywood that he is out there, it seems to me that he is either hiding or he just hasn't realised he is looking for me!
So imagine my joy and possibly even delight when after returning home last Friday night after a fab evening with Miss Emily Green and her wonderful family and friends I discover a brief private facebook message from a boy!! Now this message certainly wasn't a long love note or even the proposition of a date it was one word but it made me smile. As I was under the influence I decided, as I am sure every girl would, to reply in just as much a cheeky manner. I then preceded to turn my phone to silent and hit the hay thinking no more about it.
Saturday morning arrived and on awaking suddenly remembered the message from the previous night. I grabbed my phone with mild anticipation and wariness to find there was a reply. How I refrained from whooping I will never know, but I did. Again the message was brief but the message was there none the less. A reply was sent from me and I went about my business of arranging breakfast, no mean feat with a hangover on the go. To cut what could be a rather long and predictable story short these messages continued for the morning and into the afternoon.
Then they stopped..............I had by this time thought, wow maybe out of the blue and totally unexpectedly this boy likes me, is interested may even ask me out. I will admit the following thoughts had by this point crossed my mind:
1) He messaged me after the gig
2) He would have had to look me up
3) That would mean he was thinking of me after the gig
4) He replied to my message on Saturday
Typical girly thoughts which if I am honest I am not a fan of, but as it is not often a boy goes out of their way to contact me it was kind of inevitable it would happen.
Well after about 2pm (I think) on Saturday there was no further communication all weekend, or Monday or Tuesday. So against my usual philosophy on Wednesday I sent him a quick but again brief private message on Fb, on the basis that if he didn't reply I could put the whole thing behind me. To my shock and surprise 5 mins later I got a reply, there were a few exchanged back and forth until I felt bad that he was only replying because he didn't want to be rude (he seems to be a genuinely nice guy you see) so I said good night.
Needless to say I have not heard from him again and I really don't want to push it. My general theory to all this (and I am no expert I can assure you) is just play it cool, there is no point crying or nagging or worse both it will never get you what you want. This may be the wrong approach, not going after your goals is a sure way to watch them slip away unattained, but why put him off before he even gets a chance to know you.
So over this weekend I have been giving it some thought and have come to this conclusion, Hollywood is right!! If he isn't contacting you, HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU!!
Which means I am back to the drawing board and putting all of this behind me once again and going back to being single and not thinking about boys. But just so we are clear I am not without love in my life, as previously stated I have amazing family and friends by my side every day!!
So I say:
Dance like no one is watching
Laugh at least once everyday
Love like there is no tomorrow
And Live life to the full as you never know what is waiting round that next corner (in my case it may even be a boy!!
xoxo
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
The Cupboard into Narnia.....
Following on from my rant about Letting Agents and their total inability to do anything productive and helpful I set about on my mission to locate the gas metre in my flat which I believed to be in the cupboard under the stairs.
Well, I entered said cupboard, navigated my way over the Dyson Vacuum Cleaner, around the step ladder, past the set of drums (hardly used but cannot be discarded) over the suitcases and empty boxes, possibly required for certain appliances on the basis they may break, to the back of the cupboard where I know the electricity metre resides. After all that effort and climbing I had to stop for a breather and luckily had remembered to bring supplies in case such a situation should occur. Once the supplies were consumed and energy levels restored I started to try and locate my gas metre. Imagine my dismay and horror when I found the gas metre does not seem to live in the cupboard under the stairs with the fuse box and the electricity metre. After standing there for about 5 minutes moving the same three boxes out of the way over and over again just to be sure, I stopped Mr Tumnus on his way back to Narnia to enquire if he had seen it on his travels, apparently he does not recall there ever being one in there so I am back to square one with this hunt. If I can't find it I may have to resort to accosting a neighbour in the hall way to see if they have any more information. I will of course keep up the efforts to locate the metre but my focus has been removed from this and the paying of bills to the panic that I may have mislaid me Peter Kay tickets (Emily if you read this don't panic yet, I am almost sure I know where they are) I have a feeling they may be in one of the drawers under my bed if not then the next step is to go back to the old house and check there. Fingers Crossed, as I really don't want to have to pay out more money for tickets I already have.
On Friday night I went out with the lovely Miss Emily Green, her ever extending family and friends to a charity band night at the Rifle Club in Portsmouth. I can say that I had a brilliant time, consumed plenty of alcohol and laughed loads. I always seem to have such a good time when I am out with them all. I think I was well behaved, I don't remember doing anything to disgrace or embarrass myself which has got to be a first for me!! I did very much enjoy chatting with the boys, its not very often I get the chance to do a bit of harmless flirting so I tend to make up for it when I do!! haha! Who knows one day it might actually lead to something but right now I am not going to hold my breath!! haha!!
I am off to Fat Club tonight, I am not 100% convinced there will be a big loss this week but I am feeling slightly slimmer if that is possible so you never know.
Until next time xoxo
Well, I entered said cupboard, navigated my way over the Dyson Vacuum Cleaner, around the step ladder, past the set of drums (hardly used but cannot be discarded) over the suitcases and empty boxes, possibly required for certain appliances on the basis they may break, to the back of the cupboard where I know the electricity metre resides. After all that effort and climbing I had to stop for a breather and luckily had remembered to bring supplies in case such a situation should occur. Once the supplies were consumed and energy levels restored I started to try and locate my gas metre. Imagine my dismay and horror when I found the gas metre does not seem to live in the cupboard under the stairs with the fuse box and the electricity metre. After standing there for about 5 minutes moving the same three boxes out of the way over and over again just to be sure, I stopped Mr Tumnus on his way back to Narnia to enquire if he had seen it on his travels, apparently he does not recall there ever being one in there so I am back to square one with this hunt. If I can't find it I may have to resort to accosting a neighbour in the hall way to see if they have any more information. I will of course keep up the efforts to locate the metre but my focus has been removed from this and the paying of bills to the panic that I may have mislaid me Peter Kay tickets (Emily if you read this don't panic yet, I am almost sure I know where they are) I have a feeling they may be in one of the drawers under my bed if not then the next step is to go back to the old house and check there. Fingers Crossed, as I really don't want to have to pay out more money for tickets I already have.
On Friday night I went out with the lovely Miss Emily Green, her ever extending family and friends to a charity band night at the Rifle Club in Portsmouth. I can say that I had a brilliant time, consumed plenty of alcohol and laughed loads. I always seem to have such a good time when I am out with them all. I think I was well behaved, I don't remember doing anything to disgrace or embarrass myself which has got to be a first for me!! I did very much enjoy chatting with the boys, its not very often I get the chance to do a bit of harmless flirting so I tend to make up for it when I do!! haha! Who knows one day it might actually lead to something but right now I am not going to hold my breath!! haha!!
I am off to Fat Club tonight, I am not 100% convinced there will be a big loss this week but I am feeling slightly slimmer if that is possible so you never know.
Until next time xoxo
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